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Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource

Volume 9 • Issue 6 PUBLISHER James R. Baker GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Dick Openshaw EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott EDITOR Chris Cocoles CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Brittany Boddington LEAD WRITER Tim E. Hovey CONTRIBUTORS Bill Adelman, Jon Baiocchi, Mark Fong, Mike Grumet, Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Todd Kline, Ty Ponder, Albert Quackenbush, Bill Schaefer SALES MANAGER Katie Higgins ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Steve Joseph, Garn Kennedy, Aaron Lund, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold PRODUCTION MANAGER Sonjia Kells DESIGNERS Michelle Hatcher, Sam Rockwell, Liz Weickum PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Kelly Baker

DIGITAL STRATEGIST Jon Hines DIGITAL ASSISTANT Samantha Morstan OFFICE MANAGER/ACCOUNTING Audra Higgins ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Katie Sauro INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn

ATVs, Dirt Bikes & Mountain Bikes If you’ve ever experienced the thrill of driving on a dirt trail, you know why this form of recreation is so popular. The only problem that enthusiasts of this sport seem to have is where to do it. For most its a matter of owning their own property or having a friend that has some land that is willing to let them do it. For the owners of R-Wild Horse Ranch it’s a matter of driving to the adjacent areas designated for the various ATV’s.

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CIRCULATION MANAGER Heidi Belew ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@calsportsmanmag.com CORRESPONDENCE Email ccocoles@media-inc.com Twitter @CalSportsMan Facebook.com/californiasportsmanmagazine ON THE COVER Steelhead, like this one caught by Cat Kaiser on the Trinity River, are primed for a good run on Northern California rivers like the Trinity, Smith and others throughout the winter. (CAT KAISER) MEDIA INC PUBLISHING GROUP CALIFORNIA OFFICE 4517 District Blvd. • Bakersfield, CA 93313 (661) 381-7533 WASHINGTON OFFICE P.O. Box 24365 • Seattle, WA 98124-0365 14240 Interurban Ave. S., Suite 190 Tukwila, WA 98168 OREGON OFFICE 8116 SW Durham Rd • Tigard, OR 97224 (206) 382-9220 • (800) 332-1736 • Fax (206) 382-9437 media@media-inc.com • www.media-inc.com

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CONTENTS

67

VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 5

EARN YOUR STRIPES

It’s wet and cold here in the dog days of winter, but warmer weather and spring will be here before you know it. On the San Joaquin Delta and rivers like the Sacramento, Feather and American, striped bass will be making their way up from the Bay Area. Mark Fong gets the skinny on swimbaits that are irresistible to linesides.

FEATURES 48 YEAR-ROUND ON THE YUBA

75 THE NEXT GENERATION

High in the Sierras, three watersheds and the rivers that drain them come together to form the mighty Yuba River, which flows through the Sacramento Valley and attracts fly anglers from throughout the state to cast for its plump trout. Longtime outfitter Jon Baiocchi is your guide on a tour of these rich, iconic fly fishing waters.

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SAVING SOCAL STEELIES Steelhead are a staple of sportfishing along California’s rugged northern coast, but these remarkable sea-run trout once were plentiful in several watersheds in Southern California. But these days, sightings of steelhead in the Southland are sporadic at best. Our biologist Tim Hovey recalls the many days he helped survey small streams to salvage what’s left of the population.

Anthony Yang is just 19, but he’s well beyond his years when it comes to hunting and fishing. Yang grew up in the Central Valley city of Porterville and aspires to someday be a game warden. Our Amy Witt, another outdoors enthusiast from Porterville, introduces us to the next generation of California sportsman.

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CALICO BY NIGHT Off the SoCal coast, calico bass feed aggressively at night, rewarding boaters who venture into the vast primal darkness and throw a variety of medium-sized plastics in hopes a fat saltwater bass will gobble it up.

Ty Ponder checks in from the moonlit Pacific with a report.

(MSJ GUIDE SERVICE)

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 45 Father-son fishing memories 59 New Lure Showcase: Kastmaster maker releases new spoon, glidebait Fred Hall Show heads to Bakersfield Corvina fishing tips Enticing big winter largemouth to bite The diverse sportfish of the Gulf of California 115 Ask an Alaskan tour guide for advice 139 Top new hunting gear from SHOT Show 142 Real Estate Link: Find outdoor real estate

85 101 103 105

DEPARTMENTS 13 28 31 35 73

The Editor’s Note: Adventures of Todd Kline: El Salto bass Photo Contest winners Outdoor Calendar Rig of the Month: Live minnow striper set-up 119 Urban Huntress: A camp for women interested in hunting 129 New column: Choosing the perfect dog

California Sportsman goes digital!

Read California Sportsman on your desktop or mobile device. Only $1.89 an issue. Go to www.calsportsmanmag.com/digital California Sportsman is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 14240 Interurban Avenue South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Send address changes to California Sportsman, PO Box 24365, Seattle, WA 98124. Annual subscriptions are $29.95 (12 issues), 2-year subscription are $39.95 (24 issues). Send check or money order to Media Index Publishing Group, or call (206) 3829220 with VISA or M/C. Back issues are available at Media Index Publishing Group offices at the cost of $5 plus shipping. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 2016 Media Index Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A. 10 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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Com e

THEEDITOR’SNOTE

Bridgeport

rs oo td

ence the Great i r Ou pe Ex

in the Eastern Sierra Nevada of Mono County, California

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The Paiute cutthroat is one of 12 strains of either cutthroat or rainbow trout considered native to California waters. Anglers catching six of the dozen can qualify for the state’s Heritage Trout Challenge. (JEFF WEAVER/CDFW HERITAGE AND WILD TROUT PROGRAM)

I

grew up catching planted rainbow trout in Bay Area urban fisheries, so when I was fishing a stream in the middle of nowhere in Northeast California and a friend landed and released a feisty brown trout, a sense of, “Wow, this has to be a wild trout!” overwhelmed me. That was the only fish we caught on that bitterly cold October day some years ago, but it stuck with me on future fishing trips wherever I’d drop a line.

And maybe someday, I can fulfill the requirements to complete the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Heritage Trout Challenge. “Six different native trout must be caught within their historic range,” the CDFW website says. “The historic range, for the purpose of the Challenge, includes the trout’s native distribution in California, prior to human influence (pre-19th century), and all waters that feed into this watershed.”

There’s a difference between a native trout and a wild one, as the latter doesn’t have to be a fish that’s considered indigenous to California waters, like that feisty Teutonic trout. Only strains of cutthroat and rainbows are in the native category, but there are a dozen that qualify as native fish, from coastal and Lahontan cutts to Eagle Lake ’bows and Warner Lakes redbands, among others. So catch half of those and you can join an exclusive club.

“Being associated with the challenge and the anglers that have completed it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career,” said Roger Bloom, CDFW environmental program manager and creator of the Heritage Trout Challenge in a release. “Hopefully this guide will provide inspiration, along with information, to help anglers complete the challenge and create their own native trout angling memories.”

The program was created in 2003, and recently a 300th official recipient joined the club, which includes a special certificate and bragging rights over your fishing buddies, including me. But give me some time and maybe someday I’ll join the exclusive club.

For more, see nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID= 137391&inline. –Chris Cocoles

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16 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

PROTECTING

LAST STAND

WILD CALIFORNIA

FOR SOCAL STEELHEAD SEA-RUN TROUT ARE RARELY SEEN THIS FAR SOUTH

After Southern California Coast steelhead were listed as endangered, state fishery biologists monitored San Diego County’s San Mateo Creek, one of the few undamned watersheds without channelization in the Southland, for any. What might have been one of the last was caught by author Tim Hovey (below) in 2003. (TIM E. HOVEY)

By Tim E. Hovey

A

s recently as the 1940s, steelhead were abundant and frequently caught in Southern California’s coastal streams.

Historic records from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) show several local creeks with impressive pre-1960s abundance. The Ventura River recorded runs of several thousand fish annually during that time.

Fish numbers in the Santa Clara River were estimated at 7,000 to 9,000.

The Santa Ynez River saw the largest recorded run south of San Francisco, some 20,000 to 30,000. calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2017 California Sportsman

17

PROTECTING

Biologists take a breather while surveying a Southland stream for steelhead and other species. (TIM E. HOVEY)

WILD CALIFORNIA

Steelhead south of Malibu Creek are considered scarce since limited records of their presence exist. Most of the records of fish in streams like the San Luis Rey, Santa Margarita River and San Mateo Creek come from California Department of Fish and Game fisheries reports, angler information and, essentially, word of mouth.

While fish records were not well documented in these Southland waterways, anecdotal information shows that steelhead were routinely encountered by anglers. Unfortunately, as Southern California development increased in the early 1950s, consistent steelhead presence in this portion of the state was coming to an end.

STEELHEAD TROUT BEGIN THEIR lives in freshwater coastal creeks. During heavy winter storms, sea-run adults enter their home creek at the mouth, where freshwater meets the sea. They make their way up to the spawning grounds and spend a few days releasing eggs into

the creek. After that, the adult steelhead swim back downstream to the ocean, leaving the eggs to develop in the stream.

The steelhead fry develop in the creek and are known as resident trout.

After a year of growth, they usually go through a change called smoltification.

This process prepares them for their journey from freshwater to salt. Once these yearlings enter the ocean, they’ll spend a few years roaming the coast before they return to the same creek as adults to start the process all over.

This, of course, is the best-case scenario for the steelhead life cycle.

Many environmental factors need to be in place for this reproductive strategy to be successful. If even one of the crucial factors is not available to the returning sea-run adults, they’ll be unable to spawn and an entire year-class will be lost.

Obviously, the most important factor for returning steelhead is water.

As development in Southern Califor-

18 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

nia increased, the landscape began to change and human progress was bad news for steelhead runs that far south.

Increased development further taxed the groundwater of many watersheds, forever altering the amount of available water for most coastal creeks and streams. Reduced flows started to impact stream access for returning steelhead adults. Creeks that would routinely be open to the ocean most of the year are now disconnected from the surf by hundreds of yards of sand.

Breaching these freshwater lagoons usually takes one of the massive but infrequent winter storms, and even then access to the ocean may be measured only in days. Timing is everything, and if the returning adults aren’t at the mouth in that brief access window, they don’t get in to spawn.

If being unable to consistently reach their spawning grounds wasn’t bad enough, returning steelhead now have to share their home creeks with nonnative predators. Largemouth bass, catfish

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These invasive fish were captured in San Mateo Creek, and present a threat to steelhead. As the author writes, “If the new neighbors eat your kids, your species days are probably numbered.” (TIM E. HOVEY)

and red swamp crayfish, intentionally or unintentionally released into creeks and streams all over California, readily feed on the eggs and fry left behind by steelhead. If the new neighbors eat your kids, your species days are probably numbered.

The final nail has to be the most invasive step in altering a drainage. To supply a growing population, dams were constructed to impound stormwater runoff. These structures blocked upstream access for returning steelhead, essentially cutting off the spawning grounds.

Further controlling the runoff and to stabilize the potential for flooding, most creeks and streams running through populated areas are channelized, straightened to fit the geometry of progress and absolutely covered with cement. A stream once surrounded by lush riparian habitat, crucial to early fry development, is lost forever under the push for development.

AS SOCAL’S POPULATION grew, no one seemed to notice that the steelhead had disappeared. Sightings dropped off significantly in the 1970s, and returning fish have all but disappeared since then.

With the dwindling numbers, NMFS 20 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

declared the distinct population segment known as the Southern California Coast steelhead endangered in 1997.

Unfortunately, this DPS only went as far south as northern San Diego County’s San Mateo Creek. Work conducted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife there in the late 1990s convinced NOAA to extend the segment to include Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties in 2002.

In 1999, I began monitoring a newly discovered population of steelhead in the creek. A local student had caught a trout at its mouth and knew enough to contact CDFW regarding the sighting.

We deduced that the trout had been emigrating to the ocean. This meant that the spawn that had produced the fish, and the individuals we discovered upstream, had occurred the previous year, in 1998.

The main stem of San Mateo Creek is chock-full of nonnative exotic fish – species that would surely consume eggs and fry left by spawning steelhead. A survey of Devils Canyon Creek, a tributary to San Mateo, revealed more native trout and an absence of the exotic predators.

It was concluded that the original steelhead adults swam up the main stem of San Mateo Creek, passed the schools of

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PROTECTING

WILD CALIFORNIA

These two ďŹ sh were discovered in Conejo Creek and Santa Clara River, but sightings are few and far between these days. (TIM E. HOVEY)

exotics, continued up the Devils Canyon tributary and spawned there.

Over the next several years we monitored the remaining San Mateo Creek steelhead. We recorded second-year fish in the main stem that didn’t make it out of the drainage before the lagoon closed again. We watched as they competed for resources with the nonnatives

and eventually disappeared.

Conditions in Devils Canyon were good enough for the resident trout there to spawn in 2002. Fry and young of that year were monitored for another year until they moved down to the main stem of San Mateo Creek, but they also disappeared. The last adult fish was observed in Devils Canyon Creek

in 2003. After that, no other steelhead trout were observed in the drainage.

During that four-year monitoring program, we made attempts to rid the creek of nonnative fish. We pumped pools dry and removed all the exotics.

We dragged seines through the larger pools and cleaned the ponds of anything exotic. Largemouth bass, green

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PROTECTING

WILD CALIFORNIA sunfish, black bullhead catfish and crayfish were collected, counted and disposed of by the thousands. Despite the effort, we knew all we were really doing was evaluating removal techniques and delaying the inevitable.

EXOTIC SPECIES REMOVAL IS an important part of any drainage restoration, but you definitely have to pick your battles. The species in San Mateo Creek are self-sustaining and reproduce successfully in the drainage. Additional individuals are added to the creek from upstream pond sources. In short, no matter how much focused removal work is done on the stream, San Mateo Creek will always have exotic fish species present.

It was during this lengthy monitoring project of the Southern California Coast steelhead DPS that I began to fully understand the tenuous and desperate plight of this stock.

It’s difficult to say if we’ve seen the last of steelhead runs in Southern California south of Malibu Creek.

The odds are stacked against them, but San Mateo Creek still offers some habitat. (TIM E. HOVEY)

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The San Mateo Creek watershed is unique. It is one of the only undammed streams without channelization in this portion of the state. It winds its way from headwaters on U.S. Forest Service property down to and across the open plain of Marine Base Camp Pendleton before it occasionally empties into the Pacific Ocean. The base is the reason that this stream has remained mostly in its natural state; one can only imagine the countless housing developments, shopping malls and the supportive infrastructure that would exist there if the federal government hadn’t scooped it up to train troops. I began to realize that the presence of the base was the only reason we had discovered the steelhead in the creek.

The discovery of steelhead and the subsequent monitoring program that began in 1999 saw the last recorded run south of Malibu Creek. Periodic sightings of adult steelhead either attempting to enter creeks close by or stranded in coastal streams have occurred over the last 15 years or so since the discovery. This illustrates that despite the obstacles, adult fish are still trying to make it to their home creeks and to the spawning grounds. Southern California Coast steelhead depend on reproducing in coastal creeks to replenish their stock. Without access, no new trout will be added to the coastal population.

Eventually sightings will drop off as the adult population dwindles.

It’s difficult to say if we’ve seen the last of routine steelhead runs in Southern California south of Malibu Creek. It certainly seems that the odds are severely stacked against the species. But it is encouraging that there still are relatively untouched streams along the coast like San Mateo Creek that may still hold spawning hope for returning steelhead. Let’s just hope that everything that’s needed lines up before it’s too late. CS Editor’s note: For more on Southern California Coast Steelhead, check out westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/protected_species/salmon_steelhead/salmon_ and_steelhead_listings/steelhead/southern_california.

26 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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s e r u t n e v Ad We’re not ashamed to admit it: Todd Kline has the kind of life we wish we could experience. Kline’s a former professional surfer, a successful co-angler on the FLW Tour and a Southern California bass guide, plus he gets to travel the world as a commentator for the World Surf League’s telecasts. Todd has agreed to give us a peek on what he’s been up to. For more on Todd, check out toddkline.com and follow him on Instagram (@toddokrine). –The Editor

L

ast month, a major dream of mine came true. I have always wanted to make the trip south of the border to fish Lake El Salto in Mexico, so when I got a call in early January from Savage Gear and Okuma to attend a filming/photo shoot there, as you can imagine, the answer yes could not leave my mouth fast enough.

On this trip we had an absolute blast, and it was all documented by Shea McIntee from Stoked On Fishing. The episode from our trip will air soon on FOX Sports West. If you ever get a chance to go, do it. Thanks to Savage Gear, Okuma and Stoked On Fishing for the invite! –Todd Kline

Someone was stoked to get the invite to go to El Salto. (TODD KLINE)

It is crazy how many bass there are in this lake. Most of the fish were healthy chunks. (TODD KLINE) Dave Brown of Okuma with an El Salto giant.

(TODD KLINE)

28 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

This was our view every morning heading out on El Salto, which is just north of Mazatlán in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, and due east of Cabo San Lucas.

MIXED BAG

(TODD KLINE)

No trick photography here.

Anyone who has caught big fish knows that when the eyes start to bug, it’s a big one. This is Dave Brown of Okuma with a tank that choked the Savage Gear 3D Bluegill. (TODD KLINE)

This is the Savage Gear Suicide Duck. This bait is awesome. I fished it fast like a buzzbait and got some sick blow-ups on on it. (TODD KLINE)

I have always dreamed of making the trip to El Salto. This is myself (third from left), Dave Brown (Okuma/Savage Gear), Shea McIntee (Stoked On Fishing), and Raul, our driver from El Salto Lodge. (TODD KLINE)

We shot a ton of the new baits for Savage Gear, including the new Suicide Duck. We had some vicious strikes on top using the duck, and this was my best fish on it. It was just awesome to watch the bass crush the duck on the surface. (TODD KLINE) calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2017 California Sportsman

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30 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

PHOTO CONTEST

WINNERS!

The Craig clan’s pic of Cash and his first Columbia River sturgeon is this issue’s monthly Fishing Photo Contest winner. It wins the Central Washigton family a pile of loot from the overstuffed office of our editor!

Randy Fortune’s pic of California huntress and girlfriend Paula Pafford’s big Oregon buck is this issue’s Browning Photo Contest winner. It wins him a Browning hat

For your shot at winning Browning and fishing products, send your photos and pertinent (who, what, when, where) details to ccocoles@ media-inc.com, or to California Sportsman, PO Box 24365, Seattle, WA 98124-0365. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for our print or Internet publications. calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2017 California Sportsman

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MIXED BAG

OUTDOOR CALENDAR FEBRUARY 4 4

4-5 11 11 18 19 23-25 24-26

Imperial County white goose opener NorCal Trout Anglers Challenge, San Pablo Reservoir; anglerspress.com Youth waterfowl hunting days in most zones Central Valley Anglers members-only trout derby, Camanche Lake; centralvalleyanglers.org N.T.T.S. Shore Wars Trout Derby, Lake Amador; redhookadventures.com North Coast Canada goose opener NorCal Trout Anglers Challenge, Pardee Reservoir; anglerspress.com Rowdy Creek Fish Hatchery Steelhead Derby, Smith and Chetco Rivers; delnorte.org/event/rowdy-creekfish-hatchery-steelhead-derby The Fly Fishing Show, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton; flyfishingshow.com/pleasanton-ca

11 11 18 18-19 19 23-26 25

Fairgrounds; fredhall.com N.T.T.S. Shore Wars Trout Derby, San Pablo Reservoir; redhookadventures.com Blake Jones Trout Derby, Bishop; bishopvisitor.com/ blake-jones-trout-derby NorCal Trout Anglers Challenge, Lake Amador; anglerspress.com Archery junior turkey hunting days Central Valley Anglers Striper Derby, Brannan Island; centralvalleyanglers.org Fred Hall Show, Del Mar Fairgrounds; fredhall.com General spring turkey season opens Note: A list of upcoming bass tournaments can also be found at https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FishingContests/default.aspx”nrm.dfg. ca.gov/FishingContests/default.aspx.

MARCH 1-5

3-5 10-12

Fred Hall Show, Long Beach Convention Center; fredhall.com NorCal Boat, Sport and RV Show, Shasta District Fairgrounds, Anderson; facebook.com/ norcalsportshow Fred Hall Central Valley Sports Show, Kern County

The Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton hosts the Fly Fishing Show from Feb. 24-26. (THE FLY FISHING SHOW)

calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2017 California Sportsman

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BRITISH COLUMBIA LODGE OF THE MONTH: BL ACK GOLD LODGE Photos courtesy of Black Gold Lodge

LOCATION: Rivers Inlet, mainland BC north of Vancouver Island

CONTACT INFO: (604) 941-3228; blackgoldlodge.com DETAILS: Black Gold Lodge is a premier sportfishing destination along British Columbia’s rugged Pacific coast.

Rivers Inlet is an area known for its enormous Chinook salmon – powerful sea-run kings – not to mention abundant coho, lingcod, snapper (yelloweye rockfish) and barndoor halibut, some weighing over 150 pounds. It’s no wonder trophy-hunting anglers from

around the world target these waters.

All guests stay in comfortable, well-appointed cabins and enjoy great service from an experienced staff. The lodge also offers all-inclusive trips that feature gourmet meals, boat upgrades, and other premium services.

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TOP BRITISH COLUMBIA LODGES 2017 • Exchange Rate .76 US*

TOP BRITISH COLUMBIA LODGES 2017 • Exchange Rate .76 US*

A RIVERS INLET TRIP TO REMEMBER

Photos by Rivers Inlet Sportsman’s Club

These travelers experienced a fishing trip of a lifetime at British Columbia’s Rivers Inlet Sportsman’s Club Trophy Fishing Lodge (riversinlet.com): Our summer 2016 fishing trip was five years in the making. Work and my kids made it a little challenging to carve out the time. But finally, my dad and I were able to make it work. Celebrating his 65th birthday on the water and doing what he loves to do was the perfect way to celebrate. I can’t begin to describe all the things we loved about this trip – from the perfect location to the accommodations, food, amazing staff, great boats and gear, the beauty of the area, and, yes, all the fish we brought home were beyond anything we could have imagined.

My most favorite part of it all is that I got to experience it with my dad, my friend. –Kristie Wild, Bend, Ore.

LIVE YOUR DREAMS HERE

WHO Gibran White (guide) and Jessica Van Ireland WHAT King salmon WHEN July 2016 during a women’s fishing derby WHERE Nootka Marine Adventures (nootkamarineadventures.com)

WHO Kevin Wilson, Barry Cymbaluk, James Fisher (guide) and Norm Sinclair

WHAT Salmon, halibut and yelloweye rockfish WHEN July 18, 2016 WHERE Nootka Marine Adventures (nootkamarineadventures.com)

* Subject to change calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2017 California Sportsman

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TOP BRITISH COLUMBIA LODGES 2017 • Exchange Rate .76 US*

calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2017 California Sportsman

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TOP BRITISH COLUMBIA LODGES 2017 • Exchange Rate .76 US*

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BAY AREA With lessons learned during outings with his grandfather, author Bill Adelman (left) was able to make happy memories with his own son, Steve, and pass down the family’s fishing traditions. (BILL ADELMAN)

GRANDPA KNOWS BEST THE AUTHOR’S NOW A GRANDFATHER HIMSELF. SO HE CAN RELATE TO LEARNING HOW TO FISH FROM HIS ELDERS

By Bill Adelman

W

ay, way back in the day, while experiencing my first panfish outings with my grandfather, he taught my cousin and I a secret system.

Remember the pretied six-pack of Eagle Claw bait hooks? The leader portion was about 6 inches long with a loop at the back end. Grandma did a bit of crochet work, which involved using yellow or brown strips of wool. Grandpa tied a swatch of each color on the No. 6 bait hooks.

This kind of turned out to be my first fly fishing experience. We fished with Dacron line on levelwind reels that didn’t have a reverse stop or a line minder. The catgut leader was about 6 feet long, on which we tied a loop about every 12 inches and attached our “flies.” The set-up included a sinker, which Grandpa made himself and tied

to the bottom of the leader.

Grandpa took us out in a 12-foot wooden rowboat and showed us the way to the hot spots in a very low whisper.

We truly believed back then that the fish could hear us and get spooked. Today I know better, but do understand Grandpa’s motivation. We grow old too soon and smart too late.

We just drifted along, dropping this concoction straight down, following his directions and, above all else, being quiet. As a kid I always wanted to check the flies to see if I had a fish. But there was no better way to get taken to shore and have to sit out the rest of the day in a funk. We did, however, catch on to the fact that it really was possible to detect a strike and avoid Grandpa’s wrath.

Having once asked if I could cast my rigging in order to see if I could get a bite away from the boat, his reply was short and terse: “If I wanted you to cast, resulting in a backlash, I would have told you to cast.”

I don’t recall if that was ever asked again. This entire curmudgeon attitude was just Grandpa being a grandpa, but we didn’t know it back then. If you want two 9-yearolds to behave in a boat, intimidate. In retrospect, it was just plain cool. And even today, when we’re fishing at first light and the mist is rising from the water’s surface, my mind wanders back to similar experiences so many years ago.

DESPITE HAVING TWO TOTALLY inexperienced kids helping him calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2017 California Sportsman

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BAY AREA out, Grandpa did manage to put a bunch of crappie or bluegill on a homemade stringer. We were then entrusted with his favorite fish knife, which we had to sharpen when cleaning and scaling chores were finished. And yes, we had to clean up all of the scales that didn’t fall into the bucket.

That same knife is resting today on a bookcase, where I can see it and instantly recall those trips. Back then, the first aluminum scaler had hit the market, at nine cents each. Nine cents? Not a chance. We whittled. What the heck is a whittle, most of you are probably asking? It’s a piece of wood with a 5-inch rounded handle and a 5-inch flat section. We then took five beer bottle caps and nailed them topside down on the flat end of the whittled handle. Voilà – we had our very special scaler, and it didn’t cost Grandpa a cent less than a dime.

The pricks in my palm from the dorsal fins are still deposited in my memory bank. Asking Grandma once if we could cut the fins with her scissors was another lesson quickly learned. So we then tried to cut them off with the recently sharpened knife. The cuts to our fingers were less painful than asking a second time for the scissors. Grandparents, ya gotta love ’em.

There’s no way I’d trade even a moment of these memories for anything else, except possibly for an aluminum scaler. You know – all those splinters and blisters.

My son was sort of subjected to the same learning experiences, though I gave him more leeway than Grandpa gave me. When he wanted to cast, I said, “Go ahead.” He became very proficient at undoing professional overruns.

We did, however, have to adhere to the no-noise rule. After all, passing on a life lesson has to maintain a certain amount of traditional ideals. CS

Watching his son catch a stringer full of bluegill was something Bill Adelman will always cherish.

(BILL ADELMAN)

The simplicity of fish camp at Lake Camanche has been passed along from generation to generation in the Adelman family. (BILL ADELMAN) 46 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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A FLY FISHING PARADISE

THE CHILLY WATERS OF THE LOWER YUBA RIVER ARE AMONG NORCAL’S TOP FISHERIES

By Jon Baiocchi

H

igh in the northern Sierra Nevadas, three watersheds and the rivers that drain from there come together to make one vast river, the lower Yuba.

Snowmelt and springs are the beginnings of the North, Middle, and South Forks of the Yuba River as gravity pulls the precious water

down to Northern California’s Sacramento Valley. Each of the three forks has impoundments for flood control, hydroelectric power and water storage, quenching the ever-increasing population and agricultural needs of the state of California.

As the forks of the Yuba come together, they rest in Englebright Reservoir, and it’s below this flood control dam where the lower Yuba

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River is born, a tailwater fishery that is both complex and very moody.

The river has an extremely rich aquatic insect population, with wild Chinook salmon, steelhead and rainbow trout living among its currents.

The lay of the land is the beginning of the Sierra foothills, a rolling landscape of native grasses and valley oaks. But the first thing anglers see as they arrive at the river is the overwhelming

NORCAL of the impacts their changes would wreak that this river is still a legendary fishery.

The lower Yuba is a must-do fly fishing experience. It’s a river that has all the essential qualities that makes it a top destination, and offers fly anglers many different opportunities to choose from. The highlight here is the winter dry fly fishery, where hunting heads and technical presentations reward the angler whether they are wading the banks or drifting by boat.

Each season of the year is very different on the Yuba. Hatches, high water and other factors come into play. The native rainbow trout migrate throughout the system to where the best food source is readily available for that given time. Because of such behavior, it pays to get recent and reliable local reports before you go, but even then only a very small part of the puzzle is solved.

The lower Yuba does not give up its fruitful bounties readily, often leaving anglers humbled, but what it does provide is a lesson learned for future outings. Welcome to class.

LEGENDS OF THE FALL

The winter season can be mild and provide outstanding dry fly opportunities on the Yuba River, but this is a year-round gem for fly anglers seeking wild fish like steelhead. (JON BAIOCCHI)

piles upon piles of cobblestones and gravel that stretch as far as the eye can see.

The tons upon tons of remnants that were washed downstream by hydraulic mining during the gold rush of the 1800s nearly choked the entire river off. The sensitive Sacramento Delta was devastated by the mining sediment, causing farmlands and anadromous fish to slowly die

away. Daguerre Point Dam was built in 1906 to prevent the hydraulic mining debris from washing into the Feather and Sacramento Rivers. This dam is also a major obstacle, with an outdated fish ladder for migrating salmon and steelhead as they make their way up the river to reach what’s left of their spawning grounds. It’s quite amazing that even after the destruction by early settlers ignorant

Let’s start with the fall season and the arrival of the salmon as they make their way upstream and develop redds to lay their eggs. It doesn’t take long for the trout to figure out that a major food source is drifting down the currents. Once the “egg bite” turns on, the trout key in on these tender morsels of high protein and go on an all-out eating spree.

The best approach for the fly angler is to use an adjustable indicator so you can vary your depth and two flies, including a San Juan Worm and a pegged bead at the end of the tippet, with plenty of split shot to get it near the bottom. We call this “bacon and eggs.” Peach- and natural roe-colored beads produce the best.

Some anglers will coat their beads with pearl and peach nail polish to make them glow and appear milky,

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NORCAL giving them an even more lifelike attraction. Wading anglers need to keep an eye out for redds to prevent walking across the valuable eggs. A redd or salmon nest is best described as a depression on the river’s bottom with very clean and bright gravel.

There are also some hatches at this time, like the blue-winged olive mayfly, and some trout like to take advantage of the nymph stage of these aquatic insects in the drift.

Another effective nymphing rig is to place the pegged bead on top, trailing a small baetis nymph 18

inches below.

The Parks Bar/Highway 20 Bridge that crosses the river serves as a boundary from August 31 to December 1; no fishing is allowed upstream of the bridge to give the salmon solitude and peace of mind during the spawn.

Regulations for the lower Yuba River are two hatchery trout or steelhead a day, with four hatchery trout or steelhead in possession. All trout, steelhead and salmon with an adipose fin intact are wild and must be released immediately. From the mouth of the Yuba River to Englebright Dam, only single barbless hooks may be used.

As the egg bite wanes, the rainbows are in transition, focusing their attention back to aquatic insects.

DRY DAYS AHEAD

A successful angler hooks a wild rainbow in shallow water during the skwala hatch, which takes place in winter. (JON BAIOCCHI)

As the winter season takes hold, the river produces some of the best dry fly fishing that can be found in all of

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NORCAL of California. In fact, a special hatch comes into play starting in late December and running to the beginning of March on a normal year.

Skwala stoneflies begin to stage on the sides of the river to prepare for their emergence. When perfect water conditions allow, the skwala stone emerges from the water and crawls under streamside cobblestones to begin their metamorphisis into a winged adult. They wait until warm, sunny weather shines down upon the land before leaving the cobblestones, where they actively look for a mate to perpetuate the species. Females will then crawl back onto the sidewater, drifting downstream with the currents where they oviposit, while the males are off finding another female to mate with.

The Yuba River skwala adult is very different than those in other watersheds in that its color is more like that of a spicy brown mustard; further south on the Truckee River, they have a more olive tint to them.

Most commercial ties do not even come close to matching the correct color, and an angler must tie them on their own or buy from a local fly shop that specializes in the Yuba River skwala.

The best pattern for the adult includes a bullet head-style fly with long rubber legs in a hook size 10 or 12 2xl.

For the nymph, a Jimmy Leg stone in a mottled brown and gold color and size 8 or 10 2xl gets the trouts’ attention, and is best fished under an indicator rig with a dead drift.

There can also be hatches of bluewinged olives and pale morning dun mayflies at the same time. Closely observing what the trout are really eating can take the guesswork out of the equation. Speaking of the PMDs, the Yuba has a hatch of them almost every month of the year, some months minor ones, some robust.

Whichever dry fly you choose, it is imperative to use a drag-free presentation, whether you’re using a

Skwala stoneflies gather on a cobblestone (top) to mate. Note that when tying or buying a skwala-imitating dry (middle) for the Yuba, this river’s stones have a particular color. Stub wing stonefly shucks (bottom) litter a rock below a prominent riffle. (JON BAIOCCHI)

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NORCAL Avoiding salmon redds is an important responsibility for the wading angler here. (JON BAIOCCHI).

traditional upstream approach or a downstream fly-first presentation.

Your casting skills are everything and must be spot-on to be successful, as the trout can be wary from angling pressure after seeing hundreds of artificial flies.

Remember all those salmon eggs?

Well, after 60 days in the gravel they have hatched and the fry can be found throughout the river system in different stages, from fully developed fry to alevins with their egg sacs still attached.

Swinging a salmon fry or an alevin in pattern sizes 6 or 8 with a quartered downstream presentation can be very enticing to the jaws of a big minnow eater on the prowl. I’ve caught most of my steelhead this way, and it is certainly exciting to get a big grab and an exhilarating fight at the end of your line.

for those drifting in a boat, it’s just another productive day because one can effectively fish the big runs and cover so many more miles of water.

MARCH OF THE MAYFLIES Spring brings out even more mayflies like the March brown, the gray drake and the brown dun. Also entering the mix are caddisflies, and swinging caddis emerger patterns can be very effective and is a staple on the lower Yuba.

The top-producing nymph for caddis on this river is by far Tim Fox’s pupa pattern in olive and tan; it’s got the perfect silhouette, and the hanging chenille off the back of the hook makes it look so realistic. For the emerger stage on the surface, Ralph Cutter’s E/C caddis is the go-to fly, and it’s the only pattern I use when targeting this stage of a caddis hatch.

It not only works magic on the Yuba, but every river I have fished in the West. It’s that good.

By late spring the valley farmers’ demand for water is high, and the agriculture flows come into effect.

Englebright Reservoir steadily kicks out 2,500 to 4,000 cubic feet per second during this period on an average water year, though it was less during the latest drought. They’re tough conditions for wading anglers, but

HOT STUFF Enter summer, and though the land around this low-elevation river heats up to sometimes unbearable conditions, the Yuba remains cold. That’s one of the benefits of a tailwater fishery and why others like the San Juan River below Navajo Dam in New Mexico fish so well. All species of fish and aquatic insect populations thrive in the cooler, sustained water temperatures of the Yuba River.

Small flashy nymphs under an indicator are the way to go for the morning bite. “Bright day, bright fly” has a real meaning here during the summer. Another top-producing fly all year long that has to be mentioned again is the San Juan Worm in natural and red. A good multifly rig would include having the worm on top trailing the smaller nymph 18 inches below, off the eye of the first hook.

From midday into the late afternoon, one of my favorite games happens, which is fishing on the surface with a grasshopper pattern.

You’ll find that the Yuba is very different than most other Northern

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California rivers, and the hopper patterns that do best here are very different too. Fat foam bodies in the color tan and longer oversized legs in the color red are two key factors that trigger a strike.

As evening comes upon the river, profuse caddis hatches increase and last until dark. The pale evening dun mayfly also becomes active during this time, and it pays to carry a few different patterns in your box. These mayflies can be in any three stages, with emergers, duns and female spinners laying eggs at the same time. Studying the rise forms of trout can tell the tale of which stage is being targeted by your quarry.

In late August, the agriculture flows are ramped way down to around 1,000 cfs, and within hours a special stonefly emerges from the riffles. The stub wing stonefly is a short-lived hatch, but again gets the attention of the trout as a significant food source.

Look for fresh shucks on the rocks next to the river and fish the next riffle upstream. What makes the stub wing stone so unique is that it does not dab its abdomen during flight to lay eggs, but rather it runs across the water to the main current to oviposit.

Skating a tan stimulator in size 8 or 10 across the surface is a good tac-

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NORCAL tic to employ when matching the behavior of the adult. For the nymph, it’s the Jimmy Legs stone in the same sizes fished under an indicator or high-sticked that will produce when put in front of a hungry rainbow. By now, the salmon are back and another migration takes place as they find a safe place to dig their redd and produce offspring. Another year passes, and the cycle continues on the Yuba River. Though her rhythms are strange at times, she still shines brightly, offering fly anglers a true test of sport and skill.

For fly anglers abroad in Northern California, the lower Yuba provides a fantastic fishery that should undoubtedly be explored by all. It’s close enough for many who live in the larger metropolitan areas in the northern half of the state to fish, and for those living in the Sierras it can be a much welcomed escape from winter’s icy grip. No matter the season,

Jordan Moloney with an average-sized wild rainbow that anglers can routinely catch fishing the productive lower Yuba. (JON BAIOCCHI)

this river is legendary, for it provides all the necessary qualities we seek when looking for an adventure with the rod and fly. CS Editor’s note: Jon Baiocchi has been fly fishing and tying flies since 1972, is a California licensed guide for the last 20

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years, and is a published author, educator, innovative tier, and public speaker.

Jon operates Baiocchi’s Troutfitters guide service in Northern California (530-2280487; baiocchistroutfitters.com), where he has a reputation as a hard-working guide who’s been trained by some of fly fishing’s best known anglers.

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58 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

FISHING

NEW LURE SHOWCASE COMPANY NAME Acme Tackle Company WHAT THEY DO Sell a variety of freshand saltwater lures, including the iconic Kastmaster series LOCATION Fort Atkinson, Wis. CONTACT INFO acmetackle.com

T

he new Hyper-Glide lure by Acme Tackle Company offers several techniques and features for anglers but perhaps the most unique one is that the lure’s “wings” deploy when the lure falls, causing it to glide and search out wide areas below. These same wings “flutter” when jigged or shaken vertically, looking just like pulsating fins and also emitting fish-attracting noise for unprecedented action and attraction.

The Hyper-Glide literally covers water like no other, but ice anglers will appreciate the incorporated VDrop System. VDS prevents wing deployment and ensures a fast vertical drop to get back to fish fast. VDS also keeps the lure in the sonar cone of a flasher or locator, which allows anglers to see right where the lure needs to be in the water column.

Once the correct depth is reached, a simple sharp snap “releases” the line from the VDrop System and the wings again deploy.

No batteries are required for wing deployment, as these baits are water-powered. They’re effective for both ice and open water fishing and provide an action that fish simply haven’t seen before. It’s a variety of applications that anglers never thought possible.

The Hyper-Glide is offered in 10 colors and 1.5-, 2- and 2.5-inch models.

RATTLE AND ROLL Another of Acme’s new products is

the Rattle Master, which adds sound to its roster of fish-attracting features. A jewelry-like finish draws them in while the built-in rattle closes the deal. Whether in fresh- or saltater, pan-sized trout up to bragging-sized game fish, they can’t resist the Rattle Master. It casts like a bullet, and being made from solid brass, won’t bend, break, corrode or dull even in saltwater. It’s great for vertical jigging during ice season too.

Matt Bichanich, the national sales manager for Hard and Soft Fishing, the parent company of Acme, said that it was time to kick things up a notch for this proven lure.

“The Kastmaster spoon is iconic,” he said. “And it catches all types of fish for open water, salt- or freshwater, but it also is deadly for ice fishing, due to its awesome finish that refracts light and pulls fish in. But we are always researching new ways to attract fish and adding a rattle does just that.”

There is no other spoon that is as versatile as the original Kastmaster, but by adding a rattle, Bichanich knew that they would have a bait that would go the extra mile for anglers looking to catch a variety of species.

“The benefit of the new Rattle Master is that a person can go out and catch nearly anything that swims,” he said, pointing to crappie and bass, among others.

“With people battling a ton of events from sports to family outings, we wanted a bait that would give them the most productive time on the water,” Bichanich added. to The lure comes in sizes from 3/ounce in the following series: Tiger Glow, Rattle Standard, Rattle Tiger, Rattle Baitfish UV and Rattle Baitfish UV/Glow.

For more information on both of these products, go to acmetackle.com.

Two new products from Acme Tackle Company include the Hyper-Glide (top) and the Rattle Master.

(ACME TACKLE COMPANY)

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60 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

NORCAL

FROM FIELD ...

When fishing for steelhead in low water, getting your presentation into small, narrow holding spots is a key to catching more fish. This winter steelhead was taken from just such a bucket.

(SCOTT HAUGEN)

HOW LOW CAN YOU FLOW? CATCH MORE STEELHEAD WHEN WATER LEVELS DROP

By Scott Haugen

W

ith spring around the corner, there’s still plenty of time to get after those winter steelhead.

At the time of this writing, rivers were running high and unfishable for days, even weeks. How much will that impact the run? I don’t know, but it goes without saying that in over my more than 45 years of win-

ter steelhead fishing, there are some commonalities I’ve observed when it comes to catching them late in the season. Those usually center around low, clear water.

Some of my best late-season success has taken place in low water conditions, what many anglers consider too low to fish. Casting drifting gear and yarn balls into small pocket water where fish are holding has paid off many times.

Yet these pockets are so small, many anglers pass them by. Not long ago two boats were fishing ahead of a buddy and I. They stuck tight to the left side of the main current and side-drifted right through the fast and shallow main current. The closer we got to where they had fished, it looked too fast and shallow to hold fish. I thought we might latch into a traveling fish in this water, but since the two boats just fished it with no luck we approached it differently.

Rather than fish the main current, we cast our small egg clusters into small pockets behind boulders and bedrock, well to the side of the main current. Over the next 75 yards we caught two steelhead. Before the day was over, we’d hook and release six more fish, all of which came from pocket water to the side of main currents at less than 5 feet deep. As we

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NORCAL

Brought to you by:

... TO FIRE

Gochujang, a spicy fermented chili paste, gives the author’s freshly caught steelhead a little bit of a Korean-inspired flavor. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)

KOREAN TOUCH GIVES STEELHEAD ‘SEOUL’ POWER

By Tiffany Haugen

I

f you haven’t discovered the Korean pantry staple, gochujang, it’s time to go shopping. Gochujang is a fermented chili paste that tastes a bit like sriracha and Japanese miso paste mixed together. It’s a unique flavor that is finding its way into many fusion sauces and marinades.

Like many of you, we eat a lot of steelhead in our family, and finding interesting flavors to pair with this mild fish adds excitement to our dinner table. Gochujang can be found in any specialty grocery store and in the Asian section of many larger food chains. In some stores, there are several brands to choose from, so you may want to try a few of them as they vary in flavor. To make this recipe without gochujang, simply mix equal parts chili sauce, brown sugar and miso paste.

1 pound steelhead fillet 1 tablespoon gochujang 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon rice vinegar 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger 2 teaspoons sesame oil 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1 tablespoon sesame seeds 6-8 fresh basil leaves Remove skin from fish and cut into serving sizes. Place in an oven-proof dish or double layer of foil with sides folded in. In a small bowl, mix gochujang, soy sauce, vinegar, honey, ginger, sesame oil and garlic until thoroughly combined. Pour sauce mixture over fish, making sure fish is coated on all sides. Let sit at room temperature 10 to 15 minutes. Roast in a 325-degree oven or grill 12 to 15 minutes or until fish reaches an internal temperature of 135

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degrees. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped fresh basil. Serve over steamed or vegetable fried rice.

Editor's note: For signed copies of Tiffany Haugen’s popular cookbook, Cooking Salmon & Steelhead, send a check for $25.00 (free S&H) to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489, or visit tiffanyhaugen.com.

With over 130 unique recipes, you’re sure to find many you like! Follow Tiffany on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and watch for her on the online series Cook With Cabela’s, as well as The Sporting Chef TV show.

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NORCAL watched boaters above and below us, we were amazed that no one else was hitting this water, instead concentrating on the main current.

While pocket water will find you casting a lot and covering very short sections, it’s worth the effort if that’s where fish might be holding. Drifts may cover as little as 5 feet of water, so use enough sinker to get the terminal gear down quickly and pull it out before getting hung up.

Plugging shallow water is also an effective option. This can be done by way of back-trolling or sitting on anchor.

Flats, which are just above a series of rapids, are great places to plug for late-season steelhead. I really like hitting these areas the last hour of the day when fish go on the move.

I’m usually the last boat down the river, but that’s OK since the fishing can be exceptional.

As with picking apart pocket water, a lot of flats don’t see plugs from fellow anglers. This is because people often believe the water is too shallow and the actual target water is too confined. These are excellent places to sit on anchor – plugs out – awaiting fish to move through riffles into the flats.

Don’t overlook the slightest depressions or slicks at the head of riffles, as this is often the first place steelhead stop to rest after having pushed through heavy water. Even if there’s only 2 feet of water, it can be enough to invite a steelhead to hold up. The water is moving plenty fast enough for plugs to work here. These are also good early-morning spots to hit, as fish rest here after having traveled through the night.

On a recent trip with another buddy, we anchored and dropped our 3.0 Mag Lips 40 feet behind the boat. Soon we pulled three chrome steelies from that shallow slick. A couple days later, a guide friend had trip and ran the same stretch of water and managed to pull seven steelhead from slicks while fishing plugs, and those were in addition to what they caught

Scott Haugen caught his first winter steelhead 47 years ago, and has been getting after them ever since. Low water levels late in the season are some of his favorite conditions in which to target steelhead. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

through other approaches that day.

Another effective approach in low water is covering as much river as possible with the lines in the water and searching for fish. Here, you’re looking for fish on the move, as well as ones that may be holding. For this approach, bobber-dogging is tough to beat; the float keeps the terminal gear where you want it, which is important when fishing low, clear water. There are also very few hang-ups with this approach.

Side-drifting can find the boat separating too far from the terminal gear, pulling the presentation out of the narrow strike zone, which is why using the aid of a float, through bobber-dogging, is so effective.

On another trip not too long ago, a buddy and I hooked into six steelhead in a 300-yard stretch of river.

The interesting thing about all this?

There were three boats ahead of us that all fished the water before us and didn’t touch a fish. One boat pulled

64 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

plugs and two side-drifted, while my buddy and I agreed to bobber-dog the same water they just fished. The simple reason for the catch discrepancy is they missed the sweet spots where fish were holding at that water level.

Bobber-dogging allowed us to work the narrow slots carved into the bedrock and catch fish.

Whether you’re fishing from a boat or off the bank, apply stealth when working clear, shallow water. Study the water and anticipate where steelhead may be holding or traveling. As we enter the fourth quarter of winter steelhead season, it’s not too late to experience what could be some of the best fishing of the year. CS Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s popular book, Bank Fishing For Steelhead & Salmon, send a check for $17 (includes S&H) to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489. This and other how-to books can be ordered online at scotthaugen.com.

calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2017 Cal California C lifo if rniia S Sportsman portsman

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66 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

NORCAL

SWIMBAITS AND STRIPERS

WITH ANOTHER BIG SEASON AHEAD FOR LINESIDES ON THE DELTA AND AROUND SACRAMENTO, CONSIDER SHAD-TYPE PLASTICS

By Mark Fong

F

or striped bass aficionados, spring cannot come quickly enough. In time the California Delta and its tributary rivers will be teeming with striped bass.

By the time spring arrives in March, striped bass will be making their way through the San Francisco Bay water system and into the Delta and then rivers like the American, Feather and Sacramento. With more water in place, another good season appears to be on tap, with swimbaits a popular presentation. (MSJ GUIDE SERVICE) calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2017 California Sportsman

67

NORCAL “Spring is when our fish will come up from the bays through the Delta and head up either the American, Feather or Sacramento (Rivers) to spawn,” explains Capt. Manuel Saldana Jr. of MSJ Guide Service (530-301-7455). “Last year we had a wet winter, and this year it looks like we are gonna have an even wetter winter.”

“Every time we get a good flush of water, it brings in new fish from the bay. These fish are triggered by the fresh water coming in, so I am expecting to have another outstanding striped bass season, just like we did last year. It was lights out and I think we are gonna have a repeat of that this year. If we have water, we have fish.”

There are many ways to fish for stripers, from trolling minnow plugs to soaking cut bait and drifting with live minnows. All are effective strategies that account for their share of fish. While Saldana is well versed in all of the aforementioned techniques, he enjoys putting his clients on a hot swimbait bite.

SWIMBAIT MAGIC “One of my most productive and consistent ways to fish stripers is with a swimbait,” says Saldana. “I use the AA Bad Bubba Shad. The two sizes I particularly like to use are the 4-inch and the 5-inch. The plastic is very soft and the tail puts out a lot of vibration in the water, so you don’t have to crank them fast. The tail has a strong kick and the body has a nice rolling motion.

They are very realistic, have a great profile and a textured scale pattern.

I like to use Pro-Cure Super Gel Scent (shad, garlic, crawfish) and the texture holds the scent better than a smooth surface.”

Like many striped bass anglers, Saldana likes pearl white for his swimbaits, but he also has a more extensive list of colors that he relies on as well. Pearl with a chartreuse tail, shad, sexy shad, gumba shad,

Swimbaits like Big Bad Bubba Shad plastics have the kind of rolling action that catches the eye of stripers. Adding some scent to the bait will also help attract hungry bass. (MSJ GUIDE SERVICE)

sexy gumba, ghost shad, ghost minnow and sardine are staples in his tackle box.

Saldana rigs the Bad Bubba Shad with a homemade shad-style jighead that he pours himself. This allows him the flexibility to create the hook and weight combinations that he needs to match different conditions.

Saldana’s standard is a ½-ounce head with a 5/0 heavy-wire hook, but he always has plenty of different heads on hand ranging from ¼ to ¾ ounce.

To achieve the proper swimming action it is very important to rig the swimbait so that the hook comes out right in the center of the back.

Saldana’s gear choices are simple. He offers his clients the choice between spinning and conven-

68 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

tional tackle, equipping them with heavy-action 7-foot, 3-inch to 7-foot, 9-inch Cousins Tackle Raze Series rod fished in combination with 30-pound Yo-Zuri Super Braid connected to a 3-foot length of 15-pound fluorocarbon Yo-Zuri Top Knot leader.

STRIPER LOCALES Striped bass are very current- and temperature-sensitive.

“Once they (striped bass) find water temperatures in the low- to mid60s they will spawn. With the more water released, it’s going to keep the temps cooler, which not only can extend the run but also will also determine where the fish will be,” Saldana says.

“If these fish find the right tem-

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69

NORCAL

“Once they (striped bass) find water temperatures in the low- to mid-60s they will spawn. With the more water released, it’s going to keep the temps cooler, which not only can extend the run but also will also determine where the fish will be,” guide Manuel Saldana Jr. says of the upcoming striper run in the spring.

(MSJ GUIDE SERVICE)

perature right around downtown Sacramento, that’s where you are gonna have most of your action. In normal water years Colusa is such a good area because that is usually where that magic temperature happens.”

Further west and closer to the ocean, the daily tidal movements impact the Delta.

“You have to remember that stripers are lazy,” says Saldana. “They want to hang out where it is nice and easy, where the bait will come to them. I like openings to flooded islands where the water can come in and out. On the incoming tide the bait will be pushed inside of that

pocket so you go to the backside and cast the swimbait into the mouth, because the stripers are waiting for the tide to push the bait inside. On the outgoing tide you fish the opposite side.”

The longtime guide adds that on the river the bass prefer to push the bait right up against the bank, sandbar or weed line.

“This is especially true during the early morning or evening. As the sun gets higher, the fish will retreat from the very edge to the bottom of the river,” he says. “When this happens I tell my clients to count the swimbait down so that it runs closer to the

70 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

bottom. Putting the bait in the strike zone is very important.”

Saldana is anticipating another strong season of striper fishing. So if you are a striped bass fanatic, it’s not too soon to start planning. It’s time to respool your reels with fresh line, sharpen your hooks and take inventory of your tackle. If you have never fished with swimbaits, perhaps it’s time you give it a try. CS Editor’s note: Like MSJ Guide Service at facebook.com/MSJfishingguideservice.

To learn more about the AA Bad Bubba Shad swimbait, please visit optimumbaits.com.

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STRIPERS WILL GOBBLE THIS LIVE MINNOW SET-UP NOTES Fishing with live bait is a very productive method for catching striped bass. Capt. Manuel Saldana Jr. of MSJ Fishing Guide Service employs this technique to put fish in the boat for his clients. Whether it be the California Delta or the Sacramento or Feather Rivers, stripers have a hard time resisting a lively minnow.

This minnow rig is easy to construct. Start with a 36-inch length of 12-pound fluorocarbon leader. Using a perfection loop knot, attach a size 1 to 2/0 Gamakatsu octopus hook to one end and a barrel swivel to the other. Saldana likes to use red-colored hooks and chooses the hook size to match the size of the minnow. The guide also recommends using 30-pound braid as the mainline. Next, tie a duolock snap to the end of the mainline and run the snap through the swivel on the leader.

For the dropper line, tie a ½-ounce sinker to a 12-inch length of 8-pound monofilament that is then tied to the duolock.

When baiting the rig, insert the point of the hook into the minnow’s bottom lip and out the top of the nose so that it retains its lively action.

–Mark Fong

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12-inch, 8-poundtest mono dropper line

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36-inch, 12-pound-test fluorocarbon leader

Size 1 to 2/0 Gamakatsu octopus hook (MARK FONG)

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73

THIS YEAR, MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY DAY ON THE WATER

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74 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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CENTRAL VALLEY Anthony Yang, a 19-year-old student from Porterville, has become obsessed with the outdoors,and prefers a bow when hunting big game. After he finishes college, he hopes to work as a California Department Fish and Wildlife game warden. (ALEX COON)

DEDICATED

TO THE OUTDOORS

PORTERVILLE STUDENT SPORTSMAN ASPIRES FOR A CAREER IN WILDLIFE LAW ENFORCEMENT

By Amy C. Witt

S

ome people like what they do while others love what they do. And then there are some

people who eat, live and dream about it. For one young California sportsman, Anthony Yang, being called passionate or even obsessed might be an understatement.

“Whatever is in season, that’s what I do and I do it to my best potential, just as I would any other season,” says Yang, a 19-year-old who was raised eating tree squirrel soup.

As a young Hmong growing up in the Central Valley (the San Joaquin Valley has a sizeable population of those with Southeast Asian roots), Yang lived next to Porterville-area’s Lake Success, where his father taught him all aspects of fishing. And being raised and attending school in the Valley means being exposed to many conservative American country boys.

Yang was drawn to his fellow classmates’ hunting ways and began to pursue them as friends.

“One thing that is never talked about is culture. When I started hanging out with a kid from school and was introduced to his family, I was already labeled as a poacher or

calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2017 California Sportsman

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CENTRAL VALLEY someone who took advantage of the resources.” Yang says. “My elders, Dad and his friend, taught me how to respect and understand the outdoors, but there’s my generation and older who may tend to poach and kill over the aspect of meat. It creates a stereotype and it’s unfortunate because that’s not how the culture really is.

We are mountain people and we respect the land and the animals.”

For his 12th birthday he asked for a big-bore rifle, but instead he received a bow and arrow. He began bowfishing for carp, and hunting small game like cottontails and squirrels got him intrigued by the sport. As years passed and Yang developed friendships with families who were heavily involved in duck, pig and deer hunting, he was introduced to another culture, the world of hunting.

“Hunting for me is about finding yourself. It’s about being in touch with nature and challenging your-

“When I started hanging out with a kid from school and was introduced to his family, I was already labeled as a poacher or someone who took advantage of the resources.” Yang, working as a bowtech at Bass Pro Shops in the Sacramento area, says of his Hmong heritage. “We are mountain people and we respect the land and the animals.” (ANTHONY YANG)

self, because if you’re not challenging yourself, you’re not hunting,” says a smiling Yang, who refuses to kill big game with a rifle.

While in high school he began an apprenticeship with a Porterville

hunting store, Sierra Sportsman (559-784-4122), where he learned the mechanism, hardware and the ins and outs of a bow from the store’s manager, Bob Dempsie. As coworkers left, Yang started helping run the store as manager of the bow department – researching, ordering and selling only the best equipment while educating and exposing customers to better quality and experiences.

Bowhunting has taught Yang patience and respect, and given him the opportunity to solely be one with nature. The time and patience alone in spotting and stalking, studying and researching, weather and environment, times of feeding and activity, and of course distance, are contributing factors that Yang feels create the challenge that he craves.

“I bow hunt because I am staying true to myself and how I kill my animal,” he says. “It’s kind of like conquering an ego because I don’t want to rifle hunt and I don’t want to hunt out of a tree stand.”

WHEN YANG WAS INTRODUCED to duck hunting, a whole new obsession burned. He became very familiar with waking up on cold early mornings before work and school, racing to get to the refuge and waiting 2½ hours at the location before even 76 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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CENTRAL VALLEY having the opportunity to fire a shot.

“Oh gosh, duck hunting is nature and wildlife put together,” he explains. “It’s nitty and gritty, from packing out pounds of gear and decoys in mud, walking in waist-high water, and racing to beat other hunters to your honey hole.”

But the reason Yang duck hunts is for the art and beauty of the sport.

It’s the ability to create a language with the ducks while conserving the species. He says that most duck hunters could be bird watchers because they study and search for the beauty of the bird – the various species, their movements and colors and the way they speak. And hunting etiquette is one of the most important aspects of duck hunting for the gun enthusiast.

Shooting decoying birds that like to work and finish is something the young hunter takes pride in doing. He expresses that when Duck Commander made its debut, a new crowd of hunters began to flood to the waters. While hunting, he observed that many new hunters were his age and were fond of skybusting, taking advantage of the resource and, later, posting obnoxious photos to social media.

With that in mind, Yang and his brother, Brandon Yang, an avid bass angler, decided to share their passion and love by creating an Instagram page: California Hunting and Fish (@ Calhuntnfish). Through their page, they began displaying their adventures, catches and kills, but with a few things in mind – respecting the great outdoors while hunting and fishing the right way.

Fishing for big bass at Porterville’s Lake Success and Clear Lake is one of Yang’s growing hobbies.

ALTHOUGH YANG ONLY VIEWS bass fishing as a hobby, his mind is flooded with knowledge, education and the ability to reel in some big bad catches. Learning many tricks from fellow anglers or grandfather and brother, some of Yang’s biggest catches include a 12.73-pound largemouth from Lake Success and an 11-pound Clear Lake largie. Some of his best bag limits have been caught at the latter

(ANTHONY YANG)

lake – ranked as one of the nation’s premier bass fisheries – including five beauties that went 32 pounds. One of his favorite techniques is flipping and pitching, which he enjoys because of its fast-paced fun.

78 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

And as stated before, obsessed may be an understatement to describe Yang’s life revolving around hunting and fishing. While a full-time student majoring in criminal justice with a minor in natural resources and ecol-

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Lake Isabella is back in the Fishing Business Big Time!

Lake Isabella, located in the Kern River Valley in the Southern Sierras, is full again with water AND full of fish! The miracle rains of this past winter have restored the water level and with increased vegetation from several years of low water drought levels, this year will be terrific for lake fishing.

The season kicks off with the Annual Lake Isabella Fishing Derby, April 8-10th with thousands of dollars in cash prizes and hundreds of entry prizes. Contact the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce at www.kernrivervalley.com for all the info.

In addition, the Kern River is known as one of the best first class whitewater rafting rivers in the state. From “Lickety Split” river runs to week-long trips through the “forks”, and sizes in between, there are adventurous river trips for all.

Kayaking is also one of the more exciting experiences offered on the “Kern”.

Lake Isabella offers services of two floating marinas with rentals and refreshments. Around the shoreline, you’ll find campgrounds with individual and group sites operated by the California Land Management, with reserved and first come, first serve sites.

Giant Sequoias, nature preserves, hiking and biking trails, or shade trees on the river bank for sitting under, the Kern River Valley has something for everyone. So drive in or fly in to the “Bountiful” Kern River Valley and Lake Isabella.

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“I just feel like whatever I am going to do, whether it’s hunting deer, shooting ducks or fishing,” says Yang, here with his flat-coated retriever, Si, “I am going to do everything I can to my best ability.”

(ALEX COON)

ogy at Sacramento’s American River College, he is employed by Bass Pro Shops. As a bowtech at the Rocklin location, he takes his time as he helps each customer find the best equipment suited for his or her needs.

Outside of repairing, setting up and tuning, he teaches archery lessons through Bass Pro. But his goals are set beyond a big trophy buck or a 20-pound bass.

After graduating from Sacramento State in the future, he aspires to become an employee for the California Department of Fish and Game as a game warden. With his devotion and appreciation for wildlife and nature, his motive to pursue a career as warden will be to teach and show people good ethics, strive to protect and conserve wildlife, and prevent wrongdoing against resources and nature.

“I love what I do and I am excited about my job. I am a perfectionist and take pride in my work,” Yang says. “I just feel like whatever I am going to do, whether it’s hunting deer, shooting ducks or fishing, I am going to do everything I can to my best ability.” CS Editor’s note: For more on author Amy Witt, check out her website, caliidreamin. com and follow her on Twitter (@CaliifDreamin ) and Instagram (@caliiforniadreamin). Like her at facebook.com/ caliiforniadreamin.

80 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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84 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

CENTRAL VALLEY

A LEGENDARY OUTDOORS EVENT HITS BAKO FRED HALL SHOWS COME TO THE VALLEY

A scene from a previous sportsman’s show in Bakersfield, which for the first time this March will be under the direction of the popular Southern California Fred Hall Shows. (CENTRAL VALLEY SPORTSMAN SHOW)

T

he Fred Hall Shows have expanded. In show year 2017, there will be a new Fred Hall Show in Central California.

Bakersfield is the home of the newly christened Fred Hall Central Valley Sports Show at the Kern County Fairgrounds and is scheduled

for March 10-12.

Former show owner Mike Hatcher did a great job as the steward of this 40-year-old show for the last 20 years. It used to be called the Central Valley Boat, Sportsman and RV Show until Fred Hall Shows, Inc. purchased this event last year.

“By changing the name to the Fred Hall Central Valley Sports Show, we hope to maintain the best parts of this nearly half-century event while infusing it with all of the great features that are associated with the name ’Fred Hall Show,’” said show producer Bart Hall.

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CENTRAL VALLEY “The Bakersfield show has been the Central Valley’s largest RV show and only boat show for almost a decade. We intend to expand on that theme,” added Hall. “There will be hundreds of RVs on display and nearly five times as many boats as there were before. More boat dealers and more boat manufacturers will be represented at this show than has ever been seen before in the Central Valley. There will tow boats, offshore fishing boats, pontoon boats, bass boats and kayaks.”

For many years now, this show has been one of California’s largest and most successful RV events, and it’s only going to get bigger. One dealer alone will bring almost 100 units.

This is a complete RV show with dealers and manufacturers working side by side. It will take some time to see the acres of recreational vehicles on display, so come early and prepare to stay late.

Of course, it wouldn’t be called a Fred Hall Show if fishing tackle, fishing destination resorts and fishing seminars weren’t a big part of this event. One entire building has been turned into the “Fishing Hall.” This will be the largest display of fishing products ever seen in this region at any event. The Daiwa Bass Bin will be in place outside of this building, and will be offering up hourly seminars. Boats that stretch from the Boat Hall to the Fishing Hall and beyond will surround the Daiwa Bass Bin.

FISHING POND FOR LITTLE ANGLERS The Mammoth Lakes Kids Fish Free Trout Pond will also be just outside the Fishing Hall, and the Costa Sporting Chef Café will be nestled snuggly in an anterior alcove to the building. Scott Leysath, the original Sporting Chef, will give demonstrations on how to cook fish and game.

The Sporting Chef Café area will also be used as a seminar venue. In the

86 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

New Fishing Hall food will be served from a special concession stand called the Galley, which will be inspired by food served on Southern California’s world-famous offshore fishing fleet.

Another entire building that’s sponsored by Bill Wright Toyota, North Bakersfield Toyota Scion and Valley Cycle and Motorsports will house off-road vehicles, destination hunting and fishing resorts and all of the other great booths that show attendees have come to enjoy at this event. Outside exhibitors abound and attendees will walk from building to building surrounded by exhibits that are set up outside. Thousands of RVs, boats and cars tie acres of space all together.

Beyond the RVs, the Super Cruise Car Show that has been part of this Bakersfield event for years on Saturday of show weekends is expanding to two days and will exhibit over 1,500 cars on Saturday and Sunday at the show.

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On Saturday night there will be a national tractor pull (there is a rumor going around that you should keep your eyes open for Jay Leno). The Bako Sand Drags will be tearing up the sand track every day of the show and will have hundreds of competitors. This has become a sanctioned international event, and racers from all over the world are assembling at the show to compete.

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The world-famous Dock Dogs will be having their regional qualifying event during the show. Some of the best jumping dogs in the world will travel hundreds of miles to participate in this event. This special Dock Dogs qualifier is one of the premiere events in the Central Valley. In addition, dog training and dog agility events will take place daily in their own special areas.

There will be a giant Kids Korner with jump houses, laser tag and the Great American Duck Races. The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show is making its first appearance at the Kern County Fairgrounds. The lumberjack show appears around the country and is a staple at Disney World in Florida.

Kids literally line up at the Mammoth Lakes Kids Fish Free Trout Pond that has been a staple of the Fred Hall Shows for over seven decades. Great food is spread throughout this giant show that is partially sponsored by Coors Light and Chuy’s restaurants.

The Fred Hall Central Valley Sports Show promises to be one of the premier events of any kind in the valley. It will be difficult to see and do everything in a single day. Everyone from Bakersfield, Fresno, Visalia, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Morro Bay, Lancaster, Barstow, Tehachapi and the San Fernando Valley are invited to come out and spend a full day at the show. CS Editor’s note: More information can be found at fredhall.com.

88 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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Those who set out for a night on the ocean should be prepared for navigating hazards in the dark and other dangers. (ED SMITH)

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SOCAL

Fishing The

NIGHT Shift WHEN EVENING DESCENDS ON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S COASTAL WATERS, CALICO BASS GET HUNGRY

By Ty Ponder

A

t 2 a.m. the often-frigid void of pure darkness plays tricks on the brain. You see things that aren’t there and, worse yet, can’t see things that are.

“Keep an eye around this bend,” I said. Several times I had come close to small boats of questionable calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2017 California Sportsman

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SOCAL nature running with their lights out, tucked tightly against the vertical peak. No sooner had I said that than my fishing partner wondered, “What’s that just off the nose?

Straight ahead … turn right!”

Missing the boat by no more than 50 yards, I turned right back where we came from. Both recovering from our close encounter with a lights-out panga deep in Mexican waters, we agreed we liked our last spot better.

It’s hard to describe what it’s like fishing on the ocean in the darkness amid the barking of seals and stirrings of other marine life that keep you awake between bites. John Beerling and Steve Shook make a run into the night. (TY PONDER)

92 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

I’VE ALWAYS SAID THAT hardcore calico bass anglers represent a hearty group. The hard-fighting calico (kelp) bass, a saltwater cousin of the freshwater largemouth bass, generally range from California’s Central Coast to central Baja California in Mexican waters. A 6-pound fish is a trophy, while a world-class, 10-pound calico is the target for all serious saltwater bass addicts.

While squid and other live bait

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SOCAL may do very well at night, most calico specialists utilize artificial lures, since they often account for the larger fish. My favorite evening calico grounds typically dictate a two-hour run each way to access Catalina Island, San Clemente Island or perhaps a run deep into Mexican waters. These trips are one thing during the day, but any night mission requires a higher level of experience and preparation.

Safety is paramount, and you should prepare for all contingencies, such as knowing how to access your safety equipment and how to use it in the pitch dark.

When I run I always wear my kill switch and my life jacket, which contains a personal locator beacon, waterproof VHF radio, flares, strobe light, etc. You also should be prepared for hypothermic conditions, which is probably your greatest threat if you wind up sinking or

When fishing clear water with a full moon shining, try speeding up your retrieve and brightening up your colors to draw a reaction strike. On the darker nights, try darker colors and slower presentations. If you’re not getting bit, try different things. (TY PONDER)

going overboard.

Ideally, you’ve previously fished or at least scouted your intended target during the day. Definitely

94 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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SOCAL be familiar and comply with all required Mexican paperwork and regulations. As during the day, you should be familiar with how the surf breaks and where the rocks and obstacles are located.

“EVERYTHING’S A TRADE-OFF,” I like to say, and while calm winds and clear conditions make for a pleasant day on the water, it can be brutal for calico bass fishing. I search for what I call the three “C’s” of prime calico conditions: current, color and clarity.

Tidal flow as well as wind-driven current stir up the food chain, and when you find good water movement or the wind comes up, you’ll often find that the calicos start biting. I prefer a stained greenish water color, with 5 to 10 feet of visibility. This reduced visibility provides a natural form of cover, where big bass are more comfortable to ven-

ture out and search for prey during the day. In contrast, the natural cover of darkness invites the smarter, older generation out to dine.

I prefer to arrive at my destination in the evening to familiarize myself with the conditions. While I’m often rewarded with an evening bite, it’s not uncommon for the fish to become tight-lipped for a few hours after the sun goes down.

Conditions aside, I’ve caught most of my bigger fish between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m.

Tidal swings are integral to current flow, and my preferred movement begins and ends an hour on either side of a slack tide. During a higher tide period look for the fish to be up feeding in the shallow areas. My favorite is a medium to high incoming tide, where the fish are moving in to feed on the bait that’s been pushed up and crustaceans that get washed by the rising water.

96 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

John Beerling, a calico specialist and the veteran of hundreds of night missions, reminds us that many very nice bass can be taken from local waters off the Southern California coast. (TY PONDER)

Conversely, on the lower tides I look for fish on the reef systems or in the kelp. In addition, you’ll often find the fish turn on when the current flow first changes directions after a tidal swing. If it’s safe, always have a shot at any rocky area where the whitewater is washing around the rocks, especially if there’s kelp stringers and other forms of structure around.

While I do not specifically follow moon phases for fishing, there’s no doubt it plays an important role with tidal flow and illumination factors. The few days surrounding a new moon or a full moon provide the greatest tidal range. This typically results in greater current flow and provides the highest tides that often draw fish into the shallows to feed. The full moon can provide excellent ambient illumination, allowing the angler to fish in tighter situations more comfortably. On the other hand, it can make fishing

Author Ty Ponder with an 8½-pound calico taken from a spot of foam and whitewash that spilled out from a series of boiler rocks. He’s caught multiple trophy fish from the exact same spot. (NIC DRAGONMIRE)

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SOCAL a bit tougher at times in a clear-water fishery.

AT NIGHT I FISH heavy tackle to target big fish. You need a rod sensitive enough to feel the lightest bites, yet strong enough to turn a big calico before he stuffs you into the rocks.

I typically fish 80-pound Sufix 832 braid tied to 4 feet of 50-pound Sufix Fluorocarbon Invisiline leader.

I recommend a 300-size reel with lower-geared cranking power and high drag capabilities, as I personally tighten my drags down 100 percent for all calico bass fishing.

My favorite set-up is the Okuma Komodo 364 SS reel on an Okuma SBX series 7-foot, 11-inch XH Swimbait rod.

I tend to stick with a few basic baits and patterns in night scenarios. While it is true that big baits often equal big fish, I seem to catch bigger fish on medium-sized plas-

tic swimbaits. At night, my go-to swimbait is the 5-inch MC standard-size swimbait pinned on a 1-ounce VMC boxer head. You also can’t go wrong with skirted jigs and creature baits fished through the boiler rocks. On a clear-water night at full moon, try speeding up your retrieve and brightening up your colors to draw a reaction strike. On the darker nights, try darker colors and slower presentations.

Fish attractants such as Uni Butter and rattles inserted into your plastics may give you an advantage as well. If you’re not getting bit, try different things. Let the fish tell you what they want and don’t become discouraged. Remember that you’re trophy hunting, and this old saying often holds true: “Slow fish days are big fish days.” Only in this case it’s nights.

THE KELP CAN OFTEN hold big fish as well. Try dropping your lure verti-

cally until it hits bottom and then winding straight back up. One of my favorite kelp techniques is to fish a shallow-water crankbait through the kelp stringers. With its single hooks and long cast capabilities, the new Rapala X-Rap LC series is perfect to pull through the kelp without getting snagged.

While the risk and tedium of night fishing isn’t for everyone, if you’re willing to put the time in, the rewards can be great. In the last year or so, I was fortunate enough to catch a 9.6-pounder, three over 8 pounds and multiple 6- and 7-pound fish at night, all of which were released.

Remember that these fisheries are fragile environments that can become quickly depleted. After you get that mandatory photograph, respect that 25-year-old calico for the survivor that it is: Enjoy the moment as you watch it swim back into the darkness. CS

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En La Mosca Adventures

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Captain Bob Day at En La Mosca Adventures is a USCG-licensed captain, an Orvis-endorsed y ďŹ shing guide and an IGFA captain/ guide. Since 2007 he has had over 600 days on the water ďŹ shing San Diego Bay. He specializes in y ďŹ shing the Bay and teaching people how to y ďŹ sh in salt water. Bob also uses light tackle for people who do not y ďŹ sh and he loves teaching kids how to ďŹ sh and enjoy life on San Diego Bay. En La Mosca Adventures has caught over 25 different species in San Diego Bay. These include the elusive PaciďŹ c BoneďŹ sh, Spotted Bay Bass, Corvina, Croaker, Halibut, Calico Bass, Sand Bass, the world-famous Lizard Fish and many more. Fishing in San Diego Bay is year-round with the Spotted Bay Bass the primary catch.

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SOCAL

SAN DIEGO’S NEW RESIDENTS

THE CITY LOST ITS NFL TEAM, BUT CORVINA HAVE INVADED THE BAY FROM USUALLY WARMER MEXICAN WATERS

Corvina love hard jerkbaits like Rebels and Rattling Rogues because they look just like an anchovy. (BILL SCHAEFER)

By Capt. Bill Schaefer

N

ormally, you would need to make a long run to Mexico to catch any corvina, but right now Southern California anglers just need to head out onto San Diego Bay to find them.

Now’s the time of year when the corvina really start biting. Best bites seem to come with the grunion runs, which start in March and continues throughout the year. They can be so aggressive when chasing the grunion, they will take topwater lures such as a Pop-R or Zara Spook.

These corvina are close cousins to the 10 or so corvina species that inhabit Mexico. The fish in San Diego Bay are shortfin corvina, which look almost identical to the Mexican orangemouth corvina that were once planted in the Salton Sea. They only differ in that their mouth is less orange inside. They still have the telltale sign of canine teeth. Shortfin corvina also resemble white seabass, and this is the reason why they have survived, since anglers let them go thinking they were undersized whites.

These fish have really taken hold here, and it will continue to grow

into a great fishery. You see, these fish like to live in the bay and grow to 10-plus pounds. Even a 5-pounder will give you one heck of a battle, and 8- to 10-pounders have already been taken by anglers fishing San Diego Bay. Here’s how to catch them: Plastic grubs, swimbaits, jerkbaits, crankbaits are all favorites. Work the edges of the main channels and watch for balls of bait on your meter. If one’s around, so are the corvina.

A lot of the time, the fish are incidental catches for bass fishermen, considering they eat all the same baits. Trolling crankbaits, like a Fat Free Shad or the lipless Cordell Spot, will work, as will blind-casting grubs or swimbaits in chartreuse, shades of brown or greens.

On a glassy morning, fish can be seen chasing bait at times in the shallows. I like to use a Rebel or Rattling Rogue jerkbait because they look just like an anchovy. I’ll fish a high tide over the weeds along the shore, where the corvina tend to cruise. As I mentioned, they will even come up on a topwater lure during a grunion run on those beaches the grunion are frequenting in the bay.

These fish are really taking hold, so practice catch and release for a while and we will have a great fishery. Fish are caught year-round, but once the grunion runs start, March through October is best.

You won’t be bored while fishing for them either, as the spotted bay bass and other incidental fish will eat all of the aforementioned lures as well. You won’t be able to keep the fish off your baits! CS

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102 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

SOCAL

NO TIME FOR

HIBERNATION YES, EVEN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EXPERIENCES WINTER, BUT WETTER, COOLER WEATHER SHOULDN’T PREVENT ANGLERS FROM SCORING BASS

By Bill Schaefer

S

torms have been passing through pretty regularly this winter, which is good for the lakes of Southern California, getting their levels back up towards normal.

And because it’s wet and chilly (at least relative to the region), fishermen tend to hit the couch for football instead of the lakes for bass this time of year. This takes the pressure off most waters that would normally be packed on a sunny weekend. This only improves the catching for those who brave those cold, rainy days. Dress right and you will be comfortable and rewarded with bass.

As cold fronts pass through, water temperatures at the lakes drop and bass head deeper to more stable zones. A deep main lake point is a good example of an area bass will move to. Here, the water temperature is stable and the points lead to the shallows if they choose to come in to explore for food.

As the largemouths’ metabolism slows down, they don’t want to exert any more energy than they need to eat, so larger meals are the norm this time of year. One attack that will fill their belly is chasing a school of shad around the lake. Trout, bluegill and crawdads will be the main meals for most larger bass right now. This should tell you exactly what baits to have tied on.

Lures resembling trout are the favorite winter bait for serious largemouth anglers. You may throw them until your arms are hurting, but if you get bit, it will surely be a big one most of the time. There are many companies that make them, so check out your local tackle store, talk to the sales staff and see what the best bait is this year. There are also bluegill imitations that look so real you would think they were painted by a taxidermist. Jigs should match the crawdads in the lake, but browns, blues and the old standard reds should do well.

If fishing trout lures, one more thing

Artificial lures that resemble trout can be irresistible to some hungry bass during the colder winter.

(DEAN JAMIESON)

you can do to improve your odds is to fish around where the trout are planted, and as soon afterwards as you can get there. The largemouth do know the area as a feeding ground and won’t venture too far from the dinner table.

Any part of the lake that is known as a good trout-catching area should be a good bass spot as well. Bluegill and jigs should do well here too.

Next time one of your fishing

partners says, “It’s too cold to go bass fishing,” or just wants to put their rods away for the winter, tell them there are bass to be had during the cooler months.

Chasing winter bass will certainly hone your skills as a largemouth buster. We often have many beautiful days during the winter in the Southland; it would be a shame to waste them without hitting the water. CS

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FISHING

Wahoo are one of the stars of the warm, sheltered waters of Mexico’s Gulf of California. They’re available year-round, and are a favorite of author Tim Hovey’s on the grill. (TIM E. HOVEY)

A PLETHORA FOR

PESCADORES 50 SPECIES OF FISH AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO FISH THE BLUE WATERS OF THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA

By Tim E. Hovey

M

y first trip to the Gulf of California was during an extended marine biology field trip back in 1990. The university I attended maintained a field station in a small coastal town 30 miles south of the popular tourist town of San Felipe.

We were there to study the in-

tertidal species that call the rocky shoreline home. At certain times of the year, the gulf experiences drastic tidal shifts, exposing hundreds of yards of rugged bottom structure full of marine invertebrates and intertidal fishes.

During a pretrip meeting, our professor mentioned that if we liked to fish, we should probably pack a

fishing rod with our gear.

I packed three.

Since then, I’ve made dozens of trips to the gulf to fish for both science and pleasure. I enjoy the humid climate, the desert terrain and the amazing fishing that defines Baja.

Over the years I’ve fished from the northern part of the gulf near San Felipe, all the way to the tip of the peninsula, and many places in between.

I’ve towed boats to remote shoreline towns, and flown into cities like La Paz that specialize in big game fishing. Whenever I think of adventure, I think of the Sea of Cortez.

I’ve been lucky enough to catch over 50 different species of fish in Baja. While I do enjoy fishing for anything that swims, here’s a list of some of my favorite species to target when I head south of the border.

WAHOO Among one of the fastest fishes in the ocean, the wahoo is a challenging angler target. As they are armed with a scissors-like mouth, a healthy length

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FISHING of wire leader is highly recommended whether you’re trolling a Marauder plug or a live mackerel. Strikes are often unseen and extremely violent.

A medium-heavy outfit spooled with 30-pound test is the perfect set-up.

They are a tough fight at the end of the line, at times leaving the water after being hooked.

Wahoo reside in the gulf yearround; however, the best months to target this aquatic greyhound is late spring through early fall. Wahoo are one of my favorite fish to eat. Despite being a member of the tuna family, the meat is white and excellent smoked or grilled.

YELLOWFIN TUNA An aggressive species that will readily take a bait, the yellowfin tuna is one of the crown jewels of big game fishing. This species is heavily targeted by most Baja anglers for its fighting ability and table quality. Wide-rang-

Hovey surely got an upper-body workout fighting and landing this sailfish caught in Mexican waters.

Sailfish aren’t the best table fare, so releasing these majestic fish is a good idea for saving cooler space for tastier Baja fish. (TIM E. HOVEY)

ing in size, yellowfins are present in the gulf year-round but best targeted from late spring into fall.

Trolling tuna feathers on heavy rigs is the best way to locate the schools. Once you find them, heavy

baiting will frequently bring the school to the surface, where a variety of lures will entice bites. Fish of varying sizes can be in the same school, so medium to heavy outfits are recommended.

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If you prefer to spend more time ashore exploring and enjoying La Paz, we offer the same levels of ASA certification in a combination of two courses that you can take while spending most of your evenings in a hotel room and your days out sailing. These courses are either Private (one-on-one) or Semi-Private (two students). This gives you the ability to pick and choose which courses you want to take and when.

FISHING Cheryl Hovey with two of the more popular species for fishing foodies: yellowfin tuna and leopard grouper.

(TIM E. HOVEY)

AMBERJACK Known as “reef donkey” for their tenacious fight and hard pulling, amberjack are frequently encountered over reefs or structure. They’re easily enticed into taking live bait or can be taken trolling lures over bottom structure. If you’re lucky enough to hook an amberjack, prepare for a fight. Pound for pound, they are one of the strongest fish swimming.

Amberjack flesh is lighter in color and often compared to swordfish.

Fillets can be prepared with light seasoning and either grilled or panfried.

You won’t be sorry saving a few fish for the cooler.

JACK CREVALLE A tenacious member of the jack family, the jack crevalle is as strong as they come. They frequently occur in schools and will strike lures and live bait violently. They’re known

for their consistent abundance in the gulf and for providing a sporting fight on lighter tackle.

Despite the jack’s fighting ability, this fish is best released after capture.

The flesh is dark red and not very palatable. If you’re lucky enough to hook and land a jack crevalle, practice catch and release.

ROOSTERFISH Named for their elongated dorsal fins, roosterfish usually roam the shallows of the gulf looking for baitfish. Mullet and ladyfish are the baits of choice when chasing this hard-fighting, shallow-water predator. Anglers will find roosterfish very close to shore, at times in water so shallow their dorsal fins are visible above the surface. I spotted my first roosterfish in 2 feet of water while I searched the shore for baitfish.

Roosterfish are strong, powerful

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fighters, normally sticking to open water when hooked. A robust species, the flesh is reddish and not very palatable. I added my first roosterfish to the cooler but I released all the others and will never keep another.

LEOPARD GROUPER Leopard grouper are voracious predators that patrol rocky reefs. While they can be caught using trolled lures, we’ve had the best luck soaking mackerel over structure. Once hooked, grouper will try and escape back into their rocky caves, and successful anglers will need to tighten down the drag and pull this species away from structure.

The flesh of the grouper has a mild and delicious taste. Prepare it any way you like to eat fish and you won’t be disappointed. During every gulf fishing trip, we make sure

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FISHING we stop off at a reef to fish for leopard grouper.

DORADO An attractive open-water species, dorado are one of the fastest-growing fish in the ocean. Known for their acrobatic leaps after being hooked, dorado will gather around almost any floating debris, feeding on the baitfish that are using the flotsam for protection. Trolling live bait around anything floating, no matter how small, can be a successful technique for putting dorado in the fish box.

An extremely stubborn fighter, a hooked dorado will often attract other fish eager to take bait. I’ve personally caught several additional dorado after the first one was hooked by simply leaving the hooked fish in the water and circling the boat.

Outfits in the 20- to 30-pound range are perfect for trolling buoys

for dorado. This is a species that is not shy about striking and will frequently follow bait all the way to the boat. Dorado are delicious and highly prized by anglers fishing the gulf.

PARGO When in Baja, the term “pargo” is used frequently when describing several species of snapper. The two most common species targeted by anglers are the dogtooth snapper and the mullet snapper. Both are tough species to land and truly a challenge for any fisherman.

Mullet snapper have amazing eyesight, so your hook size and line thickness need to be downgraded in order to entice the big red fish to bite. Once hooked, anglers will find the fight a challenge. This species has a very wide, broomlike tail, which supplies the fish with plenty of pulling power. Being a schooling species, hooked fish will usually stay in open water away from structure.

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Dogtooth snapper are the predator kings of the reef and often stage in rock caves, waiting to ambush prey fish that swim too close. Trolling live baits like ladyfish over rocky structure is an excellent method for anglers looking to tangle with this toothy snapper. Hooking them is the easy part, since they often strike a trolled bait explosively, grabbing it at the surface and instantly heading for the safety of their rocky lair. To be successful, you will need to tighten down the drag and literally drag the hooked snapper to deeper water or risk a lost fish and frayed line.

Both species are excellent eating and will certainly test any angler’s skill. In my opinion, of the species listed here the dogtooth and mullet snapper are the toughest to check off your fishing bucket list.

SAILFISH A member of the marlin family, sailfish are also an acrobatic spe-

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FISHING cies once hooked. While primarily taken on the troll, they can be approached resting on the surface and baited. A tough fighter, sailfish are best fished for during the summer months in the gulf. Thirty- to 50-pound outfits are recommended when targeting billfish.

More of a sport species, when caught sailfish should be released.

The meat can be smoked, but it’s not the best-tasting fish and just enjoying the fight is good enough for most anglers. Unfortunately, my first sailfish came up tail-wrapped and it died before release. It was filleted back at the beach and our captain gladly took most of the meat.

Dorado are very athletic and known to take flight during a fight in open water. (TIM E. HOVEY)

A PLETHORA OF CHOICES Without question, the Gulf of California is a prime destination for world-class fishing for a number of species. The desert-like terrain surrounded by the brilliant blue Sea of

Cortez is really like no other place on Earth. If you enjoy fishing, or just really want an adventure, try traveling south of the border. If you’ve never

112 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

been there, I guarantee you’ll enjoy the experience. Just make sure you pack a fishing rod for the trip.

Or three. CS

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Your Best Six Days In Alaska

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ike Grumet was an insurance agent in Southern California who headed north and is making a living sharing his knowledge and passion of Alaska.

These days, he’s known as the Alaskan RV Butler (thealaskanrvbutler.com), a full-service tour guide. This is the first of a series of his travel tips.

Question: I only have six days in Alaska – what do I do?

Answer: Drive less, fish more, tour!

Anchorage to Seward: The Seward Highway is ranked as a top 10 most scenic highway in the U.S., and it’s only 126 miles!

I suggest renting an RV from ABC Motorhome. Stop at Potter’s Marsh, Beluga Point, Tern Lake, Turnagain Pass, Summit Lake Lodge (for ice cream and coffee), and Moose Pass for a Scenic Mountain Air Glacier flight and finish the drive to Seward.

Camping at Miller’s Landing/Lowell Point: There are RV sites on the beach, convenient to fishing, kayaking, hiking and water taxi service.

Good restrooms, showers, convenience lodge and laundry on site.

In Seward, Waterfront Park is close to the harbor and downtown. Good scenery but more crowded.

Ocean fishing one to two days with J-Dock (Seward Harbor) and/or Miller’s Landing: Miller’s has an exciting new combination tour in which passengers can choose between fishing and kayaking the Northwestern Glacier.

Miller’s even rents DIY fishing boats (no annual halibut limit and self guided). Halibut is closed Wednesday and lingcod opens July, and you can also catch rockfish, yelloweye, salm-

Kayaking the beautiful waters of Aialik Bay (top) near Seward out of Miller’s Landing is just one of many activities available during a trip to the Kenai Peninsula with Mike Grumet (lower left). Mike, the Alaskan RV Butler, will plan your dream vacation in the Last Frontier and serve as your gourmet chef, driver and tour guide, giving you more time to see the sights as well as enjoy fights with Alaska’s big fish, including tasty halibut, which can be processed and packed by local seafood processors such as J-Dock Seafood (bottom right). Also, Captain Jack’s Seafood Locker in Seward will vacuum-seal, store and freeze your catch for airline travel on your trip home. (ALASKAN RV BUTLER)

on, shark and Pacific cod.

There’s also shoreline fishing for one or two days with guide Wes Oetinger. Wes will share “local” fishing/ eagle-viewing spots. Catch oceanfresh salmon to eat or take home.

In Seward, consider side trips to Exit Glacier, Seavey Dog Sled Tours, the Alaska SeaLife Center, and Adventure 60 North.

Editor’s note: The Alaskan RV Butler

offers preset and fully custom RV tours of one to 30 days. He plans and delivers your entire vacation, providing the driving, sightseeing, hiking, fishing, laundry, cooking, and booking your side tours at a discount. You step off the plane or cruise ship and are instantly on vacation. From Sept. 15 to May 1, he offers RV, fishing, lodge and tour booking service and advice for DIY customers. Have a question for Mike? Email at MikeRVButler@gmail. com or call (714) 292-5777.

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TO HUNTING CAMP, LADIES!

Brittany Boddington learned a lot about the outdoors from her dad, longtime writer and sportsman Craig Boddington. She’ll share some of what she’s learned when she teams up to host the She Hunts camp in Texas in May. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

BRINGING WOMEN TOGETHER TO EMBRACE HUNTING

By Brittany Boddington

I

’ve always had a passion for sharing the outdoors with others, but this year I’m taking it to the next level with my new hunting skills camp. I’ve partnered with my good friend Shannon Lansdowne to introduce the She Hunts women’s camp, which takes place at the famous 777 Ranch in Hondo, Texas, in the spring.

I was fortunate enough to have

my father, Craig Boddington, as a resource when I was learning to hunt but the reality is that many young ladies don’t have a father figure like mine. Shannon also grew up in a hunting household. Her dad was an outfitter in British Columbia for many years and taught her everything about hunting and guiding from an early age. So we realize that not all female hunters are lucky enough to grow up with this type of calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2017 California Sportsman

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Boddington says she is fortunate for learning how to hunt from her dad and understands that other young hunters might not have that kind of resource available. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

father figure.

Some women started hunting because their spouse or significant other liked to hunt, but typically the guy still ends up doing all the set-up and

prep for the hunt. Our goal with this camp is to give ladies all the tools and tips that they need to be successful and independent hunters.

In the last few years I have met

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several female hunters who had no male hunters to lead them into the sport; instead, they had chosen to become hunters on their own. There is a clean-eating movement happen-

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ing in the U.S. that has pushed a lot of women to take up hunting in order to feed their families with nonGMO meat. I applaud these women for taking action for their families, but I know it must be difficult to learn everything they need to know about hunting from the internet and television. Our camp is specifically designed to be a safe, fun and informative way for women who want to get into hunting to take a plunge that can be difficult to start.

A GOOD START I remember when I first started hunting at age 17. My dad took me to the

“We want to inspire women to join us in the outdoors and to give them all the tools they need to take on their next hunting adventure with confidence,” Boddington writes. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

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range for the first time and I was so nervous to pull the trigger on the gun that I would flinch terribly. My dad was very experienced in teaching from his years of work with the different Safari Club International youth programs and also from his time in the military, so he knew exactly what to do.

He took the gun I was shooting and switched it with my grandfather’s old Kimber in .22 caliber. He told me to stop shooting at the target and he went and got a metal target and dug it into the ground about 50 yards away. It was one of those reactive targets with the little animals that swing around when you hit them. He told me to stop thinking about the rifle and that this little gun wouldn’t hurt me. He told me to focus on making the little animals move.

I started with the biggest one,

which was in the shape of a little goat.

Once I made that one swing around I started working my way across. I hit the pig next and then the turkey, but the little chicken at the end was tough. It was then that he taught me

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about controlling my breathing.

I could see the little chicken through my crosshairs, but by the time I pulled the trigger I would somehow shift the gun and miss. My dad walked me through how to breathe The Boddingtons have been hunting together since Brittany was a teenager and have traveled the world and filmed plenty of TV hunting shows since.

(BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

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and when to fire. He also taught me that the trigger is never to be pulled but rather squeezed. He also advised me on which part of your finger should be doing the squeezing.

PASS IT ON This type of instruction is not something everyone has access to. I am very fortunate to have had my dad as a teacher, but now I feel like it is time to share some of that knowledge with the next generation of women who hunt or want to hunt.

Our courses will cover everything from mounting a scope and sighting in a rifle to shot placement and field dressing. The 777 Ranch is a beautiful property with all sorts of domestic and exotic animals for our campers to enjoy, as well as an African safari-like lodge with a campfire circle that is perfect for telling stories about

Boddington hopes more young women will overcome anxiety they might have about hunting by attending her camp or others around the country that encourage embracing hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

past adventures. We want to inspire women to join us in the outdoors and to give them all the tools they need to take on their next hunting adventure with confidence.

We would love you to join us from May 29 to June 2!

For more information, check out

SheHuntsSkillsCamp.com or email us at shehunts@hotmail.com. CS Editor’s note: Brittany Boddington is a Los Angeles-based hunter, adventurer and journalist. For more, go to brittanyboddington.com or facebook.com/brittanyboddington.

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Developed to protect valuables from being destroyed in a fire or other natural disaster, or stolen during a burglary, home safes can be locked and provide much greater security than simply placing valuables in a “safe place,” which may actually turn out to not be safe, from any threats to security.

They are the ultimate theft deterrent, as even an amateur burglar can gain entry to a home or business with relatively little effort. Imagine the same thief confronted with a home safe; faced with such secure protection, he’s likely to move on to other, easier targets. For gun owners, SafeandVaultStore carries a wide array of gun safes in all sizes – essential for any responsible gun owner, they are an effective way to prevent deadly accidents. A small gun safe, hidden in the bedroom, provides easy access to handguns during an emergency, while keeping the weapon itself secure. At SafeandVaultStore we offer a wide range of security products designed to protect against the elements, as well as criminals. Fire, hurricanes, and other disasters are, in many parts of the country, more of a danger to sensitive documents and delicate valuables than theft. Protect yourself with a fire or waterproof safe.

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HUNTING

GUN DOG 101: PICKING THE RIGHT DOG

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elcome to our newest column, Gun Doggin’ 101! I’m honored and thrilled to be part of this specialized column, sharing my personal thoughts and experiences in helping you train your gun dog.

Gun dogs are meant to be worked outside every day and hunted with often. If those two things can’t be done, then maybe now isn’t the time to bring one into your life. (SCOTT HAUGEN) calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2017 California Sportsman

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HUNTING I’m not a professional dog trainer and don’t pretend to be. But I’ve had the privilege of hunting behind many different breeds of dogs around the world for more than two decades, as well as working with professional trainers and breeders who’ve taught me a great deal.

I’ve had my own gun dogs for the past three years and have trained them, myself. I’ve also learned a lot while working closely with trainers for more than a decade, and helping train some of their dogs.

THIS COLUMN’S FOCUS is on basic gun dog training for the everyday hunter. We’ll start with choosing the right dog for you, then progress into simple training tips in order to optimize your dog’s performance in the field. From potty to crate training, teaching the sit, stay and come commands, and more, each column will carry valued information to help

you through the critical timeframes of teaching your dog and instilling all-important discipline.

While this column will apply simple training tips for all hunting dogs, it will carry a strong focus toward versatile hunting dogs – dogs that have the ability to do it all, from duck hunting to pointing, shed antler hunting to blood trailing. If you have an upland dog and a water dog, great, you have two wonderful companions to share time with in the field, and we’ll convey training tips to help them along.

This is not an advanced column based on attaining picture-perfect points and high scores on intense field tests. This is for people who want a hunting dog that will obey commands, maintain composure, behave around other dogs and people, and point, flush, track, trail and retrieve. The goal is to help you shape a dog to fit your hunting needs.

SPEAKING OF NEEDS, that’s the first point to consider before even getting a gun dog. When the time comes for you to bring a dog into your life, be honest with yourself in knowing what your needs and interests are, how much time you can realistically give to your dog each day and how the family may be involved or impacted.

Do you want a dog that stays outside in a kennel at night or one that sleeps on your bed? One that sheds or not? One that responds well to other members of the family or just you? One that’s of average intelligence or one so smart it can read your mind? These are just some of the questions that need answering before bringing a dog home.

If you work long hours and have little time to devote to raising a puppy, now may not be the best time to get one. If you live in the city where you can’t get your dog out multiple times day, then now’s likely not the time for a gun dog.

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HUNTING The biggest disservice you can do to a hunting dog is not hunting it very often; even worse, failing to get it outside every day during the first year in order to develop its instincts. If you can’t get the dog out regularly or don’t intend on hunting it more than a few weekends a year, then get a house dog, not a hunting dog. Gun dogs are bred to hunt, and some will go crazy if they can’t.

I hear from hunters all the time how their dogs don’t mind, are overweight, don’t listen when in the field, and are always in the house. The dog’s misbehavior isn’t its fault, as the animal simply wants to do what it was born to, and that’s hunt. A good gun dog will be a better hunter than any human, and if they’re not given the chance to develop, they won’t be happy. Imagine what Michael Jordan would have felt like had he been locked in a house during the height of his NBA career? That’s how an underutilized gun dog feels.

Getting the most of your gun dog begins before bringing one home. Know your needs and the time you have to devote to proper training, then research breeds to find what fits your desires.

(SCOTT HAUGEN)

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Training a puppy is easy; the hard part is consistently devoting 15 minutes a day to that puppy. Split into three short, intense sessions – morning, midday, evening – you’ll be amazed at how simple training can be. In fact, once your pup catches on, as little as six minutes of training per day during the puppy stage will produce impressive results.

IF YOU DON’T have a puppy in your life, and now’s not the right time to get one, then save each one of these columns as a future reference. I’ve already outlined the first two year’s worth of columns, and am excited to share information as I continue learning from and working with adult dogs.

Next month we’ll look at how to prepare your house and the family for bringing a gun dog puppy home, followed by how to potty train, introduce shed antlers and teaching the sit, stay and come commands.

Until then, if you’re thinking of getting a gun dog, ask yourself if now is the right time. If it’s not, and you truly want a dog as a hunting companion, then it’s time to evaluate when that time might be.

I wanted a hunting dog in high school and college, but was too busy. I wanted one when I got married 26 years ago, but we lived in Arctic Alaska, where getting a gun dog out each day wasn’t feasible.

Then my wife and I started a family of our own. Finally, after more than 40 years of wanting a hunting dog, I got one.

Then another.

My life and hunting experiences have changed thanks to these wonderful dogs and the fact they came into my life at the right time. When it comes to getting the most out of your gun dog, timing is everything. CS Editor’s note: To watch some of Scott Haugen’s dog training tips, check out his short videos on the Tall Timber Pudelpointers Facebook page, facebook.com/ pudelpointers.

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BAYSIDE LABRADORS (530) 529-5055

HIGH RIVER LABS (661) 847-8900 • highriverlabs.com

STAR CROWNED GOLDENS (760) 384-2347 • starcrownedgoldens.com

BLAIR RANCH LABRADORS (530) 389-8420

HIGHTEST KENNELS (530) 742 3647 • hightest.com

SURE SHOT SHORTHAIRS KENNEL (510) 372-6893

BLUEWATER BIRD DOGS (916) 393-1994

HILLCREST KENNELS (530) 383-0960 • (530) 383-0960

TALIMAR LABRADORS (916) 689-2549 • talimar.com

HUNTING DOG TRAINER.NET (760) 885-1612 • (760) 885-5924 huntingdogtrainer.net

TOP DOG RETRIEVERS (530) 529-3018 • (530) 736-3242 topdogretrievers.com

JERICHO KENNELS (559) 908-0112

SHADALANE GOLDEN RETRIEVERS (760) 295-2222 • (760) 731-2888 (760) 453-8055 • shadalane.com

BOE DOGS  SPINONE ITALIANO Cynthia Boe • (805) 238-2294 (805) 235-8964 • boedogs.com BRIGHT STAR SETTERS (707) 763-5735

JJZHOTWIRES (858) 472-8772

SHILOH BRITTANYS (760) 508-2193

CAZADOR VIZSLAS (707) 623-1467 • (844) 229-2367 cazadorvizslas.com

JLN LABS (661) 943-1642

CHAMPAGNE KENNELS (619) 463-5660 • (619) 997-2257 champagnegsppups.blogspot.com

LANDMARKENNELS (661) 273-2378 • landmarkkennels.com

CREEKSYDE KENNELS (760) 745-8157 CROOKSTONE FLAT COATED RETRIEVERS (951) 684-2920 DESERT WINDS (760) 782-9166 • desertwindschessies.com DIEHARD GUNDOGS (530) 310-6465 • (530) 310-1110 diehardgundogs.netkennel.com DON O’BRIEN BOARDING & TRAINING KENNELS (916) 687-8638 • obrienkennels@aol.com DOUBLE B GUN DOGS (619) 468-3049 DRAKE’S BAY LABRADORS (858) 689-0070 • drakesbay.tripod.com DREAMWORK GUN DOGS (760) 932-7290 • dreamworkgundogs.com DUCK CREEK SHORTHAIRS (209) 604-4049 DUSTIN RETRIEVERS (406) 684-5255 • (530) 696-0158 dustinretrievers.com ELITE POINTERS (818) 266-1211 • iggboxing@aol.com FEATHER RANCH KENNELS (209) 826-1568 • featherranch.com FOUR PAW KENNELS (408) 839-7631 • fourpaw.com

SONIC PRIDE LABRADORS 831-210-6832 • 831-210-0499

LANE’S GUNSMITHING (661) 246-5850 • (661) 829-7477 MAGICGOLD GOLDEN RETRIEVERS (707) 429-2456 • cherylsdogtraining.com

SPINFANDEL SPINONI (530) 210-7791 • spinfandel.com SUNSET WEIMARANERS (209) 993-7018 sunsetweimaraners.com/index SUPREME POINT KENNELS (916) 289-4848 • (916) 412-2930 • getagriffon.com

MARBLE MOUNTAIN KENNELS (530) 598-0943 • mmkennels.com

SWEETWATER BLUE PICARDY SPANIELS (707) 773-7023 • bluepicardies.com

MCCORMACKS LABRADORS (530) 559-1972 • (530) 273-9151 MEZA’S KENNELS (209) 568-2117 • (209) 568-2117

THE HAVEN KENNEL (707) 528-2627 • (707) 528-2725 thehavenkennel.com

MILLETTE KENNELS (530) 357-4183 • (530) 300-2638 millettebrittanys.com

TRU BRITTANYS (909) 599-1233 • facebook.com/trubrittanys VOM HUBERT SCHMIEDE  DEUTSCH DRAHTHAAR Joe Zimmerman • (925) 550-5512 vomhuberschmiede.com

MOONSHINE KENNELS (559) 759-5182 • (559) 759-5182 moonshinekennels.com MOUNTAIN VIEW RANCH KENNELS (530) 249-3193 MT VALLEY VIZSLA (916) 584-6602 • mtvalleyvizsla.blogspot.com

VON DER NACHT KENNELS (530) 758-8975 WAIDMAN’S IRISH RED AND WHITE SETTERS (209) 691-6156 • waidmansirws.com

MUDBONE KENNELS (760) 789-1175 • (760) 712-7594 NORTHWOOD MOUNTAIN KENNELS (916) 681-7077 • nmk1gsp.net

WHITE DOVE GOLDEN RETRIEVER (805) 438-4420 englishehitegoldenretrieverpuppiesforsale.com

PACIFIC FLYWAY LABRADORS (562) 673-2600 • (562) 239-0809 pacificflywaylabrador.com

WILD PACIFIC PLOTTS (209) 642-3889 • (209) 642-3901 WINCHESTER OAKS KENNEL (951) 757-6933

PALADEN KENNEL (951) 682-6982 PALERMO RANCH KENNELS (530) 532-1833 • palermoranchkennels.com

WINTER CREEK SHORTHAIRS (916) 218-5090 • (916) 257-8344 wintercreekshorthairs.com

POINTINGDOGTRAINER.COM 760-963-9790 • pointingdogtrainer.com

WOODLAND’S HUNT CLUB (626) 732-6519 • (714) 504-4401

GOLDEN STATE GOLDENS (530) 200-1393 • goldenstategoldens.com

POWDER RIVER KENNELS (530) 933-9533 • (916) 396-4335 powderriverkennels.com

WOODS HOLLOW FARM KENNEL (805) 466-6073 • (805) 610-4604 woodshollowfarm.com

GRASSLAND LABRADORS (209) 648-3288 • grasslandlabradors.com

QUAILRIDGE CHESAPEAKE BAY RETRIEVERS (805) 239-0677 • quailridgecbrs.com

YERKES WIREHAIRS (530) 701-5773 • (530) 701-5773

FOXFIRE GOLDEN RETRIEVERS (707) 778-8170 • foxfire-goldens.com GERMAN POINTERS.NET (818) 795-8023 • antonio@germanpointers.net

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HUNTING

SOLD ON S.H.O.T. A HUNTER MAKES HIS FIRST TRIP TO SEE THE ULTIMATE GUN SHOW

Editor’s note: If you’re not part of the shooting, hunting and outdoor trade industries or are but haven’t had your first opportunity to visit Las Vegas for the annual homage to all things shooting known as SHOT Show, attending is not unlike stepping into, say, the Twilight Zone, “... a journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination ... next stop ... the SHOT Show zone.” Our correspondent Al Quackenbush (socalbowhunter.com) took just such a trip last month and returned to share some of his first impressions of products he tested. Photos are courtesy of Michael Taylor of zsurvivalgear.com.

By Albert Quackenbush

Y

ear after year, I have read about all the new gear being released at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in Las Vegas every January, and hoped that one day I would make it there myself. This was the year. My team was assembled, plans were made, and we made the drive from Southern California in great anticipation of SHOT Show 2017. It did not disappoint.

Here are the items I was most impressed with during Industry Day at the Range. These are in no particular order, as they all sparked my interest as a hunter and shooting enthusiast.

The author tries out the Hiperfire triggers for the first time on the SHOW Show test range and wasn’t disappointed. It was his first trip to the popular firearms trade show was worth the wait. (MICHAEL TAYLOR)

HOWA LONG-RANGE RIFLE

HIPERFIRE TRIGGERS

I love a quality bolt-action rifle and the folks at Legacy Sports International (legacysports.com) have a winner. Chambered in .308, not only is this a sweet shooter, but it was dead-on accurate. Smooth action, easy to handle and it felt great when shooting. I have no doubt this would make a fantastic hunting rifle.

After discussing the trigger assemblies and how they functioned, I was asked to shoot some of the rifles with Hiperfire (hiperfire.com) triggers installed. The smooth, constant pressure on your finger forward and back to reset was awesome. I liked both the EDT and 24C triggers, but I didn’t have a great deal of time to evaluate them on the range. I am looking forward to completing my own tests to see what the trigger pull actually is and which one I feel functions better.

It’ll be a tough task because I thought both worked great.

RAVIN CROSSBOWS The HeliCoil technology that boasts a 6-inch axle-to-axle design was evident when this crossbow was cocked. We all got to shoot at 100 yards and my first, and only, shot was an inch left of the center of the bull’s-eye. Ravin (ravincrossbows.com) mentioned the trigger was sensitive and they weren’t kidding. This crossbow is small, lightweight and incredibly accurate.

RISE ARMAMENT RA-1121 RIFLE When I sat down to shoot the new RA-1121(risearmament.com.) chambered in .308, I was immediately asked if I thought a .308 could

be used as a long-range rifle. I said, “Maybe, but I don’t know,” and that’s when I was asked if I’d like to take a shot at 960 yards. Out of four rounds, the first was the only one that didn’t make impact with the gong. The second, third and fourth 175-grain bullets all hit, and to say I was impressed would be an understatement.

DARK STORM INDUSTRIES DS-10 TYPHOON DSI (dark-storm.com) has designed many featureless rifles that are California-compliant and fun to shoot.

We had the pleasure of shooting the DS-10 Typhoon .308 in olive drab Cerakote. With some guidance, we set up to shoot at 200 yards on a small metal pig. I sat down and easily hit 10 out of 10 shots on the pig with a gusting crosswind. The rifle was

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HUNTING smooth, didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a lot of kick and was deadly accurate.

D-DUPLEKS SHOTGUN AMMUNITION As someone who loves to hunt, ďŹ nding ammunition that is California-compliant with all of my weapons can be expensive. I had my eye on the D-Dupleks Steelhead (ddupleks-defence.com) shotgun ammunition before SHOT, and when I spoke with the company, I wanted to know more.

The 495-grain solid rounds leave

the shotgun with a muzzle velocity of 1,410 feet per second and energy of 2,180 foot-pounds. They are described as great for overgrown areas, and I am told they will go through a small sapling. The broadhead ammunition has an expanding effect and fragments differently depending on how close you are to the target. Also at 495-grain, this would make a devastating hunting round.

vorite part of the experience due to how long it takes and how inefďŹ cient the patches are. Once I saw the foam Swab-its (swat-its.com) in action, I was hooked and looked forward to testing them myself on my riďŹ&#x201A;es.

These swabs expand and conform to the inside of the barrel, making 360-degree contact. The big seller for me is that they can be cleaned and are reusable.

SWAB-ITS

THE BEST IN NEW GEAR

Cleaning my weapons is my least fa-

There were so many great people to talk with at SHOT Show. There were some great products and there are many more that I plan to check out for hunting in California. Far too many to mention, but letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simply say that manufacturers know the plight of the California shooter and many are making an effort to ease our burden.

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hope 2017 is a great one for the U.S., that some laws get turned around in California, and our right to bear arms is not infringed upon! CS

Scenes from the SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range outside of Las Vegas last month. Testing some of the best gear on the market was an opportunity author Al Quackenbush couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pass up. (MICHAEL TAYLOR)

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HUNTING

COMPANY PROFILE COMPANY NAME California Outdoor Properties WHAT THEY DO Sell land, including fishing and hunting properties, throughout California and Nevada LOCATION Main office is in Vacaville CONTACT INFO (707) 455-4444; californiaoutdoorproperties.com

C

alifornia Outdoor Properties is one of the largest farm, ranch, and recreational private real estate companies in California. We are not your typical real estate agent.

We are doing something we love. We understand land; we enjoy the outdoors and we hunt, fish, raise cattle and grow crops. Our success is based on our strong work ethic and our

knowledge and love for the land. We specialize in buying and selling the finest recreational, hunting, fishing, equestrian, farm and ranch properties in both California and Nevada.

We go above and beyond what most brokerages offer. Our team will work hard for you, listening to your interests and needs, researching possibilities, and through our expansive referral networking and extensive local, regional, national and international advertising, we will bring buyers and sellers together. CS Editor’s note: Like California Outdoor Properties at facebook.com/CAOutdoorProperties and follow on Twitter (caoutdoorprops).

One of the properties available from California Outdoor Properties features 1,400 acres with private access to the North Fork of the American River in Plumas County.

(CALIFORNIA OUTDOOR PROPERTIES)

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Our area offers some of the very finest Halibut and Ling Cod fishing on the whole BC Coast, including Alaska. We are offering a special early season COMBO Halibut and Ling Cod package for the 2017 season. The dates we have selected for our 2017 Halibut Express are from May 1st to May 5th, May 5th to May 9th, May 9th to May 13th, May 13th to May 17th, May 17th to May 21st, May 21st to May 25th, May 25th to May 29th, May 29th to June 2nd, June 2nd to June 6th, June 6th to June 10th, June 10th to June 14th, June 14th to June 18th and June 18th to June 22nd 2017.This will be a 4 night/5 day package and will include up to 40 hours of guided fishing, all meals and 4 nights accommodations. An added bonus will be that the VACUUM PACKING and FLASH FREEZING of your fish are included in this pricing. This is a heck of a good deal and this package would make a wonderful gift for the fisherman in your family. We will also have our fly-in service available from Seattle, Wash., or Vancouver, BC for these dates.

You will also have the opportunity to target the early runs of CHINOOK and COHO that will be coming through our waters at the time of the season. The pricing for this exciting package is as follows: Party of 2 fishing, 2 per boat…$1875.00 PP + 5% tax. Party of 3 fishing, 3 per boat…$1675.00 PP + 5% tax. Party of 4 fishing, 4 per boat…$1475 PP + 5% tax.

To make your reservations or for more information please give us a call at 1-800-429-5288 or send an email to: rodgersfishinglodge@yahoo.com Best regards, Doug Rodgers PS: With Halibut selling for upwards of $25.00 per pound in your local fish department, you will easily be able to pay for your trip. You are allowed 2 halibut in possession with a combined weight of 100 pounds, 6 Ling Cod in possession and 8 salmon in possession. Last season we were catching Ling Cod up to 50 pounds. Come and fill your freezers!