March 28, 2024

Fishermen live longer: Iowa author publishes book on beloved sport

MURRAY – “If you truly love the sport of fishing, you are no longer the one doing the catching,” said author and lifelong fisherman Ben Chiodo. “The fish have bagged you.”

In his book "Fishing: More Than a Passion" published this fall by the Write Place of Pella – Chiodo uses a mix of prose, poetry and farce to explore the ins and outs of the sport he loves. He recounts the thrill of tournament fishing, delves into the psychology of fly fishing and nostalgically describes his first fishing rod – a Coke bottle with a white string, heavy sinker and hook attached. The text is enhanced by black-and-white illustrations provided by Larry Anderson, an Iowa artist and friend of the author.

“I wrote this book for fun,” said Chiodo. “I hope those who read it are inspired to take some time from their busy schedules to go fishing. Because – don’t you know? Fishermen live longer.”

Chiodo grew up on the south side of Des Moines and currently lives in the town of Murray. He has enjoyed fishing his whole life, as well as sharing the sport with others. As a member of Iowa bass clubs, Chiodo has participated in many fishing tournaments.

"Fishing: More Than a Passion" is Chiodo's first book. It is the second fishing book published by the Write Place. The first was "The Reel Adventures of a Marion County Angler," a light-hearted memoir based on the fishing experiences of Jeff Rowland, an Iowa native and amateur angler who moonlights as a fishing guide. Both titles are available for purchase on Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com.

The Write Place Inc., is a publishing and design company based in Pella, that provides professional writing, graphic design, content marketing and project management services to authors and businesses. Learn more about their services at thewriteplace.biz or call 641-628-8398. The Write Place also serves clients from an office in Lakeville, Minnesota.