HOW TO CATCH BIGGER PIKE: FROM RIVERS, LOCHS AND LAKES. By Paul Gustafson and Greg Meenehan. 2nd edition.

(1997) 2006 2nd edition. 4to (195 x 265mm). Pp231. Colour illustrations by John Searl, colour photographs. Laminated boards.

A comprehensive and well illustrated guide to pike fishing in Britain. This is the 2006 second edition which has been revised and expanded with new chapters. It is now out-of-print. "Few pike anglers can claim to be equally at home when fishing rivers, lakes, gravel pits and lochs. Many can boast a mastery of one type of water, but only someone who has fished as widely and exhaustively as Paul Gustafson can have gained the ability to catch specimen fish consistently from all four. With unique rigs of his own devising, items of tackle of his own invention and scientific discoveries about what pike see and how they can detect their prey without using their eyesight, the author has broken down the barriers of man's knowledge of the species and opened the door to new techniques. A pioneer of night fishing for pike, with remarkable success, he is a firm believer that barometric pressure and light levels play an important part in determining their movements, even to the point whereby success and failure on a given water can be predicted by studying the weather. Paul shows us how to choose and use the most effective tackle to catch this beautiful predator and as an experienced naturalist he gives us a fascinating insight into how a pike lives, moves and seizes its prey. This new edition includes chapters on fly-fishing for pike, fishing in Sweden and popular lures. Gord Burton has contributed a chapter on the lure of big pike. By reading this book, anyone can develop a technique that will enable them to catch bigger pike when fishing in any location. It is an inspirational guide to the species that will have everyone going back to their sport with renewed enthusiasm and considerably more potential for success." Chapters include: First steps - a pike fishing apprenticeship; Rods, reels and line; Terminal tackle; Tools and accessories; Pike - a fragile quarry; Bait; Gravel pits and lakes; Rivers; Rigs; Night fishing and the neuromast system; The travelling angler; Boats; Lochs and loughs; Angling, ethics and the future; The lure of the big pike by Gord Burton; Fly-fishing for pike by Mick Willis and Bob Church; Sweden. The foreword is by Fred Buller.