Cal Sportsman Mag Jan 2020

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6 California Sportsman JANUARY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com

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NEVADA

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California

Sportsman Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource

Volume 12 • Issue 4 PUBLISHER James R. Baker GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott EDITOR Chris Cocoles CONTRIBUTORS Chris Arechaederra, Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Todd Kline, Buzz Ramsey, Bill Schaefer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service SALES MANAGER Katie Higgins ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Jim Klark, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold DESIGNERS Celina Martin, Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper DESIGN INTERN Jacob Culver PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly Baker DIGITAL STRATEGIST Jon Hines ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Katie Aumann INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@calsportsmanmag.com CORRESPONDENCE Email ccocoles@media-inc.com Twitter @CalSportsMan Facebook.com/californiasportsmanmagazine ON THE COVER Southern California’s yellowtail bite should remain hot throughout this month and deep into winter for anglers fishing up and down the coast. (BILL SCHAEFER) MEDIA INC PUBLISHING GROUP P.O. Box 24365 • Seattle, WA 98124-0365 14240 Interurban Ave. S., Suite 190 Tukwila, WA 98168 (800) 332-1736 • Fax (206) 382-9437 media@media-inc.com www.mediaindexpublishing.com

10 California Sportsman JANUARY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com

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calsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2020 California Sportsman

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CONTENTS

VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 4

TOP SETUPS FOR KINGS, STEELIES Northern California’s coastal rivers produce both steelhead and spring Chinook, so what gear works best to trick these tasty fish on waters like the Smith, Klamath and Eel? In our Field to Fire feature, Scott Haugen breaks down the best of the best gear for both species, while Tiffany Haugen whips up a miso butter recipe that works for both steelhead and salmon fillets.

43

(USFWS)

FEATURES

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

51

PLUGGING FOR WINTER STEELHEAD

17

Plugging is an older technique and while many new ways have been developed over the years to catch winter steelhead, wise anglers keep it as part of their wider arsenal for how productive it remains on specific sections of rivers. Legendary West Coast steelheader Buzz Ramsey has, er, a tune-up for pulling plugs this season.

NOTHING FISHY ABOUT THESE ’TAILS

DEPARTMENTS

61

Whether you have your own fishing boat, have booked a trip with a charter or like to venture onto the sea in your kayak, the time is now to try your luck for hard-fighting and delicious yellowtail. Capt. Bill Schaefer says the fishing should be off the hook for yellows in January and perhaps well into winter. Our salty skipper shares how to fill your fish box.

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65

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29 33 41

2020’s California, West Coast bird festivals Protecting Wild California: Feds deny shallow-set longline permit Best food options for hunting pups

The Editor’s Note: Sports show season is here!

The Adventures of Todd Kline: Winter bassin’ Reader photos Photo contest winners Outdoor calendar

Read California Sportsman on your desktop or mobile device. Go to www.calsportsmanmag.com/digital California Sportsman is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 14240 Interurban Avenue South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Send address changes to California Sportsman, PO Box 24365, Seattle, WA 98124. Annual subscriptions are $29.95 (12 issues), 2-year subscription are $39.95 (24 issues). Send check or money order to Media Index Publishing Group, or call (206) 382-9220 with VISA or M/C. Back issues are available at Media Index Publishing Group offices at the cost of $5 plus shipping. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising.

All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 2019 Media Index Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A. 12 California Sportsman JANUARY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com

Help Us Celebrate Our 37 th Season in Hakai Pass, BC! JOE’S “CENTRAL COAST FISHING ADVENTURES” INCLUDE: • •

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Round-trip airfare from Vancouver, BC Unlimited use of 17-foot Boston Whalers and unlimited fishing time Delicious home cooked meals Box lunches, beverages and bait A beautiful lounge and sun deck Heavy-duty Wetskin raingear and boots

• Complete fish care: filleted, vacuum sealed, flash frozen and boxed to be flown back with you • Rods and reels all in A-1 condition • Complete boat care: boats are cleaned and fueled every time you come in • Bait and tackle for both salmon and bottom fishing

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THEEDITOR’SNOTE

Whether it’s all the way up to Alaska or closer to home, the Sacramento International Sportsmen’s Expo will have plenty of destination lodges and outfitters to chat with and plan your 2020 dream fishing or hunting adventure.

(SPORTSEXPOS.COM)

A

s I’ve gotten older I’ve felt a sense of desperation to make sure I get to travel as often as possible – at least in terms of how much time I can take off and how many adventures I can afford to take over the course of the year.

It’s why sports show season comes at a perfect time for us.

Getting through the holidays can be stressful; it’s a grind and creates anxiety. So how to reinvigorate yourself after all the hangovers and food comas you’ve forced upon yourself? Get out to your local outdoors event and plan a 2020 fishing or hunting trip.

This month (Jan. 16-19), Northern California’s International Sportsmen’s Expo in Sacramento kicks off a three-month-long cavalcade of opportunities to pick the brains of outfitters and guides. On their tables will be a tantalizing display of brochures, photos and videos of happy anglers and hunters catching fish of a lifetime and harvesting the giant muley or whitetail of their dreams.

Whether you’ve been saving up for an Alaskan salmon adventure, a Baja tuna trip or a Montana elk hunt, you’re likely to find someone offering it up in Sacramento or later on at events such as the Fly Fishing Show in Pleasanton (Feb. 21), the Redding Sportsman’s Expo (April 4-5) and the Southland’s popular Fred Hall Shows, now at four different sites in March.

Every time I’ve walked the endless rows of these events I grab every brochure I can stuff into the free bags you can usually pick up on the way in. And if that’s your strategy, make sure you take a minute to chat up at least a few of the places that look particularly enticing to you. That’s going to be your best opportunity to know if this is a trip you’d be willing to take. These days, websites make it easy to get a lot of information as you shop around for an ideal option, but there is nothing more informative than a face-to-face encounter with the men and women who will be your hosts on the water or in the mountains.

Sports show season is here. Get over to Cal Expo in Sacramento this month and make at least one New Year’s resolution a little bit easier to fulfill. –Chris Cocoles

T

KERN RIVER VALLEY

he Kern River Valley, home of Lake Isabella, is also known for the Kern River, which earned Wild and Scenic designation and originates with runoff from Mount Whitney and the high Sierra.

The mighty Kern is the southernmost of California’s Sierra Nevada watersheds.

The river is not only known for excellent whitewater rafting but also for its worldrenowned fly fishing.

The best fishing spots are in the 30-plus miles of easily accessible river above the quiet and scenic town of Kernville. There’s even a stretch designated as a catch-and-release-only fishery on the river.

The photo shows off a beautiful 23-inch trout courtesy of Kern River Fly Shop. It’s a testament to how the Kern earned its reputation. Owner/guide Guy Jeans has earned his with years of successful guiding of guests from around the world.

Contact the Kernville Chamber of Commerce for more information.

www.kernrivervalley.com • 760-379-5236 calsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2020 California Sportsman

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The Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway takes place from Jan. 22-26 in Chico, one of several California bird festivals scheduled for 2020. (STEVE EMMONS/USFWS)

TAKE FLIGHT THIS YEAR WESTERN U.S. FESTIVALS CELEBRATE BIRDS

By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

F

or a breathtaking nature show, it’s hard to beat a bird festival.

And there’s nowhere better than a national wildlife refuge to catch one.

Many of America’s more than 560 national wildlife refuges are located along major bird migration routes, so when great flocks move in spring and fall, refuge visitors get a front-row seat.

Wildlife refuges also provide facilities, bird experts and viewing areas to enhance your experience.

Here is our 2020 calendar of bird festivals at or near refuges in California and across the West. These events are popular, so consider registering ahead if you go. Some festivals charge a registration or activity fee. The National Wildlife Refuge System is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

JANUARY Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway Chico, California January 22-26 See thousands of birds make a spectacular lift-off from Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge and Delevan National Wildlife Refuge. Some years include a field trip to Colusa National Wildlife Refuge.

snowgoosefestival.org

calsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2020 California Sportsman

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San Diego National Wildlife Refuge is one of three in the area offering field tours as part of the San Diego Bird Festival, which opens on Feb. 26.

(JOANNA GILKESON/USFWS)

FEBRUARY Winter Wings Festival Klamath Falls, Oregon February 13-16 This four-day festival offers visitors the chance to visit nearby Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge and other Klamath Basin birding hotspots.

winterwingsfest.org

San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival Vallejo, California Date TBA The annual festival celebrates the more than one million shorebirds and hundreds of thousands of ducks plus hawks and other wildlife that pass through the Bay Area.

The festival includes field trips to San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

sfbayflywayfestival.com/San_ Francisco_Bay_Flyway_Festival_2019/ San_Francisco_Bay_Flyway_Festival_ Home_Welcome.html

San Diego Bird Festival San Diego, California February 26-March 1

Othello Sandhill Crane Festival Othello, Washington March 20-22

The festival offers field trips to San Diego National Wildlife Refuge, San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge.

Also featured: workshops, sea bird trips and cultural activities.

Experience the beauty and wonder of the natural world, highlighted by the return of sandhill cranes to the Channeled Scablands of eastern Washington.

Columbia National Wildlife Refuge is one of many field trip destinations. The community event includes wildlife tours, talks on the area’s natural and cultural heritage, an art contest and children’s activities.

cvent.com/events/san-diego-birdfestival/event-summary-c2be3dd9191a 465cab06b24447c10e21.aspx MARCH Monte Vista Crane Festival Monte Vista, Colorado March 6-8 See thousands of cranes, ducks and geese fly against a backdrop of mountain scenery. Raptors often adorn the power poles and owls are frequently seen with their young. Most events are free. The Friends of the San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuges takes part in the festival’s planning.

mvcranefest.org

18 California Sportsman JANUARY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com

othellosandhillcranefestival.org

APRIL Harney County Migratory Bird Festival Burns, Oregon April 16-19 Wildlife art shows, kids’ nature fairs and music are among the highlights.

Visit nearby Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and the Pete French Round Barn, built by frontier cattle baron Pete French around 1880.

migratorybirdfestival.com

Godwit Days are scheduled from April 15-21 in Arcata, with field tours at nearby Humboldt National Wildlife Refuge. (LILIAN CARSWELL/USFWS)

Godwit Days Arcata, California April 15-21 Celebrate the marbled godwit at this annual festival along the Northern California coast. Field trip destinations include Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The event also includes ecotours and workshops.

10times.com/bird-festival-arcata Birding & Blues Festival Pacific City, Oregon April 17-19

Celebrate the spring migration of birds and the natural resources of south Tillamook County and Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

The festival provides educational, cultural, recreational and economic opportunities to the residents and businesses of Pacific City.

birdingandblues.org

Grays Harbor Shorebird and Nature Festival Hoquiam, Washington April 24-26* Each spring, hundreds of thousands of shorebirds pause on their way north to rest and feed along the Washington Coast and in the Grays Harbor estuary.

Coming from as far south as Argentina, these Arctic-bound shorebirds are among the world’s greatest migrants.

The festival includes field trips to Grays

Harbor National Wildlife Refuge and other birding hotspots. *Note: The festival sometimes takes place in early May.

shorebirdfestival.com

MAY Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival Homer, Alaska May 7-10 For 25 years, the festival has offered great birding, education and workshops, and children’s activities to thousands of birders of all ages and all skill levels.

The festival includes field trips to Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.

kachemakshorebird.org

Great Salt Lake Bird Festival Farmington, Utah May 14-17 The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is among the festival’s field trip destinations for this event.

daviscountyutah.gov/greatsaltlake birdfest Kenai Peninsula Birding Festival Kenai, Alaska Date TBA

The festival includes field trips to Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, workshops, kids’ activities and a Kenai River float with local birding experts.

kenaipeninsula.org/kenai-peninsulabirding-festival

20 California Sportsman JANUARY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com

Tualatin River Bird Festival Sherwood, Oregon Date TBA The Friends of the Refuge in partnership with Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge pack their annual free festival with guided bird walks, kids’ activities and Conestoga-style wagon rides around the refuge.

friendsoftualatinrefuge.org

SEPTEMBER Arctic Refuge Virtual Bird Fest Alaska Date TBA Enjoy a social media-based festival that connects Americans with the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge through its charismatic ambassadors – the birds that migrate there each summer from backyards all over the world.

fws.gov/refuge/arctic/birdfestival.html Wings Over Willapa Festival Long Beach, Washington September 24-27

Guided tours, artist workshops, presentations and fun-filled events connect people with birds, nature and art in celebration of Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. Field trips go to the Leadbetter Point, Long Island and other refuge units as well as Cape Disappointment State Park, Willapa Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

wingsoverwillapa.org

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These Aleutian snow geese spotted at San Joaquin NWR will be honored alongside other species during the Central Valley Bird Symposium. (STEVE MARTARANO/USFWS)

OCTOBER Ridgefield Birdfest and Bluegrass Ridgefield, Washington October 3 Celebrate fall and local wildlife with Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. The annual festival along the lower Columbia River offers Audubon bird shows, live music, hikes, arts and crafts and activities at the Cathlapotle Plankhouse, a full-scale replica of a Native American structure found in the old town of Cathlapotle.

ridgefieldfriends.org/birdfestbluegrass NOVEMBER Fall Flight Festival Las Vegas, New Mexico Date TBA

Take a 4.5-mile drive through the back fields and past ponds at Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge to observe migrating waterfowl – sandhill cranes, ducks of all variety, snow geese, coots, grebes, mergansers and bald eagles looking for their next meal. Interpretive programs help visitors identify waterfowl.

fws.gov/refuge/las_vegas Festival of the Cranes Socorro, New Mexico November 18-21

See thousands of wintering sandhill cranes and snow geese at spectacular Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge just outside the city of Socorro, about an hour’s drive from Albuquerque. This celebrated wildlife festival, regarded as one of the best in

22 California Sportsman JANUARY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com

North America, offers more than 100 workshops, tours and events.

friendsofbosquedelapache.org/festivalof-the-cranes.aspx Central Valley Birding Symposium Stockton, California Date TBA California’s Great Central Valley, located along the Pacific Flyway, is uniquely situated for excellent birding. This annual event features well-known speakers, multiple field trips and art displays. Field trips have visited the Colusa, Merced, San Luis and San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuges, in addition to other wildlife areas, parks, and birding locales.

cvbirds.org/events/symposium CS

calsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2020 California Sportsman

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ures Advent This month has been awesome for guide trips and personal trips for me.

I enjoyed a phenomenal day during a cold front while throwing an IMA Beast Hunter crankbait in Blue Sexy Shad. (TODD KLINE)

W

e’re not ashamed to admit it: Todd Kline has the kind of life we wish we could experience. Kline’s a former professional surfer, a successful co-angler on the FLW Tour and a Southern California bass guide, plus he gets to travel the world as a commentator for the World Surf League’s telecasts. Todd has agreed to give us a peek on what he’s up to each month. For more on Todd or to book a guided fishing trip with him, check out toddklinefishing.com, and you can follow him on Instagram at @toddokrine. –The Editor Had a case of bass thumb too, but it’s worth catching a lot of big ones. (TODD KLINE)

I had an epic day filming for an episode of Stoked On Fishing with Shea McIntee (youtube.com/user/StokedOnFishing). I can’t wait to watch the show. We caught a bunch of fish throwing the Neko rig using a thin Senko and a Voss screw weight.

(TODD KLINE) calsportsmanmag.com| JANUARY | JANUARY2020 2020 California Sportsman calsportsmanmag.com

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I picked up this pair of nice bass as yet another front approached. The big fish love to chew when the barometer drops. (TODD KLINE)

You never get tired of sunrises like this one on the water. (TODD KLINE) 26 California CaliforniaSportsman Sportsman JANUARY JANUARY2020 2020| calsportsmanmag.com | calsportsmanmag.com 26

I picked up this fish while on a photo shoot for Grundéns. It’s always awesome catching a good one, but it’s even better when you are out shooting. (TODD KLINE)

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CALIFORNIA OPEN ZONE DEER TAG AT AUCTION Ma r c h 7 , 2020

California’s Open Zone Deer Tag is the premier auction item at

the 2020 Safari Club International Greater Bay Area Fundraiser. The Open Zone tag allows you to hunt the zone and method of hunting you like during the authorized season dates and meeting any special conditions of the tag for that hunt. You can finally hunt that special X-zone!

You do not need to be a California resident to purchase this tag. All tag and license fees are included in the high bid price.

Proceeds from your bid will be used for conservation by California Department of Fish and Game and SCI Chapter local activities.

GREATER BAY AREA FUNDRAISER

REGISTER TO ATTEND PHONE BIDDERS WELCOME! GBAFUNDRAISER.ORG 6 5 0 -6 2 7 -7 6 0 1 p h / fa x

S CI San Francisco B a y A rea C h ap t er an d Go ld en Ga t e Ch a pter are C ali forn ia - b a s e d n o n p ro f it o rg a n iz a t io n s.

READER PHOTOS Last year we told you about Paradise resident Bryan Galea, whose family was among so many victims in the tragic Camp Fire that all but wiped out that community. The Galeas are trying to rebound from what was taken from them. “We moved to Idaho because we had nowhere to go,” Galea says, “then missed home so much we loaded up and moved back!” Galea felt right back at home again hauling in a Feather River king. (BRYAN GALEA)

“It was a very weird run this year,” Galea says of 2019. “A late run and lower numbers than last year. Still a good season, but nothing like last year. Just thankful that we had a season at all.” (BRYAN GALEA)

For your shot at winning great fishing and hunting products from Yo-Zuri and California Sportsman, send your full-resolution, original images with all the pertinent details – who’s in the pic and their hometown; when and where they were; what they caught their fish on/weapon they used to bag the game; and any other details you’d like to reveal (the more, the merrier!) – to ccoloces@media-inc.com or California Sportsman, 14240 Interurban Ave S, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for use in our print and Internet publications. calsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2020 California Sportsman

29

READER PHOTOS

Sean Dunbar (second from left), who grew up in the Bay Area (Redwood City) and now lives in Seattle, celebrated his 50th birthday in November with a three-week trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. He and his buddies had a great day on the water and brought back some fresh dorado fillets for the grill. Joining the birthday guy were (from left) John Hannon, Chris Jackson and Gary Volkman. Happy 50th, Sean! (GARY VOLKMAN)

Capt. Steve Gutierrez shared some of his recent San Francisco Bay catches. He fished near the Dumbarton Bridge and landed a 14-pound striper on live ghost shrimp and his Seeker Black 270-8 custom rod and a Loki LT500 reel. (STEVE GUTIERREZ) 30 California Sportsman JANUARY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com

Gutierrez also landed this nice 52½-inch, 50-pound sturgeon. Check out this and other videos on his Deadliest Kast Fishing YouTube page (youtube.com/user/stelo415). (STEVE GUTIERREZ)

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32 California Sportsman JANUARY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com

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WINNERS!

Stephen Meuchel won our monthly Yo-Zuri Photo Contest, thanks to this shot of he and Kari Willard and their Columbia River fall Chinook.

It wins him gear from the company that makes some of the world’s best fishing lures and lines!

Rob Clarey wins our monthly Hunting Photo Contest, thanks to the pic he sent of wife Vanessa and her first big game critter, a very nice bull taken with a muzzleloader. It wins him a knife!

For your shot at winning hunting and fishing products, send your photos and pertinent (who, what, when, where) details to ccocoles@media-inc.com or California Sportsman, PO Box 24365, Seattle, WA 98124-0365. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for our print or Internet publications. calsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2020 California Sportsman

33

A fisheries research crew tags a swordfish off the California coast.

A November meeting of the Pacific Fishery Management Council voted down a request for a permit for fishermen to use controversial shallow-set longlines. (NOAA FISHERIES WEST COAST/FLICKR.COM) 34 California Sportsman JANUARY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com

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PFMC DENIES SHALLOW-SET LONGLINES PERMIT FOR CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS

By Chris Arechaederra

W

e are never against anyone fishing. We want everyone to be able to fish, but also to fish responsibly and cleanly.

But there’s no question that detrimental gear types like shallow-set longlines are having negative impacts on our ocean’s resources.

Longlines can be up to 60 miles long, with thousands of baited hooks lying in the water and often not actively tended. Marine mammals, sharks and billfish are often victims of longlines, as they get tangled or hooked and left on the lines for hours before being discarded over the side.

Back in November, the Pacific Fishery Management Council was considering a possible shallow-set longline fishery off the West Coast for highly migratory species, including swordfish, tuna and other Pacific billfish.

PFMC received an inquiry from the Hawaiian commercial fleet, which wanted to fish in our waters because they keep hitting their hard caps for bycatch, which decides when their season shuts down. But the council agreed to not allow a permit to fish with shallow-set longline gear.

A few big reasons why the fleet was hoping to fish in California coastal waters: We don’t have any hard caps

established yet and permits here cost $3,000, compared to $300,000 in Hawaii. Essentially, they were fishing in their own fishery during their season, and then wanted to double dip and come fish in our own fishery after they have hit those limits on bycatch.

Those negative impacts were a big reason why Coastal Conservation Association of California did not support further scoping for a potential longline fishery. Make no mistake: we want the commercial fleet to continue

A NOAA diagram of a shallow-set longline, which can be up to 60 miles long with thousands of baited hooks that can pose a risk to marine mammals, sharks and billfish. (NOAA FISHERIES WEST COAST)

calsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2020 California Sportsman

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to fish. We want them to land the fish in our ports and to eat the fish they catch.

Right now, we are importing fish from far less regulated fleets that are doing more harm to the resources. We want to find the solutions that can get the fleet back on the water fishing and for them to do so in a responsible manner.

Deep-set buoy gear has been tested and authorized as an alternative gear type to drift gillnets, which is a great thing that we all worked together on.

We want to continue to work with the commercial fleets on coming up with new ideas on how to modernize fishing

practices so we can get this fleet back out on the water.

Whether it’s the commercial fleet or recreational anglers across California, we want everyone to have the opportunity to fish and to continue to fish responsibly. But in order for us to have a future, we need everyone to fish cleanly. Period. CS Editor’s note: Chris Arechaederra is the assistant director for the Coastal Conservation Association of California.

Learn more about Chris and CCA CAL by visiting ccacalifornia.org.

The PFMC met in Costa Mesa in November and came up with the decision to discontinue any further scoping on a shallow-set longline fishery off California. “There are huge numbers of bycatch for longlines, which makes it a very dirty fishery in general,” author Chris Arechaederra says.

(COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA)

38 California Sportsman JANUARY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com

OUTDOOR CALENDAR JANUARY

1 First day 2020 hunting and fishing licenses are valid 1 Topaz Lake Fishing Derby; visitcarsonvalley.org 1 Online harvest reporting begins for steelhead,

sturgeon and North Coast salmon report cards 1-Feb. 29 Mad River Steelhead Derby; (707) 496-2948 16-19 International Sportsman’s Expo, Sacramento; sportsexpos.com/attend/sacramento 17 Last day of duck hunting season in Northeastern Zone 19 Opening of Humboldt Steelhead Days; humboldtsteelheaddays.com 27 Opener of falconry rabbits and varying hare seasons 31 Last day of duck season in most zones

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Cal Expo in Sacramento is hosting another International Sportsman’s Expo starting on Jan. 16.

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7 Whitefront goose late opener in Northeastern Zone 8 NorCal Trout Angler’s Challenge, San Pablo Reservoir; anglerspress.com 8 Late-season Imperial Valley white goose opener 8-9 Youth waterfowl hunts in most zones 8-12 Late-season whitefront and white goose season in

Balance of State Zone 21-23 The Fly Fishing Show, Alameda County Fairgrounds,

Pleasanton; flyfishingshow.com/pleasanton-ca 22 North Coast Canada goose late season opens

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FISHING

FROM FIELD...

TOP SETUPS FOR KINGS, STEELIES

FISH WITH THE RIGHT GEAR AND YOU'LL CATCH MORE OF THESE TASTY RIVER RUNNERS

By Scott Haugen

W

hen I was a kid, I used only one rod when fishing for salmon and steelhead in rivers. Back in the 1960s and early 1970s, the variety of rods didn’t exist, nor did the many methods we can apply today.

If you wanted to switch from drift fishing to back-trolling plugs, you simply cut the line, retied and got back to fishing. Fortunately, today there are many great fishing rods available and a growing number of ways to catch salmon and steelhead. A few springs back I hit the river near where I grew up in Oregon, targeted spring Chinook and summer steelhead and pulled a limit of two springers and three summer steelhead while using an array of rods and techniques.

Both salmon came easy that day – back-bouncing cured eggs through a deep hole. For reference, I used a one-piece G.Loomis GL3 model BBR 966C, an 8-foot-long back-bouncing rod with a moderate-fast action and a 17- to 40-pound-test line rating capable of working 2 to 8 ounces. My terminal gear consisted of a threeway swivel tied to 17-pound P-Line CXX Xtra Strong, in high-visibility fluorescent green.

On another eye of the three-way swivel was tied a 5-foot-long dropper, to which a spider sinker cage with a 2-ounce cannonball was attached. The third eye of the swivel held a 15-pound-test leader in CXX Xtra Strong – in moss green color – tied to a 3/0 octopus-style hook car-

Today’s age of technology and specialization means more gear is being created than ever before, but each has its place in the world of salmon and steelhead fishing. Author Scott Haugen turned to drift fishing to pull this upper tributary springer from low, clear water. (SCOTT HAUGEN) calsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2020 California Sportsman

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FISHING Miso-seasoned salmon has become something of a hot entree. Our Tiffany Haugen has you covered come steelhead and spring Chinook season. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)

... TO FIRE

NEW YEAR, HOT NEW SALMON RECIPE

By Tiffany Haugen

H

appy New Year! This marks the ninth year of writing this column for California Sportsman, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to start the year off with a fun, tasty, easy recipe.

Miso butter salmon seems to be trend-

ing and I couldn’t wait to develop my own version with salmon I had in the freezer.

If you haven’t used miso before, give it a try. Found in many Japanese recipes, miso is predominantly a salty, umami flavor. It’s made from fermented soybeans, which makes it a great probiotic and also a wonderful addition to soups, salad dressings, sauces and marinades. You can find miso in the refrigerated section of most grocery stores. If there are several to choose from, keep in mind the lighter the miso, the more mild the flavor.

One fillet salmon or steelhead 1 tablespoon flour 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon coconut oil 2 tablespoons mirin 1 tablespoon miso 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 1 tablespoon Sriracha chili sauce, optional Fresh cilantro for garnish In a small bowl, mix mirin, miso, rice vinegar and chili sauce until thoroughly com-

44 California Sportsman JANUARY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com

bined. Remove skin from fish and cut into serving portions. Sprinkle all sides of the fish with flour.

In a large skillet, melt butter and coconut oil on medium-high heat. Pan-fry salmon on one side for three to four minutes, flip and continue cooking another three or four minutes. Reduce to medium heat. Drizzle miso mixture over fish, making sure every piece is evenly coated.

Continue cooking until fish reaches desired doneness or an internal temperature of 135 degrees. Add cilantro for garnish and serve over steamed bok choy if desired.

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany Haugen’s popular cookbook, Cooking Seafood, visit tiffanyhaugen.com. Follow Tiffany on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and on the online series Cook With Cabela’s.

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FISHING rying cured eggs, a full sand-shrimp and a size 6 Spin-N-Glo. In the boat that day were other salmon rods, namely a drift fishing G. Loomis IMX model 1086-2C, a 9-foot fast-action rod with a line class rating of 10- to 20-pound test and a terminal gear range of 3/8 to 1½ ounces. This setup holds CXX 17-pound mainline on a Shimano Cardiff 301A reel, a 3-foot leader tied to a threeway swivel and a 6-inch dropper with a 1½-ounce teardrop sinker.

I also had a GL3 model HSR 981C in an extra-fast action with a 10- to 20-pound-test line rating that’s capa-

ble of working ¾ to 4 ounces of gear as a plugging rod and backtrolling diver and bait.

STEELIE OPTIONS For steelhead I had four different rods rigged. The diver and bait rod that picked up the last two steelies was a GL3 Model 1143C in moderate to fast action. The 9-foot, 6-inch rod is test-rated at 6 to 12 pounds and fishes 3/8 to ¾ ounce. This versatile rod can also be used for drift fishing and flatlining plugs.

One of my favorite steelhead drift fishing rods is an IMX 9-foot, 8-inch

in moderate to fast action capable of running 8- to 17-pound test with 3/8 to 1 ounce of weight. In low, clear water, my Curado 201HG reel is spooled with 10-pound CXX Xtra strong. The terminal gear on the drift fishing rod consists of a 1-inch-long section of ¼-inch diameter surgical tubing slid onto the mainline, which is tied off to one eye of a size 7 barrel swivel.

A 3-foot leader also with 10-pound CXX, is topped with a 1/0 octopus-style hook. The purpose of the surgical tubing is to hold a pencil sinker, one that could easily be cut to size to fit the water being fished.

Backtrolling plugs is a great way to consistently catch summer steelhead as well as salmon, like this spring Chinook. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

46 California Sportsman JANUARY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com

calsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2020 California Sportsman

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When fishing big rivers I like a long float rod, specifically a 10-foot, 6-inch GL2 in moderate action. This rod runs up to 1 to ½ ounces of weight, and 10- to 20-pound test.

Many would consider this a bit of overkill, but for big rivers and aggressive mending it works great.

My floating mainline of choice is 20-pound-test Berkley FireLine, a braided line in flame green. Before tying the mainline to a size 7 barrel swivel, I’ll thread on a bobber stop, then a 3mm bead and a ¼-ounce inline foam float. A ¼-ounce jig is tied to about a 2-foot leader.

I like this kind of inline adjustable float fishing setup for big rivers, as the bobber stop can be set to fish deep water, easily reeled through the guides and casted with ease.

As the bobber stop is reeled through the guides – even onto the spool – the 3mm bead and float drop down the mainline, stopping at the

swivel, which allows you to have the same amount of line hanging out on each cast, no matter if you’re fishing in 3 feet or 20 feet of water. The purpose of the 3mm bead is to keep the bobber stop from passing through the float as the jig sinks.

GET AN EARLY START While it’s only January, it’s not too early to start thinking about spring salmon fishing plans, or maybe you want to round out your winter steelhead fishing arsenal. Sport show season is also here, meaning many great deals can be had, along with a chance to learn new ways to catch more fish.

With all that’s out there on today’s market, the opportunity to be well versed in fishing a number of ways has never been better. CS

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s popular books on salmon and steelhead fishing, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott’s adventures on Instagram and Facebook.

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FISHING With near-perfect steelhead green waters flowing past their drift boat, Bob Rees and guide Chris Sessions show off a hatchery winter-run caught while plugging Oregon’s Wilson River. (BUZZ RAMSEY)

PLUGGING FOR WINTER STEELHEAD

By Buzz Ramsey

S

ubtle is not a word associated with using an erratic, darting, high-vibration plug for winter steelhead, as these finned warriors respond to plugs in an equally unsubtle way: by delivering arm-wrenching strikes.

The most popular way to fish plugs for steelhead is to back-troll them from a drift boat or jet sled. That is, to slowly work them downriver by trailing them downstream from your boat

while holding your craft back in the current enough to cause your plug(s) to dive near bottom.

Begin by positioning your boat above likely fish-holding water by holding your craft midstream in the current by rowing or, in the case of a jet boat, with the aid of a trolling motor. Then, free spool your diving plug downstream behind your boat 40 to 70 feet, depending on water speed and depth. When you stop letting out line, the current will cause your plug to dive where steelhead hold.

Now, while holding your craft steady in the current, allow your boat to slowly slip downstream such that your plug(s) will dive near bottom while marching downriver at a steady, slow pace. This is the basic premise of back-trolling plugs for steelhead.

You should realize, however, that with experience you may begin to back your boat downstream a little faster in areas where steelhead only sometimes hold, but when you reach an area where you or you see other anglers consistently catch fish, hold

calsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2020 California Sportsman

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FISHING Besides tailouts, good places to plug for steelhead include below large current obstructions or underwater drop-offs and along current edges. (CHASE GUNNELL)

your boat steady as though anchored and allow your plugs to wiggle and dive in the same location (the kitchen) for a minute or more before continuing downriver.

TEXTBOOK STEELHEAD WATER is 4 to 8 feet deep and runs the speed of a person’s walk. Under reasonable water conditions most steelhead can be found holding in the tailouts, the lower third or downstream end of a hole or drift, which is the first resting water located above a fast-water rapid. Steelhead will often be found hugging the deep-water side of a tailout where, perhaps, a steep bank extends into the river.

Other places worth plugging are just downstream of large boulders or root wads, immediately downstream from underwater drop-offs, and along current edges – where still and fast water meet.

When rivers are low and clear, fish can move into different areas that offer some kind of protection.

For example, they may be found in the center or top end of holes, in well-defined deep-water slots, and in fast-water sections where the current is broken up by rock ledges or strewn with large boulders.

In the winter, water clarity can range from crystal clear to muddy, with “steelhead green” – a light shade

of emerald – considered ideal. It’s when the water is running from steelhead green to crystal clear in color that plugs work the best for steelhead.

BECAUSE STEELHEAD HIT plugs out of aggression, you will have better success if you run all your lures the same distance from your boat. An easy way

“You can make steelhead even more temperamental by putting a plug tipped with a scent-filled worm in front of them,” tips author Buzz Ramsey. “You might think fish would short-strike this offering, but that has not been my experience, as strikes seem even more savage and the fish better hooked.” (BUZZ RAMSEY)

52 California Sportsman JANUARY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com

to gauge the “right” distance with a levelwind reel is to count the passes of the line guide.

For example, an Ambassador 5500 baitcasting-style reel will release about 7 feet of line with a single pass of the line guide across the face of the reel spool, so seven passes of the line guide will place your plug 50 feet from the boat. If you employ this method more than occasionally, it might be worth investing in a levelwind reel equipped with a linecounter.

And while any light- to medium-action steelhead rod will work for plugging, many avid back-trollers will employ magnum-taper rods, which offer a light tip that better reveals plug action combined with a heavy butt section for strong hooksets. The Berkley Air rod series includes an 8-foot magnum-taper rod designed for plugging steelhead, has the action I would recommend and is reasonably priced.

When it comes to fishing line, most avid plug pullers use 10- or 12-pound-test monofilament when water conditions are low and clear, and 15-pound test on big rivers, in

calsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2020 California Sportsman

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FISHING Plugging is an older technique and while many new ways have been developed to catch steelhead over the years, wise anglers like the author keep it as part of their wider arsenal for how productive it remains in specific sections of rivers. (BUZZ RAMSEY)

high water or when using a side planer. Super lines can be used too, with 30- or 40-pound test the most popular, which is thin compared to mono of the same test.

Because seeing your line is important, I use Trilene XT or Big Game in the high-visibility green color, in combination with an invisible fluorocarbon leader of about 36 inches. Once you hook that fast-moving steelhead, the ability to see your line can be critical, especially when trying to get the other lines out of the way while at the same time keeping a fast-moving steelhead from circling the boat.

While you can employ rodholders when back-trolling plugs, it’s my belief you will hook and land more fish per strike by holding your rod at a low angle with the rod between the reel and first guide resting firmly on the boat gunnel. When a fish yanks your rod tip down, you should wait until your rod tip bottoms out before setting the hook, and don’t forget to

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FISHING have your thumb firmly planted on the reel spool when you do. Once the hook is set, you should let the reel drag take over.

YOUR LURE SELECTION should include a variety of plug types, sizes and colors to match varied conditions. Smaller-sized plugs like a 2.5 or 3.0 Mag Lip work best in clear water, while the 3.5 or similar-sized plug will likely be the most productive when rivers are steelhead green.

The top-producing colors include any and all of the metallic silvers, golds, blues, greens, reds and pinks, and combinations like the punch card, pirate or double eagle. In clear water, you should not overlook natural crawfish, shrimp or dark-colored patterns like metallic purple or black glitter.

When waters are less than clear, try flame (fluorescent red) or any of the chartreuse color combinations.

A color to not overlook regardless

of water clarity is white/black head or similar mother-of-pearl pattern.

BEFORE STARTING TO plug, check to make sure the ones you plan to run through the holes are “tuned,” that is, running straight in the current and not rolling over or running off to one side.

It’s easy: First, anchor your boat where the current runs straight and with 6 feet of line extending from your rod tip simply pull your plug upstream through the water and observe the action. The lure should dive down and wiggle straight. To ensure the best plug action, it’s important to use the round-eyed connector snap equipped with most plugs.

Should you discover an out-oftune plug you can easily adjust it by bending the pull-point eyelet (with the diving lip, or bill, facing you) the opposite direction the plug is running. A small pair of needle-nose pli-

ers works best for this fine alteration.

A small amount of adjustment is likely all that’s needed to make your plug swim correctly.

Plugs like the Mag Lip, Fat Wiggler and Wiggle Wart have fixed eyelets, while others like the FlatFish and Hot Shot are equipped with screw eyes that can be adjusted by turning – rather than bending – their pull-point eyelet.

You should realize that the erratic, darting, skip-beat action produced by a Mag Lip should not be confused with it being out of tune. You will find most Mag Lip plugs to be straight running from factory. Rather than pulling this lure beside your boat to check its action, place it in the current behind your boat with your rod tip pointed downstream and observe its wiggle and how it tracks while reeling it slowly in before attempting to adjust the eyelet.

PLUGGING FROM SHORE is also possible,

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even if most steelheaders think of it as a boating technique. For it, you’ll need the help of a Hot Shot Side Planer. This surface planer was designed to be rigged inline above your lure and navigated midstream by allowing the current to pull against its rudder.

Rigged free-sliding on your line, this surface planer can be locked into position on your mainline any distance from your lure by simply wrapping your line around the tab on the front end. Twenty to 30 feet from planer to plug is the right distance for most places that steelhead hold.

Once rigged and suspended from your rod tip with your plug positioned downstream, the idea is to swing your side planer out into the water from your rod tip and let the current pull it midstream. By adjusting the amount of line you let out and rod tip angle you can back-troll your planer and trailing plug downstream, just like those fishing from a boat, by slowly walking along the river bank.

Keep in mind that it’s important to not walk too fast. The idea is to take a few steps and stop and let the plug work for a minute before taking two more steps.

When Mr. Steelhead strikes, your reaction should be to yank back to set the hook and which will also trip the arm on the planer, causing the planer to slide down your line.

By having a swivel prerigged 3 feet above your plug the planer will end up positioned there.

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head hit plugs so aggressively, the popular theory is that they strike savagely because they consider the lures to be invaders of their territory. One thing for sure, no other technique makes steelhead as bad-tempered.

I’ve had them pull rods from my boat in an effort to kill the plug on the end of my line, so hang on for the arm-wrenching strike of your life. CS Editor’s note: The author is a brand manager and part of the management team at Yakima Bait. Like Buzz on Facebook.

60 California Sportsman JANUARY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com

FISHING

’TAIL OF THE TAPE

THE NEW YEAR IS SHAPING UP TO BE A BIG ONE FOR YELLOWTAIL FISHING OFF THE SOCAL COAST

By Capt. Bill Schaefer

H

appy New Year! I hope you all got those new rods, reels and tackle you wanted for the holidays, because they just might go to good use right away.

All signs are pointing to being able to test that new tackle on yellowtail this month and well into winter. The yellows traditionally show up some time in January, but this season they bit pretty well through the fall and early winter and should continue into the new year.

Boats of all kinds were scoring fish fairly regularly in December and still have them targeted in 2020. For the last few years the yellowtail presence just seems to keep getting stronger each season. January should be a great month, if the weather holds

BOAT OPTIONS If fishing on one of the great sport boats in Southern California is your preference, you can relax and wait for your experienced captains to place you on the fish. Their years of fishing and knowledge will help them spotting signs of fish feeding.

Private boaters have been doing well also. Keep in mind that your craft’s motors will put both bait and fish down below, but fishermen are watching their meters and yo-yoing fish as well.

BAITFISH ARE PLENTIFUL Even kayak anglers have been doing well along the kelpbeds, slow-trolling mackerel. There has been a lot of mackerel around the kelpbeds lately,

Some of the great winter yellowtail fishing that went on in December is expected to continue throughout this month and continuing in 2020. (BILL SCHAEFER) calsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2020 California Sportsman

61

FISHING so the bait is available. The yellowtail move through while feeding, so you will score if you put in the time.

Some of the macks I’ve been catching lately are in the perfect size range to fish with – about 8 to 10 inches. Nose hook them with a 3/0 or 4/0 Mustad bait hook and slowly let them out behind your kayak. (Private boaters can also score with this technique. Keep your speed down to an idle or just as fast as you need to maintain your route against wind or swell.)

Whatever way you hook up, work with the other anglers on the boat to ensure your fish (as well as theirs) makes it onboard. Yellows are sizing up in the 8- to 15-pound range, with a few giants making their way onto the boats

GEAR CHECK A decent meter, like my Lowrance HDS12 Live, will let you find that school once it has sunk out. Drop to the marks and just beyond the schools. Then reel like mad to race your jig through the fish. Sometimes this yo-yo technique will trigger larger fish to bite. Any bite with this retrieve will feel like the brakes have been slammed. And it’s on.

It’s good to carry a quiver of rods when yellowtail fishing. Your arsenal should include a light bait rod, heavy bait rod, surface iron rod and a yoyo iron rod. A light bait rod in these waters can include anything from a bass-type reel to a Sealine reel with 12- to 15-pound test. I prefer a Daiwa Lexa 400 or Luna Millionaire 300, loaded with 15- to 20-pound Maxima Ultragreen. I’ll fish this rig on smallto medium-sized fish.

For larger yellowtail, you want a heavier bait reel, like a Daiwa Saltiga or Saltist, with braid backing and a top shot of 20- to 30-pound fluorocarbon spooled on for these also picky fish.

For the iron, I like to use mono and go with Ultragreen in 30-pound test on a Saltist reel and matching rod. Some will go 25- to 40-pound

Jeff King with a nice yellowtail, which provide delicious table fare. (BILL SCHAEFER)

test, depending again on the grade of fish.

The choices and colors for the surface and yo-yo iron are endless, so check out what’s hot at the time of your trip. Search magazines like this one or your favorite fishing website for pictures of nice fish. Just keep an eye out for the iron hanging out of their mouth for color selections. Blue and white, scrambled egg, green and gold and wounded soldier are just a few hot colors for Southern California.

62 California Sportsman JANUARY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com

A GOOD YEAR AWAITS All signs are pointing to another great year of yellowtail fishing and anglers will only have to decide whether to chase them or go after tuna, the arrival of which is pending.

For me, there’s nothing like grilled yellowtail and serving your own catch for friends and family. So get out there on a party boat, a friend’s vessel or on your own watercraft like a kayak and get into some of this great 2020 sportfishing off our coast. CS

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HUNTING

DOG FOOD PART 1: PUPPIES Gun dog puppies are very active and their bodies are quickly developing, which means they should be getting the highest quality food possible, from the start. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

By Scott Haugen

A

s a dog trainer, hunter and person who has been around a number of dog breeders, one thing that’s struck me is the low quality of food I continually see being fed to gun dogs. These working canines are not like lap dogs, or dogs that never go afield. Gun dogs are like athletes and they require the healthiest food available. Even nonhunting dogs will have a higher quality of life when they are fed nutrient-dense food.

WHY DO OWNERS and breeders settle for low-quality food? It’s simple, and comes down to money and a lack of understanding of ingredients. Hunters who opt for discounted, high-volume dog food often do so because of price; they can get more food for less money.

Breeders – some, not all – often use and promote dog foods that are of lesser quality because they get large quantities at a large discount. Furthermore, these

breeders often refer their foods to their clients, the people who are investing in their puppies. But when you take a close look at the ingredients in dog foods, and the daily feeding guidelines, it’s easy to see some of the best foods aren’t any more expensive than the lesser quality brands – and that’s not all.

“Recent studies are showing that the longer dogs are on a certain food, the more likely they are to develop allergies to that food,” shares Chris Wright, owner of McKenzie Feed & Tackle in Oregon. “The old-school thought of feeding your dog the same thing all the time, it’s whole life, is gone. You want to make sure they’re getting all the nutrients, amino acids and building blocks they need, and these requirements change as a dog ages.”

WRIGHT HAS ENLIGHTENED me a great deal about dog food since I switched my pudelpointers, and our

family lap dog, to NutriSource dog food (nutrisourcepetfoods.com). The changes we’ve seen in our dogs since switching to this high-quality food is something every dog owner would appreciate. Our 13-year-old lap dog is running around like she’s 5 again.

Our female pudelpointer, who is 6 years old, has greatly increased her range and agility, lost weight, and her coat quality is the best it’s been.

Our 3-year-old male pudelpointer has become one of the most impressive, versatile gun dogs I’ve had the honor of hunting with anywhere in the world. These changes, and more, are directly related to their diet.

“When it comes to puppy food, a large-breed dog, one that will be over 60 pounds as an adult, is going to be better suited going with a largebreed puppy food until it’s 1½ to 2 years old, or until the dog is spayed or neutered,” says Wright.

“After 6 months you don’t have to feed as much food to your pup as

calsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2020 California Sportsman

65

HUNTING

When it comes to choosing dog food, quality should be top priority. The author has been amazed with his pudelpointers’ performance and health since switching their diet to NutriSource, which offers a lot of nutrient-rich variety. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

66 California Sportsman JANUARY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com

puppy food is nutrient-dense,” he adds. “In other words, keep feeding it puppy food, but feed it smaller portions. A puppy will eat a lot more adult food, and this costs more, so stay on puppy food, just in smaller servings. Also know that less food equates to less droppings to clean up.”

I was amazed at how many fewer times our dogs went number two, and how much smaller their droppings were, after switching to NutriSource.

This is because they efficiently metabolize the quality ingredients, thus they pass less waste.

Wright suggests, however, that if your pup is acting more hungry after 6 months of age and just keeps wanting to eat and eat, switch to adult dog food. If they start getting pudgy as a puppy, take them off the puppy food, as you don’t want a pudgy puppy after 10 weeks old. It’s far better to have a thin dog than an overweight one, as being even a pound or two overweight can take years off the life of a dog.

HUNTING SO WHAT TYPES of foods does Wright recommend for your puppy?

“We don’t suggest going grainfree for puppies,” he shares. “A rotational diet with puppy food is ideal, changing out flavors every bag (this is even key for adult dogs).

For puppies, chicken and rice is easy to digest and they love it. If a pup is having allergies, try going grainfree. Corn and wheat are best to stay away from, as dogs digest very little of these.”

“Beef is also good, but it has to be high quality,” Wright offers. “Make sure it’s sourced properly, with higher quality meat. Look at the bag closely; you want chicken and chicken meal as the first ingredients, not chicken byproducts, for instance.”

Read the labels and avoid buying any foods that say meat byproducts as these are common coverups for lowgrade meals. I learned a lot by checking the guides offered by NutriSource as to

how to read their labels.

“With our two griffons, we feed them a grain every three or four bags just because they digest this differently and it’s good for the dogs to have that change,” points out Wright.

“Dogs break down things differently – rice versus legumes, potatoes versus oats, oatmeal versus brown rice. Peas, lentils and potatoes aren’t grains, so they are good grain-free food options.

Potatoes are not a concern until a dog has an issue with it; then it’s time to switch it out.”

Wright concludes with a note on something else to watch for.

“Itchy dogs are very often food allergy based. Ninety percent of the time the problem is corn or wheat, be it given as a treat at the gas station, popcorn while watching a movie at home, Cheerios at breakfast, and so on. One little bit can keep a dog uncomfortable and acting subpar for months,” he says.

When we switched our three dogs to high-performance foods, their lives changed and their performance reached a whole new level. There’s a science behind quality dog foods, and every dog owner should be cognizant of that.

NEXT MONTH WE’LL take a look at adult dog food. Until then, do some homework and you’ll see that while quality dog foods appear more expensive at first glance, many are actually less pricey because less food is being consumed, thus you get more servings of a higher quality food per bag. You owe it to your dog, and yourself, to feed them the best food possible. CS Editor’s note: To watch Scott Haugen’s series of puppy training videos, visit scotthaugen .com. Follow Scott on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and check out his TV show, The Hunt, on Amazon Prime.

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