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SIERRA TROUT

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ALL ASHORE! Pacific Beaches’ Fishing Bounty

ALSO INSIDE

Wild Pigs Of Paso Robles

Tagging Bighorn Sheep

Redding’s Outdoor Playground

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Sportsman

California Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource

Volume 9 • Issue 9 PUBLISHER James R. Baker GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Dick Openshaw EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott EDITOR Chris Cocoles CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Brittany Boddington LEAD WRITER Tim E. Hovey CONTRIBUTORS Bill Adelman, Mark Fong, Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Ryan Hughes, Todd Kline, Jeff Lund, Albert Quackenbush, Bill Schaefer, Mike Stevens SALES MANAGER Katie Higgins ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Garn Kennedy, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold PRODUCTION MANAGER Sonjia Kells DESIGNERS Lindsey Lewers, Sam Rockwell, Jake Weipert 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 With rivers like the Feather flowing well, spawning striped bass are plentiful, including big fish like Mark Fong’s 20-pound hen. Linesides should be biting well into June. (CHRIS COCOLES) 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

8 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

calsportsmanmag.com | JUNE 2017 California Sportsman

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CONTENTS FEATURES 46

SUPER STRIPERS California Sportsman editor Chris Cocoles and correspondent Mark Fong headed to the Feather River for a spring striper outing. They expected to catch plenty of fixin’s for fish tacos, but little did anyone know that the river was about churn out not just quantities of linesides but some extreme quality fish that would have the guys rolling up their sleeves and going to work to reel them in.

79

DON’T SETTLE FOR CANNED TUNA The Pacific’s yellowtail and yellowfin are popular and tasty targets, but Scott Haugen’s favorite ocean pastime is pursuing big and delicious bluefin tuna. Half of our Field to Fire columnist team details the 411 on how to score lots of bluefin from a diehard tuna angler, while Tiffany Haugen gets out her sushi mat for a delicious way to prepare a big catch.

91

PASO IS HOG HEAVEN

HOW HIGH CAN YOU GO? A turbulent, snowy winter left many fishing holes in the Eastern Sierra covered in snow deep into late spring. Veteran wilderness trouthead Mike Stevens has experienced this before while seeking out his favorite high-elevation streams and lakes, so before you head into the mountains for rainbows, browns and more, check out Stevens’ advice for dealing with runoff from all that white stuff Ma Nature left behind.

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VOLUME 9 • ISSUE 9

ALL ASHORE Lead writer Tim Hovey likes the simple things when it comes to enjoying the Southern California outdoor scene. So his truck is always stocked with saltwater gear to hit the coast, where the Pacific Ocean’s diverse fish residents are just a short cast away and make for an easy way to fill the cooler with dinner.

(BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

Los Angelino Brittany Boddington, our Urban Huntress (here with guide Tyson Thompson), usually returns from her far-flung hunting adventures with another new country’s entry stamp on her passport. But this time, she heads up Highway 101 to San Luis Obispo County’s Paso Robles, home of wine tasting, good restaurants and some of our state’s best pig hunting.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

DEPARTMENTS

31

13

41 59 73 87 89 103 107

The Redding area’s endless outdoor opportunities Poppin’ bass lures An Alaskan remembers California fishing stories Sierra’s Truckee River resurgent after wet winter San Vicente Reservoir remains a Southland bass factory Seeing (and catching) spots on San Diego’s Mission Bay Gear Review: AR-15 handguard passes a hunter’s test Teaching basic commands to your new hunting pup

15 25 26 29 55

The Editor’s Note: Oroville, Feather River on the rebound Protecting Wild California: Chopper rides and bighorn sheep studies Outdoor Calendar Adventures of Todd Kline: Fishing the San Joaquin Delta Photo contest winners Rig of the Month: Stripers will love this Texas-rigged worm combo

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) 382-9220 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 JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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THEEDITOR’SNOTE

O

ne of my writers, Mark Fong, called me on a Saturday night in May, and while we were chatting about our favorite pro basketball team, the Golden State Warriors, who were about ready to start a playoff game, Whether it’s hangover from March’s nearFong said he’d just disaster or something else, with catches come back from fishing like this striped bass held by editor Chris Lake Oroville. Instantly Cocoles, it’s strange more anglers aren’t taking advantage of the good fishing both above and I asked him how things below the Oroville Dam this season. (MARK FONG) were going up there, given what a crappy spring it has been.

As a Northern Californian who spent many summers visiting family friends from Yuba City, it broke my heart to see that area take such an emotional beating in March.

The damage to the Lake Oroville Spillway; the reservoir’s runoff cascading down and resembling one of those cheesy 1970s disaster-genre flicks; the mandatory evacuations below the dam along the Feather River to the Yuba City/Marysville area; the political finger pointing and social media catfights. Not exactly great times for these communities.

Yet good things are happening there, and I saw it with my own four eyes. As you’ll read this month, I joined Fong, Yuba City-area guide Manuel Saldana Jr. – who was part of those evacuations from his family’s home – and his deckhand Justin Leonard for a wildly successful striper trip on the Feather River in late April. The Feather, downstream from Lake Oroville, was full of water, a stark contrast to previous drought-plagued years of low flows. And the fishing was fantastic, though we saw only a handful of other boats that day. (We got a kick out of a couple of college-age kids screaming at the tops of their lungs after landing a striper a few hundred feet from us.)

Likewise, on the day Fong and his buddy Ian Rigler, a fellow bass-aholic, launched at Oroville, they were in one of the only boats on the water. Even if few other anglers had much interest in fishing this seemingly doomed lake, Fong and Rigler were catching and releasing plenty of bass, so Fong suggested they see if they could have a 100-fish day. It didn’t take long to hit the century mark.

“It seems like all people are talking about when it comes to Oroville is either about the spillway or the water releases. (But) people are missing out because the bass fishing has been really good,” Fong told me. “We caught well over 100 fish between the two of us in a short day on the water, and there was very little fishing pressure.”

So check your preconceived notions about failing dams and raging water at the door. The fishing is just fine at Oroville and on the Feather. –Chris Cocoles calsportsmanmag.com | JUNE 2017 California Sportsman

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PROTECTING

WILD CALIFORNIA

ONE WILD RIDE

Author Tim Hovey (right), a California Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist, once found himself on a cliff edge for four hours while helping to transport a bighorn sheep during a large mammal survey. (TIM E. HOVEY)

HARROWING CHOPPER RIDES, BIGHORN SHEEP, NOT SO GLAMOROUS DUTIES HIGHLIGHT LARGE MAMMAL MONITORING CAPTURES

By Tim E. Hovey

K

evin and I sat side by side in the back seat, and I can remember being so confined that the sides of our bodies were in constant contact.

We were given instructions through our headsets by the pilot, who sat only 18 inches in front of us.

His voice was garbled and muffled by static, and I didn’t hear any of it.

Kevin nudged me and pointed to my unlatched safety belt. I quickly grabbed the loose ends and clipped them together. Kevin spoke back to the pilot and I saw him nod affirmative. Within seconds the craft dipped forward and we were airborne.

KEEPING TABS ON CRITTERS The California Department of Fish and

Wildlife has several diverse wildlife programs that are involved in routine monitoring of large mammal species. These programs will frequently cross-train CDFW biologists in other programs during their extensive field assessment. I’ve participated in several of these large mammal captures, which I find enjoyable and interesting.

Several years ago now I volunteered for a bighorn sheep monitoring survey. Driving into base camp, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. The event coordinator had approached me the week before, asking if I was interested in helping out.

Without hesitation, I cleared my calendar and made plans to be there.

These field surveys are usually conducted over a three-day period and involve several key operations. To locate

the animals, usually a helicopter flies the canyons looking for areas that hold the species required for the survey. Deer, elk and bighorn sheep are the most frequent species surveyed in this way.

When the target animals are located, the second member of the copter capture team goes into action. Connected by a harness and using the skid as a step, the net gunner is trained to fire a specialized net gun at a large moving target from the dipping platform of the helicopter. The bulky firearm uses a blank charge to propel a 12-foot-by-12-foot-square net with tubular steel weights at its corners.

Once a target is identified, the gunner steps out onto the skid and leans against the harness. He leads the running animal and fires, hopefully tangling the mammal in the orange square.

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SECURING THE ANIMAL When a target is successfully netted, the helicopter returns to base camp and picks up the bagging crew.

The baggers are carried to where the animal is located and dropped off. Their job is to secure the animal, apply a calming blindfold and hobble the large mammal. Hobbles are heavy leather straps that tie the animal’s legs together, which prevents it from injuring itself or field biologists.

Once hobbled, the animal is loaded into a canvas transport bag and the helicopter is contacted for pickup. The captured animal gets a short ride tethered to the carry line of the helicopter and is dropped off at base camp. It’s there that the animal gets fitted with a GPS collar and where all the pertinent biological data is collected.

The animal is carried in the canvas bag to the shaded data center. Those at the front of the animal collect nasal swabs for disease detection, take a blood sample, measure horns or antlers and begin the fitting of the collar.

Those at the rear have a far less glamorous list of duties. A rectal thermometer is inserted into the animal and monitored to assess body temperature. Hair and fecal samples are also collected by the rear team.

If an animal’s temperature starts to rise, the backend biologists will begin dousing the groin of the animal with cold water to cool it down.

Once the data collecting is complete, the animal is carried close to camp and released, which is done in a careful, stepwise manner. The blindfold is untied but left on, and from the rear, a biologist will kneel over the back of the animal and place his or her knee behind both back legs while it lies on its side. This will keep the animal from kicking anyone and persuades them to escape in a certain direction. The hobbles are loosened and then removed.

At this point only one person should be near the animal. That person reaches up and takes off the loosened blindfold, then steps away. Usually the sheep or deer will take a few seconds to realize it’s free, then take off.

Bagged and blinded, an ewe bighorn is ready for transport to biologists. (TIM E. H. P. HOVEY IIII JR. ESQ)

HEADING TO THE FRONT Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to work as a bagger and in base camp. Starting at the back of the animal during my first capture, I eventually worked my way to the front.

During one trip, the lead coordinator announced they were short a bagger and needed someone not afraid to fly in a helicopter. Two of us came forward.

I was chosen to be the new bagger with little fanfare. As they fitted me for an orange jumpsuit, I inquired on why I had been chosen. The coordinator scarcely glanced at me before exclaiming, “You weigh less.”

16 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

The helicopter dropped into the landing zone at base camp, and the net gunner hopped off the skid and motioned us over. We had already been briefed on how to safely approach the craft and Kevin and I climbed into our assigned seats. Once secure, we lifted off and banked hard to the mountains on the left. We had heard through the camp radio that they had netted a ewe 3 miles from base. In the air, the pilot instructed us to look for sheep in the canyons on the way. With no door to my left, I decided to hang on to the dipping helicopter instead.

When we got close, the pilot’s voice

calsportsmanmag.com | JUNE 2017 California Sportsman

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again came over the headset. “I’ll need to balance the skids on the edge of a cliff to get you guys close safely.” I wasn’t sure I had heard him correctly, but when I glanced to Kevin, his expression confirmed things were about to get dicey. The pilot also instructed us that we’d have to leave the helicopter at exactly the same time to keep the craft from tipping dangerously. I didn’t recall the coordinator going over any of this during my brief interview process.

But the pilot hovered over a sheer drop of 150 feet, and his command over the movement of the helicopter was amazing. He gently landed the first 6 feet of the skids on the rock ledge.

Kevin and I eased out our respective sides and gently stepped out onto the back part of the skids as instructed.

A step to the left and I would be on firm ground. A step to the right and it would be five seconds before I hit solid earth, and bagging a sheep would be the least of my worries.

We exited the chopper without

The author collecting horn data from a male sheep. Though a fisheries biologist, he’s eager to volunteer for mammal surveys whenever he has time. (TIM E. HOVEY)

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issue and made our way to the netted animal. The ewe was exhausted, and the net had wrapped up the legs of the sheep and become hopelessly tangled around an ocotillo tree.

Kevin grabbed the blindfold and fitted it around the sheep’s head, covering her eyes. This instantly calmed the ewe. I started hobbling the legs.

Once secure, we started untangling the net. I had to use a rock to crush a plant to free the orange mesh. After 20 minutes of effort, we had the net freed, the sheep bagged and the helicopter headed back for pickup.

Within minutes, the helicopter was above our position, dangling a lift strap and hook. The pilot lowered the hook right next to the bagged sheep.

As it hovered, I hooked the sheep up and stepped out of the way. The bagged sheep gently lifted off the ground in a cloud of dust. Kevin and I watched as the blindfolded sheep swung with the motion of the copter, headed towards base camp.

It’s a team effort, where everyone has a job, though those in the front of the animal have a less invasive one than those in the rear, where the sheep’s temperature must be taken, among other duties. (TIM E. HOVEY)

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We were to remain at the site until another sheep was netted. We gathered up the gear, sat in any shade we could find and waited. We could hear over the radio that the herd had scattered and netting had become difficult.

Four hours later we were picked up the same dangerous way we were dropped off and taken back to camp. The sheep capture was done for the day.

A LEARNING EXPERIENCE When time permits, I like to volunteer for any wildlife survey that I can. I have been involved in fisheries science for over 25 years and feel that gathering wildlife experience in other programs makes me a well-rounded biologist.

Unfortunately, they no longer allow state biologists to assist in the helicopter duties for liability reasons.

To be honest, when my wife found out that I had graduated from base camp to helicopter duty, she strongly suggested I stay safe on the ground. I have no problem with that. CS

With biologists’ data collection complete, a bighorn ram is prepared for release. (TIM E. HOVEY)

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OUTDOOR CALENDAR JUNE 2-3 3-4 9-10 17-18 17-18 24 24 30

Hangman’s Bonus Derby, Convict Lake; (800) 992-2260 Creel Buster Derby, Crowley Lake; crowleylakefishcamp.com Finest Annual Trout Tournament, Crowley Lake; crowleylakefishcamp.com Fred Hall Father’s Day Fishing Tournament, Mammoth Lakes Basin; (760) 934-3416 ModocSportsman’s Outdoor Expo, Veterans Park, Alturas; modocoutdoorecreationandtourism.org Bridgeport Trout Tournament, Bridgeport Reservoir and East Walker River; (760) 616-4214 California Department of Fish and Wildlife Trout Fest, Hot Creek Hatchery; nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=95204&inline Start of Mono Village Fourth of July Fishing Derby, Upper Twin Lakes; (760) 932-7071

JULY 1 1-31 8-30 15

California Free Fishing Day; wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing/Free-Fishing-Days How Big is Big Fishing Derby, West Walker River; northernmonochamber.com Archery deer season in Zone A (South Unit 110 along Central Coast) Kiwanis Club Special Olympics Trout Derby, Wishon Lake; kiwanisdivisionfive.com/ Special_Olympics.php 15 Stampede Reservoir Team Kokanee Derby; kokaneepower.org 28-29 Bridgeport Fish Fest, Twin Lakes; twinlakeresort.com 29 Kids’ Fishing Festival, Mammoth Lakes; (760) 937-2942 Note: A list of upcoming bass tournaments can also be found at nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FishingContests/default.aspx.

The Eastern Sierra trout derby frenzy is upon us, and judging by browns like these beauties from Grant Lake - part of the June Lake Loop and caught by Monrovia’s Eric Barter on a Berkley Flicker Shad in the fire tiger pattern some nice fish are waiting for you.

(ERIC BARTER)

calsportsmanmag.com | JUNE 2017 California Sportsman

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s e r u t n e v Ad 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 at what he’s up to each month. For more on Todd or to book a guided fishing trip with him, check out toddkline.com, and you can follow him on Instagram at @toddokrine. –The Editor

This is an Instagram photo of the biggest redear sunfish I have ever caught. I weighed the female on the digital scale at San Vicente Reservoir and she went 3 pounds. I caught the fish slow-rolling an underspin trying to catch bass. (TODD KLINE)

This past month has been a fun one. I have been to the Sacramento River Delta and had some fun guide trips locally. Sunrise never gets old – this was early morning in the vast waters of the Delta. (TODD KLINE)

I got a new wrap on my boat, as well as new rims from Raceline. I am stoked with how it looks and would like to thank all of my sponsors for their support. (TODD KLINE)

My friends Ben Byrd and Paul Retlinger cooked breakfast burritos for us before we hit the water at the Delta. (TODD KLINE)

This was a great month of guide trips. Here is one of my clients after a good day of fishing at San Vicente Reservoir. (TODD KLINE)

My client hooked a nice fish and it got him down in some wood. So I jumped in, swam down and brought it up. To say he was fired up is an understatement. (TODD KLINE)

I love this shot from the Delta of a boat and its reflection on a clear, windless morning . (TODD KLINE)

One of my sponsors (Scosche) met me at Riverside County’s Lake Perris for a photo shoot. We had a blast that day and managed to catch some fish as well – good times! (TODD KLINE)

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28 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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PHOTO CONTEST

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30 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

NORCAL Whether author Bill Adelman is fishing for Shasta Lake bass or checking out the futuristic Sundial Bridge in the heart of the city, he knows the Redding area is an outdoor lover’s paradise, even if summer’s heat means bringing along extra cold drinks. (BILL ADELMAN)

RED HOT DESTINATION

WHETHER IT’S FISHING SHASTA LAKE AND THE SACRAMENTO RIVER OR HUNTING VARIOUS GAME, REDDING OFFERS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

By Bill Adelman

R

EDDING–What comes to mind when thinking about this major Northern California city? A jewel? The heart? A gem? A corridor of excitement? A neat place to go and seek personal adventures?

Yes on all counts, depending, of course, on the motivation and desire of the visitor and resident alike.

Redding was incorporated in 1887 with about 600 settlers. The history and growth blends well with research-

ing the old days of the area. Some lawlessness, a few saloons, as well as a bit of thievery among some of the assayers helped build the foundation of the city.

What was during years past a pass-through area is now a vacation destination in what is known as the “Shasta Cascade Wonderland” region. The Shasta Historical Society was organized in 1930 and today is a cornerstone of the area, and greater Redding is famous for outdoor recreation, concerts, cultural events, art

exhibits, museums, theater, antique stores and galleries. As we often hear, “and so much more.”

HOT, HOT, HOT Many, many years ago a friend was traveling to Oregon. The plan was for me to join him and venture into the Trinity Alps for a few days of fishing.

On the way out, he dropped me off at the bus depot at 10 p.m., where it was but a scant 113 degrees.

Trying to convince me to ever

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NORCAL The Turtle Bay Museum offers history, wildlife and an aquarium featuring fish native to the north end of the Sacramento Valley. (BILL ADELMAN)

return would have been an effort in futility. But things do change, and now this “gem” of the north is a prime destination. Just plan your outing and time of the year carefully.

That’s exactly what we did when visiting during the third week of April.

There are so many must-do and -see options that a tad bit of researching ahead of time is a necessity.

A good start is visitredding.com, and at the top of the list are Lake Shasta and the Sundial Bridge/Turtle Bay complex. After six years of construction, Shasta was completed in 1944 as a means to assist in flood control. Could those folks have known

about fishing, hunting, skiing, boating, jet skis, party boats, swimming, tubing, houseboats, cabins, rental units, camping and all the other opportunities that I can’t remember?

Kirk Portacarrero, a year-round guide on local lakes and the Sacramento River who concentrates on bass, trout, steelhead, stripers and salmon, along with one of his bass guys, took us out for a memorable Shasta bass trip.

We launched at Centimudi near the dam for a morning of bass fishing among a flotilla of boats fishing a Bassmaster regional tournament.

Only a few reached the southern sec-

32 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

tion of the lake that we explored, so we had to contend only with damp weather and wind, but still managed a mix of smallmouth and spotted bass in our boat.

WILD TURKEY Then came a morning turkey hunt for my wife, Gerry, which was preplanned with Redding’s own Parrey Cremans, a Mossy Oak TV personality. Gerry was the hunter, while I backed off about 50 yards as an observer. Her guide, Justin, was a young man who worked hard trying to overcome quiet toms, drizzle, rain, high wind and ground fog. Nary

a bird responded, but it was still an adventure that was topped off with breakfast in Palo Cedro.

Cremans operates a full-time year-round hunting program (justforhunting.com) for deer, elk, turkey, pig, predators and bear.

We hunted east of Palo Cedro in some of the most beautiful rolling hills you’ll ever see. And there are ranches galore.

DRIFTING THE SAC A bit more on the relaxing side is Turtle Bay, adjacent to the iconic Sundial Bridge, which is actually a working sundial completed in calsportsmanmag.com | JUNE 2017 California Sportsman

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NORCAL 2004. The walk over the Sac is relaxing, and don’t be surprised to see a driftboat from the popular Fly Shop just a bit downstream and hooked up with one of the Sacramento River’s wild trout.

The museum is the anchor structure at Turtle Bay, adjacent to a gift and coffee shop with outdoor seating. Within the Turtle Bay Museum (turtlebay.org/museum) are historical remembrances of the Wintu Indians, an art exhibit, displays of past agricultural and beekeeping activity in the area, and a live aquarium of resident fish. At predetermined times a guide explains the origins of the river’s fishery.

The king of the aquarium, a 45-pound beaver named Timber, holds court there, and the museum also includes Old West living conditions, farming history, a recreation of the caverns on the east side of Shasta Lake, which can be visited via party boat, and

Turkey hunting is also popular in these parts. (BILL ADELMAN)

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NORCAL new exhibits that change periodically.

At this same location are a forest walk; a plant-growing Paul Bunyan and his ox, Babe; an old train engine with a few cars; a bit of history on how rock and gravel was dug at this location and transported to the dam site by conveyors to make concrete; a real live wetland; and a shallow waterpark setting where little ones can dam water, set it free and learn the schematics of water control. There’s also the Parrot House, where you can enter and hand feed the birds. They also offer an animal show, Walk on the Wild Side, where all of the animals and birds are on display, featuring a fox and badger. A mentoring program for animal care is on site for teenagers, many of whom return annually and stay on as volunteers.

After exploring all of this, we grabbed an iced tea prepared by a barista and enjoyed all of the bird and people activity prior to returning to

The author’s wife, Gerry, shows off a Shasta bass.

The lake is a cornerstone of the region’s outdoor opportunities. (BILL ADELMAN)

36 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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NORCAL our truck at the free parking lot.

COME FOR THE FISH, STAY FOR THE FOOD Need it be mentioned that eateries in and around Redding offer every style of food imaginable? But if you’re into hunting and fishing, guides and outfitters are available for any type of trip that suits your fancy.

Wild hogs are at the top of most hunting bucket lists, and just a bit of research will put one in touch with experts for further info. We were extremely pleased with Parrey Cremans’ program.

Accommodations are everywhere. Venture off of I-5 into town for some of the more “quaint” locations while on the freeway are many chain hotels to choose from. The Red Lion Hilltop (redlion.com/redding) was our host, and their dinner menu in a laid-back setting is superb. The Red Lion is just one of many lodging options. Another favorite is the Hil-

Want to get to an easily accessible fishing spot in Redding? There is plenty of shoreline access to cast into the Sacramento River right in the heart of the city. (CHRIS CCOLES)

ton Garden Inn (530-226-5111).

All in all, spring or fall, give it your all on a trip to Redding. As for summer, prepare for a lot of heat, but you can still find something to

entertain yourself here. CS Editor’s note: For more on Redding, contact the Convention and Visitors Bureau at (530) 225-4105 or go to visitredding.com.

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BAY AREA

CAST, REEL AND POP

SIMPLE, VERSATILE POPPER TOPWATER BAITS CAN SLAM BASS

By Mark Fong

I

n recent memory, topwater poppers have become an overlooked option for many of today’s anglers.

But those in the know certainly are in on the secret.

A popper is easy to recognize by its distinctive cupped mouth and slender profile. The cupped mouth pushes water and creates the signature sound of its namesake.

TIE ONE ON

A popper is an extremely versatile topwater bait, easy to fish and capable of catching largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass in Bay Area and various Northern California lakes. (MARK FONG)

A popper is an extremely versatile topwater bait. I have caught popper bass on a multitude of different fisheries spanning Northern California and the Bay Area. From small waters such as farm ponds and creeks to large waterways like Lake Berryessa, the Delta or Lake Shasta, poppers catch bass everywhere. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass of all sizes will absolutely crush a popper.

It may surprise some that a bait of such diminutive size can account for big fish, but they do. My personal-best popper fish pushed 8 pounds, and poppers are known for catching quality tournament-grade fish.

Poppers are powerful search baits calsportsmanmag.com | JUNE 2017 California Sportsman

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BAY AREA that can draw fish from long distances. In clear water, I have seen bass come from more than 25 feet away to strike a popper. Work them over points, submerged humps or vegetation, and they are also great tools for targeting specific structural elements.

Cast them around docks, flooded trees or bridge pilings.

Poppers are very user-friendly lures – you do not need a lot of experience to be successful with them. Cadence is key to triggering the bite, and it is up to the individual angler to determine how the fish want the bait presented. (MARK FONG)

EASY TO FISH Poppers are very user-friendly lures that do not require a lot of experience to be successful. This makes them an ideal choice for the novice or beginning angler. To work a popper, simply employ a sharp downward motion of your wrist to action the lure.

Cadence is key to triggering the bite, and it is up to the individual angler to determine how the fish want the bait presented. As such, the mood of the bass and the conditions on hand are important considerations.

Old-school wisdom is to make a cast and let the bait sit motionless briefly. Next, twitch the popper once and wait for the ripples to go away.

Now repeat the process. Be on the alert, as bass will strike the bait when it is at rest and just as it begins to move again. While this retrieve does work, there are other effective presentations that should be explored as well.

Another option is to make a cast and twitch the bait several times in succession, pause the bait briefly, and repeat. Mix it up and experiment with the number of twitches and the length of the pause.

My favorite way to work a popper is to work the bait fast. I will fish the bait aggressively with a steady fast pace, making it spit and splash water. My goal is to generate a reaction strike.

Some fishermen have a problem making a solid connection with the fish. Remember to be patient when a bass strikes and don’t pull the bait away from the fish. It is easy to react to the visual nature of the strike.

Instead, wait until you can feel the weight of the bass and then simply 42 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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The author happily shows off a couple of beauties. Popper topwater lures, which mainly imitate smaller baitfish, should always be in your tackle box as a potential bass catcher. (MARK FONG)

pull into the fish with your rod and reel quickly.

GEARING UP This season I have been enjoying great results using the new Ima Finesse Popper. At 2.6 inches long, the Finesse Popper is the perfectly sized bait for bass that are reluctant to bite or relating to smaller forage. It is equipped with a subtle fish-attracting rattle and is finished with a handtied feather trailer on the rear treble hook. I won’t fish a popping-style bait without a feathered rear treble.

When the bait is paused in between twitches, the feather will continue to pulse in the water. This is an important action that can trigger more bites.

Poppers are designed to imitate small forage fish. With this in mind, I recommend choosing colors that match the forage base. In clearwater lakes, Real Ghost Shad does a great job of mimicking not only shad but also other small baitfish such as pond smelt. In shallow grass environments 44 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

where sunfish are present, a bluegill color is my first choice.

Small topwater lures fish best on a rod with a soft tip and a strong backbone. For popper duty I rely on a Cousins Tackle GP 704T popping rod.

At 7 feet, it is perfect for making long casts and has the length and power to control and subdue hard fighting fish. I pair the rod with a compact high-speed baitcaster, spooled with 25-pound FINS 40G Braid. I like braid for its low stretch and strength, however braid has a way of tangling itself with treble hooks. To remedy this problem, I use a 7- to 8-foot leader of 20-pound Gamma Polyflex copolymer line tied to the mainline braid with an Alberto knot. Not only does the leader keep the bait from fouling but it also adds a measure of stretch, which helps keep fish from pulling free.

If you have never fished a popper, or maybe it’s been awhile, tie one on and see what happens; you might just be pleasantly surprised. CS

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EARNING OUR STRIPES WE EXPECTED TO CATCH A LOT OF LINESIDES ON THE FEATHER RIVER – JUST NOT TWO 2O-PLUS-POUNDERS

By Chris Cocoles

Y

UBA CITY–Our day on the Feather River essentially began and ended the same way: unexpectedly reeling in fish of a lifetime.

Earlier this spring, California Sportsman correspondent Mark Fong and I rode together from the Sacramen-

to area for a short trip north, where we figured we’d catch striped bass – lots of them. But I was certainly not counting on catching any big fish.

The tempered expectations would still have us enjoying the action. I figured that would mean a consistent netting of keepers – California regulations require an 18-inch minimum length – and the four of us reaching

46 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

two-fish limits without much drama.

AFTER YEARS OF DROUGHT that turned our guide Manny Saldana Jr.’s backyard river into a water-deprived mess, the Feather was more than compensated by Mother Nature as winter and spring turned biblical.

Heavy rains pelted the state, and there was so much water that the

CENTRAL VALLEY Valley resident who will spend this summer working on an Alaskan fishing boat, set us up with live minnows, held firmer on our Size 1 sickle-style Maruto hooks with Bait Buttons rubber keepers.

Any massive strikes from the resident linesides would be nonchalant – a tap here, a twitch there – and likely meant fish were sampling our bait. The current and our drifting approach would make detecting the subtle strikes challenging. So as we dropped down our lines to the bottom and then cranked up a couple turns, the bites began to come frequently, and less than an hour into putting our lines in the water, we’d already hooked and lost a couple fish.

But the initial pull on our Raze series Cousins Tackle rods seemed similar, and when my reel cranking created some tension, I initially anticipated a nice striper, probably a keeper and maybe even the biggest fish of the day so far. Nothing could have prepared me for what happened next.

IT WAS A NONDESCRIPT yank, but quick-

The author (far left, with guide Manny Saldana) and Mark Fong show off their massive female stripers, highlighting a memorable spring day on the Feather River. (CHRIS COCOLES/MARK FONG)

heavily publicized and scrutinized spillway damage upstream at Lake Oroville prompted Saldana – who guides both salmon and striper fishing for his MSJ Fishing Guide Service – and his family to flee during mandatory evacuations in Yuba City and Marysville in March.

That crisis was quelled for now, and fishermen could at least feel comforted that the Feather was full of water. On this late April day, Saldana said the river was running at 38,000 cubic feet per second, a far cry from my last visit here for a king salmon trip (California Sportsman, December 2016) when the river was

dotted with tree branches poking out of the surface.

This time, the Feather resembled more of a long lake than a drought-stricken river, and we ironically had to find calmer water than faster-running sections around Shanghai Bend Falls, a few miles from our launching point.

“We simply found a small pocket where the water wasn’t raging. I utilized my Minn Kota trolling motor for our live bait that could be eaten up by those hard-fighting stripers,” Saldana told me later.

Saldana and his part-time deckhand Justin Leonard, a young Grass

ly the bass had me on the move – from near the bow of Saldana’s 21foot Fish Rite to the stern in a hurry.

The others on the boat became my wingmen – Fong trying to video my stressful turn at the plate; Leonard encouraging me; Saldana coaching me. The instructions were simple and calmly communicated, yet I still felt like I was at boot camp for fishing greenhorns. “Reel! Reel! Reel!” “Rod tip in the water!” “Work the line back around the motor! Don’t get it caught around it!”

I did what I could to not blow it, and with every zigzag from one side of the boat to the other, it only raised my fears of letting the big one get away. The 50-pound Yo-Zuri braid we were using was being tested. I kept waiting for that striper to tire, but this wasn’t going to be easy. I can’t remember the exact time it took to get the fish close enough to the boat so that Leonard could scoop

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CENTRAL VALLEY

Sunrise over a rain-raised Feather that was running at 38,000 cubic feet per second on this late April day after a wet and turbulent winter and spring. (CHRIS COCOLES)

it into the net.

My wrist was on the verge of being in pain, so at the time it felt more relief when I could loosen the reel and allow the experts to get the striper out of the net. A smiling Leonard showed me the remarkable sight of the hook just barely stuck in the side of the fish’s mouth. I wondered how we could have coaxed this bass into the boat without it wriggling free.

We put the striper in the livewell to give it a chance to recover, and measured it around 36 inches. Saldana estimated it at 25 pounds, but it may as well have been 50 as far as I was concerned. It was as awesome a conquest as I’ve ever had on the water. When Saldana and I teamed up to pose for a couple grip-andgrins, it began to hit us how special

this striper was. “Fish of a lifetime” was repeated over and over again through fist pumps and bro hugs.

This was also a female striper, a hen that had traveled from the Bay Area saltwater through the San Joaquin Delta and then up the Feather to spawn. While some consider stripers an invasive pest that threaten Chinook numbers, supporters believe the drought and water allocation have done more damage to the kings than the bass, which were first introduced to this state way back in 1879. So I had no problem releasing this female back into the river.

“To continue the spawn and keep making babies,” Saldana said on a Facebook video. “How was the fight, Chris?”

“It was awesome.”

48 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

FOR THE NEXT FEW hours of boating from hole to hole, both upstream and downstream from the launch ramp, we simply fished like the script was supposed to play out. Under much-appreciated sunshine coming off that wet winter, we caught a lot of stripers. It wasn’t quite nonstop action, but just enough to keep us on our toes and allow us to recall the chaos of the earlier big one that didn’t get away. We released plenty of shakers that were too small, and methodically closed in on the limit of keepers (shouting “Fish tacos!” became our inside joke with every 18-inch-plus bass that would later be filleted).

I’d catch and release one more nice hen – about an 8-pounder – and was understandably content. But Fong, who was as excited for me as

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CENTRAL VALLEY Live minnows made for a tasty meal for several stripers on this day. (CHRIS COCOLES)

I was in the morning, had his moment in the afternoon. Fong gets to fish these waters a lot more than I do living so close to the river, but he couldn’t believe the fight he was getting from this particular striper that had swallowed another piece of live bait. It was my turn to point the iPhone on the guy who was going through his own fight.

“Oh, it’s a nice one,” Saldana said on camera. “Just play her on out.”

“Oh, baby,” added Leonard, figuring something special was happening to us again as Saldana got another trophy into his net. “Oh, my gosh.”

Fong’s hen was a little smaller but

Mark Fong does battle with his striper, which was estimated to be about 20 pounds. (CHRIS COCOLES) 50 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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easily 20 pounds, a spawning bass that he was also happy to send back into the Feather and continue to maintain a robust striper population.

We finished off a limit a while later, and back on land all agreed it was an unforgettable day.

On the ride back to Sacramento, in between Fong and I talking about college football and concerts we’d attended, the conversation ultimately swayed back to those two fish that we didn’t expect. CS Editor’s note: Good striper fishing is expected to continue through June. For more on MSJ Guide Service or to book a striped bass or salmon trip with Saldana, check out msjguideservice.com or call (530) 301-7455. Like at facebook.com/ msjfishingguideservice.

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CENTRAL VALLEY

REMEMBERING

ALL THE FISH WHETHER IN FRIGID SOUTHEAST ALASKA CREEKS OR GOLDEN STATE RIVERS, MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES NEVER GO AWAY FOR GOOD

Author Jeff Lund spent 10 years living in Manteca, fishing the Central Valley’s rivers and others throughout the state, and though he’s now back in his native Alaska, he can’t help but think about the good days he’s had on the water here. (JEFF LUND)

By Jeff Lund

I

’m trying to remember fish I forgot. They are somewhere in that vast lake of memory, but they get washed further from shore as volume grows. It’s sad, really, because it’s like it never happened if I can’t remember it.

So while my plane de-ices in Juneau, Alaska, I’m mentally in California trying to recall something – preferably warm – that’s not on the normal highlight reel.

I try to remember basics – the foundation of my start in fly fishing that came only about a decade ago.

MY FIRST ROD WAS a Pfleuger starter kit. The knots I needed to set up the backing and line and tippet infuriated me. My first half-dozen casts were

with a light Cahill. The pretty dry fly was way bigger than what the fish wanted, so my first fish was a little stocked rainbow hooked on a Copper John. I was not exactly digging this fly fishing thing after half a dozen fishless trips.

But things turned for the better; outside of the expected disappointments, the memories are worth it.

When you get your mind going, it’s funny the details that will sometimes return.

I took a nap on a little sand bar around the corner from the Sims Flat Campground on the Upper Sacramento River. I was a few fish in and the day was warm but not hot. A train passed and sounded the horn, and I hoped it was the conductor saying hello, knowing that the train itself had already awoken me.

I caught big browns in that river.

The first time was when I took the day off from work to get an extra few hours on the water. By the time my buddies who earned their paychecks that day arrived, I had stories.

Some of the fishing memories aren’t about fish so much as about the trip, and that’s fine too. There were big bats by the horseshoe pit at the lodge on the Pit River. It got colder than I expected that night on the Truckee River, but even if it was August I should have seen that coming.

There was that dude in the Prius who drove four hours from the Bay Area to fish the Stanislaus. That’s a long weekend drive for fish and one of the reasons I’m so happy in Alaska.

THE LAKE OF MEMORY is boiling now.

That snake on the McCloud, the hur-

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CENTRAL VALLEY

The author with a rainbow caught on the Stanislaus River. But as he writes, “Some of the fishing memories aren’t about fish so much as about the trip.” We agree. (JEFF LUND)

ricane of salmonflies on the Klamath and cows on the Tuolumne. There was that massive whatever that broke me off on the Truckee and the

N EE IO FR I S S M AD

Kraken that did the same on the Upper Sac. The brown trout I caught in Arkansas.

My first fly tying was for the home

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rivers in which I tossed spinners as a kid. I tied big Polar Shrimp, Babine Specials and other flies that Bass Pro Shops had in Alaska fly fishing kits.

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CENTRAL VALLEY I caught some rainbows and Dolly Varden but discovered hungry trout are hungry trout and Alaska certainly has its bugs, so I tied them too.

My biggest rainbow was on a No. 16 black Elk Hair Caddis on my favorite steelhead river.

On the same river, as soon as I switched flies, I switched from catching rainbows to cutthroats.

I caught dozens of Dollies on a piece of pink yarn tied onto a hook that had barbell eyes to make it sink. I gave one to a buddy of mine from California, and he was so overwhelmed by the action he just laughed.

Those are still pretty much the highlights, which is fine. The more I think about a trip, the more I can maybe pull another fish from memory that I wouldn’t have otherwise.

And maybe the point of taking the time to remember what’s not in the digital archive is understanding and remembering that fishing isn’t

After awhile, the fish we hook blend into the background of our memory banks, like trout in a mountain lake or stream, but in an age of apps and online games, remembering individual catches reminds us that the best of life happens away from screens, often on the water. (JEFF LUND)

about the resume. It’s about the ongoing pursuit of something real, something that cannot be replicated with goggles and an app. Something that inspires words even if you’re not a writer. Something worth remembering. CS Editor’s note: Jeff Lund lives in Ketchikan, Alaska, and grew up on nearby

Prince of Wales Island. He is a University of Arizona alum and diehard Wildcats basketball fan who also spent 10 years teaching and coaching in Manteca. He is the author of Going Home, a memoir about fishing in Alaska and California. Get the book at Amazon. com. He is a regular contributor to California Sportsman’s sister publication, Alaska Sporting Journal.

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OF PUPPIES, PIGS AND PASO ROBLES OUR WORLD TRAVELER HUNTRESS STAYS LOCAL FOR CENTRAL CALIFORNIA HOGS

Author Brittany Boddington has hunted Europe, Latin America and Africa, but she jumped at the chance to score a boar near Paso Robles, in inland San Luis Obispo County. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

By Brittany Boddington

I

’m lucky to hunt all over the world, but this California hunter has one place I always come back to: Paso Robles.

There is never a shortage of wild boar to hunt, and the inland city in San Luis Obispo County is amazing.

Besides being hunting-friendly, Paso has some great restaurants and vineyards to explore.

This trip up from L.A. was mainly to go see my dad, outdoors writer Craig Boddington, and hit the range with some new guns that needed to be shot. Pig hunting was a bonus!

I’ve known the guys at Oak Stone Outfitters (oakstoneoutfitters.com) for quite a while, and my dad hunts

with them often. I asked if they could squeeze me in for a day or two of hunting at the end of my visit with Craig. They said yes, and I was thrilled!

WE HIT THE RANGE WITH my new AK

from Century Arms and did some target practice on Saturday; I think I burned through two or three boxes of ammo pretty quickly. I was able to catch a wine tasting at a local vineyard that evening and then prep for

calsportsmanmag.com | JUNE 2017 California Sportsman

67

my hunt on Sunday morning with a borrowed rifle. I had packed light since it was only a couple of days of hunting, but I did get to try out my new Kryptek gear. Their ladies’ line just launched and my set fit perfectly.

We set out early in the dark with our guide, Tyson. We drove around checking fields for hogs in hopes of catching them early and using the light at dawn to sneak in close enough for a shot. Before too long we spotted some and set out on foot.

We climbed up a ridge hoping to get in front of the group of pigs but couldn’t see them in the valley below us by the time we got up there.

When we did see pigs they had already gotten past us and were way out – around 400 yards – and not stopping. I was a little bummed, but at least we knew there were pigs around; we regrouped and tried again.

This time we climbed out to a nice peak with the intention of glassing.

Tyson had his little Jack Russell terrier puppy with him. He is training the pup to be a hunting dog, providing Tyson with a great opportunity for the dog to get some practice. We laughed a bit as the puppy jumped through the tall grass, more often rolling over himself in trying to keep up.

We were walking out to the outcrop to glass when we spotted the first snake of the day. Thank goodness the little dog hadn’t seen it when he went past and we were able to dispatch the rattlesnake before the dog even knew it was there. We were a little more careful where we stepped from then on.

I DIDN’T FIND MY pig that evening, but undaunted we set out early again the next morning. The puppy stayed home this time because we had seen two more snakes since that first one.

We followed the same pattern and drove around checking the most

While Boddington was ready for action, her guide’s Jack Russell terrier puppy (lower left) is still learning the ropes. A rattler welcomed the hunting party in the field. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

likely spots for wild boars. We didn’t find any that morning and the wind picked up pretty drastically.

We hiked a few ridges and glassed a bunch of hills with no luck, so we tried driving up into another area and hiked down this time onto the face of a big hill that overlooked a very brushy valley and opposing hillside. We sat down to glass for a bit, and after about 10 minutes Tyson spotted a group of pigs working their way into the thick brush.

We sat for what seemed like forever watching the last spot that Tyson saw the pigs, but nothing moved.

I started to wonder if he had really seen pigs, but my skepticism was unfounded; after an hour or so I spotted a black pig moving down through the shrubs. I got on the gun and waited for my chance.

68 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

I fired the moment the pig stopped and Tyson gave me a distance, but I wasn’t sure of my shot. The pig ran and I thought I had blown it, but the hog never came out of the bush it ran behind. The shot was at 200 yards and the gun was sighted at 200, so I should have been right on, but the reaction looked wrong to me.

We waited for a while, and just when I had given up, the black pig appeared on the other side of the bush. It was obviously hit but not down, so when I shot again, this time it dropped and didn’t move. I was so relieved!

We made our way over to that side of the hill and I checked the pig carefully with the end of my gun barrel, but it was stone-cold dead. I had a beautiful boar and meat for the freezer. I’d call that a

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All in all, between sampling the fruit of the Paso Robles area’s vinyards (inset), restaurants and stuffing the freezer with a wild pig, this was a great short trip for the author. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

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SIERRA

TRUCKEE BACK ON TRACK

RECORD-SETTING RAIN AND SNOW IMPROVES ICONIC SIERRA RIVER’S TROUT POPULATION

Anglers who regularly fish the Truckee River, seen here from the California side, are hoping for better days ahead as heavy rains and snowfall are expected to help river flows and cool water temps. (RYAN HUGHES)

By Ryan Hughes

A

s the rain and snow continued to fall throughout this wet season, a sense of extreme relief took over the region that had suffered a historic West Coast drought.

Residents of many Western states were affected by the lack of rain, but there is no population that has been impacted as negatively as our trout – from rainbows, browns and brookies to elusive tigers (brook/brown hybrids) and goldens.

Trout are the most sought-after bounties of our waters and various groups and organizations work relentlessly to keep them around.

Needless to say, trout need an abundant amount of water in order to

sustain a healthy and growing population.

Unfortunately, conditions have been increasingly adverse in recent years due to the dry climate. But now those formerly suffering Western locations are receiving massive amounts of precipitation. The resurgence has benefited people, wildlife species, and, of course, the trout.

A REBIRTH ON THE TRUCKEE Among the many struggling trout populations, the aquatic residents of the Sierra Nevada’s Truckee River – flowing from Lake Tahoe and across the border into Nevada – have been faced with a plight that has been threatening their existence for the duration of the drought.

During that period, several efforts

had been made by Nevada Department of Wildlife, including the “Rest Your River” campaign that requested anglers to follow a list of suggestions regarding fishing the Truckee, such as only fishing in the early mornings when the water is coldest.

Even with a high trout population, the underlying problem with the Truckee has been the lack of water, which creates more competition for the fish and tends to increase predation rates and unavoidable mortal-

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SIERRA ity for many inhabitants of the river.

Low water often also means warmer water, lethal to all trout. Warmer water does not allow for as much dissolved oxygen as cold water; warm water, in low-water situations, starves the fish of oxygen.

That said, the entire Reno-Tahoe area saw a record year for precipitation. While Reno has endured the wettest recorded year in its history, the Sierra has been bombarded with record snowfall. Tahoe City saw 437 percent of normal precipitation for October 2016. Much of California has been pulled from the depths of its drought, and the state is now well on its way to having its wettest year to date, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Storms continued to rip through the mountains well into spring, and the Truckee was glad to receive a healthy dose of water.

IMPACT ON TROUT So what does this do exactly for the Truckee’s trout population? All this water contributes to several extremely pivotal aspects of the river; in fact, it will prompt many beneficial changes for the river. The first and foremost role it plays is habitat for aquatic life. Aside from providing more areas of water for fish to move around and live in, the mass of water will flush out the gravel and rearrange structures in some runs. To be more specific, fish will have much easier access to spawning.

When gravel is moved around by the heavy flows, it is cleaned of much of the silt that has been building up for the past few years. As for structures, trees are falling into the river and rocks are being moved around as well, providing additional structures for fish to spawn and live in.

Brian Slusser is a guide on the Truckee and is also the president of the Truckee River chapter of Trout Unlimited. So he has a deep affection for both the river and the trout living in it.

One constant for the Truckee is that it’s known more for the size of the trout that anglers catch than sheer numbers of fish. “Those fish turn over to feeding on (crayfish) and actually become predatory and piscivorous, which, in turn, makes them grow faster,” says fishery biologist Travis Hawks. (RYAN HUGHES)

“Just being a guide and local angler, I think it’s good and bad. The bugs might take a little bit of a hit, but the gravels are going to get a good flushing. It could rearrange some of the runs to provide better spawning habitat structure. Trees have fallen in the river, and all that stuff is good,” Slusser said. “I don’t think the water will do anything to the fish that are already there. The bugs are probably getting scrubbed out a little bit, but they’ll recover as well.”

Without an abundance of these underwater structures, fish expend much more energy while trying to move throughout waterways. With this rapid increase of water comes a tremendous increase of flow. During this precipitation season the Truckee has seen extremely high flows, and the river reached flood stages multiple times throughout the year.

Though all this water is great for our fish, it breeds a few instances of adversity for them. Fish need some sort of structure to seek shelter behind to hide from these strong flows.

Fortunately, these storms are providing these forms of shelter for the fish.

BIOLOGIST’S VIEW Travis Hawks, a biologist for the Nevada Department of Wildlife, performs research and studies on the Truckee alongside other fish biolo-

74 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

gists. Though he studies the Nevada side of the river, the fish populations that he observes are an incredible sample to look at with regards to the river as a whole.

The Nevada side took a much larger hit from the drought than the California side, mostly due to its location at lower elevation and being at a higher risk for drying up. Hawks’ studies indicate that the current salmonid population of the Truckee is 25 percent of what it was in 2013, a number that includes all fish of every age and size.

Though the drought’s effects have been dramatic, some sections of the river have been impacted more than others. Sections are recovering at different rates as well. There is no doubt that 25 percent is a very harsh number that reflects the devastating impact from the drought. However, while referring to a section of the Truckee that is west of Reno, “the wild rainbow recruitment in that section was unreal,” Hawks said on the Reno Fly Shop podcast (he was also interviewed for this report).

The term “recruitment” refers to the successful rearing of juvenile fish and that many young wild rainbow trout were present during Hawks’ study. The study showed that 58 percent of rainbow trout and 60 percent of browns were juvenile.

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SIERRA

Trophy brown trout are among the reasons why catchand-release anglers in the Reno and Lake Tahoe area are so enamored with these waters. Locals are hoping the wet weather of 2016-17 will keep this fishery flourishing. (RYAN HUGHES)

“[After a severe drought cycle] you want to see young fish because it shows that the species is still capable of reproducing, and that they are going to have a compensatory response,” Hawks said.

“That’s exactly what we’re seeing in the Truckee, in both browns and rainbows.”

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY The Truckee typically supports the trend of fewer but bigger fish; con-

versely, many other rivers have a much higher density of fish that are much smaller on average. This is because of the higher rate of predatory behavior of trout. There is a high population of crayfish year-round in the Truckee River, where the average trout’s diet will consist of these crayfish, helping the trout to grow at a fairly high rate.

“Those fish turn over to feeding on (crayfish) and actually become predatory and piscivorous, which,

in turn, makes them grow faster,” Hawks said. “You can either have a lot of fish or you can have a decent number of big fish. And I think in the Truckee you get those fish that started becoming predatory and got bigger quicker.”

Having fewer fish can make such a population much less resilient to severe drought situations, such as the one that we had experienced.

However, Truckee trout are making an excellent comeback. In fact, many of these fish are healthier than the generations before them.

The term “condition factor,” or K-factor, is the measurement of a fish’s health. Hawks claims to be seeing some of the highest K-factors he has ever seen before in the Truckee.

“These older-age-class fish that we are sampling right now are as healthy as any fish that I’ve ever seen in any water I’ve sampled,” Hawks said.

“They’re at the very upper end of the spectrum, as far as health. There are some awesome fish right now.”

BETTER DAYS AHEAD Though the Truckee River has recently seen a severe degree of adversity, its struggles seem to be behind it.

Work performed by excellent organizations – NDOW and Truckee Trout Unlimited worked hard to combat the issues – contributed to the conservation of Sierra Nevada trout populations, as well as the tradition of fly fishing in the Truckee.

The river is increasingly being recognized as a world-class trout fishery, and the hope is that it continues to grow and flourish as a premier fishery.

With the way things are going now, there is a great chance that we will be seeing many more incredible fish coming out of this iconic river.

There is also a good possibility that we may be seeing Lahontan cutthroat trout running up from Nevada’s Pyramid Lake, which the river drains into. A chance at a 15-pound trout sure sounds rather impressive, given where the Truckee has been. CS 76 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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SIERRA In June, there will still be a lot of snow in the Sierra, so as anglers prepare to head up to the high country, lakes and streams that have been fishable in the recent past, like the Mammoth Lakes Basin, are more clouded in uncertainty this season, requiring fishermen to be flexible with their plans.

(MIKE STEVENS)

JUNE BOON OR SWOON?

AFTER A WET AND WHITE WINTER, HOW HIGH-ELEVATION FISHERIES COPE AS SUMMER ARRIVES REMAINS TO BE SEEN

By Mike Stevens

T

here is no doubt that the miracle winter California experienced is pretty much a positive thing across the board when it comes to Eastern Sierra watersheds.

But the remaining question marks – many of them unanswerable – are enough to keep Highway 395 trout guys up at night.

Everyone knows that conditions in the region are predictably unpredictable for the most part – week to week, if not day to day or even hour to hour – but all that glorious snowpack adds unique variables to the situation.

While those factors are out of the control of any human being, it’s wise to think about the possibilities this

year and how to “improvise, adapt and overcome” when conditional elements up there change the way a Sierra fishing trip will be executed.

Heading up with a business-as-usual attitude is not the way to go in 2017.

I know I’m going up with not only a plan B, but also C, D, E and, heaven forbid, F.

LAST YEAR, MY JULY trip landed in the middle of an obnoxious heat wave that had daytime temps in Mammoth Lakes getting into the mid-80s without a cloud in the sky. Preferring at least some cloud cover so fishing through the middle of the day would be a lot more comfy, I made the call to head up Tioga Pass, as higher elevation usually means lower temps.

That audible not only saved the trip – we hammered trout up and down the pass at Ellery Lake, Lee Vining Creek, Saddlebag Lake and Tioga Lake – but it immediately moved way up in the annual rotation, as far as I was concerned. It became an area worth spending at least one entire day, even if lower environs weren’t a dust bowl. But will we even have access to it by late June?

One year, my favorite drive-to lake in the Eastern Sierra – Saddlebag Lake on Tioga Pass – opened in the middle of the week I was there in July. I got lucky that time and was able to fish it, although it was not yet stocked. In the Mammoth Lakes Basin at lower altitude, a ton of snow still bordered most of the lakes. Twin

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SIERRA

Mammoth Creek, which meanders through the high country at around 8,500 feet, is a wild card. Author Mike Stevens, a veteran angler in the Eastern Sierra, has found similar spots still snowed in as late as July. But it’s difficult to guess what to expect this year. (MIKE STEVENS)

wasn’t so bad, Mary was fishable but you’d see a Volkswagen-sized chunk of snow break off and fall in the lake about every 20 minutes, and George was free of ice but you had to hike to it from Mary.

If inclement weather moves through, fleeing downhill is always an option, as the June Lake Loop and Mammoth Lakes are lower than Tioga Pass, Crowley and Convict Lakes sit lower than Mammoth, and so on.

But this year, the chance of a storm moving through isn’t the main concern, at least no more so than in any other year. The factor now is snowpack: how is it when you go and where you fish, and when will the major runoff periods happen? It’s a steady process that’s always ongoing,

but all it takes is a decent heat wave to crank it up 1,000 or so percent – how does an angler react to it?

JUST TO ILLUSTRATE HOW much snow is up there that will soon be “down here,” by late May there was already a state of emergency for the entire Owens Valley in anticipation of huge runoff. Here is a snippet of the official announcement: “(Los Angeles) Mayor Eric Garcetti has declared a local state of emergency to protect the lands and communities near the Los Angeles Aqueduct from flooding, as this year’s historic Eastern Sierra snowpack begins to melt into the Owens Valley. This year’s snowpack in the Eastern Sierras is 241 percent above normal, and

80 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

The author says that if trails are clear of snow and passable, hike into the easier backcountry spots to get on top of much of the runoff.

Options include trails such as Mosquito Flats out of Rock Creek Lake or Duck Pass from Lake Mary.

(BRIAN STEVENS)

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81

SIERRA once spring sets in, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) expects the snowmelt to send up to 1 million acre-feet of runoff into the Owens Valley. This runoff – nearly twice the amount of water Angelenos use in a year – will likely threaten local communities, hydroelectric power plants, and dust mitigation infrastructure in Owens Lake with destructive flooding ...”

While much of that area is pretty far “down the hill” from where Eastern Sierra anglers like to fish, that’s a good look at the amount of snow and runoff we will be dealing with.

AS FAR AS CALLING audibles if conditions go to hell in your favorite spots, my pieces of advice are as follows: • If runoff blows out your creeks or rivers, move to lakes where the fishing isn’t as adversely affected by new water.

• If you just have to fish mov-

Colorful Owens rainbows await late-spring and early-summer anglers, but the river could be very high with runoff. Get out a map, use weather apps on your phone, go with your gut feelings, brainstorm or just guess on some new areas and see how the next couple months unfold. (JESSICA STRICKLAND)

82 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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ing water, take a meat-and-potatoes approach with attractor-type lures and flies that are visible in off-color water. Target side-channels, eddies, undercut banks and deep pools that trout will use to stay out of the fast current, and fish slow. Plastics – especially scented ones – are ideal for this.

• If trails are clear of snow and passable, hike into the easier backcountry spots to get on top of much of the runoff. Trails Mosquito Flats (out of Rock Creek Lake) or the Duck Pass Trail (Lake Mary) come to mind. This will not likely be an option early in the season, as snow will be covering trails well into early summer.

Keep in mind that new water in the form of runoff was snow not very long ago, so it’s near freezing. It will affect lake temperatures, so slow, scaled-down and possibly scented tactics are advisable in lakes, too. A cold trout is a sluggish trout (more sluggish than usual, anyway).

The good news is, the lake-cooling factor brought on by runoff will be in play much later in the summer, so this year, August will fish more like a typical June or July. Over the last few drought years, if you got up there in August, you were dealing with water pushing 70 degrees, in which most trout are caught trolling leadcore line or fishing bait deep.

Those are just a few things to think about. Otherwise, be open-minded to areas you might not be familiar with, like when I headed up Tioga Pass to beat the heat. It instantly became a favorite area for a guy who has been fishing the Eastern Sierra for a quarter of a century.

Thankfully, snowplowing is already underway up Tioga Pass, but it takes one to two months, barring a late May snowstorm that pushed it even further back.

Get out a map, use weather apps on your phone, go with your gut feelings, brainstorm or just guess on some new areas. It feels pretty cool when desperate times call for such measures and it pans out. CS

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86 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

SOCAL Tom Buckalew caught this San Vicente Reservoir bass on an 8-inch Texas-rigged worm.

Consistent action from 2- to 6-pound largies makes this San Diego East County spot one of Southern California’s best. (BILL SCHAEFER)

AN OLD STAPLE KEEPS GOING

SAN DIEGO COUNTY’S SAN VICENTE RESERVOIR REMAINS ONE OF SOUTHLAND’S ELITE BASSING SPOTS

By Capt. Bill Schaefer

L

ast year, San Vicente Reservoir opened to anticipation of being the top lake in Southern California.

Fishing went well at the San Diego East County locale for those who adapted to the bass going deep from all the boat noise they weren’t used to enduring. However, once fishermen did adjust and fished a little deeper, they scored largemouth in the 2- to 6-pound range. Most wondered what would happen the following spring.

Well, from this current spring and right up until now on the verge of summer, the bass haven’t disappointed. The spawn brought more fish into the shallower water for some great fishing. The bass now seem to be spread out a little more than last year, from shallow to deep water. Some of the larger fish are still hanging out on deep points, but there is action all over the lake.

There is some topwater action, although that should improve in another month or two. For now, soft jerkbaits are doing well around submerged brush. Don’t forget there are a lot of bushes that became submerged when the water came up; they will be for some time.

Recent rains have even brought the lake up a little more, and a great lure for this situation is the Yamamoto Senko. Thrown weightless, it sinks slow and sits on top of the brush, waiting to be bit. Crankbaits and hard jerkbaits are also holding their own and enticing the largemouth to bite.

Among the bait set-ups that are taking a lot of fish are the umbrella rigs. Remember that you’ll need a good strong set-up to throw this rig. You don’t want to throw your money into the bottom of the lake.

I use a 7-foot, 6-inch Daiwa Tatula rod and a matching Tatula reel with 50-pound Daiwa or Maxima braided line. The braid will help you keep

your bait. A YUMbrella Flash Mob rig is my choice because it has small spinnerbait blades on the shafts to help the plastic baits look like a small school of shad.

If targeting larger bass right now, fish main lake points and old island humps with larger worms. When the lake opened last year I fished a lot of 8- to 12-inch worms. We would sit in, throw out deep and work uphill. This technique has always been a good one at San Vicente. Use Texas-rigged worms with not too much weight – maybe 3/16- to ¼ ounce and peg the weight; remember all that brush they’re hiding in out there when setting up.

It looks like San Vicente will stay on the list of top fisheries in the Southland, and I think we will only see it get better. We will also see larger and stronger bass as forage fish repopulate.

Maybe we’ll even witness some new personal bests or even a lake record if everything goes well. CS

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88 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

SOCAL

MISSION’S POSSIBLE GREATNESS SAN DIEGO-AREA BAY CHURNING OUT SPOTTED BAY BASS

By Capt. Bill Schaefer

S

an Diego’s Mission Bay has a large population of spotted bay bass, plus sand bass and calicos, but the main targets for most of the fishermen here are the spotties.

Smaller summer tides make for a lot of perfect days for targeting these strong firecracker bass. These little guys may average a modest 1 to 2 pounds, but they pull like little freight trains. The current International Game Fish Association all-tackle record is 4.92 pounds and was caught inside the waters of Mission Bay, located northwest of downtown San Diego (a 6.75-pound state record fish came from Newport Bay, along the Orange County coast).

Larger fish have been caught, but anglers seem to enjoy the catch alone and let them go.

The most enjoyable way to fish Mission Bay is to think of it as a large lake, as the bay has very similar structure as freshwater fisheries.

Piling, grass, docks and rock make up the majority of the fishing areas.

The great thing is that the spotted bay bass will eat all of your freshwater lures you’d throw to fish for largemouth and smallmouth, so fishing freshwater bass-type tackle is the way to go here. For the most fun, fish either casting or spinning tackle in a

Bill Hokstad shows off an average-sized Mission Bay spotted bay bass caught on a spinnerbait over deep weeds. This San Diego saltwater fishery will produce a lot of spotties averaging 1 to 2 pounds, but they fight like bigger fish would. (BILL SCHAEFER)

medium-action rig (again, as if you were targeting freshwater bass). You can use all your same tackle from the lakes. Just don’t accidentally bring your expensive magnesium reels.

I have been fishing Mission Bay for about 50 years now and love the fact that I can use my Daiwa bass equipment out there. I will fish a 6½to 7-foot Daiwa Tatula casting rod with 10-pound green Maxima line for spinnerbaits and crankbaits. I’ll go a little lighter on my spinning gear and fish with the same length rod, but 6- or 8-pound Maxima green with a fluorocarbon leader for various plastic jigs. About the only time you need some really heavy rod and line is if you’re throwing an umbrella rig, which the bass will also attack like crazy out there.

While like a lake, just remember that this is a saltwater bay and

there is tidal movement to consider.

The movement gets the entire food chain feeding and helps your chances of catching fish. Tides should be in the 2- to 4-foot level of movement, but you should always go no matter the tide. You just may catch more on the optimal ones. The incoming tide can be a little better because the fish know the water is rising into the shallows, which hold the clams and crustaceans they are seeking to eat.

If you have ever fished largemouth or smallmouth, then you can also go to the bay and just go fishing like you would at your local lake and do well. Flip docks, chuck crankbaits or jerkbaits over the grass, bounce jigs down the rocks, or even swim spinnerbaits or umbrella rigs over the weeds. It all works here. You just have to go try it. CS

calsportsmanmag.com | JUNE 2017 California Sportsman

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90 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

SOCAL

BONANZA OFF THE BEACH John Matilla works the surf off a Southern California beach.

These shoreline waters provide anglers with simple gear a chance to spend a beautiful day in the sun while catching multiple saltwater species. (TIM E. HOVEY)

WANT TO CATCH A VARIETY OF SPECIES? FISH CALIFORNIA’S SHORELINES FOR A DIVERSE BUFFET

By Tim E. Hovey

I

’ve always enjoyed the species variety of my outdoor activities.

When hunting season rolls around I don’t just hunt one bird or animal; I hunt whatever’s in season. The same holds true for fishing.

I love fishing for all types of species.

In fact, I recently tallied up the different fish I’ve caught over my lifetime of angling, using the Guide to the Coastal Marine Fishes of California, a book by Daniel Miller and Robert Lea. After going through the text twice, I came up with a total of 117 species I’ve caught by hook and line.

The actual tally is sure to be higher, as the book doesn’t account for any freshwater species or those caught in other regions. It’s safe to say that I’ve seen my fair share of different species dangling at the end of a line, and I

hope to keep adding to that list for years to come.

While a triple-digit species list may seem impressive, it doesn’t mean anything to me. I don’t fish to check species off a to-do list; I fish because I love it. I’ve soaked mackerel for huge channel cats in the local lake; I’ve trolled $100 lures longer than my forearm for marlin; I’ve jigged iron off the coast for rockfish. And to this day, I still tense up when my bobber starts dancing on the surface when I chase panfish. The bottom line: It doesn’t matter what species I’m chasing; if it has a mouth and can be caught, I’ll try and catch it.

that all I need is a little time and a rod to get my fishing fix. When spring arrives, a small tackle pack and a rod are always in my truck.

The gear is simple and the rig famil-

PROBABLY ONE OF MY favorite types of fishing that offers a chance to catch a variety of different species is ocean shore angling. I love the convenience of casting from the sand and knowing

The author’s gear is always packed in his truck just in case he gets the urge to hit the beach.

(TIM E. HOVEY)

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SOCAL

Hovey and his daughters had their usual 8-pound line tested by a feisty leopard shark. Among the many other nearshore species that might bite your bait are barred surfperch, California corbina, walleye surfperch and jacksmelt. (TIM E. HOVEY)

iar. To combat the rolling surf, I usually take a 7-foot rod or longer. While most of my friends use spinning outfits, I have just spent too much time behind my baitcasters to give them up.

I don’t subscribe to the fancy fishing lines. I load the reels with 8-pound test of whatever is in my pack.

The terminal tackle is a standard Carolina rig with a Berkley Gulp!

Sandworm pinned on the hook. I’ve used the artificial bait ever since it was introduced and I love the convenience of just tossing the sealable pack into my pocket and walking the shore.

When it comes to picking a spot to fish along the beach, I don’t just cast anywhere. Starting in the spring, sand crab beds should be visible in the receding waves. If I can combine a large crab bed with some chaotic waves that come in at different angles, that’s my starting point. Waves hitting the beds will wash out sand crabs and fish stack up in the shallows awaiting an easy meal. Other shore invertebrates will also get washed out, so any lure imitating worms and crabs will usually get the attention of the predators that call

92 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

the turbulent waves home.

I’ve made several trips to one of my favorite beaches over the last few weeks to cast for the fish that patrol the shallows. After a wet winter I was looking forward to testing the bite, and I got an early start to beat the crowds. I drove up and down the beach twice before I settled on a spot.

At the surf, I kicked dozens of sand crabs out of the bed I had spotted from the truck. I threaded a Berkley Sandworm on the hook and made a cast into white water. Within seconds, I felt the bite and set the

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93

SOCAL hook. After a brief fight, a hand-sized barred surfperch struggled in an inch of water at my feet.

For the next two hours I caught and released two dozen surfperch, a few large enough to challenge my 8-pound test. With another hour of moving water left on a favorable tide, I made a longer cast and within seconds felt the bite. Instantly, I could tell the fight was different. After a short battle, a walleye surfperch bounced in the surf and resembled a shiny slab of silver. Before my time at the beach was done that day, I added a yellowfin croaker to the species list.

THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND, I headed back to the beach with my friend John Matilla. John and I have fished the coast together for years, and he was just as eager to get out and enjoy a day at the beach.

For the first hour we caught several surfperch, with the occasion-

As John Matilla will attest, fishing Pacific Ocean beaches with light line and catching a lot of saltwater fish makes for a great day on the water.

(TIM E. HOVEY)

al walleye perch mixed in. The fish weren’t large, but the weather was perfect and it was fun casting the surf for bites.

I made a long cast and slowly worked the lure in the white water of a breaking wave. About halfway back I felt a slight tick on the line and set the hook. The bend in the rod indicated something more substantial

at the end of my line. The fish made a run straight out and I instantly thought about a leopard shark I had hooked on light line a few years before that had done the same thing.

The fish then worked its way back to the shallows and then raced up and down the beach in only inches of water. By the way it was fighting I knew it wasn’t a surfperch.

After another minute I had the fish in the shallows and the next wave deposited the fish at my feet.

The California corbina flopped in the sand, the green sandworm lure stuck firmly in its mouth.

I took a few photos of the corbina and let it go. With the growing crowds and the slowing tide, John and I decided to call it a day. On the drive home, we talked about the different species we’ve caught off the beach. I had caught several corbina off the San Diego beaches I used to fish, but I couldn’t recall ever catching one on those I now fish to the north of San Diego.

My time on the coast is not about catching the most fish or the biggest. When the struggles of life pile up, I head to the shore to essentially recharge my batteries. I enjoy the convenience of fishing the shore and the simple gear in my hands. Wading at the surf and kicking through the sand is as much a part of my shore fishing experience as hooking surfperch from the foam.

I THINK ABOUT ALL the time I’ve spent on the beach casting to the shallows.

My daughters learned to fish on this beach and I’ve had the pleasure of watching them both become capable anglers. Maybe it isn’t the variety of fish I can catch from the shore that keeps me coming back. Maybe, just like visiting an old friend, it’s the memories and good times I remember while walking the sand.

After all, considering that I started my angling career on a beach just like the one I now fish, maybe it’s just embracing the calm of a special place. CS 94 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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SOCAL

FROM FIELD ...

INTO THE

BLUE LOOKING FOR A FISHING PRIZE FIGHT? THE PACIFIC’S GIANT BLUEFIN TUNA HAVE GLOVES ON

By Scott Haugen

M

y buddy made the perfect cast, and as he started to retrieve, he was confident a feisty yellowtail tuna would hit.

He got the strike he’d hoped for, but when the surface erupted and his reel screamed, it was obvious he had something big on.

Four hours of fishing later he got his first look at the fish, a giant bluefin tuna pushing the 200-pound mark.

He buried the rod into his fighting belt and gave it all he had – leaning back, lifting, waiting for the deckhand to gaff the behemoth. At the same time the tuna turned, ran and straightened the hook. It was gone.

Had my friend been equipped to handle big, hard-fighting bluefins, chances are he would have landed that fish. With multiple tuna species to explore throughout California, an angler could get consumed by all the gear available to invest in.

While yellowtail and yellowfin are fun to catch, it’s the mighty bluefin tuna that anglers are most enamored with. They’re attracting anglers from around the country and gearing up for bluefin tuna is easy and won’t break the bank.

THE GEAR Capt. Robby Gant, Shimano’s West-

Fighting a bluefin can last a few minutes or a few hours, depending on where the tuna is hooked.

Having the right gear to hook, fight and land these voracious fish is the key to success. (ROBBY GANT)

ern region sales manager, is serious about his bluefin tuna fishing. He helps create some of the best tuna gear on the market, and that means it has to catch fish. If fishing tackle doesn’t produce, then word travels fast, and Robby’s best form of job security is getting tackle that works into the hands of anglers.

“The set-up for bluefin tuna is simple and really works well,” Gant says. “A spinning set-up allows you to cover lots of water and efficiently fight a tuna. One of the most popular set-ups is a 7- to 8-foot Terez spinning rod with a heavy power rating, and a Twin Power 1400 reel spooled with 80-pound Maxcuatro. Tip that with a 2- to 3-foot section of 100-pound fluorocarbon and a Shimano Ocea Spouter and you’re ready to go fishing.”

The Ocea Spouter, also called an Ocea Popper, is a surface popper. It has a standard cupped face, but an internal chamber runs behind the

face and squirts a trail of spray behind the head of the plug when it’s moved through the water. The sound, action and spraying water appeal to voracious tuna. Bright colors are most popular.

THE APPROACH Chasing bluefin tuna is more like hunting than fishing.

“When you scout for these fish, you don’t troll around hoping to luck into them,” says Gant. “Each person on the boat needs high-powered binoculars. Drive around, stop, glass for fish, and when you find them boiling, get on ‘em fast.”

Gant cautions to move the boat into casting position with stealth.

“You’ll see them boiling on the surface, but don’t pull in too quick or too close or you’ll put ‘em down.

A lot of times you only get one cast before they spook and dive deep, so make it count.”

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NORCAL SOCAL

... TO FIRE

KEEP ALL THAT TUNA TASTY

By Tiffany Haugen

T

una, tuna, tuna! It seems that more times than not when you make a run for these fish, you either get a whole lot of them or nothing.

You might come in with a bunch of yellowtails or one monster bluefin. One of the challenges when bringing in so much meat, of any species, is finding creative ways to prepare it so you don’t get tired of eating it.

This is a fun, delicious recipe that’s sure to be a hit. Even if you’re buying your tuna at the store, this is a treat you’ll likely keep coming back to. ½-pound sashimi-grade tuna 1 tablespoon mayonnaise 2 teaspoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon spicy mustard 1 teaspoon hot chili sauce 1 teaspoon soy sauce Half teaspoon sesame oil Half teaspoon sugar One cucumber seeded and sliced in

four strips One avocado, thinly sliced 2 cups short grain or brown rice 1⁄3 cup seasoned rice vinegar Four sheets toasted nori Wasabi and sesame seeds for garnish In a medium bowl, mix mayo, lemon juice, mustard, chili sauce, soy sauce, oil and sugar. Chop tuna into small cubes, dice or mince. Add tuna to sauce, mixing until thoroughly combined. Refrigerate until ready to assemble rolls.

Cook rice according to package or rice cooker instructions (if using brown rice, increase water by a half cup to make it sticky). While rice is still hot, add seasoned rice vinegar, stirring gently but thoroughly. Cool rice before assembling rolls by spreading in a shallow dish and covering with a cold, wet dishtowel.

To assemble rolls, spread rice evenly to coat entire sheet of nori (leave approximately a half-inch uncovered on both ends). Place a quarter of tuna mixture down the middle of the rice layer and

98 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

A big tuna or large catch of them yield a lot of meat, which is both wonderful and a challenge to keep everyone satisfied with the ways you prepare it. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)

add one strip cucumber and a few slices of avocado. Roll up nori, squeezing firmly by hand or with a bamboo sushi mat.

Set aside and repeat with remaining rolls. Using a sharp, moist knife, slice in desired serving pieces. Serve with wasabi and additional soy sauce if desired.

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany Haugen’s latest cookbook, Cooking Seafood, send a check for $20 (free S&H) to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489, or visit tiffanyhaugen.com.

Catch her cooking on The Sporting Chef TV show and online at Cook With Cabela’s.

calsportsmanmag.com | JUNE 2017 California Sportsman

99

SOCAL Before hitting the ocean, make sure you can cast your set-up with pinpoint accuracy. Know your effective range and what you can do in a crosswind, and be able to hit your mark.

“When you see them up foaming on the surface, feeding on baitfish, you want to get that popper inside the school,” Gant adds. “You’re fishing a popper, so you’re chugging it, but don’t move it too fast. You want to keep it in the middle of the baitball for as long as possible, even if that means dead-sticking it and letting it just sit on the surface.”

“If you miss the cast by a couple feet, you’ve likely blown it. You can try re-casting, but by that time the opportunity has usually passed. Hit the center and you can get hit the instant the popper lands.”

THE FIGHT Shimano President Dave Pfeiffer (left) is all smiles over this hefty bluefin. Capt. Robby Gant is dialed in to these prized fish and makes his living helping to create the best tackle to catch them. (ROBBY GANT)

Patience and persistence are the keys to bluefin fishing. If a fish is hooked in the side of the jaw, fights can last three hours, even on good gear. Hook it deep and the fish might be flopping in the boat in 10 minutes.

“Don’t horse these fish in,” Gant warns. “Bluefins are big, strong fish, and you don’t want to break the line or straighten the hook. It’s truly the fish of a lifetime for many anglers, so take your time and enjoy the battle.”

Bluefin start showing up around April in the San Diego area. They like cooler water, often following it 200 miles to the west during the warm summer months. They can be caught into November when the conditions are right and the bait plentiful.

Witnessing the voracious surface strike of a bluefin tuna and then locking in battle is one of fishing’s greatest experiences. But don’t go in undergunned or that opportunity of a lifetime might slip away. CS Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott and Tiffany Haugen’s latest cookbook, Cooking Seafood, send a check for $20 (free S&H) to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489, or visit tiffanyhaugen.com

100 California Sportsman JUNE 2017 | calsportsmanmag.com

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GEAR REVIEW

Author Al Quackenbush demonstrates the LumaShark, a Hardened Arms handguard that “is easy to grip and handle in a fast-paced environment,” he says. (AL QUACKENBUSH)

THIS SHARK HAS BITE

HARDENED ARMS HANDGUARD FOR AR-PLATFORM RIFLES SHINES

By Albert Quackenbush

A GREAT MATCH

C

The LumaShark is a 12-inch free float handguard that eliminates the need for any additional bolt-on lighting. My team and I attached the LumaShark to multiple lower receivers in 5.56mm (Hardened Arms does offer other calibers). They matched up perfectly on each. It’s easy to grip and handle in a fast-paced spot. The sleek design lets you comfortably grasp it with no slipping issues.

Getting the end caps off to insert the batteries into the Cree lights was easy, but threading them back was a bit of a challenge. Once you actually do get them threaded, they go on smoothly and snug up well. An

ombining powerful lighting technology and T-6061 aluminum, and bearing a made in the U.S.A. stamp, the LumaShark from Hardened Arms is one of the best new upper receivers for AR-15 platform rifles.

As a Second Amendment supporter, hunter, husband, father and a homeowner, I wanted to see how well the LumaShark would perform in different situations. Fortune shined her eyes on me when I was given the opportunity to field-test one of the patented units for the past couple months.

email detailing my concerns was sent and Hardened Arms responded.

“There are two O-rings to increase waterproofing of special operations.

From a civilian standpoint, that waterproofing level is not a necessity,” a representative told me. “The initial O-ring can be removed for ease of threading back on. It will continue to keep debris out of the lighting system and maintain a lower level of waterproofing, more than acceptable for the average civilian.”

I opted to leave the O-rings alone. Simply grip the upper and slide your hand forward to independently engage the on/off buttons of each light. It’s really that simple

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and wo works as fast as you can move your hand forward.

This is where the L LumaShark stands out from othWith good handling er uppers. Even and the flexibility to switch to a less with one light it bright light, the is blinding! Two LumaShark could make it seem like work well for both hunting and you can send a protection. message to a dis(HARDENED ARMS) tant planet. Inside my house I had to use caution so as not to look directly at the area I was lighting up.

The good news is that you can switch out the bulbs to make them less bright for civilian use. I found out you can change bulbs from the

1150-lumen bulbs to 200 or 500. I 1150-lu that would be helpful, as the think th drawback to using 1150 bulbs one dr is that you will lose battery life considerably faster. That being said, I do believe the lights and construction make the LumaShark an excellent choice for home defense.

TESTING IT OUT I took it to the rifle range three times – twice at night and once during the day. Testing my ability to effectively handle the weapon and turn on the lights was quite enjoyable. I easily turned on one light and then two, and then back to one. I cleanly lit up a target out at 440 yards, even in minor Southern California sandstorms caused by high winds.

I fired over a hundred rounds of .223 at targets at 25 and 50 yards lit up by the LumaShark. The lighting and the feel as I fired was impressive and intense. If something was in the beam(s) of light, I could see it as

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clear as day.

What impressed me most was the feel of the upper as I test fired it.

MSRP on the LumaShark 5.56 upper receiver is $829.99, which I understand is steep for the average shooter. As an average shooter myself, this is a bit out of my price range, but I could justify the investment of one in .300 Blackout so I could use it for home defense and for hunting. For law enforcement officers or those who need something like this in their profession, it’s good value.

The lights are in the best position to turn on at a moment’s notice, and it handles exceptionally well. You can’t put a price on protecting your family, so I recommend giving the LumaShark a try for yourself. Having one on hand will be peace of mind in the hope that you never have to use it to defend yourself or your family. CS Editor’s note: For more from the author, check out socalbowhunter.com.

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Teaching The Basics:

HUNTING

Sit, Stay, Come

By Scott Haugen

T

eaching a puppy restraint is considered by many canine owners and trainers to be the most important element of raising a gun dog. But when should you start?

As I’ve stated earlier in this sequential series, I like bringing a puppy home at seven weeks of age. For the first week, the focus is on getting the pup used to its new home. Let it explore inside and out, using its nose and eyes to take it all in. Potty and crate training begin immediately, and play time is very important in order to develop a strong bond.

At eight weeks of age I like teaching a dog restraint. Introducing the sit, stay and come commands can start at this time. Some dogs may vary in terms of how they respond, but most pups are ready for structure, and using bits of food to help direct them can expedite the learning process.

PUPS ARE MOST TEACHABLE right after a nap, and before going down for one.

As soon as the pup wakes up in the morning, put a leash on it and carry it outside to potty. When opening the kennel door, do it calmly and slowly, as you don’t want them busting out of a crate, ever. Have some of the pup’s food in one hand, as you’ll start teaching it to sit as soon as it potties.

With a little of the pup’s food in hand, take the leash in the same hand and lift it, saying “Sit” in a calm voice while showing a flat, open palm with the other hand. Do this with the hand about a foot from the pup’s nose. If you have to gently push on the pup’s hind end to get it to sit, that’s fine.

If the pup is resistant to sitting, forget about the hand signal for the moment. Instead, put the food in one hand, holding the leash in the

Among the basic beginner commands to teach a gun dog, the hand signal for sit and stay are the same, each reinforced with different verbal cues. Next comes the transition to the come command, which stems from the same hand signal. (SCOTT HAUGEN) calsportsmanmag.com | JUNE 2017 California Sportsman

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The come command is made by simply dropping an open hand that initiated the sit and stay commands. Squatting down to a pup’s level when doing this will get them excited to come to you – in this case, author Scott Haugen’s wife, chef Tiffany Haugen. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

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other. Lift the leash to pull up on the dog’s head and simultaneously push the food, in a closed hand, into the pup’s nose. The pup will want to smell and eat the food. With the pup’s focus being on the food, it now sits quickly and naturally as the food is forced closely to it. Calmly repeat the sit command when doing this.

When the pup sits, praise it and say its name, repeatedly, like “Good boy, Kona, good boy ... good boy.” At the same time, give it a few kibbles.

Next, walk a few steps and repeat the process, ending with praise, petting the pup and giving it a few more pieces of food. Repeat until the kibble is gone, keeping the session short, no longer than two minutes.

Repeat the process every time the pup wakes up from a nap, about seven or eight times on this day. Consistency is the key here, so don’t start it in the morning, go to work and expect the pup to respond the same way nine hours later. Begin this training on the week-

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HUNTING end, when you have a full day or two to consistently teach the pup. At the end of the day, you’ll have about 15 minutes of teaching time in, and you’ll be amazed how quickly the pup will learn. By the end of day one, the last pup I trained was sitting 80 percent of the time just on the sit command alone, with no food prompt or lifting of the leash.

THE NEXT MORNING, PROGRESS from sit to stay. Once the pup is sitting (food is in your hand), calmly repeat “Stay.” Holding the same open hand that was used as a visual cue to get the dog to sit will make it stay. Visual and auditory commands are important to teach at this time, as the pup will soon be responding to each, individually, something that will be a big benefit when hunting.

Sit and stay are almost one command, but will become differentiated as more advanced training takes place, like when teaching a dog to

retrieve a bird it failed to mark, or when getting it to move in a desired direction for one reason or another.

To teach the pup to stay, hold the flat hand a foot from its nose and say stay. Hold the pup there for only one to three seconds. Before the pup breaks, take your open hand and quickly drop it to your side, saying the word “Come.” So, the sequence sounds like this: “Sit ... sit ... stay ... stay ... stay ... stay ... come!” Saying the pup’s name before the sit command and before the come command will help develop name recognition.

When the pup comes to you, praise it, rub its ears and give it some kibble.

I like teaching the come command after we’ve played for a while, as the pup is tired, will naturally sit and stay easier, but is still eager to play. It associates coming to you as an opportunity to play. Eventually you won’t even need kibble to entice it to come, as the pup’s reward is playing with you and pleasing you.

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BY DAY THREE, YOUR pup will likely be sitting, staying and coming to you on command. This is the day I introduce a whistle. With the pup staying, I give the come command while dropping my open hand to my side and blowing twice on a whistle. By the end of the day the pup will likely be coming to the whistle prompt, alone.

Puppies’ brains are like sponges at two months of age. Keep it fun, praise the dog and do not reprimand it. If the pup isn’t progressing like you want, take more time. Evaluate what you’re doing to make sure your teaching is consistent and positive. Do things right, and it’s impressive how quickly a puppy can learn to sit, stay and come on command, building blocks for training them to become a great gun dog. CS Editor’s note: To watch some basic dog training video tips by author Scott Haugen, check out his Facebook page, or visit the talltimberpudelpointers.com blog.

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