A Fisherman's Bible for the Farmington River

[southpaw526]

I have to say, although the book is loaded w/ good information, I was a bit disappointed w/ the lack of care that went into editing for clarity.....I find it difficult to focus when I'm reading a publication loaded w/ misspellings and grammatical errors....Too much focus was placed on the colorful nature of the presentation, and not enough attention was placed on the legibility of the content....For the asking price, I would've thought an editing company could've been hired to peruse it before putting it into publication.....I can get as much information from the FRAA book for a much smaller hit on my wallet.....It's an insult to my intelligence when I'm laying out that kind of money for a book that was clearly not edited....The only reason I didn't return it, is because it wouldn't be fair to the shop owner who is carrying it....I'm not a book critic, but I did play one on TV.....

[The Fisherman]

Speling counts.
;-)

[river1]

Fisherman -
swiftly and tactfully put....thanks
for all those who still have interest, the errors have been changed online and edition two (2) will be up to the proper standards. South paw, I'd be more than happy to swap out a copy for you as I would want you to be happy with your purchase. Out of few dozen spelling errors, half were in the spot description, the other half were in the "fishing secret" or "tip". To your point the book would have been worth the price without the errors, the errors are now changed. There are those who think the book would be worth the price without tips or secrets...or directions and warnings. Maybe I should have gone that route out of the gate, yet again, it has been adjusted with some good direction from some good guys in some good groups.

Most do not compare this book with the FRAA. It is truthfully sold to two different groups. I enjoyed your first line because yes, "the book is loaded with information". Yet "loaded" with misspellings is a little over the top.

Let me just explain it this way. We both know the river. Two two of us can go days without seeing one another on her banks. That is if we were the only two fishing it. There are 20,000 like us. Ever year there are more coming in from not only out of state, but also learning the sport for the first time. 50 stops described in the FRAA book, some of which can hold 1 or 2 cars. 50 stops that are learned from the new 500 folks who purchase the FRAA or revised FRAA book. 500 new folks each year learning each year, year after year. I thought it was time to comprise the whole west branch in detail. So now there is the FRAA book that has 50, and mine that covers 48 of those 50, plus 60 or so more. With this book now there is graphic detail in both books that will allow for the dispersement of all our new and old brothers.
I understand the cost, please understand this, I make 1.87 per copy. The shop owner you purchased it from, whomever that was, was shown specifics as to cost per unit, even the cost per unit when i buy in bulk. There is no way I can donate a percentage of my profits to the FRAA or any other organization when it takes me two books to come within a dollar of buying a can of Copenhagen. The stores that sell it ain't making much more. Neither the good folks who sold it to you or myself are buying a 'whaler to Bang Bonefish in Bimini anytime soon. The more profitable way would have been selling out ads in the back of the publication to reduce my cost of goods...or raise my profit level. The other option would be to sell it into a big house, Cabelas or Dicks, let them run with it and let the river be run down with lure packages, empties bottles or other trash when the "true" public gets their hands wrapped around it. It's in a dozen or two small locations, it's best that way.
The errors in text have been changed. The graphic detail... the tips...the directions they all stayed the same...
There might be a location out there that is grabbing too much profit, but per Connecticut law a wholesaler of goods can only suggest retail, never contract it or require it.
I thank you both for your honesty, and I hope that some of the variables described cleared up the book for all.

[The Fisherman]

Hi river1,

I'm assuming you're the author.

I haven't seen or read the book, so in the interest of forthrightness, I wasn't commenting on your work, or trying to poke fun at your expense. My apologies if it came across that way.

I was making a comment on spelling in general. Growing up with two parents who were teachers, correct spelling was always important. As you may know, I do a little writing myself. I get depressed for days if I don't catch a typo or a misspelled word.

Now I need to read this post several times to make sure I didn't screw up.

;-)

[grayghost]

I also recently purchase the book and would say Southpaw's review is accurate. I appreciate the effort and work that went into putting the book together. I really liked the color photos of the fishing locations and the flies. The GPS coordinates are another unique feature. But I would recommend for further publications using more traditional fonts with black ink on white paper for the descriptions (not enough contrast with the black on blue).

[river1]

GrayGhost-
Greetings
point well taken
Flyaddict mentioned the same...going with black on cream I think.
If I went white then the center (where one finds the flies/knots/streamers/beadheads etc) area would look like a big letter T.
thanks

[southpaw526]

river...I may have been too harsh on you in my freelance review of your work.....I was simply pointing out that at first glance when I was standing at the counter quickly flipping through it, it looked great, but once I got home and started to read it, I was a bit disappointed w/ the lack of attention to those little mistakes that make a good publication great....But I guess you're not shooting for a pulitzer anyway, eh? LOL......Just kiddin....I appreciate your corrections, and offer to exchange my copy, but I think I'll keep the "collector's edition" w/ the typos...LOL....The sincere fashion in which you addressed it is enough for me....Thanks and apologies....

[pasi]

where can i purchase this book, and what is the price? pasi

[joestihl]

I also purchased this book, and have flipped through it a couple of times now. Whereas I noticed the spelling errors, I was not put off by them at all. Maybe was because I knew the story behind the book before I purchased it, or because the information contained it too valuable to a newbie to care about the typos.

Let face it, when you purchased the book the cover itself should be telling you that this is independent publication (That was not a hit on the author in any way shape or form).

Please enjoy the book for what it is, a very good guide to the river, not what it isn't, a grammatical work of art.

---Joe

[Painter]

Hi River1

I look forward to taking a look at your book. Where is it being sold?

"Most do not compare this book with the FRAA. It is truthfully sold to two different groups. "

I wonder what the two different groups that you refer to are?

Good luck.

[windyriver]

up country has it. I like the book a lot! I found it very usefull today. If I didn't have the book, I would have miss the 17 inch rainbow at satan's kingdom. Thanks for a great book with a lot of knowledge in it.

[river1]

Heckler
Thanks for your feedback, very similar to the conversation which transpired a few days ago. Many if not all of your points can be answered or were addressed with the fine points S. Paw made and I responded to. (Actual profit margin that "self-publishing" has afforded me...etc) Were you looking for the offer I made him? Good and bad reviews are an expected part of putting anything into the public eye for dissemination, be it a new pair of pants that fit too tight or a movie at the film festival. In this case, the 5 p's (prior planning prevents poor performance) or 7 p's for the grunts in the group (proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance) were not fully adhered to. What puzzles me is I heard about the "guy trying to return it" close to 3 weeks ago. In that shop owner’s defense, he's had individuals come in and while he tends to customers, another “customer” photo copies one or two pages of the newspaper on Sunday morning and drops the paper back on the pile. He could only go with the rationalization that a similar action was taken outside his store.
Again, I extend my apologies that you have "sever" buyers remorse. Pasi and others, thanks for your interest or responses…more information found at the site connect to my handle.