Whether you're a master angler or you don't know jackfish, you'll likely find helpful advice on how to make your fishing experience more enjoyable or just something to make you smile in Winnipeg writer John Toone's Fishin' for Dumbasses, a Great Plains Publications book about Manitoba's favourite warm weather outdoor activity.
Less a how-to guide than one that seeks to remind us why fishing is fun and how not to mar its simple pleasures, Toone's tome comes at the pastime with a decidedly down-to-earth and environmentally aware attitude, taking opportunities throughout to skewer electronics - both on and off the water - Winnipeggers' fashion sense and the luxurious boats that consumers can drop tens of thousands of dollars on and are "perfect if you don't want to have to leave the living room to drag the kid around in a tube."
Toone also includes plenty of simple, practical tips on choosing rods, reels, lines and lures, as well as best practices for those who catch and release to do the least possible damage to their prey, and preparation and cooking advice for those who take their catch back to the dining table. Along the way, he also reminds readers of the inherent dangers of fishing, including why it's better to stop at shore for a bathroom break than to take your chances over the side of a boat.
You don't need to know the ins and outs of the water column and fish-bearing structure to gain value from Fishin' for Dumbasses which gets all the way down to the art of casting and the best way to unstick your lure when it's stuck on a snag. The thing that stands out most about Toone's writing, through all the humorous asides and sarcastic advice, is that he really loves fishing and is the epitome of that class of nature-lover that certain environmentalists can't wrap their heads around: a conservationist who kills and eats wild animals.
From urban angling in Winnipeg to remote outposts and out-of-province destinations like Alaska, Toone covers a lot of territory in 175 pages, like an angler fan-casting to find the fish. And while everyone who's ever watched a fishing show on TV or stared at a wall of lures in a sporting goods store knows that the simple act of casting a line in a lake or river can get complicated and expensive pretty quickly, the Fishin' for Dumbasses author reminds us that we can always look to the past for inspiration instead of shelling out more money for gadgets. On the subject of getting back to the starting point after drifting an area with the motor shut off, Toone offers these alternatives: "To shuttle around, an electric trolling motor is boss. An electric trolling motor that is foot and remote-controlled and guided by GPS is Big Boss Man. Oars and a paddle also work. They are made of wood, they float, are rugged, require no power source and are inexpensive. Your choice."
Fishin' for Dumbasses is available from booksellers online, including McNally Robinson or at the Thompson Public Library.
