BOOK NOTES: Fisherman named Rybaak authors two guides on fishing in New York (08/15/04)

BOOK NOTES

Fisherman named Rybaak authors two guides on fishing in New York

"Fishing Eastern New York," by Spider Rybaak, Guilford, Conn.: The Globe Pequot Press, 2004, 346 pp., $16.50 (paperback); and "Fishing Western New York," by Spider Rybaak, Guilford, Conn.: The Globe Pequot Press, 2004, 328 pp., $15.95 (paperback).

"Fishing Eastern New York," billed as an "angler's guide to more than 240 top fishing spots" thoroughly covers all of the information that an angler needs to know to go fishing. It is also reader friendly; the table of contents clearly separates New York into regions and then lists the bodies of water in those regions. Detailed maps of each body of water and the highways, roads, trails, campgrounds, colleges and other pertinent points in the vicinity, appear within the text.

Most of the lakes, rivers and ponds that Spider Rybaak writes about in this guidebook are concentrated in the Adirondack Mountain region. Mr. Rybaak, who hails from Syracuse, N.Y., fished 95 percent of the 170 Adirondack waters that he describes in his book and his knowledge is apparent. The scientific and popular names of various fish, their descriptions, distribution and additional information about the area where these fish can be caught comprise the bulk of the book.

Mr. Rybaak details different fishing strategies for some of the waters, along with which species to fish for at different times of year. Tips on flies, lures, bait and tackle can also be found in "Fishing Eastern New York."

The author became interested in fishing early in his childhood when he and his father used to go fishing together on the Oswego and Seneca rivers. Mr. Rybaak's father's favorite fish to catch were northern pike, so his book has a special focus on that type of fish.

Though other fishing books concentrating on the Adirondacks have been written, Fred LeBrun, a correspondent for Adirondack Explorer, wrote: "There's never been a lack of advice in print on where or how to fish in the Adirondacks ... But the best yet in terms of depth and breadth of helpful coverage is the newly published 'Fishing Eastern New York' by Spider Rybaak ..."

In "Fishing Western New York," Mr. Rybaak provides useful information on the western portion of the state, covering more than 180 top fishing locales.

This book covers two of the Great Lakes, the Finger Lakes, many rivers, plus backcountry streams. Like its companion volume, it provides site descriptions and information on how to access them, tips on fishing techniques, and maps and photos.

Mr. Rybaak, whose real name is Raymond Hrynyk (the last name of his pseudonym is undoubtedly from the Ukrainian word for fisherman, "rybak"), has been a freelance writer/photographer for 19 years and has published hundreds of features in numerous magazines and newspapers. He also contributes regularly to Outdoor Life, In-Fisherman, Great Lakes Angler and Fishing & Hunting News.

He notes in his biographical information that he is a "son of Ukrainian immigrants who survived years of slave labor under the Nazis and avoided Stalin's terror by coming to America after the war."

Both books, part of The Globe Pequot Press's Falcon Guides series, are available in book stores, as well as from Globe Pequot Press, 246 Goose Lane, Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437; telephone (800) 962-0973.

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