Northwest Sportsman Magazine - June 2021 by Media Index Publishing Group

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Sportsman Northwest

Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource

Volume 13 • Issue 9 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, Buzz Ramsey, Bob Rees, 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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CONTENTS

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VOLUME 13 • ISSUE 9

855.668.7211 • www.wsbnw.com

GET JIGGY FOR AREA 11 KINGS

Plentiful dogfish make herring a hassle in the South Sound, but they’ll leave baitfish-imitating jigs alone – Chinook, not so much. With the June 16 hatchery opener coming up fast, Mark Yuasa interviews local angler Gabe Miller for advice on catching kings off Clay Banks and elsewhere around Tacoma.

(GABE MILLER)

ALSO INSIDE 59

OCEAN COHO 2021: ‘BE READY FOR MAYHEM’ With north of 1.6 million mostly hatchery Columbia coho forecast to be feeding heavily off Oregon’s and Washington’s coasts this summer, guide Bob Rees has the lowdown on safely and productively tapping into this Pacific bounty.

GET ALL STEAMED UP! No, you don’t need any decoys, calls or super-specialized equipment, but raking clams can make for an enjoyable day of “hunting” on Willapa Bay and other Northwest tideflats, reports MD Johnson, who shares the ins and outs of collecting a limit of steamers.

ALBIE SEASON DEAD AHEAD The countdown to tuna town starts this month, so now’s the time to prep your gear for the fishery. Veteran albacore hound Dave Anderson details everything from rods and reels to bait tanks, gaffs and fish care back at the dock.

TIME’S PRIME FOR GRIMES It doesn’t have the name recognition of Lenore or the state record like Omak, but Grimes Lake is a very solid option for Lahontan cutthroat this month. Mike Wright takes a look at how to fish this lake tucked in Central Washington’s Douglas County.

115 KOKANEE TECH: SCENTS AND BAITS Using the right scent and bait can mean the difference between going home with your limit of kokanee or going empty-handed instead. Central Oregon sharpie Tom Schnell details the myriad ways smells, gels, oils and more can influence the bite.

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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COLUMNS 93

(JASON BROOKS)

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FOR THE LOVE OF THE TUG Take Them Fishing Sara’s niece Katie has shown an interest in fish and fishing from a young age and so, juice box and Goldfish in hand, they hit the river for summer steelhead. And while taking youngsters out is Sara’s focus, her column also serves as inspiration for the possibilities that June’s free fishing days across the Northwest bring!

107 BUZZ RAMSEY Now More Than Fly Guides In Central Oregon Cody Herman might be most associated with Columbia River and ocean salmon fisheries, but he’s begun guiding for trout, char and kokanee in the Bend area and beyond. Buzz checks in with the busy guy and gets some tips from him for fishing popular summer destination waters like Odell and others. 151 CHEF IN THE WILD The Ups And Downs Of Bear Hunting Pursuing spring bruins where Randy does in Idaho just might render you short of breath – and speaking of rendering, our staff chef shares three different ways to turn bear fat into veritable Crisco, butter or other cooking oils, a boot grease substitute and even a fine gift for friends. 159 ON TARGET Are These The 10 Best Cartridges for Elk? Bulls are still in velvet, but in Dave’s book it’s never too early to start talking about fall season and the best cartridges for successfully bagging an elk. He shares 10 that just might be tops. 169 GUN DOG The Mental Stimulus Package For Pups “So many people think of only the physical work and overlook the mental aspects of training. These dogs are so smart, and their noses are so, so good, they need much more mental stimulation than people realize!” So says hunting guide and dog trainer Josh Powell, who impressed Scott with his all-around program.

(FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

THE BIG PIC

Summer Saltwater Salmon Planner Washington’s 2021 Pacific, Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound fisheries feature strong hues of silver and pink, but there are purple-backed kings to be had too. Mark Yuasa plans your season.

DEPARTMENTS

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THE EDITOR’S NOTE Rare wins on the steelhead front

PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD Wild winters, spring gobs and more!

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THEEDITOR’SNOTE

A steelhead smolt exits a rearing pond in 2016. (DEBI SANCHEZ)

here aren’t many good-news stories in the Puget Sound steelhead world these days, but this spring we had two, and lord were they the breath of fresh air we needed here. With federal OK in hand, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife began releasing a new local strain of summer-run smolts into the Skykomish, ensuring continuation for the popular fishery on the Western Washington river as the state agency phases out production of out-of-basin Skamania steelhead. Releases will grow from this year’s 56,000 smolts to 116,000 by 2024. In a region where steelheading opportunities have diminished sharply as wild returns have also plunged and the stock was listed, it’s a lifeline for a storied fishery, river system and cultural tradition. “It’s a new era of summer-run fishing on the Skykomish and hopefully we can get back to where we used to be,” Mark Spada, president of the Snohomish Sportsmen’s Club, told me.

THAT SOUTH FORK Sky integrated broodstock program is also a key part of WDFW’s broadly supported “Quicksilver Portfolio,” which aims to provide a diversity of steelhead angling options across Pugetropolis – from consumptive to catch and release – while protecting and rebuilding struggling runs, and it scored nearly $1.7 million in the state budget for the coming two years. “We’re thrilled to have this funding included in WDFW’s budget. It’s a great start to get the ball rolling on the implementation of the Quicksilver Portfolio and stay on track for the recovery of steelhead and fisheries in Puget Sound,” Jonathan Stumpf of Trout Unlimited told me. He said the money will go towards the continued required intensive monitoring of the “beloved” Skagit-Sauk wild winter steelhead fishery, as well as “begin work to understand more about spawning estimates for key populations of summer and winter steelhead in Puget Sound.” The honor roll for both efforts include the members of WDFW’s Puget Sound Steelhead Advisory Group, the agency’s Jim Scott, angler advocate Frank Urabeck, the Steelhead Trout Club of Washington, Coastal Conservation Association, Puget Sound Anglers and others. THE VICTORIES WERE even sweeter because they represent triumphs over the Wild Fish Conservancy’s scorched-earth mindset. The organization sued WDFW over those Skamanias and then over the replacement South Forks, claiming WDFW had violated the Endangered Species Act by collecting and holding their parents. That argument appeared to have been rendered moot when the National Marine Fisheries Service indicated they didn’t have a biological concern with WDFW releasing the new strain into the Skykomish this spring. I think Spada nailed it with his term for WFC’s lawsuit – “a farce” – as did the words that appeared in our January issue – that the litigation was the outfit’s “perhaps … most shameful lawsuit yet” because of all the work that went into consensus on WDFW’s Quicksilver Portfolio and the risk the suit brought to the continuation of Puget Sound’s last best summer-run fishery. See you there this month. –Andy Walgamott nwsportsmanmag.com | JUNE 2021

Northwest Sportsman 23

Summer Saltwater Salmon Planner

Washington’s 2021 Pacific, Straits and Puget Sound fisheries feature strong hues of silver and pink, but there are purple-backed kings to be had too.

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PICTURE By Mark Yuasa

ummer is coming up quickly – June 20, to be precise – and the suspense of what’s actually in store for salmon fisheries off the coast and Strait of Juan de Fuca into Puget Sound is always top of mind for those planning precious vacation time on the saltwater. First off, there are some salmon forecasts and fisheries that look positive in the next few months. A quick rundown of the notables includes: 1.7-plus million hatchery coho and 580,000-plus fall Chinook bound for the Columbia River; an early-summer resident coho fishery in

central Puget Sound; a mid-June start for kings in south-central Puget Sound; and an improved return of 614,948 coho to Puget Sound, up from 504,604 in 2020.

BUT THE LOFTIEST “saving grace” of summer is a massive forecast of more than 2.9 million pink salmon – compared to 608,388 in 2019 – bound mainly for the Puget Sound/Hood Canal region. “What I believe will drive this summer’s fisheries is the strong pink returns, and it is always popular with families and getting someone new to the sport introduced to salmon fishing,” says Mark Baltzell, the head Washington Department of Fish and

Wildlife salmon manager. Most pinks are relatively small – 3 to 5 pounds – and as actor Rodney Dangerfield would say, they “don’t get no respect,” although this snobbish attitude has changed in the past two decades since they offer excellent boat and shoreline opportunities, in the salt and rivers alike. “We’re expecting lots of effort and anglers will have some good opportunity to catch pinks, especially from the shore,” Baltzell says. “We’ve got close to a million pinks coming back to the Skagit River, and they’ll be migrating through Deception Pass – that is a popular beach fishery. There are many other beach and pier locations

Chinook anglers troll central Puget Sound for hatchery fish in July 2018. While this year’s quota there is down a bit, much of the fleet will still be in attendance on next month’s opener, but there are lots of other salmon opportunities before and afterwards on the Evergreen State’s saltwaters. (ANDY WALGAMOTT)

nwsportsmanmag.com | JUNE 2021

Northwest Sportsman 27

PICTURE

Strong numbers of pink salmon should provide plenty of action later this summer in the Straits, San Juans, Hood Canal and throughout most of Puget Sound. (MARK YUASA) from Area 9 clear down into South Sound.” Pinks return in bulk during oddnumbered years after spending two years in the ocean. Their forecasted surge after low returns in 2015 and 2017 could be due to a multitude of reasons, but pinks spawn in lower river sections and as young salmon, they don’t spend much time in their freshwater environment, therefore avoiding heavy predation.

BESIDES PINK MADNESS, something else to keep in mind is that a large number of marine areas are now driven by Chinook and/or coho catch quotas, so don’t chew on whether to make plans to go fishing. “Our salmon seasons off the coast are quota driven and it makes sense for anglers to go right when it opens instead of waiting to see if the fish are there or not,” says Wendy Beeghley, head WDFW coastal salmon manager. “My big worry is that if catch rates 28 Northwest Sportsman

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are high, then we may have shorter fishing seasons. It won’t take a whole lot of effort to hit quotas if fishing is good.” In order to help guide anglers through the summer, and offer a better way of communicating to the public, WDFW staffers are considering a plan to provide biweekly updates. “Since we’ve arrived in the age of Zoom (video and tele-conferencing), we’re looking to have public check-in meetings this summer,” Baltzell says. “This way we can provide updates on catch quotas, how fishing is going, and getting timely information out, as well as anything else to look out for in fisheries.”

FOR A JUMP-START on summer salmon fisheries, anglers can look to the June 16 openers of hatchery Chinook in southcentral Puget Sound’s Marine Area 11 and coho in Central Sound’s Area 10.

In Area 11, the hatchery Chinook quota is 3,084 and fishing is allowed daily through September 30. It reverts to Chinook nonretention if the quota is caught prior to the end of September. See my story on page 53 for how to catch these kings. And look for pink and coho fishing to ramp up later in summer. A popular early-summer fishery occurs in Area 10 for resident coho, which for several years has been very productive. These coho may average only 2 to 4 pounds, but they are very snappy and offer excellent table fare. Their main diet is the abundant schools of krill, a microscopic shrimplike crustacean that turns their flesh to a bright red-orange hue. Top locations are the shipping lanes between Jefferson Head and the KingstonApple Tree Point area. Don’t overlook the rip currents off Richmond Beach; West Point south of Shilshole Bay; and

PICTURE

Bainbridge Island from Point Monroe south to Restoration Point. Trolling is the best way to catch these coho. Use a downrigger set at depths of 30 to 80 feet and troll at 2.5 to 3.5 mph. For gear attach a Gibbs Delta flasher (purple haze or moon jelly/green glow) on a 30-inch leader to a Silver Horde Gold Star white UV hoochie or an Ace Hi Fly Needlefish UV glow or purple haze hoochie and baited with a small herring strip on the bottom hook. Others prefer to simply drift or motor mooch using a whole or cut-plug herring. This technique is simply attaching a smaller red-label herring to a 30-inch tandemhook leader with a 3- to 6-ounce banana lead weight sinker. Just to the north of Everett is an area already open for kings, the Tulalip Bay Bubble Fishery. Fishing is allowed each 30 Northwest Sportsman

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That’s what it’s all about! John Nunnally holds up a fillet off one side of his 30-plus-pound Neah Bay Chinook, caught late last July. With tribal marinas on Washington’s North Coast still closed to nonresidents, sport anglers will have to sally forth from Westport and Sekiu ramps. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

week from 12:01 a.m. Fridays through 11:59 a.m. Mondays only through September 7, and then weekends only September 11-26. In recent years, the bubble has been a fair to good producer of early-summer kings in the 10- to 20-pound range. Deep South Sound’s Area 13, the saltwaters south of the Narrows Bridges, is open year-round, and look for earlysummer hatchery kings at Point Fosdick and off Fox Island’s east side at Gibson Point, Toy Point and Fox Point. This area also comes alive in late August as migrating kings arrive in the Anderson Island, Johnson Point and Nisqually Delta Reach area.

ON THE COAST, a very robust forecast of 1,732,900 coho is expected to power salmon fisheries off Neah Bay, La Push, Westport and Ilwaco, Areas 1, 2, 3 and 4,

along with Oregon’s Central and North Coasts. That’s up significantly compared to 2020’s preseason forecast of 268,700 and an actual return of 479,600, and could be the largest ocean abundance dating back to 2015 and 2009. The Columbia-bound forecast itself is 1,590,000 coho compared to 181,000 forecast in 2020 and an actual return of 363,600. “When the coho season opens, I think fishing is going to be pretty decent in the ocean, and even if we aren’t completely accurate there will still be a lot of coho around,” says Beeghley. “The Columbia River itself could be red hot, as this is a great forecast and one of the highest we’ve seen in many years.” The 2021 Columbia fall Chinook runs are a huge improvement over the past few years, with 580,800 expected to return off the Big C compared to 2020’s forecast of 431,000 and an actual return of 574,700. The coastwide sport catch quotas are 27,250 Chinook and 70,000 hatchery coho, and each area closes once their subcatch quota/guideline is achieved. Neah Bay and La Push are open daily from June 19 to July 3, and Westport and Ilwaco are open daily June 19-26 for a fishery directed at Chinook. Beginning June 27 through September 15, Ilwaco is open daily and Westport is open Sundays through Thursdays for Chinook and hatchery coho. Then from July 4 through September 15, Neah Bay and La Push are open daily for Chinook and hatchery coho. “The fisheries are so variable on when salmon arrive off the coast,” Beeghley says. “In a lot of years, we tend to see some early Chinook off Ilwaco right when it opens, and then they’ll disappear and show up again in August.” Due to the pandemic, anglers planning a trip to the northern coast are reminded that the tribal marinas in La Push and Neah Bay are closed to public access. At this writing, no opening dates have been determined. If both port closures are extended through summer, anglers must continue to access North Coast fishing grounds via Westport or Sekiu.

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Clay Banks is one of the most legendary saltwater salmon fishing spots in the region and it’s where the author’s son Tegan Yuasa and uncle Steve Yuasa teamed up to show off this T-town Chinook, caught jigging last July. (MARK YUASA)

Angeles, Areas 5 and 6. The hatchery king fishery at Sekiu is open July 1 to August 15 – Chinook quota is 7,565 – and then reverts to pinks and hatchery coho from August 16 to September 30. If the quota is caught prior to August 15, the fishery reverts to Chinook nonretention. In the Port Angeles area, hatchery Chinook fishing is open (west of a true north/south line through the No. 2 Buoy immediately east of Ediz Hook) July 1 to August 15 and the Chinook quota is 6,843. If the quota is caught prior to August 15, the fishery reverts to Chinook nonretention. It remains open for pinks and hatchery coho only from August 16 to September 30. Chinook must be released east of a true north/south line through No. 2 Buoy immediately east of Ediz Hook from July 1 to August 15. The Strait is the premier crossroads of kings heading south to the Columbia River, east into Puget Sound and north to British Columbia. One’s success in catching these highly prized migratory fish, averaging 8 to 13 pounds, with some exceeding

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Northwest Sportsman 33

PICTURE 30 pounds, is measured by doing your homework before heading onto the water. Look at the tide tables for optimal fishing periods; choose the right lures and baits; fish at the right depths; keep tabs on what others around you are doing; look for baitfish schools around kelp beds and dropoffs; and set the alarm clock bright and early to ensure you’re on the water before sunrise – often a prime time for targeting migratory kings. During the summers of 2020 and 2019, the king fisheries at Sekiu and Port Angeles were best right out of the starting gate and then eventually slowed down as season progressed through July. Famous king fishing holes at Sekiu are The Caves, a quarter-mile stretch of shoreline near the breakwater at Mason’s Resort in Clallam Bay; Slip Point Buoy; Mussolini Rock and Little Mussolini Rock; Eagle Point; Kydaka Point; Coal Mines; and Pillar Point, where Chet Gausta caught the

34 Northwest Sportsman

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state-record king, a 70.50-pounder, way back on September 6, 1964. West of Port Angeles, look for kings off Ediz Hook; the humps and Winter Hole in the Strait itself, and in Freshwater Bay and Crescent Bay to the mouth of Whiskey Creek.

THE SAN JUANS are also a major intersection for kings heading to BC and the Sound, and the difficulty around the island chain is the diverse underwater geography and knowing where the migratory fish are hanging out. The San Juan Islands, Area 7, are open July 1-31 for hatchery kings with a catch quota of 1,382. If the quota is caught prior to July 31, the fishery reverts to Chinook nonretention. It switches to pinks and hatchery coho only August 1-15 and September 1-30, and back to hatchery kings from August 16-31 (if enough quota remains from July), plus pinks and hatchery coho. The Bellingham Bay terminal fishery is open August 16 to September 30. SUMMER KING FISHING takes on a totally

different look as we move into northern and central Puget Sound. The Area 9 summer hatchery Chinook fishery opens July 16 to August 15 with a catch quota of 4,700, down from 5,600 in 2020, but still a palatable batch of salmon to catch. If the quota is caught prior to August 15, the fishery reverts to Chinook nonretention. It remains open from August 16 to September 30 for hatchery coho and pinks. Just to the south in Area 10, the hatchery Chinook season opens July 16 to August 31, and the catch quota of 3,718 is also down from 4,100 in 2020. If the quota is caught prior to August 31, the fishery reverts to Chinook nonretention. Fishing stays open September 1 to October 31 for coho and pinks. These two vast areas of Puget Sound, which stretch from Port Townsend in the north to Vashon Island’s top end in the south, are wildcards each summer for Chinook success. Both underperformed for kings in 2020, but banking time off from

Then there are the many piers that are open for salmon fishing year-round, including the Edmonds Marina where some early kings are usually caught in June by anglers casting jigs. There’s also the brandnew Mukilteo Ferry Landing; Fox Island; Seacrest in West Seattle; Waterman Point Pier, Bremerton Boardwalk and Illahee State Park Pier in Kitsap County; Dash Point Dock; Point Defiance Park Boathouse; Les Davis Pier; and Des Moines Marina.

PICTURE

A PLACE WHERE anglers still haven’t figured out how to crack the code on success for otherwise abundant kings is Hood Canal south of Ayock Point, Area 12, which is open July 1 through September 30 with a liberal four-hatchery Chinook daily limit and minimum size limit of 20 inches. Look for kings along shoreline and drop-offs near Hoodsport, Musqueti Point, Ayock Point and the deep shelf outside of Annas Bay running parallel east and west along the Great Bend. The canal north of Ayock opens July 11 to September 30, release Chinook and chum. This fishery hasn’t been open in July very often in past years, and is directed at a strong pink return of 174,244 and coho.

There will be plenty of thumbs up at Buoy 10 this season as a horde of coho stream across the bar, and they’ll be joined by no small showing of Chinook too. (MARK YUASA) work when the season starts guarantees you more time on the water. A good gauge on how king fishing fares in Area 9 is keeping tabs on what’s happening off the Edmonds Pier in June/ July, as well as in southcentral Puget Sound and once the Strait opens on July 1. Target kings at Midchannel Bank and Point Wilson off Port Townsend; Bush Point, Fort Casey, Lagoon Point and Double Bluff off the west side of Whidbey Island; Point No Point; Possession Bar; Scatchet Head; Pilot Point; Kingston; Jefferson Head; Richmond Beach to Edmonds oil docks; the east side of Bainbridge Island from Point Monroe to Skiff Point and Yeomalt Point; Allen Bank off Blake Island; West Point south of Shilshole Bay; and Southworth. 36 Northwest Sportsman

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There will also be another brief innerElliott Bay king fishery, open from August 2 to noon August 5. It usually provides a good early-morning bite off Duwamish Head Marker west to Alki Point, Fourmile Rock, Salty’s Restaurant, and between the east and west waterways of Harbor Island. Last year, the entire east side of Whidbey Island, Areas 8-1 and 8-2, was closed for salmon, but this summer anglers can pursue pinks and coho, albeit for a limited time to protect wild Snohomish coho. Area 8-1 is open August 1 to September 19 for all coho and pinks only. The southern portion of Area 8-2 south and west of Mukilteo-Clinton boundary line is open from August 14 to September 19 for pinks and hatchery coho.

THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED Buoy 10 fishery in the Lower Columbia opens August 1-10 for hatchery Chinook and coho, and then August 11 to September 6 for all Chinook and hatchery coho. Expect a boatload of action and long launch lines for a strong return of kings and coho along this area that stretches 20 miles from Buoy 10 itself up to the Tongue Point-Rocky Point line. Elsewhere on the southern coast, Willapa Bay (Area 2-1) east of a line from Cape Shoalwater to Leadbetter Point is open from June 19 to July 31, concurrent with Area 2 rules for salmon. The Willapa Bay Control Zone opens August 1 for hatchery Chinook and coho. The North River Area is closed August 1 to September 30.  And Grays Harbor (Area 2-2) is open August 1 to September 23 in North Bay for hatchery Chinook and coho, while East Bay opens October 1 for coho only. A list of statewide marine and freshwater salmon fisheries can be found on WDFW’s website at wdfw.wa.gov.fishing /management/north-falcon/summaries. NS

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Northwest Sportsman 37

READER PHOTOS “Little Crappie Killa” Kayson Collier got after ’em on the Willamette River in April, landing this nice one on an evening outing as schools just began to stage for the spawn. He was fishing with his dad, Keevin “Crappie Killa” Collier. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

“At 4 years old she’s quite the pro, and I’m quite proud,” says Brandon Jewett about daughter Jolie Bruton-Jewett, who woke him up at 5 one March morning to head to a lake the family has fished since Jolie’s gramps was her age. “She planned the entire day out for us. First, and most importantly, we had to find purple and rainbow-colored bait. We did, and it worked. We had our three-person limit in a couple hours, all caught on purple and rainbow-colored bait.” (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

“Hi, I’m Brent Wilson. I caught this 20-pound beast on a Southwest Washington river, on my buddy’s boat backtrolling a Mag Lip 3.5.” Enough said! (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

To each his own! A day on the Columbia yielded a nice springer for Josh and a chance to play with Legos on a boat for Mason – and some great father-son bonding time. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

After a spring without a Skagit-Sauk wild winter steelhead season because the forecast was just a bit too low, Adam Perez was “very happy to have the opportunity for these amazingly powerful fish” this year. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

For your shot at winning great fishing and hunting products from Northwest Sportsman and Coast, respectively, send your full-resolution, original images with all the pertinent details – who’s in the pic; when and where they were; what they caught their fish on/weapon they used to bag the game; and any other details you’d like to reveal (the more, the merrier!) – to awalgamott@media-inc.com or Northwest Sportsman, 14240 Interurban Ave S, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for use in our print and Internet publications.

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Northwest Sportsman 39

READER PHOTOS The father-son duo of Mike and Mike Huwaldt teamed up in April for their first-ever turkey hunt, “and it was a blast,” reports Junior. “I worked the calls most of the morning and had two possible takers. One was a jake, so we passed only to have a monster tom come in. My dad had the best line of sight, so while I kept calling, my dad took aim and, well, success!! So much fun, we’ll definitely be back out again soon!” (COAST HUNTING PHOTO CONTEST)

Candice Schweitzer and daughter Sophie enjoyed a good low tide on an Oregon Coast clam flat, digging their share of cockles. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST) Grace Bolt successfully stuck to it during the youth turkey hunting weekend, which saw gobblers on the shy side and fellow hunters chasing them off. Afterwards, her dad Mike Bolt (center) and buddy Jeff Morrow hit the road for a four-day hunt in Washington and Idaho that saw them “fill every tag we had.” (COAST HUNTING PHOTO CONTEST)

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PHOTO

CONTEST

WINNERS!

Pistol Bullets and Ammunition Zero Bullet Company, Inc. Steve Balodis is the winner of our monthly Fishing Photo Contest, thanks to this pic of he and daughter Aspen and her spring Chinook, caught in early May at Drano Lake. It wins him gear from various tackle manufacturers!

ZER

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Paul Hauglum is our monthly Coast Hunting Photo Contest winner, thanks to this pic of firsttime hunter Logan Mackie, 14, and his Joint Base Lewis-McChord release-site pheasants. 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 | JUNE 2021

Northwest Sportsman 43

MIXED BAG

JACKASS OF THE MONTH

KUDOS

Game warden Eric Oswald has been protecting Central Washington critters and wildlands for 18 years and last month he was recognized as the area’s “Peace Officer of the Year” by the Greater Wenatchee Sunrise Lions Club. He was chosen “for his outstanding commitment to the WDFW mission and service to his community while routinely emulating the WDFW Police core values of accountability, service, professionalism, integrity, respect and empathy,” according to fellow officers. They thanked the local Lions Club for the recognition and their support of law enforcement. (WDFW)

ay cheese, jackass! A birder who was snapping photographs at the Portland area’s Sauvie Island Wildlife Area helped catch a bozo who violated a couple wildlife laws there this March. They watched as a white Toyota 4Runner came to a stop nearby. As the front left window came down, the driver pointed a rifle toward the marsh and took a shot at some coots. Through their zoom lens, the birder snapped pics of the incident and then called a St. Helens-based state fish and wildlife trooper. The trooper located the vehicle and interviewed the driver, who “initially denied everything,” according to state police. But faced with the birder’s incriminating photos, the suspect “admitted that he was there and shooting an air rifle.” The trooper cited the driver for hunting during a closed season and shooting across a road.

nwsportsmanmag.com | JUNE 2021

Northwest Sportsman 45

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The final Northwest Fishing Derby Series grand prize boat – a KingFisher 2025 Escape HT with Yamaha 200- and 9.9-horsepower motors, EZ-Loader trailer, Scotty downriggers, Raymarine Electronics and more, a package worth $75,000 – will be raffled off in late September at the culmination of the Everett Coho Derby. (NMTA)

he Northwest Fishing Derby Series returns this summer for what will be a bittersweet “victory lap.” Organizers are partnering with eight local fishing events on Puget Sound, an upper Columbia River reservoir and Lake Coeur d’Alene, including a new coho derby in the San Juans and the August 21 Salmon for Soldiers event, but will call their series a day after awarding one lucky 2020 and/or 2021 participant a grand prize boat at the Everett Coho Derby in late September. Karsten McIntosh, the director of Grow Boating Programs at Seattle-based Northwest Marine Trade Association, which coordinates the series, made the announcement in mid-May.

“What a run it’s been!” he said. “It has been a pleasure creating enthusiasm for fishing and boating over the last 17 years, growing from just six derbies in 2004 to 20 by 2020. We thank our incredible sponsors and the nearly 100,000 anglers who turned out and we hope they will continue to promote and preserve recreational fishing opportunities in the Northwest.” The series began in 2004, linking with six club derbies held on Puget Soundarea waters. Last year was set for a major expansion to 20 events, including to the Oregon Coast and for new species. But between the loss of high-dollar North Sound winter blackmouth derbies due to fishing closures, Covid restrictions that cancelled a

By Andy Walgamott

number of events and some local organizers going out of business or no longer holding derbies, the series proved untenable. To be clear, many of the individual derbies are expected to continue on their own. NMTA’s plan calls for making one final round of lemonade from the lemons that were served up by last year. Those who entered derbies held in 2020, as well as those who participate in July, August and September 2021 derbies, will all have a chance at being drawn for the series’ last grand prize boat – a KingFisher 2025 Escape HT, powered with Yamaha outboards. For more, see nwfishingderbyseries.com.

NORTHWEST FISHING DERBY SERIES EVENTS  July 21-25: Lake Coeur d’Alene Big One Fishing Derby  Aug. 6-8: Brewster Salmon Derby  Aug. 7: South King County Puget Sound Anglers Derby  Aug. 14: Gig Harbor Puget Sound Anglers Derby  Aug. 21: Salmon For Soldiers  Sept. 11: Edmonds Coho Derby  Sept. 17-19: Resurrection Derby  Sept. 25-26: Everett Coho Derby More info: nwfishingderbyseries.com

MORE UPCOMING EVENTS*          

Now through Oct. 31: WDFW 2021 Trout Derby, select lakes across Washington; wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/contests/trout-derby June 4-6: Columbia River Walleye Anglers Association Moses Lake Walleye Classic; Facebook: Columbia River Walleye Anglers Association June 5-6: 2021 Annual Mackinaw Derby, Odell Lake; odelllakeresort.com/fishing/mackinaw-derby June 12: Kokanee Power of Oregon Derby – Wickiup Reservoir; kokaneepoweroregon.com/derby June 12: 2021 Lake Wenatchee Rec Club Fishing Derby, Fish Lake; Facebook: Lake Wenatchee Rec Club June 18-19: CRWAA, Griggs & Tri-City Ace Stores Charity Tournament; see above June 18-20: 27th Annual East Wenatchee Rotary Pikeminnow Derby, Mid-Columbia River; ewrotary.org June 26-26: Washington State Governor’s Cup Walleye Tournament, Lake Roosevelt; lakerooseveltwalleyeclub.com Aug. 14: Kokanee Power of Oregon Derby – Odell Lake; see above Aug. 27-28: Oregon Tuna Classic, Garibaldi; oregontunaclassic.org * Covid-19 restrictions were easing as of press time, but always confirm events before attending. nwsportsmanmag.com | JUNE 2021

Northwest Sportsman 47

June and July host four all-depth halibut weekends and two backups on Oregon’s Central Coast. (ANDY WALGAMOTT)

OUTDOOR

CALENDAR* JUNE

1 3-5

North Fork Nooksack, Skagit, Cascade Rivers spring Chinook opener; Grimes Lake fishing opener Oregon Central Coast all-depth halibut opener – info: dfw.state.or.us/MRP/ finfish/halibut/management.asp Fishing Kids event on Lake Washington at Renton – info: castforkids.org Oregon Free Fishing Weekend

5 5-6 9-15 Series of significant minus tides in Puget Sound 10-12 Oregon Central Coast all-depth halibut opener – info: see above 12 Mark-selective coho opener on Oregon Coast from Cape Falcon to California border; Free Fishing Day in Idaho

12-13 Washington Free Fishing Weekend; Washington State Archery Association

3D Championship, Mount Vernon – info: silverarrowbowmen.com Last day of Washington spring permit bear season Area 10 resident coho opener; Area 11 hatchery Chinook opener; Columbia hatchery summer Chinook, hatchery steelhead and sockeye opener from Buoy 10 to Highway 395 bridge in Pasco 17-19 Oregon Central Coast all-depth halibut opener – info: see above

15 16

19 CAST For Kids event at Sarge Hubbard Pond, Yakima – info: see above 19-26 Early ocean salmon season (coho nonretention) from Cape Falcon north to the mouth of the Queets River (Columbia River Zone/Areas 1-2)

19-July 3 Early Areas 3-4 ocean salmon season (coho nonretention) 20 Oregon controlled hunt draw results expected 22-28 Series of significant minus tides on coastal, Puget Sound waters 26 CAST For Kids event at Emigrant Lake, Medford – info: see above 27 All-salmon ocean opener from Cape Falcon north to the mouth of the

Queets River (Columbia River Zone/Areas 1-2; Area 2 open Sun.-Thurs. only)

JULY 1

Leftover big game tags go on sale in Oregon and start of youth “first time” hunt application period; New Washington fishing regs pamphlet takes effect; Areas 5-7 and 12 south of Ayock Point open for salmon 1-3 Oregon Central Coast all-depth halibut opener – info: see above 4 Areas 3-4 all-salmon opener 8-13 Series of significant minus tides in Puget Sound 15-17 Oregon Central Coast all-depth halibut fishing backup weekend (if quota) 15 Deadline to purchase Washington raffle hunt tickets 16 Areas 9-10 hatchery Chinook opener 20-26 Series of significant minus tides on coastal, Puget Sound waters 25 CAST For Kids event at Prineville Reservoir – info: see above * Covid-19 restrictions were easing at press time, but always confirm events before attending. nwsportsmanmag.com | JUNE 2021

Northwest Sportsman 49

FISHING

Get Jiggy For Area 11 Kings Plentiful dogfish make herring a hassle, but they’ll leave baitfishimitating jigs alone – Chinook, not so much. By Mark Yuasa

’m a devoted salmon mooching angler who 99.9 percent of the time will deploy just a cut-plug or whole herring into the water, but there’s those 0.1 percent moments when I’ll switch in a heartbeat to whatever it takes to catch a king. Is this a call for desperation? Nope. Just me being smart at saving money on costly leaders and gear when pesky dogfish are thicker than fleas. Southern Puget Sound’s Marine Area 11 becomes “jigging central” – open daily for hatchery-marked Chinook from June 16-September 30 with a 3,084-catch quota – for anglers launching out of the Point Defiance Park Boathouse in Tacoma and Narrows Marina around the corner, as well as others like myself who’ve caught on to this effective technique. In places like Area 11, dogfish appear by the thousands – millions? – each summer. Their sharp-edged teeth and sandpaper-like skin are known to fray, ruin and tangle plenty of fishing leaders and gear. The disdain of dogfish – often considered a trash fish amongst anglers – can be heard and seen on the water, though they are a rather intriguing and highly migratory fish. Some tagged in Washington have been

Cut the cut-plugs and just jig for Chinook as they return past Tacoma. Gabe Miller, a local angler and Sportco and Outdoor Emporium staffer, says jigging is “one of the better ways” to avoid endless battles with hungry and plentiful dogfish in these waters. (GABE MILLER)

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FISHING A good selection of Chinook jigs for Puget Sound would include Point Wilson Darts, P-Line Laser Minnows, Buzz Bombs, Dungeness Stingers and Crippled Herrings. Some jigs have posts at either end that you can bend and run your leader the length of the body for a more direct hook-to-rod connection. (MARK YUASA)

recorded 5,000 miles away in Japan. All fascination aside, let’s stick to the topic on how to avoid them as much as possible while pursuing kings. “I’ll do everything I can to keep the dogfish off my gear, and jigging is one of the better ways,” says Gabe Miller, a Sportco and Outdoor Emporium (sportco.com) fishing and marine buyer who stores his boat at the Point Defiance Park Boathouse in Tacoma. “When the salmon are biting, the last thing you want to be doing is changing out gear that’s getting mangled by schools of dogfish,” he adds. “It seems like clockwork: The dogfish show up in June right as the kings begin to arrive.”

GEAR TO USE Choosing the right fishing rod is key, and tops on the list are 7- to 8-foot G.Loomis Backbounce, G.Loomis HSR 932C (Jig-Master) and Lamiglas HS 710 MHC Redline Salmon Bounce Hover rods. There are many other decent rods, but whatever you buy, make sure it has a stout, stiff backbone 54 Northwest Sportsman

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and soft, sensitive tip. “I like to use a linecounter reel because it doesn’t hurt to know how much line you’ve got out,” Miller says. “They’re nice for fighting a fish because if someone is in a boat nearby, you can tell them how much line you’ve got out. Also, when you mark fish on your fishfinder at a certain depth, it helps to get the jig right in front of their face.” Good linecounters include Okuma Coldwater, Shimano Tekota 300LC or 400LC and Daiwa Lexa 300 reels. As for what line to spool up, there was a time when monofilament dominated the market, and determining what pound-test line to use was the hardest decision. Nowadays, lines have become highly specialized to meet the growing demands of techniques used to catch certain species of fish. Braided lines are a vital tool, and have reshaped salmon fisheries like jigging. The less stretch the better is why braid is preferred, especially when fishing depths of 150 feet or more. “For jigging I usually run 50-pound-

test braid like the PowerPro Super Slick,” Miller says. “It has a great coating (ultra-strong, round, smooth and sensitive Spectra fiber) that holds up really well. I can generally get two seasons before having to respool.” As for what type of salmon jig to use is pretty much up to you. “Any type of jig will work, and ask 10 guys at the boathouse and you’ll get 10 different answers,” Miller says. “I like the P-Line Laser Minnows and Point Wilson Darts.” A few more top choices include Buzz Bombs, Dungeness Stingers and Crippled Herrings. Color is another personal call, but favorites include pearl-white, glow, green-nickel, blue-pearl or blue-gold. “It is very rare one jig outperforms the other,” Miller says. “It’s more about having your gear in the water at the right depth and the jig in front of them. The way the kings bite is more of a reactive situation, so whatever flashes in front of them will likely get them to grab it, and they aren’t leader shy.” Some store-bought jigs come with a treble, and they’re illegal for salmon in Washington Marine Areas 1-13. Only single-point barbless hooks and one line with up to two hooks may be used. This is where a little alteration of your jig will make it even more effective. The two metal eyelets at the top and bottom of a Point Wilson Dart or P-Line Laser Minnow should be bent inward so your leader can run freely through them. For leader, use 4 to 5 feet of 40- to 50-pound mono. Attach a beaded swivel to your braided mainline and leader to alleviate tangles. I use a 6mm acrylic plastic green or red bead above the top eyelet of the jig, and small black rubber stoppers on the top and bottom of each eyelet to prevent the line from fraying. “There are times where I’m losing fish and wondering how they’re biting the jig,” Miller says. “But day in and day out I’ll use the sliding leader to keep the pressure on the hooks and not the jig to avoid a fish from shaking it out of their mouth.” As for hooks, be sure to stick to a

Northwest Top Guides

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Northwest Sportsman 55

FISHING higher quality brand with razor-sharp tips. My choice is a Gamakatsu Big River 3/0 or 4/0. Tie the hooks tandem style, and much closer than you would when using them for bait. I like a gap of about an inch or less between the two hooks.

THE FINE ART OF JIGGING Now that you’ve got all the gear deployed in the water, the next important factor is having a correct fluttering action on the presentation by vertical jigging. This means keeping your line as straight up and down as possible. I like to raise my rod tip up to about 10 o’clock and then drop it back down until the tip hits the surface of the water, creating a seesaw downward fluttering of the jig. I’ll also change it up with some quick jerks up and then let it flutter down. These motions imitate an injured baitfish and entices a Chinook to strike

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it. Any change in the angle of the line will create less fluttering action, and you might as well sit down and drink your coffee or eat a sandwich. “Keeping your line vertical is important, and on the downstroke let the rod tip down enough so the jig is free-fluttering, and darts and spins around,” Miller says. “At places like the Clay Banks it can get very crowded, with boats right next to each other. Once you’re hooked up, it is good to stay on top of the fish. If the fish takes off, then it’s time to fire up the motor and start backing down on the fish. Let others around you know you’re chasing a fish.” Start off using a 2- to 3-ounce jig, and if the drift or current begins to move or you cannot back up with the motor to keep the line vertical, then switch to a heavier 4- to 6-ounce jig.

WHERE TO FISH, TIDES The mid-June start in Area 11 hasn’t

occurred since 2018, and could be an early-season golden nugget, as many of these migrating kings are destined for southern Puget Sound hatcheries. Target kings at the Clay Banks to Owen Beach off the northwest side of Point Defiance Park. Also fish the “flats” outside of Gig Harbor; off the Girl Scout Camp in Colvos Passage; outside of Quartermaster Harbor; Point Dalco on the southwest side of Vashon Island; and the slag pile off the Tacoma Yacht Club. Unlike winter Chinook, which tend to dig their noses into the bottom, summer kings are on the move and early in the morning can be found suspended in the upper and middle water column. As daylight gives way, there’s no doubt some will be lurking on the bottom. Baitfish schools dictate where you need to fish. At first light drop your gear down 25 to 30 feet, and then go down to various middepths and as deep as 100 to 225 feet. Tidal influence determines how successful you’ll be at catching kings. The tide charts for this year’s opener show the best opportunity should happen on the 16th’s afternoon outgoing tide. Incoming tides in the early morning are soft (only 2 feet of water exchange), so you’ll likely find yourself in the middle of an awesome dogfish or flounder bite. Here are the optimum tidal exchanges to be on the water: June 16: plus 8.4 feet at 8:54 a.m. to minus 0.2 at 3:47 p.m.; June 17: 7.9 at 10:11 a.m. to 0.9 at 4:37 p.m.; June 18: 7.7 at 11:37 a.m. to 2.2 at 5:33 p.m.; June 19: 12.3 at 12:31 a.m. to 2.8 at 7:24 a.m. (likely will switch to a morning bite); June 20: 12.3 at 1:10 a.m. to 1.1 at 8:11 a.m.; June 21: 12.4 at 1:28 a.m. to -0.6 at 8:56 a.m.; and June 22: 12.4 at 2:28 a.m. to -2.1 at 9:41 a.m. While the bible on catching summer kings has some hard facts to stick by, there are times sheer dumb luck prevails as that hungry salmon unexpectedly grabs your jig when you least expect it. Hold on and enjoy the ride! NS

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Northwest Sportsman 57

FISHING

‘Be Ready For Mayhem’ With north of 1.6 million mostly hatchery Columbia coho expected off the coast this summer, it’s time to make some plans. By Bob Rees

f there’s one thing that excites anglers in the Pacific Northwest, it’s opportunity, and the summer coho fishery off of the Oregon and Washington Coasts is certainly something to get excited about this year. With over 1.6 million coho and another half a million Chinook destined for the Columbia River staging in the ocean, expectations are running high. Although the Chinook will be migrating down from Southeast Alaska, coho forage off our coastlines and are aggressive feeders, making for high success rates for those willing to head onto the salt chuck in pursuit. It’s really a no-brainer fishery: high numbers of aggressive feeders, pursued in an environment where they are actively feeding – a recipe for success. Whether fishing from the boat or the bank, there are a couple of important factors to consider if you are going to participate in this fishery. Safety is priority one; no fish is worth risking your life for.

PICK YOUR TIDE When it comes to predicting when the best time to fish is, tides play

Columbia River-bound coho will be fattening up this summer off of Oregon and Washington – this one was caught out of Newport – and with season opening later this month, it’s time to start preparing for some potentially fast fishing. (BOB REES)

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Northwest Sportsman 59

FISHING

Crossing the bar – where bays and river mouths meet the sea – should be timed around the tides, with an incoming tide being the safest time to do so, and an outgoing the most dangerous. (BOB REES)

one of the largest roles in the success and safety of your trip. Safely crossing any bar is determined by two factors: direction of the tide and swell height. If there is a significant swell – anything over 4 feet in height – any opposing force, such as an outgoing tide, will produce hazardous conditions on the bar. The bar is defined as where the estuary influence meets the river influence, most often at the bay entrance of an estuary. When two energies work in unison (a westerly swell with an incoming tide), the bar is typically safe to cross. When a westerly swell meets an outgoing tide, particularly a strong

one such as a minus tide, that’s when the bar can be quite treacherous. Looking at July and August tides, when ocean coho fishing is at its peak, I look for an early morning low tide or incoming tide as an opportunity to avoid any hazardous bar crossings. For the Columbia River, for example, the mornings of July 2-7, 19-23 and August 2-7 and 18-22 would typically look favorable for bar crossings. Avoid the minus tides of July 9-15, 24-28 and August 10-14. You can still have favorable bar crossings on those minus tide series, but there had better be little to no westerly swell influence. See the photo on this page as a general guideline to go by to determine bar safety and ocean conditions.

PLAN A SAFE HOMECOMING TOO Since safety is priority one, it’s not just about planning your bar crossing, but a safe return as well. Wind plays a significant factor in determining your safe return, and which direction you should pursue your quarry for a morning outing. I always keep my eye on wind conditions over the course of the day. I use an app called FishWeather to accurately forecast wind direction

and speed before I plan which way I direct my vessel for an ocean harvest. Wind is often a variable in the late morning and certainly in the afternoon on most summer days. The wind typically comes from the north or northwest and if that is the case, I often plan a trip to the north so I can ride the wind waves back to port, instead of bucking against them all the way back to port. Once you’ve experienced a two-hour ride back to port in a 4- to 5-foot wind chop, you won’t make that mistake twice. Be sure to plan your trip so you ride the wind waves back to port, not go against them.

RIGGING UP Now that you have your safety plan figured out (including the use of your lifejackets), you need to plan how best to take advantage of the bounty of salmon that will be off our coastline this summer. First and foremost, be ready for mayhem. It may bode well that there are a lot of salmon likely to be in the ocean off our shores this year for more than the obvious reason. With so many salmon available, there should be prolonged opportunity to harvest them. Typically what happens,

GO OR NO-GO? Swell height Swell frequency

Wind wave height Wind wave frequency

Likely ocean condition

6-plus feet

6 to 9 seconds

3 feet

4 seconds or less

Degraded – don’t go

5 feet

8 to 12 seconds

2 feet

5 to 7 seconds

Tolerable but uncomfortable; hard to have fun

3 to 4 feet

8 to 12 seconds

2 feet

6 to 9 seconds

A decent ocean, but someone may still be seasick

2 feet

6 to 10 seconds

1 foot

4 to 8 seconds

A nicer ocean; you may not spill your drink

1 foot

12 to 16-plus seconds 1 foot

8 to 10-plus seconds

Call in sick and bring the water skis!

Other oceanographic terms you may hear Confused seas: Although it sounds sketchy, it doesn’t always mean it’s unsafe to recreate on. It all depends on the swell and wind wave height. For an inexperienced boater, however, it’s often hard to acclimate your inner ear in confused seas and seasickness can often be associated with the conditions. Secondary swell: Again, a condition boaters should be aware of, but not a deal-breaker when it comes to recreating on the ocean. The secondary swell is most often quite a bit smaller than the primary swell, but nonetheless, oftentimes from a different direction, making for confused seas. Not the best scenario, but one many avid anglers will tolerate when fishing offshore. –BR 60 Northwest Sportsman

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FISHING particularly in periods of low abundance, is that there’s more prey than there is predator. Under that scenario, fish feed voraciously at first light, fill up quickly and become short strikers or no strikers at all as the morning wears on. In a typical year, the bite drops off dramatically after 9 a.m. For this reason, the early bird really does get the worm. More than once I’ve been crossing

2021 OCEAN SALMON REGS • Ocean waters off the Columbia River from Leadbetter Point, Washington, to Cape Falcon: Open for recreational fishing for all salmon except coho from June 19-26 with a one-fish daily bag limit and a 22-inch minimum length. • North of Cape Falcon: Open for all salmon beginning June 27 and continuing through the earlier of September 15 or the quota of 42,400 hatchery coho is caught. Chinook guideline in this area of 7,200. Daily bag limit is two salmon, but no more than one Chinook and all coho must have a healed adipose fin clip. Minimum length for Chinook is 22 inches; for coho it’s 16 inches. • Chinook on Central Oregon Coast (Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain): Open March 15-October 31. • Chinook on South Oregon Coast (Humbug Mountain to California border): Opens for Chinook beginning June 19 and continues through August 15. Minimum length in all seasons from Cape Falcon to the California border is 24 inches. • Hatchery coho from Central, South Oregon Coast (Cape Falcon to California): Open from June 12 through the earlier of August 28 or the quota of 120,000 adipose fin-clipped coho is met. • Nonselective coho on Central Oregon Coast (Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain): Opens Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from September 10 through the earlier of September 30 or the quota of 14,000 unmarked coho is met. Open days may be adjusted inseason. Coho minimum length is 16 inches. –BR 62 Northwest Sportsman

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One way to stretch your bait is to use chunks of it on spinners like these behind a 360-degree flasher. (BOB REES)

the bar at 7 a.m. heading toward the ocean when boats that crossed at daybreak were already headed back to port with their limits. Sure, I got my limit too, but it took four hours instead of one because of my late start. But this year it may be different, given so many mouths to feed. The bite could be just as productive at 10 a.m. as it was at 5:30 a.m., but that’s always an unknown, no matter how many fish are present. As a general rule, the earlier you start your day on the big pond, the more likely you are to take a quick limit and head back to port safely. There’s no doubt that these salmon will feed most

voraciously at first light, and then as the day goes on and their bellies get more packed with forage fish, the more lethargic they are to bite, and with less frequency too. It’s also critical to come prepared. If you don’t have an abundance of barbless-hook leaders prepared, and you get caught off-guard by the number of leaders you’re going through, you’re going to be wasting time rigging gear, when you should be fishing instead. And don’t make the mistake of not bringing enough bait. There’s nothing worse than being 6 miles from port, in the midst of a hot

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bite, when you’ve run out of bait. It’s a good idea to bring effective artificial lures with you, in case you start running short. Yakima Bait’s SpinFish or Brad’s Super Baits have proven themselves in this fishery and I’ve also had great success with chunk baits trolled with spinner rigs (see photo on page 62) behind a 360-degree flasher such as a ProTroll. The use of these rigs can certainly make your bait go further and likely improve your strike-tohook ratio as well. And back to this “no-brainer” fishery. It’s pretty simple and given the prediction this year, it may be really simple. In a year of such abundance, it may not be so important to find the fleet before you begin your trolling strategy. It would be wise to not get tricked into thinking you have to get to where the fleet is. Don’t overshoot the productive water thinking you have to fish where everyone else is, but

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FISHING don’t waste time on unproductive water either. If you don’t find yourself getting bites within the first 10 minutes of trolling inshore, keep hop-scotching your way west until you do find the biters – again, they should be numerous this year.

mooching under a bobber should be a productive option for jetty anglers this year. It’s still important to cover a lot of water as if you were in a boat, but jetty fishing should be a productive one and it’s always a good idea to fish with a friend in this environment.

THE OTHER OCEAN OPTION

CATCH CARE

Without a doubt, fishing from a boat on the ocean is the best way to access the abundant coho run this year, but it’s not the only way to go. Bank fishing off of the jetty should be an excellent option too. Keeping in mind that safety is equally important on the jetty as it is crossing the bar, pick days when the swell is subdued. Swell height less than 3 feet is ideal, and not just as a safety factor when hiking out on the rocks, but when netting fish too. You will want a long-handled net when fishing out there. Employing a simple bait rigged for

On the ocean, taking care of your catch is extra important. Salmon you catch out here in July and August will likely have ample amounts of feed still in their stomachs. Even after harvest, these fish’s metabolism will continue to work and letting food continue to digest in their stomachs will compromise the quality of your catch. It’s critical to bleed the fish immediately after dispatching them and if you can afford the time to chill or gut them, you’ll find an even better “end product” for your fresh salmon dinner that night. Ocean coho make for highly prized table fare and we

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should treat them as such. Finally, the action we’re likely to experience during this year’s ocean fishery will be one that keeps kids up at night. Knowing the success it will bring, it presents a unique opportunity to recruit new anglers into our community. Consider bringing a newcomer, especially a child, to this fishery to make some lasting memories. It’s just as important to recruit the next generation of fishing foot soldiers as it is satisfying our own need for success, and what a year it’s going to be for success. NS Editor’s note: Bob Rees is the content editor of The Guide’s Forecast and a 31-year fishing guide in Oregon and Alaska. You can learn much more about this fishery and many more by viewing his library of technical reports or viewing any one of the webinars available at theguidesforecast.com.

FISHING

Albie Season Dead Ahead

With the countdown to tuna town starting this month, now’s the time to prep your gear for the fishery. By Dave Anderson

ear prepping for tuna fishing is best done during the down time we get between halibut and salmon seasons. For this article, I will go over all the different things I do to ensure the best success on albacore. Proper preparation is crucial.

MAINTAINING YOUR REELS

is super important and often overlooked by many. This time of year is a bit late

to send off reels and get them back in time for the upcoming season, but nevertheless it’s an important step that should be taken each year prior to the start of the fishery. The best guy that I have used for reel maintenance is Eric Hanson of Rougarou Rods in Hansville, on Washington’s northern Kitsap Peninsula. He does a fantastic job and has a quick turnaround time. I send him all my salmon, tuna and halibut reels for routine maintenance each year.

THE NEXT IMPORTANT step in prepping for tuna is getting all your rods and reels organized. I have only ever run four troll rods, regardless of the size of boat I am on. The reason is, once you hook up on the troll, you are going to throw bait and convert to a bait stop as quickly as possible. On occasion, I may throw a troll rod up high as the shotgun rod so I can run a cedar plug further out. When it comes to live bait rods, I always make sure to have enough for each angler, plus two or three extras.

Given the distance to the schools of albacore that visit the Northwest each summer, a wee bit of preseason preparation is required to ensure successful fishing trips like this one author Dave Anderson (left) enjoyed. (DAVE ANDERSON) nwsportsmanmag.com | JUNE 2021

Northwest Sportsman 69

FISHING

“Maintaining your reels is super important and often overlooked by many,” writes Anderson, here battling an albacore. (DAVE ANDERSON)

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When you are in the middle of a bait stop, you really want to be sure you do not have to mess around tying top shots and hooks, so having extra bait rods is key. It is so much easier to be able to just grab another rod, hook up an anchovy and be back in the game. On top of the troll and bait rods, I will also have two jigging rods. Jigging can be highly effective when you are on a bait stop and you see marks down deeper versus closer to the boat. When a bait stop is starting to fizzle out, jigging can help turn it back on by bringing the deeper fish up to the surface. There are a lot of different rods and reels from different manufacturers. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. I prefer to fish with Thrasher Rods, built here in the Pacific Northwest by my friend Jason Champion. He makes some of the best rods out there. I have intentionally tried breaking his rods while tuna fishing and cannot get them to do so. For reels, I prefer Avet and

FISHING Your impulse might be to start filleting all that tuna once you return to port, but the author says putting the fish on ice and processing them the next day produces a “night-and-day difference in the way the skin and loins peel off the tuna.” (DAVE ANDERSON)

have flow in the tank. There have been a handful of occasions where we had to switch out bait pumps on the way to the grounds to keep the flow in the tank. Anchovies should be handled with extreme care.

THE NEXT IMPORTANT gear I make sure to have ready for the season are proper-sized gaffs. You do not want a gaff hook with a large hook on the end. A 2-inch gap on the end is about as large as you really want to go. This also brings up another great topic worth mentioning – proper gaff placement on your fish. You do not just want to go crazy and gaff tuna anywhere you can. Put as much effort as possible into hitting them from the gill plate forward on the head. Making sure not to gaff tuna in the loins will ensure you are bringing home the highest quality of fish.

Accurate. If you are on a budget, there are other great options out there as well. Indeed, tuna fishing is not a finesse fishery – I have always said you could run a boat full of Ugly Stiks and still have success.

A KEY ASPECT of Northwest tuna fishing is live bait. Bait tanks are an important part of this fishery and having the right one is important. You can have bait at the dock, but if you have a bad bait tank, you will not have fishable bait once you hit the tuna grounds. The best tanks are going to be round high-flow units. You do not want bait tanks with hard corners 72 Northwest Sportsman

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or 90-degree angles. Your anchovies are not going to swim in a circle; they are literally going to get sloshed side to side and bounced off the walls of the bait tank. When you get 30 to 80 miles offshore and you open the hatch, you will be extremely disappointed to find a live well full of dead anchovies if you do not have the right bait tank. I have seen this, and it is super disappointing. If you do have a 35- to 50-gallon or larger bait tank on board, an important aspect is to also have another bait pump on board. You will want to check your bait on the way to the grounds to make sure you still

ONE LAST TIP that I feel is important when it comes to tuna fishing is leaving your fish well packed and surrounded by ice overnight before processing the next day. I have found that doing this makes for much easier processing. There’s a night-and-day difference in the way the skin and loins peel off the tuna compared to if you do it immediately when you get back to the dock. I just started to get on this program and have found it to be a much better option when it comes to processing tuna. However, when fishing with a charter, there is not much of an option since your fish will be processed once you return to port. TUNA SEASON’S RIGHT

around the corner and I cannot even tell you how excited I am. In my opinion, it is the most exciting game fish we have an opportunity to fish for in the Northwest. On occasion, we sometimes even get the opportunity to hook up with yellowtail or perhaps a bluefin. I have been lucky enough to get both on a trip on the same day. Tight lines and good luck! Most importantly, be safe and make good decisions when picking your days! NS

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Get All Steamed Up! Raking clams makes for an enjoyable day of ‘hunting’ at the beach. By MD Johnson h, don’t get me wrong. I still enjoy hunting. A lot. I like the quiet. I like the challenge. My wife and I still dearly love to eat meals highlighted by venison and bear and wildfowl. No, sir. Nothing better than climbing hills or settling into a layout blind. However, and I reckon it’s due in part to the passage of time, I find myself enjoying, perhaps just as much, hunting those things that don’t require long walks up vertical

slopes, 5-mile humps with 65 pounds of warm deer carcass on my back, or seemingly endless jaunts through waist-deep soul-sucking tidal mud. Yeah, I’ll be honest. I’m getting to like those prey items that don’t run far. Or run at all. Those things that don’t require decoys or boats. Stealth or quiet. Quarry that isn’t at all alarmed by seeing me show up in a SpongeBob SquarePants designer T-shirt, garage sale shorts and flip-flops. Which brings me to steamer clams. And oysters. Sand shrimp, too, but I’ve not gotten to the point where

sandies grace our dinner table. For surfperch bait, sure. And sturgeon. But not dinner. But back to steamer clams. I, like many of you reading this, absolutely love steamer clams. For an appetizer. For a main course. Maybe an appetizer followed by an identical main course. To me, there’s no reason not to love the little bivalves. I find them visually attractive. Extremely yummy. Plentiful. Living in wonderfully scenic locations. And, as I alluded to earlier, they don’t run far. Or fast, which means I, typically,

With her trusty clam rake in hand, Julie Johnson shows off a steamer she collected on a Willapa Bay tide flat earlier this spring. (MD JOHNSON)

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Northwest Sportsman 75

FISHING can catch up with them. Usually. Furthermore, there are no steamer clam decoys, a fact I sincerely hope never changes as I’d have to buy into four or five – hell, 12? – dozen of the damn things. The gear is simple, and preparation for the table practically nonexistent.

THERE ARE FOLKS out there, though, who haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Mister and Misses Littleneck Clam. Take, for instance, the four local high schoolers my wife and I, along with the biology teacher, took on a field trip a month ago. Great kids; 16 to 18 years old, love the outdoors, but none had ever been around the corner, relatively speaking, to Willapa Bay. None had raked steamer clams. In fact, not one of them had ever seen a steamer, save for on ice in the Winco Foods seafood department.

Collectively, they had an absolute ball on the bay. Each got their 40 steamers, and, back at the rig and along with burgers and dogs, we cooked up two limits as a sampler. Funny, but not a one of the small shellfish survived the onslaught. Not strange is the fact that three of the four asked to go again the next month, May; the fourth couldn’t go because, “That’s the last weekend of turkey season and I’ll be over east.” Atta-boy! So, that all said and for those who might not be familiar with the stepby-step of a good steamer hunt, let’s take a look at the gear, the process during and after, and some thoughts on where to go in Washington.

STEAMER GEAR As I said earlier, to me one of the nicest things about gathering, aka raking, steamers is that very little

Big minus tides aren’t as necessary for accessing the steamer clam grounds as they are for razors and geoducks, but you’ll still want to target lows of 0 feet or lower. Tide charts are available online and at many sporting goods stores. (KATHY MUNSEL) 76 Northwest Sportsman

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equipment is needed. Truthfully? If a body can pull together an empty onion sack, a garden rake – which, honestly, is optional, given that you have from two to 10 fingers – and a couple bare feet, it’s all that’s needed. However, there are some things either required (by law) or just damn nice to have, including: License: The aforementioned requirement. In Washington, you’ll need either a Combination License (Freshwater/Saltwater/Shellfish), or a Shellfish/Seaweed License. If you can swing $55, get the combo. You won’t regret it. In Oregon, a shellfish license is included in the Sports Pac, in the Youth License for 12- to 17-year-olds, Youth Sports Pac, Daily Angling and Shellfish Combo license or Three-day Shellfish Licenses. And while we’re at it, let’s talk limits, size restrictions and anything else you might need to (legally)

FISHING be much more comfortable without feeling like I’ve wet my pants? Uhhuh! Honestly, though, clothes to match the temperature, a raincoat if needed, and footwear, e.g. hip boots, mud boots, chest waders, cowboy boots, Chuck Taylors, flip-flops, barefoot – doesn’t really matter.

THE 411 ON GATHERING STEAMERS

Evie Davidson, a senior at Wahkiakum High School, was looking forward to another trip to Willapa Bay after harvesting this nice batch of steamers on her inaugural clamming trip. (JULIA JOHNSON)

know. For steamers, the daily limit is 40 clams and not to exceed 10 pounds in the shell; fewer if you include geoducks and/or horse clams, which are considered as part of the 40-clam limit should you find them. There is a 1.5-inch minimum size restriction on steamers, as measured across the longest part of the shell. Note: Many crab gauges have a 1.5-inch hole in them meant for measuring steamers. The clam passes through, and it’s too small and must be put back. In Oregon, the limit is 20 in aggregate for bay clams, which includes littleneck, butter, cockle and gaper, with only 12 of those 20 allowed to be gapers. For softshell, the limit is 36. Rake or raking implement: You can use your fingers/hands; I’ve seen it done many times. But a rake or something similar makes the job a whole lot easier and less messy. A traditional steel-prong garden rake works just fine. I always include one of those, along with a similar tool, but with a cut-down handle. It’s great for shorter and/or small people. Myself, I’m partial to either a three- or fourtined long-handled rake, as the fewer number of tines allows me to rake easier and deeper with each pass. Personal preference, I reckon. 78 Northwest Sportsman

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Collecting container: Walmart bags. Onion sacks. Milk jugs with the top cut off. An old sock. The pouch of one’s hooded sweatshirt. A dirty baseball hat. Over the years, I’ve seen and done it all when it comes to toting a limit of steamers off the beach. Today, though, I’m usually a bit more prepared, and partial to a small heavy-duty zippered mesh bag – think razor clam bag – that attaches to my wader belt, thus leaving my hands free. My wife, Julie, actually uses her razor clam bag when hunting steamers. Both work well. I do take the bag a step further, though, and carry a 64-ounce plastic bucket with a lid in a light backpack. When I’ve raked what I want, I half-fill the bucket with clean saltwater, drop my clam-filled mesh bag in, snap the lid tight, and pack the whole thing back to the truck. Apparel: So I casually mentioned waders earlier. Necessary? Absolutely not; however, I do often – not always, but often – wear a set of waist-high waders when raking, simply so I keep myself clean(er) and dry(er) than if I went without. And if it’s chilly, the waders pull double-duty and help keep me warm. Do you need them? No. Will the 90-minute drive home

This isn’t steelhead fishing. Once you’ve found a spot harboring steamers – and we’ll get to that in a minute – it comes down to, and quite literally, the ability to operate a garden rake. There are, however, a couple helpful hints that might make locating the little shellfish a bit easier, while at the same time minimizing damage to other tideland dwellers. Take your time: This isn’t a race and, trust me, they’re not getting away. Often, and especially if you’ve chosen to use a multipronged garden rake, getting down to where the clams live, which can be from 4 to 8 or 10 inches into the sand, requires multiple swats. Listen: No, not for the fabled call of a bull clam. Rather, with practice, you’ll be able to differentiate between the sound of your rake striking a live clam versus an empty shell or some other inedible object. Watch: Holes in the sand may indicate a steamer below, but – sorry – probably not. More likely it’s a ghost, or sand, shrimp or any one of a dozen other nonsteamer-clam lifeforms. My advice is to try one or two, and then move on to what I call the Random Method of Harvest, which essentially means raking randomly as you wander aimlessly over the tidelands. For me, it’s what I’m best at – random, and aimless. Work slowly: Steamers aren’t indestructible. Hitting them hard with a metal object can break their shell. And once broken, they’ll die rather quickly. Remember, too, not to drop them onto other harvested clams in your bag or bucket. Dropping them against one another can break them, and once broken – well, you know how that goes.

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FISHING Gentle touch: Take care not to kill or injure other critters in the name of gathering shellfish. During the course of a dig it’s not unusual to rake up several small Dungeness crabs. Be careful with them and put them back gently. Also, don’t slam the tines of your tool down into the sand. Should the points puncture a crab – yes, I’ve seen it done – it’s done for. Bottom line is there’s lots of wild stuff out there in the sand, on the sand, and in the myriad tide pools. Be kind to it. Public safety: Be careful out here

on the tide flats. You could step in a hole and twist an ankle. You could cut yourself on something while digging by hand, e.g. a broken shell, a piece of glass, a hunk of metal. Watch the weather and the incoming tide, if applicable. In other words, know what’s going on around you. Respect private property: Most, if not all state-owned tidelands border privately owned holdings. Sometimes, these lines are marked with tall stakes of white PVC pipe; sometimes, they’re not marked at all. It’s your responsibility to know where

you are at all times, and whether or not you should actually be there. One, it’s common courtesy. And two, it’s the law.

AFTER THE FACT Once I get my clams home, I take them out of the saltwater bucket, g-e-n-t-l-y place them in a Pyrex or other nonmetal/nonplastic bowl, and put them in the fridge. Nine times out of 10, we’re going to eat them that evening; however, in the fridge, they’ll be fine for a day, maybe two. It’s very important, precook, to

G P

WHERE TO GO

wo options when it comes to steamers – private tidelands, and public tidelands. Private is private, and permission must be requested and received prior to venturing forth. My thinking? It never hurts to ask. Many will say no; some will say yes. If it’s a private option and you have been granted access, then a check of the Washington Department of Health’s Shellfish Safety Information page – fortress.wa.gov/doh/biotoxin/biotoxin .html – will tell you whether or not that particular area is open to harvest based on recent toxin testing results. It’s also, while you’re there, an excellent place to research additional shellfish opportunities along the whole of the Washington Coast. That said and in the southwestern part of the Evergreen State, with which I’m familiar, I’m partial to the following areas: Long Island: This mosquito-infested island sits just west of the Willapa Bay National Wildlife Refuge headquarters on the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway below the mouth of the Naselle River. Two areas on the island are open to shellfish harvest – Diamond Point on the north end, and Pinnacle Rock on the southwest edge. It’s a boat show here to access; however, there is a nice ramp and ample parking at the refuge headquarters. Watch the tides! The Nemah: North on Highway 101 above the Naselle River is the Nemah, approximately 3.5 miles of public tidelands running from Pickernell Creek north. A

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While tide flats are plentiful in Willapa Bay, it behooves a clammer to know where open public grounds are. In the case of the Nemah, it starts at this first point north of nearby Pickernell Creek, where there is parking off of Highway 101. (WASHINGTON D.O.E.) wide spot along the highway provides a little parking; the public portion begins above the first point of land and continues north toward Bay Center. Access for the most part is via private holdings, so keep that in mind. Hawks Point: West of the twin cities of South Bend and Raymond, and along Highway 105 is Hawks Point, roughly 1.5 miles of public tidelands. It’s a little tough to tell where this area begins and ends; however, if you’re on the mile-long stretch that runs due east/west just past Freshwater Creek, you should be OK. In years past, Hawks Point was our go-to steamer spot; that is, until the population of ghost shrimp increased so as to negatively

impact – read: kill – a huge portion of the clam beds there. It’s gotten better over the past year or so, but still requires some work to find a limit. Nahcotta Tidelands: A small piece of tideland area located at Nahcotta on the Long Beach Peninsula. No steamers can be taken here – sad face! – but oyster harvest is open year-round with restrictions as to how many (18) and how (shucked on-site at the tideline where they were found). Note that it’s muddy to very muddy here, so waders are probably a great idea. And take a few minutes to stop into the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife field office. There’s a lot of interesting things to read and look at there. –MDJ

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FISHING check each clam to ensure it’s alive. When you pick them up, they should visually tighten up. Or you won’t be able to open them because 1) they’re alive, and 2) their adductor muscles hold their shell closed because (back to 1) they’re alive. As for a recipe, ours is as simple as it gets. After I’ve checked each clam for life and rinsed those that are in cool water, I’ll put a limit – maybe two – in a heavy metal pot, along with a cube of butter, a goodly dollop of minced garlic and a healthy splash of dry white wine. Drop a lid, turn the heat up to medium-high, and keep an eye on the situation. When they’re open, they’re done. Next, pour a little of the juice from the pot into a fingerbowl, and get yourself a small bucket for the empty shells. Slurp. Or dip. Or slurp and dip. When they’re gone, repeat the process. Oh, yes, they will be gone. NS

And now comes the fun part – eating ’em. Minced garlic, a little white wine, enough water to cover and boil them, and as soon as their shells pop open, these clams are ready to slurp. (JULIA JOHNSON)

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Shad! T

he boat slowed down and was held in place in the current by the main motor as we dropped anchor off of the bow. Once the anchor’s rocker prongs dug into the riverbed cobble, it was time to start fishing. Using a typical 9½-foot medium-action steelhead rod with a ½-ounce weight and a small bright-colored “shad dart” 2 feet below NW PURSUITS on an 8-pound leader, it felt more like I was drift fishing for By Jason Brooks summer steelhead on a coastal river than shad fishing on the mighty Columbia. Two casts later and it was “Fish on!” This is shad fishing, where on a good day during the main run you can catch just about as many fish as casts you make. The fight of the shad and their eager bite is what makes them so much fun. In late spring, anglers flock to Bonneville Dam and nearby Beacon Rock in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, where the shad hit the main current being flushed down from the dam. Look for current seams and water boiling where boulders lying beneath give respite to the hundreds upon hundreds of thousands of fish heading upriver. Those who don’t have boats or don’t like fishing the big water and strong currents can easily catch shad from the bank. Most bank angling occurs just below Bonneville, but those in boats who know how to properly anchor and work the strong flow of water rushing by tend to catch more fish. We would cast on both sides of the boat, alternating from the outside where the water was deeper and a seam 20 yards away, to the inside where the shoreline was only 30 feet from the rod tip. As schools of fish approached, sometimes they went to the outside and other times to the inside, and we caught fish on both sides. You knew when the bite was about to happen by simply looking downstream. The boats furthest downriver in sight would begin catching fish, then the next set, and so forth, until the school reached our boat. It was like this all day, as we happened to time the run and arrived during the height of it.

SHAD ARE INTERESTING fish. They are anadromous like salmon, steelhead and sturgeon, but biologically they are part of the herring family. Spawning in the mainstem of the Columbia (as well as Willamette), shad will go as far as about McNary Dam, though a few are caught in the lower portion of the Snake. Each run is comprised of 3- to 5-year-old fish, so return size can be affected by each year class. This helps with survivability and keeps the fishery fairly consistent. Currently there are no size or possession limits on shad if you choose to keep them. An average shad ranges from 16 to 20 inches, with some larger, and around 2 pounds, but don’t be surprised if you get one almost twice that size. Females are usually bigger and can have up to 600,000 eggs each. After spawning, the eggs hatch within days. The young shad quickly move out to the ocean once they are

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COLUMN

Anglers fight a shad to the net in the western Columbia Gorge. Recent years have seen massive returns of the East Coast import up the big river, and this year another “strong run” is forecast. (JASON BROOKS)

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COLUMN strong enough for the journey, and they live in the salt until returning to spawn. Shad are not native to the region. In fact, they are from the East Coast and were first planted in the Sacramento River in California in 1871; by 1881, they had invaded the Columbia. Back then they were considered a valuable food fish and were prolific along the East Coast from Florida to Newfoundland. During the very early years of the United States, and even during the colonial period, shad helped feed the early Europeans who settled here.

George Washington’s plantation sits on the banks of the Potomac and he ran a very lucrative shad fishery when the runs came through each spring. This thinking continued well into the 20th century as shad numbers in the West increased after their introduction by the United States Fish Commission in California rivers near San Francisco. It is probably more to do with how fish was preserved back then, mostly canning and salting, as shad have a very high oil content, which means high calories and a little can go a long way.

While most bank angling is done below Bonneville Dam, boat fishermen have access to more water from there clear down to Longview and even beyond. Anchoring up near current seams is a good bet. (JASON BROOKS) 86 Northwest Sportsman

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TODAY, MOST ANGLERS who keep shad for food use some of the same old-school methods of canning or cooking them in pressure cookers. The bony fish doesn’t fare well on the barbecue, but I hear it is good pickled and canned. The roe is preferred and shad caviar is a delicacy to some. I have kept the fish for bait – sturgeon bait, specifically. For anglers who like to fish for oversized sturgeon, shad is one of the best baits. And with their high oil content, they do well in crab traps; one shad will fit perfectly into a bait bag. Once a crab tears into it, the oils are released and soon more crabs show up. Due to their tough skin and heavy scales, they are hearty in crab traps and one shad can last all day. With the lack of herring for bait this year, a filleted strip of shad could work on a wrapped plug or with a hoochie skirt.

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COLUMN Drift fishing with colorful shad darts is a proven way to catch these plentiful fish. Watch for action downstream of your position to reveal when a school is coming through. (JASON BROOKS)

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THE SHAD RUN usually peaks in mid-June, but water conditions can dictate which week will be best. Watch Bonneville Dam fish counts at fpc.org and cbr.washington .edu/dart/query/adult_daily. It is best to head there once the counts climb into the thousands-per-day range. The window for shad is fairly short, usually a few weeks and then it is over. This is the most frustrating part about shad fishing, as reports will trickle in and then the fishery is “on” and everyone heads there all at once. By the time most anglers hear about the hot bite, it is almost over. But if you plan a trip in mid-June, there should be shad in the river. One of the reasons anglers use a rod rated for steelhead fishing is because shad are shaped more like a flat football. They are thin but wide, which means the currents can create a strong fight when trying to reel in the fish. The mouth of the shad is delicate and paper-thin, with most fish lost right at the boat as you try to lift them up high enough to put a net under them. But if you hook them in the jawbone, you are sure to get them aboard. A long-handled net is

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COLUMN a must and you can expect to lose about twice as many as you land. This is what makes catching them so much fun. The darts used to catch shad are small, cone-shaped leadhead jigs with a gold hook and painted a bright color. Popular choices are chartreuse, red, orange or a combination with white and one of those colors. The hook is about the size of a size 6 baitholder. Another option to catch shad is to use a 1/8-ounce jig and a rubber or plastic curly tailed grub, again in bright colors or white. Small spoons like Dick Nites are very popular as well. Each of these are drift fished with either a lead weight, slinky or,

“Once you try shad fishing, you will realize why so many people do it: casting for and catching fish all day long that fight hard and are fun,” writes author Jason Brooks, whose son Ryan holds one here. (JASON BROOKS) 90 Northwest Sportsman

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for the spoons, a small dropper weight and back-bounced.

ONCE YOU TRY shad fishing, you will realize why so many people do it: casting for and catching fish all day long that fight hard and are fun. It is up to you to release them or keep a few to eat or use as bait. According to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife stats, an estimated 138,200 shad were kept on the Columbia last year, about average over the past decade. The high mark was 2018’s 250,000. There is only a small commercial fishery, as uses of shad are limited. Last year was the first since 1980 that there was no reported

commercial catch, but it wasn’t for lack of a run. Indeed, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife estimated last year’s Columbia shad return at “6 million minimum” and the 10-year average is 3.3 million. For 2021, ODFW’s prediction is “strong run expected,” which means in the millions, at least, since they are not hatchery-raised and only counted as they cross the dams. Along with multi-year classes making up the run, it is hard to give an actual prediction of the number of fish. Come midmonth, check the reports and look at the dam counts. They will tell you when it is time to head to the Columbia and catch a few – or a lot – of these fun fish. NS

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Take Them Fishing N

ature provides such growth this time of year. Flora and fauna are in full FOR THE LOVE swing, encouraging young life to flourish OF THE TUG By Sara Ichtertz and develop in this beautiful, one-of-a-kind way. I try to take notice of the ways of nature, and I believe we all could learn a lot if we were more in tune with it. I learned so very much from the river hunters who live on my river. Living in a riverfront apartment 20 years ago, I was blessed to see the love and glory of the river otters. Watching their ways from above, I was amazed at their connection and their ability to hunt the rivers during springer season. What amazed me most was that as their family grew, I was able to see a love that was unbreakable and a care for their young that was more than just instinctive; it was deeper than that. All of their actions helped their young undoubtedly grow stronger in all of the right ways as they readied them for their own life. One might think that motherly tenderness would not be present, as they only raise them for their first year, but what I saw was a strong mom who gave her pups exactly what they needed to truly thrive.

AS I’VE GROWN, I continue to think of that family of river otters and the seasons I was blessed enough to watch them. I have occasionally found myself envious of that life they live. Such a good life; she worked so hard and with so much purpose. I admire the mother otters and the growth they so selflessly give to their young. Watching the pups make their way to that water was amazing and it never left my mind. I realized that no matter the maternal figure on the river, it’s critical to be the leader who helps our young find their footing in life and to help them thrive. I find joy in giving time to the littles in

Juice box and Goldfish in hand, Katie West, the author’s niece, smiles over a nice summer steelhead her “Auntie” just caught. Katie has shown an interest in fish and fishing from a young age. (SARA ICHTERTZ) nwsportsmanmag.com | JUNE 2021

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COLUMN Taking toddlers and other youngsters out fishing is the focus of this story, but June also offers a great opportunity to get older kids, per se, on the water, thanks to this month’s free angling (and clamming and crabbing) days across the Northwest. (SARA ICHTERTZ)

my life. In giving them time, I am giving them the gift of growth that is so very important in this life. We must learn that all the power we need lies within ourselves and sharing the river with the children I love is my way of helping with the most important of traits in life. First off, I want them to believe in themselves. After that, I want them to believe in something greater than themselves. I want them to know passion and believe life is better lived when we embrace it. I really want them to trust that their purpose will be waiting for them. Blessed am I to have an array of children in my life, each unique with their own gifts and their own sparks of ability and interests. I am also astonished at how fast this life with them is flying by, as it literally feels like I was learning to fish for summers with my toddler babes only yesterday and yet somehow Nate is almost 12 and Ava will be 10 before I know it! In these eight runs of life, I believe my children have grown within themselves because of the 94 Northwest Sportsman

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river and this passion we have shared. In all reality, though, my babes were going to grow whether they were thrilled about it or not because this was my choice. This is what I decided we were going to do with our time. Yes, at times we did not fish long, but we fished. And we fished often. They learned a lot, pretending and frolicking together in the willows and along the summer banks of our river. I believe it was good for both of my babes. However, thus far only one passionate fisherman has been born, though both of them are equally amazing to me.

WHEN IT COMES to my nieces and nephews, however, I haven’t been able to share a ton of river time with them. Camping, trout fishing, exploring, yes! But out of a dozen little loves, I have only shared the river with four. And of those four amazing young ladies, only one has embraced the bank with Aunt Sara. Her name is Katie Mae West and I believe the growth Katie will find within herself embracing the rivers with Auntie will

evolve into something special. It could just be the Scorpio in me that tells myself this, as we share this water sign. Her connection to the water has been with her since birth, fearing no bath. At each stage of life where new bodies of water have been introduced to her, she has dived right in – literally! Since before she could speak, she was intrigued with my fishing photos like no other; sucking on her binky intensely, she eventually would say, “Fissssh!” It made me laugh and smile, and I would tell her that once she was big enough, I would take her to catch one out of the river. Well, that day finally came last summer. My babes were away with their dad and while I missed them, on the way to the river I decided to stop in and see if Katie might be allowed to join me. Katie is the youngest of four, the little sister not only in the family but little sister in a set of twins. Mom did not hesitate to let Katie go on an adventure with Aunt Sara. We quickly packed up snacks, as a few different choices and some drinks are a must when introducing the river to busy little humans. Katie cheered to be going fishing as I sprayed her down with sunblock and found her a sun hat. It had been a minute since I carried a toddler and my fishing gear down to the river. Katie did pretty good hopping through the boulders. I watched her give it her best and do a little growing before I scooped her up, speeding up our arrival to what appeared to be a humanless fishing hole. Yay, we made it! Seeing her at 21/2 years old looking around in amazement, it instantly took me back to when Nate and Ava were so very yiddle and yet so very excited to be there. As Katie listened, I gave her a rundown on what we could and wouldn’t do. She was old enough to be there and I’m thankful I am not scared to let nature and the river be part of a child’s growth. I think it helps them far more than it hurts, even though they might scuff a knee on occasion. It was just the two of us as I set up my gear and her area in the shade by the willows, but she wanted to be right with me. She knew the rules and she followed them. She was most definitely interested in the fishing, not just being there, and so I loved that. From a safe rock to sit on and wet her toes, she was

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A friendly family took a picture of happy anglers Sara and Katie, and while the author wanted to stay and fish for a second steelhead she’d seen, she knew that her young charge had had enough for the day and it would be best for both of them to head home, triumphant and fueled up to do it all over again. (SARA ICHTERTZ)

very close to me, yet clear of my casting and potential hook-setting. I gave her a snack and cast out. It reminded me of some of the best times in my life with my babes trying to find ourselves a steelhead.

WORKING THE FAR side of the river, I saw that most beautiful of signs: the flicker of a tail, giving me instant hope. I worked the middle section of my drift and there it was, that undeniable bite of life! I will never forget the look on Katie’s face when I told her we had ourselves a fish on. Sheer amazement was all over her face as she cheered me on. I asked Katie to get on a different rock, as I wasn’t sure which way this fish was going to go. She did great and got all situated in a safe spot just as our fish decided to scream upriver. I didn’t want to 96 Northwest Sportsman

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leave Katie, but the truth is she was safe, and if I was going to land this steelhead for her, I had to chase him down. Fighting the fish and watching Katie stay right in her spot was pretty awesome. Finally the fish began to tire and I could see he was in fact a hatchery fish. Miss Katie watched Auntie tail up that biggest fish she had ever seen like it was no big deal. She was cheering from her safe spot and I hustled back to my girl to show her our impressive harvest. Seeing her so very impressed was pretty much the best stuff on earth. She laughed uncontrollably at how big our fish was. To this day, she talks of that moment. It is forever with her. When you share what you love with those you love, you really cannot go wrong. I find when we share it with

someone we love who feels that passion as well, it is even better! It’s never too early to ignite that spark of interest. Taking toddlers down to the river and helping them to grow is proof of that to me. After we tagged our fish, a family popped out of the shade of the willows. I had thought we were completely alone, but that wasn’t the case. The boys had a million questions and the dad a couple himself. I gave them some pointers as far as the correct rod size and style, leader size and length, a little rundown on the weight and method. In return, I got a photo of me, little missy and our first river fishy. Katie really wasn’t impressed with the stranger photo operation, but she most definitely was with the time I was willing to share with her. After tying on a new leader, I saw another fish flicker and I had a really good feeling about it. Yet there is very much a fine line when introducing the river to our children. Katie had had enough. The fisherman in me wanted nothing more than to tag out, but the woman in me wants the children in her life to not only know the river, I want them to love it. I want them to grow within themselves and find strengths they never knew they had. If I force them to stay before they are ready, I am selling this special opportunity of growth and passion short.

LISTENING TO KATIE nearly a year later confirms I did what was right. I didn’t force her to see if I could get that second fish to bite and I am thankful, as she has been telling me regularly that she is a Fisher Girl and she’s ready to go catch a big one! I’m so looking forward to our time together on the river this year. She helps motivate me, and helps me grow as well. I know I can help her to become one of the greatest little fishers ever, and I really look forward to what lies ahead. At this point in my years, what really matters to me is helping the babes know passion and to chase it, not me tagging out. There are some things in life that have no value compared to the almighty dollar, and yet to me they far outweigh the value of any money I will ever make. May I always remember the river otters and how important it is for me to help the children in my life believe in themselves and continue to grow. My heart is on the river and I couldn’t change it, even if I tried. NS

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FISHING

It doesn’t have the name recognition of Lenore or the state record like Omak, but Grimes Lake is a very solid option for Lahontan cutthroat starting this month. Randy Davis caught this trout at the Douglas County water in a past season. (JEFF WITKOWSKI)

Time’s Prime For Grimes The third of Central Washington’s three primary Lahontan lakes opens June 1, and here’s how to fish it. By Mike Wright

ne of the most coveted trophy trout species in Central Washington’s Columbia Basin is the Lahontan cutthroat. These fish originally came from Pyramid Lake in Nevada, and had a reputation of growing to truly

outstanding size. Their history here dates back to 1977, when a shipment from Nevada was transported to Lake Lenore. For many years Lenore was considered to be far too alkaline to support a population of trout. However, Pyramid Lake, as well as a number of other lakes in Nevada, are highly alkaline,

and Lahontans not only survive but thrive in these waterbodies. It was soon found that the fish adapted well to Lenore, located in Grant County’s lower Grand Coulue, and grew very rapidly – within three years, some of the new plants had reached 25 inches and weighed over 6 pounds. This was very encouraging nwsportsmanmag.com | JUNE 2021

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FISHING

Grimes Lake, at top, is tucked into the head of Moses Coulee, an “oddball canyon” related to runoff from ice age glaciers. Private lands line its west side and northern tip, while the eastern shore sits at the forefront of a large block of state and federal ground. (DON SEARLS, FLICKR, CC BY 2.0)

not only for Lenore, but for several other highly alkaline lakes. The cutthroat were rather rapidly introduced into other lakes in the general vicinity of Lenore, and the fish experienced similar growth rates. The two best known of these waters are Omak, in Okanogan County, and Grimes, in Douglas County. Both lakes have prolific insect hatches, as well as other forage, which aids in this rapid growth rate. As a matter of fact, the state record Lahontan was taken in Omak, not in Lenore, as one might expect. It weighed 18.04 pounds and was caught by Dan Beardslee in 1993. In Grimes, 8,000 3- to 4-inch fingerlings are stocked each October and they grow to 12 or 14 inches in their first year. By the end of their second year, they generally have reached 18 to 19 inches, and by the third year they will weigh 4 to 6 pounds. While a one-fish limit (minimum size 18 inches) is in effect on Grimes, catch-and-release is a

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FISHING standard practice in the lake, so it is quite possible to have fish in excess of 7 pounds in these waters. In addition, you will not be encountering the “combat fishing” that often occurs at Lenore. Both Omak and Grimes are lightly fished in comparison to their more famous sister lake. If all of this seems too good to be true, there are indeed a couple flies in the proverbial ointment. Grimes doesn’t open until June 1 and closes August 31, and Omak has been closed to all nontribal anglers since last year due to, as you may have guessed, the Covid-19 pandemic. At press time it and other reservation waters were closed through at least May 31, by order of the tribal Business Council. Watch Facebook .com/CCTFNW for updates. Although it is a little disappointing that Grimes has an abbreviated season, it should be pointed out that the lake is accessed via private property and we should be grateful that the

landowner and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have presented us with the opportunity to fish for this remarkable resource at all. Hopefully, anglers will continue to treat the lake and surrounding land with the utmost respect.

THE LATE OPENER means Grimes Lake anglers don’t experience the false spawning run that brings Lahontans to either end of Lenore, meaning the fish may be far more spread out by June 1. However, June is an excellent time for damsels, which normally start to appear in the middle to latter part of May and continues into July. Marabou damsels, Sheep Creeks and the Nyerges Nymphs are excellent patterns to employ during this period. Although nymphs are the primary pattern used on Grimes, blue damsel adults can also be found near the edge of the lake and can make for some excellent dry fly fishing. Callibaetis mayflies begin to hatch

out the first part of May and continue through the middle of July. Pheasant Tails and Hare’s Ears in sizes 12 to 14 work well, often used as a dropper, with a damsel pattern as the lead fly. Since the callibaetis nymphs begin to appear before the lake even opens, by June there are usually a good deal of adults on the water, and dry flies, such as a Parachute Adams, Purple Haze or CB Cripple, become very effective. From late June into July, callibaetis spinners become the prominent attraction and the rusty or grey spinner flies are very effective patterns. Probably the most important food source for the Grimes cutthroat is the chironomid, or midge, as the adult insect is known. Midges begin appearing as soon as the ice goes off the lake, usually in March or perhaps as late as April. During this early period, the chironomid is the prime dinner special for the Lahontans, but by the first of June they are not as dependent

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FISHING Adapted to alkaline waters, Lahontans grow big thanks to limited competition for the rich forage base. Grimes’ cutts are planted as 3- to 4-inch fingerlings and push past a foot after their first year. Many that are caught run around 18 to 20 inches. (MIKE WRIGHT)

on them. That’s when midge emerger and adult patterns begin to become more effective. Probably the best patterns to use for the midge adult would be a Griffith’s Gnat or Renegade in sizes 14 to 18. When fishing with a Griffith’s Gnat, it is often more effective if the fly is skidded occasionally to mimic a newly hatched midge. When fishing with chironomids, a strike indicator and a very slow retrieve is still the most popular strategy. However, an intermediate or sink tip line can also work well, as long as a very slow strip or retrieve is employed. Although Lahontans are not particularly leadershy, a fluorocarbon leader and tippet might be advantageous since the water is usually rather clear. Although not as prevalent as on a number of other lakes, caddisfly hatches can appear occasionally on Grimes, so it might be advisable to include a few Elk Hair or Goddard patterns in your fly box. Caddis usually appear during the warmer weather of late July and August. Grimes also contains a fair number of scuds, or freshwater shrimp. Scuds 104 Northwest Sportsman

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provide an important food source for the fish long before the season even opens, but by opening day, damsels, callibaetis and chironomids become the more preferred menu item. Still, an olive or Rollover Scud can produce fish. Leeches are also effective patterns to use on Grimes. A Kaufmann Mini Leech or a Marabou Leech in olive or brown have proven to be quite effective, and then there’s the venerable Woolly Bugger. To increase the odds of a take, using a Prince Nymph dropper would not be a bad decision.

KEEP IN MIND that selective gear rules are in effect on Grimes, along with a prohibition on gasoline-powered engines. You can use a second rod if you have the two-pole endorsement. Shore fishing on this 180-acre lake is really not very effective – the west side and northern end are also private property – so a boat, float tube or pontoon is really a necessity. If you don’t have your own, you might inquire at nearby Jameson Lake Resort if their boats can be rented. In addition, there is a no camping rule in effect,

but considering the sizable rattlesnake population in the area, sleeping on the ground might not be the most prudent decision you ever made anyway. With the false spawning run on Lenore over by now and Omak possibly still closed to nontribal anglers, Grimes is most certainly the best option for the angler in search of a trophy Lahontan this time of year. The lake not only provides outstanding cutthroat fishing, but accomplishes it in a peaceful, scenic setting. It is truly worth the extra time and effort it takes to reach the lake. There is only one way into Grimes, and that is south out of the town of Mansfield, which sits on Highway 172 in northern Douglas County. To get to Mansfield from the west, take Highway 2 out of Wenatchee and go north on Highway 172; from the east, take Highway 2 west out of Coulee City to Highway 17, then north on 17 to 172 and then west to town. From Mansfield, go south on Mansfield Road toward Jameson Lake. Approximately 9 miles out of town look for a sign to the left and follow the gravel road to Grimes and the access site. NS

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COLUMN Cody Herman might be most associated with Columbia River and ocean salmon fisheries, but he’s begun guiding Central Oregon waters for trout, char and kokanee. Here he holds a big Odell Lake Mackinaw caught in 2020. (DAYONEOUTDOORS.COM)

Now More Than Fly Guides In Central Oregon T

hey say the only thing certain in life is change. For fishing guide Cody Herman of Day One Outdoors TV fame, BUZZ change involves RAMSEY adding another very different guiding experience to his already diverse buffet of salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and saltwater fishing adventures. You see, Herman has purchased one of the few special-use permits for the

Deschutes National Forest in Central Oregon. In case you don’t know, the high plateau of the Beaver State is regarded as a trout fishing paradise. For Herman, the chance to purchase this permit was a golden fishing/guiding opportunity. And while he is now operating under one of the five guiding permits in use at this time, he is the only outfit currently offering fishing adventures where you can use fly or conventional lure-and-bait methods. You see, the four other guiding operations in service within this national forest have chosen to offer only fly fishing excursions. The only exception, for Herman

and all guides, is that no guiding is allowed whatsoever on the Metolius River.

COVERING THE HEART of Central Oregon, the Deschutes National Forest is a vast area that encompasses 1.6 million acres stretching across four counties: Deschutes, Klamath, Lake and Jefferson. What draws anglers to this region are the bountiful rivers and lakes where trout, kokanee, Mackinaw and bass lurk. When it comes to rivers, Herman’s guiding area includes the upper Deschutes and Fall Rivers. The lakes and volcanic reservoirs include names like East, Paulina, Odell,

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COLUMN

While Wickiup Reservoir, the region’s trophy kokanee fishery, is suffering from low water levels, there are other options for numerous though smaller kokes. Herman’s client Matt Abrams of San Francisco caught this nice one at Crane Prairie last summer. (DAYONEOUTDOORS.COM) Davis, Lava, Crescent, Crane Prairie, Wickiup, Cultus, Elk, and more – not to mention a countless number of walk-in lakes. Although Herman has guided anglers to fishing success around the globe since 2012, 2020 was his first year guiding in Central Oregon. This year and last he began on opening day (April 22 in 2021) on Odell Lake chasing kokanee and Mackinaw. He says the kokanee are plentiful, great eating, easy to catch and the daily limit is generous. In fact, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife figures there are currently over 1 million 12- to 14-inch kokanee lurking in Odell. Their numbers are way 108 Northwest Sportsman

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over population goals, which is why the daily limit is currently set at 25 fish per day. You can help reduce their abundance by securing your limit, which, given time and cooperation by anglers interested in keeping fish, should allow the lake’s mini salmon to grow larger in size. In addition, Odell offers trophy-size Mackinaw. The state record of 40 pounds, 8 ounces came from here. According to Herman, a trip to Odell could yield a new state record since ODFW has captured fish way over the 40-pound mark. Because of their large size, limited supply and the fact that Macks are not great eating, the guide

insists on getting a quick photo before releasing all caught aboard his boat. During the early season, before the water warms in mid-June, a typical day with Herman includes chasing kokanee during the morning hours before switching to Mackinaw, usually in the late morning, which is when Odell’s lakers seem to bite best. And while you can cast ½- to ¾-ounce jigs for kokanee that might be cruising near the surface from the opener until the water warms in mid-June, you will need to go deeper to find success through the balance of the summer. According to Herman, jigging and trolling work on Odell when kokanee leave the surface. Any ¾- to 1-ounce jig works well when dropped to the level the fish are holding. The most productive colors include pink pearl, red, white and orange. When trolling, Herman has found that a small Spin-n-Glo-hoochie/squid lure rigged a short distance – 8 to 12 inches – behind a kokanee dodger and trolled at 1.1 to 1.5 miles per hour is what yields strikes. The most productive colors here include mostly pink color combinations. The gear is mostly bigger when it comes to Mackinaw. Herman has found, however, that Odell’s lake trout (sometimes referred to as char for their genus) can be finicky about what size jig might entice them on any given day. For this reason a selection of 1- to 6-ounce jig sizes is what he carries. For Odell Macks, the most productive jig colors include white, gold and red. Mackinaw also respond to plugs ranging in size from 31/2 to 6 inches. High-action plugs like Mag Lip, FlatFish and KwikFish all work. Silver/blue “scale” is a productive color, as are pearl, pink pearl and gold. Herman runs these 60 to 80 feet back before sending them deep on a downrigger set to run 10 to 20 feet above bottom, depending on how deep the plug dives. What seems to get Macks to strike is to have your lure occasionally trip/rub bottom. Though Herman has caught them at pretty much all depths, his guiding has revealed most are taken at 100 to 180 feet.

NEARBY CRESCENT LAKE offers similar opportunities for Macks and kokes. And for trophy-size kokanee, Herman says you might try Wickiup Reservoir,

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although there is a big caveat this year. While its landlocked sockeye can average 16 to 24 inches and sometimes tip the scale at 3 to 5 pounds, everyone is a little unsure what to expect this season as last year’s reservoir drawdown to near nothing likely reduced the fish population. Wickiup was also just 40 percent full at press time. Later this month, as water temps rise, Odell’s lake trout seem to become more lethargic and not bite as well as earlier in the season. Because of this, June is a transition month for Herman, finding him switching focus to lakes with rainbows, browns, brook trout and, of course, kokanee. His favorite haunts include East, Paulina, Lava and Crane Prairie. And although rainbow and other trout come in all sizes, those in these waters average 12 to 18 inches in length. However, based on conditions and level of persistence, his clients catch a fair number of 3- to 5-pound rainbows and browns.

HERMAN WAS JUST finishing up his guiding trips for spring Chinook from his 30-foot center-console craft when I interviewed him for this article. He was excited about getting over to Bend to ready his smaller 20-foot jet sled and two 22-foot pontoon boats for this past April’s opener. And while he will be guiding trout trips this summer, he plans to return to the west side for salmon trips on the ocean, Buoy 10 and the Columbia, just like he has every year since 2012. Meanwhile, he has several qualified guides working the trout beat on his behalf under his guiding permit. To learn more about Herman, catch his TV show, which is on NBC Sports and Amazon Prime, friend him on Facebook/ Instagram, and visit dayoneoutdoors.com. You just might excite yourself enough to visit this inland fishery and, possibly, book a fishing adventure with the one person I know who has expanded his guiding operation to include waters on the east and west sides of Oregon’s Cascades. NS Editor’s note: Buzz Ramsey is regarded as a trout, steelhead and salmon sport fishing authority and proficient lure and fishing rod designer. He has been honored into the Hall of Fame for the Association of Northwest Steelheaders and the national Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame.

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FISHING

Kokanee Tech: Scents And Baits Central Oregon sharpie details the myriad ways smells, gels, oils and more can influence the bite. By Tom Schnell

ow important are scents and bait when it comes to kokanee fishing? It depends on who you ask, but when you take into consideration that kokanee are a landlocked sockeye salmon, and sockeye salmon can smell in the partsper-million range, scent and bait can play a very important role.

SCENT AS A COVER-UP Many human scents can be offensive to fish and actually scare them off. Deodorant, aftershave, perfume, hand cream, sunscreen, tobacco and even some naturally occurring amino acids that the body produces can repel kokanee from your presentation. L-serine, a naturally occurring amino acid in humans, is known to be repulsive to salmon. Have you ever noticed that some people naturally catch more fish than others? It could be related to their chemical makeup. When salmon and kokanee fishing, my fishing buddies and I wear gloves to make sure our presentation is as free of human scent as possible. My wife, on the other hand, seldom if ever wears gloves, yet she will often outfish all of us. Could it be that she has a naturally occurring pheromone that attracts fish? I know it worked on me! Other odors such as gas, grease,

Rhonna Schnell holds a nice Central Oregon kokanee she took while trolling. Using the right scent and bait can mean the difference between going home with your limit or going home empty-handed. Cleanliness is also key when chasing these silver bullets. (TOM SCHNELL)

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FISHING for debate because in the end, we really do not know why kokanee hit some scents. They do not feed on either tuna or garlic. But using garlic and tuna, either alone or combined, can be some of the best scents for kokanee there is. Later in the day, and especially later in the year, tuna oil mixed with garlic has been a top-producing scent for kokanee. Some would say it’s because it irritates and triggers the aggression of the kokanee, especially as they head into their spawning stage. Having said that, we have caught kokanee on tuna and garlic year-round.

TYPES OF SCENTS White shoepeg corn and maggots are two of the top baits for kokanee. Others include shrimp, nightcrawlers and even salmon eggs. Check your state’s fishing regulations for what baits are legal in your area. (TOM SCHNELL)

pet smells and even fish grime can repel fish. Keeping fishing gear clean is important. Cleaning your hands by washing them often helps eliminate some of the smell. Wearing nitrile gloves can also help mask human odor. Finally, using scent on your lure helps mask these repulsive odors as well.

SCENT AS AN ATTRACTANT Using certain scents can actually attract kokanee. Naturally occurring ones such as tuna, herring, sardine, squid, krill, shrimp, crawdad, nightcrawler, salmon egg and others can trigger a strike. And although not natural to fish, scents such as garlic, anise and even vanilla can entice a kokanee to strike as well. Some scent manufacturers claim to have added bite stimulants to help trigger strikes. Fishermen/women are known to add extra salt or even sugar to their bait, claiming that kokanee are drawn to both the salt and the sweetness of sugar. These scents are used not so much to cover up the odors that may repulse kokanee as they are to actually draw in the fish and cause them to strike your lure. There are several thoughts on this. One is that some scents cause kokanee to strike out of aggression because it irritates them; the other is that kokanee think it is a food source. 116 Northwest Sportsman

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Krill and shrimp would be the scents most likely related to a food source for kokanee. Anise oil is a sweetsmelling scent that many say should be used when kokanee are known to be feeding. We have used shrimp and krill oil mixed with anise in the early season and early morning when kokanee are known to be feeding, and have done quite well with it. Scents like tuna and garlic are known to be aggressive scents for kokanee. Some argue that they also cause kokanee to hit because they may think it is a food source, but that is up Scents come in three basic bases: gel, oil and water soluble. Each one has its use and application, positives and drawbacks. (TOM SCHNELL)

Commercially prepared fishing scents come in three primary bases: watersoluble, oil and gel. Water-soluble scents dissolve and spread quickly in water, but do not maintain a scent trail for as long as oil and gel does. They are good for putting in scent chambers like a Brad’s Kokanee Cut Plug that will slowly release a scent trail as it spins along. Oil-based scents will keep their scent quality longer and are easy to apply. Putting them on your dodger or lure will also provide a fairly steady scent stream. Most people will spike their bait with oil-based scent, as it absorbs into the bait and will last a fairly long time. Gel-based scents are best applied

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FISHING

There are myriad scents that can be used when curing bait. Be adventurous and experiment with various ones until you find your own recipe that the fish like. (TOM SCHNELL)

to dodgers and lures directly. The gel stands up to rigorous trolling and slowly dispenses its scents over a longer period of time than either water-soluble or oil-based scents. The downside to gel scents is that they do not work well

when trying to marinate bait in them. They also do not adhere to natural bait as well as oil-based scents do. One can also use naturally produced scents, many that are not specifically designed for fishing. These scents

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come from canned tuna oil (use tuna canned in vegetable oil), anise oil and real vanilla extract used for cooking, and either garlic powder or the juice obtained from freshly squeezed garlic. Noniodized salt, such as natural sea salt, and white sugar can also be added to help attract kokanee. There is also myriad commercially prepared scents specifically designed for kokanee. These scents come in a variety of bases, primarily oil. They are a blend of various scents that are known to attract kokanee specifically. One note on scents: Although they leave a scent trail in the water, the kokanee are not following it to the bait like, say, a great white shark going after a blood trail. Instead, they are drawn to your lure first by the attractor, usually a dodger, then by the lure. What attracts them to the lure is usually color and action. Once they hone in on your lure, the scent they smell coming from it further entices them to hit it.

BAIT One of the most universally known and used baits for kokanee is white shoepeg corn. Why kokanee prefer white shoepeg corn is unknown, but one theory is that it is canned using salt and sugar, and kokanee like that combination. Others say it is because it is naturally a sweeter variety of corn. There is a more prevalent explanation that the white shoepeg corn has an amino acid that acts like an attractant. Since kokanee are plankton eaters, something about the smell of shoepeg corn reminds them of their food source. In the end, no one knows for sure why, but where legal, it still remains the top bait choice for kokanee. Other bait for kokanee include small pieces of salad shrimp, maggots, small marshmallows, pieces of nightcrawler and even salmon eggs. Maggots can be both natural, where legal, and artificial. Berkley Gulp! Maggots have become a very popular substitute for corn where available. We used to catch kokanee by tipping a hook with a Pautzke salmon egg and then threading a small piece

FISHING Bait cures come in natural and pre-dyed forms. Read the instructions on how to use them as some can burn the bait – dry it out and toughen it – if too much is used. (TOM SCHNELL)

of nightcrawler on it. We would lower the presentation down through crystal-clear water until the egg would suddenly disappear, then we’d set the hook. More often than not, a nice silver fish would come swinging in the boat.

SCENT AND BAIT ADDITIVES Some additional sprucing up of scents and baits can be done through a variety of commercially produced products. White shoepeg corn marinated in Pautzke’s Fire Cure or Pro-Cure Wizard Kokanee Korn Magic will not only provide scent to the corn, but it can preserve and even dye it. ProCure Slam-Ola Powder, a well-known salmon attractant, can be used as well. Some additives, such as the ProCure Kokanee Korn Magic, need to be used sparingly. If too much is used, it will “burn” the corn, meaning it will dry it out and harden it. One reason we like using the Pautzke Fire Cure as an additive to the corn is that it does not seem to burn it and it helps preserve it for some time. You can also find it in a variety of colors, which helps dye the corn. Adding color to corn, shrimp or maggots can be done through a variety of different products. Standard food coloring can work, but does not 120 Northwest Sportsman

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always give the uniform coloration of dyes made specifically for fishing, and it tends to bleed off faster in the water as well. Pro-Cure’s Bad Azz Bait Dye and Pautzke’s Fire Dye are two great products to dye bait with. Adding color to your bait oftentimes can make a difference. Knowing what color presentation the kokanee in the lake you are fishing prefer can result in more hookups. UV liquid designed specifically for baits can be added to your cure blend as well. This UV liquid is said to super-charge the bait color, making it more vibrant for the fish to see. When it comes to adding color, Dye comes in many forms and colors. It can be powder or liquid. Use some ultraviolet enhancers to really get the color to pop and stand out. (TOM SCHNELL)

experiment with plain bait with no color, colored bait and super-charged to see which one is working that day. Some scents come with dye and can be used to both scent and dye your bait at the same time. If not, and you are wanting to dye your bait, let the bait soak in the dye overnight prior to adding any scent. This will allow for the bait to absorb more of the dye and will result in a more uniform coloring that will last longer when fished. Salt can also be added to the shoepeg corn to preserve, toughen and add some flavoring to it. Salt, by its nature, is a preservative. Fish are also known to be attracted to a salty presentation. One downside to salt is that it can burn the corn, pulling out its natural moisture and making it rubbery and hard, so go light on it. Garlic salt is a good additive to add both salt and garlic to spruce up your corn. As mentioned above, dye the corn overnight, then add the other additives such as the garlic salt, Fire Cure or Kokanee Korn Magic. Then, the night before heading out, add the remaining scents such as tuna oil, shrimp oil, anise oil, fresh garlic juice and the like.

STORING/PRESERVING CORN How long a batch of cured corn can last and be effective on kokanee is up for debate. Some would argue that because of the relatively inexpensive cost of shoepeg corn and the various

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FISHING For those who don’t want to make their own, there are many commercially made kokanee-specific scents out on the market. (TOM SCHNELL)

tuna on the boat. Being prepared has saved us on several trips when we forgot the cured corn back home in the refrigerator. It has also allowed us to help out fellow fishermen who had done the same thing.

CLEANLINESS

additives, a fresh batch should be made up for every trip. From personal experience, we have had great results with corn that was cured with Fire Cure and some garlic salt six months beforehand. The key is to keep it sealed and refrigerated. We have also frozen leftover corn with mixed results. It still caught fish, but it was not as firm as the fresh cured corn was. When adding bait, whether shoepeg corn, maggots, shrimp or something else, one key is to keep it simple. One piece of corn or maggot per hook is preferred. When too much bait is added to the hooks, it can dampen the lure’s action. More is not always better in this case. When adding corn to a hook, place the open end facing backwards. This allows the scent to slowly wick out of the kernel.

HEAVILY PRESSURED AREAS When fishing a lake that has seen heavy pressure, try changing up

the scent. Keep in mind, again, that kokanee can smell in the parts-permillion range. If most people are using the same scent, say, shrimp with anise, suddenly the water starts to become saturated with that scent – well, at least from the fish’s perspective. Adding a little different scent or changing it up a little can result in the kokanee wanting to check out the “new” smell. Sometimes going back to the basics can work too. There are times we still find that plain ol’ shoepeg corn or maggots without any scent or dye work well. When we head to the lake for a day of fishing, we carry a variety of shoepeg corn and artificial maggots. We try and keep it simple: plain corn, corn with tuna and some corn with shrimp. We carry a little garlic and anise along to spice up the corn if we are not getting a consistent bite on what we are presenting them. We also keep a spare can of white shoepeg corn and canned

When adding bait to your lure, keep it simple. Too much bait can impact the action of the lure. When using corn, face the open end towards the back so it slowly milks out the scent. (TOM SCHNELL)

One important reminder is to clean your gear after a day’s fishing. Applying bait in combination with the various scents can leave a repulsive smell on your gear if not regularly cleaned. Most baits and scents are biological, meaning they break down and start to smell in time. The very item used to attract a fish can start to repel them. Use some warm water and Joy Non-Ultra Lemon dish soap to clean any gear that was used. Make sure to thoroughly dry any item you washed before storing it so it does not tarnish the metal or get a musty smell to it.

CONCLUSION Having a kokanee lure tipped with some type of bait has been shown to dramatically increase the amount of hookups over plain lures without bait. Adding some scent can also increase the odds of catching fish in your favor. If you are trolling for a while with no takedowns, pull up your gear and check it. More often than not, a sly kokanee came by and stole the bait off your hooks. If not, it may be time to experiment with different scents or even color of bait. Keeping fresh bait and scent on your lures helps land more fish. Don’t be afraid to replace your bait and put on new scent every 15 to 20 minutes. In the end, it’s best to experiment with different types of bait, scents and even color of bait. Kokanee are known to change what they want not only daily, but sometimes hourly. If suddenly the bite turns off, start switching it up until you find what they want. 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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Father’s Day GIFT GUIDE BLACK HILLS AMMUNITION

The Black Hills .300 Blackout 115-grain dual performance projectile is monolithic copper, precision machined to provide effective performance. The bullet’s frontal portion is designed to easily expand to form an effective wound cavity. The expanding petals then fracture, creating additional penetrating projectile fragments that pierce the stressed tissue, cutting separate wound tracks from the projectile’s remaining solid shank. The main shank of the projectile, once free of the petals, continues on, ensuring adequate penetration even at varied velocities. My memory of my dad: “Can’t never could do nothin’.” I once told my dad that I couldn’t do something. He told me, “Can’t never could do nothin’.” What he meant was that if you limit yourself, saying you “can’t,” then you are probably right. To this day he is the toughest man I ever met. He rolled a firetruck on the way to a fire. It landed on him and broke his pelvis. I never saw him so much as wince while working at being able to walk again. I watched him working with frigid tools barehanded in a raging blizzard because there wasn’t room for gloves. He jumped into an open sewer to try to save a drowning boy. He built businesses and ranches when bankers refused to back him and tried to cancel his loans. He worked incredible hours to make sure we had a roof over us and food on the table. He and Mom had me, lost two daughters, then went on with hope and love to have three more boys. They raised us with faith in God, love of our country, respect for the flag, a sense of duty and respect for others. I was lucky to have a dad who is a man in every sense of the word. –Jeff Hoffman, Owner black-hills.com

POINT DEFIANCE MARINA

Give Dad the social isolation he has been dreaming about. Rent a boat down at the Point Defiance Marina and take him fishing for the day. Area 11 salmon fishing is currently set to open mid-June, just in time for Dad to celebrate his day by casting his line into Puget Sound. A message to all dads: The Point Defiance Marina wishes you and your family a Happy Father’s Day. Come join us and seas the day. metroparkstacoma.org/place/point-defiance-marina/ nwsportsmanmag.com | JUNE 2021

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Father’s Day GIFT GUIDE

BARNAUL

VERLE’S

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

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Father’s Day GIFT GUIDE

Bites the rust.

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.

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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

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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

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 136 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: Season at a cost of $2,500. 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

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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

The ultimate in versatility for Dad on Father’s Day! · Onboard cooking and heating from one product! · No exposed flame for safety and clean, efficient burn. · Thermo control panel for great comfort control. · Quiet, variable output, no off/on system cycling. · Great-looking ceramic cooktop for easy cleaning. scanmarineusa.com

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

WESTERN RANGE CAMPS

If you are looking for something just a little different than the normal RV, if you’re wanting something a little more rugged, a little more durable, something with better insulation, ground clearance and longevity, you’ve come to the right place. We offer a camp that is warm and inviting but also rugged and durable. We want to get to know you and how you will use your camp and then customize it to fit your personal needs. Along with our Camps, we offer a rugged and well-insulated Teardrop and our new Toy Hauler. Both can be customized in length and options to fit your specific needs. Both are built with a heavy-duty frame, great insulation and are as water-resistant as our Camps, but with a little different use in mind. All are built to be able to use in an RV park and travel down the highway, but with the added ability to use off road, up in the mountains, out on the desert or anywhere in between. They can be used in hot weather or the dead of winter or year-round (some options may need to be added for this). We can change the length of any of them and add or subtract options as needed. wrcamps.com 140 Northwest Sportsman

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Custom Guns

“El Diablo 2” When you are looking for something special in a revolver, semi auto or single shot handgun, look no further than GARY REEDER CUSTOM GUNS. Reeder Custom Guns has been building full custom guns for 40 year with 70 different series of full custom guns, like the El Diablo 2 shown here. Full custom and built the way you want and in the cartridge of your choosing. For the finest in custom guns it is always Gary Reeder Custom Guns. Check our web site or call 928-527-4100. 10 to 12 month delivery in most cases.

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

JUNE 2021 | nwsportsmanmag.com

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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PMA TOOL

Give Dad the gift of simplicity this Father’s Day. The PMA Die Adjuster makes adjusting your full-length sizing die the easiest part of your handloading. No more guessing or using die shims to adjust your shoulder bump to optimize accuracy and brass life; simply dial it in with micrometer accuracy. The PMA Tool Micro Die Adjuster, simply the best. pmatool.com

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GARY REEDER CUSTOM GUNS

When you are looking for something special in a revolver, semiauto or singleshot handgun, look no further than Gary Reeder Custom Guns. Reeder Custom Guns has been building full custom guns for 40 years with 70 different series of full custom guns, like the El Diablo 2 shown here. Full custom and built the way you want and in the cartridge of your choosing. For the finest in custom guns it is always Gary Reeder Custom Guns. Check our website or call (928) 527-4100. reedercustomguns.com

Father’s Day GIFT GUIDE

PEET DRYER, INC.

Protect Dad’s guns from rust year-round with one of Peet Dryer’s dehumidifiers for his gun safe or gun cabinet. Effectively removes humidity from 120 cubic feet up to 600 cubic feet. For information on more of our products, please visit our website. Our message to dads: Happy Father’s Day from all of us at Peet Dryer. peetdryer.com

WOODMAN’S PAL

A unique, multipurpose tool for managing brush or clearing trails, the Woodman’s Pal is invaluable for maintaining your property. The light, wellbalanced American-made tool should also have a place in your survival kit. It comes with a deluxe leather sheath, a reprint of the original owner’s manuals from 1941 and its own sharpening stone. A true family heirloom, this tool will last a lifetime. woodmanspal.com/product/woodmans-pal-481/

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presentarmsinc.com • 413-575-4656 INDIAN ORCHARD, MA 01151

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COLUMN

The Ups And Downs Of Bear Hunting

Kris King, author Randy King’s brother, scans for black bears in vertiginous country during Idaho’s spring hunting season. (RANDY KING)

he dirt and rocks below our feet wanted to move. All they needed was a slight bit of additional gravity to tumble CHEF IN THE WILD down the hill. By Randy King The same could be said for my buddy Mac and I. It was hard for us to walk without slipping several feet with each step. So when the game bag full of meat slipped from my hands in the pitch dark, I was not sure when, exactly, it

was going to stop tumbling down the hill. The blood-stained white bag fell out of headlamp range and I started to chuckle. This bear, this meat, this hide – it was going to kill me.

IT WAS OPENING day of spring season in Idaho. We had gained about 1,400 feet of elevation to find a camp spot that morning. Then we started to glass the hillsides. We were not far from houses, as the crow flies anyways, but they might as well have been on another planet. It was a strange

juxtaposition – hearing dogs bark across the canyon but knowing it was 2,000 feet down to the creek and another 2,000 up to the houses, all in the space of half an air mile. Indeed, this country is steep, hilariously steep. And isolated. That is why bears like it. The day started out well. Mac spotted a sow and a cub that were bedding down in a cut around 10 a.m. Then it was a bear-free afternoon. We spotted just about every other living thing in the area – elk, grouse, whitetail deer, mule deer, turkey, Huns, chukar, quail and snakes. It was beautiful,

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COLUMN

3 WAYS TO RENDER BEAR FAT

ear fat is simply the best lard on the planet, and I am willing to fight over that statement. It is clean flavored, tolerant of high heat and makes the best damn biscuits. But the idea of rendering bear fat scares people. It is just not a common practice anymore these days. Fat is no longer a sought-after commodity; it is almost too easy to access. But if you are reading this, you have an affinity for wild products and cooking, so why not try and render your own bear fat? What’s the risk in putting in a little effort for a big reward? Buck the times; you will just feel better about it.

WHAT IS RENDERING? I’m glad you asked. Rendering is the process of slowly melting the fat of an animal until all the protein (meat) is completely solid and the water has all evaporated. The remaining product will be clear oil. Then that oil is filtered, and the solid proteins are taken out, leaving behind lard, or pure animal fat. This is a super common practice for beef and pork – called lard or tallow. Crisco is just a vegetable oil made to look just like lard. Bears live off this fat during hibernation. So the best time to harvest a bear, from a fat perspective, is late fall, right before the big winter nap. Most of us cannot be that selective about bears. I wish I had the luxury of waiting until late fall, but I tend to shoot them when I see them during hunting seasons! Regardless, most bears, no matter if it’s the spring season or fall, will have a layer of fat on the rump. That location is a gold mine for rendering. Also, the fat around the kidneys will be really good. Keep all the fat you can when packing out the bear. It will be valuable. IF YOU’RE PROCESSING your own bear, rinsing and removing hair will be a great first step in creating a quality product. If you are having the meat processed, ask that the fat and trim all be saved. This will be the start of the rendering process. After you have the fat ready to be 152 Northwest Sportsman

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Rendered bear fat, ready for use. (RANDY KING) processed, you need to decide how it will be rendered. Rendering fat at home can seem daunting. Trust me, it is not. Below are three options.

OPTION 1 – THE CROCK POT I do this one outside, if possible. It is by far the easiest, but not the best, method for rendering fat. Gather all the fat and place it in a crockpot. Turn the crockpot onto “high” and walk away for four hours. Come back; if steam is still coming out of the oil, wait a while longer. You want the oil to reach above 212 degrees Fahrenheit, the point at which water boils, of course, for an extended period of time. This will make sure the product is fully rendered. I find this method is a little less predictable than others. It works, but I often end up with more water in my jars than I would like.

OPTION 2 – THE OVEN Heat oven to 275. Place bear fat in a crockpot or other similar

high-sided container with a lid. Place in the oven with the lid slightly cracked. This will allow the moisture to escape. Bake the fat overnight. The temp of 275 is below the degradation point of the oil and above the boiling point of water, so depending on how much fat you have, an overnight bake should work great. Again, the goal is that all the water is removed from the oil. If the fat still looks like it is “boiling,” then it is not done. It should be clear when fully rendered.

OPTION 3 – THE STOVETOP This one is by far the easiest but also the most actively managed. Add a small amount of the fat, about half a cup, to a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven or saucepan. Heat the fat on low until it starts forming a liquid. Keep adding fat. Let the fat simmer on medium low until clear. Keep the stove fan on for this, trust me. When the fat is clear and no longer seems to be boiling, it is done.

COLUMN WHEN THE FAT is fully rendered the next step is to strain it. I use paper towels or a coffee filter to strain fat. Place a strainer above a mixing bowl and line the strainer with paper towels. Slowly pour the hot oil. This should catch all the little bits of meat and such. Removing everything that is not fat from the oil will help it keep longer. Next, pour the fat from the bowl into Mason jars. Why Mason jars? Well, you just look cool handing a buddy a Mason jar of bear fat. They are also clear and you can see if you have residue in the oil or not. After you pour the oil into the jar, refrigerate it. Then inspect the bottom of the jar. If you notice any debris at the bottom, you will want to strain it again. Same goes for if you notice an accumulation of water at the bottom (remember, oil floats on water, so all the water will settle at the bottom). Basically, a Mason jar lets you check your work better than anything else that I have found.

WHAT CAN YOU use bear fat for? Google lists about a thousand things. Heck, the Meateater crew even launched a podcast hosted by Clay Newcomb called The Bear Grease Podcast. The first and best use of bear fat is cooking. Use it like Crisco, butter or any other oil. Bear fat is very neutral in flavor. Perhaps the best use, as told to me by many an elder mountain-town cook, is biscuits and pie dough. The fat makes the best, flakiest dough around. Secondary uses include using it as a grease substitute. I have used it for boot grease on my kicks before. I have heard of it being used as gun oil and for lubricating bike chains. Some even use it for cosmetics. Northwest tribes would put it in their hair to give it a shine. It works well as a lotion as well. But probably my favorite use for bear grease is as a gift. Handing someone a small Mason jar of bear fat tells them a lot about what type of person you are – someone who took the time to make the fat, save the fat, use the whole animal, and thought of them. Generally speaking, a person who gives the gift of bear fat is a person you want to know. For more wild game recipes, see chefrandyking.com. –RK 154 Northwest Sportsman

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Mac and his chocolate bear, a nice-sized boar that proved a tough one to pack out. (RANDY KING) but also bereft of bears. But time behind glass paid off. Eventually, while huddled under a pine for shade, my brother Kris and I spotted Houdini. The cinnamon bear was not the biggest, but his color was impressive. The pale brown fur darkened on his legs, turning dark chocolate on his paws. After spotting the bear we started to make a game plan. The bear was about 700 yards away, a distance which included about 800 feet down the mountain and another 800 feet back up it. We needed a better position to shoot from and to cut at least 400 yards of distance off. Houdini had his own plan, however. He simply wandered aimlessly around the hillside. Then, he would disappear for half an hour, only to reappear hundreds of yards away from the last place we’d seen him. It was impressive how easily he could simply vanish. Eventually, we gave up on the bear. We could see him, digging roots on a cliff with no way to approach him, plus a 200-foot – at least – tumble if shot. The wily escape

artist had struck again.

WE DROPPED DOWN to the trail. Kris headed south to camp. Mac and I headed north to fill our water bottles in the creek. We took our boots off for a soak, washed our faces and filled our water. It was getting near the end of shooting light; time to head back. About a half mile from camp we stopped for a quick break. Then movement coming over a small rock outcrop caught my eye. Bear. Big chocolate bear. Not the sow with the cub. Not Houdini. A big boar. “Mac,” I said. “You need to shoot that bear.” I watched the “holy sh*t” look cross Mac’s face, the one of a hunter who is very surprised that a day might end in success. Mac shot and Hugo died. Below the impressive hide was a thick layer of fat. Before I knew it I was caping the bear under the light of a headlamp and hanging its chocolate hide in a tree. That was slightly before I dropped – and then recovered – that game bag full of meat in steep country. NS

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COLUMN Bulls are still in velvet, but it’s never too early to start talking about fall season and the best cartridges for successfully bagging an elk. (JIM YUSKAVITCH, ODFW)

Are These The Best Cartridges for Elk? B

ig game hunting seasons are really just over the horizon – the older I get, the less surprised I am that time actually ON TARGET does fly – and before By Dave Workman we know it, the 2021 elk seasons will be upon us. Who knows someone with a “special rifle” for elk hunting only? I’ve hunted elk with a Marlin .30-06, once with a Savage in .308 Winchester, and with a .300 Savage as a youth because at the time, it was all I owned. But what are the best calibers for wapiti? Here are 10 that might start arguments, or maybe get a nod of agreement. If you’re shopping for a new “elk rifle,” you just might give these calibers some consideration.

THE .35 WHELEN is a cartridge that a lot of younger hunters packing “short, fat magnums” never heard of, but according to folks familiar with this bull buster, it has been delivering the goods longer than some folks have been alive. Based on the .30-06 case necked up to take a .35-caliber (0.358) projectile, it was introduced 99 years ago as a wildcat. It’s not a belted magnum, but it has a punch! The Whelen can launch a 250-grain bullet at better than 2,500 feet per second, depending upon the specific load, and it hits like the proverbial freight train.

LIKEWISE, THE .358 Norma Magnum launches the same .358 bullet with even more gusto. It pushes a 250-grain pill out of the muzzle at up to 2,600 fps with the

right propellant (Nosler’s No. 9 Reloading Guide says 72.0 grains of IMR 4350 produces 2,628 fps when the projectile is a 250-grain Partition bullet). It would be the rare animal that can lope over the nearest hill after taking one in the boilerworks.

SOME YEARS AGO I had a pal – he is now at the Big Campfire in the Sky – who hunted mule deer and elk with a .338 Winchester Magnum and this guy could shoot. This cartridge’s accuracy capabilities are a matter of record, and with the right bullet (choices range to 300 grains) you can rock an elk’s world. Introduced way back in 1958, the .338 Win. Magnum’s parent case is the .375 H&H Magnum. When it comes to horsepower, the .338 can deliver the goods. A rifleman

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COLUMN (or -woman) loading up with 265-grainers can put the hex on elk out to several hundred yards.

THE .33 NOSLER intrigues the hell out of me, not only because Bob Nosler is a dear friend of mine, but because I started reading about the ballistics of this rocket. There’s a short essay on the .33 Nosler in Reloading Guide No. 9 by Phil Phillips. He says the cartridge can launch bullets at “nearly 3,000 fps” (pretty sure he’s using bullets at the lighter end of the available weight scale) with more than 4,400 footpounds of energy. Of course, Nosler produces rifles chambered for this sizzler, and bullet choices range from 180 to 300 grains, so pair them up with the right powder and you just might put a bull in the cooler.

Chad Smith downed this Western Washington four-by-five with a 270-yard shot out of his .30-06. (COAST HUNTING PHOTO CONTEST)

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TO BE SURE, the .300 Winchester Magnum – one of a handful of calibers in the “.300 Magnum”family – is definitely an elk rifle. You can’t go through a hunting season without running into at least one guy packing a .300 Win. Mag. It’s just not possible! The .300 Win. Mag just might be the most popular of the .30-caliber magnums (the lineup also includes the .300 H&H Magnum, .300 Winchester Short Magnum, or WSM, the .300 Remington Short Action Ultra Mag, the .300 Remington Ultra Mag, the .300 Weatherby Magnum and the .300 Ruger Compact Magnum). It’s a powerhouse that should never be underestimated. ANYTIME SOME SOCIAL dipstick whines about “high-powered assault rifles,” I can’t help but chuckle. You want high power? The .300 Weatherby Magnum will

certainly alter your perspective. Let’s be honest, touch off a couple of rounds and you’re going to know you’ve fired this gun. Depending upon the bullet weight, there are loads nudging the 3,000 fps realm, and some might be faster. If this caliber is your choice, nobody should argue, and it’s a cinch no elk is going to get up and complain you didn’t use enough gun! Bullet weights from 180 to 220 grains should deliver the best terminal results.

THE FIRST TIME I fired a 7mm Remington Magnum was at the end of a day hunt in the upper reaches of the Snoqualmie River’s Middle Fork after encountering a fellow hunter during the early High Cascade buck hunt. Recoil was easily manageable and that cartridge has quite a reach!

COLUMN Introduced in 1962, the 7mm Remington Magnum shoots flat, hits hard and one can find ammunition for it just about anywhere – provided, of course, one can find ammunition! I’d suggest 175-grain bullets for elk-sized game (Nosler offers a 185-grainer) and during the sight-in, don’t fire more than three rounds at a time without letting the rifle – and your shoulder – rest a bit. Remember, in the field, you’ll be making a cold bore shot, so there’s no reason to fire round after round at the range.

OF COURSE THE .30-06 Springfield belongs on any list of top elk cartridges, even if some people might think it has outlived its usefulness. I’ve loaded up my ’06 with 220-grain bullets, but frankly, for my money, I think the 180-grain bullet adds a bit of reach. Just because this cartridge dates back more than a century, the ’06 is still in its heyday, no matter what other whiz-bang caliber-of-the-week shows up on the cover of some gun periodical. I actually enjoy loading up the .30-06 with a full charge

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2021 GENERAL RIFLE ELK SEASONS Idaho: Varies by unit, but many open Oct. 10. Oregon: West Cascade and Rocky Mountain Elk Second Season both begin Nov. 6, with the former running through Nov. 12 and the latter through Nov. 14. Coast Elk First Season is Nov. 13-16, while Second Season is Nov. 20-26. Washington: Eastside modern firearms elk season opens Oct. 30. On the Westside, the hunt begins Nov. 6. –NWS

of Hodgdon’s Hybrid 100V pushing a 180-grainer. That load put a rather hefty Snake River mule deer buck down at just over 350 yards, and he dropped like he’d been sledged. The .30-06 Springfield can do that to elk as well.

CAN’T TALK ABOUT elk hunting without mentioning the .270 Winchester. Indeed, one can’t discuss deer, sheep, caribou, pronghorn or mountain goat hunting unless the .270 is part of the conversation. It is a caliber with a solid history, and those who own a rifle chambered for this cartridge are faithful to it. The round is flat-shooting, hard-hitting

and has put a lot of meat in lockers all over the landscape decisively.

AND DON’T OVERLOOK the .280 Remington, which occasionally does get shunted off to the side. It’s also known as the 7mm Express Remington, but by whatever name, it launches a 120-grain 7mm/.284caliber bullet at better than 3,200 fps with the right propellant, and I suspect it will do anything the .270 Winchester will do.

SO, START YOUR arguments. What have I overlooked? What’s your favorite big game caliber? Send a note to Northwest Sportsman. NS

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A cleaner, lubricant and protectant all in one, biobased Seal 1 CLP Plus is as easy to use as “wipe on, wipe off,” says the company’s managing director, Dwight Settle.

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COLUMN

Guide and professional dog trainer Josh Powell works a flock of geese in Alaska, while Eudor, his prized male Drahthaar, has ’em pegged. Powell and Eudor have one of the best relationships that author Scott Haugen has seen, and it all starts with training and engaging the hunting dog’s mind. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

The Mental Stimulus Package For Pups L

ast fall I spent a couple weeks in Cold Bay, Alaska hunting puddle ducks, sea ducks, Pacific black brant, emperor geese GUN DOGGIN’ 101 and willow ptarmigan By Scott Haugen with the folks at Four Flyways Outfitters. That is where I met Josh Powell and his Verein Deutsch Drahthaar, Eudor.

The instant that I rolled into camp (fourflywaysoutfitters.com) and saw Eudor I fell in love with him, partly because he looked nearly identical to my black male pudelpointer, Kona, but largely because of his demeanor, which was also a spitting image of Kona’s. Eudor had the exuberance, fun spirits and desired mannerisms you like seeing when you first meet a dog. But Eudor also showed respect for the newcomers in camp, and immediately

obeyed Powell’s calm commands.

WHEN IT COMES to gun dogs and their owners, it takes a lot to impress me, and Eudor and Powell made an instant impact. During my time in camp, not only did I hunt many times with these two, but I also observed their daily training sessions. It’s one of the most authentic relationships I’ve seen, and Powell and Eudor held the utmost respect for one

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COLUMN

Powell completes a bumper workout with Eudor. Note Eudor’s demeanor, including ear position and eye contact with the bumper, which confirm he’s excited and ready to work. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

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another, but there was never any question who was in charge. Powell is a professional dog trainer and breeder. The more I watched he and Eudor work together, the more intrigued I became. “I want to keep things fun and build a dog’s mind as much as its body when training,” shares Powell. “It really starts with simple things that can prevent problems and bad habits from forming before they begin.” “For instance, I never give a dog squeaky toys, as this promotes hard mouth (chewing). I also avoid playing with rope toys, as this leads to displays of and fights for dominance, be it two dogs tugging on it or one dog wanting to play with you. You, the owner, need to be in charge at all times, and eliminating problematic toys and games is important, especially early in a pup’s life,” he says.

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COLUMN one, as the dog, and you, will rely on it for the life of the dog,” he says. “Also, start playing with the dog’s mouth early on, as you’ll be inspecting its teeth and gums its whole life. And no matter what you do with your pup, always use hand signals. Even when my dogs eat, for instance, I direct them to the bowl with hand signals, be it left, right or in a line. These hand signals carry over into many hunting and future training applications, and they’re a great way to communicate with your dog.” Powell also suggests using dummies only for training, not play. “Dogs quickly learn the difference between work and play, and they should not be confused by mixing up toys and training tools. Also, be sure to play with the puppy in the area you’ll later be training in, as this allows it to get familiar and comfortable with the environment,” he states. Powell is a big advocate of stimulating a dog’s mind when training.

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“So many people think of only the physical work and overlook the mental aspects of training. These dogs are so smart, and their noses are so, so good, they need much more mental stimulation than people realize!” he emphasizes. “For instance, don’t just throw a ball in the same place, in the same direction, every time, as your dog will get bored and just start going through the motions,” continues Powell. “Take them to different places to train, toss different objects and always change things. Breaking routines when training is a great way to stimulate their mind and challenge them, something dogs need regularly.” He constantly mixes up bumper colors, and also includes duck and goose bumpers when training. He has dogs regularly run obstacle courses in order to engage their mind. “Have them walk on a teeter-totter, through tunnels, over pallets – anything that forces them to think. This is fun for them, and they need that change and constant mental

and physical stimulation,” Powell notes.

POWELL WAS ALWAYS so calm and patient when working with Eudor and was never in a rush. “You attract a lot more bees with honey than vinegar,” he smiled when I shared my respect for his calm approach. “A dog will tell you when it’s ready to learn. Its muscles will be relaxed, the ears down, they’ll start licking their lips and making eye contact. When a dog looks to you for direction, you know you’re doing things right.” This summer, whether you have a new puppy or an adult dog in training, don’t overlook the value of building mental stimulation. No matter how old the dog, or how bad of habits it may possess, it can be trained. Gun dogs are highly intelligent, but it’s up to you to bring out the best in them. NS Editor’s note: To watch Scott Haugen’s series of puppy training videos, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.

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Northwest Sportsman Magazine - June 2021

Articles inside

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