Sportsma n Californ ia
PUBLISHER
James R. Baker
GENERAL MANAGER
John Rusnak
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Andy Walgamott
EDITOR
Chris Cocoles
CONTRIBUTORS
Mark Fong, Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Tim E. Hovey, Cal Kellogg
SALES MANAGER
Paul Yarnold
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Janene Mukai, Tom St. Clair
DESIGNERS
Kha Miner, Gabrielle Pangilinan
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Emily Baker
DIGITAL STRATEGIST
Jon Hines
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Katie Aumann
INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER
Lois Sanborn
Volume 17 • Issue 2
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Email ccocoles@media-inc.com
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ON THE COVER
Trolling flies are an effective if sometimes overlooked lure for slamming trout at California lakes. “When it comes to big trout over 3 pounds, flies are head and shoulders above everything else in my tackle arsenal,” writes Cal Kellogg in this month’s cover story. (CAL KELLOGG)
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BRISK ’BOWS
Despite plunging temperatures and bitter winds, some anglers will brave fall’s elements to get in on some of the best trout fishing of the year. That was the case for Pete Fisher and buddy Cal Kellogg, who kayaked their way to slam rainbows at Davis Lake and Eagle Lake, two iconic Northern California fisheries. Cal details how they did!
FEATURES
12
ELLA’S BIG MOMENT
Diagnosed with cancer at just 7 years old, Ella Nichols bravely fought her disease, is now in remission and recently got the opportunity to go on a memorable elk hunt via an organization that arranges them. Our Tim Hovey was moved by Ella’s story and shares the tale of a tough-as-nails kid who hoped to fill her tag.
41 BELLY UP TO BULLARDS BAR
Longtime bass dude Mark Fong knows all about the famed spotted bass fishing at Yuba County’s Bullards Bar Reservoir. Less well known is the rainbow trout fishery, but Fong got an opportunity to target them with local guide Brett Brady. The fish aren’t massive, but they are feisty – Fong provides details on what to expect from a solid option to fill your stringer.
45 WHY TO TRY TROLLING FLIES FOR TROUT
No, we ain’t talking about dragging dainty Prince Nymphs or beadhead damselfly patterns around on a full-sink fly line! Rather, trolling flies – those 3- to 4-inch-long, baitfishimitating patterns that are a great but overlooked option for rainbows. Cal Kellogg puts you in the know on why and how to fish trolling flies with another one of his trou-torials!
THE EDITOR’SNOTE
I’m constantly guilty of ignoring the old adage of not sweating the small stuff. My cellphone’s internet coverage is spotty?
Traffic is slowing me down? I react way too much to just irrelevant inconveniences.
Then I see stories like Tim Hovey’s profile of a brave little girl who has been through trauma no one deserves and I realize how truly inconsequential my annoyances can be.
Hovey didn’t need much of a sales pitch for his story on Ella Nichols (page 12), who endured more than a year of cancer chemotherapy and radiation treatment after being diagnosed at just 7 years old. That she was able to successfully harvest an elk a few years after her battle is a testament to what a badass kid she is.
It’s been more than 15 years since my mom succumbed to breast cancer after having been diagnosed, gone into remission and then being stricken again before passing away in September 2007.
A couple years earlier, I had a work trip to cover a sporting event in Los Angeles and met up with a former colleague/friend who I joined for a 5K breast cancer walk in the city. At the time both of our mothers were breast cancer survivors, but we’d lose them in the next few years when their disease returned.
I still take so much for granted in the most ridiculous way, but we can learn something from this most special of elk hunters. I know that as Tim authored the piece, Ella’s story really moved him. It should be impossible to not feel like we can all do better given what Ella went through at a time when a kid should be a kid and enjoy the carefree life that she or he deserves.
Ella is just getting started and already has kicked cancer’s ass. Her courage is an inspiration to me and during this holiday season, I hope her story touches all of you as well. -Chris Cocoles
Ella Nichols’ story – she’s a cancer survivor after being diagnosed at 7 years old – should be a wakeup call for us all to not worry about life’s inconveniences. (TY NICHOLS)
OUTDOOR CALENDAR
DECEMBER
1 Last day of first Northeastern Zone scaup and geese seasons
7 Most bighorn sheep permit seasons open
7 Balance of State American crow season opens
8 Last day of fall wild turkey season
19 Second Northeastern Zone scaup season opens 21 Fort Hunter Liggett Period 3 tule bull elk season opens 21-29 Southern Zone band-tailed pigeon season dates 22 Last day of statewide pheasant season
23 Second archery-only pheasant season opens 29 Last day of general bear season
JANUARY
1 Online harvest reporting begins for steelhead and sturgeon 3-15 Second Northeastern Zone white and white-fronted geese season dates
12 Last day of Northeastern Zone regular Canada geese season
15 Last day of Northeastern Zone duck and scaup seasons
16-19 Sacramento International Sportsmen’s Expo, CalExpo (sportsexpos.com/ attend/sacramento)
17-19 Hall Shows L.A. County Boat Show, Pomona Fairplex (hallshows.com)
18-19 Northeastern Zone Veterans and Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Days (ducks only)
26 Last day of most general quail and chukar seasons
26 Last day of general tree squirrel and rabbits and varying hare seasons
27 Start of falconry rabbits and varying hare season
30-Feb.2 Hall Outdoor Show, Long Beach Convention Center (hallshows.com)
31 Last day of duck season in most zones
31 Last day of falconry take of ducks (including mergansers), geese, American coots and common moorhens in most zones
For a list of upcoming bass tournaments, go to nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FishingContests/default.aspx.
Last call for pheasant hunters! California’s statewide season will end on December 22. (CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE)
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BOBBER WITH A BRAIN JR.
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ELLA AND HER ELK
A BRAVE YOUNG CANCER SURVIVOR’S SPECIAL HUNT HUNTING
Diagnosed with cancer at just 7 years old, Ella Nichols endured her treatment and kept a positive attitude through it all. An organization known as Fearless Outdoorsman arranged for an elk hunting trip that Ella was excited to take. (TY NICHOLS)
By Tim E. Hovey
Two years ago, my wife Cheryl asked me if I wanted to attend an event at her gym. It was a celebration of sorts for a young lady named Ella Nichols.
After suffering through severe headaches and face pain, doctors found a cancerous tumor behind Ella’s eye and she was diagnosed with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma at just 7 years old. The party at the gym was to celebrate the completion of her cancer treatment. In my opinion, those are the best types of celebrations.
For the next several months, Cheryl would give me updates on Ella’s progress. After we’d heard about her diagnosis, I’d always ask Cheryl how Ella was doing. Honestly, it broke my heart when I heard about what she had to deal with. Having never met her, I had to believe that she was an extremely strong young lady.
At the gym, we walked in and found the celebration well underway. Kids of all ages ran around the facility chasing each other, playing with heavy weight machines and just being kids. Several groups of adults were mingling around the right side of the place. On the left, several tables were set up with balloons and colorful party favors, photos of Ella and a cake. A large white album with blank pages sat at the end of a table. A small card instructed guests to write Ella a message. I picked up the pen, found a blank page and started writing. I don’t remember exactly what I wrote, but I remember having tears in my eyes when I finished. I thought about own daughters, both adults now, growing up healthy and happy. I looked at the photos of Ella progressing through her treatment –some with bandages, most in a hospital bed. I thought how unfair life can be sometimes. Despite all the support from her family and friends, this was a fight she’d have to win on her own.
The event was upbeat and enjoyable. I met Ella briefly, but she had games to play and other kids to play with. It was great to see her running around and enjoying life. When we left the gym, I remember mentally crossing my fingers that she would be completely done with cancer.
CHERYL WAS SCROLLING THROUGH Facebook on
After doctors found a cancerous tumor behind Ella’s eye and diagnosed her with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, she endured 15 months of radiation and chemotherapy treatment. (TY NICHOLS)
Ella’s parents Carrie (left) and Ty supported their daughter through her diagnosis and trips to the hospital. “Above all, Ella’s attitude got her family through this ordeal,” author Tim Hovey writes. (TY NICHOLS)
HUNTING
Ella wasn’t able to fill her elk tag on the first hunt in Idaho, but she was eager to get another opportunity. (TY
her computer. She belongs to several hunting groups, and this time of year the site is filled with photos of hunters and their big game successes. I saw Cheryl smile as she turned her laptop towards me and said, “Check this out!”
The image was of a beautiful six-by-six elk lying in the sage. A young blonde girl dressed in camo and wearing a huge smile straddled the elk. Her arms were barely long enough to stretch between the antlers.
“Do you remember Ella?” Cheryl asked. I did.
Ella’s mom Carrie told me that Ella had had to endure 15 months of chemo and radiation therapy during her treatment. During this time, she and her family heavily leaned on the large community that rallied around Ella. Those included the gym, the fire department community through her husband Ty’s job as a firefighter, their church and Ella’s school.
Above all, Ella’s attitude got her family through this ordeal. Though devastated and terrified at the diagnosis, Ella decided she was going to tackle cancer head on. She never quit
smiling and never complained. When the treatment robbed her of her hair, she refused to wear hats or wigs, telling her mom, “That just wouldn’t be me.”
Ella’s dad Ty is a captain at his fire station and lifelong hunter. A fellow captain, Danny Garringer, is on the board of an organization called Fearless Outdoorsman (fearlessoutdoorsman.com). They organize hunts for veterans, as well as kids with life-threatening diseases.
With some coordination, the individuals at Fearless Outdoorsman planned a September elk hunt for Ella in the rugged Owyhee Mountains of southwest Idaho. At just 10 years old, this would be Ella’s very first hunt.
AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO the gun range, Ella was finally ready for her big hunt in late September. They hunted hard for three days, and while they spotted elk, Ella didn’t see anything she wanted to take. That hunt ended without an elk for Ella.
The following month, the volunteers at Fearless Outdoorsman and Ty
planned a return trip to the Owyhees to try again.
After getting up at 4:30 on the first morning, Ella, her dad and the guide glassed spots near their camp. In the opposite canyon, they spotted a bull elk in the perfect position for a shot. They moved closer and got Ella set up. Ty calmed her and advised to take her time. Ella centered the crosshairs on the bull’s vitals and slowly squeezed the trigger. The bull fell 150 yards away. Ella’s elk was on the ground!
Having grown up hunting, Ty was beyond excited to share this hunt with his little girl. After the shot they were both very emotional about her accomplishment. Ty mentioned that he saw a whole new level of grit and determination from his daughter. Between the early-morning start time and the long hikes, Ella put her head down and never quit. She even helped field dress the bull and pack out a backstrap. Way to go, Ella!
I
KNOW
A FEW
with tragedies and
Now cancer-free and happy to score her bull, Ella and Ty celebrated a special
NICHOLS)
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HUNTING
difficulties throughout their lives. They’ve come through these events stronger and braver after having moved through the episode. I’ve always admired their attitude, perseverance and strength, and I honestly doubt my abilities to do the same. These people are a special breed, and they will always have my admiration and respect. I consider Ella in that elite group. I think about what I was doing at 7 years old – the same age Ella
was diagnosed – and I certainly wasn’t fighting for my life.
Occasionally, I see the ups and downs of life play out and I come to really understand what’s important. I must imagine that on a brisk October morning and looking through the scope at her bull, Ella, now cancerfree, experienced the highest of highs of every sportsman and -woman, and she’ll remember that always. And I’ll bet the memory of that bull hitting the
ground and the hug between father and daughter afterwards will be a memory Ty will cherish forever. After all this family had been through, they certainly deserved it.
Hearing Ella’s story, from the lows to the highs, I came away with one thought: There’s fire in the heart and soul of that little girl, and you can never make fire feel afraid. CS
“Hearing Ella’s story, from the lows to the highs, I came away with one thought: There’s fire in the heart and soul of that little girl, and you can never make fire feel afraid,” Hovey writes. (TY NICHOLS)
Outfitters since 1994 100% American owned
FROM FIELD...
Scott Haugen has been using trail cameras going on three decades, and he did a lot of testing before settling on Moultrie
an
HUNTERS’ HAPPIEST HOLIDAYS
THE BEST IN GIFT IDEAS
By Scott Haugen
AFOR CALIFORNIA SPORTSMEN
nother Christmas is upon us! Here’s a look at some timely gifts to consider for winter hunting season. Like always, this is gear I’ve personally put to the test and will keep using for seasons to come.
HIGH CAMP FLASKS
The next level in flasks for outdoor
lovers has arrived! Last summer I took a 375ml High Camp Firelight Flask to Africa. I was going to take it on a weeklong cast and blast in Alaska, then I ended up getting High Camp Flasks’ new 9-ounce Torch Flask instead.
You can’t have just one of these sturdy, quality flasks. They come in a range of sizes and colors. The Firelight 375 has a magnetic tumbler that’s cleverly designed and secure.
The 9-ounce Torch is the perfect size for on-the-go outings and features a 3-ounce shot glass that’s magnetically attached. The vacuuminsulated, leak-proof construction of High Camp Flasks keeps hot drinks like coffee hot for up to 12 hours, and cold drinks cold for over 20 hours. The large top of the Firelight even fits ice cubes.
5.11 TACTICAL RESPONSE XRI HEADLAMP
Both my wife Tiffany and I have been a huge fan of 5.11 Tactical performance clothes and travel bags, and we have used them around the world for two years. Their base layers are tops in terms of performance, and last summer when fishing in the saltwater of Prince of Wales Island in Alaska for six straight days, I wore one of their tough pairs of pants every single day and stayed dry, warm and clean. Their attention to quality is what led me to try their Response XR1 Headlamp.
Whether you’re hiking in the dark, prepping gear before sunup or cleaning game after dark, the XR1 is impressive. I’ve used a lot of headlamps over the years, and this has become my go-to choice. It casts 1,000 lumens in peak spot mode and is easy to switch to flood mode when needed. The lamp is easy to rotate and is removable.
MOULTRIE MOBILE TRAIL CAMERAS
I currently have 134 trail cameras set out in three states that span hundreds of miles. Over half of them are Moultrie Mobile cellular cameras. I’ve tested a lot of cellular trail cameras in recent years and love the dependability and performance of Moultrie Mobile cameras. There’s no card to check, thanks to built-in memory.
Videos are easy to download on your smartphone and their highdefinition resolution is exceptional. The Edge Pro and Edge 2 Pro cameras feature a super-fast trigger speed, smart zones that can be controlled
Author
Mobile cellular game cams,
ideal holiday gift for hunters. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
... TO FIRE
NO CUP NEEDED FOR THIS COFFEE-SEASONED RUB
By Tiffany Haugen
Used as a seasoning, freshly ground coffee is one of those flavors that doesn’t come across with an overbearing coffee flavor when added to a recipe. Most of the time it’s hard to tell that the smoky, pleasantly bitter taste is coffee at all. Much like adding dark chocolate to a chili or stew, coffee becomes a bit of a “secret” ingredient that accentuates the more obvious flavors of the other spices.
This rub can be used on wild game steaks before they go on the grill or on a roast that can be slow-cooked or oven braised.
1 to 2 pounds venison roast
1 tablespoon fresh ground coffee
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon granulated onion
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
½ teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon ginger
In a small bowl, mix ground coffee, sugar,
salt, pepper, paprika, granulated onion, granulated garlic, chili powder and ginger until thoroughly combined. Rub on wild game roast and refrigerate eight to 12 hours before cooking. Slow cook in a CrockPot or similar device on high for three to five hours until meat is tender, reaching desired doneness, or braise in a covered Dutch oven at 325 degrees, basting with beef broth every 10 to 15 minutes for about an hour.
If used for steaks, rub each side of the steaks and let the meat sit at room temperature at least 20 minutes before grilling or pan frying. Grill on welllubricated grates over medium-high heat or pan fry in a heavy skillet in olive or coconut oil over medium-high heat, two minutes per side.
Gear Tip: I’m a coffee nerd. Scott never used to drink coffee until he was stuck in a remote bear camp in Alaska and ran out of food and only had coffee to drink for three days. Now he’s like me. We enjoy the smell, unique flavor and the process of hand grinding our own coffee beans. But that wasn’t always the case, not until we got our
hands on the VSSL Java Grinder G25. This sturdy-built, precision-crafted grinder has 50 grind dial settings to allow for the precise grind you want. Hold the grinder in one hand and turn the tough, extendable handle with the other. This powerfully built, hand-crank machine is easy to use, ergonomic and has the perfect balance that makes grinding simple. In fact, we liked the G25 so much, we got the larger G45.
Now we have two portable grinders: one for home and one for road trips. Manual coffee grinders don’t produce heat like electric grinders do, so the flavor profile of the grounds is not compromised, which makes them great for recipes like this one. If looking for a manual coffee grinder or a great gift for a coffee nerd, check out vsslgear.com.
Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany’s popular book, Cooking Game Birds and other best-selling titles, visit scotthaugen.com.
Using ground coffee beans as a rub on big game meat provides a smoky taste and accentuates other spices. A VSSL Java Grinder (inset) is a handy way to precisely grind coffee beans. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)
HUNTING
from your phone to eliminate moving brush and shadow shots, a GPS so you never lose track of where it’s at, and an easy-to-mount-and-aim option that connects directly to your phone and results in perfect positioning. Each camera automatically connects to all four major networks for nationwide cellular coverage, and they are now available in First Lite camo.
Moultrie’s Universal Camera Stakes, solar panels and rechargeable batteries are must-haves if you are serious about streamlining your trail camera game.
PAKA BASELAYER
I’ve worn a lot of base layers in my 48-year hunting career, and oh my, how they’ve advanced. The latest test was Paka’s Baselayer. I first wore it into the soggy blacktail deer woods, and I instantly loved the soft, comfortable fit, plus its ability to move moisture. Then I wore it
on a high-desert elk hunt, multiple predator hunts, upland bird treks and waterfowl hunts. You get the idea.
I was impressed. Even when hiking in mountains chasing chukars, the Paka never overheated and always moved moisture. When sitting in a duck blind or coyote stand, it retained body heat to the point it was selfregulating and comfortable. That’s what the 100-percent natural and nontoxic materials of this garment does. I’ll be getting a set of these for my wife, as I know she’ll love the soft and natural fit.
FORLOH JACKETS
I first saw Forloh’s AllClima Soft Shell jacket in Alaska when a father and son were each wearing one on a fishing trip. It poured rain five of the six days, yet they stayed completely dry, which is saying something given that state’s extreme conditions.
I picked one up and have worn it
in driving rains chasing deer in the timber and on cold, windy days in sagebrush country, plus on various elk hunts and on rainy days pursuing fall turkeys in river bottoms. The AllClima jacket is quiet, comfortable and always keeps me dry and shielded in high winds. Their ThermoNeutral Down Jacket is also worth checking out. Forloh dubs it “the best down hunting jacket on the market,” and I know why, as I’ve tried several brands. Waterproof, comfortable as a midlayer – even outerwear – the ThermoNeutral Down Jacket keeps you dry on the inside and outside. It’s breathable and allows air to circulate, meaning you won’t overheat or get cold when hiking through mountains or sitting in a tree stand. CS
Editor’s note: Looking for stocking stuffers? Signed copies of Scott Haugen’s best-selling books can be ordered at scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram.
MORE PRESENT PICKS FOR OUTDOORSMEN
If the above gift ideas don’t quite fill the bill or the sportsman in your life is tough to shop for, here are a couple more suggestions:
LOOPROPE
One of the most universal tools I’ve ever used is the LoopRope. I’ve used them as an emergency leash and tether for my dogs, and for countless other tasks while hunting, fishing and camping. My wife Tiffany has them in her truck and on her bike and uses them all the time for securing items she’s hauling, even groceries. The multiple fastening loops allow for safe, easy and secure holds with the steel, two-sided LoopClips and can be customized to fit specific needs. They’re like a bungee on steroids and are much more streamlined than cargo nets. The LoopClips come in a range of sizes, which I use to secure dog training gear to lanyards, and more.
Info: Starting at $22; info: looprope .com.
BENCHMADE O.M. KNIFE Last duck season
I had a small knife on my duck call lanyard that opened up and poked a hole in my waders when I bent over. It was the second time that had happened over the years. The little, cheap blades I used to rely on would quickly rust and turn dull. It was my fault for settling on subpar knives. Then I tried Benchmade’s OM knife, and loved it.
Closed, the tiny knife is less than 3.5 inches long and weighs only 1.5 ounces. The mechanism on this double-action out-the-front, or OTF, knife is fairly tight to open and has a safety feature so the blade will pop off the tracks if deployed into an object; it’s easy to reset by retracting the blade. With the OM you get the benefit of quick, one-handed access for immediate work, which is great should you need it to free a dog from decoy pull strings, vines or the like. I clip it on my duck call and dog training lanyards, or use the clip to secure it inside a pants pocket. It’s sharp, fast, convenient, incredibly durable and extremely versatile.
Info: $306; benchmade.com. SH
A LoopRope (top) and Benchmade OM Knife are great gifts that will benefit a sportsman. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
GUN DOG-WORTHY GIFT IDEAS
FIELD-TESTED PRODUCTS FOR YOUR FOUR-LEGGED HUNTING PARTNER(S)
By Scott Haugen
Mom always told me, “The older you get, the faster life goes by.” She was right. Another Christmas season is already here! But for us gun dog owners, that just means another excuse has come to spoil our beloved hunting partners.
As a full-time writer and photographer, I spend over 280 days afield every year. I get to test a lot of gear. Here’s a look at items my dogs and I have used and will keep using.
ORVIS MEMORY FOAM DELUXE DOG BED
When my two pudelpointers were in need of new dog beds, I’d heard many
great reports about Orvis’s Deluxe Dog Beds, so I got one. The moment I opened it my dogs wanted to nuzzle into the comfy bed. Kona, my 65-pound male, immediately burrowed in. When he got up to further inspect it, Echo, my 11-year-old, 43-pound female, dove in. She didn’t move for three hours. When she did, Kona hopped right back into it and stayed put for two hours. That’s how it went for days.
Whenever they came in from an outside break, it was a race to the bed. When done eating breakfast and dinner, whoever got the bed first claimed it. Then, one day Echo was curled up in the bed next to my office desk. Minutes later Kona joined her. They both slept in it all afternoon.
Mind you: They had three other beds in the house to choose from, along with two couches and chairs, but both wanted the Orvis bed.
I have a long way to go before giving a full report on this bed, but let’s just say first impressions are everything. I can tell the orthopedic memory foam feels good on my dogs after a long day of hunting, especially when it’s cold out. Aging Echo simply loves it. The zip-off cover is simple to remove, clean and is machine washable. I’ll be ordering a smaller bed for Echo.
YETI BOOMER BOWL AND GOBOX 60
Five years ago I picked up one Yeti Boomer Dog Bowl. I was so impressed with how durable it was and how easy
A picture worth 1,000 words: After days of battling over a new Orvis Memory Foam Deluxe Dog Bed, Kona and Echo gave in and shared it. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
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it was to clean that I got a bowl for my other dog. Today we have six Boomer Dog Bowls: one for each dog for feeding inside, one for water on the front and back porch that they use all year long – but especially in summer – and two that stay in the truck for drinking and eating for training sessions and following hunts. The latest bowl was a Boomer 8 for Kona, and it only cost $6 more to have his name inscribed on it.
I’ve tried many dog bowls over the years and the Boomers are as good as the first day we got them. They’ve been through extreme conditions and held up great; even the rubber ring on the bottom is in perfect condition on every bowl despite being covered in dust, used in gravel, dirt, snow, ice and mud many times over the years. The Boomer 4 Dog Bowl is perfect for my 43-pound female, while the larger Boomer 8 is great for my 65-pound male.
Another Yeti item that’s helped keep my dog training gear organized is their LoadOut GoBox 60 Gear Case. I got the 15 Gear Case, then picked up the bigger 60 to store dog gear in my truck. I love the durability of the GoBox and the fact I can store key pieces of training gear – including electronics –that don’t get covered in fine dust on the many logging roads we travel in summer. The GoBox keeps everything sealed tight and the nonslip feet keep it from sliding in my truck. It’s tough, easy to maintain and quickly repacks for whatever my needs are.
Info: Bowls starting at $40; GoBox 60: $300; yeti.com.
NUTRISOURCE COME-POOCH-A
Seven years ago I started feeding NutriSource food to my pudelpointers. I love the high protein and all-around health benefits of this food. I also use their treats, more for behavioral
rewards around home than in training. I don’t train with treats.
When NutriSource came out with their Come-pooch-a line, I tried it. I’m still using it and my dogs love it. Inspired by kombucha, Come-pooch-a is a unique topper that provides digestion support for dogs. The savory bone broth has a touch of tang found in yogurt, which most dogs love. My main goal for using Come-pooch-a was to keep my dogs hydrated on those hot summer training days. But I’ve also used it as a topper on their regular NutriSource kibble to encourage them to eat more and slowly gain weight in preparation for hunting season. This topper is great for picky dogs, dogs with stress issues that decrease their appetite, and it helps maintain a healthy gut. It contains postbiotics, which are a byproduct of prebiotics and probiotics, meaning it’s ideal for offering immunity support
Yeti’s Boomer Dog Bowls have been a big hit with author Scott Haugen’s gun dogs, while the company’s LoadOut GoBox 60 Gear Case has held up well for him through extensive use. Both items are on his short list of Christmas recommendations for fellow gun dog owners and outdoorsmen. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
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HUNTING
and enhancing overall well-being. Available in beef, turkey and chicken bone broth.
Info: 12-ounce pack: $12; nutrisourcepetfoods.com
HEYDAY TAGALONG 3-GALLON FOOD AND WATER STATIONS
Earlier this year Heyday Outdoor introduced their Tagalong Food 3G and Tagalong Water 3G stations for dogs. Each self-contained station stores 3 gallons, making them ideal for road trips or to keep in the truck and feed and water your dog after a day in the field, be it hunting or training. The creative, easy-to-stow carry-and-use design makes the feeding and watering process quick, simple and clean.
During duck season when we’re hunting four to five days a week, I keep both the food and water bins in the truck, refilling as needed. This makes for easy planning and handling, and it
saves time. They ride well in the truck, are easy to clean and make the eating and drinking process very efficient.
Info: $120 each; heydayoutdoor.com 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.
Heyday Outdoor Tagalong Food 3G and Tagalong Water 3G stations store 3 gallons, making them ideal for road trips. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
LEGENDS OF THE FALL
TWO KAYAKERS CHASE TROUT AT ICONIC NORCAL FISHERIES
By Cal Kellogg
The air temperature had been hovering near freezing and the wind was pushing hard when we’d launched the kayaks three hours earlier. Now, the temperature had come up, but so had the wind speed.
Whitecapped rollers trailing strands of foam buffeted our kayaks as the conditions went from marginal to downright dangerous. We were pedaling for the launch a good mile upwind, and we still had trolling gear in the water despite the deteriorating conditions.
My buddy Pete the sheriff – Harvard grad, military vet and one of the most enthusiastic anglers you’ll ever meet –
was about 50 yards ahead of me and off to my port side. I saw him grappling with his hybrid leadcore rig trying to free the rod from its holder. Pete was hooked up with another big rainbow.
About the time I expected Pete to net the trout, his calm voice came over the radio clipped to the front of my life jacket.
“Hey Cal; I could use a little help,” he said. “One of the waves apparently washed my net and GoPro out of the kayak, and I don’t dare lean over in these waves and try to land the trout by hand.”
“Here I come,” I replied, simultaneously pumping hard on the kayak’s pedals and reeling up my line.
I slid in on Pete’s upwind side,
stopped pedaling and readied the net. Fifteen yards; 10; 5; the rollers quickly pushed my large Hobie Pro Angler toward the starboard side of Pete’s smaller and lighter Hobie Lynx. At precisely the right moment, Pete reeled, brought the rod tip up and laid the fish out on the surface. I made the scoop.
With the hefty rainbow safely in the net’s rubber basket, I exclaimed, “Grab the hoop of the net and hang on!”
As soon as Pete had a firm grasp on the net, I got back on the pedals and brought both kayaks around until we were out of the troughs between the rollers and had the waves and wind to our backs, giving us a much safer and comfortable ride.
Friends Cal Kellogg and Pete Fisher enjoyed a memorable November outing at three chilly but mostly productive Northern California trout waters. At Eagle Lake, Pete broke the ice in the first five minutes of trolling. (CAL KELLOGG)
FISHING
With so much water to cover in a kayak, a fish finder can
Pete worked quickly, popped the hook out of the handsome rainbow’s jaw, admired the fish for a moment and slid the trout back into the dark water unharmed.
Such was the scene at Eagle Lake in far Northern California on November 3.
PETE, A WASHINGTON STATE native, brought up the idea of a fall Northern California destination-style trout fishing adventure months before.
“What do you think of me coming down to California and kayaking a few trophy trout lakes with you in late October or November when the fall bite peaks?” Pete had asked.
I found the idea exciting. Big game hunters and bird hunters often plan trips to faraway destinations, as do saltwater anglers traveling to Mexico, Central America and even South America in search of sport. With the
outstanding trout fishing available throughout California, it’s surprising more trout anglers don’t put together multiple-day destination trips to sample the incredible trout action the Golden State offers.
Once Pete and I committed to a week-long trip, the next questions were where and when we would fish.
I wanted Pete to have a shot at both trophies and big numbers of trout, so I recommended we visit Eagle Lake for two days, Lake Almanor for one day and finish the trip with two full days exploring Lake Davis.
I knew Eagle Lake would give up some big, hard-charging rainbows during the first week of November. Lake Davis, with its shallow, nutrientrich waters and huge trout population, would be our numbers lake.
“Almanor is the only wild card,” I told Pete. “I think you should experience
Almanor because it offers some of the biggest browns and rainbows available in the north (of the) state, but it is also one of the hardest lakes to fish. If the bite is on, we could land something massive, but if the bite is off, we could just as easily get blanked.”
My assessment of Almanor turned out to be prophetic, but we’ll talk more about that in a bit.
WITH THE WHERE ELEMENT of the trip decided, a look at the calendar revealed there would be a new moon phase during the first week of November. While trout can certainly be caught during a full moon phase, it generally suppresses the bite to some degree.
Since Pete would be driving for upwards of 12 hours to reach California, we stacked the odds for success by settling on the first week of November for our trip. The moon would range from fully dark to a sliver-thin crescent.
After weeks of planning, text messages and phone calls, Pete and I met up in Susanville on the morning of November 1, grabbed breakfast and then made the hour-long drive to Eagle Lake.
The weather forecast called for periods of wind, rain and snow, so we wasted no time setting up our camp near the Gallatin Launching Facility on Eagle Lake’s southern basin.
By the time we turned in for the night a stiff breeze had come up and the sky was spitting rain. When we got up just after dawn there was an inch of slush on the ground and
Davis Lake would indeed prove to be the trip’s “numbers” fishery. The guys would catch and release at least 50 trout there. (CAL KELLOGG)
come in handy. (CAL KELLOGG)
FISHING
the air temperature was hovering near freezing.
I was worried the launch ramp would be slick, but it turned out to be fine. Pete and I launched our kayaks without any issues and by 8 a.m. we were headed toward Miners Cove. There was a slight breeze, the sky was overcast and the water temperature sat at 52 degrees. In short, conditions were perfect.
The first fish on any trip comes as a relief because it confirms the trout are indeed biting. Our Eagle Lake “icebreaker” didn’t keep us in suspense long. Trolling a small orange fly I recommended, Pete had only been fishing for five minutes or so when his rod got slammed.
Eagle Lake trout are epic fighters, and when the water is cold, they exhibit a lot of stamina. Pete had the fish near his kayak several times, only to have it streak away on drag-spinning runs.
Pete looked pretty satisfied when
he slid the 2.5-pound chromer into the net. He had no idea the trout was only average for Eagle Lake. There was a lot of excitement and plenty of surprises in store for Pete on his first day at Eagle.
The orange fly trolled in the top 8 feet of the water column proved to be the best offering, but we also hooked some fish on orange Trout Trix Minnows trolled in the same depth range.
Pete caught several trout throughout the day, and it seemed like each one was a little bit bigger than the last. When we downloaded the video Pete shot, he announced several rainbows to be the “fish of the day,” only to catch an even larger trout later on!
While Pete and I didn’t land any true Eagle Lake trophies in the 5- or 6-pound class, we did see a handful of fish beyond the 20-inch and 4-pound marks.
When we staggered up the launch ramp at 4 in the afternoon, tired and
cramped from a day of hard pedaling, we were aware we’d experienced a very special day of trout fishing.
HAD PETE NOT BEEN a very experienced boater and kayaker, I would’ve called off fishing at Eagle on the second day due to a strong wind out of the northeast. It was blowing around 15 knots when we launched and was pushing 30 when we made it back to shore around 11 in the morning.
Despite the big wind and whitewater-capped rollers, we hooked a number of quality trout. While the fishing was great, it was an expensive morning for Pete. At some point, waves breaking into Pete’s kayak washed a box of trout spoons overboard, along with his landing net and attached GoPro Camera. If you snag a net and camera at Eagle Lake, you’ll know where it came from!
After a quick trip to Walmart in Susanville for a new net, we set a
Lake Davis isn’t just about quantity; it’s also about quality, as there are plenty of big fish in the mix too. Author Cal Kellogg tempted this 3-plus-pound rainbow there while pulling one of his company’s orange Metal Head trolling flies. (CAL KELLOGG)
FISHING
course for Lake Almanor. Rather than set up camp for a single night, we opted to stay in a hotel in Chester. The next morning, November 4, we arrived at Lake Almanor’s Canyon Dam Boat Launch just after dawn. The conditions at Almanor were perfect and we marked plenty of fish, but we just couldn’t get them to go. They wouldn’t even hit a threaded nightcrawler!
When 11 a.m. rolled around, I suggested we pull the plug at Almanor and head for Lake Davis. It is only about a two-hour drive and if things went smoothly, we’d be able to set up camp and get in a couple hours of fishing before dinner.
Pete agreed, so we pedaled hard for the ramp and wasted no time driving over to the community of Portola. We checked in at J & J Grizzly Store and Campground, which we would make our headquarters for the remainder of the trip.
WE HAD THE KAYAKS on the water at the Mallard Cove Boat Launch by 2 p.m. and headed to an area north of the island pulling the same orange flies and soft plastics we’d used at Eagle Lake.
The water temperature was 48 degrees at the warmest part of the day, and the trout were enthusiastic. In two hours, we boated 11 rainbows in the 14- to 16-inch class. I got lucky and landed the largest trout of the day when a beautiful 20-plus-inch brown blitzed my trolling fly pulled just a few yards off the shoreline.
“We are going to kill the trout tomorrow,” I told Pete as we ate dinner that evening. “I suspect the water will be a lot colder in the morning, so they might be a little lethargic to start off with, but the bite should build all day long.”
After a tasty hot breakfast on the morning of November 5, we dropped the ’yaks into the water and slowly pedaled offshore toward the island.
“The trout at Davis aren’t as selective as the trout at Eagle, so don’t hesitate to expand your lure selection a bit. I’ve done well here on spoons and Mag Lip plugs, in addition to the flies and soft plastics I usually run,” I told Pete, knowing he loved to pull Mag Lips.
With the water temperature registering a chilly 43 degrees at the ramp, I didn’t expect the bite to get going until the sun got on the water,
but to our delight we started banging rainbows right away. We each had several fish by 10, including a pair of 20-plus-inch ’bows.
As the day went on, the bite continued to intensify. Pete deployed an orange Mag Lip and nailed a 3-plus-pound rainbow after lunch. Not wanting to be outdone, I put on an orange Metal Head trolling fly and got a fat 3-pounder of my own.
I have no idea how many fish we landed that day. We certainly had 40 fish between us, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the total was north of 50. By any measure, it had been an epic session of kayak trolling, with constant action and several big rainbows in the 16- to 22-inch class!
WE HAD HIGH HOPES of finishing our trip on a high note on the morning of November 6, but overnight a vicious north wind came up. Not only did the 30-plus-mph gusts make kayaking difficult, but the pressure change associated with it put the trout in a funk. Pete ended up getting blanked, while I finessed six rainbows and a brown to the net while trolling my lucky orange Metal Head fly tipped with a small piece
The Mallard Cove launch ramp at Lake Davis had no traffic on this midfall day. Despite the outstanding trout fishing on tap, Cal and Pete had the lake largely to themselves. (CAL KELLOGG)
FISHING
of nightcrawler.
Despite the tough action on the final morning, we both agreed that the trip was a major success and we are already planning a repeat adventure next fall.
We experienced the raw reality of fall in the Sierra, enduring wind, rain, snow and frigid temps. We relished the warm sun in the afternoons, took in the fall colors, made cocoa and other treats during breaks on remote shorelines, had a lot of laughs and caught big numbers of colorful trout.
We safely released all the fish we caught. We wish them a peaceful winter and look forward to trading punches with them once again in 2025! 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.
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Fisher shows off an incredible Eagle Lake rainbow he tempted with an orange trolling fly pulled 8 feet deep. Eagle is arguably Northern California’s premier fall trout fishery. (CAL KELLOGG)
NOT JUST A BASS ‘SPOT’
EXPERIENCING BULLARDS BAR’S UNDERRATED TROUT FISHERY
By Mark Fong
In recent years, New Bullards Bar Reservoir in Yuba County has garnered a lot of attention as one of the most prolific kokanee fisheries in the state.
Prior to this development, it was recognized as the premier spotted bass lake in the country. In fact, the world-record spotty, weighing in at 11 pounds, 4 ounces, was caught here in 2017. Although the big spots are now far and few in between, Bullards is still popular with bass anglers hoping for a chance to score a giant. Having fished here a lot over the years, it came as quite a surprise to me when longtime Northern California guide Brett Brady of Bare Bones Guide Service told me about the lake’s sneaky-good rainbow trout fishery.
PRIME TIME FOR TROUT AT BULLARDS BAR
Brady has been guiding the lakes and rivers around Northern California since 1998. He grew up not far from Bullards Bar and has fished the lake his entire life, making him perhaps the most well-versed authority on the lake’s coldwater fisheries.
“Bullards has a nice little trout population, but your success is really dependent on the time of the year,” explains Brady. “Late fall through early spring is the best time to concentrate on the trout. The fish are primarily rainbows and we will see some browns, but that is a rare occasion. The rainbows are a mix of wild and hatchery fish, and we will sometimes get fish up to about 4 pounds, but a 2- to 2.5-pound fish is considered pretty good.”
According to Brady, focusing on
Known more for its record-setting spotted
well as
areas where creeks and waterfalls flow into the lake is the key to trout success.
“Generally, we don’t see the fish bite well until we see running water,” he said. “The flow will bring a lot of food in with it and it’s gonna bring the trout into that area to feed.”
Brady employs two primary methods to target trout. The first is to cast very small plastic insect imitations on a small lead jighead. The second is to troll, mostly toplining with an assortment of offerings, including spoons, plastic grubs or the old standby, a dodger and nightcrawler combo.
TAPPING
INTO
THE MORNING BITE
Recently, on a frigid late November morning, I met up with Brady at the Emerald Cove Launch Ramp. Joining us was my friend and fishing buddy Mike Barton. We boarded Brady’s
bass as
prolific kokanee, Yuba County’s New Bullards Bar Reservoir has quite a solid rainbow trout fishery too. (MARK FONG)
FISHING
Brady’s 22-foot Chinook sled from Rogue Jet Boatworks and made the long run up the North Fork of the Yuba River. When we arrived at our starting area, Brady shut off the big motor and positioned the boat using his trolling motor.
Brady instructed Mike and myself to cast up near the bank and to work our small baits back to the boat. Stationed in the front of the boat, it did not take long before Mike was hooked up with
a feisty trout. The fish put a deep bend in Mike’s ultralight spinning rod as he skillfully fought the fish so as to not overstress the gossamer-weight line. After a spirited battle, Mike quickly unhooked the trout and released it back into the lake.
The action was pretty consistent over the next few hours as we all enjoyed our share of hard-fighting Bullards Bar trout. Once the sun got higher in the sky, the bite slowed
down and became more sporadic. For the remainder of the morning it was a bit of a grind, but we still got fish.
If you are up for a new fishing adventure, Bullards Bar rainbow trout may be just what you are looking for. CS
Editor’s note: To book a trip with Brady or to learn more, please visit his website at fishbarebones.com, follow him on Facebook at Bare Bones Guide Service or contact him directly at (530) 263-4451.
Mike Barton shows off a typical Bullards Bar ’bow. “Late fall through early spring is the best time to concentrate on the trout,” tips local guide Brett Brady. (MARK FONG)
Author Mark Fong (right, with Brady) is one of those anglers who discovered that this lake offers some pretty solid trout fishing. “We will sometimes get fish up to about 4 pounds, but a 2- to 2.5-pound fish is considered pretty good,” Brady says. (MARK FONG)
Bullards Bar is located about 45 minutes from Marysville, features 55 miles of shoreline and has an accessible launch ramp at Emerald Cove, located near the dam. (MARK FONG)
A FLY TROLLER’S PITCH
UNDERUTILIZED METHOD CATCHES LARGER TROUT
By Cal Kellogg
Some of the folks reading this have pulled flies, but based on talking to thousands of trout anglers and observing thousands more, I can confidently conclude most of you never utilize trolling flies. This is a major fly in your trout fishing ointment (insert cheesy joke laughter here!).
OK; let’s get serious. I’m a fulltime California trout fishing guide, so I spend a lot of time dragging a variety of offerings behind boats and kayaks, including spoons, spinners, threaded nightcrawlers, soft plastics and minnow plugs.
I log the results of every trip, and five
years of data reveals soft plastics are my No. 1 bait in terms of the total number of trout landed, followed closely by trolling flies. But when it comes to big trout over 3 pounds, flies are head and shoulders above everything else in my tackle arsenal.
We’ll get into why flies are so effective, particularly for large trout and how you can use them to best advantage, but first I want to tell you about the biggest wild rainbow I’ve landed to date in order to illustrate an underlying fact about employing trolling flies I’ve heard repeated by a lot of avid fly trollers.
CAUGHT ON THE FLY
Turn the clock back about 10 years and
join me at Lake Almanor in October. I was trolling near the peninsula from my kayak. At this point I’d been playing with trolling flies for a few months without much success. Despite that, I was pulling one of Denis Peirce’s Arctic Fox trolling flies. The pattern Denis advised me to run for trophy trout at Almanor was mostly white with a little purple tinsel. The idea was to imitate a wayward pond smelt, since smelt are a key forage item for the Plumas County reservoir’s trout.
I rigged the fly on an 8-pound-test fluorocarbon leader and teamed it with a Wigglefin Action Disc to give it a seductive vibrating action. After adding a single large split shot to my main line, I ran the fly 65 feet behind
Trout anglers sometimes don’t utilize trolling flies to score limits. Author Cal Kellogg advocates for it, and this huge lightning trout that crushed one of his company’s pink Metal Head flies during an outing at Collins Lake is proof that it can be effective. (CAL KELLOGG)
FISHING
the kayak at about 2 feet deep and 1.8 mph.
Small clouds of bait and scattered hard marks dotted the screen of the sonar unit, but despite working diligently for a couple hours, I’d had zero strikes and was thinking about switching to a spoon or maybe a naked, threaded ’crawler.
But then came a strike so violent that it pulled the nose of the kayak several degrees to port before I could wrench the rod out of the holder. The fight was epic and at one point the fish actually jumped over the nose
of the kayak! Luck was on my side, and I eventually slid the massive wild rainbow into the net. The chromebright fish weighed in at a shade under 8 pounds.
As soon as the big trout struck, I forgot the hours I’d trolled flies with few strikes. Once I got my first large trolling fly trout, big fish started smashing my flies with increased frequency.
Many of the anglers I’ve turned on to fly trolling have experienced the same success curve. The first big fish is elusive, but once you get one big trout under your belt and begin to
believe in the presentation, more big fish follow.
THE ARGUMENT FOR TROLLING FLIES
So why are trolling flies such an effective presentation? The answer is multifaceted. First and foremost, trolling flies imitate baitfish and big predatory fish eat small fish. That’s obvious, but you can say the same thing about plugs, spoons and some soft plastics. All of these baits imitate baitfish.
I’m convinced that because trolling flies are so seldom utilized by the fishing public, they represent a unique presentation to the fish. What? Let me explain …
Research done by scientists at UC Berkeley prove that under laboratory conditions, fish can remember a negative interaction with a given lure for up to six months. If they strike a lure or observe a lure at close range and decide it’s not a forage item, they will ignore the same offering for up to half a year in the future.
How many times has a big, experienced minnow-eating rainbow at Shasta, Almanor, Folsom or Don Pedro encountered a spoon or minnow plug? Dozens? Hundreds? How many times has the same fish been confronted with a trolling fly? Chances are never, and this fact suggests that big trout are more likely to grab a minnow-imitating trolling fly than the minnow plug or spoon almost every trout troller pulls at some point during a day on the water.
Show a trophy fish something unique that resembles the natural forage they eat, and the chances of hooking that fish go up exponentially. Commit this rule to memory and it will serve you well throughout your fishing career.
What’s unique about a trolling fly?
First, when teamed with an Action Disc, the presentation puts off a lot of unique vibration. I’m convinced that most trout/lure encounters begin with the trout detecting the lure via its lateral line. It’s the lure’s vibration that prompts a trout to move toward the lure.
A Lake Davis rainbow (top) jumped all over a brown and white baitfish-imitating fly, while an orange tube fly was too much for this high-country ’bow to resist.(CAL KELLOGG)
FISHING
When the trout closes range, the impulses gathered by the lateral line become less important as the fish visually locks onto the bait. What does a trout see when it looks at a fly? Instead of seeing the consistent, unmoving finish of a plug or spoon, the trout sees a plethora of tiny movements and flashes as the fly’s individual fibers pulse and move independently.
Look at a live minnow under the water and their entire body is alive with movements and small flashes. A fly mimics these movements and flashes better than any other artificial lure.
SIZE, COLOR, PRESENTATION
I’ve captured your interest and now
you’re interested in incorporating flies into your trout trolling arsenal. Size and color are primary considerations. The size of the flies I run are dictated by the size of the bait I anticipate being present in a given lake, as well as the size of the trout the lake holds.
A lake where the primary forage is pond smelt requires a smaller, more compact fly than a lake where larger, rounder threadfin shad are the primary baitfish. Likewise, if I’m fishing a small mountain lake that only holds pansized rainbows, I’m not going to rig up with a 3- or 4-inch fly because it’s simply going to be too large for most of the trout I’m likely to encounter. In contrast, a 4-inch fly might be a great
choice at Lake Tahoe, where small trout and kokanee are key forage items for big browns and Macks.
In general, I approach fly size with the same thought process I use when stocking my tackle boxes with spoons. In general, I carry spoons in three sizes: small, medium and large. The same is true of my fly selection. My small flies average a little over 1 inch in length. Medium-size flies, typically Metal Heads, run about 2 inches in length. My large Arctic Fox flies are about 3 inches long.
When it comes to color, I try to match the bait at waters where shad or smelt are the primary forage. In the high country, where insects are often
This impressive rainbow blitzed a black trolling fly pulled just beneath the surface chop on a windy morning. (CAL KELLOGG)
FISHING
the primary food source, I tend to go with bright-colored pink or orange flies to catch the attention of the trout.
SLOWING DOWN AND ADDING ACTION
Conventional wisdom indicates that trolling flies are best pulled at slow speeds. This idea dates back to the early 1900s, when fly anglers in the Adirondack Mountains trolled streamer flies from canoes and row boats on fly tackle. Since they were rowing, speed trolling wasn’t an option.
Modern anglers trolling from pedal kayaks and powerboats aren’t limited in terms of speed. As a result, I’ve found trolling flies to be effective at a molasses-slow 1 mph and at a blistering 3.5 to 4 mph.
The speed of the presentation isn’t dictated by the fly. Instead, speed is determined by the temperament of the trout. I troll as fast as the trout will allow and only slow down when I have to. In general, I’ve had my best success between 1.8 and 2.8 mph.
Larger flies tend to work better when trolled fast, while smaller flies often call for a lower trolling speed, but this is a basic guideline and may not always be true.
If you just draw a fly through the water, it won’t have much action. Early fly trollers added action by constantly manipulating the rod tip. This might be OK for an hour or two, but if you plan on trolling for several hours you’ll wear yourself out constantly pumping and moving the rod tip.
Luckily for us, the invention of the Wigglefin Action Disc solved the problem of adding action to trolling flies without having to constantly manipulate the rod.
Action Discs are round, clear plastic
discs that you thread onto your leader before attaching your fly. When you draw the Action Disc through the water, pressure builds on its cupped front surface. When the pressure reaches a point of instability, the disc turns to release it. This is where chaos enters in and creates erratic action.
Because the Action Disc is perfectly symmetrical, the direction the disc tilts to dump the pressure is completely up to chance. It can go up, down, left, right, or any degree from its center axis.
You can run an Action Disc tight to the eye of the fly or you can use a bobber stop to create distance between the fly and the disc.
Adjusting the distance between the Action Disc and the bait changes the action. Setting the disc close to the fly creates a quick, vibrating action. Moving the disc up the leader 1 to 2 inches creates a slower action with more movement of the fly horizontally and vertically.
For slow trolling, I like to run the disc right on the nose of the fly, but if I want to speed up my troll, I like to create a little distance between the fly and the disc. The bottom line is that by experimenting with the position of the disc and the speed of the boat, you can create the exact action you want.
DODGERS AND DEPTH
The two most common questions I get in reference to trolling flies are, “How deep do I troll them?” and “Do
With trolling flies, a variety of colors work. Mix them up to see which combos tempt trout. (CAL KELLOGG)
A tube fly doubleheader! (CAL KELLOGG)
FISHING
I ever team them with dodgers?”
Depth is a concern for me. There is no magic depth for where I troll flies or don’t troll them. Sometimes I troll a foot deep and at other times I run them 100 feet down off a downrigger. The main thing to remember is to present the fly just above the depth where you believe the trout are holding.
While I run flies naked with nothing but an Action Disc most of the time, I do occasionally team them with dodgers. When I utilize a dodger, I remove the Action Disc and run the fly two to three dodger lengths behind the blade.
At this distance the dodger will impart a seductive stop, start and darting action to the fly. If you try running an Action Disc-equipped fly behind a medium- to smallsized dodger, the pull of the disc will likely impact the side-to-side kick of the dodger. CS
This big stocker foothill rainbow couldn’t lay off a pink Metal Head fly trolled by the author. (CAL KELLOGG)
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GoDark Faraday Bags
godarkbags.com
Safeguard your satellite phone with the GoDark Faraday Bag, designed to be highly water- and puncture-resistant. This innovative bag effectively blocks satellite signals, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, 5G and EMP interference. It features MOLLE straps on the back for convenient attachment to belts or bags, along with a secure magnetic buckle that allows for easy one-handed access.
Safe Jack
safejacks.com
Safe Jack solves century-old stability and safety issues related to farm jacks and the classic bottle jack. The most common failure is not linked to the jack itself but to stability, too much ground loading in one spot, and the lift point. Check out these kits!
Coastal Marine Engine
coastalmarineengine.com
Get 10 percent off labor on any scheduled maintenance between January 2 and February 28. Please use discount code NWSM2025 when booking your service.
Northern Rockies Adventures
nradventures.com
Join Northern Rockies Adventures’ signature fly-in fishing trips and enjoy the gold standard of Canadian trips! The secret to their great fishing lies in over 70 remote fly-in fishing destinations. Catch all wild native freshwater fish: trophy rainbow, bull and lake trout, northern pike, Arctic grayling and walleye. Premium all-inclusive trips from Vancouver, B.C.
Fisherman’s Gold
fishermansgold.com
Flounder Pounder Cinnamon Twist three-pack for $11.99. Best soft bait for bottomfishing. These high-quality baits won’t degrade over multiple uses and are made specifically for West Coast fisheries.
Uncle Norm’s Marine Products
