Trout of the World
http://www.riverandreef.com/articlelive/articles/67/1/Trout-of-the-World/Page1.html
Brendan Mason
Brendan Mason is a Canadian born angler who now lives in Seattle, Washington. Brendan has fished all of his life and started a passion for fly in British Columbia where he grew up. His father a search and rescue expert and his mother a teacher, Brendan has the brains and skills to both out think and survive longer than the average Joe Blow. Brendan has fished extensively for trout and salmonids but in recent years has attacked the saltwater with gusto. His travels have taken him to Australia, Mexico, Argentina and beyond. Brendan also has the distinction of catching a 600 lb Mako on fly while fishing San Diego in 2006. You can often find him stalking carp in the shallows of Green Lake in Seattle.By Brendan Mason
Published on 01/20/2004
Trout of the World
By James Prosek
In the tradition of Trout: An Illustrated History, James Prosek has delivered another brilliant collection of watercolor paintings and biological history of salmonid species, this time focusing on the trout, salmon, and char found outside of North America. From Portugal to Siberia, Morocco to Afghanistan, Prosek takes his readers on a stunning journey into the diversity of trout, several of which the majority of anglers have likely never heard of. At 224 pages, this is a comprehensive look into the genetic variation existing within the world of trout. Anyone who thinks brown trout all look the same had best brace them self for enlightenment before picking up a copy of Trout of the World.
Those who have read Prosek’s last book, Fly Fishing The 41st, will recognize several of the fish in Trout of the World from his travels and adventures described in that book. Others are painted from samples provided by ichthyologists and fellow trout enthusiasts and anglers. Not only are the watercolors breathtaking, but also the writing is exquisitely detailed. Many descriptions are accompanied by both scientific information and anecdotal stories about the species’ history.
Be prepared for some disappointment though; not by fault of the author, but rather at mankinds own disregard and destruction. My heart sunk when I read about several spectacular species, only to find out that they are now extinct or close to it, such as the giant brown trout of the Caspian Sea, and the unique trout species that once inhabited a single lake in Morocco. The future of many species is uncertain, but by documenting and displaying the incredible diversity of trout, maybe Prosek will be able to educate and mobilize more concerned anglers to help secure a promising future for these fish.
In summary, I have to give this book a perfect ten. It is a great coffee table book for browsing the artwork occasionally as well as an exceptional read when you have a little more time. Trout of the World is definitely not a book that will sit on my bookshelf untouched after reading. As an added bonus, a poster featuring pictures of many of the most interesting fish accompanies the book.
TroutSite: The Official Web Site for James Prosek
 |
Trout of the World
By James Prosek
|
In the tradition of Trout: An Illustrated History, James Prosek has delivered another brilliant collection of watercolor paintings and biological history of salmonid species, this time focusing on the trout, salmon, and char found outside of North America. From Portugal to Siberia, Morocco to Afghanistan, Prosek takes his readers on a stunning journey into the diversity of trout, several of which the majority of anglers have likely never heard of. At 224 pages, this is a comprehensive look into the genetic variation existing within the world of trout. Anyone who thinks brown trout all look the same had best brace them self for enlightenment before picking up a copy of Trout of the World.
Those who have read Prosek’s last book, Fly Fishing The 41st, will recognize several of the fish in Trout of the World from his travels and adventures described in that book. Others are painted from samples provided by ichthyologists and fellow trout enthusiasts and anglers. Not only are the watercolors breathtaking, but also the writing is exquisitely detailed. Many descriptions are accompanied by both scientific information and anecdotal stories about the species’ history.
Be prepared for some disappointment though; not by fault of the author, but rather at mankinds own disregard and destruction. My heart sunk when I read about several spectacular species, only to find out that they are now extinct or close to it, such as the giant brown trout of the Caspian Sea, and the unique trout species that once inhabited a single lake in Morocco. The future of many species is uncertain, but by documenting and displaying the incredible diversity of trout, maybe Prosek will be able to educate and mobilize more concerned anglers to help secure a promising future for these fish.
In summary, I have to give this book a perfect ten. It is a great coffee table book for browsing the artwork occasionally as well as an exceptional read when you have a little more time. Trout of the World is definitely not a book that will sit on my bookshelf untouched after reading. As an added bonus, a poster featuring pictures of many of the most interesting fish accompanies the book.
TroutSite: The Official Web Site for James Prosek