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North OR Coast Puget Sound Rogue Bay Everett Coho Derby Preview
Late Summer Albacore Tips & Tricks For Shy Tuna
FALL HUNTS BEGIN! September Youth Ops
Waterfowler’s Checklist
Rifle Deer Prep
Boise Bucks
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Sportsman Northwest
Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource
Volume 10 • Issue 12 PUBLISHER James R. Baker
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EDITOR Andy Walgamott LEAD CONTRIBUT0R Andy Schneider THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS Jason Brooks, Scott Haugen, Doug Huddle, Chris Hyde, Sara Ichtertz, MD Johnson, Randy King, Dan Lyons, Buzz Ramsey, Terry Wiest, Dave Workman, Mike Wright, Mark Yuasa EDITORIAL FIELD SUPPORT Jason Brooks GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak SALES MANAGER Katie Higgins ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Rick D’Alessandro, Mamie Griffin, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold
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ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@nwsportsmanmag.com CORRESPONDENCE Email letters, articles/queries, photos, etc., to awalgamott@media-inc.com, or to the address below. ON THE COVER With solid saltwater fisheries in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound for the first time in several years, it’s time to get your coho mojo back on! Gretchen Dearden holds a hatchery silver caught on Oregon’s North Coast last September. (SARA ICHTERTZ) DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and get daily updates at nwsportsmanmag.com.
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Northwest Sportsman 9
CONTENTS
VOLUME 10 • ISSUE 12
45 LATE SUMMER ALBACORE
There’s good news and not-so-good news: September’s typically flatter ocean conditions find albacore a bit tougher to hook. But sorry, Charlie, Andy Schneider has some strategies for finding success on flat-ocean tuna – including a tidewater fall Chinook trick!
(YO-ZURI PHOTO CONTEST)
FEATURES 55
61
WASHINGTON COAST RAZOR CLAM OUTLOOK Digging dates haven’t been set yet, but there are some good and so-so indications about fall, winter and spring razor clam opportunities on the Washington Coast. Mark Yuasa shares what he’s learned from the state’s shellfish whisperer about the 2018-19 season! NORTH COAST SALMON STORM The old saying, When it rains, it pours was pretty much on the mark last September when Sara Ichtertz headed to Oregon’s North Coast for a Fish Like A Girl Adventure. Braving a monsoon and washing-machine seas, she and three friends also experienced an epic salmon bite.
109 VAUNTED WATERS Western Montana’s Blackfoot River is famous for its link to the Maclean novella, but it’s also a bit of a sleeper for
fishermen. Shove off with Mike Wright and explore the waters that a river runs through and hosts big brown trout, as well as rainbows and cutthroat. 121 WATERFOWLER’S CHECKLIST They say luck favors the prepared, and with Northwest duck seasons nearing, MD Johnson notes that it’s time to dust off and fix gear that’s been in storage since last winter. Grab a pen and paper and get ready to check on the status of everything from shotguns and decoys to your favorite marsh and dog’s collar. 155 ENCOUNTER WITH THE COUGAR Run-ins with large carnivores have been in the news lately. Dan Lyons relates lessons he learned during and after an encounter with a big cat while pursuing bull elk in Eastern Oregon last season.
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 $39.95 (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 © 2018 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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Northwest Sportsman 11
COLUMNS (ANDY WALGAMOTT)
87
WESTSIDER: Get Your Coho Mojo Back
After several seasons of coho closures and restrictions in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound, silver slayers are back on the best water at the best part of the run. Just in case you’ve forgotten how to catch ’em in the saltchuck, Terry spotlights top gear and tactics! 75
THE KAYAK GUYS: Rogue Kings In A Kayak It took Chris Hyde precisely three minutes on his first trip to hook one of the Rogue Bay’s fall kings. With a bazillitydillion salmon expected back to the famed river this season, we’d say that the tips and tactics Chris has since learned about fishing the estuary are a must-read for kayak-bound Chinook hounds!
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SOUTH SOUND: Youth Hunting Opportunties This is a good month to get the kids out hunting, whether chasing grouse that open up Sept. 1, or waterfowl and upland birds on youth-only weekends later in September. With two hunters of his own, Pa Brooks has ideas on where to take your young guns, as well as keeps an eye on South Sound salmon ops!
97
NORTH SOUND: September’s For The Birds (And Coho, Crabs, Bucks) When the calender turned to September, it unleashed a torrent of fishing and hunting opportunities in northern Puget Sound. Doug, a longtime local hookand-bullet writer, outlines late summer and early fall’s best bets!
133 GUN DOGS: Fall Turkey Hunting Most Western states allow hunters to use dogs in fall for turkeys, so why aren’t more doing so? Scott shares why the big birds are ideal for training young gun pups, but beware: “Once your pup gets the hang of it, you’ll be looking forward to fall turkey season more than the spring hunts, and so will your dog,” he states. Check out why he thinks it’s so fun! 137 BUZZ RAMSEY: Hunting Idaho Bucks Buzz has taken his share of good deer in Washington and Oregon, and for the past two falls he’s carved out time to hunt muleys in Idaho as well. Find out what he’s learned about pursuing the migratory bucks of the Boise River basin! 143 ON TARGET: Plan Ahead For Rifle Deer Buck season is so close that modern firearms hunters can all but taste the backstrap, but it’s not as simple as hitting the woods and expecting a four-point to pop out. Dave has four key pieces of advice, plus details on new leadfree big game bullets. 151 CHEF IN THE WILD: Hot Day, Cold Trail Even when you do things right – giving an arrowed buck time to expire instead of barging in and pushing it – things don’t always go right. Randy shares lessons from a hot-weather hunt, and a recipe for red beans, rice and venison andouille sausage! 12 Northwest Sportsman
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(ANDY WALGAMOTT)
20 (ANDY WALGAMOTT)
THE BIG PIC: WILD, SCENIC AND FISHY We celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Congressional act that now protects and enhances 3,000 miles of salmon-, steelhead- and trout-bearing streams in the Northwest with a photo gallery of our wild and scenic rivers!
DEPARTMENTS
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THE EDITOR’S NOTE ‘Friendly faces’ make for good coho, Chinook news
27
READER PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD Salmon, tiger muskie and more!
33
PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS Browning, Yo-Zuri monthly prizes
35
THE DISHONOR ROLL Oregon deer arrowed well out of season; #Busted; Kudos; Jackass of the Month
37
DERBY WATCH Edmonds and Everett Coho Derbies previews; SKC-PSA, Brewster Derbies results; More recent results; More upcoming, ongoing events
41
OUTDOOR CALENDAR Upcoming openers, events, deadlines
41
BIG FISH Record Northwest game fish caught this month
83
RIG OF THE MONTH From the Vault: Hover Fishing Set-up
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THEEDITOR’SNOTE
I
suspect we could all use some good news these days, and if that good news looks not unlike some sort of aquatic flea, well, so be it! “Friendly faces” turned up earlier this year than last off the Northwest Coast, and for only the second time in the past four years. It’s a “dramatic shift” that might be good news for our Federal fishery biologists salmon and other fish stocks. Federal biologists say offshore termed finding this and other coldwater copepods samples they collected in spring and in their Northwest Coast summer were “full” of three different samples “a welcome arrival” species of coldwater copepods, and after the key component of the food chain for young they report “healthy” numbers of adult salmon and other fish stocks had been missing or late krill are also being seen. “These are all good indications since 2015. (NWFSC) that the zooplankton community is transitioning back to a more ‘normal’ state,” wrote Samantha Zeman on the Northwest Fisheries Science Center’s always interesting Newportal blog. The bottom end of the food chain has been all out of whack since The Blob began to affect the Northeast Pacific beginning in 2013, with the “hangover” from the humongous pool of too-warm saltwater continuing into last year. “These coldwater copepods are lipid-rich and represent a productive food chain for higher trophic levels,” explained Zeman.
THEIR ARRIVAL MARKED a “biological spring transition” that is key for young coho and Chinook, with the earlier they’re seen translating to higher survival for silver salmon. “This is especially exciting because in recent years (2015 and 2016) we never saw the copepod community transition from a warm winter community to a cold summer upwelling community, and in 2017 the transition occurred very late in the season,” Zeman wrote. An NWFSC chart showing transition dates since 1970 simply says “Never” for 2015 and 2016; last year’s didn’t occur till June 28. In 2015 the annual June survey of juvenile salmon at sea was marked by emaciated coho. That’s also when pyrosomes, a tubular organism that feeds on plankton and is generally found in more tropical waters, began to turn up and exploded last year, fouling fishing gear from Oregon all the way to Alaska. A new study suggests pyrosomes may be adapting to our cooler ocean and could become a permanent part of the biome. MEANWHILE, WE’RE WAITING to learn more about results from this June’s juvenile salmon sampling. Last year’s turned up some of the lowest numbers of juvenile Chinook and coho seen in the past two decades, which federal biologists said could translate into “lean times” this year and next for some rivers’ stocks, including the Columbia. But with the earlier arrival of copepods, hopefully this spring’s outmigrating juvenile fish – and subsequent years’ – are and will fare better off our shores. –Andy Walgamott
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Wild, Scenic And Fishy This fall marks the 50th anniversary of the Congressional act that now protects, enhances 3,000 miles of salmon-, steelhead- and trout-bearing rivers in the Northwest.
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PICTURE By Andy Walgamott
W
hile fishing along the banks of Northwest rivers over the years, I’ve always kept an eye out for heart-shaped rocks, but I never found a good one till this past April. I was on the Sauk, hoping to hook wild winter steelhead after federal overseers finally approved a state season, the first time the Washington Cascades river had been open in spring since 2009. It was a glorious day, and I couldn’t have been happier to be back on the water at that time of year. As I tried my luck below a riffle, two drift boaters worked a slot above it, and when they pulled their plugs in and headed downstream, I bushwhacked my way upstream to the stretch to see if any fish there might prefer jigs and spoons instead. That’s when I stumbled onto the big, smooth granite heart. Pegging its base with cobbles, I propped it on a boulder for a photo next to one of my favorite rivers.
THE SAUK’S BRAWNY wild winters eluded John Day River, Central Oregon; 248.6 miles of designated wild, scenic and recreational river. Chinook, steelhead, redband rainbow trout, bull trout, lamprey, smallmouth bass. (BOB WICK, BLM)
me that day, but it was still great to be on several of the 12,754 miles of streams that comprise our National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. This fall marks the 50th anniversary of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act,
(ANDY WALGAMOTT)
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Northwest Sportsman 21
PICTURE
(This pic and above) Bruneau River, Idaho; 39.3 miles designated as wild and recreational river. Redband rainbow trout. (BOB WICK, BLM; RANDY KING)
Lower Klickitat River, Washington; 10.8 miles designated as recreational river. Spring, summer, fall Chinook, coho, summer and winter steelhead, rainbow trout, lamprey. (JASON BROOKS) North Umpqua River, Oregon; 33.8 miles designated as recreational river. Spring Chinook, summer steelhead, rainbow trout. (BOB WICK, BLM)
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Grande Ronde River, Oregon; 43.8 miles designated as wild and recreational river. Spring Chinook, coho, summer steelhead, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass. (CASEY CRUM)
Rogue River, Oregon; 84.5 miles designated as wild, scenic and recreational river. Spring and fall Chinook, coho, summer and winter steelhead, coastal cutthroat and rainbow trout, lamprey. (THOMAS O’KEEFE, RIVERS.GOV)
created by Congress way back in 1968 and signed into law by President Johnson. Though coming out of an era of heightened environmental concerns – the Clean Air and Wilderness Acts preceded it and it was followed by the Clean Water, Marine Mammal Protection and Endangered Species Acts – it takes a notably less heavy-handed approach in its implementation. The act aims to “(protect) and (enhance) the values that caused [rivers like the Sauk] to be designated” through the “voluntary stewardship by landowners and river users and through regulation and programs of federal, state, local, or tribal governments,” according to Rivers. gov. “It does not prohibit development or give the federal government control over private property.” There are wild, scenic and recreational rivers in 40 states, and some of the fishiest in the Northwest are included. In Oregon, there’s all or portions of the Chetco, Crooked and its North Fork, Deschutes, Elk, Grande Ronde, Illinois, Imnaha, John Day, Klamath, McKenzie, Metolius, North Umpqua, Owyhee, Rogue, Smith, Snake and Wenaha, among many, many more. In fact, Oregon just might have the highest percentage of rivers of any state: 2 percent, 1,916.7 miles, of the Beaver State’s 110,994 river miles are designated. In Idaho, 891 miles, including much of the Salmon and its Middle Fork, the Middle Fork Clearwater, upper St. Joe and Owyhee, and Bruneau are listed. In sharp contrast, only 197 stream miles in Washington have been designated – unusual when you consider that it’s the wettest state in the West. Where listed rivers occur throughout most of Oregon, the Evergreen State’s are limited to the Cascades and include the upper and lower ends of the White Salmon, the lower 11 miles of the Klickitat, and the Middle Fork Snoqualmie and its tributary, the Pratt.
BUT AT THE northern end of the mountain
Skagit River, Washington; 158.5 miles of designated scenic and recreational rivers. Spring, summer and fall Chinook, coho, pink salmon, winter steelhead, bull, rainbow and sea-run cutthroat trout. (CHASE GUNNELL)
range is one of Washington’s most intact watersheds. I don’t know how many times state district fisheries biologist Brett Barkdull has answered my question about why the Skagit system is so productive for steelhead, Chinook, bull trout and other stocks by pointing to its headwaters. North Cascades National Park; the Ross Lake National Recreation Area; the Glacier Peak,
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Northwest Sportsman 23
Lochsa River, Idaho; 90-plus miles designated as recreational river. Spring Chinook, summer steelhead, bull, cutthroat and rainbow trout, mountain whitefish. (PAUL ISHII)
Crooked River, Oregon; 17.8 miles designated as recreational river. Redband rainbow trout, mountain whitefish. (BOB WICK, BLM)
Owyhee River, Oregon; 120 miles designated as wild in Oregon (continues in Idaho). Redband rainbow trout. (THOMAS O’KEEFE, RIVERS.GOV)
Henry M. Jackson and Noisy-Diobsud Wildernesses; the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Out of all that protected federal land flows the wild and scenic Sauk, Suiattle, Skagit and Cascade Rivers and Illabot Creek. It took many more questions of Barkdull to begin to understand that what looks like a mess – all the logjams, braids and big sunbaked cobble bars on the Sauk – is actually a good thing for fish. They show a river largely unshackled by riprap and dikes, and allowed to meander as it has since for eons, a sign of a healthy river. That not many people, farms and infrastructure line its banks make that more possible here, but I’d love it if in another 50 years, when the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act turns 100, more than just one-quarter of 1 percent of the nation’s streams are part of the system. NS 24 Northwest Sportsman
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Mollala River, Oregon; 23 miles proposed as wild and scenic river. Spring Chinook, coho, winter steelhead, cutthroat and rainbow trout, lamprey. (BOB WICK, BLM)
nwsportsmanmag.com nwsports ort manmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018 or
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READER PHOTOS Ashlynn Gray, 14 months old, checks out a sockeye caught aboard the boat of her parents, Kristy and Monte, on the Mid-Columbia earlier this summer. She held it too and even gave it a taste! (YO-ZURI PHOTO CONTEST)
The hatchery Chinook fishery on Puget Sound’s Area 9 was pretty good and among the anglers taking advantage of it were Chad and Logan Smith, 5. They and a buddy of Chad’s limited on kings on the mid-July opener. (YO-ZURI PHOTO CONTEST)
It’s a big year for Northwest halibut anglers! Following on a Whidbey Island fisherman’s 260-plus from the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Logan Howard hooked this 240-pounder while fishing out of Gustavus with his grandpa Ken. (YO-ZURI
They’re known as the fish of 10,000 casts, but nobody said it had to take that many trolling passes to catch tiger muskies! Brad Hole of Kayak Fishing Washington shows off one of three to 45 inches he caught at the Tacoma area’s Lake Tapps. “The water is 75 degrees so I found the fish a bit deeper trolling,” he reported. (YO-ZURI PHOTO CONTEST)
PHOTO CONTEST)
Thanks to a return that came in twice as big as forecast, sockeye fishing was opened on the Upper Columbia’s Brewester Pool, where Bob Kinkade, Greg DeCamp and Scott Fletcher limited not long afterwards. They were fishing with Scott’s friend, guide Aaron Peterson. (YO-ZURI PHOTO CONTEST)
Tommy McCabe’s got Lake Tapps dialed in! He caught this nice smallmouth on a drop-shotted Senko while out with friend Ryan Rudkin. (YO-ZURI PHOTO CONTEST) For your shot at winning great fishing and hunting products from Yo-Zuri and Browning, send your full-resolution, original images with all the pertinent details – who’s in the pic and their hometown; 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, PO Box 24365, Seattle, WA, 98124-0365. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for use in our print and Internet publications. nwsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018
Northwest Sportsman 27
READER PHOTOS
A run out of Charleston yielded a nice lingcod for Andy Harpole in late July. Friend Carl Lewallen sent the pic. (YO-ZURI PHOTO CONTEST)
This year’s Baker Lake sockeye were tough customers, but Rusty and Michell Breedlove as well as Alec Schantz and his grandfather Frank Urabeck were able to catch a few at the reservoir under Mt. Baker. (YO-ZURI PHOTO CONTEST)
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WINNERS!
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Scott Allen is our monthly Browning Photo Contest winner, thanks to this shot of his wife Toney Griffith, who shot her first deer, this North Idaho whitetail, last fall. It wins him a Browning hat!
Sportsman Northwest
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For your shot at winning Browning and fishing products, send your photos and pertinent (who, what, when, where) details to awalgamott@media-inc.com or Northwest Sportsman, PO Box 24365, Seattle, WA 98124-0365. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for our print or Internet publications.
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Another Oregon Deer Arrowed
J
ust days after a Jackson County sex offender was charged with shooting two deer in the head and neck earlier this year with a bow and arrow, another impaled blacktail turned up near Roseburg. Oregon wildlife biologists were also able to remove that arrow from the doe, which had a fawn nearby, but state
troopers were looking for more info on the culprit. The initial suspicion was that the deer was shot west of town somewhere along Braunda or San Souci Drives, or Bellwood Lane. Tipsters were asked to contact Senior Trooper Jason Stone (541-817-4472 ) or state police dispatch (541-440-3333). As for the other case, Daniel Logsdon,
By Andy Walgamott
36, was charged with unlawful take and first-degree aggravated animal abuse, as well as failure to report accurate info on his status as a sex offender, also a first-degree offense, according to KEZI.
(OSP)
F
KUDOS
ish and wildlife troopers patrolling a vast swath of South-central Oregon were named the state police’s 2017 Team of the Year. The seven-member detachment was honored by OSP in midsummer for their “outstanding work … protecting Oregon’s citizens and natural resources.” The team is
led by Sgt. Dennis Yaws and includes Senior Troopers Darin Bean, James Hayes, Gregory Love and Ryan Niehus, and Troopers Craig Rice and Ryan Tague. They patrol all of Lake and Klamath Counties and the southern end of Deschutes County, a 14,000-squaremile beat. According to OSP, the team made 6,004 contacts last year, with 85 of those involving poached game, and they were commended for investigating illegal kills
JACKASS OF THE MONTH
W
illamette spring Chinook anglers know to pay attention to how turbid the river is, with the clearer the better for the tasty salmon. But one Oregon man probably wishes it had been a lot murkier on the day he decided to fish without a license. Fish and wildlife troopers running a boat patrol in the Salem area saw a group actively fishing and so they decided to contact them. As they approached they saw one guy “place his rod completely under the water.” When they asked him for his license, he tried to tell them he wasn’t actually fishing, according to the officers’ report in OSP’s June newsletter. “When the trooper pointed to the rod, which was completely visible, the subject admitted to angling without a license,” troopers wrote. He was ticketed for that and wins a complimentary Jackass of the Month award!
on winter range in the Silver Lake and Fort Rock areas. Klamath County District Attorney Eve Costello recognized their “incredibly detailed” case write-ups and praised their abilities to transition from aggressively going after true violators to dealing with residents who make “minor mistakes … in a more relaxed manner,” according to an OSP writeup. Congrats on the honor, and keep up the great work, troopers!
#Busted
L
ove it or loath it, social media just might be one of the best new tools game wardens have for busting boastful poachers. Case in point: the Central Oregon man who took to Facebook and Instagram to trumpet his allegedly unlawful trapping activities. The case against Thomas Ray Campbell, 27, of Culver actually began with a July 2017 report he’d been illegally keeping bull trout in the Metolius River. That led to a search of his online activities “in which he gloated about other poaching activities,” according to the Bend Bulletin. Late in the year he uploaded a pic of a dead bobcat and followed it with a hashtag-filled post that suggested it might have been trapped, despite Campbell allegedly not having a required furtaker’s license and bobcat card, according to the paper. Subsequent posts showed raccoons and more bobcats in and outside of traps, and when a search warrant was served on Campbell’s home, traps, lures and trail cameras were recovered. He faces 11 counts of unlawful taking of wildlife, according to the Bulletin. nwsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018
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By Andy Walgamott
Central Sound Coho Derbies Back On
F
or the first time in three years, a pair of popular central Puget Sound salmon derbies will be held on their home waters. Both the Edmonds and Everett Coho Derbies return after saltwater closures led to the scrapping or altering of the 2016 and 2017 editions and 2015’s was marked by unusually small fish, likely due to The Blob. First up is the Edmonds Coho Derby, Sept. 8. Put on by the SnoKing Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers, it is set for 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. and features a top prize of $5,000. Tickets are $30 per angler and can be purchased at area tackle stores such as Outdoor Emporium, Ted’s, Three Rivers Marine and elsewhere, as well as online. For more details, go to edmondscohoderby.com. Then comes the big one, the Sept. 22-23 Everett Coho Derby, and this year marks its 25th anniversary. Indeed, the derby was born in similar times back in 1993, when low runs limited that year’s fishing to just the Snohomish River and the waters off its mouth. A local sporting goods store manager approached the Everett Steelhead and Salmon and Snohomish Sportsmen’s Clubs to put on a derby, and history was born. Earlier this summer, organizer Rich Braun said that past years’ sponsors were really stepping up in 2018. In addition to $10,000, $5,000, $2,500, $1,000 and $500 cash prizes for the top five coho, there’s a team competition, plus prizes for the largest caught on certain products; from two different river systems; by father-daughter, father-son, husband-wife and all-female teams; from shore and kayak; by an active
Brewster Derby Held After All
G
ear First it was on, then it was off, and then, with less than two weeks’ notice, the Brewster Salmon Derby was back on as managers closed Chinook retention on Upper Columbia pools then reopened it when it became clear enough were available for harvest. The changes left organizers scrambling, but they report that more than 200 anglers in 81 boats weighed in 230 Chinook and 23 sockeye during the Aug. 3-5 event. Drew Waltee was named King of the Pool for his 27.43-pound king, good for $2,000, while Caden Baskin scored $1,500 as the adult division winner for his 23.55-pounder. Alex Davis brought in the youth division’s biggest salmon, a 21.22-pound Chinook, worth $550 to him, while Landon Manuel doubled up with the 8-and-under’s largest king, a 15.28, and sockeye, a 3.63.
Billed as the largest salmon fishing derby on the US West Coast based on participation, the Everett Coho Derby features a fantastic array of cash prizes and awards given out at the end of the early fall event. (EVERETT COHO DERBY) military member – the list literally goes on and on, and includes a truck valued at $45,000 for whomever catches the mystery weight fish. Open waters include Marine Areas 8-1, 8-2, 9 and 10 and open rivers and lakes in King, Skagit, and Snohomish Counties, but if the last three derbies are any indication, the winning fish will be caught somewhere off the southern end of Whidbey Island. Those bit a purple haze squid/Ace Hi Fly combo behind a jelly crush flasher (11.31 pounds); purple haze flasher and hoochie combo (11.96 pounds); and a purple haze hoochie and Ace High Fly combo behind a purple flasher. For more coho tips, see Terry Wiest’s column on page 87. Sponsors include Silver Horde, Dick Nite, Scotty, Roy Robinson Chevrolet, Boat Insurance Agency and Everett Bayside Marine, among others. For more info, see everettcohoderby.com. And in another return to tradition, Northwest Salmon Derby Series organizers will raffle off their grand prize boat – a fully loaded King Fisher 2025 Falcon package valued at $65,000 – at the Everett Coho Derby. Entering it or the Edmonds event automatically puts your name in the hat for a chance to win it.
2018 NORTHWEST SALMON DERBY SERIES Sept. 8: Edmonds Coho Derby Sept. 8: Columbia River Fall Salmon Derby Sept. 22-23: Everett Coho Derby Nov. 3-4: Everett No-Coho Blackmouth Salmon Derby For more info on this year’s events, see nwsalmonderbyseries.com.
MORE UPCOMING EVENTS Through the end of various seasons: Westport Charterboat Association Weekly Derbies; charterwestport.com Aug. 31-Sept. 2: 25th Annual Fall Salmon Derby, lower Umpqua River – info: umpqua.rock@charter.net Sept. 1-3: 14th Annual Slam’n Salmon Derby, ocean off Port of Brookings Harbor – info: (541) 251-4422; captaincurry1@hotmail.com nwsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018
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19.45-lb Chinook Wins SKC-PSA Derby
P
aul Whitson was the runaway winner at last monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s well-attended 17th Annual South King County Puget Sound Anglers Derby. His 19.45-pound Chinook was 5 pounds heavier than the two next closest fish, and scored him $3,500. Terry Wiest, one of the eventâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s organizers, says it was the biggest of 100 weighed during a â&#x20AC;&#x153;huge turnoutâ&#x20AC;? of nearly 400 participants. He estimates that 80 percent of the salmon were landed on spoons, 20 percent on hoochies, and though Areas 10 and 13 were included in the fishing zone, Area 11 dominated. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most fish at Pt. Defiance and Owens Beach, right off the bottom,â&#x20AC;?Wiest notes. The catch was also up over 2017, when 72 salmon were weighed in. In the kids division, Bryce Johnson came in first with a 14.50-pounder, scoring $300.
Paul Whitsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 19.45-pound Chinook won the 17th Annual South King County Puget Sound Anglers Derby and yielded $3,500 in cash. (SKC-PSA)
MORE RECENT RESULTS Lower Columbia Steelhead Challenge, July 27-29, Lower Columbia and tribs: First place: Jeremy Oury, 9.85 pounds 3rd Annual Baker Lake Sockeye Shootout, July 27-29: First place (average weight): David Sitton 4.279 pounds, $500; first place (largest fish): Adam Adkinson, 6.4 pounds, $250 Deep Canyon Challenge, Aug. 3-4, Pacific off Ilwaco: First place: Team OpporTUNAty, 139.5 pounds of tuna, $6,000
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OUTDOOR
CALENDAR
Brought to you by:
and Follow the Law It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3...
SEPTEMBER 1
Washington statewide cougar, deer (bow), dove, grouse and various small game, northeast and southeast fall turkey and Northeast A, Blue Mountains and Long Island bear openers; Grouse opener in Oregon; Numerous Northeast Oregon streams open for hatchery steelhead 1-2 Free Fishing Weekend in Oregon 7-8 Oregon Central Coast nonselective coho opener (following Friday-Saturdays through Sept. 29 or till 3,500-fish quota caught) 8 Washington statewide bow elk opener 8 CAST for Kids event on Lake Washington (Gene Coulon Park) – info: Kristen Phillips (425-251-3202) 8-9, 15-16 Pheasant Hunting Workshops at Sauvie Island ($, registration) – info: odfwcalendar.com; Youth Pheasant Hunts at Fern Ridge Wildlife Area (free) – info: odfwcalendar.com 10 Opening of four-week-long fee pheasant hunt at Fern Ridge Wildlife Area 13-16 35th Annual Portland Fall RV & Van Show, Expo Center – info: otshows.com; 2018 Seattle Boats Afloat Show, South Lake Union – info: boatsafloatshow.com 15-23 Bandtail pigeon season in Oregon, Washington 15-25 High Buck Hunt in several Washington Cascades and Olympics wilderness areas, Lake Chelan National Recreation Area 17 Opening of fee pheasant hunts at Denman (19 days), Sauvie Island (14 days) Wildlife Areas 22-23 Western Washington youth bird hunting weekend; Youth Pheasant Hunts at Irrigon Wildlife Area (free) – info: odfwcalendar.com 24-28 Washington senior pheasant hunting week 29 Oregon Coast, Cascade rifle buck openers; Washington statewide muzzleloader deer opener 29-30 Eastern Washington youth bird hunting weekend
1. The ONE place not to be is in the path of whales. Don’t position your vessel in the path of oncoming whales within 400 yards of a whale.
2. Stay at least TWO hundred yards away from any killer whale (200 yards = the distance of two football fields or about 200 meters).
3. Remember these THREE ways to Be Whale Wise: follow the guidelines for viewing all wildlife, check for local protected areas and restrictions, and always be safe.
OCTOBER 1
Salmon and steelhead opener on numerous Oregon streams, as well as coho opener on Siltcoos, Takhenitch and Tenmile Lakes; Opening of month-long fee pheasant hunt at EE Wilson Wildlife Area 4 Seattle Ducks Unlimited Banquet, Olympic Hotel, Seattle – info: ducks.org/Washington 6 Washington statewide muzzleloader elk opener 6-7, 13-14 Chetco Bubble open for Chinook 10 Deer, elk rifle openers in many Idaho units
RECORD NW GAME FISH CAUGHT THIS MONTH Date Species Lbs. (-Oz.) 9-2-05 Striped marlin 134 9-6-64 Chinook* (image) 70.5 9-9-89 Halibut 288.0 9-13-87 Chinook** 42 9-17-80 Channel catfish 36.5 9-19-92 Coho** 6 9-22-99 Atlantic salmon*** 14.38 9-27-15 Opah 35.67 9-28-14 Bluefin tuna 39.20 * Saltwater ** Freshwater *** Freshwater, sea-run
(POULSBO HISTORICAL SOCIETY)
Water Westport (WA) Sekiu (WA) Swiftsure Bk. (WA) L. Coeur d’Alene (ID) McKay Res. (OR) Cascade Res. (ID) Green R. (WA) Westport (WA) Westport (WA)
Angler Phil Wolff Chet Gausta Vic Stevens Jane Clifford Boone Haddock Ted Bowers Ron Howard Jim Watson Sam Ellinger
Visit www.bewhalewise.org to learn more, download the laws, regulations, and guidelines, and to report violations. Report Violations: Enforcement 1-800-853-1964 or online at www.bewhalewise.org
nwsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018
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FISHING September typically brings flat ocean conditions but also a change in albacore diet and behavior away from what worked earlier in the season. Adapting different strategies will ensure you get into big tuna like this one caught by Frank LeFevers out of Westport last year on a trip with Gary and Wyatt Lundquist. (YO-ZURI PHOTO CONTEST)
The Catch
September’s typically flatter ocean conditions also find albacore a bit tougher to hook. Here are strategies for success. By Andy Schneider
I
t’s no secret that September offers some of the best ocean conditions of the year. We trailer sailors rejoice when we see ocean swell forecasts less than 4 feet. And when that drops into the 2- to 3-foot range, we get a little anxious and have a hard time concentrating at work. We grit our teeth and pray that when the weekend forecast pops up, we don’t see the inevitable return of strong winds and a steep 6-foot swell. But if there’s a month that you can almost put money on weekends aligning with good ocean conditions, it’s September! However, before you go and get all excited, there is a catch – tough
fishing. How cruel are the fish gods that when we finally get reliably good water conditions, fishing can be slow?! But if that’s the tradeoff, it’s probably not that bad of a deal. That’s because you do have some control over what your harvest numbers are going to be, while you have zero control over what the ocean is going to look like next Saturday.
WHEN ALBACORE ARRIVE off our coast, they usually find a good variety of large baitfish to feed on. Sardines, Pacific saury and mackerel are abundant, and albacore are willing to chase them down. But as the tuna season progresses, many of these larger baitfish migrate to cooler waters near shore or north to the
Gulf of Alaska. That leaves smaller baitfish like anchovies, candlefish, sandlance and squid on the menu for a hungry albacore. The biggest difference between these two groups of forage fish is, of course, their size. Most anchovies are half the size of a typical sardine and most squid found in the blue water off our coast average less than 2 inches in length. The trick for albie anglers is to start thinking like a fly angler on the upper McKenzie. When a freshet knocks a bunch of larvae loose, you need to break out the midge assortment. But when the mayflies are thick and litter the surface, you need to start swinging dry flies to get any rises. While there are a few shrimp and anchovy patterns that may fool a prowling albacore, you most likely are going to shift gears and transition from a troll fishery to a drift, chum and jig fishery. With greasy-calm conditions, you can spot feeding tuna a long way off. But sneaking up on them and actually getting them to respond to your bait can prove tricky, if not impossible at times. If you find yourself between large schools of nwsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018
Northwest Sportsman 45
FISHING feeding tuna, one of the best things to do is simply turn off the motor and drift. Those schools are moving and it’s only a matter of time before they swim within casting distance.
Along with swimbaits, big jigs that can be fished deeper are good bets for getting albies to bite this time of year. How the skipper runs the boat will also affect how to fish the lures. (DAVE ANDERSON)
SWIMBAITS, BUTTERFLY JIGS and dead bait are the top choices for anglers who put good numbers of fish in the boat as the rest of the fleet struggles. While trolling lures such as clones and divers will not produce good numbers later in the season, it’s still a good way to locate feeding fish. Once a trolled lure gets bit, start dropping chum overboard, along with swimbaits and jigs. The idea is to get fish into a feeding frenzy and keep the school around the boat. IQF (individually quick frozen) anchovies cut into quarters, halves or even tossed over whole make excellent chum to keep fish around the boat. As you work jigs and let the swimbaits drift, keep a steady stream of chum flowing overboard. While you may not see immediate results at times, keeping a chum trail may lead another school of hungry albacore to your boat. The 140-gram Shimano Butterfly Flat-Side Jig is probably the most productive jig for our albacore. Pink, pink and blue, purple and black, and green are good colors to start with and stick with when fishing gets tough. The biggest advantage of jigs is that you can fish them deep. Albacore have huge eyes that can spot imperfections in your trolled clones or lead them to take a pass on that dead anchovy that’s drifting a little funny. But when you drop a lure 150 to 200 feet down, the amount of light that’s available for a tuna to find blemishes is minimal. Also a butterfly jig is going to create a reaction bite. Since you work it back to the surface at a fast pace, it doesn’t give a tuna a lot of decisionmaking time and will often spur them into biting. Cast your jig up-drift from the boat and let it sink until you are 46 Northwest Sportsman
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directly over the top of the lure. On a calm day, this should put your jig down 150 to 200 feet. Keep tension on your jig and work it fast back up to the boat, making sure to change your technique up from time to time to see if the albacore are keying on a specific speed of the jig.
CASTING SWIMBAITS TO boiling fish is one of the most exciting but also nerve-racking experiences for an albacore angler. Seeing fish busting on bait on the surface gets the adrenaline going for even the most seasoned of tuna fishermen. But good luck casting a 2-ounce jig 40 yards with a baitcaster if you have a little bit of adrenaline coursing through your veins! To avoid one heck of a frustrating backlash, keep some spinning rods rigged up with swimbaits. Not only will a spincaster send your light lure much farther, it will do it just as effectively with the
adrenaline pumping. Just remember during the fight not to turn the handle if you are not making any headway to avoid line twist. Swimbaits come in all colors and sizes, but silver, blue and green combinations in the 4- to 5-inch sizes tend to work best for casting to albacore on the surface. Depending on how far you’re casting and the sink rate you want, 2- to 4-ounce jigheads are the most popular.
THERE’S JUST AS much boat-handling skills as fishing technique know-how when you’re running and gunning for surface-feeding tuna. When you spot porpoising or crashing tuna, figure out which way they’re headed. If you can see a distinct direction, position the boat 100 yards in front of them and turn off your engine. Start chumming and drifting some swimbaits behind the boat. If the tuna sound before your boat,
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Northwest Sportsman 47
FISHING pay attention to your electronics to see if they are below you at a certain depth. Swimbaits sink at a slower rate than butterfly jigs, usually 2 feet per second. If you can access your boat’s bow, a fun way to get into the action quickly is to “cast on the slide.” Position anglers on the bow with their rods ready to cast swimbaits or jigs. As you spot feeding fish, approach quickly, turning off the motor so that the boat will slide to a stop within casting distance of the boiling fish. Oftentimes only one or two fish will fall for this aggressive maneuver before the school sounds, but it can be a productive and fun way to spend a day offshore. If the albacore are being spooked by the boat and disappearing well before you can get anywhere close to casting distance, you may need to go dark. At times these fish can get so spooky that they will sound
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almost a quarter mile away as you approach. When this happens, there just isn’t any easy way to target them and sometimes you may be better off searching for more aggressively feeding fish. But if every school you come across is spooked, you have to try something different. Start by turning the motor and electronics off and drifting in the general area where you’ve seen schools of fish; they should resurface eventually. Keeping a steady flow of chum going overboard and letting your swimbaits drift 50 to 100 yards behind the boat can produce results on spooked fish.
FISHING DEAD BAIT doesn’t sound all that exciting when you are talking about albacore fishing. But if you are based out of a port that doesn’t offer live bait, it’s really your only option. And using it can get pretty exciting, as fish will often school around your boat as you mix chum with your baited fish.
Plugging the boat will be harder than earlier on with live bait, but just being on the ocean this time of year can make time spent fishing for the Northwest’s hardest-pulling game fish well worth it. (DAVE ANDERSON)
Start with a No. 2 or 4 live bait hook and 10 yards of 20- to 25-pound fluorocarbon leader. Since dead IQF anchovies are a little more fragile than live ones, you may have to thread the hook through the head
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or deep through the backbone. Once you start seeing albacore zooming from the depths to pick off your chum trial, start throwing over your rigged baits. When a tuna picks up your bait, give it a five to 10 count before engaging the reel to ensure good hook placement – no hookset is necessary. Placing some ½- to 1-ounce egg sinkers 4 feet above your hook will help get your bait down quickly if the drift is fast. If the albacore are just proving to be too dang spooky and keeping a 200-yard “no fly zone” around your vessel – an all too common occurrence during the late season – then it’s time to break out the bobbers. Wait, what, bobbers for tuna fishing?! Yep, just like you would for tidewater fall Chinook. Start with an albacore-rated reel that holds at least 200 yards of line. On the business end, add 10 yards of 25-pound fluorocarbon leader tied to a No. 2 live bait hook. Position a 1-ounce inline egg sinker 4 feet above your hook and slide on your favorite fall Chinook bobber. Position your bobber stop on your mainline, above your 10-yard leader. Now rig your dead anchovy, put the rods in rod holders and let your bobbers drift away from the boat at least 100 yards. While your bobbers may be well out of sight, it will become evident quickly when a fish is on the line.
THE TOUGHEST THING to do when albacore become spooky in the late season is to take it slow. Whenever someone mentions tuna fishing, they expect fast and furious action, but that’s definitely not the case when these fish get spooky. But trying different techniques, adjusting your expectations and having patience will always yield better results as our season progresses. While you may not “plug the boat” this time of year, the enjoyment of just being on a calm Pacific this time of year is reward enough for most of us salty anglers. NS 50 Northwest Sportsman
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FISHING
Keep Clam Shellfishers likely to find better razor digging on Washington’s northern beaches this season.
Razor clam seasons haven’t been set yet, but there are some good and not-so-good indications about fall, winter and spring opportunities on the Washington Coast. Northern beaches probably will be more productive than southern ones. (MARK YUASA)
By Mark Yuasa
R
azor clam digging is a huge moneymaker for small Washington Coast communities that rely on these opportunities during the lean tourist times of fall, winter and spring to help boost their economy. This past season was somewhat of a disappointment, what with just 27 days of digging, and it appears digging enthusiasts in 2018-19 should have slightly better news in some places, while other places will be a struggle.
DEPARTMENT OF FISH and Wildlife biologists are in the process of finalizing annual clam surveys at Long Beach, Copalis, Mocrocks, Kalaloch and Twin Harbors. “We don’t have all of the information and are just finishing summer assessments, but Copalis looks very good with an increase of nice-size clams over what we saw last year,” said Dan Ayres, WDFW’s head coastal shellfish manager. “Mocrocks
has a fairly significant increase, and we left that beach in a strong place last season, so that is a good sign. Twin Harbors initially looks good with a lot of small clams and decentsized clams too.” On the South Coast, Long Beach has seen a dramatic loss of razor clams, and digging success was fairly poor in 2017-18. A look in the crystal ball indicates this will be a “gap” year. “Long Beach is a sad story and we had a very low number of adult clams,” Ayres said. “Last year was the lowest abundance level we had seen in the last 25 years, even though we still managed to pull off a somewhat decent amount of time to dig.” According to Ayres, summer assessments at Long Beach showed very few prerecruits of juvenile clams, “scary” news for the short term. “We might have to wait until spring to support any kind of harvest and it will be limited at best,” Ayres said. “The good news, despite what could be a gloomy upcoming season, is Long Beach has a lot of clams for
digging sometime down the road (they will become adult size by the 2019-20 season).” “For now we can’t make tomato juice out of carrots,” Ayres said. “If you don’t have clams, you simply can’t dig for them.” One likely reason behind this dip could be related to the low salinity levels on a good portion of Long Beach, which isn’t a favorable situation for young clams to grow. “We suspect Long Beach was affected by freshwater run-off from the Columbia River,” Ayres said. “When salinity levels are low, young clams don’t like that at all.”
PRELIMINARY
2017-18
POSTSEASON
estimates show that during the 27 digging days, 257,004 digger trips produced 2,731,461 razor clams, for a 10.6-clam-per-person average. (The first 15 clams dug is the daily limit, regardless of size or condition.) Coastwide clam digging was open Oct. 6-7, Nov. 2-5, Dec. 1-4 and Dec. 31-Jan. 1. Digging didn’t reopen until nwsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018
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FISHING Jan. 28-Feb. 3, March 2-3, March 1617 and April 19-22. Twin Harbors had 18 digging days, with 55,588 digger trips taking home 619,897 clams for an 11.2 average. By comparison, 2016-17 saw 62,893 with 834,086 for 13.3. Twin Harbors was completely shutdown in 2015-16 due to elevated levels of marine toxins. Copalis Beach – one of the more popular clam-digging destinations – had 13 digging days and 43,987 digger trips harvested 543,238 for 12.3. The previous season, 201617, saw 82,108 with 1,040,193 for 12.7. In 2015-16, it was 69,536 with 952,020 for 13.7. Digger trip totals at Mocrocks were 63,215 with 745,045 for 11.8, compared to 57,958 with 686,628 for 11.8 in 2016-17, and 70,747 with
Digging this past season was limited to 27 days, but shellfishers were still able to harvest an average of 10.6 a trip, better than two-thirds of a daily limit. (MARK YUASA)
965,623 for 13.6 in 2015-16. The northernmost beach, Kalaloch, was closed during the
2017-18 season, and in 2016-17 had a brief two-day dig that produced a paltry 1,410 clams for 637 diggers
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who averaged 2.2 clams per person, but it could possibly see brighter days in the future. “Amazingly Kalaloch had more ‘little guys’ than I anticipated,” Ayres said. “They’re averaging 3 inches, but abundance is more than I had expected.” Outside of that dig two years ago, Kalaloch has been closed since the 2011-12 season. In 2016-17, the juvenile clam estimate at Kalaloch Beach showed more than 100 million little guys sitting under the sand.
WDFW KEEPS A close tab on a marine toxin known as domoic acid – a natural toxin produced by certain types of marine algae – that can be harmful or even fatal if consumed in sufficient quantities. At press time, levels remained under the cutoff of 20 parts per million. “Everything is very, very low and nothing to be concerned about at this point with domoic acid levels between 1 to 2 ppm,” Ayres said. Fall and winter razor clam digs occur during evening low tides, while spring-time digs occur during morning low tides. No final approval dates have been set by WDFW, but looking at the calendar it appears the best low tides land on Oct. 26-29 and Nov. 8-10. Exactly how much digging time will occur depends on upcoming discussions between WDFW and tribal fishery comanagers. Fish and Wildlife plans to open public comment by mid-September, with information posted at wdfw. wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/razorclams/. Ayres also pointed out that the popular digging time centered around the New Year’s holiday won’t happen due to unfavorable low tide conditions. “As a result, there will be no digging then. However, there are good tides the weekend before Christmas, and on Martin Luther King Jr. birthday holiday weekend in January,” he said. “There’s a good chance we’ll have some openers during those periods.” NS
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FISHING
When It Rains (Bites), It Pours (Salmon) Braving a monsoon and washing-machine seas, Sara and friends experience epic North Coast salmon bite. By Sara Ichtertz
L
ast September my forest, along with a lot of Southern Oregon, was a true blazing inferno. Had been for weeks. Mother Nature raging through the forest in the form of fire made my tiny town miserable! The stagnant heat was almost unbearable, but the never-ending wall of smoke literally burnt our eyes and kept us trapped indoors, which was far from normal! A buddy up north was also being smoked out from the unfortunate and foolish Eagle Creek fire, started by a teenager in the Columbia River Gorge. Needless to say, no matter where you were in Oregon last summer, you were praying for rain in one way or another. Yet with none in sight, I packed my bags, as it was almost time to head north for Tillamook. Having not seen any of my fishy northern friends since June, I was excited for the “Fish Like a Girl Adventure” that was just about upon us. These trips not only allow me to experience incredible fisheries with ladies, which is something I had always desired, but because our host David Johnson is my friend. The fun we have on those adventures has so much to do with him and everything that he is. The
“I realize more so than ever that the things in life that come too easily to me are rarely worth it. Yet the things in life I work hardest for … are indeed the things that are worth it,” writes author Sara Ichtertz, holding a pair of fall Chinook she caught in roiling North Coast waters last September. (SARA ICHTERTZ)
memories he creates with us are truly one-of-a-kind priceless! (You too can join David on these ladies-only fishing adventures by contacting him through his Facebook page, David Johnson’s Guide Service.)
WHEN THE DAY to head north arrived I was pretty flippin’ thrilled because for the first time in my northern adventures I not only had a Southern Oregon travel buddy, I had a driver as well. And as my friend Billie Cragg made her way to me, the most incredible thing came
along with her from the coast. Rain! Heavy wet rain! Not just a speckle either, but a downpour. The rain did not let up and yet we didn’t fret one bit. Halfway to Tillamook we stopped to get new windshield wipers, as the old ones weren’t cutting it with the monsoonstyle rain following the hot, dry summer. Closing on our destination we hit a patch of very hard rain, the kind you wish your wipers would go just a little faster. Reaching Tillamook in almost flash-flood conditions we ran into a little restaurant, getting nwsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018
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FISHING beyond soaked in our 30-meter dash to the door. Inside, Billie and I burst into laughter as we looked at each other across the table – we had arrived! Billie’s rain dance, calling upon powers greater than our own, gave Oregon the drink it had so badly needed. “Was it too much of drink for the fish, though?” I wondered as we ate our dinner and listened to it dumping outside. “Will they take off upriver in a hurry after the first real rain in weeks?” Rendezvousing at the hotel with my sweet friend Gretchen Dearden, I was feeling oh so pumped for us to be together again and for my friends to finally meet. That magical call from David got us where we needed to be, and we toasted our togetherness! Excited to fish the jaws of that little coastal river, we ladies got cozy and called it a night. When we reached the water at O-dark-30 there he was! Our main man David, in his deadly Alumaweld, loaded precisely with Shimano and G.Loomis weapons of salmon destruction. I felt pretty much like a child on Christmas Eve, thrilled with so much anticipation it was almost more than I could bear. The day before I’d pumped myself full of Dramamine to make sure the waves didn’t get the best of me and I could embrace the day to the fullest, and now, for good measure, I took another. Fingers crossed! Gretchen, Billie, Sara Dodd and I climbed aboard and our fish hunt was underway.
AS WE REACHED the trolling grounds the day was gray, but without a drop of rain. Our set-up was pretty simple. One by one we received a perfectly firm cut-plug herring rigged to a stationary mooching rigging, ready to spin that sexy yet deadly spin. As there was no flasher, like at the madness that is Buoy 10, I liked it better already. We were instructed to drop the rig down, 62 Northwest Sportsman
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Joining Ichtertz (left) on one of guide David Johnson’s Fish Like A Girl Adventures were Gretchen Dearden (rear), Sara Dodd (right), and Billie Cragg, who accompanied the author up from Southern Oregon for the trip. (SARA ICHTERTZ)
find bottom, give it half a crank up and we would be fishing. We worked our way to the south end of the jetty. I was most impressed by David this day. That man knows how to deal with a billion boats, the tides, along with wild waves, strong currents, and the jetty itself. Dealing with all those pretty major factors, he somehow is capable of getting right in there. Banana in hand, that man can find the fish! In the ever-moving water we worked the farthest point of the jetty, and there it was – the first bite of our foggy coastal adventure! The bite wasn’t that constant pull to pinned rod of a Chinook, rather a more erratic pop-pop-popping to banging. The E6X screamed Billie’s name to take hold of it. David had a feeling that that almost spastic bite was a coho and as it exploded on the top of the water, that beautiful wild salmon confirmed what our buddy had just told us. I’d never witnessed the fight of a coho from a boat before, and as she worked to bring that beauty in I saw Billie’s eyes and heart come to life. Though it wasn’t netted or taken
from the water, David still made quick work of releasing it, and Billie loved every minute of it. David straightened us out just long enough so that the baits were swimming when another salmon grabbed my hooks. The distinct and steady pull had my E6X fully pinned and in that moment, it was time to find out what I had on my line. Never had I fought a fish in water sloshing about like that! Nor was it like fighting tuna on an ocean of glass. This was salmon fishing in the ever-powerful, ever-moving currents of a river between two jetties! Amazed by the new of it all, it was by far the wildest adrenaline I have ever felt while fishing from a boat. The powerful setting and strength of the salmon were making for one actionpacked day! Fighting that salmon to the best of my banky ability we landed it, a beautiful fall Chinook. It wasn’t a monster but a beauty, no doubt. “It’s a hatchery!” David declared, somewhat surprised. Not knowing this fishery well, I had no idea that it is a bit of a rarity to find hatchery
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Northwest Sportsman 63
FISHING Johnson reaches with the net for a salmon, one of many hooked that day by the ladies. (SARA ICHTERTZ)
Chinook on it. Trust me, though, I was not sad this fin-clipped Chinook was part of that beautiful foggy and foaming morning off the northern Oregon coast.
FOR A LITTLE hands-on fun at his trusty baiting station, David taught us girls (or at least those of us who didn’t already know) how to cut herring and the placement of the hooks that are so crucial to running it just right when fishing a mooching rig. A little intimidated that I would do it wrong, I honestly did more observing than doing in the beginning. But I loved watching Gretchen embrace it! Doing just as David 64 Northwest Sportsman
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showed her, she got the herring on. Next up was successfully avoiding the semipsychotic birds that would have gladly eaten the bait and caused quite the ruckus. Timing watching it spin and eluding the birds was tricky, but with a smile on her face she made it happen. The bait looked good and to the bottom of the jaws it went. We had literally countless rods go off for us this day, something I had never seen. And when the herring Gretchen had just put on got bit, I could just tell this day was special. I have always been a believer in loving small victories. Small victories rock! Seeing and feeling the true joy and excitement of simple success is exactly why
I love them like I do. In this case, it was a priceless and truly gamechanging moment in the journey for Gretchen and the deck-handing she is passionately pursuing today. Not only did her bait entice a salmon, it was the only fin-clipped coho of the day! Out of the countless wild silvers throughout the course of our hunt, this one was special to her – a keeper off her own bait! She was proud of that gorgeous fish and I hope she knows I was too! It seems that every time I fish this style of angling there is a rod or two that’s the hot one of the day. Being on the water with likeminded women who want to share the love of the tug with each other, we
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FISHING gladly share the luck of that rod or rods with one another. I think it not only sets the right tone but leads to the fishiest of luck. With the quick release of multiple wild silvers and three keepers tagged, bled and iced, the fishiness was clear, and the fish were without a doubt in danger.
FISHING FROM A sled has taken some getting used to for me. I realized straight away the first time I trolled, with Bryanna Zimmerman (Northwest Sportsman, May 2018), how crucial it is that the person running the sled find their kill zone, so that the rest aboard might get to fight one of these glorious creatures. We might all be “fishing,” but I have a serious respect for those calling the shots that put the baits where fish literally cannot resist them. That is incredible! I think this style of fishing has been good for me, as it is a group effort in a sense. The group does set
the tone! I can’t move to a new hole! I do not have my own gear! I am not in control even though I am quite a control freak! I honestly believe it is good for me! In many ways I could be a river hunting hermit, chasing steelhead solo until the day I die, talking to myself, the river, and the fish, and be quite happy. But I trust that what I am gaining up north has far greater purpose for me as a person than even the fish we chase. Which is saying a lot. Diving deeper into my pursuit of this life, I grow as a fisher and as a person through these adventures with amazing women. With some of these ladies literally becoming a piece of my heart, I come home feeling thankful for the time, experience, and all that comes with embracing each new adventure, new fisheries, and new methods that are so radically different from how I chase salmon and steelhead back home. I love everything that fishing the
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AS I LOWERED my bait and eluded the ever-present birds I felt the thunk of the bottom that I was looking for. As I went to give the reel half a crank and place the rod in its holder there it was, the undeniable bum-buddabum-bum bite of a fish! The bank fisherman in me lost all focus and control for the task at hand and I set that hook as if I was back home drift fishing from shore! I blew it, big time. The fish was nowhere to be felt and David quickly let me know: “Sara, that was your second Chinook!” Knowing he was probably right I would have liked to punch myself in the gut for acting like such a maniac in the moment, but I laughed it off. I didn’t have much choice. For me, my state of mind is what makes or breaks me when fishing for salmon and steelhead. If I travel afar for such adventures, I try to stay positive because I will never live this day again and I try to always remember that. Laughing off my lame attempt at drift trolling was absolutely what I needed to do. As my girls all fought and landed coho I let my error wash out to sea and instead enjoyed the salmon slayfest before me. These women can fish, and I loved every rod-bending, reel-peeling moment of it! And just like that, there it was again! My rod went to knocking and since we were all catching fish, I decided oh yes, this one I will answer. As I lifted and positioned my rod, no sooner than I was ready for action the fish screamed off, peeling a huge amount of Power Pro off my Tekota 500LC with ease. Into the depths she went! There was no doubt early in the fight. I was just a’shaking, both inside and out! These fish are so strong! In the wildest of water, I was amazed I was able to battle the fish and not traumatize my friends by falling overboard. As I tired out the fish, David declared, “There’s your second Chinook, Sara!” I got a good look
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FISHING at the fish before she took off once more, and he was right. I had a moment of panic come over me, but told myself, “Please keep it together, Sara, and land this fish!” Chasing fall Chinook for the past four runs hadn’t always been easy. At times I wanted to bang my head against the jetty rocks as I wondered why the fish continued to elude me – especially after hearing they are the easiest of the kings to catch! So in those final cranks down to the water and what felt like a never-ending lift to the sky while staying close to the edge of the boat, it hit me. As David scooped that baby up a tidal wave of happiness crashed throughout my entire being and I did not really know how to react. Shaking! Screaming! In total disbelief staring at that stunningly beautiful fish, I hugged David vigorously, I am sure! Thanking him as I continued to freak out, trembling with joy and heart-
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What made Dearden’s coho extra special was that she caught it after rigging up her herring herself, “a priceless and truly game-changing moment in the journey for Gretchen and the deck-handing she is passionately pursuing today,” writes Ichtertz. (SARA ICHTERTZ)
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charters & Guides pumping adrenaline, I celebrated with my ladies! And in that moment I knew what that desire for fall Chinook I had been chasing for years felt like. It felt damn good and all at once I realized I was not a horrible salmon fisher. I truly believe I was meant to share my first two-fish limit of fall Chinook with these people. Their love, their laughter, their encouragement, their hugs – just them, and all that they are to me. That was by far one of the happiest moments I have ever felt since choosing to pursue the rivers. Being a woman, so often I put others before myself, as it comes quite naturally to do so. But this limit of salmon that was four runs in the making was for me! I realize it’s OK to do the things in life you truly desire to do. When we do this, we are functioning at our best for those who matter most. That is a good thing! Moments like this help me continue to believe that I should trust in my journey, as if it were a choice. Anytime I get to be out on the water, whether it is in my big backyard or traveling many a mile, I am where I belong. I know how rare it is to live a life where you truly get to pursue your passions and I will never ever take it for granted, nor be anything other than grateful.
EACH WOMAN ON the boat that day holds a special place in my heart. Sharing that day with them means more to me than any of them will truly ever know. But I know, and I am thankful. Having Billie say yes to the road trip was wonderful. Getting her back out on the water not only meant a lot to me but her too. That was beautiful, because seeing joy in others feeds my soul. Watching her back in her element, fighting those salmon with conviction, Billie was living in the moment – despite being pumped full of Dramamine! As blue skies began to appear on the horizon her rod went off yet again and I could see it. She was happy. Smiling from ear to ear, this fish was
charters & Guides hers, on her rod! As fate would have it she had a beauty on the line and if she had anything to say about it, she was bringing that baby home for supper. She was gathered. She was calm. She fought that fish with finesse and made easy work of him. That king didn’t stand a chance. I saw a side of Billie that day I had never seen before, and I will never forget it. As I share this story through my eyes, I can’t help but wonder what David’s eyes saw and what his heart felt as we ladies listened up and slayed, doing his finely tuned work justice! I know that when you truly love something, and you pass that love on by sharing it with others, you are in fact winning at life! Whether we were to measure his success in terms of takedowns and fish landed (I honestly do not know how many, but it was a lot!) or the individual growth each of us achieved while fishing with him, the man is a success. I hope he realizes just how much he means to each of us who shares time on the water with him. The fact that September is here once more has me feeling almost scared to see what awaits us. That day was epic – and worthy of that word! I try not to use it too often simply because not all days are. Reflecting upon that incredible day and the year that followed, I realize more so than ever that the things in life that come too easily to me are rarely worth it. Yet the things in life I work hardest for, never giving up despite wanting to at times, are indeed the things that are worth it. The rivers continue to amaze, intrigue and call me to them. They empower me, all while allowing me to pour my passions for life fully into them. In choosing to pursue passion I have found this undeniable purpose that helps me see. My heart is on the river and I couldn’t change it, even if I tried. NS Editor’s note: For more on Sara’s adventures, see For The Love Of The Tug on Facebook.
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Rogue Kings By Kayak
It’s not just power boaters who can get in on the good Chinook bite at the mouth of the Rogue River. With two-way traffic keeping wakes down, kayak anglers can work the famed salmon fishery here, but should be wary of north winds, which can make things tough. (CHRIS HYDE)
N
amed by miners in the late 1800s, Gold Beach is better known today for a different type of THE KAYAK GUYS precious metal: chrome. B Chris By Chriis H Hyde yde d The Rogue estuary Chinook salmon fishery is one of Oregon’s worst kept secrets. Each fall, hundreds of anglers descend on the mouth of the Rogue River, dreaming of trophy-sized Chinook. Invest enough time on the river and your chance at a 40-pounder will present itself. Just make sure that your landing net is up to the task when opportunity finally knocks. For kayak anglers, the Rogue estuary is a dream. Water temps range from the mid60s to the low 70s, allowing the use of lighter base layers beneath your immersion gear. Power boats troll both ways, which means no boat wakes and minimal threat of being
hit by transiting boats. Watch out, however, for the famous jet boat tours entering the river from the marina. They motor over to the Highway 101 bridge for a quick photo before blasting off on their tour.
TACKLE The Rogue Bait Rig is the most common set-up used to take these fish. Consisting of a small spinner blade, size 2 single front hook and a size 2 rear treble threaded through an anchovy, this rig is irresistible to Rogue salmon. With average depths of no more than 15 feet, 2.5 ounces of lead is enough to get your presentation in the zone. Your first stop should be Lex’s Landing, to pick up some of Larry Prestininzi’s handtied Rogue River Rigs. If you ask nicely, Larry will even demonstrate how to thread your bait before sending you on your way. Don’t forget to leave a tip in his tip jar.
I met Larry while working in Gold Beach years ago. Every day I’d cross the bridge, watching the boats below, until finally I couldn’t bear to just watch any longer. One evening after work, I went down to Lex’s Landing, where I first met Larry. I explained that I knew nothing of the fishery but I wanted to try my luck from a kayak. He seemed doubtful of my abilities but helped me anyway. At the ramp, he showed me how to thread my anchovy and I quickly went on my way. I headed toward the bridge with no expectations, but just as I passed under the bridge my rod doubled over. I was in shock at this point, as I had only been on the water for three minutes. A short but intense fight ended with an ocean-fresh Chinook in my lap. Larry met me at the ramp with a look of disbelief that I will never forget. He took a picture of me holding my first Rogue Chinook before I headed home.
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COLUMN
Author Chris Hyde shows off one of his Rogue kings, posing in front of the bait and tackle shop where he learned how to tie up a Rogue Bait Rig. (CHRIS HYDE)
LOCATION Choosing where to start once you’ve left the dock at Lex’s Landing can be daunting. Most anglers concentrate their efforts across the river, near the mouth of Indian Creek, during the incoming tide. On the outgoing tide, they’ll head below the Isaac Lee Patterson Bridge and fish from just outside Jot’s Resort all the way to the ocean. Here, the fleet will cram into two or three lanes of traffic along the north jetty. Let the tide be your guide. On my second outing on the Rogue, luck found me in almost the same spot just below the bridge. This time the fish put up more of a fight, but eventually I found myself looking at a 22-pound ocean-fresh Chinook in my lap. Back at the ramp, Larry met me with the same look of bewilderment. Two days in a row, two anchovies, and two fish. Larry again took my picture before I headed home.
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COLUMN
Some of the biggest kings landed each year come out of this Southern Oregon system, and September is one of the two best months to hit it for meaty slabs like this. (CHRIS HYDE)
You won’t want to miss out on the Rogue this season. State managers are forecasting an “exceptional return of Chinook,” and have opened it for two-rod fishing with the validation. (CHRIS HYDE) that canvases the river, harassing pinnipeds with “seal bombs.” When nets start flying, the patrol boat is quick to the scene to help increase the lucky anglers’ odds.
WORD OF WARNING Beware the north wind! It can be a nightmare for all anglers on the river, but spend enough time on the Rogue and you’ll learn how to beat the worst of the wind. The prevailing winds nuke everything in the open sections of the river near the mouth. Tucking into the north jetty can provide an escape during the outgoing tide. Fish in front of Jot’s Resort on the incoming tide to get a break from the wind. Check the local forecast to figure out the trend of the wind. Wind speeds of 30 mph with 40 mph gusts are common. That type of wind is no fun for kayak anglers, so plan your trips accordingly. Despite the distance from home, the heavy winds and the countless boats, I find myself drawn back to the Rogue this time of year for a chance to tangle with my next personal-best Chinook salmon. NS 78 Northwest Sportsman
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FROM THEUltragreen VAULT 12-pound-test
FROM THE VAULT: Hover Fishing Set-up NOTES Hover fishing borrows a little from many forms of fishing – back-bouncing, drift fishing and bobber fishing – and ties them all together. Suspend your bait just off the bottom, or where your fish finder shows Chinook are holding. Use enough lead to keep your baits directly under the boat and pay attention to your rod tip. Most hover anglers keep their rod tips at a slight angle downward, and 6 to 10 inches above the surface of the water. Oftentimes a Chinook will just lightly pick up your eggs, mouth them repeatedly and move on, so when you detect any weight on your bait, set the hook! –Andy Schneider
50-pound braid mainline Weight slider with large duolock snap 8mm bead Six-bead chain swivel
48-inch, 25-pound fluorocarbon leader 2- to 5-ounce cannonball sinker
2/0 barbless octopus hook, dyed shrimp-cured egg cocktail
(ANDY SCHNEIDER)
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COLUMN
Time To Get Your Coho Mojo On!
With popular coho derbies back on tap this month, advice from author Terry Wiest, here with a $1,500 fish landed during a North Kitsap Puget Sound Anglers event several years back, could pay off. (TERRY WIEST)
I
f you’ve been struggling this year in Puget Sound to punch your salmon card, don’t fret, as history tells us that WIESTSIDER September is by far the most productive By Terry Wiest month from Sekiu around to Whidbey Island down to Tacoma and Olympia. Even though we haven’t had much of a coho fishery the last couple of years, consider 2015. That season we caught more than 142,000, 51,000 of which were landed off the Strait of Juan de Fuca port and 45,000 came from Marine Area 9. And of those, 31,000 and 32,000, respectively, were hooked in the month of September!
ALTHOUGH COHO SEEM to become lockjawed once they hit the rivers, the opposite is true in the salt. They are on a feed-
ing frenzy, trying to stuff their belly full of goodies to bulk up for their spawning run – a bonus for us anglers. The first thing you’ll need to do when targeting coho is locate them. Seeing birds or bait is a sure sign that there are fish around. Another thing to look for is tide rips. Coho love these little gifts of nature, as they stir up the bait, making for easy free meals. Most anglers think of coho as surface dwellers. During the early mornings and late evenings this is true, as most will be found within the top 30 feet of the water column. But as the sun comes out, coho are not afraid to dive. I generally set up lines 30, 60 and 90 feet down after the sun comes out, then experiment until either I see fish on the sonar or catch one, then adjust accordingly. Where there’s one, there are more. One I caught that also won the North Kitsap Puget Sound Anglers Coho Derby (and $1,500) was
down 150 feet on the downrigger in 200 feet of water, around noon. While Chinook love structure and being close to shore, coho are more unpredictable. They like the shipping lanes coming in from the ocean, but won’t hesitate to tuck in behind a point where it’s easy to ambush bait.
SPEAKING OF BAIT, we need to figure out how to make our presentations look like it in order to get them on the bite. Trolling a cut-plug herring (red or green label) that spins like a bullet is about as close to looking like bait as you can get, since that’s what it is. The tighter and faster the better, with a trolling speed of 2 knots or more. I use 2/0 hooks for red- and 3/0 for green-label herring (yes, both front and back hooks the same size). If you are searching for coho, using a flasher definitely helps. But if you’ve found them and there is a good bite, I would omit
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COLUMN the flasher and just fish the herring naked, as it’s a much better fight. I also like to either brine my herring (if it’s frozen) or dye it (if I can get it live). Pautzke Fire Brine and Fire Dye in blue or green are my go-to products and are dummy proof. About the only way to mess up is to dye items other than the bait.
HERE’S THE CATCH on bait: It’s expensive! Especially when the bite is on. Back in 2015 in Sekiu, my fishing buddy and I went through seven dozen herring before noon one day, with each herring accounting for a fish, either caught, released or missed. The next day we brought out the spoons. Spoons are coho-catching machines. They work at most speeds and are the choice of most commercial anglers. The machining process is so precise that the exact bend needed to give the spoon the correct action is in each spoon. No need to tune them like
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a plug. Silver Horde has even switched to sickle hooks, which in my opinion stick and hold better than other models of hooks that are available today. Speaking of Silver Horde, their Kingfisher Lite in cookies and cream should be on every boat – heck, every line, they’re that good. Luhr Jensen Coyotes in cop car and army truck and the Gibbs Delta Clendon Stewart spoon in 50/50 are also incredible coho slayers. If you really like using a flasher, and there are many anglers who must have them on, the Silver Horde Ace Hi Fly in green splatterback or purple haze have been producing lots of coho the last several years. While you are using a flasher, might as well try a Wicked Lure too. They are dynamite in the rivers and equally as impressive in the salt.
but again if you’re on the fish, leave the flasher in the boat. I prefer a downrigger because I can control the depth and it also sets the hook for me. If you don’t have ’riggers, don’t worry. Two to 4 ounces of lead works fine. Just count the number of “pulls” from the reel to the first eye so you can be consistent once you hook a fish. And if the coho are near the surface, a great way to fish for them is to put your presentation back in the prop wash. Something about the churning of the water attracts them and many times they’ll slam your presentation just behind the boat. Coho fishing can be spectacular. Let’s hope 2018 is one of those years! NS
I LIKE MY presentation to be back away from the boat 50 feet or more. With a flasher, I’ll run a 32-inch-long, 40- to 60-pound-test leader with Ace Hi Flies or Wicked Lures. When using bait or a spoon behind a flasher, I’ll use a 50-inch-long, 20-pound-test leader,
Editor’s note: Terry J. Wiest is the author of Steelhead University: Your Guide to Salmon & Steelhead Success and Float-Fishing for Salmon & Steelhead, and is the owner of Steelhead University, SteelheadU.com.
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COLUMN This is a good month to get the kids out hunting, whether chasing grouse that open up Sept. 1, waterfowl on successive weekends later on or upland birds Sept. 22-23. (JASON BROOKS)
Outdoor Ops For Kids Shine In September
S
eptember is a time for Northwest sportsmen to pass along the tradition of the outdoors. From SOUTH SOUND the opening day of By Jason Brooks grouse season to youth-only hunts and fall salmon fishing on our local rivers and Puget Sound, the weather is nice and the game is plentiful. School is back in session and it’s not always in an institution of desks, notebooks, and recess.
SEPT. 1 MARKS the statewide grouse opener. These tasty birds are not the smartest game, but can make for a great day afield with a young hunter. Finding birds is as easy as listening to a football game on Saturday and Sunday afternoons while cruising logging roads as the birds peck for gravel. After flushing, they will usually land on a nearby branch and the shot is easy. Both of my boys, as well as myself, learned to hunt by chasing after grouse. The heart-thumping flush
and the search for the perched bird will be memories for any young hunter to pass along in the future. The Elbe Hills, Capitol and Tahuya State Forests are public lands that South Sound hunters should try for the first few weeks of the season. Afterwards, move up towards Forest Service lands in eastern Lewis County as pressure in the state forests will thin out the “easy” birds quickly. Blue grouse like ridgelines and higher elevations. Hiking old logging roads and ridgetop trails, as well as scouring huckleberry and blueberry fields, can be productive. Ruffies are the more common kind of grouse found in Western Washington. They prefer cool thickets of alders with creeks running through the bottoms. The birds primarily feed on insects and forage plants and when you flush one, be sure to look around as they tend to group up. It is not uncommon to find them in the same areas, as they don’t travel far. If you flush some, be sure to return to that area at a later time and you will likely find more birds. There is
a particular corner on a logging road where my son Ryan has taken several ruffed grouse over the years. Each time we come to that bend, we slow down and look carefully for birds.
AS THE MONTH hits midstride, fall coho will be found cruising along the many beaches and points of Puget Sound. Nearly 120,000 are predicted to return south of the Narrows Bridges. Public fishing piers provide an opportunity close to home for the angler who lives in the city, and those not old enough to drive can take a public bus to many of the structures with fishing gear in hand. Pitching spoons, Buzz Bombs, and floating a herring under a slip float will all work along the beaches just outside of the kelp line. For those in the South Sound, give the Narrows Park, Point Evans, Sunset Beach, and Penrose State Park a try for coho heading to the net pens near Squaxin Island. The Nisqually and Puyallup get a decent run of coho and both offer a great fishery. Managers expect nearly 23,000 nwsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018
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For South Sound Chinook, the Puyallup, where Mike Freeman caught this one in 2015, and its tributary the Carbon as well as the Nisqually to the south are worth drift fishing. (YO-ZURI PHOTO CONTEST)
back to the latter river. The Nisqually will cost you some money for access at Rainbow Bend Campground. Otherwise you can nudge in with the crowds at the state access site. The muddy Puyallup has a lot of public access for bankbound anglers. Drift fishing rocket red Lil’ Corkies by Yakima Bait Company with a piece of cerise yarn soaked in Shrimp Super Gel by Pro-Cure is one of the more popular techniques for both rivers. The tiny Carbon, a Puyallup tributary near Orting, opens Sept. 1 as well. This river has good bank access, but be sure not to trespass on the private grounds in housing developments. Chinook bound for the state hatchery – 12,000 are expected back to the Puyallup – are found near the mouth of Voight Creek where it dumps into the Carbon. The creek itself is closed but on the Carbon, find a deep run and float eggs and sand shrimp cocktails to catch kings, as well as coho. Spoons and spinners work well too, especially on cool or rainy days, as the river will clear up as the glacial silt settles. Hot and sunny days
melt the glacier, which causes the water to muddy and visibility to drop.
YOUTH BIRD HUNTING starts Saturday, Sept. 22 with a new split season for waterfowl this year. Kids get their first crack at ducks and geese in Western Washington that weekend, and the following one on the Eastside. Those who prefer to hunt upland birds only get one weekend, Sept. 22-23. These are great hunts, regardless of whether you decide to stay in Western Washington and chase released pheasants or head east and go after ringnecks, quail and chukar. The youth weekends are also a great time to give your hunting dog some practice with the young hunters. Extra birds are put out at Department of Fish and Wildlife release sites to give young hunters more opportunities and this means dogs get a good workout too. My boys and my Vizsla look forward to this weekend every year. Be sure to check WDFW regulations regarding shot requirements, as most release sites require nontoxic shot, just like when waterfowling. A 20-gauge shotgun with a modified choke and size 6 shot in low brass shells make for a fun day and the younger hunters won’t become gun shy. For hunting in Eastern Washington a small game license is needed. A Western Washington pheasant license is needed to hunt this side of the Cascades. If you plan on trying to hunt Joint Base LewisMcChord, then you, the youth hunter, and the firearms must be registered on the base and you’ll need to take a mandatory class at the Northwest Adventure Center (jblmmwr.com/nw_adv_ctr.html). SEPTEMBER’S A MONTH for learning, teaching, and mentoring. It is time to pass it along and take a young hunter or angler out to enjoy everything the South Sound and beyond offers. A long walk through the forest can yield some grouse and get you thinking about fall hunts for bigger fare. Casting from the beach or riverbank for coho is a great way to spend a morning. And the best part about September is that the days are long enough you can do both on the same day – fish in the morning and hunt in the evening! NS
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September’s For The Birds (And Coho, Crabs, Bucks)
T
he frenzy begins at the stroke of midnight when August turns to By Doug Huddle September and the hunting and fishing dance card suddenly expands seemingly exponentially across the North Sound. Upland gamebirds immediately pop up on the fair game calendar starting with grouse and doves, later to be joined by special September directed hunts for resident Canada geese. Nearing the end of the month, “reserved” opportunities for youth bird hunts (waterfowl and upland birds) and senior hunters (pheasants) are scheduled too. Most but not all Northwest Washington flowing freshwater venues open, or in some cases reinitialize, for fall’s salmon stanzas. Summer personal-use crabbing’s swansong is center stage on northern inland waters until the end of the month. And bowhunters have the field for their first crack at deer, joining brethren already out for black bear and cougar.
NORTH SOUND
GUNNING FOR BIRDS Back when a 25-shell box of paper waterfowl loads cost $2.99, the old annual Warshall’s Sporting Goods catalogues, circa 1957, touted Whatcom County as one of the best Western Washington venues in which to hunt pheasants. There were lots of grain-cropped farm fields with wide brushy hedgerows and road frontages tilled by owner/growers who could afford to have a generous sense of public spirit. The birds nested in the periphery of relatively undisturbed numerous and widely scattered woodlots and along drainage corridors shielded by multi-level canopies of groundcover vegetation,
No, it isn’t like the good old days, but for Whatcom and Skagit County wingshooters, between grouse, early geese, youth- and senior-only bird hunts, and release-site and stray migrators there are opportunities to be had in early fall. Roy Fowles and Jim Wyatt and their gun dogs Sophie and Gypsy show off a ringneck taken at Lake Terrell Wildlife Area. (BROWNING PHOTO CONTEST) thick native shrubbery all shaded by both deciduous and evergreen trees. Where imposing cover was lighter, the old bounty on coyotes and fox coupled with more limited domestic dog and cat distribution helped foster plentiful feral ringneck populations. When and where those attributes didn’t converge, occasional releases of descendant generation young pheasants purchased as chicks from feed-andseed or hardware stores supplemented natural production. All these things led to the highly complementary notes in the Seattlebased Warshall’s coveted yearly bible of Washington hunting and fishing intelligence. Fast forward a few decades and the advent of property line to property line tillage, conversion of woodlots to more fields and an uptick in both dog/cat, coyote and avian predators all militated to knock Whatcom County from the ranks of premier pheasant hunting places.
And the coming double whammy of big box chain outlet retailing and mail cum internet ordering has come to decimate the ranks of the home-grown sporting goods shops in larger urban markets doing well enough to publish such tomes. Ahem, having gotten a little venting and yearning out of my system, inaugural hunts for youth and seniors are still well-served in Whatcom County by the spacious multi-unit public wildlife areas west of Ferndale. Youth get first crack at the 2018 crop of ringnecks on September’s penultimate weekend, with as many as 500 birds set to be released in the Lake Terrell and Intalco Units for that two-day hunt. Following on heels of that reserved opportunity, the five-day-long seniors’ hunt also will have a similar array of birds to chase in both areas. I’m also told that blinds at Terrell proper will be decked out for the Sept. 2223 youth weekend as well, with some local
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ducks and a few geese hopefully on hand. Skagit County’s Samish Unit, northwest of Burlington, also will be dressed out with pheasants for the young and the ageless, but will not be open for upland bird hunting thereafter. In Island County, pheasants for the weekend youth hunt will be released only on the upper Seaplane Base (NAS Whidbey) site, near Oak Harbor, but in the week thereafter, seniors may chase birds on both the Seaplane site as well as the Zylstra Road release site west of Oak Harbor. You must call the Navy office to be cleared to hunt its lands. September goose hunting, limited to just Canadas (dark geese), targets birds that stay the summer and breed, and Whatcom County’s northwestern tier from Sumas west to Birch Bay is perhaps the best place to lay in an early holiday honker or two. Scouting is a must to first find these geese on their night roosts for good measure so they can be followed out to their midday dining fields. Overnight rafting waters include Lakes Terrell and Wiser – the former you may hunt, the latter not – and the marine venues of Birch Bay and Drayton Harbor. It’s a virtual lock that you’ll need entry permission from the owner of the destination farm field as well. Occasionally, enterprising hunters will find honkers up in the North Fork Nooksack around Kendall, or on the upper end of Baker Lake or Lake Shannon, both of which offer refuge as well as grass forage on which to graze. Passing specklebellies and snow geese are not on the list of targetable waterfowl in September as some hunters here in past years have discovered – the hard way. I won’t argue a whit that Central Washington is the place to go for native mourning doves. However, if just a few is all you want and the petrol bill and leave time are daunting impediments to an Okanogan or Yakima safari, western Whatcom County and the farming area at the mouth of the Stillaguamish River are two locales where mourning doves can be found. Native doves are less numerous in Whatcom now because of the transition to standing berry crops, but in the area south of Stanwood, unique winter rye 98 Northwest Sportsman
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seed crops prevail and the doves can make a living there. While rules conserve the native wild doves here, the ballistic gloves are off, so to speak, when it comes to Eurasian collared doves that have become the bane of wild bird feeders in the Whatcom County lowlands. When the mourning season coincides, visual differentiation isn’t as important but if you gun for the unwanted interlopers after Oct. 31, to be on the safe side, be sure you can tell the difference. Unlike their Eastern Washington visiting cousins, I’ve seen mournings stay well into October here. As for band-tailed pigeons, this briefest of seasons for a relatively scarce native migratory game bird is mainly an incidental snap shot at a “passer” while after grouse up in the blueberry fields of the North Cascade foothills.
FRESHWATER SALMON I’ll say it now: I liked it better when rivers opened all at the same time for fall salmon. Anglers merely had to learn runtiming idiosyncrasies of each stock in each river and pick reaches where they’d be most likely to intercept their quarry. That said, here’s a rundown of September stream options mainly for coho and cultured-origin Chinook. Be sure to check the regs for keeper details so you don’t inadvertently retain either a fish you’re not supposed to or more than your daily legal share. Also check to see if you’re allowed (in several reaches) to retain a bonus salmon or two. Samish River: Opened the first of August from its legal mouth (Bayview-Edison Road) upstream to the Interstate 5 bridges targeting the return of its hatchery-bred fall Chinook. This year’s going to be even more challenging than usual because the Samish’s seasonal flow volume is about 30 percent below average and will stay that way until prolonged rainfall returns. That’ll shrink the width and depth of the low tide channel even more down at BayviewEdison Road Bridge as well as farther upstream at the Farm-to-Market and Thomas Road crossings. The rule stands that only mouth-hooked Chinook may be kept and that’s not as difficult to do as it sounds, if you offer a cured-egg cluster
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COLUMN drifted under a float. That’s a technique that is most efficiently done in the middle parts of tide changes, when there’s some depth to the lower river. Also do remember that if you fish below the Bayview-Edison span, it’s good for a citation for fishing closed waters. Skagit system: Fall angling for salmon begins the first of September in reaches from its forks’ mouths upstream to the Cascade River Road bridge at Marblemount, with the system’s wild and hatchery coho returns the sole focus of the 2018 fishery. Anglers plying reaches below the Baker River in September can avoid having to sweep the breadth of the Skagit’s broad waters for passage fish if they follow one simple dictate: Locate one of that section’s major tributaries and ply the deeper slot races and back eddy waters just downstream. The September Skagit can be continuously muddy with glacial flour through hot periods, so carrying a broader
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FIRST SHOT AT BLACKTAILS Almost anywhere you turn in the lowlands of Whatcom County, blacktail deer abound and hasty prospecting now for a private-land opportunity could lead to a September hunting windfall, or at the least get the prep work out of the way for a more deliberate and successful late bow season. In the Cascade foothills, deer sign this spring was moderate to heavy after the snow came off, so the population seems robust on state and federal timberlands in Whatcom and Skagit Counties. But with the amount of traffic on logging roads nowadays, these deer don’t often show themselves on thoroughfares. However, search them out and you may be stunned at just how close they do loiter. Canyon Creek Road (Forest Service Road 31) on the Mt. Baker Ranger District in Whatcom County is expected to be open after a three-year closure and provides entrée to some excellent and “well-rested” high-country blacktail stalking grounds. If you intend to set up a September stand on the national forest, it’s advisable to check with the ranger district office on the status of the road leading to your intended area, as repair and maintenance activities necessitating closures both ramp up in the fall. –DH array of bright metallic spoons and spinners, spanning the range of available sizes, is in order. Also don’t overlook the provocative effect of nightcrawlers coupled with a noisy spinning blade, à la the old walleye combo. I’m told they work but have never
tried spin-casting buck-tailed flies akin to the ones popular among saltchuck silver fishers. But unlike pullbacks for coho spoons, with buck-taileds or large motor oil marabous retrieves must be lightning fast to trigger a coho strike. Nooksack system: Opens in phases beginning the first of September on
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COLUMN the mainstem from the Lummi Nation boundary up to the monument behind the Mt. Baker School District bus barn. Openings of the short Maggie’s and Cooper’s Rocks reach of the mainstem and the lower mouth-to-Maple Creek reach of the North Fork follow on Oct. 1. The lower third of the Nooksack’s South Fork is the last to open Oct. 15, and solely targets the bountiful returns of cultured coho to the Lummi’s Skookum Creek Hatchery. In the Nooksack’s mainstem, I’m an ardent user of the venerable Dick Nite spoon and simply shift up in size on the days when visibility at depth is lacking. But don’t be tempted to upsize the siwash hook on the smallest Dickys. With a sharp point, the manufacturer-supplied small hooks will stick a coho kype easily and you won’t spoil the little spoon’s wiggle. Successful coho fishers also throw a wide variety of other hardware for silvers including, to account for river current velocity, No. 4 or No. 5 Mepps Aglia or Blue
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After several years of restrictions on North Sound coho fishing, this season features more chances to get after the salmon. Brad Johnson caught this piggy on a locally made spinner in pearl bubble gum. (YO-ZURI PHOTO CONTEST)
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Fox Vibrax weighted spinners. Rooster Tails also are a popular coho offering that are known to provoke strikes from bull trout too. Whatcom Creek: Opened the first of August from its legal mouth up to the footbridge below the Prospect Street U.S. Post Office building, though not much in the way of salmon shows until mid-October in even years. The Maritime Heritage Park wall, where the creek meets the saltchuck, and the lagoon down to the Holly Street bridge is where the action is. Dakota Creek: The short tidewateraffected lower reach won’t open until the first of October. Then its wild coho run are the main target. Stilly system: Closed throughout its basin to the taking of salmon this fall.
CRABBING CONTINUES Dungeness crab populations in our northern inland waters sustain remarkably well under intense commercial and personal-use fisheries. The last summer inland waters to close for the latter (Sept. 30) are those of Marine Area 7. Some of the most lucrative places to catch September Dungies are off Cherry Point, the Eliza Island-Point Francis shelf of Bellingham Bay and the eastern 6-fathom drop-off line of Padilla Bay. The Cherry Point option offers a unique approach for personal watercraft off Gulf Road, where cartopper dinghies, canoes and kayaks launched right off the beach can access a good pot-fishing bottom. The other two popular crabbing grounds require bigger, more seaworthy craft from which to set and retrieve pots. Wading the shallows with a hoop off Chuckanut’s state park beach at Larrabee is a tempting venture on a minus tide as well. Remember that from Sept. 1 on, Dungies go on the winter catch reporting card.
NEXT ISSUE Hunting high for general season deer, more river coho options, North Sound pheasant. NS Editor’s note: Doug Huddle lives in Bellingham, is retired from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and has been writing about hunting and fishing in the Northwest for more than 35 years. 104 Northwest Sportsman
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FISHING
Vaunted Waters
The Blackfoot’s famous for its link to the Maclean novella, but also a bit of a sleeper for fishermen. Here’s why and how to haunt the Montana river for its big browns, as well as rainbows and cutthroat. With headwaters near the continental divide, the famous Blackfoot River flows for 140 miles through Western Montana, providing good fishing that gets better as summer wanes and fall approaches. Anglers fish from a drift boat on the lower end. (MIKE WRIGHT)
By Mike Wright
U
ntil 1992, the Blackfoot River in Western Montana was, for the most part, unheard of by most out-of-state anglers. However, when Norman Maclean’s book A River Runs Through It was released as a film, anglers from all over began to take an interest in the Blackfoot (or the Big Blackfoot, as Maclean termed it). What most people didn’t realize is that even though the river was the centerpiece of the story, none of the film was actually shot on it. When Robert Redford learned that the Blackfoot had been placed on the 10 Most Endangered Rivers list, he chose to film the river and fishing scenes
on the Gallatin and nearby streams. A large-scale mining operation proposed for an area near the headwaters of the Blackfoot had the potential of poisoning the entire river. A statewide initiative banning the practice of cyanide gold mining killed the bid. It did, however, point out the need to do a better job of protecting this pristine waterway. A cooperative effort between the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, concerned organizations and private landowners led to the creation of the Blackfoot River Recreational Corridor. This agreement has led to much greater access to the river, plus added methods to lessen the impact from heavy usage.
The removal of the Milltown Dam on the Clark Fork (Northwest Sportsman, August 2016) has also had a positive effect on the Blackfoot fishery, by aiding in fish migration, improving spawning grounds and reducing, to a large degree, northern pike predation that was prevalent when the dam was in place. As state fisheries biologist David Schmetterling put it, “The pike would hide in the weeds near the mouth of the river and feed heavily on the trout attempting to migrate into or out of the Blackfoot.” Today, the Blackfoot is one of the most popular rivers in Montana for fishing, floating and as a scenic getaway. Even though nwsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018
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FISHING the river is an outstanding fishery, it does not receive the angling pressure of some other notable streams in the Treasure State. In fact, the majority of use is for nonfishing purposes, such as floating. With so many other blue-ribbon fisheries in rather close proximity, the Blackfoot is a bit of a sleeper. That’s just fine with many of the local anglers. In addition the river is 130 miles in length, with good fishing opportunities in nearly all sections, which helps cut down crowding and alleviates the possibility of combat fishing. The Blackfoot, which served as the setting for Norman Maclean’s semiautobiographical A River Runs Through It about he and his brother, hosts rainbow, westslope cutthroat, brown and bull trout, with the Teutonic variety reaching particularly noteworthy sizes in some sections. Target undercut banks and logjams for browns of 20-plus inches. (USFWS)
THE BLACKFOOT ORIGINATES near the crest of the continental divide, a relatively short distance from the town of Lincoln. This uppermost stretch of the river undoubtedly contains the poorest fishing opportunities of any section. In particularly dry years, levels in late summer can be reduced to small holes, with very
little running water between these fish refuges. In harsh winters these holes can freeze solid, killing any fish unfortunate enough to be trapped in these pools.
Conditions improve dramatically below Lincoln, as numerous small streams add water to the river. In the area from Lincoln to Cedar Meadows Fishing Access the river
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FISHING Woolly Buggers in black or brown, Muddler Minnows and large streamers fished near the bank or around submerged wood piles can be very effective. For lure fishermen, a size 2 gold Mepps and flashiercolored Panther Martins are always good choices. For bait anglers, the old reliable “garden hackle” floated near the bank or logjam would be a good strategy. A factor to keep in mind is that in some areas of this section, access may be an issue. Low water levels late in the summer can also be a problem, especially for float fishing.
twists, turns and meanders for 43 miles through timbered forests, meadows and lower mountains and hills. This section does not receive a great deal of pressure by either fishermen or floaters. The stream flow is a bit on the slow side, with a sizeable number of logjams and other obstacles, which make floating the river difficult. For anglers it is a considerable distance from a major population center and the fishing closer to Missoula is better. This section is dominated by brown trout, which are not as gullible as rainbow, cutthroat or brook trout and can be very selective. The number of browns is just average, but the size isn’t. Fish of 20 inches or more are fairly common in this section. The meandering nature of the river makes for an abundance of undercut banks and sizeable number of logjams, both of which make for ideal brown trout habitat.
MOVING DOWNSTREAM FROM Cedar Meadows there are some major changes to the flow. In this 25mile stretch the river does far less meandering and is much straighter than the upstream section. The overall gradient increases slightly and water flows also increase. Although there are still sections of slower moving
water, they are not nearly as extensive as those further upstream. Browns still predominate, but rainbows begin to appear in the faster moving water in the lower portions of this section. Unfortunately there are no fishing access sites and only one bridge crossing that accommodates wade fishermen. The North Fork of the Blackfoot enters the main river at a spot known as River Junction, where there’s an FWP campground and fishing access site. It’s here that the river sees a considerable change in stream flow, fish species and fishing technique. From River Junction downstream rainbows become the dominant species, and there’s much better dry fly action than further upstream. With a steeper gradient the water flow is much quicker and the ’bows are much more inclined to dine on insects floating on the surface. Patterns such as Adams, Sparkle Duns, Parachute Adams and, earlier in the
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FISHING season, blue-wing olive imitations and Elk Hair and Goddard Caddisses have proven to be very effective. Nymph fishing is also popular and very effective in this lower section. Hare’s Ears, Pheasant Tails and Prince Nymphs in sizes 14 and smaller work very well, especially when fished around the back side of large rocks or drifted through pools. In those years when spring runoff comes early and the water has cleared, a salmonfly hatch occurs in late May and lasts through a good portion of June. During this period, Sofa Pillows, orange-bodied Stimulators and other salmonfly imitations work well, as do standard nymph patterns such as a Bitch Creek or George’s Brown. A golden stonefly hatch also
Author Mike Wright calls this scene typical for the lower Blackfoot – large boulders that create long, deep holes in which lurk “some very nice-sized trout.” (MIKE WRIGHT)
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occurs on the bottom section of the Blackfoot. It begins toward the end of the salmonfly hatch and continues for a short time after it wraps up. A Yellow Sally dry fly is very popular during this period, as are golden stone nymph patterns. The salmonfly and golden stone hatches end around the River Junction area.
THE BLACKFOOT REALLY picks up intensity 12 miles downstream from River Junction, where it enters a 5-mile stretch known as the Box Canyon section. Here, there is a significant increase in water speed, insect activity and fish numbers. Numerous large boulders protrude above the surface and produce long, deeper pools, which in turn make excellent spots for trout to hide and
pick off insects floating by on each side of the rock. Although there is a couple of miles of slower moving water through a small valley section below Box Canyon, for the most part the area downstream to Johnsrud contains numerous rapids, long pools and pocket water. The trout in this section are more aggressive feeders and will eagerly take dry flies floated near them. In slower water the fish can be more selective and take their time in deciding whether they want the offering. In faster flows they don’t have that luxury; they only have a split second to decide whether it is food or something else. If they decide it is food, they launch an allout attack, guaranteed to make an angler’s heart skip a beat. As one might expect, this is
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FISHING
Fly fishing got a real boost when Mclean’s novella came out as a movie, and you’d be wise to pack salmonfly imitations in spring, stoneflies in summer, grasshopper patterns in late summer and October caddis in fall. Lures are also viable options, as well as bait, though the latter is restricted around certain feeder streams. (MIKE WRIGHT)
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probably the most popular section for flyrodders, but on the flip side, lots of recreational floaters and whitewater rafters hit it too. This is especially true on warm summer days when, as the fly shops term it, the bikini hatch takes place. To avoid the distractions and interruptions, serious anglers may want to plan their outings for the middle of the week rather than the weekend. From Box Canyon to the river’s mouth, much of the Blackfoot runs through heavily timbered, rocky terrain, with large boulders littering the streambed, often creating long, deep holes that frequently attract some very nice-sized trout. In many of these areas it might be advisable for fly fishermen to use larger or weighted flies, along with sink-tip line to reach the deeper recesses. The hardware enthusiast may want to add a couple split shots near the head of the lure to achieve the same objective. It would also be advisable to use a 5- or 6-weight fly rod and at least 3X tippet in case a very large brown, rainbow or even a bull trout decides to take you up on your offering.
EVEN BEFORE THE classic movie renewed interest in the Blackfoot, FWP, the Blackfoot Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Blackfoot Challenge, Clearwater Resource Council along with several other government and private organizations had been working on a wild trout restoration plan to improve the river’s fishery. The first step in this restoration process was to reduce the overharvesting of native trout, then reduce the degradation of riparian and aquatic habitat in tributaries and finally to clean up toxic waste from mining activities near the headwaters of the river. In 1990, basinwide protective fishing regulations were put in place, followed by restoration studies on 180 tributaries. Seventy-eight of the tribs are slated for fisheries improvement projects and of those, 28 are approaching final restoration stages. In the North Fork project, the
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Coho are notoriously finicky biters and the hot technique last year does not always translate to fish in the box this year. This is why a successful angler will have plenty in his arsenal to switch it up and find out what is working now. Plugs like Brad’s Wigglers retrieved slowly are popular for early season fish, as well as pink hoochie spinners swept across riffles and flat areas. For medium water, try green frog or 50/50 Dick Nites in size 0 or 1. Twitching ½ - to 5/8-oz. jigs has become quite popular lately and, of course, fresh eggs naturally drifted near the bottom can be tough to beat as well. Side drifting has really taken off for silvers too, but most still drop anchor due to the coho’s reputation for stacking up in specific spots. Popular rivers to try your hand at these fish are the Snohomish, Skagit, Chehalis and tributaries, Cowlitz, and even some of the Peninsula-area rivers such as the Sol Duc. Always refer to the WDFW website for up-to-date regulations and closures. Have fun and be safe out there! This message brought to you by the anglers and boat builders at Wooldridge Boats.
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plan is to replace hybrid trout with native westslope cutthroat and bull trout, rather than an emphasis on habitat restoration. This could be a real asset to the Blackfoot fishery, but does go against Montana’s philosophy of not stocking streams. The third major restoration project on the Blackfoot was to address probably the most significant threat to the ecological health of the river, which was the cleanup of toxic mine waste near the headwaters. In 2015, 400,000 cubic yards of toxic mine waste was removed and when the project is completed, a total of 860,000 cubic yards of toxic waste will have been placed in an off-site repository and 3 miles of stream will be restored to its natural form and function. All this should bring the Blackfoot back to its former glory and provide outstanding fishing opportunities for generations of avid anglers and other recreationalists.
ONE OF THE best times to fish the Blackfoot is in the fall. After Labor Day, the recreational floating public puts away their rafts and tubes and turns to other pursuits, leaving the river to hardcore fishermen. The browns become more active and stack up in preparation for spawning. In addition, the cooling waters increase the feeding activity of rainbows, cutthroat as well as bull trout. (Intentionally fishing for the Endangered Species Act-listed char is not allowed on the Blackfoot, though four other waters in the region allow it with a special state permit.) ’Hoppers are also out in large numbers in late summer through early fall and make a sizable meal for hungry fish. And by early fall October caddis also began to appear, which tends to put the trout into a minor feeding frenzy. No matter when you visit the Blackfoot River, it is virtually guaranteed you will be impressed. Hard work on the part of numerous state and federal agencies, along with private groups, have helped make the river a Northwest treasure. NS 118 Northwest Sportsman
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HUNTING
Duck Luck Favors The Prepared
With Northwest waterfowl seasons nearing, it’s time to dust off, fix gear that’s been in storage since last winter. Preparing for the waterfowl season now should, hopefully, lead to better and more shot opportunities at greenheads in the marshes of Idaho, Oregon and Washington in the coming months. (JULIA JOHNSON)
By M.D. Johnson
I
’ll admit it. I’m huge on checklists. Why? For starters, there’s my type-A Personality. That little guy lives on checklists; notes that include simple reminders like get up and wear pants. You know; silly things like that. Seriously, though, I’ve always been big on lists. And the older I get, the more I seem to forget, so lists – anti-forget charts – have become somewhat of a necessity, particularly in those situations where there’s a lot of George Carlin’s “stuff” involved. So I make lists to keep my stuff organized. And to make sure I have all the stuff I need for any given occasion. Like the duck opener. Despite having survived 44 duck seasons now, I still make lists. I still
establish what I call a staging area. It’s an all-too-rare space of uncluttered floor in the shop where I can lay everything out, look it over, touch it, feel it, make sure it’s as it should be, and then, satisfied as only a duck hunter can be when surveying his stuff, put it into a seemingly unorganized pile prior to it all going into the pickup. But anyway, back to the list. Each year before the opening bell, I make the aforementioned list. Sometimes, there are lists within the lists – lists not necessarily of material stuff, but of things I have to do before I can starting gathering and evaluating the stuff. So this, because I’m absolutely certain y’all are really intrigued now, is what my list looks like during the days leading up to opening day. Note: Your list may differ, as your
stuff isn’t going to be the same as my stuff. Similar, it’s likely, but still different. Not to worry; it’s all good.
SCOUTING Scouting, to me, deserves a list of its own. With scouting, I make an outline of landowners I need to revisit, new landowners I need to contact, and public lands I need to research, either physically or electronically, i.e. via Google Earth. Myself, I try to take care of the entire season in one fell swoop; that is, I’m not thinking just of opening day, but from Day One to Day 107, plus the late February/March goose season. With this list, I’m asking myself questions: Where am I going to go opening day? Do I have Plans B/C/D should something or someone throw a wrench into my Plan A? Has this nwsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018
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HUNTING public area changed? Does this refuge no longer allow waterfowl hunting, but this one does? There is no such thing as too much preplanning when it comes to scouting. Seventy-five percent of successful waterfowling is scouting and preparation; the rest is repetition and familiarization with the equipment.
SHOTGUNS – NEW Don’t feel bad. It’s not the first time a duck hunter arrived at the blind on opening morning with that new smokepole, only to discover the gun’s capable of holding four, five, six shotshells. Oh, yeah. I can remember a certain outdoor writer who decided to take an older Mossberg pump afield one morning. A home defense gun. Don’t know why; all I know is that this particular piece could house a lot of bullets. So it was stop, unload, disassemble, measure, carve, insert maple stick, reassemble, reload, and continue. It happens. Got a new duck gun? Congrats. Opening day, though, isn’t the time to be wishing for the owner’s manual. Get to know the piece before taking it afield. I know; it sounds elemental, but you’d be surprised at the number of ’fowlers who hit the blind, blind – with a gun they don’t know. Take it apart. Put it back together. Go to the trap range. Heaven forbid, pattern it. Change the choke tube. Remove that green glowing bead from the muzzle. Get familiar with it.
SHOTGUNS – OLD I have a variety of shotguns I use for waterfowl hunting, the choice depending on where I’m going and what I’m doing; rather, what I’m hunting. All are excellent firearms, and all I’m very familiar with. That said, I’ll nonetheless inspect the chosen one prior to the opener as if it were new. Work the action. A light film of graphite on high-friction points. Corrosion X if I’m headed to the salt, which I usually am on the opener. If I’m working with new (untried) 122 Northwest Sportsman
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Yeah, there will be a few slow minutes in the blind this season between flights, but this month’s a good time to do scouting and check up on possible changes at the refuge, farm or waterway you hunt. At the very least, the signal might be better than when you’re hunkered in the mud without a bird in sight. (JULIA JOHNSON)
2018-19 DUCK SEASONS Idaho: Area 1 (all counties except Valley, western half of Power and Southeast Idaho): Oct. 13-Jan. 25; Area 2: Oct. 6-Jan. 18. Oregon: Zone 1 (Western, Northcentral counties): Oct. 13-28, Oct. 31-Jan. 27; Zone 2 (Central, Eastern counties): Oct. 6-Nov. 25, Nov. 28-Jan. 20; Statewide youth weekend: Sept. 22-23; Note: several state and federal refuges also offer youth hunting days; see the regs for dates, application deadlines. Washington: Oct. 13-31, Nov. 3-Jan. 27; Westside youth weekend: Sept. 22-23; Eastside youth weekend: Sept. 29-30. –NWS
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HUNTING ammunition, a trip to the pattern board is in order. Is the choke tube snug? Funny how the gun gremlins can get into the cases during the offseason and fiddle with stuff, eh?
AMMUNITION Sure, I’ve had ’fowlers sheepishly tell me they’ve gotten to the blind and discovered they’d left their ammunition sitting on the workbench. Ridiculous? I had a friend, a brilliant man and an outdoor writer, tell me he’d gotten to the parking lot at Public Area X, and realized he’d forgotten his shotgun. Twice. Strange, but true. I don’t pack a lot of ammunition into the field anymore. Oh, I used to. As a kid, my ammo pouch – yes, I said pouch – weighed as much or more than I did. Three boxes, minimum. Then again, my Pop said I was the only 10-year-old who could make a single-shot Topper 20-gauge sound
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“Let’s face it,” writes author M.D. Johnson, “Playing with duck decoys is just plain fun.” He makes a point of inspecting each of his for damage, checking their cords and lines for nicks, and cleaning and, if need be, retouching them, as well as reconsidering if his decoy bags are still up to snuff. (JULIA JOHNSON)
like it was belt-fed. A compliment, I’m sure. Today, the duck opener will see me with a box of No. 5 steel, plus a handful of No. 6 swatter loads. If geese are a possibility, I’ll throw in a 10-pack of Hevi-Shot Hevi-X No. 2s. Either way, I do put “Ammo” on my list.
APPAREL Excessive, perhaps, but I do lay out what I’m going to wear on the opener – a decision based almost entirely on the weather, and just a tad bit of sentiment. It’s all in one place, or one pile as the case may
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HUNTING be, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not wandering around looking for this or that while I should be consuming coffee and hitting the bathroom before leaving. Waders get a thorough preseason check. Pockets are emptied, rips are patched, and quick-clips are replaced.
CALLS AND ACCESSORIES My calls get broken down, ďŹ&#x201A;ushed, and dried at the end of each season. And they all get a look and a test-drive before theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re actually taken into the ďŹ eld for the opener. My working lanyard gets a good once-over for the possibility of compromised clips, knots, or fasteners. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to be losing any calls.
SEATTLE D.U. CHAPTER BANQUET SOON Seattle Chapter members of Ducks Unlimited are looking to build on their phenomenal support of waterfowl and their habitat with another blockbuster annual banquet early next month. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve raised more over the past decade than any other Ducks Unlimited chapter in the US,â&#x20AC;? says organizer and longtime waterfowler Greg James. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are the ďŹ rst chapter to go over $300,000 net at a dinner, and then the ďŹ rst one to go over $400,000 net.â&#x20AC;? In 2016, Seattle DU was honored with a place on the Chairmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Roll of Honor chapters list, for those that raise $250,000 to $1 million. Last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s banquet raised $400,000 for wetlands conservation, James says, and as a DU newsletter states, the chapterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eďŹ&#x20AC;orts are showing â&#x20AC;&#x153;that the Emerald City can be known for something other than coďŹ&#x20AC;ee, jets, and software.â&#x20AC;? The 2018 edition is set for Oct. 4, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Seattleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fairmont Olympic Hotel. The evening features a ďŹ ve-star dinner, wines, entertainment and an auction. For more information, contact Karin Dow-Martinez at (206) 524-5300 or email her at karin@kdmanagement.net. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;NWS
BLIND BAG My blind bag gets packed, unpacked, and repacked a dozen times before the opener. Kid at Christmas syndrome, I reckon. Still, the process does give me a chance to make sure everything â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and then some â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is in there.
Speaking of which, my routine consists of laying everything out, and then one by one assigning each a place inside. I put my hands on it, and I know itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in there. For the sake of brevity,
once packed and ready, my blind bag will consist of the following: Shotshells; call lanyard; ďŹ rst aid kit; canine kit; toilet paper; snacks; hydration; Waka Waka Portable Power
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HUNTING (recharging cell phone); camo compact; brown jersey gloves; headlamp; multitool; duck strap/bird tote; choke tube wrench; and dog biscuits.
CANINE CONSIDERATIONS Sadie Mae, the black girl dog, has been working every day all summer in preparation for the opener. She still has her moments, but for the most part, she’s as ready as I am. But there’s a list for her, too. She does wear an e-collar afield, which will be fully charged. The transmitter houses a new 9-volt battery. On the list is a back-up e-collar, as well as a short field leash, the latter packed in my blind bag, the former in the truck. Also in my blind bag is a small canine first aid bundle consisting of a military suture kit, Super Glue, medical and duct tape, surgical shears, alcohol pads, gauze, and tweezers.
PRESEASON DECOY PREPARATION Let’s face it. Playing with duck decoys
Along with reading our gun dog columnist Scott Haugen’s advice on prepping pups for waterfowl season, Johnson adds making sure e-collars are fully charged and you develop a canine first aid kit, in case something bad happens to your hunting partner in the field. (JULIA JOHNSON)
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After it’s all said and done, preseason prep will lead to a more successful and enjoyable hunt for you and your companions. (JULIA JOHNSON)
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is just plain fun. I don’t care how many years you’ve done it, it’s still a hell of a lot better than mowing the grass or going to Aunt Trudy’s wedding. Her fourth. Here are a couple dos and don’ts to help you get your rig ready for opening day. Do check each and every clip, swivel, knot, and attachment point between the weight and the decoy. While you’re at it, check the whole anchor line. Replace anything that even looks slightly sketchy. There’s nothing worse than spending precious hunting time chasing down decoys; that is, unless it’s losing decoys. Don’t scrub your plastics with any type of soap or cleanser. I’m told – Fred Zink – soaps can enhance the UV characteristics of some plastics, making your decoys glow like a lightning bug’s butt. Cool water and a bristle brush only. Do clean your decoys. Real kills ducks, especially late-season ducks, and dirty decoys don’t look real. Don’t skimp on decoy bags. It may sound strange, but a quality decoy bag can be one of the best investments you make as a waterfowler. Ordering online may save a few dollars, but do you really know what you’re buying? Best is to try several out in-store before buying. Is it the right size? Does it stand up and stay open? Does it sink when empty? If I’m packing it on my back, is it comfortable? Do inspect each decoy for cracks, shot holes, splits, or other damage. Nothing says “guys hiding in the bushes!” to a flock of mallards better than a dozen half-sunk, listing decoys scattered throughout the spread. If it all seems excessive, and there’s that word again, let me tell you it’s not. It’s easy to forget things in the chaos that is the days and hours before the opening bell; however, a simple list – write it down/mark it off – can help keep those omissions to the barest of minimums, not to mention virtually eliminating embarrassing questions to your hunting buddies, such as, “Dude! You seen my gun?” Ugh! NS
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Hunting Turkeys With Dogs
I
n coming weeks, fall turkey season opens in many Western states. While spring gobblers get most of the attention when it comes to hunting GUN DOGGIN’ 101 these grand birds, it’s By Scott Haugen autumn when dog owners should get excited. Many states such as Oregon and Idaho but not Washington allow dogs to be used when hunting fall turkey, and this can be done multiple ways. If you have a pup you’re looking to get on as many hunts as possible this fall, there’s nothing better to teach them the ways of the pursuit than heading out for Rios and Merriam’s.
BIG BIRDS, TURKEYS also carry a lot of scent. This scent not only comes from the birds themselves but their tracks. If you’ve never seen a gun dog track a turkey, you’re missing out, for the amount of scent the big birds leave on the ground with each step seems to be an olfactory overload for dogs. The big, heavily scented tracks are easy for a pup or older pooch to follow, for a long way, and there’s no better bird I’ve found to quickly capture the interest of a dog and get it tracking. Turkeys also tend to hang out in big flocks this time of year, meaning there’s even more scent being dispersed. Compare a band of 50 turkeys to a covey of quail, or a single rooster pheasant, and it’s easy to see why the species provides a good opportunity for teaching a dog how to hunt. THERE ARE MULTIPLE ways I like hunting fall turkeys with my pudelpointers, but when they were both pups, I focused on tracking. By getting the pups on a track, working into the wind, they built upon the already innate instincts of following a bird by smelling where it walked. The
Most Western states allow the use of dogs when hunting fall turkeys. Here, author Scott Haugen’s pudelpointer Echo brings in a hen – also legal to hunt in most states in the fall – that she flushed then retrieved. (SCOTT HAUGEN) bigger the flocks walking through an area, the better. Sometimes, however, a lone tom could be tracked, and that was often better, as it still laid down a lot of scent, and helped the dogs focus on one bird rather than get distracted by a couple dozen. When tracked, turkeys will either run, take wing or hold tight, like quail. When the big birds hunker down, your pup will go on point, as with any other birds. This is good to reinforce their holding a point, and your working into shooting position.
AS THE PUP matures, you’ll be able to take your fall turkey hunting to another level. I often use my dogs, now adults,
to intentionally flush a flock of turkeys, breaking them up in all directions. First, wait for the flock to feed uphill, hopefully beneath some trees or some type of heavy cover. Next, have the dog mark the flock, then send it on its way, as fast as it will run. This goes against what many upland hunters are used to, as you don’t normally want the dogs to chase and flush birds, but turkeys are different, and your dog will realize this the more it hunts. Turkeys have a hard time flying uphill, so when the dog approaches them, they’ll often take cover in nearby brush or hop into the trees directly overhead. This is when the dog will stop and either hold point on the ground or in the trees.
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COLUMN If the flock breaks up, you can find a bird to shoot that the dog is pointing, or call your dog back, sit at the base of a fat tree, and 15 minutes later start calling the flock back together using assembly calls, like the kee-kee. As the flock reunites in front of you, keep your dog motionless by restraining its urge to chase the birds. You’ll be amazed at how well a disciplined dog can achieve this.
ONCE A TURKEY is down, the pup might even be able to retrieve it. Hen turkeys can be shot in most states in the fall season. Hens are easier for dogs to retrieve, and they are also excellent eating. I like skinning hens we take in the fall and mounting them for decoys to be used in the spring; the versatile meat can be cooked many ways. Big toms can be a little more of a mouthful for dogs to retrieve, but can be done as the dog matures, as long as the tom isn’t too big. If you head shoot a turkey, let it get the flopping out of the way before sending a dog in to retrieve it. Often a flopping turkey breaks a wing or leg, and the hollow bones are extremely sharp. This fall, consider getting your pup on a turkey hunt. The amount of scent these big birds emit makes them the perfect bird to teach pups how to use the wind and track. Once your pup gets the hang of it, you’ll be looking forward to fall turkey season more than the spring hunts, and so will your dog. NS Editor’s note: Signed copies of Scott’s Haugen’s best-selling Western Turkey Hunting: Strategies For All Levels can be ordered at scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Turkeys are big and carry a lot of scent, making them the perfect bird to hunt in the fall with your dog. Haugen’s dog Kona tracked this big tom then held it on point amid a briar patch. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
Fall turkey hunting can be one of the best experiences for your gun dog. Be sure and save the wings from your turkey to use in training. Hens can be skinned for use as decoys in spring. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
FALL TURKEY SEASONS Idaho: Panhandle GMUs 1, 2 (except Farragut SP, WMA) 3, 4, 4A, 5, 6, 8, 8A, 10A, 11, 11A, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18: Aug 30-Dec. 31; Bitterroot-Selway GMUs 10, 12, 16A, 17, 19, 20: Aug. 30-Oct. 9; Southeast GMUs 73, 74, 75, 77, 78: Sept. 15-Oct. 31; elsewhere: by permit only. Oregon: Westside WMUs 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30: Oct. 15-Dec. 31; Blue Mountains WMUs 36, 37, 38, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 54, 55, 65: Oct. 6-Nov. 30 (Dec. 1-31 private land by permission only); Northeast WMUs 51, 52 (outside Starkey enclosure), 53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64: Oct. 6-Nov. 30 (Dec. 1-31 private land by permission only). Washington: Northeast, Southeast GMUs 101-154, 162-186: Sept. 1-Dec. 31; Klickitat GMUs 382, 388, 568-578: Sept. 22-Oct. 12. Notes: Washington doesn’t allow hunting turkeys with dogs. See your state’s regs for season limits and other rules. –NWS 134 Northwest Sportsman
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Author Buzz Ramsey’s taken his share of good bucks from Washington and Oregon, and for the past two falls he’s carved out time to hunt mule deer in Idaho as well. While trophycaliber animals have eluded him so far, the Gem State hasn’t sent him home to a winter of tag soup yet. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
Hunting Boise River Deer F or over 30 years I’ve chased deer in both Oregon and Washington, but the last two seaBUZZ sons I added Idaho RAMSEY to my buck-hunting schedule. And while doing so cuts into the amount of time I have to hunt my home state of Washington, what motivates me to hunt Idaho is the thought of bagging a large mule deer. Don’t get me wrong: Just like other states, Idaho mule deer come in all sizes, with far more young deer than mature ones. The difference is that the genetics in
some areas has the potential to produce trophy-class bucks. Sure, drawing a coveted late-season tag in a trophy area (in any Western state) would represent the very best opportunity, but with no luck in the draw (I’ll keep trying) I’ve settled on hunting the Boise River watershed, where history shows trophy potential. According to Ryan Hatfield’s book Idaho’s Greatest Mule Deer, Boise County ranked second in the number of Boone and Crockett-sized mule deer harvested prior to 1985, only exceeded by Adams County, to the north. For the time period between 1985 and 2003 Boise County ranked sixth in Idaho for the number of B&C trophies. And while the drop is like-
ly due to large numbers of deer being harvested before reaching their potential due to the availability of over-the-counter tags, there remain a few big boys.
REGIONAL WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST Michelle Kemner’s (208-475-2761) winter population surveys suggest Unit 39 contains nearly 30,000 deer. Hunter reports confirmed by game station checks say 13,211 riflemen harvested over 3,000 deer, with 2,697 being bucks and 34 percent of those four-points or better in size. And while there are undoubtedly a few 30-inchers taken each and every year, check stations suggest you shouldn’t pass up a 26- to 28-incher thinking you might find
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Ramsey hunts the Boise River drainage, which funnels mule deer from their summer haunts in the high country to winter range on the outskirts of Idaho’s capitol. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
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a bigger one. In addition, providing you line yourself up with the migration, you should see plenty of mule deer supporting 20-inch-wide head gear. Kemner also shared that the November rut archery-only hunt in Unit 39 is very popular, with 1,821 hunters participating. And while their success isn’t super high due to the difficulty of the sneak, hunters see plenty of deer, with 65 percent of the harvest being four-points or better.
TWO FALLS AGO, while sitting at the top of a finger ridge, I watched as a heavy, wide five-point buck worked toward my position. The handsome buck was evading other hunters running the canyon bottom 2 miles from my high-elevation vantage point. The buck was closing the distance, from over 1,000 yards when I first spotted him to near 400, before crossing over and into a finger draw to my left. This wasn’t a problem, as I only had to walk 40 yards to view that sparsely covered draw and the buck I figured was still moving in my direction. My optimism faded quicker than a salmon lost at the net when I heard another hunter shoot. Sure, I was disappointed but not upset, as the other hunter deserved the wide five-point buck as much as I did. After all, he’d hiked for hours to reach the top of the backcountry basin, just like me. Last season, I struggled during the first week, as I found only a small number of does and young bucks at low elevation and no deer at high elevation – even though I’d made a three-day/two-night swing into the high country. Evidently, the migration had started prior to my arrival and the deer had moved out of their high-elevation haunts but hadn’t yet arrived low. It was on the last day of the season, after I’d traveled 25 miles to what might be considered midelevation, that I found good numbers of deer, including a tall six-pointer that, after a two-hour stalk, got away unscathed. AS YOU MIGHT guess, the basin of the Boise River, which consists of North, Middle and South Forks, is a large expanse of ground where deer migrate from the high country to the lowlands located near the capitol city with the same name to winter. What draws hunters to the drainage is its closeness to
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COLUMN Pay attention to the weather to determine where to hunt, as early snows will push the deer out of the heights. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
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Idaho’s largest city and the availability of over-the-counter tags. What keeps many away is a combination of steep terrain (the only flat ground I saw was where the road followed the river) and the often-elusive deer that can be here one day and gone the next due to them migrating from 20 to 80 miles during the fall. As an example, along the Middle Fork Boise River, it’s roughly 63 miles from where Forest Service Road 268 (sometimes called the Arrowrock Road) leaves Highway 21 (east of Boise) to the historic mining town of Atlanta. As the deer migrate out of the high country toward the suburbs of Boise they can be found anywhere along this mostly steep, mountainous terrain, most of which is public ground managed by the U.S. Forest Service. If you intend to hunt this area, your success is often dependent on figuring out where the deer might be along this migration corridor with elevations ranging from 3,000 feet to more than 6,000 feet. For example, the elevation at Atlanta is 5,383 feet as compared to 3,219 feet at Arrowrock Reservoir. “Most of the deer can be found spread across the high country, at the top of drainages during the summer months, but will begin to move lower in elevation if and when early snow hits,” Kemner shares. “It’s important to realize, when snow events happen during September or October the deer will disappear from the high country.” This is sound advice, given that the general rifle season runs Oct. 10-31.
WHILE I HAVEN’T had to eat my Idaho tag, thanks to harvesting last-day deer the past two seasons, I did spot fine-looking five- and six-pointers during both adventures. Perhaps I’ll connect on a big boy during what will be my third season hunting the Boise River watershed. After all, I’m more familiar with the landscape and will be keeping a close eye on the weather in advance of my trip to help me zero in on where the deer herd might be located. Perhaps I’ll see you hunting there too? NS
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Editor’s note: The author is a brand manager and part of the management team at Yakima Bait. Like Buzz on Facebook.
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Plan Ahead For 5LÁH 'HHU 6HDVRQV P
erhaps once in my life, maybe twice, have I taken a buck on opening day, so coming back to camp after a first full ON TARGET day’s hunt is no time By Dave Workman to panic. What did you learn on the opener? You did pay attention to deer trails, and if you found a spring or some other spot where deer can get a cool drink, was the ground chewed up with traffic, or did it appear the neighborhood had been abandoned? Several years ago while hunting a knob along the Manastash Creek drainage in Eastern Washington’s Kittitas County, the opener found me about 100 yards into a timber stand next to an older clearcut. There was a tiny creek and a game trail, and where the two intersected, it looked like every deer in the county had been there during the previous 24 hours. The next morning found me sitting next to a tree trunk about a hundred yards above where the game trail entered the clearcut, watching patiently through my binocular when there was a movement off to the right. It was slow, careful and there were antlers involved. Down went the binocular and up came my .257 Roberts topped by a 3-9X Bushnell. No more than 30 seconds later, my deer season was over and I was gingerly walking downhill to where my buck had, by no plan of my own, tumbled out to the dead end of a logging spur. After a quick field dressing, my tagged buck was carefully covered by some branches and ferns, and I began the 25-minute hike back around to my camp via the road to get my gear loaded and zip back up around to retrieve my buck. I was
Frank Workman, author Dave Workman’s brother, made a remarkable shot on this Snake River muley buck on Day Two of the 2016 season. It didn’t happen without sighting his rifle, a Ruger in .308 Winchester, and spending the entire previous day learning the terrain. (RICK FINCH)
home, 75 miles away, by 10 a.m. It doesn’t always work out that way, but by paying attention to dead giveaways like a well-traveled game highway your odds improve dramatically. Here are some things that might just help out come October.
1) MAKE SURE YOUR rifle is properly sighted in. Did I mention that the mule deer buck in the above story fell to a single shot, through the ticker, where it was aimed? That didn’t happen by accident, but by spending plenty of time at the range and loading bench. That buck
was slammed by a 100-grain blue-tipped Nosler Ballistic Tip propelled by a carefully measured charge of IMR 4895. A whitetail buck I conked during a late hunt two years earlier tumbled to the same rifle at about a hundred yards, that time to a Speer 100-grain boattail. One shot, through the pump, downhill. September is the time to get really serious about zeroing your rifle. Don’t procrastinate about this. Go to the range, shoot your rifle over a sandbag rest, make sure the bullets go where you intend. While zeroing your rifle, limit your
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strings to three shots so the barrel doesn’t get hot. You will be firing that first, and hopefully only, shot from a cold barrel.
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2) READ THE CALENDAR. How many of you knew already that the new moon is Oct. 8, the first quarter arrives Oct. 16 and the full moon arrives on Oct. 24? Northwest weather being what it is – last season on the opener I drove to my camp on Teanaway Ridge in a Friday night snowfall, and hunted in 12 inches of the stuff the following morning – you might be lucky with a heavy overcast, but don’t bet on it. If the moon is out and weather is mild, deer could be feeding all night and headed for bed at the crack of dawn. If it is snowing, or pouring down rain, however, they’ll likely hunker down and wait for breakfast. Part of the plan, of course, is to study the weather forecast. Be prepared for suddenly changing conditions and have a plan B in the event plan A doesn’t work.
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3) SCOUT YOUR INTENDED hunting area. Use September to hunt some grouse in your chosen deer hunting area and watch for signs of the presence of whitetails, blacktails or muleys. No matter how many times I write about this, some people never let it sink in. I want to notch a tag,
but more importantly, I want my readers to score. You’ll be out hiking around, presumably, and that helps get your legs and lungs in shape. Study maps; make sure your compass and/or GPS are working properly.
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As you drive to and from your intended camp, study the banks on either side of the road. Look for fresh evidence of deer movement. Deer don’t generally walk along roads, but they cross them all the time, often along the same routes to and from feeding/bedding areas day after day. You can follow these trails and find those feeding and bedding areas (hint: they’ll be some distance away from the road, so be prepared to take a hike).
4) PAY ATTENTION TO the news. September is notorious for forest fires in the Northwest. At least twice in my lifetime, fire has forced a change of plans. That applies to wildlife, as well. If a fire strikes in or near your hunting ground, be ready to use that plan B campsite and also focus on areas to where the displaced game might have moved; places where there is food, water and cover. You can monitor wildfire activity through official sources such as inciweb.
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‘PHEASANTENNIAL’ COMING UP If you’ve been planning a pheasant hunting trip to South Dakota, 2019 could be the year to do it. Scott Linden’s Wingshooting USA is promoting a thing dubbed the “Pheasantennial” in Redfield, S.D. It’s been 100 years since the first ringneck hunt in that community, and you will likely be hearing a lot about it from now through next June. The town of Redfield has launched a marketing effort to encourage wingshooters to make perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime upland shotgunning adventure, with travel information and more. Linden chatted with On Target several weeks ago, and we’re planning to stay in touch and hopefully make the trek east to South Dakota next year. Wingshooting USA is the official series of the National Shooting Sports Foundation and it’s been on the air for 10 years, airing on 11 networks and cable systems, including Destination America, Discovery and Pursuit. –DW
nwcg.gov and gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc, and track hot spots through mappingsupport. com/p2/gissurfer.php.
KNOW THE OPENERS Washington’s general rifle buck season opens Oct. 13. You will find specifics on
Westside and Eastside closing dates, and regs on whitetail and mule deer, on Page 17 of the regulations pamphlet (which, in my opinion, is way too big and too complicated). The late hunt for coastal blacktails runs Nov. 15-18, details on Page 17. The late hunt for whitetails runs Nov.
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10-19, again details on Page 17. Oregon’s Cascade buck seasons run Sept. 29-Oct. 12 (first hunt) and Oct. 20Nov. 2 (second hunt). Oregon’s Coastal buck hunt runs Sept. 29-Nov. 2. For all details, see Page 26. The eastern two-thirds of the state operate under a “controlled season” scheme. For those details, consult the regulations on Pages 30-35. In Idaho, Oct. 10 marks the start of rifle buck season, with end dates varying by unit. If you haven’t got a regs pamphlet (I always have at least two, including one that I leave in my truck), get one now and update your maps if necessary.
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With wildfires burning across the Northwest, it will pay to keep track of information on them in case you need to change your hunting season plans. The Uno Peak fire sends up a plume of smoke in 2017. (INCIWEB)
A lot of hunters are moving toward the use of ammunition that does not use lead in bullets. Handloaders long ago discovered nonlead projectiles and they are available from Barnes (TSX), Hornady (GMX), Nosler (E-Tip), Cutting Edge and others. I’ve shot the unleaded bullets from Nosler and Barnes, and they perform well with little discernible differences in accuracy. Whether made from copper or gilding metal or some other nonlead material, such bullets deliver knockdown energy to game. Follow the recommended loads in the loading manual and you’re in business. NS
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COLUMN
If you get a buck or other animal down this time of year, you should be ready to get it cooling as fast as possible to avoid meat spoilage. (TOM KOERNER/USFWS)
Hot Day, Cold Trail K
ris and I came around the corner on our ATVs and spotted several small bucks CHEF IN THE WILD standing in the twoBy Randy King track road. Brake lights came on quickly as my brother slid to a stop and got off his vehicle. Quickly he unstrapped his bow, nocked an arrow and climbed up the hillside. The group kept staring at me, my four-wheeler still running. Soon the deer grew worried and began to climb towards my brother. He had drawn his bow and was waiting. The first buck in the line took an arrow behind the shoulder. I watched as the buck kicked his hind legs out like a rodeo horse. The arrow passed all the way through him. The other bucks made a mad dash out of there. Kris marked the spot of his shot, and marked the spot the deer had been standing. We drove off, not wanting to pressure the buck into running. About an hour later we came back with
reinforcements. A whole clan of us was going to follow the blood trail. It would be a great learning opportunity for the kids. Tracking wounded deer is a skill you have to practice to really learn. We had my dad, two of my sons, and my niece in tow. But the trail was dry. We could only find tiny drops, a rub on sage and a “maybe” on some leaves. It was slow tracking. Eventually we found the buck, but by then it had been four hours. The sun was baking down on us and the ticks were crawling all over the dead deer. The hide looked mottled, like the buck had had mange as he was transitioning from his summer to winter hide. It was Sept. 1 and my brother had filled his deer tag, again.
WHILE I WANTED to be congratulatory, I was worried on the inside. My smile hid concerns that this little buck was going to have some meat loss and a little taint. The shot had been a little farther back than either of us had thought. It must have quartered when Kris shot. Heat and time
are not the friends of quality meat. We worked quickly to get the skin off the buck and had him in bags in no time. He was hanging in the shade back at camp but the ambient air temperature was nearly 80 degrees. It was classic opening archery season. The temp needed to drop. Badly. Soon the flies found the meat. The swarming began in earnest. It was decided: time to take the buck off the hill and get him on ice. My brother packed up and peeled out. I hoped for no meat loss. A few days later we were cutting the buck up in my kitchen. The meat was fine, but a few sections were a little too “stanky” for both of us. We had to trim more than normal, but only had about 2 extra pounds of meat loss. That lesson was learned, many years ago. Now coolers go up the hill with us, packed full of frozen, water-filled 2-liter soda bottles. They have no other job than to cool off the meat if it’s hot. Meat waste and “funky” taste are not to be trifled with. Prevent it. Get your meat cool as quickly as you can. NS
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NORTHWEST BY SOUTH Southern and Cajun cooking often rely on what is known as the “trinity.” It’s not the father, son and holy spirit, as you might think, but instead a culinary equivalent – onion, celery and bell pepper. The trinity is foundational to many of the classic Southern dishes like gumbo, red beans and rice, crawfish pie and etouffee. Think of it as the Cajun/Creole version of mirepoix – the onion, carrot and celery blend that is ubiquitous in soups and stews from Northern Europe. Like many Cajun and Creole dishes, the term trinity was popularized, outside the South, by Chef Paul Prudhomme out of New Orleans. I was fortunate enough to have met Chef Paul in his last few years, when he was the guest of honor at a chef convention. He was humble and entertained that a chef from Idaho thought he was so great. “Do you cook like me?” Prudhomme asked. “Cajun food? Not really,” I said meekly. “You should try it,” he said smiling and driving his scooter off with a wave. “Yes, Chef” was all I could think to say. The dish itself was historically inspired by leftovers. In the South, this dish was cooked on Mondays, the day most of the laundry was done. So the cook would use the leftover Sunday ham bone as a base and then simmer the red beans while they washed clothes. Now, the dish is served all the time in the South. Classically made with andouille sausage, ham, tasso or even ground meat, the meal has ample protein and carbohydrates to keep a person going for a while. It is a staple in New Orleans, where I had it for the first time. Sitting in a small café on Frenchman’s Street, I ate red beans and rice for lunch. I was nursing a mighty fine hangover and looking for something to cure my ills. The spiciness of the andouille and the stick-to-your-ribs value of the beans woke me from the walking coma and I could function the rest of the day. The Advil and ample water may have played a part too, but I will forever have red beans 152 Northwest Sportsman
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Red beans, rice and venison andouille sausage garnished with green onion stems. (RANDY KING) and rice in my head as hangover food, just like biscuits and gravy. I had sworn to Prudhomme I would learn; now I teach.
Red Beans and Rice OK, so I use canned beans in my recipe. Shoot me if you want. The reason that I do it is convenience. I get home from my day job and want to make dinner. If I had planned better I would have soaked my beans, but often that is not the case. So I used canned beans. I could have lied to you, but this is actually what I made for dinner. So, sorry, not sorry. 4 tablespoons canola oil 1 pound ground deer meat 6 garlic cloves, minced 1 medium onion, diced 1 large rib celery, diced 1 medium red bell pepper, diced 1 teaspoon black pepper 1/ teaspoon cayenne pepper 8 2 teaspoon salt 3 bay leaves 2 teaspoon dried basil ¾ teaspoon rubbed sage 1 cup long grain white rice 3 cups water
4 each small wild game andouille sausage links (see chefrandyking.com for recipe) 2 each 16-ounce cans red beans, drained and rinsed. ¼ cup sliced green onions for garnish Heat on medium a tall-sided Dutch oven or stock pot for three minutes. Next add the oil and the ground meat. Brown the ground meat and cook through. Next add the onion, pepper, celery and garlic. Cook those until the garlic is translucent and the whole pot smells of garlic. Add the seasonings to the pot and stir. Next add the long grain rice and the water. (Do not use short grain rice; look on the package for the distinction. Short grain rice will make paste with this recipe.) Slice and add the andouille to the pot. These often come cooked, so there is no need to add them earlier. Then add the rinsed beans. Cover and simmer until the rice is cooked, about 25 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving. Slice each sausage in half, then scoop about 1.5 cups onto each plate. Add the sausage and garnish with green onions. Enjoy! For more wild game recipes, see chefrandyking.com. –RK
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HUNTING (TIM LAMBERT)
Encounter With A Cougar An Eastern Oregon bowhunter comes face to face with a lion during last fall’s elk season. By Dan Lyons
T
here is no way Dad is ever going to find me. If he can even make it up the steep, rugged ridge, it would surely take a host of others to find me, or my body.
I hate that he will have a helpless feeling when I don’t respond to him hailing me on my handheld radio. He will be scared when I don’t show up at the truck and don’t come out of the woods. My kids and my wife – he will have
to call them and tell them I didn’t show up. They will be devastated. My friends, and hunting buddies too. They would all feel the pain that always accompanies loss and tragedy. So here I am, deciding at this instant between fight or flight, and having nwsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2018
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HUNTING no idea of the outcome of either.
I’VE HUNTED AND been very passionate about it since I was 12. I love everything about hunting, though truth be known, I am not very good at it. I have killed a handful of decent mule deer bucks, a couple whitetail bucks and have a raghorn bull to my credit. Besides a muley that I paid big bucks for through an outfitter in Montana I have had very average success here in the great state of Oregon. Maybe my lack of success is due to the fact that I like the cold beer, the campfire, the relationships with my hunting buddies and the stories as much as I like the actual hunting. Because it’s hard as hell to draw a good deer or elk tag in my state without waiting five years between opportunities, I figured it was time to try archery hunting. Most units in Oregon don’t require a draw for a bow tag, so you can buy both a
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When the temperature starts dropping, these cold mornings really fire the bulls up, so I was eager to get into the woods.
deer and an elk tag over the counter. This is probably due to the fact that killing an animal with a bow and arrow is flat out hard. Despite the texts I receive each fall from smiling hunters holding up their bulls, the many stories I hear, and the videos that make it all look easy, it seems the cards are stacked against us trying to outsmart and outduel a cagey bull with a bow. Still, with no rifle tags on the horizon I decided to go for it and give archery hunting a try. I basically broke the internet doing my research. I went into discussion forums, watched every YouTube video ever made and bought every Primos and Eastman’s hunting DVD in existence. I bought
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some calls, sprayed some elk piss on my boots, and was ready to rock. My father has archery hunted for 25 years and although he’s come close many times, he has never been able to close the deal on a bull. But for sure, even at 73 he was fired up to get out there with me. He is the single best person I know and any time spent with him is a good time. Typically, I rifle hunt with six of my lifelong friends, so this trip had a different feel from the beginning, and I liked it. The plan was to leave Portland on Wednesday at noon, get over there, and hunt Thursday through Sunday and then get back to work and the family. A rancher friend rents a bunkhouse near our hunting area, so we hit the easy
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HUNTING button and spent the $100 per night to not have to deal with a camp.
IT ALWAYS TICKS me off that most hunting articles never tell you where the author was, so I will tell you. We were hunting in Eastern Oregon, north of the town of John Day at the northern end of the Northside Unit and just south of the Middle Fork of the John Day River. This all went down on Sept. 15, 2017. Thursday started and ended with results that I’ve become accustomed to. I walked for what felt like 10 miles over large mountains, through beautiful draws, and across what appeared to be perfect elk country, but besides a few does and fawns, we drove back to the ranch without seeing or hearing a single elk. I thought this time of year they bugled like crazy and all you had to do was locate, stalk, and get ’er done. I had, and have much to learn. A touch of
whiskey, some great conversation and an early bedtime closed down Thursday and we were stoked to try a new area in the morning that I just knew, for sure, would hold some elk. There was frost on Friday and it was flat out cold. After a long, hot summer, it felt like the first touch of fall. My research had told me that when the temperature starts dropping, these cold mornings really fire the bulls up, so I was eager to get into the woods. They were going to be bugling, fighting, and chasing cows, making it way too easy for us. I was where I wanted to be, at the time I wanted to be there. A slow, steady, and quiet hunt coupled with a few perfectly executed cow calls on my Hoochie Mama resulted in zero elk seen and zero elk heard, and from what I could tell, there had never been an elk in this area, ever. The only excitement came when a grouse flushed up 5 feet from me, which resulted in only a minor heart attack.
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Otherwise, it was back to the truck to regroup for an afternoon hunt. Although still in decent shape, Dad is perfectly satisfied driving the truck around as the pick-up man, maybe walking up the draw and patiently waiting for his opportunity, and he is not above a midday nap. After a lifetime of hunting and experience, his passion for killing a bull has waned, but his passions for being out there and being with his son are still on point.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON BROUGHT some wind and some smoke began settling in the valley from a host of wildfires across the state. After seeing a few other hunters in the area, I figured it was time to go to my secret spot, one I was confident no other hunter possessed the required grit needed to get there. Although a difficult hunt that required a straight-up assault of a mountain, the top offered a thicket that I had actually seen elk in before.
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HUNTING Of course, that was during deer season, but there had been a good bull in that group, so I figured this mountaintop thicket was what they were calling home. It was on. I loaded my fanny pack and lined Dad out as to where I would be coming out. I told him I would check in on the radio when I got up there and that it would take three to four hours before I was out. He asked if I wanted to take the .380 pistol to scare off bears and cougars and, because I am a genius, I said no. “I don’t want that extra weight,” I thought. The mountain was no match for me as my excitement and adrenaline got me to the top. I sat for about 15 minutes, sipped some water, and got myself rested and calm to stillhunt this perfect piece of country and stake my claim on a 330-inchclass bull with a whale tail, huge eye guards and massive antlers that reached to the sky. My cow call was
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going to be too much for him to resist and I imagined him running in and offering me a perfect broadside shot at 20 yards. In my new camo, although way too small for me, I blended into the landscape better even than the trees and bushes. My dreams were about to come true. It was hot and hard to be quiet. At 6-foot-7 and 255 pounds, I don’t think I was exactly walking without sound, but I entered the thicket and tiptoed toward my destiny. The trees swayed with the wind now and there was just enough smoke to slightly alter the air and visibility. I snuck into some windfalls. A few game trails crisscrossed the area and I could see a good 30 yards into this elky-looking patch of earth – a perfect spot to sit, work my cow call, and wait. It was playing out exactly as it had in my mind a million times. I backed into a bush, sat down, and blended in perfectly. I nocked an arrow and let the cow call sing its song and bring in
my bull. On all the videos I’d watched, the bulls just came rolling in to the hunter, all the while signalling their excitement with loud shrieks of intent. Nothing. No retorts to my cow call, no snapping of limbs from an approaching bull, no bugles. Nothing but the wind and the eerie calm of this elkless thicket. Thirty minutes was enough, or at least all that I could handle, so I moved my eyes right and carefully scanned my view to see if I could catch a bull sneaking in before I moved on. I scanned center, down in front of me, and slowly scanned left. This is when it all got very real, and it got real quick.
TO MY DIRECT left on the same trail I had walked up and at what I estimate to be 25 to 30 feet sat a cougar, or mountain lion. Whatever you choose to call it, I noticed this one was an adult, it was large, and it scared the absolute sh*t out of me. I’d seen prints, once, but never in my 44 years had I seen a cougar, and now one was standing a pounce away. I was in his domain and from the first instant I knew that he was in control. Yet for the time being it had no idea I was there. It was sitting like a Labrador with his butt on the ground and both front feet planted firm out in front of him. He was broadside to me and had his eyes fixed up the draw. He no doubt smelled me, or had heard my incredible cow calling skills, or maybe he was out for an afternoon stroll, but either way he was right there and for a few seconds I was frozen. If he turned and continued on his trail, he would run directly into me. Time to make a choice. Only a decent-sized windfall separated us. With a cougar tag in my wallet I drew my bow back, but because I was sitting, I couldn’t get high enough over the log or one of its large branches that separated me and Mr. Cougar. No shot. It was time to stand and see how this tale would unfold. My eyes didn’t leave the cat as I started to stand. I believed that when I stood he would see me and hightail it out of there and
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HUNTING go back to being a ghost. This is not what he did. I stood, he squared me up and dropped down, with his belly hugging the ground and his chin maybe an inch off the ground. His eyes were green and they stared right at me. Besides his oddly twitching tail he was perfectly still. To me, he was ready to do what cougars do, which is pounce, grab, bite, rip and kill. It was a good old-fashioned stare-off for 10 seconds and I made the decision that it was time for me to take action versus wait and let him make the first move, which, in my mind meant him ripping my jugular vein out and dragging me to his lair. He was not leaving, he was not scared, and with one pounce I would be dealing with 150 pounds of asskicker and I didn’t see that ending well for me. I drew my bow back and held the 20-yard pin below his chin. Without a 10-yard pin I had to guess more than
I would have liked and due to a slight angle down to him, my only shot was his face or neck. While I want to believe I was holding steady I doubt that was the case. When I squeezed my release, the arrow left the bow and immediately the cat raised his body very slightly. He raised his right front paw and the arrow snuck under his right foot, under his body and skipped safely past his back legs with no contact. A clean miss. Now I was in trouble. He took three stealthy steps toward me, his chin still an inch off the ground. While his tail twitched maniacally, I recall very clearly that his body flat out did not move. Rather, this thing floated up the trail toward me, stealthy, quiet, and in control. He was ready to go and he appeared to me ready to kill. He took those three steps and stopped. He tucked his ears back, showed me his teeth and hissed like a house cat. He was fierce. It’s important to note
that while I am calling him a he, I have no earthly clue if he was a he or a she. Either way, for the first time ever in my life I was scared. I assessed the situation quickly. I was 8 feet away from this son of a gun, holding a bow with no arrow, and absolutely nothing else to fend off this apex critter. With my options limited, I accepted the fact that I was going to, simply put, fist fight a cougar. The odds weren’t good, to say the least. If I was going down, I was going down fighting, so I yanked an arrow from the quiver and held it in my hand. If he pounced, I could stab the arrow into him and then scream, kick, bite, punch, spit – whatever I could to make him not end me. He held his ground, which bought me some time. I waved my arms. I yelled, “Get out of here!” three times. He didn’t twitch or move an inch. I pulled my mesh camo mask down from my face so he could see my eyes. He took another slight step toward me. As he showed me his teeth, I remember thinking, “I wonder what he last ate with those things?” I nocked the arrow and was prepared to pull it back and get one into him on his advance. I just didn’t want to shoot again at this close range because if he pulled his Matrix trick again and dodged my arrow a second time, I felt he would for sure have no choice but to attack. I waited, and I stared back at him, ready for his pounce, and ready for a fight.
I DECIDED TO take a small step backwards. He returned the favor by taking one stealthy step toward me. I took another step back and he obliged again. I knew he was keeping me within a one-pounce distance. I took a third and arrived at a large pine tree. I stepped behind it quickly and peeked around it like you might when playing hide-and-go-seek and he remained in that position, ready to go. I got behind the tree to where he couldn’t see me and hoped like hell he would forget about me. I waited and carefully peered around 162 Northwest Sportsman
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HUNTING the tree again. Still there. I got behind the tree at an angle that he couldn’t see me, then backed up to try to create some space. I picked up a good 10 yards and then looked back toward my new friend. Still there, but now he was standing and no longer in that godforsaken horrible killer pouncing position. I continued to back up and was thankful I could create some space between us. The angle I’d chosen didn’t allow him to see me, so I decided my time to fight was over and it was time for flight. I put my arrow back in the quiver, turned the other direction, and ran as fast as I possibly could up the trail. I had no idea at the time that the absolute last thing you do when you see a cougar is run. I jumped logs and sprinted uphill, and kept looking over my shoulder, sure he was chasing me. I got a decent distance away and stopped, turned around and again prepared to fight. Back down the
trail the cougar was still there, staring at me, standing calmly. I imagine he was laughing at me; my heart was racing at 787 beats per minute, but I could tell his was not. I renocked an arrow. He flicked his huge tail twice, turned to his left and bounded down the canyon, away from me and into the abyss of my thicket. I noticed that his first bound was much longer than the distance that had separated us just moments earlier. With adrenaline still pouring through me I regrouped and again ran as fast as I could up the trail to the top of the mountain, where it opened up. I might have set a land speed record while doing so, but I remember clearly that I was not tired. My lungs did not burn. I was focused and I was acutely aware of my surroundings. Adrenaline had taken over and offered me some juice I had surely never felt before. I now believe the stories of mothers lifting cars to save their children. There is
within us a superhuman element that, as far as I’m concerned, I don’t ever need to experience again.
ONCE I CALMED down and came off the adrenaline rush, I was shaking very badly. I don’t know if I was in shock, or just scared out of my mind, but I remember having to kind of wrap my arms around myself to stop the shaking. I gathered myself and called Dad on the radio. “How about it, Dad, you down there?” “Hey Dannyboy! You bet, just having a cold beer, and I found some
{ } I had no idea at the time that the absolute last thing you do when you see a cougar is run.
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cool rocks out for a walk.” “Awesome, Dad, I will be down there in about 20.” “Sounds good, son, I will have a cold beer waiting for you” “Copy that, see you in a few” As I stepped out of the woods he immediately asked, “What the hell happened to you?” I guess my skin coloring was still somewhere back in my thicket. We cracked a cold one and sat on the tailgate and I told him every detail of my story. In a way that only a father can, he made me feel comfortable, safe, and he calmed me down without even really trying. Since that day we have talked about it a few times and I can tell it bothered him. I just cannot imagine the pain it would have caused him if that son of a gun had attacked me. I am thankful for Dad every day and thankful for what he has taught me about hunting, and life. When I got home I sat my family down and told the story. My 11and 9-year-olds were on the edge of their seats. It upset my daughter and my son is still pissed that I missed the one shot I had at the cougar. My wife was also scared, and appropriately did find some humor in it. A quick Google search told me that there has never been a reported cougar attack on a human in Oregon. The article said if you see one in the wild, you should look big, show it your eyes, and yell at it. It went on to say that no matter what, never run. Oops. In the end it was an experience I guess I am thankful for. It is a hell of a story, one I will tell forever, and I did feel something I have never felt before. Was that cougar really going to attack me? I thought so, but maybe I just surprised him the same way he surprised me. The truth of the matter is, I will hunt that thicket again and I can’t wait to get back in there. When I do, I can promise you just a few things. First and foremost, I will be carrying my 7mm Mag and not a damn bow and arrow, and second, if I do get lucky enough to see a cougar again, I won’t run! NS
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