Coyote, Uvas, Anderson Reservoirs highlighted in latest,
up-to-date fishing guide of Central California.
Five years ago Chris Shaffer set out to make history.
His vision: a remarkable and epic fishing guide.
Shaffer’s mission was to change the way the outdoors is written about. His envisioned series, “The Definitive Guides”, aim at changing the aspect of how fishing is reported to make it fun and exciting for all. Stuffed full with color photographs, real life stories, and up-to-date information like this is a new and unparalleled approach at carrying on the journalistic side of reporting fishing.
“The Definitive Guide to Fishing in Central California” is not your typical bland, black and white, full text guide with boring facts, but a vivid and photogenic description of hundreds of waters throughout Central California.
“I wanted to make a difference,” Shaffer said. “I wanted to write a book anglers can use to catch more fish, discover new places and utilize California’s resources. I want people to feel like they are at the lake when they read.”
That he did.
Shaffer’s “The Definitive Guide to Fishing in Central California” is the most thorough fishing guide ever written on the region.
“If there’s a more comprehensive, exhaustively researched, useful fishing book on the market anywhere in the country, I have yet to find it,” said Joel Shangle, editor of Fishing & Hunting News magazine. “Shaffer’s tireless efforts over the past five years to fish every single lake, river and stream in Central California have paid off in the kind of valuable firsthand advice that’s usually reserved for local ‘old timers’ and biologists.
“As a matter of fact, Shaffer actually talked to and fished with those old timers and fish bios while he was on his research ‘walk about’. If it swims in Central Cali, this book will help you catch it.”
The guide was created to assist all anglers, not just beginners. There is detailed information catered to fly fishermen, trollers, shore anglers and not just those looking for a weekend getaway, but tips to help the pros.
“This guide is so sgood I have two copies. One is for reading during leisure time and one is being worn-out while I work on assessing reservoir fish populations,” said Jim Houk, a Central California biologist and avid angler. “The angling information is top quality and the photography is excellent. Every angler should get a copy of this book before it is gone.”
Shaffer’s guide is extensive. The book reflects the fact that Shaffer has visited and fished each of the 385 lakes, rivers and streams in the 528-page book with more than 500 color photographs.
This exhaustively researched guide spans from Santa Barbara to San Jose, Bakersfield to Stockton and Mojave to Sonora Pass and will help even the most hardcore anglers learn new tricks. It also includes sections of Seuoia, Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Park and portions of the John Muir, Ansel Adams, Golden Trout, Kaiser and Jennie Lakes Wilderness areas.
“There’s nothing like it,” said Roger George, former Olympic class decathlon and current striper record holder at Millerton. “I believe every fisherman needs to have The Definitive Guide to Fishing in Central California in their library. There isn’t any accurate fishing information on this area, until now.”
Shaffer’s quest to become the most traveled angler in California is continuing. To this date, Shaffer has fished 1,080 lakes, rivers, ponds and waterfalls in California. In June 2001, Shaffer released The Definitive Guide to Fishing in Southern California. He expects The Definitive Guide to Fishing in Northern California to be released in spring of 2004.
In the month of March, Shaffer remained in the Gilroy area to explore the Coyote, Uvas, and Anderson Reservoirs. Shaffer said bass as well as rainbow trout can be found.
“For an angler interested in catching warm water fish, there are plenty to be caught on the reservoirs,” Shaffer said. “Santa Clara County does a wonderful job keeping up the reservoirs and the camp grounds around them.”
Shaffer’s books can be purchased online at www.fishingcalifornia.net or at Barnes & Noble, Borders, Long’s Drug Stores and Costco.
