Part I: Before the Bite.

Chapter 1: Getting Hooked on Fishing.

Chapter 2: Gathering What You Need to Fish.

Chapter 3: Finding and Evaluating Water for Fishing.

Chapter 4: Putting a Face on the Fins: Common Freshwater Fish.

Chapter 5: Familiarizing Yourself with Common Saltwater Fish.

Chapter 6: Staying Safe On (Or Near) the Water.

Part II: Gearing Up Without Going Overboard.

Chapter 7: Hot Rods and Cool Reels.

Chapter 8: The Bottom Line on Line.

Chapter 9: It's Terminal (Tackle): Hooks, Sinkers, Snaps, Swivels, and Floats.

Chapter 10: Going Ahab: Fishing from Boats.

Chapter 11: Gadgets Galore: Fishing in the 21st Century.

Part III: The End of Your Line: Enticing Fish with Bait, Lures, and Flies.

Chapter 12: Real Food for Real Fish: Using Bait.

Chapter 13: It Only Looks Alive: Tricking Fish with Lures.

Chapter 14: Fish Don’t Fly, But Flies Catch Fish.

Part IV: Now You’re Fishing.

Chapter 15: Tying Popular Fishing Knots and Rigs.

Chapter 16: Choreographing Your Cast.

Chapter 17: Exploring Different Fishing Techniques.

Chapter 18: How to Hook, Fight, Land, and Release a Fish.

Part V: After the Catch.

Chapter 19: Photographing and Preserving Fish for Posterity.

Chapter 20: Cleaning Fish for the Table.

Chapter 21: Biting Back: Cooking and Eating Fish.

Part VI: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 22: Ten Fishing Lessons You Don’t Have to Learn the Hard Way.

Chapter 23: Ten Ways to Get Kids Involved in Fishing.

Index.