Book review: Kayak Fishing

This book isn't brand new, but has been out for several years. My copy is even second edition. I had my eyes on the book ever since I saw it the first time just after I bought my first kayak, but only recently managed to get my hands on a copy.

My main source for kayak info has been the classic "Complete book of Sea Kayaking" by Derek Hutchinson, which I can recommend, but which doesn't hold any fishing info at all. Back in 2001 I stumbled upon Ken Daubert's book Kayakfishing and wasn't overly enthused by it. It was an old school book with mediocre B/W pictures and slightly underwhelming content.

Cory Routh's book is in the opposite end of the scale. Filled with excellent photos, richly illustrated and containing an enormous amount of information. It's on general fishing and even though it does deal with fly fishing, you also get advice on live bait handling and storage and how to rig a jig.
To most people the interesting parts will be the ones dealing with the choice of kayak and fishing from a kayak of course. Routh also covers some general aspects of kayaking like suiting up, safety, rowing and other non-fishing aspects of kayaking, and as always I'd love to see more specific information on the title subject and less on the stuff you can find in many kayaking books. If this is your only book on kayaks, it makes sense, but like me the readers are likely to have access to other sources for general information and will very likely want more specifics on fishing.

The book takes you through all steps of kayak fishing from choosing a suitable kayak to transporting it. Fishing, fighting and landing fish is thoroughly covered, but again I think the author spends a lot of text on things that are not specific to kayak fishing like lure choice and rigging rods, tying knots and such.
The last third or so of the book is about specific fishing areas in the US, and are interesting enough, but not very useful to the general reader - unless of course you are willing to travel to these areas, which are spread north, south, east and west.
I would have loved to see some advice on locating your own kayak fishing spots by looking at maps, looking at weather reports etc.

In spite of the surplus material I still find this an excellent book and certainly the best offer out there for the budding kayak fisherman. If you are more seasoned as a kayaker and an angler, you might not find much new information in this book.