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Sportsman
California Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource
Volume 9 • Issue 2 PUBLISHER James R. Baker GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Dick Openshaw EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott EDITOR Chris Cocoles CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Brittany Boddington LEAD WRITER Tim E. Hovey CONTRIBUTORS Bill Adelman, Rudy Escalante, Mark Fong, Brad Hall, Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Jason Haley, Todd Kline, Troy Rodakowski, Bill Schaefer, Mike Stevens SALES MANAGER Katie Higgins ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Steve Joseph, Garn Kennedy, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold PRODUCTION MANAGER Sonjia Kells DESIGNERS Michelle Hatcher, Sam Rockwell, Liz Weickum PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Kelly Baker
DIGITAL STRATEGIST Jon Hines
Angeles Reloading Store Over 1 million dollars in stock, ready for delivery • Presses: • We stock most calibers and weights of bullets from Barnes, Hornady, Nosler, Remington. RCBS, • Brass: Redding, • Cleaning products: Dewey, Winchester, Lee, Lyman ProShot, Hoppe’s, Shooters Remington & & Dillion Choice & Sweet’s 7.62. Winchester • Primers: CCI, Federal, & Remington • Dies: RCBS, Redding & Lee
• Powders: Hodgdon, IMR, Alliant, Winchester, Accurate, Ramshot, Vectan & Vihtavuori Reloading Classes are available for all levels
Visit us at www.reloadingstore.com or contact us at info@reloadingstore.com 8 California Sportsman NOVEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
DIGITAL ASSISTANT Samantha Morstan OFFICE MANAGER/ACCOUNTING Audra Higgins ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Katie Sauro INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn CIRCULATION MANAGER Heidi Belew ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@calsportsmanmag.com CORRESPONDENCE Email ccocoles@media-inc.com Twitter @CalSportsMan Facebook.com/californiasportsmanmagazine ON THE COVER Trout anglers who flocked to the Eastern Sierras during the warm months of summer can continue enjoying some fine fishing in the winter in the mountains. Several fisheries remain open, including stretches of the Upper and Lower Owens River and Pleasant Valley Reservoir. (SIERRA DRIFTERS GUIDE SERVICE) MEDIA INC PUBLISHING GROUP CALIFORNIA OFFICE 4517 District Blvd. • Bakersfield, CA 93313 (661) 381-7533 WASHINGTON OFFICE P.O. Box 24365 • Seattle, WA 98124-0365 14240 Interurban Ave. S., Suite 190 Tukwila, WA 98168 OREGON OFFICE 8116 SW Durham Rd • Tigard, OR 97224 (206) 382-9220 • (800) 332-1736 • Fax (206) 382-9437 media@media-inc.com • www.media-inc.com
calsportsmanmag.com | NOVEMBER 2016 California Sportsman
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CONTENTS
VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 2 (SIERRA DRIFTERS GUIDE SERVICE)
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WINTER’S WONDERFUL UP HERE The Eastern Sierra’s general trout season ends this month, but that’s no reason to put away your gear. There’s plenty of fishable water (like the Owens) open through winter. Check out Mike Stevens’ tips, then layer up and head over!
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 39 Early-season pheasant hunting advice 49 Farm-fresh fish – how to access, work stockponds, etc., for bass, panfish
59 Sacramento River guide expects
FEATURES 17
CALIFORNIA HEROES FISH ALASKA A couple years ago, we introduced you to Randy Houston, who honored his Vietnam War hero brother by creating a nonprofit organization to arrange for fishing and hunting trips catered to disabled veterans. Recently, Houston’s Purple Heart Anglers fundraised to send seven wounded warriors on a “trip of a lifetime” to Ketchikan, Alaska. Find out how many pounds of fish these Korean War to Afghanistan vets caught!
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PACIFIC HEIGHTS Right in the heart of San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, a fleet of fishing charter vessels are docked and ready to take clients through the Golden Gate to schools of tasty rockfish and lingcod. Mark Fong hitched a ride with Flash Sportfishing’s six-pack boat and experienced what makes California the West Coast’s top deep-sea fishing state!
productive final king salmon push
103 BIRDS OF A FEATHER ... Our senior writer Tim Hovey has experienced so many memories of hunting mourning and other doves with his kids, and his friends and their kids. It’s a tradition that continues today – this month kicks off California’s second season, a great time to get out and bag some of these upland birds with the next generation of hunters!
126 VIVA, PESCADORES! As fall fades and winter nears, the warm, blue, fish-rich waters of Mexico’s coasts beckon. Pacific Northwest resident Troy Rodakowski visited a luxury resort in Loreto, on the Baja Peninsula, and discovered the Sea of Cortez is teeming with feisty game fish. Join Troy as he checks in at the Villa Del Palmar Resort and checks out the great fishing and other activities to be had here!
73 Central Valley man’s impressive vintage waterfowl decoy collection
95 How to land big bass at San Vicente Reservoir
141 Long road trip scores Wyoming antelope bucks
161 Why a California police association opposes Proposition 63
DEPARTMENTS 13 29 33 35 69 117 153
The Editor’s Note: Artist’s ‘Big Foot’ honors state’s threatened wildlife Adventures of Todd Kline Outdoor Calendar Browning, Fishing photo contest winners Rig of the Month: Neko Rig – Japaneseinspired bass buster Field to Fire: Yucatán fishing adventure, ceviche recipe Urban Huntress: Hunting Nevada’s livestock nemesis – coyotes
California Sportsman goes digital! Read California Sportsman on your desktop or mobile device. Only $1.89 an issue. 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) 3829220 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 © 2016 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. 10 California Sportsman NOVEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
e h t e c n e i r e p x E e m o e! C c n e r e f f i D e n i l r e b Tim Standard Wood Burning Stove & Solar Panel, Durable Construction, Great Insulation, High Ground Clearance
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THEEDITOR’SNOTE
I
want to go to Paris someday – most of my European travels have taken me o the beaten path to less traveled to but fascinating countries such as Romania, Estonia and Kosovo – and I’ll make one of my ďŹ rst City of Lights stops at the Louvre. Not that I’m much of an art expert, but I’ve heard how epic and massive the collection is there, and I suspect the Eiel Tower will be kind of a letdown. But there’s a piece of art closer to home that caught my attention recently. Artist Beverly Mayeri, who lives in Marin County’s Mill Valley – her studio is located in the nearby Bay Area artist Beverly Mayeri created a foot art colony community of Sausalito – wanted sculpture covered in images of California endangered and threatened wildlife. to create awareness for (STEVE MARTARANO/USFWS) California’s endangered wildlife and put together what she calls The Big Foot, which is exactly how it sounds: a 68-inch-tall, 40-pound appendage decorated with photos of threatened species that reside in the Golden State. In all, 140 images represent everything from butteries to beetles, beavers to blackbirds. Several species of gameďŹ sh like coho salmon and Southern California steelhead and big game such as Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep also cover the sculpture and should catch the attention of Golden State hunters and anglers. “Why use a big foot?â€? Mayeri rhetorically asked U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service public aairs oďŹƒcer Steve Martarano.“I like it because it suggests we are trampling on the earth like oversized giants. It’s also a reference to the carbon footprint of the environmental movement. We use far too much of the earth’s resources.â€? When reached by email, Mayeri, whose other artwork can be found at beverlymayeri.com, told me she was appreciative that her eorts to remind Californians that our state is blessed with fauna that could be at risk is being recognized. “Since these species are located here in our own state, we may be in a position to help some of them survive. People are capable of making a dierence,â€? she said. I hope Leonardo da Vinci, whose masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, hangs from a wall at the Louvre, would appreciate Mayeri’s intentions. –Chris Cocoles
CATCH US IN SACRAMENTO!
Make sure to stop by California Sportsman’s booth, #1948, at the upcoming Sacramento ISE sportsman’s show at Cal Expo from Jan. 19-22. For more, go to sportsexpos.com/attend/ sacramento.
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Seven disabled veterans got to experience a “trip of a lifetime” to Ketchikan, Alaska, courtesy of Purple Heart Anglers, a Bay Area-based nonprofit organization. (PURPLE HEART ANGLERS)
THANKING THE TROOPS SEVEN DISABLED VETS TAKE FISHING TRIP OF MANY FIRSTS TO SOUTHEAST ALASKA
By Chris Cocoles
I
t was one of those “trips of a lifetime,” as Randy Houston calls them, but one of the lucky participants called him with some bad news for the most irrelevant of reasons. “We had one gentleman who is a Vietnam veteran. His health is down a little bit and he’s on his own now. He called me up the day before we were getting ready to leave,” Houston says of a charity fishing getaway to South-
east Alaska for disabled veterans. The man lived in the San Francisco Bay area, about 45 minutes south of the airport the party was flying out of. “He said, ‘I don’t know if I can go.’ I said, ‘What do you mean?’ His ride got canceled and he was stuck.” As innocent as that seems, the man was typical of many of the servicemen and -women Houston has encountered, proud veterans who have at times struggled to make it all work. For the last seven years, Houston has run a El Granada-based nonprofit organization,
Purple Heart Anglers, that arranges for fishing and hunting outings for vets. Houston and other volunteers had already taken a small group of wounded warriors to Costa Rica and Alaska. So via a random draw, seven vets who’d served in wars from Korea to Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan were chosen for the trip north to Ketchikan in September. But the fact that the man without a ride was questioning whether or not he’d have the means to make it to San Francisco International Airport didn’t
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The wounded warriors got to experience Southeast Alaska from the land and from sea. (PURPLE HEART ANGLERS)
surprise Houston. Many of the men and women he’s encountered along the way are not just hurting physically but also mentally. Houston immediately assured the man his transport to the airport would be taken care of, and in many ways he epitomized the spirit of Purple Heart Anglers. “I’m not going to say all of them are by themselves, but there are a lot of them,” Houston says. “Many of these have come back and they’ve divorced, suffered from PTSD, and in many cases their spouses have passed away. Just all kinds of different reasons.”
RANDY HOUSTON DIDN’T FOLLOW in the military path his older brother, Jerry, embarked on. When we first introduced you to Houston’s Purple Heart Anglers (California Sportsman, November 2014), he said he wanted to do something to honor Jerry’s service after he’d won two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star in Vietnam. Jerry, who was also exposed to Agent Orange during his tour of duty, passed away at 75 on April 21, 2011. Randy, 12 18 California Sportsman NOVEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
years younger than his brother, always looked up to Jerry but felt like he didn’t get to know him well enough until he was gone. The seeds of Purple Heart Anglers were planted while Jerry was still alive, but the support of so many volunteers who have assisted Randy along the way has been even more of a posthumous tribute to his big brother. “I discovered a long time ago through this program that my brother had a lot of other brothers who I didn’t know about,” says Randy Houston, a retired carpenter. “The military family is part of my brother’s family, and I learn a little bit about who (Jerry) was every time I’m out with these guys. When it gets personal I walk away; I don’t want to intrude on their conversations with other veterans.” Through all these years of fishing and hunting adventures with the veterans – often daytrips around his home in the San Francisco area – Houston says he considers himself “the youngest brother” to all of his brother’s brothers. And if one of them strikes up a conversation with him and wants to open
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There was something special for Houston (inset) as he watched the joy on the faces of the veterans while reeling in their fish. They caught 600 pounds of salmon and halibut, some of which will be served to other wounded warriors in a few months for a fundraising dinner. “These guys were able to experience the country they’ve served, in a way that they had never been able to,” Houston says of the experience. (PURPLE HEART ANGLERS)
up, Houston has heard some of the most too-outrageous-to-be-true-butthey-are stories of both triumph and horror that veterans returned stateside with. It only reinforces that Houston feels like the fundraising work he’s done and the growth of his 501(c)(3) nonprofit is making an impact – even if it’s just a few hours (or days) of peace in the great outdoors. “I started this because I wanted to do something with my big brother – a simple thing,” Houston says. “And it’s gotten to a point now where if you ask, ‘Why do I do it?’ We’ve had over 1,700 disabled veterans out (in the field) since this program started. So I have 1,700 good reasons why I do this.”
KETCHIKAN PROVED TO BE everything these American heroes hoped to experience. The group was very competitive
on the water – the vets split into teams and fished out of separate boats. This year’s trip surpassed the numbers that were landed from the previous year’s trip to Southeast Alaska. In all, almost 600 pounds of halibut and salmon fillets were packed up. (As per a tradition from the year before, Houston will freeze a lot of the wild salmon and halibut and have it served at a Purple Heart Anglers fundraising banquet next April.) And the catch rate was high when factoring that the first day of fishing was wiped out by a storm that blew into Ketchikan. But even that day and throughout the trip, the warriors got to take in some sightseeing and wildlife viewing, both on land in the form of bald eagles and big game, and on the boat, spotting hundreds of whales. “They didn’t get any giant fish; they just had a lot of fun. These guys were
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able to experience the country that they’ve served, in a way that they had never been able to,” Houston says. “Some of the guys were talking about how they could scratch something off their bucket lists.” Houston prefers to be in the background and behind the scenes during excursions in California, where he’s been the master of ceremonies for everything from rockfish charters off the Bay Area coast to upland bird hunts in the Central Valley, but the veterans implored him to get in on the action when a silver bit the trolling set-up. “All the guys on the boat said, ‘You’re up, dude.’ I was the guy who was holding onto the guys who were catching (fish). I’m helping them hold their rod in the chest and helping them stabilize themselves against the railing,” Houston says. “The guys were inside the cab
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MIXED BAG on the six-pack boat to get out of the drizzle, and I’m standing at the door waiting for the next guy to come out. The fish hit the rod and I grabbed a hold of it and set the hook, turned around and said, ‘Come on.’ They all said, ‘No! Your turn.’” But the traveling party, which also included a California fishing guide who helped on the boat, was far more excited when one of the veterans reeled in a silver or halibut. When one salmon was brought to the boat, Houston jokingly asked the man if it was his first from Alaskan waters. “First salmon ever,” was his reply. It turned out to be a trip of firsts for almost all of the servicemen: first halibut, first salmon, first bald eagle, first caribou, and first time in Alaska (six of the seven had never fished in the Last Frontier before). The group, which helped keep
The thrill of watching disabled vets enjoy the outdoors makes all the hard work pay off. “Why do I do it? We’ve had over 1,700 disabled veterans out (in the field) since this program started. So I have 1,700 good reasons why I do this,” Houston says. (PURPLE HEART ANGLERS)
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the costs down by using Alaska Airlines buddy passes, got the royal treatment in Ketchikan from the historic Gilmore Hotel (907-225-9423; gilmorehotel. com). Oasis Alaska Charters (206-9096126; oasisalaska.com) provided the boat trips for fishing. “They went completely out of their way to make everyone comfortable and happy,” Houston says. “When we were ordering rooms, we wanted to do two beds to a room to keep costs down. But the hotel gave everyone their own room and gave us a discount.” It turned out to be the kind of adventure most will never get to experience, particularly for these guys, many of whom don’t have the means financially or the spirit physically, and even mentally to do a DIY vacation. What’s been satisfying for Houston over the years that he’s arranged to get disabled vets out for hunts and fishing trips is the mutual trust that’s evolved. “A lot of these guys haven’t trusted a citizen from the United States since they got back from Vietnam,” Houston says. And that lonely vet who thought the worst when his ride bailed on him? He’ll join Houston this month on a salmon fishing trip on the Sacramento River and be reunited with his son, who lives a couple hundred miles away in the northern end of the state. “These guys were treated so well by the public in our program, when they come back it’s truly one of those trips of a lifetime,” Houston says. “They just can’t believe what people do for them because of their service.” “One of the Vietnam vets told me, ‘I’ve never been told thank you since Vietnam.’ That’s something that he’ll never forget and something that maybe his attitude toward our country has changed.” CS Editor’s note: For more information or to donate to Purple Heart Anglers, check out purpleheartanglers.org, and like at facebook.com/Purple-Heart-Anglers-120269434661712.
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s e r u t n e Adv
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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 been up to. For more on Todd, check out toddkline.com and follow him on Instagram (@toddokrine). –The Editor
We had a blast shooting photos and video on San Vicente Reservoir for a new line of Savage Gear frogs. It was a superfun day of fishing and hanging with friends. (TODD KLINE)
My clients experienced great fishing this month here in Southern California. November should see more of the same. Book your trip now, Toddklinefishing.com. (TODD KLINE)
It’s always fun catching a few after you drop off your client from a guide trip. Fall has been fun fishing. (TODD KLINE)
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MIXED BAG
My son had an opportunity to go out on the court and rebound for the Los Angeles Lakers preseason game warmups at the Honda Center in Anaheim. It was an awesome experience for him, and he was even on television. (TODD KLINE)
I was on a good batch of ďŹ sh last month at Lake Perris. This particular day my client had probably 18 pounds worth. One of his better ďŹ sh got him wrapped in some wood in about 8 feet of water, so I swam down and got it. Does your guide really give you 100 percent? (TODD KLINE) 30 California Sportsman NOVEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
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32 California Sportsman NOVEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
MIXED BAG NOVEMBER 1-15 4-6 5 5 5 5-6 12 12 12 12 13 15 30
Ambush at the Lake, Convict Lake (convictlake.com/ activities/fishing/derbies/ambush-derby) SoCal Sportsman’s and Outdoors Recreation Show, Southern California Fair and Event Center, Perris (socalsportsmensshow.com) Southern San Joaquin Valley, Southern California, Colorado River and Balance of State Zone scaup opener Statewide Dungeness crab opener Imperial Valley white geese opener Collins Lake Tournament of Champions Derby (anglerspress.com) Statewide pheasant opener Fall wild turkey opener Late-season dove opener Stanislaus River Salmon Festival, Knights Ferry (facebook.com/srsfest) Last day of ocean salmon fishing from Horse Mountain to Point Arena California sportfishing licenses for 2017 go on sale Last day of recreational red abalone season
18 25 31
Desert bighorn sheep season opens in Zone 5 (San Gorgonio Wilderness) General bear hunting season closes Last day a 2016 fishing license is valid
DECEMBER 3
Desert bighorn sheep season opens in most zones (wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Bighorn-Sheep)
Recreational Dungeness crab season is scheduled to open on Nov. 5 in California coastal areas. (CHRISTY JUHASZ/CDFW)
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PHOTO CONTEST
WINNERS!
Angie Volk is this issue’s monthly Fishing Photo Contest winner, thanks to her great capture of her family and their Columbia River fall kings, especially 4-year-old Cosette’s priceless reaction. It wins her a pile of loot from the overstuffed office of our editor!
Chad Smith is this issue’s Browning Photo Contest winner, thanks to this picture of himself and the black bear he harvested in Washington’s North Cascades over Labor Day Weekend. It wins him a Browning hat!
For your shot at winning Browning and fishing products, send your photos and pertinent (who, what, when, where) details to ccocoles@ media-inc.com, or to 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 | NOVEMBER 2016 California Sportsman
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36 California Sportsman NOVEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
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Our waterfowl hunts are either 3 or 5 day. You will enjoy goose hunts & duck hunts along the North Saskatchewan River in eastern Alberta. We are very fortunate that we have the North Saskatchewan River right next to us that holds the waterfowl until freeze up. Even on a dry year we always have the river to keep us in birds! All hunters stay in a lodge with all the amenities of home. We have full cell phone coverage, wireless internet, and satellite TV. In the evenings, we also have plenty of room to socialize while sitting around a bonfire. Call or visit our website for more information!
Book Your Next Hunting Trip In Alberta Canada CALL NEIL: 780-808-0318 | EMAIL: neil@northstaroutfitting.com | LODGE: 780-847-2392
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We are running 2 duck blinds this season. A 6 man blind on 100-acres in the heart of Richvale and a 4 man blind located just west of the famous Butte Sink which is a great producer of ducks and geese. Lots of mallards were taken out of that blind last season. ($250 a person) Also, we target snows and specks with dry field goose hunts. 8 hunters a day max and 6 hunters minimum. Groups of 6 will get the whole field to them selfs. If you haven't experienced a good goose hunt by laying in 1000+ decoys and geese landing right in front of you, give me and my team a call and we will get you on the birds. ($300 a person)
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38 California Sportsman NOVEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
NORCAL
AN EARLY BIRD PRIMER
AS PHEASANT HUNTING SEASON OPENS THIS MONTH, HERE’S HOW TO HANDLE WEATHER AND YOUR DOG
Part I of II By Jason Haley
C
alifornia pheasant hunting is not what it once was. If you live and hunt here, you know this is not South Dakota. There is still good hunting to be had, but you may have to change your approach daily to get action. Here are some lessons I’ve learned:
SIMPLIFY EARLY The first weekend – the state’s general season opener starts Nov. 12 and runs through Christmas Day – is the easiest time to take roosters. This is true despite an increase of hunters, simply due to the sheer number of birds (particularly young birds) that haven’t been hunted for a
many dogs and too many vehicles can make it virtually impossible to be stealthy, which is important, even early in the season. Consider reducing the number of hunters and/or dogs, especially barkers or heavy breathers. There are probably more than enough birds out there to limit on opening weekend. If you have more than one dog, consider resting your older, experienced four-legged hunting partners, particularly if they are somewhat rangy. If you’ve got a flushing dog that will walk along your side and retrieve, you may be better off. As is often the case on opening weekend, there are so many birds, hunters and chaos that your best pointer can get sensory overload and may not be as effective. There are probably enough birds to give your rookie dog or soso Lab a chance. I’ve even taken birds without dogs on opening weekend.
Wily ringneck pheasants frequent orchards, row crops, rice, weeds, creek bottoms, cattails and plain old dirt, sometimes. Bird numbers may not be what they once were, but with the season starting on Nov. 12, pheasants are still worth targeting in Northern California. (JASON HALEY)
while, if ever. Yet even with good bird numbers and an experienced dog, it’s possible to mess things up. Pheasants are grouped in their family structures early in the season and birds tend to cue off each other. When one bird flushes wild, as they often do, they can all go. I’ve watched large pockets of birds flush into the next zip code because of my failure to keep quiet. Too many people, too
You may also want to simplify your shooting. If you’re like me and have a hard time filtering out multiple targets, you may wish to consider keeping your shells to a minimum or trade your semiauto for an over-and-under or even a single barrel. This will force you to focus on each shot. I always shoot worse in the early season. Perhaps this is from poor preseason preparation or increased proficiency calsportsmanmag.com | NOVEMBER 2016 California Sportsman
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NORCAL with practice as the season goes on. For me, it’s the subtle distraction that comes from knowing there are more birds to swing on, more birds out there if I miss and more shells in my barrel and vest. When I hunt late-season birds, where I may only get one chance, I focus and get the job done.
HUNT WATER IN HOT WEATHER A lot of hunters call it a day or shy away from hot weather in the first days of the season. Heat can turn previously productive fields A single, slow-working Lab, like Sam, is sometimes all you need early in the season to into apparent dead score some birds. (JASON HALEY) zones. Everything may seem lifeless, including you and your dogs. Don’t let heat bother you; strip down and stay hydrated. The birds are still there, and chances are they are probably holding tight in wet cover. Try targeting creek bottoms, wet cattail ditches, lake shores and other water features. It
40 California Sportsman NOVEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
might be rougher going, but it will be easier on your dog’s nose and cooler for both dog and hunter. I’ve taken dozens of birds that were tucked in the cool mud between a row of cattails and the water’s edge. These birds prefer not to move if they don’t have to. In fact, you may have to make tons of noise and kick up the birds. Some feeding may occur the first and last hour – especially if water is nearby – but you can bet they will stick to water the rest of the day. Trees that cast shade are also good bets when it’s hot.
STAY HOME WHEN IT’S WINDY I’m just kidding, of course (sort of). The old adage is true: The best time to hunt is when you can. That said, I’ve probably let more roosters get away in the wind than in any other condition. Wind burn, earaches and chapped lips can also add insult to injury. I’m convinced there is no rule of thumb when it comes to wind, although I’ve heard numerous theories. When it’s really windy, you can’t hear a dog and the dog can’t hear you. You can’t hear pheasants flush or roosters crow when they rise. Your eyes become a more important sense. Keep your gun up and eyes scanning. This is easier said than done, as the wind can do a number on your eyes. To the best extent possible, make sure your shooting
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NORCAL is dialed in and take birds on the rise, if possible. Once a rooster clears the vegetation and reaches its apex, he’ll hit the wind and rocket out of sight. There is seldom time for a second shot. Don’t take long shots; you are just asking for trouble with crippled birds. You should also hunt cover you can handle. I used to hunt thin edges of cover since my Brittany, Digger, tended to get buried in heavy cover and I’d lose sight of him. Losing track of him meant losing roosters on too many occasions. When you can, let the wind work to your advantage. Hunt your dogs into the wind or a crosswind to gobble up any scent. There were times when my Brittany was young, he would get in a groove – even on extremely windy days – and nail down nearly everything. It was almost unfair, since pheasants can’t hear very well in the wind either, and sometimes you can surprise them. They can also be extremely crazy and weary for the same reason. Some pheasant hunters say birds seek heavy cover and hold tight in wind. Although I have witnessed this to some degree, my belief is heavy wind makes them on edge and unpredictable. They may bust wild for no apparent reason or run hundreds of yards to avoid flying. If you get out there and hunt, windy days are rarely slow and can be both fun and rewarding. I hunted one windy day in the rice country of Sutter County when it
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was physically challenging to walk. I could barely shut the truck door and had to lean into the wind to move forward. Relying heavily on an e-collar to keep my dog visible, I
Digger, the author’s late Brittany, overlooked this haul of pheasants, which will be a little more of a challenge early in the season due to warm weather and wind. But opening weekend on Nov. 12 is a great time to harvest birds. (JASON HALEY)
ended up killing a close, pointed rooster that could barely power up. I could hardly hear the shot. CS Editor’s note: Next month, look for more tips on late-season pheasant hunting from Jason Haley.
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BEST OF BC
BEST OF BC 2016
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Rivers Inlet Sportsman’s Club boasts some of the world’s finest trophy silver salmon fishing, as evidenced by this giant “hook-nosed northern” that was caught August 20th and tipped the scales at 21 pounds. There is no better place to target big coho on the surface with light tackle – you can even catch them on a fly! (RIVERS INLET)
Catching this beautiful 78-pound halibut on July 20 was a family affair for these Rivers Inlet Sportsman’s Club guests. (RIVERS INLET) Rivers Inlet Sportsman’s Club fishing lodge owner’s son Kieran and his monster 30-pound lingcod, caught on July 25. (RIVERS INLET)
Wayne Chung’s annual fishing trip to Vancouver Island yielded this pair of yelloweye rockfish, some of the best-eating white-meated fish in the ocean! Chung brings his own boat from California. (WESTVIEW MARINA AND LODGE) Lingcod aren’t pretty, but they are pretty tasty! James Lyngen of Tri-Cities,Wash., and three buddies fished on one of Westview Marina’s charters and limited on lings, kings, silvers and halibut during their three-day fishing trip in Tahsis.
Trent Brooks, Gibran White and Walter Mass pose with a nice haul of salmon. (NOOTKA MARINE ADVENTURE )
(WESTVIEW MARINA AND LODGE)
Jacques and Suzanne Ouellet teamed up to land this very nice 45 ½-pound Chinook. (OLE’S HAKAI PASS)
Father and son Doug and Butch O’Donnell hoist 42- and 36-pound Chinook. (DUNCANBY LODGE)
Rivers Inlet Sportsman’s Club owner Simon and his wife Stephanie with a trophy “tyee,” a Chinook of 30 pounds or more, caught August 5. (RIVERS INLET) Bob Stanford with his 34-pound king caught at Ferrer Point, at the mouth of Esperanza Inlet, in the first week of July. The inlet sits on the “Salmon Highway,” along the west side of Vancouver Island, past which British Columbia-, Washington- and Oregonbound kings and coho pass. (WESTVIEW MARINA AND LODGE)
BEST OF BC
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NORCAL
FIND YOUR FARM
IT’S BECOME FAR HARDER TO FISH PRIVATE FARM PONDS, BUT IF YOU CAN GAIN ACCESS TO ONE, THE ACTION CAN BE FANTASTIC By Bill Adelman
T
he thrill of victory doesn’t end with downhill skiing or some other Wide World of Sports moment. In many cases, it ends with a farmer giving you permission to fish a private farm pond. When I relocated to farming country in 1959, it didn’t take long for the mystique of farm pond fishing to grab my attention. What little fishing I was able to do in Southern California generally involved bass, crappie and bluegill. Up north, there seemed to also be three species of fresh-
water fish available: bass, bass and bass. Lake Berryessa was just planted the year prior, so we ventured forth with the first-ever black worm, the Crème 6-incher with two pre-set embedded gold hooks and a spinner on the front. Our plan was to remove the spinner and add a small split shot at the nose, fling it from shore and
If you can get permission to fish in a farm pond like this secret location in Northern California, you can have a scenic and almost private spot to catch some nice bass. (BILL ADELMAN) calsportsmanmag.com | NOVEMBER 2016 California Sportsman
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NORCAL catch a bunch of 12- to 14-inch largemouth. And it worked. However, in the back of our minds was the ever-mysterious farm pond. One of our coworkers had the inside track on one and we were finally able to acquire permission, a gate key and access. Up to this point, my personal-best bass was a 3½-pounder taken on a surface lure at Lake Wohlford in SoCal in 1951. Well, that didn’t last long. On our first trip I was tossing a 6-inch MirrOLure, with a white body and a red head. The diving lip was alumi-
The author pays his secret farm owner an annual fee to set up camp for fiveday trips in both the fall and spring. (BILL ADELMAN)
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50 California Sportsman NOVEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
BEST OF BC
NORCAL num. On one cast, a bass actually jumped out of the water and hit the lure in the air. I’m an angler, so you know I won’t embellish. My first bass broke the 5-pound mark, and many more followed between 3 and 5. Does it get any
better than this? It didn’t, right up until the entire county appeared to have permission and a key, and there was often a waiting line to reach the right spot. I had to keep looking.
TIMES HAVE CHANGED Tom Hargis waits for something – it could be a bass, bluegill or crappie – to bite the end of his line. While you can catch a lot of fish from shore, many of these privately owned lakes allow paddle-powered boats or electric motors. (BILL ADELMAN)
52 California Sportsman NOVEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
Back then, it was much easier to find a farm pond, as most farmers didn’t threaten you with a 12-gauge or arrest. And when they refused you access, it was at least done politely. Still, we located a few and continued to have better-than-average shore fishing. But if we could only get water-bound and fish much more efficiently. Not a chance, though, as bringing in a 12-foot
BEST OF BC
NORCAL row boat was always met with a bit of skepticism and refusals. If only I could afford a float tube, however the $15 price tag was prohibitive and I needed my spare cash for newer and better lures. Getting back to Berryessa, it was the only logical choice for a quick trip, other than Clear Lake, which was a not so quick trip from the Bay Area. The old road that led to the town of Monticello ended at water’s edge at the upper end of Markley Cove. We’d park at the end of the road and shore fish into the cove. Later, we located access into Wragg Canyon, which was fenced and gated as a cattle ranch. There was a can hanging on the gate and we tossed in a dollar, which was the price of a new Sonic back then, and headed in to do some more shore fishing. Then it really tightened up in the 1980s, when farmers were tired of property damage, open gates and a plethora of trash left behind, and who could blame them?
LIMITED ACCESS As the grape industry blossomed, farm ponds were necessary for storing water, and many were planted with bass and bluegill. Could this be a new opportunity? It was pretty difficult, but we finally located one in an unnamed county and have continued to fish it for 18 years. They al-
low us to store our aluminum boat out of the way, provided only electric motors are operated. Camping is available and yes, we pay an annual fee. The biggest plus here, other than the privacy, is that the bass have proliferated to astounding numbers. We can’t keep anything, as it’s 100-percent catch and release with artificial baits only. It’s truly a test track, as we can try new techniques to determine their effectiveness without going to public water, never knowing what might work and what might not. If it doesn’t work here within 30 minutes, we try something else.
A CLOSE GETAWAY Our normal visits are in spring and fall, last five days, and provide us eight half-days to fish and the midday for lunch, naps, a card game and the retying of almost every rod (we each take six per outing). There are many tried-and-true baits that always work at certain times of the day. No matter where you fish, there’s always that a.m. and p.m. magic hour. Our evening hour takes place in the shade and will usually produce about six bass for every 10 casts. The top producers are the LWT (little white thing), a 4-inch Paddle Tail soft rubber bait and the Baby Zara. If you need to try something new, now is the time, but
Guided King Salmon Fishing Sacramento River Northern California Guide Service Since 1985 Pro Guide Robert Weese: 35+ years of experience Guided Fishing offered King Salmon, Wild Rainbow Trout, Steelhead, Striped Bass, and Sturgeon All equipment provided 24’ Custom Alumaweld inboard jet Boat, Gloomis rods, Shimano reels, Yakima bait, Pro-Cure bait, Gamagatsu hooks, Power Pro line and special cured salmon roe
Guided hunting: wild pigs, dear, quail, ducks, geese, bear and turkey 54 California Sportsman NOVEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
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NORCAL keep these baits handy. My partner has slightly taken to fishing with the long rod, so we do one morning and one evening trip with just fly rods. He’ll give me the morning in the dark if I concede the evening bite right up to the point we can’t see anything and only know we hit the water by the sound. A sink tip followed by a 4-inch white streamer-type fly is awesome in the dark. Yes, it’s difficult to locate farm ponds today, and it takes a lot more knocking to work it out. But when you do, consider whom you tell about it. CS
Whether you’re after fat bass, like this one caught by author Bill Adelman, or feisty crappie, like Tom Hargis’s, make friends with a farmer who has a small stocked pond and you can enjoy a serene setting to have a great day of fishing. (BILL ADELMAN)
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Contact Mark Grant Phone: 509-520-1906 mark.grant@heritagelandgroup.com For more info visit: http://eepurl.com/ck4zdf 56 California Sportsman NOVEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
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58 California Sportsman NOVEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
NORCAL
KING-SIZED FISHING SAC RIVER GUIDE LIKES PROSPECTS FOR LATE CHINOOK
Catching big king salmon has become the norm for guide Robert Weese, who has been guiding for his company, Northern California Guide Service, since 1985. (NORCALSALMONGUIDE.COM)
S
acramento River-area guide Robert Weese thinks the home stretch of the king run can be fast and furious. “I expect the salmon season through (the closing season date of) Dec. 16 to be good, with bigger salmon showing daily,” says Weese, who owns and operates Northern California Guide Service (530-755-7198; norcalsalmonguide .com).
Weese knows the Sac River’s salmon scene as well as anyone in Northern California. He’s a native of Red Bluff and claims 40 years of experience as an outdoorsman. “I started my business, Northern California Guide Service, in 1985 right out of high school,” he says. “I’m a lifetime resident of Tehama County on the Sacramento River.” Besides the Sacramento, Weese also guides on the Feather, Smith, Trinity and Klamath Rivers, as well as Oregon’s Rogue, and he fishes for not just salmon but also rainbow trout, stripers and sturgeon. “I supply all G.Loomis and Shimano gear and clean the fish for my clients,” he says. “We fish out of a custom-built 24-foot Alumaweld inboard jet boat.” “I also offer guided wild pig, turkey, duck, goose, bear and dove hunting trips here in Northern California,” Weese adds. With water temperatures dropping in the Sacramento Valley’s waterways as winter approaches, expectations are that some big fish will be caught as the run winds down. “The 2016 season has been a great year. Both the Feather and Sacramento Rivers have produced some great fishing,” Weese says. CS
Editor’s note: Like Northern California Guide Service at facebook .com/Northern-California-Guide-Service-910737762331937, or contact the owner at robert@norcalsalmonguide.com.
Weese’s boat is a 24-foot, custom-built Alumaweld inboard jet boat. (NORCALSALMONGUIDE.COM)
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60 California Sportsman NOVEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
BAY AREA
THIS FISHING ROCKS!
Doug and Jennifer Wohleking, who were visiting San Francisco from Texas, brought in some nice rockfish on a sixpack boat trip with Flash Sportfishing. (MARK FONG)
LINGCOD, ROCKFISH HIGHLIGHT SIX-PACK TRIPS IN THE PACIFIC By Mark Fong
G
rowing up in the Bay Area, I fondly remember my days spent fishing in the bay and along the coast. These days I spend most of my time chasing bass on the lakes and reservoirs up and down the Sacramento Valley, so it is rarity that I get the opportunity to fish out on the salt. But when my fishing buddy Ian Rigler suggested we head over to the coast for a day of rockfish fishing, I was
all in. A quick call to Capt. Steve Talmadge at Flash Sportfishing Charters (510-851-2500; flashfishing.net) and we were all set. Owned and operated by Talmadge, Flash Sportfishing features a pair of vessels, the aptly named Flash and Flash 2. Talmadge specializes in running small party trips, limiting the load to just six anglers. “I wanted to run a boat the way I wanted to be treated,” Talmadge says. “Each boat has different character. The Flash has a commercial sportfishing flavor, while the calsportsmanmag.com | NOVEMBER 2016 California Sportsman
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BAY AREA
Part of the allure of a trip out of Fisherman’s Wharf is spying views of Alcatraz and cruising under the Golden Gate Bridge en route to the Marin County coast. Last year, 92 percent of all saltwater fishing trips taken on the West Coast departed from California ports. (MARK FONG)
Flash 2 is a Baja yacht-style experience.” Depending on the time of year and the open seasons, Talmadge targets a wide variety of species, including sturgeon, halibut, striped bass, sharks and rockfish. Our day started early when Ian and I arrived at San Francisco’s historic Fisherman’s Wharf. Even in the early morning darkness the wharf was bustling with activity. Talmadge had us booked on the Flash 2 with Capt. Jonathon Smith and deckhand Lucas Maxwell for our half-day rockfish fishing adventure. Once aboard the boat, we met the rest of our fishing party for the day. It was a pleasure to share the boat with Doug Wohleking, his wife Jennifer and two of their friends. Doug and Jennifer were visiting from Texas and were excited to be out for a day on the water. “One of the benefits of being on the boat with only six people is that it allows the captain and crew to pay individual attention to each fisherman,” Smith says. “We really try to stay in tune with the customers. No matter who you are or where you are from, we want you to come out and have a good experience fishing. It’s all about having a good time and catching fish. We take you out to the spots, we show you exactly how to do it and we are out here to help you every step of the way.”
INTO THE PACIFIC Before heading outside the Golden Gate to the Pacific Ocean fishing grounds, Smith made a quick stop at the bait receiver to fill the bait tank with live anchovies, while Maxwell prepped our rods and tied up live bait leaders for our day’s fishing. As we made the run up the Marin County coast, I had the opportunity to talk with Smith as he piloted Flash 2 towards our destination. He is a third-generation party boat skipper who started fishing with his father, Capt. Chris Smith, aboard the Captain Hook. When he was just 13, he became a deckhand on his grandfather’s boat, the Happy Hooker. I watched intently as a series of GPS waypoints came into view on the electronics. Smith informed me that we would be fishing near Duxbury Buoy. Within a short time he slowed the boat and set up our first drift of the morning.
FINDING THE ROCKS There are many ways to target rockfish. Shrimp flies, soft plastic swimbaits and jigs are all effective offerings. When live bait is available, it’s hard for rockfish to ignore. I was impressed with the tackle that was provided. High-end custom rods by Vic’s Custom Rods and Cousins Tackle were paired with Avet Reels. We used the standard San Francisco Bay three-way, live bait set-up: a three-way swivel with one end tied to the main line, the second fastened to a 36-inch leader finished with a 1/0 live bait hook, and the third tied to a 62 California Sportsman NOVEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
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BAY AREA 4-ounce cannonball-style weight using a 12-inch dropper line. Lucas showed the group the correct way to nose-hook the anchovies to keep them lively and he soon had us all baited up. Next we received some last minute instruction and coaching from Smith on how to effectively bounce the bottom and then we were fishing. It did not take long before the rockfish started coming aboard. While the action heated up all around me, other than a few small black rockfish, I was stuck in a bit of a lull. It was a lot of waiting, waiting and watching as the others enjoyed constant action.
FINALLY, A BIG ONE After what seemed like an eternity, my rod loaded up and I knew this was not another little rockfish. Even though it had been a few years, from the power and weight of the fish I
Waiting for a strike. When you find a good school of fish and they’re on the bite, the action can be hectic and exciting. (MARK FONG)
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BAY AREA The author (right) and friend Ian Rigler managed to land a couple lingcod, which are strong fighters and provide some tasty table fare back on land. (MARK FONG)
could tell that it was a lingcod. Lings make fine table fare and are coveted as such. After a spirited fight, Maxwell skillfully netted the toothy fish. On our side of the boat, Rigler managed to land a nice keeper lingcod, as well as score a nice bag of rockfish. I was lucky to land another ling and a mess of rockfish. On the back of the boat, Doug Wohleking and his party were enjoying the fast-paced action as well. When the fish are biting, as they were on this day, time quickly disappears; before we knew it, it was time to return to the dock. With a bunch of good-eating rockfish in the cooler, it was time to enjoy the scenic trip back down the coast and under the Golden Gate Bridge. These are spectacular views that you can only experience from the deck of a boat. Once back at the dock, the captain and his deckhand quickly cleaned and filleted our catch. It was simply a great day all around – breathtaking scenery, action-packed
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fishing and a chance to make new friends. A day spent with the folks at Flash Sportfishing is one that I would highly recommend. CS Editor’s note: Like Flash Sportfishing at facebook.com/FlashSport-Fishing-Charters-144688968949860.
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CENTRAL VALLEY
Mike Cole, who formerly lived in the San Joaquin Delta town of Isleton, was always fascinated by the marshes and mud flats that were full of majestic waterfowl, which fueled his obsession with decoys. (MIKE COLE)
DECADES OF DECOYS COLLECTING WATERFOWL ARTIFACTS BECAME MIKE COLE’S MUSE By Brad Hall
M
ike Cole and his wife of 44 years, Julie, live in a beautiful house surrounded by a duck marsh and natural weed habitat that attracts waterfowl by the thousands each winter. When the Coles need time to relax and unwind from daily stress, one of their favorite pastimes is sitting on the back deck and admiring the serene setting. The spectacular California sunsets, combined with
the dizzying sights and sounds of wild ducks and geese, can relax even the most fatigued and frazzled nerves. In the summer, when the majority of waterfowl are in the northern marshes of Canada, the Coles of Sutter County can gain a similar feeling by admiring the more than 300 collectible waterfowl decoys inside their home. It’s a stunning collection – mostly Mike’s obsession – gained from nearly two decades of attending decoy shows nationwide. His collection features such coveted decoy carvers as Charles Bergman of Oregon, Dick Janson of Sonoma, Ed Snyder of Rio Vista, Ira Hudson of Virginia, Charles Purdew and many more. Cole admits the collection is worth a monetary fortune, but there’s more to it than money. It’s priceless to calsportsmanmag.com | NOVEMBER 2016 California Sportsman
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CENTRAL VALLEY him, the culmination of his 50-some years as a waterfowl lover, hunter and conservation steward. “I’ve had lots of chances to make money on these decoys but I’ve passed on all of them,” said Cole. Mike has a story attached to each decoy, from its history to the individual style to the make of paint and material used by the artist. He treats every decoy like a long-lost friend. He’s donated several to fundraising auctions and sold others but admits giving up any of them is difficult. Mike travels around the country – to Chicago, to A sampling of Mike Cole’s collection includes Amiel Garibaldi-crafted green-winged teal ducks (right), and a Canada goose by Ed Snyder (below). (ED POTTER)
We estlake, Ohio, to Cape Cod, among many others – to Westlake, all the prestigious decoy shows. He is always on the lookout for that rare bird of originality that hasn’t yet found its way into his clutches. “All the major decoy-auction companies know me,” he said matter-of-factly.
COLE’S PREOCCUPATION WITH WATERFOWL began when he was in the eighth grade. His family moved to the little town of Isleton, nestled in the San Joaquin Delta waterways and marshes, where huge flocks of waterfowl there grabbed his attention. Cole’s parents gave him a
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CENTRAL VALLEY 20-gauge, single-shot scattergun for his birthday, and d while on a bowling team he met the man who intro-duced him to hunting and decoys. d Stan “Pete” Bennett was a duck carver himself and e proved to be Cole’s waterfowl mentor. Bennett took the y 16-year-old Cole on his first waterfowl hunt and laterr initiated him to the world of decoy collectors by sellingg him some of his own creations. His love for waterfowl was strengthened by his own n hard work and entrepreneurship. Following his gradua-tion from California State University, Sacramento, wheree
Some of Cole’s favorites include a wigeon pair by Luigi Andreuccetti (left) and pintail drake and hen (Ed Snyder). Cole has traveled the country in search of these and other beautiful decoys. (ED POTTER)
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he e earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biological conse i C l was hired hi d as a fertilizer f ili l servation, Cole salesman. He soon joined what he jokingly termed a “low-rent duck club,” the Live Oak Club. There, he met Yuba City dentist Mike Passaglia, who would become a business partner and close friend. Cole and Passaglia sta started their own duck club on 200 acres and later began a business called C&P Duck Company. The tandem used cle clever thinking and resourcefulness to keep the business afl afloat in the early years, including borrowing blinds and tra trading reloaded shells for tractor work. Three years later, th had control of 1,500 acres, a number that has now they
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CENTRAL VALLEY “I’ve had lots of chances to make money on these decoys but I’ve passed on all of them,” Cole said. (MIKE COLE)
grown to 2,500. Cole’s love for decoys blossomed in 2000, when Bennett’s grandson began selling Bennett’s decoys on the internet. He purchased several of them and was soon firmly entrenched in the world of waterfowl decoys. He began attending auctions and shows and met many seasoned collectors, including Len Carnaghi, Ken Cole, Jon Deeter and noted West Coast collector Jay Koetje, who sold him some impressive decoys. “When I saw (Koetje’s) collection, I wanted to burn mine,” said Cole, who added his collection is about half the size it once was. He’s scaling back a little. His daughters Jennifer and April have graduated college, his wife travels the country show-
ing and judging at major dog shows, and the 68-year-old Mike Cole is enjoying retirement. Sometimes on the back porch. CS
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SIERRAS
A SIERRA WINTER WONDERLAND
THE GENERAL TROUT SEASON’S CLOSING DATE DOESN’T MEAN WINTER ANGLERS SHOULD STORE THEIR GEAR
On Nov. 15, the general trout season in the Eastern Sierra officially shuts down, but don’t stow away all the gear just yet; get some warm clothes and you can drift fish places like the Lower Owens River all winter. (SIERRA DRIFTERS)
By Mike Stevens
T
he general trout season in the Eastern Sierra will end on November 15, but fishing doesn’t necessarily have to. There has always been plenty of fishable water open year-round throughout the Highway 395 corridor, and, relatively recently, select waters have been tabbed for winter fishing “up the hill” as well. The best part is, while none of these spots are secret, when you think about the huge number of people who fish the region during the general season, they remain largely untapped.
LONE PINE TO BIG PINE Most of the winter fishing traffic (for lack of a better word)
occurs along the Highway 395 corridor from Lone Pine to Bishop at lower elevations. The main artery of water in this huge window of the Sierra is the Owens River, and it runs parallel to the highway to the east all the way to Bishop. Trout are the main target in the area, but largemouth and smallmouth bass, a variety of panfish and even carp can be caught on the Lower O. While it’s always smart to check local regulations, conventional tactics, including barbed hooks and bait, are good to go down here. Tinnemaha Reservoir sits on the east side of Highway 395 between Independence and Big Pine. It’s an area favorite for locals to target warmwater fish like bass and catfish. Boats or float tubes are not permitted here, but there is plenty of fishable shoreline and a lot of bigger bass are caught right off the dam. South of Tinnemaha features a recently rewatered calsportsmanmag.com | NOVEMBER 2016 California Sportsman
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SIERRAS section of the Owens that offers mixed-bag fishing from there all the way down to Lone Pine. Diaz Lake, just south of Lone Pine and right off the highway, is also popular for anglers targeting stocked rainbows, as well as bass, catfish and panfish in the winter. This lake also serves as the centerpiece of the Southern Inyo Early Opener Trout Derby. The event kicks off the “early opener” in Inyo County on March 1, when waters flowing east out of the Sierra Nevada from Independence Creek south are heavily stocked and able to be legally fished well before the general Eastern Sierra trout season opens on the last Saturday of April.
BISHOP AREA In Bishop, it’s all about the Owens River and Pleasant Valley Reservoir, and when it comes to fishing, there’s something for everyone. “Gear” fishermen typically target the stretch of the
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If you use fly gear only, you can fish for some nice trout in the Upper Owens River above Crowley Lake throughout the winter. (SIERRA DRIFTERS)
Owens east of town that can be accessed from pretty much any right turn, from just south of town all the way through the north end of it. For lake fishing, Pleasant Valley Reservoir, located just north of town, is a year-round float tubing hot spot (boats
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SIERRAS are not allowed) that also has a ton of fishable shoreline. At PVR, trouters can catch California Department of Fish and Wildlife-planted rainbows, including broodstock and CDFW “trophy” fish and wild browns that come in via the Owens River. It’s a legitimate trophy fishery that has produced some absolute wallhangers, many of which are mounted and on display in various businesses throughout Bishop. Camping is available at the nearby county park. Fly fishing purists can pick their poison from several unique area fisheries. The Owens River between PVR and If you have access to snowmobiles, getting to remote locations in inclement weather is a lot easier. (SIERRA DRIFTERS)
Five Bridges Road is a scenic, fly-fishing-only stretch that features wild browns and rainbows. From that point all the way through Bishop and to access points south of town, drift boats like those operated by Sierra Drifters (SierraDrifters.com) target stretches of the Owens unreachable by shoreline anglers. These trips produce some big fish, along with big numbers of standard catchables. At certain times of the year, hatches that you can set your watch to come off midday, offering legitimate winter dry-fly action. The Owens River Gorge is found 13 miles north of town at the base of Sherwin Grade and features “skinny water” creek fishing for primarily wild brown trout. These are not big fish, but they are not picky when it comes to flies, so your favorite dry with or without a dropper will get the job done. It’s a bit of a hike into a steep canyon, but you are rewarded with rugged scenery and solitude, not to mention spectacular fishing.
UP THE HILL Relatively recently, a handful of higher-altitude waters were opened for winter trout fishing, and only for fly anglers. These include legendary trout streams like Hot Creek, the East and West Walker River and the Upper Owens River above Crowley Lake. In terms of conditions, weather and quality of fishing,
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SIERRAS the needle can swing from one extreme to the other, but that only makes it that much more rewarding. On the Upper Owens, a recent dump of snow or heavy rain can make driving to the river, not to mention driving away from it at the end of the day, impossible. Since the area opened, tow trucks are now pretty well versed at pulling people out of While some good action for bass can be had in these parts the mud. But you could also in winter, you go to the Eastern run into bluebird conditions in Sierra for trout in fisheries mid-January as well. You just like the Owens River, Pleasant Valley Reservoir and the West never know. and East Walker River. This section of the Owens (SIERRA DRIFTERS) should be approached differently than most winter trout streams. Doing the tiny midge thing isn’t very effective here. Instead, many successful anglers take a meat-and-potatoes approach with bulky attractor-type stuff like San Juan Worms, Glo Bugs or bigger pheasant tails or prince nymphs. With those flies, they tick the bottom of deeper holes
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and runs, and thankfully, most of the time the best fishing is in the middle of the day. Up the road a bit, between the Upper O and Mammoth Lakes, runs Hot Creek, which is always a zero-limit, barbless hook fishery. It’s a smaller, spring-fed creek that holds big numbers of wild rainbows and browns, and the most popular stretch runs through a deep, scenic canyon.
In the winter, fishing can be challenging for even the most accomplished bug slingers, but it does occasionally kick out a grade of fish that one might think has no business existing in such a modest stream. The East Walker River is usually accessed out of Bridgeport, and flow levels generally dictate the fishing conditions. The “Miracle Mile” section is found below the Bridgeport Reservoir dam, and it’s very popular for anglers looking for good numbers of healthy, wild browns and rainbows and a shot at a trophy. It can be technically challenging, but precision nymphing or streamer fishing is usually what results in the best catches. Those flows can greatly vary in the winter, so checking on conditions with Ken’s Sporting Goods in Bridgeport (760) 932-7707; kenssport.com) before shooting all the way out there is a very good idea. The West Walker is another recent addition to the list of year-round trout waters, and it is located about 15 miles north of Bridgeport via Highway 395, Highway 108 and Sonora Pass Road. A freestone creek fed by snowmelt, it’s full of opportunistic trout – mainly smaller browns with brooks or rainbows – and even whitefish in the mix, and they are not too picky when it comes to what flies they’ll fall for. Big dry and a beadhead caddis or Bird’s Nest dropper are good starting points, and in many cases that’s all you need for the rest of the day. CS
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SOCAL Sunrise over San Vicente Reservoir, which closed down in 2008 and prompted San Diegoarea bass anglers to mourn until it reopened in September. The fishing remains strong for catching nice fish. (BILL SCHAEFER)
GETTING BACK IN THE GAME A BREAKDOWN OF THE NEW SAN DIEGO BASS FACTORY AT SAN VICENTE RESERVOIR
more acre-feet of water storage to the lake. This was one of the largest dam raises in the country.
Editor’s note: Last month we had a story on the reopening of popular San Diego-area San Vicente Reservoir. Our Bill Schaefer has fished the lake since it opened in September and has filed this more detailed breakdown of the fishery.
The lake closed in 2008 and just reopened to the cheers of anglers all across the Southland. Everyone wondered what the fishing would be like in a lake that had seen little more than the occasional fishing poacher. Talk and rumors ran rampant of 100-fish days and wide-open fishing. Biologists who shocked the lake for fish studies and surveys did find a healthy population, but no real giants. Would they show up on opening day? After weeks of constant rumors about the lake opening, the city finally announced a date and Mayor Kevin Faulconer cut the ribbon a few days before fishing began in mid-September.
By Bill Schaefer
S
an Vicente Reservoir is located in San Diego’s East County foothills. The dam, originally built in 1943, was built to serve the water needs of a growing metropolis. The lake originally held about 90,000 acre-feet of water storage, but as the needs of the city grew and the droughts impacted Southern California, the city decided to expand the lake with an enlarging of the dam. The dam now sits about 117 feet taller and the project added about 152,000
BASS ANGLERS REJOICE
BUSY DAYS Between the September opener and the first full weekend of fishing – from Thursday through Monday – the lake’s calsportsmanmag.com | NOVEMBER 2016 California Sportsman
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FISHING fishing availability sold out in about five to six minutes with a limit of approximately 150 boats on the water each day. So how was the fishing? It was indeed out of this world. You could almost throw a bare hook at the water and catch something. Anglers on the very first day talked
adapting to, but remember that exploring is fun, especially when fishing.
TO THE DEEP END Keep in mind that all the noise of 150 buzzing boats did eventually push the bass out into deeper water. The second day and the following days after the opener, anglers had to fish in 30 to 100 feet of water. There was still some topwater action in the morning, but soon after sunrise the fish returned to the depths. It takes a little technique to fish deep, but if you pick a main lake point to fish and throw out into 100 feet of water and work uphill, you should find fish. There are a lot of new underwater humps and rockpiles to fish, and the other interesting variable is that the shoreline brush in the lake now goes out into the 100-foot marks. Plastics are always a good weapon for fishing underwater brush. The lightest sinker or weight you can get away with will help you pull through all those sticks. You should also peg your sinker if you are Texas-rigging worms, as I was. Dead-sticking larger hand-poured Western Plastics worms or Senkos were the hot options for us. We’d let them lay as long as we could stand it, move them an inch and let them sit again. So many times we would go to move it that next inch and the bass would already be on. It almost felt like you were caught in the leaves on the bushes instead of a fish. A mushy feeling on the end of your line, then a hard tug, and half the time you would miss them. More times than not, it was a bass. When in doubt, set the hook!
THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT This shad crankbait was devoured by a nice San Vicente bass. The fish took cover in deep water after the chaos of the grand opening redux, but anglers who work off main lake points into 100 feet of water can find a lot of hungry bass. (BILL SCHAEFER)
of a couple of guys in a boat catching and releasing 100 to 200 bass. It was wide-open topwater in the morning and a later bite on almost anything in their tackle boxes. Furthermore, it was hot at almost every location on this lake. You have to remember that this is a new lake. At least in the sense that after the water raising, the lake contains all new shorelines, points, islands and coves. It may look similar, but it really is not. It will take some
Morning fishing for topwater baits should continue to some extent through the fall. Both poppers like the classic Pop-R or walking baits like a Zara Spook did well. There was even some frog action. Soft and hard jerkbaits also did well in the morning or along mud-lined shores in the afternoon wind. In the middle of the day, the deeper the better, as jigs, worms and creature baits did very well and produced larger bass. Most of the fish were healthy 1½- to 2-pound fish with a lot of 3- to 6-pounders mixed in. Some bass looked very healthy and some looked a bit skinny as the competition for food goes on in the lake. Bass patterns and bluegill patterns were hot; we had several bass throw up baby bass and bluegill they had eaten. Crawdad patterns also did well in reds, purples and blues. All-white Fat Free
HOW TO FISH SAN VICENTE Originally, you had to purchase your permit to launch and fish from TicketMaster, but as the opening week’s crowds subsided, the city took the reins back on the permit sales, which are now available at the lake. All remaining TicketMaster permits in fishermen’s hands will have first-launch rights on the days of their permits until those dates have passed. For more information on all the current rules and regulations of the city lakes, including San Vicente, please take a look at their informative website at sandiego.gov/water/recreation/reservoirs/sanvicente. BS 96 California Sportsman NOVEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
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FISHING shad crankbaits did well for us too.
GEAR CHECK When checking your reel, you may want to load up a little heavier line. I was using Maxima Ultragreen mono in 12and 15-pound for my plastic fishing. You could go with braid on frogs or jigs. There were plenty of break-off fish for us, and it just kills you that you to wonder what could have been. You don’t want to miss out on a giant or your personal best. Remember, there are all those trees and brush in the water, as well as a ton of new rock ledges and piles. There are also quagga mussels in the lake, but the water came up so quickly that they are likely now in 80 to 100 feet. As mentioned, since the lake is a new collection of coves, shoreline and structure, explore the lake and find new areas. You can also fish the higher level areas of old hot spots, but they are now 80 to 100 feet underwater.
now that it has gone through a change. Some anglers will do well and some not so well, but in the end, skill will prevail. There is still a lot this lake will have to go through in its move to take over as the top premier bass lake in San Diego, but I think it is well on its way. CS
STILL SOLID Fishing is now several weeks old, meaning the 100bass days have subsided to about 30 fish per outing, but you can’t get action like that at any other lake in Southern California. San Vicente is a lake that takes a bit of time to figure out
Author Bill Schaefer caught this nice San Vicente bass on a 12-inch worm. Fishing should remain strong through the fall as fish get used to angler pressure again. (BILL SCHAEFER)
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SOCAL
TRADITION TAKES WING(S)
DOVES BRING TOGETHER FAMILIES AND FRIENDS FOR HUNTING SEASONS By Tim E. Hovey
T
he approach of the dove opener has always signaled the beginning of the hunting season for the Hovey household. I’ve chased the deceptively fast game birds for more seasons than I can remember, and sitting next to me on a hunting chair is where my daughters got their first taste of the hunting activity. During those early hunts, I was lucky enough to have a few friends whose kids were interested in hunting. Those first trips are where our kids got to know each other.
California has two dove seasons and several species to hunt, with mourning dove the most coveted. For author Tim Hovey (inset, second from right), hunting these birds with families and friends has become a tradition. (JOE FERREIRA/CDFW AND TIM E. HOVEY) calsportsmanmag.com | NOVEMBER 2016 California Sportsman
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SOCAL Years later, dove hunting is where we all gather to enjoy the company of good friends and an easy hunt. This season marked the ninth dove opener for my daughter, Alyssa, and the fourth in which she actually hunted. During the drive up this year, Alyssa and I reminisced about all the great times we’ve had with our hunting group. As we poured over story after story, it occurred
to me that not once did either of us actually comment about the hunting. It was clear to us both that dove hunting and the opener are so much more of a social event than anything else. A few weeks prior to the hunt, excited phone calls are made and texts sent to see who is headed to our “spot” and what time everyone’s arriving. Since the opener fell on a Thursday this season, many of the regulars opted for
Alyssa Hovey has enjoyed many a cool fall morning hunting doves with her dad and friends. (TIM E. HOVEY)
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SOCAL waiting until the weekend to get together. I was ready to do the same until my good friend Ed Davis gave me a call.
THE NEW HUNTERS Ed and I have been predator hunting partners for over a decade. We stay in touch during the off season, but when the cooler months of fall and winter come rolling around, we make plans to head out for several multiday trips to do some calling. Occasionally, we hunt dove and quail out in the desert, but only if we happen to encounter them while out hunting predators. Up until this year, Ed and I had never hunted a dove opener together. Ed asked if I was headed out for this season’s dove opener. He was hoping to take his brother and nephew out, but he didn’t have a place to go. I told him if he were willing to drive up to where we regularly hunted, I’d take the day off and share a hunt with him. Thirty minutes before sunrise on opening morning, I cleared a spot for the new hunters and started setting up the decoys. A text from Ed stated that they were running a little late. That really didn’t matter for this spot. Birds flew consistently until about 9:30 a.m. Ed, his brother Mike and nephew Cooper showed up, and after some quick introductions, we started hunting together. Ed and Mike hadn’t hunted dove together in
a long time, and this was to be Cooper’s first dove season. Within minutes of their arrival, Cooper made a great passing shot with his 20-gauge on a mourning dove and dropped his very first bird. That morning was filled with great shots, awesome company and the standard joking around. As is often the case, the hunt ended much too soon. The birds stopped flying and the heat started to rise. We gathered around Ed’s truck bed and took some photos. Before we parted ways, Ed and I made plans to head out this season once again for predators. It was great to finally meet some of Ed’s family and, above all, I was happy to see another young hunter get into the sport and do well.
THE REGULARS The following weekend, our regular dove hunting group met up the evening before our Saturday morning outing to grab dinner and to make plans for the following day. I’ve known Rito Escamillia and Jose De Orta for over 10 years. The three of us started hunting the dove opener together back before our kids were old enough to tag along. Once the kids got a bit older, they too became regular members of our hunting group. At dinner we talked about past hunts and the adventures we’ve had. Over the years I’ve watched both Rito and Jose become much better shots than when we first
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SOCAL
Ed Davis (left) and his brother Mike had a chance to hunt dove together after a long time not being able to, and they used the opportunity to introduce Ed’s nephew Cooper to the sport and community. (TIM E. HOVEY)
started hunting together. One of my all-time favorite photos is of the three of us during a dove hunt before the kids came along. After we all bagged limits, we started cleaning up. I noticed that the number of shells I was picking up
was far less than the number of shells Jose was picking up. After we set up for our standard end-of-the-hunt photo, I suggested a second photo that included all the shells. The picture speaks for itself. The next morning we drove out to our hunting area and got set up. My friend John and his daughter Carly met us for the morning shoot. Alyssa and Carly have known each other since grade school, and both her and John have hunted with us during the last few dove seasons. I often wonder if Carly would’ve the even considered hunting had she not known Alyssa. The flight was a bit slower than the opener a few days before, but there were plenty of opportunities for new and experienced hunters throughout the morning. During a lull in the action I looked down the row of hunters and noticed them laughing, joking and just generally enjoying the company. I felt a smile cross my face as I thought about how our hunting group had grown considerably since those early days.
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SOCAL flight was consistent throughout the morning and Alyssa and Adrian both shot their first non-native Eurasian dove during the morning action. Later in the day we shifted to a private section of land we had access to. The flight had slowed way down, but with the building heat, that was fine by us. We sat in the shade and just watched as birds would occasionally get close. A little later, the ownRIVERSIDE COUNTY HOSTS DEBUT OUTDOORS SHOW er of the property stopped by Perris, located in Riverside County, will host an inaugural outdoors show this month. The Soto see how we were doing. Cal Fall Sportsmen’s and Outdoor Recreation Show is scheduled for Nov. 4-6 at the Southern He brought ice cream for California Fair and Event Center in Perris. the kids and sat with us for “Our goal is to feature exhibitors representing the breadth of the sportsman and outdoor a bit. He thought it was great recreational pursuits in the community of our shows – specifically the over four million peothat Jose and I had brought ple in the Inland Empire,” show organizers said in a press release. the kids out to hunt. Before Vendors expected to attend include fishing-, hunting-, boating- and RV-themed compaleaving, he made sure that nies. Several seminars will be available for visitors to attend, and some of the sights include a if we wanted to hunt the 40-gallon fish tank and a live bear show. Visit select Les Schwab tire stores around the Inland Empire to get a $2 admission discount parcel again, just to let him know. I don’t remember coupon. Check out socalsportsmensshow.com for more information. CS who got limits or how many birds each of us harvested. The morning of the hunt we checked in at the golf But I do remember that during each hunt, I had a great course clubhouse and were given a map of our shoottime and enjoyed the company of my hunting friends, ing spot. We drove in and started setting up. Mourning, both new and old. For some reason, this season I also felt white-wing and Eurasian doves were everywhere. The privileged to see the young hunters get involved as well. his work, he had received a special invitation to hunt the Del Rio golf course during the dove opener. The event coordinator had invited him back for the last weekend of the season and he had, of course, secured a spot for Alyssa and me.
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SOCAL Author Tim Hovey loves to hunt in his own state and big game throughout the West, but there’s something about seeing his girls Jessica (left) and Alyssa evolve into passionate outdoors lovers that makes the dove season such a sentimental time for he and his friends, who have also enjoyed their kids’ love of hunting. (TIM E. HOVEY)
I have been very fortunate to meet individuals over the years who share my passion for hunting. I consider myself even luckier that my good friends feel comfortable enough to include their kids in our hunting adventures. Over the years I’ve watched our small group of three grow into a consistent group of ten or so hunters, and I’m hopeful that that number continues to grow. I find that as I get older, I’d rather spend time outdoors with good friends, no matter what the occasion. I haven’t measured the success of a hunt by what’s in the freezer in a very long time, and that’s the way I like it. I enjoy reminiscing with old friends and bringing new hunters into the fold whenever I can. I’m hopeful that the next generation will see how valuable and important our hunting heritage is, and carry it on. Most of all, I hope they stay involved long enough to just enjoy the experience with their good friends. CS Editor’s note: The late dove season begins on Saturday, Nov. 12 and runs through Dec. 26. There’s a 15-bird limit on mourning dove and white-winged dove – 10 of which may be white-winged doves – and no limit on spotted, ring turtle and Eurasian collared doves. Go to wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/ Upland-Game-Birds for more details.
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FISHING
FROM FIELD ...
XCALAK MARKS THE SPOT FLY CASTING FOR BONEFISH, BARRACUDA AND PERMIT IN MEXICO
PERMIT TIME
The tropical setting around Xcalak, Mexico, is only eclipsed by the fishing, where multiple species can be targeted each day. Fishing is only minutes from the quaint huts and cozy lodge you’ll be staying in. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
By Scott Haugen
S
“
trip, strip, strip,” instructed my guide. In hot pursuit of my fly were three bonefish, and they were closing fast. As quickly as we’d seen the fish feeding in the flats, they were at my feet and I could strip no more. They spooked. Minutes later we were on another small school of bonefish, and this time one devoured my rapidly stripped shrimp pattern. Locked in battle, the fish had me into the backing before I knew what happened. Eventually, cradling the sleek, silver bullet of a fish, I plucked the fly from its lips and sent it on its way. It was
my first bonefish, a species I’d always dreamed of pursuing. Over the course of the next 90 minutes, I’d land five more bonefish and lose a bruiser in excess of 4 pounds. “That’s good,” smiled my guide, Alberto, in near perfect English. “Let’s go for permit now.” With the day young, Alberto thought we had a good chance of catching a slam, which meant I’d need to fool a permit and land a tarpon, neither of which I’d ever fished for. We were in Xcalak (sh-ka-lak), Mexico, fishing some of the world’s richest saltwater flats. Alberto has been guiding these waters for over 25 years and knows them, and the fish, extremely well.
It didn’t take long and we were in permit territory, what many anglers consider the holy grail of this fishery. I dropped my crab fly a few feet in front of three feeding permit, but they wanted nothing to do with it. The 30- to 35-pound fish looked giant, and I felt helpless. “That was perfect; they just didn’t want it,” whispered Alberto. I soon discovered the biggest challenge of permit fishing was not the presentation but convincing them to bite the fly. I didn’t get a permit that day, as high winds eventually challenged my average casting ability. I did battle three little tarpon, which was more fun than I could have imagined. Sight fishing for baby tarpon as they cruised the mangrove edges was a thrill, and the fight these little 5- to 10-pound fish dish out is impressive. I also caught barracuda, a fish I’d return to Xcalak for. Casting topwater plugs, retrieving them as fast as I could, having them launch from the water to attack the plug, then locking in battle for aerodynamic fights is addicting. Joining me on this trip was a good friend, Dale Williams, who has fished Mexico over 40 times. He’s a veteran of fly fishing the salt flats, and it showed. Dale pulled off a grand slam on two different days, catching a bonefish, permit and tarpon in one day; on one of those days he also
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FISHING caught a snook on a surface popper. It was fun watching Dale dissect the water with precision casting, and it quickly became clear that the better caster you are, the more fish you’ll catch. The guide can only do so much in getting you close to fish; putting the fly where it needs to be is up to you.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT Before embarking on such a trip, dial-in your casting prowess. Being able to cast into high winds and against stiff crosswinds will help you catch more permit and bones. Placing that fly beneath mangrove branches and into tight slots will result in latching into tarpon. Bringing your own gear is advised. A 10-weight rod with up to 40-pound tippet is good for permit. A 7-weight rod with 12-pound tippet is ideal for bones and little tarpon. If you want to go after barracuda,
bring a spinning rod with braid and a few topwater plugs 6 inches long or more, along with wire leader. My fly rods of choice worked out great and I’ll take them on my next trip. Both were G.Loomis Pro 4X, 9-foot, four-piece rods that conveniently fit into my checked bag. Be sure and get saltwater fly lines, as the heat is intense and can quickly impact lines used in cold water. Size 6 and 8 Gotcha flies, along with Teeny Nymph bonefish flies, were the goto patterns for bones. Crab flies were the ticket on permit and streamer-like flies in a selection of colors – black and red are my top performers – did well on little tarpon. My spinning rod was Cabela’s Fish Eagle FE50S, a four-piece, 7-foot rod with an 8- to 12-pound line rating. Spooled on my Shimano Stradic 3000 reel was 65-pound Maxcuatro braid, which is a thin, tough, four-strand braid that allowed me to cast 75 yards. This combination performed
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Dale Williams, a veteran fly angler and longtime booking agent for trips to Mexico, shows off a prized snook. On this day, Dale would also catch and release bonefish, permit and tarpon, accounting for his second slam of the trip in these beautiful waters of Xcalak, Mexico. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
great on barracuda in excess of 30 pounds. Being able to cover so much water greatly boosted ‘cuda catch rates, and the line performed perfectly in the saltwater and intense heat.
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FISHING A MEXICAN PARADISE Getting to and from this fishing paradise in remote Xcalak is easy. Fly into Cancun, overnight in a hotel and a driver will pick you up for the fourhour drive to camp the next morning. They’ll also take you to the airport the morning of your flight home. The local staff is as friendly as I’ve experienced in Mexico. Your day starts with breakfast at 7 a.m., followed by fishing from 8 to 4. When back at the dock, the staff will meet you with drinks and take your rods to clean with fresh water. By the time you shower and change, more drinks will be ready in the quaint dining area, where you’ll relax until the sun sets and a divine dinner is served, followed by dessert and a nightcap if you desire. Accommodations are in traditional huts, and with an ocean breeze you’ll be comfortable through the night. Flush toilets in each hut make for a nice luxury.
Author Scott Haugen was pleased and more than impressed with the bonefishing action in Xcalak. He vows to return to this magical Mexican destination. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
Though this was my first bonefishing trip to Mexico, it won’t be my last. The total experience exceeded my wildest dreams. Relaxing on the beach – watching frigate birds and pelicans catch fish mere feet from shore while iguanas slither across the nearby rocks and a cold drink in your hand – was the perfect way to end
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each day. Reflecting on all the fish caught only added to the adventure, one I look forward to reliving sooner rather than later. CS Editor’s note: To book your world-class fishing adventure in Xcalak, Mexico, visit rodandreeladventures.com or call Dale Williams at 1-800-356-6982.
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LOVING LIFE IN LORETO By Troy Rodakowski
R
ecently, I was fortunate enough to get a call from my friend and fellow writer Jason Brooks. His call was accompanied by an invitation from the Villa Del Palmar Resort (villagroupresorts.com/resorts/villa-del-palmar-loreto/contact-us) on the Baja Peninsula, just outside of the small town of Loreto, Mexico, to cover
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their first annual dorado fishing tournament. I jumped at the opportunity. With the chance to visit this rich and majestic land, meet the friendly people and enjoy its rich history, my bags were quickly packed, even before I had the plane ticket in hand. I can most definitely say that it has always been a dream of this Pacific Northwest outdoorsman to visit the region.
FISHING
An opportunity to fish the clear blue waters of Mexico’s ecologically diverse Sea of Cortez was a no-brainer for the author. (JASON BROOKS)
ENJOYING FISHING, GOLF AND FOOD ON MEXICO’S BAJA PENINSULA Biologically speaking, the Sea of Cortez is the richest body of water on our entire planet. This diverse sea supports more than 900 varieties of fish and more than 2,000 species of marine invertebrates. It is home to many species that exist only within its waters. The sea is abundant with game fish – both small and large – and an extraordinary amount of world-record fish have been taken in these waters. Several species of whales regularly visit the
sea, and the whale shark, the world’s largest fish, is quite common as far north as Bahia de Los Angeles. What is the reason this small sea is home to so many species of fish and other marine creatures? Basically, it has to do with the food supply that is so abundant in the Sea of Cortez. The reason for the abundance of food is complex, but in simple terms it is not that difficult to understand. Trophy game fish come here to feed on the rich supply of kelp, smaller fish and other aquatic life. Additionally, the Sea of Cortez is too small to have much of a real lunar tide of its own. Even though it has no tides, the sea does produce a very strong tidal flow. The lunar tides of the Pacific cause strong currents in the sea, which actually occur as a lifting motion. The speed of these currents is determined, in part, by the width of the shore, the depth of the water and the contour of the bottom. This region boasts 155 miles of coastline, 465 square miles of sea and five islands within a United Nations-protected Marine Park, listed as a United Nations Heritage Site, which helps maintain the pristine beauty of Loreto. I was excited to get a first-person view of the region.
UPON ARRIVING IN LORETO, we were greeted by the encalsportsmanmag.com | NOVEMBER 2016 California Sportsman
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FISHING tire resort staff with open arms, drinks and some excellent food at the Casa Mia restaurant on the resort property. I highly recommend the fish taco sliders and spicy chicken. They are both washed down with cold margaritas, local beer and iced tea. We spent the rest of our afternoon familiarizing ourselves with the resort grounds and amenities nestled in a majestic landscape that is constantly taking one’s breath away. “The property is beautiful and set in an area of unique natural beauty,” says Joe Sarmiento of BD Outdoors in West Covina. After dinner and a few more cold drinks around the fire pit overlooking the bay, we all retired to our fantastic rooms in anticipation of some good saltwater fishing. Several teams were entered into the first annual Villa Del Palmar Dorado Tournament, which boasted a first prize of $5,000 and second- and third-place finishers receiving complimentary resort stays with other incentives. While
The Villa Del Palmar Resort features a championship golf course and a seaside location in Loreto on the Baja Peninsula. (JASON BROOKS)
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FISHING half of the group of journalists fished, other members would be treated to a “fisherman’s massage,” complete with sauna, salt and aloe baths and steam room at the
Sabila Spa after a round of golf. A newly designed and currently under-construction Rees Jones 18-hole pro course traverses a good majority of the resort grounds, through the hills and along the sea. This resort course Boats are ready to leave the dock at Danzante Bay on the day of the fishing tournament in Loreto. (JASON BROOKS)
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FISHING
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With plenty of Sea of Cortez fishy critters near the surface, this pelican found itself scooping up a lot of meals on the water. (JASON BROOKS)
maximizes the magnificent views of both Danzante Bay and the Sea of Cortez to the east and the Sierra de la Giganta mountain range to the west. I have to admit to not being a big golf guy since I only hit a course once or maybe twice annually and have to dust off my golf bag each time. But my experience here proved why diehard golfers enjoy the sport so much. “There’s so much more to Loreto and Villa Del Palmar than just fishing,” says John Kruse, host of Northwestern Outdoors Radio and America Outdoors Radio. Of course, I
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ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES IN LORETO These islands also offer paddle boarding, hiking, wine and tequila tasting, Mission Tours and so much more. There is also a deep history of missionaries and Mexican historical sites to tour and see when visiting the area of Loreto. Taking tours and eating some of the local cuisine is also a very excellent idea. VILLA DEL PALMAR RESORT CONTACT INFO Phone: toll free USA 866-209-0726, or locally call 011 +52; (613) 134-1010 General Manager: Sixto Navarro Owner/Operator: The Villa Group Address: Carretera Transpeninsular km 84 Ensenada Blanca Loreto, Baja California Sur, Z.C. 23880 TRAVELING TO LORETO Getting to Loreto is easy. From the United States, it’s a short, two-hour flight from Los Angeles International Airport on Alaska Airlines directly to Loreto. There are also several flight and bus options when traveling within Mexico to Loreto. CS
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FISHING would have to fully agree with Kruse after my experience here on the first day.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, OTHER folks were also having quite the adventure with Danzante Tours, and after the first day and several species of fish landed, there were many stories to tell at dinner that evening. Several anglers were able to capture photos of manta rays, whales, sailfish, dolphins and other wildlife. Some of the prize catches included marlin, sea bass, roosterfish, a hammerhead shark (that was released unharmed) and, of course, dorado. The tournament went off without a hitch, with the entire tournament fishing group enjoying some good company and time on the water. Kayak fishermen were also fishing near shore and several anglers cast into the surf from the sandy beaches. Several of them were landing fish, with one even losing his GoPro in the salty waters of the bay. It truly is a special place, where you can almost imagine what Cabo might have been like 20 or more years ago. If you like to fish and relax without the crowds, then Loreto and Villa Del Palmar is the place to book your next adventure. Some of the world’s premier saltwater experiences occur here
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Northwestern Outdoors Radio host John Kruse shows off a snapper, one of many species of fish caught on the trip. (JASON BROOKS)
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FISHING and several fishing tournaments are held throughout the year. The hospitality we encountered was second to none, while I was personally grateful to all the employees at the resort. Each person takes their job to heart and cares for the guests as they would their own family, just as the nearby town of Loreto is defined (a very nice and kind person that is very supportive). “If big things come in small packages, then Loreto is quite large and is one of the best vacation destinations you have never heard of until now,” From watching playful dolphins to kayak fishing adds Parimal Rohit in calm water, Loreto is of the Log Newspaper a prime destination spot for outdoor adventure in L.A. CS seekers. (JASON BROOKS)
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HUNTING
DON’T WASTE THAT TAG
A chance to pick up leftover antelope tags was enough of an incentive for Tim Hovey (right) and Jose De Orta (glassing above) to head to Gillette, Wyoming. For two adventurous hunters from California, it was a nobrainer. (TIM E. HOVEY)
A SECOND CHANCE TO HUNT WYOMING ANTELOPE WAS WORTH THE TRIP By Tim E. Hovey
S
ince I failed to get drawn in the 2016 antelope hunting lottery, I thought a trip to Wyoming was not in the cards for me this year. But a friend of a friend heard that I had blanked on the draw and suggested I check out a unit near Gillette, Wyoming, which still had plenty of leftover antelope tags. Though I felt a bit skeptical, I jumped on the Wyoming Game and Fish (WGF) website and instant-
ly saw why the area was still flush with tags. Over 75 percent of the unit is on private land and the public section is a patchwork of Bureau of Land Management and private land, WGF-protected and private but huntable property. If you didn’t have a detailed map of the unit, you’d have no idea where you were. I called my good friend Jose De Orta and asked him what he thought. Despite being unfamiliar with the area, he was up for the road trip. I believe Jose and I hunt harder than
most, and the limited public hunting area didn’t bother either of us. By the end of the phone call, we had each acquired two leftover antelope tags for Unit 23 off the website and had a plan in place to arrive in Gillette on the day before the opener. The 18 hours of travel and the rushed, five-hour scouting run the day before were all forgotten in the excitement of the early-morning drive. Jose and I were headed towards our hunting unit before sunrise, the excitement of the 2016 antelope opener washing away the fatigue.
WE PULLED OFF THE highway and headed out into the dark plains of central
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HUNTING
When the guys first arrived, there were other hunters already in the unit, but when they found another walk-in spot, antelope were within range. (TIM E. HOVEY)
A GPS, map and binos came in handy to find other huntable land. (TIM E. HOVEY)
Wyoming. Our excitement at locating several herds of antelope the day before was dampened by over a dozen sets of taillights glowing bright in the darkness; other hunters had beat us to the area.
As we expected, four trucks were already parked at the area we had planned to hunt. It was a walk-inonly area and we figured we could explore the larger parcel away from the crowds. It was clear we weren’t
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the only ones with this strategy. We drove on, despite being somewhat discouraged. Without an alternative plan, we referenced our GPS. Following the recorded tracks of our recent visit, we found another walkin access spot several miles away. We got out and started glassing the new area, and as the shadows started giving way to the rising sun, the animals began to move. Mule deer seemed to be everywhere, with the occasional buck trailing does, as tending fawns nervously walked through the canyons. A flat field over a mile away lit up as the rising sun spilled over the hills. Brown forms on the plateau turned out to be more deer. I was about to shift focus to another area when several spots of white caught my attention. A small herd of 10 antelope fed near the deer. Since the antelope were located on a section of the walk-in area, we couldn’t drive any closer. We grabbed our meat packs and rifles and geared up for a hike towards the field. Shots in the distance up near the area we wanted to hunt that morning convinced us that hiking away from the other hunters was the right move. For the next hour, we picked out a path to the flat area. Occasionally, we’d glass the field to make sure the antelope were still there. As we got closer, I was able to spot a nice buck in the feeding group. Since we each had an either-sex antelope tag, we had agreed that during the first day of the hunt, we’d try to take a buck first.
ABOUT 500 YARDS FROM the field, we discussed our final approach. A small creek with high banks bordered the field and allowed us to move closer undetected. The wind was in our favor and a deep cut on the far bank nearest the field was still in the shadows. After a brief discussion, we decided the cut was where we needed to be to close the distance. We slowly crawled up the bank near the deep cut. Brush at the top hid our approach. Once at the edge,
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HUNTING we spotted the antelope about 150 yards away. They were feeding on the ďŹ&#x201A;at and they had no idea we were there. Off to the left, the deer I had ďŹ rst spotted were on alert and staring in our direction. The antelope, maybe 10 animals in all, were slowly feeding
away from us. A lone buck moved at the edge of the group, alert but occasionally feeding. Since Jose had never harvested a buck antelope, we decided that heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d try for the male guarding the group, while I focused on a large doe close by. We were waiting for the animals to move into a broadside position when a smaller buck ap-
proached from the left. He was a second-year buck with a big body. I signaled to Jose that I was taking a shot at the little buck instead. We stayed calm, relaxed on our shooting sticks and took our shots. Joseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s buck fell where it stood and mine required a quick follow-up shot, but it was also down. The remainder of the herd ran off a short distance and stopped. With a doe tag still unďŹ lled, I steadied my aim on the
De Orta (left) and Hovey ďŹ lled their buck tags. (TIM E. HOVEY)
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HUNTING largest female in the group and took the shot. She folded out at 390 yards. It took us a few hours to quarter out all three animals and to get them back to our truck. After deboning most of the meat and putting it on ice, we drove over to another walkin area to eat lunch. The afternoon heat had shut everything down and the place was deserted. All the hunters and trucks were gone, but we were still in the game.
WE DROPPED THE TAILGATE on the truck and sat underneath it to escape the heat. We broke out the cold drinks and our standard hunting food: bean and cheese burritos. Even though Jose had another tag left, I don’t think either one of us was actively searching for another animal. The morning hunt had us beat and we were content to just sit and relax. I was contemplating a nap and Jose was looking out over the can-
yon we were sitting near. From our perch we had a perfect view of the walk-in hunting area we had driven right by earlier that morning. The parcel was mostly flat and large sections looked like they had been cattle-grazed at one time. Sage and other native plants bordered the flat area making it easy to glass. Jose was glassing a small section of the area, and while I did notice he seemed to be focused on one spot, I didn’t say anything. Then Jose spoke. “Let’s go get my second goat!” He had spotted a pair of first-year animals feeding about a mile away. I looked them over and I figured we could easily get close enough for a shot. We drove a little closer, grabbed one pack and hiked in. We stayed downwind and used the terrain to our advantage. When we thought we were close, we peeked over and found that both animals had moved and were watching us approach. We couldn’t get any closer, and Jose
knew that he was probably going to have to take a long shot to fill his last tag. I dropped the pack and scooted to the edge of the vegetation to get a range on the antelope. Both animals were about 225 yards away, and Jose steadied himself on his shooting sticks, adjusted his scope and took the shot. The closer animal crumpled in the brush and the other antelope trotted off a short distance. Our last Wyoming tag was filled. With an hour or so of daylight left, we parted out our last antelope, loaded the meat into the pack and headed back to the truck. We boned out the meat and placed it in the coolers. We cleaned up and wasted the last few minutes of daylight talking to a couple of other hunters. As darkness fell, we headed back into town for beer and pizza. We owed a big thanks to Owen Kimberling, a taxidermist I recently met through an online hunting fo-
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HUNTING rum, for the success on this hunt. He was the one who had convinced me to grab the leftover antelope tags for the unit. He also suggested that we pick up an OnXmaps GPS chip for the area before the trip to help guide us through the patchwork of land ownership. Owen also sent me a detailed map of the area as well. During our hunt, I referenced the map and the GPS frequently and can safely say we couldn’t have navigated the area without both.
It was a long drive from California to Wyoming, featuring a lot of barren roads and gas station pit stops. But the thrill of a hunt and bags full of meat to bring home was worth the trouble. (TIM E. HOVEY)
TO ME, HUNTING IS not about what I can stuff in the freezer at the end of the trip. I look at each outing as an adventure, and sharing these trips with good friends makes them memorable and enjoyable. If you looked at this trip as a whole, you would see that we drove 36 hours to hunt one single day. We pushed the limit of personal endurance and stamina, ate crappy food along the way, and all I
can remember of the drive there and back were the countless gas stations we frequently pulled into. Yet all this fades with the memo-
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The author (front) and northern Nevada native Clay Belding might look relaxed here, but the action was fast and furious north of Reno, where coyotes wreak havoc with local livestock producers and their cattle and sheep. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)
ON THE TRAIL OF DESERT DOGS A NORTHERN NEVADA HUNT HELPS ELIMINATE LIVESTOCK-THREATENING COYOTES
By Brittany Boddington
L
ast month, I had the pleasure of doing a guest appearance on the Sportsman Channel show, Dead Dog Walkin’. It also happened to be my very first coyote hunt. I seem to have done everything backwards. I hunted hyenas in Africa and wolves in Macedonia, but I’d still had never shot a coyote in the United States! That was about to change.
CLAY BELDING, WHO HOSTS Dead Dog Walkin’ and grew up in nearby Reno, invited me to try out this coyote hunting thing, and I readily accepted. We went up to the northern edge of Nevada – Belding has some family living
there – and we stayed with them. On our first morning, we got up early, loaded up his Polaris ATV and headed out. There are big open areas of land in this sparsely populated area, some farmed and some just open country. We set up in a field with our backs tucked into brush and Belding put out a decoy that screams like a dying rabbit. I settled in and we’d been there only about 15 minutes before Belding said, “OK, next spot.” I thought he was joking! In my experience, when you sit in a blind, you stay put, but apparently not in coyote hunting. If they don’t show up in 15 minutes, then the chances are good that they are not coming. I immediately thought that coyote hunting is my
kind of hunting. We didn’t even sit long enough to get bored! The next stand we set up was similar (to be honest, they all are), so we set up our decoy and tucked ourselves against some brush. This time we waited five minutes and a coyote came running at top speed toward the decoy. I was shooting a .22-250 rifle from Savage and I had it on sticks, but I wanted the coyote to stop for the shot. Belding made a noise just as the coyote got to the decoy and it stopped for a split second, allowing me to get a shot off. The coyote spun around, dropped and we got super excited. My first coyote was officially down, but that wasn’t the end of the hunt; we had lots more coyotes to hunt.
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We set up stand after stand and were successful most of the time. Belding had a shotgun and I was on the rifle. If the coyote got too close or wouldn’t stop, he would take it with his gun. If I could get a shot with the rifle, that coyote was mine. It was a pretty effective system, considering we shot nine coyotes in three days. From some stands we even got doubles! I was shooting with a suppressor, so I would shot a coyote as it came hauling in and then before we could get up to go see it, another one would come hauling in behind it and Belding would be a take it with the shotgun. The predators were going down frequently.
ALL THIS COYOTE KILLING might seem excessive unless, of course,
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This area of Nevada features lots of high desert terrain and shrublands, prime habitat for coyotes. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)
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In a lull between coyote appearances, Boddington and Belding staged an impromptu handgun shooting contest that the latter won, earning the right to take the next coyote. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)
you are a livestock producer or have seen the terrible carnage that they do to cattle in Nevada and other states where coyotes run amok. One such businessperson said that she lost a calf and a cow because the coyotes attacked while the cow was giving birth and managed to kill both. While we were out hunting on some grazing areas, we would walk over dried-up carcasses of sheep and cows. These coyotes were obviously hammering the area pretty hard, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to control the population via hunting. One afternoon we took a break and did some handgun shooting. We made it a competition to see who got to shoot the next coyote. Unfortunately, my handgun skills are not quite as good as Beldingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, so he got to shoot next. But the next morning we headed out to what was my absolute favorite stand, where we had our backs against a big rock face and we could see out a long way in front and to the sides. We set out the call and immediately had a coyote come running in from a long distance out. This one must have spotted us because it turned and ran away before it got within range. While we were busy watching that coyote, I happened to look down and noticed there was another desert dog standing a mere 20 yards from me. We made eye contact and both of us panicked! I tried to shift my gun; he turned and spun his wheels in the dirt until he got traction and 156 California Sportsman NOVEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
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took off. A few moments later, another coyote came running in from the other direction, but it never stopped, so Belding shot it with the shotgun. Just after that, yet another came in and he took that one too. I gave him a look and he laughed and said I could have the next one, but then I remembered it was his turn anyways because he had beaten me in the handgun competition the day before. We laughed it off and headed to the next stand, where we each got one. That was one heck of a hunt, and a good deed to help keep these predators controlled! CS Editor’s note: Brittany Boddington is a Los Angeles-based journalist, hunter and adventurer. For more, go to brittanyboddington.com and like at facebook.com/ brittanyboddington.
In California and other Western states where coyotes are omnipresent, predator control hunting helps keep the coyote population in check. Boddington and Belding took down plenty of desert dogs during their outing in northern Nevada. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)
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HELP DEFEAT PROP 63
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HUNTING
WHY CALIFORNIA POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION
OPPOSES CONTROVERSIAL PROP 63 By Rudy Escalante
F
inding balance in the debate on gun regulations is – to say the least – very difficult. For the California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA), an organization whose members are responsible for the safety of over 26 million Californians, we play an important role in helping shape firearm policies that enhance public safety without harming the rights of the law-abiding citizens we are sworn to protect.
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HUNTING From our perspective, Proposition 63, the Safety for All Act, fails to meet that balance and instead complicates our existing laws without living up to the title is was given. CPCA has worked on a number of measures to strengthen gun laws in order to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous persons. However, until this year, our laws did little to regulate the sale of ammunition. As it stands, any felon can simply walk into a Big 5 or Wal-Mart and purchase boxes of ammunition, no questions asked. As a result, millions of rounds of ammunition h have been sold to felons and other prohibited persons at gun shops and sporting-goods stores across the state. In order to remove the fuel that enables gun violence, CPCA supported legislation this summer to create a statewide standard fo ammunition sales. for Senate Bill 1235, which is set tto take effect at the start of 2019, will finally provide law enforcemen with clear information on forcement
164 California Sportsman NOVEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
who is selling and buying ammunition. Under that system, ammunition purchases will be verified at the point of sale, similar to buying alcohol or tobacco. If the purchaser is a registered gun owner, the sale is completed; and if a prohibited person, the sale is denied and law enforcement is alerted. From a public safety perspective, this law makes sense. Law enforcement can ensure that felons aren’t purchasing cases of ammunition, and lawful gun owners aren’t burdened beyond reason for the added safety check. In
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HUNTING friends and family members. Furthermore, the initiative will make it harder for law enforcement to buy ammunition in bulk from out of state, which will cost taxpayers. Done this way, the problems Proposition 63 creates with current law are not worth the limited benefits. Finally, since Proposition 63 is a ballot initiative, it will also require voter approval to fix any unintended consequences that don’t further the intent of the measure – a task much more costly and burdensome to the public.
CPCA remains committed to enhancing
contrast, Proposition 63 seeks to complicate current law with one that is more rigid and costly to California. Among its many provisions, Proposition 63 requires every Californian who wants to buy ammunition to apply for a new license, wait 30 days for clearance, and pay $50 every four years for renewal. There are also additional restrictions on personal transfers of ammunition between
public safety through reasonable firearms reform. However, Proposition 63 offers unnecessary changes that complicate current law and it should be rejected by voters. CS Editor’s note: Rudy Escalante is the California Police Chiefs Association’s firearms committee chairman. For more info on the CPCA, check out californiapolicechiefs.org. To learn more about the opposition of Proposition 63, go to stoptheammograb .com.
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