California Sportsman Mag - April 2024

Sportsma n Californ ia

PUBLISHER

James R. Baker

GENERAL MANAGER

John Rusnak

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Andy Walgamott

EDITOR

Chris Cocoles

CONTRIBUTORS

Mark Fong, Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Tim E. Hovey, Cal Kellogg

SALES MANAGER

Paul Yarnold

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Tawna Lucero, Kevin Olive, Tom St. Clair

DESIGNERS

Gabrielle Pangilinan, Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Emily Baker

DIGITAL STRATEGIST

Jon Hines

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Katie Aumann

INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER

Lois Sanborn

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CORRESPONDENCE

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ON THE COVER

Capt. Mike Nielsen (left) of Tahoe Topliners

Sportfishing and a youngster show off a Lake Tahoe Mackinaw. Tahoe is one of several fisheries in the area that offer anglers some outstanding action, including Stampede and Prosser Reservoirs and the Truckee River. See our report on page 18. (TAHOE TOPLINERS SPORTFISHING)

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12 IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE FISHMAS!

Bridgeport Reservoir resembled a Southern California traffic jam last April, after a snowy, cold winter left it as the only fishable Eastern Sierra spot for the statewide trout opener. But Fishmas 2024 should be far less chaotic, with most fisheries, including popular Crowley and Convict Lakes, thawed out and teeming with trout. Mono County Tourism’s Jeff Simpson previews what to expect come April 27!

18 TAHOE REGION TROUT JACKPOT

There’s so much more to taking a Lake Tahoe trip than the casinos’ slot machines and card tables. And for anglers, the massive lake is just one of several options to get in on some outstanding Sierra trout fishing action. From the Truckee River to Stampede, Boca and Prosser Reservoirs, Cal Kellogg has you covered for how to score rainbows, browns and Macks, kokanee and even bonus smallmouth bass.

27 OPHELIA’S FIRST FISH

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Longtime California Sportsman contributor Tim Hovey has caught more trout than he can count over the years, but there’s something special about giving the younger generation the joy of fishing and reeling in that first catch. So it went for Hovey on a family outing in which he joined his cousins, including 3-year-old Ophelia, for a most memorable experience.

55 SMILE, YOU’RE ON CAMERA, GOBBLERS

With April the peak month for spring turkey hunting, Scott Haugen says using a little technology can increase your chances of filling that tag and bringing home a tom. It’s not too late to install a trail camera set to video mode – or in Haugen’s case, several of them – to study movement, track nearby predators and get an idea of how many longbeards are hanging around. And for when you bag your bird, Chef Tiffany serves up a curry-flavored gobbler recipe to complete the Haugens’ latest From Field to Fire feature.

8hp and 9.9hp, and Joystick in stock. Call now! Docking and maneuvering your boat in high winds has never been so easy. Let the Joy Stick do it for you. GPS position hold and heading hold is included.

I’ve always found the first day of just about anything significant; a fresh start, if you will.

Jan. 1 brings me some hope that the pending year will be better than the previous one. I’m a longtime baseball fan and Opening Day has forever been a special event. As a (now disgruntled) Oakland Athletics fan, one of my favorite memories is tailgating with buddies in the Oakland Coliseum parking lot way back in 1988, grilling sausages and drinking beer while anticipating the excitement of what ended up as a World Series season. Even the dreaded first day of school was noteworthy whether in high school or college, wondering who’d be in each class and how cool or sinister our teacher or professor would be.

Fishing has also been a seasonopening tradition. As a native of the Bay

THE EDITOR’SNOTE

Area suburban jungle, my spring opener experience usually took place at either San Francisco’s Lake Merced in late April or the East Bay’s San Pablo Reservoir in February. I can remember scrambling to find an open spot along the shoreline of either fishery, as anglers would get to the lakes as early as possible.

I sadly have never participated in the thrill of an Eastern Sierra opener. (Call me Scrooge for not embracing the Fishmas spirit.) But in working on our annual trout opener preview story (page 12), I heard two different perspectives.

Jeff Simpson, economic development manager for Mono County, looks forward to the Fishmas chaos each year, during which his multigenerational family targets trout at Bridgeport Reservoir. “It reminds me why we live here,” he told me.

Doug Rodricks is also a local to the area. He operates Sierra Drifters Guide Service and wants nothing more than to get his clients on a hard-fighting rainbow or brown. But the crowds, the fishing pressure and the overall craziness makes Rodricks long for quiet days on the water.

“As a guide now, it just means a lot of fishermen during that weekend,” Rodricks said. “And I usually avoid the popular areas if I can.”

I can’t blame him. I too enjoy the quiet days over the combat fishing circus. But there’s a reason why the Oakland A’s always had sellout crowds on previous baseball season openers and a fraction of that in most other games. It’s a big deal, as will be the Eastern Sierra’s last Saturday of the month show. Merry Fishmas for those who celebrate on April 27. -Chris Cocoles

Catching trophy trout is commonplace in the Eastern Sierra. Opening Day – aka Fishmas – can be chaotic, but April 27 is also an event that’s circled on the calendar by so many. (SIERRA DRIFTERS GUIDE SERVICE)

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

APRIL

5-6 4th Annual Trout Derby, Blue Lakes, Lake County; thenarrowsresort.com/activities

6 Bullards Bar Team Kokanee Derby, Bullards Bar Reservoir; kokaneepower.org/derbies

6-7 Redding Sportsmans Expo, Redding Civic Auditorium; reddingsportsmansexpo.com

6-7 SMUD Trout Derby, Rancho Seco Recreational Area, Sacramento County; anglerspress.com/events/ smud-trout-derby

13 NorCal Trout Angler’s Challenge, Collins Lake; anglerspress.com/events/norcal-trout-anglers-challenge

20 K.A.S.T. For Kids, Collins Lake; (530) 712-8099

20-21 NorCal Guides & Sportsmen’s Association Striped Bass Derby, Colusa State Park launch ramp; ncgasa.org/ product/striped-bass-derby-2024

27 Statewide trout opener

27 Fish of the Month Derby, Gull Lake; (760) 648-7539

27 Fishmas Day Derby, Tom’s Place, Crowley Lake; (760) 935-4239

27-28 Annett’s Mono Village Opening Day Fishing Derby, Upper Twin Lake, Bridgeport; (760) 932-7071

MAY

4 NorCal Trout Angler’s Challenge, Pardee Lake; anglerspress.com/events/norcal-trout-anglers-challenge

4-5 Shasta Lake Team Kokanee Derby; kokaneepower.org

6-19 Archery-only spring wild turkey season dates

6-19 Additional junior spring turkey season dates

17-19 Clearlake Oaks Catfish Derby, Clear Lake; clearlakeoaks.org/derby/register-for-the-derby

18 Lassen Sportsmen’s Club Junior Kids’ Fishing Derby, Susan River Memorial Park, Susanville; facebook.com/ LassenSportsmensclub

18 Juniors Kokanee Derby, TBA; kokaneepower.org

24-26 Hangman’s Cash Bonus Weekend, Convict Lake; (760) 935-4301

24-JUNE 24 Crowley Lake Perch Derby; crowleylakefishcamp .com, (760) 935-4301

For a list of upcoming bass tournaments, go to nrm.dfg. ca.gov/ FishingContests/default.aspx.

Northern California’s Collins Lake hosts two tournaments this month, an Angler’s Press-sponsored NorCal Trout Angler’s Challenge event on April 13, and the K.A.S.T. For Kids derby on the 20th. (CHRIS COCOLES)

‘WE’RE BACK, BABY!’

A YEAR AFTER FROZEN LAKES AND A RESERVOIR DRAWDOWN LIMITED THE EASTERN SIERRA TROUT OPENER, FISHMAS 2024 LOOKS GOOD

By Chris Cocoles

The big freeze that cooled off 2023’s Fishmas Day celebration shouldn’t affect the Eastern Sierra’s April 27 trout opener.

Last year’s big day was limited by a tumultuous winter that left only one of the traditional destinations, Bridgeport Reservoir, as a feasible option – and it was tough there too.

Jeff Simpson, the economic development director for Mono County Tourism and a regular at Bridgeport on the opener, said that with usual suspects like Crowley and Convict Lakes yet to thaw at the time, it was more like Freeze-mas than Fishmas.

“It was just crazy,” says Simpson of all the troutheads whose frozen lakes forced them to join the masses at a drawn-down Bridgeport Reservoir. “Walker River Irrigation District drained the entire lake to probably the lowest point that I’d seen. And it was in anticipation of all the water that was going to melt and fill up the lake. And when opening day came around, even though we had a monster snowpack, the lake was extremely low and then you had double if not triple the number of boats on the lake because it was the only place to fish. It just made for very crowded conditions.”

That, and a very slow start to fishing season for the Eastern Sierras’ trout-centric population and a main

tourist draw for the region.

Eventually things got back to normal during the usually busy summer months. Fast forward to 2024 and with key lakes free of ice and ready to go, weather permitting, it should be a merry Fishmas for locals and out-of-town anglers once more.

Bridgeport doesn’t face any draining issues either this year, so it should be good to go and likely will provide a better annual experience for Simpson and his family.

Other lakes a bit higher up in elevation, such as most of the June Lake Loop and Twin Lakes, should be open as well. And last spring’s delayed campground openings shouldn’t be a problem for the end

Last spring, frozen lakes elsewhere in the Eastern Sierra left Bridgeport Reservoir as the only realistic spot to fish on the statewide trout opener, though low water made for a difficult Fishmas there too. Conditions look much better this April 27, with most lakes being open for business. (MONO COUNTY TOURISM)

of this April and well into May ahead of the summer rush either.

“I think the main difference from last year is all the lakes are thawed. They didn’t really freeze; maybe some in the June Lake Loop. But the (fisheries on the Highway) 395 level like Crowley and Bridgeport Reservoir are already thawed,” Simpson says. “So there’s no worry about the opener.”

PLANT-BASED TROUT BONANZA

Again, last year’s wintry conditions and slow thaw forced the region’s usual liberal trout stocking process to be delayed.

“We had to wait so long to plant. Usually we have stocking before

opening weekend, and normally have a June stocking at Virginia and Saddlebag Lakes, but we couldn’t do that either,” Simpson says of Mono County’s contributions.

“But what was better: The water was so full and the temperature so cold when we got them in later, the second half (of the season) was so great. This year should be on schedule with no problems,” he adds.

Mono County is planning to send down two truckloads of hatchery trout to plant in various spots in the region prior to the April 27 opener.

Desert Springs Trout Farm in Oregon is providing a lot of the stocked largersized trout for the county, as it has for almost a decade now.

Mono County’s overall contribution is about $100,000 worth of planter fish over the course of the season. The community of Mammoth spends a similar amount, and other chambers of commerce and private marinas arrange for trout plants as well. So there should be no shortage of fish.

“It provides two things: Additional fish but also a different fish type. You have a chance to catch a 5-pounder instead of just those little suckers from (California Department of Fish and Wildlife stocking),” Simpson says. “It makes the chance of catching that big one that much better.”

DERBY TIME ON OPENING DAY

With more fisheries expected open,

From the larger lakes to smaller creeks and streams, there should be no shortage of water to wet a line this spring. (SIERRA DRIFTERS GUIDE SERVICE)

“This signifies the end of winter hibernation up here for the locals. And it’s like, ‘OK, this is the day we open things up and can get back to normal living,’” Jeff Simpson of Mono County Tourism says. “Businesses are open and welcoming tourists. We’re back, baby!” (MONO COUNTY TOURISM)

A GUIDE’S TAKE ON THE EASTERN SIERRA

Doug Rodricks, who owns and operates Sierra Drifters Guide Service (sierradrifters.com), offered up the following forecast for the Eastern Sierra opener and beyond:

“Most of the snow has fallen at higher elevations this year. Most areas below 6,800 feet are clear of snow now or have patchy snow on the ground. The lakes which are set to open this year for the general trout season are still at high levels from last year’s winter season. Water levels will remain at good flow rates all the way through the fall months. Rivers and creeks will see high flows and high runoff conditions early this year, but by mid- to early July we should start to see some stabilization of water flows, which will be ideal for fishing. Tailwaters like the East Walker River may see higher than usual flows through July.”

“With the milder winter we have had, which brought warmer than usual ambient air temperatures, we will not be seeing the issues we had last spring pertaining to frozen lakes. Most lakes in the area are thawing already, and some never froze over to begin with. This has presented the trout with ideal feeding opportunities through the winter months and an earlier feeding season on the lakes, which are thawing earlier than usual.”

“Backcountry lakes, lakes which can be accessed by vehicle, and rivers and creeks should all fish very well this year. Good fishing should continue well into the fall months for all areas ... Good water levels will not only keep the fish spread out well throughout the rivers and creeks, but will provide for more aquatic insect activity in all waters.” CS

the Fishmas weekend derby circuit should be in full force on April 27, including the Fish of the Month Contest that starts at Gull Lake, the Fishmas Day Derby at Tom’s Place near Crowley Lake, June Lake’s Monster Trout Contest and Annett’s Mono Village Opening Day Fishing Derby at Upper Twin Lake.

Also, two days after the opener marks the start of Convict Lake’s Roundup at the Lake tournament, which runs until June 2.

“Everyone’s kind of back up and running post-Covid and postsnowmageddon, and it’s kind of business as usual,” Simpson says. “Whether it’s fires or smoke or drought, it feels like there’s always something that interrupts our year up here. But I know for sure that the lakes will be open and full.”

AN EASTERN SIERRA TRADITION

Simpson’s yearly Bridgeport Reservoir opening weekend outing includes multiple generations of family members wetting a line. And that’s a common thread throughout the tiny communities and businesses that dot this natural wonderland of mountains, lakes and rivers/creeks.

“It’s one of the reasons we live up here, to pass on those things. It makes you proud to live up here and proud to raise your kids here,” Simpson says. “You’re passing on all that generational stuff.”

Simpson was asked if the folks living in his neck of the woods are bears in a cave chomping at the bit to enjoy spring trout fishing after a winter of shoveling snow and scraping ice off windshields.

“This signifies the end of winter hibernation up here for the locals. And it’s like, ‘OK, this is the day we open things up and can get back to normal living.’ Businesses are open and welcoming tourists. We’re back, baby!” CS

Editor’s note: For more on Mono County fishing and event information, go to monocounty.org/things-to-do/fishing.

Besides getting lucky at the casinos, Lake Tahoe anglers can also hit the jackpot fishing in the massive body of water. This happy young angler had the thrill of a lifetime when this big Mackinaw came knocking during a trolling adventure with Capt. Mike Nielsen. (TAHOE TOPLINERS SPORTFISHING)

SIX OF A KIND

WHETHER IT’S THE BIG LAKE, THREE NEARBY RESERVOIRS OR TWO LOCAL RIVERS, ANGLERS HAVE PLENTY OF GOOD HANDS TO PLAY IN THE TAHOE REGION FOR RAINBOWS, CUTTHROATS,

MACKS, BROWNS, KOKANEE AND SMALLMOUTH BASS

By Cal Kellogg

Up before the spring sun slid over the mountains, Lucy the Labrador and I postponed breakfast; I didn’t even bother making coffee. The goal was to be on Stampede Reservoir right at the break of dawn to bang a limit of quality kokanee quickly before the sun climbed high in the sky and the bite went into the typical midmorning slump.

Lucy and I found the sockeye in an enthusiastic mood and hooked 11 fish in the first 90 minutes of trolling from the Hobie Pro Angler kayak. We lost a few salmon and released a couple dinks, but we had the kayak back on the trailer and a limit of five 14-plus-inch kokes cleaned and in the ice chest just before 9.

By 10:30, I’d secured a shaded campsite at the Little Truckee Campground off Highway 89. After a breakfast of scrambled eggs and kibble for Lucy, and eggs, tortillas and cheddar cheese for me, we enjoyed napping in the back of the SUV with the back hatch open until early afternoon.

After a walk, it was time to break out the fly gear. The Little Truckee River – more of a creek than a river – is notorious for its skittish trout and ample fishing pressure. On this week-

day afternoon, neither of these pieces of conventional wisdom proved to be true. I found the rainbows enthusiastic and never came across another angler.

I started out working deeper areas with a variety of nymphs. With subsurface offerings drawing minimal action, I noticed a small yellow stonefly fluttering around and then saw two more. I quickly clipped the nymph off my tippet and replaced it with a No. 10 Elk Hair Caddis. Three casts later, a rambunctious little rainbow devoured the fly and I enjoyed wild action for the next two hours.

In all, I landed and released about a dozen trout. They were all small rainbows topping out at about 12 inches, but the thrill of seeing them explode on a dry fly made up for their lack of size!

A dinner of chicken fajitas chased by a couple huge brownies my wife had baked for me topped off an amazing day.

The next morning, Lucy and I banged another five-fish kokanee limit. They joined the previous day’s salmon in the cooler. Lucy and I were on I-80 by 10:30 and I was looking forward to spending the next day and a half smoking up some cherry-red “kokanee candy” back home.

Such was the kickoff of my 2023 Tahoe-Truckee fishing season, and

FISHING

I’m planning to enjoy similar, perhaps even better action this spring!

SIERRA SURPRISES

The central Sierra in the vicinity of Lake Tahoe and the nearby community of Truckee offers easy access and a diverse array of opportunities for visiting anglers. Interested in trout? You’ll find plenty. Is stream and river fishing your passion? The Truckee and Little Truckee will put a smile on your face. Salmon? Mackinaw?

Smallmouth bass? Guided fishing trips? Camping? Groceries and other services? Yes, yes and yes; the Tahoe-Truckee region offers all of this and more.

Better still, after a slow start, the 2023-24 winter kicked into high gear after New Year’s and blanketed the high country with plentiful snow. This means visiting anglers will enjoy full lakes and good river flows throughout the spring, summer and fall. All we need to do is wait for enough of the

white stuff to melt to provide adequate access and then it’s game on!

LAKE TAHOE

Any discussion of central Sierra fishing should begin with mention of Lake Tahoe, which is a massive body of water 22 miles long, 12 miles wide and over 1,600 feet deep, making it the second deepest lake in the United States behind Oregon’s Crater Lake.

Tahoe is so large that if you’re standing at the shoreline on one end of the lake, you can’t see the far shoreline even with powerful binoculars because the curvature of the Earth puts it below the horizon!

These facts are all fun and games, but anglers will want to know what the big lake offers in terms of fishing. It offers a lot, including limit-style action for Mackinaw, or lake trout, in the 3- to 6-pound class, trophy Macks beyond the 20-pound mark, elusive browns up to and beyond 10 pounds, plentiful rainbow trout ranging be-

yond 7 pounds and clouds of kokanee during the latter half of the summer.

Spring is a wonderful time to visit Tahoe. While you won’t typically find good kokanee fishing this time of year, you will enjoy solid action for Macks and rainbows, and you might get lucky and cross swords with a big brown.

If you’re a first-time visitor to Lake Tahoe, I think you’d do well to take a guided trip or two before setting out on your own. With some experience under your belt, you’ll be able to score on your own, whether fishing from a boat or kayak.

If you opt to fish Tahoe from a small craft, remember that the lake is huge and subject to stiff winds that come up quickly. Good judgment sets the stage for a long life, so don’t take chances.

A lot of folks overlook the exciting bank fishing Tahoe offers. Sure, the lake is huge, but in the spring a lot of fish gravitate to the shoreline. I know folks who enjoy good results while

Dawn at Stampede Reservoir is prime time for battling the lake’s hard-charging kokanee salmon.

(CAL KELLOGG)

fishing for rainbows and Mackinaw along the east side of the lake soaking PowerBait and inflated worms. All it takes is a willingness to do some hiking combined with a shot of patience.

If you’re looking for a guided fishing experience at Lake Tahoe, the folks at Tahoe Sportfishing offer excellent trips focused on the best available fishing. You can check them out at tahoesportfishing.com.

TRUCKEE RIVER

If Lake Tahoe is king of the central Sierra, the Truckee River, which flows out of the big lake, is the crown prince. It’s known for producing trophy-size browns and rainbows. Throughout its journey from Lake Tahoe to the Nevada border, the Truckee is a river of many characters. Some areas are broad and placid, while other locations

offer brawling cascades of whitewater.

Some stretches fall under general fishing regulations, meaning you can use bait, barbed hooks and trebles, while others require the use of single barbless hooks and artificial lures only.

An entire article could be written about Truckee River fishing regulations, but I’m not going to burn a bunch of space here going into detail.

Just know that if you are going to fish the Truckee, you’ve got to study the regulations and tailor your approach to the stretch of river you are fishing.

The upper river, from Lake Tahoe to Truckee, is basically the general regulation stretch. There are large wild fish in this stretch and it’s also the area planted with catchable trout by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Standard spinner and salmon egg

tactics will score you a limit of pansize planters on the upper stretch. If you want to hook into something larger, CountDown minnow plugs and nightcrawlers offer the best chance of success.

Moving downriver, anywhere that nonregulated gear fishing is legal is best fished with the aforementioned plugs and ’crawlers. You’ll catch some smaller ’bows and browns on these offerings, but if you get lucky, you might find yourself hooked up with a big brown over the 5-pound mark.

As you proceed downriver from the area near Boca Reservoir, Interstate 80 and frontage roads offer good access, but this is the stretch where special regulations kick in. This area is best worked with fly gear. If you use single-hook barbless flies and don’t retain any fish, you don’t need

Prosser Reservoir is packed with beautiful cutthroat trout like this awesome specimen. (CAL KELLOGG)

FISHING

to worry about the regulations.

To hook the big trophy-caliber browns the Truckee is noted for, baitfish-imitating streamers are the way to go. If you want more action but smaller, average-size fish, indicator nymphing can produce very good results.

There are a number of fly-fishing outfitters that can cut the learning curve down if you’d like to start a relationship with Truckee River trout. The Reno Fly Shop is a great resource for Truckee River fishing information and guided fishing trips. Check them out at renoflyshop.com.

KOKANEE, TROUT AND SMALLIES

Stampede, Boca and Prosser Reservoirs, along with the section of the Little Truckee River I described in the beginning of this piece, are all located

in close proximity to Truckee and are accessed via I-80 in the case of Boca and Stampede and off Highway 89 if you’re headed to Prosser or the Little Truckee.

Stampede is arguably the most popular of these lakes due to the outstanding kokanee fishery the reservoir features. A few years back, Stampede’s salmon population got a little too large and the fish became stunted, topping out at around 12 inches.

More recently, we’ve seen a reduction in salmon numbers and the result has been limit-style action for quality fish ranging from 14 to 16 inches.

Early-morning fishing with standard corn-tipped kokanee lures offers the best action at Stampede, but you can catch salmon all day long and into the evening.

Next to Stampede, Prosser is my favorite reservoir in the Truckee region because of the incredible cutthroat and rainbow fishing the lake provides. I’ve consistently caught big numbers of cutthroats to 18 inches while kayaking Prosser, and I’ve also tangled with impressive rainbows that range up to 3 pounds and fight with determination.

Spoons in a variety of sizes and

This beautiful wild rainbow exploded out of the Little Truckee River to slam the author’s Elk Hair Caddis fly. (CAL KELLOGG)

This Truckee River rainbow jumped all over a yellow stonefly imitation on a warm spring afternoon. (CAL KELLOGG)

A big, broad-shouldered Stampede kokanee slides into the author’s net. Spring should provide some great fishing opportunities at these high-elevation fisheries. (CAL

colors score well at Prosser for boaters, kayakers and bank anglers alike. Prosser has a 10 mph speed limit and is fairly small in size, making it an ideal destination for kayak trout anglers.

Boca is known for having a lot of boat traffic because it is the closest large body of water to Reno, and it doesn’t have a speed limit. While Boca can get pretty busy on weekends, the lake does offer a shot at big rainbows and browns and some outstanding sleeper kokanee action.

The sleeper of sleepers in the Truckee region is smallmouth bass fishing. For years, I’d heard rumors of smallies being caught at Stampede, Boca and Prosser, but I paid them no attention since trout and kokanee were always my target species. While I still haven’t targeted Truckee-area bronzebacks, I did catch three bass incidentally last season – two from

Prosser and one from Stampede. The Stampede fish slammed a kokanee spinner perhaps 100 yards from the boat ramp. I was pulling the spinner on one of my leadcore outfits and the 3-pound bass fought so hard that I thought I’d stumbled into a big rainbow. I was pretty shocked when the angry-looking, tiger-striped bass came into view.

At Prosser, the bass I caught were both in the 2-pound class and they smashed trout spoons in open water. I got one down near the dam, but the other one came uplake near the launch ramp. These experiences make me wonder what a skilled bass angler might encounter at these high Sierra impoundments.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Clearly, I’ve only given the central Sierra fishing opportunities offered in

the Tahoe-Truckee region the lightest possible glossing over. My goal was to open your mind to giving the area a serious look to see if it offers something that sparks your interest.

Major highway access is good, hotel lodging is plentiful and there are many campgrounds to choose from. The town of Truckee offers a long list of resources, including restaurants, supermarkets and fuel. For local fishing information and fishing gear, Truckee’s Mountain Hardware (mountainhardwareandsports.com) is a great place for visiting anglers to stop and kickstart a great Sierra adventure. CS

Editor’s note: Cal Kellogg is a longtime Northern California-based outdoors writer. Subscribe to his YouTube channel Fish Hunt Shoot Productions at youtube.com/ user/KelloggOutdoors.

KELLOGG)

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Congratulations to all of our anglers who landed tagged trout during the 33rd ANNUAL ISABELLA LAKE

FISHING DERBY!

We look forward to seeing everyone next year!

OPHELIA’S FIRST TROUT

FAMILY FISHING FUN

FEATURES A 3-YEAR-OLD’S THRILLING MOMENT

By Tim E. Hovey

If you’re an angler, you’ve probably spent some time soaking a line for stocked trout at one time or another. This type of fishing usually is something new anglers do to get fishing experience.

However, even veteran fishermen find this nostalgic bait-soaking style of fishing relaxing and enjoyable. In fact, over the last few years, I’ve found visiting a few stock ponds during the season to be a fun family affair.

Last season, I was talking with my cousin Jeff at a family barbecue. I was telling him that my wife Cheryl and I had been catching nice-sized trout at one of the local reservoirs. I pulled out my phone and showed him a few photos; that was all it took.

After a little coordination, we agreed to meet out at the lake the following Saturday. Jeff had mentioned that he wanted to bring out his oldest granddaughter, 3-year-old Ophelia, to see if she could catch her first fish. Without saying a word, I knew the entire goal of the next Saturday was to see if we could get Ophelia on a trout.

CHERYL AND I ARRIVED at the lake early to stake out a good area on the dock. The morning was cold, but no one else was on the pond. We set up our fishing chairs and got things ready to fish. I had told Jeff to just bring his rods and we’d take care of everything else.

We had prerigged our rods with

Author Tim Hovey helps 3-year-old family member Ophelia fish on the dock at a local reservoir. With trout biting all morning, everyone was hopeful Ophelia would get excited about the prospects of catching her first fish. (TIM E. HOVEY)

FISHING

Carolina rigs on an 18-inch leader on the hook side. We were using Berkley floating trout bait in a variety of colors and flavors. The setup allowed the bait to float 18 inches above the pond bottom, where it would be more easily encountered by the trout.

Fishing two rods each, Cheryl and I chose four different colors and casted out off the floating dock. Within minutes, Cheryl caught a chunky trout on her bright green bait. Jeff had mentioned that if we caught a few fish, we could have a fish fry at his place in the afternoon. Cheryl unhooked her trout and placed it on the stringer.

A short time later, Jeff showed up loaded up with gear and delicately holding the hand of little Ophelia. We helped them set up their gear and they started fishing. As with many new activities and young children, Ophelia was shy and essentially stayed close to Jeff.

She sat in her small fishing

chair and held her Disney Frozen fishing pole waiting for a bite with complete and total disinterest. In the meantime, Cheryl, Jeff and I had a great time catching trout. It didn’t seem to matter what flavor or color we used; the fish were on a bite. As the morning unfolded, the stringer became crowded.

When it comes to static fishing, where I set the rod down and wait for a bite, I’ve always been a line watcher. I’ll set the rod down and keep the line slack. If a fish grabs the bait, he’ll swim off with almost zero resistance. I feel like I get more hookups using this lazy technique.

Despite the hot trout bite, Ophelia had yet to catch a fish, let alone get a bite. The adults took turns trying to get her interested in catching her first fish, but she didn’t seem too excited about anything except her juice box and the snacks Grandpa Jeff had given her as soon as they arrived.

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Ophelia and the author’s wife Cheryl taking in the scene on the floating dock. (TIM E. HOVEY)

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FISHING

As the bite continued, we adults started competing. Jeff was convinced that he had caught the largest trout so far. Since all of our fish were on the same stringer, it was tough to tell for sure, but he’d landed a trout close to 2 pounds shortly after he and Ophelia arrived.

During a slight lull in the action, I walked over to see if Ophelia wanted to reel in a fish I had just hooked. She reluctantly tried to reel the fish in,

but she didn’t seem too excited. That is, until she saw the fish splashing at the surface. I watched her eyes get big and she started to smile. After that, she seemed a little more excited to at least sit and fish.

WITH THE BITE EASING up and Ophelia stating that she was hungry, we decided to call it a day. While we were cleaning up, I remembered that I had cast out Ophelia’s little Disney rod a bit

earlier. As I always do, I’d left a bunch of slack in the line when I placed the rod on the dock. The line was now taut and angling to the right. I picked it up and gave it a slight tug and felt angry pressure on the other end.

I called Ophelia over and knelt next to her. I told her she caught a fish. She got excited and started reeling. In no time her trout was in the net. Since we had plenty already, I asked her what she wanted to do

Grandpa Jeff got the big trout of the day with this estimated 2-pounder. (TIM E. HOVEY)

Ophelia, fishing with her Disney rod, waited for a bite, but “didn’t seem too excited about anything but her juice box and the snacks Grandpa Jeff had given her,” Hovey reports. (TIM E. HOVEY)

FISHING

The adults scored trout limits on this day, ensuring quite a good fish fry back home.

When the Disney rod got hit and little Ophelia reeled it back to the dock, she was asked what she wanted to do with her fish. “Without answering, she just pointed into the water,” Hovey writes. “We quickly released the trout.” (TIM

with her catch. Without answering, she just pointed into the water. We quickly released the trout and made the short hike back to the parking area with all our gear and fish.

We took some time to take a few photos and then headed to McDonald’s for lunch. I told Jeff I’d filet all the fish and then head over later. Back at home, while I was out

preparing the fish, Cheryl came and showed me a photo she’d taken of me and Ophelia. I smiled as she held up the phone for me to see. It reminded me of when my daughters were that age and fishing with me.

I’m hoping Ophelia will remember the trip to the pond with Grandpa Jeff and how she caught her first trout. I know I will. CS

(TIM E. HOVEY)

E. HOVEY)

PLUMAS PERFECTION

LAKE DAVIS A NONTRADITIONAL TROUT FISHERY THAT PRODUCES NICE RAINBOWS, BROWNS

By Cal Kellogg

Plumas County is blessed with some of California’s most exciting coldwater fisheries, including Bucks Lake with its browns, rainbows, Mackinaw and kokanee, and Lake Almanor, which boasts of trophy browns and rainbows, as well as bonus landlocked king salmon. I spend a lot of time each year

plying the waters of Plumas County and love fishing them all, but if I had to choose one as my all-time favorite, it would be Lake Davis. I’m sure some of the guys and gals reading this article are as enthusiastic about Lake Davis as I am, but there are likely just as many anglers who know nothing about the northern Sierra trout fishing jewel, so I’ll begin with a little history.

NONTRADITIONAL TROUT FISHERY

Lake Davis was formed in 1966 when the California State Water Project completed Grizzly Valley Dam, impounding the waters of Big Grizzly Creek, a tributary of the Middle Feather River. The lake, sitting at an elevation of 5,777 feet, is approximately 5 miles long and 2 miles wide. While the deepest spot, located near the dam, is just over

100 feet, the lake is shallow overall, averaging only 21 feet in depth.

When most West Coast anglers visualize a high Sierra trout lake, they imagine a deep, rocky, cold and clear body of water. Such lakes are typically nutrient deficient and support a trout population that is slow growing, with individual fish seldom reaching beyond the pan-size class.

Davis is a 180-degree contrast to what many perceive a mountain trout lake to be. Nutrient-rich meadow soil lining the bottom of the reservoir, combined with ample sun penetration due to the shallow average depth make for lots of vegetation growth.

This vegetation serves as habitat for a robust array of aquatic insects. The plants also release oxygen into the water, and this results in the exceptional fighting ability of the lake’s trout. The nutrient-laden water

More shallow than its Plumas County cousins, Lake Davis isn’t a stereotypical Sierra trout fishery. But as this young angler can attest after scoring his first-ever Lake Davis rainbow while kayaking with author Cal Kellogg, the fishing here can excel. (CAL KELLOGG)

FISHING

is less than clear. In fact, it can be downright murky, and this is a major advantage for anglers. I’ll explain more about this in a bit.

Fueled by a long list of insect species, including damselflies, dragonflies, mayflies and caddisflies, Lake Davis rainbows and browns grow quickly. As a result, it didn’t take long after its formation for the reservoir to gain notoriety as a trophy trout producer.

Throughout the 1970s, ’80s and early ’90s, anglers traveled long distances for a chance at battling Lake Davis’s big Eagle Lake-strain rainbows and German browns.

INVASIVE THREATS

During the 1996-97 season, the Lake Davis trout fishery was dealt a lethal blow when illegally introduced northern pike were discovered.

Fearing the pike would make

it into the Feather River and spread to the Sacramento – where they would threaten salmon and steelhead populations – the California Department of Fish and Wildlife took action and poisoned the lake in an attempt to eliminate the pike.

No one knows whether the poisoning was unsuccessful or if more pike were illegally introduced into the lake afterwards, but by the early 2000s the pike population had rebounded. The state responded by lowering the lake level to better contain the pike and CDFW poisoned Davis once again in fall 2007.

The second round of poisoning brought the decade-long pike ordeal to an end. The pike were successfully eradicated, but the local economy in the town of Portola and the surrounding area, which relied on commerce generated by the trout

fishery, was devastated.

Working with local shareholders, the state of California, Plumas County and CDFW worked hard to restore Lake Davis’s trout population.

BACK IN BUSINESS

Now, 17 years later, pike remain absent, Lake Davis is once again brimful of trout and the fishery is firing on all cylinders.

“I can’t say Davis is as good as it was in the late ’70s and ’80s when rainbows beyond 7 pounds were caught regularly, but in terms of the sheer number of trout present, it’s certainly one of the best trout lakes in the Sierra,” says longtime Lake Davis trout angler Jim Pleece. “These days, I catch big numbers of trout between 14 and 20 inches long on both fly and trolling gear. I’ve caught three fish right at the 5-pound mark over the

Boom! Another quality Lake Davis trout hits Kellogg’s net. (CAL KELLOGG)

past four years.”

While I can’t address the size of the trout Lake Davis produced back in the ’70s from first-hand experience, I agree with Pleece’s assertions about the present fishery. Fishing the lake extensively during both the spring and fall, I encounter big numbers of trout. Most of my catch consists of Eagle Lake-strain rainbows, but I’ve been hooking more and more browns in recent years.

When I visit Davis in the spring, I land a lot of trout in the 14- to 18-inch class. A two-day effort will generally produce something over 20 inches. In the fall, I hook more rainbows beyond 20 inches.

Lake Davis’s rainbows are great for eating and smoking. In the fall, I’ve landed many five-trout limits, and nothing in my cooler was under 20 inches. Like Pleece, the largest trout I’ve landed at Davis over the past several years have been rainbows flirting with the 5-pound mark.

HOOKING UP AT DAVIS

Back to Davis’s murky, nutrient-rich water. Over the years I’ve come to believe trout residing in stained water

are easier to hook than their cousins living in clear water.

For example, the Eagle Lake-strain of rainbows in Davis are much easier to hook than the same strain at nearby Lake Almanor. Both lakes have a rich forage base and fast-growing trout, but Almanor has much clearer water.

I’ve come to believe it’s the clarity that makes Almanor ’bows harder to hook.

I’m convinced diminished visibility sets the stage for murky-water trout to be ready strikers because they don’t have the luxury of scrutinizing your bait. I believe they feel the vibrations put off by the offering, move toward

The author released this amazing 23-inch Davis rainbow to fight another day. (CAL KELLOGG)

For the fish you do keep, Lake Davis rainbows provide rich dark orange filets, perfect for your smoker. (CAL KELLOGG)

it, catch a flash of movement or color and strike. Fish on!

Lake Davis provides outstanding spring trout fishing for trollers, bank anglers and fly-fishing enthusiasts. The lake is basically oval in shape, the dam is located at the south end and there is a prominent island onethird of the way up from the dam. The north end and the area west of the island are made up of shallow weedy flats, and much of the nearshore water in these areas is very shallow. These shallows hold a lot of trout. Fly anglers do well working these areas from prams and float tubes. Trollers can also score in these areas, but dealing with the weeds can be tricky and at times frustrating.

GO DEEPER

The reservoir’s deep water exists mainly in the southern two-thirds, east of the island. While fly anglers work the fringes of deep water, the depths of the lake offer the best opportunities for trollers and bank anglers. Trollers

can work a wide swath of the water column with minimal interference from weeds, and bank anglers have access to deep water too.

I’ve spent hundreds of hours trolling the east side of Davis in my 14-foot pedal kayak. At times I’ve had exceptional luck pulling spoons and plugs. Typical lures such as Needlefish spoons, Yakima Bait Mag Lips and Trigger Spoon Juniors that can be trolled 1.8 to 2.5 mph work best. In stained water, orange, gold and pink lures offer consistent success.

When the trout are keying on insects, tiny spoons like Wee Dick Nites and Micro Trigger Spoons often work well in gold and brass patterns.

Year in and year out, my most productive offerings while trolling have been flies and soft plastic grubs from 2 to 3 inches long. I generally start out pulling flies and grubs in bright pink and orange colors, but there are days when more natural brown and olive hues outfish the bright stuff.

HEAT CHECK

Dialing in the color Lake Davis’s trout prefer on any given day is a matter of getting out on the water and taking the emotional temperature of the trout. Start with the bright stuff and if you aren’t getting good results, experiment with more subtle colors. From my observations, the bright stuff will pay off 80 percent of the time.

Bank anglers at Davis score well from the dam all the way up to the area near the Mallard Cove day-use/ boat launch area.

If you’re looking for a relaxing yet productive day of fishing while sitting in a chair and bathed in inspiring Northern Sierra scenery, PowerBait and inflated worms fished off the bottom are your poison.

Anglers who like to take a more active approach can achieve good results tossing small spoons such as gold Kastmasters and working Woolly Bugger flies teamed with a clear bobber.

I’ve found tossing the bugger and

This big rainbow blitzed an orange Metal Head trolling fly. “Fishing the lake extensively during both the spring and fall, I encounter big numbers of trout,” Kellogg writes. (CAL KELLOGG)

FISHING

bobber to be exceptionally effective from shore, and at times I’ll utilize the rig for fan casting from my kayak.

One of my secrets for maximum success is using a 1-inch clear bobber and filling it completely with water. Not only does a full bobber cast like an artillery shell, but it also has neutral buoyancy, allowing you to count it down to work a bit deeper than you can with a bobber containing air.

As for the Woolly Buggers, sizes 6 and 8 work best. You’ll want offerings in olive, brown and black, but brighter patterns in orange, hot pink, chartreuse and even white can pay big dividends when the fish are in the mood for something that really stands out.

Fly anglers plying Lake Davis waters can hook up on a long list of patterns, but most of the time the action will come on subsurface patterns. If you have the patience for it, drifting small mayfly and caddis nymph imitations in

size 14 and 16 under a strike indicator can be very effective.

I prefer to cast and strip for my fish, so I spend a lot of time tossing damsel nymph imitations, leech imitations and various Woolly Buggers in sizes 8 to 12.

WEATHER AND SEASONS

Winters are cold at Lake Davis and the lake typically freezes over. When the ice breaks in the spring, the fishing can be good for a few days, but then there is generally a slow period as the trout get accustomed to their now ice-free world.

The second half of April and the entire month of May offer exciting action for visiting anglers. Damselfly activity in June sets the stage for great fly fishing.

You can certainly hook fish at Lake Davis all summer, but I generally don’t fish the lake that time of year. After the spring action fades, I don’t

return to the lake until the second half of October; I will fish until the snow flies in late November.

Wind should be on your mind anytime you visit Davis. The lake is wide open and the Sierra wind rushing to and from the Sacramento Valley to the west and the Great Basin to the east can really howl.

The trout generally bite very well during wind events, but you don’t want to be caught far from shore in a float tube, kayak or small boat when it’s blowing hard. If it’s too windy for you to navigate safely, don’t despair. Hit the east side of the lake with a bobber and bugger rig and you’ll likely smack some quality rainbows off the bank.

Remember that where we see waves and whitecaps, the rainbows see current. Rainbows love current, so when the wind is really pushing, they’ll pull up right under the chop to feed! CS

TEEMING WITH TROUT

COLLINS LAKE, IN THE FOOTHIILLS NOT FAR FROM SACRAMENTO, OFFERS OUTSTANDING FISHING

With an aggressive stocking program and some expected great spring weather, Yuba County’s Collins Lake should be a top spring destination for trout anglers. (COLLINS LAKE)

By Chris Cocoles

One of Northern California’s most popular and productive trout fisheries is ready for a spring flurry of activity. In other words, get out to Collins Lake for mild, pre-summer weather, some outstanding fishing and, if you have a sweet tooth, some delicious ice cream.

Jacob Young of Collins Lake resort (530-692-1600; collinslake .com) says the combination of steady but not heavy rainfall has helped raise the reservoir level while maintaining solid visibility, and the usual abundance of trout plants should make the fishing cook.

“We are currently sitting with a full lake heading into this season, which is now the second year of having a full lake level. Water clarity is looking good, and the current forecast appears to be showing that we are exiting winter weather and entering spring with warm weather and clear conditions on the extended forecast,” says Young, who is part of a generational family-run business at this Sierra foothills lake in Yuba County (California Sportsman, June 2022).

“I certainly expect that we will be going into the spring season with a spike of trout activity. We have been planting regularly since October and are now on a weekly trout planting schedule, so the lake is abundantly stocked. In addition

to the weekly plants, we will also be releasing our netpens of trout that have been raised on site over the winter.”

WARMER WEATHER ON THE WAY

Young thinks many locals around the Sacramento Valley and surrounding areas will be eager to break out the trout rods as spring beckons.

“With the warmer weather coming, we will expect to see busy days ahead and much more fishing pressure on the lake. Months of cloudy, wet and colder weather have anglers biting at the bit to get outdoors and hit the lakes,” Young says. “With a full lake, the shoreline

fishing access will be limited for the next couple of months. We highly recommend those who can (to) come on weekdays instead of weekends.”

There will be plenty of fish in the sea – er, lake – for those anglers to pursue even if there is a lot of weekend activity. Young says a more aggressive planting schedule in recent winters has helped the new trout acclimate to the lake just in time for the peak of the trout fishing season.

The 2023-24 plants have been going on since October and fish will be released weekly until mid-May, when the water temperature will be too warm to continue stocking.

“Every private plant that we receive will include catchable-size trout as well as trophy trout in the plant – which are planted in at at least the 4- to 6-pound range, if not bigger,” Young says. “As of midMarch, we had planted about 30,000 pounds of trout, and between our upcoming plants and netpen releases, we’ll have over 20,000 pounds being planted over the coming months.”

Lightning trout have also been stocked since fall 2022 and continue

to be sent into Collins each month.

BY LAND OR BOAT

Spring is a great time for shore anglers to dunk some nightcrawlers or PowerBait.

“We have been seeing the lightning trout biting at the orange- to pink-spectrum lures and baits. With PowerBait, I have always stuck with taking out chartreuse or yellow and have always done well off the shore. It is simple, but it works,” says Young, who suggests anglers should also watch CS correspondent Cal Kellogg’s YouTube tutorials on Collins. Kellogg regularly guides on the lake.

“His content is relevant for anglers trying out new techniques or learning how to fish here at Collins Lake,” Young adds.

As for boat renters or those who bring their own watercraft, trolling Kastmasters, Rapalas or flies from the willows located along the east shoreline toward the dam makes for a good approach.

“I have many friends who will also use their boat to fish the shoreline on the east side of the lake and avoid

the pressure from the accessible dayuse areas by the beach and dam,” Young notes.

EVENTS FOR ALL AGES

Collins has stayed busy with derbies and special events. In March, it hosted a kids’ tournament, the Get Out And Fish Junior GOAFer Derby, plus the Rec 4 Vets Fishing Day.

“Get Out And Fish (GOAF) provides a platform for the fishing community to connect – from their Facebook group to allow members to share advice and tips or link up to meet fellow anglers and go fishing together, to events like the GOAFer derby,” Young says. “Seeing platforms build connectivity and provide resources to each other is encouraging to see.”

As for the vets’ day, Young states, “Being able to use the sport of fishing for not just a personal hobby, but as an avenue for greater impact, connect with a larger community of anglers and create lifetime experiential memories, shows how integral fishing is to our society.”

The lake will also continue to

Along with plenty of rental boats to fish out of, this month should provide bank anglers with plenty of hungry trout to target. “During the spring months, it is hard to beat fishing with PowerBait or nightcrawlers from the shore,”says Jacob Young of Collins Lake resort. (COLLINS LAKE)

FISHING

You’ll

host an annual stop on the Anglers Press Trout Challenge schedule, April 13 this year. Last year’s spring tournament attracted 145 participants and Young expects more entrants this time. Collins Lake is also the home for the Trout Challenge’s Tournament of Champions, slated for Nov. 2-3, with a boat being awarded as a grand prize.

NEW FACILITIES, NEW FLAVORS

Some new features to Collins this year include Wi-Fi throughout the campground area this summer, when it figures to be busy, a new zipline apparatus at the playground, a new cabin rental and regraveling a section of campsites, which will allow for nonhookup lakefront sites in the spring.

And did we mention the store’s famous frozen treats?

“I am working with our ice cream supplier to get an exclusive flavor made just for the lake,” Young says. CS

have a good chance to land a trophy Collins rainbow like this one, thanks to private plants that contributed to the almost 50,000 pounds of fish that will have been planted since last fall. (COLLINS LAKE)

Editor’s note: You can also connect with Collins Lake at Facebook.com/CollinsLake.

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BASS BREWIN’ ON THE DELTA

SPRING LINESIDES RUN SHOULD STRETCH INTO JUNE, THANKS TO GOOD FLOWS THAT WILL BOOST FISHING

By Mark Fong

Each spring brings one of the high points of the NorCal fishing year, the annual striped bass run, when huge schools of linesides flood through the California Delta on the journey to their upriver spawning grounds.

While there are always plenty of fish to be caught in the Delta, historically during big water years, the fishing upriver can be incredible for both numbers and quality of fish. Sacramento River guide Dakota Townley offered up his predictions on this year’s much-anticipated spring striper run.

“I think this will be a fantastic striper season,” says Townley, who has been fishing the Sacramento River for most of his life. In addition to stripers, he guides for wild rainbow trout and shad on the river. During the summer, he offers trips to Whiskeytown Lake for kokanee and for steelhead on the Feather River in the fall.

Townley comes from a fishing family. His grandfather guided on the same waters for over 30 years and Dakota started deckhanding for him when he was just 8 years old. Townley has been a full-time hunting and fishing guide since he got out of high school over a decade ago.

A LONG RUN

Townley thinks there will be plenty

California Delta guide Dakota Townley (left, with a client) expects the spring striped bass run on the Sacramento and Feather Rivers to last well into June. (DAKOTA TOWNLEY’S GUIDE SERVICE)

FISHING

of fishing opportunities to catch Delta stripers this spring.

“It’s gonna go a little longer than normal; I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes all the way into June. Once we get into June, the fishing might get a little bit spotty, but there will still be plenty of fish in the river to chase,” he says.

“April and May are the prime months; they will be fantastic due to all the water we have from the rain this season. I expect to see a lot of quality stripers in the 5- to 6-pound range, with

fish up to 15 pounds not uncommon. The bigger fish are hard to predict, but last year was good water too and we had 25 fish over 20 pounds.”

Townley specializes on the stretch of the Sacramento River from Tisdale upstream to Princeton. Depending on fluctuating water levels, Townley sometimes needs to run 45 minutes to an hour just to get to the fish.

“I have had days when we are catching them upriver, and all of a sudden the river drops 3 feet, and the

next thing I know, I am pointing the boat south and going 25 miles past where we launched,” he says.

SHOW SOME FLEXIBILITY

If conditions on Sacramento are not optimal, Townley, like all good guides, has a backup plan. He has the option to reschedule his trips to the nearby Feather River. Because both rivers can fish differently, he will make his decision to optimize client success.

There are three primary methods

While the bulk of the Delta stripers are around perfect eating size at 5 or 6 pounds, fish in the 15-pound range are common, and Townley says his 2023 trips saw 25 fish topping 20 or more. (DAKOTA TOWNLEY’S GUIDE SERVICE)

“I

that Townley likes to employ to target the bass. “We’ll either anchor up on the inside turns and bait fish if the water is really muddy, drift minnows, or we will throw swimbaits,” he explains.

“Over the years, a lot of people who have fished with me were initially kind of not sure about fishing bait, but then we’ll have a 50- or 60-fish catchand-release day and everyone kinda changes their tune. When it’s muddy and we’re anchored up, we’ll use a lot of sardines and pile worms, but when the water starts to make the turn from that real chocolate mud into where we start to get some better visibility, then we’ll start to fish minnows. Sometimes when the fish are really schooled up, it’s easy to just drop the anchor and just let people start backing minnows into them. When the water clears up, that’s when we’ll add swimbaits to the mix.”

SWIMBAIT ’EM INTO THE BOAT

According to Townley, if you are a fan of fishing with artificials, this should

be an excellent year for that specialty. He expects that with this season’s high river levels, the water clarity and temperature will be just about perfect for swimbaiting by the end of April and into May.

Townley loves to see his clients have success and catch fish, but to him, guiding is also about sharing knowledge and teaching people how to fish.

“I love it when my clients, whether they are kids, new fishermen or seasoned pros, just have a great experience fishing,” he says. “It really means a lot for me to be able to provide a good, fun, wholesome outdoor experience for people.” CS

Editor’s notes: Dakota Townley’s Guide Service runs a 23-foot Willie Legend jet sled powered by a Mercury 200-horsepower four-stroke engine. The boat accommodates up to six anglers. All fishing tackle and gear is provided. To learn more, you can follow on facebook.com/dakotatowney or contact him directly at (530) 680-3717.

Another happy striper angler with her catch.

love it when my clients, whether they are kids, new fishermen or seasoned pros, just have a great experience fishing,” Townley says. (DAKOTA TOWNLEY’S GUIDE SERVICE)

The FG-15 is just a grip when not in use, when the handle is deployed it is a trigger crank, allowing you to fire one shot per 120 degrees you crank the handle.

The FG-15 has been tested on a 20 year old Bushmaster, new Aero Precision, Daniel Defenses, LWRC, Ruger, Bravo Co, to name a few. Aside from the twin stainless Japanese precision ball bearings, the FG-15 is an American made and seriously overbuilt piece of kit. Comprising of nitride 4140 steel machined components, hardened S7 trigger striker pin, and many more high quality components. The FG-15 was mechanically tested for over 1,000,000 shots fired. At that point, the components showed only a light surface finish wear.

In the prone and with your weapon on a bipod, it allows the user to consistently put shots on target without trigger fatigue. Any AR-15 type firearm that has a 1/4-28 thread pitch for the grip screw will accept the FG-15 grip. Which is 99% of AR-15 lower receivers.

BYTES, CAMERA, ACTION!

SETTING YOUR TRAIL CAMS TO VIDEO MODE CAN YIELD INTEL THAT HELPS FILL YOUR SPRING TOM TAG

By Scott Haugen

Turkey season is here! If you’ve not done much scouting, it’s never too late to find longbeards to hunt.

Scouting can be done all spring, as toms come and go throughout the breeding season. We can’t be everywhere at once when it comes to scouting, and trail cameras are your eyes in the woods that can help. Set up properly, trail cameras reveal a lot about turkey behavior, population densities and even sounds turkeys make.

Another plus is that trail cameras show what time of day turkeys are moving, when they stop to preen, what new toms show up and even what predators are in the area. I’ve had a number of hunts not come together as planned, only to learn from trail camera videos that coyotes and bobcats were in the area. Predators can put turkeys on edge and change their daily routines.

Trail cameras will reveal the number and age class of toms in an area also. Two springs ago, I had 13 trail cameras set on a 3-mile-

long, 1-mile-wide wooded ridge. I was picking up one lone tom for a solid month before the season, and that was all. I called that tom in on opening morning and filled a tag, but another tom came in with it, one I’d never seen before.

I returned in the heat of the day to check all my trail cameras and found seven new toms had moved into the area in the previous 24 hours.

I filled my two remaining tags on subsequent days, something I would not have been able to do were it not for trail cameras.

From predator activity to strutting toms, hen densities to poult survival rates, trail cameras reveal a lot about what’s going on in the turkey woods when they’re set on video mode. This screenshot tells only part of the story of a 15-second video clip. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

ADD ‘ DRY CURRY ’ TWIST TO BOOST YOUR BIRD

By Tiffany Haugen

Adry curry is simply a curry with less sauce. Flavors really pop in this recipe and there’s no marinating needed when a wild turkey breast is cut into small, bite-sized chunks. Toned down or spiced up, curry is a flavor that pairs well with all game birds. If you’ve never tried a simple curry, this recipe is a great place to start!

1 pound wild turkey breast

1/3 cup plain yogurt

2 tablespoons butter or ghee

1 teaspoon curry powder

½ teaspoon garam masala

½ teaspoon granulated onion

½ teaspoon turmeric

½ teaspoon salt

2 cloves garlic, puréed

1 teaspoon puréed fresh ginger

One to two whole Thai green chilis, optional

¼ wedge fresh lemon

Fresh cilantro for garnish

Cut turkey breast into bite-sized chunks. In a medium bowl, mix plain yogurt and turkey and let sit for 10 minutes. In a large skillet, melt butter or ghee over medium heat.

Add curry powder, garam masala, granulated onion, turmeric and salt and sauté 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Add garlic, ginger and green chilis if desired and continue to sauté another minute. Add yogurt and turkey to the pan. Spread meat out in a single layer. Once the turkey begins to brown, turn the meat over and brown the other side. Do not overcook, as it will make the turkey tough. Squeeze lemon over turkey. Serve over rice and garnish with cilantro if desired.

TURKEY FIELD CARE TIP

Even though wild turkeys are a mild-flavored bird, be sure to take proper care of them in the field, especially on hot spring days. Doing so will optimize their quality and overall flavor. Avoid carrying them in the back of a turkey vest or driving around with them in the back of the truck for extended periods, where their body heat will keep them from cooling.

Draw the birds and get them

cooling as quickly as possible.

When butchering, make sure to remove all feathers and bloodshot, and clean all wound channels.

Editor’s note:

For signed copies of Tiffany’s popular book, Cooking Game Birds, and other best-selling cookbook titles, visit scotthaugen.com

Chef Tiffany Haugen says a dry curry – one that uses less sauce – can really add flavors to your wild turkey breast meat. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)

HUNTING

Keep the trails in front of your game cameras clear this time of year, as growing grass and brush blowing in the wind can trigger the devices, setting them off way too often. (SCOTT

THE VIDEO GENERATION

I always set trail cameras in video mode. My cellular trail camera of choice is a Moultrie Mobile Edge Pro. Being a former science teacher, I base much of my hunting on not only sights, but sounds animals make and how they’re behaving in an area. A 15-second highdefinition video clip of a hen walking up a trail might seem trivial, but crank up the volume to hear what sounds she’s making, then how gobbling toms respond in the distance – off camera –and you’ll be a believer.

The sound quality of the Moultrie Mobile Pro is tops. I also like these cameras because the software updates are done automatically, meaning I don’t have to go into the woods to pull cards and update them. I run Moultrie 3.4W Solar Power Packs to run many of my trail cameras year-round.

GETTING THE HANG OF IT

When setting trail cameras for turkeys I like hanging them about a foot off

HAUGEN)

HUNTING

the ground and pointing them straight down a game trail. If a trail makes a turn, hang two cameras on the tree, one pointing each direction, as sometimes turkeys exit trails on the corners. If there’s no tree on the edge of a game trail, get a rock or chunk of wood to strap the camera to.

If multiple trails branch off and you know turkeys are in the area, run cameras on each one. Toms don’t always follow hens down a trail; often, they are skirting to the side and strutting in silence, so having multiple cameras will capture this.

The number of toms I get on trail cameras spitting and drumming every

year always surprises me. These toms may not be in frame, but either a hen or jake triggers the camera when a tom is nearby.

I often saturate level ridgelines with trail cameras so I don’t miss anything. Turkeys love moving along ridges, whether forested by conifers or deciduous trees. One spring I caught a very light-plumed hen in early March; she was easy to identify. Two weeks later, she was nearly 3 miles away on another trail camera, likely moving to higher ground to nest. Nine weeks later, she was back at the original spot with nine poults. Hens will travel 15 miles or more to nest, and they usually nest in

the same place every year. Interestingly, none of the toms that were with the hen followed her to where she nested. Instead, they stayed on the initial ridge, strutting and gobbling. I eventually tagged two toms there.

RUN FOR COVER

If predator numbers are high, I’ll move trail cameras into timber and thicker cover. I’ve found many toms quietly lurking all day in timbered habitat when predators are near because the habitat offers protection.

Since I set trail cameras so low to the ground, I take a machete and clear the trails, as I don’t want ferns, berry vines or other foliage blowing in the wind and triggering the camera. I do this once a week this time of year, as things grow fast in spring. Forcing myself to head afield also provides time to physically scout; I do a lot of listening and learning while out there.

As spring temperatures rise, setting trail cameras near creeks and under shaded trees where turkeys take dust baths can reveal a lot. Many newly arriving toms head to water and shade, where you can pick them up on a trail camera. I’ll also target food sources like clover and grasses as they come to a head.

LEARNING FROM GAME CAMS

As a former high school science teacher and full-time hunter, writer and wildlife photographer of 24 years, the only thing that’s taught me more about turkeys and their behavior – other than physically scouting – is the trail camera. They often capture sights, sounds and behavior I miss, even when scouting. They reveal details that impact how and even when I hunt. If you want to take your turkey hunting game to a new level and have fun along the way, invest in trail cameras. But be warned, they’re addicting. CS

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s popular book, Western Turkey Hunting: Strategies For All Levels, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.

Author Scott Haugen caught this elusive tom on multiple trail cameras for three seasons before finally calling it in and getting a shot. “Set up properly, trail cameras reveal a lot about turkey behavior, population densities and even sounds turkeys make,” he writes. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

By Scott Haugen

Last season, the handheld remote control for my electronic dog collars died. I’d had it for nine years. It was right at the start of a day of duck hunting too. The weather was bad – bad for communicating with my dogs, but great for duck hunting. It was raining hard and blowing 20 mph, with gusts up to 35.

Since I couldn’t communicate

with Echo or Kona via the beeping of their e-collars like we usually did, I had to rely on whistles and hand signals. The wind was too strong for the dogs to hear my whistles most of the time, and hollering at them was out of the question – something I despise doing anyway. Blowing brush, tall grass and big waves on the water made guiding them to blind retrieves with hand signals even more difficult.

MUST-HAVE ITEMS FOR KEEPING YOUR DOG SAFE WHILE TRAINING OR HUNTING

We shot three limits of ducks that day, but it was the most frustrating day of hunting I’d ever had with my dogs. It made me realize how valuable our line of communication is with an e-collar and how much my dogs rely on me to convey information to them. It was frustrating for them too.

Rarely do I have to shock my dogs. But I beep them many times a day when hunting. When on a blind retrieve, one beep stops my dogs and

Spending a little more money on key pieces of gear can make hunting with gun dogs more efficient, avoid spendy vet bills and in some cases, potentially save their lives. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

HUNTING

is the best remedy.

gets them looking at me for direction. Two beeps pulls them off their current path and refocuses their attention on me so I can redirect them. And a continuous beeping signals them to immediately return to me – this is in case of potential encounters with a porcupine, crossing a road or any other possible life-threatening dangers they may encounter.

Fortunately, I had an extra remote control for my collars at home, so we were back to hunting as normal the following day. But had I been forced to order a new remote and wait a

week, I doubt I’d have even gone hunting; that’s how frustrating it was not being able to communicate with my dogs. For this reason, having an extra remote control, along with parts for my e-collars, is a must in the gear department.

CABLE

CUTTERS ARE ANOTHER tool I carry. Predator trappers often set wire snares in upland bird and waterfowl habitats. Sometimes the snares are pulled during hunting season, sometimes they’re not, and sometimes they’re accidentally

overlooked and left out. They’re deadly to dogs.

Last season, a buddy who was chukar hunting came upon two snares set for coyotes. His stomach turned knowing how close his dogs had come to them. He was lucky. Another guy I met last year wasn’t so lucky. Both of his dogs were killed within minutes of one another when they got entangled in snares. He didn’t have cable cutters. He could have saved one dog if he had been prepared for such a disaster.

Wire cutters won’t do it. Invest in cable cutters and take them with you on hunts, training sessions and walks. Snares, electrical fencing wire, even tangled barbed and smooth wire can cause injury or death to a dog, and cable cutters can be a lifesaver.

A multitool is another piece of gear to keep on you at all times. Some hunters carry forceps or small needle-nose pliers for removing thorns, cacti and other impediments. I like something stronger that I can perform other tasks with, and a multitool will do it.

FOR LONG-HAIRED DOGS, A fine-toothed brush is a good tool to have. With our climate shift has come a dramatic increase in weed and grass seeds, and some can be deadly to a dog. Last summer, both of my dogs got foxtail seeds lodged in their feet. It was ugly, required surgery and cost them training and hunting time. I now carry a brush and remove seeds from my dogs multiple times a day when training and hunting. When I notice seeds, I stop and brush them on the spot.

There’s always the need for a knife. I used to skimp on small gas station specials, but I got tired of them opening in my pockets and on my duck call and training lanyards when bending over or digging them out of a pack. They’d also rust and turn dull fast. I kept upgrading and finally found the one I’m sticking with. It’s not cheap, but Benchmade’s OM is tops. Closed, the

Predator snares are often made of strong cable or strands of braided wire. They’re deadly on dogs and having cable cutters

(SCOTT HAUGEN)

HUNTING

Cacti can be a big problem on many hunts throughout the West, and being able to efficiently remove spines is a must in order to keep the hunt going and your dog safe. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

tiny knife is less than 3.5 inches long and weighs only 1.5 ounces. The mechanism on this double-action out-the-front, or OTF, knife is fairly tight to open and has a safety feature so the blade will pop off the tracks if deployed into an object, and it’s easy to reset by retracting the blade. With the OM, you get the benefit of quick, one-handed access when your dog needs immediate attention. It’s sharp, fast to operate, convenient and incredibly durable.

WE ALL KNOW THE power of money, and so will your dog, indirectly speaking, when they receive medical aid. Having an emergency fund set aside for your dog is smart and is less painful on the budget when the time comes to pay a lofty vet bill.

Start by asking yourself, “What’s my dog worth and how much am I willing to spend to save it?” When Kona was 3 years old, he got stomach twist. My wife Tiffany rushed him

to the vet hospital, where they said we had less than five minutes to decide to save him or put him under. He was on the operating table in minutes. The bill came to $5,000, a no-brainer for us.

At about the same time, a buddy in California put his 11-year-old dog under due to stomach twist when the vet quoted him a starting price of $10,000 for the surgery.

Last hunting season I spent over $1,500 on emergency vet bills and medications for my dogs. That’s just part of being a dog owner, but if you’re not prepared, it can rock your world, and there’s never a convenient time to deal with such misfortunes.

GETTING CARRIED AWAY WITH all the dog gear and tools available is easy. But the tools I’ve touched on are musthave items that will not only make a difference in a hunt or training session, but can save your dog’s life. CS

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