God knows (and so do all of you) that I am not a great writer. Heck, I am not even good, never mind great. But what I try to be is honest. I figured if I am , you will see past my misspelled words and all the “zenoisam” and understand what I am getting at.
I don’t give out praise that easily either. Most of the equipment and lures that I use are good. There are only few items in my surfcasting arsenal that I consider great. Sometimes my rigged eels are great and sometimes they look like they were rigged by an 8 year old. My SS darters are great..when fish want them.
I’ve read many books on surf fishing and many are good. I doubt there is a book that I’ve read that I haven’t picked up a thing or two. What would I call a “great” book? Shinning Tides by Brooks published sometimes in the 50’s. It captured my imagination. It made me dream while I read it. It is hard to do this in a how-to book. Very hard. Presenting the facts in entertaining manner can be a daunting job. I know all of you have read The Art of Surfcasting With Lures. I still ship 5 to 1 of The Art of Surfcasting to any other book I published for me or for others. It is your vote on its usefulness, not me telling you what is good. And that is the way its suppose to be.
But I got news for you. There is new sheriff in town and his name is John Skinner.
John has a book being printed as we speak ” Fishing the Bucktail” that I will call “great” book without reservations. All I am going to say is this, I have never read anything like it. I never wanted the book to end and all I could think is how am I going to stick a lojack device under John’s truck so I can follow him around. Yes, the book will be considered a how-to more than his previous bestseller A Season on the Edge.
What did I get out of it? After all, I have been fishing for few years now. I wrote few books. I should know my shit. Let me tell you something, I am reconsidering most of the stuff I do with my bucktails and modifying many things in particular places after reading this book. Look, I don’t want to tell you that you need this. What I am telling you is that you going to want to have this book.
Doc Muller wrote a bucktail book awhile ago and you might wonder are they alike. They are not even close. They might be two books on same subject but written from two totally different angles. John is a inlet junkie, a guy as comfortable with a 5 ounce bucktail as he is with a small one on the yak. Once you start reading the book and start to get into his head, thinking along the lines he does you are going to step back and say, whoa, this dude is intense…lmao
Anyway, that is all for now. The book is expected to be printed in about ten days and in stores for Thanksgiving. The retail price on this 130 page book is $17.95 and like I said should be in stores by Thanksgiving.
John is make limited number of signed copies available only to SJ Blog readers.If you need info on address to mail a check please contact us at info@surfcastersjournal.com
Here is the link you can follow to reserve your signed copy (or you can just click on the picture) and when the book is printed, John will sign it and it will be mailed to you. This is limited time offer. We will. Iftake this link down in few days http://surfcastersgear.com/Reserve-autographed-copy-Fishing-the-Bucktail-by-John-Skinner-Fishing-the-Bucktail-Skinner.htm
CHAPTERS
1. A BUCKTAIL PRIMER……………………………………………. 7
2. BUCKTAIL CHARACTERISTICS ………………………… 15
3. NUTS AND BOLTS ……………………………………………… 27
4. OCEAN SAND BEACHES …………………………………….. 31
5. OCEAN INLET JETTIES ………………………………………. 41
6. BACK BAY SHORELINES …………………………………….. 55
7. ROCKY SOUND BEACHES …………………………………… 63
8. MONTAUK SURF …………………………………………………. 75
9. SHALLOW INSHORE WATERS……………………………… 83
10. THREE-WAY RIGS IN DEEP RIPS ………………………… 91
11. LIGHT TACKLE FLUKE BUCKTAILING…………….. 101
12. MAKING YOUR OWN BUCKTAILS …………………… 111
13. FINAL THOUGHTS ……………………………………………. 121
If I ever saw a smart investment its this book. Way more than another fancy lure in my bag. Cant wait to read it.
↓How about his 40 he caught Saturday….
↓I read Doc Muller’s book on bucktailing and thought it was great. Can’t wait to read this book, being that it comes from a different perspective.
↓Looking forward to it.
↓Thank you SJ
↓I’ve been looking forward to anything he publishes after his talk at your seminars last winter. Can’t wait for this book since I have yet to find confidence in bucktails.
↓Definite purchase for me. Been falling in love with the bucktail more in recent years, and would love to understand how to use it better. =)
↓I met John at Smiths Point a few years ago and we both had had a so-so day fishing. the thing we had in common was we were both fishing bucktails. I have read doc’s book on the subject and can’t wait to read this work from one of the top Bucktailers I have had the pleasure to meet.
↓Oh and Z.. you are not a hack so stop with the put downs. Your books belong with the gang(Skinner, Doc, Etc..) Beats anything Golofaro has written…LMFAO.
u must not be reading the same crap i am…hack is being generous
↓I agree wholeheartedly Zeno. Your book is legit and is popular for a very good reason. It reminded me of what made me a way better freshwater bassmaster than my buddies and I couldnt believe I was overlooking that when I was plugging the beach!..until I read your book.
↓Z now this is what I’m talkin about,Season on the Edge was one of my favorite’s I’m sure that anything John writes will find it’s way onto my shelf.BTW Z hack or no I still think The Art Of Surfcasting advanced my fishing more then any other book I’ve ever read.Just sayin…..
↓Hey, has anyone ever read Striper Wars?I was inspired by you guys to go through my library and it seems though its very relevant as ever again and I recommend everyone who also likes to do more than just read about catching stripers to read it if your havent. even those who had a good season must have felt the winds of change for at least the last several years. Hell, my logbooks since about 07′ could be used as scientific data…..Not to be depressing lol….I just believe we surfrats can make the biggest difference if we put our minds to it, and I believe we will because it is our passion and something we love. God knows action by the Striped Bass Management Board is “like turning an ocean liner” as a wise man calling for action said on the Edge Angling Forums where you can obtain the CALL FOR ACTION forms. Sorry for the rant, and feel free to blast me if it has no place here…It just gets me damn frustrated that no one seems to want to talk about the huge decline of our striped friends….anyone notice their purchases of fancy lures is at an all time high?
↓Never apologize for passion dude
↓Yes indeed. Thank you much!
↓This book sounds like a good read. It will be interesting to hear someone else’s point of view in the subject. My most productive lure used to be the Kastmaster then about 14/15 years ago I read an article in “On the Water” about using bucktails in strong current, which was where I fished about 50% of the time. I started experimenting with them and by the end of the season was out fishing the Kastmaster and everything else. That winter I started tying my own patterns based on bait I had seen and some productive flys. White, silver & black heads with various bucktail & feather patterns made the catch rate really jump the next season. I now carry about 30% leadhead/bucktail in every bag. They produce when everyone else is sucking wind!
↓If interested Check out dickrussell.org
↓He also has a link to the author of The Most Important Fish in the Sea. Which is another highly related interest to us all.