INTRODUCTION 1
About This Book 2
Foolish Assumptions 3
Icons Used in This Book 3
Beyond the Book 4
Where to Go from Here 4

PART 1: BEFORE THE BITE 5
CHAPTER 1: Getting Hooked on Fishing 7
CHAPTER 2: Gathering What You Need to Fish Well 21
CHAPTER 3: Finding Good Fishing Water (and Knowing When to Go) 35
CHAPTER 4: Putting a Face on the Fins: Common Freshwater Fish 55
CHAPTER 5: Familiarizing Yourself with Common Saltwater Fish 77
CHAPTER 6: Staying Safe on or near the Water 95

PART 2: GEARING UP WITHOUT GOING OVERBOARD 107
CHAPTER 7: Choosing Your Rod and Reel 109
CHAPTER 8: The Lowdown on Fishing Line 127
CHAPTER 9: Decoding Terminal Tackle: Hooks, Sinkers, Snaps, Swivels, and Floats 141
CHAPTER 10: Going Ahab: Fishing from Boats 161
CHAPTER 11: Angling Tech: What's New and What's Necessary 177

PART 3: WHAT'S ON THE END OF YOUR LINE? FISHING WITH BAIT OR LURES 191
CHAPTER 12: Real Food for Real Fish: Using Bait 193
CHAPTER 13: It Only Acts Alive: Tricking Fish with Lures 211

PART 4: NOW YOU'RE FISHING 229
CHAPTER 14: Tying Popular Fishing Knots and Rigs 231
CHAPTER 15: Choreographing Your Cast 255
CHAPTER 16: Exploring Different Fishing Techniques 271
CHAPTER 17: The Fun Part: Getting That Fish into Your Hands 289

PART 5: AFTER THE CATCH 307
CHAPTER 18: Photographing and Preserving Fish: Thanks for the Memories! 309
CHAPTER 19: Biting Back: Dispatching, Cleaning, and Cooking Your Catch 321

PART 6: THE PART OF TENS 331
CHAPTER 20: Ten Fishing Lessons You Don't Have to Learn the Hard Way 333
CHAPTER 21: Ten Fun Ways to Get Kids Fishing 337

INDEX 343