This blog is un-ashamedly in support of my first book, enigmatically titled Fishing Online: 1,000 Best Web Sites (Stoeger Publishing, http://www.stoegerbooks.com, ISBN 0-88317-251-8, 400 pages, paperback, $22.95).
As well as a promotional tool, I'm going to use this space for updates on the some of the sites mentioned in the text, new recommendations, and miscellaneous bits and bobs such as book reviews, photos, and feedback from outraged webmasters. My thanks to Stuart Helmintoller for the use of his steelhead artwork. He has some of the best fishy clip art you'll find at his site @Streamside, http://helmintoller.com/streamside.
Fishing Online: 1,000 Best Web Sites is the first published guide to the best Internet resources and web sites for recreational fishermen in the US and around the world. Researched over two years, the book reviews the 1,000 most useful, up-to-date, and high-quality web sites for each of the four branches of the sport: freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing, bass fishing, and fly fishing. This is what's in it:
Chapter Summaries
Chapter 1 How to Find Fishing Information on the Internet: A basic, non-technical introduction to finding fishing information on the Internet, including tips for web browsing, search engines, online etiquette, free stuff on the Internet for fishermen, and how to get the most from chat rooms, mailing lists, newsgroups, and forums.
Chapter 2 State-by-State Resources: Recommends the best regionally focused fishing web sites for all 50 states, with extended sections for California, Texas, and Florida.
Chapter 3 Know Before You Go: Points to online resources for planning a fishing trip, including where to find the best weather forecasts, tide tables, streamflows, solunar tables, and maps. A general travel section lists sites for finding accommodation and campsites, road conditions, driving directions, and exploring public lands. An international section lists sites for planning a foreign fishing trip.
Chapter 4 Fishing the Web: Reviews the best sites for the four branches of fishing: freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing, bass fishing, and fly fishing.
Chapter 5 Media: Lists the best online editions of popular newsstand fishing magazines and purely online magazines with an all-species focus. Also has subsections for directory sites, fishing book sellers, TV shows, and software.
Chapter 6 Groups: Web site options for female anglers, junior fishermen, conservation organizations, clubs and fishing groups.
Chapter 7 Tackle and Boats: Tackle is divided into sites for making tackle and collecting vintage tackle, and how to find bargains on the Web. Boating is made up of fishing and boating magazine sites offering feature articles, boat and electronic reviews, maintenance and safety tips.
Chapter 8 International: 150 of the best fishing web sites from around the world within sections for Canada, Australia and New Zealand, Britain, South Africa, and Mexico. The chapter finishes with reviews of 30 fishing travel agency web sites for booking fishing vacations.
Appendix I TOP RATED Sites: To help readers go straight to the most outstanding sites for their interest, over 300 sites have been designated as TOP RATED. Appendix I is a complete list of the name and URL of every TOP RATED site in the book.
Appendix II Better Forums: Forums are the most popular means for fishermen to get together online. Appendix II lists 250 of the best forums for every type of fishing interest.
Appendix III URL List: The name and URL of every site referenced in the book, organized alphabetically within each chapter and section.
Index