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California
Sportsman Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource
Volume 12 • Issue 6 PUBLISHER James R. Baker GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott EDITOR Chris Cocoles CONTRIBUTORS Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, John Heil, MD Johnson, Todd Kline, Lance Sawa, Bill Schaefer SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Jim Klark, Mike Smith DESIGNERS Celina Martin, Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly Baker DIGITAL STRATEGIST Jon Hines ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Katie Aumann INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@calsportsmanmag.com CORRESPONDENCE Email ccocoles@media-inc.com Twitter @CalSportsMan Facebook.com/californiasportsmanmagazine ON THE COVER California’s spring turkey season opens up on March 28, and longtime gobbler hunter Scott Haugen offers up tips on using decoys to score a fat gobbler. See page 59 for details. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
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CONTENTS
VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 6
59
GOBBLER HUNTERS’ DECOY GUIDE
(HARRY MORSE/CDFW)
Spring turkey season begins on March 28 and now is the time to get your decoys in order to help attract a fat tom. Scott Haugen offers up his ideas on how to best use faux fowl – from position to colors – and talks about accessories and the value of trail cameras. And his partner in our From Field to Fire column, Tiffany Haugen, extols the slow-cooking method for preparing wild gobbler meat.
FEATURES
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
17
GOLD MEDAL-WINNING FISH
51
With the Tokyo Summer Olympics looming, how about a shout out to one of the elite athletes of the salmonid cosmos: summer steelhead. In fact, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s John Heil writes that these sea-run trout are comparable to Olympians. Heil picked the brains of biologists and other experts to take an in-depth look at these jocks of the river.
69
33
FOUR HOT SOCAL BASS LAKES
Spring is upon us this month and that means Southland lakes will be teeming with bass. From San Diego to San Bernardino, there are countless options to tie on a swimbait or worm to try and tempt a hungry largemouth. Our Bill Schaefer, a wily angler who knows these waters as well as anyone, breaks down a quartet of fisheries worth checking out.
43
REKINDLING SPORTS SHOW MEMORIES
Our Southern California-born/expat-in-Japan correspondent Lance Sawa grew up around the outdoors and eagerly looked forward to annual visits to the Fred Hall Shows, which return to Long Beach, Del Mar and Bakersfield this month. When Sawa attended a similar show in Yokohama, Japan, this winter he had a feeling of both nostalgia from his youth and admiration for his new country’s passion for fishing.
75
San Pablo Reservoir trout tease on beautiful day New firearms for spring turkey, fall deer hunting Offseason gundog tune-up tips
DEPARTMENTS 15 27 29 31
The Editor’s Note Photo contest winners The Adventures of Todd Kline Outdoor calendar
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, 14240 Interurban Avenue South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Send address changes to California Sportsman, PO Box 24365, Seattle, WA 98124. Annual subscriptions are $29.95 (12 issues), 2-year subscription are $39.95 (24 issues). Send check or money order to Media Index Publishing Group, or call (206) 382-9220 with VISA or M/C. Back issues are available at Media Index Publishing Group offices at the cost of $5 plus shipping. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 2020 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. 12 California Sportsman MARCH 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
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THEEDITOR’SNOTE California’s king salmon runs could be in jeopardy with the White House’s announcement to divert vital Delta water to farmers, potentially leaving fish in further peril. (HARRY MORSE/CDFW)
F
ebruary was not a good month to be a Central California fish. First, President Donald Trump held a reelection rally in Bakersfield, where he assured the farmers on hand his water allocation plan would benefit them (environmentalists think that would in turn be devastating to native Chinook salmon, Delta smelt and other native species). “As we face the unprecedented threat of a climate emergency, now is the time to strengthen our planet’s biodiversity, not destroy it,” California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a press release announcing plans to file suit over the water plan. “California won’t silently spectate as the Trump Administration adopts scientificallychallenged biological opinions that push species to extinction and harm our natural resources and waterways.” Then, when the California Fish and Game Commission met in Sacramento, a controversial proposal to lift protections on striped bass was voted through, much to the chagrin of many Northern California fishing guides. “Well, the (commission), despite the outpouring of public support for striped bass, appears to be ready to side with the water districts to our south and rule against managing striped bass (a public trust resource) in the interest of the public,” longtime and respected guide JD Richey (thesportfisher.com) posted on Facebook. I was chatting about water with one of my closest friends – we met as college students at Fresno State – whose family owns a San Joaquin Valley farm that produces almonds, pistachios and tomatoes. So I understand what’s at stake in California’s water wars. But that doesn’t mean we – anglers, guides, conservationists, etc. – are happy about what’s going on either. Oh, and barring a deluge of storms this month and next, the state will show signs of droughtlike conditions this rainy season. “While periods of dry conditions are expected in California, climate change has made them more unpredictable and extreme, which is why we must always use the water we have wisely,” Sean de Guzman, California Department of Water Resources chief of snow surveys and water supply forecasting, said in a press release. The bottom line is the fish need us – sportsmen and -women of California – to do what we can for them in these contentious times. –Chris Cocoles calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2020 California Sportsman
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PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA
MEET SALMON FAM’S ‘TOP ATHLETES’: CALIFORNIA SUMMER STEELHEAD By John Heil
I
n football you have diverse athletes – from your typically tall and thin wide receivers to your stout and muscular offensive linemen. Similarly, in steelhead, you have a wide range of athletic diversity. “Steelhead are one of the most iconic fish species on the Pacific coast of the United States,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Damon Goodman. “One of the things they are most well-known for is their athleticism. They are the top athletes of all salmonids. They can leap up and over waterfalls and swim through extreme rapids to access their habitats.” And among athletes, summer-run steelhead are equivalent to Olympians, per Goodman, who is now the chair of the Native Fishes Committee for the California Nevada Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. “In many ways summer steelhead are the most extreme athletes of the steelhead, allowing them to get up to habitats higher in the watersheds, like the Middle Fork Eel River in the Yolla Bolly Wilderness, their southernmost stronghold where they have unimpeded access,” Goodman said. “Having clear routes of passage to be able to make it up and express their life history is critical to their survival.” Not only are they athletes, but they can handle other environmental
Summer steelhead are the “most extreme athletes” in the salmonid family, according to Damon Goodman, a federal biologist out of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Arcata office, traveling further and higher upstream than any other member. Here an adult steelhead jumps in a holding pond at the Coleman National Fish Hatchery. (LAURA MAHONEY/USFWS) calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2020 California Sportsman
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PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA
USFWS biologist Damon Goodman dons his snorkel gear to survey the Middle Fork Eel River in September 2019. (JOHN HEIL/USFWS)
challenges that come their way. “In a lot of ways, steelhead are the most extraordinary form of the salmonid species,” said Scott Greacen, the conservation director for the Friends of the Eel River. “Because of that, they are fish that have evolved a greater tolerance
for higher temperatures and for water that isn’t quite as pristine as other salmon species require. They are also really resilient in a lot of ways in terms of physical behavior. They display a remarkable degree to confront challenges.” “The ability to throw off their
“Having clear routes of passage to be able to make it up and express their life history is critical to their survival,” says Goodman, seen here at the Middle Fork Eel River, where summer-run steelhead can be found. (JOHN HEIL/USFWS)
18 California Sportsman MARCH 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
seagoing form and just stay in freshwater is part of this portfolio of possible responses that steelhead have in their quiver. They can do a lot of different things, so when conditions change, they are more likely to be able to deal with it than Chinook or coho.” What distinguishes a summerrun from a winter-run steelhead is when they enter from the ocean into river environments. Summer-run fish arrive in late spring and early summer, whereas winter-run fish enter later in the season. This diversity in the life history strategy of steelhead is vital, according to Goodman. “I like to think of it as diversifying a financial portfolio where you don’t want to have all of your eggs in one basket,” he said. “For example, we like to diversify our portfolios to spread out risk, and this is something these anadromous species are doing as well. They don’t just want to have one approach to something because it makes them more flexible at dealing with changes that may be
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PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA coming into the future, different water year types, different hydrology, different snowpack years, and this makes them ultimately more successful at adapting to a changing environment. In my opinion, this is critical to their survival as we move forward in time.” In addition to the value of the diversity of the species, there are other
less obvious benefits of this particular type of steelhead. “Summer steelhead are a critical part of the ecosystems out here,” said Shaun Thompson, an environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “They can move upstream much farther than winter steelhead or any of the other salmonids that live on the North Coast. They can move far
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The Middle Fork Eel River has one of the state’s better populations of summer steelies. (JOHN HEIL/USFWS) 20 California Sportsman MARCH 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
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Shaun Thompson, an environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, terms summer steelhead “a critical part of the ecosystem” as well as “an inspiring animal.” (JOHN HEIL/USFWS)
up into the watersheds. When they do, they are moving thousands of pounds of marine derived nutrients – moving those nutrients from the ocean high up into the watersheds. They are altering the food web out here. So they bring these nutrients into the watershed and through the form of birds, bats and bears those nutrients are moving out and feeding the forest.” “They are also an inspiring animal. It is really amazing to come out to a river like this (Middle Fork Eel) in the middle of summer at 100 degrees out and see dozens and dozens of fish 3 feet long surviving in the cold water of these rivers. When there is enough fish for angling opportunities in a river like this, it is a huge economic boom to the communities that live around the river. The summer steelhead in the Eel River have the potential to be a huge recreational fishery.” For all those reasons and more, it is critically essential to assist the species where possible, according to Thompson. “To help conserve these fish, the first thing that the state is doing is monitoring the size of the population annually, so we do that by hiking through and doing a census of all of the fish that return to the Middle Fork Eel River each summer,” he said. “We also monitor water temperature over time and protect water quality in places 22 California Sportsman MARCH 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
where summer steelhead are known to hold throughout the summer. We make sure they have adequate water to survive for their time here in the river. We also address barrier issues where summer steelhead might have a problem with upstream migration, whether it is boulders in the river or dams that are blocking fish from reaching areas upstream to spawn.” Additionally, there are federal efforts underway to work towards things to improve conditions for these species. For example, in the Eel drainage, USFWS is looking for ways to provide access for anadromous fish to be able to get to historical habitats such as the mainstem Eel upstream of Scott Dam, where fish do not have access. Using a collaborative approach with a wide range of partners, including the Friends of the Eel, CDFW and others, USFWS hopes to not only provide access for fish but also water security for human use. “Removing man-made obstacles that block the migratory routes of summer-run (steelhead) is one of our best approaches to conserve them,” said Goodman. “The Service, alongside other members of the California Fish Passage Forum, a National Fish Habitat Partnership, recently released FishPass, a decision support tool designed to improve our ability to make strategic
PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA decisions that maximize the benefit of limited resources available to remove passage barriers and restore anadromous fish populations across California.” See fishpass.psmfc.org for more. CS
USFWS is looking for ways to provide access for anadromous fish to historical habitats above Scott Dam. (JOHN HEIL/USFWS)
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).
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PHOTO
CONTEST
WINNERS!
Harold Hastings is the winner of our monthly Fishing Photo Contest, thanks to this shot he sent of wife Karen and her big Kenai River, Alaska, sockeye. It wins him gear from various fishing tackle manufacturers!
Brad Mosier is our monthly Coast Hunting Photo Contest winner, thanks to this pic of he and trusty pup Higgins and their long-tailed pheasant. It wins him a knife and light from Coast!
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For your shot at winning hunting and fishing products, send your photos and pertinent (who, what, when, where) details to ccocoles@media-inc.com or California Sportsman, PO Box 24365, Seattle, WA 98124-0365. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for our print or Internet publications.
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s e r u t n e v d A I managed to get out to Lake Havasu this month and catch this nice smallmouth bass on a green pumpkin Revenge football head jig with a matching Yamamoto twin-tail trailer. (TODD KLINE)
The seasons are changing as winter makes way to spring in California, where the fishing is improving every day. This fish choked an IMA Pinjack crankbait. (TODD KLINE)
I took my son Dylan out with my friend Eugene to catch some local calico bass. It was an epic day on the water. (TODD KLINE)
I really like this photo. This was during a recent guide trip with a father and son team. Reef was celebrating his 13th birthday. (TODD KLINE)
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 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
In between my guide trips and my own fishing, I had a blast calling the action at the West Coast Boardriders Surfing Contest. (TODD KLINE) calsportsmanmag.com| |MARCH MARCH020 2020 California Sportsman calsportsmanmag.com
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30 California Sportsman MARCH 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
OUTDOOR CALENDAR California’s wild turkey season opens on March 28, with a special junior turkey hunt scheduled for March 21-22. (CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE)
MARCH
4-5 Redding Sportsmans Expo, Redding Civic Center; reddingsportsmansexpo.com 18-19 Nor-Cal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association Striped Bass Derby, Colusa; (530) 923-9440 25 Statewide trout opening day 25 NorCal Trout Angler’s Challenge, Collins Lake; anglerspress.com 25 Fishmas Day Celebration, Tom’s Place Resort; tomsplaceresort.com 25 Monster Fish Contest, June Lake Loop; junelakeloop.org/index 25-26 Annett’s Mono Village Fishing Opener Derby, Upper Twin Lakes, Bridgeport; monovillage.com 25-NOV. 15 Gull Lake Marina Fish of the Month Club Derby, June Lake Loop; gulllakemarina.com 25-NOV. 15 Bridgeport Locals Only Fishing Tournament, Bridgeport APRIL Reservoir; (760) 932-7707 4-5 Sacramento Municipal Utility District Trout Derby, Rancho Seco Recreation Area; anglerspress.com/events/ 26-JUNE 16 Round-up at the Lake Spring Fishing Derby, Convict Lake; convictlake.com/resort-home smud-trout-derby 4-8 Fred Hall Shows, Long Beach Convention Center; fredhall.com 8-12 Late-season whitefront and white goose hunt in Balance of State Zone 13-15 Fred Hall Central Valley Sports Show, Kern County Fairgrounds, Bakersfield; fredhall.com 14 Blake Jones Trout Derby, Pleasant Valley Reservoir and the Owens River; bishopvisitor.com/blake-jones-trout-derby 21-22 First spring junior turkey hunt 26-29 Fred Hall Shows, Del Mar Fairgrounds; fredhall.com 28 Spring turkey hunting opener
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31
FISHING
4 FIRST CLASS BASS OPTIONS SOCAL LAKES WORTH FISHING By Bill Schaefer
T
he lakes of Southern California go through cycles every so many years, with usually the weather as the main factor. Lakes can dry up to mud puddles, as we went through not too long ago. And then they tend to rebound over time. Well, it seems as though the time has come to go out and catch some larger bass. Last year saw a lot of 5to 10-pound fish hit dock scales from anglers, plus tournaments had some giant limits brought to weigh in. Plenty of 10-pound fish were caught, which lit up social media as the giant largemouth were shared with followers. So far we have had a light winter. If it holds up, March should make for strong prespawn fishing. I am already seeing some good reports from the lakes. So let’s look at four that should really shine and are a must-fish for anglers this spring.
SAN VICENTE RESERVOIR This lake was closed for eight years to raise the height of the dam and increase the reservoir’s size. Every winter, San Vicente rises a little and those who didn’t fish through the cold months have a new lake to try. The plan is to put more water in this lake, which will definitely be one of the largest in Southern California once completely full. Last year saw good numbers overall. Fish in the 3- to 5-pound range were common. Bass anywhere from 5 to 10 pounds showed up in tournament bags, as well as the boats of big fish
Author Bill Schaefer shows off a nice 7-pound bass he caught at San Vicente Lake, which puts out largemouth in the 5- to 10-pound range. There are plenty of great fisheries to choose from in the Southland. (BILL SCHAEFER) calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2020 California Sportsman
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FISHING produce well. San Vicente has the potential to put out big bass and this should be the year for it to happen.
LAKE BARRETT
San Diego County’s Lake Barrett bass are strong healthy fish that will test your tackle. Joel King shows off with a nice largemouth. (BILL SCHAEFER)
hunters. This may be the year for you to set the bar for other anglers. San Vicente is covered with giant boulders along a good portion of its shoreline. Brush was not cleared after the raising of the dam, so as the water comes up there is always a ton of brush in the water along the shore. The good thing for you is the bass move to the brush and you will find them from 1 foot to 50 feet of water, depending on the time of year. Right now the bass should be moving to the first prespawn staging areas of main
lake points. One move that works this time of year is to sit on a point, throw out and work uphill. You will cross their paths eventually. Drop-shot and split-shot worms will do well, as males will be roaming the banks looking for spawning areas. As the waters warm, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits – both hard and soft – crankbaits and buzzbaits will do well. Bass will start roaming in wolf packs as the lake heads into the summer, when Whopper Ploppers and other surface lures should
34 California Sportsman MARCH 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
Heading further east into San Diego County, I have to mention popular Lake Barrett. This fishery produces on average more bass than any other lake. (San Vicente comes close at times, but you have to give the win to Barrett.) Granted, it does cost a little more to play here, but a couple times a year won’t break your fishing budget, and the fishing makes it worth the price. Barrett’s lake level was recently down, but all it takes is a little rain to bring it back up. The lake currently is about half full, which is plenty of water to have fun. That’s because there are only 25 rental boats allowed on a day of fishing. They have also let float tubers and kayaks join in the fun. For more information on the rules, check out the Lake Barrett website (sandiego.gov/reservoirslakes/barrett-reservoir). This lake is great for the beginning angler or any angler who wants to gain confidence in any lure in their tackle box. The bass here eat everything – from the time the lake opens in May until it closes in September. Where to start? Anywhere on this lake is a good area. When the water rises, the bass gravitate to the shallow brush and spinnerbaits, buzzbaits or anything you can throw around shoreline stickups will get bit. Rocky points can be cranked for fast action. The go-to bait here has always been the Yamamoto Senko. Throw this bait into the shoreline brush and you will catch fish after fish. Drop-shot worms will also do well in any area at his lake.
DIAMOND VALLEY LAKE To the north we come to one of the largest lakes in the Southland, Riverside County’s Diamond Valley Lake. Now, this fishery has been up and down and closed and open during
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FISHING
Guide Todd Kline loves to fish Lake Perris, which is on the upswing after it was essentially shut down due to dam reconstruction that drained the water. (TODD KLINE)
its lifetime, but it is still one of the best fisheries in Southern California. The bass here came from stock at San Diego’s Lake Hodges. Those fish naturally grow larger without the help of a trout diet, which means that because rainbows are available to them at Diamond Valley, the reservoir puts out some giants each year! It’s possible that a world record bass could come from here. The lake has all the natural structure you could want, along with sunken islands and man-made features. It also has two giant dam faces covered with giant boulders,
which hold fish throughout the year. Springtime brings literally thousands of males running the banks to look for bed sites. This can be the wildest time of year in terms of catch rates. Drop-shot plastics and Texas-rigged worms, along with splitshot- or Carolina-rigged creature baits work well here. Remember that the dam faces can be cranked for some fast action. I like bouncing jigs down the dam faces, which can also produce some trophy bass. Summer and fall can bring early-morning topwater action. Soft or hard jerkbaits will also work well
36 California Sportsman MARCH 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
this time of year. Don’t forget that trout are planted here and the bass will devour the imitation trout swimbaits, especially the larger ones. It takes a little patience and some endurance throwing them all day, but you may be rewarded with a personal best bass.
LAKE PERRIS Finally, I want to mention a lake that should be returning as one of the premier lakes in Southern California, Lake Perris. The lake was drained down to a mud puddle to do dam repairs at one point, but
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the water started filling back up in 2018 and 2019. This lake boasts a lot of giant bass in its history, with an 18.80-pounder leading the way. Last year was good for catching at Perris and 2020 should only get better. I talked to guide (and fellow California Sportsman correspondent) Todd Kline (toddklinefishing.com; 714-333-8576) about the lake and how it fished in 2019 and the potential for 2020. Kline mentioned again to me that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and California State Parks should be commended for their concern for the lake while it was down. He mentioned that they took the time to make Perris great again by adding cuts, rock piles and brush and trees around the lake for habitat for the bass. As the water rose the bass immediately moved in. He mentioned looking at these areas to fish Carolina rigs, jigs and larger worms for a chance at a giant bass this spring. Perris can contain a lot of brush in the water and the bass have gravitated to it. This did bode well for the 2019 spawn. During prespawn and, if warm enough, spawning males will be roaming the bank or on beds and can be taken on drop-shot or splitshot plastics. Don’t be afraid to throw right into the brush, as the fish have really taken to the shoreline protection. Summer and fall will bring topwater action to the lake. Trout are planted here as well, so the trout imitation baits should bring larger trophy bass – maybe even your new personalbest fish. Crankbaits will also do well around the new rock piles. These are only a few of the premier lakes in Southern California and my picks for you to have a great outing on the water this spring. I can’t stress to you enough to go and explore other lakes in or out of your area. You can make a day of it, or take a vacation and sample a couple during the trip. It’s time to experience some special fishing around California. CS
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SHOWTIME IN JAPAN
A FRED HALL FAN TAKES IN A SPORTSMAN’S EXTRAVAGANZA IN YOKOHAMA
Author Lance Sawa grew up eagerly attending the Fred Hall Shows in Southern California. Now an expat living in Japan, he felt nostalgia when he went to a sports show in Yokohama. (LANCE SAWA)
By Lance Sawa
I
t’s March 1993 and I am waiting in a long line. As a young boy, you would think that I would be bored but that’s hardly the case. I am at the Long Beach Convention Center and waiting to get into the Fred Hall Show and see “Planet Ocean” for the first time.
This truly massive mural – by artist Robert Wyland – features whales as the main characters and they are depicted in their amazingly full size. The kelp looks to be moving, with various fish peeking out here and there. Rocks on the bottom look to be naturally placed, even though each was painted by someone’s hand. Over the years of seeing the mural
my personal favorite creature is a male sheepshead. And I’m taking it all in during this special time of the year: sports show season! My birthday and the Fred Hall Shows fell around the same time. I would spend most of my birthdays walking the aisles of the show. Sometimes it would be just my dad and I; other times it would be the
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Japan is known for crowded streets and public spaces. The entrance to the show, known as TsuriFest, was no exception. (LANCE SAWA)
whole family. I would always leave with bags full of stuff – whether it was ads for new hooks and lures or information on safety. Even the tide books were great to look through later. When the doors finally opened I experienced the same feeling every time – one of wonder. Which part should I look at first? The boats? The products for sale? The artwork? The live stage? Or the travel? Who was I kidding? My first stop was always the same: the fishing tank! All the trout were swimming around the pool and just waiting for my baited hook to go into the water. Now that I am older, though, I think maybe that I should have done that last for the freshest fish possible to take home.
YEARS LATER AND AN ocean away from
Long Beach, I once again found myself waiting in line to get into a fishing show. This time it was wasn’t Fred Hall but TsuriFest, which basically translates from Japanese into “fishing festival.” This event takes place in Yokohama, Japan, just about 30 minutes south of Tokyo. The number of people who attend this show is amazing to me, as is how many women and children also go. The perfect organization of the show did not surprise me and everything went smoothly as I entered through the entrance. After all those Fred Hall Shows I’d attended I knew what awaited me at them, but because I’d never gone to TsuriFest before, I had no idea where to go. I saw a large line to the right so I decided to go left and walk along the
44 California Sportsman MARCH 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
side of the building. The boats here are of different sizes, with most able to be broken down to fit into the small kei trucks that are so popular in Japan. Next to the boats was a children’s slack line and rock wall. Luckily I’d eaten before we arrived, as the food stalls would have taken all my money before I got to see the show’s contents. One corner was filled with fishing tanks; just up my alley. The largest was filled with large trout swimming around just waiting for that baited hook. There was a small admission fee of just about $3 to fish and take home up to two fish. Unfortunately, it was only for women and children. The crucian carp, a Eurasian species, were for women and children only as well. Of course, the “Children’s First Fish” area with goldfish fishing
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CUSTOMIZATION AND OPTIONS FOR your
From 30-foot rods to Hello Kitty fishing apparel, plus an appearance from popular Japanese dancer (and angler) Kenjiro Yamashita, this was quite a show to take in. (LANCE SAWA)
wasn’t for adults either. The only thing for men was the goby tank. The demonstrations were interesting. Some were on how to safely and accurately cast with a mini test at the end, which got you a prize. At a hands-on beginning fly tying seminar, they gave you the materials and you learned how to tie a pattern that you got to take home. Boat safety is huge in Japan and the Japan Coast Guard gave out safety information. A woman showing how dangerous it is to fish around power
lines was easily understood. All the big names in the industry showcased their expertise. There were also small and personal brands trying to get their names out there. The Daiwa booth had Moto Murata as a presenter. He would be the equivalent of the Dan Hernandez, Jeremy Wade or Bill Dance of Japan, given his TV shows and DVDs here. Murata talked for quite a long time about fishing during his time on one of the stages. Most large booths had some type of tank filled with different fish.
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fishing are endless at this Japanese outdoors show. Not only items like clothes and shoes but also rod handles and fishing bags. Japan seems finally ready to understand that women want to go fishing too and have begun to cater to them. You can get yourself Hello Kitty tackle and equipment that isn’t only cute but is as functional as other tackle. I saw fishing skirts for sale that I never saw growing up, even in California. Visitors attending the show got a huge surprise when one of the presenters turned out to be Kenjiro Yamashita, a dance member of popular Japanese bands J Soul Brothers and Exile. Think of it as if a member of One Direction or 5 Seconds of Summer went to a fishing show. Granted, I don’t think many of the 30- to 50-year-old men were going to the show just to see Kenjiro (when he got up on stage he drew a large crowd of mostly women). But this star genuinely loves fishing and when he spoke you could tell he was into the sport. Don’t worry, men; they also had a Fishing Idol contest. Whenever I go shopping for tackle in Japan I am overwhelmed by how many choices I have. I can get a hook in 20 different shapes with 20 different sizes – all just for trout. Then you have carp, bass, freshwater goby, eel, yellowtail, sea bass, tuna; the list goes on and on. Each hook company makes slightly different hooks. They love to showcase that they make hooks differently, harder or more flexible or sharper. The bait companies are the same. Some are all about value for your money. Others are more hands-on and advertise that they are handpacked to ensure the best quality. Then you have the colors for bait like frozen shrimp or fresh maggots. Next, the sizes – oh, the sizes! – of maggots, worms, salmon eggs and shrimp. One of the more interesting sights was the ice fishing camera with lights.
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A mini-tank featured goby fishing for those interested in catching the tiny ray-finned fish. (LANCE SAWA) In his youth in Southern California, sports shows were an important part of the author’s life. Now he’s experiencing Japan’s passion for fishing. “The amount of people who attend this show is amazing to me,” he writes. (LANCE SAWA)
There was also an outrigger camera for spotting game fish without having to leave the wheelhouse. Japanese recreational fishing pioneer Yasuhiko Tsunemi’s fishing comic work was on display with his 2019 IGFA Hall of Fame award. I always get a kick out of the 20- to 30-foot-long fishing rods that look like they weigh a ton but are so light they weight almost nothing.
And one booth caught my eye so much I just couldn’t look away. It was a booth with a class on how to do full-color ink rubbings of fish. In gyotaku, you only use one color: either a black or a red. I have seen full-color rubbings before, but never done as beautifully as these. Most looked to be able to jump right off the page.
48 California Sportsman MARCH 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
Fishing – not to mention the ubiquitous variety of seafood – is a huge part of Japanese culture. (LANCE SAWA)
At the front of the booth was a live demonstration of the process. The tools and techniques used were wonderful to watch. If it was anywhere near my house I would have signed up for a class right then and there. The best I could do was buy a few postcards and a calendar with the rubbings. I have to keep this feeling of wonder until winter ends and spring begins. CS
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FISHING
SKUNKED AT SAN PABLO
Dozens of anglers came out on an unseasonably warm February Saturday morning to fish San Pablo Reservoir, but the trout weren’t biting. (CHRIS COCOLES)
PLENTY OF ANGLERS GO HOME EMPTY-HANDED ON GORGEOUS WINTER DAY By Chris Cocoles
I
L SOBRANTE–We wondered if we were leaving too late. Myself, my sister Charlene, brother-in-law Alan and their two dogs last month planned a Saturday morning trip across San Francisco Bay to San Pablo Reservoir, a favorite trout fishing hole in the East Bay. We were planning to get up relatively early – I suggested a 6:30 a.m. alarm and getting on the road
by 7 or so for the 44-mile drive from San Mateo – but Alan thought we should leave even earlier. Charlene and I convinced him to get a little extra sleep. We were in the car by around 7:15. As it turns out, it really didn’t matter on this day.
HIGH HOPES The last time I fished here was last summer (California Sportsman, August 2019). I didn’t have high hopes on that
day, which was unseasonably hot and save for one nibble, the catfish weren’t interested in my chicken livers. Plus there was hardly anyone else on the water, so expectations were low. But this time, I was anticipating a good trout bite. San Pablo held its opener the weekend before and with the lake hosting the first of the yearlong NorCal Trout Angler Challenge held at various lakes, the fishing looked like it was trending up. Facebook posts showed happy anglers with rainbows
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FISHING
The fishing might be slow, but the facilities here are top notch. (CHRIS COCOLES)
after the lake received a few stockings prior to opening weekend. By the time we got to the lake, purchased our daily permits and picked up some garlic-flavored PowerBait to fish with, it was well after 8 and the shoreline just south of the store was full of fishing rods protruding from the bank. We had to walk down the shore a bit before we finally found a small area between some guys, one of whom was kind enough to move a little up the beach to give us some more room. I felt good about our chances. But then I asked them if they’d had any luck. “Nothing so far,” one told us. “We’ve been here about an hour.” So much for stressing about getting to the lake earlier and potentially
A plaque in front of the reservoir’s store honors local Clarence Wilson, who helped pave the way for the agency that oversees the area, the East Bay Municipal Utility District. (CHRIS COCOLES)
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FISHING
Boats of all kinds were out on San Pablo on a perfect day to be on the water. (CHRIS COCOLES)
Nala the puggle didn’t seem to mind that the fish weren’t biting. (CHRIS COCOLES)
The lake just had its opener earlier in February and more trout plants are scheduled. But the birds probably had a more productive morning than any anglers did during this Saturday. (CHRIS COCOLES)
There are some great deals to be had at the lake for boat rentals, particularly during the week when the fishing pressure is lighter. (CHRIS COCOLES)
54 California Sportsman MARCH 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
Alan King, the editor’s brother-in-law, takes in the scene. (CHRIS COCOLES)
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FISHING missing out on the action. As we chatted with those guys while none of us were getting as much as a bite, they told us about their struggles to get through the parking lot when the recreation area opened at 6:30. “We were waiting in line for about 30 minutes to get in,” one told us. I should have known it was a slow day when I saw four different setups on their rods. One rig looked like it had a Berkley Mice Tail and another hook had a glob of the company’s iconic PowerBait that we were also casting out. Another guy kept busy throwing what appeared to be a Kastmaster or a similar spoon. When no trout wanted to play with our PowerBait, Alan walked back to the store and came back with a jar of Berkley Gulp! What’s that old line
about desperate times and desperate measures?
ENJOYING THE SCENE As we were told, it was believed that just one fisherman on the bank that morning had managed to land a trout. “It seems like the best time to fish here is on days when they plant fish,” our neighbor told us. About 30 minutes passed before we gathered up our stuff, got the dogs some water and then headed down to quaint downtown Orinda and found a hofbrau with some outdoor tables to grab a sandwich for lunch. Still, despite the lack of action there’s something to be said for a beautiful February Saturday that makes California such a great place to be during the dog days of winter.
Granted, the Bay Area and particularly the nearby San Joaquin Valley are in dire need of some rain, causing the dreaded “d” word to be uttered again around the Golden State. But even with a possible drought looming we could count our blessings to be savoring a beautiful and warm sun-splashed Saturday while other parts of the country were shoveling snow and layering up to combat low temperatures. It was the kind of day that made getting skunked a lot more tolerable. CS Editor’s note: For more information on San Pablo Reservoir, check out its East Bay Municipal Utility District website (ebmud.com/recreation/east-bay/sanpablo-reservoir) and like at facebook.com/ SanPabloReservoir.
The editor’s fishing rod didn’t get any action on this day … (CHRIS COCOLES)
… but the same can be said for just about everyone filling the shoreline. Word got out that just one angler scored a trout in the morning. (CHARLENE KING)
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F
HUNTING
FROM FIELD...
Decoys can play a big part in your early season turkey hunting success. This tom couldn’t resist a mating hen decoy, crafted by Dave Smith Decoys. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
BE COY FOR TURKEYS DECOY TIPS FOR BAGGING A SPRING TOM By Scott Haugen
T
wo hours into the morning hunt, a tom finally gobbled back in response to every sound my buddy Brandon threw out. We barely made it to cover when
the tom was on top of us. I quickly shouldered the gun, placed the bead on the bird’s colorful head and filled my first tag of the year. Brandon, a very accomplished turkey hunter himself, used only one call. “I like to keep it simple, and
I don’t want to educate the birds,” Brandon shares. “Anywhere I’ve hunted where there are a lot of birds, I’ve found the key to success comes in catching them in the right mood, not hammering them with 20 different calls (and)
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HUNTING
... TO FIRE
Slow-cooked turkey meat will fall right off the bone, giving you plenty of options for a great wild game meal. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)
GO LOW AND SLOW FOR TURKEY GOODNESS By Tiffany Haugen
W
e’ve smoked, roasted, braised and stewed wild turkey legs and thighs. Many recipes, countless methods and one way to cook this flavorful dark meat still stands above them all: slow cooking. Because turkeys spend most of their time running around on the ground, their legs and thighs are sinewy. Unless you want to spend a lot of time separating all of the meat from the tendons and ligaments on an uncooked bird, toss these bird parts into the slow cooker and let the cooking
do the work. The meat stays moist, absorbs flavors and becomes incredibly tender when cooked “low and slow.” Surprisingly, an average tom will yield over 1½ pounds of cooked leg and thigh meat. Once cooked, this meat is very versatile and can be added to many foods – from spaghetti to burritos to pulled porkstyle sandwiches. Two to three turkey legs and thighs 1 cup chopped onion One 6-ounce can tomato paste 1½ cups white wine, beer or apple juice 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon ground black pepper Additional seasonings of choice Place turkey meat in slow cooker or Crock-Pot. Add onion. In a medium bowl mix remaining ingredients until fully combined. Add mixture to the cooker. Cook on high heat four to five hours or until meat falls from bones. Remove turkey and cool until it’s able to handle. Pull meat from bones, tendons and ligaments. Add additional seasonings if desired. Editor’s note: Tiffany Haugen is a cookbook author specializing in game and fish recipes. For personally signed copies of her popular Cooking Game Birds or her other cookbook titles, visit tiffanyhaugen.com.
VERSATILE SLOW COOKER SEASONINGS
F
lavor combinations are endless. Sometimes I just open my refrigerator/pantry and grab a jar or can of something – barbecue, enchilada, taco, curry or marinara sauce – and toss that into the slow cooker. Once the meat is cooked, I add a few fresh herbs at the end and serve over noodles or rice or wrap in a warm tortilla. Depending on your flavor preferences, give one of these combos a try: 2 cups salsa, one 4½-ounce can diced green chilis or jalapeños; 1 cup hoisin sauce, 1 cup chicken broth and 1 cup sliced green onions (add onions after removing meat from bones); 1 can coconut milk, ¼ cup red curry paste and 3 inches minced fresh ginger, 2 tablespoons fish sauce, 3 cups Bloody Mary mix and 1 cup each of diced onion, carrot and celery. –TH
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HUNTING
SPRING OUTLOOK STRONG FOR CALI GOBBLERS
I
’m in no way a professional wildlife biologist, but I’d be willing to bet that predicting the status of wild populations always involves an element of best guess. Weather patterns change. The unforeseen, e.g. fire, happens. The wildlife manager’s crystal ball isn’t always clear, no matter how badly we consumptive users wish it to be. In fact, it’s often quite cloudy; still, these professionals do the very best they can with the information they’ve afforded when we, the hunting community, put them on the proverbial spot and ask, “So; what can we expect to see this season?” A native Californian, Kevin Vella is one such professional. A graduate of Humboldt
State, Vella, a one-time migratory bird biologist with the California Waterfowl Association, now serves as the Pacific Coast district biologist for the National Wild Turkey Federation. Vella was preparing for the federation’s huge annual conference in Nashville, Tennessee (February 12-16), but he was kind enough to take a few minutes and talk to me about what folks might see as they hit the field this spring. It’s no secret that California offers some phenomenal spring turkey hunting. It’s one of the few states I haven’t hunted yet, but it’s definitely on that old bucket list. Maybe a combination spring gobbler/hog hunt is in order?
“California saw an average to above average hatch in 2018,” said Vella, “with good spring moisture and a (fairly mild) winter, all of which amounted to good recruitment. It was the same story in (2019). However, we did have a lot of rain late in the northern part of California well into May, and that worried me a bit about the possibility of nest abandonment. But everything was late,” he said. “And I thought we might have a poor hatch. But I saw poults showing up in July, and we had really high poult-to-hen ratios (observed). And great recruitment. So I think you’re going to see a lot of jakes (yearold gobblers) in 2020 in Northern California and southern Oregon.” –MD Johnson
attempting to change their mood.” Brandon’s philosophy makes sense. If birds aren’t reacting, he simply moves to another place. His calls are always subtle. “If they’re not ready to come in, I
don’t want to force things,” Brandon says. “I’ll mark where the birds are and come back another day.” Two weeks later I was back with Brandon, hunting the same ridge we had started on on opening morning.
Again, we used a decoy and only his diaphragm call. Within five minutes a lone tom with a 10-inch beard came gobbling and strutting into the decoy. The shot was simple. Brandon smiled. “Yep, he was
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HUNTING ready this time.”
TALKIN’ DECOYS Decoys can play a big part in turkey hunting success. In regions with high tom densities, I’ve observed fights among mature birds throughout much of the season, and it’s especially high during the first half of the season. Some hunters like using tom decoys that are in half-strut or a walking position, as this sends the message that they are interested in the hen (decoy), but not overly confident. This semisubmissive decoy position can be an open invitation for an aggressive tom to come in. There are tom decoys with red, white and blue heads and ones with nearly all white heads. Brightly colored heads send the message, “Hey, look at me. I’m the dominant tom and I know it.” A white-headed tom is one looking for a fight, and if he’s strutting at the
same time, he’s saying, “Hey, hen; look at me. I’m big, tough and mad, and to you other toms: I’m ready to fight!” I’ve had the best success using white-headed tom decoys in conjunction with hen decoys that are in a submissive, breeding posture. I think this combination is effective because it sends the message that a hen is ready to breed, and that an aggressive tom is ready to mount her, but also willing to take on any challengers.
where turkeys are roosting, where they fly down, where they spend the day and how they re-enter the roost. Observe the flock dynamics and see who is running the show. Some flocks travel more than others during the course of a day, and knowing where they go – both when and why – is a bonus. Note their food sources as well as where they might get water or retreat to when it gets hot.
ADD A REAL FAN
When patterning birds, do so from as far away as possible with binoculars or a spotting scope, so as not to get busted. Disturbing a flock can throw them off their routine for a few days. By that time a hen’s breeding status may change, which could result in the birds leaving your area. Trail cameras are also a valuable tool when patterning turkeys. Not only will the cameras reveal where birds are, but they’ll show how many
One thing I do with all my strutting tom decoys is replace the synthetic factory tail with a real fan I’ve made. I like a real tail fan. Just like on a real strutting tom, it doesn’t reflect light and the feathers move in the slightest breeze. No matter how you plan on hunting turkeys this spring, it’s a major benefit to first try and figure out the birds’ daily patterns. Find
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HUNTING birds there are, what they’re doing and what time of day they’re around. Keep in mind that as turkey flock dynamics change throughout the spring, so does turkey behavior; thus their daily routine. This spring, pay close attention to what the birds are telling you. Learning from turkeys is the best education a hunter can receive, and there’s no other way to accomplish this than being in the field as much as possible. CS
Author Scott Haugen was pleased with this early-season tom. There’s nothing like being in the spring turkey woods and having toms run to your calls, gobbling every step of the way. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
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Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s best-selling book, Western Turkey Hunting: Strategies For All Levels, visit scotthaugen.com.
HUNTING
New Turkey Shotgun, Deer Rifles Introduced
Turkey season is dead ahead in California, with five-plus weeks of hunting opportunity. (GEORGE GENTRY/USFWS)
By Dave Workman
S
pring wild turkey hunting is just a few weeks away in California, with the general season running from March 28 through May 3. Since 1877, five subspecies have been released in the Golden State, and today Merriam’s and Rio Grandes are the most numerous. The thing about turkeys that drives me nuts is that I can drive just about anywhere, any other time of the year, and run into flocks of the buggers. But during the spring season, they can be as stubborn and elusive – or just plain hard to get – as any game I’ve ever hunted. You’ve still got plenty of time to hone your skills with various turkey calls, and get your camo clothing all set. I know people who hunt turkeys
the same as other folks wait all year long just to shoot prairie dogs; they hunt nothing else, and when the time comes, they go for broke.
ONE OUTFIT THAT is ahead of the game this year is Stoeger. At the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade, or SHOT, Show in January, Stoeger expanded its popular M3500 shotgun series with the introduction of the Predator/Turkey Special, a rocking semiauto chambered for the 3½-inch 12-gauge magnum. Featuring a “SteadyGrip” pistol grip buttstock for a rock-solid grip while the ported barrel reduces muzzle rise and recoil, allowing shooters to get back on target quicker. It will take shells from 2¾ inches up to the big magnum loads without
adjustment, thanks to the Intertia Driven action. The M3500 is drilled and tapped to mount the included Weaver 93 base. A fiber optic front sight sits atop the 24-inch barrel that is fitted with the Mojo extended predator and turkey choke. With fewer moving parts, the Inertia Driven system is the fastest, simplest, cleanest, strongest and most reliable operating system in the world. While this shotgun is capable of holding four rounds in the magazine, don’t load up with more than three for bird hunting. Stoeger finishes this scattergun with Mossy Oak Overwatch camo. It weighs 7.5 pounds and has an overall length of 46 inches. Load up with No. 4 or 6 shot – you shouldn’t need a 3½-incher; most of
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HUNTING
Stoeger’s M3500 line of shotguns now includes the new Predator/Turkey Special, a semiauto 12-gauge chambered for 3½-inch magnum shells. (STOEGER)
Benelli has come out with a new three-round bolt-action rifle known as Lupo, Italian for wolf. It is chambered in .30-06 Springfield, .300 Win. Mag. and .270 Win. (BENELLI)
my turkey hunting pals prefer 3-inch magnums – and don’t forget a face mask or camo paint.
ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH the Benelli brand knows these folks build some simply awesome shotguns, such as the Super Black Eagle. That said, Benelli has come forth with a new bolt-action rifle they’re calling the Lupo, which is the Italian word for wolf.
Loaded with innovative features, the Lupo is initially chambered in three of the most popular Western boltaction calibers (.30-06 Springfield, .300 Win. Mag., .270 Win.). The rifle features an alloy lower receiver and a synthetic stock and forend. The stock incorporates Benelli’s patented Progressive Comfort recoil-reducing system and Combtech cheek pad for comfortable shooting. Benelli boasts three-shot
70 California Sportsman MARCH 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
subminute-of-angle accuracy, thanks to a Crio-treated free-floating barrel and secure bedding in the chassis receiver. There’s something else, too. The Lupo is rather modular by providing spacers to adjust the length of pull, and optional combs. Barrel length in the .270 and ’06 is 22 inches, while the .300 Win. Magnum is 24 inches. The double-stack box magazine holds three rounds. Benelli designed
HUNTING New from Franchi is the Momentum Elite, chambered for 6.5 Creedmoor, .223 Remington and .308 Winchester. (FRANCHI)
the Lupo with a two-position, tangmounted safety, and the Airtouch Grip surfaces provide a firm hold on the rifle. It’s got an adjustable trigger (2.2 to 4.4 pounds) and the length of pull may be adjusted from 13.8 to 14.75 inches.
ANOTHER BRAND FAMOUS for shotguns is Franchi (I own an over-and-under in 20-gauge that’s a real grouse killer) and this company has also introduced a new rifle, the Momentum Elite, a follow-up to the original Momentum introduced two years ago. Chambered for 6.5 Creedmoor, .223 Remington and .308 Winchester (depending upon version), the Momentum Elite has a detachable
magazine, rifle stock finish options of Hunter Gray, Realtree Excape and Strata by TrueTimber. The butt is fitted with a TSA recoil pad, and there are sling attachment points. The Momentum Elite features a one-piece bolt with spiral fluting and three locking lugs. The bolt handle is finished in Cerakote and the bolt has a 60-degree throw.
I MENTIONED OWNING a 20-gauge Franchi O/U, but there’s a little voice in my ear talking about a new smoothbore from Benelli in the same chambering. Enter the Model 828U, which has been scaled down from the 12-gauge platform introduced earlier.
The Model 828U allows custom drop and cast adjustments and the kind of ergonomic feel and balance to which Benelli users are accustomed. This little beauty is available with 26or 28-inch Crio barrels, so weights vary from 5.9 to 6.0 pounds. It comes with five Crio chokes (cylinder, improved cylinder, modified, improved modified and full) and an engraved nickel receiver. There’s a low-profile carbon fiber rib, and the stock is crafted from AA-grade walnut with a satin finish. Benelli also designed the recoiltaming Progressive Comfort System into the stock to reduce muzzle flip. It has a fiber optic front sight with red insert. CS
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HUNTING
Offseason Tune Ups, Part I: The Push Back
Author Scott Haugen’s dog Echo made a blind retrieve on this wing-tipped goose that sailed over 300 yards. Hand signals allowed him to push his dog back, and trust is what led to a successful retrieve. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
By Scott Haugen
A
bout the only bird hunts going now are for grouse and ptarmigan in Alaska, and at shooting preserves throughout other parts of the country. For most of us, it’s the start of the offseason, but for you and your dog it should really be the start of fixing things, what I call offseason tune-up time. It’s likely that at some point this past season you encountered unwanted behaviors or responses in your dog. Even if these were minor glitches, they need to be remedied while your dog is in good shape and both of your mindsets are on hunting. This month we’re going to look at fixing what could be the most common problem faced by hunters, the push back. Next
month, in part II of this series, we’ll look at other fixes you can make to get your gun dog dialed back in.
THE MOST COMMON question I get throughout the season is how to get a dog to move backwards for a retrieve when it failed to see a bird go down. “It’s hard to push a dog out but very easy to call them back, or direct them to the side, once they are out there,” shares Jesse Spradley, an award-winning trainer and breeder with Cabin Creek Gun Dogs (541219-2526, cabincreekgundogs.com) in Lakeview, Oregon. “Blind retrieves require a lot of training and are one of the more challenging things to fix,” he begins. “This is because the dog is being asked to run or swim out in a given direction,
looking for game it hasn’t seen you shoot, then continue searching until it finds the bird or you start giving directional casts. To accomplish this, the dog must have confidence in you as the handler, and trust that you know what you are doing.” Now is a good time to teach your dog how to push back for a blind retrieve, which Spradley explains step by step. “This command is taught by repetitions that always end with success. Success is the result of the dog always finding the bumper, antler, bird, etc. The key to success is you must start short then increase the distance as the dog becomes more confident in your commands; commands that always lead to success, as this is how the dog learns to trust you,” he says.
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HUNTING “I want my dog to come up to any body of water, no matter how big it is, knowing we are going to the far side. A lot of dogs stop at 40 to 60 yards out because that’s how far most folks can throw training dummies out into the water. By going to the training pond and physically placing bumpers or birds, you can increase the distance, building the dog’s confidence as you go,” he says.
Jesse Spradley, a noted trainer and breeder of elite pudelpointers, devotes a lot of time in the offseason to tuning up gun dogs for clients. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
“When I’m teaching blind retrieves I’ll place the birds or bumpers in the same location on a pond, always on the far side of the bank,” Spradley continues. “As the dog learns to swim across – knowing there will always be something there to retrieve – I’ll begin switching to other locations that
require a little further distance. The purpose of this is to build the dog’s confidence.” For many hunters, breaking a bad training habit that likely started when the dog was a pup is the goal of getting them to push back, as Spradley explains.
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I MADE THIS mistake with a female pudelpointer one time, but broke the habit and got her to push back using voice commands and hand signals to direct her to bird wings I’d placed in a big field. I made a point to do this training when there was a slight crosswind. I left the dog kenneled then went out and positioned three different bird wings, one at 30 yards, another at 50 yards and the last at about 75 yards. After finding the first wing the dog retrieved it to me, then I sent her back for the second wing. She followed the same line to where she’d picked up the first wing, then stopped and looked at me for direction. With a verbal “back” command and a hand signal (an open hand raised over my head), she moved back, cut the wind of the second wing, then brought it back. Immediately trust was gained and success is what kept driving that dog during follow-up training sessions. It took a little time, but now that dog trusts me and has no trouble pushing back 200 yards, even more, on both land and water, guided by a blow on the whistle or one beep on her e-collar, combined with a hand signal. Start simple and ensure success when teaching your dog to push back. Be patient and always positive. If the dog loses interest, call it a day and come back another time, fresh and ready to work. CS Editor’s note: To watch Scott Haugen’s series of puppy training videos, visit scotthaugen .com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.
