California Fishing, The Complete Guide -- 2008

Moon Outdoors, 8th Edition


If there is one book I want you to have on the seat of your car or pick-up truck as you venture out to find California's best fishing, this is it.

To try and merit your faith, California Fishing has been rewritten, reworked, and redesigned. There are close to 5,000 upgrades and updates in this edition, including a new how-to section, and in many cases, new easy-to-follow directions.

To achieve this, I have personally ventured to all 58 counties in California, searching for every hidden spot, as well as the secrets at the better-known ones. Senior Research Editor Stephani Cruickshak was involved in a process where every listing was checked, faxed, and reviewed. Hundreds of people were involved in polishing the final product.

Radio show host Bob Simms, an avid fisherman, reviewed the manuscripts, and his suggestions were incorporated in the final galleys. Some 40 fishing experts were involved in the creation of the new how-to section of the book, each who I fished with. They are listed on the book's credit page.

In all, there are 375 lakes you can drive to, 483 lakes you can hike to, 175 major streams, and 1,200 miles of coastline, enough places in this book to fish a different spot every weekend for 22 years.

I fish, hike and camp all the time, 12 months a year. It's my full-time job. Look for my boat out on the water, the Custom Design 18-footer, with the words "The Stienstra Navy" on the big Honda outboard.

Tom Stienstra