Cal Sports Dec 2018 by Media Index Publishing Group

FISHING • HUNTING • TRAVEL CALSPORTSMANMAG.COM

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calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

California

Sportsman Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource

Volume 11 • Issue 3 PUBLISHER James R. Baker GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott EDITOR Chris Cocoles CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Brittany Boddington LEAD WRITER Tim E. Hovey CONTRIBUTORS Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, John Heil, Todd Kline, Bill Schaefer, Jeff Walters SALES MANAGER Katie Higgins ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold DESIGNERS Kayla Mehring, Jake Weipert PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly Baker DIGITAL STRATEGIST Jon Hines ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Katie Aumann INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@calsportsmanmag.com CORRESPONDENCE Email ccocoles@media-inc.com Twitter @CalSportsMan Facebook.com/californiasportsmanmagazine ON THE COVER In winter, the beaches of California offer anglers mild weather and lots of uncrowded space to fish for a variety of species, including plentiful barred surfperch, “the piranha of the coast,” as cover girl Alyssa Hovey’s dad Tim calls them in this issue’s main feature. (TIM E. HOVEY) 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 (206) 382-9220 • (800) 332-1736 • Fax (206) 382-9437 media@media-inc.com • www.media-inc.com

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CONTENTS

VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 3

BIRD HUNTING FOR CHARITY Our She Hunts columnist Brittany Boddington relocated from her native Los Angeles to Arizona, where every year she helps coordinate a charity dove hunting contest, the AZ Celebrity Wing Shoot. For 2018’s edition, Boddington invited an old friend, U.S. Olympic shooter Kayle Browning, to participate on her team. Find out how Browning and Team Boddington fared in this great event!

(BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

FEATURES 49

LIFE’S A BEACH – ESPECIALLY IN WINTER Living in Southern California allows locals to enjoy an outdoor lifestyle few others can take advantage of during the mild and even sometimes warm winter. Our lead writer Tim Hovey grew up heading to the Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Diego coastlines, and still does today. It’s a pastime that has yielded many memories for Hovey – not to mention plentiful fish like corbina and barred surfperch!

TROUT TIME IN SAN DIEGO

Continuing the winter fun for anglers’ theme, the lakes in and around San Diego are famous for churning out big largemouth, but throughout December and the next few months, several of these same bass factories provide great opportunities for landing big trout, including trophies known as “Nebraska tailwalkers.” New writer Jeff Walters has the details.

SEEK OUT SECRET SPOTS

Even in the crowded Golden State, you can still find a secluded pond or creek that no other anglers know about. Bill Schaefer has found his own private bliss that he’s enjoyed with his kids and friends. Schaefer offers all the tips for where to find such a fishing spot and how to make sure it’s OK to wet a line there.

THE GIFTS THAT KEEP ON GIVING

It happens every year: the holiday season arrives and you can’t come up with the perfect gift for that hunter, angler, backpacker or camper in your life. Never fear, Scott and Tiffany Haugen are here with a gift guide that includes outdoor gadgets, handy tools, the hottest trout lures and even a campstove-top accessory that will help you make a pizza under Sierra stars!

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 35 57 99

Sacramento ISE show preview Bonito and skipjack fishing tips Retraining hunting dogs to mark bird locations 105 Euro skull mounting made easy with dermestid beetles 115 Company profile: Ellis Canvas Tents

DEPARTMENTS 15 19 29 31 33

The Editor’s Note: One family’s Camp Fire devastation Protecting Wild California: Lamprey returning to Central Coast streams Adventures of Todd Kline: Sweet home Alabama Photo contest winners Outdoor calendar

Read California Sportsman on your desktop or mobile device. Go to www.calsportsmanmag.com/digital California Sportsman is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 14240 Interurban Avenue South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Send address changes to California Sportsman, PO Box 24365, Seattle, WA 98124. Annual subscriptions are $29.95 (12 issues), 2-year subscription are $39.95 (24 issues). Send check or money order to Media Index Publishing Group, or call (206) 382-9220 with VISA or M/C. Back issues are available at Media Index Publishing Group offices at the cost of $5 plus shipping. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 2018 Media Index Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A. 10 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

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Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 10/01/18 and 12/31/18 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase. If an acknowledgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 10/01/18 and 12/31/18. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Instant Savings must be applied against the agreed-upon selling price of the outboard motor and reflected in the bill of sale. (Suzuki will, in turn, credit Dealer’s parts account.) There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 10/01/18 and 12/31/18. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2018 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

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THEEDITOR’SNOTE

did a lot of driving around Northern California during the Thanksgiving holiday. With my dog Emma as copilot, we headed down Interstate 5 towards the Bay Area to visit my family. Driving past Redding and into the Sacramento Valley, I had an uneasy feeling knowing how much devastation had unfolded just to the east.

Bryan Galea (far left in both photos) and his family – he’s pictured with his parents at their burned-down home – lost multiple residences in the Paradise and Magalia communities, but they have vowed to rebuild their hometowns that were devastated by the Camp Fire. (BRYAN GALEA) calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

Burning for two weeks, the Camp Fire all but devastated families, homes and essentially the tight-knit community of Paradise, near Chico. There were at least 85 fatalities – another 11 people were still missing as of late November – 14,000 homes destroyed and 153,000-plus acres burned. It was another horrific fire among so many that have affected Californians from Sonoma County to Malibu and elsewhere over the past few years. Earlier in the fall, I was in touch with reader Bryan Galea, a longtime Paradise resident and diehard angler who shared pics of some of the Feather River kings he’d caught during a productive fall fishery. Ironically we’d talked about staying safe through fires earlier in the year. Galea lives with his family in nearby Magalia, which like Paradise was threatened by the fires, so like many in town the Galeas evacuated when the Camp Fire ignited, but they didn’t expect the tragedy that would unfold. “As a joke I grabbed my waders and rods thinking we would be back in a day or so just like all the other evacuations,” says Galea, referring to past wildfires in his corner of Northern California. He salvaged some of his fishing gear, but this fire evacuation turned out to be anything but a precautionary exercise. Many, including Galea’s family members, felt blessed just to be alive. “My parents and grandma ditched their cars and ran through flames to escape,” Galea told me. “It’s crazy.” In the end, Galea, his parents, a brother and his grandmother all lost their homes (his fiancée Becky’s mom’s house was spared). But in a time when the hashtag #InsertcityhereStrong has become commonplace after similar disasters, the Galeas aren’t going anywhere as the healing and rebuilding begins. “I’ve spent almost 30 years up in Paradise. And will hopefully spend another 30 there!” Galea says. “It’s been an emotional roller coaster. I’ve been able to go up and check out the damage and it’s hard to comprehend standing on the road I’ve grown up on and nothing in sight looks familiar. And yeah, we will fight back and rebuild and put the pieces back together. It will be a long road to recovery up there, but we will prevail and get our little ‘Paradise’ back!” Do what you can financially to help the folks in Paradise and throughout California’s fire-ravaged communities this holiday season. -Chris Cocoles

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PROTECTING

WILD CALIFORNIA

Pacific lamprey were confirmed back in San Luis Obispo Creek last year, and this past July young ones known as ammocoetes were seen for the first time in the upper portion of the Carmel River. (JOHN HEIL/USFWS)

LAMPREY RETURN TO CENTRAL COAST STREAMS By John Heil

“

cstatic.” That’s the word to describe how Damon Goodman felt about the recolonization by Pacific lamprey of San Luis Obispo Creek and the first time since 1928 the species was seen upstream of the San Clemente reach in the Carmel River. Indeed, 2017 was a big year. Not only were lamprey confirmed back in the creek, but the removal of the San Clemente Dam

resulted in the species coming back to the lower portion of Carmel (which was fully confirmed in July 2018). Goodman, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist with the Arcata office, has been working on solutions for Pacific lamprey in California for 14 years. Along with Dr. Stewart Reid of Western Fishes, they work with partners, including tribes throughout the state, to restore the lamprey to their historical estuaries. “Our boots have tasted nearly every

anadromous stream connected to the ocean – from Canada to Mexico,” said Reid.

SAN LUIS OBISPO CREEK In 2004, Reid and Goodman went to San Luis Obispo Creek and found lamprey abundant. Since the species has not been confirmed south of San Luis Obispo, the pair believed this to be the southernmost substantial population in California. Unfortunately on a trip back to the town one day in 2011, they were unable to

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

PROTECTING

WILD CALIFORNIA

Dr. Stewart Reid from Western Fishes (left) and Damon Goodman, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, pause while surveying San Luis Obispo Creek for Pacific lamprey with an Engineering Technical Service advanced backpack sampler. The device’s low-impact, lamprey-specific sampling technique has no effect on other fish and has a high detection probability for the species. The sampling uses low voltage and slow-pulsed electricity to draw young lamprey out of their sand burrows so biologists can net them while they are swimming in the water. (JOHN HEIL/USFWS) find a single lamprey. “We were shaken,” said Goodman of the absent lamprey. “We went back to show off abundant lamprey to our local stakeholders – provide evidence of how well the community was doing at supporting their native fishes – but instead we found the lamprey were completely absent. We went to site after site to the best locations and repeatedly there wasn’t any lamprey. We knew we had a major problem, but we didn’t know why.” That question was answered when they discovered that a tidal weir and the bottom of the drainage had been modified in 2006 to make it easier for steelhead to pass – a restoration action designed for conservation of an endangered species, but failing to take into account lamprey. “You could not have designed a barrier better suited to exclude lampreys from the creek,” Goodman said of the weir. He and Reid, along with City of San

Luis Obispo biologist Freddy Otte, set up a discussion and presentation open to the public at the downtown library in 2012. The room was packed with standing room only. “Out the back door,” recalled Reid. “We spoke of all the wonderful efforts the city had made but that they no longer had lamprey in their creek. Everyone’s face fell and they said, ‘What can we do to make this right?”’ “Bringing local stakeholders together was the first step in solving the problem,” said Goodman. The San Luis Obispo Lamprey Working Group, which includes the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, San Luis Obispo Land Conservancy, Western Fishes, City of San Luis Obispo and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, was then established and the group’s mission was clear – return lamprey to San Luis Obispo Creek. The working group’s first task was

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to resolve the problem that led to the extirpation, so they designed and installed a lamprey-specific passage route in 2013. The solution was elegantly simple: a curved piece of metal placed over the weir and known as a “lamp ramp.” Reid bought it at a salvage yard in Oregon and bent it at a muffler shop. The total cost, including metal, wood and bolts, was only $314 and was constructed of primarily repurposed materials. Year after year the working group confirmed that lamprey were absent but continued to hold out hope. At one point, the group considered an active reintroduction effort, in which lamprey would be brought in from a neighboring river. However, Javier Linares, a USFWS fish biologist at the Pacific Southwest Regional Office, felt that was too aggressive as a strategy. On St. Patrick’s Day 2017, the dream was realized when adult Pacific lamprey

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

City of San Luis Obispo biologist Freddy Otte with a net full of young Pacific lamprey. “The lamprey are a great point of pride for San Luis Obispo,” he said. (JOHN HEIL/USFWS) were observed building nests in Mission Plaza. “Before we moved forward with reintroduction, they came back by themselves, saving time and money,” said Goodman. “We essentially facilitated a natural population expansion. What we learned from this effort will shape how we approach conservation measures across the range of the species.” The city of San Luis Obispo was thrilled about the recolonization. “It’s exciting to see the native Pacific lamprey back in our local watershed due to all of the monitoring and stewardship efforts brought forward by the partnership between the United

States Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Natural Resources Protection Program in our Office of Sustainability,” said Mayor Heidi Harmon. “Our community cares deeply about San Luis Obispo Creek, and this wonderful news is further evidence that our efforts to protect and restore the creek are starting to pay off.” “All it took was a piece of stainless steel and a couple of bolts,” said Dennis Michniuk, environmental scientist and district biologist with CDFW’s Region 4. “It was amazing that something so simple could solve such a large problem. It just shows that when you get people

For over 100 years, Pacific lamprey had been absent upstream of the San Clemente Dam on the Carmel River. Built in 1921, the dam was removed in November 2015. By the first winter in 2016-2017, Pacific lamprey returned and this year evidence of reproduction was observed. (JOHN HEIL/USFWS) 22 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

PROTECTING

WILD CALIFORNIA together they can come up with low-cost, low-labor solutions. “I never knew how integral to the ecosystem lamprey were until I went to that presentation in the library. I’m hooked now.” Otte, who is one of two city managers in the state with a natural resources program, agreed. He believes lamprey make a huge difference as filter feeders to assist with the quality of the water from fecal issues due to pigeons. “Here we are today continuing to do research in the natural resources program – having recolonized the lamprey; that’s a great feeling,” he said. “The lamprey are a great point of pride for San Luis Obispo. Once it was installed, low and behold, a few years later they were back. It is good to tell this story of where we were to where we are now.” “We thought Big Sur was the southernmost population in 2016, but the

Damon Goodman, a biologist with the USFWS, displays Pacific lamprey ammoceotes caught in the Carmel River. “Before we moved forward with reintroduction, they came back by themselves, saving time and money,” said Goodman of the lampreys’ return. (JOHN HEIL/USFWS) next year the world had changed, which for a scientist is really cool,” said Reid. The working group is designing a monitoring system to count Pacific lamprey entering San Luis Obispo Creek,

and they expect to install it later this year.

CARMEL RIVER, SAN CLEMENTE DAM For over 100 years, Pacific lamprey had been absent upstream of the San

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Clemente Dam in the Carmel River. Built in 1921, the dam was removed in November 2015. By the first winter in 2016-17, Pacific lamprey returned. “We kept an eye out for them, knowing it was just a matter of time,” said Beverly Chaney, associate fisheries biologist with the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District. “When I saw the lamprey redds and carcasses I let them (USFWS) know right away. It is very exciting seeing the lamprey in an area they haven’t been in over 100 years.” Chaney got a chance to learn more about Goodman and Reid’s efforts at Van Arsdale with the lamprey in 2017 while attending the American Fisheries Society Conference in San Luis Obispo and was awestruck with their innovation – using low-cost tubing to get lampreys over the dam. “I was very impressed with that idea,” she said. “I thought it was fantastic – great solution.” The findings in the Carmel River was confirmed by Goodman, Reid and Michniuk on a warm summer day this past July. “Our expectations are that we will see them,” said Goodman prior to their hike up to the river, which was previously inaccessible due to the dam. The group was not disappointed as they discovered young lampreys almost immediately. That provided some of the first evidence of successful reproduction above the dam. While this success was celebrated, the challenge continues for Goodman and Reid with a goal of having lamprey back in all of the watersheds up and down the state where they once thrived. CS

Editor’s note: For more about the efforts to restore Pacific lamprey, see fws.gov/ cno/newsroom/featured/2017/lamprey_ release/. Anyone who has seen one south of San Luis Obispo is asked to please contact Damon Goodman at (707) 8255155 or Damon_Goodman@fws.gov, or Stewart Reid at (541) 890-1669 or Westernfishes@opendoor.com. Author John Heil is the deputy assistant regional director for external affairs in the Pacific Southwest Region headquarters in Sacramento. 26 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

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s e r u t n e v d A I caught this Lake Guntersville stud using an IMA Skimmer. (TODD KLINE)

Living in Southern California, I don’t get to fish spotted bass much, but the trip to Alabama led to me catching my largest to date. This spot went almost 4½ pounds and ate a 3/16-ounce Coolbaits lure. (TODD KLINE) The fleet prepares to blast off during the bass tournament. (TODD KLINE)

In midfall I went to Alabama’s Lake Guntersville to participate in the FLW Costa Championship. After having boat issues and not fishing day one, I got back on the water on day two and caught them pretty well. (TODD KLINE)

e’re not ashamed to admit it: Todd Kline has the kind of life we wish we could experience. Kline’s a former professional surfer, a successful co-angler on the FLW Tour and a Southern California bass guide, plus he gets to travel the world as a commentator for the World Surf League’s telecasts. Todd has agreed to give us a peek at what he’s up to each month. For more on Todd or to book a guided fishing trip with him, check out toddklinefishing.com, and you can follow him on Instagram at @toddokrine. –The Editor While in Alabama we headed over to nearby Lake Wheeler for a day and had a blast. This is my buddy Keith Adams working the colorful fall shores of the Tennessee River reservoir. (TODD KLINE)

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

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For your shot at winning Browning and Yo-Zuri products, send your photos and pertinent (who, what, when, where) details to ccocoles@ media-inc.com, or to California Sportsman, PO Box 24365, Seattle, WA 98124-0365. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for our print or internet publications. calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

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JANUARY 1 2019 hunting and fishing licenses required 1 Topaz Lake Fishing Derby 1 Online harvest reporting begins for steelhead, sturgeon and North Coast salmon report cards 17-20 International Sportsmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Expo, Sacramento (sportsexpos.com/attend/sacramento) 18 Last day of duck hunting season in Northeastern Zone 19 Opening of Humboldt Steelhead Days (humboldtsteelheaddays.com) 27 Last day of duck hunting season in most zones 28 Opener for falconry rabbit and varying hare hunts Note: For a complete list of bass fishing tournaments, go to dfg.ca.gov/ FishingContests/default.aspx. For more details on hunting zones and regulations, check out wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting. calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

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Now available at www.clakit.com and Amazon.com 34 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

SPORTSMAN SHOWS

Hunting dog demonstrations and taxidermy work are among the exhibits planned for the popular Sacramento International Sportsmen’s Exposition at Cal Expo from Jan. 17-20. (SPORTSEXPOS.COM)

SACRAMENTO ISE SHOW IS AN OUTDOORS LOVER’S SHOWCASE S By Staff

portsmen and -women in California have the benefit of mostly good weather year-round to take advantage of the state’s fishing and hunting opportunities. Still, with January a generally quiet time – unless you’re a waterfowl hunter or steelhead angler in the northern part of the state! – this month offers a great chance to get a glimpse at the newest in outdoor gear, as well as pick the brains of industry experts. Yes, it’s California sportsman show season, and for Sacramento and Central Valley residents, it doesn’t get better than the 32nd annual International Sportsmen’s Exposition, Jan. 17-20 at Cal Expo.

“A generation old, California’s largest outdoor expo keeps growing! Five buildings plus outside space filled with gear, local and worldwide destinations, plus a dozen free theaters and demo areas,” event organizers say on their website. “Fishing, hunting, off-roading, boating, RVing, camping, kayaking – it’s all here to see, try and if you want, buy, too.” Some new features for 2019’s show include retail areas from Sportsman’s Warehouse and Turner’s Outdoorsman; an expanded outdoors product showcase courtesy of Sportsman’s Warehouse and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; the RMEF “Great Elk Tour”; daily archery product reviews from companies such as PSE, Bowtech, Hoyt and Bear; and you can also

enter a drawing to win products courtesy of Honda, plus gear and cash prizes. Among the returning highlights are the California Sportsman Theater, featuring seminars from some of the state’s best guides. You can also check out the wilderness archery shoot-off, the sporting dog area, fly fishing theater and casting pond, and the always popular Youth Fair. Hours for the show are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday; and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $16 for adults, with kids under 15 and active military personnel (with ID) free. Veterans can go to Vettix.org for a pass (limited quantity available). For more information on the show, go to sportsexpos.com. CS

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

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48 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

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SOCAL

SHOES OFF, FISH ON EVEN IN WINTER, CALIFORNIA’S BEACHES MAKE FOR A GREAT ANGLING EXPERIENCE By Tim E. Hovey

hen I was younger, I completely immersed myself in all types of fishing. Back then, it was all about catching the most and the biggest fish. I competed with friends and family, learned absolutely everything I could and took pride in knowing that in almost all angling situations, I could catch fish. My obsession with fishing was the driving force behind my becoming a fisheries biologist. These days I fish for a different reason. I find that when I’m able to break away for a few hours, I do so to relax. To me, nothing beats shedding my shoes, walking through the sand

and letting the cool Pacific wash over my bare feet. When it comes to recharging my batteries, I grab my surf gear and head to the shore. The coast is where fishing started for me. I honed my angling skills at the beaches of Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Diego as a boy. I refined my terminal gear, tried different types of bait and I caught my first fish on an artificial lure wading in the Pacific.

COASTAL SHORE FISHING IS not just a summertime activity. If you watch the tides and water temperature, you can catch fish year-round.

Cooler winter air temperatures mean that, at times, you’ll have the beach all to yourself. What can be better than no crowds or wayward surfers trying to ride waves you’re casting into? The water will be a bit colder, but cold is all relative to us Californians. Wintertime surf fishing sessions are a great way to just unwind. I normally try to fish a low tide coming into high. I’ve noticed this tide alignment will provide me with cleaner water to fish in and allows me more time at the shore. While I do normally try and fish this tide, alternate ones don’t stop me.

The beaches of Southern California have provided author Tim Hovey with angling opporunities dating back to his youth, and one of the gifts of living in the Southland is being able to fish the shore in your bare feet even in winter! (TIM E. HOVEY) calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

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You can sometimes find live bait right at your toes, like these Pacific sand, or mole, crabs. (TIM E. HOVEY)

Water movement over the sand crab beds will keep fish feeding no matter the tide. I tend to search out these beds when water conditions are varied and begin fishing there. Sand crabs buried in the sand are usually pretty easy to spot. When an incoming wave recedes, crabs will expose their feeding appendages, filtering the water for particles of food. Thousands of feeding crabs will leave tiny channels or “V’s” in the wet sand. Find these feeding patches and fish will always be nearby. My standard bait for fishing the surf is the Berkeley Gulp! 2-inch Sandworm. However, there are times that I prefer using live bait available right there at the shore. I’ll search the sand crab beds by grabbing a handful of sand as waves move over the crabs. I like smaller crabs loaded with brightly colored orange eggs. If I can find a newly molted or soft-shell crab with eggs, I can almost guarantee a hookup.

WHILE A NUMBER OF fish species cruise the surf looking for food, the most common I encounter in the areas I fish is the barred surfperch. These fish are members of a family that actually gives birth to fully formed live fish that are ready to swim and feed as soon as they leave the female. It isn’t out of the ordinary to catch pregnant females plump with baby fish during the spring and summer. During our summer fishing trips to the shore we almost always practice catch and release. The barred surfperch is a voracious predator of the shore and can seriously be considered the piranha of the coast. They are agile and successful in an environment that is chaotic and constantly moving and changing. Surfperch are habitat specialists and have made the churning surf their home. Riding incoming waves, schools of surfperch quickly search the temporarily exposed shore for sand crabs and sand worms, riding the receding waves back to deeper water seconds later. Their ability to navigate in only

50 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

KERN RIVER VALLEY

Winter Has Arrived! With the water smooth as glass and the water temperatures dropping, what’s hard about bass fishing in Lake Isabella in the winter? Local ardent angler Jon Van Rensselaer (pictured) shows off a morning catch of two beauties – one 8-plus pounds and the other close behind at 7 pounds. He caught both fishing the channel of the South Fork at Lake Isabella. Long known as Southern California’s premier bass fishing hot spot, Isabella is producing like the old days. In spite of or because of water levels being low, bass fishing is good and the trout bite is just starting. For the colder winter months, campgrounds are open and even the best campsites are available. Mark your calendars for the always-popular Lake Isabella Fishing Derby from April 13-15. There will be lots of fish, prizes and fun for the whole family. Contact the Kern River Valley Chamber for details.

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The fish – especially the ubiquitous barred surfperch and corbina Hovey regularly catches – aren’t always big, but the atmosphere and solitude can compensate for the lack of big ones biting your bait. (TIM E. HOVEY)

inches of water puts barred surfperch in easy casting range of shore anglers. I use a Carolina rig and concentrate my casts in the white frothy water of a shorebreak wave and let the churn of the surf roll my offering in the shallows. Bites can be subtle

or violent. Making sure you fish a tight line can be the difference between a missed strike and a fish.

IN LATE FALL I grabbed two rods and headed to the coast. The evening before I checked the tides and no-

52 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

ticed that everything looked good for a morning session at the beach. The low air and water temperatures meant I’d likely have it all to myself. I pulled up to the shore, donned a second sweatshirt and grabbed my gear. The low tide was coming to high and would be good moving water for a few hours before it slacked off at full tide. Two hours was all I really needed. In bare feet, I walked to the water – and nearly abandoned the day once the frigid surf hit my legs. But once I adjusted to the cold, I watched the water for a few sets. A large wave broke early and sent acres of frothy white water to the sand. The cast was automatic and I engaged the reel once the weight hit the water. As I ran the line over my index finger and under my thumb, I could feel the approaching water move the weight and the bait over the sandy bottom. The bite was subtle. The tight line twitched slightly and I instantly set the hook. The angry tugging at the end of the line made me smile. Thirty seconds after casting into the white water, I was unhooking the first barred surfperch of the morning. With short casts and tight lines, I kept catching fish. I also added a nice corbina to the surfperch count using a soft-shelled sand crab I caught in

SOCAL “I think about my dad, who passed in 2007 and how proud he’d be of my growing daughters,” Hovey writes. “I think about how I continued that fishing tradition with them, teaching them to fish at this very coast.” (TIM E. HOVEY)

the sand. None of the fish were monsters, but the action was consistent, which is what I strive for as an angler.

I TAKE GREAT PRIDE in knowing that no matter where I cast a line, I can catch fish consistently. In over 40 years of chasing anything that swims, I have developed techniques and acquired knowledge of what works and what doesn’t. I learned a long time ago that catching fish consistently is the true measure of angling success. For over an hour I was the only one on the beach. Even alone, I kept track of how many fish I had caught. It’s just the competitor in me. As the tide came to high and the beach began to shrink, I decided to call it a day. Back at the truck, I sat on the tailgate and watched the waves. The fishing had been good and the short shore session had definitely recharged my batteries. By choice, I don’t have a lot of stress in my life, but I’ve noticed that the drive home after a fishing trip to the beach is more than calming. I’m grateful that my parents allowed me the freedom early in life to explore the coast on my own. I seriously do not remember any trips my family took just to go to the beach. Back then, if I wanted to fish the shore, my brother and me would simply jump on our bikes with our gear and ride the few miles to the coast. That early freedom certainly guided my future. The trips now are more about relaxing and reflecting. I think about my dad, who passed in 2007 and how proud he’d be of my growing daughters. I think about how I continued that fishing tradition with them, teaching them to fish at this very coast. And at times, I just come down to the shore to feel the sand beneath my feet and the cold Pacific wash over my legs. And it doesn’t matter if I’m fishing with friends or fishing alone, I will always keep count of my catch. That will never change. CS

54 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

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FAMILYFRIENDLY FRENZY SMALLISH BUT PERKY SKIPJACK AND BONITO READILY AVAILABLE FOR SMALL BOATERS By Capt. Bill Schaefer

Plucky bonito – some big, some smaller – provide a lot of family fun this time of year off the Pacific. Anglers are also pulling in a lot of skipjack tuna. (BILL SCHAEFER)

here are still tuna in the Pacific off the Southland, but most have slid so far off shore that only the occasional bluefin or yellowfin have been caught within range of the private fleet. Yet there are still some fish out there that pull hard and can give everyone a ton of fun! Skipjack tuna and bonito are still around and just off the kelp beds to about 10 miles out – well within range of smaller boats. The best news is they are usually pretty easy to hook. You can take the kids out, and once they are hooked up to these little freight trains they will have the time of their life! The fish have been in the 2- to 10-pound range, with a few larger ones mixed in. And as mentioned, even a few tuna are running with the skipjack.

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

TROLLING TACTICS For tackle, a couple of trolling rods will be necessary. They can be anything from just one of your regular bait sticks – from 20- to 30-pound – to your real trolling rig. Small plastic or real feathered trolling lures in bright colors will attract the fish. Even small, hard plastic crankbaits such as a Rebel or Rapala will do well. You can run a couple feathers and a couple deeper diving crankbaits in your spread and then adjust the lures to what gets hit the most. You don’t really need bait, as once you find the fish you can just start trolling again to hook up. This is why you may want to just use your bait stick with a lure. This way the fight is fun and you’re just not dragging the fish in on a 50-pound trolling rig. I like to go with a medium Daiwa Proteus rod with a Lexa 400 loaded with 20-pound Maxima Ultragreen, with a Rebel Jawbreaker crankbait. It makes for a fun fishing experience. And if you have a friend who loves his or her fly tackle, these fish will certainly make for a battle on fly gear.

HOLD FOR THE ANCHOVIES There are still a lot of giant anchovy bait balls off the Southern California coast and you may just find bonito and skipjack in a feeding frenzy. You can either troll by for a hookup or grab another rod that is set up with some type of iron or chrome jig. Position yourself upwind and let the boat drift into the frenzy. Driving up too close may spook the bait and school down. This can produce a fun day of fishing for the entire family and all your buddies, and a lot of people feel bonito and skipjack are great table fare. CS

58 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

60 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

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ANGLERS’ WINTER WONDERLAND Escondido’s Matt Herrera shows off a monster Nebraska tailwalker rainbow caught at Lake Poway (right), one of several San Diego-area fisheries that offer some outstanding winter trout fishing. (JEFF WALTERS)

EVEN DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, TROUT FISHING CAN BE PRODUCTIVE IN SAN DIEGO LAKES By Jeff Walters

arm sunny skies after a brisk winter morning is not what most anglers think of winter trout fishing. However, in San Diego County’s temperate climate, this is what local anglers know of as December fishing. Local lakes are restocked once water temperatures start to cool down, with those at higher elevations seeing releases all year long. Here is a detailed list of the best stocked waters to fish throughout the county this winter.

SAN DIEGO CITY LAKES Eight man-made reservoirs make up the vast network of the San Diego City Lakes Program, but only two, Lakes Miramar and Murray are being stocked with trout from both the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Mojave River Fish Hatchery and Calaveras Trout Hatchery, near Merced in the Central Valley. Both provide quality hatchery-raised trout, with Calaveras providing some of the larger

fish. Trout season opened in the last week of November.

Lake Miramar Location: 10710 Scripps Lake Road, San Diego Phone: (858) 527-1722 Web: sandiego.gov/reservoir-lakes Entry: $8 per adult, $3 per child Launch: $8 Directions: From San Diego, take Interstate 15 north, exit Mira Mesa Boulevard East, turn left onto Scripps Ranch Boulevard, then turn right onto Scripps Lake Drive. The lake entrance is on the left.

Lake Murray Location: 5540 Kiowa Road, La Mesa (Mission Trails Regional Park) Phone: (619) 668-2050 Web: sandiego.gov/reservoir-lakes Entry: $8 per adult, $3 per child Launch: $8 Directions: Take Highway 8 East and exit at Lake Murray Road.

CITY OF ESCONDIDO There are two man-made reservoirs that are operated by the City of Escondido Parks Department. Lake Dixon and Lake Wohlford are vastly different from each other, even though they are just 20 minutes apart. Dixon sits in the middle of the citrus farms, while Wohlford lies in the wooded hills. Lake Dixon is known for its largemouth bass, and Lake Wohlford, which is only open on the weekends until mid-December, is known for crappie and catfish. The City of Escondido stocks 2,500 pounds of trout every week from Calaveras Trout Farm, providing for some very good catch rates. The trout opener is Dec. 9 at Wohlford, mid-November at Dixon. Note: Escondido City Parks lakes are closed to all private watercraft, including float tubes, as well as boat equipment like motors and anchors

Lake Wohlford Location: 25453 Lake Wohlford

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

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Lake Miramar is one of two San Diego City Lakes that plant trout, including some big rainbows from the Calaveras Trout Hatchery in the Central Valley. (JEFF WALTERS)

Road, Escondido Phone: (760) 839-4346 Web: escondido.org/lake-wohlford Entry: $7 Boat rentals: $35. Note that bass boat rentals are also available (check for current prices). Directions: From San Diego take the 15 Freeway north and exit Valley Parkway East. Follow all the way around past the city towards Valley Center. Turn right onto Lake Wohlford Road and follow up to the lake. From Los Angeles or Riverside take the 15 Freeway south and follow the above directions.

Lake Dixon Location: 1700 North Honda Drive, Escondido Phone: (760) 839-4345 or (760) 839-4680 Web: escondido.org/lake-dixon Entry: $7 Parking fee (weekends): $5 Boat rentals: $25 Directions: From San Diego take the 15 Freeway north to El Norte Parkway, turn east and follow 5 miles until you see the sign on the left side of the road. From L.A. or Riverside, take the 15 Freeway south and follow

the above directions.

private watercraft, but has rentals.

CITY OF POWAY

CUYAMACA RECREATION DISTRICT

Sitting on the eastern edge of Poway is a small, 6-acre lake of the same name and which is operated by the city. Known as a great largemouth fishery, Lake Poway produces some impressive fish and is one of the few that is stocked with trout from Chaulk Mound Trout Farms out of Nebraska. Its rainbows were nicknamed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nebraska tailwalkersâ&#x20AC;? years ago here in Southern California because of their impressive jumping.

Surrounded mostly by national forest land and with a state park nearby, Lake Cuyamaca is stocked year-round with rainbow trout from the state-run Mojave Hatchery. This shallow, medium-sized lake provides some serious catch rates all year long.

Lake Poway Location: 14644 Lake Poway Road, Poway Phone: (858) 668-4778 Web: poway.org/401/lake-poway Entry: $7; $10 parking fee for nonresidents Directions: From San Diego take the 15 Freeway north, exit Rancho Bernardo Drive and follow the road for 5 miles until you see the sign for the lake. From the L.A. area, try the 91 Freeway east or the 5 Freeway south to 15 south and follow the above directions. Note: Lake Poway is closed to all

62 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

Lake Cuyamaca Location: 15027 State Highway 79, Julian Phone: (760) 765-0515 Web: lakecuyamaca.org Entry: $8 per person for fishing; children under 12 free. Directions: From L.A., take the 5 or 15 Freeways towards San Diego. Take Highway 78 to Highway 67 to Highway 79 to the town of Julian, then follow the signs. Notes: Boat rentals are available. Check for fish species to remove.

CITY OF LAKESIDE Lake Jennings is a popular destination that offers camping, boating, hiking, and fishing year-round, but trout are only stocked when water temps go down. Fish come from the state and

SOCAL County because the city offers a series of lakes for fishing, camping, special lake access for campers only and a very generous stocking program. This preserve/park is very accommodating to all, with tables, picnic sites, boat rentals and much more. Trout are stocked from Calaveras Trout Farms and the Mojave hatchery.

Santee Lakes Lake Jennings, located just off Interstate 8 near Lakeside, gets trout plants both from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Wright’s Rainbows hatchery in Thatcher, Idaho. (JEFF WALTERS)

Wright’s Rainbows in Idaho. Fishing opened just before Thanksgiving.

Lake Jennings Location: 9535 Harritt Road, Lakeside Phone: (619) 390-1623 Web: lakejennings.org Entry: $9 Directions: Take State Highway 8

east to Lake Jennings Road. Turn left onto Harritt Road. Notes: Boat rentals are available all year; see above site for current info. For camping reservations, call San Diego Parks and Rec (858-565-3600).

CITY OF SANTEE The Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve is a one-of-a-kind spot in San Diego

64 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

Location: 9310 Fanita Parkway, Santee Phone: (619) 596-3141 Web: santeelakes.com Entry: $9 to fish, $6 to park Directions: Highway 8 east to Highway 67; turn left on Prospect and follow the signs.

MORE OPTIONS It’s also worth checking trout stocking schedules for Doane’s Pond at Mount Palomar State Park, Lake Morena in eastern San Diego County and Lake Chollas in the city of San Diego. CS

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THE SECRET SPOT A SECLUDED FISHING HOLE IS WHERE DREAMS COME TRUE By Bill Schaefer

e all had special places to fish as we grew up. Those secret spots, as we thought of them, were usually where we had the best fun and caught the most fish. You would bring your friends there and show them the fishing time of their life. No matter what you caught in your favorite secret hole, you thought it was the greatest. And fighting your way through brush or hiking along a winding, rugged trail to get to the spot only added excitement to the first hookup. There is just something special about being on a little pond fishing while the rest of the world is just passing by on the other side of all those tules.

CAN I FISH THERE? If there is water, then some kids will explore that puddle to see if there are fish in it. Most locations come by word of mouth, and that ends the secrets about most fishing spots that few know about. Golf courses, private home ponds and lakes, nurseries, sections of rivers, ponds on farms or private land usually all have fish in them. Now, one thing to remember is that some fishing holes are on private land. Just because someone else fished there doesn’t always give you

It might be as simple as a bluegill or something bigger, but quiet fishing ponds that few know about are worth treasuring. (BILL SCHAEFER)

the right to as well. Seeking out permission from the landowner can be the best solution to having a secret spot. The landowner may respect you for asking permission and grant it to you alone. I know it works, because I have had it happen to me.

ARE THERE FISH? Once you find your way to your new secret hole, how do you determine if there is indeed fish in it? One quick way is to pack some nightcrawlers into the pond with you. Worms of any kind can sometimes produce some bites quickly, which would answer your question. You may want to carry an extra spool of heavier line, starting out with lighter line until you get a feel for the size of the fish in the water. When you turn to lures, almost anything can be used at the pond that you might use in the larger lakes around the area.

Plastics, jigs, spinnerbaits or crankbaits can all be used, depending on the size and depth of the body of water. Sometimes, you might want to scale the lures down in size.

HAPPY DAYS From bluegill to big bass, pond fishing can be fun and rewarding for all ages. We don’t have as many farm ponds as other areas in the country, but we do have a number of small bodies of water around Southern California to explore. There’s just one more thing to please remember: Pack out all the trash that came in with you. There is nothing worse than finding empty wrappers, water bottles and other junk all over your spot. Be respectful of the landowners or location and your secret spot should remain open to fishing. And that will allow you to keep on having the time of your life there. CS

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

68 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

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NOTES There are simpler steelheading set-ups – swivel, leader, spoon, for starters – and there are presentations that are all the rage today – beads; bobber and jig; bobber doggin’ beads or bait. But perhaps none has accounted for as many winter- and summerruns over the eons as the ol’ drift fishing set-up. Call it a gateway rig, it’s what many of us started out casting before eventually diversifying our approaches for different waters. With a Lil’ Corky for floatation and either baited with a hank of yarn doused in scent or loaded up with sand shrimp or a thumbnail-sized chunk of cured eggs, this rig is great for working generally uniformbottomed sections of river moving at faster than walking speed, especially near hatchery zones. Adjust the amount of weight until you’re ticking bottom every second or so. –CS

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calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

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GIFTS THEY WILL LOVE TRY THESE HAUGEN-APPROVED STOCKING STUFFERS FOR THE OUTDOORSMEN AND -WOMEN IN YOUR LIFE By Scott Haugen

hristmas is almost here, and admittedly I love this time of year: winter weather; migrating waterfowl; predator hunting in full swing; winter steelhead fishing is about to heat up. Christmas is my favorite

Author Scott Haugen channels his inner Santa Claus this issue to share some of his favorite gear that would make great holiday gifts. One of the most versatile pieces he uses in the outdoors is the LoopRope, which among so many other jobs served in a pinch as a stringer to hold this limit of Alaska silver salmon. (SCOTT HAUGEN) calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

NORCAL Chef Tiffany Haugen is as comfortable cooking over a campfire as she is in her kitchen. She has assembled a variety of outdoorsy foodie gift ideas, from wood planks ...

... TO FIRE

FOODIE GIFTS WITH AN OUTDOORSY TWIST By Tiffany Haugen

T ... smoke generators ...

heyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been around for centuries, but wood planks have made a novel comeback in the last decade. Use them on the grill, by the campfire or even in your home oven to infuse fish and other lean meats with great smoky flavors. Not only will using planks keep the mess off of those grill grates, the plank makes an excellent cutting and serving board. Find wood planks at many grocery and specialty stores or cut your own using non-resinous, untreated woods such

74 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

... and a food dehydrator ...

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

NORCAL

... to a pizza-making accessory ...

as cedar, alder, cherry, apple, maple, oak, pecan, or hickory. A touch of smoke flavor can add something special to many foods. There’s no limit to what you can cold-smoke using the Smoke Chief Cold Smoke Generator. Start off smoking your favorite types of cheese and move on to lox, salts, oils, chocolate and even ice cream. Check out my custom recipes at smokehouse.com/ blogs/recipes. Off-the-grid cooking has never been easier with the Mimi Moto portable camp stove. Fueled by wood scraps or pellets, the Mimi Moto can be used to cook with or as a heater, and the clean burning technology allows for use in many areas. Learn more at smokehouseproducts.com The last time I checked, Italy did not deliver pizzas. How can that be remedied? Make your own artisanal pizza at home on the back porch or, better yet, while camping under the stars. Camp Chef has many artisan pizza oven accessories to choose from to fit a variety of camp stove sizes. Thanks to the heat technology used in

... and portable cooking gadgets. (TIFFANY HAUGEN, ALL)

these ovens, the thin-crust, crispy pizzas that you can create will be fantastic. Better yet, the versatile pizza oven can be used to bake many types of breads right on the pizza stone. It also works great for plank cooking and cast-iron skillet cooking. For the most efficient cleanup, be sure to purchase the Scraper Cleaning Tool at campchef.com. Fresh garden produce waits for no one and I often find myself with bushels of apples, armloads of zucchini and baskets of sweet, ripe tomatoes. One of the easiest ways to preserve fruits and vegetables is with a dehydrator. The Cabela’s 80-Liter Commercial Food Dehydrator has performed perfectly. Sometimes it will run almost 24 hours a day for weeks on end. From sliced to pureed into “leather,” dehydrated foods are lightweight, nutritious snacks that can be taken to hunting camp or tossed into the kids’ lunches. This dehydrator is also capable of making jerky; no smoker required for these snacks. To check out some of my favorite recipes like fruit leather, zucchini sheets and “salsa letters,” go to tiffanyhaugen.com. CS Editor’s note: For more gift ideas and signed copies of Tiffany Haugen's popular series cookbooks on big game, birds, fish and seafood, visit tiffanyhaugen.com. Follow Tiffany on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and watch for her on the online series Cook With Cabela’s and The Sporting Chef TV show.

76 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

NORCAL holiday, especially when it comes to giving gifts to family members who enjoy the outdoors. While gift cards are simple, if you’re looking for something a bit more special, consider my list of stocking stuffers for the

California sportsmen and -women in your life. These are all pieces of gear I used this year – multiple times at that – and gear that I found valuable. In fact, I like them so much I’ll keep using them for years to come.

The new 2.0 Mag Lip is great for back-trolling and casting to trout. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

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78 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

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NORCAL ROPE IT IN Whether hunting, fishing or camping, the most versatile tool I’ve used in the outdoors is the LoopRope (looprope.com). The ultimate tiedown is durable, versatile and can be used in many ways. I take them on every outing and always have a couple in my truck. My wife takes one on her mountain bike, on hikes and has a couple in her truck to handle everyday chores. At a mere $20, you can’t go wrong here, and believe me, you will find more than one use for these gems.

KEEPING IT CLEAN

When in the field, it’s important to keep your gun barrel clean of powder residue and debris. The SSI Gun Rope Cleaner is a two-part sys-

tem that is lightweight should you choose to carry it with you. It’s also easy to use. Simply use the nylon rope to pull the brush from breech to barrel, then follow it up with the finishing rope. Available in a range of gauges and calibers, I had great success with it on multiple hunts – from Alaska to California – and it’s available online or at many local sporting goods stores.

to the deer woods, in camp and on the river. The on/off touch pad is silent and the unit runs on three AAA batteries, which last 2½ hours on the high setting, up to 10 hours on the 100 lumen white COB LED setting, or 25 hours on the green COB LED setting. Its shock- and weather-resistant housing held up on all of my outings.

LET THERE BE LIGHT

TROUTHEAD MUST HAVES

Headlamps are an important part of my year-round gear, and this year the 250 Lumen Cyclops Conductive Touch Headlamp (gsmoutdoors. com) impressed me. The light never turned on while in my pack or tackle bag, and its bright, direct beam worked great from the duck blind

For the trout anglers in your life, there are three pieces of gear I used this year that greatly caught my attention, not to mention a lot of fish. First up is the 2.0 Mag Lip, crafted by Yakima Bait Company (yakimabait.com). Like its larger cousins, the 2.0 Mag Lip runs with a

Camp Chef’s One-Burner Stove is economical, portable, fast, efficient and is priced at under $30, making it a perfect gift to pack outdoors so you can eat well while afield. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

80 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

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82 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

skip-beat action that predatory fish can’t resist. It can be back-trolled with ease, but with light line and a spinning rod, this tiny plug can be cast and retrieved too. It comes with a size No. 10 treble hook, but a size 6 or 8 swish hook can be substituted. I did quite a bit of bead fishing this year for trout, char, grayling and more, and two components made my attempts very successful. First was the float that allowed me to efficiently manage my line, optimize drifts and cover key target water. It’s a Beau Mac Bobber Doggin’ Float, in medium size. The flat-bottom design, EVA foam material and brass eyelets make it durable and easy to control. The bead that fished best for me in over a dozen rivers and streams is the Soft Bead. The color, texture and buoyancy of the Soft Bead is exactly what the fish wanted. In addition to catching multiple species of small fish on little beads, the silver salmon bite was very impressive on the larger-sized Soft Beads. The new T-style stopper is tops, too. Both the Beau Mac (beau-mac.com) floats and Soft Beads (bnrtackle.com) can be ordered online.

put some sage in your stockings this year! gift certificates available!

While it won’t fit into a stocking, the Camp Chef One-Burner Stove is priced as such for value. I used this stove in multiple states while both hunting and fishing. It’s lightweight, comes in an easy-to-carry case, and it’s fast and efficient. Get the model that features an adapter to burn both butane and the 1-pound propane bottle. Learn more about this great product at campchef.com. There you have it, a sampling of gear I’ve used, trust and put my name behind. Get out there, have fun and enjoy the holiday season. CS Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen's many popular books, which also make great holiday gifts, visit scotthaugen.com

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THE ULTIMATE UPLAND BIRD HUNTING EXPERIENCE Conveniently located two hours from Portland and just 90 minutes from Bend, Oregon, Sage Canyon Outfitters is an easy destination. We’re just 12 miles from Maupin and the world-famous Deschutes River. We have over 9,000 acres for the upland bird hunter to enjoy. Chasing the wily ring-necked pheasant in cattail draws or perhaps in the vast grassland the varied terrain makes it ideal for every hunter. Or would you rather hunt chukars? Sage Canyon Oufitters has that too. Rocky rims or sagebrush draws make the chukar hunting about as authentic as it gets. We can move your car to the bottom so you can hunt downhill, making the strenuous sport of chukar hunting more enjoyable. Sage Canyon Outfitters does have lodging on site that

is very popular. Book your trip early to insure your dates. Maupin also has lodging, restaurants and nightlife options. You can bring your own dog and head out to your own private field or hire one of sage canyons personable guides. If you’re entertaining clients, try our popular 24-hour special. Arrive around noon on day one and shoot unlimited clays pigeons and go on afternoon guided hunt. Stay in our lodge and make your own dinner or go into town. Day two starts with a continental breakfast and a guided morning hunt, concluding with a hot lunch. The 24-hour special starts around $550 per person. Owner Bob Krein has been in hunting business for over 23 years and loves what he does. Come see us today and make us your Oregon upland bird hunting destination.

www.sagecanyonoutfitters.com (541)815-0721 89881 Bakeoven Road Maupin, OR 97037 calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

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HUNTING DOVES FOR CHARITY U.S. OLYMPIAN KAYLE BROWNING LENDS HER SHOOTING EXPERTISE FOR A GOOD CAUSE By Brittany Boddington

ne of the wonderful things about Arizona is that the state sells over-the-counter dove tags to resident and out-ofstate hunters. You need to buy a hunting license and a bird stamp,

of course, but otherwise you are ready to go! The bag limit is 15 per person per day, and it is not hard to hit those limits if you are decent at hitting fast-moving birds. We sponsor an event here every

year called the AZ Celebrity Wing Shoot, where we get a bunch of friends to fly in and we go out to a dairy farm in teams of four to try and get the most birds. Team fees are donated to an Arizona charity called

Author Brittany Boddington gets in some clay shooting practice in preparation for the AZ Celebrity Wing Shoot, a dove hunting event that raises money for Wildlife For Tomorrow, which funds fish and wildlife habitat protection in Arizona. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON) calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

Wildlife for Tomorrow (wildlifefortomorrow.org) to help fund the organization’s children’s education program. We didn’t win last year, so this year I decided to bring in some help.

SHOOTING STAR At the She Hunts Skills Camps (Cal-

ifornia Sportsman, July 2017) we always have industry professionals teach our seminars. This year Olympic shooter Kayle Browning taught the girls how to shoot beautiful Krieghoff shotguns. She is an incredible instinctual shooter and was able to coach

each and every girl into breaking at least one clay, if not many others! Browning did a demonstration after the coaching and showed us some pretty incredible tricks, like holding the shotgun over her head to break a clay or shooting from the hip. I thought perhaps she would

The shooters were ready to take aim at the birds after the previous day’s clay target practice. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

88 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

be a good addition to our team for the dove shoot. I invited her on a whim and she jumped on the idea. Browning offered to bring her dad Tommy Browning and do a trick shoot exhibition for us. (Keep in mind that she does these trick shoots professionally and typically gets paid, but because it was for a good cause she offered to do it for nothing to help us raise money for Wildlife For Tomorrow.)

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT The dove shoot rolled around and sure enough, Kayle and her dad held to their word and flew into Arizona. We had a big sporting clays competition the day before the doves to kick off the event and to give the shooters some practice. Kayle and her dad shot spectacularly. They took first and second place, with Tommy Browning breaking

Boddingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team, which included her fiancĂŠ Brad Jannenga and U.S. Olympic Team shooter Kayle Browning, took first place. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

90 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

every single clay. Such accuracy inspired me. I have never been a good shotgun shooter. I learned to shoot on a scoped rifle, so open sights is a struggle even though Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned to do that pretty well. For some reason I could never translate my opensight shooting into good shotgun shooting. Kayle explained it to me. She said that I was too busy focusing on the little sight beads instead of looking at my target. Kayle was right. I was so focused on lining up my beads that the target was getting lost. She explained that the beads are actually only to check the fit of the shotgun and not to be used for aiming. In order to shoot well you should get a gun that fits, get your check weld tight, and keep both eyes on the target. Kayle said to keep both eyes on the clay and your hands will know

92 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

Browning, a bronze medalist in trap team shooting at the 2018 world championships, showed off her trick shooting prowess. (BAILEE MCKAY PHOTOGRAPHY)

The event raised money for Wildlife For Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s education fund. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

what to do. It sounded like witchcraft to me, but I tried it and I broke the clay. This all took place at the She Hunts camp, but sure enough when we started shooting sporting clays I was back to closing one eye

and lining up the beads and missing the target. Luckily I had my coach there to remind me of my lessons and Kayle got me back to breaking clays regularly. For the first time in my life I broke at least one clay at

94 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

every station.

FLYING TARGETS I was pretty excited heading into the dove shoot the next day, but once we started shooting I realized doves are

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calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

much harder to hit than clays. I did alright but I was happy I had my team to help pick up the slack. My fiancé Brad and I sponsored three teams for the shoot, with most of our team members hitting their bird limits. We were able to take home the trophy – thanks to some incredible shooting from Kayle and Tommy – and after the dove shoot ended the Brownings put on an incredible trick shot demonstration. Kayle even shot upside down! I highly recommend a lesson with her if you want to up your shotgun game. See kaylebrowning.com or join us for the next She Hunts Skills Camp by registering at shehunts.com. CS Editor’s note: Los Angeles native and Phoenix-based Brittany Boddington is a hunter, journalist and adventurer. For more, check out brittanyboddington.com and facebook.com/brittanyboddington.

96 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

At the end, everyone who participated or volunteered was treated to a delicious meal that included dove breasts from the hunt and pasta. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

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HUNTING

HEADS UP: RETRAINING DOGS THAT WON’T MARK By Scott Haugen

recently received a call from a gun dog owner who was frustrated that he couldn’t get his 11-month-old hunting pup to look up to locate birds. We talked, and later that week I had him bring his pup over to my place. The dog was well mannered and behaved as we ran through some basic drills. It liked having his nose to the ground, and tracked and pointed well on wings we placed in the field. But when tossing a bumper, the dog seemed to lose interest. Come to find out, a bumper had been used for training and play since the pup was small, so he’d lost interest in it. I advocate only using bumpers as training tools, and do so sparingly. Some pups will be motivated to watch, or mark, then retrieve a bumper for hours, while others lose interest after only a few tosses. When using bumpers to teach a dog to mark, or locate an object, be focused and stop after a few good marks and retrieves. End on a high note and keep the pup wanting more. Do not use the bumper as a toy that lies around the house or the yard. A bumper should be something special, and as the pup matures, it associates the bumpers with business, not play.

If your hunting dog isn’t looking up for birds like author Scott Haugen’s Echo is here, illustrating the kind of drive you want your four-legged companion to have, there are ways of teaching them to do so that can be fun, interesting and motivating for them. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

TO RETRAIN THE gentleman’s pup to look up as well as mark an object, I grabbed a rubber throw disk. The disk I like using is made by Browning, and is designed for dog training. It’s heavy and constructed of tear-resistant material, and it’s bright yellow, which creates good contrast for a dog to see. I like this disk because it’s easy to throw in a straight line, maximizing

a pup’s ability to acquire it in flight. We started with a couple short tosses, no more than 10 feet. The pup sat and watched. He fetched the disk once it hit the ground. We then got the pup excited with the disk, letting him prance around, and then gave it another short toss. The dog marked it and started after it before it hit the ground. Bingo!

We repeated the short tosses a couple more times, then doubled the distance. The pup loved it and even tried catching it out of the air. Pups get bored doing the same thing with the same toys and training tools, and introducing a fun, new toy – in this case the rubber disk – that the pup could watch fly through the air, energized him.

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2018 California Sportsman

HUNTING I talked to the owner a couple weeks later, and he said he’d stopped by a discount store to pick up some plastic Frisbees. They served their purpose and his dog was marking and fetching like the man had always hoped. I also like Browning’s Fabric Throw Disk. Made of tear-resistant material, this disk is orange on one side, camo on the other with a reflective logo. The black edge is stitched with high-visibility orange thread, so the disk is designed to optimize a dog’s ability to locate it. Remember, contrast is key with dog training tools, since they are color blind. The Fabric Throw Disk can be thrown much further than the rubber disk, and moves more quickly through the air. It also floats in water, making it ideal for water entry training and teaching a pup to mark objects over water. When held perpendicular to the ground, the disc can be thrown in a downward motion with the flick of the wrist, allowing it to quickly roll across the ground. Dogs love marking objects as they roll on the ground, and this disk is perfect for building such skills.

AS PUPS BUILD a drive to mark and retrieve the disks, they’ll eventually want to catch it out of the air. This is

Training disks, or Frisbees, are great tools for teaching a pup how to locate and track flying objects. Here, a dog keeps an eye on a Browning Rubber Throw Disk as it floats through the air. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

the drive you want, which will transition to them watching ducks and geese as they circle into the decoys, and marking upland birds from the time they’re flushed to when they’re shot and on the ground. Once your pup marks the disks with consistency and excitement, progress to smaller objects. Browning’s Disk Thrower Fetch Toy is a good next step. As an aside, I don’t like the word “Toy” in this title, as I use it only as a training tool — toys and tools are

Having the right tools for the job is a big first step, like this line of training aids from Browning held by the author and his dogs. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

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two very different things. Just as you’d throw a clay pigeon from a hand thrower, the Browning Disk Thrower launches a plastic disk. Two disks come with the set; one is orange, the other yellow. For the best flying results, I placed the disk upside down in the thrower. My dogs also loved the hard plastic feel of the disks in their mouth, which got them excited to make the retrieves. When training with disks, avoid doing so on concrete and gravel. This is because the devices lay flat on the ground and the edge is hard for a dog to grab, which can result in greatly wearing down their teeth, even serious mouth injuries. If you have a dog that’s reluctant to look up, try these simple tools. Start with short tosses that the pup can easily see. Get them excited to mark the object, then reward them with a rub of the ears when they retrieve it. Soon your pup will be marking at greater distances, and before you know it, will be marking birds at distances that will amaze you. CS Editor’s note: To watch Scott Haugen’s series of short puppy training videos, visit scotthaugen.com. Be sure to follow Scott on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

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HUNTING

Author Tim Hovey’s fascination with animal skulls led the outdoorsman to start his own business using colonies of flesh-eating dermestid beetles. (TIM E. HOVEY)

NO BOILING NEEDED WHEN IT COMES TO CLEANING GAME SKULLS WITH DERMESTID BEETLES By Tim E. Hovey

first became aware of flesh-eating beetles – or dermestids – back in graduate school. To familiarize ourselves with the bones of a fish skeleton, we were required to completely clean a fish down to the bare bones for study purposes. Most of us simply removed as much of the flesh as we could with tweezers and scalpels, letting the fish

dry between sessions. It was a stinky job, but after a week of careful work, we all had skeletons that would work for the purpose. As we presented our finished pieces to the class, one skeleton caught my eye. The clown fish skull was pristine. It was almost pure white and didn’t have a single piece of flesh left. After we were graded on our efforts, I found out that one of the students had used dermestid beetles to

clean her fish skull. From then on, I’ve been absolutely fascinated by the bugs that eat meat.

SKULL SESSIONS When I became a biologist for the state of California, I noticed a true need for someone who could clean animal skulls for educational displays. Once I established a thriving colony and developed the skull preparation techniques, I started letting other bi-

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HUNTING

Hoveyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beetles helped prepare this hippopotamus skull for an Ohio zoo. (TIM E. HOVEY)

ologists know that if they needed anything cleaned, I could do it. As an avid hunter, I began cleaning the skulls of all the animals I chased. In the taxidermy world, this is referred to as a European mount â&#x20AC;&#x201C; cleaning and whitening the skull of an animal for display purposes. What started as a crazy little hobby has turned into an office display of over 60 different skulls. They range from as small as a

mourning dove to as large as the head of a 300-pound wild boar. Having perfected the cleaning process, I decided to see if others would be interested in using beetles for their skull cleaning needs. I put up a website in 2004, offering beetle kits and instructional DVDs I filmed and edited myself. Within eight hours of publishing the site, I made my first sale. Since then, I have modified the

106 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

site to meet the demands of my customers and I currently offer 16 different types of beetle kits catering to everyone from the average hobbyist to the fulltime taxidermist. Going a step further, I also started offering a skull cleaning service for those just wanting a European mount created without doing it themselves with their own beetle colony. As an outdoorsman, I have never

HUNTING the caterpillar-like larvae and the jetblack adult beetle. The larvae are the main meat eaters and responsible for most of the skull cleaning. While they eat and grow, they go through several molting stages over a 45-day period until they are large enough to transform into an adult beetle. They will then wrap themselves in a cocoon and slowly transform into the adult beetle stage over a week’s time. After emerging from the cocoon, the beetle form begins laying eggs almost immediately. The female beetle will lay eggs in and around the dried meat present on an animal skull. The egg takes about two days to hatch and will begin eating as soon as it leaves the egg as a tiny larvae, essentially starting the entire process over again.

THE COLONY

The steps for whitening a raw bobcat or other skull (top left) includes cleaning it with dermestids (top right, bottom left), soaking it in hydrogen peroxide and putting it in the sun to brighten the finish. (TIM E. HOVEY)

been into mounted trophies. But I have two mounts in my house. One is a full body mount of my first bobcat, a piece that I consider to be one of the best ever created. I also have a full body mount of my first turkey; it’s a piece I’m convinced should be the poster child for how taxidermy can go so very wrong. It is this dichotomy in quality that has convinced me that I will never have another animal mounted in this way. If I want to preserve the memory of a hunt, I will always choose a European mount prepared by my beetles.

THE BUGS Dermestid beetles belong to the Coleoptera family and are commonly referred to as skin beetles. There are approximately 500 to 700 species worldwide. In fact the species I culture, Dermestes maculatus, can be found throughout the U.S. and is responsible for processing roadkill back into the soil. This particular species is the preferred form for museum skeletal preparation and taxidermy work. The bugs are completely harmless and only eat dried-out meat. Dermestids come in two life stages:

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Dermestid beetles have specific environmental requirements in order to thrive and clean consistently. They do not like cold temperatures and operate best between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat lamps and heating pads can provide this optimum temperature for the colony year-round. Their enclosure must be kept dry and they seem to work better in the dark. Beetles acquire some moisture from the atmosphere, but occasionally I will introduce some water into their colony using a spray bottle to keep them hydrated and healthy. However, for the most part, their colony should always remain very dry. Dermestid beetles require a lot of ventilation, and all my colonies have a screened top to keep air flowing constantly, especially during their feeding time. Dermestids will eat any type of dried meat. I have several colonies that survive on scraps and bones of food we eat when I don’t have skulls for them to clean. Chicken bones, rib bones, steak bones and meat scraps usually get tossed into the colonies right after dinner. The more you feed them, the more they reproduce. Providing them with a consistent food source will en-

HUNTING sure a healthy colony. When I do want them to clean skulls, I usually place a processed one in the colony and completely cover it with bedding material. This allows the beetles to work in a dark environment and will keep the colony insulated and warm during the cleaning process.

THE PROCESS

Whether it’s a fish like this lingcod, or a bear or a coyote, some California sportsmen love the idea of remembering their catch or hunt with a skull. “What started as a crazy little hobby has turned into an office display of over 60 different skulls,” Hovey writes. (TIM E. HOVEY)

110 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

Despite their ability to clean skulls efficiently, skulls do require a bit of processing prior to placing them in with the bugs. Skulls need to be skinned and kept fresh prior to beetle cleaning. I usually place skulls in the freezer for a week to make sure that any other bugs aren’t present on the skull. After the freezing process, I let the skull thaw and then begin processing it. I will remove the eyes, tongue, brain and any heavy muscle meat off the skull. As I mentioned earlier, it’s very important to keep the beetle environment dry. While the bugs will eventually eat all these parts, they

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HUNTING are filled with water and will dampen the colony environment if they are not removed. Once the skull has been processed, I place it in front of a drying fan for several hours. This removes any remaining moisture from the skull and dries out the rest of the meat. Dermestid beetles prefer dried meat and will clean the skull more thoroughly when the remaining flesh has been dried out. When I process a skull in this manner, the beetles can completely clean the head in as little as two days. After the skull is cleaned, I’ll leave it in with the beetles for a few extra days to make sure that any eggs laid on the skull during the cleaning process can hatch and move off the head. When I remove the skull from the colony, I shake off as many beetles and larvae as I can. I don’t want live bugs living in the skull after it’s been cleaned. To assure this, I drop

the skull back in the freezer for a few more days to kill any bugs that may still remain on the head. Removing the skull from the freezer, it is now ready to be whitened. I exclusively use hydrogen peroxide to for this process. Other chemicals like bleach will eat away at the bone and damage the skull. I’ll use different concentrations of peroxide and I’m able to soak the skull for a number of days, essentially getting it as white as I want it. The final step after the whitening soak is to place the skull in the sun to dry. The UV rays of the sun react with the hydrogen peroxide, further brightening the bone. I’ll give the skull a quick rinse in fresh water after that and the European mount is finished.

time, my hunting friends, hobbyists, museum curators and taxidermists all over the world interested in cleaning any animal down to the bone have been my steady customers. Even my daughters requested that their hunted animals be cleaned by the bugs when they started becoming successful. If you are interested in establishing your own colony or just want a European mount done of your recent trophy, feel free to contact me at the information provided below. European mounts are cheaper to produce, will last longer and in my opinion are more unique than the standard mounts. Besides, I’ve always thought that skulls are just cool. CS

A FINISHED PRODUCT

Editor’s note: For more information on author Tim Hovey’s dermestid beetles, check out dermestidbeetlecolonies.com and dermestidinc.com. Contact the author at timhovey4197@sbcglobal.net.

I’ve been cleaning skulls and preparing European mounts for customers for almost 20 years and am still fascinated with the entire process. In that

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COMPANY PROFILE

ELLIS CANVAS TENTS

Owner David Ellis says he’s most proud of his Shackleton model tents, but all of the Ellis Canvas tents are teepee-style. (ELLIS CANVAS TENTS)

California Sportsman Magazine How did you get started in this industry?

Ellis Canvas Tents owner Dave Ellis The way I got started in the tent industry was sort of an evolution. I have always been a fabricator, starting first in the upholstery industry and then to making canvas enclosures of all kinds. The choice to get into tents was a deliberate one. I was approached by local outfitters and Southwest ranchers looking for a local tent manufacturer who could make products that fit their specific needs and were not on the market at that time. I was excited by the prospect of putting their needs into design concepts. Before long I became noted for two distinct products in the Southwest: bedrolls and cowboy teepees. I have made hundreds of wall tents, but my specialty has always been the teepee-style canvas tent. Now, many years later I have a set of products designed to meet the needs of ranchers, cowboys, hunters and other outdoorsmen, all of which are lightweight, durable and designed to be easy to use.

CS Tell us a little bit about Ellis Canvas Tents’ products?

DE The tents all have one thing in common: they are teepee-style. We make

several styles of teepee tents, but the one I am most proud of is the very spacious Shackleton Tent, (available) in 14 by 14, 11 by 11, and 8 by 8. You will be surprised to see how simple this tent is, only relying on three poles. The carefully designed shape allows it to stretch out to a spacious tensioned structure. It does need to be spiked in eight directions, so you will need good staking points and then you are good to go. This can be a negative in frozen ground, but remember that the eight anchor points will really keep it on the ground in windy weather. The Prairie Tent is by far our most popular tent. It is sold in 12-foot, 10-foot and 8-foot square sizes. It is a modified cowboy teepee that has the front and rear pulled out that makes it very roomy inside. The front door actually tilts out at 20-percent angle to create a covered front door. You will never have a wet spot in the front of the tent. In fact, you can stand in the doorway of this tent with your boots in the dirt and be covered by the tent. The Range Tent is our version of a cowboy teepee and it also comes in 12, 10 and 8 feet, but has no guylines. This makes a good working tent that can be set up close to others. It has a self-stor-

COMPANY NAME ELLIS CANVAS TENTS CONTACT INFO elliscanvastents.com (970) 259-2050 ing awning if you do want more protection over the front door. These tents have a low window in the back, a front screen door and a vent at top. We also make our Torrent Tent, which is a rectangle version of the Shackleton Tent. It has a front and rear door, which provides better ventilation and works well in less turbulent (conditions). All of our tents are tall enough to stand in and can be ordered with stove jacks so that you can heat them with a wood stove.

CS Alaska tents need be durable. What are some of the highlights of your tents that make them Alaska-tough? DE Making a canvas tent “Alaska tough” takes deliberate and well-thought-out fabric choices and sewing techniques. I do not rely on heavy synthetics that can underperform, especially in rainy weather. One of my special techniques is making web strapping out of the same fabric

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COMPANY PROFILE as the tent. Using this strapping and taking advantage of all seam edging, I create a skeletal design to reinforce and help support all edges of the tent. My tents can be made with or without a floor. The floorless option is more durable because floors can be damaged with heavy use. In addition, floorless tents weigh less. My tents are as tough as they can be and still be relatively lightweight. My Alaska customers who travel in bush planes tell me they need a tent that packs up small for transport and is as light as possible. All of my tents fit this criteria. The 7.5-ounce canvas I use has been proven to work well in Arctic climates. It is well known that the teepee design is super wind resistant. Our tents also have a variety of set-up options that can help when things don’t go as planned. They come with a lightweight aluminum pole set, but can also be erected with a single timber from the woods or hung from a tree branch.

CS It looks like you have some other camping accessories. Can you share some of those? DE We have the very popular Cavalry Bedroll that we have been making for years, it is made with canvas and is very water repellent. We have recently added a The Prairie line is one of the company’s most popular tents. (ELLIS CANVAS TENTS) new bedroll called The Rocky Mouncold north seas. I think of our bedrolls tain Swag; it can be completely zipped as being Alaska tough. They are made closed to protect your bedding. It is with 12-ounce marine-treated army also easier to customize by changing duck canvas, which makes them very out the pad and the type of bedding. water repellent. CS You can choose to fill it with our super comfy foam pad, a self-inflating pad, or no pad at all. It is a big favorite of the Editor’s note: Like Ellis Canvas Tents at firefighters in the West. We also make a facebook.com/elliscanvastents and folwaterproof dry bag for storage. I expect low on Twitter (@EllisCanvasTent) and Init could be real handy on a boat, in the stagram (@EllisCanvasTents).

116 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

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