Mark Fong, Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Tim E. Hovey, Cal Kellogg, Mike Stevens
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ON THE COVER
It’s beginning to look a lot like Fishmas! Trout anglers have circled Saturday, April 26, on their calendars for the statewide trout opener. The Eastern Sierra is the most popular destination for many, with several waters expected to be in good shape for Fishmas’s opening day celebrations! (SIERRA DRIFTERS GUIDE SERVICE)
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THE EDITOR’S NOTE
Iwasn’t able to cover a lot of hockey in my sports reporting career, but when I did, I almost always found the players and coaches I interviewed forthcoming, down to earth and insightful.
As a massive fan of the sport, I’ve enjoyed writing about several players with ties to California’s National Hockey League teams, including former San Jose Sharks captain Owen Nolan, Willie Mitchell of the Los Angeles Kings and Nate Thompson while he played with the Anaheim Ducks. They also share a love of the outdoors. Goalie Pheonix Copley (that’s indeed the correct spelling of his first name), who is part of the Kings organization and currently plays for the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Ontario Reign, was also delightful to chat with.
I wrote a detailed profile of Copley in our sister magazine, Alaska Sporting Journal, about his early days growing up in North Pole, Alaska (yes, indeed, that’s an actual place), his love of fishing and the grinding and grit it’s taken him to go from undrafted player to having a respectable NHL career, including being part of a Stanley Cup championship with the Washington Capitals in 2018.
Continued on page 10
Pheonix Copley’s journey from small-town Alaskan to being an undrafted goalie and reaching the National Hockey League anyway is inspiring. He’s now playing for the Los Angeles Kings’ Ontario Reign developmental team. (ONTARIO REIGN)
“Growing up, there wasn’t always a clear path to pro hockey or to the NHL, or a successful hockey career, because it’s a small area. Hockey is big there, but comparatively to other markets it’s not a huge hockey place,” Copley says of his Alaska roots.
“I think it was a long journey. In my mind I always thought I first wanted to play junior hockey, so I’d see guys play junior hockey and I thought, ‘I can do that; I can play like that goalie.’ And then when I got to college it was kind of the
same thing. For me, it was just kind of incremental. And I really wasn’t thinking about the NHL. Just get to the next level and do what I have to do to get to that next level. Just make the adjustments and believe that I could make the next level and just see the big picture.”
While Alaska was where his hockey career first started developing into an eventual pro career, it was also where Copley spent much of his free time fishing with his stepdad and brothers. It’s simply ingrained in his and other Last Frontier
residents’ DNA.
“Everyone in Alaska kind of partakes in things like that, because there’s only so much to do in Alaska, and that’s one of the biggest things you can do,” he tells me. “When you’re up there, even if you really wouldn’t necessarily be a fisherman, if you’re going to live there, somebody will ask you to go fishing, and they’ll say, ‘I’ve got a really good spot.’”
“When I think about fishing right now, when you’re out on the ocean or the river, it’s just so peaceful. Just waking up and fishing. I remember a couple times being out on our kayaks and then heading back to shore,” he adds. “There are some glacialfed rivers we’ll jump in, and the water’s freezing cold, but it’s so refreshing; the mountains are all around you. It’s quite the place. But that’s what I think about in my Alaska memories.”
THIS IS COPLEY’S SECOND tour in Southern California. His first wasn’t so great. In 2010, as an 18-year-old, Copley hoped to get some more exposure for a chance to play Division I college hockey – he eventually spent two years at Michigan Tech University – so he joined the California Titans, a Simi Valley-based team in the North American Prospects Hockey League.
But his one year didn’t go as he hoped for. “I came down here as a 17-year-old to play under-18s, and I ended up being the backup goalie on that team, so I didn’t really get to play a lot. It was a little bit of a frustrating setback year where I just thought, ‘Now what am I going to do?’”
But he found a gig in the North American Hockey League, which helped pave the way for his journey that led to NHL stints with the St. Louis Blues, the Capitals and now the Kings since the 2022-23 season.
He put together one of his best seasons in Los Angeles that year. With the team’s goalies Jonathan Quick and Cal Petersen ineffective, Copley led the playoff-bound Kings in starts (35) and wins (24). His story of career perseverance earned him the Kings’ nomination for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to one player each year for his inspirational backstory.
That moxie was tested again the following season. In practice, Copley suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, which cost him the season after knee surgery.
“I felt like I worked so hard in the years leading up to my first season in L.A., and I finally got a break and had a good season. I knew I needed to follow up with a good year, and it was kind of up and down to start, then the knee injury happened.
Each summer, Copley heads back to Alaska to recover and recharge after a long season. “Everyone in Alaska kind of partakes in things like that, because there’s only so much to do in Alaska, and that’s one of the biggest things you can do,” he says. (PHEONIX COPLEY)
It was frustrating, for sure, having that setback after preparing for so long to have that opportunity,” he says.
“I guess in a way it allowed me to have a fresh slate after taking off that much time, where I could really input things into my game that would help me or take things out that won’t. It kind of helped me do some introspection. It was obviously a tough time for that to happen. But I feel good now and feel like I’m better for having to go through that.”
At 33, having rehabbed from surgery and playing well for the Reign – they’ll start the AHL Calder Cup playoffs later this month – Copley says he still has plenty of hockey left in him, but he also is dabbling in the business sector as co-owner of a tea company, Athletes Apothecary (athletesapothecary.com) with wife Jess. Their blends have effective pregame and recovery benefits. “I usually just drink one that I’m making for me before and during the game, and then after the game I’ll go home and have the nighttime one. I drink that one every single night,” he says.
WHILE IT’S LIKELY COPLEY will stay with the Reign through the team’s playoff run, he’s also most likely to be the first goalie called up if the Kings need one for their
own postseason run after the regular season ends on April 17. But while he’s patiently waited throughout his career for the NHL opportunities he received, there’s no reason to stress. A good cup of his tea helps as well.
“I don’t really think about that too much. I’m just trying to do the best I can and the cards will fall wherever they may. I try to put myself into a good position to get called up,” he says of being that one phone call away. “I know it could happen at any time, or it can’t. It’s out of my control, so I’m trying to control what I can control and do my job as best I can. If that’s in the cards, then I’m ready to go.”
Whenever this season ends, Copley will head back to Alaska, where he spends part of his summers joining his family on a fishing float trip down the Gulkana River, but as he continues his run in Southern California, he hopes to get out for some fishing, Golden State-style.
“I’ve talked to some of the guys about going out and getting a charter, and I’ve heard about the great halibut fishing. I think it would be cool,” he says.
I’m a diehard fan of the Kings’ Northern California rival San Jose Sharks, but add Copley to my list of jovial hockey players I’m rooting for. -Chris Cocoles
“I’m just trying to do the best I can and the cards will fall wherever they may,” says Copley. Fishing for halibut in Alaska is his favorite, but he’d like to dabble in California’s flatsider opportunities as well. (PHEONIX COPLEY)
Anglers will head to Kern County’s Isabella Lake for the annual trout derby there, set for April 12-14. Check out kernrivervalley .com/isabellalakefishingderby for more information. (ISABELLA LAKE FISHING DERBY)
OUTDOOR CALENDAR
APRIL
4-5
B lue Lakes Trout Derby, Lake County; (707) 477-8360
5 B ullards Bar Team Kokanee Derby, Bullards Bar Reservoir; kokaneepower.org/derbies.php
5 Catfish Bash Tournament, Lake Mendocino; (707) 349-5774
For a list of upcoming bass tournaments, go to nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FishingContests/default.aspx.
FISHMAS FORECAST LOOKING GOOD
BARRING ICY LATE WINTER BLASTS, EASTERN SIERRA TROUT OPENER SHOULD BE S.O.P.
By Mike Stevens
So much of how the Eastern Sierra general trout season plays out is based on the prior winter and the snowpack it delivered, but the Fishmas opener itself isn’t as sensitive to that particular factor, for the most part.
Of course, a couple years ago the preceding winter was
such a monster and it lasted so long that there was barely any open water to fish even at the lowest Mono County lakes on opening day. Thankfully, the fishing faithful kept tabs on the situation and most sat that one out. As someone who covers the event every year, however, I wasn’t going to miss it (and likely will never see it like that again), and the craziness I saw included guys ice fishing 200 yards from shore on Crowley Lake and an angler taking it upon
himself to swim across the patch of open water by Convict Lake’s outlet to break up the ice with his own body weight. It was surreal.
Other than that, using the last decade or so as a sample, we’ve seen a storm dump 30-plus inches of snow in
Convict Lake as it appeared on the 2024 trout opener. Assuming freak storms don’t blow in on the April 26-27 Fishmas weekend, conditions at several lakes should provide some great action. (MIKE STEVENS)
FISHING
Mammoth Lakes on Fishmas Eve, snow on opening day itself and high winds, but most opening weekends are clear with some manageable chill that gives way to T-shirt weather by early afternoon.
Opening weekend itself isn’t going to be affected by huge snowpack winters – other than the aforementioned extreme – or a dry winter, for that matter. It’s too early for the snow to melt off and blow out creeks and dinge up lakes with frigid water. Anglers don’t feel the effects of weak snowpack until summer, so the opener is pretty dependable in terms of what waters will be open and what the lake conditions will be.
This year had all the indications of a weak winter, but the arrival of a “Miracle March” served as a bailout of sorts. On February 1, snowpack in the Southern Sierra, which for these purposes includes the Eastern Sierra, was only about half of normal for that date. At the time of this writing in mid-March, it was up to 84 percent, with more on the way. According to Colin McCarthy of U.S. Stormwatch, “If California sees a wet March and the (statewide) snowpack reaches 100 percent by spring, this would be the first time in the 21st century that California has had three winters in a row with a snowpack at or above 100 percent of normal.”
When it comes to the Eastern Sierra trout opener (the last Saturday of April – the 26th this year), anglers are looking at four general areas to target.
OWENS VALLEY/BISHOP
Anglers can plan on full access to the Lower Owens River (pay attention to flows, though – they could be too high to fish, if not dangerous) and Pleasant Valley Reservoir – these are year-round waters, anyway – being fully accessible and stocked on opening weekend. Creeks flowing out of the Sierra into the valley and to the Owens are also open year-round for the most part, but
Of all the fisheries around this area, Crowley Lake is almost a sure thing for those who head up Highway 395 to get in on the opening weekend party ... (MIKE STEVENS)
… But of course, Mother Nature can always throw a wrinkle, given the high elevations of the Eastern Sierra. In 2023, Crowley’s Fishmas celebration was more akin to the North Pole than California, as this lone ice fisherman attested. (MIKE STEVENS)
check California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations via either the CDFW website or signs posted near the water in question, as they changed a few years ago. A lot of the creeks are fishable all year now but have zero-limit, barbless-lures-only restrictions, and the regs change back to normal on opening day.
In Bishop Creek Canyon, Intake II should be open and stocked, but anything up the hill from there is a question mark. Access to North Lake should be impossible, and Lake Sabrina and South Lake will likely be difficult to access – due to ice – if they’re fishable at all. The availability of those lakes on opening weekend won’t be locked down until just before the opener.
CROWLEY/CONVICT/MAMMOTH LAKES
Crowley Lake and Convict Lake – save for that one zany year – are very dependable spots in terms of availability for the opener.
“I think the opener will be pretty standard this year, but with the recent snowstorms, the higherelevation stuff like the Lakes Basin in Mammoth will be inaccessible,” said Doug Rodricks of Sierra Drifters Guide Service (sierradrifters.com). “But lower-elevation lakes like Convict and Crowley should fish pretty good right out of the gate, as they didn’t freeze completely, and the fish had all winter to feed and grow a little.”
Rodricks also said the upper Owens River may see some cutthroat move up into the river from Crowley early this year for the spawn.
The Mammoth Lakes Basin being closed on opening weekend, if not well into spring, is nothing new. Over the last decade-plus of covering the opener in person, it’s been open once. But know this: When it is open, it’s unbeatable. No one is up there and you get the lakes almost all to yourself.
JUNE LAKE LOOP
All the lakes in the June Lake Loop should be fully accessible for the Fishmas opener. A last-minute cold
spell might ice up a couple lakes on the back of the Loop, but nothing to put the brakes on fishing.
“I expect it to be good,” said Jeremy Ross of Ernie’s Tackle (760648-7756) in June Lake. “June and Grant have been ice-free most of the winter, and Gull and Silver should be fine unless it gets really cold and there’s a bunch more snow. Ice-off could create great fishing, and our stocking program will be putting a load in each lake prior to the opener. With the plants late last year by the state, we should have a lot of fish. While the weather is always the wild card, the usual crowd will be here come hell or high water.”
Per the latest update to the regs, Rush Creek is no longer open for the first few weeks of the season so as to protect brown trout spawning grounds. It reopens the Saturday before Memorial Day, and it is heavily patrolled by local CDFW wardens.
BRIDGEPORT AREA
The “big lakes” around Bridgeport – Upper and Lower Twin Lakes, Bridgeport Reservoir – will be open for opening weekend business, and one of them is always a good bet to kick out the largest trout of the weekend.
“I think the opener is looking great as long as the wind doesn’t show up,” said Austin Byers of Mono Village (monovillage.com) on Upper Twin Lake in Bridgeport. “Last fishing season closed out strong, so hopefully that carries over into the 2025 season. Upper Twin Lake is full and completely ice-free.”
It’s not a lock, but the smart money is always on a big brown to come out of one of those lakes, and it’s almost always caught on the troll.
“Also, the East Walker River may be a really good bet,” said Rodricks. “Flows are low right now, but if they come up just slightly to 200 cfs or so, that will move fish around
Rock Creek Lake in southern Mono County is one of the fisheries that could be affected by the snowpack on opening day and early in the season. When it is fishable, it’s a great option for troutheads. (MIKE STEVENS)
FISHING
the river, and the fish will be very eager to bite since they haven’t seen anything all winter.”
While those lakes will be open, some of the Bridgeport-adjacent waters that are popular summer spots will still be frozen at some level. These primarily consist of Virginia Lakes and Lundy Lake, which might be reachable by road, but fishing opportunities will be very limited.
Ice fishing is popular at Virginia Lake, but it’s very important to get clued in on the conditions before trudging onto the ice. I recommend contacting Beaver’s Tackle (760647-6406) in Lee Vining and Ken’s Sporting Goods (760-932-7707) in Bridgeport. They are great places to get the latest intel. CS
Editor’s note: For more information on opening weekend fishing derbies and events, check out the Mono County Tourism website (monocounty.org/thingsto-do/fishing).
Convict Lake produced some nice rainbows on last year’s opener. Author Mike Stevens is expecting some great fishing again this April 26. “We’ve seen a storm dump 30-plus inches of snow in Mammoth Lakes on Fishmas Eve, snow on opening day itself and high winds, but most opening weekends are clear with some manageable chill that gives way to T-shirt weather by early afternoon.” (MIKE STEVENS)
DESTINATION, TROUT-VILLE
FOUR FISHERIES TO TRY YOUR LUCK AT THIS SPRING
By Cal Kellogg
It’s the feeling every angler lives for – that moment when you know another hookup is coming; the time when the fish are feeding with abandon and you’ve got them dialed in.
The big king salmon and 22-inch rainbow bleeding out atop the ice in my cooler were hard evidence of 1) just how effective large 3-inch spoons combined with brisk trolling speeds can be for tempting big trout and landlocked kings and 2) that I was in the zone.
After attaching the rod I’d just landed the rainbow on back to the downrigger, I dropped the watermelonpattern spoon down to 34 feet. With the lure back in the zone, I hotfooted it up to the steering wheel and brought the boat around hard.
At first the screen of the sonar unit was clear, but then a few arches and streaks started showing up. A bit later, a shad ball came into view. The shad were under assault and the sonar screen was littered with arches and jagged lines created by feeding gamefish.
I didn’t see the rod pop off the downrigger, but my wife Gena did. One moment she was sitting down; the next she jumped to her feet and pounced on the bucking rod.
I kicked the boat out of gear and immediately ran to the back to clear the other lines. In situations where the fish are blitzing bait, you never know what you’ll hook. Most likely the fish at the other end of the line will be a trout or king, but it could also be a big bass or even a jumbo channel catfish. I was taking no chances. The last thing we wanted to do was lose a big fish due to a tangle.
From the deep bend in Gena’s rod, I could see that what was on the end of the line was big. As the fight went on and
Spring means trout fishing, and one of author Cal Kellogg’s favorite destinations is the Middle Fork American River, where he landed this dandy rainbow while working a marabou jig along the bottom. (CAL KELLOGG)
FISHING
the fish did everything it could to stay deep, I became convinced that it was a hefty brown.
Gena has landed her share of big fish, including a 100-pound tuna, and she fought this trout perfectly, keeping the rod loaded and gaining line when possible. The entire fight probably lasted for about five minutes, but when the thick brown trout finally materialized off the port side, it seemed like the fight had gone on much longer.
“Do you want to keep it or let it go?” I asked.
When Gena opted to release the fish, I swapped my net for some pliers. A quick twist of the wrist and the big brown was free.
How much did Gena’s brown weigh? Certainly more than 5 pounds
and perhaps up to 6!
The outstanding action I just described took place at Lake Shasta last spring during the first week of June. While the trout fishing at Shasta is typically very good during the late spring and early summer, it is only one of a long list of California lakes and reservoirs that offer up good to great trout fishing during that seasonal transition.
I love the late-spring trout fishery because it provides maximum options. Most low-elevation lakes are still cool enough during the first part of June to support good trout fishing. And in the mountains, there has typically been enough of a thaw by June to allow
anglers to access high-elevation trout waters throughout the Sierra and southern Cascades.
If you’re a Golden State trout angler, you’ve got a lot of great destinations to choose from right now!
SHASTA LAKE
Shasta Lake is truly a magnificent fishery. It sets a high standard against which all other California lakes are measured. Enormous in size, it impounds water from the Sacramento, McCloud and Pit Rivers and is home to several strains of rainbows, plus browns and landlocked king salmon.
Paul Kneeland shows off a handsome Lake Shasta rainbow he caught while trolling a spoon in the lake’s McCloud River Arm. Shasta features some outstanding rainbow and brown trout options.
(CAL KELLOGG)
May and June are interesting months to visit Shasta because things are in flux. Trout that had been scattered and holding near the surface in April and early May begin to concentrate on schools of small threadfin shad and drop down in the water column with the arrival of warm June weather.
During the month of June, you’ll find plenty of receptive trout holding from 30 to 50 feet deep, but you’ll also encounter much shallower trout scattered from the surface down. This is especially true early and late in the day.
For this reason, you’ll want to stagger your lines from the surface down to about 60 feet, with an emphasis on the middle depths within that range.
Since Shasta trout make a living eating shad, spoons and small plugs are typically winners. Offerings like Needlefish, Excels, Hum Dingers, Kastmasters, and small Rapalas and Lymans all tend to work well.
Baitfish-colored lures work best
most of the time, and in general you’ll want to troll quickly, from 2 to 3 miles per hour.
Some anglers run with small spoons in order to match the hatch. I often adhere to a big spoon-big fish philosophy, and I tend to do pretty well with spoons that range from 2.5 to 3 inches in length.
Some years it’s Shasta’s rainbows that make the headlines. Other times the lake’s browns make a strong showing. For example, last spring browns were very plentiful and lots of fish up to 6 pounds were caught by trollers pulling hardware.
While Shasta is a huge lake that is home to vast numbers of trout, the lake isn’t known for producing huge fish. Instead, it produces big numbers of very respectably sized trout. The average rainbow caught at Shasta runs 14 to 18 inches, with fish to 5 pounds possible.
Shasta’s browns do tend to grow larger than its rainbows, but they still only top out at around 8 pounds, with a few notable exceptions. In
FISHING
general, the “average” brown goes about 3 pounds, and anything over 5 is considered big.
MIDDLE FORK AMERICAN RIVER
The American River’s Middle Fork bubbles to life high in the Sierra Nevada’s Granite Chief and Desolation Wildernesses. From there the river flows in a roughly westerly direction. The best section for trout fishing, from Oxbow Reservoir to the Middle Fork’s confluence with the North Fork, encompasses about 40 miles. Some parts of this section are easy to access off Highway 49, Forest Hill Road and Mosquito Ridge Road, while other areas require aggressive hiking to reach.
It is hard to believe that the Middle Fork, which isn’t planted and lies little more than an hour’s drive from the state capital in Sacramento and just southeast of Auburn, boasts such a robust population of wild rainbows and browns. Its rainbows are thought to be descendants of the steelhead that ascended the river for eons before
For the adventurous, an overnight raft trip on the Middle Fork of the American River offers great trout fishing and plenty of whitewater excitement. (CAL KELLOGG)
FISHING
the construction of Folsom Dam. The browns are believed to have entered the system after they were planted in the region during the late 1800s, but no one is really sure.
Some of the water from the stretch of the river between French Meadows Dam and Oxbow Reservoir is diverted into a series of tunnels and used for making hydroelectric power. These water diversions make for variable flows below Oxbow. When power generation is underway, the river level rises. When the generators are not working, the river level drops. These fluctuations represent a blessing and a curse for anglers. On one hand, when the flows are up, it disturbs forage items and the trout feed. While high flow periods offer
exceptional fishing, anglers, especially those who wade, need to use caution, since flows can rise quickly.
Mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies, sculpins and crawfish are the primary forage items within the Middle Fork. Unlike many of the state’s wild trout waters, this section of the American is not subject to special regulations. You are welcome to employ flies, bait or lures, barbed hooks and even treble hooks.
I fish the river with both fly and conventional tackle. From the general trout opener in late April through late May, I find spinning gear to be more effective than fly tackle in most cases, but there are exceptions.
When using spinning gear, I utilize a 7-foot fast-action stick rated for 4-
to 10-pound line, and team it with a spinning reel loaded with 4- or 6-pound fluorocarbon line for fishing both baits and lures.
My favorite baits are worms, crickets and naturally colored salmon eggs. While trout are plentiful in the Middle Fork, it doesn’t mean they are stupid. For the best results, you must present your bait near the bottom and drift it at the same rate as the current.
To rig up for bait fishing, I’ll tie a No. 14 baitholder hook to the end of my line and place enough split shot 20 inches above the hook to keep the bait drifting naturally among the rocks and gravel. Since different areas of the river vary in depth and rate of flow, you’ll need to add and remove weight
frequently to keep the bait drifting properly in the strike zone.
As far as lures go, I like to keep things simple. My entire selection consists of yellow/orange and black/yellow Panther Martins, plus a few small rainbow, gold/black and silver/black Countdown Rapalas. I like to cast these lures directly across the current and allow them to swing back to my side of the river on a tight line before retrieving them slowly and casting again.
LAKE DON PEDRO
Nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills, Don Pedro offers anglers an exceptional fishing experience. Known for its year-round fishing opportunities, the reservoir is a popular destination for both casual weekend fishermen and serious anglers. While the lake is home to a variety of species, it’s particularly famous for its thriving trout and king salmon populations.
Often overlooked, Lake Don Pedro is one of California’s best rainbow trout fisheries. (CAPT. MONTE SMITH/ GOLD COUNTRY SPORTFISHING)
FISHING
The rainbow trout fishing at Don Pedro is amazing, thanks to both wild fish that spawn in the lake’s tributaries and holdovers from California Department of Fish and Wildlife releases. The lake’s deep, cold waters and the presence of ample forage in the form of threadfin shad create an ideal environment for rainbows to grow large.
This being the case, you’d think Don Pedro would play host to big numbers of anglers, but in truth the reservoir is often overlooked, with nearby New Melones Reservoir drawing much of the regional fishing pressure.
Trolling with spoons is the most effective technique for catching trout at Don Pedro all year long. Speedy Shiners are the most popular spoon, but Trigger Spoons, Hum Dingers and Needlefish score well too. Chrome, chrome and blue and black and white/cop car patterns
are favorites, but gold, red and copper spoons also draw strikes. In the spring, fishing at depths from the surface to 20 feet works well.
As the surface temperature rises in late spring, the trout will start dropping down in the water column. In the heat of summer, you’ll find them holding as deep as 60 feet, so downriggers are an important tool for chasing Don Pedro rainbows during the warm months.
BASS LAKE
From the middle of the 1960s through the end of the ’70s, Central California’s Bass Lake was the scene of the Hells Angels’ annual Fourth of July run. The notorious event spawned blood-curdling newspaper headlines, restraining orders, curfews and roadblocks. Local vigilantes even
patrolled the streets, at times sporting clubs and wearing sidearms.
Time rolls forward and the scene at Bass Lake has changed quite a bit over the past 50 years. By the early 1980s, the Angels had all but disappeared, replaced by big numbers of tourists, boaters and anglers. These days, the lake is known as one of the region’s premiere trout fishing destinations.
Bass is situated in the Sierra National Forest in Madera County, about 14 miles from the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park. The lake was formed in 1910 when the 145-foot Crane Valley Dam was constructed by PG&E to impound the waters of Willow Creek, a tributary of the San Joaquin River.
Whether it’s at Bass Lake, Lake Don Pedro or Shasta Lake – or the many other stillwater options around the state – trolling is a very effective way to limit out this season.
(CAL KELLOGG)
FISHING
Bass Lake is relatively small, with only 14 miles of shoreline, a length of 4 miles and a maximum depth of 98 feet.
Located very near the geographic center of the state, the lion’s share of visitors are from Southern and Central California, but there is a loyal constituency of NorCal anglers who make the trek south to fish the lake’s rich waters.
Set at an elevation of 3,376 feet, the lake features both coldwater
fish in the form of rainbow trout and kokanee salmon, as well as warmwater species such as spotted bass, largemouth bass, crappie and catfish.
Bass Lake is heavily stocked with rainbows that average 13 inches and range up to 24 inches and 5 pounds. The lake produces some of the largest kokanee in California too. The average fish runs 16 to 17 inches, but fish over 20 inches have been common for the past several years.
“If you’re a Golden State trout angler,” Kellogg writes, “you’ve got a lot of great destinations to choose from right now!” (CAL
In early summer, both trolling and bank fishing account for hefty stringers of rainbows for Bass Lake anglers. The favorite offering among trollers is either a small dodger or a set of micro flashers trailing a threaded nightcrawler or an artificial Berkley Gulp! Crawler trolled 1 to 1.5 mph.
Bankers do best with floating dough baits such as PowerBait and Zeke’s Sierra Gold in a variety of different colors. Inflated worms can pay hefty dividends too. CS
KELLOGG)
A MECCA OF NORCAL TROUT ACTION
COME TO COLLINS LAKE FOR HUNGRY RAINBOWS AND LIGHTNING TROUT – AND STAY HUNGRY FOR THE ICE CREAM!
By Chris Cocoles
The statewide trout season officially opens on April 26, but eager anglers don’t have to wait until the last Saturday this month to get in some outstanding action at Collins Lake.
The Sierra foothills lake is conveniently located about 90 minutes northeast of Sacramento and a 30-minute drive from Marysville and Yuba City. It’s also home to some of the best trout fishing in Northern California, and as the staff at Collins Lake resort (530-692-1600; collinslake.com) can report, there are plenty of hungry trout at your disposal.
“Winter trout planting has been a huge success, with over 20,000 pounds of trout planted since October, including rainbow and lightning trout. The trout definitely prefer the colder surface temperatures,” says Ed Palma at the Collins Lake marina, store and campgrounds/cabins.
As the weather improves, more anglers are sure to hit the lake. But go now and think of it as the early bird catches the trout, with or without the worms.
“During the winter there’s lower fishing pressure, which means many of these trout will carry over into spring and
summer, feeding and growing in the meantime,” Palma adds. “Sometimes the (stocking) truck arrives when there’s rain or wind in the forecast; for example, recently we planted 2,000 pounds of lightnings and rainbow trout, and there wasn’t a single fisherman we could see during the drop – not on the beach, not on the shore, not in a boat –so all of those fish are spread out all over the lake, waiting to be caught another day.”
Anglers who don’t want to wait for the April 26 statewide trout opener can head to Collins Lake ASAP and get in some of the Northern California fishery’s plentiful fish, thanks to liberal plantings. (COLLINS LAKE)
FISHING
GOOD WEATHER, GOOD WATER LEVELS
The winter has been productive in terms of a healthy lake level at Collins, with “lots of sunny T-shirt days and good opportunities for camping without the crowds,” Palma says.
“We filled very early this year; the lake was spilling in the first week of February and it’s been full and occasionally spilling since then as we continue to receive rain.”
The trout plants – plus some stocking of warmwater species – mean the action should be good throughout this month and next.
“Anglers can expect lots of available trout as plants continue as long as surface temperatures permit (typically until May). Bass, crappie and bluegill should be in good shape, especially as the high lake level has submerged lots of vegetation, which will make great habitat as they move to spawn,” Palma says.
He adds that bass are biting pretty well already, even as the water temperature has remained cool during the winter.
Scoring limits of rainbows is a common occurrence at Collins. And with winter fishing pressure light, there will be some hungry fish here this month. (COLLINS LAKE)
Bass fishing should also pick up as largemouth prepare for the prespawn, which picks up in late April and early May. (COLLINS LAKE)
“As they get into prespawn, it will only pick up more,” Palma says of the pending bass action. “Typically, the last week of April and the first weeks of May show the most activity. The best catfishing comes during the summer heat, but in reality you can catch a big catfish any day of the year. They’re down there and they’re scavenging.”
RENT A BOAT, EAT SOME ICE CREAM
One of Collins Lake’s highlights is how many amenities it offers visitors. From boat rentals and campsites, to a fully stocked store that features some of the best ice cream you’ll find after a day on the water, there’s no shortage of things to do here.
“We are still renting classic fishing boats, kayaks, paddleboards and, of course, our patio boats. A few years back we brought in some pontoon fishing boats to try, and they were very popular,” Palma says. “This winter, we replaced all of the fishing pontoon boats with brand-new
24-foot Berkshire pontoons. We think they’re better built than the old pontoons, and they’ve got a great layout for a family outing. The new canopies address the main issue on the old boats: shade!”
The resort is also in the process of replacing its rental trailers with new cabins, “which are nicer to ‘camp’ in. That project should be done in time for summer,” according to Palma.
And what about the ice cream?
“We’re currently stocking 24 flavors of ice cream; of course all the classics, and some Gunther’s (Ice Cream) specialties like banana rocky road, salted caramel, espresso chip, and a flavor they created just for Collins Lake: s’mores,” Palma says. CS
Editor’s note: Collins Lake is hosting two events this month, the Get Out and Fish Day on April 12 and a NorCal Trout Anglers Challenge (anglerspress.com/ events) tournament on April 26. Call the resort at (530) 692-1600 for more.
Catch not lightning in a bottle but colorful lightning trout at this gem of a lake just east of Yuba City/Marysville and about 90 minutes from the Sacramento area. (COLLINS LAKE)
MY RIDE ON THE TROUT TRAIN
AN ANGLER’S NOSTALGIA FOR RAINBOWS, GOLDENS, BROWNS
By Tim E. Hovey
Most people assume that I went to college to become a fisheries biologist because I love science and fisheries. That isn’t entirely true. I became a fisheries biologist because I love fishing. Throughout my life, I’ve fished all over the West, in both fresh- and saltwater. And the one constant I’ve noticed during this angling journey is that I have no favorites. If it swims and eats, I want to catch it.
I was recently watching a fly-fishing show, and the host was ticking off the species of trout he’d caught during a lifetime of angling. Naturally, I started doing the same. As I traveled down my own fishing memory lane, I realized that I’ve had quite a few amazing trout fishing adventures over the years. From the flatlands of Wyoming to the perennial creeks of Southern California, and while using flies, spinners, worms or PowerBait, I’ve caught my fair share of trout.
Just as with most anglers, trout fishing appeals to me on several levels. I enjoy the diverse methods you can use to target different species, and even small trout put up a fight. They occur in some of the most beautiful country scenery, plus many species are the prettiest fish you’ll ever have at the end of a line. If you enjoy fishing, you owe it to yourself to spend some time in pursuit of these trout species like I have.
“Just like most anglers, trout fishing appeals to me on several levels,” author Tim Hovey writes. “I enjoy the diverse methods you can use to target different species, and even small trout put up a fight. They occur in some of the most beautiful country scenery, plus many species are the prettiest fish you’ll ever have at the end of a line.” (TIM E.
HOVEY)
FISHING
GOLDEN TROUT
California’s golden trout live in cold, clear, high-elevation (7,500-plus feet) streams and are native to the Golden State. I’ve pursued them in narrow, high-mountain meadows, where streams wind through almost unobserved. These trout streams run with crystal clear, cold water; they are easily fished with a light fly rod and floating flies. Anything that mimics goldens’ natural diet of terrestrial or aquatic invertebrates will get their attention. I have had the best luck with a Parachute Adams fly and an ant imitation. Using a 3-weight fly rod tipped with a dry fly, I moved cautiously up to the narrow, 2-foot-wide meadow
creek. Stepping lightly on the mushy bank to keep from being noticed, I found a relatively open spot suitable for a beginner fly angler and laid my fly out upstream perfectly. Within seconds, a shadow darted out and recklessly grabbed the fly. Seconds after the take, my first golden trout was in the net. This particular catch came late in my angling career, but the golden trout was the most beautiful I had ever caught in a lifetime of fishing.
WILD RAINBOWS
The California Fish and Game Commission, and later the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, have been stocking brook and then rainbow trout in the state since the late 1800s. In the 1920s, what is now CDFW took over the stocking program and has been involved in placing rainbow
trout in most streams and creeks throughout the state since then.
As California moves into a new age of environmental awareness, native streams that were once stocked with rainbows now fall under native drainage designation and are off limits to fish releases. In some cases, these drainages have been removed from the stocking program for decades. Despite this, wild rainbows, essentially the offspring of the stockers, continue to inhabit and thrive in these backcountry drainages. Savvy anglers can hike into these spots and enjoy an afternoon of wild trout fishing.
In 2018, I was coordinating with another fisheries biologist about surveying the headwaters of a drainage for native frogs. He ended the call by telling me to bring a fishing rod in case we ran into trout. After the survey, we hiked
The high-elevation backcountry of the Sierra is an ideal place to really get away and chase California’s state fish, the small but colorful golden trout. (TIM E. HOVEY)
downstream and fished for trout with artificial lures and Berkley Power Worms. The small backpack rods were perfect for the conditions. We didn’t catch many, but the ones we did were beautifully colored.
BROWN TROUT
Brown trout are not native to California and were introduced from Europe in the late 1800s for recreational angling purposes. To avoid issues with hybridization, sterile triploid brown trout continue to be stocked in some waterways for anglers. They tolerate higher water temperatures than most natives, at times putting them into direct competition with rainbows.
While I’ve caught a handful of brown trout on different lures in the High Sierra over the years, my most memorable catches came in a different state. I fished with my good friend Darrin Bergen on the Shoshone River in Wyoming. The opportunity followed a successful antelope hunt; thankfully, I had packed a couple of rods.
We headed down to the river as it wound through the town of Cody. Using nightcrawlers and a strategically placed kernel of corn, we spent the afternoon fighting rainbow, cutthroat and brown trout in the 16to 22-inch range. The brown trout were some of the hardest-fighting trout I had ever tangled with, and honestly, that short fishing session was the highlight of the whole trip.
BROOK TROUT
Another introduced species, brook trout were first released in California waters in 1871. This species is wildly aggressive and can be easily caught using spinners, Kastmasters and flies when encountered. Brookies inhabit smaller alpine lakes and their tributaries in the Sierra Nevada mountains. This species was the first trout I ever caught on a fly.
During an overnight hunt in the high desert, my good friend Ed Davis and I drove to the Tioga Pass to
Brook trout aren’t native to California, but you can find them in High Sierra lakes and streams. (TIM E. HOVEY)
Hovey’s wife Cheryl with a nice planter rainbow. This spring, lakes all over the state will be filled with these plentiful fish that you can target with simple setups. (TIM E. HOVEY)
FISHING
camp and fish for trout the following day. The next morning, we hiked to a mountain lake high above our campsite and fished for brook trout. Despite Ed urging me to take a fly rod, I opted for a spinning rod, and I caught several brookies on spinners and Kastmasters. Ed outfished me five to one with his fly rod, and I vowed to one day return to that lake with my fly setup.
CUTTHROAT TROUT
Cutthroat trout have seen significant decline in California due to habitat loss and the introduction of nonnative species. This widespread decline has led to their extirpation from much of their historic range. They are a threatened species under
the federal Endangered Species Act. Fortunately, they are more abundant in states like Wyoming, where I was lucky enough to catch a few in the Shoshone with my buddy Darrin. With their olive-colored body covered in spots and characteristic coral-colored band under the jaw, this species is another exceptionally beautiful fish.
STOCKED RAINBOWS
California hatcheries annually release millions of rainbow trout in hundreds of lakes, reservoirs and ponds all over the state specifically for recreational anglers to catch. In cooler regions, stocking can be conducted yearround. In the southern portion of the state, where the weather is warmer,
stocking occurs in the winter and spring months.
Though they are a great way to get kids into angling, fishing for stockers is no longer considered just a beginner’s activity. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed relaxing at our local lake soaking PowerBait and waiting for a bite.
As spring beckons, fishing is the main activity for my wife and I. We look forward to fly fishing for golden trout in the meadow streams at high elevations and camping near the high-mountain ponds filled with brook trout. No matter what your experience level, spending time chasing the many species of trout will give you a whole new appreciation for this resilient and abundant salmonid. CS
and with the
Spring is here,
statewide trout opener coming up, anglers can look forward to warmer days and hard-fighting fish like this pretty rainbow. (TIM E. HOVEY)
GET ON A ROLL WITH TROLLING
HERE’S HOW TO FILL STRINGERS WITH TROUT THIS SPRING
By Cal Kellogg
As I write these words, it’s around the middle of March. It’s a rainy evening, but my dog Lucy and I are snuggled in the back of our Suburban at Collins Lake, warm and dry.
We have a guide trip in the morning with a couple of anglers who traveled all the way to NorCal from Las Vegas looking to get their trout on. It promises to be a wet day on the lake, but I suspect the rainbows and perhaps a lightning trout will cooperate.
We’ve had a lot of wind and precipitation this winter and I’ll be happy to be fishing in cargo shorts and a T-shirt later this spring. The silver lining to all the wet weather we’ve experienced in the northern part of the state is that we’ll enjoy another season with high water levels at our lakes and reservoirs. In short, it looks like we are in for an exciting and productive spring trout season.
Big smiles, big trout and awesome weather were all part of this spring trout trolling adventure. Get your boat onto the water at your favorite lake for some outstanding fishing. (CAL KELLOGG)
FISHING
Several factors combine to make the spring a great time for chasing trout. For starters, trout this time of year are generally hungry and aggressive. Due to low surface temperatures, they will be prowling in the top 20 feet of water, making them easily accessible without the use of downriggers.
At many lakes, trout planting gets underway in earnest during the spring. These stockers join holdovers from plants in previous years, giving anglers plenty of potential customers for their lures. Finally, what could be more pleasant after a cold, grey winter than cruising around an azure lake framed by brilliantly green hillsides on a sunny spring day?
NOW THAT SPRING IS officially upon us, this is a great time to consider the basics of trout trolling. Every year I get asked a lot of questions concerning trolling for trout. Some are from guys who have purchased a boat after years of successful bank fishing and now want to make the most of their newfound mobility, while others have trolled for trout
in the past and want to refresh their memories and skills as they go on the hunt for trout once again.
One of the intriguing things about trolling is that it can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. Some anglers get no more complicated than knotting on a spinner and tossing it
out behind their moving boat, while others invest thousands of dollars in specialized gear and electronics. Most of the successful trollers I know fall in between these two extremes.
Beyond a serviceable boat with a quality sonar unit and a good rod holder or two, there are a couple basic tools every aspiring trout troller needs. Let’s start with the rod and reel.
WHILE SPINNING GEAR SHINES when an angler has to do a lot of casting, since trolling doesn’t require casting, a conventional setup makes the most sense. A good trolling rig consists of a 7-foot medium-fast-action rod rated for up to half an ounce of weight. The rod should be teamed with a highspeed levelwind reel spooled with 8-pound-test line. A rig like this rig doesn’t overpower pansize trout, yet it offers plenty of muscle for tangling with the big boys.
Once you’ve selected a trolling combo, it’s time to gather a collection of lures. A quick trip down the trout aisle at your local tackle shop will reveal myriad choices. I’ve long thought that all these choices tend to overwhelm new anglers. Rather than randomly selecting lures that “might” appeal to trout, consider the prey that trout feed
When conditions call for fast trolling, plugs are a prime offering for successful spring trout anglers. (CAL KELLOGG)
Soft plastic grubs offer both realistic action and realistic feel, encouraging fish to hit them and hang on. Use them for trolling very slowly. (CAL KELLOGG)
on and select your lures accordingly. In most reservoirs, minnows like threadfin shad, pond smelt and chubs represent the primary forage items of trout. Small wobbling spoons such as Needlefish, Kastmasters and Trigger Spoons do a great job of imitating the movements of an injured baitfish. You’ll want to begin with colors that match that of the baitfish, but you’ll also want a few bright-colored spoons to use when the trout give naturalcolored offerings a hard pass.
Spinners are another great trolling lure, especially when there is color in the water. Spinners put off vibrations that attract trout from a distance and help them key in on the lure when visibility is limited. Since I use spinners most often when the water is stained, I like to go with bright colors.
A good selection of spoons and spinners will produce trout in the majority of situations; however, there are a few other baits that are useful. For larger trout, you’ll want to have a few minnow plugs between 2 and 4 inches in length. Natural finishes such as rainbow trout, perch and black over silver are all proven producers.
Plastic grubs have proven to be highly effective, especially in situations that require an exceedingly slow presentation. I’ve always got some 2- and 3-inch soft plastic grubs with me when I plan on trolling. These grubs come in a wide selection of colors, are inexpensive, easy to use and feature a seductive action that trout find hard to resist.
WORMS –SPECIFICALLY, NIGHTCRAWLERS –ARE
an offering no troller should hit the water without. When the going gets tough, a worm is a great go-to bait for trout of all sizes.
Trolling naked worms is the picture of simplicity. I take my main line and attach it to a high-quality trolling swivel. To the other end of the swivel, I connect a 24- to 36-inch 8-pound fluorocarbon leader tipped with a No. 2 Mustad Slow Death hook.
Using a worm threader, I slide a whole nightcrawler up over the
FISHING
hook and onto the leader. I thread the worm on the threader such that none of the worm dangles behind the hook. Rigged this way, the worm will rotate when trolled through the water, and when a trout comes up to grab it from behind, the first thing into their mouth will be the hook.
If the trout are near the surface,
I add a couple split shots above the swivel and topline the worm about 100 to 150 feet behind the boat while keeping the speed from 1.5 to 2 mph. If the trout are suspended, I run the same rig minus the split shot behind one to three colors of leadcore. My stealthily trolled worm has produced a lot of trout for me over the
This happy young angler jump-started his trout fishing career during a March outing when he successfully battled this impressive rainbow. (CAL KELLOGG)
FISHING
Spoons in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors are a great choice for spring trolling. (CAL
years, but other anglers do equally as well when they run a threaded worm behind dodgers or flashers. These guys are typically the old-timers who grew up pulling worms behind blades.
With blade rigs, you can experiment with how far you put the threaded bait behind the blades. Sometimes the trout will prefer a worm crowded tight to the rear of the blades. At other times, they want a worm trailing as far as 6 feet behind the blades.
A set of flashers teamed with a nightcrawler was the favorite trolling combination of our grandfathers because it produced trout, and they will still produce trout today. Modernday trout anglers may have gone high tech, but the trout haven’t changed!
SPEAKING OF ATTRACTORS, IN addition to lures and terminal gear, you’ll need a set
of small willow leaf flashers and a couple 4-inch dodgers. When trout are playing hard to get, these attractors can be the difference between success and failure.
Flashers simulate the flash and vibration produced by baitfish, while the low-frequency pulses put off by a dodger reproduce the sounds emitted by a feeding trout. In terms of flasher colors, I lean toward chrome blades teamed with chartreuse accents. For dodgers, a 4-inch chrome Sling Blade with green tape is tough to beat most days in most waters.
When it comes to presentation, the majority of trout trolling is done between 1.5 and 2.5 miles per hour. An exception to this rule comes when using minnow plugs for big trout. Plugs produce the best result when trolled from 2.5 to 5 mph.
A lot of trollers make the mistake
of trolling at a constant speed while traveling in a straight line. Varying speeds while zigzagging results in more natural lure action and, correspondingly, more strikes.
Another common mistake is trolling the lures too close to the boat. The boat creates commotion that momentarily spooks trout. Because of this, you want your lure trailing from 100 to 150 feet behind the boat. This way, the trout have a chance to settle down before being confronted with your lure.
WHILE BASS ANGLERS ARE well-versed in exploring underwater structure when searching for fish, I meet a lot of trout anglers who fail to consider structure while trolling, which is a mistake. Trout don’t orient to structure as strongly as bass do, but they do orient to it.
KELLOGG)
Rocky points, creek channels, inflowing tributaries, shelves and underwater dropoffs are all areas that should be explored when trolling for trout. You’ll seldom find me out in the middle of the lake trolling open water in the spring. Instead, I’ll be working near the banks and exploring transition areas where trout hold and feed.
WHEN A TROUT IS caught, don’t make the mistake a lot of anglers make and continue on your course. Instead, come back around and troll through the area again. You may have located a piece of structure that holds multiple trout.
Many times, I’ve trolled for an extended period of time without results, only to pick up several trout from an isolated area. CS
Editor’s note: Cal Kellogg is a longtime Northern California outdoors writer. Subscribe to his YouTube channel Fish Hunt Shoot Productions at youtube.com/ user/KelloggOutdoors.
Richard Cummings trolled a threaded nightcrawler to fool this jumbo spring rainbow. With high water levels at NorCal lakes and reservoirs, “it looks like we are in for an exciting and productive spring trout season,” author Cal
and
Kellogg writes,
his trolling advice here will help you catch more fish. (CAL KELLOGG)
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NOT JUST A BASS PLAN
By Mark Fong
There is no doubt that soft plastic baits are some of the most popular and effective offerings for bass anglers. If you follow my content, you know that I fish a
lot of soft plastics for bass, but did you know that soft plastics are highly productive for trout as well?
Over the years, I have caught my fair share of trout while fishing with PowerBait, spoons and spinners. But more recently, I have found myself
HOW SOFT PLASTIC BAITS CAN SCORE TROUT
gravitating toward soft plastics on a more consistent basis.
The allure for me is not surprising: Fishing soft plastics for trout has a lot of similarities to fishing for bass, but with just enough differences to make it challenging and exciting.
Guide Brett Brady with a pretty wild rainbow caught on a soft plastic bait. Drop-shotting offerings traditionally used for bass can be an effective trout tactic. (MARK FONG)
FISHING
What’s not to like about catching hard-fighting rainbow trout on small plastics, ultralight-action rods and gossamer-weight line?
MINI-JIGGING, SOCAL-STYLE
A popular technique for targeting trout, Southern California-based mini-jiggers like to cast and retrieve a small jig – typically a 1.5- to 2-inch plastic tube bait paired with a 1/32- or 1/16-ounce internal jighead.
The key to mini-jigging is the action that the angler imparts to the bait. The retrieve is not a straight retrieve, but rather a subtle continuous shake of the rod that gives the tip a rhythmic bounce, all while slowly turning the reel handle to take up slack in the line.
Tubes come in a wide variety of colors, and my favorite choices include: chartreuse, pearl white, pink, black, grasshopper, and cricket. And because the jigs are so light in weight, having the right gear and tackle setup is crucial for success.
An extra-long ultralight rod allows the angler to make long casts, and the soft tip is essential
for achieving the proper jigging action. My recommendation is a 7-foot, 6-inch ultralight spinning rod matched to a 1000-series reel spooled with either 4-pound monofilament or fluorocarbon line. Light line is super important for making long casts. Some anglers prefer a 2-pound test, but the risk of breaking off fish is much higher.
While a small tube is the standard fare for Southland minijiggers, I have found that there are many other effective baits. When the trout are keyed in on baitfish, a small, minnow-shaped 2-inch Deps Sakamata Shad rigged with a ballhead-style jig has been very good for me. In situations where the fish are feeding near the bottom, a small aquatic larvae or crayfish imitation can be just the ticket.
DROP-SHOTTING FOR TROUT
When most anglers think “drop shot,” the first thing that comes to mind is a bass technique. While this may be true, for those in the know, the drop shot can be a very effective rig for catching trout as well. In fact,
Drop-shotters can find some hungry trout near current edges. According to author Mark Fong, “Once on the bottom, slowly drag and shake the bait. Dead-sticking the bait can be effective as well. Mix up the cadence until you determine how the fish want it presented.” (MARK FONG)
I have caught a lot of incidental trout on the drop shot while fishing for bass, so when I heard that serious trout anglers were drop-shotting, it did not surprise me.
Fishing a drop-shot rig for trout is very much like fishing a drop-shot setup for bass. In my experience, the big differences are related to downsizing the gear and bait selection. As far as rods and reels are concerned, my favorite minijig combo works well. The only exception is that I prefer to upsize my line to 6-pound test.
For those who have never dropshotted before, the rig is simple to tie. To start, I recommend using a No. 8-sized mosquito-style hook, then tying it to the mainline with a Palomar knot, making sure to leave an extra-long tag end. Once the knot is complete, take the tag end of the line and run it down through the top of the hook eye and attach a clip-on drop-shot sinker to the line. I typically like to start out with a 6- to 12-inch leader and a 1/8-ounce sinker and will make adjustments to leader length and weight depending on
the conditions and how the fish are reacting or not.
Drop-shot fishing is simple. First, cast the rig out and let it settle to the bottom. Once on the bottom, slowly drag and shake the bait. Deadsticking the bait can be effective as well. Mix up the cadence until you determine how the fish want it presented. When you get a bite, don’t swing on the first tap; let the rod load up and then reel quickly and sweep the rod to set the hook.
There are lots of small plastics that will work well for drop-shotting. My favorite is the aforementioned 2-inch Deps Sakamata Shad. It is just a wonderful small baitfish imitator. I have found my best success with either a pearl or green pumpkin color. A popular mainstream offering among trout anglers is a Mice Tail. There is something about the profile of the Berkley product and the way it moves on a drop shot that just gets bit. For me, a white-and-pink- or
white-and-orange-colored Mice Tail has accounted for many trout on the end of my line.
If you are an avid trout angler, you may already be familiar with the
effectiveness of a well-presented soft plastic, but if you have never fished them before, you owe it to yourself to give them a try. The results may just surprise you. CS
Sakamata Shad, mini tubes and Mice Tails are good trout options for drop-shotting setups. “Fishing soft plastics for trout has a lot of similarities to fishing for bass,” Fong writes, “but with just enough differences to make it challenging and exciting.” (MARK FONG)
FROM FIELD...
SEALING THE DEAL WITH DECOYS
USE THESE SETUPS TO CREATE IDEAL SHOT OPPORTUNITIES
By Scott Haugen
When it comes to turkey hunting, decoy placement can play an important part in getting the shot you want. Be it with bow or shotgun, here are some tips that have helped me over the past 39 years of turkey hunting.
BOW, SHOTGUN BASICS
My favorite shot with a bow is when a tom faces straight away. Ideally, it’s alert and standing upright while exposing the spine and lungs. A strutting, facing-away shot also yields perfect success if the shot is on target.
To get a tom with its back to
you, set one upright hen decoy facing your popup blind at no more than 10 yards away. Turkeys have exceptional vision, but their depth perception is poor, which explains why they’ll approach so closely to a blind. I like a close shot with a bow, something this setup provides. When the tom steps in front of the decoy, a
Knowing the behavior of toms throughout the course of the spring turkey hunting season will help you choose the right decoy. This tom couldn’t resist a Final Approach Live Breeder Hen decoy. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
... TO FIRE CREATE TASTY TURKEY TENDERLOINS
By Tiffany Haugen
If someone tries to tell you wild turkey is tough, gamey and inedible, ignore them. They don’t know what they’re talking about or how to properly cook turkey meat. I’ve been cooking wild turkey for over 30 years, and I’m here to help!
Wild turkey is very lean, especially spring toms that have been strutting and rutting for weeks. Lean meat should never be overcooked; when that happens to lean meat it results in a tough, gameyflavored end product. It’s an easy fix, really. Simply don’t cook wild turkey – or any upland bird, waterfowl or even big game, for that matter – for too long.
If you’re still skeptical, here’s a recipe that won’t fail. It involves turkey tenderloins, which turn out best when cooked alone and not with the rest of
the breast meat. The tenderloin in a wild turkey is so soft, it can be torn into bitesized chunks with your fingers. That cut works great for an appetizer, as this small muscle is mild and will take on any flavor it’s seasoned in. Add a few veggies to stretch the dish or serve on its own for a delicately unique bite.
Two to four wild turkey tenderloins
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon white pepper
½ teaspoon granulated onion
½ teaspoon granulated garlic
¼ to ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 to 2 tablespoons melted butter for drizzling
In a small bowl, mix spices until thoroughly combined. Tear turkey tenderloin into bite-sized pieces. Rub meat with spice
mixture and let sit for 15 to 20 minutes at room temperature. Thread loosely onto skewers and drizzle with melted butter. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for seven to nine minutes or until turkey reaches desired doneness. Skewers can also be grilled on well-lubricated grates or panfried in butter. Garnish with chives or fresh herbs if desired.
Editor’s note: To order signed copies of Tiffany Haugen’s popular book, Cooking Game Birds, visit scotthaugen.com for this and other titles.
If it’s not overcooked, wild turkey tenderloin makes for a delicious appetizer for your table. Chef Tiffany Haugen likes serving the meat on skewers. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)
HUNTING
facing-away shot is presented. When turkey hunting with a 12- or 20-gauge shotgun, the load needs time to expand. If hunting with subgauges – a .410 or 28-gauge – the target should be closer, since these patterns open more quickly. Patterning your shotgun on a turkey target is critical so you know exactly how it hits. I like patterning every load at 10, 20 and 30 yards – 40 if using a 12-gauge.
FIND YOUR PATTERN
You may need to try different chokes in your shotgun to see what patterns best. Last season I started using Muller Chokes’ UFO in my 20-gauge. It resulted in a tight, consistent pattern with multiple brands of loads and sizes of shot. It also yielded clean kills from close range out to nearly 40 yards – the farthest shot I took.
If shooting a .410, I personally like having a turkey inside 20 yards. Tungsten super shot loads perform at longer distances, but if I’m not confident I can get a tom in close on a particular hunt, I’m stepping up to a 20- or 12-gauge with more pellets and killing power. I’m not going to use a .410 with TSS just to say I killed a tom at 50 yards. That’s not the purpose of turkey hunting with a subgauge.
DECOY PLACEMENT
To get a tom inside 20 yards, I like a single hen decoy that’s standing upright, walking or preening. I want an approaching tom to focus on one hen, not a hen and a strutting tom decoy it has to intimidate and possibly fight.
The more still a tom’s head is when shooting light payloads, the greater the odds of a clean kill. That’s one reason I like using a single hen decoy. I like positioning the hen decoy broadside to where I’m sitting, but away from where I anticipate an approaching tom to come in from. This creates the illusion that the hen is moving away, making the tom hurry to get in front of it in order to cut her off. When in front of the hen
Whether hunting with a 12-gauge, subgauge shotgun or archery gear, decoys and decoy placement have a big impact on shot placement. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
decoy, the tom often breaks into a strut. Once broadside and its head is separated from the body, shoot.
THE WEATHER CURVEBALL
When conditions are wet or cold early in the season, or hot later in spring, I like using a Dave Smith Preening Hen decoy. When it’s raining, hens spend a lot of time preening under the cover of trees. When it’s hot out, hens often retreat to shaded trees to take a dust bath and preen. The preening position is a relaxed one that calms approaching toms and creates solid shot opportunities. When predator numbers are high or hens have lost broods due to bad weather, a mating hen decoy can be effective all season long. Late in the spring hens will often rebreed, and toms are ready. Shots routinely come while the tom is mounting the decoy, making this a great subgauge option.
THE HIGH HEN FACTOR
In areas with high tom-to-hen ratios, I like adding a strutting tom to a hen decoy setup. When seen from a distance, a strutting tom decoy will often bring toms on the run. I’ll place the strutter decoy broadside, either behind a hen decoy to make it look like it’s catching up to it, or in front of it to make it appear like the tom is showing off. Create a 3-yard gap between the decoys, as the approaching tom usually tries getting in front of the strutter to establish dominance. If tom-to-hen ratios are low, I like using a jake decoy. A jake decoy is less threatening and encourages leery toms to come close.
Bottom line: Turkey decoys can play an important part in not only bringing toms in close, but putting them right where you want them to connect on the shot. CS
Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s popular book, Western Turkey Hunting: Strategies For All Levels, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.
Author Scott Haugen used a Dave Smith Preening Hen decoy to bring this big tom into .410 range. “Turkey decoys can play an important part in not only bringing toms in close,” he writes, “but putting them right where you want them to connect on the shot.” (SCOTT HAUGEN)
DON’T WAIT TO GET BACK INTO TRAINING
GIVING GUN DOGS TOO MUCH TIME OFF AFTER SEASON RISKS THEIR FITNESS, HEALTH
Resist the urge to give your four-legged hunting companion months off following the end of waterfowl seasons. Spring fields with standing water make excellent training opportunities to work your dog and keep them in shape. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
By Scott Haugen
He’s had a good run, but it looks like this will be his last season,” stated the man as his overweight black Lab struggled to retrieve a juvenile white-fronted goose in a dry field.
“How old is he?” I asked.
“He just turned seven,” the man replied.
My jaw dropped. The man saw my reaction.
“How old did you think he was?” he asked.
“I have no idea, but if he loses 12 to 15 pounds, that dog will hunt four or five more years,” I came back.
I’d never met the man. We were sharing a hunt together with mutual friends.
At first, the man was stricken by my remark. Then he started making excuses for why his Lab was so fat. I cut him off and said those are his issues, not the dog’s. I kept talking and eventually he listened. Bottom line, a healthy diet and daily exercise would help his dog live a longer, healthier life.
We were on a late-season goose hunt, almost six weeks after duck season had closed. The man made a statement that hit home, one I hear from so many gun dog owners: “With our main season over, I figured I’d give my dog time to recover and start exercising him again this summer,” he said.
COLUMN HUNTING
Hunting dogs can recover from a hard hunt, even a hard season, in a matter of days. Split pads, open cuts and strained muscles and joints are one thing, but just because a dog hunts hard doesn’t mean it needs three months of rest. In fact, a long offseason with no physical conditioning is one of the worst things a gun dog owner can do for their canine companion.
WHEN IT COMES TO keeping your dog in shape, it’s a year-round commitment that lasts the dog’s entire life. And I’m not just talking about tossing a bumper in the field a few times. Your dog needs extended runs, so hop on a mountain bike and get them running. Running them in the hills also keeps
them in shape and builds muchneeded muscle strength. As rivers and lakes start to warm up, swimming is one of the best, low-impact exercises you can do for your dog. Swim a dog two to three times a week and you’ll see an amazing difference in their physique, health and performance.
As for food, don’t feed them garbage. Table scraps with too much processed food and salt are terrible for a dog. If you’re going to feed table scraps, steam vegetables for them and trim off raw meat to feed them before it’s cooked. And invest in the best dog food possible. Read labels and make a healthy choice. Visit a local feed store authority on this topic – not a big box store or a vet; you’ll be surprised.
A good rule of thumb to gauge your
pup’s weight is their ribs. Ribs should be showing slightly. If you can’t see any ribs, your dog is overweight. Make a fist. Look closely at how much the knuckles on the back of your hand are protruding. That’s how much of your dog’s ribs should be showing. If your dog has a thick hide or long hair, you should be able to feel the ribs sticking out, just like the knuckles on the back of your hand.
IF IN DOUBT ABOUT weight, see your vet and get a specific measure of what would be best for your dog. I recently took Echo, my 11-year-old pudelpointer, to the vet. I dropped her weight by a pound from last year’s checkup because she’s aging. She still went on over 60 hunts last season, and
Protruding ribs are a good indicator of your dog’s weight. If you can’t see them (or easily feel them on a long-haired dog), your four-legged hunting partner is overweight. Fat dogs don’t live as long as in-shape ones do, making for a poorer return on the investment in a gun dog than you can otherwise accrue by keeping it fit over its life. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
COLUMN HUNTING
outperformed many dogs half her age that we hunted with. The vet told me that by dropping just that one extra pound, I likely increased her lifespan by a whole year. Barring injury or any other health issues, he figured Echo had another two or three years of hunting seasons in her future.
With spring here, keep your dog in shape. High-end dogs with a good bloodline need no offseason. In fact, by taking time off and letting them get overweight and out of shape, it’s harder on their body than continual workouts that keep them in prime condition. Dedicate time and effort to managing your dog’s health. It’s the least you can do for the best hunting companion you’ll ever know. CS
Editor’s note: Scott Haugen is a full-time writer. See his puppy training videos and learn more about his many books at scotthaugen.com and follow him on Instagram and Facebook.
Kona, author Scott Haugen’s 7½-year-old pudelpointer, went on over 100 hunts last season, for waterfowl, upland birds, fall turkey, squirrels and shed antlers. Two days after his last goose hunt, Kona was running hills to stay in shape. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
