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Sportsman Northwest
Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource
Volume 13 • Issue 8 PUBLISHER James R. Baker
Your Complete Hunting, Boating, Fishing and Repair Destination Since 1948.
ALUMAWELD STRYKER
EDITOR Andy Walgamott THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS Dave Anderson, Jason Brooks, Scott Haugen, Sara Ichtertz, MD Johnson, Randy King, Brent Lawrence, Buzz Ramsey, 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, Jim Klark, Kelley Miller, Mike Smith DESIGNER Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly Baker OFFICE MANAGER Katie Aumann INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGER Lois Sanborn WEBMASTER/DIGITAL STRATEGIST Jon Hines
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ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@nwsportsmanmag.com CORRESPONDENCE Email letters, articles/queries, photos, etc., to awalgamott@media-inc.com, or to the mailing address below. ON THE COVER Guide Terry Mulkey holds a spring Chinook caught in May 2019 on the Willamette River at I-205 in Oregon City. (MULKEYSGUIDESERVICE.COM)
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nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2021
Northwest Sportsman 13
More than a building... it’s a solution!
CONTENTS
PRE-ENGINEERED STEEL FRAME STRUCTURES
VOLUME 13 • ISSUE 8
855.668.7211 • www.wsbnw.com
63
CHARTER A SMARTER COURSE
Nothing can supercharge your mastery of a fishery more than booking a trip with a great skipper or fishing guide. Dave Anderson knows this from firsthand experience on the tuna grounds and walleye waters with the sharpies of their realms, and he shares some of what he’s learned about the true value of going guided.
(ANDY WALGAMOTT)
ALSO INSIDE 47
MAY FLOWERS WITH LINGCOD OPS The rocky depths and sheltered seas of Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands and Strait of Juan de Fuca are home to good numbers of lingcod and with the 46-day season beginning May 1, Mark Yuasa shares how to catch the tasty bottomfish.
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TALKING STURGEON WITH WDFW’S SPECIALIST With the first Columbia estuary keeper sturgeon opportunities since 2019 coming up this month and next, we have two stories for you. First up, MD Johnson interviews Washington’s lead diamondside biologist, Laura Heironimus, on how the important fishing stock is monitored and managed.
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EXPLORE THE SEEP LAKES Our roving Inland Northwest trout correspondent Mike Wright takes a look-see around the Seep Lakes, a network of fishy waters not far from Potholes Reservoir that feature dozens of angling possibilities for rainbows as well as warmwater species, in a landscape that’s primarily public ground.
109 KOKANEE TECH: DODGERS VS. LAKE TROLLS Using the right kokanee attractor can make the difference between a limit and going home emptyhanded. Tom Schnell takes a deep dive into the best times and places to run dodgers and lake trolls for these increasingly popular fish.
119 LAKE WASHINGTON’S OTHER, OTHER, OTHER FISHERY You’d be crazy not to try your hand at catching crawdads! With season opening this month on Lake Washington and elsewhere in the Evergreen State, Mark Yuasa takes a look at where and how to fill a pot with tasty crayfish. 149 BAG A BIRD AT THE BELL No doubt that many if not most Northwest gobblers are taken during April’s youth hunt and the start of the general season, but working the woods in May can yield rewards – and expand your turkey hunting game. MD Johnson has tips for how to score last-ditch longbeards across Washington and Oregon this month.
SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Go to nwsportsmanmag.com for details. NORTHWEST SPORTSMAN is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 14240 Interurban Avenue South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Periodical Postage Paid at Seattle, WA and at additional mail offices. (USPS 025-251) POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Northwest Sportsman, 14240 Interurban Ave South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Annual subscriptions are $29.95 (12 issues), 2-year subscription are $49.95 (24 issues). Send check or money order to Media Index Publishing Group, or call (206) 382-9220 with VISA or M/C. Back issues may be ordered at Media Index Publishing Group offices at the cost of $5 plus shipping. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 2021 Media Index Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A.
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BUZZ RAMSEY
4 Guides Talk Late Willamette Chinook
Some of the Northwest’s best Chinook fishing in spring occurs in May and even June on the lower Willamette River and the Multnomah Channel, and Buzz has advice from four longtime local guides on how to catch a few.
COLUMNS 81
NORTHWEST PURSUITS Keeper Sturgeon Days Coming Up In the second half of this issue’s special focus on sturgeon, Jason details how and where to catch ’em, whether you’re looking to retain fish or are just interested in releasing a few on the Lower Columbia.
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FOR THE LOVE OF THE TUG Drifting Along To each steelheader their own, and for Sara, it’s all about drift fishing, an old-school technique that gives her confidence on her summer-run waters of Oregon. She shares tips and tricks for getting just the right bounce for the fish that stole her heart.
157 CHEF IN THE WILD Now Serving: Thunder Chicken Karma Chef Randy and his dad disagree on who is the better turkey caller, but probably not that the younger King got his just desserts after calling a bird away from his old man. And speaking of dessert and turkeys – work with us here – Randy offers up a Panda Express-inspired and certainly syruppy orange “gobbler” recipe sure to please the fam. 163 ON TARGET Let Grouse Doldrums Begin & Other Reasons to Grumble Brace yourselves, Washington grouse hunters. While September 1 has marked the start of season since 1973, this year it will begin September 15 and that has Dave, our resident grouse fanatic, trying to make the best of the bad news. 169 GUN DOG Spring Training, Or, Why ‘There Is No Offseason’ “The worst thing an owner can do is leave their dog in a kennel once the season ends, letting it get overweight and out of shape.” So counsels Scott, who hits up hunting dog trainer Jess Spradley for his “there is no offseason” regimen.
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(KATHY SPENGLER/USFWS)
THE BIG PIC
‘Masterpiece’ Of Teamwork Takes Down National Park Poacher How federal and state special agents, wildlife troopers, park rangers and forensic analysts brought the Crater Lake elk and deer killer to justice.
DEPARTMENTS
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23
THE EDITOR’S NOTE Spring choices
35
THE DISHONOR ROLL Rewards grow for info on two Oregon poaching cases; Montana governor receives wolf warning; Jackass of the Month
37
PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS Coast, Fishing monthly prizes
39
OUTDOOR CALENDAR Upcoming openers, events, meetings, workshops, deadlines, more
39
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THEEDITOR’SNOTE
S
urfperch have become my white whale. I’m down here in Newport with the family at my mother-inlaw’s house for a week in mid-April and have vowed to catch some before we head back north. We may not go back any time soon. I’ve been trying for years during our visits, prowling the shores of Ona Beach, Curtis Street, the south jetty, etc., all to little effect. Yes, I’ve caught plenty of other stuff on our trips – winter steelhead in the Alsea; rainbow trout and largemouth bass at the reservoirs on Big Creek; Dungeness and red rocks on the bay; crawdads in the Siletz – just not any surfperch and it’s beginning to make me wonder! I’ve had my fair share of follies in this pursuit – landing crabs instead of redtails or stripeds. Another time when I tried the sands just below the house, a beachcomber told me that never in her 40 years had she seen anybody catch a surfperch there. So, yeah, I’ve got more to learn the whole way around. When I perused the fishing aisle at the Ace Hardware in town yesterday, the staffer restocking the displays handed me some soft plastic baits that look not unlike the creatures in the sand that scared the bejeebers out of us last summer, so I’ll be giving those a try this week. BUT THIS MORNING, the ocean looks so pacific that maybe I ought to just bag my whole surfperch quest and jump on a charter for lings and rockfish instead. I haven’t done that yet, blaming my weak stomach, but I’d be all but assured of catching something. Then again, there’s my other coastal obsession. Yeah, spring is definitely not the best time of year for crabbing, but I know how to catch those guys! With the boys on their spring break, we could run quite a spread off the pier, or rent a bay boat and try our luck that way. Yet it’s the surfperch that are calling my name. “Andy, come down to the beach and catch us, we’ll bite this time, we swear.” So I’ll be giving them a go. But if they’re up to their old tricks, I’ve got options – just like this issue is chock-full of fishing options across the Northwest this month for you – and they’re all good reasons for me to finish this note and enjoy some time on the water in Newport! –Andy Walgamott
The sea was anything but angry the mid-April morning the editor mulled what to fish for as soon as he wrapped up the May issue. (ANDY WALGAMOTT) nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2021
Northwest Sportsman 23
‘Masterpiece’ Of Teamw Takes Down Park Poach How federal and state special agents, fish and wildlife troopers, park rangers and forensics analysts brought the Crater Lake elk and deer killer to justice. By Brent Lawrence Editor’s note: We covered the case against and sentencing of Crater Lake National Park elk and deer poacher Adrian Duane Wood in our March 2021 issue, and here the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service provides a behindthe-scenes look at the work that went into bringing Wood to justice. 26 Northwest Sportsman
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K
athy Spengler needed to paint a picture. Not a paint-by-numbers type portrait, but one that had to be closer to a masterpiece. A special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement based in Wilsonville, near Portland, in 2018
Spengler inherited an ongoing wildlife poaching investigation. There were numerous parts and pieces of evidence that reached back many years, and the potential crime scene covered thousands of acres of rough, remote terrain. Catching a poacher under these circumstances would require ongoing
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service forensics scientist Brian Hamlin extracts DNA from the antlers of a bull elk illegally killed in Crater Lake National Park, one of 128 pieces of genetic evidence analyzed in the case against Adrian Duane Wood. (KATHY SPENGLER/USFWS)
On February 4, 2021, Adrian Duane Wood of Oregon was sentenced for violating the Lacey Act by illegally poaching a trophy bull elk in Crater Lake National Park. Wood was sentenced to three years’ federal probation, banned for the term of his probation from Crater Lake National Park, restricted from hunting for the duration of his probation, and required to pay $42,500 in restitution to the National Park Service for the wildlife illegally taken from the park. Wood also must be in a residential reentry program for 180 days, and complete 300 hours of community service.
A FRESH CANVAS
mwork cher collaboration with partners in the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division and Crater Lake National Park to sort through the information. Then Spengler would need to use the evidence like dabs of paint on a palette to create a picture that could be handed off to the U.S. Department of Justice for prosecution. Finally, after years of persistence, the team used the evidence to paint a portrait of a poacher killing deer and elk inside the boundaries of Crater Lake National Park.
It all started with rumors and tips. In 2014, multiple sources told NPS rangers and OSP troopers that Wood had killed several deer and elk on the west side of Crater Lake National Park after baiting them into a meadow with rock salt. Those reports led to the start of the multi-agency investigation. Throughout 2015, NPS and OSP continued receiving reports of Wood’s illegal poaching. Park rangers found carcasses and evidence of salt use in an area of the park thought to be frequented by Wood. On September 22, 2016, OSP trooper Mike Cushman encountered Wood in his vehicle near the boundary of Crater Lake National Park. Although Wood stated he had not been hunting, the trooper observed blood on Wood’s hands and clothing. When questioned further, Wood produced a partially validated Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife archery elk tag that contained traces of blood. The next day, Cushman returned to the area and walked into Crater Lake National Park. He watched for ravens and followed signs of human activity. Soon, he discovered a freshly killed and partially butchered elk. Its antlers had been removed. “By the time trooper Cushman came back to town, pictures of Wood posing with this big bull elk had already been sent around town,” Spengler said. “Trooper Cushman looked at the pictures and said, ‘Wow. That is where I was at.’ He went back to the park and matched up the location of
PICTURE the carcass with the photo of Wood with the bull elk.” Special agent Jimmy Barna, the lead investigator on the case for USFWS at the time, obtained a search warrant for Wood’s residence. Critical pieces of evidence were located during the search on October 4, 2016, including several wildlife specimens and racks, freezers of meat, digital evidence and Wood’s GPS unit. That evidence served as the underpainting, the first layer of paint that is the foundation on a fresh canvas. Next, it was time to start adding layers and details to see if the evidence would paint a recognizable portrait.
ADDING LAYERS OF DETAIL Spengler took over the case in 2018. As she reviewed the files, the GPS unit caught her attention. Spengler hoped to paint a clear image of Wood’s movements through data found on the GPS device. Liz Cruz, a geographer from USFWS’s Columbia Pacific Northwest Regional Office in Portland, took the GPS data points and placed them on a map, overlaying it with roads and Crater Lake National Park boundaries. “Liz’s map was beautiful,” Spengler said. “She was able to plot the waypoints and track logs, which helped show us where to look for evidence and start tying everything together. The maps confirmed that the majority of his GPS hunting waypoints and track logs between 2011 and 2016 were within the boundaries of Crater Lake National Park.” Some waypoints on the GPS unit were pinned with key words such as “4 Wallows,” “Way Inn,” and “Saalt,” along with locations of parked vehicles on US Forest Service roads that ended outside the park. Spengler started piecing together a timeline by matching track logs and dates with photos, social media posts, Oregon Turn-In-Poachers, or TIP, Line reports from the public, and other evidence. “We were able to tie it all together with all the digital evidence, the statements he made, and the photos. For sure, the
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Northwest Sportsman 27
PICTURE
September 22, 2016 elk – that big bull he poached from the park – it was crystal clear what happened by the evidence,” Spengler said. But the evidence revealed even more. Just five days before he killed the bull elk, there were reports that Wood had killed a deer and an elk in the park. “On September 17, 2016, someone had reported through the TIP Line that Wood had taken an elk and a deer. I’m looking at the map and his track log on September 17, and I see this big red splotch on the map,” Spengler said. “I called Liz and said, ‘What was he doing and how long was he there?’ She could zoom in on the points
Most visitors to Crater Lake National Park come to see the caldera of Mount Mazama via the road around its rim, but the park’s forests and meadows are also a home to summering elk and deer. (CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK)
from the track log and see he was going back and forth at the edge of a meadow for 45 minutes. I went back into Crater Lake National Park with the park ecologist, and we found cow elk remains there at that very spot on the map.” The painting became more refined with each data point and piece of evidence. Then it was time to add more details to the portrait through forensic analysis of the evidence.
MORE BRUSHSTROKES Next up at the easel was Brian Hamlin, a forensics scientist in the genetics section at USFWS’s Forensics Laboratory in
Data from Wood’s seized GPS unit allowed USFWS geographer Liz Cruz to map multiple trips Wood made into Crater Lake from 2011 through 2016, with the red and blue lines here showing his paths on September 17 and September 4, 2016. The “big red splotch” is where special agent Kathy Spengler and a federal ecologist found remains of a cow elk killed on the 17th. (LIZ CRUZ, USFWS) 28 Northwest Sportsman
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Ashland. Hamlin has worked for 22 years at the world’s only full-service forensics laboratory dedicated to wildlife. “The evidence has a story to tell, and we’re here to help it tell that story,” Hamlin said. Hamlin extracted DNA from remains from the field, the meat in the freezer, and the wildlife specimens and antlers seized from Wood’s residence. In total, Hamlin and his colleagues in the pathology, morphology and criminalistic sections of the laboratory analyzed 128 pieces of evidence. “Genetics certainly played a big role in developing the forensics triangle – linking the victim, the crime scene and the suspect,” Hamlin said. “The DNA from the bull elk carcass they recovered from Crater Lake, along with the archery hunting tag containing trace blood that OSP had seized from the suspect, both matched the DNA from the set of antlers seized from the residence. In multiple instances, we were able to link the suspect directly to evidence found in the park and suspect’s residence through DNA.” The laboratory’s tests revealed that Wood possessed parts of at least 13 elk, 12 deer, and one black bear. Analysis in the pathology and criminalistic sections of the lab revealed the elk taken on September 22, 2016, had been killed by a gunshot instead of by archery. All of the forensics evidence, layered together with text messages, social media posts, reports of Wood’s activities from
PICTURE members of the public and other hunters, his GPS track logs and waypoints, and photos painted a dramatic and dark image. It was the portrait of a serial poacher at Crater Lake National Park.
THE FINISHED PORTRAIT Spengler presented the finished portrait to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. Adam E. Delph served as the government’s lead attorney for the case. Wood was indicted May 1, 2019, by a federal grand jury in Medford. On August 17, 2020, Wood pleaded guilty to the Lacey Act charge and agreed to pay restitution to NPS for the wildlife illegally taken from the national park. In total, investigators definitively linked six seized specimens to elk or deer poached by Wood in the national park in 2015 and 2016.
Wood with the bull elk he poached inside the national park on September 22, 2016, and for which he pleaded guilty to a Lacey Act violation. The White City-area resident was sentenced to pay over $42,000 in restitution for killing it and five other elk and deer in the park and was barred from the landscape for three years. (US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE) “One of the most important duties of the U.S. Attorney Office is to enforce our nation’s environmental laws,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug.
“These laws protect vulnerable wildlife populations, ensuring their continued health and survival. Mr. Wood preyed on elk and deer unaccustomed to being hunted and thus lacking the instinct to protect themselves. Mr. Wood showed no remorse for his crimes, bragged about his poaching on social media, and even engaged his minor son in his illegal activity. Without the determination and persistence of federal and state investigators, Mr. Wood’s destructive behavior would continue to this day.” The importance of catching and convicting this poacher was particularly important to the Oregon Hunters Association. The group provided a supporting letter at sentencing, asking the judge to impose a strong sentence in the case. “Poachers are thieves, stealing wildlife from all of us,” said Paul Donheffner, OHA legislative committee chairman. “They are armed robbers, often preying on wildlife at
FEDERAL FORENSICS LAB ALSO LOOKING INTO DEATHS OF 5 OREGON WOLVES
O
regon investigators have been tight lipped on the deaths of five wolves northeast of La Grande in February, but one thing they have let slip is that all carcasses were turned over to the same federal forensics laboratory used in the Crater Lake National Park poaching case to determine the animals’ cause of death. What little has been made public is that just after noon on February 9, state biologists got a mortality signal from a collared wolf in Union County, in the vicinity of Mt. Harris. When officials arrived, they found five dead wolves, which were then transported to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s forensics facility in Ashland. In response to questions from a reporter, its director, Ken Goddard, said their analytical results are only shared with the investigating body that submits evidence. The location where the dead wolves were found puts the incident in the range of the Clark Creek Pack, which numbered six at the end of 2019. With so little information reported,
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it’s all speculation at this point, but one possibility leaped to mind for a regional wolf expert. “My first thought would be some kind of poisoning activity – five dead wolves located using one radio-collared animal suggests the carcasses were in a fairly small area,” said retired federal wolf biologist Carter Niemeyer in Boise. “Fastacting poison could do that, or another possibility would be if someone killed them and hauled them to a single location to skin them or some other exhibit.” While a Yellowstone study found wolves with mange are vulnerable to very cold, windy weather, Niemeyer doubted natural causes in this case. “I couldn’t fathom five adult wolves succumbing to a disease or parasite and dying so close together as to be found. Seems like the carcasses must have been in a fairly open situation visible from the air or perhaps from bird concentrations,” he said. Wolves have been federally delisted throughout Oregon but remain under state protections. “People are killing them because
they can – pure retribution,” lamented Niemeyer, who himself has a complicated relationship with the species. Having not only helped reintroduce them to Yellowstone and Central Idaho but lethally deal with their livestock depredations, he was described by The Oregonian several years ago as a “former wolf hit man” turned “unlikely advocate.” OSP in consultation with the USFWS Forensics Lab will make the ultimate call on what killed the Northeast Oregon wolves, but there has been at least one other mass die-off of Canis lupus in the Northwest in recent years. In August 2012, USFWS offered a $2,500 reward for info on the deaths of four wolves, as well as six eagles, inside the Bob Marshall Wilderness of Northwest Montana in May of that year. Lab work said they died of poisoning. It’s unclear if that was solved; Google searches turn up only the initial press release and news articles but no results. Until more details come out, what happened in Northeast Oregon is, like Niemeyer says, “a mystery,” one that federal forensics lab staffers are working to help crack. –NWS
PICTURE night and in closed areas, such as Crater Lake National Park. Legal hunting is regulated to protect wildlife populations in a sustainable way. Poachers upset the sustainable balance and are a key factor in why some deer and elk herds are below management objectives.” “Adrian Wood’s case is a prime example of egregious poaching … The Department of Justice, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Oregon State Patrol (sic) spent so much time, money and effort on this case that the very least we could do was write a letter asking the court to drop the hammer as hard as possible,” stated Donheffner. “If nothing else, perhaps this sends a message to others.”
SIGNING THE MASTERPIECE This case hinged on the dedication of the multiple agencies and individuals who worked together over a long period of time. Many of the investigators and prosecutors moved on to new jobs or retired during the
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multi-year case, handing it off to new people to finish the portrait. Because of this diligence and commitment, DOJ was able to secure a guilty plea. “We had a great team and everyone worked together. Crater Lake National Park and Oregon State Patrol (sic) were heavily involved from the beginning of the case. National Park Service ranger Shane Rogers collected the bull elk carcass from the field, and was also responsible for finding other evidence that proved to be essential to the investigation. He reached out to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service saying they had a Lacey Act case and was going to need the Forensics Laboratory’s help with identifying some of the genetic components of the case,” Spengler said. “The Department of Justice really embraced this case as well. It took a real team to complete this case.” There were many people who had a hand in solving this poaching case, including:
• USFWS Office of Law Enforcement special agents Jimmy Barna, Sheila O’Connor and Kathy Spengler; Forensics Laboratory staff Laura Daugherty, Brian Hamlin, Rachel Jacobs, Katie Poplin and Tabitha Viner; and National Wildlife Refuge System geographer Liz Cruz; • Oregon State Police Senior Fish and Wildlife Trooper Mike Cushman, Sgt. Jim Collom, and others; • Crater Lake National Park Rangers Walters, Shane Rogers, Jordan Neumann and Kean Mihata; ecologist Sean Mohren, and others; • And the U.S. Department of Justice Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, Adam E. Delph. With the case closed, the team can finally put away their paint and clean their brushes. This masterpiece portrait, painted by more than a dozen dedicated professionals, is complete. NS Editor’s note: Brent Lawrence is a public information officer with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Portland office.
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Rewards Grow For Info On 2 Poaching Cases
R
It’s likely these three young blacktails – found dead and wasted on Coos Bay’s north jetty in March – were spotlighted by someone in a four-wheel-drive vehicle or ATV. (OSP)
ewards for information leading to citations in poaching cases in Central Oregon and on the Central Coast have grown to $6,500 and $1,500 as officials look to track down who shot three elk and three blacktails. The first case occurred near Sisters in late October, likely on the opening day of the East Central Cascade elk hunt, and involved a large bull, cow and a spike elk. While the head and front shoulders of the bull were removed, the other two elk were completely left to waste. “They did this for their own satisfaction. I don’t know how they find this satisfying,” said Greg Petcsh of the Oregon Hunters Association. The Bend Chapter raised $2,150 alone for the reward fund, while several others chapters, as well as some private individuals, helped to bring it to $6,500. Six preference points can be claimed instead. Tipsters are asked to call the Turn In Poachers hotline, (800) 452-7888, text *OSP (*677) or email TIP@osp.oregon.gov. Meanwhile, the search is also on for whomever killed and wasted three young bucks on the north jetty of Coos Bay in mid-March. According to officials, the trio were “shot in the head, from relatively close range,” likely after being blinded. “This is the worst that I’ve seen,” said Joseph Metzler, a US Department of Agriculture employee who discovered the deer while doing snowy plover work in the dunes. “All three of these animals would have matured to be nice bucks for people to take next hunting season. Each one would have filled a freezer.” Six preference points or $1,500 is being offered for info that leads to a citation. Use the same above contacts and leave a message for Trooper John Cooper.
Montana Governor Receives Wolf Warning
JACKASS OF THE MONTH
ontana’s governor took a three-hour wolf trapping certification in late March after receiving a written warning from state wildlife officials for trapping and killing a wolf south of Bozeman in February without first completing the required course. Greg Gianforte, a Republican elected last November, was otherwise properly licensed to take the black-coated male wolf on a donor’s private ranch north of Yellowstone National Park where it was trapped, according to news reports. “I made a mistake. I should’ve been more familiar with the regs. I work really hard to follow all the rules. I think as a sportsman, that’s very important and I screwed up,” Gianforte told the Helena Independent. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks was reportedly treating it as an “educational opportunity,” given that the governor was “forthright in what happened and honest about the circumstances.” Still, the state chair of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers raised an eyebrow. “It’s difficult to fathom accidentally not taking that class,” John Sullivan told Boise State Public Radio. “When you go to buy your wolf trapping license online, it clearly states that trapper education is required.” Per the Montana Wolf Trapper Education’s Student Manual, the course emphasizes the ethics and responsibilities of trapping; helps spread humane trapping tactics; details legal equipment and restrictions around trapping wolves; reduces the number of nontarget animals caught in traps; and shares wolf ecology and dispels myths. In fall 2000 Gianforte self-reported unlawfully shooting a spike after mistaking tree branches for brow tines. He was fined $70.
he Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division’s monthly newsletter is always an interesting read, and the February issue spotlighted this bozo. Step 1: Use a net to try and poach steelhead from an Oregon Coast fish trap. Step 2: Shoot up an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife trail cam stationed at said fish trap. Step 3: Go fish closed waters on the South Fork Coquille River. Step 4: Be contacted there by OSP troopers. Step 5: Confess to netting the trap and shooting the trail cam. Step 6: Get cited for second-degree criminal mischief, unlawfully taking steelhead and fishing in a prohibited area. Step 7: Have rifle, net and rod seized. Step 8: Collect your Jackass of the Month award.
M
T
nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2021
Northwest Sportsman 35
PHOTO
CONTEST
WINNERS!
Brandon Jewett is the winner of our monthly Fishing Photo Contest, thanks to this pic of daughter Jolie Bruton-Jewett and her rainbow, caught at the family’s longtime fishin’ hole. It wins him gear from various tackle manufacturers!
Mike Huwaldt Jr. is our monthly Coast Hunting Photo Contest winner, thanks to this pic of his dad, Mike Huwaldt Sr., and the duo’s first ever turkey. 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, 14240 Interurban Ave S., Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for our print or Internet publications. nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2021
Northwest Sportsman 37
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Boats • Motors • Service • Boat Storage MAIN (425) 252-3088 | LAUNCH (425) 339-8330 | 1111 Craftsman Way, Everett, WA 98201
OUTDOOR
CALENDAR* MAY
1
4, 12 6 13-15 15 20-22 21-22 25 25-26 26 27-30 29 31
Pikeminnow sport reward fishery begins on Columbia and Snake Rivers – info: pikeminnow.org; Proposed Southern Oregon Subarea halibut opener – info: dfw.state.or.us/MRP/finfish/halibut/management.asp; Washington Marine Areas 5-11, 13 lingcod opener ODFW Intro to Hunting Big Game in Oregon ($, register), Portland Sportsman’s Warehouse – info: /myodfw.com/workshops-and-events Tentative Columbia River Subarea/Area 1, Area 2 halibut opener (Thurs., Sun. fishing through May 23); Tentative Areas 3-5 halibut opener (Thurs., Sat. fishing through May 22) – info: wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut Proposed Oregon Central Coast all-depth halibut opener – info: see above Oregon fall controlled big game permit purchase application deadline Proposed Oregon Central Coast all-depth halibut opener – info: see above Anacortes Boat & Yacht Show, Cap Sante Marina, Anacortes; anacortesboatandyachtshow.com Last day to hunt turkeys in Idaho ODFW Intro to Hunting Big Game in Oregon ($, register), OSP La Grande office – info: see above Washington big game special permit application deadline Tentative Washington halibut openers in all open areas (dates vary by area) – info: see above Fishing opens on select Washington streams; Skykomish River hatchery summer Chinook, steelhead opener Last day of Oregon, Washington spring turkey, Oregon spring bear seasons
JUNE 1 3-5 5 5-6 10-12 12 12-13 15 17-19 19 26
North Fork Nooksack, Skagit, Cascade Rivers opener for spring Chinook Proposed Oregon Central Coast all-depth halibut opener – info: see above Fishing Kids event on Lake Washington at Renton – info: castforkids.org Oregon Free Fishing Weekend Proposed Oregon Central Coast all-depth halibut opener – info: see above Free Fishing Day in Idaho Washington Free Fishing Weekend Last day of Washington spring bear season Proposed Oregon Central Coast all-depth halibut opener – info: see above CAST For Kids event at Sarge Hubbard Pond, Yakima – info: see above CAST For Kids event at Emigrant Lake, Medford – info: see above
UPCOMING EVENTS* Now through Oct. 31: WDFW 2021 Trout Derby, select lakes across Washington; wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/contests/trout-derby May 1-2: 2021 CRWAA/Mardon Resort Potholes Walleye Classic; facebook.com/columbiariverwalleyeanglersassociation/ May 14-16: Pikeminnow Fishing Derby 2021, Wanapum Pool; quincyvalley.org May 22: Brownlee Crappie Shoot Out Kayak Fishing Tournament; facebook.com/brownleecrappieshootout May 29-31: Huntington Oregon Lions Catfish Derby, Brownlee Reservoir; facebook.com/groups/926993987464891/ June 12: Kokanee Power of Oregon Derby, Wickiup Reservoir; kokaneepoweroregon.com/derby
* Check ahead. Some events may not take place due to coronavirus concerns. nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2021
Northwest Sportsman 39
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MAXXUM MARINE: ‘THE SEAL AND STAPLE OF SOLID CRAFTSMANSHIP’ BY ULISES ORDONEZ-PEREZ
M
axxum Marine has blossomed into an establishment far bigger than originally envisioned.
Stacy Slonecker was in junior high school when he began tinkering, dismantling and rebuilding boats. He got it from his father, who worked as a mechanic for heavy machinery. Lloyd, Stacy’s older brother, hopped into the boat-building business
Author and lead rigging technician Ulises Ordonez-Perez at the company’s facility in Eugene.
Edgar Batista, a rigging technician, works on an outboard engine.
years later using Lloyd’s commercial photography studio as means of a workshop, which would soon become Unique Manufacturing. Before they settled on a name that has now become the seal and staple of solid craftsmanship, the two brothers specialized in building aluminum fishing boats that would soon be stamped Maxxum, a name that “states maximum strength, maximum performance.” For
nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2021
Northwest Sportsman 41
Salesmen Josh Watson (left) and Jim Hicks test out an electronics installation. a long time it was just the two of them before they realized they needed to grow their business in terms of infrastructure. Production has evolved tremendously through the years, and that called for a bigger workspace and more hands on deck. Reluctant at first, they have shifted into higher gear but continue to have high expectations and strive for excellence. Although Maxxum no longer builds aluminum boats, the company is still a fierce contender in boat, motor and accessory sales and customization. One of our most popular boats from 2020 and even now has been the Thunder Jet Alexis Pro Series (Offshore). Sporting a high-performance extra-wide hull, this boat provides more stability and comfort, even in the roughest conditions. A large extended reverse chine delivers improved tracking and easier turning ability. Then there’s the V-hull and hull, designed to push water out, not forward, leading to a higher, drier ride for further comfort than ever before. Along with our wide range of services, electronic installs and complete overhauls, we are one of the largest suppliers of Garmin and Suzuki products. Although we don’t offer every entity in terms of outboard motors, we do include Mercury, Yamaha and Tohatsu in our
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sales. Humminbird and Minn Kota products are also no stranger to us, and we are a factory dealer for Miller Marine and Fish Fighter products. Here’s a boat owner pro tip. Come spring, boat companies start to fill up with orders, becoming overwhelmed as fishing season is just around the corner. But if you bring your boats in during the winter for routine maintenance, you’ll be ready
as soon as the sun comes out. This, of course, excludes de-winterizations. You want to keep your boat winterized through the winter. But most boat shops come to a crawl during the winter, which makes for quick turnaround, so in case there’s a big issue with your boat or vessel, your boat’s not stuck in the shop on a beautiful, sunny day and in the middle of fishing season. And as of press deadline we’re having to turn away business because the amount of orders are just too high. In conclusion, our company strives for greatness, and we pride ourselves on having a wealth of knowledge in all aspects of the marine industry. We commit to constantly improving our processes each and every day, and we back up our work. If there is something we cannot do, we don’t pretend to know or attempt anything we might fail, but we will work with our customers to make sure they have and get what they need. With a combined experience of over 60 years in the boat, mechanical and manufacturing industry, we look forward to further serving our community. Editor’s note: Ulises Ordonez-Perez is a rigging technician at Maxxum Marine (maxxummarine.com).
“Our company strives for greatness,” writes Ordonez-Perez, “and we pride ourselves on having a wealth of knowledge in all aspects of the marine industry.”
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44 Northwest Sportsman
MAY 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com
FISHING
May Flowers With Ling Ops
The rocky depths of Puget Sound, San Juan Islands and Strait of Juan de Fuca are home to good numbers of lingcod, the 46-day season for which begins May 1. (DAN HERSHMAN, FLICKR, CC BY 2.0)
Here’s how to catch the tasty bottomfish in the sheltered seas of Washington’s inland waters. By Mark Yuasa
I
t’s hard to believe May has already arrived. The trees and flowers are budding out, days are getting longer, temperatures are rising ever so slightly and the well-liked Puget Sound lingcod season is in full bloom. Lingcod fishing is open May 1 through June 15 from Sekiu in the western Strait of Juan de Fuca to
southern Puget Sound. That stretch includes Marine Areas 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 13, though Hood Canal (Area 12) remains closed. During the 1970s and ’80s, Puget Sound lingcod populations hit alltime lows due to overfishing and poor management, but since the 1990s their numbers have rebounded to provide a decent spring fishing opportunity. Population growth stemmed from
implementing a brief fishing window in spring with a one-lingcod daily limit; avoiding angler interaction during spawning time in winter and early spring; and imposing a tight minimum size slot limit of 26 inches and maximum size of 36 inches for “keeper-sized” fish.
BEAUTY IS IN the eye of the beholder and for anglers the main attraction – less a nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2021
Northwest Sportsman 47
FISHING
G P
D Lead jigs will work, but the best bait for lingcod just might be live fish. That’s what young Logan and his brother caught last May in the San Juans and then used them to upgrade the day’s haul with a couple lings to 31 inches. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
lingcod’s buggy eyes and bucket-sized mouth lined with gnarly canine-like teeth – is the aggressive fight when hooked, followed by the firm, whitemeated fillets regarded as highly delectable in the culinary realm. One challenge anglers face is understanding a lingcod’s habitat, but doing some homework will lead to better success. A lingcod’s preferred habitat is usually found among tackle-snagging structure near breakwaters, pinnacles, rock piles, artificial reefs and ledges and shoals that provide them a place to hide and easily pick off their prey. Often the fishing grounds cover a small plot of underwater acreage at depths of 20 to 120 feet, so boat positioning becomes vital, especially 48 Northwest Sportsman
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in places that get fished out quickly. Many hotspots are kept highly guarded by anglers. Lingcod are good at camouflaging themselves and will rest on the bottom only to surge out from a rocky structure and pick off unsuspecting sea creatures. They’re voracious predators, and will eat just about anything. Favorite meals include flounder, kelp greenling, herring, sculpin, rockfish, octopus, crabs, squid, pollock, and they’ll even feast on their own in the form of juvenile lings. Another obstacle to overcome is keeping tabs on tidal movement, current and wind, thus making sure your drift pushes you from shallow to deep water to avoid snagging bottom.
A fast drift created by huge tidal fluctuations, coupled with a strong current and/or wind, will also cause the boat to move past the hotspot before you can even get your lines down on the honey hole. I prefer a softer tide for lings and will watch the weather forecasts before heading out.
IDEAL PLACES TO reel in lingcod include Possession Bar and Double Bluff off Whidbey Island; breakwaters at the Edmonds, Shilshole and Elliott Bay marinas; Point Evans near the Narrows Bridge; Hat Island; Toliva Shoal off Steilacoom; Utsalady Bay; artificial reefs off Edmonds, south of Alki Point and south of Richmond Beach; Foulweather Bluff off the Kitsap Peninsula; and Deception Pass.
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FISHING The San Juan Islands are a haven with countless rocky reefs and outcroppings surrounding Cypress, Lopez, Sucia, Patos and Waldron Islands, as well as the west side of San Juan and north side of Orcas Islands. Smith and Burrows Islands are other decent spots located near Anacortes.
A WIDE RANGE of baits, lures, plastic grubs and jigs will attract a lingcod, but truly the top choice is a live flounder or kelp greenling. Adding scent will boost your hook-up chances. Anglers will often hit up their favorite flounder spots to catch and store them in a boat’s livewell or aerator before heading to the lingcod fishing grounds. Be sure to know what a daily limit is on individual species by checking the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife regulation pamphlet or website. Don’t go over the limit with the fish you keep plus your live bait because everything in
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the boat counts against you. A braided main line in 30- to 50-pound test on a slider swivel attached to an 8- to 10-ounce lead drop sinker and a short, 30- to 50-poundtest monofilament leader with tandem 8/0 circle hooks to the bait works well. Rigging a live bait such as a flounder doesn’t take a scientist to figure out; run the top hook through the mouth and embed the trailing hook on top of the body near the tail. Be sure to let the presentation down slowly so it won’t tangle and then reel up one or two cranks, keeping the bait bouncing just off the bottom. Lastly, check your bait often to avoid snagging or drifting with baitless hooks. When a lingcod grabs your bait or lure, be sure to hold on as there’s nothing subtle to the way they eat it! You don’t need to set the hook as they’ll peel off line at a fast rate. A lingcod tends to just latch on to your presentation, so having your net
or gaff ready is important before it thrashes and throws your hooks near the surface. Besides a live bait, the next best item in the lineup is a frozen horsesized herring (black or blue label). A whole anchovy is another good choice. Other lures used include copper pipe jigs or lead-style jigs like a Point Wilson Dart; Berkley Gulp Plastic Saltwater Gulp! Grubs; plastic grubtail jigs; and shad swimbaits. When it comes to fishing rods, stick with a stout, medium to heavy weight (rated at 15- to 30-pound) in 6 to 8 feet in length. A conventional salmon-style reel with a braided main line of, again, 30- to 50-pound test works just fine. Despite the limited fishing time for lingcod in the Straits, San Juans and Sound, they still provide a fair window of opportunity each spring – 46 days to be exact – to fill up your freezer with fillets and enjoy one of the strongest fighting fish in the sea! NS
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COLUMN
4 Guides Talk Late Willamette Chinook
Some of the Northwest’s best Chinook fishing in spring occurs in May and even June on the lower Willamette River and the Multnomah Channel, as Jason Hambly, Bill Mathews, Rocky Conroy, Mike Codino and Chris McBride learned while fishing at Oregon City with guide Dave Eng (far right). (FISHENG GUIDE SERVICE)
B
ased on the preseason forecast of 50,000, the citizens’ rod-and-reel fishery for spring salmon on the lower BUZZ Willamette River, RAMSEY including its slough, likely represents the region’s best opportunity to catch a Chinook this month and beyond. And why not? After all, we’ve got a pretty decent run coming back this year and these are regarded as the best eating of Northwest salmon.
The good news is that Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists think that as many as 15,000 fin-clipped springers will be harvested from this year’s Willamette run. Compare that number to the estimated 2,900 hatchery fish taken by citizens during the Columbia’s earlier westof-Bonneville fishery and you can see why the Willamette is where you should focus your fishing efforts. There is still plenty of time left to participate in the fishery, too, as good fishing will continue all month long and through June for anglers who just can’t get enough. The fish are nice sized, averaging
9 to 15 pounds with a few 5-year-old salmon capable of pulling your scale to the 30-pound mark. And while you can catch salmon anywhere along the lower Willamette and Multnomah Channel during the May and June time frame, many anglers and guides focus their effort in one of three basic areas. These include the stretch from Oregon City to the Sellwood Bridge; from the St. Johns Bridge to the mouth of the Willamette; and at the bottom of the slough, from the Gilbert River to where the slough dumps into the Columbia near St. Helens. Ocean tides affect the Willamette River
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Northwest Sportsman 53
COLUMN
Guide Dave Eng back-trolls a Mag Lip on his front rods and Jet Divers in combination with various baits on his back rods for spring Chinook success just downstream from the I-205 Bridge on the Willamette at Oregon City. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
in a big way. And while the amount of exchange is stronger in the slough and where the Willamette enters the Columbia than at Oregon City, their influence on the bite is noticeable in all locations. What you need to know is that the best bite of the day often occurs before and after each tide change, with the very best bite often occurring during the last hour of the flood and first half of the outgo. It’s during these time periods when your chances of hooking up are best – and when you want to be fishing and not chasing a potty or food break. Since the timing of the tide is different depending on your location, you will need to know what the tide is doing based on your position. In addition, the flow of the Willamette combined with the height of the Columbia can alter the exact timing of ocean tides. All this requires a little thought, on-the-water experience and a tide book (available at tackle stores) or smartphone app (EbbTide), which show the tide time difference and the amount of fluctuation for various spots along the Willamette River and its slough. To obtain a fresh perspective on each of the locations mentioned, I interviewed four different fishing guides to get their thoughts. 54 Northwest Sportsman
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YOU’LL FIND THE first, Dave Eng (503-3418863), spending most of May targeting the area around Oregon City. And although he will switch methods based on what’s working best, he mostly back-trolls the area just downstream from the I-205 Bridge. Given the prevailing current speed
and 15- to 25-foot water depth in this area, he mostly back-trolls a combination of plug and diver-and-bait rigs. What has worked for Eng and his clients is to back-troll Mag Lip plugs from his bow rods, with 40 to 60 feet of line let out. On his back two rods are jumbo-sized Jet Divers rigged in combination with various baits. Eng has his clients trail these 90 to 100 feet downstream from his sled. His baits are rigged on 6-foot leaders extending back from his divers. What he uses all depends on what the fish are/ have been responding to best. The baits he might use include: cured salmon eggs, sand shrimp, prawns and occasionally a red-label herring plug cut to spin. To reduce the possibility of his trailing baits hanging bottom, he rigs a couple large Corky Drifters (in black color) halfway down his leader – just above a swivel. According to Eng, more than a few anglers employ Pro-Troll flashers in combination with 3.5 spinners or Super Baits in the deepwater areas extending from Oregon City to the Sellwood Bridge. And while guides like Terry Mulkey will mostly creep upstream when facing into the current above I-205, many will sometimes find success by trolling their flashers and trailing baits downstream toward Meldrum Bar and beyond.
For Willamette springers, guide Terry Mulkey uses a 12- to 16-ounce cannonball sinker 24 inches ahead of a Pro-Troll flasher, followed by a 24- to 30-inch leader to a Mulkey Spinner Blade. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
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Northwest Sportsman 55
COLUMN SPEAKING OF MULKEY, the seasoned guide (503-803-1896) fishes the area from Oregon City to Milwaukie during the first half of May and then moves his operation downstream to the head of the Multnomah Channel, where he works the waters extending from the Fremont Bridge to the mouth of the Willamette. He focuses on the area above I-205, where he trolls Pro-Troll flashers rigged in combination with his 3½ size Mulkey spinner. Given the soft current in this location, combined with the need to keep his rod-pumping flashers working, he keeps his boat slowly creeping upriver. For rigging, Mulkey positions his flashers 24 inches behind 12-ounce cannonball-style sinkers. His preferred leader length, from flasher to spinner, is 24 to 30 inches. Given that the water depth in this area averages 20 feet, he instructs his clients to put their lines out 20 feet on their linecounter reels. As mentioned above, it’s in mid-May that Mulkey moves his guiding operation lower in the Willamette. During the last two weeks of the month, you might find him trolling anywhere downstream of the
Although most guides who author Buzz Ramsey interviewed only mentioned using spinners, Brad’s Super Bait and sometimes redlabel herring in combination with Pro-Troll flashers, Yakima Bait’s new SpinFish pull-apart-and-fill-with-bait lure could be a gamechanger for spring Chinook. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
While guiding the lower Multnomah Channel during the first half of May, Eric Linde uses green-label herring trolled in combination with Fish Flash before moving his operation upstream to the head of the slough, where he switches tactics to Pro-Trolls in combination with small spinners and Brad’s Super Baits. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
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Fremont Bridge, but come June he narrows his focus to the waters from the St. Johns Bridge to the mouth of the Willamette. Mulkey’s rods are rigged the same as when trolling the Oregon City area, except here he goes with 16-ounce sinkers on his front/bow rods and 12 on the back. As for let out, he has the clients occupying the front seats put their lines out 20 feet on the linecounters, and those in the back seats put their lines out 24 feet. He also shared that while the best bite during May is most often influenced by tide changes, it’s mostly a daybreak-to-11a.m. bite when the waters warm in June. It’s well known that the hook-to-land ratio can be poor when using rotating flashers, as the fish can get leverage against these big flashers and throw or tear out the hook. To prevent this from happening, Mulkey has his reel drags set fairly light and purposely keeps the fish away from the boat during the first portion of the fight. “You’ve got to let the fish tire out while
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COLUMN
The late Pete Herron, who fished springers on the Willamette since he was 17, and guide Terry Mulkey show off a Chinook taken on a Mulkey Spinner trolled in combination with a Pro-Troll downstream from the St. Johns Bridge. (MULKEY’S FISHING GUIDE SERVICE)
Guide Jack Glass holds a springer caught on a Brad’s Super Bait. (TEAM HOOKUP GUIDE SERVICE) away from the boat before bringing them close enough to net,” Mulkey advises. “What you don’t want to do is allow them to frantically thrash near the boat, a sure way to lose them.”
Mulkey rigs his small namesake blades directly on a leader via a plastic stirrup clevis and Owner treble hook with several plastic beads when trolled in combination with Pro-Troll flashers for Willamette spring Chinook. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
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WHILE FELLOW GUIDE Jack Glass (503-2602315) focuses his spring salmon guiding operation from the St. Johns Bridge to the Willamette mouth during May and June, he sometimes finds success down the Multnomah Channel, where the fishing pressure is mostly light during this time of year. Glass rigs his Pro-Troll flashers in combination with spinners, Super Baits and sometimes small red-label herring, which he plug-cuts. His rigging includes 18 inches of leader from his weight to flasher and 20 to 24 inches of leader from his flasher to spinner. He doubles the leader length when using herring in combination with his rotating flashers. “The shorter leader from weight to flasher produces a faster flasher rotation, which seems to attract salmon better than the typical 24-inch spacing most anglers use,” says Glass.
Like others, he runs 16 ounces of weight on his front rods and 12 on his back rods. And while water depth determines how far back he places his offerings, it’s mostly 25 to 35 feet out on the linecounters. According to Glass, most anglers who fish the lower Willamette launch at Fred’s Marina, Cathedral Park (beneath St. Johns Bridge) or the 42nd Street, or James Gleason, boat ramp. Of course, launching at this last put-in on the Columbia means you will have to run about 8 miles downriver before turning into the Willamette to access this fishery.
LONGTIME FISHING GUIDE Eric Linde (360607-6421) fishes the bottom end of the Multnomah Channel during the first half of May before moving to the same area where Mulkey and Glass operate. “It just seems like our rate of success in the lower slough begins to drop off by mid-May, so I then move upstream and troll the mile-long area above where the slough splits from the main Willamette,” Linde shares. For the lower slough, upstream from St. Helens, he relies on a Fish Flash trolled in
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Northwest Sportsman 59
COLUMN Guide Eric Linde trolls the lower Multnomah Channel, down near St. Helens, for spring Chinook until mid-May, when he then moves his operation to the head of the Willamette’s slough. (LINDE’S SPORTFISHING)
combination with green-label herring. He plug-cuts them such that they will spin. “This triangular flasher/herring combination is what works best for me in the mostly 20-foot water depths found in the lower slough,” Linde adds. Like the other guides I interviewed for this article, Linde says he relies on Pro-Troll flashers rigged in combination with Super Baits and small, size 3.5 spinners for salmon success when trolling the main Willamette around the head end of the slough. As for trolling speed? “With Pro-Troll flashers, it’s when the flashers are rotating and causing the rod tips to pulsate up and down 6 inches or more and in a consistent fashion that the salmon strike,” Linde tips. “It’s the pulsating action these big rotating flashers impart to spinners and other trailing baits that has proven irresistible to salmon when the water warms late in the season.” NS Editor’s note: Buzz Ramsey is regarded as a sport fishing authority, outdoor writer and proficient lure and fishing rod designer.
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The Rampage Returns After running the first Rampage out of Westport from 2005 through 2017, Randy Ratliff sold the Rampage and moved to Costa Rica, where he owned and operated a 26-foot boat as a fishing and snorkeling charter. When Covid-19 shut down tourism in Costa Rica, Randy decided it was time to return to Westport with an all new program. He decided to combine elements of three of his previous charter boats, and the concept of the new Rampage was born. The concept started at the Runaway Grill, a bar in Quepos, Costa Rica, which is the last stop for local charter captains after a day of fishing. A group of captains and crew asked Randy what his plan was since he had sold his Costa Rica boat No Shoes. Missing his summer-long quest of albacore and other Northwest fish, Randy felt that if he could combine the comforts of the big boat with the speed of the smaller boats, he could have a fantastic new program. After much discussion on what platform would be best for the new boat, a consensus was formed on Hatteras. Not very familiar with
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the East Coast brand, Randy began researching and seeking out a Hatteras yacht. He found one for sale in Maryland, and thus began this new journey. After a fantastic survey, it was time for the sea trial. The boat had great speed cruising at 24 knots, but the flat waters of Chesapeake Bay do not compare to the waters of the Pacific Northwest. Randy decided to take his friends’ advice and trust that they knew what they were talking about. One of Randy’s key requirements for this vessel was elevation, because elevation equals visibility ... as in being able to see tuna from miles away. However, that same elevation created a huge challenge for transporting the boat cross-country on the back of a truck. At over 13 feet tall and 13 feet wide, in order to make the trek, the boat’s hard top was removed and the fly bridge was cut off.
After a month in the shed in Ilwaco, Wash., reattaching the pieces, the boat was ready for its final leg of the journey to Westport. The boat performed beautifully and the ride was very smooth, considering there was an eight-foot swell and a two-foot wind wave; she cruised at 18 knots without even pushing her. After adding a new set of Furuno electronics, interior seating and bunks, cockpit railing, life raft, 90-gallon bait tank, deck fish box, below deck fish hold to operate a one-ton refrigerated saltwater fish chilling system, and downriggers for salmon trolling, Randy is convinced the new Rampage will be the ultimate six-man boat for tuna, salmon and all other Northwest fish species. A combination of luxury and amenities. You can see her and make reservations online at www.westportsportfishing.com or call 360-268-1080.
FISHING
Yeah, author Dave Anderson (kneeling) was catching albacore out on the briny blue in his own boat, but a trip with skipper Mark Coleman (standing at right) sharply increased his understanding of how to work the fishery. (DAVE ANDERSON)
Charter A Smarter Course Nothing can supercharge your mastery of a fishery more than booking a trip with a great skipper or fishing guide. By Dave Anderson
H
ave you ever been out on the water and wanted to beat your head against the bow because you keep seeing a guide or charter boat catch fish after fish and you cannot seem to hook up? I can
assure you that some of us have felt this at least once in our lifetime. But as the old saying goes, “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.” Making the decision to book a charter or guide is not throwing in the towel and saying you do not know what you are doing. Instead,
you are making the decision to go with someone who has the local knowledge, day in and day out experience, as well as a list of contacts they communicate with. All these factors can take away a ton of guesswork and help make for a really great experience out on the water. nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2021
Northwest Sportsman 63
FISHING This will also give you the opportunity to learn how to effectively capitalize on certain fisheries so that you will be leaps and bounds ahead of where you otherwise would have been on your next trip. Small details can be all it takes for you to go from having days where people wonder what the heck you are doing to being successful with nets flying left and right.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, you must know your guide or charter. Research is easy in today’s world with all the social media platforms, as well as Google. We all have people we like and follow, so whether it be through word of mouth from a good friend or doing your own research, you can easily find information about local guides and charters. You can also find reviews on the internet or through the different social media platforms to help find who might be the best candidate for you to book a trip with. Most guides and captains are willing to share information and talk fishing with you. From my experiences, there is no secret script they will keep from you. There are several guides/charters who I will book with and others I will stay away from, but I have gained this knowledge through my own research and spending time involved in the fishing community. While cost is another factor that many will say is a dealbreaker when deciding to book a guide or charter, I like to look at it from a different perspective. Yes, everyone’s budget is different, but the older I get, the more valuable my time is to me. Not having to worry about hooking up a boat and prepping to go on a trip for the weekend saves me an incredible amount of time. In addition, I do not have to spend additional time after the trip, washing the boat and all the gear before putting it all away. HERE ARE EXPERIENCES I have had where all the above holds true. The first year I had my ocean boat, I spent 64 Northwest Sportsman
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Going guided or booking a trip with a charter not only is a great learning opportunity, but it’s also likely you’ll just catch more fish than you might have otherwise, maximizing your return on investment that day and on future freelance fishing outings. (DAVE ANDERSON)
a few trips offshore targeting tuna. I would get anywhere from 15 to 20 fish while trolling and a couple fish starting what I thought was a bait stop. However, I never could get a true bait stop going like I saw the charters consistently doing. I finally called up Mark Coleman of All Rivers and Saltwater Charters (allwashingtonfishing.com) and booked a tuna trip with a couple
buddies. To me, Coleman is one of the best tuna fishermen on the West Coast and I have a lot of respect for him. That trip forever changed how I fish for tuna. I was able to see how he sets his troll gear, how to convert to a bait stop – the list goes on and on. Coleman was super helpful and taught me a lot that day. Shortly afterwards, I ended up getting a job working with Kerry Allen of Offshore
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Given our busy lives, sometimes it’s just a better use of time to leave the boat at home and hop aboard with a guide – that’s what Anderson and friends did with TJ Hester, center, for some Columbia River walleye. (DAVE ANDERSON)
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Northwest (offshorenorthwest.com) and eventually got my captain’s license to run my own trips for various charter boats out of Westport. However, even with all of my experience, I can tell you I would rather book a charter for my own tuna trips for several reasons. First off, their boats are set up for it. They all have 29-plus-foot craft with bait tanks large enough to keep baitfish swimming and lively the entire trip from port to fishing grounds. They also have ample fish holds to keep your catch cold and fresh. There is nothing worse than tripping over a kill bag, trying to hop and move around your cooler, or having rolled your bait due to not having the right size or shape bait tank. This all holds true with smaller boats not set up for this type of fishery. Bait is expensive and without proper water flow or a round bait tank, you will easily have dead bait on a 40-plusmile run to the fishing grounds.
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FISHING In addition, all the charter boats for tuna are going to have at least four to six troll rods and eight or more bait rods for you to use. When you start adding up the costs in just equipment alone, I can assure you a trip or two a year at $425 plus tip does not look too bad. In my opinion, their resources, contacts and experience running trips day in and day out is worth the price. Taking all the guesswork out of the equation allows you to have a great experience and the best opportunity at being productive.
ANOTHER TRIP THAT I started booking each year is with TJ Hester of Hester’s Sportfishing (hesterssportfishing. com). I found him after a few phone calls and talking with friends. I grew up walleye fishing in the Midwest and have successfully fished for them all my life. But a few years ago, I was talking with some friends and family about wanting to book a walleye
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fishing trip here in the Northwest on the Columbia, so that is when I started my research and found Hester. One of the main reasons I initially wanted to book a trip with Hester was the fact that the Columbia is such a huge body of water and I really did not have a clue where to start. Another reason why I continue to book this trip each year is time. If I had a week to go fishing, I would probably tow a boat and make a vacation out of it, but the reality is I do not have a lot of time. Like most of you, I work 40-plus hours each week. It is much easier for me to take off a Friday afternoon, stay a weekend in a hotel and meet a guide or charter for a day of fishing. In this case, Hester knows the river and fishery inside and out, including what is going on at different locations and times of the year. He also has a good idea about what tactics work and where to use them. At the end of the day, when I go on a trip with
Hester I know that I am going to have greater odds of filling the box with delicious walleye. There is nothing better than bringing home walleye to cook up for the family.
I HOPE THIS article will help influence you to consider booking a guide or charter for your next trip or give you an idea of some enjoyable trips to plan out this upcoming season. These are just a couple examples of fisheries where I have had a great time angling and learning from some of the best guides in the Northwest. Another great fishery where you could learn a great deal from a guide is fall salmon at Buoy 10. There are several who have been involved in that fishery for years and years. However, the list of opportunities out there is plentiful. Taking a chance and booking a trip will not only save you time but could also put you 10 years ahead instead of just trying to do everything on your own. NS
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Talking Sturgeon With WDFW’s Specialist With keeper season set to begin on the Columbia estuary, Laura Heironimus details how the big river’s longest-lived species is monitored and managed. By M.D. Johnson
I
f you’ll recall, a couple months ago Northwest Sportsman featured an interview with Laura Heironimus, the biologist in charge of everything smelt for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Seems smelt aren’t the only hat Heironimus wears for the agency, as she’s also the lead for the department’s sturgeon program. And lamprey eels, but that’s another story. “Everything sturgeon is probably the largest priority on my plate,” Heironimus said. “We’re doing research and monitoring, along with harvest management with white sturgeon. Our unit, specifically, does stock assessment for the Lower Columbia below Bonneville, as well as upriver in what’s known as the Zone 6 area, which includes the Bonneville, Dalles and John Day Pools. We occasionally, when we have funding, do work up in McNary and the lower Snake Rivers.” “I also,” she continued, “serve on the Mid-Columbia Fish Forums up through Priest Rapids and up to Chief Joe to discuss mitigation for sturgeon activities up there.” She’s a busy person, Heironimus is, and about to get busier as a 12day sturgeon retention season from
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife scientific technician Brian Moser releases a young sturgeon back into the Lower Columbia after measuring and tagging it. With the fish population depressed, monitoring is a key part of state management. (WDFW)
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FISHING the Wauna Powerlines downriver to Buoy 10 is set to open on May 10 and continue through June 5. Details about that season to follow; however, let’s talk with the specialist about sturgeon in general, and wrap our collective heads around the biology and research/management of this fascinating species.
Biologists use a combination of gillnets and set lines – which another state sci tech, Laura Lloyd, is connecting to a hydraulic wheel for retrieval – to annually assess sturgeon numbers. Harvest rates were much higher in the past and while reduced nowadays, the species also faces strong sea lion predation. The states and tribes now have federal approval to remove more pinnipeds. (WDFW)
Northwest Sportsman Tagging, Laura. Does WDFW tag sturgeon and monitor them that way? Laura Heironimus Yes. We use a combination of gillnets and set lines to evaluate or assess the population. In the Lower Columbia, we do this on an annual basis. When we capture the fish, we tag them with a PIT (passive integrated transponder) tag. It’s kind of like a microchip that you’d put in your dog or cat. It allows us an individual identification number for each fish. When we recapture that fish, we can scan it and look at that individual’s growth over time, along with the difference (in locations) where they might have been collected.
NWS In the lower river, do sturgeon
A tighter slot limit is helping more sturgeon survive to sexual maturity, increasing the breeding population. WDFW scientific technician Shaffryn Schade holds a young-of-the-year fish captured during a fall survey to evaluate the prior spring’s spawning success. (WDFW) 72 Northwest Sportsman
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tend to move around a lot? Follow the food? Homebodies versus wanderers? LH There’s definitely some variety in the population. By the time they reach maturity, most of the fish will make some sort of spawning run upstream in the Columbia. So a lot of these fish are spawning in the Columbia below Bonneville, and some in the Willamette River below Willamette Falls. Some fish do hang out yearround in the Columbia and stay in freshwater. Some of them like to hang out in the estuary, while others go out into the ocean and might migrate north or south along the coast. It’s an open population to the ocean, and they are an anadromous fish. The other thing about sturgeon is they can live for multiple decades. So some of these fish may do different things at different points in their lives, as well. Small fish might generally
FISHING spend most of their time in freshwater, and by the time they’re a few years old, they might start exploring into estuary or marine waters. We do see quite a variety of migratory traits among the population.
NWS Without scales and the ability to count growth rings, how do biologists age sturgeon? LH Aging sturgeon is really challenging. One way is with an otolith – author’s note: An otolith is a calcium carbonate structure found in the inner ear, aka ear bone – but that requires sacrificing the fish. One of the more preferred methods is to use the pectoral fin. You can remove a small portion of the pectoral fin, which does grow back, and then those can be sectioned and put under a microscope similar to a scale. You can count age rings (on the fin section). But the reason it’s challenging, though, is because sturgeon can live so long, those rings can be really close together and be very difficult to count
WDFW staffers measure a white sturgeon during a stock assessment in the estuary. Fish are measured laying flat on their sides, with the measuring tape underneath, from the tip of their nose to the fork in the tail. (WDFW)
and validate. What we occasionally do, then, we can inject the fish with an antibiotic called OTC (oxytetracycline), which leaves a fluorescent ring on their bone structure. So the next time we collect that fish and we take a fin sample, we can put it under fluorescent light and see those rings. You then count the rings from the fluorescence to the present, and say, “OK, I know I gave this fish the OTC 10 years ago.
Are there 10 rings between then and today?” This can help you validate your ages. But it’s still challenging because you don’t always recapture the same fish, and (the process) takes a long time, so we often just look at our PIT tag data. We know the size of the fish when it was first tagged, and we can say, “Ten years later, here’s the same fish caught again.” And we can look at the growth throughout that period, and still get a lot of growth metrics without specific ages with that method.
NWS So for 2021, we do have a retention season below Wauna. Did the season-setting process go smoothly? LH I think both states are pretty much in agreement to get back to the pre-Covid plan for sturgeon season setting. I think everything went about as expected for the Columbia River Compact (meeting held at the end of March).
NWS
A large white sturgeon is released through a boat’s dive door after it has been measured and tagged. Similar to some rockfish species, sturgeon take a long time to reach reproductive maturity – 15 to 20 years, depending on sex – making for a challenge to provide consumptive fisheries and maintain a viable population. (WDFW) 74 Northwest Sportsman
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Why Monday, Wednesday, Saturday for the May/June belowWauna season? LH We have been following M-W-S since 2017 when we reopened after the closure. Part of that is because the breaks between the days gives (WDFW) time to evaluate and make sure we’re not going over the quota. It gives us time to close the fishery early if there was risk of us going over
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Northwest Sportsman 75
FISHING our guidelines. But also, Wednesdays and Saturdays are when we have flights scheduled to go over the river. That gives us the best available data for counting the total number of boats on the river, and getting a good estimate of effort. They use that for salmon fishing too. The Columbia is a huge place, and we don’t get to interview every angler. Evaluating effort and estimating harvest is a pretty tricky
KEEPER STURGEON SEASON DETAILS Dates: Open Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from May 10 through June 5, 2021. Where: On the Lower Columbia from the Wauna powerlines near Cathlamet downriver to Buoy 10, waters otherwise known as the Columbia estuary. Daily limit: One; season limit two. Slot size restriction: 44 to 50 inches from nose tip to tail fork. Other details: Single-point barbless hooks only. Sturgeon fishing – including catch and release – closes at 2 p.m. on retention days. Retention of green sturgeon is prohibited. Harvest quota: Up to 2,960 sturgeon, about 1.83 percent of the estimated legal-size population (160,250). Also note: State managers agreed to open sturgeon for retention on the Columbia from the Wauna powerlines to Bonneville Dam, as well as in the Cowlitz River, on September 11 and 18, both of which are Saturdays. –NWS
The payoff for all that monitoring? A chance for anglers like author MD Johnson and wife Julie to catch a keeper or just catch and release fish in the knowledge that the resource is well protected and can handle the impact. (JULIA JOHNSON) 76 Northwest Sportsman
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job. We have pretty small guidelines for sturgeon, and we want to get the most out (of our information).
NWS
Two-part question, Laura. During the Compact, was there an opportunity for public comment, and if so, what might some of those comments have been? LH In every Compact hearing we have, there’s time for public comment. It’s definitely helpful for
us to hear those thoughts. I do want to say that the staff that puts these (season/harvest) recommendations together are working closely with our Columbia River advisors, too, so we have a commercial and recreational advisor group for the Columbia. We’re contacting those folks and getting feedback from them, as they’re tied in with the communities. Going into the compact, we had a good
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FISHING sense of what the public would be looking for. Generally speaking, (the public was) very supportive about the recommendations. We occasionally do get those comments, too – “Hey. Why don’t we get more weekend days?” or “Why don’t we get longer hours?” For this season, we have a 2 p.m. closure in effect, and some people want to fish till sundown. Those comments are very helpful for us to give a feel for what people are seeing out there, and what they’re interested in in terms of fishing. Ultimately, it’s up to the state decision-makers to take that information in and decide if it’s worth altering the staff recommendations to change the fishery recommendations.
NWS So it’s a balancing act, then, between providing opportunity and keeping a very close eye on the health and welfare of the population, in this case sturgeon?
LH With sturgeon, we had seen declines in the legal abundance in past years, and that’s when (the retention season) closed. Historically, we were fishing at a much higher harvest rate – oftentimes over 15 to 20 percent of the legal slot. But in recent years and since we opened again in 2017, we’ve been targeting a harvest rate of 3 to 5 percent. And we’ve narrowed the slot range to 44 to 50 inches. So we have a much smaller slot that allows more fish to escape the fishery and grow to be adult sturgeon that will spawn and put more babies back in the population. But that allows more fish in general to survive by having that smaller quota. We have management goals we’ve been working towards, and that is rebuilding the adult portion of the population in order to sustain that long-term viability of the population. Sturgeon, as we’ve said, can live a very long time, and the adults can spawn multiple times over the course of their
lives. So by having a larger portion of the population as adults, you have more spawning fish to contribute.
IT’S AN INTRICATE balance, a fine line we walk between humankind and Mother Nature. Agencies like WDFW want to – need to – provide opportunity to their constituency – us anglers – but when they do so, they have an obligation to the resource to do so with an extremely close eye on that aforementioned health and welfare of that population. Now, take a female white sturgeon that doesn’t reach reproductive maturity until about age 20 – male sturgeon may mature as early as 15 years – and this necessity to handle with kid gloves while still providing some semblance of consumptive opportunity becomes, as Heironimus stated early, even more challenging. That said, fish this upcoming season with an eye to the future. NS
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COLUMN
Keeper Sturgeon Days Coming Up T
he large pyramid weight flies overhead in a long arc, followed in quick order by a sand shrimp strapped to a big barbless hook. Stout gear for a stout fish. Last spring Washington and Oregon managers couldn’t agree on a “catch and keep” spring sturgeon fishery, so anglers had to wait for a very short window in September. However, earlier this year, the NW PURSUITS states came together and decided to open up the lower 40 By Jason Brooks miles of the Columbia River for a 12-day retention season. But rather than 12 consecutive days, the river will instead be open Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from May 10 through June 5. This gives Northwest sportsmen plenty of time to pick the right day to head out onto the big river and catch some big fish.
After no retention season last spring, anglers will have a chance to keep a sturgeon on the Columbia estuary on a total of 12 days this month and next. (JASON BROOKS) nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2021
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COLUMN Heavy weights, stout leaders and strong hooks are needed for these large and frisky fish. Sand shrimp wrapped onto a barbless hook is among the best baits, but others include chunks of shad or herring. (JASON BROOKS)
A sturgeon thrashes next to the boat. The species is known to jump out of the water when hooked. Beforehand, allow the fish to nibble your bait before setting the hook. (JASON BROOKS) 82 Northwest Sportsman
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A FEW YEARS ago I spent a day catching and releasing sturgeon on this stretch of the river with Bruce Warren of Fishing for Fun Guide Service (253-208-7433). Casting that pyramid sinker and sand shrimp until the Styrofoam containers ran empty, we landed nearly 30 sturgeon that day. Indeed, this is a fishery that when the weather and the fish cooperate, it’s all about catching instead of just fishing. Do note that on retention days, all sturgeon fishing, including catch and release, must stop by 2 p.m. Fishing for sturgeon is fairly easy once you figure out a few things. The first is where the fish will be. They are prolific feeders, so anywhere that food collects is where you will find sturgeon. The many wing dams on the Columbia create back eddies and turbulent water as the tide goes out. Anchor near or tie up to them and sit and catch sturgeon. Food sources such as dying shad being flushed downriver, crabs, sand shrimp and other creatures make up the species’ diet. Sturgeon don’t only eat dying or decaying fish and actually prefer fresh baits. Live sand shrimp are one of the most popular because
Keeper sturgeon must measure a minimum of 44 inches to a maximum of 50 inches as measured from the tip of their snout to the fork in their tail. It’s a much narrower slot size than past years, but helps ensure more escape to spawn and still provide a fishery after complete retention closures in the mid-2010s due to a declining population. (JASON BROOKS) they are available, but chunks of herring, anchovies and, of course, shad work well. Other places to catch sturgeon include large sand flats that have an edge or channel near them, as again the bait collects here. When it comes to gear, remember to think stout. Long rods help in casting and fighting the fish but short and heavy rods are often used, as they have a strong backbone to haul in the heavy ones. Levelwind reels that can hold a lot of line, like a 5000 series or larger, are popular; just make sure your reel of choice has a good drag system. Spool it with 65-pound or stronger braid and a sliding weight system. The fish prefer to cruise along the bottom of the river, so a dropper is not needed. Weights need to be able to hold your bait in place. On the incoming tides, a lighter 10- to 16-ounce weight is used and on the outgoing, even larger ones are often needed. The pyramid style helps dig into the sandy bottom and keeps the bait in place. Leaders run around 36 inches in length and are strong, with 40-pound clear XXX Izorline a good starting point. The hook needs to be barbless and sharp, as the 84 Northwest Sportsman
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mouth of a sturgeon is strong and tough. A 6/0 Gamakatsu Big River is an extremely sharp thick-wired hook and because of the sickle shape, it digs in and won’t bend or come out as long as you keep tension on the fish. The straight shank also makes it easier to wrap the baits on. Speaking of baits, take two sand shrimp and some Magic or Stretchy Thread and wrap them onto the hook, secured with some half-hitches. You can also stick a chunk of sardine, herring or anchovy on the hook to add some flavor and scent – the keys to drawing feeding sturgeon to your hook. Pro-Cure makes several sturgeon-catching scents, with Sturgeon Frenzy Super Gel one of the best options, and sand shrimp and shad scents good choices too. Use liberally and switch out baits often to keep them fresh.
ONCE YOU FIND where you want to fish and get the gear all set up, it is time to do some sturgeon catching. Cast out the rods, being sure to place them far enough apart to create a “spread” of baits so the scents flow downstream and attract the sturgeon.
COLUMN Guide Bruce Warren holds a Lower Columbia sturgeon. While around 3,000 available for harvest this season, the species also provides a stellar catch-and-release opportunity. (JASON BROOKS)
On most days when you find a good sturgeon spot, you will start getting bites within 15 to 20 minutes as the scent trickles downriver. But if you don’t get a bite within an hour, be sure to check the tides and look for places to move to. Sometimes patience is the key, so just wait for the fish to come to you, but with the early afternoon closure, you might want to have a few places to try if the bite is not on. When a fish starts to nibble, let them and then set the hook hard. You need to drive the hook into their mouth, which is a tough flesh that moves in and out with a fish sucking food up. You don’t want the hook to go too deep but if you can penetrate the jaw, then losing the fish is unlikely. Fighting a sturgeon is fun for a while, 86 Northwest Sportsman
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but for younger and even older anglers it can be a bit much. This is why a strong drag system is needed, as it helps wear the fish out. Once the fish comes up to the side of the boat you can calm it by turning it belly up. The fish can then be measured to see if it fits within the 44- to 50-inch fork-length slot limit and can be retained or if it needs to be let go. The barbless hook is easy to remove for quick releases. You will notice sturgeon have a unique skin that is scaleless, much like a shark. The diamondlike bumps on their side, also known as scutes, are worn smooth the older the sturgeon gets as it rubs and rummages through sandbars, though those of smaller, younger sturgeon can be sharp and cut you. It is best to grab
around the fish near the tail as well as by the mouth while on its back in the water. Net the fish only if you can retain it.
STURGEON FLESH IS white and “meaty.” Unlike walleye or other white-fleshed fish, it has more texture to it and can be a bit hard to chew if overcooked. Smoked sturgeon is excellent in dips, cream cheese spreads and on sandwiches. The slot limit means the fish are younger and more palatable and yet still produce a lot of fillet pieces. The daily limit is one sturgeon with a yearly limit of two, and really there is no need to keep any more than that anyway. Get outside and enjoy a unique Northwest pursuit this month by going sturgeon fishing on the Columbia estuary. NS
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COLUMN To each steelheader their own, and for author Sara Ichtertz, it’s all about drift fishing, an old-school technique that gives her confidence on her summer-run waters of Oregon. (SARA ICHTERTZ)
Drifting Along T
here are things in life we simply cannot prepare ourselves for. There is just no way of FOR THE LOVE knowing what our OF THE TUG journey has in store By Sara Ichtertz for us, which is at times both a blessing and a curse. Fishing the rivers and life are so very similar. They are so beautifully connected to one another, as some runs are far better than others yet we should never give up regardless.
One rad thing about fishing, though, is that we can be ready. Even though we cannot predict the run, we can somewhat predict the creature we pursue. That ultimately gives me hope as I find myself dreaming of drift fishing for the keepers of my heart: those most stunning fish, not only in their beauty but in their willpower – the one and only summer-run steelhead. I will never be the best fisherman, nor will I ever hook the most fish, but I am a confident drift fisherman when it comes to these majestic creatures, and so I want to share with you some of my ways with
these fish. It’s true, I target them in water where a float simply will not help but I promise you that if you give drift fishing your best for one run, the undeniable thrill that you will find is more than worth it! Feeling a summer steelhead bite your rigging, setting that hook with conviction and winding down a mile a minute in search of that incredible headshake of life is hard to beat. I love how even if you miss them when drift fishing, they leave no question as to whether it was a rock or fish. No! That was alive and I missed it! Drift fishing
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COLUMN
A peek inside Ichtertz’s summer steelhead backpack would reveal these prerigged drift fishing setups, along with yarns, beads, scent and dough bait to switch things up, plus a healthy coil of lead for bouncing bottom. (SARA ICHTERTZ) is direct, just like me, and I like it! You leave no slack in your line, as you want to feel everything. When you feel the bite, you set that hook as if the survival of your most prized of possessions depends upon it. Reeling down as quickly as you can, you know that adrenaline-pumping connection is upon you. That connection, that finesse stands alone in gear fishing and my hope is to encourage even just one of you to put the float down and go back in time to when connection was felt more so than seen. I am thankful to pursue a method of fishing many truly do not understand anymore, nor embrace. The bashing of this method makes me sad at times because to me, as my ability has grown, I feel like if anything it should be looked at as an art. I truly believe the scrutiny comes in not understanding it. Yes, there will be bastards who give every realm of life or fishing bad names, but sometimes shouldn’t we take a true look into things for ourselves before we just go along with the herd? I am looking for that biting fish always! When it comes to summer-runs and biting fish, drift fishing without a doubt gives me what I am looking for.
I LOVE THAT the complexity found in this steelhead technique is not in how fancy my rigging is. Just the opposite; the rigging itself is very simple and the complexities come from the elements of Mother Nature and depths in which I 90 Northwest Sportsman
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choose to use this method. My overall approach, though, is simple, constant and predictable; I love that. The water I fish calls for a fast-action 9-foot-2, 8- to 12-pound rod with backbone. Unpredictability is pretty much a given in that faster, boulderridden water, and so stepping up to the bank with a rod that will be able to handle what the fish and the river might throw your way is pretty important if you ever intend on landing said fish. I find my IMX 1104-2C STDR has the sensitivity I desire in feeling that life within the bite, but it also handles its own in big waters that happen to be blessed with mad fish. Pairing that rod with a low-profile reel, the Curado 200HG by Shimano, allows me to cast even the smallest amounts of weight wherever I see fit. Plus it gives me the drag I need to help keep fish heads turned around in hopes of keeping them upriver. Running a 12-pound-test main line and a 10-pound leader, the only other needs aside from my leader itself is a snap swivel and weight. I run about a 26-inch leader with a size 4 or 2 octopus hook from Gamakatsu. I match hook size to the overall size of my presentation. At times I will even fish a size 1 octopus hook when running sand shrimp simply because of their size. I want my riggings to be balanced. I want them to be as natural as possible, even if my color choices are not. Tying my main line to the upper
loop of the snap swivel, I’m already almost done. Once my weight is cut and punched, I attach it to my snap and then prepare my leader. Whether it be with a small bait of eggs, 10mm BnR soft beads, hard beads, yarn and Corky, or PowerBait balls with sand shrimp, the beginning of my drift rigging stays the same, never wavering aside from your weight.
THE VERY BEST part of my springer season is the day I am able to see that my summer waters are coming into shape. To me it is important to let that snowpack runoff rage on through the spring and I do not fish it, as the amount of weight needed doesn’t allow for the finesselike drift I am looking for. To me it plugs up the drift getting snagged up and more than likely broken off, ultimately messing up the holes before the real jewels of the river even make their way home. So I wait. That wait is worth it. If you plug your drift, not only can it make fishing tough, even aggravating, but it isn’t healthy for the river and the amount of fish that would naturally stack up in the comfort of that fast-moving water can be jeopardized by our own doing. Yes, any eager fisherman can and should go test the water, but make your drifts count and if it’s too snaggy or your bounce feels too aggressive in order to get to the bottom, give the river time to come into its summer shape. You will be thankful you did.
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COLUMN your rigging, you will be that much faster on your response time and that much more deadlier. In working smaller chunks of a drift, I have learned that changing my weight helps me lose far fewer riggings as well. Do not fear the weight. It is a very, very important angle of this angling. I personally believe learning to work my weight and find the right gentle bounce off the bottom (determined mostly through my lead) is so important, maybe even most important. If you do not have the weight right, it doesn’t matter what beautiful morsel you have tied on because that bounce of the bottom needs to be there in drift fishing or I do not believe I am fishing.
“Beautiful, mad and delicious,” says the author about this steelhead. Hatchery fish are reared for harvest, and Ichtertz feeds her family with her catches, making her connection to the summer run all the more real. (SARA ICHTERTZ)
WHEN YOUR WATER is ready, it may indeed still take a decent amount of weight to touch bottom, depending on the depth and speed of the current and what section of the drift you plan on targeting. I prefer short precise drifts, working different sections of the drift at a time so I remain in line with the river bank, allowing me to be in a direct strike zone if I get a bite. Casting too far upriver or longlining the hole downriver does not keep me in control. It takes away the 92 Northwest Sportsman
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direct connection needed with the river’s bottom and its fish when drift fishing. Cast only slightly above your strike zone, getting down quickly enough so that you are in the zone and feeling the bounce of the bottom before you arrive to where you believe fish will be lying. Once your presentation swings on through, somewhat washing out of the slot, reel in and go again. Working smaller chunks of the drift is important because you are in control and if you are in direct control of
THE BUFFET OF terminal presentations for drift fishing is almost endless. What you can create at the end of your standard bait loop-tied leader is entirely up to you. In a method where the complexities to the actual rigging are nonexistent, do not be scared to add some complexity to your lure, as the slightest change can have huge results when targeting these aggressive, beautiful badasses! One thing I have learned is that when the river conditions are screaming the fish are in there, chances are they are. If I had remained stuck within the comfort of that first rigging I had success with, I would have missed out on so very many incredible battles with the maddest river fish I know! The end of your riggings should only stay the same if and when you find what these aggressive fish are wanting. But remember, that bite won’t last forever so think like a steelhead and ask yourself what is it that I want? Where have they been? What do they know? I often relate my scents (Pro-Cure Bait Scents) to where the fish have been (the mighty Pacific) and what they know. Then there’s anise; why they love that I have no idea, but they do! I honestly have had my mind blown when I’ve thought about what it is they know and what it is I think they want. Having them instantly answer me, biting with conviction, when days prior they lay there wanting nothing to do with what I had been throwing at them throws me for a loop sometimes.
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COLUMN Create small, detail-oriented setups of what it is you think they want and give it a whirl. Do not be afraid to change that rigging! The worst thing you can do when targeting these gems is throw one rigging, fish it to death and assume there are no fish there because what they were biting during the last run didn’t work with this year’s fish. Keeping a fishing log has helped me track what the fish wanted – and didn’t want – at certain points of the run. I have found small amounts of joy in learning these things. Sure, a rigging that was on fire one run and has zero luck the next does not mean that presentation should be dead to you forever. You just never know what the fish are going to want, so be prepared with a buffet of summer steelhead delights.
THE TECHNICAL ASPECT was far more simple to figure out than learning to fight such an aggressive fish in aggressive water. That’s where time is necessary
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to become truly confident. I needed to relax and enjoy that connection. Learning to somewhat swim with the fish while keeping just enough tension on them that they show me what they are made of didn’t come easy, as I wanted them to come to me! I didn’t want to lose them and in all of that want, in the beginning I lost far more fish than I landed. But once I learned to let the fish lead me, executing and gaining ground only when they allowed it, I found myself understanding them better. In that understanding I learned that only once they are ready should I try and land them. They will not submit easily and if you think you are going to just horse these water-bound beauties to the bank, you better think again.
THE TRUTH IS, anything is possible if you really want it. Learning to drift fish has shown me that. There are intrigues in life that will bring out the best in us when we test the what-ifs. However, if
we aren’t brave enough to give it whirl, then we aren’t living the best life we can. Drift fishing without a doubt allows me to shine, as it is my style. Had I not given it a whirl, I would not be the fisherman I am today. I hope that this column might light a spark or intrigue you enough that it helps you to get after these fish, as they are truly special. It’s amazing how when you truly want something, it can be yours. I’m thankful to have believed in myself enough to get to the river’s edge. Not only does the river teach you as you go, it helps you to be able to pay it forward and I believe the sharing of passion will fill your cup of life far more than the fish themselves. So gather your gear in preparation while keeping an eye on your waters, and by all means go all in when the river is ready. This method and these fish are worth it! When you connect with them, it will ultimately help you connect with yourself, I promise. My heart is on the river and I couldn’t change it, even if I tried. NS
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FISHING
Explore The Seep Lakes Deep in the heart of the Columbia Basin is a network of trout and spinyray waters that provide good fishing in spring. By Mike Wright
F
or many eons the rain shadow of the high, rigid Cascade Range has kept the Columbia Basin exceedingly dry and rather unproductive. In order to make these and other arid regions of the West more productive, the federal Bureau of Reclamation constructed a number
of dams for agricultural irrigation and in some cases power generation. O’Sullivan Dam, completed in 1949, was one such project. Two things were discovered. It was soon found that the loess soil, common to the Columbia Basin, was very fertile and excellent material for farming purposes. The terrain around the newly formed Potholes Reservoir
contained the same rich soil under the gently rolling sagebrush hills and numerous shallow depressions. And secondly, a sizable portion of the reservoir’s water was seeping into these depressions, forming numerous small- to medium-sized lakes. Thanks to the excellent soil conditions and a reliable supply of freshwater, heavy weed growth
Not far from Potholes Reservoir is a network of waters known as the Seep Lakes, featuring dozens of angling possibilities for rainbows and warmwater species in a landscape that’s primarily public ground. (MIKE WRIGHT) nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2021
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FISHING began appearing in these waters, followed closely by a multitude of aquatic insects. It was only a matter of time before what would eventually become the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife saw the potential and stocked these waters, thus creating numerous new, highly productive fisheries. The prolific insect and forage base available to the fish powered a very
rapid growth rate. Fingerling trout, typically stocked in early spring, can often reach 14 to 18 inches by the next spring. If they are lucky enough to survive two or more years, they can reach up to 5 pounds, though in most of the lakes this would be a rare catch. Most of the Seep Lakes are managed under put-and-take regulations, meaning a large percentage of the carryovers end up as tasty table fare.
The Seep Lakes may not look like trout waters, but the nooks and crannies of what is geologically known as the Drumheller Channels – where massive floods picked the basalt bedrock apart during the last ice age – can hold some real nice fish. Maralee Moore caught this large rainbow last year here. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST) 100 Northwest Sportsman
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MORE THAN 70 lakes make up the Seep Lakes Wildlife Area, with just about that number of regulations or special circumstances governing the various bodies of water. First is the fact that there are several different opening dates. Many of these lakes are open to fishing year-round, while others open April 1 and close September 30, or from the fourth Saturday in April through September 30. The majority of the lakes are stocked annually in the spring with fingerling rainbows, while others receive a fall stocking of catchable rainbows. Still others receive the catchable stockings in both the fall and spring. Many of the fisheries require a short hike into the lakes, while others have roads leading right to a launch site. Most of the lakes contain rainbows, but some of the waters have received the bucket biologist treatment and for the most part are nearly devoid of any trout. A number of the lakes contain only warmwater species, while some have both trout and warmwater fish. Periodically some of the lakes are rehabbed and contain no fish, so to avoid feeling like a dog who has developed a flat nose from chasing parked cars, it might be advisable to check with WDFW’s Ephrata office (TeamEphrata@dfw.wa.gov; 509754-4624) to determine which of these lakes might be a waste of time and effort. Many of these waters are fishable from the shore, but you would be far more successful on most using a small boat, float tube or pontoon. In addition, several of the lakes (Hutchinson, Shiner and the Hamptons) do not allow gasolinepowered boats, and two more have issues with private property access. All of the trout lakes contain rainbows, but Warden also contains tiger trout, while Morgan features cutthroat. Quail Lake is the only body of water in all of the Seep Lakes fishery with fly-fishing- and catch-and-release-only regulations. All other bodies of water contain no
FISHING moratorium on bait or lures. With so many of the lakes open year-round, some of the easy access lakes are hit heavily and may be a little crowded at times. If you are more inclined to do a little hiking and stay away from the more popular spots, the Seep Lakes offer a virtual smorgasbord of waters to fit your desires. To aid in your search it might be very helpful to have a copy of WDFW’s annual fish stocking report (wdfw .wa.gov/fishing/reports/stocking). It provides information on the number of fish stocked, when they went in and at what size, either fingerlings, catchable, or a combination of both. From these reports, you can ascertain which of the different lakes would
offer the best chance of success. Another good stop would be at Mardon Resort (mardonresort.com), just off the O’Sullivan Dam Road, also known as Highway 262, where a detailed map of the area and roads can be purchased. Maneuvering around the 23,200-acre tract of land that encompasses the Seep Lakes can be a rather daunting task. The map can prove invaluable in finding the waters you have decided to fish, especially if it is a hike-in lake. The people who manage the resort can also convey valuable information concerning all bodies of water in the area. This, in turn, could make the angling experience much more enjoyable and productive. Many of these bodies of water can be
Most of the lakes are on the smaller side, but some have ramps, such as Teal, for launching a boat, float tube or pontoon, making it easier to explore and fish hard-to-reach waters. (MIKE WRIGHT) 102 Northwest Sportsman
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somewhat fickle, so the more info you have at your disposal, the better.
FOR LURE FISHERMEN, three of the most effective pieces of hardware might be Mepps, Panther Martin and Rooster Tail spinners. A Colorado-bladed spinner with a worm as an added incentive might also be a good choice. For those lure fishermen targeting bass, most standard topwater lures and spinnerbaits should work well. For those preferring bait, the most popular choices, outside the old reliable garden hackle, might be PowerBait and Pautzke’s Balls of Fire. For fly fishing on the year-round lakes, chironomids under a strike indicator and fished close to the shore
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FISHING is undoubtedly the most popular strategy, especially early in the season. Midges are present throughout the year, providing a food supply for the trout. Keep in mind, chironomids are a very slow-moving insect, so your retrieve must also be exceedingly slow. The Snow Cone pattern in black or red has always been a personal favorite of mine, but a red Brassie or a Palomino Midge can also produce. Since scuds and leeches are also present in nearly all the lakes, an olive or Pumpkin Scud or a Canadian Mohair or Kaufman Mini Leech will also work well and can be fished effectively in deeper water with a much faster retrieve. In April and May, callibaetis mayflies begin to appear and the fishing really picks up. For nymphs, a gold-ribbed Hare’s Ear, Pheasant Tail or beadhead Prince Nymph are good choices. For a dry fly, the Parachute Adams, Purple Haze or a CD Cripple
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are always effective. By mid-May, damsels begin to appear. A Marabou Damsel, Nyerges Nymph, Six-Pack or Sheep Creek fished along shallow weedlines can be very effective. As the damsels begin to hatch out, a blue damsel adult, fished close to the edges of protruding weeds, may be productive.
AS MENTIONED EARLIER, some of the lakes can be rather fickle, so when one proves less than productive, it is rather easy to simply move to another spot and wet a line there. From past stocking reports, one good spot to try might be the Windmill Lakes, located a short hike off the Seep Lakes Road. These three bodies of water are all open year-round, with the largest (37 acres) receiving over 11,000 fingerlings in May. The next largest, North Windmill (20 acres), is stocked with just over 6,000, also in May. However, the third is really not worth the effort,
according to WDFW fisheries biologist Mike Schmuck, who considers Heart, June or Canal as better choices if the Windmills aren’t turning. Another normally good fishing lake is Blythe, just a short distance from Mardon Resort. The 30-acre lake is stocked with both catchable and fingerling rainbows that can grow 20 inches or more. There is a rough site for launching a boat and trails for shore fishing. Corral Lake is only a short distance from Blythe and might be a good option to try if Blythe is not productive, especially considering the fact that it is well stocked with catchable-size rainbows, in both the spring and fall, as well as several thousand fingerlings. Corral is also an excellent spot for shore fishing. Scaup and Chukar are also good options if things don’t work out on Blythe. These two both contain some very nice rainbows.
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FISHING Regardless of whether you’re bankbound, a bait chucker or a fly guy, the Seep Lakes are a good early-season bet, thanks to state stocking, a good forage base and carryover trout. A lad shows off a nice stringer he caught at Lower Warden Lake in late March. (MIKE WRIGHT)
Speaking of, Upper and Lower Hampton Lakes are an excellent spot for trophy-size ’bows up to 26 inches or more. In 1998, a 10-pound, 13-ounce trout was taken out of Upper Hampton. But if the fish are not cooperative in the Hamptons, Sage or Long Lakes might be good alternatives; Long also has a large population of spinyrays.
THE COLUMBIA BASIN contains some of the finest trout fishing destinations of any region in the Northwest. The Seep Lakes offer quality without the crowds of other local waters. Perhaps because there are so many to choose from, there is the distinct possibility you may be able to fish a lake that has no other human beings on the water. There are places in the basin with more of the larger fish, but there are few where there is a possibility of catching 20inch trout in relative solitude. The Seep Lakes are definitely an area worthy of further investigation. NS
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FISHING
Koke Tech: Dodgers Vs. Lake Trolls There’s a time and a place for both kinds of attractors, with trolling speed, lure choice, color and more all playing a role. By Tom Schnell
W
hen going after kokanee, there are many elements to consider – speed, depth, color, lure, bait, scent and attractors. While many kokanee fishermen and -women focus on what lure and bait to use, many overlook the importance of having the right attractor to go along with their trolling setup.
DODGERS AND LAKE TROLLS There are two main types of attractors that are used: dodgers and inline, or lake, trolls. There are a myriad other attractors that can be utilized, such as flashers, but the majority fall into either of the above categories. Both dodgers and lake trolls work similarly in that their job is to help attract fish to your lure presentation. How they work, though, is where they differ. Dodgers are typically some type of metal or plastic “blade” that dodges, or swings, side to side. They’re commonly used by salmon fishermen and -women, though a smaller version is used for kokanee. A lake troll is usually a length of heavy monofilament or wire with two to four spinning blades attached. Ford Fenders, Cowbells and SchoolO-Minnows are some of the trade names that describe certain lake trolls. Over the years the popularity of
Using the right kokanee attractor – in this case, a dodger paired with a spinner – can make the difference between a limit of fish and going home empty-handed. Rhonna Schnell caught this one on a Central Oregon reservoir. (TOM SCHNELL)
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FISHING dodgers has continued to grow. Lake trolls are still utilized, but with the advent of lighter gear, dodgers are now the mainstay. Their attractiveness is found in both adding action to your lure and their low drag coefficient. Lake trolls can produce a fair amount of drag as they are being trolled, while dodgers have far less resistance through the water, allowing you to actually feel the fight of the fish.
SHAPES AND SIZES Both dodgers and lake trolls come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Each shape and size can produce its own unique sound and action as it travels through the water. Dodgers can vary from oblong to triangle to tear drop and various shapes in between. The blades on lake trolls can vary as well, from Colorado to Indiana to willow leaf, wide to thin. Each blade creates its own sound due to water displacement and also has its own amount of drag. Colorado blades create the strongest vibration or sound wavelengths, followed by Indiana, with willow leaf creating the least. Which is best? It depends on what the fish want. This can be impacted by the time of year, water conditions and even the particular lake you are fishing.
SOUND The job of both dodgers and lake trolls is to create sound in the water. How they do this is by creating sound wavelengths that travel through the lake. Dodgers, by their very nature of moving side to side, create water displacement which translates into soundwaves. These soundwaves under water can travel for some distance, attracting fish. Kokanee have a lateral line that senses soundwaves in the water. Certain soundwaves warn of danger, while others indicate intruders. Since kokanee are territorial and inquisitive, one of the main purposes of a dodger is to send out soundwaves that tell the fish that there is an intruder or other fish in the area, 110 Northwest Sportsman
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Having a variety of different sizes, shapes and colors of dodgers is important when targeting kokanee to maximize your odds of matching hardware with water, light and other conditions of the day, along with fish preferences. (TOM SCHNELL)
drawing them into your presentation. It is important to remember that this can also work against you. Using a large or aggressive dodger in a lake where kokanee have predators may actually scare kokanee away. The larger the dodger, the more sound it can produce because of higher water displacement. The more erratic its side-to-side movement, the more soundwaves it can send off as well. Sometimes using a smaller or less aggressive dodger action can result in more hookups.
In lakes that have larger kokanee, a larger, more aggressive style of dodger may actually work well. Later in the season when kokanee become more aggressive, larger dodgers with more action can also work better in pulling in fish that are beginning their spawning cycle. Prespawn kokanee become a lot more aggressive in defending their territory, and a larger dodger with more action can cause them to go into defense mode, causing them to instinctively strike
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FISHING Lake trolls are not as popular as dodgers nowadays for these landlocked salmon, but they are still highly productive. Their drawback is the lack of action they impart to the lure, but the multiple spinning blades push soundwaves and flash through the water that may draw in fish. (TOM SCHNELL)
the spinning blades of a lake troll is to draw in fish from a distance to check out your lure presentation. Unlike dodgers, lake trolls only provide sound and flash. They do not provide action to the lure trolled behind them.
TROLLING SPEED The speed at which both the dodgers and lake trolls are trolled can impact the amount of sound that is produced and transmitted. Typically, the faster the speed, the higher the water displacement and thus the more sound is produced. Faster is not always better, though, while too slow won’t produce enough sound. Too fast and several things can happen. Some dodgers start to spin if trolled too fast and lose their effectiveness as a dodger. In certain lakes where there are kokanee predators, trolling too fast can also scare the kokanee more than attract them. Another thing to consider with speed is that kokanee do not like spending a lot of energy chasing things through the water. Too fast a troll and they won’t bother trying to keep up with your gear. Most people who troll for kokanee with dodgers go between .8 and 1.8 mph, with the average speed around 1.4 mph. Try running your dodger next to your boat at the speed you plan to troll to determine how it performs.
ACTION
your lure. With lake trolls, the spinning of the numerous blades creates soundwaves of their own. The more blades, the more sound. One thing to consider, though, is that the more blades, the 112 Northwest Sportsman
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more drag it produces. Varying blade size can also create various different soundwaves, which can translate into fish coming to check out where that sound is originating from. As with dodgers, the purpose of
Another benefit of using dodgers is that they can provide action to your lure. The side-to-side action not only produces soundwaves, it can impart action to your lure. There are several factors that impact how much action the dodger transmits to the lure. The size, shape and weight of the dodger all impact the amount of action it produces. Some dodgers, because of their design, impart more action than others. Usually, the faster the dodger is trolled, the more action it produces. But as noted earlier, most dodgers have a maximum speed they can be trolled before they start to roll and
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FISHING lose their effectiveness. Leader length can also impact the amount of action transferred to the lure from the dodger. The shorter the leader, the more action imparted to the lure. Using heavier and stiffer leader line can also transfer more action from the dodger to the lure. Again, lake trolls do not impart action to the lure, so they tend to require longer leaders and lures that have their own action, such as spinners and plugs.
LEADER LENGTH Opinions abound about kokanee leader lengths. Some swear that the shorter the better, with others claiming that longer is better. The theory behind shorter leaders is that it causes more action to the lure and thus creates an instinctive bite from kokanee because it is agitating them. I have found that as the water warms up and kokanee become more aggressive, this can improve the number of takedowns. At the same time, I have seen where my fishing partner was using a much longer leader than I was with the same type of lure, and they were getting far more fish. Here are some rules of thumb to start with, but experiment with leader length until you find the one the fish are wanting. To start with, for lures that have no action – shrimp, bugs and hoochies – use 2½ times the length of the dodger for your leader length. This would equate to around 8 to 12 inches and is the length that most people like to run their lures behind dodgers. For lures with their own actions, such as spinners and Wiggle Hoochies, try from 12 to 24 inches. And for lures with a lot of action – Apexes, spoons and Brad’s Kokanee Cut Plugs, or KCP – try from 18 to 36 inches. Typically, the earlier in the year and the colder the water, the better a longer leader length tends to work. Longer leaders can also work in lakes where there is a lot of fishing pressure 114 Northwest Sportsman
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Dodgers come in three basic metallic colors: chrome/silver, brass/gold and copper. All three can be very productive, depending on cloud cover and time of day. (TOM SCHNELL)
and other anglers are running shorter leaders. Shorter leaders work better later in the season and in water that is cloudy or murky. Given the lack of action behind a lake troll, most people run lures that have their own action, such as spinners, spoons and plugs, and go with a longer leader, generally from around 18 to 36 inches.
COLOR Another way dodgers and lake trolls attract kokanee is through color. While the sounds they transmit through the water is the initial, long-distance way of catching the attention of a school, once the fish start to zero in on the sound of the attractor, color soon takes over. It is when they are close that the fish can start to distinguish the color of your dodger and lure.
Most of the time kokanee are not hitting a lure because they see it as a food source. Most kokanee lures do not resemble anything a kokanee would eat. They most likely are hitting out of aggression. Keep in mind that kokanee are landlocked salmon, so most colors that work on sockeye will work on kokanee. The best colors we’ve found are pink, orange and chartreuse, in that order. Having said that, we have caught them on a variety of dodger colors, including plain silver, gold and copper. Each lake seems to have a certain color or color combination that appears to work better than others. One factor that we have found useful is contrast. Often if a plain pink or orange color is not working, we change it up with two different, sometimes opposing colors. Often
FISHING
Having the right leader length between lure and attractor, whether dodger or lake troll, can result in catching more fish. (TOM SCHNELL)
these contrasting colors can trigger a strike. We have not found where matching the color of the dodger with the lure improves our catch ratio. Sunlight and water clarity play an important factor in dodger color selection. Sunlight has various wavelengths. The higher and brighter the sun, the more that violet and ultraviolet rays penetrate the water column, impacting the color wavelength. In the early morning before sunrise, dark colors like black and blue often outperform higher wavelength colors like pink and orange. On days with cloud cover, darker colors with a lower wavelength spectrum often produce better. As the sun starts to hit the water and penetrate into its depths, colors such as orange and chartreuse will become more vibrant. As the sun gets closer to noon and directly overhead, pink has a much better color definition in the water. The same goes for metallic colors. Copper and gold/brass are usually better producers on darker days than silver/chrome, which usually produce better on sunny days. And there are days that a plain silver or gold dodger with no color will work wonders. 116 Northwest Sportsman
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SMELL One often overlooked use of an attractor, whether dodger or lake troll, is to disperse scents through the water. Adding a little scent can create a very effective scent disperser. As the dodger swings back and forth or the lake troll blades spin, the added scent spreads out in a way that it creates a scent trail for the fish to hone in on your presentation and ultimately find your lure.
CLEANING Speaking of scents, one important part of catching more fish is cleanliness, as kokanee olfactory senses are measured in the parts per million. After a day of fishing, all kinds of odors can accumulate on your dodger and lake troll – fishing scents, fish slime and blood, personal smell, fuel, oil and many other items. Your kokanee attractors suddenly become repulsive, chasing the fish away instead of attracting them. Several simple items can be used to clean up your dodgers and lake trolls. These can also be used to clean up lures as well. If the metal has become corroded or dull, try shining it up with some simple water and baking soda. Original Crest toothpaste works well
too. Put a little on the metal and gently rub it in with either your fingers or a small brush. Once it is polished up, simply rinse it off with water. To clean the dodgers and lake trolls, use original lemon Joy dish soap. We use it to clean our dodgers after every trip. Make sure to dry them thoroughly before putting them away to avoid corrosion and getting a musty smell to them.
SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS Having a variety of styles, shapes, sizes and colors of dodgers and lake trolls in your tackle box will help improve your ability to attract kokanee to your lure presentation. The speed at which you troll your attractor will also determine how effectively it transmits sound through the water and provides action to your lure. Match the color of the attractor to the conditions where and when you are fishing, attach the right lure and add a little scent to your attractor, and you are on your way to enjoying many successful outings. Tight lines and fish on! NS Editor’s note: Tom Schnell is an avid outdoorsman who lives with his wife in Central Oregon. He is also a Kokanee Power of Oregon Board Member.
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HUNTING FISHING You’d be crazy not to try your hand at catching crawdads. Season begins in May in Washington and whether you’re looking to cook up natives like signals or eating the invaders like red swamp, northern and rusty crayfish, it’s a fun way to spend a day. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
Lake Washington’s Other, Other, Other Fishery There are crawdads to be had on the Emerald City water, and your shrimp gear – minus about 300 feet of leaded rope – will work just fine. By Mark Yuasa
M
ention the word “crayfish” and the first thing that comes to mind is Louisiana, where the shellfish lurks in the swamps and bayous and, as a valued commodity, has been raised in fish farms since the 1880s. While this may be the case in the Bayou State – where they’re dubbed the official crustacean – what many
don’t realize is that a wild and larger species is thriving on the bottom of Lake Washington in the backyard of the Emerald City. The signal crayfish found in Washington aren’t the same species as those found in other parts of the country or world, but they are tastier and bigger than Louisiana’s red swamp and white river crayfish. “We don’t do any monitoring of crayfish outside of a little commercial
catch, but even that data hasn’t been recorded for quite some time,” says Steve Caromile, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife inland fish manager. “As a whole they’re a fairly healthy, abundant population especially on this side of the state and in Lake Washington,” adds the Olympia-based Caromile. “I would agree people still have a decent chance to catch crayfish. As you know, it’s all about location.” nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2021
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FISHING I WENT OUT with a commercial fisherman some time ago to find out more about these creatures in Lake Washington. He had set 120 pots in three locations around the north end of the lake, and it took less than two hours to pull, clean and reset the pots with an electric winch yielding a haul of 70 pounds. Back at the marina, hidden under the dock in the water, he revealed his catch over the past few days, which consisted of two 50-gallon garbage cans brimming with live crayfish. Not too shabby for a part-time job yielding about $3 to $4 per pound commercially and a value of $5 to $6 per pound on the local retail market. Surprisingly, Caromile says there hasn’t been any commercial crayfish fishery in Lake Washington since 2016. In previous years his agency handed out about 12 permits statewide annually, with a few dedicated for Lake Washington. “There was a permit (issued) in 2017, but the individual didn’t fish,” Caromile says. “It does look like from 2014 (to) 2016, the permittees mostly fished the northern part of the lake.” Here is a snippet from WDFW on average commercial catch variances: In northern Lake Washington there were 25 landings in 2014 with an overall catch of 1,639 pounds for an average of 65.56 pounds per landing; eight in 2015 with a catch of 342 for 42.75; and five in 2016 with a catch of 198 for 39.60. In southern Lake Washington, there were three in 2015 with a catch of 139 for 46.33. Despite a lack of commercial fishing of late, there are sport anglers quietly catching their share around Lake Washington in a fairly clean fishery not requiring a lot of gear nor ingenuity. You can even find a Facebook page devoted to Washington crayfish. “It is certainly worth someone’s time to pursue them on Lake Washington, and for that matter it can be pretty good in all local basin 120 Northwest Sportsman
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Signal crayfish are a key part of the food base in the region’s lakes and streams, but can be outbred by introduced species from the South. Ironically, signals have been introduced into European waters, leading to concerns there as well. (ASTACOIDES, WIKIMEDIA, CC BY SA 3.0)
lakes with a hard bottom,” says Danny Garrett, a WDFW biologist who has spent numerous years studying fish and other creatures in the huge urban watershed. “It wouldn’t take much effort for someone to catch them, as far as I know.”
THESE MINI-CRUSTACEANS ARE referred to by various names including crayfish, crawfish, crawdad, crawdaddies, mud bugs and yabbies. Yabbies? Whatever you call them, they’re a close relative to the lobster, shrimp and crab. Only the signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) is native to Washington, but nonnative invasives that are also here include the red swamp, northern and rusty crayfish. Signals have a uniform brownish coloration, white or light coloration of the claw joint and a smooth surface of its carapace and claws (head and back). Nonnatives have distinguished pronounced bumps on their claws. In Lake Washington and other freshwater waterways across the state, crayfish are open for sport harvest from the first Monday in May through Oct. 31. Season is closed during the winter and early spring to protect the population’s reproductive time. Signal crayfish are slow to grow to adult size, taking around two to three years to reach the minimum legal size
of 3¼ inches – as measured from the tip of the rostrum, or nose, to the tip of the tail – but they can grow as big as 6 inches or more in five to six years. The daily limit is 10 pounds in the shell, which equates to 10 to 16 crayfish per pound. Signals are the only crayfish that may be removed from the vicinity of the waterbody alive. All females with eggs or young attached must be immediately returned to the water unharmed. Nonnative crayfish need to be kept in a separate container and must be dead before being removed from any body of water. There aren’t daily limit, size or sex restrictions on red swamp, northern and rusty crayfish, but the same season dates apply. No shellfish/seaweed license is required for crayfish, and each person is allowed to set star traps, ring nets or pots, and up to five units of gear per person may be used to collect crayfish. They can also be harvested by hand or a dipnet. Unlike crab and shrimp, no colored or mesh-size restriction on buoys are required, but they must be marked on the surface by some type of flotation device. For specific rules, be sure to check WDFW’s regulation pamphlet, available at wdfw.wa.gov.
THE FEEDING HABITS of crayfish are varied, as they’ll consume just about
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FISHING usually provide the best catches since crayfish are nocturnal and tend to come out at night.
The Northwest won’t be confused with Louisiana anytime soon, but the rewards can be the same for those who get after crawdads. (FISHIING PHOTO CONTEST)
anything. Their diet changes as they grow from juveniles to adults, which may be the main factor why juveniles rarely enter traps. For bait, use oily canned cat or dog food with small holes punched in the top and top it off with a salmon or other fish carcass. You can also use chicken necks or gizzards. Crayfish prefer structure (rock piles and boulders) and areas with
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a hard bottom. Juvenile crayfish lurk in shallow, weedy areas with overhanging brush and knockeddown trees to find protection from predators – and each other, since they’re cannibalistic. Large adults prefer deeper water to avoid being preyed on by birds and land mammals. The common depth to set traps is 15 to 30 feet, but no deeper than 40 feet. Overnight soaks or longer
BESIDES LAKE WASHINGTON other places to seek out crayfish include Lake Sammamish; Pine Lake on the Issaquah Plateau; Lake Samish in Whatcom County; Deer Lake on Whidbey Island; and Lake Cavanaugh, McMurray Lake, Clear Lake and Pass Lake in Skagit County. East of the Cascade Range, Moses Lake is considered a haven for crayfish seekers. Regardless of the waterway you choose for this relatively easy, fun fishing activity, be sure to have a big pot of boiling water, Cajun seasoning (Old Bay is my choice), garlic, butter, corn, potatoes and andouille sausage staged in the kitchen when you get home for a bounty of yumminess. My mouth is watering just thinking about “pinching the tail and sucking the head!” NS
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Verle’s has the Big Chief front load package for you. Smoking is made simple with the Big Chief, as all you have to do is plug it in to a standard household outlet. Just place your food (after brining or preparation) on one of the five racks that sit over the top of the drip pan. The smoker’s capacity is a whopping 50 pounds of meat or fish! Includes: smoker, five easy-slide chrome-plated grills, electric cord, drip pan, wood flavor pan, recipe booklet, plus four free bags of Smokehouse Chips & Chunks. Father’s Day special: $135.99 until June 20th, 2021. verles.com
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Every dad needs more ammo for Father’s Day. Barnaul Ammunition offers a wide variety of steel-cased cartridges in the major calibers your dad needs. Handgun calibers: .380 Auto, 9-Mak, 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 Auto. Rifle calibers: 5.45x39, .223 Rem. (5.56), .300 BLK, 7.62x39, .308 Win, 7.62x54R and .30-06 Spring. Pick some up from your local store today and enjoy the range time with Dad! Premium Russian ammunition that delivers. barnaulammo.com
Father’s Day GIFT GUIDE
SOUTH HILL RV
Our No. 1 selling camera is the Furrion with the 7-inch monitor (we also offer them with 5- and 4.3-inch monitors for a few bucks less). Over the years we have tried just about every backup camera brand out there, but none have compared to the Furrion systems. They provide crystal-clear images to avoid any blind spots and are amazing for backing up and parking. The other options are adding side cameras and a security camera by the entry door so you can keep an eye on your unit if you step away for an adventure! This is an option that any dad would love on their RV! Seven-inch backup camera and monitor: $650; add the side camera with backup camera and monitor for $950. About my dad: I lost my dad to pancreatic cancer in 2004; it was the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with. Not only was he my dad, but my best friend, my mentor, my trainer and so much more! I cannot thank him enough for everything he has taught me, from always putting family first to working the hardest for anything you want in life, and just all the time we spent together, even all the hard lessons learned. He is who made me the man I am today and if I can be even half the man he was, I am happy! He was/is the best father, family man and person I have ever met and ever will meet! I would give any and everything in the world to just get another five minutes with him, and suggest to anyone who does have their father here on Earth, do not take it for granted. It has been many years now, but I still talk to him daily, ask his advice and always ask myself what would Dad do in just about every situation I deal with! Happy Father’s Day, Dad! –Ted Tatum, Sales Manager southhillrv.com
POCKET OX
Remember when we could
throw a buck on the tailgate or yard our dirt bikes out of the brush without waiting on a buddy? Bikes got heavier, tailgates taller and, frankly, those buddies are showing some wear. Idaho’s Pocket Ox builds the smallest most powerful “In your pack, not in the truck” manual hoists. Save your back for scoopin’ up grandkids. They come sooner than you think. PocketOx.com 128 Northwest Sportsman
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FARMER GEORGE MEATS
Farmer George Meats has been serving the greater Kitsap County area since the 1950s. We are a one-stop shop for all of your meat needs, specializing in a large range of meat products. Surprise your dad with a variety of meat packs and a perfect piece of steak. All of our meat packages are an excellent way to receive more meat for your money. If you would like to place an order, please give us a call at (360) 876-3186! Please give us one week to complete your order. Outdoorsmen are not left out either! We will cut and wrap all of your animals, including harvested birds and fish. farmergeorgemeats.com
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GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE 130 Northwest Sportsman
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Duck club members have access to several acres of private hunting area. Blinds are located in three main areas (and three smaller areas) within the property to help maximize hunting potential and minimize member contact. Sauvie Island Duck Club is located on a great flyway and is a mallard haven! The following memberships are available: Day, Week and Season at a cost of $200, $750 and $2,000, respectively. Sauvie Island Duck Club is a private waterfowl hunting club located approximately 10 miles northwest of Portland, Oregon, along US Route 30. Call Ron at (503) 539-5396 or check out the website for more information. siduckclub.com
Father’s Day GIFT GUIDE
DARA HOLSTERS & GEAR, INC.
Dara Holsters’ Custom IWB Holster features a patented curved clip, designed to mimic the curve of the waistband. This keeps the gun tight to the body and secured to the belt. Proudly made in the USA, and backed by a lifetime warranty. daraholsters.com
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SCAN MARINE
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Father’s Day GIFT GUIDE
TIMBER CREEK OUTDOORS
Treat your dad or yourself this Father’s Day with an Enforcer Kit from Timber Creek Outdoors. Available in nine colors, this kit features high-end performance parts and jawdropping looks that improve usability, ergonomics and dependability of any smallframed MSR. It’s perfect for sportsmen, competitors, firearms enthusiasts and people who trust their lives to their equipment. Timber Creek products are made in the USA and come with a lifetime warranty. MSRP: $749.99. Our message to dads: Dads make the best hunting partners and range buddies. Happy Father’s Day to all of those dads out there! timbercreekoutdoorsinc.com
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Father’s Day GIFT GUIDE NOWLIN ARMS
Proven reputation. Eight world championships and 22 national titles, all won by competitors using Nowlin. Today, you can elevate your own 1911 to this level of performance with Nowlin’s ECM Match Grade barrels. Made from 416 rifle-quality bar stock, with ultrasmooth ECM rifling, 40 RC hardness, and an 8 RMS bore finish, Nowlin 1911 barrels deliver maximum accuracy. Nowlin’s unique precut barrel locking lug design ensures precise engagement, while centering the firing pin on the primer. Under 1 inch at 25 yards and under 1½ inches at 50 yards in the company’s barrel testing fixture. nowlinarms.com
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VELOCITY PRECISION
Like all Velocity Precision products, their Recoil-less Bolt Carrier is designed with accuracy and performance in mind. Their unique patent-pending design is stronger than other low-mass bolt carriers and is one of the lightest bolt carriers on the market. The Recoil-less Bolt Carrier significantly reduces your rifle’s recoil impulse for faster follow-up shots and its Nano Diamond Nickel coating makes it extremely wear-resistant, easy to clean and uncompromisingly durable. This unique coating creates a very slick surface that reduces the probability of failures due to a lack of lubrication, reduces typical wear and tear on expensive parts, and truly makes shooting your AR-15 much more fun. The real value when it comes to lightweight bolt carriers comes when it’s paired with an adjustable gas block, which is why Velocity Precision offers both in a bundled product package. Reducing the rifle’s returning gas, together with the reduced weight of the bolt carrier is what reduces the recoil and muzzle rise to nearly zero. Without both you’re really only going halfway! velocitytriggers.com
When It Absolutely Positively Has To Stay There Overnight
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Father’s Day GIFT GUIDE ULTIMAK
Lyle at UltiMAK designed the first practical AK optic mount in the 1990s, and has been adding to the product line ever since. Supported platforms now include a host of AK variants, including AK pistols, plus the M1 Garand rifle, M-14/M1A, Mini-14 and the M1 .30 Carbine. Starting out in a musical instrument shop, Lyle has applied his unique perspective into mechanics and ergonomics to the field of firearms. Since then, UltiMAK has been making and selling optic mounts and rail systems for over 20 years, and has become the name in mounting systems for the above rifle platforms. UltiMAK’s latest product is a forward optic mount for the KP-9 pistol made by Kalashnikov USA (available soon at Kalashnikov). For the rest of the product line, check out the website or call (208) 8834734. Avail yourself of the UltiMAK system, and let your rifle sing! ultimak.com
PRESENT ARMS, INC.
The AR Hook is another “third hand” from Present Arms. It is an AR cleaning rod guide and upper receiver strut. Simply hook the upper receiver and pin to the lower with the takedown pin. Use it with Present Arms’ patented Sentinel Plate and AR magazine post, sold separately, for the perfect user-friendly AR cleaning station. presentarmsinc.com
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presentarmsinc.com • 413-575-4656 INDIAN ORCHARD, MA 01151
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HUNTING
Bag A Bird At The Bell
No doubt that many if not most Northwest gobblers are taken during April’s youth hunt and the start of the general season and its first weekend, but it’s a long season and working the woods in May can yield rewards – and expand your turkey hunting game. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
Don’t throw in the towel! Here’s how to score last-ditch longbeards across the Northwest before season ends. By MD Johnson
G
ive me just a minute while I think of how I want to say this … Most, I reckon, can kill a gobbler on opening day. Take a hen-crazy 2-year-old tom, add 12 months of not interacting with human beings, throw in some turkey hunting experience, and, of course, sprinkle with a liberal dose of luck, and, well, that’s often how longbeards come to enjoy a ride in the back of someone’s pickup truck. I’m not saying that’s how it happens all the time, but often enough.
Now, move the calendar ahead six weeks. The weather’s warm, if not hot. Depending on where in the Northwest one is talking about, hunting pressure has ranged from heavy to ridiculous. Birds have been spooked. More than one has been shot at and missed. And, even though there might be a handful of hens wandering around that haven’t set up housekeeping on the nest, six weeks – nah, make that eight weeks, maybe 10, maybe more – is a long time to chase the girls all day every day. Say what? A goodly portion of the surviving gobblers are just flat tired.
They’re worn out. Girls? Ugh. So, what’s all this leading up to? Well, allow me to go back to my initial statement, that being that while many can kill a gobbler on opening day – even opening week – it’s an entirely different story come the final seconds of the proverbial fourth quarter. The survivors are a challenge; that’s why they’re survivors. But they’re not impossible. Frustrating? Yes. Infuriating? Often. Downright maddening? Uh-huh. Impossible? I wouldn’t say impossible. Not at all. That said, let’s take a look at what tricks might remain – or should be – nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2021
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HUNTING
It’s far from earth-shattering advice, but a little patience – actually, a whole lot – can go a long way in May. Bring a seat cushion, find a comfortable spot where birds are known to range, and wait for a gobbler to show up. (JULIA JOHNSON)
up your proverbial sleeve as the season winds down and the calendar inches closer and closer to May 31 (May 25 in Idaho) and the closing bell.
GRAB A SEAT Human beings are in a hurry. Turkeys, with few exceptions, are not. Why’s this important? Because we, as turkey hunters, often want that old longbeard to work on our schedule. Truth is, it doesn’t work that way. 150 Northwest Sportsman
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We’re on his schedule. And as such, we wait. And wait. And wait some more. If we don’t wait or can’t wait, we get up and leave. Old Tom, moving at his pace, shows up precisely 17 minutes after we’ve vacated the area, struts, and struts, and struts, searching for that odd-sounding hen he heard somewhere around these parts. The hell’d she go anyway? My point? Patience, persistence and self-discipline are all virtues
possessed by the very best turkey hunters. We sit, and when we’re tired of sitting, we sit some more. I, by my own admission, can sit; however, even my backside gets sore after just so long. And when it does, I fidget, looking quite like a camo-clad breakdancing contestant on America’s Got Talent. Er, it’s not good. Enter, a good seat cushion, a lightweight portable stake-blind, a book and a PBJ sandwich. Maybe a Gatorade. With these items, I’ll put myself in an area of known turkey activity, post a single hen decoy, prop up the blind, make myself comfortable on the cushion, lay out the sandwich, set a slate call and striker on my leg, open the book and prepare myself to sit for a hour. Or two. Or three. I’ll call every now and again; something soft, like short quiet yelps and clucks, with a purr or two thrown in from time to time. Occasionally, I’ll cut loose with a higher volume yelp sequence, especially if there’s wind or if the terrain lends itself to increased volume, e.g. Eastern Washington or Eastern Oregon. Set as such, I wait. And I watch. And I listen. Often, late-season gobblers will come in silently, with little more than a spit and drum and a quick strut, if that; thus, your eyes are as important as your ears. Don’t expect a gobbler; it might not be there. Oh, and a tip here: When (not if) you fall asleep, wake up without moving. Just open your eyes, s-l-o-w-l-y get your shotgun to your shoulder, and tag that longbeard standing next to your decoys. Truth!
GET CLOSE – REAL CLOSE Oh, the birds will gobble on the roost, but time after time, they fly down, gobble once more and fade into the distance, never to be heard from again. Sometimes you can do something with that; often, you can’t. Nature of the beast, I reckon. Same place, most mornings. Right at the end of that scrub oak ridge where it drops down gradually to the narrow bench below. It’s a small stand of
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HUNTING
But if patience isn’t in your playbook, maybe open up your mapbook and head for a nearby state wildlife area or open private lands for a change of pace. (JULIA JOHNSON)
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ponderosa pines. And it’s not the first year you’ve found them there. Frustrating, yes, but you have one excellent piece of information: the location of The Roost. Trouble is you’ve been concentrating on the roost as a collective. The Roost. Instead, what you should be doing is focusing on the tree. The tree? So in the ideal situation, it’s possible to sit some distance away right about dusk – fly-up time – with binoculars and/or a spotting scope, and creep on these birds. What you’re looking for is the tree he goes to roost in. There! There he is! He’s up. Now, back at camp, you decide how you’re going to get into position and sit down – ready for this? – within effective shooting range of the tree he’s in. No, you are not going to limb him; that’s not playing fair. But you’re going to slip in ridiculously early, walking unlike a human being and more like a meandering deer or shuffling raccoon, and sit down almost, but not quite, under his tree. No decoy. No call. Just before daylight, he’s going to gobble. And gobble. And gobble. Your gun is up and ready, safety on. He flies down – 35 yards – and drops into strut. You yelp once. He slicks down, picks his head up, and wins himself a ride in the back of Grandpa’s pickup. Done! Can it work that way? Yes, sir, it can, and quite well. Is there a chance – a good chance – you’ll bump him getting that close? Yes, sir, there is; however, it’s final week, maybe the last day. What do you have to lose?
HUNT ALL DAY Over the years, I’ve written I don’t know how many times extolling the positives of hunting spring gobblers between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Why? The hens are gone. The toms are lonely, and as such, more likely to come looking for that sweetsounding girl turkey they’ve been hearing, i.e. me. And yada, yada, yada.
Truth is, any time between the beginning and end of legal shooting hours is a good time to kill a gobbler. They’re out there, doing what gobblers do in the spring, so it only stands to reason that if you’re out there and they’re out there, there’s a chance your paths will cross. My point? Stay out there. If you’re serious about killing a tom, hunt all day. Take what you need, e.g. plenty of water, MRE, snacks, reading material, toilet paper, and prepare to spend the day in the field. Cliché, yes, but you can’t kill him from the sofa – unless, that is, it’s a camouflaged sofa tucked back in the puckerbrush in an area of known turkey activity. I’ll give you that one. Maybe. But the simple truth is the longer you hunt, the more likely you are to punch a tag. Oh, and naps. About 11 o’clock, take a nap, but wake up slow and quiet.
MOVE AND MOVE AND MOVE
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This one goes hand in hand with all-day hunting. Me? I like to sit, but I also love to what I call hunt on my feet; that is, if after a bit I’ve determined he, however many toms that may be, isn’t going to come to me, well, then, I’ll go to him. And that, my friends, usually involves covering some ground. Maybe it’s a walk – a long walk. You’re not in a hurry; maybe stopping to call and listen every 100 yards. Or every 50, if it’s windy. You’re taking your time. You’re probing around corners and down into the canyons with your call before you wander that way. Still nothing? Perhaps it’s time to get in the rig and drive to another section of the property, state wildlife area or forest, federal land or what have you. Or to another wildlife area or piece of Feel Free To Hunt ground, say, 5 miles away. Twenty miles away. When we left Iowa in 2015, I had 17 private farms I could hunt, ranging from 30 to 40 acres to the late Wayne Vernon’s incredible 420. Twenty minutes, maybe, was all it nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2021
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HUNTING
May turkeys are tough targets, but adapting and adjusting your tactics will go a long way towards tagging a tom this month. (JULIA JOHNSON)
took to drive from the farthest to the farthest. If I didn’t work anything on Farm A, I went to Farm B. And Farm C. And Farm D. I took my time, but I didn’t hesitate to move. To relocate. Change scenery. I did from time to time hunt a 14,000-acre public area south of Cedar Rapids. Here, too, I’d up and move as often as I deemed necessary. Sometimes it was to get away from other turkey hunters. Or morel 154 Northwest Sportsman
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mushroom hunters. Or hikers, bikers, dog walkers or individuals up to things I didn’t want to dwell upon. But, more often than not, I’d hit a bird at Spot 5 or Spot 6. The bottom line here is don’t be sedentary. Get up and get on your boots, if need be.
WHAT ABOUT REAPING? I’ll just come out and say it plain and simple-like: I’m not a fan. When I learned to hunt turkeys in the late
1980s, one of the cardinal rules of the game was to never wear the colors red, white, blue or black into the field. Why? Because those were the colors worn by your target, i.e. the wild turkey gobbler. So I left those colors at home. And to be honest? The thought of putting a real gobbler fan in front of my face and duck-walking through the timber or along the edge of a field trying to agitate a longbeard? That wasn’t even a thought. I wouldn’t have done that any more than I would have blindfolded myself and randomly jabbed at an electrical outlet with a fork. Sooner or later, something bad is going to happen. Yeah. I know. YouTube’s full of guys doing the above, a tactic that’s come to be known as reaping. You know what? Ugh! Are disclaimers relating to safety thrown here and there? Sure. Only on private ground. Only if you’re sure you’re the only one around. Blah. Blah. Blah. Can it work, this so-called reaping, where a hunter uses a real turkey fan as a pseudo-blind, blatantly creeps up on a gobbler, and then shoots him in the lips? Absolutely. I’ve watched it firsthand several times throughout the Midwest. Would I do it? Would I let Julie do it? No, sir. Not my cup of tea. Will there be folks who disagree? Certainly. Are there reapers out there who wouldn’t think of doing it any other way? Again, I’m sure. Any regulation specifically prohibiting the technique? Not that I know. All I’m saying is – in my humble opinion – it’s not smart to play the part of the target. Enough said.
TO EVERYONE LOOKING to put a tag above that inch-long spur during the month of May, good luck to you. These are veterans you’re dealing with, birds that have in all likelihood been through the wash a time or two. Or eight. Take your time. Improvise. Adapt. Adjust. And invest that time. It’ll happen. And if it doesn’t? There’s always spring 2022. NS
COLUMN
Today’s Special? Thunder Chicken Karma T
he first turkey I ever shot was one my father called in for me. So I feel kind of guilty calling the CHEF IN last turkey I shot away THE WILD from my dad. By Randy King You see, we were in the panhandle of Idaho, chasing thunder chickens, when a disagreement arose. Not a big one, but a definite schism. He thought his box call and his calling skills were better than my box call and my calling skillz. Now, he did teach me all that I know. But since I know nothing, the knowledge transfer was negligible – and I have also killed many times more birds than he has.
WHEN THE MORNING came, we could not decide who would call the birds and who would shoot. We decided to amicably split and meet for lunch. That way we could both call, and hopefully both shoot. After a morning of wandering the woods, I was headed back to the truck when I heard faint clucking off in the distance. I knew it was Dad. His old Quaker Boy has a distinct ring to it. Then I heard a gobble. Awesome! Dad was on a bird. Then all was quiet. I waited for a long while before the ol’ Quaker Boy sounded off again. No response. In a desperate bit of rib-poking, I called with my box call. The thunder chicken boomed. Then it hit
me what I had done. I had probably just confused my father into thinking he had gotten that gobble. At this point in the universe, I had a choice. I could back out and see if Dad could close this deal. Or I could prove, for certain, who was a better caller. It was a sadly easy choice. Game on. Let’s see who can call this bird in. It would be a battle of the box calls.
I COULD HEAR Dad call as I backed out about 100 yards to the edge of a clearcut – safety first. No gobbles. I set up my decoys in the two-track road and got the GoPro out for filming. Then I started my sweet, sweet turkey talking. Immediate gobbles.
Chef Randy and his dad, here, disagree on who is the better turkey caller, but probably not that the younger King got his just desserts after calling a bird away from his old man. (RANDY KING) nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2021
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COLUMN Battered turkey nuggets ½ cup corn starch ½ cup flour 1 wild turkey breast 2 carrots peeled into ribbons 2 green onions, sliced thin ½ bunch cilantro, chopped
Orange turkey garnished with carrots, cilantro and green onion. (RANDY KING)
THE TAO OF TURKEY
M
y kids, much to my disdain, love Panda Express. Specifically, they love the “orange chicken” that the fast food chain serves. Now, what they serve is not orange chicken. If you have ever had the real deal, you know what I mean. Instead, it is a fried hunk of meat that is crunchy and covered in a sweet spicy sauce. Call it what you want, but that combo is also not a bad thing. To appease the masses at home, I have started riffing off the Panda version of orange chicken with wild game we harvest. It has gone very well. To get some sort of approximation of the sweetness, I have resorted to some cool measures. Specifically, preserving oranges in sugar syrup. Preserving oranges is a story as old as time. How can an abundant crop be stored longer? Easy, submerge it in syrup. This will inhibit the production of bacteria and
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keep the calories lasting longer. Plus, it is freakin’ delicious. Preserved oranges 1½ cups water 1½ cups white sugar 8 mandarin oranges, washed, cut in half Bring the water and sugar to a boil in a medium saucepan. Place the cut oranges in a clean 2-quart glass Mason jar. You will have to mash them a bit. Carefully pour the syrup over the top of them until covered. Wait a little while for them to settle, then pour more syrup on top. Let cool; use the next day at the soonest, but if covered, these will last a few months in the pantry. I used a fork to get the oranges out of the jar. This is a sticky mess, no lie. Transfer them to a cutting board and dice. Use on salads or in stir-fry, like this dish.
Heat fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or heat 1 inch of oil in a heavy-bottomed saute pan to 350. For the love of your paint and the smell of your house, turn on the exhaust fan. Cut turkey breast into about ½-inch cubes. No need to be perfect. Combine the corn starch and flour in a bowl. Add the diced turkey to the bowl. Toss those chunks of meat around until they are all covered in starch. Fry the meat until it’s “GB&D,” or golden brown and delicious. You must do this in batches. Crowding the fryer and/or the pan will make badly fried food. It usually takes me three batches to fry a turkey lobe. When fully cooked, transfer the breaded nuggets to a mixing bowl. While the nuggets are cooking, lay a carrot on the counter and press the peeler firmly down at the stem end. Peel off a “ribbon” of carrot. Continue this process until you can’t peel the carrot any further, i.e., you are now trying to peel the counter. This is a great garnish, and a way to make carrot noodles too. ‘Orange’ Turkey Sauce 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon sambal or sriracha ¼ cup sweet chili sauce 1 tablespoon pickled ginger, minced 1 (two halves) preserved orange, diced (include the syrup that is on your cutting board too – go all in with the sticky mess) Add all to a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Reserve. When all the batches of fried turkey nuggets are done, pour the sauce on them. Toss to coat, then garnish with carrot, green onion and cilantro. Make sure to post to Instagram with some clever hashtag. Otherwise, this did not happen. For more wild game recipes, see chefrandyking.com. –RK
More clucks from Dad. I stayed quiet for 10 minutes. Dad did not. When I called again, it was clear the bird was closer to me than before. Dad could tell the bird had left him, so he started to force the issue, trying to be the dominant hen. Lots of calls, lots of tempo. But no gobbles in response. Soon I could see the gobbler picking his way down the road to me, puffed and strutting at my hen decoy. He looked like a 2½-yearold; not a giant bird, but not a jake either. I could hardly breathe as my heart pumped. The camera was on, the gun was up. When he came into range, I pulled the trigger. And all I heard was a “click,” not a boom. The shell did not fire. On the video you can hear an audible “*$%k” escape my lips. My first thought cannot be published in a family magazine, but know that it was not clean. Quickly I ejected my shell and pumped in another – all in about the amount of time it takes for a turkey to spin and run like his life was on the line. When I did shoot, all I managed to do was knock off a tail feather. The bird got away, never to be seen again. Sitting on the wet ground, it occurred to me that the universe was a strange place, that karma might be real. I had totally messed with my dad to prove a selfish point, and for basically being a jerk, I did not get rewarded for it. I grabbed my decoy and saw my father on the road. I would like to tell you he was sad that the bird got away. But I imagine he too thought I needed a little karma in my life at that point. NS
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Let Grouse Doldrums Begin & Other Reasons to Grumble
Brace yourselves, Washington grouse hunters. While September 1 has marked the start of season since 1973, this year it will begin September 15 after the Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the change last month. State hunting managers say mother grouse make up a strong portion of the early harvest, affecting survival of young-of-the-year birds and in turn leading to a longterm population decline. (MARK LEVISAY, FLICKR, CC BY 2.0)
O
h the times, they are a-changing; that much can be said about moving the opening day of ON TARGET Washington’s grouse By Dave Workman season to September 15, and my initial reaction to the news was “that sucks.” I have not missed a grouse opener since high school, and that is a very long time ago. I’ll be out there for this one as well, regardless of day in the week (for the record, the 15th falls on a Wednesday). Apparent declines in the harvest and concerns about too many hens being in the early season bag are the major components. Editor Andy Walgamott forwarded the following Department of Fish and Wildlife staff summary for my attention as I prepared this column:
“The department is proposing September 15 as the opener to ensure recruitment of young. Harvest records indicate adult females are disproportionally harvested during the first two weeks of September, which in turn affects recruitment of young individuals into the population. Populations are indicating a decline therefore to ensure long-term viability the season opener is proposed to occur after the observed critical period.” In the long run, it may not make that much difference, except lost time hunting during the normally magnificent first two weeks of the month when the forest is a wonderful place to be, and on the plus side – if one can call it that – it will be long after the Labor Day weekend when the woods are otherwise full of people roaring around on motorbikes and making nuisances of themselves. Here’s your keyboard assignment:
Type in this URL – https://wdfw.wa.gov/ publications/02217 – and start reading. You’ll find the grouse information near the end of the report, which spans 403 pages. The grouse section starts on page 379. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find this interesting note: “Participation in grouse hunting has declined from historic highs in the 1970s when an average of 112,000 hunters pursued grouse each year. More recently, the number of hunters dropped sharply in 2010 and 2011 but has since stabilized, with a 10-year average of 24,094 hunters per year. On average, each hunter spends about 8 days hunting grouse in a season. In 2019, an estimated 21,542 hunters pursued grouse for an estimated 161,916 days. This is a 2% increase in hunters from the 2018 season and 11% below the 10-year average. Harvest continues to be tied to hunter participation. In 2019, the statewide
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COLUMN harvest of 54,952 birds was up 12% from the 2018 harvest and 8% below the 10year average of 59,437 birds.” That may not mean much to lots of people, but it’s significant to a guy who started hunting grouse well into the last century. My first kill was with an old Harrington & Richardson single-shot smoothbore with a barrel that kind of rattled, no front bead and an exposed hammer. My dad swapped some guy for a .380 Beretta Model 1934 pistol, which as time passed, seemed like a rather foolish swap to me. We stumbled on the bird on the south side of Huffaker Mountain south of Randle early one morning along an old skid. I hunted with that gun for a few years and started saving for a new smoothbore when I got my first job. My prize was a used – but not much, it appeared – 12-gauge sideby-side Beretta with fixed full and modified chokes. Loaded with high-base No. 6s, that shotgun was the grouse-shootingest smoothbore that ever traveled through the Pierce and Lewis County backwoods. Since then, I’ve availed myself of an over-under Franchi 20-gauge, a S/S 20-gauge Stoeger and a little .410-bore Stoeger. I’ve also been known to shoot a grouse now and then with a .22 pistol.
DELIGHTFUL EATING WILL WAIT Blue grouse (dusky and sooty to the purists) provide the best eating, in my opinion, and rather than just breast them for frying or roasting them like a Cornish game hen, I discovered a real delight some years ago. Grouse Parmesan. Just breast a big blue grouse, season it slightly with your favorite spices, and substitute the meat for a chicken breast. Spaghetti of your choice (I prefer angel hair pasta, but that’s up to you) and sauce; you will dine like royalty in camp without the bothersome roar and raised dust of Labor Day weekend trail bikers. The advantage to popping grouse in the noggin with a .22 is that one needn’t worry about breaking a tooth on a piece of shot. It’s never happened to me, but it happens. I’ll be writing more about hunting fool hens in the September issue. Until then, make sure your shotgun gets a good off164 Northwest Sportsman
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Author and grouse fanatic Dave Workman, here with a fool hen that tumbled to his 20-gauge Franchi, will still try to make the best of the bad news. From 1950 through 1972, the season began anywhere from the first to fourth Saturday of the month. (DAVE WORKMAN)
season cleaning, and zero that .22-caliber rifle or pistol by shooting bottle caps at 20 yards. I’ve done this with my Ruger 10/22 topped by a scope, and it’s a challenging game.
FINISHING ON A HIGH NOTE: BOB NOSLER’S NEW MEMOIR If you want some interesting reading, Bob Nosler’s new memoir Born Ballistic is a must-read. A dear friend and all-around great guy, Nosler is the son of John Nosler, founder
of the Nosler bullet company whose own autobiography was Going Ballistic, so there’s a pattern emerging. This is the story of a man who grew up in the industry, trying his hand at other things along the way, including serving aboard a nuclear submarine. There is plenty of shooting and hunting, a bit about business and devotion to your customers, and a lot of good reading. This is a book, written with Bend-based outdoor writer Gary Lewis, that is filled with interesting stuff, especially for people like
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Brought To You By:
myself who reload their own ammunition with the hope of being happy with the results. Might make a great Father’s Day gift for anyone who beats the ammunition shortage by loading their own. NS
Born Ballistic is the title of legendary bullet maker Bob Nosler’s memoir that appeared last month. It’s a delightful read about a guy who has been there, and done that. (DAVE WORKMAN)
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EYES ON THAT OTHER WASHINGTON – D.C.
A
nybody who thought Joe Biden wasn’t going to make a move on guns must live in an alternate universe. The guy spent decades on Capitol Hill trying to ratchet down on your Second Amendment rights. Push has come to shove pretty quickly, just two months into his four-year presidential term. His recent pronouncements about so-called “ghost guns,” and banning semiauto rifles or regulating them like machine guns is just the beginning. His people even said so, calling them “initial actions.” Translation: There is more coming. Perhaps now is a good time to go back to high school civics classes, also known as “American Government.” What I learned at the time is that rights are protected by the Constitution, and among these is the right to keep and bear arms. That’s not a government-regulated privilege. One should not be required to ask permission of the government before exercising a right. Tens of millions of gun owners should not be penalized because some evil people misuse firearms. Keep an eye on how gun rights organizations react to some of the measures proposed by Biden and Capitol Hill Democrats. One piece of legislation – H.R. 127 – goes so far as to require psychiatric evaluation of gun buyers; the government is going to determine whether a citizen is suitable to own a firearm. Let that sink in. The Second Amendment Foundation and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms are two national organizations based in Bellevue. The National Rifle Association is based in Virginia, as is the Gun Owners of America. Now is a good time to be supporting these organizations because for the foreseeable future, they will have their hands full. –DW
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Spring Training, Or, Why ‘There Is No Offseason’ S
pring is here, m e a n i n g warmer weather, increased daylight hours and plenty of opportunities to train GUN DOGGIN’ 101 your hunting dog. By Scott Haugen Personally, my spring training began in mid-March, immediately after the closure of late goose season. For others, spring training may have started later, once bird hunting preserves closed. Then there are the shed hunters who’ll likely be running dogs regularly through the end of this month, until the grass gets too tall and the ticks too thick for dogs to effectively and safely work. The worst thing an owner can do is leave their dog in a kennel once the season ends, letting it get overweight and out of shape. “If you’re serious about building a good gun dog, there is no offseason,” shares noted trainer, Jess Spradley of Cabin Creek Gun Dogs (cabincreekgundogs.com) down in Lakeview.
SPRADLEY TRAINS DOGS year-round, both his own dogs, as well as for clients. “You’ve got to keep these dogs in hunting shape all the time, and that’s done through daily workouts and getting them on a disciplined maintenance schedule,” he notes. “You want to feed the best food you can afford, avoiding fillers like corn and other grains. I feed the same food as during hunting season, just in smaller portions because the dogs aren’t burning as many calories, and the last thing I want is them getting overweight.” For Spradley, his next step in spring training is based on what he learned over the past hunting season. “I like building on what my dogs did well, and starting over with things they need improvement on,” he states. “If my
As explained by professional trainer Jess Spradley, a white bucket is great for sight recognition, and with three bumpers placed beneath it, it’s the perfect drill to teach your dog long-range retrieves. (SCOTT HAUGEN) dog pushed back great to 200 yards, I want to extend that to 300 or 400 yards so they can retrieve that occasional crippled duck or goose that sails out there. If my dog didn’t hold point or started creeping forward, I want to set up drills to build their confidence to the level they’ll perform well come hunting season. Pick two or three things you know need fixing and dedicate drills to resolving these issues before next season.”
“If you have a new pup, you’ll have a lot to work on,” adds Spradley. “I like starting with simple bumper retrieves because it gets the pup motivated, allows clear lines of communication to be established and develops a trusting relationship between me and my dog. They need to know right away who the boss is and what you expect from them, and this can be done while teaching them to fetch bumpers.”
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COLUMN Spradley works with a pudelpointer pup, getting it lined out for a bumper retrieve. Now is the perfect time to dedicate yourself to a training routine that will get your dog ready for hunting season. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
ONCE YOUR PUP will sit – which they should be able to do at eight weeks of age – work with soft bumpers. Get them excited to play with it, and then toss it a couple feet. Once they grab it, praise them and quickly give the “hand” command (or whatever it is you’ll use to have your dog
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deliver and release an object to your hand). You’ll likely need to step forward and meet them, quickly taking the bumper from them before they run off with it, while issuing the release command. Once the bumper is released, praise them. Be patient, keep things short and
remember, you’re teaching the pup your vocabulary and what you expect from them. Training with bumpers is something you’ll do as long as you have your dog. “There are many bumper drills, including back piles, ladder drills and more that encourage building distance retrieves,” shares Spradley. “And one I like is hanging a white bucket from a fence or tree about 5 feet off the ground so the dog can see it, and placing three bumpers on the ground beneath the bucket. The dog can’t see the bumpers, but it can see the white bucket from a long way. Dogs see white very well, and I train my dogs to an object since they function on a mental sight picture, in this case, the bucket. They’re always cuing in on things that are out of place, thus the white bucket. As they grow to understand the bucket drill, you can take it anywhere and the dogs will work for you, be it hillsides, fields, even around water.”
SPRADLEY LIKES WORKING in threes when it comes to training. “When starting out with a dog that
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COLUMN already retrieves bumpers, I might have the bucket 50 yards out, with three bumpers beneath it,” he says. “I’ll sit the dog next to me then release it to get a bumper, and when it brings it to hand I’ll repeat the process until all three bumpers are in. I’ll do this at least once a day, every single day, extending the range as the dog proves it can handle it. As long as the dog shows desire and enthusiasm, I’ll keep pushing it – sometimes training twice a day, and often pushing dogs back 300 yards or more.” If you want to get your dog to cross water but it’s reluctant, Spradley suggests first implementing the bucket drill on land. “This helps establish a line of travel. Your dog can easily cover 100 yards on land, but in water you’ll need to shorten it up,” he shares. “When you get to water, place the bucket across a small, shallow pond, even a creek or field that’s holding water. Your dog should be so focused on getting the bumpers it won’t care about knee-deep water. As the dog improves, progress to deeper water.”
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If your dog is reluctant when it comes to water retrieves, try working in small creeks, shallow ponds or, as in this case, a field holding water. (SCOTT HAUGEN) If your dog isn’t fond of water, make sure it’s not too cold. If the water is cold, keep sessions short, maybe to only two entries, and train during the heat of the day so they can run and dry off. With just four months until the start of bird hunting seasons, don’t think of this as a time to take a break. Now is when
your dog needs direction, consistent training and encouragement in order to physically and mentally develop, and it all starts with you. NS Editor’s note: To watch Scott Haugen’s series of puppy training videos, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.
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