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Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource
Volume 14 • Issue 7 PUBLISHER James R. Baker
Your Complete Hunting, Boating, Fishing and Repair Destination Since 1948.
ALUMAWELD
EDITOR Andy “Burnin’ Ruts In I-5” Walgamott THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS Jason Brooks, Richy Harrod, Scott Haugen, Jeff Holmes, MD Johnson, Randy King, Buzz Ramsey, Troy Rodakowski, Tom Schnell, Dave Workman, Mike Wright, Mark Yuasa EDITORIAL FIELD SUPPORT Jason Brooks GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Kelley Miller, Mike Smith DESIGNER Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly Baker OFFICE MANAGER Katie Aumann INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGER Lois Sanborn WEBMASTER/DIGITAL STRATEGIST Jon Hines DIGITAL ASSISTANT Jon Ekse ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@nwsportsmanmag.com
HEWESCRAFT
CORRESPONDENCE Email letters, articles/queries, photos, etc., to awalgamott@media-inc.com, or to the mailing address below. ON THE COVER Samantha Gaudette enjoyed continued success in the turkey woods, bagging this gobbler early in Washington’s 2021 hunt and her second season afield. (COAST HUNTING PHOTO CONTEST)
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APRIL 2022 | nwsportsmanmag.com
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CONTENTS
ALSO INSIDE
VOLUME 14 • ISSUE 7
65
REG1ON OF TROUT Far Eastern Washington offers so many great lakes for anglers to get out on in late spring, and our Jeff Holmes details many of the best waters – and for not only rainbows, cutthroat, brown and tiger trout, but overlooked bass, crappie and other spinyrays!
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HEAD DOWN THE TROUT TRAIL It’s a bit of a hike into the western Columbia Basin’s Dusty Lake, but well worth it for the rainbow, brown and tiger trout that get big on abundant hatches. Mike Wright details this lake born of catastrophic ice age floods and tucked into a quiet canyon above the Columbia River, as well as the fishing gear to pack.
99
GO WITH THE FLOW FOR WILLAMETTE ’BOWS Fat trout are on the docket in the Willamette Valley this month and next, a time of year that combines good fishing opportunities on rivers and lakes alike. Troy Rodakowski names some of the best rainbow and cutthroat riffles and stocker stillwaters to hit.
105 KOKANEE AROUND THE CALENDAR Kokanee Power of Oregon top honcho Tom Schnell knows that most anglers start chasing landlocked sockeye in spring, but he’s also privy to a not-as-wellknown fact: Kokanee are catchable year-round. Tom shares his season-by-season fishing guide for one of the tastiest targets the Northwest has on tap.
83 RELEASE THE TROUT HOUNDS!
Washington’s opening day of lowland lakes season is guaranteed to put a fish or two on your stringer, but do you know where to go for the best odds of success? Mark Yuasa details where some 16.2 million rainbows and other species have been stocked to make 2022’s opener and fishing season a stellar one.
133 ‘EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD’ TURKEY FORECAST If the sound of gobbles in the spring air is music to your ears, you’ll like the tune of MD Johnson’s turkey forecast. He reports on Oregon and Washington biologists’ takes on this season’s prospects. 147 ONE FAMILY’S TURKEY WOODS Hunting turkeys in Northeast Oregon has become a tradition for the Harrods, one involving three generations of the family and many memories over the years. Richy Harrod shares one of his favorites. 161 GET MORE OUT OF YOUR MOREL HUNTS Looking to, er, pick up your morel picking game? Jeff Holmes is your guy. With gas prices high, he has advice that will help maximize your time in the woods, and he also serves up a buttery mushroom recipe that will have ’em coming back for more.
(FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Go to nwsportsmanmag.com for details. NORTHWEST SPORTSMAN is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 103, Renton, WA 98057. Periodical Postage Paid at Seattle, WA and at additional mail offices. (USPS 025-251) POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Northwest Sportsman, 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120, Renton, WA 98057. 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 © 2022 Media Index Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A.
16 Northwest Sportsman
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BE SAFE: Please practice social distancing and wear a mask.
Tour Moses Lake W A S H I N G T O N
119
NORTHWEST PURSUITS
Straits Bank Halibut No doubt that the waters of the Washington Coast and western Strait of Juan de Fuca are tops for halibut, but the eastern Straits’ banks also hold flatties. Jason and his GPS dial in how to work these raised underwater plateaus when season opens this month.
(JASON BROOKS)
COLUMNS 93
BUZZ RAMSEY Buzz’s Refreshers: PowerBait For Trout Yep, there are a million ways to catch stocker trout this time of year, but there may not be many options more deadly than floating PowerBait off bottom, a tactic made even more effective when adding a Lil’ Corky kicker to improve flotation. Buzz rigs us up for success!
141 ON TARGET Time To Head For The Turkey Hills As the spring season draws close, Dave shares some of the spots he’d check out for gobblers in Central Washington’s Kittitas County, and he also has details on the new turkey shotshells from Fiocchi, camo vest from ALPZ and 9mm from Sig Sauer. 155 CHEF IN THE WILD Ticked Off Twice A talkative but shy gobbler and several thirsty ticks made for a ticklish situation for Chef Randy, who also serves up some Seoul food – Korean gochujang paste turkey with rice and green beans, a recipe inspired by Chef Jr., his son Noah. 169 GUN DOG The Joy Of Gun Dogs “There’s nothing like hunting with a well-trained dog that understands its role, has drive and is eager to please.” That might be Scott’s Cliffs Notes version of the joy of gun dogs, but there’s soooooo much more to it for him and other pup owners.
18 Northwest Sportsman
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36 THE BIG PIC
Snake River Dams
With right now “the time and the opportunity to think big,” we offer a fisherman’s why and how-to guide for blowing the door open on Columbia Basin salmon and steelhead returns. (ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS)
DEPARTMENTS
20 Northwest Sportsman
APRIL 2022 | nwsportsmanmag.com
25
THE EDITOR’S NOTE The bear vote and the next battle
45
READER PHOTOS Frozen sturgeon, happy crappie anglers, and a lunker king and lings!
49
PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS Coast, Fishing monthly prizes
51
THE DISHONOR ROLL Oregon bolsters anti-poaching efforts with new prosecutor; Jackass of the Month
53
DERBY WATCH WDFW Trout Derby set to begin; More upcoming events
55
OUTDOOR CALENDAR Upcoming openers, events, deadlines, more
nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2022
Northwest Sportsman 21
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THEEDITOR’SNOTE
L
ast month’s defeat of Washington’s 2022 spring bear hunt by five of the nine members of the Fish and Wildlife Commission was not a one-off. The new preservationist wing of the citizen panel, along with its more traditionally moored members, will now take up the state Game Management Plan later this spring, and that means it is critical Evergreen State sportsmen stay involved. Why? The GMP is the long-term rationale that guides hunting seasons for all manner of species. It is foundationally based in science and WDFW biologists’ judgments of the strength of local game populations, and even as it sets out to maximize hunting opportunities, it does so with a very strong eye toward sustaining the critters for the long haul. If that sounds like the venerable North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, you would be correct.
BUT GOVERNOR INSLEE’S three late January appointees, the commission’s newly elected chair Barbara Baker and member Lorna Smith are moving toward a “precautionary principle” that appears to have little if any room for WDFW’s trained professional biologists and wildlife managers, and gives more weight to outside agitators and nebulous worries. That much was clear in the spring bear vote, where impossible-to-fill requests for precise population data, speculative assumptions about impacts of the hunt and overwrought emotions overruled the solid footing of the sustainable, multipurpose, limitedentry opportunity that’s been around for decades. There was never one iota of evidence that black bears as a whole would in any way be imperiled by a season with 664 boar-directed tags and an expected harvest of 145, tops – .7 percent of all bears in Washington. Some hunters thought there was still a chance for a bruin season because new member John Lehmkuhl of the Wenatchee Valley is billed as a hunter. Now, one thing I’ve learned is that we sportsmen represent a very wide spectrum – many of us are in it for the meat, most for the experience, some for trophies, and our theories on game and fish management are as diverse as our politics. But the hope Lehmkuhl would join the four commissioners who twice voted in favor of the hunt was dispelled when the retired Forest Service researcher indicated that the three-and-a-half-month fall general bear season was enough, and it was crushed when he leapt to nominate Baker as the new chair. Baker is among the architects of last year’s draft conservation policy that, in the face of a changing world, seeks to expand support and funding for WDFW’s myriad missions, herald a new kind of conservation and define that word’s meaning. LEHMKUHL ALSO POOH-POOHED hunters’ concerns that nixing this spring’s bear hunt was the start of a slippery slope. But the fact of the matter is that what the commission did and said last month is reapplicable to all manner of game – deer to bighorns to elk to whatever he chases, winter and summer steelhead to spring Chinook to redband rainbows. What’s more, another new member publicly expressed an interest in reinterpreting WDFW’s legislative mandates. Now, as a sportsman-conservationist, I’m all for using as much science and data as reasonable to provide as much hunting and fishing as possible while also reducing take of struggling species and ensuring the critters are around forever. And some of the no votes said answering bear number questions would put the hunt on a stronger footing. But the core of this new commission wants to go much further, and that means the great hunter participation generated around spring bears must continue as we get into the far weightier Game Management Plan. Stay involved. –Andy Walgamott nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2022
Northwest Sportsman 25
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26 Northwest Sportsman
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RUGGED EXPERIENCE LICENSED INSURED BOND PROTECTION DIVERSITY OF TERRAIN AND HABITAT
WHY HUNT ALBERTA?
A
n astounding 1,708 animals from Alberta have qualified for the Boone and Crockett Club’s (B&C) Record Book. The fact that 749 of these entries are animals taken since 2000 is a testament to the quality of wildlife available in our province. Alberta boasts an incredible variety of big game and bird game hunting opportunities. At 255,541 square miles, Alberta is the fourth largest province in Canada, containing six major eco-regions: Canadian Shield, parkland, rocky mountains, foothills, grassland and boreal forest. The combination of Alberta’s expansive size and the diversity results in many top-notch hunting experiences. You can hunt in Alberta in the spring, fall and winter. Fall days are normally warm and sunny with cooler nights and, at higher altitudes, you may see some frost on the ground in the morning. Come November, many parts of the province will have snow, and below freezing temperatures become the norm, getting progressively colder later in the month.
CLOSER THAN YOU THINK.
You are only a short drive or plane ride away from some of the best hunting available.
To find an outfitter, visit
apos.ab.ca
WHITETAIL • WOLF • ANTELOPE • BLACK BEAR • COUGAR • COYOTE • ELK • MOOSE • MULE DEER • SHEEP • WATERFOWL • WHITETAIL •
WATERFOWL • WHITETAIL • WOLF • ANTELOPE • BLACK BEAR • COUGAR • COYOTE • ELK • MOOSE • MULE DEER • SHEEP • WATERFOWL •
ANTELOPE • BLACK BEAR • COUGAR • COYOTE • ELK • MOOSE • MULE DEER • SHEEP • WATERFOWL •
WOLF • ANTELOPE • BLACK BEAR • COUGAR • COYOTE • ELK • MOOSE • MULE DEER • SHEEP •
•
PAID ADVERTORIAL
Oh Canada! Come Hunt Alberta I think we can all agree that it’s been a crazy couple of years. By the looks of it, everyone is eager to get back to doing the things they love. Hunters, if you’re looking to book that next big trip, an unmatched assortment of nonresident opportunities, along with a host of friendly and professional outfitters and guides, await you in Alberta. Unique in its geography and biodiversity, our midwest province is home to 10 different big game species and tremendous bird hunting as well. Whether you’re a bow or gun hunter looking for an antlered harvest, a predator hunter, or just looking to fill your freezer, consider making Alberta your next destination. Accessible and affordable, if you live in the Pacific Northwest, Alberta is only a short trip north across the border. With three international airports, visiting hunters commonly fly into Edmonton (YEG), Calgary (YYC), or Fort McMurray (YMM). Each of these locations welcomes flights from coastal hubs like Portland and Seattle. Should you choose to drive instead, you’ll be rewarded with a great road trip and incredible scenery along the way. No lottery or draw is required for visiting hunters using the services of a licensed outfitter – so permits are guaranteed.
ANTELOPE
A carefully managed big game species, Alberta is home to some of the biggest pronghorn antelope in North America. Over the years, many Alberta pronghorn antelope have ranked high in the Boone and Crockett and Pope and Young records. Our outfitters employ a range of hunt strategies, including spot-and-stalk, decoying, and waiting at water holes. On any given hunt, you will see a multitude of game and enjoy some
• • • •
of the finest prairie grassland scenery on the continent. With normally mild weather, Alberta’s relatively short antelope season occurs in September and October.
BLACK BEAR
Abundant in Alberta, black bears can be hunted during both the spring and fall seasons. Spring seasons vary with most hunts taking place in May, and the first half of June in some areas. Fall hunts are again variable with limited areas open in late August, and most hunts occurring in September and October. Emerging from their dens in April, their thick coats are usually in prime condition. Fall black bear hunting can be a great single- or multi-species add-on. Alberta’s professional outfitters provide a range of world-class baited and spot-and-stalk hunting opportunities.
Unmatched non-resident hunting opportunities No draws for non-resident alien hunters Easy to get here from the Pacific Northwest Professional, experienced, insured outfitters
You may get lucky and encounter a color-phase black bear with cinnamon, chocolate or blond pelage. Many areas have a two-bear policy, which means you can fill both tags with a single license. This is a great trip for an experienced or novice hunter. Bow hunters will be especially interested to know that many Alberta black bear hunts have 100 percent opportunity, making it a perfect hunt if you’re still new with your bow. As you research Alberta’s outfitters, be sure to inquire about the success rates – you’ll no doubt be impressed.
COUGAR
A cougar hunt in Alberta begins with the search for a track. Fresh snowfall can make for prime conditions. Once the guide sorts out the track activity, they release the hounds. The chase is on, and it eventually ends with a treed cougar.
Alberta is one of two Canadian provinces where a nonresident alien can hunt a mountain lion. Populations are strong and a number of giant cats are entered into both the Boone and Crockett and Pope and Young record books each year. Cougar hunts occur December through March.
COYOTE
There is no harvest limit on coyotes, and Alberta’s populations are high. Coyotes can be hunted on private land year-round, and many rural landowners are pleased to welcome hunters to help control numbers. On public lands, coyotes can be hunted October through February. These hunts often take place when most other seasons are closed for the year. In early to mid-winter, these predators have gorgeous pelts. Coyotes are evasive and your outfitter may employ a variety of calls and decoys to help draw them into range. Many hunters visit Alberta for the world-class coyote hunting alone; if you’ll be hunting another species, be sure to ask your outfitter if you can add on a coyote permit as well.
ELK
Spectacular terrain and scenery await the visiting elk hunter. Alberta’s outfitters operate on a range of both public and private lands. With a growing population of the Rocky Mountain elk subspecies, during the rut from late August through mid-October, bulls fight for dominance and are responsive to calling, putting hunters in a great position to fill their tag. The screaming bugle of a majestic bull and the chirping of a herd of cows is something every hunter simply must experience. If you’re headed out to the mountains, you might enjoy a longer hunt with backpack and horseback, but many shorterduration hunts in the prairies are also very desirable.
MOOSE
Alberta is also home to a thriving population of moose. The Boone and Crockett Club has three separate classes of moose, including Alaska-Yukon moose, Canada moose and Wyoming (or Shiras) moose. Alberta’s moose fall into the
Canada moose subset. However, Safari Club International (SCI) also classifies the moose found in the southwest corner of Alberta as Shiras. The terrain, hunting method and size will depend on where in Alberta you hunt. Some outfitters offer fly-in only, while others will use ATVs and trucks. Moose are widely distributed throughout Alberta’s boreal forest, foothills and parkland zones. This variation means there are moose hunting opportunities for hunters who crave the wilderness, and for those who would prefer a more accessible prairie experience. Hunting during the late September and early October rut can be especially exciting. Nothing compares to having a giant bull come in grunting, swaying back and forth, and displaying his dominance. Similarly, November late season hunts also provide many outstanding opportunities to take a bull.
MULE DEER
Mule deer thrive, and are high in number, throughout the province. Perhaps best known for its open grassland and coulee habitats, Alberta’s professional outfitters consistently put record book contenders in front of their hunters each and every year. In this terrain, hunters enjoy spot-and-stalk hunting that’s suitable for both experienced and novice hunters alike. Some also offer tree stand hunting opportunities as well. Early season archery hunts begin as early as late August in some zones, and run through September and October, offering amazing opportunities. Later in the season, rifle hunters can also enjoy rut hunts.
SHEEP
Alberta is home to the world-renowned Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, one of the four Grand Slam sheep species available in Canada. Most of Alberta’s licensed sheep outfitters are well established and many maintain high success rates. Outfitters will offer horseback and/or backpack hunts. Keep in mind, though, you’ll need to be physically fit for this hunt. You can be guaranteed that the scenery and adventure will be unforgettable.
WATERFOWL
Positioned ideally under the Central Flyway, Alberta is the destination of choice for a growing number of waterfowlers. Simply put, Alberta’s duck and goose hunting is world-class. With decoys set up in rural landscapes, visiting hunters typically shoot from layout or willow blinds and enjoy our province’s generous harvest limits. On any given day, you may shoot Canada geese, specklebelly geese, snow geese, Ross’s geese, pintails, mallards and more, including species that may be of interest to collectors. The basic limit adds up to 66 birds, plus there are other species on top of that as well. Snow geese are a special opportunity, and you can shoot up to 50 in a day. Some Alberta Professional Outfitters Society (APOS) members also offer upland game bird hunting, so be sure to ask, as this can be a great addition to a trip.
WHITETAIL
Abundant throughout the province, Alberta offers some of the finest whitetail hunting in the world. Well known as a whitetail mecca, hunters travel to our province for the very real chance to take a Boone and Crockett- or Pope and Young-class buck, with 150-plus a very achievable score for most hunters. Thousands of opportunities are available to non-residents each year, and the hunting is totally fence-free. Variable habitat throughout Alberta makes hunting giant whitetails in our province a really enjoyable experience. From the grassland and river bottom habitats to the famous parkland areas, foothills, boreal forest and even mountains, big-bodied and heavy-racked whitetails are found just about everywhere in Alberta.
WOLF
Alberta’s wolf populations are high. An elusive predator, they can be challenging to hunt – but with a little patience, visiting hunters may get an opportunity to take one or more of these apex predators. Ranging in color from light gray to black, Alberta’s wolves typically weigh anywhere from 70 to 120 pounds. On occasion, larger specimens are taken as well. Our professional outfitters normally offer these hunts November through February. While most have their hunters sit near baits, some offer calling hunts as well. Interested in Alberta, but not sure where to start? The Alberta Professional Outfitters Society (APOS) has two tools available on our website at apos.ab.ca. Using our interactive map under Find an Outfitter, you can narrow down your search by specifying your needs and preferences. Alternatively, you can submit a hunt inquiry through FollowTheLead, which will automatically circulate your customized inquiry to members who offer that species.
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stonehorseoutfitters.com Northern Alberta nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2022
Northwest Sportsman 31
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WATERFOWL 32 Northwest Sportsman
APRIL 2022 | nwsportsmanmag.com
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SNAKE RIVER DAMS
Now Is The Time And The Opportunity To Think Big A fisherman’s how-to guide for recovering Columbia Basin salmon and steelhead. By Andy Walgamott
R
ecently the White House Council on Environmental Quality held a listening session on the future of the Columbia River system and the long-term recovery of its salmon and steelhead populations with the fishing and conservation communities. I’ll ask you to look past politics for a moment because the meeting was an important and especially welcome sign to all sportsmen and -women who love to fish for spring, summer and fall Chinook, coho, sockeye and A-and B- run steelhead – and from Buoy 10 to the Hanford Reach to Hells Canyon and beyond. It was also critical to ensuring the abundance of our beloved runs and the opportunity to fish for them for generations to come. What the CEQ was signaling is that the administration gets it: Salmon and steelhead are an important natural resource in the Northwest – and recovering them is an issue of national importance. Finally! It now seems like we are all on the same page and moving in the right direction, but I need your help to keep the momentum going. So let’s delve into what’s at stake and what it’s going to take. It involves some math and science, but I’m here to walk you through it.
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FOR STARTERS, MOST Northwest salmon and steelhead anglers know that the Columbia River was historically the most productive salmon habitat in the world. The abundance is legendary, noted in the journals of Lewis and Clark and captured in historic photos that send the mind reeling. Some old hands in the hoglines still remember when adult returns were regularly measured in the millions – not mere thousands. But those returns of yore are no longer, and what’s more, time is running out. Salmon populations are edging toward extinction, according to the Nez Perce Tribal Fisheries Department’s latest finding, a study released last spring. In fact, the alarm is sounding loudly and many would describe it as Code Red. Wild spring Chinook and steelhead populations in the Columbia and Snake River Basins are cratering, nearing a critical threshold of extinction. Without some big and urgent changes, nearly 80 percent of Snake River Basin spring/summer Chinook appear to be on the path to functional (quasi) extinction in the next four years. Even as the system’s salmon and steelhead continue to draw anglers from across the region, the country and around
PICTURE
Science shows that breaching the four dams on the lower Snake River in Washington will boost salmon and steelhead runs back to the Columbia River – and not just wild fish but harvestable hatchery Chinook and A- and B-runs that also must face the deadly gauntlet of reservoirs as they navigate to the ocean and back. (ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS)
nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2022
Northwest Sportsman 37
PICTURE the globe for a chance to catch these legendary fish, it’s important to get familiar with the science pointing to what’s killing them and the clear solutions to save them.
LET’S START WITH the numbers. As any angler knows, smolts need to outmigrate to the Pacific, then return to spawn in their natal streams. For Idaho salmon, there are eight dams and eight reservoirs to navigate on the way out to the Pacific. Ninety-eight percent of smolts don’t survive that journey out to and back from the ocean to spawn. While many will point to a single dam and note that the salmon have successfully passed through, it is the cumulative negative impacts on these long-migrating fish that matters. They need to get out to the ocean – and back again. This is a key part of the calculus and it bears repeating: cumulative negative impacts inflicted on salmon and steelhead by eight dams and eight reservoirs. To rebuild abundant populations, we need average smolt-to-adult-return ratios, or SARs, of 4 percent for wild stocks returning to Columbia and Snake River tributaries. It important to note that SARs are the only metric that matters. The science is clear: the lower Snake River is particularly problematic. As you can imagine, warming and slowing the water is a big problem for coldwater fish. It’s also making them more vulnerable to native and non-native predators. All told, it’s reducing SARs to less than 1 percent. The fish are not replacing themselves, and this is the path to extinction. We are living the impacts in real time. Season after season, what have we witnessed but emergency closures and the diminishing number of days we have to fish. It’s creating too much competition for too few fish. It’s wreaking havoc for fishing guides trying to keep their businesses afloat. And it’s killing riverside economies – the hotels and restaurants, tackle shops, manufacturers and other businesses that rely on fishing. THERE’S ANOTHER RUB. With climate 38 Northwest Sportsman
APRIL 2022 | nwsportsmanmag.com
change, the impacts on coldwater fish are accelerating. Dams on the lower Snake River are heating the waters downstream in the mainstem Columbia River. As a result, upriver-bound fish are trapped. We saw it in 2015, when over a quarter of a million sockeye boiled to death, and we saw other salmon and steelhead seeking coldwater refuges such as at Drano Lake. Last summer, the Northwest was gripped by a devastating heat dome, and salmon felt the heat too. Nearly 70 percent of endangered Snake River sockeye died in superheated Columbia and lower Snake reservoirs. And the fabled B-run steelhead returns were the lowest ever recorded. When the runs are bad, people point to ocean conditions. When runs are good, people point to ocean conditions. But one thing is clear: Salmon are born in and return to rivers. In fact, spring Chinook and steelhead spend nearly half of their lifecycles in freshwater, so relying on the occasional upcycle of good ocean years while neglecting the consistently high and ongoing mortalities caused by dams in our rivers is not sound policy. Rather, it is a recipe for extinction. Are we going to passively sit back and let the last fish swim into oblivion? Scientists agree that removing the four lower Snake River dams would keep this stretch of river cool enough for fish, even in very hot years. It would also help restore the pace of the outmigration, and improve the chances for smolts, rather than allow them to languish in the shallows as food for predators in hot, slow-moving waters. By focusing on the dams, we can focus what humans can actually control immediately – the freshwater system. Improving river conditions by restoring the lower Snake will significantly improve smolt outmigration survival and enable salmon and steelhead adults to return in greater numbers to existing habitat and the more than 5,000 miles of historic habitat in Oregon, Idaho and Washington that is currently rendered nearly barren due to too many large, hot reservoirs for salmon to navigate. More than half of this once-highly productive habitat is blocked and 70 percent of it is in Idaho. Imagine if more of those fish could
29 EASY WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
L
et’s seize this once-in-a-lifetime moment and keep pounding on our elected officials. Hit the easy button and join other leaders in the sportfishing community by signing a petition to Northwest senators at nsiafishing.org/investnw. Or contact your federal and state lawmakers and officials via these links: White House Council on Environmental Quality, salmon@ceq.eop.gov, (202) 395-5750 Sen. James Risch (ID), risch.senate.gov Sen. Mike Crapo (ID), crapo.senate.gov Sen. Ron Wyden (OR), wyden.senate.gov Sen. Jeff Merkley (OR), merkley.senate.gov Sen. Patty Murray (WA), murray.senate.gov Sen. Maria Cantwell (WA), cantwell.senate.gov Rep. Russ Fulcher (ID), fulcher.house.gov Rep. Mike Simpson (ID), simpson.house.gov Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR), bonamici.house.gov Rep. Cliff Bentz (OR), bentz.house.gov Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR), blumenauerforms.house.gov Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR), defazio.house.gov Rep. Kurt Schrader (OR), schrader.house.gov Rep. Suzan DelBene (WA), delbene.house.gov Rep. Rick Larsen (WA), larsen.house.gov Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA), jhb.house.gov Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA), newhouse .house.gov Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA), mcmorris.house.gov Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA), kilmer.house.gov Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA), jayapal.house.gov Rep. Kim Schrier (WA), schrier.house.gov Rep. Adam Smith (WA), adamsmith.house.gov Rep. Marilyn Strickland (WA), strickland.house.gov Gov. Brad Little, gov.idaho.gov Gov. Kate Brown, oregon.gov/gov Gov. Jay Inslee, governor.wa.gov
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PICTURE get to those reaches to spawn and their progeny to rear in these pristine, protected high-altitude habitats. It would transform our fishing opportunities. It would also reinvigorate the riverside communities that depend on them. Most important, it would ensure our kids, and our kids’ kids, get a chance to chase these worldrenowned fish.
UPRIVER AND DOWNRIVER, the impacts of the dams and their reservoirs are far reaching. The salmon we love to fish in the Northwest are a keystone species upon which more than 130 plants and animals – including orcas – depend on to thrive. Our fisheries are also constrained by their low numbers. We need to turn this situation around to ensure equitable harvest among sport anglers, and tribal and commercial fisherman and -women across three states before it’s too late. The science is showing the way: We need to restore the Snake River by taking out the four lower Snake River dams and ensure maximum spill at the lower four Columbia River dams. In February 2021 we reached an important inflection point in a longsimmering debate. With the leadership of Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, we’re finally acknowledging it’s past time to reimagine what true salmon recovery will require. So far, recovery has been driven by a concerted effort to protect other industries, keeping the current infrastructure and a deadly status quo intact. Scientists are united in their message: We have to reverse this mindset and work starting from what will make the biggest impact for fish. This requires big changes to infrastructure in combination with a set of investments to meet the needs of industry and people. Innovation and funding can deliver green energy, transport goods and irrigate crops, but salmon cannot survive our current system. Representative Simpson put forward a comprehensive, visionary framework (Northwest Sportsman, March 2021) that would not only restore Northwest salmon, but modernize essential energy 40 Northwest Sportsman
APRIL 2022 | nwsportsmanmag.com
According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, dams are the largest single cause of mortality for wild spring Chinook, exceeding other sources by six to 12 times or more, yet those are typically where managers turn to instead in hopes of somehow staving off extinction and restoring the runs. (ODFW) and infrastructure in Idaho, Oregon and Washington, diversify local economies and strengthen communities, all of which will create tens of thousands of good jobs. Let me repeat: create tens of thousands of good jobs. Simpson’s groundbreaking proposal not only sparked fresh energy into the salmondam debate, but offers great prospects for strengthening the entire Northwest. Ask anyone who weathered the economic decline in the small riverside communities dependent on healthy salmon runs. Simpson – a Republican who has garnered bipartisan support for his plan, which is a critical key for me – electrified the region with an idea that offers a promising alternative to the uncertainty, disruption and loss caused by the region’s inability to make progress on salmon recovery. Not long after Rep. Simpson’s announcement, Washington’s senior US Senator Patty Murray and Governor Jay Inslee planted their own stake in the ground. In a joint statement they recognized the crisis facing Snake River fish, committed to address it and placed dam removal squarely on the table for consideration. Fast forward to October 2021: Inslee and Murray issued a new statement outlining next steps in the process they announced last spring. They are working together now with the assistance of a consultant to identify options for replacing the dams’ services as a key step toward
developing an action plan for Snake River salmon and Northwest communities by or before July 2022. A draft report expected this spring is likely to be followed by a public input process. Also last October, the Biden Administration agreed to pause the longrunning litigation over salmon and dams to begin settlement talks with the Nez Perce Tribe, state of Oregon, and conservation and fishing plaintiffs. Their goal: develop a longterm plan to protect imperiled salmon in the Snake and Columbia Rivers. Their timeline for concluding these discussions: the same as the Murray/Inslee process – July 2022. We all want to rebuild and make better fishing in the Northwest so that it’s great again for ourselves and for our children and grandchildren, and generations well beyond. Now is the time and the opportunity to think big. We can never forget fish need a river. It’s time to take out these four costly federal dams and restore this historic river and its imperiled salmon and steelhead runs.
IMAGINE REPLAYING 2001 over again, when the Columbia River spring Chinook run jumped to over half a million springers and we sportees fished through most of April below Bonneville – nearly 200,000 angler trips in a few weeks. I swear I ground ruts into the interstate making flame runs to fish ’em. But this won’t happen again unless anglers lean in with the tribes and conservation organizations that are seeking solutions
PICTURE
The free-flowing Snake is constricted against its north bank as crews work on the base of Ice Harbor Dam, the first of the four dams built on the lower river in Washington from the late 1950s through mid-1970s. (ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS) for the fish and infrastructure updates and transportation solutions so farmers can get their crops to market. I’m a Coug; one of my old roommates works the harvest on his family’s massive farm outside Pullman, so I appreciate the wholistic approach. And let’s not forget that breaching the four lower Snake River dams could also 42 Northwest Sportsman
APRIL 2022 | nwsportsmanmag.com
create a brand-new mainstem spawning area for fall Chinook not far from the Hanford Reach, home to some of the most productive wild salmon waters left in the Lower 48. According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the freeflowing waters of the Hanford Reach produce an ocean abundance of over
1 million fall Chinook annually. Just imagine another spawning cradle nearby – that would supercharge fish production. The choice is simple. Think big about our legacy for our kids and grandkids. Salmon matter. This is our chance. Now, let’s get busy contacting our elected officials in Congress to push for smarter salmon solutions! NS
2022 SPECIALS AVAILABLE FOR MAY, JUNE, JULY, AUGUST & SEPTEMBER. There has been no fishing pressure in our waters for over two years. SALMON
The most successful Salmon Hatchery on the Pacific Coast is just 30 miles from Zeballos. For the past several years, over 50,000 Chinook Salmon have returned each fall to the Conuma Creek spawning grounds where the hatchery is located. Most of these migrating Salmon start to come through our waters starting in May. We have non-spawning Chinook Salmon in our waters year-round—Winter Chinook (Kings, or Springs). In May you'll be catching on average 12 to 18 pound Salmon—absolutely the best table fare.
HALIBUT
We are located very close to an amazing halibut fishery that seems never ending. We can't remember a trip where we didn't hook into many of these amazing eating fish. Come with us, and we'll show you how to bring up white gold. Be prepared with coolers!
Limited trips left, book now before we are sold out!
DAY TRIPPER
Up to 4 people per boat, expect full limits Three Great Locations: Zeballos, Tahsis & Tofino - 28' offshore boat up to 12 hours of fully guided fishing - Full private enclosed head on board - Breakfast, coffee, sodas, water, lunch, and lots of snacks included - All fishing gear provided - Rain gear provided - Cleaning of your catch - Bring a large cooler packed with ice to transport your catch home
$455.00 USD + 5% tax /per person Book Your Day Trippers Trip at zeballostopguides.com/day-trips. Complete and submit the form. TRIP LIMITS for Day Tripper Package: 4 Salmon of which 2 can be Kings and two can be Silvers, 1 Halibut up to 70 pounds, 3 Lingcod and 4 Rockcod. We have purchased Halibut Quota from the Commercial Halibut Fleet and if you wish to take extra Halibut, the cost will be about $5 per pound.
HALIBUT EXPRESS
Drive-In 3 Nights / 4 Days Package Join us for our 11th annual Halibut Express starting May 1st, 2022! - 20 hours of guided fishing - 3 nights accommodation at the Cedars Inn - All meals including wine with the dinner meals - Cleaning and filleting of your catch - All fishing tackle provided (You are welcome to bring your favorite rod and reel)
Party of 2 fishing 2 per boat: $1395 + tax USD Per Person Party of 3 fishing 3 per boat: $1175 + tax USD Per Person Party of 4 fishing 4 per boat: $795 + tax USD Per Person TRIP LIMITS for 3N/4D Halibut Express Package: 8 Salmon of which 4 can be Chinook (Kings), 2 Halibut, 6 Lingcod, and 8 Rockcod. We have have purchased Halibut Quota from the Commercial Halibut Fleet and if you wish to take extra Halibut, the cost will be about $5 per pound.
LEARN MORE
zeballostopguides.com/halibut-special Call 250-337-2158 Email: doug.zeballostopguides2022@gmail.com
NOTES: Fishing Licenses required and can be purchased April 1, 2022
Guide and Staff gratuities not included Bring your own coolers ... you’ll need them!
Don’t wait—packages sell out fast every year, contact us now!
Remote, Comfortable & Affordable
Our remote Alaskan fishing lodge is situated on the upper stretches of the beautiful Egegik River. You’ll watch some of Alaska’s most stunning sunrises, complete with a distant, active volcano. We are a fishing camp specializing in coho fishing, brown bear viewing, and flyout fishing adventures to even more remote destinations in the Last Frontier.
Coho Fishing The Egegik River
The Egegik River is touted by many experienced anglers as the best silver salmon stream in all of Alaska. Becharof Lodge On The Egegik River was the first fishing lodge to become established on the breathtaking Egegik River, and is less than a 5 minute boat ride from some of the best fishing holes on the entire river.
Now Booking for 2022 Coho Fishing Trips Included in your fishing trip: • 5 days fishing/5 nights stay in camp • Experienced, fully guided fishing. • Comfortable cabins furnished with beds, cozy comforters & bedding. • Home cooked meals, snacks, and nonalcoholic beverages. • Transportation from the lodge to prime fishing holes on the Egegik River. • Freezing and vacuum sealing of your fish, up to 50 lbs., per angler.
$4,350
per person
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Mark Korpi: 503-741-1333 or 503 298 9686 George Joy: 360-562-7701 Email: becharoffishing@gmail.com
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READER PHOTOS The Nordahl kids – Paisley, Abigail and Owen – enjoyed an incredible day on Southern Oregon’s Emigrant Reservoir, catching some 50 crappie, bluegills, perch, largemouth, smallmouth and more. They were fishing with their dad and his friend.
Large certainly is one way to describe Jerry Hess’s fall Chinook! He caught the Columbia River fish on a 3.5 spinner. Friend Todd Koskiniemi shared the pic. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
(FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
How cold was January on the Bonneville Pool? Well, it made for a couple sturg-cicles for Mike Bolt and buddy Nathan Craig, who caught this pair while fishing the opening weekend of keeper season. They later thawed the fish out in front of a wood stove. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
Cheryl and Stephen Bachinski show off a fine introduction to Puget Sound fishing, a pair of big lings they hooked their first time angling in the Northwest. Gilbert Luis sent the image. (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, 941 Powell Ave. SW, Suite 120, Renton, WA 98057. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for use in our print and Internet publications. nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2022
Northwest Sportsman 45
PHOTO
CONTEST
WINNERS!
Ken Howard is the winner of our monthly Fishing Photo Contest, thanks to this shot of son Dylan and his very nice Mid-Columbia walleye from early 2022. It wins him gear from various tackle manufacturers!
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Gary Lundquist is our monthly Coast Hunting Photo Contest winner, thanks to this cast-andblast pic of geese and triploids he shot and caught at Rufus Woods Lake last September. It wins him a knife and light from Coast!
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, 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120, Renton, WA 98057. 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 49
MIXED BAG
Oregon Bolsters Anti-poaching Efforts With New Prosecutor
O
regon game wardens have a new ally in their fight against poachers. To help hold bad guys accountable, the state Department of Justice recently hired a special anti-poaching prosecutor, a new position that is also the final prong in a three-part strategy as the Beaver State gets tough on fish and wildlife scofflaws.
Jay D. Hall has been hired as an assistant attorney general with the Oregon Department of Justice to focus on prosecuting poachers. (ODFW) Jay Hall is tasked with working with state troopers and fish and wildlife managers “to locate, investigate and prosecute poachers. For his part, Hall will support investigations and prosecutions by providing law enforcement with training and access to resources that will build stronger court cases. He will advise law enforcement agencies in evidence collection, case process and penalty options and guide and assist county prosecutors in the nuances of trying fish and wildlife criminal cases,” per the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Few people are as well prepared to do so as Hall. Prior to his new job, he served
(WDFW)
a dozen years in the Lane County District Attorney’s Office, where in 2010 he was named the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division’s Prosecutor of the Year after putting the hurt on a poaching ring that illegally killed 300-plus deer and elk. He also was a sergeant in the Marine Corps and was nominated for a Bronze Star by his commander before going on to provide combat training for fellow officers. Hall’s hiring comes after the state legislature in 2019 put new resources into preventing poaching, and since then there have been efforts to both increase public awareness about fish and wildlife rules and put more troopers on the waters and in the woods to enforce those laws. “This is a bipartisan effort that is important to all Oregonians,” said Rep. Ken Helm, a Beaverton-area Democrat who co-chairs lawmakers’ Wildlife Caucus, in a press release. “Now that all three components of the legislative strategy are in place, our ability to tackle poaching across the state is greatly enhanced.” OSP Fish and Wildlife Division Captain Casey Thomas said it was “great” to see the legislature’s vision finally completed, and he noted Hall’s prior successes. “He will be working with our agency, ODFW and prosecutors around the state to provide training and resources that will help combat poaching in Oregon,” Thomas said. Another part of that three-legged effort is the work ODFW’s Yvonne Shaw has been doing to highlight anti-poaching efforts around the state. “Fulfilling this role increases our chances of holding poachers accountable,” Shaw said of Hall’s hiring. “Prosecuting crimes against fish, wildlife and their habitats preserves natural resources that belong to all Oregonians.”
JACKASSES OF THE MONTH
A
long with the great comes the not so great. Some 16,000 Cowlitz River smelt dippers enjoyed a fantastic and welltimed five-hour opener early last month, harvesting over 166,000 pounds worth, the most for this Endangered Species Act-listed stock since 2015. Hurray! But perhaps driven by the rareness of the opportunity or just plain old greed, some folks took the moment to, well, exceed the daily limit of 10 pounds. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police reported 10 officers had a pretty busy morning responding to “24 incidents resulting in 38 infractions/citations issued.” “Violations for overlimit were so numerous officers could only focus on the most egregious,” officers reported. Egregious was defined as taking two or more times the limit, described by WDFW as a quarter of a 5-gallon bucket. The rules require each dipper to hold their catch in their own pail and there were efforts to make that clear, but in the end an estimated 2,800 pounds of smelt were seized. In one case, every tool compartment of a construction truck had been filled. Worse still is that efforts to donate the smelt to useful causes netted no takers, so the fish had to be dumped. To be clear, most folks followed the rules, but the bad apples again had a souring effect on an overall great opportunity, community event and news story about a troubled Northwest fish stock.
nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2022
Northwest Sportsman 51
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WDFW Trout Derby Set To Begin
W
ashington’s popular statewide trout derby returns again this season, running April 23 through October 31, and plans call for marked rainbows to be released in the same lakes as 2021. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife reports that last year around 55 percent of the tags were turned in. “Our marketing department did a
survey in 2021, and there’s a good portion of people who buy their licenses just to fish the derby,” states Steve Caromile, WDFW Inland Fish Program manager. “Most participants indicated they were happy with the derby.” More than 100 lakes will be planted with specially tagged trout and up for grabs are more than 800 donated prizes valued at more than $37,000 from
MORE UPCOMING EVENTS April 9-10: Something Catchy kokanee derby, Lake Chelan; Facebook.com/ somethingcatchy.org/ April 9-10: Triple Fish Challenge, Banks Lake; grandcouleedam.org April 23-24: Conconully Annual Trout Derby; Conconully Lake and Reservoir; conconully.com/trout-derby
April 30: Kokanee Power of Oregon Detroit Lake Derby; kokaneepoweroregon.com/derby May 13-15: 2022 Pikeminnow Fishing Derby, Wanapum Pool; quincyvalley.org May 21: Brownlee Crappie Shootout Kayak Fishing Tournament, facebook .com/brownleecrappieshootout
By Andy Walgamott
hundreds of participating businesses. The annual derby began in 2016. For more details, go to wdfw.wa.gov/ fishing/contests/trout-derby. There are also kids fishing events held throughout the year hosted by WDFW – wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/kids/events.html – and other fishing groups and clubs such as the CAST for Kids Foundation (castforkids.org). –Mark Yuasa May 21: Lake Stevens Kokanee Derby, facebook.com/LakeStevensKokaneeDerby May 21: NSIA Spring Fishing Classic; nsiafishing.org/spring-fishing-classic May 28-30: Huntington Catfish Derby, Brownlee Reservoir/Snake River; facebook.com/groups/926993987464891 June 11: Kokanee Power of Oregon Detroit Lake Derby; kokaneepoweroregon.com/derby
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Northwest Sportsman 53
OUTDOOR
CALENDAR* APRIL
1
New Washington fishing, hunting licenses required; Opening day for controlled bear hunts in select Idaho and Oregon units 1-6 Tentative razor clam dig dates on select Washington beaches – info: wdfw.wa.gov 1-7 NEW – Washington youth turkey hunting week 1, 5, 6 North of Falcon salmon season meetings for Columbia, Willapa Bay, Grays Harbor waters, respectively – info: wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon 2 ODFW Youth or Adult Turkey Hunting Clinics ($, registration), Denman and White River Wildlife Areas, Redmond Rod and Gun Club – info: myodfw.com/ workshops-and-events 6 ODFW Intro To Hunting In Oregon Clinic ($, registration), Portland Sportsman’s Warehouse – info: see above 6-13 PFMC final salmon season setting meetings – info: pcouncil.org 7 Tentative Washington Marine Areas 6-10 halibut opener (Thursday-Saturday fishing through May 21) – info: wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut 8-14 Idaho youth turkey hunting week 9 ODFW Adult Turkey Hunting Clinic ($, registration), Denman Wildlife Area – info: see above 9-10 Oregon youth turkey hunting weekend 15 General spring turkey season opener in Idaho, Oregon and Washington; Opening day of controlled bear hunts in more Idaho and Oregon units 16-21 Tentative razor clam dig dates on select Washington beaches – info: see above 22 Fishing or bait opener on select Oregon waters 23 Opening day of lowland lakes fishing season in Washington; Start of Washington 2022 Trout Derby 29-30 Tentative razor clam dig dates on select Washington beaches – info: see above 30 Camp Lakeview Kid’s Fishing Derby, Tanwax Lake – info: wdfw.wa.gov/ fishing/contests/youth
MAY 1
2022 Northern Pikeminnow Sport-reward Program 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 5 Tentative Columbia River Subarea/Area 1, Area 2 halibut opener (Thursday, Sunday fishing through May 22); Tentative Areas 3-5 halibut opener (Thursday, Saturday fishing through May 21) – info: see above 7 2022 Clear Lake (Spokane) Kids Fishing Event, Fairchild AFB – info: see above 12 Proposed Oregon Central Coast seven-day-a-week all-depth spring halibut opener – info: see above 15 Oregon fall controlled big game permit purchase application deadline 19-22 Anacortes Boat & Yacht Show, Cap Sante Marina, Anacortes; anacortesboatandyachtshow.com 25 Last day to hunt turkeys in Idaho 26-29 Tentative Washington halibut openers in all open areas (dates vary by area) – info: see above 28 Fishing opens on select Washington streams; Skykomish River hatchery summer Chinook, steelhead opener 31 Last day of Oregon, Washington spring turkey, Oregon spring bear seasons
JUNE 4-5 Oregon Free Fishing Weekend 18 Rods and Reels in Need Fish Expo, with special guest Bill Herzog, plus
26
tackle, kids fish pond, food, music; Thurston County Fairgrounds – info: Larry Stamp, (360) 507-9718; CAST For Kids fishing event on Emigrant Lake (Ashland) – info: castforkids.org CAST For Kids fishing event on Bowman’s Pond (Winston, Ore.) – info: see above
* While Covid-19 restrictions have eased, always confirm public events before attending. nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2022
Northwest Sportsman 55
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FISHING
The last Saturday in April is a special day in Washington. Generations of families will dangle worms off of docks, plunk PowerBait from many thousands of miles of trout-patrolled shorelines, and troll and cast all manner of lures and other baits in pursuit of five-fish limits (at most lakes) of rainbow, cutthroat, brown, brook and tiger trout – even some lake trout. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
REG1ON OF TROUT
Far Eastern Washington offers so many great lakes for anglers to get out on in late spring. By Jeff Holmes
W
ashington’s official state fish is a steelhead, and with all the noise us steelheaders make at times you might think we’re the majority angling group. Nope. Not close. Washington is a trout-powered state when it comes to recreational angling, and most of that fishing is done in lakes by people buying licenses to catch trout. Steelhead
– which is obviously also a trout, just the seagoing kind – as well as salmon, bass and walleye tend to get the headlines, but they don’t sell the licenses or power the state’s economy the way trout and particularly the opening day of trout season does. Trout fishing is excellent year-round in the Evergreen State, but without a doubt late April’s opener is prime time for a huge percentage of the anglers who buy licenses in the state. Opening Day continues to be the
state’s biggest all-ages playday. While there aren’t as many lakes opening on the traditional opener this year due to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife offering more opportunities over the years by way of year-round angling and staggered openers and fish stockings, some of the very best trout lakes will open again to fishing at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 23. That’s especially true in far Eastern Washington’s Region 1, home to famous openingnwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2022
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FISHING day trout lakes like Fishtrap, Badger, West Medical, Williams and several more. Not just in the hallowed trout waters of Region 1 but across the entire state there are hundreds of lakes stocked with rainbows, cutthroat, brown, brook and tiger trout, along with kokanee. There are vast opportunities to see new places, fish new waters and hone skills and techniques while being successful. When it comes to
assuring children’s enjoyment in an age of two-minute attention spans, it’s important to stack the deck and make sure the angling is going to be successful. WDFW’s online resources to track trout stocking are reliable, easy and lucrative. You can use this tool (wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/ reports/stocking) to your advantage to recognize new lakes, lakes that might harbor lots of hefty holdovers, and lakes that receive the largest stockings and most broodstock fish.
This April 23, thousands of smiling kids will put down devices and pick up fishing rods to interface with the natural world. Bryce Heldebrant of Richland landed this stocker rainbow on a slow day in Southeast Washington in early 2021. It was his first fish, and he took it home and ate it with his dad, renowned scientist and aspiring local karaoke artist Dave Heldebrant. (JEFF HOLMES) 66 Northwest Sportsman
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WDFW’S CHRIS DONLEY is the state’s trout guru and the Region 1 Fish Program manager out of Spokane. He is one of the best anglers and fiercest angling advocates in Washington. Donley hails from Cheney, perhaps the epicenter of opening-day opportunities in Region 1, and has been part of the management of trout for decades. The man fishes trout and kokanee yearround, eats a hearty supply of them (plus obviously lots of other stuff) and is a walking encyclopedia of trout and other fisheries knowledge. Despite his love for chasing anadromous fish – everywhere from Buoy 10 to Boggan’s – he has never lost his passion for catching trout. There’s probably not a single human in the state who has caught, shocked, netted, researched or stocked more trout than Chris. Somehow, even though trout is his business, he gleefully fishes trout and kokanee with his kids and with his friends and their kids throughout the year. From complicated planer board trolling for big Lake Roosevelt kokanee to plunking with worms and marshmallows along its shores, Donley does not discriminate between tactics except to improve his lethality as needed. In a video filmed several years ago, Donley details two of the most simple but versatile and effective rigs for catching trout in Washington’s lakes. This video (youtube.com/ watch?v=f9A5UiJJMks&t=29s) is gold for anyone who needs a refresher or a great set of starting points for trout tactics. Two other excellent videos by WDFW detail kokanee (youtube .com/watch?v=7aAs4pjXJk0) and bass tactics (youtube.com/channel/ UClSSTqBvspTcDr9kJw8Tk) that will work this April and into summer. As always, weather will dictate angler success, but Donley is hopeful. “We expect fishing to be very good on the opener again this year. … Yes our catch rates can sometimes be affected by bad weather, but almost regardless of weather, all of the opening-day lakes should fish very well, and so should a lot of other
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FISHING lakes that are already open.” Donley and I talked about the many opportunities that exist in late April for anglers looking to join or beat the crowds on opening weekend and beyond. The text that follows focuses on finding spring success on Region 1 lakes and features the most popular opening-day fisheries, along with a variety of other cool options for new and experienced anglers alike.
LAKES THAT OPEN APRIL 23 Many lakes that once fell under general regulations are now open year-round or open earlier, but there are still several fantastic opening-day lakes to the north, west and south of Spokane that receive heavy stockings of fish that remain unpressured until
the clock strikes midnight, signaling April 23 and legal fishing. Close to Spokane, Donley expects Badger Lake to shine this year for westslope cutthroat trout, a lesser number of rainbows, and a robust and unpressured population of kokanee not enough anglers are pursuing. Badger has a nice public launch but limited shore fishing access. A boat or some other type of floating craft is advisable here unless you want combat fishing at the launch. Badger has the best water quality in the Cheney area, and the fish are fryplanted, tasty and devoid of a muddy flavor. My family has spent many memorable and glorious opening days at Badger Lake. It’s a gem. Just a couple miles from Badger is its
Opening Day brings together entire families of people who otherwise would likely never wet a line. This nontraditional opening-day trip started with a long walk on BLM property at Fishtrap Lake for most of this family, followed by getting picked up downlake to land lots of fat rainbows and have a barbecue amidst early wildflowers and a green spring landscape. (JEFF HOLMES)
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more populated cousin, Williams Lake, another classic opening-day choice that will offer good fishing for rainbows and a small number of cutthroat. The lake has a perch problem that has Donley doubtful it will shine like Badger, but he expects really good fishing for the opener nonetheless. Williams has a WDFW public launch and two resorts – Bunker’s (bunkersresort.com) and Klink’s (509-235-2391). I recommend Bunker’s, which rents barges and motor boats. No one has ever been rude to me at Bunker’s, nor given me for sure food poisoning. Word to the wise: If you ever see a vulture sitting on the head of a road-killed coyote on the way to breakfast, do not get the smoked salmon omelet. Just several miles from Williams and
FISHING Badger sits Fishtrap Lake, a gem for rainbow trout that fished really well for my crew on the 2021 opener. The lake is almost all public land, and the BLM (blm.gov/visit/fishtrap-recreationarea) offers great resources for using the property via trail. Fishtrap has a WDFW public launch and abundant hike-in access from the BLM trails. Gone is the once-popular Fishtrap Lake Resort, which has cut down on the number of people using the lake. The resort exists but is not open to the public, just its long-term residents. I cannot say enough about what a fun
lake this is, and it is unique in that it is surrounded by 9,000 acres of partially treed Channeled Scabland landscape. If you go here, please pack out your trash and keep it as beautiful and unique as you found it. There are definitely ticks and rattlesnakes here, and there are no leaves suitable for emergency bathroom trips, a fact I found alarming when someone from my party reported they had just used leaves last year. Closer to Spokane, West Medical is about a mile from the town of Medical Lake and is home to the most fertile trout-growing waters around
Opening Day Of … Bass?!
O
f course there are many more trout fishing options than I could reasonably discuss and less time available in the world than a regular human would need in order to fish in all of those lakes. Washington is rich with trout opportunity, and so it goes with largemouth bass, which eat the heck out of stocked hatchery trout. Early-season bass fishing is by far the best time to catch big fish, but aside from hardcore bassers, there is little pressure on Region 1’s largemouth. Trout schrmout – spring is also a great time to work waters across Eastern Washington for Most anglers who catch bass do so largemouth bass, like this one Maralee Moore during a narrow window of the year – late caught in the Columbia Basin. Smallmouth, spring through summer – and on specific crappie, perch and other spinyrays are also available. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST) types of lures, or they catch bass by chance. Fishing early season for bass means slowing down your techniques, finding the warmest water in the lake closest to likely spawning areas, and slowly covering water with early-spring baits like weedless jigs and plastics and spinnerbaits. Big, pregnant female largemouth heavy with eggs look to get warm, enjoy easy meals and move onto beds that they will protect along with their smaller male counterparts, which show up to the nests after the females. Two lakes I call out in the main article for trout also have excellent bass fishing, Waitts and Clear, but there are many more options and better ones for Region 1 anglers seeking a largemouth bite. First, Sprague Lake has really begin to shine for largemouth over the last few years and should be incredible again this year. With multiple access points and tons of water, Sprague is a great place to beat late April’s crowds. Other great largemouth bets close to Spokane are in my former home stomping grounds: Liberty and Newman Lakes. Both have excellent largemouth, smallmouth, panfish and trout fishing. Newman also has tiger muskies, as does Silver Lake near Medical Lake. Silver has excellent largemouth fishing. Other great bets for bass include Lincoln County’s Deer Springs Lake – also home to big rainbows – and nearby Coffeepot Lake, which is a selective fishery loaded with largies and fat rainbows. –JH
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Spokane; the rainbows here can be quite large. Donley isn’t sure how fast the fishing will be this year, but he says to expect some of the nicer fish caught on opening day. The West Medical Lake Resort is now permanently closed, so anglers are limited to fishing only from floating crafts or accessing shore fishing from the WDFW public launch. Two or three miles away is Clear Lake, which has a WDFW launch and Sun Cove Resort (509-216-6776), which has dock fishing and boats for rent. Clear has rainbow, tiger and brown trout, a decent population of crappie and a strong population of largemouth. Clear is not managed exclusively for trout fishing, but it tends to produce very well and kicks out very nice fish early in the season. To the north of Spokane near the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge near Chewelah and Colville sits productive Starvation Lake. The fertile, ironically named lake boasts rainbows up to 20 inches and a WDFW launch with some limited shore fishing. Not far to the west is Rocky Lake, another good openingday choice for rainbows. Several other Northeast Washington lakes that open on the fourth Saturday of April and are great bets include Cedar Lake and its rainbows south of Northport and Yocum and Marshall Lakes and their cutthroats in Pend Oreille County. These last five lakes are also located in the heart of Northeast Washington’s most prime turkey grounds, and there is vast public land and opportunity for a legitimately successful cast-andblast vacation. This is an overlooked opportunity, one worthy of further exploration by readers and probably further writing by me. For those less enthusiastic about gunning down warm-blooded critters, a combination trout-morel trip is also a great option in this corner of the state.
LAKES ALREADY OPEN There are more lakes open in Region 1 on April 23 than one could reasonably
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FISHING
Is there anything better than taking sweet little kids fishing, kids who cry about killing insects, but whose eyes come alive with every swing of the fish bonker? Here Adela Sumner holds her first nice rainbow as her fish-blood-splattered cousin readies her crazy eyes and club for more action. (JEFF HOLMES)
fish in decades of angling, but there are a handful open year-round that will be very good on the opener. Waitts Lake near Chewelah is a fantastic lake that will start fishing really well for browns and rainbows right around the opener. Winona Beach Resort (winonabeachresort.com) and a WDFW launch offer access to this pretty lake in the Colville River Valley. Perch fishing can also be excellent at Waitts, as can largemouth fishing. Further east closer to Newport sits heavily populated Diamond Lake. The fishing here can be very good for rainbows and brown trout, and the lake is home to good-sized largemouth bass. The WDFW launch provides access, and lodging is easy to find nearby in Newport or at the KOA north of Diamond Lake on “Little Diamond Lake.” Either of these lakes – among many others that are already open on opening day – are great bets. Again, check those WDFW trout stocking
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FISHING
Looking for bait to catch the big broodstock trout WDFW dumps into some opening-day lakes? Imagine a fish that has gotten very old by fish standards that has only ever been fed by man and whose entire food supply has been plucked off the water’s surface. Fish on the surface, in the first foot of water, if you see brooders cruising. We landed a 23-inch brooder last opening day at Fishtrap Lake that ate a size 4 brown Woolly Bugger as a dry fly off the surface before it could sink! Here is that fish’s stomach contents: a salamander, PowerBait, a crayfish and the fin of a fish. (JEFF HOLMES)
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reports to open up a huge number of lakes as possibilities. I keep repeating it in print and to friends, but Lake Roosevelt trout fishing is ridiculous this year, even by Roosevelt standards. A 17-inch obese trout is on the small side of what boat and shore anglers can easily catch this spring in the lake’s lower half. The average fish right now is easily 18-plus inches, and all it takes to nab fish are the same standard trout baits and lures that work at the opening-day lakes: worms and marshmallows, PowerBait, and standard trout trolling tactics. From Porcupine Bay to Fort Spokane to Seven Bays to Lincoln to Keller to Spring Canyon, there is unlimited opportunity and access available. A great “opening day” trip could be to year-round Lake Roosevelt instead. Another fantastic spring option exists at Rock Lake, Whitman County’s only natural lake and a thing of beauty to behold. The lake is long,
deep and ringed by picturesque cliffs and timber. Rock is loaded with nice rainbows and brown trout sometimes extending into double-digit poundage. The lake is home to an unimproved WDFW launch at its western end. Be mindful of safety and only run at full speed in the middle of the lake to avoid underwater rocks in a few places that extend up from deep water to present dangers. Stay in the middle and you will be fine. Fish at Rock are very geared toward eating other fish. Troll small plugs, spinners and big flies like size 2-8 Woolly Buggers and rabbit fur leeches, or cast to structure along the rocky shorelines with large lures in pursuit of big browns. There is shore fishing access here at the launch, but it is limited. Fish with slip bobbers here to avoid losing lots of tackle fruitlessly targeting the bottom. Rock’s trout are in the top 5 to 15 feet of water in spring. NS
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Head Down The Trout Trail It’s a bit of a hike into Dusty Lake in the western Columbia Basin, but worth it for the rainbow, brown and tiger trout that get fat on abundant hatches.
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FISHING
Born of catastrophic ice age floods and tucked into a quiet canyon above the Columbia River south of Wenatchee, Dusty Lake is a stocked walk-in fishery that offers a chance to ponder the region’s geologic history while tempting three species of trout. (MICHAEL SCHMUCK)
By Mike Wright
A
vid and knowledgeable trout fishermen know the Columbia Basin provides some of the finest trophy fishing in the state of Washington. Many of these destination fisheries are well known to the anglers who flock to the region each spring. With many lakes here opening March 1 and waters elsewhere in the Evergreen State still frozen over, the fishing pressure in the basin can be rather intense. However, there is one lake that is often overlooked by traveling anglers. Dusty Lake, located in the Quincy Wildlife Area a short distance from the town of Quincy, does not receive the angling pressure of other better known
waterbodies in the basin. One reason for this may be the fact that a 2-mile hike is required to reach the 41-acre lake. Although it is not a particularly difficult hike, it does present a considerable problem for those who prefer to do their fishing from a boat. It is still possible to fish Dusty from shore, but it is not nearly as productive as it will be with the use of some type of flotation device. With this in mind, it might be advisable to pack in a float tube or other lightweight watercraft. There is a shorter trail into the lake, which consists of a ½-mile hike, but unfortunately, this route is very steep, requiring a great deal of effort on the return trip. If you are a glutton for punishment, it is a great route. However, if you are a bit of a couch
potato (like me), the longer route might be the better choice.
THE COLUMBIA BASIN is well noted for its intense summer heat, which has a very detrimental effect on the productivity of many of the lakes and streams in the area. However, Dusty resides in a rather narrow canyon with towering basalt cliffs encircling much of the lake. Because of the high cliffs, the lake is shaded and remains cooler further into the season, which is quite different than the situation at many of the other trophy waters in the region. Dusty remains highly productive well into late July and beyond, when most of the basin’s fisheries have been abandoned. For many years the closing date
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FISHING
Dusty is home to rainbow, brown and tiger trout, which are planted as fingerlings and grow to 11 to 14 inches their first year and reach lengths of 20-plus inches. (USFWS)
for fishing on the lake was July 31, but in 2004 that was changed to November 30. A one-fish limit (18inch minimum size) and selective gear regulations are also in place, and just for the record, internal combustion motors are a no-no (the walk in and back out makes that rule somewhat self-enforcing). These rules have made a noticeable difference in the average size of the fish in the lake. Dusty is very fertile, and consequently the resident rainbows, browns and tiger trout can grow rapidly, with the average adult rainbow measuring 17 inches, while the browns and tigers usually run between 15 and 20 inches. There have been reports of some 5-pound behemoths cruising the depths of Dusty. State fisheries biologist Mike Schmuck has said that he is not aware of any fish quite that size being available, but since trout anglers rarely, if ever, exaggerate, the reports may very well be true. 78 Northwest Sportsman
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The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife stocks 3,100 rainbow fingerlings in the lake, as well as 1,200 browns and 2,000 tigers. These plants are generally made between March and May of each year. With the rapid growth rate, these fish can reach 11 to 14 inches by the following spring.
AS TEMPERATURES INCREASE through spring, the waters of Dusty Lake produce prolific insect hatches, which do not go unnoticed by the trout. The first to emerge are midges, which begin to appear as soon as the ice goes off and continue through the November closing date. Although there is some surface action, most fly fishing is done with a chironomid suspended just off the bottom and behind a strike indicator and floating line. Probably the most productive colors are black and red, but green, gray and brown can also be very effective, as can a Zebra Midge (a black chironomid featuring white ribbing).
Chironomids slowly work their way to the surface to hatch, so consequently your retrieve needs to be mind-numbingly slow in order to match the hatch. When the fish begin feeding on adult midges, Griffith’s Gnats, Renegades and Royal Wulffs can produce. The next major insect to appear en masse is the callibaetis mayfly, which is a much faster moving nymph. Imitations are best fished with intermediate or sink-tip line, and using a much faster retrieve. The callibaetis hatch usually begins to appear in May and continues through June and into July. In May, the damselflies usually begin to appear, overlapping the callibaetis hatch. One very effective strategy would be to tie on a damsel pattern as the lead fly with a callibaetis nymph as the dropper attached a couple feet behind the damsel. A marabou damsel in sizes 6 to 12, a Six Pack in sizes 4 to 8, or a Sheep Creek in sizes 6 to 10 are effective for the lead
FISHING fly, while a Pheasant Tail or a Hare’s Ear in sizes 12 to 14 are very effective for the dropper. Caddis also begin to appear in the May and early June timeframe, depending on temperatures. Elk Hair or Goddard Caddis dries are very effective, with a Prince Nymph or Diving Caddis in sizes 12 to 16 used to imitate the nymphs. Scuds and leeches in sizes 8 to 16 will also produce fish from opening day through November. Another effective strategy for fishing Dusty would be to pack in a sleeping bag and fish the lake during the night. Since browns and tiger trout are often nocturnal feeders, fishing for them during the evening can be highly productive. Woolly Buggers, Zonkers and Sculpins are probably the most effective patterns to use during the evenings. The best method would be to concentrate on the shallow dropoffs near the edges of the weedbeds. During the main part of the day, the browns
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inhabit the deeper water toward the middle and rarely come into the shallows until the evening hours. Although most of the fish in Dusty can be easily handled with a 4-weight or perhaps even a 3-weight rod, it would probably be better to use a 5-weight with 3x or possibly even 2x tippet and leader. The fish in these waters are very healthy and will put up a great battle. If you’re a lure fisherman, a reminder that treble hooks are not allowed under selective gear regs. Many anglers will clip off two of the hooks, but since this will often interfere with the way the lure tracks in the water, a better method would be to install a small O-ring on the end of the lure and attach a single barbless hook in place of the treble. Mepps, Panther Martins and Rooster Tails, along with various spoons, are the most popular lures used on the lake. If you’re a dedicated bait angler
or want to fish from a boat, you’re not out of luck. Burke and Quincy Lakes are in close proximity to Dusty and do not require any hiking. Burke was rehabilitated in 2019 and should be fishing very well this year, while Quincy receives very liberal annual stockings and can always be counted upon to produce excellent catches. Regardless of where you decide to fish, you should have a very rewarding experience here.
DUSTY’S CATCH RATE may not compare favorably to other lakes in the area, such as Dry Falls, Lenice or Lenore. However, the size of the fish does. It definitely would be worth the time and effort it takes to hike down to the lake. Dusty is also an excellent fishery for those individuals who prefer to avoid the crowds that often are present on the aforementioned lakes and other more heralded waters across the Columbia Basin. NS
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FISHING
Release The Trout Hounds! April brings big stockings to Washington lakes for opening day and more. By Mark Yuasa
I
love April! And why, might you ask, do I have an affinity for this month? All you need to do is look at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s regulation pamphlet or website (wdfw.wa.gov) where you’ll find hundreds of lakes listed across 39 counties that are bursting at the seams with trout. While many waters provide yearround fishing opportunities, others are being stocked for the highly anticipated statewide lowland lakes trout opener on April 23-24, when thousands of anglers cast their luck to catch around 16.2 million fish. “I’m expecting to see a lot more people out for opening day, and a much stronger turnout than last year,” says Steve Caromile, a head WDFW fish manager. “With the bad winter weather and spring starting to look good, I’m sure it’ll draw a lot of interest and create a buzz of excitement.” WDFW has one of the largest hatchery systems in the world, and hatchery personnel will be busy in the coming weeks planting an estimated 2.1 million catchable-size trout. Several years ago, WDFW came up with a cost-effective way to produce larger catchables in hatcheries, which has received rave reviews in surveys taken from previous openers.
Washington’s opening day of lowland lakes fishing season, always on the fourth Saturday of April, is guaranteed to put a fish or two on your stringer, maybe even as big as this one pulled up by Zac Smith. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
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FISHING Top that off with 147,357 “jumbo” trout measuring more than 14 inches and averaging 1 to 1.5 pounds destined for many statewide lakes. Most of the jumbos will be planted in March and April and others will be saved for fall planting. It doesn’t stop there, as another 12.4-plus million fingerling and fry trout and kokanee planted two years ago will be the recruits in the 2022 fisheries. Most Eastern Washington opening day lakes are managed to create decent fry survival. Taking it up another notch is almost 1.5 million trout categorized as “put, grow and take” – reared in hatcheries and 2.6 to 10 fish per pound in size – that were stocked in 2021, and should be in the 8- to 12inch range now.
IN PUGET SOUND’S Region 4 – King, Snohomish, Skagit, San Juan, Whatcom and Island Counties – alone, the projected plant is 432,350 catchable-size fish this spring. “Our trout plants are about the same as 2021,” says Justin Spinelli, a WDFW biologist. “We intend to plant some year-round lakes ahead of the lowland lake trout opener to offer some early-season opportunities, and plants will continue into May.” A breakdown shows approximately 24,400 catchable-size trout will be planted in four Island County lakes; 169,650 in 37 King County lakes; 7,600 in three San Juan Island County lakes; 50,800 in eight Skagit County lakes; 125,400 in 30 Snohomish County lakes; and 54,500 in 12 Whatcom County lakes. WDFW sends out creel surveyors on opening day to gather fishing success and angler turnout, and the 2021 catch data showed fair to good success, depending on the lake. Top Westside waters in terms of trout kept were: Geneva, 4.8; Steel, 3.1; and North, 4.1, in King County; Heart, 3.7; and Sixteen, 3.2, in Skagit; Howard, 4.9; and Serene, 4.3, in Snohomish; Cain, 3.5; and Toad, 3.4, 84 Northwest Sportsman
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One of the fun parts of spring fishing season is all the derbies put on by local groups. Brooklyn and Harper put together this limit at an Eatonville mill pond during a local Lions Club event last year. “Doesn’t get better than this!” said Brooklyn’s grandfather Randy Hart Jr. (COAST FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
in Whatcom; Failor, 3.2, in Grays Harbor; Black, 3.5, in Pacific; Clear, 3.2; and Summit, 7.0 (daily limit is five fish per rod), in Thurston; Clear, 4.0; Crescent, 3.8; and Rapjohn, 3.0, in Pierce; Panther, 3.2, in Kitsap; and Don (Clara), 4.1; Howell, 4.2; Tiger, 3.9; Wooten, 3.1; and Devereaux, 3.2, in Mason. The top Eastside lakes in 2021 were: Rocky, 4.4 fish per rod, in Stevens County; Fishtrap, 3.8, in Lincoln; Pearrygin, 3.7, in Okanogan; Vic Meyers, 3.1, in Grant; Jameson, 3.4, in Douglas; and Rowland, 3.2, in Klickitat. Success varies from year to year, but notable Westside lakes receiving decent plants include Cottage, Desire, Geneva, Green, Langlois, Margaret, Meridian, Morton, North, Pine, Spring, Steel and Wilderness in King County; Benson, Devereaux, Haven, Limerick, Phillips, Spencer, Tiger and Wooten in Mason; Leland
in Jefferson; Mission, Panther and Wildcat in Kitsap; Carlisle and Mineral in Lewis; American, Clear, Kapowsin, Ohop, Rapjohn and Spanaway in Pierce; Clear, Erie, Grandy, Heart, McMurray and Sixteen in Skagit; Ballinger, Blackmans, Bosworth, Flowing, Goodwin, Ki, Martha (Alderwood), Roesiger, Silver and Storm in Snohomish; Cain, Padden and Toad in Whatcom; Black, Clear, Deep, Hicks, St. Clair, Lawrence, Long, McIntosh, Offutt, Pattison and Summit in Thurston; Aberdeen, Duck, Failor and Sylvia in Grays Harbor; and Black, Snag and Western in Pacific. The top release lakes east of the Cascades include Jameson in Douglas; Ellen in Ferry; Blue and Park in Grant; Diamond in Pend Oreille; Starvation and Waitts in Stevens; Badger and Fishtrap, Williams and West Medical in
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FISHING Spokane; Wapato in Chelan; and Pearrygin and Conconully Lake and Reservoir in Okanogan.
Never let anybody tell you you’re too old to go out for trout! Tim Klink’s big smile says it all about the joys of catching rainbows in spring, this one at Clear Lake near Spokane last spring. (COAST FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
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IF YOU HAVE a case of “cabin fever,” you can actually head out right now to lakes open year-round that were stocked in March and/or will be in April and May. In King County, try Alice, Angle, Beaver, Bitter, Boren, Deep, Dolloff, Echo, Fenwick, Fish, Fivemile, Green, Haller, Holm, Killarney, Meridian, Morton, Rattlesnake, Sawyer, Shadow, Spring, Star, Trout and Twelve. In Island, try Cranberry and Lone. In San Juan, try Egg and Hummel. In Skagit, try Clear, Grandy, Pass and Volger. In Snohomish, try Ballinger, Blackmans, Cassidy, Chain, Flowing, Gissburg, Goodwin, Panther, Roesiger, Shoecraft, Silver and Tye. And in Clark, try Battle Ground, Klineline and Lacamas. On top of the springtime plants, thousands of trout will be set aside for
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FISHING both late autumn and “Black Friday.” A complete statewide schedule is at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/reports.
DON’T OVERTHINK YOUR fishing gear when it comes to trout. A basic rod and reel combo will set you back about $40 to $80, and a higher-end setup costs $100 to $200. Look for a pole length in the 6- to 7-foot range, and make sure that it’s relatively light and limber. A mediumsized spinning reel that can hold more than 100 yards of 6- to 8-pound-test fishing line is your best choice. On your mainline attach one or two No. 9 egg sinkers with a rubber bumper tied to a small barrel swivel. The length of leader is important, and store-bought 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. As for bait, many prefer the
“old school” variety of worms, maggots, salmon eggs or scented marshmallows. The next generation are soft dough baits like 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 trolled weightless 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 a 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 sitting just below the surface in 3 to 6 feet of water. Others send their bait deeper where it hangs a few feet off the bottom. Most recently stocked trout tend
to school near the surface, and many congregate right where the hatchery truck dropped them into the lake and usually within yards of the shoreline, boat ramps and docks. Freshly 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 of the lake. A fishing license is required (youth anglers under age 15 fish for free), as well as a WDFW access pass for agency water access sites or a Discover Pass for lakes on State Parks or Department of Natural Resources lands. For license info, go to wdfw.wa.gov. WDFW has an excellent fishing resource website where you can get additional tips at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/washington. NS Editor’s note: Mark Yuasa is a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Communications Consultant and is a longtime local fishing and outdoor writer.
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COLUMN
Buzz’s Refreshers: PowerBait For Trout B
red, fed and released by the thousands into hundreds of lakes throughout the Pacific Northwest, trout are ready for BUZZ RAMSEY catching this spring. Although rainbows are the type you will likely encounter, some lakes have been stocked with cutthroat and browns too. In addition, hatcheries have liberated fish of larger than average size into many lakes; called trophy trout, they might measure 15 to 20 inches or more. Add to this a sprinkling of broodstockers that could weigh in at 3 to 10 pounds and it’s easy to see just how much rod and reel fun there is to be had. The entire effort has been performed by state agencies so you can visit a local lake and enjoy instant trout success, providing you know how.
IF YOUR FISHING adventure is to be from shore, one method that works is to plunk (also known as still-fishing or deadsticking) PowerBait. More popular than worms, PowerBait is a prepared bait that comes in jars and has the consistency of cookie dough. For this you will need a 5- to 7-foot light-action spinning rod, a spinning reel filled with 6-pound-test monofilament, some oval egg sinkers (ranging in size from ¼ to 1/2 ounce), several size 7 or 10 swivels, 4mm plastic beads, 4-pound-test leader material, small treble hooks, and a few jars of PowerBait. Other handy-to-have items include a landing net (especially useful if you are fishing from a boat), needle-nose pliers, hook remover and stringer. What is critical to success is to make sure your PowerBait presentation is buoyant enough to float above your sinker
Yep, there are a million ways to catch stocker trout this time of year, but there may not be many options more deadly than floating PowerBait off bottom, a tactic made even more effective when adding a Lil’ Corky kicker to improve flotation. (BUZZ RAMSEY) nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2022
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COLUMN
A few of the items you will need for fishing Berkley’s moldable trout candy include a rod, reel, monofilament fishing line, oval egg sinker, plastic beads, swivel, light leader, single egg imitation and small treble hook. (BUZZ RAMSEY) after casting into the lake. You see, a bait hovering above bottom is much easier for cruising trout to quickly locate, as opposed to one setting on the bed of the lake. I can’t stress the importance of this enough. Many avid users of PowerBait have relied on the product’s natural buoyancy to keep their bait above bottom. For a dimesize ball of PowerBait to float, it requires the use of a small size 16 treble hook. And while a few anglers might instead use a size 6 single, the small treble is far more popular due to the fact that the moldable dough bait grips the three prongs of a treble best. What a growing number of anglers do to ensure their bait will float above bottom without fail is to use a buoyant Lil’ Corky single fish egg imitation in combination with their prepared bait. By using a Corky you can step up your treble hook a size or two. In addition to guaranteed buoyancy, employing a Corky means you can bait up with less PowerBait. A selection of size 12 and 14 Corkies, along with a handful of the same size treble hooks, is what you will need. What I do is partner a size 14 treble with the size 14 Corky, 94 Northwest Sportsman
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and a size 12 treble with a size 12 Corky.
RIGGING UP IS easy. Thread your main line (extending from your rod tip) through your egg sinker, add a small plastic bead and connect to your swivel. Although the most productive leader length may vary depending on conditions, you should start off with one measuring 18 to 24 inches. It’s then that you thread a Corky onto your leader and add a small treble hook. To bait up requires you to scoop out a dime-size chunk of PowerBait from its jar and form it into a round ball around your hook. The idea is to use enough of the bait so that when combined with the buoyancy of your Corky, your offering will float up off the lake bottom. Now, cast your baited outfit into the lake, let it settle to the bottom and wait for a bite. It’s important to leave some slack in your line so that trout can swim off with your bait and swallow it without feeling line resistance. That’s also why you should use a free-sliding sinker. One last thing: You will need to set the hook when you notice your line tightening up or rod tip
dipping towards the water! The right leader length is important because, after all, you want your bait floating at the depth the fish are cruising, which might be close to the bottom during times when the water is clear and sun bright, or higher in the water column early and/or late in the day, or when it’s overcast. And while the average leader length should be 18 to 24 inches, a leader long enough to extend above bottomgrowing vegetation might be the ticket to success when trout are swimming just above the weedtops. How far you cast out might vary depending on where fish are holding or how bright the sun is. For example, trout may be found fairly close to shore early or late in the day or on cloudy or rainy days; during these times and conditions you might only cast out 30 yards or so. As the sun rises through the day and becomes more intense, try casting further into the lake. This is important because the way fish regulate the amount of light coming into their eyes is by changing their location; after all, they have no eyelids. Employing a larger/heavier oval egg sinker
COLUMN and/or longer fishing rod can help extend your casting range during times when fish are holding in deep water.
WHILE IT’S LIKELY trout will spot your bait
Here’s how your setup should look underwater; the leader should be long enough to float your bait above lake-bottom weeds so trout can find it, while the sliding sinker and slight amount of slack line allow them to swim off with your offering without feeling any tension and dropping the bait. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
George Fort shows off a fine stringer he and a fishing partner put together while fishing PowerBait and worms at a lake near The Dalles in the Columbia Gorge last spring. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST) 96 Northwest Sportsman
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in their normal search for food, it’s a good strategy to go to them if and when the bite slows. What I often do is cast in different directions or move in 30-yard increments along the lakeshore until I locate fish. In addition, trout suspended higher in the water column may follow your bait as it sinks to the bottom, which can suggest that a longer leader might produce best. Another strategy I often employ is to cast far and wait 10 minutes before moving my bait toward me with 10 cranks of the reel handle, then wait another 10 minutes before moving it again. In preparation for your trip, do yourself a favor and check the condition of the line on your reel, and at the very least strip off a few yards before rigging up. If your line feels rough or breaks easily, you should replace it. It’s also a good idea to wipe your reel down with a damp cloth and add a drop of oil to its moving parts, all while checking it over for loose screws. Your first step in figuring out what lake to try for trout, along with what’s legal or not, means reviewing a current copy of your state’s angling regulation pamphlet. Step two will be to check out the stocking schedule for the lake you have decided to target, which will likely be posted on the fish and wildlife website (idfg.idaho.gov/ fish/stocking; myodfw.com/fishing; wdfw. wa.gov/fishing). As you might guess, on lakes open to year-round angling, trout will be running shortly after the hatchery truck arrives. On lakes where a start date applies, you’ll have to wait for opening day, which varies by state and sometimes location. Keep in mind that opening day can offer quick limits, as fish bite way better prior to being hit with a barrage of baits and lures from other anglers. 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.
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FISHING
Fat rainbows are on the docket in the Willamette Zone this month and next, a time of year that combines good trout fishing opportunities on rivers and lakes alike, and for keepers and catch-and-release fun. (TROY RODAKOWSKI)
Go With The Flow Whether it’s rainbows and cutts in riffles or stockers in stillwaters, the southern Willamette Valley has trout options for you. By Troy Rodakowski
I
t’s those first warm days of the year that get me thinking about hungry trout in the Willamette Valley. Having grown up here, I have found that fishing for spring trout is very tough to beat. It’s those first hatches of March browns that get me excited, as ravenous fish slurp the flies off the valley waters. Normally,
we do a couple early March and April floats down select rivers for hungry ’bows and cutts. Living in the valley my entire life, I have found that it’s not hard to find a few places to wet a line during the spring and find success. It’s just a matter of timing. As long as the rivers stay at fishable levels, you’ll always find trout that are hungry following the long winter. The bonus is that
there are also several stillwaters that are annually stocked with fish. I like to take my young daughter and friends to a few of these small lakes and ponds for some stockers every spring. This year the waters have been slower to warm, so good fishing should extend well into early summer. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has an extensive stocking schedule throughout the spring and nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2022
Northwest Sportsman 99
FISHING
Drift boats will help you access good water on the region’s flowing waters, and they can also do double duty on stillwaters with launch facilities. (TROY RODAKOWSKI)
summer months that provide fresh fish for anglers looking to wet a line or two. I like to keep an eye on the calendar and coordinate fishing days with decent weather conditions. I also like to try and miss the main crowds by doing a few weekday trips. ODFW’s website (myodfw.com) provides a good overview of Northwest Region opportunities. You can select a specific body of water or search the entire region. Just know that the stocking schedule is a schedule and it may change due to water or other conditions, or logistical issues, the agency advises.
PLACES TO GO I like to focus on the Willamette River and its tributaries. The McKenzie and Santiam systems have excellent places to pull over, including county parks and waysides, to access the water. Many folks use kayaks, rafts 100 Northwest Sportsman
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and other small watercraft to access islands or sections of river that are tough to walk or wade. On the stillwater side, places that are always good bets and are regularly stocked include Dorena Reservoir, Alton Baker Canal, Junction City Pond, Waverly Lake, Timber Linn Lake, St. Louis Pond, Cottage Grove Pond, Cottage Grove Reservoir, Hills Creek Reservoir, Foster Reservoir and Walling Pond. All of these bodies of water are found in the Central or South Willamette zones and are no more than a couple hours apart. Most of these places also have great parking and access for both bank and boat anglers.
WHEN TO GO Of course, planning a trip not too long after a fresh dump of fish is a good idea and will likely produce the best results. I also like to fish right before
a rainstorm or shortly after a system moves through. The stocker fish seem to go on the bite better during those timeframes. Last year, a good buddy and I and our kids went down to the Junction City Pond just before a good rain (it started in while we were there). The fish were all over the green garlic dough bait. We floated it just off bottom and the kids had a blast catching their limits. We were pretty soaked by the time we left, but it didn’t matter. A few days after the storm passed, I found myself loading up the drifter with coolers, as we planned to float the Willamette from Belt Line to Harrisburg. Luckily the trout were hungry for our flies. We had great success swinging March browns, as well as mayfly imitations coupled with Prince Nymph and Copper John droppers. Our crew landed rainbows and cutthroats ranging in size from
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FISHING 10 to 17 inches, all of which were released unharmed. Indeed, some of the best trout waters in the country can be found from the McKenzie to the Willamette, with both of these rivers attracting anglers from around the globe.
MATCH THE HATCH
Reese Rodakowski, the author’s daughter, shows off her nice trout from a recent trip in the valley. (TROY RODAKOWSKI)
Hatches are abundant from April through June, and the best information can be found at local fly shops such as Home Waters Fly Shop (homewatersflyfishing. com; 541-342-6691) and Caddis Fly Angling Shop (caddisflyshop.com; 541-342-7005) in Eugene; both are great places to check with before hitting the water. I suggest serious fly fishermen hire a guide, especially if you only have a handful of days to fish. Helfrich River Outfitters (helfrichoutfitter.com) is one of the best around and offers catch-andrelease trips, as well as options to keep hatchery trout and cook them
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over a fire on the bank. The fishing and scenery are second to none, despite September 2020’s Holiday Farm Fire. Of course, there are also good wading and bank opportunities on the McKenzie at most of the parks and boat landings along Highway 126 through Springfield up to Blue River. Now is a great time to pack a picnic, load the coolers and take the family or friends out for a day of fishing. Plus, with soaring gas prices these days, most of us are trying to get the biggest bang for our buck. I advise taking a diverse tackle box and fly selection along since the first choice isn’t always where you will end up. Keeping an eye on the water levels and weather is also very important if you want to put some fish in the cooler, and checking theguidesforecast.com can be quite beneficial. Central and south Willamette Valley waters have a lot to offer and most of the good fishing from Salem to Eugene is less than a couple hours drive from home. NS
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FISHING
Limits of kokanee can be caught year-round, regulations permitting, but each season has its own challenges and techniques for targeting these landlocked sockeye salmon. (TOM SCHNELL)
Kokanee Around The Calendar
Yes, fishing for these tasty lakelocked sockeye traditionally kicks off in spring and peaks in summer, but today there’s truly no end to the season. By Tom Schnell
O
nce thought to be a spring and summer fishery, kokanee can actually be pursued year-round. Most anglers still focus on kokanee during the more pleasant months of the year, primarily late spring through
early fall, but this is changing. What also changes with the calendar are the tactics. From early spring through late fall, anglers target that year’s spawning adults, usually 3- to 5-year-old fish, depending on the spawning cycle of that particular lake. Most mature kokanee that are
prespawn are typically third-year fish. These are the ones that tend to be larger, more aggressive and easier to catch. As the kokanee get ready to spawn, the urge to be more aggressive in defending their territory plays into a lake angler’s ability to catch them. Since kokanee are a landlocked nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2022
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FISHING
Early in the kokanee season or at higher elevations, water temperatures may still be in the 30s and 40s. If you find your lake has not warmed up yet, try jigging, but if you prefer trolling, try longer leaders and slower speeds, in the .8 to 1.2 miles per hour range. (TOM SCHNELL)
sockeye salmon, they feed primarily on plankton, more specifically zooplankton. Zooplankton are typically microscopic little critters that float freely in the water column and that the kokanee eat by straining water through their gill rakers, the many fine comblike appendages in their gills. They are also known to feed on small insects, and they really key in on small freshwater mysis shrimp and daphnia, a type of zooplankton. It is something of a wonder why they hit the lures that they do, because most lures do not resemble anything the kokanee would eat. Herein lies the secret to catching the larger, mature kokanee. The younger, typically 1- to 2-year-old fish tend not to be as aggressive as older ones. The older fish are becoming 106 Northwest Sportsman
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more territorial and will attack lures because they become irritated and want whatever that thing you are trolling out of their face. That is not to say that you won’t catch some of the younger fish, as you will. Kokanee by nature are inquisitive and territorial. Knowing this, you can use that to your advantage when targeting them. There are multiple factors during the year that can influence when and how to target kokanee: weather, lake accessibility, water temperature, food supply, spawning season and fishing regulations. Each of these can bring its own challenge and opportunity.
SPRING Spring historically was the kickoff season to kokanee fishing. Many higher elevation lakes that were
inaccessible due to snow and possibly being iced over are now accessible. In some areas April and May are the opening of fishing season as well. The winter doldrums are past, water temperature is starting to warm, insect life is starting to emerge and the fish are becoming active and hungry. Mature kokanee are starting to feed to prepare for the spawning journey ahead of them. Water temperature is still cool enough where the meat of the kokanee is at its prime. Kokanee prefer cooler water around the 54-degree range. Any colder and they are not as active. Warmer and their table-fare quality diminishes as their meat becomes softer and can take on a muddy flavor.
DURING THE SPRING, kokanee often
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FISHING school up, making them a prime target for jigging. Some of the best fishing to be had is finding schools on the depth finder and then targeting them with jigs. Throwing jigs at jumping kokanee in the spring can also produce good results. One of the challenges when targeting schools of kokanee is that they are an open-water fish, meaning the schools do not stay in one place. This is especially true if there are predators like bull, brown and/or lake trout that are preying on the same kokanees you are targeting. This causes the fish to become very wary and they will be constantly on the move, trying to avoid being eaten. There are two main methods of jigging for kokanee that are under a lot of pressure from predator fish: anchoring up and run-and-gun. Anchoring up is just that. Find a spot where the fish are known to be and wait for schools of kokanee to pass underneath the boat. This can become a monotonous waiting game, but when a school moves through it can be fast and furious action before they are gone again. Where the anchoring method requires that the fish come to you, the run-and-gun tactic requires good electronics so that you can find the schools and then target them. It can produce good results, but it requires the boat operator to constantly monitor the electronics for schools of fish. A
Having a variety of jigs in various colors and weights can prove effective for catching kokanee early and late in the season, when they tend to school up. They are also essential when ice fishing. Most jigs run from 1/4 to 1 ounce, with size used dependent on the depth the kokanee are holding at. Both casting to jumpers and finding a school of kokanee and vertically jigging can result in catching fish. (TOM SCHNELL)
good electric motor with an anchor lock system is also an invaluable piece of equipment to have. The jigs used for kokanee fishing can vary, but most are ¼ to 1 ounce, with size primarily dependent on
DOUBLE-CHECK THE REGS
B
efore venturing out on a fishing trip for kokanee, make sure and check that state’s fishing regulations for the body of water you plan to fish. Each state and each body of water can have its own regulations, whether it be limit, bait use or even time of the year it is open. Better to double-check than to face an unnecessary fine. Regulations can also change from year to year and even during the year, so just because you knew what they were last year, or you read somewhere what they are, it is up to you to know what the current regulations are. On social media, several questions I consistently see pop up center around regulations, specifically creel limit and season dates. Although Facebook groups and other online forums can be a great source of information, they do not supercede or take the place of the actual regulations. Many states now have their rules online and they are easy to access. Take the time to do your research and find out from the official source. –TS 108 Northwest Sportsman
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how deep the fish are. Primary colors are pink, orange and chartreuse, with various combinations of those three.
ALTHOUGH MANY KOKANEE are caught jigging in the spring, do not rule out trolling. Trolling allows you to cover a lot of water and in some areas can be very productive. Spring trolling typically requires slower speeds and smaller presentations than summer and fall fishing. The water is colder, the fish are still primarily focusing on feeding and they have not yet become as territorial as they do when they are closer to their spawning time. Trolling speeds of .8 to 1.2 miles per hour are typical for this period of time. Longer leaders and smaller lures and dodgers tend to work better this time of year. Scents like shrimp and anise seem to work well too. One
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FISHING mistake that I see kokanee anglers make in the spring is relying on their electronics to target the schools. This tip goes completely against conventional wisdom and what I’ve already stated and will again later in this article, but if you are seeing schools of kokanee on the screen but not getting hits, try going shallow. That’s right, shallow. Oftentimes the fish that want to play are not in the schools you see on your fish finder, but may be near the surface.
This was made evident to us several years back when we were fishing Central Oregon’s Odell Lake. We were marking massive schools of fish in the 90- to 100-foot range, but could not get them to bite. We brought all of our gear up to 25 feet or less and proceeded to catch our limit. When we got back to camp, several other anglers approached us to ask how we did and what we were using. We shared with them and when they asked how deep we were, we told them that most of Downriggers are an essential tool for targeting kokanee that are deeper in the water column. During the hot summer months, when a lake’s surface temperatures heat up, kokanee will tend to seek out the cooler depths, preferring water in the 54-degree range. Downriggers can help get your lure down to where they are. (TOM SCHNELL)
the fish we caught were in the 10- to 20-foot range. They basically scoffed at us and got mad because we would not share with them how we caught all those fish. When I questioned them, they admitted that they were seeing the schools at 100 feet down so they were running their gear at 90 feet deep. We could not convince them that we really were running our gear shallow. For two days straight we caught our fish while they scratched a few out. They just would not believe we were running shallow. My point is, if you are marking fish deep in the spring and not catching them, try going shallow. It may pay off. The water temperature is still cool and biters often will be near the surface during the spring.
SUMMER Summer is usually when most people target kokanee, for a variety of reasons. Most lakes are open for fishing, the weather is nice, the water is warmer and the kokanee are becoming more interested in hitting lures. It is also a time between spring and fall salmon seasons, so it fills the void. As water temps warm, kokanee become more active. But while the early season can find them high in the water column, now the fish will look for their preferred thermocline. There are two main factors that determine what depth most kokanee will hang out at. The first is water temperature, and again, the fish like 54 degrees. The second is their food source. Kokanee like to eat plankton, so they will follow the forage. This can be seen during the summer months when kokanee will be close to the surface early in the morning, but as the sun comes out it causes the plankton, especially the zooplankton, to start to retreat to lower levels where it is a little darker. Kokanee will follow suit. Knowing this can help you target the fish. If you are catching fish early, and then the bite dies off, try going deeper. Cloudy and windy days can cause the plankton, and hence the kokanee, to
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FISHING The late season can be one of the most productive times for kokanee. Fishing pressure can be lighter, as many anglers are focused on fall salmon fishing or hunting. Chrome-bright kokanee can still be found, although the year’s spawning class will be turning color. These prespawners become more aggressive and will strike lures that are trolled faster and with shorter leaders. (TOM SCHNELL)
hang higher in the water column than on sunny days.
SUMMER FISHING TENDS to be oriented around trolling, although jigging can still be successful. Warmer water means the fish are more active, and dispersed throughout the lake. Trolling speeds of 1.2 to 1.6 mph are typical. Watch the winds as well, as oftentimes a breezy period can push the kokanee’s food to the lake’s windward side, in turn attracting the fish. Scents, such as tuna and the combination of tuna and garlic, can be a good choice during the summer as the fish become more aggressive and territorial. Good electronics come in handy too. Scout the lake with a fish finder to find where the fish are. They may be in one area today and move out to another area tomorrow. Once you find the fish, try running your gear 5 to 10 feet above where 112 Northwest Sportsman
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you are marking them. Fish look up, so if you are running your gear too deep, they may not ever see it. We have watched fish on the fish finder come up from deeper depths to check out our presentations. Two factors to watch for when going after kokanee, especially during the summer, are moon phase and barometric pressure. During a full moon phase, we have found the fish are the most active early in the morning, before the sun hits the water. Once the sun hits the water, the action slows down, but don’t overlook late afternoon, when the bite can pick up again. A drop in barometric pressure, such as a storm front moving in, can also turn off the bite. If one day the bite is hot and the next day not, take a look at barometric pressure readings to see if it dropped from one day to the next. When targeting kokanee during
the summer, it is best to keep any legally caught fish you hook. The warmer water dramatically reduces the survival rate of fish that have just been fought and released. Warmer water holds less oxygen, so not only are kokanee exerting extra energy, they are not getting as much oxygen, which can cause them to be stressed beyond recovery.
FALL Fall can be a spectacular time to target kokanee. The mature fish are preparing to spawn and they become more aggressive. As kokanee are salmon and die after they spawn, they have also reached their peak size at this time of the year. They can be scattered throughout the lake, but seek them out close to their staging areas, such as stream and river mouths or the lake’s gravel beaches that they may spawn on. Just like
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FISHING salmon returning from the ocean, they will migrate toward those areas prior to spawning. We do not target fish that are starting to really turn color, as their flesh tends not to be as good as chrome-sided ones. Also, check the fishing regulations as certain sections of a lake or stream may be closed to protect kokanee that are headed upstream to spawn. Just like their cousins in Northwest rivers, prespawn kokanee become very aggressive and territorial, striking lures out of sheer aggression. Use the same trolling setups as in summer, with some slight variations. Try fishing larger dodgers and lures with shorter leaders. Sometimes a faster trolling speed can incite a kokanee to strike as well. Trolling speeds of 1.4 to 1.8 mph and even higher are not uncommon. Jigging can be very productive later in the season as well. Watch for kokanee that are jumping and cast
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towards them. Whereas jigging in the early season is often done over deep water targeting schools, in the fall it’s often employed in shallower water for staging kokanee. After casting, slowly twitch your jig back, paying careful attention to the lure as it free falls. Most kokanee strike the jig as it flutters down, and if not paying careful attention, you might miss most strikes. When in doubt, give the rod a slight snap to set the hook. Some anglers also add corn to the jig hook, but it is seldom needed this time of year. One reason fall fishing for kokanee can be enjoyable is that fewer people are out targeting them. Fall is prime salmon and hunting season, so fewer anglers are typically on the water.
WINTER Winter can be a tougher time to fish for kokanee, but it can still be done. Some lakes are closed, either by rule
or just inaccessible due to ice and snow. But the latter can also present a different type of opportunity: ice fishing. Where allowed, ice fishing can add a whole new element to kokanee fishing. One advantage? No need for a boat. Safety is critical when ice fishing, though. Ensure the ice is thick enough to venture out on. Also check your state’s fishing pamphlet regarding regulations around ice fishing. There can be limits on the size of the hole, bait used, whether the lake is even open and a variety of other rules around this winter sport. Most winter kokanee are caught by jigging. Tip a small kokanee jig with a maggot, piece of corn or even a small piece of shrimp. You can even jig with a small dodger and a small lure behind it. The typical ice fishing dodger is heavier, with many people using heavy trolling spoons to get down to the depth they are targeting. Leader length is around 12
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FISHING to 18 inches. Although effective, this method can result in some tangled messes if you are not familiar with it. Another tactic is using a small salmon egg with a piece of nightcrawler attached to the hook. Put a small split shot 14 to 18 inches in front of the hook and gently lower it down through the hole in the ice to your desired depth. You can either just still-fish it, or gently give it some jigging action. A small depthfinder designed specifically for ice fishing is a great tool to have. If you do not have one, and are not familiar with the lake you are ice fishing on, get a bathymetric map showing depths. Kokanee tend to prefer deeper water, so find an area that is deeper and then stagger your presentations until you find the level in the water column the fish are holding at. A good starting place is 20 feet and then go deeper from there. Sometimes the fish can be
found closer to shore or in shallower water, but keep in mind they’re an open-water species, so most often they will be found in deeper water.
DON’T RULE OUT trolling for kokanee either, assuming the lake is open and ice-free. The same spring techniques discussed above can result in some great winter fishing action. Trolling smaller presentations at slower speeds with longer leaders can be productive. Regarding leader length, do not be afraid to experiment. Shorter is not always better. At the same time, shorter leaders are what they want. We typically run 8- to 12-inch leaders for lures that don’t have their own action, like hoochies. Spinner leaders can be between 14 and 24 inches. We run lures that have their own action – Flutter Bugs, Apexes, spoons or Brad’s Kokanee Cut Plugs – between 14 and 32 inches.
These are just general guidelines, so experiment with leader length. There is no hard and fast rule – other than what the fish want on any particular day.
TRULY A YEAR-ROUND FISHERY Kokanee fishing can now be enjoyed in many places throughout the year. Each season presents a new learning opportunity and different approach to be successful. For many, kokanee fill in that space between spring and fall salmon. For kokanee addicts, though, these landlocked sockeye salmon are a species that can be targeted pretty much anytime one can get out on the water, or in some cases, on the ice. Tight lines and fish on! NS Editor’s note: Tom Schnell is an avid outdoorsman who lives with his wife Rhonna in Central Oregon. He is also a Kokanee Power of Oregon Board Member.
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COLUMN
An angler strains to bring a halibut up from the depths. No doubt that Washington’s coastal waters and western Strait of Juan de Fuca are tops for flatties, but the eastern Straits’ banks – raised underwater plateaus – also hold flatties. (JASON BROOKS)
Straits Bank Halibut T
he past few years, Washington anglers have been able to pursue halibut later in the summer, but as things NW PURSUITS start to get back to By Jason Brooks “normal,” so do the halibut seasons. Earlier this year the state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that Puget Sound and a portion of the Strait of Juan de Fuca will be open in April for the big flat fish. Marine Areas 6 through 10 open up on April 7 with season running until June, depending on the quota. The early portion of the season will be a
Thursday through Saturday fishery. Marine Area 5 won’t open until May 5 and will be a two-day-a-week fishery on Thursdays and Saturdays through May 21, with additional days open for the Memorial Day holiday. To be sure, most anglers on inside waters will target Area 5, but there are good spots to find fish earlier on in Areas 6, 7 and 9 off Port Angeles, the southern San Juans and Whidbey Island, and Port Townsend. True, Areas 8 and 10 are also included in the opportunity, but neither are really known for their halibut fishing.
WHEN IT COMES to finding flatties, the productive banks are no secret. But if you
are new and looking for a spot, be sure to use WDFW’s “Places to go fishing” tab on the agency’s website. From there you can navigate to your desired marine area and find an interactive map that has several wellknown hot spots. One of the best features for halibut anglers is that GPS coordinates are listed. Plug the latitude and longitude into your navigation system, and don’t forget to pinpoint the launch you used, and head out fishing. Keep an eye on the GPS and chart plotter, as many of the good spots are near Canadian waters, and if you venture over the line you can find yourself in some trouble. The routes to and from the banks can also be in the shipping lanes, so
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COLUMN until the current started to really build up. On the first drop I managed to hook into a small 15-pound fish. Knowing the tides would only get stronger, I kept that fish, as I wasn’t about to chance not having fresh halibut for dinner. On the next drop we got a 25-pound fish. By now the winds were starting to kick up and worse yet, the tide was getting stronger. For the next few hours we didn’t get another bite. I noticed the lines lifting and having “blow back,” which means that instead of the lead hitting the bottom, they were lifting up due to the boat’s speed increasing. One of my fishing partners, who was also using an electric reel, put on a 3-pound weight and finally found bottom. Within five minutes he was getting bites. Turns out we hadn’t been really “fishing” the past three hours, but instead just dragging bait behind the boat.
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There’s lots of good info out there about where to fish for halibut, and new Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife mapping also identifies some – though not all – of the hot spots. Still, it provides GPS starting points for new anglers; details are found at wdfw.wa.gov under Fishing/Shellfishing, then Places to go fishing. (WDFW) keep an eye out for the large international ships steaming through. Area 6 is home to Hein Bank, one of the most popular halibut spots in the Straits, and for good reason. It lies directly north of the Dungeness Spit and is a big fishing ground with plenty of room to work. North of Hein Bank is Middle Bank in Marine Area 7, but it is very close to Canadian waters, so be sure to know where you are fishing at. In Area 9 it seems every year during the height of the salmon season someone hooks into a big halibut while fishing Possession Bar, but the best known halibut area is Admiralty Bay. This bay just outside of Fort Casey State Park is fairly “shallow” for halibut fishing, with anglers targeting the big fish in 90 to 150 feet of water. When Area 5 opens up, head to Pillar Point. We did well here last year while drift fishing bait, but anglers also use jigs in this area, which can also produce some decent lingcod and Pacific cod fishing.
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exchange will be obvious by the boats out fishing for halibut, what can give you the edge is scent. On calm days when tides don’t fluctuate much and the wind forecast calls for a quiet day, larger boats will anchor up and drop a scent bag. The advantage to anchoring is the ability to draw fish to you. A scent bag is often attached to the anchor or dropped down on a heavy downrigger ball. Putting it on the ’rigger means you can refresh the scent bag easily; the flip side is that it can tangle with your lines, especially if a big halibut grabs the bait and takes off. Scent bags are often filled with salmon carcasses and squid, but if you can get an octopus, try that, as they are prey for halibut. Anglers who prefer to drift can cover a lot more ground and this can lead to more bites and more fish. On days when the tides are too strong for anchoring or the wind is blowing too hard to sit on one spot, drifting is the way to go. Just be aware of the tides and how fast you are moving. Last year while halibut fishing we began on an outgoing tide and were able to get away with using 1-pound lead weights
for the most part, but they will come up in the water column and even into shallower areas. A few years ago we were up in Canada’s Haida Gwaii region, trolling spoons near the kelp and steep rocky shoreline for feeder Chinook. One reel started to peel line and the rod bent over hard. But instead of a Chinook, we netted a 40-pound halibut. It is not too uncommon to catch halibut while salmon fishing, as both species like eating herring, sandlance and anchovies, though it might not be the best tactic to use when targeting flatties. Most anglers use bait in combination with lures or attractors. The standard setup is two large super-sharp hooks baited with herring or a salmon belly and an attractor. My favorite way to rig this up is to use two size 9/0 Big River hooks by Gamakatsu tied so they face opposite of each other using 130-pound Izorline monofilament. I then slide on two or three jumbo Lil’ Corkies and a 9-inch squid skirt that glows in the dark. The Corkies add buoyancy, while the squid skirt adds movement and the glow attracts fish. It also creates a scent chamber; fill the skirt with Pro-Cure Super Sauce in anchovy or herring, or use the Super Gel Butt Juice formula. The idea is to put out a lot of scent to draw the fish over and grab the bait. To bait the hooks, I prefer to impale a herring and then use a small zip-tie on the
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COLUMN April’s Thursday-Saturday fisheries offer anglers an earlier crack at halibut in Marine Areas 6-10 than past years, and anglers like Ryan Brooks will be out drifting bait or jigging copper pipes or grubs on leadheads for them. (JASON BROOKS)
top hook, going through the eyes of the herring. Same with a salmon belly – run the hooks through the skin and then use a small zip-tie to secure the bait to the top hook. The zip-tie is not always necessary but it can help since you will be dragging this setup along the bottom as the boat drifts along. The leader is about 24 inches, depending on the size of the spreader bar you are using, as you want to make sure the hooks can’t reach the mainline and get tangled. Another option is to use a circle hook and again rig the baits with a squid skirt and use a zip-tie to secure the bait. Circle hooks used to be the mainstay when it came to halibut fishing, but one disadvantage is that the fish needs to chew on the bait for a while, unlike the “J” hooks or Big River hooks that impale the tough jaw of a halibut quickly. The advantage of the circle hook is that if you stop or pause while reeling up the heavy fish, it is unlikely the fish will be able to throw the hook. If you prefer to jig for halibut, know that most anglers use a copper jig, which is a piece of copper pipe filled with lead and with treble hooks affixed to it. The copper reacts with saltwater, creating a small electrical charge that is similar to a wounded baitfish creating movement. Another jig to try is a large grub on a very heavy leadhead. These are often used in shallower water such as in bays where halibut will move in to feed on forage fish.
EVEN ON INSIDE waters, heavy weights are often used, with 1 pound being the normal starting point. A few years ago we were fishing and I had a standard handcrank reel, while my buddy Al was using an electric reel. We dropped our gear down and a few minutes later I was getting bit. I set the hook, started cranking on the reel handle and several minutes later I saw I had a black cod. I rebaited and dropped it down again, hoping for a halibut. Meanwhile, Al’s rod loaded up and he flipped the switch and hauled in a nice halibut. With his rod free to use now, it didn’t take me long to switch over to his electric setup and ditch my hand-crank reel. This month, break out the heavy rods and weights, and get ready to hit Puget Sound and the Straits for some greateating halibut. NS 122 Northwest Sportsman
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HUNTING
‘Exceptionally Good’ Spring Turkey Forecast Washington, Oregon gobbler biologists offer their takes on this season’s prospects. By MD Johnson
S
he falls on a Friday this year, April 15 does. What’s that, you say? What’s the significance of April 15? Well, sir and/or madam, I reckon that ranks right up there with asking the relevance of December 25 … or October 31 … or June 23. OK, so that last one’s my birthday, which you probably didn’t know, but 12/25 and 10/31? Yeah, you should know those. This year, spring turkey season opens in both Washington and Oregon on – that’s correct, sir – April 15, as it’s done for more than a few seasons now. So by the time you’re reading this, you should have your preseason scouting complete, shotgun tuned, camouflage readied, vest packed – and emptied – and repacked, decoys cleaned, licenses pocketed, truck maintained, work notified of your impending illness. Hell, when we lived in Iowa, I’d know what tree I was going to sit on come opening morning a month out. Not a general area or grove of trees, but the tree. Yeah, it was that bad. Part of this preparedness equation each year is, thanks to the good people at Northwest Sportsman, a discussion with the local authorities – that is, biologists and folks who genuinely know an awful lot about turkeys and turkey hunting – about what y’all might expect to find once you head afield on the morning of April
Prospects look good for spring turkey hunting across the Northwest. Samantha Gaudette bagged this beautiful gobbler “first thing in the morning” last season. (COAST HUNTING PHOTO CONTEST) nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2022
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HUNTING lot of birds in there to the point we’ve had to remove some in the winter due to overcrowding on private land.” The Ochoco, too, is moving up the list, she said, with “the (national) forest holding a lot of birds and hunters being pretty successful out there.”
NWS “Any setback in 2021, Mikal?
Turkeys aren’t native to Washington and Oregon, but they’ve done well, especially in the southwest corner of the Beaver State and northeast quarter of the Evergreen State. Merriam’s and Rio Grandes are the primary species, but a few easterns can be found in the hills between Centralia and Castle Rock. (COAST HUNTING PHOTO CONTEST)
15, 2022. This year’s no different, so without further ado, let’s take a gander into those crystal balls, shall we, and see what’s happening in the wonderful world of the wild turkey.
OREGON If you’re a loyal follower of Northwest Sportsman, which I’m sure y’all are, then you’ve met Mikal Cline, the upland game bird coordinator for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, a position she’s held for four years now. Prior to that, Cline served as the lead biologist for the Pacific Northwest for the National Wild Turkey Federation. She has, by her own admission, “been in the turkey business for a while now.” At of the time of our interview, March 4, 2022, Cline had just begun receiving harvest data from last year’s season due to the fact that Oregon’s mandatory reporting deadline wasn’t until January 31, 2022.
Northwest Sportsman “Summarize for us, Mikal, Oregon’s turkey season in the spring of 2021.” 134 Northwest Sportsman
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Mikal Cline “As expected, those southwest units – Rogue, Melrose, Applegate – were our top three in terms of total harvest. It gets more interesting when you start looking at effort, or the efficiency of our (turkey) hunters. It took a lot more hunter-days for the Rogue Unit to come out on top; it took almost 6,000 hunter-days, which approaches our all-time leader in terms of effort, the White River Unit.” “The White River gets a ton of use, but they also harvest a ton of birds. We hosted 1,700 hunters on the White River Unit last spring, with almost 1,300 on the Rogue.” “The Eastside is a desirable place to hunt because the public access is a lot better. It’s good on the Rogue and White River due to wildlife areas and access agreements, but on the Eastside, you have (plenty of) turkeys on public land.” The Heppner area, Cline said, along with the lands around Ritter, produced “168 birds based on the mandatory reporting. It’s that John Day Country, and we know there’s a
Fires? Floods? Russian invasions of the White River?” MC “I don’t have anything to report on that front. The places where we lost forest habitat were really not high turkey-producing areas. And on the flipside of that, it (the fires) probably has created some nice turkey habitat down the road, where we might see the birds taking advantage of those post-fire habitats. Still, it remains to be seen as to what those forests might look like in the end.” She went on to speak optimistically of the Beaver State’s turkey population as a whole. “Our turkeys are doing really well. If you’re a private landowner dealing with ‘problem’ turkeys, you might say they’re doing too well, but if you’re a hunter, you’re not going to have a hard time finding a place with turkeys. They’re pretty widespread.” On a related note, Cline detailed ODFW trapping and transplanting turkeys out of the John Day Country due to “agricultural damage issues,” and they – the department – have heard some rumblings from those hunting historically productive turkey ground around the John Day that “they haven’t been finding as many birds, and that’s because we’re (ODFW) moving birds out and supplementing other parts of the state.”
NWS “Any major regulatory changes for the ’22 season, Mikal?”
MC “Just one thing, and that really (doesn’t pertain to) the spring season. But we have proposed a change to the fall season, and that’s on the Westside so that a hunter can harvest (their fall limit of) two birds on the same day. So, we’ve removed the daily bag limit of one per day.”
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HUNTING Other game species may be struggling, but not turkeys, hunting opportunities for which continue to be liberalized throughout the region. Eric Braaten and son Logan downed this trio of toms last season. (COAST HUNTING PHOTO CONTEST)
WASHINGTON Moving north and across the Columbia, we spent some time with Mr. Russ McDonald. A former Californian and Navy man – thanks for your service, Russ! – McDonald now lives in Enumclaw, and serves as NWTF’s Washington chapter president, along with his volunteer duties as president for the South Sound Strutters out of Enumclaw. I’ve not met Russ personally, but certainly know of him and his turkey hunting exploits – er, is it stalking? – by way of his stories as moderator on the Turkey Hunting Forum of hunting-washington.com. Eager to talk turkey, McDonald had much to say about the 136 Northwest Sportsman
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upcoming Evergreen State season, as well as last year’s.
NWS “High points and low points, if any,
to Governor Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order that paused hunting and fishing for six long weeks.
from the 2021 turkey season, Russ?”
NWS “From your time in the field,
really successful. I don’t have the fullon numbers (yet) from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, but in the 2021 season, the department sold over 55,000 turkey tags, with roughly 7,000 turkeys being harvested. That’s between the spring ’21 and fall ’21 seasons. As for the 2020 season, I believe the harvest was right around 5,000; not sure about the number of tags sold. I don’t have those yet, and won’t until later in the spring. And you have to remember that in 2020, half our (turkey) season was closed down” due
Russ, what kind of hatch did Washington have in ’21?” RM “We had an excellent hatch on the Eastside. I hunt almost exclusively the Eastside, up in the northeast corner. Everybody I spoke with said there were birds everywhere. And the land I hunted was exceptional. A lot of jakes and plenty of older birds there.” “Already this year, I’m hearing a lot of good things from landowners and people spending time over on the Eastside. The winter has been relatively mild, as it’s been the past couple of years, and that contributes
Russ McDonald “The ’21 season was
HUNTING to a good survival rate throughout those winter months.”
NWS “Know anything about easterns on the Westside?”
RM “If anybody knows anything about easterns on the Westside, they don’t talk to me that much. But seriously, they’re (easterns) still holding on. But it’s the Westside. The thick timber. There’s no definitive count of the eastern population over here, but a guess is 300 to 600 easterns. It’s tough to count ‘em, though.” Forgive me if I wrote this last year, which I very well might have, but in terms of eastern wild turkeys on the Westside, I spoke with a young man in December 2020, a young man who for all intents and purposes lives outdoors. One of the best I’ve met in 49 years of doing this hunting/fishing thing. Oh, and he hunts turkeys with a passion. When I asked Young Man X about gobblers west of the Cascade Crest,
he replied, “There are more easterns on the Westside than a lot of people realize.” They’re not everywhere – he didn’t even suggest that – but he told me they’re not only holding their own, but in some places, actually doing quite well and expanding into other areas. And you know what? I believe him. So, the technique for bagging that ever-elusive eastern gobbler remains unchanged. Windshield time and walking. Walking and windshield time. Get away from the popular places, look on the edges, and don’t be afraid to look somewhere new. But let’s carry on with Russ.
NWS “Major regulatory changes for turkey hunters in ’22, sir?”
RM “Yes, there are some changes this year. The youth turkey season will run from April 1 through April 7, a departure from the old two-day season we had. It’s now a week long.
Also, and if you hunt the Eastside, you can kill a third bird in Spokane County. I implore people to read the regulations because the total bag limit in the spring remains three birds.”
NWS “Going to put you on the spot, Russ. Look in that crystal ball we’re certain you have, and give us your best take on the ’22 spring season.” RM “I think it’s going to be very similar to 2021. I think there’s going to be a high success rate. Again, it appears to be a mild winter, and I’ve heard from quite a few landowners that the hatch going into this spring was good. A lot of birds running around. It looks good. It looks exceptionally good.” “Of course, it’s going to depend on the weather. The past couple years, spring has been kind of weird, with that cold wet weather on the Eastside, and the winter flocks don’t break up like they traditionally have done. But it looks good.” NS
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COLUMN
Following early April’s youth hunting opportunities, the general turkey season begins in earnest at midmonth across the Northwest. (COAST HUNTING PHOTO CONTEST).
Time To Head For The Hills G
eneral spring t u r k e y hunting season begins April 15 across the Northwest, and one ON TARGET might presume there By Dave Workman are good numbers of longbeards out there for the taking. Well, maybe, provided you enjoy a
combination of luck, skill and are well equipped. It’s not like you’ll be tripping over wild turkeys while wandering through the forests or fields. Here’s what you absolutely need to know: The season is open for “Male turkeys and turkeys with visible beards only,” or similar language, as plainly spelled out in the regs for as long as anyone can remember. A hunter is allowed three turkeys during
Washington’s and Oregon’s spring hunts, which continue through May 31, and two in Idaho, where season runs through May 25. But wherever you spend your spring, you need to pay close attention to that state’s pamphlet, because there can be changes from year to year. In Washington, you should be mindful that: • Only two turkeys may be killed in Eastern Washington, except three may be
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Fiocchi’s new Golden Turkey TSS, a “premium tungsten shot,” comes in four loads, two for 12-gauges and one each for 20-gauges and .410 bores. (FIOCCHI) killed in Spokane County; • Only one turkey may be killed per year in Western Washington outside of Klickitat County; • Two turkeys may be killed in Klickitat County; • And only one turkey may be killed in Kittitas or Yakima Counties. Last fall whenever I was hunting for either grouse or deer, I paid attention to what I found moving around in the brush. For example, I encountered a couple of
healthy groups of turkeys up on top of Taneum Ridge south of Gnat Flat and farther south near where the Hoyt Mining Trail intersects with USFS Road 3111. They weren’t what I’d call “flocks.” They were more in the nature of herds. Another spot where I always seem to spot turkeys is along the top of South Cle Elum Ridge. Doesn’t seem to matter what time of year, from spring through autumn, I can drive along the South Cle Elum Ridge Road and find small bands of birds from Five Corners south. I’ve spotted turkeys around Liberty in north-central Kittitas County east from Highway 97, and west of the same highway up on the slopes of Teanaway Ridge.
JUST IN TIME for this year’s season, Fiocchi
The ALPS OutdoorZ Super Elite 4.0 vest with dropdown cushion comes in Realtree Timber camo pattern. (ALPS OUTDOORZ) 142 Northwest Sportsman
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announced it was expanding its Golden series line of shotgun shells for hunting with the introduction of Golden Turkey TSS (for Tungsten Super Shot). There are four entries: two in 3-inch 12-gauge with No. 7 or 9 shot; one in 3-inch 20-gauge, also with a payload of No. 9s; and one in 3-inch .410 bore, pushing No. 9s. What is this stuff? According to Fiocchi, Golden Turkey TSS is a blend of “premium 18.3 gm/cc tungsten shot,” which, according to an insider, allows for the smaller pellet to deliver energy equal to larger shot at a given distance, ahead of “carefully selected” propellant and
quality primers. The 12-gauge loads have a reported muzzle velocity of 1,200 feet per second, while the 20-gauge load clocks at a reported 1,225 fps and the .410 payload, weighing 13/16-ounce, leaves the muzzle at 1,100 fps. Before you can shoot toms, you’ve got to bring ’em close enough, and that requires hunters to literally disappear. Some folks will stick with a single camouflage pattern from head to toe, while others have been successful by mixing their camo clothes. The principle is to replicate surrounding brush, which is rarely a single pattern. You might find yourself in a mix of maple, alder and other leafy trees and plants, or you could find a spot to hunker in a mix of brush and conifers. Speaking of camo, as this column was being written, I got an email from ALPS
NRA UPDATE
W
hile the National Rifle Association is still in the bull’s-eye of anti-gun New York Attorney General Letitia James, a judge in the New York state court last month “rejected” James’ attempt to put NRA out of business over corruption allegations, Reuters reported. In a 42-page ruling, Judge Joel M. Cohen of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York (similar to the Superior Courts in other states), wrote, “The Complaint does not allege that any financial misconduct benefited the NRA, or that the NRA exists primarily to carry out such activity, or that the NRA is incapable of continuing its legitimate activities on behalf of its millions of members. In short, the Complaint does not allege the type of public harm that is the legal linchpin for imposing the ‘corporate death penalty.’” When James sued the NRA, she sought to dissolve the association. While that’s not going to happen, Judge Cohen left the door open for James to go after longtime CEO Wayne LaPierre. NRA was incorporated in New York State in 1871. –DW
COLUMN
NEW FROM SIG SAUER
T
he folks at Sig Sauer recently Sig Sauer’s new P320 Spectre Comp, introduced the P320 chambered for 9mm, features a polymer frame, optics-ready slide, and two Spectre Comp, 21-round magazines or two 10s, the latest addition to the depending on location. (SIG SAUER) Spectre series, created by SIG Custom Works. This might be a doubleor even triple-duty sidearm, chambered for 9mm ammunition. This one is loaded with features. Here’s a rundown supplied by Sig: a polymer frame, optics-ready slide “with custom serrations featuring an optic plate and rear dovetail sight, integrated compensator with front dovetail sight, a titanium nitride gold barrel and XSeries gold flat skeleton trigger, and X-Ray 3 day/night sights.” This pistol ships with a pair of 21-round steel magazines or two 10-rounders (depending upon local regulations). Overall length is 8.5 inches and the barrel is 4.6 inches. At its widest point, the pistol is 1.6 inches wide, and the P320 Spectre has a 6.5-inch sight radius. It weighs 41.8 ounces. –DW
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OutdoorZ, advising they have added the popular Realtree Timber camo pattern to five pieces of gear: the Super Elite 4.0 vest with drop-down cushion; Grand Slam vest with drop-down cushion and back rest; the High Ridge portable folding chair; Dash Panel blind; and the newfor-2022 Ambush Sling Pack.
IF YOUR SHOTGUN doesn’t have a camo finish, maybe you should consider giving it a good cover. Over the years, I’ve managed to gather up a supply of different pieces of camo cloth and I’ve got a pretty good selection. While my Mossberg 935 semiauto 12-gauge has a camo finish, I could easily wrap a section of camouflage cloth around the buttstock and one forward of the action, surrounding the forend and barrel. Tied or held on with rubber bands, these swatches of cloth make a gun disappear. Have you thought about trail cams? I’ve got two, one with a solid green exterior and the other with a camo finish. If you’re on a weekend hunt, mount them in your hunting spot overnight and see what they capture. (In the off-season, I put them in spots to supplement residential security.) Make sure they’ve got fresh batteries, and you needn’t bother taking along a laptop. I simply pull the memory card and stick it into my 35mm camera, viewing each frame on my camera screen. Don’t forget your binoculars! They really do come in handy, and today’s binoculars are the best optics you can buy, far better than one might have found a generation ago. Also don’t forget your insect repellant. No matter where you hunt, mosquitos will find you and pretty soon they will bring reinforcements. And here’s something else. Consider taking a rifle along in the event you spot a coyote. Zapping a songdog or two is doing your part to help protect game species, from rabbits up to deer and elk. The few times I have deliberately gone coyote hunting, I never managed to even spot one, but pretty much every other time I’m in the field, the buggers seem to show up within easy rifle range, and occasionally within pistol shot. Good hunting! NS
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HUNTING
In The Turkey Woods A family’s Northeast Oregon spring hunting grounds serves up connection to the land, harvests and memorable moments. By Richy Harrod
T
raditions are important in my family. We gather at a family member’s home for a specific holiday each year. We share our original recipes with each other. And we take vacations with the entire family almost every year. But some of our most cherished traditions revolve around hunting and fishing adventures to places in the woods and on the water that have special meaning to us. My brother Ron started hunting bears and turkeys in a remote part of Northeast Oregon many decades ago after he first graduated from college. Dad and
I joined him, along with our closest friends, a few years later. The camping spot is almost always in the same location. We hunt many of the same canyons, meadows and forest stands. The hunting is consistently good and we are fortunate to bring turkey and bear meat home to our freezers. We have made memories there. Memories that are not just about hunting success, but connections to the land and the game animals we pursue.
TURKEY HUNTING IS something we never experienced in our youth. Turkeys were introduced in the Northwest, and Oregon specifically, in the early 1960s, but populations were initially
small and unknown to most hunters. Television shows in the ’70s and ’80s painted a picture of the hunting experience for hunters in the eastern United States. There, turkeys were found in flat meadows surrounded by deciduous trees. Hunters apparently sat very still along the forest edge, calling big toms to poised shotguns. It appeared turkeys weren’t too smart and hunting them wasn’t hard – or so it seemed. I remember when Ron told me about bagging a turkey in the mountains where he was bear hunting. How could that be? There were no stately ponderosa pines or Douglas firs in those hunting shows. There were no steep mountains
Hunting turkeys in Northeast Oregon has become a Harrod family tradition, one that began with author Richy’s brother Ron, then Richy and Ron’s dad, followed now by younger generations. Here, Richy’s son Tyler walks out of the woods with a gobbler. (RICHY HARROD)
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HUNTING
Over time the Harrods have made many memories hunting these grounds, and not just successful harvests, “but connections to the land and the game animals we pursue,” Richy writes. (RICHY HARROD)
or mountain meadows on the TV shows. Turkeys seemed foreign to the Northwest and with no personal knowledge of the hunt, it was a curious enigma I wanted to explore. The first couple of years were a steep learning curve. In usual fashion, Ron read articles and talked to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists about where to find turkeys and generally how to hunt them. Birds in conifer forests seem to behave differently from those we observed on the hunting shows of yesteryear. Gobblers seemed always on the move and we found ourselves chasing them through the woods. But then we drew upon our experience as archery elk hunters. Gobbling tom turkeys are very similar to bugling bull elk. They gobble at the first hint of light in order to attract hens and express their dominance over other toms. They respond to hen calls with numerous gobbles and if you position yourself in the right location, they will come to your calls. They like to strut in small meadows and often use the same meadows during the breeding season. As we began to understand these behaviors, our opportunities to outsmart these wily birds started to 148 Northwest Sportsman
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increase, and the excitement for the hunt became insatiable.
THE STORIES ABOUT the turkey woods could go on and on for pages, but one of my favorite memories is the time when my daughter Michele came to camp to hunt the birds. Tyler, my son, had shot a couple of nice toms in previous years, but Michele had never experienced the hunt. I spent several days preparing for the trip. We set up my wall tent for all three of us to share, had several coolers full of food and drink, and planned to place Michele in the most likely turkey spots. Ron and his son Boone came to camp as well. Michele was going to college so would have to return after a short weekend. No matter, success was surely within our grasp! We woke an hour before first light. Ron was looking for bears, so I took Michele, Tyler and Boone with me. Sleepy kids piled into the pickup and we drove silently to the first hunting area. My plan was to stop in predetermined spots along a logging road and make a few loud hen calls in the first glow of light. If we got a response, our plan was to hike out and set up on a forest opening or meadow in order to call the tom to us.
No toms responded in the first two spots, but at the third spot it became a little chaotic. The kids and I had stopped the pickup and were all standing outside listening for the telltale sounds of a gobbler. I stuck a diaphragm turkey call in my mouth and gave a couple of hen yelps, which were immediately greeted by a booming gobble only 100 yards away! We looked like cartoon characters hurrying to go somewhere, bumping into each other and scrambling around the pickup. We hustled out to a lone pine tree in a little meadow not far off the road. The tom grew ever louder with each thundering gobble, as he quickly came up the gradual rise just out of sight. Michele was positioning herself against the tree as the rest of us kneeled down behind, but we were too late. A red head appeared over the rise and caught our movement. His departure was immediate – Michele didn’t even see him from her sitting position! The kids and I tried a few other locations that first morning but nothing matched the excitement of our early close encounter. We hiked to ridgeline meadows that held birds in years past. The flowers were in bloom and the new grass of spring
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HUNTING
One of the author’s favorite hunts was the first time his daughter Michele came to camp for a quick weekend shot at a gobbler. (RICHY HARROD)
was a brilliant green. An owl landed in a tree beside us along the edge of a meadow. We could hear ruffed grouse drumming in every direction. Our pace was slow and our conversations muted as we took in the sights and sounds of spring in the mountains. By late morning, our stomachs were grumbling, so we returned to camp for a hearty breakfast and midday nap.
MICHELE WANTED TO hunt the same area that evening. Unlike the morning tactics, we parked near where we had heard gobblers before and then hiked about a mile to meadows that have proved successful in the past. We made some soft hen yelps in several locations, but no toms were willing to call back. It was a little disappointing, given the morning excitement, but our mood was soon to change. Ron and I had called in two jakes about three years prior in a meadow nearby, so I suggested we hike there for one more try before dark. We crossed a small creek and hiked up a short hill to the edge of the meadow. We listened for a minute or two, when suddenly a couple of toms thundered in unison from somewhere on the far side of the meadow. Tyler ran out quickly and placed 150 Northwest Sportsman
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the hen decoy, while Michele and I sat under a large pine tree with a low branch perfectly placed to give us cover. Once Tyler was seated, we pulled up our camouflage facemasks and tried to become one with the tree. I made a couple of hen yelps that brought the group of toms and jakes running in our direction. Michele and Tyler were poised with their knees up and shotguns rested, ready for a wily tom to come within range. The birds were coming fast but had to cross about 200 yards of meadow to reach our location. Pounding hearts were leading to shaky shotguns and soon Michele whispered that her arms were getting tired. Her 5-foot-3 frame was stretched to the maximum trying
to steady the shotgun. I whispered back to her, “Get ready to shoot!” The first tom crossed a small depression, disappearing from our sight, but seconds later emerged at about 30 yards away. “Take him!” I said in a low voice. “Where?” Michele replied, and now my heart was in my throat as I imagined him getting away. The bird moved a couple more steps and after a quick “Oh!” Michele fired her gun. The turkey disappeared back into the depression and for a couple of hopeful seconds we watched for a flopping bird. Immediately we saw only running birds. We jumped up to see more clearly, but the tom wasn’t down and he was making tracks rapidly in the opposite direction. Michele’s disappointment was visible on a frowning face. “How did I miss?!?” she said, as she shook out the fatigue in her arms. It’s times like these as a father that it’s best to focus on the experience. “How cool was that? Did you see how many birds came running at us? Ha-ha!” I said. Soon we were laughing and recounting details of what we each had seen and experienced. And as the light faded, we began our hike back to the pickup.
MICHELE WAS UNABLE to fill her turkey tag that weekend, but in the end it was one of the most memorable hunts for me. Tyler and Michele are both married now, have their own careers and lead busy lives. We may never experience
The turkey hunting shows of yore that Harrod watched might have made it seem like the birds were on the dumb side, but they proved to be anything but after being introduced to Oregon. (RICHY HARROD)
HUNTING
A wide-eyed Michele talks to brother Tyler about the shot she just took at a gobbler and missed, a memorable experience nonetheless. (RICHY HARROD)
that hunt together again, but those memories remain. I return to the places we hunted together every year and those experiences come back to me as vividly as if they occurred the day before. The booming echo of gobbling toms instantly gets my heart to pound and a flush of past experiences race
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through my head. The sights and sounds of spring can be a powerful thing in the turkey woods. NS Editor’s note: Richy J. Harrod is the owner of Harrod Outdoors LLC, a small outdoor media production company. He produces The Northwest Outdoorsmen television
series, which has received eight awards from the Northwest Outdoor Writers Association. Harrod has produced awardwinning short films, produced numerous product promotional videos, coproduces a podcast (We are Outdoorsmen), and written outdoor books, blogs, and newsletter articles. For more, see harrodoutdoors.com.
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COLUMN
Ticked Off Twice T
he tick was in a place that I shall describe as “betwixt” and “uncomfortable” when CHEF IN I felt him crawling THE WILD around. By Randy King At first the springtime pest seemed like a phantom – something I worried about but didn’t really think I would suffer from. I had sprayed my whole body with bug spray that morning before fording the creek and climbing the hillside in North Idaho. I should not be dealing with this issue, I said to myself, I had done the things. But this little turd did not get the memo. I could feel him crawling.
Or maybe it was just an itch? A ghost tick, perhaps? Ah! Normally I would drop trouser and give myself a quick exam and be done with it. But you see, at that very moment, a gobbler was closing the distance; I could see him strutting behind a willow at about 60 yards. Too far to shoot but good enough for the show. My gun on my knee, I was ready to close the deal; the bird was far more important than the possible tick.
THE TOM HAD been vocal all morning long too, talking a lot. But he was also not moving off his little strutting area, a nice open meadow with no good approach for me to take a shot.
Each time the bird gobbled, my heart raced. One day I’d love to strap a heart rate monitor to myself and examine my resting heart rate, my turkey gobble rate and my “Is that a tick crawling on my __?” heart rate. I bet we would get some interesting results. This would all be for science, of course. Eventually I made a fatal mistake with the bird. I got impatient. I tried crawling closer than I should have out of greed. He busted me and took off running into the pines. So I immediately dropped my pants and pulled several ticks off my legs and other areas. Apparently, while I had only felt the one tick, he had brought the party with him. Soon I was shirtless in camp asking my father to examine my back for ticks. Ah, springtime in the turkey woods. NS
A talkative but shy gobbler and several thirsty ticks made for a ticklish situation for author Randy King. (SCOTT HAUGEN) nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2022
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COLUMN
THE CUTS OF A TURKEY
A
wild turkey is not a Butterball from the grocery store. They are, well, wild – they work for a living. Everything thinks a turkey is tasty, so they run, fly and run some more to stay alive. Tender meat this does not make. Knowing this, cooking them also has to be different than how you would whip up a store-bought turkey. A whole roasted Norman Rockwell wild turkey is a disaster on the dinner table. I break turkeys down into five-ish cuts. Cut 1, the breasts: These are the closest thing to wild chicken you are going to find. You can use most chicken recipes for turkey breast meat. I like to cut them thin and serve them in slices. But how about smoking the whole breast lobe and then making soup? Yep, there are lots of options – including the recipe below. Cut 2, the tenderloins: This is the single best cut on a turkey – lots of flavor and easy to eat. Two tenderloins are enough meat for a single hungry person. The cut is located on the underside of the turkey lobe, easily removed from the breast meat. I like to remove the tendon from the tenderloin for the best eating experience. Cut 3, the thighs: No, this is not a KFC
chicken thigh, but it is also not quite like the turkey drumstick and its bones and cartilage either. I find this cut makes the best chili; it is dark meat and full of flavor. Cut 4, the drumsticks: This cut flat out needs time to cook. It is full of cartilage, bones and connective tissue. Basically, toss this in a Crockpot and come back when Call it Seoul food – Chef Randy’s son Noah’s Korean gochujang paste turkey with rice and green beans. (RANDY KING)
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the meat is falling off the bone. No sooner. Cut 5, the carcass: The bones from a turkey make a great wild game stock. Roast them and then simmer them overnight (find an easy chicken stock recipe online and replace with turkey bones). All the other cuts of the bird can benefit from a little stock in the recipe.
MY SON NOAH showed up the other day with a giant smile on his face; he was beaming with pride. Upon investigation, I learned that his girlfriend’s Hispanic grandfather had thought his food delicious and perfectly spicy. Previously, the grandfather had been poking fun at Noah’s cooking (they live in the same subdivision as me, so my son will often cook them dinner and take it to them). I asked Noah what he cooked and he said it was a gochujang chicken recipe. I smiled and asked for more details. Then I made a version for the family with wild turkey. What is gochujang? Other than being a mouthful to say, gochujang is a foundational part of Korean food, and I was blind to it, like most folks I would guess, for a very long time. But about a decade ago it came to the USA in a big way. It hit the menus
COLUMN hard across the country and chefs like Hank Shaw and others started incorporating it quickly. Why? Because it is delicious and we had been missing out without even knowing we had been missing out. Gochujang is a thick paste that is dark red in color and is made from rice, oil, soybeans, salt and red chili flakes. Then the whole concoction is fermented for a while to give it some extra zip – this allows the rice to turn sweet in the mix. That said, it is not all that spicy, but it can be a bit much for those with a Midwest palate for food. I add a bit to salad dressing for a little zip, and to curry and stir-fry dishes as well. While you used to have to go to an Asian market for the sauce, it is now available at most supermarkets. A tub of the stuff is cheap, lasts forever and makes things extra delicious. Pick one up. I like to give credit to recipe authors when I shamelessly steal from them. That said, the inspiration for this dish came from my son, Noah King. He was in turn inspired via awickedwhisk.com.
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1 tablespoon canola oil 1 each wild turkey lobe, diced into ¾-inch cubes (about 2 pounds) 5 tablespoons gochujang paste ¼ cup soy sauce ¼ cup rice wine vinegar ¼ cup honey 2 tablespoons sesame oil 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon black pepper 6 cups cooked white rice Sesame seeds 2 green onions, diced When cubing the turkey, I find it best for the meat to be slightly frozen still. It makes the cutting that much easier and certainly leads to more consistent dices and sizing. Heat a large skillet or wok on high for three or four minutes. Add half the canola oil and swirl it. When it starts to smoke slightly, carefully add half the turkey to the pan. Brown on one side. then remove from the pan. Add the remaining oil and
turkey. Brown on one side as well. When browned, add all the turkey meat into the pan at the same time. Keep heat on high. Add the gochujang, honey, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, garlic and ginger to the pan. Reduce heat to low. Let simmer until the turkey is fully cooked. Serve with white rice to quench the heat a little. Sprinkle with chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds as garnish. Serve immediately. As an alternative option, mix the gochujang, honey, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, garlic and ginger in a bowl and add the diced turkey. Let marinate for up to 12 hours. Then strain off the liquid and follow the same process as above. There’s lots of flavor in this method, and it just takes a little more planning. Also, you can adjust the gochujang amounts as you see fit, depending on spice preferences. For more wild game recipes, see chefrandyking.com. –RK
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HUNTING The fire that ripped through Washington’s eastern Blue Mountains in 2021 was not ordinary. This honey hole for blonde and brown morels is now ash. I’m hopeful it will produce morels galore from the burn, but the longevity of this cherry spot is no longer. However, it can still help you in your search. These old firs – especially grand firs – that morels favor are good starting points. Look for filtered light with good cover, swales on hillsides, and pine needle litter like this. Stay below 4,000 feet in April and stick to places that warm early. In May, the 4,000- to 5,000-foot mark in the Blues and other mountain ranges in Washington and Oregon is perfect. (JEFF HOLMES)
Get More Out Of Your Morel Hunts With the mushrooms emerging across the Northwest, a fanatic shares his advice for finding the coveted tasty treats – and a buttery recipe.
By Jeff Holmes
M
ore than 10 springs ago, unexpected 45 mile per hour winds kept friends and me from launching during an insane Snake River spring Chinook season after we’d already made the muchanticipated trip to Little Goose Dam. We sought alternatives, stashed my boat at a small-town tackle store, and looked for refuge from huge gusts and a treeless landscape.
Knowing there were morels in them thar hills – the Blue Mountains, in this case – we headed south up the Tucannon River into a landscape that five years prior had suffered the year’s worst wildfire in the Lower 48, 2005’s School Fire. We parked at a trailhead and took off walking with dogs for miles, stumbling into maybe a few pounds of morels and lots of lessons about where these valuable little fungi will and will not grow. That first day of morel picking,
wandering the spring woods and laughing with friends and howling with good dogs now since passed, is high on the list of my best outdoor memories. It was a day that lit a fire for me that now burns white hot. I love morel mushrooms. But I especially love the process. I love traveling across green spring landscapes to reach mountains where they erupt and then assessing the progression of spring and where the mushrooms might be popping. I like assessing nwsportsmanmag.com | APRIL 2022
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HUNTING
HOW TO MAKE MOREL BUTTER
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at-kid-created, fat-kid-perfected, morel butter is hands-down the best and most accessible and versatile food product I have discovered from the Pacific Northwest’s landscapes. This is not an exaggeration. Super-slow simmering prime morels in butter and then aerating the cooled product along with yet more butter creates something that’s fantastic on all meats, on eggs, on veggies, on any starch (especially air-popped popcorn or oven-hot bread), and on a spoon. This very specific recipe has been highly refined and, if followed, can make you very popular. Got friends or family who don’t like mushrooms? They’ll like this stuff. Just don’t tell them it’s mushrooms. I put away 3 gallons of the stuff this past May and am looking to double it this year. I see no reason to continue eating butter that does not have morels infused into it.
INGREDIENTS AND EQUIPMENT *5 pounds of good- to excellent-grade morels 10 pounds salted butter 2 Crockpots High-speed (Ninja) blender 15 wide-mouth pint jars with lids Wide-mouth jar funnel Rubber scraper Table knife *Use more or less mushrooms as available, but keep the 1:2 mushroom to butter ratio; 1:2.5 also works.
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(JEFF HOLMES, BOTH)
Give your morels several water baths and float away all dirt and debris, and continue soaking, agitating and rinsing until siltfree. I do not salt my mushrooms. For people who do, they should use unsalted butter in this recipe. Better advice: do not salt your mushrooms. The tiny little harmless worms in morels will be cooked for 72 hours in this recipe, adding protein and in no way impacting anything other than avoiding overly salty morels. When my mushrooms are super clean – and I know some people won’t even wash them but I’m not one of them – it is time to press them to begin to completely rid them of their water. I use nitrile gloves and squeeze the morels aggressively until most water is expelled. Then I squeeze them again. And again. Then they go in a Crockpot. Chop them if you want, but there is zero need I have found. It took two good-size Crockpots to do 71/2 pounds, and I put 4 pounds of butter into each crock. The key is to slowly cook/confit the morels over 48 to 72 hours, alternating between low and sometimes “warm” if your Crock runs hot. You cook the mushrooms long enough to rid them of all of their water and to greatly intensify their flavor. For my latest batch, I cooked it for over two days and then let it cool and reheated it for another 24 hours before letting it cool to blend. Once you have two Crockpots full of cooled but not solidified butter and confit morels, it’s time to blend with room temp butter, 8 pounds of it. You need a really aggressive blender, something like a Ninja
blender that has blades up and down the length of the spindle. Any really powerful blender likely works, but food processors do not produce a smooth, aerated product. Once blended, I am able to ladle close to equal parts of the confit with roomtemperature butter and to blend it and aerate it to a very fine texture with some very small and desirable chunks of ’shroom. Or I can let the blender rip and make it smooth. The exact process described keeps the butter just warm enough without melting that you can use a big spoon or ladle to put it in clean pint jars. I take a table knife and gently slam the jar down on the counter to make the butter settle while running the knife around the inside edge of the jar, which takes out air bubbles. Then I put on clean lids and label them and put them in the freezer. You can keep morel butter in the fridge for a really long time sometimes, but in the past I did not cook the mushrooms long enough nor squeeze them in advance hard enough. As a result, I used to leave water in it, and it would mold. It’s so precious that I keep mine in the freezer unless I’m going to use it. Oh, and my best advice other than take this recipe seriously and follow the directions to get the water out? Do not try to add garlic, onions, spices, etc. Use good morels. Use lots of butter. Spend a long time cooking them in butter. Blend them with more butter. Put the product in jars. Stick them in the freezer. Keep one in the fridge. Eat aggressively. Repeat. Other flavors only get in the way. –JH
HUNTING Whether you labor for hours or find them quickly, the minute you find a morel stop. Slow down. Look all around you. There are likely more, and perhaps many more ...
Morels often grow along and under fallen logs. Check logs in areas you are already finding them. This little clump of freshly emerged morels likely means there are more around. Pick these and comb the area.
I gasped when I found this big, pancake-shaped morel; they come in many shapes. (JEFF HOLMES, ALL)
This one is getting dark, but if it were salmon I’d still barbecue it.
environmental conditions – slope shading and exposure, contour lines, tree composition, understory plants and more – and I love moving slowly in the spring woods and interfacing with the forest at a microlevel. Shed antlers, newborn elk calves, predator sign, tiny delicate flowers and plants, giant snails, drumming grouse, mottled snowshoe hares, and innumerable other natural images flood into my mind as I think of the pursuit of these $30-a-pound 164 Northwest Sportsman
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mushrooms. I will blow off turkey hunting, spring Chinook fishing, and many other important pursuits in order to engage in this process and learn more every trip about how to find and harvest morels.
MOREL HUNTING IS an activity that costs nothing but the gas to get there. Just fill up a small pack with rain gear, bottled water, calories, a survival kit and extra bags in case you hit the mother lode. On
my person I carry a bucket to pick into and bear spray or a pistol just in case of cougars, moose or the rare angry spring black bear. I was once almost stomped by a cow moose while on my hands and knees picking with dogs at heel, so I now never go afield without at least the means to blow a toxic cloud of capsicum into a critter’s snout. I don’t pick in high-traffic commercial picking areas – burns close to roads during the early season – but if I did, I’d carry a
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HUNTING Only an addict would display his day’s haul of morels like this. This mother lode of big blondes and browns inspired several more trips to a certain Blue Mountains slope to harvest these prime ’shrooms that came up in ideal conditions. I sort my morels into grades, but I sort one fewer grade than I used to. Leave the crumbling, buggy, dark, inky ones in the woods. If a morel has a smell different from the freshies you find, just leave it to release spores. Inky morels don’t taste great and foul the goodness of your freshies. (JEFF HOLMES)
Overeager morel hunters can waste large pools of financial and temporal resources (author raises hand) chasing the earliest emergences of morels in the Pacific Northwest. I set a personal record by traveling almost 1,000 miles round trip for this one March morel in 2021. The charred remains of homes and aggressive commercial pickers gave an uncomfortable feel to the woods east of Roseburg. April through June is the standard morel season in the Northwest, depending on elevation and other environmental factors like weather, snowpack, progression of seasons, etc. (JEFF HOLMES) 166 Northwest Sportsman
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pistol for emergencies with the most dangerous game: trashy humans in the woods with ill intent. There’s hocus-pocus rumors about the need to pick into a mesh bag to disperse spores throughout the forest as you walk, but you can ignore this. Pick into what you want, but I like a hard-sided receptacle to protect the mushrooms. There’s also a lot of nonsense about how pulling a morel out of the ground will result in no mushrooms growing in that spot again. That said, it makes way more sense to carry a small knife to slice the stems to free the honeycombed little marvels from the earth. Doing so results in a cleaner stash of ’shrooms, meaning less cleaning and a better product. The learning curve in morel picking is finding out where and when they grow and on what slopes and around which types of vegetation they regularly emerge. You will find that people are eye-rollingly guarded about morel information. They’re worse than crappie fishermen. I won’t give up my honey holes, obviously, but scan the detailed picture captions in this article for some Morel 101 information that can get you started and pointed toward success. NS
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There’s nothing like hunting with a well-trained dog that understands its role, has drive and is eager to please. This Lab couldn’t get a mourning dove into the hands of its owner fast enough, so it could get back to hunting. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
The Joy Of Gun Dogs T
his past bird season was a busy one. I went on over 100 hunts in multiple states for waterfowl, upland birds and other GUN DOGGIN’ 101 migratory birds. My By Scott Haugen pudelpointers went on most hunts with me, but I did have the opportunity to hunt with other dogs, too. I love hunting different birds in different places with different people and seeing how their dogs work. The bond that a dog and their master share is, frankly, what motivates many of us to go hunting. I went on a few hunts last season where
there was no dog, and I didn’t like it. Walking across a field to pick up a goose or quail, or wading into a pond to fetch a duck, was lackluster compared to watching a dog work. Those hunts made me miss and appreciate hunting with my dogs even more.
SOME DOGS I got to hunt with were just happy to be out. They weren’t from top pedigrees, nor did they have awards to show from multiple competitions. They simply loved soaking up the heat of the morning sun, riding in the boat or walking across a field to start a hunt. They might nose through your gear bag hoping to find food scraps, and may not have been
in the biggest rush to work, but they loved being afield and more importantly, being with their master. Their eyes, demeanor and wagging tail left no doubt about that. I hunted with a few dogs that were simply outstanding. Well trained, driven, could mark multiple ducks dropped from a flock, would rapidly quarter a section of land to gain the scent of a quail covey – and kept up that pace all morning long. These dogs also had a love of being with their master and doing what they’re bred to do. A few hunters would apologize before the hunt even began about faults their dog had, which we’d likely see displayed. I didn’t mind, and when it did happen, I
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COLUMN offered help to correct the problem. While midseason corrections can be tough, now that bird seasons are over, it’s the perfect time to give your dog a tuneup. Most of the concerns owners had were very simple fixes, like getting a dog to sit, stay and heal. If your dog doesn’t hunt well with others, train with another dog. If your dog breaks at a shot, hold the dog while someone else shoots a gun at a distance, or fires a training dummy launcher, then release your dog. If your dog doesn’t hold a point as you approach, get that check cord out. If your dog doesn’t sit, go back to how you taught it to sit as a pup; it’ll remember. The list of fixes goes on, and only you know what those are. Rest assured, there’s a remedy for everything; you just have to be disciplined to reteach the dog.
THE BEST DOGS I hunted with this season – and there were two or three that stand out – had very good relationships with their owners. They were constantly looking into their master’s eyes, trying to anticipate
Author Scott Haugen enjoyed a fun morning hunt with his pudelpointers Echo (left) and Kona, who worked well together to put up multiple coveys of valley quail. Hunting with hardworking, well-disciplined dogs is the reward of dedicated training. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
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COLUMN their next command so they could please them. The dogs trained with hand signals appeared most eager to please, always looking for directions so they could achieve the task at hand, then get back to hunting. Verbal communication was very limited
with these folks, too. They all used an e-collar, not for shocking, but for delivering beeps to communicate with their dog at a distance. I run e-collars on both of my dogs. One beep means to stop and look to me for direction; two beeps mean come
If you plan on hunting with two dogs, training with two dogs will alleviate a lot of potential problems and optimize your dogs’ performance. If you have only one dog, make it a point to train with a buddy and their dog. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
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back toward me (usually so I can stop them with one beep and deliver a hand signal because they were off track); and continuous beeps mean it’s an emergency (like they’re about to cross a road) and to get back to me as fast as possible. Dogs that are trained with hand signals, heavy eye contact and minimal verbal commands are simply a joy to hunt with. With spring here and summer fast approaching, now is the time to tune up your dog so it hunts, performs and behaves how you envision. Keep training sessions fun and short, as you want the dog to enjoy the experience and keep wanting more. Before you know it, your dog will be doing what you want it to do. Then the next hunting season can’t get here soon enough. NS Editor’s note: Scott Haugen is a full-time writer. See his puppy training videos and learn more about his many books at scotthaugen.com and follow him on Instagram and Facebook.
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