About
Bob McNally has been an outdoor writer since shortly after the earth’s crust cooled. He has written 12 outdoor books, more than 5,000 outdoor magazine stories (including many for Outdoor Life) and more newspaper outdoor columns and features than there are hairs on a grizzly bear.
Experience
McNally has been around fishing and the outdoors all his adult life. He caught his first sailfish at age 9, and his first tarpon and bonefish at age 10. His first magazine feature on fly fishing was sold to Sports Afield at age 18. In addition to writing thousands of newspaper outdoor stories, Bob has written over 5,000 feature magazine articles for every major outdoor publication in the United States. For many years he averaged nearly 200 magazine stories annually, while also working as a full-time metropolitan newspaper outdoor writer. He is the author of 11 outdoor books, including his definitive, best-selling Fishermen’s Knots, Fishing Rigs, and How To Use Them.
McNally’s writing, broadcast, and photography work have won many state, regional, and national awards. He has appeared in numerous television and radio outdoor shows. For years he hosted a daily syndicated show for In-Fisherman Radio, and was a weekly on-camera host of a fishing TV show for Fox Sports Outdoors. He has done many outdoor seminars. Bob has fished throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, Europe, Cuba, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. He travels extensively for his outdoor writing/photography/broadcast work. He lives near Jacksonville, Florida with his wife.
Education
Bachelor’s Degree in journalism and English from the University of Wisconsin
Highlights
- Expertise and interests: fly fishing, wingshooting, and bowhunting
- Other publication experience: writing staff on BassMaster, Southern Outdoors, SaltWater Sportsman, Florida Sportsman, Fishing Facts and others
Fun Fact
McNally traces his dedication to the outdoors back to his father, Tom, who for many years was Outdoors Editor of the Chicago Tribune and a field editor for Field & Stream magazine.
More from Bob McNally
Ohio Crossbow Hunter Finally Tags 200-Class Target Buck After 8 Encounters in 6 Days Ohio Crossbow Hunter Finally Tags 200-Class Target Buck After 8 Encounters in 6 Days
By Bob McNally
October 29, 2024
‘I Know He Was with Me.’ Virginia Hunter Tags 20-Point Buck with His Late Father’s Bow ‘I Know He Was with Me.’ Virginia Hunter Tags 20-Point Buck with His Late Father’s Bow
By Bob McNally
October 28, 2024
Minnesota Bowhunter Shoots a 12-Point, 175-Inch Buck Minnesota Bowhunter Shoots a 12-Point, 175-Inch Buck
By Bob McNally
October 25, 2024
California’s New State-Record Swordfish Was So Huge It Wouldn’t Fit in the Boat California’s New State-Record Swordfish Was So Huge It Wouldn’t Fit in the Boat
By Bob McNally
October 24, 2024
Iowa Farmer Takes a Break from Combining to Tag a 30-Point Behemoth Buck Iowa Farmer Takes a Break from Combining to Tag a 30-Point Behemoth Buck
By Bob McNally
October 23, 2024
Crossbow Hunter Tags Legendary Kentucky Buck in Daniel Boone National Forest Crossbow Hunter Tags Legendary Kentucky Buck in Daniel Boone National Forest
By Bob McNally
October 22, 2024
After Years of Waiting and Watching the Buck, Wisconsin Bowhunter Tags 180-Inch Whitetail After Years of Waiting and Watching the Buck, Wisconsin Bowhunter Tags 180-Inch Whitetail
By Bob McNally
October 22, 2024
Bowhunter Recovers 16-Point Buck Using a Clue from Past Trail Cam Photo Bowhunter Recovers 16-Point Buck Using a Clue from Past Trail Cam Photo
By Bob McNally
October 21, 2024
Ohio Bowhunter Tags Giant Buck with Split Brow Tines off His Friend’s Farm Ohio Bowhunter Tags Giant Buck with Split Brow Tines off His Friend’s Farm
By Bob McNally
October 21, 2024
Bowhunter Shoots Massive 770-Pound Record Black Bear in New Jersey Bowhunter Shoots Massive 770-Pound Record Black Bear in New Jersey
By Bob McNally
October 18, 2024
Pennsylvania Crossbow Hunter Tags a Buck for His 101st Birthday Pennsylvania Crossbow Hunter Tags a Buck for His 101st Birthday
By Bob McNally
October 14, 2024
Angler Breaks West Virginia’s Blue Catfish Record by a Whisker Angler Breaks West Virginia’s Blue Catfish Record by a Whisker
By Bob McNally
October 7, 2024
Iowa’s Black Crappie Record in Limbo as Officials Try to Verify the Species Iowa’s Black Crappie Record in Limbo as Officials Try to Verify the Species
By Bob McNally
September 30, 2024
‘I Was in Disbelief.’ Fishing Guide Releases Montana’s Pending-Record Smallmouth Bass ‘I Was in Disbelief.’ Fishing Guide Releases Montana’s Pending-Record Smallmouth Bass
By Bob McNally
September 30, 2024
Mississippi Hunter Arrows 200-Plus-Inch Velvet Buck on Her 2-Acre Property Mississippi Hunter Arrows 200-Plus-Inch Velvet Buck on Her 2-Acre Property
By Bob McNally
September 23, 2024
11-Year-Old Kid Becomes Youngest Hunter to Harvest a Bighorn Ram in Wyoming 11-Year-Old Kid Becomes Youngest Hunter to Harvest a Bighorn Ram in Wyoming
By Bob McNally
September 21, 2024
Fly Fisherman Lands Pending World-Record Marlin After 3-Hour Battle Fly Fisherman Lands Pending World-Record Marlin After 3-Hour Battle
By Bob McNally
September 20, 2024
Polish Fisherman Catches ‘Unimaginable’ World-Record Sized Carp Polish Fisherman Catches ‘Unimaginable’ World-Record Sized Carp
By Bob McNally
September 17, 2024