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2017 SPORTSMAN CALENDAR INSIDE

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GREAT

STURG ’N SHARKS!

HUNTING

GIFTS

Tomales Bay Leopards SF Bay Diamondsides

ALSO INSIDE

GREAT LATE HUNTS Pheasants, Cottontails & Jacks!

Why More Women Than Ever Are Hunting

New Melones ’Bows SoCal Bay Bass 19-lb. Chabot Largie

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calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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out

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EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott EDITOR Chris Cocoles CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Brittany Boddington LEAD WRITER Tim E. Hovey CONTRIBUTORS Bill Adelman, Dave Feral, Mark Fong, Brad Hall, Jason Haley, Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Jeff Lund, Nancy Rodriguez, Bill Schaefer, Mike Stevens, Amy Witt SALES MANAGER Katie Higgins ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Steve Joseph, Garn Kennedy, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold PRODUCTION MANAGER Sonjia Kells DESIGNERS Michelle Hatcher, Sam Rockwell, Liz Weickum PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Kelly Baker

DIGITAL STRATEGIST Jon Hines DIGITAL ASSISTANT Samantha Morstan OFFICE MANAGER/ACCOUNTING Audra Higgins ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Katie Sauro INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn CIRCULATION MANAGER Heidi Belew ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@calsportsmanmag.com CORRESPONDENCE Email ccocoles@media-inc.com Twitter @CalSportsMan Facebook.com/californiasportsmanmagazine ON THE COVER Sturgeon remain one of the most fascinating species among California’s gamefish. These prehistoric beasts are popular targets for anglers in both greater San Francisco Bay and the Delta. (ARGO SPORTFISHING)

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MEDIA INC PUBLISHING GROUP CALIFORNIA OFFICE 4517 District Blvd. • Bakersfield, CA 93313 (661) 381-7533 WASHINGTON OFFICE P.O. Box 24365 • Seattle, WA 98124-0365 14240 Interurban Ave. S., Suite 190 Tukwila, WA 98168 OREGON OFFICE 8116 SW Durham Rd • Tigard, OR 97224 (206) 382-9220 • (800) 332-1736 • Fax (206) 382-9437 media@media-inc.com • www.media-inc.com

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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CONTENTS

VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 3

No California fish has such deep roots in history as sturgeon, a species that dates back perhaps to the Triassic Period some 200 million years ago.

With December and the coming months prime time on San Francisco Bay and the Delta, our sturgeon general, Bill Adelman, has all the tips and tricks you need for hooking, fighting and landing some of these diamond-sided dinosaurs!

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PREHISTORIC MONSTERS

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 29 10 can’t-miss gift ideas for hunters 61 Late-season pheasant tactics (Part II) 49 Failure and redemption for Feather River fall salmon

69 Tomales Bay leopard shark tips 87 Chabot Lake spits out new lake-record

(FISH HOOKERS SPORTFISHING)

FEATURES 89 IT’S A WOMAN’S WORLD, TOO We debut two talented new writers this month, and both are among the growing numbers of women taking up fishing and/ or hunting. Besides Nancy Rodriguez’s fine report on kayak fishing for leopard sharks on Tomales Bay, we introduce you to Amy Witt, who hails from an active, outdoors-loving family in Porterville, in the San Joaquin Valley, and is a dedicated hunter. Along with sharing her own journey to the field, she picks the brain of other women who are just as passionate as the guys about hunting.

109 SLAM DANCING Our Alaskan correspondent Jeff Lund returns to the Eastern Sierra and steps to the plate with the intention of hitting a grand slam. But his tool is a fly rod rather than a Louisville Slugger. Score along at home as Jeff attempts to catch four species of trout in the high country.

121 BASSIN’ THE SOUTHLAND’S BAYS The weather was getting a little wet around Southern California as Thanksgiving approached, but sunnier skies are expected in December, and that means the bay bass will be biting just offshore. The good fishing will lead into the San Diego Anglers Bay Bass Tournament in January. Capt. Bill Schaefer previews all the action!

153 A HARE-RAISING EXPERIENCE Lead writer Tim Hovey shares some of his secrets for hunting California’s ubiquitous cottontail hares and jackrabbits. These little critters are fun to track, make for delicious meals and provide young or inexperienced hunters with a great introduction to the chase.

19-pound largemouth New Melones winter ’bows biting Work slower to score SoCal bass The case for fishing with braided line Company profile: Westview Marina, British Columbia fishing haven 166 Company profile: Troll-Master’s hightech trolling gear

103 119 133 165

DEPARTMENTS 13 17 23 36 39 41 123 137 141

The Editor’s Note: Get kids outside with their holiday gifts Protecting Wild California: Tour of North Coast steelhead restoration work offered Outdoor calendar Adventures of Todd Kline: FLW Costa Series Championship in the Ozarks; fish of a different ’Phin come to Charger town Reader photos from the field Browning, Fishing Photo Contest winners From Field to Fire: A braided line to consider; tasty poached tuna recipe Rig of the Month: Saltwater spoons set-up Urban Huntress: Brittany works hard for a New Mexico bull elk

California Sportsman goes digital!

Read California Sportsman on your desktop or mobile device. Only $1.89 an issue. Go to www.calsportsmanmag.com/digital California Sportsman is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 14240 Interurban Avenue South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Send address changes to California Sportsman, PO Box 24365, Seattle, WA 98124. 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) 3829220 with VISA or M/C. Back issues are available 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 © 2016 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. 10 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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THEEDITOR’SNOTE How much Jessica Hovey and her sister, Alyssa, enjoy the outdoors provides some hope that our youths will put down their smartphones and get closer to nature. (TIM E. HOVEY)

AA’S BULKS UP WITH ADDITION OF NEW BAD BUBBA SHAD SERIES For more than three decades AA Worm Company has been hand-pouring plastic finesse worms and shad tail bodies in Southern California, one lure at a time. After many requests for a beefier version of our original AA’s Shad Tail, a new paddle-tail swimbait design has been brought to the table, the Bad Bubba Shad Series.

This new bulkier bait was designed to rig it with a much larger hook shank, with reduced body wear. They’re offered in 4-, 5- and 7-inch body lengths.

With the use of CAD design and 3D printing technology, we gave the bait

I

’m a drive-by Christmas shopper and try to spend as little time as possible in congested December malls and three-deep lines at the registers. But I’m always fascinated to know what parents are buying for their kids this holiday season. It pains me to think that a lot more gifts are probably being purchased at the Apple Store and on Amazon than at Cabela’s and Kittle’s.

I don’t have any children, but it sure seems like our youths spend less and less time outdoors, instead smacking keyboards and iPad screens at will. It’s not like I don’t spend plenty of idle time on my smartphone, but when I was a lad I was obsessed with fishing and begged anyone I knew with a car to take me and my friends to some local lake in the Bay Area.

But how many of today’s 12-year-olds feel a connection to the simple act of dunking a nightcrawler and turning off the electronics for long enough to breathe some fresh air without playing Pokémon Go or uploading Snapchat photos?

Fortunately, senior writer Tim Hovey’s family gives me some hope. Hovey wrote what was for him a tough piece this month to honor his longtime hunting and fishing partner, Darrin Bergen, who passed away suddenly in September. Tim’s teenage daughters, Jessica and Alyssa, have become connected to the outdoors and joining their dad in the field. And it was this line in Hovey’s story that struck a chord with me: “Darrin quickly attained the status of uncle to my daughters.

Every Christmas, without fail, he would send Alyssa and Jessica gifts designed to nurture their outdoor interests. And always, gifts from Uncle Darrin were opened last.”

Maybe it’s the cynic in me, but I imagine that in reporter-onthe-street interviews with tweens, the majority would prefer opening a PlayStation rather than getting a new pair of great hiking boots or a new spinning rod this holiday season.

Attention, younger generation: There’s a whole world of the outdoors just waiting to be explored. And you can even tote along a GPS to find your way. See, it’s the best of both worlds! Happy holidays. –Chris Cocoles

a fishlike 3D scale pattern and really fine-tuned its swimming action. This new body design eliminates unnatural tail flailing and provides a tighter body roll and tail kick.

AA’s Bubba Shads are ideal for largemouth bass, crappie, landlocked and ocean stripers, tuna, yellowtail, all kinds of sea bass, rockfish, halibut and more.

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CATCH US IN SACRAMENTO!

Make sure to stop by California Sportsman’s booth, #1948, at the upcoming Sacramento ISE sportsman’s show at Cal Expo on Jan. 19-22.

For more, go to sportsexpos.com/attend/sacramento. See you there! calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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NEW SEAHAWK OS WALK AROUND EXPERIENCE 360° FISHABILITY THE FISH HAVE NOWHERE TO HIDE. The premium construction and performance of the Seahawk OS hull now features an all-new walk around cabin design. Featuring 29- and 31-foot TVKLSZ [OL :LHOH^R 6: >HSR (YV\UK KLSP]LYZ [OL \S[PTH[L VMMZOVYL Ä ZOPUN WSH[MVYT HUK H high-quality ownership experience that is available only from North River Boats.

Visit northriverboats.com to upgrade your ownership experience and to locate a North River dealer near you.

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PROTECTING

WILD CALIFORNIA

HUMBOLDT STEELHEAD TOURS EDUCATE ABOUT ICONIC FISH’S HABITAT

Steelhead spawning areas have been threatened over time by many factors, but the organizers of Humboldt Steelhead Days are hosting tours of restoration projects to educate the public about recovering habitat for the fish, as well as coho salmon, a species with a similar life history and needs. (HUMBOLDT STEELHEAD DAYS)

By Dave Feral

T

he North Coast is the birthplace of salmonid fisheries restoration, and Humboldt Steelhead Days, a three-month-long celebration of the iconic sea-run trout that returns to California streams, is proud to announce we will be hosting an array of restoration and spawning tours as an exciting new addition to this year’s events.

“In 1997, California Legislature SB 271 was a landmark bill that added new categories for funding under the California Department of Fish and Game’s Fisheries Restoration Grants Program (FRGP). Watershed planning, upslope erosion control, organizational support, and monitoring became new funding categories under the FRGP,” says Don Allen of the Salmonid Restoration Federation.

Over the past 20 years, multiple restoration projects have taken place across California with the intent of recovering calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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PROTECTING

WILD CALIFORNIA

As biologists work to recover steelhead up and down the West Coast, some of their highest priorities are now high-flow refugias – where young fish like this winter-run smolt can go to escape from increasing fall flooding – estuary habitat and removing passage barriers. (PAUL KAISER, USFWS)

steelhead and salmonid populations by reconnecting fish to streams once lost, improving upslope land management and enhancing spawning and rearing grounds.

A host of fisheries biologists, hydrologists, engineers and watershed experts have been restoring watersheds one project at a time and assess-

ing project success over that period. In recent years, the importance of highflow refugia, estuary habitat, floodplain development and the removal of fish barriers have been given the highest of priorities.

A short list of sites visited on the tours will include Morrison Gulch culvert replacement, Powers Creek fish

18 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

passage barrier removal, Lindsay Creek spawning grounds and the Wood Creek restoration project. All tours will include instruction from local fisheries and restoration experts, plus a visit to one of the local breweries, including Mad River Brewery, Eel River Brewery, Redwood Curtain Brewery and other local favorites.

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PROTECTING

WILD CALIFORNIA Registration is $55 per person, which includes transportation, instruction and a brewery stop. All net proceeds will benefit programs of nonprofit groups Mad River Alliance, California Trout and Mountain Community and Culture. To learn more and register, go to humboldtsteelheaddays.com. CS Editor’s note: Dave Feral is the director of the Mad River Alliance. Check out madriveralliance.org for more.

A Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist carefully holds a baby coho salmon. Silvers have been considered a threatened species for quite some time in California, but over the past 20 years, multiple restoration projects have taken place across the state with the intent of recovering steelhead and salmon populations by reconnecting fish to streams once lost. (HUMBOLDT STEELHEAD DAYS)

Celebrating 100 years of Best in Boating

17’ Alaskan

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There is more to hull strength than just the thickness of your skin

Wooldridge Boats family & crew members Don & Jared Dunning with friend Kelly O’Neill IURP 3DFLÀF :LQJV VKRZ RII VRPH PRUQLQJ quackers! It’s a bonus when the fellas who build your boat are outdoorsmen as well.

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OUTDOOR CALENDAR

MIXED BAG

DECEMBER 3

11 18 25 31

Desert bighorn sheep permit hunts open in most zones (wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/ Bighorn-Sheep) Fall wild turkey season closes Desert bighorn sheep permit hunt opens in Zone 5 (San Gorgonio Wilderness) General bear hunting season closes Last day a 2016 fishing license is valid

JANUARY 1 1 1 1 19-22 20 26 29

New fishing license required Opener of Topaz Lake trout derby (visitcarsonvalley.org) Opening of Humboldt Steelhead Days (humboldtsteelheaddays.com) Online harvesting reports available for spiny lobster, North Coast salmon and steelhead International Sportsmen’s Expo, Cal Expo, State Fairgrounds, Sacramento (sportsexpos.com/attend/sacramento) End of waterfowl season in Northeast Zone Opening of second archery pheasant season End of waterfowl season in most state zones

Most of California’s special permit hunts for bighorn sheep open in December. (USFWS)

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24 Califo California orn rni r na S Sportsman por p po or ortsm t an DECE DECEMBER EC EECE CE CEM MBE MBER MB BEEER BER B R 2016 20 20 201 01 16 | cca calsportsmanmag.com cal cals als al alsport spor port port po orrrttsma o sman sm sman maaan m nm mag. mag ag. aag g g..com c

WE’VE GOT tHE LARGEST SELECTION OF SITKA WATERFOWL GEAR IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES.

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Gift e d i u G Ho liday

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ALLIED SAFE Liberty HDX-250 Smart Vault The Liberty HDX-250 Smart Vault is a safe way to secure your valuables and handguns. It is a biometric safe that allows for quick and easy access by using Liberty’s fifth-generation biometric fingerprint technology. This is the only biometric fingerprint reader with a 1:100,000 falseread rate. Use code SPORTSMAN10 to receive 10 percent off your order.

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BoomBoom Swimbait Warning: This bait will cause increased heart rate due to rod-thumping strikes! The Fred Roumbanis BoomBoom swimbait is designed to fish with a slow retrieve speed. It features a quivering head action, tight body roll and thumping tail kick. This “panic action” entices lurking fish into committing to strike the bait. “As a touring pro angler, I know the importance of a ‘one big bite.’ Why not have a bait that can catch several a day?” says Elite Series angler Fred Roumbanis. OPTIMUMBAITS.COM

WATERFOWL JUNKIE Switchback The Switchback is a multipurpose blind, dog carrier and kennel. Its heavy-duty steel gate with quick-release flip-up door offers total control, meaning your dog will be invited on every hunting trip. No more chaining your dog to the ground – eliminate dog movement and run multiple dogs smoothly. The Switchback’s rugged screen mesh windows allow dogs 360-degree vision, and it’s collapsible and sets up in seconds, making it great for transport, home and hotels. WATERFOWLJUNKIE.COM

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JUST ADJUST STRAP Just Adjust Strap Forget the aggravation, pain and knottedup hassle of conventional cargo bungee cords and ratchet straps. There is a better solution – the Just Adjust Strap. It combines both the security of a ratchet strap with the variable tension properties of a bungee strap. It’s easy to adjust for your load requirements and is safe to unload when you’re finished transporting your gear. JUSTADJUSTSTRAP.COM

Prolix, a biodegradeable, nonpetroleum-based leu oes on we solvent/lubricant for firearms, goes wet, cleans, bonds and turns dry. For a Holiday PrOlix Get Started Kit, contactt us for detai details! ils!

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EXQUISITE KNIVES Loveless Knives Exquisiteknives.com is one of the top dealers of Loveless Knives. Bob Loveless, who passed p away in 2010, was one of the most recognized knifemakers. His ed and collectible of custom knifemak knives are collected and used worldwide by top sportsmen portsmen and astute buyers/collectors. buyers/c Happy holidays from Exquisite Knives! David Ellis, ABS-M.S., proprietor. EXQUISITEK EXQUISITEKNIVES.COM

26 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

ANGELES SHOOTING RANGES

BOW PRO

XL650 The Dillon XL650 is a highspeed progressive reloading machine designed to load the common rifle and handgun cartridges, from .17 Hornet though .458 Winchester Magnum in rifle, and .32 ACP through .500 S&W in handgun.

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Precision Applicator Pen-BP-PEN BOW Pro is the new all-in-one product for bows and d crossbows. The biobased and nontoxic material can n be used on rails, strings, cams and axles. The BOW Pro o easy applicator pen provides for precise application. n.

Lasting much longer than traditional products, BOW W Pro won’t dry out. SEAL1.COM

SEAL 1 Complete Gun Care Kit-SKIT-4 SEAL 1 CLP PLUS products clean, lubricate and protect your firearm. USDA-certified biobased, no other products are needed to care for your entire firearm. Each kit contains: one 4-ounce paste, one 4-ounce liquid, two swabs, four 6-inch-by-6-inch presaturated gun cloths, one microfiber cloth and one tactical double-ended brush. SEAL1.COM

CALKONA Evinrude 150 E-Tec Check out this great holiday special at Calkona Marine, San Diego’s premier marine services center. It’s a 2016 Evinrude 150 E-Tec engine with a 25inch shaft, five-year warranty and free rigging supplies for $10,995.00, plus tax and installation.

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MICRO TOOL 100

GUNFIGHTERS INC.

Speedy Sharp Speedy Sharp manufactures the fastest, easiest-to-use sharpening tool on the market right here in the USA. Perfect for every hunting, fishing, camping and survival situation, it is only 4 ½ inches by ½inch by 3/8-inch and 1 ½ ounces, so it is easy to carry and will last for years. SPEEDYSHARP.COM

Kenai Chest Holster The Kenai Chest Holster was designed to offer a comfortable way to carry your firearm while engaging in a variety of outdoor activities. It gets the gun off your hip and out of the way of backpack straps, hip belts and waders. If you’re fishing, hunting, hiking, snowmobiling or just spending time outdoors, this is the holster you want. It’s available for over 300 guns in 40 different colors. GUNFIGHTERSINC.COM

RIM ROCK BULLETS, INC. Rim Rock Bullets, Inc. has been busy adding new custom bullet moulds to our line-up. Here is a sampling of our new products: .25 ACP 55-grain FP, .30 Carbine 125 grain RNFP gas checked, 9mm 148-grain TC, .45 rifle 405- and 500-grain RNFP g/ch. Check our website for more.

RIMROCKBULLETS.NET

CUSTOM MOLDING Easy Loader Kennels Tired of that heavy kennel to take your beloved companion on a trip? Try Easy Loader Kennels – they are durable, light weight and kind to your dogs. With two sizes available at 31 and 33 pounds, they fit just about any vehicle or UTV. Accessories available on our website. EASYLOADERKENNELS.COM

DIAMOND LAKE Diamond Lake Resort is Oregon’s gem of the Cascades. Host to year-round family fun, winter activities include snowmobiling, downhill and crosscountry skiing, tubing, snowshoeing and ice fishing.

The resort has cabins, motel rooms, restaurants, marina, store, lounge and gas. Give the gift of family adventure – call (541) 793-3333 to purchase gift certificates for family and friends. Snowmobile packages are available. DIAMONDLAKE.NET calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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MIXED BAG Jessica Hovey’s Stoney Point bipod provides versatile and sturdy shooting sticks to zero in on game while hunting, and is one of her dad’s top picks. (TIM E. HOVEY)

Through years of trial and error, author and longtime California outdoorsman Tim Hovey has settled on ten key pieces of equipment that are most useful as he and his daughters hunt across the state and West. (TIM E. HOVEY)

GREAT

GIFTS FOR HUNTERS

LOOKING FOR PRESENTS THAT CALIFORNIA SPORTSMEN WILL REALLY USE? TRY OUR EXPERT’S PICKS

By Tim E. Hovey

noticed a long time ago that I enjoy preparing for my time outdoors just as much as I enjoy being outdoors.

I pour over my gear, make sure it’s in working order and pack it correctly. I’ll pack, unpack, organize and reorganize my gear several times before a trip. And just like any hunter, I pack items that are essential to my success.

Through trial and error – not to mention many years of experience – I’ve gravitated towards the gear that works for me and fits my outdoor style. These are the items I deem essential, and are the pieces of equipment I usually pack first. I’m sure this behavior is gently marinated in some low-level OCD basement, but it has always worked for me.

With Christmas fast approaching, I thought I’d put together my top ten outdoor items that I always carry with me when I head out to hunt. Whether you hunt part time or hit it hard every season, this list will hopefully give some insight on what I use to become a successful hunter. And maybe your holiday gift wish will find its way to you.

HAVALON KNIVES If you’re headed out to hunt, you most likely feel that there is a chance of successfully killing game. After the animal is down and the real work begins, you’ll need a quality knife to process your game. For the last decade I have relied heavily on a pair of Havalon knives for all my game-processing and field-dressing needs.

These knives have a detachable surgical blade that can be easily replaced in the field if a sharper one is needed. The fold-

ing knife has a nonslip insert on the handle and is a perfect size for quartering out big game, skinning or processing small game. These knives fit my hand well, and one blade is usually good enough to completely skin and quarter out an animal the size of a 275-pound pig. These knives come in a variety of sizes and are made very well. Whether I’m skinning, quartering or processing, all I ever use are my Havalons.

A GOOD COOLER Starting in 2012, I began using Yeti coolers to transport game from the field. I was originally put off by the high price, but after seeing how well they’re built and how well they worked, I knew I had to invest the money to get one.

In my opinion, even a really good cooler will only benefit you if you use it correctly. I keep several gallon-sized jugs of water in the freezer as reusable ice for my coolers. Before each trip, I “charge” the cooler by placing a frozen jug inside the evening before and sealing it up.

When I add wild meat to the Yeti, the sturdy construction and well-sealed lid keep the cooler ice cold. Another benefit is that I can get home after a two-day trip and pull the cooler into the garage and leave it until the next day if I need to. The meat inside will remain ice cold until I can get to it the following morning.

There are several companies now that offer high-end coolers for sportsmen and -women that will keep ice for days. If you’re tired of buying ice and having it melt in less than a day, look into picking up a high-end, well-made cooler like the Yeti.

They will become a valuable and reliable addition to your outdoor gear. calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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MIXED BAG RANGEFINDER SHOOTING STICKS I’ve been using shooting sticks for decades to steady my shot while rifle hunting. I’ve experimented with monopods, bipods, tripods and shooting rests that attach to the rifle. After years of trial and error, I’ve settled on an extendable bipod from Stoney Point. They are versatile and sturdy, exactly what I need when I hunt.

When I need to steady a shot, without fail, I reach for my shooting sticks. Last month I was in Wyoming on a deer hunt and I put a round through the heart of a whitetail deer at 490 yards while using my trusty shooting sticks. Even though I am seasoned at taking shots from long distances, I wouldn’t con-

We head to the range before a hunt and sight in our rifles, usually using the 100-yard target. We do this to get an idea of where our bullet hits at different ranges. It stands to reason that if you don’t know that distance during a hunt, you’re simply guessing on the impact point of your shot. Rangefinders are small, easy to use and are critical to hunting success when distances are extreme or unknown.

I’ve used Bushnell and Halo rangefinders for years and find them convenient and a necessity to just about any type of hunting. Before I leave my truck for a hunt, my rangefinder is attached to my belt. The Halo is my current model and easily records distances out to 650 yards. Knowing the distance of

A Yeti cooler will store your meat and keep it cool for days after you’ve used a Havalon knife and spare blades to cut up your animal. (TIM E. HOVEY)

sider it without a set of quality shooting sticks.

Whether you’re plinking targets with a .22 or steadying the crosshairs on a buck of a lifetime, having a shooting rest is paramount to success. Shooting sticks are easy to bring along and, with practice, they will make you a better shooter.

BINOCULAR CARRIER/PACK Several years ago, I won a binocular pack that strapped to the front of my chest using arm straps. Having never used such a carrier, it quickly found its way into the closet unused. My binoculars either hung around my neck or were carried by hand. A bit of trouble, but that’s what I was used to. It wasn’t until a friend showed up with his binocular pack that I decided to dig mine back out and give it a try.

I’m very glad I did.

The pack I won is made by Alaska Guide Creations. It has a main compartment for a set of binoculars and four different-sized zippered compartments.

It straps to the front of your chest and sits securely and out of the way. Along with binoculars, I keep two meat-processing knives, extra blades, my hunting license and tags, and a headlamp in the pack, which goes with me everywhere. The pack is convenient and useful. If I’m just out glassing, I know exactly where my binoculars are. If I’m successful on my hunt, I have my knives and blades with me as well.

As a hunter, knowing that one small pack holds all that gear and, consequently, knowing exactly where I can find it keeps me prepared; just know that luck favors the prepared.

30 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

any shot will assist you in hitting your target. If I’m rifle hunting, I always have my rangefinder with me.

RIFLE SLING This may seem like a simple item, but when I’m out hiking the hills, my rifle stays slung on my back until I need it. I usually cross-sling my rifle and I depend heavily on a well-made, padded sling. I would suggest not skimping on cost here. To me, it makes no sense to grab an $8 sling and connect it to a $1,000 rifle.

It’s important to pick a sling wisely. I look for a well-made model with a padded shoulder pad. I also make sure that my slings are interchangeable with all my rifles. Most present-day rifles have uniform sling posts attached to the front and the back of the rifle. All my slings have the reciprocating post hardware attached and can be used with any rifle I own. If you’re going to sling your expensive rifle on your back, look for quality and spend the extra money for a well-made sling.

SCOPES Over a lengthy hunting career, I’ve used various brands of rifle scopes. I started out with an old Weaver scope that sat on my Ruger .22 for decades. My grandfather gave it to me and I have no idea what it cost.

As I got older, I started to investigate other brands. In the beginning, cost was the only factor as I purchased my share of cheaper scopes. While they served their purpose, I started noticing pricier rifle scopes offered more of what I was looking

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MIXED BAG for. Now, all my rifles are topped with the same gold-banded brand: Leupold scopes.

Well-designed and worth the extra money, Leupold’s high-quality glass and superior design helps gather more ambient light during situations with low light. There are more expensive scopes on the market, but for the money, you really can’t beat the quality and durability of Leupold. The Even in a state as heavily populated as California, next time you’re there are plenty of places to get lost, so hint to in the market for a loved ones that a portable GPS is a must-have item. (TIM E. HOVEY) new scope, I’d recommend peering through a Leupold and comparing it to other models. You’ll easily see the difference in quality.

DIGITAL CAMERA I’ve been taking photos of my outdoor adventures since I was a kid. When digital technology arrived, I made sure I always

32 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

had a camera with me when I headed out. With the increased resolution and the larger memory cards, you can literally take hundreds of photos at a time.

Many cameras are compact and easy to use and no bigger than a deck of cards. I carry my digital camera on my belt, right next to my rangefinder.

I try and immortalize every part of a trip. Keeping my digital camera close and convenient means I can grab it quickly and take action shots, landscape photos and anything else that I want to capture.

Once the meat is eaten and the season is over, your outdoor photos are all you’ll have to remember your trip. If your kids are along for the adventure, you’ll be glad you had a digital camera with you.

GPS As a biologist, I rely heavily on the use of a quality GPS unit when I’m out in the field. I use it to get back to a specific survey spot, or I use the tracking function to help me find my way back to the truck. I’ve used them since their introduction to the market and find them an extremely useful tool for anytime I’m outside.

Once I park, I power up the GPS and take a waypoint where my truck is located. I keep the unit on the entire time I’m out.

When I’m ready to head back, I can either follow my recorded GPS tracks back or pull up the waypoint that marks the truck

location and easily find my way back safely.

I consider myself a pretty good navigator. However, there have been a handful of times where having a GPS kept me from getting lost and sleeping in the wild. If you spend any amount of time outdoors, adding a GPS unit to your gear list will give you and your family peace of mind.

While my gear list constantly evolves, the listed items are currently my standard and have heavily contributed to my hunting success. Hopefully, this review helps you in deciding which outdoor items you may want to give or receive this holiday season. CS

HEADLAMP Whether you’re headed into the field early or coming out late, a working headlamp needs to be part of your standard gear. I don’t normally head out to hunt before I can see where I’m going, but a handful of times I’ve been out long after sundown.

During those times, the most valuable piece of gear I carried was a quality headlamp.

I prefer the LED models, though I’m not particular on the brand. Most of the headlamps I’ve used work well and I try to carry a couple with me whenever I head out. They’re small, easy to use and, believe me, a lifesaver when it gets too dark to hike safely. Add one to your pack and never be unprepared when darkness falls.

While I was drafting this list, it occurred to me that during a recent deer hunting trip to Wyoming, I used every single piece of the above gear. I will admit that I like hunting gadgets, but if I’m going to add a piece of gear or update another, I make sure it will somehow make my time outdoors easier or more successful. I prefer to hunt smarter, not harder.

The author wasn’t too excited about a binocular pack he won several years ago, but after seeing a friend use one, he reconsidered – and found it’s a handy way to carry many of his other essentials on the front of his chest. (TIM E. HOVEY)

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s e r u t n e Adv e’re not ashamed to admit it: Todd Kline has the kind of life we wish we could experience. Kline’s a former professional surfer, a successful co-angler on the FLW Tour and a Southern California bass guide, plus he gets to travel the world as a commentator for the World Surf League’s telecasts. Todd has agreed to give us a peek on what he’s been up to. For more on Todd, check out toddkline.com and follow him on Instagram (@toddokrine). –The Editor

W

Fall was in effect when I was in Missouri. What a beautiful lake. (TODD KLINE)

I had a blast at the FLW Costa Series Championship held at Table Rock Lake, on the Missouri-Arkansas border. I was 97th out of 195 anglers after day one, but had a better day two to climb 80 spots to finish 17th overall. It was tough fishing, but it is always fun to travel and fish new lakes. (TODD KLINE) Fog delayed us for two hours on day two of the tournament. While a bummer that we lost that fishing time, it was also a chance to talk with other anglers.

(TODD KLINE)

36 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

MIXED BAG

Coming out of day two of the tournament all I needed was one more keeper and I would have made the top 10 and been able to continue fishing. Oh well, we’ll get ’em next time. Instead, I went fishing with my friend Wade Curtis, and we hit them pretty good. We had nine keepers in three hours. (TODD KLINE)

Having grown up in South Florida, I am a diehard Miami Dolphins fan.

My son and I attended the game last month when Miami played the Chargers in San Diego, and I was able to get field passes. Here’s my son with Miami wide receiver Kenny Stills. (TODD KLINE) In the stands we ran into Miami’s Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino. It was an awesome day – and the Dolphins won (sorry, Chargers fans)! (TODD KLINE)

Table Rock Lake, which covers 67 square miles, is overlooked by the Chapel of the Ozarks, part of a natural heritage museum and golf course complex near Branson, Mo. (TODD KLINE) calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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38 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

SPONSORED BY

PRO-CURE BAIT SCENTS

Paul Roberts of San Mateo was casting along the shores of San Francisco Bay when this 44-inch striped bass gobbled up a Reaction Innovation Skinny Dipper swimbait. Paul released the fish, which he believes topped his personal-best striper catch of 30 pounds, caught all the way back in 1981.

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READER PHOTOS

Longtime reader Marc Ling took his sons Matthew and Mitchell out on Lake Del Valle, where they each landed a fat largemouth, Matthew using a ChatterBait and Mitchell a grub.

Firebaugh resident Randy Fortune and girlfriend Paula Pafford took a fall trip to Oregon, and the latter hunter scored this very nice muley just south of Baker City, in the northeast part of the state. Hey, hey, Paula!

Friend of the magazine Clara Ricabal fished the Feather River earlier in the fall and landed this nice Chinook. She wants to go back and try again!

Send reader photos of your fishing or hunting adventure to editor Chris Cocoles at ccocoles@media-inc.com. calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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40 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

PHOTO CONTEST

Experience Alaska!

WINNERS!

Haakon Allison’s first walleye, this whopper from Oregon’s Multnomah Channel earlier this year, is this issue’s monthly Fishing Photo Contest winner. It wins his dad, Abe, a pile of loot from the overstuffed office of our editor!

(907) 209-8650 | WWW.TREETOPSLODGE.COM

Kent Wilkinson is this issue’s Browning Photo Contest winner, thanks to his picture of son Kyle and his black bear, harvested in Central Washington during elk season. It wins him a Browning hat!

For your shot at winning Browning and fishing products, send your photos and pertinent (who, what, when, where) details to ccocoles@ media-inc.com, or to California 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. calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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NORCAL

MISTAKES WERE MADE A FEATHER RIVER KING SALMON TRIP AND SOME MISSED OPPORTUNITIES TEST ANGLERS’ METTLE

By Chris Cocoles

YUBA CITY–When he first said it, I was too distracted to pay much attention.

We had just pushed off the dock on the Feather River for a day of king salmon fishing. At that point, it was still dark, I was wondering if my parking fee money would get collected and was stewing that I’d left my smartphone in the car. So when our guide, Capt. Manuel Saldana Jr. of MSJ Guide Service (530-301-7455), alerted us about what to expect, it wasn’t going to hit me until later.

“When you’re fishing for kings, they’ll make you pay for your mistakes,” Saldana told me, our writer Mark Fong and his buddy from Sacramento, Ian Rigler.

Little did I know that over the course of a gray but mostly mild late October morning, I’d personally experience the agony of defeat multiple times.

TO BE FRANK, I’VE mostly fished California’s lakes, so back-trolling plugs and dead-sticking roe in a river like the Feather aren’t exactly techniques I’m fully adept with yet. So I just followed Saldana’s lead.

We headed upstream from Yuba City, witnessing a much higher river level than Saldana had to work with over several drought-plagued seasons, though tree stumps protruded out of the water in several spots.

Still, it has been a productive year after Saldana had to eventually abandon his home river last year and fish more in the Sacramento. I’d get excited whenever Saldana would send me photos of chrome-bright Chinook as the hot Sacramento Valley summer turned cooler.

So I had high hopes, but we were struggling right away. We first back-

Capt. Manuel Saldana pilots his 21-foot Fish Rite jet sled upriver on the Feather out of Yuba City. King salmon were hard to come by on this cloudy October day. (CHRIS COCOLES)

trolled sardine-wrapped KF-16 Brad’s Killer Lures (similar to Kwikfish) – tipped with a small piece of crawdad.

“We used the bigger lures due to the lack of current in most of our fishing holes,” Saldana later told me. “The rule I use is, the less current, the bigger the lure I use; the more current you have, the smaller lure you can use.”

But in most of Saldana’s go-to spots – the Fifth Street Bridge, Hanging Tree and Sullivan Ranch – bites were hard to come by. The most compelling moment to that point

was our recalling Sullivan Ranch’s infamous place in Sutter County history, the discovery of the bodies of 25 migrant workers in 1971, victims of serial killer Juan Corona.

One of my biggest issues was detecting a strike. Most times, Saldana insisted, the initial strike would be rather light, so we were told to constantly yank up on the rod tip if the tension changed (I was sure I was being bit several times).

But finally, Saldana set the hook on his rig with the promise of a king

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NORCAL Drought conditions that plagued the Feather for so long have abated, but trees sticking out of the water are still an obstacle for boats. (CHRIS COCOLES)

on the other end. He quickly handed his rod to me (thanks, Manny!), but twice I choked. Afterwards, Saldana politely pointed out my mistakes of having too loose of a drag on one and not reeling fast enough on the other.

When you’re fishing for kings, they’ll make you pay for your mistakes.

“I know, I know,” I kept mumbling to myself.

BUT NONE OF US were having much luck. Fong and Rigler managed to coax a squawfish and catfish to the boat, respectively (I did feel better when Fong hooked what was surely a king that promptly wriggled free).

We tried what we could with subtle changes. In the deeper water near the Fifth Street Bridge we used 2-ounce weights, compared to ¾-ounce sinkers in less shallow water.

In one of Saldana’s secret spots, we changed it up even more by switching from 30- to 40-pound-test fluorocarbon leaders to 20-pound fluoro. We began drifting with eggs cured with Pro-Cure Redd Hot Double stuff.

About an hour of that left us with a whole lot of nothing. I knew I had to eventually get back to the Bay Area that night to go to a hockey game, and to be honest, I was thinking more Back-trolling sardine-wrapped plugs and deadsticking roe created a few hookups but missed chances every time. (CHRIS COCOLES)

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NORCAL Finally, success – a landed king salmon! It wasn’t a big one, but it felt great just the same after a long morning of sporadic bites and lost fish. (CHRIS COCOLES)

about Sharks than salmon and figuring it wasn’t going to happen.

But undaunted, we switched back to the sardine-wrapped plugs. I can’t remember how long it took, but I finally felt a rather sharp tug on my Cousins Tackle rod, so just in case, I set the hook and soon found myself nervously reeling in, my heartbeat increasing when I saw the fish jump behind the boat.

Saldana called for his net, which Fong grabbed and handed to our guide. I wasn’t going to, excuse the hockey pun here, earn a dreaded hat trick of missed opportunities, but I did almost blow it again – Saldana had to shout, “Keep reeling in!” – before I finally eased the king into his net.

It wasn’t a particularly big Chinook – and I grinned when a few days later Saldana emailed a photo of a 42-inch, 35-pounder one of his clients brought in. Mine was a third of the size, but it was healthy and I

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NORCAL The author celebrates with a Chinook after two previous attempts to reel in hooked salmon failed.

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didn’t care that it wasn’t a trophy.

My hockey team won that night and the next day my family and I shared some pesto-infused salmon fillets, rewards enough for finally avoiding the mistake I was warned about hours earlier. CS Editor’s note: King salmon fishing season runs through Dec. 31 on the main stem of the Feather River. Like MSJ Guide Service at facebook.com/ MSJfishingguideservice.

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NORCAL

LEG IT OUT FOR LATE RINGNECKS PHEASANTS ARE LOATH TO TAKE WING THIS TIME OF YEAR, SO A CHANGE IN TACTICS IS NEEDED

PART II OF II

By Jason Haley

L

ast month, we talked about early-season pheasant hunting tactics. Now that we’re in December, let’s discuss how to get your limit of late birds.

AVOID CONVENTION In the late season, it’s best against best: the smartest, most athletic ringnecks versus the best dogs and best (well, at least the craziest) hunters.

Although the bulk of upland bird hunters have called it a season and you’ll have less competition, the majority of roosters have given up too, i.e., they’ve cashed their chips.

The latter half of California’s pheasant season can be a challenge, but with a good dog and dogged persistence, bagging a few ringnecks is not impossible.

(JASON HALEY)

The only birds left out there are the smart survivors.

They’ve done so by becoming flightless, like ostriches, and running like the wind, while moving only before and after shooting time. They spend the remaining time in impenetrable jungles, flushing wild hundreds of yards away at the first sound, or moving into the least expected places.

I believe some roosters are truly unkillable, at least without the use of fire and/or explosives. This is what makes ringnecks such an incredible, admirable quarry and thankfully keeps them around from year to year.

If you hunt farm country, the ground may be farmed down to stubble by late December and you’re left scratch-

ing your head. Or the land may be flooded such that you swear only waterfowl could survive.

Pheasants are homebodies and spend most of their short lives in their own backyards. They’re still there – they’re just extremely educated. To bag these pheasants, reject convention and modify your tactics.

For instance, consider exchanging your monster pack boots or leathers for track shoes. I’ve been lucky enough to own a dog with the skill set necessary to speed-track and put up or pin down runners. When you hunt tough runners, there is only one way to deal with them: release your dog and stay with him, if you can. This may require hundreds of yards of wind sprints that can test your physical endurance, and will. I’ve given up on numerous runners. Sometimes when sweat is filling your burning eyes and your boots are heavy with mud, it’s easy to determine it’s not worth it. A few times, I’ve pushed through the pain and taken some of the most memorable roosters of my hunting career.

I remember a long chase that started on a sunny irrigation ditch behind a small farmhouse, ending with a dead rooster 600 yards and two ditches away in the pouring rain. As I sat there in the downpour catching my breath, I couldn’t remember a more rewarding hunt of any kind.

On another occasion, my friend Vince Potts and I chased an old rooster up and down a quarter-mile ditch nearly three times before the bird tired and held in a patch of cattails. Out of breath and off balance, I promptly missed.

Not only had the bird ran us almost to death, but he nearly went between my legs after doubling back when Vince finally decided to block an end.

LET THE DOGS DO THEIR THING A big misconception is that fast-working dogs create running pheasants. The belief is that if we could keep our dogs at heel, all the birds would sit there and wait patiently for us to come shoot them. My experience has shown that rangy dogs don’t make pheasants run. The birds do so because they like to run, and prefer to, and the ones that do run survive to breed more runners.

Many dogs, including my Lab Sam, will track pheasants until the cows come home. But few dogs (Sam included) calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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NORCAL typically put enough heat on runners to get them up or force them to hold. You will simply walk all day following a pheasant. Try blocking a ditch longer than 100 yards, and the birds simply kick out to the sides, away from all shooters, or double back on you if the ditch is wide.

In areas of sparse cover, heavily hunted, late-season roosters sometimes seek out thin stuff or no cover at all rather than set foot in the few remaining good patches.

We all have a tendency to hunt the cover that’s available, but pheasants will sometimes retreat to bare, wide-open fields to avoid detection.

I’ve glassed roosters in the middle of giant, disced-up fields featuring nothing but dirt clods. They usually leave the roost well before shooting time and pick loose grain from the dirt, then drift toward the nearest cover and get buried minutes before shooting time. Occasionally, however, they’ll just squat in the dirt and sit out the morning and return to cover when the coast is clear.

One morning, I took a long, ankle-twisting walk to where I’d seen six pheasants. As I approached, eyes scanning the ground for color or movement and my late Brittany Digger already in frenzy, I saw absolutely nothing.

Then Digger pointed bare earth at 15 yards before a hen came up, followed by several more and finally an out-ofrange rooster. I got the next rooster behind him, and as

the brilliant bird flopped in the dull brown earth, it was one of those “wow” moments.

Roosters will hide in isolated cover, too, like weeds growing along fence lines or uncut brush around old farm equipment or electric towers. They’ll use roadside star-thistle patches to spend the day and will take refuge near homes, gardens, sheds, barns, corrals and the like.

Despite house cats, free-roaming dogs and other hazards associated with increased human presence, the birds consider this a safe haven and tend to pack in there when hunting pressure starts on abutting properties. Obtain permission to hunt these places, if you can, but be respectful.

RINGNECKS HOLD IN SNOW AND RAIN Don’t be discouraged by snow and rain, unless of course it actually prevents you from reaching your destination.

Mud and snow can certainly slow you down and, as such, seem intimidating. During those times, I’ve often wondered how I’m going to cover the ground and stay with my dog. The good news is that pheasants typically hold well in bad weather. If you have a dog with a good nose, this can often spell bad news for birds. Just hunt cover with some degree of shelter.

One time, buddy Vince and I had to throw snowballs to launch a rooster that Digger had pointed in tall, canal-side brush covered by a snowy canopy. When Digger didn’t

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NORCAL budge after several snowballs and yells, we began to doubt if he actually had a pheasant or if he was even still in our vicinity. Then up came a rooster! We killed two more tight-holding birds on the same hunt, both total lollipops, for a limit. Digger pointed another rooster on the way back to the truck. We kicked it up just to see what it was.

A slow, meticulous dog can come in handy in wet weather. The birds don’t move around much, so they don’t leave a lot of scent. My Brittany was part greyhound and he would occasionally miss birds when he was young, if they hadn’t moved much, or if it was at a sufficient distance and the wind currents weren’t right.

When Digger got wiser, he still hunted fast but now knew where pheasants were apt to hide and would stick his nose into those places briefly before moving on. Some of our best days in the pheasant fields were in the rain.

One size definitely does not fit all when it comes to chasing pheasants. Remember, pheasants adapt quickly to hunting pressure and other circumstances. To be successful, you must be willing to change with them.

I’ve been very fortunate to be able to hunt wild ringnecks. Although these birds are non-native and wildlife agencies no longer manage for them, they’ve been a part of our culture for many years and represent farming, open space and shotgunning like few others.

64 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

These birds deserve our protection and promotion. I was also fortunate to own a good bird dog. There is nothing like one man, one dog and a single rooster in wideopen spaces.CS Editor’s note: General pheasant season runs through Dec. 25.

Check out wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Upland-Game-Birds for more detailed regulations.

In younger days, the author and Digger, his beloved late Brittany, shared many a successful pheasant hunt and harvest. (JASON HALEY)

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68 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

BAY AREA

The author’s husband, Joe Rodriguez, maneuvers carefully to corral a splashing leopard shark, which provide Bay Area anglers with a nice saltwater option, though angling out of a kayak for these hard-fighting fish can be a challenge. (NANCY RODRIGUEZ)

LEOPARDS ON THE SPOT

KAYAK FISHING TOMALES BAY FOR SHARKS

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BAY AREA

The calmer, protected waters of narrow and shallow Tomales Bay, about 40 miles north of San Francisco off Marin County, contain plenty of crab and smaller fish, which are the staple of leopard sharks, making Tomales a productive spot for kayak anglers.

(NANCY RODRIGUEZ)

By Nancy Rodriguez

T

he early-morning sun has just started to peek over the horizon and I begin to feel a change in the air.

The dense fog that blankets the ocean has slowly begun to lift, revealing the beautiful golden hillsides that Northern California is known for.

I inhale the moist, salty air and welcome it after spending a dry, hot summer inland. As I stare out over the water’s mercurylike stillness, I hear a distant call of a seagull that echoes across the bay. A flock of cormorants rhythmically flap their wings and appear to glide across the waters of Tomales Bay, 40 miles north of San Francisco. A tiny spotted grey head breaks the surface just off the edge of our kayak. As little drops of water glisten off whiskers, two huge black eyes try to identify us. We stare at each other; I’m sure the seal is trying to figure out if we are friend or foe. He’s not waiting around to find out, so he slowly slips beneath the surface.

With the morning chill starting to give way in the sunlight and the gentle rocking motion of the ocean under our anchored kayak, I feel as if I am slipping into a trance.

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I know I should be focusing on the end of my fishing rod, watching for any tap that may indicate a bite, but my eyelids are starting to become heavy. My blinking slows and the end of my rod becomes a blur. Everything about this moment is a perfect recipe for sleep. My eyelids become heavier and heavier with every blink. Closing. Closing.

Closing. Tap. Tap. Tap! My eyes spring open and with fuzzy vision, I see it! There is no denying that the end of my rod is tapping … definitely tapping!

I come to as if a drill sergeant has just blown an air horn in my ear. I instinctively want to jerk back on the rod and set the hook like I’m fishing largemouth bass, but I know I have to change my technique. I slowly lift my rod tip and gently lean back until the barbless circle hook has been set. The rod bows as the tension increases, and I feel the unmistakable shaking and tugging on the line. The kayak starts to spin like the arm on a compass and my husband, Joe, clips the float on the anchor line and tosses it in the water as fast as he can.

I yell “Shark on!” as pure mayhem starts! The kayak is being pulled in all directions and I try to keep tension on the 25-pound test and work to bring this beast to the

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BAY AREA surface. Zzzzeeeee …

The shark takes run after run, stripping line and continuously trying to shake the hook. I keep steady tension on the line and flip the end of my pole from left to right as my quarry circles the kayak, constantly changing directions. My forearm starts burning as the shark nears the surface. And there it is: The beautiful, unmistakable pattern of a leopard shark flashes a few feet below the surface. I keep the line tight and bring him as close to the side of the kayak as possible. Joe wets his hands and prepares to land the fish.

As I lead the shark alongside the kayak, Joe grabs it by the tail and in a blur the shark is spinning and flexing uncontrollably. My husband holds on long enough for the shark to fatigue, and then cradles its head and tail as gently as he can – if that’s possible with a shark – while steering clear of the sharp teeth. He hands the fish to me – its skin resembles 90-grit sandpaper – and I lift the shark for a quick photo.

We quickly remove the circle hook and submerge him in the water. I pull him back and forth to get water flowing through his gills and he rockets out of my hand back into the darkness of the sea. As my adrenaline slows, I am thrilled to have landed a leopard shark from the kayak. It’s an absolute rush!

Joe and I catch several more sharks throughout the day, as well as a couple of bat rays and, of course, a few crabs that love to steal our bait. It will take days for our forearms to recover from fighting these bottom dwellers, but it’s always worth it.

JOE AND I PLAN at least one or two trips a year to fish for leopard sharks from either our tandem or single kayaks.

There are many areas to fish for leopards off the coast of California, but our favorite is Tomales Bay, a 6,800acre estuary located just above Point Reyes, hard on the

Unlike distant cousins such as great whites, which also roam the Northern California coast, leopard sharks’ timid nature and small teeth prevent them from being a threat to humans, but anglers should still use care when handling one, as their teeth are sharp. (NANCY RODRIGUEZ)

Marin County coast. The bay is relatively shallow and, at 12 miles long, is loaded with smaller fish and crabs that make up the sharks’ diet.

Leopards tend to hold in indentions on muddy or sandy bottoms. Late summer and early fall seems to be the best time of year to fish, as the leopard sharks start to congregate in warmer shallows to spawn, but you can catch them year-round. They can get up to 7 feet in length, but the average size for sport anglers varies between 3 and 5 feet, with weights around 45 pounds.

It takes 10 years for a leopard shark to grow 3 feet in length. Their timid nature and small teeth prevent these sharks from being a threat to humans, but don’t be fooled: Their teeth are sharp!

A medium-action rod-and-reel combo capable of holding 250 to 300 yards of 25-pound line is adequate for fighting these fish. We round out our set-up with a 4-ounce coin-shaped weight on a slider above a 30- to 45-pound 18-inch steel leader with a barbless 3/0 to 5/0 circle hook.

We use whole squid for bait.

FISHING FROM A BOAT for leopard sharks is always fun, but

Joe Rodriguez (right) and the author’s father-in-law, Ray, team up to grasp a large leopard shark. The species can grow as long as 7 feet, but most that anglers catch run between 3 and 5 feet. (NANCY RODRIGUEZ) 72 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

from a kayak it’s a bit more of an up-close-and-personal experience. If you decide to fish for leopards from a kayak, always use extreme caution. We fish Tomales early in the morning before the afternoon winds kick up, and we choose days with small tidal changes. Follow all safety precautions and learn self-rescue techniques prior to hitting the water on a kayak. Elevated mercury levels in Tomales Bay have led to warnings about consuming leopard sharks caught here. Because of this we practice catch and release.

Leopard sharks are one of the most beautiful fish I’ve ever seen and are an absolute blast to catch. They put up a great fight and it’s a true adventure catching one from a

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BAY AREA The author shows off a Tomales Bay leopard. Fishing early in the day before the winds kick up is a far more enjoyable (and safer) method to catch these sharks just a short drive up the coast from San Francisco. (NANCY RODRIGUEZ)

kayak. No matter if you catch one or not, a day spent on the water is always a great day. CS Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note: Nancy Rodriguez lives in the El Dorado County

74 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

hamlet of Cool with her husband Joe. She is an outdoor enthusiast who loves to ďŹ sh, hunt and backpack. Nancy is on the hunt staff for Prois Hunting & Field Apparel for Women and enjoys inspiring women to get outdoors.

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BAY AREA

PREHISTORIC POWERHOUSES WINTER MEANS GREAT STURGEON ACTION IN BAY AND DELTA

By Bill Adelman

T

he white sturgeon, a throwback to prehistoric times, is now on our search-and-conquer list. Well, maybe conquer is a bit of a stretch.

But starting now and continuing through March, depending on sufficient rainfall, is the prime time to enjoy a battle with one of most difficult fish in our Bay Area/Delta system to entice into biting.

These awesome creatures are anadromous, living in salt- or brackish water, then moving into freshwater rivers to spawn, roaming the Sacramento and Feather in some cases well over 100 miles inland.

Upon maturing, the female will spawn once every three to five years. Most are capable of spawning when they reach 7 to 10 years of age, while some wait as long as 20 years. When the slot limit took effect, complaints were voiced far and wide, yet sturgeon have rebounded to

excellent numbers. Nowadays, it may no longer take 100 hours of fishing to finally hook one.

STURDY GEAR REQUIRED The old pole vault rods from back in the 1970s are history.

Today, heavy-duty graphite rods are the hot ticket to land these giants.

Consider a one-piece 7- to 7½-footer, a 25- or 30-pound blank married to a high-quality levelwind reel. Though many anglers prefer braided line, quality 30-pound-test mono works just fine.

A pyramid sinker on a slider works best when attached at the flat end, as it holds better and won’t roll. And there are many productive baits that will trigger a sturgeon to bite. Lamprey eel and grass, mud and ghost shrimp top the list, but uncured salmon roe, pile worms, anchovies, sardines and filleted threadfin shad are the primary fish-getters. With the exception of fresh roe, which is fished with

Buckle up when you’re fighting a massive white sturgeon, which will be active for anglers from December through March throughout the waters near San Francisco Bay and the Delta. (BILL ADELMAN) calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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BAY AREA

an egg loop, some of these baits need to be secured on the hook with Magic Thread. Juice them all with a fresh quality scent.

Sturgeon feast on these little critters, although success is dictated by water conditions. Worms are washed into the feeding lanes due to high, muddy runoff – heavier flows than just normal tidal movements. Under these conditions, they can be added to an eel or shrimp offering or fished by themselves.

Sturgeon can be found in several areas around Suisun Bay, Grizzly Island, Montezuma Slough and Honker Bay. (BILL ADELMAN)

78 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

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BAY AREA at least when choosing a feeding lane. Sturgeon always move with the tides. They’ll feed downstream on the outgoing and upstream on the incoming. When the tide slackens, consider powering up and chasing it.

Whatever time it takes, scan different areas with your fishfinder. Sturgeon will appear as large humps on the screen, and when you finally locate an area with a good amount of fish, anchor at least 300 yards above their traveling lane. Allow the fish to feed to you, but remember that it’s really horrible manners to drop into the feeding lane that another boat has already established.

HANDLE WITH CARE As California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations mandate for white sturgeon, “No fish less than 40 inches fork length or greater than 60 inches fork length may be taken or possessed ... Any sturgeon greater than 68 inches fork length may not be removed from the water and shall be released immediately.”

Indeed, fish that are to be released require gentle handling. Use a wet hand or glove, leave them in the water and, if possible, turn them upside down – you’ll be amazed at how quiet they become. Just don’t scrape yourself on their rows of diamonds, as severe cuts and pain will be the result. Just cut the leader if necessary. BA

80 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

Several Bay Area-based party boats and six-pack vessels can take you towards the Delta or stay in the outer bays to track down sturgeon, which are always on the move with the tides. (ARGO SPORTFISHING)

Many fish travel in very shallow water, as little as 8 to 10 feet deep. When searching out these areas, go wide around your area, slip into the lane and allow your boat to free-drift at least 40 yards before gently dropping the anchor into the depths.

This is definitely a hurry-up-and-wait fishery. As the bite is most generally a slight tic of the rod tip, 100 percent of your attention is a necessity. Rodholders are one of the all-time super improvements in sturgeon fishing. The reel is locked down and when a pump is observed, the rod is

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BAY AREA simply lifted out of the holder slightly towards the fish so it won’t feel resistance, and then the hook is set.

As sturgeon can travel in bunches, don’t bring in all the baits when fighting a fish. Know the intricacies of over/under rod control when moving about the boat. This is one fishery where joining an experienced friend is a good deal.

Don’t overlook the value of offering some fuel cash to the boat owner, Only white sturgeon between 40 and 60 inches can be kept, and if you do catch a keeper, these as well as assisting in are fine-eating fish. (FISH HOOKERS SPORTFISHING) cleaning his boat. Another option is hooking up with a charter or party boat.

The eating quality of a sturgeon is top notch. Just don’t overcook the meat. If you get out, enjoy the waiting for that single pump, pay attention and offer your buddies a few fillets at the dock. CS

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BAY AREA STURGEON GUIDES My preference for years has been to fish the San Francisco Bay and Delta system with Barry Canevaro, a longtime friend and expert six-pack captain at Fish Hookers Sportfishing. He’s on Facebook and reachable at (916) 7776498. His 55-plus years of local experience offers a perfect learning option, as well as a positive day on the water.

Another great choice for the earlier season is Capt.

Craig Hanson, owner of Argo Sportfishing out of Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco (fishhookers.com; 415-3617757). These six-pack boats provide more personal service, including all tackle and bait, and limit the number of rods in the water.

It’s great fun when chartering as a group, especially when the newbie has to provide all the food. However, no bananas, as the old legend goes. There’s nothing wrong with the party-boat experience; it’s just less personal, in my mind.

But another good option for a party boat is Capt. Steve Talmedge of Flash Sportfishing (510-881-0858; flashfishing.net), who operates San Francisco-based trips for not just white sturgeon but king salmon, sharks and rockfish.

A solid shore-fishing opportunity exists on the piers at Grizzly Island near the edge of Suisun Bay, though only hand-landing or nets are allowed. Gaffs or snares are illegal to even have in your possession. BA

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BAY AREA

THAT’S A LUNKER! EAST BAY’S UNHERALDED LAKE CHABOT PRODUCES RECORD 19-POUND BASS

By Mike Stevens

I

t seems like about once per decade, an absolutely monstrous largemouth bass is pulled out of some unassuming speck of water, one that nobody without “local angler” status has ever heard of. Well, for many of you, may we introduce Lake Chabot, the 315-acre East Bay Area home of a 19.2-pound bucketmouth caught and released in mid-November?

San Mateo basser Ryan Reynolds had to work that day, but he couldn’t help but notice that conditions were ripe for hunting big bass. Sure enough, when he got on the water, lightning struck in the form of a fish of a lifetime.

“I had to work in the morning, but I noticed the conditions were epic,” Reynolds said. “No wind, a front starting to come in, and I was dying to go out. When I did, there were no other boats on the lake. I went to an area near Alder Point that has a lot of flooded trees, and on my second cast with a jig about halfway down, there was a big ‘tick’ on the drop and I set the hook. After two big head shakes it breached, but it couldn’t get its whole body out of the water.

I knew it was a keeper, but I had no idea how big until I saw its head.”

Reynolds went on to say the fish wrapped itself around a tree limb, but with some pressure she came free in short order. Without a net, or his brother, who is typically out there with him, he had to lip the beast into the rental boat. The needle on the scale rested a little bit past 19 pounds, and after plenty of photos, the new lake record was released. Video of the release can be viewed on the Lake Chabot Facebook page (facebook.com/lakechabot).

Ryan Reynolds of San Mateo shows off the monster largemouth he caught and released at Castro Valley’s Lake Chabot. The bass weighed 19 pounds, 2 ounces, breaking the lake record at this underrated Bay Area bass fishery. (LAKE CHABOT)

As for the particulars, Reynolds was working a Yamamoto ½-ounce jig with a black and blue, dual-tail grub off a G.Loomis rod, Shimano Curado e7 reel and 65-pound Sunline braid.

A BAY AREA GEM Anglers familiar with Lake Chabot may not be as surprised as the rest of the bass fishing world that the regional park lake located in the southern Berkley Hills of Alameda County produced such a trophy. While Reynolds’ fish beat the lake record, it was only by a pound, and he suspects that it could be the same fish another angler caught a couple years ago in the same area and which weighed 16-6.

The fact that a top-25 all-time (official or not, number 25 on that list weighed 19 pounds,½ ounce) was not a bulbous, prespawn female also has the bass world scratching its head a bit. But let the record show that a big trout stock went in before Reynolds tied into his trophy, and we Californians know how “Vitamin T” works.

Along with the trout, Reynolds also credits the lack of fishing pressure at Chabot as another reason

teen-class largemouth exist in the little impoundment. Gas motors are not allowed on the lake, so all bass guys are on a level playing field and working with rental boats.

Reynolds, who grew up on the Central Coast, cutting his teeth fishing Lakes Lopez and Santa Margarita, sighed when asked what his biggest prior bass was.

“You’re probably going to laugh,” he deadpanned. “Seven and a half pounds, and that was from Lake Casitas seven years ago. My biggest Chabot bass was 6 or 7 pounds.”

That’s all behind Reynolds now, and he has set a high-water mark for bass anglers throughout the West.

“I’m still shaking,” he added. “I just think about it and get goose bumps. I definitely want to get a fiberglass reproduction, and while I got plenty of photos and the video, I didn’t get any measurements. I just didn’t want to mess around with letting her go.” CS Editor’s note: Lake Chabot is operated by the East Bay Regional Park District.

For more, check out ebparks.org/parks/ lake_chabot.

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CENTRAL VALLEY

HER STORY AFIELD IS MAKING HISTORY MORE AND MORE WOMEN ARE TAKING UP HUNTING, CREATING THEIR OWN NICHE

By Amy Witt

I

remember being an innocent 12-year-old girl, highlighted by the braces, the big-curled bangs – the whole awkward before-teen stage.

I told my dad that as soon as I was able to take my first buck, I would. When that time came, it was August 2004 and my dad handed me my hunting license, first deer tag and a Ruger .243.

My father always stressed to my brothers and me the importance of gun control, safety, the need to hunt and how to be a real hunter. Two of the categories on how to be a real hunter were: “No horn hunters or truck hunters in our family.” Needless to say, being young and ignorant at the time, I had no idea what that really meant.

ON THAT HOT AUGUST afternoon, we drove up to a family friend’s ranch in the mountains adjacent to California’s Central Valley. I really do remember the day like it was yesterday: We walked and hiked for hours – glassing hills, Amy Witt grew up in the San Joaquin Valley community of Porterville, in a family of hunters who introduced her to the sport, but it’s only recently as a young adult that she’s realized how far women have come in the hunting community.

(JAMIE CHANGALA) calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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CENTRAL VALLEY tracking and mistaking a lot of bucks for mirages.

As we drove around in the truck, I immediately spotted a buck and a doe. A little forked-horn buck was laying in the grass above us approximately 250 yards away.

Up until that day, I had never experienced the agonizing yet overwhelming feelings hunters face when they see their target.

It was buck fever!

I excitedly and repeatedly hit my dad on the shoulder and was in shock about my prospective first buck. He calmly got me positioned and told me to breathe while I lined up my crosshairs. He talked me through my anxiety and excitement as I shakingly squeezed the trigger.

As the .243 fired, I looked up, slowly becoming humbled. Traumatized I had shot him in the back (damn, the damage a .243 bullet can do), I watched the injured buck as my father immediately took action.

That August day, my dad taught me how to skin a buck, educated me on that godawful aroma and all the essentials of being a hunter – the importance of nature, unity, spiritual aspects and significance of being a hunter – and being a woman hunter at that!

“I hunt with my family – father, mother sister, brother, brother in-law and best friend,” Paso Robles resident Tara Peck says. “I enjoy being outdoors, hunting for the food that I will be able to serve for meals and barbecue for friends and family to enjoy.” (TARA PECK)

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CENTRAL VALLEY Over the years, I have never really sat back and observed the dynamics and politics of hunting, or explored the impact and role that female hunters play on our society. Of course, working for our family business, Witt Hardwoods, I was constantly exposed to the big Vegas gun shows; however, female hunters weren’t so much of a focus for me. But over the last couple decades, it seems as though a gender revolution has taken place.

THROUGHOUT HISTORY, HUNTING HAS typically been considered a man’s job or sport. It is the man’s duty to kill big animals and bring home the meat. That idea is fading now as more and more women head afield and make up a growing percentage of American hunters. According to the National Sporting Goods Association, between 2003 and 2013, the number of female hunters increased by 43.5 percent, with around 3.35 million afield as of 2015.

According to organizers of 2016’s National Hunting and Fishing Day (which occurs annually on September’s last Saturday), while overall hunter numbers in the U.S. decreased slightly (0.5 percent) between 2008 and 2009, the number of female hunters grew by 5.4 percent, yielding 163,000 new participants. “Growth areas for women included muzzleloading (up 134.6 percent),

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“The feel of adrenaline pumping because I’ve spent hours hiking and searching for an animal, and being capable of not only shooting but cleaning the animal are all part of the experience,” adds Peck, here with some free-range feral pork. (TARA PECK)

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CENTRAL VALLEY

WOMEN WEIGH IN ON HUNTING I posed the following questions to female hunters and nonhunters on Facebook: What is the importance of hunting to you? How important do you think hunting is to our society or to our animal populations?

Many answers focused on the satisfaction of bringing home a meal for the family. Others stressed the importance of the environment and animal populations, while some spoke of the traditions and family history. A nonhunting woman shared, “I have nothing against hunting as long as you use all of the animal. Killing for sport or fun is sick. Killing for food and clothing is great.”

Quincy Freeman, fashion designer for Rodeo Quincy, Ariat International and an avid hunter, expressed it this way: “Hunting is a primal instinct and I believe there’s a hidden gene in everyone, including women. It’s no longer a man’s sport, and it’s important for women to understand the part about hunting that is so important to men. Hunting is the main contributor to wildlife preservation and women should con-

tribute to that. It also keeps women from going to the shopping mall!”

Along with the responses, I directly asked a woman who eats, sleeps and breathes hunting. Paso Robles’ Tara Peck grew up on a ranch and works for Hogue, Inc. “This answer didn’t come easy,” Peck said. “I thought of all the reasons why I like to hunt and to list a few: I hunt with my family – father, mother, sister, brother, brother in-law and best friends. I enjoy being outdoors, hunting for the food that I will be able to serve for meals and barbecue for friends and family to enjoy. The feel of adrenaline pumping because I’ve spent hours hiking and searching for an animal, and being capable of not only shooting but cleaning the animal are all part of the experience.”

“I think it’s important for all ladies to hunt because you won’t be able to experience anything like it unless you’re out there doing it yourself. You’re learning skills that will last a lifetime, and creating memories along the way,” Peck said. AW

bowhunting (up 30.7 percent) and hunting with firearms (up 3.5 percent),” the group reported.

Perhaps you are wondering why this is happening.

Well, think about it: How empowering is it for wom-

en to actually know how to use a gun? Now think a little deeper: How much more fun and inspiring is it to educate and teach a young girl or woman the significance and impact she can create on a community, a

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CENTRAL VALLEY family and a lifestyle that is beyond life’s everyday struggles? Show her how to use a gun not just for protection but how to use it for fun, sport and nutrition.

Women are spending more time in treestands and blinds because they are putting fresh meat on the table.

As women typically dominate household food and nutrition systems, or are involved in the food preparation and clean-up, it can be quite a reward to place a beautifully cooked meal in front of your loved ones.

Game meat is unlike any other animal that has been raised on a farm/feedlot, and creates a Paleolithic feel. We know game animals Quincy Freeman is a fashion designer, but she’s also a dedicated hunter who understands why she and other women do what they do. “Hunting is a primal instinct and I believe there’s a hidden gene in everyone, including women,” she says. “It’s no longer a man’s sport, and it’s important for women to understand the part about hunting that is so important to men.” (QUINCY FREEMAN)

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CENTRAL VALLEY cooked something she shot for dinner! are free from antibiotics and/or hormones. We know that, generally, game meat is higher in protein and lower in fat. Incorporating game meat into meals also keeps the diet interesting and helps contribute to the environment and planet.

Hunting provides an alternative to the grocery store and lets women provide free-range and, literally, 100-percent organic meat that’s full of protein and helps our ecosystem and environment, while also helping the state’s and country’s economy.

OVER TIME, THE LONG-TERM effects of hunting your own food can save time and money. Hunting licenses, tags and stamp revenues help in research, refuges, habitat improvements and so much more. The purchases of food, fuel and gear for hunting alone stimulates the economy.

But, it doesn’t stop there. Though hunting isn’t always easy work, bringing home meat that you worked hard to procure brings the family together. Children of all ages will admire their mother as they learn the hunting way of life. Game meat expands your culinary horizons and puts something fun and different on the table. It also gives you an opportunity to educate your children, while being portrayed as the “cool mom” who

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EMOTIONALLY, THE BENEFITS OF hunting for women are extremely positive. Outside of the physical aspects that increase testosterone levels, norepinephrine and release endorphins – which increase moods and productivity – hunting will push you mentally to places that you have never discovered. Hunting will drive women to get out of the house. Being able to explore and enjoy nature and the scenery will expand your mind and is good for the soul.

Hunting humbles you, grounds you and brings you back to earth. It distracts you from the negativity and chaos of every-day life. Through hunting, you can rediscover yourself and find healthy balance.

Put on your favorite boots or outfit, and smear on some lipstick – who ever said hunters can’t be fabulous? Sorry, Dad, but when I shoot my dream buck, you will find me sitting in a deer blind, enjoying a cupcake, wearing some red lipstick and with a Louis Vuitton rifle strap attached to my Winchester, glamorously waiting for my prize – with you by my side. CS Editor’s note: For more on author Amy Witt, check out her website, caliidreamin.com and follow on Twitter (@CaliifDreamin) and Instagram (@caliiforniadreamin). Like her at facebook. com/caliiforniadreamin.

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CENTRAL VALLEY

WHEN TROUT TRUMP DUCKS

EVEN IN THE HEART OF WATERFOWL SEASON, ANGLERS CAN SCORE FAT MOTHER LODE TROUT

By Brad Hall

W

hile many outdoors enthusiasts in the Golden State focus their attention on migrating waterfowl and big storms this time of year, Gary Burns of Angels Camp keeps an eye out for rainbows.

The bright, shiny, fat, rod-bending kind.

Burns is one of a handful of trout anglers taking advantage of firstrate lake fishing in the foothills near Stockton to Modesto during the late fall and early winter. Although Burns is just recently getting reacquainted with waterfowl hunting – he’s anxiously awaiting the arrival of a ma-

While the water level at New Melones Reservoir is low and boaters should be aware of that when looking for launches, the Mother Lode-area fishery remains a viable winter option for targeting plump rainbow trout. (BRAD HALL) calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

103

CENTRAL VALLEY jor influx of birds expected soon at his Knights Landing blind – rainbow trout in the 3- to 5-pound category really tickle his fancy.

While many foothill lakes offer quality trout fishing this time of year when the lakes “turn over,’’ Burns, who owns and operates Take It To The Limit Guide Service (209-5593349), is partial to New Melones Reservoir. It’s little wonder why, considering Burns has fished the lake for nearly 30 years, boating hundreds of trophy rainbows, including a lake record of 8 pounds, 4 ounces nearly four years ago.

New Melones is located off Highway 49, 6 miles south of Angels Camp and 8 miles north of Sonora in the heart of the Mother Lode.

Facilities include day-use areas, boat ramps, hundreds of campsites, hiking, biking and equestrian trails, a visitor center and museum, and plenty of water-based recreation. Other im-

prefers trolling at 2.4 mph. His 20foot Alumaweld is equipped with a 115-horsepower Yamaha motor and a 9.9hp Yamaha kicker.

A PERFECT DAY

A variety of baits – from soft plastics to Rapalas and Needlefish – are tickets to enticing big ’bows to bite in New Melones. (BRAD HALL)

poundments within a 45-mile radius of Melones that also feature quality trout fishing in the fall and winter include Lake Camanche, Don Pedro Reservoir, Bear River Reservoir, Lake Tulloch and Lake Amador.

On a recent fishing trip to Melones with Burns, he unveiled his secrets to success. Most revolve around huge balls of shad, which the big ’bows target as a food source. Once anglers discover the shad, chances are the trout are nearby. Burns

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We were on the mirror-like water at 7:45 a.m. and immediately began trolling after a short boat ride from the launch. (Just a warning: Anglers heading to New Melones should inquire about ramp conditions, as many are inaccessible due to drought-induced low water levels. Knowing the lake’s every nook and cranny, Burns had no trouble launching.)

Fishing for big ’bows requires patience. The bites are sometimes subtle, often vicious and, despite what appears to be a bevy of fish on the fish finder, frustratingly infrequent. Anglers have to remember they’re after big fish, not “truck trout,’’ as Burns terms smaller, recently planted rainbows.

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CENTRAL VALLEY 4-inch soft plastic baits designed, according to the packaging, for crappie at or around 100-foot depths. The bite was slow until Burns received a phone call from another angler he knew fishing nearby who had just landed a hefty 3½-pound rainbow while fishing at 88 feet. We quickly changed depth tactics, which led to our first serious bite 15 minutes later.

Inhaling the crappie worm at 87 feet, the big trout was hooked deep and distinguished itself with quite a battle. It broke the surface twice before making the reel sing when it caught a glimpse of the boat. Burns finally netted my colorful and chunky 4.03-pounder about 10 minutes later.

Patience, indeed, has its rewards.

Our patience was tested the remainder of the day as well. We hooked another beauty about three hours later but lost it right at the boat after it turned away, shook its head and violently and spit out the plas-

Guide Gary Burns shows off a 4.03-pound rainbow caught trolling New Melones. (BRAD HALL)

106 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

tic bait. We also hooked and landed a 16-inch spotted bass. Burns notes most of his days on the lake chasing big trout produce two to six fish.

Other anglers on the lake that day, including Greg McCullough of Arnold and Johnny Reno of Sonora, were fishing shallower than we were and enjoyed success. Trolling broken-back and straight J7 and J9 Rapala lures, the duo hooked seven bass and seven trout, the biggest of which tipped the scale at 4 pounds.

They agreed with Burns’ assessment, however, that the big fish normally run deep.

These foothill lakes offer great fishing in coming weeks as well.

The water temperatures change dramatically and the lakes “turn over,” prompting big fish to swarm the shallows in search of baitfish. The smart, creative, patient angler can expect excellent fishing for big bass, crappie or catfish in addition to the flashy rainbows. CS

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108 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

SIERRA GRAND SLAM IS A BIG HIT

SIERRAS

AN ANGLER’S QUEST TO CATCH FOUR SPECIES OF (SMALL BUT MEMORABLE) TROUT IN THE SIERRAS

By Jeff Lund

T

he granite slab had not yet been warmed by the California sun, so I would have been cold had I not been so focused on figuring out how to cast a fly 15 feet – while lying on my stomach.

I replayed my fishing buddy’s warning in my head ...

“If the trout see you, it’s over.”

We’d crawled to the crest of a ledge on that cold morning and looked down the slope at small trout feeding.

“If you’re sloppy when you pick up the fly to recast, it’s over.”

I judged the distance, stripped out line, cast and dropped

The high country of the Eastern Sierras his diamond, author Jeff Lund focused on hitting his Sierra Grand Slam, catching a rainbow, brook, golden and brown trout all in one day. (JEFF LUND) calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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SIERRAS my fly a foot short of the water.

“Mulligan.”

“Yep.” The next cast was true. The imitation sat on the water for a second before being slurped. We rose quickly and charged to the pool to land it. It was a golden trout, an iconic fish in the West, one with the kind of condensed beauty and rarity that make it a bucket-list species for many anglers.

I caught a few more, then we hiked back to the truck.

There was more work to be done.

To hide from wily trout that can spot anglers lurking around the tiny mountain waters, the guys had to resort to casting from their stomachs. (JEFF LUND)

WHAT’S A SLAM? When I lived in California I caught a bunch of rainbow, brook and brown trout, but it wasn’t until a friend caught all three plus a golden – in the same day – that I considered turning my Sierra Nevada fly fishing into a contest with myself and pursue the Sierra Grand Slam.

Go online and you can find a bunch of different varieties of slams for pretty much every species of animal.

There’s a Sierra Grand Slam that includes the cutthroat and one that doesn’t. There’s a different slam that mandates catching five of eight species and one that challenges an angler to catch all the strains of rainbow trout.

Since the reward for completing any of the quests pro-

110 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

vides the angler neither enlightenment nor special privileges, how you go about it is up to you.

The premise of a grand slam that’s done on a baseball diamond is a little odd. It’s evidence that the human race has reached a point of ease where we can make specific rules in our providing.

We can hunt and feel completely satisfied and successful without providing a tangible, edible result to fight off natural selection. It’s just the feeding of our soul to be recalled in a story with pictures. And I’m cool with that.

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SIERRAS formation you need to get it done and become part of the elite-ish group of people who have done something that matters to a population probably smaller than the people who have actually accomplished it.

Go to Alaska – where I grew up in and returned to after living in the Central Valley – catch all five species of Pacific salmon, make yourself a T-shirt, wear it to the grocery store and no one will really care. But it’s not about the bragging rights. It’s about that pursuit and where it takes you. It’s about going out and finding something that’s rare and beautiful, and testing your skill against it. It’s about how you feel accomplishing it, rather than what other people think about you doing it. It’s about recreation replacing medication.

Since I live in Alaska, it seems a little strange to some that I would leave He did it! Lund managed to hook and land his grand slam – clockwise from upper left, a rainbow, brook, the state for five days in the middle golden and brown trout. (JEFF LUND, ALL) of salmon season and at the beginning of hunting season to chase four types of trout that, After spooking a few and letting my buddy have a turn, I stacked nose to tail, wouldn’t extend past a single small casted one last time before we moved. A gust of wind caught king salmon. my fly and pushed it into the top of the run just around the So there’s no place like Alaska, but the same can be said bush from where we crouched. There was no way I could for the Sierra Nevada – too different to be compared, too have put my fly there without the aid of the wind and no uniquely beautiful for a winner. way the trout could have known it wasn’t food. It struck So I traded my 7-weight switch for a 3-weight and and a few seconds later a brook trout rested in my hand. headed south to meet up with a buddy; I won’t name him so no one can accuse him of sharing secret spots, but also THE RAINBOW TROUT so he isn’t interrogated by other slam seekers.

As the meadow continued to give up beautiful, feisty brook trout, I became a machine. Not in the sense that I was teaching a trout-catching clinic, but that I had settled THE BROOK TROUT into mechanical action brought on by sleep deprivation.

Part of the appeal of the trip was to get into meadows and We had driven three hours and hiked 4 miles by 10 a.m., fish beneath the bright monolithic faces, massive boulder and as the day wore on we pressed on without the aid of piles and dirty, rust-colored peaks of the Eastern Sierras. coffee or sugar.

With golden trout checked off, the stream we chose for Success was met with excitement, but not the same the other 75 percent of the slam was a creek that meanjubilation that had come with the golden. We continued dered through a particularly beautiful meadow. It was as up the creek and on the edge of a large rock I hooked up. bucolic as it was delicate. I imagined this place in the dead Brook. We moved up to a cutbank. I caught a brook. Pool, of winter, covered in snow and ice. Beautiful. Harsh. In brook. Riffle, brook. Run near shore, rainbow. early August it smells like wild onion and hoppers scatter It was now on. with each step. Small trout rise, leaving tiny rings on the It was just before noon. Eight hours into the day I was surface. Come and get me, come and get me. a brown trout from the Sierra Grand Slam!

We approached a run of thin water below where a few trout were taking naturals on the surface. I casted from my knees. The fish were having nothing of it. The trout THE BROWN TROUT are far from impossible but are easily spooked by poor preThe creek split in half, reducing the already minimal flow sentations, loud feet and shadows of large creatures with even more. I walked edges, spooked a few fish, then delong sticks and fake food tied on sharp hooks. cided to get in the water and work my way up. I cast past 112 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

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SIERRAS

THE LIAR’S CODE Anglers in general have earned the reputation as liars. At their best, they are described as embellishers.

If someone tells you the skwala action on the Stanislaus River last week was ridiculous, you assume there wasn’t a stonefly around, or your buddy was fishing the Feather River.

That huge brown trout caught on the red zebra midge is legit, because you can see it in the corner of the mouth in the Instagram post but that’s not the Truckee. You have fished the Truckee, you know that there are no rocks that look like that.

Maybe the Little Truckee? Hmm, yeah, I think I’ve fished there.

When you meet new angling buddies, you are careful. You don’t want to be that guy who spills everything because in that second, this new friend sees you are careless with information. Even if you don’t know what you’re talking about, you’re talking. What if this new person knows a great stretch of river to catch the elusive golden trout? You’ll never know.

You don’t have to do much to get information.

“On the Upper Sacramento, down from Dunsmuir after the big bend, in that deep run. Big fish, man; big fish.”

“You know that deep-cut bank on the Owens? Next to the cows? It’s loaded.”

Sometimes you get names.

“Yeah, I was just down from The Pinch across from the Tree

114 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

Hole. Went through three Irresistibles before noon.”

Sometimes you get the broad-swath treatment.

“Stoneflies, caddis, or mayflies for sure. Most of the time, I like to go with a hopper.”

What? Thanks for that.

If you want good information, you have to know how things work. There are always exceptions, but people who have reputations for catching fish wherever they go, also have reputations for being competent, good with secrets and being appreciative. There’s an element of earning it that comes with being any kind of angler, especially a fly fisher.

Things have to be like this. If everyone tells one friend about where to fish inside a park that has thousands of visitors and a campsite, it’s only a matter of time before it all becomes, “There used to be …”

A guide or fly shop employee isn’t going to decide that the 15th person to ask “What’s working?” will get the in-depth insight. Earn it.

If you do get ahold of a secret, it should end with you, but I do feel like I should share.

All that said, to get to the golden trout location where I caught three, start at my buddy’s house. Head to the mountains. Park. Take the trail until the creek, then get off the trail and walk until you get to the tree. Go over the ridge and just past the other tree, there they are; waiting for you.

But shhh … It’s a secret. JL

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calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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rocks and micro runs to fish holding in no more than 2 feet of water, and most times much less. With renewed vigor, I got into a rhythm.

Pool, brook. Run, rainbow. Chute, brook. Eddy, rainbow. There has to be another fish there. Only it was another rainbow.

I laughed at the abundance of rainbow trout in this stretch of water. It had taken an hour to get one, yet now I was getting them every few fish. But it was brown or bust now.

I thought about the quest and tried to live the minutes rather than feed the ego. I was leaning over boulders casting upriver at spots that were just a few feet long, or in some cases just a circle the size of my open hand next to the fast water of a plunge.

If I landed the fly in the right spot, I would have a second until the current grabbed the leader or fly line and dragged it back toward me. If I bounced the fly off a rock it gave me a great presentation. It seemed like there was a trout in each of these spots and I was getting them. It was technical and engaging, and anything but monotonous.

If something like a Sierra Grand Slam is a water mark in the experience and ability of an angler, then I felt like I was worthy of it. I was reading the water, putting the fly where it needed to go and catching fish. My buddy trailed, casting occasionally, but more focused on seeing the next trout come up brown.

More turns, more rocks, more pools, more runs, more trout.

“Nice edge right there.”

“Yep.” Cast.

Trout.

“It’s a brown!”

Slam. CS Editor’s note: Jeff Lund fishes and hunts in Alaska and is a regular contributor to our sister magazine, Alaska Sporting Journal. His book Going Home is a memoir about the outdoor adventures he’s experienced in both Alaska and California. For more, go to jefflundbooks.com.

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118 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

TAKE

IT EASY

SLOWING DOWN YOUR PRESENTATIONS WILL HELP SCORE MORE WINTER BASS

By Capt. Bill Schaefer

A

s the water temperature at your local lakes cool, the metabolism of largemouth bass starts to slow down as well. They still eat as much, but they are a little more selective about how they eat.

Bass won’t chase a bait too far to eat it. They want as big a meal as they can get for the least amount of effort.

For anglers, slowing down their presentation helps catch more fish in the winter by providing the bass time to eat the bait.

Plastic worms are great year-round, with winter being no different. But you do need to slow down your presentation of them. A Texas-rigged 8-inch worm can be shaken in place or slowly moved along the bottom.

This gives that lazy largemouth a chance to look it over and eat it. When you do move it, move it as slowly as you can and then let it sit until you just can’t stand letting it sit any longer – and then let it sit that much more.

Drop-shotting or split-shotting smaller baits will catch fish as well, but with these, let them sit in place for as long as you can stand it as well. The drop-shot or splitshot bait will move a little on its own since the weight is away from the bait.

Jigs can also be a top bait in the winter. The baits emulate the crawdads bass need for the extra protein to help sustain through the winter. The jigs’ living rubber legs

SOCAL

A slowly worked jig looks just like a crawfish to a hungry largemouth. Working your baits more methodically in the cold water of winter can increase your chances to catch fish. (BILL SCHAEFER)

move like a live crawdad and can attract a strike while just sitting in place on the bottom. Work them slowly across the bottom, like a crawdad crawling along the floor.

Now, you might not think that any reaction baits would do well in the winter, since I have been preaching to you that you need to slow down so much. But they will, and you do have to slow down a bit in your presentation of them as well.

Spinnerbaits will work when slow-rolled along the bottom. Turning your reel handle just fast enough to get the blades to spin will keep the bait in the zone and not move along too quickly. Again, bass want to eat as much as they can for the least amount of effort in catching that meal.

The spinnerbait looks like a small ball of baitfish swimming along and the bass thinks it is a big, easy meal.

Even crankbaits can be slowed down in presentation.

Go to a slightly larger floating crankbait and quick-crank it to get it to the bottom. Once you make contact with the bottom, go into the slowest cranking speed you can while making sure you are still bouncing along the bottom. An occasional pause after hitting something may cause the hungry bass lurking under that tree limb you just hit to strike.

Winter is not a time to put away your rods and reels, California bass anglers. Remember, there are also trout plants this time of year and trout swimbaits will work too, but more on that later. CS calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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120 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

SOCAL

BAY BASS, DERBY UP NEXT FOR SOCAL SALTS

LARGE BARRED BASS MOVE IN FOR LIGHT-LINE FUN; 22ND ANNUAL SAN DIEGO TOURNAMENT COMING UP ON JAN. 21

By Capt.Bill Schaefer

I

t’s a great time of year for saltwater bass anglers, especially those targeting bay bass.

The larger barred sand bass are moving into the bays of Southern California, providing great action to those light-line fishermen who chase them. Also this winter, on January 21, 300 of the Southland’s best saltwater bass fishermen will descend upon San Diego’s main harbor for the 22nd annual San Diego Anglers Bay Bass Tournament.

Two-man teams will try to catch a three-fish overall limit of barred and spotted sand bass and calico bass. The tournament is set and entry forms will be available at most area tackle stores. Title sponsors include Tow Boat US, Hobie Kayaks and Fast Lane Kayaks. First place for the winning team is $1,500, donated by Fisherman’s Landing Tackle. The winners also get a Lexa rod-and-reel combo for each angler courtesy of Daiwa.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE fishing in the meanwhile? It’s hard to predict which of the three bass species anglers will chase the most this season.

The most popular way to catch sand bass or spotted bay bass is with different plastic lures. Grubs, swimbaits, twin-tailed Scampi-type lures, and even crawfish-shaped plastics will all get a bite. Grubs by Yamamoto, Assault and Reebs Lures from 3 to 8

inches will score you big bass. But big bait–big fish isn’t always the norm. It often takes a smaller finesse lure just to get the bite.

help you catch more fish. Olive and golden brown bait and sardine are just a few of the popular colors.

The most popular way to fish the swimbaits is the “wind and grind” method. This technique is to let about half your spool of line out behind the boat, and then retrieve it with a steady wind. When the fish eats your bait, you will feel a heaviness on your line. That is the fish grabbing your lure. You then wind as fast as you can, stretching the line and making contact with the fish; then set the hook! Letting all that line out behind the boat helps keep your bait on the bottom longer and in the strike zone. Jigheads will vary from ½ to 1½ ounces.

NEXT MONTH’S TOURNAMENT WILL be

In the shadows of the downtown San Diego skyline, Joel King caught a nice barred sand bass, which will be targeted next month at the San Diego Bay Bass Tournament. (BILL SCHAEFER)

Swimbaits are a popular method used for sand and calico bass and come in many different sizes and shapes. FishTrap, Big Hammer, MC Swimbaits, and Western Plastics are just a few of the leaders in swimbait development. They make baits with fins, eyes and even gills designed to

a great event to fish or just attend.

All the top saltwater bass anglers in Southern California will be there for you to meet and pick their brains. It will also be a giant boat show, because every angler likes a different set-up. You can wander throughout all the boats and see what you like compared to the top participants.

There’s a giant barbecue, vendors displaying tackle, new boats and trucks for pulling them, and a raffle for prizes that seem to go on forever.

The weigh-in will be held at the Shelter Island launch ramp on Shelter Island. Festivities should start around 1 p.m. Hope to see you out there on the 21st next month! CS

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FISHING

FROM FIELD ...

HOLD THAT LINE! BRAIDED BRAND HOLDS UP AGAINST NOTORIOUSLY AGGRESSIVE FISH, TOUGH CONDITIONS

By Scott Haugen

I

n 2015, Maxcuatro braided line left the ICAST show with an award as the best braid of the year. After fishing it in multiple situations and successfully landing numerous species, it became clear to me why it deserved this accolade.

The first time I fished Maxcuatro was in the Alaskan Arctic. I was with good friend Paul Atkins, a resident of Kotzebue, Alaska, and a correspondent for this magazine’s sister publication, Alaska Sporting Journal. Even though it was April, temperatures still dipped into the teens each night, but every morning for five days straight we’d drive our snowmachines onto the ice north of town, drill holes and jig for sheefish in the adjacent bay.

They are some of the hardest-fighting fish around, and they’re known for aerial acrobatics that have rightfully earned them the “tarpon of the north” nickname.

While I’d caught sheefish in rivers in the fall and witnessed their ability to gain air, this was different. This was ice fishing; more specifically, it was ice fishing through 5 feet of ice.

I was eager and curious to see how these feisty fish would test my gear, including my line.

As if nearly a half-foot of ice isn’t enough to push the line to its limits, consider the sharp edges of the hole on both top and bottom. Combine that with fish that pull extremely hard and make long run after long run, and you can understand the importance of having a line that will

Whether plugging, back-bouncing, dragging bait or casting spinners, Maxcuatro braided line performed with perfection last summer on dozens of king salmon for Field to Fire authors Scott and Tiffany Haugen.

(SCOTT HAUGEN)

withstand serious punishment.

HANGING TOUGH By the end of the trip, we had caught multiple sheefish weighing upwards of 30 pounds on the Maxcuatro line, using jigging spoons and 1-ounce Rooster Tails. Not once did the 65-pound braid with a 12-pound diameter fray. This four-strand braid performed so well, it had me excited to try it in other fisheries.

Next on our Alaskan tour was the Nushagak River, a famed fishery in the 49th state that receives

one of the largest runs of king salmon in the world. My wife and fellow Field to Fire columnist Tiffany and I fished with Alaska King Salmon Adventures and utilized the Maxcuatro braid multiple ways.

The line held up well on kings nearing the 30-pound mark. The thin diameter allowed for long casting of spinners, accurate casting of different bait set-ups, and fared well when we back-trolled plugs.

Where the line really impressed me was when side-drifting and dragging through shallow water.

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FISHING

... TO FIRE

JUST THIS ONCE IT’S OK TO POACH

By Tiffany Haugen

T

he tuna fishing action up and down the Pacific Coast continues to shine bright, with anglers as far north as southeast Alaska even getting a piece of the action. No matter where you catch tuna or when, I have a recipe that’s always proven popular.

Of course, nothing is better than fresh tuna, so hold onto this recipe for next season. But if you have tuna in the freezer, start thawing it out, because this is a recipe you’ll want to experience sooner rather than later. For best results, always defrost fish in the refrigerator. The great thing about this recipe is that poaching in oil actually replaces the fat lost on the fish when frozen. Using olive oil at low heat also retains the healthy fat in the oil, as well as infuses your tuna with flavor.

Tuna can be caught in bunches from the Southern California coast at the Mexican border as far north as Alaska’s panhandle, and poaching these delicious fish makes for a fantastic meal. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)

6 to 10 ounces tuna fillets Four to six cloves garlic Three to four bay leaves Four cloves garlic, sliced One sprig rosemary Olive oil to cover Salt and black pepper to taste

Place tuna in a loaf pan and evenly distribute remain-ing ingredients. Cover with olive oil. Place in a preheated d 325-degree oven and cook 20 to 35 minutes or until fish reaches an internal temperature of 100 to 125 degrees, or reaches desired doneness. Enjoy warm or refrigerate for later use and flake poached tuna and use in salads, dips, casseroles or any recipe calling for canned tuna.

Note that fish can be vacuum-sealed and frozen after poaching with either of the above methods.

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany’s new book, Cooking Seafood, send a check for $20 (free S&H), to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489. This and other cookbooks can also be ordered at tiffanyhaugen.com.

124 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

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125

FISHING In less than 2 feet of water, kings were stacked in a flat one evening.

I caught and released many fish, and while these fat kings put my rod and reel to the test with their long, hard runs, the line never buried into itself on the spool or knotted. It reacted quickly and was easy to handle.

NORTH AND SOUTH

Fighting and pulling sheefish in excess of 30 pounds through ice fishing holes 5 feet thick was the ultimate test for the line. Not once did a single strand fray while the author landed several of these hard-fighting Alaskan fish. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

Mexico was the next training ground, and it was south of the border where I put the same 65-pound braid to the test by casting topwater plugs for barracuda.

Even on a 7-foot, four-piece spinning rod, the line allowed me to cast over 75 yards with ease. Being able to cover that much water with a big, heavy topwater plug meant that I was fishing three times as much water as other anglers were reaching. The result was me hooking into more barracuda than my buddies.

I used a 2-foot-long wire leader, which was attached to my Maxcu-

atro. These barracuda were some of the most tenacious fighters I’d ever battled. Numerous times their majestic launches on the surface saw the line wrapping around their silver-bullet bodies, yet not once did the line break or even fray.

Next came the bobber and jig test.

Using the 50-pound Maxcuatro with a 10-pound diameter, I admit I was a bit skeptical trying it float-fishing jigs for steelhead. Traditionally, I’ve been a fan of larger diameter floating braids for the technique, ones with even a bit of memory to maintain rigidity and buoyancy in some of the heavy, turbulent water I fish.

When I ran the set-up through the first set of rapids, it got my attention. Not only did the line strip off the reel with impressive speed, it stayed afloat through the end of the drift. Over the course of the summer I fished the high-visibility 50-pound braid for steelhead and coho, chum and pink salmon in Alaska. The line allowed me to attain great drifts and held up wonderfully against big fish battling me in a range of settings.

The only struggle I faced was when winds would hamper the light line and wrap it around the end of my rod more than I would have liked.

I learned to manage my line a little closer than usual in order to overcome this.

When I trolled for fall Chinook here in the Lower 48, the 65-pound test performed as well as it did in Alaska, but what really impressed me was when it withstood battling tuna in the Pacific off Washington. Our group plugged the boat with over 30 tuna in what the captain said was the heaviest rate of fish caught he’d had in over two years. Several 30-poundplus tuna were landed. On more than a few occasions lines got tangled as anglers battled multiple fish – up to six at a time. The braid never once broke on a fish, and it never frayed.

BUILT TO LAST Due to the unique construction of the Maxcuatro line, it’s an invest126 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

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127

You know a line is good when it holds up to a boatload of hard-fighting tuna! Here, the author is all smiles over this double he landed with backto-back casts using 65-pound braid. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

ment, but one worth making. If, after a season or two of use, you notice discoloration, simply respool it onto another reel, using the line that’s likely not seen daylight. This will double the life of the line.

The world of fishing has greatly advanced since I caught my first steelhead back in 1968. New rods, reels, lines and terminal gear allow us to fish in ways that never used to exist, but when the result is more fish to take home, I’m all over the extra investment, one that I know will last and pay off for years to come. CS Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s popular book, Bank Fishing For Steelhead & Salmon, send a check for $17 (includes S&H) to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489. This and other how-to books, including cookbooks, can be ordered online at scotthaugen.com.

128 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

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132 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

FISHING

DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE BRAID FOR TARGETING BIGGER FISH, ONE CALIFORNIA ANGLER PREFERS THIS LINE OVER OTHER OPTIONS

By Mark Fong

I

’m amazed at the number of anglers who are either misinformed or hesitant about fishing with braided line. Whether I am teaching a seminar, working a sports show or even out on the water, one of the most frequently asked questions I receive is on the topic of braided line.

The first thing to understand is that there is no one perfect choice when it comes to selecting fishing line. Monofilament, fluorocarbon and braid all have their advantages and disadvantages. In my own fishing, I use all three depending on the application. But what I am finding is that braid is playing a larger role in my time on the water. I use it on the salt for live bait and targeting rockfish. And in freshwater, I rely on braid when targeting a variety of species, including river salmon, striped bass, sturgeon and, of course, black bass.

THE ADVANTAGES OF BRAID Braid can be used on spinning and conventional tackle; Braid can be used in either salt- or freshwater environments; Braid is extremely sensitive; Braid has no line memory; Braid has almost zero stretch; Braid is strong and has increased breaking strength, all in a small diameter offering. MF

While there are now many brands of braid on the market, including from Western Filament, Berkley and other manufacturers, the author has become partial to offerings from Sunline. (MARK FONG)

PUTTING APPLICATIONS TO PRACTICE Braided line has forever changed the way saltwater anglers fish for rockfish like lingcod. Braid has almost zero stretch. By contrast, monofilament is far more forgiving and has a large amount of stretch. Braid’s limited stretch creates an ultradirect connection between angler and bait.

The result is extreme sensitivity that allows you to feel bottom structure and light-biting fish that you otherwise might not detect. Even in deep water, braid is conducive to positive hooksets that are not always possible with monofilament.

Braid is suited well for use with Northern California’s river-spawning king salmon as well. Whether boondoggling with roe, trolling spinners or back-bouncing plugs, savvy river guides rely on braid. Salmon have hard, bony jaw structures, so a low-stretch line is a big advantage when it comes to driving the

hooks home. Once you hook one, you must still land it, and salmon are big, powerful and fight hard.

Braid gives the angler a dimension of control against strong fish that is unprecedented.

When braided super lines first hit the market in the late 1980s, they were quickly embraced by freshwater black bass anglers. Braid is well-suited to heavy-cover power-fishing techniques such as flippin’ and pitchin’, which bass anglers know well.

Even today, braid remains the domain for the new wave of heavy-cover tactics such as punchin’ heavy vegetation and fishing the slop with topwater frogs. In recent years, braid has entered a new domain as bass anglers have adopted lightweight braid for use with finesse tactics.

THE LEADER ADVANTAGE One of the primary arguments levied against the use of braid is that be-

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133

FISHING Mark Fong, who lives in Sacramento, loves to fish the river systems in his area for king salmon. Whether boondoggling roe, trolling spinners or back-bouncing plugs, savvy river guides and anglers rely on braid. (MARK FONG)

cause it is opaque, it is visible to the fish. When using a technique that involves a leader to mainline connection, this is not an issue. For example, the basic salmon boondoggling rig is constructed using a fluorocarbon leader that is connected to the braided mainline via a crane swivel.

In applications where a direct connection is needed from the mainline to the lure, the solution is to join a length of fluorocarbon leader to the braid with a connecting knot. This raises two questions: How long should the leader be? And what knot do I use? The answer to the first question is not universal.

It really depends on the application at hand. For example, the setup I have adopted for finesse bass techniques utilizes 10-pound braid as the mainline fastened to a 7- to 8-foot length of 7-pound fluorocarbon leader. When fishing topwater baits, I prefer to use 35-pound mainline with a 1- to 1½-foot section of 20-pound leader.

There are many different knots that you can tie to connect braid to fluorocarbon. Among them are the

double uni, the Albright, and the Alberto knot. I have used all three with good success. More recently, anglers have spoken very highly of the FG knot as well.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT BRAID Braided super lines are available in a wide range of breaking strengths, from ultralight all the way to biggame applications. Braid is sold by a number of different companies, with many great lines to choose from.

From my own fishing experience, I have had great results with Sunline braid. This year I have been using the Japanese company’s newest offerings, TX1 and BX2. Both are round-woven with eight strands that result in exceptional strength and roundness. They cast extremely well and generate little guide noise. This is a direct result of the smooth surface processing that infuses silicon modules onto the surface of the line.

If you are not using braided line, you may not be catching all the fish you could. Give braid a try; it will make you a more efficient angler. CS

134 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

This nice river striper was caught on braid. While the type of line can’t replace fluorocarbon or monofilament as leader material because it’s opaque, it’s an increasingly useful choice for all sorts of mainline usages. (MARK FONG)

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THE ELUSIVE NEW MEXICO BULL

AN ELK HUNT IN THE WET, COLD SOUTHWEST PROVES CHALLENGING

By Brittany Boddington

E

lk hunting is one of those events that people think and plan for all year long. In October, I got my chance to chase elk in one of the most epic locations I can think of.

The Quinlan Ranch (575-2091618; quinlanranch.com) is located in the middle of the elk migration. It is outside Chama, N.M., just below the border with Colorado. The coun-

tryside has rolling hills and forests, making it perfect habitat for elk.

My hunt started with a bang!

When I arrived they got me a bear tag to go along with my elk tag. I was already excited, but now I was super excited. They had been seeing a lot of black bears in the area, so they figured it might be a nice target of opportunity for me. I had a .300 Win Mag from CZUSA with me, plus the new 200-grain Precision Hunter bullets from Hor-

On a return to New Mexico’s Quinlan Ranch, where she was successful last season, Brittany Boddington put in long days to try and bag her bull.(MATT YOUNG)

nady. With that combo I would be in good shape for whatever I found.

THE FIRST MORNING WE set out early and drove into an area with a large hill overlooking a valley. We intended to glass a few hills with the hope of finding some elk. But before we could even stop the vehicle I spotted a group of elk on a hill in the distance. They were running before we could get out, but at least we knew there were some in the area, which is always a great way to start a hunt.

We hiked up the hill they were on, and at the top we glassed around.

The group of elk was slowly working its way into a heavily forested area and we watched closely as they disappeared, one by one, into the trees.

We stayed for a while and glassed the area but were careful not to make

calsportsmanmag.com | DECEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

141

Located in a rugged, spectacular corner of the Southwest, several thousand elk migrate through the ranch, which also features the Rim Rock Trophy Park. (MATT YOUNG)

too much noise or disturb the area.

We hoped that if we came back that afternoon the elk would be feeding back into the open. Unfortunately, that evening we had no luck.

The next day we checked the same spot, but the elk were not

where they had been the day before. We climbed the hill and got to the highest knob to look around at the surrounding valley and hillside.

After glassing for a while, an elk appeared on the hillside opposite us. It was about 500 yards across that val-

ley and looked like a nice bull, maybe even a monster.

I got on the sticks but a shot was iffy at best. The elk was walking between some willows and the shot windows were small. It was also pushing it on distance.

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hill in the blazing sun. The hike was hot and tiring, but I was sure something good was at the top. Our guide, Nevan, informed us that the climb took us up 2,000 feet in elevation. At the top we worked our way around to an old blind that hadn’t been used in years.

It was creaky, but we all managed to climb in and we set up to watch the sunset. We saw tons of elk moving around and we caught a momentary glimpse of the mature bull we had spotted the day before, but only for a split second as it moved through the trees.

While we were sitting in the blind we noticed a big black bear moving through the bushes way out to the left. Shortly after that there was a slightly smaller and lighter-colored bear that disappeared into the same area. Just before dark a bear cub ran

past the blind. We didn’t bother focusing on the bears because we were sure that that big elk would step out at any moment, but unfortunately it got dark before that could happen.

We left in absolute darkness the next morning and drove around to the base of the hill. Just as we parked it started to drizzle on a hill that was much more like a mountain. It took us a while to climb in the darkness using flashlights in the rain.

We were pretty damp but also determined when we got into the open-air blind. We sat there for what seemed like forever with no movement. The rain was apparently annoying to the elk as well.

After a long, wet morning we hiked back down and decided to cut our losses and try a new area. That night we sat in a blind in a new area but nothing came in while yet more rain pelted us.

WITH JUST ONE MORE morning of hunt-

146 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

Memories of a successful hunt as well as tasty venison will be part of the Boddington family’s Christmas meal. (MATT YOUNG)

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ing, the pressure was on. We decided to try walking up a wooded area where there had been elk the previous year. We walked along a path and checked clearings as we went. The morning was particularly cold, with the ground frosted over. As the sun started to rise, the whole

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area looked like it was coated in silver glitter.

As we came around the top of a hill there was an elk standing in an open area between some willows. It was not the monster that we had seen on the hill, but it was a mature bull and it looked like a fighter. The setting was perfect – the elk was about 150 yards out and quartering away from me while feeding along slowly.

It seemed to be alone and unaware of our presence. I set up slowly on the shooting sticks, careful not to make a sound. I took a deep breath, and when I felt steady I squeezed the trigger.

The shot rocked the elk, but it stayed on its feet and I immediately put a second shot into the animal to make sure it wouldn’t take off into the thick woods nearby. It went down after the second, although I was assured that the first had been good enough.

When we got up to the bull, it was stone-cold dead. I was so excited, since we had worked really hard for this one through all the days of trying, the rain and the cold.

I couldn’t wait to take the meat home to my family in Los Angeles. This Christmas, I’m making elk for dinner! CS

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Editor’s note: Brittany Boddington is a Los Angeles-based journalist, hunter and adventurer. For more, check out brittanyboddington.com and facebook.com/brittanyboddington.

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HUNTING

SMALL GAME, BIG FUN

RABBITS OFFER YOUNG OR INEXPERIENCED HUNTERS A VIABLE STARTING POINT

Jackrabbits and smaller cottontails are great small game options for first-time hunters and kids who want to be introduced to hunting. California has plenty of land where you can hunt rabbits. (TIM E. HOVEY)

By Tim E. Hovey

W

e drove as far as we could and then got out. We knew with the recent snowfall, we wouldn’t be able to get much further on four wheels.

We hiked in the snow along the Oregon Basin ridge near the Wyoming town of Cody for over a mile.

The sky was grey but our mood high; we were there to hunt rabbits, just like we’d done the previous 20 years we’ve hunted together.

We split up by ourselves, but still we were together on the mountain.

For over an hour, I hiked the ravines with my friend, Darrin, looking for game. One or two times I spotted him nearby, and he was doing exactly what I was doing. I stood there and watched him as he hiked the hills, feeling lucky to have a good friend who loved what I loved equally.

We met back near the vehicle, each of us with a couple of rabbits.

We sat on the tailgate and watched the setting sun fight through the rain

clouds. I don’t drink, but I had a cold beer with Darrin, parked there in the middle of a sage-covered field.

That was my first Wyoming rabbit hunt, and despite the cold temperatures, sharing the hills with a good friend made the time in the field well worth it.

A GREAT SMALL GAME OPTION I’ve hunted rabbits all over the Western United States and I never tire of pursuing the speedy animals. Limits are usually generous and they can be

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HUNTING abundant in the appropriate habitat.

They make great table fare and are fairly easy to hunt. Most longtime hunters probably started their careers by chasing rabbits, and I would imag-

and brush piles or landscaped backyards. Natural habitat that includes grasslands and brushy terrain with available hiding areas or existing burrows will also hold rabbits. They are usually more active at dawn and

A California limit of rabbits taken using shooting sticks, a .17 HMR rimfire and binoculars. Waking early and glassing quality habitat is a great way to locate rabbits feeding or warming themselves in the morning sun. (TIM E. HOVEY)

marks like the numeral 11. The front legs leave small marks in the dirt – one at the top of each back leg print.

Droppings are small, round and numerous. Find these signs in brushy habitat and rabbits will be close by.

When looking for prints, I also pay close attention to the abundance and freshness of predator prints in the area. One of the main food sources for coyotes, foxes and bobcat is rabbit. If I find fresh predator prints in good habitat, I can almost guarantee rabbits are near.

Once I find a suitable hunting area, I make a decision on how I want to hunt it. Flat, brushy terrain with substantial cover calls for the shotgun. If the terrain is hilly or uneven, I like to grab the rimfire rifle and a set of binoculars. I’ve hunted rabbits using these two relatively common techniques since I was a kid, and each has helped me put fresh rabbit on the plate.

RIMFIRE

Late in the season walking through the brush with a shotgun and kicking up rabbits is a great way to bag your limit. (TIM E. HOVEY)

ine that even part-time hunters have the preferred firearms in their safe to pursue the wily rabbit.

Rabbits can be found in diverse habitats. They tend to concentrate in brushy fencerows or agricultural field edges. They also adapt well to man-made structures such as debris

dusk, spending much of the day in burrows or in cover to wait out the heat of the day. During cooler periods, they can be active all day.

Signs of cottontail activity are easy to spot if you know what to look for.

Rabbit prints are unique. Their back legs leave elongated, side-by-side

154 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

I used a borrowed .22 rifle to harvest my first rabbit when I was 12, and I still enjoy using rimfire rifles to hunt rabbits. Waking early and glassing quality habitat is a great way to locate rabbits feeding or warming themselves in the morning sun. I like to find a spot I can glass from and quietly sit waiting for things to start moving.

Rabbits will show themselves if you get to your spot early, and they will stay still and quiet. Even the crack of the .22 won’t startle them for long.

Put the rising sun at your back to eliminate any glare and start searching gaps in the vegetation or open areas. Rabbits love to come out and feed in the morning. If you rise before they do and glass from an elevated position, opportunities will present themselves.

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HUNTING the cartridge in 2002. The blistering muzzle velocity combined with the aerodynamic bullet design and ballistic tip makes the round substantially more accurate than the slower .22.

I’ve personally taken rabbits with the Hornady .17 HMR round out to a distance of 200 yards. That’d be a tall order for the fatter, slower .22 round.

This round has a tremendous amount of energy upon impact, so keep that in mind when using it on small game. Due to its accuracy out at distance, I usually use the .17 HMR for longer shots, 100 yards and beyond.

Closer shots are fairly destructive and will definitely reduce the amount of meat you’ll be bringing home.

SHOTGUN No matter what type of hunt I have planned, I always add my shotgun to the gear, especially later in the season.

Whenever I see good rabbit habitat, I grab the Browning and take a walk.

Cottontails will hold tight to cover at times. Walking through brush with a shotgun and kicking up rabbits is a great way to bag your limit.

When I’m busting brush for rabbits, I’m by no means subtle or stealthy during my walks. I kick bushes, make noise and let them know they need to move. Opportunities are frequently brief and fast.

Most of the time you’ll just detect a flash of fur as the rabbit runs for cover. I call this type of shooting snap-shooting and it may take some practice to become successful.

Rabbits are thin-skinned animals and can be brought down with lighter shotgun loads. I use 2-inch shells with 7 and 8 size shot to get good results. In my opinion, for an easy hunt nothing beats grabbing a box of shells and walking through rabbit habitat with a shotgun.

With an increase in opportunities and their tendency to stop or freeze near cover, rabbits are an excellent

156 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

REMEMBERING A GREAT FRIEND

“Uncle Darrin” Bergen, with the author’s daughters, Jessica and Alyssa, was a longtime hunting and fishing partner and good friend before he passed away in September. (TIM E. HOVEY)

Darrin Robert Bergen 1969-2016 They say you’re fortunate if you have five really good friends over your lifetime. I will always consider Darrin Bergen as one of those good friends.

In over 20 years of friendship, we’ve hunted, hiked and fished all over Southern California and parts of Wyoming.

He was a true outdoorsman, and in the wild is where he felt most comfortable.

Due to his adaptability and love of the outdoors, I often thought that Darrin was born 150 years too late.

With no kids of his own, Darrin quickly attained the status of uncle to my daughters. Every Christmas, without fail, he would send Alyssa and Jessica gifts designed to nurture their outdoor interests. And always, gifts from Uncle Darrin were opened last.

Last year, Darrin invited me and my daughters out to Wyoming to hunt deer with him. During our November trip, Alyssa and Jessica thoroughly enjoyed glassing canyons and joking around with Uncle Darrin, so much so, that a return trip was planned for the following year before we left Cody for home.

Darrin passed away unexpectedly in September of this year in Cody, Wyo., and I will truly miss him. He was an amazing friend and one of the smartest individuals I have ever met. He spent much of his professional life as a fisheries biologist and the two of us collaborated on several published projects together. I have many fond memories

calsportsmanmag.com calsport cals ca p sman por man a mag. mag.com c com | DECEMBER DECEMB BER 2016 2016 01 Cal California Califo iforn ifo rni rnia rni nia S Sp Sportsman por po por orts ts tsm sm man an

157

HUNTING of Darrin and I in deep discussions on a variety of topics at the edge of some canyon miles from anywhere. I know that of all our adventures together, these conversations at the edge of the world are what I will miss the most.

I realize that nothing lasts forever, but it truly hurts knowing that I will never again glass a canyon, share a rabbit hunt or simply head out to the wild with a rifle slung over my shoulder, with Darrin at my side. He was truly a good friend. If I had known that last year’s hunt with my daughters was going to be the last time we saw him, I think we all would have savored that moment much longer.

To my hunting friend and little brother: I will miss you. Enjoy your hunt! TH

The author (left, at right) and his longtime friend, Darrin Bergen (see sidebar for more), spent many successful rabbits hunts together in both California and Wyoming. The author’s daughters, including Alyssa Hovey (above with her dad), also got some of their initial hunting experience chasing the small game. (TIM E. HOVEY)

option as a first game animal for first-time hunters and kids. Both of my daughters practiced rifle shooting

LOOKING FOR JACKS

by chasing rabbits, and both try and get out for a bunny hunt with me at least once during the season.

Almost anywhere you find the cottontail, you’ll most likely find jackrabbits. Larger and substantially faster than cottontails, jackrabbits are true hares and can be over twice as large as their cousin.

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very precise .17 HMR. Walking the brush with a shotgun loaded with size 6 shot is also my rig of choice for adding jacks to the cooler.

Cottontails are one of my favorite game animals to eat. It’s a white meat that picks up the taste of any marinade and it’s very easy to cook in a variety of ways. It may seem cliché, but many who taste it for the first time equate it to chicken. Jackrabbit is also good, but depending on the size and age of the animal, it may be a bit tough on the plate. Our favorite way to prepare jackrabbit is to slowcook a rabbit stew in the Crock-Pot.

CALIFORNIA OPTIONS The cottontail rabbit season is one of the longest available to California hunters, opening on July 1 and ending on January 29. The limit is five rabbits per day, with ten in possession. Jackrabbit hunting is open year-round with no take limit.

They are available throughout the state, in a variety of habitats that are both natural and man-made, and they are my favorite small game to hunt.

If you’re looking for an easy hunt with plenty of opportunities, try chasing cottontails through the heavy brush, or their larger cousin, the jack. The action can be consistent and exciting, and you really can’t beat the taste of wild rabbit. CS 160 California Sportsman DECEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

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ALSO INSIDE

Owens River Trout SoCal Paddy Hopping San V Bassin’ Reopens

Meet a Family with a Battery-Powered Landscape

“We like to do yard work. We like to maintain our property.”

SCOTT CENGIA

STIHL BATTERY-POWERED PRODUCT HOMEOWNER

It’s hard to maintain a home with four children. It’s even harder when that home sits on four acres of property dotted with trees and landscaping. But Scott and Kelly Cengia manage it all with the help of STIHL Lithium-Ion blowers, trimmers and hedge trimmers.

“We’ve got practices for swimming, soccer and basketball all the time,” said Scott.

“Our four-acre property also requires a lot of maintenance. STIHL Lithium-Ion products really help with that.”

To find a Dealer: STIHLdealers.com For product information: STIHLusa.com

/stihlusa

FRESNO Len’s Lawnmower Service, Inc. 5170 W. Shaw Ave (559) 222-6849 LensLawnMowerService.com

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FISHING

HAVE YOUR COOLER READY FOR THIS BC FISHING PARADISE

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n interview by Steve Joseph with Westview Marina co-owner and operator John Falavolito (westviewmarina.com) of Tahsis, British Columbia, Canada.

Steve Joseph How was the 2016 season?

John Falavolito Our season was great! It was the biggest and best since we started in 1992. And 2017 will be our 25th anniversary. Each year our docks grow in capacity and new lodging becomes available. This season was particularly successful because of the significant value of the U.S. dollar here in Canada. U.S. dollars are worth $1.25 here.

That boils down to anybody booking with us from the states getting a 25-percent discount before your add-on, all-inclusive package and bring-your-own-boat specials.

SJ What areas were hot this year?

JF Inside Esperanza Inlet and offshore of Esperanza were the hottest and best-producing waters of all the west coast of Vancouver Island. The Chinook and coho runs were huge and available from mid-May to mid-September. Yes, it’s probably one of the longest seasons on the West Coast.

Why? Because we get the first crack at the Columbia River fish as they move down our coastline. Then, the Puget Sound fish move in and next are the Fraser River salmon. Many of these massive schools come right into the mouth of Esperanza Inlet to gorge on the huge schools of baitfish. Finally, our local hatchery and naturally spawning fish arrive. We had over 75,000 Chinook return to Esperanza Inlet and Nootka Sound area this season. It was wild and wonderful all at the same time.

When boats return to the fuel dock at Westview Marina, the question is not “Did you catch fish?” It is “Did you limit out?” Most responses are a resounding “Yes!”

four kings, four silvers, six lingcod, two halibut, 10 other bottomfish and 40 albacore – a lot of fish for each person.

SJ What can I fish for near your lodge and marina?

JF King and silver salmon, lingcod, halibut and many oth-

all-inclusive package special. It’s a four-person, drive-in fishing/catching trip at $1,000 each (USD according to exchange rate at press time). It includes four nights lodging, three full days of guided fishing for salmon, halibut, lingcod and more. It also includes all of your meals from our restaurant menu while you are with us. This is a limited-time special and must be booked by May 31, 2017.

Our second is the BYOB (bring your own boat) plan, which offers 10 percent of additional savings on moorage, lodging and meal plan for a total of a 35-percent discount when booking in U.S. dollars. This must be booked and paid for by June 15. All season dates available for both specials.

er types of bottomfish. Each species is in strong abundance in our area. When conditions are right, we often catch albacore tuna within 18 miles of the beach.

SJ How much fish can I bring home from Canada?

JF Canadian limits are very generous. A four-night lodging package with three full days of fishing guarantees lots of fish to return home with, whether you are on one of our guided charters or a knowledgeable fisher who brings their own boat. Bring your large coolers. You will need them when you fish with us. Each license holder can bring home a two-day possession limit. That amounts to

SJ You have a derby fundraiser; tell us more about that.

JF We have had an annual Westview Marina Salmon Enhancement Derby for the past 13 seasons. This derby is one of the many reasons why the fishing is so good in our area. We have raised over $250,000, all of which has gone to six local volunteer hatcheries and to a cooperative agreement with the federal hatchery here. Together, they put nearly two million salmon fry in the inlets and sounds in our area each year. We have been doing this for 4.25 salmon life cycles. It is working big time! Next season the derby will be held on Aug. 25 and 26.

SJ What specials do you have for 2017?

JF We actually have two specials. First is a 2017 charter

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FISHING

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MUST-HAVE TROLLING GEAR

n interview by Steve Joseph with Vadim Beznes of Troll-Master (800-274-1656; troll-master.com).

Steve Joseph You recently finished research and development on your new Hydrodynamic line release. Why develop a line release when there are so many already on the market?

Vadim Beznes Line releases are one of the most important pieces of trolling equipment. Often, release deficiencies and failures cost fishermen a chance at a trophy fish, which generates a lot of frustration.

There are virtually dozens of different release types; however, the easiest one to use is a “pincer” type, which works a lot like a clothespin. Two opposing hinged members are joined at one end and movable at the other while tensioned by the spring.

Unfortunately, these releases generate a lot of drag in the water, causing increased blow-back, as well as vibration and turbulence that affects the lure or bait presentation. We have been working diligently to improve these deficiencies in order to make a great easy-to-use product that will improve your fishing experience.

SJ How did the idea develop?

VB We worked on improving the hydrodynamic qualities of the object until achieving an optimal shape that glides easily through the water first. Then we applied that shape to the functional design of a pincer-type release that resulted in a hydrodynamic line release designed to minimize the resistance, turbulence and vibration generated while trolling. We have also applied for the pat-

ent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

SJ Tell me about the new release and what makes this a breakthrough product?

VB First is a decrease in resistance. The introduction of the side covers and improvement of the hydrodynamic properties of the release body results in a decrease of the underwater resistance. This allows for an almost perpendicular descent with minimal angular deflection.

This is important in achieving the desired trolling depth; the closer it is to 90 degrees, the more precise the depth of your bait is.

There’s also a decrease in turbulence and vibration, and the elimination of the open cavities in the release body minimizes turbulence and vibration generated while trolling. This allows for a more natural presentation of the bait and significantly increases the number of strikes.

Finally, with regards to buoyancy, our release is light enough that it floats and can be picked out of the water if dropped overboard accidentally.

SJ What kind of feedback are you getting?

VB We have many happy customers, ranging from those in the hot Florida Keys to the cold waters of Alaska, those high-speed trolling for big fish and slow-trolling for trout.

We are proud to say that we achieved our goal and improved the fishing experience for fellow anglers! CS

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