Customer Reviews
What took you so long? - By: Neville Merritt, 16 Nov 2008 
Chris writes about his rediscovery of sea fishing, having left it as a boy & spent most of his life fishing rivers & lakes. As a sea angler myself, I can't understand why he didn't go back to sea fishing before! We are all familiar with Chris from his appearances on television & other books on fishing, & this book is no less charming than his previous work. When Chris writes, you are there with him & you can share every sparkle on the water, distant swoop of a gull & the murmur & suck of a quiet sea. Chris brings the delicate touch of his freshwater style to sea fishing, so I wonder how he would deal with the rough & tumble of sea fishingin rougher places? He wisely keeps away from that! I would give Chris a five except for one thing. Why the obsession with keeping away from the rest of mankind? No wonder more sociable nations think us a strange lotin England.
Blank Pages - By: Lady 'A', 26 Oct 2008 
Although I enjoyed the book as I have all Chris Yates's books. I was disapointed to find a large number of blank pages. WHY?
The Passionate Angler - By: Sandra Armishaw, 27 Sep 2008 
Maurice Wiggin's book, The Passionate Angler inspired the world-class BBC series, A Passion for Angling,in which Chris Yates starred. The success of this film catapulted this quiet, modest man into the limelight, & into the homes of anglers & non-anglers alike. It opened up a whole new world of exploration for him, & when Penguin/Hamish Hamilton published 'How to Fish'in 2006, it became an overnight success.
'Out of the Blue' published by Hamish Hamilton on the 4th September, 2008, looks set to outstrip 'How to Fish'in terms of sales. The book is already on its 2nd print run, which might come as a surprise to people who previously saw Chris as a coarse fisherman, because this wonderful new book is about sea fishing; bassin particular.
It's not an instructional book; it's a journey through the hot summers of school holidays spent rock-pooling with his brother; of becoming stranded on rocks & almost being washed out to sea; of his return & rediscovery of childhood haunts, & the thrill of catching, then releasing his beautiful bass to the mysterious depths of the ocean.
Chris's mastery of prose is unrivalledin the world of angling, & those who have previously read his books will not be disappointed by this latest gem. When asked recently which was his favourite book, he replied, 'this one.' It is certainly his latest passion but it goes beyond that, becausein an interview with Charlotte Cross of Lantern Radio, North Devon, he expressed concern over the commercial fishing of bass, & warned of its potential demise.
Out of the Blue is an evocatively written book - read it & you'll smell the sea, feel the warm sun on your back & hear the waves crashing against the rocks. Your eyes will search an imaginary horizon for a glimpse of the magnificent bass, & who knows, it may stir readers enough to take a closer look at what is happening to the fish stocksin our coastal waters.
Above all, read & enjoy Chris's latest mastercast; I did, & if for some reason you can't go down to the sea right now, read 'Out of the Blue,' for it will surely take you there.
(Look out for the special edition due to be published by Mayer Benhamin December 2008. Just 50 copies of this special book will be produced. Visit River Reads to find out more.)
