California Sportsman Magazine - December 2022

A Unique Big Game Hunting Ranch

Nestled in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Missouri, High Adventure Ranch offers all of the excitement of western big game hunting without the costs and hassles.

Be prepared for a fair chase hunt! With over 3 square miles of prime natural habitat, our ranch provides challenges to even the most seasoned hunter, but our experienced guides and “No Game, No Pay” policy practically ensure that you won’t go home empty handed. In addition, High Adventure’s hunting season is year-round, allowing ample time to fit the most demanding schedule.

While our whitetail, elk, wild boar and red stag hunts top our hunter’s most popular lists, hunters from around the world have visited our ranch, hunting everything from American bison, black buck, fallow deer to Spanish goats and African game.

So, whether you desire a 10-point whitetail mount for your trophy room or simply the thrill and challenge of taking down one of our many elusive big game animals, High Adventure Ranch guarantees memories of an unparalleled hunting experience that will bring you back again and again.

Red Stag

Wild Boar

Whitetail

PUBLISHER

James R. Baker

GENERAL MANAGER

John Rusnak

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Andy Walgamott

EDITOR

Chris Cocoles

CONTRIBUTORS

Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Cal Kellogg, Todd Kline, Bill Schaefer SALES MANAGER

Paul Yarnold

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Riland Risden, Diana Medel Robles, Mike Smith

DESIGNER

Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Kelly Baker

DIGITAL STRATEGIST

Jon Hines

INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER

Lois Sanborn

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@calsportsmanmag.com

CORRESPONDENCE Email ccocoles@media-inc.com Twitter @CalSportsMan Facebook.com/californiasportsmanmagazine

ON THE COVER

Nathan Craig holds a keeper sturgeon caught last winter. Diamondsides like this will be biting in Bay Area waters this month, providing a good opportunity to get outside and try Cal Kellogg’s expert tips on page 35.

(COAST FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

MEDIA INC PUBLISHING GROUP

941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120 Renton, WA 98057

Volume 15 • Issue 2 Pistol Bullets and Ammunition Pistol Bullets and Ammunition Zero Bullet Company, Inc. P.O. Box 1188 Cullman, AL 35056 Tel: 256-739-1606 Fax: 256-739-4683 Toll Free: 800-545-9376 www.zerobullets.com

45 FORTHEKIDS!

Last month, editor Chris Cocoles recapped a memorable fall day spent on the water limiting out on rockfish with San Francisco-based charter boat skipper Don Franklin’s Sole-Man Sportfishing. Franklin, an Oakland native who now works as a coach and instructor for San Francisco’s Recreation and Parks Department, has also spent many summers introducing local kids to fishing, both educational and recreational. He tells us why he loves it.

53

OTAYISOKWITHANGLERS

Located in the mountains southeast of San Diego, Lower and Upper Otay Lakes offer some outstanding fishing for various species, but most anglers head this way for feisty (and sometimes huge) Florida-strain largemouth. Capt. Bill Schaefer has the details on how to catch these bass and also some suggestions for landing some monster catfish.

59

GIFTSTHATWILLMAKE A HUNTER’SHOLIDAYSHAPPIER

From apparel that protects you from bug bites to the best in waterfowl decoys and boots to keep your feet dry, Scott Haugen tested a lot of gear this year. With the holidays straight ahead, he shares top gift ideas for the hunter in your life. And speaking of the gift-giving season, chef Tiffany Haugen prepares a crab-filled salsa sure to please your hungry party guests!

GO‘STUR’CRAZY

The giants of San Francisco, San Pablo and Suisun Bays – plus the Delta – can be light biters. But if you can set the hook at the right moment, expect quite a fight! Cal Kellogg – here showing off a keeper sturgeon – offers some basic dos and don’ts for rookie anglers looking to hook these prehistoric monsters of Northern California’s salt- and freshwaters.

THE EDITOR’SNOTE

There are some visuals you just can’t forget. Even 40–plus years later. And when you factor in the smell, it becomes even more nostalgic.

So it goes with my earliest fishing memories. My first rod and reel was one of those Zebco spincast combos with probably about a 5½foot rod. John, one of my oldest friends, and I used to trout fish a lot around our Bay Area homes, and he would mock my equipment since he had a more traditional spinning rod. “You ready to shoot?” he’d quip before my casting action of pressing down on the button of the Zebco reel before releasing it on my follow through. “I have the same chance as you of catching a fish,” I’d fire back. That was usually how our outings would go. It was all in good fun.

But what John and I had in common was the approach we used to tempt the planted rainbows: half a marshmallow and a salmon egg smashed together and placed on a No. 10 Eagle Claw hook off a sliding sinker/swivel leader. Live bait like nightcrawlers or mealworms? Never a consideration (though we both discovered worms were a great way to entice catfish at Clear Lake, a Northern California staple vacation spot for both of our families).

And did I mention the aroma of the egg and ’mallow tandem? I can smell the odor of that salmon egg as I type this. I also rarely ever went back home as a kid without the red juice of the eggs on my shirt or jacket.

But bait fishing for trout was always something special, particularly on the days when I managed to land a rainbow from Lake Merced in San Francisco, San Pablo Reservoir in the East Bay or the now closed pay-to-play waters like Lake Isabel near Livermore and Parkway Lakes south of San Jose.

Cal Kellogg’s report this month on his favorite trout baits (page 25) has me eager to get out and try my luck again. You can bet I too will be fishing with some kind of bait.

These days, while I acknowledge how well a Kastmaster, Rooster Tail or Thomas Buoyant will work, I still can’t get away from a rolled-up scoop of PowerBait or one of those nightcrawlers I’ll regularly buy on the way to a local lake. Ironically, what I haven’t fished with is one of those marshmallow and salmon egg hooks in years. These days, my best action with the fuzzy white treats has been when squished between two graham crackers and a piece of chocolate over a fire pit. Now I can smell the s’mores as well as I can the salmon eggs. -Chris

Cocoles

The editor’s origins as a bait fisherman while targeting trout started with marshmallows and salmon eggs. These days it’s PowerBait products and nightcrawlers. (CHRIS COCOLES)

Adventures

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 toddklinefishing.com, and you can follow him on Instagram at @toddokrine. –The Editor

Two

fish

Winter is here but the weather is still California-ideal to get out on the water and fish. (TODD KLINE)

My mom came out to visit me for Thanksgiving and we had a great day at San Vicente Lake. (TODD KLINE)

of our biggest

of the day for Mom and I at the San Diego-area reservoir. (TODD KLINE)

Here are some happy clients after a successful guiding trip. Happy holidays! (TODD KLINE)

It was great to spend some time with the family over Thanksgiving. (TODD KLINE)

PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS!

For your shot at winning a Coast knife and light, send your photos and pertinent (who, what, when, where) details to ccocoles@media-inc.com or California Sportsman, 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120, Renton, WA 98057. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for our print or Internet publications.

Bill Meade is the winner of our monthly Fishing Photo Contest, thanks to this shot of granddaughter Isabella and her crappie, caught at a southwest Washington lake. It wins him a knife and light from Coast!

Nathan Craig is our monthly Coast Hunting Photo Contest winner, thanks to this pic of son Cash and his first deer, taken on a youth any-deer tag. It wins him a knife and light from Coast!

BAIT FISHING BASICS

FROM POWERBAIT TO NIGHTCRAWLERS:

WHAT ENTICES WINTER TROUT BITES

By Cal Kellogg

During the cold months reservoir trout move in close to the shoreline, making them prime targets for bank anglers and boaters willing to drop anchor and sling bait.

The fact is, when the water is super cold – say, in the 40s – or stained in the wake of winter storms, fishing bait is often more productive than trolling or tossing lures.

The bottom line is this: If floating dough baits and worms aren’t part of

your winter trout arsenal, you’re not catching as many trout as you could be. Let’s dig deeper!

WHEN BAIT FISHING, YOU’LL be doing a lot of casting. This makes spinning tackle the best choice. Since you’ll generally be using weights that range from 1/8 to ½ ounce, a light to medium-light rod is a good all-around choice.

I don’t go for the short ultralight rods a lot of anglers favor because they limit my ability to cast, aren’t well suited for fighting big fish and

The well-stocked winter trout angler will bring a variety of dough baits, worms, worm blower and a jar or two of salmon eggs thrown in for experimenting. The results can be outstanding, as Molly shows off after fishing dough bait from the bank during an early-season outing. (CAL KELLOGG)

make fighting fish out of an anchored boat difficult.

Rods 7 to 8 feet long with a fairly fast action work well because they offer maximum casting ability and provide a lot of leverage when slugging it out with a trophy rainbow. Should a trout make a power dive under the boat, the longer rod allows you to reach down and avoid having the line pulled across the hull or into the motor.

You’ll want to balance your rod with a reel capable of holding at least

175 yards of 8-pound copolymer – or, better yet, braid of a similar diameter. Braid is superior to copolymer for a variety of reasons. It will cast farther, it’s much stronger and it lasts way longer than mono. If you haven’t made the jump to braid, give it a try and you’ll become a believer.

With a rod and reel in hand, you’ll want a spool of 6- or 8-pound fluorocarbon leader material. Fluorocarbon reflects light at virtually the same rate as water, rendering it

invisible to fish. Since the fish can’t see it, there is no need to go super light. Remember, you are going to land a lot of pan-size fish, but you want a rig capable of battling a monster when one shows up.

You don’t need to use fluorocarbon every day in order to draw strikes, but how would you know? Therefore, I use fluorocarbon leaders all the time.

TERMINAL TACKLE IS THE nuts and bolts of the bait angler’s toolbox. Since trout spend most of their time holding near the bottom, that’s the zone you should focus on. The basic bait fishing setup is the sliding sinker rig. To construct sliding sinker rigs you’ll need a selection of hooks, weights, beads and swivels.

I keep my various bait fishing supplies in a plastic compartment box. I like to have both baitholder and octopus hooks on hand in sizes 8, 10 and 12. I use the baitholders for worms and the octopus hooks for dough bait. Some anglers like to use trebles when fishing dough baits. They work great, but I’ve never found them necessary.

I prefer tapered bullet sinkers over egg sinkers because they are more snag

When targeting trout with bait, it pays to work features such as narrows like this that serve to concentrate the fish. (CAL KELLOGG)

When using dough bait, form your bait balls just large enough to cover the hook. (CAL KELLOGG)

resistant. A selection of sinkers from 1/8 to ½ ounce covers most situations.

For a swivel, go with a black or anodized model in size No. 1. As for beads, simple plastic ones 1/8 inch in diameter work just fine; color isn’t a factor.

ONCE YOU’VE GATHERED ALL the necessary components, putting together a rig is simple. The first step is to pass the line of your spinning rod through one of your sinkers, going in from the narrow end and out through the wide end.

Next, pass your line through a bead and then tie on a swivel using an improved clinch knot. The bead acts

as a spacer between the weight and the swivel, protecting the integrity of the knot.

To the other end of the swivel, attach an 18- to 36-inch section of fluorocarbon leader with an improved clinch knot. The final step is to tie a hook to the end of the leader using a Palomar knot.

There are several popular and productive baits and bait combinations for tempting trout, but the best baits all have one thing in common: they float up off the bottom. Trout will seldom pick a bait directly off the bottom. You want a bait that floats up so cruising trout can find it easily.

Worms are low-down and dirty.

After all, they spend their lives crawling around in dirt, or worse, manure. Yuck! However, worms do have a positive side – namely their value as top-notch trout bait.

You can make your worms float by teaming them with a marshmallow or injecting them with air using a worm blower. I use both methods, but in many cases I prefer to float my worms with an injection of air, because this makes for a more natural-looking offering.

I firmly believe that a worm gives me two distinct advantages over dough baits. First, experience has demonstrated that worms provide me with the best shot at hooking holdovers that have been in the lake for a season or more.

Second, unlike dough baits, worms appeal to all of a trout’s senses. Dough baits put off lots of scent, but their visual attractiveness is limited to an array of bright colors. Worms take things a step further. Like dough baits, worms put off scent, but they also offer eyecatching movement as they wriggle and undulate. These subtle movements can be the difference between a hookup and a rejection, especially when the trout is in an experienced holdover.

When baiting up with a nightcrawler, I like to break the worm in half. I discard the tail since that section doesn’t hold air very well. When hooking the head end of the worm, don’t stitch it on with multiple punctures. Instead, lightly pin it and pass the hook through the middle

When big trout are on the prowl, half of a nightcrawler teamed with a marshmallow or two is a proven combination. (CAL KELLOGG)

This young angler was pretty happy after fooling this quality rainbow with green garlicscented PowerBait. (CAL KELLOGG)

Copolymer line works fine when bait fishing for trout with spinning gear, but braid works better because it allows longer casts while offering more strength and longevity. (CAL KELLOGG)

section of the bait one time.

Once the worm is on the hook, inject it with air. I check the worm to make sure it floats. If it does, I cast it out and get ready for action.

THREE DECADES AGO, WORMS, salmon eggs and soft cheese were the kings as far as trout baits were concerned, and then it happened. Floating dough baits arrived on the scene, and things haven’t been the same since. PowerBait, Gulp! and Zeke’s Sierra Gold are the most popular and effective of these puttylike concoctions.

Both brands come in a long list of colors and combination colors. Rainbow is very popular, as is chartreuse. My strategy is to keep things simple. I like to have chartreuse and orange colors on hand for stained water and subtler yellows and pinks for when the water is clear. The nice thing about dough bait is that it’s relatively cheap, so you can afford to carry a solid selection.

Baiting up with floating dough is

Drastically improve performance and straight-line travel of bow-mounted electric trolling motors with the LeeLock Magnum Skeg. The use of bow-mounted electric trolling motors for salmon trolling is a game changer. Not only does this skeg improve performance, it makes bow-mounted electric trolling motors much more efficient. Your batteries will run longer on a charge. The LeeLock Magnum Skeg can be a vital part of your trolling motor system!

The skeg is made of anodized 5052 aluminum. The size is 8 3/4 inches high by 10 inches wide and it’s 3/16 inch thick. The anodization keeps the aluminum from corroding in fresh- and saltwater. The LeeLock Magnum Skeg is available to fit most* 24 volt and 36 volt Minn Kota motors. It comes with clear PVC-coated stainless steel hose clamps. Call 360-380-1864 or write info@leelock.com if you have any questions about fit.

LeeLock is the only West Coast manufacturer that produces an oversized skeg for electric trolling motors.

*The LeeLock Magnum Skeg should fit all Minn Kota motors built with original skegs (fins) in the back of the motor with the exception of motors with built-in MEGA Down Imaging® Sonar, which is the large sonar unit on the bottom of the motor, not on the nose.

LEELOCK CRAB CRACKER

This new tool from Leelock will allow you to measure your Dungeness crabs to determine which ones are legal to keep. Then use the Crab Cracker to crack them in half, separating the two clusters from the shell and guts.

The Crab Cracker has been designed so that it sits nicely on top of a 5-gallon bucket, perfect for when you clean crabs. The bucket gives you a stable base, which makes it easier to clean – the guts and shell go into the bucket, making cleanup a snap. Crabs cleaned this way take up half as much space as whole crabs, so you can cook twice as many in your kettle.

The Crab Cracker is a unique tool made from solid aluminum, and comes in handy for cleaning Dungeness crabs.

simple. Dig a little out of the jar and form a ball about ¼ inch in diameter. Place it on your hook and cast out. As effective as dough baits are, I’ve been employing a trick over the past few years to make it even more deadly. Before I roll the bait into a ball I put a dusting of Pro-Cure SlamOla powder on my hand. Slam-Ola is used by salmon and steelhead anglers to add bite stimulating amino acids to their baits, and it works darn good for trout too; ’nuff said.

NOW THAT WE’VE LOOKED at rods, reels, rigs and baits, it’s time to get out to the lake and put these tools to work. One of the big reasons casual bait anglers

don’t catch trout consistently is the fact that they don’t put much thought into the areas they choose to fish.

The most successful bait anglers are the ones who take a systematic approach to selecting fishing spots. Since bait fishing is a sit-and-wait proposition, it makes sense to focus on high-percentage areas. The most productive spots are generally located near transition zones that feature an abrupt depth change – where the lake narrows or small tributaries empty in.

Once you’ve identified some promising areas to explore, it’s time to bait a hook and get down to business. Early and late in the day or during periods of overcast weather it

is smart to make your first casts into relatively shallow water, and then move deeper. When the sun is on the water it is wise to start out plying moderately deep water.

Whether using worms or dough bait, you’ll want to place your rod in a holder after casting. A common mistake is fishing with a tight line. This works great for catfish and other less sensitive fish, but when a trout feels any kind of resistance it will likely spit out the bait.

To prevent spooking trout, it is important to have some slack in the line so that any trout that picks up the bait can move off and swallow it without feeling any resistance.

One trick to accomplishing this is to hang a small plastic bobber on the line between the tip of the rod and the second or third eye. Enough slack is pulled off the reel to allow the bobber to hang down a couple feet. When a trout takes the bait and moves off, the slack is paid out gradually as the bobber pulls upward toward the rod. When the line comes tight it’s time to set the hook and begin fighting your prize.

When fishing bait from my boat I like to double anchor. This gives me the most stable platform possible. A boat swinging back and forth on a single anchor makes fishing a slack line challenging. The boat will swing one way, dragging your bait across the bottom, and when it swings the other way too much slack will be created.

A FINAL POINT TO remember is that the most successful bait anglers tend to stay on the move. You don’t want to pick out a spot and spend the entire day fishing it if the trout are not responding.

Instead, you should give a spot anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to produce. If nothing happens, it’s time to move on in search of greener pastures. CS

Editor’s note: Cal Kellogg is a longtime Northern California outdoors writer. Subscribe to his YouTube channel Fish Hunt Shoot Productions at youtube.com/ user/KelloggOutdoors.

This husky rainbow grabbed a worm teamed with a green marshmallow fished in 4 feet of water during a February outing. “If floating dough baits and worms aren’t part of your winter trout arsenal, you’re not catching as many trout as you could be,” author Cal Kellogg writes. (CAL KELLOGG)

WHERE ANGLERS GO ‘STUR’ CRAZY

A NEWCOMERS’ GUIDE TO LANDING

SAN FRANCISCO BAY/DELTA STURGEON

By Cal Kellogg

One minute nothing was happening; the next the rod on the starboard side wiggled a bit and then the tip drew down smoothly. Legendary Delta skipper Barry Canevaro and I jumped up at the same instant.

“Show me how to hook him, Barry; I’ve never caught a sturgeon before!” I exclaimed.

By the time we reached the rod, the tip was coming back up. Barry cautiously lifted the rod out of the holder and a beat later the tip started to draw down again.

“Look at the tip,” Barry instructed. “The fish has got the bait in its mouth right now.”

In one fluid motion, Barry thumbed the spool, drove the hook home and passed the rod to me.

“You’re in for a fight,” he said, “Take your time, keep reeling and don’t give the fish any slack. When you’re out sturgeon fishing on your own, remember sturgeon have a sucker mouth. When you feel that pressure on the line, that’s when they have the bait inside the mouth and that’s when you want to set the hook. If you can’t feel that pressure, you’ll probably miss them.”

I’ll never forget the give-and-take fight my first sturgeon put up. I expected it to be about 6 feet long. Instead, it was a handsome 56-inch keeper.

I reeled in that fish about 20 years

Parts of San Francisco Bay and the freshwaters of the Delta offer some outstanding winter sturgeon fishing. Oversized sturgeon like this 70-incher should not be taken out of the water. Instead, reach down and pop the barbless hook free, letting the fish go with minimal stress. (CAL KELLOGG)

ago and got invaluable firsthand instruction from one of the best skippers to ever ply Delta waters: the late, great Barry Canevaro of Fish Hookers Sportfishing.

Since then, I’ve caught a bunch of sturgeon. I got some of them on charters, but most of them have come while fishing on my own in Suisun Bay and the West Delta. I can tell you from experience that hooking a sturgeon in California waters is always a thrill, but it’s seldom easy.

NEW STURGEON ANGLERS WELCOME

I’m not writing this article with seasoned sturgeon anglers in mind. Instead, it’s my goal to provide notes for those of you who have minimal experience catching this species. I know there are a lot of Golden State anglers who have been dreaming of trading punches with a sturgeon for

10, 20 and even 30 years and have yet to hook one. This piece is for you, guys and girls.

During the late winter and early spring, sturgeon are apt to turn up anywhere between the southern end of San Francisco Bay all the way up through the saltwater and into the Delta system to Isleton and above. But the best area is Suisun Bay and the West Delta – including Montezuma Slough – so focus your effort on the water between the Powerlines on the Sacramento near Decker Island and the Benicia Bridge.

You’ll also need a decent sonar unit. A sturgeon will light up the screen with a big unmistakable arch. You are looking for multiple marks in a limited area that are holding on and near the bottom. Sturgeon cruising in the middle of the water column are not feeding, so ignore them.

Once you locate a promising looking area, be aware that sturgeon swim with the current, so set up a short distance downcurrent of the marks.

EMPLOY SERIOUS GEAR

Sturgeon are light biters, but they grow large and are super strong. You need a 7- to 8-foot rod with a sensitive tip for detecting bites, as well as a substantial backbone for setting the hook and wearing the fish down. Due to the power of sturgeon, a conventional reel that will hold at least 200 yards of 50- to 65-pound braid is a must

Terminal tackle and rigging for diamondbacks is simple and straightforward. To begin rigging, pass the main line through a plastic slider sleeve and then attach a large locking snap swivel. Since sturgeon frequent areas with heavy current and

Landing a keeper California sturgeon like this dandy Suisun Bay fish requires proper technique combined with a strong dose of patience. (CAL KELLOGG)

you want the bait stationary on the bottom, pyramid sinkers from 3 to 10 ounces are the preferred weight range.

To the snap attach an 18-inch, 50- to 80-pound-test mono leader tipped with a barbless 8/0 octopus hook. Most anglers like to put a small ½-ounce egg sinker on the leader to ensure that the bait sits firmly on the bottom in the current.

Since your hook has no barb, the bait will tend to work its way off the hook, so you’ll need to pick up a dispenser of elastic thread for affixing your bait on the hook.

BAIT CHOICES

Sturgeon will eat a long list of different baits, but I use a keep-itsimple approach. The most consistent and readily available baits in the area I’ve outlined are uncured salmon roe and fresh ghost shrimp.

To be effective while fishing roe, you’ve got to keep a big glob of fresh eggs on your hook at all times. To accomplish this, you’ll burn through a lot of roe during a day on the water, but having a solid supply of quality roe is an investment today’s sturgeon angler must make for maximum success.

To bait up with roe, use scissors to

detach a golf-ball-sized glob from the skein. Pin the glob on the hook and then utilize your elastic thread to lock it into place. Some anglers use mesh sacks when fishing roe, but I think exposed roe puts off more scent and more flavor when a sturgeon mouths the bait.

I use the same basic method when

baiting up with ghost shrimp. I snap the large claws off the shrimp, place two or three on my hook and secure them with several wraps of thread.

At times combo baits can work, so don’t be afraid to play with roe and shrimp cocktails.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Sturgeon can be caught at any stage of the tide, day or night. However, the action is typically most consistent during periods of strong tidal movement and the best fishing takes place at the beginning and end of the tide.

When you cast out your line, be sure to set the drag at the level you’ll want it for fighting a fish, then place the rod in a balancer or rod holder with the reel in gear. I prefer a balancer, but many pros run with standard rod holders. I think for the novice, a balancer is easier for picking up the rod and setting the hook without pulling the bait away from a chomping sturgeon.

The classic sturgeon bite is called a “pump.” This is because your rod will pump steadily down in the balancer anywhere from 6 inches to 2 feet or more. A typical bite will result in two or three pumps before the fish realizes

This sonar unit shows multiple sturgeon feeding along the bottom. When you are scouting for fish, this is what you’re looking for. (CAL KELLOGG)

Here are two different presentations that make fine sturgeon baits throughout the West Delta and Suisun Bay: a glob of salmon roe or a couple ghost shrimp without their primary claw. Attach your bait of choice to the hook with a few wraps of elastic thread. (CAL KELLOGG)

Remote, Comfortable & Affordable

Our remote Alaskan fishing lodge is situated on the upper stretches of the beautiful Egegik River. You’ll watch some of Alaska’s most stunning sunrises, complete with a distant, active volcano. We are a fishing camp specializing in coho fishing, brown bear viewing, and flyout fishing adventures to even more remote destinations in the Last Frontier.

Coho Fishing e Egegik River

The Egegik River is touted by many experienced anglers as the best silver salmon stream in all of Alaska. Becharof Lodge On The Egegik River was the first fishing lodge to become established on the breathtaking Egegik River, and is less than a 5 minute boat ride from some of the best fishing holes on the entire river.

Included in your fishing trip:

• 5 days fishing/5 nights stay in camp

• Experienced, fully guided fishing.

• Comfortable cabins furnished with beds, cozy comforters & bedding.

• Home cooked meals, snacks, and nonalcoholic beverages.

• Transportation from the lodge to prime fishing holes on the Egegik River.

• Freezing and vacuum sealing of your fish, up to 50 lbs., per angler.

something is wrong and drops the bait, but you can’t always count on it.

When you see a pump, quickly pick up the rod while being careful not to tug the line against the fish, as this will spook it. The best course of action is to move the rod tip toward the fish, allowing a slight amount of slack to form in the line and then move the tip to the side until you feel the slightest resistance. At that point, stay statuestill with your thumb locked against the reel’s spool to prevent the drag from slipping during the hookset.

The second pump will start as a feeling of pressure that builds in strength. At this point you should be feeling a decent amount of resistance, almost as if a big clump of weeds has hung on the line. This is the time to hammer the hook home by sweeping the rod upward.

A lot of guys make the mistake of looking up at the rod tip and freezing after the hookset. Don’t do that; start reeling immediately. A hooked

Big sturgeon are exceptionally strong, so it’s important to arm yourself with stout gear and braided line. (CAL KELLOGG)

sturgeon will often head right at the boat and if you don’t pick up line with the reel, slack will develop and the fish will have a great opportunity to toss the barbless hook or roll in your line and cut you off.

Once you’ve got a sturgeon on the hook enjoy the fight and make sure the

fish is completely spent before sliding it into the net. Don’t rush the fight!

Speaking of, I didn’t mention it earlier but you’ll need a big salmonsized net to land your fish. You don’t want to have a hard-won keeper beside the boat and realize that your striper net is way too small for even a

small keeper diamondback.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

As this writing, the California sturgeon regulations look like this: You can fish for white sturgeon all year long. Green sturgeon are relatively rare in Delta waters and are strictly off limits.

While you won’t likely hook a green sturgeon, you should still be able to tell the difference between greens and whites. NOAA Fisheries has a great online resource where you can study the characteristics of each (fisheries .noaa.gov/species/green-sturgeon).

To fish for sturgeon in California you’ll need to purchase a set of three sturgeon tags. You can keep three sturgeon per year between 40 and 60 inches long as measured from the end of the nose to the fork of the tail. Single barbless hooks are mandatory.

Since regulations can and do change, be sure to check out the latest rules before you hit the water to avoid getting a ticket. CS

Capt. David Hammond tempted this sturgeon with ghost shrimp during an outing on the upper reaches of Suisun Bay. “I can tell you from experience that hooking a sturgeon in California waters is always a thrill,” author Cal Kellogg says, “but it’s seldom easy.” (CAL KELLOGG)

Sole-Man Sportfishing charter owner and operator Capt. Don Franklin (rear) still has the Penn 500 reel his dad gave him as a young angler. It’s that love he’s always had for fishing that prompted Franklin to give back to the San Francisco community with his summer kids’ fishing camps. (CHRIS COCOLES)

TAKE THEM FISHING

SAN FRANCISCO CHARTER FISHING SKIPPER GIVES BACK TO LOCAL YOUTH ANGLERS

By Chris Cocoles

SAN FRANCISCO–Don Franklin still owns a piece of fishing gear from one of the longtime San Francisco Bay charter captain’s earliest memories as an angler. It’s a Penn 500 that he caught Sacramento River catfish with as part of a rod and reel combo his dad gave him as a birthday gift years ago.

“I don’t have the rod but I’ve had the reel rebuilt a couple times,” Franklin says, a testament to its personal importance to him and about the activity that became a dominant portion of his childhood.

“If I could catch it, play with it and then I could eat it, that’s what I wanted to do.”

Perhaps it’s the nostalgia of that memento and the ambition he had to

pursue a career on the water (California Sportsman, November 2022) that has inspired Franklin so many years later to help motivate the next generation of fishermen and -women.

His San Francisco-based fishing charter business, SoleMan Sportfishing (510-703-4148; solemanfishing.com), has been going strong for 20 years, but it’s his primary profession that has allowed Franklin

to give back. The Bay Area native works as a coach and mentor for the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, and one of Franklin’s jobs is hosting a summer fishing camp for local youngsters. The camp is now back after a Covid-affected absence and is making a difference in helping kids learn about fishing.

And that is just one part of what’s been a memorable experience in Franklin’s 20-plus years skippering his boat out of Fisherman’s Wharf.

“It’s been a learning lesson; it’s been a lot of work. It’s been a lot of joy. The making of the memories of people is what makes it worth it. I get to encountera lot of different people and different walks of life. But we hold the common thread of fishing. And that’s kind of the really cool thing –that I may not always remember faces and names, but then I’ll recall the time when we went out and caught something and we were able to create sort of life-changing memories and experiences, and that’s the thing that kind of keeps me going.”

As a recent rockfish trip with the author reflects, Franklin’s 20-plus years running his Fisherman’s Wharf-based boat has made for a lot of success. “Sometimes, I don’t understand how and why the fish do what they do,” Franklin says. “But just from the experience of doing it so many times, you start to learn trends.” (CHRIS COCOLES)

WHEN FRANKLIN WAS YOUNGER, his father would get Don out on boats with the San Francisco Police Youth Fishing Program. And as the San Francisco State alum would eventually follow in Dad’s footsteps working for the city’s parks and recreation department, fishing outings with local kids stoked the fire in Don Franklin’s desire to get involved with fishing boats himself.

Kids are among Franklin’s favorite clientele, and for those who participate in the camps, he tries to combine an educational experience with enjoying some of the Bay Area’s saltwater bounty. (SOLE-MAN SPORTFISHING)

“And from there, it became a thing of bugging the captains; ‘Do you ever need help?’ What they noticed was, ‘Hey; this one’s pretty good.’ Eventually they started letting me pinhead on boats and then it became I started working on boats. So my trial and error was with Frank Rescino on the Lovely Martha (still one of the staples of the San Francisco fleet),” Franklin says. “He needed a deckhand one day for salmon trolling. He had 32, 33 (anglers onboard). It was raining, he closed the door to the cabin and he

goes, ‘You wanted to be a deckhand. Deckhand.’ So that was my first trip ever with 33 guys in the rain, so I had to go salmon fishing and handle the whole boat. And I survived it.”

Perhaps that from-frying-pan-intothe-fire scenario was the epiphany the 20-something deckhand needed to eventually get his own boat, which happened in the early 2000s.

“I think I learned a little bit about how to run the deck and take charge. You learn how to manage the deck and with different fisheries. You learn to read people kind of well,” he says. “And I think my strength is that from the ones I learned from was this: It’s not a fishing experience; it’s a customer-service business. And you have to get those customers to get them to buy in.”

Now a salty veteran on the saltwater, Franklin sees his role as a fishing mentor to clients – both old and young – similar to his primary SFRPD job coaching junior high-level students in baseball and basketball.

“You have to be able to communicate effectively what the game plan is, how we’re gonna do it, when to do it,” he says. “Sometimes, I don’t understand how and why the fish do what they do. But just from the experience of doing it so many

times, you start to learn trends. The game is changing now just because the conditions are changing and you have to adapt with it. It’s just what we always do.”

THE SUMMER KIDS’ PROGRAMS that resumed recently following the Covid pause have evolved over time for Franklin.

“I had originally set up two fishing

camps, one that concentrated strictly on shark fishing in (San Francisco Bay). The other one concentrated on everything else,” he says.

Eventually, through trying a few different formats, he settled on a streamlined week-long series of educational experiences and then actual fishing trips on the water.

“I have the kids for a week and have one or two days of orientation and

Hunter Nguyen (above, with striped bass; below, with lingcod) was a Franklin camper who went on to deckhand and last summer earned his captain’s license. “He’s my spawn,” Franklin says proudly. (SOLE-MAN SPORTFISHING)

three days fishing. Two of these days could range on anything from rockfish to halibut to potluck to salmon. And on the last day we’ll try to make it a shark fishing trip,” he says.

What he’s also dialed in is how to ensure the kids stay engaged without getting “pooped,” as Franklin puts it. Sessions are usually limited to around four hours at a time.

And as Franklin notes, he gets “all walks of life” among the youths who participate in the camps. He sponsors scholarships for underprivileged kids in the community, those who also get to be a part of the camps who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend. That represents about 40 percent of his students who learn about fishing and get to be a part of the sport after the orientation sessions.

“My parents raised me to give back if you’re in a position to,” he says. “And not that I’m rich, but I can kind of give back.”

Franklin recalls a few moments that illustrate what his youth camps have meant to him and the community. One was when his boat – filled with campers – sailed past San Francisco’s Pier 48, the site of the Chase Center, the sparkling home arena of the NBAchampion Golden State Warriors.

“One of the kids looked up and I asked him if he ever went out (on the bay) before. And he looked over at the skyline and he said, ‘I live over there.’ He lived in the public housing project. He’d never been on the water before and never had seen the bay from that perspective,” Franklin says.

“For some of the kids, you could tell the fish they caught, they’d go home and it was a real meal and a real treat. And on one of the salmon fishing trips, we got limits, and one of the dads of the kids came down to the boat one day and said, ‘Thank you for doing this for my kid.’ And you could tell they really needed the fish in the household.”

Perhaps most satisfying for Franklin, the kid who still owns that Penn reel that started him on his fishing odyssey, is influencing the next generation of San Francisco’s fishermen.

Take Hunter Nguyen, who was a participant in a past camp for the guy everyone calls Sole-Man.

“I ended up hiring him as my team worker in the summer, and he went from there and I hired him as a deckhand and so now he works for a different boat,” Franklin says, “And he actually earned his captain’s license last summer.”

“He’s my spawn.”

And hopefully one of many more who, like their mentor, will fall in love with fishing at a young age. CS

Editor’s note: Contact Don Franklin of Sole-Man Sportfishing (510-703-4148; dfrank1usa@comcast.net) for more info on his kids’ fishing camps or to book a charter out of San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf.

BASSIN’ PARADISE

LOWER, UPPER OTAY LAKES OFFER FEISTY LARGEMOUTH

By Capt. Bill Schaefer

Lower Lake Otay is definitely high on the list of great fishing for many species for anglers. This lake located in southeast San Diego County boasts great largemouth fishing, as well as catfish, bluegill and crappie opportunities.

Its little sister, Upper Lake Otay, located just across the street to the north, is a tranquil place to get back to basics. The lake comes in at about 20 acres when full and is for float tubers and shore fishermen. It was originally used as a breeding lake for Florida-strain bass for all over the world. It was established in 1959.

Lower Otay Dam was originally constructed and completed in 1897 and was the third reservoir formed in a short three-year period in San Diego County. The city was so quick to build the dam that no one thought of it ever overfilling, so no overflow flume was added to the project. Heavy rains and flooding filled the dam to capacity in 1916 and the dam collapsed, then completely washed away. Two years later, the current improved dam replaced it.

When full the lake covers 1,100 surface acres and has about 26 miles of shoreline. Not all are fishable, as the banks are lined with tules and brush. Open locations to fish are kept up by anglers, or made easier by nature or the current water level. It’s that brush and tules that many of Otay’s fish call home. They are the areas you want to attack for bass.

SUNSHINE STATE FISH

The lake is most famous for its Florida-strain bass. Lake Otay’s largemouth are strong, big fish that fight hard when hooked and will test

your tackle. They have grown large over the years without the help of planted trout for dinner. Now that Otay has been planting trout off and on, more giant fish are being caught than in previous years. I’m sure the

current lake record of 18 pounds 12 ounces will be tested. Some anglers have come close recently.

The largemouth eat all forms of lures here; from white or white/ chartreuse spinnerbaits to Bomber

Plenty of nice bass are roaming around the twin lakes of Upper and Lower Otay in southeastern San Diego County. Jeff Lindsenbard caught this beauty. (BILL SCHAEFER)

FISHING

Florida-strain bass grow really large in Upper Lake Otay. Dean Jamieson’s big fish is one of many that could grow and threaten the lake’s 18-pound, 12-ounce record, set back in 1986. (BILL SCHAEFER)

crankbaits in everything from crawdad pattern to fire tiger, and all types of plastics. No matter your favorite rig – drop shot or split shot –you should do well.

In some of the brushier areas, you may want to go to the classic Texasrigged worm. The Otay Special, a brown worm with a black stripe, has always been a killer here. When the reeds are in the water flipping can also be good for bass.

FINDING THE BEST SPOTS

How about a quick tour around the lake for bass spots? As you enter the Harvey Arm, the righthand side boasts a giant rock pile at the entrance, which then slides into a long flat all the way down the righthand side.

Spawning will bring all the bass into the shallows. Then, as bottom weeds grow up to the surface through the summer, turn to weedless flukes or a rat or mouse lure. Breaking fish will also fill the center of the arm in

later months.

As you enter the Otay Arm, it is all spawning area down most of the left side of the arm. But don’t fail to sit inside and throw out to larger bass, as the bank falls off quickly into deeper water. The right side of the arm also has coves that support spawning as well, so look carefully for beds. The main lake can have breaking fish all around the shoreline, so don’t hesitate to have a swimbait tied on to throw on them.

DON’T FORGET PANFISH, CATS

Other favorite fish to chase here include crappie and bluegill. The records for these two fish go 3.5 pounds for bluegill and 3.37 pounds for crappie. Even the lake record for

the usually smaller white crappie comes in at 2.18 pounds. This is a great place for the entire family to learn about fishing.

Crappie and bluegill are found around shoreline brush in the Otay Arm or drifting the length of Harvey Arm. These fish can be great fighters on light tackle. Shiners have always worked well at Otay for the crappie, but traditional crappie rigs will take many fish as well. Bluegill will eat red worms and pieces of nightcrawler. A bobber will help in the shallow-water brush, where bluegill thrive here.

Lake Otay has always been a favorite of the giant catfish anglers. This breeding ground for giant blues and channel cats has produced state records at times. Years ago, the old state record

85.45-pound blue catfish came from this lake, and later a 102.9-pounder was brought to the scales, obliterating that record and setting a new Otay record. Even the channel cat record stands at 33.43 pounds.

Otay catfish will eat all the old standard stinkbaits, but if you want a giant, then try putting a big piece of mackerel or bonito on your hook and tossing it out. With big fish, though, you need heavy tackle. Most of the serious giant chasers use ocean tackle. Heavy rods and reels – a Daiwa Saltist ocean setup is ideal – with 25- to 50-pound line. One trick of the pros is super lines, like Maxima Braid. It offers great breaking strength in a small-diameter line.

CATCH-AND-RELEASE ACTION

Upper Otay Lake offers fishing for largemouth bass, bluegill and bullheads. Fishing is offered on catchand-release (zero kill) regulations, with barbless artificial lures only for all species of fish. Patrons can use a float tube or fish from shore, but no boats are allowed. Tubes are restricted to within 150 feet or less from shore.

Canoes, kayaks, float tubes, as well as rental and private boats are allowed on the main lake. The current lake level is at about 70-percent full and launching conditions are excellent. It doesn’t take much rain to fill this lake.

There are no concession services at Upper Otay, and permits must be purchased at Lower Otay before heading up. At Lower Otay, daily permits may be purchased at the concession or pay station, or on the dock when staff is present. The pay station is a parking-type device which will give you a receipt for fishing.

There is a fishing dock and some picnic tables if you wish to have a barbeque, so bring the entire family. Overnight camping is not allowed at either lake. The nearest camping is at Thousand Trails (800-560-8833), about 2 miles away.

For more on Upper or Lower Otay Lakes, check out sandiego.gov/ resevoirs-lakes. CS

Author Bill Schaefer loves the action Otay provides anglers. He caught this largie on a Yamamoto Senko presentation. (BILL SCHAEFER)

Destination Honda

FROM FIELD...

THE BEST GEAR OF THE YEAR

TRY THESE HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS FOR THE HUNTER IN YOUR LIFE

By Scott Haugen

This year I spent over 250 days afield, hunting, fishing, scouting, running trail cameras, and more. I traveled to multiple states and four countries. I used a lot of different gear; some I won’t use again, some I loved. If you’re looking

for some last-minute holiday gifts for the hunter in your life, these are ones I’ve personally used and would highly recommend.

SITKA’S EQUINOX GUARD COLLECTION

Last summer I went to Brazil’s Pantanal

to photograph jaguars. The first evening along a river I got nearly 100 mosquito bites through my clothes!

The next three days I wore Sitka’s Equinox and didn’t get a single bite. I wore it during spring turkey season in Oregon and in Alaska during the

Sitka’s Equinox Guard Collection will help prevent mosquito bites. Author Scott Haugen wore them while hunting spring turkeys and didn’t get bit at all. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

... TO FIRE

TURN CRAB MEAT INTO A ZESTY HOLIDAY SALSA

By Tiffany Haugen

Fresh Dungeness crab has a flavor like no other seafood. Delicate and creamy with the essence of the sea, it almost seems shameful to eat it any other way than straight from the shell after being boiled or steamed. However, there are ingredients that pair so well with crab that all of them are elevated when mixed together.

While this crab salsa recipe is almost entirely crab, the bits of other ingredients added will result in a fresh dish with multi-layered complexity. Please note that the

addition of cilantro is optional. If you aren’t a fan of cilantro, you won’t want it in your crab salsa. I like splitting the recipe and add-

ing cilantro to half of it, as neither my dad or father-in-law are fans of the herb. After all, you must keep the dads happy!

If you have crab meat in the freezer, now’s the time to pull it out and fix up something fun and flavorful for the holidays!

2 cups cooked, shelled crab meat

½ cup diced cucumber

2 tablespoons diced sweet bell pepper

2 tablespoons diced tomato

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Zest of one lime

1 tablespoon diced chives or scallions

1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro, optional

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

½ teaspoon white sugar

Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

In a medium bowl, combine cucumber, bell pepper, tomato, lime juice, lime zest, chives or scallions, cilantro (optional), olive oil and white sugar until sugar is dissolved. Gently fold in crab meat and lightly season with salt and pepper as desired. Serve immediately with chips of choice or keep refrigerated until ready to eat.

CRAB CARE TIP

Before cooking crabs whole, make sure they are alive by poking an eye or antennae. These sensitive organs should move when stimulated. If they appear sluggish, crabs can be renewed by quickly submerging them in cold saltwater.

Once the whole crab has been cooked, pry off the carapace, break the crab in half and thoroughly clean it. Make sure to remove the gills and all visceral mass, where biotoxins are harbored.

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany’s popular book, Cooking Seafood, and other titles, including husband Scott’s best-selling book, Recreational Dungeness Crabbing, visit scotthaugen.com.

Fresh from the bay or pulled out of the freezer, crab meat enhances this Tiffany Haugen-concocted salsa recipe. (TIFFANY HAUGEN )

summer and didn’t get one mosquito, no-see-um or white sock bite.

The collection features a hoodie, pants and gloves designed to be worn together to minimize the health risk and distraction of insect bites by preventing contact with mosquitos, ticks and other bugs. Utilizing a newly developed bite-reduction fabric and infusing built-in Insect Shield treatment, it works. Each piece offers UPF 50-plus protection, Polygiene odor-control technology and moisture wicking to keep hunters comfortable in warm and humid conditions. I was amazed with its comfort in the 95-degree daily heat in Brazil.

Info: $448; sitkagear.com.

CHÊNE GEAR ZIPPERED KNEE BOOT

I wore these boots on multiple deer hunts in wet conditions, fall turkey hunts, waterfowl hunts, and all fall and winter when running trail cameras, chasing predators, photographing wildlife, and training dogs. I’ve worn and tested many knee boots over the

years. These are awesome!

I love the ankle fit and support these offer, while maintaining stability and comfort. The tread pattern performs great in a range of conditions, the side zipper is flawless and very convenient, and the insulating neoprene is durable and flexible. Custom insole options result in even more comfort and stability, and they’re quick drying on the inside.

Info: $200; chenegear.com.

YETI LUGGAGE AND PANGA BACKPACK

I’ve traveled to some 40 countries and appreciate good luggage. This year I used Yeti’s Crossroads luggage and can’t say enough about its durability and performance. It took a pounding in three countries and multiple states, got rained on, dragged through mud and sand, laid in the snow, and everything was dry and the zippers, wheels and extending handles kept working!

The multiple interior compartments are very efficient, allowing a surprising amount of gear to be tightly packed. The zippers are tight but never let

me down, even when excessive pressure was applied. The accessories compression bags are more than worth it. The Panga Backpack hauled tens of thousands of dollars in camera gear in remote Alaska, Canada, Mexico and South America, and held up in the heaviest of downpours.

If you’re a serious traveler, this luggage is a must!

Info: $300 and up; yeti.com.

BIG AL’S SILHOUETTE DECOYS

I use a lot of different decoys, but one of the most effective and affordable has been Big Al’s Wigeon Pack Duck Silhouettes. Arranged in fields, at water’s edge in flooded fields and along sloughs – even on levees – these decoys were responsible for bringing in large numbers of wigeon, mallards, pintail and teal all season long. I like using five dozen silhouettes with a dozen floaters, which allows for very effective sets and at a fraction of the cost of full-body spreads. And the silhouettes are easy to carry.

Info: $72/dozen; bigalsdecoys.com.

Big Al’s silhouette decoys are some of the market’s most effective and affordable decoys. Haugen regularly uses them on his waterfowl hunts. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

SLAYER WATERFOWL CALLS

Slayer Calls has a single- and double-reed duck call I’ve used throughout the West, including Alaska, for the past two seasons with great results. I’ve also used their honker call on many hunts with awesome outcomes, and their Tar Belly white-fronted goose call was money this fall in Canada.

These are some of the easiest duck calls I’ve ever run and their sound quality is outstanding.

Info: Starting at $49.96; slayercalls .com.

ENJOY ALL THE GREAT outdoors has to offer using some of this top-notch gear. Merry Christmas and happy holidays! CS

Editor’s note: Scott Haugen’s popular DVD, Field Dressing, Skinning & Caping Big Game, makes a great stocking stuffer! Visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.

Slayer Calls continue to expand their line of waterfowl calls. Both the single- and double-reed duck calls come in a range of colors and they’ve proven very effective for the author on numerous hunts throughout the West. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

XMAS GIFTS FOR GUN DOGS

By Scott Haugen

Another year has come and gone. If you haven’t already shopped for your four-legged hunting partner, I have a few ideas.

And, what the heck, even if you’ve done your doggy Christmas shopping, why not add to it? After all, when it comes to our hunting dogs, there’s no such thing as spoiling them, as their time with us is so brief.

Here are some items I used this year with great results. And what’s more, I’ll continue using them because I love how they perform.

YETI RAMBLER 1/2 GALLON JUG

I know what you’re thinking! “Spend $100 on a water jug for a dog? Are you crazy?!” Maybe, but I’ve been called worse. Let me put it into perspective.

My Yeti dog gear obsession actually started with the company’s Trailhead Dog Bed. I got one two years ago and loved it so much, I got another for my second dog. Someone lashed out at me, saying, “Why would I spend that much on a dog bed when you can get one just as good at ‘such and such store’ for a fraction of the price?” So, I got one of the cheap beds at the such and such store. It offered no

head support and couldn’t be taken apart and washed like the Yeti bed. It wasn’t even close to delivering all the Yeti dog bed offered. I returned it. The two dog beds I have are still like new, and my dogs sleep in them every day. I even take the Trailhead beds on road trips.

Then there’s Yeti’s Boomer Dog Bowl. I’ve had two of these since they first came out, and my dogs have eaten from them twice a day, every day. I take them on road trips, too. I’ve gone through lots of dog bowls over the years, and nothing I’ve found comes close to the quality and longevity of the Boomers. So, I got another for days when we’re out hunting. I keep this one in the back of

the truck. It’s been through extreme conditions and held up great; even the rubber bottom is in perfect condition despite being covered in dust many times. And the inside is as slick and clean as when I first bought it.

So, this year I got the Yeti 1/2 Gallon Rambler. I simply got tired of plastic water jugs spilling in the back of my truck when driving through rough terrain. When a 5-gallon jug punctured and leaked all over my extra clothes, boots and backpack, I’d had enough. I got the Rambler and haven’t looked back. It holds more than enough water for me and my dogs for a day of hunting, and it’s rugged and stands up to my less-than-stellar driving in the woods

From training dummies to vests and bowls to quality food, there are plenty of holiday gift ideas for gun dogs this season. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

Yeti builds tough dog gear, and the 1/2 Gallon Rambler is no exception. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

when chasing grouse, quail, pigeons and gray squirrels with my dogs. In no time the Rambler paid for itself, and after 10 months, it’s still like new!

Info: $100; yeti.com.

AVERY DOG TRAINING BUMPERS

This summer one of my dogs started getting lazy in the water, retrieving bumpers by barely gripping the end. Enter the Avery Sporting Dog PerfectHold HexBumper. The dumbbell design with enlarged ends forced my dog to gain the proper grip and hold, which carried over to our bird training and future hunts.

Info: Comes in three colors, $10.99; banded.com.

I was also happy with their EZ-Bird Pheasant with tooth-lock features for

a solid hold, a puncture-proof skin, a soft floating head that won’t break teeth, and a sight/scent tail streamer for focused marks. The realistic paint and anatomically accurate design made training more fun and exciting for my dogs. I’ll be getting more of these in the waterfowl line.

Info: Comes in eight options, $19.99; website above.

TOPFLIGHT DOG VEST

I have pudelpointers, and their deep chests and narrow waists aren’t easy to find waterfowl vests for. However, the Topflight Vest by Alps is great! The 5mm neoprene used throughout the vest not only protects the dogs in heavy brush, but keeps these lean gun dogs warm on long, cold days

on the stand and in the duck blind. The multiple bar-tacked areas make for easy trimming, and the contoured neck offers an even better fit. The lift handles, leash clip and duo flotation pads are excellent, very functional features.

Info: Comes in four sizes, $49.99; alpsoutdoorz.com.

NUTRISOURCE DOG FOOD AND BISCUITS

Quality dog food for your hunting pup is one of the most neglected items by hunters. We spend a lot of money and time on our hunting companions, so why not invest a bit more to make sure they lead a healthy, comfortable and longer life?

For years I’ve been feeding my 6-year-old male gun dog NutriSource dog food, which offers compact nutrition and pre- and probiotics. My 8-year-old female pudelpointer gets the NutriSource Element Series, which contains up to 90-percent protein. Both of their recovery times are fast and joint pains gone with these quality foods; their stools are much smaller and fewer, meaning digestion is optimized.

Don’t skimp on treats, either. A buddy lost a month of hunting after his Lab reacted negatively to a poorquality treat he ate at a gas station this fall. I use NutriSource Biscuits which are meat-rich, protein-dense, and made with real fruits and vegetables. These foods seem pricey, but you actually feed less at each meal.

Info: nutrisourcepetfoods.com.

THERE YOU HAVE IT, enough options to cover your dog’s needs, and maybe some of yours. By the way, I’m not endorsed by any of these companies. I choose and use what gear I like, and I like all of these.

May you have a blessed Christmas and holiday season. Good hunting. CS

Editor’s note: Scott Haugen is a full-time writer. See his puppy training videos and learn more about his many books at scotthaugen.com and follow him on Instagram and Facebook.

Central Washington’s Rob Phillips is out with another great book, this time a nonfiction work about all the hunting dogs that have come through his life as an avid and far-traveling bird hunter.

I received an advance copy of A Dog Life Well Lived earlier this fall and really liked it. Between amazing points and long-distance retrieves, motel room disasters and a neardrowning, it’s flush with the thrills and chills of the hunt, the dedication of hard-working gun dogs and the bonds between man and his age-old four-legged hunting partner.

Phillips traces his love of dogs back to a bored teenage summer and his mom’s edict to hit the bookmobile – he hated reading as a kid because, as he would later realize, he was dyslexic – where he checked out a copy of Jim Kjelgard’s Big Red. That quickly led to reading the sequels Irish Red and Outlaw Red and a burning desire to own an Irish setter. That didn’t quite work out as he’d hoped, but his parents did bring home an 11-weekold Labrador retriever named Tara and the pair became boon companions in the fields, woods and marshes of central and eastern Washington, where they chased grouse,

doves, ducks and pheasants.

After graduating from Washington State University with a degree in advertising communications, marriage to wife Terri and the birth of their first son, Kyle, came Phillips’ second hunting dog, Zebediah, and the pattern was set, as over the coming decades he seemed to always have a dog or two, or even three, around the house and backyard, nearly all of which were Labs.

Phillips – who retired in 2021 after a 41-year career at a local ad agency and is busily adding to his successful fictional Luke McCain/Washington game wardening series – is on point with A Dog Life Well Lived as he memorializes all of the hard-working members of his pack with heart-warming and humorous essays. They may not all have been AKC-registered dogs, but they’re all endearing in their own ways and Phillips fleshes out the unique personalities of each, and along the way his own as well.

As a longtime newspaper hook-andbullet columnist – one of the last in the state, in fact – at the Yakima Herald-Republic, Phillips’ prose is naturally shot through with hunting advice, dog health and care issues

making this more than a memoir. All in all, whether you’re a dedicated wingshooter, or just someone who loves hunting in general or dogs, or both, this is a good read.

A Dog Life Well Lived comes out December 2 and is available online at latahbooks.com. –Andy Walgamott

ALUMAGRIPS

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Our Desert Eagle grips have undergone a redesign with improvements that are second to none. First we removed almost 1/8 inch from the thickness of each grip. Then we enlarged the radius on the back edge of the grip to reduce the overall circumference. And finally, we eliminated the need for two screws as well as the plastic insert that traditionally is needed for mounting the grips. Excellence in design and function, that is the goal of AlumaGrips.

HOLI DAY GIFT GUIDE

BLACK HILLS AMMUNITION

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Black Hills Ammunition’s 10mm HoneyBadger has deep flutes designed for optimum terminal performance without reliance on hollow points. The bullet penetrates deeply, cutting through bone and muscle to get to vitals. This is important when relying on your handgun for protection, including the possibility of bear attack. This is a solid choice for defense!

WESTERN RANGE CAMPS

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Are you looking for a high-quality, rugged and durable RV? At Western Range Camps we specialize in the design, manufacture and sale of a different type of RV called a Range Camp. Check us out and give us a call and let us design something just for you. Handcrafted, customizable and built to last!

ALFORD DESIGNS LIMITED, LLC

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Our beautiful, handcrafted leather embossed and leather-lined concealed carry purses feature a special V-shaped pocket inside for your small pistol, plus a cut-resistant strap. All our products are made in Virginia. We offer patentpending cut-resistant leather straps that can be purchased separately. Offering fine handcrafted leather products since 2015.

DAVIS TENT

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Our sleeping bag cover is a great way to protect your sleeping bag and add a little warmth. You can even sleep under the stars on a starry night! Roll your sleeping bag, pillow and sleeping pad up and it’s a perfect bedroll to keep all your sleeping gear organized.

VAULT PRO USA

ALASKA MARINE HIGHWAY SYSTEM

ferryalaska.com

LEE LOCK

leelock.com

The Crab Cracker allows you to measure your Dungeness crabs to determine which ones are legal to keep, and then crack them in half over the top of a 5-gallon bucket, thereby separating the two clusters from the shell and guts. Crabs cleaned this way take up half as much space as whole crabs, so you can cook twice as many in your kettle.

The Crab Cracker has four different measurements to cover minimum sizes for Oregon, Washington, California, Alaska and Canada. It’s made from solid anodized aluminum, and greatly aids in cleaning Dungeness crabs.

PROLITE ROD TECHNOLOGY proliterods.com

Featuring

NORTH RIVER OUTFITTING

northriveroutfitting.com

We offer hunts of unmatched quality. Alberta whitetail, moose, caribou and goat. When you join us on a hunt in this spectacular and remote part of British Columbia, you will feel at home and welcomed into our hunting family. That same care, hard work and attention to detail goes into everything we do.

SAGE CANYON OUTFITTERS

sagecanyonoutfitters.com

Great Christmas gift for the hunter or hunters in your life. Twenty mixed nonguided bird hunts with up to four guns – $700. Includes ranch access fees, an $800 value. Add a guide for $200.

flashfishing.net

Join Captain Steve Talmadge and his crew for a safe and exhilarating time shark and deep sea fishing out on the San Francisco Bay waters. Flash Sport Fishing Charters is one of the top fishing charters in San Francisco, offering exceptional fishing trips and tours to anglers of all skill levels.

They offer several half-day and full-day guided charter and trip options. Just bring your fishing license and a meal – everything else is included!

Fully insured in California and equipped with a U.S. Coast Guard Masters License. Check out their rates and charter availability on their website.

HIGH ADVENTURE RANCH

highadventureranch.com

High Adventure Ranch, the oldest big game hunting ranch in Missouri, was founded by Charles Puff in 1983. The ranch has over 30 big game species, with an estimated 2,000 animals. Our guides have over 70 years of experience.

The ranch offers lodging, home-cooked meals, and full-service meat processing.

CALIFORNIA WILD SHEEP FOUNDATION

cawsf.org

California Wild Sheep Foundation is dedicated to putting and keeping wild sheep on the mountains by enhancing their environment with water installations and researching diseases, so that future generations may enjoy the majesty of the iconic California bighorn. Join us today and be a part of the future of wild sheep!

RELIABLE FISHING PRODUCTS

reliablefishing.com

FREEDOM MEAT LOCKERS

freedommeatlockers.com

Skirt steak, tri-tip, chicken and more! National and state award-winning family-owned and -operated butcher shop since 1972. Specializing in custom cutting, smoked meat and retail meat sales. Award-winning smoked meats, including, 30 varieties of sausages, all made in-house, plus bacon. We have been awarded Best Ham in the United States!

Reliable Fishing Products was established in 2003 and makes the best cooler bags in the industry. They offer 10 bag sizes ranging from 18”x36” to 42”x90”, three kayak bags and three billfish/tournament blankets. They hold ice for days, are collapsible, soft-sided and have a drain plug at the bottom corner.

to bottom corner.

We carry only the best steaks for our customers. We offer high choice-grade beef. We have a full deli on the premise that will make your mouth water!

We pride ourselves in unique marinades on skirt steak, tri-tip and chicken! No order is too small or too large!

REALTREE UNITED COUNTRY HUNTING PROPERTIES

https://www.unitedcountrynw.com/search/wa/ land-for-sale-in-goldendale-washington -near-columbia-river/987711/ Acreage with views of Mt. Adams in Goldendale, Washington. Wind up the scenic drive to your 15 acres that feature a seasonal creek and multiple build sites. The property has views of Mt. Adams, as well as territorial views. Town is 20 minutes away. From here you can easily get to amazing hunting, fishing, the Columbia River and more.

REALTREE UNITED COUNTRY HUNTING PROPERTIES

https://www.unitedcountrynw.com/search/ wa/secluded-land-with-5-acres-for-salein-battle-ground-wa/1072671/

Secluded land for sale in Battle Ground, Washington. Come see 5 acres of gorgeous property with a seasonal stream! Electricity lines/poles are in place at the eastern boundary and underground telecom lines are present at the northwestern corner of the property. Two separate parcels are being sold as one.