A LINE ON SALMON. By John Ashley-Cooper.

1983 1st edition. 8vo (145 x 223mm). Pp240. Colour photographs, illustrations by Ted Andrews. Mauve boards, spine titled in gilt.

Ashley-Cooper's advice on rivercraft and angling techniques for Atlantic salmon. "John Ashley-Cooper begins his book by discussing some of the complexities of salmon behaviour and his comments will stimulate the thoughtful fisherman. The more the angler acquires increasing skills, the more he or she becomes aware of further subtleties on which to ponder. That is the fascination of salmon fishing. The author accepts this challenge and takes his reader to the waterside, giving much valuable advice on how best to succeed under the varying conditions of temperature, light and the strength and height of water which may prevail. The second half of the book is composed of chapters dealing with the techniques of angling and rivercraft. ...Ashley-Cooper covers such subjects as casting, controlling the water-speed of the fly, playing and landing fish, the care and choice of hooks, wading and boat fishing. He concludes with an encouraging list of salmon, weighing 50 pounds or more, caught in British waters." Contents include:- Conundrums and questions; Enemies of the salmon; Water and air temperature; Water height and strength; Effects of light; Types of river; Reading a river; Casting; Controlling the water-speed of a fly; Playing fish; Landing fish; Salmon that are lost; The dry-fly; Wading; Boat fishing; Riverside repairs; Hooks; Big fish from British rivers; Tall but true.