When a friend gave me a copy of "On The Run, I figured that I would skim through it and put it with all the other books that I'll never read again. After all, what do I care about striped bass, or the people who fish for them. I'm never wrong about these things. But this time, I wasn't as right as I'd like to be.This book isn't about fishing. It's about a journey taken by a man who loves to fish and his contacts with a group of similarly-minded and sometimes unusual people. It's very well written and organized by a man with a great eye for detail and a fine sense of humor. Even better, it is replete with facts I never knew. In short, this book is a real page turner. ( started reading it in my porcelain study and only put it down after my feet and legs fell asleep).This book is a definite keeper. On the Run: An Angler's Journey Down the Striper Coast
I just finished Dave DiBenedetto's very readable and informative book. As someone who has never gone fishing, I found it so refreshing. He did talk about his fascination with the awesome Stripers throughout the volume, -BUT, he weaves into the recounting of the stripers a lot of history, humor, local culture, unforgettable characters, and the flavor of familiar and unfamiliar venues up and down the east coast. Couldn't wait to turn the page and meet the next fun group of fanatical personalities on his trip.Dave has quite a gift for keeping the narrative moving without losing his focus on the prize stipers.I thought his subtle references to family members made him a warm, fuzzy author. He is someone with whom I would feel very comfortable sitting down before a roaring fireplace, with a bit of refreshment and just swapping stories... -starting with stripers.
I consider myself a reader and a fisherman and I thought this book was super. DiBenedetto takes a great topic and uses a combination of nature, adventure, history and crazy characters to produce a book that is immensely entertaining. While hardcore fishermen will most definitely enjoy DiBenedetto's experiences and insights, just about everyone else is sure to be equally captivated (At one point I had to wrestle the book away from my girlfriend). DiBenedetto's smooth prose, upbeat tempo and abundance of material has resulted in a book that is as exciting as it is interesting.
A truly enjoyable read, especially for someone who has spent no more than two hours of her life fishing. I originally bought the book for my husband, an avid reader and fly-fisherman, but after scanning the first couple of pages, I couldn't put it down. The story of DiBenedetto's journey down the East Coast is not only entertaining; it speaks of the rich history of a much-admired fish. With his fresh approach to writing full of captivating experiences, DiBenedetto is sure to reel you in from the very first page.
The best thing about this book is that it's more than a good fishing book, it's a good book. Period. Part angling exploration, part travelogue, part exploration of a rich subculture, this book succeeds because it transcends bounds and genres. I found it well-written, surprising, lively, and full of insightful humor. On the Run made me think that even though I'm not an avid fisherman I'd love to meet the fascinating folk who are. Most deftly, DiBenedetto makes me feel like I know the fish, the striped bass. In that way, he's part John McPhee. In other ways, he's part (no more-I won't get carried away) John Steinbeck. Do check this one out.
How refreshing to read a book combining someone's passion for a sport with a natural phenomenon such as the striped bass migration. This book is as much about Mr. DeBenedetto's love of fishing and the striped bass migration as it is about a wonderful road trip. Maybe I'm partial because I caught a few beautiful stipers off of Nauset Beach (Cape Cod) a few years back but objectively....this is an excellent book.
An enjoyable travel log about "fishing" and life on the road. Compact defining details of each trip, well distilled. Treatment of the "Guides" is never fawning or promotional, as a fly fishing for Bass '01 title. The events of Sept. 11 were dealt with without distracting from the story.
On The Run is comprised of a series of great fishing stories wrapped around a collection of classic, and not so classic, fishing characters. While folowing the striper migration down the east coast, David Di Benedetto has captured the spirit of the fishing community. A little danger mixed in with a lot of locl knowledge, make this a priceless guide to fishing stripers. I read this book in two sittings, so don't start unless you have some time to spend reading.Di Benedetto has uncovered a world of dedicated, make that fanatic, striper fishermen who share a respect for the fish and the environment. The book is rich in descriptions of over-the-top fishermen who live the sport and who share their knowledge about catching fish. This is an excellent read for the off-season when all you can do is dream about next season's runs.
If you want to get a good pump for the fall run or the start of the season this is the book for you. Right from the start it has you and doesn't lewt you go. As a Surf Fisherman on Long Island it got me going,the only thing is that's only january and I have to wait untill april. - Fishing - Lures'
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