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Sportsman
California Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource
Volume 8 • Issue 6 PUBLISHER James R. Baker GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Dick Openshaw EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott EDITOR Chris Cocoles CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Brittany Boddington LEAD WRITER Tim E. Hovey CONTRIBUTORS Bill Adelman, Jon Baiocchi, Steve Carson, Jeremiah Doughty, Brad Hall, Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Bill Schaefer, Mike Stevens SALES MANAGER Katie Higgins ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Steve Joseph, Garn Kennedy, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold PRODUCTION MANAGER Sonjia Kells DESIGNERS Ciara Pickering, Sam Rockwell, Liz Weickum 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 ccocoles@media-inc.com Twitter @CalSportsMan Facebook.com/californiasportsmanmagazine ON THE COVER The April 30 trout opener is approaching fast, and with the high Eastern Sierras’ unpredictable nature, opening day could see everything from T-shirt weather to a blanket of snow. But regardless of the conditions, California trout anglers are counting down the days to head to the mountains in hopes of catching rainbows like this! (SIERRA DRIFTERS GUIDE SERVICE) MEDIA INC PUBLISHING GROUP CALIFORNIA OFFICE 4517 District Blvd. • Bakersfield, CA 93313 (661) 381-7533 WASHINGTON OFFICE P.O. Box 24365 • Seattle, WA 98124-0365 14240 Interurban Ave. S., Suite 190 Tukwila, WA 98168 OREGON OFFICE 8116 SW Durham Rd • Tigard, OR 97224 (206) 382-9220 • (800) 332-1736 • Fax (206) 382-9437 media@media-inc.com • www.media-inc.com
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CONTENTS
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 6
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DAVIS IS DANDY Plumas County’s Lake Davis is a gorgeous trout-filled fishery at 5,800 feet in the Sierras. Flyrodders flock here in spring, with March – just as the lake’s freeze ends – the first opportunity to cast for rainbows, which average a hearty 18 to 20 inches. Jon Baiocchi, who guides these waters, offers his favorite flies and tactics to entice a trout bite. (SIERRA DRIFTERS GUIDE SERVICE)
FEATURES 83
THE BIG BASS CLASS Otay Lake, in suburban San Diego County, recently spit out a gargantuan 14-plus largie, and bass beat writer Bill Schaefer says there are similar-size giants in other Southland lakes that are just waiting for passing swimbaits to gobble up this spring.
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SHARKS BY THE BAY You won’t find any great whites inside the Golden Gate, but San Francisco Bay and nearby waters are teeming with soupfin, sevengill
and leopard sharks, providing anglers with some large predatory fish to chase – our Bill Adelman explains how to catch them!
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LAND OF ELK-CHANTMENT New Mexico’s official nickname is Land of Enchantment, but our Urban Huntress Brittany Boddington had a different kind of enchantment at stake. Hunting a large ranch, she was thrilled with the number of elk she and her party glassed. Find out if Brittany harvested her first big bull!
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SHEDDING IT OFF Deer hunting season is over, but late winter and early spring provide a new challenge for those who miss treestands and looking for California bucks. Scott Haugen and his pudelpointer canine companion have found an offseason niche of looking for shed antlers – what Scott calls an Easter egg hunt for sportsmen and -women. Meanwhile, wife and Field to Fire partner in crime Tiffany Haugen has a delicious recipe for how to make shepherd’s pie with game meat!
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 15 23 27 39 51 71 92 103
Aeriel Skinner: Amador County shooting sports star Purple Heart Anglers raise funds for vet fishing trips Tales of a Biologist: Backcountry run-in with suspicious characters Q&A with Fred Hall Shows’ head Bart Hall Company profile: Boat dealer serves Southland Eastern Sierra trout opener primer Shore casting for barred surf perch SoCal barracuda tips
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Finding sand bass near structure Company profile: Top Cabo San Lucas charter Company profile: Bait-wrapping saltwater jigs The Wild Chef: Elk campfire stew
DEPARTMENTS 13 53 55
The Editor’s Note Protecting Wild California: Salmon survival rates poor Daiwa, Browning Photo Contests winners
California Sportsman goes digital! Read California Sportsman on your desktop or mobile device. Only $1.89 an issue. Go to www.calsportsmanmag.com/digital California Sportsman is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 14240 Interurban Avenue South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Send address changes to California Sportsman, PO Box 24365, Seattle, WA 98124. Annual subscriptions are $29.95 (12 issues), 2-year subscription are $39.95 (24 issues). Send check or money order to Media Index Publishing Group, or call (206) 3829220 with VISA or M/C. Back issues are available at Media Index Publishing Group offices at the cost of $5 plus shipping. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 2015 Media Index Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A. 10 California Sportsman MARCH 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
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THEEDITOR’SNOTE
Low water and financial concerns prompted the popular Lake Isabella Fishing Derby to stage a smaller, more localized event this year. (KERN RIVER VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE)
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grew up in the Bay Area and also lived for almost seven years in and around L.A., but I consider myself an honorary native of the San Joaquin Valley. I’m a proud Fresno State Bulldog alum and spent a couple years after (finally) getting my journalism degree working at a small newspaper in Madera before I got a big break to move to Southern California for a gig. But the Valley is a special place to spend time in and enjoy the outdoors: Trout fishing trips to Shaver Lake – about an hour out of Fresno in the Sierras – became weekend getaways for my college buddies and I. The area from Fresno to Bakersfield gets a bad rap – summer heat, winter fog, bad air quality – because it doesn’t have San Francisco’s alleged hipster vibe and Los Angeles’ perceived glitter. But the people there are more real and genuine than so many of the frauds to the north and south. Of course, the state’s extended drought took a major toll on the Valley’s agricultural-based economy. And many lakes struggled terribly with so little rainwater. That includes Lake Isabella, in the foothills northeast of Bakersfield in the Kern River Valley. Despite the lake’s water levels at historic lows, the immensely popular Lake Isabella Fishing Derby trudged on the last couple years, continuing to draw anglers from around the state. But the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce, friends of the magazine and the event’s tireless promoters, had to downsize this year, though the contest will still go on as scheduled from March 19-21 with a more localized presence. “Unfortunately this year, due to the lower water levels and a reduced budget … it was decided because of the decreased area of water access that we not invite more fishermen than the accessible area would allow,” chamber member George Stahl told me. Stahl also apologized that the chamber wouldn’t be able to publicize the derby like it was able to do in past years. But he had nothing to be sorry about. Such a great attitude about a difficult time is just a Central Valley thing, which too many people in Silicon Valley and the San Fernando Valley will never understand. –Chris Cocoles
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MIXED BAG
AERIEL’S DISPLAY
WHEN IT CAME TIME TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE DIAMOND AND THE RANGE FOR COLLEGE, THIS AMADOR COUNTY ATHLETE PUT DOWN HER BAT AND STUCK WITH HER SHOTGUN While also an accomplished softball pitcher at Argonaut High School in Jackson, Aeriel Skinner’s love of shooting triggered her competing at the club level with the University of Arizona club shotgun team. (TERRY HERRON)
ing birds with a BB gun. Skinner comes from a genetic line of deadeyes as well. Her father, Matt, was once a Masters-grade sporting clay shooter. Her 73-year-old grandfather, Larry, has been around firearms most of his life and owns and operates Camanche Hills Hunting Preserve in Ione. So there it was. Softball or shotguns? Shotguns or softball? There wasn’t time for both, at least not enough to give either sport the proper respect it deserved or needed to get to the next level. It was a tough decision for a teenager. After months of anguish, however, and with a gentle nudge from her father, Skinner decided to give the shooting sports her best effort. She continued playing softball throughout high school, but her heart was really on the range rather than the diamond. Now 21 and in college, Skinner concenSkinner really got into the shooting sports when she was a member of her local team, the A&A Shooters. “It was evident early that she was going to make my job very easy,” coach Richard Lynch says. “We didn’t do a lot of coaching with her.” (TERRY HERRON)
By Brad Hall
A
eriel Skinner had a choice to make: softball or shotguns? As the ace varsity softball pitcher at Argonaut High School in Jackson, Skinner was a standout both in the pitching circle and at the plate. Her team, the Lady Mustangs, was blessed with several talented players and qualified for the section playoffs. Skinner was one of the team’s stars, and a future playing at the collegiate level was possible. Skinner’s other passion was breaking clay targets. She had shown a flare for shooting since she was 7, when she and her dad would sit on the tailgate of a pickup and shoot at passcalsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2016 California Sportsman
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MIXED BAG trates solely on shooting’s finer points, such as mental focus and peaking at the right time. “It was about my sophomore year,’’ she said. “I’d shot some sporting clay events but never really got into competition that much. My dad was a big influence. I do miss pitching and softball, but I love shooting. I can’t play softball all my life, but I can shoot forever. ’’ Skinner appears to have made a good decision. Qualifying for the United States Olympic team and the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro was a real possibility. She admits her chances of making that team are slim now due to a poor showing at a selection match in October. Still, she is planning on competing in a second selection match in Arkansas next month.
WILDCAT SHARPSHOOTER Olympic-caliber shooting is nothing new to Skinner. She’s rubbed elbows with some of the sport’s
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elite in recent years, including Team USA shooter Kim Bowers, and is now a member of the University of Arizona Wildcats’ club shooting team (facebook.com/UofAShotgunTeam) in Tucson. She also qualified for the United States’ Junior Olympic team as a teenager – at least for a few hours. In a cruel twist Skinner has enjoyed several top finishes in collegiate club events for the Arizona Wildcats. (TERRY HERRON)
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MIXED BAG “I do miss pitching and softball but I love shooting,” says Skinner (center, holding trophy). “I can’t play softball all my life, but I can shoot forever.’’ (TERRY HERRON)
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of fate, she was notified of the Junior Olympic spot one day, only to discover the next that she had “aged out,’’ or turned 18 too soon. Some of her recent accomplishments would make Annie Oakley take notice. For instance, in June 2014 in Livermore, Skinner finished first at the California State Junior Olympics. In January 2015 at the West Coast International Championships (International bunker trap), she took second in the female college division. A month later she competed at the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities Collegiate Clay Target Shotgun Bowl Series in Phoenix. She finished as the high overall collegiate female, which included first in sporting clays, second in American skeet and second in trap. Terry Herron, Arizona’s shooting coach, named Skinner as
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team captain. Like most of her coaches – be it softball or shooting – Herron is a big Aeriel Skinner fan. “Aeriel is a great all-around shooter,’’ Herron said. “Usually in most cases, she’s on the (medal) podium.’’ Although collegiate shooting is a growing sport in the United States, only 30 or so schools compete in rifle at the NCAA level, most as coed teams. College club teams such as Arizona’s represent their respective schools at competitions but receive virtually no financial aid or scholarships, Herron said. Shooters are on their own to purchase ammunition, guns, food and lodging. Most of Skinner’s funding comes from the donations of family and friends or fundraising events. There are also some grants available, such as the $1,000 Skinner was awarded last year by the Branchini Shooting Foundation. “Scholarships are coming, although I probably won’t see it,’’ she said. “I wish I was coming along a little later.’’
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Word of mouth has been Skinner’s best promoter on the way up the shooting ladder. Herron got wind of her gunning prowess from another shooting coach, Richard Lynch, who mentors youths from ages 12 to 18 on the A&A Shooters (truesportsmanclub.org/aa-shooters). Skinner was tearing up the skeet circuit for the A&A team and Lynch had connections. The A&A team, based out of Amador County, focuses primarily on trap but also trains skeet and bunker shooters. Lynch originally heard about her from another clay-busting Skinner on his team, Aeriel’s brother, Aeric. “It wasn’t until her high school years that she found enough time for us,’’ Lynch said. “But she executed the fundamentals as well as any shooter I ever had. I credit her dad and grandpa with that. It was evident early that she was going to make my job very easy. We didn’t do a lot of coaching with her, just a little refining. We didn’t want to over-coach her and ruin what she had.’’ Deserved praise for someone who’s putting on quite the shooting show. CS
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MIXED BAG Purple Heart Anglers founder Randy Houston (far left) helped arrange a trip to Ketchikan, Alaska, last summer for disabled veterans. The organization is arranging for more adventures this year and will host a fundraising dinner in Foster City this month. (PURPLE HEART ANGLERS)
HEALING THROUGH THE OUTDOORS FUNDRAISER THIS MONTH HELPS FUND FISHING AND HUNTING TRIPS FOR VETERANS By Chris Cocoles
R
andy Houston has gained quite a perspective from those veterans he’s arranged fishing and hunting trips for. He started his nonprofit organization, Purple Heart Anglers, as a tribute to his older brother, Jerry, a decorated Vietnam War veteran who passed away in 2011 (California Sportsman, November 2014). The organization has gotten even bigger since, and the cause will be celebrated when the Bay Area-based group hosts a fundraising dinner in Foster City on March 18. “It’s tough to put into words what this does for people,” Houston says of A trout fishing trip to Collins Lake in the his organization. “I know Sierra foothills north of Sacramento is one of several excursions for veterans Purple that it’s changed my life. Heart Anglers arranges over the course of I’ve been an egotistical, the year. (PURPLE HEART ANGLERS)
self-centered individual my whole life, and these guys have humbled me just by their courage and their attitude and gratitude. You’ll see a guy who’s sitting in a wheelchair and has been shot defending us. That’s (inspiring).” Purple Heart Anglers (purpleheartanglers.org) has planned several outings to fish and hunt in Northern California, and last September Houston arranged to send a handful of veterans who won a drawing to fish in Ketchikan, Alaska (raffle tickets will be sold at this month’s banquet to help bring another group there this summer). A Costa Rica marlin fishing excursion is being planned for April, as is a future Hawaii trip in addition to the local outings organized on a monthly basis by some new volunteers. “We’ve got what they could call ‘trips of a lifetime,’” says
PURPLE HEART ANGLERS FUNDRAISING BANQUET When: March 18 Where: Lagoon Room at the Foster City Recreation Building, 650 Shell Blvd., Foster City Tickets: $75 for dinner for one; $125 per couple; $1,600 for sponsors table (up to eight guests) Information: purpleheartanglers.org; (415) 370-9930 and info@purpleheartanglers.org Noteworthy: Live and silent auctions will be held, with lots of raffle prizes also awarded. San Mateo County Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D) will be the featured guest. calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2016 California Sportsman
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MIXED BAG Houston, who admits even for him that Purple Heart Anglers has been quite the life-changing experience. He didn’t want to get into too many details about the veterans he’s befriended, but in many instances the conversations have floored him. These are men and women who went through hell in combat and some have struggled to live a normal life. At the same time, Houston has seen so many who come out to fish in the Delta or hunt pheasants in the San Joaquin Valley find some peace just being in the outdoors with many others who can relate to similar trauma. “I was sitting at a table (after a turkey hunt) with one of the guys and he told me, ‘You have no idea how this has affected me.’ I said, ‘What do you mean?’ He said, ‘Four weeks ago I was sitting with a pistol in my mouth.’ Fortunately, things had changed.” That’s why this fundraiser is so important. It raises funds to make these trips – the local one and the out-of-state adventures – available, an integral part of what Purple Heart Anglers is all about and has been able to accomplish. “The food that we’re putting on the table, we have salmon, halibut, cod and pheasant – and it’s stuff that’s been harvested by our guys and gals,” Houston says. “So we’re giving back in that way.” The organization grew from modest expectations, when
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“It’s tough to put into words what this does for people,” Houston says of his nonprofit organization, which arranged this fishing trip to Donner Lake in the Sierras. “I know that it’s changed my life. (PURPLE HEART ANGLERS)
Houston simply wanted to honor brother Jerry by cheering up some of our country’s war heroes by introducing them to the outdoors. With these big trips now in the mix, and hopefully more to come after this month’s fundraiser, it’s become even bigger than that. More and more volunteers have come aboard to assist Houston’s vision. He estimates the annual fishing and hunting trips have included about 1,500 participants who served in the armed forces. “It’s one of those things that I’m not so surprised about, but I’m also astonished,” Houston says. “It’s just become so much enthusiasm for so many different people.” CS
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Bear hunting this drainage while off-duty, CDFW fisheries biologist Tim Hovey’s most valuable possession turned out not to be the rifle slung on his pack, but his quick wits and the .357 (below) holstered on his side during an encounter with three shady characters. (TIM E. HOVEY)
TALES OF A BIOLOGIST
BEARS, BARE ARMS, AND A SIDEARM BARED A SOCAL BEAR HUNT IS INTERRUPTED BY A NAKED MAN, THEN A STAREDOWN WITH 3 ‘HIKERS’ By Tim E. Hovey
W
hether I’m outside for work or pleasure, I’m always looking for new places to hunt. As a field biologist, I get the opportunity to see quite a bit of the backcountry of Southern California. When I’m out conducting surveys, I make sure I pay attention to game sign and the surrounding habitat so I can return come hunting season. A few years ago, I was leading an endangered frog survey up a remote tributary during the late summer. Adam, a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, was with me, counting frogs and assessing the health of the population as we moved. We were about a mile up the side creek, with Adam leading the way. He rounded a bend and startled somecalsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2016 California Sportsman
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TALES
pleasantries. He wanted to know what I was hunting for and I decided to leave his activities a mystery. Just before I conOF A BIOLOGIST tinued, he mentioned that I’d probably run into three other hikers he had seen earlier moving upstream. About 30 minutes after running into the mysterious naked thing in the creek. By the time I got there, the black bear man, I found the bear tributary. During the hike I had seen sevwas aggressively climbing the bank to the top of the ridge. eral sets of footprints in the dry sand of the main river. These He looked back at us and then disappeared into the thick were probably the hikers the old gentleman had mentioned. brush at the top. However, the tracks hadn’t been left by hiking boots – they Adam turned around smiling. I returned the smile and nodlooked more like slip-on tennis shoes, certainly not the footded slowly. He knew I hunted and knew exactly where I’d be wear for hiking the backcountry. when bear season opened up. I continued up the side creek, convinced I had left the Indeed, a week after the start of bear season, I was back at three hikers in the main river. I worked my way to the frog the trailhead loading up my pack. This time I’d be hiking for area where the first signs of water appear in the drainage. pleasure, and with a bear tag in my pocket I wasn’t going to be I switched hats for counting frogs. a few minutes and With over 2 miles looked in on the of hiking ahead of The bears the author were on the prowl for were nowhere near as intimidating as the three “hikers” he came across deep in a Southern California mountain canyon. (TIM E. HOVEY) endangered frogs. me, I loaded my pack I saw a few large with my game-proadults basking in cessing gear, some the sun in one of water and called it the larger pools. I good. I strapped my watched them for rifle to the outside of a bit and then conthe pack, locked up tinued hiking up the truck and headthe steep creek. ed out. Referencing my Since I frequently GPS, I knew I was hunt alone, as long about 200 meters as I stay within my from where we had own limitations, I’m bumped the bear. never apprehensive While staring into when hiking the the screen of my back hills. I have a Garmin, I thought firm respect for the I heard voices. Up wildlife and I’m nevahead was a bend er afraid when I head in the creek, which obscured my view upstream. I quickly out to hunt. Before the end of that day, I’d be served another hiked to the bend and peered around it, and the sight of the example of how man is really the only animal that I need to be three individuals and how they were dressed sent a cold pulse leery of when I’m by myself in the woods. through me. I WAS MAKING good time while hiking up the dry riverbed and was maybe a quarter of a mile from the tributary when I HOPPING DOWN THE creek in street clothes were three men in spotted movement up ahead of me. The old man was looking their 20s. Their attire was more suited for a day at the mall, and down into a portion of the wetted creek and slowly moving they each wore slip-on sneakers that looked brand new. They my way. He had a bucket strung up on a shovel, resting the carried no packs, no water and no gear of any sort. I instantly handle on his shoulder as he walked. got a nervous feeling in my chest. They didn’t have any gear Seeing someone in this lower section of the river wasn’t because they were sightseeing, and I knew exactly what they terribly unusual. The spot was located an hour’s drive from were looking for. My one advantage was that I had spotted the nearest city and a popular hiking area. I wasn’t surprised them first. at all to see someone else out enjoying the wilderness. What High mountain creeks that sustain a year-round supply did startle me was something that I wasn’t expecting: The old of water are not only attractive to wildlife; those looking to man was naked. start an illegal crop often seek out these remote headwaters Except for a thin button-up shirt that was unbuttoned and to hide their plants and their activities. All plants need water, his hiking boots, he didn’t have anything else on. I moved to and finding a remote creek that can supply that is usually the first step in cultivation. the other side of the creek as I approached and we exchanged 28 California Sportsman MARCH 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
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The three individuals hiking down to me were a scouting party that was looking for a place to grow and hide illegal marijuana plants. I stepped around the bend and was instantly spotted. The lead guy said something in Spanish to the trailing guy and they instantly swapped positions. When they were about 25 feet from me, I spoke with the hope of keeping them at that distance. It worked. The lead guy put on a fake smile and sized me up. He could see I was by myself, and my rifle, securely strapped to my pack, was clearly out of play. As it stood to him, it was three against one. I asked them what they were doing up in the creek. They said they were scouting for when deer season opened up. His response was a lie. I knew deer season in the area had opened up six weeks earlier. They asked what I was doing and I told them I was bear hunting. The lead guy mentioned that they had scared a bear out of the creek on the way in. That did frustrate me, but in the span of a few minutes my day and my focus had changed. I was clearly speaking with the leader of the small group. The other two remained quiet and never met my eye. That didn’t put me at ease at all. I knew if things got serious, they wouldn’t just sit back and watch. The leader again looked me up and down and smiled. He then made a statement that surprised and angered me. He said that it was dangerous to hunt in this area alone. To me it sounded like a warning, and I glared at the smiling leader. This was no longer a friendly encounter, and all that was left was to see who’d blink first. I told him I had a buddy hunting the lower section and that we were meeting up in a few hours. He kept smiling. We stared at each other for a few moments when I decided I was done being nice. With my left hand I pointed up the drainage behind the three and asked if they had come down the side fork above them. As predicted, in unison they all turned to look where I was pointing. Seamlessly and with a practiced motion, I lifted my shirt on my right side that had thus far hidden my dirty little secret. I flipped the hammer strap off the .357 revolver holstered on my hip and rested my hand on the weapon in one motion. I turned slightly so that all could see the odds in our little encounter had just changed. When the leader turned around, I saw his eyes drop to the revolver. His smile instantly faded, replaced with the look of complete defeat. Even though I had answered his last question about being alone in the creek, I didn’t like the tone of the warning and that made me mad. I was no longer cordial or polite. I gave him my best Wild West stare and looked at only him for a full 30 seconds before I spoke. In a gravelly voice, I told all of them it was time for them to leave, now! No other words were shared during this encounter. I watched them slowly make their way down the creek. Occasionally, the lead guy would look back, but I had hiked off the creek and was watching them through binoculars. He had no idea where I was and I knew that troubled him. I didn’t leave 30 California Sportsman MARCH 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
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TALES OF A BIOLOGIST
that spot until they were completely out of sight.
BACK IN THE CREEK, I could feel I wasn’t in much of a hunting
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A biologist never stops exploring the local fauna, in this case checking in on endangered frogs in the area. (TIM E. HOVEY)
mood. I decided to push on upstream despite the confrontation. About 100 yards up, I found wet and muddy bear prints near a bank and a dead rattlesnake with its head chewed off. I
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TALES OF A BIOLOGIST
Our biologist had seen the remnants of an abandoned marijuana cultivation camp before in similar isolated areas as the one he was bear hunting in, so he has his suspicions about what the men he encountered were up to. (TIM E. HOVEY)
guess at least one of their statements was true. I goofed off for about an hour but my heart wasn’t in it. I decided I was done and started making my way back to the trailhead. Down on the main river, I stalked to within 40 yards of a group of bighorn sheep drinking from small pools in the main creek. For some reason, having my last interaction on that day be a wildlife encounter calmed me. I made it back to the truck an hour before dark and unloaded my pack. I got in the car and started for home. As I drove, I thought about all that had occurred during my hunt. Thankfully I was prepared. I can say this: In over 20 years of hunting and hiking the remote sections of California, that day remains the most tense and strangest of them all. CS
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AA’S BULKS UP WITH ADDITION OF NEW BAD BUBBA SHAD SERIES For more than three decades AA Worm Company has been hand-pouring plastic finesse worms and shad tail bodies in Southern California, one lure at a time. In the fall of 2012, AA’s celebrated its 30th year of hand-pour excellence with a Special Edition Swimbait Series. Using the science of hydrology with their technical know-how, AA came as close to swimming perfection as a real-life baitfish itself. The line features a realistic lifelike scale pattern, the AA logo, and a slimmed-down profile for lighter presentations. And now for 2016, after many requests for a beefier version of our original AA’s Shad Tail, a new paddle-tail swimbait design has been brought to the table, the Bad Bubba Shad Series. This new bulkier bait was designed with the idea of being able to rig it with a much larger hook shank, with reduced body wear. Many saltwater anglers prefer using a larger hook with our Shad Tails, so we delivered one big bad beefy shad. These baits are offered in 4-, 5- and 7-inch body lengths. With the use of CAD design and 3D printing technology, we were also able to give the bait a fishlike 3D scale pattern and really fine-tune its swimming action. Along with a fat belly for increased body wobble, the bait was also given a textured paddle tail for increased water displacement and vibration. This new body design eliminates unnatural tail flailing and provides a tighter body roll and tail kick to represent the swimming action of a live baitfish. The Shad Tails are extremely versatile. As trailers, they enhance swim jigs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and even Alabama rigs. AA’s Bubba Shads are ideal for freshwater species, including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, musky, pike, walleye, landlocked striper and crappie, and saltwater ones such as striper, redfish, speckled trout, tuna, yellowtail, white sea bass, halibut, calico bass, sand bass, spotted bay bass, lingcod and multiple rockfish species.
WWW.AAWORMS.COM
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MIXED BAG The kids’ trout pond is one of the most popular stops for visitors to the Fred Hall Shows in Long Beach and San Diego. (MIKE STEVENS)
70 AND BETTER THAN EVER FRED HALL SHOWS A SOCAL RITE OF PASSAGE By Chris Cocoles
S
eptuagenarians of the world, unite. The Fred Hall Shows are celebrating their 70th birthday this month, and Bart Hall strives to continue the family tradition. Bart Hall’s dad Fred opened his first show in 1946 on the site of a Los Angeles dirt track speedway with little to no idea of what to expect. Seven decades later, and that modest first attempt to run something nobody within Fred’s inner-circle had heard of – “a sportsman’s show?” – has become the annual event for the Southland’s fishermen, hunters and boaters to seek out the latest gear, vacation destinations and all things outdoors. As this month’s events in Long Beach and San Diego beckon, we caught up with Bart Hall to reminisce about the past, talk up the present and look ahead to the future of the Fred Hall Shows.
Chris Cocoles Seventy years in, what kind of thrill ride has this been for the Hall family? Bart Hall Well, I’m the oldest surviving member, so for me it has been quite a fun ride. I remember being at the Pan Pacific Auditorium in the early 1950s and loving the experience of trout fishing; trying archery with Howard Hill; watching the high divers; having my picture taken with the show spokesman, Roy Rodgers; and all
the fun stuff my dad planned. In those days, we didn’t sell anything at the show; it was only a “show.” Then, when I got really involved, just as we were leaving the Great Western Exhibit Center over 40 years ago, Mike Lum (who then worked at Turners) and I talked my dad into allowing selling (items) at the show. The next year, Turners started selling merchandise and the rest, as they say, is history. Since we (ourselves) don’t sell anything tangible, my father made certain that we all realized that our primary job was simply for the promotion of fishing, hunting, boating and the pure joy of outdoor recreation. That is what has motivated our success. We really care about fishing, hunting, boating, camping and being “outdoors.” We are driven to promote that lifestyle to as many people as possible. We figure if we do our job well, everything else will follow.
CC What was your first moment of realizing what this show meant to your dad and the impact it’s had on the Southern California outdoors scene? BH I’m certain that when my father began these shows in 1946, he had no idea that they would become the world’s largest sportfishing show, California’s largest boat show and a world-class international travel and hunting event. We did not derive our primary income from the shows until much later in my father’s life. I remember just two days before my father died, I took him around in a golf cart before the opening of the show on Wednesday, and at one point I stopped and looked at him and said, “Dad, look at what you’ve built. It’s amazing and it’s wonderful!” He died on the Saturday morning of the show that week. I remember the first thing I did was call Pete Gray at Let’s Talk Hook Up (radio show) and told him to announce to the world that Fred Hall had passed away. Later that day at the show, hundreds of people came up to me and said, “I caught my first fish at your dad’s show, my children caught their first fish at this show and calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2016 California Sportsman
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MIXED BAG now my grandchildren are going to catch their first fish at this show. Thanks to you and your dad.” That was a very meaningful day for me. I was sad that I lost my father but immensely proud of what we had built together. I’m looking forward to the next 10 years.
CC What do you think has changed most and what really has stayed the same in terms of putting on the Fred Hall Shows? BH Well, as I mentioned before, we didn’t really sell anything at the shows for the first 30 years. In the beginning it was more of a small all-around sportsmen’s show. But my dad decided to separate himself from the competition and he decided to concentrate on fishing and fishing boats. At that time it was called “Fred Hall’s Fishing Tackle and Fishing Boat Show.” From that time to now we have expanded to include all types of boating, hunting outfitters, firearms and international travel. Our hunting section will be larger than ever this year – which is great for us because everyone in this office hunts, including my grandchildren – boys and girls. What has stayed the same is that we are the absolute premiere event that promotes sportfishing anywhere on this planet. No other show even comes close. We are very proud of that.
CC What did you learn most from your dad about this business? BH My dad was a character and some people say I am too. I look like him; I’d like to think I’m a little like him. He told me for
my entire life, “Son, just remember all we do is sell 10-by-10 (booths) filled with nothin’.” What I came to realize that meant was that all we do is promote the outdoor recreation lifestyle, and if we do that avidly and with passion, everything else will follow. He didn’t worry about money; he worried about promoting outdoor recreation 24/7, 365 days a year. That describes the entire crew at the Fred Hall Shows. We all love fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation and are passionate about promoting the lifestyle to others. You can’t work here unless you fit that description. He also told me that we will provide a full day’s worth of “family fun” activities at a Fred Hall Show. And we are proud that we do that to this day.
CC As the shows get closer and closer, how satisfying is it to see all the hard work you and your crew put in to host these Long Beach and Del Mar shows? BH Well, the last 90 days before the show are stressful, the last 60 days chaotic and the final 30 days make us all sleep-deprived and crazy. We will work continuously for 70 to 80 days in a row with no meaningful time off. I love the shows, but the first quarter of the year is, I’m sure, shortening our lives. We are too small a staff to produce shows that are so large. We will sell and place nearly 2,000 booths and acres of boats, and we’ll produce and present over 600 seminars and workshops in the nine days of our shows, plus acquire and shepherd dozens of activities. At the same time, we’re marketing the shows to the widest
CUSTOM WRAPPED LURES ba i tw ra p s@ g m a i l .c o m • 714 - 3 9 6 -12 7 8 • 40 California Sportsman MARCH 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
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audience possible. The great thing about that is that you look at a map, a flat depiction of that year’s shows for a very long time. Then comes move-in day and you get to see a 3-D representation of what you have been working on all year long. That is very satisfying. For me, it is also sad when it’s over and the shows come down because those particular shows will never be seen again. Each show is slightly different, and that’s a good thing.
CC We live in a whole different world today than when your shows evolved, but over time have fishermen and hunters changed, or are they kind of the same people who love the outdoors like they did in the early days? BH The world is changing and way too rapidly; I’m frightened for my grandchildren. However, the good news is, if you can get people to fish, hunt or get on the water in a boat, they are going to have the same experience that hundreds of millions of people have had before them. I’ve never seen anyone catch his or her first fish and not smile. I’ve never seen anyone successfully hunt for the first time and not be awed by the immensity and symmetry of nature. Anglers and hunters are people who feel the connection to our ancestors in our DNA more deeply than those who don’t hunt and fish.
CC If Bart Hall wasn’t putting this show on, what part or exhibit of the Fred Hall Shows would you get most excited about seeing? BH No doubt about it – I’d head right to the fishing and hunting destination resorts and outfitters. I do that now. I love fantasizing about going here, going there, catching this, shooting that. I’ll never fit everything from the hundreds of destination resorts at a Fred Hall Show into my bucket list. I’ve made some great friends out of folks who own hunting and fishing lodges. I hope I have time to make some more. CS Editor’s note: The Fred Hall Shows are March 2-6 at the Long Beach Convention Center and March 17-20 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds just north of San Diego. For more, go to fredhall.com. 42 California Sportsman MARCH 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
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APRIL 2-3 SATURDAY 9AM - 7PM SUNDAY 9AM - 4PM FREE ADMISSION • OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DO YOU COME ALIVE IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA? DO YOU LOVE TO HUNT, FISH OR JUST BE OUT IN THE WILD EVERY CHANCE YOU GET? If so you can’t miss Redding Sportsman’s Expo April 2-3 at the Redding Civic Auditorium! All you could possibly want to gear up for the outdoors will be under one roof! Everything from outdoor apparel to hunting, fly-fishing, boating, hiking, camping, kayaking, mountain biking and off-road utility equipment just to name a few! A few of the major retailers include Sportsman’s Warehouse, Down Range Indoor Training Center, Girls with Guns, Olde West, Redding Yamaha, Phil’s Propeller, Harrison’s Boat & RV, Deadeye Outfitters and Outdoor Ally. We’ll have over 80 vendors (and counting)! Seminars by industry experts will feature instruction for fly-fishing, tying flies, casting and fishing for salmon, steelhead, trout, kokanee and bass, just to name a few. Seminars will also feature everything you need to know to be more successful hunting big game. There will be fun activities for every age such as archery tag and live truck wrap demonstration by Signarama. Hunting and fishing films will be playing throughout the two-day event. We’ll have a beer garden for those 21+. Admission is FREE, thanks to GTi Solor Construction! Redding Sportsman’s Expo is sponsored in part by GTi Solar Construction, Crown Motors, Signarama, Redding Yamaha Seadoo, Q97, Foothill Distributing, Interstate Batteries, Wildcard Brewing, Summer Winds Resort Services, Mossy Oak Pursuit Energy, and Sportsman’s Warehouse. WWW.REDDINGSPORTSMANSEXPO.COM
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MIXED BAG
REDDING’S SPORTSMAN SHOWCASE INAUGURAL EVENT CELEBRATES SHASTA COUNTY’S OUTDOOR OPPORTUNITIES
R
edding’s location is a magnet for the best of what California has to offer sportsmen and -women. For fishing, Shasta Lake is just to the north, and just below Shasta Dam is the lower Sacramento River, home to migrating king salmon and trout. Hunters also flock to this part of the state for deer, elk and waterfowl hunting. This is where you want to be if you love the great outdoors of Northern California and hunt, fish or just like to be out in the wild. And the inaugural Redding Sportsman’s Expo, April 2 and 3 at the Redding Civic Auditorium, is a good starting point to experience what this corner of California offers. All you could possibly want to gear up for in the outdoors will be under one roof. Everything from outdoor apparel to hunting, fly fishing, boating, hiking, camping, kayaking, mountain biking and off-road utility equipment will be showcased. A few of the major retailers include Sportsman’s Warehouse, Sports Authority, Down Range Indoor Training Center, Girls with Guns, Olde West, Redding Yamaha, Phil’s Propeller, Harrison’s Boat and RV, Deadeye Outfitters and Outdoor Ally. We’ll have at least 80 vendors confirmed, with more expected to sign on. Seminars by industry experts will feature instruction for fly fishing, tying flies, casting and fishing for salmon, steelhead, trout, kokanee and bass, just to name a few species. Seminars will also feature everything you need to know to be more successful hunting big game.
Shasta Lake’s location just north of Redding is just one of many outdoor playgrounds for those who live in the area, which will be showcased on April 2 and 3 for the inaugural Redding Sportman’s Expo. (STEVE BRETH)
Britton Lake, a tiny reservoir off the Pit River near Burney in Shasta County, has some fantastic fishing for Reddingarea anglers to enjoy. (SHERYL CASTLEBERRY HALEY)
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There will be fun activities for every age, such as Archery Tag – a chaotic and fun game that is comparable to dodgeball with foam-tipped arrows instead of rubber balls – and live truck wrap demonstration by Signarama. Hunting and fishing films will be playing throughout the twoday event. We’ll have a beer garden for those 21 and over. And for the youngsters, a special Kids Camp includes jump houses and a junior archery range, among other kid-friendly activities. Admission is free, courtesy of GTi Solar Construction. Redding Sportsman’s Expo is also sponsored in part by GTi Solar Construction, Crown Motors, Signarama, Redding Yamaha Seadoo, Q97, Foothill Distributing, Interstate Batteries, Wildcard Brewing, Summer Winds Resort Services, Mossy Oak Pursuit Energy and Sportsman’s Warehouse. For more info on the show, check out reddingsportsmansexpo.com. CS
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50 California Sportsman MARCH 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
MIXED BAG
SERVING BOATERS IN L.A.
D
ick Sherrer’s love for fast boats led him into a career of racing and fixing them up. So five decades later, Dick Sherrer Marine (562-868-9809; dsmionline. com) has become an institution in the city of Norwalk, near Long Beach. The company now sells a massive selection of various parts – both new and the “after-market” variety – and everything from boat covers and docking lights to trolling motors. We caught up with parts manager Steve Heath to talk more about why Dick Sherrer Marine, where the slogan is “Keeping Your Boating Fun,” is a goto resource for Southland boaters.
California Sportsman How did you get started in the business? Steve Heath Well, back in the 1970s, Dick Sherrer loved to race boats (Formula 1 tunnel boats) and he was good at it. So to help finance his boat racing, he serviced other people’s boats and the busi-
ness grew. As the second generation at the family business, I started working at the boat shop during summer vacations. During college, I continued working on weekends and some weekdays. After college I decided that I loved helping boaters get on the water and have fun with their families. Over the years, I have grown up with some customers. It’s fun to see their kids come in with their own boats now. Today, my children are growing up in the boat shop.
CS Tell us about your inventory? SH We have in stock a large variety of boating parts, accessories and water toys. If you need it, we probably will have it in stock. Call us and we’ll check for you.
CS Are you factory-authorized for Mercury? SH We have been representing Mercury Marine since Dick’s boat-racing days. We
COMPANY
PROFILE
currently are a Mercury Platinum dealer. Our service department techs are highly experienced and well trained in their expertise. We have techs who are specialized in Johnson/Evinrude, OMC, Suzuki, Force/Chrysler and Volvo Penta. Our service manager has been with us for 40plus years and our techs are all seasoned professionals. We are also a factory-authorized dealer for Volvo Penta.
CS What else should we know about what you do? SH We are a family operation; our employees are part of our family and we are avid boaters, so we have experienced it all. Our customers are the best and we put them first; from fishing and cruising to high-performance, our goal is to help make your boating experience exceptional. CS Editor’s note: For more on Dick Sherrer Marine, like the company at facebook.com/ DickSherrerMarineInc.
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PROTECTING
WILD CALIFORNIA
WINTER CHINOOK NUMBERS DIRE In the last two years, just 5 and 3 percent of juvenile Sacramento River winter Chinook survived to reach Red Bluff, creating doubt about the stock’s survival. (USFWS)
By Chris Cocoles
R
ain was falling throughout January in California and filling reservoirs and rivers with much-needed water. But the drought has wreaked havoc on Northern California salmon, and it will be a long road to get winter Chinook numbers back to respectability. Federal biologists announced that just 3 percent of upper Sacramento River juvenile kings from the 2015 spawning season survived to pass Red Bluff Diversion Dam, which was on the heels of a reported 5-percent survival rate in 2014. Those numbers seem dismal at best, despite state and federal officials implementing a plan to withhold irrigation water. Consider that in 2011, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration statistics show 849,000 winter Chinook passed the diversion dam. “We just didn’t have cold water to work with,” Maria Rea of NOAA’s fisheries’ division told the San Francisco Chronicle. “Despite everybody’s best efforts, the plan wasn’t effective in preventing really significant mortality.” With farmers in the Central Valley looking for their share of water, just what the future holds for the state’s iconic king salmon runs is uncertain. One attention-grabbing headline after another appeared as the numbers were released: “(Second) disastrous drought year for endangered California salmon;” “Drought pushes Sacramento River salmon closer to extinction.” The Golden Gate Salmon Association (goldengatesalmon.org), one
of the state’s most respected organizations in terms of conservation, wasn’t bashful in voicing a strong opinion about this ongoing crisis. “State and federal fish agencies are charged with restricting water allocations to protect our fish and wildlife in drought. Salmon fishermen all up and down the West Coast are asking how the state and federal fish and wildlife agencies failed to protect the winter run the
last two years in a row,” executive director John McManus said in a statement. In a letter to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, NOAA stated it was adding winter-run Chinook to its “Species in the Spotlight” list of “most critically endangered species with the goal of reversing their trajectories towards extinction.” That last word is one no Californian who adores these remarkable fish wants to hear or see. CS
OUTDOOR CALENDAR MARCH 2-6 5 10 11
12 17-20 18 19 26 31
Fred Hall Show, Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach (fredhall.com) Kokanee Power Banquet (kokaneepower.org) End of Northeast late white goose season Golden Gate Salmon Association Sonoma Salmon Fundraiser (goldenstatesalmonassociation.org) Blake Jones Trout Derby, Pleasant Valley Reservoir (bishopvisitor.com) Fred Hall Show, Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar (fredhall.com) Purple Heart Anglers Fundraiser, Foster City (purpleheartanglers.or) NorCal Trout Anglers Challenge, Lake Amador (anglerspress.com) Start of general spring wild turkey season; Klays for Kokes shooting clays event, Camanche Hills Sporting Clays club, Ione (kokaneepower.org) End of most furbearer hunting seasons
APRIL 2-3
Redding Sportsmans Expo, Redding Civic Auditorium The spring wild turkey season opens on March 26. (TIM E. HOVEY)
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EXQUISITE KNIVES Exquisite Knives has launched a new, easily navigated site, ideal for knife collectors and enthusiasts looking to expand their collections. The handcrafted array of top-notch blades by the top craftsmen in the world is currently available for access at www.ExquisiteKnives.com. This new, interactive site encourages knife collectors to browse and purchase some of the most sought after knives on a more reachable platform. Mastersmith Dave Ellis realized his passion for the craftsmanship of knives at an early age, and has been developing his collection over the past 25 years. This new website will feature some knives from Ellis’ personal collection, as well as other exclusive knives from topnotch makers such as Loveless, Moran, Lake, Walker and Schmidt. With an eye for collecting and re-selling, Exquisite Knives tackles the difficult and trying concept by purchasing knives that are distinguishable from the other custom makers. With international shipping also available, customers can pursue their ideal knife collection from essentially anywhere in the world. Knife enthusiasts around the world can locate and pursue their high-end collections with the assistance of Dave Ellis at Exquisite Knives. Visit www.ExquisiteKnives.com for more information. 760-945-7177 | WWW.EXQUISITEKNIVES.COM
54 California Sportsman MARCH 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
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Long Beach’s Samantha Richardson has epilepsy, but she and her dad, Rich, go fishing once a week, and moments like this trout catch are cherished. “She is so happy when she catches a big fish, she makes me take her up to the tackle office so they can (take a photo). It makes her day and that’s what keeps her happy,” says Rich, who will receive a Daiwa hat, T-shirt and scissors for cutting braided line. He and Samantha are in the running for a grand prize of a Daiwa rod-andreel combo!
Call to order yours today!
Matt Bliss is our monthly Browning hunting photo contest winner, thanks to this pic of his Eastern Washington mule deer. It scores the rifleman a Browning hat!
For your shot at winning Daiwa and Browning products, send your photos and pertinent (who, what, when, where) details to ccocoles@ media-inc.com, or to 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. calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2016 California Sportsman
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The evening hatch at Lake Davis can be magic if the wind lies down. A highelevation ďŹ shery in Plumas County, ďŹ shing is the top pastime with water skiing and Jet Skis prohibited. (JON BAIOCCHI) 56 California Sportsman MARCH 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
FISHING
FOR ANGLERS FIRST SCENIC DAVIS LAKE NORTH OF TRUCKEE EMBRACES FLY FISHING FOR LARGE TROUT
By Jon Baiocchi
L
ake Davis has long been considered the best public stillwater for fly fishing in all of Northern California. The lake sits at an elevation of 5,885 feet amongst a coniferous forest, mixed with willows, aspens, cottonwoods and meadowlands. Most of the west shore is shallow and offers the fertile flats and expansive weedbeds that make stalking trout from the shoreline so incredible. On the east shore, deeper water exists where you can find
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FISHING
At Lake Davis, where copious populations of hexagenia mayflies and damselflies (top right and bottom left) help keep the rainbow trout fat and sassy, Jay Fair Stripping flies in barred olive and Blood Midge Emergers (top left and bottom right) are two tried-and-true patterns. (JON BAOICCHI)
the Grizzly Creek channel that lies parallel to the lake. With one of the biggest biomasses in the entire state, aquatic insect hatches can be profuse. As you can imagine, the fish get big on the abundant forage. Rainbow trout average 18 to 20 inches and display abundant girth; using 6- to 8-pound tippet and strong knots is a must to prevent these fish from breaking off. And best of all, Lake Davis is for fishing only – no waterskiing or Jet Skis allowed!
TIMING YOUR TRIP The best times for the fly angler to visit are right after 58 California Sportsman MARCH 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
ice-out at the end of March, and mid-May through the first weeks of July. During this time, the famous damselfly hatch commences and resident rainbows will cruise the shallow water, eating nymphs as they migrate to the shore to hatch into adults. The damselfly hatch offers sight fishing at its finest – like fishing the flats in the South Pacific – and casting to moving targets. Another short-lived phenomenon that occurs in early spring is the flying ant hatch, where the rainbows come to the surface and gorge themselves when the wind blows this source of food from the forest to the
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Rick Serini hooks up with a Lake Davis trout while sight fishing during the damselfly hatch. (JOHN BAIOCCHI)
water. It pays to have some carpenter ant patterns in your box during this time, as one never knows when the hatch will happen or how long it will last. Also during spring, there are blood midge hatches, several different species of chironomids and callibaetis mayflies. When June arrives, during the last hour of light magic happens with a special hatch. The hexagenia is the biggest mayfly in North America; they are a vivid yellow in color, with females as large as a size 6, and males at a size 8. These big bugs bring trout to the surface and offer 60 California Sportsman MARCH 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
exciting dry fly fishing. Unlike Lake Almanor, about 90 miles northwest of Davis, making presentations with nymph patterns is fair at best. The rainbows prefer the emerger and the adult on the surface. The hexagenia mayfly appeared in Lake Davis only four years ago and it appears they were blown in from Lake Almanor, Mountain Meadows Reservoir or Antelope Lake, which all hold good populations of the hex. These new inhabitants have thrived since then due to the perfect habitat the nymph relies on to make its burrows, mud and clay. It’s safe
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FISHING
Clark Harrison gets in on the action off the lake’s west shore. Davis sits at just under 6,000 feet, and the ice should come off at end of this month, kicking off another fine season of fishing. (JON BAIOCCHI)
to say they will be permanent residents of Lake Davis and a part of the ecosystem. As summer approaches and water temperatures exceed 70 degrees on the surface, the trout head for deeper water near productive weedbeds and dropoffs. The one food item that has not been as prolific of late is the freshwater snail. In my opinion and from observations on the lake, the two rotenone treatments of 1997 and 2007 to eradicate illegally introduced northern pike affected the snails. When a lake is killed off and must begin again, the entire ecosystem is changed and unbalanced. There are still snails in Lake Davis, but not nearly in the numbers that were found pretreatment. Bulging crunchy trout bellies
62 California Sportsman MARCH 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
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FISHING in the fall are a thing of the past, though we could see a change for the better in the future. The other key time for the fly angler to visit is September through mid-November, when the water temps become too cold and winter takes over as the lake starts to freeze up. September can offer some incredibly good dry fly fishing as the season’s last brood of blood midges hatches, along with the return of the callibaetis mayflies. During autumn the trout reappear in the shallows and gorge themselves to fatten up before winter. October is usually the peak of fall fishing and when the rainbows will stay in the shallows for longer periods of time. Also during this time the aspens, cottonwoods and willows blaze with glowing fall color, making for a spectacular backdrop.
Author Jon Baiocchi with an average Davis Lake rainbow. Many trout here measure 18 to 20 inches. (LANCE GRAY)
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FISHING DIALING IN DAVIS The most effective way to fish this stillwater is from a personal watercraft, from which you can either fish deep or skinny water, or get out and fish the shoreline. Stripping flies slowly with pauses will result in success, as long as you are presenting your flies at the correct water depth. The trout graze like cattle and move slowly, like the aquatic insects they are feeding on. Using a strike indicator is a very effective method at Lake Davis while hanging midge patterns underneath. Early morning is best to present your flies close to the bottom, and as the hatch progresses, having your flies 3 to 5 feet below the water’s surface will target the upper water column where the trout will be. If the opportunity exists, presenting dry flies is the most popular, especially if you have active
rising fish to cast amongst. When casting to a working fish, figure out their intended path and softly place your dry fly at least 3 feet ahead of them. To be able to see the take is the most fascinating aspect of fishing the dry. Must-have fly patterns include the Sheep Creek Special, Jay Fair Wiggle Tails and Wooly Buggers in brown, olive, black and burnt orange, Pheasant Tail Flashback nymphs, and the Albino Wino midge pupa. For dry flies, blood midge emergers, Adams Parachutes, the Martis Monstrosity, RS ant, and Parachute Midge emergers are the most effective. No matter what season you choose to visit, Lake Davis offers a variety of different ways to catch its large rainbows that will please any fly angler. To get here from Sacramento, take I-80 east to exit 188A at Truckee and head north on Highways
89 and 49 and then Westside Road to Highway 70 just west of Beckwourth. Turn west and before you reach Portola, go north on Grizzly Road to the lake. Besides great fishing, Lake Davis has excellent campgrounds, access areas, hiking trails, single-track mountain bike trails and the opportunity to kayak into the secluded coves for wildlife viewing. Portola has groceries, restaurants and gas. If you have never been here, it’s time to make a plan and visit Northern California’s legendary stillwater. CS Editor’s note: Jon Baiocchi has been fly fishing and tying flies since 1972 and is a California-licensed fly fishing guide, published author, educator, innovative tyer and highly acclaimed public speaker. Jon now owns and operates Baiocchi’s Troutfitters Guide Service in Northern California, where he has been guiding for the last 19 years. Visit his website at Baiocchistroutfitters.com.
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FISHING
OPENING ACT TOUGH TO CALL WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT NEXT MONTH FOR THE SIERRA TROUT OPENER? FIRST THINGS FIRST, CHECK THE WEATHER FORECAST, THEN GET SOME BAIT
By Mike Stevens
T
he best Eastern Sierra trout anglers are not always certain of what the conditions will be like on opening day of the general trout season (April 30), but they are always aware of that uncertainty. Last year it snowed and “blowed” on opening day. Two years ago, 8 inches of snow was predicted on the day prior, and 36 inches came crashing down. Three years ago it was so warm it may have well been the Fourth of July. If that pattern – completely different weather in three consecutive openers – continues, I suppose all that’s left is pouring rain. While it’s impossible to predict even a week prior to that last Saturday in April, a wet “Fishmas” certainly is more possible this year than ever, thanks that that El Niño kid. Of course, there is no science to suggest that would be the case, and it’s always a roll of the dice. But it would be funny if trouters were hit by something altogether different four years in a row. The most successful opening-day trout anglers are ready for all of the above, and they adjust the game plan based on whatever Mother Nature throws at them.
Convict Lake’s high elevation means the April 30 trout opener could be sunny and warm, but also maybe snowy like the last two years. No matter the weather, expect big crowds. (MIKE STEVENS)
PREPARE FOR THE WORST If it is actually snowing on opening day, like last year, being prepared for a long day of exposure should be priority number one. Once you are layered up from head to toe with plenty of chemical handwarmers (inexpensive lifesavers), a lot of how the day turns out is determined on what area of the Eastern Sierra you are calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2016 California Sportsman
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FISHING targeting. For most attendees at the opener, this is known way ahead of time, so that really isn’t something that is going to change unless the conditions are insane, for most people anyway. For those who fish creeks, they are usually productive regardless of the conditions. The water will be frigid, so bait presentations like split-shotted nightcrawlers, crickets or salmon eggs that can be accurately cast to fishy locations and then fished slowly are a great way to go. Plastics like minijigs, trout worms and plastic eggs, with or without scent added, can be fished the same way, and quite effectively. If you think of it as the ultralight, moving-water version of “flippin” for bass, you’re in the ballpark. This technique will actually work in all fishable creeks in late April. The most popular moving-water location to fish on opening day is the confluence of the South and Middle Forks of Bishop Creek, and one
Crowley Lake gets probably the most fishing pressure for the trout opener, but there is still plenty of shoreline for “bank robbers” to pick a spot and net a trout on April 30. (MIKE STEVENS)
semisecret factoid about that spot – and actually the entire Bishop Creek Canyon, for that matter – is it lies
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in Inyo County, where opening day starts at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday (and yes, there are people who bundle up,
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FISHING throw a headlamp on and ďŹ sh that early in the morning). Convict Creek below Convict Lake and Rush Creek between Silver and Grant Lakes in the June Lake Loop are also popular opening-day creeks for anglers. The miles of wide-open shoreline at Crowley Lake – which is likely statistically the most popular watershed
Layered up for 2015’s whiteout opener, author Mike Stevens managed to bring in this Lake Mamie trout. If the ďŹ sh aren’t biting at traditional locations due to weather conditions or whatever, anglers should keep an open mind about switching spots. (MIKE STEVENS)
for the trout opener – mean plenty of shoreline for bank robbers to choose from, but it also means there is nary a tree shielding them from the elements. There is some shelter to be had in the coves around the Fish Camp at South Landing, especially in the easily accessed Whiskey Bay, where the bank is a good 20 feet lower than the parking area behind it and down and out of the wind. There will be a lot of anglers down there, but there is always elbow room on the east side of the cove. If you need more space, make your way to the other coves toward the east end of the lake. Boaters at Crowley tend to ďŹ sh from larger craft than your average 15-foot rental boat, so at-line or leadcore trolling with Tasmanian Devils, Owner Cultivas, Rapalas or NeedleďŹ sh should never be pushed aside due to the elements. Just make sure your boat, and the amount of people in it, are capable of handling
some weather. Crowley Lake, as much as any of the bigger lakes on the east side, can take the full blast of hard Eastern Sierra winds, and legitimate wind waves can form in bigger lakes.
WEATHER CONDITIONS DICTATE OPTIONS The thing about snow in the Sierra is it’s not always snow on the day you are ďŹ shing, or even the day or two before. The weather in the entire week or two leading up to opening day can factor in to what options are available. The Mammoth Lakes Basin is a perfect example of this. Two Aprils ago, when 3 feet of snow fell in some places on Fishmas Eve, Lake Mary Road leading up to the Basin was covered in white stuff, and there was no way to get anywhere near the lakes. In all fairness, they were probably at least partially covered in ice anyway, but that took away as many as four (depending on how far up the road you can get even if the lower
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FISHING Snow was also on the ground at Mammoth Creek on 2014’s opener. What will next month bring? Who knows, but we’d go prepared for everything! (MIKE STEVENS)
lakes are open) angling options. Last year, when it snowed during the first day of fishing, the road was wide open all the way past Lake Mary to just beyond Lake Mamie. That, my trouthead friends, is a game changer. The thing is, the majority of people in the area on opening weekend are in Bishop Creek Canyon, Crowley or Convict Lake, or the June Lake
Loop, with a handful more setting up in the Bridgeport area. When the Mammoth Lakes Basin is accessible, it is fully stocked, and it is an absolute ghost town. I was covering the goings on at Convict and Crowley in particular, and when moving from one to the other I checked my phone and saw a text message from my brother that
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said “wide open at Mamie.” I had about an hour before the weigh-in for a kid’s derby at Crowley that I needed to get photos of, and it would take me 20 minutes to get to the basin, and another 20 to get back. So of course, I jerked the wheel to the left when I hit 395 and charged up the mountain, saw my dad’s truck and literally followed footsteps in the snow to where he and my brother were absolutely teeing off on 2- to 5-pound rainbows. They had caught and released 20 each by the time I got there, and I figured I had about a 15-minute window to chuck my Thomas Buoyant before flying back down to Crowley. I fired away and managed to land six trout of my own in that size range before I had to take off. There was no one else around, and my dad and brother said they saw maybe two groups at Mary and one down at Twin when they did a lap on the way out. Given the crowds
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at the more popular opener spots, the Mammoth Lakes Basin being open is a big deal and it is something that you should monitor as the last weekend in April approaches.
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The following quick-hitters will help you get the most out of your trip Sleep in: I’m not talking about rolling out of the rack at 10 a.m., but you certainly don’t have to be out there at the crack of dawn. Using Crowley as an example, there will be cars lined up for hours before the gate opens, then it’s a mad dash to park, launch or find a spot on the bank with a mob of other people. The best bite over the last three years has been between 8 and 11 a.m. for shore guys, and the troll bite lasts all day long. Colleagues covering all the other spots have also indicated that this is the case in their area of coverage. If anything, stay out later. Most people call it a day in the very early afternoon, so you have a lot of room to operate if you fish until dark. Go a day or two early: While the general trout season opens on the last Saturday in April, trout lakes and streams between Bishop and Lone Pine have been open for a while already, and they are largely untouched as well. Starting from the bottom up, the way we do it on Thursday and Friday before the opener is we simply head west into the mountains wherever we see those “fishing that way” road signs and check it out. The creeks west of Lone Pine, Big Pine and Independence are all stocked, and the campgrounds – the areas that typically have the best fish-holding holes – are barely occupied, if not vacant. Heading east from those same towns will put you on the Lower Owens River, where you can catch anything from stocked trout and big browns to panfish and bass. Slow it down: Unfortunately, moving around throwing and grinding metal isn’t going to work in the chilly April water like it does in the summer. Bait guys really do the best, as
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far as numbers, and trolling almost always sticks the biggest fish caught that weekend. If you have sworn off bait, reach for plastics like trout worms, minijigs, grubs or even little trout swimbaits. Fish them slowly on a leadhead; drop-shotting them is also deadly. Jigs 5 feet under a bobber when there is some chop on the water are also money. Fishing a fly-andbubble is also a great way to get after it, and a streamer like Woolly Buggers or Matukas on a slow retrieve is the best technique this time of year. I am assuming that that wide-open bite on Buoyants at Mamie was the exception, not the rule. But clearly it happens, so if you can’t help but chuck some metal just to see, keep them as slow as you can stand. For the love of God, mix it up, people!: A few things that I have discovered while covering the Eastern Sierra trout opener will never cease boggling the mind: There are families who have been fishing the opener for decades, and sometimes I will run into families with three or more generations represented right there on the bank. That is quite cool, and I think it’s funny that I see the same families in the same spots every year. This plays out at Crowley, Convict, throughout the June Lake Loop and beyond. I mean, I dig the whole tradition aspect of it, but if it’s not happening at your family’s signature lake, load up the wagons and try somewhere else this opening day. Lakes still here in May, June ...: The last thing is, most people I talk to come for the opener, and that’s it – see you next year! They come when the weather is the most unpredictable, the crowds are as heavy as they get, the entire backcountry is frozen, Tioga Pass is closed, trout are sluggish and even some drive-up lakes are inaccessible – and that’s just dumb. I find myself begging them to come up in a month or three, and I sell it hard But at least they are getting up there. The one thing that opening weekend is every year, and you can count on it, is that it’s always a spectacle. CS
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FISHING
BIG BASS ARE LURKING WITH WATER TEMPS ON THE RISE, SOCAL LAKES ARE PRODUCING MASSIVE FISH
By Bill Schaefer
A
s spring approaches, it increases the chances of a trophy bass for your wall, with the males running the banks looking for a place to nest and the big females just waiting to move into the shallows. Southern California is already putting out some giant bass, and lots of big largemouth seekers are already catching them, some on the record and some not. While most anglers tend to just post for a few friends on Facebook, they’re not officially recording the catch with the local lake’s staff. But the regular weekend warriors are scoring at some lakes as well and coming in with some massive specimens. Water temps are up at most lakes, which is starting to create the magic. At the time of this writing, the largest bass on record is a 14.30-pound largemouth from Lake Otay in San Diego County. I talked with angler Ashley Hayden and she was thrilled with the catch. “My dreams came true. I got to catch a 14-pound bass on a crawdad. The fight was fun and everything felt perfect,” she says. “I couldn’t ask for a better day!” While crawdads are a staple of the bass and are great old-school bait, most trophy seekers are throwing swimbaits right now as we come out of winter into warmer weather. A lot of lakes plant trout during the winter or there are holdover fish from previous years that the giants eat up for a fast meal. Remember, the big mama bass need nourishment to lay their eggs and make it through the spawn during those times when they rarely eat. Heading into spring there will be giants on beds and the baits that get them to bite will vary, but a lot of larger fish spawn out a little deeper and you cannot see them, especially once the wind comes up. This is where having an assortment of swimbaits helps you out. Once on a bed, the bass will protect it at all costs. Predators include other bass, bluegill and many other species that swim in the lake; all are trying to eat those nutrient-rich eggs. Swimbaits come in all species now, so make sure you have a diverse assortment. Sometimes swimming a bluegill by a bed won’t work, but the first pass with a baby bass will trigger a reaction strike. For tackle, a strong trigger stick and reel are key com-
Ashley Hayden used a crawdad to land a giant 14.30-pound largemouth at Lake Otay, one of the largest fish around San Diego’s bass fisheries caught this year as of press time in mid-February. (ASHLEY HAYDEN)
ponents. Most of all, make sure your drag is set correctly. I like to use the Daiwa Lexa 300 with Maxima braid in the 50- to 60-pound range. A short fluorocarbon leader of 20 to 30 pounds will help. Tackle is as important as the baits, and just like your swimbait options, you should also have an assortment of actions and line size. You want that trophy in the boat, and as Hayden and others have discovered, the waters are teeming with giant bass. CS calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2016 California Sportsman
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FISHING
BAY AREA IS SHARK TERRITORY PLENTY OF PLACES INSIDE THE GOLDEN GATE TO CATCH LEOPARDS, SOUPFINS AND SEVENGILLS
With sharks not terribly hard to find in various parts of San Francisco, San Pablo and Richardson Bays, a spread of baits is sure to get bit before long. The leopard (below) is the most popular shark inside the Golden Gate, but smoothhounds, soupfins, dogfish and six- and sevengills swim these waters too. (BILL ADELMAN; WIKIMEDIA)
By Bill Adelman
B
obby Darin sang, “When that shark bites, with his teeth babe, scarlet billows start to spread.” That might be the case when swimming in the deep blue, but when standing in a boat or on a pier, the degree of danger is greatly diminished. The point is, even though the bane of disaster doesn’t hold a limb to those Northern California anglers who prefer to chase striped bass, the waters of the Bay Area offer some outstanding shark fishing to a smaller, but equally dedicated group of fishing fanatics. The leopard shark is the most sought after, probably because it’s the easiest to catch and is available in far more calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2016 California Sportsman
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FISHING where inside the bays. areas. San Francisco Bay – one of the West Coast’s largest estuaries – and San Pablo Bay are the primary shark targets. Along with the polka-dotted leopard live the smoothhound, soupfin, spiny dogfish and six- and sevengill sharks. Worldwide, there are about 350 species of shark, and a few of them patrol outside the Golden Gate, not the least of which is the iconic great white. You can bet the farm I’m not swimming out there, but I’ll drop my line any-
HOW TO FIND SHARKS The gill sharks are found mostly in deep-water trenches and shipping channels within the bay, as well as in some “holes” throughout the system that house some biggies. Tidal movement is a plus. Most often, sharks should be fished with wire line from 30- to 40-pound test, up to 1 pound of weight, minimum 11/0 circle hooks and huge baits. The fish just seem to show up anywhere that you
The waters south of the Bay Bridge, which connects San Francisco and Oakland, are prime territory to cast for sharks, and in some spots they can be caught in as shallow as 15 feet. (BILL ADELMAN) While the soupfin shark is the most coveted shark for its tasty texture, anglers can also catch some large sevengills like this monster. (FISHHOOKERS SPORTFISHING)
happen to be anchored. The rarest shark – besides being the best table fare among the area sharks – is the one-fish-limit soupfin. Their teeth will cut through a leader like a hot knife through chocolate ice cream, so steel leaders are a necessity. The six- and sevengill also have a one-fish limit. But it’s the leopard shark that gets the most attention around here.
GEAR BASICS The rod needs to be at least 25-pound test that’s married to a high-quality levelwind reel, loaded with at least 60-pound braid. The 3-foot leader is plastic-coated wire, and the circle hook rates from 11/0 to 14/0. You’ll need sinkers in sizes ranging from 8 to 16 ounces. When the herring spawn is on – usually occurring in 30 to 40 feet of water – target these areas whenever possible, being aware of certain waters that have been posted as “off limits” since the 9/11 attacks. Leopards are most aggressive at each turn of as well as the slack tide, again congregating in water up to 50 feet deep. When the bite kicks in, hang on, as multiple hook86 California Sportsman MARCH 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
CROSSROADS MINI MART AT LAKE ISABELLA
Excitement is running high at Lake Isabella as the rains refill the lake! After nearly four years of low water, levels are up over 75 percent since they hit bottom. Reports from local fishermen are that baitfish – minnows and shad – are in such abundance they show up as dark clouds on fishfinder screens. Everything points to a terrific fishing season for species from bass, crappie and bluegill to trout and catfish. Not only that, but rafting outfitters are filling half-, fulland the everpopular two-day Kern River whitewater trips. Of course, there’s so much more to do in the Kern River Valley – wind surfing, jet skiing and fly fishing are the icing on the cake! Contact the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce for more details and contact information. www.kernrivervalley.com • 1-866-KRV-4FUN • 1-760-379-5236
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FISHING ups are extremely common. Cast your baits different distances from the boat, as the other species can be caught at the same time. This fishery seems to be a bit more productive during the winter; however, leopards can be caught year-round. Baits of choice are squid, salmon roe, salmon bellies, storebought trout, mackerel, herring and midshipmen. When using squid, doctor it up with a bloody tuna scent. The drawback is that bat and stingrays love it and will keep you busy if you’re invading their areas. A move might be in order, or you might want to switch baits. The top bait most of the time is the super-slimy midshipman, fished whole. These 10- to 15-inch bottom-feeding fish migrate into the bay to spawn, and the leopards love them. If you plan on keeping up to the legal limit of three
leopards, which need to be over 36 inches, clean and bleed your catch immediately. Otherwise, the flavor will be adversely affected. Should you find an eaten midshipman in its belly, immediately use it as bait.
WHERE TO FISH Good spots historically are the Alameda Rockwall, and in San Francisco try Hunters Point and water adjacent to the Giants’ AT&T Park. Further inland, fish Richardson Bay, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, California City, south of the Bay Bridge in the channels, and all the way to the Dumbarton Bridge. Again, fish the 30- to 40-foot channels, as well as the edges. Sometimes at the rockwall, Oakland International Airport and Richardson Bay, sharks will be as shallow as 15 feet. During the slack tides, free-line your bait, even as deep
SHARK FISHING CHARTER OPTIONS
As with almost all of my fishing in these areas, my guy is Delta veteran Barry Canevaro of Isleton-based Fishhookers Sportfishing (916-7776498; fishhookers.com). He’s a top-notch experienced captain at the helm who also assisted with info for this article. Also check out Flash Sportfishing (501-851-2500; flashfishing.net) in San Francisco, which offers shark fishing, among many other species options for six-pack trips. One of the Bay Area’s most passionate shark captains is Don Franklin of Sole-man Sportfishing (California Sportsman, February 2014), who specializes in chartering trips for leopard, soupfin and sevengills from his San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf location. Contact him at (510) 703-4148 or go to solemanfishing.com. –BA
88 California Sportsman MARCH 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
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FISHING as 50 feet. Remove all weight and just manually strip line until you’re positive it has reached bottom. Grabs sometime occur during the sink. This bite, when it kicks in, is off the hook. We fish this pattern on balance beams with the clicker on and the reel in free spool. Don’t be surprised when fishing the wall if you catch small sevengills in 20 to 25 feet of water. The area near the Alameda Naval Station is a solid choice. There used to be a buoy nicknamed the yellow can around there, but it disappeared and never returned. It’s still listed, though, on many maps and GPS units, and it’s a good spot. San Francisco and San Pablo Bays cannot be fished at night from a boat, though shore and pier opportunities are available. Below the Dumbarton Bridge is OK at night, as is upstream from the Carquinez Bridge. A popular night fishing spot is the Oyster Point pier in South San Francisco, although most of the fish will be undersized. Eons ago we used a round net to retrieve fish on a pier. Just lower it into the water, slide the fish in and haul it up. Consider releasing shakers with the net rather than dropping them 30 or so feet into the deep. Take advantage of the many sharks that swim inside the Golden Gate. You’re likely to stay busy – just watch your fingers. CS
90 California Sportsman MARCH 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
Leopard sharks are most aggressive at each turn of as well as the slack tide; they are also the easiest of San Francisco Bay’s resident sharks to catch. (FISHHOOKERS SPORTFISHING)
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PIRANHA OF THE SURF
SMALL BUT FEISTY, BARRED SURF PERCH PROVIDE GREAT FISHING ACTION ON THE CALIFORNIA COAST
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FISHING By Tim E. Hovey
T
he end of February is transition time around the Hovey home. Hunting season is winding down, school breaks are over and a seasonal change is in the air. As the days get longer, I start dusting off the fishing rods and think about walking the beach and casting the shore. My grandfather taught me to fish when I was about 5, and from then on, whenever my family was around water, I wanted to know what was swimming below the surface. I gradually accumulated better gear and more experience and started fishing every chance I got. As a boy, I’d spend summers down at the beach, fishing from the pier and the shore. When eating fish were caught, I’d string them up, load them up in my backpack
While spinning gear works fine for casting for perch, Tim Hovey prefers a baitcasting setup. The way the line comes out of the reel and over his fingers provides a good feel for what’s going on with his bait. (TIM E. HOVEY)
While the largest ones can reach 2 pounds, the average barred surf perch weighs about a pound and can be a challenge on light tackle. (TIM E. HOVEY)
and ride my bike home. With some help from my mom, we’d fillet up the catch and she’d cook them for dinner. I can still remember feeling an immense amount of pride at being able to bring home food for my family with little more than a cheap rod and fresh bait I’d peel from the rocks down at the surf. When I had kids of my own, I made sure I exposed them to the thrills and the bounty available to anyone willing to catch some bait and toss a line down at the beach. Probably one of my biggest thrills was watching calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2016 California Sportsman
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FISHING
The key to catching surf perch is working areas of rough bottom during tidal movements. Waves and current push fish forage out of the rocks and sand. (TIM E. HOVEY)
my daughters’ faces as they caught their first fish in the surf and learned how to fish down by the shore. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of fishing in some amazing places. I’ve chased dorado in Baja, big game fish in the open ocean, monster kelp bass in the nearshore kelp beds and freshwater species from trout to catfish. If it swims and can be caught, I’ve tried to catch it. Of all the different types of fishing available to a Western angler, one of my favorite things to do is to walk the shores and cast into the waves for barred surf perch. I have been walking the Southern California beaches for over 40 years, and to me, nothing is more relaxing.
HIT THE SAND The beaches I fish are a few steps from where you can park and, except for the drive, a quick perch session is only a cast away. As long as the tide is moving, I’ll walk the beach and try my luck. During this time of year, fishing gear and a rod are always in the back of my truck. Using a simple Carolina rig applied with sand crabs, plastic 94 California Sportsman MARCH 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
grubs or a Berkley bait, I’ll search the shore for what I call watery chaos. I like to fish in areas where the waves are disruptive and not uniform, places where the structure of the beach or submerged rocks agitate the water, churning up the sand. In these disturbed spots, the surf will kick up all sorts of food items, which attracts fish. When I find these target areas, I’ll figure out what the surf is doing and cast into the moving water, so that the wave action washes my bait into the agitation zone. Bites can be quick and aggressive, so maintaining a tight line is important. While this type of fishing lends itself to spinning gear, I love my baitcasters. Understanding what’s happening at the end of your line is the key to catching any fish, and I find I can do this more successfully with my baitcast reel using a technique I learned long ago. Holding the rod just above the reel with my left hand, I run the line under my thumb and over my index finger. This gives me a direct connection with anything occurring at the end of the line. Some species of fish will inhale a lure or bait, and then quickly spit it out before the hook is set. Using this methGrab your gear and find a quiet spot along the beach; there’s a good chance surf perch will be a short cast from your spot. (TIM E. HOVEY)
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FISHING Jessica Hovey holds a nice surf perch. Catchand-release anglers can have a blast when these fish are in the mood to bite. (TIM E. HOVEY)
PRACTICE CATCH AND RELEASE A few summers back, on a whim I decided to see how many surf perch I could catch in one long fishing session. Arriving at the beach at about 8:30 a.m., I fished with artificial baits until almost 5 p.m. With the exception of a predicted lull during slack tide, I caught 112 barred surf perch in almost nine hours of fishing. I have seen a tremendous change the last 30 years in how fishermen deal with their catch. Gone are the days when everything caught was put on the stringer, and catch and release is now the norm. Sportsmen understand that the resource is not infinite and releasing what they’re not going to consume is the best way to ensure that the resource will be here and healthy for future generations to enjoy. –TH od, I’m actually able to feel subtle changes in the bait action, in my opinion, allowing me to catch more fish.
FROM SURF TO SKILLET Barred surf perch are feisty fish, and large ones can weigh a couple of pounds. During a peak bite, the average fish are about a pound and can be a challenge on light tack-
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FISHING le. They are abundant, and if you can find where they’re gathered, the action can be consistent. Surf perch are members of the Embioticidae family, which means they give birth to live young. During the spring and summer, it isn’t unusual to catch a very pregnant female – its swollen belly may hold as many as 20 little fish. While I really enjoy catching my family’s dinner at the shore, I have a couple of self-imposed rules about what I bring home when targeting barred surf perch. A majority of the time I release everything I catch when I fish down at the shore. However, I still love eating fish, and on occasion, I’ll save a few larger perch for the frying pan. These fish have a white, tender flesh that is perfect for frying or baking. When I’m catching perch for dinner, I only take the males or larger females that have already birthed their young. If there’s any question about whether the fish is pregnant or not, it gets released. I also take only what my family and I will eat that day (six will provide a meal for a family of four). I never freeze fillets or bring home more than I need. My favorite way to cook them is to dip the fillets in egg and then lightly roll them in flour. After a quick deep fry on both sides I serve them with fresh lemon slices and tarter sauce.
This is the reward after a day of catching barred surf perch along the coast. They may be rather small but they are delicious to eat. (TIM E. HOVEY)
As I get older, I find that I fish for far different reasons now than when I was younger. For the first half of my life, fishing of any sort was my passion, bordering on an obsession. I’d plan trips all over and pursue any species that was worth catching. Now, I fish for peace and quiet. When I sort through the tackle and grab a rod, I begin to relax. At the beach, any stress melts away in the pursuit of the feisty surf perch. When the season shifts to fishing, there’s no place I’d rather be than down at the shore, catching the piranha of the surf. CS
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FISHING
THE BARRACUDA QUESTION WHILE CATCHES OF EXOTICS ARE ON THE RISE, THESE TOOTHY FISH HAVE BEEN MYSTERIOUSLY ABSENT. COULD THEY RETURN?
By Steve Carson
T
he last couple of years have seen unprecedented action for California saltwater anglers due to a strong El Niño. Highly desirable pelagics like yellowtail and tuna, along with true exotics like wahoo and blue marlin, have been dominating the headlines and anglers’ attention. Over the past 50 years, barracuda catches have fluctuated up and down considerably, as has the species’ popularity. In the late 1960s, Southern California party boat operators ranked barracuda as the No. 1 species that drew anglers to their ticket offices. The last few years have seen a combination of fewer barracuda and
diminished effort as anglers chased after abundant yellowtail and tuna. As the population of anchovies in California waters increases, it’s hoped that the substantial barracuda population in northern Baja will come back up within range of local anglers.
would score full 10-fish limits, totaling 500 or more barracuda. By midsummer the fish would disperse, but catchable numbers were still around. Exactly how 2016 will play out remains to be seen.
TACKLE SEASONALITY In non-El Niño years, the barracuda would start to show up in San Diego waters in early April. They continued to move northward along the coast and then spread to the offshore islands. May and June would often see huge areas of barracuda, from the Huntington Flats to Santa Monica Bay, and even to the Channel Islands. Local party boats would check in with hundreds of barracuda, and occasional heavy weekend crowds
California barracuda do not get especially large. The state record is just over 15 pounds, although there are moderately credible reports of fish in the 17-pound range being caught in the late 1940s. These days, anything over 10 pounds is a whopper, and typical legal school-size fish range about 4 to 6 pounds, with 8-pounders often taking the jackpot. As such, the main line can be only 15- to 20-pound monofilament, and private-boat anglers can easily get by
Barracuda sightings have been diminishing in recent years, but it’s hoped that even in an El Niño year that the fish will return in 2016. (STEVE CARSON) calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2016 California Sportsman
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FISHING with 10- to 12-pound mono. Spinning, baitcasting and conventional gear is all suitable for barracuda, although the presence of larger species mixed in with the school may dictate selecting heavier tackle. Some lures such as “surface irons” will also require specialized tackle for proper casting.
CASTING LURES Most serious barracuda chasers tie on an iron jig like a Tady 45 or Tady C. Blue/white or chrome combinations are the most popular, but as always with surface iron, action is more important than color. Sometimes, deep-swimming schools simply won’t come up any higher than 75 to 100 feet, and yo-yo jigs like a Tady 4/0 or Sumo C2 can be sent down deep. A not-too-well-kept “secret” lure to pull out when the fish have seen everything is a chrome or blue mackerel-color 2¼-inch Krocodile. The Kroc’s exaggerated action and bright
flash definitely trigger lethargic barracuda into biting. Cagey old-school anglers often tie on a feather jig with a hexagonal chrome head. Rigged on singlestrand wire and with a chrome torpedo sinker about 3 feet in front of it, this setup is deadly in the right hands. Barracuda will also readily go after soft plastic swimbaits of various styles and colors, and it goes without saying that their teeth are pretty destructive. A large percentage of barracuda will be under the 28-inch size limit in some areas. If possible, relocate when this happens, or at the very least minimize the damage done to short fish. Convert lures with treble hooks to single hooks, never grab the fish with a towel, and don’t let the fish hit the deck.
LIVE BAIT Barracuda will go after a variety of live baitfish species, but for the most part prefer either anchovies or sardines best. As with most open-water
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species, the livelier the bait the better. Way back in the day, many anglers used “shorty” wire leaders for barracuda, and some tackle stores still sell them. However, wire leaders will often spook wary barracuda. Much more productive is a live bait-rigging trick made popular by the late Capt. Russ Izor. Using a basic three- or four-turn surgeon’s knot, attach a 4-foot piece of 30- or 40-pound fluorocarbon to your main line, then tie on your hook. Some fish will still manage to bite through the fluorocarbon, but for the most part, it will hold until the fish is landed. You will then need 4 to 6 inches of frayed line cut off and retied. Gradually the leader will grow shorter with each retie, and when it gets down to less than 12 inches, start over with a new piece of fluorocarbon. Hook choices should match the bait, but heavyweight hooks are not needed. Some anglers claim to be able to use long-shank or circle hooks
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FISHING to just get the barracuda in the lip, but in practice this is inconsistent at best. A light-wire hook like the Owner Gorilla Light is perfect. Go with size 1 to 4 for anchovies, and size 1/0 to 4/0 for sardines.
California barracuda don’t grow particularly big, but they are fun to catch and can make for a delicious meal compared to their East Coast cousins. (STEVE CARSON)
TROLLING LURES Specific trolling effort is not usually directed at barracuda, but they are often caught incidentally, primarily by anglers trolling for yellowtail. Almost anything with flash will draw a barracuda’s attention, but it would be hard to beat a silver/black Rapala in the XR15MAG or XR20MAG sizes for trolling, and those choices would also appeal to yellowtail
CARE OF THE CATCH Of course, we are talking specifically about “California barracuda,” which is a highly edible species. The tropical species found in Florida and Hawaii known as “great barracuda” are gener-
ally not considered edible. After gently determining if the catch meets the 28inch minimum-size requirements, private boat anglers should immediately bleed the catch by cutting a gill raker. Lay the fish out completely flat in an ice chest as quickly as possible; cover with crushed ice if you have it. Party boat anglers should take extra care their fish do not go awkwardly into the gunny sack, and end up in a stiff curved shape. An easy trick is to make a 6-inch loop of monofilament line after cutting a gill raker, attach it to the barracuda’s tail, then hang
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that from the same hook the gunny sacks hang from, letting the fish hang straight down. Barracuda can be steaked out, but are more often filleted. The flaky white meat can be baked, broiled, fried or barbecued. The legal bag limit is 10 fish, with a minimum length of 28 inches. Barracuda do not freeze especially well, so take home only what you can consume while fresh, and then go out and catch more. CS Editor’s note: Email the author at scarson@sunset.net.
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FISHING
A STRUCTURED PATTERN SPAWNING SAND BASS CAN BE FOUND IN SHALLOW WATERS ALONG MANMADE COVER
By Capt. Bill Schaefer
S
outhern California saltwater fishermen will most likely have a smorgasbord of fish to choose from real soon. But right now, inshore fishermen who love to chase the various bass species can find a lot of real nice fish hanging out on the various structures of local shallow waters. Sand bass are stacked up on both natural and manmade features, from about 100 feet of water into as little
as 15 feet. Chances are there are calico in the mix, as well, as they head for the shallow kelp and rocks they spawn in. The sand bass are moving to the structure located close to where they spawn as well and you can find them on any structure close to where the spawn in your area goes off. Find any hard bottom, underwater cliff and drop-off or manmade structures – they’re all over Southland waters – and don’t forget the rocks at the base Eric Sorenson shows off a nice sand bass taken on a swimbait off The Pipe, a manmade reef off San Diego. Fish are congregating in similar underwater structures. (BILL SCHAEFER)
of the kelp line. These areas hold the food the fish crave, and lately, that’s been red crab. All the trips I have made recently saw bass spitting up red crabs all over my deck. The crabs are still here and the bass love them! Remember that a good fish finder will make the difference at times. From close to shore to about 100 feet deep, you can use the same tackle for all. With a strong trigger stick and a reel that will hold a decent amount of line, you can easily reach the bottom in the deeper water. You don’t want to hook a big one with only a few wraps of line left on your reel. I use a Daiwa Lexa 300 loaded with 12- to 15-pound test Maxima Ultragreen. You can also go straight braid up to 30-pound test for extra sensitivity. Don’t worry – strong spinning gear will work as well. For lures, swimbaits are the way to go. There are so many colors and makes out there, so make sure you have a good selection. When your partner is catching fish and you are not, it may be the tail’s action and vibration making all the difference. Color matters as well, and some variations of red are working now with all the red crab in the water. Whether you are long-lining or casting, the retrieve can matter just as much. Make sure to mix it up. A steady retrieve, slow or fast, should be broken up with an occasional stop or free spool. This sudden change in direction will get you a bite. Set the hook and enjoy the fight with sand bass. CS
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FISHING
CABO CHARTER GOES DEEP
W
hen you think Cabo San Lucas, visions of the Love Boat (at least for the old-school TV viewers), fish tacos and rocker Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo cantina that has become a touristy must-see come to mind. But with its location at the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, charter fishing is understandably another of Cabo’s big draws. One such option for anglers who want to mix sun and fun with their fishing fix is Go Deep Sportfishing Adventures (402-429-9687; godeepgocabo.com), which has burst onto the local charter scene.
California Sportsman Tell us the background of Go Deep charters – how did you get started? Samantha Vincent Go Deep Sportfishing started back in 2010 after the owner, Chris Vincent, had been on a couple of fishing charters in Cabo San Lucas. Every time he went on a charter he didn’t have much luck. He thought to himself, “I’ve fished all over North America and have caught many fish; this can’t be that hard.” He then decided to purchase his first boat, Go Deep, a 31-foot Black Fin. He put a crew together and began to fish hard, catching multiple striped marlin daily with his captain, Franky Abaroa. Things started to go well and he purchased his second boat, Go Deeper, a 37foot Bertram. He moved Franky to captain Go Deeper and hired Luis Abaroa, Franky’s older brother, to captain Go Deep. The business has progressed over the years and we have made a steady client base. We now have a 60-foot Hatteras, Go Deeper, that is our personal boat for fishing while we are in Cabo San Lucas, as well as our tournament boat. We decided to have our family’s personal boat for whenever we are in Cabo San Lucas; we can still give the fishing experience to our clients on Go Deep and Go Deeper. It also gives an opportunity for clients and anglers to rent the other boats for tournaments.
COMPANY
PROFILE
CS Tell us about your boats. SV There’s the 31-foot Black Fin, powered by twin Cummings turbo-charged diesels. Very agile and quick in the water backing down. Go Deep fits three to five people comfortably, whether they are fishing or along for the ride. Go Deep does have a head. The Bertram is powered by twin Cat diesels. This baby will move out and handle heavy seas well. It’s great for fishing, has a full salon with air conditioning, a couch and chairs, a head and room for six to sleep. It has a great bridge area with seating directly in front of the captain, so you can see what he sees. This boat does fit six to eight people comfortably, whether fishing or along for the ride. We only use first-class tackle, along with Shimano reels, Melton rods and a fighting chair to help you land the big one. They won’t get away when you are with Go Deep Sportfishing Adventures.
CS What is the biggest fish ever caught on your charter and how long did it take to reel in? SV The biggest fish ever caught on one of our charters was a 1,213-pound blue marlin. This fish was caught with Capt. Luis on the Go Deep in October 2011. It took a lineup of anglers 28 hours to land the monster. When we caught this fish it created massive amounts of great publicity for our business. To this day that is the largest billfish landed in the seas around the Baja.
CS Where do you fish and what do you fish for mostly? SV We consider ourselves to be billfishermen and we love to fish marlin. We give our captains the OK to go wherever the fish are. If that means 30 to 45 miles offshore, then hang on for a nice joy ride because we are going to where the fish are. Chris and son Ben once caught and released 74 striped marlin in four days of fishing. That was a riot. CS calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2016 California Sportsman
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FISHING COMPA NY
PROFIL E
WRAPPING UP SALTWATER CATCHES S
outhern California has become a hotbed for saltwater anglers cashing in on the El Niño-affected Pacific Ocean that has spit out a lot of yellowtail, yellowfin, wahoo and other exotic species. Orange County-based Bait Wraps (714-396-1278; facebook. com/Bait-Wraps-119909741506208) provides SoCal fishermen with an enticing selection of wraps for jigs. The results have been showing up on Bait Wraps’ Facebook page. “This was the first trip that I focused on yo-yoing and I went 2 for 3 (on) yellowtail using your 6x Jr. white and red squid,” one user wrote. “The bite was not wide open, but I noticed that other people who used your jigs were catching more than one versus the other jigs.” Added another poster: “Those grumpy yellows loved the heavy bait wraps. Any color, (it) doesn’t matter; they all kill.” The company’s founder and owner Rich Whitaker offered a little more information on his company and lures.
California Sportsman How did Bait Wraps get started? Rich Whitaker I have been fishing jigs for more then 50 years and always loved it. I was in and out of the fishing
business scents since I was 13, and four years ago I had open-heart surgery. While I was in the hospital, I came up with this idea for wrapping jigs after a friend showed me what he was doing on freshwater swimbaits.
CS What kind of feedback are you getting? RW It’s been 100 percent positive. Some of the stories about my jigs catching fish of all kinds on fishing trips around the world are way beyond what I could have ever dreamed of.
CS How do the wraps hold up? RW I had one commercial barracuda fisherman catch over 100 fish on one jig until he lost it and all it had were scratches on it.
CS Do you have a pro staffer? RW My first pro staffer was Brad Titus and we are working on adding some of the best jig fishermen in Southern California to add to the mix. CS Editor’s note: You can contact Bait Wraps via email at baitwraps@ gmail.com. calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2016 California Sportsman
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114 California Sportsman MARCH 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
A RIDE ON THE
‘ELK HIGHWAY’ THE URBAN HUNTRESS SEEKS A BULL IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO
By Brittany Boddington
Brittany’s travels took her to the rugged backcountry of northern New Mexico and the Quinlan Ranch, where she joined fellow huntress, TV show host and friend Larysa Switlyk (middle) on a guided bull elk hunt. (AUGUST PETERS) calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2016 California Sportsman
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I
met Larysa Switlyk four years ago at the SHOT Show convention in Las Vegas. Since the day we met she has told me about her epic adventures hunting elk on a ranch in New Mexico. Switlyk hosts a hunting show just like mine and we became close friends almost immediately. We always talked about going on hunts together, but nothing ever came of it until this past season. We finally got together at the Quinlan Ranch (575-209-1618; quinlanranch.com) to hunt my first elk ever. It might sound strange that I had never shot an elk, but for some reason it just never came together for me. I tried in Montana (California Sportsman, January 2015), but the weather just wouldn’t cooperate. This time was different.
Though she’s hunted literally around the world and taken many different species of game, elk had eluded Brittany so far, giving her all the more motivation to chase wapiti in the Land of Enchantment. (AUGUST PETERS)
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With Larysa Switlyk spotting for her, Brittany sights in her Legendary Arms Works .300 Win Mag, more than enough firepower to put down a bull elk. (AUGUST PETERS)
The hunt was booked at the perfect time, as there were elk everywhere. The 17,000-acre ranch is in northern New Mexico, about two hours north of Santa Fe and right in the middle of what they call the “elk highway.” There are also a ton of
mule deer moving through this area. I brought my Legendary Arms Works .300 Win Mag with me and had it set to zero at 200 yards. We hit the range first thing in the morning and checked the guns. Larysa was after a mule deer and was borrowing a
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gun from the ranch. When both guns were dead-on we went back to the lodge for breakfast. The hunt would begin that afternoon. The chef at the Quinlan Ranch is our good friend, Austin. He is an unbelievable cook and kept
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Brittany admires the whale tail, the back two points, on her first bull elk, this northern New Mexico whopper. (AUGUST PETERS)
us fed and happy the entire hunt.
WE SET OUT that afternoon in the truck. The plan was to drive around and get the lay of the land while looking for any obvious signs of elk. It was clear that there were plenty of animals around but no perfect situations presented themselves. We cruised around and got out to walk here and there, but eventually we headed back to camp empty-handed. We had plenty of time and no one was stressed; the situation looked very promising from the little drive we had done. The next day we planned to hunt hard. We headed out early and parked on top of a hill and set out on foot. We made a giant loop and saw a bachelor herd of elk, but all of them were too young to shoot. After that, we took the truck to a high lookout
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It took some reinforcements to help field dress and pack out the Urban Huntress’s New Mexico bull, but it was well worth the effort that also brought some tasty venison from field to table. (AUGUST PETERS)
point and decided to glass for a while. There were a few cow elk milling around in the bushes way below us. We spotted one decent bull, but he was about 1,000 yards away and
next to impossible to get to. It was nearing lunchtime and getting warm out, so we decided to head back down and hunt our way back to the lodge for a meal. We
bumped another group of young bulls on our way, but that was all. Still, having only hunted for elk on public land in Montana, I was thrilled just seeing elk throughout
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the day! We had a feast for lunch and then headed straight back out. We worked our way along the base of a ridge, carefully checking the thick timber above for movement. At last a big bull was standing just above us at around 200 yards. I thought, “This is my moment!” I set up on shooting sticks, and just as my face touched the stock, the elk was gone. Only dust was visible in the scope. The timber was so thick that the animal disappeared in a millisecond.
GETTING THAT CLOSE and then not pulling the trigger was a major letdown. I kept thinking that if I had moved just a little quicker or taken two fewer steps, perhaps the bull would’ve been mine. We continued walking while I beat myself up over the elk that got away, and to my surprise another bull was
standing dead-still on the ridge. It had obviously spotted us and was hoping we would not spy it. This time I was just a tad quicker setting up and I had the shoulder in my crosshairs before the animal could move. I took my shot, heard the bullet hit and watched the elk turn downhill and take off into the timber. We stood silent, then heard crashing as the elk rolled down the hill. It took a while to hike to the elk, and when we got to it, we found that a tree had stopped the momentum of its fall. It was a magnificent bull. It had beautiful whale tails and some interesting curvy tines. But it was also in a very steep spot, and it was going to be difficult to get it out. We decided to do our field-dressing
there and call for backup. It was getting dark by this point, but fortunately we got a few good pictures before the light disappeared. Help arrived and we got the elk out. I am so thrilled and fortunate to have harvested this magnificent animal and am absolutely going back to New Mexico for another! CS Editor’s note: Brittany Boddington is a Los Angeles-based hunter, journalist and adventure. For more, go to brittanyboddington.com or facebook.com/ brittany boddington. Like Quinlan Ranch at facebook.com/The-QuinlanRanch-1474478329486894.
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126 California Sportsman MARCH 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
HUNTING
DON’T SETTLE By Jeremiah Doughty
FOR DRAB CAMPFIRE FARE
A
s hunters, many of us strive to get off the beaten path. We long to beat bush and hike deeper and farther away from the outside world in hopes of finding nature at her purest. This longing for adventure comes at a cost – mainly good food. We want to pack as light as possible, so we tend to bring in dehydrated meals, beans and rice, as well as jerky strips from last year’s harvest. If we’re blessed while afield with wild game, we tend to throw it on the fire without seasoning. Don’t get me wrong, this is one of the simplest ways to refuel our bodies after a long day of hiking, skinning, packing out and burning calories. But let’s talk about creating a celebratory dinner after a successful hunt and harvest. By packing in a few simple ingredients, you’ll be able to craft an easy, filling, protein-packed and delicious meal. Using fresh meat from your harvest allows you to build a hearty flavorful meal without much effort or culinary skill.
Elk Campfire Stew 1 pound elk (cubed) 2 potatoes (cubed) 3 carrots (sliced) 1 small onion (sliced) 1 tin of special seasoning (Take a small Ziploc bag and fill with 1 tablespoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon dried rosemary, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon dried basil,
When Jeremiah Doughty hunts the backcountry and harvests big game like elk, he prefers to prepare a hearty and fresh meal right on the spot. (JEREMIAH DOUGHTY)
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes and 2 tablespoons flour, and then place in small mint tin.) 1 straw olive oil (I take a plastic straw and melt one end, fill with olive oil and melt other end. You now have a water- and leakproof way to carry your oil.) Enough water to fill a stewpot Directions Get campfire nice and hot and move coals to one side to create a cooking area near – but not on – the fire. Place pan on coals. Next, add olive oil and cubed game meat and brown meat, turning often (about five minutes). Once meat is browned, add onions and carrots and cook until onions become translucent. Add special seasoning and stir to coat. Add potatoes, water and stir. Put lid on and surround sides of pan and top with fresh coals. Cook 40 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from fire. Remember that your harvested game was put on earth for this very moment. Its life was given so you can live. Pay respect and enjoy your meal! Editor’s note: For more on the Wild Chef, Jeremiah Doughty, check out his website (fromfieldtoplate.com), like him on Facebook (facebook.com/Fromfieldtoplate) and follow on Instagram (fromfieldtoplate) and Twitter (fromfield2plate). calsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2016 California Sportsman
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128 California Sportsman MARCH 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com
HUNTING
FROM FIELD ...
IN SEARCH OF SHEDS LOOKING FOR A NEW ACTIVITY FOR YOUR HUNTING DOG? SNIFF OUT FRESHLY DROPPED DEER ANTLERS IN SPRING
Hunting for shed antlers is a popular late winter and early spring activity – here, Lon the pudelpointer brings in an elk antler – but searchers must weigh their impact on winter-weakened animals. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
By Scott Haugen
H
unting for deer and elk antler sheds has skyrocketed in popularity over the past decade. Not only do hunters learn what bucks and bulls are in their hunting areas by finding sheds, but nonhunters, artists and collectors are getting bit by the craze too. Shed hunting is like an Easter egg hunt, as you know the antlers are out there; it’s just a matter of finding them. From Rocky Mountain elk to mule deer, brush-country Roosevelt elk to blacktails, using a dog can greatly increase the odds of locating antler sheds. However, just because you have a dog, don’t head into the woods under the misconception that simply turning Rover loose will result in a pack full of sheds. Think of where bucks and bulls are this time of year and over the next couple months, and start there.
GO IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION South-facing slopes are where many of these animals live this time of year. Here they can soak up the sun and feast on the first of the green grasses of spring. Bigger bucks often bed toward the tops of south-facing ridges, where they have a commanding view. Some bucks and bulls will hang out in brushy fringes on these southern slopes. Some bull elk live in the deepest, darkest canyons. At lower elevation, where nonmigratory animals live, brushier habitat is the norm. Keep in mind that the movement of these animals is minimal in February and into March, especially during hard winters. Their food sources have held little nutrition since November, and in anticipation of spring’s arcalsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2016 California Sportsman
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HUNTING
... TO FIRE
ENJOY YOUR PIECE OF THE PIE By Tiffany Haugen
N
ow is a good time to start cleaning out the freezer to make room for spring fish and game. Shepherd’s pie is a versatile dish that can be prepared with a variety of ingredients and is a delightful comfort food on a chilly day. It can be created ahead of time to pop in the oven for dinner or baked and left to keep warm while waiting for the hunting party to return. This one-dish meal is easy and sure to please everyone. This recipe works well with any ground or chopped venison. Some of the less popular cuts of meat such as neck and brisket also work well. Exterior rib meat, as well as meat between the ribs, can be stripped from the bones and used in this recipe. The meat from between the ribs can also be removed and ground or chopped. For the best end result, remove any sinew and silver skin tissues before chopping meat. We’ve enjoyed the following recipe with elk, blacktails, muleys, whitetail, antelope and bear. POTATO LAYER 1½ pounds potatoes, peeled and cubed ½ cup chicken broth ½ cup Greek yogurt or sour cream 2 tablespoons spicy mustard MEAT LAYER 1 pound ground or chopped venison 1 teaspoon chili powder Salt and pepper to taste
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Tiffany Haugen likes to pull out game meat or fish from the freezer and create a comfort-food staple: shepherd’s pie. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)
VEGETABLE LAYER 1 tablespoon olive or coconut oil 1 cup diced onion 1 cup diced bell pepper 1 cup corn 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon whole wheat flour ½ cup chicken broth In a medium saucepan, boil potatoes until tender. Drain water and add broth, yogurt and mustard. Mash potatoes with a masher or hand blender. Set aside. In a medium skillet, brown meat on medium-high heat and add chili powder. Remove from pan and set aside. In the medium skillet, sauté onion and bell pepper in oil until soft on medium-high heat. Add corn, garlic and Worcestershire sauce, and continue to sauté. Sprinkle flour over vegetables and sauté one minute. Add broth and bring to a boil. Remove from heat after mixture thickens. Assemble in six individual serving dishes or in an 8-inchby-8-inch casserole dish. Place meat on the bottom layer, then veggies and top with mashed potatoes. Bake in a preheated, 350-degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until potatoes begin to brown. Dust with additional chili powder if desired. Editor’s note: For 100-plus more great recipes and signed copies of Tiffany Haugen’s popular cookbook, Cooking Big Game, send a check for $20 (free S&H) to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489, or order online at scotthaugen.com.
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HUNTING rival, they travel little in an effort to conserve energy. Scouring the ground of these slopes that face south can take days, so narrow down your search for antlers by focusing on bedding areas and trails – especially where trails cross over downed trees, creeks and fences. Whenever a buck or bull has to jump to get over an obstacle, the likelihood of their antlers popping off increases. As the pedicles weaken, a jolt to the body – even a headshake – is all it takes to pop the bone from their head. This is why bedding areas are also great places to search for sheds, because a buck or bull often shakes as it gets up, dislodging the antlers. In order to maximize your dog’s chance of locating sheds, these are the habitats you want to turn them loose in.
Using a dog to locate sheds will dramatically increase the number of antlers you find, but the key to success is putting the dog in a area where bucks and bulls are located this time of year. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
DOG DETAILS As with hunting upland birds, start the dog into the wind and encourage them to range out. But don’t send them out too far, as the last thing you want is them chasing game. If shed hunting in migratory wintering grounds, don’t use a dog until the animals have moved out, usually by late March. I use an electronic collar when shed hunting with a dog, but not for the shock feature; I use it for the GPS option. When the dog works thick brush and big, brushy
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HUNTING timber, you want to know where they are. If your dog has never hunted antler sheds, they can be taught. Start by introducing them to an antler you have – either a shed or one cut from a buck you’ve taken. Thoroughly wash the antler with borax soap to remove any human odor. From that point on, only handle the antler with rubber gloves. You want the dog to familiarize itself with the scent of the antler, not the oils from your hands. To “freshen up” an antler so the dog will be attracted to its scent, breaking off the tip of a tine or scoring the main beams with a file or abrasive paper will help. Give the antler to your dog, but only for a minute or two. You do not want the antler to become a chew toy, and you want to take it away from them with their interest piqued. When first teaching the dog to find the antler, place it in the yard in an easy-to-find location. Don’t let the dog see you plant it. Once the dogs find the planted antler with regularity, it’s time to head into the hills or the brush. With the dog kenneled, plant a few antlers by tossing them away from the trail on which you’re standing. You don’t want the dog following the smell of your boots to where you set the antler, so toss it 10 to 20 yards off the trail, making sure it doesn’t get hung up in any brush. Remember where you toss them, just in case the dog can’t locate them.
Once your dog picks up the tossed, planted sheds, it’s time to get them on the real deal. Stuff a training antler in your pack when hunting for sheds, just in case you don’t find anything that day. The shed you take can be planted to reward your dog with success. You want them to have success so they develop the drive of wanting more.
FUN FOR YOUR BEST FRIEND Echo, my 2-year-old pudelpointer, loves looking for sheds, and that’s one of the reasons I was attracted to this breed (not to mention the fact they are proficient with upland birds, waterfowl and blood trailing). Any dog that hunts birds can be taught to find sheds, and I’ve seen success with many breeds, especially Labradors early and late in the day before it gets too hot out. As winter turns to spring, and antlers start dropping, now is a great time to be afield, searching for sheds. Not only is shed hunting a bonus for getting your dog into the field and both of you in shape, it can open your eyes to just how many bucks and bulls are really out there. CS Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s popular adventure book, Life In The Scope: The West, send a check for $15 (free S&H) to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489, or visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
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