* 63 b/w photos * 58 drawings * 6 x 9 *
* Historic photos from private collections
* Excerpts and anecdotes from journals, letters, diaries, personal interviews
* Extensive collection of political cartoons

"Bill Mares has written a unique book about the fishing habits of the United States presidents--good, bad, or indifferent. A fly fisherman himself, he writes with vigor and perception. When you read this book, you too will be hooked." --Stephen E. Ambrose, bestselling author of Undaunted Courage

Fishing with the Presidents is not only a terrific piece of Americana, it's great fun, and packed with irresistible and blessedly noncontroversial presidential lore." --Paul Schullery, author and fly-fishing historian

A treasury of anecdotal lore about our fishing presidents, from Washington to Bush. This richly illustrated collection covers both the avid and expert fishermen among them--Cleveland, Hoover, FDR, Eisenhower, Carter, Bush--as well as the reluctant and marginally competent--Truman and Nixon. Packed with fascinating trivia--Washington was a successful commercial fisherman and FDR had specially-rigged chairs in his fishing boats--this delightful collection adds to the history of American angling and to the personality profiles of American presidents.

Bill Mares graduated cum laude in history from Harvard and holds an M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He served from 19851991 in the Vermont House of Representatives, is a former journalist and has written eight previous books. He teaches history at Champlain Valley Union High School in Vermont.

"Bill Mares has given us an anecdotal history that is as entertaining as it is authoritative, as delightful as it is informative. It is also beautifully illustrated." --James MacGregor Burns, Professor Emeritus, Williams College