How to Think Like a Fish: And Other Lessons from a Lifetime in Angling

by Jeremy Wade

The defining part of this story, I think—the part that made the real difference—is the time I spent looking into the water, letting my mind drift, as I tried to think like a fish…What brings the big fish is an artful blend of drawing on experience and keeping an open, active mind. The secret ingredient is as simple as that.
--from Chapter 6

Jeremy Wade, the star of Animal Planet’s River Monsters , with nearly forty years of angling exploration behind him, shares a meditation on the art of angling—part science, part art, and part elusive something else. Thoughtful and funny, brimming with wisdom and, above all, adventure, How to Think Like a Fish is filled with reflections that anyone who has ever fished will identify with, for ultimately they touch on the fundamental principles that apply to all angling—and to
Less time can be more.
Listen to your gut.
Be inventive.
You may only get one opportunity, so make that opportunity count.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Outdoors, Science, Audiobook, Memoir, Environment

272 pages, Paperback

Published May 18, 2021

About the author

Jeremy Wade is a British television presenter, an author of books on angling, and a biologist. He is known for his television series River Monsters.

He has a degree in zoology from Bristol University and a postgrad teaching certificate in biological sciences from the University of Kent, and has worked as a secondary school biology teacher.

He grew up in south-east England, on the banks of the Suffolk Stour, where his fascination with the underwater world began - and the desire to always see "what's around the next bend". His first overseas trip was to the mountain rivers of India in 1982, and since then he has increasingly spent his time tracking down large and little-known fish in rivers around the world - particularly in the Congo and Amazon rainforests.

"I don't see myself as a particularly expert angler," he says. "But what I am able to do is get into the kinds of places where outsiders don't normally go, with enough energy left to put a line in the water. Teaming up with local fishermen is vital to success, and what's great about this approach is that you get to see beneath the surface of diverse human cultures too."

In between catching fish (or, on some journeys, not catching fish), he has also caught malaria, been detained as a suspected spy, narrowly escaped drowning, been threatened at gunpoint, and survived a plane crash.

In 1992 he co-wrote (with Paul Boote) 'Somewhere Down The Crazy River' - a book that is considered to be one of the classics of angling literature. He has also written on travel and natural history for publications including The Times, Guardian, Sunday Telegraph, The Field and BBC Wildlife magazine.

During his career he has achieved a number of notable 'firsts'. These include filming a large mystery creature in an Amazon lake (dubbed 'the Amazon Nessie' by BBC Wildlife magazine), and getting the first underwater footage (with cameraman Rick Rosenthal) of the 'Giant Devil Catfish' in India.

His first TV series, Jungle Hooks, filmed in 2002 for Discovery Europe, was one of the most-watched shows on multichannel TV when it was released, and has since been seen by audiences around the world. River Monsters, his most recent series, has achieved the highest ever audience figures in the history of Animal Planet. A third season of River Monsters will be broadcast in 2011.

When not camped beside a remote river, Jeremy lives in Somerset, England, in the countryside near Bath.

Reviews

[JD · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of River Monsters and Jeremy Wade, but I am not an angler. This book though gives great insight into the man's mindset and the way he goes about catching the big ones, by taking all his hard learned lessons to heart. His stories of all his travels through the years that leads in the chapters about his fishing tips/lessons are also great. Highly recommended for anglers and anyone wanting to learn more about fishing.

[Hugo Hadfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fish on!

[Jessica Falzon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Years ago, when I first started watching ‘River Monsters’, little did I know that I would end up reading about fish and the world of angling. I started watching ‘River Monsters’ purely because they were detective stories, however, the host’s enthusiasm and passion about the freshwater world got me hooked on the subject matter. Speaking as a teacher myself, Jeremy Wade is an excellent teacher who motivates his audience, keeps their attention, and explains incredibly well. He manages to do this through the mediums of writing, as well as, television. I am no angler, and honestly, I don’t see myself going fishing any time soon, however, I was moved to learn more about the world of angling because Wade managed to tickle my curiosity. Let’s just say that he managed to present the bait (the educational aspect of his series) in the right place and at the right time to hook someone’s attention to finally land them. Bravo! This book helped me to understand more both the fish and the angler as a hunter. Looking forward to reading new books by this author, whose style of writing I thoroughly enjoy and who manages to make me laugh out loud a few times while reading his work! A very good read which I highly recommend.

[Brandon SanFilippo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book about fishing and life. Wade leans on his experience as an angler to deliver not only great stories and advice about fishing, but also about well-being, the scientific process, conservation, and yes, fish. I think this is required reading for any angler - new or old. The fundamental message in this book, is not only to get out and fish, but also to enjoy yourself while doing it.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book. Growing up on a lake in northern WI “fish stories” are art, and a way of life so I appreciate the author writing a few of his down.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t believe I read a whole book about fish angling, I’ve never even been close to a rod

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I better catch so many fish now

[Carter Larson]

Jeremy Wade is a professional angler and biologist, and his first book "How to Think Like a Fish: And Other Lessons from a Lifetime in Angling" is an extremely detailed, accurate account of his stories, human and fish perspective. With many different chapters on many different retells of experiences he has featured on his shows, there is so much knowledge to be gained about angling. Wade uses imagery to better illustrate the scene and incorporate the reader in the live recount of his stories.
Starting right off the bat in the first paragraph of the first chapter, Wade uses an exceptional amount of imagery to create a sense of immersion as he begins to tell the fish's perspective of one of his most watched and one of his most favorite original stories: The Goonch Catfish. Describing everything from the liquid flowing water and it's "distinct pattern, a grain - complex but logical, invisible but perfectly readable," to the rocks encasing the river: "close to my left side is a vertical rock wall, rising almost to the surface" (Wade, 3). Wade goes on to use this imagery, explaining the river to transition from the fish's perspective to his. "Sixty feet above, on a slanting rock beside the river an electronic buzzer sounds and a dim green light shows thick nylon line rolling off an improbably large reel. Hands reach down and pick up the rod" (Wade, 5). The use of imagery allows Jeremy Wade to not only get the reader invested immediately but to also seamlessly switch perspectives to create a sense of excitement and suspense.
Another example of Wade using imagery is in chapter 13, when he is explaining his first sighting of a crocodile. "I saw a shape like a log: brown against lighter brown. Five seconds and I'd be on top of it. As my stick ploughed an audible lie in the sand, the shape flexed and kicked away to my left, too quickly for my eyes to fix a clear image" (Wade, 127). Here Jeremy Wade is using imagery to create a sense of surprise and put the reader into his shoes.
When telling a story, or stories in this case, it is best to create a sense of immersion and make the reader feel like they are there, and Wade does this perfectly through his use of imagery. As an angler, I can really appreciate all the little details being put into each story, every little one being treated as if it is significant. In the end, Jeremy recreates the stories that he is famous for on television in an exemplary way in this book that are just as good, and just as detailed.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wildly different from his River Monsters book, where he mainly focused on the fish he caught and the stories surrounding those fish. It's also written with a healthy layer of humour.
Jeremy Wade starts off this book by stating that he is probably one of the worst persons to ask advice to, in matters of fishing. This mainly because he focused his career on catching the most spectacular fishes in the world. Then he proceeds to give some solid advice and stuff that helped him, providing ample examples for his cases. The stories and rambling can get rather distracting, though, and to remedy that he provided a succinct list at the end of the book.
There is some overlap with the River Monsters book (mainly because that was what he did for the most part of his career), but there are some situations which he hadn't treated, which makes a welcome addition. Jeremy also makes sure to point out that it isn't going well with the fish, and that part of the responsibility of anglers is to care for the waters where they fish. Finally, I also liked the jab at Google selling your online info to third parties at the end of the appendix.

[Jacquie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has watched everything with Jeremy Wade and been fascinated by his fishing, this was a fantastic read! There are truly helpful fishing techniques and strategies but it’s also fun to read some of the behind the scenes of his fishing expeditions! If you love fishing or are just a fan of River Monsters this is a must.

[Sophia Segerstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a lot of respect for Jeremy Wade, in part for his undeniable passion for what he does and the level of sensitivity to details that he brings to both this book and his programs (which I have been a long-time fan of). For myself as someone who fishes occasionally, I found his book to be a perfect balance between practical information and engaging (and shocking) anecdote, with lessons that I believe anyone could benefit from.

[Sammy ReadsAlot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeremy wade is the best. I wish he had focused more on his lifetime of incredible fishing stories as apposed to a more tutorial style book with littered with short anecdotes.

[Gunnar Loeffler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent

[Culley Hess · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great explanation of how fishing can be one of the most technically simple and practically difficult pursuits. I will reassert my claim that I could out fish Jeremy Wade any time!

[Claire Sager · Rating 3 out of 5]

Claire’s rating: 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Curty’s rating: 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jeremy Wade is a great storyteller and we (my husband and I) love watching River Monsters. This was a great book about his experiences, angling overall and fishing tips. A great roadtrip listen!

[John-Luc Richmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great set of practical life advice masquerading as fishing tips. Jeremy Wade surprised me as a very eloquent writer who is able to make the intricacies of extreme angling accessible to the amateur fisherman. Great read, shoutout to my Fiancé Grace for getting me this book as a birthday gift!

[Seneca RiceWoolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

First couple chapters were amazing but it fell off towards the end. Maybe I’m just not looking to catch MASSIVE fish… yet

[Andy James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about fishing that felt as good to read as having a line in the water. What more could you ask for? This book detached a bit from behind-the-scenes of River Monsters and focused more on getting inside the mind of Jeremy Wade. It contains a lot of tips that can be applied on your next fishing adventure while also providing insight that can only be presented by someone who has dedicated their life to fishing. It is a great read, and a great opportunity to uncover the thought process of an expert of a niche skill.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome insight into a very interesting man's reason for doing things. Love him on River Monsters and loved reading this book. I will look for more from Jeremy Wade. An autobiography would be fascinating

[Lexi Faith Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changed the way I fish now

[Ben Shore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I am a huge 'River Monsters' fan, I suppose a book called "How to Think like a Fish" brought to mind a more philosophical take than I expected.

This book is at its best when Jeremy is reflecting on the memories of important trips and engaging locals. He has such a storied history that, having watched him for years on TV, I was interested to learn more about. He wonderfully details how these experiences inform his musings about how the world works.

However, this book has many tangible elements to it as well. From the title itself it is clear that this is meant to be a hodgepodge of knowledge and insight, and for me this just was too sporadic to hold my interests. Had I attempted to consume this book like a bit of bait, and not an entire fish, it may have been more enjoyable. I found certain sections, such as a chapter dedicated to different types of knots, hard to get through. I find these sections took away from the stories of Jeremys' journey that I resonated with.

Would still recommend for any serious angler or lover of 'River Monsters', but definitely more of a light read meant to be enjoyed over several sittings.

[cats · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Be inventive. Don't be afraid to try something new or different from what everyone else is doing. Even a non-result is a result, because it teaches you something. If nothing is happening, weigh the benefits of 'stay put' versus 'move.' It's always a difficult one, but don't let laziness be the deciding factor. Sometimes the best option is to pack up, and come back with renewed energy."

"Learn from your mistakes. Don't let the same thing happen again. Look after your fish, and the world they live in. Professing to care about animals, but not caring about their environment, is an inconsistent attitude."

hey so I got here because I just really have a special interest with fish and Jeremy Wade but I literally walked away even more in love with him and his output on life and just how amazing he is. listening to his voice for 7 hours straight was lovely. 5 fish tails. 🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟

[Nathan Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of us are familiar with all those magazines, blogs, etc focused on EXACTLY how to catch a specific fish in a specific body of water under specific conditions. You know the ones. This book is more of a collection of how to mentally approach fishing. It's the sort of stuff most of us have kind of forgotten, or perhaps have yet to learn. In each chapter, the author presents an incident from one of his many outings over a lifetime of angling--each one a near-disaster that he managed to turn into a triumph--and what he, and by extension we, specifically learned from it. And he does it in an accessible way that helps us visualize exactly what was going on at that time and place. While none of it is terribly complex, I still found a lot of to be hmmm-worthy. For those of us who might have a little trouble recalling it all without letting it marinate for a while, the author helpfully includes an Afterword summarizing all the lessons. And even better, he makes it clear that even the pros have trouble catching fish!

[Lucy Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

cant really believe i read this whole thing. if you... care about actual fishing, like the technical side and the knot tying and all the little parts of fishing that men like, then sure, read this, because its literally all that. that is literally the only part of fishing i dont care about. i just kinda like fish. and i kept on reading, and im not so sure why, perhaps just so i could hit my reading challenge goal? and on the other hand i love jeremy wade with so much of my heart, and i think its hard for me to admit when i dont enjoy something of someone i love so dearly. like i like watching river monsters. but its mostly just because i like fish. i dont care about him catching them. what im saying is that this wasnt the book for me. i think. yes.
also read half of it like 2 full years ago? technically been on hold for 18ish months x

[Amanda Gathright · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not realize how slowly Jeremy speaks. I actually did speed it up to 1.2 or 1.5. Not really necessary but made the book sound more normal. That being said, the content is very reminiscent of the multiple tv series that he has been a part of. There are a few anecdotes that are new but most of it is just taking you through his thoughts during those events. Should of seen that from the title. I actually used this audiobook to unwind at night as it isn’t over complicated and isn’t so new that I would lie awake trying to finish the chapter. Overall, not disappointed in my purchase but if you are looking for new stories, may not be the right book for you.

[Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me be very clear when I say I don’t fish.

River monsters has been one of my favorite shows since I was 8 so this was a natural read for me. Jermey Wade is such an amazing storyteller I genuinely forgot this book was fundamentally about fishing. I’m sure this probably has some great fishing advice as he’s one of the world’s most prolific anglers; I just wouldn’t know.

There are so many amazing takeaways one can get from this book even for non anglers. I personally gained so much from the discussion on ecology, imagination, preparation, flexibility, animal/human behavior, and just general great life stories and storytelling.

I loved this but I know I went in it with bias.

[Daniele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. I was captured by its title, and didn't know anything about the author, a mithical television angler, I understood. It's a pleasant book. Plenty of stories of fishing of course, mainly enormous exotic fish that never will we ever fish in our lives. A bit of technique and a bit of his enormous experience are infused in the book. Which is enjoyable to read, but not an epiphany, at least to me.
I don't know if I learnt to think like a fish, but I got the message: right time, right place, right presentation are key.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a well-written book! Jeremy Wade's writing style truly brings to life his lessons on angling. I must say, it's the first book I have enjoyed in quite a while. Even though it is non-fiction, it flows like a an exiting adventure novel. I have a deep love for fishing that harkens back to my early twenties so that probably had something to do with it. If you don't enjoy fishing, this book may not be for you.

[Amy Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything I hoped it might be and more. Jeremy Wade's voice, experience, and specialty are each one of the most unique you're liable to find. In this superbly fishy little volume, Wade plumbs the depths (forgive me) of the peculiar obsession involved in perfecting one's craft. There are spectacular fish stories and practical tips, but what's best is the philosophical underpinning and gentle humor that make this book far more beautiful than a simple angler's guide.

[Jacopossum · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short interesting recollection of a life in angling form the famous "extreme" angler Jeremy Wade (although apparently he does not like this term). It is technical for fishermen to like while being detached and descriptive enough for a layperson to enjoy. Overall a good reading. I personally enjoy to find traces of scientific thinking in the most disparate activities, hobbies and passion and this book offer exactly that: a critical narrative of a life in fishing.