Northern Pike & Muskie by Dick Sternberg (1992, Hardcover)

I bought this book because I was bitten by the "muskie" fever several years ago. Those of you afflicted with this condition know what I am talking about. Anyway, I was looking for a book that was more of a "coffee table" book that I could put out in my cabin and let others read. The book is an excellent overview of the species and their habits.

Like most fish species, the key to catching muskie and northern pike consistently is to understand their habits and master your own techniques. Unlike other species, however, these popular gamefish will require some unique tactics and equipment. I especially enjoy a large section of this book which is deveoted to describing and dicussing the various types of lures which can be effective in catching these fish. There are several color photos of these lures.

This book includes a wealth of general information on pike and muskies, along with hundreds of spectacular color photos, that will help you catch them more consistently. Learn how these fish act, where to find them, what baits and lures work best, and how to land a trophy fish in special weather situations.

A unique portion of this book even breaks down different regions of the United States and Canada and shows you some hot-spots that may be close to home. There are color maps of each state that have major muskie/pike lakes.

This book does not go into the great details to discuss stategies and tactics that die-hard muskie fisherman will talk to each other about for hours. If you need that (and I do), then get a subscription to Musky Hunter magazine. But if you are looking for a great book that describes the "basics" and introduces this species to the uninformed, then this is your book.