FISHING • HUNTING • NEWS
NWSPORTSMANMAG.COM
Built for Adventure! THUNDER JET • BOULTON • FISH-RITE
With our factory-trained technicians for Yamaha, Suzuki, Mercury, Tohatsu and Honda motors, we can handle any project from electronic installs to complete boat and motor overhauls.
Need a new motor for your current boat? Best prices around on Repowers!
MAXXUM MARINE
1700 Hwy 99 N, Eugene, OR
www.maxxummarine.com
Toll Free 877-4-Maxxum (877-462-9986) Local 541-686-3572
Sportsman Northwest
Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource
Volume 14 • Issue 3 PUBLISHER James R. Baker
Your Complete Hunting, Boating, Fishing and Repair Destination Since 1948.
ALUMAWELD
EDITOR Andy Walgamott THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS Jason Brooks, Summer Dunn, Melissa Monroe Handley, Scott Haugen, Jeff Holmes, Sara Ichtertz, Trishana Israel, Randy King, Buzz Ramsey, Matt Tharp, Amanda Wiles, Dave Workman, Mark Yuasa EDITORIAL FIELD SUPPORT Jason Brooks GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Jim Klark, Kelley Miller, Mike Smith DESIGNER Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly Baker OFFICE MANAGER Katie Aumann INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGER Lois Sanborn WEBMASTER/DIGITAL STRATEGIST Jon Hines DIGITAL ASSISTANT Jon Ekse ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@nwsportsmanmag.com
HEWESCRAFT
CORRESPONDENCE Email letters, articles/queries, photos, etc., to awalgamott@media-inc.com, or to the mailing address below. ON THE COVER Tina Fountain holds an outstanding wild winter steelhead she caught on Oregon’s Central Coast last January. She’s profiled in Sara Ichtertz’s For The Love Of The Tug column. (TINA FOUNTAIN)
HEWESCRAFT WE OFFER A LARGE INVENTORY OF QUALITY BRANDS ALUMAWELD • SMOKERCRAFT • HEWES CRAFT SUN CHASER PONTOONS • YAMAHA • SUZUKI • MERCURY
1-877-426-0933 www.verles.com 14 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and get daily updates at nwsportsmanmag.com.
MEDIA INDEX PUBLISHING GROUP 14240 Interurban Ave. S., Suite 190 Tukwila, WA 98168 (206) 382-9220 • (800) 332-1736 • Fax (206) 382-9437 media@media-inc.com mediaindexpublishing.com
CONTENTS VOLUME 14 • ISSUE 3
More than a building... it’s a solution! PRE-ENGINEERED STEEL FRAME STRUCTURES
855.668.7211 • www.wsbnw.com
12
TH
Annual
Real
No rthw est FISHING OF
As we’ve done for 12 Decembers in a row now, we’re wrapping up the year on a bright note with the Real Women of Northwest Fishing! Our annual feature shares stories of how gals got into angling, the struggles they’ve overcome, triumphs and great catches, and more! And as we always do, we spotlight dozens of women and girls and their fantastic fish from our region’s waters! 28 34 47 51 55
28
59 65
Jamie Lebon: ‘I Just Love The Adventure,’ by Buzz Ramsey Be A (Tina) Fountain, Not A Drain, by Sara Ichtertz Summer Dunn: Chapter 2 Melissa Monroe Handley: ‘Forever Addicted. And In Love’ Trishana Israel: ‘You’re Doing Great, Girl!’ Amanda Wiles: Exploring ‘From Mountain Tops To Rivers Below’ Megan Tharp: The Date Night Chinook, by Matt Tharp
(CARISSA ANDERSON)
SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Go to nwsportsmanmag.com for details. NORTHWEST SPORTSMAN is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 14240 Interurban Avenue South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Periodical Postage Paid at Seattle, WA and at additional mail offices. (USPS 025-251) POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Northwest Sportsman, 14240 Interurban Ave South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Annual subscriptions are $29.95 (12 issues), 2-year subscription are $49.95 (24 issues). Send check or money order to Media Index Publishing Group, or call (206) 382-9220 with VISA or M/C. Back issues may be ordered 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 © 2021 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.
16 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
m
VISIT MOSES LAKE Your Home Base For Adventure HOCKEY TOURNAMENTS:
Jan. 14-15, 2022: 18U Winter Classic (Moses Lake Youth Hockey) Teams Feb. 4-5, 2022: Moses Lake Pond Hockey Tournament (Moses Lake Youth Hockey) Feb. 18-19, 2022: Moses Lake Freeze (Moses Lake Adult Hockey Tournament) To confirm dates closer to the event date, please visit www.cityofml.com.
For a list of hotel/motels, restaurants, and other attractions, visit www.tourmoseslake.com.
BE SAFE: Please practice social distancing and wear a mask.
Tour Moses Lake W A S H I N G T O N
NORTHWEST PURSUITS
A Covey Of Upland Ops
With fond memories of chasing valley quail with a Christmas 20-gauge as a lad, Jason shares where to look in hopes of flushing topknots, ringnecks, redlegs and Huns this month.
125
(JASON BROOKS)
COLUMNS WE DO HOLIDAY BASKETS
Turkey, ham, prime rib and smoked jerkey
FARMER GEORGE MEATS OLD FASHION BUTCHER SHOP ~ PORT ORCHARD, WA
(360) 876-3186 ~ farmergeorgemeats.com
WILD GAME PROCESSING
CUSTOM SLAUGHTER
RETAIL PRODUCTS
We can cut and process your game animals.
Raising farm animals? We provide slaughter & cut & wrap services.
A huge variety of meat products at an affordable price.
Serving the greater Kitsap County area since the 1950s. We are a one-stop shop for all of your meat needs specializing in a large range of meat products.
GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE 18 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
137 ON TARGET Don’t Let December Dull Your Enthusiasm “… Four species to hunt, three duck loads, two new shotguns and a fun wintertime project.” Ahem, we apologize to whoever wrote the “12 Days of Christmas,” but that certainly might have been the tune Dave was thinking of when he came up with ideas to round out the hunting year, do some holiday shopping and fill the downtime as 2021 comes to a close! 147 GUN DOG Comfy Christmas Gifts For Pups As the holiday season approaches, Scott takes canine comfort into consideration, highlighting bed, throw and mat products that have made the grade with the pups and their human parents at the Haugen house. And – since they’ve been such good boys and girls! – he’s got some stocking stuffer ideas too. 152 CHEF IN THE WILD Almost A Hunter, And Already One Randy’s youngest son Jordan put a helluva sneak on a mule deer this fall, but the decisive moment came and went without a shot – leaving his pa even prouder. Why? Read along as our Chef in the Wild also serves up his take on a North Idaho fave, bite size steak, and a six-pack of sauces to go with it!
)
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 19
FEATURES
99
(JEFF WITKOWSKI)
Take A Drive For Trips There are loads of lunker rainbows to be had in the Upper Columbia’s Lake Rufus Woods, along with overlooked walleye. Mark Yuasa shares how to get after triploids and bugeyes as winter arrives in Northcentral Washington! 109 GOOD OL’ DAYS FOR LPO ’BOWS Big fall catches at North Idaho’s Lake Pend Oreille highlight the resurgent rainbow fishery that’s tied to the inland sea’s kokanee. Jeff Holmes has the details.
DEPARTMENTS 25
THE EDITOR’S NOTE Spring bear hunting ‘pause’
71
PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS Coast, Fishing monthly prizes
75 NEWS Checking in on Washington’s guide logbook program
20 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
87
THE DISHONOR ROLL Thieves hit Yakima elk camps; Astoria man cited for poaching; Jackass of the Month
93
DERBY WATCH Westport Charterboat Association season winners; King of the Reach Derby results
95
OUTDOOR CALENDAR Upcoming openers, events, deadlines, more
Your Complete Hunting, Boating, Fishing and Repair Destination Since 1948.
Top 5 Dealer –
2018, 2019 & 2020
WE OFFER A LARGE INVENTORY OF QUALITY BRANDS ALUMAWELD • SMOKERCRAFT • HEWESCRAFT SUNCHASER PONTOONS • YAMAHA • SUZUKI • MERCURY
www.verles.com
1-877-426-0933
mention this ad & get a free gift while supplies last!
9
WWW.SEASPORTBOATS.COM
28’ COMMANDER
YOUR ONE-HULL OPEN SLEIGH
HANDMADE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, THESE BOATS ARE CUSTOM BUILT TO FISH ANY CONDITIONS.
26’ KENAI
24’ EXPLORER
26’ ALEUTIAN
FIND YOUR NEAREST PACIFIC NORTHWEST DEALER ALASKA MINING & DIVING Anchorage, AK 907-277-1741
ALBERNI POWER & MARINE Port Alberni, BC 250-724-5722
WWW.SEASPORTBOATS.COM/DEALERS
MASTER MARINE Mt. Vernon, WA 360-336-2176
Y MARINA, INC. Coos Bay, OR 541-888-5501
Y MARINA, INC. Florence, OR 541-590-3313
THEEDITOR’SNOTE
A
ll said and done, the most surprising thing to me wasn’t that the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission tied on setting the 2022 spring black bear permit hunt last month, effectively suspending it a year – and worst-case scenario, forever. It was the key vote against it: Chair Larry Carpenter. I had him pencilled into my yes vote column, based on the Mount Vernon man’s lifetime of hunting and fishing, and support for the scientific management thereof. I also say “pencilled” because it wasn’t exactly clear where Carpenter stood, given his Washington Fish and lack of public comments in the lead up Wildlife Commission Chair to the November 19 vote. Larry Carpenter. (WDFW) During that meeting, he couched his no as a pause, a chance for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to “confirm the accuracy of our information and cover our bases in the assault on this hunt.” The marshal language was a clear signal of his true feelings, but sources weren’t so sure. The out-of-character vote was likened to a knife in the back. There was a nagging suspicion it had been ordered from On High. Given that Carpenter’s term was officially up in October of last year and that he has been serving ever since at Governor Jay Inslee’s whim, one person told me in so many words that he is compromised and it’s time he resign before doing more damage.
SO WHY WAS Carpenter a no? My read after talking to him the day after the vote is that it was a strategic move. Hunting managers and the science are fully supportive of the hunt – it neither impedes or impacts the population and it falls within WDFW’s opportunity mandate, Director Kelly Susewind forcefully stated. But with the season again threatened by lawsuit, Carpenter said “the path of least resistance” is to pause it and use the next year to better document what WDFW knows about the state bear population, answer the questions that were brought up in public comment on the 2022 proposal, and then get it reinstated. He vowed to “put a lot of pressure” on Susewind and crew, and “get it back on the docket next year.” The only way to hold the hunt in the future is to put out info those against it can still trust, he said. I APPLAUD THAT and wish Carpenter luck. But the thing is, I also question whether he’ll be on the commission next fall, given his precarious position. And if he isn’t, whether those four commissioners who were in favor of the hunt will carry on his work and have the votes to put it back over the top. Early odds at this bookie are low, though some among us are much more optimistic. I just don’t see the antis relenting on this, nor do I see the Governor’s Office, which appoints commissioners, slipping up. It means too much for them locally and nationally. It really never was about cub orphaning or theoretical population impacts down the road or any of that. Washington was the easiest target, a platform, a template. It had one very well-informed source tell me, essentially, this is Exhibit 1A for why hunters as well as anglers need to up our game, speaking with lawmakers and the commission and presenting solid arguments in support of scientifically managed opportunities and our state’s fishing and hunting heritage. There’s a lot for us to be paying attention to these days, and this vote was a wake-up call. In a series of them. –Andy Walgamott nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 25
26 Northwest Sportsman
OREGON
WASHINGTON
EUGENE Maxxum Marine (541) 686-3572 maxxummarine.com
EVERETT Performance Marine (425) 258-9292 perform-marine.com
OLYMPIA Puget Marina (360) 491-7388 pugetmarina.com
PORTLAND Sportcraft Marina (503) 656-6484 sportcraftmarina.com
MOUNT VERNON Master Marine Boat Center, Inc. (360) 336-2176 mastermarine.com
SHELTON Verle’s Sports Center (877) 426-0933 verles.com
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
SPECIAL ADVERTORIAL PREPARED BY
BOAT REVIEW
Commander 2800 The Sea Sport Commander 2800, arguably the most popular in the Sea Sport lineup, is easily one of the best all-around boats in its class. This fully rigged fishing machine was built to withstand the harshest waters and yet designed to deliver all the comforts of a family cruiser, making it a force to be reckoned with when it comes to a vessel that fits everyone’s boating needs. Amenities include a full galley with substantial counter space, 2-burner cooktop stove, a deep sink with pressurized hot & cold water, refrigerator, microwave, and a four-person dinette that converts to a sleeper. The spacious cabin which comfortably sleeps 6 is also equipped with a great sound system for entertaining, a fully enclosed marine head, and a hot water shower system, making those long weekend trips all the more enjoyable. With over 54 square feet of non-skid aft deck and a built-in live well, the most hardcore fishing addict will have plenty of room to work their magic and then grill up the day’s catch for dinner. The 28’ Commander handles like a dream with her deep-V hull design and
large reverse chines. She’ll get you to your destination faster, more efficiently, and with exceptional stability. The smooth ride will allow you to sit back, relax and enjoy the 360-degree view of the beauty that surrounds you on the water. Customizable from power options, upholstery, and aesthetics to your choice of accessories, and interior configurations, this craft is truly tailor-made to fit your style and meet your every need. Hand built by the most experienced fiberglass boat manufacturer in the country, the rugged and dependable Sea Sport Commander 2800 exemplifies the quality and integrity that is Sea Sport boats.
SPECIFICATIONS LOA: Beam: Draft (motors up): Draft (motors down): Approx. Dry Weight: Holding Tank Capacity: Water Capacity: Fuel Capacity: Sleeping Capacity: Deadrise:
28’ 9’9” 22” 39” 10,000 lbs. 30 US gal. 60 US gal. 300 US gal. 6 22˚
WWW.SEASPORTBOATS.COM
‘I Just Love The Adventure’ I
I first met Jamie a few years ago at ’ll admit, there the Washington Sportsmen’s Show in are times I Puyallup and have since fished with her a cannot stop few times. Even got my picture taken with looking at what her holding a spring Chinook she caught others are posting when we fished together along with on the internet. It’s others on Washington’s Drano Lake! not the political BUZZ Mutual friends have told me that Jamie RAMSEY stuff I seek; I block is one woman who loves to fish so much or remove all of that she is often the first one up and out the that, even from friends who should know door at oh dark thirty. better. What I’m Driven is a word that interested in is viewing TH might best describe the stream of photos Jamie when it comes to posted by outdoor her passion for fishing. enthusiasts showing I was able to off fish, game and Annual interview Jamie other edible rewards recently to learn what they have collected. got her into the sport Perhaps like you, and how she has I only give a passing connected with other glance to most images, OF outdoor women. hit the “like” button on many and make Buzz Ramsey a comment on those Jamie, share with me posted by close friends some of your first or ones that depict the fishing memories. bounty of the outdoor lifestyle I can relate Jamie Lebon My early fishing to particularly well. adventures were for trout. My parents It’s no secret, more than a few outdoor would take me. I remember still-fishing enthusiasts (both male and female) work PowerBait. We would sometimes fish hard at being visible to their many friends with worms suspended under a bobber via Facebook, Instagram and other social too. Most of those early trout trips were media platforms. These days, it’s the to Lake Sylvia, located near Montesano, frequency of posts that exposes the players Washington, where I grew up. in the outdoor world. Jamie Lebon, a woman who loves to fish and is interested BR Tell me about salmon and steelhead. in learning to hunt, is one of them.
12
Real
No rthw est FISHING
28 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
JL When I got a little older my dad would take me fishing for salmon on the Chehalis River from his wooden jet boat. I remember catching a lot of salmon on plugs. I’m thinking we back-trolled them, but we might have fished while anchored too. Both my parents and several relatives were into fishing and would take us all the time, and still do. I didn’t go winter steelhead fishing when young, although my father was quite avid. His favorite river, by far, was the Wynoochee. I’ve gone winter steelhead fishing a few times and caught a couple but really, it’s mostly just too cold for me.
Jamie Lebon traces her interest in fishing back to Lake Sylvia, near Aberdeen, where she caught rainbow trout as a kiddo. A little later she began trying for salmon on the nearby Chehalis River out of her dad’s wooden jet boat. (JAMIE LEBON)
PICTURE
Lebon is described by friends as someone who “loves to fish so much she is often the first one up and out the door at oh dark thirty.” Here she holds a Columbia Gorge spring Chinook caught on a guided trip with Shane Magnuson. (JAMIE LEBON)
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 29
PICTURE
“I just love the adventure of chasing fish in new places and learning how to catch them,” says Lebon, here with Brittany Church and the 110-inch marlin that won Lebon the 2018’s NW Girls Gone Fishing Tournament off Baja California. (JAMIE LEBON) BR So, you’re more into chasing salmon these days? JL Yes, it’s salmon I fish for the most. I go with friends a lot but sometimes hire a guide, especially when participating in tournaments. BR Who are some of the guides you have fished with? JL Shane Magnuson is one great guide who has become a friend that took us to the Columbia River for spring Chinook in 2020. My girlfriend Michelle Johnson and her son Corbin and I were on that trip, and Shane limited us out. Jamie went on to list a few of the other guides she has fished with, like Brandon Glass, who took her out several years ago when she participated in a Fish Like A Girl Tournament. Guide Jim Babcock has guided Jamie and friends on the Olympic Peninsula’s Queets and Clearwater Rivers for fall Chinook and coho. Jamie has hired guide Brian Moore when competing in the 30 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
Lipstick Slayers Tournament at Buoy 10. She also had plans to fish with her guide uncle, Jim Miller. BR What’s the biggest Chinook salmon you’ve caught? JL While I’ve yet to break the 30-pound mark, I’ve caught several salmon in the high 20s. BR Tell me about some of the other fisheries you have participated in. JL I just love the adventure of chasing fish in new places and learning how to catch them. Here in the Pacific Northwest, besides fishing for salmon, I’ve gone for bottomfish and albacore tuna. Earlier this year I went to California with friends where we caught striped bass. Jamie also told me about her participation in a kayak tournament for sturgeon on the Willamette River, near Swan Island. She had a blast. It was her friend Michelle Johnson who lent her a
kayak and coached Jamie on how to do it. Jamie caught and released a 4-footer the very first time she tried fishing from a kayak. What really got Jamie excited was talking about her experiences while fishing in Mexico. She has fished out of both Cabo San Lucas and La Paz. During those adventures she caught striped marlin, mahi mahi (also called dorado), yellowfin tuna and bonito. It was in Cabo where Jamie won the NW Girls Gone Fishing tournament in 2018 by catching a 110-inch marlin. It’s a catch-and-release event and about 30 women participated that year. BR Your most memorable fishing trip? JL Fishing for coho out of Depoe Bay in a kayak. I went with my friend Michelle. It was my first time doing it and we ended up 2 miles out and couldn’t keep the silver salmon off. We kept our coho limit that day and caught bottomfish too. The whales were close; they stink but are fun to
PICTURE
Kayak fishing trips have been some of the most memorable for Lebon. An outing on the lower Willamette with Michelle Johnson, Leslie Rosaneau and Kelly Mather yielded a 4-foot sturgeon, while a trip off Depoe Bay with Johnson provided coho, bottomfish and close-up encounters with whales. (JAMIE LEBON) be around. We saw porpoises swimming nearby too. That was really fun and I cannot wait to do it again. BR What’s the hardest thing about fishing? JL Figuring out why I can’t catch fish on the days when others are catching them but I’m not. BR How has the internet helped you connect with other women interested in fishing? JL I see posts made by other girls on the web and maybe chit-chat with them a bit online and they sometimes invite me fishing. In many cases it’s at the sportsmen’s shows where I’ve actually come face-toface with many of the women I first made contact with over the web. I’ve also connected with other women at fishing events and tournaments, like the ones Janae Brock has coordinated 32 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
through NW Girls Gone Fishing. Janae is busy raising her young family right now so hasn’t been quite as active. For those who don’t know, NW Girls Gone Fishing is a women’s group where women of all ages and skill levels are welcome and can learn how to fish and do so safely. When it comes to hunting, Jamie has duck hunted once and liked it, and she is interested in chasing big game with a bow. To orient herself, she has been watching hunting shows. One of her big motivations for fishing and wanting to get into hunting is to eat quality foods that are free from hormones and other bad-for-you compounds. “As a registered emergency room nurse, I’m sensitive to eating the not-so-good things some foods contain,” Jamie said. Like a growing number of women, Jamie Lebon is working to make outdoor memories that last a lifetime. NS
“BEST KEPT SECRETON THE WEST COAST OF VANCOUVER ISLAND. BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA”
2022 CHARTER
ALL-INCLUSIVE PACKAGE SPECIAL 4 PERSON DRIVE-IN FISHING/CATCHING
$1900 ea. US
FLY-IN PACKAGES AVAILABLE
• • • •
4 Nights Lodging 3 Full days of Guided Fishing / Catching Salmon, Halibut, Lingcod & MORE All your meals from our large restaurant menu
250-934-7672
info@westviewmarina.com | westviewmarina.com
“BRING YOUR LARGE COOLERS. YOU WILL NEED THEM WHEN YOU FISH WITH US!”
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 33
BE A ( TINA) FOUNTAI I
the rivers and the passion she shares n life we rarely with others does not go unnoticed. I am find people thankful she is a “Fountain” in my life, who we truly not a drain. The depths of this woman’s connect with. When it love for the river, the fish and her family is comes to fisherlady to FOR THE LOVE fisherlady, that rarity genuine and she knows that justification OF THE TUG from nature that I speak of. Her biggest shrinks even more, By Sara Ichtertz fans and most important students call her or so it seems! To see “Grandma,” and I absolutely love that. She someone’s gifts and not be threatened fishes for all the right reasons and I just by them, what a gift. It’s one I rarely see truly hope she sees genuinely given. that. When it comes Ladies can be TH to what truly matters vicious as they try to in life, you have got it, find their way in the girl! Believe me! traditionally maleAnnual dominated sport of fishing, and this digital TINA FOUNTAIN world we live in makes WAS raised by an it even harder. It old-school dad who creates this false reality loved fishing and that social media hunting to his core. She OF somehow validates remembers helping ourselves more so than him set up his hunter the sport itself, more safety classes and, from so than embracing the a young age, loved personal growth that being able to see him naturally takes place when time is truly sharing knowledge and passion. Growing given to the river. Sadly, that amazingness up in the Springfield area before its massive isn’t quite enough (must be because we growth, she developed a lifelong comfort in are human), so we turn to media platforms the outdoors that has never left her. that lack any form of true depth. To truly On the other hand, growing up it was give time to the rivers is so much different hard for her that her dad was very much than to hop aboard a boat and fight fish. old school. Girls stayed with their moms I honestly have grown quite ill of it all. and learned womanly things, and the I believe that in embracing nature we find boys went with their dads to learn the our true worth; the passion of the rivers ways of the woods. This is a good example validates you in a wholesome, one-of-aof how even in our homes, sometimes kind way that the shallows of this new women must really want it in order to truly digital world never could. There are some find their place in such sports. Tina’s dad women who are far more gifted in their naturally took her brothers far more than abilities than this superficial world gives he took her. He didn’t know any better, she them credit for and so this December I is certain, as that was just the way it was chose to write about one woman in this back then. industry who actually inspires me because But she would light up wholeheartedly she is the real deal. Her time given to when he would say it was going to be a
12
Real
No rthw est FISHING
34 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
PICTURE
AIN, NOT A DRAIN
“The depths of this woman’s love for the river, the fish and her family is genuine,” writes author Sara Ichtertz of friend and fellow Oregon angler Tina Fountain, here with an Alaska sockeye. (TINA FOUNTAIN)
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 35
PICTURE
Childhood family adventures with her father, Del Patrick, an “oldschool” outdoorsman, were a powerful spark for Fountain, lighting a flame that now burns brightly. (TINA FOUNTAIN)
family trip. That meant she was going to be able to join him, learn from him, and take it all in. That was what she really wanted, and those childhood adventures lit the sparks of a lifetime fire that still burns today. Naturally, Tina wanted to share the outdoors with her children. Spending time on the rivers when her kids were young, they gained comfort, which is so important. Though they didn’t fish the river, they did embrace it and together they flourished. Tina recalled a Mother’s Day that really changed her. She took her children down to her beloved river in search of some trout and there, by fate, they encountered a family fishing for salmon. She watched them drag huge fish out of the river, and in total amazement she knew her heart wanted to know what such a sight felt like. She left there a different lady. Completely inspired, she knew what she wanted: one of those fish! In her heart she knew it was time to go for it. After acquiring some gear, she stayed at it. She wanted it badly and remained driven, giving the river time, and lots of it. Only those who start out on the banks with not much more than desire know just how sweet that first victory finally tastes! It cannot be duplicated! Setting fear aside, Tina let her presence be known by showing up and never giving up. She learned a lot from the fishermen on the bank, first from watching from afar. Only once they realized she was not going anywhere did they begin to share with her their approaches to the waters and why. 36 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
When a lady shows up solo on the bank respect is not given. It really does have to be earned; I can relate to that firsthand. So much of Tina’s story I can relate to, and I am sure that has something to do with why we truly connected. The respect you earn when you set out on your own two feet to truly pursue these fish is almost as priceless as the fish themselves; not only from anglers who fish the same rivers, but the respect you gain within yourself. It’s worth so much more than being Fakebook famous. Tina gives thanks and appreciation to her old fishing friends Bob Dodd and Jim O’Hare. The friends we meet along the way, the teachers who are waiting, the fate of it all is pretty incredible. Without even knowing it the passion of the rivers is passed onto the right people at precisely the right time. A trip to a river with her kids when the salmon were running led Fountain to decide to try her hand at catching one herself. Watching how other anglers did it gave her a start, but her persistence led them to offer advice and soon she was ready for the next step. (TINA FOUNTAIN)
WANTING TO SEE more of the river, Tina found herself in a blow-up raft, which became a gateway to so much more of her home waters. Gaining strength running her Fish-Hunter raft allowed her to open the confidence to get something bigger to get to the fish. “One day I was fishing from the bank and decided it was time to jump into the McKenzie with both feet,” Tina recalled. “I was ready for my first boat.” The year 2017 was when Tina decided she was ready to put on her big girl pants and buy a boat. Her drift boat was the first big purchase she bought on her own. It was empowering, and with that empowerment she was ready. She began rowing short distances, floating main parts of the river. Even though she might not have realized it at the time, she was
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 37
PICTURE
“One day I was fishing from the bank and decided it was time to jump into the McKenzie with both feet,” Fountain recalled. “I was ready for my first boat.” Here she is with her latest boat, a step up from her previous drifter and the raft she began running rivers with. (SARA ICHTERTZ)
growing from that rower’s seat. Learning from a boat was very different for her, as she had been bank fishing for many years. A friend taught her much about the approach for catching salmon from a boat. She gives much gratitude to him, not only for the knowledge he shared, but because he believed in her. Once Tina gained enough strength to
believe in herself as much as Jim did, she was able to start inviting friends to join her. One tiny lady came walking into Tina’s life at exactly the right time – as fishing mates usually do – and hopped in her boat. Vickie Swenson Wells was her name and together fishing fun was their game. There is something very beautiful about putting people on their first big fish, but there
isn’t a whole lot that’s better than helping someone else’s dreams come true while you are fulfilling your own dreams too. Together Tina and Vickie were getting limits before work, and Tina was thriving. Like her father, Tina loves to share the passion and teach.
TINA IS A true fisherman in that she continues to learn. Embracing bigger water and new fisheries, she never gives up. Success will come when you want something bad enough and Tina inspires me in her fearless pursuit, not only in targeting countless fisheries but in her ability to run boats. Our first adventure is one that is forever in my heart. Coming from a tiny town with not a single stop light, I saw the madness of Buoy 10 for the first time with her. I love that our time wasn’t spent with a guide, even though I was certainly guided by her. I was able to embrace the day with a family who was not on a time schedule. No, we were living for that day, that tide, and I wouldn’t want my first trip to Buoy 10 to have been any other way. We slayed the
TOP NORTHWEST STEELHEAD GUIDES
38 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
TOP NORTHWEST STEELHEAD GUIDES
COLUMBIA RIVER STURGEON
BOTTOM FISHING
GUIDES RIVER & SALMON
FISHING AND WATERFOWL HUNTING Fish the ancient sturgeon, catch the mighty chinook, or hunt some of the rarest waterfowl in the nation! We’re an outfitter and guide in the great state of Washington, home to some of the best hunting and fishing in the nation.
BOOK YOUR TRIP TODAY!
360-216-5236
branden@adventureswithmayhemoutfitters.com
adventureswithmayhemoutfitters.com
RIVER AND OCEAN FISHING
• SALMON • HALIBUT • STEELHEAD • STURGEON • DUNGENESS CRAB
®
Amazing trips with stunning views and BIG fish. Kevin will get you to where the fish are biting.
Reserve your seat now! Call 503.621.6759
fishingwithkevin.com nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 39
PICTURE
Fountain cradles a very nice Oregon Coast wild winter steelhead caught last January. (TINA FOUNTAIN)
salmon each and every day we fished. The growth I have been able to witness within this woman over the past four years is impressive. There is no fishery Tina won’t embrace. Watching her grow alongside the man she loves so deeply has impressed me as well. Any man would be lucky to not only have a beauty on board but a deadly beauty at that. She truly understands how to put fish in the boat, and I give her a huge standing applause for the fish she put in her man’s boat while embracing ladies-only fishing trips. Social media may not show how many of those fish were in fact yours, Tina, but you very selflessly handed those fish off and I hope you can feel that gratification inside your heart! You rock and make the world of fishing a better place. I see it and I appreciate you. Watching you spread your wings and fly to 40 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
Alaska was special; I love hearing you talk of this place that stole your heart. Seeing your beautiful blue eyes light up as you speak improves not only your life, but those who are lucky enough to hear your adventures firsthand. As winter is upon us, I look forward to seeing where this season leads you. I look forward to seeing you embrace your new drift boat even more. Yeah, she’s a fancy girl compared to the first boat you bought, but I know you love all the chapters that have led you here. I know that if you can give it your best, you will succeed. My hope for you is that you never stop chasing your dreams. Look how very many of those dreams you have landed! Life isn’t always easy, but it is 100 percent worth it when we keep passion as a frontrunner in our lives. Never forget
that, and never let anyone or anything take from you your why. Why you fish is beautiful. You have a true love for the tug and anyone lucky enough to fish alongside you knows this, and that, my friend, is what really matters. I will never forget sharing my summer steelhead waters with you and your sweetest little blondie, Cloe. You are an amazing grandma and are the only person I have ever shared that water with who stepped up and hooked a hottie straight away. I loved it, and I love you. Thank you for being a Fountain, not a drain! As we head into a new year, may the waters you face inspire you to be the very best version of yourself. You have no idea the impact and inspiration you truly possess. Our hearts are on the river and we couldn’t change it, even if we tried. NS
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 41
Misty Braaten lives in fishing and hunting paradise in Northcentral Washington and helps keep her family in good eats – here she holds a nice pair of Banks Lake walleye. (ERIC
PICTURE
BRAATEN)
When your birthday and Buoy 10 combine for your new personal best Chinook, hell yeahs ensue! Carissa Anderson hoists her 30-pound, 37-inch fall Chinook, caught this August. (CARISSA ANDERSON)
12
TH
Annual
Real
No rthw est FISHING OF
With appearances in our magazine since she was 5 years old, Rylee Chmela, now 22, is a certified Real Woman of Northwest Fishing! (CARL LEWALLEN)
If the Northwest tuna fishery needs an enthusiastic spokesperson, may we suggest Kelly Frazier? “It was so fun!! Highly recommend everyone try tuna fishing!! So exciting!!” she relayed after landing her first albie this summer.
“My name is Coleen Goulet and I am from Prosser, Washington. I grew up fishing with my dad, so the love for it is in my blood. About six years ago, my husband said to me, ‘Honey, let’s try trolling for salmon,’ so we did and as soon as I felt that tug on the rod, I was hooked. We now fish year-round for salmon, walleye, sturgeon and trout, of which our alltime favorite is salmon at Drano Lake. We are empty nesters and this is a hobby we love doing together, not only for the fishing but for the beautiful sunrises in the Columbia Gorge and the family/friend time we spend on the water. We love trying different fisheries, new gear and scents. This year, I am two salmon away from filling my catch card, with time left – fingers crossed!” (COLEEN GOULET) Paula Corcoran’s no stranger to ocean lingcod and local lakes’ rainbows, but her favorite fishery might just be Deep South Sound Chinook, judging by pics that proud hubby Kelly has sent over the years. (DAN DOTY)
(KELLY FRAZIER)
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 43
■
,'
ll'l"lr--lCIEtLE
Schooner Creek Boat Works is now the Pacific Northwest dealer for Invincible catamaran & monohull power boats. For more information or to test drive a boat, give us a call!
Schooner Creek Boat Works
503.735.0569 www.SchoonerCreek.com
3255 N Hayden Island Drive Portland, OR 97217
PICTURE
CHAPTER 2
I
first shared my lifelong affair with fishing in the 2014 edition of Northwest Sportman’s Real Women TH of Northwest Fishing. Since then, that little bump in my belly Annual pictured in that edition was born and has turned into quite the fisherman himself. OF Rusten caught a 4-pound largemouth in one of our ranch ponds in Oklahoma when we visited my family last spring. He casted, caught and landed that fish on the ol’ trusty Zebco 33. We’ve since returned home to Idaho, where we live near the confluence of the Snake and Salmon Rivers, which is the setting for this next fishing story. It took me a while, but I eventually realized landing a very small fish is often much harder than landing a fatty. By that I mean the skill needed to keep a tiny fish on a hook that’s made for a fish three times its size – now that’s skill, or maybe just luck. I was pretty proud of one short smallmouth I landed while participating in a fishing tournament this past August on the Snake River in Hells Canyon. I missing winning for smallest fish caught by a whole half an inch. The smallest fish caught was 4.5 inches.
12
Real
No rthw est FISHING
THE BACK STORY: I was participating with a group of ladies in the “Haul In Bass” tournament, sponsored by Hammer Down River Excursions. The goal was to catch as many bass as possible in an eight-hour window, with the counting stopped promptly at 5 p.m. Our day didn’t start so great, as one of our fishergals became ill and wasn’t able to participate. The major problem with losing
Summer Dunn shows off a tiny bass she caught last summer during a fun tournament on the Snake River. It just missed winning her a prize for smallest fish – but helped push her angling team to a fourth place finish with their 440 Hells Canyon smallies. (SUMMER DUNN)
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 47
PICTURE
Rusten, the bump on Dunn’s belly (below) in “Chapter 1” of her story, is growing into a fine young angler, as this nice Oklahoma bucketmouth shows. (SUMMER DUNN)
a fishergal is that a boat could have up to 10 anglers and the more you have, obviously the better for total catch. Right off the bat we were down to seven women and already knew that at that time, the team in first place had caught a total of 592 smallmouth and they had eight anglers, so we were starting behind the 8-ball. I literally calculated the number of bass we each needed to catch to beat 592: 10.5 bass per hour. By noon our numbers were looking horrible. It had been a terribly slow morning and we had only caught about 100 fish. It was a bummer because we were really trying and weren’t just a team that came out to drink away the day (though I may have used that excuse to recruit a couple of friends). We were about ready to call it a day and start checking out swimming holes to beat the 102-degree heat and the wildfire smoke when bam! we hit a school and it didn’t stop after that. We fished our hearts out, not taking any time to eat or drink – the deck boys literally opened our drinks for us while we continued to fish. Cast after cast, bass after bass, we started closing the gap between 100 fish Dunn and her Team “Tap That Bass” weren’t out on the water for a boozy day of fishing – they wanted to win, and one of her companions, who’d never fished before, caught the competition’s largest bass, winning her a Traeger smoker. (SUMMER DUNN)
48 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
and 592. We did not rest the entire day – there was no lazy-river boozing for Team “Tap That Bass.” (Yes, that was our team name.) By 5 p.m. our total was 440 and it was a hard-earned 440. We ended up in fourth place overall but we also had the fewest anglers, so we’ve convinced ourselves if it was ratio scoring, we would’ve been on the podium (lmao).
ONE OF THE best parts of the trip was spending a day on the river with the ladies, some of whom had never fished a day in their life. True story: I invited/ begged my girlfriend who has never fished, promising her a good time, and she ended up with the biggest fish caught by a female. Her prize was a Traeger! I was a bit bitter about that, but we’ve set up a shared custody agreement, with occasional payments of smoked meat. There’s just something primordial about fishing. The tug on the line and dopamine released when that happens – to me, it’s one of the coolest examples of evolution. It also makes it easy to understand the reference to “addiction” when it comes to fishing. NS
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 49
PICTURE
12
TH
Annual
Real
No rthw est FISHING OF
Fishing for Chinook, winter steelhead and half-pounders in the beauty of Southern Oregon is a “spiritual experience” for Melissa Monroe Handley. (MELISSA MONROE HANDLEY)
‘FOREVER ADDICTED. AND IN LOVE’
I
t’s been since childhood that I’ve held a rod in my hands, practicing a cast to prove to my dad and brother that I could fish too. Most of the time I watched as they hauled in salmon from our local Rogue River, bottomfish from the Pacific and trout from Klamath Lake. I loved it, but deep down I also wanted to be a bigger part of it. I grew older and busy with school, college and becoming a young mother. Life took over. Many stresses and years went by. Twenty years later, as a mom with a fulltime career as a leader in the medical imaging profession, with all of the changes life has brought, there’s one thing I have recently found that manages to bring me back to center. The ability to go back to childhood.
Forget the stress. Remember where I started. Fishing. In the last three years, I met and married the love of my life, Jonathan Handley. Turns out his passion in life has always been fishing. He’s been fishing and guiding the Rogue River for years. Little did I know just how obsessed he was. I soon found out, as I was fishing alongside him every free moment we had, learning all the techniques that he’s been taught and tried throughout the years. He’s taken me for multiday river trips, just us two, me in the front of the drift boat, the only one fishing for days as he gave instruction. Steelhead, salmon, halfpounders – life changing, and through some of the most beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen. It’s a spiritual experience.
To go from the excitement and adrenaline of hooking into a steelhead or salmon, to the more relaxing parts of the river, where the chaos of the world seems to disappear in the sounds of the flowing river, calms the soul. I get to spend time with the best fishing partner God could have blessed me with. We have had so many adventures fishing together, and a lifetime to go! Rivers in Southern Oregon, Northern California. Ocean kayak fishing – one of the scariest but most exciting things I’ve ever done! I’m still in awe at the beauty of places fishing can take you. I am forever addicted. And in love. Up next: fly fishing. I can’t wait! –Melissa
Monroe Handley
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 51
“She’s a trooper,” Mike Harcourt says of wife Michelle, here with a Detroit Lake kokanee, caught on a throwback Wallowa Lake monster koke setup. (MIKE
PICTURE
HARCOURT)
“I have been fishing all my life and love it!” says Sharon Horn, who reports fishing three days a week while also working full time. “It was a blast!” she says of fighting this Drano Lake Chinook. “Took line out to 150!” (SHARON HORN)
Hard to get any brighter than this great Chinook that Leann Johnston hooked. (LEANN JOHNSTON)
Christina Miller doesn’t just fill stringers, she fills bellies, donating the trout she catches out of Western Oregon lakes to local food share programs. Nicknamed “Trout Slayer/Easy Limit,” the big-hearted angler detailed in 2017 how taking up fishing and the physical challenge of accessing the waters literally helped her fight back against crippling disabilities in one of the most powerful essays we’ve ever run with Real Women of Northwest Fishing. (CHRISTINA MILLER)
That mid-August day off the mouth of the Columbia was gray as all get out, but Jamie McLeod and her pink rod, nails and fleece brightened it right up with this chrome fall king! (RICH MCLEOD)
12
The shores of a lake near White Salmon in the Columbia Gorge were kind to Bertha Logsdon, who put together this stringer of garlic PowerBaitnibbling rainbow trout. (LES LOGSDON)
TH
This 24-pound mid-August Westport Chinook was no match for Linda McDonald and her Lamiglas Classic Glass rod and Shimano Tekota 600HG reel combo. (LINDA MCDONALD)
Annual
Real
No rthw est FISHING OF
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
“The true heart and soul of our company and best fishing partner one could ever have!” That’s Debbie Jahn, here with a fresh batch of Wallowa Lake kokanee from this year, says Jeremy Jahn. Together they operate KokaneeKid Fishing. (JEREMY JAHN)
Northwest Sportsman 53
Serving Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Shelton, Tacoma, Seattle and Beyond
QUALITY BOAT SALES AND SERVICE EXCELLENCE FOR OVER 50 YEARS!
Brand new Northwest 24’ Signature in stock now!
ALL M O D E L S ! ON SALE NOW Winner of Suzuki’s Top Service Award 7 Years In A Row!
SALES & SERVICE LOCATED RIGHT ON THE WATER 8141 WALNUT ROAD NE OLYMPIA, WA 98516
360-491-7388 PUGETMARINA.COM
‘YOU’RE DOING GREAT, GIRL!’ T
PICTURE
here’s a small but incredibly strong pocket of amazing women anglers in the Pacific Northwest. I’m truly inspired every time I’m out on the water. To look out and see other women across the water, we wave at each other, we encourage each other. We tip our lucky fishing hats as if to say, “You’re doing great, girl!” I can’t speak for all women, but I feel the most beautiful when I’m fishing and have fish slime on my face and I’m covered in fish scales and scent. I can pretty much pinpoint the precise moment that my passion for fishing was sparked. I was 4 years old and my father handed me a fishing rod at Lake Chelan. I spent the entire day chasing what were probably northern pikeminnow and kokanee. I was so upset when I had to go to bed and I couldn’t wait to return to that same spot the next morning. From that moment forward, I was hooked. You can often find me on my modest little 10foot fishing boat on Puget Sound stalking coho, blackmouth and the beloved king salmon. It’s an old fishing boat and it has very little creature comforts, but it has welcomed its fair share of nice fish aboard. Some of the best days of my life have been on the water and the next TH adventure cannot come soon enough. When you’re fishing really hard, racing against that tide change, feeling the Annual power of the water and the strong currents, there’s something really amazing about that and I get to return to it over and over again. Other things OF in my life continue to change, but that reference point is always there. It’s a really great way to check into a bigger perspective. Being a woman angler definitely has its challenges. But at the same time I feel like it’s not that challenging. If you show up and if you are dedicated – do the work, fish hard – you’re respected. Even though I’m not as physically strong as some of the male fishermen around me, I’m equally as dedicated and at the end of the day we’re all physically Trishana Israel’s boat is mighty small, exhausted from chasing chrome, filling the freezer and but it’s also mighty fishy, as this late creating stories to last a lifetime. –Trishana Israel July Puget Sound hatchery Chinook proves! (TRISHANA ISRAEL)
12
Real
No rthw est FISHING
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 55
Rh Sc fa fis as de ra sa an up ko pr ar an fis an as hu
(TO
PICTURE
Among the anglers who can’t wait for Wickiup Reservoir to get back to full pool and its kokanee fishery to recover is Kaye Smith, here with a beauteous landlocked sockeye from the Deschutes River impoundment’s “good old days.” (KAYE SMITH)
“I was so happy I was shaking,” says Toni Pollock-Bozarth after landing her first salmon in four years, this South Sound coho. Earlier last summer she tried for pinks with one of her sons but struck out, and she didn’t have much faith on the next trip with her other son, but with a little help from a Slag Pile sharpie, she got a takedown. “My only sadness was that neither of my sons got to experience salmon also,” she writes. Always next season, Toni! (TONI POLLOCK-BOZARTH) An overall slow fishing day turned into quite a productive one for Elizabeth Swopes when this 3-plus-pound rainbow bit for her at a Spokane-area lake this spring. (LES LOGSDON)
Whether from shore or boat, you can bank on Maralee Moore catching all sorts of species around the western Columbia Basin – smallies, walleye, rainbows, sockeye, not to mention both summer and fall Chinook! (MARALEE MOORE)
12
TH
Rhonna Schnell’s no fairweather fisherman, as pics of her decked out in raingear while salmon fishing and bundled up for winter kokanee prove. “She is a real trooper and the best fishing partner anyone could ask for,” says husband Tom.
Annual
Real
No rthw est FISHING OF
Spring kings, summer Chinook, steelhead, sturgeon, coho, sockeye, chums, big rivers, small rivers, Puget Sound, North Cascades reservoirs – Kathi Lyons is fishin’ em all! (KATHI LYONS)
The sun shines on a shimmering silver for Jaynie Preston, who’s also known to fish off seaside rocks for Chinook! (SCOTT MCBETH) “Fishiest lady I know,” proclaims Roger Newton of friend Laurie Wulf, a Columbia and Willamette River Chinook and coho angler. “Definitely not a pro,” Wulf replies. “I just love to fish and hang out with fishie friends!” (LAURIE WULF)
(TOM SCHNELL)
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 57
Good Used Boats, Repair Parts, Quality Service, Knowlegeable Staff
SALES • SERVICE • ENGINES
GETTING YOU THE RIGHT PART THE FIRST TIME
Seastar Solutions Optimus EPS steering
Docking and maneuvering your boat in high winds has never been so easy. Let the Joy Stick do it for you. GPS position hold and heading hold is included.
Mercury Marine Outboard Promotion Horespower
Consumer Rebate
9.9 Pro Kicker
$100
15 Pro Kicker
$150
40 & 40 Jet
$200
50
$250
60 & 65 Jet
$400
75 & 80 Jet
$500
90
$600
115 & 115 ProXS
$1,000
150
$1,250
150 ProXS
$1,500
350
$2,000
400
$2,250
Subject to approval by mercury and dealer. Subject to terms. See dealer for details. NO SALES TAX IN OREGON
8 and 99 Kicker Motors in stock. Call now!
503-255-8487 • CascadeMarineCenter.com 14900 SE STARK ST. • PORTLAND, OR 97233 HOURS: MON-FRI 8AM-6PM • SAT 9AM-3PM
MOTORS MUST BE CAPABLE OF ACCEPTING JOYSTICK APPLICATION. CERTAIN LIMITATIONS APPLY.
PICTURE
EXPLORING ‘FROM MOUNTAIN TOPS TO RIVERS BELOW’
E
ntering 2021, I was fully anticipating my fishing and hunting seasons to be heavily affected by Covid. Luckily, this year proved to be yet another one of fun, adventures and new skills learned along the way. The year started as it always ends, on the TH beautiful rivers of the Olympic Peninsula, which I would later in 2021 Annual call my second home. Slow fishing was the theme early on, due to rule changes and wild OF steelhead runs. Yet we looked forward to spring and what it would bring.
12
Real
No rthw est FISHING
From the Pacific to Yellowstone, the turkey woods to the West End, Amanda Wiles had a great fishing and hunting year, capped off perhaps by this pair of coho from the Sol Duc River. (AMANDA WILES)
I SOON STARTED prepping for my first-ever turkey hunt with a group of ladies who inspired and motivated me more than I am sure they know. What an experience of learning and using skills we already possessed to explore this hunt. We did a great job and put in the effort, but alas, the hunt did not put food in the freezer. However, it did produce excitement and a drive for next year’s turkey hunt. We learned what to do next time – as well as what not to do. Like calling in a tom and having him so very close to the shooting zone, but then making an error in the call. Researching it later, we found out we told this poor fella to “turn around, there is danger ahead.” All we could do is laugh and add that to our collection of hunting story fail tales. And those trips were full of hunting stories, laughs and genuine heartfelt conversation that I will treasure. The beginning of summer was an
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 59
PICTURE exciting time in my household. My sons and I took a trip with their grandmother to explore Yellowstone. I was so blessed to be able to watch them explore the amazing landscape and wildlife that call Yellowstone their home. My oldest turned 10 on this trip. On the day of his birthday, I took him on a solo fly fishing trip on the Madison River in Yellowstone. I was overwhelmed with emotion the whole time we were fishing – the beauty of the land, my baby being 10 years old, and the gratitude that I was able to fish this iconic river. It was a special moment we will both share for the rest of our lives. THE WEATHEr and action heated up as we headed straight into midsummer. Poor planning – or maybe I just like to see what I can put myself through – led to one day being on top of Mount St. Helens and the next being on the Columbia fishing Buoy 10.
Wiles’ first-ever turkey hunt produced a good lesson learned when it comes to calling gobblers, but also motivation to try again this coming spring. (AMANDA WILES) A solo fly fishing excursion on the famed Madison River with her newly minted 10-year-old was an emotional experience the author will share with her son the rest of their lives together. (AMANDA WILES)
60 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
This was my third time climbing the volcano and boy, oh boy, it doesn’t get easier with each trip up. It was what I like to call “the surface of the sun” weather that day. But I pushed through and up with a group of the most driven and inspiring women ahead of me. I say ahead because either I have little legs or I’m slow like a turtle, as they were always in front. We reached the top, where it was about 71 degrees; back at the bottom it was 100. Now, I am a natural red-headed, fairskinned Norwegian, we are not meant to be in that type of heat. But I didn’t die, and on to Buoy 10 I went! This year’s Lipstick Salmon Slayer tournament was a blast. I have fished with the same group of girls going on five consecutive years now and it is something I look forward to every year. This year after the tournament we set out on an all-ladies day trip of our own and on a female-owned boat. It was another day of slaying, laughing and feeling empowered. It was a great day to remember. The end of summer brought me to my first offshore salmon trip. While I have been offshore many times, this was my first time
PICTURE on the ocean for Chinook and coho. The day brought beautiful chrome fish, as well as seasickness for me. But I did manage to get one beauty in between spending my time with my face over the side of the boat. Hey, we can’t always be beauty queens while fishing! IN FALL, NEW adventures would change our daily life. My husband finally had the opportunity to become a guide and is now guiding up in Forks. And with fall salmon season upon us, what a blessing it was for our family to enjoy time together on the river and have its bounty bless our lives. These rivers and mountains have so much more to offer us than full freezers. The mental healing we get from being in the most beautifully wild places is something to hold on to. We have the gift to explore, learn and grow from mountain tops above to rivers below. –Amanda Wiles
Sales, Service, & Storage
It was a quick turnaround for Wiles to go from hiking up to the rim of Mount St. Helens’ crater to fishing the rim of the Pacific with an all-ladies crew for Chinook and coho at Buoy 10. (AMANDA WILES)
Culver Marine
Full Line Honda Marine Dealer 9066 SW Feather Dr. Culver, OR 97734
Powered by Honda Marine Motors
541 546-3354 www.CulverMarine.com shop@CulverMarine.com Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual. 2020 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. ®
62 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
COMBINATION TRIPS ($250 Per Person)
• BOTTOM FISHING • SALMON FISHING • HALIBUT FISHING • CRABBING
WHALE WATCHING & DORY RIDES ($100 for the boat, $25 per person) CALL OR TEXT FOR BOOKING
Joey 503-801-3464 • Taylor 503-812-9597 • oceanfish62@gmail.com
rochasdorycharter.com We provide all the fishing and safety gear you will need, and day fishing licenses are available directly through Rocha’s Dory Charter.
THE DATE NIGHT CHINOOK
M
egan and I live in Olympia with our two young boys. I have been an avid salmon angler my entire life but have mainly focused on fishing the ocean and the North Sound. Our boys are getting older and are now able to fish, so Megan and I decided that we would get a safer boat and learn to fish in Deep South Sound, better known as Area 13. We have lived in Olympia for a long time but never thought there was a fishery down this far in the Sound, but we made
a commitment to fish down here with our boys and learn the area in 2018. We would catch a few fish here and there, but it was never red-hot. Until July 2021. My friends and I caught a few nice kings the week after the 4th of July, basically bright, low-teen Chinook. On July 15, Megan asked me if I wanted to go fishing with her but without the boys. It was date night that I would have never expected her to ask for. So I said, “Sure, let’s do it,” and we headed to Zittel’s
PICTURE
Marina on Johnson Point, where the boat is moored for the summer. We started trolling around with one rod on the downrigger, talking, having a glass of wine, and enjoying the beautiful 80-degree evening. As it got later, I thought it just wasn’t going to be our night, so I started cleaning the cabin, bulkhead and otherwise making sure the boat was sparkly white. Megan was having such a good time just being on the water without kids that she said, “Let’s fish until dark.”
12
TH
Annual
Real
No rthw est FISHING OF
Megan Tharp’s idea to have an evening date on the water without the kids led to one heckuva catch, this very nice South Sound Chinook, which she landed in mid-July after a great fight. (MATT THARP)
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 65
At 8 p.m. on the dot I was down in the cuddy when she said, “Matt, I think you have a fish on,” to which I replied, “That’s your fish; grab the rod.” I came up to the deck and Megan was grabbing the rod out of the pole holder when it happened. The rod buckled over in her hands and the big king peeled half the spool out. I was tempted to give in to her asking for me to take the rod, but no, this was her fish and more importantly, her first Chinook ever and in our home waters. The fish took out 100 yards and then started jumping! Kings don’t usually jump, but this one did! Megan was screaming and yelling and there wasn't a single boat around. Megan fought the fish to the boat and then it went on another run, but this time straight out, then straight down! She again fought the fish back to the boat and repeated this two more times! Finally, on the fourth time getting the fish to the boat, she won and I dipped the net. With some light coaching she walked back on the deck and the nose of the fish came straight in. When it hit the deck it was maybe one of the happiest days of fishing in my life. It was pure joy for Megan in the accomplishment of catching a 20-pound king in Area 13. The big king was landed at 8:33 p.m. Her arms were tired but her face was pure joy! I think it might be one the happiest days in her life as well, looking back at the photo of Megan and her Chinook. –Matt Tharp
66 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
LIGHTWEIGHT. The lightest 200-hp four stroke on the market LIGHTWEIGHT. The lightest 200-hp four stroke on the market POWERFUL. 2.8L displacement and Variable Camshaft Timing give it the best power-to-weight ratio POWERFUL. of any 200-hp four stroke 2.8L displacement and Variable Camshaft
Timing give it the best power-to-weight ratio of any 200-hp four stroke
COMPACT. COMPACT. Nearly 120 pounds lighter than our Nearly 120 pounds lighter than our four-stroke V6 F200 four-stroke V6 F200
THE F200 IN-LINE FOUR.
FORWARD THINKING. FORWARD THINKING. THE F200 IN-LINE FOUR.
Show the water who’s boss with the F200 In-Line Four. Incredibly light, responsive and fuel efficient, it serves up plenty of muscle to handily propel a variety of boats. On top of that, its 50-amp alternator offers Show the water boss the F200 In-Line Four. Incredibly responsive and fuel efficient, the power to addwho’s a range of with electronics, and its 26-inch mounting light, centers and compatibility with either itmechanical serves up plenty of muscle to handily propel a variety of boats. On top of that, its 50-amp alternator offers or digital controls give you the flexibility to easily upgrade your outboard or rigging. Experience the power to add a range of electronics, and its 26-inch mounting centers and compatibility with either legendary Yamaha reliability and the freedom of forward thinking, with the F200 In-Line Four. mechanical or digital controls give you the flexibility to easily upgrade your outboard or rigging. Experience legendary Yamaha reliability and the freedom of forward thinking, with the F200 In-Line Four.
OREGON
WASHINGTON
COOS BAY Y Marina (541) 888-5501 www.ymarinaboats.com
AUBURN Auburn Sports & Marine Inc. (253) 833-1440 www.auburnsportsmarineinc.com
EVERETT Everett Bayside Marine (425) 252-3088 www.baysidemarine.com
OLYMPIA US Marine Sales & Service (800) 455-0818 www.usmarinesales.com
EUGENE Maxxum Marine (541) 686-3572 www.maxxummarine.com
CHINOOK Chinook Marine Repair, Inc. (800) 457-9459 www.chinookmarinerepair.com
MOUNT VERNON Master Marine Boat Center, Inc. (360) 336-2176 www.mastermarine.com
PASCO Northwest Marine and Sport (509) 545-5586 www.nwmarineandsport.com
EDMONDS Jacobsen’s Marine (206) 789-7474 www.jacobsensmarine.com
MOUNT VERNON Tom-n-Jerry’s Boat Center, Inc. (360) 466-9955 www.tomnjerrys.net
TACOMA King Salmon Marine, Inc. (253) 830-2962 www.kingsalmonsales.com
YamahaOutboards.com/F200InLine
SHELTON Verle’s Sports Center (877) 426-0933 www.verles.com
Follow Yamaha on Facebook® and Twitter™
REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal
YamahaOutboards.com/F200InLine
Follow Yamaha on Facebook® and Twitter™
intended to be an endorsement. 2013 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. REMEMBER to always observe all©applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal intended to be an endorsement. © 2013 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 67
UNION GAP
Demo Rides Always Available!
Thunder Jet 185 Luxor
Mercury 115hp 4-Stroke, Partial Hard Top, Canvas Backdrop, Offshore Bracket w/Welded Kicker Mount, Dual Wipers, Rear Bench Seats on Storage Boxes, Downrigger Brackets & Much More!
Lund 1800 Sport Angler
Mercury 115hp 4-Stroke Motor, Sport Top w/ Full Canvas Enclosure, Side Rod Storage, Rear Bench Seat on Storage Box, Washdown, Bait Station & More!
NEW MODEL
Lund 1875 Impact XS
Mercury 115hp ProXS 4-Stroke, Sport Top w/ Walkway Curtain, Livewell in Bow & Transom, On-The-Go Rod Storage, ProRide & AirRide Upgrades, Kicker Bluetooth Stereo, Vinyl Floors
North River 22 Seahawk Fastback
Yamaha 250hp V6 4-Stroke, Yamaha 9.9hp 4-Stroke Kicker w/ Helm Controls, Kicker Tie Bar, Full Hard Top w/ Canvas Backdrop, Walk-Thru Transom Door, Side Rod Storage, Aluminum Floors & More!
Duckworth 21 Discovery
NEW MODEL! Honda 200 V6 4-Stroke, ¾ Hard Top, Mariner Suspension Seats, Canvas Backdrop, Livewell, Washdown & More!
North River 22 Seahawk Honda 200hp V6 4-Stroke, Honda 9.9hp 4-Stroke Remote Kicker w/ Helm Controls, Full Canvas Enclosure, Mariner Suspension Seats, Trim Tabs, Transom Walk-Thru Door, Livewell & More!
PICTURE
After hearing how much fun her older brother was having fishing for sockeye with their grandparents, Aubree Pedeferri wanted to try it herself. Her success in summer 2020 saw her jump at the chance to get back up to Lake Wenatchee this season. “She’s becoming an avid fisherwoman,” says her grandpa, Bob Curran. (BOB CURRAN)
A 34-inch lingcod gave Iylee Belisle quite a battle this season. She hooked it near Puget Sound’s Deception Pass on a yellow twintail grub. (NIC BELISLE)
Casting without any help, hooking a nice big rainbow and fighting it to shore on 4-pound line all by herself and outfishing dad that day? Priceless for Zoe Ross! (JACOB ROSS)
When she learned that trout lived in mountain streams, Jolie Bruton-Jewett just had to go catch one for herself. And pairing her purple pole with a purple and pink Rooster Tail, she did just that! (BRANDON JEWETT)
12
TH
Annual
Real
No rthw est FISHING OF
Guide John Plughoff has future deckhands for miles, it looks like! Daughters June and Jade share a moment with their mom Kelsey and a nice mid-Columbia River summer sockeye they caught. (PLUGHOFF OUTFITTERS)
Not only is Grace Bolt a Columbia Gorge winter sturgeon angler, she’s a fall Chinook slayer, catching this beautiful fish in August with her dad’s guide friend Bill. (MIKE BOLT)
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 69
PHOTO
CONTEST
WINNERS!
Coleen Goulet is the winner of our monthly Fishing Photo Contest, thanks to this shot of her and her Drano Lake Chinook. It wins her gear from various tackle manufacturers!
Rob Clarey is our monthly Coast Hunting Photo Contest winner, thanks to this shot of his daughter Riley and her first deer, this Central Washington special permit doe. It wins him a knife and light from Coast!
Pistol Bullets and Ammunition Zero Bullet Company, Inc.
For your shot at winning a Coast knife and light, as well as fishing products from various manufacturers, send your photos and pertinent (who, what, when, where) details to awalgamott@media-inc.com or Northwest Sportsman, 14240 Interurban Ave S., Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for our print or Internet publications.
ZER
P.O. Box 1188 Cullman, AL 35056 Tel: 256-739-1606 Fax: 256-739-4683 Toll Free: 800-545-9376 www.zerobullets.com
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 71
THEY WRITE COUNTRY SONGS ABOUT MORNINGS LIKE THIS.
BUT AT 70 MPH YOU CAN’T HEAR THEM.
It’s a glorious sunrise, viewed in fast forward thanks to the power of your 250 ProXS. Because you need to get there while the fish are still eating breakfast. Learn more at mercurymarine.com or visit your local dealer, today.
CONNECTICUT Connor’s and O’Brien Marina Pawcatuck, CT connorsandobrien.com
Everett Bayside Marine
Defender Industries Inc. Waterford, CT defender.com
1111 Craftsman Way Everett, O’Hara’s Landing WA 98201 Salisbury, CT (425) 252-3088 oharaslanding.com www.baysidemarine.com M A S S AC H U S E T T S
Captain Bub’s Marine Inc. Lakeville, MA captainbubsmarine.com
Obsession Boats East Falmouth, MA capecodboatcenter.com
Doug Russell Marine Worcester, MA WorcesterBoating.com
Portside Marine Danvers, MA portsidemarine.us
Master Marine Boat Center, Inc.
NEW HAMPSHIRE Dover Marine Dover, NH dovermarine.com Marine Northwest Winnisquam Marine and Sport Belmont, NH
Riverfront Marine Sports Inc.2250 Commercial winnisquammarine.com Ave 503 Jacks Lane Salisbury, MA Pasco, WA 99301 Mt Vernon, WA 98273 riverfrontmarine.com RHODE ISLAND (509) 545-5586 (360) 336-2176 South Attleboro Marine McLellan Brothers Inc. Billington Cove Marina Inc. www.nwmarineandsport.com North Attleboro, MA Everett, MA www.mastermarine.com Wakefield, RI Essex Marina LLC. Essex, MA essexmarinallc.com
mclellanbrosinc.com
www.sammarine.com
bcoveyc.com
Action Marine & Watersports Inc. Holyoke, MA actionmarineholyoke.com
Merrimac Marine Supply Methuen, MA merrimacmarine.com
Wareham Boat Yard W. Wareham, MA wareham-boatyard-marina.com
Jamestown Distributors Bristol, RI jamestowndistributors.com
Bill’s Outboard Motor Service Hingham, MA billsoutboard.com
Nauset Marine-Orleans Orleans, MA nausetmarine.com
72 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
NEWS Guide Toby Wyatt prepares to net Washington fisheries manager Chris Donley’s steelhead in Hells Canyon. When Alaska mandated logbooks for fishing guides approximately 20 years ago, it took them a couple of weeks to gain compliance. So far in Washington, nearly two years have passed without a ticket being written, but a timeline (sidebar next page) seems to point toward some sort of forthcoming response to gain compliance. (JEFF HOLMES)
Getting A Grip On Guiding In Washington Logbook reporting mandated by Fish and Wildlife Commission largely ignored so far, but two guides say it’s an important way to strengthen the industry before policymakers. By Jeff Holmes
O
n an early morning in December 2019, I made the iconic drive south along the Snake River from Clarkston to Heller Bar at the mouth of the Grande Ronde River. It was mere months before the pandemic would bring fishing to a total halt for 39 days in Washington and only days before the state Department
of Fish and Wildlife was to begin enforcing a new law requiring fishing guides to fill out logbooks. Hells Canyon’s steep, basalt-banded hillsides and brushy draws were still dully aflame with reds and yellows, groups of mule deer crossed the road and grazed in yards, and the huge river roiled steelhead green. I was excited to meet up with three of the Inland Northwest’s most
knowledgeable and respected old-school outdoorsmen. We planned to discuss the state’s soon-to-be-implemented logbook law against a chilly backdrop of sidedrifting for steelhead in the lower end of the continent’s deepest gorge with respected guide and logbook advocate Toby Wyatt (reeltimefishing.com). Despite the terrible 2019 run of only 72,466 A- and B-run steelhead over Bonne-
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 75
NEWS TIMELINE: WDFW FISHING GUIDE LOGBOOK IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Summer 2019 • Fish and Wildlife Commission passes WAC 220-352-245 requiring guides to fill out logbooks effective January 1, 2020. Fall 2019 • Agency establishes industry advisory committee to help develop reporting tools, beta test and disseminate information to the guide community. • Agency develops, tests and deploys two reporting apps – one for Android, one for iPhones. • Agency sends out information to guides during license renewal process, alerting them of the new reporting requirement and providing information and a FAQ on the rule, as well as the reporting tools.
I caught up with Wyatt at Hogan’s Pub in Clarkston after our day on the water for a couple drinks and a great talk about guiding, the future of fishing, and the kooky little town of Clarkston Wyatt calls home and that I love so much. Hogan’s is a wonderful place to unwind with great drinks and good food. (JEFF HOLMES) ville Dam, PIT tags demonstrated plenty of excess hatchery fish and allowed WDFW Region 1 Fish Program Manager Chris Donley to open both the Grande Ronde and the Snake above and below Heller Bar. Failing to allow anglers and guides to mop up excess hatchery stocks, even in low-run years, invites lawsuits and jeopardizes future licensing of production programs when hatchery fish are found in any abundance on the spawning grounds with wild fish. So away we would fish. Donley joined the Spokane SpokesmanReview’s award-winning outdoor writer, Rich Landers, a German shorthair pointer named Ruger, and me aboard a Reel Time Fishing boat to discuss Wyatt’s longtime advocacy for logbooks. Wyatt is a vocal collaborator and an advocate for WDFW and supports smart efforts to measure economic and conservation impacts. He thinks the industry will soon need to wield data demonstrating the importance of fishing guiding in Washington. 76 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
Year 1: January-December 2020 • Goal: Focus on collaboration with industry, education on the reporting rule and tools in order to increase understanding of how to comply but also in order to build trust in how the agency will use and won’t use the data. • WDFW team increased communication about the rule and reporting tools through direct contacts with guides at sportsmen’s shows, direct contacts through enforcement, written and email correspondence to license holders and by utilizing industry associations like statewide and regional guide associations. - Letters sent to all game fish, food fish and combination guide license holders regarding the new rule and reporting tools in October and December 2019, and December 2020. - FAQs, factsheets and instructional videos created with the help of WDFW guide advisory committee members and emailed to guides directly, posted on WDFW website and distributed through regional and statewide guide associations. • Agency staff works with guides to get input on reporting tools and refine mobile applications to make them function better. • Agency team begins work to develop a third app to support enforcement compliance checks. • Statewide COVID-19 mandates required fishing guides to implement new safety protocols to continue operations. This impacted guide business operations for a significant portion of the year, slowing compliance with the new reporting rule. • Fisheries closures further restricted guide activity throughout fall and winter 2020. • Fish Program Director Kelly Cunningham sent a letter to fishing guide license holders in December 2020 pointing out the low compliance rates, acknowledging operational challenges of 2020 and stating the agency’s focus on increasing compliance in year two. • Agency sends all licensed guides a paper logbook with their license renewal packets and a reminder of the reporting requirement. Year 2: January-December 2021 • Funding limitations slowed progress on the enforcement compliance application, making WDFW more reliant on educational contacts. • Enforcement emphasis patrols planned for fall and winter fisheries. • Progress report being developed for the Fish and Wildlife Commission on implementation of the rule, which will outline some of the key challenges, concerns with compliance so far and ideas for how the agency might increase outreach, enforcement and compliance moving forward. –WDFW
NEWS
Donley and Wyatt stand at the rail to net a fish that fell for a Corky and yarn in one of lower Hells Canyon’s most storied steelhead runs. Both men cut their guiding teeth simultaneously on the Clearwater River, where Wyatt is one of the main operators. Idaho and Washington are exact opposites when it comes to guiding. It’s pretty much a free-for-all in the Evergreen State, while entries are severely limited in the Gem State. (JEFF HOLMES)
The impressive number of fish we would touch on this cold December morning in a nearly record-bad steelhead year demonstrated how a guide boat with as many as six anglers could have a significant impact on a fishery and the economy. The morning also showed us how Toby’s guide boat was instrumental in a research project measuring catchand-release steelhead mortality above Lower Granite Dam. Today that study and its surprising and heartening findings look like they may enable fisheries managers to more easily operate upriver steelhead seasons (see sidebar next page).
WE JUMPED ABOARD Wyatt’s big homemade sled at busy Heller Bar and started the morning with a brisk upriver run to prime side-drifting water. As Wyatt readied us to cast Corkies and baits amidst a grand Hells Canyon backdrop, he addressed my question about why he works with WDFW so regularly. “First, I agree with their mission of not letting steelhead go extinct,” said Wyatt. “Start with that. Second, while I don’t always 78 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
agree with the decisions that get made, I can’t bitch if I’m not involved. And the more involved I get, the more I understand the issues and see it’s all very complicated … WDFW has a really tough job.” Wyatt sits on WDFW’s Fishing Guide Advisory Board, which was created concurrent to the logbook rule to improve communication with the guide community. As a volunteer, he has filmed educational videos for WDFW aimed at helping his fellow guides use the logbook app (available at the Google and Apple Play stores or as an online form at guide .wdfw-fish.us/auth). He says it takes him about 30 seconds to log a day of fishing on the app by scanning his clients’ licenses with his cell phone. “I think we need to legitimize our industry,” said Wyatt as he released Landers’ first steelhead of the morning, a small buck that ate a side-drifted purple shrimp. “Frankly it’s an amazing way to make a living, and we need to be responsible and make sure we’re doing our fair share. We also need to understand what our impacts are to our local and state
economies. Right now all of that evidence is anecdotal, and we need to understand the economic impacts we are having.” “Logbooks accomplish these goals,” he added. “It would be easy in this state to see big and bad decisions made about the future of guiding because we can’t tell legislators more than that we have X number of guides who bought licenses in a given year.” WDFW was queried several years ago by state lawmakers to provide as much data as it could about the economic and conservation impacts from Washington’s sparsely documented but expansive pool of licensed fishing guides. They were able to provide one number: total licenses sold. That number today is 617, which is a formidable army of guides fishing in the geographically smallest state in the West but with the second largest population behind California. Add to that mix, 20-some tribes with treaty fishing rights, 14 endangered or threatened salmonid runs, increased competition for dwindling “gold rush” fisheries, and lots of complicated laws and politics. Logbooks at least give guides ground to stand on
NEWS when WDFW is inevitably asked again to account for the industry’s economic and conservation impacts.
WYATT MOVED US around several times
Three of the day’s 11 steelhead had a PIT, or passive integrated transponder, tag and were brought aboard to be sampled to help a research project seeking to measure catch-and-release mortality above the Snake River’s Lower Granite Dam. (JEFF HOLMES)
GUIDE HELPS WITH EYE-OPENING STEELHEAD C&R STUDY
I
n December 2019, Toby Wyatt was still helping a University of Idaho graduate student and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game with a collaborative study sampling tagged steelhead and releasing them to measure sportfishing impacts on wild and hatchery steelhead above Lower Granite Dam. According to IDFG’s Joe DuPont, Wyatt’s and several other guides’ contributions as sampling hubs for the study were instrumental to gaining a new understanding of the toughness of our upriver wild summer steelhead. The study’s three major findings were all somewhat surprising and hopeful. First, the study evaluated the wild-to-hatchery encounter rate above Lower Granite Dam. Previous assumptions held that wild fish were caught at the same rate as hatchery fish, but the study showed wild fish were encountered at lower rates. Second, the study estimated the catch-and-release mortality rate of 5 percent used by the IDFG to be reasonable if not on the high side. This is good news for fisheries managers and anglers alike. DuPont said, based on other studies, the main driver for increased mortality is often related to whether the fish gets deep-hooked or not. He indicated that steelhead aren’t bait inhalers like Chinook, which is why steelhead have much lower catch-and-release mortality rates. Length of fight is another factor that can influence mortality rate, he added. Third, wild steelhead in the study did not seem to experience higher mortality rates when they were caught more than once, which DuPont noted was “surprising and counter to logic.” Biologists will tell you a steelhead is a tough, resilient fish, and that is especially true as Snake River summer steelhead settle into cooler water and wintering patterns. The study’s results seem to suggest wild fish are tough and can be handled responsibly without incurring significantly higher mortality. Of the 11 steelhead we brought to hand and released that 2019 day in Hells Canyon, three set off the PIT tag reader and were brought aboard briefly for measurements and sampling, as was a small sturgeon with a PIT tag. I forgot to ask Wyatt exactly how many fish he had sampled for the study, but it was a lot. –JH
80 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
throughout the morning to find more fish, and he settled on the mouth of the Grande Ronde after a couple hours upriver, just as the sun lit up a shallow slot that usually holds steelhead. WDFW’s Donley hooked the next two of the morning out of that slot, one of which had a PIT tag and was brought aboard for sampling and a quick release. Donley is a former fishing guide himself who agonizes about closing fisheries in low-run years because of impacts to guides and communities. He has craved more robust data about the economic impacts of sportfishing throughout his career. So he drove the three hours from Spokane to help explain the agency’s position (in 2019), which has now matured in the form of a timeline they disseminated during the writing of this article in October 2021 (see previous page’s sidebar). It seems to indicate a more proactive enforcement approach could be coming. Both Donley and Landers had landed multiple steelhead and I had caught the boat’s only whitefish, pikeminnow and suckers, by late morning. Donley kindly took time off from teasing me to explain WDFW’s late-2019 position on logbooks as we fished. The legislature asked for data about fishing guiding and its economic and conservation impacts, and little was available. So the legislature and the Fish and Wildlife Commission both said this needed to change, and the logbook rule was passed to start to get a grip on guiding in Washington. It would go into effect on January 1, 2020, at first with WDFW Enforcement making educational contacts before enforcing the law through ticket writing. As we wrapped up the interview and dropped off Donley and Landers, I felt optimistic about what enforcement of the logbook rule would mean for the guiding industry and its perceived legitimacy. It had been a great boat ride with smart guys. I assumed my fishing day was over as well, but with zero steelhead caught, Wyatt felt sorry for me and took me to a downriver flat that surprisingly yielded five fish in a
2021 FishRite 21 Performer
The Fish Rite Performer 21’ is a multi purpose machine. Powered by a monster 250hp Yamaha, this boat is a flyer. The top is a rigid soft top. Pole holders and a spreader light are welded on top and it has nice big side trays to hold stuff. Three spring seats and a huge bench make the inside inviting for the whole family. Add the open bow into the equation and you have your family runabout covered as well. Dual batteries, floor fish box, transom fish box, transom door, washdown and dual batteries and switch. Get out on the water.
$69,995
2021 16’ Angler
Super huge 16’ Angler ready to hit the water. Powered by a 40hp Honda four stroke, this boat will get you there. Supported by a Karavan all welded trailer with LED lights. Options include the green paint inside and out. 15-gallon internal fuel tank. Electrical package with navigation lights, bilge pump, battery tray and switch panel with 12v plug. Get out on the water.
$20,995
9316 Portland Ave. E, Tacoma, WA, 98445 253-301-4013 • www.tacomaboatsales.com
NEWS row for me to close out the day! It was an unexpected series of thrills landing and releasing several hard-fighting specimens of my favorite fish. I followed up later that night with dinner and drinks at Hogan’s Pub in Clarkston, the coolest bar in Eastern Washington, set in the Lewis and Clark Valley’s original sporting goods store. I would reminisce about this day and night throughout the pandemic.
FLASH FORWARD TWO years to fall 2021. I learned from legendary West End guide Bob Kratzer (anglersguideservice.com) that as of late October, WDFW had not yet written a single ticket. “Currently WDFW Enforcement is not enforcing the rule and say it’s a nightmare for them to deal with,” said Kratzer. “If Enforcement doesn’t enforce the rule, we will get no data and no accountability.” WDFW confirmed that they have not yet written a ticket and were as yet unable to share how many educational contacts had been made in the field so far.
82 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
Several woeful returns of the A-run steelhead that make up the bulk of the Columbia return have meant much less opportunity for Snake River anglers. This day was a rare treat during a several-year span that has yielded mostly steelheading disappointments. Quantifying the economic impact of guiding and fisheries could lend the industry support before policymakers. (JEFF HOLMES)
Transform your boat. T8
UTILITY TOWER
T6
FISH & WAKE TOWER
T7
FISH & WAKE TOWER
BAREWEST HAS EXPANDED OUR CUSTOM PROJECT CAPACITY
WWW.BAREWEST.COM (503) 620-2195 18707 HWY 99E, HUBBARD, OR 97032
NEWS Kratzer sits on WDFW’s Guide Advisory Board alongside Wyatt and 10 other guides. Similar to Wyatt, he collaborates with WDFW and advocates for logbooks and for defining the industry with data. I interviewed Kratzer this fall after learning from him over text that WDFW had evidence of an extremely bad compliance rate from the guide community. “When WDFW says they are seeing a 42-percent compliance rate, that’s in reference to guides who have filled out at least one logbook entry since the rule took effect on the first day of 2020,” said Kratzer. “I know for a fact that only 12 guides have filled out 100 or more entries. Off the top of my head I could name 100 guides in Washington who guided more than 100 days this year. It’s pretty obvious something needs to be done to hold us accountable.” Kratzer, like Wyatt, is concerned about legitimizing the industry and having data to back it up. “No data supporting our impact means
risk of bad decisions in Olympia. If they ever do go limited entry and use the logbook data to measure use, those who filled out logbooks regularly could be less likely to be limited,” he said. This fall, during a follow-up interview to our December 2019 Snake River trip, Wyatt offered his thoughts on why the community has been so rampantly noncompliant. “Well, first they need to write some tickets or at least have a plan to enforce the rule. Covid hit and that had quite an impact for a while, but things in my boat have been back to pretty normal for quite a while, and I have no trouble filling out the app every day. It takes me maybe 30 seconds,” he reiterated, “and is really straightforward and your phone just scans it all. What the rule asks us guides to do is easy and fast and will lead to cleaning up the industry.” Wyatt – Toby to all who know him – is one of the best guides and businessmen in the game and does it all on the up and up, reporting all of his trips, charging
and paying sales tax, filling out his daily fishing logbook, and running a completely above-board business. Wyatt is a frequent donor to a wide range of causes and is also president of the Idaho River Community Alliance. He recently started a new chapter of the group in the Clearwater River drainage. “I believe strongly in giving back and being part of the decisions that get made, but I wasn’t always like this,” said Wyatt. “At some point quite a ways back I had a realization that in life there are givers and there are takers. It’s the same in all walks of life including the fishing guiding industry. At one point I asked myself if I was going to just take, take, take from the resource or be someone who tries to protect it and our way of life. Supporting logbooks is an example of something I feel strongly about because it is not only our responsibility to measure our impacts, but it will also be in our best future interests … We need to bring fishing guiding from out of the shadows.” NS
SAILFISH • MARLIN • YELLOWFIN TUNA WAHOO • DORADO • ROOSTER FISH
Family-Friendly Travel & Vacationing!
31’ LUHRS “GO FISH,”LOS SUENOS MARINA 10 minutes north of JACO, COSTA RICA Mark & Merry Coleman
US 425-736-8920
CR 506-4001-8430
WWW.CATCHFISHCOSTARICA.COM 84 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
MIXED BAG
Thieves Target Yakima Elk Camps By Andy Walgamott
A
man and woman from Northwest Washington were arrested early last month after allegedly stealing 10 rifles and shotguns, ammo, chainsaws and other hunting and camping gear from elk camps set up in western Yakima County – including after hunters had helped them change a flat tire their car got in the woods. The 37-year-old male suspect from La Conner, identified in county police and prosecutor records as Travis Robert Shipman, told sheriff’s deputies he was short on money and knew it was hunting season, so his plan was to steal as many rifles and other things from hunters as he could to resell them, according to arrest records obtained through a public records request. A felon with more than a dozen convictions, Shipman, sometimes known as Shipman-Lockrem, was arraigned in mid-November on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree and possession of a stolen firearm. He pled not guilty, his public defender indicated.
of a stolen firearm in mid-November. For many of us, deer, elk, bear or fish camp is a sanctuary from criminal activity, but this case shows that even the woods aren’t immune to the world’s ills. “This is another reminder to not leave firearms in unattended vehicles,” said the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies thanked the sharp-eyed hunter whose report helped crack the case involving six separate thefts from sportsmen. A campfire burns at a Washington hunting camp. (ANDY WALGAMOTT)
Shipman’s alleged accomplice, a 43-yearold Anacortes woman whose out-of-place silver two-door 2005 Mercedes CLK 500 had made hunters suspicious of the pair’s activities on opening weekend of Eastern Washington’s rifle elk season, said she was also short of money, records show. Identified as Nicole C. Thompson and also a felon, she was arraigned on two counts of possession
THE SUSPECTS’ ARREST occurred the afternoon of November 1. A deputy spotted their car on Highway 12 west of Yakima while on the phone with a Pierce County hunter reporting that his truck had been broken into and his New England Firearms .410, along with an ax, had been taken the night before, as had the .410 of his buddy camped next to him. The light shotguns were likely brought to hunt grouse; with Washington’s 2021 opener moved back two weeks, more birds were expected to be
JACKASS OF THE MONTH
W
hen a trespasser shot a three-point buck that two hunters were pursuing on their own fenced, posted property, they put a picture of the unidentified man on blast and social media did the rest. Per an Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division post, the woman and her son were hunting for the blacktail on the family’s land in the rolling hills between Yamhill and Henry Hagg Lake on October 30 when the man shot the deer from or beside a local lane. He then climbed over
their fence and tried to haul the buck off before being confronted by the hunters. After refusing to identify himself to them, the man climbed back over the fence and got into a truck driven by another person and the duo took off. While the hunters couldn’t get a license plate, they had two aces up their sleeves: 1) a call to state wildlife troopers; and 2) pictures they’d taken of the man and which they posted on social media. OSP uses the word “quickly” to describe how long it took interweb sleuths to
identify the mystery gunman as one Kyle J. Bowser of Portland. During a chat with troopers Bowser and his father Dennis Bowser allegedly admitted that Kyle had shot the deer and Dennis drove the rig. It led to criminal citations for Kyle of hunting the cultivated/enclosed lands of another and two counts of reckless endangerment, while Dennis was criminally cited for aiding in a wildlife offense. The Remington 770 .300 Win. Mag. used to shoot the buck was also seized. And OSP reports that Turn In a Poacher program rewards are pending in the case.
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 87
MIXED BAG around during deer and elk seasons. The hunter’s report got the deputy’s attention because it followed on a flurry of similar cases from the Rimrock area, including two from earlier that same day involving six firearms taken from hunting camps and two cases from the day before. The hunter told the deputy that on Halloween day he and fellow hunters had noticed a Mercedes near their camp north of Tieton Dam. He stated that someone from their camp had also helped take a flat tire off the sedan and mount the spare. According to the hunter’s statement, that night his father had heard a “commotion” and the next morning he discovered his axe had apparently been taken from a tent at his camp and used to break into his truck. Afterwards he drove around and found the Mercedes at a campsite on a Forest Service road south of the dam, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office. A peek inside revealed his shotgun. Not wanting to scare the suspects off, he left to call 911, per arrest reports. When he
returned to the site, the car was gone. But as the deputy sat along Highway 12 taking the report, by a stroke of luck he saw it drive past eastbound with two people inside. He began following it, but with the possibility that the duo were armed, he called in backup and a guns-drawn stop was made by multiple officers just inside Yakima city limits. In the rear seat of the Mercedes was a Stihl 461 chainsaw that matched the description from one of the morning’s case reports. Also inside the vehicle were three pairs of binoculars and other hunting equipment, along with needles and burnt foil and spoons, police report. According to arrest papers, Thompson initially stated that she and Shipman were meeting with friends to camp for a week, but she could neither describe who the friends were nor where they were meeting. Told that a hunter had seen his stolen property in her vehicle, Thompson began to change her tune, claiming she was just the driver and that Shipman had stolen 10 guns
and other gear from hunting camps near Rimrock, police papers allege. She said most of the hunting stuff was back at their camp.
AT THAT CAMP, the Pierce County hunter reported to deputies he’d found his .410, axe and buddy’s shotgun inside the suspect’s blue tent. What’s more, there were also eight rifles, including a Ruger American .30-06 that belonged to a Grandview hunter, plus a chainsaw, axes, knives and other gear in view. Hanging in a tree was a rangefinder reported stolen and worth an estimated $1,800, the arrest report states. With a search warrant for the tent, deputies recovered the rifles, all of which matched those reported stolen in the area, plus bags with ammo and other hunting gears. While the hunters had taken their .410s back before officers arrived, arrest reports state that all the guns were seized as evidence because Shipman had 13 felony convictions, including home burglary. Skagit County records show Shipman began serving a 25-month sentence in July 2012.
ASTORIA MAN CITED FOR POACHING
A
pair of Astoria residents helped fish and wildlife troopers solve a midfall deer poaching case involving a crossbow, night vision gear and an apparent repeat offender. On October 10, one resident reported a wounded blacktail buck in their yard and when Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division Sergeant Joe Warwick investigated, he discovered while skinning the mortally wounded animal that it had been shot with either an arrow or a bolt. The next day, a dogged Senior Trooper Greg Schuerger returned to the scene and found a blood trail after a “lengthy search.” It led to a residence where a homeowner was able to give him a“detailed description” of a man who had been in the resident’s yard the previous evening, reportedly with night vision binoculars. That resident not only provided the trooper with a picture of the subject, but gave him a vehicle description as well. With that information, troopers began to suspect someone who in March 2016
88 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
An Astoria resident’s photograph allegedly shows a local deer poaching suspect inside city limits. (OSP)
had pled no contest to shooting a deer inside Astoria city limits the previous fall. That man, James Lee Ogier, Jr., then 20, was sentenced to 80 hours of community service, had to forfeit his gun, had his hunting license suspended for three years and was placed on probation for 18 months, according to the Daily Astorian. Very early the morning of October
17, Ogier’s vehicle was spotted by a local police officer, who called Schuerger. Both responded and contacted Ogier, who allegedly admitted to having just shot a deer, though he denied shooting the buck the previous week. However, after leading the officers to that night’s deer for salvaging, Ogier allegedly told them he’d also shot the buck but couldn’t find it. OSP reported that his vehicle had been seen in the vicinity afterwards. Schuerger cited Ogier criminally with 10 total counts of unlawful take of a deer, use of a prohibited method, hunting in a prohibited area and during prohibited hours, and trespassing. Ogier’s crossbow, night vision and spotlight were all seized for evidence. “It often takes public assistance to catch a criminal,” said OSP troopers in a press release. The agency and Oregon Hunters Association offer either cash rewards or preference points for those who provide information leading to an arrest or citation.
Sure, we’d be happy to pinch you, but trust us, you’re not dreaming!
FOR SALE
IDAHO OUTFITTING OPERATION Near the Canadian Border
• HUNTING • FISHING • RAFTING • TRAIL RIDING • BOATING • MORE! IN FOUR PRIME AREAS OF THE IDAHO PANHANDLE GARY STUEVE*, owner and operator of 3-Heart Outfitters, is retiring and seeking a qualified buyer who appreciates this rare opportunity. Because all but the early eight years of his lifetime have been spent living, working, and learning this exceptional part of the world north of Bonners Ferry within 15 miles of the Canadian border, the buyer should expect to be vetted on many levels that include philosophies pro-Second Amendment, pro-hunting, and pro-freedom. In addition, the buyer will have a conservative’s view of wildlife appreciation and management. Here are details unique to the 3-Heart Outfitters’ operation:
• Permit. The hunting areas are exclusive to this permit. • Species include trophy-quality moose, elk, whitetail, mule deer, mountain goat, cougar, black bear, wolf, predator hunting and forest grouse; • Activities are innumerable: Hunting (both rifle and archery), Moyie River rafting, boating the Kootenai, fly fishing rivers/lakes/streams, trail riding, sightseeing, and more—limited only by the season and your imagination; • Purchase the turnkey operation or select from certain activities in specified areas. Will work with a menu to meet the Buyer’s needs; • Get a grip. Known world-wide for his Experience, Talent and Reputation, Gary himself will give The Buyer a working understanding of the area and its wildlife; • Serious inquiries only, please. We’ve neither time nor energy for lookie-loos. Chances are good we’re out enjoying God’s Country with our clients.
Parties with serious interest, please contact: Gary Stueve, 3-Heart Outfitters, 2765 Turner Hill Road, Bonners Ferry, Idaho 83805 Lodge: 208-267-5858 • Direct: 208-597-5182 • 3HeartOutfitters@gmail.com • www.3heartoutfitters.net Check us out on Facebook to see what we’re up to today. Licensed under the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Board with permits through the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Insured and under bond in the State of Idaho. License #13330. (The Kaniksu National Forests: Purcells, Selkirks, and Cabinets.)
HUNTING • FISHING • RAFTING • TRAIL RIDES • Located in beautiful Bonners Ferry, Idaho • Over 125 years of experience in the area • HUNT elk, deer, bear, mountian lion, and wolves in the Northern Rockies • FISH for rainbow trout on the Kootenai River
3 Heart Outfitters 2765 Turner Hill Bonners Ferry, ID
208-267-5858 3heartoutfitters.net AN IDAHO BRAND IN THE MAKING SINCE 1889 nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 89
Your Complete Marine Parts & Service Center
Boats • Motors • Service • Boat Storage MAIN (425) 252-3088 | LAUNCH (425) 339-8330 | 1111 Craftsman Way, Everett, WA 98201
Chinook Hangs On For King-sized Payday
By Andy Walgamott
A
big early-season Chinook Girl within three days of each other. held on to win the $10,000 But August was where it was at for the grand prize in the annual derby-winning coho and albacore, yielding Westport Charterboat Rod Jorstad of Olympia $1,500 Association Derby. and Robert Reeves of Yelm Larry Tsunoda of $1,000, respectively. They Shoreline caught his caught theirs off the Monte 27.65-pounder (gilled Carlo, skippered by former and gutted weight) way Washington Department of back on June 29 aboard Fish and Wildlife director Phil the Gold Rush and it Larry Tsunoda Anderson, and the Fury. wasn’t until mid-August and his $10,000 The derby is open for that another king even Westport charter customers who buy Charterboat came remotely close. tickets before their trip on the Derby-winning June was also good 27.65-pound Pacific. Nearly all of this year’s for Auburn angler Jason Chinook. (WESTPORT daily and weekly winners Thompson, who scored WEIGHMASTER) came from Washington, but $1,500 for the season’s a few hailed from as far away biggest lingcod, a 39.75-pounder, and as Missoula, Minnesota and even North Olympia’s Ed Chapin, catcher of the Carolina. The Slammer carried the most daily fattest flattie, a 71.70-pounder worth winners, primarily in the lingcod category. $1,000. Both were caught on the Hula For more, see charterwestport.com.
Over 600 upriver brights were brought in during late October’s King of the Reach live-capture derby on the Columbia River’s Hanford Reach, an effort to keep Priest Rapids Hatchery stock genetics as close to wild spawners as possible. Jason and Melissa Leonard won by turning in 34 of the fall Chinook over three days of fishing, followed by Jason Bryan with 33 and John Plughoff with 23. KOTR is a collaboration of the Grant County Public Utilities District, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Coastal Conservation Association Washington. WDFW gave a special shoutout to all the anglers who signed up for the “conservation aspect” of the event. (WDFW)
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 93
OUTDOOR
CALENDAR* DECEMBER
1
General Eastern Oregon fall turkey hunting season in Desolation, Murderers Creek and Northside Units and southeastern corner of Heppner Unit switches to only open on private lands with permission 1-9 Tentative razor clam digs scheduled on select Washington Coast beaches – info: wdfw.wa.gov 1-15 Extended pheasant season at select Western Washington release sites (no birds stocked) 2 Oregon Zone 2 duck and scaup season resumes 5 Last day of Oregon South Coast Zone early goose season 8 Last day of numerous Washington archery and muzzleloader deer and elk seasons 11 Washington Goose Management Area 1 reopener 14 Oregon High Desert and Blue Mountains Zones Canada goose season resumes 15 Last day of numerous Washington archery and muzzleloader deer and elk seasons 15-23 Tentative razor clam digs scheduled on select Washington Coast beaches – info: see above 18 Oregon South Coast Zone goose season resumes 30-31 Tentative razor clam digs scheduled on select Washington Coast beaches – info: see above 31 Last day to hunt pheasants in Oregon; Last day of Eastern Washington general fall turkey hunting season; End of Oregon and Idaho fishing and hunting license years
JANUARY 1
New Oregon and Idaho fishing and hunting licenses required; Blackmouth fishing opens in Washington Marine Area 10; Washington late cougar season opens 8 First of 14 brant goose hunting days in Pacific County (others: 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29 and 30) 10 Deadline to file Washington big game report for incentive permit eligibility 15 NEW – last day of Washington grouse season; First of three brant goose hunting days in Clallam and Whatcom Counties (others: 19, 22) and first of two in Skagit County (other: 22; more possible based on aerial counts) 16 Oregon High Desert and Blue Mountains Zones late white and whitefronted goose opener 17 Last day to hunt partridge, quail and pheasant in Eastern Washington 21-23 Tri-Cities Sportsmen Show, HAPO Center – info: shuylerproductions.com 23 Last day to hunt ducks in Oregon Zone 2 30 Last day to hunt ducks and scaup in Oregon Zone 1; Last day to hunt Canada geese in Blue Mountains, High Desert and Mid-Columbia Zones, all geese in Southwest Zone and white and white-fronted geese in Mid Columbia Zone 31 Deadline to file mandatory hunter reports in Washington and Oregon; Last day to hunt upland birds in Oregon and Idaho; Last day to hunt ducks and geese in Idaho Area 1; Last day to fish for trout, salmon and/or steelhead on many Western Washington river systems * With Covid-19 restrictions in flux, always confirm public events before attending. nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 95
WE HAVE REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR:
Billet Bearing Housing
• AMERICAN TURBINE • DOMINATOR • LEGEND • BERKELEY • OEM JACUZZI • JACUZZI ENERGIZER • HAMILTON 212
SD231 SUPER DUTY The new SD231 has 430 pounds more pulling force than the HJ212
HAMILTON HJ-212 REPAIR PARTS Manufactured by American Turbine
Mention This Ad & Get
10% OFF Retail Hamilton Parts Only
Impeller Nut
Cutlass Bearing
212 Seal Face Housing
THE POWER IS IN THE PUMP
(509) 243-5387 • www.americanturbine.com nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 97
Custom Boat Trailers Reliable Quality Service & Craftsmanship For Over 50 Years!
• NMMA Certified • All Steel Weld Frame, Fenders & Bunks • 2 YEAR WARRANTY
343 Thain Rd., Lewiston, Idaho • www.gateway-materials.com • 208-743-0720
98 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
FISHING
Take A Drive For Trips Lunker rainbows to be had in Rufus Woods, along with overlooked walleye. By Mark Yuasa
N
estled in rugged Northcentral Washington, Rufus Woods Reservoir on the Columbia River between Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dams has evolved into an exciting wintertime fishery where rainbow trout are known to grow to record-size proportions. “It is a good winter opportunity for boat and shore anglers with rainbow trout averaging 2 to 6 pounds, but it’s not unusual to see them hitting the high teens and up to 20 pounds,” says Chad Jackson, a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fisheries biologist in Ephrata. The Colville Confederated Tribes are the key players, producing the rainbow trout that contribute to this year-round sport fishery, located along a 51-mile stretch of “big water” between the towns of Bridgeport and Coulee Dam. These hatchery-raised fish are known as “triploids” because they’re sterile with three sets of chromosomes, instead of the normal two of diploid fish. In the right setting, triploids grow rapidly since they don’t reproduce, and they are hyper focused on eating to their heart’s content. The body shape of a triploid is odd. Instead of streamlined, they resemble a football – imagine a sumo wrestler on steroids – plus their girth makes them a much stronger fighter when hooked. This year, more than 64,000 triploids were released through May, and each averaged 1.7 pounds. “These fish produced good fishing all summer, but should be even better
Rufus Woods Lake is well known for its triploid rainbow trout, with some growing to seriously stout sizes. Northcentral Washington fishing expert Dave Graybill shows off one he caught at the Columbia River impoundment last December. (DAVE GRAYBILL)
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 99
FISHING this winter,” says Dave Graybill, a long-time fishing media personality in Central Washington and former WDFW commissioner.
RUFUS WOODS GOT the attention of anglers in the 1990s when large numbers of fish escaped commercial net pens there. The popularity eventually led to a joint effort in 2007 by the tribe and WDFW to purchase additional triploids to raise and release in the reservoir to increase the frequency of sport catches. The tribe is also contracted with Pacific Seafoods, a wholesale seafood distributor in the Pacific Northwest, that sells net pen-raised fish to restaurants. The three net pens produce about 14 million pounds annually, and since the fish don’t reproduce, any accidental release shouldn’t jeopardize native trout stocks. Excess releases occurred in the spring of 2011 during a heavy runoff when nitrogen built up near the pens and would’ve led to a fish die-off. Another time a net pen broke apart due to high water, leading to around 100,000 escaping. The reservoir takes until late November or December for water temperatures to drop below 60 degrees. That triggers a metabolism switch in
WHEN YOU GO
Regs: The daily limit is two rainbow trout including kokanee with no size restrictions, and eight walleye, minimum size 12 inches and only one over 22 inches. Chumming is not allowed. Bait: When using bait or scent, all trout are counted as part of a daily limit, whether kept or released. It’s encouraged to use artificial lures or flies with single barbless hooks if intending to release fish, and only release uninjured fish. Fish hooked in the gills or tongue generally die after release. License: At Rufus Woods or within the Colville Designated Fishing Areas, either a tribal permit or WDFW license is acceptable. A WDFW license is required when fishing from the Douglas County shoreline. Fishing advice: Dave Graybill’s website, fishingmagician.com, has a wealth of information. Distance: It is 311 miles from Seattle to Bridgeport, and takes about 3 hours and 40 minutes in light traffic; from the Tri-Cities it’s 120 miles and three hours; and from Spokane it’s around 92 miles and 110 minutes to Seatons Grove. In the winter it’s wise to be prepared for hazardous road conditions. Traction or studded snow tires are a must, and pack extra clothing and emergency roadside equipment. Accommodations, camping: Look for campsites and resorts at Bridgeport State Park; Marina Park; Rocky Flats; Rainbow Beach Resort; and on the CCT Reservation. You can find numerous hotels and motels in nearby Brewster, Pateros, Inchelium, Omak, Grand Coulee, Wenatchee, Lake Chelan, Winthrop, Leavenworth and Ephrata. Sightseeing: Chief Joseph Dam is located just above the town of Bridgeport, and is where Highway 17 crosses the Columbia River. It is the second largest hydropowerproducing dam in the United States, and operated by the Army Corps of Engineers. The single powerhouse is over a third of a mile long and holds 27 house-sized turbines that generate enough power to supply the entire Seattle metropolitan area. The orientation area has interpretive displays, picture-taking areas and brochures. –MY
the fish, making them more active and easier to catch. By spring, snowmelt from the Upper Columbia in Canada drops the temperature to below 40 degrees, and they become listless. The reputation of Rufus Woods is
Along with bank fishing access at the commercial net pens on the Colville Reservation side of the reservoir, there’s also a new boat launch, adding to ramps at Seatons Grove on the upper end and Bridgeport on the lower. (DAVE GRAYBILL)
100 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
well known since the long-standing Washington state record rainbow was caught here almost two decades ago. “An interesting factoid is the state record for a rainbow has been broken four times at Rufus Woods, and three
FISHING
Bill Stanley and Cory Hovanec smile over a Rufus Woods winter triple haul of triploids, walleye and burbot. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
happened in the month of February and the other during the last week of January,” says Graybill. The current state record is a 29.60-pound fish caught at Rufus Woods on November 11, 2002, by Norm Butler. That knocked off the two previous records of 25.45 pounds and 25.75 pounds, which were both set in the late 1990s.
AS FOR WHERE to go, two bank areas with the most foot traffic are just outside of Bridgeport around Willow Flats and Bridgeport State Park above Chief Joseph Dam. It is an easy spot to reach by taking Highway 97 north from Wenatchee through Brewster, and then the turnoff for Bridgeport. These two park locations have boat launches, parking and easy fishing access, plus there are fire pits, picnic tables, restrooms and mobility accessible sites. Brandt’s Landing on federal national wildlife land is a top shoreline choice, and is located 7.9 miles from the turnoff at the bridge below Chief Joseph Dam. Here you’ll find about eight bank fishing access areas, along with fire pit boxes (bring your own 102 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
firewood), pads for RVs and restrooms. Less-frequented bank fishing spots can be reached by heading east on Highway 2 to Banks Lake and north on Highway 155 to Coulee Dam. To the north of Coulee Dam is the town of Nespelem on the Colville Reservation. Just beyond the Trading Post gas station is a fairground where you take a left turn. The road winds down to the river at the Tim’s Ranch property. Access to the shoreline on reservation land near the net pens is allowed through the CCT. The whole northern shoreline requires a tribal permit to fish. There are boat launches at Tim’s Ranch and Coyote Creek, and these are the closest to the net pens. An annual permit to fish or use facilities on the reservation is $80. To buy a permit, visit colville.nagfa .net/online/ or colvilletribes.com. A map of Rufus Woods can be found at cct-fnw.com/program-1. At the top end of the reservoir is a boat ramp at Seatons Grove, located near Elmer City below Grand Coulee Dam. It is about 8 miles from the upper net pen. “The upper pen (45 miles upstream
from Chief Joseph Dam) is where you’ll see the majority of traffic. What a lot of folks do is space themselves between the shore and net pens,” Graybill says. “If that area completely fills up, they’ll anchor just below the net pen in very deep water (50 to 60 feet).” You shouldn’t secure a boat to the net pens themselves, and be aware of anchor cables so you don’t get hung up. Fish are attracted to the readily available food source, hatchery pellets, leaching out of the net pens. Boaters can find good success by trolling across the edge of the net pen’s bottom corner and work upstream and downstream, but make sure you’re outside of the buoy that marks the snaggy anchor cables. The lower net pen is about 33 miles above Chief Joseph Dam, and the middle net pen is closest to the mouth of Nespelem Creek, where a flat is located. You’ll see many fly and bank anglers in this area.
MOST ANGLERS USE a steelhead-type spinning or casting rod and reel when they’re fishing off the bank. They use either PowerBait, Pautzke’s Fire
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 103
FISHING Bait or a similar dough bait in red, orange, pink or green, or a similarly colored marshmallow and shrimp or nightcrawler combo, as their preferred baits. You can toss a heavier slip sinker to ensure your rigging sticks on the bottom, depending on currents, along with a heavy leader. “These fish aren’t overly smart and you don’t need a sophisticated setup to catch them,” Jackson says. “Be sure to scent up your lure. People toss jigs below a float and drift with the current, or troll hoochies, FlatFish or a smaller crankbait in green or chartreuse.” Some prefer to slowly work the shoreline, tossing a black Rooster Tail with a shiny silver blade toward the bank and slowly reeling it in. To cover more water switch to a small baited jig and a slip bobber. Tip the jig with a shrimp cured in red, orange or pink Fire Pro Cure or add a kernel or two of Fire Corn. Trollers use a variety of lures and plugs like a Rapala, Yakima Bait Mag Lip, Flicker Shad, Wiggle Wart, FlatFish or Kwikfish in bright orange
or fire tiger. Flat-lining a plug catches a decent share, and some opt for Double Whammies or Wedding Rings laced with a nightcrawler. Others use a Ross Swimmer Tail, which was developed by Ernie Ross for commercial salmon fishing in British Columbia and is similar to a Hot Spot Apex Lure. Trolling 1 to 2 mph with a large Woolly Bugger fly behind a Wiggle Fin action disc on the surface about 100 yards behind the boat just off the shoreline is a fun way to hook them too. The action isn’t determined by time of day, so you don’t no need to be out at the crack of dawn or evenings before sunset. The bite is usually a function of a decent flow controlled by the dams. When the flow is low and slow, the fishing often takes a nosedive. The impossibility of knowing whether the dams are releasing water to generate power or holding it back during the winter makes it difficult to plan a trip in advance.
While the fishing can warm you up, be ready for winter conditions if you make the journey to this relatively remote region of the Northwest. (DAVE GRAYBILL) 104 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
MANY DON’T KNOW that Rufus Woods is also a hotbed for walleye in the winter and you can simply use the same gear as you would for trout. “You don’t see many people targeting the walleye, which is odd since there’s a lot of them,” says Graybill. “I’ll go with bottom bouncers and spinners, and troll downstream and upstream just below the net pens. Jigs are another option. It is snaggy in these areas, so plan on losing some gear. But keep in the mind the reward is catching a nice mix of walleye and triploids.” Look for walleye in the protected seams just off the fast current or calmer water areas where they hunker down and wait for a meal to pass by. If you launch your boat at Seatons Grove, stop at the little backwaters behind the big island and the leeward side of Split Rock. The jig of choice for walleye is a 3/8-ounce leadhead jig with a No. 3 curly tail; tip it off with a small piece of worm. Coldwater walleye aren’t very active, and watch your fishfinder to stay on top of them. NS
Fishing for Walleye, Trout, Pike, Pan Fish, Bass, Stripers, Salmon and Whitefish with Bay de Noc Lures
WWW.BAYDENOCLURE.COM Dealer Inquires Welcome!
FULL SERVICE BOAT & MOTOR REPAIR
• MAINTENANCE • QUALITY SERVICE • COMPETITIVE PRICING
We services all varieties of motors, engines & drive types with particular expertise in early model I/O’s.
vulcanmarineservice.com
503-635-3626 Only 18 Minutes from Lake Oswego.
18707 OR-99E, Suite B Hubbard, Oregon 97032 nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 105
OREGON
WASHINGTON
CLACKAMAS Portland Marine & Electronics (503) 922-3259 www.pdxmarine.com
GARIBALDI Greg’s Marine Service (503) 322-3643 www.gregsmarineservice.com
CHINOOK Chinook Marine Repair, Inc. (800) 457-9459 • (360) 777-8361 www.chinookmarinerepair.com
PASCO Northwest Marine and Sport (509) 545-5586 www.nwmarineandsport.com
CULVER Culver Marine (541) 546-3354 www.culvermarine.com
PORTLAND Sportcraft Marina, Inc. (503) 656-6484 www.sportcraftmarina.com
EVERETT Boat Country (800) 697-4252 www.boatcountry.com
SEATTLE Rick’s Master Marine, Inc. (206) 762-0741 www.ricksmastermarine.com
MOUNT VERNON Tom-n-Jerry’s Boat Center, Inc. (360) 466-9955 www.tomnjerrys.net
TACOMA King Salmon Marine, Inc. (253) 830-2962 www.kingsalmonmarine.com
FLORENCE Y Marina (541) 590-3313 www.ymarinaboats.com
106 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
TACOMA Tacoma Boat Sales & Service (253) 301-4013 www.tacomaboatsales.com
REPOWER TIME! ALL BOATS POWERED BY HONDA MOTORS
9316 Portland Ave. E Tacoma, WA, 98445 253-301-4013 www.tacomaboatsales.com Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual. 2021 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. ®
FISHING
Fall is a fantastic time to fish Lake Pend Oreille for its trophy Gerrard rainbow trout and the very best time for the North Idaho lake’s biggest fish in numbers. Travis Miller led a local derby there with this nearly 24-pounder, released per event rules. In December and throughout winter, the fish only get bigger but definitely bite less often. December is a great time to read about fishing the lake or to hire a guide or tag along with an experienced angler on the lake. (TRAVIS MILLER)
It’s The Good Ol’ Days For LPO ’Bows Big fall catches highlight resurgent fishery tied to kokanee population.
By Jeff Holmes
T
ravis Miller, Carrie Kadish and Rick Caven deployed a spread of 10 bucktail flies as Lake Pend Oreille’s most storied and oldest trophy Gerrard rainbow trout derby kicked off
at 7 a.m. on October 30 of this year. The Sandpoint anglers watched their two planer boards jumping along in the chop of Idaho’s biggest and deepest lake at 3 mph, 160 feet to both the port and starboard. The planers spread the anglers’ skipping flies across
hundreds of feet of water in pursuit of line-shy rainbows eating kokanee. Choppy water makes the lake’s biggest rainbows feel safer at the surface, their preferred location for hunting. Conditions were perfect for the lake’s biggest fish to be on the feed. nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 109
FISHING
Lake Pend Oreille is still home to the world’s biggest wild rainbow trout ever landed on rod and reel, a 37-pounder taken in 1947. Rick Caven’s 31-pound 12-ounce fish, caught in late October, is the biggest confirmed fish since 1947 and by the far the largest ever recorded in a derby at the lake. (TRAVIS MILLER)
Hopes were especially high for this year’s Captn’s Table Bar and Restaurant (208-265-6351) Halloween Rainbow Derby due to a trend of increasingly large wild Gerrards over the past few years and especially this summer and fall. The good old days of Pend Oreille fishing are now, owed in part to excellent management and a resulting past decade of sustained, robust kokanee populations. All of Lake Pend Oreille’s trophy fisheries depend on kokanee, but none more so than the rainbows. When kokanee abundance is good, rainbows do especially well, and right now kokanee are both large and numerous. 2021 has seemed to be an unusually good big-fish year with lots of specimens topping 20 pounds. In fact, the day before the two-day Halloween derby, a confirmed 29-plus-pound rainbow was retained on Pend Oreille. Confirmed fish pushing 30 are very
The Salmon & Steelhead spinners & spoons that Fishermen can rely on every time for high quality and dependability. You can find these incredible American made lures at these fine sporting goods stores, Sportco, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Fisherman’s Marine and Englund Marine or at
mcomiescustomlures.com
mcomiescustomlures.com | 971-271-3860 110 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 111
FISHING rare, whereas anglers’ exaggerations about such fish abound. Fish exceeding 30 pounds are far rarer yet, and documented historical specimens topping this mark can be counted on both hands.
TEN MINUTES INTO this year’s derby, before the sun had even crested the mountains looming above Pend Oreille’s eastern shore, the drag of one of the Daiwa Saltist linecounter reels started paying out a little of its 1,800 feet of 12-pound Ande mono. The team had hooked a shaker, a 3-pound rainbow that Caven stepped up to land as a guest on Miller’s and Kadish’s boat. Then another rod went off immediately, resulting in a 5-pound rainbow Kadish landed. With that early double released and all 10 rods trolling again, it took only minutes for another rod to go off and for Miller to be reeling in what would
112 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
prove to be a 22-inch brown trout. Before they could get the brown to the net for release, one of the Saltists exploded and a fish of a much larger size class peeled off line. It was Caven’s turn again to grab the rod, and it wasn’t long after pulling it from the rod holder that he realized this was a very large fish. It didn’t make one of the classic super-long runs Gerrards often make – sometimes 500 feet – but it pulled the line off the clip and spent a full 15 minutes 360 feet from the boat without budging at all except to shake its head. After 15 minutes the fish gave ground, only to peel out many more feet than had been gained. After 40 minutes of gains and losses, Caven got the fish to 38 feet on the linecounter, only to have it run back to 130 feet. This dance continued several more times until the fish gave up the fight and was netted after a full hour
fight. A large percentage of Gerrards get lost at the net, so once the biggest rainbow any of three anglers had ever seen was hoisted over the rail, anxiety lifted. It was high fives and screaming and jumping … fading to collective disbelief. Caven asked, “How big do you think it is?” Independently each thought the fish looked 30 pounds, but no one would utter it. The group agreed to get the fish in the live well and to the scales as soon as possible. As Miller slipped the behemoth rainbow into the live well of his custom Willie Nemesis, he first pulled out a few bananas with a smile. The night before while preparing their derby tackle, Miller, Kadish and Caven had discovered and removed a few dozen bananas from the boat that a friendly competitor had stuck in every nook and cranny. Once back to the Captn’s Table, the team negotiated icy docks and
INLAND BOATS & MOTORS
SERVING YOU SINCE 1975
111 N. Kittitas St. Ellensburg, WA 509-925-1758 • M-F 9-5pm
inlandboatsandmotors.com
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 113
FISHING To be clear, trophy-sized rainbows are rare at Lake Pend Oreille; newspaper clippings log big ones of previous decades. The trout are closely tied to the population of kokanee, on which they primarily feed up high in the water column. Anglers use large baitfish-imitating “flies” and planer boards to target them. (TRAVIS MILLER)
fears of dropping the fish in the drink but made it safely to the scale. They stared on in disbelief when it registered 31.75 pounds, or 31 pounds, 12 ounces! Mary and the crew at the Captn’s Table informed them it was the biggest in the history of the derby. The team has since learned the fish is the largest ever weighed in a derby at the lake. So 114 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
far, no one seems able to document a larger rainbow taken from Pend Oreille since 1947.
ONCE A FISHERY in peril due to collapsed kokanee population and an overabundance of lake trout, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s decades-long efforts to revive and sustainably manage Pend Oreille’s
kokanee and trophy trout have been outstanding. Next spring, Northwest Sportsman will follow up with IDFG fisheries biologist Andy Dux and expert Pend Oreille anglers to discuss the current state of the coldwater and warmwater fishery and strategies for success on what Dux acknowledges may be the current North American champion for best overall trophy lake fishery. It’s tough to imagine that the continent’s best lake fishing could be in North Idaho, but consider the facts. The lake is of course home to rainbows over 30 pounds, including the world record from 1947, but it’s also home to the world record bull trout of 32 pounds, caught in 1949. Early this year, a reported 30-pound bull was caught and released as part of Idaho’s new catch-and-release record-keeping program. Add to the mix a small population of trophy lake trout reaching or exceeding 30 pounds, trophy brown trout with potential for fish over 20 pounds, westslope cutthroat trout as big as they come, and lots of fat kokanee that vary by year but that reached 14 inches in 2021. Meanwhile, the lake has a robust population of smallmouth that reach 6 pounds, walleye to 14 to 16 pounds and pike to over 30 pounds. NS
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 115
DESTINATION ALASKA
Lots, all sizes & locations $19K to $289.5K
Home &Two-Unit Guest House $425K - North Thorne Bay
The Karta Lodge $200K - Kasaan
Water-View Home w/Separate Guest Quarters $300K - Craig
View Cabin & Garage $275K - Coffman Cove
Home, Shop & Small RV Park $200K - Whale Pass
View Home & Garage $425K - North Thorne Bay
Developed Industrial Property $150K - Edna Bay
Large 2-unit Fixer & Cabins $225K - South Thorne Bay
BROKER,
PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND REALTY LLC CELL 219-781-1825 | OFFICE & FAX 907-826-6600 EMAIL chucksrealestate@yahoo.com
www.AlaskaIslandRealty.com
DESTINATION ALASKA
DESTINATION ALASKA
DESTINATION ALASKA
DESTINATION ALASKA
BIG BLUE CHARTERS Saltwater Fishing Excitement! Allow us to put a smile on your face!
• Est. 1994 • Day trips and cruise ship trips • All inclusive multi-day trips • All local captains and crew • 5 fish around heated BAMF boats
907-747-5161 • BIGBLUECHARTERS.COM
DESTINATION ALASKA
DESTINATION ALASKA
REVOLUTIONARY NEW 2-PIECE NAS3 CASE TECHNOLOGY: 50% LIGHTER THAN BRASS Coated Aluminum Base
High Tensile Nickel-Alloy Cylinder
• Less wear on ejector pin • Can be color coded for ID/branding
• 2 x pressure rating (over 70k PSI) • Higher tensile strength and elasticity • Corrosion resistant • Reloadable using S3 Reload dies
MORE
WWW.SHELLSHOCKTECH.COM
CA LIB
E
UNLOADED CASES AVAILABLE FROM SHELL SHOCK SOON... TECHNOLOGIES. 9MM CASES AVAILABLE NOW, ING M OTHER CALIBERS COMING SOON. CO SEE WEBSITE FOR MANUFACTURERS S R OF LOADED AMMO
.. .
COLUMN With fond memories of chasing valley quail with a Christmas 20-gauge as a lad, author Jason Brooks will take to the field this month to work ravines, lowlands and farmfield edges in hopes of flushing topknots, ringnecks, chukars and Huns. (JASON BROOKS)
A Covey Of Upland Ops H
unting upland birds, especially quail, during the late season holds a special place for me. I was 12 years old that NW PURSUITS Christmas morning By Jason Brooks when I was given a single-shot 20-gauge and a box of shells. The next day my father drove me to a deep canyon where he dropped me off and said he would pick me up at the bottom three hours later. As I hiked down the slopes and into the draw that had a small creek running in it, I noticed fresh quail tracks. The birds were huddled under snow-covered sagebrush and as I kicked those white bushes and clouds of snow drifted into the air, the small birds flushed out the backside. It is this memory that floats through my mind each winter as snow falls and the end of upland bird season nears. Indeed, when the white stuff flies in December, it
is a good time to get out and find some birds. Unlike in the heat of the early season, when birds gather around water sources or along thick draws, the winter wonderland often has them grouped up and near food sources. Look to areas that have milo, grains, cheatgrass, seeding plants and other foods the birds will forage on. Back when shade was wished for by hunter and hound alike, the birds ate a lot of bugs, including grasshoppers. Now that all of the bugs are gone, the main food source is grains and seeds. Once you find areas that have feed, the next thing to remember is cover. It is cold out and birds will want to be out of the wind and that means they can often be found in draws. Hiking the bottom of canyons will often lead to birds. Don’t overlook farmers’ fields where crops such as corn and milo have been left standing, as well as the edges of wheat fields, as there is often a buffer of standing wheat. Tracks will often give away the birds’ location, but if you find such sign
but no birds, use it as an example of what to look for and seek out similar areas. Water is not as much of a necessity this time of year, but some birds still like to stay near water sources, grouse especially.
WASHINGTON HUNTERS HAD to wait an extra two weeks to start hunting grouse this past September, and to make up for lost time, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife extended the season by those same two weeks. This means we get to chase after them into the new year. For some reason, ruffed grouse tend to hang near water even in late winter. Creek bottoms with alders are a preferred habitat. Their days of pecking at clover along logging roads are over, but they will eat spruce needles and other buds. In Western Washington, you will often still find exposed clover patches in the lowlands where snow is unlikely to stick for more than a day or two. Hike along decommissioned or gated logging roads and look for alder thickets
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 125
COLUMN with a creek running through it and you are likely to find ruffies.
CHUKAR TEND TO love snow – well, not exactly, but what they do love is steep and rocky terrain. It is hard enough to hike up those slopes in October, let alone with a covering of snow in December and January. I’ll admit that as I’ve gotten older, the chukar hunting I do is mostly in late season when birds are pushed down to rocky overlooks near dirt roads. More than once I’ve caught a covey right off of a WDFW road in my favorite wildlife area. What’s more, coveys tend to be a bit larger with groups of birds gathering together. If you decide to go after late-season chukars, be sure to take some micro-spikes for your boots and be ready to slide down the hillside, empty shotgun in hand. As for where to go, the Snake River and other breaks of Asotin County led the state last season with 4,248 chukar taken by 405 hunters, according to WDFW data. Coming in right behind those cheatgrass slopes and
rocky outcroppings overlooking Lewis and Clark’s route to the Pacific is my hometown county of Chelan. The 791 chukar hunters here took 3,373 birds last year, with most taken along the breaks of the Columbia River between Wenatchee and Chelan. This terrain is very similar to the Snake Breaks, with open slopes and good access along Highway 97A. Pick a pullout below public land and start hiking up until you hear the laughing of chukars above. Once you flush a covey, watch where they go and repeat the process all over again. Don’t forget about the state’s other partridge, Hungarians, also known as Huns and grays. Unlike their Eurasian cousins, they’re mostly found near farmlands and are usually in small coveys. Most groups we have found the past few years have been a dozen birds or less. Quick-flying but usually not traveling too far, the Hun is a fun bird to hunt. They tend to hold tight in the snow as well, making it more like a quail hunt than a partridge hunt.
Once again Asotin County produced the most birds last season, with 1,026 Huns taken by 229 hunters. The next county with good harvest numbers is Okanogan – think its northeastern quarter, home to rolling sage, pastures, hay fields and some public land – with 846 birds harvested.
QUAIL ARE MY favorite upland bird to hunt in the late season. They form large coveys, sometimes in the hundreds, as they flock together when the snow gets deep. These small birds tend to hold tight too, so when you flush one, be ready for another to jump up as you walk past. A few years ago my youngest son Ryan and I were hunting quail in a sagebrush flat. We kicked up two birds out of a bush and both shot, knocking one down. As we walked past the sage, another bird got up behind us. Neither of us were ready for that surprise bird and no shot was taken. Still, it was a reminder to be ready at any time. Grant County, in the heart of the Columbia Basin, is known for its quail
Brooks will hunt cover, tighten down his choke and use shells with larger shot than back in October. With the birds’ thicker plumage, he’ll run size 6 shot for quail and up to size 4 high-brass shells if pheasants and chukar are in the neighborhood. (JASON BROOKS) 128 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
The question is... Do you want to hunt ducks or be a duck hunter?
Natural Wonderduck Water Motion Decoys
The paddle in the back give the illusion of decoy feet paddling! Comes with rear mounted motors that run on two D-cell batteries, for up to 25 hours or more. Optional timer available. Orange weedless paddling feet and foot attachments, easy access for battery holder, waterproof switch and floatation insert.
To order or for more information – wonderduck.com 1-800-876-1697
COLUMN hunting. In 2020, hunters here harvested 11,592 of the small and quick birds. Yakima County, with its asparagus fields, orchards and vineyards, yielded 11,279, and the cowboy country of Okanogan County yielded 9,434 quail. All three offer good public lands that hold populations of quail. Look at WDFW wildlife areas and BLM properties, as the birds tend to hang around lowlands and farmlands.
PHEASANTS HAVE BEEN on the decline my entire life in Washington, which is closing in on 50 years now. Some birds are planted at release sites in Eastern Washington, but stocking ends at the Westside’s sites in late November. These planted birds die quickly, taken either by hunters or caught by coyotes and bobcats. But if you head to the far eastern part of the state, you will find wild pheasants in Whitman and Adams Counties. Grant County also tends to have a decent number of roosters. A good combo outing would be to hunt the Crab Creek or Winchester
130 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
Wasteways with steel shot, jump-shooting ducks and knocking down roosters. The Yakama Indian Reservation is also known to host good numbers, but be sure to check their regulations and licensing requirements at ynwildlife.org.
ONE THING ALL upland birds have in common during the late season is that they tend to hold tight. This is where having a dog really helps. But if you don’t have one, kicking a few bushes will get them up for a shot. My Hungarian Vizsla has locked up on a bush where I kicked it and a few flushed but my dog didn’t move. With every subsequent kick, another bird or two got up. Rarely do all of them get up at once. Another thing about hunting upland birds in the snow is that they often don’t fly as far, but will land nearby and you can get back on them again. In the early season, birds often land and then run further, but in the snow they tend to land and stay. If they do run to another bush, you can
easily tell by seeing their tracks. Downed birds are often easier to find as well since you can see where they fall, feathers often floating down onto the snow, and the hole where the bird folded and hit the ground. Know that this time of year upland birds are in full plumage, including down, so it is best to upsize your shot. In October, size 8 or 7½ shot is good for quail and size 6 for chukar, Huns and pheasants. But in the late season, it is best to start at size 6 shot and even have a few boxes of high-brass 4s around if you plan on encountering pheasants and chukar. I also go from an improved cylinder choke to a modified choke to tighten my pattern a bit. The idea is to knock down the birds quickly. For quail, the improved cylinder will lead to more birds since they tend to hold so tight. But where I hunt, you are likely to run into a covey of Huns or even some chukars, so the tighter modified choke helps carry my shot a bit further. This past year the drought really hurt upland bird populations. Young chicks
Also Available: Hunts in Saskatchewan, Canada! • Mallard Corn Pond Hunting on 16 Private Ponds • Freeze Up No Problem! Aerators & Springs in Most Ponds We normally average 6 ducks per person during a season Eastern Washington Tri-Cities • 509-967-2303 www.pacific-wings.net
See our videos on YouTube @ PacificWingsHunting and Jay Goble
COLUMN There’s just something magical about hunting in the snow, and the back end of Northwest upland bird seasons allow sportsmen to enjoy the season’s austere scenic splendor and harvest the fixin’s for a delicious dinner. (JASON BROOKS)
need water and in late summer there wasn’t any. Normally quail will have up to three broods, but this year it seemed they only had two, and even then the broods were small. Don’t expect a lot of birds at this end of the season, but they are still fun to hunt and you really can’t hurt the population since they rebound quickly each spring. And if you encounter Eurasian collared doves, remember that they are an invasive species and can be taken year-round with just a hunting license. They are much larger than their migratory cousins, the mourning dove, but taste the same.
DOG OR NO bird dog, you can get out and play in the snow and have a good hunt. Get dropped off at the top of a draw and plan on a three-hour hike. Look for tracks in the snow, kick some brush and make memories chasing upland birds. It is my favorite time of year to quail hunt; make it yours too. NS
132 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
UPLAND BIRD and WATERFOWL Hunting Directory BOOKING WILLAMETTE VALLEY GUIDED HUNTS
BOOK YOUR 2022 TURKEY HUNT NOW!
WILLAMETTE VALLEY DUCK & GOOSE HUNTING DAILY GUIDED HUNTS
Memberships Available
WWW.NORTHWESTHUNTING.COM/WATERFOWL CONTACT 541-490-1300 | EMAIL: GONEHUNTINGGORGE.NET
JUNCTION CITY, OREGON
FIELD N MARSH OUTFITTERS 541-490-1300 Email: gonehunting@gorge.net
LAST ROOSTER STANDING SHOOTING PRESERVE
NORTHERN LIGHTS HUNT CLUB LATE SEASON ARCHERY WHITETAIL OPPORTUNITIES
REPUBLIC - WASHTUCNA
REPUBLIC, WASH.
• EXCELLENT HABITAT • Upland Bird Hunting • Pheasant and Chukars • Guided/Non-guided Hunts • Full Day or 1/2 day hunts • Full Package Hunts - Meals/Lodging • YOUTH HUNTERS ALWAYS
• Modern-Muzzie-Bow • Guided Turkey Hunts • Private Land Hunting • Guided/DIY Hunts/OTC Tags • Full Package Hunts Meals and Lodging
WELCOME SPECIAL RATE!
BRING YOUR HUNTING DOGS, FIND THAT ROOSTER, AND HAVE SOME FUN! Email: gonehunting@gorge.net
CALL
509-775-0965
WWW.LASTROOSTERSTANDING.COM
CELL
509-770-3064
WWW.NORTHWESTHUNTING.COM
Email: gonehunting@gorge.net
CALL
509-775-0965
WWW.NORTHERNLIGHTSHUNTCLUB.COM
CELL
509-770-3064
GREATER EASTERN WASHINGTON HUNTING Washtucna • Starbuck La Crosse • Moses Lake Republic • Ritzville
3DEERHUNT CLUBS • UPLAND • PREDATORS DEER HUNTS DIY or FULLY GUIDED
MODERN RIFLE • BOW • MUZZLE LOADER UPLAND HUNT CLUB MEMBERSHIPS
100K ACRES Memberships Available
ODESSA • MOSES LAKE • RITZVILLE GMU’s 101 - 136 - 204 - 272 - 284 WASHTUCNA – LACROSSE GMU’s 142 - 149 - 284
WWW.NORTHWESTHUNTING.COM/HUNT-CLUBS | GONEHUNTING@GORGE.NET
CALL FOR INFO 541-490-1300 134 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
PHEASANT HUNTS
8 pheasants (all roosters) or 9 Chukar per person
BOOK NOW!
2C PHEASANT HUNT (PARMA, IDAHO)
208-880-0997 pheasanthuntidaho.com
UPLAND BIRD HUNTERS PARADISE
• Lodge based hunts • Full service or DIY • Pheasant, chukar, quail (waterfowl, in season) • Open Sept-March • 10 miles West of Pendleton, OR on the banks of the Umatilla River
Kent Beebe, owner 503 539-5206 horseshoecurvehuntclub.com
PREMIERE UPLAND BIRD HUNTING IN OREGON Guided or Non-Guided Pheasant & Chukar Hunting 4 Hunting Preserves and 8,000 Acres of Prime Upland Bird Habitat
PHEASANT HUNTING SHOOTING PRESERVE SHOSHONE, IDAHO
• 600 acres of natural habitat • Solo, corporate, and group hunts. • We raise and release only quality, hard flying pheasant • We offer guides and highly trained dogs or bring your own dog CALL
800-538-7238
BOOK ONLINE
sagecanyonoutfitters.com
208-572-5424 huntsouthernidaho.com
Washington’s Premier Trophy Deer and Game Bird Hunting! Game bird shooting preserve opens late September and runs into May. Lodging available year round. Rusty & Jacquie Hunt (509) 681-0218
•
1845 Road 14 NE Coulee City, WA
• W W W. H I D D E N R A N C H O U T F I T T E R S .CO M • nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 135
COLUMN
Don’t Let December Dull Your Enthusiasm W
hile most people will have turned their attention to holiday gatherings, shopping and sitting ON TARGET by the fireplace, By Dave Workman December holds some good hunting opportunities for shotgunners that should never be wasted. For waterfowlers, the month could bring some of the season’s best wingshooting, with a mix of resident birds and an influx of northerns from the coast to the Columbia Basin. You’re hunting Pacific Standard Time hours, so the shooting times come increasingly later through the weekend of December 20, with start times beginning at 7:05 a.m. on the 5th and gradually backing down to 7:25 a.m. from the 20th through January 16 in Western Washington. However, over on the Eastside, the weekend start time is 6:55 a.m. December 4-5, then 7:05 a.m. December 6-12, then 7:10 a.m. December 13-19, and 7:15 a.m. for the next three weeks, through January 9. After that, daylight hours grow back again. You will find the remaining seasons and bag limits on pages 25-26 of state hunting managers’ regulations pamphlet. For pheasants, the regular season continues through January 17 in Eastern Washington and wraps up December 15 in Western Washington but no pheasants will be released. Hunting during the Westside’s extended December 1-15 season is only at the Belfair, Fort Lewis, Kosmos, Lincoln Creek, Scatter Creek, Skookumchuck and Whidbey Island release sites. Remember that new this season, grouse hunting continues through January 15 because of this year’s late start. On the Westside, hit the timber country of Grays Harbor and Mason Counties, and eastern Lewis and Snohomish Counties;
With upland bird seasons continuing through the month, there’s still opportunity to be had for pheasants, valley quail, gray and chukar partridge, even grouse. Chad Zoller holds a pair of Northcentral Oregon ringnecks. (CHAD ZOLLER)
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 137
COLUMN on the Eastside, check out the slopes of Teanaway Ridge in Kittitas County, and the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge up in Stevens County, and be willing to get away from the roads. Also note that Eastside seasons for California quail and gray partridge run through January 17, while you can hunt chukar through January 31 in Eastern Washington. This time of year, I break out the
138 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
12-gauge, stuff it with high-base No. 6 shells and get plenty serious about bird hunting. Anywhere in Eastern Washington’s Columbia Basin, I’ve got steel for even upland birds, though if I stick to the east slopes of the Cascades for big late-season blue grouse, I’ll stick with my 20-gauge and No. 6 lead.
JUST AS THIS column was being put to
THE PROJECT (PART I)
W
inter is a good time to retire to the workshop, garage or basement; anywhere you tinker with off-season gun maintenance. It was during the winter months some years ago that I completely stripped down and refinished one of my two blackpowder rifles, a caplock Lyman Trade Rifle. The step-by-step may seem tedious, but on the last weekend of the Eastside general buck season I ran across a guy with a classic Browning semiauto in .338 Winchester Magnum that had been his grandfather’s rifle. It was somewhat the worse for wear, so I advised him to take the rifle apart after the season and refinish. The first item of business is to remove your rifle barrel and action from the stock and if necessary, get to the hardware store and purchase some stripper to remove the old finish, if there’s any left. Remove with steel wool and then, with mediumgrit sandpaper, get to work. Do this work slowly. People in a hurry frequently screw things up. Examine the barrel channel and give that some attention as well, and check the barrel steel that sits inside the wood. If you find rust, get to work with steel wool and remove the rust, being careful to not create scratches in the blue. Once the rust is removed, apply a good oil remover and buff up the metal, preparing it for an application of cold blue. I prefer Birchwood Casey products for this process, but there are other options. Apply cold blue with a cotton swab or cotton ball (wear rubber or latex gloves for this process), allow it to set for 30 to 45 seconds and then rinse or wipe with a cloth soaked with cold water. That stops the blue from working. Wipe it down and then use fine steel wool to polish it up. Reapply blue for a deeper finish, use steel wool again and once the surface is buffed off nicely, apply a film of gun oil. –DW
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 139
COLUMN Apex Ammunition Waterfowl Loads. (APEX)
bed, Apex Ammunition announced it is shipping premium, nontoxic “ultra-highdensity” Tungsten Super Shot, S3 Steel Blend and S3 Steel Waterfowl loads. That’s just in time for two things: December-January waterfowl hunting and to pick up an extra box as a gift for someone on your shopping list. The Tungsten TSS loads are made from 18.1g/cc density tungsten alloy, making it denser than lead (11.34 g/cc), bismuth (9.8 g/cc), copper (8.8 g/cc) or steel (7.84 g/cc), according to company literature. But it is pricey and comes in 10-round boxes. Waterfowl TSS/S3 steel blend loads combine No. 9 Tungsten Super Shot with Apex’s S3 zinc-plated steel. It comes in traditional 25-round boxes. The Apex Waterfowl S3 steel features zinc-plated shot, and it also comes in 25-round boxes. For more, see apexammunition.com/ waterfowl.
ALSO NEW, MOSSBERG recently announced the 590S series of 12-gauge pump shotguns, and if I didn’t already own a Model 500 pump gun and Model 935 semiauto, I just might be tempted to go shopping. The 590 is based on the 500 pumpgun platform, and it can handle 2¾- and 3-inch magnum shells. There are two full-stocked models and two versions of the Shockwave, Mossberg’s model featuring a bird’shead grip. I realize the Shockwave was developed more for defensive purposes, but it strikes me that some enterprising shotgunner could easily adapt one of these guns for grouse and other small game close up. Chuckle if you will, but over the years I’ve heard of people potting grouse with Thompson/Center .410/.45 pistols. The 590S, according to Mossberg, features a redesigned elevator and bolt slide, combined with an “energyabsorbing bumper.” They have Mossberg’s renowned twin action bars, dual extractors, steel-to-steel lockup and
ambidextrous top tang safety. The model featuring a 20-inch barrel with AccuChokes gets my attention. My Model 500 was a package put together for me some 30 years ago and it has two interchangeable barrels, one an 18.5-incher and the other a 20-inch ventrib barrel with interchangeable chokes. I’ve put a fair number of birds in the bag with that gun and it has never failed. Mossberg offers these details: “590S Pump-Action Shotguns (51603/51602) – Available in two configurations, the 590S with 18.5-inch barrel features a front bead sight and corncob forend, while the 20-inch version has an adjustable Ghost Ring sight, AccuChoke-compatible barrel and versatile M-Lok compatible forend. MSRP: $605-$708. “590S Shockwave Pump-Actions (51601/51600) – The compact bird’s-headgripped Shockwave versions come with a choice of 14.375- or 18.5-inch barrel lengths; front bead sight; and strapped, corncob-
Mossberg 590S with M-Lokcompatible forend. (MOSSBERG)
140 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 141
COLUMN style forend for ease of control. MSRP: $605.” Mossberg also expanded its MC2 handgun series with the MC2sc, a compact semiauto handgun in 9mm. It’s designed with a 416 stainless slide with black DLC (diamond-like coating) finish, front and rear cocking serrations, a 3.4-inch stainless barrel with cut-broached rifling on a 1-in16-inch twist, also with the DLC finish. According to Mossberg, “The MC2sc also features an optics-ready slide for ease of mounting micro red-dot sights. Available in two frame variants (standard and crossbolt safety) and with optional Truglo Tritium Pro Night sights, each MC2sc comes equipped with both an 11-round flush and 14-round extended magazines.” For more, see mossberg.com.
SPEAKING OF SELF-DEFENSE, or at least
With hunting season largely over, repurpose your trail cams around the house for an added layer of security. (DAVE WORKMAN) “I’ll see you next October, bub.” Author Dave Workman ran into this fat two-point mule deer buck on the final weekend of general rifle season in Kittitas County, an area with a three-point minimum for the species. (DAVE WORKMAN)
142 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
keeping what’s yours, yours, here’s something to consider for all of you with trail cameras. Just because the big game seasons may be closed, except for late muzzleloaders or bowhunters, now is the time of year your cameras could double for home security. Place those cameras where they can cover the front and rear of your home when you may be out to family gatherings. It’s a good way to determine whether anyone is snooping around your empty dwelling,
especially if someone tries to break in. In addition to security cameras, your trail camera could provide an extra layer of home protection during the dark months of winter. Install fresh batteries, fresh memory cards and put them in a spot where they can capture everything without being detected.
NO DECEMBER COLUMN would be complete without my traditional season’s greeting. My tough luck being born on Christmas only serves as a reminder to wish all of you the best for the coming year. Thanks for your continued reading and support. Be sure to contact your hunting partners, maybe send them a card, and if you hunt on private property, don’t forget to offer good wishes to your host. Send them a gift card, or drop by with a holiday turkey or something else useful (maybe a box or two of ammunition in this time of scarcity!) and don’t forget their kids. We all made it through another year. Buy your buddy a subscription to Northwest Sportsman, make a donation in their name to the Second Amendment Foundation or some other gun rights organization. Stay safe, shoot straight, and I’ll think good thoughts about you at the campfire. NS
Cumberland’s Northwest Trappers Supply, Inc. Cumberland’s Northwest Trappers Supply is your one-stop trapping supply headquarters, featuring one of the largest inventories in the U.S. We are factory direct distributors on all brands of traps and equipment which allows us to offer competitive prices. Give us a try. Our fast, friendly service will keep you coming back. Over 50 Years Of Service To The Trap & Fur Industry
Request A Catalog Or Place An Order By Phone, Mail Or On Our Website If you get in the area, visit our store!
We are the new home of “Trappers Hide Tanning Formula” in the bright orange bottle. Retail & dealer inquiries are welcome.
P.O. Box 408, Owatonna, Minnesota 55060 • (507) 451-7607 trapper@nwtrappers.com • www.nwtrappers.com
CUMBERLAND’S NORTHWEST TRAPPERS SUPPLY Hide Tan Formula has been used successfully by thousands of hunters and trappers across the U.S. and Canada. No more waiting several months for tanning. Now, you can tan your own hides and furs at home in less than a week, at a fraction of the normal cost. Our Hide Formula tans deer hides either hair-on for a rug or mount, or hair-off for buckskin leather. Tans all fur skins – muskrat, mink, beaver, fox, coyote, raccoon, squirrel, rabbit, etc. It also applies to bear, elk, moose, cowhide, sheep and even snakeskin. Hide Tan Formula is premixed and ready to use and produces a soft, supple Indian-style tan in five to seven days. One 8-ounce bottle will tan one deer hide in two medium-sized fur skins. Bear, elk, moose and caribou require three to six bottles. Complete instructions are included. You’ll be amazed how easy it is! Tanned hides and furs are great to decorate your home or camp and also to sell for extra income. Tanned hides and furs are in demand by black powder enthusiasts, American Indian traders, fly tyers, country trading posts and many crafters. Our products are proudly produced and bottled in the U.S. for over 20 years. Available at Cumberland’s Northwest Trappers Supply in Owatonna, Minnesota. Call (507) 451-7607 or email trapper@nwtrappers.com. nwtrappers.com
144 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
30
TOUGH • DURABLE • LIGHT Easy Loader, Deuce & EZ-XL Models
• • • •
Easy Loader & Deuce accommodate • 2 dogs up to 65 lbs each EZ-XL accommodates 2 dogs over • 65 lbs each Made from High Density • Polyethylene with UV protection Easy Loader fits most full size pickups, SUVs & large UTVs
Deuce fits smaller pickups, SUVs & UTVs EZ-XL is for larger breed dogs & full size vehicles Vents, cold weather door covers, insulated covers & custom kennel pads available
Introducing the EASY XL. For large breed dogs. EASY-LOADER Dog Kennels
ww
w. e as
yloaderkennel
s.co
m
Bartlesville, OK • 800-853-2655
Call 800-853-2655 Check out our website for new accessories www.easyloaderkennels.com
COLUMN
Paw Waterproof Throw. (PAW)
Comfy Christmas Gifts For Pups D
ogs love Christmas; the mental stimulation of watching their humans excitedly unwrap presents leaves GUN DOGGIN’ 101 no question about By Scott Haugen that. But give them their own gifts to unwrap and the doggy delight level quickly rises. This past year we gave our dogs several items that were game-changers in not only providing comfortable relaxation for them, but helped keep the house clean and our dogs healthy. These are items I’m confident every gun dog owner will love, but I think your dog will love them more.
WE ORDERED THE 60-inch-by-50-inch Paw Waterproof Throw, and a week later ordered a second one. Not only are these throws waterproof, they’re stylish and come in a range of sizes and designs to go with a range of home decor. The blanket is washable and dogs love laying on them. Be it after a bath, coming in from the rain or absorbing accidental potty leaks, the Waterproof Throw protects furniture, beds and car seats. Give it a good shake outside once a week and you’ll be amazed with how much dirt and hair it also collects. More info: $129; paw.com. Paw also has a backseat dog car cover I love. It’s only $44, is easy to clean and simple to install and remove. The two
handles on the underside tuck between the seats, ensuring the cover stays in place and remains safe for dogs.
YETI’S TRAILHEAD DOG Bed is the best dog bed I’ve used. Both of my dogs love it. After a hard day of hunting or a rigorous workout, it’s a race to see who gets the bed first. Thankfully the bed features a removable travel pad so each dog can enjoy it, but, shhhh, I bet they’ll be getting another one for Christmas so that they don’t have to share. We’ve had the bed for almost a year, have washed the removable liners many times, and it’s still like new. The pillow bolster is sturdy and hasn’t broken down
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 147
COLUMN one bit. The tough bottom easily handles our 65-pound dog, and the waterproof outer cover is great for road trips. With a three-year warranty, you can’t beat this bed. More info: $299; yeti.com.
WE LOVED OUR Dirty Dog Doormat so much, we got a second one, then a third. Not only does this miracle mat collect water, mud, dirt, seeds, hair and drool, it’s so comfortable our dogs often curl up on it for a nap. The microfiber technology of these mats allow them to absorb up to seven times their weight in water. Millions of soft microfiber strands feel and act like a soft sponge, keeping floors clean. We use them both inside and outside entryways, even in our truck on road trips; they’re great for human foot traffic too. Works year-round, be it wet and snowy in the winter, or hot and dry with lots of grass and dust in the summer. The nonskid backing sets it apart from competitors and it works great on wood and vinyl floors.
148 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
Yeti Trailhead Dog Bed. (YETI)
More info: $39.95 dgspetproducts.com.
for
large;
EVERY TIME I see a gun dog on a diet of cheap food, I cringe. That’s like feeding professional athletes junk food. Hunting dogs are high-level performers and providing them with high-quality food should be a top priority. For 11 months I’ve been feeding my female pudelpointer, Echo, NutriSource’s
new Element Series, and the results of this high-protein diet continue to amaze me in her daily performance and rapid recovery times following hard hunts and intense training sessions. Element has three times the protein of most foods (up to 90 percent animal protein) and it supports nitrogen and ammonia utilization, meaning there is no extra gas or diarrhea that can occur with other high-protein diets.
COLUMN Kona, my 5-year-old male pudelpointer, eats Element during winter hunting season, as it makes an obvious difference in his recovery times on cold, wet-weather hunts. The rest of the year he’s on a diet of standard NutriSource food. Visit nutrisourcepetfoods.com to find a dealer near you. AND DON’T FORGET those stocking stuffers for your pup. Yes, dogs love opening little gifts too. Smoked cow bones that contain marrow, Benebone’s new salmon-flavored chew, Earth Animal’s No-Hide chews, and healthy treats – my dogs love NutriSource soft treats and jerky – are all excellent choices, as are sturdy balls and other toys. The list goes on, but these are items we’ve been very pleased with, and our dogs have absolutely loved them. Have a joyous Christmas and spoil those fourlegged best friends! NS
NutriSource dog food series. (NUTRISOURCE)
150 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
Editor’s note: To watch Scott Haugen’s series of puppy training videos, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 151
Almost A Hunter, And Already One
152 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
COLUMN
D
“
o you see the purple bush?” I asked my 11-year-old son Jordan. CHEF IN “Yeah,” he replied. THE WILD “Do you see the By Randy King deer on the right of it?” “No,” he said, looking left. “Your other right…” “Oh, hey – a doe! Can I shoot that one?” If I listed all the reasons why hunting with a child is harder than hunting without them, the conclusion would seem obvious: No one should take a child hunting, ever! But that would be a tragic and failed thought experiment. Few things in life give me as much joy as watching my kids hunt
– no matter how many extra snack packs, water bottles and apples I must carry. This past fall, Jordan was super close to harvesting a doe, but he just could not get the scope to feel right before he shot. We had snuck up on them from over 1,000 yards away – up and over rocks and a creek and a few rose bushes and even past a big bull elk. But those deer, like most things that see a human in the woods, didn’t want anything to do with us. So as Jordan tried to get the scope to cooperate, the deer vanished out of our lives. Jordan was disappointed. I was elated. I could not have been prouder of him. Instead of rushing a shot, instead of
A tired Jordan helps pack out the meat of an elk calf his father bagged. (RANDY KING)
Author Randy King (center) and son Jordan (left) glass for deer during a recent hunt in Southwest Idaho. (RANDY KING) nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 153
COLUMN
Bite size venison steak and homemade dipping sauce. (RANDY KING)
BITE SIZE STEAKS AND SAUCE
L
et me start by saying I am not from North Idaho and this is my best approximation of their bite size steaks. OK, cool. Now, some history. Idaho is known for its “finger” steaks, battered bites of meat that are fried and served with fries. Invented by Milo Bybee, they are a staple of Idaho diners and dives. I have made several versions of these for Northwest Sportsman over the years. But finger steaks are not to be confused with bite size steaks. Them be fighting words ’round these parts. Said to have originated in Lewiston, bite size steak is an elegant way to get rid of scrap meat, just like finger steaks. But that is where the similarities end. Bite size steaks are all about timing. Basically,
154 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
you season meat cubes and pan-sear them until they are brown (or deep fry them, if you have that option). When they hit medium rare, you serve them with some type of sauce – steak sauce, honey mustard, etc. With bite size steak, the meal revolves around what you dip the steak in. Cook venison, dip in sauce, eat. Repeat.
BITE SIZE STEAK This recipe could not be easier, honestly, but the trick is the hot pan. If your pan is not hot, this will fail! 2 pounds venison (elk, deer, moose, antelope – or any other red meat) 1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon pepper ½ tablespoon garlic powder 1 stick butter Cut steak into thumb-knuckle-sized pieces, about 1 inch by 1 inch, and preferably the day before you cook. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Place in bowl or bag and reserve in the fridge until the pan is hot. The key is to keep them as cold as possible so that they brown on the outside but don’t overcook on the inside. Heat a high-sided, heavy-bottomed pot on the stove for five minutes on medium-high heat. Add a third of the butter. It should sizzle. When completely melted and turning brown, add about a
COLUMN third of the steak pieces. Do not crowd the pan. If you do, you will ruin the dish. Brown the steak very well on all sides. Remove to a small plate. Repeat the process until all the steak pieces are cooked. Serve them as they finish, as they will be better that way. Dip pieces in a sauce below!
LET’S GET SAUCED! As the years have progressed, my family has developed an affinity for “the sauce” on the steaks we often eat. At my house, venison is on the menu at least four nights a week, so finding different ways to flavor it is critical to keeping the plates clean. (Teenagers will also just eat whatever, so maybe I am overthinking this…) Here are some of my go-to quick and easy sauce recipes.
BALSAMIC AND BASIL 3 large cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 tablespoon stone ground mustard
¼ cup soy sauce ½ cup rice vinegar 1 tablespoon Sriracha 1 tablespoon ginger Heat a 12-inch sauté pan on medium for three minutes. Add the orange and sesame oil. Cook the orange segments until they are turning deep brown, almost black on the exposed edges. Then add the sugar to the pan and let the moisture of the orange and the sugar combine into a caramel. Then add the soy sauce, rice vinegar, Sriracha and ginger. This cold on top of the hot will make the caramel solidify, and that is OK. Bring it all to a boil and then the sugar chunks will disappear. Taste and season. You can strain this or not, your choice. Strained is more refined.
WHOLE GRAIN HONEY MUSTARD SAUCE ¼ cup whole grain mustard ¼ cup pure local honey 1 tablespoon mayo 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 clove garlic, crushed ¼ cup olive oil Salt and pepper
vinegar 1 tablespoon sugar Salt and pepper 1 teaspoon Sriracha 2 tablespoon fresh cut parsley 1 tablespoon fresh cut rosemary Combine everything but the parsley and the rosemary in a bowl. Mix well until incorporated. Garnish steak with cut herbs, then dip steak into the sauce.
FRY SAUCE ¼ cup mayonnaise ¼ cup ketchup 1 teaspoon horseradish 1 tablespoon stone ground mustard Salt and pepper In a bowl, mix it all together. Adjust salt and pepper as needed. Good for finger steaks and/or bite size steaks.
MANGO COFFEE BBQ SAUCE 1 cup ketchup 1 cup frozen diced mango ½ cup dark brown sugar ½ cup apple cider vinegar ¼ cup apple juice 1 tablespoon garlic powder 1 tablespoon ground ginger ¼ cup coffee beans, dark roasted Salt and pepper
Place the garlic, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, red pepper flakes, rosemary, mustard and salt and pepper into a food processor. Pulse until combined. Then turn to low and slowly add the oil into the blender. This will create an “emulsified” dip that goes great with strongly flavored game meat. It also rocks on bread.
Combine mustard, honey, mayo, lemon juice and garlic into a food processor. Puree until smooth. Next turn the processor on and slowly add the oil. Season with salt and pepper as needed. This will create an emulsified sauce out of the mix. Mmmmm, honey mustard sauce.
BURNT ORANGE PONZU 1 orange, quartered 1 teaspoon sesame oil (canola oil will work too) ¼ cup white sugar
¼ cup ketchup 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar or red wine
Add the ketchup, mango, sugar, apple cider vinegar, apple juice, garlic powder, ginger and coffee beans to a saucepan. Heat on low until simmering. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. Add all to a blender and puree. Strain through fine mesh strainer (to get the coffee bean chunks) and season with salt and pepper. This stuff is the bomb. For more wild game recipes, see chefrandyking.com. –RK
caving to pressure, instead of wounding an animal – he just didn’t shoot. Hunters can often be judged by the shots they don’t take – Jordan didn’t shoot when he didn’t feel comfortable. I could not have been happier. Later that evening, on the way out, we ran into a small herd of elk. I still had
an elk tag in my pocket. But it was getting late and I didn’t want to pack a big ol’ cow elk out with just the help of an 11-year-old. So I shot a calf with my son sitting by my side. It was about the size of a mature mule deer. Lots of meat, and nice and tasty. At that point the work started. I knew I could carry this whole critter out on my
own if I had to. But I made it a point to let Jordan haul some of the meat. He needed to learn what it means to be a hunter. What it means to make meat. What it takes to put the steak he so loves on the table each year. Next season, hopefully, he can get that doe and make his own steaks. NS
STEAK SAUCE
156 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
SUBSCRIPTION SPECIAL!
$20 FOR 1 YEAR FISHING • HUNTING • NEWS
EOMS INC.
FISHING • HUNTING • NEWS
NWSPORTSMANMAG.COM
NWSPORTSMANMAG.COM
253 W. HERMISTON AVE. HERMISTON, OR 97838 (541) 567-2011
COMPLETE WILD GAME PROCESSING. BONELESS CUT, DOUBLE WRAPPED EXACTLY TO YOUR SPECIFICATIONS.
FISHING • HUNTING
• NEWS
NWSPORTSMANMA
G.COM
We also offer specialty smoked products
MADE IN HOUSE:
• Old Fashioned Jerky • Summer Sausage • Hunter Sausage • Pepperoni Sticks • Teriyaki Sticks
www.EasternOregonMobileSlaughter.com
ORDER ONLINE AT NWSPORTSMANMAG.COM OR CALL 800-332-1736 EXPIRES 12/31/21 nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 157
Rad Power Bikes
2021
radpowerbikes.com The RadRover 6 Plus is the latest advancement of Rad Power Bikes’ flagship fat tire model and a nextlevel riding experience. Get more uphill capabilities, better stopping power and a semi-integrated battery that easily pops in and out. More rider refinements maximize comfort, making this the biggest evolution in RadRover history!
Verle’s Westview Marina & Lodge
westviewmarina.com Now available for purchase is the 2022 Early Bird Drive-in Fishing allinclusive special package at Westview Marina & Lodge in Tahsis, BC. With a price of $1,900 USD for four fishers, customers save $200 each. The package includes four nights of lodging and three full days of guided fishing for salmon, halibut and lingcod. All meals are included. Says the team at Westview, “You will need your large coolers when you fish with us!”
verles.com Verle’s has the Big Chief front or top load package for you. Smoking is made simple with the Big Chief, as all you have to do is plug it into a standard household outlet. Just place your food (after brining or preparation) on one of the five racks that sit over the top of the drip pan. The smoker’s capacity is a whopping 50 pounds of meat or fish! Includes: smoker, five easy-slide chrome-plated grills, electric cord, drip pan, wood flavor pan, free bag of Smokehouse Alder Wood Chips, and recipe booklet. MSRP $134.99, including holiday special of four extra bags of smoking chips – a $20 value!
Silver Horde
silverhorde.com No bait? No problem – get the Herring Aide. The bait every angler needs at the end of their line to put fish in the box. Super popular because they are extremely effective. Get some for the fishermen and fisherwomen on your list.
Sea Sport seasportboats.com
Whether you’re cruising or trophy hunting, in summer or winter, the Sea Sport Explorer 2400 provides the best performance of any boat in its class due to the signature of the Sea Sport “Deep-V” hull design. The wide walk-around, built-in cockpit steps and a huge hardtop are just a few of the features you will find on a long list of standards. Features include a full dinette and galley, an enclosed stand-up head and increased bunk space. nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 159
2021
Western Spirit Ranches
huntsouthernidaho.com Western Spirit Ranches, a pheasant hunting and shooting preserve in Shoshone, Idaho, has been going strong since 1998. The preserve features 600 acres of farm ground and natural habitat full of rivers, streams and ponds. Western Spirit Ranches raises and releases only quality, hard-flying pheasants. Solo, corporate and group hunts with highly trained guides and dogs are on offer.
160 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
Black Hills Ammunition black-hills.com New for 2021 is the Black Hills Ammo 6.5 Creedmoor 130-grain Dual Performance. Upon impact, the bullet expands quickly; the petals then fracture and continue penetrating, cutting through stressed tissue. Adequate penetration is assured by the projectile’s solid copper shank, retaining a uniform weight, which continues on to a depth of up to 27 inches. Velocity is 2,800 feet per second from a 22-inch barrel.
Pelagic Pursuits Costa Rica
catchfishcostarica.com Costa Rica fishing is among the best in the world. The Central Pacific region offers the best inshore and offshore fishing throughout the year. The area is well protected from the prevailing northerly winds and enjoys pretty close to ideal weather 12 months out of the year.
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 161
2021
CDNN Sports Leelock
leelock.com The new Crab Cracker tool from Leelock will allow you to measure your Dungeness crabs to determine which ones are legal to keep. Then use the “cracker” to crack them in half, separating the two clusters from the shell and guts. The Cracker has been designed so that it sits nicely on top of a 5-gallon bucket, perfect for when you clean crabs. The bucket gives you a stable base, which makes it easier to clean – the guts and mess go into the bucket, making cleanup a snap. Crabs cleaned this way take up half as much space as whole crabs, so you can cook twice as many in your kettle. The Crab Cracker is a unique tool made from solid aluminum, and comes in handy for cleaning Dungeness crabs.
162 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
cdnnsports.com The GForce Arms GFZ is a 12-gauge semiauto bullpup shotgun with the following specs: Chamber: 3 inches Barrel length: 18.5 inches Overall length: 28.25 inches Chokes: Modified, full, cylinder Capacity: Two five-round MKA 1919 magazines System: Gas system Stock material: Aluminum Body material: Aluminum Recommended shell velocity: 1,300 feet per second or higher Finish: Matte black Sights: Flip-up sights Stock: Black bullpup Weight: 9 pounds Overall length: 28.25 inches
2021
Vortex Optics
vortexoptics.com Western hunting demands an optic built for long range and the long haul, and the Razor HD LHT 4.5-22x50 FFP delivers. You still get the core of the Razor HD LHT, including a stunning HD optical system and rugged build in a scope that’s among the lightest in its class.
PrOlix Lubricants
prolixlubricant.com Even Santa would love to see a bottle of PrOlix in his stocking this holiday season! There is no product on the market to date that works like PrOlix; just see their ad in this publication and learn more over at their website! Let PrOlix make it a joyful holiday!
Diversified Innovative Products
diproductsinc.com The folks at DIP Inc. are not content with the cheap plastic parts that many firearms companies produce to cut production costs for rimfire firearms. At DIP, they make drop-in metal replacement parts and accessories that are both high quality and affordable. All products are made in the USA. DIP manufactures parts for the following brands: CZ, Marlin, Savage, Ruger, Remington, Tikka, Steyr, S&W, Howa, Marlin, Sako, Anschutz, Henry and others. 164 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
Sage Canyon Outfitters
sagecanyonoutfitters.com A Sage Canyon gift card is the perfect way to give the hunter in your life exactly what they want! Gift cards can be used toward anything on the ranch, including bird packages, guides, lodging and much more!
THE ONLY THING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GUN CLEANING
Goes on wet, cleans, bonds, turns DRY! DRY LUBRICANT • • • • • • •
Improves accuracy Prevents jamming Won’t flash off Will not freeze Non-hazardous Reduces fouling Won’t harm wood, primers, old guns, or stain clothing! • Bio preferred by USDA • Non-petroleum
Use Code #MPG21 For Shipping Discounts!
801-569-2763 800-248-LUBE (5823) prolix@prolixlubricant.com prolixlubricant.com
Peet Family Dryer
2021
peetdryer.com Introducing the only shoe dryer on the market that dries three pairs of boots or shoes at once. New multiport base with push-button digital display allows for easy operation. Works with all DryPort accessories (excluding Helmet). Dries in one to four hours with heat/no-heat settings. Up to four tubes can be shut off manually when not in use. Doing so will increase fan velocity of tubes in use. New handle and space-saving design make for a more portable unit.
Nootka Marine Adventures Kevin Larson Guide Service
fishingwithkevin.com “Give the gift of the outdoors for the holidays!” Offering salmon, sturgeon, steelhead, halibut, bottomfish and Dungeness crab guided trips.
nootkamarineadventures.com West Coast saltwater fishing at its finest with Nootka Marine Adventures! Gift certificates are available for three luxurious resorts on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. Target salmon, halibut, lingcod, albacore tuna and more. Allinclusive stays with gourmet meals. The perfect gift for any angler!
ATVTRACKS.NET WORLD’S LARGEST Track Dealer Camso T4S Camso X4S Camso UTV 4S1 Commander ATV WS4 Commander UTV WSS4
atvtracks.net
utvtracks.com
Ask about Demo Tracks! Bercomac, Snowblowers and Plows for ATV and UTV
866-243-8359 Discounts up to $500 on WSS4
! oday T s r u ! For more info, email us: info@atvtracks.net er Yo pply Left d r O or give us a call: 866-243-8359 And ited Su Hurry Lim 166 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
Choose quality Alaskan-made gear when planning your next adventure. GUN SCABBARD waterproof gun bag
GUN SCABBARDS make a great gift for Christmas. TAKING ORDERS NOW FOR DECEMBER DELIVERY! Shop nomaralaska.com to see all the gear we make for outdoor adventures. Homer, Alaska • 800-478-8364 • nomaralaska.com
2021
American Turbine
americanturbine.com American Turbine manufactures six models of jets for welded aluminum and fiberglass boats. American Turbine produces repair parts for all domestic jets, as well as repair parts for Hamilton models HJ212, HJ213 and HJ241.
Boat Insurance Agency
boatinsurance.net The Boat Insurance Agency is an independent agency representing the best marine insurance companies. They carefully compare a number of policies to find the lowest premiums and best values for your boat insurance needs. Boat Insurance Agency is owned and operated by Northwest boaters. They have the local knowledge needed to understand boating in the West, along with your special needs. Contact them for an insurance quote and to learn more about the value and service they can offer.
168 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
US Marine Sales & Service
usmarinesales.com US Marine Sales and Service is Puget Sound’s leader in providing the friendliest service backed by years of expertise in both salt- and freshwater environments. It is their goal to work closely with customers to save them time and money while creating excellent value in the company’s products and service. For over 30 years they have been passionate about boating. Family-owned and -operated, they are a service-first operation and your total satisfaction measures their success. Stop by and check out the wide variety of parts and accessories. US Marine Sales and Service also carries Yamaha boats, Yamaha waverunners, Yamaha outboards, G3 boats, Suncatcher pontoons, Weldcraft boats and EZ Loader trailers. “Memories made on the water last forever.”
Shrimp & Crab Gear Complete Supply Source Quality McKay Qwik-Pot Shrimp & Crab Pots Gasoline & Electric Pot Pullers Rope Pole Buoys Davits Capstans In Stock
“Crabs love our pots. Once in they never leave.”
(360) 900-9439
www.mckayshrimpandcrabgear.com 306362 Hwy101 • Brinnon, WA 98320
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 169
2021
Field N’ Marsh Outfitters
northwesthunting.com Jeff Miller combines his love and knowledge of the outdoors with a passion for excellence and 20-plus years of hospitality management and over 30 years as a full-service outfitter to provide an exceptional experience for both his numerous day hunters, destination-oriented individuals and corporate groups.
Schooner Creek Boat Works Davis Tent
davistent.com Find canvas hunting tents, stoves, cots, panniers and accessories at Davis Tent.
170 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
schoonercreek.com Schooner Creek Boat Works is a dealer of the Ewincher. Its electric handle is designed to perfectly assist sailing maneuvers without altering natural movements. It’s waterproof, lightweight and ergonomic, and locks into the winch. You can sail all day without a problem, allowing you to fully enjoy the pleasures of sailing.
k
of d
RIVER AND OCEAN FISHING
• SALMON • HALIBUT • STEELHEAD • STURGEON • DUNGENESS CRAB
®
Amazing trips with stunning views and BIG fish. Kevin will get you to where the fish are biting.
Reserve your seat now! Call 503.621.6759
fishingwithkevin.com
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 171
Pacific Wings Waterfowl Adventures
2021
pacific-wings.net Hunt corn pond mallards in Eastern Washington with Pacific Wings Waterfowl Adventures. All private property with 16 private ponds and deluxe steel pit blinds. On these fully guided hunts, hunters average over five ducks per day in most years. See their videos on YouTube @PacificWingsHunting and @JayGoble.
Pacific Salmon Charters
pacificsalmoncharters.com Have you been searching for that special way to show your appreciation for family, friends, coworkers or good clients? Pacific Salmon Charters has gift certificates and is willing to schedule a fishing trip for you. The gift certificates are perfect for Christmas. Employers have used them for safety rewards, picnic prizes and retirement gifts. Gift certificates are available for salmon, sturgeon, bottomfish, halibut and tuna trips. If you need something else to go with it, the company has hats, cups and sweatshirts.
California Wild Sheep Foundation
cawsf.org California Wild Sheep Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Your membership shows your commitment to the majestic wild sheep of California and throughout the world. The CAWSF “Give a Lamb a Drink” program is installing water systems throughout the historical bighorn sheep ranges of California, which will have an enormous impact on wild sheep but also on other denizens of the desert such as mule deer, bear and smaller animals. Join or donate today at cawsf.org.
SAILFISH • MARLIN • YELLOWFIN TUNA WAHOO • DORADO • ROOSTER FISH
Family-Friendly Travel & Vacationing!
31’ LUHRS “GO FISH,”LOS SUENOS MARINA 10 minutes north of JACO, COSTA RICA Mark & Merry Coleman
US 425-736-8920
CR 506-4001-8430
WWW.CATCHFISHCOSTARICA.COM 172 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
OREGON
WASHINGTON
MEDFORD CRATER CHAINSAW 1321 North Riverside (541) 772-7538 www.craterchainsaw.net
BELLINGHAM HARDWARE SALES, INC. 2034 James St. (360) 734-6140 www.hardwaresales.net
ST. HELENS ST. HELENS ACE HARDWARE 155 S. Columbia River Hwy (503) 366-1363 https://locations.myhspstores.com/ store/ace-hardware-st-helens-or/
MOUNT VERNON BRIM TRACTOR CO., INC. 2500 Cedardale Rd (360) 424-1600 www.brimtractor.com/map-andhours--mount-vernon
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 173
2021
Alaska Marine Highway System
ferryalaska.com If you’ve ever dreamed of a trip to Alaska, take an unforgettable trip aboard an Alaska State Ferry. It’s an ideal way to travel as a walk-on passenger or with a vehicle, and allows you the flexibility to create your own schedule, explore off-the-beaten-path destinations and experience Alaska at your own pace.
Shell Shock Technologies
shellshocktech.com If you loved Shell Shock’s lightweight 9mm cases, wait until you try their new calibers coming soon. Lighter than brass, more powder capacity, greater consistency between rounds, and can be picked up with a magnet. Satisfies global military mandates to reduce ammunition weight and increase performance. All Shell Shock’s cases are proudly made in the USA. Shell Shock … Shoot it, Love it!
Outlander Charters
Skagit Arms
skagitarms.com The Steen family is legendary in the Skagit Valley and beyond for their 35-plus years of service to outdoor enthusiasts in Northwest Washington. Family-owned and -operated, the Steens also hire employees as enthusiastic about the great outdoors as you! These folks (including the owners) don’t just talk outdoor sports – they participate! Mom and Dad still run Holiday Sports, while their son Anthon owns and runs Skagit Arms next door. Their daughter runs Holiday Market and Anthon’s daughter works in the Angler’s Drive Thru Espresso. Come see the local pros who will spend the time to answer all your questions. Skagit Arms stocks great stocking stuffers, including ammo! All the best brands are in stock.
outlandercharters.com Give someone the special gift of a charter trip aboard the Uitlander, a 32-foot Allied Dominator with a bathroom and heater. Wintertime squid trips, springtime halibut combo trips and summertime tuna/ salmon trips. Gift certificates available and 10 percent off for active and retired military.
174 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
Woodman’s Pal
woodmanspal.com Made in America since 1941, chop, clear, blaze, build and more with the lightweight, compact and superbly balanced Woodman’s Pal. Unique land management and outdoorsman’s multi-use tool. MSRP: $175.
WASHINGTON
EVERETT Cascade Marine Service, LLC (425) 303-0200 2925 W. Marine View Dr. tim@cascademarineservice.com www.cascademarineservice.com
OREGON
EUGENE Maxxum Marine (541) 686-3572 1700 State Highway 99 N www.maxxummarine.com
Honda. Built to Last.
U2000i • 2000 watts (16.7 A) of Honda Inverter 120V AC Power • Eco-Throttle – Runs up to 15 hrs on 1 gallon of fuel EU3000i Handi • 3000 watts (25 A) of Honda Inverter 120V AC Power • Eco-Throttle – Runs up to 7.7 hrs on 1.56 gallons of fuel EU3000is • 3000 watts (25 A) of Honda Inverter 120V AC Power • Eco-Throttle – Runs up to 20 hrs on 3.4 gallons of fuel EU7000is • 7000 watts, 120/240V • Fuel efficient - runs up to 18 hours on 5.1 gal of fuel • Perfect for home back up power, RVs, outdoor events, and more
WASHINGTON BELLINGHAM Hardware Sales, Inc. 2034 James St. (360) 734-6140 www.hardwaresales.net Please read the owner’s manual before operating your Honda Power Equipment and never use in a closed or partly enclosed area where you could be exposed to carbon monoxide. Connection of a generator to house power requires a transfer device to avoid possible injury to power company personnel. Consult a qualified electrician. © 2020 American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 175
2021
Bait Buttons Timber Creek Outdoors
baitbuttons.com Bait Buttons are a simple and easy way to keep your baits – natural or artificial – in place on your hook.The Bait Button is a silicone disc that comes in a simple, easy-to-use dispenser. Comes in two sizes. Makes a great stocking stuffer.
timbercreekoutdoorsinc.com Your next AR build starts here. Customize your AR with Timber Creek’s Upper Parts Kit, Lower Parts Kit or the Full Enforcer Kit. All build kits are available in multiple color options. All Timber Creek products are proudly made in Springfield, Oregon, and are backed by a lifetime warranty.
Ace Line Hauler acelinehauler.com The Pacific Pro is by far the best hauler Ace Line Hauler has offered. More low-end power, redesigned gear head and quad brushes. Plus now in addition to fitting onto Scotty and Cannon downrigger mounts, the Pacific Pro fits onto the Burnewiin premium mounting system.
Bordertown Blades
bordertownblades.com Available from Bordertown Blades is the Burled Maple & Macassar Ebony chef knife. Specs: AEB-L stainless steel 4.75-inch blade length 8.75-inch overall length Handcrafted stainless jacketed Macassar Ebony pins Black and white liners Includes zippered pouch for storage Contact Chris at 360-595-7676 for price and availability.
Full Forge Gear
fullforgegear.com Bags, gear and packs. Full Forge Gear is bringing quality and affordable nylon gear for everyday life, from multipurpose bags to one-day backpacks to pistol and rifle cases. Whatever your needs are, Full Forge Gear has something to offer you. 176 Northwest Sportsman
DECEMBER 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
Welcome to
Ephrata!
Trophy fish, strap of ducks, technical mountain biking to basalt rock climb: It’s all around Ephrata! Visit ephratawachamber.com and start your adventure today!
BEDLINERS | ACCESSORIES PROTECTIVE COATINGS
WHEN PROTECTION MATTERS MOST, LINE-X IT.
Washington Line-X Plus 3508 C St NE Auburn, WA 98002 (253) 735-1220 www.linexofauburn.com
nwsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2021
Northwest Sportsman 177
