About Trout: The Best of Robert Behnke from Trout Magazine
Colorado State professor of ichthyology Behnke brings scientific expertise, a sense of humor and a flair for drama to this collection of 43 essays previously published as his "About Trout" column in conservation organization Trout Unlimited's Trout magazine. Behnke considers the evolution, historic and current distribution, biological characteristics and defining physical traits of various species of trout and salmon-from the common brown trout and well-known Atlantic salmon to the rare Apache trout and the once-presumed extinct, now-endangered Alvord cutthroat trout. He zeroes in on why certain salmonid species are struggling to survive and what can be done (and usually isn't being done) to preserve the diversity of species. A conservationist and a fisherman, the author debates the scientific pros and cons of "catch-and-release only fishing," "wild trout management" versus hatchery-bread "catchable trout" and man-made "tailwater trout fisheries where trout never naturally occurred." Tomelleri's colorful illustrations underline the uniqueness of each type of trout and why the fish inspires such passion among those who protect and catch them. Illus.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.