Fly Fishing California. Ken Hanley
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Fly Fishing California
A No Nonsense Guide to Top Waters
Ken Hanley & Friends
Stealthy approach for wily mountain trout. Photo by Ken Hanley.
Fly Fishing California
A No Nonsense Guide to Top Waters
ISBN-10 1-892469-10-3
ISBN-13 978-1-892469-10-6
ISBN-13 978-1-61881-052-6 (ebook)
© 2007 No Nonsense
Fly Fishing Guidebooks
Published by:
No Nonsense Fly Fishing Guidebooks
P.O. Box 91858
Tucson, AZ 85752-1858
(520) 547-2462
12345 10 09 08 07
Printed in China
Editors: Howard Fisher, David Banks
Maps, Illustrations, Design & Production: Pete Chadwell, Dynamic Arts
Cover Photos by John Sherman
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. You may reproduce segments of this book when using brief excerpts in critical reviews and articles, with appropriate credit.
The staff at No Nonsense Fly Fishing Guidebooks has made every effort to ensure that all references to placenames, roads and water bodies were accurate at the time this book was printed. However, such things do change occasionally.
Dedication
I dedicate this work to Leon Berthiume, Dennis Johnson, and Steve Yool. They fueled my fire for sunrises and sunsets atop the Sierra crest. I also dedicate this guide to teachers past. They gave me the gift to ask questions and the tools to discover answers.
Acknowledgments
I’d like to show my gratitude to a few of my colleagues. Their talents and unselfish expertise are an integral part of this guide. Andy Burk and Scott Saiki are two of the most credible fly fishers plying our northern waters. Their daily ventures afield offer the latest fly fishing news. Jeff Solis, Peter Piconi, Bill Calhoun, and Gary Bulla have a fine grasp on the southern intricacies of California. They are my “Pipeline” to Santa Barbara and beyond. My partner Jay Murakoshi, Sandy Watts, Woody Woodland, and Mike Mercer were always available to discuss fly selection and design.
A very special thanks to Jeff Solis, Dave Stanley, Kate Howe, Bob Zeller, and Cheryl Hoey for their valuable contributions to this project.
I appreciate the fine photography of John Sherman, Brian O’Keefe, and others for their support.
This guidebook received advance review and improvements from fly fishers: Ernie Kinzli owner of Ernie’s Casting Pond, Kurt Lemons owner of Upstream Flyfishing, Bill Kiene, Alan Barnard and Andy Guibord of Kiene’s Fly Shop, Ed Digardi of San Jose Fly Shop, and again, Andy Burk of The Reno Fly Shop. Thank you so much—your additions will help everyone enjoy fly fishing in The Great Golden State.
Finally, special thanks to Pete Chadwell and David Banks for taking my chicken scratches and turning them into a fine guidebook.
About Us
No Nonsense Fly Fishing Guidebooks give you a quick, clear understanding of the essential information needed to fly fish a region’s most outstanding waters. The authors are highly experienced and qualified local fly fishers. Maps are tidy versions of the author’s sketchess. These guides are produced by the fly fishers, their friends, and spouses of fly fishers, at No Nonsense Fly Fishing Guidebooks.
All who produce these books believe in providing top quality products at a reasonable price. We also believe all information should be verified. We never hesitate to go out, fly rod in hand, to verify the facts and figures that appear in the pages of these guides. The staff is committed to this research.
It’s hard work, but we’re glad to do it for you.
Author with striped bass. Photo by Andy Guibord.
About the Author
Ken Hanley, a California and Pacific Coast fly fishing expert, has been conducting fishing and adventure specialty programs since 1970. More than 14,000 students have taken advantage of Ken’s varied programs both in the field and on the water. His award-winning instructional programs are well respected throughout the adventure industry. He’s a founding member of the Pacific Pro Surf Association.
Ken was chosen as the 2005 inductee into the NCCFFF Fly Fishing Hall of Fame. For more than twenty years The Hall of Fame award has been presented to the individual who has made outstanding contributions to the sport of fly fishing. The criteria for this distinction include the improvement of the art, science, literature, techniques, enjoyment and conservation of fly fishing and the resource.
While Ken’s home waters of California are what he knows best, his extensive field experience spans the globe from the highest peaks in Tibet and the Himalaya, to the remote wilderness regions of Asia, New Zealand, Mexico, Europe, and North America. In all, he’s caught more than 90 different species of fresh and saltwater gamefish.
In addition to authoring fly fishing guidebooks, Ken writes and photographs for national and regional publications in the outdoor industry. Ken’s other fly fishing titles include Fly Fishing the Pacific Inshore, Fly Fishing Afoot in the Surf Zone, Fly Fishing Afoot for Western Bass, California Fly Tying and Fishing Guide, and Mexico: Blue Ribbon Fly Fishing Guide.
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