FISHING • HUNTING • TRAVEL CALSPORTSMANMAG.COM
Built for Adventure! THUNDER JET • BOULTON • FISH-RITE
With our factory-trained technicians for Yamaha, Suzuki, Mercury, Tohatsu and Honda motors, we can handle any project from electronic installs to complete boat and motor overhauls.
Need a new motor for your current boat? Best prices around on Repowers!
MAXXUM MARINE
1700 Hwy 99 N, Eugene, OR
www.maxxummarine.com
Toll Free 877-4-Maxxum (877-462-9986) Local 541-686-3572
California
Sportsman Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource
Volume 13 • Issue 5 PUBLISHER James R. Baker GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak
G P
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott EDITOR Chris Cocoles CONTRIBUTORS Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Todd Kline, Laura Mahoney, Lance Sawa, Bill Schaefer SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Jim Klark, Mike Smith DESIGNER 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 The general statewide spring turkey season runs from March 27 to May 2, and correspondent Tiffany Haugen and her husband Scott offer up their tips for harvesting and cooking your tom. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)
MEDIA INC PUBLISHING GROUP 14240 Interurban Ave. S., Suite 190 Tukwila, WA 98168 (800) 332-1736 • Fax (206) 382-9437 media@media-inc.com www.mediaindexpublishing.com
4 California Sportsman MARCH 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
D
Good Used Boats, Repair Parts, Quality Service, Knowlegeable Staff
SALES • SERVICE • ENGINES
GETTING YOU THE RIGHT PART THE FIRST TIME
Seastar Solutions Optimus EPS steering
Docking and maneuvering your boat in high winds has never been so easy. Let the Joy Stick do it for you. GPS position hold and heading hold is included.
Mercury Marine Outboard Promotion Horespower
Consumer Rebate
9.9 Pro Kicker
$100
15 Pro Kicker
$150
40 & 40 Jet
$200
50
$250
60 & 65 Jet
$400
75 & 80 Jet
$500
90
$600
115 & 115 ProXS
$1,000
150
$1,250
150 ProXS
$1,500
350
$2,000
400
$2,250
Subject to approval by mercury and dealer. Subject to terms. See dealer for details. NO SALES TAX IN OREGON
8 and 99 Kicker Motors in stock. Call now!
503-255-8487 • CascadeMarineCenter.com 14900 SE STARK ST. • PORTLAND, OR 97233 HOURS: MON-FRI 8AM-6PM • SAT 9AM-3PM
MOTORS MUST BE CAPABLE OF ACCEPTING JOYSTICK APPLICATION. CERTAIN LIMITATIONS APPLY.
CONTENTS
VOLUME 13 • ISSUE 5
FEATURES 17
DOWN ON THE FARM
A private Redding-area trout farm is collaborating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies in a team effort to help restore endangered winter Chinook salmon in Northern California river systems. This unlikely partnership is doing terrific work in replenishing once barren spawning waters such as Battle Creek, a critical Sacramento River tributary. Laura Mahoney of the USFWS has details on the “Jumpstart Project.”
31
THE LUNKERS OF SPRING The promise of warmer Southland weather and spawning bass is right in Capt. Bill Schaefer’s wheelhouse. As male largemouth roam the shallows to set up nests, Schaefer breaks out his reaction lures, plastics and crankbaits for a chance to score a spring lunker. He shares how to get it done in March’s madness for anglers.
37
45
TERRIFIC TOM TIPS California’s spring turkey season begins on March 27, and knowing how to call in a tom, where to set up a blind and the importance of being still in that blind can make the difference between bagging a bird or being goose-egged by that gobbler. Scott Haugen, a veteran turkey tagger, offers his best ideas, while Tiffany Haugen pairs them with her New Orleans-inspired recipe in this month’s From Field to Fire feature. (CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE)
ICE FISHING AFAR
The Southern California roots of Lance Sawa, our American Angler in Japan, meant he didn’t exactly grow up in ice fishing country. But now that Sawa lives in the Japanese winter wonderland of Nagano Prefecture, he’s had plenty of opportunities to hit the hard stuff – er, a frozen local lake. On a pair of bitterly cold winter days and with only a summer tent as a shelter, he broke the ice and tried his luck. Find out how it went for Sawa, as well as what Japanese fishermen pursue through the ice.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 9 10 13 15 25 53
The Editor’s Note: New license proposal would benefit fishing, anglers The Adventures of Todd Kline Photo contest winners Outdoor calendar New trout regs will open some Eastern Sierra fisheries this month Haugen on hunting dogs
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. Annual subscriptions are $29.95 (12 issues). Send check or money order to Media Index Publishing Group, or call (206) 382-9220 with VISA or M/C. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 2021 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. 6 California Sportsman MARCH 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
FE
al
FEATURES
If Assemblyman Jim Wood’s 365-day fishing license proposal is voted through, an increase in license purchases should be beneficial for everyone. (CHRIS COCOLES)
THEEDITOR’SNOTE
A
fter I moved to Arkansas in 2003, it had been a couple years since I had had a chance to fish (I had a memorable Lake Tahoe experience a few weeks before making the move from my California roots to the Natural State and was getting the urge to wet a line again). So when myself and Chris – my great friend from college who had also moved to Arkansas and convinced me to pursue a job at the same newspaper he worked for – wanted to get in on some of the state’s famed fishing opportunities, we settled on a spring trout outing. Of course, we had to buy a resident sport fishing license and we decided to get a full one-year license so we could fish again. When we went to a local bait shop to pick up our licenses, we were encouraged that our purchase was good for one year starting that day. Arkansas was one of just a handful of states that offered anglers that perk at the time. I remembered how frustrating it was during my days in California, when no matter when I bought my license it would expire the following Dec. 31. While the most diehard anglers are going to buy no matter what, as the number of fishing and hunting licenses purchased in California has plummeted – the Golden State also has the highest licensing fees in America – it’s clear that something must change. It seems finally everyone is on board with the push to make all California license purchases valid for 365 days. State assemblyman Jim Wood (D) recently introduced AB 817, which “will transition California’s calendar-based fishing license to one that is valid a full 365 days from the date of purchase and a mobile phone app that makes compliance and renewal easier,” as Wood’s press release states. Consider that even today, just 13 other states have joined Arkansas in the 365-day license format, so California isn’t alone in its reluctance to do the right thing for aspiring sportsmen and -women. “It’s time for California to abandon an antiquated fishing license that’s harming our participation rate,” said Wood, who represents the Santa Rosa area, of his bill that, if voted through, would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2022. “Modernizing our sport fishing license to one that is valid a full 365 days from the date of purchase will encourage more Californians to fish and increase fishing license revenue that funds critical state fishing and conservation programs.” At a time when we all need something good to happen, this one seems like a no-brainer. -Chris Cocoles
calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2021 California Sportsman
9
s e r u t n e v d A
Here’s a nice largie that I caught during practice. (TODD KLINE)
Before heading out for a day of tournament fishing, I took this picture of the sunrise over the impoundment of the Colorado River along the California-Arizona border. (TODD KLINE)
We had a record number of 178 boats competing in this year’s tournament. I chased the smallmouth and was blessed to finish in second place. I was only getting five or six bites per day, but when I did, they were the right ones. (TODD KLINE)
10 California Sportsman MARCH 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
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
This past month my rig and I headed out to Lake Havasu for the Arizona Open bass event. I spent a total of 10 days, including the three-day tournament. This is an amazing sunset at my friend Tony Lain’s house. (TODD KLINE)
The winter snowfall allowed us to enjoy a fun family snowboard outing. (TODD KLINE)
My son Dylan had a great day on the lifts and the slopes. (TODD KLINE)
The second-place trophy and the smile that goes with it. (TODD KLINE)
calsportsmanmag.com| MARCH | MARCH2021 2021 California Sportsman calsportsmanmag.com
11
PHOTO
CONTEST
WINNERS!
Pistol Bullets and Ammunition Zero Bullet Company, Inc.
Russell Southard is the winner of our monthly Fishing Photo Contest, thanks to his pic of sons Robert and Reagan with their big broodstock rainbows from a western Oregon lake. It wins him gear from various tackle manufacturers!
ZER
P.O. Box 1188 Cullman, AL 35056 Tel: 256-739-1606 Fax: 256-739-4683 Toll Free: 800-545-9376 www.zerobullets.com
Chad Zoller is our monthly Coast Hunting Photo Contest winner, thanks to this pic of his daughter’s and son’s southeast Washington bucks and a bonus pheasant. It wins him a knife and light from Coast!
For your shot at winning hunting and fishing products, send your photos and pertinent details (who, what, when, where) to ccocoles@media-inc .com or California Sportsman, 14240 Interurban Ave. S., Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for our print or Internet publications. calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2021 California Sportsman
13
`
` California Department of Fish and Wildlife is hosting its junior wild turkey hunting weekend on March 20-21. The general spring turkey opener is set for March 27. (CDFW)
OUTDOOR CALENDAR Editor’s note: Because of COVID-19 restrictions, all events should be checked for changes or cancellations. Below are events that had been scheduled for March and April, with websites/phone numbers for you to check for updates. MARCH 1
Select Eastern Sierra trout fisheries open (see story on page 25 for details) 5-11 NorCal Boat, Sport and RV Show (virtual), Shasta District Fairgrounds, Anderson; norcalsportshow.com 13 NorCal Trout Angler’s Challenge, Lake Amador; anglerspress.com/events/norcal-trout-anglers-challenge Blake Jones Trout Derby, Pleasant Valley Reservoir, 13 Owens River; bishopvisitor.com/blake-jones-trout-derby 20-21 Junior wild turkey hunting weekend Spring wild turkey hunting season opens 27
APRIL
10-11 Spring Trout Spectacular, Rancho Seco Park, Herald (Sacramento County); anglerspress.com/ events/2021-spring-trout-spectacular.html 17 Pardee Lake Team Kokanee Derby; kokaneepower.org/derbies 17-18 NorCal Guides and Sportsmens Association Striped Bass Derby, Colusa Public Ramp; (530) 870-1449 24 Expected statewide trout opener 24 NorCal Trout Angler’s Challenge, Collins Lake; anglerspress.com/events/norcal-trout-anglers-challenge 24-25 Redding Sportsmans Expo, Redding Civic Auditorium; reddingsportsmansexpo.com 24-SEPT. 6 Lake Isabella Fishing Derby; kernrivervalley.com/2020-isabella-lake-fishing-derby Editor’s note: For a list of upcoming bass tournaments, go to nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FishingContests/default.aspx.
calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2021 California Sportsman
15
PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA
In a unique partnership, 40,000 “Jumpstart Project” winter Chinook are being reared at Mt. Lassen Trout Farm. The young fish receive food throughout the day from belt feeders over each of six raceways at the private facility that is helping to restore the endangered salmon stock in the Battle Creek system. (LAURA MAHONEY/USFWS)
FISH FARMERS AND BIOLOGISTS TEAM UP IN SALMON, RESTORATION EFFORTS By Laura Mahoney
W
hen you think of a private fish farm, you don’t typically think of conservation, but that is changing through a new partnership. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Coleman National Fish Hatchery and Mt. Lassen Trout Farm have come together to raise endangered Sacramento River winter Chinook salmon and release them into Battle Creek as part of the “Jumpstart Project” aimed at reintroducing winter kings to the watershed.
A NEW APPROACH Phil Mackey has been raising trout for nearly 50 years at the trout farm, so when biologists approached him about using one of their hatcheries as a location to rear endangered winter Chinook, he didn’t hesitate. Mt. Lassen Trout Farm is a private aquaculture facility that is primarily known for raising trout that are used in stocking lakes and ponds, and providing food fish to restaurants around the state of California. Mackey and his daughter, Katie Harris, are co-owners of the farm
and take great pride in the fish that are raised at their facility. “Wow, it would be such an honor to play even a small role in the restoration of the Battle Creek watershed,” Harris said when she learned that the farm would be used for raising winter salmon. “This is something very unique, and we are extremely proud to have the opportunity be involved in this ambitious endeavor." Mackey and Harris both said that they have never heard of any other private hatchery working with government agencies for conservation related to an
calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2021 California Sportsman
17
PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA endangered species. “The reaction from the private aquaculture industry has been extremely positive,” Harris said. “Folks I work with through the U.S. Trout Farmers Association and National Aquaculture Association always ask how the project is doing. They are rooting for the success of this as much as anyone because they recognize what a big deal this partnership is.”
Along with those reared at the trout farm, another 120,000 winter kings are being raised at Coleman National Fish Hatchery. Both batches will be tagged to study their relative survival and spawning success. (JAKE SISCO/USFWS)
SHORT HISTORY, BIG IMPACT Hydroelectric development on Battle Creek in the early 1900s resulted in winter Chinook being completely excluded from their historic spawning habitat within the creek and extirpation from the watershed. Until recently, there has only been a single spawning population of winter fish that exists, which is downstream of Keswick Dam in the Sacramento River – completely outside of their historic spawning range. However, that all began to change in 2017 when the National Marine Fisheries Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and USFWS decided to jump-start the reintroduction efforts of winter kings in Battle Creek, today’s
Brett Galyean (right), project leader at Coleman and Phil Mackey, president of Mt. Lassen Trout Farms, discuss raising the Jumpstart salmon. The Chinook are housed in a building with strict fish health protocols that require all boots and gear entering the building to be disinfected. (LAURA MAHONEY/USFWS) 18 California Sportsman MARCH 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
Jumpstart Project. Between March and April 2018, over 220,000 juvenile winter kings were released into North Fork Battle Creek. The juvenile fish released into the creek were the progeny of captive broodstock spawned at Livingston Stone National Fish Hatchery, USFWS’s winter-run hatchery that’s located at the base of Shasta Dam. After spawning, the juvenile fish were transferred to Coleman, where they were raised for a few months to imprint on the water, and then were released. Coleman is a federally owned and operated hatchery on Battle Creek and has successfully raised salmon for decades. However, the water used at Coleman is a mixture from both North Fork and South Fork Battle Creek. Biologists are concerned that this mixing of water may result in adult salmon imprinting on
Inland Boats & Motors SERVING YOU SINCE 1975
111 N. Kittitas St. Ellensburg, WA • 509-925-1758 www.inlandboatsandmotors.com • HOURS: M-F
9-5:30pm
calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2021 California Sportsman
19
PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA and returning to South Fork Battle Creek, where water temperatures are often too high for spawning winter fish. So, they needed a way to increase the imprinting on North Fork Battle Creek. Multiple agencies and partners, including CDFW, Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Gas & Electric, USFWS and NMFS collaborated to come up with alternative locations on North Fork Battle Creek where winter Chinook could be raised for the reintroduction efforts. Laurie Earley, a USFWS supervisory fish biologist, has worked on fish conservation efforts in Battle Creek for close
to 15 years and is the lead biologist from the Red Bluff Fish and Wildlife Office for the Jumpstart Project. She said the group worked for many years to assess locations for rearing and to obtain support. Finally, in June 2019 funding was provided by CDFW and in September 2020 an agreement was finalized with the farm. “There were a lot of people that assisted in getting this project up and running. From project development to the final cooperative agreement, it truly was a team effort,” Earley said. “Working with partners like Phil and Katie, who are invested and passionate about the success – not only of this project but the
Katie Harris and Phil Mackey from Mt. Lassen Trout Farms, and Laurie Earley and Brett Galyean from USFWS discuss the Jumpstart Project winter Chinook at Mt. Lassen Trout Farm. They meet frequently to discuss the different steps associated with raising, tagging and releasing the fish. (LAURA MAHONEY/USFWS) 20 California Sportsman MARCH 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
restoration and reintroduction efforts in Battle Creek – has strengthened the collaborative nature of the project.” As the project enters the fourth year of releasing fish in Battle Creek, the hard work is paying off. During the 2020 return year, over 1,000 adult winter kings returned to Battle Creek (California Sportsman, November 2020). These fish were released in 2018 and 2019 and completed their journey to the Pacific Ocean and back to what is expected to be the natal spawning grounds for Battle Creek winter salmon. For the first time in decades, biologists were able to document these fish spawning in Battle Creek and North Fork Battle Creek. They
PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA even captured some juveniles in a rotary screw trap in lower Battle Creek, showing that the spawning was a success.
An adult winter Chinook that returned to Coleman in February 2020. This female was part of the very first release of salmon into North Fork Battle Creek in 2018. “There were a lot of people that assisted in getting this project up and running. … It truly was a team effort,” biologist Laurie Earley said of the collaboration. (LAURA MAHONEY/USFWS)
LOOKING AHEAD This year 40,000 winter Chinook are being raised at the farm, with 120,000 more reared at Coleman. Brett Galyean, project leader at Coleman, communicates often with Mackey and Harris to discuss the growth, care and feeding of
the fish at both facilities. “Katie, Phil and the staff at the Mt. Lassen Trout Farm have done a great job observing and learning the subtle differences in rearing and feeding winter Chinook salmon than other salmonids,” said Galyean. The fish from both the farm and Coleman will be released together into North Fork Battle Creek in the spring of 2021. Using a combination of coded-wire tags and acoustic tags, biologists will monitor the two groups of fish after release. The acoustic tags allow for real-time tracking of fish when they are released into the creek and coded-wire tags will be used for long-term monitoring of fish when they are captured as adults. This information will be used to help biologists compare the survival and, eventual, spawning success of the two groups. This new approach to tackling conservation’s challenges has brought about a partnership between unlikely partners. “I have appreciated the mutual respect between everyone involved with this project,” Harris said. “The collaboration and support we have received from all of the agencies involved has been tremendous.” Galyean added, “I look forward to working with them on this project for the next few years.” CS
As the salmon grow, they are moved from the indoor rearing facility to this larger outdoor raceway where they will remain until they are released. This outdoor raceway is surrounded by an electric fence to prevent predators, like bears, from entering the area and preying on the young fish. (LAURA MAHONEY/USFWS) 22 California Sportsman MARCH 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
Editor’s note: Laura Mahoney is an information and education specialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (fws.gov/ cno). For more on Mt. Lassen Trout Farm, go to mtlassentrout.com.
Built for Adventure! THUNDER JET • BOULTON • FISH-RITE
With our factory-trained technicians for Yamaha, Suzuki, Mercury, Tohatsu and Honda motors, we can handle any project from electronic installs to complete boat and motor overhauls.
Need a new motor for your current boat? Best prices around on Repowers!
MAXXUM MARINE
1700 Hwy 99 N, Eugene, OR
www.maxxummarine.com
Toll Free 877-4-Maxxum (877-462-9986) Local 541-686-3572
FISHING
Hot Creek is one of the Eastern Sierra fisheries that’s long been open to year-round trout fishing, but new regulations that went into effect March 1 allow select waters to join the list, though winter conditions might make many of these lakes and streams inaccessible for awhile. (MONO COUNTY TOURISM)
ANGLERS WELCOME – IF YOU CAN GET THERE NEW REGULATIONS ALLOW FOR YEAR-ROUND FISHING IN SOME SNOWY EASTERN SIERRA TROUT SPOTS By Chris Cocoles
F
irst, the good news: Starting March 1, there will be more available fishing opportunities for anglers in the Eastern Sierra that weren’t year-round options in the past. Not so good news: There are no guarantees many of those waters will be accessible for a while. Remember, we’re talking about some of the highest-elevation fisheries in the state. The new regulations,
which were officially announced on March 1 and went into effect that day, are part of a long-term effort to streamline the statewide inland trout fishing regulations. They opened many lakes, rivers and streams that may have been previously closed during the winter months to anglers. “In the past, five of the seven state districts within the California Department of Fish and Wildlife really were year-round fishing. So that was part of the initiative to push the rest of
the state into that one big regulation,” said James Erdman, a Bishop-based environmental scientist with CDFW. “But the two parts of the state that were really left out of that were the Sierra district and pretty much the northern region – the Trinity Alps, the Lassen area; the two areas most affected by winter.” “(The decision) involved a lot of public input, revisions and time, and obviously you can’t please everyone all the time. But in general, it seems pretty
calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2021 California Sportsman
25
FISHING – they can be viewed at fgc.ca.gov/ Regulations/2020-New-andProposed#3_00 – set aside the usual spots that trout seekers flock to. That includes 20 fisheries in and around the Eastern Sierra, known as “resort lakes” such as Crowley and Convict Lakes, two of the most heavily fished destinations on the opener (see sidebar graphic for a complete list). “All the lakes that have an entrance, restaurants or stores, boat ramps and marinas – what you’d consider a resort lake with campgrounds and amenities,” will open April 24, Erdman says. “In a sense, those are the lakes that people come up here to fish on opening day in general.” “We really want to preserve (opening day). It’s a huge part of the economy of the small towns in the Eastern Sierra during Fishmas itself and a great time to visit,” he adds.
OPPORTUNITIES DICTATED BY MA NATURE
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife created this graphic to advise anglers about the new regs and what waters will remain closed until the last Saturday in April season opener. (CALIFORNIA DEPARMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE)
well accepted as a complete package. What we’re trying to do is maximize fishing opportunities at stocked waters, and at the same time protect native fish and wild trout spawning where the opportunity exists.” And the “opportunity exists” part is crucial to this news. While a handful of Eastern Sierra waters have long been open year-round – “the Owens River, Hot Creek; maybe five waters out of a few hundred,” Erdman says – most of the higher areas of the region are snowed in and some waters are
iced over until late spring. So the decision to open select fisheries is, in Erdman’s mind, “trying to balance resource protection and angling opportunity.”
FISHMAS CELEBRATION REMAINS The last Saturday in April is the date that will continue to be circled on anglers’ calendars (last year’s opener was delayed about a month due to COVID-19 restrictions). This year’s “Fishmas” opener is scheduled for April 24, and the new regulations
26 California Sportsman MARCH 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
So what’s going to be open in March that has been previously closed? Essentially, all the areas that don’t have amenities. Erdman cites a couple such fisheries near Bishop that will open and are adjacent to other spots that will not be open until April 24. From Bishop, west off Highway 168 are Sabrina and South Lakes at 9,000 feet elevation; these will not be open but will be available for the Fishmas Day crowd (if they aren’t still frozen). North Lake is in the same vicinity as Sabrina and South Lakes, but it is located off a dirt road and has no real amenities, so that lake opened to yearround fishing as of March 1, according to the statewide trout regulation. Like Sabrina and South, it is often frozen through the end of April. Another body of water that receives stocked trout throughout the traditional season – when water temperatures are optimal for stocking – is known as Intake 2, which is around 7,000 feet. It will also open for business throughout the year as part of the new regulations. But Erdman offered a caveat that safety should be taken into consideration before
OREGON
EUGENE Maxxum Marine 1700 State Hwy. 99 N. (541) 686-3572 www.maxxummarine.com
calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2021 California Sportsman
27
FISHING setting out for any of these remote destinations. “Right now, Intake 2 is accessible, probably frozen and probably thin, and I don’t know if ice fishing is safely available,” he said. “This is where we hit that nexus of, is it safe? Do we close it to angling to protect people? Just as it is the angler’s responsibility to know the fishing regulations, it is also the angler’s responsibility to know their own limits and recreate safely, in my opinion.” Erdman also mentioned the opening of fishable waters around the Golden Trout Wilderness, which is located in parts of Tulare and Inyo Counties that are often difficult to reach in winter. “Pretty much the entire Golden Trout Wilderness is a two-fish bag limit year-round and with artificial lures only. (But it’s) mostly inaccessible,” Erdman says. “If you’re going backcountry skiing, you don’t carry a fishing rod. And if you’re
BETTER WAIT FOR FISHMAS
T
he following Eastern Sierra fisheries – all have amenities – will remain closed until the traditional last Saturday in April season opener (April 24 this year): Bridgeport Reservoir and tributaries; Convict Lake; Crowley Lake; George Lake; Grant Lake; Gull Lake; Horseshoe Lake; June Lake; Lundy Lake; Mamie Lake; Mary Lake; Rock Creek Lake; Sabrina Lake; Silver Lake; South Lake; Twin Lake (Mammoth); Twin Lakes (Lower and Upper, Bridgeport); Virginia Lakes (Lower and Upper). CS
(JAMES ERDMAN/CDFW)
fishing, you’re not wearing skis. The two usually don’t go hand in hand. And I do both; I’m a backcountry skier and a backcountry fisherman. I do not do both at the same time.” So while it’s plausible that some hearty anglers – probably locals – will find a way to take advantage of some of these new opportunities, Erdman
28 California Sportsman MARCH 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
doesn’t expect a crush of fishing pressure at these previously closed lakes and ponds. “I doubt it. It’s just cold. The fish are hunkered down, they’re not biting very much. We do get quite a few (winter) anglers on the Owens,” he says. “It’s a warmer water and the fishing’s great in the winter when the
Com e
ce the Grea rien tO e p x u E
Bridgeport
rs oo td
flows are low. It’s a world-class fishery, in my opinion. It really draws people to both the catch-and-release sections and the catch-and-keep areas. But these small streams, I really don’t see them drawing people in.” Erdman says the Owens River remains anglers’ best option for winter fishing opportunities in the area. The Lower Owens (from 5 Bridges Road to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s pumpback pond) and the Gorge (between Crowley Lake and Pleasant Valley Reservoir) will be open year-round with a five-trout bag limit. The economic boost that the region gets once the trout season opens should continue, assuming there aren’t more pandemic complications. And as for the other regulation changes? “There are going to be people who say things like, ‘You can’t open Intake 2 year-round.’ We’re trying to provide angling to as many people as possible, while considering historic uses and fisheries science, which goes back to fishing opportunities and protection of the resource and that balance. I think these regs do a good job of balancing both,” Erdman says. “Of course, everyone has a favorite lake or favorite spot. But if they continue to go back and read the regs, it’s not that big of a change. Obviously if the change is open (fisheries) or closed, people are going to be (more) upset with closed waters.” CS
in the Eastern Sierra Nevada of Mono County, California
BridgeportCalifornia.com (760) 932-7500
calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2021 California Sportsman
29
30 California Sportsman MARCH 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
FISHING
SPRING INTO SOCAL BASS FISHING
SPAWNING TIME, WARMER WATER EXCITES LARGEMOUTH ANGLERS By Capt. Bill Schaefer
A
s we head into spring, anglers get more and more excited about the lakes of Southern California. Largemouth bass are waking up and males are starting to roam the banks in search of nesting spots. Each will pick a place out and guard it with its life. This bodes well for anglers who have been waiting to hit the lakes with all that new fishing gear they got for Christmas. Last year the pandemic kept most of us off the lakes during the prespawn and spawn months, so I know we’re all ready for some good fishing.
LET THERE BE WARMTH
The water at most lakes in the region is warming up and ready to trigger the largemouth into their dance. Fishing should be good this year, with a lot more footlongs around to keep anglers’ attention between big fish bites. Plus, spring is the time to catch that fish of a lifetime. Not long after males find a nest, the giant females move up into the shallows. Now, I’m not going to debate nest or bed fishing – that’s up to you – but blind-catching largemouth off the beds is fishing. If you release them right where you caught them,
With bass moving into the shallows, the arrival of spring can be a great time to get the kids into fishing. Author Bill Schaefer’s son Bricen shows off the rewards available beginning this month. (BILL SCHAEFER) calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2021 California Sportsman
31
FISHING Small jerkbaits can be a fun way to fish, as well as locate bass in the spring. Always go back and worm any area you catch a fish. (BILL SCHAEFER)
they will return to the bed to finish up their spawn. After winter’s rains, the hope is that lakes near you have filled – at least a little bit. With rising water, bass will gravitate to shoreline structure even more so than normal.
REACTIONARY FISHING Fishing the bank with reaction baits can always be productive in the spring. Action can be had with spinnerbaits, crankbaits, soft and hard jerkbaits, and, at times, even some topwaters, including lures such as buzzbaits, poppers and walking baits. Don’t forget that some lakes are stocked with trout, so the bass are still eyeing the shore for dinner, which means a trout-pattern swimbait just might get you that trophy largemouth. Reaction baits may only work until the sun gets up a bit in the morning. Then you will have to go to finesse baits; something California anglers are pretty well-versed at. Remember, there
PORT SAN LUIS BOATYARD
One of the last true do-it-yourself boatyards. We provide our customers with a one stop boatyard that can answer all your boating questions, and provide you with the highest quality in Marine Supplies & Service.
Shrimp & Crab Gear Complete Supply Source Quality McKay Qwik-Pot Shrimp & Crab Pots Gasoline & Electric Pot Pullers Rope Pole Buoys Davits Capstans In Stock
Weekend Launch Hours: 5:30am–4pm Monday–Friday Launch Hours: 6am–4pm Hours of operation during fishing season
“Crabs love our pots. Once in they never leave.”
(360) 900-9439
www.mckayshrimpandcrabgear.com 306362 Hwy101 • Brinnon, WA 98320 32 California Sportsman MARCH 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
805-595-7895
PORT SAN LUIS SPORTLAUNCH
LIGHTWEIGHT. LIGHTWEIGHT. The lightest 200-hp four stroke The lightest 200-hp four stroke on the market on the market
POWERFUL. POWERFUL.
2.8L displacement and Variable Camshaft 2.8Lgive displacement Variable Camshaft Timing it the best and power-to-weight ratio Timing give it the best power-to-weight ratio of any 200-hp four stroke of any 200-hp four stroke
COMPACT. COMPACT.
Nearly 120 pounds lighter than our Nearly 120 pounds lighter than our four-stroke V6 F200 four-stroke V6 F200
THE THE ALL-NEW ALL-NEW F200 F200 IN-LINE IN-LINE FOUR. FOUR.
FORWARD FORWARD THINKING. THINKING.
Show the water who’s boss with the new F200 In-Line Four. Incredibly light, responsive and fuel efficient, Show the water who’s boss with the new F200 In-Line Four. Incredibly light, responsive and fuel efficient, it serves up plenty of muscle to handily propel a variety of boats. On top of that, its 50-amp alternator offers it serves up plenty of muscle to handily propel a variety of boats. On top of that, its 50-amp alternator offers the power to add a range of electronics, and its 26-inch mounting centers and compatibility with either the power to add a range of electronics, and its 26-inch mounting centers and compatibility with either mechanical or digital controls give you the flexibility to easily upgrade your outboard or rigging. Experience mechanical or digital controls give you the flexibility to easily upgrade your outboard or rigging. Experience legendary Yamaha reliability and the freedom of forward thinking, with the all-new F200 In-Line Four. legendary Yamaha reliability and the freedom of forward thinking, with the all-new F200 In-Line Four.
OREGON EUGENE Maxxum Marine (541) 686-3572 www.maxxummarine.com
YamahaOutboards.com/F200InLine YamahaOutboards.com/F200InLine
Follow Yamaha on Facebook® and Twitter™ Follow Yamaha on Facebook® and Twitter™ REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal
intended to be an endorsement. © 2013 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. intended to be an endorsement. © 2013 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.
calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2021 California Sportsman
33
FISHING are hundreds of male bass roaming the shallows, so if you have to slow down a bit to get a bite, then do it. Various plastics will do the trick – and should do it very well. Drop-shot worms are a favorite of mine, and the colors I go with are all-white, silver or chartreuse. There is something about these colors that get a bass to react and attack the lure this time of year.
OTHER OPTIONS Split-shot or light Carolina-rigged worms or crawdad-type plastics are also a great lure in early spring. As for colors, they should be those that you have most confidence in, but if you can find out the color of the crawdads in a certain lake, I always try to go with that for imitating the shellfish. For shad, the usual variations of
shad or shiner colors will do. Bass in some lakes like the Texas rig a little better for some reason. If that’s normal at your local lake, then by all means use it. One more hint for plastics this time of year is to remember that the fish are usually locked onto and protecting a spawning bed. If you come upon a bed, you want your lure to sit in it or near it long enough for the bass to get mad and eat it. Move your bait a bit, let it sit, move it a bit, and then let it sit again. Some call this dead-sticking. You really need to watch your line floating on the surface for it to jump or twitch when the bass eats the bait. You may just see it move across the water as the bass carries your lure off the bed.
CRANK IT UP
Kelvin Nettleton with proof that a small shad-colored swimbait can be a good way to catch springtime bass. (BILL SCHAEFER) 34 California Sportsman MARCH 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
Another great trick in spring is to use a crankbait to find fish. Sometimes you may even catch a giant by using this technique. Crank your bait until you hit the bottom, then do a series of short winds and stops to make your crankbait look like a crawdad scurrying across the bottom, kicking up silt and bouncing off stumps or branches or rocks. It’s that bouncing off of structure that will draw a strike from a bass, perhaps even a larger one. Rat-LTraps and spinnerbaits are also good fish locators. If you catch a bass or two, be sure to loop around and fish the area with plastics; you should pick up a few more. GET READY FOR ACTION Yes, it looks like it’s going to be a banner year for bass. Get your tackle ready; oil those reels; check your rods and guides; replace your line. And if you own one, make sure your boat is prepared for the new season. You don’t want to be stuck on the side of the road, so check the tires and bearings as well. Now it’s time for you to head off to the lake and catch some bass. CS
More than a building...it’s a solution!
Manufactured in Sandy, Oregon
PRE-ENGINEERED STEEL FRAME STRUCTURES COST COMPETITIVE MAINTENANCE FRIENDLY
503.668.7211 | Toll-free: 855.668.7211 | www.wsbnw.com 36 California Sportsman MARCH 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
THE ICE BREAKER A FORMER CALIFORNIAN GETS HIS FIRST FROZEN FISHING EXPOSURE IN JAPAN By Lance Sawa
I
ce fishing always fascinated me as a kid, even as I grew up in Southern California. You sit around a hole in the ice – sometimes in a wood shanty to keep warm – hoping to catch something. The safety of the ice was the biggest reason I didn’t try it by myself. Another was that I didn’t know of anybody else who was interested in ice fishing. Going out onto a frozen lake alone and most likely not having
Japan’s Nagano Prefecture – site of the 1998 Winter Olympics – offers lots of ice fishing opportunities and it was here that author and Southern California expat Lance Sawa, who in his youth dreamed of trying his luck on a frozen lake, finally got his chance to fish through the hard water. (LANCE SAWA)
calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2021 California Sportsman
37
Reisenji Lake in the town of Iizuna is close to Sawa’s home, but he still faced a snowy drive and a line of fellow anglers hoping to get on the ice to try their luck. (LANCE SAWA)
the correct equipment all made it a bit too daunting for young me. Sometimes I would read articles about ice fishing and see all the types of fish that were brought up through that tiny hole. With their great taste, crappie and bluegill were the staple catch. Pike, walleye and trout were the large fish that barely fit through the hole and what prompted you to brag about to your fellow fishing buddies. I didn’t think my first ice fishing experience would be for finger-sized fish.
LAST YEAR I WENT fishing for Japanese wakasagi smelt, but it was in a heated enclosed boat – not ice fishing at all. I was so warm that I soon had to take off my jacket and sweater, as I was sweating. There were bathrooms on board and boiling water on hand at all times for your cup of noodles. It was great fun and I promised myself to go back, but then COVID-19 happened. The thought of spending a full day in an enclosed boat with a bunch of strangers just didn’t sit well with me.
Reisenji Lake in Iizuna is not far from my house in Nagano Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, and has ice fishing. When I went to look for fishing licenses for the year, I noticed that the lake’s ice fishing would start the next day, a Sunday. I bought bait and picked up a fishing rig with tiny hooks. On Saturday night I went to sleep early and was up well before the sun rose to get to the lake at the opening time of 6 a.m. Overnight the roads had frozen and snow had begun to fall, so the drive was slower than I planned. I arrived at the lake at 6:30, which was still before the sun came up, though the fishing area was already packed. Most of the parking lots were full and some people were getting creative with where to park. Luckily, I found a spot at a nearby park. The walk was only about three minutes and I passed the local onsen, or hot springs, resort – their tengu (a mythical Japanese creature) statues were covered in snow. All the little tents were set up on
38 California Sportsman MARCH 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
the ice and many had a light inside. After paying for my day pass to fish, I walked down the ramp onto a frozen lake for the first time. A worker drilled a hole in the ice for me that I paid for. He directed me to a place he thought had fish. Even though it seemed many people were on the edges of the border, he placed me 20 feet away. After thanking him I set up my pop-up summer tent with the hope it would keep the wind and snow at bay. It didn’t do a good job. I set up the mini rod with the fishing rig I had bought earlier and put the cut bait on my hooks. It was time to fish under the ice for the first time. I was so excited that I forgot about the cold weather.
MY LINE WENT STRAIGHT down into the cold, green and clean water. The strikes came fast and quick, but I couldn’t quite hook anything. Then the bite slowed, so I changed the bait because I remembered that these fish were greedy but picky eaters. Afterwards I got more bites, but again was unable
Sawa’s tent makes for a great shelter on a sunny summer beach, but it only offered limited protection on a brutally cold, windy winter day in Japan! (LANCE SAWA)
to hook any. Perhaps the weight was a bit too much, so I tried a smaller one. Still no luck. This pattern went on for about an hour; changing baits would get bites but no hook-ups. With the temperature now 10 degrees Fahrenheit, the wind was picking up and snow was blowing into the tent, covering everything and making it hard to even change bait. The air was so cold it froze the rod’s eyelets – and the bait if I left it out of the water long enough. I also couldn’t feel my fingers to even pick up the small maggots I was using as bait. It was time to head home after being defeated by finger-sized fish on a frozen lake in the mountains of Japan. Later, after warming up in the shower, I looked into how long the season is open on Reisenji Lake. Year after year I would be too late and the information would say it had just closed for the season. February is the only month it is open for ice fishing.
Soon it was hard for him to bait his hooks with the maggots he’d brought to tempt the lake’s smelt. (LANCE SAWA)
This sign says that would-be ice fishing warriors can have a hole drilled for what amounts to about $3 in U.S. currency. (LANCE SAWA)
calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2021 California Sportsman
39
One month only! This lit a fire under me to quickly head back out when the weather would permit it. That day was a Thursday.
I ARRIVED THIS TIME not at 6 a.m., but
As in Alaska and the upper Midwest, ice fishermen in Japan find a way to have a good time despite the frigid conditions. (LANCE SAWA)
a little later, at 8 in the morning. I asked around about which fishing rig to use. The kind woman on site sold me a slightly different one than what I had used the previous outing. Having only fished for about an hour last time, I still had plenty of bait. They drilled another hole for me near a spot someone had caught 100 fish from that morning. I set up the same tent, which again didn’t do a great job against the weather. And once again the bites came fast, but this time I actually hooked some of them. One at a time the fish were coming up. The sun was also out and it wasn’t snowing; what a wonderful day to be out. There weren’t as many people because it was a weekday, so the whole atmosphere was more
EUGENE, OR Maxxum Marine (541) 686-3572 1700 State Hwy 99 N lloyd@maxxummarine.com www.maxxummarine.com
40 California Sportsman MARCH 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
REPOWER TIME!
ALL BOATS POWERED BY HONDA MOTORS
9316 Portland Ave. E Tacoma, WA, 98445 253-301-4013 www.tacomaboatsales.com Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual. 2021 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. ®
The second time out proved to be a more productive day for the author, who caught enough tiny but tasty Japanese wakasagi smelt to bring home for a feast. (LANCE SAWA)
relaxed. The smelt seemed to like the salmon eggs I fished with; maybe it was something they normally don’t eat. As the morning went on, the weather slowly got worse. First, the wind picked up, which pushed the small tent around. Then, the temperature dropped, or at least the wind-chill factor made it feel that way. Finally, the snow started to fall, but through it all the fish were still biting. Again and again a bite would bring me back to the hole in the ice to pull up a small fish. A twitch or pull on the line in one direction would tell me a fish was interested in the bait. In total I fished for about two hours before the weather pushed me out. My thoughts turned to how I was going to eat the few fish I had been catching. Last time I caught these small ones, I
tempura-fried them, which was nice. Another option was to make a light stew broth with them as a base to help warm me up. The previous winter I saw a recipe for pickled fish, but decided that was a bit too much. What I really like to eat is a rich soy sauce base with ginger, creating a slightly spicy fish. It’s something that I can eat with fresh steamy rice, so that was what I made. I’d caught about 15 wakasagi smelt
42 California Sportsman MARCH 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
through the ice, and I lost more due to their paper-thin lips slipping free of the hook. As I was leaving, the owner of the operation came out to chat and asked how it went. I told him I caught about 15, but that the cold was a bit too much for me. He laughed and handed me a few more fish in a bag as a present, and he also offered an invitation to return another day. I plan to accept as soon as the weather allows me to do so. CS
F
FROM FIELD...
HUNTING
FROM FIELD...
Turkey hunters are defying nature by trying to call a tom to them, which is why decoys, like this mating pair of Dave Smith Decoys, can make a big difference in getting toms to commit. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
ON THE TRAIL OF A TOM HOW TO SET YOURSELF UP TO HUNT SPRING TURKEYS By Scott Haugen
W
hen it comes to spring turkey hunting, the behavior and movements of toms change throughout the season. By the time the spring hunt opens – March 27 for the 2021 season – most of the hen turkeys have been bred, but they may not start sitting on their nest until after the hunting season begins. For this reason, toms often
stick close to hens during the first few weeks of the hunting season, making it challenging for hunters to coax gobblers within shooting range.
CALLING IN A TOM Hunters can locate turkeys by using owl, crow and even peacock calls to elicit a gobble from a tom. These locator calls can be used right before dark with turkeys on their roost in order to figure out where to start
hunting the following morning, or before turkeys leave the roost early in the morning, before daylight. Once a tom gobbles, pinpoint its location and move to a position to set up and start using turkey calls to bring it in. If tom numbers are low, they are often less likely to leave their strutting ground and the hens in the area to check out a random hen that’s calling in the distance. For this reason, it’s a good idea to sneak in close to a tom
calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2021 California Sportsman
45
HUNTING A trip to foodie-inspired New Orleans can inspire chefs to get really creative with recipes. Tiffany Haugen was no exception and created this stir-fry wild turkey dish. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)
... TO FIRE
FEASTING, FRENCH QUARTER-STYLE By Tiffany Haugen
W
hile eating our way through New Orleans, many dishes motivated me to jot down flavors and textures I could try to recreate with wild game and fish. Wild turkey can be tricky to tame, requiring proper field care and proven cooking techniques. Very often we’ll separate the breast meat, cooking it hot and fast in a stir-fry or pounded thin for cutlets. The rest of the turkey will always benefit
from slow or pressure cooking. If looking for something you can quickly do with any or all of your turkey, look no further than this flavorful Instant Pot recipe. 3 pounds wild turkey 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup chopped onion 1 cup chopped green bell pepper ½ cup chopped red bell pepper Four cloves garlic, chopped 2 teaspoons paprika 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon oregano 1 teaspoon thyme 1 teaspoon red chili flakes 1 teaspoon salt 2 cups chicken broth One jalapeño pepper, thinly sliced ¾ cup sour cream If using legs and thighs, separate at the joint. If using turkey breast meat, cut into large chunks, about the size of a fist. Place olive oil in Instant Pot or pressure cooker and sauté onion, bell peppers and garlic until onions are softened. Add seasonings and continue to sauté
46 California Sportsman MARCH 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
for one to two minutes. Add turkey pieces and brown on all sides, then add chicken broth and seal the Instant Pot. Cook on high pressure for 25 minutes. When the meat has pressure cooked, use the quick release button and let the pressure off. Once it’s safe to remove the lid, remove all turkey pieces. Add sliced jalapeño peppers and whisk sour cream into the turkey liquid. Let turkey cool slightly and, using a fork, pull all the meat from the remaining bones. Add “pulled” turkey back to the Instant Pot and simmer, allowing the liquid to thicken. Serve in a bun, over biscuits or rice, or stir cooked pasta into the turkey mixture. Editor’s note: For 150plus more great bird recipes and signed copies of Tiffany Haugen's popular cookbook, Cooking Game Birds, send a check for $20 (free S&H) to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489, or order online at scotthaugen.com.
HUNTING prior to calling. If you can get within 100 yards of a tom that’s sticking tight to its strutting ground without being seen or heard, you have a better chance of calling it in. Conversely, if tom ratios are high and the competition to breed is intense, set up further away and call. Having an eager tom travel a quartermile or more to check out your calls is not uncommon early in the spring season where hens are sparse.
KNOW YOUR PURPOSE Remember, as hunters we are defying
nature when we sit in one place and attempt to call a tom turkey to us. In the wild, toms establish a strutting zone and go there nearly every day to gobble, strut and wait for hens to come to them. As hunters, we’re calling and simulating a hen that won’t budge, and trying to convince a tom to leave its comfort zone to check us out. If a tom is located the night prior to the hunt, get to your designated spot at least 30 minutes before legal shooting light the following morning. If hunting from a ground blind, setting it up the night before will allow you
Once a tom is located, figure out a plan of attack. This may mean moving quickly or waiting until another day when the bird is in a more approachable position, as was the case here in the hill country east of Redding. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
48 California Sportsman MARCH 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
to silently slip into it come morning. Turkeys don’t like flying in the dark, which is why it’s important to get into position before the first hint of light.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
If locating a tom before sunup, quickly decide where the best place is to set up and get there, fast. By setting up in the dark the chance of a turkey busting you greatly decreases. If you do accidentally make noise when approaching your calling location, quickly get to your spot and sit in silence. Letting an area settle down for
HUNTING Author Scott Haugen roosted this tom the night prior to filling his tag, and was set up well before daylight with a decoy and ground blind. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
15 minutes or so once you’ve set up is wise. When getting into a calling position, it’s best to have any wind at your back; that way the sounds of your calls carry toward the tom. Fortunately, turkeys have a poor sense of smell, so their winding you is not a concern. If winds are heavy you may not hear a tom gobble back at you. In this situation, it’s better for a tom to hear your calls than you calling into a stiff wind, where the bird might not hear the sounds you’re making. GET TO WORK Once at your calling location, quickly and quietly get set with all the gear you’ll need. If using a slate call, arrange the strikers on the ground next to you. Lean the strikers on a stick so the tips are elevated; this way they won’t get wet or dirty on the end, which can render them useless. If using multiple box calls, have them next to you, not buried in a pack or vest where you won’t be able to get to them without making noise. If using diaphragm calls, put one in
your mouth and have others in an easy place to access. The objective is being able to reach all your calls with minimal movement and sounds, so as not to spook approaching toms.
STAYING STILL When a turkey is in sight, don’t move. Turkeys have eyesight that’s equivalent to a good pair of binoculars, and they see in color. You should move only when a turkey is out of sight, has its head down or its head is behind a fanned tail. If a tom doesn’t come in, come back to hunt him another day, and maybe from a different angle. There are many reasons a tom may not come in, and not all of them are the fault of the hunter. In this case, head to another hunting location and start over.
position it where a turkey has a clear approach lane. Turkeys like traveling along the path of least resistance, so having game trails, openings with few impediments – even fields or meadows – will increase the likelihood of a turkey approaching your calls. This is where a decoy also comes in handy; for once a tom sees it, the bird will be more motivated to cover ground.
BE STEALTHY
DON’T LET THEM SEE YOU
By moving wisely – without being seen – turkey hunters greatly increase the odds of calling in a tom. Remember, wild turkeys have a lot of natural predators in the woods and are very aware of what’s going on around them at all times. The more stealth a hunter employs in spring, the greater their chance of filling a gobbler tag. CS
When setting up on turkeys in the daylight, it’s important to utilize cover while you’re moving. Turkeys have great vision, and if they see you there’s virtually no chance of calling them in. If hunting from a ground blind,
Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s best-selling book, Western Turkey Hunting: Strategies For All Levels, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott’s adventures on Instagram and Facebook.
50 California Sportsman MARCH 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2021 California Sportsman
51
The question is... Do you want to hunt ducks or be a duck hunter?
Natural Wonderduck Water Motion Decoys
The paddle in the back give the illusion of decoy feet paddling! Comes with rear mounted motors that run on two D-cell batteries, for up to 25 hours or more. Optional timer available. Orange weedless paddling feet and foot attachments, easy access for battery holder, waterproof switch and floatation insert. (Not to be used with wings)
To order or for more information – wonderduck.com 1-800-876-1697
HUNTING With bird seasons largely wrapped up, now is the time to reflect on what worked – and more importantly, what didn’t. That way you’ll be better prepared to serve the needs of your gun dog and keep it comfortable and healthy on future hunts. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
SEASONAL REFLECTIONS By Scott Haugen
A
s I write these words, it’s a bittersweet time. Not because of all that’s going on in the world, but because January has passed. Not only has the first month of the new year come and gone, but so too has duck season, along with chukar, Hun, quail, grouse, snipe, crow and fall turkey seasons. At the end of every bird hunt I like to reflect on what went right for the day, but especially what went wrong. I’m not much for dwelling on success; rather, I spend more time evaluating faults and mistakes in order to become
better at what I’m doing. It’s no different when hunting with my dogs.
ECHO, KONA AND I went on more bird hunts this past season than ever, and I learned a lot along the way. I reaffirmed that dogs are far better hunters than humans will ever be, that they mark more ducks and geese than we do, that they know what we’re going to do before we even make a move, and that they have noses so incredibly powerful, we’d be hating life if we took in all the miserable smells of the world the way canines can. I also learned that by being prepared in the field, I can ensure my dog’s safety
and comfort. In last month’s column I wrote how I made a couple mistakes this past duck season by not covering up steel posts that secured my blind, and failing to cut heavy-stalked brush close to the ground, both of which my dogs suffered for. I reaffirmed the importance of keeping a knife handy on duck hunts, too. I only used it once, but it was a necessity, as Kona got his foot so tangled in my jerk cord when chasing a duck, I had to cut him free. Again, it was my fault for not lifting the cord out of the water in the first place, but it could have been ugly had I not had a knife.
calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2021 California Sportsman
53
HUNTING I also learned to check the contact points of my e-collars to make sure they don’t come loose; yes, I lost one at the start of a two-day hunt. I don’t like shouting commands at my dogs while hunting, relying instead on beeps and hand signals to direct them. There are a few times a year I might have to give them a quick, low-power zap – usually to prevent them from getting in a tangle with a skunk or porcupine, or keep them from going where they shouldn’t – and both posts must be secured for this to happen. Check them at the start and close of each hunt, and have an extra in your pack, just in case. As waterfowl season progressed, ice and snow descended upon us. Toss in temperatures in the 20-degree range, along with 30 mph winds, and things can get cold for the dogs. To protect them from the elements, I built a wind-block of heavy wire and thick brush. Rarely do my dogs hunt from inside a blind, as I want them to have a 360-degree view; as I said, they spot more birds than I do.
FOLLOWING UPLAND HUNTS, where my dogs cover three times the miles that I do, my 7-year-old female started getting noticeably stiff, especially on
Author Scott Haugen noticed impressive relief in his dogs’ mobility and comfort after being given O’Paws Advanced Mobility blend as a food topper before and after physically demanding, coldweather hunts. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
cold days. I began giving her O’Paws Advanced Mobility supplement, and it made a world of difference. Used as a food topper, I give her one tablespoon of it the night before the hunt, another following the hunt – usually late morning – and another at dinner; I don’t feed my dogs the morning of a hunt. This season I also reaffirmed the value of dog vests that fit. As the season progresses, your dog will become a lean machine, and keeping vests functional is vital to their comfort and performance. Kona, my Haugen and Kona pose with a January turkey that the 4-year-old pudelpointer tracked, pointed and retrieved. On this hunt, Kona’s vest was removed and his collar tightened for safe, easy movement through thick briars. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
male pudelpointer, trimmed down and his vest started rubbing inside his front legs. I eventually custom-cut the neoprene vest for him and it made a world of difference. When hunting fall turkeys and valley quail this winter, my dogs spent a lot of time in briar patches. One of these hunts I removed their vests and made sure their e-collars fit snugly, which greatly eliminates hangups in the brush. We had a wet winter and spent a lot of time in water, and one of my dogs had constant ear inflammation I couldn’t get a handle on. Then I started using Thornit, a canker powder made in the United Kingdom. After just one treatment the difference was amazing, and my dog felt much better. After a second treatment, he was 100 percent healed.
WITH SEASONS BEHIND us, now is
the time to reflect on the types of adventures you and your dog embark upon, as well as the demands you place on them. As their master, you owe it to your dog to meticulously monitor their health, for only then will you ensure their comfort, performance and safety. CS Editor’s note: To watch Scott Haugen’s series of puppy training videos, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook. 54 California Sportsman MARCH 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
