Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Tiffany Herrington, Tim E. Hovey, Cal Kellogg, Logan Sebela
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ON THE COVER
Cal Kellogg braved some chilly winter weather to score this nice rainbow at Plumas County’s Lake Davis, showing up just before a cold front iced over the fishery. “It had been a treat to visit during the dead of winter,” he writes. “As things turned out, I’d timed my trip perfectly.” (CAL KELLOGG)
Despite growing up fishing the high lakes and rivers of the Sierra, Adam Helm’s decision to attend college at the coastal campus of Cal State Monterey Bay made him appreciate the Pacific and its bounty. These days, Helm shares his love for saltwater kayak fishing by introducing the sport to everyone from kids to wounded veterans. Tiffany Herrington caught up with Helm, who offered up tricks for catching bottomfish, top tips for beginners and more.
25 CHASING WINTER TROUT AT LAKE DAVIS
When he headed into the Sierra and his SUV’s temperature gauge displayed a balmy 11 degrees, Cal Kellogg knew what he was getting into. But this hearty angler was determined to catch a trout at one of his favorite fishing spots in Northern California, Lake Davis. Baby, it was cold outside, but with the lake mostly free of ice, Kellogg gave it a go. Find out if the bite was hot when the weather wasn’t.
45 A FATHER-DAUGHTER HUNTING ADVENTURE
Logan Sebela had already introduced his kids to the joys of hunting smaller game like upland birds, but when the Fresno County man successfully put in for a cow elk tag for his 12-year-old daughter Lyndie, it brought with it a whole different level of preparation. Logan shares all that he and Lyndie underwent to make this a memorable father-daughter adventure –advice fellow dads of budding young hunters could also learn from.
51 BADGER BRAGGING RIGHTS
Tim Hovey has hunted just about every California game species during his days in the Golden State. But an unexpected encounter with a feisty and aggressive badger in his late teens sparked a pursuit that took him over three decades to fulfill. Hovey talks about challenges of hunting these carnivorous members of the weasel family as we head into February, the badger season’s final month.
(ADAM HELM)
Growing up in the Bay Area, there was always that NorCal versus SoCal rivalry that spilled into my passion for sports. From Golden State Warriors basketball games to San Jose Sharks hockey matches, I was among arena choruses chanting “Beat L.A.” in unison.
Sports hatred aside, I just never envisioned myself living in Southern California. I always considered that part of the state Snobville, but little did I know that one day a job opportunity would arise that I couldn’t pass up. I ended up spending almost seven years in the Southland.
It was a time in my life that I won’t forget for various reasons. It was at times the most frustrating and stressful but also most exciting and fulfilling of my career. Personally, I had some of the happiest and hopeful days I can remember, and at others, I was devastated and depressed. So I guess you can say my time in L.A. wasn’t dull.
Now, long removed from living there, I’m hurting for Pacific Palisades; crying for Altadena; proud of the firefighters
and first responders; and so sorry for everyone who has endured the worst of the wildfires – for those who have lost their lives and for those who have lost everything but their lives.
One of my favorite assignments when I worked for the Los Angeles Daily News was covering baseball or basketball games at Pepperdine University in coastal Malibu. The drive down Topanga Canyon Boulevard (Highway 27) through the Santa Monica Mountains was too scenic for a work commute. There was a great pizza joint near campus where I’d often stop for a bite before or after the game. Covering baseball at the ballpark featured bright sunshine and spectacular views of the Pacific. Once, at a Waves’ basketball game, I had a fanboy moment when I saw The X-Files actor David Duchovny sitting courtside a few seats away from my spot at the press table.
But in mid-January, the road to Malibu from where I lived in Thousand Oaks was closed, and that same beautiful campus
and pizza place came agonizingly close to burning up in the Palisades Fire as it waged destruction on an entire community in adjacent Pacific Palisades. The same fate has essentially destroyed another city further inland – Altadena – via the Eaton Fire. It’s a disaster that nobody should have to endure, and some may never recover from the wreckage these hideous blazes created.
In this month’s issue, correspondent Tim Hovey – also a former Southern California resident and retired California Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist – shares some thoughts about how the Palisades Fire could affect the region’s already precarious steelhead population he once studied in watersheds around the Santa Monica Mountains (page 13). It’s just a small part of such a massive, tragic and life-changing story, and my heart breaks for everyone in the Southland.
“Beat L.A.” might be in my DNA, but right now I feel like singing “I Love L.A.” at the top of my lungs. -Chris Cocoles
The editor, a Bay Area native who lived in Southern California for almost seven years, is crushed for Los Angelinos who have endured the horror of the recent blazes like the Palisades Fire. (CAPTAIN VICTOR GUILLEN/U.S. FOREST SERVICE)
22 NorCal Trout Challenge, Rancho Seco Park, Herald; anglerspress.com/ events/norcal-trout-anglers-challenge
28 Last day of falconry seasons for chukar, sooty (blue) and ruffed grouse, and white-tailed ptarmigan
28 Last day of hunting seasons for badgers and other furbearing mammals
28-March 2 The Fly Fishing Show, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton; flyfishingshow.com/pleasanton-ca
28-March 2 NorCal Boat, Sport & RV Show, Shasta District Fairgrounds, Anderson; exposureshows.com
MARCH
10 Last day of North Coast Special Management Area Canada geese and Northeastern Zone late white and white-fronted geese seasons
15 Pardee Lake Junior Kokanee Derby; kokaneepower.org
16 Last day of falconry rabbit and varying hare season
22 Blake Jones Trout Derby, Owens River and Pleasant Valley Reservoir, Bishop; bishopvisitor.com/event/blake-jones-trout-derby
22 NorCal Trout Angler’s Challenge, Lake Amador; anglerspress.com/events/ norcal-trout-anglers-challenge
22-23 Junior wild turkey hunting dates
29 Spring wild turkey season opens
For a list of upcoming bass tournaments, go to nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FishingContests/ default.aspx.
(CHRIS COCOLES)
San Pablo Reservoir hosts the first NorCal Trout Challenge event of 2025 on February 8. Anglerspress.com has details on derby rules and more.
OF FIRES AND FISH
A FORMER FISHERIES BIOLOGIST ON HOW SOCAL BLAZES COULD IMPACT WATERSHEDS
By Tim E. Hovey
When the recent wildfires burned through Southern California, leaving unimaginable devastation, both in human lives lost and property lost or damaged, it stands to reason that the natural wild world within the fires’ footprints also suffered.
Most animals know to flee fire; however, when fleeing is not an option, some organisms will suffer immediately and still others will suffer as soon as the rains come.
Many species of the natural plant community have evolved to deal with fire. Many germinate and resprout within a few weeks of the blaze. And while a natural sagebrush community will take five to 10 years to fully recover after a complete burn, if left alone, they will still come back. However, the same can’t be said for the stream communities.
ON THE FRONT LINE OF FISHERIES
I was born and raised in California and had the privilege of working as a fisheries biologist for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in
Southern California for over 20 years. Without fail, I had to deal with the aftermath of at least one wildfire every single year I was employed by the state. Unfortunately, when it comes
to wildfires and stream communities within the fire footprint, there is not much we can do.
Prefire, the plants in a natural community hold the soil in place.
Before and after photos following a rainstorm at northern Los Angeles County’s Soledad Creek illustrate the other damage that a wildfire can cause to a watershed. The recent tragic Southern California blazes will also have ramifications for native fish species. (TIM E. HOVEY)
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When rainfall comes, those plants soak in the rain and keep the soil from moving with the water. When a fire burns through the plant community, that barrier to soil movement is removed and in sloped areas, that slurry of mud, ash and debris finds its way to the streams below. This will suffocate everything within the stream community and often extirpate, or completely kill, every creature in that section of stream. If this section of creek is home to endangered species, it is likely that this species will become extinct if it exists nowhere else.
During my normal field tasks for the state, I’d monitor and manage all the sensitive fish species
During his career as a California Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist, Hovey (above, left) was a member of teams that surveyed and/or rescued many endangered fish species like unarmored threespine stickleback following wildfires. (TIM E. HOVEY)
I was responsible for. When a fire burned near one of these sensitive populations, our fisheries group would have to become more reactive, often conducting rescue surveys within weeks of the fire and before any forecasted rain events.
Depending on the species and its listing status, we would often conduct fish rescues, where fish were collected in the fire zone and moved to another unaffected area of the same drainage. To avoid downstream runoff of ash and mud, the release site was always upstream of the collection site and the fire damage. Unfortunately, in Southern California, this became a regular event during fire season.
A THREAT TO SOUTHERN STEELHEAD
The recent Palisades Fire scorched an area in and around Topanga Creek, a small coastal mountain stream that is home to the only known population of Southern steelhead trout in the Santa Monica Mountains. Depending on the fire severity upstream of this population, it is likely that heavy debris, ash and mud will be washed into this special section of creek during the next rainfall, killing
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everything in the water. Wildfires are not going away in California anytime soon, and conducting reactive fish rescues on sensitive populations may not always be the solution. Moving fish out of their native stream to another after a fire may work in the short term.
Of the recent devastating Palisades Fire, which could have an impact on the already endangered steelhead in Topanga Creek, Hovey (rear) writes, “Depending on the fire severity upstream of this population, it is likely that heavy debris, ash and mud will be washed into this special section of creek during the next rainfall,
in the
However, crucial elements of that species’ survival may be missing in their new home. We are also running out of suitable drainages with perennial water to use as refuge creeks for fish in Southern California. When fires move through any ecosystem, they are rarely a good thing. They take lives, destroy property and place an unwelcome reset on the natural community. Despite having participated in dozens of fish rescues, I’ve always thought that when man must step in to save any animal, we are only prolonging the inevitable.
AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE
It will be months before the true damage of these catastrophic fires is realized. The one thing that all Californians can rely on is that more fires will come and that fire season, a term that is almost specifically associated with California, will always be just around the corner. CS
Editor’s note: In late-breaking news, CDFW rescued 271 Topanga Creek steelhead and took them to a special hatchery facility to hold until stream conditions improve.
Years ago while still working for the state, Hovey found rare Southern steelhead in San Mateo Creek, around the border between Orange and San Diego Counties. The population didn’t last long in the drainage. (TIM E. HOVEY)
killing everything
water.” (TIM E. HOVEY)
KAYAK CLASS IS IN SESSION
HOW ONE ANGLER IS HELPING OTHERS LEARN TO SLAM COASTAL HALIBUT
By Tiffany Herrington
Adam Helm’s connection to the ocean runs deep.
As a seasoned fisherman, scuba diver and Monterey Bay local, Helm has spent decades exploring California’s coastal waters and sharing his knowledge with others.
His journey – from a childhood spent trout fishing in the Sierra Nevada with his father, to his current role as an Old Town Kayaks pro staff member (oldtownwatercraft.johnsonoutdoors .com/us) – is one rooted in a deep love
for the ocean. With a background in environmental sciences and a career dedicated to guiding and mentoring new anglers, Helm’s expertise extends beyond fishing techniques; he’s a true ambassador for safe and sustainable fishing.
In our conversation, Helm opened up about the evolution of his career, his favorite fishing spots along the West Coast and the community he’s fostered through his Kayak Fishing For Beginners group, now over 110,000 members strong. He also shares his favorite gear, the challenges
and rewards of kayak fishing and advice for anglers looking to pursue halibut and other species from the unique vantage point of a kayak.
For those curious about the sport, this conversation offers a rare glimpse into what makes Helm’s approach so effective, and why so many look to him for guidance on the water.
Tiffany Herrington Where did your love for fishing and being in and on the water begin? Tell me about your journey from scuba diving to kayak fishing.
Adam Helm’s fishing roots are in high-elevation Sierra trout fisheries, but these days the Monterey Bay coast is his honey hole and where, as an Old Town Watercraft kayak pro staffer, he plies his trade. (ADAM HELM)
FISHING
Adam Helm Since I was a kid, I’ve been fishing with my dad for trout in the lakes of the Sierra Nevada mountains. I’ve loved being in and around water for as long as I can remember. I went to college at Cal State Monterey Bay, where I studied environmental sciences, technology and policy, and psychology. There, I discovered my passion for the ocean. I started surfing as often as possible with my best friend, Dave, before and after classes. When the university offered a scuba class, I took it and loved it so much that I went on to complete every diving-related class available and eventually became a divemaster. I also took up spearfishing, which led me to open my first business, a small dive guiding company where I took people diving and spearfishing.
I later got a job at Monterey Bay Kayaks, guiding tours and educating guests about the area’s wildlife. Through this work, I fell in love with kayak fishing and started going out whenever I could. I used my kayak for spearfishing and traditional fishing with hook and line, becoming deeply immersed in the kayak fishing world.
At the beginning of the pandemic, I founded the Kayak Fishing For Beginners Facebook group, which now has over 110,000 members. I created it to help newcomers get the answers they need and ensure they could fish safely. Soon after, I established the nonprofit organization Kayak Fishing For Beginners Inc., which sponsors kids, veterans and people with disabilities who want to
try kayak fishing by providing them with essential safety and fishing gear. Each year, I organize a large kayak fishing derby at Monterey Bay Kayaks to support the nonprofit.
TH How did you become an Old Town pro staff member?
AH As the GM of Monterey Bay Kayaks, I had the opportunity to try a range of Old Town kayaks and I fell in love with their durability, reliability and design. I felt they outshone other kayaks on the market. After submitting an application, I connected with the Old Town team, who were enthusiastic, supportive and dedicated to promoting the sport. I was thrilled to work with them and promote what I believe to be the best kayaks available.
Helm’s love of catching halibut from his kayak prompted him to start a popular Facebook group, Kayak Fishing For Beginners, which also sponsors fishing opportunities for kids, veterans and those suffering from disabilities. “The more you fish, the more you’ll learn,” he says. (ADAM HELM)
TH Why is Monterey Bay a prime location for kayak halibut fishing, and what other spots would you recommend along the West Coast?
AH California has many fantastic spots for California halibut, but Monterey Bay is exceptional due to its clean, nutrient-rich waters sustained by the Monterey Submarine Canyon within the marine sanctuary. This nutrient influx supports a wide variety of life, from large schools of squid and anchovies to whales and dolphins. Halibut, which feed on squid and baitfish, thrive in these conditions.
Besides Monterey, the San Francisco Bay Area also offers a good environment, though the fish there aren’t typically as large as in Monterey. Other notable spots
in California include Bodega Bay, Tomales Bay and various locations in Southern California. In general, wherever there are sandy or muddy bottoms, you’re likely to find California halibut.
TH What are the unique challenges of targeting a halibut from a kayak, and how do you prepare for them?
AH Halibut can be elusive and challenging to catch. From a kayak, we prefer a bit of wind to drift fish or use pedal drives for a slow troll. California halibut fishing requires covering as much ground as possible, so finding days with favorable wind conditions is ideal.
The biggest challenge, though, is getting them to bite. It’s essential to identify the baitfish present during
FISHING
your outing; if squid are abundant, for example, then squid is the bait to use. I usually spend the first hour of any fishing day searching for live bait, which greatly improves the chances of a catch.
TH Which Old Town kayak model do you rely on for halibut fishing, and what features make it ideal for this type of fishing?
AH I use two models. When guiding fishing trips, I use the Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL. It’s incredibly stable, can carry plenty of gear and has great speed with its pedal drive, which is essential when assisting others. Its ample storage allows me to carry extra rods, reels, nets, bait, clothing, and everything I need to guide effectively. When I’m fishing
Helm tests the waters of San Francisco Bay. Several spots in Northern and Southern California are productive for halibut, but Monterey Bay – Helm attended college in the area – is his favorite due to the size of its flatfish. (ADAM HELM)
FISHING
“Halibut can be elusive and challenging to catch. From a kayak, we prefer a bit of wind to drift fish or use pedal drives for a slow troll,” Helm says. “California halibut fishing requires covering as much ground as possible, so finding days with favorable wind conditions is ideal. The biggest challenge, though, is getting them to bite.”
alone or with friends, I use the Sportsman Salty, one of the fastest pedal-driven kayaks available. It’s narrower than other models and has more rocker (a curved, bananalike shape), which makes it better suited for handling chop and waves. This design allows me to cover long distances easily.
TH How does halibut behavior vary along the West Coast, and what should anglers consider when targeting them in different regions?
AH Different techniques work in different areas, and timing is critical. Halibut come into shallower waters to breed in the summer and retreat to deeper waters during colder months. Tides are also essential, since water
movement brings food to them, increasing their activity. Knowing which baitfish are around helps, as matching bait to local prey improves your chances. Local knowledge is invaluable, so I recommend connecting with locals via social media or fishing forums to learn which techniques work best in a particular area.
TH Walk me through a typical setup for kayak halibut fishing, including essential tackle and rigging tips.
AH One popular setup is the bounce ball rig, which I also favor. This rig involves a 4- to 12-ounce cannonball weight attached to a snap swivel, followed by a bead swivel and mono leader with a sliding snell and treble hook at the end. The sliding snell
allows flexibility for various baitfish sizes. I adjust the leader length based on water clarity – clearer water requires a longer leader, sometimes up to 5 feet. I also use a mono leader for its flexibility, which helps absorb a halibut’s strong head shakes. I take weights ranging from 4 to 12 ounces to adjust for water depth and trolling speed, aiming to keep the line directly under the kayak.
TH What role does patience play in kayak fishing for halibut, and how do you maintain focus during long stretches?
AH Patience is crucial in halibut fishing, as it involves covering significant ground. If the bite is slow, I switch to rockfishing on nearby reefs to stay engaged. However, anglers
(ADAM HELM)
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in Monterey should remember that once a rockfish is on board, local regulations limit you to using a single rod. California halibut fishing isn’t for everyone. If you’re not patient, it may not be the sport for you.
TH What safety precautions are essential for anglers looking to fish from kayaks in deep water?
AH First, inspect your kayak for cracks or holes. Always dress for immersion; wetsuits or drysuits are essential, as water temperatures are around 52 degrees year-round. We always wear PFDs and carry a marine radio, checking it before heading out. Channel 16 connects to the Coast Guard for emergencies. It’s best to go with a buddy and bring a tow rope, paddle float and pump. Familiarize yourself with deep-water rescues; practice in shallow water or take a class if necessary. Finally, always check the weather and avoid strong offshore winds, which can push you further from shore.
says prospective kayak anglers should test out different makes and models before choosing one. In his mind, speed isn’t quite as important as stability is for targeting and landing hard-fighting California halibut.
TH Are there specific water conditions, tides or seasons that you find best for halibut fishing on the West Coast?
AH June and July are ideal as halibut move into shallower water to breed. Clearer water may require longer leaders, but it doesn’t impact the bite much. The best times to fish are half an hour to an hour after high or low tide, avoiding slack tides when water movement slows.
TH Do you have any particularly memorable halibut fishing stories?
AH One standout day was during the Covid shutdown with perfect water conditions. Every drop yielded fish, from rockfish to large bat rays. I switched to fresh squid, and within minutes I landed three halibut over 32 inches; back then we were allowed three. By noon, I had three large halibut and had hooked nearly everything the bay had to offer; my most productive day on the water.
Another memorable experience was while spearfishing. I’d been looking at sand for hours and was
swimming back to shore when I spotted a massive 40-inch halibut staring back at me. I speared it and it took off, dragging me along. Holding onto the spear, I was pulled so quickly that water began seeping into my mask. Just when I was about to let go, the fish exhausted itself, allowing me to bring it to the surface. I have a photo of that halibut and a YouTube video of the hook-and-line halibut day.
TH It sounds like quite the experience to be dragged by a halibut! For beginners interested in kayak halibut fishing, what advice would you give on choosing the right kayak and gear?
AH Try as many kayaks as possible. A kayak that works for someone else might not work for you. Stable kayaks are essential for halibut fishing, since these fish are powerful. Speed is helpful, but stability is more critical when dealing with strong fish. Make sure your PFD fits well, and get advice from experts.
TH Any final tips and advice for people looking to get into the sport or improve their skills?
AH The more you fish, the more you’ll learn. Start with minimal gear and add gradually, as less clutter makes landing fish easier. When bringing in a fish, keep its head underwater until you’re ready to gaff or net it; they tend to run when they hit the surface, and many fish are lost at this stage. Stay open-minded and adaptable. Local knowledge is invaluable – you’ll never be a true “expert” in this fishery – and halibut fishing constantly changes, so there’s always something new to learn. CS
Editor’s note: Explore Adam’s Kayak Fishing for Beginners group at facebook .com/groups/kayakfishingforbeginners to kickstart your fishing journey and connect with a supportive community (kayakfishingforbeginners.org). Like Old Town Watercraft at facebook.com/ oldtownwatercraft. Tiffany Herrington is a writer based in the Seattle, Washington, area.
Helm
(ADAM HELM)
CHASING THAT WINTER RAINBOW DREAM
TRIP TO DAVIS LAKE FEATURES FRIGID WATER, LETHARGIC TROUT AND AN OTTER SPOTTING
By Cal Kellogg
When I arrived in the Sierra city of Truckee just before dawn during the second week of January, the thermometer in my Suburban registered a brisk 18 degrees. As I drove north on Highway 89 for a half hour or so, the temperature steadily inched down, eventually bottoming out at 11 degrees.
As a native Californian who typically avoids the high mountains in the dead of winter, this was the lowest temperature I’d ever encountered. And it honestly had me doubting my plan for a moment or two, but I was committed, so I poured myself another cup of coffee
from the thermos and kept pushing north. I’m glad I did because it proved to be an eventful and memorable adventure to Lake Davis, one of my all-time favorite trout fishing spots!
SNOW-FREE DAVIS
I planned the winter trip to Lake Davis after I saw a Facebook post from Jeanne Graham at J & J’s Grizzly Store and Camping Resort (530-8320270). Jeanne lives less than a mile from the dam at Lake Davis and is a reliable source of information about the conditions and fishing at the lake.
Ordinarily at this time of the year, the shores of Davis would be covered in a few feet of snow and the lake would be lidded by a thick sheet of ice. But so far this season, we’ve been
experiencing a wet, warm winter. As a result, Jeanne reported that much of the lake was devoid of ice and there was little snow on the ground.
I typically fish Davis a dozen or more times per year from my kayak, always in spring and fall, but I’d never visited the lake during the winter months. With the lack of ice, it sounded like a perfect time for a day trip.
I thought about hauling my Hobie Pro Angler kayak to the lake, but the idea of getting stuck on an icy boat ramp with nobody around to lend a hand wasn’t appealing. Instead, I opted to keep things simple and fish from the bank.
Even though the lake wasn’t iced over, I knew the water temperature would likely be in the 30s. In all
Braving cold winter weather – but with less snow or ice than in past years – author Cal Kellogg tried his luck at popular Lake Davis in the Plumas County high country. (CAL KELLOGG)
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likelihood, the most active trout would be in shallow, near-shore waters, and they might be too lethargic to chase a trolled lure or fly.
When I turned off the main highway and started up the small county road to the lake, I felt a surge of excitement and expectation spurred by visiting a familiar destination at an unfamiliar time of the year.
A while back I wrote an in-depth piece detailing Davis (California Sportsman, April 2024). As a reminder, the lake is located in Plumas County and has a surface area of just over 4,000 acres when at full capacity. The nutrient-rich meadow soil that makes up the lake bottom serves as the catalyst for a robust food chain, including shrimp, aquatic insects and minnows. Trout in the form of Eagle Lake-strain rainbows and German browns reside atop the food chain and grow fat dining on a smorgasbord of prey items.
Rainbows averaging 2 pounds and ranging up to 5 are plentiful and it’s not uncommon for me to catch upwards of two dozen a day while trolling from my kayak in the spring and fall.
PICKING A SPOT
“Where should I try my luck?” That was the question running through my mind as I approached the lake at about 7 a.m. I knew that when Davis is covered in ice, anglers tend to work deep-water areas near the dam with success. I’d never fished near the dam, so I dismissed that area as a starting point.
I considered the north end, but concluded weeds might make for difficult bank fishing. In the end, familiarity won out and I pulled into Mallard Cove. This is the spot I generally launch my kayak from and I have a lot of experience trolling the near-shore waters both north and south of the cove.
There is an area just north of Mallard’s primitive boat launch where you can drive right down to the lake. Over the years I’ve watched bank anglers catch a lot of nice trout from that location, but since I was going to be creating a video for my YouTube channel, I decided I’d hike to a spot with a little more privacy.
I doubted anyone would be out fishing due to the cold, but if I were filming and somebody did show up,
it would be awkward talking to the camera in front of a stranger.
After parking my Suburban, I gathered up my tripod and fishing rods, slipped on my backpack and headed south toward the dam. In this area, the water offshore ranges from 25 to about 40 feet deep. There are some fairly deep areas near the bank, but plenty of shallow flats too.
The first cove I came to was completely frozen over and there were patches of snow covering the ground. I could see that the point beyond the cove offered open water, so I continued hiking.
The point of the cove appeared to drop away sharply and was protected from the rays of the rising sun. I continued around to the south side of the point and found the slope going into the lake to be gentler and the water fully exposed to the sun. If I were a trout looking to warm up in the sun and grab a bite to eat, this was just the sort of area I’d gravitate to!
A few minutes later I was standing next to the lake marveling at thin shards of broken ice lining the bank. For the moment, I concluded the ice had been formed by waves breaking
Kellogg found the backs of coves and the area near the dam covered in ice. Within a few days of his trip a cold front caused much of the lake to ice over. He’ll be back for more when it’s a little warmer. (CAL KELLOGG)
on the beach. In time, I’d find this conclusion was incorrect.
SLOW START
I was armed with three spinning rods. My plan was to devote one rod to bait fishing and utilize the other two for tossing lures and flies.
The bait rod was rigged with a Carolina-style setup for floating dough baits or inflated worms off the bottom. Unfortunately, despite stopping at three different shops, I wasn’t able to get any nightcrawlers, but I did have some Gulp! Pinched Crawlers that would serve as a good worm substitute in a – wait for it – pinch!
I baited the rig with a small ball of yellow Zeke’s Sierra Gold dough bait to begin with and tossed it out about 25 feet offshore. I thought shallow water near the bank would offer the trout the most warmth.
After leaning the bait rod on a convenient near-shore piece of driftwood, I attached an orange Pinhead spoon to one of my remaining spinning rods and started fan casting. I worked diligently for about 20 minutes while enjoying the serene beauty of winter in the high Sierra and keeping an eye on the bait rod.
When the spoon failed to produce, I switched to the other rod armed with a clear casting bubble and orange Woolly Bugger streamer. With this rig, I made very long casts and worked the fly back slowly with plenty of pauses and twitches.
THROWING A CHANGEUP
After 90 minutes with zero results, I was ready for a break from casting and it was time to change up the bait rig. Davis is full of trout, and I was working in an area that had literally produced hundreds of trout for me in the past, so I was surprised by the lack of action. What I really wanted to use was an inflated ’crawler, but since that wasn’t an option, I tied on a two-hook leader. This way I could fish dough bait and a Gulp! Crawler at the same time. I also decided I wanted to cast out further. After reeling in the bait rig, I put on
a heavier sinker, attached the doublehook leader and baited the hooks.
The bottom hook sported a ball of green Sierra Gold and the other hook was armed with half a Gulp! bait. This time, I tossed the rig about 50 feet offshore and leaned the rod on the driftwood.
FISH ON!
I was about to begin casting with a gold spoon when I noticed the bait rod’s line twitch once and then again.
Something was playing with the bait! I rushed over, opened the bail on the spinning rod and waited. The last thing I wanted to do was rush the hookset and miss the fish.
For long seconds nothing happened, but then the line began moving off very slowly, indicating the fish was lethargic due to the frigid water temperature. When I was sure the trout had the bait, I engaged the reel, allowed the line to tighten and set the hook into solid weight.
Kellogg tossed a variety of flies behind a clear bubble while fishing Davis last month, but the lethargic trout refused to chase much of anything, including a slow-moving fly. (CAL KELLOGG)
Orange spoons like this Pinhead are often an effective offering for Davis rainbows, but just not this time. (CAL KELLOGG)
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At first, the fish came my way, but as it ran into shallower water, it started putting up a spirited fight with plenty of headshaking and short, fast runs. Gradually, I worked the chrome-bright rainbow toward the bank. When the moment was right, I slid the trout right up onto the beach. Upon inspection, I found the trout had gobbled down both the dough bait and the imitation worm.
The rainbow was 21 inches long and I knew it would provide a great meal for my wife and I. After dispatching the trout, I stashed it under some of the ice.
HERE COMES THE WIND AND OTTER
I worked hard for the next couple hours without further results, and then a stiff breeze came up out of the south and blew directly into my face. At one point, a sheet of ice 20 or 30 feet across and maybe 10 feet wide was pushed up onto the bank a couple hundred feet from my location and broke up on the rocks. That solved the mystery of where the jumble of broken sheet ice lining the bank had come from.
Around noon, I decided to hike back to the truck and drive over to the dam to try my luck there. I figured if nothing else I could hide
the wind.
Unfortunately, the area in front of the dam was completely iced over. As I stood on the dam filming the final scene of my video, I heard a funny noise in the area near the face of the dam, so I crept over to take a look. Perhaps 30 feet away, an otter had popped up out of a small patch of open water and was sitting on the ice. When it got a glimpse of me, back
into the water it went!
On that note, I climbed back into the Suburban and headed for home. It had been a treat to visit Lake Davis during the dead of winter. As things turned out, I’d timed my trip perfectly. Within a few days, a cold front moved in and the entire lake froze over.
I’ll be back at Davis this April. In the meantime, I’m hoping for snow so the lake is nice and full this summer. CS
This 21-inch rainbow made the day worthwhile and yielded dinner for Kellogg and his wife. (CAL KELLOGG)
Finally, after changing plunking bait setups and depths, the author got bit. (CAL KELLOGG)
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HERE’S MUD IN YOUR EYE
By Cal Kellogg
The 2024-25 winter got off to a wet start in Northern California, and by New Year’s Day most metrics indicated we were well above the season-to-date average in terms of precipitation. When we get a lot of rain in the northern part of the state, the creeks and rivers begin flowing and the next thing you know, our reservoirs are on the rise and muddy.
As I write these words near the end of January, the month has been largely dry and temperatures have declined, especially the nighttime lows. At this point, most of our lakes are stained and frigid, with water
A TROUT FISHING GUIDE DETAILS HOW TO FISH COLD, MURKY LAKES IN WINTER
temperatures hovering in the middle to upper 40s.
Being a full-time trout fishing guide, I have to deal with all sorts of adverse conditions, including cold, muddy water, to consistently put my clients on fish.
The less-than-perfect conditions at most reservoirs have been frustrating trout anglers around my region, with some of them reaching out to me for advice. With my corner of the fishing world trying to cope with challenging conditions, I suspect many California Sportsman readers with an interest in trout fishing are in the same boat.
This being the case, let’s dive right in: How do you go about catching
trout when cold water makes them lethargic and muddy water greatly reduces visibility?
CONFIDENCE COUNTS
The first thing you’ll need is a confident mindset. Sure, murky and/ or cold water are two of the biggest challenges confronting anglers all year long. The dog days of August, when the trout are fat and lazy, can be tough, but cold, lethargic trout are even harder to catch.
When murk or mud combines with water temperatures below 50 degrees, tempting strikes gets downright difficult for many anglers. More than any other time, when conditions are difficult, you’ve got
Trout fishing can be good in the dead of winter even when the water is stained and cold. Author Cal Kellogg was tucked back into a flooded creek hiding from a brisk north wind when this dandy rainbow inhaled a salmon egg drifted 24 inches beneath a slip bobber. (CAL KELLOGG)
FISHING
to hit the water with a plan and commit to putting in the work with the confidence that strikes will come.
THE WATER
There are two types of murky water: water that has recently become murky, and water that has been colored for a while. The toughest nut to crack in terms of hooking trout is working a lake that had been clear but suddenly turned murky. This situation is going to put the trout in a funk for a few days, and hooking up is going to be exceedingly tough in most cases.
Fishing is easier in a reservoir that has been murky for a period of days or weeks simply because the trout have gotten accustomed to the conditions. They may not like murky water, but, regardless, they still must feed.
Temperature is another big factor confronting anglers in the winter and early spring. Al Linder is able to hook bluegill while ice fishing
This chunky rainbow was cruising a shallow, brush-studded bay that had recently flooded when it bit. (CAL KELLOGG)
in the upper Midwest, where those fish look frisky and full of fight, but California fish don’t like cold water, and this even applies to “cold water” species such as trout.
Once the temperature dips into the 40s, you can count on the trout being lethargic at all but a handful of NorCal lakes, such as Lake Almanor, Lake Tahoe and Eagle Lake. For whatever reason, your average rainbow living at a Northern or Central California foothill lake becomes a lot less aggressive and feeds a lot less when the water falls below the 50-degree mark.
Knowing this fact will help you tailor your approach and offerings to the temperament of the fish.
BAIT FISHING
Can you catch trout while trolling cold and muddy water? It can certainly be done, but the action is going to be very hit and miss. If
you really want to catch trout under these difficult conditions, bait fishing is the most effective approach.
Sure, soaking bait isn’t as cool and sexy as trolling, but do you want to be cool and sexy, or do you want to take home a limit of rainbows?
When it comes to bait fishing, floating various baits off the bottom using a sliding sinker rig is the home-run swing of most reservoir trout anglers. It works because much of the time trout prefer to hang out along the bottom. This approach will certainly work when the water is cold and stained, but when these conditions prevail, I urge you to add a spinning rod armed with a slip bobber to your arsenal. This allows you to float one bait off the bottom and another near the surface. Cover more water, catch more fish, right?
When a lake gets muddy, often the muddiest water will be found near the bottom and the clearest
FISHING
water will be near the surface. This makes sense when you think about the particulate matter that is making the water murky gradually settling toward the bottom.
Another factor to consider is where to look for the warmest water possible. Many times on sunny days, shallow, near-shore water warms more quickly than water offshore. Also, water near the surface of the lake warms more quickly than water deeper down.
These are reasons why I typically try to work the top 10 feet of the water column when targeting trout in murky, cold water. The fish will be drawn to the cleanest, warmest water, which is where I want my bait.
When casting out your slip sinker rig to float a bait off the bottom while bank fishing, consider the slope of the bank and try to cast your bait into 10 feet of water or less. If you are fishing out of an anchored boat, try to set up on shallow flats or in spots where you can cast near to the bank.
FISH NEAR THE BANK
In winter, the trout will move right up on the shoreline. One of my clients landed a massive 10-plus-pound rainbow a few days before Christmas on PowerBait fished in 3 feet of water right next to the shoreline! With one bait floating up off the
bottom, let’s turn our attention to your slip bobber rig. If you’ve never set up a slip bobber rig before, they look sort of complicated, but they really aren’t. To rig up, start with a light spinning
This young man caught this outstanding lightning trout while working a small jig off the
rod spooled with 6- or 8-pound test. Thread your line through a string bobber stop. Then thread on an ⅛-inch plastic bead followed by your bobber, pinch on one or two large split shots and then tie on a swivel. To the swivel attach a 12-inch, 8-pound-test fluorocarbon leader. Tie a size 8 or 10 wide-gap, short-shank hook to the business end of the leader.
Since dough baits and Gulp! Worms float, pinch a small split shot on the leader about 3 inches from the hook. This will keep your bait from floating up.
Before you bait the hook, adjust the bobber stop for a desired depth. You can reel the string bobber stop right through the rod’s guides and into the reel and you’ll still be able to cast. When the bobber hits the water, your line will slide down through it until the bobber stop
Ed hooked a big fish while soaking floating dough bait right next to shore in about 3 feet of water. (CAL KELLOGG)
shoreline during a storm when the water was seriously muddy. (CAL KELLOGG)
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wedges itself against the bead atop the bobber. As a result, your offering will be suspended below the bobber.
I like to start out about 3 feet deep and then work incrementally deeper until I get hit. Again, the nearsurface water will produce the best action when the water is cold.
MAKING YOUR BAIT COUNT
I load up with a variety of baits when targeting winter trout, including salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, small minnows and floating dough baits such as PowerBait and Gulp! Worms.
Another trick that can pay dividends when using a slip bobber is arming your leader with a small crappie-style jig tipped with a ½-inch piece of worm.
When using jigs I like to wiggle my rod tip. This causes the jig to move up and down erratically, imitating a wounded baitfish. Adding movement to a baited jig that hangs in the strike zone for an extended length of time can be a really effective approach.
A strike is signaled by the bobber twitching under or moving sharply on the surface. When this happens, it’s necessary to set the hook quickly and with authority before the trout can spit it out.
WHERE TO FISH
OK, so you’re rigged up, you’ve got some trout baits and a few jigs. You know you’ll be working the top 10 feet of the water column. Where are the best places to fish?
The reality is that you can find trout just about anywhere in the lake during the winter, but there are a handful of areas that I rely on that consistently hold fish, and this is doubly true if the water is cold.
Talk to bass pros about the daily movements of bass and they’ll tell you about the fish moving up and down in the water column throughout the day – shallower to feed, deeper to rest.
Trout follow a similar pattern. Given a choice, trout like to feed on shallow flats, but they like to suspend
Slip bobbers are a deadly tool often overlooked by trout anglers. (CAL KELLOGG)
A fish finder shows trout scattered all over a 12-foot-deep flat. Given the 49-degree water, bait fishing is a better choice than trolling in these conditions. (CAL KELLOGG)
FISHING
and rest over deep water. This gives them an immediate escape route when a big bass or other predator comes along and threatens them.
Your challenge is to find a deepwater area that is both near the bank and adjacent to a shallow-water flat. Find such an area and you’ve found a potential honey hole that may produce fish year after year!
The second big hot spot is where water flows into a lake in the form of seasonal feeder creeks. Tributaries provide food and nutrients.
This water is also often warmer
than the water in the lake and it will create an area of clear water in the vicinity of where it flows in. It doesn’t have to be a raging river either. I’ve found trout heavily concentrated around inflows that were a foot wide and a couple inches deep at best.
Fishing inflow areas is standard operating procedure at Lake Shasta, and I first learned the approach from a veteran Shasta trout guide, but it works at a lot of other lakes too. As a side note, catfish and bass can often be found in the same spots.
Finally, in terms of location, points
Cold, heavily stained water didn’t stop Marty from hooking this hefty rainbow on garlic PowerBait fished on a long, shallow point. “If you really want to catch trout under these difficult conditions, bait fishing is the most effective approach,” the author writes. (CAL KELLOGG)
round out my list of top potential honey holes. Points are always good, and when casting your bobber rig on the upwind side, let your offerings drift across the point.
Start out with short casts covering the near-shore water and then cast further. If the wind is in your face, cast out as far as possible and then manage your slack as the bobber comes back your way.
MAKING ‘SCENTS’ OF TROUT BITES
Pro-Cure and other scents are something I almost always use when chasing trout, but I think using scent is of paramount importance when the water is cold, stained or both. Trout are, first and foremost, sight feeders, but when visibility is limited, scent becomes all the more important.
Day in and day out I generally rely on baitfish scents for trout, but when dealing with cold or stained water, I like sweet scents as well as garlic scents. Anise/krill is one of my all-time favorites. It can be like candy to trout.
I was fishing at Lake Almanor one time during the dead of winter. The water was crystal clear; the temperature was in the 30s. The trout would absolutely not take or even mouth my PowerBait or worms unless I slathered them with anise/ krill Pro-Cure Super Gel.
In recent years, when using PowerBait or other floating dough baits, I’ve relied heavily on garlicflavored baits during the coldwater months. The garlic scent has produced impressive results.
If the bite is really slow, I’ll team garlic PowerBait with a garlic Gulp! Crawler and slather the entire bait with Pro-Cure’s Garlic Bait Sauce. That’s how much confidence I have in garlic scent during the winter! CS
Editor’s note: Cal Kellogg is a longtime Northern California outdoors writer. Subscribe to his YouTube channel Fish Hunt Shoot Productions at youtube.com/user/ KelloggOutdoors.
FROM FIELD...
HEAD NORTH FOR BIG FISH
LOOKING FOR A SPRING DESTINATION FOR TROPHY TROUT AND TASTY WALLEYE? TRY THIS WASHINGTON STATE GEM
By Scott Haugen
While high-sticking the rod, I struggled to keep up with the big rainbow trout as it sped toward the boat. The instant my line went slack I saw the twitching jig fall from the fat trout’s mouth about a foot beyond the net.
“How big was it?” I asked my buddy and noted guide Austin Moser. “Twelve pounds, at least,” he shrugged. It was a rookie mistake and I could feel it unfolding, but figured my hookset
was so solid there was no way the big hook was going to slip out. It did.
Fortunately, Moser had already caught a 17-pound trout that was in the box. A week prior to my arrival, he got clients onto 17.5- and 23.5-pound rainbows right where I lost my fish. I soon landed a 7-pound football on a twitching jig, but it paled in comparison to the one I’d just lost. We rounded out our two-fish-perperson limit with a 4- and 5-pound trout. I was pleased, as they were some of the best-eating fish I’ve ever had.
TROUT-TACULAR FISHING
If looking for a place to travel this winter and catch truly world-class trout, this is the place, and Moser is a top-notch guide (509-668-0298; austinsnorthwestadventures.com). We were fishing at Rufus Woods Reservoir in northcentral Washington. Rufus Woods is a 51-mile-long section of the upper Columbia River, created by Chief Joseph Dam on the downstream end and Grand Coulee Dam above.
The reservoir is fringed by about half the southern boundary of the
If big triploid trout are on your wish list, you’ll want a salmon net and to take a trip to the Pacific Northwest. These rainbows grow fat and heavy in Washington’s Rufus Woods Reservoir thanks to their third set of chromosomes to the usual two. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
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UN-'THAI' A FREEZER OF BIG GAME MEAT
By Tiffany Haugen
Now is a good time to make sure you’re eating up that big game from last season. Don’t let those packages of prime meat you worked so hard for get lost in the back of the freezer.
Every year, I hear stories of hunters forgetting to cook up wild game and losing it to freezer burn. There’s no excuse for such waste. And believe me, this is a recipe you’ll go to more than once.
A favorite Thai dish that spices up virtually any game meat can be prepared quickly and easily using the packaged seasoning mix laab-namtok. This is conveniently found in Asian grocery stores and online. Feel free to make it from scratch, which will give you the
ability to vary the spice level. Either way, if you’re a fan of Southeastern Asian cuisine, this dish may soon become a favorite. I’ve cooked it with elk, deer and wild boar, and everyone in our family loves it.
1 pound ground game meat
2 tablespoons coconut oil
Two green onions, chopped
¼ cup shallots, finely chopped
1 to 3 teaspoons red chili flakes
1 to 2 tablespoons fish sauce
2 tablespoons lime juice
¼ cup cilantro, chopped
¼ cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
¼ cup fresh Thai basil leaves, chopped
Additional cilantro, mint and basil for garnish
In a large skillet, sauté shallots and green onions over medium-high heat in coconut
oil for one to two minutes. Push shallots and onions aside and add ground game to the pan. Spread meat out in a single layer to begin browning. Add chili flakes and fish sauce and continue to brown, three to five minutes. Mix everything in the skillet together, add cilantro, mint and basil and stir. Serve as is or over lettuce leaves or rice, garnishing with additional herbs as desired.
Editor’s note: To order signed copies of Tiffany Haugen’s popular book, Cooking Big Game, visit scotthaugen .com for this and other titles.
Chef Tiffany Haugen says don’t let meat from last year’s big game hunts get freezer burned – used it to make a great winter meal flavored by Thai spices. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)
FISHING
Colville Indian Reservation on the north side and Douglas County to the south, which is open to public access. The fishery is jointly managed by the Colville Tribes Fish and Wildlife Department and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Permits to park, camp and fish on Colville Reservation land can be obtained online at colville.nagfa .net, or by stopping by their office in Nespelem, Washington. If launching at one of the public boat ramps on the Douglas County side of the reservoir, parking permits can be purchased at the launch site. If fishing with Moser, he’ll handle the details.
BIG TROUT STOCKINGS
The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation manage three net pens on Rufus Woods, where hatchery-raised fish are grown for commercial sales by Pacific Seafoods. In the 1990s, many fish escaped from the commercial pens, creating a popular sport fishery and spurring the idea to annually release triploid trout into the reservoir for anglers to enjoy. In one year when I fished it, over 40,000 trout were released, with 64,000 another year. Each fish weighs over a pound when stocked, and they then grow much bigger.
While the releases take place in the spring, it’s the cold-winter months when anglers have the best crack at catching a trout tipping the scales to 20 pounds or more (the state record is just shy of 30 pounds).
“Most of the year the trout drop into the deeper holes throughout the reservoir and can be tough to find,” explains Moser. “We troll plugs to cover a lot of water and find fish when they’re spread out, and a 3.0 Mag Lip is hard to beat for this. We also cover water by drifting with the current and fishing 1/16- and 1/32-ounce Maxi Jigs beneath a float. And we’ll anchor and twitch jigs in deep holes too.”
As the water gets colder, the bigger fish move toward the net pens to take advantage of the food that escapes the hatchery fish.
Big walleye are also on the menu at Rufus Woods. Author Scott Haugen was all smiles over these hefty fish taken with Moser on their last trip together on the reservoir. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
“It’s hard for these big fish to find insects and crawdads in the deep, cold water this time of year, so they go to where they can get a constant supply of high-protein food around the pens,” says Moser. “These fish have ravenous appetites and aren’t hard to catch; you just have to find them, and that’s where having a big boat to cover water comes in handy.”
FINDING FISH
There’s often a current in the reservoir due to hydropower operations. While bank fishing can yield some whopper trout, being able to cover water in a boat and fish the prime spots based on water levels and flow rates can help you find concentrations of bigger fish.
“We sometimes cover a lot of different water each day, as the big fish can change location based on currents and fluctuating depths, but once you find ’em, hold on!” Moser says with a smile.
Moser and I have been friends for many years and have fished multiple states together. We’ve enjoyed some great triploid adventures. One December the big trout only bit on floating bait about the size of a pingpong ball. We landed three over 7 pounds that day, including one over 15 pounds.
TWITCHING TIME
One time in late winter when the trout wouldn’t touch bait, we caught and released several fish by casting and trolling Mag Lips and casting Rooster Tails, and they were all 2 to 5 pounds in weight. We switched to twitching in fast, deep water later that day, which was where we found the big fish.
“Twitching jigs on the edge of fast currents can be the key to latching into these big (trout),” explains Moser. “I like big jigs for big fish, and we’ve done well on ¼-, 3/8- and ½-ounce jigs. Black-bodied jigs with purple or chartreuse heads have been best for me.”
Moser has his twitching jigs custom made, and he caught a number of trout over 10 pounds on them last season,
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including that 23½-pound monster.
Moser also gets after Rufus Woods Reservoir burbot and walleye, two more exquisite-eating fish.
“A lot of times we tag out early on two trout each and then troll for walleye, and there are some big ones here! Last year we caught a number of big walleye, with the biggest measuring 33½ inches and weighing 14 pounds,” he says.
Most burbot are caught in the dark as they move into the shallows to feed. That’s a blast.
SPRING FLING
December marks the start of good fishing for fat trout, but Moser has been figuring out where these fish go as spring approaches.
“I used to give up at the end of February, but the more I fish this reservoir, the more I learn about these monster trout and how many are really out there. Now I fish it through May, and we’re catching giant trout until the end.
The hatchery-raised rainbow trout in Rufus Woods Reservoir are known as triploids. Triploids have three sets of chromosomes rather than the two sets that are normal for diploid fish. Triploids are sterile and do not reproduce, so their entire focus through life is on eating. In the right conditions – such as those in Rufus Woods, where high-protein hatchery food combines with plentiful natural forage – triploids quickly grow big. Their large bodies and proportionally small heads speak to the voracious appetites of these fish.
How addicting are these hulking triploids? Ask Moser. He’s been fishing Rufus Woods for over 20 years –guiding it for six years – and last year he and his wife moved to the area so he could be closer to this spectacular fishery he loves. Once you get a taste of it, you’ll understand why folks like me love making the long journey north. CS
Editor’s note: Follow Scott Haugen on Instagram and Facebook for more.
Austin Moser is a full-time guide and makes much of his living on and around Rufus Woods Reservoir. He specializes in catching monster trout, like this 17-pound triploid caught on a cold winter’s day. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
MY DAUGHTER’S ELK HUNT
HOW A HUNTER PREPPED HIS 12-YEAR-OLD COULD HELP OTHER DADS LOOKING FOR ADVICE ON GETTING THEIR KIDS AFIELD
By Logan Sebela
After stalking the herd of elk for the better part of the morning, a cow stepped into a clearing broadside and looked back at us. Framed by the aspen and pines, my daughter Lyndie pulled the rifle stock into her cheek, steadied the scope and said in a panicked whisper, “Dad, I can’t find the safety!!!” The cow decided she had waited long enough and moved off with the rest of the herd.
Now it was time to play “Choose Your Own Adventure”:
• Option A: Tee off on the nearest tree with your shooting sticks.
• Option B: Criticize your daughter for not being ready for the shot.
• Option C: Praise her for the effort of keeping up with the herd, and go over the gun’s safety with her again.
Clearly, some sarcasm is being applied here, but hunting with your kids takes some mental gymnastics before the hunt and a great deal of patience during the hunt. You have to decide what kind of experience you want to have with them, especially if you want them to join you again.
I have been taking my kids into the field in one way or another since they were about 6 years old. This has mostly been turkey hunting, but as they approached the “big game” age for many states, I started putting them in for cow elk. We live in the Sierra in the Hume Lake area of Fresno County, but Arizona has a pretty generous and affordable option for an elk hunt and my daughter was lucky enough
Twelve-year-old Lyndie Sebela got a chance to hunt big game for the first time when her dad, author Logan Sebela, put her in for a cow elk tag. (LOGAN SEBELA)
HUNTING
Lyndie got some important shooting practice in with her father. “One evening we were out two hours between dry firing and the actual shooting of eight rounds,” Logan writes. “While this was a painfully slow pace, it was another way I could help her to feel in control of her hunt.” (LOGAN SEBELA)
to draw a great unit this past season. For $55, you can have your 10-yearold in a premier elk unit with a lot of opportunity. Here are some of the things I thought about and put into action to help make Lyndie’s hunt a success.
PRE-HUNT PREP
Lyndie had shot somewhat sparingly over the years, but never with a largercaliber rifle. I wanted to make sure she was ready to make a confident shot when the time came. We went back to basics with my dad’s old .22 squirrel gun. I wanted to get her used to making a smooth trigger pull and not worry about the recoil. Once she got that down we went up to a scoped .243 and did some dry firing, and then some more, and a little more.
When she was ready, we started shooting some live rounds. But a word of caution: Watch your kid’s or any new shooter’s cheek, and make sure it does not creep up towards the scope. My daughter ended up scoping herself in the forehead, which set us back a little bit as far as her confidence. No real injuries were sustained; just a little anxiety about the next few shots.
Initially, Lyndie was just getting shots off, as I wanted her to feel confident about smoothly pulling the trigger. I really let her take her time at this point in the prep. One evening we were out two hours between dry firing and the actual shooting of eight rounds. While this was a painfully slow pace, it was another way I could help her to feel in control of her hunt. Once Lyndie was actually keeping her eyes open, she began making good groupings. She was happy with how she was shooting and felt confident going into the hunt.
On a related note, be realistic about how far your kid can shoot. I knew Lyndie was going to be limited out to about 150 yards, which was going to be a challenge, but at the same time helped us know where we needed to be for a shot.
In addition, I spent some time making sure Lyndie had enough gear to be comfortable on the hunt. I did not go out and buy her the latest highend camo, but she did have clothes that were going to be comfortable and functional. Teens grow like crazy. Don’t expect the gear they wore last year to fit this year. Make sure they try on what they are going to wear in the field, especially their boots.
THE ROAD TRIP
I am a late onset hunter; only in the past four years have I started bowhunting elk each September. I have mostly done wilderness backpack-style hunts, requiring all-night drives to get to the trailhead by morning. While my son would tolerate this type of journey, my daughter would not respond as well. Yes, hunting with your preteen daughter is likely going to be different than with your son.
The first step towards success was making sure the trip out to the hunting area was enjoyable. Instead of a steady diet of Little Debbie snack cakes and caffeine, we stopped for dinner at a spot Lyndie helped pick. A break from the car with a real meal felt normal, and choosing where we eat is not always something our kids get to do. This also helped set the tone that it was her hunt and she would be making a lot of the decisions.
As I mentioned previously, driving through the night is the norm for me. We left from school and work at midday on Wednesday and were planning on scouting Thursday, but I knew – and was reminded by my wife – that a stop at a hotel would pay dividends later on. This was a tough one for me because all I wanted to do was get there and start scouting, but it was not my hunt. We got a hotel room and had a good breakfast the next morning before getting back on the road.
AT THE CAMP
Backpack-style hunting tends to lack amenities such as running water and toilets. While camping in the field
HUNTING
would maximize hunt time, it may have caused a drop in morale for Lyndie. I compromised and picked a camping spot with a fire pit, running water and bathrooms with flush toilets. We circled around the campground loops a few times before my daughter picked out her favorite site. Once more, I wanted her to feel in control of her hunt, and letting her choose the site was a small way of doing this.
We got out into the field to scout around 1 p.m. As it turned out, we were onto several elk herds within the hour and were ready for the next day.
Camp food was another decision
area as we planned the trip. Historically, it has involved shoving my favorite Mountain Houses, a few protein bars and other various snacks into my pack. But this trip required some meal planning and surveying of my daughter as to what she may want to eat. Mac and cheese and DIY pizzas were on the menu. While this required far more equipment than my Jetboil and some water, I was not sad about the meals we ate back at camp.
We also made several trips to the camp store to get snacks, treats and supplies for s’mores. Luxury items, for sure, but they gave Lyndie something
Lyndie (left, with her brother Deacon) enjoyed the camaraderie of camp. (LOGAN SEBELA)
The eager young hunter got in some glassing for elk. (LOGAN SEBELA)
HUNTING
to look forward to and helped keep spirits high.
THE HUNT
The sunup-to-sundown grind was not going to cut it, but I also knew that first thing in the morning was going to be our best chance to get on some elk. Fortunately, most of the unit we hunted had good road access. We were up at 4 a.m. but the kids got to sleep in the back of the Excursion as we drove to where we wanted to hunt. I would wait for the first bugles and then grab Lyndie and go. She was a trooper, never complaining about this part at all. She was excited to pursue the elk, especially when she could hear them bugling.
About 9 a.m. each morning, Lyndie was ready to head back to camp to take a break, get a bite to eat
“My overall goal was for Lyndie to simply enjoy the experience and spend time with her. I let her set the pace and intensity while I guided and encouraged her along the way,” Logan writes of this father-daughter adventure. “This took a good deal of restraint, and a conscious decision not to live out my hunt through my daughter.” (LOGAN SEBELA)
and play with her friend who came along. (If you can invite one of your kid’s friends as well as their dad, it can make the hunt a lot more enjoyable for the both of you. One evening the girls did an impromptu fashion show of all the different ways you can wear your orange safety vest in the field, and, yes, I have pictures for her wedding slideshow some day!)
After a few hours back at camp we’d head back out for the evening and hunt until dusk. We found that adding in some driving and glassing around the unit helped break up the day and offer some needed rest in the back of the car with her friend. Throughout the day I would ask Lyndie how she was doing, offer breaks and make sure she was still having fun. Your preteen daughter’s facial expressions can tell you a lot.
Lyndie was good at letting me know when she was done for that session, and I tried to listen to her and respect that. Over the next few days we had close encounters with elk every morning. A few times the elk were about 300 yards away – out of her range. On another morning we were creeping up on a herd of over 100 elk when we came across two nice bulls at 60 yards. Lyndie had a cow tag, so all we could do was sit there and admire them while the cows mewed in the distance. On the final morning, a herd worked by at 100 yards, but they were so tightly grouped Lyndie could not pick out a single target for a clean shot.
TAG GOES UNFILLED, BUT FULFILLMENT HIGH
Ultimately, Lyndie did not harvest her elk, but it was still a success for a variety of reasons. For one, she learned a lot about elk. Everywhere we went I made sure to point out the tracks, rubs, scrapes and scat that we saw. By the end she was spotting elk sign on her own and pointing it out to me. She was able to get in close with elk and hear their bugles and mews. This was something we both enjoyed.
Lyndie also got to see how wind can affect the hunt and how we had to work with it to get into range. I did not anticipate this, but she thoroughly enjoyed playing with my wind checker. Just about every time we stopped, Lyndie asked if she could test the wind. I will probably get her one of her own soon since she liked it so much.
We also took time to just enjoy the views and our time together. We joked and talked, and not just about the hunt. All of these lessons will go into making Lyndie a better hunter and more confident in the field.
We had time to squeeze in one more morning hunt, but Lyndie was ready to go see her grandparents in San Diego and do some shopping at Bass Pro Shops on the way back. The early mornings and tent sleeping had caught up with her, and she was done. I could have forced the issue and gotten another morning out of her. However, I am confident this
would have produced nothing more than frustration on both our parts and diminished the enjoyment of the hunt for her.
My overall goal was for Lyndie to simply enjoy the experience and spend time with her. I let her set the pace and intensity while I guided and encouraged her along the way. This took a good deal of restraint and a conscious decision not to live out my hunt through my daughter. I felt myself edging towards this several times throughout the hunt and had to slow myself down.
In the end, Lyndie decided that she liked it more than turkey hunting and wants to do it again. I am already looking forward to the next hunt. While the focus of this hunt was cow elk, I believe there are many concepts here that will transfer to other species. Hopefully, there are a few elements you can glean from our trip that can help you and your daughter be more successful on future hunts. CS
The Sebelas saw lots of cow elk, but some were out of Lyndie’s range and others were bunched too tightly to safely shoot at a single one. But it was still a great experience for her and her dad.
(LOGAN SEBELA)
EARNING MY ‘BADGE’ OF HONOR
A HUNTER’S OBSESSION WITH CALIFORNIA’S OVERLOOKED BADGER
By Tim E. Hovey
At the age of 19, I found myself sitting at the top of a gently rolling hill hunting ground squirrels in the back hills of Central California.
In my lap was my trusty Ruger 10/22 rifle, topped with a Weaver target scope. Finally owning a reliable vehicle, I had started branching out on my own, exploring public land and hunting wherever I could.
I would load camping gear into my Toyota hatchback and pore over U.S. Forest Service maps. I would plan my trip around open roads into public land and head out to just explore. These regular adventures were the beginning of my sportsman’s journey.
That spring day had been pleasant, and I was thoroughly enjoying my independence. I was reloading the rotary magazine of my 10/22 when I noticed movement at the bottom of the hill. The back end of an animal was visible as it dug vigorously in a hole about 100 yards below me. From the darker body and coarse hair, I concluded it was a raccoon. For whatever reason, I decided to sneak in close to the distracted animal and mess with it.
I crept down close to the digging animal unnoticed. It was almost completely down the hole with only its back end exposed. My teenage brain thought it would be a great idea to innocently poke the critter with the butt of my rifle, so that’s what I did.
From the time he was first charged by one at 19 years old, author Tim Hovey has had occasional run-ins with badgers, a feisty weasel family member that has a hunting season in California that runs from midNovember through February. For a long time Hovey longed to successfully hunt a badger. (TIM E. HOVEY)
HUNTING
and, honestly,
Immediately afterwards, two things would occur: 1) I would instantaneously understand the physical differences between a trasheating raccoon and an angry badger; and 2) Discover just how fast I could run backwards.
As soon as the wooden stock of the rifle connected with the furry rump, the badger came out of the hole ready to fight. There was no posturing. He didn’t take a second to size me up. He simply came out of the hole ready to kill.
The instant attack caught me completely off guard and I started backpedaling down the narrow canyon. The badger chased me with absolutely blistering speed, growling deeply the entire way. There was no hesitation in his attack, and I completely believed that if I suddenly stopped retreating, the angry little bathmat of an animal would’ve ripped me apart.
About 100 yards from the hole, the badger suddenly disengaged and headed down a side drainage. With my heart in my throat, I dropped to a
sitting position and tried to catch my breath. The entire episode probably took less than 15 seconds, but I knew I’d remember the encounter for the rest of my life. That day was the start of my tangled obsession with the ground-dwelling badger.
AS HUNTERS, WE ALL have those creatures that we consider our nemesis – animals that have been tough to kill, hard to hunt, or for one reason or another, just plain difficult to acquire. Mine has always been the common badger. I’ve been intrigued and, honestly, a bit frightened of the stocky creature ever since that first encounter.
I’m a hunter and try to learn as much as possible about the animals I chase. I learn their seasons, habits and habitats to get an edge on pursuing them. Back then, before the internet, hunters turned to books and outdoor articles to learn about critters. Unfortunately, there was very little written about the badger and how to hunt it. They were considered agricultural pests and people usually just shot them
when they saw them.
After that first encounter, I didn’t see my second badger for years. The season for badgers in California runs from November 16 through the last day of February, with no limit on take. Unfortunately, a few of my sightings came outside the huntable season for badgers here in the Golden State.
I was calling predators in the early 2000s in Central California. My buddy Rito and I had hiked into a nice-looking valley to see if we could fool a couple coyotes. We settled in and started calling. As soon as the distress sound echoed back to us, I spotted a striped head poke out of a hole about 150 yards out. I knew instantly it was a badger.
I immediately lost all interest in the predator stand and watched the badger for 10 minutes. I had heard that badgers could be called using prey-in-distress sounds and I wanted to see how he reacted to our calling. Even though he poked his head out of the hole when we had first started, he honestly couldn’t have seemed more disinterested. When
Hovey says most hunters have that one animal species that they long to take but for whatever reason can’t quite seal the deal. “Mine has always been the common badger,” he writes. “I’ve been intrigued
a bit frightened of the stocky creature ever since that first encounter.” (TIM E. HOVEY)
we finished the stand, he dropped back into his hole and was gone.
My next encounter came a year later during the badger season while I was quail hunting in the Carrizo Plains area with two buddies. We had bumped into a group of quail on one of the two-track roads and decided to chase them. We split up a bit, and a little while later I found myself standing at the edge of a bluff above a dry creek bed. Movement to my right caught my eye and I spotted an animal running up the opposite side of the canyon 100 yards away. Before he got to his hole, I knew it was a badger.
I felt my heart jump when I realized what it was, but he was clearly out of range of my shotgun loaded with bird shot. All I could do was watch. Traveling far faster than I expected, the badger made it to his well-excavated hole on the far hill, and to add insult to our encounter he turned around and looked right at me, posing for a good 30 seconds. I looked at him wondering if I could get close enough for a shot, but after a short staring contest, he disappeared down his hole.
A FEW YEARS LATER, I was hunting with my good friend Ed Davis in Nevada for predators. Ed had mentioned that no license was needed to hunt coyotes or badgers in the Silver State, and really, that was all I needed to hear. I’d get my shot to hunt them.
On the first morning, we’d hiked to an overlook to try and call coyotes when the sage in front of me exploded in a cloud of dust and animal movement. The creature finally shed his dusty coat, stopped briefly and looked at me 50 yards away. The striped face and white eye bands were easy to see.
The badger took off and headed for his hole. I clicked the safety off and followed him in the scope. At his hole, he stopped, looking back at me like so many have done in the past. I placed the crosshairs on his shoulder and squeezed the trigger.
HUNTING
Badgers are widely distributed across the state, but relatively uncommon or missing from some of their former range, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. They’re mostly solitary animals, though breeding pairs or families are occasionally seen. (TIM E. HOVEY)
These long claws, good for digging burrows, suggest these are critters not to back into a corner. (TIM E. HOVEY)
HUNTING
a decade ago, Hovey and daughter Jessica, then
It was a clean miss, but for some reason he stayed there. I tried to work the action on the rifle, but in my excitement, I had jammed a round in the chamber. The only noticeable sound I detected was the uncontrollable laughter of Ed watching from a few yards away. The badger decided he had had enough and disappeared down his hole. I was beginning to believe that I would never take a badger.
In 2015 I was hunting cottontail rabbits with my then 13-year-old
daughter Jessica. We had found an awesome place where cottontails were abundant and we decided to sit at the edge of a valley and glass for bunnies. She had three in the cooler already and hoped she could bag her first five-rabbit limit. I can honestly say that spending that enjoyable afternoon hunting with my daughter, a badger encounter was the furthest thought from my mind.
“Daddy, what is that?” Jessica said matter-of-factly. I looked over where she was glassing and instantly
spotted the animal. It looked at us in that typical over-the-shoulder pose, and at 100 yards away, I could see it was a badger. I raised the .17 HMR, but before I could settle the crosshairs, he took off.
After a short chase, we lost track of him. Dejected, we headed back to the truck and decided to call it a day. As we drove out of the canyon, I glanced back at the badger spot and thought I spotted something. The critter was perched on a mound near his hole watching us.
I grabbed a set of shooting sticks and the .17 HMR, quickly found him in the scope and took the shot. I heard the bullet thump the animal and then watched him jump into his hole. We hiked out to the spot, looked down into the deep hole and saw the lifeless feet. After a very long time, I had finally taken my first badger.
I HAD NEVER SPECIFICALLY gone out to hunt badgers and only encountered them during the pursuit of other game, but taking photos of that animal with my daughter remains one of the proudest moments of my hunting career. As we headed home, I realized it had taken me 33 years from that first teenage encounter to finally kill a badger. And having my daughter there to assist made it even better. Jessica now proudly displays the tanned pelt of that animal in her college dorm room.
Since that time, I’ve shot a few badgers and have even put a few of my friends on the elusive critters. No matter how many I end up seeing, I will always admire their tenacity, and remember that first encounter on the side of a hill as a hunter just starting out.
Californians have one more month of the season to experience hunting badgers. Give it a try. CS
Editor’s note: More information on hunting badgers and other furbearing mammals in California can be found at fgc.ca.gov/Regulations/Current/Mammals/ Furbearing-Mammals.
About
13, teamed up to take a badger, her dad’s first. Now in college, Jessica displays the pelt of this animal in her dorm room. (TIM E. HOVEY)
