Tom Stienstra - Moon California Fishing: The Complete Guide to Fishing on Lakes, Streams, Rivers, and the Coast

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

ABOUT THE FISHING PROFILES

The sites are listed in a consistent, easy-to-read format to help you choose the ideal fishing spot. If you already know the name of the specific site you want to visit, or the name of the surrounding geological area or nearby feature (town, national or state park, forest, mountain, lake, river, etc.), look it up in the index and turn to the corresponding page. Here is a sample profile:

ABOUT THE RATINGS

Every fishing spot in this book has been rated on a scale of 1 through 10. The ratings are based on three elements: (1) number of fish, (2) size of fish, and (3) scenic beauty.

10 Cant be improved!

9 Has all three of the elements.

8 Has two of the elements, almost three.

7 Has two of the elements.

6 Has one of the elements, almost two.

5 Has one of the elements, parts of the others.

4 Has one of the elements.

3 Almost has one of the elements.

2 Has none of the elements.

1 Hopeless.

Keep in mind that several factors influence a successful fishing trip. Many waters rated a 4 or 5 can provide good fishing and a quality adventure when conditions are ideal. Similarly, even at the highest-rated waters, the fish can go off the bite (no kidding).

MAP SYMBOLS

ABOUT THE MAPS

This book is divided into chapters based on major regions in the state; an overview map of these regions precedes the table of contents. Each chapter begins with a map of the region, which is further broken down into detail maps. Sites are noted on the detail maps by number.

California has roughly 400 drive-to lakes, 500 hike-in lakes, 175 major streams, and 1,200 miles of coastline. That means there are enough places covered in this book to fish a different spot every weekend for 22 years. My dream is to capture all of this and to give you the best guide to fishing in California.

To merit your faith, I have personally ventured to all 58 counties in California, searching for every hidden spot, as well as for the secrets at the better-known ones. I, along with senior research editor Kathie Morgan, have checked and reviewed every listing in this book. And while hundreds of people were involved in polishing the final product, the book you hold in your hands right now was personally worked over on my keyboard.

Even though Moon California Camping is my bestselling title, Moon California Fishing is my life work, and it involves 30 years of roaming around California, looking for every spot to cast to.

Each spot has its expertand when I visit, I try to fish with them. Its like parting the curtains on a window to a secret world where wonderful things are possible each and every moment. Some 40 fishing experts, each of whom I fished with, were involved in the creation of the how-to section of the book. Now youre fishing with them too. Each is listedand thankedin my Acknowledgments.

I fish, hike, and camp 365 days a year. Its my full-time job, and has been my career for more than 30 years. If there is one book I want you to have on the seat of your car as you venture out to find Californias best fishing, this is it.

Look for my boat out on the water, the custom-designed 18-footer with the words The Stienstra Navy on the big Honda outboard. See you out there.

Tom Stienstra

Cant decide where to fish? The following lists provide the top California fishing spots in several categories:

, trout in stream, Shasta and Trinity.

, catfish, Mendocino and Wine Country.

, largemouth bass, Sacramento and Gold Country.

, Mackinaw trout, Tahoe and Northern Sierra.

, lake trout, Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes.

, rockfish and lingcod on Point George Reef, Redwood Empire.

, halibut on Santa Rosa Island, Santa Barbara and Vicinity.

, yellowtail, Los Angeles and Vicinity.

, bonito, Los Angeles and Vicinity.

, albacore, San Diego and Vicinity.

, Shasta and Trinity.

, Shasta and Trinity.

, Sacramento and Gold Country.

, San Francisco Bay Area.

, Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes.

, Sequoia and Kings Canyon.

Steve Griffin with a Mackinaw trout

, Shasta and Trinity.

, Shasta and Trinity.

, Shasta and Trinity.

, Mendocino and Wine Country.

, Mendocino and Wine Country.

, San Francisco Bay Area.

, San Francisco Bay Area.

, San Francisco Bay Area.

, Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes.

, Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes.

, Sequoia and Kings Canyon.

, Los Angeles and Vicinity.

, Los Angeles and Vicinity.

, Los Angeles and Vicinity.

, Shasta and Trinity.

, Tahoe and Northern Sierra.

, Tahoe and Northern Sierra.

, Tahoe and Northern Sierra.

, Tahoe and Northern Sierra.

, San Diego and Vicinity.

, California Deserts.

Brother Rambob creeps up on the mountain stream as quiet as a scout in a Zane Grey western. For fishing in the wilderness, he wears moccasins, stalks as much as walks, and is careful to keep his shadow off the water. With his little spinning rod, hell zip his lure within an inch or two of its desired mark. He probes along rocks, the edges of riffles, pocket water, or wherever he can find a change in river habitat. Rambob is trout fishing, and hes a master at it.