FISHING • HUNTING • TRAVEL CALSPORTSMANMAG.COM
California
Sportsman
Volume 14 • Issue 3
Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource
PUBLISHER James R. Baker
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Katie Aumann
GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak
INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@calsportsmanmag.com
EDITOR Chris Cocoles
CORRESPONDENCE Email ccocoles@media-inc.com Twitter @CalSportsMan Facebook.com/californiasportsmanmagazine
CONTRIBUTORS Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Todd Kline, Buzz Ramsey, Bill Schaefer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Jim Klark, Kelley Miller, Mike Smith DESIGNER Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly Baker DIGITAL STRATEGIST Jon Hines DIGITAL ASSISTANT Jon Ekse
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ON THE COVER Rivers such as the Smith, near Crescent City, and southern Oregon’s Chetco should be ready to fish this month for the winter steelhead run. Fisheries further south in Humboldt County might be delayed due to heavy rains. (REDWOOD COAST FISHING) MEDIA INC PUBLISHING GROUP 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120 Renton, WA 98057 (800) 332-1736 • Fax (206) 382-9437 media@media-inc.com www.mediaindexpublishing.com
CONTENTS
VOLUME 14 • ISSUE 3
21
MORE WATER, MORE STEELHEAD?
Winter really began to arrive in earnest in California towards the end of December, and Northern California steelhead guide Mike Stratman (left) was curiously scanning the weather forecasts. If accurate, Stratman foresees two of the most popular steelhead rivers around the California-Oregon border, the Smith and Chetco, to be in “prime” shape early this month. Find out what else could be in store for this winter’s run.
(MIKE STRATMAN/REDWOOD COAST FISHING)
FEATURES
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
35
SALMON RELEASE RELIEF
11
As anglers and conservationists stress about the future of wild salmon runs in California, a collaborative effort by multiple state and federal agencies could be a solution for future anadromous returns and fisheries, thanks to a unique release of 2 million fallrun kings into the Sacramento River. Get the details on how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Golden State Salmon Association and others teamed up for this critical test.
13 15 19 27
The Editor’s Note: Hoping for the best in 2022 The Adventures of Todd Kline Photo contest winners Outdoor calendar Old-school – and still effective – technique for winter steelhead
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BEATING THE WINTER BASS BLUES
Even Southern California is hit with the dog days of winter. But as wily fisherman Bill Schaefer can attest, the cool days of January and February still provide plenty of opportunities to hit your local lake and reel in a few largemouth. Schaefer offers up his best bass setups and lure choices for scoring a few lunkers.
45
TAKING THE PERFECT WATERFOWL SHOT
Gary Kramer’s Central Valley hometown of Willows is right in the epicenter of California’s waterfowl hunting culture. But Kramer’s love for ducks and geese is a global affair, and this renowned sportsman and photographer has captured migratory birds all over the world, which he chronicles in a new book. Kramer shared some of his adventures with fellow camera savant Scott Haugen, whose wife Tiffany Haugen also has all of your tips for how to smoke that fish in your freezer to complete our From Field to Fire feature.
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, 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120, Renton, WA 98057. Annual subscriptions are $29.95 (12 issues). Send check or money order to Media Index Publishing Group, or call (206) 382-9220 with VISA or M/C. 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 © 2022 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. 8 California Sportsman JANUARY 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
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THEEDITOR’SNOTE
I
don’t know if I can muster any resolutions for the new year off the top of my head. Maybe it’s just because I, like most of you, am just trying to get through each new day with a shred of sanity left at the end. Because as the calendar turned over again on Dec. 31, I found myself living for the present rather than getting too worked up about the future. As a passionate sports fan, I always love when an injury report designates a player’s status as “day to day.” Hell, we’re all just hoping to be healthy as each day goes by and the pandemic we all hoped was winding down is now ticking back up again. But sometimes, we need to look ahead just enough to feel like things can get better in this wacky world we live in. Hopefully you’ll be inspired by some of our stories this month, such as our North Coast steelhead preview (page 21). The recent moist, wintry weather should replenish some of those rivers in dire need of water. I’m hopeful the NorCal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association Mad River Steelhead Derby attracts plenty of participants (the event started on Dec. 18 and runs through Feb. 28). Club president James Stone has been a tireless supporter for the fishing community, and the $40 entry fee includes an annual membership in the NCGASA. I hope a lot of steelhead are caught and weighed in this month and next. That’s a New Year’s resolution I can get behind. As long as I’m on a roll, I plan to get outside and play more often when the weather gets warmer, especially after our (hopefully) ongoing wet winter fills our reservoirs again following last year’s severe drought conditions. I plan to take advantage of the fact that I’m vaccinated and boosted to travel some more this year too. But that’s for tomorrow. Let’s get through today first and see how it all unfolds. Happy New Year. -Chris Cocoles
A
t Lake Isabella in the Kern River valley “The lake get’s smaller but the fish get bigger:” Crappie are the order of the day shown by this recent catch in the trees at Lake Isabella. Warm quiet days make for enjoyable fishing trips this fall in the High Sierras. Just a short drive from Bakersfield in the Central Valley. All campgrounds around the lake and up the Kern River are open again after a recent fire threat.
Contact the Kern River Valley Chamber for all the latest information.
KernRiverValley.com
The editor hopes 2022 brings a lot of joy for steelhead anglers and they catch plenty of fish from the Klamath River and other North Coast fisheries. (MATT BAUN/USFWS)
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s e r u t n e v d A
No, that’s not the San Diego skyline at the solstice. I went home for the holidays and woke up to this south Florida sunrise. (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
In Florida I was able to sneak out to famed Lake Okeechobee, where I spent the day with my son Dylan (left), nephew Tanner and this nice 7-pound bass. (TODD KLINE)
It’s great spending time with the family at the beach. (TODD KLINE) calsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2022 California Sportsman
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From Lake Okeechobee, Dylan and I want to wish you all a Happy New Year. (TODD KLINE)
The family and I also volunteered to help feed a bunch of marines. Over 600 had meals for Christmas. Thank you for your service! (TODD KLINE)
New year, new truck. Love this Toyota Tundra from the gang at Frank Toyota in Chula Vista. (TODD KLINE) 14 California Sportsman JANUARY 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
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PHOTO
CONTEST
WINNERS!
Carissa Anderson is the winner of our monthly Fishing Photo Contest, thanks to this shot of her and her big Columbia River fall Chinook. It wins her gear from various tackle manufacturers!
Jeff Flatt is our monthly Coast Hunting Photo Contest winner, thanks to this shot he sent of buddy Julio Cabrera and his eastern Oregon bull elk. It wins him a knife and light from Coast!
Pistol Bullets and Ammunition Zero Bullet Company, Inc. For your shot at winning hunting and fishing products, send your photos and pertinent details (who, what, when, where) to ccocoles@media-inc .com or California Sportsman, 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120, Renton, WA 98057. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for our print or Internet publications.
ZER
P.O. Box 1188 Cullman, AL 35056 Tel: 256-739-1606 Fax: 256-739-4683 Toll Free: 800-545-9376 www.zerobullets.com
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OUTDOOR CALENDAR
Goose hunting opportunities take off this month and next, including white and white-fronted seasons running Jan. 1-14. (STEVE MARTARANO/USFWS)
Editor’s note: Because of COVID-19, all events should be checked for changes or cancellations. Below are events that had been scheduled in January and February, with websites/phone numbers for you to check for updates.
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
1-FEB. 28 Northern California Guides and Sportsmen’s Association Mad River Steelhead Derby; ncgasa .org/2021/11/09/mad-river-steelhead-derby 1 First day 2022 hunting and fishing licenses are valid 1 Online harvest reporting begins for steelhead, sturgeon and North Coast salmon report cards 1-14 Late-season Northeastern Zone white and white-fronted goose hunting dates 12 Last day of duck and scaup hunting seasons in Northeastern Zone 15-16 Northeastern Zone veterans and active military personnel waterfowl hunting days 27 Opener for falconry rabbits and varying hare 31 Last day for most zones’ hunts for falconry take of ducks (including mergansers), geese, American coots and common moorhens 31 Last day for duck season in most zones 31 Last day for most general quail hunts 31 Last day for statewide tree squirrel, rabbit and varying hare hunting seasons
1 Late-season Imperial Valley white goose opener 5 Second falconry waterfowl season opens in most zones 5-6 Youth waterfowl hunt dates in most zones 6-10 Fronted goose season dates in Northeastern Zone 8 Late-season Imperial Valley white goose opener 12-13 Veterans and active military personnel waterfowl hunting days in Balance of State, Southern San Joaquin Valley and Southern California Zones 19 Late-season North Coast Canada goose opener 19-23 Late-season whitefront and white goose hunting dates in Balance of State Zone 24-26 Rowdy Creek Fish Hatchery Steelhead Derby; rowdycreek.org 25-27 The Fly Fishing Show, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton; flyfishingshow.com/pleasanton-ca 26 Bishop Trout Rodeo catch-and-release fishing events, various waters; swcffi.org/rodeo
For a list of upcoming bass tournaments, go to nrm.dfg.ca.gov/ FishingContests/default.aspx.
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FISHING A wet fall and early winter should help produce some good steelhead fishing this season on Northern California coastal rivers, including the Smith and Oregon’s Chetco. “Some of our very best fishing the last three years has been in March,” says guide Mike Stratman. (MIKE STRATMAN/REDWOOD COAST FISHING)
MORE CHROME IN THE NET IN 2022?
RECENT STORMS SHOULD BOOST NORTH COAST STEELHEAD FISHING, HELP RECOVERY FROM DROUGHT By Chris Cocoles
F
or coastal Northern California steelhead fishing guides like Mike Stratman, the winter storms that swept through in December carried some bad news, but some good news too in the big picture. “Our Humboldt County rivers could be out of fishable shape for a
while if the rain keeps coming,” said Stratman, who owns and operates Redwood Coast Fishing (707-6018757; redwoodcoastfishing.com). He also offered this counterpoint to the short-term conditions of the steelhead fisheries: “As you could imagine, I’m rooting for a very wet winter. While this inevitably leads to cancelled days and
unpleasant fishing conditions, we badly need to get out of this drought.” And that’s where most rational residents – even the most dedicated of steelhead anglers – should gladly trade a few unfishable days for more water going forward. “I think we could be in for an average to good winter season. From what I’ve seen so far, there have been
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FISHING In past years, sunny days have meant pleasant experiences for steelhead anglers, but they were also emblematic of a drought that may have taken a toll on the long-term health of the run. (MIKE STRATMAN/REDWOOD COAST FISHING)
COVID PANDEMIC SHOULDN’T HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON WINTER FISHING TRIPS
G
uide Mike Stratman says the ongoing pandemic shouldn’t affect his business too much for steelhead anglers who want to get in on some winter-run action with an expert. “To be completely honest, COVID has not affected my business negatively, with the exception of when it first started in 2020. I cancelled a month of striped bass season, which was painful, for sure, especially when we knew very little about the severity of the disease and how it spread,” Stratman says. However, his salmon and steelhead trips have not been interrupted by the virus, and particularly now with vaccinations and booster shots more readily available, he expects any openings to be filled in 2022. “People really want to get out of the house and engage in life again. Fishing and being outside is a safe and healthy way to accomplish just that,” Stratman says. “I am booked solid for my 2022 winter steelhead season. However, I do have a couple of excellent guide associates that do have space that I could arrange trips with if people have not gotten their dates yet.” You can contact Stratman’s Redwood Coast Fishing guide service at (707) 6018757 or email mike@redwoodcoastfishing.com. CC
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more fish around for this time of year when compared to the last handful of years,” Stratman says. “The Klamath River also seemed to have a pretty robust summer/fall run of steelhead. Hopefully the trend continues and fish keep coming in good numbers.”
SMITH, CHETCO OPEN FOR BUSINESS North of Stratman’s Eureka base along the California-Oregon border, the Smith and Chetco Rivers were expected to be “in prime shape” starting just after New Year’s Day. Wherever fishing is available, Stratman prefers to side-drift with eggs, yarn, Mad River Fish Pills and beads. When conditions are good on some rivers, he’ll also run plugs and float presentations. And there’s always the tried-andtrue method of plunking off the banks. “Getting out the plunking rods can
FISHING “We’ll see. But as of now, I am hopeful for a lot of chrome hitting the net for 2022,” Stratman says. “As you could imagine, I’m rooting for a very wet winter.” (MIKE STRATMAN/REDWOOD COAST FISHING)
be really productive,” Stratman says of a technique that is most effective on the Smith. “I won’t force my clients’ hand on this most of the time, but the potential for a big day on the Smith certainly is there when the water is really big and there are lots of fish swimming by.”
A GOOD STRETCH OF FISH RUNS AHEAD? You never know what the long-term outlook is for steelhead along the North Coast. “Are steelhead runs trending up? Hard to say, but I certainly know that steelhead are much tougher critters than most people give them credit for,” Stratman says. “Like all anad-
romous salmonids, their populations are certainly cyclical. But I’ve always thought that steelhead have a much greater propensity than other species for dealing with adverse environmental conditions.” Certainly, Stratman is expecting a better winter for fishing than he experienced in 2021, which he called a “poor” run and somewhat surprising given that the few years prior to last year were far better. Stratman wonders if years of drought conditions finally caught up to runs on rivers such as the Mad, Eel and Klamath. Surely the lack of rain for an extended period of time has had to impact the fish, at least in the short term.
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But Stratman notes the trend that steelhead run timing has come a little later every winter of late. “Some of our very best fishing the last three years has been in March. I used to start immediately after Christmas and enjoyed great fishing from the start. But I am starting a little later this year, as the last few years have really been a bust in late December. I really think this trend has been due to the really dry falls we’ve had,” Stratman says. “That may also explain why we’re seeing a decent early run so far, as we had a wet early fall 2021. We’ll see. But as of now, I am hopeful for a lot of chrome hitting the net for 2022.” CS
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FISHING
GO OLD SCHOOL FOR WINTER-RUNS By Buzz Ramsey
I
t was while drift fishing an Okie Drifter that I caught my first steelhead from Oregon’s Sandy River back in December of 1966. In case you don’t know, the Okie Drifter was a buoyant imitation egg cluster first introduced by Maxwell Manufacturing (though I’m not sure in what year) and purchased by Luhr Jensen just after I went to work there in 1974. I guess I’m dating myself to write about a long discontinued lure and a fishing method that isn’t used all that much anymore, at least by those fishing from boats. However, I do still see bank anglers employing the oldschool tactic, especially when river levels are up and fast-moving. After all, it’s when the water levels are high and perhaps just dropping into shape after a freshet that drift fishing can produce as good or better than other river fishing techniques, at least for those who know how.
THE CONCEPT OF drifting an egg cluster, egg imitation, single egg, bead, soft bead or other bait along the river bottom is one that fish readily respond to. It’s just natural (imprinted in their DNA, I guess) for them to eat bait, especially single salmon eggs, as their upstream migration follows that of when salmon dig their spawning nests and deposit their eggs into the gravel. In fairness, drift fishing hasn’t gone away; it has just morphed into techniques like bobber doggin’ and side drifting. And although side drifting lends itself mostly to boat fishing, I see more than a few bank anglers who employ the bobber doggin’ method during their outdoor excur-
Today’s steelheaders have a lot of options, but old-school techniques like drift fishing are still practiced by some who know it’s a great technique as high waters begin to recede. Aaron Henderson shows off a hatchery fish caught on an Oregon river. (BUZZ RAMSEY) calsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2022 California Sportsman
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FISHING
A drift fishing setup uses pencil lead (top), slinky (bottom) or other weight options to bounce bottom and present a bait in the form of a Spin-N-Glo, Lil’ Corky or other drift bobber to steelhead as the rig moves downstream slightly slower than the current. Colored line was used to represent the leader, which is typically 18 to 30 inches of fluorocarbon, depending on water conditions. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
sions. In fact, many (including me) carry a set of rods rigged for two or more fishing methods; if one technique doesn’t produce a reaction, perhaps a different presentation will. In case you haven’t tried drift fishing, here’s how: cast out, across and at an upstream angle using enough weight so your outfit will sink to the bottom and drift along slightly slower than the surface current. Your drift is complete after your outfit drifts through the run and swings toward shore, which is when you’ll need to reel in and cast again. Drift fishing is a series of casts, drifts and retrieves. The hardest part once you’ve got the drifting down, which has a lot to do with using the right amount of weight, is learning to detect when a fish is mouthing your bait. You wouldn’t expect such a light take from a big fish like a steelhead. But the fact is that this fishing method requires an almost uncanny sense of
feel in order for you to differentiate a steelhead mouthing your bait (or bait imitation) from your outfit momentarily pausing or hanging bottom. So when drift fishing, you need to pay close attention as your outfit drifts along in the river current and should it stop, pause or hesitate – do anything suspicious – set the hook! A really hard hookset is required because the river current will have pushed a big belly in your main line between where it enters the water and your sinker. What’s true is that if your sinker or hook catches the bottom and stops your outfit from drifting, waiting won’t help. However, if what interrupted your drift was a steelhead mouthing your bait, waiting too long will likely allow the fish time to drop your offering. So, again, pay close attention, follow your drifting line downstream with your rod tip, while holding your rod tip somewhat low
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(so you can get a strong hookset), and don’t be bashful about yanking back on your rod tip really hard if you feel anything suspicious.
IT’S IMPORTANT TO use the right amount of weight so your outfit will get down and tap bottom every few yards as it drifts along in the river current. If your weight is continually dragging bottom, it means you’re using too much. If it touches bottom only once during your drift, you’re not using enough. The goal is to use just enough weight so your presentation will stay in the strike zone, drifting downstream, while keeping your offering within a foot or less from the bottom. There are several different weight options used by drift fishermen, all of which work for side drifting or bobber doggin’ too. Pencil weight is generally sold in 1-pound coils in either solid or hollow core. As you might guess, hollow core has a hole running
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FISHING While a drift bobber might be all you need, adding a hank of yarn and/or small cluster of cured eggs can make the setup more productive. (ANDY MARTIN)
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down its center. Having a coil of lead wire in your vest allows you to cut off the right amount based on water conditions. What I’ve found is that this sinker style will take your outfit to the bottom quickly and transmit bottom-tapping signals to you better than other weight options. It’s also true that pencil weight is more likely to hang up on rocks or bottom structure than other types of weight. A popular way to attach hollow core is to crimp/pinch one end onto a 2-inch dropper line extending from the swivel where your main line and leader meet. Although there are many ways to attach solid-lead wire, here are a couple that have worked for me. Flatten one end of the lead wire with a pair of needle nose pliers and punch a hole in it such that it can be attached to the snap end of a snap swivel, with the swivel portion used to connect your mainline to the leader. P-Line and Beau Mac offer needle-nose pliers, called posting
FISHING pliers, that will allow you to flatten the lead wire and punch a hole in it. Another common way to attach solid-lead wire is to thread your main line through a short piece, an inch or so, of surgical/latex tubing prior to attaching the line to your swivel and jamming the weight into the tubing for a friction fit. The surgical tubing method is designed so your weight will pull free if it hangs bottom, which should allow you to retrieve your outfit minus your sinker. Sur-
gical tubing is sized to accommodate either 3/16- or ¼-inch lead wire. Slinky sinkers are a lot less likely to hang on the bottom than pencil weight. They consist of a section of parachute cord filled with lead shot or several short sections of pencil weight. You can make your own with a slinky-making tool or purchase different length slinky sinkers at stores specializing in river tackle. I rely on hollow-core pencil weight in 1/8-, 3/16- and ¼-inch diameters, using Buzz Ramsey’s been drift fishing for steelhead since catching his first one more than 55 years ago, and he used it to hook this hatchery winter-run two seasons ago. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
the 1/8 -inch diameter or a short six- or eight-shot slinky when rivers are low and slow-moving, or when side drifting. Under normal or average water conditions, a combination of 3/16 -inch pencil weight and slinky-style sinkers in various lengths performs best. You should realize that nothing will get you to the bottom in high, heavy current like employing ¼-inch pencil weight. Check out Dave’s Tangle Free (davestanglefree.com) for lead-free sinker options that might work for you.
LEADER LENGTH IS mostly determined by water clarity. The clearer the water, the longer the leader you might consider. For example, a 30-inch leader might be the ticket when the water is running clear as compared to a more normal leader length of 20 to 24 inches. Fluorocarbon leader material can add considerable stealth to your presentation, as it is less likely to show up due to its refracting index (the amount of light that bends when passing through it) being nearly the same as that of water. Most anglers employ single hooks when drift fishing. For winter steelhead they can range in size from as small as a number 4 to 3/0, but for most river conditions, a size 1 or 1/0 is what you will likely need. And while Okie Drifters are no longer available commercially, Lil’ Corky or Lil’ Corky Cluster single-egg imitations are, and in a wide array of sizes and colors. A Lil’ Corky or Spin-N-Glo threaded on your leader above your hook might be all you need to catch a steelhead while drift fishing, but adding a small cluster of eggs is a favorite way to bait up. The popular method of attaching an egg cluster to your hook, in addition to piercing your hook through the cluster, is by adding an egg loop to your hook tie when snelling. There are several videos on YouTube that can walk you through the process. CS Editor’s note: Buzz Ramsey is regarded as a sport fishing authority, outdoor writer and proficient lure and fishing rod designer.
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FISHING Fall-run Chinook swim upstream in Battle Creek at the entrance of Coleman National Fish Hatchery near Redding. The eggs and milt from these fish were used to produce a release of 2 million juvenile fish to help increase the struggling salmon population. (DENNIS WHITAKER/GOLDEN STATE SALMON ASSOCIATION)
SALMON RELEASE COULD BOOST STRUGGLING NUMBERS STATE, FEDERAL AGENCIES TEAM UP TO SEND 2 MILLION KINGS INTO UPPER SAC RIVER By U.S. Fish and Wildife Service
T
he Coleman National Fish Hatchery, funded by the Bureau of Reclamation, hatched an additional 2 million juvenile fall-run Chinook salmon this past October, successfully releasing 600,000 fish this last month, with the remainder scheduled to be released the first week of January. The Golden State Salmon
Association proposed the project to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA fisheries last spring. “This project will allow us to study the potential of generating additional adult returns to spawn naturally in the Sacramento River by releasing fry,” said Paul Souza, regional director for USFWS’s California Great Basin Region. “We’re excited to provide these additional salmon to increase recreational opportunities
for fishermen and -women here in California.” The fish are and will be released into the upper Sacramento River as fry, with the hope they will imprint as they rear and then return to spawn in the upper Sacramento as adults. There has been a steady decline in natural spawning in the upper Sacramento River over the past decade. This study is an attempt to determine if hatcheryproduced fish can be used to increase
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FISHING the natural spawning population. “We appreciate our partnership with the Service and NOAA Fisheries and are pleased to support this effort to increase salmon populations in the Sacramento River,” said Reclamation regional director Ernest Conant. The fry will be too small at the time of their release to be clipped and tagged with conventional coded wire tags, so novel technology is being used. Tissue samples have been taken from adult parent salmon, which will be compared to tissue taken three years from now to identify salmon by matching DNA when they return as adults. Tagging is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of hatchery production programs, determine rates of survival, and calculate how many hatcheryspawned adults “stray” from their natal streams. “This project is a great example of government agencies and fishing groups working together to evaluate options for addressing some of the ongoing and long-term effects
Biologists prepare adult salmon for spawning. “This project will allow us to study the potential of generating additional adult returns to spawn naturally in the Sacramento River by releasing fry,” said Paul Souza, regional director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s California Great Basin Region. (DENNIS WHITAKER/GOLDEN STATE SALMON ASSOCIATION)
Fish biologist Matt Peckham (left) and animal caretaker Cody Thomas of the Coleman National Fish Hatchery get set for the release, which NOAA Fisheries’ Cathy Marcinkevage calls “a great example of government agencies and fishing groups working together to evaluate options for addressing some of the ongoing and long-term effects of the drought that have reduced in-river salmon production and fishing opportunities.” (BOB CLARKE/USFWS)
of the drought that have reduced in-river salmon production and fishing opportunities. This is a model opportunity to apply creative scientific approaches for effective understanding of project benefits,” said Cathy Marcinkevage, assistant regional administrator at NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region. A key question researchers hope to answer is how many of these small salmon survive to adulthood and where they return as adults. “GSSA is grateful to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Coleman National Fish Hatchery for doing this work, which may lead to increased wild spawning in the Sacramento River, thereby adding more fish,” said John McManus, president of the Golden State Salmon Association. “It will be a tremendous benefit.” CS Editor’s note: For more on Coleman National Fish Hatchery, go to fws.gov/coleman.
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38 California Sportsman JANUARY 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
FISHING
NO WINTER BASS BLUES HERE HOW TO ENJOY SOCAL LARGEMOUTH ACTION IN THE COLDEST MONTHS By Capt. Bill Schaefer
I
t seems whenever I get the bug to go winter largemouth fishing, all of my friends suddenly have other things to do. I don’t know if it’s the cold of the morning or they just like football that much. However, you can still catch largemouth in the winter months and you can always pick a warmer week to fish. I’m telling you, if you put in the time, winter bass fishing will grow on you. Plus it will make you a better angler.
WEATHER DICTATES FISHING Some winters are warmer than others in Southern California and the spawn actually will begin, only to pause when the cold rains finally do come. If they do, then you will feel like the season is starting over. But a lot of the time the Southland will have very little rain – and we’ve been in a drought – and winter days that are warmer than usual. You will be one of only a few boats out there enjoying a great day of fishing. Everyone has different opinions on fishing in the winter. Some use large baits, some smaller ones, and some fish fast and some fish slow. I want you to catch more fish year-round and I’m here to share how you can do it. Some of the techniques of the pros should get you excited, especially if you have never tried them before. So before you put your tackle away this winter, go out and try some of these tricks.
Author Bill Schafer doesn’t mind a little inclement or even chilly winter weather if he can still enjoy largemouth action like this in SoCal lakes. (BILL SCHAEFER) calsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2022 California Sportsman
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FISHING
Randall Doyle shows that even a hail storm won’t stop the bite at times. Many winter bass will be caught from midmorning through midafternoon. (BILL SCHAEFER)
TIPS FROM A BASSIN’ MENTOR One person who has taught me more than anyone about fishing for largemouth bass is Larry Botroff, retired fisheries biologist and one of the foremost experts on the species. He has been a fixture at Southern California lakes – especially San Diego’s – for a long time and knows the life cycle of largemouth better than anyone I know. I have interviewed him numerous times and one question I asked him was, where do the bass go in winter and what they do? Botroff told me that the old adage that bass go deep in the winter is true to an extent, but don’t be surprised to find them feeding summer-style in some lakes where the water level is the highest it’s been in years. High water holds the entire food chain shallower and the bass hang with the food that’s easiest to catch or most plentiful. Remember, they are lazy and don’t
want to exert more energy than necessary to eat. Botroff also talked about fishermen coming into the dock in the winter and saying they caught their bass in 80 to 100 feet of water. He went on to say that bass in Southern California – or anywhere for the most part – rarely go deeper than about 50 to 70 feet deep.
HOW DO WINTER BASS BEHAVE? I asked Botroff about the bass themselves: What happens to them in the winter? He told me that their metabolism slows down and it is hard for them to maintain their regular body weight. He reminded me that when they slow down, they want easy prey and they stay close to the baitfish. They’ll follow schools everywhere. Did you know that as soon as a female bass lays its eggs or absorbs them, within a few weeks the new ones start
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to form again? This may be one thing that confuses some bass anglers into thinking that a spawn is happening early when other factors should determine it, not the fact that the fish has eggs in it. All through summer and fall eggs are growing and bass are feeding, trying to bulk up for winter and the next year’s spawn.
EARLY ISN’T BETTER What time should I go winter bass fishing? No need to be at the lake at the crack of dawn unless you enjoy not being able to feel your fingers. I feel the best time to fish on cold winter days is midmorning to midafternoon, focusing on when the sun is highest in the sky. Start on rocky banks with big boulders. They hold the heat the fish want. There is plenty of cover for bass down there – such as different vegetation – to keep them happy. Shorelines that get the sun the
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FISHING normal springtime lures. Drop-shot or split-shot rigs, Carolina rigs with creature baits or craws are all effective. That weight ahead of the bait can stir up the bottom and the lure gliding by will attract the bite. These setups have always looked more natural to the bass. Over the years, many Southern California lake managers planted trout in their impoundments. Budgets came and went and you have to check with your local lake to see if they still stock or not. Of course, this program traditionally led to the throwing of large trout-imitating swimbaits for bass. Whether your lake still plants or not, it seems the larger bass are still in tune to the trout feeding fest they once had. Just don’t forget that there are a lot of other fish the larger bass feed on, including their own kind. Smaller bass swimbaits will also attract the bites, as well as bluegill- or sunfish-patterned ones. Finally, shad swimbaits can be great year-round. All of these represent large and easy prey for largemouth that don’t want to exert too much energy this time of year.
TACKLE TALK
The author shows off a nice largemouth that fell for a swimbait slow rolled on the bottom. You can catch winter bass with lures that are usually spring tackle box staples. (BILL SCHAEFER)
longest will do well. For lures, many pros love the jig this time of year, as well as larger worms. Slowing down your presentation can be key at times. Cast out; let it sit; and then let it sit that much longer. Move it an inch or two, or shake it in place, and then let it sit again. A lot of the time the bass will attack it just because it’s barely quivering on the bottom. Remember to fish jigs that match the colors of the lake’s crawdads, which can come in hues of blue, red, green or a combination thereof. If you see a ranger or biologist working at the lake,
ask them what color the crawdads are. There can be exceptions to the above rules of thumb, of course. If the winter rains raise the water level at your local lake, then the baitfish will move to the shallows, the crawdads become more active and the bass follow. It could mean some reaction bite scenarios with crankbaits or spinnerbaits. I have had some great spinnerbait bites in January after winter rains.
THINK SPRING BAITS No matter the scenario, if bass are active, you may be able to go with more
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If you’re not a regular swimbait chucker, then you may have to look for a new rod. These baits are heavy and you must have the right tackle to throw them. Consider something like a 7- to 8-foot heavy-action rod like the Daiwa DXSB Swimbait or the Kage Swimbait rods, which are specially designed for these baits. Thirtyto 50-pound Maxima braid or mono will do the trick for line. We all know it really doesn’t rain much in the southern half of the state, but of course it can open up without notice. You need to be prepared for winter fishing because it won’t take much time in the cold weather for hypothermia to set in. It may not seem that cold, but it can creep up on you quickly and then it’s too late. I’ve been there and it’s no fun. Always bring towels and an extra set of dry clothing and jackets when fishing in rainy or cold weather. CS
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HUNTING
FROM FIELD...
World-renowned wildlife photographer Gary Kramer traveled to 40-plus countries over the past four years to try and capture images of every species of duck, goose and swan in the world, and they’re all in his latest coffee table book, Waterfowl of the World. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
THE WIZARD OF WATERFOWL PICS CENTRAL VALLEY PHOTOGRAPHER ZOOMED ACROSS THE GLOBE TO CAPTURE BIRD IMAGES FOR BOOK By Scott Haugen
I
’ve been a fan of waterfowl guru Gary Kramer’s work for decades. I like his writing style. I love his photography. I deeply admire and respect his drive for perfection in every image he publishes. I rank Kramer as the best waterfowl photographer in the world, and I base this on the quality of the images he consistently attains, the vast range of species he’s captured, and the fact
he travels the world to get the shots in the birds’ native habitat, in the wild. Born and raised in California, Kramer’s passion for the outdoors took root at an early age. Starting in the late 1970s, he landed a job as a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Pacific Southwest Region in the Golden State. Kramer worked on four national wildlife refuges over the next 26 years, including a 10-year stint as refuge
Kramer’s book features 1,299 photos of birds from around the world, along with interesting notes on capturing pics of rare waterfowl. (GARY KRAMER)
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HUNTING Trout fillets don’t have to come from a trophy fish to create a great meal. Tiffany Haugen says smoking is a good way to prep the meat for use in a variety of dishes, or as a snack itself. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)
... TO FIRE
WHERE THERE’S SMOKE… THERE’S A GREAT TROUT MEAL By Tiffany Haugen
W
hether you’re catching trout this winter or looking to do something with those fish that are in the freezer, there are many options. Smaller-sized trout are great when cooked up to serve as single portions, but if looking to preserve them to use in a variety of ways, try smoking them. There’s not much to smoking a trout. Simply fillet, brine and smoke. Once fish smokes, it’s even easier to remove the pin bones so the meat can be eaten bonefree, fresh from the smoker or prepared for something else. Toss smoked and flaked trout into a hot or cold dip, on a salad or pizza or into a favorite pasta dish. Four to six whole trout 6 cups water ½ cup white sugar 1/3 cup kosher salt 1 tablespoon black pepper
2 teaspoons granulated garlic 1teaspoon granulated onion Prepare trout by cleaning and scaling. Keep refrigerated until ready to brine. Fillet trout and remove rib bones. In a large glass dish or crock, mix sugar, salt, pepper, garlic and onion until ingredients are dissolved. Add trout to
46 California Sportsman JANUARY 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
brine and refrigerate for eight to 10 hours. Remove trout from brine and let air-dry on smoker racks up to one hour. Preheat smoker at 160 to 180 degrees. Place racks in the smoker, add chips to the smoker pan and let smoke for two to four hours, or until trout reaches desired doneness. For a light smoke flavor, use one pan of chips. For a stronger smoke flavor, use two pans of chips. The colder it is outside and the thicker the trout fillets, the longer they’ll take to smoke. Remove trout from your smoker and keep refrigerated until ready to eat. Vacuum seal and freeze for longer-term storage. Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany’s popular book, Cooking Seafood, and other best-selling titles, visit tiffanyhaugen.com.
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HUNTING Despite Kramer’s worldwide travels, some of his most memorable shots in North America have been of California ducks like wigeon and (below) pintails. (GARY KRAMER)
KRAMER ON CALIFORNIA BIRDS
S The Yeti Rambler, just one of many Yeti products the author has used and been pleased with when thirsty in his blind. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
manager of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex. There, he made unprecedented changes and impacts that resulted in attracting the highest concentration of waterfowl on any refuge complex in the U.S. If you’ve driven through some of these refuges watching or photographing ducks and geese, you know what Kramer did. Strategically placed logs and habitat, clever road designs for good morning and evening light angles, and bringing in gravel that allows
cott Haugen chatted with Gary Kramer about some of his favorite waterfowl photographs, learning that despite Kramer’s travels around the globe, it was his home state that gave him as many memorable moments as elsewhere. “My favorite place to photograph waterfowl in North America is right here in California. So many birds use our refuges in the Sacramento Valley, and you get to watch the full progression of their behavior from when they arrive in late summer to when they leave in the spring. It’s the best place in the world I know of to photograph courtship flights of northern pintail,” says Kramer. “Not many people realize pintails start showing up here in August. In November they’re in full-blown courtship mode. In December, American wigeons start showing up in good numbers, too, along with northern shovelers and loads of Ross’s geese and snow geese.” “It’s the best place in the world where I’ve photographed Ross’s geese in such huge numbers,” Kramer adds. “Lots of snow geese and white-fronts use the valley, too. You just can’t beat this place when it comes to variety and up-close behavior.” SH
birds to stand and gather grit, are just some of the strides he made that benefited birds and waterfowl enthusiasts.
KRAMER’S LATEST PROJECT COULD be his most spectacular of all, as he recently completed a nearly four-year journey to more than 40 countries in which he photographed 165 of the 167 waterfowl species in the world. No one has ever accomplished this, let alone captured such stunning images that are highlighted in his latest
48 California Sportsman JANUARY 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
book, Waterfowl of the World. Kramer has always been a stickler for composing shots with perfect lighting in natural habitats at unique angles that make viewers feel as if they are there. Kramer ventured into the native habitat and some of the most remote corners of the world to get the highest-quality images possible for this project. Once home in the Central Valley city of Willows (Glenn County), where he checked the images on his big screen,
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HUNTING guide. Just five minutes later he captured what are likely the best images ever taken of these rare ducks.
FOR KRAMER, THE ADVENTURES contin-
Stunning lighting is what sets Gary Kramer’s waterfowl photography apart, as this flock of mallards proves. (GARY KRAMER)
if Kramer didn’t like what he saw he went back – multiple times to multiple places – to get the perfect shot. Waterfowl of the World is a once-ina-lifetime work. In fact, this book is at such a high level, I have my doubts it will ever be equaled, let alone surpassed. The photos alone are worth the price of admission. Include the informative text, maps and adventure stories, and this is truly a special book that will meet the interests and needs of many people on a global scale. If you’re a waterfowl hunter, this book is a must-have.
WHILE CAPTIVATING PHOTOS KEEP me coming back, it’s the book’s photographer’s notes that I most appreciate. Perhaps that’s because I, too, am a professional photographer and I know I couldn’t come close to achieving what Kramer did in this masterpiece, especially on the level he did. The stories of Kramer’s travels to complete Waterfowl of the World would be a worthy read, in and of itself, as there’s no end to the challenges and hardships he faced. There was the time he traveled to
the remote mountains of Papua New Guinea to photograph Salvadori’s teal in their native habitat. Most common above 8,000 feet, Kramer first traveled to Australia and to Papua New Guinea’s capital city of Port Moresby, and he then boarded a domestic flight to the city of Tabubil to find these teal. After over 9,000 miles traveled and five days of sitting in a blind on a remote mountain stream from daylight to dark, in the final 30 minutes Kramer got the shots he came for of a pair of Salvadori’s teal. There was also a trip to capture the Madagascar pochard, the rarest waterfowl in the world and which was presumed extinct for 15 years until its 2006 rediscovery. Following three days of commercial air travel from California to Antananarivo, Madagascar – an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent – Kramer spent 10 hours driving on treacherous roads for the next few days before embarking upon a 30-minute hike down a slippery slope where he finally pitched camped near a secluded lake. The next morning he wasted no time hopping in a canoe with a local
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ue, but it’s the stories behind the two ducks Kramer was unable to photograph that stand strong in my mind, primarily because of the effort Kramer put in and the money he was willing to invest to photograph these ducks. One was the Eaton’s pintail, which is only found on two subarctic islands in the Southern Ocean between Africa, Australia and Antarctica. Despite Kramer’s willingness to travel 30 days by ship and spend over $20,000 of his own money, the French territory administration denied his multiple requests to visit the island and refused to issue him a scientific permit. No reason was ever given. And with the printing of Waterfowl of the World, Gary Kramer will have likely published more photos of waterfowl than anyone on earth, 1,299 of them in this book alone. The 540page coffee table book features all 167 species of ducks, geese and swans on Earth. As Dr. John Eadie of UC Davis points out in the book’s foreword, “Waterfowl of the World is an extraordinary accomplishment and a testament to Gary Kramer’s and John Mensik’s (text contributor) long professional history and expertise in waterfowl ecology and management, and even more importantly, Gary’s superb photography.” Waterfowl of the World can be ordered at GaryKramer.net. Signed, standard edition books are $99 postpaid in the U.S. There’s also a limited edition of 250 signed and numbered books that come in a slip case and leather-like cover with gold embossing for $250. If you’re interested in waterfowl, you can’t go wrong with either option, as this will be a collector’s item for decades to come. CS Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen's popular books, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.
