If you’re starting to think about Christmas shopping, or even if you wait until the last day of deer season, make sure that you make note of these two fishing books hot off the press – “Getting Started in Fly Fishing,” $14.95, by Tom Fuller, published by Ragged Mountain Press, and “A Fisherman’s Guide to Maine,” by Keven Tracewski, published by Countrysport Press.

Let’s look at Fuller’s book first. A good friend, Fuller lives in western Massachusetts. Not only is he a hard-core fly fisherman with a consummate knowledge of fishing equipment, entomology and angling tactics, he is a regional columnist for Outdoor Life and has written numerous fishing articles and penned a number of fine books.

This latest book is the perfect all-purpose book for anyone starting out in fly fishing. It is presented in three parts – Getting Out There, Art & Science of Fly Fishing, and Going Farther and Further. Part I guides you through the sometimes confusing challenge of acquiring the rod and reel that is right for you, as well as all of the accouterments that are attendant to fly fishing.

He also tutors you in the important aspects of line and tippets. He then takes you out on the water where you will learn the finer points of catching trout.

In Part II, the reader learns about everything from fly casting, trouble shooting casting problems to trout habits and stream etiquette.

Part III, which is my favorite chapter, is an instructive and thorough examination of flies and fly tying. This section includes some helpful line drawings of flies and fly tying techniques.

The bottom line is that Fuller’s fine contribution to the aspiring fly fisher is, to its credit, a reflection of Fuller the man. He is a well-schooled, thorough fellow with a journalist’s knack for getting the whole story. He is a no-nonsense guy, a digger who never gives up until all points have been covered. It shows in this book. Yet, even though the book is comprehensive it doesn’t get bogged down in too much detail or needless nuance. It is a clearly presented text that moves smoothly along. It teaches without lecturing.

For the beginning fly angler – or even the intermediate fly fisherman who wants a refresher course – “Getting Started in Fly Fishing,” fills the bill. What a wonderful Christmas gift. For more information about the book’s availability call 1-800-722-4726 or 1-800-262-4729.

Keven Tracewski, author of the second book, “A Fisherman’s Guide to Maine,” is a biology instructor at the University of Maine. An avid, lifelong fisherman, he has published articles in a number of outdoor magazines.

This book is not just for the fly fisherman. This book, as its title promises, covers all aspects of Maine fishing. It is masterfully organized and meticulously researched. The author spent seven years writing this book, which is understandable.

It divides Maine up into eight geographical regions.Within each region Tracewski walks you through the most significant fishing waters, the rich history of the region, and includes a short line sketch and biography of a noted outdoor personality in the given region.

For example, in the Penobscot River Drainage, my pal Maine Guide Wiggie Robinson is the featured outdoor personality. This section chronicles the logging history of the drainage and ties it in to the angling history, the sporting camps of the era and provides the reader with a practical review of present day fishing opportunities complete with fish species and tackle requirements. Other Maine outdoor figures so honored by inclusion in this book are Ray “Bucky Owen, Carrie Stevens, Denny McNeish, Dan Legere, Dale Wheaton, Matt Libby and Linda Yencha.

By their nature, some books place more burdens on the author than others. “A Fisherman’s Guide to Maine,” after a second reading, left me convinced that Tracewski must have fished most of the places he writes about. And the comprehensive nature of the book suggests that he is a disciplined man perfectly willing to divide his non-teaching discretionary time between fishing and fact finding.

This is an informative and highly entertaining book that any Maine angler will enjoy owning and spending time with. In his introduction, Tracewski writes: ” The essence of fishing, to me, is not about catching fish. It’s about people and places.” What a refreshing view. It shines through in this book, a piece of angling literature that promises to take its place among other Maine books about our beloved woods characters and precious outdoors.

For availability information, call 1-800-685-7962 or go online at www.countrysportpress.com.

V. Paul Reynolds is editor of the Northwoods Sporting Journal. He is also a Maine Guide, co-host of a weekly radio program “Maine Outdoors” heard Sundays at 7 p.m. on The Voice of Maine News-Talk Network (WVOM-FM 103.9, WCME-FM 96.7) and former information officer for the Maine Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. His e-mail address is [email protected].