Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure - April 2012

OUTDOOR NEWS

Big Sky

www.bigskyoutdoornews.net

APRIL 2012

SPRING BASS BITE Roughing It For

WALLEYE

Montana Turkey

HOT SPOTS BOWHUNTING: WHAT’S NEW Sheep, Goat, Moose Outlook

Score A Trophy Tag

A HUNT For A GHOST RAM In Alaska

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APRIL 2012

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APRIL 2012

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Missoula 3015 Paxson St. 406-728-3220

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Advanced products to boost your ride

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APRIL 2012

2012 Sheep, Goat & Moose Outlook Tips to help you select a draw area

We do Hitches & Spring Systems

Improve Your Vehicle Performance & Fuel Efficiency with Superchips, Tuners, Air Filters & Air Intakes

Lift Kits, Shocks, Suspensions, Levelers, Exhausts

STEVE UTICK OF HELENA WITH HIS 2011 GOAT

I

t’s time to put in for moose, sheep and goat tags here in Montana.

Your deadline is May 1, 2012.

Toppers - Tonneau Covers - Bed Liners

Hoodshields - Grill Guards - Running Boards - Nerf Bars Floor Mats - Lights & More!

A few fortunate folks are able to draw these coveted tags each year and without a question, the best odds of dropping a once in a lifetime animal is by drawing in a limited tag area, where thousands put in, but only a few are able to harvest a trophy.

Hard-core trophy hunters plan diligently and expend plenty of their own sweat to create success, but even the most consistent hunters confess that “luck” plays a huge role in tagging an exceptional animal.

However, there are tags available, and you never know. It could be “Your Year” to draw.

You want it...

We’ve got it!

By Rick Haggerty Here are a few areas to consider:

For Mountain Goat: HD 323 - south Absaroka If you’re looking for a trophy goat, this unit has them. District 323 is one of the larger units that borders Yellowstone National Park. These goats have excellent habitat and District 323 has good drawing odds with abundant tags. Goats are found on high, remote ridges and basins. In this country, goats have time to mature and grow heavy horns that are needed to score a high score by Boone and Crockett standards. If you’re looking for a trophy, aim for a big-bodied goat whose horns appear stout and close together at the base with length that is well above his ears. In 2011 a total of 25 tags were issued for this unit.

Hunters harvested a total of 18 animals with around 500 people applying. (continued page 30)

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RICK HAGGERTY (406) 370-1368 AMY HAGGERTY - PUBLISHER bigskyoutdoornews@yahoo.com www.bigskyoutdoornews.net

The entire contents is © 2012, all rights reserved. May not be reproduced without prior consent. The material and information printed is from various sources from which there can be no Warranty or responsibility

by Big sky outdoor news & adventure. Nor does the printed material Necessarily express the views of big sky outdoor news & adventure. All photo & editorial submissions become the property of Big sky outdoor news & adventure to use or not use at their discretion. VOLUME 9 ISSUE 1

Please support the advertisers you see in this publication and let them know you saw their advertisement in Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure. Thank you

SUPPORT A FELLOW SPORTSPERSON

Dan Backeberg of Helena has been fighting stage 3 cancer. Dan is the owner of DB Plumbing and has 2 young children.

To help offset medical bills and loss of wages friends and family have set-up an account at Valley Bank in Helena for donations. If you would like to donate, please call Valley Bank at 406-495-2480.

APRIL 2012

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TAP THE NIGHT BITE FOR EARLY ‘EYES Lindy Fishing Tackle

are most active.

E arly season walleye fishing can be a time of plenty, but on many lakes— especially clear waters— the action is fastest at night.

The reason is simple: it’s when walleyes

Nighttime’s the right time for several reasons. Most spawning occurs under the cover of darkness, so postspawn walleyes are already in tune with nocturnal behavior.

Plus, their remarkable night vision gives them a decided advantage over baitfish. And finally, intense daytime fishing pressure only reinforces the walleye’s tendency to prowl at night.

Still, success on the night shift isn’t a slam dunk. It hinges on your ability to offer hungry ‘eyes the right presentation in the right location. With that in mind, we offer the following perspectives to help you make the most of the night scene on your favorite lakes.

Forage-rich areas near walleye spawning grounds are key nightfishing locations.

Typically, walleyes spawn on shallow, windswept rock-rubble areas where hard bottom and wave action boost the odds their eggs will survive to drive the next year-class.

Depending on the conditions, some fish also ascend tributaries to spawn. After the spawn, walleyes follow their stomachs into nearby areas where baitfish are abundant.

On many lakes, yellow perch are prime forage. Spawn-run perch move into shallow weedbeds and marshy backwaters shortly after the walleye spawn. Even though large adult perch are too big for most walleyes to eat, juvenile perch follow their parents shallow, providing ample feeding opportunities.

Pure sand and both sandy and rocky areas with patches of emerging weedgrowth are also worth checking. Inside turns on large main lake points and bars are among my favorite nightspots. The bottom line to it all is finding areas near the spawning grounds— usually six to nine feet deep—where hungry walleyes can find something to eat. (continued on page 12)

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APRIL 2012

Turkey Hunting Tips

Go Green

By Greg Miller for Howard Communications

Photo Howard Communications

The Mossy Oak ProStaff is a group of top outdoors men and women from across the country that act as spokespersons for the Brand. Members of the Elite ProStaff are people the hunting community will recognize from their hunting expertise and accomplishments, videos, TV and magazine articles.

Q: Can you give me a few general tips on how I can be more successful this spring?

A: If you haven’t used decoys in the past then give them a try, but be sure to check your local game laws so that you’re using the right kind. Take the time to practice (before the season) with your weapon so you will know what your effective range is. If you have a bird coming to your calls, once you see him back off on your calling and make it soft and seductive. If you have trouble sitting still or you’re trying to take a child hunting with you then get yourself a blind. It will make things much easier on you.

Q: How much scouting should I do before the season?

A: If it’s a new property to you then you should do plenty. Find out where the turkeys roost, like to fly down to and like to feed and hang out during the day. Don’t waste your precious hunting season trying to figure these things out. If it’s the same old place you hunt then not as much is needed. You still need to get out there and find out where they are roosting, because birds will change it up every so often. You also need to see if any crops got changed around because that will affect where they feed and hang out year to year.

Q: Is there a best call to use?

JOHNDEERE.COMGATOR

A: For me it’s the diaphragm call. It’s the call that can do it all. You can make it loud and aggressive all the way down to soft and seductive. The best thing about it is there’s no motion required to make a sound and it’s hands free!

Q: Do I need to learn to use several different calls?

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A: Yes you really should. There is not just one call out there that is going to work every single time you hunt. Some birds just won’t respond to certain calls while others will. So it’s good to have different calls on hand and know how to use them. This way you can find the one that strikes his fancy.

Q: What do you do to take care of your calls?

A: I always keep them stored in my turkey vest so I know right where they are at all times. I’ll prep them before I go hunting, rough up surfaces and chalk anything that needs it. I prefer to keep my diaphragm calls stored in a small plastic case so no debris can get on or in them that could affect their performance. I also make sure when I’m using my diaphragm calls, if I want a drink of something I make sure it’s only water. If you drink anything like soda, the residue in your mouth can get between the reeds, which most of the time makes them stick together rendering the call useless.

Q: What is a common mistake that turkey hunters make?

A: They don’t sit still enough, they call way too much or they are not wearing Mossy Oak Obsession!

Q: Do you use decoys? If so how?

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A: I always use my Montana Decoys. I’ll put a Tom or Jake decoy closest to my set up say 20 yards out (this will vary a little depending on if I’m using a bow or gun). Then I’ll put 2 hen decoys another 10-15 yards out and spread them apart so that all 3 decoys make a triangle pattern. I always put the Tom or Jake closest to me because if a Tom comes in, that decoy will be the first one he confronts. Once a Tom is inside the triangle not many make it back out!

Q: What should I do if I go out and don’t hear any gobbling?

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A: If you know there are birds in the area you’re hunting don’t give up on your set up. Not all Toms come in gobbling their heads off. Some will come in all quiet and catch you daydreaming or packing up to move.

Q: If I can hunt all day, is there a best time to hunt?

A: Early morning right around dawn, when they are flying down from the roost. Also midday, like 12:00-3:00 p.m. give or take an hour. The hens will go to nest and leave the Toms (who are always looking for a new mate), all alone.

APRIL 2012

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2012’s

HOT NEW GEAR

→

for Bowhunters W ith warmer months ahead, archers to deliver what they feel is the smoothest, One of the bows that received everywhere will begin to step outside quietest, most technologically advanced a ton of attention at this year’s to the targets and begin the regimen of preparation for opening day of hunting season. Whether you’re practicing in preparation for the opener of spring turkey or black bear, or getting a jumpstart for the fall season, you’ll want to check out some of the hot new gear for archers and bowhunters in 2012 that is sure to help tip the odds for success in your favor this year. As always, we spotlight the best of the best. No gadgets and gimmicks. Just the good gear that will make life in the woods, or on the range, better for you this season.

BOWS As a bowhunter that spends

a lot of time hoofin’ it up and down the mountain each season, I’ve grown to appreciate companies that have made the effort to lighten the load with quality products in a lighter weight capacity.

And that’s exactly why I love the new Mathews Helim, weighing in at just 3.5 pounds. The new Helim masters more than 20 years of Mathews’ engineering

By Brodie Swisher

lightweight bow ever offered. The Helim features the new advanced GeoGrid riser, Harmonic Stabilizer Lite, and a lightweight Reverse Assist Roller Guard which results in a super smooth draw. The Helim also packs two decades’ worth of single-cam advancements into the all-new Helim Cam which produces speeds up to 332 feet per second with a generous 7” brace height.

Helim

AUTHOR AND HIS MONTANA BUCK

ATA (Archery Trade Association) Show in Columbus, OH was the new Insanity CPX from BowTech. The staff at BowTech is quick to point out that everything is changing with the new bow concept they unleashed at this year’s ATA Show. BowTech took the best industry-changing technologies from their Destroyer and the Invasion CPX bows, amped them up to INSANE levels to achieve what they call a scary accurate, ghostly smooth, dead stable bow that just happens to be 355fps.

Specs on the new Helim include: IBO Rating: Up to 332 fps Axle-to-Axle: 30” Brace Height: 7” Draw Weight: 40-70 & 65 lbs Bow Weight: 3.5 lbs Let-off: 80% Draw Lengths: 26” - 30” (Half Sizes 26.5” - 29.5”) String/Cable - String: 88” Riser Length: 26 1/8”

Specs on the Insanity include: Draw Weight: 50, 60, 70, 80 Bow Weight: 4.3 lbs Let-off: 80% Draw Lengths: 25.5-30” Axle-to-Axle: 32” IBO: 355 fps Brace Height: 6”

Arrow Rest Keeping with the

concept of light and tight packages for bowhunters, the SmackDown Pro Series fall-away arrow rests from Trophy Taker are full of features that are wrapped up in a sleek, lightweight, and compact package. Trophy Taker continues in their commitment to quality and integrity as the 100% metal rests utilizes a stainless steel launcher and axle that pivot inside super smooth dual bearings. The rest also features built in launcher dampeners, a quick and easy cord length adjustment, and newly redesigned limb attachment clamps. Full capture fanatics will appreciate a new containment ring option that utilizes bristles to guard the ring opening and capture the arrow once it is pushed through the bristles and into the ring.

SmackDown Pro rests can be configured for attachment to the upper limb, lower limb, up cable or down cable. As always, the SmackDown Pro rests are backed by Trophy Taker’s unconditional lifetime warranty. (continued on page 20)

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APRIL 2012

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Bighorn Fishing Access Site on the Bighorn River MFWP

Photo - MFWP

T he Bighorn Fishing Access Site is located on the Bighorn River 72 miles from the mouth on the right hand side as you face down stream. This access site is the only

E-mail: sportman@3rivers.net

406-835-2141

www.sportsmanmt.com

Map created using National Geographic Topo! www.rockymtnmaps.com

access site along the Bighorn River maintained by FWP. It is heavily used by outfitters and is the termination point for upper river floaters. The Bighorn River is rated one of the world’s finest trout streams because of its abundant trout, dense insect hatches, and easy accessibility.

Open: Jan 1 - Dec 31 Size: 112 acres Elevation: 3074 ft Easy Accessibility FWP Region: Region 5 Phone: 406-247-2940 Email: fwprg52@mt.gov Weapons: Shotgun only during established waterfowl and upland game bird seasons Activities: Boating - Fishing - Camping - Picnicking Boat services: Ramp (Concrete) - Two ramps available Campground: Primitive Campsite - Picnic Site - Fire Ring - Sanitation/Water - Toilet Fees: FAS Camping $12.00 - W/O Fishing license FAS Camping Fee $7.00 - W/Fishing License Game fish opportunities: Brown Trout, Channel Catfish, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout Directions: 5.7 miles south of St. Xavier (no services) on Hwy 313

MFWP Map

APRIL 2012

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BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

CATCH MORE FISH! Capital Sports is Montana’s Spring Fishing Headquarters Stop in and visit with one of the Capital Sports fishing experts about the latest tackle and techniques as well as the latest fishing conditions in the Helena area.

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Fishing Contests Approved For 2012 Open Water Derbies MFWP

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has approved the following open water fishing contests for 2012. Participants must comply with state fishing regulations, including daily and possession limits. Approved open water fishing contests are listed on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov on the Fishing page, click Montana Fishing Guide then Fishing Contests.

FWP REGION 1

March 9-May 20 April 21-22 April 28-29 April 28-29 May 19-20 May 19-20 June 7-8 June 9-10 June 16-17 July 28-29 July 28-29 Aug 4-5 Aug 18-19 Aug 25-26 Sept 21- Nov 11

FWP Region 3 June 23

FWP Region 4 May 18-20 June 9 June 16 - 17 June 17 June 23-24 July 14 Aug 4 Aug 4

APRIL 2012

FLY TYING CORNER: PEEK-A-BOO RIB

By Bob Bates, fedflyfishers.org

Chironomid patterns are popular with

many anglers. There are literally thousands of them to choose from. At the 11th Fly Fishing Symposium in Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada I had a chance to meet some anglers who spend most of their time tying and fishing chironomid patterns...Pat St. Pierre had two fly boxes full of chironomids.

There were several hundred patterns on display...White, black, gold and silver beads were used. Most of them were metal, but there were a few glass beads. There were different hook sizes also. He tied the Peek-A-Boo Rib as a demonstration.

How does a person choose which fly to use? It starts with some knowledge of the insects in the lake or stream. Having a few successful friends who will tell you what they are using also helps. The choice can be refined after the first fish is caught. Some anglers will use a water filled squeeze bulb to pump the fish, and see what it has eaten most recently.

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Spring Mack Days on Flathead Lake Spring Mac Mania on north half of Flathead Lake Mike Sloan Memorial Tournament on Noxon Reservoir ABA-West on Noxon Reservoir TBF Invitational on Noxon Reservoir Koocanusa Resort & Marina 10th Annual Trout & Salmon Derby Tobacco Valley Rod & Gun Club Fish Derby on Lake Koocanusa ABA-West on Noxon Reservoir 3rd Annual Father’s Day Family Fishing Festival Tri-State Tournament on Noxon Reservoir ABA-West on Noxon Reservoir 14th Annual Great Montana Mac Attack on north half of Flathead Lake Montana B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Qualifier on Noxon Reservoir 6th Annual Whitefish Jigfest on north half of Flathead Lake Fall Mack Days on Flathead Lake Firefighter’s Annual Kid’s Fishing Derby on Sacajawea Park Lagoon Fort Benton Spring Classic Fishing Derby on the Missouri River & Marias River Canyon Ferry Carp Safari on Canyon Ferry Reservoir Tiber Walleye Tournament on Tiber Reservoir Father’s Day Fish Derby on Newlan Creek Reservoir Canyon Ferry Walleye Festival on Canyon Ferry Reservoir Broadwater Rod and Gun Walleye Derby on Canyon Ferry Reservoir Camp-Mak-A-Dream Walleye Benefit on Canyon Ferry Reservoir John Arnold Fish Derby on Hauser Reservoir (continued on page 23)

Often a strike indicator and floating fly line are used in water depths up to 20 feet or so. Suspend the fly just above the bottom, and strike when the indicator moves. Other anglers don’t use an indicator. They let the fly sink to the bottom, and then very slowly retrieve it. I mean VERY slowly: Just enough movement to straighten the slight memory curves that develop in any floating fly line.

Another method is used in deep water lakes. By deep I mean 30 to 50 feet. I first saw this some 30 years ago, but didn’t have a name for it. Anchor your floating device at both ends. Use a fast sinking fly line. Attach forceps or some other weight to the fly and toss it over the side. Mark the fly line when the weight is on the bottom, retrieve the weight, toss everything back and wait for something to happen. If a felt tip pen is used to mark the line, soon there are so many marks that which one to use becomes a question. Each angler has their own way of marking the depth. One that seems to work: With the weight on the bottom reel in until the rod tip is at the water surface, then without moving the reel retrieve the weight and toss everything back. When fishing, the distance between the rod tip and the water is the distance the fly is above the bottom. Now it is a popular technique in eastern Washington, USA and British Columbia, Canada. Four or five years ago a member of my fly club gave it a name: DANGLING. You have a direct connection to the fish when it takes the fly. If the rod tip suddenly goes underwater you probably have a fish on.

MATERIAL LIST Hook: Scud hook, 2XS like TMC 2487 size 12 Gills: Stillwater Solutions, Antron, white Weight: Brass or other, 1/8 inch Underbody: Flashabou, Gun Metal, it has a slight blue tint Overlay: H2O Products, Clear Rib: Black and red Flashabou Thorax: Thread 6/0, rusty brown or rusty orange TYING STEPS 1. Pinch barb and slide on bead. Put bead on with larger hole forward.

2. Push bead to back of hook. Put four thread wraps behind the eye, secure Antron on top of hook with one or two thread wraps and whip finish with only two wraps. A couple of half hitches also work; cut thread.

3. Slide bead forward, and reattach thread behind bead.

4. Tie on two pieces of Gun Metal Flashabou, one piece each of overlay material and rib Flashabou (red and black) right behind bead.

5. Wind thread rearward over all of the Flashabou, etc. Return thread to back of bead.

6. Wind Gun Metal Flashabou forward. Start at back of hook, and wind to halfway point then start piling it on a little to make a very slight taper. Secure behind eye.

7. Wind the overlay forward, and secure behind eye. Can use any gray/silver material.

8. Wrap red and black Flashabou. Maneuver the two strands apart and counter wrap. Have the black on top of the red but with a little of the red showing. The red seems to be a little wider than the black. Tie off behind the bead with couple of whip finishes and trim thread. Trim Antron enough to hide eye of hook.

9. Wind a rusty brown or rusty orange thorax in the space behind the bead. Coat the fly with super glue for extra protection. Avoid cements that have acetone in them because it can eat through some materials.

APRIL 2012

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Fishing With The Captain Mark Ward

M

ontana boat anglers have got the spring bug. It normally happens in April and with the mild winter we have had in the state, it seems that folks are out hitting the open water a lot sooner than they were last year. If you recall last year, not only did most of the lakes in Montana still have ice on them for most of April, the snow also hung around well into the month.

This year however, is definitely different in that regard. I am seeing more boats on the roads heading for water. Whether it is aluminum, fiberglass, drift boat or rubber raft they all are being trailered by smiling anglers, another one of the sure signs of spring.

Trap and skeet club leagues around the state will also be starting their warmer weather activities, too, and local sporting good stores have started promoting good buys on .22 caliber rifles and bricks of .22 shells – just in time for spring gopher hunting. And yes, the gophers will be out and running on sunny days.

April also means the start of spring hunting seasons with turkey hunters out in force on Saturday, April 14th, for opening day.

If you haven’t already it’s time to go through your tackle box and make a check list of what you need to buy. Check your rods and reels and see what shape they are in.

Replace line on your reel and check the line guides on your fishing rod.

Go through your boat and make sure you have a legal supply of life jackets for kids and adults. The fire extinguisher must be in working order and, depending on its length;

your boat needs to have a throw cushion and other items. Then inspect the batteries and clean the connections. Inspect your trailer and check tire pressure. Inspect the wiring, bulbs, and ball bearings. It is not a bad idea to also locate the binoculars and rain gear you might have taken out of your boat last fall to use for the hunting season.

Electronics that sit over the winter sometimes seem to have somehow developed operating problems that you wouldn’t normally detect until you are out on the water. That list includes electric trolling motors, fish finders and GPS units.

It is a lot better to fix any problem by going through a check list now, rather than your first day on the water.

Where to go for April fishing? By most measures, lakes are very good for trout when the ice first comes off. Flathead Lake is also a great place to go trolling or jigging for lake trout.

Spring Mack Days runs every Friday through Sunday during the month and ends Sunday, May 20th.

You can enter free if you log onto “http://www.mackdays.com.

Remember it only takes one fish to win.

Canyon Ferry, Holter Reservoir, and Hauser Reservoir, near Helena, will be fishing well for trout this month. The kids will enjoy seeing the big trout up close as they cruise the shoreline.

Mark Ward is known as the Captain of the Montana Outdoor Radio Show heard statewide every Saturday from 6am - 8am.

Log onto www.montanaoutdoor.com to find a radio station in your area. You can also read his weekly column in the Thursday Missoulian Outdoor section.

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ATVs with engine sizes over 90cc are recommended for use only by riders age 16 years and older. Yamaha recommends that all ATV riders take an approved training course. For training and safety information, see your dealer or call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your safety: Always avoid paved surfaces. Never ride on public roads.

Always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing; never carry passengers; never engage in stunt riding; riding and alcohol/drugs donʼt mix; avoid excessive speed; and be particularly careful on difficult terrain. ©2012 Yamaha Motor Corp. U.S.A. All rights reserved. •yamaha-motor.com

TAP THE NIGHT BITE FOR EARLY ‘EYES (continued from page 5)

When walleyes gather on a specific spot to feed, or the area is too snaggy to troll, he drops anchor and reaches for rods rigged with lighted slip floats. Such tactics are also perfect for fishing from shore or a dock. Thelen prefers Thill’s new Splash Brite, which automatically lights up when it hits the water. “Splash Brite solves the problems you have with so many other floats,” he says. “Built-in batteries power bright-red LED lights that are easy to see, even at the end of a long cast in heavy seas. Plus, a brass grommet at the top helps avoid cutting grooves in the stem or

ROUGHIN’ IT FOR WALLEYE lindyfishingtackle.com

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Although some anglers are intimidated by the prospect of nightfishing, it’s a relatively simple affair. Tactics are determined by the fishing area. “Longline trolling is a great choice for covering sand flats, large weedbeds and other sizeable structure,” says veteran walleye guide Jon Thelen, who pulls tight-wobbling, size 5 Lindy Shadlings at speeds of 1.5 to 1.8 mph.

“The Shadling’s reflective finish is perfect because it draws in and reflects all available light, including moonlight.

Plus, the bait’s intense rattles help walleyes home in for the kill.” Most nights, Thelen favors natural colors that mimic the predominant baitfish. “But on extremely dark, moonless nights I opt for brighter patterns,” he notes.

APRIL 2012

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catching your line and suspending your bait too high above the fish.”

“As a bonus,” he adds, ”Splash Brite makes it easy to tell when a fish pulls it under because the lighted section of the body totally disappears under the surface, taking all the guesswork out of nighttime bite detection.”

Small minnows and leeches get the nod in the early season, impaled on a size 2 Lindy X-Change jig or plain hook. “Jigs are my favorite,” he says, “Because whenever waves move them up and down, they rock the bait, producing an extra, subtle action that triggers walleyes to bite.”

Thelen cautions against running your boat over areas you plan to fish. “You can get away with it longline trolling, but not with slip floats,” he says. “Instead, anchor a long cast-length away.” Hotspots are best scouted during the day using electronics to probe and mark their location for later return.

One final word of advice. Always wear a life jacket and tell someone where you’re headed and when you plan to return. With the right approach, nightfishing can be a safe and productive way to enjoy fine walleye action. Use these tips to put more fish in your boat this season.

Walleye Fishing Tournaments & Others From Walleyes Unlimited

Montana Walleye Circuit Tournaments Fresno Walleye Challenge June 2-3 Steve Chvilicek at 395-4485 Tiber Walleye Tourney June 16-17 Doug Rohlf at 799-4210 Canyon Ferry Walleye Festival June 23-24 Dennis Hovden at 266-5582 or 431-6798 Fall Classic at Crooked Creek August 4-5 Travis Scott at 366-5603 FORT PECK FISHING TOURNAMENTS Rock Creek June 2-3 Kris Keller @ 653-3320 Governor’s Cup July 12-14 406-228-2222 Hell Creek JULY 21-22 Calvin Thomas @ 557-2311 OTHER MONTANA FISHING TOURNAMENTS John Arnold Fish Derby August 24 Adrin at 406-439-9473.

Broadwater Rod and Gun Club Walleye Derby July 14 Doug Breker at 266-5279 Tournament applications are available under CLUB INFO / FORMS AND APPLICATIONS at: http://www.montanawalleyesunlimited. net/clubinfo.htm

pring rains bring increased run off and rising water levels. When rivers pour over their banks, most anglers continue to fish walleye in the first deep hole below the dam. Smart river rats scurry towards shore.

While some walleye continue to hold in the main river channel, the majority of fish move to higher ground. These fish utilize flooded areas that are well beyond the river’s normal banks, such as riprap, gravel walkways and concrete retaining walls. Shoreline trees and bushes become prime current breaks. This flooded cover concentrates bait and provides cover for wary walleye.

PRESENTATIONS: FLOATS, RIGS AND WORMS SLIP FLOATS One of the most obvious ways to fish flooded cover is to use a slip float and livebait. Unlike jigs that have a tendency to hang up on brush and tree limbs when fished slowly, live bait can be suspended indefinitely at any desired depth below a slip float. To catch more fish on slip floats, pay special attention to the following items: (I) properly balance the float with enough split shot to require only the slightest bite to submerge the float, (ii) use extremely sharp hooks for increased hooking percentages, and (iii) do not set the hook too soon; instead allow the fish to take and move off with the bait before setting the hook.

Select a float, like Thill’s Center Slide float which allows the line to slide through it freely and sits perfectly upright when properly loaded. These characteristics are important when fishing floats in an active manner. Unlike the panfishing stereotype of chucking out a cork and patiently waiting for a bite, walleye fishing with slip floats is not a sedentary technique. (continued on page 17)

APRIL 2012

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Fly Fishing Basics

By Nick Simonson, No NoDak Dak Outdoors Outdoors http://www.nodakoutdoors.com/fl http://www.nodakoutdoors.com/fly-fishing-basics.php

Smallmouth are one of the author’s favorite species to pursue on a fly

When most people think of fly fishing, they

think of the movie “A River Runs Through It,” pristine mountain streams and a glistening rainbow trout held aloft by the L. L. Bean-clad angler. But that isn’t fly fishing; at the most it is a minute part of it. Just like walleye fishing isn’t all $35,000 Warrior boats powered by three different motors and tracked with GPS-true color depth finders, fly fishing is just another spin on the same old game of man-versus-fish.

THE FLY FISHING BASICS

- If you know how to fish, you almost know how to fly fish. The last part of the mystery of surrounding this hobby is the cast. How do those experienced anglers drop a mosquito-sized fly on a trout’s nose, or put a fake shrimp in front of a bonefish at 50 feet? The answer is practice.

They started from the exact same place you did, by not knowing how to cast. If you know what fish eat and where they live you might even hold an advantage that the expert fly anglers didn’t have when they began fly fishing.

There are a number of resources available to help teach you the basic cast, but far and away the best is a mentor. Find a person who is seasoned at casting the fly rod, knows how it works, and understands how it is used to catch fish. Ask your mentor questions, have him or her help you learn the mechanics, and check in from time to time to have your instructor observe your progress.

Often there are not as many mentors available as there are those seeking them out, but hope is not lost. Thanks to a great number of beginner’s books, and a multitude of websites, the learning curve is not as steep as it used to be. For teaching the basics, a book may be a bit removed from a personal instructor, but it still provides a great basis for learning the cast.

Two of the best books for understanding this deceptively simple sport are “Fly Fishing for Dummies” by Peter Kaminsky and “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Fly Fishing” by Michael D. Shook. Both reference books keep the lessons simple and straight-forward; from assembling the rod to practicing the cast.

Another great resource results from the gathering of some of the best fly fishing gurus in the world at Fly Anglers Online (www.flyanglersonline.com). This network of experienced, intermediate, and beginning fly anglers helps put a many-eyed-view on a variety of questions that inquisitive anglers need answers to. If you’re interested in learning about fly fishing, this site should be number one on your favorites list regardless of what you fish for.

NOT ALL ABOUT TROUT - Even walleye can be taken on a fly - despite it’s stereotype as a bottom feeder Don’t have any of those pristine mountain streams nearby? Don’t have any shimmering trout, slowly slurping insects off the surface available? Don’t let that stop you!

Fly angling can be done anywhere there are fish. From carp to crappie to creek chubs, bass to bluegills to bullheads, every fish that has to eat will take a fly of some sort.

When you have the cast down it’s as simple as taking it out onto the water. Tie on a fly you know fish will consider eating, such as a minnow pattern, a marabou damselfly or a woolly bugger because they all look like something edible. You can even find flies that look similar to your favorite jig-and-twister combo or that preferred crankbait color, just to keep your confidence level up.

Fish where you know there are fish. If you’ve landed bluegills hand over fist at the pond down the road on an ultra-light rod, that’s a good place to start with the fly rod. If there’s an open stretch of water where, in your experience, the smallies can’t resist your spinning rod tactics, head back there with the fly rod. Fly fishing where you know there are hungry fish will increase your enjoyment of the sport in the beginning phases and help alleviate some frustrations that are bound to come at that stage.

The important thing is to keep trying it. Every week or every day, set aside some time to cast, be it on the lawn or on the water. With time and practice the cast will come, and eventually so will the fish.

No matter where you are, what the water is like, and which species live there, even with just the fly fishing basics, fly fishing is an enjoyable activity.

It is a great way to experience a challenge and puts a new spin on the enduring pastime of angling in...our outdoors.

14 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

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APRIL 2012

Say Hello To Success: Where to chase the Fish this Month Brought to you by

predators and avoid bright light. On bright, sunny days, walleye will be deeper, where the sun’s rays can’t penetrate. At night or on cloudy days or at dawn and dusk, walleyes move to more shallow water and become more active. Look for the “walleye chop” which is when enough winds create waves that diffuse light entering the water. All of these situations create better fishing conditions and help to put fish in the boat.

Gage, Age 5 and his Dad, Jacob Ivers with Gage’s First Brown Trout OXON RESERVOIR Catch & Called the “Banana Belt” of Montana, Release because of it’s low elevation and

N

April is the first chance for area

anglers to fish some of Montana’s best lakes and reservoirs without having to cut a hole in the ice. Spring ice-off will produce some of the best fishing of the year. It’s time to dust off all your open water gear, stock up on all of the latest and greatest new gear and make sure you have enough of your old stand by’s on hand and head out to open water.

As water warms up, and the insects become active, so will area rivers as well. Here’s a look at a few.

CANYON FERRY Rainbow trout and walleye are at the top of the food chain here. Approximately 300,000 rainbow trout were planted in 2011 to maintain a significant stocking program, that has made Canyon Ferry one of the best rainbow lakes in the Rockies. Try fishing pink, yellow or black marabout jigs tipped with a worm or plastic bait. For walleye, troll a crawler harness, or spinner rig in blue and silver, or perch colored tipped with a night crawler for good action. Crank baits will produce, either casting along shorelines or slowly trolling along the lakes edges and inlets. If you’re fishing from shore, try using a floating jighead tipped with half a night crawler with a slip sinker (AKA as a Lindy Rig), attached about 18 inches below. Cast out and wait. A floating Rapala will work as well. Fish off of rocky points

or structures that extend into the water to get to deeper points off shore where the fish will hold up. Most walleye will average 14 to 18 inches, but a few 10 pounders will be caught. Eat the smaller fish, as they make excellent table fare.

HAUSER LAKE

Hunt the shorelines for rainbow using minnow-imitating crankbaits off planer boards. Troll purple glass Rapala or a medium diving Husky Jerk. The planer boards will get the bait out away from the boat producing more fish. Fish the mouths of tributary creeks such as Spokane, Soup and Trout Creeks.

Lakeside is another good spot for shallow Spring rainbows. Later in the season trolling gang flashers on leaded line is a good way to catch deeper fish.

A Wooly Bugger tends to be one of the best baits trollers can present to deep water trout.

HOLTER LAKE Holter has been fishing very well all through March and into April. Not many boats out on the water right now, and your best chance to land a huge walleye will be this month. As the water warms, the walleye will become more active. Boat anglers will be using crawler harnesses and trolled crankbaits. Walleye are dark water

mild winters, this reservoir will start to fish well in mid-to-late April. Expect largemouth bass in the 3 to 6 pound range, and smallmouth bass to average about 2 to 4 pounds normally.

Fish for smallmouth on the upstream end of the 2 mile wide reservoir as this has more “river-like” fishing areas.

Look for pre-spawn largemouth bass, walleye and northern pike in the lower stretches of this 30 mile long reservoir. Crankbaits work well early on both the upper and lower stretches.

Work flooded timber and back bays along the edges for big bass.

Staging largemouth will hold just on the deep side of ledges that lead to good nesting areas with sand banks.

As the water warms, try using a Carolina rig with plastic lizards. Dark purple or green worms are productive.

Fish the south side of the reservoir out of Marten Creek Bay just northwest of Trout Creek. Then you can fish the mouths of Tuscor Creek, Trout Creek, and Stevens Creek. On the north side, fish the mouth of the Vermillion River on Route 472, and the bay of Tuscor where Swamp Creek flows in.

Anglers are seeing the walleye fishing pick up a bit as well. Watch for big northerns along brushy, overgrown banks as the water temperature rises.

Try throwing spinnerbaits in white, red or green for both bass and pike.

TIBER RESERVOIR Also known as Lake Elwell, located east of Shelby and home of Montana State’s Record Walleye, this area will start to produce good fish this spring.

In April, target spawning areas which include any rocky outcroppings and points in and around the Willow Creek Arm, where bait fish congregate. Pike, walleye and lake trout can be caught now. Tiber has turned into a trophy northern pike fishery with 15 to 20 pound fish being pretty common for those who target these big fish. Cisco imitating lures work well for pike and lake trout. Traditional bottom bouncing with a minnow is a good tactic with a trolling speed between 1 and 2 mph, or jigging a 1/8 ounce jig on light line for walleye usually in the 15 inch range.

FLATHEAD LAKE April and May are the months to target the larger lake trout on Flathead.

Some of the biggest fish of the year are caught in the spring, as these trout are very aggressive now. Expect to catch lake trout on the average of 8 to 20 pounds and up this month.

Lake trout feed primarily on whitefish.

The deepwater bite will be around the 140 feet to 200 feet on this big body of water. Changing weather conditions will often determine how the fishing goes. As the water temperature warms up, so will the fishing here.

Spring Mack Days on the Flathead will continue through May 20th. Imitating baits that match the profile of Lake Superior whitefish do well; jigging spoons, or trolling using flatfish or plugs on the bottom. Typical colors that work are red, silver and green.

The Mag Lip from Worden’s is a deep diving flatfish design that has a very loud rattle in the body, is very fast, and has an erratic swimming action to attract big fish. Fish these types of flatfish very slow at 1 mph and right on the bottom, anywhere from 120 ft to 200 ft of water. Other trolling options include the (continued next page)

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Electronic Sting Fish from Pro-Troll.

This e-chip replicates the voltage discharged by the nervous system of live bait. Other options include a flasher squid or a spoon combination from Silver Horde. Target the large flats of the west shoreline from Angel Point to Wild Horse Island, and the Delta area on the north end by the river mouth.

LAKE KOOCANUSA

Lake Koocanusa is located between Libby Montana and the Canadian border. You can fish out of Rexford Bench, which is on the north end of the lake near Eureka, Montana. Big rainbows average 8 to 12 pounds during the late season and get up to 15 pounds. Water temperature is key here. Kokanee salmon and big bull trout also lurk in this lake. A Lake Koocanusa bull trout catch card must be in possession when fishing for bull trout (CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY).

Lyman Lure’s lures work well on rainbows in the silver color as the main food source is kokanee salmon.

Rainbows can be very picky, so don’t be afraid to try different colors and speed presentations. Try the 3 mph mark when trolling streamer flies.

Bucktail flies are also an excellent choice here.

ROCK CREEK

With the rising temperatures that occur this month, expect the bugs to be active and migrating to the shallows in the coming weeks. Rock Creek, the Bitterroot River and the Clark Fork will see bugs dropping pretty aggressively, which will make for some excellent spring fishing days. The stonefly pattern is used throughout western Montana in April. A stonefly nymph with a pheasant tail or a Prince dropper trailer during the day and a dry fly skwala in the late afternoon will produce fish. The skwala, a searching pattern, can also be used during march brown hatches this month. Those who prefer wet flies can use Princes, pheasant tails and Hare’s Ears throughout the year. Many consider this the most productive nymphing period of the year. With mild late winter weather, and a warming pattern in place, the big fish will be rising!

streamers and Beaded Hare’s Ear nymphs in the mornings. The local patterns are really effective with the big browns that are plentiful throughout the river. Hitting the prolific hatches this time of the year are key. You’ll see BWO’s and sporadic skwalas this time of the year. The best thing about spring fishing on the Big Hole is that there’s very little fishing pressure compared to the summertime crowds that are on the river each day.

UPPER MADISON RIVER Sections of this river will be closed until the third Saturday in May for rainbow trout to spawn in peace, but plenty of other areas on the river will produce good fishing. Early season nymphing around Storey Ditch, Varney, and Eight Mile using a two fly rig with a large Stonefly nymph trailed by a baetis imitation or Pheasant Tail nymph.

Steamer fishing will produce fish using sculpin patterns along with buggers and larger patterns. Warmer days have offered some great fishing around Hebgen to Quake Lake fishing late mornings and mid-day for the best fishing.

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YELLOWSTONE RIVER The Yellowstone can offer up the trout of a lifetime in April as big browns will be hungry and active now. Nymphing will be solid all month as whitefish will also be chewing hard. Throw large streamers for big browns. This river has deep holes, and a sink tip line will really come in handy here.

There should be plenty of surface activity as well with March Browns and Blue Winged Olives emerging. Fish Yellowstone’s side channels for good early season dry fly activity.

IDAHO UPPER SALMON RIVER

Idaho Fish & Game increased the bag limit for the spring steelhead season to a daily limit of six steelhead, 18 in possession and 40 for the spring 2012 season. The increase affects river sections 15 through 19 on the Upper Salmon from Long Tom Creek, about 3/4 of a mile upstream of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River to a posted boundary about 100 yards The Big Hole Valley will be heating downstream from the Sawtooth up this month and the trout will start Hatchery. Steelhead anglers must gorging themselves with dry flies. The use only barbless hooks, and may hatch along this Blue Ribbon Trout keep only steelhead marked with a Stream can be sporadic in the spring, clipped adipose fin. but the first few days that conditions are just right is when you’ll want to be on the river. Water temperatures in the 50’s and about 3 feet of visibility The Clearwater will continue to fish under water is ideal for fish to actively well into April, as will the North and start feeding. A great pattern to start South Forks. with will be the Elk Hair Caddis, sizes (continued on page 23) 12 and 14 in olive or tan, throw

BIG HOLE RIVER

CLEARWATER RIVER

• 15

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APRIL 2012

“Don’t miss miss a day on the water.” Confidence Baits B Nick Simonson, NoDak Outdoors

BIG OR SMALL

Ta curly-tail he woolly bugger is a pattern that rarely fails. Likewise, a ballhead jig with grub will catch nearly any fish. A red-and-white Daredevle spoon

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will with all certainty pull a pike out of any water that holds the species.

These lures are time-tested producers; they are the ultimate confidence baits because generations before ours have rippled the water with them in search of walleye, bass, trout and more.

So what makes a confidence bait? A confidence bait is a lure that, regardless of where you are fishing – be it a 100,000-acre lake, or a one-acre farm pond – produces bites. But the surety that a fish will strike on nearly every cast does not come without some sort of early success.

Whether it is from a magazine ad, the buzz on an Internet message forum or from the mouth of a tournament pro...anglers are drawn to new baits. Like our significant others buy shoes and purses every-other-day, we buy tackle.

Some of it sits at the bottom of the box, some of it will catch fish occasionally, and some of those lures become confidence baits.

Take the Sinkin’ Salty Shad by Case Plastics (www.madtoms.com) for example.

My experience with this lure, from purchase to proving point to permanent resident in my tacklebox, details the creation of a confidence bait. Based on some chatter coming off of one of my favorite smallmouth message boards, the hype was big for this five-inch salt-impregnated plastic, which wobbled slowly on the fall like a Senko, yet had a slender baitfish profile. I bit and hoped the fish would too. In time for Minnesota’s bass opener, I purchased three bags in watermelon red, pearl and bubblegum colors.

When tubes produced a slow bite, I switched to the SSS, cast it out and let it fall. As with most “do-nothing” lures, I kept a semi-tight line as the bait fell among the branches of a deadfall on opening morning. The line jumped suddenly and peeled to my left. I leaned back on the rod and a 20-inch largemouth exploded from the calm surface of the backwater bay. Fish in hand, I smiled for the camera. I would go on to land 11 more fish that hour, with most measuring over 16 inches. A confidence bait was born.

From the early success, and subsequent positive experiences, confidence builds in a bait. However, a season or two of use is normally required to establish that confidence, and as the use rate goes up, catch rates generally do, and the experience with the how, where and when of fishing the bait builds belief that in a certain situation a fish will hit the lure. As with the SSS, confidence baits should be fished like how you grew bacteria in your petri dish in eighth grade – through the scientific method. I have applied the lure on other bodies of water, in various conditions and found that it is a guaranteed winner – in many situations. Test the results of your first successes with the lure on other bodies of water, in other conditions.

Focus on what works and what does not. Realize that one bait can’t do it all, but the right bait in the right spot almost guarantees that fish will bite.

Once you have found your go-to bait for one situation, explore other baits for that situation, or for a completely different one. Test different presentation tactics with each bait; keep learning and expanding your on-the-water repertoire. Having confidence in one bait allows you to explore with others.

Knowing you can catch the fish that are present allows you to try other baits and go back to your confidence bait if the new presentation didn’t work.

Despite the damage it might do to your wallet, the ideal outcome is to have several confidence baits for each situation that angling conditions present.

The development of a confidence bait is like realizing for the first time that a hook and night crawler under a red-and-white float isn’t the only way to catch fish. Each summer I look to expand my tackle box with confidence baits, by trying new products and employing old standbys in new situations. I have been told by my fiancé, “you can never have too many shoes that make you feel good;” the same has to be true for confidence baits...in our outdoors.

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SOFT PLASTIC GRUBS ARE GREAT TOOLS FOR CATCHING BASS IN MANY SITUATIONS

By Colby Simms, lindyfishingtackle.com The highly versatile grub was designed many

years ago, but yet it still catches fish today, and lots of them. Grubs are great lures for a variety of species from bluegills to muskies, walleyes to stripers, crappies to pike and many in between.

Bass can be caught on grubs too, and in fact, grubs are great lures for bass in a variety of situations. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass and all other black bass species can be taken with grubs throughout the year and throughout their range.

RIGGING There are several different styles of grubs available to today’s angler. Curly tail grubs, strait tail grubs, reaper tail grubs and twin tail grubs are the most popular and some even come in skirted models with a collar of tube like tentacles extending from the head of the bait about half way down the body of the grub.

My favorite is the most commonly used grub out there, the un-skirted single curly tail grub. This little piece of soft plastic is effective when fished in many different ways.

Grubs can be texas rigged, carolina rigged, split shot rigged or used on a drop shot rig. They can also be fished weightless.

JIGS My two favorite ways to fish a grub is to rig it on a jig or a spinnerbait. Both are popular and highly effective ways to fish this soft plastic lure, probably the two most effective. When most anglers fish grubs, they thread them onto a jig. I really like the X- Change Jig from Lindy Fishing Tackle. The X-Change Jigs feature a big wide bite hook that means more fish in the boat. The hook and head of this special jig are separate, and a different head can be snapped onto the special hook without retying the lure. This allows anglers to quickly and easily change head colors and weights to perfect a pattern faster than ever before. These red hot new jigs are great when matched with the soft plastic grub.

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ROUGHIN’ IT FOR WALLEYE (continued from page 12) By setting the bobber stop at the proper depth and ever so slowly sweeping the rod forward and retrieving the slack line, one can crawl a live bait over every inch of walleye holding cover. When a key piece of structure is located, the bait can be made to quiver in place by slightly twitching the rod tip. The bait can also be jigged aggressively in place by raising the rod tip to pick up an extra 6-12 inches of line beyond the bobber stop and then lowering the rod tip again to allow the bobber stop to come to rest on the float.

Since fishing slip floats around flooded cover means fishing through rocks and wood, the use of premium bait hooks pays off. Hooks, such as Owner’s live bait hooks, have the benefit of true needle point sharpness with unmatched strength and durability. These premium hooks retain their sharpness after extended periods of use and the points will not roll-over even after being pulled out of repeated snags. In addition, when fishing minnows on slip floats around brush, make certain to place enough weight close to the hook to keep the minnow from swimming around branches.

SPINNERBAITS Grubs also make great trailers for spinnerbaits. The versatile spinnerbait is one of my favorite lures for bass and these have produced some of my most memorable catches of all species of bass and other fish as well. Grubs are tremendous trailers for the back of a spinnerbait. Slide the grub on either the main or trailer hook of the spinnerbait. Grubs add extra bulk and vibration to a spinnerbait. They also produce a different action than other spinnerbait trailers. A soft plastic grub can also NO-SNAGG RIGS When fishing riprap and be used as a trailer for buzzbaits, spoons and other lures. areas with limited brush, use bait rigs to cover more ground and locate variations in flooded TOOLS & EQUIPMENT Whenever I’m after bass of any species, there are several key cover. The problem encountered when fishitems that I make sure to have on board my boat. One is a pair of polarized sunglasses deing most live bait rigs around flooded cover signed for fishing. They cut the sun’s powerful glare, protect my eyes and allow me to see is the sinker getting hung up. With refined deep into the water, which helps me catch more and bigger fish. Another item is a strong bait rigs like Lindy’s No-Snagg sinkers, one net like a Beckman, for landing big bass with consistency. The other is an unhooking tool to can fish long stretches of flooded shoreline to locate pockets of active walleye. To minimize make sure that I can quickly and successfully release my bass unharmed.

GET OUT THERE Always carry a stash of grubs in your boat or tackle bag whenever you head to the water. Please practice catch and release, the future of fishing depends on all of us. Good luck!

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snags, fish the rig at a 45 degree angle or less. The narrow angle allows the sinker to walk along the bottom in an upright manner instead of being dragged on the bottom.

In flood conditions, walleye often utilize small ‘spot on the spot’ piece of structure. The key becomes locating these holding areas and establishing a pattern to catch these fish.

With the use of a bow mount electric trolling motor and an Aqua-Vu underwater video camera, one can get a better view of the shallow flooded cover, and all the time dragging No-Snagg bait rigs around productive looking cover.

An underwater video camera is more productive than a fish finder in shallow flooded water since most walleye relate extremely close to the cover and will not be detected by sonar. An Aqua-Vu also aids in determining how closely walleye are relating to structure. At times, walleye will literally sit with their nose against the structure. To catch these fish, one must present a bait directly in front of them, and fish slowly. When walleye are observed out on the perimeter of cover, they can be caught on a more aggressive approach.

TEXAS RIGGED RINGWORM A third option for shallow, flooded water walleye is plastic worm fishing. More precisely, a Texas rigged 3.75” Thumpin’ Ringworm. Texas rigging is one of the most common tactics of largemouth bass anglers but may not be so familiar to walleye anglers. The rig is simple.

Start with a Thumpin’ Ringworm, a light bullet weight (1/16oz.) and a Mustad size 1 Ultra Point Ultra Lock hook. Slide the weight on the line. Tie on the hook. Thread just the tip of the Ringworm onto the hook, and then, with the worm aligned against the hook to run perfectly straight, insert the hook back into the worm, without exposing the hook. This rig can be fished over, around and through relatively thick cover. (continued next page)

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By Neal M. Cote’

M arch came in like a lion and is going out like one too, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait for the weather to get better, this is one of the best times to catch some of the biggest and best fish that Montana has to offer.

Look for Northern Pike to start staging and moving nearer to spawning areas in mid April. As the ice starts to leave the lower lakes, those big females are going to move in looking to top off their tanks before spawning. In the rivers, look for them to start moving to the mouths of backwaters from the deeper holes. In the lakes, dead bait rigs, flies, and slow moving plastics are going to be your best options, in the rivers (Check your regulations!!! Many of the waters in Western Montana are closed to bait until the third Saturday in May!) plastics rigged on lighter jigheads, flies, and suspending jerkbaits will produce.

THE FISH ARE GOING TO BE THE MOST ACTIVE IN THE AFTERNOONS, WITH WARMER OVERCAST DAYS EXTENDING THE BITE FOR LONGER PERIODS. Think slow in your presentations and methodically fish all the water before moving on. Areas I like to target are: Flathead River both above and below Flathead Lake, Lower Clarkfork River, Thompson Falls and Noxon Reservoirs.

Smallmouth Bass are also on the move and will move up to any wood or rock structures looking to load up on any available forage that they can find. As the water warms, crayfish and Northern Pike Minnows are also getting more active and are perfect targets for these hungry fish.

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1/16th to 3/8th ounce jigs rigged with 3-5 inch grub and tube bodies are one of my go to baits and can be fished from shallow to deep until you find the fish. Any color that matches crayfish or the minnows where you are fishing will get it done.

I have had some excellent days on the lower Clarkfork this time of year.

Cover as much water as you can and fish fairly slow with short hops followed with mid length pauses. Most of your strikes should come on the fall or during a pause. Slowly and steadily dragging along the bottom is deadly on crayfish grabbing Smallmouths this time of year as well. Areas to fish: Lower Flathead and Clarkfork from Buffalo Bridge all the way to Thompson Falls, Noxon Reservoir, Fort Peck Reservoir. There are also many smaller reservoirs in eastern Montana that are sleepers for great Smallmouths....

WARM UP WALLEYES & TROUT

Missouri river Walleyes are moving up river to load up before the spawn. Warmer temps in late March and early April will trigger the move and some truly huge fish are caught every year at this time.

Think medium and deep diving crankbaits and jigs tipped with soft plastics that mimic medium size minnows.

Also think crayfish colors, especially if you are fishing below any of the dams. (continued page 21)

Roughin’ It (continued from page 17) Do not attempt to fish too much territory with any one cast. Long casts mean shorter angles, more snags and fewer bites being detected. With precise mid-range casts, keep the rod tip high to minimize hang-ups and quickly detect bites. Ringworm fishing is much like plastic worming for bass. Line watching is critical. The worm should be slowly dragged over bottom structure. Walleye will typically only move a short distance to take the bait and are less likely than bass to swim off with the worm.

CONCLUSION Fishing above the normal water line makes for interesting surroundings. Shoreline amenities like boat ramps, parking lots and play sets become walleye holding structure.

Walleye spread out over this newly flooded structure but continue to concentrate in areas that provide food, cover and optimum water quality. So when high water strikes, move to higher ground for more walleye.

APRIL 2012

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Family Friendly Fishing Waters

By Rick Haggerty

M ontana’s natural fisheries attract anglers from all around the world with big rivers and huge lakes and reservoirs that are some of the best fishing in the West. But, where can you take a youngster or beginner to fish that will be easy access and have a high fish catch rate? There are ponds, creeks, and smaller lakes and reservoirs in each region that are stocked and maintained especially for this purpose.

Jesse with his bass

REGION 1 (406-752-5501) Kalispell •Buffalo Head State Park Pond (Kalispell) This 3-acre pond on Woodland Avenue is stocked with rainbow trout - anyone can fish •Shady Lane Pond (Kalispell) Located near the old steel bridge site with easy access to the pond

•Troy Pond (Troy) This pond is part of the City Park and is annually stocked with rainbow and cutthroat trout.

•Triangle Pond (Noxon) This 8-acre pond is located on the backside of Cabinet George Reservoir and is heavily stocked with good rainbow and broodstock rainbows.

Located about 5 miles south of Ronan, this pond is stocked with rainbows and also holds good amounts of largemouth bass perch and brook trout.

REGION 2 (406-542-5500) Missoula •McCormick Pond (Missoula) This pond is known for big rainbows and cutthroat trout. It is stocked annually, has easy access and is easy to locate.

•Warm Springs Kid’s Pond (Warm Springs) Located in the Warm Springs Wildlife Management area this pond is open year-round to anglers 14 years of age and younger.

It is annually stocked with rainbows.

•Heironymous Pond (Hamilton) Located near the Bitterroot river in the middle of Hamilton, this pond is stocked with catchable rainbow trout.

•St. Regis Pond (St. Regis) This pond is stocked with rainbows. There are sometimes weeds early in the year, but it’s a beautiful, scenic area to take the family fishing.

Kid’s fishing ponds are REGION 3 (406-994-4042) Bozeman •Blacktail Meadows Pond (Dillon) heavily stocked with Located on the north end of Dillon and is stocked with rainbow trout. Open to anglers 14 years of age and younger. trout and other species •Three Forks Pond (Three Forks) of fish, so beginners can Located just northeast of Three Forks, this pond has opportunities to catch carp, bass, bluegill, and yellow perch. learn how and what it • Glen Lake (Bozeman) takes to catch fish.

Located in the East Gallatin Recreational Area, northeast of Bozeman, this lake has good trout and bass fishing.

• Gheny Pond (Twin Bridges) Just south of Twin Bridges on Highway 41, this pond offers rainbow trout fishing.

Fishing worms under a REGION 4 (406-454-5840) Great Falls bobber is a good way to •Spring Meadow Pond (Helena) start out, then cast small Located at Spring Meadow State Park on Highway 12 West, this pond is loaded with trout and bass and has easy off-the-highway access. spinner lures. Berkley’s •Fairgrounds Pond (Helena) This Lewis & Clark County pond is stocked in late June and late July with catchable rainbows, and is open to kids age 14 years and younger.

Power Bait also works •Elks Club Pond (Lewistown) well in these small This 1 acre pond at Pine Meadows Country Club is stocked annually with rainbows. Stop at the Pro Shop for direction and permission. waters when fishing REGION 5 (406-247-2940) Billings from the banks.

•Lake Elmo (Billings) Located in a suburban park in Billings, expect to catch rainbows, bass, perch, crappie and even a catfish here.

REGION 6 (406-228-3700) Glasgow Always check Montana •Home Run Pond (Glasgow) Fishing Regulations for Located in a ball park on the southeastern edge of Glasgow. Hatchery trout are planted in May. The pond also contains updates and fishing crappie and perch, and is planted with trout in the fall so that kids can enjoy winter ice fishing. limits before you start •Fort Peck Lake Pond (Fort Peck) out.

Located near the Fort Peck downstream campground off of Highway 117. Open to fishing for anglers 14 year of age and younger.

REGION 7 (406-234-0900) Miles City •Cook Lake (Miles City) Adjacent to the Tongue River at the west end of Main Street in Miles City. Yellow perch are stocked in June.

NOTE:

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While most boats leave the landing in pursuit of other popular sport fish, I slide aside and pounce on perch By Brian Brosdahl

Historically, perch have been known as “the other fish.” You can see it within livewells throughout the Midwest.

Walleye anglers are more than happy to keep a clutch of jumbos that happened to be mixing with their primary quarry; crappie catchers aren’t quick to release a stray ‘eater’ that wandered onto the area, either; even hardcore bassers will find the time to fill their livewells if enough jumbos reach the hook on their soft plastics.

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Hot New Gear For Bowhunters (continued from page 7) worth mentioning are the new Ulmer Edge from Trophy Taker and the Rage X-Treme from Rage Outdoors. Trophy Taker continues to build on their broadhead line with a mechanical head Lethal Weapon that is sure to be the death of many turkeys this spring. The Ulmer Edge BOWSIGHTS features true field tip accuracy due to One of the slick new bowsights extremely low flight profile, rear I discovered at this year’s ATA show deploying blades for huge entrance holes was the Lethal Weapon from Sure-Loc. and maximum penetration, innovative The Lethal Weapon gives you multi-axis blade engagement allows blades to pivot adjustability and revolutionary Retina around heavy bone, a practice mode Lock Technology. Retina Lock is an that allows the Ulmer Edge to be shot alignment that, at a glance, assures you into standard broadhead targets without are perfectly aligned and not torquing damaging blades or targets, and a your bow. Before each shot, you simply 1.5 inch cutting diameter. center the static black dot in the middle of the floating green field. Features of the Lethal Weapon sight include: five-axis micro adjustability, pins enclosed in stainless steel tubes, extra-long, durable fibers for bright pins (.019), MicroLock Pins, and quiver Rage X-Treme compatibility.

Broadheads

In the spring and early summer, an inland lakeʼs perch populous scour depths from 8 to 20 feet. In ultra clear water, however, they may utilize flats in the 20ʼs or 30ʼs. And in chalky water, they might frequent flats as shallow as 6-feet.

Photo by Bill Lindner, courtesy of http://www.frabill.com

I, however, search for perch on purpose.

I prepare ahead of time by specifically gearing up for them, and shake loose all temptations to chase other hot bites. It’s all because I know once perch enter the post-spawn era—the calendar reading May and ready to flip to June—the entire perch population goes on a feeding bender.

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APRIL 2012

Great Perch Wakeup

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It seems with each passing year the options for the business end of our arrows continue to get more and more lethal. A couple deadly broadheads

Rage Outdoors turned the deadliness of their Rage broadhead up a notch this year with the introduction of their new Rage X-Treme head. (continued page 37)

SEEK AND YEE SHALL FIND The zones in which perch are active are generally spacious. Primo perch spots, however, depend on the characteristics of a lake, food and cover.

The presence of walleyes is often a good indicator of perch whereabouts. However, don’t limit yourself to an acutely defined walleye spot. I frequently encounter the fattest perch near, but not intermingled with their bloodline-brethren. While walleyes, for instance, might merely clip along the lip of a break leading down a flat, perch on a feeding binge would rather swallow-up and run the flat.

In general, an inland lake’s perch populous can be found in depths from 8 to 20 feet. In ultra clear water, however, they may utilize flats in the 20’s or 30’s. And in chalkier water, they might be found on flats in only 8 to 14 feet.

HIDE AND SEEK What are other chief determinants, you ask? Food and cover. But during the late spring and early summer graze, it’s obvious feasting comes before fear because you can jack perch from flats featuring nary any hideaways from predators.

Take the presence of chara grass (actually an algae); it offers a classic example. The crusty, vein-like algae forms twisted beds over shallow gravel flats and offers very little protective cover for perch. In it, however, juvenile crayfish and baitfish find assumed asylum. Perch are wired to nose into the labyrinth and root out the forage. Chara-oriented perch are motorized pod feeders that roam, so don’t expect to drop anchor and whale on ‘em for hours here.

Flats featuring “out with the old and in with the new” vegetation are perch pathways when water temperatures eek into the 60s. Winter’s brown and down cabbage and/or coontail is giving way to replacement greens. Like chara flats, spans of these newly emerging greens play host to perfect-for-perch sized crayfish and baitfish.

More than once I’ve filleted a limit of perch where every single gut popped with the flesh and skeletons of micro-bluegills and perch. Baitfish often take on the form of George Washington-quarter-sized bluegills and Fritoes® length perch, originals not the scoops.

Perch feast on both.

Some flats sport emergent weeds, like hardstem bulrushes. A blend of bent and broken stems supported by new life poking through the surface combine to offer perch both cover and a seemingly endless food supply. Besides baitfish and crayfish, the aquatic ‘farmer’s market’ contains bloodworms and other soon-to-be airborne insects still in their aquatic form.

The fact of the matter is the fish are feeding with reckless abandon and will consume whatever that particular lake has to offer.

DEEP POCKETS The shape of a flat and how it interlaces with nearby basins are just as important as the associated cover.

Case in point: how walleyes tend to fixate on where a flat juts into deepwater, say, the tip of it, while more often than not, perch will curl back to where the point originates from the flat, especially on inside turns.

Random depressions and trenches across a flat are the ally of perch odds-makers. Take a flat that stabilizes at 10 feet deep, and then toss in an area that scoops out at 12-feet.

I can tell you, the divot is right where the majority of the perch will be concentrated.

These troughs collect more debris than the surrounding area, which means more matter for invertebrates to roll in, and perch to stop the fun and games. (continued next page)

APRIL 2012

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The Great Perch Wakeup (continued) Photo by Bill Lindner, courtesy of http://www.frabill.com COVER FOR COVER The flats perch roam can be massive; some a hundred-plus acres. With this in mind, you must search with purpose and determine as quickly as possible what type of cover they’re using.

Nothing is more effective than when I drop my bow-mounted Minn-Kota trolling motor and machinegun-cast jigs to cover water. This is when I’ll fix up a 1/32- or 1/16ounce Northland Fireball Jig with a live minnow. To surprise short-strikers I’ll clip off the end of a minnow’s tail and hook it through the mouth and straight out the back of its head. The tail-less minnow gets just as much attention as a whole one and fools fickle fish with a hook in their jaw.

On calm days, I’ll pattern perch by slow trolling with the bow-mount electric while watching my Humminbird for fish; even more so its Side Imaging for cover and baitfish. Often, in shallow water, I might not mark fish, but will at least get a snapshot of the terrain. If it has the right ingredients, I’ll drop a waypoint on my GPS and come back to it and cast.

In choppy water, I’ll utilize a controlled drift; the trolling motor used to control boat speed and position. I’ll drag the jig when the wind’s up and navigate it through the weeds. When the cover is superb and surface roiling, I’m oftentimes able to catch fish directly under the boat.

Whether casting or trolling I “weaponize” with a 7-foot St. Croix Panfish Series rod.

The length takes up line with authority for sweeping hooksets. During a drift, however, I shorten to a 6-foot model from the same Panfish Series.

Willing to forgo a hot bite to catch perch? I don’t blame you. Just remember to cover water on flats adjacent to deep-water main-lake basins after the fish have spawned and you’ll find plenty. Concentrate on where the fish are feeding, be it weeds or depressions in the bottom, and you’ll more than likely find the mother lode.

The “Go To” Spring Playbook Kitts Tackle in Helena can fix you up for some of the best jigs for the water you intend to fish. Also pack a head lamp as some of the best bites are after the sun goes down.

Look for slower water flats and rock humps as well as Kit’s Jig slow current seams near deeper holes in the river from Holter Dam all the way to Great Falls and you should get bit. Holter, Hauser and Canyon Ferry reservoirs will start to produce as soon as the ice is off. Look for any type of structure change in the 5-20 foot range that is near bigger shallow flats to hold pre-spawn fish. Leeches and crawlers fished tight to the bottom will also produce.

(continued from page 18)

The lures jigs and rigs that work are almost to numerous to list, but if you spin, marabou jigs are hard to beat. Swim these about a foot off the bottom and look out!

For the fly, buggers and big streamers for the aggressive fish, and prince nymphs and zug bugs below a strike indicator for when the action slows. Power Bait, spawn sacks and salmon eggs for the bait crowd and you have most of the bases covered.

If you are looking for big fish, use bigger baits and you just might break the 10 pound barrier!!

SHALLOW WATER RAINBOWS

March and April are just plain awesome for Big spawning Rainbow Trout. From Browns Lake in Western Montana to the Helena Area reservoirs, now is the time.

And the best part is, you don’t even need a boat to get in on the action!!

Trolling with Rapalas and the action can be almost non-stop. The only limiting factor will be the wind.

Spring is finally here, and now is the time to hit the water!! Come rain, snow or shine now is the time....now the only problem is which species do you want to catch today?

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APRIL 2012

Editor Rick Haggerty with 2011 Bass

DIAL IN LURE RETRIEVAL FOR BASS

By Babe Winkelman, www.winkelman.com

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Recommended Roads & Trails from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest USDA Forest Service

Recommended Roads: Between Birch Creek and Polaris there are miles of OHV roads, and many high mountain lakes. A favorite is the OHV trail from Kelly Reservoir to Esler Lake.

Isomeone ’m sure everyone reading this has had this happen: you’re in a boat fishing with else and the other guys is killing the bass while you can’t buy a bite. So you

switch to the exact same lure as the hot shot. You fish the same weight line, cast to the same exact spots, but can’t seem to get bit. What gives?

More often than not, the answer lies in the retrieve. The angler catching all the fish just happens to be imparting the exact pace, hop, hesitation, or whatever to the lure and is giving the fish what they want to see. And because the “magic” retrieve can be so subtle in its uniqueness, it’s sometimes very difficult for others to duplicate.

Leading professional bass anglers prove this week in and week out. At many tournaments, every fisherman in the field knows exactly what the “bite” is on the water they’re fishing. Every competitor out there might be throwing virtually the same exact thing. But guys like Kevin Van Dam will come to the weigh-in with a nice bag while the rest of the field scratch their collective heads and wonder ‘how in the heck did he do that?’ The world’s best fishermen know how to dial in the perfect retrieve and bait presentation. They just know how to feed fish.

Like anything worth working for, perfecting effective retrieves means you have to practice and experiment. Here’s a great example. While filming a pike show in Ontario, I came into a shallow bay that was literally loaded with huge pike. They looked like sunken logs strewn all about. I figured I was in hog heaven and started throwing a fiveof-diamonds spoon... a go-to bait for pike. On a steady retrieve, they wouldn’t budge for it. So I began to pause and flutter the spoon. That got them to make a few half-hearted charges, but no bites. Clearly slower was better, and nothing beats a jig for a slow-motion retrieve. So I switched to a big Banjo Minnow and swam it back slowly in a gentle up-and-down way. Still no takers. It wasn’t until I let the bait fall to the bottom and just sit there that I got the pike excited. They’d rush in, poise above the motionless bait, and wait. Then, after a good 20 seconds of doing nothing to the lure, I would give it the slightest twitch and WHAM! They would hammer it! I read the fish and dialed in the right lure and retrieve they wanted. And that’s what it takes to master the perfect retrieve.

There are so many lures in the world and so many ways to bring them back to the boat.

Covering the gamut would fill an entire bible-sized book and then some. So instead, I’ll cover the four most-used bass baits and their fundamental retrieves. From the surface to the bottom of the water column, they are topwater plugs, spinnerbaits, Whitetail Pipestone is a popular riding and driving area east of Butte, north of I-90. crankbaits and jigs/soft plastics. I’ll present the most effective retrieves that I’ve A good map reader can navigate several loop routes from Lemhi Pass to the south, incorporating one of motorized sections of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. experienced for each lure, and encourage you to try variations of those when you find that fish simply aren’t responding.

Or further south, from Big Sheep Creek Road to Bannack Pass, south to Buffalo Springs, and roads on Whitepine Ridge and back to Big Sheep creek.

For topwater baits, I start out with a long cast to fishy structure. With an exposed-hook popper or dog-walking plug, it’s just a regular cast. With weedless topwaters in heavy There are many routes in the Tendoys around Muddy Creek off of the Sheep Creek cover, I’ll often “skip” the bait in so that when it lands at its final destination it comes to Road. From Morrison Lake to the north the CDNST is motorized and the drive or ride rest quietly instead of “plopping” down. This can decrease the likelihood of to Hildreth Creek is spectacular. spooking bass in shallow cover.

South of Wise River are many OHV routes around Vipond Park, Canyon Creek, and routes along the Pioneer Scenic Byway.

Recommended Trails:

Birch Creed features several ATV trails. The ride to Deer Head Lake is popular, as it Birch Creek to Bond Lake. Further up Birch Creek, past the Aspen Picnic Area take a right on Willow Creek. The North Creek trail goes north to Lost Creek or you can loop back between Twin Adams Mountains to Cow Camp Creek and back to the Willow Creek Road.

After the bait lands, I let it sit for several seconds (typically the amount of time it takes the ripples to subside) before I begin the retrieve. Sometimes bass see the initial landing and come close to investigate... waiting. Then, when that initial twitch happens, they pounce.

As I begin fishing the plug, I’ll start with a slow tempo first and if I don’t get any strikes after several casts, then I’ll up the tempo. When the first fish hits, I make the preliminary assumption that that’s the speed they’re looking for. (continued next page)

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Fishing Report (continued from page 15) Just west of Pocatello, fish American Falls Reservoir for great trout and CLEARWATER RIVER smallmouth bass. It’s Idaho’s largest Most anglers will be fishing bobber and jig set-ups, but a lot of Clearwater steelies become more susceptible to drifted roe this month as well. Fly anglers will do well drifting egg patterns and swinging flies and bright colored streamers.

IDAHO LAKES Try Ferman Lake or Hause Lake for good crappie and trout action, with the go to baits being jigs and maggots.

Bass fishing will heat up this month in southern Idaho at C.J. Strike, and fish for smallies between Swan Falls and Celebration Park using plastic set-ups.

reservoir that covers 56,000 acres.

Crappie, largemouth bass, brown and cutthroat trout as well as sturgeon can be fished here. 5 to 6 pound bass can be caught with regularity. Try using crankbaits near rock points in depths up to 20 feet. Once the water temp rises above 50 degrees look for these bass to start the pre-spawn/spawn stage This makes for some of the best fishing of the year.

NOTE: The Idaho State Record Steelhead was caught on November 23, 1973 by Keith Powell from Lewiston, ID., a 30 lb., 2 oz - 44” fish caught on the Clearwater River.

ICE FREE SLEEPER HOT SPOTS FOR PIKE Northerns are either scavenging on winter weakened minnows or spawning on new vegetation and some of the biggest pike of the year can be caught now in shallow waters in backs of bays and flatland reservoirs, lurking in emerging weeds just after ice leaves the surface. Here are a few spots to consider:

of producing big northerns. The forage for the pike are stocker rainbow trout, so cast big spoons or troll imitating crankbaits covering lots of water along shorelines.

BEAVER CREEK RESERVOIR: This productive reservoir south of Havre is a sleeper. Lots of great action for FLATHEAD RIVER SLOUGHS: mid-sized and magnum pike. The best Egan, Church and McWinnegar Sloughs April spot is the mouth of Beaver Creek are good places to cast a spoon around in the upper end of the reservoir. Cast a submerged timber and shoreline weeds spinnerbait or weedless spoon through on these backwaters of the Flathead River any vegetation for aggressive northerns. southeast of Kalispell.

NELSON RESERVOIR: SWAN LAKE: Another Hi-line pike destination, located The entire southern half of this big lake east of Malta. This is a great spot for off Hwy. 83 southeast of Bigfork is pike eater-sized walleye, but also hold magnum water. You can find big fish around sunk- pike. Dredge the shallows with a soft en timber or bays that get sun that grow plastic swimbait, spinnerbait or troll weeds off the bottom. Cast a spinnerbait crankbaits here. Chances of tangling with to emerging weeds or troll a crankbait a 20 pound fish are good this month. along shorelines here.

Most of these spots mentioned are mondo PISHKUN RESERVOIR: for shore-casters, as many fish will be This windblown irrigation reservoir is shallow and aggressive during the Spring! located west of Augusta and Choteau below the Rocky Mountain Front, and is capable

DIAL IN LURE RETRIEVAL FOR BASS (from previous page) The same applies to spinnerbait and crankbait retrieves. I start by slow-rolling the baits and if the bites don’t come, I keep speeding up until I’m really ripping the lure in.

High-speed retrieves are most effective with single-blade spinnerbaits (versus tandem blade) and tight-wobble lipless crankbaits (versus wide-wobble lipped baits). Again, experimentation is the key when determining what the ideal speed is for a particular day, the weather conditions or the time of year.

Finally, with jigs and soft plastics, the art of retrieval gets even more tricky. That’s because these baits can be fished vertically, dragged on long lines, snap-jigged, swum in at any depth,

hopped off the bottom, flipped into cover pockets... the list goes on and on. But when push comes to shove, jigs and soft plastics are the bass-catchingest baits on the planet. So all I can do is inspire you to get out there and try every conceivable jig/soft plastic retrieve imaginable. Make it a personal challenge to experiment and develop jigging and finesse skills that you’ve never tried before. While you do it, pay close attention to feel and watch your fishing line for that telltale “hop” that can happen when a bass bites. I promise you, it will help you catch more fish and hone angling skills that will make you the guy in the boat who’s getting bit instead of wishing you were.

Open Water Derbies (continued from page 10) FWP REGION 5 May 12 July 6 FWP REGION 6 April 21 June 2 June 2-3 June 2-3 June 9 June 23-24 July 12-14 July 21-22 July 28 Aug 4-5 Aug 18 Aug 25 Sept 15-16 Sept 22-23 FWP REGION 7 June 9 July 14 Oct 13

6th Annual Yellowstone Challenge on the Yellowstone River Bighorn River Alliance Carp Festival on Bighorn Reservoir Jordan Tough Guy Tournament on Fort Peck Reservoir 13th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic on the Milk River Rock Creek Walleye Tournament on Fort Peck Reservoir Fresno Challenge on Fresno Reservoir Ladies Hell Creek Walleye Tournament on Fort Peck Reservoir 12th Annual Pikemasters Public Tournament on Fort Peck Reservoir 25th Annual Montana Governor’s Cup Walleye Tournament on Fort Peck Reservoir Hell Creek Tournament on Fort Peck Reservoir Women’s Walleye Tournament on Fort Peck Reservoir Fall Classic Walleye Tournament on Fort Peck Reservoir Fishin’ For the Cure on Fort Peck Reservoir Salmon/Lake Trout Tournament on Fort Peck Reservoir Montana B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Qualifier on Fort Peck Reservoir TBF Invitational on Fort Peck Reservoir Savage Fire Department Catfish Tournament on the Yellowstone River Monster Catfish Round-up on the Yellowstone River Yellowstone River Rats Jig N Crank Fest on the Yellowstone River

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited Focus Upholds Congressional Funding To Protect Vital Waterfowl Habitat In Prairie Pothole Region Ducks Unlimited Wolf Delisting RMEF in the president’s 2013 budget to support approving purchase and rental prices, the Ninth Circuit Court

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

today affirmed the constitutionality of Congress’ removal of wolves from the federal endangered species list.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation applauded the decision.

Attorneys representing RMEF and other conservation groups had presented oral arguments supporting the Congressional action, wolf delisting and science-based, state-regulated management and control of wolf populations.

“This is a huge win for real wildlife management in the U.S.,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “We’re thrilled with the favorable ruling because it upholds the law as well as science and common sense.

This decision helps clear the way for continued work by true conservationists to balance wolf populations with other wildlife and human needs.”

Allen suspects the plaintiffs will appeal their case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

He said, “I’m hopeful that a Congressional act, multiple courtroom defeats and an American public that is clearly tired of this legal wrangling will encourage our opponents to give up and cede responsible wolf management to conservation professionals in each state. But we’ll have to wait and see.”

RMEF continues to fight wolf lawsuits and support delisting legislation at both federal and state levels.

T

he U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Ducks Unlimited announced...they will work with the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission to focus resources on wildlife habitat in the Prairie Pothole Region of the northern plains, breeding grounds for a majority of the continent’s ducks.

this strategy.

“The Prairie Pothole Region plays a central role in sustaining healthy duck populations, and we are pleased with the direction of more funding toward habitat conservation and restoration in this critical area that is seeing increased threats,” said Paul Schmidt, chief conservation officer for The grasslands of the Prairie Pothole Ducks Unlimited. “We look forward to Region have long been recognized as the working with the Fish and Wildlife Service “Duck Factory” of North America. The to ensure that these additional dollars are area is known to produce 50 percent of the effectively leveraged so waterfowl from continent’s ducks on an average year and the ‘Duck Factory’ continue to fill the skies up to 70 percent when water and grass are along America’s flyways.” abundant. This focus will stem the threat posed by the increasing rate of conversion The Migratory Bird Conservation Fund is of native grasslands and isolated wetlands primarily composed of revenue from the sale of Federal Migratory Bird Hunting to agricultural and other uses. and Conservation Stamps, commonly “The Prairie Pothole Region is vital to known as federal duck stamps. Each year, waterfowl and other migratory birds in millions of waterfowl hunters and other North America. At the same time, it is outdoor enthusiasts directly contribute to home to thousands of people who have habitat conservation with the purchase of stewarded and worked the land for generations,” these stamps. Since 1934, funding from said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service the sales of duck stamps has protected Director Dan Ashe. “This effort will help more than 5 million acres of wetlands us work with willing landowners to put and grasslands for ducks, geese and other conservation easements in place on tens of wildlife, including hundreds of thousands thousands of additional acres, helping to of acres in the Prairie Pothole Region. The stem the loss of these breeding grounds.” southern portion of this region extends from central Iowa, northwest through Under this initiative, the Service, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Ducks Unlimited and other partners and Montana and into Canada. will work with the Migratory Bird The Migratory Bird Conservation ComConservation Commission to expend mission was established on Feb. 18, 1929, upwards of 70 percent—approximately through the passage of the Migratory Bird $30 million—of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act. It was created and Conservation Fund to help secure the authorized to consider and approve any future for waterfowl and grassland species on the prairies. Additional funding areas of land and/or water recommended by the Secretary of the Interior for available through the Land and Water purchase or rental by the U.S. Fish and Conservation Fund (LWCF) will further Wildlife Service, and to fix the price or bolster the effort to conserve the prairies. prices at which such areas may be The Service has recommended LWCF purchased or rented. In addition to investments of an additional $3.5 million

Commission considers the establishment of new waterfowl refuges.

Through its Grasslands for Tomorrow initiative, Ducks Unlimited has pledged to perpetually protect 2 million acres of native prairie for future generations to experience and enjoy—one of the most ambitious conservation initiatives ever undertaken. Protection of native prairie is achieved through perpetual grassland and wetland easements, land purchases and donated conservation easements. These approaches are always directed at willing landowners.

The Service’s Small Wetlands Program uses funds from the sale of federal duck stamps to permanently protect waterfowl production areas—nearly 3 million acres so far. The habitat protected through the Small Wetland Program consists of small wetlands and surrounding grassland habitat, primarily in the U.S. portion of the Prairie Pothole Region. These areas, protected in perpetuity through fee-title acquisition or easement, are called waterfowl production areas.

“We will work with private landowners to accelerate the conservation of native prairie—both wetland and grassland habitats—within the Prairie Pothole Region in the eastern parts of North Dakota and South Dakota,” Ashe said.

“The conservation area is an easement program that will be part of a strategic, landscape-scale conservation effort to conserve vital habitat.”

States in the Prairie Pothole Region: North Dakota | South Dakota | Iowa | Minnesota | Montana

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Hunting And Conservation News Don’t Miss The

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For tickets and Info Please call Jaelene Antonson 406-570-2694 or Scott Antonson 406-570-8652

FWP Seeks Public Comment On Upland Game Bird Program Rule Changes MFWP Montana MDF Recognized at National Convention

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to the rules that guide Montana’s Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program. The proposed revisions are needed to implement the new UGBE Program strategic plan endorsed by the FWP Commission in 2011.

“The strategic plan and rule changes are the result of a two-year process that included extensive guidance from a citizen ay Rugg, of Superior was chosen by advisory group on how best to retool the MDF staff to receive the 2011 Maggie program,” said Debbie Hohler, coordinator Justice Conservation Legacy Award. This of FWP’s UGBE Program. “With these award is named after an MDF volunteer refinements to the state statutes, the who exemplified dedication to conservation rules will be in place to carry out the and education over the course of her program’s plan for the future.” lifetime. Past winners include Maggie The majority of the proposed rule changes Justice (posthumously), Art Craker, John fine tune the UBGE Program’s Hurley and Rich Fletcher. requirements, responsibilities, application Rugg was surprised and honored to and funding processes. Other revisions receive the award. He said, “MDF is a clarify project renewals, payments, and great organization – one that is growing reporting issues. The public can review and getting things get done.” He continued, the proposed rule changes on the FWP “Mule deer definitely need our help right website at http://fwp.mt.gov/ now.” under “Submit Public Comments.” Click on Commission and then Public Notices— Rugg said he first became involved with ARM Rules.

MDF because he was impressed with the Chapter Rewards program, which allows Eight public meetings are set to discuss chapters to use a portion of the funds they the proposed rules in April at various raise for local projects. In 2003 Rugg locations. All meetings begin at 6 p.m. started an MDF Chapter in Missoula, Visit http://fwp.mt.gov for locations.

Mont. Since then, he’s been Chapter Chair, State Chair, and now he’s a member FWP will accept written comments through April 13 by email to: of the MDF Board of Directors, serving on four committees. Additionally, fwpwld@mt.gov; or by mail to: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks he serves on the MDF Montana Project Attn: UGBEP Rule Comments Allocation Committee. Rugg is now serving his sixth year on MDF’s Board of P.O Box 200701 Helena, MT 59620.

Directors.

Mule Deer Foundation

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BY RICK HAGGERTY, EDITOR Boone and Crockett Club (B&C): boone-crockett.org Big Game Forever: biggameforever.org Safari Club International (SCI): scifirstforhunters.org National Rifle Association (NRA): nra.org Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF): rmef.org Sportsmen For Fish And Wildlife (SFW): mt-sfw.org Mule Deer Foundation (MDF): mule-deer.org Pheasants Forever (PF): pheasantsforever.org Walleyes Unlimited: montanawalleyesunlimited.net Wild Sheep Foundation: wildsheepfoundation.org National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF): nssf.org Ducks Unlimited (DU): ducks.org Montana Bowhunters Association (MBA): mtba.org National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF): nwtf-org National Trappers Association: nationaltrappers.com Montana Pikemasters: pikemasters.com

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Our Bear

BY DUCHESS MARTIN

On the morning of Oct 29, 2011, my dad,

Howard and I were out of the house early and ready for another day of hunting.

Driving down Camels Hump Road, we were discussing our hopes of bagging a big one, when we stopped to admire the bull moose in the marsh.

Turning off one of the side roads, we started noticing signs of big game tracks. “Looks like this may be a good day after all.” I told my dad. Looking up I saw the rear end of a black bear disappear over the side of the hill. “Get your gun, that was a bear.” I said as I slowed the rig down and pulled off to the side of the road. Dad grabbed his Remington Model 710, loaded it with a Winchester 30-06 150 grain silvertip bullet and made his way to the side of the hill.

I joined him and started our scan of the hillside and hollow below us, in search of the bear. Seeing the bear start back towards the hillside, Dad started his way down the hill and I stood guard on the road.

To no avail, thirty minutes later, we loaded back up into the van, with no bear. Heading home for lunch, Dad and I were both disappointed. “Mom’s not going to believe us when we tell her about the bear.” I told Dad. “I know she wont be at least we got to see it’s rear, more than what we’ve seen of deer or elk.” Dad said sounding grumpy.

Later that evening as we set out for another hunt, we decided to take my Mom, son and nephew with us to get them out of the house.

Deciding to hunt an area that we had a couple days before, we drove to the parking spot, got out and headed to our hunting area.

“Duch, (my nickname I go by), what do you do you say we go back down Camels Hump and show the boys that bull moose. Maybe we’ll get lucky and see that bear.” Dad said.

“Sounds good to me, I’ve got this feeling that we may get lucky.” I said.

Stopping at the same spot where we had our bear experience earlier that day, I turned the rig off, got out and walked to the side of the hill. Looking down, my heart sank just a little bit, no bear. Glancing to my right, what appears? Our bear! I ran over to the rig, jerked open the door, “Get your gun ready, our bear is down there.” I said happily. Dad and I walked over to the side of the hill and

watched our bear nosing around, sniffing trees and bushes and not paying attention to what was happening around him. Making sure there were no cubs with our bear, my Dad raised his 30-06 and got the bear in his sights.

Watching my Dad sight our bear in, I started shaking. My Dad calmly took a breathe and BOOM!, our bear was down. My dad stood watching our bear as I stood shaking. “Here Duch, you’re going to have to help me punch my bear tag, I’m shaking too bad.” Dad said.

Dad handed me his tag and he was shaking so much that it took me twice to grab the tag from him.

“I’m going on down the hillside to get our bear, hurry along.” Dad told me. “You don’t plan on going down there with no gun do you? What if our bear isn’t dead, or what if its just playing dead?” I asked. “Bring the gun with you.” Dad told me. Dad was already gutting the bear when I finally made my way down, after falling halfway down the hill. I started taking pictures. Dad asked, “What are you doing? You’re supposed to be helping.” “I’m taking pictures. We have to send some to our family in West Virginia, for the computer, and the paper.” I told him.

“Guess what Duch?” Dad said. “What Dad?” I asked. “I don’t have a rope or anything to drag our bear out with.” Dad said laughing.

“How can you go hunting and not take a rope?” I said. “Guess we will have to use my vest.” As Dad and I started the process of dragging our bear through the hollow and up the hillside, my Mom had been talking to a couple of guys that live in the area. They told my Mom that our bear had been a nuisance and they were glad that someone had finally rid them of their problem. Finally getting our bear almost to the top of the hill, one of the gentleman backed his rig up, hooked chains to our bear and finished dragging him for us.

“Dad, why do you call your bear, our bear?”

I asked. “Well, if you wouldn’t have gotten out to look, I wouldn’t have had the chance to shoot him, so he’s our bear.” Dad said.

My Dad has been hunting for 52 years, but only bear hunting for 12 years. This was his first bear, weighing in at 320 pounds, 6 feet tall and around 3 years old. This hunt will always be very memorable for both my Dad and I.

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RAINING CATS & DOGS & BEARS

By Babe Winkelman, winkelman.com One of the best things about being

in the hunting and fishing business is having the opportunity to meet like-minded sportsmen and women from all over the country. I met one recently whose experiences and lively storytelling made an indelible mark on me. His name is Jerry. Or “JB” to his friends.

Jerry is a born-and-raised Wisconsin woodsman, although his dialect is not telltale Midwestern. It has a touch of the West to it – seasoned by the fact that for the past 20 or so years he has divided his time between the Dairy State and Colorado. Wisconsin for black bears. Colorado for mountain lions.

Jerry is a hunting guide and a darned good one. His forte is cutting the track of a specific animal he knows inside and out, from tireless scouting, then cutting his dogs loose on the scent to let them do what they live for: hunt and chase.

After meeting JB, I did more listening than talking. The adventures he has had and the spirit with which he spins his yarns is captivating. He has the knack of painting a picture in your mind about how a hunt went down. One such hunt, which happened this past year, was for a giant Wisconsin black bear that he had been after for five years. A big boar who had eluded his dogs and his clients several times. The bruin had the clever ability to confuse the dogs, take the chase through impassable swamps, run rivers and ultimately find refuge in protected land not open to hunting. JB had named him “Limpy.”

But on a special day in 2011, JB’s experience paid off. In the distance, the hounds bawled and JB knew where the bear was taking them. If he could get his client to a nearby slashing in time, he knew right where the bear would cross. They got there, and the bear appeared just where JB had anticipated. A perfectly placed 30.06 bullet put down 541 pounds of scarred, half toothless old bear.

He had limped from an old injury, likely inflicted by a past hunter. When they skinned him, Limpy had several old bullet and birdshot wounds. He was a warrior, with a skull that easily made the Boone & Crockett book. In fact, it’s in the top 20 overall. It was one of seven

B&C bears that JB’s clients have harvested in the last six years.

After the Wisconsin bear season wraps up, JB packs the dogs and heads west to Colorado. There he guides hunters on elk and mule deer hunts. But his favorite thing to do is chase cats. He regards the mountain lion as the most fascinating and fearsome animal in North America. Yes, grizzlies are more powerful and timberwolves are more organized as pack hunters, but JB’s money is on the mountain lion for sheer, solitary will.

He told me plenty of lion hunting stories.

About having to go into caves to recover battered dogs that got too close to the business end of a lion. “I don’t like going into a cave with an ornery mountain lion, but you have to get your dogs back,” he said matter of factly. He’s had cats “make track across his back” in cave escapes.

He told me about the awe-inspiring power and ferocity with which two Toms fight over territory, or for the favor of a lioness. He’s seen several fights and admits he never wants to be in the middle of one of those.

As he recounted his most riveting mountain lion stories, I noticed that he got most emotional when he was talking about his dogs. He loves and admires them for what they do. On a cat hunt last year, his dogs had followed a big lion’s track out of a valley and up a rocky mountainside. Scent doesn’t linger as much on rock, and the dogs kept losing the track. JB watched from below as his dogs, nearly 3⁄4 mile away, worked that rock face. In JB’s words: “They’d fan out from that last mark and work until they found something else. Then one dog would find scent and bawl, and the others would come running and fan out from that spot. It’s the most amazing thing in the world to watch good dogs work a cat. I love it more than doing anything else.”

JB is a true-blue American hunting guide, and I’m glad I met him. Even though he’s getting up there in years, his enthusiasm is youthfully vibrant. Downright infectious. Which is why I suddenly can’t stop thinking about going hunting for lions and bears.

Thanks JB for keeping the hunting passion alive. And please, be careful in those caves.

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Montana Turkey Hot Spots By Rick Haggerty Montana’s spring turkey season opens April 14

Callen with his huge Merriam 10 inch beard

and ends May 20th. This means you can hunt birds that are still near their winter habitat areas, continue hunting through the peak of the breeding season, and still have some season remaining when hens are sitting on eggs and gobblers will still come readily to hen calls.

Montana’s best turkey hunting remains in the Southeastern part of the state. There is a tremendous amount of private hunting area in this region, as we all know, rich with agriculture.

Still, there are tracts of public land that produce an abundance of birds, such as the Custer National Forest, where hundred of hunters head every spring.

Some of the best populations are located along river bottoms and larger tributaries. One of the most effective ways to locate these birds before the season opens is to get out and do a little pre-season scouting. Get to know where birds are spending their days prior to opening day.

CONTACT LANDOWNERS FOR PERMISSION FOR HUNTING ACCESS, as many area ranches are stuffed with birds, and they have very little hunting pressure. Many landowners don’t mind a hunter or two on their property to thin out a few of these bothersome gobblers. I have seen up to 100 birds flocked up on ranches around Broadus in the fall.

Remember, some of these birds are highly mobile during the course of the season.

Those turkeys that normally spend most of their time around barnyards could be up in the foothills and mountains by mid-May. Although you may not see them on public land during the first 2 weeks of the season, they could transition to other areas towards the end of the spring hunt.

Hunt up timbered ridges and pine knobs between the Big Horn and the Yellowstone, as populations are found on the Big Horn all the way up to Custer.

BIG TIMBER AREA: Big Timber Creek north of Big Timber has an abundant population of turkeys, but again, access is the key. By May, birds will disperse into the uplands, so hunt the foothills of the Crazy Mountains farther up Big Timber Creek. There are a few state sections in the area that offer limited access.

MISSOURI RIVER BREAKS: The Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge was once the main source for turkeys that were transplanted all over the state of Montana in the 1960’s. Since small grain production ended in the area, turkey populations have declined, but in the last ten years their numbers have rebounded enough that you’ll find plenty of birds to hunt here.

Here are a few areas to consider this season:

Try hunting the Fred Robinson Bridge and portions of Hell Creek west to Winifred.

Also try the Rock Creek area just upstream of Ft. Peck Reservoir.

YELLOWSTONE RIVER AREA: Most Eastern Montana turkey hunters know of the high population of birds on the lower Yellowstone River, but the middle reaches on the river also hold many flocks of gobblers. Some public tracts in this area hold gobblers.

SMITH RIVER AREA: The tributary of the Missouri River starts around White Sulphur Springs and enters the Missouri near Ulm. Some areas here are accessible only to floaters, but this area has some exceptional turkey populations.

One way to hunt the river between Custer and Miles City is to launch a boat and hunt islands and chunks of public land that are only accessible by boat. Here, the Forsyth area is a good starting spot. Study your maps and GPS for public and state tracts of land around Hysham.

There are some overlooked hunting opportunities on public land in this remote river corridor. Check with MFWP’s Region 4 in Great Falls for the latest rules on hunting the Smith, (406-454-5840).

SWAN VALLEY: Try hunting public land in the Swan Valley from Swan Village south to Condon for late season turkeys. Explore the Flathead National Forest.

The Swan River State Forest has sparse populations of turkey. Stay close to the Swan river and you should locate birds.

BIGHORN RIVER: The Big Horn River downstream, north of Hardin has some of the biggest concentrations of turkey in Montana. The problem is finding access to them. You may have to knock on a few doors, but the effort should pay off, and you will have a first-class area for seasons to come.

Other areas to consider that have grown in turkey populations would be the area around Lincoln County, the Lower Clark Fork area, areas around Whitehall, Canyon Ferry Wildlife Management area, and the Bitterroot Valley south of Missoula.

Check on the status of special permits in these areas and always check for new regulations and changes in these areas before you start your hunt this spring.

TURN TO PAGE 30 FOR TURKEY TIPS: TEAM UP FOR TURKEY CALLING

28 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

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APRIL 2012

News From Other States New Largemouth Bass Record Set In Arkansas

Almost 36 years to the day, Arkansas’s largemouth bass state

record has finally been broken. On Tuesday, Paul Crowder of Forrest City set the new record on Lake Dunn near Wynne.

Crowder’s lunker weighed 16 pounds 5 ounces, breaking the old record by just a single ounce.

Aaron Mardis of Memphis had held the state record since March 2, 1976. Mardis’ 16 pound 4 ounce fish was caught on Mallard Lake near Manilla in Mississippi County.

Crowder broke the record on the afternoon of Feb. 28 using a plastic 6-inch Mann’s jelly worm with a bullet sinker and plastic rattle in tequila sunrise. He was using an Enigma rod and reel combo purchased from Bass Pro Shops. Crowder caught the fish on Trilene 14-pound test line.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Fisheries Biologist Lee Holt certified the fish on a certified scale at Hayes Market in Wynne.

The fish measured 261⁄2 inches in length and was 223⁄4 inches in girth. Crowder said that he had been fishing all day for catfish without any luck. “I made a cast and set the rod down to take a look at my catfish rods when I noticed the rod was just about out of the boat,” he said. “I was able to grab it just before it went out of the boat,” he added. It was the only fish he caught all day.

It only took about eight minutes for Crowder to reel the record into the boat. “I didn’t have a net, so it took me five or six tries before I was able to lip it and get in the boat,” he explained. The 80-acre lake is located in Village Creek State Park in Cross County. The AGFC is going to test the fish to see what genetic strain of bass it is, according to Assistant Chief of Fisheries Chris Racey. “We are going to take samples to determine if the fish is a pure northern strain or if it has Florida bass genetics,” Racey explained.

Less than two weeks after an Arkansas largemouth bass record apparently was set, an investigation by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has revealed that the fish was caught illegally. Crowder’s fishing license expired in April 2011.

Poachers Get Stiff Sentences F our men were jailed and fined thousands of dollars Monday, February 6, in Custer

County after pleading guilty to charges stemming from an investigation into illegal hunting activity in the Yankee Fork drainage. A fifth man was sentenced in January. Two others were warned. Jailed and fined were Juan Pasillas-Garcia, 44, of Hailey; Sergio Pasillas-Garcia, 39, and Bernardo Amaya, 38, both of Phoenix; and Martin Pasillas-Garcia, 45, of Torrence, CA. Jose Pasillas-Garcia, 30, of Hailey, had his jail sentenced suspended.

The sentences were some of the most severe for wildlife crimes that the state of Idaho has seen in a case that began on October 14, when an Idaho Fish and Game conservation officer watched two hunters leave their truck and hike up the mountain.

“I hid in the brush and ended up waiting nine hours for them to return,” Regional Investigator Ryan Hilton said. “It was a long, cold day, but by being out there I was able to hear the shots that we later confirmed illegally killed a six-point bull elk closed season and also took a video of them loading an illegal deer into their truck.”

Hilton was among Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers who had been investigating suspicious activities of two local men, two Arizona residents and one California resident, after receiving tips regarding the groups’ taking over-limits of deer and elk and hunting while the season was closed...Dressed like other hunters and carrying rifles of their own, the conservation

Elk, Bighorns Studied

The studies are being conducted in the south San Juan Mountains on the west side of the San Luis Valley and east of Pagosa Springs.

“These studies will help us to learn important information about the elk and bighorn populations in this area of Colorado,” said Stephanie Steinhoff, terrestrial biologist for Colorado Parks and Wildlife in the San Luis Valley.

In the elk study, 25 animals -- eight bulls and 17 cows -- were captured and fitted with VHF radio collars which allow biologists to track the animals’ movements from the air. The animals were captured in mid-February.

For the study, biologists will fly over the area to locate elk via the signal from the collars.

They’ll then provide the location to another crew that will fly over the area in a helicopter in a specific pattern and try to spot and count elk. That crew’s count will then be compared

The officers issued a combined 49 citations and 21 warnings to seven individuals. .

There are three distinct bighorn herds in the south San Juan mountains. The population of two of the herds is holding steady, while the third herd seems to be in decline.

Photo - David Hannigan To estimate elk populations, Parks and Wildlife staffers conduct what are called “classification flights.” Biologists fly over areas where elk herds gather during winter and conduct population surveys. Then, using specialized survey techniques, harvest results, historical information, survival rates and computer analysis, biologists estimate herd composition and size.

After the suspects left the area, Smith and Sorensen headed up the mountain.

“We ...had to find where the elk had been killed and verify that it was killed before the season had opened,” Smith said. A few hours later in a soaking rain storm they discovered that the individuals had done what they suspected. Knowing that the group had an elk that had been killed before the season had opened; officers secured search warrants for the camp and vehicles..

The illegal elk and four illegal mule deer bucks were recovered...officers realized that most of the hunters involved were nonresidents that had been using their brothers’ address in Hailey to claim residency and illegally purchasing resident hunting licenses and tags. Some of the individuals had been doing this since 2001

area move south into New Mexico during the winter, but the extent of the migration is not known.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife recently started two major big game research projects in southern Colorado aimed at understanding local elk populations and the movement patterns of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.

officers followed the group around the clock for nearly a week listening for gunshots and documenting deer and elk being transported by the hunters...“We suspected that they were transporting the animals to Hailey at night so we took turns sleeping so one of us could always be watching their camp,” Smith said. Their persistence paid off. On the morning of October 15, the opening day of elk season, the suspects transported a six-point bull elk off the mountain from the location where Hilton had heard shots the day before.

with the counts that are made during the regular classification flights.

“We know that on our survey flights we see only a fraction of the elk that are on the ground,” Steinhoff explained. “This study will help us learn more about what factors prevent us from seeing animals or help us to spot animals in certain types of terrain. That will help us improve our classification flights and modeling techniques,” Steinhoff said.

Another objective of the study is to attempt to determine the migration patterns of elk in the area and their movement patterns during the hunting seasons. Some animals from this

In mid-February biologists captured seven bighorns -- five ewes and two rams. Each was fitted with GPS transmitter collars that allow biologists to track their movements continuously. Nasal and oral swabs and blood samples were also taken for disease testing.

Researchers want to learn how far these bighorn sheep move from year to year, if they interact with the other bighorn herds and if they venture into areas grazed by domestic sheep. Bighorns are susceptible to diseases carried by domestic sheep.

The collars will last about three years.

Steinhoff hopes that more collars will be put out in the future.

“We don’t have much information about these bighorn herds, so the data we gather will be very valuable,” Steinhoff said.

APRIL 2012

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Angler Catches Record Tiger Trout Trent Peery shows the tiger trout he caught at Scofield Reservoir in mid February. The huge fish was more than 32 inches long. It weighed a whopping 15 pounds.

Photo by Mike Slater

L ast week—after a day of fishing at Scofield Reservoir in central

Possible Wolf Sightings

Utah—an excited Trent Peery dropped by the Division of Wildlife Resources’ office in Springville. A resident of Santaquin, Peery stopped by the office to ask fisheries biologists to measure a gigantic tiger or the past year and a half, the Utah trout he caught earlier that day. Peery was Division of Wildlife Resources has been hoping the trout would break the existing investigating reports that wolves might be in Utah state record held by Michael Moon. a remote area east of Springville in north-central Utah.

In 2007, Moon caught a tiger trout that measured 29-1/2 inches and weighed 10 On March 4, while flying over the area in a pounds, 12 ounces. Moon’s fish had a helicopter, personnel with the USDA-Wildlife girth measurement of 17-1/8 inches.

Services found the best evidence yet.

Moon caught the tiger in Palisade The personnel were performing coyote control Reservoir just south of Manti.

F

After Regional Aquatic Manager Mike Slater measured Peery’s fish, Peery’s hope was realized—his tiger trout not only beat the state record, its weight smashed it!

Peery’s fish measured 32-1/4 inches long and weighed 15 pounds. The fish had a girth measurement of 20 inches. The paperwork that will make Peery’s catch official has been sent to the DWR’s Salt Lake City office to be finalized.

in the area when they spotted what appeared to be four wolves or wolf-dog hybrids.

Until biologists can obtain the animals’ DNA and get it tested, they won’t know for sure whether the animals are wolves or wolf-dog hybrids. (A wolf-dog hybrid is a cross between a wolf and a domestic dog.)...“After picking up their tracks and locating the animals from the air,” Bunnell says, “the capture company should be able to capture one or two of the animals by shooting a net over them from a helicopter. Then we can examine the animals and draw blood samples to see if the animals are related to the wolves released in Yellowstone National Park.”

DWR biologists will also place radio collars on the animals so the biologists can track their movements.

“It’s worth noting that Trent also caught another tiger trout the same day that measured approximately 25 inches,” says Brent Stettler, regional conservation outreach manager for the Division. “There appears to be more large fish under the ice “Except for a small area in northern Utah,” right now.

A tiger trout is a cross between a brown trout and a brook trout.

Bunnell says, “any wolf that enters the state is fully protected by the federal Endangered Species Act.”

Cody Outfitter Fined for Game Law Violations B. Joe Coy, owner of Yellow Creek Outfitters in Cody, was recently ordered by a Park County court to pay $2,820 in fines and relinquish his 2012 outfitter license in his conviction for five wildlife violations.

The violations included accepting payment for outfitting services on a resident guide license, outfitter’s failure to report the waste of a bighorn sheep and a mountain goat, and two counts of outfitting in unauthorized areas.

Coy, 59, also received one year of probation and lost his hunting, fishing, and trapping privileges for three years. An 18-month joint investigation by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Shoshone National Forest revealed that Coy had unlawfully outfitted and guided out-of-state hunters...although Coy was a licensed outfitter at the time, the Wyoming Board of Outfitters and Professional Guides allowed Coy’s Yellow Creek Outfitters to operate only on pre-approved private and Bureau of Land Management lands. Crofts said that in 2005, Coy’s commercial operating permit for the Shoshone National

Forest was not renewed due to a long history of repeated violations with the forest service.

Since he could not outfit on the Shoshone, Coy obtained a resident guide license to take a Wisconsin hunter on an archery bighorn sheep hunt in August 2010. Coy accepted $8,500 from the out-of-state hunter for this hunt, an act that is illegal under a resident guide permit. Nonresidents are required to have a guide while hunting in wilderness areas of Wyoming. Resident guide licenses give residents the opportunity to take out-of-state friends or family members in wilderness areas to hunt without the hunter paying for a professional guide or outfitter.

In September 2010, Coy outfitted two other sheep hunters on the Shoshone National Forest. During this hunt, Coy witnessed his client leaving edible portions of a harvested bighorn sheep in the field and failed to report it, as required bylaw. Both men were hunting with Governor’s bighorn sheep licenses purchased at auction for $54,000 and $56,000.

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APRIL 2012

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Sheep, Goat, Moose Outlook Other higher success percentage units to consider would be: HD 313 - Crazy Mountains southeast of White Sulphur Springs In 2011, 69 tags were issued with hunters harvesting 51 animals. Close to 3,000 applied for this draw.

HD 329 - Hellroaring - Slough Creek This unit also borders Yellowstone National Park. in 2011, 211 tags were issued with hunters bagging 19 animals, with around 500 applicants.

more 200 plus point rams than any other state or province. Montana also now claims nearly half the rams in the Boone and Crockett record book that meet the minimum of 180”.

Another reason Montana has become “bighorn country” is that FWP issues relatively fewer hunting permits than other states, allowing these animals to mature.

HD 314 Gallatin Range - south of Bozeman This unit borders Yellowstone River country. In 2011, 14 tags were issued and 10 tags were filled with around 300 applications.

Montana’s State Record Goat Scored 54-0/8” Taken by Jason Beatty in 1998, Flathead County

For Bighorn Sheep: Bighorn sheep numbers in our state have taken a hit in the last few years.

Habitat loss, highway fatalities, and deadly disease have put numbers on the decline. (In 2009, nearly 90 percent of herd in the Elkhorns that numbered 220 died from pneumonia, likely caused from wild sheep mingling with domestic.) By the end of 2010, pneumonia in five western Montana herds had killed 640 wild sheep, more than 10 percent of the state’s entire population.

Wild sheep are spread throughout the sate from the Bitterroot Mountain Range to the Missouri River Breaks, down to the Yellowstone River area.

Montana is home to 45 herds, 40 which are considered “huntable populations.”

The upside is that a Montana Bighorn Sheep Conservation Strategy is in place to help protect, enhance and rebuild sheep populations. The genetics are here to produce world class sheep.

Since 2006, Montana has produced

©Julie Lubick | Dreamstime.com

Here are a few hunting districts you might consider: HD 680 - Chouteau - Blaine - Phillips Easily the most popular area, this Missouri Breaks country has the resources to produce bighorn growth, and many of Montana’s trophies have been taken in this country. In 2011, 25 tags were issued for adult male rams and 60 more for ewes, with 62 animals harvested.

It will be a challenge for anyone to draw this area, as over 6,000 people apply for this tag annually, the most by far of any other hunting district.

HD 622 - Middle Missouri Breaks This rugged Missouri River Breaks country sits north of Charles M. Russell N.W.P., and is home to big mule deer, elk, and bighorn sheep. If you have ever been in this country, you know how truly wild, remote and beautiful it is. Pack your GPS and a map to hunt here, or hire an outfitter for best odds.

In 2011, 7 tags were issued with 6 rams being taken. Applicants have been around 2,000 for this tag.

(continued from page 4) HD 482 - Fergus - South of the Missouri River Breaks Country, north of Lewistown The Judith River area is known for lots of whitetails, and if you can draw this tag, you’ll have the hunt of your life looking for a big ram! In 2011, 15 ram tags were filled by hunters with over 3,000 applying.

HD 424 Ford Creek & HD 422 Castle Reef These districts are next to each other and can produce big rams.

Teton County seems to have been producing a little better than in past years, (very few rams over 190”), but the last five years have shown a 75% increase in overall B&C entries.

Montana’s Bighorn Sheep State Record Scored 204-7/8” Taken by James Weatherly in 1993 Granite County

Moose: For a trophy moose in Montana, normally the closer you get to Yellowstone National Park, the better your chances. However, with the state’s burgeoning wolf populations, moose numbers are down and now it’s more common to see wolf tracks than moose tracks. That said, there are still some outstanding bulls in Montana if you can draw a tag.

HD 105 - East Cabinet Mountains Moose country will be along the Kootenai River drainage and lower Thompson Lake areas near Libby. In 2011, 10 bulls were taken with around 1,000 applicants.

HD 102 - Eureka Lots of lakes and river drainages in this country, which borders Canada. it’s dense country, but that’s what moose thrive in.

In 2011, 12 bulls were taken by hunters.

You can expect around 2,000 people to apply for this tag.

HD 111 - Tally Lake - Located near Whitefish This unit is much the same country as the Eureka area, with lots of water, (continued next page)

Turkey Tips: Team Up For Turkey Calling

BY RICK HAGGERTY

H

unting solo can produce big gobblers if you know where the birds are, and you have a private tract to hunt, but if you don’t teaming up might be the answer.

Try teaming up with a buddy for better results calling in turkeys on public lands.

Position your hunting buddy 60 to 100 yards behind the shooter. This gives the oncoming gobbler the impression that the hen is further away. This way he’s in perfect range for a shotgun blast much closer than he is expecting any action from.

If the tom becomes extremely wary, move the second caller off away from where the tom may come from, all the while calling and scratching the leaves in both areas.

This will give the tom the impression that the hens are not interested, and are walking away, thus bringing him into shotgun range.

Try different calls until you find one that the gobbler will answer.

You might get lucky and find the one that works consistently for a particular area you are hunting. Most calls on the market today work very well.

You can’t go wrong with a Primos call or Hunter’s Specialty Call.

Take advantage of having two callers in the field. This will get any toms in the area fired up to come investigate the area you are in. Two hot hens are better than one!

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Sheep, Goat, Moose Outlook (continued) thick brush and mountainous terrain.

There are good areas along the Little Bitterroot Lake, as well as Sunday and Martin Creek. 7 bulls were killed by hunters in 2011, with around 500 applicants.

Logging Creek Trail Trail Number 302 Lewis & Clark National Forest - USDA FS T he Logging Creek Atv trail is 4.3 miles long. It begins at Jct Road 839 - North and ends at Jct Road 839 - South.

This trail is located in the Little Belt Mountain Range.

The trail is open for the following uses: Motorcycle Trail Riding ATV Trail Riding Contact information: Lewis & Clark National Forest Supervisor’s Office 1101 15th ST No. Great Falls, MT 59405 Phone: 406-791-7700

Antelope Canyon Trail © Warren Price | Dreamstime.com

HD 314 - Upper Yellowstone West - Border Yellowstone Park This unit is a fairly large unit. Plan to invest in a lot of time if you’re looking for an exceptional bull. You’ll have to cover lots of ground and keep your ears open for their mating calls. In 2011, only 4 bulls were taken out of this unit. On average, around 200 people apply for this unit.

Montana’s State Record Moose Scored 199-6/8” Taken by Polite Pepion in 2003 Glacier County.

These are some of the areas that you can apply for in 2012. As always, check the MFWP regulations before applying as draw areas and numbers change each season.

Good luck and good hunting.

Lewis & Clark National Forest - USDA FS

The Antelope Canyon trail is 9.4 miles

long. It begins at Jct Forest Trail 477 and ends at Antelope Canyon.

We’ve Got Your Ride

The trail is open for the following uses: Motorcycle Trail Riding ATV Trail Riding

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Records of North American Big Game Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep

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APRIL 2012

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Kirk C. Clinkingbeard Bighorn Bi ghorn Sheep

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Trophy WatchTM is a segment of Boone and Crockett Clubʼs website dedicated to highlighting the more significant or interesting big game trophies taken recently across North America, as well as trophies entered and accepted into the B&C records.

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BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

• 33

Photo - Bob Humphrey

Turkey Call Tune-Up

By Bob Humphrey

E

very craftsman has his tools; and the tools of the turkey hunting trade are calls. If you’re like me, you probably haven’t touched yours since you hung up your turkey vest after the last day of last turkey season. Winter is waning and spring is in the air. Depending on where you live, turkey season may be days, weeks or months away. In any case, there’s no time like the present to start getting your gear in order once more. It’s tune-up time.

MOUTH CALLS Go through your old diaphragms and give them a good inspection.

Toss out and replace any that are moldy, have torn reeds, frayed skirts or are otherwise in disrepair.

Incidentally, this is why it’s a good idea to do this well before the season.

If your favorite call is hard to get, you‘ll have time to track down a replacement. And don’t be cheap.

A diaphragm costs about as much as a 3-1/2-inch magnum shell. When it doubt, throw it out and get a new one.

Next it’s time to “re-condition” those you intend to keep and re-use. I start by soaking mine in a diluted solution of mouthwash, to kill any lingering bacteria. After they’ve soaked for a while, I’ll take a toothpick and gently separate the reeds. Then lay the calls on a paper towel to dry, leaving the picks in place so the reeds don’t “re-stick.”

FRICTION CALLS Moving on to friction calls, we’ll start with slates, or pot calls.

First, wipe the surface with a clean, dry towel.

Using the appropriate material, sand the face in one linear direction, i.e. back and forth or up and down - perpendicular to the direction you’ll be “drawing” the striker. Which abrasive material you should use will depend on the surface material (use whatever came with the call when you bought it). A fine to medium grit sandpaper works well on a natural slate or soft metal surfaces. For harder materials like glass, plexi-glass and some metals, you may need a coarser or more abrasive scouring pad.

Blow off any excess dust, being careful not to touch the surface with your bare (oily) fingers. Now, treat your striker tips similarly, roughening up their surface with the appropriate material.

Now on to box calls. Start by “cleaning” off the bottom of the paddle and the side rails, lightly sanding away any old chalk, dirt or oils. Next, simply apply chalk and give it a test. If it sounds good, you’re done. If not, you may need to do a little tweaking, something you may want to do anyway.

In most box calls, the paddle is attached to the box with a screw. Loosening or tightening this screw can change the tone of the call considerably. Adjust the screw in half or quarter turn increments, trying a few yelps between each turn. Once you find a tone that pleases you, draw across the paddle and screw with a permanent marker as a reference mark. That’s about all there is to it.

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*Finance offer subject to credit approval, applies to purchases of new Yamaha ATVs made on a Yamaha Installment Financing loan account from 1/1/12-6/30/12. Minimum contract length 24 months, maximum 36 months. Minimum amount financed $5,000. Fixed APR of 3.99%, 4.99%, 5.99% or 12.99% will be assigned based on credit approval criteria. Monthly payments per $1,000 financed based on 36-month term are $29.52 at 3.99%, $29.97 at 4.99%, $30.42 at 5.99% and $33.69 at 12.99%. **Customer Cash offer good on select 2011 (and prior year) models between 1/1/12 - 6/30/12. Offer good only in the U.S., excluding the state of Hawaii. ATVs with engine sizes over 90cc are recommended for use only by riders age 16 years and older. Yamaha recommends that all ATV riders take an approved training course. For safety and training information, see your dealer or call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your safety; Always avoid paved surfaces. Never ride on public roads. Always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing; never carry passengers; never engage in stunt riding; riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix; avoid excessive speed; and be particularly careful on difficult terrain. ©2012 Yahama Motor Corp. U.S.A. All rights reserved. • yamaha-motor.com

34 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

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APRIL 2012

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Get Your Hunt Camp

READY

Photo and editorial courtesy National Wild Turkey Federation

G

etting ready for the hunting season is a lot of work. But every hour you spend getting ready for the season will mean precious time in the field enjoying the hunt and less time fussing with the million of things you forgot to do in the preseason. Here are a few things to tack on to your to-do list.

Get the camp ready for the season. Whether your base camp is a tent, cabin or motorhome, nothing beats being prepared before the first shot rings in the season.

GENERAL CLUB/CAMP DUTIES INCLUDE: Driving access roads and marking soft spots and washouts for white rock or re-grading.

Bush hogging and mowing trails and maintaining clover food plots.

Check boundaries, repair fences, gates and repost signs.

Inspect and install tree stands.

Replace and repair any worn or rotting wood or upgrade to new stands.

Update club maps for new boundaries, food plots, and roads.

Set up club journal/logbook.

Sharpen knives, axes, branch cutters and anything with a blade.

Order new vacuum-seal bags, storage bags and camp kitchen supply.

Replace old bedding.

Cut firewood for camp.

Create work party duties and management schedules.

TENT CAMP: Check tent poles for cracks or wear. Inspect tarps and tent fabric for water repellency, tears and rot. Spray or apply tents, clothing and boots with water-repellent dressing. Check stoves, lanterns, flashlights, water containers and coolers for leaks, fuel issues, worn batteries or broken parts.

CABIN: Inspect framing, roof, doors and windows for rotting wood, leaks and insects/pests. Set out traps, spray and leave bait to remove unwanted pests. Check refrigeration units to make sure they are cooling to safe temperature (40 F or below) for food. Examine stove/fireplace flue for creosote buildup and clean.

MOTORHOME/TRAILER: Pressurize pipes, repair leaks and check water/well pumps for low pressure or leaks. Test heating/refrigeration system for presence of carbon monoxide. Check that vents and air supply to inside of trailer is clear of bugs and birds nests. Replace old batteries and test A/C generator. Recharge sanitary system and refresh water tank and lines with diluted bleach or vinegar.

PLOT DUTIES: Install motion cameras along trails and food plots to monitor turkey use. Renovate pastures by killing fescue using the five-step drop for fescue: mow/burn, allow regrowth, apply herbicide, reapply herbicide and reseed with preferred grasses. Check your local extension office for specific planting dates as they will vary with region of the country and species of plant. Lightly disk perennial clovers and pastures to enhance growth and reduce weed competition.

HUNT, HUNT, HUNT!: Work on getting your bird dogs into shape. Do maintenance on duck blinds and boats and start flooding wetlands for ducks just before the season opens. Hunt safely and send us photos of your trophies.

APRIL 2012

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BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

• 35

36 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

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APRIL 2012

Get Better Performance From Your Vehicle with Gomer’s/US Diesel Parts W

hether you’re using your truck for hunting, pulling your boat or just grabbing the groceries, your diesel engine places extraordinary demands on each internal component.

Big V6 outboards are notorious for fouling plugs. In the five years I’ve been with AMSOIL, I’ve yet to even breakout a spark plug wrench.

Steve Haynes #112 Professional Walleye Angler Most motor oils aren’t up to the task of providing adequate long term protection for your diesel engine, and may eventually lead to expensive repairs down the road.

For those that are looking for the absolute best protection and longevity for their engines, transmissions and drivetrains, we recommend AMSOIL synthetic oils.

Formulated for Excellent Diesel Engine Protection and Performance AMSOIL Synthetic Diesel Oil provides excellent protection and performance in both on- and off-road diesel engines for the original equipment manufacturer’s recommended drain interval. It meets API CJ-4 specifications and is suitable for both modern and older diesel applications.

AMSOIL OE 15W-40 Synthetic Diesel Oil exceeds the higher performance demands of modern engines and withstands the stress of heat, soot and acids to HELP PREVENT DEPOSITS, WEAR AND CORROSION. AMSOIL Synthetic Heavy Duty Diesel Oil is ideal for use in a wide variety of light and heavy-duty applications, including agriculture, off-road construction, trucking, mining, industrial (pumps and generators) and personal automotive or commercial transportation.

Whether it’s gas or diesel, we carry a full line of premium AMSOIL products for every vehicles specific needs, including transmission and gear oils. If you’re looking for the best protection for your engine, then just call one of the experts at Gomer’s Diesel / USDieselParts.com.

The Ultimate Hand Held Off Road Race Tuner The H&S XRT Pro is the ultimate hand held off road race tuner for those seeking to gain total control over their truck. GAIN UP TO +175 hp (GM 6.6L, Dodge 6.7L, Ford 6.0L) or up to +250 hp (Ford 6.4L) with the DPF EGR removed!

DPF / EGR-Removed Tuning (DPF Delete) For maximum performance and economy gains, this product is capable of disabling emissions equipment. This high performance product is intended solely for closedcourse racing use and is not street legal in any state when set to this mode. You will not be able to pass emissions testing with this product in DPF EGR removed tuning.

Features: • Comes preloaded with DPF Present and DPF Removed capable tuning • Allows removal of the DPF system and ALL related sensors (nothing needs to go into the race exhaust or even be plugged in) • Precisely tune engine with HP increases of 0-250HP (dependent on application • Speedometer recalibration for use of non-stock size tires or gearing Available at Gomer’s-USDIESELPARTS 2400 Palmer Missoula, MT. 59808 (406) 728-7620 or 1-800-823-4444

Vehicle Repair and Installation Appointments We are always taking appointments for all performance upgrade installations and basic vehicle maintenance and repairs. Just give us a call at (800) 823-4444 to schedule an appointment with one of our licensed and experienced technicians.

CALL US FOR OTHER PERFORMANCE ENHANCING, FUEL-REDUCING PRODUCTS!

APRIL 2012

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BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

2012’s

Hot New Gear for Bowhunters (continued from page 20)

With a 2.3-inch cutting diameter, the sweeping blade angle on the new X-Treme maintains kinetic energy longer and penetrates deeper than any previous blade, and produces larger entry and exit wounds for even better blood trails. This new broadhead is uniquely designed with a single-bevel blade that improves bone and tissue-cutting performance on even the toughest of prey.

Binoculars I recently had the

opportunity to tour the Brunton headquarters in Riverton, WY and I honestly had no idea the things this company is up to for hunters and outdoorsmen. They have a plethora of products for bowhunters, but I was particularly impressed with their new line of optics. Brunton truly believes that compromise is not an option.

That’s why the Icon binoculars are at the top of the food chain in optics.

Icon-equipped, you’ll have the brightest, clearest long-distance image possible, in any situation. World-leading SK nano-coated prism glass, ED objective lens, and super-fast focus make certain you have the best view in the world when it matters most. Steadfast shock,

water and fogging resistance keep that view sharp and pristine. The true grip rubber-coated magnesium alloy frame eases long hours of glassing, lightens the load of full-size binos, and withstands the scrapes and bumps of constant use. All covered by Brunton’s unique Halo warranty that immediately replaces any Icon, for any reason, anywhere, for life. Icon will never let you down.

TARGETS Nothing seems to

help pass the time of waiting on opening day like backyard practice, shooting with buddies in camp, or practice on an indoor range. Delta Targets helps meet the endless demand for portable target options with their new Kill Zone target.

The KILL ZONE measures 16”H X 15”W. If you’re wanting a target to haul to hunting camp with you, but are looking for more than just a block-style target, the Kill Zone is your answer. This target is perfect for taking on hunting trips or even backyard practice featuring a midsection and handle for extreme portability. This target is lightweight and durable for countless hours of practice.

For archers wanting to take their shooting indoors on a rainy day, there are a number of companies making targets that allow you to build your own indoor range. The new Brick Wall from Rinehart features customization in a wall-sized target like no other. The Brick Wall is a compilation of individual target “bricks” crafted from Rinehart’s legendary solid self-healing foam. While these bricks can take countless hits from field points and crossbow bolts without any signs of tearing or damage, should a specific region of the wall get shot up, simply flip the identified brick or change up the order of the stack to further extend the life of the wall. The Rinehart Brick Wall is available in 30” or 48” wide systems.

• 37

The crew at McKenzie Targets also offers a wall target with the ShotBlocker Wall target. It’s huge, with measurements of 48”H x 42”L x 18”D. The ShotBlocker welded-core technology makes The Wall more durable than traditional layered range targets, plus its easy strap-and-snap buckle system allows shooters to quickly replace or rotate target sections in just minutes. You’ll save money by replacing individual sections instead of an entire target. Ideal for use with paper targets or as a backstop for 3D shoots. The Wall comes complete with strapping system, edge cover, and three regular-density sections that total 110 lbs.

And when you’re looking for easy arrow removal on an indoor range target, you’ll certainly find it with the Block Range targets. The targets come in Block Range 24, 28, or 48 giving you plenty of room for countless shots on your indoor range. The company boasts that since the BLOCK Range stops arrows with friction, not force, it will last far longer than other targets and have easier arrow removal.

As you prepare for the arrival of hunting season, or upcoming time on the 3D range, be sure to give the previously mentioned items a look. They will no doubt help you hunt with confidence this season.

38 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

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Spring Bear Hunting

BY RICK HAGGERTY

Spring bear hunting in Montana can be a tough time to find a bear to harvest. A lot of your success in April will depend on weather conditions where the bears live. Milder weather will bring bears out earlier in the season looking for just about anything they can find to fill their stomachs.

Search for bears high up drainages that have lost their winter snow coat and where green vegetation has started to show. MID-DAY AND EVENING HUNTS CAN BE A PRODUCTIVE TIME TO SEARCH FOR BEARS. Set-up on a high basin with good optics to find bear movements.

Only about 8 percent of all spring black bear hunters in Montana manage to fill a tag, and most of this low percentage rate has to do with weather, late emergence from hibernation with heavy snow in the high country, and the fact that most hunters do not put as much effort and time in the field that it takes to find the right bear.

Much of fall hunter success has to do with deer and elk hunters having a bear tag in their pocket.

If weather conditions in the state remain mild, hunter harvest numbers should jump as more bear will be out in open areas early in April.

HERE ARE A FEW UNITS THAT HOLD BEAR AND GOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPRING BEAR HUNTERS: REGION 1: Including 100, 102, 104, 105, and 108 These units are in the extreme northwest corner of Montana bounded by Idaho and British Columbia around Lincoln, Sanders, Flathead, and Lake Counties.

Look for bear movement around the Kootenai river drainage areas.

Hunter success averages anywhere from as low as 3.4 percent up to 16% success in years past, mostly due to weather conditions.

(Hunter note: For the last several years MFWP has required spring bear hunters to declare their intention to hunt these districts in Region 1 where harvest trends tend to be higher than other districts in western Montana. The trade off is you give up your ability to hunt elsewhere in the state. Check current 2012 regulations for any changes in those units.)

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APRIL 2012

REGION 2: Black bear management units 200, 216, 240, 280, 290 which include areas in Missoula, Mineral, Ravalli, Granite, Powell and Deer Lodge counties. Areas to consider here would be up Hwy. 12 on the Montana/Idaho border, Clark Fork river drainage areas, Swan-Clearwater river drainages, and the Miller Creek area near Missoula. All produce good bear hunting.

Hunter success rates vary from around 7 to 8 percent annually.

REGION 3: Black bear management units are 300 and 301 which are around the north Helena area in Lewis and Clark County south to Jefferson County. 316, Big Hole unit which includes Silver Bow, Deer Lodge, Beaverhead and Madison Counties. 317, Ruby-Centennial unit west of Butte, 319, Bridger mountains and 341, Madison-Yellowstone-Gallatin unit. All of these areas have good populations of black bear. Around Helena hunt the mountains around Stemple Pass towards Lincoln on open land, south-facing slopes. These are mostly big timbered Kenny with his Spring Black Bear areas. Hunt towards the tops of ridges down towards creek bottoms and drainages to spot black bear.

In the Big Hole area, hunt around Melrose north and south along the foothills up from river bottoms on both sides, south to the Dillon area. All of this Continental Divide area is rugged, beautiful country that is perfect habitat for black bear to thrive.

REGION 4: Black bear management units include 411, Snowies Complex around the Judith Basin, Fergus, Petroleum, Musselshell, Golden Valley and Wheatland Counties. 420, Little Belts/Castle Mountains which include portions of Cascade County North, 440, Big Belt Mountains and 450, Rocky Mountain east of Lewis & Clark, Pondera, Teton and Glacier Counties. This area traditionally known for exceptional deer and elk hunting holds black bear as well. East of the Continental Divide hunt around Fort Benton and the Missouri River areas, Rogers Pass area, Choteau, White Sulphur Springs South to Ringling.

Note: Sun River Preserve closed to black bear hunting.

REGION 5: Black bear management units include 510, Pryor Mountains of Big Horn, Carbon and Yellowstone counties. 520, Beartooth Face around Park, Sweet Grass Stillwater and Carbon counties, 580, Crazy Mountains of Big Horn, Golden Valley, Meagher, Musselshell, Park, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Wheatland, and Yellowstone counties. There are lots of black bear and grizzly bear in these areas.

A black bear and grizzly are fairly easy to tell apart. Just remember the old saying, “If in doubt, don’t shoot.”

Some cinnamon colored black bears do look like a grizzly from far away.

REGION 7: 700 region is the portion of Big Horn, Carter, Custer, Powder River Country, Rosebud, Richland, Dawson Counties east and south to the Wyoming border. Definitely deer and elk country, but good bear hunting in these drainages as well. You must call a harvest reporting line at 877-397-9453 within 48 hours of the kill in the 500 and 700 regions as these areas have small quota limits and will close once these are met. For quota status call 1-800-385-7826.

2012 BLACK BEAR SEASON

SPRING SEASON - GENERAL START END DATE April 15 May 15 (June 15 in some bear hunting units) ARCHERY START END DATE September 1 September 14 FALL SEASON - GENERAL START END DATE September 15 November 25 NOTES: •Hunter orange required to hunt black bear •Hunters must pass a black bear I.D. test before purchasing a black bear hunting license •Fall season, a black bear hunting license purchased after August 31, 2012 may not be used until 5 days after purchase of license and may be purchased only at a FWP office or on-line •NO DOGS - NO BAITING in Montana SPRING AND FALL LICENSE PURCHASE RESTRICTIONS: Spring Season: •A black bear license purchased after April 14 may not be used until 5 days after the license is issued AND may be purchased only at a FWP office or online.

•A spring season black bear license must be validated at the time of purchase. Validate for: - the entire state - able to hunt in all BMUs except BMUs 100, 102, 104, 105, and 108 - OR for BMUs 100, 102, 104, 105 and 108 - able to hunt in these BMUs and the rest of the state but NOT anywhere else in Region 1.

Fall Season: •A black bear license purchased after August 31 may not be used until 5 days after the license is issued AND may be purchased only at a FWP office or online.

APRIL 2012

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Valley Garden Fishing Access Site on the Madison River MFWP T he Valley Garden Fishing Access Site is located on the Madison River 49 miles from the mouth on the right hand side as you face down stream. Ennis is the next access site up stream from Valley Garden.

Open: Jan 1 - Dec 31 Size: 143 acres Elevation: 4885 ft Nearest town: Ennis

MFWP Photo

Game fish opportunities: Brown Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout

Boat Services: Ramp (Gravel)

Campground: Primitive campsite Maximum stay: 7 days allowed.

Trailer Length: 25 ft.

Sanitation/water Toilet Fees: FAS Camping $12.00 W/O Fishing license FAS Camping Fee $7.00 W/Fishing license

MFWP

Activities: Boating Fishing Camping Wildlife Viewing

Directions: Hwy 287, 0.25 mile south of Ennis to milepost 48, then 2 miles north on County Rd. Region 3 contact information: FWP Region 3 Office 1400 South 19th Bozeman, MT 59718 Phone: (406) 994-4042 Phone: (406) 994-4043 E-mail: fwprg3@mt.gov

APRIL 2012

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BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

Join The

• 41

Best Value In Montana Lodging.

National Wild Turkey Federation in Montana We NEED volunteers interested in helping

put together a new NWTF committee in the towns of Butte, Dillon, Sidney, Miles City and Lewistown.

Help us in the conservation of the Wild Turkey.

It’s fun.

It’s a great way to meet people.

PHOTO - NWTF

Contact Chris Fortune at 406-360-1029

Outdoor Calendar Sponsored By C’Mon Inn Bozeman & Missoula Lodge Like Atmosphere With Resort Amenities BILLINGS Spring Classic Motorcross Race: May 5 - 6

Almost three hundred motorcycle riders will come out to test themselves in the first major race of the season.

DEER LODGE Junior Ranger Day: April 21

Events To Support WILDLIFE

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION April 21, 2012 SW MT Big Game Banquet - Butte Dick & Kim Talley, 406-494-3043 EUREKA April 21, 2012 David Thompson Black Powder Shoot Sanders County Big Game Banquet & Rendezvous: April 27 - 29 Plains Competitions include muzzle loading, rifle and Linda Wilson, 406-826-8651 pistol shooting, knife and tomahawk throwing and other primitive events. Held at 69 Ranch April 28, 2012 Phone: 406-882-4691 Giant Springs Big Game Banquet Great Falls FORT BENTON Chris Wilson, 406-899-2035 Fort Benton Spring Classic Fishing Derby: May 18 - 20 April 28, 2012 The annual Fort Benton Spring Classic Fishing Five Valleys Big Game Banquet - Missoula Derby has categories for both adults and children.

Mark R. Sommer, 406-360-4414 This event is fun and exciting for all ages, filled

There will be tours, walks, kids activities, ranch programs and prizes at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch - 266 Warren Lane.

Phone: 406-846-2070

with prizes and cash. Phone: 406-621-5592

NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION GREENOUGH April 14, 2012 Grizzlyman Adventure Race: April 21 Two separate races. The GrizzlyMan Adventure Last Chance Gobblers Banquet - Helena Race will be a qualifier for 2012 USARA BC Caffyn, 406-270-3550 Nationals! The Black Bear Challenge will be a less intense 8 hour course for racers interested in an April 21, 2012 introduction to adventure racing. Held at SE MT. Boss Gobblers - Colstrip Lubrecht Experimental Forest.

Robert, 406-740-0161 Phone: 406-396-3162 April 28, 2012 HELENA Stillwater Gobblers - Columbus Don’t Fence Me In Trail Run: May 12 Russell Foster, 406-328-4586 Consists of a 30k, 12k, 5k, and a 5k dog walk and is fun for the whole family. Phone: 406-442-0490 May 12, 2012 Bitterroot Longbeards - Hamilton LIBBY Chris Fortune, 406-360-1029 Koocanusa Resort Salmon & Trout Derby: May 19 - 20 MULE DEER FOUNDATION There are camping facilities, cabins, boat rentals, April 14, 2012 a restaurant & lounge, gift shop and much more.

Treasure State Chapter - Butte Register early, grab your fishing pole and gear and come enjoy Montana’s finest fishing and Mark Clark, 406-498-2638

hospitality. Held at the Koocanusa Resort & Marina on beautiful Lake Koocanusa, 23 miles from Libby on Highway 37. 5 miles north of Libby Dam. Phone: 406-293-7474

May 18, 2012 SW Montana Chapter - Bozeman Scott Antonson, 406-570-8652

Lodge Like Atmosphere With Resort Amenities •Spacious & Comfortable Rooms • Complimentary Deluxe Continental breakfast •Large Indoor Pools & Jacuzzis - All Hotels • Business Meeting Facilities •High Speed Internet Access • Exercise & Game Rooms • iPod Docking Stations In All Rooms • Refrigerators, Microwaves, Coffee Makers In Every Room • 42” or 50” Flat Screen TV In Every Room

BILLINGS - 800-655-1170 • BOZEMAN - 866-782-2717 MISSOULA - 888-989-5569 www.cmoninn.com

Recipe Corner:

Grilled Maple Nut Great Northern Pike Montana Pikemasters, Billings Chapter

3 pounds deboned pike fillets cut into service size.

Wash fillets and set aside 1-3/4 cup maple syrup 1/2 cup crushed walnuts Juice from 1 orange and rind cut into small slivers

Cooking Spray Heavy aluminum foil

Pour orange juice and maple syrup in a shallow pan, then arrange Northern pike fillets on top of mixture, or place in a 1-gallon zip lock bag and let marinade for 1/2 hour.

Spray your favorite cooking spray on aluminum foil.

Place fillets on aluminum foil.

Pour extra sauce over pike fillets, add crushed walnuts and slivers of orange peels over top.

Fold tin foil tightly and place on grill and cook until fish flakes.

Grill fillets for 10 to 15 minutes.

42 • BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

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MOUNT THAT SCOPE YOURSELF

By Jeff Davis, Editor Whitetails Unlimite Unlimited d

Mounting a scope is not difficult, but must be done correctly to ensure that it is solid and will not move anytime in the future. If you are going to be mounting quite a few scopes, order the correct tools — it will make things easier.

If you are only going to do a couple, you should be able to do it easily with tools you already have.~~~ RIGHT RINGS AND BASE(S) Buy quality rings and base(s); this is TIP no place to save a couple of bucks.

Bases may be one- or 1 two-piece, depending on the rifle. Most rifles now come drilled and tapped for the base. If yours isnʼt, take the job to a gunsmith.

Rings come in three heights; the medium height will work for the vast majority of gun/scope combinations. Donʼt ever mount a scope that touches the firearm anywhere except the rings.

TOOL FOR THE JOB Find a well-lit area to work, where TIP RIGHT you can hold the rifle securely. Use high-quality screwdrivers that 2 actually fit the screwheads — you donʼt want to end up with a big scratch on your firearm!

AND OIL Remove the filler screws in the rifle, and clean TIP CLEAN any oil or grease from the screw holes, base screws, and the 3 surface of the base. Apply a thin layer of oil on the rifle and bottom of the base where the two will be in contact. The base will not likely ever be removed, and you donʼt want rust to develop here. Donʼt get oil into the screw holes. The new base screws (that come with the base) are often different lengths, so determine which screw goes into which hole.

•

APRIL 2012

RIGHTY TIGHTY, LEFTY LOOSEY Scope bases can become loose TIP after repeated recoil, so put a small amount of Loctite® on one 4 side of the threads, and tighten the base screws as much as

possible. If the rifle shifts as you torque the screws here, the screwdriver can damage the rifle. Be sure you only use Loctite on the base screws, never on the rings.

ROTATE THAT RING The front ring normally has a dovetail, TIP where insert the ring into the base and rotate it into place.

5 A lightyou coating of good grease on the ring foot can help. It is difficult to rotate the ring by hand, but NEVER use the scope itself to turn the ring! Get a 1-inch section of wooden dowel and use that to rotate the ring. Leupold makes a ring wrench for this that works well.

EVERYTHING SQUARE Insert the rear ring into the base, TIP GET and tighten. It is important to have the rings both perpendicular 6 to the rifle, so the scope will rest squarely, without being twisted by the rings. When you think the rings are square, put the scope in the rings and examine it closely to see if it is truly square. If you canʼt find any problems visually, slowly rotate the scope and see if it binds anywhere. If so, take the scope out and move the ring(s) as needed with the dowel.

ADJUSTMENTS Assemble the scope and rings, and TIP FINAL tighten the rings just until there is some friction with the scope.

7 Now look through the scope and rotate it until the crosshairs are straight, and move the scope forward or back until you have the optimum sight picture. You should be able to see the entire field, but donʼt get the scope too close to your eye. Around four inches is right for most people. Then tighten the ring screws securely.

GO HAVE FUN You need to boresight the rifle, and then head TIP to the range. Start at a close range, and then sight-in at your 8 normal range.

APRIL 2012

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BIG SKY OUTDOOR NEWS & ADVENTURE

JOIN THE BOONE AND CROCKETT CLUB AND RECEIVE A FREE BUCK KNIFE

With a One-Year $35.00 Associate Membership You do don’t n’t have to have a trophy in the records book to join the Boone and Crockett Club, just a passion for big game and the Boone desire to keep hunting them.

Be sure to mention this ad and receive your FREE BUCK KNIFE. While supplies last.

HUNT FAIR CHASE

Join online at www.booneandcrockettclub.com or call 406.542.1888

Bob Gardipee - Antelope

Sam & John (R) Nasset - Whitetails

Bud Schwartz - Bighorn Sheep

Ember - Age 13 - First Elk

Matthew Parliament - First Bear

Shelly Kleen - First Bull Elk

email your photos to bigskyoutdoornews@yahoo.com Records of North American Big Game, 13th Edition features: Listings of nearly 28,000 native North American big

NEW from the Boone and Crockett Club

game trophies in 38 categories, with detailed measurements, location, year taken, and more - an increase of over 5,000 trophies from the previous edition. Also, B&C gross scores are included for the first time.

Regular Price: $49.95 Associate Price: $39.95

Now Available - eBooks!

Bringing outdoor adventure into the Digital Era

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APRIL 2012