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California
Sportsman
Volume 14 • Issue 4
Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource
PUBLISHER James R. Baker
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Katie Aumann
GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak
INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@calsportsmanmag.com
EDITOR Chris Cocoles
CORRESPONDENCE Email ccocoles@media-inc.com Twitter @CalSportsMan Facebook.com/californiasportsmanmagazine
CONTRIBUTORS Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, John Heil, Todd Kline, Bill Schaefer SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Kelley Miller, Mike Smith DESIGNER Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly Baker DIGITAL STRATEGIST Jon Hines
ON THE COVER Longtime Southern California bass angler and guide Todd Kline says having a variety of colors and styles of lures will help score some fat largemouth during winter. “Remember that what works today could go out the door overnight,” he writes. (TODD KLINE) MEDIA INC PUBLISHING GROUP 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120 Renton, WA 98057 (800) 332-1736 • Fax (206) 382-9437 media@media-inc.com www.mediaindexpublishing.com
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CONTENTS
VOLUME 14 • ISSUE 4
29
FISH SMARTER FOR WINTER BASS Even the most savvy of bass fishing guides like our Todd Kline understand that catching largemouth in winter isn’t the easiest proposition. But with a tackle box full of swimbaits, jigs and crankbaits – shad imitations work really well – you can have a great day on the lake. Kline dishes on his favorite bait choices and rods and reels to score lunkers even as most anglers wait for spring prespawn action. (TODD KLINE)
FEATURES
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
23
13 17 19 21 47
HOW SACRAMENTO SALMON RECOVERY PLAN WAS HATCHED “Another tool in the toolbox” is how Coleman National Fish Hatchery manager Brett Gaylean describes a new experiment that could help California’s dire Central Valley salmon situation. The plan: release 2 million fall-run Chinook fry directly into the Sacramento River to see if doing so will help replenish dwindling wild stocks and boost sportfishing. The rub: Nobody at the federal hatchery had ever transported such small baby salmon before. John Heil of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service describes how it went down.
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The Editor’s Note Adventures of Todd Kline Photo contest winners Outdoor calendar Training gun dogs to work through and around duck and goose decoys
WORK DEEPER WATER FOR SALTWATER BASS Saltwater calico and sand bass anglers should not forget that even as the fish seek out cover in deeper water during the winter months, they can still be targeted. Capt. Bill Schaefer and his buddies know that and last year enjoyed some big action over the artificial reefs, dropoffs and even sunken boats off the Southern California coast. Schaefer offers up some of his best tips to reward those who do the work to find these fish.
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OUTDOORS LOVE STORY Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a love story that is as much about turkey hunting and trout fishing as it is candy and flowers. Scott and Tiffany Haugen attended rival schools, the University of Oregon and Oregon State University, but they hit it off, married and raised a family. They also share careers in the outdoor writing industry. Scott shares his and Tiff’s story in our From Field to Fire feature. And then check out Tiffany’s recipe for an underrated small game target, squirrel, the “chicken of the trees.”
Read California Sportsman on your desktop or mobile device. Go to www.calsportsmanmag.com/digital California Sportsman is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120, Renton, WA 98057. Annual subscriptions are $29.95 (12 issues). Send check or money order to Media Index Publishing Group, or call (206) 382-9220 with VISA or M/C. 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 © 2022 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 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
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THEEDITOR’SNOTE
The editor hadn’t returned to famed saltwater fishing hot spot Pacifica Pier in a long time, but it stoked some memories. (CHRIS COCOLES)
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henever I visit the Bay Area, it never seems like I have enough time to return to some of the places that trigger memories from my childhood. Sure, a lot of those have been revisited with great nostalgia. I walked my dog through the city park and I ate a sandwich on benches overlooking the baseball diamond, where as a pudgy 10-year-old right fielder/first baseman/catcher I hit a grand slam and was mobbed by teammates at home plate. There’s the deli near my dad’s house where a Sunday trip for a big sandwich to eat while watching football was considered a great weekend treat. Still, there’s so much else out there that I can’t go back to because they’re long gone: a hot dog shop those same friends and I would stop in for a kosher dog
and a Polish sausage; the grocery store I had a job at just before going away to college and a place where coworkers and I worked and played hard together; the Denny’s 24-hour coffee shop friends and I would stop at for a late-night snack after hanging out. I’ll never get to experience those venues again. And that’s what made a recent trip to Northern California so special. I had some time to kill before my flight back home, so my sister and I took a drive from her San Mateo house to the coast. Specifically, we were bound for one of the Bay Area’s – if not the state’s – most prized fishing spots. Pacifica Municipal Pier – its official name is The Rev. Herschell Harkins Memorial Pier – was constructed in 1973 and has been a go-to spot for anglers and crabbers ever since. And while I’ve driven
by Pacifica Pier countless times over the years, it’s been decades since I walked across it and got a glimpse of the action. If it swims in the waters off the San Mateo County coast, chances are one of the pier’s grizzled veterans has pulled it from the ocean. In the summer, when fall-run salmon are preparing to enter the rivers for spawning, savvy anglers can pull up a Chinook. It’s a crabber’s paradise, and stripers, surfperch, thresher sharks and more will bite your bait here. Plus you don’t even need a fishing license to wet a line (daily limit, size, season and other rules still apply). I’ve always been more of a freshwater fishing fan, but I do remember trips to the pier. Back then, you’d often have to squeeze in between fishing rods. It was combat fishing with at times heavy winds and surf slamming into the shore (storm
calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2022 California Sportsman
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This is also a popular destination for crabbers. (CHRIS COCOLES)
On this winter early afternoon, the pier had plenty of open space, but when the conditions are right the place is jam-packed with anglers. (CHRIS COCOLES) There are some places you never forget from your younger fishing days. This pier is one of them. (CHRIS COCOLES)
14 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
damage closed the pier briefly early in 2021). But it was a blast. We’d gather whatever saltwater gear we had in the garage, tie on giant sinkers and cast them out into the surf, then use a sliding swivel rig with some anchovies or other cutbait and hope for a bite. But with so many others fishing the same spot, catching fish was as challenging as staying warm on the usually fog-blanketed coast. On this early afternoon with my sister, the waves were strong, but the wind wasn’t bad and there was actually some sunshine breaking through the clouds. It wasn’t a busy day along the 1,140-foot pier, but it was great to just walk through two sets of anglers in the shallow end – not far from the beach – where many were hoping to pull in a few crabs. And then near the end of the L-shaped pier was another cluster of rods and their owners, most fishing with heavier tackle in hopes of catching something bigger. I could tell many of these folks were old-timers who have been doing this for years. As I walked back down the pier to meet my sister so we could head down to Half Moon Bay to get some lunch before heading to the airport, I wondered where all these years have gone. But for a split second I was a young adult again, fishing elbow to elbow with so many others. I guess next time I’ll look for another hot dog stand to pick up a frankfurter. Pass the mustard. -Chris Cocoles
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16 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
s e r u t n e v d A
This month I headed up to Santa Cruz to call the surfing action at the Toyota USA Surfing Prime event held at Steamer Lane. (TODD KLINE) Steamer Lane is one of the best coastal surfing destinations along the California coast, with a great viewpoint for spectators to watch the action. (TODD KLINE)
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e’re not ashamed to admit it: Todd Kline has the kind of life we wish we could experience. Kline’s a former professional surfer, a successful coangler on the FLW Tour and a Southern California bass guide, plus he gets to travel the world as a commentator for the World Surf League’s telecasts. Todd has agreed to give us a peek on what he’s up to each month. For more on Todd or to book a guided fishing trip with him, check out toddklinefishing.com, and you can follow him on Instagram at @toddokrine. –The Editor
As pricey as gas is in California, an early-morning pit stop on the road to a lake was a necessity. (TODD KLINE)
Knocking out the lunkers in SoCal is what it’s all about. Catch some fish this month! (TODD KLINE)
A healthy winter bass makes for a good day on the water. (TODD KLINE)
calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2022 California Sportsman
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18 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
PHOTO
CONTEST
WINNERS!
Gilbert Luis is the winner of our monthly Fishing Photo Contest, thanks to this shot of wife Katie and her big Washington halibut. It wins him gear from various tackle manufacturers!
Alan Clune is our monthly Coast Hunting Photo Contest winner, thanks to this shot of he and his late-season archery mule deer buck. It wins him a knife and light from Coast!
For your shot at winning hunting and fishing products, send your photos and pertinent details (who, what, when, where) to ccocoles@media-inc .com or California Sportsman, 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120, Renton, WA 98057. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for our print or Internet publications. calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2022 California Sportsman
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North Coast Zone hunters can pursue Canada geese during a late season that runs Feb. 19 through March 10. (GEORGE GENTRY/USFWS)
OUTDOOR CALENDAR
FEBRUARY
1-4 Late-season Imperial County white goose hunt dates 5-6 Late-season falconry waterfowl hunt dates in most zones 5-6 Youth waterfowl hunt dates in most zones 5-6 NorCal Trout Challenge, Collins Lake; anglerspress.com/ events/norcal-trout-anglers-challenge 6 Late-season Northeastern Zone white and white-fronted goose opener 7-11 Late-season Imperial County white goose hunt dates 12-13 Veterans and active military personnel waterfowl hunt dates in Balance of State, Southern San Joaquin Valley and Southern California Zones 14-22 Late-season Imperial County white goose hunt dates 19 Late-season North Coast Canada goose hunt opens 19-20 Late-season falconry waterfowl hunt dates in most zones 19-23 Late-season white and white-fronted goose hunt dates in Balance of State Zone 25-27 The Fly Fishing Show, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton; flyfishingshow.com/pleasanton-ca 26 Bishop Trout Rodeo catch-and-release fishing events, various waters; swcffi.org/rodeo
26-27 Late-season falconry waterfowl hunt dates in most zones 28 Last day of falconry grouse season 28 Last day of Northern California Guides and Sportsmen’s Association Mad River Steelhead Derby; ncgasa.org/2021/11/09/mad-river-steelhead-derby
MARCH 1 2-6
Select Eastern Sierra trout fisheries open Fred Hall Show, Long Beach Convention Center; fredhall.com 4-6 NorCal Boat, Sport and RV Show, Shasta District Fairgrounds, Anderson; norcalsportshow.com 12 Kokanee Power Fundraising Banquet, California Automobile Museum, Sacramento; kokaneepower.org 19 NorCal Trout Angler’s Challenge, San Pablo Reservoir; anglerspress.com/events/norcal-trout-anglers-challenge 19-20 Junior wild turkey hunting dates 20 Last day of falconry rabbit and varying hare season 26 Spring wild turkey season opens
Note: With Covid-19 restrictions uncertain, always confirm events before attending. For a list of upcoming bass tournaments, go to nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FishingContests/default.aspx. calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2022 California Sportsman
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A
t Lake Isabella in the Kern River valley, “The lake gets smaller but the fish get bigger:” Crappie are the order of the day, shown by this recent catch in the trees at Lake Isabella. Warm, quiet days make for enjoyable fishing trips this spring in the High Sierras. Just a short drive from Bakersfield in the Central Valley. All campgrounds around the lake and up the Kern River are open again after a recent fire threat.
Contact the Kern River Valley Chamber for all the latest information.
KernRiverValley.com
22 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA
Just-released fall Chinook fry swim in the Sacramento River. While transporting such small hatchery fish to the stream was something of an unknown, some 2 million of the young salmon are now part of an experiment to help increase declining wild Chinook numbers in Central California and bolster the fishery. (LAURA MAHONEY/USFWS)
SMALL FRY YIELD BIG SUCCESS (SO FAR) IN RUN-BUILDING BID By John Heil
S
uccess on the first try. That’s what transpired this past December and January, when the Coleman National Fish Hatchery transported smaller fry for release into the Sacramento River.
A total of 2 million juvenile fall-run Chinook salmon to be exact. “Nobody here at Coleman has ever transported that small of fry before, despite staff having a lot of experience transporting fish,” said Brett Galyean, hatchery manager and project leader
with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “When you do something new, you’re always just a little bit leery of the outcome, so we started off with really small loads, and then as we gained confidence in our technique and watched what the fish were showing us during
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PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA the transport, we upped that number throughout the day.” With 600,000 fish successfully released on the first try on December 17, Galyean said even he was a little amazed by how well the fish adjusted right away to the river. “I was really surprised at how well the fry swam immediately,” he said. “Most of the time when you put them in a raceway, they go straight to the bottom and they try to ball up in safety. I watched the fry swim back in towards the boat ramp, some swim up the very shallow current in the river – so they were more active. I take that as a good thing – that they were already able to swim and navigate.”
THE PROJECT BEGAN AFTER the Golden State Salmon Association and NorCal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association proposed the idea to USFWS and NOAA-Fisheries in the spring of 2021. From there, the process started with spawning of male and female fish for three consecutive days – a total of 525 fish. During that process each fish was fin punched (tissue sample taken) for genetic sampling. That way, when the adult fish return in late 2023, biologists
A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist collects a genetic sample from an adult salmon that will be used to gauge the effectiveness the new program has on future returns. (DENNIS WHITAKER/ GOLDEN STATE SALMON ASSOCIATION)
will be able to match genetics to the database to begin to determine success. “It is a little nerdy and CSI-like,” Galyean said of the DNA process. After spawning, biologists have the painstaking efforts of enumeration, which involves removing the dead eggs from the live ones to prevent fungus from suffocating the good eggs. This is done two months after spawning in a stage called “eyed,” when they begin to develop eyeballs.
A hatchery staff member places salmon fry in a transport tank. (LAURA MAHONEY/USFWS)
24 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
“This is another example of the Coleman National Fish Hatchery trying to develop different tactics to increase salmon runs back to the north state,” Galyean said. “Another tool in the toolbox.”
THE NEXT STEP IS the release of the fish, which has its own set of challenges. High water levels can be good for the fish, but it’s harder for the hatchery staff. “Higher water – better for the fry being released – but then there is that safety concern with your staff having to wade out and try and set up this 20-foot section of aluminum pipe on a stand out in the river,” Galyean said. “A lower flow, which would be easier for the hatchery staff, isn’t necessarily good for the fish. You are trying to balance your current conditions with what’s best for the fish without minimizing your staff’s safety.” With the fish released into the upper Sacramento River as fry, the hope is they will imprint as they rear and then return to spawn in the upper Sacramento as adults. With a steady decline in natural spawning in the upper Sacramento River over the past decade, this study is an attempt to determine if hatchery-produced fish can be used to increase the natural spawning population. The fry will be too small at the time of their release to be clipped and tagged with conventional coded wire tags, so novel technology is being used. The tis-
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PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA
A hatchery staff member preps a discharge pipe for releasing the salmon fry into the Sacramento River. “The fishermen out there were very interested in what we were doing, so it was a great opportunity to communicate with the public,” Coleman National Fish Hatchery manager Brett Gaylean said. “Everyone was so accommodating of sharing the boat ramp with the hatchery vehicles and release pipes.” (LAURA MAHONEY/USFWS)
sue samples taken from each adult parent salmon will be compared to tissue taken three years from now to identify salmon by matching DNA when they return as adults. Tagging is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of hatchery production programs, determine rates of survival, and calculate how many hatchery-spawned adults “stray” from their natal streams.
A KEY QUESTION RESEARCHERS hope to answer is, How many of these small salmon survive to adulthood and where will they return as adults? “In recent years, in-river salmon fish-
ing has been extremely challenging and we are very hopeful that these additional releases will increase inland recreational angler opportunities,” said NorCal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association president James Stone, who represents river guides and the recreational angling community. “We thank the Service for investigating whether some alternative rearing techniques can make meaningful contributions to our ocean and in-river returning fish populations.” Galyean, who has managed Coleman for five years, said he had a chance to interact with fishermen and other stakeholders while out on the site re-
26 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
leasing the fish. “The fishermen out there were very interested in what we were doing, so it was a great opportunity to communicate with the public. Everyone was so accommodating of sharing the boat ramp with the hatchery vehicles and release pipes.” CS Editor’s note: John Heil serves as the deputy assistant regional director for external affairs in the Pacific Southwest Region headquarters in Sacramento. For more on the USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, go to fws.gov/cno and follow on Twitter (@ USFWS_PSW).
28 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
FISHING
Even as winter is “our most challenging season, it can produce some epic days” for bass anglers, says Southern California guide Todd Kline, here with a double handful of largemouth. (TODD KLINE)
CHALLENGING TASK ACCEPTED HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF WINTER BASS SEASON
By Todd Kline
W
inter can be a challenge when it comes to bass fishing. Luckily for us here in California, we don’t have to cut through ice to fish like many anglers
around the nation. Despite it being our most challenging season, it can produce some epic days. For the most part, the majority of bass go deep in the winter as the bait goes deep in front of them. I generally like to target lakes that have a good shad
population, as it seems easier for me to find active fish on my Lowrance. I also like to fish deep points, outside high spots/humps and rock piles. When you can locate the bait on these particular spots, you will usually locate bass.
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FISHING
“What works today could go out the door overnight, especially if there is a cold front and temperatures really dip,” warns Kline. So it’s important to arm your tackle box with various crankbaits, jigs and other lures, with shad imitations a big hit. (TODD KLINE)
HOW TO FISH BAITS My key baits this time of year are Coolbaits Underspin, Spro Little John, a Spro Aruka shad, jig or a Neko-rigged Yamamoto Senko. I’ll cast out the Coolbaits and let it hit the bottom. Once it hits, I slow roll it in. When fishing with a Little John, I’ll make the longest cast that I can and then try to get it down to bang the rocks. The key is using a long rod like the Okuma 7-foot, 11-inch PowerCrank rod, as this will allow you to make super-long casts. On your retrieve return, it allows the bait to get down deep and bang the rocks. That action could trigger a
bite from hungry bass.
SHAD IMITATIONS ROCK The Aruka shad is a lipless crank, which is a great option for emulating a dying shad. Just cast it out and let it sit. Then slowly lift the rod and then lower its tip. Reel the slack as you lower the rod. Do not rip! Just lift and drop almost like jig fishing. Speaking of jigs, I prefer a ½-ounce jig most of the time and I pair it with a Yamamoto Flappin’ Hog. I usually keep it simple with green pumpkin colors, as it is great for emulating both crawdads and bluegill. This time of year I will usually
30 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
cast it out, let it sink and drag it very, very, slowly! Cast out the Neko rig, let it sink and try not to move it while shaking it on a slackline. Then drag it about 6 inches and repeat the process. While getting the winter bite going is challenging, I feel like one of the abovementioned tactics and setups will generally produce this time of year. Just have some patience and trust that the fish will tell you what they want to gobble up. And remember that what works today could go out the door overnight, especially if there is a cold front and temperatures really dip. Good luck and happy winter fishing! CS
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32 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
FISHING
GET TO THE DEPTHS CALICO, SAND BASS ARE AVAILABLE FOR HEARTY OCEAN ANGLERS By Capt. Bill Schaefer
S
o, you want to go calico bass fishing but the weather is not cooperating. Storms are starting to hit the Southern California coastline and water temperatures are cooling off. Don’t give up because calicos and sand bass are just sliding out onto deeper structure. Last winter brought some great fishing for me and my friends as we worked artificial reefs, drop-offs and even sunken boats off the coast. You too can enjoy this type of fishing; you just have to search for the correct areas to fish.
FINDING COVER You see, up and down the coast are man-made structure such as pipes that are covered with giant boulders. Over time they have become reefs that hold all types of life, supporting the food chain. There are also old bridge pilings, concrete pieces and sunken boats, as well as the natural contours of the bottom. Rebar can make them tackle takers, but just use a weedless jighead and it should cut down on having to retie all the time.
BE A DIGITAL SLEUTH If you have enough of these targets/ reefs stored in your mapping unit, then you have what you need to fish all winter and be successful. You will,
With a match-the-hatch mentality and using a fish finder to track down schools of fish in deep water, clever anglers can really score big on saltwater bass this winter. (BILL SCHAEFER) calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2022 California Sportsman
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FISHING Author Bill Schaefer admires a calico he pulled up from the depths of the Pacific. “Wind and current can play a part in your (bait) choice more than you think,” he says. “If you see that the fish are up off the bottom on your sonar, then don’t go too heavy, as your bait will fly right past them.”
packs or schools and not actually feeding and will look like just slightly elongated hooks. No matter where you find them, it’s always worth a few casts.
FEASTING ON BAITFISH At these depths there is a lot of food for bass to feed on, so it won’t always be a classic ball of some type of baitfish. Marks on the bottom can mean that they are feeding on crabs, including red crab, or lobster, shrimp, octopus or even squid. Some of these can look like a ball of something on your meter, but the reading will be hazy and almost clear because of their makeup. You will learn to identify them over time. Watch what bass spit up when they hit the deck, you throw them in the livewell or bait tank, or when releasing them. Many times observing what they are eating has helped me in a tournament by matching the hatch. If you can come close, shape or color-wise, then you should be able to tempt them into eating your lure. Even the fall of the lure can make a difference.
THINK LIKE A CRAB
of course, need a fish finder with mapping capabilities to mark the spots, but if you don’t have mapping on your unit, a small handheld unit will work too. If you only have the fish finder you’re still in business, as long as you can read the contours of the bottom or the targets. Line up two fixed points on land to find and return to the spots you like, if necessary. You can also carry a notebook to make notes on your favorite spots. Even some less expensive fish finders have GPS/mapping and higher resolution than older models and will really help you out. Can you tell the bass from the
schools of rockfish on the structure? Yes, if your unit has high resolution, such as my Lowrance HDS 12 Live Sonar. On structure, the rockfish tend to look more like a school of bait and only a little larger in makeup. The bass tend to look more like streaks or the classic hooks you have come to recognize. Even though they slide out to deeper water or are on, say, a pile of old bridge pilings, they can be up off the bottom chasing baitfish and feeding. If this is the case, then you will usually see a ball of some type of bait above them and the streaks on your meter running through that bait are the bass. They can also be up prowling in wolf
34 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
Speaking of, how your lure falls through the water column can be a game-changer. Think about how a red crab just drifts with the current. One tournament we couldn’t get bit until we went to a lighter jig head so the bait would just drift down slowly. Usually, you will need a heavier head than when fishing the kelp, but it can still be anywhere from ½ ounce to 2 ounces. You just don’t want any more weight than you need. Wind and current can play a part in your choice more than you think. If you see that the fish are up off the bottom on your sonar, then don’t go too heavy, as your bait will fly right past them. Most of the fish may not even see your lure go by. A lighter living rubber jighead, like a Reebs or Warbaits, trailed with a swimbait, creature bait or giant grub will work well when the fish are
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calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2022 California Sportsman
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FISHING Kelvin Nettleton unhooks a nice deep-water bass. Winter is a great time to get on a boat and head out to the depths for some great fishing. (BILL SCHAEFER)
a few of the companies you should try out. For colors, match the hatch with something similar to what the fish are spitting up, if you see it.
OTHER OPTIONS As I mentioned, bass can be out in deep water but feeding up off the bottom. Other lures like spinnerbaits, various jigs, iron, spoons, crankbaits, jerkbaits and umbrella rigs can attract a bite. The crankbaits can dive down to the bass; the iron is heavy enough to fall to them; the jigs are weighted as well; and spinnerbaits in the 1to 2-ounce size will get to the bass. Umbrella rigs do well on feeding bass, as they emulate a school of baitfish. It’s fun to use different lures at times to enhance the experience and the fun of catching. Experimenting can be great, especially when you hook up.
RODS, REELS AND MORE
keyed on red crab. Again, the size of your jighead can be key to the fall of the bait, but so can the swimbait you choose.
GET IN THE SWIM OF THINGS Have you ever been fishing with a buddy and he keeps catching bass and you don’t? Different swimbait manufacturers all believe in the design of their bait, especially the tail and the vibration it puts out. Larger thumping tails to quicker
vibrating tails and everything in between can make a difference. If you are not catching fish, then don’t hesitate to change baits – and not just color but tail shape. It’s good to carry different companies’ swimbaits, but also make sure they’re in the same colors. That way you can still emulate the baitfish but also adjust the vibration of the tail. Big Hammer, MC Swimbaits, LK Lures, Reyes Swimbaits, Reebs Lures and Western Plastics are just
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This brings us to the tackle you’ll need. Don’t panic because the gear you use in the kelp will work in the deep areas too. My favorite rod and reel combo is the Daiwa DXSB Swimbait rod with a Lexa 300 WN reel and 15-pound Maxima Ultragreen line. You are out in deep water, and once you get the fish coming there’s really nothing you’ll break off on. Just wind and set the hook to take the stretch out of the line. If you’re loaded up with braid, that works too; I use it in some deeper spots, over 100 feet deep. As you can see, you don’t need to change much to follow the bass around during the year. Minor adjustments can help you catch fish in deeper water, and thinking through what mode the bass are in will also make you a better bass fisherman. Your tackle is pretty much the same throughout the year, and in the winter you really won’t have to change anything except the weight and fall of your lures. It may be a little cold in the morning, but once you get hooked on following the bass, you can fish them all year, from shallow to deep and back again. CS
EUGENE, OR Maxxum Marine (541) 686-3572 1700 State Hwy 99 N lloyd@maxxummarine.com www.maxxummarine.com
calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2022 California Sportsman
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May is the best month of the season for Halibut, and Winter Chinook (Kings), and you can’t beat Zeballos.
2022 SPECIALS NOW BOOKING FOR MAY Dates Available for May: 1st-4th, 4th-7th, 7th-10th, 10th-13th, 13th-17th, 17th-20th, 20th-23rd, 23rd-26th, 26th-29th, 29th-31st.
SALMON
The most successful Salmon Hatchery on the Pacific Coast is just 30 miles from Zeballos. For the past several years, over 50,000 Chinook Salmon have returned each fall to the Conuma Creek spawning grounds where the hatchery is located. Most of these migrating Salmon start to come through our waters starting in May. We have non-spawning Chinook Salmon in our waters year-round—Winter Chinook (Kings, or Springs). In May you'll be catching on average 12 to 18 pound Salmon—absolutely the best table fare.
HALIBUT
We are located very close to an amazing halibut fishery that seems never ending. We can't remember a trip where we didn't hook into many of these amazing eating fish. Come with us, and we'll show you how to bring up white gold. Be prepared with coolers!
Limited trips left, book now before we are sold out!
DAY TRIPPER
Up to 4 people per boat, expect full limits Three Great Locations: Zeballos, Tahsis & Tofino - 28' offshore boat up to 12 hours of fully guided fishing - Full private enclosed head on board - Breakfast, coffee, sodas, water, lunch, and lots of snacks included - All fishing gear provided - Rain gear provided - Cleaning of your catch - Bring a large cooler packed with ice to transport your catch home
$455.00 USD + 5% tax /per person Book Your Day Trippers Trip at zeballostopguides.com/day-trips. Complete and submit the form. TRIP LIMITS for Day Tripper Package: 4 Salmon of which 2 can be Kings and two can be Silvers, 1 Halibut up to 70 pounds, 3 Lingcod and 4 Rockcod. We have purchased Halibut Quota from the Commercial Halibut Fleet and if you wish to take extra Halibut, the cost will be about $5 per pound.
HALIBUT EXPRESS
Drive-In 3 Nights / 4 Days Package Join us for our 11th annual Halibut Express starting May 1st, 2022! - 20 hours of guided fishing - 3 nights accommodation at the Cedars Inn - All meals including wine with the dinner meals - Cleaning and filleting of your catch - All fishing tackle provided (You are welcome to bring your favorite rod and reel)
Party of 2 fishing 2 per boat: $1725 + tax USD Per Person Party of 3 fishing 3 per boat: $1395 + tax USD Per Person Party of 4 fishing 4 per boat: $1100 + tax USD Per Person TRIP LIMITS for 3N/4D Halibut Express Package: 8 Salmon of which 4 can be Chinook (Kings), 2 Halibut, 6 Lingcod, and 8 Rockcod. We have have purchased Halibut Quota from the Commercial Halibut Fleet and if you wish to take extra Halibut, the cost will be about $5 per pound.
LEARN MORE
zeballostopguides.com/halibut-special Call 250-337-2158 Email: doug.zeballostopguides2022@gmail.com
NOTES: Fishing Licenses required and can be purchased April 1, 2022
Guide and Staff gratuities not included Bring your own coolers ... you’ll need them!
Don’t wait—packages sell out fast every year, contact us now!
HUNTING
FROM FIELD...
In 32 years of marriage and as partners in the outdoors industry, Scott and Tiffany Haugen have shared plenty of adventures. One of the most enjoyable hunts for the Haugens is fall turkey hunting with their dog, Echo, a pudelpointer. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
LOVE, AMERICAN (OUTDOORS) STYLE HOW FISHING AND HUNTING ALSO GAVE A COUPLE THEIR PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHIP By Scott Haugen
W
e met in first grade. Our parents grew up together. Our grandparents even knew one another. I didn’t talk to Tiffany Fountain much during our years in elementary, middle and high school. But we did meet for dinner one evening after graduating from college, her from Oregon State University, me from the rival University of Oregon.
“What are you going to do with your teaching degree?” she asked. “Move to the Alaskan Arctic, where I can teach in a tiny village and learn to hunt and trap with the Inupiat Eskimo peoples,” I replied. She looked at me and offered, “You better do it now while you’re young and single, because no woman will follow you up there!” Tiffany had also earned an education degree. Four months later we were engaged and nine months
later we were married and teaching school in one of the tiniest locations on the Arctic coast.
WE’VE BEEN MARRIED NEARLY 32 years and our lives have never slowed down. After teaching in small schools for seven years in the Arctic we moved to Sumatra, Indonesia, where we taught at an international school for four years. We started our own family and eventually moved back home to Walterville, Oregon, east of Eugene.
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HUNTING
... TO FIRE
Squirrels offer some really tender game meat for your table. Tiffany Haugen’s latest recipe is a spaghetti dish flavored by these little mammals. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)
ENJOY THE ‘CHICKEN OF THE TREES’ By Tiffany Haugen
W
ith the growing interest in hunting as a way of putting protein on the table, don’t overlook the little critters. California has four species of tree squirrels that can be hunted during designated seasons, with the Western gray squirrel being our favorite to eat. Super versatile, squirrel can be cooked up just about any way you like. And yes, it does taste a bit like chicken, or maybe more like a young wild turkey. Low and slow or pressure cooked is an ideal way to cook up all cuts of a squirrel. Because squirrel is incredibly lean meat, it’s best cooked using a moist heat method. We don’t cook them whole because they are much easier to cook once segmented. Simply butcher off the saddle, hind and front quarters and put in a slow cooker or pressure cooker, such as an Instant Pot. This is an easy, foolproof recipe that will
bring out the best flavor with your “chicken of the trees.” It also works well with brush rabbits and cottontails.
40 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
2 to 3 pounds bone-in or boneless squirrel (or rabbit) meat One 10-ounce jar Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies* One 6-ounce can tomato paste One medium onion, chopped 4 to 6 cloves garlic, peeled ½ cup water ¼ cup apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper ½ stick butter ¼ cup fresh chopped parsley and/or basil Parmesan cheese, if desired Place squirrel, Rotel, tomato paste, onion, garlic, water, vinegar, salt and pepper in a slow cooker or pressure cooker. Mix well, coating squirrel with tomato mixture. In a slow cooker, cook for four to six hours on high or until squirrel meat falls from bones. In a pressure cooker, set pressure to high and cook 11 minutes for boneless squirrel and 15 minutes for bone-in squirrel pieces. Let pressure release on its own before checking for doneness. When squirrel meat is done, remove bones from the meat and add butter and fresh chopped herbs. Let sauce continue to simmer and reduce while making spaghetti noodles. Cook spaghetti according to package directions and add to sauce before serving. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and more fresh herbs if desired. *For more sauce, or a Rotel substitution, use a 14.5-ounce can of diced tomatoes and an 8-ounce can of diced roasted green chilies in place of the Rotel.
Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany Haugen's popular book, Cooking Big Game, send a check for $20 to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489, or visit scotthaugen .com for this and other titles.
OREGON EUGENE Maxxum Marine (541) 686-3572 • www.maxxummarine.com
calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2022 California Sportsman
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HUNTING
For nearly a decade early in their married life, the Haugens lived in remote Alaska. There and to this day, wild game and fish – like these sheefish taken through 7 feet of ice – are on the daily menu for these outdoor industry professionals and fishing, hunting and cookbook authors. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
In 1997 I started dabbling in outdoor writing. My first book, Hunting the Alaskan High Arctic, became an all-time best seller for the publisher. By 2001 I felt I could make a living in the outdoor industry as a full-time writer. I made $11,000 that year. But I was forming valuable relationships, while speaking opportunities and TV hosting jobs soon came along. The timing was right. Before I knew it I was traveling the world hunting and fishing and hosting multiple TV shows. My writing career also boomed. Some years I was in the field over 280 days. Then, when hunting season was over the speaking circuit began, and that’s
where Tiffany came in. Though Tiff and our two sons joined me on many hunting and fishing trips and were part of the TV shows, it was Tiffany’s ability as a wild game cook that paved her way into the industry. During our time in Alaska we ate only the meat we caught and killed. We ate fish and game every single day. We did – and have always done – our own butchering. With Tiff’s cooking abilities and vast diversity, she was quickly in high demand by companies in the outdoor industry.
IT WASN’T LONG AFTER that we were speaking three months of the year at
42 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
big events like the NRA Convention and many sport shows around the country. One weekend we’d be in Charlotte, then Sacramento, Portland, Las Vegas, Nashville and more. I offered seminars on hunting and fishing techniques, while Tiff gave many on wild game cooking. But our favorite seminars were when we worked together. Oftentimes whole deer or pigs were brought in and we butchered the entire animal. Then Tiff would work her magic, whipping up some great recipes to feed the attendees. To this day she’s the best cook I’ve ever met. We still eat wild game and fish every day. I don’t like going to restaurants
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HUNTING outdoor industry at a prime time and just happened to be the team some key companies were looking for. Had we not been able to work with each other all these years, there’s no way I could have done it alone. One fall I was home eight days between the hunting season opener of August 1 and Christmas; Tiff had the hardest part at that time while being home alone with our two young sons. But she always supported me, never questioned the direction we were going, and each passing year led to more opportunities. When I was on the road, Tiffany was going full speed ahead on her cookbooks, cooking columns and working with many companies in the outdoor industry developing recipes and cooking equipment, even women’s clothing lines.
The Haugens have been to Africa multiple times. Tiffany took this East Cape kudu on their last safari and ranks it atop her favorite tasting wild game meat. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
because they’re never as good as what Tiffany cooks up. Together we’ve written over 20 books, mine on hunting and fishing, Tiff’s on cooking wild game and fish. The cookbooks took the most work. Her popular Cooking Game Birds book was six years in the making; that’s how long it took for her to get things exactly the way she wanted them when it came to wild birds. When she’s in cooking mode, Tiffany is often preparing a halfdozen recipes a day and having test cooks replicate recipes, as well as taste-testers give her feedback.
Over the years our workload has expanded to include photography, marketing and more. Often we work 16 hours a day each, usually side by side when at home. It’s been far from easy, but I would not change any of it. The times we spent together, as a family, butchering a whole elk, deer and bear, are experiences none of us will forget. Traveling the world, filming TV shows in Africa, the South Pacific and Alaska, were a blessed opportunity. From the time our boys were small they were hunting, fishing and helping butcher what we took. As it turned out, we got into the
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I FELL IN LOVE with Tiffany at our first dinner many years ago because of her confidence and zest for seeking adventure. No challenge is too great for her. Her confidence has never waned, and to this day she’s the hardest-working, most positive person I’ve ever met. Recently I was in a hunting camp. I don’t often share personal stories, but the people in this camp were particularly interested in hearing how I survived a plane crash and a sunken boat in remote Alaska, getting charged by a brown bear, being covered with leeches in the Outback of Australia, and more. “Wow,” one man exclaimed, “that’s mind boggling to even imagine. So, what’s your greatest fear: drowning, being eaten by a bear, or dying in a plane crash?” I looked him in the eye. “My greatest fear isn’t dying. My greatest fear is having something happen to my best friend, Tiffany.” Enjoy this Valentine’s Day and embrace the one you love. CS Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen's popular books, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.
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HUNTING When it comes to retrieving ducks on water, educating your dog to not only negotiate decoys, but also jerk cords and anchor lines, is important. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
TRAINING DOGS ABOUT DEKES By Scott Haugen
W
ith a solid duck season behind us, waterfowlers are gearing up for late goose hunting in some California zones. And with any form of waterfowl hunting comes the use of decoys. Getting a new dog used to decoys is important; even familiarizing them with sizes and numbers of changing spreads is a good idea, no matter how experienced they are. If you have a new pup, the process of training it to work around decoys starts with familiarizing the dog with toys at 8 weeks of age, followed by soft bumpers, then hard bumpers as their adult teeth come in. This education will make for a smooth
transition into decoy work.
WHEN INTRODUCING YOUR PUP to decoys, start on land. Show them a decoy, string and weight. As soon as the pup takes interest in water, toss a couple decoys into a shallow place so they can wade and explore. If they bite a decoy, stop them and toss a bumper to the pup to redirect its attention. Once the pup fetches the bumper a couple times, toss it past the decoys so the dog has to wade beyond them. Eventually you can add a few more decoys, then move to deeper water where the pup must swim through a small spread to get the bumper. Think of all the places you’ll potentially hunt over decoys, be it geese in coming weeks or next fall for ducks.
Envision the spreads and riggings and how your dog will negotiate them. You may be hunting over decoys of various shapes, sizes and numbers, in shallow ponds, lakes, creeks, rivers, bays or an array of fields. You might have six duck decoys in a small ditch, or 75 dozen goose decoys tightly packed in a green grassy field. Whatever the situation, prepare your dog to confidently retrieve in the decoys. Of course, there’s no need to put out 75 dozen cackler or snow goose windsock decoys just to train your dog; a dozen will do. Tightly position them and walk your pup through the decoys with a bumper in its mouth. Toss bumpers around and into the spread so the dog has to run through the decoys, making contact with them. As
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47
HUNTING Echo, author Scott Haugen’s 8-year-old pudelpointer, has been on hundreds of waterfowl hunts, but this was her first with magnum honker decoys in the spread. She was so distracted by the big shells that she didn’t focus on the hunt until Haugen took time to familiarize her with them. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
the retrieves progress, switch to a duck dummy, then a goose dummy as your pup grows. You might strap wings to the dummy so there are moving parts to make it realistic.
THE MORE FAMILIAR YOUR dog gets with swimming around and through several types of decoys, the better. As you’ll quickly discover, the priority is not to differentiate a decoy from a bird (or bumper), because dogs are smart and quickly make that distinction. What you want is the pup to get used to chasing ducks around decoys, where tangles are possible. Last season I hunted a shallow pond and dropped a pair of wigeon in the decoys. My female dog, Echo, got right on the dead bird. The other cottontop kept diving amid a series of floaters I had lashed to a jerk cord. My male dog, Kona, got a back foot tangled in the cord. Fortunately he could stand and keep his head above water, so I whoaed him and quickly
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HUNTING waded out. The string was so tightly wound around his foot and toes that I had to cut the line. That night I replaced my thin jerk cord with a stiff one that wouldn’t tangle. To create movement in my spreads I have multiple jerk cords running from the blind, as motorized decoys are forbidden in many places I hunt. Make sure such lines are elevated for your dog to enter the water without getting tangled. When on the retrieve, you might have to raise the cord for your dog to swim under, or add a slip-weight to the line so it sinks deep enough for your dog to swim over. If using wind-aided decoys, mechanical decoys, flags, even socks that move in a breeze, introduce them to your pup before the hunt. Make sure they know how these decoys move and sound, as this will keep them focused on approaching birds, allowing them to mark and achieve solid retrieves. Doing some prehunt bumper work around
motorized decoys (where legal) that throw water isn’t a bad idea.
ONE OF THE BEST times to familiarize your pup with decoys is on the actual hunt. When setting decoys, have the pup walk or briefly swim by your side so it learns what’s happening. Keep it fun and encourage the dog, remembering this is new to them. Once the decoys are set, take time to walk or swim the pup through the spread. When there’s a lull, give it a bird and have it swim or walk through the decoys with it, offering encouragement; you can even toss it or place it for a retrieve. A buddy always takes a bumper to toss into the decoys for his dog during days when birds aren’t flying. I remember Kona’s first hunt in a spread of over 60 dozen decoys. Once all the silhouette, sock and full-body goose decoys were set on the edge of a field, along with dozens of floating, moving and silhouette duck decoys
on a flooded creek, I walked him through the spread before shooting time. Once Kona got familiar with the spread, he calmed down and it was all business. With the late goose season upon us, anticipate what surprises your pup may encounter when hunting in different decoy spreads, then prepare accordingly. If planning on getting a pup this spring, it’s also never too soon to think about next season’s hunting situations. The more hunts you go on and the more time you devote to training, the more familiar your dog will be when hunting around various decoy spreads, thus the more focused they’ll be on marking and retrieving birds. CS Editor’s note: Scott Haugen is a waterfowl hunter of 47 years and a full-time writer. Learn more about his many books at scotthaugen.com and follow him on Instagram and Facebook.
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