Northwest Sportsman Mag - April 2021 by Media Index Publishing Group

FISHING • HUNTING • NEWS

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Sportsman Northwest

Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource

Volume 13 • Issue 7 PUBLISHER James R. Baker

Your Complete Hunting, Boating, Fishing and Repair Destination Since 1948.

ALUMAWELD STRYKER

EDITOR Andy Walgamott THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS Dave Anderson, Randy Bonner, Jason Brooks, Scott Haugen, Sara Ichtertz, MD Johnson, Randy King, JoLee Liepman, Buzz Ramsey, Troy Rodakowski, Tom Schnell, Ryder Sturgell, Dave Workman, Mike Wright, Mark Yuasa EDITORIAL FIELD SUPPORT Jason Brooks GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Jim Klark, 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

SMOKERCRAFT

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@nwsportsmanmag.com CORRESPONDENCE Email letters, articles/queries, photos, etc., to awalgamott@media-inc.com, or to the mailing address below. ON THE COVER Logan Smith shows off one of several nice rainbows he caught last spring on Snohomish County lakes after fishing (and hunting) was reopened across Washington. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

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CONTENTS

PRE-ENGINEERED STEEL FRAME STRUCTURES

VOLUME 13 • ISSUE 7

HERE COME THE STOCKERS!

It’s back to business as usual this month for spring trout anglers in Washington, where “a really strong opener and a lot of people” are expected at lowland lakes as late April’s tradition is reinstated following 2020’s Covid-related delay till May. Mark Yuasa previews the action, stocking numbers and best waters around the state!

(FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

ALSO INSIDE 52

HIGHWAY TO (TROUT) HEAVEN State Route 17 through Central Washington leads trout anglers to three challenging waters that are home to big rainbows, cutthroats, browns and tigers. Ride shotgun up Grand Coulee with fly guy Mike Wright as he details the ins and outs of fishing Rocky Ford Creek, Lake Lenore and Dry Falls Lake.

BIDE TIME ON WILLAMETTE VALLEY TROUT WATERS While waiting for the Cascades to melt out, there are plenty of rainbows and broodstockers to be caught in Western Oregon’s lowlands! Randall Bonner’s been hitting these ponds and has good advice on where to go and what to use there, as well as on local streams.

855.668.7211 • www.wsbnw.com

COLORS FOR KOKANEE Central Oregon kokanee anglers Tom and Rhonna Schnell consider lure color to be “one of the most important variables that we change up” when fish aren’t biting, but the equation goes deeper than that. Break out your color wavelength spectrometer, lures and dodgers for some great insights into what hues work best and when to use them for these tasty landlocked sockeye!

103 KISS SOME OREGON BASS THIS SPRING With largemouth and smallmouth getting ready to spawn across the Beaver State, it’s time to pucker up – er, buckle up – and get after ’em! Troy Rodakowski details his best spring setups and strategies for bucketmouths and bronzebacks. 113 GEAR UP FOR SHRIMP Among midspring’s many fishing delights, Puget Sound spot prawns always draws a crowd, so it pays to be ready for the short season. Dave Anderson has his pot-filling routine down to a science and shares it. 145 2021 NORTHWEST SPRING TURKEY FORECAST Our resident gobbler gunner MD Johnson gazes into the crystal ball with regional turkey biologists for a look at this season’s prospects, and you may like what they see. 157 OREGON GOBBLER OPS MAKE FOR GOOD MEMORIES With burgeoning Beaver State bird numbers, even midday outings can provide solid hunting. Troy Rodakowski shares the story of just such a hunt last season – a special one with his daughter and a friend – along with tips and tactics for chasing turkeys the rest of the day.

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.

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(JASON BROOKS)

NORTHWEST PURSUITS

Morel Of The Story? Hit The Woods For Toms, Mushrooms! While turkeys highlight the hunting side of the ledger when it comes to spring’s sporting opportunities, providing an excellent challenge for practiced and new hunters alike, there’s another harvest available this time of year in the Northwest’s woods – morel mushrooms. Jason sets you up for success on both fronts!

COLUMNS 83

BUZZ RAMSEY The Trout Setup Buzz Rarely Heads To The Lake Without About 15 years ago, while doing public relations for Pure Fishing during trout season in California’s fishy Eastern Sierra, Buzz learned a new-to-him setup and tactic that he brought back to the Northwest, tried out – and now won’t pack the boat without having a rod or two strung up to fish the method. What is it? Buzz shares!

109 FOR THE LOVE OF THE TUG Spring, Oregon’s Sea And Me What began simply as fishing for surfperch off an Oregon beach now finds Sara Ichtertz raring for a chance to hit the briny blue once more. As spring arrives, this confirmed river lover vows to “get outside my comfort zone and embrace the new.” 121 CHEF IN THE WILD Dancing Unicorns And Other Hazy Memories Of A Riggins Weekend It’s not often you turn 40, and Chef Randy knew of only one place in the world he wanted to do so – the Central Idaho town along the Salmon River he idolized as a kid. And while the whiskey was good, the steelheading was slow, leading to his hangover-helper recipe featuring rice, curry veggies and baked fillet of fall fish. 163 ON TARGET Talkin’ Loads And More For Toms Dave’s got one eye on some flocks just east of Snoqualmie Pass and the other on shotguns and loads, along with the rest of his turkey gear, as spring season arrives in the region. He also shares news from the NRA and gun rights battles. 171 GUN DOG Beware Stomach Twist, It’s Real! “We have five minutes to decide if we’re going to have them operate or put him down!” Those were the chilling words Scott heard over the phone as wife Tiffany repeated a vet’s prognosis for one of their gun dogs last summer. Fortunately, Kona survived, and now Scott knows a lot more about what’s also called gastric torsion, what to look out for and how to prevent it. He details what he learned. 16 Northwest Sportsman

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(STURGELL FAMILY)

THE BIG PIC The Story Of Oregon’s – And The Lower 48’s – New Record Mountain Goat A once-in-a-lifetime tag draw, altitude sickness migraine, seven-hour pack out and more make for memorable hunt for Warrenton 14-year-old and his dad.

DEPARTMENTS

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THE EDITOR’S NOTE On northern @$#%@$# pike

PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD Steelhead, trout and more!

PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS Coast, Fishing monthly prizes

THE DISHONOR ROLL Sneaky Oregon steelheaders cited; Police Beat, coastal harbor style; Jackass of the Month

DERBY WATCH Popular WDFW trout derby returns; More upcoming events

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THEEDITOR’SNOTE

A northern pike netted on Lake Washington in early 2017. Since then, another was caught and released by a bass angler uncertain what to do with it, and two were netted in mid-March. (MERCER ISLAND POLICE)

“

on’t ever do that again!” That – or words to the effect – was my wife Amy’s reaction to my anguished howl of horror-rage last month when I heard that two northern pike had just been caught in Lake Washington. It was about as loud and agonized and furiously puzzled as my reaction to a certain goal-line interception several Februaries ago. Chillingly, the pike were captured in nets that had only been soaking a day, leading to questions like, how many are there in the big Seattle lake? Are they spawning? And what asshat(s) is putting them in there? I will not mince words: Whoever is illegally releasing pike, as well as walleye, in Lake Washington – and any other Northwest water – needs to be publicly shamed and fined massively. No ifs, ands or buts.

I’M AFRAID THE perpetraitor (or perps) is likely one of our own, although I use that term lightly. I would also bet it’s a local resident. I’m no FBI profiler, but they have a boat with a livewell and they’re known to travel far and wide to fish. They’re a decent angler, but only in the sense that they can catch their target species, and I’d guess they want to catch pike without the 600-plus-mile roundtrip to known northern waters in Northeast Washington and North Idaho. They may bear a grudge against state and/or tribal managers, or the region’s salmon-centric fisheries. They likely think they know better than trained biologists, maybe feel that salmon in the lake are doomed anyway so what’s the harm. In other words, selfish and self-centered. WHATEVER THE CASE, they poked a snoozing bear because last month, the Muckleshoot Tribe deployed more than a dozen 3½- to 6-inchmesh gillnets in the stretch of Lake Washington where walleye and pike were caught in 2015 and 2017. That particular water is coveted by bass anglers, and the nets will also be rotated around the lake through June. The tribe’s stated goal? “The results of this test fishery will inform implementation and management of a full scale commercial fishery directed at warm-water fishes in all areas of the basin ...” Idiot Cause, meet Lethal Effect; Blow, meet Back. “Whoever illegally stocked walleye and northern pike into Lake Washington is no friend of warmwater anglers. They are even no friend to walleye anglers,” Bruce Bolding, the state’s now-retired spinyray fisheries manager, told me in 2018. “Warmwater detractors tend to put all nonnative species under the same umbrella, but comparing pike and bass is like comparing apples and oranges.” I share the Muckleshoot’s primary goal of getting more smolts past the watershed’s large suite of native and nonnative piscivores; I also believe it can be done in a targeted way that preserves bass fisheries. I know none of you would plant pike or walleye. You’re smart, respectful, responsible users of our shared resources. But I need your help getting this message to who did: Don’t ever do that again. –AW nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2021

Northwest Sportsman 23

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After pulling the only East Hurricane Creek mountain goat tag available last year, Ryder Sturgell pulled the trigger on a billy that at 54 6/8 inches scored as the new state record for the species. He and his father Dennis were hunting in the Wallowa Mountains of Northeast Oregon. (STURGELL FAMILY) 26 Northwest Sportsman

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PICTURE

Hunter, 14, Bags New Oregon And Lower 48 Record Mountain Goat Once-in-a-lifetime tag draw, altitude sickness migraine, seven-hour pack out and more make for a very memorable hunt for Warrenton boy and his dad. By Ryder Sturgell and JoLee Liepman

unters are allowed one Oregon Rocky Mountain goat tag in their lifetime. At 14 years old, when I put in for this once-ina-lifetime tag, I never dreamed I would get it. In 2020, 533 hunters applied for an East Hurricane Creek goat tag, and only one hunter received a tag. That hunter was me. My name is Ryder Sturgell, I’m 14 years old and have lived my entire life in the small town of Warrenton, Oregon. Coming from a long line of commercial fishermen and hunters, I have been chasing game around in the woods since before I could walk. But when you receive notice that you drew a tag for a hunt like this, the excitement and anticipation is something similar to winning the lottery. This is what every young hunter dreams about.

The story doesn’t stop there, though; not only did I draw the tag, I hunted the absolute hardest hunt of my life and ended up taking down the number one Rocky Mountain goat in the state of Oregon – which also holds the number one spot in the Lower 48 – measuring at 54 6/8 inches.

FROM THE MOMENT in June that my dad, Dennis Sturgell Jr., and I found out I had drawn this tag, we got to work researching, learning and doing everything we could to make this a successful fall hunt. My family and I spend the summers in Sitka, Alaska, working on the F/V Maverick, a salmon

tender boat. Between shoddy/spotty internet service, living on a boat and being away from home, it was often difficult to do everything we truly wanted to do to prepare. I’ll never forget sitting in the captain’s chair of the Maverick, watching videos about Rocky Mountain goats put out by the Oregon Foundation for North American Wild Sheep. Sitting in the middle of the Sitka Sound, in between unloading fish holds of salmon, I learned to tell the difference between a nanny and a billy goat. In doing our research, and speaking with the local biologist, we realized that our best chances of finding a goat would

be at least an 8-mile pack in. We were confident we could successfully hunt these goats on our own; we weren’t as confident in our ability to pack gear and ourselves 8 miles in on steep terrain. So we set out to find a packer/guide who was within our budgeted price range. Many of the guides who operate in the Hurwal Divide, the area we were going to hunt, only offered fully guided services. We were solely looking for someone to do a drop camp and help get us familiar with the area. One of the few guides my dad spoke with referred us to Barry Cox with Del Sol Wilderness Adventures. After speaking with Barry, we felt like he was exactly what we were looking for. Barry would have his horses pack us in and give us the option of staying and helping us if needed. Oh, and by the way, Barry had never hunted for Rocky Mountain goats before.

WHEN WE RETURNED home from Alaska, we had one month to get ourselves into hunting shape. We knew we had some rough terrain ahead of us and we wanted to be ready. We took advantage of Western Oregon’s bow elk season to prepare and found ourselves hiking up and down every mountain we could. Time seemed to go so quickly that the next thing I knew, we were loading up the

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PICTURE

The Sturgells are more comfortable around the wheelhouses of commercial fishing boats operating out of their hometown on the Lower Columbia, but they found themselves on horses as a drop camp outfitter packed them into the Eagle Cap Wilderness. (STURGELL FAMILY) 28 Northwest Sportsman

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truck and heading to Joseph. Our first stop was to meet Barry and make a plan. We ate a good dinner and rested for a hunt that would soon become something I would never forget. On the morning of September 30, we met Barry, his wrangler Shay and the horses at the Hurricane Creek trailhead. I have done a lot of things in my life, but riding a horse is not one of them. Both nervous and excited, I packed my stuff into the panniers and up the trail we went. As we rode up the trail I was looking at the beautiful rocky mountains of the Hurwal Divide and I was beginning to realize what we were in for. After about five hours of riding, we found an open field next to a little creek, the perfect spot to set up camp. By midafternoon we had finished setting up camp and Shay and the horses left Barry, my dad and I, planning to return when we messaged her on the inReach satellite communicator. We decided to venture around some of the area and see if we could spot any goats. As we sat there glassing the mountainside, we spotted four mule deer bucks and eventually saw our first goat. After setting up the spotting scope we saw the goat stretching its back legs to urinate like a billy; this is one of the easiest ways to tell the difference between a billy and a nanny. Darkness came upon us quickly and we headed back to camp to have dinner. My dad makes a mean elk cube steak and corn dinner.

I WOKE UP the next morning right as daylight was breaking over the mountaintop. Barry, my dad and I started our hike on foot up the divide in no hurry, because unlike most animals, goats like staying out all day. We got to the top of the divide by midday and there was quite a bit of wind and patches of snow on the ground. We sat down to glass and immediately spotted a few goats a couple hundred yards away. After watching them for a while, we determined they were small billies and nannies. We decided that we should head in the direction of the billy we had seen the night before. As I crested the peak of the mountain, at 9,800 feet, I started to not feel so good. No amount of running through the woods of the Oregon Coast during elk season had

prepared me for this hike. Altitude sickness was heading my way. We made it over the next ridge and immediately spotted a lone goat bedded in rock. With me not feeling well and the midday heat waves making it challenging for us to get a good look at the goat, we decided to take a rest and watch the animal. I had been asleep for about an hour when my dad noticed two more billies join the original goat. The three goats were down a steep ridge on the other side of the Hurwal Divide from our camp, making it a difficult choice whether we would put the hunt on them or not. My dad finally got a good look at the original billy and determined that it looked like a nice one. Barry, with his hat pulled down over his face, was still resting when my dad said, “I think we should go after them.” Without lifting his hat from his eyes, Barry replied, “I was afraid you were going to say that.” We knew that if I took this goat it was going to be a lot of work and a long night ahead of us.

THE BILLIES WERE 1,500 yards down steep, sliding shale. At this point we thought it would be best to lighten our packs in a pile at the ridgetop. We down-hilled it over 1,000 yards to a rock outcropping that was within rifle range. As my dad was ranging

the goats and trying to determine which one of the three was the biggest, I was working on getting a comfortable rest to make a good shot. My dad told me the biggest one was on the left and it was 360 yards away. As I looked through the scope I could hear my dad say, “Take your time and make a good shot.” I took a deep breath, slowly squeezed the trigger and down went the goat. I could easily tell it was a great shot; his bright white fur stood out next to the brown rocks. We were pumped and all high-fived and hugged. Now the work began It was 5:15 p.m. by the time we reached the downed goat. We were amazed at how big and beautiful he was. We set up for a bunch of good pictures before skinning and quartering it out. But about that same time, a full-on migraine started to set in. I get them when I’m not hydrated and apparently coupled with altitude sickness, it was a doozy. Of course I have migraine medication; I even brought it on this trip – but left it back at camp. I told my dad a migraine was kicking in and just as the words came out of my mouth, I started vomiting. We looked down at the quartered goat, and back up at the mountain; we knew we had our work cut out for us. Barry and my dad gave me a pack that they thought I could handle and sent me on my way back

A little clearing up Hurricane Creek provided a nice campsite for the hunters. Unfortunately, Ryder would leave his migraine medicine there, making for a very rough time while up chasing goats. (STURGELL FAMILY)

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PICTURE to the ridge where we had left the rest of our gear. Before I knew it, my dad and Barry were already on my heels. I was stopping every 30 minutes to vomit and was finding myself more and more fatigued. We reached our gear around 9 p.m. and I immediately laid down and tried to convince them to just sleep right there on

Ryder takes a breather along Hurwal Divide, a barren ridgeline that rises to nearly 9,800 feet above sea level not far from Wallowa Lake and one of the highest points in the mountain range. (STURGELL FAMILY)

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PICTURE

Another look at Ryder and his goat. His billy measured 6/8 inch larger than the previous state rifle record, which was taken in 2012, also in Wallowa County, by William Garroutte. Ryder used a custom .30-338 built by a family friend and topped with a Vortex Optics Viper 4-16x44 scope. (STURGELL FAMILY) the mountain. My dad and Barry were not into that idea and after about 20 minutes of rest, we started down the dark hillside. It was so steep that at times it was easier to slide down. Both my dad and I ripped out the seats of our pants – good thing we had thick underwear on. Barry refused to slide; he had brand-new pants on and was not about to rip them. By the time we reached the bottom of 32 Northwest Sportsman

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the hill it was about 11:30 p.m. I was still vomiting every 30 minutes and I was out of water. When I heard the trickle of a creek, I dropped my backpack, ran to the sound of the water, got down on my hands and knees and drank straight out of the stream. The rest of the way to camp was flat ground and felt like a breeze. We reached camp about 12:30 a.m. and I took my medication and went straight to bed, while my dad

and Barry got to work hanging the goat meat and hide. YOU ARE REQUIRED by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to schedule a biologist check-in after taking a goat. While I was sleeping off my migraine, my dad was on the inReach satellite communicator trying to arrange that. The only available meetings were the next day at 1 p.m. or the following day at 5 p.m. Shay and the horses were unable to pick us up from camp until the next day and thus we would not be able to make the first time slot. But not wanting to lose this one shot to get the check-in done, and also worried about preserving the goat meat and hide, we opted to load it all up, plus my rifle and a change of clothes, and hike our way back to the trailhead so we could meet with the biologist the next day at 1. At our appointment, by the time the biologist was done taking all of his measurements and had a full green score of the billy’s horns, he told us he thought my goat was at least in the top three alltime scores for the entire state of Oregon. If we weren’t already excited, this news put my dad and I on cloud nine. On the way home we made multiple phone calls trying to find a great taxidermist. We found Jim August out of Portland and were able to drop the goat off on the way home. We had to wait 60 days till the goat could be officially scored. I couldn’t wait for that day to come, hoping that it would at least be top five in the state. On December 22, the wait was over when we met with Tim Brown, an official Boone and Crockett Club scorer. When it was measured at 54 6/8 inches, my dad and I immediately looked at each other knowing that it was the number 1 goat in the state. We called all our family and friends telling them the exciting news. TODAY, AS I look at the half-body mount of the Oregon state record mountain goat in our living room, I am reminded of the hunt that I will remember for the rest of my life. I am so thankful for my dad and all his hard work that made this hunt possible. I am lucky to have so many people supporting my hunting passion and willing to help along the way. NS

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VERLE’S

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erle Schreiber’s business grew from the ground up. Literally. In 1948, he started out with a hearty supply of nightcrawlers plucked from the Colwood Golf Course in Portland to start Verle’s Bait. Over the ensuing years, Verle added tackle, rods and reels, hunting and camping gear, outboard motors and boats to his offerings as his store continued to grow. Now, more than 70 years later and in its fourth generation of family ownership, Verle’s LLC has become one

Bernice and Verle Schreiber at the original store on Olympic Highway South, in 1961.

of the biggest, most respected marine and sporting goods stores in Western Washington. Located on Highway 101 just south of Shelton, Verle’s sits on 3.5 acres with 7,000 square feet of tackle and sporting goods retail space, an additional 7,000-square-foot service shop, and

hundreds of boats on site year-round. A “one-stop complete outdoor recreation store,” their lineup of boats, gear and accessories has an authentically Northwest focus, says Michelle Schreiber, retail sales manager. For instance, Verle’s is a “top 5 dealer” of Hewescraft Boats, the number-one-selling heavygauge aluminum boat in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Alumaweld Boats, specializing in premium welded aluminum fishing boats and based in White City, Oregon, is another top-seller. They’ve also sold Smokercrafts for almost 40 years. Verle’s carries a wide selection of new

Second and third generations carry on the family legacy.

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Verle’s has all the fishing, hunting and firearms gear anyone would be looking for. Here are views inside their current location.

and used boats from these brands and others, as well as motors from Yamaha, Suzuki, Mercury and more. Whatever you’re looking for, they have a huge inventory, the knowledgeable sales staff to help guide you, and the maintenance technicians to get you back on the water. With their beginnings as a bait seller, Verle’s has you covered when it comes to fishing tackle, gear and, yes, nightcrawlers (always on special for $1.99/a baker’s dozen). “We have everything to fish all species of fish in the Pacific Northwest,” says Schreiber. “Forever popular brands grace our shelves: Lamiglas, Fenwick and Penn rods, to name a few, along with tackle by Luhr-Jensen, Blue Fox, Mack’s Wedding Rings. And of course, some local favorites: Leo flashers, Beau Mac gear, Cleardrift plastic baits, Big Al’s Fish Flash,

and the ever-popular Berkley PowerBaits.” Verle’s also has a wide selection of hunting gear for the upcoming seasons. “Our sporting goods retail side of the business has been over-the-top busy with firearms sales this past year, along with ammunition and reloading supplies,” adds Schreiber. “Our knowledgeable pro-staff are gun enthusiasts that love to share their passion of the shooting sports with new gun owners, helping them choose the one that suits their needs the most.” And what to do with all those fish you catch from your new boat, and the game you take with that new gun? Verle’s sells Smokehouse Products’ Big Chief Smoker, available in top or front load, including a bag of smoking chips. Also in stock are all the flavors of wood chips and wood chunks, along with brines by Scott’s, to make some super-yummy smoked fish

There are hundreds of boats to choose from at their current location on Highway 101 in Shelton.

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and jerkies. Whether you are shopping for a new boat, that certain fishing lure, necessary boat maintenance or just want to get the latest fishing report, stop by Verle’s LLC today. “Being a local, fourth-generation family business, we have learned how to take great care of our customers, going that extra mile to make them happy,” says Schreiber. “Our staff are locals who know where to fish, go boating, and can help you with all your fishing questions, help get you set up to go hunting, and more.” NS Editor’s note: For more information, visit verles.com. Also look out for Verle’s in our e-newsletter and on nwsportsmanmag .com. You can sign up for our e-newsletter on our website.

nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2021

Northwest Sportsman 37

READER PHOTOS Catch a bronzeback this big in January and, heck yeah, you’re giving it a kiss! Brock Sande caught this one on the Mid-Columbia while using his brother-in-law’s homemade walleye jigs. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

Robert and Reagan Southard “came up big” – and how! – with this pair of broodstock rainbows at Albany’s Timberlinn Pond. They caught the 6.6- and 8.8-pounders on chartreuse PowerBait dipped in garlic gel while using ultralight rods strung with 4-pound-test line, testing their skills. “Tight lines from these two giants made for huge smile and great memories,” wrote their dad, Russell. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST) Ron Cady carried a pair of nice coho out of the woods after a day of twitching jigs on the upper end of a Southwest Washington river last fall. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

This will go down as one of the more challenging Washington winter steelhead seasons, but many of the fish that were caught were on the large side. Darrel Smith hooked this “monster slab” in late February while fishing with guide Mike Zavadlov. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

Some big cutthroat prowl the depths of Lake Washington and Eric Lucke caught one of ’em in February. He hooked the 22-incher while trolling a pink Wiggle Hoochie tipped with corn behind a Dick Nite dodger in clown. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

“Closed rivers and all the restrictions in regards to steelhead fishing have definitely made it tougher to catch fish, but persistence does pay off,” emailed Marvin Holder about buddy Dylan Smith’s hatchery fish, one of two he landed on a rainy day this winter. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

For your shot at winning great fishing and hunting products from Northwest Sportsman and Coast, respectively, send your full-resolution, original images with all the pertinent details – who’s in the pic; when and where they were; what they caught their fish on/weapon they used to bag the game; and any other details you’d like to reveal (the more, the merrier!) – 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 use in our print and Internet publications.

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READER PHOTOS We can’t say Jeff Witkowski started last winter’s whole whopper fest at Rufus Woods Lake ... but he did get in on the triploid rainbow action at the Northcentral Washington impoundment of the Columbia pretty early on, catching this non-Mackinaw (sorry, inside joke) in late November. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

Tina Fountain’s big wild steelhead was one of the largest ones that we spotted this winter. She caught the beautiful fish on the Siletz in late January. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST) Last month saw nearly 10,000 dippers catch 90,750 pounds of smelt on the lower Cowlitz, a tally that equates to roughly 925,650 individual fish, and near limits for all fishermen. It far surpassed last year’s first opener and renewed an annual tradition, while also providing data on the run for biologists who set up a number of sampling stations at top dipping spots. (WDFW)

40 Northwest Sportsman

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Shawna Bailey-Boyd was back at it on Lake Chelan in mid-December, bringing this nice Mack up from the depths. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

That’s a very fine introduction to steelhead Daulton Hovanec’s holding! He caught his 34-inch 12-pounder on shrimp under a bobber on the Snake. It was his first ever steelie and also followed on a “summer of monsters,” per proud pop, Cory. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

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Northwest Sportsman 41

PHOTO

CONTEST

WINNERS!

Jon Crawford is the winner of our monthly Fishing Photo Contest, thanks to his pic of daughter-in-law Mackenzie Crawford and her first salmon, this very nice upriver bright. It wins him gear from various tackle manufacturers!

Jake Meyer is our monthly Coast Hunting Photo Contest winner, thanks to this pic of his daughter Sawyer and her first coyote, taken in Eastern Washington. 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.

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Northwest Sportsman 43

Sneaky Oregon Steelheaders Cited

his winter saw some pretty slow steelhead fishing along the Northwest Coast, not to mention some sneaky steelheaders. While there were anecdotal reports of anglers fishing out of boats on Washington rivers that were only open for bank fishing – state managers did not respond to a question about that – the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division’s January newsletter outlined several cases that troopers investigated that month. In one, a wireless trail cam was set

up on the South Fork Necanicum after some evidence was found there that the year-round angling closure wasn’t being respected. When the device emailed an image of someone fishing the river, a trooper was able to get to the scene and cite the individual. At the other end of the Oregon Coast, a Gold Beach-based trooper working the Winchuck spotted two anglers in a raft, with one fishing while they were underway. The river is one of a handful in the state where angling from a floating

JACKASS OF THE MONTH

regon fish and wildlife troopers are still searching for whoever has been shooting deer in Burns with a blow gun, but we’re preemptively declaring them the Jackass of the Month. That’s because their darts have led to the cruel deaths of at least two mule deer and wounding of three more since last fall. That also spurred the Oregon Hunters Association to offer $1,000 for info that leads to the perp or perps being cited. The case began in early November when a dead fawn with a dart in its chest was found. Afterwards, biologists removed darts from three more deer – the animals were expected to recover – but in midFebruary a doe with a dart in her side and in “failing health” had to be put down. According to wildlife managers, blow gun darts – while effective on small game – are illegal for deer hunting in the state. “Either the wound will lead to an infection, or if the stomach or intestines are punctured, the deer will die, but it will take a while, and it will be painful,” said Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife district biologist Rod Klus. “It takes a deer anywhere from days to weeks to die from infection.” Burns and other towns across Eastern Oregon, along with rural cities elsewhere in the Northwest, have been dealing with more and more neighborhood deer in recent years, but shooting the animals, which can become habituated to living

A blow gun dart was pulled out of the chest of this dead fawn in Burns last November, one of at least five mule deer shot with the illegal projectile. (OSP)

around people, with darts was called “an inhumane way to kill a deer” by Ken Hand of the Mule Deer Foundation. It is also very aggravating, given grim herd trends in the region. “It is no secret that mule deer populations continue to be on a decline in Oregon,” said Fred Walasavage, OHA chair. “Granted there are many factors such as habitat loss, road kills and predation, but when it comes to intentionally poaching wildlife, that’s where OHA members draw the line.” ODFW’s Klus pointed out that the illegal darting, treatment of the deer and investigating the case were also all a “drain [of] resources when we could be doing other things for wildlife.” A quick Google News search turned up similar darting cases across the country, mostly involving wild ducks and pet cats. Tipsters can contact Oregon State Police wildlife troopers three ways: *OSP; 800-452-7888; TIP@osp.oregon.gov.

MIXED BAG

device is not allowed. When the trooper contacted the duo later and asked if they’d been fishing out of the raft, they denied it, saying “they would never do that because they had read the regulations and knew that it was not legal,” per the newsletter write-up. However, after the trooper shared their earlier riverside observation, one of the anglers admitted to fishing from the raft, earning them a citation for fishing from a prohibited device, while their partner was warned for aiding them.

Police Beat, Coastal Harbor Style

n a former life, yours truly wrote the Police Beat column for a Seattle suburb’s weekly newspaper. It required a Friday afternoon run over to City Hall to rifle through recent reports made by local officers as I searched for interesting or unusual cases, so I can appreciate the gem a reporter on Washington’s South Coast discovered. I wish I could give proper attribution – I’m guessing it came from the South Beach Bulletin of Westport or maybe The Daily World of Aberdeen – but only a partial pic of the published page was posted to Facebook. Right there between the report of a $124 ticket issued to someone for using a cell phone while driving through Westport and the report of squatters in a barn, was the following: “1:00 p.m. – Pacific Ocean. Male subject who got seasick while on a fishing trip wanted to file a complaint against the following: Skipper who wouldn’t bring him to shore immediately; other customers who wanted to stay out and fish; Coast Guard for refusing to dispatch a helicopter to rescue him. He told the officer that he was lucky that he didn’t die.” Or get thrown overboard.

nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2021

Northwest Sportsman 45

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ashington’s statewide trout derby returns from April 24 through October 31, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife raved about last year’s success, which saw around 57 percent of tags from fish caught around the Evergreen State turned in. “We plan to plant the same Puget Sound lakes as we did last year and this has been a highly popular event with a good return on tagged trout,” said Steve Caromile, WDFW Inland Fish Program manager. “Our prize value is expected to be a little higher this year, and most participants indicated they were happy with the derby.” More money was diverted into this event for 2020, with $39,179 (compared to $39,091 in 2019 and $38,000 in 2018) in donated prizes totaling 1,007 prizes from 105 participating businesses. In the Puget Sound region, around 300 of the 1,000 tags were placed in 22 lakes

Some 1,000 spaghetti-tagged fish will be stocked in over 100 lakes across Washington for this year’s statewide trout derby. (WDFW)

By Andy Walgamott

in 2020, figures expected to be the same in 2021. For details, go to wdfw.wa.gov/ fishing/contests/trout-derby. While the pandemic put them on hold last year, there are also kids fishing events held throughout the year and hosted by WDFW and other fishing groups and clubs such as the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation. Watch wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/kids/events.html and castforkids.org for updates. –Mark Yuasa

MORE UPCOMING EVENTS*  April 17-18: Something Catchy kokanee derby, Lake Chelan; somethingcatchy.org  April 17-18: Triple Fish Challenge, Banks Lake; grandcouleedam.org  April 24-25: Conconully Annual Trout Derby; Conconully Lake and Reservoir; conconully.com/trout-derby  April 24-Sept. 30: Verle’s Fishing

Contest, Mason County lakes; verles.com  May 14-16: Pikeminnow Fishing Derby 2021, Wanapum Pool; quincyvalley.org  May 22: Brownlee Crappie Shoot Out Kayak Fishing Tournament, Brownlee Reservoir; facebook.com/ brownleecrappieshootout * Confirm events are on before attending.

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Northwest Sportsman 47

48 Northwest Sportsman

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OUTDOOR

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New Washington fishing, hunting licenses required; Opening day for special permit bear hunts in select Idaho and Oregon units 1, 5-6 WDFW North of Falcon salmon season meetings for Columbia and South Coast waters – info: wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon 3 ODFW Youth Turkey Clinic (free, register), Denman Wildlife Area – info: odfwcalendar.com 3-4 Washington youth turkey hunting weekend 6-7 ODFW Intro to Hunting Big Game in Oregon ($, register), Portland Sportsman’s Warehouse – info: see above 6-9 Pacific Fishery Management Council salmon meetings – info: pcouncil.org 8-14 Idaho youth turkey hunting week 10-11 Oregon youth turkey hunting weekend 12-15 Pacific Fishery Management Council salmon meetings – info: see above 14-15 ODFW Intro to Hunting Big Game in Oregon ($, register), Bend Sportsman’s Warehouse – info: see above 15 General spring turkey season opener in Idaho, Oregon and Washington; Opening day of special permit bear hunts in all select Washington units, as well as more Idaho and Oregon units 17 ODFW Adult Beginner Turkey Clinic ($, register), EE Wilson Wildlife Area – info: see above 22 Fishing or bait opener on select Oregon waters; Tentative Washington Marine Areas 6-10 halibut opener (Thurs.-Sat. fishing through May 22) – info: wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut 24 Opening day of lowland lake fishing season in Washington

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Northern pikeminnow sport reward fishery begins on Columbia and Snake Rivers – info: pikeminnow.org; Proposed Southern Oregon Subarea halibut opener – info: dfw.state.or.us/MRP/finfish/halibut/management.asp; Areas 5-11, 13 lingcod opener ODFW Intro to Hunting Big Game in Oregon ($, register), Portland Sportsman’s Warehouse – info: see above Tentative Columbia River Subarea/Area 1, Area 2 halibut opener (Thurs., Sun. fishing through May 23); Tentative Areas 3-5 halibut opener (Thurs., Sat. fishing through May 22) – info: see above Willamette Sportsman Show, Linn County Expo Center, Albany; willamettesportsmanshow.com Proposed Oregon Central Coast all-depth halibut fishing – info: see above Oregon fall controlled big game permit purchase application deadline Proposed Oregon Central Coast all-depth halibut fishing – info: see above Usual Washington big game special permit application deadline Last day to hunt turkeys in Idaho Tentative Washington halibut openers in all open areas (dates vary by area) – info: see above Fishing opens on select Washington streams Last day of Oregon, Washington spring turkey seasons

JUNE 5-6 Oregon Free Fishing Weekend 12-13 Washington Free Fishing Weekend * Check ahead. Some events may not take place due to coronavirus concerns.

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Northwest Sportsman 49

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Dry Falls Lake anchors the northern leg of a fantastic stretch of the Evergreen State’s Highway 17 for fans of trophy trout. The plunge pool of the region-altering Missoula Floods as they swept through Grand Coulee holds rainbow, brown and tiger trout. (MIKE SCHMUCK) 52 Northwest Sportsman

APRIL 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com

) Heaven

FISHING State Route 17 through Central Washington leads anglers to three challenging waters home to big rainbows, cutthroats and more. By Mike Wright

casual observer travelling I-90 through the central Columbia Basin might think the area is totally devoid of any desirable fishing locations. However, if they were to turn off the interstate at Moses Lake and head north on Highway 17 toward Grand Coulee Dam, they would pass by some of the finest trophy trout fishing waters to be found anywhere in the Northwest. In particular, three spots not far out of the small town of Soap Lake stand out.

THE FIRST OF these destinations is Rocky Ford Creek, which is one of the few places where it is possible to catch 4- or 5-pound rainbows, even in the middle of winter. That’s because Rocky Ford is a spring creek with relatively constant water temperatures and good food sources throughout the year. These conditions make it very productive at a time other fishing destinations are yet to open or water temperatures are cold enough to make the trout rather lethargic. Midges will come qoff the creek nearly year-round, but by March they start appearing in greater numbers, along with reliable blue-winged olive hatches. Scuds, a type of freshwater shrimp, start becoming a little more active too, along with leeches and smaller nymphs. Chironomids begin to appear in significant numbers to be a major attraction for the fish. Dry flies can be productive, but for the most part, subsurface patterns are more effective. The dry fly fishing nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2021

Northwest Sportsman 53

FISHING really starts in earnest in April. Speaking of this month, now is when the fishing begins to improve dramatically – well, depending on the unpredictable Columbia Basin weather, of course – with prolific hatches of callibaetis, spring caddis, pale morning duns and tricos. Although ordinarily considered a lake-dwelling insect, damselflies are also abundant in Rocky Ford and if the temperatures are high enough, damsel nymphs can start appearing as early as April, with the peak of the hatch usually taking place in June. There are normally also considerably more midge adults appearing on the surface of the water by April. Griffith’s Gnats and Renegades can be highly productive when the midge hatches are in full swing. Chironomid and Serendipity patterns are also very effective during this

period. When the callibaetis hatch starts, a Parachute Adams or a Purple Haze are usually very reliable patterns to use. The Pheasant Tail or a gold-ribbed Hare’s Ear are probably the best nymph patterns to use if there are no callibaetis adults on the surface. Hopper patterns with a Pheasant Tail, Hare’s Ear, chironomid or Prince Nymph dropper are also very effective, especially if the wind is blowing, which it almost always seems to do in the day in these parts. When the caddis hatches begin to appear, an Elk Hair or Goddard Caddis is probably the preferred pattern. A PMD emerger or adult are the most popular patterns during pale morning dun hatches. A tiny Trico Spinner will work well during the trico hatch, but good luck getting it tied onto your tippet. During May, June, July and

The toughest to fish of the three waters covered in this story might be Rocky Ford Creek, home to well-fed rainbows that cruise the clear, springfed stream between Ephrata and Moses Lake. It’s fishable year-round, though weedy in summer, but begins to shine in April. (MIKE WRIGHT) 54 Northwest Sportsman

APRIL 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com

August, the same dry fly patterns used in April are still effective, but grasshoppers, beetles and ants flourish in the hot summer weather and become a more dominant part of the rainbows’ diet. Damsel adults will also replace the damsel nymph as the desired delicacy of the trout. The best nymph patterns during the summer are scuds, leeches, Pheasant Tails and chironomids, although if you use a strike indicator it might be a wise decision to downsize. By summer the fish have become much more selective and spook easily. Rocky Ford is crystal-clear and rather shallow, so if you can see the fish, chances are very good they have already seen you. It definitely helps to be very stealthy, especially during the summer months. Some portions of the stream also become very weedy and somewhat

FISHING Scuds, leeches, chironomids, Pheasant Tails, Hare’s Ears and Prince Nymphs are good subsurface patterns, although early in the season, the heavy weed beds can still create problems. By late fall and winter the weed cover problem has eased, and these nymphs, along with midge and BWO dries, are good choices.

Rocky Ford features the most restrictive regulations and is only open for fly fishing from the bank, but Al Schultz got the best of this one. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

difficult to cast around them, especially when using a weighted nymph. In many areas it is also difficult to make a back cast without getting hung up in the cattails. Another problem, which is even more unsettling – at least to me – is the fact that if you like rattlesnakes, you will love Rocky Ford. It would be advisable to keep this in mind when you are stealthily moving through weedy or brushy areas. However, 56 Northwest Sportsman

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according to Mike Schmuck, a state fisheries biologist based in Ephrata, the rattler situation around Rocky Ford is considerably better than it once was. Although damsel adults, midges and callibaetis are effective in the fall, blue-winged olive and mahogany dun imitations start to become more effective. Hoppers, along with ants and beetles, are also an important surface food source during this timeframe.

MOST FISHING PRESSURE on Rocky Ford occurs in spring and early fall. But for hardcore fly fishermen who don’t mind the cold, winter is the preferred time of the year. There really isn’t a bad time of year to fish Rocky Ford. Odd as it seems, summer probably sees less fishing pressure than other seasons. In the 1940s, a fish hatchery was constructed on the upper portion of Rocky Ford and rainbow trout were stocked in the creek. It was discovered that the creek was extremely fertile and the fish grew rapidly. Unfortunately, trout were not the only species of fish in the stream and the carp, suckers and other assorted undesirable species also grew rapidly and competed with the rainbows for available forage. To help mitigate the problem, what became the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife erected a dam near the mouth of the stream, and in 1987, the agency poisoned the waters, thus reducing (but not quite eliminating) the rough fish population. In 1988, Rocky Ford was restocked with rainbows, with more being released here in the early 1990s. Today, the creek is stocked with Kamloops-strain rainbows by Trout Lodge. As might be expected, Rocky Ford became one of the worst-kept secrets in Washington and nearby states. Rainbows are typically planted at 3 to 5 inches long and by the end of their first year in the stream, they are 12 to 14 inches long. By the end of their second year, they have grown up to underwater 20 inches. Since Targeting the liferocky expectancy structure with double shrimp fly of these rainbows can exceed rigs on relatively light gear isfive one way to load the boat with true black years, it is possible that some rockfish, also known as sea bass. behemoths cruise these waters. (DAVE ANDERSON)

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FISHING At one time it was legal to keep a fish at Rocky Ford, but in the late 1990s special regulations were put in place requiring catch and release, along with fly fishing only using single barbless hooks. There is also a no-wading rule in place, and boats are prohibited. These regs would certainly suggest that the creek will continue to be a true trophy fishery.

A FEW MILES further north on Highway 17 lies another extremely popular and productive fishing destination. To me, Lake Lenore is, without a doubt, one of the finest trophy trout fisheries to be found anywhere in the Northwest. Although it has seen its share of problems, it is still possible to catch Lahontan cutthroat in excess of 30 inches. A far more detailed account of the history and productivity of this lake can be found in the April 2013 issue of Northwest Sportsman. For that reason, I will not

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One fly pattern common to all three waters featured here is a chironomid imitation, representing the larval phase of midges and typically blood red or black. They’re fished very slowly and often with a strike indicator. With selective gear restrictions at Rocky Ford, Lenore and Dry Falls, be sure to pinch your barb. (ANDY WALGAMOTT)

spend any more time explaining its qualities, except to say that if you are in the area during March or April, Lenore is a must-fish destination. This is especially true if you desire the camaraderie of other anglers.

NOT FAR UP the road from Lenore, however, is the third of the trophy waters in this region. Dry Falls is a beautiful 99-acre lake surrounded on three sides by massive basalt cliffs that tower several hundred feet above the

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Northwest Sportsman 59

FISHING Since it was first stocked with Lahontan cutthroat, a lacustrine subspecies specially adapted to the alkaline waters of the Great Basin, Lake Lenore has been a favorite of anglers like Michelle Kruse who are after nice-sized trout. Fishing is best in spring during the prespawn as the cutts search for inlets, and again in fall. (JOHN KRUSE, NORTHWESTERN OUTDOORS RADIO)

deep blue waters. It’s best viewed from the highwayside overlook, which offers a panoramic view of Dry Falls Lake and the surrounding valley and plateau. The lake derives its name from the fact that in ancient times, massive floods caused by the collapse of an ice dam in Northwest Montana tumbled over the high cliffs, carving out Grand Coulee. The falls have been quiet for millenia and you can only imagine how impressive the scene must have been, but even without rushing water, the scene from the overlook is truly impressive. Today, Dry Falls Lake produces some very impressive fishing opportunities, with special regulations instituted to ensure a high-quality experience. The lake is managed for flies and lures only, with a limit of one fish, 18 inches or better. The lake bottom is covered with a lush carpet of weeds, which produces a vast amount of insects for the fish to feed on and grow to some very impressive sizes.

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FISHING Each year, WDFW stocks 4,000 to 4,500 fingerling rainbows, plus an additional 1,000 brown trout and 1,000 tiger trout. Three to 4 inches in length when they are planted, after one year they typically measure 11 to 14 inches, and by the time the rainbows reach age 2 or 3, they have grown to 15 to 19 inches long. Since the browns are a longer-lived species, they can often reach 20 to 22 inches in length. Given the growth rate and the longer life expectancy, it might be fair to assume there are some that will exceed 25 inches. The tiger trout, a brown-brook trout hybrid, has a similar life span as the brown, with the same growth potential too. Whether rainbow, brown or tiger, these would be considered excellent growth rates for any body of water. It’s interesting to consider how long a long-lived Kamloops would reach if stocked in the lake. Dry Falls is open from March

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1 through November 30 and the lake is considered by many to be the Columbia Basin’s most popular fishery, though anglers who fish Rocky Ford or Lenore might disagree. Early in the season, chironomids, leeches and Woolly Buggers, in brown or olive, are probably the most popular and productive patterns. Fishing a black or red Snow Cone Chironomid 4 to 6 feet below the surface with a strike indicator and floating line is a good strategy, though the retrieve needs to be mind-numbingly slow. The leeches and Buggers are fished with sink tip or intermediate sinking line, with 9or 10-foot leaders. Since the water is so clear, it might be advisable to use fluorocarbon leader and tippet. By April, damselfly nymphs will often start appearing, along with some callibaetis nymphs. A Nyerges or Marabou Nymph or Sheep Creek are usually very effective. The best patterns for the callibaetis is the

Pheasant Tail, Hare’s Ear or the olive callibaetis nymph. By May, the dry fly action really picks up, with both callibaetis and adult damsels starting to appear. The Parachute Adams, Purple Haze, Rusty Spinner or CB Cripple, along with a blue damsel adult, are all good patterns for this time of year. During the heat of summer, the fishing on Dry Falls slows down, but there are excellent trico hatches toward fall and the feeding habits of the trout will often mimic the “gulpers” of Hebgen Lake, to be featured in an upcoming issue. It can be a fun, but sometimes frustrating, time to fish the lake.

DRY FALLS, LENORE and Rocky Ford are, without a doubt, three of the finest trophy trout fisheries in Washington. Any hardcore angler would be missing out if they did not try their luck on one or all three of them. NS

FISHING

Here Come The Trout! ‘A really strong opener and a lot of people’ expected at Washington lakes for late April’s reinstated tradition.

By Mark Yuasa

pril is a wonderful time to be on the water! There are so many choices, including the well-liked statewide trout fishing opener on April 24-25. This much-celebrated occasion is when thousands of anglers will head

for the hundreds of lowland lakes stocked with millions of fish. Last year’s fishing party hit a snag when the pandemic closed all fishing opportunities, but this spring the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is moving along with a plant of more than 16.6 million fish. “I am expecting a really strong

opener and a lot of people to show up at lakes,” said Steve Caromile, a head WDFW fish manager. “There was a buzz when fishing reopened last year, and a boost in license sales seems to be carrying into 2021, so I’m excited about what we might see.” In the Puget Sound region – King, Snohomish, Skagit, San Juan,

Get in the net! Chad Smith scoops up son Logan’s rainbow trout while fishing on a North Sound lake after fishing season finally opened on Washington waters last May. It’s back to the normal fourth-Saturday-in-April opener this year, and millions of trout are waiting to be caught across the state. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST) nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2021

Northwest Sportsman 65

FISHING No need to wait til the end of the month to start your fishing campaign – there are far more year-round lakes in the Evergreen State, with many being stocked in late winter and early spring. (MARK YUASA)

Whatcom and Island Counties – the projected plant is 445,200 catchablesize trout. Top that off with more than 5.7-plus million fingerlings and fry planted in 2020, and anglers should be reeling in plenty of fun in 2021. “Our trout numbers we intend to plant around the Puget Sound region are on par with previous years,” said Justin Spinelli, a WDFW biologist. “The most important aspect due to Covid is ensuring everyone is safe. We feel we’ve got all the pieces of the puzzle out there to protect the community during this fun annual spring event that draws a lot of participation.” Several years ago, WDFW came 66 Northwest Sportsman

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up with a cost-effective way to produce larger catchable-sized trout in hatcheries, and it has been a hit, according to angler surveys taken during previous openers. The standard fish now is 10 to 12 inches compared to 8 inches previously. Another 150,000-plus “jumbo” trout measuring 14 or more inches long and averaging 1 to 1.5 pounds will also be headed to lakes. Boosting it further are the more than 12.7 million trout fry (1 to 3 inches), fingerlings (3 to 5 inches) and “put, grow and take” trout – reared in hatcheries at 2.6 to 10 fish per pound in size – that were stocked in 2020, and should average 8 to 12 inches

this spring. The majority of Eastern Washington opening day lakes are managed to create decent fry survival. A breakdown for Pugetropolis residents shows approximately 26,000 catchable-size trout to be planted in three Island County lakes; 75,900 in 12 King County lakes; 6,000 in one San Juan Island County lake; 40,000 in four Skagit County lakes; 49,800 in 12 Snohomish County lakes; and 51,000 in six Whatcom County lakes. Under normal circumstances, WDFW sends out surveyors to gather information on fishing success and turnout, but that wasn’t the case in 2020 due to Covid. “Our plan is to conduct creel surveys, but in a much different way than we have in the past due to social distancing issues,” Caromile said. “We didn’t conduct creel checks last spring, but when it reopened later on we heard fishing was pretty good and despite a delay, we managed to get all the lakes planted.” Success varies from year to year, but notable Westside lakes include Cottage, Pine and Wilderness in King County; Tarboo in Jefferson; Buck, Horseshoe and Panther in Kitsap; Mineral in Lewis; Aldrich, Clara, Devereaux, Haven and Wooten in Mason; Bay, Carney, Crescent, Rapjohn, Ohop and Tanwax in Pierce; Erie, McMurray and Sixteen in Skagit; Bosworth, Echo (Maltby), Ki, Serene, Stickney, Storm and Wagner in Snohomish; Clear, Pattison, Summit and Ward in Thurston; Cain and Toad in Whatcom; Aberdeen, Sylvia and Failor in Grays Harbor. The top lakes east of the Cascades are Jameson in Douglas County; Ellen in Ferry; Blue and Park in Grant; Diamond in Pend Oreille; Starvation and Waitts in Stevens; Badger, Fishtrap, Williams and West Medical in Spokane; Wapato in Chelan; and Pearrygin and Conconully Lake and Reservoir in Okanogan.

TO JUMP-START YOUR season, target lakes that are open year-round and were stocked in March, or wait until later in

FISHING Trout are released from a state hatchery tanker truck into a Westside lake. Some 16.6-plus million jumbos, catchables, fingerlings and fry will have been planted in Washington stillwaters for this season when it’s all said and done. (MARK YUASA)

May/June when the hatchery tanker truck is scheduled to swing by again. In King County, try Alice, 3,600 planted in March to May; Angle, 6,500; Beaver, 6,500; Bitter, 1,500 in May; Boren, 1,500 in May; Deep, 4,000 in May; Dolloff, 2,000 in May; Echo, 1,000 in May; Fenwick, 1,800 in May; Fish, 1,500 in May; Fivemile, 3,200 in May; Green, 11,000 in March to May; Haller, 1,300 in May;

Holm, 1,700 in May; Killarney, 2,500 in May; Meridian, 12,000 in March to April; Morton, 5,500 in April; Rattlesnake, 3,500 in March; Sawyer, 3,000 in May; Shadow, 4,500 in May; Spring, 7,000 in April; Star, 3,500 in May; Trout, 1,800 in May; and Twelve, 4,500 in April. In Island County, try Cranberry, 10,000 in April; and Lone, 3,000 in March. In San Juan County, try Egg,

600 in March; and Hummel, 1,000 in March. In Skagit County try Clear, 6,000 in April; Grandy, 5,600 in March to May; Pass, 500 in April; and Volger, 1,000 in April. In Snohomish County, try Ballinger, 8,000 in April; Blackmans, 7,000 in April and May; Cassidy, 3,500 in March; Chain, 1,000 in May; Flowing, 7,400 in April and May; Gissburg North, 1,500 in April to June; Gissburg South, 3,000 in April to June; Goodwin, 7,000 from April to January, 2021; Panther, 1,500 in March; Roesiger, 3,000 in April; Shoecraft, 5,000 in April; Silver, 7,000 in April; and Tye, 1,000 in April and May. On top of the springtime plants, a total of 21,800 jumbo trout averaging 1 to 1.5 pounds apiece will go into some Puget Sound region lakes for the “Black Friday” fishing event in late November. In all, anglers can expect a late-autumn jumbo plant in statewide lakes similar to 150,708 in 2020. For the statewide stocking schedule, go to wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/reports.

WHEN HOT ON the tails of trout, you can keep the gear pretty basic, but a

CATCHABLE TROUT PLANTS FOR OPENING-DAY WATERS

helan County: Beehive, 19,000, plus 150 jumbos; Clear, 7,000, plus 500 jumbos; Frank’s Pond, 2,500, plus 100 jumbos; Lily, 9,000, plus 100 jumbos; and Wapato, 2,000, plus 300 jumbos Clallam: Wentworth, 7,600, plus 700 jumbos Douglas: Jameson, 5,500, plus 300 jumbos Ferry: Ellen, 2,000 Grant: Deep, 5,000; Lenice, 2,250; Nunnally, 2,750; Vic Meyers, 200; and Warden, 2,500 Grays Harbor: Aberdeen, 6,500, plus 1,050 jumbos; and Failor, 4,700, plus 420 jumbos Island: Deer, 8,000; and Goss, 4,000 Jefferson: Silent, 800; and Tarboo, 1,600 King: Cottage, 12,000; Geneva, 5,500; Langlois, 5,000; Margaret, 5,000; Mill Pond, 900; North, 9,500; Old Fishing Hole, 600; Pine, 11,500; Shady, 3,400; Steel, 8,000; Walker, 2,500; and Wilderness, 12,000

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Kitsap: Buck, 1,700, plus 20 jumbos; Horseshoe, 3,100, plus 80 jumbos; Mission, 6,870; Panther, 8,740; Wildcat, 9,400; and Wye, 2,400, plus 40 jumbos Klickitat: Horsethief, 15,000, plus 150 jumbos; Rowland, 17,500; Spearfish, 13,100, plus 100 jumbos Lewis: Carlisle, 9,601, plus 125 jumbos; and Mineral, 32,850, plus 5,000 brown trout Lincoln: Fishtrap, 8,400, plus 500 jumbos Mason: Aldrich, 747; Benson, 6,600; Clara, 1,105; Devereaux, 7,000, plus 175 jumbos; Hatchery, 600; Haven, 5,000; Howell, 600; Limerick, 7,800; Maggie, 1,700, plus 25 jumbos; Osborne, 200; Phillips, 8,770, plus 330 jumbos; Robbins, 1,090, plus 30 jumbos; Tiger, 8,721; Wildberry, 400; Wood, 500; and Wooten, 5,500 Pacific: Loomis, 2,000 Pend Oreille: Frater, 1,500; and Leo, 2,200 Pierce: Bay, 10,000; Carney, 3,300; Clear, 9,146, plus 2,000 jumbos in May; Crescent,

4,374; Jackson, 1,494; Rapjohn, 5,304; and Silver, 2,500 San Juan: Cascade, 6,000 Skagit: Erie, 13,000; Heart, 8,000; McMurray, 13,000; and Sixteen, 6,000 Snohomish: Armstrong, 3,000; Bosworth, 10,000; Crabapple, 3,000; Echo (Maltby), 2,000; Howard, 3,100; Ki, 10,000; Martha (Alderwood Manor), 7,000; Riley, 3,000; Serene, 4,200; Storm, 10,000; and Wagner, 2,000 Spokane: Clear, 9,000, plus 450 jumbos; West Medical, 5,000, plus 450 jumbos; and Williams, 5,000, plus 500 jumbos Stevens: McDowell, 1,500; Mudgett, 1,000; and Rigley, 500 Thurston: Clear, 16,208; Deep, 6,394; Hicks, 15,585, plus 2,500 jumbos; Pattison, 24,864; Summit, 30,000, plus 500 jumbos; and Ward, 6,529 Whatcom: Cain, 9,000; Padden, 20,000; Silver, 16,000; and Toad, 5,000 –MY

FISHING

A young trout angler waits for a nibble. Worms or salmon eggs under a bobber, or PowerBait or similar floating baits on the bottom are among the best bets. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

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little know-how will raise the bar of catching them. First off, a trout rod and reel combo costs about $40 to $80, and a more expensive setup goes for $100 to $200. The fishing pole length should be 6 to 7 feet, and relatively light and limber, in the 4- to 10-pound range. Best choice is a medium-sized spinning reel that can hold more than 100 yards of 6- to 8-pound-test fishing line. On the main line attach one or two No. 9 egg sinkers with a rubber bumper to a small barrel swivel. Leader length is most important and those storebought pretied 12-inch leaders are way too short. Leaders should be 3- to 8-pound test and 18 to 30 inches long. For hooks, think small and use an egg or worm hook in a size 8 or 10, or try a No. 14 or 16 treble. There is a ton of bait options when it comes to trout, but old-school choices are worms, maggots, salmon eggs or scented marshmallows. Many nowadays go for soft dough like

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Berkley PowerBait, which comes in all sorts of colors and varieties of egg, maggot and worm shapes. If you plan to use a fly pattern, go with a black or black and olive Woolly Bugger in a size 8 or 10 attached to a 5- or 6-foot leader and troll it weightless so that it runs close to the surface. Boat anglers can troll a gang flasher with a worm, maggot or salmon egg laced with a tiny piece of scented dough bait or small spoon like a Dick Nite, Yakima Bait Triple Teazer or Luhr Jensen Super Duper. Bank anglers often cast out a bobber with their presentation set to hang 3 to 6 feet below the float. Others send their bait deeper where it hangs a few feet off the bottom. The key to catching fish? Most recently stocked trout tend to school near the surface, and many congregate right around where the hatchery truck placed them in the lake, usually within yards of the shoreline, boat ramps and docks. Planted trout stay just under the surface in 3 to 5 feet of water before they acclimate to their new surroundings and then eventually spread out and move to deeper areas. A fishing license is required (youth under age 15 fish for free), as is a Discover Pass at some state access sites. For information, go to wdfw.wa.gov. WDFW has an excellent fishing resource website where you can get additional tips. For Fish Washington, go to wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/washington. NS

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FISHING

Bide Time On Valley Trout Waters While waiting for Cascades waters to melt out, there are rainbows to be caught in the lowlands. By Randall Bonner

s a wilderness skills instructor, taking kids fishing is my favorite part of the job. Seeing a kid’s face light up when they land a fish is a beautiful thing, but so are all the lessons on adversity, patience and gratitude, and garnering an appreciation for the outdoors with or without a catch. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife hatchery trout stocking continues through the spring and into the early summer, providing a great introduction to fishing for younger or inexperienced anglers. A general Oregon Angling License is all that’s required to fish for trout for youths 12 years and older. ODFW also offers Oregon residents and visitors a weekend to fish, crab and clam without a license the first full weekend in June, and while the agency’s website (myodfw.com) says spring’s annual free fishing events have been cancelled until further notice, the free fishing weekends are still a go. This is a great opportunity to introduce new anglers to the water, young and old.

DUE TO COVID concerns centered around overcrowding, ODFW stopped posting the trout release schedules online last spring. However, as of last month they are now back (myodfw.com/fishing/ species/trout/stocking-schedule), and April and May have always

Owen Austin proudly shows off his catch from the central Willamette Valley’s EE Wilson Pond earlier this year. (RANDALL BONNER)

been prime time for fishing stocked lakes west of the Cascades. If winter steelhead runs are dwindling, there’s no snow on Marys Peak and it’s time

to plant tomatoes, check your watch because that also means ODFW has been stocking all your favorite lakes since January. Historically, most lakes nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2021

Northwest Sportsman 75

FISHING

A youngster packs out a very nice stringer following a wilderness skills course taught by author Randall Bonner and Megan Serry. (RANDALL BONNER)

with scheduled angling events always get the most fish in preparation for those crowds. By April, there’s a mix of fish fresh off the truck, along with holdovers from previous stockings. You can lean on that online schedule, or you can just get out there and do it the oldfashioned way and create your own reports. Stocking typically ends in June due to warmer water conditions. If you were lucky enough to be at the lake for February’s Free Fishing Weekend, you probably saw some exceptional fishing with qualitysized trout. Between events, large quantities of legal-sized trout, along with a handful of trophy brooders, are stocked to keep anglers interested. When summer hits, there are still a few opportunities left to squeeze in. Some of the larger lakes – think any water with both kokanee and stockers – fish best for trout during those times, especially from a boat. Some of my favorite lake spots in

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Northwest Sportsman 77

FISHING the Willamette Valley to fish from the bank are Sunnyside Park in Sweet Home, E.E. Wilson in Adair Village, Thissel Pond just outside of Alsea, Timber Linn Park in Albany and Walter Wirth Lake in Salem. However, those mud puddles get pretty uninteresting when weeds and hot weather arrive. The McKenzie River from Nimrod to Deerhorn, North Santiam from Downing Creek all the way to Detroit Lake, and Yellowbottom Recreation Area on Quartzville Creek down to Green Peter Lake are all great spots to catch and harvest hatchery trout from a stream. Check your regulations for bait restrictions, but it is extremely effective where allowed.

FOR STREAMS, DRIFTING a nightcrawler under a weighted float with a splitshot above the hook is tough to beat (where it’s allowed). Eagle Claw’s clear fixed steelhead floats and baitholder hooks are exceptional for

this tactic in clear water. For lakes, a sliding weight setup from Dave’s Tangle Free with PowerBait or a floating Power Egg on an Eagle Claw Trokar hook are good morning and evening presentations. If fishing gets slow, or the water is murky, a Mice Tail worm can be fished on the same rigging with a little twitch every 10 or 15 seconds to create a little movement to visually attract fish. “Spinners and spoons at noon” is a phrase I typically tell the kids in my wilderness skills camps. If there’s sun shining on the water, then metal will create more flash, so take advantage of it that time of day if the bait bite slows down. Metal is equally effective in lakes and streams and a 1/6-ounce Rooster Tail in rainbow trout pattern will catch anything that swims, especially rainbow trout. For murky water and chasing brooders, a heavier pink, chartreuse or green pattern will grab the attention of bigger fish.

Single eggs or worms fished just off the bottom or under a bobber are popular presentations for lakes, but when it comes to fishing with kids, I’ve found that bobbers tend to drift with the wind. That involves extra casting and, well, opportunities for tangles and decorating tree limbs. Watching a bobber dunk is always fun, but bait fished on the bottom is the ultimate teacher of patience. Most trout in shallow, still-water ponds will be suspended within a foot or two of the bottom, so when you’re casting lures, it’s a good rule of thumb to allow them to sink for a few seconds before retrieving them. Try different depths to find the fish. Along with stocking schedules, ODFW’s website has a great beginner’s guide to trout fishing and maps of all the hatchery trout release points in the state, including the Cascade lakes. One thing is for sure: You can’t catch them on the couch! NS

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The Trout Setup Buzz Rarely Heads To The Lake Without I

t’s interesting how one lake might be dominated by a set of angling techniques, while a water only a few hours away BUZZ will have totally RAMSEY different ones. The exception to these regional differences is the wide popularity of plunking/still-fishing PowerBait for trout. However, there are plenty of anglers – including me – who try different methods, lures, sizes and colors until they hit on what the trout respond to best. Certainly what works on any one body of water can vary depending on the available forage that trout are targeting, which might change during the year based on what is seasonally available. “Matching the hatch” is how anglers often characterize the changes in forage and the reason you should try something different when the trout refuse to bite what normally produces.

IT WAS IN 2006, while working full time for Pure Fishing, that I was introduced to a fishing method called “crawl-retrieve.” You see, I was part of a team of employees assigned to participate in California’s High Sierra trout fishery. We were there to promote PF products via angler education, product sampling and fishery participation, as well as host media fishing trips and hype the opportunity to win $10,000 by catching a trout (that we’d previously tagged) on Berkley products. After returning home from southern California, I used the crawl-retrieve method

Blake Ramsey and Chris Sessions show off limits of fat trout caught at a Washington lake with the author. (BUZZ RAMSEY) nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2021

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To rig for the crawl-retrieve method, you’ll need PowerBait Trout Worms – pictured are Buzz Ramsey’s top-producing colors – either long-shanked or octopus hooks, depending if you’re rigging single or double hooks, respectively, and very light main line and fluorocarbon leader. (BUZZ RAMSEY)

on local lakes to hammer quick limits of fat trout, and have continued to do so ever since. And while it is not the only method we employ, as other lures and bait produce better at times, we seldom head to a trout lake without a set of rods rigged for this fishing method. Rigging is easy: Just attach a size 4 or 6 single hook to the end of your main line and crimp one No. 5 split-shot 20 to 30 inches away. And while this setup works as is, I will sometimes attach my weight above a No. 7 swivel, with my leader extending back to my hook. Employing a swivel helps relieve line twist, keeps crimped-on split-shot from sliding down the line after successive casts and facilitates the use of free-sliding sinkers. The basic crawl-retrieve method is pretty simple. Here is how to do it: Cast your rigged outfit out and reel up any excess slack line. Then, let your outfit sink before lifting and lowering your rod tip, reeling 10 feet, and lifting and lowering your rod tip 84 Northwest Sportsman

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again, etc. Worked this way, nearly all fish will take your bait while it’s falling, which may require you to give the trout time to swallow your offering before you set the hook – just let the fish chomp it down for 5 to 10 seconds or so before yanking. What I sometimes do is dip my rod tip toward the fish, just before the hook set.

SINCE DISCOVERING HOW effective this fishing method can be, I’ve tried pretty much every small, scent-infused bait shape I can find, including cricket, grub, tube, wiggler and nymph. What I’ve discovered is that it’s hard to beat Berkley’s 3-inch PowerBait Trout Worm. This scent-filled worm always seems to produce as well as or better than all other shapes and sizes tried. There is just something about a worm shape/image that the fish really key in on. It must be a genetic thing that inspires them; after all, how many worms have hatchery trout actually seen during their short life? Keep

in mind, however, that what critter shape works best on the lake(s) you frequent might be different than what it is on mine. And while I’ve caught trout on every worm color that Berkley offers, I’ve settled on three. Fluorescent orange is my go-to color on most days, as it seems to produce under all conditions and especially well during the low light of early morning or evening. Not surprising, the second best producing color for us has been the naturalcolored worm. Somewhat surprising, though, is how the pumpkinseed color will sometimes outperform natural as it looks nearly the same, but I’ve experienced how one can outproduce the other similar color more times than I can count. When rigging, it’s important that your worm hangs straight, like a pencil. What I do is thread as much of my trout worm up, onto and over my hook so that the hook eye is imbedded in the head end of the worm. When threading, it helps to keep the point of your hook centered in the worm.

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There are two ways to attach a weight to the setup: either a free-sliding bullet between the end of your main line and a swivel, or a split-shot pinched onto the leader. With the speed at which the crawl-retrieve is employed, line twist may not really be a big issue, but using a swivel will help minimize it. (BUZZ RAMSEY) Another way to attach your 3-inch trout worm is via a two-hook setup, where two single hooks are snelled in tandem – usually about 4 inches apart. I’ve found the twohook setup to be a worthy option when trout are short striking. If you chase trout during the late fall or winter season, the two-hook method is really the only way to go, as the trout are not as aggressive, won’t choke your bait down and you’ll need to yank right away when feeling a bite. And what does it look like when it all comes together? Tasty! Here’s a rainbow that fell for a Trout Worm in orange. (BUZZ RAMSEY)

Here’s a closeup of the author’s single- and double-hook riggings. “I normally run just one hook in the spring and summer, as it’s quicker to rig up and remove the hook from fish. However, in the winter months or when fish are short striking, I go with a double-hook rig,” Ramsey explains. (BUZZ RAMSEY) 86 Northwest Sportsman

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THE CRAWL-RETRIEVE METHOD is one that can be enhanced by using light line. You see, spooling up with thin-diameter line facilitates longer casts, meaning you can cover a lot more water when retrieving. In addition, thin line provides a more natural, lifelike presentation. For example, I use nothing heavier than 4-pound-test monofilament, and if the water is clear, I employ an invisible fluorocarbon leader. A long fishing rod can make a big difference in how far you can cast too. Sure, any 5- to 6-foot trout rod will work for this method, but you can greatly increase your casting distance by stepping up to a 7- or 7 1/2 -foot rod – it’s what I use. Keep in mind that while a long rod will provide more casting leverage, it’s important to choose one in a “light” (L)

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or “ultralight” (UL) action, as these rod actions better cushion the acrobatic jumps, thrashing head-shakes and long runs associated with the catching of a really big trout. This method will work when casting from shore or a boat. Keep in mind that you can greatly increase your success by constantly covering new water. If fishing from shore, try casting in different directions (fan cast), and covering new water by working your way along the shoreline. What we do when fishing from a boat is to change casting direction and locations often when searching for fish. Keep in mind that fish will often be found near the surface or cruising shallow water when the light is low. And while targeting these areas will likely produce best early or late in the day, or when skies are overcast, it’s pretty normal for fish to move to deeper water as the sun brightens. To successfully target fish holding in deeper water might require you to add an extra split-shot or larger free-sliding sinker to your crawl-retrieve outfit and allow it to sink near bottom before beginning your lift-drop-retrieve sequence. Using light line, especially when the possibility of hooking a trophy-size trout is real, could mean investing in a spinning reel with ultrasmooth drag. I’d hate to guess how many trophy-size fish have been lost due to a sticky or stuck drag system. You should realize that pretty much all high-end reels have drag systems engineered with a combination of metal and carbon (graphite) drag washers – a feature you should look for when considering a new reel purchase. Because trout can be finicky about what they do and don’t like on any given day or water body, I go prepared with a set of rods rigged for a variety of trolling, casting and still-fishing methods. However, I always head to the lake with a set of rods prerigged for the crawl-retrieve method, and you should too. NS Editor’s note: Buzz Ramsey is regarded as a trout, steelhead and salmon sport fishing authority and proficient lure and fishing rod designer. He has been honored into the Hall of Fame for The Association of Northwest Steelheaders and The National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. 90 Northwest Sportsman

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FISHING

Colors For Kokanee

Insight into what hues work best and when to use them for these tasty landlocked sockeye. By Tom Schnell

peed, depth, leader length, bait, scent, dodger, lure action and color: Which is the most important when kokanee fishing? It all depends on who you ask, of course. Over the years we have found that one of the most important variables that we change up when not catching fish is lure color, followed by the type of dodger. The other factors all play an important role, but color can be one of the top determinants when you are having a slow day. This was never made more evident to us than a few years back when we were running a certain pink hoochie that was outperforming all of our other lures. We changed out the other three rods to similar pink hoochies with the same type of dodger, leader length and corn. Everything was the same except for the hoochies. What was it about this particular setup that the fish seemed to want? After careful inspection, it appeared to be a slightly different color of pink than the rest. Once we got home, we hit it and the other hoochies with an ultraviolet black light. Voilà. While the other hoochies gave off a vibrant UV glow, this particular one had more of a subtle pink glow, almost like well-chewed pink bubble gum. To the naked eye it was difficult to really distinguish the color variation, but the color variation was evident under that light.

ANOTHER TIME WE were fishing a lake that we knew extremely well. Quick limits were the norm for us. However, on this one day we were struggling. We had gone for almost an hour without so much as a bite. We were watching other boats to see if anyone else was catching anything. We even

Author Tom Schnell and Rhonna Schnell (above) consider lure color to be “one of the most important variables that we change up” when Central Oregon kokanee aren’t biting, but the color equation goes deeper than what you see on the surface. (TOM SCHNELL)

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FISHING any success. When I told them just a plain silver lure, they almost scoffed at me. It taught me a valuable lesson, though. Do not be afraid to change the color up, even if yesterday, or earlier in the day, you were catching them on a certain color. Why is that? Let’s explore how color can impact your catch rate.

EVEN THOUGH KOKANEE are plankton

When the author shops for beads, a common component in kokanee terminal gear and other lures, he brings along an ultraviolet black light. When hit with the light, fluorescent products can shine, important to know, as these hues keep their true color much deeper in the water column than non-fluorescents in the same shade. (TOM SCHNELL)

slid by some other boats to see how they were faring. They all said the same thing: Nothing. We were puzzled. While not one to give up easily, that sinking feeling came across me. Will this be the one day that we get blanked? Skunked? That was not an option. My mind went into overdrive. “Wait! No, that won’t work,” I told myself. On a previous trip we had talked to the lodge owner who mentioned that an old timer there often had good luck with a plain silver Apex. Was that the answer? I started tearing through our tackle box looking for one. And there, sitting on the bottom of one box, was a lonely silver Apex. If lures had feelings, it must have felt like the Maytag repairman, or maybe a thirdstring quarterback who never entered the game. I pulled it out, doubting that our luck would change. I attached it to my dodger, put a 94 Northwest Sportsman

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couple kernels of corn on the hooks, pinned the line in the downrigger clip and sent the setup down to Davy Jones’ locker. I was ready for a long wait when before I could sit down, the rod was bouncing! OK, there is always that one dumb fish in the school, and we found it. Still, one dumb fish in the boat is better than none. After landing it, I frantically searched our tackle box for anything else that was silver – a plain old spoon, spinner, anything. After loading up all three rods with plain silver hardware, what happened next dumbfounded me. After going for an hour with not even a bite, we had our limits in 20 minutes. Unbelievable. Still, maybe it was not the silver that day but just that the bite had finally turned on. That notion was quickly dispelled once we got back to the dock, however. Other fishermen came up to us asking what we had been using because they had seen our net flying nonstop while they were not having

feeders, they are known to consume small larvae that are present in the water. During a hatch they may prefer a certain color that closely resembles the larva that they are feeding on. If the lake you are fishing has shrimp in it, they may be feeding on those. A biologist friend showed me this when he would catch kokanee on his fly rod using very small midge fly larva imitations. Granted, this was not your normal A River Runs Through It experience of casting to rising fish. Instead, he would use a small weight and lower the pattern to the bottom and then ever so slowly start bringing it to the surface, mimicking the larva. This really only worked well for him, though, when there was a midge fly hatch going on. Most of the time kokanee are not hitting a lure because they see it as a food source. Most kokanee lures have no resemblance to anything a kokanee would eat. They most likely are hitting it out of aggression. So, if this is the case, why is color important? It has to do with the color spectrum and how color wavelength dissipates in the water. There are several factors that can affect how fish see certain colors. One is how a fish’s eye is made up compared to a human’s eye. This is way too technical for this article, but to learn more, a good book on the subject is How Fish Work by Thomas J. Sholseth. Suffice it to say, fish see things differently than humans. Other factors include how deep the lure is, water clarity and the amount of light present. What color you see on the surface may not be what color the fish see in the water. Do you remember the acronym

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FISHING Schnell has found the first four colors – and in the order shown here – to be the most productive for kokanee, but acknowledges catching fish on a wide variety of hues. Having an assortment available can mean the difference between a successful day and being skunked. (TOM SCHNELL)

ROYGBIV? It stands for red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet, and the first color, red, has a longer wavelength than violet, which has a much shorter wavelength. The longer the wavelength, the faster that that color is absorbed in the water column. Water filters the light, changing the color as it penetrates into the depths. Red can turn into grey after about 40 feet, while violet will retain its true color much deeper. Factors that can impact how deep color retains its natural appearance include water clarity and sunlight. In water that is dirty, or filled with plankton, some of the color wavelength can be absorbed by material in the water, impacting what colors remain vibrant. A lake filled with greenish-colored plankton can absorb that color wavelength, making a green-colored lure less effective. A lure in a color spectrum shorter than what color is being absorbed may work better. For example, if the water

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FISHING is murky or filled with plankton or algae, a lure that’s black, blue, purple or violet may be more effective.

SUNLIGHT ALSO PLAYS an important factor in lure color. Sunlight has various wavelengths. The higher and brighter the sun, the more that violet and ultraviolet rays penetrate the water column, impacting the color wavelength. Before sunrise, dark colors such as black, purple and even blue often outperform longer wavelength colors like red, pink and orange. On days with cloud cover, darker colors with a shorter wavelength spectrum often produce better. As the sun starts to hit the water and penetrate into its depths, colors such as orange, yellow and green will begin producing better. As the sun gets closer to noon, colors like red and pink have a much better color definition in the water. The same goes

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for metallic colors. Copper and gold/ brass are usually better producers on darker days than silver/chrome, which usually produce better on sunny days. Those silver lures that I mentioned earlier? It was on a calm sunny day that the kokanee wanted them. We have tried that same silver Apex on that same lake since then and have had limited results. That one particular day, they just wanted plain silver. So why the rage about UV-colored lures? Well, because the sun emits an ultraviolet light, which has shorter wavelengths. As such, lures that are fluorescent keep their natural color much deeper. Remember how red has a longer wavelength compared to the other colors, and as such, it loses its natural color faster in the water column? Make it a fluorescent red and it retains its color much deeper because it now has a shorter wavelength. Fluorescent colors can take a color with a longer wavelength and convert it to a

color with a much shorter wavelength. It has to do with the sun’s ultraviolet light penetrating much deeper into the water than just violet light. And remember that pink hoochie that was outproducing all the others? On that particular day it was sunny and calm with clear water. The UV light was having maximum impact on the lures and to the fish, they could see that slight difference in color. One piece of “equipment” that I employ when I go shopping for new lures, beads or blades is a UV black light. You can purchase them at most sporting goods stores. A quick flash on what you are looking at will determine quickly what the UV efficiency is.

SO, WHAT COLORS do kokanee typically like? The colors we have found are pink, orange, chartreuse and red, in that order. Having said that, we have caught them on every color from black to white, from copper to

FISHING Another color key is to use contrasting colors, such as this pink and purple rig. It can put fish in the boat when matching setups aren’t. (TOM SCHNELL)

silver. But utilizing the information above has helped us hone in on what color(s) to start off with and possibly to change out to. Each lake seems to have a certain color or color combination that works better than others. One more color factor that we have found useful is contrast. Often if a plain pink or orange color is not working, we change it up with two different, sometimes opposing colors

– pink and purple, orange and black, orange and yellow, yellow and purple, black and white, gold and silver, etc. Often these contrasting colors can trigger a strike. If you are marking fish and are not getting hit, try changing up the color(s) you are using. If the bite is red-hot and then stops, it might be that the color you are using is no longer the color they are looking for. We have been able to catch kokanee throughout the

day by simply changing up the color. When one color stops working, we begin searching for one that does. What was hot in the morning may not work at all at noon. What they were hitting yesterday may not be the color they want today. What works on one lake may not work on another. Time of year and the moon cycle can also impact what color fish are looking for. Keeping a detailed journal has helped us immensely over the years to determine what colors to use at what lake under certain conditions. And remember, all of this is simply to help guide you into looking at how color can impact your fishing results. There are no absolutes here other than you will not catch fish if you’re not out on the water. Tight lines and fish on! NS Editor’s note: Tom Schnell is an avid outdoorsman who lives with his wife in Central Oregon. He is also a Kokanee Power of Oregon Board Member.

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FISHING

Kiss Some Oregon Bass This Spring With largemouth and smallmouth getting ready to spawn across the Beaver State, here are tips for catching some. By Troy Rodakowski

pringtime in Oregon can be pretty unpredictable. Like they say, just wait 10 minutes and the weather will change. An angler can experience all four seasons within half an hour, which is why we take plenty of extra gear when out on the water for a day. And in April some of that gear should be for bass because as the spawn starts to take hold, anglers should be ready to experience some good fishing. Lakes and ponds will be the first to warm enough for bass to increase spawning activity and become aggressive toward baits. “Sixty-degree water temperature is the key,” says Gary Galovich, warmwater fish biologist for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. A lot depends on water depth and sunlight exposure, but the bass spawn is driven by increasing daylight and the stability of water temperatures in the 60s. For larger lakes and reservoirs in the Cascades and Coast Range, it could be late May before waters reach these temps. Early in the season, waters tend to be murky and clouded, so I like to keep my presentations slow and deeper. The takes on spinnerbaits, rubber worms, crankbaits and the like

Author Troy Rodakowski gives a bass a big kiss last spring. This is a good time of year to chase bucketmouths and bronzebacks, though you’ll want to fish slower as waters are still warming up. (GRETCHEN DEARDEN) nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2021

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FISHING

Later in spring bass will be really receptive to topwater presentations, especially on warmer days after the spawn is over. (TROY RODAKOWSKI)

are oftentimes light. To me, it almost feels like a heavy weight grabbing onto my lure. But the warmer the water, the quicker the retrieve and the harder the strike will be as the fish begin to protect their spawning beds. Focusing on private waters, backwater sloughs and small lakes this time of year, one can find some of the best bass fishing of the season.

THE FIRST COUPLE of really warm days are usually money for takes on bass. Most smallmouth tend to be in cooler river systems, so they fish really well late into spring and through summer. The Umpqua, Willamette and John Day produce some great fish. Many of the bass on these rivers can approach 104 Northwest Sportsman

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20 inches in size. For the John Day, fishing is best when the river flow is 7,000 cubic feet per second or less. The darker, fast-moving water is tough to fish. This holds true for the Willamette and Umpqua as well. Less flow means a bit clearer water and better fishing for these red-eyed beauties. Smallmouth are great-eating fish and if an angler plans to take a few for dinner, try to keep those that are 10 or so inches and not of breeding age. Also, make sure to update yourself on current regulations for where you plan to fish, as bag limits have changed over the last three to four years. We used to make annual trips to the Umpqua and use drift boats to float

good sections of the river where bass like to hang out. Usually we brought home some good-sized fillets to cook up after a couple days of fishing. Most bass fishing for largemouth is catchand-release as a gentleman’s rule anyway. To each their own, but it is nice to preserve good fisheries.

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FISHING near I-5 in Albany, especially for anglers who are short on time. Larger standing waters like Cottage Grove, Dorena, Henry Hagg and Fern Ridge Reservoirs are good places to spend time. The fishery in Fall Creek Reservoir continues to improve as well. Of course, we cannot forget about Green Peter, as it has produced some very nice bass over the years and remains a popular tournament location. Smaller ponds scattered throughout the valley, both unmarked and private, have some fantastic numbers of bass, as do those in Eastern Oregon, and have been some of my best fisheries over the years.

PRO BASS ANGLER Jason Haley of Haley Way Outdoors in Rogue Valley reminds folks to “keep it simple.” “If you have too many rods with different gear, then you are lost,” he says. Haley has done his best in

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tournaments with only a couple different options ready to go, such as a Texas-rigged worm and spinnerbait. “Bass are generally shallow-water fish and like the warmer waters, especially in late winter and spring. Slow down when it’s cold and speed up when it’s warm,” tips Haley. He also reminds anglers to follow seasonal patterns, such as fishing coves and creeks, especially late in the spring. The spawn is entirely different, of course, when angling can be on fire or pretty dead. Then there is what some consider to be the bane of lake fishing. “The wind is your friend,” notes Haley, “as it jumpstarts the food chain, despite being uncomfortable and wreaking havoc on navigation.” Using a pig-and-jig-type setup in early spring will drive bass crazy. The fish can’t resist the rig’s motion as it scoots across the bottom and resembles a crayfish swimming.

Of course, my favorite is when the topwater bite is on. I like to hit it hard when the fish are going crazy. This is also an excellent time for fly anglers to try and get some grabs from hungry and angry fish. Woolly Buggers with a beadhead, crayfish imitations and Prince Nymphs, all in sizes 16 or 18, are my favorite choices during the month of April, especially when fishing on smaller waters. I like to tell other anglers that finding good bass isn’t always easy. However, if you are able to find a good combination that works, stick with it. There have been many times that we have walked away skunked, but those are the times that we have usually learned the most – about what not to do. Of course, it does make the good days that much sweeter to catch fish. No matter where you choose to wet your line this spring, just remember there are plenty of bass out there waiting for a big kiss. NS

COLUMN

Spring, Oregon’s Sea And Me W

hen the frogs begin to sing, I smile huge. Loving their love like I do, it is the year’s very first song of spring that I connect with. The vultures haven’t arrived, so the salmon have yet to make their way home. The geese are still sitting on their nests, waiting for the arrival of their sweetest FOR THE LOVE little goslings. The fruit trees typically have yet to bloom, while OF THE TUG the crisp cold of morning is still very present, and yet hearing By Sara Ichtertz the frogs sing each night lifts my spirit, knowing the birth of a new season is upon us. Rivers and streams have always been a part of me. Embracing the banks of my creek with all of my heart as a little girl led into this beautiful feeling of coming home when I decided to embrace the rivers seven years ago. I knew the river well and spent many a day on it as a young mother, enjoying time with my babes in the comfort of nature, though I had no idea the joy that still awaited me. I had no idea that through this undeniable intrigue, I would find passion and devotion that truly was second to none. I would naturally find comfort in the sport of river fishing because it was within my heart already. I think it was obtainable because I was so very much at one with my creek. My sisters and I would embrace large chunks of our ranch’s amazing stream, giving days, weeks, entire seasons and years to the bounty of the creek. Just like the river is for a now older me, the adventures along flowing water constantly changed as the planet made its lap around the sun, and so I grew up right there, getting the most out of a creek that a girl could possibly get. It’s no wonder I naturally became this woman who prefers to hunt the river. The one downfall I find in loving the steady flow of a stream like I do is that I could just stay there. I very much am a creature of comfort and at times can get myself into scenarios of predictability, even if I know the outcome is a sad one. As this spring is upon me, I am daring myself to embrace bigger waters, to learn fisheries with depths I have only dabbled in, simply so I could hurry home to the river. I realize I am not getting any younger and so being a lover of all things water, in 2021 I will no longer let the fear of the unknown hold me back. I have the chance to truly embrace the ocean like never before and so even though the sway of that massive body has tried to get the better of me at times, I will not fear this; I am going all in.

What began simply as fishing for surfperch off an Oregon beach now finds Sara Ichtertz raring for a chance to get out on the briny blue. “I am beyond ready to get outside my comfort zone and embrace the new,” says the confirmed river lover. (SARA ICHTERTZ)

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FISHING in spring was the first salty water I ever embraced. Connecting with those most beautiful little creatures in the surf of the mighty Pacific filled me with intrigue, though my feet were still planted firmly on planet Earth. I was safe. When opportunity arose, I was fortunate enough to experience that deepest, bluest-of-blue water and the intense fulfillment found within those most explosively beautiful torpedoes – tuna. They are hunters too, and to say I wasn’t completely blown away by albacore would be a lie. I wanted more and yet have not seen such waters in three years. Thinking back about every salty situation I have ever embraced, I recall walking away astonished at what the ocean has to offer. The meat we are able to harvest is clean and crisp to the palate and to the heart. It’s new, so yes it’s ultimately scary to me, but it’s one of those types of fears we should embrace because that growth is worth far more than the fish themselves. Loading my calendar with the unknown feels right to me in this crazy time of uncertainty. Halibut, I am coming for you. Truly learning to hunt for salmon outside of the river – it’s happening! Tuna, it’s been far too long! If you would like to fish with me, reach out on social media on my blog, For the Love of the Tug, or at Northwest Oregon Outfitters, as Ted Jones is the guide I will be embracing these fisheries with. I am beyond ready to get outside my comfort zone and embrace the new. It is time.

WITH SPRING HERE, I can’t help but believe

“Tuna, it’s been far too long!” writes Sara, who also looks forward to fishing for halibut and salmon on the ocean. (SARA ICHTERTZ)

I HAVE DABBLED enough on the salt to see the beauty in this new horizon. As a fisherman, I should always be willing to learn more, simply to be able to connect with as many species as possible, as I absolutely love the act of angling. I love 110 Northwest Sportsman

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having the fish choose me. That feeling of life on the line stole my heart with such a mighty tug that I would be a fool to ever let that pursuit – that one-of-a-kind connection – go. Fishing for surfperch from the beach

this rebirth is not only for the forest, but this awakening is for me as well. The river, she will always be the keeper of my heart. I will never abandon her. But just like any caring mother, she would want to see me challenge myself and grow. She would want me to embrace new horizons and assure me that home will be right here waiting for me. Yes, the new beginnings of spring come with or without you. The thing about being human is new beginnings only come if and when you decide to begin. The choice is yours. My heart is on the river and I couldn’t change it, even if I tried. NS

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FISHING

Gear Up For Shrimp Among spring’s many fishing delights, spot prawns always draws a crowd, so it pays to be ready for the short season. By Dave Anderson

pring is not only a time for targeting spring Chinook; we also have a few opportunities to get out on the water and target shrimp. Most of us only get a handful of times each year to deploy our pots, so we need to make sure our setups are perfected, and the bait and gear are properly prepared to ensure success. Depending on where you are shrimping, you may have to make alterations to your setup, such as adding anchors, extra weight, increased floatation or extra line. For this article, I will focus on the gear and items needed to be successful during south Puget Sound and Hood Canal shrimp seasons.

THE MOST IMPORANT gear for shrimping is shrimp pots. There are all sorts of different designs and manufacturers out there. Square shrimp pots are the most common and because our seasons are limited, there is nothing wrong with using this type since the price point is reasonable. Depending on the size and weight of your pots, you will more than likely need to add weight to the bottom of it to be sure it makes it down to the seafloor quickly. Some of the manufacturers make weights that you can simply zip-tie into the bottom of your pots. Anywhere that sells pots will more than likely have weights nearby for you to purchase. I personally became very fond

Spring features many great fishing opportunities, and one of Dave Anderson’s favorites is shrimping on Puget Sound. He’s got his pot-filling routine down to a science. (DAVE ANDERSON)

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FISHING of the Ladner Traps shrimp pots. The ones we deploy are the 39-inch units. There are a lot of things that set these pots apart from the others on the market. Number one is weight. You do not have to add extra weight to these pots since they are already properly weighted and sink quickly without sliding on the bottom. They also conveniently stack on top of each other, which makes storage and managing space on the boat easy. They also rig up nicely with the bait trap in the center of the pot using a bungee clip system to hold everything closed. These pots do a great job keeping shrimp in the pot with very few escaping. And they are super easy to pull overboard and unclip the bungee cord, so the bottom opens on the boat. This makes it super convenient to drop all the shrimp into a bait tank or bucket for sorting and counting.

Here’s a look at Anderson’s setup, including stackable pots, extra buoys, leaded lines and more. (DAVE ANDERSON)

I RUN LEADED rope, always. It is much easier to work with and you do not have to worry about adding weight on the line to help it sink. Leaded rope is a lot easier to pull compared to line

Shrimping is a social occasion and a wellattended – and often brief – one on certain sheltered watars of Western Washington’s inland sea, which is all the more reason to get ready this month ahead of the usual May openers. (DAVE ANDERSON) 114 Northwest Sportsman

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or rope you must add weight to. Once you start pulling your pots, you never want to stop until the pot makes it to the surface so as to prevent shrimp from escaping. This is another reason why I choose to use leaded rope. We run 400 feet of rope on each of our setups. This gives us plenty of rope in case we need to follow the shrimp out to deeper water as the sun comes up. For floatation, I always stack a pair of yellow buoys, as well as attach another large buoy for added buoyancy in case the pot slides off a cliff or any other mishap occurs. I want to be sure that my pot will float so I have a chance of retrieving it. I have yet to lose a pot, but I would rather spend another $20 as an insurance policy to ensure buoyancy versus losing a $200-plus setup.

I’M A CREATURE of habit and believe in the saying, “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” This is 100-percent accurate when it comes to my bait for shrimping. I have had the most success with this bait mixture and will continue utilizing it. I have an old food processor that is only used for making shrimp bait. I buy the shrimp pellets from Sportco and grind them into a fine mixture with the food processor. Next, I will mix the ground shrimp pellets with frozen ground mackerel that I also purchase from Sportco. I

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FISHING

Unlike Dungeness and red rock crab, shrimp are typically found in much deeper water, making an electric pot puller a must-have piece of equipment. Anderson’s Ace Line Hauler also plugs into Scotty downrigger mount plug-ins. (DAVE ANDERSON)

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create our bait mixture the day before the trip so that everything is ready to go once we get out on the water. Bait boxes come in all shapes and sizes and they all work about the same. I have been using the Scotty bait boxes the last few seasons, as they have four holes on the pots and you can loop a ziptie in each hole for rigging the Ladner shrimp pots. The biggest key to using your bait effectively is to not jam-pack each container so tightly. You want to be sure that it is somewhat loose in the container so that it can make a good slick/scent trail that lures shrimp to your pots. You can always mix in some Pro-Cure juice to add a little more oil to your bait. I am not sure it would make a huge difference, but it definitely would not hurt. Finally, the most important thing besides your pot is to have yourself some sort of electric or gas-powered puller to quickly pull your gear up from the bottom. We use the Ace Line Hauler, and it works great for what

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FISHING we need. The Ace Line Hauler is not only convenient since it packs up into a small storable package, but it also conveniently plugs into your Scotty downrigger plugs. The number one shrimping rule when pulling pots is to never stop or release tension on the pot until the pot reaches the surface. You will lose a lot of shrimp if you are trying to pull by hand and stopping to take breaks on the way up. The next time you are out on the water and have others around you, look at the amount of shrimp in the pots of people who pull by hand; I guarantee you will see a difference. The pot puller makes a huge difference and allows for a more enjoyable experience, while also maximizing how much shrimp you take home.

SHRIMPING IS ONE of my favorite activities to participate in. It is something that your whole family can enjoy. We take

The author’s oldest son, Ryland, admires a tasty spot shrimp pulled from the depths of Puget Sound. “Shrimping is a great experience for your children and can even keep the little ones occupied for hours without getting bored or into mischief,” Anderson writes. (DAVE ANDERSON)

everyone in our families each year and we have an absolute blast. Shrimping is a great experience for your children and can even keep the little ones occupied for hours without getting bored or into mischief. I hope that you can take away something from all this information and utilize it this upcoming season to

put more shrimp into your buckets. Most of what I do and why I do it has come from trial and error. Now that I have found what works, I see no reason for change. I am excited for this upcoming season and hope to get the whole family out there again. Good luck to you all and hopefully you will have some success. NS

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COLUMN

Dancing Unicorns And Other Hazy Memories Of A Riggins Weekend

Buddies of author Randy King fish Idaho’s Salmon River for steelhead earlier this winter, a trip that yielded few bites but good memories and a pretty cool wildlife sighting. (RANDY KING)

t was the whiskey glass in my hand at midnight that set the tone for the next day of steelhead fishing. I CHEF IN was telling myself that THE WILD this was a celebration; By Randy King I was letting loose. You only turn 40 one time, after all. But really, I was drinking to my sorrow, to the loss of youth and to unknown paths ahead. Riggins, Idaho, can have that effect on folks. While a person ages, the town stays

the same. Its population of about 450 has not changed since I was a child. The bars are still bars. The river flows. The fishermen come and fish. Aside from a small amount of new buildings on the outskirts of town, the place is the same as it ever was. As a kid I idolized the area. The locals know how to cut loose and how to enjoy the life that nature provides. They taught me how to pick mushrooms and huckleberries, fish for salmon and fly fish for rainbow trout. I loved the area so much that in the late 1990s, right after

high school, I worked in Riggins as a cook for a summer. I ran the kitchen in a small restaurant/bar named Summerville’s on the only road through town, US 95. (I got fired from it on my last night before heading off to college.) The town itself is dominated by the Salmon River. It, and the fish that it holds, controls everything. The number of steaks served per night is in direct correlation with the number of fish in the river. But even when the fish are gone and the season is running late, some folks still go fishing.

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COLUMN

LITTLE BIT IDAHO, LITTLE BIT INDIA

s I was saying, looking for a hangover cure, I found myself reaching for the curry in my spice stash and fish in my freezer, along with veggies and rice elsewhere in my kitchen. THE RICE 1 cup jasmine rice 2 cups water

THE FISH 1 tablespoon sesame oil 1 side of steelhead (about 11/2 pounds) Salt and pepper THE VEGGIES 1 tablespoon sesame oil 2 medium carrots 1 medium onion

2 stalks celery 1 tablespoon sriracha 1 tablespoon shredded ginger 2 tablespoons peanut butter 1 can coconut milk 6 ounces water 1.5 ounce (1/2 block) Golden Curry 2 tablespoons soy sauce THE GARNISH Cilantro and green onion Toasted coconut Toasted sesame seeds

(RANDY KING)

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Heat oven to 400 degrees. Bring rice and water to a boil. Reduce heat to a low simmer. Cover pan with lid and let cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. (Do not stir – long-grained rice like jasmine is meant to be fluffy, not sticky. If you stir, you will release starches into the water and that will cause the rice to become sticky.) While the rice is cooking, prep the side of the steelhead. Oil a cookie sheet. Season the fish with salt and pepper. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillet. While the rice and fish are cooking, add the sesame oil to a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Heat on medium for three minutes. When the pan is hot add the carrots, onion and celery. Sautee for one minute, stirring frequently. Add the sriracha, ginger and peanut butter. Cook for another minute. Then add the coconut milk, water and curry block. Bring to a simmer. Make sure to break up the curry block as it simmers. This will turn the whole mess yellow – but in a good way. Cover pan and cook on a simmer for three to five minutes. Taste the curry and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve the curry over the top of the baked fish. Serve with the rice. Garnish with cilantro, toasted coconut and green onion – use quite a bit; it tastes good. For more wild game recipes, see chefrandyking.com. –RK

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COLUMN Not really in anticipation of catching fish. Sometimes they just want to be on a boat, in a bar, nursing a drink and with friends.

WHICH IS WHERE I find myself. I get a ride back to my aunt and uncle’s house 4 miles outside of town, dreams of a steelhead simmering in the background. Lying in bed, setting my alarm, the room spins a little above me. I smile, thinking of the boat ride and the hope for fresh fish in the morning. The alarm goes off like a lightning bolt in my head, but I am determined to get on the water. I’m not old; I have fished through worse hangovers. The boat gets some expected news when we arrive. The bite is “lite,” according to the guides. Basically, no one is catching fish. They are more or less gone, but the guides would love to take us fishing. Because you never know, a silly steelhead might still be hanging around. We explain – in detail, I am sure – that we are not there for fish. We are here for a good

time. Besides, these inland steelhead are not known to be the best eating critter, honestly. Coastal folks tend to shun steelhead that are this far upstream. The fish, which have not eaten since leaving the ocean, have been burning their own body fat for energy. By the time they reach Riggins they have lost a lot of fat and are physically slimmer than the ocean-run fish caught along the coast. This is important to remember when cooking them. Less fat can mean a dryerfleshed fish. You can adjust that with the recipe the fish is served with.

THE PAIN WAS real for me on the boat that day. I took two hangover naps while onboard. I don’t feel like I wasted my time since, as expected, we got skunked on steelhead. We did manage to boat a sucker fish and a bull trout. But honestly, the highlight of the trip was the bighorn sheep we could see from the boat. Full-curl rams hopped from boulder to boulder along a nearly sheer cliff face – it was like watching unicorns dance.

EOMS INC.

Back at the launch, the guides thanked us for “taking us all fishing today.” At home, I was still craving fish. Luckily, I had saved a side of steelhead from the fall. Apparently, after you reach 40, two-day hangovers are a thing. I needed a cure, a pick-me-up. I chose a curried fish dish. Easy to make, a little bit of spice and somewhat healthy – basically, a perfect combination. Given the milestone birthday I’d just passed, I began my food preparations thinking about the future. How can I get the most out of the rest of this life? How can I make my mark? How can I teach my boys how to be good men? How can I thrive? Then I realized that I just needed to fish more. Even if I don’t catch fish. I need to support areas that I love, like Riggins. I need to eat a steak at a local restaurant. I need to go out with my friends and have a good time. I need to drink a whiskey before I fish. I need to be a role model of fun and responsibility for my sons. And I need to watch more unicorns dance on the rocks. NS

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Morel Of The Story: Hit The Woods For Toms, Mushrooms

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COLUMN

his is the month when many Northwest sportsmen kick off their outdoor adventures. Sure, NW PURSUITS some have been out By Jason Brooks chasing steelhead or spring Chinook, and maybe a few tried early bottomfishing adventures, given that last month’s issue was jam-packed with seabass- and lingcod-catching information. April features all of those same fisheries, plus bass will be heating up, walleye are on the bite, and of course the lowland lakes general statewide opener arrives for Washington anglers. It’s also the month for hunters to get out and stretch their legs chasing turkeys. As much as I love trout fishing, it is the turkey season that I get most excited for. Plus, there’s a bonus: Morel mushrooms are starting to pop up from under fallen ponderosa pines and other shady spots in the forest.

Turkeys highlight the hunting side of the ledger when it comes to spring’s sporting opportunities, providing an excellent challenge for practiced and new hunters alike. (JASON BROOKS)

TURKEY HUNTERS WILL be taking to the woods in mid-April, with young gunners able to take advantage of one of the weekends beforehand in Washington and Oregon. In Idaho, youth hunters get the entire week prior to the general opening; all three states begin their spring season on April 15. To have a better chance at filling a turkey tag or two near the opener, it is best to do some scouting before the season opens. Birds will be flocked up, with multiple toms and jakes in groups mixed with the hens. As daylight increases, the breeding season gets going and mature gobblers will start determining their dominance for breeding hens. One way to locate earlyseason birds is to use a crow call or owl hoot, with the former working throughout the day and the latter best right at dusk and dawn. Gobblers will gobble at the sound of a predator such as these birds, with crows known to raid nests and owls preying on chicks and young birds. Another way to find turkeys this time of year is to look for their droppings. The large birds prefer to eat green grasses and shoots of clover that are just starting nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2021

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COLUMN to come up after the long winter. Search south-facing slopes, along roads and in clearings for bird droppings, which will tell you where the feeding areas are. Male birds leave a J-shaped dropping, while females leave a pile. Once you find a feeding area, look around for tall trees, especially on a ridgeline. This is a roosting area. If possible, be here as the sun goes down and listen for birds. Return in the morning and again listen, as the birds become very vocal while in the roost. Once you find roosting and feeding areas, look for places to set up a blind to intercept turkeys as they move from the roost to the feeding area or at the feeding area itself. Keep in mind that the birds might have more than one feeding area.

A BIG MISTAKE that a hunter may make is finding a roosting area and returning early on the morning of the hunt, only to place themselves too close to the trees. Turkeys are very wary birds by nature; preyed upon from the time they are chicks, they have excellent eyesight and hearing. If you bump the birds, they will leave the area and move to other roosting and feeding areas and you’ll need to start all over again in locating them.

THE FOREST’S OTHER SPRING TREAT

bout the time you start hearing toms gobble, morel mushrooms are beginning to pop out of the ground. These tasty fungi are highly soughtafter and complement a fresh turkey dinner. To find them, be sure to look at last year’s forest fire areas. They will produce well for a few years, so keep in mind older burns too. And Spring’s other harvest available in the Northwest’s woods is morel we’re not talking about big mushrooms. They’re most common in areas of recent disturbance, conflagrations either, as whether from logging, wildfires or prescribed burns. (JASON BROOKS) prescribed burns in the fall will also produce good mushroom areas. A quick call to your local Forest Service ranger station should point you in the right direction. There are also several resources online that will provide information on previous and active fires. Morels, like most mushrooms, prefer a nutrient-rich soil that is moist. This means shady areas and, for some reason, disturbed substrate. Pine forest is a favorite for morels as well. Look along the shady side of ponderosas and other downed trees. Gulches and deep ravines where it stays shady and cool are good places too. Once you find a few, keep them dry. Whether you’re hunting turkeys or mushrooms, it’s a good idea to take a few paper bags along to carry any morels you find. Morels are not as delicate as other mushrooms, but they are hollow and you can crush them if you put them in a backpack, forget they are there, then lean against a tree to take a break or call turkeys. At home, it is best to cut the mushrooms in half, as bugs like to harbor inside the stem. Wash them and put into a strainer to air dry. You can keep them in the refrigerator for a few days, and they also take to dehydrating very well and can be reconstituted or used in gravies. –JB

Patterning flocks is more than just finding out where they roost and waiting in ambush. It should also include figuring out the birds’ feeding areas, given away by their droppings. (JASON BROOKS) 136 Northwest Sportsman

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COLUMN If you have time in the weeks prior to the season, this is when you need to get out and find a few different flocks. This gives you options in case other hunters have arrived before you, as it is a courtesy to give hunters room to call the birds. Remember the youth seasons and try not to be out scouting during their hunt. Turkey hunting is a great way to introduce youngsters to hunting. The pursuit can last a few hours or all day if you want, but an early morning of listening to gobbles and hen clucks makes for an exciting time. Sitting still, calling in birds to decoys and the thrilling action of a big tom strutting in close makes for an exhilarating hunt that any youth would love to do. It’s also good for hooking adults as well. Yes, there is more competition at the start of the season, but since it is a month and a half long, there is plenty of time to get out and chase turkeys. April is the best month, as the hens are actively breeding, but in May the toms and jakes will be out cruising for receptive hens as those that have been bred sit on their nests.

DECOYS ARE A fun and very productive way to hunt. For starters, they help draw in turkeys, and then they keep the tom or jake’s attention so you can make slight movements to aim your shotgun for a clean shot. I only use hen decoys for two reasons: They are why the toms are coming to the calls, and for safety, as some decoys are very lifelike. Just look at the Avian X decoys and you really think it is a turkey; add in the excitement of hunting season and a young hunter and you get my point. Jake decoys are sometimes used, as toms will rush in to push the immature male off a receptive hen. Some hunters also use a strutting tom decoy, as it catches the eye and it is common for there to be more than one tom in a flock of hens. Again, think safety and if you are hunting public land, then it is smart to stick with hen decoys. Calls are fun to use, and some are easy to learn. One of the easiest is the “pushpull,” which is a small wooden box that has a spring on a plunger. Simply push the plunger and you can make a cluck, purr or yelp. The drawback to the simplicity is you are limited to the pitch and tone of the call. 138 Northwest Sportsman

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Calls and decoys are essential for hunting turkeys, bringing gobblers in and giving them something to focus on as a shooter makes lastsecond adjustments with their aim. (JASON BROOKS) A box call is great to learn to use, as you can make a wide variation of calls and different pitches, tones and volume, depending on how hard or sharp you draw across the box. The “pot and peg,” or slate, call is a round puck and a wooden stick – the peg that you use to scratch across the slate or glass. This is one of the most universal calls and you can make a variety

of sounds. A mouth reed is another great call and the least expensive; however, they take the most practice and you can mess them up easily if you do not practice enough. One major benefit of the mouth reed is that it can be hands-free. This allows you to set up for the shot and keep calling at the same time.

COLUMN PATTERNING IS IMPORTANT, and we’re not just talking about the birds’ daily rounds. In this case, that means finding the best load for the shotgun you are using. A tight choke is needed and there are several turkey chokes on the market that are extra-full. Shot does not need to be large, but it needs to be heavy, as it carries farther and hits harder. It only takes a pellet or two in the head to kill a turkey. Dense patterns help to keep any pellets from straying and hitting the breast.

The new TSS loads, loaded with tungsten, are expensive but well worth the money, as the pellets carry far and stay dense, thanks to the shot and wad technology that went into the load development. Do be sure to check the regulations for maximum shot size; in Washington, you cannot use shot larger than size 4, and in Oregon it is size 2. Be sure to pattern the shotgun to a “maximum distance” and then stick to

BEWARE TICKS

pringtime means turkeys and morel mushrooms – but also ticks. Be sure to spray your clothing with permethrin, a strong insecticide, and let them dry. Once applied, permethrin will last for several weeks so only one treatment is often all it takes for turkey season. Never put the substance on your skin, and wash any skin that comes into contact with it. Learn how to remove a tick, with either tweezers or a “tick key,” which can be found at most sporting goods stores. Ticks carry several different diseases so if you are bitten by one, watch the bite site and if you feel ill, make sure to get to the doctor right away. Turkeys love ticks and eat up to 200 a day. –JB

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that as the farthest shot you will take. Last year we used the new Savage turkey shotgun in .410 and TSS loads with size 9 shot, and the combination patterned very well out to 50 yards. Size 9 shot might sound small, but again, the TSS loads use tungsten, which is 1.7 times denser – heavier – than lead. This means it retains energy and hits harder and the small shot size increased the amount of pellets for the light shotgun. It worked flawlessly with two birds taken, one at 40 yards and one at 45 yards, both ethical one-shot kills.

NOW THAT YOU’VE scouted for birds, learned a few calls, acquired some decoys and patterned that shotgun, it is time to hit the woods. April is a wonderful time to find some fish, but you will find me out chasing turkeys before I head to a local lake. This is the unofficial kick-off month for Northwest sportsmen, so get outside and enjoy what our region offers. NS

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK RANCH PHOTOS BY ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK RANCH

estled in the mountains of southeast Idaho – about 1½ hours from Yellowstone National Park and Jackson, Wyoming – Rocky Mountain Elk Ranch is a hunter’s paradise. Not only is the private high-fence ranch right in the heart of elk country, but the lodging and amenities are luxurious and the views are breathtaking. Jeff Lerwill grew up in the area and had dreamt about owning this gorgeous piece of property for years. “The first time it came up for sale, I couldn’t afford it,” he explains. “Fifteen years later I ran into the owner and told him that if he ever wanted to sell that ground, I wanted to buy it. He called later when he was ready to sell and thanks to Mr. Rassmussen, I finally bought this dream location. Since that time, my wife Alana and I have poured every spare minute and every spare dime – actually quite a few that weren’t to spare as well – into making this slice of country a world-class elk ranch.” Lerwill continues, “I’ve enjoyed hunting since before I was old enough to hunt. As a kid I loved listening to Dad’s hunting stories. Elk have always been my favorite

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animals; when they bugle they’ll make the hair on the back of your neck stand up and your blood pump like never before. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience. Finding a really good bull is becoming a rare thing these days. I wanted to ensure my boys could experience the thrill of the hunt someday. I felt that with an elk ranch, I could provide them and many others with a great opportunity to get the bull of a lifetime on a hunt they’ll never forget.” With knowledgeable guides and 2,000 acres of huntable land, Rocky Mountain Elk Ranch offers an amazing hunting experience for elk, as well as buffalo. “Because we are a private ranch, you can choose your own weapon, you don’t have to purchase any expensive out-ofstate licenses or tags, and we can make the hunt as challenging as you want or as easy as you need. We can even accommodate hunters with disabilities,” says Lerwill. “Hunts are three days and go from September 1 through the second week of November and our hunts are 100-percent guaranteed. All of our bulls are great, as we build our reputation around outstanding bulls.” The cost of your trophy hunt also includes the guides, field dressing of your animal and all the fantastic country cooking you can eat. If you stay in the private lodge, you will enjoy true luxury with vaulted ceilings, grand views, wraparound decks, relaxing accommodations and much more. There is even a target

shooting range and fishing pond! “I think people really enjoy the quality of the experience we provide and the wonderful atmosphere of the lodge,” says Lerwill. “Many have told us that their experience and stay at the lodge was worth it and the elk was just a bonus. We are good honest people trying to help make hunting dreams come true. Remember our money-back guarantee: ‘We’re so confident that you will be satisfied, if you haven’t seen something you want to shoot after the first day, you can go have a night and some meals on us and take your complete refund with you!’ I don’t know of any other place that is willing to put their money where their mouth is like we do.” Rocky Mountain Elk Ranch has established itself as a premier hunting ranch, with satisfied customers coming year after year – “some have even come 11 or 12 years in a row,” says Lerwill – to bask in the hunting, the lodge and the overall experience. “We are always looking forward to hunting season and showing hunters the time of their life.” Editor’s note: Dates are booking quickly, so contact the ranch as soon as possible. For more, visit rockymountainelkranch.com.

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HUNTING

Northwest Spring Turkey Forecast Gaze into the crystal ball with Washington, Oregon gobbler biologists as we look at 2021’s prospects. By MD Johnson

h, yes. April. Back in the day – say, circa 1974 – that meant metal Old Pal buckets of minnows, yellow willow flowers, cane poles, No. 4 Eagle Claw hooks and a 12-foot Sears aluminum boat pushed around by a 9.9-horse Johnson outboard. Confused? Crappies, man! For Pop, and by default, yours truly, spring was all about crappies. When the willows bloomed, we hit the water and fished until May – or until the yard got to the point where Mom actually had to say something like, “Is that all you’re going to do? Fish?” Turkeys? Back then, Ohio’s turkey population – not to mention Washington and Oregon’s – was in its infancy. Oh, there were birds, especially down in the southeast part of the state. But, turkeys or no, we were busy with crappies. And the occasional walleye. And the occasional channel cat. Yes, sir; we were busy. But times change. My father and I eventually discovered turkeys and turkey hunting, and actually, despite none of the proverbial stars being aligned, killed a couple. I moved away from Ohio, first to Southwest Washington, where I, along with my turkey fanatic wife, Julie, continued to pursue spring gobblers in this new-tome land. Then it was off to Iowa for 18 years, where, perhaps braggingly,

With success rates of around 60 percent in the best Oregon and Washington units in recent springs and better-thandeer-season odds in many other areas, gobbler gunners stand a good chance of tagging out. Hunter Schumacher did so last May in Klickitat County. (COAST HUNTING PHOTO CONTEST)

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HUNTING I truly learned how to hunt turkeys. From Florida to Texas and from South Dakota to Mississippi, wherever there were turkeys, well, I went there. Every spring for six to eight weeks, I went. I lost sleep. I lost weight. Occasionally, I lost my mind. But I got in shape. I saw Mother Nature at her very finest. And I got to match wits, day in and day out, with North America’s greatest big game bird. It. Was. Awesome! And now, I’m back. Back in Southwest Washington, and again looking forward to spring, the California poppies, the wild asparagus, and, of course, a handful of longbeards. But what can I hope to find as Turkey Season ’21 kicks into high gear? This month, Northwest Sportsman talks to the folks in the know, hoping to give turkey hunters a glimpse, albeit somewhat foggy, into that magic 8-ball we all know wildlife professionals and

managers possess, and provide just a wee bit of insight into what we turkey chasers might expect when we hit the field midmonth.

THE OREGON OUTLOOK Many of you are already familiar with Mikal Cline through my writings in the past. Cline is the upland game bird coordinator for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, which means she handles everything wild turkeys, among other things. Cline’s résumé is impressive. “This is my second stint with Oregon,” she told me. “They were nice enough to give me my first fulltime job as the assistant game bird biologist. Then I spent six years with Washington as the state waterfowl specialist. Six years with the National Wild Turkey Federation. And now it’s going on three years now with ODFW

as the upland coordinator.” Many hats, to be sure, but she’s worn all extremely well.

Northwest Sportsman Oregon’s current turkey population is _. Fill in the blank. Mikal Cline Robust. None of these things – author’s note: I had mentioned factors such as weather, fires, human encroachment, and the like – seem to be affecting our turkey population. Turkeys are pretty adaptable, and Oregon has all the habitat they need. The places that were really affected by wildfires really weren’t turkey strongholds by any stretch. A lot of critters were affected, but I think turkeys dodged the bullet on that one. NWS Rio Grandes are the name of the game in Oregon. Some Merriam’s, but it’s mainly a Rio Grande population. Why have Rios done so well in Oregon? MC I think (Rios) are a little bit more adaptable in terms of food resources than the Merriam’s. Merriam’s evolved at a higher elevation, and so they do really well on things like pine nuts. But that’s not the only food source out there that Rios have taken advantage of. And I think that that high elevation evolution has made the Merriam’s a little less adaptable when it comes to nest loss. Their nesting season is shorter, and they seem less likely to try again and again when they lose their nest. The Rio, coming out of places like Texas Brush Country, where they have a nice long nesting season, will keep trying until they pull off a nest. I think that has made quite a difference. Rios seem to be a better fit for the habitat Oregon has to offer.

NWS Does ODFW take stock, per se, of

Oregon turkey hunters should find “robust” populations this season, according to state upland bird manager Mikal Cline. Austin Estremado took this tom while on a mentored hunt with his father in the Applegate Unit last year. (COAST HUNTING PHOTO CONTEST) 146 Northwest Sportsman

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the state’s turkey population in some manner? MC We don’t do comprehensive surveys. It’s never been a priority in our districts. Turkeys do get counted in the summer brood counts, but not all of our districts do these counts. We look at our harvest trends as a way to

HUNTING

“The winter in the valleys was very mild with snow rarely sticking for more than a week or two and quickly melting with our recent warm weather,” reported Annemarie Prince, state wildlife biologist for Northeast Washington, the state’s thickest gobbler woods. “Therefore, I’m guessing the turkeys did very well this year. I’ve even seen them moving up and away from the valley bottoms a bit now that the snow line is getting even higher. If the snow continues to recede quickly, birds might be found at higher elevations earlier in the season this year than in the past. Flocks will still likely be larger in the valley bottoms, but some turkeys will move up with the snow line.” Prince’s hunting prospects map (above) highlights public lands in Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille Counties that are good for turkeys. “Also, if you want to hunt private property, ask for permission now and not after the season has started,” she tips. (WDFW)

index our turkey population. And we also keep track of turkey range. We collect sightings of turkeys from everything from the Christmas Bird Count – note: If you’re not familiar with the Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count, you should be because it’s great to get you and your family involved in something both easy and very worthwhile – to breeding bird surveys and online bird lists. We keep track of where the turkeys are and how their range is expanding. And we don’t have a reason to have a concern about turkeys. They’re literally underfoot here.

NWS Based on 2020, and the hatch in particular, what can Oregon hunters expect to see in ’21? MC For 2020, we really didn’t have 148 Northwest Sportsman

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anything that affected the hatch. Our fall hunters seemed to be pretty successful. I don’t have those numbers yet – we do have mandatory harvest reporting for turkey hunters here in Oregon – and I won’t get those numbers until (later in) April. You need a pretty deep freeze that lasts a really long time and makes it so the birds are unable to break through and get food. The winter of 2016-17 did actually affect some of our turkey flocks. Anything less serious than that isn’t cause for concern.

NWS Hypothetically, say I’m a second-year turkey hunter looking more so for access, experience and education than I am a bird first rattle out of the box. Where would you send me? MC In some of the units where there are a lot of turkeys, there’s a lot of private land too. For example, the Melrose Unit

and the Willamette Unit are both very successful for people who have access to private land. Some 95 percent of the birds harvested in the Willamette Unit are taken on private land. That’s the trick; where are there lots of turkeys and public land? Lately, we’ve been sending a lot of folks to the Rogue Unit. This last reporting cycle showed only 43 percent of hunters harvested birds in the Rogue Unit on private land. And the Rogue Unit harvested the most turkeys last spring. But what happens in those situations is hunter numbers start to pile up, and then it’s not as great of a hunting experience. So, while you can still be pretty successful there (Rogue Unit), there’s a lot of hunter effort out there right now. Same with the White River Unit. If someone were to call me, I’d ask them how far they’re willing to travel. There are lots of turkeys in the Blue Mountains, and it’s almost all public.

WASHINGTON’S WILD TURKEYS Unfortunately, I was unable to make contact with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s upland game bird biologist before press deadline; however, I was able to talk to Kevin Vella. Currently living in California, Vella serves as NWTF’s Pacific Coast District Biologist representing his home state, along with Oregon, Washington and Nevada. “I’m mostly involved with conservation projects in those states,” he said, “which includes habitat restoration projects, anything involving legislation or (state) regulations, and research throughout the West and Northwest.”

NWS First things first, the eastern subspecies in Western Washington. What do you hear? Kevin Vella There’s no WDFW census dealing with easterns in Western Washington, but anecdotally from what I’ve been told, there are birds to be had. Populations aren’t very high, especially when compared to the northeastern part of the state

HUNTING and Spokane County, but there are (easterns to be had) if you’re willing to put the time and the work into it.

NWS So let’s talk about Northeast Washington. That seems to be the hotbed of turkey hunting right now. Vella Again, if you’re willing to put the time in, there’s plenty of birds to be had and on public land. There’s plenty of birds on the Colville National Forest. We had a relatively good spring in 2020. Obviously there wasn’t a whole lot of hunting pressure early on with COVID, and I’m sure that had an impact on pressure. It (pressure) ramped up toward the end of the season, but I would imagine that harvest was down in 2020. I think we had a really good spring in terms of weather; mild, with a decent amount of moisture. I’m thinking that should translate into a good spring this year, with plenty of jakes on the ground that will (hopefully) be two-year-olds

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YACKING ABOUT THE KLICKITAT

lickitat County is Washington’s second most popular spring turkey hunting region, at least in terms of hunter numbers, and if state wildlife biologist Stefanie Bergh’s report is any indication, there should be gobblers around to greet those who venture to the eastern Columbia Gorge this season, especially given two mild springs that likely helped reproduction and brood survival. “The past two winters have been average/mild, so I would guess winter survival has been high as well,” she notes. She terms the Klickitat Wildlife Area’s largest unit, 14,000-acre Soda Springs along and above the middle Klickitat River, as “always a great place to go, but there are other options as well. “Anecdotally, every year we continue to receive reports of turkeys farther west in Skamania County, mainly at low elevations along the Columbia River,” she states. “DNR lands in both Skamania and Klickitat Counties, even as far north as Trout Lake, have turkey populations,” Bergh adds. “Securing permission to hunt on private land where turkeys persist will likely be the best option for a successful hunt, whereas public lands might take a bit more work and scouting.” –NWS

in the spring of 2022.

NWS

You’re a Californian. You, unfortunately, know wildfires. How have the fires in Eastern Washington affected turkey populations, if at all?

Vella This is a real “To be continued.” We’re very familiar with how these large wildfires change the landscape. We haven’t seen a ton of negative impact, but remember, this is all shortterm. When you have a wildfire,

HUNTING you’re going to eliminate roost sites. You’re going to eliminate food for the birds (as they transition) into fall. Any kind of mast crop that was on the ground is gone. It’s going to depend on severity of the fire and size of the scar, and how it’s going to affect the birds. Let’s say you had a fire that was high severity for 20 percent of it, and low severity for 80 percent. That may very well benefit wild turkeys and other early successional-dependent species by clearing out the old decadent brush on the ground. It’s going to help foster new growth that’s going to be beneficial for turkeys, deer, quail and other species. Fire’s going to help create more diversity on these landscapes. Unfortunately, you’re seeing these fires get larger and larger, and you’re seeing higher and higher intensities, and that’s where you’re running into issues. When you’re nuking the organic layer in the soil, that’s when there can be concerns for turkeys. NS

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WHAT I KNOW ABOUT WESTERN WASHINGTON’S EASTERNS

spoke with a young fellow prior to the 2020 spring gobbler season. He lives on the Westside, and he, along with his brother, are two of the best turkey hunters I know. That’s saying a lot – no brag! – coming, as I do, from the Midwest and being forever, it seemed, surrounded by those I consider to be the finest turkey hunters in the nation. Anyway, when I said something to the effect of there not being many easterns in Western Washington, he laughed. Eastern populations are doing just fine, he told me. No, you’re never going to see thousands of easterns over here, but I’m telling you the population is doing just fine. And in some places, it’s growing and expanding into other areas. That’s it. That’s what he said. And my guess is he’s telling the truth. WDFW, in all likelihood, can’t get a good population estimate of easterns on the Westside due to any number of things, e.g. weather, geography, density of foliage, and so on and so forth. What they have are harvest estimates provided by hunters; approximations at best. More significantly, turkey hunters, those successful in locating easterns, don’t talk. Nothing. Nada. Understandable when you’ve spent three years trying to find the needle in the huge haystack and finally locate it. Bottom line? Easterns do exist in Western Washington. We’ve written about them before, including the best spots to start looking. My advice? Break down, buy that Weyerhaeuser permit (if one’s available), and log some miles. Lots and lots and lots of miles. –MDJ

SJX JET BOATS

rowing up in the Lewis Clark Valley, aka the “Jet Boat Capital of the World,” it was an easy career choice for Steve Stajkowski to start working in the aluminum jet boat industry. In the early 1980s, when he was still in high school, Stajkowski got a job at a manufacturer, starting as a cleanup boy and working his way up the ladder. He was eventually able to experience every aspect of the aluminum jet boat manufacturing process, and he was fascinated. “During breaks, before or after work, I was always using the tools of the trade, learning how to fabricate, building various boat parts, and grabbing a welder whenever possible,” says Stajkowski. His interest didn’t stop there. After high school, he enrolled in a night welding course at the local college, but he concluded that he was better off getting a handson education and on-the-job experience that was much more specific to the aluminum jet boat industry. By the late 1990s, Stajkowski had started working for himself, and a few years

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later, he designed the very first “inboard tunnel hull” jet boat with the ability to run extremely shallow debris-filled waters. “Most all aluminum jet boat manufacturers, past and present, produce the Hells Canyon River Jet Boat design, which I call the typical jet boat design,” he explains. “All of them are pretty much the same with truly little design differences. When you live in the jet boat capital of the world and the gateway to Hells Canyon, it stands to reason that they would all be similar. Form follows function.” Stajkowski continues, “My type of tunnel hull aluminum jet boat was not designed specifically for Hells Canyon use, and it did not look anything like the typical jet boats. There is only one Hells Canyon in the entire world. I designed the tunnel hull jet boat to target all the thousands of other types of rivers and shallow bodies of water around the globe.” After nearly a year of CAD work designing the boat, the structure, and optimizing the material use, the first jet boat was produced in 2007, and a new company, SJX

Jet Boats, was born. What makes Stajkowski’s jet boats unique is that they are designed with a structure he calls a heavy-duty, lightweight construction. The continuous full-length welding, accompanied by a double bulkhead floor structure system, allows an SJX jet boat to flex as a unit, preventing any possibility of fractures or cracks beginning. All of this combined with the truly brutal testing they do on a continuing basis gives SJX the confidence to place a lifetime hull warranty on every jet boat produced. “To date, we have had zero warranty claims on our tunnel hull design,” says Stajkowski. But perhaps the biggest attraction for SJX’s customers is having the shallow-water abilities to reach places that other typical aluminum boats cannot even come close to, opening up so many more hunting, fishing and recreational possibilities. This has never been more important to outdoor sportsmen and -women than right now, when social distancing is the new normal. Says Stajkowski, “The SJX jet boat allows people to get away from it all and go to places where there is not a chance of any other boats sharing their space.” For more info, visit sjxjetboats.com.

HUNTING

Oregon Turkey Ops Make Good Memories With burgeoning Beaver State bird numbers, even midday outings can provide solid hunting. By Troy Rodakowski

t’s that time again to chase gobbling turkeys throughout the state of Oregon. Mountain birds, valley birds, private ranch birds, ag birds and nuisance birds alike, turkeys have expanded their range across the state, and mild winters have also contributed to very robust populations on both sides of the Cascades. Turkeys provide quality hunting opportunities and experiences, like one I enjoyed in 2020.

DAUGHTER’S FIRST HUNT

How good is spring turkey hunting in Oregon? A midday trip with low expectations last year still yielded a pair of gobblers for author Troy Rodakowski and a friend, plus a chance for his daughter Reese to take a shot at a third with her cap gun. (TROY RODAKOWSKI)

Last season I was able to take a good friend as well as my 3-year-old daughter, Reese, on a very special hunt in the hills of Western Oregon. My daughter had been asking when she could come with me and wear her camo clothes. Of course, it was tough finding just the perfect day. “Daddy, do I get to put camo paint on my face like you?” was the question I kept getting from Reese, and of course she wanted to take her cap gun. We finally found a midday hunt with warm 70-degree weather, so I packed snacks and water, dressed her in camo and painted her face. She was excited, to say the least. I was just hoping she would be able to make the hike up the hill to where I wanted to set up. My friend and I weren’t expecting a lot, considering the time of day, but we were very enthusiastic to nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2021

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Now is a good time to practice with box and slate calls, and mouth diaphragms. “You don’t have to be a world champion or even close to a professional caller, but try your best to sound as much like a turkey as possible,” Rodakowski tips. (TROY RODAKOWSKI)

take Reese along on her first real hunt. After getting all of our gear on, the three of us ascended upward into the lower Cascade foothills. It wasn’t far and I knew if we took a few breaks, my little girl would be able to make it without any problems. Finally we reached our place without complaint and I was promptly asked for some Gardetto’s to snack on. She loves those things.

TURKEY COUNTRY Flocks have been expanding throughout the state of Oregon over the past decade and the Department of Fish & Wildlife has been increasing harvest opportunities, doing away with tag limits in fall and offering a spring bag limit of three birds over a month-and-a-half-long season.

SEASON DATES Oregon youth turkey season*: April 10-11 General spring turkey season: April 15-May 31 *Youth hunters who do not fill their tag during the youth weekend may use their tag during the general spring season. –TR

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This is one of the most liberal turkey seasons in the country. Northeast Oregon has some of the best “mountain bird” hunting in the state. We have concentrated near Elgin, Imbler and La Grande in the past with great success. I really enjoy the country over there and how much it reminds me of hunting elk. There are also increasing numbers of turkey near Sisters, Tumalo and the outskirts of the Bend area. Flocks further to the east in Grizzly, Ochoco, John Day, White River, Murderers Creek, Ukiah, Sled Springs and northern portions of Paulina Units are also thriving. Mild winters have helped these populations increase. Many of these units have had 90-plus birds harvested the last couple springs. If you plan to hunt the higher terrain, be prepared to cover some ground. Turkeys in the mountains are concentrating on finding fresh food and dispersing into the higher meadows where the snow has melted off. These Rios and Merriam’s tend to be more nomadic and are not as easy to pattern. The same story holds true for flocks on the west side of the state. Douglas County continues to be the turkey capital of Oregon with excellent numbers over the past several years.

ODFW continues to use birds from Southern Oregon during transplant efforts. Folks always ask where to look for turkeys on this side of the mountain and I always tell them to drive around small farm towns and communities that border the hills and have good oak savannah habitat. It usually doesn’t take long to find a few flocks. Then knocking on a few doors will usually get you permission pretty fast since turkeys can become a nuisance to landowners. In fact, 90 percent of the turkey hunting on the west side will be on private property. Small towns like Philomath, Crow, Lorane, Drain, Curtin and Sutherlin have some excellent flocks on the ag land and outskirts. Bigger towns like Roseburg, Medford, Eagle Point and Grants Pass are also great places to look. There are also some great tracts of land on Bureau of Land Management, Weyerhaeuser and national forest in Southern Oregon. My advice is to look for good habitat that borders private lands. Obtaining access is sometimes difficult with the new lease programs and making sure the lands are open is essential during the recent Covid pandemic. The best southern units over the last couple seasons have been Melrose, Applegate and Rogue,

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HUNTING all of which saw over 300 turkeys harvested apiece. ODFW is quick to point out that harvest numbers are likely above average due to increased participation during the pandemic.

TUNE-UP TIME Make sure to take some time and practice your calling. You don’t have to be a world champion or even close to a professional caller, but try your best to sound as much like a turkey as possible. Watching YouTube videos or having a friend or family member who is an experienced caller help you

can make a huge difference. Simple box calls are easiest for beginners, and with just a little practice, slate calls can be mastered as well. Mouth diaphragms tend to take a bit more practice but are very effective, and best of all, they render a hunter’s hands free and ready to shoot.

REESE ‘GETS’ HER GOBBLER With Reese, my friend and myself all situated and happy, I let out a sequence of yelps and was quickly interrupted by a nearby barrage of gobbles from multiple birds. I

Turkey are widespread across the state, with best populations in Southern Oregon and east of Mt. Hood, but they can also be found in good numbers in Willamette Valley and Northeast Oregon units. (TROY RODAKOWSKI) 160 Northwest Sportsman

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managed to call the turkeys in within a couple minutes, and my friend and I harvested two nice toms. When the third bird came in, Reese asked, “Daddy, can I shoot him with my cap gun?” I told her yes and Reese let the bird have it with a cap blast. It was pretty cute and a memory we all will never forget. Indeed, no matter where you plan to hunt this spring, make sure to enjoy your trip in the Oregon turkey woods and make some memories that will last a lifetime. NS

COLUMN

Talkin’ Loads And More For Toms S

pring turkey season kicks off April 15 in the Evergreen State, and devoted hunters are already chatting it up ON TARGET big time at the HuntingBy Dave Workman Washington forum. The season runs through May 31, and the state has all three huntable species, eastern, Merriam’s and Rio Grande, and so all one needs to do is decide where to hunt. I have encountered turkeys on South Cle Elum Ridge, along upper Taneum Creek, up on Teanaway Ridge, on the north side of Bethel Ridge overlooking the Tieton River drainage, and up around Liberty in Kittitas County east of Highway 97; those are areas I’d personally check.

UP FRONT, I realize there has been an ammunition shortage. We’re all stuck in the same boat on that one. Back in late February, I got word from Winchester Ammunition about the new Double X turkey load for the .410 shotgun. It’s a 3-incher with a ¾-ounce payload of copper-plated No. 7½ Diamond Grade lead shot for a high-density pattern. According to Winchester, this load puts 20 percent more pellets into a 20-inch circle at 30 yards, and that translates into a turkey dinner for someone who is cool-fingered on the trigger. This load checks out at 1,100 feet per second from the muzzle, and it puts the .410 on serious footing in the turkey field. Winchester offers Double X loads in 12- and 20-gauge, of course. Shot size must be No. 4 or smaller (I like No. 6 for just about anything I hunt with a shotgun), and people can hunt toms with shotguns, bows or crossbows. My own gun for turkey is a Mossberg Model 935 semiauto that takes a 3½-inch

It should be a back-to-normal midApril start of turkey season this spring after last year’s opener was delayed till early May in Washington following the governor’s restrictions. Once hunting was back open,Brandon Jewett bagged this big tom on the eastern slopes of the Cascades. (COAST HUNTING PHOTO CONTEST) nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2021

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Ammo has become hard to find these days, and turkey loads are no exception, but Winchester has come out with new shotshells in .410 for gobblers. The new Double X is a 3-inch shell with a ¾-ounce payload of copper-plated No. 7½ Diamond Grade lead shot for a high-density pattern. (WINCHESTER AMMUNITION)

shell. I don’t think anyone needs more than a 3-incher for this game, but you follow your own instincts. My shotgun has a full camo finish, vent rib barrel, synthetic stock and a good recoil pad. According to this year’s regulations – they’re available online at wdfw.wa.gov/ hunting/regulations – hunters can take a total of three turkeys in the spring season. Only two may be taken in Eastern Washington and only one can be taken in Chelan, Kittitas or Yakima Counties (combined). Only one may be taken in Western Washington outside of Klickitat County. Down in Klickitat, you can take two turkeys.

• •

Hunting gobblers is all about blending in and – even more so – sitting as still as you can when birds come to your calling and/or decoys. But for the pack out, consider putting on an orange vest or other bright – non-red – garment for safety’s sake. (DAVE WORKMAN) 164 Northwest Sportsman

APRIL 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com

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Remember, you need to leave the feathered head intact and attached to the carcass for transport. You can only take male turkeys and turkeys with visible beards. You can’t use electronic calls or electronic decoys, live birds or dogs, and you cannot bait birds. Your gun can’t hold more than three shells.

AS FOR WHERE to find turkeys, I checked the state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s website and found this. Merriam’s subspecies occupies portions of Spokane, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan, Chelan, Kittitas, Yakima, Klickitat and Skamania Counties. Rio Grande turkeys can be found in Asotin, Garfield, Columbia, Walla Walla, Whitman and Lincoln Counties. Eastern subspecies can be found west of the Cascades in Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, Pacific, Grays Harbor, Mason, Thurston and Lewis Counties. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve found them

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in specific places in Kittitas and Yakima Counties. On past treks to Northeast Washington, I’ve seen turkeys by the bunches in Stevens and Pend Oreille Counties. Be sure you’re not hunting on someone’s private property up there without permission! Perhaps the best thing about spring turkey hunting is that one enjoys the season change, going from maybe a mild chill to those wonderful May days when the woods are in full glory, with warmer temperatures and lots of blue-sky days. Get your camo washed and hang it outside to dry. After hanging all winter in a closet or being folded and stuffed in a drawer, your hunting clothing could smell a bit, even if you don’t think so. And be absolutely sure of your target. Everybody else will be wearing camouflage, and it is entirely possible you will not see someone within range, and they may not see you, either. Carry binoculars! Keep an eye peeled on your hunting perimeter.

If you nail a long beard, put on a fluorescent orange vest while packing out your kill. Better to be safe than sorry. Years ago, when I edited a national hunter education publication, I did a monthly column called “The Accident Report.” A couple of those dealt with tragic mishaps involving turkey hunters, one of whom was permanently blinded. Nobody wants that on his or her conscience.

ON ANOTHER TOPIC, this year is special for the National Rifle Association, as the embattled organization is literally under siege. But there is reason to celebrate. It’s the 150th anniversary of the NRA’s founding. It began in 1871, launched by former Union Army officers to improve marksmanship skills. They noticed during the Civil War how many soldiers weren’t so hot with rifles in battle, and decided there needed to be a national organization to promote more accurate and safe shooting. It comes in handy on a battleground. The NRA was incorporated in New

COLUMN York State, which is part of the reason it’s got problems today. New York Attorney General Letitia James ran for office promising to attack the association, which already wasn’t popular with Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Both James and Cuomo are liberal Democrats, like their counterparts in Washington and Oregon. In the past, my efforts to hunt spring turkeys have been interrupted by the NRA annual convention. Not this year. The NRA will hold its annual member’s meeting Sept. 3-5 in Houston, Texas, at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Now, this is not going to screw up my Sept. 1 grouse season opener. Haven’t missed one in decades, and not even the NRA meeting is going to change that. According to the NRA, the convention will feature “approximately 850 exhibitors” with thousands of firearms on display. There will be seminars and other activities, and the annual members’ meeting on Saturday. Yes, it happens on Labor Day weekend. Get details at nraam.org. NS

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SIGNIFICANT COURT VICTORY IN WASHINGTON APPEALS COURT

he NRA and Bellevue, Washington-based Second Amendment Foundation scored a major court victory a few weeks ago when a three-judge panel of the State Court of Appeals unanimously struck down the “safe storage” ordinance adopted by the City of Edmonds. Both Edmonds and nearby Seattle have challenged Washington’s model preemption statute, adopted in 1983 and strengthened in 1985 (the year the NRA, believe it or not, held its annual meeting at the Seattle Center). Cities with far left municipal governments hate the state preemption law because it prevents them from passing local gun control regulations designed to confuse and even entrap gun owners, all in the guise of “gun safety,” a subject about which gun control proponents are woefully ignorant. This win brings us around to mentioning SAF and its sister organization, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Over the past several months during which the NRA has had more than its share of troubles, membership and support for both SAF and CCRKBA has spiked upwards. SAF’s game is education and litigation, while CCRKBA is oriented toward grassroots activism. SAF and NRA are also challenging 2018’s Initiative 1639 in federal court. That’s the measure that turned your Ruger 10/22 and Marlin Model 60, along with your vintage Remington Nylon 66, into “semiautomatic assault rifles.” –DW

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Beware Stomach Twist, It’s For Real!

Two months after stomach twist surgery, Kona, author Scott Haugen’s pudelpointer, was back in the field, where he enjoyed dozens of hunts throughout this past winter. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

“

e have five minutes to decide if we’re going to have them operate or put him down!” GUN DOGGIN’ 101 Words I’ll never By Scott Haugen forget, coming from my wife on the telephone last September.

IT WAS A hellacious time, as a few hours prior we’d just returned to our home after having been evacuated for 11 days due to wildfires raging in our area. After unpacking what few belongings we grabbed on our way out the door, it was time to feed the dogs. Kona, our 3-year-old, 62-pound pudelpointer, ate as he normally does; chewing every bite, taking his time. But halfway through dinner, Kona stopped

chewing. His ears drooped and he hunched over. I tried comforting him by rubbing his ears, which he normally welcomes, but he was having nothing of it. Then Kona slowly hobbled into the yard and tried throwing up, but nothing would come up. His stomach felt tight to the touch. A few minutes later he slowly walked 20 yards further into a field, one where we often exercise and train. He laid down, which he never does, and again tried throwing up, with no success. Kona started to moan, which he also never does, and I could see his stomach expanding and getting tighter. He followed me to the house, and by this time my wife Tiffany saw what was happening and had the truck started. “I’m taking him to the vet hospital,” she said. Our regular vet was closed due to the

fires still burning out of control near them and when she called me on the phone, she was at the office of the veterinary surgeon. Kona was in his prime, the most fit, best all-around dog I’ve ever hunted with anywhere in the world. The estimated $6,000 cost of the surgery wasn’t a question, and minutes after Tiffany called, Kona was being prepped.

THE SURGEON TOLD Tiffany that Kona had suffered gastric torsion, or stomach twist. We’d never heard of this in dogs, only horses. But the more I talked to hunters around the country, the more I learned about stomach twist in dogs, and the more horror stories I heard. One breeder and trainer of Drahthaars I spoke with follows a strict feeding regimen specifically to prevent stomach twist, which includes feeding his dogs one time a day, at 8 p.m.,

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COLUMN and immediately putting them in their kennels for the night; he never feeds them in the morning. Gastric torsion is often blamed on dogs rapidly eating, but Kona never was a fast eater. Through much research, a summary of what I learned about this hidden killer is that it’s more common in deep-chested, narrow-waisted dogs, but also not uncommon in Labs. I spoke with multiple folks who lost Labs to this, and a buddy’s older Doberman pinscher died from it the same night that Kona had had surgery.

I learned that gastric torsion is not hereditary, nor is it species-specific, or solely caused by eating fast. Bloating can also cause stomach twist to occur. This might begin with a dog that’s simply nervous and breathing heavily, taking in too much air and causing the stomach to fill up. A stomach filled with air is a candidate for stomach twist. I have no doubt that Kona’s 11 days of moving and being around other dogs and stressed people during our fire evacuation is what led to his stress, thus a bloated stomach, and eventually stomach twist.

Gastric torsion hits fast, and a few minutes of delay in getting to a vet can mean life or death. Fortunately, Kona’s masters’ close observations of their dogs and quick action led to a successful surgery and recovery. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

THERE’S NO WAY to prevent gastric torsion, and it can kill a dog within an hour. One hunter I talked to was duck hunting with his Lab. The dog retrieved a duck and hopped a small ditch, but immediately doubled-up in pain. The man wasted no time getting to the truck and heading to the vet, but in less than 30 minutes his dog died, a result of gastric torsion. The stories go on, and few end like Kona’s. Pay very close attention to your dog at all times, for no one knows it better than you. I watch my dogs eat every meal. I’m now more careful than ever of where I train and walk my dogs; I’m even leery of hunting them around other dogs. Watch to see if your dog is stressed and gulping air, which can lead to bloating. If they are drooling and no food is in front of them, it might be due to their stomach being twisted to the point they can’t swallow. Body signs that signal discomfort, along with drooping ears, sagging eyes, and a tight, bloated stomach, can be signs something is wrong with the digestive tract; I noticed these in Kona. Stomach twist is most likely to happen within two hours of feeding, so avoid running your dog for two hours after it eats. If your dog eats too fast, try a specialized bowl to slow it down. Above all else, notice if your dog is stressed and remove it from the situation before it escalates, if possible. KONA’S SURGERY WENT great. They opened up his stomach, removed the contents, thoroughly cleansed it, sewed it closed, then stapled it to his abdominal wall with the hopes it won’t happen again. But the situation was so scary, we’re not taking any chances. Two weeks after Kona’s surgery, Tiffany and I were offered jobs in remote Alaska. We declined because the nearest vet was 800 miles away, accessible only by bush plane. Our lives changed after Kona’s brush with death, for as the surgeon told us, “Five minutes later and Kona wouldn’t have made it.” NS Editor’s note: To watch Scott Haugen’s series of puppy training videos, visit scotthaugen .com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.

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Northwest Sportsman Mag - April 2021

Articles inside

OREGON GOBBLER OPS MAKE FOR GOOD MEMORIES

KISS SOME OREGON BASS THIS SPRING

FISHING PHOTO CONTEST