FISHING • HUNTING • TRAVEL CALSPORTSMANMAG.COM
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California
Sportsman Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource
Volume 12 • Issue 12 PUBLISHER James R. Baker GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott EDITOR Chris Cocoles CONTRIBUTORS Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Art Isberg, Todd Kline, Lance Sawa, Bill Schaefer SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Jim Klark, Mike Smith DESIGNER Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly Baker DIGITAL STRATEGIST Jon Hines ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Katie Aumann INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@calsportsmanmag.com CORRESPONDENCE Email ccocoles@media-inc.com Twitter @CalSportsMan Facebook.com/californiasportsmanmagazine ON THE COVER Tiffany Haugen is excited about the month of September, which for many zones in California represents the peak of deer hunting season. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)
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CONTENTS
VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 12
FEATURES 21
ROOKIE HUNTERS’ CLASS Our Scott Haugen has hunted for decades and he loves teaching newcomers the skills he’s acquired. In the first of a two-part series, Haugen details still-hunting – “when a hunter slowly moves through a habitat, frequently stopping to glass and search (for game)” – a productive tactic for rookies to try. And Tiffany Haugen’s wild game tostadas complete their From Field to Fire column.
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SPECTACULAR SAC SALMON SEASON? Sacramento-area fishing guide James Netzel has read the lofty expectations for the fall run of Chinook salmon on the Sacramento, Feather and American Rivers. That same buzz ahead of 2019’s run didn’t pan out and Netzel and fellow anglers endured a disappointing return. Still, he admits to being “cautiously optimistic” as he prepares to begin taking clients out on the Sac later this month.
41
27
(ART ISBERG)
50 YEARS OF MULEY
HUNTING WISDOM
While blacktails are more accessible to California hunters, there’s something special about heading into the backcountry to score a mule deer. It’s not an easy hunt to partake in, as it often requires trips to high elevation to track down an elusive buck. Art Isberg, who’s hunted this big game target for half a century, often with his son Troy (pictured from a past hunt), shares how to do it.
FRIENDSHIPS AND FISHING From catching salmon out of Ventura years ago to chasing trout and native char on rivers in his new home country of Japan, Lance Sawa cherishes the experiences of fishing with his buddies. In his latest column about an angler’s life as a California expat in the Land of the Rising Sun, Sawa takes one trip down memory lane and another to the water with Japanese fishing partner Takahashi-san.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 9 11 14 15 17 33 47
The Editor’s Note Adventures of Todd Kline Photo contest winners Outdoor calendar Protecting Wild California: Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area improvements Build your gun dog’s confidence with key bridge words Topwater bass bait options
Read California Sportsman on your desktop or mobile device. Go to www.calsportsmanmag.com/digital California Sportsman is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 14240 Interurban Avenue South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Annual subscriptions are $29.95 (12 issues). Send check or money order to Media Index Publishing Group, or call (206) 382-9220 with VISA or M/C. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 2020 Media Index Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A. 6 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
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THEEDITOR’SNOTE
Lance Sawa shows off a trout he recently caught in Japan. His story this month about sharing fishing adventures with friends offers a ray of hope in dark times. (LANCE SAWA) “Ugh, California is a mess. Heatwave, thunder & lightning storms; now more horrible wildfires. My whole house smells like smoke and my eyes are burning.”
I
received that text from my sister Charlene at 8:24 a.m. on a Wednesday in August. Not exactly a great start to a day. The next day, my college buddy Steve sent me a photo of the smoke-filled sky at his family’s farm west of Fresno. “Look at how hazy it is due to all the fires,” that text read. Since March our days have been filled with anxiety and uncertainty, mixed with fear, if not panic, about what the next obstacle will be. I can’t help but feel bitter thoughts about the circumstances faced by some Californians who, while already fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and the unrest in our country’s splintered political cesspool, must now endure more dangerous fires that threatened their homes, and in some instances, their lives. How much more can we all take? I don’t really want to answer that question right now. Maybe we can just find little rays of sunshine through all the smoke that might as well as be an allegory for everything we’re facing right now. Let me offer our American Angler in Japan feature (page 41) from expat Lance Sawa, who shares two fishing stories, one from his youth growing up in Southern California, the other a recent trout and char trip with a friend in rural Japan. I keep thinking about past fishing outings in California with my friends and how I want those simple pleasures in my life again. My oldest friend John – we met each other in kindergarten, over four decades ago – and I were recently swapping texts about going to Clear Lake together about 20 years ago, when we revisited past vacations we’d taken with our families there as little kids. “We should try to do another Clear Lake fishing trip,” read one of my texts to John. But now, as I write this I hope he doesn’t send a text about poor air quality and fire danger. I want John to type up a “Yeah! Let’s do it” confirmation. You need to have hope – now more than ever.
-Chris Cocoles
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10 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
s e r u t n e v d A
W
I participated in mid-August’s FLW Tour event on the San Joaquin Delta. Here’s sunrise on the vast network of waters that make up this huge fishery. (TODD KLINE)
e’re not ashamed to admit it: Todd Kline has the kind of life we wish we could experience. Kline’s a former professional surfer, a successful co-angler on the FLW Tour and a Southern California bass guide, plus he gets to travel the world as a commentator for the World Surf League’s telecasts. Todd has agreed to give us a peek on what he’s up to each month. For more on Todd or to book a guided fishing trip with him, check out toddklinefishing.com, and you can follow him on Instagram at @toddokrine. –The Editor
The air was smoky as Northern California fought terrible wildfires. (TODD KLINE)
Rainbow views from my bass boat. (TODD KLINE)
Here’s a full-grown Delta bass. With so much water available, the fishing can be excellent. (TODD KLINE)
I finished in 20th place and am currently ranked third going into the final tournament in the FLW Toyota Series Western Division season at Clear Lake later this month. (TODD KLINE) calsportsmanmag.com | | SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER2020 2020 California Sportsman calsportsmanmag.com
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On the drive home from the FLW tournament, I made a stop at the Surf Ranch in the Tulare County community of Lemoore to hook up with a pair of longtime friends, pro surfers Kelly Slater (left) and Pat O’Connell (middle) – two of the biggest names in the sport – here in my bass boat. (TODD KLINE)
My son Dylan and I had a great time camping at San Onofre State Beach in San Clemente. What’s a campout without a few s’mores? (TODD KLINE) San Onofre is a “world renowned and historical surf break,” and, yes, we rode a few waves. (TODD KLINE)
Here I am on one of the waves I caught at the Surf Ranch. (TODD KLINE) Back in my “office,” a 13-year-old client landed this giant largemouth on a Coolbaits underspin during our recent guide trip to Lake Perris. (TODD KLINE)
12 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
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PHOTO
CONTEST
WINNERS!
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Barry Dubnow is the winner of our monthly Fishing Photo Contest, thanks to this shot he sent of buddy Jim Goodman and his eastern Washington walleye from early July. It wins him gear from various tackle manufacturers!
Eric Braaten is our monthly Coast Hunting Photo Contest winner, thanks to this pic of he and his northeast Washington bull moose. It wins him a knife and light from Coast!
For your shot at winning hunting and fishing products, send your photos and pertinent (who, what, when, where) details to ccocoles@media-inc.com or California Sportsman, 14240 Interurban Ave S, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for our print or Internet publications. 14 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
OUTDOOR CALENDAR California’s ruffed grouse season opens on Sept. 12, with sooty (blue) grouse also opening up that day. (CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE)
Editor’s note: Because of COVID-19 restrictions, all events should be checked for changes or cancellations. Below are events scheduled in September and October, with websites/phone numbers for updates.
SEPTEMBER 1 1
Opening of first dove season Start of NorCal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association Sacramento Valley River Salmon Fishing Contest; ncgasa.org 4-8 Annett’s Mono Village Labor Day Fishing Derby, Upper Twin Lakes, Bridgeport; (760) 932-7071 5 Statewide Free Fishing Day (no general fishing license required); wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/fishing/free-fishing-days 12 Shaver Lake Team Kokanee Derby; kokaneepower.org 12 Zone Q1 mountain quail hunting season opens 12 Sooty (blue) and ruffed grouse seasons open 12-13 Big Bear Lake Fishin’ For 50K Trout Derby; bigbear.com/ events/annual/fishing-50k 12-20 White-tailed ptarmigan hunting season 19 Most Zones B and C as well as D-6 and -7 deer hunting seasons open 19 Zones X-9A, -9B and -12 deer hunting seasons open 19-26 North zone band-tailed pigeon hunting season 26 Most Zone D deer seasons open 26 Zone X-8 and -10 deer seasons open
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Note: For more details on deer hunting seasons, go to wildlife .ca.gov/Hunting/Deer. Per the California Department of Fish and Wildlife: General bear season opens concurrently with general deer season in the A, B, C, D, X-8, X-9A, X-9B, X-10 and X-12 deer hunting zones. In the remaining deer hunting X zones, bear season begins October 10, 2020. General bear season closes on December 27 or if CDFW determines 1,700 bears have been reported taken before. This includes bears harvested during the archery season.
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PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA
BYPASS BRIDGES SHOULD BENEFIT YOLO BIRDS
‘A MUCH-NEEDED UPGRADE THAT ALLOWS US TO MANAGE THE AREA’S DRAINAGE,’ SAYS CDFW
D
rivers heading across Interstate 80 just before entering metropolitan Sacramento can get a peek at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife-managed Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, a 16,770-acre sanctuary for several species of waterfowl and other wildlife. A recent $4 million project – with contributions from CDFW, Ducks Unlimited and other collaborators – started with the construction of a pair of bridges over the South Davis Drain. When completed the project will add habitat
upgrades and wetlands management improvement. A Ducks Unlimited press release stated the plan would achieve the following for the wildlife area: • Create 200 acres of new wetlands; • Increase the productivity of existing wetlands; • Improve management for rice fields; • Reduce on-site flooding from the South Davis Drain; • Improve access for the public and
K-12 environmental education program. “Parker Pond Unit improvements will restore 220 acres of land through the installation of a new low-lift pump,” said Aaron Will, Ducks Unlimited regional biologist and project manager. “By increasing water supply and reliability, we can restore seasonal wetland habitat for waterfowl and other wetland dependent species.” A two-minute video produced by Ducks Unlimited (youtube.com/watch? v=s76hI4W-gl8&feature=youtu.be) offers
The 16,770-acre Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, located within view of the downtown Sacramento skyline, is undergoing a $4 million renovation project to improve habitat for waterfowl and other species. (DUCKS UNLIMITED) calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 California Sportsman
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time-lapse footage of crews’ work in the wildlife area. “A 350-ton hydraulic truck crane placed the precast concrete bridges, that replace narrow pipes regularly blocked by beavers and debris, improving drainage and water supply in the wildlife area,” the press release explained. “The bridges are part of a $4 million project scheduled for completion in October. More improvements are planned for the summer 2021, if additional funding is secured.” The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy teamed with the state Wildlife Conservation Board to fund this leg of the overall project, and if further funding is secured more improvements to the habitat areas would be implemented in summer 2021. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Consero Solutions and the Yolo Basin Foundation are also part of the group backing the overall project. “We are truly blessed to have such a vibrant Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area right here in Yolo County,” said CDFW area manager Joe Hobbs. “This improvement project provides a much-needed upgrade that allows us to manage the area’s drainage so that our region’s wildlife species can continue to thrive.” CS Editor’s note: For more information on visiting the Yolo Basin Wildlife Area, which offers tours and also provides bird hunting opportunities, go to yolobasin.org/yolobypasswildlifearea. Like them at facebook.com/yolobasinfoundation.
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F
FROM FIELD...
HUNTING
FROM FIELD...
Still-hunting is actually a form of slowly moving through the woods, looking for animals and sign and carefully listening as you go. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
PUT STOCK IN STILL-HUNTING SLOWLY MOVING THROUGH BIG GAME HABITAT A GREAT TACTIC FOR TAGGING OUT
By Scott Haugen
I
f you’re new to big game hunting, there’s a lot to learn, and a good starting point is with the actual hunting approach. When it comes to deciding how to hunt, there are multiple options, but narrowing them down to simply sitting in one place or slowly moving through an area helps to simplify things. In this first installment of a twopart series, we’re going to look at “still” hunting. Next month, we’ll detail the
value of hunting from ground blinds.
GREAT STARTER COURSE Still-hunting is the most common approach to big game hunting, but the literal translation may not accurately depict the definition. Still-hunting is not being totally still all the time. Still-hunting is when a hunter slowly moves through a habitat, frequently stopping to glass and search for deer, elk or other game animals as they proceed. Still-hunting is all about patience and paying very close attention
to your surroundings while looking for sign, as well as game. Before heading into the woods, check the wind direction to make sure you’re either moving into it, or against a steady crosswind. Early in the morning and late in the afternoon or evening, cool, denser air falls from higher elevations. In an effort to keep the wind in your face so deer and elk don’t smell you, hunt uphill early and late in the day. As thermal currents shift – rising uphill when temperatures increase
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HUNTING Ground venison can really make a Latin American-inspired tostada dish exciting. Tiffany Haugen shows you how. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)
... TO FIRE
CREATE TERRIFIC TOSTADAS FROM WILD GAME By Tiffany Haugen
G
round venison is very versatile meat to cook with, and tastes delicious. The key to a juicy venison burger of any kind is not to overcook the lean meat. Many choose to add a bit of ground pork, ground beef or even bacon to their burger patties, but they can also be used as 100-percent lean meat. Depending on the flavor profile you’re looking for, burgers can be simply seasoned with salt and pepper or dry spices like cumin, paprika, chili powder or oregano; ginger can also be added to enhance your dish. Enjoy your wild game for breakfast or any time of day with these tasty breakfast tostadas. This recipe works well with any deer, elk, pronghorn or bear meat. It’s also delicious with wild boar.
1 cup refried beans Four slices pepper jack cheese Four eggs ½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt 1 tablespoon chipotle hot sauce Fresh cilantro for garnish Form ground meat into four equal patties.
1 pound ground venison or other wild game 1 tablespoon olive oil Four small corn or flour tortillas 22 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
In a small bowl, mix sour cream or Greek yogurt with hot sauce, and then set aside. In a large skillet, fry burger patties in olive oil over medium-high heat until cooked to desired doneness. Warm refried beans and tortillas. In another skillet, fry eggs over easy. Assemble tostadas by placing a warm tortilla on the plate. Top tortilla with beans, burger patty, a slice of cheese and the over-easy egg. Top with chipotle cream sauce and fresh cilantro.
Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany Haugen's p o p u l a r cookbook, Cooking Big Game, send a check for $20 to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489, or visit scotthaugen.com for this and other titles.
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HUNTING
A wind-check bottle is an important tool for still hunters because it allows you to know which direction the breeze is blowing. You’ll never fool the nose of a big game animal; if they smell you, the gig is up. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
during the day – hunts should begin on the high ground. Moving downhill into the wind will help keep your scent away from animals below. Big game animals have an astounding sense of smell, and if they catch wind of you it’s likely you won’t get a shot. Two important items a still hunter will want to have are a wind-check bottle and binoculars. The windcheck will allow you to regularly monitor wind direction so you can be sure to keep the wind in your favor at all times. Should the wind change and begin blowing from you toward the area you’re headed, back out and come in from another angle, wait and let the thermals stabilize, or return another day.
SEEING IS BELIEVING Binoculars are a valuable hunting tool, even in heavy timber and dense brush. While many hunters rely on binoculars for spotting game from great distances in open terrain, they are also ideal for locating parts of ani-
mals in thick habitat. Search for a horizontal back or belly line of an animal amid the vertical growing foliage. Look for the flicker of an ear, the black or white color of a tail and the moist, shiny nose of an animal. White throat patches of deer, and lightly colored rump patches of both deer and elk, for example, can often be seen in surprisingly thick habitat. Antlers of bedded bucks and bulls can also be detected with binoculars, as can the shining black fur of a wild pig that has recently wallowed.
TRACKING MOVEMENT The rate at which a still hunter moves is dictated by wind direction, weather, forest floor conditions, the amount of sign being seen and how far the hunter wants to travel. For instance, blacktail deer hunters along the Northern California coast may take two hours to cover 100 yards when still-hunting in prime habitat. If hunting these deer closer to
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Interstate 5 in more open terrain, a mile might be covered in an hour. With still-hunting, use the terrain and foliage to your advantage. Don’t be tempted to move through open areas where you can easily be seen. In still-hunting, the objective is to use the element of surprise to locate game and hopefully take a shot without an animal even knowing you are near. When slowly covering ground, utilize low spots in the land. Never skyline yourself when still-hunting, as that makes it easy for game to spot you. The idea is to remain hidden enough so as not to be spotted by game, but keep yourself in a position to locate animals.
HIDE AND SEEK When pausing to look for game, use trees, brush, foliage and shadows as cover to hide you. Ideally you’ll stop behind cover, then slowly move forward as you walk and glass the area. On sunny days, stop in the shade when you want to glass for game.
HUNTING Don’t be tempted to rush to a high, open piece of land, and then stand there hoping to locate the game you’re hunting. You might see an animal, but the game is likely on high alert by then and will spook before a shot can be taken.
When executed correctly, stillhunting allows you to sneak up on a big game animal without it knowing you’re there. Author Scott Haugen moved in close enough to make a clean, oneshot kill on this bull elk. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
A CHESS GAME Still-hunting is a mentally engaging form of hunting, for you’re constantly monitoring the wind, searching for game, reading sign and anticipating your next move. Still-hunting could be the most effective hunting approach there is, and the more time you spend in the woods, the more proficient you’ll become with this method. CS Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s popular DVD, Field Dressing, Skinning & Caping Big Game, send a check for $20 (free S&H), to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489, or order online at scotthaugen.com.
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HUNTING
Past and present, Art Isberg has hunted mule deer in his home state of California and throughout the West for half a century, so he has learned a trick or two over the years for how to successfully bag bucks. (ART ISBERG)
TAP INTO 50 YEARS OF MULEY KNOW-HOW VETERAN CALIFORNIA DEER HUNTER SHARES TIPS FOR BAGGING BUCKS IN DIVERSE HABITATS By Art Isberg
A
fter half a century hunting mule deer in California and many places across the West, I’ve learned one thing I can always hang my hat on: Mule deer can be the most unpredictable big game animals on the planet – bar none. Even veteran hunters who believe they know them can be caught flatfooted. I number myself among them. Because these big deer inhabit such a vast sweep of completely
differing types of country, cover and elevation, in California they cannot be pigeonholed into one simple formula for success. From lower grassy buttes in foothills fronting higher country down to smoking-hot deserts in the southeastern part of the state, and from rimrock and mesa lands to the high Sierra Nevada and portions of the Cascade Range, they are different animals in each region and as such they react differently to pressure, weather and cover. It’s also important to understand
that these deer are, and always have been, wilderness animals. They never do well close to man and his heavy hand on the land. California’s more numerous blacktail deer can dine on your front lawn shrubbery and flower garden. Not mule deer. This important lesson means you must go into the deer’s domain to learn his habits and lifestyle in each area to be successful.
DEEP INTO THE BACKCOUNTRY Because my three sons and I have always been long-range foot hunters,
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HUNTING we made it a rule to penetrate far back into wild lands – areas where few other hunters Are willing to go. We’ve taken some dandy bucks through the years doing it this way. That long experience taught me three basic rules that any rifleman can follow. Most importantly, these three can be applied to the vastly different environments mule deer call home in the Golden State. Here’s what I’ve learned.
START AT THE TOP Because West Coast mule deer season generally opens in late summer, much of the deer’s range is still experiencing mild weather and often warm temperatures. The deer are higher up to be comfortable and cooler, coupled
with better feeding opportunities. This means bucks, which are still off by themselves or sometimes keeping company with other antlered animals, are often in the topmost country during opening days of deer season. When I say top country, I mean that quite literally, whether it’s just volcanic rock piles in deserts, tabletop plateaus or timber-clad mountains. Bucks may be widely scattered, but they’ll still be in the tops. The best way to find bucks is plan your hunts starting at the highest elevations in any given area. Work through top country timber leads, grassy parks in greensward basins, ridges and saddles at the top of canyons. Mesa and plateau lands find bucks bedded up against rocky walls
Isberg prefers to hunt toward the end of most deer seasons, when higher elevations sometimes see fall’s first snows. This will put deer on the move and tracks can tell the story of how many bucks there are, at what elevation and where they are moving to. Always hunt around new snow if it’s on the ground. (ART ISBERG)
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just under the tabletops. They are in shade – with elevation – and can choose a quick way out unseen if trouble shows up. Desert deer in the southeastern portion of the state climb the little rock piles, where they have a good view around them, and stay on shaded sides out of heat and light. Learn to be in these special places by first good shooting light. Remember, mule deer are basically night feeders for the safety it affords them. Once the eastern sky begins to light up, veteran bucks move off toward cover areas for the day to bed down and hide in. They do not want to be spotlighted or opened up to dangers of any kind in full light. After the sun rises, you may find
HUNTING does, yearlings and young forkedhorn bucks still out, but rarely spot big mature bucks. They are driven by a much more secretive, warrior lifestyle. That’s why the biggest antlered animals will stay up high even after snow flies, only coming down later either due to the wild urge of the rut or snow too deep for them to paw down to find feed. And when you start in the top country, you have the options of working down level by level each day if bucks are on the move. If you choose to start hunting lower, you’ll always wonder if you missed something higher up.
Craig Isberg, the author’s son, poses with a buck taken in Idaho. This deer was a collaboration of a drive through thick timber. (ART ISBERG)
HUNTING NEW COUNTRY California is an enormous state in terms of size and diversity of its landscapes. Because of my family’s hunting style, we have traveled to many different parts of the state each fall to hunt mule deer and not return to the same place year after year, as many hunters do. In each place we face completely different country and circumstances, and we work to dope out productive areas to hunt. I believe this is good for any buck hunter, because he learns so much more and often has to learn it in a very limited amount of time. That kind of experience often pays solid dividends. Remember that one piece of country can produce excellent hunting for several years running, but that will not last. Mule deer and their numbers are cyclic. Sooner or later, hunters are going to see success rates fall. When that takes place, you must move to try someplace new. There are options to put you in productive hunting areas in new locations. As I’ve just pointed out, you can rely on past experiences, or do what I’ve also done, which is to contact a local state game warden. If that’s not possible, ring the California Department of Fish and Wildlife at the headquarters level and chat with their biologist in charge of big game. These officials are always helpful to both residents and even nonresidents,
who pay many times more than instate hunters for the privilege to hunt here. They want you to be successful and to return the following year. They know the numbers of bucks taken in any given area, the antler size of the deer, plus the number of hunters and their success ratios. This kind of information is golden to have, and it can point you to areas you might not
find or have time to on your own. Should you want to try your hand relying on your own powers of observation and experience, there are some pointers we rely on. First and foremost, look for those elevations or areas where antlers are dropped in late winter – well after deer season has closed. This is lateseason evidence that bucks now
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HUNTING
“Having hunted mule deer for 50 years, the pursuit has taken me throughout California on adventures into the backcountry to stir the soul of any man. Simply put, this hunting is in the blood,” Isberg writes. (ART ISBERG)
are above that level and you must move up before beginning to hunt. Understand that in higher elevations such as in the Sierra, a move like that can be a big one, because of the distances involved. Seeing lots of tracks and fresh deer berries each day really doesn’t mean much, since they are left by herd deer and not single mature bucks. You should move higher and look for single beds in brush coulees and barked-off saplings, where bucks have spared with limbs to rub the velvet off their antlers. That’s buck country. That’s where you want to start hunting.
HUNT IN THE LATE SEASON A final tactic I’ve relied on for many years is to begin my buck hunting the last week of deer season and not always around the opening days. Why? There are many advantages. First, the hills are nearly empty by then and I have the land largely to myself. The big rush of opening
weekend has passed, and middleseason hunters have either filled their buck tags or gone home empty. This serves the dual purpose of not having hunting pressure affecting your hunt, and most valuably the deer have had time to begin going back to their natural timetables, travels and feeding routines. It can be a real game changer. In mountain areas, the first snows of winter can fall, and you do not need a foot of it. With 2 or 3 inches, it suddenly shows you current tracks, their numbers, what level deer are at, and to where they’re moving. In lower elevations such as mesa lands and plateaus, the difference between winter and summer range may only be 1,500 or 2,000 feet. Deer here do not make the long, downhill journeys that cover dozens of miles that mountain deer do. They are compressed into much smaller elevations, which makes it easier for you to find them and bucks too. This is important to understand for success.
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I’ve also taken advantage of the fact that late in the season when the land is quiet, bucks can begin to move out of cover near sundown before shooting hours are up, then head for areas where they will either feed, drink water or move to a new location. I have taken several big deer I caught out in the open walking deer trails like this, while I remained still and where I had a good view of opposing hillsides or deer trails. Those animals literally delivered themselves to me. Having more than one such spot to head for if the first one doesn’t pan out is also a smart backup policy. Late-season buck hunting can open up another completely different world to those who learn to practice and take advantage of it. Having hunted mule deer for 50 years, the pursuit has taken me throughout California on adventures into the backcountry to stir the soul of any man. Simply put, this hunting is in the blood. CS
HUNTING
BUILD CONFIDENCE WITH BRIDGE WORDS By Scott Haugen
W
ords. They’re one of the most important aspects of life. Vital to a successful marriage, relationship, raising children, even your job; words are powerful. Clear communication is important to getting a point across, even when it comes to your dog. A lot of emphasis is placed on commands given to dogs – words like sit, come and fetch – but what happens between the time a command is given and when it’s achieved can vary, and this is where “bridge words” come in. Bridge words are of utmost importance when it comes to communicating with your dog. Bridge words are simply words you deliver to your dog to let it know it’s doing the right thing, or behaving appropriately. “Good boy” or “good job” are examples of bridge words that encourage a dog to keep doing what it’s doing until the task is achieved. If the dog is searching for a toy that you commanded it to fetch, it may be having trouble locating it. If the dog is close and working hard, repeating “good boy” or “good job” confirms to the dog it’s doing the right thing, and it will keep doing it until the goal is met.
WHEN TRAINING A dog for the hunt, figure out the bridge words you like, keeping them short, simple and clear. Dogs don’t comprehend complete sentences; after a while, you start sounding like the teacher in the Peanuts cartoon to them. Don’t ramble on with bridge words. When on a hunt and I want my dogs to start searching for grouse, quail or pheasant, for instance, I say, “Find a bird!” I don’t say, “OK, it’s time to start hunting, so go and find
Establishing eye contact at a young age is important, as it will allow you to clearly communicate exactly what you expect from your dog. Bridge words confirm to your pup that they are doing the right thing. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
us some birds …” A buddy uses the bridge words, “Hunt ’em up!” to get his dog searching. If I knock down a bird, then give the command “fetch it” and my dogs fail to mark the falling bird, they’ll start cutting the wind, trying to smell the bird. This is where I keep offering bridge words, specifically “good girl” or “fetch it up.” This tells the dog
they’re doing the right thing, going in the right direction, and soon they’ll find the bird to fetch. When I want my dogs to come to me and sit, I give the command come. As they come to me, I say “good boy” or “good girl” (I have one of each) to confirm they’re doing what I want. As they get to me, I’ll give them a hand signal they’ve learned and say
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HUNTING Giving your dog words of reassurance lets it know it’s doing the right thing, whereby encouraging it to continue that behavior. Here, author Scott Haugen is encouraging his dog to pose for a photo at the end of a successful dove and bandtail pigeon hunt. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
sit, if that’s what I want them to do. I taught my dogs to always sit at my left side because I carry a gun in my right hand. I’ll follow with complimentary bridge words of praise that reaffirm they’re doing the right thing.
ATTENTION-GETTING
WORDS
ARE
commands given to instantly get your dog to stop what it’s doing and make eye contact with you so you can deliver the next instruction. This is a great way to calm down your dog, too, as it forces them to stop, wait, listen and immediately look for the next command. For instance, when I command sit and the dogs do it, I often follow up with a command to look. This is because I want to calm them down and get them to look me in the eye so I can give the next command. When
they look me in the eye, I’ll follow up with the bridge word “goooood” or “good boy.” These bridge words keep them looking into my eyes for as long as I desire. I started this when my pups were 12 weeks old, by holding a piece of dog food between my thumb and index finger, passing it by their noses while they sat, then holding it against the outside of my eye socket at the temple, while simultaneously commanding them to look. Now that my dogs are adults, I don’t use a treat, but rather just command them to look, and keep them doing what they’re supposed to be doing – sitting and looking at me – with bridge words. This is a great command to get the dog to pump the brakes, focus, and regain self-control, and it’s done in a controlled manner,
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thanks to bridge words.
THE MORE YOU work and communicate with your dog, the more you’ll discover the importance of bridge words. Keep them short and deliver them with confidence, while maintaining a positive gesture or body language. Bridge words are not words of intimidation, but rather words of invitation and reassurance to your dog to let them know they are doing the right thing. Bridge words keep your dog doing what you want them to, just like when we give or receive praise from other people. CS Editor’s note: To watch Scott Haugen’s series of puppy training videos, visit scotthaugen .com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.
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BIG RUN OR BIG BUST?
EXPECTATIONS HIGH FOR FALL-RUN SAC RIVER KINGS AFTER LAST YEAR’S LETDOWN By Chris Cocoles
H
The area around downtown Sacramento near the Tower Bridge can be as productive as anywhere else on the Sac River. (TIGHT LINES GUIDE SERVICE) 36 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
e’s heard this song and dance routine before – just last summer, in fact – to wait before tipping the band. For guides like James Netzel, the buzz that the fall-run Chinook salmon season will be outstanding in the Sacramento and surrounding Central Valley rivers is being met with tempered expectations this fall. In an Aug. 24 report, Keith Fraser of San Rafael’s Loch Lomond Live Bait House (415-456-0321) told the San Francisco Chronicle that a “traffic jam of fish” could be headed from the Pacific through San Francisco Bay and into the freshwater Delta and its river drainages in September, October and early November during the fall run of kings. Indeed, charter boats have been slamming salmon off the coast. The problem is, some of the same predictions were made around the same time in 2019 about that year’s salmon run. That’s why Netzel is a bit cautious going into the peak of the run, when water temperatures drop. “You can’t judge the rivers by the ocean anymore. They’re releasing millions and millions of salmon smolts in the ocean rather than the rivers,” says Netzel, who operates Tight Lines Guide Service (888-975-0990; fishtightlines.com). “So a lot of those fish don’t ever make it back upriver.” The California Department of Fish and Wildlife projected a fall run of over 473,000 Sacramento River kings, up almost 100,000 from the 2019 forecast. That bodes well, but
FISHING
As these happy anglers attest, when the going’s good the fall run of Chinook can provide epic hauls of salmon. This year’s projections look solid and while the fishing was disappointing in 2019, guide James Netzel is still “cautiously optimistic.” (TIGHT LINES GUIDE SERVICE) calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 California Sportsman
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FISHING Netzel knows to be wary of what was still expected to be a good number of salmon in the Sacramento, Feather and American Rivers the previous fall. “Last year a lot of guides were saying it was going to be the best in 20 years. It was the worst in 20 years,” Netzel says bluntly. “I want the business, but I also want to be honest. Last year it flatout sucked. … I was plenty busy last year and people were upset at times.” Still, Netzel uses the term “cautiously optimistic” when analyzing what his clients could expect when he starts getting out on the Sac River later this month and into October and beyond.
STAYING CLOSE TO HOME As with almost everyone, COVID-19 has affected Netzel’s guiding business. In the past, his spacious 23-foot Rogue Jet Chinook boat would take multiple groups on charters. Now he’s limiting his bookings to one group, and his commitment to taking older anglers who are veterans has taken a hit with their reluctance to fish during the pandemic. Still, earlier in the summer when he fished for kokanee at Stampede and Boca Reservoirs around Tahoe, Netzel had good business – though understandably down a bit from 2019 – and expects to be busy with salmon trips in the coming months. “People are tired of being (sheltered in place) in their houses,” he says. When he does get charters, he’ll stay close to his Sacramento base. Rather than head upriver, Netzel likes to target the stretch of the Sac from the Tower Bridge in the heart of the city downstream to the Yolo County community of Clarksburg. “It’s fishing that an average person can go into an aluminum boat and do,” Netzel says of that stretch of the river. “Whereas you go up north, you have to have jet boats and (fish with) roe and really know what you’re doing in reading the river. It’s really safe where we fish and I know it really well. I’ve fished that area my whole life.”
Guide James Netzel says he was among the first Sacramento River salmon guides to troll with Brad’s Cut Plugs and flashers. “There’s very little tweaking that you need to do,” he says.(TIGHT LINES GUIDE SERVICE)
NEW DERBY ON TAP
T
he NorCal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association (ncgasa.org) is starting a new Sacramento Valley Salmon Fishing Contest, running from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31. Register for the event until Sept. 15 at ncgasa.org/product/salmon-fishing-contest or call (530) 923-9440. Cost is $50 per entry, with the proceeds benefiting the organization, which due to COVID-19 restrictions will likely have to cancel its annual fundraising banquet. The contest’s boundaries start at the mouth of the Sacramento River in Rio Vista all the way through the system at Battle Creek, the mouth of the Feather River to Thermalito Outlet hole, and from the American River at Discovery Park to the legal boundary below the Nimbus Basin. There are awards for the 10 longest salmon, with a grand prize of a lifetime California fishing license, plus fun side pot prizes for the salmon with the biggest teeth and the best fish that gets flipped into the boat without the use of a net. You can get more details on the contest – including the rules on side pots and how to provide visual evidence that the fish were caught during the two-month derby period – in a Facebook video from James Stone, NCGASA president and executive director, at facebook.com/NorCalSportsmenAssociation/videos/230022084999004. -CC
TROLLING YOUR WAY TO A KING The Sacramento’s deep water means trolling is the name of the game, and Netzel has stuck with his tried-andtrue method of fishing Brad’s Cut Plugs with flashers, a technique that Netzel says he was the first to start using in his area, which has led to more guides fishing that way around the metro area of the state capital. “Once you learn how to do it, it’s almost idiot-proof. There’s very little tweaking that you need to do,” he says
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of the setup using a hinged lure with a bait chamber and which he adds makes it easier to land a fish but a little more difficult to hook when feeling a strike. So while last year was so disappointing, Netzel’s boat still usually returned to the launch with three keeper salmon and after about a half-dozen hookups, so the hope is for a more productive autumn. That’s what the predictions suggest. “It can’t be any worse than last year,” he says. CS
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40 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
For author Lance Sawa, sharing memorable fishing experiences, from catching his first salmon years ago in Ventura to landing a trout in a Japanese river this summer, makes them even more special. (LANCE SAWA)
FISHING WITH OLD FRIENDS
FROM CATCHING SALMON IN VENTURA TO TROUT AND CHAR IN A JAPANESE RIVER, THE SHARED MEMORIES ARE SPECIAL FOR ANGLING EXPAT By Lance Sawa
J
ohn was a great family friend who fished with us in the Southern California coastal community of Marina Del Rey. He always seemed to be busy with his construction business that took him not only all over California but even overseas. Fishing and cooking were his passions, though. Luckily, those two went well together. After working for 40 years, he decided that it was time to retire. He sold the business and moved up the coast to Ventura. About five years later, John called
and asked if my family wanted any salmon. The salmon fishing in Ventura was in overdrive and John’s refrigerator was full of fresh fish. He had been canning as much as he could, but now his cabinets were full. After that, he started smoking the salmon, but he’d filled a whole closet. So since every night salmon was on the plate, after three months his wife was sick of fish for dinner. My dad and I took the one-and-ahalf-hour trip north to meet up and get some salmon. Since John was a glutton for punishment, he was going salmon fishing that day as well. He asked if my
dad and I wanted to come along, as it wouldn’t take long to catch some. We jumped at the chance and we were on the boat together. This was my first time fishing for salmon, but John was a seasoned pro at this point. He set the rods up for us and showed us how they were catching them. The boat ride was quick – only about 30 minutes – and soon we were fishing. Within 10 minutes John had a fish on the boat, which shocked me. My dad had one about 10 minutes later. Just as Dad landed his fish, I got a bite and set the hook. The fish were
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When searching Japanese rice paddies for grasshoppers and crickets to use as fish bait, beware of the non-venomous but equally creepy snakes. (LANCE SAWA)
high in the water column, so within three minutes the fish was on the boat. My first ocean salmon wasn’t large, but I love catching new types of fish. Some want the largest or most rare, but I am happiest if it is new to me. Not long after, we had our six salmon, two-fish limits each, and were headed back. The whole trip was a little over two hours long. I only caught the one salmon but still I had to clean all six fish. Oh, the pain of being the youngest in the group. Before I cleaned my fish, though, John told me to hold up my salmon for
a picture. Just before he snapped the photo, John told a joke and I cracked a smile. It was a great memory for me to fish with a friend and my father.
LAST MONTH, I RECEIVED an email from Takahashi-san, my fishing friend in Japan. We email each other a few times a year, but with his job it is hard for him to get away and go fishing. He had a few days off coming and wanted to go fishing around my area in Nagano Prefecture, a couple hours west of Tokyo. I tried to remember when we last
Despite the cloud cover, it was a steamy day to fish in Japan’s Nagano Prefecture. (LANCE SAWA) 42 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
fished together, and it seemed to be two years earlier. My reply to him: “Anytime he wants to go fishing, I am always ready.” About a week later, Takahashisan showed up at my house and we headed out to go fishing. The first order of business was catching some bait, which at this time of the year meant collecting insects like grasshoppers and crickets. Takahashi-san is much better at it than me, but I had started the night before. We had to dodge snakes in the rice paddies. They’re not poisonous, but it is still surprising when you reach down to grab a bug and there is a snake calmly eating a frog. It had been raining for a solid month, which washed out some roads and forced a few rivers to swell over their banks. I took the day before and that morning to scout out some places. I am always amazed and terrified that my local river can move 10-foot-tall boulders. Within my area I found some places that looked good and had parking, which is one of the hardest obstacles when trying to find places to fish in Japan. On our way to the first spot, we chatted and shared two years of untold stories. Takahashi-san was surprised at how tall my son, Nico, is getting. It was great for two old friends to have this time to catch up.
The rivers were a bit high from heavy rainfall, but still fishable for Sawa and his longtime fishing buddy Takahashi-san. (LANCE SAWA)
OUR FIRST STOP WAS at a nearby river along a main road. There was only one way down and it was a long walk, but it was also great to get out into nature after months inside during COVID-19 restrictions. We dabbled a fresh bug in each hole and eddy to lure anything in the water to bite. As we did so, the mountains were becoming shrouded in clouds, the wind picked up and I started to feel some rain fall on me. We pushed forward, watched the weather and looked for any ripples on the surface of the water. With rain falling on us at a small weir, Takahashi-san caught his first fish of the day. He looked back and threw me a thumbs-up. It was a beautiful native char. We walked upstream and didn’t find any other fish, so we started the long walk back to the car. The sun finally chased the rain clouds away and bathed us in wonderful light. We were also able to continue our chat from earlier in the day. Our next stop was at a large river with deep spots for large fish to hide
in. We hiked down to the river and started upstream, taking extra time on the larger rocks in the water. Takahashi-san once again coaxed a fish up from a small hole behind a huge boulder. I spotted a large, deep hole with a sand bank to one side, which I felt just had to have a fish inside. I pulled out the largest grasshopper we had, baited my hook and threw it into the water. Nothing. But I continued to push the bait into all the corners. I hit every slow spot. Every dark spot. And every branch that was sticking out of the water. Just as I was about to go to the next spot, I saw a submerged rock and cast toward it in hopes of a taker. I saw a quick flash in the water, but there was no hit or weight on the line yet. I waited, but the line didn’t move. But when I picked up the slack, the fish finally struck, swallowing the whole thing in one huge gulp. The trout was angry and pulled no punches as she ran for the safety of cover. I pulled her away from the rock and the tree trunk and landed her onto the sand bank. Takahashi-san
saw my catch and he pointed out that it was a nice trout for the area. Upstream, the waters were fishfree and we decided on migrating to our next spot.
MOST OF MY LOCAL streams had become muddy with the rainfall earlier in the day, so we had to look around for clean water. An hour’s drive later, we looked for a way down into a stretch of river that was next to a large dam. We borrowed a ladder and climbed down the 20-foot cliff. I headed straight to the deep water right below the dam, all while being careful not to step into any dangerous water and staying clear of the rushing current. This was a first for me to fish this close to an active dam. The wind created by the rushing water was breathtaking and felt great in the summer heat of Japan. Many of the structures here looked to hold fish, but nothing was biting and so we headed downstream. The heat increased as we got further from the cool air around the dam.
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And once more, Takahashi-san’s rod bent with the weight and pull of a biting fish. His third of the day was another gorgeous white-spotted char, which had been hiding in a deep channel next to a feeder stream. Takahashi-san stood on a submerged rock just downstream and got the fish to strike a fat cricket on the first cast. We finished the day strong as the sun slowly dropped.
BEFORE I COULD REALIZE it, we were back at my house. The final fish count for the day was Takahashi-san, three, and me with just that one. Which to be honest, was about right; he always outfishes me. Nico came out to see the fish we had and started playing with them immediately. He asked how each one was going to be cooked. I asked my wife to take a quick picture for me. Right before she pressed the shutter, she told an inside joke. This made me crack up and she got me with a stupid grin on my face. Just like that day in Ventura with John. CS
Takahashi-san gleefully shows off the first catch, a native char. (LANCE SAWA)
The guys found a productive spot to fish right below a dam on the river. The rush of water down the spillway cooled the air there, providing some relief on a muggy summer day. (LANCE SAWA) 44 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
Back home, the anglers had plenty of stories to tell and fish to show Sawa’s young son Nico. (LANCE SAWA)
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FISHING
BE A SURFACE PRO SELECTING THE RIGHT BAITS FOR LATE SUMMER’S TOPWATER BASS ACTION By Capt. Bill Schaefer
L
ike the grand finale at a fireworks show, the surfaces of most of our local lakes have been exploding with bass. Roaming wolf packs will attack any baitfish they can find this time of year, which can make for nonstop action if you find the right school and use the right bait.
CHOOSE WISELY Often we find ourselves chasing after a school that will not eat anything we throw. We try bait after bait from our boxes and nothing seems to attract them. Then another boat pulls up and starts catching fish. What the heck? There are many factors in play when it comes to what bass are focusing on. If the water is stained, they may be using their lateral lines to feed. They feel a certain vibration and you need to emulate it. This is probably the hardest thing to do, but try different baits till you come close. Bass also use sight and a question to ask yourself is this: Is my bait close to the size of the baitfish that they are after? Throwing a lure that is will increase your chances of getting bit.
MATCH GAME Just as with fly anglers in search of trout, matching the hatch really does make a difference in a lot of types of fishing, including for bass. Sometimes the fish want a popping lure that spits water out in front of it so as to look like a school of baitfish, with your lure being the trailing
Small crankbaits or jerkbaits can be great for throwing on breaking bass near the surface. If you can get the right bait into the water, the action can be nonstop. (BILL SCHAEFER) calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 California Sportsman
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FISHING
Small swimbaits can be fished on top or cast blindly to an area where fish have been breaking. (BILL SCHAEFER)
loner. The splash adds to the already present baitfish and the confusion for the bass, thus tending to make them attack in all the confusion. How much force you put to the twitching and the amount of water the lure throws can make a difference. Change up your retrieve and motion while working the lure back. If you get bit, then try more of the action you used to get that reaction. Different size poppers can also make a difference.
GLIDE TIME Sometimes when the fish are being more selective in what they eat, a
gliding bait such as a Zara Spook, Sammy or your favorite glide lure will do the trick. Learning to walk the dog can take some practice, but once you learn the cadence of this retrieve you will score. These lures often attract larger fish as well. For a quiet lure, this bait will call up larger fish that lurk below the smaller ones because they are a little wiser. You can fool them too. Many times bass want a lure that goes just under the surface. Flat glassy mornings will cause this at times. The bass find it hard to commit to the baitfish right on the surface. You may see more swirls than exploding water
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in this case. There are a few things to try when they are feeding this way. Jerkbaits in various sizes will do well in this situation. If the bait is small, there are jerkbaits as small as 1½ inches that will get bit. Even a small crankbait may do the trick.
SIZE MATTERS Sometimes when it seems the bass just don’t want to bite even though they are crashing natural bait, it can be because the lures you are presenting are just too large. One trick is to use a small jighead on spinning gear and light fluorocarbon line.
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FISHING Small popping baits can call bass up with their spitting and popping. The key is to match lure size to that of the baitfish the bass are feeding on. (BILL SCHAEFER)
Frequently when the wind comes up, it forces the baitfish down and the bass to go with them and continue to feed. I will use the grub on the ¼-ounce head, let it sink more and retrieve it through the schools of fish. If I see larger bass or marks on my Lowrance unit, I will go to a 3- or 3½inch swimbait in a shad color and cast and retrieve it through the feeding bass below. You can even make multiple baits look like a natural school with an umbrella rig.
LINE CHECK
Try a 1/16-, 1/8-, or ¼-ounce jighead with a 2-inch curltail grub on the end. Usually, I use a smoke salt and pepper one. I’ll cast it beyond the breaking fish and retrieve it as fast as I can through the fish.
It looks like a baitfish running for its life. Bass will attack it just out of reaction. You cannot wind faster than the bass can chase it down. This has yielded strikes and fish in the boat for me often when nothing else works.
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When chasing breaking bass, you want to make sure your reels – casting or spinning – are full of line. This will let you cast further, and being able to reach the breaking fish will help keep you off the trolling motor and not prematurely kill your batteries. It can be a frustrating way to fish at times, but it can also be very fruitful. Hopefully these hints will help you out on your next trip on the water. CS
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50 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
