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01. Fishing Sport - Every year more than thirty million people in the United States go fishing. Behind this vast migration to our streams, lakes, bays, and oceans, there lies a greater moti­vation than the desire for food and exercise. It is simply that fishing is fun—so much fun that it is one of the nation's fastest growing family sports.

02. Bait-Casting - Bait casting is the most widely recognized method of taking game fish on artificial lures in the United States, al­though the spinning-gear user (including the push-button fisherman) is closing in on the plugger's—as bait-casters are called—long-time lead. All but a few die-hard spin-fishermen, however, would argue that husky muskies, big bass, and giant northern pike are best fished for with bait-casting tackle.

03. Spinning Techniques - Since World War II, no method of casting has gained such momentum as that of spinning. The beginning angler will ask: What is spinning? Why did it increase so rapidly in popularity? Can large fish be caught with spinning tackle? This chapter will attempt to answer these questions.

04. Push-Button - Push-button spinning or spin casting, which combines the major advantages of both bait casting and conventional spinning, is the newest method of presenting your lure to the fish. Spin-cast or push-button reels are a variation on the conventional closed-face spinning reel, retaining the fixed-spool principle of spinning for effortless, backlash-free casting.

05. Fly-Casting - "If I could fish only one way, I'd say, 'Give me a fly rod.' To me, by far the greatest sport comes with fly cast­ing, the use of a nearly invisible leader really gets results; and there's fly-rod fishing everywhere—lakes, streams, brackish waters, tidal flats," says "Gadabout" Gaddis, an­gling expert and television star. I agree with my good friend that there's no limit to fly-rod fun through every fishing season.

06. Fish on Your Hook - In Chapter 1, I stated that there are three methods of angling—still fishing, casting, and trolling. Up to this point we have concerned ourselves with various types of tackle and the basic casting techniques. Now let's see how these three fishing methods can bring about our ultimate goal—a fish on the hook.

07. How to Play - There's a great deal of truth in the most frequently heard fish story: the big fish—as well as many of the smaller ones—do get away all too often. The real whopper, the fish that you would dearly love to enshrine in the place of honor on your den wall, can give you the slip because in your excitement you fail to set the hook properly when he strikes. Too much slack line, and your fish becomes en­tangled in weeds and breaks loose. Hold the line too tightly, and when the fish jumps, he can fall on the taut line, snap­ping the restraining strand. Your catch may flop out of your hands as you attempt to lift him from the water.

08. Light-Tackle - Today, the chief trend in salt-water fishing is toward the use of lighter tackle. Although the time-honored heavy out­fits still have a place, great numbers of salt-water anglers are finding that they have more fun—and catch as many fish—with outfits no heavier and little different from those used in fresh water. Actually, most fresh-water gear can be used for light-tackle salt-water fishing. On light tackle, many small- to medium-size inshore game fish, such as striped bass, bluefish, sea bass, shad, yellowtail, mackerel, and croakers, provide thrills rivaling those of the big-game species.

09. Know Your Fish - Surprising as it may seem, many fishermen can't specifi­cally name the fish they catch. They will say, "it looks like a perch" or "it's a bass"—but whether it's a largemouth or a smallmouth bass is beyond them.

Part of the difficulty in identifying a fish is that there has been considerable confusion in establishing names common to all parts of the country.

10. Fishing Tackle - The prudent angler will take the best possible care of bis fishing gear for two reasons. First, of course, is the dollars-and-cents consideration. A great deal more good tackle is ruined by lack of reasonable care than by use. Properly tended reels, rods, and lines last longer, need to be replaced less frequently. Secondly—an equally important reason—tackle that is maintained as it should be catches fish.

THE END.