Sunday May 18th, 2008 Fishing

With summer and the warmer weather just around corner, many of us have turned our thoughts to the anticipation of fishing. Whether you cannot distinguish between the bent rod of a snag or actually hooking the big monster you have always told your friends you would land (much like myself) or are experienced and confident in your fishing abilities, the Thunder Bay Public Library can offer you services and resources associated with the subject of fishing.

For the young people (ages 16 years and younger) out there with an interest in fishing, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters have generously donated rods, reels and basic tackle (no hooks) to the TBPL for a service named Tackleshare. Located at our Waverley and Brodie branches (just inquire at the check-out desk), this fishing gear can be loaned out with the presentation of a valid library card.

With numerous books located at the TBPL covering a variety of topics concerning the subject of fishing, there just may be something for everyone. If you are looking for tips to finally out-fish your friends and loved ones to capture the bragging rights for the weekend (when it comes to fishing, there’s no holding back, especially with family), Freshwater Fishing Tips: 300 Tips for Catching More and Bigger Fish by the editors of Creative Publishing International might be the book of choice. Sometimes, getting away from the city for a fishing vacation is just what the doctor ordered. Let the library help with planning your trip by offering up Woodall’s Canada Campground Guide. For those out there wishing a more lighthearted take on fishing, Chicken Soup for the Fisherman’s Soul: Fish Tales to Hook Your Spirit and Snag Your Funny Bone by Jack Canfield is both entertaining and uplifting.

The Thunder Bay Public Library is also current with today’s fishing magazines for your enjoyment. Publications such as Outdoor Canada, Field and Stream and In-Fisherman can be located at our various branches throughout the city to provide a wide range of up-to-date articles focusing on fishing. The TBPL Virtual Collection also contains many electronic resources related to fishing. By accessing the TBPL website, either form home or the library, all one needs to do is possess a valid library card to login to our extensive electronic databases. The Canadian Reference Centre database is an ideal start to our Virtual Collection for information search on the subject of fishing.

An extensive collection of maps featuring many of Thunder Bay’s surrounding lakes and rivers are available for viewing at our Brodie branch location. There are approximately 80 fishing maps that were produced by the Ministry of Natural Resources that chart the depth of each body of water. Crime Stoppers had also produced a series of recreational maps detailing the location of lakes, private and crown land, trails and primary and secondary roads. In addition, there is also a series of maps that showcase a fish species index to highlight the types of fish that can be found at each lake.


These are just a few of many resources available to TBPL visitors that relate to the subject of fish and fishing. You may also want to borrow instructional and informative videos on angling, books featuring fish recipes or seek out information to assist you in taking the perfect picture of your mammoth catch (because you know you need that picture so your friends will actually believe you, you big liar; oh wait, that’s me). So good luck to everyone and I’ll see you on the lake. I’ll be the guy out there with his limit, or in truth, the guy out there standing beside the guy with the limit.

Derek Gradner, Library Assistant