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THE MILLION DOLLAR DUCK Documentary Follows Federal Stamp Contest

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Sportsman

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Volume 8 • Issue 12 PUBLISHER James R. Baker GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Dick Openshaw EXECUTIVE EDITOR Andy Walgamott EDITOR Chris Cocoles CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Brittany Boddington LEAD WRITER Tim E. Hovey CONTRIBUTORS Bill Adelman, Danielle Breteau, Brittany Boddington, Steve Carson, Mark Fong, Scott Haugen, Tiffany Haugen, Todd Kline, Kirk Lombard, Jeff Lund, Al Quackenbush, Bill Schaefer, Mike Stevens SALES MANAGER Katie Higgins ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Steve Joseph, Garn Kennedy, Michelle Kovacich, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold PRODUCTION MANAGER Sonjia Kells DESIGNERS Michelle Hatcher, Sam Rockwell, Liz Weickum

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DIGITAL STRATEGIST Jon Hines DIGITAL ASSISTANT Samantha Morstan OFFICE MANAGER/ACCOUNTING Audra Higgins ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Katie Sauro INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER Lois Sanborn CIRCULATION MANAGER Heidi Belew ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@calsportsmanmag.com CORRESPONDENCE Email ccocoles@media-inc.com Twitter @CalSportsMan Facebook.com/californiasportsmanmagazine ON THE COVER As water temperatures rise in California’s lakes like Berryessa, smallmouth and largemouth bass head for deeper, cooler water, but a fish finder can help you track plenty of hungry fish. (MARK FONG) MEDIA INC PUBLISHING GROUP CALIFORNIA OFFICE 4517 District Blvd. • Bakersfield, CA 93313 (661) 381-7533 WASHINGTON OFFICE P.O. Box 24365 • Seattle, WA 98124-0365 14240 Interurban Ave. S., Suite 190 Tukwila, WA 98168 OREGON OFFICE 8116 SW Durham Rd • Tigard, OR 97224 (206) 382-9220 • (800) 332-1736 • Fax (206) 382-9437 media@media-inc.com • www.media-inc.com

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CONTENTS

VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 12

FEATURES 17

THE NEW STAMP ACT Duck season’s just around the corner, and if you hunt waterfowl, you know that purchasing a Federal Duck Stamp is a necessity. But have you ever wondered about how, where or from whom the art for these stamps comes from and how much money the artist can make? So did young filmmaker Brian Golden Davis, who over a year followed a group of passionate, obsessed and eccentric artists hoping to paint The Million Dollar Duck.

45

While spawning spring bass fill shallow waters with a hungry and aggressive disposition, summer’s soaring water temps send the fish down to cooler and deeper sections of California lakes. That’s just fine for Mark Fong, who breaks out his fish finder and plays what he calls the “ultimate video game.” He explains his techniques for tracking big smallmouth and largemouth!

79 A QUAIL TALE

(TIM E. HOVEY)

69

California Sportsman senior writer Tim Hovey (left) loves wingshooting, but quail harvest numbers, especially those of the state bird, the California quail, have suffered a dramatic drop in the last five years as the drought took a toll, as it has for so many other species of wildlife. But Hovey was encouraged by his field sightings earlier this year, a sign that the topknots should be more plentiful as season gets going this month and next.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

DEPARTMENTS

37 51

13

63 91 103 105 117 123

California deer hunting preview Book excerpt: The Bay Area’s diverse resident fish An Alaskan plans a trout trip to the Eastern Sierra, part I of II The fishing is slow, but a family’s Baja trip is still fun Southland largemouth biting wounded shad baits Calico bass action improves off SoCal A deer hunter’s evolution Innovation defines AR gun company

HEAD TO THE DEEP END

31 33 33 35 61 107 113

The Editor’s Note: Help needed with unsolved wildlife poaching cases Adventures of angler Todd Kline Protecting Wild California: A veteran deer hunter vents Outdoor Calendar Daiwa, Browning Photo Contests grand prize, monthly winners Rig of the Month: Live bait set-up for San Francisco Bay From Field to Fire: Canine foot care; ‘chicken’ salad with game bird meat Urban Huntress: Correcting elk errors

GO TO THE DARK SIDE IN THE SIERRA NEVADAS Normally, our high-country fishing expert Mike Stevens stays in his lane when it comes to fooling trout in the Eastern Sierras. But sometimes, when those usual staples like spoons, spinners and jigs aren’t working on the Upper Owens River, Stevens shocks his traditional fishing buddies and family members by switching to tactics more conducive for Northern California steelhead to catch a few rainbows.

99

BRAVO FOR BONITO A smaller member of the tasty tuna family, what bonito lack in size compared to bluefin they provide in fight for anglers venturing out on half-day trips. Steve Carson knows where and how to catch these feisty fish and tells you why they are similarly delicious on your table.

California Sportsman goes digital!

Read California Sportsman on your desktop or mobile device. Only $1.89 an issue. Go to www.calsportsmanmag.com/digital California Sportsman is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 14240 Interurban Avenue South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Send address changes to California Sportsman, PO Box 24365, Seattle, WA 98124. Annual subscriptions are $29.95 (12 issues), 2-year subscription are $39.95 (24 issues). Send check or money order to Media Index Publishing Group, or call (206) 3829220 with VISA or M/C. Back issues are available at Media Index Publishing Group offices at the cost of $5 plus shipping. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 2016 Media Index Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A. 10 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

12 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

THEEDITOR’SNOTE

California Department of Fish and Wildlife officers were seeking assistance in solving the illegal shooting of a bighorn sheep and a deer in separate Northern California cold cases. (CDFW)

I

’m ashamed – or is it proud? – to admit this, but I watch a lot of TV. And I had to wear a black armband for a time in spring 2010 when CBS announced that my favorite show, Cold Case, was canceled abruptly after seven seasons.

In some ways, the program was one of the boob tube’s cookiecutter formulas of cop TV, yet this one had enough of a twist to where I was hooked. Cold Case was just as the title suggests, with detectives from the Philadelphia Police Department tracking old murder cases, with some coinciding with historic events ranging from World War II to Woodstock to the U.S. Miracle On Ice Olympic hockey upset of the Soviet Union.

Of course, the crimes were fictional, but it brought attention to unsolved murder cases that sometimes get lost over time.

Why am I boring you with all this? The California Department of Fish and Wildlife was, at press time, seeking help to solve two poaching crime cold cases.

The carcass of a male bighorn sheep was found in Siskiyou County near the Jenny Lake camping area on June 12. “The head and horns had been removed from the sheep and the remaining portion of the carcass was left along the side of Copco Road at Iron Gate Lake Road, just out of sight of passing vehicles,” a CDFW press release stated. “Officers are uncertain about the cause of death, but it is always unlawful to remove and possess parts of wildlife that were not legally harvested.”

On July 29 in Eureka, bystanders found a badly injured deer on the 6400 block of Elk River Road. The animal had been shot through the back, and an injured spine forced wildlife officers to euthanize the animal.

“Evidence indicated the deer was illegally shot with a highpower rifle, which was consistent with nearby residents’ reported of gunshots in the early-morning hours that day,” CDFW reports.

The murder cases on my then-favorite show were always solved by the end of the hour, but in real life cold cases become just that, and for the victim and loved ones not knowing what happened is cruel and unfair. Anyone with information that might solve these wildlife crimes should call the CalTip hotline at (888) 334-2258 or via text at tip411.

The deer and bighorn sheep killed illegally deserve justice as much as any other victim. –Chris Cocoles calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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MIXED BAG Longtime Federal Duck Stamp contest artists Tim Taylor and Adam Grimm set up decoys as the sun rises near Grimm’s home in South Dakota. The Million Dollar Duck is a documentary chronicling the contest and makes its TV debut on Sept. 14 on Animal Planet. (MILLION DOLLAR DUCK)

THE STAMP ACT

NEW DOCUMENTARY CHRONICLES THE WEIRD AND INSPIRING MOMENTS OF THE FEDERAL DUCK STAMP CONTEST

By Chris Cocoles

I

t’s as big a rite of passage for duck hunters as dusting off decoys, flooding fields and training dogs to retrieve downed birds from the swampy muck each fall and winter.

If you’re 16 and older and want to hunt ducks in the United States, besides your state’s general hunting license, you’re also required to purchase a Federal Duck Stamp (currently priced at $25). Ninety-eight percent of proceeds from sales fund America’s 5.7 million acres of U.S. Fish and Wildlife national refuges (USFWS says $800 billion has been raised over time).

Since 1934, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Migratory Bird

Hunting Stamp Act – more commonly known as the Duck Stamp Act – a different artist’s rendition of a very specific species appears on the stamp.

Who cares? It’s just a stamp, right?

Try telling that to Tim Taylor, Adam Grimm, DeeDee Murry, Rebekah Nastav and Rob McBroom. As the title of a new documentary set to make its television debut on Sept. 14 on Animal Planet explains, being named the artist who creates the annual Federal Duck Stamp design can change lives. Hence, The Million Dollar Duck was born.

The federal government doesn’t award the winner any monetary prize, but the winner holds the licensing to the art image to sell it on everything, as the movie depicts, from bottles of

Jim Beam to bowties to limited-edition art prints.

“They can make a million or more dollars from selling their art,” says Bob Lesino, former chief of the Federal Duck Stamp Program, in the film.

And even if it’s more about expressing yourself on canvas, reflecting a love for preserving our wetlands duck habitat or whatever rationale you can come up with, making money for painting a mallard, blue-winged teal, canvasback, gadwall or cinnamon teal can’t hurt the motivation factor.

But this film digs deeper into the souls of those who continue to track down the perfect shot and literally create their own masterpieces.

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MIXED BAG As its title suggests, the crazies, the oddballs and the dreamers who partake in this competition are chasing the riches that may come with the title of Federal Duck Stamp champ (who wouldn’t?). But you finish watching knowing they also care: about art, about ducks and about wildlife.

“I think that elevates it a little bit about to where it’s not just a desire for money,” the film’s director, Brian Golden Davis, says. “The idea is that it’s bigger than the individual. Saving wetlands and making sure that there’s habitat for ducks for generations to come makes that stamp so special.”

IF GOLDEN DAVIS REMEMBERS anything about his outdoors background, it is that he didn’t share his dad’s love of trout fishing back home in Virginia.

“It was always catch and release; I kind of preferred eating what we catch.

My parents have a place on Chesapeake Bay and I was also someone who loved sitting on a dock and fishing,” Golden Davis says in a phone interview discussing his feature directorial debut.

What about duck hunting?

“It’s something I really didn’t know about after not having come into contact with anyone who was a duck hunter.”

Golden Davis, a graduate of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts – a who’s who of filmmakers are among its alums – came across a book written by Martin Smith, The Wild Duck Chase: Inside the Strange and Wonderful World of the Federal Duck Stamp Contest. Smith’s work was the driving force behind The Million Dollar Duck, and like Golden Davis’ movie, chronicles a year leading into the competition.

“When I read that, I was

so shocked that it has this amazing history of this contest, the artwork and the conservation with this subculture, that I felt like the outside world didn’t know about it,” says Golden Davis. “For me, it was discovering something cool and hoping others thought it would be interesting to learn about as well.”

The 1996 movie Fargo, which won two Oscars, worked the Federal Duck Stamp Contest into its plot with its dark humor and satire that made the film an instant classic (Fargo even references multiple contest winners Joseph, Robert and James Hautman, who “It’s a weird idea and one of those stranger-than-fiction stories that are all featured in The a cartoonist comes up with this idea to have artwork on a stamp that will save wildlife habitat for the birds and other animals,” director Million Dollar Duck).

Brian Golden Davis says. “And then it spirals into this weird American Both the film and TV subculture that people dedicate their lives to winning. To me, these were industry have carved real American characters.” (MILLION DOLLAR DUCK) out a niche for poking fun at these kinds of events in “mockuthis just a thing where people could mentary” form. But Golden Davis saw a advance their (art) career,” says Golden compelling aspect in pursuing this projDavis, who knew he found a far-moreect. This is a story of personal triumph, interesting-than-it-sounds documentapersistence, friendship, passion and ry during his first interview, with 2010 even rebellion that at times can be funcontest champion Robert Bealle. ny, inspirational and a reminder of how “Nobody would buy a salamander critical sales from these stamps can be stamp or a speckled toad stamp, but to maintaining a healthy population of they’ll buy a duck stamp. And when the waterfowl throughout the country.

(USFWS) take that money and buy all “I had read the book and done some these thousands of acres of wetlands to research online, but I really didn’t know protect it, all those little creatures come how strong the connection to conserunder that umbrella. That’s one thing vation and nature would be. Or was that I’m so proud that I’m a

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MIXED BAG part of this. It almost makes me emotional,” says Bealle, clearly becoming emotional as his voice cracks.

“I think the connection to the outdoors makes this something special,” Golden Davis says.

The hope is The Million Dollar Duck will introduce a whole new segment of the population to the stamp at a time when sales have sagged as hunter statistics declined, leaving less possible stamp purchases and spawning doubts about the program’s long-term viability.

“If we somehow lost the duck stamp and the revenue associated with the duck stamp,” USFWS Director Dan Ashe warns in the film, “5 million acres of habitat would disappear overnight.”

nobodies until we knew them when).

Golden Davis doubles down on how Taylor has changed. He might be the epitome of the spirit of this contest considering how he’s evolved over the years.

“It’s funny that Tim Taylor started doing the contest just because of the money aspect,” Golden Davis says. “But in the end, it was more about ducks, habitat and breeding than he’d ever expected.

And that’s what happens. I honestly think you can’t really win the contest unless you have a pretty good knowledge of not just waterfowl anatomy but also waterfowl behavior. And that only comes with years of dedication. There’s not a lot of people who can say, ‘I’m go-

Rebekah Nastav won the Junior Federal Duck Stamp contest as a teenager and says she’ll enter the Federal Duck Stamp event until she wins that also.

“Once I learned about the federal and how much of a bigger deal that is,” she says, “it’s like this thing you want to spend your life pursuing.” (MILLION

“I’VE BEEN PAINTING WINDOWS since I was 15. So it’s 36 years now,” says middle-aged Tim Taylor in the film’s opening scene. Taylor brushes a Christmas-themed display at a Sunoco gas station in snow-covered Mine Hill, N.J., where you get the sense the monotony of painting Santa and his elves at donut shops and diners isn’t exactly the end game of the American Dream.

“So, I’m in the art field but I’m not doing what I really want to do. The ideal goal – just like the waiter who wants to be an actor – is to actually paint what you want to paint. I had seen a wildlife art magazine and it had an article in there about this contest where you could win a million dollars. So I thought, ‘That’s what I want to do. I’m going to enter that.’ But I didn’t know a thing about ducks.”

These artists are proud of what they do – Taylor says he’s entered since 1995 – what their work stands for, and, for some, what it could be worth. They compare the scope of the contest to global events like the World Cup or the Super Bowl. Adam Grimm, a husband and father of three from South Dakota who has already won the Federal Duck Stamp Contest previously (1999) but continues to enter, likens it to being an American Idol champion (and it’s not that far-fetched as it sounds; Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood were

‘Wait a minute; you’re a hunter. Isn’t that a contradiction?’ And I say, ‘Of course it’s not a contradiction. Hunters care about the land and care about the birds.’”

The artists care too, and Taylor and Grimm became fast friends after years of submitting paintings.

In the film, Taylor visits Grimm’s family in South Dakota and they plan to head out in search of birds to capture on film. (Besides the fact that wild, migrating birds look far more dynamic and healthy than domesticated ducks one might find in a more urban setting, the rules stipulate that paintings of ducks must come from photographs created by the contestants themselves

DOLLAR DUCK)

ing to enter this thing and I’m going to win it and make a lot of money.’”

KNOWING THAT A LARGE portion of audiences doesn’t hunt, Golden Davis made sure to stick up for the impact the Federal Duck Stamp has because of hunters.

Remember that the film industry isn’t exactly known as being sympathetic to outdoor sportsmen and –women or much of anything that involves guns or death of wildlife.

As one person interviewed in the film says, “You can imagine where this conversation goes: ‘You’re collecting money, for what? ‘For wetlands to preserve waterfowl.’ And then some people say,

20 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

rather than other licensed works.)

“We’re going to look in every puddle, every lake, every pond, until we find them,” Taylor says as he and Grimm travel dirt roads in search of canvasbacks, one of the duck species approved for the particular contest featured in the film.

Grimm, a longtime hunter whose dad introduced him to the outdoors, and Taylor, who has no background shooting ducks, both don camo gear and put out decoys to capture the perfect image from massive camera lenses that they can base their contest entry on.

It’s that kind of obsession that drew Golden Davis to this project. Everyone

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MIXED BAG seems to have his or her reason for coming back year after year, knowing that just one of hundreds of entries gets picked and simple math says you’re more likely to get knocked out in the first round than contend for the No. 1 spot. It’s a can of mixed nuts group.

“Some of the more traditional type of wildlife artist that enters is a duck hunter, has been a duck hunter (his or her) whole life and has a love for waterfowl,” Golden Davis says. “And then there are other people like DeeDee Murry, who’s just an all-around animal lover.”

Murry, a Centralia, Wash. resident, introduces her scene-stealing dog Hallie, a blind dachshund that is something of a painter herself (you have to see it to truly appreciate it, especially since Murry says, “I thought I had a pretty good year last year with my art, but my blind dog sold more art than I did”).

We also get to know three Minnesota-based Hautman brothers, who had combined to capture 10 titles and were

described as the New York Yankees of the Federal Duck Stamp Contest because they always seem to win.

And then you have the outcast, Rob McBroom, another Minnesotan who’s never won and enters every year knowing damn well that he will likely never win. And he’s just fine with that. If every film needs a villain, a rebel and the anti-establishment, he’ll gladly accept

that baton and run with it.

“My artwork has a lot of glitter and rhinestones and glow-in-the-dark aspects to it – nothing at all like they’re looking for,” McBroom says with a mischievous grin. “It’s not winning; it’s the degree in which I lose. I would say my percentage of winning this year – well, you can’t have less than zero percent, but it’s pretty close to that.”

“It is a disease of sorts to start collecting this stuff. The other stamps: they’re nice, there’s so many of them,” says stamp dealer Bob Dumaine in the film. “The duck stamps – they’re special. When you can see the ducks’ eyes and you can see the patches on the wings … that’s skill.” (MILLION DOLLAR DUCK)

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MIXED BAG He proudly displays past entries that, while always depicting the right type of duck, also include rather eclectic background details like the time he included a Morse code translation of dialogue from a porn film. McBroom has become Taylor’s nemesis and trolled him in some of his paintings after Taylor called him out on social media.

“It’s kind of funny because Rob is such a divisive character in that community. You have people who really love him and defended his right to enter the contest,” Golden Davis says. “And you have people who do not think he should have any involvement in the duck stamp contest. So just knowing that I was going to include him, I got a lot of emails.”

And while he sheepishly accepts the lightning rod title, McBroom is first to admit his approach won’t win him anywhere near enough love from the majority of the judges. That said, is his spirit more disingenuous than the next entry?

Of the five judges who got a glimpse of his – let’s call it, complex – paint scheme, one did provide an “in” vote.

The rest sent him out of contention.

“But your painting is awesome,” he’s enthusiastically told by an admirer in the gallery of entries.

“A lot of people think that I’m doing this as a joke at peoples’ expense,” McBroom says. “It’s a pretty small group of people that I would have to be making fun of, and it’s a lot of effort in order just to tweak them. So I hope it helps the duck stamp competition, because it’s a good program that is getting less and less revenue coming in.”

Still, there are a lot less people in this genre’s world like McBroom and more like Butler, Mo. resident Rebekah Nastav, now in her mid-20s. When she was 15 in 2006, Nastav won the Junior Duck Stamp Contest and has made it a priority to someday win the big one and bask in the possibilities for those fortunate enough to survive an extremely subjective judging criteria.

“The Junior Duck Stamp Contest changed my life,” Nastav says. “Once I learned about the federal and how much of a bigger deal that is, it’s like this thing you want to spend your life pursuing.”

And that’s one reason why Golden Davis calls his debut as a filmmaker a “very American” production.

“It’s a weird idea and one of those stranger-than-fiction stories that a cartoonist comes up with this

idea to have artwork on a stamp that will save wildlife habitat for the birds and other animals,” Golden Davis says. “And then it spirals into this

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MIXED BAG weird American subculture that people dedicate their lives to winning. To me, these were real American characters.”

SO WE KNOW FOR every Rob McBroom, who understands he’s not in it to win it, and for every Tim Taylor, who deep down believes this is going to be his year, there’s a sense of purpose in the journey from blank canvas to individual artistic expression.

“Abstract painting is the realm of the intellectuals,” Taylor says. “Realistic painting, realistic duck stamps, are by people who have invested most of their lives in observing the wildlife, of learning how to become a painter. There’s no shortcut to being good.”

Winning a contest like this also is void of those shortcuts. The movie’s grand finale features the actual twoday judging, which in this instance was at Ohio’s Maumee Bay State Park on Lake Erie. Golden Davis manages to portray the process as taut, tense and

It’s an understatement to say Rob McBroom’s entries are unique compared to just about every other artist who enters the contest. “My artwork has a lot of glitter and rhinestones and glow-in-the-dark aspects to it – nothing at all like they’re looking for,” McBroom says. (MILLION DOLLAR DUCK)

nerve-wracking.

A roomful of artists – some who are true conservationists and wildlife lovers, others with $ signs dancing in their heads – await five judges’ decisions on which paintings progress and the others that get eliminated one by one.

“I was a little worried about being able to capture the tension in the room. I had other people describing it

26 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

to me as watching paint dry, and I was a little nervous,” Golden Davis admits.

“I wasn’t sure if we did, but when I first showed the film, people were yelling at the screen when people would get knocked out or move along to another round. You tend to have a fairly passive audience that’s watching documentaries. But when I saw that (yelling), it was a big sigh of relief.”

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27

Adam Grimm’s entry in the 2013 contest that was depicted in the film. The odds of winning this event are long for most of the contestants, but most keep coming back year after year for a chance to have their own artistic imprint on the stamps that fund federal wildlife refuges in Alaska and beyond. (ADAM GRIMM)

The survivors move onto the next round with a points system and a minimum total needed to make the final round. For contest lifers like Taylor and the determined Grimm, flanked by his wife and three kids, this is waiting for the envelope reading of the Oscars’ Best Picture, the Heisman Trophy or, as Grimm thinks, the winner of American Idol (cue judge Simon Cowell, the scourge of Idol hopefuls, asking Rob McBroom, “What the bloody hell was that?” when voting on his painting).

In a movie with a fast-paced 71 running minutes, the climax is the winning depiction of the judges’ choice for the perfect Federal Duck Stamp.

“I remember when I was young and just getting into buying the Federal duck stamps and looking at that artwork on there and thinking just how amazing it was that some artist out there painted that,” Grimm says. “Following in that path and being part of that history, that was a goal of my life.”

Isn’t that what an American story is supposed to be? CS Editor’s note: The USFWS website (fws.gov/birds/get-involved/duck-stamp.php) has information on the federal stamp. Animal Planet will broadcast the film on TV for the first time on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 9 p.m. Pacific. For more on The Million Dollar Duck, go to milliondollarduckfilm. com. Follow director Brian Golden Davis on Twitter @ golden_davis.

28 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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30 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

MIXED BAG

s e r u t n e Adv e’re not ashamed to admit it: Todd Kline has the kind of life we wish we could experience.

Kline’s a former professional surfer, a successful co-angler on the FLW Tour and a Southern California bass guide, plus he gets to travel the world as a commentator for the World Surf League’s telecasts. Todd has agreed to give us a peek on what’s he’s been up to. For more on Todd, check out toddkline. com and follow on Instagram (@toddokrine). –The Editor

W

This was my first year fishing spotted bay bass tournaments. My partner Ty Ponder and I finished third in the final event of the year and secured anglers of the year in the Saltwater Bass Series. It was a blast fishing the tournaments and meeting new friends this season.

I have just arrived in Virginia Beach, Va., for the Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships Presented by VANS. Going on concurrently here is the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament. This is from my friend Trick Standing’s boat (Gitrer Done) on the afternoon I arrived. I was invited to fish with them in the tournament, but I have to work the surf contest.

Next time!

I enjoyed catching a few fish on the Savage Gear 3D Bluegill. Not many bass on this day, but it felt good to throw the bigger baits and catch fish.

I had a great day fun day calling the action at the Surfing America Prime Event at the beach in Del Mar near Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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32 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

PROTECTING

A DEER HUNTER VENTS

By Bill Adelman

R

eturning to the time when hunting and why we hunt began to become a bad thing, the progress to eliminate our sport was slow and behind the scenes. That plan worked.

The anti-hunting chorus has reached a status that allows their programs and objectives to become front-page news.

They no longer need to hide their well-planned ideals, as here in California they hold the power. And it will get much worse if Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom becomes our state’s next governor.

A friend owns a 60-year-old Remington 760 pump in .308. It’s his only rifle, but it takes a four-shot clip. No larger-capacity clip looks to be available, nor does he want one. If he chooses to not cave in to the new laws making this weapon illegal – any weapon that takes a clip, no matter how restricted as to the number of shells it holds, will become illegal – is he a felon? Gavin?

Here’s one more: a hunter we know owns a Remington semi-automatic .270, which takes a three-round clip.

This is her dream long gun. If I could, I would ask Lt. Gov. Newsom, is it the same fate for her as a soon-to-be unlawful gun owner?

Both of these hunters in question are well over 60 years old. Both love to deer hunt. Both don’t want to turn in their tried-and-true rifles and have to buy new ones. Why should they? Newsom doesn’t give a wit except to end all hunting in California.

Having said that, let’s take a gander at a fair-chase deer hunt. We all have a favorite weapon – rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader or a stick and string. Our favorite caliber over the years has been the .308, with the .270 and 7mm a close second. The partial state nonlead regulation is in effect and enforced. By July 1, 2019, all lead shot will be illegal.

Don’t forget, it’s also the law that every deer tag must be reported – suc-

SEPTEMBER 1

1 3 3 3 10 10 10 17 17 17 24 24 24-25

Start of Ambush at the Lake Fall Fishing Derby, Convict Lake (800-992-2260) Early-season dove hunting opener Free fishing day in California (wildlife.ca.gov) June Lake Loop Big Trout Tournament (junelakeloop.com) Davis Lake Labor Day Trout Derby (portola-ca.com) Shaver Lake Team Kokanee Derby (kokaneepower.org) Mountain quail hunt opener for Zone Q1 Sooty (blue) and ruffed grouse general opener Deer hunting season openers for most B and C Zone areas and select X Zone areas Band-tailed pigeon opener in North Zone Red Bluff Salmon Derby, Sacramento River (855-251-4472) Deer hunting season openers in most D Zone areas and select X Zone areas Quail opener for Zone Q2 Youth waterfowl hunt days in Northeast Zone

OCTOBER

1 1-2

Deer opener in most X Zone areas Big Bear Lake Troutfest (bigbearlake.net/events/bigbear-troutfest)

9 8 9 15 15 15 15 15-16

WILD CALIFORNIA cessful or not – via the United States Postal Service or on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website (wildlife.ca.gov). If you don’t, when you apply for another license, a $21 fee is

Longtime hunter Bill Adelman (in orange hat) is fed up with tight gun regulations and added fees for hunters. (BILL ADELMAN)

automatically added on.

And speaking of fees, the resident license is $47.01, $12.45 for juniors, $10.54 for a duplicate. Your first deer tag costs $31.06, with a second tag at $38.62, with the fundraising deer tag application costing $5.97 each. Don’t add it up; you’ll feel ill. But let’s hope for better news about all this going forward. CS

Sacramento River King Salmon Derby (916-665-1788) Zone D-11, D-13, D-17 deer hunting openers Delta King Salmon Derby (centralvalleyanglers.org) Zone X-9c deer opener Zone Q1 all quail opener General chukar opener General snipe opener Shasta Lake Trout Derby (shastalaketroutderby.com)

Note: In California, general bear season opens concurrently with general deer season in the A, B, C, D, X8, X9A, X9B, X10 and X12 deer hunting zones. In the remaining deer hunting X zones, bear season begins October 8, 2016.

Deer hunting seasons in most California D and some X zones get going this month, with several more opening in October.

(CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE) calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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34 California Sportsman JULY 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

PHOTO CONTEST

WINNERS!

Drum roll, please! The grand prize winner of our Daiwa Photo Contest is Matt Gibson, whose picture of daughter Wylie in her ballerina getup – donned right after coming home from a successful spring Chinook fishing trip with daddy – won the judges’ hearts. Matt wins a Daiwa rod-and-reel combo of a Ballistic EX 3000H spinning reel and Tatula 701MFS spinning rod – congratulations!

Patrick Gottsch is our monthly Browning hunting photo contest winner, thanks to this shot of he and his 2015 Oregon muley. It wins him a Browning hat!

For your shot at winning Daiwa and Browning products, send your photos and pertinent (who, what, when, where) details to ccocoles@ media-inc.com, or to California Sportsman, PO Box 24365, Seattle, WA 98124-0365. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for our print or Internet publications. calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

35

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NORCAL

YOUR DEER ARE HERE

WHERE AND HOW TO HUNT FOR BUCKS AS SEASONS GET CRANKING IN SEPTEMBER

By Bill Adelman

W

ith several deer hunting seasons in full swing in California, options are many for hunters, assuming one will fit our personal needs.

Not many of us own or have access to a 20,000-acre ranch in the B Zone (most of the North Coast from the border to the Bay Area) that is crawling with deer, hogs, coyotes, cats, game birds and snakes. Option two is to join an established annual dues hunting club that offers access to hunts behind locked gates (reservations for all hunts required).

You generally have good property to hunt, though you’re entirely on your own.

Number three might be a guided hunt, of which there are a few options. A fully outfitted hunt offers full-time guides, generally two to one, unless you kick in a few extra bucks to hunt one on one with a guide. They provide lodging, food, transportation, spot and stalk, blinds, in-field care, skinning, and in some cases even a walk-in cold box to hang your game. These are really the cat’s meow.

Other choices are semi-outfitted hunts, where the program offers private land, lodging, cooking facilities and direction to use the best methods, but you’re on your own from here on out. So first and foremost, bring a sharp knife.

A fourth possible choice might be the access-fee hunt, where you’re entirely on your own from setting up camp, scouting in your own vehicle and going at it blind unless you’ve been there before. Even though it appears we have ample opportunity to deer hunt, with the first season, archery, opening about the first weekend in July up to the final opening, about the first few days of October, opportunities are still extremely limited. You must decide and apply. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife website is much easier to decipher than it used to be and well worth checking out for particulars.

FAMILIARITY RULES Knowing the lay of the land is necessary, and venturing out of state to hunt an access ranch is a daunting task. The same applies to California. There are many prebook questions that must be answered to your satisfaction. Four of us took this

It’s that time of year again for California hunters in search of a nice buck. Where to hunt is one of your first factors to consider, so do your research and you might be rewarded with a freezer full of meat. (BILL ADELMAN) calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

37

NORCAL chance in 2010, venturing to Wyoming with deer and antelope tags in our luggage. We had to arrive prior to opening day, attend a seminar regarding the rules and regulations of the property, and tour the main sections of the ranch with the hunt coordinator and his son. Their prehunt requirements were well laid out and ranchers were available every day to rely on for advice.

Our hunt was five days in the field, and every tag we had was punched. We headquartered 11 miles from the ranch at a campground in Kaycee, Wyo., where there was a cooler available for our bagged carcasses. Everything we learned there was imperative information for here in California.

GOING PUBLIC

Some of the diverse topography you’re bound to encounter in Northern California. A good GPS will come in handy as well if hunting near private land. (BILL ADELMAN) 38 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

Back home brings us to the final option: hunting on public land. For most of us who started out on public land, this brings back positive memories of past successes and a few hairy situations. For me, it was introducing my then 10-year-old son to the new snows just at the edge of a pine forest while awaiting the migration – then getting our vehicle stuck. Of course this was before the days of the state’s zones.

Public hunts are available on CDFW land, state wildlife areas, ecological reserves, U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management ground. Research is necessary. There’s also the SHARE program, PLM tags, and special hunts for juniors.

The terrain might dictate any physical limitations as well as expected harvest figures, which are available from the CDFW website and broken down by zone. Travel distance is another consideration.

Before the zone days my son and I used to travel to the backcountry of Plumas County for weekend hunts, leaving after school on a Friday. A six-hour drive was rewarded with outstanding country and successful hunts. It’s still good, but you must draw for it.

Later on, at a friend’s suggestion we hunted public land in Mendocino County. We settled in on an area called Poison Rock, just north of a defunct Eel River ranger station. All of the ridges to the north of the dirt access road were closed to all vehicular traffic – thus the hunting was fairly good. It’s still a huntable area but much busier, especially with road hunters. There’s a bunch of land available if you’ll walk just a little.

When hunting close to private land, as in Trinity or Lassen Counties, a boundary line defined by a GPS is critical. Remember that trespassing without permission is against the law, and there’s a gray area between trespass and wanton waste. Public land abounds the further south you venture, but the success rates rapidly diminish and the hills get steeper.

Right up the central California corridor, opportunities

NORCAL present themselves on both sides of I-5. We used to take off about a month prior to opening day and just drive, hitting huntable ground and making our own maps.

LIVE WELL IN CAMP We’ve located our ideal campsite, so what’s next? As you age, it becomes apparent that comfort is just as important as any other feature of the trip. Sleep on the ground just once

Glassing for deer on a steep incline can be improved if you have a shooting stick to steady your binos on. (BILL ADELMAN)

40 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

more in a tent? You can’t be serious. This desire prompted our first four-wheel-drive truck and a mini 18-foot travel trailer that seemed like a five-star hotel at the time.

We then added a 500-watt generator, an enclosed portable shower and a screen tent. Just as a mention, after arriving at your hunting location, this is not the time to sight-in five weapons and raise Cain in the campground.

Public ground allows one to camp almost anywhere they wish, so don’t be surprised when you venture out opening morning – 4 miles from your chosen hunt area – to find six camps that were set up the previous night.

Try to stay hidden rather than stop right on the top of a ridge to glass for 30 minutes. Glassing for 30 minutes is the right approach, just not skylighted. If you carry a shooting stick, it can be used to steady your binos, as well as to shoot from.

When shooting on a stick, lean it towards you with the leg away from your body. This is far more stationary than leaning forward. Slowly check out the shady spots not only across the canyon but below you as well.

If you were able to reach these areas in the dark and used a green headlamp rather than a white light, sit for a spell and look. If cover is scarce, why not try a lightweight blind like the ones a turkey hunter uses?

Deer pick up movement far more quickly than they do a stationary hunter. The wind direction is critical, and

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41

NORCAL when you have the option of watching a western slope in the morning, give it plenty of time. Spotting the glint of a buck’s antlers as soon as the sun hits them is far easier than picking them up in a darkened area.

If you are on a private-land hunt, consider a pop-up blind that’s properly placed and camouflaged. Chances are it will remain unmolested in your absence.

Since blacktail and granite bucks are not as predictable as whitetail, blind location should be in a general area where you feel confident that deer will be moving, such as at a pinch point. In our early zones and many later areas, it will be hot. If everything comes together, deer will move to water midmorning to midafternoon, as well as unbed to feed. Setting up in a forested area with the sun at your back where possible limits your shooting lanes, but that’s where the deer will be.

If approaching an open meadow, rather than just trek right through the middle, why not circle the edges inside the trees and stop to glass every 20 to 30 yards? The pattern here is obvious.

Going slow and having good optics are key, but patience is the largest key. When your camp holds three or four hunters, midmorning pushes will produce in blacktail country.

The shooters should be out of sight and the pushers with the sun at their backs should be slow and quiet. The

Whether it’s an out-of-state hunt or a trip to the foothills or mountains near your home, when it all comes together it can be a memorable fall experience to take a buck home. (BILL ADELMAN)

deer will know you’re coming well in advance of your movements and might not be running full tilt as they fly by your posted sitters.

One last bit of advice: When you hear one of your hunters say, “deer down,” the entire hunt should terminate and full focus be placed on taking care of the animal.

Good luck this season. CS Editor’s note: For season-opening dates, check out our Outdoor Calendar on page 33 and get more complete deer zone schedules at wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Deer.

SKYHUNTER OUTFITTERS Skyhunter Outfitters is located in Bonham, Texas -about one hour northeast of Dallas – and owned by Chris Hitt, a 13-year veteran and former U.S. Army Cavalry Scout pilot.

Chris is putting his flying background to good use and will be flying you on your hunts, ensuring the highest level of safety while providing opportunities to get plenty of shots on wild hogs!

Our goal is to bring aerial depredation services to areas of Texas, where landowners and farmers are hit the hardest and allow hunting and sportsmen and –women an opportunity unparalleled by any other form of hunting, which can’t be experienced anywhere else,

Recent studies have estimated the feral hog population in Texas to be between 3.5 and 5 million. Every year landowners, farmers and ranchers battle this invasive species. Feral hogs do an estimated $500 million in economic damage per year.

Seven out of every 10 hogs must be killed in order to keep their numbers in check, and that’s where we come in!

Expect to see 40 to 60 hogs within two hour period and the average hunter will shoot about 10 to 15 hogs.

Ultimately, our aim is to provide an invaluable service to landowners and save them from as much damage and crop loss each year as possible, plus providing a hunting experience tailored for each hunter or group of hunters that is sure to be an experience of a lifetime.

903-707-1501 | Sky-Hunters.com 42 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

Aerial Predator/ Hog Hunts 25% off all hunts

Hunters’ Reviews There's no official season on invasive wild hogs in Texas, meaning you can find an operation or two just about anywhere in the state that'll take you up any day of the year. But the crew at Skyhunter Outfitters, located a short drive north of Dallas, does things a little differently. Their choppers fly during a short window every winter from January to March, ensuring customers see lots of hogs every time they go up. Hogs are most active during the colder months, and bare trees means there's nowhere to hide.

These boys leave a lot of money on the table for most of the year to ensure their loyal customers have a blast each and every time, but the end result is always happy hunters and many freezers worth of wild bacon.

Fantastic time for beginner & experienced hunters!

Definitely recommend it for a weekend you’ll never forget and never stop talking about. The pilot was calm, methodical and more than professional. The owner is accommodating and focused on everyone’s safety.

Summed up: Go hog hunting w/ Skyhunter Outfittters!

A great, all positive experience.

BOOK YOUR HUNT TODAY!

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903-707-1501 | Sky-Hunters.com

44 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

NORCAL

THE BANK’S CLOSED POSTSPAWN BASS ANGLERS SHOULD HEAD TO DEEPER WATER

Channel your inner pirate by searching for underwater treasure with a depth finder to track bass, which on this graph are moving in bunches as the graph illustrates. (MARK FONG)

By Mark Fong

UNDERWATER EYES

I

Following the spawn, smallies and largies will retrace their route back to deep water, where they will spend the summer and fall feeding up on schools of baitfish. But before you can catch them, you must find them. Without good electronics, locating offshore bass is akin to the old adage of finding a needle in a haystack. That is why I rely on my two state-of-the-art Humminbird Helix 12 sonar units.

At the driver’s console is a Helix 12 SI GPS unit that is networked to a Helix 12 DI GPS unit at the bow. The network connection allows me to not only share sonar information, but I can also view and access GPS waypoints that I have marked from the console while fishing on the trolling motor.

I like to target humps, points, ledges and drop-offs. I spend lots of time idling with the big motor and running my graph, and I use side imaging to search out key struc-

n the spring, waves of bass leave their deep-water haunts on a journey that will ultimately lead them to their spawning locations.

The smallmouth and largemouth are shallow, hungry and aggressive, the perfect recipe for some of the best fishing action of the year. Here in Northern California, anglers eagerly anticipate the months of March, April and May, and when it’s done it’s as if someone turned off the switch.

Those predictable, easy-to-catch fish are gone and the party’s over, or so it seems. But don’t despair.

Many anglers find the fishing to be difficult and opt to hang up their rods until the bass move into shallow water again. With some basic knowledge and a bit of perseverance, you may be surprised at the fish you can catch when you get off the bank.

calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

45

NORCAL tural elements, what I like to call the “spot on the spot.�

I am also looking for schools of bait, so whenever I graph such a spot, I mark it with a GPS waypoint. I won’t stop and ďŹ sh an area unless I see bass on my graph. Even if no ďŹ sh are present at the time, I mark the location with a waypoint, making it easy to return later, as much of offshore ďŹ shing success is dependent on timing.

THE ULTIMATE VIDEO GAME Once I locate a promising location, I will back off the spot and, using the trolling motor, line up my cast on the waypoint. There are lots of different baits to choose from when targeting bass in deep water, but I like to keep my approach simple. I’ll start off by throwing a shad-colored soft plastic swimbait or an old-school Yamamoto Single Tail Grub rigged on a lightweight 1/8-ounce lead jig head.

Watching my 2D sonar, if I see that there are ďŹ sh suspended in the water column, I carefully let my bait sink until it is just above the activity zone and then begin a slow, steady retrieve. I want my bait to swim above the bass, as they are far more inclined to come up for my bait than they are to swim down to get it.

If the ďŹ sh are relating to the bottom, I will let my bait fall on a slack line until it reaches the bottom. Pay attention and be ready to set the hook, because lots of bites will

The tools of the trade for catching bass in deep water: a single-tail grub, mediumlight spinning rod and quality braided and uorocarbon line. (MARK FONG)

come on the fall. If I don’t get bit on the initial drop, I will slowly work my bait back to the boat, making sure that it makes periodic contact with the bottom.

If the ďŹ sh prove to be unresponsive to the swimbait/

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JUST ADJUST STRAP Just Adjust is the adjustable-stretch tie-down strap. Unlike ordinary bungee cords, which never seem to adjust quite right, or can release or break, Just Adjust always adjusts to the perfect tension. It’s never too loose or too tight. A bungee that is too loose will come undone. This essentially defeats the purpose of a tie-down and puts your load at risk.

Or, if it’s too tight, it makes deployment difficult and when it’s time to unload, a bungee can turn into a loaded gun, dangerously recoiling back at an unsuspecting victim. With Just Adjust, you can adjust the heavy-duty strap to the exact tension you need. Moderately tight for more fragile or soft loads, or plenty tight for stout, heavier loads. Just Adjust uses heavy-duty strapping, instead of a rubber cord like an ordinary bungee.

Strapping is far more reliable for strength, and a lot less likely to disintegrate over time when left in the elements.

And, Just Adjust’s unique dual side SelectStretch design – one side elastic and the other a non-stretch strap – uses a cam buckle to connect them and is easy to use and lets you choose how much tension you want for any given job. It also allows for easier, safer disengagement. www.justadjuststrap.com calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

47

September 2nd through the 4th

$5000 Grand Prize

Mark Fong pulled out both a largemouth and smallmouth in deep water at Lake Berryessa, and while not as simplistic as catching spawning fish in the shallows, with the right gear you can still catch a lot of fall fish. (MARK FONG)

On the Boardwalk at the Port of Brookings-Harbor

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For more information, please visit:

www.slamnsalmon.net 48 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

grub combination, I like to switch to a dropshot. My dropshot rig consists of a No. 1 Gamakatsu G-Finesse Drop Shot hook rigged with a Yamamoto Shad Shaped Worm and a 3/16-ounce clip-on dropshot sinker.

When conditions are right, I like to put my boat over the bass and fish them vertically. For me, it is so exciting to drop my bait under the trolling motor transducer and to watch it on my graph as it falls towards the fish. Seeing the fish react to it is such a rush; this is the ultimate video game.

Deep-water finesse fishing requires spinning gear and light line. I use a 7-foot medium-light action Cousins Tackle Spinning Rod paired with a 2500 Series spinning reel, and lots of anglers pay too little attention to the importance of line. I am very particular about my line selection, as I know it can be the difference between having a great day and heartbreak. I use 10-pound Sunline SX1 Braid as my mainline with a top-shot leader of 7-pound Super FC Sniper fluorocarbon.

If the water is extremely clear or if the fish are skittish, I will not hesitate to scale down to a 4-pound Sniper straight fluorocarbon mainline. I have seen it time and time again; light line gets more bites.

If you want to catch more bass, get off the bank and head into deep water. CS

calsportsmanmag.com | JULY 2016 California Sportsman

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50 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

BAY AREA

FOR THE LOVE OF A MIDSHIPMAN NEW BOOK BREAKS DOWN THE FISHY CRITTERS OF THE BAY AREA

Editor’s note: It’s probably OK to refer to Kirk Lombard as eclectic, if even eccentric. One reviewer of Lombard’s book on the greater Bay Areas’s diverse fish populations, The Sea Forager’s Guide to the Northern California Coast, described it this way, “Lombard is a divinely inspired whack job – think (the late, great outside-the-box musician) Frank Zappa meets (ecologist) Aldo Leopold.” That sounds about right for Lombard, a former employee with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, a dedicated angler and forager who also dabbles in music – he plays tuba in a band named for fellow “whack job” baseball pitcher Rube Waddell, who played in the early 20th century. Lombard and his wife Camilla and their kids, Django and Penelope, are the proprietors of San Francisco’s Sea Forager Seafood, a sustainable, subscription-based seafood delivery service. Lombard’s book – highlighted by his rather sarcastic and dry sense of humor and some funky illustrations from local artist Leighton Kelly – is a detailed breakdown of swimming creatures inhabiting the waters around San Francisco Bay and the Pacific. He is particularly fond of the ecosytem’s tiny baitish – Lombard cherishes the idea of catching his own bait, “because not everybody’s into that,” he says – to the monster salmon, stripers, sturgeon and others that anglers cast lines out for. The following is an excerpt, courtesy of Lombard and published by Heyday.

By Kirk Lombard

C

alifornia is home to a wide variety of little, weird-looking, mud-loving, bottom-dwelling, so-called baitfish species, and though they may not all be closely related, they tend to share one notable characteristic: complicated and slightly unconventional common names. It’s as if the same eccentric biologist named them all.

There’s the cumbersomely titled Pacific staghorn sculpin, a tough little species that most of us know colloquially as a “bullhead,” though it has nothing to do with the small catfish of the same name. Then there’s the longjaw mudsucker, which sounds more like the insult you’d hurl at the deckhand who drops your 40-pound salmon at boatside than the name of a fish. Next is the plainfin midshipman, a talented toadfish, the Pavarotti of the sewers, also known as the Sausalito buzzerfish. I’m including the yellowfin goby in this group, despite its disappointingly humdrum appellation, because it has become the dominant mudsucker of our region.

All of these species are top-quality live bait for larger fish like striped bass, lingcod, halibut, and sharks. “Top quality” in live bait essentially means they do two things:

Kirk Lombard’s love for foraging and fishing steered him into a career with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission and has a love for all the critters that cruise the waters of the Bay Area.

(THE SEA FORAGER’S GUIDE) calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

51

BAY AREA 1. Wriggle and dance when impaled on a hook.

2. Perform these tricks for a comparatively long time.

males? Type I guards nests, lures females, and hums. Type II does not guard nests, cannot hum, and waits for a female to lay the eggs, dashes in and sprays sperm on the eggs,

A Talented Fish Of all the strangely named baitfish that live in the mudflats, sloughs, and backwaters of our area, the plainfin midshipman (Porichthys notatus) is the star of the lot.

The Where, When, and How Midshipmen spawn in the spring and summer months, coming inshore from depths of over 1,000 feet and establishing themselves intertidally (typically in muddy bays), under rocks. The best time to find them is in June and July.

Two Types Typically, when you turn over a rock in the intertidal zone, the midshipman you encounter is the Type I male, doing his matrimonial duty: guarding the eggs and keeping them clean.

What’s a Type I male? Good question. Evidently there are two types of male midshipmen. Here’s what Milton Love, author of that seminal classic, Certainly More Than You Want to Know about the Fishes of the Pacific Coast: A Postmodern Experience, wrote to me in an email correspondence in 2010: “I assume you are aware that there are two kinds of

52 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

The plainfin midshipman is one of the rock stars among baitfish that swim the mudflats, sloughs, and backwaters of the Bay Area. Plainfins come armed with razor-sharp gill spines, so bait anglers should handle with care. (USGS WESTERN FISHERIES RESEARCH CENTER)

and dashes away. The type II male has humongous testes compared to type I.” Did I mention that Type II males, the ones with the large testes, like to impersonate females? Well, they do. The idea here is that by pretending to be female they can finagle their way into a Type I’s lair, and when he isn’t looking, give any unfertilized eggs a good spritzing of milt.

A Rare Bird In short, this fish is a rare bird. It’s odd enough that it has

photophores (small light-producing “spots”), but the midshipman also has a few other quirks. First, and most famously, it hums (or, as Love points out, some of them hum, some of them grunt, and some growl). In fact, the humming of midshipmen caused quite a furor in Sausalito a few years ago when houseboat owners could not figure out what that terrible buzzing was. Evidently, the buzzing of midshipmen in May and June is so loud the citizenry of Sausalito has a hard time getting to sleep at night. Tsk tsk, poor little Sausalitans.

As if having the voice of a Tuvan throat singer, the uncanny ability to survive at a ridiculous range of depths, and a body covered with lightbulbs were not enough superpowers for one small fish, plainfins come armed with razor-sharp gill spines. Again, this is something I’ve learned about through experience.

The lesson was this: If a midshipman ever slips through my hands again, I will not attempt to catch her as she falls. One day, having dropped a midLeighton Kelly provided the artwork for shipman, I tried to catch her before she hit the wa- Lombard’s book, including this depiction ter and swam away. Wouldn’t you know, the edge of the plainfin midshipman, which pays homage to classic horror and sci-fi of her gill cover jabbed me beneath my fingernail? movie posters of the 1950s. “I have long Of course, shoving anything under your finger- believed that, given its unique talents nail is going to be unpleasant, but a mucous-cov- and special abilities, a mutated, gammaered, razor-sharp gill spine is I think among the ray-infected plainfin midshipman might make for a perfect toxic avenger-type more unpleasant of things. Suffice to say, the rest superhero: humming its enemies into of that particular day was like Inquisition torture submission, stabbing them with its camp and I now handle midshipmen with cau- nasty spikes, blowing them away with its photophores,” Lombard writes. “Once tion, reverence, and the type of respect that a dan- again, it looks like Leighton and I are on the same page.” (LEIGHTON KELLY/THE SEA gerous opponent can inspire in a baitman.

FORAGER’S GUIDE)

Buttons If you are wondering how the midshipman got its unwieldy name, wonder no more. The photophores on the belly evidently reminded someone of the buttons on a naval cadet’s jacket.

Livin’ the Life o’ Riley When used as bait, midshipmen stay alive almost as long as bullheads – the measure of toughness in a fish. They squirm, writhe, dance and hum. If you’re lucky, and they’ve been eating a luminescent planktonic arthropod known as Vargula hilgendorfii, they may even light up for you – though this will only camouflage them to a halibut looking up from below. In any case, given all these attractive qualities, it’s a wonder so few people actually use midshipmen for bait. Perhaps I’m not the only person out there who has sentimental feelings for this species.

When you consider that the Type I male spends several months working his butt off, nurturing the eggs, keeping them clean and free of debris, while the Type II male and the female are off living the life of Riley, it’s kind of hard to justify flipping the stone over, abducting the midshipman, and destroying the nest.

And when you think that these creatures travel from the depths of the ocean (more than 1,000 vertical feet), having survived all the hazards California might offer a tiny fish – whales, lingcod, cormorants, sea lions, sharks, skates, rays, sturgeon, striped bass, drag nets, toxic waste, you name it – only to be ripped from a muddy hole near SFO when the finish line (spawning, that is) was so near; why, it could almost make a baitman cry.

Almost, but not quite. The thought of the monster fish I’m going to catch using live midshipmen for bait usually squashes my sentimental tendencies.

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BAY AREA ak. But the strange thing was, everywhere I You see them squirming and writhing at A MIDSHIPMEN HAIKU went that day, it was the same. Along rocky the end of your line and you’re the one Plainfin Midshipmen, shoreline. Under the piers. Out in the open that gets hooked. There is simply no way most talented of fishes! water: leopard shark after leopard shark to ignore the lunker potential of a big Why not leave them be? after leopard shark. It was as if they were midshipman. And considering how agfollowing me. gressively the local predatory fish tend to They were. hit a squirmy live bait, it’s hard, when you find yourself After fishing for two hours with that one midshipman, looking at that vivacious little midshipman, to think he’s I pulled in my live-bait bucket (which usually trails benot going to catch you a big halibut, or a striper, or a ling. hind me on a rope as I drift) and decided to swap out my wildly popular shredded baitfish for a new live one.

The Death Song Of The Toad Fishes I placed the bucket on the kayak, cleaned the grim I’m not sure why, but leopard sharks really like midshipremnants of the first midshipman off my hook, and sudmen, and for a halibut (or anything else) to take your ofdenly noticed that the boat was buzzing. fering of one, it’s going to have to get in line behind every The midshipmen, their nests destroyed, their eggs upleopard shark inhabiting the spot where you’re fishing. rooted, their lives about to be forfeit to the uncaring jaws My last time out on my kayak I caught about half-a-dozen of a sluggish bottom dweller, were singing. I held the bucksharks on a single plainfin. He couldn’t seem to stay in et to my ear. What was this song? How often had they the water for five minutes before a leopard shark would sung it? In the depths of the sea? In the polluted sluices of slam him and start dragging me into the shipping lanes – Stege Marsh? In the yuppie flats of Tiburon? Was it their and they seemed to like him better dead and chewed than national anthem? Their rembetika? Their blues? After a alive and squirming. few moments I realized what I was listening to – it was the As anyone who kayak fishes can confirm, however fun death song of the toadfishes. leopard sharks are to fight, they are a royal pain in the I sat there for a while, staring out at the container ships, arse to unhook. Especially the big ones, on a windy day, listening to this melancholy, monotonal death song, feelwith a strong outgoing tide, on a 10-foot sit-on-top kay-

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ing, I suppose, not unlike the Grinch staring down on Whoville before his Yuletide transformation. After a few gut-wrenching moments, my calloused fisherman’s heart swollen to thrice its usual size, I paddled to shore and dumped the remaining midshipmen back into the turbid waters from whence they came.

I have little doubt that a sizable school of leopard sharks had been following my kayak all day. It was not a bait bucket, but a leopard shark dinner bell that I’d been dragging behind me.

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“If a midshipman ever slips through my hands again, I will not attempt to catch her as she falls.

One day, having dropped a midshipman, I tried to catch her before she hit the water and swam away,” Lombard writes. “Wouldn’t you know, the edge of her gill cover jabbed me beneath my fingernail?” (THE SEAFORAGER’S GUIDE)

markable little bodies, just to waste them on leopard sharks? If you find that they’re great for halibut or lings, stripers or seabass – maybe. But leopard sharks? Thanks, I’ll stick to squid.

Honestly, I think the problem here is that I know too much about these little buggers to use them for bait. And now, with any luck, so do you. CS Editor’s note: California Sportsman readers can take 30 percent off the list price by using the coupon code CASM when ordering the book online at heydaybooks.com. The author’s seafood business, Sea Forager, can be found at seaforager. com and facebook.com/seaforagerseafood.

We’ll interview Lombard next month.

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calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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SIERRAS Alaska resident Jeff Lund, who caught this rainbow out of the Lower Sacramento River, received a text from a friend that convinced him to plan a trip to cast for the smaller but feisty trout of the Owens River in the Eastern Sierras. (JEFF LUND)

BOOKING

IT FOR THE

SIERRAS

AN ALASKA SPORTSMAN LEAVES BIG SALMON FOR A CHANCE TO CATCH OWENS RIVER TROUT

PART I OF II

By Jeff Lund

B

ARNES: Been on the water an hour, haven’t got a bite, not sure of myself.

Next comes a photo of the Owens River.

I don’t know how to take this text. Is he asking for ad-

vice from me – a dude who has never fished the Owens and now lives on an island in Southeast Alaska? Or is he trying to make me jealous, because he knew how much I wanted to get on the Owens and a lot of the other rivers on that side of the Sierra Nevada?

We text back and forth. I ask about bugs, size of bugs, color of water and inquire about the feeding of trout on the surface.

Small bugs. Water a little off color. Nothing on the surface.

I tell him to go with a nymph, weight it down and cover ground.

I head to the river myself – the Thorne on Prince of Wales Island in Alaska’s southern Panhandle. It’s raining, which isn’t normally unusual, but it’s been an unusual summer – hot (relatively speaking, of course) and dry. So the rain irritates me a bit though I know the salmon need it. It’s on my nerves because the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada looks so tempting; so warm; so isolated; so dry.

I catch a couple salmon, sight in my .30-06, then head home. When my cell phone is reconnected to the world, I get a text from Barnes. It’s a picture of a brown trout, and I continue to wonder.

I LIVED IN CALIFORNIA for 10 years. I fished the Upper and calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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SIERRAS Lower Sacramento, the Pit, McCloud, Truckee, Stanislaus and a bunch of others, but I had never made it to the Eastern Sierra, save for a one-day trip to the East Walker, in which I drove for almost twice as long as I fished.

The trip was on a whim, and worth it, but not efficient in terms of water time. So I’ve always wanted to go back, and in moving back to Alaska – my childhood

I had enough in my “Fishing Fund,” a separate account that comes from writing to pay for the ticket, but wondered, should I really do this? Act purely on the emotion of a text and a few pictures of fish the size of the bait I use for king salmon?

What would Ferris Bueller text me?

FERRIS: Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t book a ticket to California on a whim once in a while, you could miss it.

Good point; if William Wallace of Braveheart fame says yes, then I’ll book.

WILLIAM: HOOOOLD...HOLD!!!

Didn’t see that one coming. Secretly, I was hoping he’d do some of the “not every man really lives” stuff, and I’d feel good about raiding my e-piggy bank for the Grand Slam.

THE SCHEDULE WOULD HAVE me leaving in 13 days, be in Cal-

The Owens’ smallish but gorgeous (clockwise from above) rainbows, brookies, brownies and golden trout might not be match the trophy-size salmon and trout back in Alaska, but it’s just as much about the location as the size. (KURT JOHNSON)

home – the prospects of fishing in Yosemite, the Owens or those other Eastern Sierra rivers seemed slim. To be honest, it pulled at me. Granted, I get epic steelhead, salmon and trout fishing in Alaska, but the lonely river winding through a meadow in the shadow of severe mountains calls all fly anglers.

A few days before, another buddy, Kurt Johnson, had also been tempting me.

KURT: Left the house at 3:30... Because I drove up to Yosemite and I GOT THE SIERRA NEVADA GRAND SLAM IN ONE DAY!!!!

That one prompted a visit to AlaskaAir.com. I asked Kurt about his work schedule, plugged in some dates and was planning to leave Alaska – during salmon season and right before deer season, no less – to fish for little trout in the Sierra Nevada.

I had enough miles if I took the undesirable route that necessitated an overnight in Seattle, but I didn’t want to lose the day. A combination of miles and money wasn’t all that different than just paying for the whole thing with cash.

66 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

ifornia for five, and then depart Sacramento at 8 a.m. I’d arrive in Ketchikan at 11:40, take the 3:30 boat to Prince of Wales Island and start a hunting trip the next morning – or that night, depending on what my hunting buddy Don wanted to do.

That actually sounded pretty fun, and as long as I didn’t sit in the middle seat, I could make that happen with naps.

But it’s a couple hundred dollars before factoring in gas, food, camping and all the other incidentals of a fishing trip. This is the type of thing I would plan months in advance as a break after a long stretch in the cold, dark Alaskan winter.

But I was just in California earlier this summer and did some fishing on the Lower Sacramento. I can’t play the “island fever” card, and it’s not like I don’t have all the fish I could want to catch just a short drive from my house.

Maybe that’s it. Maybe as an angler it’s not just about the sheer numbers and success, it’s about the place. No, that’s not a maybe. That is what it is. Alaska is like nowhere else, but so is the Sierra Nevada. You can’t compare a 14-pound silver salmon with a 14-ounce brown trout. Nor should you. It’s clearly not about size or fight; it’s about the experience. It’s the places that fly fishing, or fishing in general, take you.

I booked. As Will Hunting would say, I had to see about a trout. CS Editor’s note: Look for part II in the October issue of California Sportsman. Jeff Lund regularly contributes to this magazine’s sister publication, Alaska Sporting Journal, and is the author of Going Home, a memoir about fishing and hunting in California and Alaska. Go to JeffLundBooks.com for more.

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SIERRAS

THROWING TRADITION OUT THE WINDOW

LONGTIME SIERRA TROUTHEADS SOMETIMES HAVE TO ‘GO TO THE DARK SIDE’ AND TAKE A STEELHEAD APPROACH WHEN THE BITE DIES Don’t think of it as cheating; think of it as innovating, argues the author about using another region’s fishing tactics for a different type of trout so that you can find success on rainbows in Eastern Sierras waters. (MIKE STEVENS) calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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The author is a loyal Eastern Sierra traditionalist, but when the usual spoons, jigs and spinners aren’t working, he shuns the grief he takes from buddies by shifting gears and throwing eggs, scented baits and other outside-the-box presentations. (MIKE STEVENS)

By Mike Stevens

W

hen it comes to fishing the Eastern Sierra, the Upper Owens River has always been the spot to work the kinks out, knock the dust off and “get on the board” with some stocker rainbows. With statistically more fish per mile than just about every watershed on the East Side and beyond, it just makes sense.

Like in many trout fisheries, things start to slow down as high noon approaches. The Rooster Tails, Thomas Buoyants and Sierra Slammers jigs that I’ve thrown all morning stop working, leaving me with two choices: stop fishing or employ shameful tactics.

We all started out trout fishing with floating dough, but there comes an easily detectable time when a dedicated Sierra trout angler needs to step away from the jar and move on to chucking metal or even flies.

It’s easier to catch and release, you can pile up numbers of fish quicker – personally, I shoot for 100 trout per trip – you have access to water with regulations calling for artificials only, and so on.

The use of soft plastics in the form of minijigs, trout worms, eggs and otherwise continues to skyrocket, and in many cases can give a trouthead the best of both worlds with an artificial bait that can be 70 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

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SIERRAS fished like a salmon egg, nightcrawler or gob of PowerBait, especially if they come scented, or scent is added.

With the availability of biodegradable artificial baits like Berkley’s Gulp! products, the line between bait and lure becomes even less defined, and that is where, in recent trips, I have had to throw shame out the window.

BAIT OR LURE? As far as a California Department of Fish and Wildlife warden is concerned, once you add scent to a lure, it becomes bait. It’s good to know when fishing this particular stretch of the Owens – between Crowley Lake and Benton Crossing – where regs differ depending on the time of year.

They like to make life easier on spawning fish coming up into the river out of Crowley early and late in the season.

Fly fishing might be a rite of passage in Eastern Sierra waters, but a steelhead approach can get the job done when necessary, as Mike Stevens has discovered. (MIKE STEVENS)

an opening-day press kit I received in April. I pinned them on and reinvigorated the onslaught, although my dad and brother continued a futile grind with the metal while I was hammering away. But, was I “cheating”?

It felt dirty at first. Eventually my dad caved and pinned on a soft plastic egg (both plain and scented) on a mosquito hook with a little split shot and joined the party. My brother, having landed a couple quality Crowley cutthroat that were still in the river on his ever-present Thomas Buoyant, wouldn’t budge and shook his head disapprovingly when I told him how many I had caught.

MEN OF STEEL In Northern California and the Pacific Northwest, anglers target steelhead – a sacred fish with a devoted cult-like following – with salmon eggs, roe sacks, stuff made of yarn, plastics; and most of the time it’s scented. That gave me my out.

Now, when my cronies lay on the shame when I am sticking stocked rainbows all over the place – much less steelhead – and releasing them for that matter, in my head I am no longer reaching for scented plastics and jarred stuff like Pinched Crawlers and Mice Tails because I’ve entered the mid-day doldrums and am desperate. Now I simply go with the following rebuttal: “I am not cheating. I am simply employing Pacific Northwest steelhead tactics here in the Eastern Sierra. I am not a bait angler; I am an innovator.”

As you may imagine, this doesn’t reduce the heat aimed my way one bit, but it makes me feel better about it. And it’s just a small part of a big trip, like I said, to work the kinks out, knock the dust off and get on the board.

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW

It’s one of the reasons I like Sierra Slammers lures; they are packaged without scent, leaving the angler with the option of adding it if they so desire.

After a couple decades of catching Sierra trout on nothing but spoons, spinners, flies or jigs, I took a trip to the dark side when the lunchtime bite on the Owens died, but I wasn’t ready to call it a day. I had some Berkley Mice Tails and Gulp! Pinched Crawlers on me that were part of 72 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

I finished my late-June trip with 139 trout for the week, most of which were caught on natural-colored Sierra Slammers jigs (this year was very much the year of the jig). Because of the heat wave that was going on at the time, I spent way less time than usual in the dust bowl that contains the Upper O and opted for higher, cooler environs. Yet this trip, like most others, started off with a warm-up round on the river, where fish were caught on metal, balsa, plastic and “proudly” deployed innovative, pioneering steelhead tactics.

The dark side never felt so bright. CS

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CALIFORNIA PARKS COMPANY With their locations throughout California and beyond, we sat down with California Parks Company’s Trish Purcell to learn more about what properties and services the company offers.

California Sportsman You have one program at Lake Hemet in Riverside County that provides everything campers need. Can you describe it?

Trish Purcell There are a lot of individuals and families that may not know if they want to purchase all the camping gear to only use it once or a couple times a year. It is very expensive for minimal use. Plus, it is so nice not to have to struggle with instructions that don’t make sense and get wrapped up in the darn tent. The campsite is completely set up for our campers! They have tents, cots, firewood, lantern, cooler with ice, cook stove and cookware, and don’t forget we have a complete s’mores kit! People bring their personal belongings, sleeping bags and food. Who wouldn’t want to camp that way?

CS Is that something to do expand to other locations?

TP Yes we will! It has been so successful at our property that we will be rolling this out at most of our properties that offer the camping experience.

CS Tell us about a few of your other special programs like FitKid and Capture California.

TP FitKid in Every Park is a free community program we offer to local children. We love seeing kids building a relationship with nature. I don’t think it is realistic to think they will put down their video games and electronic devices for good, but at least we are opening them up to a world of new possibilities. We teach them how to fish, what plants and animals are indigenous to the area as we take a nature hike, swimming, boating, nature scavenger hunts, disc golf, horseshoes; so many fun activities! We always have an amazing turnout at all the participating properties. We love our kids and families. It keeps us motivated to continue offering programs to the communities in which we are connected to.

CS Is there anything else you want to mention about the California Parks Company?

TP We offer so many ways to enjoy the outdoors and we love that people are creating lasting memories at the properties we manage throughout California.

All of our Northern California lakes are full!

People are so excited to put their boats in the water and cool off in our lakes. We have lakes for boating, boat and watercraft rentals, fishing, tent camping, RV camping, “Living by the Lake” long-term stays, cabins, vacation rentals, and amazing water parks at three of our locations. We host weddings, film shoots, and corporate events at many of our locations throughout California. We have a gorgeous property in Oregon called Silver Falls and we offer special events and weddings at the property.

Go to calparksco.com to learn more about what California Parks Company offers.

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78 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

CENTRAL VALLEY

RETURN OF THE QUAIL TRAIL RECALLING WHEN CALIFORNIA’S STATE BIRD WAS PLENTIFUL AND HOPING FOR BETTER SEASONS AHEAD

By Tim E. Hovey

A

few months back, I was pig hunting in Central California. It was midday, blazing hot and not much was moving. I had spotted a pig bed up in a canyon and decided to check it out.

As I approached, I heard the distinctive putter of California quail. I hiked above the bed and started to walk through it. The objections from the covey got louder and more abundant. The next step triggered a flush bigger than I had seen in years. The first group of 30 birds took off straight away and down the canyon.

Most of the birds were adults, but I did spot smaller, juvenile birds in the mix. I stopped the stalk and just watched. Over the next three minutes, birds continued to flush from the large bed. The trailing birds were

mostly this year’s stock, smaller and not as fully feathered as the adults. When they were finished, I estimated that the large covey contained close to 100 birds. It was by far the largest covey I had seen since 2011.

Down at the bottom of the canyon, a male sentinel perched on a boulder and started calling to regroup the birds. I watched him for a few minutes through the binoculars. He was a gorgeous bird with perfect plumage and beautiful coloring – his top notch displayed proudly. As a sportsman, I felt a pulse of relief on the side of that hill – a relief that the quail were back.

WHERE DID THEY GO? If you’ve spent any amount of time in the outdoors in the last five years, you may have noticed a decline in quail numbers. The coveys I have been able to kick up have

The winter and spring rains we received in exchange for El Niño have supplied game birds like quail with enough moisture to increase their numbers after a steady five-year decline. Quail seasons get going this month. (BOB MORRIS) calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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CENTRAL VALLEY all been small and usually made up of adult birds. Spring coveys of only adult birds usually mean that seasonal reproduction was either poor or nonexistent. This is, of course, the direct result of the ongoing drought.

Beginning in about 2011, I started to notice a definite decline in the quail numbers in the areas I hunted (see graphic on page 84). When we started to see the decline, the group I hunt with made a conscious decision to give the quail in the southern portion of California a break and not to pursue them.

During one trip in 2013, I was predator hunting with my buddy, Ed Davis. As we drove an old desert back road, a small group of five quail, all adults, raced across in front of us. That was the first group of quail I had seen in over two years. Despite this being in-season, we just kept driving.

This year has been different. The winter and spring rains we received in exchange for the promised massive El Niño have supplied game birds with enough moisture to increase their numbers. Dry pools have wetted up again and prime quail habitat and food plants have sprouted. Within months of the rain, I started to see and hear more quail.

In May, I watched a group of adults cross the road during an early-morning drive. They were followed by over 20 chicks about the size of golf balls. This spring has

80 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

California quail, the state bird, are a lot more difficult to find without the assistance of a hunting dog, but author Tim Hovey relied on using a call, seeking out quail sign and relying on the direction of the flush. (USFWS)

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CENTRAL VALLEY provided all species with the water and forage they need to once again thrive. Hunter or not, for anyone who likes to spend time outside, it’s great to see.

THE GOOD OLD DAYS I’ve hunted several different types of quail over the years and I never get tired of an exciting, unexpected ush of a covey holding tight to cover. In my opinion, that moment is the absolute essence of hunting. I’ve been fortunate enough to share these great experiences with good friends when quail numbers were abundant. Probably my most memorable hunt occurred in 2011.

My good friend, Jose De Orta, and I had scouted out a few areas for birds prior to the beginning of quail season that year. One area in particular seemed to hold a high number of birds and very little human trafďŹ c. The birds, tracks and forage were everywhere.

The word from a few biologist friends was that conditions were so good from the previous spring that quail had produced up to three clutches of eggs, something that occurs when conditions are prime.

On opening morning, we drove in before dark and waited for sunrise. As soon as the sun peeked over, quail began to call, and without a trained dog Jose and I had to rely on quail sign, calling birds and keeping an eye on the

A quail call can be very useful for bringing in birds, especially early in the season. (TIM E. HOVEY)

direction of the ush.

We slowly drove the two-track, listened for birds and looked for areas that seemed promising. Back then, the terrain didn’t matter to us. If we saw birds, we’d get out, hike

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CENTRAL VALLEY through the area and bag what we could and move on. Without a dog, it was the most productive way for us to hunt.

The terrain got steeper as we drove. We had just rounded a slight rise when we both saw a group of 20 birds run across the road and continue into a narrow canyon. The area was filled with steep, dead end canyons, perfect for Mountain quail harvest numbers have pursuing upland game. actually increased in recent years, and We stopped, grabbed our one theory is their higher-elevation location wasn’t as affected by drought gear and headed out. conditions as that of California quail.

The canyon was very (TIM E. HOVEY) narrow, with steep walls on both sides. Jose hiked to the ridgetop on the right side and I took the left. The vegetation was sparse, allowing us to walk parallel to each other and make sure we maintained safe visual contact. As expected, approximately 200 yards up the canyon the two ridges came together and closed out the canyon completely. We both knew the birds

84 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

QUAIL STATS

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted game harvesting surveys in 2010 and then again 2015, and the results showed a significant drop in harvested California quail and a slight increase for mountain quail.

CALIFORNIA QUAIL

MOUNTAIN QUAIL

2010 Statewide bag: 453,773 Hunters reported: 42,731

2010 Statewide bag: 110,594 Hunters reported: 20,447

2015 Statewide bag: 300,126 Hunters reported: 35,017

2015 Statewide bag: 118,957 Hunters reported: 24,659

were still in the canyon.

Shortly after we started walking, Jose kicked up a small covey and dropped one bird from the group. Ten feet later, a single popped up in front of me and I added him to my game vest. We continued on, getting closer to each other as the ridges merged.

Near the end of the ridge on my side, a single bird burst from cover flying straight away. I mounted the Browning Silver Hunter, rested the bird on the bead of the shotgun and fired. The quail fell to the ground, and instantly, a second bird broke cover and started flying down the

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CENTRAL VALLEY The sun had dropped behind the hills and left the valley in a canyon. As I drew on him, a dull afternoon light. We were third flushed from my feet and a few miles from the entrance headed out as well. I quickly of the canyon and time was dropped the second bird and running short. I drove slowswung around on the third. ly through a dry riverbed and I don’t remember pulling the stopped on the bank on the other trigger on my first quail triple, side. I was just about to ask Jose but he hit the dirt as well. what he wanted to do when the Jose had seen the whole field to our left exploded with thing. “Did you just drop a triover 200 feeding quail. ple?!” he asked. I just laughed I’m hesitant to say Jose and told him to tell everyone stumbled out of my truck, but he knows what he’d seen here he did. He grabbed his shoton this day. I was just glad he gun and headed up the sloping was there hunting with me to Jose De Orta (left) and Tim Hovey with limits during better days when quail were more plentiful, though signs are pointing toward an field. I watched him drop two witness it. upswing in birds. (TIM E. HOVEY) before he disappeared into the brush.

Four shots later, I saw him hiking back to the car JOSE’S TURN with a smile.

With four canyon birds I had secured my limit. I put them I think one of the hardest things to do in upland game on ice and we continued driving looking for quail. At the hunting is taking a limit of quail without a trained dog. back of the canyon we had lunch and got rehydrated. Jose I’ve done it a few times and every single time I feel like still needed four birds for his limit and we hadn’t seen I’ve been through the wringer. It’s not just locating the much since our canyon hike. I recommended that we birds and making the shots. I think the toughest part is drive back out and hunt at the mouth of the valley where recovery – staying focused on where that bird fell and we had seen more birds.

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CENTRAL VALLEY QUAIL HUNTING SEASON The following is California’s quail hunting schedule, courtesy of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Zone Q1 (mountain quail only): Sep. 10-Oct. 14 Zone Q1 (all quail): Oct. 15-Jan. 29 Zone Q2 (all quail): Sep. 24-Jan. 29 Zone Q3 (all quail): Oct. 15-Jan. 29 Early season for hunters with Junior hunting licenses in Mojave National Preserve: Oct. 1-2 Archery only: now-Sep. 10 Falconry: now-Feb. 28

adding it to your bag. That day both Jose and I bagged our limit of California quail without a dog.

BACK FOR MORE

Jose De Orta prepares to field-dress a batch of birds. He and Tim Hovey love to put quail on the grill this time of year, and they hope to find some birds as the season starts. (TIM E. HOVEY)

88 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

I have a few hunting trips planned this fall for other species and who knows if I’ll get a chance to chase quail this year. I do know that the numbers are up, but for some reason now I like seeing them more than hunting them.

Maybe if I’m out in some of the areas I hunt and stumble into some, I’ll break out the Browning. Quail on the grill is my favorite upland game to eat and every year my wife asks when quail season is. I just smile and say soon. I’m just glad they’re back. CS

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90 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

WHEN THE FISHING’S OFF

SOCAL A trip to Baja California usually means spectacular Sea of Cortez fishing, but for Tim Hovey and family, it was more like Montezuma’s revenge, what with the charter fleet scoring hardly any fish and wave action too big for casting into the surf. (TIM E. HOVEY)

A MUCH-ANTICIPATED TRIP TO CABO FINDS SLOW ACTION BUT EPIC DIVING AND FAMILY FUN

By Tim E. Hovey

I

started watching the fishing reports for the Cabo San Lucas area towards the middle of June, since we had a family vacation planned for the Lands End area at the end of July and I was hoping to sample some of the Cabo’s legendary angling. Unfortunately, as the trip approached the reports came back bleak.

I spent a great deal of time in Baja California during my college days. Part of my graduate research involved comparing different populations of fish along the peninsula.

To collect samples, I’d often drive down Highway 1 and fish at various locations and catch fish for science.

I was also part of an epic 1993 research expedition that spent two weeks south of the border, driving from California all the way down to Magdalena Bay on the Pacific side. In the years that followed I’ve visited San Felipe, Puertocitos, Oke Landing, San Quintin, Punta Chivato, Mulege, Loreto, Guerrero Negro, La Paz and Magdalena Bay. Despite my lengthy travels in Baja, the upcoming family vacation would be my first visit to Cabo San Lucas.

Weeks before our trip, the Cabo fish reports all started out the same: The water was warming up and the fish were expected to show any day now. While marlin are the

main draw for many anglers headed to Cabo, I was more interested in catching fish we could eat. The report posted the day we left for Cabo reported 66 charters, or about 265 anglers, had caught five marlin, 29 yellowfin tuna and 11 dorado, roughly 0.16 fish per rod. In my opinion, those conditions were resulting in just a very expensive boat ride.

WE ARRIVED AT THE resort in the early afternoon and got settled. A last-minute addition to my luggage was a rod tube loaded with surf rods, pole spears and a take-apart spear gun.

The surf fishing action in Cabo is absolutely amazing.

Before the trip, I had spent countless evenings watching Cabo shore-fishing videos on YouTube. Most of these are produced by Stephen Jansen, the owner of Jansen’s Inshore Tackle (janseninshoretackle.com), located in the center of Cabo San Lucas. If I was looking for information on the local shore action, I’d find it at Jansen’s.

With the offshore action stagnant, we took a bus into town the next morning and stopped by the tackle shop.

The back wall of the small shop is completely covered with lures designed to be cast from the sand. Long 10- to 13-foot surf rods sit displayed in a center rack complete with huge spinning reels already loaded with fishing line.

Shirts with the shop logo hang from the wall opposite the calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

91

SOCAL

This local tackle store was a go-to spot for information and tips. (TIM E. HOVEY)

counter. At the counter I found a gentleman who looked familiar. He wasn’t Jansen but frequently appears in his YouTube videos.

After a brief discussion, he explained that recent storm action has scattered the bait and the surf was far too large to fish the good beaches. In short, as far as fishing went, there wasn’t much to choose from in Cabo at the time.

I picked up a shirt and a few lures from the shop. With a local lunch suggestion from the tackle employee, we stopped off at a great little taco shop located off the main strip.

During lunch, I explained to my daughters Alyssa and Jessica that fishing was probably not going to happen.

They had both looked forward to a charter in the gulf and both were disappointed. We finished our excellent lunch and made our way back to where we were staying.

That evening, I headed to the beach and spent an hour casting my new lures in the heavy surf without a bite. As the sun set on our first full day in Cabo, I knew catching fish on this vacation was not meant to be.

WE SPENT THE NEXT few days lounging by the pool and enjoying the warm weather. Cheryl, Alyssa and Jessica loved the resort and relaxing in Baja. Sitting near the pool was nice, but I had to be doing something. I stopped by the concierges and asked about dive spots near the resort.

The good news was that there were several within a short drive of where we were staying. The bad news was that they were all marine reserves where snorkeling was the only approved activity allowed. My spear gun and the fishing rods would have to stay in the room.

I rented a car and we headed for Santa Maria Bay. The small cove is a short walk from a modern parking area and public restroom. We grabbed our dive gear and staked out one of the palapas located near the shore. One of the beach attendants recommended the right side of the cove as the best for snorkeling.

With the hot air coming off the gulf, we quickly found re-

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SOCAL lief in the clear waters of Santa Maria Bay. Leading the way, I demonstrated that the girls needed to watch where they stepped early in the dive. As I moved through the shallows, I stepped on a stingray buried in the sand. Thankfully, the ray kept its tail barb to itself.

When your fishing prospects dim, remember We spent the next four that you’re on the Mexican Riviera and have hours exploring the waters plenty of other activities to pursue.

(TIM E. HOVEY) of the bay. The colorful surgeon fish and sergeant majors quickly found us and hovered around, looking for and experienced in the water. a handout. Larger parrotfish cruised the rocky reefs and Cheryl and I have been scuba diving or free diving for predator fish like grouper and cabrilla darted in and out over 25 years. When my daughters were about 7, we took of caves near the bottom. The occasional stingray would them for a beach snorkeling trip in Southern California. sail over the sandy sea floor and settle on the bottom, After that, a 10-day trip to Maui solidified their interest in covering itself with sand. snorkeling. Besides the fishing, the girls were really excited Alyssa grabbed the underwater camera and tried to get to experience the diving off the Baja coast. After a full day photos of everything she saw. Jessica searched the rocks for in the water, we headed back into town to finish off the day any creature she could find. Even though Jessica is youngwith tacos from our new favorite spot in Cabo, Claros Tacos. er, I feel like she has more snorkeling experience. She loves The following morning we drove to Puerto Los Cabos, diving to the bottom looking for shells. Over the last few about 30 miles northeast of the resort. After a bit of exfamily vacations, both girls have become very comfortable ploring and a great taco lunch, we discovered Chileno

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Tim Hovey has caught plenty of fish on previous trips to Baja, and while this adventure didn’t include fighting a marlin or bringing home dorado or yellowfin for the table, the Hoveys had a great time and will return for some of the region’s famed fishing. (TIM E. HOVEY)

Bay, a local snorkeling spot. Again we were met with perfect conditions for an afternoon dive.

Friday was our last full day in Cabo. Cheryl and Jessica booked a zip-line tour out over the coastal desert. Originally, Alyssa and I were just going to lounge by the pool for the day, but a brochure in the lobby changed that.

The following morning Alyssa and I headed out to drive racers through the Baja desert. At the facility we were fitted with helmets and assigned vehicles for our 90-minute tour. We raced through established trails and an open section of beach, following the lead buggy.

At the halfway point, we pulled over for a break and enjoyed a short botanical tour of the local flora. The guide showed us several different species of cactus, as well as plants that possessed medicinal qualities. After a short water break, we were back on the trails.

With just one trail leg left, I let Alyssa take the wheel.

She raced across the sand trails and through the dry washes and eventually piloted us back safely to our starting point.

Back at the resort, Cheryl and Jessica showed us photos of their zip-lining experience. The smiles on their faces said it all. We picked up a disk of digital photos from our day in the racers and in every single photo Alyssa was smiling ear to ear too.

WITH A FULL DAY OF travel the following day, we spent our last evening packing up for the trip home. Despite the lack of fishing, we all really enjoyed our first trip to Cabo San Lucas. My wife and I had been planning to take our daughters somewhere on the Baja Peninsula for years. We wanted them to experience the areas where we had spent so much time. This trip was the first time both girls had been out of the country and they seriously enjoyed every minute.

At the airport, we passed a huge sign advertising fishing trips out of La Paz, a place Cheryl and I know very well.

The ad showed a huge dorado jumping from the clear blue Sea of Cortez. Jessica pointed it out to me. “Hey, Daddy, you need to take us there!”

I smiled at her and gave her hug. “That we can do!” CS 96 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

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THE LITTLE TUNA THAT COULD THOUGH THEY AREN’T MASSIVE, BONITO PROVIDE ANGLERS WITH A FEISTY FIGHT

By Steve Carson

A

s the anchovy population continues to cycle up in SoCal waters, the bonito population is following with an upswing. Although the numbers of bonito are not quite what they were a couple of decades ago, the catches in local waters have been encouraging, and at least occasionally as hot as in “the good old days.”

Make no mistake: Bonito are definitely a member of the tuna family. They make up for their relatively small size with a ferocious attitude that provides enough excitement for beginners to get them hooked for life. Bonito are normally in the 2- to 5-pound class and fish of this size are tough fighters, but the rare 10-plus-pounder is like a stick of inshore dynamite.

Bonito are also very accessible, being commonly caught off piers, jetties, and aboard local half-day boats.

Anglers on offshore trips trying for larger species like yellowtail don’t always appreciate bonito, but on local trips they are prime targets. Ranging far south into Mexico, bonito are commonly found as far north as Santa Barbara and sporadically even further north to Santa Cruz, with the prime time usually from June to October.

GEAR CHECK Light conventional or medium-weight spinning tackle is perfect for bonito, with 12- or 15-pound test being about right in party boat situations, although 8- or 10-pound test is fine on a private vessel with no crowds to worry about.

A Penn BattleII 5000 spinning reel is the perfect size.

The number one offering is a live anchovy, flylined with no weight. Keep the hooks small – usually a size 2 or smaller – and if the bait is a tiny pinhead anchovy, dropping down to a size 8 hook does wonders. Fluorocarbon leaders of the same test are not usually necessary but can provide an advantage when the fish are being selective.

Casting lures can be almost anything small and shiny. This writer prefers a blue/chrome or chrome/prism Luhr-Jensen Krocodile over almost any other casting lure – the 5/8-ounce size for schoolie fish and the 1-ounce size for bigger bonito.

If the fish are running a bit deeper, a blue/chrome 2-ounce Luhr-Jensen Crippled Herring is an excellent choice.

For trolling, it would be difficult to beat a silver/black Rapala X-Rap XRMAG10 if nothing but bonito are around, but given the possibility that yellowtail might be part of

The author caught this 10-pound bonito in the Pacific. These smaller tuna don’t grow overly big but are ferocious fighters.

(STEVE CARSON)

the trolling mix, I prefer to bump up to the slightly larger X-Rap XRMAG15. If voracious bonito are beating yellowtail to the lure too often, try increasing the size again to an X-Rap XRMAG20, which will sort out the smaller ones, but will still catch larger bonito just fine. Other Rapala X-Rap colors that are effective for trolling include sardine, blue mackerel, and, of course, bonito.

SET YOURSELF UP Pier fishing has evolved into some unique methods for bonito to cope with the extreme elevation above the water.

The most common is the live bait rigging known as a slide line or trolley rig. Live anchovies are the preferred choice, but live smelt, grunion or small sardines are also effective.

A 3- or 4-ounce triangle sinker is cast out as far as possible on 20- or 25-pound test. A 5-foot piece of 20-pound monofilament or fluorocarbon with a size 2 live bait hook on one end and a snap swivel on the other is clipped onto the mainline, which allows the leader to slide the live bait away from the pier in a gentle manner that will not kill it.

Another effective bonito set-up mostly seen on piers but also off of jetties is the splasher rig. A large casting bubble filled with water, or even a 5-inch piece of wooden doweling fitted with screw eyes, is cast out as far as possible, then cranked back with a jerking motion to create loud splashes. The splasher is trailed by a 6- to 10-foot leader calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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EL NIÑO MEETS LA NIÑA The NOAA folks are now saying that the two-year major El Niño warm-water cycle we have been experiencing is officially over, replaced by its opposite: La Niña.

Accordingly, all of the exotic tropical species that showed up in the catch in August 2015 have been conspicuously absent. At least so far, no blue marlin, wahoo, sierra mackerel or other southern Baja species have showed up – yet.

The month of September typically does have the best catches of warm-water species in SoCal waters. Even without El Niño, expect to see decent numbers of school-size yellowfin tuna, along with dorado congregating under floating kelp paddies as far north as the Channel Islands. Striped marlin will also be available for anglers chasing them.

Historically, La Niña cycles have meant good albacore fishing, a species missing from SoCal waters for the past five years.

At least for 2016, the albacore are still staying up in Oregon and Washington, which are again experiencing an excellent year on the longfins.

During the late 1980s, there was a similar “albacore drought,” but at that time there were no albacore anywhere.

Prevailing thought at the time was that high seas drift nets had decimated the population. With luck, the return of cooler waters will mean the return of albacore for San Diego fleet boats in 2017. -SC

and a blue/white size 3/0 streamer fly or a 3-inch plastic Slug-Go-type lure.

Aggressive bonito hear the splashing and go right after the lure thinking they are beating a rival to the food.

A CULINARY DELIGHT Despite rumors to the contrary, bonito are also excellent on the table. In the past, bonito were often unceremoniously dumped into a dry gunnysack and allowed to sit out in the sun, which ruined the meat. Today, the wise angler will bleed the fish by quickly cutting a couple of gill rakers and immediately chilling the fish down in ice slurry. Then fillet the fish, taking care to cut out the prominent dark bloodline down the center of the fillet. Although there will be some loss of yield due to cutting out the dark meat, the remaining meat is virtually identical to yellowfin tuna and can be prepared with the same recipes. CS Editor’s note: Contact the author at scarson@sunset.net 100 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

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Customer will have the choice to either apply the cash rebate against the original dealer invoice (Suzuki will credit Dealer parts account) or have a check sent directly to the customer. Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki outboard motors from 25 to 300 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 07/01/16 and 09/30/16 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase. If an acknowledgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki marine engines. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki marine engines purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 07/01/16 and 09/30/16.“Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2016 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

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SOCAL

A FALL FEEDING FRENZY WITH AUTUMN’S ARRIVAL, SOUTHLAND BASS WILL BE DINING ON SURFACE SHAD

By Capt. Bill Schaefer

A

s we leave summer behind, don’t feel too down as fall arrives, because this time of year for largemouth fishing – and all freshwater bass, for that matter – can be great in Southern California.

Autumn brings topwater feeding time for bass, which are hard at work chasing the shad all around your local lake. This is a time when you get on the right school of fish, you can score some nice ones, and lots of them.

This big bass engulfed a larger Zara Spook walking bait. Pick lures that imitate injured shad and largemouth will slam them. (BILL SCHAEFER)

Chasing breaking bass can be discouraging to some anglers, but it shouldn’t be. Granted, they always seem to pop up where you just left, but they will pop up again. You can also throw blindly through the area they were just breaking in.

Many times I’ve had a better day with the bass under the surface. The bass are there, you should see them

on the meter, and they are still hungry. A small swimbait should do well when just casting and retrieving through the area.

For the fish that are breaking the surface like a giant tuna boil, it can also be frustrating not to get bit. You can’t believe that with all those hungry bass they don’t even touch your lure. A lot of the time, there will be

wounded or dead shad floating on the surface in the area of the boils.

Try to use baits in the same size as the natural forage; match the hatch, as they say.

Also, I know you have all seen a shad running for its life across the surface when a bass engulfs it. I will throw my bait beyond the boils and race it back through them. This looks like an injured shad struggling to survive. The bass doesn’t have time to inspect it – just attack it and eat it.

Small grubs, swimbaits, crappie baits, Senkos and flukes all work well.

Many anglers also like to throw topwater baits on the breaking fish.

They are heavier and can be thrown further, making it to those boils usually beyond your reach.

One trick I use is to line my reel with 20-pound Maxima braid. It is about the line size of 4-pound test. It flies off a spinning reel and has little drag, which allows me to throw even the light baits further.

This time of year can be exciting for all bass anglers, so make it a point to get out there and take advantage of this type of fishing on your local lake. If it has at least a decent shad population, you should have fun. Try it – you won’t be disappointed. CS

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104 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

SOCAL

HUNGRY, HUNGRY CALICOS SALTWATER BASS ARE LOADING UP ON FOOD FOR THE WINTER

By Capt. Bill Schaefer

Schooling calicos on the hunt for food to bulk up on for winter can lead to quick action and a lot of fun in the fall off the Southern California coast.

F

all can be a great time for all types of salt- and freshwater fishing. Some species just seem to know that winter is on its way and that now is the time to bulk up on food while there’s a plentiful source.

Calico bass school up and chase everything this time of year. It is very common to see them breaking the surface stalking anchovy or sardines. What this can mean for you is some nonstop catching of fish. Almost any bait you throw near the feeding frenzy will be bit.

Prevailing northwest winds blow schools of bait up against the kelp of Southern California and the bass take advantage of it. If coupled with a down-and-in current to the beach, it’s a perfect feeding situation for the bass and an optimal fishing situation for the anglers who chase them.

You can throw your offerings at the outer edge of the visible kelp or you can go in after them. Weedless swimbaits tossed back into the kelp and raced across the top of the matted stringers – with a pause at any crack or opening – should score the bigger variety of bass.

As previously mentioned, weedless baits are the way to go right now. They allow you to go into and around the thickest cover, where the big boys live. LK, Big Hammer, MC Swimbaits and Reebs Lures all make different sizes and shapes of weedless swimbaits. They all also have different shapes and tails that produce different vibrations when swimming. That’s why your buddy may be outfishing you even though you both have similar baits. The bass are keying in on a vibration that the bait’s tail is putting out. It also pays to have a selection of baits.

For tackle, use a good 7- to 8-foot trigger stick with a reel that can handle braided line. I like the Daiwa Proteus 8-foot baitcasting rod with a Daiwa Lexa 300 loaded with 50-pound Maxima braided line. I will also add a 30- to 60-pound fluorocarbon leader. This set-up or one like it can pull any bass – even an occasional giant – out of the kelp. Don’t be afraid to go in after the bass, as the braid will cut through most kelp stringers.

Again, current can play a big part in fishing calico bass.

A down-and-in current toward the shore with the kelp stringers’ tips pointing at the beach is the most optimal.

(BILL SCHAEFER)

Author Bill Schaefer caught this nice calico taken from the weeds of Catalina Island on a weedless swimbait.

(BILL SCHAEFER)

The bass usually cruise the outer edge looking for prey carried along or pushed into the outer edge of the kelp.

This is the best scenario, though any current should get the bass going. Now get out there and take advantage of these hungry calicos. CS calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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HUNTING Chukar country is some of the most demanding there is on a dog’s feet. Be sure their pads are toughened up and toenails are short to reduce the odds of injury.

FROM FIELD ...

(SCOTT HAUGEN)

BEST FOOT FORWARD

By Scott Haugen

B

eing a former athlete and now, a full-time outdoorsman, I’m well aware of the importance of healthy feet. There are a lot of aches and pains you can push through, but if your feet suffer an injury it’s often game over.

The same is true for your bird dog. While dogs’ drive and insatiable appetite to succeed is admirably strong, the hunt can quickly end should their feet get injured.

I’ve had Echo, my 2-year-old pudelpointer, on many hunts over the last two seasons. From doves to quail, pheasant to chukar, ducks to geese, crows to starlings, Echo never has a shortage of birds to retrieve. While I’ve been hunting my whole life, I’m new to the world of owning a gun dog, so I’ve relied on many knowledgeable people for guidance along the way.

One piece of advice I got early was, “Take care of your dog’s feet.” I paid close attention to this advice and wanted to

HUNTING SEASON IS UPON US, SO HERE’S HOW TO KEEP YOUR DOG’S PAWS HEALTHY

be prepared as best I could. I asked over a dozen very experienced upland bird hunters, trainers and breeders throughout the West, What do they do to take care of their dogs’ feet when hunting chukar, pheasant, quail and grouse in rugged, rocky terrain? They shared some great wisdom.

THE PREPARATION Every person I spoke with agreed the primary goal is to have your dog’s feet in shape well before hunting season.

Keep the toenails short and get the pads rough. When I got my pup, Jess Spradley of Cabin Creek Gun Dogs (cabincreekgundogs.com) suggested I train on gravel, which has worked wonders. I work my dog regularly on gravel and it doesn’t take long for her feet to toughen up.

If your dog doesn’t like gravel, start with brief conditioning sessions where they’re either running along with you or following alongside as you ride a bike. As their feet toughen, you should transition to bumper calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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HUNTING

... TO FIRE

STRETCH BIRD HARVEST WITH THIS LIGHT, FRESH SALAD

By Tiffany Haugen

W

ith fall bird seasons in full swing, we always hope for our limits but don’t always make it home with a full bag. Whether you harvest enough for many meals or just a few, a meal highlighting your quarry can be crafted.

When the pickings are slim and you only end up with a couple quail, doves or pigeons, or a grouse or pheasant, simply poach the meat in a flavorful broth. The meat can then be added to small plate dishes or appetizers that offer everyone a taste of the bounty.

This version of chicken salad lends itself well to any type of poached game bird. The subtle seasonings leave room for the flavor of the game meat to shine through. This salad can be prepped ahead of time and served on a bed of lettuce or cabbage, made into a delicious sandwich or served up on crackers for an impressive appetizer.

2 cups cooked game bird, chopped 4 cups turkey/chicken stock 1½ cups red grapes, halved 1½ cups green apple, chopped ½ cup slivered almonds 1⁄3 cup green onion or chives, finely chopped 3 tablespoons sour cream or plain yogurt 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 2 tablespoons milk 1 to 2 teaspoons curry powder Salt and white pepper to taste Salad greens Poach boned game bird meat and cool completely (previously cooked birds can be used in this recipe, but it will not be as moist). To poach game birds, bring 4 cups turkey/chicken 108 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

Tiffany Haugen says even if you don’t bring back a limit of dove, quail or pheasant, you can craft yourself a tasty game-bird version of chicken salad from just a couple. (TIFFANY HAUGEN)

stock or broth to a boil. Add game bird meat and reduce to medium-high heat. Cook 10 to 15 minutes, drain and cool.

In a small bowl, whisk sour cream, mayonnaise, milk and curry powder; salt and pepper to taste. In a large bowl, toss turkey, grapes, apples, almonds and onions or chives. Gently fold sour cream mixture into turkey mixture. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving and serve over a bed of greens.

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany Haugen’s popular cookbook, Cooking Game Birds, send a check for $20 (free S&H) to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489 or order online at scotthaugen.com. Follow Tiffany on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, and watch for her on the online series Cook With Cabela’s as well as The Sporting Chef TV show.

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HUNTING Homemade dog boots are cheap to make, provide a custom fit, stay on tight, offer dexterity with every step and can be reused. If a dog’s foot is cut, simply apply ointment, make the boot from a self-adhering bandage and cover with layers of duct tape, and then get back to hunting.

training on gravel, where intense bursts of speed will quickly harden pads.

If opting for dog boots, get them ahead of time and practice wearing them. Let your dog walk around the yard and in the field so it will get it used to the feel. Do not introduce dog boots during or right before a hunt, as dogs need time to get comfortable and learn their dexterity.

THE HUNT Only one of the 12 hunters I spoke with uses dog boots.

Reasoning varied from being tired of having the boots thrown off and lost during a hunt to not wanting to limit the dog’s dexterity when walking on sharp rocks, ledges, logs and small surfaces.

One hunter pointed out that his dog does well wearing boots while chukar hunting, but he does not like the open-toed boots since dirt and rocks can get in; the same is true if the tops don’t fit snug.

The most interesting advice came from professional trainer Howard Meyer, who is also a NAVHDA (North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association) chapter president and avid hunter (chippewa-gsp.com). Howard conditions his dogs’ feet on gravel year-round, but if they do split a nail or pad during the hunt, he makes a customized boot in the field.

Using a self-adhering bandage, Meyer covers the wound in ointment and then wraps over the toes and up the leg of the dog’s injured foot, lengthwise. He then wraps five or six layers of duct tape around the bandage to within an inch of the top and folds the bandage over the top of the duct tape. The duct tape never touches the fur but creates a customized boot with good dexterity – plus it’s cheap.

(SCOTT HAUGEN)

When removing it, cut down the back of the leg, from the top, until it slips off. This will allow you to slip it back on, tape it together and use it on the next day’s hunt.

AFTER THE HUNT I spoke with a vet who has several hunters who use Pad Tough, a protective coating that can be applied to a dog’s pads. He warned not to solely rely on this, pointing out there’s no substitute for tough pads.

Should your dog get cut, apply ointment to help the healing process. My vet suggests using a systemic antibiotic for a week so infection doesn’t enter through the wounds.

With bird season upon us, it’s not too late to get your dog’s feet in shape.

Running on gravel quickly toughens the pads, but if boots are the route you choose, get your dog used to them. If making a customized boot for your dog is the choice for you, practice before heading out on the hunt so your dog knows what to expect.

While cuts, bruises and grass seeds can be managed, sore or injured feet take time to heal. Plan ahead, prepare yourself and your dog and get ready for some fun, safe hunting this season. CS

Rocks, thistles, briars and sharp wood are some of the obstacles your dog will encounter when hunting in California and around the West. Scott Haugen and Echo share the rewards of a morning’s hunt for valley quail, in which many retrieves came from thick briar patches. (SCOTT HAUGEN) 110 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

Editor’s note: Scott Haugen is a full-time author, TV host and speaker. To learn more, visit scotthaugen.com. To watch videos on dog training tips, go to outdoorsnow.com.

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112 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

REWRITING THIS ELK TALE FIXING MISTAKES OF HUNTS PAST WILL HELP HARVEST A BULL THIS SEASON

Hunting elk is tough, but learning from your mistakes will put you on the path to bagging your bull. (STEVE MARTARANO/USFWS)

By Brittany Boddington

W

ith elk season upon us throughout the West – California has openers in several areas this month and next – it is time to get our gear freshened up and get ready to chase those big bulls.

When I think of what I need for this year’s hunt, I think back on what I didn’t have on past hunts. Here’s a look back on what I did wrong that I will never do again:

CHECK YOUR LOCAL FORECAST This first mistake was a doozy; I underestimated the weather. Forgetting about meteorology can be lethal in extremes, but I was lucky to leave with only minor frost nip.

I was hunting elk in Montana in November. This can be a brutal time of year up there weather-wise, but the tradeoff is it can also be a great time to hunt, because there’s snow on the ground and the elk are moving a lot. Unfortunately, this California girl didn’t realize that it could get

as cold as it got. I was hunting in minus-18 degrees with a wind chill that rattled my bones. I tried to suck it up and I stayed at it longer than I should have. I mentioned to my cameraman (a Montana native) that my feet had stopped aching from the cold but felt a little waxy. He immediately stopped the hunt, made a fire and ordered me to warm my feet. They were hot pink as they came out of the boots and felt like they were made of wax.

I had no feeling left. I was in the scary zone for serious damage, but fortunately the fire helped and we got out of there quickly. We immediately drove to town and picked up new boots. The hiking boots I had were simply not designed for those temperatures and I got a nice pair of Schnee’s pack boots with heavy-duty liners and some thick wool socks to go with them. The rest of the hunt my feet were warm. Although I didn’t get my elk that year, I still ended up with a nice mule deer.

LOOK SHARP OUT THERE One blunder I will never make again is not sharpening calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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my knife between hunts. I have a lovely knife that I keep on my belt – a custom-made gift from a friend. I use it for skinning but also for anything and everything else that comes up. This includes things like opening packages, cutting off tie wraps and all sorts of other tasks.

My poor knife really puts up with a lot and I just expect it to do the job, even when I don’t give it the love it deserves. Well, eventually my knife had enough of my poor treatment and quit cutting anything. It quit on a hunt at the most dramatic time possible; it wouldn’t work when I needed it to skin a harvested animal. And I knew immediately that it was my fault for not sharpening my knife, but at the time I had no backup so everything just took twice as much time and effort. I will never make that mistake again. To be double sure I don’t do this again, I keep a knife sharpener in my pack and sharpen my knives before my hunt – simple as that.

The author managed a mule deer on a Montana elk hunt, but the frigid temperatures and not having properly insulated boots made it a miserable experience. She knows now to prepare for the cold better. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

Despite her focus on past blunders, Brittany has successfully hunted elk, so as she prepares for this year’s season, she has the confidence that she can get the job done. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

FUMBLEROOSKIE Last but not least, on one hunt I totally fumbled my shot.

I was hunting elk in New Mexico with a good friend last year when it happened. We were under time constraints and had a film crew following us, so there was a bit of pressure, though I blame myself.

Fortunately, this isn’t a tale about a missed shot or a wounded elk, but simply a missed opportunity. I opted not to bring my own shooting sticks on this trip and I was borrowing my friend Larysa’s sticks. Her sticks are perfectly functional but I had never used that style before and I didn’t play with them at all before the hunt.

We got a surprise opportunity at an elk while we were walking along in the woods and I threw up the sticks like I would with mine, but I just couldn’t get the gun seated in time to take the shot. Like I said before, there was nothing wrong with the sticks or the rifle but rather the problem was my lack of familiarity with the combination of the two. It is critical to practice with your gear. When I say practice, I don’t mean simply resting the gun on the sticks and looking through the scope.

You should take the sticks to the range and practice throwing them up from a compact carry format and then load and fire your rifle from those sticks at the target. I have seen people fumble with their sticks more than I care to remember. If you choose to bring your own shooting sticks, then they should be practiced with just as much as the rifle you choose to carry.

If you are borrowing shooting sticks on a hunt, the least you can do is get a couple rounds off at the range before you go out hunting. It can mean the difference between success and failure. CS Editor’s note: Brittany Boddington is a Los Angeles-based jour114 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

Having a sharpened knife makes it a lot easier to dress a harvested animal, and Boddington learned that the hard way on another trip. (BRITTANY BODDINGTON)

nalist, hunter and advenurer. For more information, check out brittanyboddington.com and follow at Instagram.com/brittanyboddington and facebook.com/brittanyboddington.

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116 California Sportsman SEPTEMBER 2016 | calsportsmanmag.com

HUNTING

Author Al Quackenbush (left) scouts for mule deer on a ridge in Southern California. With the pending arrival of many hunting seasons this month, he’s worked hard in the offseason to get the most of his days in the field. (ALBERT QUACKENBUSH)

A HUNTER’S EVOLUTION

LIFE CHANGES ARE SLOWING HIM DOWN, BUT WITH A STILL-STRONG DESIRE TO HUNT DEER, HERE’S HOW ONE MAN’S ADAPTING IN HIS PREPARATIONS FOR THE SEASON

By Albert Quackenbush

A NEW SIGHTING SYSTEM

M

I changed my tactics this year and focused my efforts on building a long-range hunting rifle. I love bowhunting, but after several bowls of tag soup in California I wanted to increase my chances of success.

The last time I ventured to the rifle range, I invested hours sighting in. It was a tiresome ordeal, as it was difficult to see the hit marks and track them in succession. I needed something that would allow me to track the shots, but also not force me to use a spotting scope to guess at my shot or walk 100 to 300 yards each time to see my hit.

After careful, thorough research, I contacted founder Nick Skrepetos of Bullseye Camera Systems (bullseyecamera.com). I asked him many questions, watched his videos, asked more questions (he is very patient) and decided with a .300 Win Mag I needed to get a BCS Long Range Edition to see if it was worth the hype and money.

Plus, I wanted to be sure my rifle was zeroed in at long

orning jogs and evening hikes with bags of sand on my back used to be routine. My everyday schedule has changed dramatically and my desire to exercise has become nearly nonexistent.

It’s a true story, one that has affected my archery and rifle practice schedule and my scouting schedule, but it’s never shut down my desire to get out and hunt! While I may not be in the best shape, I continue my activity in the outdoors and have done some new things this year to improve my chances.

With the raging forest fires that have burned in the state the past few years, many of my hunting spots have been reduced to cinder. It’s frustrating and sad, and I feel for those who have lost homes and loved ones. I have had to spend many hours on Google Earth narrowing down possible areas to hunt. Working hard to find a spot is something I have become accustomed to in Southern California.

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HUNTING range and that I could reduce my frustration when sighting it in.

The Bullseye camera itself weighs next to nothing and comes in a convenient plastic ammo-can carrying case. At the desert range, we set up at 200 yards when a swarm of relentless bees appeared. I have never seen bees so incredibly aggressive! We beat feet and took the camera with us to set up at 100 yards. We set the camera and connected everything, and I had the foresight to turn on and connect the WiFi back at the benches to save time.

With the camera set to view the target, we began sighting in our rifles. I cannot tell you how great it was to see our shot locations appear on the iPad. We continued to shoot and verify our hits on the target via the BCS. Sighting in our rifles was actually fun again!

This system is something we hunters have needed for years. I wish I had a system like this 20 years ago, since it gets

Using devices like an iPad on the Bullseye Camera System allows hunters to help sight in their shots – plus it even works when the camera is visited by a swarm of bees. (ALBERT QUACKENBUSH)

rid of the guesswork and allows you to calmly focus on getting sighted in properly. I now must take it out past 300 yards and test it at long range.

RE-ENERGIZING FOR THE HUNT

Brett Bumgarner places a trail camera along a deer highway.

The anticipation of spotting a buck on camera can get you jazzed for the upcoming hunt.

Back to my lack of fit- (ALBERT QUACKENBUSH) ness and archery practice. The truth is, most days I just don’t feel like exercising.

That’s my issue, not yours. I hunt for me, so at first it wasn’t a big deal. Then I realized that if I want to hunt in Southern California and get some meat in the freezer, I needed to focus,

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create a plan, make time to hit the archery range and get some much-needed exercise.

It doesn’t have to be over the top, but something to keep the heart strong, the lungs working well and to build back strength for hauling meat out of the mountains.

The archery range provided much-needed peace and relaxation. My arms might be sorer from lack of continuous practice, but I feel good.

My muscles may be coming It might be picking up beer bottles and around but my eyesight isn’t other trash (top) or setting up trail what it used to be. Plus, seecams, but when you’re preparing for ing an arrow hit a black target another hunting season, do it your way and don’t let the little things get at 60-plus yards is difficult at you down and hold you back. (ALBERT best, but I needed to practice at QUACKENBUSH) great distances, too. I also employed the Bullseye Camera System for my archery practice.

What a difference it makes.

I was able to check out each shot during the shot-byshot mode, but the best part was watching the live video feed with my arrows after they hit the target. When practicing with a few friends, this would be very helpful and fun to use by allowing us to effectively see our shots’ greater distances.

MAKING IT HAPPEN After practicing and pouring over maps for weeks, my friend Brett and I finally made our way to the forest and drove the back roads in search of mule deer. We hadn’t seen much all morning when Brett spotted a deer running through an area I like to call “The Sticks.” The deer turned out to be a beautiful, legal California buck in velvet! This got us both excited and we set some trail cameras in hopes of catching him moving through the area.

Now we just had to wait!

We picked up trash all along the way on our way out.

It’s sad that people can’t pick up after themselves, but we hunters can step up and help out. Pick up those bottles and cans, toss them in your pack and leave the forest a little cleaner than how you found it.

Set your sights high and keep moving forward. Don’t let the little things get you down and hold you back. That’s what I tell myself. Obstacles are there for you to conquer and will allow you to come out stronger on the other side.

I know I have had my struggles, but they are mine and mine alone. I will keep pushing on and hunt as hard as I can, no matter what. I hope you all do the same and have a successful season. CS Editor’s note: For more on the author, go to socalbowhunter.com.

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HUNTING

AEROSPACE

INNOVATION AIMS HIGH LAYKE TACTICAL REACHES FOR THE STARS WITH AR INNOVATION

Interview by Danielle Breteau

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Layke Tactical’s Haas machine is used to create their upper and lower receivers, grips and flash suppressors. (KELLY ENTREKIN)

rnest Apodaca is the owner of Layke Tactical (602272-2654; layketactical.com), manufacturer of precise and high-end AR-platform rifles. Having come from an aerospace background, he and his team have focused their expertise on making a diverse array of ARs that are unique in look and feel to any shooter.

California Sportsman How did Layke Tactical get started?

Ernest Apodaca A group of people and I expressed a desire to make our own firearm brand. An opportunity arose to buy out a small and local AR-platform business, so we did.

We applied our aerospace machining and inspection principles and started making a top-quality gun that we could offer with a lifetime warranty.

CS Where did the name Layke come from?

EA Layke Tool was originally established in Meadville, Pa., back in 1953. The name “Layke” was the middle name of one of the original owners.

Layke Incorporated started in 1955 in Phoenix, Ariz., manufacturing aerospace components. Layke Tactical started in February 2013 as a separate division manufacturing firearms components and finished assemblies.

Layke Tactical is made up of just three people; however, Layke Incorporated, a much larger organization, supports Layke Tactical with the use of our engineering, quality control, programming and personnel.

CS What was the inspiration to start manufacturing firearms?

EA The idea came at a time when the aerospace manufacturing industry was down, which is common in that field.

CS What was the most difficult aspect of starting Layke Tactical?

Layke Tactical found its roots in the aerospace industry. A group of engineers and a few others came together using their expertise to create highly innovative AR-platform rifles. (KELLY ENTREKIN)

about the accuracy and quality of our firearms.

CS What is Layke’s next milestone?

EA Innovations with new components and designing and producing AR platforms in 9mm and other calibers.

CS Do you support any charities or organizations?

EA Organizations? Yes! The National Rifle Association, Arizona Elk Society, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, Society Of Manufacturing Engineering, National Tool And Machine Association and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

EA Finding product liability insurance for firearms, credit card processing for firearms and getting name recognition in the firearms industry.

CS What is your personal motto or creed?

EA Quality in all the products we produce! I also believe

CS What makes the effort all worthwhile?

EA The response we have received from our customers

that keeping jobs in America, especially in Phoenix, using skilled men and woman is contributing to the health and well being of our country. CS calsportsmanmag.com | SEPTEMBER 2016 California Sportsman

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

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

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BIG GAME HUNTING ADVENTURES John McAdams of Big Game Hunting Adventures (903-7221111; biggamehuntingadventures.com) offers guided hunts for everything from Cape buffalo, leopard and other Big Five species in southern Africa to trophy species in North America. We spoke with him about his operation: California Sportsman How did Big Game Hunting Adventures get started?

John McAdams Prior to getting into this line of work, I served on active duty in the Army. During a deployment to Afghanistan several years ago, I started a hunting blog (The Big Game Hunting Blog) where I talked about some of my hunting experiences as a way to pass the time and keep from going crazy. The blog quickly grew and eventually I started getting requests from outfitters for me to help them market their hunts. So, I decided to start a business where I sold hunting trips full time and Big Game Hunting Adventures was born.

CS What’s the land you hunt on in Africa like?

JM We’ve got exclusive hunting rights on some prime hunting areas in Mozambique and South Africa. Our Mozambique hunting area consists of over 160,000 acres of unfenced land located in some of the best big game hunting country in all of southern Africa. It’s located in the “Crooks Corner” region of Mozambique, where the borders of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa all come together. Kruger Park in South Africa is just to the south and Gonarezhou Park and the legendary Sengwe Safari Area are just a short distance across the Zimbabwe border to the north and west, respectively.This is some really remote, wild, and unforgiving country. If you’re looking for a serious African adventure, where you’ll stalk herds of buffalo through the thick mopane bushveld during the day and hear lions roaring and hyenas cackling at night, then this is the perfect place for you. The area is known for great buffalo and leopard hunting in particular. We’ve got a large resident herd of buffalo that live there all year long and many more come and go throughout the year. The leopard in the area have historically received very light hunting pressure, so they get very large as well.

CS Talk about your Big Five hunts.

TM The term “Big Five” refers to the five most difficult and most dangerous animals to hunt on foot in Africa: the buffalo, leopard, lion, elephant, and rhinoceros. Sometimes people also refer to the Big Seven, which includes the crocodile and hippopotamus.

Right now, we offer some hunting for all of these species except for rhinoceros on our hunting area in Mozambique. That being said, buffalo and leopard (with the occasional crocodile or hippo) are our main focus right now, but we’re planning on offering a few “Classic Big Four” hunts for buffalo, leopard, elephant, and lion in Mozambique in a couple of years.

CS You also book hunts in the Pacific Northwest. Where do these hunts take place?

TM I also book hunts for moose, caribou, grizzly bear, stone sheep, and mountain goat in the Cassiar Mountains of northern British Columbia and for black bear on the Quinault Indian Reservation in Washington.

CS What is the most popular hunt being booked these days?

TM Cape buffalo hunts are by far the most popular thing I book. There is something special about buffalo and they have a unique appeal among hunters because the hunts are so intense, and many hunters find that once they’ve matched wits with buffalo, it’s just not the same to hunt anything else again. Though Cape buffalo hunts aren’t cheap (our buffalo hunts go for $13,000), it’s also a hunt that many hunters can afford if they save for a couple of years. They are the most affordable species of the Big Five to hunt and a buffalo hunt is still a whole lot less expensive than outfitted hunts for many North American species like sheep or brown/grizzly bear. www.biggamehuntingadventures.com / (903) 702-1111

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Built from unbreakable polycarbonate construction, they also provide lightweight operation and extreme durability for the rugged terrain.

Travel light. Travel bright. Choose Larson Electronics.

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