FISHING • HUNTING • TRAVEL CALSPORTSMANMAG.COM
California
Sportsman Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource
Volume 14 • Issue 5 PUBLISHER James R. Baker GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott EDITOR Chris Cocoles CONTRIBUTORS Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, John Heil, Lance Sawa, Bill Schaefer SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Kelley Miller, Mike Smith DESIGNER Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly Baker DIGITAL STRATEGIST Jon Hines DIGITAL ASSISTANT Jon Ekse 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 Nancy Rodriguez (left) and her niece Audrey are excited for the start of spring turkey hunting season in California, which runs from March 26 through May 1. (NANCY RODRIGUEZ)
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4 California Sportsman MARCH 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
May is the best month of the season for Halibut, and Winter Chinook (Kings), and you can’t beat Zeballos.
2022 SPECIALS NOW BOOKING FOR MAY Dates Available for May: 1st-4th, 4th-7th, 7th-10th, 10th-13th, 13th-17th, 17th-20th, 20th-23rd, 23rd-26th, 26th-29th, 29th-31st.
SALMON
The most successful Salmon Hatchery on the Pacific Coast is just 30 miles from Zeballos. For the past several years, over 50,000 Chinook Salmon have returned each fall to the Conuma Creek spawning grounds where the hatchery is located. Most of these migrating Salmon start to come through our waters starting in May. We have non-spawning Chinook Salmon in our waters year-round—Winter Chinook (Kings, or Springs). In May you'll be catching on average 12 to 18 pound Salmon—absolutely the best table fare.
HALIBUT
We are located very close to an amazing halibut fishery that seems never ending. We can't remember a trip where we didn't hook into many of these amazing eating fish. Come with us, and we'll show you how to bring up white gold. Be prepared with coolers!
Limited trips left, book now before we are sold out!
DAY TRIPPER
Up to 4 people per boat, expect full limits Three Great Locations: Zeballos, Tahsis & Tofino - 28' offshore boat up to 12 hours of fully guided fishing - Full private enclosed head on board - Breakfast, coffee, sodas, water, lunch, and lots of snacks included - All fishing gear provided - Rain gear provided - Cleaning of your catch - Bring a large cooler packed with ice to transport your catch home
$455.00 USD + 5% tax /per person Book Your Day Trippers Trip at zeballostopguides.com/day-trips. Complete and submit the form. TRIP LIMITS for Day Tripper Package: 4 Salmon of which 2 can be Kings and two can be Silvers, 1 Halibut up to 70 pounds, 3 Lingcod and 4 Rockcod. We have purchased Halibut Quota from the Commercial Halibut Fleet and if you wish to take extra Halibut, the cost will be about $5 per pound.
HALIBUT EXPRESS
Drive-In 3 Nights / 4 Days Package Join us for our 11th annual Halibut Express starting May 1st, 2022! - 20 hours of guided fishing - 3 nights accommodation at the Cedars Inn - All meals including wine with the dinner meals - Cleaning and filleting of your catch - All fishing tackle provided (You are welcome to bring your favorite rod and reel)
Party of 2 fishing 2 per boat: $1725 + tax USD Per Person Party of 3 fishing 3 per boat: $1395 + tax USD Per Person Party of 4 fishing 4 per boat: $1100 + tax USD Per Person TRIP LIMITS for 3N/4D Halibut Express Package: 8 Salmon of which 4 can be Chinook (Kings), 2 Halibut, 6 Lingcod, and 8 Rockcod. We have have purchased Halibut Quota from the Commercial Halibut Fleet and if you wish to take extra Halibut, the cost will be about $5 per pound.
LEARN MORE
zeballostopguides.com/halibut-special Call 250-337-2158 Email: doug.zeballostopguides2022@gmail.com
NOTES: Fishing Licenses required and can be purchased April 1, 2022
Guide and Staff gratuities not included Bring your own coolers ... you’ll need them!
Don’t wait—packages sell out fast every year, contact us now!
CONTENTS
VOLUME 14 • ISSUE 5
53
CALLING CARDS FOR TURKEY HUNTERS As spring turkey hunting opens this month, our gobbler gurus Scott and Tiffany Haugen have all of your needs covered to score and scarf down that tom you’re targeting. In their From Field to Fire column, Scott covers the importance of calls, specifically optimizing the sounds produced by box, slate and push button friction calls, and for you wild game foodies, check out Tiffany’s veggie-filled turkey taco recipe.
(HARRY MORSE/CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE)
FEATURES
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
29
9 11 15 17 19
BEST BAITS FOR SOCAL SALTY ANGLERS There’s something special – organic even – about fishing with live or cut bait and reeling up myriad hungry saltwater creatures in a Southern California bay or harbor. Capt. Bill Schaefer likes casting out everything from ghost shrimp to mackerel, anchovies and clams, at one of his favorite fisheries, San Diego Bay. Get the lowdown on all the different fish you too can fill your cooler with.
37
SCARCITY OF SALMON AND A BLEAK FUTURE? As the state endured one of the driest first two months of the year on record, salmon fishing advocates are as concerned as ever about the future – if there is one – for Chinook. The most recent Bureau of Reclamation report for 2022 water allocation was bleak. There’s no water to give, and according to some, possibly no chance in the end for returning Sacramento, Feather and American River kings if drought conditions continue.
The Editor’s Note The Adventures of Todd Kline Photo contest winners Outdoor calendar Protecting Wild California: Pacific lamprey returning to Southland waters 41 Angler’s ice fishing reunion in Japan 61 Preparing for the inevitable last hunt with your gun dog
Read California Sportsman on your desktop or mobile device. Go to www.calsportsmanmag.com/digital California Sportsman is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120, Renton, WA 98057. Annual subscriptions are $29.95 (12 issues). Send check or money order to Media Index Publishing Group, or call (206) 382-9220 with VISA or M/C. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 2022 Media Index Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A. 6 California Sportsman MARCH 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
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THEEDITOR’SNOTE
F
irst and foremost, it’s been difficult to focus on anything other than what’s happening on the other side of the world. How could you take your eyes off the events unfolding in Ukraine? As someone who has traveled in former Soviet Union republics Latvia and Estonia, plus one-time Eastern Bloc nations such as Czechia and Romania, the experiences allowed me to get a glimpse of the history of those now free nations. So my heart is with the Ukrainian people as I’m reminded that freedom and peace should never be taken for granted. But we go on the best we can here at home. Some happy news among all the despair, strife and concerns came from the Lake Tahoe area, where a literally larger-thanlife black bear has temporarily been given clemency from a potential death sentence. The massive bruin now known as “Hank the Tank” was thought to be the sole culprit in a series of home invasions Social media posts have flooded the Internet in around South Lake support of “Hank the Tank,” the Lake Tahoe-area Tahoe. California black bear found not to be the sole culprit in a series Department of Fish of home break-ins. DNA evidence showed that multiple bruins have been seeking out food sources and Wildlife officials in homes, which means Hank will not be euthanized were going to have if trapped. (TWITTER SCREENSHOT) to trap and likely euthanize what was considered a 500-pound problem bear that clearly was dangerous enough to equate humans and their homes with food sources. But Hank isn’t the rogue badly behaving critter as originally thought. DNA evidence collected at some of the sites – most break-ins happened in the Tahoe Keys area on the California side of South Lake Tahoe – indicated that multiple bears were involved in the home invasions, not just Hank the Tank. “DNA evidence collected from the most recent incident as well as prior incidents over the past several months prove that at least three bears were responsible for breaking into numerous residences,” a CDFW press release stated. “CDFW will work in coming weeks and months to trap bears in the South Lake Tahoe area, tag them, collect evidence for genetic analysis, and then release them into suitable habitat. … CDFW is not going to euthanize any bears that are trapped during this effort.” So as many social media posts indicated, there is some justice for a beloved and – at least for now – exonerated Hank the Tank. We wish him well and hope that Tahoe humans and bears alike can peacefully coexist. That goes for the world as well. -Chris Cocoles calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2022 California Sportsman
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One of my best fishing days last month was spent at Diamond Valley Lake with buddy Brian Shaw, who played 14 seasons in the NBA, was the former head coach of the Denver Nuggets and is now an assistant coach with the L.A. Clippers. (TODD KLINE)
ures Advent
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
I headed over to Lake Havasu for the Arizona Open and got a good glimpse of the scene. (TODD KLINE)
An early-morning launch on a Havasu tournament day. (TODD KLINE)
I love coming over here to fish. (TODD KLINE) calsportsmanmag.com calsportsmanmag.com || MARCH MARCH 2022 California Sportsman
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This largemouth (left) went 5.67 pounds, good for the big fish check. My boat finished in ninth place at the tournament. (TODD KLINE) Spent a winter beach day with the family, which is one of the perks of living in Southern California. (TODD KLINE)
California Sportsman MARCH | calsportsmanmag.com 12 12 California Sportsman MARCH 20222022 | calsportsmanmag.com
The smallie fishing was also really good at Havasu, as this 4.90-pounder can attest. (TODD KLINE) I’ve been enjoying some success with a Spro DD crankbait. Have a great month of bass fishing! (TODD KLINE)
PHOTO
CONTEST
WINNERS!
Sabrina Schoenberger is the winner of our monthly Fishing Photo Contest, thanks to this shot of her big Eastern Washington pike, an unwanted invasive species, from last May. It wins her gear from various tackle manufacturers!
Matt Little is our monthly Coast Hunting Photo Contest winner, thanks to this shot of daughter Sabrina and her first duck, taken during a youth day at a national wildlife refuge on the Columbia River. It wins him a knife and light from Coast!
Pistol Bullets and Ammunition Zero Bullet Company, Inc.
For your shot at winning hunting and fishing products, send your photos and pertinent details (who, what, when, where) to ccocoles@media-inc .com or California Sportsman, 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120, Renton, WA 98057. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for our print or Internet publications.
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OUTDOOR CALENDAR MARCH
APRIL
1
2-3
Select Eastern Sierra trout fisheries open; wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland 4-6 NorCal Boat, Sport and RV Show, Shasta District Fairgrounds, Anderson; norcalsportshow.com 19 NorCal Trout Angler’s Challenge, San Pablo Reservoir; anglerspress.com/events/norcal-trout-anglers-challenge 19-20 Junior wild turkey hunting dates 20 Last day of falconry rabbit and varying hare season 26 Spring wild turkey season opens
Note: With COVID-19 restrictions uncertain, always confirm events before attending. For a list of upcoming bass tournaments, go to nrm.dfg.ca.gov/ FishingContests/default.aspx.
Redding Sportsmans Expo, Redding Civic Auditorium; reddingsportsmansexpo.com 2-3 Lake McSwain Spring Trout Derby; (209) 354-2856; mercedid.com 9 Start of Isabella Lake Fishing Derby (runs through July 4); kernrivervalley.com/fishingderby 9-10 Rancho Seco Trout Derby, Rancho Seco Park, Herald (Sacramento County); anglerspress.com/ events/2021-spring-trout-spectacular.html 23 NorCal Trout Angler’s Challenge, Lake Amador; anglerspress.com/events/norcal-trout-anglers-challenge 30 Statewide trout opener 30 Fish of the Month Derby opens, Gull Lake; (760) 6487539; gulllakemarina.com 30 Monster Trout Contest, June Lake; (760) 648-7756 30 Mono Village Fishing Opener Derby, Upper Twin Lake; (760) 932-7071
The Bay Area’s San Pablo Reservoir hosts an Angler’s Press NorCal Trout Angler’s Challenge event on March 19. Go to anglerspress.com for more information. (CHRIS COCOLES) calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2022 California Sportsman
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PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA
Prior to being detected in 2019, Pacific lamprey were last seen in Southern California’s Santa Margarita River just before America entered World War II. (JOHN HEIL AND DAMON GOODMAN/USFWS)
PACIFIC LAMPREY SWIMMING AGAIN IN SOCAL By John Heil
“T
hey will recolonize, if we pave the way for them,” said Damon Goodman, a former biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Arcata office who is now a regional director in Northern California for CalTrout. If this sounds similar to the famous
baseball-related quote in the film Field of Dreams – “If you build it, they will come” – it is. And it is exactly what happened with Pacific lamprey recolonizing in the Santa Margarita River in Southern California. Found in the river in August 2019 for the first time since last documented in 1940, this is now the furthest south the species has currently recolonized, 260
miles south of the previous location in San Luis Obispo, which recolonized in 2017. These results were confirmed again in 2020 and 2021; this followed unsuccessful efforts in the 1990s, 2005 and 2014 without locating a single lamprey. Dr. Stewart Reid, from Western Fishes, believes that the key to their return was a recent high flow event combined with
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PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA
Dr. Stewart Reid of Western Fishes surveys lamprey habitat in the Santa Margarita River. Reid credits a new U.S. Marine Corps-built fishway and weir for opening up water for the lamprey. (DAMON GOODMAN/USFWS)
a rebuilt weir and new fishway at Camp Pendleton, which allowed the lamprey to find passage into the river. “I want to give credit to the Marine Corps for putting in the fish ladder,” said Reid. “It may very well have played a role in an easier pathway for the lamprey to get into the river.” “It is a good indicator that our resources management efforts are working here at Camp Pendleton,” added Kathryn Carmody, a U.S. Marine Corps fish biologist and aquatic species specialist for coastal and riparian ecosystems, of the lamprey coming back. “I think it points a lot to our widespread aquatic exotic control that is a huge issue throughout watersheds in Southern California. Since 2004, really being able to target all of our invasive species and remove as many as we can
has really helped native species to be able to survive in these watersheds again and contribute to the health of the watershed.” Goodman agreed that the Marine Corps’ efforts contributed greatly. “What we are finding is when the conditions are right, they’ll be there,” he said. “They have the ability to recolonize if they find a route to occupy historical habitats.” “To see them back in the river was a great moment. This is a major milestone toward recovery of Pacific lamprey here in California.”
GOODMAN AND REID PLAN to work with the Marine Corps to consider a low-cost lamprey-friendly system, similar to what was installed at Van Arsdale Dam on the Eel River with 4-inch flexible tubing, where biologists are able to count the
20 California Sportsman MARCH 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
numbers by using a camera; or another system such as a simple “open climbing wall” might be considered. “We’re supportive of their efforts on base (Camp Pendleton) to provide fish passage, especially on the Santa Margarita River, which is a core population – one of the highest priorities as designated in the [National Marine Fisheries Service] federal recovery plan for southern steelhead as part of that group,” said Sandra Jacobson, a CalTrout regional director for Southern California and the Sierras, and a member of the South Coast Steelhead Coalition. “Lamprey have not been found in any Southern California freshwater system in recent years, and to show up consistently for multiple years here shows us that the Santa Margarita is capable of
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PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA Damon Goodman (front, with support of California Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel) is excited about the lamprey returning to the Southland. “What we are finding is when the conditions are right, they’ll be there,” he said. “They have the ability to recolonize if they find a route to occupy historical habitats.” (DAMON GOODMAN/USFWS)
supporting this species now, where before maybe it wasn’t,” said Carmody. “The potential is there all across the marine ecosystem in Southern California,” Reid said of lamprey’s presence. “We just need to build it (passage) and they will come.”
INCORPORATING LAMPREY HABITAT AND passage requirements into river management is critical for enabling recovery. Working side by side with partners that manage our rivers such as the Marine
Corps, tribes, universities, communities, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and other local, state and federal agencies is absolutely key to the species making a comeback, per Goodman. This work has been ongoing for several years for Goodman, Reid and many others. A recent study by Goodman and Reid found that the duration of the ammocoete – or larval lamprey life stage – is not well understood, hampering the development of lamprey conservation strategies. Goodman, Reid and other partners
22 California Sportsman MARCH 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
monitored the anadromous Pacific lamprey in the San Luis Obispo drainage near the southern extent of their range from hatch to transformation into macrophthalmia, the life stage where they move out to sea for feeding. Lamprey had been absent for over six years, but naturally recolonized, with ammocoetes first detected in 2017. They found that in the warm south, ammocoetes matured more quickly than in more widely studied northern populations, shortening their freshwater residency.
PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA
Sunset over the urbanized Santa Ana River, one of the streams where Pacific lamprey have recently been observed attempting to recolonize historical habitats in Southern California. (DAMON GOODMAN/USFWS) Goodman monitors lamprey moving through tubes at Van Arsdale Dam on the Eel River in Northern California. Goodman and Dr. Reid plan to work with the Marine Corps to consider a similar low-cost, lamprey-friendly system to what was installed at Van Arsdale, where biologists are able to count the numbers by using a camera. Or another system such as an “open wall” might be considered, per Reid. (JOHN HEIL/USFWS)
24 California Sportsman MARCH 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
Ammocoetes transformed into the older life stage (macrophthalmia) in as little as 2.6 years – at least half that assumed in other studies. This is the first estimate of time-to-transformation for lamprey in its southern range and provides insights into adaptive strategies and refinement of recovery approaches for the lamprey species worldwide. “I appreciate all his work with lamprey to date,” Carmody said of Goodman. “Because lamprey is not listed yet, they don’t get the necessary resources, so it is nice to know we have people like him out there monitoring and putting in the effort, so we have more data.” “We can’t solve these problems without looking,” said Reid of his and Goodman’s efforts to continue to check watersheds across Southern California in the hopes they will find lamprey again. “We monitor populations thinking in
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PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA
Reid (left) and Goodman walk across San Luis Obispo Creek during a survey. “The potential is there all across the marine ecosystem in Southern California,” Reid said of lamprey’s presence. (JOHN HEIL/USFWS) Goodman with an adult Pacific lamprey at Van Arsdale in 2017. He’s excited about the future for the species re-emerging in the southern half of California. “To see them back in the river was a great moment. This is a major milestone toward recovery of Pacific lamprey here in California.” (JOHN HEIL/USFWS)
terms of conservation. Some say, ‘Well, they’ve disappeared from Southern California – we’ve lost the species.’ I say, ‘Let’s try to understand their biology and the characteristics of their historical habitat.’ The peripheral habitat in the range of a species tends to sort of expand and contract. So the key is, we want to keep our hopes up, keep habitat and pathways open, and not panic.” CS Editor’s note: John Heil serves as the deputy assistant regional director for external affairs in the Pacific Southwest Region headquarters in Sacramento. For more on the USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, go to fws.gov/cno and follow on Twitter (@ USFWS_PSW).
26 California Sportsman MARCH 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
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FISHING Author Bill Schaefer’s son Bricen caught this nice dog shark on bait. Saltwater anglers armed with a variety of live and cut bait can enjoy a productive day on Southern California bays for several different species. (BILL SCHAEFER)
HOOK UP IN THE HARBOR
BAIT ANGLERS CAN SCORE VARIETY OF SPECIES ON SAN DIEGO, SOUTHLAND SALTWATERS By Capt. Bill Schaefer
T
he lower half of San Diego Harbor – below the bridge, as the locals know it – can be the most productive place to fish when it comes to different species.
If you’re the type of angler who just likes to catch something – no matter what it is – then this is the place for you. Whether it’s halibut, sand dabs, bass, corvina, bonefish, or various rays and sharks, this is the
spot to catch them. At 4 to 5 miles long and a mile across at its widest point, this area is only about 10 to 15 feet deep and holds all of those fish and more. Yes, large schools of baitfish do make it
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FISHING Ghost shrimp is a popular bait choice and is versatile enough to catch many different fish, including diamond turbot like this one caught by Dean Mitchell. (BILL SCHAEFER)
LESS WEIGHT, MORE FISH Let’s talk tackle. And the talk from many anglers is that lighter is better than heavier. Therefore, I tend to go with spinning tackle for bait throwing. I use a Daiwa 6½- to 7-foot spinning rod with a Tatula 2500-size reel, which is loaded with 25-pound braided line up to the swivel. I will run either a ¼- to ½-ounce lead sinker, with the line through the sinker to a swivel. Tied to the other side of the swivel is an 18- to 20-inch leader of Maxima 10- to 15-pound fluorocarbon to the appropriate size hook I’m using for a particular bait or species I’m chasing. The braid as well as the fluorocarbon line will give me a better feel for the bait when bit. You can use casting gear if the fish you are after are a little larger than the norm, like rays or sharks. You may even want to use a wire leader if after sharks; you know they have a lot of sharp teeth. But from the swivel forward, you will use the same weight and leader. You might want to go up to a 7- to 8-foot trigger stick – something with a little more backbone – along with a round-type reel, so you have extra line to play the larger fish out.
BAIT OPTIONS PLENTIFUL
down to this end of the bay, where they wake up everything in the long list of species to catch. As the tidal flow washes across the flats, it energizes predatory fish to feed, and you can take advantage of that by baiting up your hook.
CHECK YOUR CHARTS One thing to remember is that the tide plays a big part in the feeding of the fish in the bay. I like a medium amount of movement – about 3 to 4 feet going in or out – but any time the water is moving will do the trick. A meter or fish locator is a must as well, even a cheap one. The inexpensive units of today carry so
many more features than those of the past. You want to be able to spot those schools of fish on the bottom and stay on top of them. It really will help you. Remember when you get a bite to go back up and drift that zone again. Schooled-up fish will stay in an area together, and that is key to getting multiple bites. Schools of most every species of fish that live in the bay will bite over and over again. Whether it’s the contour of the bottom or a weedline or a sunken boat, something will hold those fish on that particular spot. That’s what the fish locator is for, helping you recognize the bottom shapes and what is holding the fish in an area.
30 California Sportsman MARCH 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
Some of the baits you can use include ghost shrimp, worms, cutbait like anchovies or mackerel, or various clams (hooks will size up with the bait you choose, as I mentioned). The weight to get to the bottom isn’t that heavy – usually about ¼ to ½ ounce – since, again, the bay is only about 12 to 15 feet deep. The hooks will run from size 4 up to 2/0. Circle hooks almost always get a hookup and come out easily for quick release of the fish. Little fish peck at the bait, so you need to be quick on the hookset for larger fish. They will pull all of a sudden and harder than the little fish pecks.
TACTICAL TALK Now for the fishing techniques. Let’s say that you want to fish ghost shrimp; you will pull up all types
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FISHING of species with them. From bass to bonefish and everything in between, ghost shrimp are like candy for all the fish, and they eat them regularly. A size 4 hook threaded through the bait will do nicely. I would start about halfway down the bay, right in the middle, and drift with the tides. If you are going for a little larger prey – think sharks or rays – then use either cut anchovies or cut mackerel on a larger 2/0 hook. The sharks love the smelly bait, so throw on a cut piece of mackerel and it’s like catfishing until you hook one. They fight a little harder and don’t give up until landed on your boat. Watch out for the teeth some of the sharks have, as well as the stinger on the rays. If you find yourself getting bit off a lot, then go with the wire leader I
mentioned above. About 6 to 8 inches of single-strand piano wire in about 22-pound test will do the trick. You wrap it back over itself after passing it through the hook and swivel. This should end any more bite-offs by the larger sharks or big halibut. Premade wire leaders can do well also for those who can’t make their own.
PICK YOUR SPOT Since the water is uniformly deep all across the bay and for its entire length, you can start fishing almost anywhere. If you want more bass, then go to the edges of the bay where there are more weeds; if you want more halibut, I would fish around the small island on the west side. Croaker, bonefish, corvina and some schooled-up bass live in the
Yellowfin croaker often school up with bonefish and are frequently caught together in Southland harbors and bays. (BILL SCHAEFER)
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center of the bay. There’s always room to fish down here, as it’s never overcrowded with boats. And as you fish the bay, you will learn what species hangs out where and where the hot spots are. There you have it. There are miles and miles of water to fish in the saltwater, plus hundreds of species to take advantage of and enjoy. Just soak some bait and you’ll catch something. If you love just fishing and getting your line tugged on, then go fish some bait. And it will work in many of the bays of Southern California; I just used San Diego’s harbor as an example. Whether anchoring up or drifting, you can just relax with your family or friends. Toss out a line and see what eats your bait. It can be a fun time for all. CS
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FISHING
Large returns of king salmon to the American River used to be the norm. But persistent drought conditions and perceived mismanagement of water resources could make them all but nonexistent in the future, some worry. (DAN COX/USFWS)
BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A DRINK? AS DROUGHT LOOMS AGAIN, WORRIES FOR ‘ANOTHER YEAR OF DECIMATED NATURAL SALMON RUNS’ By Chris Cocoles
C
alifornia’s Central Valley salmon runs have been in jeopardy for quite some time now, and a late February water allocation report from the Bureau of Reclamation wasn’t exactly a ringing endorsement that help is on the way. Essentially, the report stated there would be no water to give, barring miracle rainfall in March, which just hasn’t happened anywhere near enough in the drought-affected state. And as conservationists, environmentalists and the fishing community have stated, farmers seem to be first in line to get California’s allocated water. That could mean doom for already declining Chinook runs that return to the Sacramento
River and its major tributaries. The latest setback only adds to a contentious debate over how to distribute the state’s precious water. “We’re likely looking at another year of decimated natural salmon runs due to water decisions that favor a small group of agricultural landowners over the interests of the rest of California,” Golden State Salmon Association president John McManus said. “The governor’s team needs to take action to avoid this disastrous outcome, not only for the thousands of families whose livelihoods are tied to the salmon industry, but also for all Californians who care about the natural fish and wildlife native to our state.” Save for a deluge in 2019 and what appeared to be a promising snowy December, the state has endured
another extended period of heavy drought, dangerously low levels of Northern California’s most critical reservoirs and low flow on the key rivers that fall-run Chinook spawn in. And the Bureau of Reclamation’s Central Valley Project report released on Feb. 23 painted a bleak picture about the state’s water supply. “We began the 2022 water year with low (Central Valley Project) reservoir storage and some weather whiplash, starting with a record day of Sacramento rainfall in October and snow-packed December storms to a very dry January and February, which are on pace to be the driest on record,” said Ernest Conant, Bureau of Reclamation regional director. “Further, the December storms disproportionately played out this year in the headwaters
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FISHING
This June 2021 photo of Folsom Lake sadly exemplifies what’s become the norm around raindeprived California. Folsom was at 54 percent of capacity on Feb. 24 during a winter drought that saw nearby Sacramento go a record 45 consecutive days without precipitation. “We’ve got our work cut out for us this year,” Bureau of Reclamation regional director Ernest Conant said. (CHRIS COCOLES)
– heavy in the American River Basin and unfortunately light in the upper Sacramento River Basin, which feeds into Shasta Reservoir, the cornerstone of the CVP.” The Reclamation press release cited a California Department of Water Resources Feb. 1-15 survey of a 1.2-million-acre-foot decrease in projected annual inflow for Shasta, Oroville, Folsom and New Melones Reservoirs. “Without significant precipitation, this may continue to decrease further,” the report said in what seemed like a Hail Mary pass in hopes of a March filled with heavy rain and/or snow. “Losing over a million acre-feet of projected inflow in two weeks’ time is concerning,” Conant added. “We’ve got our work cut out for us this year; strengthened collaboration and coordination among agency partners, water and power users, and stakeholders will be instrumental.” For skeptical and frustrated salmon defenders like GSSA’s McManus, getting on the same page hasn’t been the case. As the state’s Chinook returns remain low, there appears to be a lack of action. “The news from the Bureau of Reclamation makes clear that they and other water managers squandered a
whole lot of water after the very wet spring of 2019. This highlights the need for more responsible drought planning,” McManus said. “When it comes to being responsible stewards of the state’s natural resources, water business as usual isn’t serving the state anymore.”
FISHERMEN IN SOLUTION MODE Earlier in February, two of salmon fishing’s most dedicated fighters for the Central Valley fisheries, guides J.D. Richey (fishwithjd.com) and James Stone (elitesportsmen.com), vice president and president of the NorCal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association (ncgasa.org), respectively, gathered for a powerful live Facebook chat. They discussed the cloudy future for the Central Valley’s once plentiful salmon runs that appear to be nearing catastrophic depths. Stone noted that escapement goals haven’t been met in 11 of the past 15 years. To view the chat, go to facebook.com/1359889245/ videos/226237772967207. Two important meetings were scheduled for early this month. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Salmon Information Meeting on March 2, and the Pacific Marine Fisheries Council meeting from March 8-14, where 2022 ocean and inland seasons will be discussed. Stone is a
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member of PMFC’s Salmon Advisory Subcommittee and is California’s sport recreational fishery representative. Stone said it’s public forums such as the CDFW remote meeting where anglers like he and Richey hope those passionate about preserving these now precarious salmon runs in the state should have their voices heard, especially with statistical data trending down and suggesting there might not be any fish left in the future. “There are only 1.5 million anglers in California left. That’s it. And we’re down to 275,000 hunters in the whole state of California – out of 40 million people. So you’ve got to realize that we’re falling apart, guys,” Stone said. “We’ve got to band together and not fight against each other. Whether you’re an inland or ocean (angler), whatever sector you are, just be truthful and honest with yourself. What are we going to do as a coalition and a group together to make sure that we all have access to the fishery? We can all go feed our families and we can all still go and make sure that we have salmon for multiple generations past us.” CS
2022 SALMON FORECASTS
CDFW’s early March forecast for fallrun kings for the Sacramento River system was promising, relatively speaking. The ocean abundance of 396,500 fish is significantly higher than the 271,000 that were projected for 2021. Meanwhile, the forecast of 200,100 Klamath River salmon in the Pacific in 2022 is comparable to last year’s prediction. “We are hoping for a decent salmon fishing season this year, and there’s some reason for optimism, but there are several variables yet to be dealt with,” said Golden State Salmon Association president John McManus. “What’s needed is a few years of good returns and some water to help rebuild the natural spawning stocks. GSSA is working overtime to get more river flows for salmon, coupled with habitat and hatchery improvements.” –CC
CALIFORNIA COSTA MESA Maurer Marine 873 W 17th St (949) 645-7673 www.maurermarine.com calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2022 California Sportsman
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During the cold and frigid winter in Japan’s Nagano Prefecture, American expat Lance Sawa has enjoyed ice fishing for smelt, a diminutive fish that provides angling fun and great tablefare. (LANCE SAWA)
SMELTING THE ICE AN ANGLER RETURNS FOR MORE TINY BUT TASTY TREATS AT FROZEN JAPANESE LAKE By Lance Sawa
T
his is now the fourth year I have gone smelt fishing. The first year was during the fall at Nagano Prefecture’s Lake Kisaki, about an hour from my house in Japan. I caught just a few fish, but mostly I was surprised at how fun it was to catch such a small fish. My wife Yumi, who was with me
on the boat, was just as surprised. It brought back memories of when I was younger in Southern California and would catch tiny kelp fish and how much fun that was. Just a few months after that first smelt trip, I went to Lake Nojiri, about 45 minutes from my home (California Sportsman, February 2020). This time I was in a heated covered boat anchored on the spot. With all the people
onboard catching fish, it felt almost like a fishing party. Again, I caught just a few fish but was amazed just how fun it was to catch the tiny fish. Last year I went to another Nagano Prefecture fishery, Reisenji Lake, multiple times (California Sportsman, March 2021). I was exposed to the harsh weather on the lake but still had a great time. I thought my popup tent would be enough to protect
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Despite the blustery conditions, the diehards still came out to fish at Reisenji Lake, located not far from Sawa’s home and in the shadows of Mount Kurohime. (LANCE SAWA)
me from the weather, but I was mistaken. Even so, I managed to catch some fish again. The staff at the lake were all helpful and cheerful enough that I wanted to go again. So this year I went back to Reisenji Lake to join all the crazy people fishing on the ice. It was late for me to fish because of all of our recordbreaking snowfall. My house got a year’s worth of snow in two weeks – some places got it all in just one day. The almost nonstop snow is how our December and January went. We had two days of great sunny weather and the roads were cleared by the army of snow plows. As I drove to the lake, I could see the snow piled on the side of the road taller than my car and in some places taller than most trees. Ditches were filled to the brim with snow and ice. But on my drive the roads and parking spots were clean.
THIS TRIP I DECIDED to rent a fishing tent
The fact that the region experienced record snowfall didn’t deter numerous anglers from setting up their shelters for the day’s angling. Sawa took the advice of lake managers on where to get his ice fishing hole drilled. (LANCE SAWA) 42 California Sportsman MARCH 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
and a small heater to run inside it, as the weather forecast called for more snow. Which it did. I was worried I might not get either because I was 20 minutes late getting to the lake at 6:20 a.m. No problem, though; a tent and heater were still available and I headed out onto the lake. The hole I paid for was expertly drilled for me in a location suggested for me. If I don’t know a place well enough, I always ask for advice and am never disappointed. I wish they had helped me with the tent, though, as this was my first time setting up an ice tent and I was a little bit confused, the structure having no bottom and all. But 15 minutes later, it was set up and ready to go. Everything just barely fit inside – with the most important item, the heater, right next to my chair. I still had the same fishing rig from last year and quickly put it on the same cheap rod from last year. Next was the bait, once again red-dyed maggots, all cut in half to help attract the fish. I threw them all into the water.
THE TENT WASN’T QUITE tall enough for
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FOR THE NEXT TWO hours, it was everything I could do to keep up with baiting the four hooks and taking fish off of them. From my trip two years ago I knew that these conditions were the time to seriously fish and catch fish when I could. Two at a time the smelt came up through the ice and into the warm tent. I always seemed to have more, so fast were my setups being bit. Before the wide-open bite began I had eight fish; by now I think I’d caught about 30 more. Some people have a counter when they fish for smelt, but I don’t; it’s just another thing to forget or lose. I did forget my ice scoop and had to take the ice from the hole with my hands. I got up and stretched my back when the bite slowed. As I looked around, most of the tents were covered in snow, but I could hear people excitedly catching fish inside. When the snow once again picked up, I took cover inside the tent, which had cooled down again. As the outside got colder, the fish were ready to bite again and I gave them everything I could. The baited hooks were going down the hole in the ice and fish were coming up out of the Renting a pop-up tent is a good idea during such wintry conditions. And don’t forget to rent a portable heater to keep you warm! (LANCE SAWA)
me, so I had to bend over when I sat. But soon I had my first fish, just as the sun was rising. It was smaller than normal. The bites had been coming, but it is hard to hook them when they are that small. Switching to a smaller weight fixed that. My next fish was a large one, but I stuck with the smaller weight since the lake didn’t have any current on this day. After my third fish, a family set up right next to me. The lake was busy, even though the forecast called for snow later in the morning and that afternoon. I could hear some college students catching some fish. The family next to me settled into fishing; as the mother and daughter relaxed, father and sons became serious anglers.
After about an hour I only had five fish to show for my efforts, but at least I was protected from the snow and cold in the heated tent. The fish weren’t biting well, yet they still seemed hungry. The lighter weight was helping me greatly and the tiny fish were moving the line and only then would I try to hook them. It was like they were inhaling the bait and then kept swimming. Then the snow really started to fall and it sounded like rain on the tent’s fabric. I was so happy to be in the tent and with my financial decision to get the heater for the day. Even though the outside was getting colder, the action under the ice was heating up. The fish decided that they were done playing around and started biting furiously.
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A happy angler with a couple smelt on the end of his line. The fish weren’t big, but it’s supersized fun to get out even in the middle of a harsh winter in Japan. (LANCE SAWA)
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On the way home, the snow began to pick up again and all I thought was, “I bet the fishing is picking up at the lake.”
hole as fast as I could handle it. Just as the bite started to slow again, my rented heater ran out of propane. I still had about 45 minutes to fish but decided to head back before the snow got worse. The family next to me chatted with me for a bit when they saw how many I caught.
The smell of the fish they were cooking in their tent made me hungry (I had skipped breakfast to get to the lake early). Someone in the rental office asked me how many I had caught; honestly, I had no idea. I didn’t count them on the ice, but they did say it looked like a lot.
In all, Sawa kept 59 small but delicious smelt. After getting home and warming up, he and his family enjoyed a feast. (LANCE SAWA)
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I CAREFULLY DROVE HOME with the live fish in the container for my son Nico to see. When he got home from school he loved it, but not as much as our cat. He just wanted to dive right in and eat them all. That had to wait for dinner, though. I ended up catching a total of 59 fish over four and a half hours of fishing – easily my best smelt fishing trip yet. I was hooked on this, and with the heated tent it had been a pleasure to fish on the frozen lake. It was a bit too late to buy the tent since they were all sold out, but next year I might take the plunge and buy a whole ice fishing set – with a taller tent, a small portable heater and maybe even a slightly better fishing rod. Normally, in Japan, you eat smelt whole with the heads and guts – all of it. This year I tried to cut at least the heads off and remove the guts before eating the raw fish, which smelled a bit like watermelon. They were coated in rice flour and lightly fried with a bit of soy sauce and seaweed flakes on the side. Delicious! CS
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HUNTING
FROM FIELD...
FACT OR FRICTION QUALITY CALLS CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE WHEN TRYING TO COAX IN SPRING TURKEYS By Scott Haugen
W
ith turkey season almost here, the more time you spend in the spring turkey woods, the more you’ll understand the importance of quality calls – thus the need to take care of them. Friction calls are especially important to take care of and prepare for hunting season. To produce sounds from a friction call, two surfaces come in contact with one another. In order to optimize the quality of sounds, conditioning your friction calls is important, and so simple. Here’s how to do it.
BOX CALLS Box calls are the most commonly used turkey friction call. Conditioning a call is preparing it to create sounds, and with box calls, this means applying chalk to the underside of the paddle. Rosin can be applied instead of chalk, which waterproofs the call and allows it to be used in rain, fog and wet conditions. With the underside of the paddle chalked, pass it over both sides of the beveled edges, or the lip of the box, to see what type of pitches and tones are produced. Learn how to make yelps and purrs by dragging the paddle across the sound chamber and you’re set. When in the field, periodically blow away or dump any debris out of the sound chamber. If your call gets dirty, wipe it clean with a dry rag.
Looking to up your turkey hunting game? It starts with the calls. Author Scott Haugen has been hunting turkeys for more than 30 years, and called in this dandy tom using a friction call last season. (SCOTT HAUGEN) calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2022 California Sportsman
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HUNTING Instead of the traditional ground beef or chicken, try some wild turkey meat to spice up your tacos. Tiffany Haugen loves adding this wild game meat to her Latin American menu. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)
... TO FIRE
TRY WILD TURKEY TACO TUESDAYS By Tiffany Haugen
W
ild turkey tacos are fun to make and go well with just about any appetizers; plus they’re a healthy, tasty option. We ate these one holiday from a fall bird I took and they were so popular. I’ve made them multiple times for family and friends throughout the year; they’re especially tasty with plump spring turkeys. Once you sink your teeth into these little beauties, you’ll keep wanting more. Just remember, wild turkey meat is very lean, so do not overcook it or it will be tough and dry. One wild turkey breast (approximately 1½ to 3 pounds) 1 cup pineapple juice ½ cup cider vinegar One 6-ounce can tomato paste One onion, chopped One red bell pepper, chopped One jalapeño pepper, chopped 2 teaspoons chili powder 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon granulated garlic 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon ground oregano 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon black pepper 24 to 36 street-taco-size corn tortillas 1 to 2 cups fresh pineapple chunks, optional Hot sauce, optional Cabbage, pickled red onion and cilantro for garnish Rinse wild turkey breast and pat dry. Remove the tenderloin from the breast and cut out the tendon. Cut the larger part of the turkey breast across the grain in ½- to ¾-inch slices. Remove any sinuous tissues where the breast is connected with the ribs and keel. In a small bowl mix pineapple juice,
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vinegar, tomato paste, chili powder, salt, granulated garlic, cumin, oregano, paprika and black pepper until thoroughly combined. Add turkey meat to a pressure cooker or slow cooker. Pour sauce over turkey meat and stir until all of the meat is coated, then add chopped onion and peppers. Pressure cook on high 30 minutes, allowing pressure to release naturally, or slow cook on high three to four hours or until turkey is tender. Taste for seasoning, adding additional salt, pepper and/or hot sauce if needed. If desired, add fresh pineapple chunks during the last 10 minutes of cooking. Serve on warm tortillas topped with cabbage, pickled onions and cilantro. Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany Haugen's popular book, Cooking Game Birds, visit scotthaugen.com, where you’ll find all her cookbooks.
HUNTING Knowing the parts of your calls – like this box call – and understanding how they work goes a long way in protecting them and optimizing their performance. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
When handling the box call, keep fingers off the underside of the paddle and the beveled edges, as oils from hands will impede the call. If you wipe the calling surfaces, the underside of the paddle may need rechalking. Use chalks designed for turkey calls, ones that contain no oil or sugar base, which can harm a box call. When toting your box calls in the field, use a rubber band to firmly secure the paddle to the box, which will keep the call quiet and prevent wear. At season’s end, store box calls in a holster or plastic bag to keep dry in a cool setting.
SLATE CALLS Slate calls, also called pot calls, are friction calls that are easy to use. A pot call consists of three parts: a pot, a calling surface and a striker. The pot supports the calling surface and
acts as a sound chamber. The calling surface is what the striker skips across to produce sound. Calling surfaces range from actual rock slate to glass, aluminum, plexiglass and more. Each surface yields a different sound, and each type of striker produces a unique sound. Prior to making any sounds on a slate call, rough up the surface with abrasive paper. When conditioning the pot’s surface, do so by moving the abrasive paper back and forth across the slate, not in a circular motion. The purpose is to create grooves that cause the striker to skip when dragged across the surface. For hard surfaces, use a largergrained abrasive paper, something in the 80- or 40-grit class. For real slate, 220-grit abrasive paper works well; and go gentle. That same 220-grit paper can be used to sand the tips of
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strikers that often become clogged with sediments from the slate’s surface. To create sounds, hold the striker about 1 inch up from the bottom and tip the top of the striker away from you at a 45-degree angle. This angle should remain constant throughout the calling process. Tiny circular motions produce yelps, while a short, straight pull yields purrs. Some slates come with a plastic lid to protect the surface. You can also put the pot in a plastic bag or storage pouch inside your turkey vest to ensure it won’t rub and wear. When storing pot calls and strikers, seal and keep in a cool, dry place to prevent warping and weathering.
PUSH BUTTON CALLS
Push button calls are the simplest friction call to use. With a spring or rubber band, the tension is set in these
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HUNTING calls so all you have to do is move the button one direction, then it springs back. As the sliding portion of the call moves over the stationary portion, it emits sound; purrs and yelps are easy to make on push button calls. To condition a push button call, apply chalk to the underside of the surface that drags over the stationary peg. Reapply chalk as needed and keep the call clean by placing it in a dry pouch in your turkey vest. Slow pushes produce purrs, while multiple quick pushes yield yelps. At the end of the season, seal and store in a cool, dry place. Through routine conditioning and proper storage, turkey calls will last for years. The quality of sounds they create will also be optimized, thus improving your odds of filling a tag. CS In order to get the most out of them, slate calls should be conditioned, cared for throughout the season and properly stored in the offseason. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
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Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen's bestselling book, Western Turkey Hunting: Strategies For All Levels, visit scotthaugen.com.
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HUNTING
Mally’s last hunt. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
THE LAST HUNT By Scott Haugen
A
s I write these words, there are two days left in duck season. I was going to invite friends along, but I just want to hunt alone with my two dogs, Echo and Kona. Selfish? Maybe, but I don’t think so. A dog lover understands why.
TWO WEEKS AGO I got a message from a stranger in my area, asking if I knew of any easy-to-navigate private land where they could take their nearly 14-year-old black Lab on her last hunt. I didn’t reply right away, but I immediately knew my answer.
That night I got three hours of sleep, as it was all I could think about: a dog’s last hunt. The next morning I replied, and said I had a place for them to hunt. I had no idea who the person was, as their social handle didn’t have a name. I didn’t background check them, as I probably should have, or ask any questions about their personal life, hunting experience, or what they wanted out of the hunt. Three days later we set a time to meet the following morning. The last note from them said, “Oh, by the way, my name is such and such, and my husband’s name is so and so.”
I already knew their dog’s name – that’s all that really mattered. We met early the next morning, walked to the blind, tidied up the decoys and made sure the situation was good for their aging Lab. Then the couple walked back to the truck to get their dog. I didn’t follow them, but went in another direction to hunt with my dog. Kona and I had a great morning, but I couldn’t stop thinking about my guests and their dog.
A FEW HOURS LATER I put Kona in the truck and went to check on them. They had ducks and were happy, but solemn. I wanted to chat but
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HUNTING respected their precious time. I petted their dog, watched her hunting instincts override her aging body, and looked into her eyes, with little conversation. The dog was lying outside the blind, in some mud and rocks; she didn’t care that it was cold and uncomfortable, for this spot was easier for her to spot birds from than the dog blind I’d constructed. Her eyes grew big and her tail wagged when she saw ducks, or thought she saw ducks. One of my favorite things when duck hunting with dogs is watching their eyes and body language as they spot ducks. They spot way more than we do, and get more excited and tense with anticipation. They also scold us when we miss.
Our dogs risk everything to appease their innate drive, and please us, something we strive to reward until the very end. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
The aged dog had a retrieve while I was there and I was honored to see it. She moved slow and steady, but with purpose. Her long slow-wagging tail quickened as she approached the wigeon in chest-deep water. Water didn’t fly from her tail in tiny droplets, as I’m sure it once did. The old girl ended up having a good day, and her eyes and body language confirmed it. She was in her happy place. Her owners were so appreciative, but quiet, and rightly so.
We never forget those extra special retrieves. Here, the author’s dog, Kona, a pudelpointer, brings in a prized Eurasian wigeon following an impressive mark and water retrieve. (SCOTT HAUGEN) 62 California Sportsman MARCH 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
WHEN IT COMES TIME for my dogs’ last hunt, I want to be with them, just me. I want no one else around to think about or have to talk to because every precious second with them is valuable and passes all too swiftly. Pause. Tears are now slipping down my face as I write these words, because I dread the last hunts with my dogs, even though it’s years away. Then, suddenly, Kona is at my side, looking up at me with his big dark eyes, resting his heavy head on my leg and wagging his tail. I bend down to kiss his big juicy nose and he licks my face. He never licks my face. He’s not a licker. He licked every tear, even as they flowed faster, now. He awoke from a sleep in the other room to
come console me, something dogs do, something we can’t explain, that sixth sense. But it’s these moments that are so special and build an even deeper bond, which makes parting with them even more painful. A few weeks ago I was hunting in Texas. A 19-year-old young man had one of the best performing Labs I’d ever seen. “When he dies I won’t get another dog,” he shared, as he took a goose from the dog’s mouth. He’d trained the dog himself, didn’t think he’d ever develop a bond as strong as this with any other dog, and just plain dreaded the end, though the dog was only 2 years old. I understood exactly what he meant. No matter how much we prepare for the end, it’s never going to ease the pain. We don’t know if it’s going to be sudden or drawn out, if it’s going to entail a final drive to the vet or if it will happen in their sleep. All we can do is make the most of every moment we have with our hunting companions and make their lives as enjoyable and rewarding as possible, for we all know a good hunting dog consistently risks their life to not only do what they’re programmed to do, but to please us, and such a genuinely powerful relationship is deeply painful when it comes to an end. CS Editor’s note: Scott Haugen is a full-time writer. See his puppy training videos and learn more about his many books at scotthaugen.com and follow him on Instagram and Facebook.
64 California Sportsman MARCH 2022 | calsportsmanmag.com
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