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2018 SPORTSMAN CALENDAR INSIDE!

LAND MORE

BASS THIS WINTER

Tricks For Lunker Largies

PaciямБc Potluck Crabs, Lings, & More Off SF

ALSO INSIDE A

Holiday Gift Ideas For Sportswomen

North Coast Steelhead

2017 Gift Guide

Hunting Near & Far SoCal Quail

Wyoming Muleys

Romania Chamois

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2 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

North Star Outfitting

Providing whitetail deer hunts, mule deer hunts, black bear hunts, moose hunts and waterfowl hunts in Alberta for over 22 years In Aug 2017, we acquired another waterfowl area just across the border in Saskatchewan.

This will give us the opportunity to take clients for sand hill cranes now!

At North Star Outfitting we personally guide whitetail deer hunts, mule deer hunts, black bear hunts, moose hunts and waterfowl hunts. When you book a hunt with us you will be accompanied by a professional hunter who is focused on the specific species you are hunting. We know what it takes to make your hunt successful and enjoyable. Our guides were born and raised in this area and know the hunting area and the behaviors and patterns of the animals we hunt.

Our waterfowl hunts are either 3 or 4 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

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2017 California Sportsman

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6 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2017 California Sportsman

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Sportsman

California Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource

Volume 10 • Issue 3 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 Mark Fong, Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Todd Kline, Steve Martarano, Bill Schaefer, Amy C. Witt SALES MANAGER Katie Higgins ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Nancy Ekse, Mamie Griffin, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold PRODUCTION MANAGER Sonjia Kells DESIGNERS Sam Rockwell, Jake Weipert PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Kelly Baker DIGITAL STRATEGIST Jon Hines OFFICE MANAGER/ACCOUNTING Audra Higgins ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Katie Sauro INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@calsportsmanmag.com CORRESPONDENCE Email ccocoles@media-inc.com Twitter @CalSportsMan Facebook.com/californiasportsmanmagazine ON THE COVER Pulling a largemouth from the depths of a California lake can be a challenge for winter bass anglers. But as our Todd Kline reports, don’t give up hope for catching fish as the weather cools off. (TODD KLINE) 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

8 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2017 California Sportsman

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CONTENTS

VOLUME 10 • ISSUE 3 (TODD KLINE)

FEATURES 37

START THINKING STEELIES Scott Haugen loves the holidays, and not just because of the family gatherings, food and festivities. It’s about time for steelhead fishing in California’s coastal rivers. In this month’s Field to Fire column, Haugen offers a primer on how to catch these beautiful sea-run rainbows, which his wife and chef Tiffany Haugen pairs with a trip to Spain for a delicious, one-pot paella recipe.

49

SEAFOOD SMORGASBORD Dungeness season is upon us, and anglers in the Bay Area are taking advantage of potluck trips that include ocean bottomfishing and picking up a few crab pots along the way. Mark Fong joined Berkeleybased Happy Hooker Sportfishing in search of some of the Pacific’s lingcod, rockfish and a bucket fill of yummy Dungies to take home.

59

With the holidays fast approaching, it’s time to start thinking about a gift for your wife, daughter or sister.

If they’re like Amy Witt, they’ll love fishing and hunting gear, apparel or even, as Amy suggests, a locally made leather holster. Check out a few of the author’s favorite ideas if you’re pondering what to give the sportswoman in your life.

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71

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE FOR CALIFORNIA SPORTSWOMEN

CROWDS AND QUAIL The long drought depressed California topknot populations, but last winter’s big rains revived them big time, so it wasn’t all that surprising Tim Hovey found his happy hunting grounds overrun with fellow wingshooters on the recent opener. But what you might find surprising is how he bagged his limit.

OVERACHIEVE WITH THE UNDERSPIN

Bassin’ guru Todd Kline prepares for the colder water temperatures of winter by fishing underspins – jigs with a swimbait or fluke body and a small blade – slowly from the bottom to entice sluggish largemouth to strike. Kline shares his favorite brands, tackle options and techniques for scoring December lunkers in Southern California.

DEPARTMENTS 13 17 27 29 33 57 121

The Editor’s Note Protecting Wild California: Federal, state hatcheries team to help meet Chinook spawning goals Outdoor calendar Adventures of Todd Kline Photo contest winners Rig of the Month: Work bass with double soft jerkbait rig Urban Huntress: Chamois hunting adventure in Romanian mountains

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 75 83 101 109

Winter bassing means fishing slowly Cabo magic: How Southland couple got in the Baja charterfishing business Start your dog’s hunting career right Southern California family returns to Wyoming to hunt deer

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) 382-9220 with VISA or M/C. Back issues are available at Media Index Publishing Group offices at the cost of $5 plus shipping. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card.

Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 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.

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calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2017 California Sportsman

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12 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

THEEDITOR’SNOTE

I

always look forward to editing our Urban Huntress Brittany Boddington’s columns, if for no other reason than for my nerdiness about geography and travel.

The editor (with his travel buddy Norv Leong) Boddington has stick out their necks for a selfie at Transylvania’s Bran Castle, where the legend says Vlad Dracula reported on hunting trips once held court (in reality, he rarely spent much from Alaska to Zimbabwe, time there). Romania is a great country to visit, and has had her passport as our Urban Huntress Brittany Boddington also discovered while hunting chamois. (CHRIS COCOLES) stamped and tags filled in Macedonia and Mauritius. Indeed, many of her destinations have been exotic lands far off the radar of most American tourists.

“Sometimes when you leave, you find places you could never anticipate,” she recently told me. “The culture of these far-off places is part of what I love about hunting around the world. I’m always learning and growing as a person with each trip.”

I totally understand. In October I went to New Zealand (Brittany’s hunted there; California Sportsman, August 2015) and wrote about my fishing experience on the North Island here last month. Over the last few years, New Zealand is one of the more “mainstream” countries I’ve visited.

I’ve never sniffed the Eiffel Tower but have walked along the same street in Sarajevo, Bosnia, where Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, helping light the fuse that sparked World War I. I might not have spied monkeys in Costa Rica, but how many of you have watched a red fox wander within a few yards away on a remote island farm in Estonia (Brittany’s hunted there; California Sportsman, November 2015)?

This month, Boddington took her show to the Carpathian Mountains of Romania, and surely you don’t know a lot of intrepid travelers from the U.S. who have been to that corner of Eastern Europe, right? Unless you know me.

I spent 10 days exploring Romania in 2016. I drank a refreshing Romanian lager brand, Ursus (with a crown-wearing bear as the logo), in the pleasantly clean and edgy capital city of Bucharest.

I followed in the footsteps of Vlad the Impaler – you might know him better as Vlad Dracula – in the not so spooky but drop-dead gorgeous and quaint medieval region of Transylvania. It was an amazing country with some great scenery, tasty local wines and just enough grit and attitude to keep it real.

“Hunting in Romania was surprising,” Boddington told me. “The country is famous for Dracula, but no one told me about how beautiful it was! The trees were all sorts of yellows and reds and absolutely breathtaking. The people are friendly and the food is incredible!”

When I told friends and extended family members before I left and after I got back where I’d visited, many looked at me like I was crazy.

But I feel so lucky that I’ve seen Kosovo, Latvia and Cuba (where I made sure to check out many landmarks and haunts of author and diehard sportsman Ernest Hemingway) before I’ve ever traveled to Great Britain, Jamaica and even Hawaii. I can’t wait to find another fishing spot far off the tourist trail on one of the globe’s backroads. -Chris Cocoles

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2017 California Sportsman

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14 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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NEW THIS YEAR: Additional 30 days extended season calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2017 California Sportsman

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16 C California alllif ifo iif forni niia S n Sportsman portsman DECE DECEMBER EEC CEEMBER C MBE MBER BER R 2017 201 201 017 | cals calsportsmanmag.com l portsman aan nmag.com

PROTECTING

WILD CALIFORNIA

STATE, FEDERAL AGENCIES TEAM UP FOR SALMON CONSERVATION

By Steve Martarano

C

alifornia experienced record rainfalls this past winter, but negative impacts due to the unprecedented five-year statewide drought continue for Chinook salmon produced at the Coleman National Fish Hatchery.

In a unique partnership that hasn’t been utilized in 40 years, the state of California stepped in to help out.

The Coleman hatchery, located in Anderson, about 10 miles south of Redding, is the only federally operated fish hatchery in the state, with an annual production of 12 million fall-run salmon smolts that are typically released into nearby Battle Creek each spring.

This allows them to complete the im-

In 2014 and 2015, extreme drought conditions prevented Coleman National Fish Hatchery from releasing young fall Chinook into Battle Creek, so roughly 24 million smolts were let loose nearly 300 miles downstream instead. But when the salmon returned as adults this season, they didn’t know where to go, so they strayed, forcing the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Nimbus Hatchery (bottom) to open its fish ladder early on Oct. 9 to accommodate their arrival. That allowed U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Marc Provencher (top) and others to collect eggs for the federal facility’s needs. (STEVE MARTARANO/USFWS) calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2017 California Sportsman

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Staffers from state and federal agencies work together: CDFW’s Gary Novak (left), USFWS’s Provencher and CDFW’s Greg Ferguson team to extract milt from a male Chinook, which eventually will be mixed with females’ eggs. (STEVE MARTARANO)

printing cycle during their outmigration to the ocean.

In 2014 and 2015, however, due to extreme drought conditions which prevented release into Battle Creek, most of those 24 million fish were driven almost 200 miles by truck (about 280 river miles) and released into locations near the San Francisco Bay, including Rio Vista, Mare Island and San Pablo Bay. As a result, a good portion of the Chinook salmon smolts that were released in 2014 – about 8 million of the 12 million were trucked that year – strayed off course when they returned to freshwater to spawn. In 2015, poor conditions persisted and all 12 million of those smolts ended up being trucked. These fish are returning to spawn primarily during the current year.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Nimbus Hatchery, located near Sacramento on the American River, opened its fish ladder early on Oct. 9 to accommodate the arrival of those straying fish. Beginning Oct. 10, twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, hatchery workers from Coleman arrived in Sacramento to help CDFW spawn fish that originated in Battle Creek.

The eggs collected at Nimbus will be returned to Coleman to prepare for the planned spring release, to help augment what could be the lowest Chinook salmon return ever, said Brett Galyean, project leader for the Coleman hatchery complex.

In typical years, Coleman will see a 18 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

return of around 30,000 fish and, since 1996, as many as almost 143,000. This year, however, because of the droughtcaused trucking, only about 3,000 are expected to return to Battle Creek.

“It’s pretty spectacular the way the state has stepped up to help us out,” said Galyean, adding that the last time Nimbus and Coleman hatcheries worked together in a similar fashion was in the late 1970s. “I’ve never seen anyone open their fish ladder three weeks early before and we really appreciate it. It’s definitely not normal operating procedure for them.”

BEFORE RELEASE, COLEMAN MARKS 25 percent of its salmon by clipping off the adipose fin – the small, fleshy fin on the fish’s back between the dorsal and caudal fins. These clipped salmon also have coded wire tags the size of pencil lead and inserted into their nose. Under a microscope, biologists can read the code etched on the tag to determine where and when the fish was hatched, and where it was released.

Fall-run Chinook from Battle Creek live three to four years and typically spawn in October and early November, compared to fish from the American River that spawn in November and early December.

When the salmon reach the Nimbus Hatchery, staff then separate the fish that have had their adipose fin removed, indicating that they carry the tiny coded tag. Fish identified as being of Coleman origin are spawned with

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2017 California Sportsman

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PROTECTING

WILD CALIFORNIA one another, and their fertilized eggs returned to Coleman. Fish that have not had their adipose fin removed are be spawned and their eggs are reserved, ready to be used to meet Coleman’s production goals.

Those fish that are not yet ready to spawn have a colored tag attached to their dorsal fin and are returned to the American River, where they’re available to anglers until they either spawn naturally or climb the ladder again to spawn at the Nimbus Hatchery.

Marc Provencher, a federal fish biologist at Coleman for eight years, worked out of Nimbus most Thursdays during the collection process, collecting eggs from the females and milt from the males to mix with the eggs to fertilize them.

“Today was probably the best day we’ve had,” said Provencher, while on his way back to Coleman on Oct. 26, noting

Every ripe hen Chinook gathered at CDFW’s Nimbus Hatchery meant the USFWS’s Coleman Hatchery was 5,300 eggs closer to its goal of collecting 14 million eggs to rear 12 million fall king smolts. (STEVE MARTARANO/USFWS)

20 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2017 California Sportsman

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DESTINATION ALASKA

Nimbus Hatchery’s Greg Ferguson prepares a fall-run Chinook for spawning. With salmon runs struggling during the drought years, there is hope for a comeback as the state’s agencies work together to help spawning numbers improve. (STEVE MARTARANO/USFWS)

they had collected 140 fish that day.

“We’ve collected close to a million eggs since we started this. Every one of them helps,” he added.

“We’ll be working at Nimbus until the marked fish stop showing up; probably in early November,” Galyean said.

Coleman’s production goal is to collect roughly 14 million eggs at the hatchery, Galyean said. Each spawning fish produces about 5,300 eggs on average, and about 190 spawning pairs had been collected from Nimbus as of this writing.

The operation at Nimbus ended Nov. 1, and both hatcheries will continue with their fall spawning public viewing schedules, with Nimbus returning to its normal Monday-Thursday schedule through mid-December. CS Editor’s note: Steve Martarano is a public affairs specialist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s San Francisco Bay-Delta Fish and Wildlife Office, located in Sacramento.

For more on the Coleman Fish Hatchery, check out fws.gov/coleman. Go to wildlife. ca.gov/fishing/hatcheries/nimbus for information about the CDFW’s Nimbus Fish Hatchery. This report was reprinted with permission from the USFWS’s Pacific Southwest Region.

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2017 California Sportsman

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DESTINATION ALASKA

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THE PERFECT DESTINATION FOR YOUR ALASKAN ADVENTURE WELCOME TO THE YAKUTAT LODGE One of Alaska’s finest world-class fishing destinations, we offer affordable vacations where you can tailor a trip to your “taste and budget.”

Easy access, with daily jet service right to the lodge door, river and ocean guides, a full-service restaurant and cocktail lounge, and comfortable yet rustic to downright fancy lodging accommodations in rooms or cabins, at our airport facility, or on the bay. Ślj ƃȢɰɁ ȃƃʤlj ƃ ɽƃƺȟȢlj ɰȃɁɥӗ ǼȈǹɽ ɰȃɁɥӗ ƃȶǁ ɰljȢȢ ˎɰȃȈȶǼ ȢȈƺljȶɰljɰӗ ƃɰ ʥljȢȢ ƃɰ arrange vehicle rentals. Let our staff welcome you home, and our professional and experienced guides and captains “Share Alaska with you!”

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26 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

OUTDOOR CALENDAR DECEMBER 2 2 16 16 23 24 25 31

Bighorn sheep hunting season opens in several zones General crow hunting season opens Bighorn sheep opener in Zone 5 (San Gorgonio) Band-tailed pigeon season opens Northeastern Zone late scaup season opens Statewide pheasant season ends Archery-only pheasant season opens Last day of general bear hunting season (or earlier if quota of 1,700 harvested bears is met)

Archers, take note: Christmas Day marks the bow opener for statewide pheasant hunting after the gun season closes on Dec. 24.

(CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE)

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Last day a 2017 fishing or hunting license is valid

JANUARY

1 2018 fishing license required 1-APRIL 15 Topaz Lake Fishing Derby; visitcarsonvalley.org/2018-topaz-lodge-fishing-derby 13 Opening of Humboldt Steelhead Days; humboldtsteelheaddays.com 18-21 Sacramento International Sportsmen’s Expo, Cal Expo; sportsexpos.com/attend/sacramento

RENT A FISHING BOAT IN ALASKA! BAYES BOAT RENTAL now offers 22’ ocean-going DIY rental boats in Homer, AK! • Ideal for existing ocean-boat owners in WA, OR, CA, and AK. YOU are the captain aboard our 22’ Yamaha-powered vessels. Rods, reels, gaffs, nets, downriggers all provided.

• Bait, license, terminal tackle, lodging and fish processing/shipping all available at the harbor. Boats are moored in permanent harbor slips; no towing or launching required!

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Boating experience required.

Boating safety certificate recommended (free online).

Rental requires complimentary safety and vessel orientation.

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2017 California Sportsman

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DESTINATION ALASKA

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s e r u t n e v Ad We’re not ashamed to admit it: Todd Kline has the kind of life we wish we could experience. Kline’s a former professional surfer, a successful co-angler on the FLW Tour and a Southern California bass guide, plus he gets to travel the world as a commentator for the World Surf League’s telecasts. Todd has agreed to give us a peek on what he’s up to each month. For more on Todd or to book a guided fishing trip with him, check out toddkline.com, and you can follow him on Instagram at @toddokrine. –The Editor Last month’s fishing was good, as the bass seemed to be on the chew prior to winter. (TODD KLINE)

My mom came out for Thanksgiving. She loves to fish, so we snuck out for a morning on Lake Perris and she caught some nice ones.(TODD KLINE)

I shared a fun day on the water with fellow SoCal basser Parker Wright as he shot a promo for Electric Sunglasses.

(TODD KLINE)

With the lakes full and sun shining down, it was nice to get out on the water. (TODD KLINE)

Some of my guide trips don’t always include just bass. This fat bluegill chomped an underspin bait (see my story on fishing with underspins on page 71). (TODD KLINE)

DESTINATION ALASKA

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calsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2017 California Sportsman

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DESTINATION ALASKA

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PHOTO CONTEST

DESTINATION ALASKA

WINNERS! Two-Unit Float Lodge $1M - Thorne Bay

Northwest Oregon’s Mike Huwaldt is this issue’s Fishing Photo Contest winner, thanks to this pic of daughter Allison reeling in a big one at a local reservoir. It wins him a pile of loot from the overstuffed office of our editor!

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Mike Toutloff is this issue’s Browning Photo Contest winner, thanks to the pic the proud pa shared of daughter Shayla and her Spokanearea bear. 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.

34 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

calsportsmanmag.com cals lsp ls port po o sman maaan m man nmag.com | DECEMBER DE DE DECEMB BER ER 2 2017 017 C California Cal Ca alifo orn rn rni niia S Sportsman por p po ortsma ts t tsm sm s man

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NORCAL

FROM FIELD ...

GET THE FEEL FOR STEELIES

BACK-TROLLING AND SIDE-DRIFTING ARE THE KEYS TO SCORING WINTER STEELHEAD

By Scott Haugen

T

here are many ways to target winter-run steelhead, but from a boat, covering water will maximize your chances of catching fish.

Be it slipping downstream while back-trolling plugs or sliding down the river and side-drifting bait or yarn balls, properly gearing up for the job is critical. Here’s what’s worked for me when fishing these methods over the past several years.

PULLING THE RIGHT PLUG The hottest steelhead plug in recent seasons has been the 3.0- and 3.5-sized Mag Lip. Tadpollies continue to produce steelhead with regularity, as do 30-series Hot Shots and a host of

Side-drifting eggs, yarn balls or rags (pictured above) is a very efficient way to cover a lot of water and catch a lot of winter steelhead, but back-trolling plugs such as the Mag Lip is a go-to with anglers for good reason. (SCOTT HAUGEN) calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2017 California Sportsman

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NORCAL

... TO FIRE

Looking for a quick, one-pot meal this holiday season? Tiffany Haugen suggests a plethora of seafood ingredients like mussels and steelhead to create a hearty paella. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)

ONE POT, ONE DELICIOUS PAELLA DISH

By Tiffany Haugen

I

t’s almost Christmas, and that means holiday cooking galore in our family!

Planning ahead makes this time of year less stressful and more enjoyable, so why not start figuring out those special holiday meals now?

My go-to plan for holiday entertaining is the one-pot meal. It could be a hearty pot of pheasant and dumplings, venison chili in the slow cooker, crab lasagna or an elegant holiday paella. And putting it all in one pot gives me more time to spend with family and guests rather than slaving away in the kitchen.

This recipe lends itself to what you have in your freezer or what you can easily find at a seafood market. Anything can be substituted – even chicken breasts. Just aim for 3 to 4 pounds of meat/fish/shellfish.

1 tablespoon olive oil 8 ounces chorizo 2⁄3 cup chopped onion 2⁄3 cup chopped orange bell pepper

2⁄3 cup chopped green bell pepper 2 tablespoons chopped garlic 1½ cups Arborio or medium-grain rice 3 cups seafood or chicken broth 1 teaspoon smoked paprika ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper ½ teaspoon saffron threads or 1 teaspoon turmeric Five to seven mussels and/or seven to eight clams ½ pound bottomfish, cubed ½ pound salmon or steelhead, cubed Five large scallops (optional) 10 to 15 raw shrimp One tomato, seeded and chopped 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley Remove any bones from salmon or steelhead before cubing into bite-sized chunks. In a large, ovenproof skillet, sauté chorizo in olive oil on medium-high heat until crumbled.

Add onion, pepper and garlic and continue to sauté an additional two minutes.

Add rice and sauté two minutes, and add broth and seasonings and bring to a boil. Along with the fish, layer clams and/

38 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

or mussels evenly over rice mixture. Cover and place in a preheated 400-degree oven 10 minutes.

Remove cover and, without stirring, evenly place scallops, shrimp and tomatoes around the pan. Cover and return to the oven an additional 10 to 12 minutes or until shrimp are pink and rice has soaked up most of the liquid. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Editors’ note: For signed copies of Tiffany Haugen’s popular cookbook, Cooking Seafood, send a check for $20 (free S&H) to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489 or order online at scotthaugen.com. Follow Tiffany on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and watch for her on the online series Cook With Cabela’s, as well as The Sporting Chef TV show.

NORCAL other plugs. But if you look in the boat of many dedicated steelheaders these days, Mag Lip plugs will likely dominate their arsenal.

Cerise is a personal favorite when it comes to plug color, and it’s a great all-around choice for various water types and clarity. Flame orange, white with a mix of colors and black are also good plug colors. When choosing black-colored plugs, ones with ecks of silver glitter, painted with orange dots or having an orange bill work well, since the contrast stands out underwater. White plugs with a black bill are also good to have along, as are blue and green metallic-colored plugs on those sunny days. Adding scents such as those developed by Pro-Cure to the plug can help attract ďŹ sh.

CHANGING TECHNIQUES Traditionally, plug ďŹ shing for steelhead was a casting affair, but to-

day, plugs are usually ďŹ shed from a boat in a back-trolling action. This is where the boat travels downstream approximately one-third the speed of the current. With the lines let out 30 to 45 feet below the boat, they are worked into key locations where steelhead are likely to both hold in and travel through.

Plugs can still also be cast from a boat or shore. If ďŹ shing from a boat, cast toward shore and work the plug back into deeper water, reeling faster as it enters deeper water. The faster you reel, the deeper the plug dives.

If ďŹ shing from shore, cast into deeper water and work it into more shallow water, keeping in mind that the slower you reel, the more shallow these plugs will run because they oat. Avoid reeling the plugs in too fast; you don’t want the plug to dive too quickly and get hung up. Since plugs with rattles inside target a steelhead’s sense of sound and vibration, they are preferred options.

GET YOUR DRIFT ON Side-drifting is another popular and very effective technique when it comes to ďŹ shing for winter steelhead in rivers. In fact, it’s so effective that it’s all that some anglers will use.

While I believe limiting yourself to one method is detrimental to the number of ďŹ sh you can catch, there’s no denying that side-drifting is one of the best ways there is to cover large amounts of water from a boat.

The natural rate of a presentation being side-drifted entices ďŹ sh to bite a high percentage of the time when compared to other techniques.

Having the proper side-drifting rod is important in order to maximize the efďŹ ciency of the presentation. My rod of choice is a G.Loomis IMX 1102, a 9-foot, 2-inch rod rated for 6- to 10-pound-test line and Âź to ½ ounce of weight, with a moderate action and medium-light weight.

The IMX 1162 has the same rating but is 6 inches longer, if you desire

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NORCAL a longer rod. Get one of these rods or one with similar specs and you’re headed in the right direction. Pair the rod with appropriate line and leader to meet the conditions being fished, then focus on the terminal gear.

I’ve fished a range of side-drifting presentations over the years, from double-hook bait set-ups topped with a drift bobber to bare eggs on a small single hook. Single eggs work well, while beads, Lil’ Corkies and rubber egg clusters, along with yarn balls and rags, are all good side-drifting baits.

Back-trolling plugs for winter steelhead is becoming a lost art, yet it remains one of the most effective approaches out there to catch the North Coast’s sea-run rainbows. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

HOW TO DO IT My favorite side-drifting presentation in clear water is with a size 1 octopus-style hook with no more than a dozen small eggs in a cluster and placed in the egg loop. Run a short, 2to 3-inch dropper and attach a weight that is light enough to occasionally tick the bottom during the drift.

42 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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Avoid too much weight, which results in dragging and doesn’t allow the bait to be channeled by natural currents into food funnels. In very low water situations, a larger bait with no weight may even be effective.

Thread on a Puff Ball and barely expose the tip of the hook to keep the hook’s point aimed upwards, which decreases the chance of it hanging up during a drift. Have multiple rods rigged and ready to go, and have your precut baits and pretied leaders in reserve should the terminal gear be lost while drifting through a section of prime water.

Rivers often are flowing too fast to row back upstream to fish, and you don’t want to miss that prime holding water, so having all your gear ready, including backup rods, is important.

PLACEMENT IS KEY When side-drifting, all anglers in the boat should simultaneously cast slightly upstream and parallel to one another. The oarsman or motor operator takes over from there, positioning and timing the rate at which the boat moves downstream to that of the lines on the surface and terminal gear.

Bites when side-drifting are often slow to develop, so avoid the tendency to immediately jerk every time you see or feel something, for you don’t want to yank the terminal gear out of the strike zone.

Once you try back-trolling plugs and side-drifting, you’ll see why they are so efficient, as they allow so much water to be covered.

While side-drifting is very popular, it doesn’t work all the time. That’s why pulling plugs – which is becoming a lost art – is so valuable.

Master both approaches, and get ready to take your winter steelhead fishing to a whole new level. CS Editor’s note: Signed copies of Scott Haugen’s popular line of fishing books can be ordered at scotthaugen.com. He is the host of the Netflix series The Hunt. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.

44 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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GRABBIN’ CRABS ’N ’COD

INTERSECTION OF DUNGENESS OPENER, TAIL END OF BOTTOMFISH SEASON MAKES FOR TASTY TIME TO FISH

By Mark Fong

F

or anglers fishing off the coast of San Francisco, late fall is a special time of year. It marks the intersection of two very popular sport fisheries: the Dungeness crab opener and the conclusion of the rockfish and lingcod season.

With the opportunity to bring home tasty claws and filets for the holidays, this is a very popular time to be on the water. And over the years I have done my share of rockfishing, as I enjoy both the fishing and the fine table fare that it affords.

But I had never been on a crab and rockfish combo trip before. Based on my experience, I can see why these are some of the most in-demand trips of the entire year.

There are many great charter boats operating out of the bay and along the coast. High on the list is Happy Hooker Sportfishing (happyhookersportfishing.com; 510-223-5388). With skippers Chris and Jonathon Smith at the helm, I always know that I will be treated to a first-class day on the water.

The much anticipated recreational Dungeness season opened on Nov. 4. With this date entered on my iPhone calendar, I made sure to book my trip well in advance. But even so, I had to settle for a date after the opening weekend. (Note to self: book earlier next year.)

A combo trip out of San Francisco yielded lingcod, rockfish and Dungeness for author Mark Fong (above left). He fished and crabbed with Happy Hooker Sportfishing’s Jonathon Smith (above right, and below) near and off the Farralon Islands. (MARK FONG/HAPPY HOOKER SPORTFISHING)

LET’S DO THIS After departing from the Berkeley Marina in the predawn dark, we made our way past Alcatraz Island and continued through the Golden Gate. Soon the morning sun began its ascent over the picturesque East Bay calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2017 California Sportsman

49

BAY AREA A highlight of early-morning sailings out of Berkeley is seeing the sun rise over the Golden Gate Bridge and downtown San Francisco as your charter makes its way west toward the Farallon Islands. (MARK FONG)

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hills and we headed out to sea. A mix of scattered high clouds made for a brilliant sunrise and created amazing shades of pink, blue and orange set against the iconic San Francisco skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge.

About an hour into the trip on the Pacific Ocean, Capt. Chris informed us that we would be stopping to pull and move a string of crab traps. A group of eager anglers assisted Capt.

Jonathon and the deckhand Ryan with the task at hand.

It was quite a process to see, as Chris positioned the Happy Hooker next to a floating crab trap buoy, a team member secured it and quickly passed it along to Jonathon, who attached the rope to the automated crab block and pulled the trap aboard.

The catch was carefully measured and sorted, and any crabs that weren’t keepers were released. The traps were checked, baited again and set up on the rear deck. Once all the traps in the string were aboard, Chris made a quick run to a new location where the traps were quickly sent down to

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2017 California Sportsman

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BAY AREA

Fish and crabs for dinner, anyone? Foodies who want to get in some great fishing can head out of the Bay Area in the fall for culinary delights. (MARK FONG)

soak. In short order, we were on our way to the rockfishing grounds.

As we neared the Farallon Islands, the anticipation level grew. My fishing buddy Ian Rigler and I decided to target lingcod. Jonathon told the boat that the best option for lingcod was to fish a trap rig with natural bait.

For those wanting to target rockfish,

shrimp flies were the best choice.

When the captain and the deckhand speak, it is wise to listen. They are on the water everyday and are dialed into exactly what the fish are biting.

I rigged up a large dead sardine on my trap rig. Knowing that I wanted to primarily target lings, I’d brought my Cousins Tackle CPX 809 matched

with an Avet Reel – an SXG2 spooled with 45-pound FINS 40G Braid. This was the perfect set-up for handling the 24-ounce weight needed to effectively fish the deep water at the islands.

FAST-AND-FURIOUS ACTION It did not take long for the fish to start coming over the rail. Ian was

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soon hooked up with a nice ling. As for me, I could not get bit. As I awaited my first, Ian was now fighting a second, even bigger fish.

Then it happened – my first bite.

But rather than a ling, it turned out to be a big rockfish. I quickly put the fish in my bag, rigged up a new bait and then dropped down again. After a few minutes I was into a nice lingcod. I put steady pressure on the fish and slowly worked it to the surface, where Jonathon gaffed it and swung it aboard.

Over the next few hours my good fortune continued. Not only was I able to put my second ling in the boat but also caught a variety of quality rockfish. The action around me continued at a torrid pace, with other anglers on the boat catching fish too.

Before I knew it Chris informed us to wind ’em for the final time of the day.

The shellfish were waiting for us.

CRAB GRAB On the return trip to Berkeley, Chris and crew pulled several more strings of crab pots. When all was said and done, it was limits of crab for all, in addition to plenty of quality rockfish and lings.

After the fish were cleaned and filleted, the moment everyone was waiting for was at hand: crab time.

Jonathon and Ryan the deckhand passed out orange mesh bags to each angler. As I quickly learned, there is a pecking order to this process. Any of the helpers who assisted the crew in pulling traps had their bags filled with the prized crabs first. On this day, every angler happily took home a limit of 10 delicious Dungeness.

Back at the marina, the tackle store was abuzz. Outside, a small crew was at the ready to cook and clean our crab for a small fee. Within short order I was on my way home with a cooler full of fresh fillets, cooked crab on ice and memories of a great day at the Farallon Islands. CS Editor’s note: For more on recreational crab fishing regulations, check out wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/ Fishing-Map/San-Francisco.

54 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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NOTES Sometimes two is better than one. This is certainly true when it comes to the double soft jerkbait rig.

Bass anglers know how deadly a single soft plastic jerkbait can be, and there are times when two fished in tandem can be absolute dynamite for landing largies and smallmouth. As the two baits work together to create the illusion of a school of baitfish, their erratic action can trigger vicious strikes.

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CENTRAL VALLEY What do women who fish and/or hunt want for Christmas? Best to ask author Amy Witt, here on the Tule River near Lake Success, for her advice.

(ANTHONY YANG)

WHAT OUTDOORSWOMEN WANT A HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR THE LADIES

By Amy C. Witt

Y

ou’re probably thinking you’ve exhausted all options. Between anniversaries, Valentines, birthdays, achievements, celebrations and … wow, that’s a lot of gifts!

But kiss those what-to-give worries goodbye, because we will help you think of something she will love but might not buy for herself, a gift that will remind her of you every

time she uses or gazes at it.

Remember that it doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy to be the perfect gift. Relax, sit back and read on.

Here’s your ultimate holiday gift idea checklist and a spending guide to help you survive the season.

AK CUSTOM KNIVES Get a customized skinning knife, filet knife or set of chef knives from California-based Andreas Kalani, who

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CENTRAL VALLEY

Andreas Kalani makes customized California-made hunting and fishing knives (left), while HaddenHailers constructs waterfowl calls. (AK CUSTOM KNIVES; HADDENHAILERS)

over the U.S. Info: (559) 706-9205 or Instagram (@buckinbuckarette).

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Not only are they great and universal fashion statements but also have multiple uses in the great outdoors!

These wild rags and scarves have

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been handpicked, designed, sewn and packaged by the owner, who runs her own business in Bakersfield.

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BEST OF LAKE ISABELLA FALL IN KERN VALLEY: THE BEST SEASON Now that the kids are back in school and quiet has returned to the Kern Valley, this is a perfect time to visit the campgrounds that abound around Lake Isabella and the upper Kern River.

The lake is mirror-calm after breezy spring days, and the trees on the upper Kern are all starting to display fall colors.

Days are comfortably warm and the nights are just right for the campfire.

Relaxation and enjoyable solitude is the diet for the day.

But the Kern Valley is also still a great place to fish. Reports say Lake Isabella trout are being taken at the entrance of the Kern River into the lake, which is commonly called Cemetery Point.

Such action is a sure indication of the fall spawn.

Crappie up to 7 inches are caught on every cast as the great spring spawn develops. Talented fishermen are landing 1½- to 2-pound fish.

On the upper river, the quiet fall water levels scream fly fishing. The catch-and-release section is lightly fished and the most productive.

Whether you’re a weekend family coming for that last fling before the holiday season takes over, or a senior citizen with lots of time on your hands to just enjoy life, it truly is a valley for everyone and a beautiful time of year to enjoy the lovely Kern River Valley and Lake Isabella.

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CENTRAL VALLEY DON’T FORGET THE DOG blanket to take with you into the ďŹ eld. It has a functional roll-up design and convenient carrying handle, consists of pure virgin wool, and is made in America. Info: pendleton-usa.com.

GOPRO Let her ďŹ lm all her trophies and journeys with a GoPro. Also, purchase the Sportsman Mount to hold the camera on shotgun barrels, ďŹ shing rods, nets, in front of the boat, the treestand, or the stabilizer of a bow.

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Dog parents should consider a handsfree e-collar from Dogtra (top) and Kurgo’s cold-weather coat. (DOGTRA/KURGO)

DOGTRA ARC HANDSFREE E-COLLAR Dogtra, the innovator of the world’s finest dog training products and e-collar systems, is proud to introduce the newest addition to the best-selling ARC e-collar remote training system, ARC Handsfree. Perfect for hunting dogs, the ARC Handsfree e-collar provides owners the freedom to multitask, while maintaining discrete control during field operation. The flexible ARC Handsfree Remote Controller allows you to apply stimulation using only fingertip control, providing more versatility with your hands at any given time. It’s designed for all dog breeds with medium to mild temperaments.

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KURGO NORTH COUNTRY COAT Rain filtering through the trees, wind whipping over the mountains, snow falling wet and heavy – none of these should stop your adventure. The North Country Coat is made from a durable Ripstop and 1200-denier material that stands up tough on the trail and effortlessly sheds water, wind and snow. Inside, it’s lined with a soft fleece to keep your furry friend warm and comfortable through any conditions. Let the weather do its worst, because your pooch will be sporting the best. Info: kurgo.com CS

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CALIFORNIA AVILA BEACH Port San Luis Boatyard 3915 Avila Beach Dr. (805) 595-7895 www.portsanluisboatyard.com COSTA MESA Maurer Marine 873 W 17th St (949) 645-7673 www.maurermarine.com OCEANSIDE Cal-Kona Marine, Inc. 1517 S Coast Hwy (760) 722-5817 www.calkona.com OXNARD Specialty Marine 3151 W 5th St. #G (805) 984-6538 www.specialty-marine.com VENTURA Pacific Marine Repair 2807 Palma Dr. (805) 658-1709 www.pacificmarinerepair.com

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CENTRAL VALLEY heavy-duty nylon straps, aircraft aluminum carabiners and stuff sack, it’s not only convenient but meant for adventure. Info: flagnorfail.com.

EVA SHOCKEY’S BOOK Huntress Eva Shockey-Brent, an accomplished sportswoman, speaks on hunting stereotypes and conservation in her new book, Taking Aim: Daring to Be Different, Happier, and Healthier in the Great Outdoors.

Info: evashockey.com or available on Amazon.

TIMBERLAND HIKING BOOTS Women’s White Ledge Timberland Mid Waterproof hiking boots are reliable and comfortable for everyday wear. Info: timberland.com. CS

Eva Shockey has inspired plenty of girls and young women to embrace the outdoors. Shockey’s fine book about how she became a passionate hunter would make for a great motivational tool.

(SHOCKEY ENTERPRISES)

Editor’s note: For more on Porterville-based Amy Witt, check out Californiadreamin.com and follow on Instagram (@Californiadreamin).

64 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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70 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

SOCAL

BET THE UNDER IN WINTER

WITH TEMPS COOLING, BASS ANGLERS CAN SCORE WITH UNDERSPIN BAITS

By Todd Kline

T

he underspin is a bait that has come on very strong over the last couple of years.

One example is Casey Ashley winning the Bassmaster Classic in February 2015, which took place in cold conditions that made the fishing very challenging.

Prior to that big win by Ashley, the underspin had made many anglers plenty of money, even though it was not a popular bait.

The underspin is basically a swimbait head with a small blade on its chin that spins as you reel it back to the boat.

The horsehead jig had been around for many, many years. Since then, the underspin has grown in popularity and has been tricked out a bit.

HOW TO SET UP

The underspin, an eyed leadhead jig with a small blade on its chin that spins as you reel it back to the boat, can be effective on winter bass when paired with a swimbait or fluke body, author Todd Kline attests. (TODD KLINE)

You can rig many baits on the back of the underspin, depending on the bait/ hatch you are trying to match. My favorite baits to rig on the spin is a fluke or a swimbait. Any fluke will work, and I choose either an MC Swimbait or a Keitech for the swimbaits. Always try to match the hatch based on the size of the bait you choose and the color you go with.

As for the set-up, you can fish it on a baitcaster with 12- to 15-pound-test line or on a spinning combo with line as light as 5 pounds. This really comes down to water clarity and pressure on the lake you are fishing.

Most of the time, I am using a 7-foot, 1-inch medium-action Okuma EVX B spinning rod and pairing it with an Okuma Helios SX 30. I also prefer 10-pound Power Pro; I will then range the leader size from 5- up to 10-pound Sunline, depending on the lake’s clarity and pressure.

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SOCAL The most common way to fish underspins in the winter is to make long casts, let the bait sink to the bottom and then begin a very slow roll back to the boat. If you’re lucky, you’ll be scooping up a bass from the lake. (TODD KLINE)

KEEPING IT ‘COOL’ There are many manufactures of the underspin, but I prefer the Coolbaits version. It has two swivels, which allows the blade to spin on a very slow retrieve. The most common way to fish this bait in the winter is to make long casts, let it sink to the bottom and then begin a very slow roll back to the boat.

Generally, the bite will be a very light tick or the line will just load up. Either way, once you feel it, just begin to wind a bit faster; if the rod starts to load, then reel faster and lift.

There’s no need to swing for the fences like you would fishing a jig because the underspin has an exposed hook.

Remember, you are fishing 5-pound test, so any hard jerk of the line with a fish on the other end will snap it off.

On occasion, you can find active shallow fish, usually early in the morning on points. This is where you can beef up your line and fish the bait

fast. Cast towards your target and then reel it fast back to the boat.

With the Coolbait, you can burn it fast and the underspin will not roll on you like some other brands. Basically, pull up on a point, fire out parallel and then fish it over the trees, bush, grass, etc., back to the boat. This bite will be much more aggressive than the slow roll bite. This is why you want to beef up on the line size.

72 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

Winter is here, and fishing can be some of the best and toughest that you will encounter throughout the year. Use these tips and I think you will be able to overlook your numb hands and ice on your guides. CS Editor’s note: Todd Kline is a co-angler on the FLW Tour and guides at several Southern California lakes. To book a trip, go to toddklinefishing.com.

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74 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

SOCAL

LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE TRYING TO GET BASS TO BITE IN WINTER MIGHT SEEM LIKE A WAY TO SURELY LOSE YOUR MIND, BUT IT’S ALL IN HOW YOU WORK YOUR GEAR

By Bill Schaefer

F

ished slowly, fast reaction baits will catch bass during the winter too.

You might think that’s kind of a contradictory statement. But the fact is, you can use reaction baits in the cold of winter, a time of year you might otherwise assume that largemouth metabolisms have slowed to a state of suspended animation.

Most of us have been taught to fish sloooooow in the winter for bass, and for the most part this is the norm. But if you want to hang a fish on a reaction bait, then you just need to learn the different presentations needed to accomplish this.

By using a deeper-diving crankbait than you might fish with at other times of the year, you can control the speed better, which can be critical to landing winter bass. (BILL SCHAEFER)

CRANK IT UP Let us start with crankbaits; they come in all different shapes and sizes and colors. They dive from a calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2017 California Sportsman

75

SOCAL foot or so up to 20-plus feet deep. A lot of fishermen can work a crankbait as far as casting and retrieving it, but the more seasoned angler can work a deep diver out from the shallow water – about a foot deep – to that 20-foot zone the lure was meant for.

This skill can be learned by all through practice, but then there is the structure you need to work it around and through as well. The less afraid you are to throw the bait right up on the shore, the more efficient you will get at using it. The more you throw it, the better you get at feeling every rock and branch you bounce off of on the bottom.

So once you cast it out, what might be a usual fast stop-and-go crank must now be slowed down to a dead crawl. You can do it; just stay confident and adjust your winding speed and the bait a bit.

By using a deeper-diving crank-

bait than you might fish with at other times of the year, you can control the speed better. The larger lip of the deep diver will make it easier to slowly crank this bait along the bottom because of the resistance of that bigger bill. You can also stir up the bottom as it travels along like a scurrying crawfish. It’s sure to get bit!

WATCH YOUR SPEED A reel with a slower retrieval speed also helps. Most anglers who have learned how to walk crankbaits on the bottom will use one with a lower gear ratio. I use a Daiwa Tatula 100, which is about a 5:1, or five turns of the spool for every full crank of the handle.

A soft-tipped Tatula rod for cranking will help as well. If you are cranking that bait down and working it out from very shallow water, you may even want to use braid as your main line. I like Maxima’s for

walking cranks on the bottom, and it helps me get my crankbaits back as well if I do hang up.

If you can put the nose of the crankbait on the bottom and just wind very slowly once you hit it, you can walk the lure right along. Hesitate if you feel a heaviness. If it’s a bush or rock, the crankbait will float up and out of harm’s way. If it’s a bass, it will pull back, so be ready to set the hook.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE JERKS A cousin to the crankbait, the hard jerkbait gets its name more from technique than what it was intended for. Most hard jerkbaits are crankbaits and used for the jerking style of working the bait back to the boat. The evolution of tackle over the years has brought us specially designed jerkbaits, though, and those are the ones to work slowly in winter.

A lot of jerkbaits are suspending

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SOCAL models with almost neutral buoyancy. These models will help slow you down for sluggish bass. It may take some fast jerks to get the lure to the desired depth, but once there, very slow and short twitches will usually annoy a bass into biting.

Because of the neutral buoyancy the lure doesn’t float up, keeping it in the strike zone longer. It will drive the bass crazy and the strike will almost take the rod out of your hands.

Spinnerbaits with large Colorado blades work best at the slow retrieval speeds that winter bass fishing requires. (BILL SCHAEFER)

THE SPIN STARTS HERE Next on the list is the spinnerbait.

During other times of the year, this lure can be almost burned through cover, bouncing off structure to entice a bite. It works year-round from fast to slow rolling, but if you really slow down in the winter, you can drag some big fish out of their dens.

Most of us like the willow-type blade on our spinnerbaits. A hammered one that puts out a lot of flash

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can look just like a school of baitfish. Yet for deeper water and slow rolling a blade, and I mean really slow-rolling a blade, then you want to go to a Colorado blade. These larger round blades are meant to throw out an inviting thump to any waiting bass. Again, the larger blade surface allows you to really work the bait very slowly along the bottom, bouncing off the tree stumps and rocks below. These blades will get you a lot of strikes; they are virtually weedless.

GET IN THE SWIM OF THINGS Swimbaits are usually worked fairly fast and used to target all different areas and structure, but slowing them down to a crawled retrieve along the bottom can instigate those extra bites.

Most big bass hunters who choose to throw trout swimbaits in various seasonal patterns will carry all shapes and sizes – sinking, and floating, topwater to deepwater baits. They will have a variety of swimbaits in different shapes and with different tails, each sending out a unique pulse to awaiting largemouth. You never know what it might take to get a bite. Again, the larger thumping tail can be worked slower, and that tail will still swim naturally and get the attention of a bass. A lot of Southland lakes stock trout or have trout in them, and winter’s the time the bass look for that easy large meal.

Now, there are many other plastics that can be worked faster and, of course, slowing them down to a crawl in the winter can always entice a strike. But everyone loves reaction baits, especially since throwing a worm all year can be just plain boring.

Like many other anglers, I live for the bites reaction bait get. You usually need to slow down in the winter, but the aforementioned techniques can be worked into your repertoire and produce more bites and more fish, no matter the season. CS 80 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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CO. PROFILE

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T

ommy Garcia grew up in Southern California’s Redondo Beach and spent his youth fishing and watching the sportfishing boats come in and out of port from the city’s famous pier. But little did Garcia know that years later he and his wife Lori would be operating their own charter boat fleet in, of all places, Cabo San Lucas, at the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula.

The Garcias were successful export management business owners and fell in love with the Cabo culture. The couple named their first (personal) boat Cabo Magic “because Cabo had been magic for us,” Lori says.

When it seemed like everyone in Cabo wanted the Garcias’ boat for charter purposes, they began to wonder whether or not they could get the boat certified, which they did, with some assistance and urging from colleagues, spawning Cabo Magic Sportfishing in 1999. The Garcias charter out licensed boats in the Cabo area.

“We use the phrase ‘first class and affordable.’ We offer something for all tastes and all budgets,” Lori says.

There are boats of various sizes and styles to choose from. Pangas are available for inshore fishing trips, with larger single-engine and twin-engine cruisers, and even bigger sportfishers and yachts for longer trips and larger numbers of anglers.

The fishing can be spectacular

From humble beginnings of just a booth on the wharf in Cabo San Lucas, Cabo Magic Sportfishing is now one of the leaders in arranging fishing charters aboard boats of various sizes for guests to hook up with marlin, dorado, tuna and other Baja staples. (CABO MAGIC SPORTFISHING)

throughout the year for a variety of different Baja species.

“There are people who come aboard and say, ‘I want a marlin.’

And the crew will do whatever they can to find marlin,” Lori says.

Dorado, striped marlin and roosterfish are readily available in the winter, particularly from January to March and well into the spring.

But the Garcias like to think they offer a more personal experience for their clients.

“From day one, it’s always been about the guests. We don’t call people passengers; we call them VIP guests,” Lori Garcia adds. CS Editor’s note: Like Cabo Magic Sportfishing at facebook.com/CaboMagic.

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SOCAL

HUNTERS TURN OUT FOR QUAIL

BUMPER CROP OF TOPKNOTS BRINGS OUT WINGSHOOTERS, BUT AUTHOR TIM HOVEY FINDS ROOM TO ROAM FOR BIRDS

By Tim E. Hovey

A

n hour after sundown, I found the road back into the valley I wanted to hunt, and almost instantly I felt my mood deflate.

I spotted a few reflections in the glow of my headlights. At the first turn was a camper and tent set up only feet from the road. I knew the area was large, so seeing someone back there didn’t completely surprise me.

But less than a mile further, I found another group, complete with cab-over camper, tent and three rigs.

I cringed. Around the next turn I encountered the first compound of hunters. No less than 10 vehicles, trailers, easy-ups and tents were scattered throughout the drainage.

At a hairpin turn a mile further,

Author Tim Hovey’s hunting partner couldn’t make the quail opener, but Hovey had no problem hunting alone. His 10-bird limit speaks for itself about how productive it was. (TIM E. HOVEY) calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2017 California Sportsman

87

SOCAL Brushy terrain makes for good quail habitat. (TIM E. HOVEY)

The “Fangtooth Hunting Pod” mini-tent was Hovey’s personal man cave. (TIM E. HOVEY)

I found compound No. 2: more offroad vehicles, tents and all the gear needed to comfortably stay for days.

As I got closer, I rolled down the window to say hi, but I was met with a polite nod and the “keep moving” stare. Message received.

By the time I reached the hidden road to my little spot, I had counted over 30 vehicles, six separate camp-

ing groups and 40 to 50 hunters dispersed around the valley. My only relief was turning the last corner to the end of the road and seeing nothing but dirt. This year’s quail opener was going to be a crowded one.

LIVIN’ IN LUXURY I parked the truck so that anyone traveling the road would clearly see

88 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

the spot occupied. Using a shovel, I leveled out a spot for my one-man camping tent I’ve named the “Fangtooth Hunting Pod,” a cool little padded lounge recliner built into a tent.

It’s easy to set up and keeps me from having to sleep in the truck. I made sure all my hunting gear was in order, grabbed a quick bite, a celebratory beer and turned in early.

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SOCAL For good measure, the author managed to score a limit of cottontail rabbits. (TIM E. HOVEY)

The next morning I got up before shooting light to listen for quail. In a tree no more than 30 yards from my camp, I heard the telltale puttering of roosted birds. A sentinel call echoed down the canyon a short distance up the valley. The quail dispersed before the sun came up, but hearing them close had me hopeful.

I grabbed my game vest, shells and shotgun and headed out. I walked through the canyon looking and listening for quail. The month before I’d been in this same spot watching hundred of birds flee at just about every step. Now it was silent.

At the end of the canyon, I made a left and the area opened up. In the distance, I could hear shotguns going off back in the canyon with all the hunters firing. I had to imagine that the number of people hunting that section of the drainage would keep it from being fun. I was thankful that at least I had this area all to myself.

Now I just had to find the birds.

KEEP YOUR EYES AND EARS OUT I hiked the new territory, looking and listening. About an hour from the truck, I heard puttering quail in the bushes ahead. I quietly moved to

90 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

a good shooting position and closed in. A single male took flight out in front of me and I quickly dropped him. At the shot the entire hillside exploded with quail.

I dropped a second bird out of the original group and focused on where

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2017 California Sportsman

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SOCAL ing towards a limit of California quail. a majority of the birds were headed after they flushed. I picked up the two I shot – both males – and hiked further down the valley.

I worked the large covey for over an hour and slowly crept towards a limit. I dropped into a small canyon and spotted quail cutting between some sagebrush. I approached the bushes, gave myself ample room to shoot and the smaller group flushed into the open. I swung on two birds flying close together, led the closest one and squeezed the trigger. Both birds fell.

I picked up the quail, grabbed my water bottle and rested a bit. The sun lit up the back of the valley and the surrounding terrain looked amazing.

I heard two more sentinel calls echo down the canyon. I reached back and felt the weight in the game vest and began hiking towards the covey. I was truly enjoying the solitude of the hunt and knowing that with some effort and a little shooting luck, I was push-

A MAN AND HIS DOG I stood on the small ridge and listened, trying to pinpoint where the birds had flushed. Movement on the ridge above me caught my eye. That’s when I spotted the other hunter and his dog. I gave him a wave and he returned the gesture. He then yelled down to ask how I was doing.

His dog, a spastic golden retriever that did absolutely nothing to find birds, raced down the hill and nearly took me out below the knees. He hopped around like most juvenile dogs do and sprayed slobber all over my pants.

I could hear the guy apologizing from the hilltop, but it really didn’t matter. I petted the pup and it instantly sat obediently at my side (I think it confused me for the guy up on the ridge). For a few seconds he was calm until he spotted the guy who feeds him at the top of the hill

92 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

and took off. Our moment was over.

Since I was close to limiting out, I told the guy that if I bumped any more birds, I’d let him know. I hiked some smaller ridges near the south and spent an hour looking for my final bird.

THE FRIEND ZONE As I caught my breath at the top of a hill, my phone signaled someone had texted me. It said simply, “Well?”

My hunting buddy Jose De Orta was supposed to meet me here the evening before the opener. Unfortunately, his plans changed at the last minute and he was unable to hunt quail with me on opening day. Now, in true hunting buddy fashion, he was wondering how I was doing.

When Jose had cancelled, I wondered if driving out into the back hills in the middle of nowhere and camping alone was a smart thing to do.

However, my entire life I’ve never let the actions of others impact my good time. I wanted to hunt quail during

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93

SOCAL the opener and that’s what I decided to do, alone or not.

I sent Jose a few photos of a couple of quail and ended the text with, “Looking for the last bird!”

I walked down a ridge and once again heard the familiar puttering of moving quail. I walked a bit further and three males flushed from a juniper a dozen feet away. I tracked the last bird with the Browning Silver Hunter and pulled the trigger. The last of my 10-bird limit fell.

I took a few field photographs and started the half-mile hike back to my camping spot. At the head of the drainage, I bumped into Casey, the hunter I had seen earlier. We talked a bit, and as he only had two birds, he asked if I had any pointers to offer. I told him that I probably do just about as much stopping and listening as I do hiking, and I try and use the sentinel calls as a quail locator and head to that general area. When I get close,

California’s long drought impacted quail hunting, but last winter’s rains improved habitat conditions markedly, leading to Hovey’s first limit in nearly seven years. (TIM E. HOVEY

I stop and listen for birds. I then told him that, above all, shoot straight.

He headed back into the hills with his crazy dog and I hiked downstream towards my camp. I unloaded my gear at the truck and grabbed a bottle of water. I sat down and thought

about the hunt. While it certainly would’ve been more enjoyable with a hunting buddy, I definitely enjoyed having the hills mostly to myself.

THE SPOILS OF VICTORY I took care of the quail and put them

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SOCAL on ice. I cleaned up my hunting gear and stowed that as well. As I took down camp, I realized I was smiling.

It had been almost seven years since I’d chased quail and scored a limit here in California. The drought had heavily impacted quail numbers, but last winter’s big storms had brought in the much-needed water all the wildlife needed. Hunting or not, it was great to hear the echo of sentinel birds in the canyon again.

I loaded up and headed out of my little private canyon. On the drive out, the other hunters, most now back at camp, seemed a lot friendlier.

At one of the smaller compounds, I waved to a guy and he stopped me and asked me how I’d done. We talked briefly and he mentioned that the canyon had been crowded and not much fun to hunt. I wished him luck and continued on.

Taking a limit of quail solo without the aid of a hunting dog isn’t easy.

From canyon to dinner plate, a tasty plate of upland game meat is the reward for a great trip.

(TIM E. HOVEY)

Add in the crowds swarming the hills and I have to think that getting off the beaten path was the way to go. I enjoyed the solitude of the overnight camping and going at my own pace.

At a spot where I could receive cell service, I sent a few photos of a quail limit and a bonus limit of cot-

96 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

tontail rabbits to a few of my friends.

Jose got back to me within seconds.

“Dang it! What are you doing next weekend?” I just laughed. CS Editor’s note: Quail season runs through Jan. 28. Check the regulations at wildlife. ca.gov/Hunting/Upland-Game-Birds.

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HUNTING Teal are small and can be great introductory birds for your dog’s initial waterfowl retrieving experience. On the upland bird side, quail fill the same role well. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

SMALL BIRDS, SMALL STEPS

By Scott Haugen

E

very step of your pup’s first hunting experience should be positive, all the way down to the retrieves. Teaching your pup to properly retrieve those first birds sets the tone for how they’ll do down the road, so make sure to have your standards in place and establish consistent expectations early.

With young dogs, small birds can be the best training tool to help attain precise retrieves. This is because small birds are easy to pick up and are less threatening than big birds that may be crippled. Big birds may have to get moved around a bit, flipped and regripped multiple times before your dog locates a comfort-

able spot to grab and carry them by, which may lead to chewing and carcass damage.

The bigger your dog’s mouth and the stronger it is, the bigger the birds it can retrieve. But if your pup is young, say, four to seven months, and you’re hunting it for the first time this fall, small birds are the way to go.

QUAIL ARE IDEALLY sized upland birds to start hunting your pup on. They’re plentiful, shot opportunities are usually high during the course of the day and their scent makes them easy for a pup to locate once downed.

As when retrieving a bumper, you want the pup to approach the bird and immediately pick it up. If

the dog is cautious and unsure the first few times, approach it while offering words of encouragement in a positive, uplifting tone. Your dog will sense all is right and eventually pick the bird up.

Once the bird is in the dog’s mouth, excitedly have it fetch to hand. Do not let the dog run another direction, stop and mouth the bird, or run around with it like it’s a toy.

When the pup delivers the bird to hand, praise it.

If the pup has not chewed on the bird, wave it around the pup’s head and get it excited, then lightly toss the bird 10 feet or so. Command the pup to fetch and deliver to hand, once again. I like doing this to reinforce what the dog did right, so it

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HUNTING learns this new behavior, fast.

The instant the pup starts to chew on a bird, reprimand it. Do not let it get away with chewing or mouthing a bird, for this could lead to a hardmouthed dog that ruins meat.

For duck hunters, teal are the perfect-sized bird for a pup to learn to retrieve. A plump, crippled mallard that’s kicking, diving and nipping can be intimidating to a pup, curtailing their desire to retrieve it. Remember, when a dog is swimming, its eyes are only a couple inches above the waterline. This makes it challenging for them to locate birds, and once they get on them, the interaction can be surprising if the bird is not dead. For this reason, small ducks work great.

Bufehead, shovelers and wigeon are also good ducks for new dogs to handle. As with the quail, following a good retrieve, toss the duck back out for another quick fetch to help build and reinforce those proper skills.

102 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

If retrieving a just-downed bird proves problematic for your pup, try removing the breasts, legs and thighs from a small bird, like a valley quail, then freezing the carcass to create an alternative training tool. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

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HUNTING

Once your dog gets the hang of retrieving small birds, you’ll be surprised how quickly it adapts to picking up big birds. Here, author Scott Haugen and Echo show off the results of a great day chasing upland birds last season.

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IF PUP’S RELUCTANT to retrieve the birds, or is chewing on them, try this. Once home, skin the bird out. You can cook the whole bird for yourself, and save the skin to train with. Spread out the skin on a piece of cardboard, skin side up, and cover with borax. This will dry out the skin so it doesn’t spoil. Once the bird skin is dry, brush off excess borax then wrap it around a small bumper and zip-tie it on. Now treat the bumper like a bird during your training sessions, teaching your pup not to chew on it, and to immediately retrieve to hand.

Another option for using a real bird for training is breasting it out, removing the legs and thighs, then placing the rest of the carcass in the freezer. Leave the entrails inside and wrap the body – wings and all – shut with fishing line, to keep it intact.

When ready for a training session, take the carcass from the freezer, remove the fishing line and treat it like a real bird. Training sessions in the puppy stage are brief, often less than 10 minutes, so refreeze the bird carcass to use again. The bird carcass won’t even thaw during a short training session.

THINK BABY STEPS when teaching your pup to retrieve birds for the first time. Start with small birds and give direction to your dog as it approaches, picks up and retrieves the bird. Think of it as an extension of your usual bumper training, and keep it fun.

Remember, this is all new for your pup, and they have to learn the difference between right and wrong.

Sure, much of what your pup knows is innate, but some things have to be taught. Keep it positive and be consistent, and before you know it your dog will be retrieving big birds and you’ll be on the way to many fun years of hunting together. NS Editor’s note: To view an extensive series of basic dog training video tips by Scott Haugen, visit scotthaugen.com.

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HUNTING

BACK TO WYOMING: WHY NOT? A FATHER AND HIS TWO DAUGHTERS RETURN TO HUNT DEER IN A SPECIAL PLACE

After a successful Wyoming deer hunt the year before, Tim Hovey (rear) and his daughters Alyssa and Jessica returned to the Equality State to glass for mule deer. (TIM E. HOVEY)

By Tim E. Hovey

I

n the fall of 2015, I took my daughters Alyssa and Jessica out to Wyoming to hunt deer. After hunting hard near the town of Cody for three solid days without luck, a chance meeting with a game warden would lead us to a land manager named Alan.

With little more than eight hours left to hunt, Alan agreed to give us access to an immense amount of property so that we could hopefully fill our tags.

We hunted hard that final evening and were able to put three doe in the coolers for the ride back to California.

Beyond grateful, I called Alan and told him how much we appreciated his generosity. He seemed more thrilled that my two daughters had driven all

the way from California and had killed deer on the property. He ended the call by stating simply, “See you next year!”

Needless to say, I stayed in contact with Alan, and when the 2016 Wyoming deer season rolled around, I asked him if he had any open spots for us to hunt the farm again. ”Come on down!” he texted back.

ON OPENING MORNING, WE decided to hunt Bureau of Land Management

ground first in the hopes of running into bucks. The actual owner of the property Alan managed would only allow does to be taken by hunters, and this season both Alyssa and Jessica wanted a chance to shoot a buck.

The morning hunt was extremely cold and windy. I set my daughters up at the edge of a canyon and I hiked further down the ridge to look for deer. After several hours of brutal winds and near-freezing conditions,

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HUNTING we hadn’t seen a thing.

Back at the truck, I could see that the girls were spent. We were only 10 miles from Alan’s farm, so I texted him to see if he was around. Instantly he suggested we come onto the farm to meet him.

Alan was all smiles as we shook hands. He was glad we had made the trip out again and quickly produced the hunting permits for us to fill out.

He pulled out a map and pointed out a few spots he had seen deer recently.

He then folded the map up and handed it to me. We again expressed our appreciation and got back in the truck and headed out to hunt.

The property is a mix of agricultural fields, native habitat, heavily wooded creeks and levees – essentially everything deer need to happily live on and thrive. That was part of the problem. The land is a working farm and the deer heavily impact profits by openly grazing on the crops.

On opening morning, Jessica patiently waited for deer to appear, but there wasn’t much action in frigid conditions. (TIM E. HOVEY)

The owner, under Alan’s suggestion, had decided to open up the property to hunters to hopefully keep the deer numbers in check.

SINCE WE HAD BEEN successful there the previous year, all three of us were very excited to be back on the property. Al-

110 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

an’s report that the deer were skittish and hard to find this year did little to dampen our enthusiasm.

We drove onto the west side of the property at about noon. Less than a mile in, Jessica spotted a small group of antelope way to the left and near the very edge of the property. They

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HUNTING were over 800 yards away on alert and looking to their right. I grabbed the binoculars and spotted what they were looking at. A whitetail doe was approaching the group; for some reason they didn’t like it.

There was no cover and I knew a really long shot might be difficult for the girls. As we sat there thinking about what to do, Alyssa suggested that I head out and see if I could get close enough for a shot. I looked back to Jessica and she nodded in agreement.

I grabbed my rifle and shooting sticks and closed the door. The big difference between this hunt and our previous one here was that Alyssa now had her driver’s license. I handed her the keys and told her to stay put until I signaled them.

The field I had to cross wasn’t planted but had been heavily disked.

I had to navigate huge chunks of dirt and move through massive dips in

The girls both got to celebrate after each getting a doe, as did their dad during this family hunting trip. (TIM E. HOVEY)

the field as I closed the distance. As I moved, I watched the group. The doe and the antelope were focused on each other and never noticed me.

I just kept hiking through the rough field towards the deer.

At about 450 yards, I noticed that the doe was now moving away and

112 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

towards the boundary of the property. Another 50 yards further and she’d cross the fence. I had sighted in the Savage Axis rifle to shoot long distances, and the week before at the range, I was regularly pinging the 400-yard steel. The rangefinder put the deer at 429 yards, a long shot for

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HUNTING for us to completely quarter out the deer and put it on ice. We cleaned up and got back on the hunt. Jessica voiced the general mood.

“One down, two to go!”

sure, but I felt I could get it done.

I set up the sticks, sat on a huge chunk of dirt and found the deer in the scope slowly feeding away. Within seconds the deer turned broadside and I placed the crosshairs at the top of the shoulder, right above the heart, and squeezed the trigger.

The doe hopped once and started running towards me. I loaded another round and waited for the deer to stop. Seconds later I saw her stumble and then fall over. The shot was right through the heart.

I heard the truck horn go off several times as the girls celebrated from afar.

I motioned for them to bring the truck up as close as they could. It was an awesome feeling to know that I could now rely on my daughters to assist on my hunt. Within a few minutes, Alyssa navigated the old farm roads and pulled up within feet of the dead deer.

With an assist from my hunting partners, it took less than 30 minutes

WE SLOWLY DROVE THE edge of the old cornfields. As we cut between parcels, Alyssa spotted several adult deer cutting from the native vegetation at the edge of the property into the crop.

We quickly got out, but the eight deer had disappeared in the dry corn.

We were convinced that more deer were holding tight in the corn and kept searching the edges. With about 45 minutes of daylight left, Alyssa spotted two huge doe standing in the corn, 60 yards from the truck. She told me to stop, quietly got out and made her way to the front of the truck. I watched as she rested her rifle on her sticks and mounted up behind the gun. The shot came and she turned around with a huge smile on her face.

Despite hearing Alyssa’s deer crash

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114 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

in the dry corn, she wanted to track it. The trail was easy to follow and the large doe was piled up in the field 40 yards from where she had been hit.

As daylight faded, I handed Alyssa a headlamp, a skinning knife and told her to start quartering out her deer solo deep in the old cornfield. I knew deer would be moving as the sun began to set and I was hoping we could find our third and final doe for Jessica.

Alyssa took the processing gear and got to work. Jessica and I got back in the truck and started looking for deer. We didn’t have to go far.

Jessica spotted a smaller doe standing in the next field over at only 130 yards out. She grabbed the shooting sticks and I grabbed the rifle. Jessica then found the standing doe in the scope and took her shot.

The deer folded right there.

Three tags, three deer, though it wasn’t quite over yet.

AS WE CELEBRATED, THE deer suddenly

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HUNTING

Jessica’s and Alyssa’s success on this hunt brought a smile to their dad’s face, and while he wonders when the trio will return to Wyoming for another go at it, they would all savor this adventure on the ride back to California. (TIM E. HOVEY)

got up and started trotting towards the edge of the field. Jessica took a rushed shot at the escaping deer but missed. Within seconds the deer disappeared in the thick brush. We were

both stunned. The shot looked perfect and I had even spotted blood on the escaping deer’s side.

We searched until dark and both of us felt like the deer was gone. We

116 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

were about to head back and help Alyssa when a heartbroken Jessica suggested we take one more look.

I drove down an old road adjacent to a large drainage canal. At the end

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of the road, we turned around and headed back. I was in the middle of consoling Jessica when she spotted the deer floating dead in the canal.

We loaded up Jessica’s deer and headed back to help Alyssa. With headlamps and flashlights guiding us, my daughters and I skinned out and quartered their deer in the darkness of an old cornfield in northern Wyoming. It was a memory I will cherish forever.

THE FOLLOWING DAY WE made a point to drive out to the property and thank Alan, who was so happy that we once again had filled our tags on the property. As he shook my hand, he looked me square in the eye and said something that struck a chord. “Don’t stop doing what you’re doing, Dad!” Early the following morning, we loaded up all our gear and started the long drive home to California. The trip back was bittersweet for me. I know future trips will be tough. The girls had to miss a week’s worth of school to hunt the opener. I know as they get older, catching up on schoolwork will be harder for them.

Jessica sat up in the back and said, “Hey, Daddy, thanks for taking us deer hunting in Wyoming.” Alyssa thanked me as well. The worries about returning evaporated.

Those would-be trips didn’t matter. What mattered was that both my girls were there with me then. And I’m very confident that one day the Hovey family will be back! CS

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HUNTING AMIDST CARPATHIAN CLOUDS

CHAMOIS HAUNT HEIGHTS OF THE WILD ROMANIAN MOUNTAIN RANGE

By Brittany Boddington

I

’ve had the opportunity to hunt several chamois subspecies, but the Carpathian goat-antelope is one I had yet to chase.

I booked my hunt through Asian Mountain Outfitters (asianmountainoutfitters.com) and they planned an adventure in the Carpathian range of Romania, in Eastern Europe.

We traveled a long way from the airport up to Balea Lake, where we stayed in a beautiful mountain cabin. The area was breathtaking; the lake is surrounded by snow-covered peaks that look like a scene from a

Brittany Boddington glasses in Romania’s snowy Carpathian Mountains, Europe’s second longest range and home to chamois, which were difficult to get to with a lot of snow on the ground. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

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Stretching from eastern Austria and along the Poland-Slovakia border before heading southeast, the Carpathians reach over 8,300 feet in Romania, where they are also home to red stag, wild boars, bears, wolves and more. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

Christmas winter wonderland.

The hunting area begins at the top of the highest peak, which is about a mile hike from the cabin. At the top of the mountain you can see forever in every direction, and the hunting area covers a big chunk of that landscape. Soon we’d get even closer to the action.

WE AWOKE EARLY IN the morning and fueled up with a beautiful Romanian breakfast, got all of our gear organized and headed straight up the mountain.

The snow was crunchy and went knee-deep. I followed the footsteps our guide cut and crashed through a few times in deep spots. It was hard hiking but not terrible. The snow was starting to melt a bit, so it was slick in some areas. I slid around a bit, which was hard on the knees but didn’t pre-

vent us from making it to the top.

We started glassing when we reached the top of the mountain. It wasn’t long before we spotted some chamois in the rocks below on the same face of the mountain that we were on. We scrambled to get ready but couldn’t get into a shooting po-

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sition quick enough and the chamois ran out of sight.

We glassed for a while longer and tried to figure out where the male chamois were. While the group of females stayed on the ridge in the distance, the males were nowhere to be seen. We hiked along the ridgeline to an outcrop where we crept forward carefully and peeked over the edge. Sure enough, the male chamois were straight below us, moving along slowly. The chamois in this area should have been entering the rut at this time, but they didn’t seem the least bit interested in the females on the opposite ridge.

It was decision time. We could choose between waiting on the ridge a while longer to see if the chamois would come our way or try to hike down the steep snowy mountain to get a shot at them where they were.

This was a risky move because it was a long hike down and it was approaching midday. We didn’t want to be caught in the dark on the mountain but decided to give it a try rather than waiting it out because, honestly, I’m not great at the waiting game.

So it was time to make it happen.

WE HALF HIKED AND half slid down the mountain in the melting ice and snow, but it paid off because we spotted the chamois again when we were about halfway down. We cut across the ridges to try and close some distance and peeked over each ridge carefully to make sure we didn’t spook them.

We lost sight of the chamois for a while, but one of the guides got really excited as we peeked over a ridgetop. He rushed back to tell us that the chamois were just over the ridge right in front of us. I slowly crept forward with my rifle and lowered the legs of the bipod.

The climb to the summit of one of the mountains featured some knee-deep snow to traverse, but the motivation to get close to the chamois made it worthwhile. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

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I got set up lying down in the snow and steadied my breathing.

Because the chamois were blissfully unaware of our presence, I had some time to range them, and they were around 120 yards out.

It was a perfect set-up; there was no wind, the rest felt steady, I took a deep breath, let it out halfway and slowly squeezed the trigger. The chamois was hit hard and took one huge jump before it disappeared down a deep ravine.

We tried to follow the tracks of the chamois, but it fell a long way down the ravine. The guide suggested that they go down and find it because we were running out of daylight and the hiking was really difficult.

The guides hurried down and found the chamois, but it was in a terrible spot, so they used rope to pull it up out of the ravine. Because

it was starting to get late in the afternoon, we took some quick pictures and started the tough climb back up to the top of the mountain so we could hike back down the other side and back to the cabin. It was just about dark when we made it back and we were all excited to celebrate.

Needless to say, day one was a massive success, and the next day my boyfriend would try for his chamois and also succeed!

Romania was gorgeous and it is definitely on my short list for places to plan a return visit. They have lots of hunting opportunities, including red stag, fallow deer and more.

If you are interested and want more info, contact Bryan Martin at AsianMountainOutfitters@gmail.com. CS Editor’s note: Brittany Boddington is a Los Angeles-based hunter, journalist and adventurer. For more, check out brittanyboddington.com or facebook.com/brittanyboddington.

126 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

Boddington could add another type of chamois to her ledger, the Carpathian version of this goatantelope species. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

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Come and Join our 6th Annual Halibut Express!!

Our area offers some of the very finest Halibut and Ling Cod fishing on the whole BC Coast, including Alaska. We are offering a special early season COMBO Halibut and Ling Cod package for the 2018 season. The dates we have selected for our 2018 Halibut Express are from May 1st to May 5th, May 5th to May 9th, May 9th to May 13th, May 13th to May 17th, May 17th to May 21st, May 21st to May 25th, May 25th to May 29th, May 29th to June 2nd, June 2nd to June 6th, June 6th to June 10th, June 10th to June 14th, June 14th to June 18th and June 18th to June 22nd 2018. This will be a 4 night/5 day package and will include up to 30 hours of guided fishing, all meals and 4 nights accommodations. An added bonus will be that the VACUUM PACKING and FLASH FREEZING of your fish are included in this pricing. This is a heck of a good deal and this package would make a wonderful gift for the fisherman in your family. We will also have our fly-in service available from Seattle, Wash., or Vancouver, BC for these dates.

You will also have the opportunity to target the early runs of CHINOOK and COHO that will be coming through our waters at the time of the season. The pricing for this exciting package is as follows: Party of 2 fishing, 2 per boat…$1975.00 PP + 5% tax. Party of 3 fishing, 3 per boat…$1675.00 PP + 5% tax. Party of 4 fishing, 4 per boat…$1475 PP + 5% tax.

To make your reservations or for more information please give us a call at 1-800-429-5288 or send an email to: rodgersfishinglodge@yahoo.com Best regards, Doug Rodgers PS: With Halibut selling for upwards of $25.00 per pound at your local fish market, you should easily be able to pay for your trip. You are allowed up to 6 Halibut, new for 2018, 4 Ling Cod and 8 Salmon in possession per angler. The biggest Ling Cod this past season was a 60 pounder.

Come and fill your freezers!