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California

Sportsman Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource

Volume 5 • Issue 12 PUBLISHER James R. Baker ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Dick Openshaw EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott EDITOR Chris Cocoles CONTRIBUTORS Nick Barr, Steve Carson, Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Tim E. Hovey, Luke Kelly, Brian Lull, Albert Quackenbush, Bill Schaefer, Mike Stevens SALES MANAGER Brian Lull ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Michelle Carpinelli , Becca Ellingsworth, Mamie Griffin, Mike Nelson, Mike Smith, Vanesa Sax, Paul Yarnold DESIGNERS Dawn Carlson, Beth Harrison, Sonjia Kells PRODUCTION MANAGER John Rusnak INBOUND MARKETING Jon Hines 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 letters, articles/queries, photos, etc., to ccocoles@media-inc.com.

ON THE COVER Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers is one of the NFL’s best and most feared linebackers.

The eight-time Pro Bowl participant and seven-time All-Pro at middle linebacker is also quite the bass angler. (ZUMAPRESS/ICON SPORTSWIRE) INSET: World record bow-caught mako shark. (BIG E OUTDOORS)

MEDIA INC PUBLISHING GROUP 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

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CONTENTS

VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 12

75 NO CROWDS, NO WORRIES

We bid a fond farewell to summer, but those anglers who don’t mind adding a layer and not having any issues about fishing alone will continue flocking to places without scores of campers and summer holiday visitors. Our Eastern Sierras scribe, Mike Stevens, provides his fall go-to stops. (MIKE STEVENS)

FEATURES 16

NINERS STAND PAT His first seven years in the NFL, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis played in seven Pro Bowls and was the league’s All-Pro middle linebacker six times. Yes, he’s pretty good at what he does. When he’s not crushing running backs and sabotaging opposing offensive coordinators’ gameplans, Willis prefers bassin’ on quiet lakes. We chatted with him about his faves.

41

THE THRILL AND DANGER OF DIVING FOR ABALONE Our versatile Tim Hovey has three contributions this month and shares some of his experiences diving for valuable and tasty abalone. The hot spot for this sea creature is north of the Bay Area, where the diving is dangerous, poaching is common and the abalone are large and tasty.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 57

KINGS INVADE NORCAL RIVERS We have reports from throughout Northern California on this fall’s king run. Guides Manuel Saldana Jr. (Sacramento and Feather), Liam Gogan (Trinity) and Mick Thomas (Klamath and Smith) are better than most when it comes to pulling large Chinook out of the rivers – and they shared some great tips.

137 HEAD TO THE ROCKIES! Al Quackenbush, our bowhunting columnist, and a friend are eagerly planning a trip this fall for the massive elk that roam Colorado. But this won’t be a walk in the park. As Al explains, tackling the Rockies’ high elevations and steep terrain requires careful planning – if you’ve considered hunting there, you’ll want to follow in his footsteps.

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The Editor’s Note Meet the ladies of Duck Dynasty Bowfisher takes world-record mako shark off Catalina Island Tales of a fisheries’ biologist: The bear that crashed my research group The Dishonor Roll: Mexico shuts off bluefin tuna fishing California gun dogs gallery Wright & McGill, Browning photo contests winners San Diego’s kids-only fishery: Chollas Lake Pros Joes: Q&A with California rookie pro Justin Lucas on the tourney trail El Niño fishing ready to explode Four ways to make a slow duck hunt day a more productive one New regulations for dove season Deer hunting tips for rookies From Field to Fire: Finding Northern California bruins; a bear recipe with a Mediterranean twist

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 tax. 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 © 2014 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 SEPTEMBER 2014

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THEEDITOR’SNOTE The Eastern Sierras do allow you to find places to get away from it all in September, when schools are open and fishing spots can be yours and yours alone.

(MIKE STEVENS)

M

ike Stevens’ report this month on how the Eastern Sierras’ lakes and streams will have plenty of open space to catch fish from come September magnifies how special California can be for anglers and hunters.

For those of us who grew up in major metropolitan centers – I’m talking to you, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, Fresno – we realize our state has a lot of people.

But we’re also in a state where you don’t have to go too far away to get away from it all.

Stevens lives in San Marcos, near San Diego, and imagine how cathartic is for him to pack up his gear, get through the congestion of the Inland Empire, head up Interstate 15 and eventually travel 200 miles and change north on Highway 395 to a whole new world. It’s a bit of a drive, yes, but there are even closer getaways if you look hard enough.

With the kids back in school, now would be a good time to take a few days off and catch some trout at Bridgeport Reservoir, the June Lake Loop or in the Upper Owens River. You’re more than likely to have plenty of casting distance.

I can remember how easy it is to feel like you’ve gotten away from the rat race. My friends and I who lived in the San Francisco suburbs when we were younger would cross the Bay Bridge into the East Bay, and be fishing at San Pablo Reservoir just about 40 minutes (without traffic) from home. We’d rent a boat, find some secluded cove where nobody else was around and dunk our nightcrawlers.

Sometimes we’d catch a few trout and sometimes we’d be skunked. It didn’t matter. We were a few miles from the trafficclogged Highway 24 that connects Oakland with Walnut Creek, but it felt like we were in the middle of nowhere, which is the point, right?

Stevens wrote about how several spots usually crowded in summer will soon have “fishing pressure about 90 percent less than in the middle of summer.”

Sounds divine. –Chris Cocoles SEPTEMBER 2014 California Sportsman

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Off the field, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis likes to fish and post social media photos of food and fans sporting his No. 52 jersey.

But that pleasant demeanor changes once he wears his own uniform as one of the NFL’s elite defensive players.

(DANIEL GLUSKOTER/ICON SMI)

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FISHIN’S WHAT WILLIS IS TALKING ABOUT 49ERS LINEBACKER CHASES BASS LIKE RUNNING BACKS

By Chris Cocoles

H

e’s come within a play of winning a Super Bowl, but San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis is already a champion on social media.

His Twitter feed (@PatrickWillis52) is far less about himself – refreshing in the look-atme, selfie-obsessed Twittersphere – and more about his fans, which include 379,000 followers.

Willis, who’s been an All-Pro linebacker through six of his first seven seasons in the National Football League, retweets photos of others wearing his red, white and gold No. 52 jersey and other 49ers gear.

Over on Instagram (@patricklwillis), the 29-year-old prefers posting the bass he loves to catch. And he catches a lot based on the number of pics he’ll share with another 281,000-plus followers.

That’s what Willis likes to do when he’s not one of pro football’s premier defenders. The Tennessee native who played college football at the University of Mississippi loves to get out on the water. But this is also a dedicated football player who delayed an interview request last fall during the season to focus on bringing a championship back to the Bay Area.

He’s come painfully close to winning it all, the 49ers losing two down-to-thewire NFC championship games (to the New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks) sandwiched between a 34-31 Super Bowl XLVII near-miss against the Baltimore Ravens in the last three seasons.

So needless to say, Willis only has so much time to head to the Delta or Lake Berryessa where he’s fished over his offseason. He did take the time to chat with us about his Southern roots, fishing with fellow Southeastern Conference college football products and his quest for clutching the Vince Lombardi Trophy

nitely be my next passion.

CC How did you first discover fishing?

Was it back home in the South?

PW My Uncle James and my Aunt Michelle, they always loved going fishing in the little rivers by the house. When I say rivers, I wouldn’t consider them creeks – they’re deeper than a creek. I would always go with him and I just got into fishing. I’m a country boy. There wasn’t Patrick Willis’ passion outside of football is bass fishing. “I would love to try and get into the Bassmaster Classic. One of these days, I’m going to actually fish a tournament.” (PATRICK WILLIS/ FACEBOOK)

that goes to the champion.

Chris Cocoles When I see your Instagram and Twitter feeds it seems like every other photo is you with a fish and a huge smile on your face. Would you call fishing a passion?

Patrick Willis I would say right now it’s more of a hobby, because my passion right now is football. Fishing, right now, is more of a hobby for me, but when I’m done playing football, it’s going to defi-

CORONA, SDSU ALUM FINDS NICHE Linebacker and avid outdoorsman Heath Farwell hasn’t forgotten his Inland Empire roots. Though he’s had a successful NFL stint both in Minnesota and Seattle, Farwell still sports a cell phone number with a 951 area code from his hometown of Corona, near Riverside.

A former star at Corona High who went to a productive college career at San Diego State (he started his career at San Jose State before finishing up with the Aztecs), the undrafted Farwell has become one of the NFL’s most feared special teams players.

He played in the Pro Bowl with the Vikings and recorded 16 tackles and forced two fumbles as the Super Bowl XVVIII-champiSEPTEMBER 2014 California Sportsman

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sions. Can you share one?

PW He and I were fishing one time and still, to this day, it’s one of the best pleasures I’ve had fishing with a guy like Randy Moss. First of all, in the sports world, he’s one of the best to ever do it. And for him to come here and be down to earth like he was and wanting to go fishing, I’m thinking, “Man, Randy Moss wants to go fishing with me?’”

We went out there and went fishing, and we were actually fishing in a friend’s pond. And for some reason, he wanted to use a frog, and I was like, “Man, you’re going to throw this frog?” And he said, “Watch, I’m telling you,” you know how he talks country, “I’m going to catch this fish.” Next thing you know, he’s cranking it – just cranking it and cranking it. Next thing you know, he caught a nice little bass on a frog, just doing something different with it. That’s probably the best experience with him.

CC I would guess you have some great Willis, who grew up fishing in the South and is a fan of River Monsters, says his dream is to one day fish Egypt’s Nile River. (PATRICK WILLIS/FACEBOOK)

anything to do but hunt, fish and play sports.

CC I think it was a year or two ago that you, Garrison Hearst and Takeo Spikes went striper fishing in Georgia. How much SEC smack talk was going on when you had an Ole Miss Rebel (yourself), a Georgia Bulldog (Hearst) and an Auburn Tiger (Spikes) together on a boat in competition?

PW That was my first time ever getting to meet Garrison Hearst. Of course, I’ve known Takeo forever. He’s a true Auburn Tiger fan to the fullest, and with Garrison going to Georgia, we talked a little smack about SEC football. But for the most part we were mostly out there bragging about who was catching the bigger fish.

CC I’m sure you and former 49er teammate Randy Moss have experienced some good fishing tales in your excur-

places to fish back home in Tennessee, but what are your favorite fishing spots in California?

PW My favorite fishing spots in California – I just like to hit them all. But I’ve really grown to like the Delta fishing. The last couple of times I’ve went it’s been pretty good. And I think the fishing up north is a lot better than it’s down here in San Jose.

CC Do you have a fishing dream destination you hope to hit some day?

PW I was just talking to a some of the guys, I believe it was (kicker) Phil (Dawson) and (punter) Andy (Lee), we were all in the steam room and I was telling them that one of things I want to do when I’m done playing is that I want to go to all the major bass spots and try and fish in them. Then I want to turn around and go and learn how to fly fish, then turn around and, well, just go all over. One of the places I wanted to fish one day is out of the country, but I want to go fish in something like the Nile River. I’m a big fan of River Monsters. I love what (host Jeremy Wade) does. That’s something I would be more than willing to do.

Corona’s Heath Farwell loves to catch large salmon in Alaska. Some of his earliest memories are fishing off the Orange County coast with his “Gramps.” (HEATH FARWELL)

on Seahawks’ kicking game captain.

So deep are the Seahawks at linebacker that at press time Farwell, 32, was fighting to preserve his roster spot. But he doesn’t figure to have any regrets after clutching the Vince Lombardi Trophy on a chilly February night in East Rutherford, N.J. after the Seahawks demolished the Denver Broncos 43-8.

We chatted with Farwell about his recent appearance with the Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch crab boat skippers, growing up as an avid angler and hunter, and his outdoors’ mentor, “Gramps.”

Chris Cocoles Growing up in Corona, did

you get into fishing right away, or was that a passion that developed over time?

Heath Farwell We were outdoors a lot as a family growing up. For as long as I can remember, we were spending summers and weekends at the lake going fishing, shooting BB guns with my brother and cousins, riding quads and just being boys.

My grandfather – Gramps – had a big part of introducing me to fishing and hunting.

It’s a huge part of his life and he has helped me find my passion for it.

CC What’s one of your earliest memories fishing or being outdoors?

HF Gramps used to take us fishing in his boat out of Long Beach Harbor. We would go on both day and night trips. On the day trips, we would go out to deep water towards Catalina Island and catch yellowtail, barracuda, mackerel and many more. The night trips – which were way past our bedtime – would be right at the breakwater of the jetty and we would catch calico bass and sand bass.

CC You arguably have played in the NFL’s

two most outdoors-friendly cities, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Seattle, the Land of 10,000 Lakes and a city that’s almost sur-

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HF When I played for the Vikings, we lived on Lake Minnetonka, so I did a ton of fishing during the summer and ice fishing during the winter. Minnetonka is known for the walleye and smallmouth bass. I became friends in Minnesota with Jeff Traxler, who owns Traxler’s Hunting Preserve, and some of my buddies on the team and I would hunt deer and pheasant on his land.

Since I have been with the Seahawks, I haven’t had much time to fish and hunt.

My wife and I have two boys – Brock, 3, and Beau, 1. My days off are spent with them, and in the offseason we head to our home in Newport Beach. I try to go out fishing with Gramps as much as possible when I am there. He goes hunting in Arizona for javelina every February, and I am hoping to join him one of these years.

CC Did you enjoy appearing on Deadliest

Catch’s show, The Bait, with the Discovery Channel crabbers? Those guys are big Seahawks fans and have incorporated the Hawks into a lot of their shows.

HF I am such a huge fan of the show and

CC Football is such a game of intensity, particularly at your linebacker spot, where it seems like you are a quarterback of that defense and always in deep thought. When you get a chance to unwind and fish in the offseason, is that a great release for you getting away from football?

PW It is. Anytime I’m fishing, my mind is just clear and I’m out there just casting.

But really, I’m always thinking about football. I’m always thinking about what can I do today to have my body right for tomorrow, or, because if I’m not actually out here on the field I’m going to do some type of training, whether it’s weightlifting, running or playing a little basketball. I’m going to do something active in a way that it’ll help me be better on the field.

CC Is there a favorite bass lure in your tackle box?

PW Right now, my two favorites are spinning baits and little beetles. They (beetles) only dive about 3 to 5 feet. I love

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HF It means so much to me to represent the

Pacific Northwest and all the 12s leadiing the team out of the tunnel with the flag.

There is no feeling like it. It is the biggest rush of adrenaline you can imagine. And then to do it on the biggest stage at the Super Bowl was one of those moments you can never forget.

A former standout at San Diego State, Farwell has played in a Pro Bowl with the Minnesota Vikings and won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks last February. (JEFFREY BEALL, WIKIMEDIA) can honestly say that I have never missed an episode. When I was asked to be on the show, I jumped at the chance. I had a blast getting to know the captains of boats.

They were so fun to be around and very welcoming to me. I left with shirts, sweatshirts, and hats from each of their boats.

And to see the 12th Man flags of the front of their boats in support is so exciting. I still feel for the deckhand on the Time Bandit who got his hand destroyed by a firework in celebration of a playoff win.

CC How special has it been to carry out the

using them right now. And I love to use the worms – Senko worms, I fell in love with those and actually, I use dropshot worms. I like those too.

CC The 49ers have put together quite a run of consistent excellence the last three years, with two NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl appearance.

How much does breaking through with a Super Bowl championship drive you as head into the 2014 season?

PW We’ve been blessed to have, the last few years, some good runs. For me, this year, I really want to capitalize by winning a Super Bowl. For as long as I’m playing, that’s going to be one of my goals. At this point in my career, going into my eighth year, nobody can say how much longer I’m going to play this game. There are only three accolades I want. One individual accolade would be Defensive Player of the Year, and the second one would be the Super Bowl, multiple if that, but one I would take! And third, man, one day when it’s all said and done, to put on that

CC Any fishing spots on your bucket list?

HF The one place I would like to fish is in

Florida. I want to catch those huge marlins.

CC Do you hope your kids will be outdoors lovers like yourself?

HF My boys are still young, but for both

of their first birthdays, I gave them each a Browning shotgun to get them started.

Gramps gave each of his grandsons a shotgun engraved with our names when we were little. I figured it was a good tradition to carry on. I can’t wait for them to be old enough to introduce them to all the great outdoor sports that I’ve been fortunate enough to be exposed to. I hope they will have a childhood full of great memories in the outdoors like I have. CC

gold jacket (with the Pro Football Hall of Fame).

CC If you weren’t playing football, would it be a dream to be a professional bass tournament angler, and how do you think you’d do?

PW That’s not even a question. If I wasn’t playing football I would love to try and get in there. Most guys want to be, obviously, try and be like (Dallas Cowboys quarterback) Tony Romo and get on the PGA Tour and things like that.

But I would love to try and get into the Bassmasters Classic. One of these days, I’m going to actually fish a tournament.

As far as how I would do? I’m not sure.

But I would go in with the same kind of passion I go with trying to be the best on the field. I would try and do the same thing in fishing. If I had a bad day, I would try to come back the next day and have a better day. If I had a good day that day, I would try and go back and have a better day. I’m always looking to get better. CS

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Jessica (top), Korie (left), Missy and Miss Kay Robertson tolerate their husbands’ long beards. (A&E NETWORKS) 22 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2014

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THE BETTER HALVES OF DUCK DYNASTY

Jessica Robertson, with husband, Jep, says she no longer cares when social media gangs up on her.

“Now I’m like, whatever.”

(A&E NETWORKS)

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ear the beard? Not the women of Duck Dynasty.

A&E’s smash hit about the Robertson family of Duck Commander duck call fame features a lot of facial hair. Louisianans Phil, brother Si and offspring Willie, Jase and Jep all sport the Civil War-general look. Their better halves don’t seem to mind, and perhaps it doesn’t hurt that the boys’ company is worth millions.

The ladies – Phil’s wife Miss Kay, sons’ spouses Korie (Willie), Jessica (Jep), Lisa (Alan) and Missy (Jase) – teamed to write a book, The Women of Duck Commander. If you watch the show regularly, it’s likely not a dull read.

“What do you get the redneck who has everything?” Korie Robertson says of her husband, Duck Commander CEO Willie Robertson when the subject of birthday gift suggestions for Willie is tossed around during one episode of Duck Dynasty.

Korie knows Willie as well as anyone. They’ve known each other since little kids growing up near Monroe. La. “I remember thinking he was the funniest guy I had ever met,” Korie Robertson told Us Magazine, which profiled the Duck Dynasty ladies. “He worked hard to impress me by blowing on his thumb and blowing up his muscle. And he ate sardines straight out of a can.”

Korie told the Columbus (Ind.) Republic newspaper her celebrity status is a little difficult to comprehend sometimes.

But Duck Dynasty’s former skyrocketing ratings – the show’s viewership appears to be dropping despite reaching its sixth season earlier this summer – made the Robertson family household names among its loyal viewers.

“It’s a little bit nuts to look up from eating lunch and realize that people are taking pictures of you on their cellphones.

But it is what it is. There is nothing magical about being a celebrity or about us,” Robertson said in the interview.

“We just happen to have a television show that a lot of people love. We work hard at what we do, and we are grateful SEPTEMBER 2014 California Sportsman

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PRO-CURE BAIT SCENTS Korie Robertson and her husband, Duck Commander CEO Willie Robertson, have known each other since they were little kids in northeast Louisiana.

(A&E NETWORKS)

for the success and opportunities it has brought us. We know it won’t last forever, so we just take it as it comes and try to do our best with the platform we have been given.”

Jessica Robertson is married to Willie’s brother, Jep. She told Fox News social media hasn’t always been kind to the Robertsons, but that’s hardly breaking news to anyone who has been blitzed

by Twitter and Facebook toughs.

“In the beginning I would read the one out of 100 ugly things and I’d be like, ‘That is so hurtful! That lady said this about me, she doesn’t even know me!’ Jep would say, ‘Why do you read that?’ Now I’m like, ‘whatever,’” she said.

Keeping the family afloat is Miss Kay, patriarch Phil Robertson’s loyal wife of 48 years. Despite some major ups and downs (infidelity was an issue), the couple renewed their wedding vows in the Season 4 premiere.

“From the time I was 14 years old,

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PRO-CURE BAIT SCENTS Miss Kay Robertson renewed her wedding vows with the family’s patriarch, Phil Robertson, in the fourth of six seasons of Duck Dynasty.

(A&E NETWORKS)

I loved you,” Miss Kay tells Phil, who once played college football at Louisiana Tech with four-time Super Bowl champion Terry Bradshaw. “And we’ve been through some good times and some hard times. I loved you when we were poor and you were not so nice.

Now you’re really nice and kind. And all I can say about that is, I’m not going anywhere.”

The Robertson women aren’t the stars of Duck Dynasty. The guys with the permanent hockey playoff beards get the attention. But that doesn’t mean Korie, Jessica and Miss Kay don’t make their own impact at Duck Commander, even if they don’t get to give grooming advice.

“Most people with beards actually trim,” Korie declared on one episode.

“Robertson men just let it all grow.”

Duck Dynasty has found a way to grow into a thing, thanks in part to its ladies. CS

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TAKE A BOW

TV HOST SCORES WORLD RECORD MAKO SHARK

L

arge sharks are common swimming off California’s coast.

But it’s still eye-popping news when another one emerges, especially one that established a world record

caught by a bow.

Wisconsin-based TV hunting host Patrick Eger of Big E TV (855-4244388; bigetv.com) was filming off Catalina Island in Southern California.

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He was aboard with Capt. Mark Potter of Breakaway Sportfishing (714-8937743; breakawayfishingcharters. com) in Huntington Beach. Potter saw a large mako shark off the stern.

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and Eger determined that it was large enough to harvest and should claim the record they were looking for,” said a Big E TV press release. “On several passes the killer shark rammed the boat and made it known that it had no fear of the crew or anyone onboard.”

Eger proceeded to unleash an arrow from his Xpedition Archery XCentric bow, tipped with an Innerloc broadhead arrow on 200-pound test line. The shot hooked the fish, and a two-hour fight between man and shark ensued. After a series of majestic jumps, the mako was finally reeled in and tipped the scales at 544 pounds, 8 ounces.

The Bowfishing Association of America documented the shark, which measured 10½ feet long, as both the California state record and bowfishing world record.

There are bigger ones out there, and there are more than you care to know. This record won’t stand forever, and I am counting on that,” Eger said. “That is what this is all about. I look forward to having another hunter break my record, but the key is you have to get these things documented and register them into the books.” CS

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REVENGE OF THE BRUIN BEAR JOINS FIELD RESEARCH GROUP, HELPS SELF TO GEAR

TALES OF A FISH BIO

During a field research trip in the Angeles National Forest of Southern California, this bear didn’t seem to take kindly of the paparazzi treatment when the author took its photo. (TIM E. HOVEY)

By Tim E. Hovey

WRIGHTWOOD—The heavy pack sat on my back like a dead body. A full day of hiking up the creek and monitoring every single piece of water had me beat.

We reached the dry section of creek just below the trail crossing with an hour of light left. I eased the heavy gear off my back and set it in the sand. One by one, each member of the survey party dropped off their gear and sat down to rest.

I was leading a team of five up the creek on our annual fish-removal trip to Little Rock Creek in the Angeles National Forest in Southern California. Our group had been involved in this project for years. The drainage is steep, narrow, and in really rough country. Nestled in the headwaters of the creek is a small population of mountain yellow-legged frogs, a federal and state endangered species. Their small piece of habitat can be literally measured in yards.

Directly downstream of the small frog population is a small group of planted trout that have succeeded in keeping the frogs isolated in the top portion of the creek. Between the fish and the frogs is a natural barrier that keeps the two species from interacting – unless, of course, you’re a frog egg or tadpole that gets washed downstream into trout-laden waters. Thus, you better have your affairs in order.

To increase the potential habitat for the frog downstream, a multi-agency

The author’s hip boats and pack were smelled out by the bear. Needless to say, this one did leave a mark.

(TIM E. HOVEY)

project had been created to remove fish in this small, isolated section of creek.

The hope was that without the hungry trout downstream, the frogs would extend their habitat down the creek, thus increasing their overall numbers.

A furry visitor On this trip I had a solid group of good volunteers who were willing to return for a second day of work. Since we still had a 2-mile hike out of the creek in steep country, we decided to leave all the heavy gear in the creek overnight.

We’d be back early the next day and the area was so remote, I had no hesitation about leaving the very expensive and cumbersome gear in the wilderness.

We headed out on the trail single file. The hike out would take an hour, but we stayed motivated knowing that tonight was steak night at the local diner. Back at the truck, we loaded up and headed into town. After a hearty meal and good night’s sleep, we’d be

back in the creek the next day to finish up the survey.

The following day we enjoyed a perfect, brisk morning hike back into the drainage. We got back to the gear and started prepping for the day’s survey.

The plan was to hike downstream and start the survey there and then work our way back upstream. It would be a full day of hiking, but the crew was enthusiastic and ready to get started.

As we got ready, I noticed several sets of large bear prints surrounding the gear. Nothing had been touched, but it was clear that he had been poking around our stuff. I walked over across the creek where we had buried the fish we had collected. After our survey, each fish was counted, measured and then buried on the bank.

Sure enough, the bear had easily smelled the fish cache and completely cleaned out every single buried fish.

To punctuate his visit, he had left a rather large, fresh bear scat right near SEPTEMBER 2014 California Sportsman

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The author (back left) and his team got a good laugh out of the encounter with the black bear. (TIM E. HOVEY)

our gear. His tracks then disappeared downstream. Despite the obvious signs of his presence, he had not touched a single piece of gear.

We started working our way downstream. Manna, a scientist for the U.S. Geological Survey and a good friend, led the way. I was directly behind him and the rest of the crew trailed behind me. About 200 yards down the creek, Manna jumped up on a boulder and suddenly stopped. I could tell he had spotted something. I took a peak around him and saw a brown flash of fur running for cover. That was followed by the crash of something very

large smashing through the brush near the bank.

I quickly made my way to where Manna was and spotted the 250-pound bear scrambling up a large tree. Debris and branches crashed to the ground as the bear kept climbing. Our group gathered in the center of the creek and watched the bear. It was pretty clear that this was the bear that had stopped by our gear earlier and now we had caught up to him on the creek.

I grabbed my camera and started walking towards the tree. The bear was hugging the big pine about 50 feet up and I wanted to get a few photos.

At the base of the large tree, I started walking around to get a good view. As I did, more branches and leaves rained down, as the bear adjusted to my presence. I finally found a good spot where I could see the bear and started taking photos. He didn’t seem to like this.

The bear started huffing heavily at me as I snapped away. He stayed in one spot, but his behavior clearly indicated that he didn’t like what I was doing.

Suggestions from the group that I was getting too close didn’t faze me. This was a unique opportunity and I wanted to get as many good photos as I could.

Less than a minute after I started

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The bear seemed comfortable in this tree, but it clearly had a good sense of smell. He only went after the equipment of the author who took its picture. (TIM E. HOVEY)

800-776-2873 www.pro-cure.com taking photos, the huffing was accompanied by very loud jaw popping. A threatened bear will slam his jaws together loudly in a display of anger. The noise was intense and extremely loud.

I had a hard time believing that he wasn’t cracking bone or teeth with every hard bite. I knew that was enough. I backed out and let the bear be.

As I made my way back to the group, the bear huffed loudly three times and then strongly sucked air in through his nose. I didn’t know it at the time, but I had just been identified.

You again?

We continued the hike downstream and got to work. Familiar with the survey needs from the first day, we made good time and were more than halfway done with the work at about lunch time. At midday, we dropped the gear and took a break.

To document the survey team for

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MIXED BAG each year, I usually take a photo of the group during the lunch break. I set up the camera and set the timer. I jumped into the picture just as the flash went off. At about the same time I was taking that photo, an angry bear was getting his revenge upstream.

At around 2 p.m. we finished with the survey work in the creek. We gathered everything up and started the short hike up to the gear area. Kim and Jenny were leading the way and when they approached our staging area, I could tell something was wrong. Both stared intently at the ground and looked puzzled. When I got there, I could see why.

My waders had been pulled from the rest and dragged across the creek.

Huge chunks of rubber were torn from each boot and the fabric below the knee was ripped beyond repair. They were then dragged through the mud, stomped into the bank and left there.

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They looked like the remains of a very skinny man. The bear had walked over and grabbed my pack, which was in and amongst the others, and dragged it to the water. He ripped it open, dumped it out and stomped the contents into the mud. He grabbed my sunglasses with his mouth, chewed on them for a bit before dropping them a short distance upstream. He concluded the assault by adding another very large bear scat inches from where he had dropped my sunglasses.

The bear had apparently waited for us to leave, climbed back down the tree and walked back up to our staging area. He walked around the pile of gear and picked out only mine. The rest of the group found this extremely funny. I found it frustrating.

As I walked around and picked up what was left of my stuff, I realized that I only had myself to blame. During the lunch break we had discussed the bear

encounter. It wasn’t until then that I realized the bear had smelled only me.

On the hike out, the group had a good time discussing the encounter at my expense. Kim concluded that the bear must’ve been famous and didn’t like his picture taken. I was still steaming from the loss of close to $200 worth of gear. But like I stated earlier, it was my own fault.

Despite the damage, I just consider it another story to tell. The pack is long gone, but the waders were kept for a conversation piece. I pass them every time I head out for another stream survey. While they do serve as a reminder that I shouldn’t have gotten so close, I seriously doubt that I would do anything differently today. CS Editor’s note: The author’s chronicles as a California Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist appear periodically in California Sportsman.

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How popular is harvesting abalone and how tightly is the fishery watched? This California game warden has his hands full checking multiple divers for filled-out tag reports. (CDFW)

Growing on rocks in the kelp forests off Northern California’s coast, these marine mollusk are a prized find for free-divers. (LT. JOHN CROFTS, NOAA CORPS)

PRIZED POSSESSION OF THE DEEP

THE ABALONE HARVEST IS CAREFULLY REGULATED, BUT POACHING IS A PROBLEM

By Tim E. Hovey

I

n 1994, on the back side of Catalina Island, I donned a scuba tank and slipped into the water for my very first abalone dive in Southern California.

Diving in about 60 feet of water, our group of four slowly scoured the sea floor looking for legal abalone. At that time, the limit was seven per diver and we returned to the boat with near limits for the day.

The bounty was cleaned, prepped and taken to the galley. A short time later we enjoyed an amazing dinner on the back deck while admiring a sunset that I remember to this day.

I remember that trip for many other reasons: I was newly certified as a scuba diver and it was my first trip diving for abalone. I can remember being a little

apprehensive, but very excited before the dive. I also remember how much of a connection was made between the harvest of the sea and the incredible meal that fed us later that same day.

I could easily tell you who was there with me and where we anchored up.

That dive was memorable for one other reason. It is likely the last time in my life that I will ever scuba dive for abalone.

IN 1997, ON the heels of dwindling stocks due to back-to-back climate anomalies that brought unseasonably warm water in from the south, killing off the abalone food source, and withering foot disease, a syndrome that affects only abalone, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife shut down the fishery to all take. This wasn’t a seasonal closure or a temporary

shutdown until the stocks rebounded.

This was a prohibition on the harvest of all abalone in Southern California for the foreseeable future, the direct result of a complete fisheries collapse.

Further north, where environmental conditions and disease had less of an impact on the abalone stock, the red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) fishery remains open. This subspecies is the only one open for take in California.

There are vast differences in harvest methods for this fishery. Divers are no longer able to use scuba tanks to take abalone. If you enter the water to harvest, you’ll need to do it by free-diving.

This gear restriction essentially imposes a man-made depth barrier on the take of abalone. Limiting the collection of abalone by how long individuals SEPTEMBER 2014 California Sportsman

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MIXED BAG can hold their breath goes a long way towards maintaining a healthy stock Having experienced the now-closed southern fishery many years ago and being familiar with the northern I have to say that the only common factor between the two is the abalone itself. CDFW has dramatically stepped up the monitoring of the northern fishery to make sure that another collapse can be avoided.

To that end, each fisherman is required to possess an abalone report card when they dive for abalone. This card records catch and effort, including date and location. The report card must be returned to CDFW once the season is over. Divers must also tag each abalone immediately, to assist in tracking the overall number harvested statewide.

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south. The beach entries are a far cry from the sandy beaches of Southern California.

Rocky, rough conditions are commonplace in areas where the fishery is open.

Visibility is usually poor and the current strong, and ideal abalone habitat is rocky, cavernous and dark. Add in thick mats of undulating eel grass and massive stands of giant kelp and you have perfect red abalone habitat.

Abalone are not the only organisms

bers are all steps CDFW strictly analyzes to make sure the population remains healthy and provides a sustainable recreational fishery for California divers.

DESPITE THIS BEING an open fishery, it

remains a precarious opportunity. Abalone have extremely slow growth rates, taking 10 or more years to reach legal size, and their reproduction may be infrequent during adverse environmental conditions. Abalone are broadcast spawners, which means they essentially release their gametes into the current and cross their fingers that viable offspring are produced. If water conditions aren’t favorable, they may not spawn at all. Successful recruitment also requires a high density of adult animals in close proximity to one THIS UNIQUE FISHERY is exanother. The younger anitremely limited and highly mals also experience high managed from year to year, Divers head into the kelp-filled Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco Bay in search of and during the season as well. abalone, which must be at least 7 inches in diameter to be legally kept. On the illegal mortality due to predation.

This type of life hisIn response to a decrease in black market, abalone are sold for as much as $100 apiece. (JAMES KASPER) tory is tough enough. the Northern California abaloWhen unseasonal conditions disrupt that frequent these areas. Several species ne population and using adaptive manit, it can be devastating. In 2011, a red of rockfish, lingcod, harbor seals, and the agement to guide the changes, CDFW tide event in Sonoma County, north of big, scary beasts that eat those seals also just recently made some regulations adSan Francisco, wiped out a large porcall the rocky shoreline in the north their justments to maintain a healthy fishery. tion of the red abalone off the coast, home. And remember, you’ll be experiIn 2013, the agency dropped the illustrating the delicate nature of this encing all this holding your breath wonannual abalone limit from 24 to 18. species to environmental changes dering if a hungry shark is in the vicinity.

It also adjusted the start time for and periodic events like algal blooms.

Experienced divers usually carry an each day during the season to 8 a.m.

Another issue with this fragile fishabalone iron, a stout length of metal This early daytime closure limits the ery is poaching. Individuals unconwith a curved end that’s used to pry number of low tide events available cerned with state fishing regulations or the abalone off the rocky substrate. during the season. During low tide, inlimits load up on the mollusk and take CDFW requires every diver to have a dividuals known as “rock pickers” can more than they’re allowed. It’s unformeasuring device or fixed-caliber meaeasily access the intertidal zone without tunate, but this fishery has generated suring gage in their possession capable having to dive and are able to harvest a lucrative black market for abalone. of measuring an abalone shell across abalone in the areas usually underWith a high demand comes those its greatest diameter. A legal abalone water. This time change also helps enwho will risk stiff fines and arrest to measures 7 inches across and the daily forcement monitor the diving activity. make money. To reduce this impact, limit is currently three abalone per diver.

Diving for abalone off the Northern CDFW routinely sets up check stations The funds generated by abalone Coast is not for the faint of heart. Dive near the coast. These unannounced stamps purchased at the time divers shops in the area frequently recommend search areas are great opportunities buy their fishing licenses go directly tothat divers be experienced and comfor wardens to check divers’ abalone wards managing this delicate fishery. fortable before heading out for a dive. and their adherence to the regulations.

Routine monitoring, seasonal closures Sea conditions are frequently rough This season, I plan to drive to the and carefully tracking harvest numand the water is a lot colder than in the 42 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2014

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MIXED BAG CALIFORNIA’S DEADLIEST HARVEST Abalone diving isn’t the leisurely pastime it appears to be. The process of diving murky Pacific Ocean water and searching under rocks at low tide has resulted in several fatalities.

In May 2013, the bodies of four divers were pulled from the sea over the course of eight days off neighboring Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. In June, a 50-yearold San Francisco man was presumed to have drowned in an underwater cave searching for the prized mollusk.

The man was with three other divers, but the current was too strong for them to retrieve their partner after he’d already been unconscious due to hitting his head on a rock. Some reports have estimated the fishery averages a dozen deaths per year.

“They shouldn’t have been in the

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ocean. The problem is people drive so far to get here and they go in the water regardless of what the ocean is doing,” Elk Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Bob Matson told the Associated Press.

The Pacific’s rough currents and undertow take their toll on ambitious but perhaps unprepared divers below the surface. Oxygen tanks are not allowed, so divers must hold their breath while searching.

News-gathering organizations from Smithsonian Magazine, the Los Angeles Times and a recent story from New York Times Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter John Branch have – pardon the pun – dived into this activity and the ramifications from accidents.

“There’s a lot of death in abalone diving,” Sonoma County lifeguard Nate Buck told Branch. “Lifeguards know that.

Drive around here, and every one of these coves is another reminder. ... Abalone

divers make up the bulk of our rescues.

They’re the reason we’re here.”

Abalone is also the reason California Department of Fish and Wildlife officers stay busy in the gorgeous but rocky coastline from Fort Bragg south. With so much value, abalone – each worth $100 or more on the black market – illegal harvest has become a trendy endeavor.

“Profit remains the primary motive for abalone poachers,” said CDFW Capt.

Bob Farrell. “Profits from black market abalone sales easily cover the hard expenses poachers expend for travel and equipment.

CDFW Capt. David Bess was part of an operation that busted 13 poachers from the Bay Area and Sacramento last summer.

“Unless it is stopped, poaching will degrade California’s abalone population over time,” Bess said. “It ultimately affects the honest, sport abalone harvesters who follow the laws.” -CS

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The abalone are bigger up there than the ones I harvested 20 years ago off Catalina, and I’ve always enjoyed visiting the rugged Northern California coast. With the current management in place, I’m confident that it won’t be my last abalone dive ever. CS

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When done safely and legally – two major issues in the sport – abalone diving can be a thrilling outdoor activity. (JAMES KASPER)

Abalone overlimits and lack of proper tags are commonplace offenses that California Department of Fish and Wildlife officers attempting to crack down on illegal take are finding. (TIM E. HOVEY)

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FEELING BLUE OVER TUNA FISHING BAN

S

outhern Californians flock south of the border to

BY CHRIS COCOLES Mexico on a regular basis to take part in some of the best deep sea fishing in the Pacific.

But a Mexican decision to shut down bluefin tuna fishing will have an impact on sport anglers and San Diego’s fleet of charter boats. The restriction will also affect MexOverfishing of Pacific bluefin tuna ico-based fishermen as well. has promoted Mexico to ban all fishing, commercial and sport, in The Pew Charitable Trusts its waters. That may not sit well released a disturbing report with California sportfishing charter about the plummeting numboats. (WIKIPEDIA) bers of the popular gamefish.

“Pacific bluefin tuna are in trouble. After decades of overfishing, the population hovers at just 4 percent of its original size, and the unsustainably high catch of juveniles – the smallest fish – threatens the species’ continued existence,” the report cited.

It’s not surprising a species is on the verge of being wiped out by commercial overfishing or overhunting. Throughout history – from bison to whales – man has been his or her own worst enemy when demand has overtaken the idea of common sense.

“Off of Mexico, large purse-seine vessels with massive nets catch schools of juvenile bluefin that are then taken to ranches along the coast, where they are fattened for months until fish and market conditions are ideal for sale,” said the Pew report.

Ken Franke of the San Diego-headquartered Sportfishing Association of California (californiasportfishing.org) told the newspaper U-T San Diego he isn’t sure completely closing down Mexican waters to all bluefin fishing, especially for sport anglers, is prudent.

“We need to see more science-based studies to show what the current biomass is for bluefin tuna,” Franke said. “The stock assessment is based on how many fish are caught. But we see tons and tons of bluefin that don’t bite. We hope to see more science.”

MIXED BAG

OUTDOOR CALENDAR SEPTEMBER

1 Start of Ambush at the Lake derby at Convict Lake (through Nov. 15; convictlake.com) 1-15 Statewide fall dove season 6 Shaver Lake Team Kokanee Derby (kokaneepower.org) 6 Free fishing day in California (no license required) 9 This date in 1932: state record for brook trout (9 pounds, 19 ounces), caught in Silver Lake by Texas Haynes 14 Season Zone Q1 opener for mountain quail 14 Season openers for sage grouse, sooty grouse and ptarmigan 20 Season opener for deer in several Zone B and C locations 22 This date in 2008: state record for channel catfish (53 pounds, 8 ounces), caught in San Joaquin River by Randall Gilgert Jr. of Turlock 22 This date in 2001: state record for pink salmon (8 pounds, 11 ounces), caught in Sacramento River by Mike Daily of Red Bluff 27 Season opener for deer in several Zone D locations

OCTOBER

4 Start of Zone D-19 deer season 4 Start of most X Zones deer season 4 Start of Northeastern Zone duck and scaup season 4 Start of Northeastern Zone regular dark goose season 11 Start of Zone D-11, D-13, D-14, D-15, D-17 deer seasons 12 Start of archery pheasant season 18 Start of Colorado River Zone duck and goose seasons 19 Start of Balance of State Zone duck season 19 Start of Zone Q1 and Q3 mountain quail season 19 Start of general chukar season 19 Start of Southern California Zone duck season 19 Start of snipe season 19 Start of Southern San Joaquin Valley and Southern California Zone goose season

30-Nov. 2 Morrison’s Bonus Derby Weekend at Convict Lake (800-922-2260)

Deer hunting season opens in several California zones this month. (USFWS)

$10,000 FINE FOR FISHING VIOLATOR Adam C. James, 32, of Winnetka, in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley, received three years of probation, loss of his fishing privileges and $10,000 in fines for charges, including illegal take of fish and invertebrates, the take of sea urchins without a permit and selling to a person not licensed as a fish receiver.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife officers received anonymous call on the CalTip Hotline to help prosecute James.

The hotline is open 24 hours and can be reached at (888) 334-2258.

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SPONSORED BY

PRO-CURE BAIT SCENTS

800-776-2873 www.pro-cure.com

MIXED BAG

HUNTERS’ BEST FRIENDS Y

“Axel” is a 2-year-old German shorthaired pointer. “Axel has beautiful style, great trainability, an exceptional nose and will start his first field trial season this year,” says owner/trainer Carl Porter of Hunting Dog Trainer in Lucerne Valley. (CARL PORTER/HUNTINGDOGTRAINER.NET)

ou’re in a field in California hoping to flush a bird. A flock of pheasants, covey of quail or dule of doves is in your sights. You and your hunting partner take down a bird apiece. The baton is then passed to your hunting dog.

On a trip to Memphis once, my friend and I were driving to Shiloh National Military Park when we stumbled upon the National Bird Dog Museum and Field Trial Hall of Fame in Grand Junction, Tenn.

Being a dog owner, of course I wanted to stop and take a look around.

While roaming the grounds and inside the museum, I learned that the first American public bird dog field trial took place near Memphis in 1874, and the museum’s site hosted its first national field trial championship in 1900.

Hunters have relied on hunting dogs throughout the ages, and as we transition from summer to fall this month, we also prepare for our bird hunts throughout California.

The early dove season is set to begin on Sept. 1, mountain quail seasons in two zones begin this month, and we’re about a month away from the major opening date for the state’s waterfowl season.

With that in mind, here’s a pictorial reminder of how integral these pets can be for sportsmen and -women in the Golden State and elsewhere. –Chris Cocoles

“E.T.” (pictured as an adult and at six weeks old) is a winner. The Gordon setter is the only one in his breed that – in a 150-year span – that has won best in show and field champion awards, making him a “dual champion.” (CAROLYN GOLD) SEPTEMBER 2014 California Sportsman

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SPONSORED BY

MIXED BAG

PRO-CURE BAIT SCENTS

“Amelia” is a dual and amateur field champion Gordon setter. This photo was taken on the grounds of trainer James Basham in Nova, Ohio. (CAROLYN GOLD)

800-776-2873 www.pro-cure.com

“Flyer” is E.T.’s son, so he has quite a good pedigree. (MARIELLE DEN HOLLANDER)

“3-D” is 3 years old, and has his junior field trial points. He is currently running in broke gun dog stakes at AKC field trials. He was very successful as a 1-year-old in the show ring. (MARIELLE DEN HOLLANDER)

“Monk on a hu

“Teela,” 1½, is an athletic pudelpointer eager to get wet during the fall hunting season. (CHRIS BELL) 52 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2014

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Golden retrievers like “Keltie” are not only valued hunting dogs but popular family pets. (CHERYL BACA/CHERYL’S DOG TRAINING)

“Blaze” proudly displays a retrieved bird in the field.

(CHERYL BACA/CHERYL’S DOG TRAINING)

“Monkey” sloshes through the water to get what she needs on a hunt. (CHERYL BACA/CHERYL’S DOG TRAINING)

Golden retriever “Gabby” emerges from the water with a duck. (CHERYL BACA/CHERYL’S DOG TRAINING)

These golden retrievers are trained by Cheryl Baca, who’s based in Suisun City in Northern California. (CHERYL BACA/CHERYL’S DOG TRAINING) SEPTEMBER 2014 California Sportsman

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PHOTO CONTEST

WINNERS!

Fishing roughly 20 miles off San Diego, Bruce Burns of Murrieta caught this yellowfin tuna on an anchovy and 20-pound wire leader. It was Burns’ first open-water catch, and we’ll reward him with a Wright & McGill/Eagle Claw photo contest prize package that includes Lazer Sharp hooks and hat, plus pliers!

Our monthly Browning Photo Contest winner is Rod Rieder who bagged this 40th-birthday bucket list bear in Idaho this spring. It scores him a Browning hat and sticker!

For your shot at winning Wright & McGill/Eagle Claw and Browning products, send your photos to ccocoles@media-inc.com or California Sportsman, PO Box 24365, Seattle, WA 98124-0365. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for our print or Internet publications.

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FISHING

SETTING UP FOR A BIG FALL Guide Manuel Saldana nets a Sacramento River king salmon.

Though it may not be as fantastic as 2013’s run, another productive haul is expected. (MSJ GUIDE SERVICE)

PENDING ARRIVAL OF SACRAMENTO, FEATHER KINGS

By Chris Cocoles

MARYSVILLE—The transition between spring king salmon and what’s hoped to be another strong fall run in the Sacramento and Feather Rivers has made for some patient waiting.

Many of the Chinook expected to head inland were being caught in bunches inside and outside San Francisco Bay as they started to head upriver.

Marysville-based guide Manuel Saldana Jr. of MSJ Guide Service (530-301-7455; msjguideservice.com) thinks in time many of those fish will fill his favorite sections of the Sacramento and Feather.

“It is in the middle of the transition,” says Saldana, who shortly after the July 16 opener was putting his clients into some kings for his clients, but the best days ahead were to take place in late August all the way through September and into

early to even mid-October.

“Some of the fish we’d (hooked) were the earlier fish that were some of the springers. And now we’re starting to see a few chrome fish in the river systems. But they’re on their way. They’ve been around the Golden Gate for the last week and a half.”

So it’s just a matter of time when Saldana, who fishes both the Sacramento and Feather, depending on which river is churning out more salmon, will presumably be finding limits for his clients. Projections for 2014 are a little more conservative than last season’s fantastic fall run. But he expects plenty of fish to go around.

Just how Sacramento and Feather anglers will approach the fall run has not been an exact science.

Saldana usually tinkers with his setups, baits and techniques over the course of the season.

“Each year we have to adapt. Just because they bit on roe last year, you have to find out what they’re biting on this year,” Saldana says.

“Each year seems to be just a little bit different. You have to change up.

What do they want? More tuna, do they want that sulfite? Maybe it’s more krill. A few years ago there was really a big krill bite. But last year was a little bit more of a tuna bite. So we’re going to figure them out.”

There will be staples anglers like Saldana can always turn to, like FlatFish and sardines. Saldana calls his “go-to baits” the Yakima Bait FlatFish T55 and T60. But veterans who fish these highly sought out Chinook waters have detected changes in biting habits over the last three years.

It’s about the mad scientist in every guide looking for the perfect combination that will catch a lot of fish. Saldana theorizes perhaps more hatchery than native fish made the bite a little trickier than other years.

But whatever the reason, it’s a case of keeping your options open.

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more this year,” he says. “Because the fish that are moving may not want to hole up because of the warmer water temp. They may just blow up through. So as they get in here we need to figure them out and dial them in.”

Trolling spinners like the Gary Miralles (Shasta Tackle Company) Scorpion Spinner is one of Saldana’s preferred methods.

“A lot of times when the fish aren’t holed up everywhere you have to take it to them,” Saldana says. “You can’t sit around waiting for them and you want to troll to them and catch them midstream. Depending on whether or not it’s a warmer water temp, they’re on the move. We try to look at it when they’re going up, we’re going down. When they cross paths, guess what? It’s on.”

While trolling could be a necessity (and is used a lot in November toward the end of the season), using FlatFish and boondoggling or backbouncing roe are more traditional Northern California techniques.

Again, it’s all about what will work on a given day.

“This year I have a funny feeling that if it’s a little shallower on the runways – what we call them – where we’re going to fish our pockets, we’ll be doing a lot more back-bouncing roe and FlatFish,” Saldana says. “I’ll adjust to whatever the river’s going to give me.”

Scent can also be an important variable, with flavors also changing by the picky nature of the salmon.

Saldana uses Pro-Cure scents such as Brine ’n Bite on sardine wraps.

“I’ll just play with it and go with some of the (Pro-Cure) dyes that they have that are already predyed. I’ll just play with stuff here or there and find the combination that works,” Saldana says.

“That just makes a little bit of a difference in getting that extra bite.

Last year Pro-Cure Garlic Slam-Ola was a hot one for me. That all of a sudden caught on fire. Salmon are really finicky and they have one

Anthony Linger, a Navy sailor stationed in San Diego, caught an 18-pound king salmon early in the season that began in July 16. The fall run of kings should be in full force this month in the Sacramento River. (MSJ GUIDE SERVICE)

thing and that’s the sense of smell.

They’re always smelling it before they’re seeing it. And that scent is very important for me at least.”

Saldana’s Marysville home base is right off the Feather, but the river’s water level can fluctuate depending on the conditions.

“If we have fish in our backyard, on the Feather River, and there’s enough water to fish it safely and hit the pockets, we do that,” Saldana says. “If we can’t get there, we’ll bounce over to the Sac.” When he does work the Feather, Saldana will fish north around Gridley, Live Oak and just below the Oroville Lake dam. But the water temperature and flow will determine a lot of that river’s success.

“The Feather was going pretty good, but the (end of July), the (state) lowered it down I think 1,000 cfs, and the temperature downriver was about 77 degrees; it was up about 66 or 67 up higher,” Saldana says. “We’re shooting for

that colder water.”

When fishing the Sacramento, Saldana will move anywhere from Verona Marina near Nicolaus – not far from where the Sac and Feather converge – all the way north to Woodson Bridge around Corning.

“But I like to stick to the Chico area, or around Bend. Those are my favorite spots in the Sacramento River,” Saldana says.

Of the 2013 run, Saldana used the description “epic” to characterize what a lot of others also concluded was an epic season. So what about this fall of 2014?

“It’s going to be a promising year.

All my buddies over in places like Bodega Bay, they’ve been pounding them for (two weeks at the end of July),” Saldana says. “It’s just a matter of time for the fall fish. And then there will be fish all over the place. They’re running just a little bit late.”

That’s when all the waiting should be paying off by now. CS

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FISHING

TEMPERING EXPECTATIONS ON THE TRINITY AFTER 2013, SALMON ANGLERS NOT TAKING RUN FOR GRANTED

By Chris Cocoles

DOUGLAS CITY—Trinity River guide Liam Gogan has been fishing these pristine Northern California waters long enough to know this: a wait-and-

see approach is sometimes necessary when it comes to projecting the king salmon run.

The fall projections for the Trinity are anywhere for 80,000 to 100,000 salmon heading into the river,

significantly less than the 181,000 expected in last fall.

“That was considered one of the top three runs of any year,” says Gogan, who runs Trinity River Outfitters (530-623-6376; trinityriveroutfitters.

The Trinity River, seen here near Hoopa, had a less productive 2013 fall king salmon run than expected.

So veteran guides, while expecting some nice fish to be caught, are taking a wait-and-see approach this time around. (PG HOLBROOK/WIKIMEDIA) SEPTEMBER 2014 California Sportsman

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FISHING com). “But in all honesty, it wasn’t anywhere near 181,000.”

There aren’t any real definitive ways to explain why the run last season wasn’t what was predicted.

“The biggest predictor that they use is number of jacks from the year before. This year’s jacks predict very closely what the next year’s run is going to be for 3-year-olds. So we’re expecting a fair run this fall, starting up in early September,” Gogan says.

In late July and early August, a problem for the Trinity that leads one to believe it might be a sluggish start is some very high water temperatures, which were recorded around 75 to 78 degrees on the lower Trinity River– “That’s death,” Gogan says – with the hope from anglers that more water will be added to the Trinity sooner rather than later.

“When there’s not enough water, the salmon get the disease called ich, kind of the same stuff you get in your

Water temperatures were a little higher than what is desired in midsummer for the Trinity.

At 75 to 78 degrees in early August, the hope was the river would get some extra water, lower the temperature and hopefully improve the fall run king salmon fishing.

(ALAN’S GUIDE SERVICE)

home fish tank. Ich can be taken away by a couple of things – volume of water or temperature drop. And both things obviously happen when

you put more cold water down the river,” Gogan says.

“So that’s going to be the savior of the fall kings; at some time or

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FISHING another, they’re going to have a flow from the Trinity side, probably from Trinity Lake.”

The politics when it comes to how the water is allocated becomes a hot-button topic throughout the region. Gogan is a member of several local organizations, including the fishing guides association board, plus the Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group, of which Gogan says, “We oversee restoration projects on this river. So I try to get involved as much as possible on those groups and the water temperature work groups. I just try and give a fisherman’s perspective instead of just a book-smart perspective.”

Provided there is some cooler water on the way, the run should peak through September and continue with productive fishing into October and perhaps even parts of November.

Unlike the larger Klamath and

Sacramento Rivers, the Trinity is too small and rocky for trolling out of boats.

“The No. 1 way to get the fish is fresh roe; we side-drift it. Other guides like to back-bounce. Another effective way is to use sardinewrapped Kwikfish out of the boat.

The fall fish respond really well to that,” Gogan says. “And also because of the coolness to the river, generally, during that time of the year, right now every mile these fish go up the river is a little bit cooler. Maybe it’s only about a half degree. But most of the fishing takes place in the upper river, we’ll say Lewiston down to the North Fork.”

Besides K15 and K16 Kwikfish among other similar lures wrapped in sardines, Trinity anglers are also known to go with fresh roe.

“A third (method) – and not to be put in third place by any means because some days it can be your

best bait – is a tuna ball,” Gogan says. “That’s a very popular and effective bait up here and not to be overlooked. But I have all three every day just in case, so you never know.”

And as summer turns to fall, the fishing range should stretch out to Hayden Flat down past Del Loma, which covers an additional 30 to 40 miles of possible spots for the kings to hole up. Gogan says you won’t see anglers there in the heat of July and August, but in September into October, it can be a great area to catch salmon.

“The place will be stacked with fishermen,” he says of a stretch of river that should go on for about 60 miles. “But good guides should be able to find places that aren’t too crowded but have a lot of fish.”

The Trinity is expected to have a one-fish limit in the fall given the much smaller run predicted. CS

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FISHING

PROMISING AUTUMN FOR NORTH COAST KINGS

KLAMATH RUN LOOKING OUTSTANDING FOR SEPTEMBER

By Luke Kelly

HIOUCHI—As summer begins to fade into fall, king salmon fishing is expected to be strong on the Klamath River, and with a little bit of rain and luck, improve on the Smith River.

King fishing on the Smith River, explains Mick Thomas, owner of Lunker Fish Trips in Hiouchi (707458-4704; lunkerfishtrips.com), doesn’t begin to pick up until the fall rains arrive.

“The problem with the Smith River is that it doesn’t [produce] until it starts raining,” he says. “Until the river starts rising with fresh water from the rain, those fish don’t trigger to come in, and aren’t accessibly fishable until that point.”

For this reason, the fall run of Chinook on the Smith is usually the middle into late October. An angler can expect fishing to improve on

Chris Acosta caught this Klamath River king salmon.

The Klamath’s mouth is wide open, and kings are pouring into the river from the Pacific, setting up for a great September run.

(LUNKER FISH TRIPS)

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FISHING Lunker Fish Trips guide Mick Thomas says king salmon and steelhead combination trips have been popular with Klamath River anglers. He hopes the nearby Smith River also starts producing some kings by October. (LUNKER FISH TRIPS)

the Smith as soon as the rains begin to show up on the West Coast.

Water levels, however, have not had such a heavy impact on the Klamath River, which has made for steady steelhead fishing all summer long.

“The Klamath River is like the Sacramento,” tells Thomas. “There’s lots of water, runoff, we have tributaries that feed it, and dam control posts that keep the flows up and running.”

The king salmon fishing on the Klamath, as of mid-August, is just starting to get hot, and the season will continue into October.

“The Klamath River this year is just off the chart for salmon and

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FISHING steelhead combination trips,” says Thomas. “We didn’t have that great of a run last year with all the mouth closures; the ocean kept closing up the mouth of the river last year, so a lot of the fish didn’t get in because the waters were real stagnant and restricted at the mouth.”

This year, however, is a different story. It’s a wide-open mouth and the salmon are pouring into the Klamath by the dozens. “They’re coming like gangbusters,” says Thomas. “We’re doing fly fishing and conventional bait-dragging and side-drifting for the salmon.”

Thomas says that although he has been primarily targeting the summer steelhead on the fly rod, it’s not uncommon to land an incidental salmon. The vast majority of salmon, however, are being caught while drifting.

“We catching them using Puff Balls, and roe, and we’re just back The Klamath River, seen here alongside Highway 96, which parallels its middle reaches, is the third most productive salmon river on the West Coast.

(MATT BAUN, USFWS)

dragging or side-drifting roe to target the salmon in the deeper holes,” says Thomas, who expect these techniques to produce salmon well into the fall.

Thomas expects king fishing to be very strong on both the Smith and Klamath Rivers in the fall, especially as a result of the lack of fish last year.

“A majority of that run did not even enter the system last year due to the water conditions,” he says.

“I do honestly believe that we are going to see a larger number in our return this year due to the fact that the fish that didn’t enter the system last year will enter this year.”

Furthermore, Thomas believes that the fish that do return on both rivers will be even larger than they were last year. If that proves to be the case, it would serve an angler well to drop their lines in both the Smith and Klamath this fall. CS 70 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2014

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FISHING

ONE LAST CALL FOR TROUT FIND PEACE AT EASTERN SIERRA’S ‘CLOSER’

By Mike Stevens

MAMMOTH LAKES—In the fall, the Eastern Sierra resembles a ghost town, and I mean that in a good way.

School is out, the summer crowds have come and gone, campgrounds that are typically packed in the warmer months are nearly empty, if not officially closed until spring, and you can even make your way through the Vons in Mammoth Lakes without wanting to rip someone’s head off.

I remember my first fall trip. I had two decades of Eastern Sierra trout fishing in my rearview mirror, but those were all summer trips. We rolled up Main Street in Mammoth looking out the windows wondering if the town had been evacuated due to an anticipated volcanic eruption, or if martial law had been declared. The lady in the office of the Seasons 4 condos asked us what we were up there for – mid-October typically stands as a purgatory between trout and ski season, at least as far as local businesses are concerned – and when we told her that we were there to fish, we may have well have said we were in town to bow hunt for unicorns.

The look we were given was a combination surprise and genuine sympathy. Even she thought that since no one else was in town, these poor guys missed the boat. The season was over.

In reality, while the crowds die off not long after Labor Day, the general trout-fishing season is open until November 15. And while stocking programs eventually grind to a halt, so many rainbows are stocked – this year in particular – that holdover fish continue to be consistently caught through the end of the season, and brown trout go on the chew.

Seasonal solitude The first thing you should take advantage of is the fact that fishing pressure is about 90 percent less than in the middle of summer.

Popular summer campgrounds are deserted (or close to it), giving you full access to those great-looking holes and runs that you never dream of fishing back in July when there are campers posting up on every one.

It feels downright eerie with no one around, but that all goes to

Joe Meyers gets in on a crisp autumn day at Silver Lake and lands a brown trout. The summer crowds having fled means hardcore anglers will have a lot of space at Eastern Sierra lakes and streams. (MIKE STEVENS)

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FISHING the wayside as soon as you see how different a creek trout acts when all of a sudden it is not being bombarded by lead and metal on a daily basis.

Wild fish and holdover-stockers crank up the aggression level as they anticipate the arrival of winter, and the current year’s hatchery fish let their guard down as well.

Top spots on lakes are also easier to come by come fall. You’ll no longer have to sprint to that perenniallyproductive creek inlet, point, stump area or honey hole at the crack of dawn to beat the throngs with the same spot in mind.

And while regular stocking of area waters grinds to a halt as the season winds to an end, this is the time hatcheries dump their bigger broodstock in, and some of them are legitimate wall-hangers.

If backcountry fishing is your thing, you’ll find wide-open action fishing and nary another angling

Chances are, scenes like this at Lake Mary are possible in various locations with the summer campers gone as schools open again and temperatures get a little cooler. (MIKE STEVENS)

soul. So, be careful out there. If you break your ankle, it might be a while before the next hiker moseys by.

Where did all these brown trout come from?

If you went to fish the Eastern Sierra

in the fall and had no idea that it was a great time to target brown trout, it probably won’t take long to realize it.

If you do a little research, you will find out that just about every driveup lake on the east side has browns, and you will likely find a few on the list that you have fished for decades without never catching one.

On my first fall trip, I caught good numbers of browns throwing Thomas Buoyants in Lake Mary, on flies in Lake Mamie, on spinners in McGee, Convict, Mammoth and Bishop Creeks, and on all kinds of stuff in the Owens River.

The beauty of it is, you don’t have to fish any differently than you do all summer. All that has changed is the brown trout that have always been there are biting.

In classic brown trout waters, like Lake Crowley, you can get into 3- to 5-pounders all day long on Owner Cultivas, Rapalas, and Sierra Slammers jigs in natural colors with

Northern Mono County Offers A Bounty Fishing and Hunting In and around the Antelope Valley in northern Mono County, within easy access off Highway 395, Sonora Pass, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest have some great areas to hunt mule deer and more. Come and visit the little towns of Walker, Coleville, and Topaz. Find out what they have to offer. There are places to stay, eat, and shop. Try your hand at fishing on the West Walker River.

The Northern Mono Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the “Hiking the Valley” event. With a $25 entry fee, this three-day event, from September 26th-28th, offers raffle prizes, T-Shirts, maps, and dinner Saturday night. Come and explore the many trails and adventures our valley has to offer. All proceeds from this event go to the West Walker River Fish Fund, which helps maintain and stock the river.

Don’t miss the Deer Hunters BBQ October 4th. It includes dinner, raffle prizes, $100 gift card, and a Rifle Raffle. 5:30 pm at the Antelope Valley Community Center in Walker.

Of course, your stay in northern Mono County needn’t end with the hunting and fishing. With seemingly endless hiking trails, off-roading, camping, motor-cross and bicycling, you can vacation here virtually year-round.

This ad is sponsored by Northern Mono Chamber of Commerce (www.northernmonochamber.com). Further info can be found at www.monocounty.org, www.monocounty.org or (800) 845-7922.

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FISHING a plastic worm trailer. Standard Crowley techniques such as trolling (top line and leadcore) Rapalas, Tasmanian Devils and Needlefish, as well as stripping streamers or stillwater nymphing with a fly rod, can produce fish that push or exceed double digits.

Brown bag it “Brown bagging” is a term for the antics of the borderline nutcase dudes who flock (or do they “school?”) to the area every fall looking for giant German browns and nothing else.

These guys fish specific areas and types of water with heavier outfits that would better associate with bass fishing (some even employing Spectra line), and they are usually tossing bigger jerkbaits, crankbaits or spoons.

Brown baggers are closely related to ice fishermen or muskie hunters up north, as they all are crazy/

Twin Lakes in the Mammoth Area is known for churning out some nice brook trout. (MIKE STEVENS)

dedicated – pick the adjective – to a specific type of fish and method: they will fish in any conditions, and they all have a screw or two loose.

That being said, these anglers know what they are doing – they produce monsters every year, and, come to think of it, part of me is just a little nervous that I might get whacked for writing about it.

If you want to dig deeper and see some Sierra fish porn like you’ve

never seen before, just Google “Paul Gonzales, brown trout, Rush Creek,” and you will find various reports of some of this well-known brown bagger’s exploits in recent years: a brown that went over 18 pounds, and another the following year that went over 20. Both were caught in the same area (Rush Creek/Silver Lake) on larger Rapalas, and he had to weed through gobs of 4- to 5-pound fish before the big scores.

Nice problem to have. Areas to focus on if trophy browns are on your radar include all the lakes in the June Lake Loop and Rush Creek, Crowley Lake, Convict Lake, Convict Creek, Bridgeport Reservoir and Twin Lakes (Bridgeport). Try trolling at the bigger impoundments on the list.

Why not fish the “closer?”

Opening Day of the Eastern Sierra general trout season in April is one of the largest fishing events in the state

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FISHING and one of the biggest weekends in terms of attendance in the area.

After an off season that always seems to take forever, stir-crazy trouters pour into the area to jockey for position on a limited amount of thawed water (usually Bishop Creek Canyon, Crowley and Convict Lake, and the June Lake Loop) to grind out a limit of sluggish fish. While you can’t really blame anyone for wanting to fish the opener – and it really is a great event – the “closer” is arguably a better option for the serious angler.

There’s the lack of crowds, way more fishable water (nothing is frozen yet) and mosquitoes are rarely an issue. You have biting browns, fall colors, cooler temps, and just think about how much shorter the wait for April will be when you’ve fished into November.

Opener be damned; let’s fish the closer!

I think we are on to something. CS

Brady Garrett landed this fall Rush Creek brown trout. Over the next two months and into November, anglers will flock to these parts to chase giant German browns. (MIKE STEVENS)

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FISHING

FISHING FOR THE KIDS SAN DIEGO LAKE A GREAT SPOT FOR YOUNGSTERS

By Capt. Bill Schaefer

SAN DIEGO—School for most kids is rapidly approaching, and you know they will want to take a million field trips around the county before it does.

You know that the excursions will have to hold their attention for a good portion of the day without failure. So if you like to fish and the kids are open to the idea or already have had a taste of angling, then Chollas Lake should be added to your list of adventures.

The best thing is you won’t have to travel too far to find this fun place to take the kids. It is located in the heart of San Diego in the College Grove area. This little 16-acre pond was built for drinking-water storage in 1901, but with the growth of the city, it was soon way too small to make a dent in the needs of San Diego residents.

In 1966, the lake was turned over to the Parks and Recreation Department, and in 1971 it was given its designation as a kids-only fishing lake. The kids must be 15 years old or younger to fish here. Parents may help out with the angling, but the second an adult hooks a fish it should be turned over to the closest youngster, even if they are not your own.

This lake belongs to the kids.

Preaching patience How is the fishing here? Truthfully, you are not catching a fish every time your lure hits the water.

The kids need to learn patience and fishing will help. They cannot think they will catch one after another every time they go fishing. The lake is stocked from time to time with trout and catfish, and there is a healthy

Tibby’s Pier is one of Chollas Lake’s go-to fishing spots. Kids 15 and under are only allowed to fish here, though parents are encouraged to help the children set up. (BILL SCHAEFER)

population of bass and bluegill.

The largemouth bass grow big here. Rene Rivera, age 15 at the time, holds the lake record with a whopping 15-pounder he caught on a homemade lure!

If the kids do get bored, all is not lost on a day’s outing here. There are two playgrounds with swings, slides and monkey bars. Sand boxes and a playhouse as well as other playground accessories will keep them occupied, so you can also enjoy the calm and quiet of this little area of

paradise.

If you or the kids need to work off some energy, there are hiking trails around the lake. The first one is a flat .80-mile circle around the edge of the lake. Strollers work fine here if the little one(s) can’t walk too far. There is a nature trail that is a bit more of a workout; there are also guided nature walks and bird watching tours conducted by park rangers. If you watch the daily paper, the lake often advertises fishing derbies as well as other special events.

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Jonathan Taing and Marlon Rhodes show off some nice Chollas Lake catfish. Bass, bluegill and fall and winter trout are also available for young anglers to pursue. (BILL SCHAEFER)

No gear, no problem So now that you have planned the outing and are excited about catching fish, what does it take? There are so many special kids’ fishing days out here at this lake that it should be easy to attend one. Firemen, policemen, military, they all help out.

If you can’t make any of them, then check out Saturdays and Sundays.

One of the great programs started at this lake is the free Saturday and Sunday fishing clinic for the kids that runs from noon to 3 p.m. There is a free rod-lending program for those who may not have the right equipment and volunteers from the community to help the kids catch fish. There are over 200 rod-and-reel combos to lend, so chances are you will always be able to fish even if you don’t have your own equipment or yours isn’t working so well once you reach the lake.

They even have their own worm bed where they grow and raise worms for bait. It is a great learning opportunity for the kids.

Tips and techniques As for finally getting to fish, the bluegill population at this lake is out of this world! You can easily walk the shoreline and see giant schools of them in the shallow weeds. Although a tad on the small side, they are usually easy to catch and keep the kids happy.

The bluegill will eat mealworms, crickets, and red worms, but you may want to attack them from above with a bobber, letting the bait hang down to them. Use 4- or 6-pound test on a light rod or kiddy rod and no weight. Place a bobber about 2 feet above the hook and toss into the shallows. Tell the kids to set the hook if they see the bobber go under.

For the bass, using nightcrawlers should catch a few for the young bass pros in your family. Light line, maybe 6- or 8-pound test, with a splitshot up about 1½ feet from the hook will do. Or a slip sinker above a micro shot will allow the fish to swim off a bit and not detect the weight.

For catfish, the same slip-sinker rig will work, and maybe the nightcrawler will entice one, but some cut-up anchovies or mackerel in small chunks and stink bait will probably do a bit better. These guys fight hard and are great eating.

During the fall and winter, depending on weather of course, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife as well as the City of San Diego plant trout. You can use the same simple bait rig as for the bass, except the hook will change for the bait you throw. The trout prefer many of the super cheese baits that are out now.

For those, a small treble hook should be used. For pieces of nightcrawler, a regular hook in a smaller size is recommended.

A great kid-friendly option Well, here is that vacation spot not too far from home, where there is a little bit of everything for everybody in the family. You’ll find barbeque pits and benches, tables for picnics, trails around the lake for walking, playgrounds and, best of all, fishing for the kids and just the kids.

The lake, open seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., is located at 6350 College Grove Dr., San Diego, 92115.

For more information, call San Diego Parks at (619) 527-7683. CS

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PROS

FISHING

A ROOKIE’S SOLID DEBUT

Justin Lucas says that his California bass background is helpful on the pro trail because of the state’s diverse fisheries. (B.A.S.S./SIEGO SATO)

CALIFORNIA NATIVE ON THE BASSMASTER ELITE SERIES

By Nick Barr

W

e caught up with tournament bass pro and Northern California native Justin Lucas during his rookie campaign on the Bassmaster Elite Series, a week before the tour stops

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Staying consistent and not having too many lows during the season has helped Justin Lucas have a steady season to date.

(B.A.S.S./SIEGO SATO)

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at Cayuga Lake in upstate New York.

During a short break he was on a vacation to the St. Lawrence River, catching brute smallmouth to tune up for the next event. He was sitting in 19th place in the Toyota Angler of the Year standings, well within the cut of the top 36 to guarantee himself a spot in the Bassmaster Classic.

Nick Barr Justin, what was your biggest reason for switching from the FLW Tour to the Bassmaster Elite Series?

Justin Lucas It really came down to having the opportunity to fish the Elites and how I want to secure myself to fish professionally for the next 20 years. The marketing consistency that I could bring to

my sponsors, Abu Garcia, Berkley, and ARE through B.A.S.S., allow for much more stability and longterm support to fish professionally.

As a kid I always grew up watching Bassmasters, and now I finally have the chance to be one of them.

NB What’s the biggest change you have experienced on the fishing side of things from the tour switch?

JL It’s a little tougher practicing for the tournament with the Elite Series; you do not get an off day before the event like you do with FLW, and you really only get 2½ days of practice with B.A.S.S. compared to a full three with FLW. Being able to be more efficient and find fish faster in practice was

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FISHING Rookie Justin Lucas, a California native, is off to a solid start in the Bassmaster Elite Series. He was in 19th place in the angler of the year standings and in a solid position to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic.

(B.A.S.S./SIEGO SATO)

definitely a noticeable challenge and adjustment I had to make. You also have a little less pressure on the lake since there are 75 less boats around and no fellow anglers to fish against out of the back.

NB The

recent Delaware River tournament, deemed by some to be one of the toughest in history of professional fishing, had you squeak out a consistent 42nd-place finish and keep the checks coming. What are your thoughts?

JL The Delaware River is by far the hardest place I have even been to just get a simple bite. You could spend days out here and not get bit. I didn’t have very high expectations going in, but it is an absolutely gorgeous

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FISHING venue and the crowd was ridiculous for a regular series event.

NB Now that you are coming into the homestretch of your rookie year on the B.A.S.S. Elite Series, what are you focusing on most with these last few events, especially Cayuga?

JL I’m sitting nicely inside the cut for the Classic berth, which was my goal at the beginning of the year. So I am mainly looking for consistency and stability. You won’t see me doing anything too risky at Cayuga to ruin my chances and bomb out of the Classic. Even if I finish 60th I should be just fine to stay in the cut. I really shoot for consistency as a tournament angler who wants to stay on tour year after year.

NB Life has really been moving for you, but is there anything on the personal side that has affected your first year on a new tour?

JL At the beginning of the season I was definitely nervous. I tell people it is just like switching jobs. The switch is the best thing I’ve done for my fishing career, besides moving to Alabama. My wife has been such a huge help taking care of so many things for me while I’m on the road.

It enables me to fish completely free on the water. Keeping any personal worries off the water is a huge advantage at this level of competition.

NB What is one thing you have learned from fishing on the opposite side of the country you can give as advice to a Western angler?

JL California guys are naturally versatile because of all the diverse waters we have to fish. You see guys like Aaron Martens, Fred Roumbanis, Brent Ehrler and Brett Hite do well wherever they go. The one thing is that we really do not

have a ton of different tournament waters available like other parts of the country. This really makes Western anglers prone to relying on spots way too much.

On the tour we really never get to fish a place long enough to have spots, so you fish with a much more open mind and really figure out the fish in multiple changing locations no matter where you go.

So definitely something a Western angler can take to heart is to always push yourself to find new water, even on your favorite lake that you think you know like the back of your hand. CS Editor’s note: You can follow the latest happenings with Justin on social media via @JustinLucasBass on Twitter, or check out his website, JustinLucasFishing.com. Contact the author on Twitter, @NickBarrFishing, or go to NickBarrFishing.com.

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FISHING

THE PEAK OF THE EL NIÑO SEASON EXPECT SEPTEMBER BOON UP AND DOWN THE COAST

Yellowfin tuna should be there for the taking for Southern California saltwater anglers as El Niño fishing peaks in September. (CALIFORNI A

By Steve Carson

I

admit it, I’m old. I fished a lot during the major El Niños of 1997 and 1992. I also fished a lot during the “Mega” El Niño of 1983.

Nobody would wheel my stroller to the water for a sample of the action in 1959, but real old-timers and the record book say it was a good one.

I’ve been hyping up this year’s El Niño for several months, and now that we are into the meat of the season, I can definitively say that 2014 does not take a back seat to any of those previous banner years.

What’s more, in all of those previous El Niño years, by far the best single month was September.

Anticipation is running high, and theoretically anglers can expect continued limit-style yellowfin action, with even more dorado and skipjack tuna mixed in. If the pattern runs true to previous years, it will keep going on into October, possibly even November, or until the first cold winter storm moves through. Exactly what the bluefin will do nobody knows, because the current numbers are unprecedented.

Regarding the 2014 fishing results from June, July and August, I am already out of superlatives: wideopen, red-hot, sizzling, phenomenal – all of these and more apply. In some ways 2014 is actually better than the other El Niños, because we have been gifted with exceptional numbers of both bluefin and yellowfin tuna, in both Mexican and US waters.

Most of the yellowfin have been in the 10- to 20-pound class, with ample numbers of bigger specimens from 20 to 40 pounds. The bluefin size range has been much broader, with around four year-classes present. Smallergrade tuna in the 12- to 18-pound

SPORTSMAN FILE PHOTO)

class are the first group, with 22- to 40-pounders making up the second and probably most numerous group.

Anglers also hope to run across schools of the larger bluefin, which are often ranging from 55 to 80 pounds. Really fortunate anglers find the big boys that can run over 100 pounds and occasionally up to over 150 pounds. One “local” boat ran into those and landed only two fish out of over 100 hooked due to inadequate tackle aboard.

Looking north, the albacore action has been excellent for Oregon and Washington anglers, with bluefin tuna mixed in the catch as far north as Washington. The yellowtail under offshore kelp paddies have been averaging almost too small to keep.

Meanwhile, the yellows near islands have been very robust and averaging over 20 pounds. The overall numbers of dorado and skipjack tuna have been fewer than in 1983, but August and September are usually the best months for those species anyway.

Rods and Reels Tackle has gotten exponentially better

since even 1997, and in particular the common use of fluorocarbon leaders improves the odds that tuna on the electronics will become biting tuna. Things like two-speed reels in particular mean that even largegrade tuna can be landed by older anglers, small women, or folks with medical issues.

The abundant schoolie-grade fish, including yellowtail, dorado, and smaller tuna can be caught with just about any good quality saltwater spinning or conventional tackle with 25- or 30-poundtest line. Encounters with larger specimens have fairly exacting tackle requirements. The true “cow” size yellowfin over 200 pounds caught during winter trips are a subject for another column. Typical combos for various-grade bluefin and yellowfin tuna with live bait are: Standard Combo Reel: Penn Fathom two-speed FTH30LD2 lever drag.

Rod: Penn Bluewater Carnage CARBW700M. Line system: 65-pound-test superbraid backing with 40-pound SEPTEMBER 2014 California Sportsman

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mono or fluoro topshot.

Application: Medium-grade tuna ranging from 30 to 100 pounds with live bait.

Heavy Combo Reel: Penn Fathom two-speed FTH40NLD2 lever drag.

Rod: Penn Bluewater Carnage CARBW700H. Line system: 80-pound-test superbraid backing with 50- or 60-pound mono or fluoro topshot.

Application: Large-grade tuna ranging from 75 to 150 pounds with live bait

Oddities Even for an El Niño, some pretty unusual catches are coming in.

Perhaps most intriguing is the big upswing in numbers of opah being caught. In an average year, perhaps a half-dozen are caught on rod and reel statewide. So far there have been at least 20 trips that have come back with opah, often more than one.

Most remarkably, the boat Excel was fishing for yellowtail and had an unprecedented “quintuple” hookup, landing three large ones, including a potential IGFA world record of 180 pounds.

Issues Record-level fishing is not without its disadvantages. Besides the inevitable crowds and “sold-out” boats, a few other negatives have reared their head. Fish hogs are not a new thing, but when limits of everything are easy to achieve by late morning, some people can’t resist the temptation to catch more than their limit – sometimes a lot more.

Ironically, the massive surge in bluefin catches triggered some alarms. According to some possibly outdated stock assessments, we could not possibly be catching this many without damaging the population. The species was actually closed in Mexican waters, and

NOAA is taking comments from anglers regarding a proposal to do the same in US waters. The petition can be viewed at federalregister.gov/ articles/2014/07/24/2014-17431/ fisheries-off-west-coast-statespacific-bluefin-tuna.

Lastly, the accidental clash between a swimmer and a hooked great white shark near the Manhattan Beach pier has also taken on a legal life of its own. The City of Manhattan Beach enacted a temporary 60-day fishing ban on the pier, even though they have no jurisdiction over the pier, which is built on state property, and extends into the waters of the state.

A large number of lower-income people are thus deprived of access to the phenomenal fishing in one of the few places where a California fishing license is not required. CS Editor’s note: The author loves hearing from California Sportsman readers, and can be contacted at scarson@sunset.net

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DUCK BOAT SHOWCASE

Gator Trax Boats has been perfecting shallow-water boats now for 14 years. Based in southern Louisiana, Gator Trax Boats is very familiar with what it takes to traverse shallow water effectively and safely.

From our cypress-stump-laden swamps to our vegetation-choked marshes along the coast, we understand what it takes to get you where you need to be when nothing else can.

Our hulls are backed by a lifetime warranty and built tougher and thicker than anything else on the market. In fact, the best part of the Gator Trax buying experience is the ability to customize your hull to fit your specific needs. We build over 50 sizes of hulls, but the interior layout and design is up to you! Longer decks, shorter consoles, more dry storage, less boxes - no problem!

We know that our customers use our hulls 12 months out of the year for many different shallow-water functions - fishing, duck hunting, bowfishing, the list goes on. We can make our boats “modular,� so you can unbolt this part and bolt in that part to go from the perfect duck boat to the perfect fishing boat in one minute!

Over 14 years of building thousands of custom hulls makes it hard to get a feel for Gator Trax in a few paragraphs, so check out our web site, gatortraxboats.com, and our You Tube channel for the full Gator Trax experience! Or check out our hulls in person at the Bass Pro in Manteca, Calif.!

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DUCK BOAT SHOWCASE COPPERHEAD MANUFACTURING

Copperhead MFG is a family-owned and -operated company in Louisiana, aka “Sportsman’s Paradise.” We are the first mud-motor company to design and engineer a true surface-drive small-horsepower mud motor.

Available in 6.5 to 23hp, these lightweight and powerful engines are perfect for those who love to hunt and fish the shallow-back waters.

Our mud motors pair best with lightweight, flat jonboats, riveted or all-weld, in the 12to 16-foot range. Give us a call to discuss what will best suit your needs.

At Copperhead, we have always worked diligently and are proud to have earned the trust of hundreds of customers and to be called the No. 1 small-hp mud-motor company around. We put customer service first and foremost, and we understand that “well done is better than well said.”

Copperhead is continually doing research and development to bring the best products possible to our customers.

For more information go to copperheadmfg.com or call 985-893-2890.

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DUCK BOAT SHOWCASE DYNAMARINE DynaMarine Performance Boats was born of a vision, one that looked beyond current “state of the art” in airboat design to “state of what could be” with imagination, determination, and a solid foundation of manufacturing expertise, precision craftsmanship and financial strength.

As DynaMarine looks to the future, our imagination is fueling a product development engine that will change the shape of airboating. Our exciting new hull designs are not only defining our signature Dyna look, they also provide the revolutionary on-water performance that is taking the airboat platform in thrilling new directions.

We are also partnering with top-line suppliers to incorporate the best components and technologies available today from names like Turn Key Engine Supply, Livorsi Marine Electronics, Garmin, JL Audio, Ballistic Gear Drives, and WhirlWind and Sensenich propellers. We are not building average production boats, we are building high-quality machines that provide the ultimate in performance, luxury and functionality.

DynaMarine offers a wide range of models and rigging configurations, including sport/performance, luxury cruisers and custom rigging for hunt/fish enthusiasts and commercial applications.

For those who own a Dyna, the satisfaction of knowing you have chosen the very best is its own reward. But where your new Dyna will truly deliver is in the pure fun that you will enjoy with your family and friends every time you fire it up and hit the water.

Learn more at: dyna-marine.com

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DUCK BOAT SHOWCASE BEAVER DAM MUD RUNNERS and the History of Mud Motors

By Robert Milner, III Since my father is a gundog trainer, I caught the duck hunting “bug” at an early age! I grew up at the Wildrose Kennels that my dad founded, owned for 23 years and made famous. (Duckhill Kennels is his current kennel.) In 2012 I was very fortunate to be able to put together a club called the Nash Buckingham Rod and Gun Club at the legendary Beaver Dam Lake in Tunica, Miss.

It was a very dry year and the lake was very low. I wanted to buy an inexpensive shallow-water motor for a small boat but was having a hard time finding one. This quest led to the founding of Beaver Dam Mud Runners.

After thoroughly researching the market and the history of the mud motor, I quickly found out that there were very few inexpensive mud-motor options in the U.S. Most were overpriced and overengineered for what I wanted. So I researched the history and origins of the mud motor. Since the 1950s, Thailand has been making shallow-water, or long-tail, motors. I bought a couple and used them through duck season and was very impressed.

Thai long tails are the worldwide standard for mud motors, but they have not been effectively marketed in the U.S. The Vietnam War did expose U.S. soldiers to the Asian long-tail mud motor, and in the 1970s, Go-Devil was founded in Louisiana and began making expensive motors very similar to the Thai design. However, long tails had been made in the U.S. since the late 1800s by various companies.

Strelinger, Caille and Gierholtt were some of the companies in the US in the early 1900s.

I found that there are many duck hunters who need an inexpensive, simple solution for a mud motor. Most of us don’t need a 250-pound, 35-hp mud motor that costs over $5,000. Thailand companies have been making and distributing long-tail mud motors throughout the world for at least 50 years. My mission is to provide duck hunters with an inexpensive, but high-quality and simple solution for shallow-water navigation. For more information go to beaverdammudrunners.com or call (901) 831-1669.

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HUNTING

WAITING IS THE EASIEST PART 4 WAYS TO MAKE A SLOW DAY IN THE DUCK MARSH MORE PRODUCTIVE

By Brian Lull

C

alifornia is typically No. 2 or 3 in terms of numbers of ducks killed each season. The only state that beats us consistently is Louisiana, home of the infamous Duck Commander crew. So to someone who doesn’t speak duck, one might think that we California

sportsmen kill limits every morning we slide into our waders.

As avid waterfowlers know, that simply ain’t the case. Our sunny California weather plays a huge role in why we don’t kill limits every day at Colusa, Sutter Butte and Gray Lodge refuges. Blue bird days are more common than not

these days.

The typical duck hunt often starts with a flock of teal dive bombing into the decoys and leaving just before legal shooting time. It’s almost as if they have little wrist watches.

And once shooting time arrives, we get to watch as flocks of high

Some days a lone spoonbill is all duck hunters get to join up with their flock of decoys. But there are plenty of productive ways for waterfowlers to pass the time on slow days in Northern California’s marshes. (BRIAN LULL) SEPTEMBER 2014 California Sportsman

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HUNTING unblinking decoys. Yet by and large, most flocks will head straight for the safe areas of the refuge when the weather’s nice. So besides telling offcolor jokes with our hunting partners to pass the time, we at California Sportsman have a few suggestions for killing time in the marsh:

1

Kill something besides ducks

The snipe is a favorite waterfowl target for the author. Most days, you’ll flush a single or pair, and maybe even track a trio. (BRIAN LULL)

fliers return from their night feeding to the refuge. Oh, sure, one lone shoveler might commit spoon-a-cide and come join our flock of plastic

Regulations permitting, there are several birds that can be hunted not far from your dead spread. Here are a couple: Snipe are a favorite prey of mine, but no one seems to hunt them here. Back East they are a revered game bird; out here, not so much.

I often get a funny look when I tell someone I limited on them.

The truth is snipe are often found in many of the same spots we hunt ducks. That mushy, muddy, flat on the back of the slough you’re

hunting is a perfect spot. Snipe feed on invertebrates in the mud by probing with their long beaks.

You will encounter snipe as singles or pairs – three are a veritable flock. When flushed, they often fly out in a zigzag path while scolding you with a screech or two.

But they have a peculiar trait. If for some reason you don’t shoot on the initial flush, they will often fly back over the top of you for a high crossing shot.

How do they taste? Let’s just say that dove used to be my favorite game bird until I shot a snipe.

If the ducks just aren’t flying, you can also hunt quail and pheasants – even coots. Just make sure you know the regs for where you are hunting, and be mindful of steel- and leadshot rules for the marsh.

Also keep in mind that it is bad form to roam around in blaze orange attire if others are attempting to hunt ducks.

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PHANTOM GOOSE HATS

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These clever Phantom Goose Hats give you live-action decoys and camouflage in one package! Now you can move your head to keep your eyes on incoming birds without scaring incoming birds. You become the live-action decoy and don’t miss a chance on waterfowl. Made of stretch fleece fabric, this headgear is great for cold weather and one size fits all.

It will even fit over other headgear when the temperature drops. Head straps include ear covers and velcro closures to provide a firm fit. This hat does not hinder peripheral vision or line of sight, and the hat can be positioned to face into the wind. Goose and duck hats are available. To find out more, visit phantomgoosehats.com or call (406) 821-0004. Free shipping on phone orders only.

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The Navigator is available in Mallard, Pintail, Gadwall, Coot, Diver and Wigeon full-body floaters, as well as Mallard (drake and hen) and Pintail (drake only) feeder butts. Navigator automated geese decoys will also be available soon.

This game-changing innovation in waterfowl hunting operates on two C-cell batteries and will run for approximately four hours while bringing lifelike, random swimming motion (left, right, forward) to your decoys. This simple, natural movement also causes some spraying and ripples in the water, thus adding realism not just to the Navigator decoy, but to the whole spread.

All Navigators will retail for $119.95 Videos are available online (search ghdecoys on Youtube and G+H on Facebook), and for more, check with your local sporting goods dealer. If our products are not available, call G&H Decoys at 1 (800) 443-3269 or visit our “New Products” section on ghdecoys.com SEPTEMBER 2014 California Sportsman

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HUNTING

2

Enjoy armed bird watching

California’s marshes are the some of the most bird-rich wetland in the world. Shore birds, raptors, upland birds, those LBBs – little brown birds – that flit through the blind as you’re scanning the empty skies. The variety is staggering and figuring out what kind of bird you’re looking at is a great way to pass some time. With smartphone technology, the answer is right at your fingertips.

3

Think of improvements

Is your blind really that good?

Does it look like a blind?

Ducks see you from above, so while your hide might look great from the horizontal plane we inhabit, what really matters is, does it look like another of those black

A white-faced ibis like this one at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge is a common shorebird in Northern California marshes. (BRIAN LULL)

boxes of death waterfowl have seen since they left Alaska or Alberta?

Overhead cover and shadow is the key to killing to educated ducks.

Reconsider your calling. Does it really have a positive impact on the flocks? Our pride often gets in the way of killing birds. Most often the best thing most hunters can do is to just put the kazoo away. Heavily hunted ducks don’t often wish to call attention to themselves. The real ducks will show you how to hunt.

Then there’s the subject of decoys and placement. Take a drive by areas closed to hunting and see how the birds really look while resting.

They look relaxed. They also mix in with other species.

Some days you have to float every decoy in the armada to get any attention, but many times smaller is better. Motion – and the right motion – is the key to making your set look alive. I will take six decoys with a way to make them move so

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GK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CALLS GK World Championship Calls was founded in 1999. We staff some of the most accomplished callers in the world. We are very proud of their achievements on the calling circuit. Since 2003, we have been successful in winning every major title on the goose calling circuit. GK netted a record of over 200 first place finishes, two world titles, and the “Champion of Champion’s” title in 2010. We also have some very promising youth callers, all of which we expect to become very proficient on the calling circuit within the next few years.

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HUNTING they make ripples over a spread of 200 lifeless-looking ones any day.

4

Walk your worries away

Go on a walkabout. If you are near free-roam areas and the day is slow, why not go see what the next pond over looks like? I have discovered many small pockets of water that hold birds by doing this over the years. Marshes are everchanging ecosystems. Ponds grow over, new ones form.

You may be looking at a satellite picture of your area that is 10 years old. We rely too much on technology.

There is no substitute for boots-onthe-ground reconnaissance.

There is no wasted day in the duck blind. And keep in mind, it beats being at work, so take time to enjoy those all too common blue bird days. It makes you appreciate

The author with a California quail, a species that often lurks on the fringe of good duck marshes. There is no wasted day in the blind if you think outside the box. (BRIAN LULL)

the limit-out days all that much more. CS Editor’s note: While he waits for the

opening of waterfowling season in October, duck-hunting junkie Brian Lull bides his time as the sales manager for California Sportsman.

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October 4, 2014—March 15, 2015

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HUNTING

NEW RULES FOR DOVE HUNTERS MOURNING DOVE LIMIT INCREASES FROM 10 TO 15

The Eurasian dove (left) is significantly larger than the mourning dove and is a fairly recent colonist to California, which first reported sightings of the bird in 2001. (TIM E. HOVEY)

By Tim E. Hovey

SANTA CLARITA—Towards the end of the summer, I start to notice the small groups of mourning dove gliding through my neighborhood.

I usually spot them just before dusk, pitching and dodging through the trees on their way to their evening roosts. To me, the warmer summer evenings means the season is near.

My hunting friends already have plans set, hotel rooms reserved and gear packed, unpacked and repacked in the anticipation of opening day on September 1. California has two

dove seasons; an abbreviated, 15day opening on September 1, and a second one that begins on the second Saturday of November and extends for 45 days.

Along with these seasons, wingshooters will see some exciting changes in the 2014-2015 upland game bird regs as they pertain to dove.

New this year, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, working with scientists responsible for monitoring mourning dove populations, have decided to increase the daily bag limit from 10 birds to 15. They’ve determined that the

population is healthy enough to increase the bag limit, illustrating the importance of relying on good science in making resource management decisions.

IT IS ESTIMATED that across the country, the population of mourning dove amounts to about 350 million birds.

Over a season, hunters will kill an estimated 20 million of that stock, a fraction of the overall population and well within a sustainable yield for the species. The daily limit increase is a refreshing and pleasant change in a time when it feels like just about SEPTEMBER 2014 California Sportsman

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HUNTING the states is a short one and ongoing.

Released in the Bahamas in the 1970s, they showed up in Florida in the 1980s. From there, it took less than 20 years to get from the East Coast to California, the first reported sighting coming in 2001.

Researchers suggest that has given the collared dove an easy path to moving across the country.

The Eurasian’s affinity for humaninfluenced landscapes like roads and parks made it easy for the species to hop from coast to coast and beyond.

Confirmed reports from eastern Alaska were recorded in 2007.

The most recent research shows that so far, in some parts of the country, the Eurasian dove does not significantly compete with the mourning dove for food resources.

However, this species is still in its infancy when it comes to colonization.

The current pattern shows a steady increase in bird numbers annually that could overtax current resources and change the overall picture for the native mourning dove. Only time will tell.

Alyssa Hovey overlooks dove decoys during a hunt. Mourning dove will now have a limit of 15, up from 10, when the 2014 early fall season opens on Sept. 1. (TIM E. HOVEY)

every aspect of hunting activity is being whittled away.

Another change this season is the opening up of the nonnative Eurasian collared dove hunting opportunities.

Prior to the 2014 season, the collared dove was open year-round in a limited portion of the southern section of the state. Starting this season, the large dove species will be open year-round statewide, with no limit on numbers taken. Just like in past years, Eurasian dove do not count towards your daily mourning dove limit.

In the areas I hunt, the Eurasian is just starting to show up in increased numbers. In fact, last year I hunted with a good friend who had never seen the collared dove before. They’re about 50 percent larger than the average-sized mourning dove, are lighter in color, and, of course, have a dark bar or collar, ringed by white across the back of the neck. In flight, the tail is rounded and not as pointed as the mourning dove. The calls are also slightly different.

The history of the Eurasian dove in

AS A HUNTER, I’m always interested in new game to chase. The rapid spread of the bigger dove species into areas I already hunt and the new regulation changes are good things in my opinion. As a biologist, it’s also refreshing to see that research has already examined the impact of this species on our native dove. For now, it appears that there is no down side for the sportsman.

However, as numbers of the Eurasians increase and they continue their colonization across the country, food resources, nesting sites and quality habitat may be competed for.

Over the last few seasons, we’ve noticed a dramatic increase in the number of Eurasian dove in the areas we hunt. Each season, we have added several to our bag and that number seems to be on the rise. We don’t specifically target the Eurasian, but hunt them opportunistically during the mourning dove season.

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HUNTING They seem to decoy well, just like mourning dove, and we’ve seen them mixed with smaller groups of the native dove during their morning and evening flights.

Just like most birds, they have amazing eyesight and can pick out color better than humans. If you wear neutral colors and stay still during your hunt, you can easily add a few of the large dove to your bag when they appear. Essentially, anything you do while pursuing mourning dove will suffice for drawing a few Eurasians your way.

The ease of dove hunting is a huge part of why I go. The gear is relatively universal and the effort is minimal.

I look to the opener as more of an enjoyable gathering of friends and family than anything else. The hunt itself is just a bonus.

However, one thing I always try to do every season is to take a new hunter, or someone interested in

getting started, out with me. It is our job to inform those who may be on the edge of understanding, what hunting and the outdoors is all about. There is no downside to doing this, and it can only benefit all outdoorsmen.

This season, I’m really looking forward to hunting dove. Not just because of the positive changes in the regulations, but because this will mark the first season where both my daughters will be hunting with me.

My oldest, Alyssa, hunted dove a few times with me last season and did well. This opener, her younger sister, Jessica, will be joining us. Both have practiced several times during the offseason and I’m confident that they will not only enjoy themselves, but each will drop their share of birds. I can’t wait to watch their excitement as the sun starts to peak over the horizon and the birds start to fly. It’s sure to be a season I’ll never forget. CS

Eurasian doves are lighter in color and have a dark bar or collar, ringed by white across the back of the neck. (TIM E. HOVEY)

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HUNTING Mule deer will provide a challenge for California hunters in search of their first buck. But seasoned hunters preach patience when stalking for deer this fall. (USFWS)

FINDING YOUR FIRST BUCK

By Luke Kelly

W

ith deer season picking up in California in September in several of the state’s zones, the opportunity for beginning hunters to get their trophy deer, or simply their first deer ever – be it one of the Golden State’s blacktailed or mule deer – is always a great challenge.

First-time hunters, along with consulting state laws and hunting with more experienced friends, should bear in mind a few of our tips as they head out in hope of getting a California deer in the fall.

VETERAN HUNTERS PROVIDE TIPS TO ROOKIES

Matt Burud and Kevin Johnson are excellent hunters, who were brought up hunting deer in a number of different locations and have over 20 years of experience hunting deer between the two of them.

When consulted for advice, the first thing that either had to say was, “location, location, location.” In other words, doing your homework about where you’re hunting before you actually go hunting is essential to getting your first deer.

“You need to find out where the deer are, and where they feed,” explains Johnson. Burud agrees, pointing out that learning the travel

routes and habits of the deer is essential to first scouting and then landing a deer.

“You have to learn their habits and travel routes, such as where they sleep and where they go to eat and what they are eating,” says Burud, who recommends looking for signs such as deer rubs or using trail cameras for help.

Once you know where the deer are bedding and where they are feeding, the first and often one of the most difficult steps has been taken: simply finding the deer.

Another tip that Johnson offers is to “hunt the wind.”

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HUNTING “Deer can smell really well,” he says. “You need to hunt upwind of them so that they don’t smell you.”

If the wind is blowing hard from one direction, being upwind of the deer can help keep your scent hidden and keep the deer from knowing that you’re there. Also, deer are more prone to movement when the wind is blowing, heading to places that they can take shelter from the wind.

It may be beneficial to look for deer in areas that offer protection from the wind when it is blowing hard. Either way, it is important to try to eliminate as much of your scent as you can before going hunting.

Finally, Johnson says that for any hunter, patience is the most important of skills. “Be patient and stay still,” he says. The hours can get long, he explains, while waiting for a deer. The most important thing a hunter can do is simply to remain

patient when things are slow. That way, you’re calm and collected when the moment actually arises to pull the trigger.

Whatever part of California you choose to hunt this season, be sure to stay stock-still when deer are in the area.

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Expect to hunt all kinds of terrain throughout the diverse topography of California, such as this hilly and forested section of Southern California. (ALBERT QUACKENBUSH)

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HUNTING

FROM FIELD:

While this year’s acorn crop is below last year’s output, it’s still a food source worth hunting over for bears. Berries, carrion, a wide mix of vegetation and more, also make up a bear’s diet this time of year. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

BE A BEAR NUTRITIONIST KNOWING BRUINS’ EATING HABITS CAN IMPROVE HUNTING

By Scott Haugen

F

all is here, and with it, prime bear hunting opportunities. I’ve been fortunate to take several bears throughout the West, and a good number in Northern California.

One thing I’ve learned during all my years of hunting bear is that consistent success centers around a bruin’s appetite.

This time of year, berries and nuts constitute the majority of a bear’s diet. True, they’ll dig for roots, tubers and insects, scavenge streams for carrion, hunt for squirrels, fawns and calf elk, and even graze on any grasses that green up. But overall, it’s the ripening of berries and the coming on of acorns that bears really like in early fall.

“This year’s acorn growth isn’t near what it was last year, but there’s such a residual crop, SEPTEMBER 2014 California Sportsman

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HUNTING we’re seeing a good number of bears already hanging out in lower elevations,” shares guide and booking consultant Parrey Cremeans of justforhunting.com.

Based out of Redding, Cremeans has his finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the bear woods.

“With so many acorns still on the ground from last year’s big crop, there are a surprising number of bears in the oak tree habitats,” continues Cremeans. “A lot of these bears drop into the lowlands from higher elevations, seeking an easy food

Bear numbers are high in forested areas of Northern California – the challenging part is finding them in such thick habitat. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

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HUNTING

THE FIRE:

BEAR WITH A MEDITERRANEAN TWIST

By Tiffany Haugen

B

ear is one our family’s favorite – if not the favorite – wild game meats. Taken care of in the field and in the kitchen, many dinner guests of ours couldn’t believe they were sinking their teeth into bear, not beef. Annually, we consume two to three bears a year, and rarely make sausage from any of it.

The first time we had a traditional pita with hummus and tzatziki while traveling through Europe. It was a memorable experience and one we wanted to bring home. The amazing spices and flavors compensated for the fact we had no idea what kind of meat we were eating. Later we learned it was goat. We’ve since had it with both black bear and grizzly, and both were excellent.

Bears in pitas 1 pound bear, cut into small chunks 1/ cup fresh lemon juice 3 ¼ cup olive oil 4 cloves garlic, pureed 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, finely chopped 1 teaspoon fresh marjoram, finely chopped 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper In a small bowl, combine all of the ingredients. Marinate bear in refrigerator up to 24 hours. Heat a medium skillet on medium-high heat, add bear with all marinade. Bring to a quick boil, letting marinade reduce for

pepper to taste Dice cucumbers and place on several paper towels; pat dry to remove extra water. In a medium bowl mix all ingredients and keep refrigerated.

Hummus

Tiffany Haugen and her family love to eat bear meat. Adding hummus and tzatziki gives a bear pita dish with a Mediterranean motif. (HAUGEN ENTERPRISES)

five to 10 minutes. Strain off marinade and discard. Serve bear in a warm pita with lettuce, tomatoes, hummus and tzatziki.

Tzatziki 1 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream 2 cups cucumber, diced 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons vinegar or lemon juice 1 teaspoon dill weed (optional) Salt and fresh ground black

1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans, drained 3 tablespoons tahini 2 cloves garlic 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil ½ teaspoon cumin Dash of cayenne or hot pepper sauce Place all ingredients in a food chopper and puree until smooth. Add water if necessary to reach desired consistency. Keep refrigerated.

Editor’s note: For more bear recipes and signed copies of Scott & Tiffany Haugen’s popular cookbook, Cooking Big Game, send a check for $20 (free S&H) to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489 or order online at scotthaugen.com.

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HUNTING Author Scott Haugen has taken many bears throughout the West, and relies on targeting food sources in order to find consistent success. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

source.”

Up high, extremely dry conditions often cause food sources to dry up, forcing bears to go on the move in search of food.

“Bears really like manzanita berries this time of year,” Cremeans says. “If hunters are looking for bears up high, concentrate glassing these food sources. Also, if we get any moisture, the slightest bit of grass greening-up will attract bears.”

Personally, some of my best fall bear hunts in California have come amid river drainages where blackberries thrive.

The key, however, is finding berry patches that have not dried up in the intense heat and drought, or haven’t already been devoured by bears.

One of the best ways to tell what bears are feeding on is by studying their droppings. Bears have a very short digestive tract, making their food poorly digested. Frequently, you’ll find fresh droppings where all types of berries are fully intact, making it easy to see what they’ve eaten. Find fresh scat, identify the food source and you’re on the way to filling a tag.

Bears also destroy many trees throughout the state, especially in the heavily wooded, northern parts. Redwoods, cedars and Douglas firs are all bear food sources. Bears will strip the bark off these trees to access the sweet cambium layer.

When they completely ring trees, the tree will eventually die.

I’ve been in many wooded draws in the northern parts of the state where I’ve stood in one spot and counted dozens of

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HUNTING stripped trees.

“This year we’re actually working with a local timber company,” Cremeans says. “They’ve asked us to hunt their land and take as many bears as we can. For each hunter who tags a bear, their name is then entered in to a drawing to hunt a Roosevelt cow elk. There are two elk tags being awarded. Bears are costing timber companies a lot of money each year, and hunters can step in and help keep numbers in check while simultaneously saving trees.”

Over a decade ago I hunted some timber property near Klamath, where a single company experienced over a million dollars a year in lost timber.

Bears can kill an amazing number of trees in a very short time, and with growing bear numbers, the problem will only increase in coming years.

The unfortunate, unconscionable vote by legislators to ban the use

of hounds for hunting bears will devastate timber country in much of California, just as it has in other states where hound hunting has been banned. It’s unfortunate such bans are being guided by human emotion, rather than scientific data and the fact hunting serves as an efficient tool of game management and conservation, especially as it relates to bears living in dense habitats.

With lots of bears roaming the state, now is the time to get out, put the optics to work and find a bruin. When you get a bear down, get the skin off as quickly as possible, remove the fat from the meat and get the meat off the bone. The key to securing the best-tasting bear meat is getting the carcass cooled as quickly as possible. It’s some of our family’s favorite eating big-game meat, and when you take care of it properly, you’ll see why. CS

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HUNTING THE ROCKY ROAD

PREPARING FOR A COLORADO MOUNTAIN ELK TRIP

Some of the steep, mountainous territory elk hunters must traverse in Colorado. The author’s Southern California coastal location means it’s imperative to be in good shape for high-elevation trips. (ALBERT QUACKENBUSH)

By Albert Quackenbush

C

olorado is home to one of the largest elk herds in the United States. When I was younger, I would watch the hunters on television talk about the grandeur of the hunt, beauty of the land, and solitude of being in the backcountry.

A lifetime of daydreaming, two years of careful preparation, and a limited budget were just part of the equation. Attempting a DIY bow hunt for elk in Colorado was on my wish list in my family for years. To be honest, it always seemed like more of a pipe dream for me.

Oh, how incredible it would be to hunt elk, I thought, but I always brushed off the idea. Then I asked myself, how bad did I want to hunt them and how hard was I willing to

work? So I worked hard and planned a hunt in 2011.

Unforeseen circumstances arose and I was unable to make that trip.

While it would seem disappointing, my focus was on my family and it truly did not bother me. I am a firm believer that if it is meant to be, it will happen when it should. Instead of the common “woe is me” attitude, I vowed to hunt elk the following year and immediately began planning a 2012 DIY over-the-counter elk hunt in Colorado, and I’m going back there this year too.

Growing up in New York I could not fathom the endless possibilities that are available to Western hunters. I was blinded by fear, lack of knowledge and funds. Little did I know that moving to California, meeting new friends and just asking questions would lead

to the hunt of a lifetime.

Have you ever wanted to bow hunt for elk? Here are some useful tips and planning strategies to help make your dream a reality:

Planning the hunt Eddy Eraut, a Colorado resident and friend, owns Piranha Custom Bowstrings (866926-3339; pirahnabowstrings.com). He knew the area well and was available to assist me prior to and on my hunt.

His first advice to me was to train my body for the mountains any way I could, and to practice at the archery range as often as I could.

While I understood what he was saying, I knew I needed to plan everything out. I was blessed to have his assistance and knowledge.

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Finding fresh sign elk will get any hunter’s heart pumping. (ALBERT QUACKENBUSH)

you plan on hunting is a bonus. I had planned on doing it alone, but it would have been a rough experience.

Do some research online and try to find someone who has hunted where you’d like to go. Get their advice and, who knows, maybe they will offer to tag along and help.

One of the best parts of hunting, in my opinion, is the planning phase. It’s when the anticipation builds and you get pumped! The planning process is exciting. Ask my wife, my friends, or whomever I deal with. I love the planning process! Planning is one aspect of hunting that is not only essential, but can be an incredible learning experience and a great deal of fun.

Get your practice in Part of the planning process is practice, and I don’t simply mean archery practice. I also mean practicing the other things you will be doing, like getting mentally and physically fit, and using your gear before you hit the forest. As a bowhunter who lives near the beach, I am working out at near

sea level. That’s not ideal and it’s not even close to any sort of elevation.

In order to train my body for the Rockies I have had to challenge myself.

I have been steadily increasing the difficulty level using heavier weights and running trails. Sometimes I’ll put a wet handkerchief over my mouth when I run. It is not pleasant, but anything I can do to help is good.

Plus, on family walks, I load up my frame pack with 90 pounds of sand.

It’s a killer on the legs, but hauling out elk quarters won’t be easy either.

Don’t get me wrong, working out sucks, but it’ll be miserable, if not unbearable if I am hunting at 10,000 feet and have not worked out at all.

No matter what, prepare yourself for the change in elevation and drink plenty of water.

The flip side to this is that you need to make sure that your hunting partner is also in good shape when you go. Your entire hunt could be ruined if you trained hard and your partner took their shape for granted. When I planned out my 2014 elk hunt, I knew I would also be hunting with my friend, Brett Bumgarner. Brett and I have been hunting together for about three years now, mostly for deer in the foothills of Southern California.

After I explained the terrain, altitude, and need to get in shape, Brett stepped up to the plate and began pushing himself. In fact, he began eating right and slimming down; with that his endurance level rose. He is running a few times a week, training with a heavy pack, and is in the gym more than ever. He wants this hunt more than anything and it definitely shows.

Once again, as I plan on heading to Colorado this fall and since my last trip in 2012, many things have changed, some due to what I have learned and others due to the hunt itself. When I hunted in 2012, we had a base camp right off the dirt road to come back to each night.

Much of our gear could be stored in my truck. My 2014 hunt will be much different as we plan on packing in 4 to 5 miles and then setting up our camp.

Much more thought will be put into what I am carrying on my back.

Getting the details down

Practice using your GPS, but also have a compass and topo map of the area.

I know that I will be using my GPS often when I am in Colorado, so I plan on breaking it out more and more to learn the essential features before I get there. Using a GPS, along with a topo map, is something that every backcountry hunter should learn.

You don’t have to be a GPS expert,

Study the rules and regulations of the state you plan to hunt. Study the game laws and know what you can and cannot use in the state. More and more Californians are hunting out of state due to more opportunities and the strict laws here. I always research and make sure I understand the laws and regulations.

Checking that list twice One of the key factors to a DIY backcountry elk hunt is knowing what gear you need to bring, what you can leave behind, and how you and your partner can share the load. Instead of waiting until the last minute, Brett and I have been discussing our gear options for the last year.

I had made a list for 2012, but refined it significantly for this hunt.

This hunt will be in the backcountry, and we will be hunting from a spike camp deep in the Rockies. There will be no lodge, no canvas tent to come back to, and no bottled water.

This time we will be taking everything we needed in on our backs, minus the water. Water will have to be found and filtered prior to use. My once-long list is continually being refined to allow me to save space in my pack, cut weight, and reduces frills. Once you have your list and have gone on a hunt, you can adjust accordingly. For me it is an ever-changing list, and I imagine it will be for you, too.

Finding your way

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but you should be able to find your way out of the forest on your own if need be. I normally use BaseCamp for setting up my maps. I have the HuntingGPSMaps for Colorado which show BLM, private and public land. It is extremely detailed and up to date.

I also downloaded the Colorado map for Google Earth. I wanted to get a feel for the area before I arrived and also mark some spots and water holes.

Plus, this gives Brett and me a chance to bounce ideas off one another for possible hunt locations. We have been able to view the trailhead where we will park and the surrounding land that offers a bowhunter’s paradise.

Using your calling card One of the struggles I have and that

The author (right) and Eddy Erautt had a successful morning elk hunt in Colorado. The former hopes he and a friend can enjoy another great trip this year. (ALBERT QUACKENBUSH)

I am working on is my elk calling.

During my last hunt, Eddy nearly laughed me out of the forest, but since then I have learned a great deal.

I knew I needed to learn more, so I turned to elk hunting guide Steve Chappell. He and Eddy both said to work the hardest on my cow calls and get them right. I have been practicing and know I need to get even better

than I am to fool a bull elk.

Then there’s the bugle that you dream of hearing in the forest.

Mastering a bull bugle holds an entirely new set of challenges. It’s tough trying to practice the scream of a bull elk in a residential neighborhood, but you find ways to do it. For the most part I will be focusing my energy on cow calls and mews. The good thing about

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a cow call is they bring in the cows, bulls, and the bears.

Bears are prevalent in Colorado and you must be prepared to encounter them. We actually called one in on my last hunt and I also wandered into a bear feeding ground when I was by myself. The hair on my neck was raised with every step I took!

We are packing our bear spray and each will have a sidearm for protection, but this year I also have a bear tag in my pocket. I was fortunate enough to draw a nonresident bear tag and plan on actively hunting bears, too. It’s another challenge, but an exciting one.

Archery 101 Our archery tackle must be in top condition prior to and during the

hunt. Brett and I have been at the archery range shooting anywhere from 60 yards to 30 yards. From time to time we move in to 20 and 10 yards, but for the most part we want to hone our skills at longer ranges.

I not only had to practice shooting the vitals of an elk, but also a bear.

They are two totally different animals that could offer different shots. I would have to know exactly where to place that arrow for a quick kill shot. Plus, I have no idea what ranges I might have to shoot at in Colorado, and I know the steep angles could come into play. Practice is a must for maintaining proper form, muscle memory and keeping your confidence high.

Fun in the high mountain sun Last but not least, you need to plan on enjoying yourself. Bring a good camera, a notebook, and enjoy every second you are there. Prepare yourself for success, but don’t let

that define your hunt. You might come home empty-handed and hopefully you can be OK with that.

Share some laughs and be ready for some good stories on the drive home.

Now that our hunt is just days away, we are on the brink of euphoria as our anticipation grows.

Our bags are ready to be packed and our confidence level is high.

Have you dreamt of an out-of-state elk hunt? Stop dreaming and start planning! We are making the dream a reality. Brett and I both anticipate a great hunt, no matter if we come back with punched tags or not.

While we want to have coolers full of meat on the way back to California, we know the experience of hunting the backcountry of Colorado will be something dreams are made of. CS Editor’s note: Read more about the author’s adventures at socalbowhunter. blogspot.com.

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