California Sportsman Mag - June 2024

Sportsma n Californ ia

PUBLISHER

James R. Baker

GENERAL MANAGER

John Rusnak

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Andy Walgamott

EDITOR

Chris Cocoles

CONTRIBUTORS

Mark Fong, Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Tim E. Hovey, Cal Kellogg, Lance Sawa

SALES MANAGER

Paul Yarnold

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Tom St. Clair

DESIGNERS

Gabrielle Pangilinan, Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Emily Baker

DIGITAL STRATEGIST

Jon Hines

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Katie Aumann

• Issue 8

INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER

Lois Sanborn

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CORRESPONDENCE Email ccocoles@media-inc.com X @CalSportsMan Facebook.com/californiasportsmanmagazine

ON THE COVER

From rainbow trout to landlocked salmon, Napa County’s Lake Berryessa offers convenient access for both Bay Area and Sacramento anglers to get in on some outstanding fishing. (CAL KELLOGG)

MEDIA

941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120 Renton, WA 98057 (800) 332-1736 • Fax (206) 382-9437

media@media-inc.com www.mediaindexpublishing.com Volume

43 HOW TO WORK TROUT STREAMS IN SUMMER

In the second part of a series on filling your summer stringer with trout, Scott Haugen details the different ways to attack fish that head for cooler water in rivers. Haugen says to “diversify your approach to overcome the many challenges of catching pressured trout in rivers and small streams.” And Chef Tiffany Haugen completes the duo’s From Field to Fire feature with a trout recipe flavored by bacon and Japanese spices.

51 STRIPER TO REMEMBER

Mark Fong loves to fish for spring stripers near his Sacramento home, so he was thrilled when guide Dakota Townley invited him to meet in Colusa for a glorious spring day on the Sac River. After scoring plenty of shakers and modest keeper-size fish, find out what happened when Fong hooked up with a much larger linesides.

57 PANNING FOR FEISTY FISH

Keeping with this issue’s size-doesn’tmatter subtheme, anglers shouldn’t dismiss the myriad opportunities for diminutive but hard-fighting crappie, bluegill and sunfish that are ubiquitous in many lakes throughout the state. Cal Kellogg makes a convincing argument why these tasty treats can be a hoot to hook on light spinning gear.

THE GOLDEN ONES

THE EDITOR’SNOTE

When I was younger and obsessed with fishing whenever I could go, with all the greater Bay Area/Northern California fisheries at my disposal, Lake Berryessa was never at the top of my wish list.

Growing up in a Clear Lake and Lake Tahoe family, those were the two spots that I fished at most during overnight trips. I always considered Berryessa a weekend getaway for water skiers, jet ski fans and general pleasure boaters. It was the party lake for the fraternity crowd (I guess these days a more appropriate description would be tech bro central). I knew anglers fished at Berryessa, but I just figured it wasn’t the No. 1 draw for heading to Napa County to wet a line.

But then I finally discovered what a special fishery Berryessa could be. On a last-second whim, my buddy Chris Shaffer of Pautzke Bait called me when I was

back living in the Bay Area around the spring of 2012 and invited me to meet him in Vacaville with the promise of a fishing outing the next day with now retired guide Rick Kennedy.

I was free, so I took them up on their offer, and the next day – a weekday, when the boats were less prevalent – we had an epic morning at Berryessa, landing limits of kokanee while trolling. We had a great time ribbing each other and swapping stories. It was about then that I realized what I’d missed all those years. Granted, I’m still biased about the fishing fun I’ve had at Clear and Tahoe, but Berryessa also has a special place in my fishing memory bank.

This month, Cal Kellogg breaks down Berryessa’s epic trout, landlocked king and bass angling prospects (page 24), while also explaining the decline of the lake’s kokanee fishery. That last one’s a bit of a bummer, considering how plentiful the kokes were back then, but a lot can change

in a decade and a half.

I feel lucky that I grew up in the Bay Area, where there are plenty of productive urban and suburban fisheries to get a break from the reality of living in such a heavily populated area. You don’t have to stray far away from the suburban sprawl of communities like Vallejo, Fairfield and Vacaville to find some great fishing at a place like Lake Berryessa. Just be on the lookout for water skiers when trolling for your dinner. -Chris Cocoles

As longtime local guide Larry Hemphill can attest, Lake Berryessa offers some of Northern California's best fishing for bass, and it's not too shabby for rainbow trout and landlocked kings, something the editor finally was able to experience back in 2012.

(CAL KELLOGG)

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

JUNE

1 Raahauge’s Youth Outdoor Adventure Day, Eastvale; raahauges.com/youth-day

1 North Fork Boosters Club Children’s Fishing Derby, Willow Creek, North Fork; northforkboosters.org

2 Deadline to apply for big game premium hunting tags; wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/hunting/big-game

7-8 Finest Annual Trout Invitational Tournament, Crowley Lake; crowleylakefishcamp.coms

8 New Melones Team Kokanee Derby; kokaneepower.org

8 Greg Marks Youth Fishing Derby, Shaver Lake; shaverlaketrophytroutproject.org/youth-fishingderby

8-9 Good Fellaz Catfish Rodeo, Clear Lake, Library Park, Lakeport; allevents.in/lakeport/3rd-annual-goodfellaz-catfish-rodeo/200026294436150

14 Golden State Salmon Association Fundraising Dinner, Santa Rosa; goldenstatesalmon.org

15 Davis Lake Derby; (530) 832-0270

15 Fishing in the City Clinic, Hagan Community Park, Rancho Cordova; wildlife.ca.gov/fishing-in-the-city/

16 Father’s Day Fishing Derby, Yuba and Downie Rivers, Downieville; sierracountychamber.com/ event-516-5256

22 Bridgeport June Trout Tournament; Bridgeport Reservoir and East Walker River; bridgeportfish.com, (760) 616-4214

29 TroutFest (free for kids 12 and under), Hot Creek Hatchery; monocounty.org

29-July 7 Mono Village’s Annual Summer Fishing Derby, Upper Twin Lake; (760) 932-7071

JULY

1 Rabbit and varying hare hunting season opens 1-31 How Big Is Big Fishing Derby, West Walker River; northernmonochamber.com/events

4 Fishing Expo, June Lake; monocounty.org/thingsto-do/fishing/fishing-events

6 Free Fishing Day in California, no general license required in state waters; wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/ Fishing/Free-Fishing-Days

13 Don Pedro Lake Team Kokanee Derby; kokaneepower.org

13 Zone A archery deer hunting season opens

27 Zone B-4 archery deer hunting season opens

27-28 Ultimate Frog Challenge, Russo’s Marina, Bethel Island; anglerspress.com/events/ultimate-frogchallenge

For a list of upcoming bass tournaments, go to nrm.dfg. ca.gov/ FishingContests/default.aspx.

Plumas County’s gorgeous Davis Lake is hosting a trout derby on June 15. Call (530) 832-0270 for more information. (CAL KELLOGG)

BERRYESSA’S BOUNTY

NAPA COUNTY FISHERY OFFERS PRODUCTIVE RAINBOW, KING FISHING

By Cal Kellogg

Lake Berryessa is an amazing fishery and it’s going to offer outstanding action for multiple species this summer and fall. The lake is full, bait in the form of threadfin shad is abundant and predatory fish are on the chomp!

I’ve been fishing the lake on and off for a couple decades. Most recently, I’ve taken several trips to the big lake beginning last December. I’m still hitting it once or twice a month as I write these words in mid-May.

Yes, I’ve spent a few hours of late playing with the lake’s fabled black bass population, but the majority of my time has been chasing Berryessa’s rainbows and freshwater kings. I’ve yet to be disappointed!

Undoubtedly, many people

Lake Berryessa’s rainbow trout population has surged in recent years and anglers are landing incredible Eagle Lake-strain fish up to and beyond the 5 -pound mark at this popular Bay Area fishery north of Vacaville. (CAL KELLOGG)

reading this article are familiar with Lake Berryessa, but for those who are not, let me describe the layout of the impoundment.

LAKE BERRYESSA WAS CREATED in 1957 when the Bureau of Reclamation completed Monticello Dam on Putah Creek. It’s the seventh largest reservoir in the state of California. When at full capacity, Berryessa features 21,000 surface acres, 165 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth in excess of 240 feet.

When confronted with a large body of water such as this, I like to break the lake down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Lake Berryessa lends itself to this philosophy well, breaking down into three distinct sections.

On the southeast side of the lake

lies the Narrows. This area is very similar to the canyon reservoirs found throughout the Northern California foothills and it features steep rock and clay banks that quickly fall away into deep water.

At the top of the Narrows, you’ll find the Markley Cove launch facility and the dam. The bay out in front of the dam is known locally as the “Ball Park.” This is an area that is overlooked by many trout and salmon anglers. The action here can be good at times; it’s a great place for small boaters and kayakers, since it’s only a short run from the launch ramp at Markley Cove.

The lake’s main body features mildly sloping banks, large, relatively shallow coves, numerous submerged humps and a very deep central channel. There are three islands about midway down the lake’s western side.

On the northwestern shoreline you’ll find Putah Creek. The flooded creek channel is rocky and contains both deep water and shallow, gently sloping coves.

IN THE BROAD VIEW, the fishing menu at Berryessa has always been robust, with largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass, crappie up to and beyond 2 pounds, bluegill, channel cats in excess of 30 pounds, rainbow trout, king salmon and kokanee.

Bass fishing has always been consistent for both numbers of fish and large trophy-caliber bucketmouths.

The lake’s record bass, a 17.5-pound Florida-strain largemouth, was landed by Delbert Abrams in spring 1988.

As mentioned above, I do enjoy playing with the lake’s black bass. March and April are great months

FISHING

Find the

and you’ll

for chasing spawn and prespawn fish. In May, postspawn bass can provide exciting topwater action early, late, in shadows and anytime there is chop.

In October, bass will be deeper and feeding on masses of shad. Vertical jigging with spoons during this period can be absolutely incredible!

OK; enough about bass. At the core, I’m a coldwater-species guy and love chasing trout and salmon. The menu within this fishery at Berryessa always seems to be in flux. Early in the 2000s, Berryessa was the place to go for large numbers of big kokanee. When the bite hit its stride, limits of 17- and 18inch fish were common; I landed a couple well over 20 inches at that time.

When the kokanee bite peaked, the fishery’s rainbows were badly afflicted with copepods, which are a skin parasite that doesn’t affect the trout’s meat or pose a risk to humans, but they look nasty!

Berryessa’s king salmon have always held third-banana status beside the lake’s kokanee and rainbows.

When the kokes were big and the rainbows looked sickly, the kings were there, but most of them were small to midsized and didn’t get much attention from anglers.

Fast forward 20ish years to the present and the tables have turned. Kokanee are scarce as hen’s teeth, the kings are running from mediumsized 2-pound fish to massive 6-pluspound battlers, plus the rainbow fishery has exploded.

The copepods are nowhere in sight these days and the rainbows are robust, averaging a solid 1½ to 2 pounds and ranging up to 5.

Berryessa is planted with Eagle Lake-strain rainbows, which prosper in the lake’s shad-rich waters. They are sleek, chrome-bright and put up a vigorous and violent fight!

Some folks, myself included, believe a spawning population of Eagle Lake rainbows exists at the lake because you’ll occasionally catch a very small trout that is perfect in every way. They are sleek, chrome

and strong, with perfect scales, fins and tails. They don’t look or fight like a trout that has ever seen the inside of a hatchery.

IN TERMS OF TABLE-FARE grades, Berryessa kokanee get an A+ with their sweet blood-red meat. The rainbows get an A- with pleasingly orange flesh and a nice mellow flavor. The kings get a B- only because I inevitably compare them to those caught in the Pacific.

King filets from Berryessa and other reservoirs lack the orange luster and flavor of their ocean-running cousins. Why? The answer is shrimp. Ocean kings feed heavily on krill, which is what gives the meat the distinct orange color and amazing flavor. Landlocked kings have no access to shrimp. Because they feed 100 percent on baitfish, the table fare they offer suffers as a result.

In recent months, most of my trips to Berryessa have focused on tangling with Eagle Lake-strain rainbows, but when I’ve come across kings, I haven’t

Three western grebes cruise along Lake Berryessa’s main body. The presence of these birds often means there are threadfin shad in the area.

shad

find the lake’s rainbows and kings. (CAL KELLOGG)

FISHING

hesitated focusing on them. Kings are beautiful, put up an awesome bulldog-like fight and provide good fodder for the smoker.

SINCE KOKANEE ARE FEW and far between, I’m not going to burn space talking about how to catch them. Instead, I want to share my observations about Berryessa’s rainbows and kings.

Of course, you can make some basic generalizations about both species. They are at their shallowest in the late fall, winter and early spring when the water temperature is at its coolest.

When the water is cool you can work near the surface, say, from 1 to 30 feet deep. As the surface temperature rises, both the kings and ’bows will drop down in the water column.

Typically, the kings will hold deeper than the rainbows, but that’s a very basic generalization. I’ve been on rip-roaring trolling bites at Berryessa when I couldn’t predict if the next hookup would be a salmon, a rainbow or an ill-tempered spotted bass.

This leads us to my next

generalization: When you find shad, you will often find predators in the form of rainbows, kings, bass, catfish, crappie and birds feeding on the baitfish. In this sense, Berryessa is a little like saltwater fishing. If you find schools of bait, there is no telling what you might catch if you match the predominant forage!

There are really four areas where serious trollers hunt for Berryessa rainbows: the mouth of Putah Creek; the area of the main body from the mouth of the Narrows northeast to the big expanse of open water beyond the Big Island; inside the Narrows; and in Ball Park Bay at the dam.

Many skilled Berryessa trouters prefer working the main body. I agree that the fishing in the main body’s open water can be outstanding, both over the channels and over big, submerged flats, so long as there is bait in the area to hold the fish in a general location.

Often during the winter and into early summer, rafts of western grebes will tip you off to the presence of bait. Any time you see grebes, the area is

worth exploring, particularly if the birds are diving and coming up with minnows clenched in their beaks.

Nathan Kelsch of Big Nate’s Guide Service (bignatesguideservice.com) is a true Berryessa trout and king salmon master who mops up some impressive catches working the lake’s main body. One tip he gives is to avoid working areas with excessive boat traffic.

“Too many guys working one area can make the trout really skittish,” Big Nate disclosed. “For example, there are trout holding around the mouth of the narrows right now, but good luck getting them to go. There have been a lot of boats working them recently, and they are very spooky.”

The mouth of Putah Creek can be hit and miss. If there are trout milling about the area, the action can be fantastic. But if they aren’t there, don’t burn a bunch of time grinding the area trying to draw strikes.

I really enjoy trolling the Narrows. I always like working features that concentrate the fish, and that definitely has that effect. There are two basic strategies in the Narrows. When the

The arches on this sonar unit’s screen represent a pair of Berryessa king salmon hunting along the edge of a submerged hump. The horizontal line above the fish is author Cal Kellogg’s downrigger ball. (CAL KELLOGG)

While Berryessa’s landlocked kings respond to spoons, other good offerings include dodgers and hoochies, as well as rigged bait. (CAL KELLOGG)

FISHING

surface temperature is warm, I like to stay in deep water over the original river channel.

Working the channel will pay dividends all year long, but when the surface temperature is cool, I like to work shoreline structure. There, rainbows like to position themselves between the deep water and shoreline. This gives them the opportunity to push the bait up against shoreline structure, where the shad are easier to run down.

I fish Ball Park Bay just like I fish the Narrows. When it’s warm, I’m out in the middle probing the depths; when it’s cool, I’m lurking along the rocky shoreline.

Lure selection for rainbows is straightforward. Rainbows are strikers and will hit a wide range of offerings. In general, if you want to get into the

fastest action and the biggest fish, you want to run shad-imitating lures. My favorites are spoons and trolling flies.

Speedy Shiners and Trigger Spoons

are local favorites, but Needlefish, Kastmasters and others will get the job done. When the surface temperature is in the 60s, I work fast, in the 2.5 to 3.5 mph range. When the water is colder the fast approach still works, but I often have better luck downsizing and slowing down a bit.

My personal-best Berryessa rainbow came this winter. The 5-pluspound battler grabbed a shad-pattern Junior Trigger Spoon trolled 10 feet deep at 1.8 mph from my Hobie Pro Angler.

For trolling flies, Arctic Fox shadpattern offerings work great, as do Metal Heads. I had some memorable action this winter power trolling lightcolored Metal Heads in Ball Park Bay at 3 mph right along the shoreline.

Most days, lures in chrome, blue, purple and white will get hit, but there are times when the trout prefer the bright stuff, so it pays to have a range of color choices.

FOR KING SALMON RESIDING in any lake, including Berryessa, you can cut your lure selection down to three basic offerings: spoons trolled fast; dodgers paired with light-colored hoochies; and rigged baitfish in the form of frozen shad or anchovies.

If the kings are in the mood to chase, you can’t beat Speedy Shiners, Speed Spoons or Trigger Spoons. If the salmon

Spoons are the hands-down best offering for the reservoir’s rainbow trout. Shad patterns often work best, but there are some days when bright stuff produces strikes. (CAL KELLOGG)

Angler Abdul shows off a big king salmon and rainbow trout landed trolling a Trigger Spoon in purple haze during a recent outing in Berryessa’s popular Narrows.  (CAL KELLOGG)

FISHING

aren’t feeling aggressive, the hoochie and blade approach works well, but so does rolling bait if you don’t mind the hassle of rigging and storing it.

Kings are biters and much of the challenge of catching them comes in the form of finding them. Berryessa is a big place and the salmon tend to move around more than they do at other reservoirs where kings consistently hold in a handful of locations.

Some anglers like to do their salmon trolling in open water. While I partake in open-water fishing at times, I learned to troll kings along the California coast, where the best action often takes place in proximity to structure. I’ve applied this approach to hooking landlocked kings and it’s generally worked out pretty well for me.

When searching for kings I look for bait and deep suspended marks. Often those deep marks are salmon that have fed and are resting. You can

work these marks and score some fish, but you’ll often do better trolling shallower around adjacent structures, where the most active fish go to hunt.

You might mark a few fish on the structure or you might not see any. I’ve caught a lot of big kings working structure areas where I wasn’t marking any fish. I call it trolling on faith. Give it a shot. When you find a big 5-pluspound king on the end of your line when the sonar screen was devoid of life, you’ll develop faith straight away.

You’ll sometimes find the kings relating to shoreline points that drop into deep water. At other times the structure will be in the form of high points well offshore. Having a sonar unit equipped with GPS and a topo map is a great tool to have for this work. For example, you might find success working the sides of a high spot that tops out at 50 feet deep with 100 feet of water surrounding it.

When targeting landlocked kings at Berryessa or any other reservoir, remember this advice: Keep your lure selection simple. Look for active kings on structure, because kings love to hunt near points and humps. Don’t be afraid to work around structure where you aren’t marking fish.

Power trolling with spoons is a great approach in this situation because it allows you to cover maximum water in the shortest time. Once you locate some salmon, you might continue pulling in fish on spoons or you might do better slowing down and breaking out the blades and hoochies. Where you find one king, there are generally more in the same general area. CS

Editor’s note: Cal Kellogg is a longtime Northern California-based outdoors writer. Subscribe to his YouTube channel Fish Hunt Shoot Productions at youtube. com/user/KelloggOutdoors.

Kellogg caught this average-sized Berryessa ’bow while trolling a silver Trigger Spoon just beneath the surface on a foggy morning’s kayak adventure. (CAL KELLOGG)

STAKING A GOLDEN TROUT CLAIM

FISHING TINY SIERRA CREEKS FOR CALIFORNIA’S STATE FISH

By Tim E. Hovey

Afew years ago, just out of curiosity, I picked up a marine fisheries identification book and started leafing through each page. I wanted to figure out how many species of fish I had caught in my lifetime as an angler. Adding in freshwater fishes, the final tally was a little over 150 species.

Just like with any career experience list, the older you get, the harder it is to add new items to it. After my tally, I began to think that it would probably be a very long time before I could add another fish species to the list. My hunting buddy Ed Davis quickly changed my mind on that.

Ed and I have been hunting and fishing together for nearly 20 years. We were brought together by a love of the desert and our predator hunting obsession. I’m convinced that Ed is the best predator caller out there and he uses nothing more than a $10 plastic call. I don’t think we have ever made a trip where we didn’t call something in.

It was during one of these trips that Ed mentioned we should plan a trip to chase golden trout in one of the highmountain lakes of the Sierra Nevada. I had heard about California's state fish, but to be honest, I didn’t know enough about the species or the location to plan a trip. But within a few weeks of talking about it, Ed and I were driving the curvy mountain roads to fish for golden trout.

Ed made it clear that the best

way to target this species is with a fly rod. I had a little experience with fly fishing, but I was far from comfortable or proficient swinging a three-weight rod. He assured me that I could handle it.

WE PULLED INTO THE parking area and started getting our gear ready. Ed weeded through his flies and pointed

out some patterns that had worked in the past. I had accumulated a few flies of my own and picked up a couple of specific patterns with Ed’s instruction. We hiked out across the meadow and found the narrow, highmountain creek. The stream was very small; if you didn’t know it was nestled in the center of the meadow, you’d never know it was there.

California’s state fish might not grow large, but size doesn’t matter for anglers who catch colorful and iconic golden trout in Sierra creeks. (TIM E. HOVEY)

FISHING

We hiked upstream a bit and decided to split up. Ed quickly demonstrated how to cast the creek. He made a couple of false casts and expertly landed his small fly on still water on the 24-inch-wide creek. I watched as the fly floated motionless for a few seconds before a dark shape raced out and grabbed it. Within seconds Ed was holding the first golden trout of the trip.

He gently unhooked the 6-inch fish and showed it to me. The colors on the trout were amazing. The belly was fire-orange colored, blending into a honey-colored body. The pectoral and anal fins were orange and edged with a cream color. A brilliant red strip stretched from the gill plate all the way to the tail. This strip laid over olive-colored “thumbprint” markings along the

For the two anglers, the hike across the meadow to the tiny creek was a big part of the excitement. (TIM E. HOVEY)

FISHING

side of the trout. It was definitely the prettiest fish I had ever seen.

DUE TO ITS STRIKING beauty, the golden trout was named California’s state fish in 1947. Native to only the Golden State, it seems perfectly fitting that the golden trout represents the state as its signature freshwater fish.

“You don’t need to make long casts,” Ed tipped. He gave me a few

pointers at the creek and then headed upstream to catch fish. I moved a little downstream to give Ed some room and started fishing.

As I moved near the creek, I noticed that the ground was spongy. I also noticed that the trout seemed to feel me approaching if I was heavyfooted. Once I saw that, I started creeping up to likely spots, then knelt and waited.

It took me a while to catch one. On more than one occasion I was completely unprepared for how quickly the trout responded to the floating fly. Finally, after refocusing, I made a cast to a wider area of the creek. I quickly took the slack out of the fly line and waited. The fly drifted about 2 feet and I watched a trout dart out from the bank and grab it. I set the hook and lifted my first golden trout out of the creek.

I took a few photos, gently unhooked the fish and placed it back into the water. I heard a yell from upstream and looked up to see Ed hooked up again. Now that I had figured it out, I knew I had some catching up to do.

We spent the next two hours fishing the shallow creek and catching goldens. There were several fly patterns that seemed to work best that day. I fished with a Parachute Adams and an imitation ant pattern. Ed tried several different flies and mentioned that the trout didn’t seem to have a preference.

As the sun dropped a bit, we decided to call it a day. We had worked our way

Have yourself a golden day, Ed Davis! He caught plenty of the beautiful trout. (TIM E. HOVEY)

A Parachute Adams dry fly pattern was very effective on this sunny morning. (TIM E. HOVEY)

Our guide service offers a variety of fully outfitted and expertly staffed single- and multi-day trips on the Deschutes, Klickitat, Columbia and Sandy Rivers. Whether you are a curious beginner or a seasoned pro, call or swing by the shop to get the gear and info you need to maximize your time on the water!

“Since fishing for the golden trout with Ed, I’ve added a couple more new species to my fish list,” author Tim Hovey says. “However, I don’t think any fish on that list will ever top the experience of fly fishing the picturesque Sierra for goldens.” (TIM E. HOVEY)

upstream close to half a mile, and on the walk back we talked about the fish we caught. As expected, Ed caught a lot more golden trout than I had.

“Hey, check this out!” Ed said. He stopped and reached into his pocket for his camera. After a few seconds, he held the screen up to show me a trout bigger than any I had seen that day. The golden pictured in Ed’s hand was easily 12 inches long. Clearly, Ed won the fishing day.

AFTER THAT INITIAL TRIP,

Ed and I would make several more visits to the golden trout meadow to fish. We started making it a regular thing during our early-summer outings to call for coyotes. And honestly, I started really looking forward to casting flies in the narrow creek during those trips.

Since fishing for the golden trout with Ed, I’ve added a couple more new species to my fish list. However, I don’t think any fish on that list will ever top the experience of fly fishing the picturesque Sierra for goldens with my friend. That time in the meadow, looking for gold, will be tough to beat. CS

FROM FIELD...

FOR SKITTISH RIVER TROUT, MIX IT UP

SUMMER FISHING TIPS FOR STREAMS AND CREEKS  (SECOND OF TWO PARTS)

By Scott Haugen

In last month’s column we looked at trout fishing in the upcoming summer conditions. We covered how to go about first finding the fish, then catching them in lakes.

California also has a lot of great river and small stream trout fishing. In part two of our summer trout preparation series, let’s take a closer look at boosting catch rates on rivers.

TAKE THE LOW ROAD

One day on a river, three teenagers were in my drift boat. We’d fished all afternoon without a bite. At the bottom end of the last hole I dropped anchor and ran divers and bait, since the youths struggled to cast.

In less than 20 minutes we had three limits in the boat. The kids were elated and so was I, but what really surprised me was how low in the river the trout had moved, likely forced there due to

low, clear conditions, lots of ospreys on the prowl and heavy river activity.

For the back-trolling setups, I removed the hooks from a 2.5 Mag Lip, ran a 24-inch leader off the back and baited it with half of a nightcrawler and a small chunk of bay shrimp, the kind you put on salad. This has been my goto approach when the fishing is tough in rivers that allow fishing with bait, as back-trolling bait is a very effective way to cover water and locate fish.

Flies are one great way to target summer trout early and late in the day, ideal times to fish California’s rivers and creeks. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

FISHING ... TO FIRE

KICK UP MILD TROUT WITH JAPANESE SEASONING

By Tiffany Haugen

One of the main reasons so many people love eating trout is their mild taste. Because of this, the flavor profiles you can add to trout are endless.

Just think of some of your favorite cuisines around the world – or family favorite recipes

– and decide if those tastes might work with trout you’ll be catching this summer.

Furikake, a Japanese multi-purpose seasoning, adds savory pizazz to almost anything you put it on. Furikake is the perfect blend of seaweed, toasted sesame seeds and other Japanese seasonings; it is most often sprinkled over rice.

Bacon is a popular add-on across many cultures and can jazz up any meal of the day, even when combined with furikake. A little bit of bacon can go a long way to add smokiness, saltiness and crunch to that trout.

Paired with bacon, chives and a little spicy mayo, your trout won’t know what hit it.

Truth be told, this recipe goes well with any fish species, even with fish you may have in the freezer. We often take it camping and on road trips, as it’s simple and easy to add to any fish. Furikake can be found in the Asian section of most grocery stores. Trader Joe’s even carries its own store brand imported from Japan.

1 large trout filet

½ fresh lemon

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 to 2 teaspoons Sriracha

½ teaspoon white sugar

1 to 2 tablespoons furikake

Two to four slices cooked bacon

Two to three green onions or chives

Rinse trout and pat dry. Place skin-side down onto a baking sheet or aluminum foil. Remove bones as desired. In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, Sriracha and sugar until thoroughly combined. Chop bacon into bits. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the fish. Spread spicy mayo mixture over the fish filets. Top with a generous sprinkling of furikake and bacon bits.

Bake in a preheated 375-degree oven or medium-high grill for 12 to 25 minutes, or until fish reaches desired doneness or an internal temperature of 135 to 140 degrees. Garnish with chopped green onions or chives.

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany’s popular book, Cooking Seafood and other best-selling titles, visit scotthaugen.com.

A Japanese spice-rack staple, furikake, along with a little bacon, will boost the flavor of rainbow trout you catch in California streams. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)

FISHING

Back-trolling plugs alone is also a great way to catch trout in rivers, especially once the sun hits the water and forces fish into faster-moving water and deeper sections with a current. In these settings, trout feel safe. A 50-series Hot Shot is effective, as are small FlatFish and size 2.5 and 2.0 Mag Lips. Frog patterns are hard to beat when targeting trout, followed by pink- and silver-colored plugs.

THE EARLY RISERS

If looking to target trout all day on a river – it is easier to do than on a lake –start early with flies. Before the sun hits

the water, work dry flies that match the hatch in the water you’re fishing.

A two-fly setup with caddis imitations for both offerings can also be effective this time of year.

“This is a popular setup among clients,” offers Chris Wright, a wellknown trout guide in western Oregon (541-913-5963). Wright fishes some of the most pristine rivers in the state.

“I like the top fly being an extra bushy orange stimulator tied on a size 10 hook with the trailing fly being an emerging caddis, a Screaming Banshee to be exact, tied on a size 12 hook.”

Both flies produced on the river

A PLUG FOR A SPECIAL TROUT LURE

Few plugs have had an impact on trout fishing like the Mag Lip. The fact that it can be trolled multiple ways in lakes and back-trolled as well as casted in rivers speaks to its diversity.

For trout, the top three Mag Lip sizes are 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0. It’s the skip-beat action of these plugs that really captures the attention of trout. If wanting to cast a Mag Lip, go with a light line and a long, limber rod. An 8-foot rod and 6-pound monofilament or a thin braid make a great combination. Mag Lips float, so if casting from shore, slow the retrieve so it doesn’t dig into the bottom. If fishing from a boat, you can reel faster to gain more depth. The faster you reel, the deeper the plug dives. -SH

we fished one afternoon together, and other rivers I later tried them on.

As sunlight hit the river, we switched the two-fly presentation to a size 8 dry Chubby Chernobyl on top, followed by a sinking size 12 beadhead nymph below. The subsurface presentation was the winner.

LURING THEM IN

When working deeper holes and slack water with rocky structure and fallen trees, lures can be the ticket. Once the sun beats down directly on the river and trout move into deeper water, it often takes a flashy and aggressive presentation to pull them out of their comfort zone, and this is where spinners, spoons and other lures shine.

For decades now, a top-producing trout spinner has been the Rooster Tail, and they still are impressive. Not only will a Rooster Tail attract strikes in deep water, but also in shallow riffles where trout often hold. Thomas Buoyant lures are also a tackle box must-have, and both the brass and the bronze with red back patterns will pull trout from the depths.

Soft beads are another great artificial

A colorful trout bit this Mag Lip 2.0. Haugen says, “The skip-beat action of these plugs that really captures the attention of trout.” (SCOTT HAUGEN)

bait option for trout. The setup is one I like using for steelhead and silver salmon, just downsized. First, thread on a bobber stop, followed by a 3mm bead, a Beau Mac Bobber Doggin’ size small float, then another 3mm bead. Tie the mainline to a barrel swivel and to the other end of the swivel, tie a 2-foot leader and an 8mm or 10mm BnR Soft Bead. The Soft Bead will be held in place with the T-stop that comes with the beads. This specialized setup allows you to cover a great deal of water without hanging up, whether drifted from shore, an anchored boat or bobber dogged.

This summer, diversify your approach to overcome the many challenges of catching pressured trout in rivers and small streams. Pay attention to where and when fish move and offer multiple presentations, because catching edgy trout isn’t always easy. CS

Editor’s note: For more on the author, go to scotthaugen.com.

Author Scott Haugen is a firm believer in diversifying your trout fishing approach this time of year. He caught this rainbow on a BnR Tackle Soft Bead. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

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STRIPERS ON THE SAC

A SPRING DAY OF LINESIDE FISHING NEAR COLUSA ENDS WITH A BANG

By Mark Fong

If you have ever wondered what a full-time fishing guide does on his afternoon off, the answer is quite simple: He goes fishing, of course.

When Dakota Townley reached out to me and asked if I would like to join him for an afternoon chasing striped bass on the Sacramento River, I was quick to take him up on the offer.

COLUSA CALLING

On a picture-perfect spring day, I pulled up to the Colusa Landing Boat Ramp. Colusa is traditionally one of the epicenters for the spring run, with this year being no exception. The docks at the landing were awash with activity. Anglers and their boats were everywhere, some returning from their morning sessions, others departing for an afternoon adventure.

After unloading my gear, I made my way down to the dock, where Dakota was waiting for me in his spacious 23-foot Willie jet sled. It was there that he introduced me to his close friend and fellow guide who would be joining us for the afternoon, Jacob Frye.

Once underway, Dakota headed upriver to an area that had been producing fish for the previous several days. I had never been on this stretch of the Sacramento before and took the

Guide Dakota Townley shows off a nice Sacramento River spring striper. The guys caught a lot of smaller fish throughout the day, but the action for larger ones would eventually heat up. (MARK FONG)

FISHING

opportunity to take in the experience and enjoy the river’s beauty.

After about a 20-minute run, Dakota took the boat off plane and shut down the big 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. As he started up the kicker motor, he told me that he wanted to start off trolling.

While he positioned the boat for

our first trolling run, Jacob rigged up our gear, which featured the new Fish Kevin Brock 7C 7-foot, 9-inch rods, Shimano reels, 50-pound-test braided line with monofilament leaders, plus an assortment of bright-colored, deep-diving minnow plugs tipped with red and white Fish Kevin Brock Killer Custom Trolling Worm Tails.

TROLLING TACTICS

I have done a lot of trolling for stripers in the Delta. In fact, the gear is identical, all the way down to the worm tails. But that is where the similarities end. In the Delta, the goal is to cover water to find fish, so long trolling runs are the norm. I learned that trolling on the river was very different. Because there are so many snags, submerged trees and underwater obstructions, trolling runs are very targeted and can be quite short.

Under Dakota’s watchful eye, I proceeded to let out 80 feet of line. It did not take long for Jacob to hook up with a small striper, which he quickly released. Then it was Dakota’s turn to put a small legal-sized fish in the boat, but it was also returned to the water. Over the course of the next hour or

so, Dakota checked a few key areas and the results were the same: a fish here and a fish there, including my first lineside of the day.

Dakota knew that I wanted to throw swimbaits, so we put the trolling gear on hold for a while and intargeted a number of key stretches of river that were prime swimbait water. Both Dakota and Jacob like to use Fish Kevin Brock Custom Swimbaits. Dakota gave me a solid white 5-inch swimbait that he rigged with a 1/2-ounce swimbait head to tie on.

We fished a lot of good-looking water, but the bass were not there or just not in a mood to cooperate. With

The Colusa area, about an hour north of Sacramento, is a hotbed for finding spring-run stripers, but unlike the Delta, long trolling passes aren’t common here due to all of the obstructions in the river. (MARK FONG)

Fellow guide Jacob Frye (left) joined Townley and author Mark Fong on a glorious spring day in the Sacramento Valley. (MARK FONG)

Townley’s fish finder spotted some schools of linesides, and as the guys would discover, some big bass were lurking … (MARK FONG)

FISHING

just a few short strikes to show for our efforts, Dakota decided to make one final move to a shallow flat with heavy current.

On my second cast to the edge of the flat, I felt my rod begin to load up and in an instant I was hooked up with my first swimbait fish of the afternoon. While the bass was not large, it was a solid legal fish. After several spirited runs, I had the fish at the side of the boat where Dakota quickly netted it. A quick moment for a photo and soon the fish was free to fight another day. Several minutes later the process repeated itself: cast, strike, hookup, fight, net, release.

MORE TROLLING, BIGGER STRIPERS

With the swimbait bite not exactly on fire, Dakota elected to return to trolling. Using his Garmin Electronics, he

started graphing a high-percentage area. It wasn’t long before he located a big school of stripers.

With our lines in, the fish quickly began to cooperate. Dakota was first to hook up with a solid fish, and then it was Jacob’s turn. And so it went as Dakota continued to work the area.

But what good is a fishing story without a big-fish tale or a lament about the one that got away? Well, this trip had both. During our magical feeding frenzy, I managed to hook, fight and lose a really nice fish. But this was also about when the action got more interesting and better.

Just as the sun began to get low in the sky, I hooked up with a big striper. As I maintained pressure on the fish, it came to the surface and made a beeline for a group of submerged trees near the shoreline. Luckily for

me, the bass decided to swim back towards the center of the river, where there were fewer obstructions in the water that it could use to break off my line.

After several more powerful, spirited runs, I was able to work the big striper to the side of the boat, where Dakota skillfully slipped the fish into the net. We took a moment for a quick photo before Dakota carefully returned the fish to the Sac.

This was the perfect ending to a great afternoon of fishing. The big striper weighed in just shy of 25 pounds, a personal best for me, and made it a day to remember. CS

Editor’s note: To book a fishing trip or to learn more, you can follow Dakota Townley on Facebook or contact him directly at (530) 680-3717.

… Sure enough, Fong landed his personal-best striper, this 24-plus-pound beauty. (MARK FONG)

Michael Shufeldt

2.8L

LITTLE FISH, BIG FUN

By Cal Kellogg

Afew years back, I was guiding NorCal trout anglers at a smallish reservoir in November. With clients scheduled every day, rather than towing my big pontoon boat back and forth from the lake, I grabbed a slip on the outer edge of the lake’s marina.

When my wife Gena came to visit me one weekend, she suggested we target catfish one afternoon after I’d

CALIFORNIA ANGLERS SHOULDN’T NEGLECT CRAPPIE, BLUEGILL AND SUNFISH

finished up with my clients. The water temperature was in the upper 50s and my boat was docked over 35 feet of water at the mouth of a cove. I figured we could set up at the dock, break out some snacks and enjoy a relaxing afternoon and evening of soaking bait.

The bites started almost as soon as our nightcrawler-adorned 6/0 hooks made it to the bottom. At first, we thought the action was from light-biting catfish, but after reeling up bare hooks a few times we realized that whatever was cleaning

our hooks weren’t catfish.

“I want to know what’s down there stealing our bait,” my wife said, plucking a spinning rod rigged for fishing PowerBait out of a rod holder. She put a tiny piece of nightcrawler on the rig’s small octopus hook and eased it down to the bottom.

Sure enough, within minutes the rod’s tip wiggled to life and then drew down into a pulsing bend. Fish on!

I was thinking small trout, but

Once bluegill and sunfish eclipse the 6-inch mark, they put up an outstanding fight on light spinning gear and provide a pair of thick, tasty filets. (CAL KELLOGG)

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when Gena reeled the fish to the surface, I was shocked to see a big bluegill measuring just over 7 inches in length.

My experience with bluegill was restricted to fishing for 3-inchers next to the tules in the California Delta with a bobber and red worm when I was 8. What the heck, I wondered, are bluegill doing in 35 feet of water holding on a clean bottom free of weeds, wood or any other sort of cover or structure?

As Gena cranked up and released jumbo bluegill after jumbo bluegill, I got more and more intrigued, and this set me on a quest to learn more about the panfish inhabiting our California reservoirs.

What I’ve learned is interesting and it may well prompt you to give

panfish fishing a try.

A FEISTY ALTERNATIVE

Spend a day on a Northern or Central California reservoir and you’re going to see two basic types of fishing crafts: bass boats and trout/salmon boats. The explanation for this is simple: The Golden State’s reservoirs offer world-class bass fishing and amazing opportunities for trout and landlocked salmon.

As a result, any gamefish that doesn’t fall into the category of bass, trout or salmon goes largely overlooked. Back East, you’ll find an entire industry focused on panfish, and you can even book a guided trip for bluegill or crappie. In California, you’ll only find the most rudimentary

panfish gear stocked at our local tackle shops.

You can find a few panfish guides who chase Clear Lake’s fabled crappie, but step beyond that unique lake and you’re hard pressed to find anyone who knows much about a panfish trip.

Like me, when anglers uninitiated in the ways of bluegill, green sunfish and crappie think of targeting panfish, their minds fill with images of spring fishing either in the form of soaking a worm under a bobber or working a marabou crappie jig around a fallen tree.

Ask just about any avid reservoir angler where to find bluegill in September and their face will go blank and take on the appearance of a computer in need of a restart.

The sexy part of any fishery,

Black crappie like this handsome fish are the most common crappie caught in California waters, but white crappie are found at many lakes too. In terms of the filets they produce and the habits they exhibit, the species are very similar. (CAL KELLOGG)

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be it bass, stripers or kokanee, comes in the form of the baits and presentations used to catch them, but the cornerstone of consistently hooking up comes in understanding the habits of the fish. The same is true of panfish fishing. As a result, we are going to dive into the panfish lifestyle as we discuss offerings and presentations throughout the year.

CRAPPIE

Temperature is the key factor in panfish movement and behavior. When the water is in the lower to middle 40s you can expect crappie to post up tight to the bottom in 30 to 50 feet of water. These fish will be lethargic and unwilling to chase a bait, but with patience you can get

them to go on small minnows and slowly worked hair and marabou jigs.

Natural jigs made of feathers and hair typically outperform plastic baits when the water is cold since natural fibers offer more movement. Plastic becomes stiff in cold water and the lack of subtle movement translates to a lack of strikes from lethargic crappie.

In later winter and very early spring, when the water temperature first begins inching up, male crappie and smaller females will begin elevating in the water column. You’ll find the fish suspended 20 to 40 feet deep offshore of areas where spawning will eventually occur.

With the rise in temperature, crappie become more aggressive. These fish will grab jigs. Finding the suspended

During the spring when lake levels are high and panfish gravitate toward the shoreline, banks lined with fallen timber and big rocks are a great place to start your search for crappie and bluegill. Rock-studded coves are also good in fall. Start shallow and work your way out toward deep water (CAL KELLOGG)

schools can be a chore on big reservoirs, so slow-trolling minnows pinned on jig heads, small spoons, soft plastics and small crankbaits make for a great way to cover water as you search for fish.

Once you hook a crappie, drop a waypoint on your GPS and then work the areas with vertically presented minnows and jigs.

If you want to hook larger crappie during this period, look for the big females to be close to the mass of suspended fish, but typically they will hold deeper. These larger fish show a strong preference to hold around submerged creek channels that they will eventually use as travel lanes to the spawning grounds.

The closer the crappie move to shoreline spawning grounds, the more aggressive they become. You can catch prespawn fish on small crankbaits, spinners, curly tail grubs and other fast-moving presentations. Spawning takes place when the water hits the 60- to 65-degree mark. This is when crappie are easiest to

FISHING

catch while working shallow water with curly tail grubs and tube baits. You’ll be able to hook crappie on the spawning grounds until the water temperature eases into the 70s.

As water temps continue to climb in early summer, the crappie can spread out and retreat from the spawning grounds using the same routes they used in the prespawn period. Look for them to hold around any type of structure in the form of stumps, standing trees or rock formations. During much of the summer, crappie will hang out in deep water oriented to submerged creek and river channels.

The defining factor for crappie throughout the year – except during the period when they are actively spawning – is the presence of baitfish in the form of pond smelt and threadfin shad. Crappie eat smaller fish. Find the bait, especially scattered bait, and crappie will often be close at hand.

BLUEGILL AND GREEN SUNFISH

Here in California, some of our lakes have bluegill, some have green sunfish and some have both. Because these fish look alike, for our purposes we can use the same approach for catching either species.

In terms of size, I think the green sunfish average a little larger in most waters; however, this is a generalization based on my observations.

During late fall and winter, when the water is below 50 degrees, you’ll find most of the sunfish holding in deep water ranging from 25 to 50 feet deep. They may hold near rock structure, or you might find them suspended just off flat, featureless expanses of firm bottom.

When the water is at its coldest, members of the sunfish family are all but inactive. Small baits like wax worms and ultrasmall finesse jigs will hook fish when presented within a few inches of the bottom. During the dead of winter, hooking sunfish requires a methodical, patient approach.

As winter gives way to spring and temperatures climb into the upper 50s, sunfish begin moving into shallower water. This is the prespawn period. The fish can range from lethargic to aggressive, depending on the weather. When it has been warm and calm and water temps spike during the day, you can often find sunfish in 10 to 25 feet of water along the outer edges of coves that will host spawning fish in

late spring and summer.

Rising temperatures make for aggressive sunfish that want to feed. Red worms and crickets are great baits when rigged on modified dropshot rigs. Small tube jigs, hair jigs and curly tail grubs will also hook fish when they are feeling frisky.

When a cold front moves through you can expect the sunfish to retreat into deeper water and you’ll note a decrease in aggressiveness. I’ve had success at such times soaking a third of a nightcrawler inflated with air on the same sort of Carolina rig we use for targeting trout.

It’s a do-nothing fishing approach. The wriggling chunk of worm captures the interest of the lethargic sunfish and represents an easy meal they can capture with minimal effort.

Sunfish will spawn in 1 to 4 feet of water when the water temperature climbs into the 70. In clear lakes you can often sight fish for them in the backs of coves. If the water is stained, fan cast the same types of areas.

During the spawn, sunfish are aggressive and will attack anything approaching their nest. You can hook spawning fish on natural baits, but

Jumbo bluegill like this one will hit a variety of artificial lures at times, but day in day out, natural baits are the most effective offering for bluegill and panfish. (CAL KELLOGG)

When crappie, bluegill and sunfish are spawning one of author Cal Kellogg’s go-to offerings is a bright-colored 3-inch Trout Trix worm wacky rigged and dead sticked in the backs of coves where spawning activity takes place. (CAL KELLOGG)

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since the fish are so aggressive, it makes sense to run with artificials.

I’ve done very well at this time with a variety of soft plastics and flies such as a No. 8 Woolly Bugger teamed with a split shot and worked with spinning gear.

During the summer, as water warms up to above 70 and 80 degrees, you’ll find small sunfish in the shallows, but the big units tend to retreat into deeper-water areas ranging from 15 to 30 feet down.

A summer sunfish hunt should begin at the mouth of coves. Exploring cover is a good way to go. Sunfish will hang out around submerged wood and rock formations, but the thing they love above all else is weeds. If you can locate areas that support deep weedbeds, you’ve stumbled on a honey hole that will likely produce fish year after year.

Jigs and flies will produce fish all summer long, but I’ve found natural baits teamed with slip bobbers work the best. Red worms, jumbo red worms and crickets are my go-to baits

that sunfish just can’t seem to pass up.

Come fall, sunfish act a lot like trout in the sense that on an instinctive level they know the lean days of winter are right around the corner, so they need to put on weight to survive.

The reason more anglers don’t catch these aggressively feeding fish during October and November, when the water temperature is in the high 50s and dropping, is that the sunfish will almost always be holding in water deeper than 20 feet.

You simply will not find fall sunfish hanging around areas that were packed with them during the spring and early summer.

The aforementioned sunfish I described my wife catching at that reservoir are a prime example of fall behavior. The fish were in open water and hunting for targets of opportunity along the bottom.

At such times, you can take sunfish on small jigs, jigging spoons and a long list of natural baits, including small minnows, crickets, mealworms, red worms and even mini-crawlers.

FINAL THOUGHTS

All things considered, crappie are more geared to anglers who like to fish artificials. Their proclivity for gobbling bait makes them good targets for jigs, spoons and soft plastics.

Sunfish, on the other hand, have a much wider-ranging diet than crappies. Sunfish love insects and invertebrates. Will they gobble a small minnow or smack a minnowimitating jig? Yes, but I get the distinct impression they’d rather be seeking a cricket or worm.

In terms of table fare, both sunfish and crappie are yummy and as a side benefit, they are among the fish species least impacted by the mercury contamination in our reservoirs left behind by miners during the gold rush.

I don’t expect sunfish and crappie to eclipse the popularity of bass and trout anytime soon here in California, but if you are looking to add a new wrinkle to your fishing calendar, take the plunge and give panfish fishing a serious try! CS

Bluegill and other sunfish are ready strikers that put up a frisky fight. To catch large sunfish consistently, you must gain an understanding of their seasonal movements. (CAL KELLOGG)

CATCHING CARP IN URBAN TOKYO

CALIFORNIA EXPAT EXPERIENCES A WHOLE DIFFERENT LEVEL OF FISHING IN THE CITY

By Lance Sawa

As anglers, we all will look at a body of water and think, “I wonder what kind of fish are in there?”

If you are close to home or know the rules for the area, then maybe you take the chance and fish an unknown spot. There is less chance of going onto private property, fishing

out of season or keeping the wrong fish. Even within the U.S. there is always the worry of fishing in the wrong area.

When I lived in Kansas for a time, this was my main concern every time I wanted to go fishing. I only knew three people who fished; two fished private ponds only and the other only went to one lake in particular. None could help me with the regulations for

the local area. Local bait shops looked at me like I was crazy for not knowing.

It took me a year before I learned the rules and got a Kansas fishing license. It wasn’t difficult, but the uncertainty is unnerving. I ended up catching my first catfish in a little pond not 5 miles from my house. It was there that I used minnows for bass fishing for the first time as well.

After I moved to Japan, almost

Tokyo’s Ichigaya Fish Center features several fishing ponds stocked with smaller goldfish but also large, hard-fighting carp, which the author experienced fighting and catching. (LANCE SAWA)

four years went by before I fished there for the first time. When I was in college I was misinformed by a Japanese exchange student who said that fishing in Japan was difficult. He told it as if you needed to pass tests and fill out paperwork to even start fishing. I thought this was just out of reach until the itch that only wetting a line can scratch took over me.

I was mentally prepared for a long process to start fishing when I went to ask about it at a tackle shop. Much to my surprise, I just needed a permit for the area I was going to fish, about $10 for a day and $100 a year. I’m kicking myself for not fishing all this time, as I could’ve easily walked to a large river.

PAY TO PLAY

This may sound weird but is why I love fishing at paid ponds or fishing

ponds: There’s no worrying about regulations or seasons and the private owner is letting you onto their property, albeit for a fee. Most places I have been to even rent out tackle. This is great if you are traveling and don’t want to lug a tackle box and rods onto a plane or in your car.

EYEING UP A SPOT

There are many of these type of fisheries in Japan where you can go and scratch that itch if you have been away from your normal stomping grounds for a while. Some are much better than others. Some are very accessible for English speakers; others, not as much. One of the best is the Ichigaya Fish Center. Their website (ichigaya-fc.com) even has an English page, which does a good job explaining what you need to know.

You can get there via the JR Ichigaya train station; right from the platform you first see the fishing area. This is useful because if it is too busy, then you can stay on the train and go elsewhere for a while to kill time. The center’s location in the middle of Tokyo makes it close to many places. Then when you come back, you can check again for how crowded it is and get off the train if it looks clear.

CARP CHRONICLES

On this trip into Tokyo I had a halfday open and just knew I had to go to Ichigaya for some carp fishing. I arrived 10 minutes before they opened and there were already people waiting. Right before they opened even more people joined the line to get in, including a small group of middle-school students.

The fishing area is conveniently located across from the JR Ichigaya train station. You can see the ponds from the train platform and check if there’s room to fish at this popular facility near the center of the world’s most populous metropolitan area. (LANCE SAWA)

Rather than targeting goldfish on this day, I thought the large carp would be fun to catch. I like the goldfish area better, but sometimes you want something larger. This fishing pond is known for its large, healthy and strong-fighting carp.

Even though a few koi carp can be seen, most of the fish here are crucian carp. They are a very popular fish to target in Japan, even if most are released promptly and not eaten. They are fierce fighters, and once you catch one you know why they are popular. Here, the fish are raised to supply other fishing ponds as well.

SETTING UP SHOP

As I was setting up and settling in, a friendly carp came by to say hello. It would take the bait from me but not if it had a hook; this was one smart carp!

This is urban fishing to the core, set amid the backdrop of Tokyo’s vast sprawl. (LANCE SAWA)

Ichigaya Fish Center is a popular destination for families. This brother-and-sister duo took turns reeling in fish. (LANCE SAWA)

In the center is a floating dock built right on the Kanda River, which keeps the water fresh and full of oxygen for the health of the fish. With the sounds of the train going by in the background and roaring like clockwork, I started fishing. It quickly became apparent that there were a lot of smart fish here. Where most would avoid bait with a hook, they all eagerly ate dropped bait.

While I waited to tempt a fish of my own, a young boy with his younger sister caught a large carp. He was jumping up and down but wasn’t able to get the fish into the net to remove the hook. The look on his face was great when he finally landed it and then again when he released it. They both waved goodbye to it and said, “See you again!”

ACTION COMMENCES

Twenty minutes later, I was able to hook my first fish. Most were mouthing the bait and I wasn’t able to

set the hook on them. The fight from this one was fierce, but with a strong line and a strong grip on the rod, I landed my prize.

I don’t like to bring the fish onto the dock and have them half in the water, half in the net. If they pop off the hook, they fall into the water, not the hard and dry dock.

This fish had a lovely golden silver color. It was healthy but didn’t want to stop moving. Removing the hook proved to be difficult, but I got it done and lowered the net back into the

water. I thought the fish would splash and jet away, but it just casually swam out of the net and back into the deep water of the river. I said farewell to it.

I put another small ball of bait onto the large hook for the hungry fish. Gently, I put my setup into the water to not scare any others away. The sun was beginning to warm the area and made the fish bite more. Most of the families had caught at least one fish by now – more than that for many.

FAMILY DAY

I watched as one of the families caught a beautiful white and red koi. The children were over the moon and took tons of pictures. The mother couldn’t believe it. The father kneeled down next to it to get a good picture of him with the fish. Some people even clapped. Just as they released the fish, my bobber took off like a rocket under the water. I set the hook on fish number two.

This one fought even harder than the first, though it looked to be about the same size. The thick line screamed as it cut through the water. The fish didn’t go right and left as much as it went straight down. Its dark sides contrasted with my last fish. This one didn’t fight me in the net but did splash me when it went back into the water. With water on my face, I waved at and released my catch.

The last 10 minutes were full of missed bites and stolen bait. Just as my hour was up, I used the last bit of my bait. I put the net back where it belonged and saw just how many people were now there. When the center had opened up there was a line to get in that disappeared quickly, but the line was back. There were almost no places left to sit and fish around the ponds. Even the goldfish angling area was packed.

For about 10 U.S. dollars, I had been able to fish for an hour with a rod rental and bait included. I might have arrived empty-handed, but I left by scratching that itch to fish and making some new memories. What a great way to start the day! CS

Sawa got a good fight from this crucian carp. (LANCE SAWA)

“For about 10 U.S. dollars, I had been able to fish for an hour with a rod rental and bait included,” Sawa writes. “I might have arrived empty-handed, but I left by scratching that itch to fish.” (LANCE SAWA)

KEEP IT CLEAN FOR BETTER GUN DOG HEALTH

By Scott Haugen

Iwas recently at a friend’s house and watched his dog drink from a bowl on the back porch. When I looked closely at the bowl, green algae could be seen covering the bottom. There were also dead bugs floating on the surface.

“You need to wash your dog dish,” I told my buddy.

“It’s fine; he drinks from it all the

YOU WOULDN’T EAT OR DRINK OUT OF DIRTY DISHES, AND YOUR POOCH SHOULDN’T EITHER

time,” was his comeback.

We’re good enough friends that I took a moment to scold and enlighten him. I mean, would you drink from a dirty cup or eat from a dirty bowl? No, and neither should your dog. Dog bowls have been found to be among the most contaminated items in our house. While it may appear your dog is tough, can handle drinking from a dirty bowl and licks their food bowl so clean it doesn’t appear to need to

be washed, think again.

DIRTY DOG DISHES ARE a breeding ground for bacteria and germs such as salmonella and E. coli and can make your pets sick. Aluminum bowls are best, as their surfaces are easy to clean. We have Yeti Boomer dog bowls for both of our dogs. Each has their own inside bowls, share a large drinking bowl in the house and on the porch, and they have their

Be sure to wash dog bowls after each meal with hot, soapy water because they’re one of the most contaminated things in your house. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

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Avoid swimming your dog in warm, algae-infested water this time of year, as it can be a severe health risk. Instead, get them in fresh, clean water for relief from the heat or a training session. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

own travel bowls for food and water that stay in the truck.

Plastic food bowls can be OK as long as they’re not made with bisphenol A, or BPA, and are thoroughly cleaned after each meal. In fact, all bowls should be cleaned with hot water and liquid soap after each and every meal. We have separate scrub brushes devoted to only our dog bowls, as we don’t want to cross-contaminate our dishes.

I wash the dogs’ outside water bowl once a day with hot, soapy water, which is especially important in the summer. Bugs, pollen and plant debris will all collect in a dog’s outside water bowl and these can contaminate the water and make your dog ill.

The residue, even slime, left on a bowl from your dog licking it can also harbor harmful bacteria that can not only make your dog sick, but you or other family members too. Once washed with hot, soapy water, further cleaning a dog bowl with a water/ bleach solution and then letting it air

dry is not overkill. Regularly washing dog bowls on the sanitary cycle in your dishwasher is also a good idea.

I hear folks say all the time that the slime from a dog licking you is harmless. But know that a dog’s mouth contains billions of bacteria, including bacteria from sniffing other dogs, as well as bacteria from things they eat or lick. While dog saliva contains enzymes and chemicals that can help fight some types of bacteria, it’s not a universal antiseptic and it’s certainly not sterile. Dog saliva has the potential to contain parasites like giardia and cryptosporidium, along with salmonella and E. coli, so think twice about letting your pup deliver a juicy kiss or lick an open wound you have.

During summer training sessions, avoid letting your dog drink from roadside puddles, stagnant water –even shallow ponds that hold algae and other potentially harmful aquatic life. Since early March, some of the ponds – even sloughs I routinely swim my dogs in – have been so covered

in algae that I’ve not been able to let my dogs near them. We’ve moved our training and fun swims to rivers, where the moving water is cleaner.

Also be sure to inspect your dog’s gums and teeth regularly – daily is best. Red, inflamed gums are a quick indicator there could be a problem with a food or water bowl.

THE ACTUAL FOOD OR treats you’re giving your dog can also be a potential health risk. You wouldn’t eat low-grade fast food for every meal, so don’t skimp on dog food. Don’t be fooled by popular dog food companies that have the marketing dollars to promote their often lessthan-ideal products. Read labels and know what you’re feeding your dog. Some of the cheapest, most popular dog foods are the most harmful.

We feed a lot of raw food to our dogs year-round. As for their dry food, treats and toppers, NutriSource is what we choose. All NutriSource formulas deliver compact nutrition

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and include prebiotics and probiotics to help support a healthy gut, and they’re developed for specific age classes and activity levels.

At first glance, NutriSource dog food seems spendy, but read the label and you’ll see you can feed less of it at each meal, meaning you actually save money by feeding high-quality ingredients and using less of it. We use a range of NutriSource treats, even handing them to the gas station attendant to give our dogs, versus those unhealthy biscuits.

A happy dog is a healthy dog, and the healthier they are, the longer they’ll live. Take the time to keep things clean and feed your dog the best diet possible.

After all, they’re only with us a very short time. CS

Editor’s note: Watch Scott Haugen’s basic puppy training videos and learn more about his many books at scotthaugen.com. Follow his adventures on Instagram and Facebook.

Author Scott Haugen feeds his dogs NutriSource foods, treats and toppers because of their high level of protein and ability to promote a healthy gut. He feeds a rotational diet, which further promotes healthy digestion, and his dogs love it. (SCOTT HAUGEN)