Fishing With the Presidents

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Summary: Fishing and Politics---more in common than lying
Review: As an avid angler and Vermont state representative, I once found myself musing about similarities between fishing and politics, OTHER THAN lying. A chance visit to the American Museum of Fly-Fishing in Manchester, Vermont introduced me to five fishing Presidents: Cleveland, Hoover,Eisenhower, Carter and Bush. Four years of exhausting but fascinating research later, this book is the product. I hope you like it.

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Summary: A truly enjoyable collection of big men doing small things.
Review: Bill Mares brings to hand a truly enjoyable collection about big men doing small things. Mares has captured an important facet of fishing: it is the only sport that both reduces the Greats to Mere Mortals and gives us mere mortals a chance to be Great. To wit: Eisenhower was skunked on the Furnace Brook in Vermont, yet, after his security entourage pulled out, the locals used worms to clean out the stocked fish that denied Ike his day on the river.

This book glides along, like hearing a story. Mare's subject is so interesting his book has been read by my Hong Kong-born wife, who does not fish. After she put down the book my fly-fishing 6 year old daughter grabbed it. Go figure.

The photographs alone are worth the cover price. Especially the one of Nixon swaddled in wet rags.

Rating:
Summary: This is an excellent book for several reasons.
Review: First, and most obviously and most crassly, it shows how other United States Presidents have enjoyed (and could enjoy) their leisure-time in less controversial ways. Secondly, it's a lot of fun. Along with the fish-tales and other anecdotes, the book is filled with wonderful political cartoons from long-ago. The issues keep changing, but the presidents keep on fishing! Lastly, it introduces the reader to the tip of the iceberg that is fly-fishing literature. Three presidents have enjoyed the art of fly-fishing so much, they have been moved to write books on the subject. Hundreds of other authors have rhapsodized, philosophized and just plain instructed on fly-fishing, that this book will serve as a good primer for the person just wading into this pool of literature.

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Summary: The funniest book on fishing I have ever read. Ever!
Review: Fishing With the Presidents is a great armchair read. Not only is it VERY amusing and well illustrated with wonderful cartoons, but it is well researched and informative. I can't remember the last time American history was so much fun to read! Warning: Read With Care: You will almost certainly find yourself laughing out loud.

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Summary: Fun, and history, even for those not interested in fishing
Review: Five stars for a great book! Learn the full story of the "killer rabbit" and many other not commonly known stories about our presidents and their characters. An enjoyable read for all and especially for those who have fished, whether with worms, plugs or flies, or who are interested in American political history.

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Summary: Delightful reading.
Review: I purchased five additional copies for my fishing friends

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Summary: Solid research, good writing, and a fun read
Review: If you enjoy politics, history, political cartoons and pictures, outdoor sports, and good writing, and who doesn't, you'll have a ball reading this book. William Mares has researched and organized his topic well, and presents it in a way that is fascinating and will delight every reader. You may not feel the tug on the line, but you will feel as if you've spent a day on a stream, or in a boat, with the presidents.

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Summary: Makes even a non-fisherman rise to the bait.
Review: Mares has collected an amazing amount of fresh, original material -- photos, cartoons, and stories -- that really spark this book. Some of the anecdotes have forever changed my read on some of our First Men. Even though I don't fish, the story-telling is engrossing. A nice work -- and thet's no fish tale.

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Summary: Simply an excellent book for political fans and fishers alik
Review: Mares obviously loves his sport, and, loves presidential history. Readers will learn a side of America's leaders they were probably unaware of. And, they'll learn a thing or two about fishing.

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Summary: Engaging account of Presidential fishing
Review: Mr Mares has managed to combine two of my personal passions, fishing and history in this book. It is an engaging account of Presidential fishing, beginning with George Washington. He has collected quite a bit of anecdotal information, and interspersed it with political cartoons appropriate to the period. My personal favorite is a photo of a very sour-looking Richard Nixon being taught the rudiments of fly-fishing by Eisenhower. A very worthy follow-up to "Out: The Vermont Secession Book".