ABU Related Books

The books considered essential reading for ABUphiles:

ABU Books of worth are few and far between and it is not difficult or expensive to purchase most,  for under a few hundred dollars in total.

Some are specifically ABU orientated, while other Australian Books, magazines etc below  but are still considered mandatory reading/reference material. Enjoy what I have linked.

I have linked Australian ABU related magazine articles here

Lennart Borgstrom's New English Book "ABU and Garcia ..What happened?"

Lennart Borgstrom  "Snilledrag, lyckokast"  Only available in Sweden.. Contact  Len's daughter Lena, in Sweden. swingtown@telia.com Price 200 Swedish Kronor + post. 

Tying and fishing the

     ABU Optic Flies

   by Michael Jensen

All round angler, outdoor writer, photographer, cinematographer and author of 25 books on angling. Travels extensively through out Scandinavia each season – camping, canoeing and fishing for anything with fins.

Michael has been an ABU fan since childhood, and has a large interest in angling history.

Michael lives in Denmark with his wife Ulla, and he is the proud father of two boys. 

 

A brilliant re-living of the famous ABU Optic flies created in the 60s . Stunning images and useful text providing history, as well as practical guides to recreating these flies of old , which are still effective fish takers. Michael cites personal experience using particular fly patterns for different species.
Buy this book without thinking, before it sells out.

The book has now been released in Sweden with some new formatting.
It sells through  Settern Publishing House in Sweden.

 

The Legendary Light-Line Fishing Reels: The ABU Ambassadeur 2500C, 1500C & Related Models 

by Espen Sjaastad & Karl-Eric Svensson.

A new book from Schiffer Publishing contains history and anecdotes for the Ambassadeur reel collector but also technical details and tips for the devoted angler. Here is more information on Small Ambassadeurs: The Legendary Light-Line Fishing Reels: The ABU Ambassadeur 2500C, 1500C & Related Models by Espen Sjaastad & Karl-Eric Svensson.

 

 

The Ambassadeur 2500C, a small casting reel capable of handling fine lines and light baits, was first produced in 1975. This book provides a comprehensive history and taxonomy of this legendary family of fishing reels, which is cherished and admired by anglers, collectors, and tournament casters alike. Find information on variations from 1975 to the present, Ambassadeur De Luxe versions and other special editions, fakes, tournament modifications, and market prices, as well as detailed tables and charts with exhaustive technical information. Since its invention, the 2500C has been followed by 60 further types, all crafted around the same general principles. The current casting world record for 5/8-ounce plugs was set with an original Ambassadeur 2500C, and the reel has acquired such a trusted reputation that many anglers refuse to fish with any other type of reel.

 

Size: 8 1/2″ x 11″ | 500+ color photos & charts | 256 pp
ISBN13: 9780764348662 | Binding: hard cover

 

Simon Shimomura   "The Ambassadeur and I"

  

                                             

Simon Shimomura   "The Ambassadeur and I Final Chapter"

Simon now  has new Hardcover Combination of these these twp previous books shown above
as well as "The Mystique of the Ambassadeur . Its Unexplored Stories"

Daniel Skupien       "Vintage Fishing Reels of Sweden"

Marco Malavasi,    "The Reelstown Guide to ABU Spinning Reels of Sweden"

My review here http://realsreels.com/ReeltownGuidetoABUsppinningreelsbyMarcoMalavasi.htm

Marco also has an update of his first definitive Guide

David Stanley and Keith Harwood, "Tight Lines, The Story of ABU"

Karl Henning, Fiskarens Uppslagsbok, a beautifully illustrated Swedish book with colour plates and hand drawings, largely about the ABU approach to fishing, 600 pages written in 1968  . Do look to find this out of print book if you are passionate about ABU and you won't feel shortchanged if you do not read Swedish. I was so pleased to find this example.

Paul Lorck Eidem, "Fiskarens Kokbok"

Paul's English version is "The Fisherman's Cookbook from ABU"

Hal Mount             "Mr Crabtree's Guide to Good Tackle"

The current copyright owner refused me permission to even promote this lovely old English book which promotes ABU tackle. look fo it and try to buy a secondhand copy.

Ben Wright          "The Wright Guide for the Reel Man"

Ben's latest very big update  release below  " Wright's Guide to Spinning Reel Reference & Value Guide"

George S, (Stu) Lawson - "Lawson's Price Guide to Old Fishing Reels" 

My book "The ABU Legacy" (below and left) is still with the publisher. 

                                          

Some very small in page numbers but still expensive (at auction)  tiny production run  books (ie 50 copies only)  such as

"ABU/Record Beten Fran 40 till 80 Talet"   by  Urban Westblom and Goran Magnusson

Copies are very expensive and cost up to $200 each. I believe there is a possibility of a reprint some time and urge your purchase of this wonderful bait/lure resource.

I will try to confirm this when I can contact the authors.

Steen Pederson's  fine lure compilation

Largely unknown and offered in limited quanties is this superb and very accurate guide to Record and ABU lures

More info as available

Ben Wright's new hugely updated Spinning Reel Guide

 

Fisken Disken released by ABU in mid 50's  to educate retailers

         Kaeru Nakayama,  "The ABU Reference Book"

 

There are numerous other fishing books that I cut my teeth on in Australia, that are far from ABU productions, but the huge number of images of ABU reels, rods and lures indicate the popularity of ABU equipment in the 60/70's .

To my knowledge, these books are out of print and the only way to acquire is to buy secondhand at auction.

I am trying to promote these books and if I have inadvertantly infringed on a current copyright please advise and I will remove the link, as with the "Mr Crabtree's Guide" above

Vic McCristal has numerous books, being a personal friend for so many years, many of these fishermen/writers below are known to me courtesy of Vic

Roger Hungerford "How to fish with Lures" shows many ABU lures and how they had to compete with so many other local and imported lures.

John Turnbull "The Fisherman's Bible" literally drips with ABU equipment.

John Bethune

Jack Erskine

George Brown

Peter Goadby

Rod Harrison

Dick Lewers

John Mondorra

Wal Hardy

TC Roughly

The list goes on...

So see what you can locate on auction sites....you won't regret seeing the Aussie /ABU fishing experience.