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AUGUST 2014 California Sportsman 7

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California

Sportsman Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource

Volume 5 • Issue 11 PUBLISHER

James R. Baker ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Dick Openshaw EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Andy Walgamott EDITOR

Chris Cocoles CONTRIBUTORS

Nick Barr, Steve Carson,Tom Claycomb III, Scott Haugen,Tiffany Haugen,Tim E. Hovey, Luke Kelly, Andy Martin, Albert Quackenbush, Bill Schaefer, Mike Stevens, Richard Stubler SALES MANAGER

Brian Lull ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Becca Ellingsworth, Shawna FloresCravens, Mamie Griffin, Mike Nelson, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold DESIGNERS

Dawn Carlson, Beth Harrison, Sonjia Kells PRODUCTION MANAGER

John Rusnak PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Kelly Baker INBOUND MARKETING

Jon Hines OFFICE MANAGER/ACCOUNTING

Audra Higgins ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Katie Sauro INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER

Lois Sanborn CIRCULATION MANAGER

Heidi Belew ADVERTISING INQUIRIES

ads@calsportsmanmag.com CORRESPONDENCE

Email letters, articles/queries, photos, etc., to ccocoles@media-inc.com. ON THE COVER

Larysa Switlyk grew up in a non-outdoorsloving family, but she carved her own path as a diehard hunter and angler. Now Switlyk hosts two outdoors shows on the Sportsman Channel and Destination America, respectively. (LARYSA SWITLYK) Inset:The East Walker River in the Eastern Sierra has been churning out brown trout like this one caught by Wes Roznoski of Granite Bay. (SIERRA DRIFTERS GUIDE SERVICE) MEDIA INC PUBLISHING GROUP WASHINGTON OFFICE P.O. Box 24365 • Seattle, WA 98124-0365 14240 Interurban Ave. S., Suite 190 Tukwila, WA 98168 OREGON OFFICE 8116 SW Durham Rd • Tigard, OR 97224 (206) 382-9220 • (800) 332-1736 • Fax (206) 382-9437 media@media-inc.com • www.media-inc.com 8 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

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CONTENTS

VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 11

YELLOWTAIL HEATING UP Capt. Bill Schaefer takes you on a tour of Southern California’s coastal hotspots, where yellowtail are among the most prized targets for summer anglers looking to take advantage of the El Niño summer migration of exotic species.

NORTH COAST SALMON SIZZLING 93 Looking for an underrated August fishing trip? Try booking a charter boat out of the Eureka area. The Pacific king salmon fishing looks to be very productive this month with some great weather and water conditions expected.

ISLANDER DEER HUNTING Tim Hovey’s grandfather used to tell stories of epic hunts on Catalina Island. Years later, Hovey and a friend participated in one of the popular tourist attraction’s controlled deer hunts. Memories of his grandpa’s stories made this trip a special piece of nostalgia.

(JOLI TIME SPORTFISHING)

103 FINDING BIG BUCKS August marks the beginning of deer season in multiple California zones. Albert Quackenbush, our So Cal Bowhunter columnist, provides his expertise with three methods of tracking down that trophy buck: spot and stalk, tree stands and blinds.

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HookIN’ ’EM On

Hunting Charismatic Larysa Switlyk Of Reality TV Makes Hunting Less Intimidating By Tom Claycomb III and Chris Cocoles

“ I instantly got criticized and put down, which confused me, until I found other hunters who accepted me. That is when I realized there is a whole different world out there that accepts hunting.” (LARYSA SWITLYK)

arysa Switlyk is a certified public account and licensed real estate agent by trade. But she also considers herself a teacher, with the wild as her classroom. An avid hunter and angler who hosts two television shows, Larysa Unleashed on the Sportsman Channel and Larysa Gone Fishin’ on Destination America, Switlyk has absorbed her fair of social media critics, particularly her hunting images . “I have received some negative messages throughout the years, but that is the reason I wanted to start my television show: to educate those nonhunters, because most of the time those negative people say those things due to a lack of education,” she says. “I think it’s sad that people have those types of things on social media. My friend, (Californian and avid big-game African hunter) Brittany Boddington, mentioned she got over 100 death threats.” But nothing seems to deter Switlyk, who turned 29 in 2014. She’s a Florida native who, according to her website (larysaunleashed.com), caught her first fish at age 11 with simply a piece of fishing line and a hook from her brother. She’s been an outdoor junkie ever since, even though you’ll find out this wasn’t the case of the girl who followed in the footsteps of a family of anglers and hunters; quite the opposite, in fact.

Not coming from a hunting or fishing family, you can imagine how badly it freaked out her parents when she turned into a hardcore outdoorswoman. Correspondent Tom Claycomb III got to the bottom of this in his chat with Switlyk, and also learned about her roots as an international backpacker, the passion for educating the public about fishing and hunting, her desire to get kids involved in the outdoors and other topics. TOM CLAYCOMB OK, what possessed you to even begin hunting? LARYSA SWITLYK With my passion for travel and adventure, I found myself backpacking through Australia and New Zealand after leaving a CPA job in New York City. I booked myself a hunt in New Zealand, never having shot a rifle before in my life. I’ve always wanted to try hunting, but never had the opportunity until I made my own. I instantly fell in love with the hunting lifestyle, and knew instantly it was born in me. TC Were your family and friends supportive? LS Not from the start. I grew up with three older brothers, and my parents are probably the least outdoorsy people you will ever meet. After returning home from New Zealand, I was proud of my hunt and showed my family and friends photos, thinking they would also be proud of my newfound passion. I instantly got criticized and put down, which confused me, until I found other hunters who accepted me. That is when I realized there is a whole different world out there that accepts hunting. The people who are so quick to criticize lack education.

AUGUST 2014 California Sportsman 17

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“I want to educate the non-hunters why people hunt and fish, how we feed our families with the meat, and the conservation behind it all.” (LARYSA SWITLYK)

LARYSA UNLEASHED

I started my television show with the mission of educating nonhunters and sharing my passion to influence other females and children to get involved in the outdoors. I figured if I can change my family’s viewpoint on hunting, explain to them why I hunt and get them eating the meat I bring home, then there are a lot more people out there like them who I can also change. Now my family is my biggest fans, and I’m glad I could introduce them to the outdoor lifestyle; but trust me, it didn’t happen overnight. TC Wow, that’s amazing. So that would explain your passion to help educate nonhunters and to encourage women to get into the outdoors? LS Yes, my first goal is to share my passion and love for hunting and fishing, and my next goal is to encourage more females and children to get involved in the outdoors. I want the kids away from the computers and video games, and enjoy the outdoors. I’m not telling people they need to go out and hunt. I just want to get more families outside; spend time together and teach their children the safety behind guns. Kids’ cell phones should be replaced with a bow or a

18 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

fishing rod. The world is so consumed and dependent on technology these days that they are spending less time with their families. I want to educate the nonhunters why people hunt and fish, how we feed our families with the meat, and the conservation behind it all. I feel most people are too quick to judge about something they know nothing about. If I can at least introduce to them the facts, they can make their own educated decision about hunting and fishing instead of instantly thinking negative about it. I figure if I can change my own family’s viewpoint, I can change a lot more people out there and my TV show is a great vehicle for that! TC When we first talked about doing some seminars together, I remember the first topic you wanted to talk about was something on the order of helping women break into the outdoors. In a nutshell, what would you say to a new female friend who doesn’t hunt LS First off, you need to at least give hunting a chance. Like me, you might not know you love something until you try it. I would like to talk about tips on how to go about trying it, how to stay safe and how to avoid bad situations because in the long run, hunting is

By featuring a positive role model for women as the star of a hunting show, this show is sure to get more women interested in hunting. Larysa Switlyk travels all around the world on the hunting reality TV show, Larysa Unleashed; throughout Africa, Europe and North America.The 29year-old has hunted roaring red stag in Argentina, Spanish ibex in Spain, deer in Wisconsin with Congressman Ron Kind and participated in an all-ladies elk and mule deer hunt in New Mexico. Passionate and energetic, she is enticing to watch and will lure you in. Switlyk hunts with both firearms and a bow, and enjoys bowfishing. She is completely at home in the outdoors, which she refers to as her office. She calls the swamps of Florida her backyard. The show is all about the adrenalin rush from hunting and extreme sports. Larysa loves extreme sports, and so hunting was a natural progression for her. The show is presented in an educational format, so amateurs or those new to hunting will learn quite a bit about the sport. On the show, Larysa explains why people hunt, the importance of conservation, cultural experiences, and the rules and regulations behind it all. The show discusses the species being targeted, their habitat, location, and why they are targeted; along with encouraging youth and female involvement in the outdoors. Her fishing show, Larysa Gone Fishin’, contains equally exciting and extreme tales. If you’d like a fun and entertaining way to learn about hunting and fishing, especially if you are a woman or child who might be intimidated by traditional hunters’ education, check out these shows. -TCIII

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MIXED BAG “I continued to prove myself in the outdoor industry, taking advantage of every opportunity that presented itself, as well as making my own opportunities.” (LARYSA SWITLYK)

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800-776-2873 www.pro-cure.com still a male-dominated sport. There are a lot of female groups out there where you can learn to shoot a gun and go on hunting adventures with other females, which is sometimes the way to go when you are first getting into it, because you might feel more comfortable getting taught by other women. TC How did you jump from the position in question one, to where you now hunt internationally and have two TV shows? LS A ton of hard work, time, money and the will power to never give up, no matter how many times I get told no or that I can’t do something. I got my real estate license so I could have more freedom than with my accounting job, and after a big sale, I would fund all my adventures myself. I learned the business side of things, flew to Vegas and snuck into the SHOT Show about five years ago to see if this industry was something I wanted to get involved in. I learned as much as possible, tried to hunt as often as I could

20 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

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MIXED BAG and started filming my hunts. I asked a ton of questions, learned quickly what information to believe and what not to, made a ton of mistakes, but never gave up. I did a lot of the work myself, started surrounding myself with good people, had a few mentors along the way, took my time, and didn’t rush things. I continued to prove myself in the outdoor industry, taking advantage of every opportunity that presented itself, as well as making my own opportunities. I got a good entertainment lawyer behind me to protect me, pushed myself, practiced more and more on camera, started picking up sponsors and finally took the jump and haven’t looked back. Is it more work than I ever expected? Yes! But is it worth it? Every second! I turned my dream into a reality, I built a strong foundation, I did it all myself, and I’m going to continue to grow and share my passion and story in the outdoor industry and beyond. I’m living proof that if you work hard enough and put your mind to it, you can make your dream come true

22 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

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800-776-2873 www.pro-cure.com and live it! Go ahead, unleash it! TC Wow, well that’s an amazing story, Larysa. Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule for this interview. I look forward to working with you in the future. How can the readers follow your adventures? LS Check out my website for updates on my adventures at larysaunleashed.com. They can watch Larysa Unleashed on the Sportsman Channel on Sundays at 12:30 p.m., Wednesdays at 4 p.m. and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. Larysa Gone Fishin’ will air on Destination America through September on Saturdays at 7 a.m. I also fished for Team Bass Pro Shops during the Madfin Shark Series, which aired in April through May on the Outdoor Channel. CS

“I turned my dream into a reality, I built a strong foundation, I did it all myself, and I’m going to continue to grow and share my passion and story in the outdoor industry and beyond.“ (LARYSA SWITLYK)

Editor’s note: Larysa Switlyk can also be found on Twitter (@LSwitlyk) and Facebook (facebook.com/larysaunleashed).

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HUGE HALIBUT LANDED IN GLACIER BAY CALIFORNIAN’S CATCH WAS NEARLY 500 POUNDS By Andy Martin

Southern California man caught a giant Pacific halibut in Southeast Alaska month that rivals the sport fishing world record. Jack McGuire of Anaheim was fishing with Capt. Rye Phillips aboard the Icy Rose on July 3 when he hooked and landed a 95-inch, 482-pound halibut near the mouth of Glacier Bay. The barndoor halibut would likely challenge the 459-pound International Game Fish Association (IGFA) world record caught in 1996 by Jack Tragis if it had not been shot and harpooned. McGuire, 77, was fishing out of Alaskan Anglers Inn (866-510-2800; alaskasportfish.net) in Gustavus for the Fourth of July holiday week. Phillips took McGuire and three other passengers aboard his charter boat to one of his favorite big fish spots in Icy Straight near Lemesurier Island; they fished in about 130 feet of water. The giant halibut hit an octopus fished just off of the bottom. It took off on a long run after the size 16/0 Eagle Claw circle hook dug in before McGuire was able to ease it off the ocean floor, thanks mainly to the two-speed Shimano TLD II 30 twospeed reel he was using. After a 30-minute give-and-take battle, Phillips spotted the halibut below the boat and let McGuire know it was legal size. In Southeast Alaska, anglers on charter boats can keep one halibut per day as long as it is less than 44 inches, or more than 76 inches. “It was giant,” Phillips said. “We knew right away it was over 76 inches, but we didn’t know it was going to be bigger than the world record.” Like he does with all big halibut that anglers decide to keep, Phillips subdued

Jack McGuire, 77, of Anaheim, Calif., stands next to the 95-inch, 482-pound halibut he caught July 3 near Gustavus, Alaska, while fishing with Capt. Rye Phillips of Alaskan Anglers Inn. (ALASKAN ANGLERS INN)

AUGUST 2014 California Sportsman 25

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800-776-2873 www.pro-cure.com phy-size halibut. Phillips and two of the other customers used gaff hooks to pull the mammoth halibut over the side of the boat. At first the fishâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gills got stuck on the rail, but after a second attempt they were able to drag the halibut aboard. Phillips immediately measured the fish, letting him know it was a potential world record. Unfortunately, the fish would not qualify because it was shot and harpooned. Phillips also assisted McGuire by grabbing the line and lifting on the rod during the battle. McGuire caught the halibut on 100pound-test TUF Line and a 240-pound nylon leader. Phillips had rigged the rods with heavy gear because he was targeting trophy-size fish that day. The fish drew quite a crowd at the Gustavus dock. Dozens of people gathered to see the fish hoisted up for photographs before Phillips filleted it for McGuire. The halibut yielded nearly 200 pounds of boneless, skinless fillets. Just a week earlier, Phillips, who played baseball at Western Oregon University and lives in Brookings, Ore., during the winter, got a customer into a 275-pound halibut. Gustavus, located 45 miles west of Juneau, is a relatively unknown halibut hot spot. It typically has the largest average size of halibut caught in Alaska, according to Alaska Department of Fish and Game stats, and the small charter fleet fishing out of the Gustavus dock brings in dozens of 200-plus-pound fish each season. Steve Brown, owner of Alaskan Anglers Inn, said each week many customers catch halibut topping 100 pounds. Last year, when anglers could keep halibut 68 inches or bigger, which weigh roughly 165 pounds or more, anglers fishing at his lodge landed more than 50 of the trophysize fish. More than two dozen of those were over 200 pounds, including five over 300 pounds. CS

Capt. Rye Phillips said the giant fish that had to be shot and harpooned for safety reasons would have challenged the all-time record for halibut, but it would be ineligible for consideration because the gun and harpoon were used to land it. (ALASKAN ANGLERS INN) the fish with a .410 shotgun and harpooned it. Most guides kill the giant halibut before bringing them onto their

26 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

boats because of how dangerous they are if they are flopping on the deck. Some anglers have been seriously injured by tro-

Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note: Andy Martin also operates Wild Rivers Fishing (541-813-1082; wildriversfishing.com) guide service in Brookings, Ore. For more information, contact him at wildriversfishing@yahoo.com.

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800-776-2873 www.pro-cure.com By Chris Cocoles

MIXED BAG

CALENDAR AUGUST 2

ANONYMOUS TIP,WARDEN TEAM TO NAB FUR POACHER

arden Nick Buckler was dogged in his pursuit of a poacher in the remote sage, bitterbrush and rimrock in Lassen County. Tracy Lee Schultz, a 57-yearold Courtland man, forfeited an eye-popping 60 poached fox Warden Nick Buckler of the California Deand bobcat pelts to the Califor- partment of Fish and Wildlife spent almost nia Department of Fish and the entire 70-day bobcat trapping season Wildlife, which will cost him keeping track of a suspected poacher’s movements. (CDFW) $5,000 in fines. As so many successful poaching cases go, this one started with an anonymous tip from a concerned bystander. Buckler, a Lassen County CDFW warden, got the tip that commercial bobcat traps were being set prior to the open season on the species (November 24 to January 31). Buckler then went into surveillance mode in the county, spending nearly the entire 70-day season out in the Lassen County wilderness observing Schultz’s movements. “Sometimes the smallest bit of information can lead to a large-scale investigation,” Buckler said in a CDFW press release.“I feel lucky to live and work in a county that cares so much about its fish, wildlife and habitats.The illegal commercialization of wildlife is second only to the illegal trade in drugs and guns for worldwide revenue. There will always be people willing to break laws and exploit wildlife to make money.” Fifty commercial live traps connected to Schultz were found spread around roughly 900 square miles of remote Lassen and Modoc Counties. Among charges he pled guilty to:“Taking bobcat outside of the established season, unlawful capture and confinement of a live mammal, possession of unlawfully taken pelts, knowingly filing false information to obtain bobcat tags, and unlawfully taking wildlife for profit or personal game.” CDFW officials are thankful for the CalTip Hotline (888-334-2258) in helping to nail down offenders illegally hunting or fishing in the state. “Now more than ever wardens need the assistance of the public to protect our valuable natural resources,” Buckler said.“Hunters, anglers, trappers and citizens can be our eyes and ears on the ground. License plates, descriptions and accurate locations are the best information the public can provide.”

Stampede Reservoir Team Kokanee Derby (kokaneepower.org) 8-10 West Walker River Size Doesn’t Matter Derby (northernmonochamber.com; 800-845-7922) 9 Deer season opener for Zone A-South Unit 110 and Zone B-North Unit 160 16 Bighorn sheep opener for Zone 7 (White Mountains) 16 Pardee Lake Team Kokanee Derby (kokaneepower.org) 18 This date in 1952: state record for golden trout (9 pounds, 8 ounces), caught at Virginia Lake by O. Benefield of Compton 23-31 General pronghorn season for Zones 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Convict Lake in the Eastern Sierras will host a trout derby beginning Sept. 1 and running through Nov. 15. (MIKE STEVENS)

SEPTEMBER 1 1-15 6 14 14 20 22

Start of Ambush at the Lake derby at Convict Lake, through Nov. 15 (convictlake.com) Statewide fall dove season Shaver Lake derby (kokaneepower.org) Zone Q1 season opener for mountain quail Season openers for sage grouse, sooty grouse and ptarmigan Season opener for deer in several Zone B and C locations This date in 2008: State record for channel catfish (53 pounds, 8 ounces), caught in San Joaquin River by Mike Daily of Turlock Season opener for deer in several Zone D locations

If you have an event coming up, send info to ccocoles@media-inc.com.

AUGUST 2014 California Sportsman 29

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PHOTO CONTEST

WINNERS!

Mari Cobb Stuart is this issueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wright & McGill/Eagle Claw Photo Contest winner, thanks to this pic of her and her channel catfish, caught earlier this summer. It wins the Oregon angler a package worth $50 of Lazer Sharp hooks, pliers and a Lazer Sharp hat!

Remember this name: Brenna Blankenship. Our monthly Browning Photo Contest winner has arrowed a ridiculous number of recordbook-qualifying bucks. Last season the lass got this 4-pointer, and it scores her a Browning hat and sticker!

For your shot at winning Wright & McGill/Eagle Claw and Browning products, send your photographs to ccocoles@media-inc.com or California Sportsman, PO Box 24365, Seattle, WA 98124-0365. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for our print or Internet publications.

30 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

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NORTHERN MONO COUNTY

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FISHING

LOST IN TRANSLATION A GUIDE TO JAPANESE AND CZECH FLY FISHING TECHNIQUES IN THE EASTERN SIERRA MOUNTAINS

Guide Doug Rodricks scouts out Hot Creek from an elevated position. When he booked a half-day with a guide, the author was less concerned about catching a lot of trout than he was learning something new about his favorite fishing spots. (MIKE STEVENS)

By Mike Stevens MAMMOTH LAKES—With a quarter of a

century of Eastern Sierra trout fishing under my belt, there are few settings up there that take me out of my comfort zone. Chucking spoons, spinners, minnow baits, jigs, trout worms, flyand-bubble and even backcountry fly fishing (where they’ll bite anything) is in my wheelhouse. It took a day on the water with someone who fishes the area for a liv-

ing to make me feel like a clueless newbie, but I came out of it with a confident “I can really do this” feeling. There was also valuable intel gained from in-the-field instruction that would have taken me a decade to figure out on my own. WHILE IT WAS probably 10 years ago

when I realized that I had to include fly fishing as part of my Sierra attack to eventually evolve into a true trout Jedi, the advancement was slow. I

started with buying some reasonable gear, hitting the books, magazines, the Internet and on-land casting classes. I even spent a day at “Sage Trout School” at a local fly shop. So, it could be said that I took myself from beginner to low-level amateur status on my own. That being said, when it came to actually applying that knowledge on the water, I found it very hard to deviate from the tried-and-true playbook of spinning tactics that I have AUGUST 2014 California Sportsman 33

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The author casts his fly rig into Hot Creek, which is one the most popular and challenging trout streams in the Eastern Sierra. Trout there don’t just bite anything. (MIKE STEVENS)

polished over 25 years to fumble around with my fly gear when – as a San Diego resident – I didn’t exactly spend a ton of days per year up there. It was clear that I had to seek the teachings of – heaven forbid – someone who knew more than me. I had to hire a guide. The guide service I chose was the easy part. I have been an email subscriber to the Sierra Drifters Guide Service fish report for years, and I have attended instructional seminars put on by Sierra Drifters owner and guide Tom Loe whenever he made his way down to the Southland. I even knew which guide I wanted to go with several years prior to pulling the trigger. Doug Rodricks is a member of Loe’s stable of guides, and I started noticing his catches in print and on some fishing forums online 34 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

where I once correctly identified the unnamed lake in a photo of him cradling a monster golden trout in his float tube. From there, I connected with him on Facebook and picked his brain from time to time before ultimately locking up a half-day on the water with him this summer. After the date was selected, Doug indicated that fishing from one of the Sierra Drifters guide boats on Crowley Lake would be the way to go. In my first awkward moment, I basically told him to shine Crowley and pick somewhere else. You see, my goal for this outing was not to catch 50 fish or a trophy; it was to learn things that I could apply to the water I already fished there. I don’t fish Crowley very often, and I don’t really fish from boats anywhere in the Sierra. Doug then indicated that Hot

Creek should be good, but being a couple weeks out from the date, that could change depending on the conditions and what he may stumble upon between then and my day. Now we’re talking. HOT CREEK STANDS as the Graceland of

Eastern Sierra trout fishing (but you can’t go “walking in Memphis” from there), and it’s also known to challenge even the wiliest of bug slingers. Yet I was up for it – as long as I was with someone who knew what the hell was going on down there. Not to mention, the water level is lower than normal down there this year, and it actually appears to have a very limited amount of fishable holes between the weeds. If I get schooled by a trout guru on Hot Creek, any other stretch of moving water would seem like batting

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Visit calsportsmanmag.com or call 800-332-1736. Northern Mono County Derby Offers A Bounty For Tagged Fish With its miles of easy access off Highway 395, the West Walker River in north Mono County, offers something for everyone. From the shore or up to your chest, from small rainbows to double-digit browns, opportunities abound for the novice to the most experienced angler. An excuse is never needed to fish the West Walker, but this year there is an added incentive. Among its many offerings, the Northern Mono Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the “Size Doesn’t Matter” fishing derby. With a $25 entry fee, this three-day event, from August 8 through August 10, offers prizes ranging from kayaks to cash, fishing rods, restaurant vouchers and motel stays. A cash bounty is offered for the catching of tagged fish! There will be a barbeque in the afternoon of Saturday, August 9th. All proceeds from these events go to the West Walker River Fish Fund which helps maintain and stock the river. Of course, your stay in North Mono needn’t end with the fishing derby. With seemingly endless hiking trails, offroading, camping, motor-cross and bicycling, you can vacation here virtually year-round. This event is sponsored by Northern Mono Chamber of Commerce (www.northernmonochamber.com). Further info can be found at www.monocounty.org or (800) 845-7922.

AUGUST 2014 California Sportsman 35

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FISHING practice from then on out. I met Doug where Hot Creek Hatchery Road meets Highway 395 and followed him to one of the parking areas above the creek. We got our high-fives out of the way and got down to brass tacks. He took a couple rods out, and I figured I’d be set up for dry flies (which I was reasonably familiar with) and a simple nymphing (clueless) rig and we’d start plugging away. Oh no. “We are going to try something a little different today. It’s called tenkara,” he said. I had read about this madness. It’s basically a two-century-old Japanese technique involving a 12- to 14-foot rod (which telescopes down to something he could carry in his back pocket) with no guides and no reel (I’m not kidding); just a line attached to the end of it like the cane poles your grandpappy used for bluegill.

36 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

IF YOU HEAD TO THE EASTERN SIERRA For more information on Sierra Drifters Guide Service and to sign up for their fishing report emails, visit sierradrifters.com or call (760) 935-4250. For affordable lodging with all the comforts of home, check out Seasons 4 condominium rentals in the Mammoth Lakes area (1-800-732-7664; seasons4.com). For flies, tackle, and fishing information, stop by Reagan’s Sporting Goods in Bishop or visit hunt-fish-sierra.com. Other options in the region include the Troutfitter in Mammoth Lakes (760-924-

3676; troutfitter.com) and Ken’s Sporting Goods in Bridgeport (760-932-7707; kenssport.com). For Mammoth Lakes area campgrounds and other area travel information, browse mammothlakes.com. To learn more about what tenkara is all about, log onto tenkarausa.com/. For the best beer on the planet after a day on the water, hit up the Mammoth Brewing Company for tastings and its brewery store. (760-934-7141; mammothbrewingco.com). –MS

Apparently – after 200 years in hiding – this is making a comeback and has a growing following here in the States. “We are also going to do what’s called Czech nymphing,” he added. Son of a @#$%^! This rig (which I have also seen – on the Internet) includes a strike indicator, some leader, some tippet mate-

rial, a fly the size of a grain of rice, more tippet, another grain-of-rice fly, more tippet, and a pair of split shots on the bottom of it all, where you would normally expect a fly to be. I don’t even want to know what the total knot count was. Whatever. I promised myself I would only choose the type of water

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FISHING we fished then let the guide drive and mold me into Brad Pitt in A River Runs Through It. Down we went to ply the waters of Hot Creek. OUR FIRST SPOT was a deeper run behind a midcreek boulder that Doug said usually produces. He handed me the nymphing rod with all the aforementioned hardware attached to the business end and threw me a pep talk about what we were trying to accomplish and what I needed to do to get the job done. Just before I fainted at the thought of casting this monstrosity (that ironically hails from my motherland), he went out there and showed me how easy it was to whip the rod from back to front over my head (kind of like throwing a baseball), but adding a little inner arm rotation at the end. The process resulted in an almost upside down rod (now in front of me) and my fly landing right in the pickle bar-

38 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

Tenkara, which the author is attempting here, has Japanese roots and features flipping a long and reel-less rod across the stream. The author managed to land a trout with this technique. (MIKE STEVENS)

rel. I should probably mention that my target spot was only about 10 feet away, but it was still pretty challenging because, if I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t land right where I was aiming, I would not achieve the proper drift. No one was home, so we moved

on. Along the way, I picked Dougâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brain about the best times fishing here or there, snowmelt, spring creeks, fly selection, my gear, and so on. One thing I did learn about Hot Creek in particular in that first hour was that because it was so heavily fished, the

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FISHING trout weren’t spooky about you walking along the bank, or in my case, standing right on top of the fish I was targeting. They are used to seeing humans around. That was good to know, because trying to do all this while crawling on my belly or from behind a rock would have slowed the learning curve, to say the least. There was a bit of surface activity at our next spot, so Doug broke the tenkara rod out with a dry caddis imitation and gave another pep talk. Now, the way I described the tenkara rig, it seems like something you would just use all that length to dangle that dry fly wherever you pleased. Oh no. Doug pointed out some actual caddis flies and had me watch how they bounced up and down on the surface of the water as they laid eggs. Then he took the rod, held it upstream at about 10 o’clock and found just the right angle to where he could hold it there,

let the wind take his fly and get it to hop on the water exactly like the natural caddis were. Then it was my turn. It took me a bit longer to dial everything in just right, but after some experimenting, I got to a point where I could get the same sexy bounce out of that dry fly. I was now targeting trout that I could see, doing it correctly and things were starting to make sense. We stayed in this spot for most of the morning, and I would alternate between the nymph and tenkara setups. Even when the surface activity stopped and our trout could be observed feeding along the bottom, Rodricks said that he has seen that hopping technique that we employed bring fish to the surface that were chowing down along the bottom and completely ignoring the surface. Sure enough, that was the case on my first fish that had finally seen enough and darted straight up from the bottom and

took my caddis. Scratch tenkara trout off the fishing bucket list. ON THE WAY down, I made Doug aware of

my lack of subsurface experience, so I peppered him with questions the entire time I fumbled around with the nymph setup. Oh, I tangled the rig up plenty, even catching a barbed-wire fence and handing the mess to Doug to re-rig like I did my grandpa when I was 5. Can you say awkward feeling? I felt like the Sultan of Brunei with a servant there to deal with all the dirty work. I fought off the shame by reminding myself that I was a paying customer, and convincing myself that surely he has dealt with worse. Well, I did end up seeing that indicator dive, and I even set the hook correctly and brought another rainbow to the net. First nymph fish: check. For those of you keeping score, you are correctly tallying a total of two trout

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FISHING for the day, and that’s where it ended. Like I said, I went in not seeking numbers or lunkers, but to bring my fly fishing game to the next level and to learn things that I could apply in moving water all over the Eastern Sierra. Even if I hadn’t fished and just walked the bank and asked him all the questions that I did, I would have accomplished this. As we made our way out of the canyon, he told me how variations of what we did that day would work everywhere I normally fished, and it even sounded like those places would be a lot easier than Hot Creek with my newfound Jedi knowledge (like I said, it was batting practice). Doug’s next handful of clients fished Crowley in his boat, and they all wacked big rainbows and browns (I saw the photos on Doug’s Facebook page – it was as if they were laughing at me and taunting me from afar). So sure, that could have been me, but I still

42 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

Guide Doug Rodricks with a tenkara-caught Hot Creek trout. In the end, the author caught a couple trout using untraditional methods, but asking questions throughout his session provided plenty of answers for next time. (SIERRA DRIFTERS GUIDE SERVICE)

wouldn’t have traded it for the half-day I got. I now felt like I could do it, and I was also pleased to find out that many of the

assumptions I made about fly fishing that I had hoped to confirm or deny that day weren’t far off from reality. Mission accomplished. CS

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FISHING

WEATHER HELPING EAST WALKER BROWN TROUT BITING IN E. SIERRA RIVER

Despite low water levels, some fortuitous weather in the form of thunderstorms has kept the weather down and fishing up in the East Walker River. (KEN’S SPORTING GOODS)

By Luke Kelly BRIDGEPORT—Flowing from California’s Eastern Sierras and rolling into Nevada, the East Walker River is one of the region’s more productive streams when it comes to rainbow and brown trout – even in summers like this one when the drought in California has resulted in exceedingly low water levels. “As far as the East Walker River goes, it’s actually hanging in there, even with the low water. We’ve had some saving grace from the weather lately, which is keeping the temperatures low for us,” says Jim Reid of Ken’s Sporting Goods (760-932-7707; kenssport.com) in Bridgeport.

This weather boost, Reid says, has resulted in fairly good fishing conditions in spite of the low water levels. “From the bridge on Highway 182 down in through Nevada has been the best section so far,” says Reid. The baits that have been producing are dry-dropper rigs with a hopper on top, and a small midge pattern underneath. “Those seem to be the best techniques going so far,” he explains. There have been a handful of rainbows caught, but the river has been producing an even greater bounty of brown trout (by Reid’s own estimate, it is about 20 percent browns and 80 percent rainbows being caught), often of considerable size.

“I would say the average size is going to be in the 16-inch range, but some fish are running up to 22 or even 23 inches,” says Reid. So just how much has the drought affected fishing on the East Walker River? “It’s affected it, for sure, the water levels are definitely lower than they would normally be this time of year,” explains Reid. “But it hasn’t shut down yet, and the fish are still healthy, fighting good and releasing well. So far, the river has been hanging in there pretty decent.” At this point in time, it’s hard to predict whether fishing will remain favorable into the fall. To a large degree, AUGUST 2014 California Sportsman 45

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FISHING SIERRA DERBIES IN AUGUST Three derbies highlight the August calendar in the Sierras:

On the West Walker River in the Eastern Sierras, the Size Doesn’t Matter Derby is Aug. 8-10 and is headquartered at theWalker General Store (530-495-2911) and adjacent Walker Country Store (530-495-2945). The prepurchased entry fee is $25 and features specially tagged trout that will be planted in the West Walker. Competition begins at noon on Friday, Aug. 8, and continues until 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 10. Prizes will be awarded, and tagged fish not caught afterwards will be available for cash awards. For more information, contact the Northern Mono Chamber of Commerce (800-8457922; northernmonochamber.com).

Further northwest, the Stampede Reservoir Team Kokanee Derby takes places on Aug. 2 at the popular lake near Truckee. Sponsored by Kokanee Power (kokaneepower.org), the event costs $45 per person for club members and $55 for nonmembers.

46 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

Some good-sized brown trout, averaging 16 inches and some around 23 or 24 inches, are being pulled out of the East Walker River. Dry-hopper rigs and small midges are popular options for anglers. (KEN’S SPORTING GOODS)

There is a three-kokanee weigh-in limit per team member (each teams must fish out of one boat), with payouts starting at $600 (based on 125 paid participants) all the way down to 15th place.

Kokanee Power hosts the Pardee Lake Team Kokanee Derby on Aug. 16, with similar regulations as the Stampede event ($45 for members, $55 for nonmembers). –CS

what will happen fishing-wise depends on the water levels and the usually unpredictable climate. “It really depends on the weather,” says Reid. “This series of thunderstorms that we’ve been getting have really helped keep the temperatures down. If that weather pattern quits, and it gets hot, it may get to a point where we start encouraging people not to fish there, just because you don’t want to stress the fish out too much to kill them.” It’s difficult to say exactly what will happen in the coming months because it all hinges on the weather and the water temperatures. “The temperatures have dropped probably six or seven degrees just in the last few days because of this series of thunderstorms that we’ve been having, so that’s helped a lot,” Reid says. If that pattern of cooler weather and thunderstorms continues, expect more decent fishing for rainbows, but especially browns, in the coming weeks. CS

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AUGUST 2014 California Sportsman 47

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FISHING

CAPLES LAKE LEVEL HIGH TROUT HAVE BEEN BITING ALL SUMMER

Alex Frost of San Luis Obispo with one of several nice rainbow trout that have been pulled out of Caples Lake this summer. Caples was, surprisingly in a drought period, mostly at a full lake level throughout the summer. Fishing has been fantastic. (CAPLES

By Chris Cocoles KIRKWOOD—It’s been an eventful sum-

mer at Caples Lake. Despite the drought conditions that have plagued the Golden State, Caples was at or right near capacity. The El Dorado Irrigation District oversees the lake but was only letting out a small amount of water from the dam. It was estimated that the lake was being reduced by just about 4 inches a week. “It was surprising that E.I.D. decided to leave their hands off the (dam). Their plan that we heard was to keep it fairly full just in case we go into another year of this drought,” says Dave Foley at the Caples Lake Resort (209-258-8888; capleslakeresort.com). “We are at the mercy of E.I.D. as to how fast they want to sell the water to Folsom Dam.” Foley points out the fishing this season is better than the summer of 2013 because the California Department of Fish and Wildlife made several plants in June, and more fish than usual were put in that month when the drought prevented lakes at lower elevations and in the Sacramento Valley (Caples is at 7,900 feet) to be stocked. “The mountain lakes got a lot of their fish,” Foley says. “We’re not complaining. The fishing will drop off a little (late in summer) because there’s no more (CDFW) plants for

LAKE RESORT)

the rest of the year. But we’ll probably get a trophy plant the last week of August. It’s usually about 3,000 pounds of catchables with 2- to 3pound trophies.” That doesn’t mean there aren’t some trout ready to be caught in August, as even last summer the stockings became less frequent in the second half of summer.

“The fishing has been fantastic. It did slow down a little bit, but I’m attributing to that to a full moon and the water warming up and being fished out,” Foley says. Going 50 feet down with five colors of leadcore line recently led to limits of 2- to 3-pound rainbows for two anglers who rented one of the resort’s Gregor boats. Foley says Caples’ fishAUGUST 2014 California Sportsman 49

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ing techniques are nothing fancy, but the results have been good. “Same as always: PowerBait, worms, Kastmasters, Rapalas and Rooster Tails. It’s just your regular trout stuff and in anything with rainbow or brown trout (colors). A lot of people use green or garlic PowerBait,” Foley says. “I’m a lazy fisherman. I’ll tie on a rainbow Rapala on the end of my line and troll it behind me. “The best methods that are working are trolling slowly with leadcore lines or downriggers, so you can get down to 45 or 50 feet. Or using a Texas rig and fishing off the bottom has been working pretty well.” Caples Lake Resort features six private lodge rooms, each containing a private bath, starting at $110 a night. There also nine housekeeping cabins fully furnished with kitchens and bath (sleeping from two to six people), with prices starting at $170 up to $280. Contact the resort for more information. CS

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Large Caples Lake trout like this are crafty, though this high Sierra fishery is also known for its rather simple tactics. (CAPLES LAKE RESORT)

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AUGUST 2014 California Sportsman 51

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FISHING

KEEPING TROUT HAPPY IN THE HEAT RARE SUMMER PLANT GIVES COLLINS LAKE A BOOST Big rainbows like these can be caught at Collins Lake, but quantity is a big part of the lake’s productive season. A rare summer plant of trout added to the success expected to continue into August. (COLLINS LAKE)

By Chris Cocoles

listering heat usually puts the brakes on Collins Lake’s scheduled California Department of Fish and Wildlife trout plants after late May. But while so many lakes had been deemed too low to stock any fish, and the American River Hatchery needing

to release some rainbows somewhere in the face of the drought, Collins was scheduled for a plant on June 25. “They had to get rid of their fish as quick as possible because it had gotten too warm there,” says Lincoln Young at the Collins Lake recreation area (800286-0576; collinslake.com). “We wanted to try something out and see if it would work.” The problem is, Collins Lake starts to bake in late June, but pumps were installed to transfer some colder, deeper water toward the surface, where CDFW

Hot summer weather means big catfish at this Sierra foothills location about an hour northeast of Sacramento. Collins has plenty of muddy coves, and using baits such as anchovies and clams make for some great fishing. (COLLINS LAKE)

made its 2,000-pound planting. “You never know until you try it. Nobody else had ever done it before either, but (CDFW) was willing to give it a shot,” Young says. “And now we AUGUST 2014 California Sportsman 53

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FISHING know that it works.” Anglers are getting the biggest benefit out of the experiment, and despite the rising temperatures at the Yuba County Sierra foothills lake, the trout fishing has been great through July and should be strong into August despite high 70s water temperature. The key to catching Collins Lake trout this month is having a boat and fishing deep – Young says going anywhere from 30 but closer to 50 feet deep with flashers and leadcore line or having downriggers is the best option. PowerBait in various colors also is a Collins Lake staple, but it works better in the spring. “Sometimes people are catching fish late at night when they’re in more shallow water. If they have the leadcore or downrigger setup that’s the best chance,” Young says. “You can troll a set of flashers and a worm or some type of shad lure behind the flashers.”

54 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

WARMWATER SPECIES OPTIONS But Collins is more than a trout lake. This fishery provides some of the best catfishing in Northern California. Most spots on the lake have hungry channel cats that swim in 5 to 20 feet of water. “This when you have the best catfishing of the year starting in mid-July and into August, September and October. Fishing is mainly at night in coves with muddier bottoms,” Young says. “And then just put something really meaty and smelly on your hooks – your anchovies, chicken livers, clams, something like those and fish off the bottom. We’ll have some beautiful catches.” Spotted bass are also being caught by patient summer fishermen in the summer. Young says Collins’ bass tactics vary in the preferences of the anglers. Crankbaits that resemble the large population of crawdads in the lake are popular. Night fishing throwing surface poppers works better than during the heat of midday, when the fish are

deeper and more sluggish. The lake will remain busy with wakeboarders and water skiers in the main body of the lake. But by the middle of this month, many families will be staying away during the week as kids go to school, providing this 1,600-acre lake with plenty of room to pursue both trout and the warmwater species. There’s also a section of Collins on the north end that limits crafts to just 5 mph at all times and is popular for fishing. “We’re actually in better shape than many other lakes are,” Young says. “We didn’t get all the way full; we got within 15 feet of being full (Collins was 33 feet down by the middle of last month). We’re not seeing the numbers of fish we would normally see if we were full. But we’re a deep enough lake that we should be up and running all season.” And thanks to that rare summer trout plant, the season has been a good one. CS

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FISHING

FINDING EUREKA KINGS NO MORE 60-MINUTE LIMITS, BUT PLENTY OF BIG OCEAN FISH By Chris Cocoles EUREKA—How good was the ocean king salmon fishing off the Eureka coast during the epic salmon summer of 2013? Ian Kramer of Joli Time Sportfishing (707-362-5866; jolitimesportfishing.com) had to explain to his guests why charters on his six-pack, 31-foot Bertram boat, the Cuervo, were ending so quickly. Anglers were catching their two-fish limit in the time it takes to watch 60 Minutes on TV. “It was not uncommon to be done

in an hour; get your 14 fish in an hour and have a difficult time putting more than two rods in the water,” Kramer says. “This year you actually have to fish a little. And I think people enjoy that more than just getting done in about 45 minutes. It’s not all about catching the fish; it’s the experience of fishing on a 31-foot Bertram.” And with that said, the boats heading out of Humboldt County are still usually getting their clients plenty of action this summer as well without the limits-in-minutes scenario that made 2013 such a landmark season for salmon. It’s a trend that, weatherpermitting, should remain constant throughout August before the ocean

season from the Oregon border south to Horse Mountain ends on September 7. “It’s a rare day when the party boats don’t catch their limits of fish,” Kramer says. “And the fish have been better than average in size this year compared to some years past. Until recently we had very few shakers. The salmon were anywhere from 12 to 30 pounds. In the past you saw a lot of 6- to 8-pound fish.” What bodes well for anglers in the area is this: Kramer says the biggest kings traditionally start showing up in late July and into August when they begin their trek back into Northern California’s rivers. So limiting out is a little more of a

Last year’s record king salmon run in Northern California meant anglers fishing off the Eureka coast were limiting out in an hour. The limits are still coming, charter boat skipper Ian Kramer says, but it just takes a little more patience. (JOLI TIME SPORTFISHING)

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FISHING challenge for the party boats out of Eureka, which Kramer calls an overlooked region for anglers wanting to get in some fantastic salmon action. “We’re putting our time in. We’re usually leaving at 6 and back in by noon. So now you’re getting your six hours of fishing in,” Kramer says. “There have been very few days where we haven’t caught our fish for our clients. The quality of the fish has been really good. They raised the minimum size limit from 20 inches last year to 24. A 24-inch (king) isn’t much of a fish. But it’s a lot better than 20 inches.” Kramer laughs at that notion that the minimum sizes are the norm, and he refers back to the average size of this summer’s Chinook that are far larger. While some do a lot of mooching out of boats, trolling is the name of the game in the Eureka area, as is fishing with baits like anchovies.

Some windy weather conditions shut down the offshore king salmon fishing for a couple weeks early in the summer, but August is expected to offer some of the best weather and seas around Humboldt County for salmon anglers. (JOLI TIME SPORTFISHING)

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FISHING “Everybody fishes bait Limits of Pacific Ocean king salmon caught from here, and people love bait. the Cuervo have been common this summer also Hardware takes kind of the after an epic 2013 season. But it’s not as rapid a process this time around. (JOLI TIME SPORTFISHING) fun out of it,” Kramer says. “But I think up here, everybody fishes the same way because it’s productive; it just works, and the other part about that is, it’s simple. The customers can get involved and be part of the fishing experience because of the things that we use. They can bait their own hook and put it back trolling with the current.” in the water, and it’s going to catch a Fishing is usually best only about fish. They don’t want everything 4 miles straight out from the beaches. done for them; they want to be part It’s not always exactly the same, but of the experience.” in early July, the Cuervo was out about Trolling allows boats to cover that far, roughly 180 feet down. ground, despite moving just 1.8 to 2.6 “We don’t spend a whole lot of time knots, “depending on what the fish running to get to the fish. They’re are liking that day,” Kramer says. pretty much here and right out front,” “Some days they like it a little quicker, Kramer says. “Usually (when leaving and they only bite when you’re

60 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

at 6 a.m.) you’re fishing by 7 or 7:15.” The summer season was stalled a bit in June, when windy conditions shut down the fishing for about two weeks, which Kramer referred to as “frustrating, when you’re having to call people who have planned their summer vacation and tell them, ‘Hey, it’s not safe and not good to go.’” But August is generally calm and warm in the Pacific, and with kids not back in school until the end of the month, it’s a peak opportunity to get in on the Chinook haul. “We’re catching Klamath River fish, Sacramento River fish; we’re getting the Chetco and the Smith fish. These are all fish that are right our front right here,” Kramer says. “(Kings are) the best fish in the world.” CS

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FISHING

FROM FIELD:

PLUGGING AWAY AT CHINOOK

TUNA-WRAPPED PLUGS ONE WAY TO STALK SALMON

By Scott Haugen

our decades has passed since I landed my first Chinook salmon on a plug, a U20 FlatFish to be exact. Since that time there have been numerous Chinook, coho and steelhead taken by backtrolling plugs, a technique I never tire of using. Over the years I’ve wrapped plugs with various baits, from herring to bacon, scent-soaked sponges to

squid. Then, about a decade ago, a buddy introduced me to a bait option that could be wrapped on a plug, one I’d never before tried. It was tuna, and though I’d fished it from a spawn sack hanging on the trailing hook of big plugs, I’d never considered wrapping it. Start with a can of tuna, either oilpacked or water-packed. Between the thumb and three fingers, take a pinch of tuna and position it on the belly of the plug. Mag Lips, Hawg

Nose FlatFish and Kwikfish can all effectively be wrapped in this way. The first time I tried fishing a tuna-wrapped plug I thought there was no way the tuna chunks would stay on when wrapped with simple thread. But as the tuna compresses on to the belly-side of the plug, it firms up. True, little bits of tuna will fall off due to the water current and plug action, but that’s what creates a stronger scent trail for fish to follow. Once the tuna is balanced on the

Wrapping plugs with baits is nothing new in the world of salmon fishing, but when the author was shown how well tuna wraps work, he noticed immediate boosts in hookup rates. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

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FISHING plug, start wrapping it with stretthread. This elastic thread binds the tuna chunks, keeping them secure and intact, surprisingly well. If you can’t find stretchy thread at the local sporting goods store, regular plug-wrapping thread will work fine, but use more wraps than normal. Even in rough water and when bounced along the bottom, the stretchy thread holds the tuna in place. Once you’ve wrapped the tuna securely in place from the tail-end up to the eye of the belly hook, flip the belly hook over onto the already secured tuna and continue wrapping past the eye of the belly hook, toward the bill of the plug. How far up you go depends on the plug being used and how its action is influenced by the addition of the tuna. Once the tuna is securely wrapped, it’s ready to fish. Even after fish hit them, usually enough tuna is intact to keep the plug fishing.

64 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

Tuna chunks stay on the plugs surprisingly well and disperse a scent salmon often can’t resist. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

Tuna and stretchy thread is all you need, and then the wrapped plugs will be ready to fish. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

As with any plug, the approaches are the same when fishing those wrapped with tuna. Depending on what river you’re fishing, what the conditions are like and what plugs you’re working, you’ll have to figure out for yourself

what works best in your situation. Some plugs simply pull more efficiently when flatlined, while others track just as good with a surprising amount of tuna strapped to them. Experiment with different combinations in a variety of water settings and soon you’ll soon be dialed-in. In deeper holes a diver may be necessary to help get that wrapped plug down. But if using a Hawg Nose FlatFish, flatlining to 20 feet deep is possible under ideal conditions. There are two schools of thought when running a diver with a tunawrap setup. One is to go with a diver that relieves some of the stress on the plug, whereby keeping more of the tuna intact for a longer period. The other theory is to forego the diver, allowing the plug to move more aggressively, whereby possibly establishing a heavier scent trail. There is no right or wrong approach, as much of what we know, or think

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FISHING

TO FIRE:

NO MESS, JUST TASTY SALMON By Tiffany Haugen ver crave the robust flavor of smoky fish but don’t have the time to slow-smoke your catch? Less messy than grilling, smoke-cooking over chips is an easy, tasty solution. Smoke-cooking can be accomplished in many ways. A smoker, gas or charcoal grill or camp fire will all get the job done. But for a super-simple presentation, just place fish, skin side down, right on top of your chips. In no time, those chips will be smoking and the fish will be cooking. When smoke-cooking, I like to use an internal thermometer to ensure perfect doneness and keep cooking worry-free. Suggested woods for smoke-cooking fish include maple, alder, apple or cherry.

dill or 1 teaspoon dried dill 1 teaspoon lemon zest 1 teaspoon sugar, optional ¼ teaspoon granulated onion ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon white pepper Lemon slices

½-pound salmon fillet, skin on 2 tablespoons sour cream or Greek yogurt 2 teaspoons chopped fresh

In a small bowl, mix sour cream or Greek yogurt, dill, zest, sugar, onion, salt and pepper until thoroughly combined. On a large double layer of foil, place about 2 cups smoker chips/chunks. Poke five holes with a sharp knife under chips/chunks. Place salmon, skin side down, on chips/chunks. Spread creamy mixture on salmon and top with lemon slices. Close foil around fish and place in a hot grill or on a rack over an open fire. Cook fish 10 to 15 minutes or until fish is no longer opaque and reaches an internal temperature of at least 135 degrees. This is a great preparation while camping. Any fish can be used as well as any

we know, in the salmon fishing world is based on speculation. On a recent spring Chinook trip, a buddy and I moved through a deep hole with jumbo divers keeping our tuna-wrapped plugs close to the bottom. Our goal was to stay deep as it was late morning, the sun was on the water and several boats had already passed through the hole. We had one strike on our first pass, nothing on our second. Then we removed the divers and ran back through the same water. I missed a good strike but my buddy connected. On the next pass I tagged another fish. The only difference in those final

passes was that we used no diver, just tuna-wrapped plugs. Whether the fish were suspended a bit or liked the action of the plug better without a diver we’ll never know, but the fact remains they were responsive to the change. For a decade now, I’ve been fishing tuna-wrapped plugs, and one thing I’ve found is they seem to produce bites when other offerings can’t. I don’t know if this is because the fish simply respond to a different scent being in the water or that they just got agitated into biting. Some of the most impressive success stories I’ve witnessed with tunawrapped plugs is how well they

SMOKER CHIP SALMON

68 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

seasonings. The key is making sure the skin is on the chips/chunks to prevent them from getting on the meat. Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany’s latest book, Cooking Seafood, send a check for $20 (free S&H), to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489. This and other cookbooks can also be ordered at tiffanyhaugen.com.

produce when fished behind other anglers. Be it amid heavy boat traffic or intense bank pressure, the tuna simply ignites a spark that eggs, herring and other baits don’t always produce. This season try wrapping some plugs with tuna. Based on my experience, whatever river you try them in, I’m confident you’ll be impressed. CS Editor’s note: To order personally signed copies of Scott Haugen’s popular book, 300 Tips To More Salmon & Steelhead, send a check for $30 (free S&H) to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489. This and other titles can also be ordered at scotthaugen.com.

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FISHING

DON’T DROP THE BALL SUMMER BASSING ON DROPSHOT RIGS By Bill Schaefer SAN DIEGO—This time of year can be great for bass. Topwater

action usually starts about this time at most lakes, and it has been the norm at some already. It will only get better as roaming The major advantage of a dropshot rig: by packs of bass chase placing the bait above the weight, it allows balls of bait. But it’s the latter to dance more as it’s twitched the bait that dictates upon retrieval. (BILL SCHAEFER) the action, plus the weather and wind. If the bait goes down, it’s often hard to find the fish. So what do you do now? Where did the bass go? Usually, the bass will retreat to ambush points and wait for the baitfish to come to them. As the sun gets higher in the sky it can push the bait down to the bottom. So can the wind. The bass will follow the bait, and a great technique for fishing this situation is a dropshot rig. It’s been around for years, but I’m still amazed how many anglers don’t know how to set it up or fish it. To get started, pick your favorite spinning rig. I like to go with Maxima fluorocarbon line, usually about 8-pound test. Pick a hook that matches up well with your plastic lure. Usually it’s a No. 1 hook for me, as I am frequently throwing smaller baits that match our smaller shad in San Diego. Using a palomar knot, tie on the hook and leave an extralong tag line on. At the end of about a 10- or 12-inch tag, squeeze an appropriately sized split shot for weight. Some companies make special dropshot weights, but the split shots work well.

So what is the advantage of having the bait above the weight? It lets the bait dance around more as you twitch it, emulating a wounded baitfish. The weight stays on the bottom stirring it up. I like to use small french fry baits, Yamamoto Cut Tail worms, or even larger worms at times. They all will dance without the weight against them. But right now you are trying to emulate the baitfish, so I would go with shad-colored smaller worms or shad-shaped plastics. Many companies make special plastic shad for dropshot fishing as well. Fish the points around where you saw, or usually see, the breaking fish this time of year. Fan cast to find the right depth, but once the sun is up high, the fish are a little deeper Spinning rigs unless there with 8-pound are a lot of test, a No. 1 weeds. Don’t hook and a be afraid to dropshot throw this rig setup will help around the you catch weeds as the some nice light bait will summer bass. still dance, (BILL SCHAEFER) even if the weight has a little trouble g e t t i n g t h r o u g h them. Give the dropshot rig a chance and I’m sure you will add it to your arsenal. CS AUGUST 2014 California Sportsman 71

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FISHING

PROS

SIZZLING SUMMER TACTICS A CALIFORNIA PRO DISHES ABOUT HIS HOT SPOTS By Nick Barr t's hot. The sweat on your brow begins to run as the time between bites stretches on and on. The sun radiates down on the lake giving even the most seasoned of anglers troubles. These may be some of the most common fishing memories from the thick of summer. Now everyone talks about the dog days as if it is a lull time on the lake, which can hold true for many anglers. But using the right techniques on the right bodies of water can make your trip a success even in the toughest of summertime conditions. Southern California-based Rusty Brown, a bass fishing guide as well as the 2013 U.S. Open champion, shared his favorite techniques and locations for this scorching time of year.

“MY TWO FAVORITE lakes have to be Lake

Isabella and Pyramid Lake,” Rusty says of two famed Central and Southern California fisheries, respectively. “I get to fish them all the time and they provide consistent fishing even when the weather heats up.” Pyramid Lake often gets overlooked since it’s an extra 30 minutes past Castaic Lake near the town of Castaic in Los Angeles County, but the lake boasts an excellent fishery for both largemouth and smallmouth bass. When the word Isabella comes up in a conversation with Rusty, a sly grin will appear like magic. The Kern

JOES Rusty Brown, the 2013 U.S. Open champion and a successful Southern California guide, says despite the scorching summer temperatures, patient anglers can still score trophy largemouths. (RUSTY BROWN BASS FISHING SERVICE)

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FISHING County reservoir east of Bakersfield is, of course, famed for its annual trout derby. But this is also an outstanding trophy bass factory. “Lake Isabella is home to some of the biggest toads in Southern California. Because of its location, it does not receive a large amount of fishing pressure, except from some very tightlipped locals,” Brown says. When fishing Isabella, he loves throwing topwater lures. “With the extremely clear water, you can't have much more fun that with visual strikes and cover a lot of water,” he says. “I target the boulders and wood that will create a good amount of shade for the fish.” Brown’s favorite lure is of the popping variety. “The Rapala Skitter Pop in a silver color catches most of my fish, imitating an injured shad on the surface,” he explains. Largemouth will tend to use shade as a superior ambush spot, especially on calm, sunny days. Another great situation to use this technique is in open water. “When the shad flicker on the surface in the morning, you can really smack them on the popper,” Rusty says. AT PYRAMID LAKE, the technique of

choice is spinnerbaiting. “Once again, covering water is key in the summertime, using a spinnerbait with multiple variants of retrieves allow you to do so,” Rusty says. A favorite lure there is a 5⁄8-ounce ProLine spinnerbait in a western shad color. At Pyramid there can be a vast amount of weed growth along the shoreline. “I try to concentrate on throwing the spinnerbait along and around weedlines,” says Rusty, who is quick to assert about the type of cover you want to look for. “Green grass, not the off-colored stuff. You need to find that healthy grass that is releasing a lot of oxygen keeping the areas food chain healthy.” The bass highway that a weedline creates is a perfect ambush spot for 74 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

Rusty Brown with a Pyramid Lake bass, which can fall victim to spinnerbaits fished with multiple variants of retrieve. (RUSTY BROWN BASS FISHING SERVICE)

predators and a resident area for many baitfish that provide a natural food source for the big lunker fish. When looking for specific locations to fish, Rusty gave us some insight into what he is looking for when launching his boat on either of these destinations. “On both lakes I prefer secondary points that have bays near them or attached,” Rusty says. He also hints that many quality fish do not stray far from their spawning grounds even during the depths of summer.

“Those fish are big for a reason, and they are smart. They don't want to have a make a big migration if they don't need to. There is generally more than enough food on the outside weedlines.” ON THE EQUIPMENT end, Rusty prefers a

Phenix M1 7-foot, 4-inch medium-action rod rigged with a Daiwa Steez 7.1:1 reel filled with 12-pound Maxima monofilament. “The monofilament floats and allows the popper a better plunking ac-

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FISHING tion,” Rusty explains. On the spinnerbait you'll see him on the water around Southern California throwing a 7-foot heavy-action Phenix M1 with the same reel and line combination. The U.S. Open champion says that the 12-pound-test range is extremely versatile for many clear water applications where you would normally see other anglers going with heaver line. Rusty concludes his lesson with this: “Many people don't think you can have a great day bass fishing in August. The fish can be finicky and you have to prepare for the conditions. But with these techniques anyone can catch fish on my favorite bodies of water.” CS Editor’s note: You can keep up with pro angler and guide Rusty Brown on Facebook or at RustyBassHook.com. Your author, Nick Barr, can be reached at NickBarrFishing.com.

76 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

Kern County’s Lake Isabella is one of pro guide Rusty Brown’s favorite Golden State fisheries. And it’s easy to see why with bass like this. Brown prefers popping lures here. (RUSTY BROWN BASS FISHING SERVICE)

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FISHING

WARMING UP TO SUMMER YELLOWTAIL, BONITO, BASS AMONG AUGUST TARGETS By Capt. Bill Schaefer

SAN DIEGO—The weather is heating up and so are the waters off Southern California. Along with it, the fishing is just going off the charts. Tuna, yellowtail, barracuda, bonito, calico bass and sand bass have been hitting the decks of both private and sport boats in big numbers. There was talk of an El Niño year and that is still being debated, but usually in El Niño years the fishing explodes, and this fishing may be the proof. The tuna, bluefin and yellowfin have been spotty close to shore, but they have been caught as close as 40 miles from Point Loma. The yellowfin have been mainly taken with trolling feathers. They have not been too receptive of the anchovies on the stop to keep them around. A little farther out the sport boats have been scoring better on bigger schools. The yellowtail have been strong

Joel King caught this Pacific Ocean yellowtail. Target them in kelp beds, floating kelp paddies and around various islands off the Southern California coast. (BILL SCHAEFER) AUGUST 2014 California Sportsman 79

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with some big fish. They have been caught anywhere from the kelp beds, floating kelp paddies offshore to the various islands off Southern California. Yo-yoing with iron has caught some nice fish off meter marks as well as bait soaked in any of the above locations. If you can find some small mackerel, you should score larger fish. Slow trolling mackerel has done very well for those who take the time to do it at the islands. Barracuda and bonito have shown up as well. They have been caught from around the kelp beds to inside some of the bays. Throwing live bait or Rebel-type lures trolled or even small chrome spoons have caught these toothy creatures. You may want to go with a small wire leader. There are a lot of small fish, but a good number of keeper barracuda to 8 or 10 pounds have been caught. Troll to find them and then switch to throwing the spoons. Calico bass have been going ballistic the last month or so in all the kelp beds of Southern California. There are a lot of anchovy schools in the waters and many times you can find packs of bass feeding on them. Swimbaits, especially weedless ones, have been scoring in brown colors. I like to rig up with Maxima braided line with a fluorocarbon leader and a weedless swimbait. The braid will actually cut through the kelp and help you score that trophy calico. The sand bass are just coming off their spawn and stragglers may actually still be spawning off the coast. They spawn in about 80 to 100 feet of water, but they are only down about 30 to 50 feet doing the dance. If you get on them, it can be nonstop action. If it has ended, move to the closest structure; they will hang out and rest up there, still ready to take your bait. Live bait or swimbaits will attract them. CS 80 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

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FISHING

ANCHOVY DINER FOR BONITO

ARRIVAL OF MILLIONS OF BAITFISH A WINNER FOR SALTY ANGLERS

A "massive" school of anchovies - estimated to be numbering in the hundreds of millions - provide plenty of tasty snacks for bonito and a productive target for anglers off the Southern California coast. (STEVE CARSON)

By Steve Carson

SAN DIEGO-The much-discussed return of anchovies is already yielding a substantially increased catch of perhaps California’s most exciting near-shore game fish, the bonito. A massive school of anchovies, estimated to be over 100 million strong moved in tight to the beach in La Jolla last month, drawing lots of attention from news outlets. After over a decade of scarcity, the bonito started showing up in the catch counts for several local San Diego landings. Biologists have been saying that bonito population cycles closely follow the anchovy population cycle, so with luck the striped micro-tuna will stick around for a while. During their peak abundance in the 1960s and 1970s, bonito were often treated with little respect and shunned in favor of more desirable species like

yellowtail. In today’s fishing world, they are much more popular on the table. Part of the reason is that aboard most sportfishing boats back in the day, bonito were simply dropped into a dry gunnysack and allowed to sit in the sun, which did not result in good table fare. These days it is standard procedure to bleed the fish and immediately get it chilled down. This results in an amazingly good food product, although anglers should take care to remove the

bloodline in each fillet. The bonito’s fighting qualities as a game fish are unquestioned, and they rank among the world’s hardest fighters on a pound-for-pound basis. Heavy tuna tackle overwhelms them, of course, but 12- or 15-pound spinning gear like a Penn Spinfisher SSV4500 is ideal. Bonito are also generally cooperative biters, and will hit a variety of casting and trolling lures, along with fly-lined live anchovies. Many trollers go with small-sized albacore feathers, as the classic bonito feathers are difficult to find these days. Even more effective are the smaller Rapala X-Rap Magnums in size XRMAG10 or XRMAG15, and, not surprisingly, the silver color that replicates anchovies is usually best. Casting lures similarly run the gamut of almost anything that resembles an anchovy, with a chrome or chrome/red Krocodile being among the longstanding champions of bonito catching. The AUGUST 2014 California Sportsman 83

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best size of a Krocodile for smaller school-size bonito is usually the 5⁄8ounce variety; for better-grade fish, the 1 ounce is standard. Pier anglers love bonito, which are the biggest adrenaline rush they usually get. A live anchovy fished on a slideline or trolley rig is the most reliable way to catch bonito off of piers. Another soonto-be-revived pier rig for bonito is the splasher, which is a 5-inch piece of wooden dowel with 6 feet of line behind it and a 2/0 saltwater streamer fly. A chrome/red Krocodile in 5⁄8 ounce is also a good pier weapon as well. California’s marine environment has changed somewhat since the last time bonito were abundant, but they were traditionally present to some degree most of the year. The peak is in summer and early fall. Weights ranged from little 1- and 2-pound tigers up to 12pound-plus powerhouses. Just about every inshore zone from the Mexican border to Santa Barbara hosted bonito, as did the offshore islands, and many harbors. Older anglers will fondly remember the legendary runs of bonito inside Redondo’s King Harbor; with luck, those days are about to return.

EL NIÑO ODDITIES AND MORE Since last month, even more El Niño-related oddities have been noticed by California anglers, including: *A hammerhead shark off Orange County in Southern California, schools of Pacific greenback mackerel off Marin County near the Bay Area, various tuna species spotted inside both Newport and Alamitos Bays, and a huge shoal of anchovies right on the beach at La Jolla. *Although not exactly an El Niño oddity, a juvenile great white shark was hooked by an angler off Manhattan Beach Pier during the Fourth of July weekend. A handful of 6-foot great whites have been caught there over the past decade, so it’s not that unusual. However, as the angler was fighting the shark, a marathon swimmer who was about 300 yards off the beach passed by the pier. In one of the most

unusual collisions of fishing circumstance in history, the swimmer and the shark literally ran into each other, with the hooked shark lunging and snapping at the swimmer. Luckily the bite was not too serious, but a firestorm of controversy erupted. Great whites are protected under California law, although fishing for all other shark species is perfectly legal. Theoretically, the law requires that if the angler finds himself hooked up to a great white, the line is supposed to be cut immediately. In practical application, cutting the line and leaving 200 to 300 yards of line trailing from the fish’s mouth would be a death sentence. Top this all off with the smartphone video that shows the angler laughing out loud as the shark got close to the swimmer, and even right when the bite first occurred. Chumming is also perfectly legal, but much of the public’s wrath was directed at the fact that the angler may have been chumming (he denies it). Ironically, Manhattan Beach is a known pupping area for great whites, so anglers or no anglers, the sharks are there almost all the time. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife chose not to issue a citation in this case, but the knee-jerk reaction of Manhattan Beach officials was to close the pier to fishing for 60 days. The long-term ramifications of large numbers of people fishing around large numbers of swimmers may be irrevocably changed as this case will likely receive several legal examinations.

CORRECTION My July column started out with this: “For the first time ever, yellowfin tuna and dorado have been caught within range of San Diego one-day boats.” It was poor proofreading on my part, as I should have added “in the month of June” to the end of that sentence. Apologies for any confusion this may have caused. CS Editor’s note: The author can be reached at scarson@sunset.net.

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FISHING

BEST. BIRTHDAY. EVER. SEA BASS FOR THE BIG 5-0

Jim Dinning’s boat, a 25-foot Sea Sport, had all the tools necessary to make this fishing trip off the Santa Barbara coast a memorable birthday gift. (TIM E. HOVEY)

By Tim E. Hovey SANTA BARBARA—I woke two minutes before the alarm went off. It was dark outside and I forced myself out of bed. I got dressed, grabbed an apple from the fridge and loaded up my gear. A short eight minutes after I got up, I was in the truck and headed towards the Santa Barbara area to fish with my cousin, Jim Dinning. Jim had been following reports of an amazing white sea bass bite off the coast. He had heard reports of fish as large as 60 pounds being caught and he had given me a call earlier in the week to see if I wanted to go. I almost started crying. Jim is the owner of a fully loaded 25foot Sea Sport. If it’s manufactured to find, catch or hold fish, he has it

mounted on his vessel. Jim has owned the boat for years, but this would be my first trip on the Sea Sport. I didn’t live close and coordinating quick trips was tough. During family functions, we’d talk about getting together to fish, but something would always come up. On this Saturday, the stars finally aligned. Kind of. This particular trip just happened to coincide with my 50th birthday. A party had been planned for the afternoon, but I had my priorities. When Jim called, I didn’t have to think twice about clearing my calendar and coming aboard. Besides, I’m not much for birthday parties, not even my own. IT WAS STILL dark when I pulled into Jim’s place, and he was already in the driveway ready to go. I loaded up my gear

and after gassing up, we headed to the harbor. The launch was flawless and within minutes we cleared the harbor buoy. Jim punched in our destination coordinates into the auto pilot and we settled back for a two-hour run to the fishing grounds. As we bounced up the coast in the dark, we talked about the recent fish reports. Huge schools of white sea bass had been reported off the coast, north of Santa Barbara. Massive breeding beds of squid were drawing in all sorts of sea life and Jim wanted to make sure we were on site at sun-up, ready to soak a line. At dawn, the vessel slowed as Jim and I hovered around the fish finder. He pointed to a few small marks off the bottom that slowly drifted by as we watched. Then a huge multi-colored AUGUST 2014 California Sportsman 87

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FISHING blob eased into view from the right. Jim tapped the screen, “squid!” He marked the location and we continued to drift the area. After identifying a few spots, we rigged up the squid rigs and set to making bait. It didn’t take us long. Once our squid rigs hit the bottom, they were instantly attacked. It took less than 10 minutes to load two dozen pieces of squid into the bait tank. With fresh bait on board, it was time to fish. We rigged the 30-pound outfits with a large bait hook and barrel weight. We each grabbed a fresh squid, hooked them through the mantle and let them drift behind the boat and over the breeding beds of squid. The current kept the rigs off the bottom, 70 feet below.

When the 30-pound-plus fish hit the line, they ran hard, taking anywhere from 50 to 100 yards off the reel. (TIM E. HOVEY)

DESPITE THE CLEAR sky conditions and no

wind, the ocean was rough, rocking us from side to side in the 3-foot swell. I’ve spent two decades on boats of all sizes and it always takes me a few hours to get my sea legs. We shifted back and forth on the back deck as the sun came up. As soon as the sun hit the water, the bite switched on. Jim was holding his rod when I saw him lean forward and drop the tip. “I’m bit,” he mumbled. A second later he set the hook hard and the fish ripped 50 yards of line off the reel instantly. He played it for 10 minutes and finally had the 30-pound sea bass next to the boat. I slipped the gaff under the chin and lifted it aboard. The fish bounced around the deck until we dropped him in the fish hold. We celebrated with high-fives and got right back to fishing. A few other boats were in the general area, but for the most part, we had the bite and the spot to ourselves. We re-rigged with fresh squid and after a quick move to get us back into position, we sent our baits back into the drift. The day started warming up and both of us knew that once the sun got higher, the bite would probably shut down. Jim was adding more ice to the fish hold when his rod in the holder went off. He jumped up and grabbed it, setting the hook sharply. Just like the first 88 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

one, this fish took almost 100 yards of line off the reel during its first run. Jim played him perfectly, and within five minutes we had him lying next to the other sea bass on ice. Both fish were just scratching 30 pounds and looked to be the exact same size. For obvious reasons, the mood was high on the boat. We had two nice fish in the hold and the day was still young. We made more squid as we drifted and we let the big rods soak. As the day warmed, the sea flattened out. Unfortunately, so did the bite. The fish finder no longer showed marks above the bait, just the bait. While the boat drifted, I refused to believe that the fish would just leave all this bait. Jim looked over at me: “Time to change things up.”

Jim disappeared into the cabin and came out with two heavy rods. “Time to bounce the bottom,” he said. Over the next few minutes, I watched him rig up the heavy rigs with about $40 worth of terminal tackle. A three-way swivel was attached to the main line. The second ring was connected to a 2-pound lead downrigger weight. The third ring was connected to a salmon flasher. At the end of the flasher was a small trolling tuna lure with a double hook. And at the end of this heavy Christmas tree ornament we placed a fresh squid on the hook. We dropped both rigs to the bottom. Jim started the kicker motor on the back of the Sea Sport and we started trolling the edges of the squid beds. Jim mentioned that the key was to make sure that the heavy weight dragged or bounced on the bottom, kicking up the sediment. I had seen a similar slowtrolling rig used for catching halibut. We continued to troll the edge of the squid beds. The sea calmed a bit and the weather was perfect for fishing the coast. The early action had died off but it was just great to be out fishing. Jim and I talked about family, life and an upcoming family camping trip as we scooted the edge of the squid. Just two guys enjoying a day out on the water. As we sat there drifting the coast, I thought how this had definitely been a birthday to remember. FOR MY ENTIRE life, I’ve never been much

for birthday parties, not even my own. I’m not much for big celebratory parties, gifts or cake. I do really enjoy gathering with friends and family, but if you asked me how I wanted to spend my birthday, sitting on the deck of boat fishing wouldn’t be a bad start. Jim had just turned the corner to troll back when his rod bent, almost like the heavy rod was snagged on the bottom. “You take it,” he said, as he stepped aside. I grabbed the rod and felt angry thumping at the other end. The fish peeled line off the heavy reel with ease. When the fish hit, we were both convinced it was a large halibut since

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FISHING Jim Dinning (left) and the author made it a memorable 50th birthday for the latter with a haul of white sea bass. (TIM E. HOVEY)

the rig had been bouncing right on the bottom. But after several runs, I thought it might be something else. The unseen fish took me around the stern a couple of times before I finally brought it close. We looked into the water and were surprised to see our third sea bass for the morning firmly hooked to the bottom bouncing rig. Jim chin-gaffed the fish and tossed it into the fish hold with the other two. After the third fish, the bite died completely. We fished for another hour without any action. Jim insisted that we stow the gear and head back to the harbor. He wanted to make sure he got me back for the late afternoon birthday BBQ. I tried to convince him that we should stay and see if we could get in on the evening bite. He just smiled and kept stowing gear. I guess plans had been made. Back at Jim’s place, we split the duties. Jim washed down the boat and I got busy filleting almost 100 pounds of white sea bass. When I was finished, we had almost 30 vacuumed-packed fillets ready for the freezer. I cleaned up and headed over to the party. Jim showed a little later. The party ran its predictable course with the requisite food, cake and presents. While I did enjoy visiting with everyone, my mind was still on the back of Jim’s boat reeling in sea bass. Jim showed up and we told anyone who’d listen about our day on the water. Like I said, I’m not much for birthday parties, but I will most certainly remember the big 5-0. Not because of the mid-century milestone, but because I got to spend it on the water, fishing with Jim. Best birthday ever! CS

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HUNTING

ISLAND GETAWAY HUNT GLASSING FOR MULE DEER ON CATALINA By Tim E. Hovey

AVALONâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;When I was young, my grandfather used to tell me stories about hunting on Catalina Island. Before he was married, he worked at the island and was occasionally invited out to hunt pigs, goats and deer.

Eric Frandsen oversees the hilly terrain of Catalina Island during a deer hunt. The island located 26 miles off the California coast has a deer population of 2,400 that is controlled by allowing annual hunts. (TIM E. HOVEY) AUGUST 2014 California Sportsman 93

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HUNTING I remembered sitting in the kitchen as he spoke, hanging on his every word as he described the chase. Even before I knew where the island was, I wanted to hike those same hills with a rifle, just like my grandfather had. QUITE A BIT has changed on Catalina Island since my grandfather’s days. The island’s resources are now managed by the Catalina Island Conservancy. The conservancy has partnered with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Wildlife West, a privately owned guide service, to utilize hunters to control the number of introduced mule deer on the island. Mule deer were first introduced to Catalina Island in the 1930s by the Los Angeles County Forestry Depart-

ment and thus are a non-native species to the island. In the absence of predators, the deer have propagated unchecked for over 80 years. Even with an annual deer harvest, the island population remains a healthy 2,400 animals. Over the years, the conservancy has gradually reduced the number of non-native plant and animal species that inhabit the island in an effort to protect the native plant community. The hordes of pigs that used to run wild throughout most of the island have now been reduced to a single lonely male. The voracious goats that used to mow down whatever they could feed on have been dwindled to a trio of nannies that will likely live out their last years unmolested and barren. The island’s iconic bison, also

introduced to the island, have been shipped off, leaving a reduced herd of a little over 100 head to roam Catalina and pose for photos. Hunting deer on Catalina is a unique experience and opportunity for California hunters. Located just 26 miles from the mainland, your adventure begins as soon as you start the crossing. Outdoorsmen wishing to experience Catalina Island hunting need to contact Ben Myhre and Jim Settle of Wildlife West (503-519-4902; catalinahunting.com) for an absolutely amazing hunting experience. I’ve hunted with Ben and Jim during their deer management hunts a couple of times, and each trip I find the entire hunt a true adventure. Ben’s group will take any California

The Catalina Island deer processing area is one of many areas on the popular destination for Southern Californians that are normally not accessible. But outfitter Wildlife West offers control management hunts in the late summer. (TIM E. HOVEY) 94 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

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A FEW YEARS back, I gathered up a group of five friends to hunt Wildlife Westâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s island doe hunt. After boarding the Catalina Express and making the crossing, Ben picked us up Friday morning at the Avalon harbor. We loaded our gear into his truck and were taken to a large house in the town of Avalon. This was to be our elegant and very comfortable home base for the two-day hunt. We were greeted with snacks and drinks as we relaxed after the channel crossing. Ben and Jim guided us through the paperwork, trading our deer tags for island management tags. They then asked if we wanted to head out that same day to hunt the north side of the island. A few hours after hitting the shores of Catalina, my good friend Eric Frandsen and I were hiking the steep canyons, rifles in hand. From the ridge we could see the brilliantly blue Pacific. We sat in the shade of a large boulder and glassed several ridges from our position. The surrounding terrain was bordered by the bright blue of the ocean and we could see for miles. Sitting on that island and hunting with Eric, I wondered if my grandfather had sat on that same ridge while he hunted. We spotted some really good habitat in several of the adjacent canyons. Whenever I hunt and see animals off in the distance, or quality habitat that may hold animals, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care where it is or how difficult it is to get to, I go; Eric feels the same way. We made a quick plan and started hiking towards the edge of the canyon. As we reached the ridge, we spotted movement on the next ridge over. Two mule deer doe flushed from the canyon brush, hopped to the next ridge and stopped. Several shots later, one from me and a few more than that from Eric, we had two tags filled. Over the course of the next two days, our entire group tagged out on Catalina Island mule deer does. The group at Wildlife West is great about accommodating your hunting wishes. Our group was fairly experienced and desired to hike the area AUGUST 2014 California Sportsman 97

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HUNTING ourselves looking for game. Ben let us explore the island while we searched for deer. Ben and Wildlife West take care of field dressing and processing the deer if you like, or you can get in there and do it yourself. Despite this being an island, the Eric Frandsen (left) and the author with two Catalina Island does. Wildlife West will trade any California deer tag for the state’s current deer season for its special island deer management tag. (TIM E. HOVEY)

hunt is anything but easy. The terrain is steep, rocky and vast. There are countless canyons for deer to hide and escape detection. The terrain will also test your shooting ability. Many times the shots are from one ridge to another. My longest shot during our hunting weekend was right at 300 yards. FOR MOST OF my hunting career, I’ve

hunted without guides. In situations where guides are required, I have been lucky enough to find individuals that have been professional, friendly and competent. Ben and Jim are at the very top of that list. It’s a lot more than just their treatment of their clients. Both Ben and Jim have a thorough understanding of wildlife management and articulate that to their clients as they travel the island. Both have degrees in wildlife management and understand the

important role hunting plays in true resource management. Hunters will also find Ben and Jim’s historic perspective of the island refreshing. They are both very familiar with Catalina’s rich history and freely educate their clients on landmarks and events during the drive to the hunting area. Being wildlife biologists, they also understand animal movement, habitat requirements and animal health, all extremely important factors for a successful hunt. Hunters can reach the island by private boat, plane or the very popular and affordable Catalina Express, which makes the 26-mile crossing in about an hour. This aspect of the hunt just added to the overall adventure for me. Once there, you feel like you’ve been transported back in time. Catalina maintains its unique history, and, if you’ve never been there, you should at least make a trip out to see the island.

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HUNTING The author came to Catalina with memories of his grandfather’s deer hunts there. Once there, he envisioned glassing some of the same terrain, providing emotional nostalgia. (TIM E. HOVEY)

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If you’re looking for a reasonably priced and unique, outdoor experience, give Ben Myhre a call at Wildlife West. His outfit offers both trophy and management mule deer hunts on the island during the California deer season. The accommodations are comfortable and impressive. Located in the historic Avalon area, our group thoroughly enjoyed exploring the harbor and waterfront area a short walk away after the day’s hunt was over. For me, the island deer hunt was much more than hunting with good friends. Knowing that my grandfather had hiked and hunted those same hills put a nostalgic spin into the trip. I thought about him often as I glassed distant ridges and during frequent stops to catch my breath. I never got a chance to hunt with my grandfather, but I felt like he was with me as we chased deer on Catalina Island. We will definitely be back. CS

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HUNTING

The SoCal Bowhunter

FOLLOWING

THE DEER RULES THREE METHODS FOR SCORING YOUR BUCK By Albert Quackenbush Editor’s note: The author actively promotes tree-stand safety and wears a safety harness. For the purpose of shooting these photographs, he did not have it on as he was only 4 feet off the ground and wanted to emphasize the size of the stand. Please be sure to wear your safety harness each and every time to use a tree stand.

Where do your place your tree stand? Spending some time picking the right tree can make a world of difference. (ALBERT QUACKENBUSH)

LONG BEACH–Ask any bowhunter what the best way to hunt deer is and you’ll get a variety of different answers. The same goes for bear and feral pigs. For me, there are three ways to successfully hunt big game in California: spot and stalk; hunting from a blind; and hunting from a tree stand. Spot and stalk is preferred, and many wouldn’t even consider the last two, but depending on where you are hunting and the animals you are after, they can be utilized quite well. You will have to do some research to figure out the best method for you and your area, but after you have done your homework you can increase your chances of filling that tag. Let’s face it – in the modern hunting age, new gear is created each year to give us an edge, to be more efficient hunters. The new gear doesn’t always work everywhere and isn’t always the easiest to get used to. I don’t always think easier is the best approach to some things either. Take hunting in California for example. If I had to describe AUGUST 2014 California Sportsman 103

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HUNTING hunting in California in a single word, it would be tough, and I like the challenge. Add to the mix the overwhelming number of hunting blinds and tree stands on the market and frustration can quickly set in, but hopefully I can help with that.

SPOT AND STALK In my opinion, spot and stalk hunting is the most effective method to hunt deer and pigs in Southern California. It allows you the freedom to move about and go after them instead of waiting for them to come to you, which honestly might never happen. Stalking takes practice, and I am going to help you properly plan for a

The author prepares to use his climbing tree stand during a recent scouting trip to Southern California in advance of deer season, which starts in many zones this month. (ALBERT QUACKENBUSH)

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successful one. Here’s the scenario: you have glassed up a buck in the morning hours and he is heading to his bedding area. You have two choices: try to cut him off or you can watch him bed down and then put on a stalk. My advice is to stay put and watch him bed down. You do not want to alarm him – or any other deer that might be watching. If he’s bedded he’ll be laying down a certain way so you can plan your approach. If the temperature is rising, he is likely to stay put for a couple hours. Approach him from downwind, otherwise he will wind you and bolt. That’s the worst way to blow a stalk and it will leave an empty feeling in the pit of your

stomach. Play the wind, be patient, and slowly get in close. Be sure you are coming from above him and not below him. There’s a very good chance he will spot you if you make a lowland approach. Take care where you step, as any extra noise will likely set off an alarm and the deer will scatter. To avoid this, you could take your boots off. This allows you to walk in your socks, very quietly as you approach. You will feel any branches under your feet before putting your full weight down. Now, if you are in rattlesnake country, use caution. You can still put on a great stalk with your boots on and a stalk is not worth a trip to the hospital. I have learned that you usually have

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HUNTING more time on a stalk than you think. Your mind will begin to play tricks on you, but stay calm and focused. Be patient and slowly creep in toward the bedded animal. When you are within range only you can be the judge of when it is safe to draw. You have to be on the lookout for other sets of eyes peering at you, too. Draw, set your pin and make the shot count! If you have kids, you can start prepping them early and teach them some stalking techniques. My 5-year-old daughter loves practicing her spot-andstalk technique on the herons and egrets at our local park. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wonderful to watch and my pride swells when I watch her get close! Hopefully she will be scouting the forest with me one day in hopes of filling her own big-game tag.

TREE STANDS As an old whitetail hunter from up-

A successful stalk on a bedded deer might take hours and traversing steep terrain. (ALBERT QUACKENBUSH)

state New York, I used to hunt primarily out of a tree stand and the need to spot and stalk wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a priority. I took it for granted that I always had private land to hunt and could leave a tree stand up all year. Now that I live in California, I focus on hunting public land, off of the main trails, and that is where I concentrate my preseason scouting. If the area has game trails and I have patterned the animals to a degree through use of trail cameras, I will en-

tertain the thought of using a tree stand. With that being said, it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be your typical stationary tree stand left mounted to the tree. The main reasons are that it is public land and it is there for everyone to use. Leaving a stand up for a long period of time on public land doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel right to me. Also, a stationary tree stand ultimately limits you to hunting a certain area. Unless you have multiple stands up, you are stuck hunting one spot. The

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Using what nature offers to build a ground blind is an inexpensive option to stay within a budget. (ALBERT QUACKENBUSH)

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other issue with them being on public land is, sadly, that they run the risk of being stolen. For those reasons I use a climbing tree stand. I utilize a climber for many reasons, the first being that I paid good money for the stand and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want it growing legs and walking out of the woods. Also, when I hunt a wooded area and I need to get high in a tree, a climber offers me the freedom to go as high as I want to, without the limitations that ladders have. Plus, when I use a climber, I can be more mobile and can move stand locations much faster than if I were using a stationary stand. Which stand would I recommend for California hunters? I have used a few different climbers from Summit, but they weigh a bit more than I like for the amount of hiking I do. The one I think works best for hunters having to hike in a long way is the Lone Wolf Assault climbing tree stand. It weighs in less than 15 pounds and is very easy to carry using the backpack straps. It is what I would call a minimalist climber. It is easy to pack in, but does take some practice getting used to how it AUGUST 2014 California Sportsman 109

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HUNTING functions. I had to watch the online how-to videos a couple times and practice with it a few times before I mastered it. The Assault has a very small seat, which is the platform used to push off of as you are climbing, and requires a decent amount of upper body strength. Take note – don’t use a climber in a palm tree. They are prevalent in Southern California and will be tempting to climb, but the descent is brutal. Another lesson I learned when using a climber is that wearing a binocular chest harness gets in the way. Californians love having their optics close at hand and many of us utilize chest harnesses. Leave it attached to your pack to be hauled up after you have made your ascent. One of the differences with this climber compared to others is that instead of cables to go around the tree it uses traction belts. These belts are ribbed and grip the bark well. The small platform also has a built-in bow holder

that works rather well, just in case you forget to bring any hooks to screw into the tree.

BLINDS Ground blinds can be used in a variety of situations, but I truly only use them if I have to. The most commonly used ground blinds are pop-up blinds. They are great for keeping you out of the elements and keeping your scent reduced. I use a Primos pop-up ground blind in Predator Camo when I turkey hunt or if I am hunting feral pigs, but I rarely use one for bear or deer. The Primos blind is nice because it goes up very quickly. It is beneficial because your movement is hidden for the most part and the animals won’t spot you. The downsides are that they are rather bulky and they can also be incredibly warm inside as California temperatures rise. A pop-up blind can also be extremely limiting when it comes to

archery shots. Regardless, they are an effective tool for hunting feral pigs and turkey. Rolled gound blinds are lightweight, convenient and easily portable, but you are only minimally covered. As a bowhunter, these work very well and allow you 360 degrees of motion. They are far less expensive than a pop-up ground blind and easier to set up. These work very well for uneven terrain and breaking up your pattern. I have utilized these far more because of their ease of use and the uneven terrain I hunt. A rolled ground blind also allows you set up quickly and pick up and move to a new location quickly if you need to. Making your own is a rewarding experience. Then there is the blind you make when you get to the woods by using branches and material already found out there. While this can work well for many, I tend to shy away from building my own for a few reasons. First, I don’t

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HUNTING The author understands that

like to trim too much off the trees on public land in the areas I hunt. The main reason is that there is poison oak all over down here and would hate to get it. Sure, I wear gloves, but all it takes is one little mistake and BAM! Good luck avoiding getting it. But using what nature offers is the best material to creating your own camouflage barrier between you and the animal. If the area is free of poison oak and there are dead branches or bushes around, I can combine them to provide a minimalist blind that gives me some cover. The major benefit to making your own is that you don’t have to pack anything extra in and you can leave it there when you hike out. After years of hunting in California, I will attest that it is tough to hunt, but can be as enjoyable you make it out to be. Each person will have a different outlook, but increase your chances of filling your tags by doing some research, followed by try-

112 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

building a blind takes getting your hands dirty, but the hard work will pay off if filling a tag. (ALBERT QUACKENBUSH)

ing out some new tactics. I am constantly strategizing for the next deer season in hopes of finding a legal buck. What if it was you doing the planning? Imagine the sheer excitement you’ll feel when you see that big buck on your trail camera. Additional scouting and glassing will commence and you’ll put miles on your boots. Finally, when the season opens, all the hard work you put in will seem like

a distant memory as you set your sights on the prize. Will you plan on a spotand-stalk hunt? Is the buck in an area where you can use a tree stand? Or will a ground blind work best for the hunt? Every hunt can change at a moment’s notice and the tactics you use are entirely up to you. CS Note: For more on the author, visit his website, socalbowhunter.blogspot.com.

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HUNTING

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Much has been made of the effects of disease, predation and EHD on deer and elk herds in the Northern Rockies, but the truth is, there are still good numbers of wapiti, whitetails and muleys, like the author’s 2013 buck, out there. (ZAC HOLMES)

By Zac Holmes MISSOULA—Big game hunters have it good in the West, so why go anywhere else? Well, if you are like me, you can’t help but wonder what’s around the corner. This compulsion has allowed me the great pleasure of hunting across our region, including Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. In all three states, I have observed absurd amounts of game, har-

vested some nice animals, and picked up lots of shed antlers. I roll my eyes when the naysayers start the pessimistic wolf talk. I don’t deny the effects of predation, but these doomsday descriptions are highly inaccurate. In fact, many of the big game units of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming are over population objectives, and are providing the same quality hunts that they have for generations. From the evergreen forests of North Idaho to the alpine basins of

Montana to the grassy ridges of Wyoming, there are some killer options available to nonresident hunters in the Northern Rockies.

IDAHO While other Western states manage their big game hunts with a draw-only system, good ol’ Idaho is still a place to get a tag without a bunch of grief. The state offers a few controlled hunts, but AUGUST 2014 California Sportsman 115

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HUNTING Though chewed back in some areas, elk are over game agency objectives in many regions of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, though getting a tag for a branchantlered bull like the author’s 2011 elk are a mixed bag at this point for out-of-state hunters. (ZAC HOLMES)

the majority of Idaho is available with just an over-the-counter tag. According to Department of Fish & Game deer and elk coordinator Toby Boudreau, out-ofstate hunters are welcome, and can depend on being able to purchase over-the-counter tags. A recent survey of Idaho’s big game hunters revealed that both residents and nonresidents favor the opportunity to hunt every year, rather than the alternative of applying for ultraexclusive, hard-to-draw trophy hunts. This is a good thing, because there are outstanding prospects for elk and deer here. Elk: While elk numbers may be lower than a generation ago in the north-central part of the state, the remainder of Idaho is doing very well. Sixty-five percent of elk units are above population objectives, and there are a number of great areas in the central portion of the state, including the Mc116 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

Call, Pioneer, Brownlee, Weiser, Tex Creek, Lemhi, and Sawtooth Zones. Several of these units offer harvest for either sex, and allow for the use of rifles or archery equipment. Also, the Bannock, Diamond Creek, and Bear River Zones in the southeast provide great potential for elk hunts. These units are also above population objectives, and according to IDFG’s Martha Wackenhunt, 2014 winter survival was favorable, and current bull/cow and calf/cow ratios are exceptional. There are a limited number of tags for these units, but they have not sold out in three years. Deer: There is a “phenomenal mule deer season ahead of us,” predicts Boudreau. From Lewiston south to Idaho’s southern border, the state has experienced a trifecta of consecutive mild winters, favorable fawn crops, and good

conditions for antler growth. In fact, last season produced an amazing 40-inch buck, and Boudreau says that he is excited to see this year’s crop of heavyhorned deer. He believes that there will be many younger bucks available as well, but that hunters might want to hold out for a mature, four-point-orbetter buck. Some specific units to consider for a good mule deer hunt would be Units 66A, 68, 71, 72, and 74 through 77 in the extreme southeast corner. North Idaho also holds potential for a great hunt. Each year, Units 1 through 9 produce scores of nice bucks, including a number of 180-inch and bigger specimens. Many are aware of the Panhandle’s stellar whitetail hunting, but it might surprise others to hear how good the hunting actually is. The age-class structure of whitetails may be the best in the country, due to an impressive

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Every year, many West Coast hunters like Jannaeah Baty of Vancouver, Wash., venture to the Northern Rockies states for big game, and they return richer for the experience and often in meat. Baty hunted public lands in Wyoming for this buck. (BROWNING PHOTO CONTEST)

concentration of 5- to 9-year-old bucks. The abundance of public lands is a great feature of this hunt too, because those without access to private lands can still have areas to themselves on national forest lands.

MONTANA Like Idaho, Montana offers nonresidents plentiful amounts of tags, public land, and animals to pursue. According to Ron Aasheim at Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, the western and central parts of the state offer great opportunities to have a â&#x20AC;&#x153;real Montana hunt,â&#x20AC;? because with just an over-the-counter tag, nonresidents can pursue deer and elk in some of the most beautiful landscapes imaginable. Most of these lands are national forests, or part of the Block Management program, and provide exceptional access. Disease, predation and weather have been factors over the last few years, but populations are still strong, and there are a plethora of bulls

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HUNTING and bucks available in 2014. Elk: Overall, elk numbers in Big Sky Country are in good shape. Animals are found from corner to corner, and 80 percent of units are above population objectives. Since Montana is our fourth largest state and offers a daunting number of locations for a nonresident hunter to choose from, I asked Aasheim where he would hunt elk. He recommends Region 3 in the southwest corner, and Region 4 in west-central Montana. Though seven elk regions host great hunting opportunities, Region 3 is the hotspot. It produces an astonishing 50 percent of the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s harvest, and includes an abundance of quality habitat. Areas such as the Big Hole River drainage, the Madison Range, and the Bridger, Castle, Crazy, and Little Belt Mountains are legendary elk haunts. Specific units to consider in Region 3 include 315 and 319 in the Bridger and Crazy Mountains, which allow for the harvest of two animals,

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Eric Duncan shows off his Wyoming pronghorn. An Evergreen State resident, Duncan hunted the Cowboy State in 2012. (BROWNING PHOTO CONTEST)

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HUNTING and have some of the highest densities of elk in the state. Deer: Deer are another story in Montana. Although they are still widespread, and in very huntable numbers, “this is not a great time to hunt deer in Montana,” acknowledges Aasheim. The principal reasons for this are disease and weather. Last summer, EHD, a fatal, naturally occurring virus accounted for big losses in whitetails across the state, and that led to a “terrible fall,” he notes, but was quick to point out that whitetails are known to breed fast, and a full and speedy recovery is likely. The harsh winter of 2011 also took a toll on deer, but they too are rebounding. On a positive note, it is still Montana, and although it may not be a “great” time to hunt deer, it is still a “good” time. The Rocky Mountain Front is a very special place. Deer are plentiful, and the area is indescribably beautiful. Both whitetails and muleys reside here, and

122 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

some incredible specimens are harvested each year. Unit 441 offers great opportunities for both younger ageclass mule deer and the big, mature bucks that migrate out of the Bob Marshall Wilderness when the snow and cold forces them into the front country. Whitetails are found in this unit, as well, but occur primarily on private lands. On the other side of the Bob in Region 2 are some additional quality deer hunts. Unit 281 in the upper Blackfoot watershed has both species, but only the whitetails can be hunted with a general tag. This is OK because they are plentiful in this unit. A combination of Forest Service and Block Management lands provide access to vast swaths of the valley, including some very productive whitetail habitat. Closer to Missoula is Unit 283 in the Rattlesnake Mountains and Unit 285 in the Swan Range. These units

are great places to pursue both species with a general tag. The animals are numerous, and I have personally observed a number of specimens that most hunters would be happy to harvest. Units 520, 560, and 575 between Livingston and Red Lodge have a ridiculous number of deer. Whitetails, in particular, thrive here, and EHD has not significantly affected their numbers. There is quite a bit of national forest land, state lands, and Block Management land, but much of the best whitetail habitat is privately owned. It is possible, however, to gain access by knocking on doors. Perhaps because deer are so prolific here, I have had good success getting on private lands by politely requesting permission. Mule deer too are a good option, particularly in Unit 560, where I harvested a mature 4x4 buck last year after passing on several smaller bucks,

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HUNTING Whether heading for the High Lonesome, the Northern Rockies unending foothills, or the Missouri, Snake, Green and Salmon Rivers breaks, game and opportunity abound. (ZAC HOLMES)

and observing nearly 100 does on public land.

WYOMING I have been lucky to be able to hunt, fish, and hike all over the Northwest, but in my opinion, there isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t much that compares to western Wyoming. With only a half million residents, Wyoming is sparsely populated and ripe with awe-inspiring wild lands and recreational opportunities. The Department of Game & Fish has a reputation for having a difficult licensing system, and I kind of agree with this sentiment, but based upon the absurd amount of big game and other wildlife that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen over the past decade, it is most definitely worth cracking the code. No, the licensing system is not actually that difficult to navigate, but there are nuances to planning a hunt. For instance, Wyoming does not, unfortunately, offer over-the-counter tags to nonresidents, so at this late stage of the

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HUNTING season, most of the state’s antlered tags have already sold, and license availability is essentially nonexistent for buck deer and bull elk. There are, however, still leftover cow elk and pronghorn tags available this fall. Elk: Wyoming is experiencing great booms in both elk populations and harvests. In fact, with an astonishingly high success rate of over 45 percent, the last two elk seasons, 2012 and 2013, are No. 1 and 2 respectively, in annual elk harvest. Wyoming believes that they have too many elk, and thus offers liberal amounts of antlerless tags. This and a lack of interest in cow hunting by residents often allows for the availability of leftover tags. Wyoming’s bull elk tags are spoken for by now, but a leftover cow tag offers better odds of filling your freezer while hunting some sweet country at the same time. Units 90, 92, and 94 in the state’s west-central Wyoming Range, for in-

126 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

stance, generally have remaining tags, and this is a good unit to hunt cows and learn the lay of the land so that you can draw a bull tag or buck tag there next season. These units are over their population objectives and much of the region is federally owned. Also, Units 12 and 21 in the Sierra Madre Mountains are way over objective, and contain lots of quality public lands. This range is in the south-central part of the state, and is a veritable elk factory. And Units 56 and 59 in the Cody area usually offer opportunities for leftover cow tags too. I have hunted here, and there are good odds of harvesting an animal, particularly when the weather cooperates. But if you do hunt this region just east of Yellowstone, be extremely mindful of grizzly bears. No joke. Antelope: According to WDGF’s Al Langston, Wyoming may hold almost as many antelope as all of the Western states combined, and hunters enjoy a success rate of around 90 percent.

Again, no over-the-counter tags are offered, and the draw was months ago, but Units 15 through 17, 20 through 24, and 26 in the northeastern part of the state have difficult public access and generally don’t sell out. For those who possess the financial means, trespass fees that grant access to landlocked public lands, or ranches and farms, are good ways to utilize these leftover tags. To help bridge hunters with property owners, the state offers a list of landowners who allow access for fees starting at $100. The combination of this access with the small parcels of public lands within these units allows great odds for success. My friends hunt these units, and regularly harvest nice bucks, either by paying for access or getting lucky on the adjoining state and BLM lands. CS Editor’s note: The author is a guide based out of Cody, Wyo.

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128 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

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LAST CAST

O T G N I N LEAR E L I H W A E SMIL

RTOONIST BECOMING AN OUTDOOR CA

e By” “It’s Fresh, He’s Clos

By Richard Stubler

’ve been asked many times, “How did you get into cartooning?”

I can’t remember when I wasn’t drawing. Although it seems to come naturally, there is a lot of discipline and work that goes into it. I have always loved drawing and developed my own style without realizing it was my style at all. Drawing allows me to present my lifelong love of the outdoors in a way that anyone can relate to.

ain, He “Man, You Did It Ag er” at Fell Right In This W

Fish Finder” “I Like This Audible

It has been said frequently, “Laughter is the best medicine,” so a good cartoon can be just the tonic you need.

HEARTLAND HAPPY I grew up in beautiful western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. It’s full of wood and water with rivers, streams, lakes and meadows. My dad taught me to hunt, and I still remember my love of that old pump .22 rifle. Of course, the rabbits I hunted behind the house did not share that love. And I always loved fishing. There was one stream that was a “dream

The artist at work. (RICHARD STUBLER AUGUST 2014 California Sportsman 129

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LAST CAST stream” for smallmouth bass. But it took some skill to fish there; there are whirls and fast patches and floating branches, but there was one lure that was my go-to lure on that stream: a Rapala Countdown. I would bounce it along the bottom, kicking up mud. The smallmouth couldn’t resist it. Eventually, I started drawing for many different magazines. The first drawing I sold was to a railroad magazine; it was about a conductor. The second was for a poultry magazine and third was for a farm publication. But as I evolved, the hunting and fishing themes became my specialty. It comes naturally for me remembering the many hunting and fishing trips I made in Pennsylvania.

FINDING A NICHE I have published in hundreds of magazines covering diverse topics, but I hope I will always be found by fishing and hunting readers. Over the years I have received many letters from readers who enjoy my cartoons. And I have been asked – especially by editors – where my ideas come from. I’ve actually asked myself that question many times. If I’m prepping to do fishing cartoons I sit down with a blank tablet and clipboard. I get into fishing mode, referencing with a stack of fishing magazines and start reading. I look at the ads, where a lot of my ideas come from. I can get something out of fish jumping, fishermen in boats, lures and others. I’ll start making thumbnail sketches with captions, totaling maybe 20 to 30 over the course of a session. I then let them “cool off” overnight and take a second look at them fresh the next day. Of the ones that make me laugh, I’ll circle them and write, “OK.” The rest just get crossed off, and I usually end up with 15 left, with the same process going for hunting cartoons. What editors and readers seem to appreciate about my cartoons is I 130 California Sportsman AUGUST 2014

“Can’t Be Too Safe, You Know” always have the deer, the bears, the turkeys, the rabbits, the hogs and all the fish winning over the sportsman. I used to show my wife my drawings, and most of them she understood, but she never wanted me to explain the ones she didn’t get. She has a keen, creative eye and makes suggestions that have elevated a “pretty good” cartoon to a

best seller. Humor never ages. The things that make you laugh today will make you laugh 30 years from now. But whatever you do, please take the time to look for the lighter side of life – like a cartoon. CS Editor’s note: Richard Stubler is based in Orlando, Fla. and can be reached at rstubler@cfl.rr.com

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