This book is awesome, and especially great for the beginner, with plenty on tackle and techniques at every lake, reservoir, stream and pier worth fishing...and even a few that aren't! I used to fish as a kid with my dad, and am trying to get back into it. After reading this book I caught my first rainbow trout in 25 years. 'Nuff said.

This book is awesome, and especially great for the beginner, with plenty on tackle and techniques at every lake, reservoir, stream and pier worth fishing...and even a few that aren't! I used to fish as a kid with my dad, and am trying to get back into it. After reading this book I caught my first rainbow trout in 25 years. 'Nuff said.

Tom Stienstra has spent his entire adult life exploring the outdoors in California and the Pacific Northwest. He supports his avocation by writing guidebooks to the state, the most popular being California Camping and California Hiking, the latter co-authored with Ann Marie Brown. But his true passion is fishing and it shows on every page of this book, the eighth edition of California Fishing.

Like other books in the Moon California recreational series, this one divides the state into 15 geographical regions ranging from Redwood Empire and Shasta in the north, to San Diego County and the desert regions in the south. Each region is given its own chapter and prefaced by a map giving noted locations for each write up. Every chapter then includes 10 to 80 fishing locations, each of which is briefly described, along with local boating regulations, nearby camping or resort opportunities, and similar amenities. Of course you will also be told what to expect, best seasons to visit, and some strategies for each body of water.

Fishing is an enormously addictive activity. As I child I owned multiple tackle boxes and would dream over my lures nightly as fishing season approached. I gradually moved away from fishing towards hiking exclusively, but after reading the book, I find I am again bitten by the bug. This April may well find me backpacking in Henry Coe State Park, and should that be the case, I will bring along some ultra light equipment and see if I can tempt a few bass or bluegill. So be forewarned; this is an excellent book, but it can lead to seriously reevaluating the relative importance of many things in your life. A t-shirt my mom gave my father sums this up nicely: We interrupt this marriage to bring you the fishing season!