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Sportsman

California Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource

Volume 10 • Issue 8 PUBLISHER James R. Baker GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott EDITOR Chris Cocoles CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Brittany Boddington LEAD WRITER Tim E. Hovey CONTRIBUTORS Tim Davis, Mark Fong, Joanna Gilkeson, Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Todd Kline, Russell Kuhlman, Nancy Rodriguez, Bill Schaefer, Mike Stevens, Amy C. Witt SALES MANAGER Katie Higgins ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Rick D’Alessandro, Mamie Griffin, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold PRODUCTION MANAGER Sonjia Kells DESIGNERS Kayla Mehring, Sam Rockwell, Jake Weipert 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 All signs are pointing towards continued productivity for Southern California yellowtail fishing throughout this month, provided the arrival of tuna doesn’t slow it down. But take advantage while you can. (JEFF KING) MEDIA INC PUBLISHING GROUP CALIFORNIA OFFICE 4517 District Blvd. • Bakersfield, CA 93313 (661) 381-7533 WASHINGTON OFFICE P.O. Box 24365 • Seattle, WA 98124-0365 14240 Interurban Ave. S., Suite 190 Tukwila, WA 98168 OREGON OFFICE 8116 SW Durham Rd • Tigard, OR 97224 (206) 382-9220 • (800) 332-1736 • Fax (206) 382-9437 media@media-inc.com • www.media-inc.com

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CONTENTS

VOLUME 10 • ISSUE 8

FEATURES 63

GEAR UP FOR SALMON RUNS We’re closing in on various salmon fishing seasons throughout Northern California. That’s usually our Field to Fire team of Scott and Tiffany Haugen’s cue to get their cured eggs, plugs and the rest of their gear ready for the run. As Scott preps the boat, ties up leaders and builds tool trays, Tiffany offers a creamy casserole to make with your leftover fish!

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VALLEY FISHING FEVER This isn’t breaking news, but summer in the San Joaquin Valley means soaring temperatures that regularly reach the triple digits. But May and into June usually still features fishable weather and some great opportunities from Fresno south to Bakersfield. Amy Witt shares some of her home area’s best options for latespring anglers.

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SITTING ON THE ROCKS OF THE BAY Sometimes, you just have to go back to school – or at least reminisce about fishing excursions with old classmates. That’s what Tim Hovey remembers about mixing research and fishing the bays that dot the Southern California coastline. A chance to walk the rocky shorelines around Long Beach and target three saltwater bass species with an old friend made for a great turn-backthe-clock moment for Hovey.

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BIG BASS BOOGIE Bill Schaefer is as familiar as anyone with San Diego County lakes, many of which are teeming with trophysize bass. So take Schaefer’s advice when he suggests that this could be a fantastic spring for landing a lunker largemouth. Check out his tips for scoring that 10-plus-pound fish of a lifetime.

131

(NANCY RODRIGUEZ)

AUDREY’S FIRST GOBBLER

Audrey is a Type 1 diabetic who had some setbacks before she was ready to go on a turkey hunt with her Aunt Nancy and her Uncle Joe Rodriguez. It turned out to be an emotional hunt for everyone involved, including Nancy, who writes about Audrey’s big moment and how the two women celebrated the harvest.

DEPARTMENTS

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

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37

53 55 59 119

The Editor’s Note Protecting Wild California: Restoring Southern California’s steelhead (part II of II) Outdoor calendar Adventures of Todd Kline: Cast and blast in Texas Photo contest winners She Hunts: Hunting safari checklist

79 105 109 145

Q&A with longtime conservationist Doug Grann of Wildlife Forever Get snake-aware for outdoor trips Yellowtail bite remains hot When Sierra trout behave strangely Smart bullet choices for big game hunting

CALIFORNIA SPORTSMAN GOES DIGITAL! Read California Sportsman on your desktop or mobile device.

Only $1.89 an issue. Go to www.calsportsmanmag.com/digital California Sportsman is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 14240 Interurban Avenue South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Send address changes to California Sportsman, PO Box 24365, Seattle, WA 98124. Annual subscriptions are $29.95 (12 issues), 2-year subscription are $39.95 (24 issues). Send check or money order to Media Index Publishing Group, or call (206) 382-9220 with VISA or M/C. Back issues are available at Media Index Publishing Group offices at the cost of $5 plus shipping. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card.

Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 2016 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.

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THEEDITOR’SNOTE

A

fter editing Mike Stevens’ monthly Eastern Sierra trout report (page 109) about his Rapala casting session in a stream taking a strange turn with fish jumping seconds after his lure hitting the water, we exchanged emails.

“That’s some fascinating stuff,” I wrote.

“That’s some wild-ass #&$% I’ve wanted to write about for some time,” Stevens replied.

I can only remember a handful of times when I saw similar behavior from trout. I fished frequently at San Francisco’s Lake Merced – mostly because I could get there in about 15 minutes from home. Almost every time I rigged my rod with the same set-up: sliding sinker atop a swivel, then a short leader and a No. 10 hook, usually tipped with a marshmallow and salmon egg or a hunk of PowerBait.

Yet every once in a while, as anglers dotted the shoreline at Merced, I would see something strange. Trout would jump all around the fishing lines sunken off the shore. At first, we would lift an eyebrow after it happened a couple times. When it became a pattern, I – and seemingly everyone else at the lake – would reel in, take off the sinker and replace with it a bobber to keep the bait near the surface.

Desperate times call for desperate tactics and I remember catching a couple trout this way on those days when the fish

Mike Stevens’ encounter with trout rising to strike a Floating Rapala as it hit the water conjured up the editor’s memories of occasional similarly strange behavior from rainbows back in the day. (MIKE STEVENS) felt like jumping, but most days whatever planted rainbows gobbled up my bait did so at the bottom.

Stevens has a theory about why the trout on that Sierra creek acted the way they did, but I’m not smart enough to understand why Lake Merced fish would only sporadically get out of their lanes and drive us anglers crazy. But considering most of the time fishing was slow and/or predictable, it’s good to swing at a knuckleball once in a while. -Chris Cocoles

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PROTECTING

WILD CALIFORNIA

CAN THE SOUTH’S STEELHEAD RISE AGAIN?

Part II of II

FEDS, OTHERS TEAM UP TO BRING BACK A DYING BREED

By Joanna Gilkeson

S

imilar to the famous steelhead runs of the Pacific Northwest, tens of thousands of these silvery fish once graced the streams and rivers of Southern California.

Historic records reveal abundant numbers of steelhead once migrated from the Pacific to Southern California’s coastal waterways in search of spawning grounds. Their presence is memorialized in places like Steelhead Park, which sits along the Los Angeles River near Dodger Stadium. In the early 1900s, anglers came here in hopes of filling their creel with the formidable fish.

Images from the early 20th century also portray successful steelhead fishing in Orange County at San Juan Creek, and in San Diego County in lower San Mateo Creek and lower Santa Margarita River.

Today, steelhead are nearly nonexistent in Southern California – a strikingly different picture than the one painted by historic accounts.

“Southern California steelhead are the most endangered of all steelhead in California,” says Mark Capelli, Southern California Steelhead Recovery Coordinator for the National Marine Fisheries Service, the primary agency responsible for management of this endangered species, and the resident expert.

But he also believes that bringing them back is possible.

A CHANGING LANDSCAPE The Southern California steelhead population began to decline in the late1940s due mainly to man-made landscape modifications. Migration routes to spawning grounds were increasingly blocked by dams and channelized for

Steelhead were once a big part of the Southern California fishing scene, just as they remain today on the north coast. And while these days steelies are very hard to find in the Southland’s streams, several agencies and conservationists continue to fight to bring back some semblance of the past.

(USFWS/MARK CAPELLI)

flood control. Rivers were modified for recreation and more and more water was diverted to satisfy an exploding human population.

The romantic stories of steelhead fishing here faded as quietly as the fish disappeared from coastal streams.

California steelhead populations from the Santa Maria River in Santa Barbara County to Malibu Creek in Los Angeles County were listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act in 1997, mainly due to widespread habitat loss and fragmentation.

Steelhead populations south of Malibu Creek were not included in the listing at that time due to a lack of recent observations of steelhead in the area.

But forthcoming surveys and observations made clear that small numbers of steelhead continued to occupy South-

ern California’s coastal streams in an attempt to migrate.

In 2002, the endangered Southern California’s steelhead range was extended from Malibu Creek to the U.S./ Mexico border. Today, fewer than 500 steelhead return to Southern California coastal watersheds to spawn, yet Capelli is optimistic about the species’ future.

“Recovery of a species in such a

calsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2018 California Sportsman

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PROTECTING

WILD CALIFORNIA

Q&A WITH A STEELHEAD BIOLOGIST Restoring steelhead in a region made famous by Disneyland and Hollywood will take more and longer than a Screen Writers Guild miracle ending.

“We’re not trying to get back to where it was. It would be virtually impossible to restore our estuaries and watersheds to that stage,” says biologist Clark Winchell, conservation partnerships program division chief for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the point man for the steelhead project. “It’s how we can adapt them in their current state to hopefully get to the ultimate goal of recovering steelhead.”

“I’ll be dead before they’re flowing up here (again),” he adds.

But that hasn’t stopped Winchell from working tirelessly on this project.

We caught up with him recently for more background on this arduous task.

Chris Cocoles Can you provide a little perspective on how steelhead used to be common running through Southern California rivers and streams?

Clark Winchell Going back to World War II and prior, steelheading down here was fairly common. People relied on them both for food and recreational purposes. Most likely they were never as abundant or robust as in Northern California. Our populations had always been smaller, just because our watersheds are smaller. Less water means less area for fish.

CC I grew up in the Bay Area and Northern California but also lived in Southern California, so I’ve always figured the southern part of the state wasn’t an ideal habitat for steelhead. But I would be wrong about that. Was it a great habitat back then?

CW Absolutely. When the coastal railroad systems were placed in here along with Highway 1 – prior to (Interstate 5’s construction) – we had a lot of filling in

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Clark Winchell (left, with conservationist George Sutherland) says it’s important to be realistic but also optimistic that steelhead can successfully migrate to Southern California watersheds. “We’re not idealistic and trying to get things back to where they were,” he says. “But we’re hopeful that we can do some restoration to enhance the entire area.” (JOANNA GILKESON/USFWS)

our lagoons and estuaries, which constricted the mouths, and that caused the estuaries to close off. And you couple that with development inland, which increased sedimentation into our watersheds, now you’ve totally altered the hydrology in the system. And these mouths began to close off and the spawning areas became more and more limited. But 100 years ago, these were very open, different areas.

If you go up into Holy Jim (Creek), which is one of the areas that were important for steelhead up until World War II, that area had all been taken over by fig trees that were planted up there.

And they’re actually choking out the watershed there. So our watersheds have drastically changed.

CC So do you think there’s a hope for a resurgence and rebirth for these fish?

CW I think there’s hope; if there wasn’t hope, then why would we be doing this? We’re not idealistic and trying to get things back to where they were.

But we’re hopeful that we can do some restoration to enhance the entire area.

And by doing that we say that also has benefits to us in Southern California’s urbanized areas. Those benefits could be for better watershed management, recharging of our aquifers, less erosion, opening up our estuary and lagoon mouths for more circulation.

20 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

CC Are there any specific creeks or rivers that are showing signs of hope of being restored with fish coming back?

CW I’m going to preface this with, depending on who you ask you might get a different answer. Mine would be the San Juan (Orange County) and San Mateo (border of Orange and San Diego Counties) Creeks. The San Mateo has very high potential because most of the San Mateo watershed resides within federal property in the Cleveland National Forest and Camp Pendleton (U.S. Marine Corps base). And Camp Pendleton does a tremendous job of managing their groundwater and its water resources, and in working with their federal partners, primarily USGS, to eliminate and eradicate invasive species such as bass and catfish and crayfish and bullfrogs. They’ve been doing stellar work for protection.

San Juan is an altered watershed, no question about it; you go through the city of San Clemente and the development that’s been there. You do have issues of urban runoff and sheet erosion.

But you also get into the Cleveland National Forest, which has been doing a lot of good work there, primarily in replacing stream crossings and removing fish barriers. And in the upper watershed what they are starting to do is restore the proper hydrological flow. And what that’s going to do is stabilize the stream bank and recreate your ponding

calsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2018 California Sportsman

21

and pooling situations that these fish look for.

CC You were quoted in the story as saying this project will be 50- or 60-year time frame before these watersheds will be able to fully support steelhead.

How important is the next generation to be involved once your work is done?

CW And I think that’s where the (South Coast Steelhead Coalition) and partnerships and getting the word out for some common goals (are critical). In essence, it’s institutionalizing this. CalTrout and Trout Unlimited have placed a tremendous amount of effort in the last three years down here, and (Dr.) Sandi Jacobson’s led that. Those are the types of efforts we need. And I think the coalition really represents positive densely populated area is one of the most ambitious recovery efforts ever undertaken, but the fish’s natural resilience provides reason for hope. This fish has evolved under the diverse, sometimes hostile, conditions of Southern California, and has continued to occupy these watersheds for millennium; they are an integral part of the ecology, and an important part the region’s natural heritage,” Capelli said.

partnerships among fly casting clubs, NGOs, the Audobon Society and some of the preserve landholdings down here like Star Ranch (in Orange County’s Trabuco County). Water in Southern California is controversial, so I think you need to approach the situation more as a collaborative effort.

CC What’s a dream scenario for you over say the next 25 years in terms of where we’re at by then?

CW In 25 years it would be nice to see one or two of these watersheds in a position where we’re having healthy water flow through it; where we have high public involvement and we’ve created a few areas upstream where the fish can spawn and mature until they go out into the ocean. And I think that’s feasible. CS Recovery of this magnitude requires patience, diligence, and optimism. Luckily for the steelhead, Capelli and Winchell, and a host of scientists, anglers, tribes and agencies, have united under the banner of the South Coast Steelhead Coalition to recover the species.

But years before the coalition came to fruition, a man named George Sutherland was championing the cause.

AN EARLY STEELHEAD ADVOCATE STARTING SOMEWHERE Clark Winchell, conservation partnerships program division chief and steelhead recovery lead biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Southern California, knows recovery is a long game and operates under the motto, “If you don’t start somewhere, you’ll never get there.”

In Winchell’s view, “Restoring steelhead to Southern California will be a long-term effort, probably 50 to 60 years before coastal watersheds are ready to support the steelhead again.

This is just the beginning.”

The longevity and scope of this project is due in part to the mere geographic expanse of habitat needed to support migrating steelhead, and the complex waterworld of California. Steelhead rely on connected waters for migration; the route from coast to spawning grounds can be anywhere from 3 to 90 miles, depending on the watershed.

22 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

Sutherland, a trout enthusiast and angler from Idaho, moved to California in the mid-1980s. Sutherland proceeded to found the South Coast Chapter of Trout Unlimited near his home in Orange County.

Over the years, he helped kickstart a slew of local Trout Unlimited chapters in California and elsewhere, including San Diego, Sacramento, the Feather River, the Smith River, and two in Idaho.

He’s investigated Southern California steelhead by reading historic accounts, initiating conversations with locals about the historic presence of this fish, and searching for evidence of steelhead in coastal tributaries. His passion and knowledge would be key to the coalition, but he didn’t know it yet.

“I wanted to learn more about trout and steelhead, so I ran an ad in a San Clemente newspaper. It read, ‘Help Needed: Looking for Information on

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PROTECTING

WILD CALIFORNIA

A 24-inch steelhead fins in Maria Ygnacio Creek in Santa Barbara County, a rare sight this far south in California. Back in the day, anglers caught steelhead in the heart of Los Angeles, including near the modern-day site of Dodger Stadium around the turn of the 20th century and in places like the Ventura River. (MARK CAPELLI)

History of Steelhead in San Mateo Creek,’” Sutherland said.

“A man named John Waters called me. He was a steelhead fisherman and showed me old photos of steelhead in San Mateo. It was really unbelievable and I knew I was right about steelhead in Southern California.”

This isn’t the only anecdote Sutherland has collected about steelhead in the Southland. Many people have approached him, eager to share memories

of early relatives fishing for the stock. This was the beginning of an unlikely conservation movement in an unlikely setting.

THE STEELHEAD COALITION Building on a foundation of knowledge collected by Sutherland and others, CalTrout founded the South Coast Steelhead Coalition in the early 2000s, with support from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The coalition was off to a good start but after a loss

24 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

of funding, its future looked uncertain.

In 2012, the coalition found its second wind when CalTrout received another grant from the state wildlife agency and eventually hired a new coordinator for the coalition, Dr. Sandi Jacobson, a geneticist and an avid fly fisher of 35 years.

The culmination of these moments and individuals led to a defining moment for steelhead recovery; it was a reenergized, community-centered coalition

calsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2018 California Sportsman

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PROTECTING

WILD CALIFORNIA aiming to help steelhead reclaim historic migratory routes in Southern California.

Jacobson’s drive for success is contagious, and she is as positive as she is clear about the coalition’s goals.

“We are implementing the Fisheries Service’s Recovery Plan, and their steelhead expert, Mark Capelli, provides insight as an active member of the coalition. We are committed to improving habitat and stream connectivity for steelhead. An effort of this scale takes time and people, and this group is filled with great people who are working to make a difference,” she said.

The National Marine Fisheries Service’s 2012 Southern California Steelhead Recovery Plan is foundational to the coalition’s strategy. It provides a description of the species’ biology, a watershed-by-watershed habitat assessment of threats to the species and a set of recovery actions to address threats.

Capelli, the main author, says it also

sets forth a strategy for monitoring the status of steelhead and recovery actions, as well as a research program to increase the understanding of the species’ ecology in the region “The coalition is focused on the four watersheds prioritized by the Fisheries Service’s Recovery Plan for Southern California steelhead: San Juan Creek, San Mateo Creek, Santa Margarita and the San Luis Rey. Each watershed has high potential for restoration, and comes with its own set of logistical challenges,” Jacobson said.

A PLAN FOR RECOVERY “Steelhead require multiple migration routes to reach spawning grounds,” Winchell said. “In Southern California there’s always the uncertainty of drought, and that’s one of the reasons we need to restore several watersheds simultaneously.”

“In the past, if one watershed didn’t have enough rainfall, the steelhead had other options along the coast. If we want

26 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

them to recover, they will need access to at least a couple spawning areas.”

The coalition has made progress in each of the four watersheds, with San Juan Creek leading the pack – from the coast to the divergence of San Juan and Trabuco Creeks, the lower reaches of this watershed meander through concrete and flow adjacent to busy roads and prime real estate in coastal Orange County. Beyond the divergence, Trabuco Creek is constrained by channelization and is home to two large fish barriers. Yet the upper portion of the watershed remains relatively pristine, even in the midst of the second most populous county in California.

“San Juan and Trabuco have high potential to once again becoming habitable for migratory fish. This is mainly because the headwaters of these creeks are within the boundaries of the Cleveland National Forest and have remained somewhat protected and untouched, which is unusual as most watersheds in California are highly modified,” Winchell said. “We

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PROTECTING

WILD CALIFORNIA have a head start here, so reconnecting this watershed is one of our top focuses.”

“Another reason for the priority of this watershed is due to what Sutherland calls the highlight of his career. In 2007, we found an expired male steelhead at the mouth of San Juan Creek, a mile or so up from the coast. It confirmed everything I had heard about steelhead in the area, and that this watershed can support steelhead. They want to use it, and we need to help them reach the headwaters.”

However, there are a few small barriers to entry before the upper watershed is fully connected once again. From the 1940s to the mid-1970s, Orange County constructed a series of small dams in the San Juan Creek watershed, within the Cleveland National Forest. Designed to retain water in summer for recreational swimming and fish stocking, they have not been maintained for years and impede fish from swimming upstream.

Winchell and Dr. Sandi Jacobson, a geneticist, survey the Santa Margarita River, one of four watersheds prioritized in the National Marine Fisheries Service’s Recovery Plan for Southern California steelhead. “Each watershed has high potential for restoration, and comes with its own set of logistical challenges,” Jacobson says. (CAROLYN LIEBERMAN/USFWS)

Kirsten Winter is a Forest Service biologist. Over the years, she’s thought a lot about these dams and their impact on the complex forest ecosystem.

“The life expectancy of these small dams is 50 years, and most of the dams in Trabuco Creek are well beyond their life expectancy. They may fail during times of high water, and cause unplanned releases of sediment or other

28 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

damage to the forest. We have determined that these structures must be removed to allow for fish passage and to restore stream health.”

In 2009, Cleveland NF embarked on a major fish passage project, with two major objectives: The first is replacement of concrete ford crossings with bridges to allow for unimpeded fish passage. The second is removal of 80 rock and mortar

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PROTECTING

WILD CALIFORNIA dams from Silverado, Holy Jim, Trabuco and San Juan Creeks. The long-term goal of these fish passage projects is restoration of connectivity in Trabuco and San Juan Creeks for steelhead. This fish passage project is also a priority by the coalition and the recovery plan. “Removing the barriers will allow the creek to reestablish its natural flow, benefiting the overall ecological integrity of the forest and creating the right conditions for steelhead migration in the future,” Winter said.

“In addition coalition members, the Federal Highways Administration, Orange County Parks, Caltrans, and the U.S. Marine Corps made this project possible.”

Winter emphasizes, “Large-scale ecosystem restoration is made possible by quality collaboration.”

Since 2014, 18 mortar dams in San Juan Creek watershed tributaries have been removed, restoring 2 miles of steelhead habitat.

Historic photos like this one of happy Ventura River estuary steelhead anglers from 1909 is enough motivation for the government agencies, conservationists and steelhead lovers. “If we keep at this, we’ll get it done,” says George Sutherland, “and it will make Southern California an even better and more beautiful place to live.” (MARK CAPELLI)

A WIN-WIN SOLUTION Winter said the removal has already made a difference. “Since the removal of these dams, we’ve noticed substantial improvements in the health of Trabuco

and Holy Jim Creeks,” she said. “About 60 dams still need to be removed, and these are targeted for removal over the next two to three years.”

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tion route within the national forest is the first step in fish recovery, but in order to reconnect 20 miles of stream from coast to headwaters, two significant barriers near Interstate 5, in the urban epicenter of Orange County, stand in the way.

According to Jacobson, habitat restoration in this heavily trafficked area is crucial to complete watershed connectivity, and it’s a complicated and costly effort that members of the coalition are currently working towards..

“There are two large bridges supported by concrete foundations where Interstate 5 and a railroad line cross the Trabuco Creek, about 5 miles up the coast,” Jacobson said, “and the bridges’ concrete foundations create completely impassable conditions for migrating fish. We’re working with partners, including Orange County, City of San Juan Capistrano and Caltrans to design a steelhead passage structure under both bridges. Once this project is complete, steelhead will have access to 15 miles of upstream habitat. This is about promoting resiliency in coastal areas through an ecosystem-level approach.”

The coalition believes that bringing steelhead back to Southern California is about more than the steelhead themselves. “These projects chart a path to integrate natural processes into managed landscapes,” said Jacobson, who adds that, “They create resource management solutions that support wildlife, secure water supply and enhance flood protection. This approach demonstrates that endangered species are not an inevitable consequence of development but that ecology and urban infrastructure can coexist.”

In the same vein, Sutherland offered one final thought: “Recovery actions for steelhead will bring positive impacts to coastal towns and residents. If we keep at this, we’ll get it done, and it will make Southern California an even better and more beautiful place to live.” CS Editor’s note: Joanna Gilkeson is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service public affairs specialist for the Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office, which gave permission to run this report. For more, go to fws.gov.

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MIXED BAG

A CAREER IN

CONSERVATION OUTGOING WILDLIFE FOREVER CEO REFLECTS ON 25-YEAR RUN, ‘CALL OF THE WILD’

By Chris Cocoles

I

n 1987, a group of conservationists started Wildlife Forever, a nonprofit dedicated, per its website, “To conserve America’s wildlife heritage through conservation education, preservation of habitat and management of fish and wildlife.”

Even the most optimistic of dreamers couldn’t have predicted such a successful venture. Doug Grann has been the president and CEO of Wildlife Forever and has been with the organization for 25 years. He recently announced he was stepping down as CEO. “It’s been an honor and a pleasure to work with Doug Grann. I have served on the board during Doug’s building of the organization and developing programs,” said Scott Grieve, Wildlife Forever’s chairman. “His tireless work on behalf of conservation and education is admired by everyone who knows him. We look forward to his continued leadership and new role as president of the board.”

“Wildlife Forever believes conservation education will ultimately determine the future of America’s fish and wildlife heritage. It is only through education and participation that we will pass on the stewardship of our natural resources to the next generation.”

Grann’s generation certainly has made its mark on the ongoing struggle to protect the nation’s natural resources as such factors as climate change and mining are points of contention.

“I have heard the ‘cry of the wild’ across this great land. I have heard the bugle of elk amid the foothills of the Western Plains,

Doug Grann served for 25 years with the nonprofit conservation organization Wildlife Forever, including a turn as president and CEO. He recently announced he was stepping down from that position and expects to enjoy more time fishing with his grandchildren and wife Karen. (DOUG GRANN/WILDLIFE FOREVER)

the shrill of a bald eagle along the banks of the mighty Mississippi; the roar of a brown bear on the windswept tundra of Kodiak; the cackle of a pheasant on a Midwest farm; the gobble of the wild turkey among eastern hardwoods; and the haunting cry of a sandhill crane on the Platte River,” Grann said. “I have been blessed to work for Wildlife Forever.”

We caught up with Grann to get his perspective on conservation as he

moves onto the next chapter.

Chris Cocoles Tell me about your experience at Wildlife Forever and after 25 years, why you decided to step away.

Doug Grann It has certainly been an honor to work for fish and wildlife conservation over the past 25 years at Wildlife Forever. Stewardship started early for me in Missouri. My family always enjoyed trout fishing at Bennett Springs and years lat-

calsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2018 California Sportsman

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MIXED BAG good work.”

The first thing I did was give all our money away. A nonprofit is not a bank. If you spend donated contributions on the mission, then members develop trust and will give more. Our old saying is “Spend it and they will give.” My first year at Wildlife Forever we gave away $400,000 and $800,000 in year two, followed by millions of dollars every year since.

Wildlife Forever has a 30-year heritage as a national nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to conserving America’s wildlife heritage through conservation education, preservation of habitat and the management of fish and wildlife. My responsibilities included the leadership of Wildlife Forever and management of staff and programs, plus creation and development of national campaigns.

Over the years we have had numerous national initiatives that have flourished. I was instrumental in the creation of the State Fish Art Contest, now 20 years old; the Master’s Walleye Circuit

er volunteering with local conservation groups followed. My first advocacy efforts involved securing signatures for the Missouri constitutional amendment “Design for Conservation” back in 1976.

It passed and I saw by working together we can make a difference.

Wildlife Forever was a dream come true. So why leave after 25 years? It is time to turn the leadership over to young blood with new ideas. But it is also time to take the grandkids fishing.

It is an opportunity to hunt and fish more often. Plus my wife Karen and I love being on the lake at sun-up and casting for bass.

CC How has Wildlife Forever evolved over the years?

DG Right from day one I gave money to fund small grassroots conservation challenge grants. When I started Wildlife Forever I had only done a couple of grants for a few thousand dollars. I thought, “Let’s help small groups do

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and World Walleye Championship; the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Alliance (TRCA); “Racing for Wildlife,” a NASCAR-based conservation effort; and the Clean Drain Dry Initiative, reaching over two billion recreational users.

During my tenure, Wildlife Forever received 60 awards and recognition honors. It makes me smile when thinking of all the conservation work accomplished, our many staff and partners around the country and the lasting results of helping ensure the future of fish and wildlife for our kids to enjoy.

I value our long-standing interactions with federal and state agencies, which validates our national objectives. I have made many friends over the years and experienced the wonders of the outdoors with dedicated individuals. Together we are reaching the American public – kids and adults – with conservation education. That has become the core value of Wildlife Forever, building stewardship through conservation education.

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MIXED BAG CC What was one of the most compelling and significant issues with invasive species that you’ve had to deal with during your tenure?

DG Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to our outdoor heritage today. A dozen years ago, a friend with the U.S. Forest Service asked if we could place an ad in sportsmen magazines about invasive species. I have to admit I was surprised. Invasive species? Well, we did it and I learned a lot. We labeled the ad, Wanted: Dead, Not Alive.

With that ad came a national program, the Clean Drain Dry Initiative.

Our focus has always been outreach to hunters, anglers, boaters and all recreational users in the battle to stop invasive species. Over the years, the campaign has successfully reached a targeted outdoors recreational audience with billions of impressions.

We created an extraordinary partnership of federal, state, Native American tribes, professional angling circuits,

NGOs, many lake associations and corporate partners; all are working together under the leadership of Wildlife Forever.

As a group of hunters and anglers, we have fostered communications and coordination through outreach and education among a diverse array of partners.

As for the biggest invasive species threat, I feel it is zebra mussels.

The curse is spreading across America and no cure is known. They affect my fishing, my boat and motor; plus they wreak havoc with gear. Keep in mind that invasive species differ by location, but all are huge threats.

artificial water sources in the state.

Unfortunately, over time the locations of these guzzlers had been lost due to budget cuts and personnel changes. Wildlife Forever and several Quail Unlimited chapters provided global positioning system (GPS) equipment for wildlife biologists to pinpoint the location of these guzzlers in order to maintain them for quail and larger animals. In addition, 13 new guzzlers were installed in Cleveland and Angeles National Forests and the Fort Hunter Liggett Military Reservation.

CC You’ve preached to anglers and huntCC Do you have a California invasive species story you can share that our readers might appreciate?

DG Among our California projects is an ambitious water source program that provided better management of water guzzlers in Southern California for quail and larger animals. Between the 1940s and 1960s, the California Department of Fish and Game constructed 2,000

40 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

ers to take such precautions as washing down boats and checking boots and other articles of clothing when leaving a lake or wilderness area. How critical is it of us as anglers and hunters to practice that?

DG Invasive species may be the No. 1 threat of our outdoor heritage. The silent invaders are damaging fishing, destroying habitat, devastating the aquatic food

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MIXED BAG chain, impeding navigation, and costing the American public millions of dollars annually. I have seen zebra mussels clear lake water and alter the food web, other lakes with major algae blooms, mats of hydrilla so thick you cannot launch your boat and, perhaps worst, the closure of public access. Wildlife Forever has been leading the charge to stop the spread of invasive species for 12 years now. Everyone is learning that invasive species wreak havoc on our equipment and gear and reduce fish populations. It is simple to do your part. Remember to clean, drain, dry, every time.

CC Is there one issue or a specific invasive pest that’s most important for Wildlife Forever to keep an eye on?

DG That’s a hard question. Every year new invasive species arrive in our country. They arrive by ship ballast, released from aquariums, escape from water gardens or released as unwanted bait.

A few on my hit list include zebra

Grann during a brown bear survey early in his career. Wildlife Forever has been making contributions to conservation for 30 years. (DOUG GRANN/ WILDLIFE FOREVER)

mussel and quagga mussel; hydrilla, watermilfoil and purple loosestrife; plus the Asian carp. I was almost knocked out of the boat while running up the Illinois River by a 20-pound bighead carp. We collected 23 big carp on a 20-minute voyage. The problem is the list of invasive species continues to grow and grow.

CC What advice have or will you give to

42 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

your successor, Pat Conzemius, as the crusade to stop invasive species continues?

DG I shared with Pat the concept of taking time out and seeing the wonders of the wild. I suggested when he travels, to take an extra vacation day and go sightseeing, shooting or fishing in that area, to see first-hand the habitat we conserve and experience fish and wildlife.

I remember that old John Denver lyric,

MIXED BAG “You’re a richer man to see an eagle fly.” I have always believed we must enjoy the outdoors and experience the bounty of nature. And I hope that same opportunity will enrich Pat’s life and drive him to many conservation successes.

We are blessed to live in an America that is full of public land and rich in natural resources. When you work hard with passion to accomplish conservation goals, you need to recharge by playing hard. For me that was hunting and fishing.

A few years ago my wife and I started hosting a staff meeting/fishing trip every Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. Staff had to be at the ramp or be in the office. We fished till 10 a.m., then went to work.

The fun, laughter and bragging rights were contagious. We introduced several staffers to fishing who caught their first fish, all while building teamwork.

I wish much success for Pat and his team. And most of all I hope he hears the call of the wild along his journey in

helping fish and wildlife and educating our kids and grandchildren. I have no doubt he will be a ridge runner with much success.

CC What’s your favorite achievement or top accomplishment in your career?

DG My goal at Wildlife Forever was to always spend donated member funds wisely. I believed a good nonprofit organization should always have a minimum of 80 percent of all funds going to mission. I also believed Wildlife Forever should have an independent audit annually. I am proud to say we have always met both goals.

In the early years it was difficult to have 80-plus percent in conservation while also working hard to grow. But we did it, and today we have 94 percent of every dollar raised going to conservation. In fact, for the past five years we have reached or exceeded 94 percent. That is hard to do in the nonprofit world and I am proud of our legacy. Thank you, donors, for making Wildlife Forever successful.

CC Do you have any other thoughts on your career?

DG Over the years I have learned many life lessons. My dad always told me success is getting paid to do what you love, and would do anyway even if unpaid.

Years ago I had found myself on Kodiak Island helping with a research project on brown bears. Wildlife Forever had funded research on these huge giants for over 10 years. One phase of our work was coming to an end, so I went to help capture and remove the radio collars from our study animals, something that had never been done before.

It was no small task. The brown bears of Kodiak can weigh over 1,500 pounds.

There is nothing ordinary about Kodiak Island, Alaska. It is a remarkable and beautiful place that is still very wild.

We headed for the remote interior of the island in search of our radio-collared bears. The area is so remote and rugged that we had to use a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter. Using an additional fixed-winged aircraft, a

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MIXED BAG Super Cub, equipped with telemetry equipment we could zero in on the collar’s radio signal.

Here is where it got tricky. I was in the copilot seat of the helicopter with a sharpshooter behind me with a specially designed tranquilizer rifle. We would zoom in, dart the bear, back off and once the bear was immobilized (it took about 3 minutes) we could move in, land and remove the collar and make a final inspection of the bear before it woke up (we had 35 minutes to do the work).

We had a large female bear spotted (Number 23) and as we approached to fire the dart, I noticed the winds were building from the mountain updrafts.

At times the mountain winds can be very dangerous. Our helicopter was becoming unstable. We were moving straight up this wall of solid granite, tracking the bear for the shot, when the pilot hollowed over the headsets, “Abort, Abort.”

The gusting winds were driving our

“Together we are reaching the American public – kids and adults – with conservation education,” Grann says.

“That has become the core value of Wildlife Forever, building stewardship through conservation education.”

(DOUG GRANN/WILDLIFE FOREVER)

rotor blades into the side of the mountain. Our approach had been risky at best and we had to back away for safety.

It was decided we could lighten the load of the helicopter and try again. We landed on the very top of a mountain across from the bear. We removed the doors

46 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

of the chopper, all but two seats and all the unnecessary gear, including myself. I will never forget watching that helicopter leave me on the mountaintop. I sure hoped they could find me later.

I don’t know if it was fear or doubt or simply excitement from the adventure,

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but I was shaking all over. I was sitting on top of the world, a place where no man had ever set foot. It was a wonderful feeling, kind of an explorer sensation. All around me the view was extraordinary.

I saw eagles soaring below me, small veins of rushing water draining from the valleys to the ocean full of bright red salmon. I took a peek over the edge and was filled with wonder. It was magical.

I soon discovered an ancestral trail where brown bears roam. It is said the giants walk in their forefathers’ footsteps. I could see century-old depressions in the tundra of individual footsteps placed year after year by generation after generation of Kodiak bears. It was a little overwhelming. I found I was shaking again. I hoped a bear would not lumber over the top of the mountain just then.

I sat down to collect myself and I noticed hundreds of small red wildflowers.

Here blooming where no one would ever see them were wildflowers, tundra delights that only the wild could appreciate.

This ordinary day of doing bear research in an extraordinary place was turning into an extraordinary experience.

I reflected on the magnificent view and the rare chance that had allowed me to touch the ground. I wondered about what would happen to me if the helicopter did not return. What if something happened to them on the other side of the mountain? No one – no one – knew where I was.

I realized if God placed flowers on the top of a mountain on Kodiak Island and if the salmon below me continued to run up streams to spawn year after year and if brown bears have prospered for centuries here, then there was order in this world. I felt really small and unimportant, but I also felt warm and comfortable. I was no longer shaking.

Something bigger than me was in charge and I was given a glimpse of the magic of life on that mountain in Alaska. That is the power of the wild.

It changed my life and that is why I worked for Wildlife Forever. CS Editor’s note: Check out wildlifeforever .org and like at facebook.com/Wildlifeforever for more information.

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OUTDOOR CALENDAR

California’s junior turkey hunt season is scheduled for May 7-20. (CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE)

MAY 1

Start of Roundup at the Lake, Convict Lake; (800) 992-2260 5-6 Shasta Lake Team Kokanee Derby; kokaneepower.org 5-6 Bass Lake Trout Derby; basslakechamber.com/ fishing-derby/ 7-20 Archery-only spring wild turkey season 7-20 Junior wild turkey season 12 Collins Lake Fishing Derby; collinslake.weebly.com 19-20 Bass Pro Shops Open, Folsom Lake; anglerspress.com 24 Start of Crowley Lake Perch Derby; (760) 935-4301 26 Arrowhead Lake Association Fishing Derby; ala-ca.org

PROTECTING

WILD CALIFORNIA

JUNE 1

1-3 9-10 16 16-17 17

Opening of ocean king salmon season in the Klamath Management Zone (Oregon-California border to Horse Mountain) Hangman’s Cash Weekend, Convict Lake; convictlake.com Whiskeytown Lake Team Kokanee Derby Rush Creek Clean-up and BBQ, Silver Lake Resort; (760) 648-7525 Fred Hall Father’s Day Fishing Tournament, Mammoth Lakes Basin; (760) 934-3416 Opening of ocean king salmon season in Fort Bragg and San Francisco areas (from Horse Mountain to Point Arena and Point Arena to Pigeon Point, respectively)

23 30 30

Bridgeport Trout Tournament, Bridgeport Reservoir and East Walker River; bridgeportfishenhancement.com California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Trout Fest, Hot Creek Hatchery; wildlife.ca.gov/fishing/ hatcheries/hot-creek Start of Mono Village Fourth of July Fishing Derby, Upper Twin Lakes; monovillage.com

Note: For a complete list of bass fishing tournaments, go to dfg.ca.gov/ FishingContests/default.aspx

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I love this photo I captured of my friends Duke and Luke enjoying the moment fishing from the bank on the ranch. (TODD KLINE)

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WINNERS!

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Tyler Robinson is our monthly Browning Photo Contest winner, thanks to this shot of his daughter Alika and her central Washington cow elk, harvested at 100 yards with her muzzleloader last fall. It wins him a Browning hat!

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NORCAL

FROM FIELD ...

IT’S ALL IN

THE DETAILS

Salmon fishing isn’t easy, and the more organized your gear, the better the odds of catching fish. This spring Chinook couldn’t resist a well-cured egg topped with a Spin-N-Glo. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

WHEN PLANNING A FISHING TRIP, HAVING YOUR GEAR ORGANIZED IS A GOOD START

By Scott Haugen

W

hile salmon forecasts aren’t stellar, it won’t stop anglers from chasing these awesome fish, when and where possible.

The competition will be tough, for sure, so why not do all you can to increase the odds of catching more fish?

Gear organization is always an important part of successful fishing, and this is especially true when the fish are hard to come by. If you’re salmon fishing from a boat, here are some tips to help shift the odds of success in your favor.

PROPER BOAT LOAD Before hitting the river, take time to properly load your boat. Safely store your gear and make sure it’s easily

accessible when on the river. Be sure the load is balanced for a safer, more efficient trip; this is especially important for a driftboat.

Make sure your tackle boxes won’t be upended, and keep rods, nets and coolers out of the way of anchor ropes.

Bowlines should not be covered by clothes or tackle, and lifejackets should be in easy reach or worn. It will be a lot of easier if everything is simple to access by both the boat operator and the passengers.

Once the boat is loaded with all the essential gear, hop in and make sure it’s what you want. Sit or stand at each person’s spot and confirm that all is in order.

As soon as you hit the water, do the same. A boat balances differently on water than on the trailer and it may be

necessary to make a few quick changes before everyone hops in.

LEADER TREE AND BAIT BOX COMBO There are a variety of bait box contraptions and separate leader dispensers out there, but finding a set-up that includes both can be a real timesaver. An ideal one features an easyto-access bait box. The lid flips open and closed to keep water and sunlight out, plus it holds leaders below.

By precutting a number of baits directly into the box, rebaiting is quick and easy. On the bottom of the tray, as many as three-dozen pretied hooks can be wrapped around the insulation; they can even be rigged ahead of time with desired drift bobbers.

By having leaders pretied and ready to go, all you have to do when

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NORCAL

... TO FIRE

When Tiffany Haugen has a surplus of leftover trout, she uses many ingredients for a creative casserole dish. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)

MAKE YOUR LEFTOVERS SING

By Tiffany Haugen

A

common question I’m asked is what to do with leftover cooked or canned fish.

Whether you have trout, tuna, salmon or bottomfish, you can’t go wrong with a creamy casserole.

Served up with rice, noodles or a few slices of buttered bread, this comfort food will hit the spot after a day on the water.

Just use this recipe as a guide and don’t hesitate putting your own twist on the ingredients. For a Southwestern flair, use pepper jack cheese and add a few tablespoons of fire-roasted green chiles or diced jalapeño peppers.

If looking to add more decadence, add 2⁄3 cup of crispy bacon or chopped ham to a layer of the casserole. If you have fresh herbs, adding up to ½ cup of chopped parsley, chives, basil and/or cilantro will brighten things right up.

Even the panko or breadcrumb

topping can be changed out with crushed potato or tortilla chips. Remember, any time you are altering a recipe, keep track of the changes so you can recreate your masterpiece.

3 cups cooked trout (or other fish) ¼ cup plus 1 additional tablespoon butter 1 cup minced onion 3 teaspoons minced garlic 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour 2 cups milk 2 cups grated cheese (Cheddar, Colby and/or jack) Salt and black pepper to taste 1⁄3 cup panko or breadcrumbs Remove all bones from trout and crumble into bite-sized chunks. In a medium saucepan on medium-high heat, sauté onions and garlic in ¼ cup butter until soft. Add flour and whisk until bubbly. Slowly add milk, bringing to a low boil; stir constantly until thickened.

64 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

Place a small amount of sauce in an 8-inch-by-8-inch greased baking dish. Spread half of the trout into the baking dish. Top fish with 1 cup cheese and half of the sauce. Continue layering with the remainder of the fish, cheese and sauce.

In a small bowl, melt remaining tablespoon of butter. Mix with panko/ breadcrumbs. Top casserole with buttered panko/breadcrumbs. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany’s popular book Cooking Seafood, visit tiffanyhaugen. com. Follow Tiffany on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and watch for her on the online series Cook With Cabela’s, The Sporting Chef TV show, and the Netflix series The Hunt.

NORCAL ing odor. Scents can be applied to baits during the curing or brining process, or once on the river.

It’s a good idea to bring several scents along. Placing them all in a single container that fits easily in the boat and can be readily accessed will increase the likelihood of their being used and will ensure cleanliness.

SINKER STORAGE Quick gear changes maximize the time that tackle spends in the water, which equates to more fish being caught. Here, pretied leaders are located near the bait, meaning they can be rigged and set up to fish in a matter of seconds. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

a leader is lost – or needs replacing – is spool off a leader, tie it on and reapply bait. Because the bait is so close to the leader, the changeout is fast, meaning you’re spending more time fishing, not rerigging.

ADDING SCENTS The variety of scent-based products

that have been developed for salmon anglers has never been greater.

From gels to sprays, liquids to pastes, companies are providing anglers with what they need to catch more fish.

Whether you choose to apply scents to eggs, shrimp, other baits, lures, plugs or drift bobbers, there’s no doubting the effectiveness of add-

Having a storage system in which sinkers can be easily accessed without making too much clutter in the boat will increase your fishing time.

One approach is to take a few small, plastic containers and fill them with what weights you’ll need for the day. If room is not a concern, use larger containers.

Shallow, slotted boxes or trays can also hold weights. These make for quick and easy access, as weights are in plain sight and simple to identify. Don’t use these if running rough water, since they’ll easily spill.

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67

NORCAL A stainless box with multiple compartments is another clean, easy option. Having proper weight ensures getting precisely to where the salmon are, so don’t overlook the importance of a sinker.

ACCESSORIES RACK One of the biggest time savers when you are out fishing is to have easy access to knives, scissors, pliers and a file. Make an effort to have them handy and within reach at a moment’s notice.

A great and simple set-up is a rack that bolts to the transom, or anywhere you wish.

The rack can be made from UHMW, a thick plastic material. Carved into the 4-inch-wide, 10-inch-long (or whatever size you like) piece are six to eight slots.

Each slot is sized to specifically fit the aforementioned tools.

To maximize efficiency for every-

Fishing with the proper weight is important for getting that terminal gear into the strike zone of where salmon are holding. Having quick, easy access to a range of weights ensures they’ll be used. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

one in the boat, consider mounting two or three racks so that all of the anglers aboard have quick, easy access to these tools.

ORGANIZATION MEANS SUCCESS When it comes to catching more salmon, organizing your gear is a good place to start. After all, the more time we spend with our lines

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in the water, the better chance we have of catching fish. CS Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s popular book 300 Tips To More Salmon & Steelhead, send a check for $20 (free S&H) to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489. This and other how-to books can be ordered at scotthaugen.com.

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A ¼-ounce 6/0 hook matches well with a 6-inch paddle-tail swimbait. Simply screw the wire keeper into the nose of the bait and bring the hook point Texas-style into the body of the bait. Match this swimbait to 20-pound fluorocarbon line and a heavy-action rod-and-reel combo and you are good to go. -Mark Fong

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BAIT & TACKLE

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CENTRAL VALLEY

FISHING IN THE VALLEY

Author Amy Witt casts a line at Lake Success, just outside of Porterville. It’s one of several waters that are just a short drive from the Fresno and Visalia areas. (ZEB WITT)

BEFORE SUMMER’S HEAT HITS, THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPTIONS TO WET A LINE

By Amy C. Witt

T

hese places are something special, maybe even unlike any you’ve seen before.

Rich in history, it is sacred land that holds a wealth of resources, a thriving environment and significant geological features. Outlined on the east by the Cascades, Sierra Nevada and Tehachapi mountain ranges, and decorated on the west by the California Coast Ranges and San Francisco Bay, the Central Valley is blessed with breathtaking scenery and phenomenal fishing opportunities.

Abundant rains and melting snow from the Sierra Nevada feed the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers that run through the Central Valley, which extends from Shasta County in the north to Kern County in the south. It’s known for being one of the most productive agricultural regions not only in California but in the world.

In the 1800s, an extensive population of Yokut Indians lived on the shores of now dry Tulare Lake. The area provided them with reliable food and resources, while other tribes like Maidu and Miwoks migrated to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Tribes used reed tule, branches and grasses for their baskets, homes and canoes.

The Central Valley made history in the winter of 1861-62 when it experienced a most devastating

flood that took thousands of lives and turned the valley floor and much of the state into inland seas for months.

Nowadays, there are more farms than fishing holes, but this vast valley has a handful of spots that are worth checking out in the spring and summer. Although late spring usually makes the trout succumb to heat, with Mother Nature’s indecisiveness over the weather this year, I anticipate the fishing will be fun for a couple more months.

My goal for this story was to visit a few different locations in the area that I was unfamiliar with. However, we fortunately received several back-to-back snowstorms that forced the parks to close.

But as a Central Valley girl myself, I still want to showcase some

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CENTRAL VALLEY

At 5,200 feet, Hume Lake provides a cooler alternative to the San Joaquin Valley, and it’s only a 66-mile drive from Fresno. (BOB TALBOT/WIKIMEDIA)

of the many viable alternatives around the foothills and lower San Joaquin that not only feature exciting fishing spots but offer a beautiful scenic journey.

LAKE SUCCESS Lake Success is just a few miles east of Porterville off Highway 190.

This lake can be inconsistent, as you never know if it will be a hotspot or not. But it definitely also depends on what you are trying to catch.

There are many freshwater species here, including crappie, carp, bluegill, trout, catfish and largemouth.

In mid-April, my brothers Zeb and Jacob walked the northeast banks in hopes of catching a big mama bass. Many were swimming next to the banks in the shallow water while

protecting their fry underneath wood and debris. However, the only thing they had any interest in was protecting those fry. They weren’t biting.

In the winter, we have a secret spot at the lake that provides for an abundance of nice rainbows.

My success at Success is always attributed to using live crickets. Bass fishing off a boat is pretty good here also.

LOWER KERN RIVER AND LAKE ISABELLA Located roughly 25 minutes from Bakersfield, the easily accessible lower Kern River is said to be a good fishing spot because of its controlled flows. However, as the snow melts in late May and June, trout fishing can be dangerous or almost impossible.

April and early May are said to be some of the best times to fish this

74 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

spot, as the river is usually low. In early spring, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife heavily plants the river with good-sized rainbows. Dry and dropper-fly combinations or double-nymph rigs dead-drifted under an indicator are among anglers’ favorites.

Drive a little further, and you can hit some hot spots in the mouth of the upper Kern. In the winter and spring, anglers have caught some big trophy fish up to 28 inches and 8 pounds, as reported by CDFW. Drive a little further and you will hit Lake Isabella, which is known to have some awesome trout, bass and large crappie. On May 19 Lake Isabella hosts its annual Carpfest, a throwdown that will pit teams of two carp fly anglers. The profits

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CENTRAL VALLEY will benefit two local conservation groups, Kern River Conservancy and Keepers of the Kern.

KINGS RIVER, WEAVER LAKE AND HUME LAKE Below Pine Flat Reservoir sits the heavily planted Kings River, 30 miles east of Fresno off Highway 180. San Joaquin Fish Hatchery is real close and CDFW’s hatchery staff plants it twice a week. While fish releases aren’t common from Pine Flat Dam to Avocado Lake, there is plenty of public access and fishing can be good.

The popular lower Kings is a heavily fished area since it is planted on a regular basis. This is a good place to take a child or inexperienced angler.

Stocked fish eat darn near anything and allow you to fill your bag limit in a short amount of time.

Continue driving up Highway 180 and you will run into Weaver Lake.

The mostly mild hike to Weaver is

a 6.5-mile round trip. The scenery is stunning and the water is nearly crystal clear.

This is an awesome place to take your family camping and to throw a line around the lake. However, this area is heavily traveled. You can also ride on horseback into this lake, as well as Jennie Lakes, which is 8.4 miles away.

Drive even further up the 180 and you will arrive at Hume Lake, approximately 22 miles from Weaver. With an elevation of 5,200 feet, outstanding rainbow trout are planted here during the spring and summer, and there are also brown trout, smallmouth and largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish.

The scenery is absolutely stunning and Ten Mile Creek, which feeds into the lake, offers arguably even better fishing! CS Editor’s note: For more on author Amy Witt, see her website, caliidreamin.com.

KERN RIVER VALLEY

The recent Lake Isabella Fishing Derby is now in the books and the winners are banking their prize money.

Thousands of pounds of trout are still in the lake, including some up to 10 pounds. Now the action at Lake Isabella is all crappie-driven, with full stringers, limits and fish like this one (above) up to 3-plus-pounds being taken. Enjoy the great spring weather and make the drive to the Kern River Valley.

760-379-5236 • kernrivervalley.com

76 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

The author with a Lake Success trout. You can have a lot of spring and summer luck here for bass, catfish and crappie too. (AMY C. WITT)

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TALES SOCAL

Most of the snakes you’ll encounter in California’s wilds are harmless, like the gopher snake author Tim Hovey encountered (below). But there are also rattlesnakes such as this northern Pacific slithering around, so be ready for any you literally stumble onto. (DAVE FELIZ, CDFW/TIM E. HOVEY)

OF A BIOLOGIST

CREATURES THAT SLITHER SEEING SNAKES IN THE FIELD SHOULD NOT BE FEARED

By Tim E. Hovey

P

art of my job as a state biologist is to occasionally answer fish and wildlife calls from the public. These calls can be extremely diverse in their content, and I’ve had individuals ask me everything from how to stop croaking frogs from keeping them up at night to inquiries on how to skin a bobcat.

These calls occur at all times of the year, but I receive the most phone inquiries in April, the month snakes start to appear here in California.

ON THE SLITHER When the weather begins to warm in the spring, snakes of all species start to exit their dens. The same warmer weather and longer days also find the public spending more time outside, occasionally bringing them into close contact with snakes.

While I do understand the public’s general dislike of snakes, I think it’s important for those who spend time outdoors to know that all snakes have

a purpose in the wild. And for the most part, snakes want nothing to do with us when we encounter them afield.

It may surprise many that there are over 20 different species of snakes in Southern California and most of those are harmless and nonvenomous. They range in size from the diminutive night snake to the common and often large gopher snake. While these species are found locally, they also share their habitat with species that are a little more dangerous.

RATTLE BATTLE Likely the most known species of snake, and the one I get the most calls about, is the rattler. Here locally we have three species of rattlesnake and an additional two species if you count the desert region.

The red diamond, Southern Pacific and speckled rattlesnake can be found in and around the coastal range of Southern California. The Mojave green and sidewinder are species frequently

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TALES OF A BIOLOGIST

Carrying a walking stick provides more than just balance when hiking. It also allows hikers to check their path for possible snakes below and in front of them. (TIM E. HOVEY)

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encountered in the state’s eastern desert region.

All rattlesnakes are known for their diamond-shaped heads and the characteristic rattles on their tails. Depending on the species, their venom comes in two forms: hemotoxic or neurotoxic.

The hemotoxin venom attacks the cardiovascular system and circular system, usually resulting in localized swelling and the death of the flesh surrounding the bite. Neurotoxin attacks the central nervous system and brain. This venom is essentially destroys nerves with toxins that are made of proteins that rattlesnakes use to kill small prey species quickly so they can eat and survive.

While these proteins are also harmful to humans, rattlesnake bites are very rare.

I have encountered over 100 rattlesnakes while hunting or hiking all over the Southland – likely far more than the average person. While several of these snakes have been very aggressive, the one common theme I can say about all these interactions was that the rattler was always trying to leave the situation.

A few of these encounters even involved me stepping directly on or within an inch of snakes warming themselves in the sun. Even during these close interactions, I’ve never even come close to being bit.

Despite their scary reputation, rattlesnakes, as well as many of the other local species in our region, are some of the most beautiful reptiles that occupy the local hills. Here are a few more of my favorites:

RING-NECKED SNAKE Usually found around water, the ringnecked snake is a beautiful, slender species with an olive coloration and bright orange ring around its neck. The belly of this species varies from a bright coral color to an almost glowing orange.

They are a small species, usually reaching between 10 to 18 inches.

Their diet consists of a wide variety of invertebrates, small lizards, salamanders and frogs. The ring-necked snake is a docile species that is easily handled and harmless. Those I have caught have politely posed for some of the best pho-

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TALES

tographs of snakes I have ever taken.

OF A BIOLOGIST

MOUNTAIN KINGSNAKE Another one of my favorite snake species and one that I rarely encounter is the mountain kingsnake. Unlike the larger California kingsnake, which has black and white bands, the mountain king snake occurs in higher elevations and is brilliantly banded with black, red and white bands. Those that I have found have been easily handled and gentle.

ROSY BOA

Mojave green and sidewinder rattlesnakes are most commonly found in the state’s desert habitats. (TIM E. HOVEY)

While I do see many of the common species like gopher snakes and kingsnakes while I’m out in the backcountry, the one species I’ve handled the most is the rosy boa. This species is the most docile and easily handled snake I’ve ever come across. In fact, every single one I’ve encountered – and I’ve seen a lot of them – have been handled and photographed.

A true boa, the rosy is a robust snake that comes in a variety of impressive colors, which range from a light orange

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83

TALES OF A BIOLOGIST

or purplish stripe that’s blended into a gray background. The snake is completely harmless, and young or old I have never run across an aggressive rosy boa.

Years ago, during a stream survey, I left my open backpack on the bank while we worked. A few hours later, we grabbed our gear and headed home.

While I was putting away my pack, I noticed that something inside was moving. I carefully examined the contents and found a coiled-up rosy boa in my pack.As the snake was content to stay curled up in the bottom, I kept him in a tank for a few days before I returned him to the same area.

SNAKE RUNS While I do encounter some snakes just by chance while I’m out doing other things, I can often find snakes when

BITTEN BY A RATTLER? STAY CALM While rattlesnake bites are rare, they do occur. If you find yourself in a situation where you have to deal with a venomous snake bite, experts suggest you follow these simple steps: Even though a snake bite is obviously unexpected, it’s very important to remain calm. Increasing your heart rate will speed the spread of the venom through your bloodstream. Assess the bite area and stay calm.

It’s no longer recommended or even suggested that the bite wound be cut. Medical officials state that more damage is done cutting the bite area and the additional tissue damage may increase the diffusion of the toxins. Clean the bite area with water and leave the wound alone.

Immediately after the bite, it is strongly recommended that you remove all restrictive jewelry like rings and bracelets. After a venomous bite, your body may begin to swell and

84 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

removing these items will eliminate issues with tissue swelling.

Don’t apply a tourniquet above the bite wound, as this may cause the loss of the affected limb.

Similarly, don’t put ice on the bite area. Cooling the wound will slow down the blood flow at the affected area and will increase tissue damage locally.

Above all, medical personnel suggest that if the victim is ambulatory and can get to medical attention in a reasonable amount of time, they should hike out calmly. Overexertion is discouraged, so the victim should remain as calm as can be expected during extraction.

As you can see, the steps recommended for dealing with a venomous snake bite out in the wild are relatively simple. Keep the victim calm, remove any jewelry and get them to a medical facility as quickly as possible. TH

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TALES

If you leave a backpack open in the field, there’s a chance that a critter like a rosy boa may hitch a ride home from you, as once happened to Hovey. (TIM E. HOVEY)

OF A BIOLOGIST

conditions are right. Snakes are unable to regulate their own body heat, leading to the partial misnomer that they’re cold blooded. When the air temperature is right, they become more active and noticeable.

During the first warm period beginning in April, I head out to conduct road surveys for snakes. I’ll drive the back trails adjacent to good snake habitat and find them basking on the warm roads. I can also find snake tracks in the

86 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

dusty paths, representing places where snakes have moved from one side to the other. Traveling these same roads during the season at the same time allows me to figure out what different snake species occupy a specific area.

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Different species have different temperaments and some just don’t like to be handled. If I can slowly approach the snake and lightly grasp the tail without any resistance, I’ll gently pick it up to get a closer look. If the snake is defensive or in any way agitated when I approach, I’ll avoid handling it. And of course, even if the snake is calm I never handle a rattlesnake.

STAYING SAFE One of the most common questions I get asked starting in April is, “How do I stay safe when hiking in rattlesnake country?”

Whether I’m hiking for fun or work, I always carry a hiking stick. I not only use it to ease my hike, but announce my presence in front of me. I’ll move brush and tap rocks and logs as I go, which lets anything in front of me know I’m there.

I always wear loose-fitting pants and over-the-ankle hiking boots and stay aware of my surroundings while outside. I only hike areas where I can see the trail in front of me. If I encounter a rattlesnake while hiking, I give it a wide berth and wait for it to move off the path.

When you head outside, choose your hiking times wisely. The air temperatures that encourage us to get outside are also prime times for snake movement. They will look to warm themselves in open areas, hiking trails and dirt roads during later mornings and late afternoons. During the heat of the day, snakes will retreat to shady areas, burrows or rock ledges. It’s always advisable to be careful and aware when hiking in areas where snakes persist.

Finally, if you do come across a rattlesnake in the wild, take a second to enjoy the sighting. Despite their reputation, they are really amazing-looking creatures. Some of my best wildlife photographs are of rattlesnakes in the wild.

Love them or hate them, snakes are as much a part of California’s wild world as its cuddly bunnies and bounding deer. While they seem to have developed a repulsive reputation with most people, that’s not the case with me. If I encounter a snake during a hike, I consider it a bonus to my time outside. CS

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90 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

SOCAL

REVIVING GLORY DAYS

Author Tim Hovey works a plastic bait off riprap in Long Beach. Rekindling their college days, he and a friend had a blast catching various saltwater bass species like barred sand bass. (TIM E. HOVEY)

BUDDIES RETURN TO SOUTHLAND BAYS WITH OLD BASS-ENTICING LURES

By Tim E. Hovey

B

ack in the early 1990s, I spent a lot of time fishing many of the Southern California bays. I was part of a college sampling group that fished San Diego Bay, Newport Bay and Long Beach, collecting fish by hook and line for a number of different research projects.

We’d load up the university Boston Whalers, cruise the boat docks, jetties and channels in the protected bays and cast plastics for whatever was biting. During these all-day excursions, I honed my skills at fishing artificial lures.

At that time, near-shore sportfishing was in its infancy and we encountered very few other anglers sampling the calm waters of the

Southland’s bays. With a team of two easily putting over 100 fish on the boat a day – sometimes more – I found it hard to believe that this amazing fishery wasn’t receiving more angling attention.

Today that has all changed. Social media has given all sportsmen a platform to share their catches and their spots. Kayak fishing has absolutely exploded in the last 20 years and current models are capable of holding everything an angler would need to spend the entire day on the water.

Add in easy access and near-shore fishing for a number of feisty game species is within reach of beginner and expert anglers alike. Honestly, I knew the secret wouldn’t last forever.

During my college days, some of the projects were actually sponsored

by AA lures, a local company that manufactures and sells curly tail plastic lures. A few times a year, the fisheries office would receive huge boxes of their baits in dozens of colors. They were the lures of choice for our program and all we ever used to catch our target species. Immediately after I graduated, I ordered an ample supply of AA lures for my own tackle boxes.

Even though we’d target many species that occupied the protected coves during our bay fishing sessions, our focal point was spotted sand bass, or spotties. Several grad-

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SOCAL

uate students, myself included, were working on various elements of this species’ life history and we needed all the specimens we could catch, in all sizes. During the three years we fished, we caught over 4,000 spotted bay bass for research.

As life moved on after graduation, I found I had less time to explore the bays. Other interests took over and my near-shore fishing time dwin-

The retired Queen Mary, one of the world’s most famous ocean liners, has made the Port of Long Beach its permanent home since 1967. (TIM E. HOVEY)

dled to nothing but a collection of fond memories. But I always thought about once again getting back there and casting plastics in the bay.

LAST MONTH, WHILE DODGING some rare rainy weather, my friend John Mattila and I left for the coast early. I had thoroughly explored Long Beach Harbor using Google Earth and had found several spots for us to try. The

92 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

evening before, I dusted off my old tackle boxes and grabbed some lures that had worked for me in the past.

While gathering specific colors and sizes, I realized that most of the lures I was bringing for our angling adventure were over 20 years old. And almost all the lures in my tackle bag were AA’s.

We arrived across the bay from the famed cruise ship Queen Mary and pulled into an empty parking spot. The first thing I noticed was that we were going to have to follow a lot of rules.

Parking wasn’t free and before our first casts, I counted a dozen “No Fishing” signs posted around the harbor. Referencing my phone, I found several open areas where fishing was allowed.

We cast from the rocks and started fishing just as the sun came up. The water was discolored due to the recent rains, but that didn’t matter to me. As I cast, I tried to remember the last time I had fished the large harbor and knew it had been a very long time.

John and I fanned-cast the area just off the rocks in hopes of a bite. I walked further down and decided to try a different lure. I looked through my selection and saw a familiar color.

I rigged the pumpkin-glitter curly tail grub and cast the new color as far as I could. I have fond memories of pieces of this exact lure littering the deck of the Whaler back in the day when it was chewed beyond further use by spotted bay bass.

As soon as the lure hit the bottom, I bounced it once and felt a slight

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SOCAL tug. I set the hook and the first fish of the day was on. I bounced the barred sand bass up on the rocks and grabbed it. The orange and green lure was securely stuck in its jaw. I unhooked the small fish, took a few photos and released it.

I ended up catching one more barred the same size as the first. John had gotten a few bites but we decided to move on to another area. Heavy rain was due in the next few hours and we wanted to try at least one more spot before we got rained out.

WE HIKED TO THE end of a small jetty and started casting. A couple of guys in float tubes were getting ready in the parking lot. We talked a bit and they mentioned that fishing was good off the jetty.

I grabbed a bright green curly tail and started fan casting. On the third cast I felt the slightest tick on the line. I set the hook and felt an-

John Mattila works one of the old-school plastics, still productive after so many years. (TIM E. HOVEY)

gry shaking on the other end. After a short fight, I lifted a nice spotted sand bass up on the rocks.

Looking at the beautiful fish in my hand brought back a lot of memories.

I marveled that the lure hanging out of his mouth was over 20 years old.

Looking at the hundreds of spots that form the characteristic bars on the side of the spotty, I tried to remember the last time I had caught this species.

I removed the hook and dropped the fish back into the bay. As I continued to fish, I realized that I will always

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Besides a barred sand bass, Hovey and Mattila also scored a spotted bay bass and kelp bass to score a triple crown of Southern California saltwater bass. (TIM E. HOVEY)

have a special connection to the spotted bay bass. At a time when I felt like my career direction was foggy, accepting a graduate position and working on the spotty started to pull all those loose ends together. For that, the spotty will always be special to me.

A few minutes later, John caught a spotty as well. He added another barred sand bass to the tally ďŹ ve minutes later. I was taking photos of John and his ďŹ sh when we heard a

whistle from out on the water.

The guys in the oat tubes had paddled out beyond the jetty and were ďŹ shing an incoming current. One of them was holding a kelp bass in the 5-pound range; the other was taking a photo. I knew that juvenile bass of all species used the bay as a nursery area, but I had no idea large kelp bass also occupied the inside of the harbor.

The rain started pelting us as the storm clouds closed in. In my college

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I TOOK A FEW MORE casts towards the end of the jetty. I was bringing the bright orange AA lure back at a slow retrieve when it got slammed. I set the hook and after a short ďŹ ght, I pulled a small kelp bass up on the rocks.

As I held the bass, I realized that in

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The fish may not have been monsters, but that’s not why these old friends were out there on this rainy day. “I measure a good time by how I can shed the chaos of life and shut it out as I connect with the lure at the end of my line and then the fish that bites it,” the author writes. (TIM E. HOVEY)

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the short fishing session at the bay, I had caught all three species of saltwater bass in these waters. Despite my lengthy fishing career, I don’t know if I’ve ever done that before. And if I had, it would’ve been during my college days, about a 25 years ago.

I admired the colors and patterns on the kelp bass. I removed the hook and, of course, snapped a few photos.

Making my way down the water’s edge, I released the kelp bass and we decided to call it a day. It was great to be able to toss some old lures in a spot where I had spent so much time. I was also happy that John had caught a few fish as well. After a hearty lunch at a local burger spot, we headed home.

None of the fish we caught were trophy size, but much like hunting, I don’t fish for trophies. I measure a good time by how I can shed the chaos of life and shut it out as I connect with the lure at the end of my line and then the fish that bites it.

I can think of nothing more exciting than feeling that slight bite and the pulse of adrenaline as I set the hook. It is the reason I fish. CS

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BIG FISH SHOW UP WITH DOUBLE-DIGIT BASS BEING CAUGHT, IS THIS THE YEAR TO CATCH A LUNKER?

SOCAL a mouse to a bluegill to a trout and even to another bass. You need to determine which bait will work best at that moment in the season.

With swimbaits, you also have to have the patience and stamina to throw them.

Some quick tips would include to throw trout-imitating swimbaits at lakes that plant rainbows. The more realistic the lure the better, but that is not as much of an issue nowadays, as some of these baits look like taxidermists painted them.

Baby bass swimbaits or bluegill can be thrown around the spawning beds, as they represent nest raiders or provide an easy meal for a giant female about to spawn. There are also baits that look like mice or rats, and they work well where those creatures might be near the water’s edge for a drink and have fallen in.

Try low light periods, such as in the morning and evening. The baits work almost year-round, but you will increase your odds by applying the right lure to the right moment.

BIG FISH REQUIRE BIG RODS

Will this be the year of big bass, like this great catch for local angler Ryan Block? We all hope so and it's looking good! (BILL SCHAEFER)

By Bill Schaefer

I

hope you all are out catching big bass; that’s because they seem to be available right now, just waiting for your casts.

In April, an abundance of 10-pounders was caught all around Southern California, and a few fish in the teens were landed as well.

So is this another big-bass year?

Longtime San Diego-area biologist Larry Botroff has told me numer-

ous times it comes in cycles; signs suggest that it may be on again.

HOW TO CATCH A BIG ONE I know you all want to know what the bass hunters are catching all these big fish on. Some big bass hunters are a little secretive, but I’ll bet a good number of them use some type of swimbait. It’s not that big of a secret anymore.

Swimbaits come in all shapes and sizes and emulate everything from

For tackle, try to fish with a 7½- to 8-foot rod with a heavy, fast action.

Each angler likes a little different action, so go with what you like and how you throw those heavy baits.

Line should be a heavy braid like Daiwa’s or Maxima’s 50- to 60-pound test. Leaders vary, but I think most go with 25- to 50-pound fluorocarbon for theirs.

And you’re going to need a heavy-duty set-up. One of my favorite lately is the Daiwa LEXA 300 or 400 model on a Proteus rod.

GET OUT ON THE WATER Pick your favorite lake and put in the time on the water as well as with the bait. Study the bass and the time of year and this will help you decide what to throw. Hopefully, we will be reading about your record catch next time. Go get a big bass. CS

calsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2018 California Sportsman

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SOCAL

MAX JACKS BACK ‘I DON’T THINK YOU WILL HAVE ANY PROBLEM FINDING YELLOWTAIL THIS SEASON’: SAN DIEGO SKIPPER

Jeff King found this nice yellowtail on meter marks just off the San Diego coast. This beauty fell for a jig in scrambled egg. The species of jacks should continue biting. (BILL SCHAEFER)

By Capt. Bill Schaefer

Y

ellowtail fishing off Southern California has been great the last few months, slowing only when storms kept anglers at home.

Still, as soon as the weather passed and more normal Southern California-style conditions returned, the fish came out to play again. Yellowtail from 10 to 30 pounds have been taken and that action should only continue.

The only other thing that may put a dent in the counts would be if the tuna show in big numbers again.

They are on their way, but for now there are other fish to catch.

WIDE RANGE Everywhere from just south of the Mexican border to Catalina Island has been producing nice fish.

Most have been caught on surface iron thrown on puddling fish, but slow-trolling a sardine or mackerel will do the trick as well.

Don’t forget to watch your meter, as yo-yoing has also taken some nice fish on marks. Kayak anglers haven’t been left out of the action either; they have been scoring some nice fish along the kelpline.

BE A BIRD WATCHER Watch for diving birds feeding on leftover scraps from yellowtail. A good set of binoculars will help you spot breaking fish, as you don’t want to run around blind chasing birds on what turns out to be a seal or porpoise.

A good meter can also help in case the fish sink out once you reach the area of the working birds. When ap-

proaching the school remember not to charge right in. Try to use the wind or swell to bring you into the area.

Come in slow and circle to the upwind side and slowly drift in. It can really make a big difference.

ors of jigs you can use, but scrambled egg, mackerel and blue and white, along with all variations of these colors, should score. If your buddy is getting more bites than you, don’t hesitate to change it up.

GEAR CHECK

BEWARE THE TUNA

For throwing jigs, the traditional 8-foot jig stick is king, but nowadays some anglers like myself go for a little different set-up. I like to throw my iron on a Daiwa Lexa 400 and a Proteus WN 8-foot inshore rod loaded with 50-pound Jx8 braid on it. It’s the same principle; it’s a lot lighter but just as strong.

For mono, you can go with a line like Maxima 30- to 40-pound Ultragreen. The list is endless for what col-

Yellowtail fishing was great last year, with only tuna changing anglers’ focus. Don’t forget you can also fish that leftover tuna bait on kelp paddies on the way back in and get a few bonus yellows. You can use the lighter bait rigs you have for tuna for these fish.

You don’t want to go too heavy, as the yellows on paddies can be a bit more skittish than inshore fish. I don’t think you will have any problem finding yellowtail this season. CS

calsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2018 California Sportsman

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108 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

SIERRA

Casting Floating Rapalas into Eastern Sierra waters is nothing new for author Mike Stevens.

But one day on grass-lined Convict Creek, he was a little stunned to realize why the stream’s brown trout were rising for the small, thin, double-trebled stickbait. (MIKE STEVENS)

THE BIG SPLASH WHEN BROWN TROUT ROSE FOR AN EASTERN SIERRA ANGLER’S FLOATING RAPALA, IT TOOK A WHILE TO FIGURE OUT WHY – NOW, YOU COULD SAY HE’S GOT A NEW TACTIC IN THE HOPPER

By Mike Stevens

O

ut of every technique I have learned in over a quarter century of Eastern Sierra fishing, each was exactly that: learned.

I read it somewhere; heard about it; saw it on TV. Or it was a variation of something loosely based on another tactic. Nothing was the result of raw happenstance or brainstorming or by illuminating

accident. Until this happened. a Sierra stream in summer has tramped through a brushy meadow to get to the water and sent a grasshopper or

ANYONE WHO HAS FISHED

calsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2018 California Sportsman

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SIERRA

Lee Vining Creek is just one of many trout streams where such a phenomenon can occur. (MIKE STEVENS)

three scurrying away with each step.

While I know trout eat ’hoppers and ’hopper bites are as fun as it gets on a fly rod, on this particular day, I was armed with spinning gear and Floating Rapalas. I paid little attention to the fleeing insects other than the thought that bringing my 4-weight would have been a wise idea.

I was looking for brown trout on a meadow stretch of Convict Creek that reminded me of a scaled-down version of the Owens River: slow and grass-lined, with plenty of curves, deep holes and connecting riffles. There were so many tempting undercut banks that it would take you all day to efficiently target 50 yards’ worth.

My first target was along a grassy bank featuring deep water and an undercut just below a horseshoe bend, in which the shallowest water of the feature was found at the apex of the turn. I lobbed the 2-inch Rapala – the classic Floating model in brown trout pattern – and it landed 110 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

ccalsportsmanmag.com alspo ort o or rrttssman sm ma man manm maag mag. mag aag. g cco com om o m | MAY MA AY 2 20 2018 01 18 8 Ca California C Cal a ifor rni r rn niiia n a S Sportsman po por p or ortsm sman m

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SIERRA

What was it about the tiny stickbait that had trout reacting as soon as it hit the water?. (MIKE STEVENS)

within inches of the bank.

As I went to flip the bail, I saw a splash that didn’t match the slow gurgling that was going on all around it within a second of the bait hitting the water. It’s a creek, so splashes happen and I didn’t think anything of it.

I was half paying attention when it happened on the next cast, and really watching on the third when I realized, “This thing is getting bit right when it hits the water.”

I didn’t really have time to think about why; I was just having a great time watching it happen almost every cast. And it wasn’t just those landing along the bank. I started casting to that shallower section midcreek at the top of the horseshoe, and the lure not only continued to get hit but a couple times it got sent a foot out of the water.

All I was doing was casting and allowing it to land with some slack, or – dare I say – creating a drag-free

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drift, like I would if I were fly fishing.

While the Rapala kept getting hit, it took a while before I could hook one in the form of a 10-inch brown trout, and that’s how it would play out until the bite stopped. There were a lot of misses between connections, but the whiffs were as entertaining as any topwater miss in the fishing universe.

I WONDERED HOW ON earth a lure with two dangling treble hooks could be getting that much contact without hooking up? I had that “ah-ha!” moment that led me to my theory of what was going on that day, and when I saw it again on that creek and others like McGee and the Owens River.

It goes back to those grasshoppers scattering out of the grass as I rumbled through. There is no doubt their presence – nothing strange throughout the summer in the Eastern Sierra – had those creek trout “looking up” and waiting for one to make a wrong-way leap into the drink.

And what was I sending their way? An elongated, 2-inch, tan, brown and black floating thing that was a perfect profile match of one of those local ’hoppers.

What occurred to me sometime later was this: Even the two treble hooks played a role in matching this hatch. Six hooks and six legs. Are light bulbs turning on yet?

Has it happened since? Multiple times. Can I count on it even if all factors line up? Not a chance, but I can say this much: When I’m throwing a Floating Rapala in a creek, I’m definitely paying attention the second it hits the water.

I can sense the fly-fishing purists out there – and the long-rod amateur in me, to an extent – scoffing at this claim that a red-hot ’hopper bite can be taken advantage of by dead-drifting a Floating Rapala. But that’s precisely what I will continue to claim went down until I’m overwhelmingly convinced otherwise.

Hopefully you caught my drift. CS

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118 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

PREPPING MAKES PERFECT

Author Brittany Boddington’s successful hunts – like for this ibex she took in Central Asia – are just as much a product of good planning as deft stalking and accurate shooting. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

FROM KEEPING FIT TO LAYERING UP, PREPARATIONS BEFOREHAND YIELD BETTER HUNTS

By Brittany Boddington hether you are headed out on an African adventure or going to hunt mule deer in your backyard, there are a few things you have to do beforehand to get ready.

legs for climbing those tough mountains. Swimming is easy on the joints and fun, but if you don’t have access to a pool then jogging or hiking are great alternatives. Do what you like to do, but be consistent so that you can get up that big mountain when you need to.

GET FIT

PREPARE FOR THE ELEMENTS

The first thing you should do is get in shape. Hunting is a sport, right? We should be athletes!

I’m no marathon runner but I do keep in shape for my hunts. My favorite exercise is to swim. I do laps and tread water to strengthen my

Finding accurate weather information is critical. I can’t tell you how many times I checked the weather on my phone app only to find that conditions were radically different in real time. There are plenty of reliable websites that will work better than a

W

phone app. I like Weather.com and Accuweather.com for current and accurate weather updates.

KNOW THE LAND Along with getting an idea of what you are getting yourself into with the weather, it’s also important to figure out the terrain. Mountain hunts have a very different gear list than lowland excursions.

Make sure that your boots are appropriate for the situation. I wish I had one boot that would work for everything, but they simply don’t exist. For high-mountain hunts you need insulation and aggressive grip

calsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2018 California Sportsman

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straw provided.

In my opinion, the best tool for refilling bladder bags is a hand pump purifier. They come in small pouches so they don’t take up much room, but they will save your booty when you run out of water.

I’ve never been as thankful for any piece of gear – except maybe my gun – as I was on my hunt in Kyrgyzstan when the whole camp ran out of water and we only had our pump.

We pumped water for ourselves, the cameraman and the guides. Since we couldn’t store much water because it would freeze overnight, we had to fill our reservoirs every morning from the streams.

On that note, it is never a bad idea to throw in an extra Nalgene bottle to hold water, and they also work well to hold a small medical kit. If things really hit the fan, it is good to have an exit strategy. I keep my Global Rescue Card on me at all times when I’m out in the field, not just for overseas travel. They provide field rescue services for anyone who is 100 miles or farther from their home.

FAN THE FLAMES

To hunt terrain like what the author tackled in Romania, get in shape for hiking and climbing by developing an exercise program long before your scheduled trip. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

with ankle support.

For lowlands hunting or bowhunting, you need soft soles and flexible but supportive boots. I like my Lowa hiking boots; they are nothing fancy but are incredibly comfortable and breathable. For mountain hunting, Kennetrek is generally regarded as the best. I have my Schnee’s Pack boots for extreme cold.

DON’T GO THIRSTY Water is the most critical thing to think about when packing for a hunt.

Because it is so heavy to carry, I tend to just fill a bladder bag and then bring something that will enable me to refill it. I like the LifeStraw water bottles because you can fill them from any water source and it is purified as you drink it through the

120 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

Fire is the next major concern. I know we should all be able to grab a couple sticks and make one, but it’s not as easy as they make it look like in movies. Having a proper firestarter kit is a wonderful thing when it gets cold and dark on a hunt.

The main points are to have a source of ignition like a flint and magnesium tool with a striker. You might try burning some hand sanitizer if your fire needs a little encouragement. It sounds strange, but it works wonders!

You can also burn Doritos, Fritos, Cheetos and lots of other greasy snacks to help keep your fire going strong. I always have my firestarter tool and some hand sanitizer just in case the flames need a little more spark.

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tive parent here, but I should also mention that sun protection is very important. Skin cancer is a major concern when you spend as much time outdoors as most hunters do, and hats are a great way to keep direct sunlight off of your face. But do yourself a favor and put some sunscreen on the back of your neck, tops of your ears, the backs of your hands and pretty much anywhere else that gets toasty in the sun. As cool as you may feel hunting in a tank top in hot weather, you are probably better off to pick an option that gives you maximum coverage while remaining breathable.

DON’T SETTLE WITH EQUIPMENT This is really important: You need good gear! When you start to hunt in real backcountry and get into the mountains, your gear will mean the difference between an enjoyable

122 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

Fire and water go a long ways toward being comfortable at camp.

The ability to boil water makes life a lot easier.

(BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

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hunt and a miserable one.

I’m a major fan of layering. In cold weather I wear a light base layer then a heavier merino or synthetic under layer, a medium-weight down puff jacket or vest, and then a shell jacket with wind-stopping technology.

And if I get hot I can remove some layers as the day goes on or add more if needed. Sitka makes some really great gear for layering. Their new women’s line has incredible base layers that really saved me while hunting in the high mountains of Asia. I know Walmart sells camo too, but do yourself a favor and spend a little more to keep yourself warm and comfortable. Being miserably cold can be very distracting on a hunt.

READY, AIM, FIRE Finally, know your weapons. Practice, practice, practice with your firearm, bow or whatever you plan to

Get used to shooting off of sticks, from your knees or in a seated position, for some hunts. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

hunt with. Practice from different positions and in different weather conditions. I am a new bowhunter and I had no idea that when I got cold and started shivering I wouldn’t be able to pull my bow as well, which I only learned after I let a javelina escape.

124 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

For the rifle hunters out there, don’t forget to practice shooting positions other than on a bench. The chances of shooting an animal from a seated position with a rock-steady rest are next to zero unless you only hunt from a blind.

It is important to get used to

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shooting off of sticks, from your knees or seated on your bottom. You can get the African-style shooting sticks at AfricanSportingCreations .com. These are my favorites because they break down so you can fit them easily in any gun case to take with you on your adventures.

Besides these tips, it’s important to just be prepared so that you can focus your energy on closing the gap between you and the animal you are pursuing. Don’t let any oversights get in the way of what’s in your sights.

Your next adventure will be more fun if you have everything you need to stay healthy and comfortable. Happy hunting out there, and be safe. CS Editor’s note: Los Angeles native Brittany Boddington is a hunter, journalist and adventurer. For more, go to brittanyboddington.com and facebook.com/brittanyboddington.

Boddington and her dad Craig after a successful tahr hunt in New Zealand. “It’s important to just be prepared so that you can focus your energy on closing the gap between you and the animal you are pursuing,” she writes. “Don’t let any oversights get in the way of what’s in your sights.” (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

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130 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

HUNTING

WELCOME TO HUNTING REMEMBERING A 14-YEAROLD’S FIRST TURKEY HARVEST

By Nancy Rodriguez

P

eck, peck, scratch. Peck, peck, scratch.

Right now I wish I was watching a big ’ol tom do just that.

I imagine myself lining up my orange bead on his vibrant red head, making plans for a turkey dinner.

Instead, I am pecking away at my keyboard and scratching my skin from a newly acquired poison oak rash. I’m still licking my wounds from an unsuccessful spring 2016 turkey hunting season.

It’s the first time in 12 years that I have not harvested a turkey during the California spring season. After spending day after day in the field, with only one opportunity at a bird and which ended with a dimpled shell that didn’t fire, I’d say my wounds are deep. But even with itchy skin and a broken streak of luck, I would have to say this was one of my best hunting seasons yet!

The season was a gift – memora-

Audrey (above and inset, right with her aunt, author Nancy Rodriguez) wasn’t going to let Type 1 diabetes prevent her from going turkey hunting when she was 14. (NANCY RODRIGUEZ)

ble moments I will cherish forever. I was extremely honored to pass the hunting torch on to my young niece, Audrey. She is 14 years old and has wanted to hunt with my husband Joe and me since I can remember.

But different challenges kept her from being out in the woods with us until recently. One of her biggest obstacles reared its ugly head a few

years ago. Audrey became incredible ill and was diagnosed with Type I diabetes.

Yet she is a strong-willed, intelligent girl and isn’t going to let a disease get the best of her.

The first few years after her diagnosis were a roller coaster ride of highs and lows, both physically and emotionally. She struggled to learn

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131

HUNTING

Audrey and aunt Nancy went together to share the moment of an emotional turkey shoot. (NANCY RODRIGUEZ)

about her new reality and the limitations it may have. She had to regain her conďŹ dence to hike any distance in the woods while regulating her glucose needs with all the exertion.

In time, her focus on nutrition,

132 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

along with trial and error, led her to where she is today. With her diabetes in a manageable state and after she studied hard and passed her hunter safety course with ying colors, she is ready to hit the woods.

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HUNTING Audrey lives about three hours from us, so when she comes to visit we practice gun safety and load patterning. We’re teaching her turkey hunting 101. Our friend Shawn, who helped helped me get my very first turkey 12 years ago, recommended putting Audrey in for a limited draw youth hunt.

With Audrey only able to come down one day during the season, we know the stars will have to align for her to draw this one specific day. Yet it is obviously meant to be because she drew the spot!

THE NIGHT BEFORE THE hunt, Audrey tries on her head-to-toe camo as we excitedly laugh with her. She places her purple insulin pump under her camo waistband and tucks in the tubing. As we pack our backpacks, I watch her gather her essentials: water, snacks, extra clothes, plus a few items I wish she could live with-

out. She lines up her insulin meter, juice boxes and emergency glucose tabs. She smiles as she nonchalantly hands me a juice box too. Nothing is going to stop this girl from going turkey hunting!

On opening morning, Audrey and I are walking hand in hand in the dark. We are heading in two hours before sunrise to get set up. Joe and Shawn are leading the way down the pitted dirt road. Audrey has never hiked in the dark before, so I’m sure on top of her excitement and nervousness, she is a bit fearful of all the strange noises we hear in the woods at night.

Almost an hour after starting our hike, the four of us get set up against a group of majestic oaks. We surround ourselves with camo netting and brush ourselves in. The decoy is set up 20 yards out, and with a chill in the air, Audrey and I snuggle up together. I am elated to be sharing this moment with her.

As the sky begins to illuminate, a gobble echoes down the canyon.

Hearts start to pound and smiles spread across our faces. I’m not sure who is more nervous, her or the three of us giggling with anticipation.

We go over possible scenarios that may happen and make sure her shooting lanes are clear. Shawn, an excellent turkey caller, starts working his magic. A gobbler responds to every call. The bird is now out of the roost and on the move.

I hear a soft turkey call coming from down slope and to our left. I look through my binoculars into the inky darkness and barely make out a decoy set up right on the border of our hunting unit. Two adults and a child are leaning up against a tree and working the same bird we are; they have the advantage. We know we are fighting a losing battle, so we sit back and enjoy the show.

The gobbler slowly struts toward their decoy as they patiently wait for

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HUNTING it to cross into their hunting zone from ours. We witness a little 8-yearold boy take his very first turkey with his mother and grandfather by his side. We hear the boom of his shotgun and then the sweetest little voice yells, “I got him, Papa! Hallelujah!

Praise the lord!”

I look at Audrey and think I will see disappointment in her eyes, but she is smiling from ear to ear and says, “I’m glad he got that turkey, because he sounded so happy. There are plenty of turkeys in the woods. Plus watching him take that bird, I feel more confident that I can do it too.”

We all smile knowing the love of the hunt has just been passed down to that little boy.

OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS, we cover miles of ridgelines trying to strike a bird. Audrey checks her insulin numbers frequently and snacks when she

needs to. It’s now early afternoon and we finally strike a group of birds down in a canyon.

We start closing the distance on the fired-up birds as Audrey’s eyes get bigger and her smile grows wider with every gobble. As the four of us sneak through the tall grass, I spot a hen downhill about 80 yards away.

We quickly set up and Shawn starts to call softly. The gobbling is getting closer and our hearts pound.

Audrey props up the gun on her knee and gets lined up in the direction of the gobbles. Two jakes pop over a little rise and into view about 40 yards away. She lines up on the closest one as Joe calmly whispers, “Take him when you’re ready.”

“Really?” she responds.

Her moment has arrived. I know once that trigger is pulled, she will be changed forever With the steady pull of the trigger, the gun sounds and the turkey drops instantly. A flood of emotions rolls

136 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

through her. I hold Audrey’s hand as we walk up to her bird. This could be an emotional time for her, so the guys stay back and let us have a few minutes alone.

Together we hug and sit silently.

Her emotions are mixed as our eyes well up. I am extremely proud of her – not for shooting the bird, but for her willingness to see what hunting is about.

This moment takes me back to my first successful hunt. I remember those mixed feelings and I see them in her eyes now. Excitement, happiness, and sadness flood her all at once as she tries to wrap her head around the roller coaster of emotions she feels.

We sit together and I tell her about the moment of thanks I give after every animal I harvest. I want her to respect the animal, honor the life she has taken and know she is a part of the circle of life. I hope she will feel proud to be a hunter.

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HUNTING She sits quietly for a moment, admiring the turkey and softly stroking its feathers. As tears fall from her eyes she gives thanks. A few minutes pass and together we start our climb up the hill. She proudly puts the turkey over her shoulder with a smile that sweeps across her face again. She is now a hunter.

IT’S A JOYOUS HIKE back to the truck as we all chat about the hunt. That night our family has a wonderful turkey dinner that my 14-year-old niece provided for us. As we eat and reminisce, she beams with the pride only a hunter could know. CS Editor’s note: California’s spring junior turkey season runs from May 7-20. Nancy Rodriguez lives in Cool (El Dorado County) with her husband Joe. She is on the field staff for Prois Hunting Apparel and a brand rep for Rockstarlette Outdoors and enjoys inspiring women to get outdoors.

Audrey is now 16 and has become as passionate a sportswomen as her proud aunt, uncle Joe (right) and family friend Shawn. (NANCY RODRIGUEZ)

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HUNTING

Get The Jump On Bumper Training

Bumpers come in a variety of sizes, colors and textures, and knowing which ones to use when and where is key to successful gun dog training. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

By Scott Haugen

WHEN IT COMES to bumpers, they are

T

colored for a reason. Pick what’s best for the dog, in the range of conditions you’ll be training, then it will be perfectly clear what your bumper choice should be.

Because dogs have dichromatic color perception (yellow and blue), they are not totally colorblind. But they can distinguish various colors based on brightness, or contrast, and that’s where your bumper selection can start.

“Dogs won’t necessarily see the orange color of a bumper, but they’ll see the object,” notes professional trainer and pudelpointer breeder Jess Spradley of Cabin Creek Gundogs (cabincreekgundogs.com, 541-219-2526) in Lakeview, Oregon. “Orange bumpers are good for blind retrieve training because the dog can’t see them like they do a white bumper, but they can smell ’em. Once you handle a bumper, the dog can detect your scent on it, and they can pick up on the plastic smell.

he instant Echo launched from the elevated platform, I could tell she’d lost her mark. The bumper had already hit the water, but the surface looked like a mirror, and she was looking directly into the glare.

The current was swift, and it was too late to pull her back, so I used a whistle and hand signals to direct her downstream. Then I moved her back so she could smell the bumper as it neared. It worked; she got the bumper, though not the way I’d planned.

As I learned that day, my bumper choice was not a good one based on the lighting in both the sky and on the water. I often train in this place but this was the first time I’d been there so late in the day, under clear conditions. I didn’t have a blackand-white bumper or an all-black bumper, so we moved our training session to another location with less glare.

The first time they grab it, they’re getting their slobber and scent on it, and these are how they smell it even though they can’t see it.”

Orange bumpers are more commonly hidden than thrown, as this encourages the dog to use its nose to locate the object.

“You’ll be amazed how far away a dog will smell hidden bumpers,” emphasizes Spradley.

When training against a dark backdrop, a white bumper is a good choice.

“Hillsides, trees and embankments are all good places to use a white bumper,” Spradley continues. “When tossing against a brighter sky, blackand-white-colored bumpers offer good contrast that makes it easier for the dog to see.”

If it’s really bright outside, and if you’re training on water that has a lot of glare, an all-black bumper will be easier for the dog to mark.

Bumpers come in a variety of textures and sizes.

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HUNTING “Some dogs simply don’t like the plastic feel of certain bumpers, for whatever reason, be it harder or softer than their preferred bumper,” Spradley points out. “Try different brands of bumpers to see what most excites your dog.”

“Canvas bumpers can be really good, for a couple reasons,” he adds.

“First, when a pup is losing their teeth in that 4- to 6-month age range, a canvas bumper can help keep them interested in bumpers, as it’s softer and more comfortable to their mouth than hard plastic. Second, scent can be added to canvas, and this can help a dog associate certain odors with a retrieve. For instance, putting duck scent on a canvas bumper will help in training your dog to retrieve ducks.”

AS PUP GROWS and you know you’ll be hunting ducks and geese, even grouse and pheasants, introduce them to large bumpers.

“When the pup is about 6 months old, introduce them to bigger bumpers,” Spradley concludes. “As soon as the pup’s adult teeth start coming in, and they’re comfortable picking up larger bumpers, stick with that. This will make it easier for them when it comes time to retrieve larger birds.”

You can also add weight to a bumper. I started by adding 2 pounds of sand inside a bumper, then 5 pounds, and increased it to 10 pounds using heavier items. When it came time for my dogs to pick up big geese in the 12- to 14-pound range, they could both handle it. And my bigger dog, a tall, lanky male, had no problem retrieving a turkey last fall that tipped the scales to 18 pounds.

When it comes time to start training your dog with bumpers, get a variety and try them all. Now that you know what colors and sizes to get, and why, and what texture can influence a dog’s drive, you’re on your way to more efficient training. Used

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Bumpers are great training tools when it comes to teaching your dog water retrieves, blind retrieves and more. Gradually adding weight to the thick plastic products will prepare your pup for bringing back heavier game birds such as geese. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

properly – don’t let them become a chew toy – bumpers will greatly expedite training sessions, and help you in building the ideal gun dog. CS Editor’s note: Scott Haugen is host of The Hunt on Netflix. To watch some of his basic puppy training videos, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

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HUNTING

This is a collection of various hunting bullets used for big game hunting. All bullets are .270 caliber (.277-inch diameter). The Nosler E-tip and Barnes TTSX (far left two) are nonlead. The rest are lead-based bullets. California hunters should do due diligence when it comes to purchasing ammunition. (INSTITUTE FOR WILDLIFE STUDIES)

THE AMMUNITION DILEMMA

WHAT EVERY CALIFORNIA HUNTER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BULLET CHOICES

By Russell Kuhlman

G

rowing up hunting in upstate New York, I only hunted with shotguns, muzzleloaders and archery equipment.

When I moved west, I needed a rifle. After reading reviews of what cartridge I should buy, I walked into the store and bought an entry-level rifle in .243 Winchester. When I stopped by the ammunition aisle, I searched for a name-brand company I recognized and grabbed the cheapest hunting bullet on the shelf.

I didn’t know much about bullets back then. Nowadays, I test ammunition for a living. As the Institute for Wildlife Studies’ nonlead ammunition outreach coordinator in California, a large part of my job involves researching ballistic tables and testing ammunition in ballistic gelatin.

In addition to shooting bullets for a living, I provide hunters with information and resources on how to switch to nonlead ammo.

I get a lot of questions from hunters. One of the most common is, “Should I buy a $40 box of ammunition instead of a $20 box?” The question takes me back to when I reached

for the cheapest ammunition all those years ago. I had assumed all bullets were the same. I had thought that the expensive bullets must have had extra yet unnecessary features.

But it turns out that those features play a critical role in both the performance of the bullet in the air and once it hits its target.

The ideal rifle bullets for big game expand quickly and retain enough to penetration the vitals. But performance depends on its design. The design of hunting bullets falls into three broad categories: unbonded, bonded and nonlead. All of these bullets can be accurate and kill game, but the ones that are more effective and versatile tend to cost more.

can potentially cause the bullet to fail to penetrate the vitals.

This usually is not an issue when shooting at deer-sized game with broadside shots. However, when taking larger game like elk or moose, the extra tissue can cause premature fragmentation. The bullet simply will not get the job done. The common advice of “use the heaviest grain bullet possible” often refers to hunters using an unbonded bullet.

A 180-grain unbonded bullet may lose 30 percent of its mass to fragmentation and still have 126 grains of mass to adequately penetrate the vitals. Due to this lack of consistently in expansion and penetration, bonded bullets were invented.

UNBONDED BULLETS

BONDED BULLETS

The cheap bullets I bought on the shelf were unbonded. These days, they often run about $20 to 30 when you buy a box of the popular Remington Core-Lokt or Sierra GameKing. But cheap comes with disadvantages. For instance, once they strike an animal, they quickly lose 30 to 50 percent of their mass – sometimes more when they hit bone. While hunting big game, this rapid loss of bullet weight

With a copper jacket bonded to a lead core, bonded bullets hold together when they hit their quarry. In most cases, these bullets only lose 5 to 30 percent of their mass, so even if they strike bone, they retain enough mass and momentum to penetrate the vitals.

Nearly all bonded bullets are marketed as premium hunting bullets, so they are usually more expensive. Nosler Accubonds and Federal’s Trophy

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P.O. Box 1188 Cullman, AL 35056 Tel: 256-739-1606 Fax: 256-739-4683 Toll Free: 800-545-9376 www.zerobullets.com This ballistic gel from Clear Ballistics was shot using a Remington 700 in .270 Winchester from 100 yards. The bullet is a lead-based 130-grain Sierra GameKing, which is an unbonded bullet.

The gel was then X-rayed to show the fragments throughout the wound channel. (INSTITUTE FOR WILDLIFE STUDIES)

Bonded Tip are popular varieties that usually run about $35 to $45 a box.

When using bonded bullets on antelope or similarly sized game, the bullet will expand quickly and typically exit the opposite side. Exit holes give a higher likelihood of a blood trail. It also ensures that the bullet traveled the entire length of the vitals.

A bullet that travels through both lungs is always more effective than a bullet that only reaches one. However, when bonded bullets strike an animal at ultrahigh velocities or close range, the lead core can still fragment and fail to exit.

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146 California Sportsman MAY 2018 | calsportsmanmag.com

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HUNTING

Another ballistic gel test, this time with a 130-grain Federal Copper HP fired from a Remington 700 in .270 Winchester from 100 yards. Federal Ammunition released a copper bullet during the 2016 season that is comparable in performance to other premium bullets, but with a price more similar to the cheaper unbonded bullets.

(INSTITUTE FOR WILDLIFE STUDIES)

Nonlead bullets are typically made of copper or copper alloy and are harder than lead, therefore they are less likely to fragment at high velocities.

While nonlead bullets will not fragment at high velocities, they require at least 2,000 feet per second to expand. Like bonded bullets, nonlead bullets often travel through bone and muscle and exit the opposite side.

With this added penetration, bullets without lead offer hunters more shooting angles on big game.

One thing both nonlead and bonded bullets have in common is the premium price tag. The good news is that more manufacturers, big and small, are producing nonlead bullets. This variable results in prices coming down dramatically in order to be competitive.

Federal Ammunition released a copper bullet during the 2016 season that is comparable in performance to other premium bullets but with a price more similar to the cheaper unbonded bullets. Since premium bullets lose little mass, you do not need to use a heavy weight bullet to bring down game. The advantage of using a lighter bullet is increased velocity and reduced recoil. This is a perfect formula for a younger hunter or someone who prefers lighter recoiling rifles.

BEING A MORE VERSATILE HUNTER Many hunters would argue that paying the extra price for premium ammunition is unnecessary. On the other hand, using bonded or nonlead rounds, you can use the same bullet for deer and elk, foregoing the need of buying an additional larger-caliber rifle altogether for larger game. This is desirable to many Western hunters who carry tags for multiple species while afield.

Having a premium bullet for any situation will up the odds of success.

Luckily for us, every major ammunition manufacturer produces premium hunting bullets. They deserve a place on every hunter’s equipment list when we refuse to sacrifice quality. CS Editor’s note: For more information on the Institute for Wildlife Sciences, go to iws.org.

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the LAST LAUGH

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