Here’s a fishing book that’s hard to put down

There aren’t a lot of fishing books available outside of the “how-to” kind of hardcovers you might find at the local book seller. Hard to find one of those places around anymore, isn’t it?

Fishing books tend to not sell really well. It’s tough to get the general public to shell out their hard-earned cash to read about the latest techniques for catching the largest bass in a pond. There aren’t any great biographies of the top fishermen. Fiction based around the sport of fishing is almost nonexistent, although “Double Whammy” by the phenomenal Carl Hiaasen is one of the funniest books I have ever read.

My favorite fishing books are “Sowbelly: The Obsessive Quest for the World-Record Largemouth Bass” by Monte Burke and “Bass Madness” by Ken Schultz. Burke’s book is a riveting explanation of the people who virtually trade their whole lives for a shot at fishing’s holy grail. Schultz’s book documents what exactly goes on during the days surrounding a Bassmaster Classic, and it pulls no punches.

I am happy to say that I have added a third title to my list of favorites, and I am pleased that it is authored by a Northern Illinois man. Hampshire’s Ed Piotrowski is the wordsmith behind “Reel Adventures and the Stuff That Happened in Between.” This book is a winner.

I’ve never met Ed Piotrowski, but I hope to some day make his acquaintance. He seems to me to be a good guy, the kind of guy you’d like to share a boat ride with.

He writes really well, but his book has the feel of something written by a friend or an acquaintance rather than a professional writer. It’s hard to put the book down because Ed’s ability to tell a story will make you want to turn the page to get to Ed’s next adventure. “Reel Adventures” is a “reel” page-turner.

The book’s 400-plus pages are filled with tales from Piotrowski’s life and not just fishing stories. He has led a full and interesting life, and it is packed with characters, including a great roster of fishing buddies and a fine family, led by his wife, Jo Ann.

The fishing tales are memorable and not because they are “brag tales” about Ed’s best catches. Ed Piotrowski realizes that fish caught are memorable because of things other than size and he does a fine job of telling these stories.

Think about it, when you are trading fishing tales with friends, aren’t the best stories about more than just the fish? The best stories that come out of a bull session with fishermen are the ones about the partners you are with, the places you visit, the mistakes that were made and all the rest of the things that comprise the experience.

I don’t want to give away any of Ed Piotrowski’s stories because I couldn’t do as good a job as he does in relating them. I will, though, tell you that Ed’s stories show his passion for fishing and his passion for people. It’s obvious that Ed savors each and every moment he experiences, and it comes through in his writing.

I recommend “Reel Adventures and the Stuff That Happened in Between” by Ed Piotrowski. It is a true keeper that has earned a place on my bookshelf. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy at Amazon. A portion of the book’s sales will be donated to FARE, Food Allergy Research and Education. Ed’s grandson Matt suffers from a food allergy.

• Daily Herald Outdoors columnist Steve Sarley can be reached at sarfishing@yahoo.com.