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California
Sportsman Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource
Volume 12 • Issue 8 PUBLISHER James R. Baker GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott EDITOR Chris Cocoles CONTRIBUTORS Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Todd Kline, Bill Schaefer SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Jim Klark, Mike Smith DESIGNER Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly Baker DIGITAL STRATEGIST Jon Hines ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Katie Aumann INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@calsportsmanmag.com CORRESPONDENCE Email ccocoles@media-inc.com Twitter @CalSportsMan Facebook.com/californiasportsmanmagazine ON THE COVER With California containing huntable pigs in 56 of 58 counties, it’s a popular year-round opportunity for hunters. Northern California offers plenty of guided hunts on private land. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
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CONTENTS
VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 8
53 HOG-WILD HUNTING Californians can hunt year-round for wild pigs, which are essentially ubiquitous in the state (the Department of Fish and Wildlife says 56 of 58 counties contain hogs). Our versatile outdoors savants Scott and Tiffany Haugen have regularly hunted Northern California and come away with some great boars. The Haugens team up for another From Field to Fire column with hunting tips for harvesting and then cooking up a pig.
(CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE)
FEATURES
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
18
FOLLOWING DAD’S HAWAIIAN MYSTERY
31
Phil Harris and his son Josh are considered some of the most productive crab fishermen in Alaska and have been mainstays on the Discovery Channel series Deadliest Catch. Phil, a larger-than-life character who passed away in 2010, spent a lot of time fishing Hawaii’s Big Island and left behind handwritten notes on charts of the waters off Kona. In one of two Hawaii fishing stories this month, Josh took the charts to Kona to unlock Phil’s mysteries in a Deadliest Catch spinoff series continuing this month.
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New charter fishing boat owners living the dream in Hawaii 42 How the Eastern Sierra is coping with fishing restrictions 61 Training puppies while in coronavirus lockdown
SHARK-INFESTED WATERS
DEPARTMENTS
Southland anglers who are waiting to get back outside once the state’s stay-at-home COVID-19 orders are eased won’t have to get too far off the coast to find some fantastic and fun opportunities. The bays and harbors from San Diego north are full of rays and sharks that can tip the scales into triple digits. These critters will test your line and your muscles. Capt. Bill Schaefer shows you how to catch them.
9 11 15 17
The Editor’s Note The Adventures of Todd Kline Photo contest winners Outdoor calendar
Read California Sportsman on your desktop or mobile device. Go to www.calsportsmanmag.com/digital California Sportsman is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, Send address changes to California Sportsman, 14240 Interurban Avenue South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Annual subscriptions are $29.95 (12 issues), 2-year subscription are $49.95 (24 issues). Send check or money order to Media Index Publishing Group, or call (206) 382-9220 with VISA or M/C. 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 © 2020 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. 6 California Sportsman MAY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
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THEEDITOR’SNOTE
Longtime Mono County resident Jeff Simpson is used to spending the last Saturday of April celebrating the trout season opener. That wasn’t the case this year due to the coronavirus restrictions. (JEFF SIMPSON)
S
ince I grew up in the Bay Area, most of my Sierra fishing memories are from around the Lake Tahoe area. But the trout opener still resonated with me since San Francisco’s Lake Merced always opened up for fishing that same late April weekend. I was a regular visitor for that first crowded day at the urban fishery. That’s why as the last Saturday in April recently passed I knew it must have hit everyone hard – from the locals around Mono and Inyo Counties to all those who annually make the trip to the mountains and get a jump on trout season. Jeff Simpson, who works in the Mono County Economic Development Department in Mammoth Lakes, told me how difficult it was to see the delayed start of “Fishmas” come and go. “I was personally very sad and almost in kind of a mourning state. Because I’ve gone out with my dad and my grandpa since I was born. I was born and raised in Bridgeport and went to every single opener in my life,” says Simpson, who explained some of the details of the delay in our report on page 42. “And now I have two young boys and for one, who’s 4, we were thinking this would be the first year we could take him out.” Heartbreaking. It’s a time few of us probably expected we’d go through in our lifetimes. But here we are. I’m on week five of working from home, unsure when we’ll feel safe enough to go back to work and be among crowds again, which is traditionally the norm as the population of Eastern Sierra communities in late spring and summer swells with visitors wanting to get in on the fun. But this year, the scheduled opening day was anything but normal for Simpson, who also got a scare when one of his sons, who suffers from asthma, had to go to the emergency room for treatment (fortunately it wasn’t COVID-19-related and he’s OK). But there was no fishing. “I slept in. Normally I get home about 2 p.m. in the afternoon after a hard day of fishing. When I saw that time on the clock I mentally thought, ‘Gosh; I should be excited and my face should be hurting from the sun and I’d have all these pictures of fish that we’ve caught.’ And that just wasn’t the case. So it’s a strange time.” Strange and sad. But as Simpson told me, when it’s deemed safe to go back, you can bet he, his son and thousands of other anglers will make up for lost time. And it’ll be a great day in the Eastern Sierra. -Chris Cocoles
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s e r u t n e v d A
With social distancing in effect, I had not fished for 30 days. So I decided to head out solo to Lake Havasu and camp. (TODD KLINE)
Here are a couple beauties from the California-Arizona border reservoir of the Colorado River. (TODD KLINE)
This was a smallie that I caught. When taking the jig out of its mouth, I saw this. Pretty cool. (TODD KLINE)
I was able to put together this mixed bag of Havasu bass. (TODD KLINE)
W
We’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 up to each month. For more on Todd or to book a guided fishing trip with him, check out toddklinefishing. com, and you can follow him on Instagram at @toddokrine. –The Editor Nighttime at the camp made for a peaceful scene in this uncertain time. (TODD KLINE)
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A brilliant sunrise greeted me before heading out for the day. (TODD KLINE)
I relocated to a camping spot right on the lake. (TODD KLINE)
Catching a Havasu hog makes it that much more special. (TODD KLINE)
The new bluegill-colored IMA Flit 100 is so good this time of year for landing fish like this Havasu smallmouth. (TODD KLINE)
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PHOTO
CONTEST
WINNERS!
Jason Resser is the winner of our monthly Fishing Photo Contest, thanks to this shot of his father holding his son Zayn’s 6-pound rainbow trout. It wins him gear from various tackle manufacturers!
Mike Bolt is our monthly Coast Hunting Photo Contest winner, thanks to this pic of he and daughter Grace and her first turkey, taken last spring. It wins him a knife and light from Coast!
For your shot at winning hunting and fishing products, send your photos and pertinent (who, what, when, where) details to ccocoles@media-inc.com or 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 | MAY 2020 California Sportsman
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OUTDOOR CALENDAR
Shrimp & Crab Gear Complete Supply Source Quality McKay Qwik-Pot Shrimp & Crab Pots Gasoline & Electric Pot Pullers Rope Pole Buoys Davits Capstans In Stock
An additional junior turkey hunt is scheduled for May 4-17 in California. (CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE)
Editor’s note: At press time, California was under a temporary “stay at home” order from Governor Newsom. For the record, below are events that had been scheduled in May and June, with websites/phone numbers for you to check for updates.
MAY
2 NorCal Trout Challenge, Lake Amador; anglerspress.com 2-3 Bass Lake Trout Derby; basslakechamber.com/ fishing-derby 4-17 Archery-only spring wild turkey season 4-17 Additional junior wild turkey season 22 Start of Crowley Lake Perch Derby; (760) 935-4301 29 Start of Hangman’s Cash Weekend, Convict Lake; convictlake.com, (800) 992-2260
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6-7 Whiskeytown Lake Two-Day Team Kokanee Derby; kokaneepower.org 13 Rush Creek Cleanup and Barbecue, Silver Lake Resort; silverlakeresort.net, (760) 648-7525 20-21 Fred Hall Father’s Day Fishing Tournament, Mammoth Lakes Basin; (760) 934-3416 27 New Melones Lake Team Kokanee Derby; kokaneepower.org 27 Bridgeport Trout Tournament, Bridgeport Reservoir and the East Walker River; bridgeportfishenhancement.com, (760) 616-4214 28 California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Trout Fest, Hot Creek Hatchery; wildlife.ca.gov/fishing/hatcheries/ hot-creek
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FOLLOWING PHIL’S CHARTS
Josh Harris is one of the more successful crabbing boat captains on the Discovery Channel series Deadliest Catch after learning from his late father Capt. Phil Harris. But when he found some handwritten charts from Phil’s days in Hawaii, he followed his dad’s lead for a new spinoff series, Deadliest Catch: Bloodline. (DISCOVERY CHANNEL) 18 California Sportsman MAY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
DEADLIEST CATCH CAPTAIN PICKS UP LATE FATHER’S FISHING DREAMS IN HAWAII By Chris Cocoles
A
decade after his dad – iconic crab fishing captain and fellow Deadliest Catch alum, Phil – passed away suddenly at 53, Josh Harris is still chasing his ghost. Josh, now piloting his dad’s boat in Alaska and featured in the Discovery Channel hit series, idolized the largerthan-life Phil Harris, who in 2010 succumbed to complications from a stroke he suffered while aboard the family boat, F/V Cornelia Marie. Make no mistake: the younger Harris is himself an accomplished fisherman, a trait he has no problem thanking his mentor and father for handing down. But even now, the duo is still competing against each other. “I took it upon myself to be that oneupper. He’s not here to defend himself, but I’ll tell you what: I guarantee he’s watching,” Josh, now 37, says of Phil. “Even last year, when I was pulling that epic 1,000-crab-per-pot (haul), I was going through some of his old log books and he had pots bigger.” So when Josh was thumbing through some of Phil’s personal effects and found charts filled with handwritten notes describing fishing spots off the coast of Hawaii’s Big Island, a new challenge was born. Josh Harris and Casey McManus, the co-owner and -captain of the Cornelia Marie, headed to the Aloha State to find out more about his dad’s obsession with the Big Island’s legendary saltwater fishing. The story is being chronicled on a new Discovery Channel spinoff series, Deadliest Catch: Bloodline. Harris and McManus purchased a 19foot boat and tested their fishing skills with rods and reels with the intention of someday dipping their toes into Hawaii’s calsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2020 California Sportsman
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Phil Harris (left) was larger than life, and when his oldest son Josh discovered the evidence about this secret obsession thousands of miles across the Pacific, Josh had to give it a shot. (DISCOVERY CHANNEL) lucrative and competitive commercial fishing industry. “My dad had a bunch of different sides to his life. So to be able to go and see what he was seeing and try to figure out exactly what he was seeing, it’s just an adventure, man,” Harris says. “And it was totally out of my realm and my comfort zone. It was intense.”
HE HAD A WAY with words, that Phil Harris. “Well, the difference between a fisherman’s story and a fairy tale is a fairy tale starts out, ‘Once upon a time;’ a fisherman’s story starts out, ‘This is no bullsh*t,’” a laughing Phil says in an archived clip from Deadliest Catch, which is now in its 16th season as one of Discovery Channel’s anchor series. This Hawaiian adventure started just that way. No fairy tale, but something
mysterious – but with no bullsh*t – that was part of his legacy. It’s clear that Phil Harris made the most of his 53 years – whether it was crab fishing, cars, motorcycles or living it up in Hawaii. “I’ve run into people who knew my dad, and he had signed stuff for them and it’s in their offices. And it’s kind of cool because I hear about all those stories,” Josh Harris says. “He was a good guy. Goofy, funny, warm, loving, caring. And he was a bikeriding mofo – an animal.” An animal with a zest for island life, apparently. Josh Harris found the scribbled charts from the coast of Kona, Hawaii, in his cabin as the guys were renovating the family’s iconic Alaska crab boat, the Cornelia Marie. At first, the simple sight of Phil’s easy-to-recognize handwriting was too overwhelming to take in.
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“I just (originally) said, ‘Get those away from me.’ But then, I took the water charts home and started looking at them and I was like, ‘OK,’” Harris says. “Something like that brings back a lot of old emotions. But I thought about it for a couple of hours and told Casey, I was sort of joking around and told him we should go over there and fish some of these spots just for fun. We laughed about it and joked about it, and (it seemed like) five minutes later we were on a plane.” Granted, there are worse places to blindly travel to and start a new venture than the tropical waters of Hawaii. But it was still quite a bold, spur-of-the-moment decision. After all, this was not the same life the Harris family created for itself in Alaska’s frigid Bering Sea. “I’m a crab fisherman. I fish for things
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with legs; I don’t fish for things with fins,” Josh jokes. “I’ve come to figure out I’m not so good with that.” For Josh, Hawaii just felt like unfinished business as he deciphered the notes Phil scribbled during his time in the islands in the 1980s. If anything, Harris’ and McManuses’ return to the Big Island over three decades later would determine if those fishing notations held water, per se. It almost became a treasure hunt of sorts. “It was more along the lines of, ‘I wonder what he was thinking about?’ And seeing all this that was put in front of me. I wondered why he would do that? What’s really over there?” says Harris, who equated the curiosity to a landmark in his hometown of Seattle. “You keep hearing about how big and tall the Space Needle is. But until you’re sitting on the glass floor and at the very
top of that thing, you don’t realize how tall it really is. I can explain it to you about what it’s like to stand on the glass floor and look down, and you might say that it sounds scary. But until you do it yourself and your heart falls out of the back of your pant leg, that’s when it’s real. I needed to experience that. And I did. And I liked it.” THE GUYS HAD A family connection in Hawaii – McManus’ parents own a house near Kona – and McManus was able to purchase their boat. But they also needed a local to help them find their way. Enter one of Kona’s most respected commercial fishermen: Jeff Silva. “He told us everything. He’s like, ‘If you can’t handle any of this, this ain’t the place for you to be, brother.’ We were like, ‘OK. We do things totally different, but our way of doing it is in Alaska. Your way of doing
Harris’ fellow crabbing captain Casey McManus arranged for the boat the guys bought, with their intention of eventually starting a commercial fishing business in Hawaii. (DISCOVERY CHANNEL)
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it is in Hawaii, and that’s where we're at,’” Harris says. “I don’t want to get thrown over the side of a boat. I want to come out here and chase down this chart, see what I come up with and, if I like it, we’ll keep going further with it.” Silva became a fishing coach and so much more – almost a tour guide who taught the crabbers a thing or two about island fishing culture. In Alaska, it’s all about filling that pot and increasing your numbers of king and opilio crab. Hawaiians are more about quality than quantity. Catching a blue marlin (kajiki) or yellowfin tuna (ahi) means a big dollar amount at market price when it comes to selling your catch. “Those guys catch two fish in a day and they don’t go back out for a week. We have the crab fish mentality of let’s get 15 today and do it every day,” Harris says. “But there,
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One of the rituals Harris had to endure after catching his first ahi (yellowfin tuna)? Taking a bite from the fish’s still beating heart. “That was one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever done in my life.” (DISCOVERY CHANNEL) it’s a bunch of different ethics that they buy into. You’ve just got to take a step back and you get the idea that it’s not your home; it’s theirs. And work with them.” “You have to show respect, keep your mouth shut and learn how they operate and try to work as a team. You can’t come in thinking you’re a badass.” Silva made it clear early on that the newbies would have to adhere to the local “traditions.” When McManus and Harris went out with Silva on his boat to test their rod-and-reel fishing chops, Harris hooked into a mahi-mahi, or dorado. These two might be world-class crab boat skippers, but they were fish out of water in these waters. McManus had a bit of a gaff malfunction, as Harris managed to coax the fish to the side of the boat. “When Casey McManus messes up, I’m
right there to let him know,” Harris brags. Silva gave McManus quite a tonguelashing as well. Yet the hazing wasn’t quite over, and this time Silva was able to troll Harris as well. He managed to land one of the most valuable commercial fish on the market, an ahi, which can bring in up to $2,000 at fish auctions back in the port (this particular tuna weighed about 130 pounds and was caught in an area that appeared in one of Phil’s marked charts). “This is your first yellowfin, dude; this is his heart; you gotta take a bite, dawg,” Silva says. “It’s still beating,” Harris replies. “Cheers.” Harris referred to the bite he took – with dry vomiting included – as one of the two most disgusting moments of his life (the
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other was at a hotel suite party in Vegas). “(Silva) is one of the top dogs over there, so when a guy who’s pretty much in charge of the fishery tells you to eat this beating heart, you’re not going to tell him no,” Harris says. “I asked, ‘When did you eat your first beating heart?’ He said, ‘I’ve never done that sh*t!’” Welcome to Hawaii.
WHEREVER JOSH HARRIS GOES, it seems that his dad is watching. Phil’s face adorns the wheelhouse on the Cornelia Marie, the same area where he collapsed. That isn’t lost on Josh, whether he’s captaining that same boat in the Bering Sea and now in a much smaller craft off the Kona coast. Josh admits to being disappointed Phil never was able to meet his granddaughter, but you can bet he feels his presence
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Harris (left) solicited the help of his fellow crabbing skippers before leaving for Hawaii. Capt. Jonathan Hillstrand flew out to the Big Island to see the new venture for himself. (DISCOVERY CHANNEL) relentlessly. “Every day I go into the wheelhouse and think about him. We kept a lot of stuff on the boat that he had in there. Anytime I do some kind of fishing activity or look at my daughter, I think of my dad,” Josh says. Phil’s three main intentions during his Hawaii days included making money, meeting women and finding a stiff drink (one of the charts included the phrase “lots of good bars”). Josh might have the same motivation as he explores the Big Island more. (“I never get tired of bringing the boat in at the end of the day, putting it on the trailer and seeing girls in bikinis washing their Sea-Doo or their boat.”) And the thought of starting a commercial fishing business there will at least send Harris back to Kona after getting a taste of it. Like any good fisherman, Phil left the bait on the hook for his son to
snap it up. (Phil’s younger son Jake also fished with him for awhile.) In the first episode of Bloodline, Josh went to visit Phil’s grave in the Seattle area. He choked up when describing how he’d always hope to make his dad proud. “What’s going on there, Old Man,” Josh whispers as he looks down on the head stone, depicted with illustrations of his crabbing boat, a motorcycle and his prized Chevrolet Corvette. “I don’t know exactly what you had going on, but I’ll make an attempt to start or finish what you had intended.” First and foremost, even if the new business venture goes belly up, what Josh really wants is to catch a blue marlin, a prized target for Hawaiian fishermen that Phil was never able to achieve. “He was always on a hunt for a bigass marlin. He never got one. So I took it
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upon myself to be that one-upper,” Harris says. “So for me, to go out on this hunt and catch a marlin, not knowing anything about them nor the area that I’m going to or how to catch a fish in Hawaii, it was something that the least I could say is, ‘I got you at one thing.’ I’ve got to catch this marlin, man.” While he can’t give away if this first attempt ultimately achieved that goal, Harris did admit he came close at least once. They hooked a marlin, one that during a long fight made one of the species’ iconic leaps from the water. But as so many anglers can attest, the fish was one that got away after it slipped under the boat and ultimately snapped the line. This wasn’t a fairy tale. This was no bullsh*t. “All I know is that we proved ourselves over there and we have the rite of passage
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to go back, so I think that’s OK. If you didn’t honor or respect the area, or the people and their theories and religion, well, I probably wouldn’t be telling you all this stuff. I’d probably have a black eye that never healed and have no boat,” Harris says. “I just want to learn a lot more. I want to actually go and get my (commercial fishing) license. I just got a little taste. This adventure is just starting.” CS Editor’s note: New episodes of Deadliest Catch: Bloodline can be seen on Tuesday nights on the Discovery Channel (check local listings). Follow Capt. Josh Harris on Instagram (@joshharriscm).
There are worse places to start a fledgling business than Hawaii. But Harris is determined to finish what his dad once set out to do. “This adventure is just starting,” he says. (DISCOVERY CHANNEL)
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Thunder Jet Boulton Fish-Rite
FISHING Valerie Nau (left) and Dave Van De Car took over Ohana Adventures Sportfishing in 2018 on Hawaii’s Big Island. “The experience is a work in progress,” says Van De Car, who was born in Hawaii but was in the insurance business before making a dramatic career change. (CHRIS COCOLES)
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS IN HAWAII A NEW BUSINESS VENTURE FOR A COUPLE IN A FISHING PARADISE
By Chris Cocoles
K
AILUA-KONA, Hawaii–As we spent a full day aboard a fishing boat off the coast of the Big Island of Hawaii and got all of one bite, there was plenty of time for deep thoughts. Sure, my friends and I talked a lot – whether it was sharing stories, making fun of each other or planning the rest of our getaway to Kailua-
Kona. But there was also napping in the Ohana’s pretty comfortable cabin, checking smartphones and taking in some sun on the deck. I used much of my down time thinking about the conversation I had with our host earlier in the day and how much admiration I had for him. In 2018, Dave Van De Car and his partner Valerie Nau took over Ohana Sportfishing Adventures (808-854-4500; ohanasportfishing
.com), the kind of go-for-it career change that I’ve always thought about but ultimately seemed to have an excuse to back off of. I’m proud to be a journalist – a grinder who’s plugged away in the sports department at newspapers both small and big, and for almost seven years now as the editor of this magazine and another that covers the outdoors, Alaska Sporting Journal. The bottom line is I went to college
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FISHING The early-morning sunrise off the Kona coast is something to behold. (CHRIS COCOLES)
to be a reporter or editor, and that’s where I still am three decades after earning my degree. And I’m OK with that. But I can’t tell you how many sleepless nights I’ve endured during my professional life pondering what else was out there. I am a history buff and wondered if I could cut it as a curator at a museum or tour guide at a national historic site and tell its story to visitors. The dog lover in me thought more than once about creating a lakeside lodge somewhere that catered to canines first and their human travel companions second. Back in my sports reporter days on the minorleague and college baseball beats and
interacting with scouts, I convinced myself that I’d make a good evaluator of young baseball talent. Would I bomb in all three of these career switcheroos? Maybe. But that’s what makes the chance in taking chances so invigorating. We’re told as kids without a clue about what we’ll do with our lives that we can be anything we want to be. So it goes that Van De Car could transition from the insurance business to his office now being the Pacific Ocean. Not a bad trade-off to me. “The experience is a work in progress. Or we are,” Van De Car says of the new life he and Nau – they’ve been together for eight years – chose
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to pursue. “We don’t have any regrets at this point, but we know that we have to focus even harder on what our customers want on these charters to put our complete business plan in place.” They’re off to a good start.
I’M REALLY LUCKY THAT my first trip to the Hawaiian Islands – this made it state No. 47 of the 50 that I’ve visited – included Robbie Ciriako. I befriended Robbie through a former coworker where we all live in Seattle, and Rob’s always fascinated me with his tales of growing up on Hawaii’s Big Island. I was all-in to have him guide our trip here.
EUGENE, OR Maxxum Marine (541) 686-3572 1700 State Hwy 99 N lloyd@maxxummarine.com www.maxxummarine.com
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Doug Kendziora, a friend of author and editor Chris Cocoles, takes in the sea air. (CHRIS COCOLES)
From a roadside food stand that cooked up some of the best barbecue chicken I’ve ever tasted, to a secluded beach where we had almost the entire sand to ourselves, to visiting his parents’ remote house in the tiny hamlet known as Captain Cook, Robbie gave this vacation an authentic Hawaiian experience I knew I wouldn’t get at a chain hotel on Oahu’s Waikiki Beach, where presumably most first-timers experience the 50th state. Therefore, it was easy to trust Robbie when, through mutual friends, he arranged the charter out of Honokohau Boat Harbor with Van 34 California Sportsman MAY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
De Car’s and Nau’s boat. Armed with a cooler full of beer – New Zealand brand Steinlager was a popular choice for us when we weren’t visiting Big Island breweries – and snacks, we boarded and headed out into the open ocean. Carry, our deckhand, coached us on how to strap into the fighting chair and handle the rod in the event we hooked up with one of the Kona coast’s iconic big game species, like a yellowfin tuna or marlin. “You’ll probably forget everything I said,” Carry cracked. And I knew I’d panic when/if it was my turn on the throne. Robbie named our friend
FISHING Carry, the Ohana’s jovial deckhand, coaches the guys on reeling in the big fish that never cooperated with us on this day. (CHRIS COCOLES)
Sean Dunbar, who just celebrated his 50th birthday in November, as the designated leadoff hitter whenever we’d see the day’s first hookup. We’d have a long wait to get someone in that seat.
HAWAII WAS HOME FOR Dave Van De Car growing up. His family lived on
Oahu, the most populated island of the Hawaiian archipelago. And fishing was a defining part of Van De Car’s youth. “I remember using a bamboo pole with a bit of line, a split shot lead and a hook and catching small reef fish using bread for bait,” he says. “I used to ditch school to go fishing because it was just more fun! And I was acting
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out a bit. I still have the same level of excitement when I hook into a fish today that I did way back then.” Eventually, he found his way to the mainland and settled in Colorado. He would hit it big in the insurance business – first as a customer-service agent, then earning a promotion to senior property claims adjuster. Van De Car uses the word “corny” to describe his love for helping people early on in his job. Customer service was a natural for him (the trait will serve him well in his current profession). “It was gratifying,” he says of the comfort level that came with reassuring vulnerable clients that their repairs or medical bills would be taken care of. “The insurance companies I worked for had to make business decisions to cut costs and unfortunately, most of those decisions were to the detriment of the customer and to the adjuster.” “Also, the customers themselves became harder to please,” he says. Disillusioned enough to walk away from his successful progression, he spent three years as a construction supervisor for a restoration company, but that wasn’t the answer either. “Valerie was also up for a new challenge and we had a few negative experiences with fishing charters here in Hawaii when we had come out to visit my dad (who had relocated to the Big Island). Those experiences had nothing to do with catching fish; it was more so that the captains did not communicate with us and did not really follow through on things promised on their websites,” he says. “Valerie and I are both serviceoriented people and after a particularly bad charter experience, we talked ourselves into moving out here and running a charter.” And here’s where all those phone calls with distressed clients wondering about insurance claims are paying off now. The customer may not always be right in those scenarios, but on a fishing boat, they should be. “We knew we would have a lot to
FISHING
Sean Dunbar got in some surfcasting at Kohanaiki Beach Park, near Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport. He scored a couple of small colorful reef fish, a hinalea (above) and a kupipi (top left). (ROBBIE CIRIAKO)
Kendziora brought his fly rod from the mainland and tried his luck from the rocky shores of Ho’okena State Beach. (CHRIS COCOLES)
Tossing flies in the early evening at Honokohau Harbor. (ROBBIE CIRIAKO) Locals brave the precarious cliffs to fish off South Point, the southernmost spot in the United States. (CHRIS COCOLES)
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FISHING learn about the fishing and boating part of a fishing charter boat, but we also knew that if we answered our phone, returned every email, created a professional and accessible website and set the proper expectations for our guests, we could be successful,” Van De Car says. “We want the customer to be as involved as possible with these charters, so communicating with them is crucial.”
“COME ON, FISH. BITE,” my buddy Doug Kendziora said to no one in
particular but the fishing gods as the day dragged on. I tried to change our lack of luck by swapping my Oakland A’s cap for the Greek fishing hat my sister brought back from a trip to Greece last year that I couldn’t make. Neither Doug’s pleas for a strike nor my “lucky” hat seemed to change our mojo. Time to open another beer. Our buddy Gary Volkman sampled some of the Hawaiian raw fish delicacy, poke, that we had picked up on the way to the marina. Doug’s friend Mark Bockenstette, who joined us from Boise, Idaho, snoozed on the
“You never know what is going to happen on a charter. Some days are nonstop action; others are just non-action. Those days are tough,” says Van De Car (right, chatting with former Big Island resident Robbie Ciriako). (CHRIS COCOLES)
The Big Island’s spectacular volcanoes, Mauna Kea (left) and Mauna Loa, dominate the topography. (CHRIS COCOLES) 38 California Sportsman MAY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
couch. We kept waiting. Still, there are worse places to have a bad day fishing than the azure-blue waters we trolled, cruising past buoys where the crew figured we’d entice schools of fish. I could look back at the shore a couple miles away and take in the back sides of the Big Island’s famed twin volcanoes – Mauna Kea to the left and Mauna Loa to the right. The Big Island is extraordinary to the eyes. The sea was rougher than I expected – certainly more choppy than I remember back years earlier
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FISHING The reels didn’t get much work, but the six visitors from the mainland still enjoyed their day on the water. (DOUG KENDZIORA)
Delicious, but I must admit Hawaiiancaught mahi-mahi would have been a more sentimental dinner option.
IN HAWAIIAN, THE TERM ohana is loosely
When one of the rods indicated a strike, Sean Dunbar briefly prepared to strap in and hopefully do battle with a big fish. But alas, it just wasn’t to be on this beautiful day. (CHRIS COCOLES)
when I went deep-sea fishing with my dad out of Half Moon Bay’s Pillar Point, south of San Francisco. The 42foot Chris-Craft boat – because of an inside joke I was known as Chris Craft for the rest of the trip – bobbed up and down, making it tricky to walk without grabbing the ceiling or rails and risking a face-plant. But I can tell we were all enjoying the experience, even if we weren’t catching fish. Robbie and I spent some time chatting with Van De Car on the stern of the boat as the day dragged on and the sun brightened. We reassured him that we were still having a great time. “You never know what is going to happen on a charter. Some days are nonstop action; others are just non-
action. Those days are tough,” Van De Car admitted during an interview a few weeks after I returned home. Time was running out on us to score something for the grill back at our rental house near downtown Kona. Then, while we hunkered down in the cabin, we heard commotion for the first time at the stern. One of the rods got hit. It was time for the birthday boy Sean to slip into the hot seat – sure to be mocked by the peanut gallery if there indeed was a big prize at the other end. Carry started to strap in Sean, but after a couple minutes it became clear that whatever bit our lure had moved on. We settled for the Costco-bought carne asada for the grill that night.
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translated as family, and it’s the kind of boat and company name Van De Car and Nau expect this still-new business venture will resemble as it continues to evolve. Van De Car was once asked what he enjoyed most about moving back to Hawaii and taking over the boat. It’s the 10 minutes or so following a client bringing in his or her catch. “When we hook into a large fish, when the line is screaming off the reel, it is the absolute best kind of chaos. Once the fish is secured it is almost like a party onboard,” he says. “We celebrate; dance a little; (share) high-fives all around; and we also take a bunch of pictures ... A sense of serenity comes over me.” Alas, we didn’t get to experience that serenity, but as we headed back to the bar at the marina for a last round of Steinlagers before returning to the house, Van De Car invited us back to fish with he and Nau, who has since obtained her captain’s license and can lead charters herself. We left Hawaii just as the COVID-19 spread took a turn for the worse, leaving Ohana Sportfishing Adventures and the other charter boats in the Kona sportfishing fleet to go dark until further notice. “Perhaps there will be some positive outcomes for the fishery with this shutdown,” Van De Car says. “We know that a lot of the captains in the harbor have more time doing this than we do. In some ways, that is a positive for us because we are a bit more flexible for trying new things,” he says. I can conclude without hesitation that they’re already champions of trying new things. CS Editor’s note: Like Ohana Sportfishing Adventures at facebook.com/OhanaSportfishing and follow them on Instagram (@ohanasportfishingadventures).
THE FISH WILL HAVE TO WAIT CORONAVIRUS THREAT PROMPTS EASTERN SIERRA TO DELAY TROUT SEASON; ‘SUCKY SITUATION’ FOR AREA DEPENDENT ON VISITORS BUT WORRIED ABOUT HEALTH RISK, CAPACITY TO HOST OUTSIDERS
Scenes like this at Bridgeport Reservoir during a previous opening day of trout fishing were put on hold this spring as the threat of COVID-19 prompted the season to be delayed until at least May 31. (JEFF SIMPSON/MONO COUNTY TOURISM) 42 California Sportsman MAY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
FISHING By Chris Cocoles
T
hroughout the winter, April 25 was circled on calendars inside and outside the Eastern Sierra. Any day that’s referred to as “Fishmas” is usually reason to celebrate and anticipate. So imagine waking up that day with no place to go, no visitors to welcome and, worst of all, no fishing to do. The threat of COVID-19 spreading convinced officials in
three Sierra counties to postpone the traditional state trout opener. It was indeed a melancholy mood around Mono, Inyo and Alpine Counties when the sun rose that Saturday morning. “The weather was just perfect. And I was thinking this would have been the best opener in so many years,” says Jeff Simpson, an avid angler born and raised in Mono County and who also works for the Mono County Economic Development Department
in Mammoth Lakes. “I know we’re postponing it and we’ll have a rebooted Fishmas, part two, here. But just to have that date come and go without seeing the towns busy again and the businesses open was difficult.”
COMMON SENSE PREVAILS On April 1, a letter sent to California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton Bonham requested that the trout opener, which annually
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FISHING attracts thousands of visitors to the Eastern Sierra, be delayed until at least May 31. “This influx of anglers and potentially families/companions will promote transmission of COVID-19 and put additional strain on our already taxed health care services,” the letter, signed by Mono County officials, read in part. CDFW announced that news later in April in a press release. “Decisions like these are never easy, and we appreciate the state's support in addressing issues unique and specific to the Eastern Sierra,” said Stacy Corless, chair of the Mono County Board of Supervisors. “We look forward to welcoming anglers to Mono County when it is safe to do so.” And with a limited number of hospital ICU beds in the county and surrounding areas, it was a decision based on common sense and erring on the side of caution. As has been the case throughout
the country during a time when the economy has been ravaged by stayat-home orders and contention about when to reopen states, Simpson admits not everyone agreed with the decision to postpone the fishing season. “I think you have – like the rest of the nation right now – people who want to get open right away, and rightfully so. And then you have business owners that are more cautious and concerned about their employees and concerned about their well-being and want to take it slow,” Simpson says. “I think with regards to the fishing season delay, because we have all campgrounds closed, lodging closed, facilities closed, bathrooms closed, if we had the opener, regardless of the stay-home order, we would see mass crowds come up (to cure) cabin fever, get out of the city and get into the mountains and do some fishing. Without any facilities open and ways to house those people, I think there are two things: The increased
Convict Lake will continue being quiet throughout the month while Californians remain on stay-at-home orders. “It is best for all in the area, in my opinion, and things will slowly get back to normal eventually,” says local guide Doug Rodricks. (MONO COUNTY TOURISM) 44 California Sportsman MAY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
potential of coronavirus, but also not having the facilities open to take care of these people and make sure they have everything they need.”
DIFFICULT TIMES Doug Rodricks owns and operates Sierra Drifters Guide Service (760935-4250; sierradrifters.com). While fishing hasn’t technically been banned in the state – despite closures of many launch ramps, recreation facilities and lakes – guides haven’t been allowed to take out customers. And with business usually booming when trout season begins, Rodricks has been in wait-and-see mode, though he agrees with the decisions to delay Fishmas. “There have been mixed opinions from different guide services on how this should be handled. Most are for the closure and side with Inyo and Mono Counties on their decision. We feel it is best for the community, since the opener draws thousands of people here for the weekend,” Rodricks says.
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FISHING “There have already been a plethora of out-of-town visitors to the area during the past two months who do not feel they need to stay at home. We have been declining trip requests and will continue to do so until June 1. In the meantime, I have been staying afloat with fly sales and future trip bookings,” he says. Rodricks is staying positive and expects fishing to return soon as most residents around Mono County are adhering to the stay-home restrictions Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered around the state in the hopes of “flattening the curve” for the virus. Simpson has a son with asthma and is in the high risk category, so he only leaves his home when necessary to get the family groceries and supplies or for emergencies. “We’re really a ghost town because we’re almost 100-percent tourismdependent and we’re normally seeing people in our stores and gas stations along the highway,” Simpson says. “And it’s just not the case. I went to Mammoth for a medical checkup and the town was deserted. (Highway)
395 was spooky. I’ve never seen it that dead – even in the middle of winter. It was strange.”
WHAT’S NEXT? In reality, there’s no guarantee even by the end of this month that Newsom will green light a return to normalcy for Californians. “We can’t supersede the governor’s orders, so we’re kind of waiting on him. And in terms of us reopening after the governor gives an all-clear, I don’t think we have a solid yes or no (plan), whether we follow suit right away or if we have a date after that,” Simpson says. “I think the hardest part for a lot of people right now is, ‘When can I open my business and when can we start fishing?’ No one knows and that’s a tough pill to swallow,” he adds. In Mono County, four main yearround fisheries continue to be open: the West Walker River, East Walker River, Hot Creek and sections of the upper Owens River. They have a zero-bag limit with artificial flies and lures only with barbless hooks.
Hot Creek remains open for locals to fish, but throughout the Eastern Sierra most residents are staying home to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. “For the most part I don’t think many people are out fishing at this point,” says Jeff Simpson of the Mono County Economic Development Department. (MONO COUNTY TOURISM) 46 California Sportsman MAY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
That said, Simpson doesn’t think too many locals are trying their luck right now anyway, and in an area that depends on tourism dollars, the normally hospitable Eastern Sierra can’t welcome anyone these days. “It’s actually the opposite. We don’t want people coming up there and enjoying the outdoors at this point. That’s kind of the messaging we have given, that we have a small hospital and a rural nature,” Simpson says. “When Saturday morning (of opening day) comes I usually can’t sleep because I’m so excited. And all those emotions of traditions of fishing with your family, of generational fishing, it was hard. I think that’s what our visitors are experiencing.” “It was tough for me as well,” Simpson adds. “We love our visitors, and I see people I’ve seen every single year for the opener. And I’m missing those people and want to see them back. It’s a sucky situation.” CS Editor’s note: For information on Mono County, go to monocounty.ca.gov or call (866) 745-9719.
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FISHING
Southern California’s harbors and bays hold plenty of feisty sharks. Scott Johnson shows off how much fun it can be to fish for these giants from a float tube. (SCOTT JOHNSON)
RETURN TO SHARK-INFESTED WATERS WHEN FISHING IS NORMAL AGAIN, SOCAL BAYS WILL STILL BE FULL OF SHARKS, BAT RAYS By Capt. Bill Schaefer
W
e’ve all been sheltering in place for a while now due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We also don’t know when the fishing action will get back to normal. But I’ll tell you about a fun way to really get your drag pulled once things do.
The bays of Southern California are full of rays and sharks, and these creatures will test both you and your tackle. There are rays, guitarfish and assorted sharks, such as leopard and dog sharks, throughout harbors and bays up and down the Southland coast. Some rays have wingspans of 4
to 6 feet and can weigh in at around 100 pounds. As far as bay sharks go, they can get up to 5 feet and 50 pounds. But all these fish are streamlined muscle machines, meaning you’ll be fighting their muscle mass if you hook up with one. Some are like pulling on that proverbial bucket on the bottom.
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FISHING This giant ray fell for half of a mackerel. During the fight, they are known to jump out of the water in acrobatic displays. (TOM HILGERT)
TACKLE You can go light, or all the way up to real heavy ocean gear. It just depends on how long you wish to pull on the fish. For example, if you are targeting larger rays, up 100 pounds, then you will need a rod-and-reel combo that can handle the pull of a fish like this. I usually go with about a 30-pound Maxima line on a balanced rod and reel that has a good drag system, like my Daiwa Saltist Star Drag combo. But some angleres like to throw lighter test on a lighter rig.
BAIT Choices for these guys can matter and so can the size of the bait. The old adage of big bait means big fish usually rings true with sharks and rays. You
can fish squid, anchovies, mackerel or other fish as bait. Cutting the bait into particular sizes can determine what you catch. The smaller the pieces, the smaller the fish that can eat them and the more numbers you will catch. You can also go with lighter tackle if throwing smaller baits.
HAVE BACKUP Bring an assortment of rods – one that’s heavy and one lighter for more action. Lob out half of a foot-long mackerel – hoping for that giant ray or shark – and then fish some squid on a trigger stick for guitarfish or smaller rays and sharks. But keep an ear open for that clicker singing on your big fish rod. Some hearty anglers also challenge
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these brutes with ultralight tackle – or at least what is considered light for the fish they’re facing. Can you imagine wrestling with a bat ray of 30 pounds or more on mere 8- or 10-pound-test line? Just remember to run a heavy leader so as not to get bit off. Again, this will be a real challenge for both you and your tackle.
RIGGING UP A standard bait rig will work fine for ray and shark fishing. The main line is passed through a ¾- to 1½-ounce egg sinker, depending on the size and movement of the tide. I like to use a 3/0 to 5/0 Mustad circle hook. The circle hook almost always ends with a perfect corner-of-the-mouth hookup. This makes it a little easier to release
them when you do. I usually set the rod in a sand spike from shore; when on a boat, I’ll use a rod holder. But in either situation, I’ll keep the reel in free-spool with the clicker on. When the clicker starts to sound, switch it off to keep the reel in free-spool. Let the ray swim off a bit with it, eat it good, then throw the reel in gear and set the hook. It’s important that your drag is in good working order and set correctly, as rays will pull off 50 to 100 yards of line quickly.
THE JUMPERS Many times, larger rays will take to the air when fighting. This aerobatic display is just one more reason this fishing is so popular and exciting. The battle will be a real test of the gear’s strength. When the battle ends, just cut the line as close as you can to the hook and let the fish go. Be aware that the rays do have stingers – but not at the tip of their tails – so don’t panic if the ray is whipping it around. The stinger is up towards where the tail starts and on the topside, so be careful. Again, if you can’t get the hook out, just cut the line and let them swim off. The hook will fall out in a few days or so.
POPULARITY GAINING This fishing has been popular for years with a small crowd of anglers, but shark and ray action is catching on with others as they discover an untapped fishery. Even float tubers and kayakers are chasing these guys. Some call the rays “mud marlins” because of their occasional leaps into the air. These guys are catchable yearround, so there is never a day you can’t get your drag pulled. Most Californians are staying home to slow the spread of coronavirus, and fishing is on hold for many as beaches and marinas are also shut down. But eventually we’ll be able to get outside and break out the heavier gear to test the strength of sharks and rays. And the fun will be back at our harbors and bays. CS
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F
HUNTING
FROM FIELD...
FINDING THE BEST BOARS SOME OF CALIFORNIA’S MOST SENSATIONAL PIG HUNTING CAN BE ON PRIVATE LAND WITH A GUIDE
By Scott Haugen
I
f you’re looking to get into big game hunting, starting with feral pigs can be your best move. I’ve been fortunate to hunt pigs in many places around the world, including throughout Northern California. What I like about pig hunting in the Golden State is the plethora of options it provides, plus the skills it
builds. I’m not going to paint a false picture of hope here and tell you to grind it out on public land and you’ll find a pig. Truth is, very few pigs consistently roam California’s public lands due to easily accessible food and plentiful water on private lands. For these reasons, you’ll save time – and eventually money – by investing in a guided hunt, one that assures you of seeing many pigs and
Zach Waterman (right) with a midmorning hog taken near Redding with guide Parrey Cremeans, who has been guiding pig hunters for many years. He has some prime real estate with loads of food and water that attract a lot of hogs. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
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HUNTING
... TO FIRE
PUT SOME WILD HOG IN THAT HASH By Tiffany Haugen
W
hether you're coming home with a fresh and tasty wild hog, or looking to put something together with that venison in the freezer, you’re sure to enjoy this recipe. From rump and neck roasts to a CrockPot full of shanks, ground or shredded cuts of any kind of versatile meat can easily be added to breakfast, lunch or dinner. A favorite in our house for a quick breakfast is hog hash. Keep it simple for the plain palate,
A harvested wild boar can provide plenty of different options for your menus, including Tiffany Haugen’s delicious hog hash for brunch or really any meal. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)
or jazz it up for the more adventurous; this hash is tasty, healthy and incredibly filling. When cooking up large quantities of meat, it’s important to look ahead and do a little meal planning. If you don’t want to plan for the week yet want to have cooked meat on-hand for quick meals, vacuum seal and freeze 2- to 4-cup portions of meat from this recipe for up to four months. Shredded, ground in a food processor or finely chopped meat can be frozen with or without seasonings. The key to keeping things organized is in the labeling. Be specific when labeling what you put in the freezer to remind yourself of future intentions. Examples could include “Ground Elk for Hash: Already Seasoned (BBQ),”“Pulled Deer: Salt & Pepper for Breakfast Burritos,” or “Spicy Curry Pig (Add to Fried Rice).” Also, put a date on these packages and keep them at the front of the freezer so they don’t get lost in the shuffle.
HOG HASH Four medium precooked potatoes, cubed 2 to 3 cups precooked, ground wild pig (any big game works) 3 tablespoons coconut or olive oil 1 tablespoon butter (optional) ½ cup onion, minced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 54 California Sportsman MAY 2020 | calsportsmanmag.com
½ teaspoon black pepper Salt to taste ½ to 1 cup beef broth if needed Four eggs Additional oil/butter to fry eggs One avocado Hot sauce Fresh parsley or cilantro for garnish if desired In a large skillet, heat oil and butter over medium heat. Sauté onions and garlic until translucent. Move onions and garlic to the edge of the pan and add potatoes. Fry potatoes until they begin to brown. Add cooked pork and smoked paprika, salt and pepper to taste. (If your cooked meat was already seasoned, be careful not to over salt). If the mixture is dry, add up to 1 cup beef broth. Fry eggs to serve atop each serving of hash along with avocado slices. Sprinkle with a few dashes of hot sauce and chopped parsley or cilantro.
Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany’s best-selling cookbook, Cooking Big Game, visit tiffanyhaugen.com.
HUNTING likely putting meat in the freezer.
"WATER IS EVERYTHING FOR pigs,” shares noted guide Parrey Cremeans of Just For Hunting (justforhunting.com; 650-888-0808) in Redding. “On our best pig ranch we have lots of water in creeks, canals and ditches, and pigs just keep thriving here. We started hunting this ranch 14 years ago and 98 percent of the pigs we take are boars, as they just keep moving into the area.” I’ve hunted with Cremeans many times over the last decade and have taken a number of hogs with him. Wild pigs are some of the best eating game out there, and due to the forage and water on the lands Cremeans hunts, the hogs are always fat and healthy.
Scott Haugen has been chasing pigs in Northern California for nearly 20 years and loves what the hunt has to offer when it comes to building skills. He took this dandy boar as it fed across a grassy knoll one summer morning. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
LEAD-FREE BULLET OPTIONS
L
ast year California's lead-free rule for hunting bullets went into effect. During a spring pig hunt, the ammo of choice for my Nosler 26 was Nosler’s E-Tip, a factory-loaded 120-grain expansion-tip bullet. The pig I shot was just over 100 yards away, standing broadside. A high shoulder shot dropped the pig on the spot and the E-Tip passed through the 125-pound hog, creating a nice wound channel without excessive tissue damage. I found zero copper-alloy when field dressing and butchering the pig, indicating high bullet weight retention. Nosler’s E-Tip bullets feature a one-piece, solid copper-alloy construction, and the boattail design and streamlined polymer tip fly with precision. This was the first hunt I used the E-Tip on. Since then, I’ve spoken with fellow hunters who have used the E-Tip on deer and elk. They compare it with Nosler’s famed AccuBond bullet performance; some even say it’s better. Without hesitation, I look forward to using the E-Tip on future big game hunts. SH
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PIGS CAN BE HUNTED multiple ways – spot and stalk, sitting on a stand or setting up a spotting scope and glassing for the hog you want. The latter is one I really like, as it allows you to watch pigs from a distance without the risk of spooking them. It’s nothing to sit in one spot and count over 100 pigs in an evening on Cremeans’ prime feral swine ranch. Watching this many pigs helps you quickly learn their behaviors. I also enjoy walking secluded ranch roads in the morning and evening. Pigs often use these pathways to access food, water and bedding areas. Slowly, silently moving along these rough pathways allows you to listen for pigs on the move, and often sneak very close for a high percentage shot. WHILE MANY HUNTERS WANT a bigtoothed trophy boar, it’s the 75- to 125-pounders that are prime eating size. Then again, I’ve taken a number of boars over 200 pounds that were every bit as tender and tasty. The great thing about hunting with Cremeans on private land is that you’ll have opportunities to take a midsized pig just about every time you head afield. Tagging a mature boar is not as simple, as they are smart and move wisely. They use brush, tall grass and shadows to their advantage.
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HUNTING Last spring, Haugen took this great eatingsized hog with Just For Hunting outfitters. Haugen used a 26 Nosler and 120-grain E-Tip bullets, a combination he was more than impressed with. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
While evening is my favorite time to hunt pigs, Cremeans likes morning hunting too, and he advises people not to give up too soon. “We see a lot of pigs up until 11 a.m. They’ll often feed early in the morning, wallow and then go back to feeding. As long as there’s water, pigs can be active during all but the hottest part of the day.” I hunted with Cremeans last spring and we saw over 150 pigs a day. We watched a giant boar that I never got a shot at, but I came away with a pig that was great eating. I still have a tag in my pocket and look to hunt with Cremeans again, in June. His pig hunts go through July, making them the perfect game for all hunters, whether you’re a beginner looking to build hunting skills or an experienced hunter looking for delicious meat. CS Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s best selling books, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.
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HUNTING
AN INSIDE JOB
The baseball drill is a simple way to teach discipline, restraint and clear communication, and can easily be done indoors. With the pup sitting on the “pitcher’s mound,” and food placed on first, second and third base, issue a hand signal and verbal command in the direction you want the pup to go. (SCOTT HAUGEN) By Scott Haugen
W
ith the mandated confinement the world has faced, being indoors has been challenging for us, our children, and even our dogs. Hunting dogs are active animals that desire to be outdoors more than indoors. A dog’s drive to run, explore and engage innate senses makes it tough for us to deal with sometimes. But being indoors can actually be a great time to instill some valuable training. In our two prior columns, we looked at offseason training tips. This month, we’re going to look at things you can do inside your house to tune up your dog and optimize its obedience and performance levels.
ONE OF THE BEST things you can do right now is simply spend time with your dog. When spending an entire day indoors with your canine companion, you’ll likely be surprised with how much your dog pays attention to your every move. They’ll move when you move, look at your eyes to see what your next action will be, and twist and turn their head when you talk to them in order to decipher what it is you’re saying. All this exaggerated action is a result of their desire to please you; they do this by trying to read your mind or, at least, anticipate what move you’ll make before you make it. Eye contact is one of the best training tools there is, and it’s important to be consistent in your looks. Your dog will sense when
you’re happy, tired, upset or stressed. Take note of the looks you give your dog or family members when the dog is in sight. You’ll see how committed your dog is to pleasing you. This is important because eye contact is a great way to engage your dog and efficiently communicate with them. If you’ve not paid close attention to it, you’ll be shocked with how much you can communicate with your dog, without saying a word. The same goes for reading your dog’s actions. Dogs can’t talk, though many owners swear they try. Spend day after day with your dog and you’ll soon read its disposition through its eyes, ear position and movement, tail action, even spine alignment and head angle. These are just some ways
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HUNTING your dog communicates with you, and it’s in your best interest to learn to understand what they’re saying.
IN TERMS OF TRAINING a dog, you don’t need much room to teach sit, stay, come, discipline and even hand signal movements. It can all be done in a living room. Using food or treats to get a dog to sit, stay and move in specific directions can be very effective. Above all else, it teaches them restraint,
which is key to optimizing any dog’s behavior. Have your dog sit in the middle of the room. Next, place a couple kibbles of food to the right of it – at what we’ll call first base if we were on a baseball field. Give an open hand signal to the right – along with a voice command – and the dog will get the food. Command it to sit when it’s done, then place food to the left of it and Being aware of your pup’s behaviors, looks and body positions, and knowing how to clearly communicate with your dog based on these signs, will make you a better trainer, and your dog, happier and very disciplined. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
release it to get the food. Once it’s done, have the dog return to the middle – or the pitcher’s mound – and sit. Then put food behind it – on second base. With an outstretched hand overhead, give a firm “back” command. Getting dogs to push back can be challenging, and teaching them this move indoors with small portions of food in a small area, can be very effective.
ONCE THE DOGS ARE on to this game, you’ll be impressed with how quickly they respond to your directions. Soon you’ll have the dog sitting on the pitcher’s mound – with food on all three bases – waiting for your commands. Short, consistent orders are critical. If I want my dog to go back, I simply order, “Back!” I don’t say, “OK; go back now.” Same with “sit” and “come.” If I want a dog to deliver something to hand, I simply say, “Hand” and not, “Bring it here to me.” Concise orders make it easy for a dog to understand what you want. If you have a hallway, this can be a great training area. Shut all the doors and pick up anything from the floor. Create an area free of distraction, then get to training. Here you can teach dogs to fetch, sit, come, lie down, push back, retrieve shed antlers, and much more. The only limit is your imagination. While being inside with your dog, don’t overlook the opportunity to clean their ears, clip their nails, brush them, even give them a massage, all of which will strengthen your bond. Spending time with your gun dog will result in building solid bonds that will last a lifetime, and equate to optimal field performance you’ll be proud of. CS Editor’s note: To watch Scott Haugen’s series of puppy training videos, visit scotthaugen .com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.
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