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California
Sportsman Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource
Volume 13 • Issue 6 PUBLISHER James R. Baker GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott EDITOR Chris Cocoles CONTRIBUTORS Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Art Isberg, Todd Kline, Lance Sawa, Susan Sawyer, 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 Crowley Lake should be plenty busy on April 24 for the general trout opener, which was delayed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Crowley and several other fisheries around the Eastern Sierra will be open to fishing. (SIERRA DRIFTERS GUIDE SERVICE)
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CONTENTS
VOLUME 13 • ISSUE 6
FEATURES
26
43
LOVIN’ LASSEN
The northeast corner of California features some of the state’s most rugged and beautiful landscapes. Lassen Volcanic National Park is also a trout fishing mecca, thanks to several lakes – some located right off the main road and others a backcountry hike away. The reward can be catching some feisty rainbows and browns in a spectacular setting. Redding resident Art Isberg, a regular visitor to the park’s trout fisheries, offers advice on how to fish three of Lassen’s best “hot” spots.
FISHMAS IS BACK! As the COVID-19 crisis drags into 2021 but vaccines slowly begin to return us to some sense of normalcy, traditional events are being put back on the calendar where they belong. For the fishing-crazed Eastern Sierra, there are few days locals and visitors alike look forward to more than the last Saturday in April – the trout opener. Safety protocols will make “Fishmas” look a little different, but after 2020’s delay, this year’s big day offers a bit of hope.
53
HALIBUT-INFESTED WATERS The water off the Southern California coast is starting to warm up, and that means halibut will be on the move into bays, harbors and other nearshore waters. California halibut provide some of the Pacific’s best table fare, and Capt. Bill Schaefer, who fishes the salt regularly, has technique tips, gear and tackle suggestions to fill your cooler.
59
DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS From decoy choices to calling options, and knowing the terrain you’re hunting on, turkey hunters can get a leg up on the toms they’re pursuing with attention to the details. As From Field to Fire author Scott Haugen can attest, understanding gobblers’ behavior patterns and adapting to the weather can make a huge difference for spring hunters.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 9 10 13 15 16
37
65 (JEFF SIMPSON/MONO COUNTY TOURISM)
The Editor’s Note Adventures of Todd Kline Photo contest winners Outdoor calendar Protecting Wild California: Native bull trout battle non-native brookies for survival in Klamath Basin American Angler in Japan: A memorable Bishop trout trip Gun dog health: Beware stomach twist, it’s for real
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 APRIL 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
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THEEDITOR’SNOTE Young James Simpson, 5, has become a fishing fanatic and hopes to join his dad and grandfather at Bridgeport Reservoir on April 24 for the trout opener. (JEFF SIMPSON)
J
eff Simpson, meet Martin Brody. Simpson and his dad John have been regular fishing partners for the usual last-Saturday-in-April opening day of trout season. Bridgeport Reservoir is their go-to spot, where they’ve launched the boat in hopes of catching an early-season rainbow. So as the Eastern Sierra and those who will flock to the mountains on April 24 get ready for Fishmas (page 26), 5-year-old James Simpson is ready for his chance to join Dad on the boat. And maybe Grandpa too? As Brody’s Jaws character famously declared, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” “We’ll see if there’s enough room,” Jeff Simpson told me with a laugh. “It’s a family tradition for us – something we enjoy doing and bonding. I think that will make Grandpa so much happier.” James has “caught the fish fever,” Simpson says. “We have a place up at Topaz Lake right now, which is open for fishing. He’s just a maniac and can’t get enough of it. I’m excited to take him out on the boat for his first Fishmas morning.” It almost happened last year when James was 4, but of course, the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered those plans. In Simpson’s Eastern Sierra region – he grew up in Bridgeport – the last Saturday in April is a big party – a celebration of fishing and the kickstart to summer fun. “Those people are our friends. These are the people we’ve seen every single year and every single summer,” Jeff said of the myriad visitors who flock to the Eastern Sierra from around the state. “It’s always been a starting point for opening back.” And we’re so glad that the big day is back this month. We’d love to see three generations of Simpsons on Bridgeport Reservoir. “I think there’s enough room for all three of us,” Jeff said. Stay safe, everyone and catch a lot of trout. We’ve all earned a few rainbows making those lines tight as we hope to get our sanity back. -Chris Cocoles calsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2021 California Sportsman
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s e r u t n e v d A W
e’re not ashamed to admit it: Todd Kline has the kind of life we wish we could experience. Kline’s a former professional surfer, a successful co-angler on the FLW Tour and a Southern California bass guide, plus he gets to travel the world as a commentator for the World Surf League’s telecasts. Todd has agreed to give us a peek 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’ve been talking with my friend Jesse Billauer for a year now about getting him out to fish. Jesse was paralyzed in a serious surfing accident years ago and is a two-time world adaptive surfing champion. Find out more about his inspiring story at jessebillauer.com. (TODD KLINE) 10 California Sportsman APRIL 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
Jesse (front, center) joined me and my friend Marco Fenelli from Frank Toyota and his brother Josh for our fishing trip. It was an awesome experience for all of us. (TODD KLINE)
One of the best parts of being a fishing guide is experiencing sunrises like this one at San Vicente Reservoir in San Diego County. (TODD KLINE)
These VMC hooks really hold strong when hooking into a lunker bass. (TODD KLINE)
My mom visited me from Florida and we had a great day on the water together too. (TODD KLINE) calsportsmanmag.com| APRIL | APRIL2021 2021 California Sportsman calsportsmanmag.com
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PHOTO
CONTEST
WINNERS!
Pistol Bullets and Ammunition Jon Crawford is the winner of our monthly Fishing Photo Contest, thanks to his pic of daughter-in-law Mackenzie Crawford and her first salmon, this very nice fall Chinook. It wins him gear from various tackle manufacturers!
Zero Bullet Company, Inc.
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Jake Meyer is our monthly Coast Hunting Photo Contest winner, thanks to this pic of his daughter Sawyer and her first coyote, taken in eastern Washington. 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 | APRIL 2021 California Sportsman
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OUTDOOR CALENDAR
`
The Lake Isabella Trout Derby’s format has changed into a season-long event that begins on April 24 and continues through Sept. 6. (KERN RIVER VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE)
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 17-18 NorCal Guides and Sportsmen’s 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 24-25 Redding Sportsmans Expo, Redding Civic Auditorium; reddingsportsmansexpo.com 24-SEPT. 6 Lake Isabella Fishing Derby; kernrivervalley.com/ 2020-isabella-lake-fishing-derby
MAY
1 NorCal Trout Challenge, Lake Amador; anglerspress.com 1-2 Shasta Lake Team Kokanee Derby; kokaneepower.org 1-2 Bass Lake Trout Derby; basslakechamber.com/ fishing-derby 2 Last day of general spring wild turkey season 3-16 Archery-only spring wild turkey season 3-16 Additional junior wild turkey season Note: Check with local contacts over events that could be postponed/cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic For a list of upcoming bass tournaments, go to nrm.dfg.ca.gov/ FishingContests/default.aspx. calsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2021 California Sportsman
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CHAR SPAR: BULLS BATTLE BROOKS FOR SURVIVAL IN THE KLAMATH 16 California Sportsman APRIL 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA By Susan Sawyer
I
n the fictional world of trout wrestling, one of the most uneven matchups would pit brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) against bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus). When squaring off in their aquatic “ring,” the invasive and scrappy “brookies” are bullies, outcompeting the native bull trout by eating all the food, hogging the best shelter and generally pushing them around. Brook trout are also opportunists, taking advantage of and spawning with bull trout. Such a fish face-off recently occurred in the upper Sprague River watershed north of Klamath Falls, Oregon. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office in Klamath Falls received reports from an angler of brook trout in tributaries of the Sprague River, where none had been previously documented. This immediately sent up a red flag for Nolan Banish, USFWS fish biologist and coordinator for the Klamath Bull Trout Recovery Unit. He knew the streams were occupied by bull trout and this discovery was troubling. Since both trout species are fall spawners, quick action was necessary to prevent a hostile habitat takeover. “Brook trout are known to flex their muscles when in bull trout territory,” said Banish. “They displace bull trout and will hybridize with them to the point that bull trout are no longer producing purebred offspring.” For several years, Banish and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife have taken on the role of river referees by conducting periodic stream surveys to monitor the trout. If brookies were indeed moving upstream, there was concern their bully tactics could quickly knock out the bull trout.
Brookies are considered bullies in the trout world and have a habit of taking over habitat and spawning with other species of what are actually known as char. That’s the case in the Sprague River watershed of Klamath County, Oregon, home to native bull trout. (RYAN COOPER/MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES)
BROOK TROUT ARE NATIVE to the eastern United States and in 1925 were introduced into the Klamath Basin, where they quickly inhabited local native trout streams.
calsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2021 California Sportsman
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PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA
Fisheries biologists Nolan Banish, left, of the Klamath Falls Fish and Wildlife Office and Travis Ciotti attempt to collect and remove invasive brook trout with a backpack electrofishing unit. Brook trout were discovered in native bull trout habitat in the Sprague River watershed by an angler last year. (OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE)
A brook-bull trout hybrid approximately 3 years old, collected during sampling of a tributary to the Sprague. The fish has characteristics of both species, most noticeable on the fins and unique patterns and coloration. (OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE) 18 California Sportsman APRIL 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
Bull trout, like most salmonids (trout, salmon and char), were once abundant in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho and Montana. Today, they occur in less than half of their historic range, with scattered populations in portions of these states except for California, where they no longer exist. In the Klamath River Basin, bull trout occupy about 20 percent of their historic range. Bull trout are finicky fish with the most specific habitat requirements of all salmonids. They prefer cold water 48 degrees or less, clean spawning substrates and streams with riffles, deep pools, undercut banks and large logs. In 1999, the USFWS listed bull trout as a federally threatened species throughout their range due to loss of habitat and diminishing populations, in part
PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA
Bull trout have the most specific habitat requirements of all salmonid species –trout, char, salmon, whitefish and others – requiring cold water, clean spawning gravels and lots of overhanging cover. (USFWS)
from competition with non-native brook trout. In the Klamath, bull trout have been isolated from other populations of their species for over 10,000 years and are considered genetically distinct, putting them at higher risk of extinction. Before the biologists could assess the brook trout invasion, they had to modify field survey protocol and receive authorization to work during the pandemic. Team members maintained distance and wore face coverings, drove separate vehicles and thoroughly cleaned all equipment after each use. In late summer and fall of 2020, sampling began on tributaries to the North Fork Sprague River with a backpack electrofishing unit that stuns but doesn’t kill fish. Brook and hybrid trout were removed, and pure bull trout were returned to the creeks. The fish sampled
were about 3 years old, indicating a few years of interacting had occurred. Since there are no barriers preventing brook trout from re-entering the North Fork tributaries, the team planned to step up their surveys.
“THIS DISCOVERY OF BROOK trout in these streams was a wake-up call for the Bull Trout Working Group,” said Ben Ramirez, ODFW fish biologist for the Klamath Watershed District. “As a result, we plan to increase our monitoring efforts on the North Fork in hopes of preventing similar occurrences down the road.” When sampling efforts began on tributaries of the South Fork, what the team found was unexpected. “In one of the tributaries, the highest numbers of brook and hybrid trout were concentrated around a culvert crossing,” said Banish. “We found a nearby camp-
20 California Sportsman APRIL 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
site complete with tree swings, tables, seating, even an outhouse. But the most disturbing discovery was that the creek had been dug out and impounded with plywood and plastic to create several deep pools.” Apparently, brook trout had been transported from the river to stock the pools, where they mingled with resident bull trout. More evidence of the ponds’ purpose were plastic pipes along the bank for holding fishing poles and webs of discarded fishing line littering the site. Over several weeks last summer, crews removed brook trout and any hybrids from the creek and makeshift fishing ponds. Efforts will continue in 2021 and beyond to ensure as many non-native and hybrid fish as possible are collected. As for the illegal campsite, even
PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA
G P
D
During sampling efforts in one bull trout stream, the fish survey crew was surprised to discover the creek had been dug out and impounded with wood, rocks, logs and plastic to create several deep pools and fishing stations. (OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE)
Near the makeshift pools was a campsite where trees had been cut and removed without the property owners’ knowledge. (USFWS) 22 California Sportsman APRIL 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
though the property owner allows public access, they were not aware of the extent the area had been modified. USFWS and the ODFW are working to help clean up the site, create and post signs prohibiting bull trout fishing, and schedule patrols of the area by USFWS and state law enforcement officers. “By continuing our sampling and removal efforts on Sprague River tributaries I’m fairly confident we can prevent further hybridization between brook and bull trout,” Banish said. “It’s going to take a concerted effort over several years and possibly some construction or modification to keep brook trout out of these bull trout streams.” “The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is incredibly grateful for the co-
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PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA
Fish biologists (from left) Katie Moyer, Nolan Banish and Travis Ciotti sample a small creek for brook trout and brook-bull trout hybrids for removal, the only way to prevent the more aggressive brookies from taking over the habitat and interbreeding with bulls during the fall spawn. (USFWS)
24 California Sportsman APRIL 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
operation and coordination with the Klamath Falls FWO,” Ramirez added. “Together we were able to curtail the brook trout invasion and are now working towards a broader basin-wide solution to prevent a recurrence.” Banish is cautious to call the effort a success just yet. Only because of angler reports and subsequent quick response by agencies, the brook trout have retreated to their respective corners of the river, for now. Round one of this trout bout is a draw. “The outcome could have been much worse by the time our next survey was scheduled,” said Banish. “I like to believe there’s still hope for the bull trout in these streams to overcome the odds and survive.” CS Editor’s note: Susan Sawyer is the Klamath Basin public affairs officer for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, covering the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Klamath Falls, Oregon, and Yreka Fish and Wildlife Offices in California.
Crowley Lake should be a popular place on April 24 for the statewide trout opener after the Eastern Sierra’s annual “Fishmas” celebration was delayed in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns. (SIERRA DRIFTERS GUIDE SERVICE) 26 California Sportsman APRIL 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
FISHING
THAT ‘FISHMAS’ FEELING AFTER 2020’S DELAYED START, THE LATE APRIL TROUT OPENER IS BACK IN EASTERN SIERRA
By Chris Cocoles
G
ame on. Or maybe “Fish on!” is a more accurate battle cry for the trout-crazed Eastern Sierra. A year after the region’s “Fishmas” celebration of late April’s traditional statewide trout opener was delayed for more than a month due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the event is back on for April 24. Perhaps there will be less fanfare – most of the usual opening-weekend derbies are not likely to be publicized or held – but there will be no lack of enthusiasm from those trout anglers who have been waiting to hit the reopening of resort-style fisheries such as Crowley Lake, Convict Lake and Bridgeport Reservoir. “It’s a little uncertain in terms of how many people we’re going to see.
With the delayed opener last year, it was a little off. I don’t think everyone was comfortable with traveling,” says Jeff Simpson from Mono County Economic Development and Tourism. “I think that sentiment and the safety factor has changed. So I anticipate probably a normal opener as we’ve seen in past years. But things can change in a hurry. We just want to maintain the protocols that are coming down from the state. We’re just hoping we can have a traditional Fishmas season.” Last year’s various shutdowns obviously took a toll – mental, financial and otherwise – on residents of the Eastern Sierra. Visitors had to adhere to various guidelines throughout what’s usually a bustling spring and summer season. “I think it really depends on your
calsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2021 California Sportsman
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FISHING perspective and also the business that you’re in,” Simpson says of the impact the restrictions had on locals. “If you owned an RV park, you had a really great season. A lot of the marine operators did well. But if you’re a mom and pop restaurant with sit-down seating, you had a tough season.” Simpson’s Mono County has been one of the state’s more successful in dealing with the pandemic, and it ranks as California’s best when it comes to administering vaccines (as of March 24, 33 percent of the county was fully vaccinated). So things are definitely looking up for local businesses. “I know that fishing sales are up and people want to get outdoors,” Simpson says. “I think we’re positioned well for recovery.” Simpson added that the usual derbies scheduled for opening weekend are in limbo. One of the few annual events during the season, the Bridgeport Fish Enhancement Foundation’s trout tournament, is on for the end of the June. “I think it’s just what’s allowable and permissible for state and local health guidelines,” he says. “There are rules around gatherings right now and it depends if our health officials will allow (these derbies). We just can’t confirm anything. Everybody would like to do an event that can do one.”
GUIDE BUSINESS BOOMING
Hot Creek is one of the Eastern Sierra’s best-producing trout fisheries and should attract lots of fly and conventional gear anglers. (JEFF SIMPSON/MONO COUNTY TOURISM) 28 California Sportsman APRIL 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
The financial fallout of various levels of pandemic-related lockdowns have affected so many walks of life and businesses. But as indoor activity was all but shut down, the ability to go fishing and maintain a level of safety outdoors provided guide services with willing clients. Doug Rodricks, owner of Mammoth Lakes-based Sierra Drifters Guide Service (760-9354250; sierradrifters.com), had to close for business from mid-March – when it became clear that the virus was becoming a threat – through April and May. “And after that we were open, and we had our busiest season since Sierra
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FISHING Drifters started (in 1997),” Rodrick says. “And this summer, I’m already predicting it’s going to be twice as busy, considering we’re getting calls already. In the winter they were already asking about summer trips.” Last year, Sierra Drifters’ trips included the use of facemasks and as much social distancing as possible while fishing on a boat. The vaccination process is expected to eventually return life to normal sometime this year. But for now, Rodricks, like the rest of the Eastern Sierra, is grateful that the trout fishing season will be starting on time after 2020’s hardships. Still, a positive from the extended lockdowns meant fishing became a viable option for so many. “Last year we were excited to get out there ourselves. There was a lot of new exposure to families and people who probably never had an interest or thought about fly fishing before, but just came here,” says Rodricks, who has high hopes for 2021’s trout season. “The lack of pressure last year I think helps. People think it’s just one
MONO COUNTY STOCKING LOTS OF FISH
L
ast summer, three Southern California state hatcheries were dealing with a bacterial outbreak and euthanizations among their fish stocks that put the annual trout plantings around the state in jeopardy. “The best option we have available that will get us back to planting fish from these hatcheries in the shortest timeline is to clear the raceways, thoroughly disinfect the facilities, and start over,” California Department of Fish and Wildlife hatcheries environmental program manager Jay Rowan said at the time. Just how that will affect the overall fishing around the Eastern Sierra this year is unknown, but anglers are being urged to be “sustainability minded.” “I respect anyone who wants to catch and eat. But if you’re not one of those individuals, try to release all the fish that you can so we can keep all of our population numbers up while CDFW has its disruption in stocking,” says Jeff Simpson of Mono County Economic Development and Tourism. Mono County’s own usual planting of trout in various fisheries throughout the 2021 season will continue. “We’re still going to be stocking the same amounts that we always have, which is $100,000 (worth of fish) in 18 different bodies of water throughout Mono County,” Simpson says. “Another $100,000 is stocked through the town of Mammoth Lakes that goes directly to the Mammoth Lakes Basin. You’ve got 24 bodies of water and $200,000 worth of fish.” CC
month (of last year’s delay) and that it’s not that much to lose a month’s pressure. But it really is. Because in that first month (usually) a lot of fish get pulled up.” Rodricks’ guide service offers fly
Jeff Simpson of Mono County Economic Development and Tourism anticipates more boats to be on the water at lakes such as Crowley and Convict and Bridgeport Reservoir. (JEFF SIMPSON/MONO COUNTY TOURISM) 30 California Sportsman APRIL 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
fishing trips to popular locations such as Hot Creek, the Lower and Upper Owens Rivers and the East Walker River. But they’re also regulars at Crowley Lake and Bridgeport Reservoir, among other fisheries, some
FISHING that will be more in play as summer approaches. Rodricks also likes the San Joaquin River as a destination later in the season after the runoff period. “A lot of times the lakes fish better, just because there is runoff around that time and creeks and rivers can get blown out,” he says. “So we’ll focus more on still waters at that time.”
MILD WINTER’S EFFECT
As of late March, the Eastern Sierra had not endured a very snowy winter – Simpson says the region is between 60 and 70 percent of normal snowpack – which while a long-term concern, should make for pretty solid early-season opportunities for anglers. “We had a mild winter, so there’s not going to be a lot of ice left on lakes. So it will be a little warmer probably and things will start melting a lot sooner,” Rodricks says. “I think the runoff will take place around mid-
May or early June, and all the creeks should be pretty fishable at that time.” That said, a less-than-hoped-for snowpack after a promising January isn’t ideal anywhere in the high Sierra. Drought is again a concern for coming seasons. “All through December it was dry. It looked like it was going to be pretty dry. But at the end of January we got a pretty good amount of snow, and it even snowed in Bishop, where we got 6 to 8 inches on the ground here,” says James Erdman, an environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “I was kind of thinking, ‘Maybe we’ll get a good snowpack this winter,’ but it’s not looking like a good snowpack.” Simpson also reminds that April can feature plenty of snow. Indeed, there have been snowy opening days, just as there have been warm, sunny ones. But after what everyone has gone
Anglers hold a couple beautiful Crowley Lake rainbows caught while fishing with Sierra Drifters Guide Service, which had one of its best years ever as more people got outside to fish during the pandemic. “And this summer, I’m already predicting it’s going to be twice as busy,” says owner Doug Rodricks. (SIERRA DRIFTERS GUIDE SERVICE)
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through over the last year, the region will take what it can get in the form of at least a closer-to-routine trout fishing season that will get going on April 24. With the new state regulations that opened up select waters to yearround fishing (California Sportsman, March 2021), Simpson expects a few anglers to head up the week leading into the opener to get in some great fishing ops on various local streams that were previously closed. “I think that excitement when you have a ton of boats on the water again and everyone’s just pumped for opening day,” Simpson says. “That’s what we missed last year. And that’s what I’m looking forward to this year.” CS Editor’s note: For more on Mono County Tourism information, go to monocounty.org or call (800) 845-7922.
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36 California Sportsman APRIL 2021 | calsportsmanmag.com
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Author Lance Sawa’s roots in Southern California meant he was a regular visitor to the Eastern Sierra’s fisheries. As the trout opener beckons this month, Sawa, now living abroad in Japan, recalls one such successful trip with his now wife. (LANCE SAWA)
MEMORIES OF EASTERN SIERRA TROUT… AND RABBITS ... AND CRICKETS By Lance Sawa
W
e left at midnight to head north. My then girlfriend – now wife – Yumi and I were headed to the Bishop area to fish in October before the trout waters closed for the year. Granted, it was mostly my idea and I had only asked her just after dinner, but she was up for the trip.
The amount of fishing equipment on hand was limited, as I borrowed most of it from my dad, but we had enough to go. We packed the car and left. It was a four-hour drive from the Southern California apartment we were renting at the time. With only a stop in Mojave to get gas, we continued on our way and drove through the night, talking so we could stay awake.
This was the first trip we took together to Bishop. Yumi had been to Mammoth Mountain to snowboard, but never to fish. I was excited to show her around an area that I grew up fishing.
THE MORNING LIGHT By around 4 a.m. we got to the outskirts of Bishop and were both tired. We turned before reaching the town
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The long drive along Highway 395 from the Southland is familiar to Sawa and so many other trout heads looking to score some fish. (LANCE SAWA) The Middle Fork Bishop Creek is a popular spot off North Lake to try your luck. (LANCE SAWA)
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proper and reached the Bishop Creek canal, where I knew it would be quiet. We slept for just a few hours before the sun rising over the mountains woke us up. We were unable to fall back to sleep, so we decided to go into town to get some breakfast. Just as I turned on the car we could see eyes staring back at us. There were hundreds of rabbits; perhaps they had been drinking out of the canal. Soon they scattered away from the car. As we drove along the canal back to the road the rabbits hopped and ran from us At one point it looked like a moving sea of rabbits blanketing the road. Safely in Bishop, we ate breakfast before talking about where to go that day. Yumi was there for the ride and was up for anything. I realized that while she didn’t care one bit about fishing, she did want to see the scenery. I also wanted her to have fun, but also for me not to stress out. I chose to hit the old tried-and-
true spots that I knew well. Also, I picked places that were easy to get to and offered the highest chance of success. Schat’s, the area’s famous bakery, caught her eye as we drove through town and I promised to get her breakfast there the next day since it was packed by that time. The local bait shop had opened, so I bought some worms and crickets. This was the first time Yumi had heard that crickets could be used for bait, which piqued her interest. Her enthusiasm quickly faded once she actually saw how many I was getting and how much noise they made – even more so when it was too cold for them in the car overnight, so they had to come into the room with us. She didn’t even want to see the worms – not even the container.
Sawa purchased some crickets for bait, but the trout weren’t interested, so they became roommates of he and Yumi that night at their hotel. (LANCE SAWA)
TIME TO FISH
We headed west out of town toward North Lake. The drive up the mountains was wonderful, even if we had missed the turning of the leaves. The colors and leaves make the drive memorable. But getting to the North Lake parking lot is a bit scary – to say the least – if you are not used to it. Rather than scare my future wife, I decided to stay by the bridge over Middle Fork Bishop Creek. It seemed perfect for her to walk around enjoying nature while I fished the waters there. The bait I had bought didn’t seem to be working, so I tried a fly with a bubble float, which landed me my first trout of the trip. The fish promptly went back into the water before too long; this surprised Yumi but I had lip-hooked it and the hook came right out. This went on for a while until lunchtime rolled around. We went back down the mountain to get a hotel for the night. We unloaded the car and then ate, but there was just enough time to hit one more spot close by. Just east of Bishop is a group of ponds that hold bass, bluegill and trout. I used the crickets to show Yumi that they indeed could catch fish, and quickly
Still, a fly and bubble rig did the trick, and Lance picked up his first trout of the trip. (LANCE SAWA)
I hooked a few bluegill through the weeds and tule reeds. She watched as the crickets would float on the water but then disappear as a fish would suck them in. This was also the first time she had seen a bluegill. After a day that started at midnight we skipped dinner and went straight to bed early that night, sharing the accommodations with my bait.
ONE LAST CAST Early the next morning I went to get
A trip to a local pond meant some more chances to fish, and even catch a few bluegill. (LANCE SAWA)
fresh baked bread for breakfast before waking Yumi up. Hitting Schat’s Bakkery became a bit of a tradition that we had to get at least once during our trips to Bishop – most of the time right before we left so that we could snack on it on the ride home. Slowly, we packed up the car and made our way out of town on Highway 395 for the return to the Southland. But I still had some bait left and knew of one more quick place we could stop at. It was an easy drive
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Yumi and Lance like to reminisce about their first trip together to the Eastern Sierra. “I was excited to show her around an area that I grew up fishing,” he writes. (LANCE SAWA)
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straight off 395 and down the road straight to the Owens River, where we could park right next to the water and fish. It is a popular spot and gets fished a lot, so I was not expecting to catch much of anything. Boy, was I in for a surprise! It seemed that the fish were in a frenzy. Everything I threw into the water got a bite and I quickly used all the extra bait I had. Worms and crickets were gone in a flash. Old PowerBait that barely stayed on the hook was eaten happily. Every scrap of leftover anything got thrown to those fish, and it all got bit. In the end I was using lures until it was time to leave. It was a great, short trip full of memories and something I think about frequently as the Eastern Sierra prepares for the trout opener this month. And to this day, 17 years later and living on the other side of the Pacific in Japan, Yumi and I still talk about that morning with all those rabbits. CS
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FISHING
‘LAND OF FIRE AND ICE RAINBOWS’ THREE LASSEN VOLCANIC NAT’L PARK LAKES ARE TERRIFIC FOR TROUT, FROM ICE-OUT INTO SUMMER By Art Isberg
D
awn was just a grey halo behind tall pines when my adult son Craig and I pushed our small skiff into the icy waters of Manzanita Lake. This modest-sized body of water has graced picture postcards and wall calendars too numerous to count. The lake sits at 5,000 feet and just a stone’s throw from the entrance station to Lassen Volcanic National Park in Northeastern California. It’s located off Highway 44 and a 57-mile drive east from Redding. Behind and above the
lake looms snow-capped Lassen Peak (10,457 feet), a stunning backdrop still considered an active volcano and which last erupted from 1914 to ’17. The national park has many waters that offer productive fishing for both rainbow trout and brown trout. For this piece I’m concentrating on three lakes. Knowing when, where and with what to tempt fish into rod-bending battles is the key to great fishing.
MANZANITA LAKE Manzanita is classified by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife as “blue-ribbon” trout water
– catch and release only – and for good reason. Both Craig and I have taken rainbows and browns up to 4½ pounds from its crystal-clear waters. A large campground for both tent campers and recreational vehicles sits just back of the lake. A small general grocery store with basic necessities fronts the campgrounds. When we fished there, trout were just beginning to dimple the lake surface as we pushed off. I got on the oars and quietly rowed out within casting distance of risers. This kind of timing is one of the first important keys to success – not only on Manzanita but
Author Art Isberg casts lures to spring rainbow and brown trout on Lassen Volcanic National Park’s Manzanita Lake right after ice-out. Fishing now can be spectacular in this region of Northeast California as spring beckons. (ART ISBERG) calsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2021 California Sportsman
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FISHING
Flashy spoons and spinners like those in this selection will take big rainbow trout. When angling at Manzanita Lake, designated as a catch-and-release fishery, be sure to remove the trebles of any lures you use and replace them with a single barbless hook. (ART ISBERG)
other trout lakes in the park. Feeding fish are most active from first good light until an hour after sun is on the water, and again from late afternoon until sundown. These two times are when you will experience most hookups. During midday, trout tend to move off shallows that rim the lake and work into deeper water. Now, you’ll want to sink your offering to reach them and work it at a slower retrieve to spark thumping strikes. Another important time to fish the lake is in early spring when ice-out first takes place. We often wade lake shallows or use the skiff to reach ice shelves where fish hold up. After living under the ice all winter long on reduced rations, trout are now aggressive and will offer savage strikes when the right kind of offerings are presented. A note about the use of our small
skiff: Regulations for lake fishing inside park boundaries state that only nonmotorized watercraft such as small boats, inflatable rafts, float tubes or pontoon boats can be used. Not even electric motors are allowed, so prepare to do a little rowing. Manzanita and other lakes inside park boundaries see a lot of visiting fly rod aficionados casting thistledown of many varieties as they tempt trout to strike. Because no live or even dead fish baits are allowed, you must choose either fly fishing or lure fishing. On Manzanita, note that you can only use a single barbless hook with either method so that fish can be returned to the water unharmed. The catch-andrelease regs make it a great piece of water for truly big trout battles. Here is a modest list of the more popular flies that will take fish on Manzanita (and other local lakes): a
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Bouface Brown tied on a number 10 hook; Carpenter Ant on a number 14 or 16 hook; Damsel Nymph on a number 14 hook. Monroe Leech on a number 10 hook; and Parachute Adams on a number 14 or 16 hook. The Fly Shop in Redding can outfit and offer fly selections for any time of the year (800-669-3474; theflyshop .com; email: info@theflyshop.com). They’re well worth contacting. For the angler not into long rod fishing, a solid variety of lures and spinners will also take big Manzanita fish. Remember to replace the trebles that come with lures with a single barbless hook of large size. I like number 6 hooks and fishing with green-tinted 6-pound-test monofilament leader that disappears once wet. We have taken trout using 2-inch Needlefish in rainbow trout body finish; ½-ounce Krocodiles in silver or gold, and with
FISHING a number 6 hook; ¼-ounce Z-rays in frog body finish; ¼-ounce Kastmasters in trout body finish; and ½-ounce Wonder lures in gold and red stripe finish. Small Colorado spinners in tandem or singles of both chrome or gold finish with a number 6 hook are a perfect fit too.
BUTTE LAKE
Craig Isberg, the author’s son, shows off a large rainbow trout he hooked at Manzanita Lake. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has designated the lake as blue-ribbon trout water. (ART ISBERG/NATIONAL PARK SERVICE)
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Butte Lake, at 6,100 feet, and its adjoining campground are located 6 miles off Highway 44, on the road leading to Susanville. It sits in the northwest corner of the park and its beautiful waters are rimmed in blackrocked volcanic moraines that run down the lake’s edge. Butte also has an intriguing history. Starting in the 1980s, trout stocking in all park waters was ended. I fished Butte many times before this
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FISHING
Fly fishing is popular at Manzanita, Butte and Horseshoe Lakes, all located within the national park’s boundaries. Here are several popular trout patterns to try. (ART ISBERG)
prohibition and took large trout that, head to tail, would not fit inside a regular ice chest. Some of these fish that went to 4 pounds were tricked by trolling big flashers like Ford Fenders down deep and trailing 3 feet of 8-pound monofilament leader. The rig was topped off with a small flashing lure trailer or a large fly pattern like a black Woolly Worm. Those stocked rainbows had grown large and powerful over time in Butte’s waters. The fishing was fantastic. Because stocking ended in Butte, supposedly trout fishing is not viable today in the lake. But we beg to differ. Craig, fishing Butte several years ago with light line, hooked and battled a huge trout he estimated to be at least 24 to 28 inches long when he worked it close inshore. That rainbow took one look at his adversary and peeled off line on a sizzling run heading back out into the lake until it broke off. No trout in Butte Lake? I don’t think so. Obviously, some big fish still swim down deep in Butte’s waters and some have managed to spawn in a small creek at one end of the lake.
Unlike Manzanita, you can keep fish on Butte following state regulations. The lake also gives anglers a much larger selection of offerings to work with. Both artificial baits like flies and lures are common, but also worms, salmon eggs and PowerBait (no dead or live baits are legal here). Here’s a trick to fishing the three baits just mentioned, either from shore or a floating device: You want to get the bait down deep near bottom where fish are. Use a small teardrop sinker attached to 8-pound clear monofilament line, and then place the hook 3 feet above the sinker. The reason? Lake bottoms in many places have tall weeds and grass growth down deep. This means you want your bait up where cruising fish can see and take it – not lost in vegetation. Flashing lures and spinners, plus the aforementioned fly patterns – all can be used on Butte Lake. For shore-bound anglers, a good walking trail rims the lake on its southern and eastern edges.
HORSESHOE LAKE Horseshoe Lake sits at an elevation of 6,600 feet in the eastern part of
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the park and drains into Snag Lake via Grassy Creek. On a map, look northwest of Juniper Lake. Fishermen looking for a true wilderness experience should consider this lovely piece of backcountry water. There are no roads or campgrounds here; you must hike in. The trailhead begins at Juniper Lake’s picnic area. You can also camp at Juniper to hike in each day to fish Horseshoe. The climb is modest and the 2.8-mile walk is estimated at two hours one way. You will also leave the usual vacation crowds far behind. Concentrate on aquatic vegetation growing just offshore, where trout hold up in cover and then dart out to strike. Fly fishers should consider selecting Woolly Worms in black, olive or brown and on long-shanked number 3 hooks. The Woolly Bugger in black, red or purple is another good choice for summer fishing. At Horseshoe you can keep your catch under statewide regulations for trout. If you want to reach midlake water, you must pack in a float tube or a small inflatable rubber raft. Having that option can be well worth it when fish are feeding.
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FISHING Art Isberg caught this hefty rainbow at Butte Lake. The three park fisheries featured here offer some great fishing amid spectacular scenery in the quiet northeast corner of the state. (ART ISBERG)
For lure anglers, the ¼-ounce Dardevle in silver or rainbow trout finish is worth having in your vest. Iconic Kastmasters in ½-ounce chrome models with a bucktail trailer would be a second good selection. Heavier lures from half an ounce and up give you the ability to make longer casts with spinning gear from shore to reach feeders. Twin-bladed Super Dupers in either a frog or nickel/ redhead and fire/silver finish in ¼-ounce models and worked on slow retrieves are the right remedy for rainbows here.
BEAUTIFUL SETTING Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of the most unique and visually beautiful parks in the entire nation. From bubbling mud pots and hissing sulfur vents to snow-capped volcanic peaks, it’s a thrill to spend time trout fishing in this wild, unspoiled high country. It truly is a land of fire and ice rainbows. CS
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FISHING
HURRAY FOR HALIBUT
SOCAL SPRING ANGLERS CAN FIND PLENTY OF FLATFISH IN SHALLOW WATERS
By Capt. Bill Schaefer
T
he Pacific waters off Southern California are still a tad cold, but as they warm up local halibut will make their way into the shallows. The anglers who target them know it’s time to get ready to chase their favorite fish to catch and eat. Expect halibut to move into both the bays and shallow water along the beaches off the coast. Usually, the target depth is about 10 to 20 feet in bays and 20 to 80 feet in the ocean, but they can be found shallower and deeper.
WELCOMING ANGLERS OF ALL MEANS The great thing about halibut this time of year is the fact that they can be chased by so many different anglers: surf fishermen, float tubers and kayak anglers; plus all boaters, from private to sport boats. Most of us don’t realize that halibut are a schooling fish that gather together in large numbers during the spawn. That is why when fishing them during this time of the season, you’ll often catch many in one small area. If you catch one or two, don’t give up on that area; give the others a chance to bite. You may get a big one to hit your lure or bait, and it’s not unusual to bring one up with another following it, like other fish will do.
CHANGING IT UP Since there are so many ways to fish for halibut – and that’s a good thing – it should help any angler who hasn’t really targeted them before adapt.
Ken Yasuda shows off one of the prizes SoCal anglers live for: a barn door-sized flatfish. The arrival of spring and warmer water means many of these California halibut will head into shallow waters off the coast. (BILL SCHAEFER) calsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2021 California Sportsman
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You can even just go fishing for bass and take the bonus halibut since there are many more than usual in the water. Bay fishermen can score fish on various swimbaits or curly tailed grubs. Surf anglers in the bay or ocean tend to go with bait, including clams, ghost shrimp, anchovies, sardines and even mackerel. Swimbaits will also do well in the Author Bill Schaefer’s son Bricen shows off his skills at landing a nice bay halibut. Plenty of different methods and techniques can score one of these fish, which provide great table fare. (BILL SCHAEFER)
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bays and ocean, and they usually attract larger fish. MC Swimbaits, Big Hammer, Reebs Lures and Reyes Swimbaits all make a large variety of shapes and color to experiment with. You can also do well in the bay trolling crankbaits or stickbaits, like a Rebel in chrome with a black back, as they look just like an anchovy. Tackle is whatever you feel you need. Some like light tackle and
FISHING a hook appropriate to the bait you’re using – whether live or dead. Hooks vary by fisherman, but I like the new Mustad Ultra Point circle hooks. I have found that there is more chance of hitting the corner of the halibut’s mouth with these and less chance of getting bit off. The bounce-ball technique can be used from shallow to deep waters and will vary slightly with each angler’s preferences. The main line off the rod is tied to a three-way swivel. Off one of the other loops of the swivel, tie a leader of slightly lighter line than the main line. If you get snagged, you only want to lose the weight. Tie that line to a ½- to 2-pound cannonball. This weight can be smaller when fishing in real shallow waters or inside the bays. To the last loop, tie a 2- to 4-foot leader, which you will then tie to a flasher/attractor. Favorite flashers can vary from the old classic Ford Fenders to a Krocodile spoon with the hook removed. On the other side of the flasher, tie a 2- to 4-foot leader to the bait.
BAIT TALK
Another member of the Schaefer family – the author’s brother Bud – used a small skiff and light tackle to catch this halibut. Flattie fishing can be so much fun this time of year. (BILL SCHAEFER)
others move to medium and heavy gear when targeting the larger fish.
HOW TO FISH HALIBUT Heading out of the bay and starting to fish from just outside the backside of the surf to deeper waters, other techniques will come into play. For bait, drift live bait on rigs such as the classic bait rig, which features a barrel sinker and a leader. You can also go with the dropper loop or reverse dropper loop, and also via
slow trolling with a bounce-ball rig. All these setups can be scaled to the area and depth you’re fishing and can be used in the bays as well. The standard barrel sinker bait rig is simple and can work for most situations inside or outside the bay. Run your main line through a barrel sinker, with the size depending on depth, wind and drift. Then tie your main line to a swivel. On the other side of the swivel tie on a 2- to 4-footlong fluorocarbon leader rigged with
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Baits for bounce-balling can vary as well. Some anglers like to just run a live sardine or smelt, but as mentioned, they will also go to a mackerel. Again, try a circle hook to improve your odds when hooked up. Some fishermen will run a hoochie skirt over the head of the bait or on its own. Squid can work well too. Even Rebel stickbaits can be towed behind this rig. The weight stirs up the bottom and attracts the fish to the baits.
UBIQUITOUS FISH From the beaches and bays off the Southland to the Mexican border and beyond, large California halibut have been taken on a regular basis. The IGFA all-tackle record stands at 67.5 pounds. These big guys are called “barn doors.” All of these techniques can be used year-round. It’s now up to you to get out there and catch more halibut in 2021! CS
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F
HUNTING
FROM FIELD...
BE AGGRESSIVE FOR GOBBLERS ADAPTING TO LATE-SEASON TURKEY BEHAVIOR WILL HELP YOU BAG A TOM By Scott Haugen
W
ith spring turkey season in full swing, don’t be afraid to get aggressive. Capitalize on weather changes and bird behavior, and the odds of success can swing in your favor. Here are some options to consider.
LONE HEN DECOY
Why use a mating hen decoy toward the end of the breeding season? The answer is pretty straightforward. The number one killer of wild turkeys is rainy, cold weather in the spring. The most vulnerable time of a turkey’s life is its first 10 days. The average peak of the turkey breeding season runs from midMarch to mid-April. In higher elevations the breeding season can be delayed a week or two – even more depending on the amount of snow, cold temperatures and a lack of food. During a single mating session with one tom, up to 50 eggs are capable of developing inside a hen. When her body says it’s time to start laying, the hen will build a nest and lay one egg every 24 to 32 hours. The average size clutch is 11 to 12 eggs. The hen waits until the final eggs are laid prior to incubating the clutch, which hatches 28 days later.
Author Scott Haugen has been hunting turkeys throughout the West for over three decades, and credits much of his success to hard work and paying attention to details. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
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HUNTING
... TO FIRE
Smokey rubs or Indian spices can create tangy flavors for your big game meat. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)
SPICY WAY TO KICK UP BIG GAME MEAT By Tiffany Haugen
SMOKEY BARBECUE MEAT RUB
1/3 cup plain yogurt
N
2 tablespoons smoked sweet paprika 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 tablespoon sea salt 1 tablespoon cumin 1 tablespoon chili powder 3 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional) If marinating meat longer than 30 minutes, always refrigerate. This is a super flavorful, sweet, smokey Southwestern rub that’s great cooked on the grill or fried up in a skillet for a hot and fast meal.
Salt and pepper to taste ½ cup fresh chopped cilantro Lemon or lime for garnish In a large skillet, caramelize onion in butter on medium heat, about five to 10 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, bay leaves and peppers and continue to sauté three to five minutes. Add tomatoes and increase heat, stirring until any liquid is evaporated. Add ground meat and continue to sauté until meat is browned. Sprinkle garam masala and turmeric on meat and continue to cook for one to two minutes. Add yogurt and remove from heat. Stir in cilantro and serve over rice or noodles with a squeeze of lemon or lime. Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany Haugen's popular book, Cooking Big Game, send a check for $20 to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489, or visit scotthaugen.com for this and other titles.
ow is a great time to go through the freezer and make sure all your big game meat from last season doesn’t get neglected. Remember, when cooking with frozen big game meat, thaw it slowly by taking it out of the freezer and thawing it in the refrigerator. Be sure to plan ahead. While there are countless ways to cook big game from the freezer, give these two simple recipes a try. Everyone in our family loves these dishes, and I never tire of making them.
BIG GAME MEAT KEEMA Don’t be scared! Keema just means “minced meat.” Although Indian spices are used here, this recipe can be adapted to any taste. 1 pound ground game meat 3 tablespoons butter One large onion, minced 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger Three bay leaves One to two small green chili peppers 1 cup diced tomatoes 2 teaspoons garam masala 1 teaspoon turmeric
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HUNTING Turkey hunters are defying nature by trying to call a tom to them, which is why realistic decoys like this Dave Smith Decoys Mating Hen can make a big difference in getting toms to commit, as this one did. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
If a brood dies early in the spring, the hen can actually renest without having to breed. But if she loses two clutches – or one perishes later in the spring – she’ll have to breed again in order to lay more eggs. Breeding can take place all the way into August if a hen repeatedly loses broods. This is why a mating hen decoy can be effective later in the season.
DIVERSIFY YOUR CALLS One thing I’ve learned about turkey calls in my more than 30 years of hunting these birds is the greater the variety of calls in my vest, the greater the chance of calling in a tom, especially as the season progresses. To maximize the sounds a turkey hunter can deliver, utilize multiple calls. As the season progresses you may not see as many toms. This is because most of the breeding is complete and toms are back to feeding and even forming bachelor flocks. Once I find a tom late in the season I’ll stick with it as long as I can, persistently calling in an effort to entice it. It’s not uncommon for me to sit in one spot and use my two box calls,
over a dozen diaphragm calls, three slates with 15 strikers – which is like having 45 different sounds – and a gobbler or push button call. If I know the tom is within earshot, I might stay put for three hours or more. The objective is to find what sound the hung-up tom likes. I don’t know how many times I’ve called for two or three hours in this situation – from one spot – and finally got a finicky tom to approach. Patience and persistence are key in these situations. Before calling, be sure to arrange all your calls so they can be easily reached without too much movement. If hunting open country, setting up a ground blind might be wise. Don’t be in a rush, as loud, aggressive calling isn’t the goal; rather, it’s to hit that sweet note a tom likes and that is achieved through continual effort. Be more patient as the season progresses and do more patterning of birds at this time. Set up and call based on toms’ movements. You can call in more toms this time of year by using a variety of sounds, but again, just be careful not to call as aggressively as early in the season.
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TACKLING BIG SPACES In big open spaces, which are typical throughout much of California’s turkey country, wind, weather and topography can all impact how far sounds travel. Being aware of how these conditions can affect your calling – even your setup – is important. Personally, I like going high and letting loose with some aggressive cuts and cackles to locate toms in the morning. I also like setting decoys in the open, so toms can see them from a long way. These high-elevation birds are usually up early. I want to go in aggressively in hopes of catching their attention right away – before they find a wandering hen or go to feeding. You can’t get too loud when it’s raining, windy or your sounds have to penetrate thick forest and brushy draws. Sometimes, when toms answer back on windy days or in thick cover, it sounds like they’re a mile away. Instead, they’re barely 100 yards off. I’ve noticed a number of these in high country – often solo toms – to be quiet and elusive. It seems the thicker the brush, the more silent the birds are, and that could have to do with high predator numbers. A lot of times toms will gobble one time half a mile or more away, and then go silent. The next thing you know, they’re in your lap while searching for the hen they heard calling. Covering ground on foot, mountain bike, ATV, even horseback, are great ways to locate turkeys and prime habitat to hunt. And don’t overlook quality binoculars and a spotting scope, which are both valued tools of the avid turkey hunter. Between the ever-changing weather and big country, covering ground and applying different approaches can result in more tags being filled as the season progresses. CS Ns 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 on Instagram and Facebook.
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HUNTING
BEWARE STOMACH TWIST, IT’S FOR REAL!
Two months after stomach twist surgery, Kona, author Scott Haugen’s pudelpointer, was back in the field, where he enjoyed dozens of hunts throughout this past winter. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
By Scott Haugen
W
“
e have five minutes to decide if we’re going to have them operate or put him down!” Words I’ll never forget, coming from my wife on the telephone last September.
IT WAS A hellacious time, as a few hours prior we’d just returned to our home after having been evacuated for 11 days due to wildfires raging in our area. After unpacking what few belongings we grabbed on our way out the door, it was time to feed the dogs. Kona, our 3-year-old, 62-pound pudelpointer, ate as he normally does; chewing every bite, taking his time. But halfway through dinner, Kona stopped chewing. His ears drooped and he hunched over. I tried
comforting him by rubbing his ears, which he normally welcomes, but he was having nothing of it. Then Kona slowly hobbled into the yard and tried throwing up, but nothing would come up. His stomach felt tight to the touch. A few minutes later he slowly walked 20 yards further into a field, one where we often exercise and train. He laid down, which he never does, and again tried throwing up, with no success. Kona started to moan, which he also never does, and I could see his stomach expanding and getting tighter. He followed me to the house, and by this time my wife Tiffany saw what was happening and had the truck started. “I’m taking him to the vet hospital,” she said. Our regular vet was closed due to the fires still burning out of control near them and when Tiffany called
me on the phone, she was at the office of the veterinary surgeon. Kona was in his prime, the most fit, best all-around dog I’ve ever hunted with anywhere in the world. The estimated $6,000 cost of the surgery wasn’t a question, and minutes after Tiffany called, Kona was being prepped.
THE SURGEON TOLD Tiffany that Kona had suffered gastric torsion, or stomach twist. We’d never heard of this in dogs, only horses. But the more I talked to hunters around the country, the more I learned about stomach twist in dogs, and the more horror stories I heard. One breeder and trainer of Drahthaars I spoke with follows a strict feeding regimen specifically to prevent stomach twist, which includes feeding his dogs one time a day, at 8 p.m., and immediately putting them in their kennels for the night; he never feeds
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HUNTING them in the morning. Gastric torsion is often blamed on dogs rapidly eating, but Kona never was a fast eater. Through much research, a summary of what I learned about this hidden killer is that it’s more common in deepchested, narrow-waisted dogs, but also not uncommon in Labs. I spoke with multiple folks who lost Labs to this, and a buddy’s older Doberman pinscher died from it the same night that Kona had had surgery. I learned that gastric torsion is not hereditary, nor is it species-specific, or solely caused by eating fast. Bloating can also cause stomach twist to occur.
This might begin with a dog that’s simply nervous and breathing heavily, taking in too much air and causing the stomach to fill up. A stomach filled with air is a candidate for stomach twist. I have no doubt that Kona’s 11 days of moving and being around other dogs and stressed people during our fire evacuation is what led to his stress, thus a bloated stomach, and eventually stomach twist.
THERE’S NO WAY to prevent gastric torsion, and it can kill a dog within an hour. One hunter I talked to was duck hunting with his Lab. The dog retrieved a duck and hopped a small Gastric torsion hits fast, and a few minutes of delay in getting to a vet can mean life or death. Fortunately, Kona’s masters’ close observations of their dogs and quick action led to a successful surgery and recovery. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
ditch, but immediately doubled-up in pain. The man wasted no time getting to the truck and heading to the vet, but in less than 30 minutes his dog died, a result of gastric torsion. The stories go on, and few end like Kona’s. Pay very close attention to your dog at all times, for no one knows it better than you. I watch my dogs eat every meal. I’m now more careful than ever of where I train and walk my dogs; I’m even leery of hunting them around other dogs. Watch to see if your dog is stressed and gulping air, which can lead to bloating. If they are drooling and no food is in front of them, it might be due to their stomach being twisted to the point they can’t swallow. Body signs that signal discomfort, along with drooping ears, sagging eyes, and a tight, bloated stomach, can be signs something is wrong with the digestive tract; I noticed these in Kona. Stomach twist is most likely to happen within two hours of feeding, so avoid running your dog for two hours after it eats. If your dog eats too fast, try a specialized bowl to slow it down. Above all else, notice if your dog is stressed and remove it from the situation before it escalates, if possible. KONA’S SURGERY WENT great. The surgeon opened up his stomach, removed the contents, thoroughly cleansed it, sewed it closed, then stapled it to his abdominal wall with the hopes it won’t happen again. But the situation was so scary, we’re not taking any chances. Two weeks after Kona’s surgery, Tiffany and I were offered jobs in remote Alaska. We declined because the nearest vet was 800 miles away, accessible only by bush plane. Our lives changed after Kona’s brush with death, for as the surgeon told us, “Five minutes later and Kona wouldn’t have made it.” CS Editor’s note: To watch Scott Haugen’s series of puppy training videos, visit scotthaugen .com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.
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