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California
Sportsman
Volume 16 • Issue 4
Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource
PUBLISHER James R. Baker
INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn
GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@calsportsmanmag.com
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott
CORRESPONDENCE Email ccocoles@media-inc.com Twitter @CalSportsMan Facebook.com/californiasportsmanmagazine
EDITOR Chris Cocoles CONTRIBUTORS Mark Fong, Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Cal Kellogg, Todd Kline, Joe Sarmiento SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold
ON THE COVER Joe Sarmiento says winter is an ideal time to head south for a Mexican fishing bonanza, including lingcod, rockfish and yellowtail. San Quintin, on Baja’s Pacific Ocean coast, offers anglers an ideal home base to escape winter’s chill for sun and fun. (ETHAN MAYES)
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Lucas Hoene, Tom St. Clair DESIGNER Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly Baker DIGITAL STRATEGIST Jon Hines ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Katie Aumann
6 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2024 | calsportsmanmag.com
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CONTENTS
VOLUME 16 • ISSUE 4
TIME TO JOIN THE CLUB
California has plenty of bird hunting preserves, where members can gather in the clubhouse to sip coffee and swap stories after pursuing pheasants and chukars released onto the property. Our Cal Kellogg is a veteran of these institutions and provides the 411 on whether joining the club is right for you.
41 FEATURES 27
KOKANEE IN THE COLD Not quite ready to head to Mexico for winter? Mark Fong has a solution to get your winter fishing fix: kokanee in a few Northern California Sierra Foothill fisheries. Anglers who think these landlocked salmon are only fished for in spring and summer should reconsider, layer up and head to lakes such as Bullards Bar Reservoir and get in on the February fun.
33
(CAL KELLOGG)
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 11 Editor’s Note 13 The Adventures of Todd Kline 15 Outdoor Calendar 17 59
Folsom Lake trout, king salmon Hunting late-season cackling geese with your gun dog
HEAD SOUTH FOR WARMER WEATHER, RED-HOT YELLOWTAIL Joe Sarmiento, known in the blogosphere as SoCal Salty, is indeed in the know on the coastal fishing scene, and that includes south of the border as well. This month, Sarmiento sells the idea of heading to Baja California for a winter getaway to target hard-fighting and tasty yellowtail near the Pacific Ocean beach town of San Quintin. Vamos!
50
QUACKER SEASON POSTMORTEM With duck season now in the rearview mirror and his eye firmly fixed on future success, Scott Haugen is taking a look back at what did and didn’t work for him during 2023-24’s waterfowl hunt. And in her portion of the Haugens’ From Field To Fire column, Tiffany offers up a flavor-packed upland bird recipe.
Get the digital version of California Sportsman for free. 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 $39.95 (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 © 2024 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. 8 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2024 | calsportsmanmag.com
THEEDITOR’SNOTE
H
aving spent the bulk of my college days and the first few years of my professional journalism career in the Central Valley, I’ve always had an affection for the valley and Sierra foothill lakes between Fresno and Redding. The memory of one of the first fish that I ever caught at Pardee Lake; night catfishing at Pardee’s Mother Lode neighbor, Camanche; joining family and friends for Memorial Day weekend camping trips at now closed Oakwood Lake in Manteca (highlighted by an annual softball game against a neighboring group that always beat us); tagging along with a friend for an electrofishing adventure with rangers at New Melones Lake; lazy Lake Oroville days fishing with
friends/guides Rick Kennedy and the late Manny Saldana; losing a couple trout right up against the bank at Collins Lake while dunking Power Bait with my niece (the postgame ice cream at the Collins Lake store was a nice consolation prize). So yes, I have some great memories at these places. But I remember the last time I was at Folsom Lake in Sacramento, and feeling my heart sink. During the summer of 2021, I drove down Interstate 5 enroute to spending some time with my family. Along the way I stopped at several drought-stricken lakes and river areas to record some of the toll the lack of precipitation was causing (California Sportsman, July 2021). On the way to visit my niece Ashley, who lives in the
Sacramento suburb of Citrus Heights, a short detour to Folsom served up the most eye-opening experience of that tour. The lake was as low as I ever imagined. It felt more like a pond, and I couldn’t help but feel helpless that a once mighty body of water looked so sickly. Fast forward to almost three years later and Folsom – like many other comparable reservoir fisheries – is sitting in much better shape, with water levels above the historical average for this time of year. And as our correspondent Cal Kellogg writes, it is churning out plenty of trout and landlocked salmon for anglers (page 17). I hope to get back to a Central Valley lake soon and make some memories.
-Chris Cocoles
Folsom Lake water levels have improved dramatically (top) since the editor’s visit during the drought of 2021 (this image), leading to better angling prospects, as chronicled in Cal Kellogg’s story on the reservoir’s trout and salmon fishery. (CHRIS COCOLES/CAL KELLOGG) calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2024 California Sportsman
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s e r u t n e v d A
W
e’re not ashamed to admit it: Todd Kline has the kind of life we wish we could experience. Kline’s a former professional surfer, a successful co-angler on the FLW Tour and a Southern California bass guide, plus he gets to travel the world as a commentator for the World Surf League’s telecasts. Todd has agreed to give us a peek at what he’s up to each month. For more on Todd or to book a guided fishing trip with him, check out toddklinefishing.com, and you can follow him on Instagram at @toddokrine. –The Editor
Sunset on Florida’s Lake June. (TODD KLINE)
My son Dylan and I during a Florida bass outing. (TODD KLINE) Dolphins e Miami st game of m ti fe li I am a went to the la st Buffalo fan and lar season again where the regu visit to Florida, m and during a me with my mo Dolphins I spent tiRory (left). The (TODD KLINE) brother we had a blast. lost, but
My wife have also and I taking D been visit colleylan to is intere ges he We snappsted in. pic while ed this the Unive visiting rs Florida – ity of h of the Ga ome tors! (T ODD KLIN E)
ght We watched as this osprey cau acoastal needlefish each day on the Intr Waterway. (TODD KLINE)
Day one on Laked you Okeechobee, anis is one can see why th best bass of the nation’s KLINE) fisheries. (TODD
I had a fun day fis with my longtime hing Okeechobee Coleman. (TODD KLI friend Charley NE)
calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2024 California Sportsman
13
OUTDOOR CALENDAR
February offers several late white goose hunting opportunities in California, including three open periods in Imperial County, the Feb. 7 opener in the Northeastern Zone and the Feb. 17-21 Balance of State Zone hunt. (LORI DIETER/CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE)
FEBRUARY
1-2, 5-9, 12-20 Imperial County white geese season dates 1-4 Ducks-only falconry season in Colorado River Zone 3 NorCal Trout Angler’s Challenge, San Pablo Reservoir; anglerspress.com/events/norcal-trout-anglers-challenge 3-4 Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days in most zones 3-4, 17-18, 24 Falconry take of waterfowl dates in Balance of State Zone, Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone (ducks only) and Southern California zone 7 Northeastern Zone white and white-fronted late geese season opens 10 Lake Sonoma Steelhead Festival; steelheadfestival.org 10-11 Veterans And Active Military Personnel Waterfowl Hunting Days in Balance of State (ducks only), Southern San Joaquin Valley and Southern California Zones 12 North Coast Special Management Area Canada geese late season opens 17 Fishing in the City Clinic, Howe Community Park, Sacramento; wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing-in-the-City 15-18 Bart Hall Show, San Diego, Del Mar Fairgrounds; hallshows.com 17-21 Balance of State Zone white and white-fronted geese late season dates 23-25 The Fly Fishing Show, Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton; flyfishingshow.com/pleasanton-ca
29
Last day of falconry seasons for chukar, pheasant, quail, ruffed and sooty grouse, and white-tailed ptarmigan
MARCH
1-3
Bart Hall Shows Pomona Boat Show, Pomona Fairplex; hallshows.com 1-3 NorCal Boat, Sport and RV Show, Shasta District Fairgrounds, Anderson; norcalsportshow.com 10 Last day of North Coast Special Management Area Canada geese and Northeastern Zone late white and white-fronted geese seasons 16 NorCal Trout Angler’s Challenge, Lake Amador; anglerspress.com/events/norcal-trout-anglers-challenge 17 Last day of falconry rabbit and varying hare season 23 Blake Jones Trout Derby, Owens River and Pleasant Valley Reservoir, Bishop; bishopvisitor.com/event/ blake-jones-trout-derby 23-24 Junior wild turkey hunting dates 23-25 Isabella Lake Fishing Derby; kernrivervalley.com/ isabellalakefishingderby 30 Spring wild turkey season opens For a list of upcoming bass tournaments, go to nrm.dfg. ca.gov/FishingContests/default.aspx.
calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2024 California Sportsman
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16 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2024 | calsportsmanmag.com
FISHING
Folsom Lake is packed with beautiful rainbow trout ranging up to 5-plus pounds, but they can be elusive and challenging to hook at times. Author Cal Kellogg nailed this dandy while pulling a pink Trout Trix Worm 5 feet deep from his kayak this January. (CAL KELLOGG)
ENJOY BLISS, NOT BLUES AT FOLSOM
HOW TO SOLVE SACRAMENTO LAKE’S ‘QUIRKY’ TROUT AND SALMON FISHERIES By Cal Kellogg
I
’ve been fishing for trout and king salmon at Folsom Lake for the better part of three decades. I’ve enjoyed many outstanding trips plying the reservoir’s waters, but I’ve also endured my share of frustration. As good as Folsom can be, it can also be quirky and challenging. Working as a full-time instructional
trout fishing guide and lure manufacturer in Northern California, one of the questions commonly tossed my way is how to consistently catch trout and king salmon at Folsom Lake. Folsom garners a lot of angler interest because it’s a large reservoir offering easy access for folks living in the valley and foothills along the Interstate 80 and Highway 50 corridors. There are a lot of trout
anglers in this region, and they know Folsom boasts a strong population of rainbows and kings, yet many of these anglers struggle to hook fish when they visit Folsom. If you reside within striking distance of Folsom and you’d like to improve your success rate while fishing the lake, continue reading, because I think I can help. Late winter and spring are a great time to fish Folsom, and fishing
calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2024 California Sportsman
17
FISHING conditions look to be above average for the 2024 season.
FOLSOM AT A GLANCE I tell my clients one of the cornerstones of consistent trout fishing success is doing your homework about the body of water you’re fishing, so let’s start there. Folsom Lake was formed by impounding the North, Middle and South Forks of the American River back in the 1950s. When at full capacity, the reservoir covers 11,500 surface acres. It features a pair of river arms – the North and South Forks – and a large 200-plus-foot-deep main body bordered by the dam and a system of dikes. For these reasons, you can think of Folsom as three lakes in one. Gamefish abound in Folsom. It holds channel catfish, smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass, bluegill, crappie and sunfish, rainbow trout, and landlocked king salmon. Forage is abundant in the form
Wes Ward used a copper Trigger Spoon last spring to trick this trout at the reservoir on the American River. (CAL KELLOGG)
Kellogg rounded up these husky Folsom holdover rainbows while pulling Trigger Minnows. The soft plastic baits resemble the shape and action of a pond smelt when teamed with an Action Disc. (CAL KELLOGG)
of both threadfin shad and Japanese pond smelt. At times, the lake’s various gamefish species show a distinct preference for smelt or shad, and there are times when they respond to both equally well. Folsom’s salmon and trout populations are somewhat unique. You have fish that are planted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. In addition to the planters, you have wild populations. These are rainbows and salmon produced by natural spawning in the lake’s arms. Kings have been documented spawning in the South and North Forks of the American. I’ve personally seen salmon on redds in Mormon Ravine Creek, a tributary of the North Fork. There are no estimates available of how many kings spawn naturally from one season to the next, but the number likely fluctuates based on river flows in the fall months. In terms of rainbows, decades of releases have resulted in holdover trout that adapt to Folsom’s environment and live out their lives as “wild” fish. Like the kings, some of these trout do successfully spawn in the tributaries. Native American River steelhead are also found in the reservoir. There were juvenile steelhead that were trapped behind the dam in
18 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2024 | calsportsmanmag.com
the ’50s. The descendants of these fish live a lifestyle like that of their kin going back thousands of years. They are spawned in the forks of the American River and their tributaries, but instead of running downstream to the Pacific, they remain in the forage-rich waters of Folsom. For these “landlocked” steelhead, the lake is the ocean. As with the salmon, there are no estimates of how many rainbows/ steelhead spawn naturally each year. Anecdotally, I’ve done a good deal of fly fishing in the small creeks feeding Folsom over the years, with many of them literally swarming with small wild trout in the 2- to 3-inch range. A lot of folks correct me when I talk about “Folsom steelhead” and point out that rainbows and steelhead are the same species. They are absolutely correct from a biological standpoint; however, on the water you can encounter two distinctly different types of rainbows in terms of appearance and behavior. You’ll hook a lot of trout at Folsom displaying common rainbow coloration. These fish put up an energetic fight. And you’ll occasionally hook chrome-bright rainbows. These fish have few spots, seldom sport any red coloration and put up an extreme, aerobatic fight. I assert these fish are
calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2024 California Sportsman
19
FISHING has been putting hatchery fish into Folsom’s main body on a steady basis since last fall. Some of these fish are caught and some are eaten by predators, but a solid percentage of them have undoubtedly acclimated to the lake’s environment and are putting on weight by dining on all the baitfish. These fish will emerge as hard-charging holdovers this spring when water temperatures climb back into the middle 50s. If you want to hunt for a really big double-digit Folsom landlocked king salmon, trolling whole anchovies is an outstanding approach, but success depends on quality bait teamed with patience. (CAL KELLOGG)
native steelhead and a lot of other guides and CDFW personnel agree with me on this point.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2024 Folsom is subject to big water level fluctuations throughout the year, one of the reasons the lake is challenging to fish. There is also a lot of current; the gamefish move around a lot and there is a lot of interplay between the rivers feeding the lake and the lake itself. At times, a big percentage of the trout leave the lake and take up residence in the cool, forage-rich, well-oxygenated waters of the South and North Forks. 2023 was a unique year at Folsom, since the lake retained far more water than it ordinarily does due to the robust rain and snow we had last winter. This winter got off to a slow start, but has now kicked into high gear. It looks as if we are in for another very good water year at Folsom. The higher the water level, the less the fish move around, which makes it easier for anglers to dial in the bite. In addition to having plenty of water, it looks as if there are going to be plenty of keeper-sized salmon in the lake this spring and on into summer. Last year was a little off in terms of king production, but anglers fishing the lake last summer and fall encountered a robust population
of 10- to 12-inch salmon. When we caught these fish, we carefully released them. Those kings should be in the 14- to 16-inch range this year and will provide great sport for trollers. And of course, some of those big 24-plus-inch bombers that Folsom is famous for producing will be mixed in. Likewise, the rainbow outlook is very good this year. Spawning production was likely outstanding last spring in the lake’s tributaries, thanks to plenty of cold water. In terms of trout plants, CDFW
HOW TO WORK LATE WINTER, EARLY SPRING As you read these words, we are on the cusp of late winter and spring, my favorite time of the year to fish Folsom. Water levels are maxed by midspring, recreational boat traffic is low and after a long chilly winter, the rising water temperatures prompt the lake’s trout and kings to feed. During this time period you can certainly catch rainbows in Folsom’s main body and land salmon in the arms, but day in day out, you’ll find the best rainbow action in the arms and the best king fishing in the lake’s main body. Whether targeting kings or trout, many Folsom anglers rely 100 percent on speed trolling with spoons,
Trolling baitfish-imitating spoons in the 2.7 to 3.5 mph range is a favorite presentation for Folsom Lake trout and salmon anglers. (CAL KELLOGG)
20 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2024 | calsportsmanmag.com
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FISHING
This happy young man nailed this chunky king while power trolling a Speed Spoon around some deep structure off Folsom Peninsula. “Late winter and spring are a great time to fish Folsom,” Kellogg writes, “and fishing conditions look to be above average for the 2024 season.” (CAL KELLOGG)
namely Speedy Shiners. Speed trolling is a great tactic because it allows you to cover a lot of water. But it also isn’t the answer to hooking fish all day, every day at Folsom Lake. Here’s how I’ll be targeting rainbows from the last weeks of winter on into spring: I’ll be fishing the top 20 feet of the water column in the lake’s arms. I tend to fish the North Fork more than the South Fork, but both arms produce lots of trout. I seldom work deeper than 20 feet until the surface temperature climbs above 65 degrees. On a typical day, I’ll start out power trolling from 2.7 to 3.5 mph with Trigger Spoons, Speed Spoons, Rapalas and Hum Dingers. My favorite colors are baitfish patterns in chrome, blue, copper, hot pink and bright orange. Some days the power trolling bite is good all day long. Sometimes you’ll hit a few rainbows early and then things slow down. When that happens, I drop my speed to 1.8 to 2.2 mph and break out small spoons, soft plastics and threaded worms. My most productive offering last spring was a pink or white 3-inch Trout Trix Worm teamed with an Action Disc and trolled naked. My second most productive combo was a 2-inch section of threaded nightcrawler pulled behind a 4- or 6-inch Fish Eye or Sling Blade Dodger. When you hook a rainbow, work that area thoroughly, because where you find one, you’ll likely find more. You may find trout out in open water, but I have good success working inside coves and along the bank.
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22 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2024 | calsportsmanmag.com
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FISHING Last June I located a cove near Anderson Island on the North Fork and hooked 16 rainbows by working a 150-yard-long stretch of shoreline. The fish were holding in 15 feet of water and couldn’t lay off a pink Trout Trix.
KEYS FOR KINGS King salmon are the kings of Folsom Lake in terms of cold-water angler interest, and why not? When things are going well here, kings in excess of 20 inches are common and salmon to 16 pounds have been landed over the past few seasons! The lake’s main body is the place to chase kings. The area over the river arms produces plenty of salmon, but the best areas are the deep-water structure off the peninsula and off the lake’s various dikes. A lot of king anglers adhere to a find-the-bait, find-the-fish approach. If I see a baitfish school with hard marks on it, I’ll certainly drop baits,
but overall I’ve caught more kings here working structure in the form of submerged humps and high spots. The biggest king I got while guiding last season came off the top of a hump 55 feet below the surface and surrounded by water ranging from 160 to 220 feet deep. There was no bait in the area, but the fish was holding on the hump ready to ambush and got a big surprise when it grabbed a purple and white Speed Spoon zipping along at 3.2 mph! Most of the really big kings I’ve caught at Folsom have been solitary fish, meaning when they struck, I wasn’t catching small or averagesized kings. They were loners lurking around structure. Your sonar is great for identifying structure, but just because you aren’t marking fish and bait doesn’t mean a bucket-list king isn’t in the area. Sometimes, when the structure looks right, you just have to spend a little
24 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2024 | calsportsmanmag.com
time trolling on faith. The rewards can be great when it comes together. For kings, you can cut your lure selection down to a minimum. On the fast end of the spectrum, stick with metallic and baitfish-pattern Speedy Shiners and Speed Spoons. When it’s time to slow down into the 1.8 to 2.2 mph range, Tasmanian Devils work well, as do hoochies rigged behind 6-inch Sling Blades and Fish Eye dodgers. When pulling hoochies, tip your hooks with small pieces of anchovy meat. If you really have your heart set on getting a massive king, roll whole tray bait anchovies around the main lake structure. For this work, you’ve got to have patience. Bait stealers will ruin some baits and you’ll go through long periods with zero action, but when the strike you’ve been waiting for comes, you’ll forget about the hours of waiting and the hassle of carrying and rigging anchovies! CS
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FISHING
THE CASE FOR KOKANEE IN THE COLD WINTER’S CHILL AN UNDERRATED TIME TO TARGET LANDLOCKED SALMON By Mark Fong
Y
es, winter kokanee fishing in Northern California is really a thing. Several years ago, I heard the faint rumblings that diehard kokanee anglers were braving the elements and being justly rewarded with good catches of fish during the dead of winter. As a relative newcomer to the ways of the kokanee, my on-thewater adventures have only taken place during the traditional season, which spans from late spring through the early fall. Wanting to know more about the winter fishery, I reached out to my goto kokanee guru, Dan Valdez. Valdez is the owner and proprietor of Draggin’ Flies by Dan (facebook.com/p/DragginFlies-by-Dan-100057077874828), premium hand-tied kokanee and trout trolling flies.
HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT “Within the last five years or so, people have become aware that even though the prior season’s spawning kokanee are done, the 1- and 2-yearold fish hang back; those fish still need to continue to eat and survive and so they are accessible to catch,”
Dan Valdez is one of the diehard anglers braving chilly winter temperatures to target kokanee, usually a late-spring and summer attraction. “It’s generally near freezing or freezing when you get out there and you need to have the right clothing and the proper mindset to deal with the conditions,” he says. (DAN VALDEZ) calsportsmanmag.com | FEBRUARY 2024 California Sportsman
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FISHING
Bullards Bar Reservoir, a Yuba County fishery in the Sierra Foothills, is one of four good options to catch feisty and tasty kokanee this time of year. (MARK FONG)
Valdez says. “I would say that Whiskeytown and Bullards Bar are the primary lakes where you can have success, although I do know of some other fisheries, like Berryessa and New Melones, where you can catch them as well.” Valdez is a firm believer that social media is a big factor driving up the interest in winter kokanee. “So nowadays a guy goes out trolling and catches a nice bag of fish, and he posts on the internet,” he says. “Well, that didn’t happen 10 to 15 years ago. I think there are more people out trying winter kokanee because they hear that people are doing it and having success.” Still, winter kokanee fishing is not for the faint of heart. “The difference between summer
and winter kokanee fishing is about 50 degrees,” jokes Valdez. “It’s generally near freezing or freezing when you get out there and you need to have the right clothing and the proper mindset to deal with the conditions. I’m one of those guys who has gotta fish as much as I can, so as long as the weather permits, I am gonna go fishing.”
WINTER KOKANEE TIPS While winter kokanee may be smaller in size relative to their summer cousins due to the growth cycle, they are challenging to catch, fight hard and make excellent table fare. With a few adjustments, you too can be on your way to success. “Kokanee are like us: They need to eat every single day, whether or not the conditions are optimum,”
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says Valdez. “I think what they do is ride the thermocline in the areas that are most optimum for them and the zooplankton that they eat. I like to target fish where there is current or an influx of water. Points are good areas because they can congregate the plankton into pockets; it’s like a big old bowl of soup right there. The fish hang out on those points where the current and topography gathers all that food for them.” “During the winter, the fish are less active than they are when the water is warmer in the summer,” Valdez adds. “They will not travel as far to chase and eat a lure. For example, in the summer, you may have your presentation down at 50 feet, but the fish are marking at 70 feet. Because of the temperature and the clear water, those fish have the ability to see your
FISHING presentation and will chase it 20 feet. In the winter, those fish are less active and the water is generally not as clear. You must be way more precise with your presentation. If you are marking fish at 70 feet, you want to run your baits at 70 feet.”
SPEED’S THE KEY
Tim Hill caught this nice Bullards Bar kokanee while fishing with Valdez, who says anglers have become more aware of the winter fishery over the past five years or so. (DAN VALDEZ)
According to Valdez, trolling speed is another important variable. If your presentation is not right in the fish’s face, they’re probably not gonna strike. This time of year he limits his trolling speed to 1.0 to 1.4 mph. “If you have good electronics and you are running your rigs at the proper depths, then do not troll in a straight line,” Valdez says. “Kokanee are notorious for just tracking your presentation. Make some sort of movement: zigzag, figure eights, circle. The idea is to create an erratic change of direction, which is an effective method to trigger them to strike and will increase your overall
bite rate.” Valdez also advises that if you find a group of fish in the winter, one of the worst things you can do is to leave them. Unlike summer, when plankton is distributed very evenly, kokanee congregate in big groups. These are akin to big giant highways, where you can see school after school after school. In the winter, it is just not that way, as the water temperature and currents work together to create areas where plankton is concentrated in very specific locations. When you find a significant group of fish, work them until they stop biting or disappear altogether. In the summer, you may find four or five schools in a cove, whereas in the winter it is more likely that you find a group of 50 to 100 fish, but if you go 100 yards there will be no fish there. If you love kokanee and have not pursued them during the offseason, it’s not too late to join the party. CS
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32 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2024 | calsportsmanmag.com
CHARTERS
FISHING
Author Joe Sarmiento (left) and two buddies enjoyed a good day on the Pacific while aboard Capt. Gordo Garcia’s panga out of San Quintin, Mexico. Winter is a great time to head to Baja to target yellowtail. (JOE SARMIENTO)
ON THE TRAIL OF ’TAILS
ESCAPE WINTER FOR MEXICO YELLOWTAIL, ROCKFISH
By Joe Sarmiento
W
inter fishing choices narrow for Southern California anglers this time of year. The rockfish closure in U.S. waters went into effect at the end of 2023 and angling won’t reopen until April 1. Also, a majority of the sportfishing boats have been pulled out of the water to do annual maintenance and prepare for Coast Guard inspections.
If you’re lucky, you have access to a good sand bass and sculpin fishery (my favorites are Santa Monica Bay and off Long Beach). A handful of boats are targeting flatfish such as halibut and sanddabs. Shore fishing can be pretty sketchy this time of year due to big tides and wet, windy winter storms. In fact, as I write this, I just saw an advisory from the National Weather Service to avoid the beach! It’s true that a lot of anglers just hang it up for the winter, but I’m not one of them.
I do enjoy the structure-oriented sand bass fishing. I find it challenging and part of my overall fishing game that I’m looking to improve. But if you want to get into some drag-pulling winter fishing fun without having to board a plane to some far-off destination, the best option is to head south to Mexican waters. While you can target rockfish there now, they aren’t the primary draw. The highlight along the Baja Coast right now is yellowtail.
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FISHING GETTING THERE: BY SEA OR LAND? There are two options for getting in on this Baja yellowtail bite, but first you will, of course, need a passport and a Mexican fishing license. You used to be able to obtain a fishing license in Mexico at many local tackle shops, but that’s no longer the case. Now it must be done online at sportfishing .bajacalifornia.gob.mx. As for those travel options, one way is to get on a boat out of San Diego for a day-and-a-half trip. This used to be a really popular way to go, but looking through the trip schedules, I’m only seeing two boats doing it this year, the Horizon out of H&M Landing and the Pacific Dawn out of Fisherman’s Landing. Right now, the reservation counts don’t support them making it out on their next trips, and who knows how long that will continue. If you want to get down for one of these trips, you had better get some friends together and book now. These trips go for $500 per person, plus your galley tab and tips. Your other option is to roadtrip. Going solo, it’s going to end up being more expensive than buying a single ticket on one of the boats. But if you are comfortable going down and have
The author was hoping for a yellowtail, but he got a lingcod with a live mackerel fished on a dropper loop during a Mexico outing. (JOE SARMIENTO)
some friends to share the expenses, it’s cheaper to go this route. Count on spending $500 per day for a panga ($600 for a cabin cruiser) and about $100 a night for a double room at a local hotel. The top destination for driving down is San Quintin. It is about a
four-and-a-half- to five-hour drive south from the border on Highway 1D, which is a toll road. You will encounter three toll booths along the way and the cost is about $3 per stop. They only accept cash, but do take U.S. dollars. There are plenty of places to stop and eat or gas up along the way, so don’t worry about that. There is a military checkpoint just past Ensenada, but they are usually only checking northbound vehicles. Either way, if you don’t have any drugs or firearms, you have nothing to worry about. My go-to hotel in San Quintin is Jardines, and my favorite sportfishing operations are Garcia’s Pangas, K&M Sportfishing and Capt. Juan Cook.
FISHING BASICS
Vertically jigging yo-yo iron is a great option for targeting yellowtail. (JOE SARMIENTO) 34 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2024 | calsportsmanmag.com
Whether boating or driving down, the fishing you will encounter is mostly the same. Since it is winter and the water is colder, the fish tend to be hunkered down toward the bottom and oriented around structure. Count on fishing anywhere from about 120 to 250 feet. The primary methods are using a
FISHING yellowtail will stop biting and you will turn your attention to bottomfishing. A bonus for fishing in Mexican waters is that you can keep five of any one species, including red, or vermillion, rockfish (the California limit is four). Even five lingcod? Yep! And if you were to happen to catch a black sea bass or cowcod, that’s fine too.
WHAT TO BRING
Ethan Mayes (far right), a deckhand on the charter boat San Diego, headed south to San Quintin last month with his dad (second from right) for the first time and scored a bunch of yellowtail. (ETHAN MAYES)
dropper loop with fin bait – sardines on the boats or mackerel on a panga – or vertical jigging with either yo-yo iron or heavy knife jigs. In my experience, sending down a dropper loop bait in hopes of catching yellowtail doesn’t work great. Despite the colder temperatures, the fish
still seem to be more willing to bite a fast jig. Also, more often than not, sending down a dropper loop bait will tend to get a bite from a boccaccio, or salmon grouper, or if you are lucky, a lingcod! Not a bad outcome, even though it’s not the targeted species. At some point in the day, the
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On these trips, you’ll fish for yellowtail. And then when that’s done, you’ll go for bottomfish. So really, if you wanted to keep it simple, you could get away with one rod. My pick for one rod would be a Fishing Syndicate FSC 760H (40-60). For fishing the yo-yo for yellowtail, I’d pair this rod with a Shimano Trinidad 20A (65-pound braid to a short leader of 50-pound fluorocarbon). This reel has a 6.2:1 gear ratio and a 45-inch retrieve, so it has the requisite speed to fish a jig in this application. The rod has a medium action and the backbone to fish at these depths for a tough fighter like a yellowtail. For rockfish, I’d switch out the reel to the Shimano Tranx 500 PG, mainly because I prefer the line guide, or an even bigger reel for the sportboats because they may fish up 600 to 700 feet! Again, straight braid – 65- or 50-pound test – to a swivel and short mono dropper loop rig with 40-pound test is the way to go. There are all kinds of heavy jigs, but a Salas 6x or similar knockoffs like the 187, or the generic ones they sell at Seaforth Landing, are my and many anglers’ go-to jig. Use patterns like mint/white, blue/white, scrambled egg and mint sardine. It’s a good idea to have a couple in the junior size as a changeup if they’re not biting the big jig. It’s also good to have some 300-gram knife jigs with a couple assist hooks on top if the current ends up being really strong and you need something heavier to stay vertical. You’ll need 2/0 or 3/0 circle hooks and a pound of lead – even a 24-ounce weight isn’t a bad idea – for
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FISHING Whether it’s yellowtail or colorful rockfish, take advantage of warmer water south of the border this winter. (JOE SARMIENTO)
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fishing bottom off the sportboats. On the pangas, you’ll use jigs or chunked fin bait. I also like to bring more of a bass-type setup, say, a Fishing Syndicate FSC 900L (15-30) paired with a Penn Fathom 400 baitcaster to fish Colt Snipers, Megabaits and flatfall-style jigs for this portion of the day. Also, if you are panga fishing, you’ll want to bring sabikis to make bait. Go with at least 12-pound line, as the mackerel will tear up lighter line sabikis. Clothing-wise, layers are always the way to go, but for the panga fishing this time of year, I tend to go full bibs, such as the AFTCO Hydronaut and a heavy outer waterproof jacket, as it can be pretty cold in the mornings and sometimes gets really wet. It’s nice to have a beanie too. Sunglasses are also must have, but instead of the blue offshore lenses, I really like my Costa Jose Pros with the copper mirror lenses, because a lot of the day is not going to be intense full sun. CS
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HUNTING
These military veterans took part in a special hen pheasant shoot at a Sacramento area upland bird club. The clubhouses at these preserves are special places, generally offering coffee, conversation and lots of hunting-related artifacts. (CAL KELLOGG)
LOVE UPLAND HUNTING? JOIN THE CLUB CALIFORNIA HAS PLENTY OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT CATER TO WINGSHOOTING AFICIONADOS By Cal Kellogg
T
he air is still and crisp. Tendrils of mist dance on the rolling hills, but the sky is clear. It’s going to be a beautiful bluebird winter day. The lush grass is green and wet from the dewfall last night. The moisture is a benefit. It holds the scent of the birds and allows the
dog to pinpoint them. The dog is moving quickly, left and right, with the enthusiasm only bird dogs know. You’ve covered 100 yards and then it happens. The dog’s body language changes; it’s subtle but it’s there. The dog slows, its body quivering with tension. For her, this is serious business. Her head is on a swivel as she advances with caution, and then she
locks up, staring intently at something buried in the cover you can’t see. You deliberately advance 10 yards, shotgun held at port arms until you’re
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HUNTING right behind the dog. “Flush,” you command and take a final stride. The dog springs forward – head low – and the grass erupts with movement, color and sound. The sound of the beating wings makes your heartbeat kick up a notch. Three feet off the ground, the bird shrieks out its iconic cackle as it picks up speed. Climbing vertically, the bird is a brilliant mix of green, blue, white, rust, yellow and iridescent aquamarine chased by a long brown and black tail. “Smooth is fast,” you remind yourself. When the bird reaches the apex of its climb and begins moving forward you make your move. As you mount the gun, you snick off the safety. With both eyes open, your finger finds the trigger. The shot comes as a surprise and a beat later the shot load impacts the pheasant.
The bird rolls over, plummets down and is dead before it hits the ground. The dog is instantly on the pheasant, even as a sprinkle of feathers drifts in the cool air. A moment later, your four-legged hunting partner delivers the bird to hand. It’s going to be a great day followed up with a memorable pheasant dinner. Am I describing a bucket-list adventure to South Dakota, Kansas or Montana? Hardly. The action I just described takes place on a daily basis during the fall, winter and spring right here in the Golden State at dozens of state-licensed game bird clubs.
SHOULD YOU JOIN THE CLUB? I suspect many Californians reading this are at least casually familiar with what a game bird club is, but some are not, so let’s start there.
The state features dozens of game bird clubs licensed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The license allows the club to, and I quote, “offer hunting for domestically propagated game birds including the following species: pheasants, Indian chukar, domestically reared wild turkey, Hungarian partridge, bobwhite quail and Coturnix quail.” Well, that’s a mouthful, so allow me to simplify it a little based on my experience. I shot my first pheasant on a bird club back in 1979 when I was 12 years old. Since then, I’ve visited many different clubs in California. All the clubs I’m familiar with feature pheasants, both roosters and hens, some contain chukar and, once in a great while, you stumble across a special hunt for bobwhite quail. Where do the birds come from? They are farm-raised. Some clubs raise their own birds, but most don’t. The birds come from poultry farms, which are set up to rear birds from egg to adulthood. The better clubs seek out the highest-quality, healthiest and most energetic birds. Club operators plant these birds in their habitat typically on a daily basis. When you hunt a club, you typically buy a set number of birds. This is known as buying a card. The more birds you buy up front, the lower the rate per bird. Generally, three birds is the bottom end and you can buy 20, 40 or more birds. Typically, your cards expire at the end of the season. Even though you are hunting on private land and harvesting domestically reared birds, you still need a hunting license and an upland game bird license. You also have to adhere to the state’s lead-free ammo rules.
KNOW THE GROUND
Pheasants are iconic, beautiful birds that offer exceptional table fare. Many clubs make them available for member hunts. (CAL KELLOGG)
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While the quality of the birds is what separates the best clubs from the rest, terrain and cover is also a consideration. Some clubs feature flat ground that is divided into various marked “fields” – i.e., you are assigned a field to hunt – while other clubs feature terrain in the
HUNTING form of ditches, rolling hills, running creeks and sloughs. I’ve always liked hunting clubs that feature hills, but those who have difficulty hiking and climbing may feel differently. Cover is important, since that’s where the birds hide. Most clubs feature a mix of native grasses and some low bushes. I’ve hunted clubs that plant crops and you have the opportunity to hunt areas with standing crops like corn, which really makes for an exciting hunt. When you get right down to it, some folks do not like the idea of hunting domestically reared, planted birds. They consider bird hunting clubs to be akin to trout ponds, but with shotguns and feathers. If that’s you, spending time and money at a game bird club isn’t going to be your cup of tea. Conversely, if the idea of hunting planted birds doesn’t present a problem, you can have a great deal of fun at these venues.
WHERE ARE THE BIRDS? Let’s face it: In California, we’ve seen our pheasant numbers plummet over the past 25 years. There is some
Big smiles, beautiful dogs, good times and some meat for the table sums up what bird hunting clubs are all about. (CAL KELLOGG)
indication the numbers are on the rise, but I doubt we’ll ever see the kind of wild pheasant hunting we enjoyed in the 1980s. Here’s the bottom line: If you want to hunt pheasants in California, you’ll likely need to do it at a game bird club. There is something special about hunting pheasants or chukars over a well-trained dog, and I think it’s
something every hunter should experience at least once. But be warned, you might become addicted. I know enthusiasts who visited a game bird club once, got the upland shooting bug and became club regulars, eventually traveling beyond the borders of the state to hunt wild birds in the upper Midwest. Game bird clubs typically feature a six-month-long season spanning the period from fall through spring. As a result, they offer hunting and opportunity to harvest birds and work with dogs after general hunting seasons are closed. As fun as a trip to a club can be for a veteran upland hunter, the club system is especially valuable for introducing new hunters to the sport of hunting in a controlled environment where shooting opportunities are guaranteed.
SHOOTING FOR THE TABLE
Beyond hunting, most bird clubs feature shooting sports. Here we see a shooter going through the paces at a sporting clay stand. (CAL KELLOGG) 44 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2024 | calsportsmanmag.com
One of my favorite parts of visiting a club takes place after I get home and prepare my birds for the table. If you’ve never sampled pheasant or chukar, you’ve really missed out. Both species offer outstanding table fare and can prepared in a variety of different ways.
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HUNTING
For bird dogs, a visit to a bird hunting club is serious business. (CAL KELLOGG)
If I have a choice between chasing chukar or pheasants at a club, I always choose the chukars. Not only do they fly faster, but I think they are also better table fare. Your mileage may vary. Cleaning game birds can be tricky if you aren’t familiar with how to do it. At a game bird club, cleaning isn’t an issue. For a small fee, your harvest will be professionally cleaned to your specifications; do you want your birds plucked and ready for the oven or do you want them quartered for the frying pan or smoker? Coming home with ready-to-cook meat is as easy as telling the club’s bird preparation specialists what you have in mind. As an aside, if you’re an angler who enjoys the occasional catfish trip, ask the people cleaning the birds for a large Ziplock filled with entrails.
They have a near endless supply and will typically give you all you want. Pheasant entrails do not smell very nice and catfish love them!
CLUB AMENITIES BEYOND HUNTING Most of the clubs I’ve hunted at over the years feature a clubhouse where visiting hunters can hang out, drink coffee, eat snacks and shoot the breeze. If you love guns and the shooting sports, you’ll find plenty of like-minded individuals at the clubhouse of a game bird club. In addition to the actual hunting, most clubs also offer recreational shooting. Some feature five-stand trap ranges, while others offer full-blown sporting clays courses. The best clubs offer both and sometimes more. One club I enjoy visiting has both trap and sporting clays, a pistol and
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rifle range and an area for patterning shotguns. Another club I’m familiar with has a walking 3-D archery range. Dog training is also part of the bird club culture. Clubs always have guides available if you don’t have your own dog, and some feature trained rental dogs. My best friend is a beautiful yellow Lab named Lucy. She is the first dog I’ve ever owned; when I got her I knew nothing about dog training. I picked up a lot of valuable tips about dog training from chatting with the old boys at a Sacramento Valley bird club. If you read my fishing articles, you may have seen Lucy riding in the back of my kayak. I trained her to accompany me on the ’yak using tips I gleaned from the dog handlers at my favorite bird club. Most clubs offer dog training
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HUNTING courses and many offer rattlesnake safety training for dogs. I can attest the training works, and if you live in snake country, the peace of mind you’ll get from a rattlesnake training course offered at a game bird club makes them well worth attending. Firearms and hunter safety courses are other things you’ll find at many clubs. For new shooters learning to handle a shotgun, a couple hours with a professional instructor on a sporting clays course really cuts the learning curve and builds confidence.
SPECIAL EVENTS Most clubs offer competitive shooting contests, special-themed hunts, raffles and barbecues throughout the year. If you are new to hunting and shooting sports or a veteran looking for friends to enjoy the outdoors with, club special events offer a great opportunity to network and meet people. The turnout for themed hunts and barbeques is typically good and most of the folks you’ll encounter are outgoing shooting enthusiasts looking to share stories and have a good time.
The moment of truth! “As fun as a trip to a club can be for a veteran upland hunter, the club system is especially valuable for introducing new hunters to the sport of hunting in a controlled environment, where shooting opportunities are guaranteed,” author Cal Kellogg writes. (CAL KELLOGG) 48 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2024 | calsportsmanmag.com
In this day and age in California where guns and gun owners are much maligned, it’s refreshing to spend a few hours or a few days per year with others on the same page in terms of the place hunting, shooting and the shooting sports occupy in our proud outdoor tradition and culture. CS Editor’s note: Cal Kellogg is a longtime Northern California-based outdoors writer. Subscribe to his YouTube channel Fish Hunt Shoot Productions at youtube. com/user/KelloggOutdoors.
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FROM FIELD...
DUCK SEASON POSTMORTEM WITH THE 2023-24 HUNT IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR, NOW’S THE TIME TO REFLECT ON WHAT DID AND DIDN’T WORK 50 California Sportsman FEBRUARY 2024 | calsportsmanmag.com
HUNTING
Considering what went right and wrong this past season while the memory is still fresh will help you become a better duck hunter for the next campaign. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
By Scott Haugen
C
alifornia offers some of the best duck hunting in the country and many of us just slipped into a depression now that another season has come to a close. And one thing I love about waterfowl hunting is how the variables are constantly changing, forcing me to think about every move I make. Once the season is done, I take time
to look over my notes, refine them and see what I can do better next year. Every season there are hunts that, when the day is done, we say to ourselves, “Man, if I had that to do over again ...” Overthinking things, however, could be the downfall of many waterfowl hunters I know. Younger generations I hunt with tend to think, rethink and question every aspect of their decoy spreads more than older hunters. But as long as the question-
ing doesn’t give way to waning confidence, that’s OK. On the flip side, deeming a spread to be good enough could be a mistake, and this is something I see more with older hunters, myself included.
OLD HABITS, STALE DECOY SPREAD Last season, an older gentleman invited me on a duck hunt. He belonged to a club and hunted it three times a week. He left his decoys out
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HUNTING cooker or a slow cooker can be used to cook the birds with equally delicious outcomes. Before cooking, be sure to clean all meat of bloodshot and bruised flesh in order to maximize the quality of the mild meat.
... TO FIRE
Wondering what to do with the remaining pheasant or quail you’ve harvested, or thinking ahead to spring turkey menus? Try Tiffany Haugen’s Creole-infused dish for a badass bird. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)
USE CREOLE SPICE FOR A ZESTY UPLAND BIRD MEAL By Tiffany Haugen
T
his is the time of year many hunters put away all their gear and start dreaming of next season. But it’s also when those who’ve not had enough keep looking for more hunting action, and they find it on bird preserves. If you find yourself coming home from a preserve hunt with loads of great-eating ringneck pheasant, here’s a recipe you’ll love. Heck, even if you have some pheasants in the freezer, this recipe will be perfect. In fact, it works great with all upland birds, even forest grouse, quail and wild turkey – that spring season will be here before you know it! Whether using bone-in pieces, breasts or legs and thighs, this recipe is versatile enough for any cut. Your stove top, pressure
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1 pound pheasant breasts 1/3 cup flour 1 teaspoon paprika ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper ½ teaspoon ground oregano ½ teaspoon thyme 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons olive oil One onion, thinly sliced One jalapeño pepper, chopped ½ bell pepper, chopped ½ cup celery, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced One 14½-ounce can diced tomatoes ½ cup water 3 tablespoons ketchup Two bay leaves 1 sprig fresh rosemary Fresh parsley for garnish In a shallow dish, mix flour, paprika, salt, pepper, oregano and thyme until mixed thoroughly. Dredge pheasant breasts in flour mixture, coating completely. In a large skillet, heat butter and oil on medium-high heat. Fry coated pheasant breasts until golden brown on both sides. Remove from skillet. Add more olive oil if needed and sauté onion, peppers, celery and garlic until softened. Sprinkle in the remaining seasoned flour and add diced tomatoes and water. Bring to a boil, whisking to smooth until thickened. Add ketchup and return browned pheasant and onion mixture to the pan, mixing gently. Add bay leaves and rosemary and lower heat to a simmer. Cover and cook until the pheasant reaches desired doneness – about 15 to 20 minutes. Serve over rice with fresh parsley. Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany’s popular book, Cooking Game Birds, and other best-selling titles, visit tiffanyhaugen.com.
HUNTING When a buddy reset Haugen’s decoys, in this case some Big Al’s wigeon silhouettes, to form a landing zone the setup had been missing, the author was rewarded with a prized Eurasian wigeon. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
all season. We arrived minutes before shooting light. It was late in the season and birds in the valley had been pressured, so they were smart. A few times I offered to go fix the decoys, drain or pull the half-sunken ones, untangle the mallards that were in a tight ball, move the pintails that had floated into the bank, and create more holes for birds to land. But the man was set in his ways and paranoid that if I got out of the blind, I’d spook birds. I bit my lip. The spread had been working all season, he said, so why change it? We shot birds, but none really decoyed. It could have been an epic day of feet-down action had I just been allowed to tidy up the spread.
LAZY HUNTERS SHOOT FEW BIRDS On a flooded-field hunt last season, a buddy found a spot that was loaded with ducks. Two days later we hunted it. We pushed a cart loaded with dozens of decoys – floaters, silhouettes and jerk cords – to the X. Temperatures had been cold and no rain fell, so the water had receded. Though only a few inches deep, we felt it was plenty to hold ducks. As we set decoys we could hear ducks feeding a few hundred yards away. We contemplated moving to that spot, but felt confident our big spread would pull birds our way. It didn’t. Because our spread was so big, we didn’t want to take time to move it.
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We were being lazy and it cost us. We shot all of two ducks that morning.
TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS Twice last season I got overconfident. On each hunt ducks poured into the decoys well before shooting light. Both times I told myself, “If I don’t kill a bird today, this moment is worth it.” On both occasions shooting light came and birds kept piling in. I didn’t want to shoot with so many birds around, fearing they wouldn’t come back. So, I jumped them. None came back either time. I killed one bird the first time, didn’t fire a shot the next. I should have jumped birds sooner, while it was still low light before
HUNTING
Picking up and moving a large decoy spread that isn’t working takes time and effort, but it can be well worth it. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
shooting time, then let them trickle back in during legal hours. I hunted a flooded field last season that had a small peninsula jutting into the middle of it. It was covered in green grass and perfect to put silhouettes on. Wigeon were thick, so in addition to the two dozen floating wigeon decoys I had out, I put five dozen Big Al’s wigeon silhouettes on the point where birds had been grazing. I shot birds, but none finished. Three days later I hunted it with a buddy. Again, the wigeon weren’t committing all the way. “Why don’t you move those floaters closer to the silhouettes to make it look like they landed and are swimming to shore
to feed?” he said. I let him rearrange the spread. It worked and created two landing zones I’d inadvertantly been blocking. We shot limits of wigeon that day, including a prized Eurasian, and every bird was locked up.
REGRETS, I HAD A FEW If I had one day to hunt ducks, it would be alone, with my dogs, a dozen floater decoys and a few dozen silhouettes. I’d watch birds work, then move in and get set up. I did this last year on a pond that was loaded with ducks. But by the time I got situated, the wind had changed. Birds started landing in a protected spot 200 yards away. Rather than move, I stayed put.
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The weather worsened and became a storm. I figured birds would return to my chosen spot, but they didn’t. I should have moved because I didn’t fire a shot that morning. Sometimes we recognize the need for change during the hunt. Sometimes it doesn’t hit us until later. Either way, duck hunting affords us opportunities for do-overs, and that’s ultimately what keeps us going as we strive to improve and seek consistent success hunt after hunt. CS Editor’s note: Scott Haugen is a waterfowl hunter of 48 years and a full-time writer for the past 22 years. Learn more at scotthaugen.com and follow him on Instagram.
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HUNTING
CACKLERS: THE PERFECT GOOSE By Scott Haugen
D
istinct, high-pitched sounds of cacklers broke the morning silence. The fog was thick and while we couldn’t see the relatively tiny geese, Echo’s and Kona’s ears were perked, eyes fixed to the sky. My buddy Austin Crowson hit the call. That got the dogs shaking in eager anticipation and triggered the cacklers to chatter even more. The closer the flock got, the louder Crowson called, the more the cacklers replied. When the geese emerged from the dense fog, their wings were set,
necks craned, looking for their calling counterpart. By then it was too late. The flock of a dozen cacklers was already in range. Crowson and I emptied our guns and Echo and Kona got to work. Crowson and I were targeting ducks that day and happened to be at the right place at the right time when the cacklers passed through. Thanks to Crowson’s superb calling, which pulled the cacklers in range, the dogs got some bonus work.
WHILE DUCK SEASON HAS now come to a close, waterfowl hunters in California don’t have to hang up their shotguns
just yet. With the late Canada goose season in Humboldt and Del North Counties, cacklers can make for one of the best bird hunts a gun dog lover could ask for. Cacklers typically approach big decoy spreads in large flocks. With so many geese in the air and the fact they can be heard and watched for such a long time, they’re perfect for reinforcing restraint and basic obedience in gun dogs. When you get massive flocks like this, their calling is so loud you can easily offer verbal commands to your dog without fear of the birds hearing you. If your dog whines, fidgets or tries to break
Cacklers are the smallest of our Canada geese and are the perfect training bird for dogs in need of some work. Plus, they’re fun to hunt this time of year, via the February 12-March 10 late season in California’s North Coast Special Management Area. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
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HUNTING Author Scott Haugen did the photography work for Big Al’s silhouette cackler decoys,which perform well on the species. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
on approaching birds, cacklers offer a great way to correct this. Being able to fix unwanted behaviors while actually hunting is a welcome opportunity, and dogs usually respond well in these situations. On top of that, cacklers are easy for dogs to mark and their small size makes for an easy retrieve. Get a dog on a 12-pound honker and you’ll have your hands full, but pups will quickly, confidently and efficiently retrieve cacklers – the smallest subspecies of Canada geese – as fast as they can.
LATE-SEASON CACKLER HUNTS ARE largely depredation hunts that take place on West Coast farm fields where they’re causing excessive crop damage. For this reason, they’re often highvolume hunts with lots of guns. I’ve had several hunts with multiple friends where the dogs have retrieved
over 50 geese in a morning. When embarking upon these hunts, I like to be the only one bringing dogs. This allows me to focus on their retrieves and not have to worry about other dogs competing with mine or other hunters hollering at their dogs. Big decoy spreads are the norm when hunting cacklers this time of year. We’ll often set out 15 dozen Dave Smith full-body cackler decoys, along with another 20 dozen Big Al’s silhouette decoys. If your budget is tight, going with all silhouettes can work. When doing this, I like setting up the flat decoys in long lines so it appears they’re spread out feeding. We’ll run big spreads when doing this, sometimes over 50 dozen silhouettes. Then again, running a couple dozen silhouettes can do the trick, especially if it’s foggy or there’s a low ceiling due to bad weather.
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If you can’t find a field to hunt them in, you can often set up and intercept cacklers between roosting and feeding locations. This is where scouting is key, so you can learn the travel routes and times geese are moving. I’ve had better luck trafficking cacklers over water with a dozen floating honker decoys and sprinkling the shoreline with a couple dozen silhouettes if there’s room, rather than trying to pull them over dry fields they’re not feeding in. I’ve not had cacklers land in the water, but they routinely circle and drop to within easy shooting range.
THESE GEESE ARE TINY, not much bigger than a mallard, and are easy to bring down. I’ve been loving Kent’s bismuth No. 4 shot on cacklers, and it was my favorite duck load last season. This is the best pure bismuth load I’ve ever shot in my Browning Maxus.
HUNTING As for the calls, Crowson, my buddy, is one of the best waterfowl callers I’ve had the honor of hunting with. His go-to cackler call is actually a Slayer Calls Tar Belly. While the call is designed for white-fronted geese, Crowson ranks it as his top one for cacklers. “I’ve used just about every cackler call out there, and I’ve turned more cacklers with the Tar Belly than any other call. It took some work to break it in, but once there, this call is amazing. It’s the best cackler call I’ve ever run,” he says. Big flocks, warmer weather and multiple retrieves – these are just some of the reasons you and your dog will enjoy getting after one of the most popular geese in the country. CS
A Slayer Calls Tar Belly goose call and Kent Cartridge’s pure bismuth loads are two more tools that Haugen loves when it comes to hunting cacklers. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
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Editor’s note: Scott Haugen is a full-time writer. See his puppy training videos and learn more about his many books at scotthaugen.com and follow him on Instagram and Facebook.