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Volume 17 • Issue 8
PUBLISHER
James R. Baker
EDITOR
Andy “a way to stay up with [Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission] intrigue and happenings when I want to blow a good time” Walgamott
THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS
Dave Anderson, Scott Haugen, Jeff Holmes, Rick Itami, MD Johnson, Randy King, Rob Lyon, Sara Potter, Buzz Ramsey, Sharon Trammell, Dave Workman, Mark Yuasa
GENERAL MANAGER
John Rusnak
SALES MANAGER
Paul Yarnold
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Janene Mukai, Gabriel Patel
DESIGNERS
Kha Miner, Gabrielle Pangilinan
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Emily Baker
OFFICE MANAGER/COPY EDITOR
Katie Aumann
INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGER
Lois Sanborn
WEBMASTER/DIGITAL STRATEGIST
Jon Hines
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@nwsportsmanmag.com
CORRESPONDENCE
Email letters, articles/queries, photos, etc., to awalgamott@media-inc.com.
ON THE COVER
With Mount Thielsen peeking over his shoulder that day last June, Buzz Ramsey put together this nice stringer of rainbow trout at Diamond Lake. It’s one of a half dozen Central Oregon lakes he highlights for their summer fishing opportunities.
(BUZZ RAMSEY)
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91 GET READY FOR UPPER COLUMBIA SOCKEYE!
While summer Chinook are off this year’s menu on the Columbia, not so with sockeye! Mark Yuasa has the lowdown on what’s expected to be a good run this year and how to fish for ’em when season opens on the Brewster Pool and well below there.
69 NORTH CASCADES CUTTS, ’BOWS AND BULLS
Tucked away deep in the vertiginous folds of Washington’s upper Skagit Valley are waters big and small that are home to good numbers of cutthroat, rainbow and bull trout. Rob Lyon has long haunted this landscape, and not just for fish, but grouse too! He shares its bounty.
81 UPPER SCABLANDS TROUT, KOKES
Before summer’s high heat sets in in the upper Columbia Basin, the fishing at Williams and Badger Lakes can be pretty good. We set you up for June success at the Cheney-area duo, plus get an update on access to nearby Chapman Lake.
115 QUEST FOR CRAPPIE
Fascinated from youth by crappie fishing in Washington and North Idaho, Jeff Holmes heads to the Deep South to fish with Brad Newman of The Crappie Life for insights and improved crappie-tunity.
44 FOR THE LOVE OF THE TUG Time, Tides And Big Tugs
The briny blue was beautiful that June day as Sara took her two besties halibut fishing out of Winchester Bay. In vivid pictures and with her gift for writing, she recalls an adventure that just meant more for the ladies.
COLUMNS
57 BUZZ RAMSEY Central Oregon’s Trout Beckon
What does legendary Northwest angler Buzz Ramsey do after fishing for Chinook all spring? He switches to trout – in this case, the rainbows and browns in the many mountain waters outside Bend. Head for the heights with the man, the myth, the legend’s advice for fishing South Twin, Lava, East, Paulina, Diamond and more lakes!
101 CHEF IN THE WILD Foraging For An Old Lifesaving Staple
“If it grows together, it goes together.” So goes the saying that Chef Randy turned to after coming across a huge patch of blue camas, a traditionally important food source for the Nez Perce and other Northwest tribes. It inspired his take on roasted spring salmon with sweet camas mash.
107 OUTDOOR MD BSin’ About Walleye With Bill Saunders
Walleye are more than a late-winter trophy opportunity on the Mid-Columbia –they’re pretty catchable this time of year too. Enter Tri-Cities’ Bill Saunders, he of waterfowl-calling fame and an insatiable appetite for bugeye fishing. MD Q&As him up for tips on how to catch June walleye and more!
140 GUN DOG Picking A Hunting Dog That’s Right For You, Part II
If you’re considering getting a four-legged hunting companion, Scott has some more advice to impart. In the back half of his two-part series, he talks dog diets and the personal factors of ownership you’ll want to be honest and realistic about.
147 ON TARGET Start Getting Ready For Fall Right Now!
Dave’s got his eyes on the calendar, his wallet and the range – big game seasons must be coming up! He walks us through why to buy your Washington hunting license and head to the range right now, and has some thoughts on matters back in DC and here in Olympia.
155
BECOMING A BETTER HUNTER Use Offseason To Stay (Or Get Back) In Shape
Becoming a better hunter doesn’t just happen in fall – it’s a year-round pursuit that can include hiking with the fam, time in the workout room and more. Dave A. shares the fitness regimen that keeps him in shape for fall success.
(SARA POTTER)
THE BIG PIC Combat Fishing At Its Finest
Spokane’s Rick Itami had no other choice but to march into battle on Idaho’s Salmon River, where he found unexpected camaraderie, coordination – and multiple Chinook.
DEPARTMENTS
21 THE EDITOR’S NOTE Death of the draft Conservation Policy
27 ESSAY: Karma And Conservation
Giving back to fish, wildlife, waters and habitat – as well as keeping ’em clean – ensures there’ll always be more seasons for us, argues award-winning writer Sharon Trammell.
33 READER PHOTOS
Buddies, spouses and kiddos getting it done in the Northwest’s outdoors!
39 THE DISHONOR ROLL
Oregon bear baiter sentenced; Kudos; Jackass Of The Month
41 OUTDOOR CALENDAR
Upcoming fishing and hunting openers, events, deadlines, more
42 DERBY WATCH
Ongoing and upcoming fishing derbies
(RICK ITAMI)
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THE EDITOR’S NOTE
About a dozen years ago I had the bright idea to write an article that would, essentially, define conservation for the modern era. Thank god it never got off the ground.
In mid-May, word emerged that the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission was preparing to walk away from its controversial draft Conservation Policy, the one that caused all sorts of angst, was utterly unnecessary and represents a self-inflicted wound by the reformist wing of the citizen panel and allies during their zenith under former Governor Jay Inslee. With new chief head honcho Bob Ferguson in Oly, that king tide is receding, and commissioners are grasping that.
THE POLICY, WHICH first surfaced publicly in September 2021, was meant to “highlight the importance and urgency of the agency’s conservation work, clarify the legal mandate, describe foundational principles, and reiterate the intent of [the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s 2020] 25-year strategic plan,” according to Commissioner John Lehmkuhl of Wenatchee. But he admitted that its perception by the public and comanagers led to “unintended negative effects on our relationships with tribes and stakeholders.”
“Ultimately, those relationships are more important to the agency’s mission than words on paper,” Lehmkuhl acknowledged in announcing that his four-person subcommittee “unanimously recommends that the commission discontinue work on the draft Conservation Policy and end any further discussion of a conservation policy with the tribes and the public.”
There’s still the matter of this month’s likely final vote putting the policy in the ground for good, so for the time being it’s – to quote my colleague Miracle Max – only “mostly dead” and not “all dead.” But there was a distinct funereal air in the words of commission Chair Barbara Baker, one of the ill-fated policy’s authors, who thought it had still borne some fruit anyway. “I think that the agency has listened to us, and in the middle of all of this we developed, along with the agency, a very good 25-year strategic plan, most of which is reiterated in the conservation policy,” she said.
So why did you kick a hornet’s nest in the first place? Baker et al’s first rhetoric-laden drafts included concepts like “precautionary approach” and “intrinsic values of non-human nature.” And until late on, the policy failed to recognize the role the state’s comanagers also have in ensuring abundant, harvestable fish and wildlife in perpetuity, an oversight that was the proposal’s death knell, as I predicted.
CONSERVATION'S A BIG tent, kids. Inside it might be like a Venn diagram, what with all the groups variously interested in fish and wildlife, wildlife and wildlands, wildlands and waters, etc., etc., but there’s room for everyone – except those who would harm the whole or try to push the original conservationists out and roil the big top.
Indeed, what I’ve come to understand is that conservation is a pretty broad concept, one that’s hard to nail down with specific language. Basically, don’t be stupid and/or greedy with natural resources and respect the natural world today and for the future. It might not work for some, but there’s probably value in nebulousness. It allows the commission and WDFW to not only maximize fishing and hunting opportunities but protect critters, to manage while preserving, to enhance while restoring. Enough said. –Andy Walgamott
Combat Fishing: Is It Worth It?
Joining the crowd on Idaho’s Salmon River yields camaraderie, coordination – and multiple Chinook for one angler.
Combat rock! In the bankfishing version of Drano Lake springers, anglers vie to catch hatchery Chinook on Idaho’s Salmon River last season. (RICK ITAMI)
By Rick Itami
As a bona fide introvert, the thought of joining a mob of anglers standing shoulder to shoulder, tangling each other’s lines, exchanging angry words when certain unwritten protocols are not followed, and even engaging in fist fights does not appeal to me. I would rather find a place of solitude where I can enjoy Mother Nature and pursue my fishing alone. But with fewer and fewer salmon and steelhead coming up our rivers and more restrictive catch limits, even I have had to reconsider combat fishing as a viable way to take some filets home.
IN JUNE 2023, a friend from Boise texted me that he and some of our other friends
had been catching their one-fish limits of spring Chinook every day and usually within only a couple of hours of fishing. He also said that our favorite stretch of river on the Main Salmon River of Idaho was “crowded” as usual. Having been skunked on spring Chinook up to that point, I decided to give it a shot.
I took the four-hour drive from my home in Liberty Lake, Washington, to Riggins, Idaho, arriving in late afternoon. I checked into the historic Riggins Motel and headed down to the hole where everyone was catching fish. For the first 10 minutes, I simply sat and watched the line of anglers to see what they were using for bait and where most of the fish were being hooked.
Here, complete strangers net fish for anglers who gladly accept the help. Cooperation is critical in such tightly packed quarters. (RICK ITAMI)
Almost all the successful fishermen were using roe sacks suspended several feet below their floats, weighted down with 1-ounce inline sinkers. Fishing was good and after seeing three nice spring Chinook landed, I waited for a spot to open up in the line of anglers.
When a fisherman who had just landed a Chinook vacated their spot, I stepped into it. I was pleasantly surprised to be welcomed by fellow anglers with friendly “hellos” and “how ya’ doin?” A fellow to my left suggested that I move my bobber stop up a couple of feet to get my roe sack deeper. That was great advice, as on my next cast, my float disappeared below the surface and the fight was on! Unfortunately, the fish came unbuttoned just as I was getting it close to shore.
Not to worry, just a few casts later I had another good takedown and felt the wonderful pulsating of a fighting fish on my spinning rod. As I got the fish close to shore, a total stranger came up behind me and offered to net the fish for me. I gladly accepted his kind offer and was thrilled at having caught my first spring Chinook of the year. I also started thinking that this had to be combat fishing at its best with so many friendly, helpful anglers!
When I took out my salmon tag, I couldn’t find my pen in my backpack. Another observant angler figured out what I was looking for and handed me his pen. Then I cleaned my hen Chinook and removed the egg skeins from the body cavity. I had plenty of roe from previous trips, so I asked the man who lent me his pen if he would like to have the eggs. He almost cried as he accepted my offer. It turns out he had had to stop fishing because he had run out of roe a couple of hours earlier. This gave me a great feeling. My attitude toward combat fishing was taking a completely different turn.
FAST FORWARD TO June 2024. Would the camaraderie of the combat fishing crowd be the same as the previous year?
Well, not quite.
One older fellow at the upstream end
of the line of fishermen would scream obscenities every time someone would cast over or close to his line in the water. One of the locals passed the word that this gentleman was mentally ill and that everyone should just ignore him and he would calm down quickly. He was right.
Fishing was just as good as the year before. The first morning, I slept in a little and didn’t get down to the river until 6:40 a.m. But I got my first takedown within 10 minutes. A young woman next to me hooked a fish almost at the same time and our lines crossed. I ducked under her line to keep our fish separated but must have created slack in my own line, as my fish got away. But within the next half hour, I landed another nice hatchery hen to fill my limit. I
quit at 7:30 a.m. That would be classed as hot fishing anywhere in the Northwest!
The final morning, I got down to the river at 6:30 a.m. and was a bit surprised that no one was hooking any fish. I found an open spot in front of a huge boulder and on my second cast, hooked and landed a small hatchery hen. With my one-fish limit filled, it made for a short, but very satisfying day. Several fellow fishermen congratulated me for catching the first fish of the day. One young fellow came up to me and asked if I wanted him to take a photo of me and the fish. I gladly accepted.
The title of this article asks if combat fishing is worth it. Given what I have described above, I would have to say, “Yes.” NS
Author Rick Itami shows off a hatchery hen he caught on his second cast amongst the crowd, making for a successful day – and in more ways than one. (RICK ITAMI)
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Karma And Conservation
Giving back to fish, wildlife, waters and habitat ensures there’ll always be more seasons.
By Sharon Trammell
Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a fundraiser for the Siletz Anglers Association, a local group aimed at improving the fishing experience for all users on the Oregon Coast’s Siletz River. Although beforehand I did know generally some of the projects that the group was working on, what really struck me was just how much SAA does to support the fishery, from the level of the individual, to the guides, to the Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife, and advocating for many runs in the area. To learn more, you can visit their website, siletzanglersassociation.org.
Coincidentally, this was one of several experiences recently that prompted me to write this article. Another local group I’ve been involved with in the Willamette Valley gets together every March and April to clean up popular Alsea River fishing areas. For more information on this organization, contact Kyle Williams or join the Alsea
River Cleanup Group on Facebook.
AT THE BEGINNING of this past steelhead season, my son decided one day that he was going to be the one to clean up people’s trash at the popular hatchery hole I take the kids to. Now, this was impressive for multiple reasons. Wanting to make the spot a better place isn’t always something on the mind of a 10-year-old.
Beyond that, this place hasn’t always
Talk about instant karma! When author Sharon Trammell’s 10-year-old son took it upon himself to clean up a popular winter steelhead fishing hole on the Oregon Coast, another angler noticed the good deed and offered him a chance to reel in a fish he’d just hooked. (SHARON TRAMMELL)
been the most kid- – or should I say, peoplein-general- – friendly. Although I personally haven’t been the victim of rudeness or attacks at this hole specifically (if you have read my other articles in these pages, you know it’s happened plenty, just not there), this spot has been notorious for fights.
The previous season, I didn’t go at all after hearing about two men, both likely drunk and high, who had gotten into a fight that ended when one pulled a gun on the other. Not exactly the kind of place you want to take your kids to learn to fish. Sadly, the family who lives on site at this hatchery also has kids. No one should have to deal with behavior like this at any river.
Anyway, back to my 10-year-old saving the world by picking up leader line and cigarette butts. After about three trips walking around collecting trash, asking people if they wanted inline weights, hooks or the occasional spinner he picked up, and then taking it up to the line-recycling pipe, I shared something with him. Honestly, it was more so he wouldn’t fight with his sister for a few hours, but he took it as a reason to keep on cleaning the fishing hole. I told him that when you do good for others, you are rewarded. Karma is when the universe has
noted the fact that you are doing a good deed and rewards you with a good deed in return. I told him that in order to receive it, the catch is that you need to do the good deed for the sake of doing good. You can’t be focused on what you’re going to get out of it. No sooner had I uttered those words than a nice gentleman fishing next to me hooked a fish and, turning around, offered my son a chance to fight it. Eagerly, he took the rod, and with guidance from two kind strangers, who in turn were also practicing the law of karma, he got to fight his first steelhead. They showed him how to release this hen, unharmed, and my son got back to his self-ordered job.
Karma had seen his good deed. (For the guys who get in fights there, remember that karma works both ways!) This was a beautiful example of people who are making the river a better place for everyone.
SADLY, NOT EVERYONE has this mindset.
One reason that it bums me out so much when people are rude to my kids and I at fishing spots is because teaching the next generation not just about fishing, but about conservation, ethics and giving back is truly essential to the health of our river systems.
I see so many young (and old) men (and women) at the river who don’t know ethics, don’t understand human decency, and the thought of picking up after themselves –let alone leaving a place better than they found it – seems to have never entered their mind. If we don’t step up and teach starting with our own children, nobody will be there to carry on these principles.
I do my best to teach my kids the principle of taking only as much as you need. I teach them about thanking the universe and the fish’s spirit when we harvest a fish. I talk to them about killing, explaining that we do it only when it is absolutely necessary to feed ourselves. This goes for fish, big game and even plants. Everything is alive, and I believe that it is healthy to teach the next generation the importance of honoring life and having a respectful mindset when you take a life. If you are interested in reading about teaching ethics to kids, feel free to read my blog at sharontrammell.com/blog, where I wrote about this!
I’VE COMPILED A short list of suggestions on how to give back and practice conservation in your fishing community. Even if you don’t have kids, there are plenty
Anglers pack a get-together of the Siletz Anglers Association. Developing a deeper connection to both the fish and the habitat that sustains them through joining advocacy organizations like SAA strengthens fishermen’s collective cause. (SCOTT AMERMAN)
of ways to make our rivers a better place!
Be nice to people: This one is actually free, believe it or not, and anyone can do this! It’s as simple as smiling at the beginner who casts over you and teaching them (in a nice manner) that the guy downriver casts first. If you have a boat, be patient with the guy who is taking forever to back his trailer down the ramp – maybe offer to do it for him or teach him your secret?
Find out about local advocacy programs: Chances are, your local river has an organization like the ones I mentioned at the beginning of this article. Get involved. Volunteer to your local program, or donate money to the cause.
Clean up: Be like my 10-year-old and pick up extra trash. Or simply pick up your own trash! Seriously, y’all, this one shouldn’t even be here.
Educate yourself: Read the Hatchery & Wild Coexist studies, take a fisheries class from a local college, watch YouTube videos about how hatchery programs work. Knowledge is power and it’s power that you
can use to make fishing great again!
Stand up for anglerdom: Go to meetings to vouch for your rights as an angler, especially when the state is involved and/ or agencies that need to hear directly from fishermen in order to make vital decisions about the future of fisheries.
Help create community: Again, free! All you have to do is have common courtesy for others, talk to people while you fish, learn about local programs from the oldtimers who tell you how much better it was back in the day, show a beginner something that helps them catch their first fish, help to create an environment where people feel safe to bring their kids!
Practice conservation: Learn how to properly treat wild fish or ones you plan to release, and realize you’ll still be cool if you only take one fish home. I know, it might mean no pic of you for Instagram holding up two dead fish, with a rap song about how gangster you are, but you could still use that song with one fish. You could even get brownie points for how many fish you released unharmed, and post about that!
AT THE END of the day, there is so much more to fishing than simply bonking fish. While there are many amazing anglers out there who advocate for continued fishery health, many more have no clue about anything other than how many fish they successfully killed.
If we want to live for tomorrow and make our fisheries better, we need to change our mindset. We need to take on the ideals of many Native Americans, who harvested only what they needed, respected the taking of life and worked to keep harmony in the world and on the rivers by caring for them and leaving them better than they found them.
It really is that simple. Tight lines – and full bags of trash! NS
Editor’s note: Author Sharon Trammell recently tied for first place in the Northwest Outdoor Writers Association’s 2024 Best Fishing Article Magazine/Newsletter category for her story, “You Never Know What You’ll Get: Fishing With Kids,” which appeared in these pages last December.
Washington’s halibut opener was on the, er, flat side, and not just in terms of the ocean off Westport, but Ron Harrington, Tom Thompson and Scott Pollack still managed to fill their lingcod limits with 20-plus-pounders, while Thompson also boated his first ever black cod, or sablefish. Buddy Gary Lundquist sent the pics. (KNIFE
to spring
For your shot at winning a knife in our Knife Photo Contest, send your full-resolution, original images with all the pertinent details – who’s in the pic; when and where they were; what they caught their fish on/weapon they used to bag the game; and any other details you’d like to reveal (the more, the merrier!) – to awalgamott@media-inc.com or Northwest
,
120, Renton, WA 98057. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for use in our print and Internet publications.
PHOTO CONTEST)
Sportsman
941 Powell Ave SW, Suite
Terry Moore shows off a nice smallmouth bass he caught at the Columbia Basin’s Long Lake. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
Mike Bolt and Jeff Morrow enjoyed “a great three and a half days chasing turkeys in Washington and Idaho” back in April. The guys have a rule of shooting just a tom each a day so as to make the season last, and Bolt reports the birds were more workable compared
2024. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
Matt Little helped keep pHOS on a Southwest Washington wild steelhead gene bank down when he bonked this wandering hatchery winterrun. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
Now that’s a nice springer! Paul Goulet hoists a 22-pound Drano Lake Chinook caught while fishing with his wife Coleen. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
A 3.08-pound bronzeback colored up a gray April day for Logan Wilder. He was fishing at Lake Tapps outside Tacoma. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
A big old Idaho tom put a big old smile on Jeff Servatius’s face. Friend Jeff Flatt forwarded the pic. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
PHOTO CONTEST MONTHLY Winner!
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• Draft (motors up) 22"
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• Water Capacity 25 US gal.
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• Holding Tank Capacity 12 US gal.
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• Draft (motors up) 22"
• Draft (motors down) 39"
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• Sleeping Capacity 6
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KUDOS
The bad news? This pair of hatchery spring Chinook was caught illegally. The good? They still helped feed people after they were seized by Oregon fish and wildlife troopers and donated to a Portland nonprofit in late April.
Blanchet House and Farm reported the tasty donation, delivered by Sergeant Tim Schwartz, was a first for them. “We never know what will be donated but our chefs are ready!” tweeted the organization, which runs a cafe and temporary shelter in Portland and a 62-acre farm about an hour southwest of the Rose City to help men with substance addiction issues get a new lease on life.
JACKASS OF THE MONTH
As a follow-up to the December issue’s Jackass of the Month, the mom of one of three teenagers implicated in the poaching of 100-plus deer in Wisconsin pled guilty to spotlighting and contributing to the delinquency of a minor and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine last month.
Jessica Kroening, 37, also received a three-year fishing and hunting license ban in her home state.
The killings occurred over a 15-plusmonth period ending last July, and
according to a local sheriff, Kroening, her son and two other juveniles would drive around at night with a spotlight and fire at deer they saw. If they thought they hit one, they would go check it out, and if it was a larger buck, they would cut the antlers off.
The suspects also purposefully drove around to hit deer on the road, using one such whitetail for a slew of selfies and videos in the vehicle and inside a home before the animal eventually died.
The killings came to officers’ attention when a garbage bag containing multiple deer heads stank things up, and that’s not the only stench around this two-time JOTM. Parenting skills anyone?
By Andy Walgamott
Bear Baiter Sentenced
Afelon who killed two black bears over illegal bait piles lost his hunting license for life and was sentenced to pay $15,000, forfeit his guns, bear meat and other bruin materials, and ordered to stay away from firearms and hunting or else.
The case began last October when the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division was tipped off to the shooting of a bear over bait. Troopers determined their suspect, Terry A. Leetch, 61, of Estacada, was also a convicted felon who unlawfully possessed several guns. Witness statements they gathered revealed that gun shots were heard at a location between 2 and 3 a.m. on October 16, and their investigation suggested it was likely that Leetch had also killed a bear a year before in the same spot under the same circumstances.
With probable cause to charge Leetch with felony-level unlawful take of a black bear because the two incidents occurred within 12 months of each other, troopers served search warrants on his home and the site where the bait station was located, collecting evidence. Leetch was arrested and booked into Clackamas County Jail on charges of felon in possession, hunting over bait and hunting during closed hours.
Via Measure 18, bear baiting was banned in Oregon in 1994 by a slim majority. State law bars felons from owning guns, unless their firearms rights are restored. And game mammals can’t be hunted at night.
In March, Leetch accepted a plea deal and pled guilty to felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of unlawful taking of a black bear. His sentence included $7,500 fines for each bear, payable to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, a lifetime hunting license ban for the second bruin, and 60 months of supervised probation on the firearms possession charge (prison time if violated) with “zero tolerance for any possession of firearm or hunting,” per OSP.
(BLANCHET HOUSE/MICHAEL SEID)
OUTDOOR CALENDAR
4
Tentative Marine Area 11 hatchery Chinook opener (open days pending at press time); Scheduled spot shrimp open day on Area 12
6 Scheduled spot shrimp open day on Areas 8-1 and 8-2
6-7 Scheduled spot shrimp open days on Areas 6 (excluding Discovery Bay Shrimp District) and 7 South, East and West
7 OR Central and South Coast ocean hatchery coho opener; OR Free Fishing Weekend events at Cleawox and Henry Hagg Lakes, Silverton Marine Park and Twin Ponds – info: myodfw.com/articles/take-family-fishing; CAST For Kids fishing event on Lake Charles, Albany – info: castforkids.org
7-8 Free Fishing Weekend in OR and WA
8 ODFW Shotgun Skills Workshop ($25, register), Myrtle Point – info: myodfw .com/workshops-and-events; CAST For Kids fishing event on Potholes Reservoir – info above
10 Tentative Skykomish River hatchery Chinook and hatchery steelhead opener
12 Date OR controlled hunt draw results expected by; ODFW Intro to Oregon Hunting ($10, register), Newport – info above
14 Free Fishing Day in ID
16 Tentative lower Skagit River sockeye opener
18 Scheduled spot shrimp open day on Area 12
20-21 Scheduled spot shrimp open days on Areas 6 (excluding DBSD) and 7 South and West
21 Areas 2, 3 and 4 salmon opener (open daily, limit one; all salmon except coho; above rules run through June 28 on Area 2, July 3 on Areas 3 and 4); CAST For Kids fishing event on Sarg Hubbard Pond, Yakima – info above
22 Tentative sockeye opener on mainstem Columbia River from Astoria-Megler Bridge to Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco
25 Columbia Subarea (Area 1, OR North Coast) salmon opener (open daily, limit two)
26 ODFW Intro to Oregon Hunting ($10, register), Tualatin Cabela’s – info above
28 CAST For Kids fishing event on Emigrant Lake, Ashland – info above
29 Area 2 switches to two-salmon limit (open daily, all salmon)
1 Leftover OR big game tags go on sale at 10 a.m.; Start of OR Youth First Time hunt application period; New WA sportfishing regulations pamphlet takes effect; Tentative Areas 5 and 6 hatchery Chinook and coho opener; Tentative steelhead closures begin on WA-side Columbia Gorge tributary mouths
2 Scheduled spot shrimp open day on Area 12
4 Areas 3 and 4 switch to two-salmon limit (open daily, all salmon)
12 Merwin Day of Fishing for Kids (free, for youths with disabilities, register), Merwin Fish Hatchery, Ariel – info: wdfw.wa.gov; CAST For Kids fishing event on Prineville Reservoir – info above; Tentative Baker Lake sockeye opener
15 Tentative steelhead closures begin on OR-side Columbia Gorge tributary mouths; Deadline to purchase WA raffle hunt tickets
16 Ocean Chinook closure begins off OR Central and South Coasts (other salmon species remain open, daily limit two, hatchery coho only)
17 ODFW Intro to Oregon Hunting ($10, register), Tualatin Cabela’s – info above
17-19 Tentative Areas 7, 9 and 10 hatchery Chinook opener
18-19 Scheduled spot shrimp open days on Area 6 (excluding DBSD)
1 Columbia River fall salmon fishery opener (dates, species vary by area); OR fall bear opener; WA fall bear opener in most black bear management units
ONGOING & UPCOMING EVENTS
During various ocean fishing seasons: Westport Charterboat Association Derbies; charterwestport.com/fishing.html
Now through Oct. 31: WDFW 2025 Trout Derby, select lakes across Washington; wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/contests/trout-derby
September 13: Salmon for Soldiers Day of Honor, North Sound; salmonforsoldiers.org
September 13-14: 3rd Annual Whidbey Island Coho Derby; whidbeypsa.com
September 15-October 31: Boat Basin Salmon Derby, Westport; westportgrayland-chamber.org
September 20-21: Everett Coho Derby, Areas 8-10 and open nearby rivers; everettcohoderby.com
Time, Tides And Big Tugs
FOR THE LOVE OF TUG
By Sara Potter
Time is a funny thing as we meander through this life. As kids, we simply felt that time moved slower than molasses and we couldn’t hardly wait for the next chapter. Big or small, we wanted time to hurry up. Even though we were busy living, it seemed like waiting was all we ever did. Waiting on summer vacation. Waiting on Christmas. Our birthday, junior high, high school, graduation. Turning 18, turning 21.
Then without even realizing it, time changes gears dramatically, and all of a sudden our children are nearly knocking on adulthood’s door. At this point, if we want anything from time, we want it to slow down. It never does, though, and if you aren’t careful, time will pass you by and you might miss out on opportunities with those whom you treasure most.
Friendship is a delicate thing in that friends aren’t your spouse, children, folks or siblings, but they do hold a massive piece of your heart. Some friendships are ironclad and do stand the tests of time, regardless, but it’s important to pause from our everyday life and make time for these bosom friends.
I have shared some beautiful moments with the
Author Sara Potter (center) and her besties Bryar Horn and Jenny West show off the results of a stellar day of halibut fishing on the Pacific out of Winchester Bay last June, one that also highlighted the incredible natural beauty of the Oregon Coast and ocean. (SARA POTTER)
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friends I write about today. So many I could write a book, but within that book, up until last June, it wouldn’t have had many fish tales at all. Because fishing is so very much of who and what I am, I definitely desired to make some sweet fishy memories with my very best friends, Jenny West and Bryar Horn. These two came into my life in completely different chapters; however, they both fill my cup of life in the best ways. Our energies mix so well that I never walk away from them feeling anything other than better.
As women, mothers and wives, we nurture constantly. It’s an honor and a pleasure, it’s true, but every once in a while a gal should nurture herself as well. To a lot of women, heading 40 miles off the Northwest Coast may not seem like a day at the spa, but I absolutely love that my best friends knew it was to me. And with that, they said yes to the three of us going out on the big blue in
pursuit of our very first halibut!
A TWO-NIGHT ADVENTURE was upon us and I couldn’t have been any happier. The difference in these two ladies’ time on the water was truly like night and day. Jenny had only been on the ocean once, a whale watching trip out of Depoe Bay, while Bryar spent many a day of her childhood on the Pacific with her father, who is a bit of a fish slayer himself.
What a treat that sunrise was as we crossed the bar, just stunningly beautiful! Out of all my crossings I had never had the pleasure of looking over and seeing my best girls taking it all in as we headed out. The journey should be equally as important as the destination in both life and fishing. This has never rang so true to me as on that day. The ocean was glorious, colored a bright, deep greenish blue shade I had never seen before. Indeed, we were blessed on our way to
the fishing grounds. Mother Nature graced us with the presence of an enormous pod of dolphins. I had only seen such a sight one other time, but this time, thankfully my trusty captain, Ted Jones of Northwest Oregon Outfitters, knew the importance of this gift and slowed way up for us to take it all in. The dolphins were intrigued by the boat and a good number of them chose to play with us. It was one of those moments that you must witness to truly understand the beauty and “ahh” of it all. Those moments are special, so to share them with those you know and love is priceless. I’m not going to lie; considering that undeniable sway and bob of bottomfishing, it was the journey on this day that was supreme to me.
As we reached Destination Nowhere, it reminded me of chasing albacore because we were not alone, even though it felt like we should be. It was wild to see commercial fishermen out there with us. That was a first for me and was quite the sight.
Following a beautiful sunrise over the Coast Range, a huge pod of dolphins welcomed the ladies to the briny blue. “It was the journey on this day that was supreme to me,” Potter writes. (SARA POTTER)
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Alongside the big boats were charters and sportfishing boats, all out in the middle of nowhere together. Yikes! Just one of 8,900 reasons I should never be a captain.
DROPPING IN ON halibut is pretty wild. It isn’t your average depth, nor weight by any means. It will literally smoke your thumb as you ease your massive rigging to the bottom of the sea. And it takes a mildly buff person to stay after it, jigging those massive weights and halibut cocktails like they need to be jigged in order to get these fish to bite. It was a good thing my girls and I are indeed mildly buff. The first time I used an electric reel I felt like it was too much, but when you calculate all the
angles in getting these big, plywoodlike slabs of fish to bite and then yard them to the surface, I have to say those electric reels were welcome.
Bryar was digging the day and her comfort on this massive body of water was impressive. Honestly, Jenny amazed me too. Both friends had their first ever halibut on in no time and were feeling mighty fine. When you finally see color and those beasts from the deep surface in that most beautiful ocean, you appreciate that fish and that time so much more. And when you see your friends smiling bigger than the fish they just drug up off the bottom of the ocean, you realize just how special making time for one another actually is.
and now a captain at Northwest Oregon Outfitters himself, is the best at giving kind guidance in helping his guests succeed in something they know very little of. That is huge when you are putting the quality of your adventure in someone else’s hands. I hope we made him and his dad proud, as we didn’t hang up on the bottom, nor give up on the surface.
Tanner Jones, Ted Jones’ son, deckhand
My girls fared better than I, as this river hunter never fares too well on the ocean, though it doesn’t stop me. I had been feeling just fine until I joined in on the celebratory gummy worm once our first halibut was on board. Note to self: Pretzels are your only friendly food out there, Sara! Though I have never barfed out at sea, I know I have moments where I would have liked to.
MY TWO AQUARIUS friends, the water bearers, were right where they belonged. I absolutely loved that I was able to help them get out there and feel it. I am of a water sign, too, but not a water bearer; that might be why we go so well together. I am quite certain I would fare better in the ocean as a fish more so than a human, but here I am, a seasick human on the surface. What do you do? I still wouldn’t miss it.
We made six delicious halibut slap the deck of the boat that day, so without a doubt, Jenny and Bryar made me proud! We were together. We were making memories outside the norm. We were providing incredible dinners for our families. We each shared our own versions of the day with them through our stories and our recipes, and to me, that’s what’s good!
From sunrise long past sunset, the three of us were able to put our womanly roles aside and just have some fun. We even passed on the chance to have a cocktail together so as to hold a late-night stakeout to find the guy who had been wreaking havoc on the docks of Winchester Bay. That’s another story in itself.
The tides of time never slow down. They are a constant reminder; steady and true they rise and then recede, never stopping. If you stop and think about it, we only have so many tides in life before our sun truly sets. Share them in the right ways; share them with the right people. My heart is on the river and I couldn’t change it, even if I tried. NS
Horn smiles over her big fish of the day, one that made “memories outside the norm” for the trio. (SARA POTTER)
DESTINATION BIG SKY MONTANA
DESTINATION BIG SKY MONTANA
Central Oregon’s Trout Beckon
Like many Pacific Northwest anglers, I like the experience of fishing for, catching and eating trout, which is why I’ve spent a week or more chasing them on several different lakes located in Central Oregon the last three summers. What I’ve found is that the scenery is mostly beyond beautiful, the fishing is good and the trout are plentiful – and they’re sometimes big.
In case you don’t know, there are over
100 lakes, ponds and reservoirs (not to mention rivers) distributed across the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Central Zone of the High Desert plateau. Even if starting at an early age, you’d be hard pressed to explore and fish them all in a single lifetime, which is why I’m praying for a miracle rebirth.
And while it’s certain that any type of reincarnation won’t happen, thanks to persistence and friends I’ve now spent enough time fishing the area to develop a reasonable understanding of what to use and where to enjoy consistent success. Like every serious angler, I’m building on my
knowledge each and every season, which I’m only too happy to share with you.
SOUTH TWIN LAKE
This 99-acre lake with an average depth of 33 feet lacks the glamorous scenery of most other lakes in the Bend area due to its round, volcanic crater-like shape and being screened on all sides by heavy forest, but it can produce limits of hefty, awesome-eating trout averaging 18 inches, with a few topping the 20-inch mark. The trees surrounding South Twin can help reduce the intensity of strong winds should they occur.
And while I’ve experienced hot action
BUZZ RAMSEY
Author Buzz Ramsey says this Diamond Lake brown trout, along with a few rainbows, really went for a U-20-size FlatFish trolled 40 feet back with no weight added. Diamond is one of many great trout fisheries in Central Oregon’s Cascades. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
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in past years, the bite during last season’s trip was somewhat slow. Because of this, I’m thinking success at South Twin is tied directly to how recently the lake has been stocked with fresh fish. You can bet I’ll be monitoring ODFW’s stocking schedule in advance of this season’s trip. Keep in mind that no motors are allowed on this waterbody.
As with every trout lake I know of, many anglers find success plunking PowerBait at South Twin. What has produced best for me, though, is to troll a size 2.0 or 2.5 SpinFish stuffed with canned tuna fish in combination with a standard size Cowbell lake troll. If you try this, one thing to keep in mind is to keep your trolling speed so that the blades are producing the most rodtip action, which might be best achieved when your trolling speed is descending.
Since it’s close by, I have also fished North Twin Lake a few times and caught a few trout but not limits. I’m told it’s just my timing. This crystal clear, stunningly beautiful lake offers good bank access for those interested in still-fishing PowerBait from shore.
LAVA LAKE
According to ODFW Biologist Jerry George (541-388-6363), fish dieoffs experienced during the 2019-20 season due to a toxic algae bloom have not reoccurred since that time. Larger 10- to 12-inch keeper-size hatchery trout have been planted each and every year since the dieoffs, and they’ve helped the fishing to greatly improve on both Lava and Little Lava Lakes. Trout grow fast in these attractive, nutrient-rich lakes, with many holding over to be caught the following year.
You should know that the water in Lava Lake can be murky early in the season due to underwater springs that sometimes cause sediment from the clay bottom to suspend into the water column. However, if it occurs, the turbidity normally settles out by late June.
EAST LAKE
This lake is a favorite for me thanks to fond memories created during past adventures that began in 1965 with my two younger brothers, combined with the fact that I’ve never had a fishless day
here. East Lake is somewhat unique in the fact that it offers not only rainbow trout, but kokanee, brown trout, Atlantic salmon and a few brook trout.
East is also one of two lakes (the other being Paulina) that occupy part of the Newberry Crater south of Bend. It covers 1,044 acres and has an average depth of 67 feet and maximum of 180 feet. This lake has produced more than a few 10-pound browns, with the record hitting the scale at 22.5 pounds. The kokanee are somewhat small, at least early in the season, but regulations allow you to keep five in
addition to your daily five fish trout limit. I’ve caught fish any number of ways at East – casting and retrieving spoons and spinners; still-fishing PowerBait; trolling SpinFish in combination with lake trolls; fly fishing; and using the crawl-retrieve method, with an orange-colored 3-inch Berkley Trout Worm producing best.
While you can catch fish anywhere in East, it’s around the edges and the somewhat shallow areas where most of the trout are taken.
I’ve had the best success catching brown trout by trolling a SpinFish in
The trout fishing at Lava and Little Lava Lakes has greatly improved since trout dieoffs of 2019-20, and thanks to a plentiful snowpack, state biologist Jerry George thinks the fishing will be excellent this season for recently planted trout and larger fish that were released but not harvested during prior seasons. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
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Ramsey’s pontoon boat is all set up for fishing Central Oregon’s trout lakes. His rodholders, landing net, fishfinder, tackle, inflatable life jacket and fish stringer are at the ready.
combination with my favorite Cowbell lake troll. The other method, which is dependent on having plenty of wind and waves (as when a storm front is passing through), is to cast and retrieve spoons into shallow, nearshore areas where the wind and waves are the nastiest, which is generally best along the east shore.
PAULINA LAKE
Known for its kokanee, Paulina is a lake I’ve had the pleasure of visiting the last several years.
I’ve caught browns and rainbows while fly fishing nymphs along the west/northwest shoreline, as well as kokanee while trolling 2.0 and 2.5 SpinFish and when suspending small, size 16 and 18 midge fly patterns into koke schools located directly below the boat.
DIAMOND LAKE
Thanks to its abundant aquatic life, the trout can grow big at this Southern Cascades lake. Diamond is regarded by many as the crown jewel of trout fishing in Oregon. It is located just north of Crater Lake National Park and drains into the Umpqua River watershed and,and
(BUZZ RAMSEY)
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ultimately, the Pacific Ocean.
Diamond is a natural, 3,040-acre lake and has an average depth of 24 feet. It’s surrounded by high-elevation forests and Mount Bailey is visible to the west, Mount Thielsen to the east. This makes for a stunning view. Adding to its popularity as a destination fishery is Diamond Lake Resort (diamondlake.net), which includes a store, cabins and many tent, trailer and RV sites located close to the water. Diamond also features two boat ramps, one at each end of the lake.
Diamond has been known to produce rainbow trout up to 10 pounds, and while you might also catch browns and tiger trout here, know that it’s all catch and release when it comes to those two species. These predatory fish were introduced due to illegal releases of tui chub and golden shiners by unscrupulous anglers using them as bait.
The first time the author fished the Newberry Crater’s East Lake was in 1965 when he and his stepfather and brothers rented a boat and trolled worms in combination with Ford Fender lake trolls for a mixed bag of rainbow and brown trout. Fast forward nearly 60 years, and Ramsey caught and released this 23-inch brown trout, along with many others, while trolling a
2.5-inch SpinFish stuffed with canned tuna fish rigged 30 inches behind a standard size Cowbell Lake troll. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
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And while you cannot keep browns or tigers, they are still fun to catch, with many measuring at or above 20 inches. The daily limit for rainbow trout is five fish, of which only one can be over 20 inches.
Prior to 2024, the last time I fished Diamond Lake was in 1966, when a friend from high school (RIP, Bill) and I spent a week chasing trout while sleeping in a tent located along the lakefront.
Last season I spent three days chasing trout at Diamond. I launched my pontoon boat at the South Shore Boat Ramp each day and tried my luck trolling lures in the less weedy areas north of there as well as fly fishing near where Silent Creek enters the lake, a popular spot.
Although I didn’t do it, I saw several anglers catching fish by still-fishing PowerBait near bottom from anchored boats. Most were just north of the center of the lake in deep water.
The south end of the lake can be pretty weedy, so when I trolled there, I positioned my gear not too far below the surface so that it would skip over the weedtops. I also discovered trolling lanes that were mostly weed-free, and when exploring, I ventured toward the north end where it was deeper and, as such, weed-free. I caught trout trolling 2.5 Mag Lip plugs, Thomas Buoyant spoons, SpinFish in combination with a lake troll, Rapala Floating Minnow plugs and – surprisingly – while trolling a silver/blue “scale” size U-20 FlatFish.
STAY AND PLAY
Lodging just depends on which lake(s) you decide to target. Many anglers book a room in Sunriver or Bend or rent a
BG Eilertson, Ramsey’s longtime friend and past (now retired) fishing tackle buyer for Joe’s and Fisherman’s Marine and Outdoor, shows off a few trout he took while fly fishing Paulina Lake. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
lakeside cabin, RV site or camping spot from one of the lake resorts or from the Forest Service. While there are campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis, many require reservations well in advance. Private lake resorts are listed on the internet, as are those managed by USFWS (recreation.gov; 877-444-6777).
Keep in mind that much of the area is high elevation and lingering or lateseason snow can block or restrict access to some lakes. Everything should be snowfree by the time you read this, however. A Forest Service or other applicable pass is required to access the lakes located within the Deschutes National Forest. Keep in mind that for most lakes you are only allowed to keep one trout over 20 inches per day, so having a tape measure might be a good idea.
And if you are interested in hiring a fishing guide for a Central Oregon trout adventure, try giving Cody Herman of Day One Outdoors a call at (541) 593-8394. NS
Editor’s note: Buzz Ramsey is regarded as a sportfishing authority (as related to trout, steelhead and salmon), outdoor writer and proficient lure and fishing rod designer. Buzz built a successful 45-year career promoting gear related to Northwest and Great Lakes fisheries during his tenure with Luhr Jensen, Pure Fishing and Yakima Bait. Now retired, he writes for Northwest Sportsman and The Guide’s Forecast.
Along with private resorts, there are lots of camping options for trout anglers headed for Oregon’s Cascades waters. Just be sure to have the correct parking pass and know the fishing rules, as they do vary from lake to lake. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
Deep in the wilds of Washington’s North Cascades are waters big and small that are home to good numbers of cutthroat, rainbow and bull trout. Getting to this particular fishy pond in the remote Big Beaver Valley can involve boating 4 miles up Ross Lake and then a 2-mile hike to a ford. (STEVE THOMSEN)
Desolation Anglers
North Cascades serve up remote adventure for trout fishermen, even grouse hunters.
By Rob Lyon
We wade across the creek carrying our packs over our heads and scramble up the bank. Ahead of us a marsh fills the valley floor with a sea of waving green grass. We can see the pond, now, tucked up against a rock massif at the foot of Sourdough Mountain. It reflects the dark gray of the rock like a crystal eye and sedges girdle it like lashes. Looking north, whitecapped mountains claw the sky.
We fin our kick boats across the icy water, trolling Woolly Buggers and streamers but never find a hatch. Hoping to find fish in the shallow edges of the pond, I fire a
marabou leech into narrow channels in the reeds. I come up empty, as do Kenny and Steve, but it doesn’t take long for Tom to hook up.
Until his retirement not that many years ago, Tom Barnett was the majordomo of the pond. His presence there for the better part of half a century, from high school until recently, was a boon to everyone. It was Tom who brought us to this and other ponds and the float back down Big Beaver Creek.
Fished at the end of his 20-foot sink tip, Tom’s Carey Special is hot. We put on tips and tie on the closest thing we have to the little streamer
and our luck improves.
The fish we pick up that day are all healthy, brightly colored cutts of 12 to 17 inches. Typical of beaver ponds in the Northwest, the ponds in Beaver Valley host an invertebrate smorgasbord – mayflies and caddis, dragons, damsels, Chironomidae and leeches, etc. I’d like to be here to extract these trout from the reeds come the damsel emergence, I think.
The occasional slap of a beaver’s tail brings our soaring spirits around. We paddle ashore for lunch and eat on the grassy bank before carrying our boats back to the stream and fishing our way back down to Ross Lake.
FISHING
AS YOU DRIVE Northwest Washington’s Highway 20 heading east, mountain views dominate the deeper you get into the Skagit Valley. Not until 1972 did engineer teams and road crews finally manage to punch a road over this forbidding northern range of glacier-scoured valleys, impenetrable moraines and ragged ridge lines. Even now the state’s northernmost cross-Cascades route is put to bed by winter storms fully half the year.
Names like Mount Despair, Mount Fury, Damnation Creek, Phantom Pass, Big and Little Devil Mountains, Mount Terror, Desolation Peak and Nightmare Camp suggest the state of mind the North Cascades induced in early explorers. From his cozy digs atop Desolation Peak, Jack Kerouac put pen to paper and captured the paradox of
Ross Lake’s rainbows didn’t used to grow as big, but the illegal introduction of redside shiners changed all that. They’re catchable using patterns imitating the baitfish, as well as on a wide range of traditional flies and trolling gear. Fishing is open July 1-October 31 under selective-gear rules, meaning no bait, scent or barbs are allowed. (STEVE THOMSEN)
this awesome country – the corporeal and the sublime – in Dharma Bums and Desolation Angels
The string of floating cabins that is Ross Lake Resort huddles at the southern end of the 22-mile-long lake-cum-dammed-Skagit River. It’s been our base camp for several decades and serves as hunting and fishing central. There are trout in the beaver ponds up Big Beaver Valley and some of the surrounding creeks and there are forest grouse – ruffies and blues – in the woods and high on the mountain flanks.
The biggest target are the heavy rainbows and Dolly Varden/bull trout in the lake itself. Trolling Ross Lake is far and away what most anglers sign on for. A relaxing gig with a stellar view, big ’bows and big
Dollys are frequently caught.
Twenty-five years ago someone emptied a minnow bucket into the lake and a bloom of redside shiners took hold. It was a major game changer and the trout have gotten fat as cats snacking on them.
Most fishermen pull a fly, lure or plug behind conventional pop gear. We typically troll an unweighted fly straight up on a fly rod – no flashers. We start out at the surface and switch to a sinking line or sink tip to get down as needed. The trick is to find the shiners. Generally this results from fishing our usual haunts till we stumble onto the action.
Sometimes they’re deep in the center channel hugging the old river bed; other times they’re close in along the shore. Try different depths
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and locales until you get it right. Check in at the resort office and see what the other anglers are saying. If we find the shiners in the shallows where fish like to corral them, we like to cruise slowly just offshore and cast into the bank.
The Confluence Fly Shop (theconfluenceflyshop.com) in Bellingham is a pro shop with a close connection to the lake. They have a good representation of the shiner so prolific at the lake; it’s called, yes, the Ross Lake Shiner.
Being a high impoundment with steep sides, there is little insect life at Ross, mostly members of the chironomid clan, and back in the preshiner era it was slim pickings finding a good-sized fish. Nowadays, the size and frequency of trout hookups has increased, as has the number of big char caught. The char – Dollies and/ or bull trout – are protected and must be released. Regardless of species, Ross Lake is open under selective gear rules, meaning no bait or scent, from July 1 through October 31.
If you don’t book one of the floating cabins at the resort (and good luck with that, as the repeat customer list is as long as my arm), you can camp at one of many well-maintained campgrounds around the lake and on some of the islands. Backcountry permits are required and can be picked up in Marblemount on your way up on Highway 20. You can rent a skiff from the resort (call ahead and reserve). You can bring in your own kayak or canoe from the US side and you can launch power boats from the north end at Hozomeen Campground after having come around through British Columbia.
A CHALLENGING SECONDARY destination are the beaver ponds up Big Beaver Valley, as sketched out in the opening paragraphs. Located several miles up a trail from Ross Lake, they require the right gear, planning and effort to reach. Waders and a float tube or kick boat are necessary, but the
Accessing Ross is no easy task, as Highway 20, also known as the North Cascades Highway or simply North Cascades, doesn’t touch the lake, so you’ll need to hitch a ride on Seattle City Light’s shuttle on Diablo Lake to the base of Ross Dam or hike your gear to the water via one of several trails off the highway. (STEVE THOMSEN)
Best of west coast Charters
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fishing is often stellar and the views are sublime.
It’s mostly westside cutthroat in the ponds, but some rainbows will swim up the stream to feed as well when the lake level is high enough. This was especially true at the turn of the millennium when the ’bows had little enough to feed on in Ross Lake. On the day I wrote about, we drifted downstream for several hours catching big trout at the surface in a steady hatch of big mayflies (large gray drakes). It was stellar fishing, but beware the frequent log jams that block the stream from end to end. (The creek’s lower quarter mile is closed to fishing to protect spawning trout.)
Lightning Creek is another iconic
mountain stream experience. Camped on nearby Cat Island, we would motor to the creek mouth in the morning and spend the day fishing our way up the mountain, from pool to pool strung out like a necklace of hanging pearls. These are smaller fish than in the lake but a classic mountain, small stream experience. A trail parallels the creek. It too is open July 1-October 31, but from a mile above the lake to its headwaters.
SOMETHING WE SHOOT
for (literally) when we visit Ross in fall are forest grouse. There are trails aplenty along the lake or leading into the interior mountains of the Ross Lake National Recreation Area, where hunting is allowed. We’ve had good luck hunting ruffies. Hike the trails and look for alder groves in the wetlands.
Uphill around 3,000 to 4,000 feet in elevation you’ll find the blues. What was once thought to be a single species has now been subdivided into two, sooty and dusky, with duskys being more in evidence here. Come October you can find them up Little Jack Mountain in coveys of various sizes as they ready for the winter and a season spent largely tucked into the spruce thickets. Just as a fly-caught steelhead is the preeminent quarry among fly fishermen and the chukar is in the same class among upland hunters, a blue grouse bagged in the snowy nether realms atop Little Jack Mountain has a similar eminence. From the level of the lake a trail switchbacks up with a 3,000-foot vertical gain. It’s a rugged climb for anyone not in shape. You’re likely as not to reach the snowline before
Along with cabins at Ross Lake Resort, there are numerous boat-in campgrounds along the shores of the upper Skagit River reservoir and drive-in ones at the far northern end, accessible via British Columbia. (STEVE THOMSEN)
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then and temps will be low. But if you’re lucky enough to find tracks leading through the snow into the blueberries and flush a gaggle of birds in a sudden thunder of wingbeats, it will all be worth it. Hunting in God’s backyard is how it always feels to me.
A VISIT TO Ross Lake is a bit like visiting my wife and I at our island home in the San Juans; you don’t just drive up to the house. To get to the south end of the lake, there are basically five routes in, none by vehicle.
You can take the Diablo Lake shuttle to the base of Ross Dam, then take another shuttle to the resort up at the level of the lake. This is what most people heading to the resort do with all their supplies, because nothing is available at the resort. This is also the best route in if you’re going to rent a skiff and head uplake to camp and fish. And it’s the ticket if you have paddled your canoe or kayak across Diablo Lake (from the Colonial Creek Campground
Trout can sometimes be found in Ross’s deeper waters and other times near shore, where they feed on schools of shiners. Best bet is to troll different spots until you find fish and then work that area. (STEVE THOMSEN)
Bull trout also grow big on a diet of redside shiners, which can be imitated with streamer patterns. (STEVE THOMSEN)
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launch) to meet the resort shuttle to portage you up to the lake. Otherwise, you can hike in from several different points. The shortest is from the parking lot off Highway 20, all downhill for a mile and change through a beautiful forest setting beside a chattering creek. We’ve done this with boats and even carts full of gear, although typically it is used by those with less baggage.
Or you can hike in from Diablo up over the flank of Sourdough Mountain. This is roughly a 3.5-mile hike with 1,500-foot vertical gain and not that commonly used.
You can also hike in on a trail along Ruby Creek a mile or further east on Highway 20. We’ve done this with kayaks on carts; it’s a beautiful hike in, but it will leave you ultimately on the eastern shore of the lake.
Finally, you can drive north into BC through Hope and around to the lake at Hozomeen Campground. We’ve done this with sailboaters who launched and rendezvoused with our fleet of skiffs and kayaks midlake.
The logistics are complicated and you’ll want to have a very good idea of your game plan before you go. The resort and lake are open from the first week in June to the end of October. Fishing can be productive throughout the season and timing is not really a critical factor. More important is the decision as to your target activity and the know-how to pull it off. NS
When the avalanche chutes and alpine berryfields color up and fall’s first snows powder the peaks, author Rob Lyon and buddies like to hike into the heights in search of grouse. “Hunting in God’s backyard is how it always feels to me,” Lyon writes. (STEVE THOMSEN)
Eag-land’s Best
Deep trout and kokanee lakes near the university town of Cheney will continue to put out fish well into June, and here’s how to work them.
Story and cutlines by Jeff Holmes
Many of us have our gripes –some deserved – against the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the political climate that drives some of their management decisions, but they do a lot of things right. Among the things they do best is manage our trout fisheries to provide ample and widespread opportunities for success, both geographically and throughout the year. It used to be that almost all opportunities and effort were focused on the same “opening day” lakes, but the department has sought to diversify and broaden where and when Washington’s trout anglers can find success.
Still, the opening-day tradition persists and is a huge part of the state’s fishing culture. Arguably the center hub of opening-day lake action in the greater Spokane area has been and still is the Cheney area, and the storied lakes surrounding the small college town offer great angling throughout spring until the intense heat of summer sends fish deeper and restricts biting to low-light or dark conditions. This June, there will be great trout options to the north, east, south and west of the home of the Eastern Washington University Eagles, as elsewhere in the state where heavily stocked opening-day lakes exist. For my money, however, the best of the best trout lakes can be found to the south of Cheney. Badger and Williams are both fishing awesome this year, and what’s more, there is good news to be heard about the long fight to get us back onto
Richard “Dick” Donley was a respected professor at Eastern Washington University in Cheney and passionate angler who passed away late in 2024 after decades of service to students at my alma mater and former employer, EWU. I knew Mr. Donley as a great man who influenced many, including his son, Chris, whose daughter, Cora, is pictured here with a Badger Lake rainbow and her grandfather. The Donleys lived scarcely 2 miles as the crow flies from Badger near Amber Lake. Chris has been hugely instrumental for decades in the management of these and many other excellent fisheries. (CHRIS DONLEY)
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what is the crown jewel of Cheneyarea lakes for my tastes, Chapman.
BADGER LAKE
Badger has been an excellent trout lake for both rainbows and cutthroat for longer than I’ve been fishing there (43 years), but recently it has also become an excellent kokanee fishery, thanks to the persistence of WDFW’s Region 1 fishery biologists.
Invariably, over the years, bucket biologists who can’t leave well
enough alone dump smallmouth and largemouth in the lake, significantly depressing the trout fishery and creating a much less popular and sparsely utilized bass fishery that gets remedied through the use of rotenone to “kill” and restock the waters. Almost every lake in the dang state has bass these days, so these illegal efforts to introduce bass are selfish and lame. Anyways, right now the lake does not have a bucket biology problem, and the lake’s
stocked salmonids are thriving.
Badger lies in an extinct fissure volcano scoured out by the Missoula Floods about 15 miles south of Cheney and is a good-sized trout lake as far as Cheney waters go. It’s usually pretty easy to find some space to be alone, especially in June. This year, Badger’s rainbows and cutts are not huge, with stockers averaging 10 inches by June and holdovers stretching to 16 inches. The kokanee are also not huge this year, but that’s because they are very numerous. The average kokanee is also about 10 inches. The lake appears to be full to the brim with trout and kokanee, and catch-and-keep and catch-andrelease opportunities are excellent.
It has been decades since Badger has had a fishing resort, but it has a very solid WDFW launch on its western end that serves as the only public access. You can launch a paddleboard or a 30-foot boat here, although I’d say neither is ideal. But the point is any floating craft can get you onto the water and into fish.
The “lobe” of the lake where the launch exists is also where most of the human dwellings are, and the fishing here can be very good. Uplake, to the northeast, there is a narrowish pinch point where most houses disappear and where, in my experience, fishing gets even better. From where the lake pinches down and becomes very narrow and is flanked on both sides by a beautiful ponderosa pine forest, I have caught far more holdover trout, especially cutthroat, than anywhere else, and I recommend making your way slowly in this direction. Trolling would be my approach.
I love to troll fast full-sinking fly lines with small streamers and other stillwater patterns, and I have had days on Badger where I would not tell you how many fish I’ve landed using this approach because they might sound made up. The fish favor natural browns, greens and blacks in leech and Bugger patterns, but they also greedily eat water boatmen, damselflies and any classic lake fly
Pat Hogan of Colbert, Washington, and his friend
Jack Best of nearby Mead landed around 30 fish in three hours this spring at Badger, including this nice holdover cutthroat by Best. Both Badger and its nextdoor neighbor, Williams Lake, are fishing great and have plenty of holdovers, with fish stretching to 20 inches at Williams and 16 inches at Badger. (PAT HOGAN)
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pattern like a Muddler, Doc Spratley, Carey Special, etc.
For those wedded to terminal tackle, small plugs, FlatFish, Triple Teasers, Dick Nites, Wedding Rings, Double Whammys, various other spinners and more will produce, as will Jack Lloyds and other lake trolls trailed by bait or small lures. And as with all Cheney-area opening-day trout lakes, all of the standard trout baits will produce for those preferring natural bait. I avoid natural bait here because I like to carefully release a ton of fish to make a full day of it and do so by encouraging fish not to swallow my offerings.
For kokanee, folks are still figuring out the fishery, but it is not rocket science. Kokes show up in the bag for those chasing trout, and for those specifically after kokanee, using electronics to find them and pursuing them with small dodgers and proven kokanee lures is wise. For those looking to still fish, especially at night, I recommend that first pinch point where most of the houses end. Find the dropoffs into deep water and seek big schools using Mack’s Lure Glo hooks and flavored corn and maggots. There are tons of kokanee in the lake, and they are not hard to find. In June they should be no deeper than 35 feet and maybe much shallower.
It should be noted that Badger has by far the highest water quality in the Cheney area and cascades to depths well over 100 feet. When I lived in Cheney for a very long time, it was my go-to for retaining good-tasting trout and also for taking a refreshing swim.
WILLIAMS LAKE
Williams Lake is one of Washington’s most popular and reliable trout lakes and is home to a great fishing resort, a public launch owned by WDFW and an opportunity to enjoy throwback Evergreen State trout fishing. You can launch your own craft at the public launch, fish off the dock at Bunker’s Resort or rent a motorboat
Whatever your approach, you are likely to score limits and some very nice fish out of a lake where the trout notoriously taste good with no hint of mud.
Williams is fishing amazingly this year with good-sized and very numerous fish, including rainbow, cutthroat and tiger trout. Stockers in June should average about 12 inches with carryovers to 20 inches. The lake always holds up nicely throughout June, and angling should be good throughout the day with the best action always occurring in the morning and evenings. That said, you can show up at 11 a.m. and fish until 3 p.m. and still likely enjoy great angling.
Situated in the same extinct fissure volcano expanded by Ice Age floods as its cousin, Badger, and similarly ringed
partially by basalt cliffs, Williams is just down the coulee from Badger, 16 miles south of Cheney. Like all the Cheneyarea lakes, Williams is a beautiful, partially timbered water where native plants and flowers abound and whose shorelines are full of turtles, snakes, frog, beavers, muskrats, bountiful birds, deer, raccoons, otters and much more.
Once home to two great resorts that were useful to fishermen, Klink’s and Bunker’s, the former is now in private ownership. Bunker’s (bunkersresort .com), which is an awesome fishing resort that vaults me back in memory to the resorts that served most of the Cheney- and Spokane-area trout lakes in previous decades, offers an excellent fishing dock, 10 boats for rent, tent camping sites, RV hookups and four large cabins for rent. Normally home
or rowboat at Bunker’s.
This fine catch of Williams Lake rainbows and cutthroat fell prey to Wedding Rings and the above Frankenstein lure assembled by Hogan: a Mack’s Lure Wedding Ring hybridized with a Brad’s Kokanee Cut Plug. It turned out to be a match made in heaven for Hogan’s fishing buddy Chuck Slayton and his smoker. (PAT HOGAN)
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to a restaurant, Bunker’s is limited in 2025 to snacks and drinks as the restaurant undergoes a makeover. Their prices are very reasonable, and you can give them a call or scope their website. I give them a high recommendation and am a fan of the attitude and kindness of the owners.
For those merely looking for a place to dump in a boat, the WDFW launch on Williams’ northeastern end is easy to find, and parking generally becomes a little easier in June (opening day and May angling often necessitate parking outside of the access along the road and making a short walk back to the boat). The area around the launch is shallow and can lead to snags and lost setups, so head toward the middle of the lake and deploy gear once
50 yards or further out from the launch. Of course, the shallow waters are full of trout food and can yield excellent catches; just be aware of depth and your offerings.
There are no great secrets here in terms of how to catch fish. Trolling or casting lures, trolling or casting fly gear, and fishing standard bait cocktails meant for hatchery trout will draw strikes. I’m a big fan of Woolly Buggers, Bunny and Mohair Leeches, Carey Specials and other damselfly imitations, and really any standard and popular stillwater trout patterns. Small FlatFish and Kwikfish, Needlefish and other small spoons and spinners are standard and highly effective choices at Williams.
CHAPMAN LAKE
When Washington anglers lost fishing access to Chapman Lake in 2011, we lost more than just a fantastic kokanee,
bass, trout and crappie lake. We lost the ability for generations of new and established angers to build on their rich histories at the lake’s throwback resort and launch, and we ceased making daytime and nighttime angling memories on these storied waters. After 15 years of dogged advocacy on our part, the efforts of WDFW’s Chris Donley and his colleagues have paid off in the purchase of over 500 acres at the lake in 2024.
“We now own the DNR land adjacent to the lake, and are waiting on Spokane County to amend the shoreline rules so we can develop a boat ramp,” says Donley. “This is going slowly, but we are making progress. Now that we own the land and are working on permitting, we have applied for funds through Washington’s Recreation and Conservation Office to build a road and boat ramp. We were denied funds
A new access road, launch and parking lot at Spokane County’s Chapman Lake should happen in the next three to five years, thanks to years of dedicated advocacy for anglers by WDFW’s Donley and his colleagues. Kokanee, trout, big bass and other spinyrays will be available as soon as we regain access. (RANDY OSBORNE)
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for this funding cycle, so we are at least two years out before we find the funding to build. The biggest hurdle was getting the land, and we will find the money one way or another in the next few years to build.”
Donley says we are at least three years from the completed access road and new launch and parking area, thereby establishing permanent access to the lake again. I will be just one of a huge group of anglers who will relish the victory to come that gets us back on Chapman after having been robbed of almost two decades on the water when all is said and done, and I look forward to childishly flying twin birds as I boat past the lakeside landowner whose actions barred us from the water.
Situated just south of Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge 12 miles south of Cheney, Chapman is the second deepest lake in area behind Rock Lake, cascading to depths of 165
feet despite its relatively smaller size compared to its down-creek neighbor. I won’t burden Northwest Sportsman readers with my vast memories and experiences along the timbered, rocky shores of the lake, but I can report that there is no lake in the Spokane region that has brought me more joy or freedom. Nor is there any lake where I have for sure encountered a 10-pound largemouth that swallowed a 10inch rainbow I was reeling in, landed kokanee limits within yards of bugling and chirping elk, nor had a northern flying squirrel jump on the back of my neck and run down my bare legs, only to climb high into a tree and take flight across a small swamp into dense trees. I could go on and get way weirder, but there are more standard recreation opportunities for swimming, cliff jumping, hiking, picnicking, wildlife viewing, beer drinking and more at the best family lake the Cheney area has to offer. Although my favorite
species to chase in the lake has historically been both largemouth and smallmouth, Chapman is best known as an excellent kokanee lake where nightfishing with Glo hooks from anchored boats has historically been very popular and productive. Because kokanee populations are notoriously hard to reestablish, because the fishery is so old and popular and because Cheney-area native Donley has doggedly fought and believed in our return to the lake, WDFW fishery managers have kept the fishery limping along.
“We still stock 100,000 kokanee fry annually,” Donley states. “There is a small contingent of locals who have walked their boats into the lake on the WDFW section and leave them for kokanee fishing. It has been a good fishery for those with the gumption to access. When it opens to ready access in a few years, that fishery will be there waiting for all of us.” NS
Get Ready For Upper Columbia Sockeye
With another robust run expected, it's time to gear up for the tasty salmon.
By Mark Yuasa
This is true, believe it or not, but several of the most productive summer sockeye fisheries in the Northwest are situated roughly 500-plus miles upstream from the Pacific Ocean.
For the uninitiated salmon angler, this hotspot – located east of the
Cascades on Northcentral Washington’s Upper Columbia River – is where sockeye returns have been waxing the norm for the past several years.
The other blessing about this salmon fishery stretching from Priest Rapids Dam below Wenatchee up to Brewster is plenty of sunshine, warm weather
and mostly calm/protected waterways.
“We had very good sockeye fishing the past few summers and hopefully we’ll get another great season in 2025,” says Aaron Peterson, owner of Peterson’s Northwest Guide Service (petersonsnorthwest.com; 425-2202928). “The sockeye migrating up to
Big catches are one of the hallmarks of sockeye fishing on Washington’s Upper Columbia. While this year’s forecast is only half of 2024’s record run, it should still provide more than enough salmon for anglers working the Brewster Pool and tailraces of Wells, Wanapum and Priest Rapids Dams. (MARK YUASA)
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these areas can be found just below Priest Rapids Dam and Wells Dam but as high up as Brewster. Sockeye fishing last year was lights out and most of the time, we were getting our limits pretty quickly. The fishery is a lot of fun and in a setting totally different than what you’ll see in other places of the state.”
THE OVERALL 2025 Columbia River sockeye forecast of 350,200 is about half of last year’s record actual return of 761,682 (401,700 was the forecast in 2024). However, this year’s forecast is still 101 percent of the 10-year recent average and predicted to be a good return.
The Okanogan River sockeye forecast is 248,000 (288,700 was forecast in 2024, with an actual return of 572,552), and these fish are the bread and butter of summer fisheries on the mainstem Upper Columbia.
“Sockeye are very difficult to forecast, and they have a very complicated freshwater cycle before migrating out to the ocean,” notes Ryan Lothrop, WDFW’s Columbia River fisheries manager. “Sockeye have fewer indicators that fishery managers can use for predicting their return. Sockeye returns have stabilized
a bit, and the low cycles aren’t as bad as they used to be.”
The final 2025-26 statewide salmon fishing season package was expected to be finalized by the National Marine Fisheries Service in mid-June. Get updates and emergency rule changes to specific salmon fisheries by checking WDFW’s website (wdfw.wa.gov).
Once finalized, the sockeye fishing season on the Upper Columbia River from Priest Rapids Dam to Rock Island Dam is scheduled from July 1 through August 31; Rock Island Dam to Wells Dam and Brewster Bridge to Chief Joseph Dam from July 1 through October 15; and Wells Dam to Brewster Bridge from July 16 through August 31. The proposed daily limit is four sockeye only and release all other salmon.
TIMING IS KEY to success for sockeye on the Upper Columbia, as the fish can be in a location one day, only to move 15 to 20 miles upstream by the next. Water levels, flows and temperatures between each dam affect how the fish bite and their movement patterns.
Many sockeye linger in the Brewster Pool, making it one of the most popular deepwater salmon fisheries on the Upper Columbia. In
2024, 2023 and 2022, colder water throughout the mainstem had sockeye darting straight up to the Brewster Pool, generating ideal fishing from early summer into August.
Sockeye have been adapting their upstream migration timing in recent years, with most returns now peaking sooner in the summer. In recent decades, the run peaked by early July, but now it’s shifted to late June, resulting in higher sockeye survival rates. Steady ocean conditions with no drastic changes the past few years has led to increasing numbers of the salmon.
The good sockeye fishing, especially in the Brewster Pool, is dictated by the warm weather and the thermal barrier in the Okanogan River. If the barrier remains in place, it will keep the majority of sockeye from shooting upstream to the spawning grounds.
One of the keys to deciding where you’ll fish is by examining the daily dam fish counts at fpc.org. In fact, one of 2025’s first sockeye appeared at The Dalles Dam way back on May 5.
What makes this area so special in the summer is it’s a place where families and friends can have a fun time together, where traditions are made, often leading to repeat adventures for
Guide Austin Moser scoops a long-handled net for a sockeye hooked amongst the flotilla. A typical setup includes a short leader, spinner blade, small chunk of cured shrimp and a dodger, all behind a 4- to 6-ounce cannonball, and the key is to troll slow. (MARK YUASA)
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years to come.
Over the course of six years, I’ve had a chance to make some truly bonding memories. Yes, indeed, the main goal of these trips is to chase salmon, but turning it into a multipurpose outing can score brownie points and the lifelong “remember when” chats with your family or friends.
Peterson, the guide, notes that there’s something for everyone to enjoy in the greater Wenatchee and Lake Chelan areas. There’s golfing at one of the 12-plus courses in the region, river rafting, hiking, camping, a waterpark, shopping, wine tasting, breweries and dining, and strolling through the Bavarianthemed town of Leavenworth.
AS FOR CATCHING sockeye, on any given day in July and August, the main fishing grounds around the Pateros/ Brewster area can see 200 or more boats, so anglers need to be patient and courteous both at the ramp facilities and on the water.
“We’re all trying to have a fun day on the water, and the key is being aware of your surroundings and show some courtesy to others fishing around you,” tips Austin Moser, owner of Austin’s Northwest Adventures LLC (austinsnorthwestadventures.com; 509-668-0298) in Wenatchee. “We all get busy when the bite is on and talking to each goes a long way. Another word of advice is that if you’re not catching fish, watch what others around you are doing or using. Paying attention goes a long way in this fishery.”
The predawn and early morning bite before the sun rises over the nearby hillsides is without a doubt the best time. The action tends to slow down by 10 or 11 a.m., although you can catch fish throughout the day and again just before sunset. As the surface water temperatures crank up, the fish will start running deeper. Salmon can’t regulate sunlight, so they tend to move into deeper water. Watching your fish finder to see where the fish are hanging plays to your advantage.
Just like other sockeye fisheries, trolling at a slow speed (1.0 to 1.3 mph) is optimal to get the right spin on your presentation. When you find a school of sockeye or get bit, put the boat in neutral for a few seconds and other fish will chase the gear still in the water, which can lead to double, triple and even quadruple hookups.
These fish aren’t hard fighters and since you’ll be in relatively shallow water, you don’t need to set the hook hard (sockeye, like their freshwater family members, kokanee, tend to have a soft jawline). Just wait for the fish to bounce the rod and gently take it out of the fish holder, then begin reeling until you feel the pressure of the fish bouncing the tip. Expect to lose a few sockeye, and be ready with the net.
Downriggers aren’t really necessary because the water depths here are very shallow and a 4-, 5or 6-ounce cannonball sinker with a sinker slide will do the job. When using a dropper weight make sure you use a 3-foot buffer between your slider and the dodger to allow the dodger to work properly.
One of the most common gear items for catching sockeye is a dodger. A great starting point is the Luhr Jensen 1/0 chrome dodger (other good patterns include silver prism, fish scale, chartreuse silver prism or hammered chrome) or a Hawken Simon Dodger. Don’t be afraid to use bigger dodgers, but keep your presentations smaller, similar to what you’d use to catch kokanee.
Set your alarm for o’dark fifteen – this fishery is best before the sun climbs over the hills, as Tegan Yuasa can attest, though sockeye can also be caught throughout the day. (MARK YUASA)
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Go with a stronger, heavier 12- to 16-inch leader in 25- to 40-pound test. The heavier leader will put a whipping action on your bait.
On your leader add a spinner blade (1.1 Mack’s, Hawken, or Colorado spinner blades), three small UV red beads and two 1/0 red hooks tipped with a half a tail piece of cured, pinkdyed shrimp.
A small pink plastic hoochie or a Mack’s Cha Cha sockeye rig also catches fish, as will many other smaller-sized lures. Keep a variety of tackle ready to deploy if you’re not getting any action. But no matter what you use, be sure to add anise or krill shrimp to your dodger and presentation.
The type of rod to use is a limber, lightweight 9-foot-6 to 10-foot-6 model with moderate action and line weight of 6- to 12-pound test like the Okuma Guide Select 932. Match it with a low-profile linecounter reel. A counter is essential to making sure your presentation is at the precise depth. NS
Editor’s note: Mark Yuasa is a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife communications manager. He also was the outdoor reporter at The Seattle Times for 28 years.
OTHER INLAND SOCKEYE NIBBLES AND BITES
The 2025 Lake Wenatchee sockeye forecast is 94,000. Last year’s record-breaking return was 190,117 (97,000 was the forecast in 2024).
On paper, the forecast is well above the spawning escapement objective of at least 23,000 fish at Tumwater Dam.
“The Lake Wenatchee sockeye fishery is a wait-and-see kind of deal and the opener will be based off fish counts at Tumwater Dam,” says Chad Jackson, a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Inland Fish Program manager in Ephrata. “If the run holds as forecasted or is better, then we’ll most likely have a season similar to last year.”
It opened July 22 and ran through August 31 with a four-sockeye daily limit.
Sockeye fishing on the mainstem Columbia below Bonneville Dam and upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge at Pasco will open under an emergency regulation from June 22 through July 6 with daily limit of one sockeye and one
hatchery-marked steelhead. Anglers should check the WDFW emergency rules webpage for an update sometime in June. The recreational allocation for fisheries downstream of the Highway 395 Bridge is 2,451 total aggregate sockeye mortalities and is sufficient to provide for retention opportunities. There will also be a recreational catch and runsize update around June 30 to determine if more fishing opportunities (time on the water and bag limit) could occur.
The sockeye fishery on the Columbia mainstem from the Highway 395 Bridge upstream to I-182 is closed except for a bank fishery at Columbia Point from June 16 through July 15. The stretch from I-182 to Priest Rapids Dam is open June 16 through August 15. Anglers should check the WDFW website and the 2025-26 regulation pamphlet for daily limits, what salmon species may be retained, and other gear rules and restrictions. –MY
HEAD ’EM OFF WAAAY BEFORE THE PASS
Before all those sockeye get to Upper Columbia tailraces and the Brewster Pool, they gotta swim through the Lower Columbia first. And while this stretch of the big river is far more well known for Chinook and steelhead, these diminutive salmon can also be caught here, as last year’s “phenomenal” catches proved.
It’s primarily a bank fishery because of how close to the beach sockeye run, but some are caught off boats anchored near shore. Standard plunking setups will include at least one if not two –sometimes even three – three-way swivels or spreaders separated by 3 feet of line so as to run multiple offerings, one off each T. (Just as for surfperch, pretied sockeye setups are available for sale.)
The business end typically consists of a size 6 Spin-N-Glo and a small coon shrimp on a size 1 or 1/0 hook tied with a bait loop. Separate the winged bobber, which is typically pink, purple or blue with dark or mylar wings, and hook with three 5- or 6mm beads and tie the rig on a 3-plusfoot leader. A pyramid sinker from 4 to 20 ounces, depending on current, on a 1- to 2-foot dropper off the last three-way holds the whole setup on bottom and allows your bait(s) to work at different levels in the water column.
The more setups you run, the more likely you will want to get your line out via kayak instead of casting so as to prevent tangles. But again, there’s no need to get your gear into fall Chinook depths; instead, target water 8 to 20 feet deep (say, 20 to 35 feet,
plus or minus, on a linecounter reel) and adjust based on bites. From a boat, you can use a plug as a diver instead of a pyramid.
Sockeye are caught up and down the Lower Columbia, as well as in the Hanford Reach. Last year, which saw a record return, provided fantastic June fishing that led to an early mainstem closure; Washington reports that 4,143 were kept below Bonneville, with another 7,857 retained from the dam to Priest Rapids, but mostly near Tri-Cities. The fishery is operated under an allocation related to Endangered Species Act impacts on listed Snake River sockeye.
True, they’re nowhere close to the size of summer Chinook, which are closed this year, but plunk up one and a matching hatchery steelhead and you’ll go home with a pair of tasty fish. –NWS
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Foraging For An Old Lifesaving Staple
Camas, once an important food source this time of year for many Northwest tribes and which is enjoying a cultural reawakening, blooms in a meadow. The bulb can be eaten after being cooked for a long period to make it more digestible. Proper identification is critical due to a variety known as death camas. (RANDY KING)
of fish and meadows full of bulbs. For the Nez Perce and other tribes, these weren’t just ingredients; they were sacred, seasonal and often to be eaten together. Camas brings the sweet starch, salmon brings the protein.
Inland Indigenous communities like the Nez Perce, Yakama and Shoshone, as well as those downriver like the Kalapuya in the Willamette Valley, tended camas meadows for generations, using fire, timing and knowledge to keep the fields healthy. A single person with an hour of time can gather several pounds of the bulbs. Huge patches, well cultivated, could be the caloric difference between starvation or not in the long winter months. The starchy bulbs were slow roasted in earth ovens – often for days – turning the white tuber into golden brown deliciousness.
CHEF IN THE WILD
By Randy King
It stayed green for days. Miles of green. Spring had finally arrived in the hills outside Emmett, Idaho, and the world felt like it was waking up from a long nap. True, snow still clung on tight in shaded areas and on the north sides of slopes, but the most prominent knob just outside of town – once known as Squaw Butte – was glowing in the soft light. It’s a favorite spot for hikers and anyone wanting to take in the valley below.
The name has changed now. In 2022, the Department of the Interior officially renamed it Sehewoki’I Newenee’an Katete, meaning “People of the Willows
Standing in a Row Butte.” A name with weight. A name with memory.
We were driving on a dirt two-track in my UTV when we saw it – a wet meadow just north of the butte, lit up with thousands of purple blooms. We pulled over, stepped out, and just stood there. Blue camas. A whole patch of it, gently swaying in the breeze and showing off its violet colors. Just waiting for someone to notice.
Not surprisingly, it made me hungry.
THERE’S A SAYING in the culinary world: “If it grows together, it goes together.” It’s not just a catchy phrase; it’s a truth rooted in folk/native foodways. In the Pacific Northwest, camas bulbs and spring salmon show up at the same time, like old friends arriving for a reunion. Rivers full
The reason the bulbs are roasted for such a long time is that camas has an indigestible sugar in it called inulin. To make camas bulbs digestible and sweet, Indigenous peoples traditionally slow roasted them in earth ovens for 24 to 48 hours. This long, low-temperature cooking process breaks inulin down into fructose through hydrolysis. The key is maintaining a low, steady heat to avoid burning while allowing the inulin to convert gradually. Wrapping the bulbs in foil or placing them in a covered dish with a bit of moisture can help mimic the steam environment of an earth oven. The result is a caramelized, sweet and digestible food that was once a staple of Indigenous diets.
A form of candy would also be made in the stone ovens when cooking camas. The sugars would eventually caramelize and turn into caramel. That caramel would be collected and cooled on sticks, making for an awesome camas-flavored sucker! I need this in my life.
LIKE SO MANY things in the native world, the seasonal rhythm of camas gardening and harvest was disrupted when settlers arrived. Settlers plowed under meadows, brought livestock and claimed land. Camas fields disappeared, and with them, a way of life. The Camas Prairie War of 1877 – sparked
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Roasted spring salmon with sweet camas mash, mushrooms and bell peppers. While author Randy King reported camas turned out on the bland side in this recipe, the experience provided a snapshot into the daily diet for eons in the Northwest. (RANDY KING)
FROM SURF AND TURF
If you don’t have camas bulbs, you can substitute with roasted parsnips or sweet potatoes. But if you do have camas, treat them with care. They’ve come a long way to be on your plate.
1 spring Chinook filet (skin on)
1 cup cooked camas bulbs (see below)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon maple syrup or brown sugar (optional, for extra sweetness)
Salt and pepper as needed
1 teaspoon fresh thyme
Lemon wedges for serving
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Mash the preroasted camas bulbs with a fork or potato masher. Add a drizzle of olive oil or duck fat, a pinch of salt and maple syrup if desired. Set aside while baking the fish with seasonings of choice.
TIPS FOR COOKING CAMAS
Camas bulbs are rich in inulin, a complex carbohydrate that can cause digestive discomfort if not cooked properly. Basically,
you will fart like a Clydesdale if you don’t cook them long enough. Traditional roasting methods – slow and low for 24 to 48 hours – convert inulin into sweet, digestible fructose. There are lots of videos and resources online, including some very informative native folks showing off how to cook camas!
My method, borrowed from Hank Shaw, includes 12 hours in the oven at 225 degrees with butter, water and wrapped in foil. Think of it like slow caramelization or camas confit that takes 12-plus hours. –RK
in part by settler encroachment on camas lands – wasn’t just about territory. It was about access to staple food and identity.
Today, there’s a movement to bring camas back. Tribes are restoring camas meadows, reclaiming food traditions and teaching the next generation how to dig, roast and remember. It’s not just about the bulbs; it’s about the bond.
If you’re lucky enough to find camas and you want to harvest it, do it right. Look for mature bulbs – those with multiple leaves. Please be gentle. Refill the holes. Replant the small ones. Rotate your harvest spots. Think long-term. Think seven generations.
And be careful – while blue camas is edible, death camas (Toxicoscordion venenosum) is not. They often grow side by side, like a deadly trick question from nature. Blue camas has starshaped violet flowers. Death camas? Creamy white and deadly. Know the difference. Or better yet, go with someone who does. Remember – purple flowers are OK, white flowers are not OK.
THAT DAY OUTSIDE Emmett, standing in the meadow, I thought about all of this. About the people who came before. About the ones trying to bring it back. About how something as small as a flower can carry so much meaning.
I dug a few bulbs for dinner. Then we all just stood there, grateful. The camas was blooming. The butte was green and growing. The sky was blue as could be. And spring had come again. NS
Camas bulbs after being slowly cooked so as to convert a natural carbohydrate known as inulin to fructose. “Basically,” writes King, “you will fart like a Clydesdale if you don’t cook them long enough.” (RANDY KING)
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BSin’ About Walleye With Bill Saunders
Y’all know I grew up in Ohio. I’ve mentioned that innumerable times here in print over the past decade and my return to the pages of Northwest Sportsman. I’ve also mentioned, I’m sure repeatedly, the fact that having grown up within 62 minutes of Ashtabula, Ohio, I spent a lot – and I mean a lot – of time fishing Lake Erie out of the undeniable “Walleye Capitol of the World,” that being Ashtabula, Ohio. Smallmouth bass? Occasionally. Yellow perch? More frequently. Channel cats? Unintentionally. Walleye? Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!
OUTDOORS MD
By MD Johnson
Which brings me around to the Columbia River and walleye. Now, I’m not trying to raise hackles here. And I have no desire to get into a debate about nonnative species. Why? Let’s just say ringneck pheasant, chukar partridge, brown trout, largemouth bass … Uh-huh! Largemouth, the most popular gamefish in the United States, were originally found only in the eastern half of the country; now, she’s everywhere coast to coast. Washington largemouth? Nonnative. Oregon? Same. California. Yes, sir. Just sayin’.
My point is this. No, I don’t support bucket biology. And yes, I do agree that certain nonnative plants and animals can be problematic, with some being quite a problem. That said, if you hate walleye because they’re nonnative to the Pacific Northwest, well, they’re not the only one. And if you hate walleye because they eat salmon smolts, well, let me put it this way. Every nonvegan life form that swims in, floats on or flies above the Columbia River eats salmon smolts. I had nothing to do with that; blame Mother Nature, if you’re of a mind to point fingers. So where’s this leave us in terms of walleye and the Northwest, specifically in the Columbia? If, like many, you hate them, you must, as my 14-year-old grandson says, “embrace the suck.” They’re here, and they’re here to stay. If you don’t hate them as I do not, then go forth, good people, catch them
In addition to being an accomplished duck and goose call maker and competitive caller, Bill Saunders of the Tri-Cities loves him some Columbia River gold. (BILL SAUNDERS)
COLUMN
and eat them. Filet them, roll ’em in Pride of the West, and fry them in peanut oil. Enjoy them.
WITH THAT OUT of the way, let’s talk about walleye with a guy who spends most of his waking hours – at least, when he’s not hunting mallard ducks or chasing February snow geese – targeting walleye on the Columbia. And not just any walleye. Big walleye; as in 15-plus-pound fish. Let me put that into context. There are avid – nay, fanatical – walleye anglers who have spent a lifetime fishing Lake Erie and have never boated an
’eye over 10 pounds. Or even touching 10 pounds. Me? My biggest, taken in August 1996, weighed 14.5 pounds. These are big fish. Like 9-pound-smallmouth big. Or 21-pound-coho big. Or 42-pound-king big, and I’m not talking the Kenai River. Maybe it’s because Bill Saunders, the man of whom I speak, was born in Wisconsin, home to some of the best walleye fishing anywhere. If you’re a waterfowler, you know the name Saunders. Duck calls. Goose calls. Former competitive caller. Calling champion several times over. Guide and outfitter. But what you may not know, and something I found a little surprising, is Saunders’ affinity for walleye, an infatuation
Learning to pay attention to currents and how to maximize your fishfinder’s capabilities are two of Saunders’ most important takeaways for catching more walleye. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)
Trolling plugs is the easiest way for most anglers to catch Columbia walleye, but the fish will also bite a swimbait this time of year, as well as a nightcrawler on a worm harness dragged through deeper, cooler holes. (BILL SAUNDERS)
bordering on fanaticism. Want proof? Summer, several years ago, and I’m BSing with Saunders.
“You’re going to Canada in September, aren’t you?” I asked him, referencing his annual pilgrimage north of the border to guide waterfowl clients.
“Nah,” he replied, “I’m not going to Canada anymore. It gets in the way of my walleye fishing.” ’Nough said.
Here, we slow Saunders down just long enough to talk Walleye 101, with just a little bit of Walleye 401 tossed in for those folks who’ve already chased the Great Golden One in the Big River and might be looking for something new and different to try.
Northwest Sportsman Why walleye, Bill?
Does it have something to do with the fact you were born in Wisconsin?
Bill Saunders Dad grew up fishing for walleye. Fished every day; sometimes twice a day on Lake Winnebago. I have uncles who live on the Wisconsin River and fish walleye every day. It’s a family thing. And moving out West here, the Columbia River is one of the best, if not the greatest (walleye) water in the nation. For me, personally, I like walleye because you can target them in so many different ways. That’s what’s fun about it; there’s so many ways to fish for them and catch them. And as far as tablefare goes, I don’t think there’s a better fish out there.
NWS The most important variable to the angler new to walleye fishing? Water
depth? Structure?
BS Strictly talking a river (walleye) fishery, current is the thing I see that most guys don’t pay attention to. Not saying you can’t catch fish in heavy current or no current, but there is definitely a sweet spot that walleye like to hang out in. It’s around 1 mile per hour, give or take four- or fivetenths either direction. That water speed seems to be comfortable, let’s say, for those fish. And the main thing is the bait also finds that water speed comfortable.
NWS What’s the tactic with the shallowest learning curve? Jigging? Dragging worm harness?
BS Pull plugs. Why? Pulling plugs is easy. You tie a lure on your line and you drive. Of course, there are all the nuances of being good at pulling plugs, but for the average guy, tying on a plug and trolling upstream is super easy.
There’s a lot of guys using leadcore line (for pulling plugs). It’s nothing new. If not leadcore, I’m using braid, either with or without monofilament or fluorocarbon leader. In shallow situations or in areas with a lot of boat traffic, there’s planer boards. The other thing with pulling plugs is you don’t have to have a kicker motor. I’m using a 36-volt bow-mounted trolling motor, and I’m pulling plugs with that.
Number two in terms of ease? Pulling worms on worm harnesses.
NWS But what plugs, Bill? There’s a flat ton of choices out there. Which ones?!?
BS It’s pretty easy. Determine the water depth you’re working with, and then find a plug that will work or get down to that depth.
I see two schools of thought when it comes to walleye plugs. There are those guys who want to match the hatch and use something that looks natural. And then there are those guys who want to use bright colors and flashy lures. I custom paint a lot of my plugs, but two of the ones I use more than any others are storebought colors. Let’s take a generic plug like the Berkley Flicker Minnow. Popular plug; very effective on a variety of waters.
NWS It’s June now. Are you going to change tactics in July or August?
COLUMN
BS Yeah. Tactics might change a little bit. You can catch walleye on a plug, worm harness or swimbait year-round, but if I’m fishing some deeper stuff, say, 30 to 40 feet of water, and I want to cover water and be more efficient with my time, when the fish drop into those cooler holes, that’s when I’m using a harness. I definitely (pull) a worm harness more starting in late June through August. Or plugs on leadcore. Just something to get down into those deeper holes.
NWS If you taught Advanced Walleye Class, what would the lesson plan look like?
BS It would be your electronics. Honestly, it would be learning your electronics.
We live in a time where it’s video game fishing. It is so effective, it’s crazy. Whether you have down-imaging or side-imaging or LiveScope or 360 View, if you can dial in how your electronics work and how to apply your techniques to those electronics, you’re going to (outfish) everybody. It’s simply amazing.
NWS No minimum size for walleye. No daily bag limit. Is conservation still a concern? BS For sure! It has to be. I like catching big fish. I don’t know anyone who if you ask them, “Would you like to reel in a big fish or a little fish?” they don’t want to reel in a big fish. So put the damn thing back when you’re done with it. We can (hopefully) come back and get him again
ASK THE M.D.
Land again and again. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t think that way. But it’s not only the big fish. I’m seeing guys killing walleye the size of a dill pickle. It’s like (the late) Stan Lee (of the Marvel Universe) said, “With great power comes great responsibility.” You can’t just take, take, take and take. You can’t, or there won’t be anything left.
IF YOU’RE WONDERING, I agree 100 percent with Saunders on releasing the big fish. I do dearly love to eat walleye, though, and will keep four or five smaller (16 to 20 inches) fish to roll in Pride of the West. The big ones, the big females, I turn loose. I’m at that point in my so-called outdoor career. ’Nough said. NS
ast issue, MD Johnson answered a reader’s question about bottomfishing off the jetty, and we’re offering you a chance to pick his brain on anything from clam digging to crappie fishing, muzzleloader hunting to duck decoying and more as well. Got a question for him? Email the editor at awalgamott@media-inc.com and we’ll get MD on it for a future issue! –NWS
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Quest For Crappie
A lifelong fascination with Northwest crappie fishing but one without consistent success led an angler to the Deep South for insights and improved results.
Charlie Ramin, 9, the granddaughter of Brad Newman – the subject of this article – holds a very chunky crappie caught at night. Crappie are active feeders in the dark and during the day, and using lights to attract the food chain can yield big results. As a formerly very dedicated nighttime kokanee angler fishing over lights, several times my efforts lured schools of crappies to my baits while I was on Northwest lakes and led to unexpected catches and resulting fish fries. Targeting summertime crappies at night is a good opportunity and challenge for Northwest anglers. (BRAD NEWMAN)
Story and cutlines by Jeff Holmes
It’s an overlooked fact about our angling history that crappie, bass and all their spinyrayed cousins came west of the Mississippi to the Pacific Northwest, mostly by railcars, at the end of 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. The first half of this history is detailed in fascinating form in Ben Hur Lampman’s The
Coming of the Pond Fishes: An Account of the Introduction of Certain Spinyrayed Fishes, and Other Exotic Species, into the Waters of the Lower Columbia River Region and the Pacific Coast States. This awesome book is available for purchase online in paper form. It details the first half of the “coming” of the so-called pond fishes, which
have been fixtures in the ponds, lakes, reservoirs and rivers of the Northwest for long enough to be mostly welcome residents that are surely here to stay, likely long after trout, salmon and char.
Still, spinyrays are alien species that have thrived in our alien environments, as many nonnative species do whenever they are introduced to favorable conditions. Their history and impact on our fisheries has been understudied and is poorly understood due to the challenges of studying and managing our native species, which are largely more fragile, exploited and legally protected for recovery than these relative newcomers.
At the time of Lampman’s writing – 1946 – much of the history and expansion of spinyrays was still yet to occur, and much has changed since the period right after the conclusion of World War II. One of those major changes is the abundance of crappies in our fisheries. Crappies thrived in the less disturbed aquatic ecosystems of the first half of their history in the Northwest, and filling five-gallon buckets was commonplace back in the day. Today such practices are largely prohibited by regulations and abundance in most fisheries where crappies persist.
There are exceptions, of course, with some of those being tightly guarded secrets or places like Brownlee Reservoir on the Oregon/ Idaho border, the Snake River impoundment that is undeniably the Northwest’s crappie mecca for numbers of fish. It is unknown precisely why we’ve seen a dip in crappie abundance in some if not most fisheries, but biologists suspect the increased presence of carp –themselves an introduced species; oh, the irony – muddying waters and disrupting the food chain has been a primary culprit. Fisheries research literature from elsewhere in the country seems to corroborate this theory.
FISHING
There seem to be more white than black crappie down south and more black than white in the Northwest, but both species show up in the bag at home and in the land of Dixie. And they are both equally delicious. Here, Newman hoists nice black and white crappies caught successively from Lake Tuscaloosa. (BRAD NEWMAN)
NORTHWEST CRAPPIE COUNTRY TOUR
As a youth, I saw some brimming buckets of giant crappies filled with ease, heard the stories of days of yore and have been intrigued and in pursuit of crappies off and on my whole life. Similarly, many Northwest anglers find crappies fascinating and wish they had a better read on where to find them throughout the year and how to catch them.
Anglers may not be filling buckets at Potholes Reservoir, Moses Lake, Sprague Lake and other crappie factories of antiquity, but there are still crappies to be had across the Northwest without making the long drive to Brownlee.
In fact, crappies have made inroads into lakes where they previously did not exist or only existed in smaller numbers. Over the last 30 years, they have shown up in a big way in Spokane County’s Liberty and Newman Lakes. I landed a 17-inch crappie at the former 20 years ago, my best ever by 2 inches.
Crappies are numerous and have
grown to huge sizes in Hayden and other North Idaho lakes just across the border from Spokane, and they have increased their range in the many Western Washington lakes in which they live.
There is tons of crappie opportunity in Washington, and Oregon too, and both states’ Departments of Fish and Wildlife offer solid resources to identify fisheries. Along with Brownlee, ODFW spotlights Henry Hagg Lake, Prineville Reservoir and the Freeway Ponds near Albany.
However, since the bucket-filling days are largely over and because crappies are fun to catch, cool looking, and arguably the single best-tasting gamefish in our waters, there is no more tight-lipped angling user group than crappie fishermen for juicy, actionable advice.
THREE KEYS TO SUCCESS
Northwest crappie secrets are largely earned, and while this article won’t unlock the door to lakes or tactics that will restore the good old days, there are a few simple things to keep
in mind about crappies.
First, they will eat invertebrates and probably other random prey, but crappies eat other fish. Northwest anglers are way more likely to do well on crappies when imitating various species of minnows.
They are usually not picky, but fish are what are for dinner in crappieworld. Realistic minnow jigs are the most consistent and easiest lure to vertically jig, which is the favored approach much of the year except when fish are shallow.
Second, crappie come shallow to feed for the prespawn when water temperatures reach the low 50s, and they keep the feedbags on until the spawn starts in earnest, around 65 degrees. The crappie spawn usually peaks around 68 degrees, and the fish stick around after that to feed and recondition until temps around 72 degrees drive them deeper to cooler, minnow-filled waters.
A third and final piece of advice is to consider focusing on deeper water much of the year because crappie only consistently come into
Author Jeff Holmes, Newman and Kevin Shobe (left to right) took this picture in close proximity to former Alabama Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban’s dock, where we fished (unsuccessfully) for crappie on a winter day. Meanwhile we found plenty of success on crappie, spotted bass and channel cats elsewhere in the many bays and arms of Lake Tuscaloosa, including within eyeshot of former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder’s dock and palatial lakeside mansion. (BRAD NEWMAN)
FISHING
Crappie can “lockjaw” and refuse to bite at times, and we worried they would on this day with the winds coming out of the east. Not every school we fished over using Newman’s Garmin LiveScope wanted to bite, but we found plenty of willing biters that took our The Crappie Life (thecrappielife.net) jigs deep, like this nice white crappie. (BRAD NEWMAN)
shallow water (less than 10 feet) in the spring (to feed and spawn) and fall (to feed). They can be found in depths greater than 50 feet at times, although a more common depth is near the thermocline, usually somewhere around 30 to 40 feet.
Much of the year, they occupy these deeper waters – at times suspending – where they enjoy the cool in summer and the warmth in winter and pursue minnows in all seasons.
Finding crappie in the summer and winter can be half the fun, and the old-school approach is
prospecting from spot to spot or slow trolling for fish and marking schools and zeroing them in. However, the more common approach these days is using good electronics or even live imaging sonar to find schools of fish and then dropping jigs directly in their faces.
ANGLING ADVENTURE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF USUAL
I got to experience this fun Garmin LiveScope approach to crappie fishing a few months ago when I made the long trip to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to fish with Brad Newman,
owner of the philanthropy-based crappie lure brand, The Crappie Life (thecrappielife.net).
I became aware of Newman and his amazingly effective lures when a guy I know in the Northwest took these realistic minnow imitations out on the Mid-Columbia and found that everything on that trip bit them –except crappies.
Once wildly chock-full of crappies, these days most of the big river’s backwaters and sloughs are light on crappies and heavy on carp and pelicans. I reached out to secure some of these lively, ultrarealistic minnow-imitating plastics from Newman and ended up having a great conversation and making a plan to fish together. It was clear from our first conversation that Newman was passionate about crappies but even more so about the act of fishing for them and the joy, fellowship and philanthropy that crappie angling also enabled.
As longtime readers of this magazine may note, I’ve done a lot of travel pieces over the years, usually about heading west or northwest to catch halibut or lings or some other major harvest opportunity in Canada or along our own coastlines. This trip to Alabama was my furthest flung adventure, but I’d always wanted to visit the Deep South and thought I might pick up some actionable crappie knowledge there.
I arrived in Tuscaloosa on a Friday night before an Alabama football gameday and right before the Mike Tyson and Jake Paul fight. The town was packed, leading me to stay at the sketchiest Motel 6 I’d seen in years. Seeking respite from my kinda gross room, I saw that there was a Raising Cane’s chicken place not 3 miles from me, so I drove there on a bee line to get food for the fight. I have no idea how many Burger Kings I passed on that drive and on the drive into Tuscaloosa. Burger Kings and chicken restaurants are like McDonald’s and Starbucks in the Northwest: everywhere.
FISHING
It turned out Raising Cane’s was located inside a college dorm and that I would be the only old, longhaired, weirdo white guy (the only white guy period) standing in line for chicken fingers at 10 p.m. The chicken was delicious, the fight was sad, and I closed my eyes for a few hours of sleep before meeting Newman at his home by the lake, north of Tuscaloosa, at 5:30 a.m.
Southern hospitality is totally a thing, and from the moment I arrived at his shop and production facility for The Crappie Life lures, up until the moment I would leave his house later that day after being fed like a king by his wife, I felt as welcome as I imagine I ever could.
After a bit of conversation and a short tour of Newman’s lure-making setup, we took off and picked up some minnows on the way, which we’d end up not needing. Within 10 minutes of leaving his house, despite me forgetting my camera and us having to turn around, Newman launched his boat without my help – without even a rope. He deployed his Minn Kota Ulterra by remote control and remotely drove his slick little bass boat to the dock. It was just like the Ulterra commercial. I’d never had the cajónes to do that with my Ulterra.
LEARNING ON THE WATER
In the Northwest I am a chronic overdresser/packer when on the water and even bring extra clothes for everyone on my boat. This morning, however, I took for granted Alabama could be chilly as Newman put the boat on plane through light fog and zoomed to the first spot, a nondescript rockpile way offshore in the big lake. My teeth chattered as I deployed a Crappie Life minnow under Newman’s instruction, watching it sink on the LiveScope into a school of fish he assured me were crappie.
As we worked our lures, I learned that Lake Tuscaloosa is an impoundment of the North River
and is not known for being a prolific crappie fishery. It is not a weedy lake and is quite clean and the source of drinking water for Tuscaloosa. Newman likes the challenge of finding fish on the big lake and using his scope and other electronics to catch fish. I immediately saw the appeal and watched Newman set the hook on a couple nice crappies at the first spot before we jumped on plane and moved to fish in 40 feet of water off of a favorite dock of Newman’s, a place where he often night fishes for crappie in the warmer months.
I asked question after question –as is my way – as we fished, and I learned that the big lake is home to a lot of people, including famous ones. It is also home to a few alligators and lots of snakes, including poisonous cottonmouths.
As we talked we could see these deep-water crappies on the LiveScope looking at our jigs but refusing to bite. Newman assured me we had more places to check out than we’d ever get to in a day, so we moved on. The next spot, a much shallower bay of 16 to 18 feet, yielded several crappies, a channel
cat and a spotted bass, all of which ended up in the livewell. A couple of huge alligator gar showed up on the live imaging unit as we fished, and they looked much, much longer than the live well.
Along with loving fish fries himself, Newman has a long list of friends from church without easy access to fish who greatly appreciate the sacks of perfectly cleaned fish filets he and his young grandson prepare and drop off. In fact, out of habit, I accidentally released a couple spotted bass (which look almost identical to largemouth) throughout the day and could hear and see Newman’s disappointment. I endeavored to do better.
REWARDING WORK ...
On the way to our next spot, a bay where former Alabama Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban has a home and productive dock, Newman got a call from his good friend Kevin Shobe. We would skip “Saban Bay” until later so we could run further downlake to another bay to pick up Shobe. Shobe coordinates the substantial barbecue catering for the Alabama football
Piscivorous, crappie eat almost exclusively other fish. Minnows are the famously favored bait of crappie diehards who use anything that imitates them. On my trip fishing with Newman of The Crappie Life on Alabama’s Lake Tuscaloosa, we had a bucket full of super lively minnows that we kept aerated throughout our trip. The crappie wouldn’t touch them on that day, only Newman’s super lifelike plastic minnow imitations, pictured here. He makes Northwest-specific baits in more natural earthy colors like these that work amazingly well here on pretty much all game fish.
(BRAD NEWMAN)
DESTINATION ALASKA
FISHING
team and was coming from work to jump in the boat. Newman calls Shobe his “little brother” although they come from wildly different social and ethnic backgrounds and are opposite-sized men.
They share, however, a love for their religion and for helping kids. Both great guys who love to fish together and get new people in the boat who don’t have access to fishing, they met in 2021 through the Church of the Highlands and its Unity Group. That group involves men from different churches from different backgrounds and brings them together to find fellowship and build better communities, supporting kids and strengthening families by getting folks the resources they need.
The group brings white and black men together who otherwise would almost certainly never meet, which in the South is a really big deal. Together they focus on changing the culture for how they solve community challenges by applying an engineering problemsolving approach called value stream analysis that Newman used in his career leading the production of auto parts for Mercedes and Toyota.
Instead of taking a haphazard, whack-a-mole approach to helping those in need, which is the typical inefficient way philanthropic support is distributed, they are identifying basic needs within the community, determining the resources already available within the community, efficiently distributing those resources, and efficiently identifying resources they need to acquire to make changes in the lives of those who most need help.
After a proof of concept supporting extremely low-income kids in a local housing authority, Newman, Shobe and their unity group are thinking big and extending their reach. They’ve created a group called the Unity Foundation of Tuscaloosa County, and they are networking with similar faith-based networks
I was unexpectedly and legitimately inspired on this crappie fishing trip to Alabama to hear about the incredible efforts of the Unity Foundation of Tuscaloosa County, led by my hosts Newman and his “little brother,” Shobe. In this picture, Newman is signing a check from The Crappie Life to support the food and other basic needs of these kids for the Northport Housing Authority. Together, Newman and Shobe and men from churches around the area are pioneering efforts to lift up those in need – especially kids – using an engineering problem-solving approach called “value stream analysis” they are hoping to apply nationwide. That approach enables their foundation and others to identify basic needs within the community, determine the resources already available there, efficiently distribute those resources, and quickly figure out what they need to acquire to make changes in the lives of those who most need help. (KEVIN SHOBE)
nationwide to extend the value stream analysis approach.
... AND FISHING
I admit that I had a blast fishing once Shobe joined our trip, but I paid way more attention to the cool stories and groundbreaking work these men were doing. Maybe that’s why Newman outfished me three to one on crappies.
Although Newman worried we’d get skunked from the terrible weather pattern, we caught lots of fish that he and his grandson would later filet and distribute. We fished a ton of different spots, saw some cool critters and may have seen former heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder at his lakeside mansion.
Sadly, Saban Bay yielded no fish but some great conversation. Indeed, we shared tons of laughs throughout the day, and I was genuinely inspired with the work that Newman, Shobe
and their foundation are doing to support those who need it most, using a smart approach to identify and distribute resources that may take root nationwide.
And against a backdrop of crappie fishing and worship, I unexpectedly saw men healing racial divisions and making meaningful bonds of fellowship. I was so moved that I volunteered and will keep my promise to help Newman publicize their work by writing for them in Southern publications; I look forward to it.
Overall the trip was immensely rewarding and cost me very little … until I got home and decided I needed all-new Garmin electronics including two big monitors and a LiveScope, plus a new Minn Kota. Seven thousand dollars later, and I have found the latest way to spend a ton of money on fishing that will hopefully yield way more crappies caught in my own boat. NS
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Picking A Hunting Dog That’s Right For You
Part II of II
Last month we looked at some of the important factors that hunters should think about before investing in a gun dog. Space, time and money were key points we detailed. This month we’ll finish it up, starting with your new dog’s diet.
MY NUMBER ONE pet peeve with gun dog owners is that they invest time and money into getting a good breed but then they feed their dog absolutely terrible food and unhealthy table scraps. Some of the highly popular dog foods on the market are the most detrimental to a dog’s health, but the companies have huge marketing budgets, so many folks don’t think otherwise.
The remedy to this is simple: read the labels. This requires learning what foods, vitamins and minerals are good and bad for your dog. Truth be told, many trainers and kennel owners I’ve met over the years are guilty of this, and I get it – high-quality dog food isn’t cheap. They get good deals on subpar food because they feed a lot of dogs and deal with many clients who see what they feed. That’s sad misdirection and we have marketing to blame.
Think of professional athletes and the diets they are dedicated to during their careers. It should be no different for dogs, but you have to make the right choice. Poor-quality food is a leading reason behind a dog’s poor health and shortened lifespan. Signs like itchiness, oral infections, sore joints, yeasty ears and more are typically the result of poorquality dog food – nothing else. Would you rather eat processed meat and fast food your whole life, or wild game and fresh fruits and vegetables?
Good dog food appears to cost a lot more money than big-box store brands. But because the pricier foods are higher quality, you’ll feed less volume, which means it’s about the same cost in the end. For instance, one of the worst dog foods on the market suggests feeding my male dog 3 cups, twice a day. But the highprotein and nutrient-rich NutriSource food I give him calls for only 1½ cups, twice a
GUN DOG
By Scott Haugen
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day. While the bag of NutriSource is just over double the cost of the other brand, it’s nearly equal because of the portioning. A bit of education will allow you to provide your dog with a healthy, long life.
TWO YEARS AGO, a 72-year-old friend of mine lost his German shorthair to cancer. She was seven. He said he’d never get another hunting dog. He and his wife had recently retired. They had dogs all their married life, over 40 years. They felt a sense of relief that they could now travel the world together in their retirement.
But then my buddy bought a German shorthair pup on a whim, without consulting his wife. Soon after that, he got another pup. That ended their globetrotting dreams. In an instant their retirement plans changed, likely for the next 12 to 14 years because they won’t
leave their dogs with anyone to look after. Now, the wife travels the world with friends and the man stays home with his dogs. Their choice. Well, his choice.
The kind of dog you get can greatly influence your life and that of your spouse, even your children. Consider your whole family when looking into what kind of hunting dog breed you want. A laid-back dog is easy to care for. A high-strung breed that stresses when you leave to take out the trash, let alone abandon it for a week’s vacation, is going to make it hard to leave behind.
Our dogs are now 11 and 8½ years old. When our teenage sons were at home, they looked after and helped train the dogs when my wife and I were out of town for work or vacation. Four years ago, our sons moved away. My wife and I have not gone on a trip together since then, for the simple fact we don’t trust anyone
to look after our dogs. We don’t want to burden them with the daily demands of looking after, training and feeding our dogs. We knew this time would come when we got our pups, and now we’re happily living what we prepared for. But it’s not always easy.
LAST BUT FAR from least, be honest with yourself about the number of days a year you plan on hunting your dog. I can’t begin to tally the number of people I’ve met over the years who got a pup with intentions of hunting every weekend, only to just hunt once or twice a year.
One of my good buddies owns a number of businesses. Years ago he got a yellow Lab, saying he was going to get back into duck hunting because of that dog. He even got a lease at a fancy duck club. He hunted twice the first year, once the following year. The dog hunted ducks
Quality dog food, treats and toppers can add years to your dog’s life and eliminate the majority of health issues that are common with unhealthy, cheap foods. For eight years, author Scott Haugen has fed NutriSource to his dogs, and they’ve had zero health issues relating to diet. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
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A dog from a high-quality bloodline is driven and born to hunt. If you don’t have the time and space to train them year-round, or will struggle to get them hunting dozens of times a year, it could be a long, frustrating path for both of you.
less than five times its whole life, and died of old age at 14. But the dog was a great pet for my friend; he kept it in good shape, and it was a good breed to live that lifestyle. They were happy together.
On the flip side, if you’re going to hunt ducks 75 days a season, get a dog that can withstand that level of exertion. You might even want to consider getting two dogs if time, space and money are favorable. Due to injury or recoveries from long strings of hard hunting, I lose about four weeks per season at one time or another with each of my dogs. But I have a second one to fill in. They get along great, hunt well together and are
exceptional when they get to hunt alone with my buddies and I.
Attaining the best bloodline possible will cost more but put you way ahead of the game in what that pup will be able to do, even how long it lives. Pups from quality bloodlines are also less likely to have health issues throughout their life. Time and time again I’ve had people go against my suggestion to avoid a particular bloodline they’d asked about, and in nearly every case the dogs died prematurely or had to be put down for various reasons. Cheap is almost never a good deal when it comes to investing in a gun dog you want to hunt with year-round.
DECIDING ON A dog breed that’s right for you requires serious thought and consideration. And what works for friends may not be right for you. Weigh all the factors, talk about it with family members who might be involved in the training and dog-sitting responsibilities, and be honest. A breeder of an elite versatile gun dog bloodline I met put it best when he said, “Why buy a Ferrari if you’re going to drive it in first gear?” NS
Editor’s note: Scott Haugen is a full-time writer. See his basic puppy training videos and learn more about his many books at scotthaugen.com. Follow his adventures on Instagram and Facebook.
(SCOTT HAUGEN)
Start Getting Ready For Fall Right Now!
ON TARGET
By Dave Workman
This fall’s general Washington rifle deer hunting season opener is Saturday, October 11, the Eastside elk season begins October 25 and the Westside elk hunt starts November 1.
Long before that – like, right now – you should rush out and purchase your hunting license and tags. The prices will be going up 38 percent for most sportsmen following lawmakers’ passage of a fee increase this legislative session, and yet the state Department of Fish and Wildlife will reportedly still have to make program cuts.
The cost could drive some hunters and anglers away. They won’t necessarily stop hunting, but may invest their time traveling to other states to hunt.
All the season dates and all other regulations are available in the 120page regulations pamphlet (when I was a kid the hunting regulations were much simpler!), which has a cover photo completely void of game. Instead, there’s a guy rolling up barbed wire.
WHILE IT’S JUNE, fall hunting will be here very soon, and in addition to buying your licenses and tags, you really have three months to get into shape. The older you are, the more time this might take. We’re all a year older and it is amazing how much higher and steeper those ridges have become over the past 12 months!
Start walking more and make sure some of that is uphill and downhill (try running sprints up and down the bleachers at your local high school!). Do at least some of that hiking while wearing your hunting boots, retrain yourself to stay hydrated and start spending time at the shooting range.*
One conditioning trick I learned many years ago is to stuff a daypack with heavy stuff and wear that during your walks. It gets your back and shoulder muscles in condition. Decades ago, I hiked up Mount Si east of Seattle with a backpack and rifle for conditioning; I lost count of the people who asked if I was going to shoot them, and only one guy – an older gent – understood exactly what I was doing,
Now’s the time to start getting in shape for fall hunting seasons. Walk, or even better, hike to get your legs and shoulders conditioned, and wear your hunting boots. This photo of author Dave Workman was snapped a few years ago, in mid-June, on Washington’s Quartz Mountain in Yakima County. (DAVE WORKMAN)
Workman spends a lot of time at the range during the summer – he may even be there right now as you’re reading this! That’s because he wants to make sure his first shot counts, as he may not get a second! (DAVE
gave me a thumbs up and chatted about all kinds of stuff including, as I recall, boot care, warm socks and good sleeping bags.
*RANGE TIME
Making a clean shot has been one of my main concerns since I started hunting at about 12 years of age and my rifle had only iron sights.
On opening morning, if you see a legal buck or bull in their respective seasons, you will be making a cold-bore shot at a likely undetermined distance, and it needs to be good. Right now is when you need to be making sure your rifle or handgun is putting bullets where they need to go. If you’re replacing or adding a scope, get it tuned up and zeroed right now
If you’re a handloader, pick the load you will be using (i.e., powder charge, bullet weight, resize and trim your cases according to specs in your loading manual, etc.) and visit the range once or twice a month as time allows from now through September.
If you do not have a rangefinder, this little item might be a good investment.
I’ve set up on many an opener, or even later in the season, and from whatever spot I occupied, I’ve actually picked various little landmarks – a big rock, large tree, prominent stump – and ranged them from my position just to mentally note the distance. It has paid off more than once, whether hunting in timber country or out in the open.
Your time at the range should be spent leisurely. Turn off your cell phone or at least shut off the ringer. Get into this habit because the last thing you want to hear when you see antlers is the damned phone going off, because the buck or bull you are eyeballing for a trip to the meat locker will likely hear it as well. I know this from experience!
Fire no more than a three-shot string, rack your rifle with the action open to allow the barrel to cool for several minutes, and check your hits on the target. Adjust your sights accordingly while the rifle cools down, and do it carefully.
Practice shooting from a makeshift rest. Instead of sandbags, use your backpack or roll up your hunting jacket and get used to
shooting over that instead.
Some of your practice should be done with gloves on, because you just might be wearing gloves this fall, depending upon the weather.
Make sure your range practice is with the same ammunition you’ll have in the rifle come October and November. If you use factory ammunition, buy two boxes, one for preseason practice and one for the season.
PAM BONDI’S 2A TASK FORCE
On a firearms-related note, back in April, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced the formation of a Second Amendment Task Force. This group within the Justice Department was created to zero in on states and municipalities that have adopted laws and regulations that infringe on Second Amendment rights.
Within days, the Bellevue-based Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms sent a letter to Bondi, asking her to prioritize 12 states where laws have been passed that clearly infringe or impair the right to bear arms. Washington and Oregon are on that list,
WORKMAN)
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What do you see with the author’s bolt-action .308-caliber rifle? A backpack, which he took along for some impromptu target practice a couple of summers back, using the backpack as a rest. After all, who carries a sandbag on a hunting trip? (DAVE WORKMAN)
as are Colorado and California.
Bondi is clearly looking at the Evergreen State because last month it was revealed that the Justice Department has launched an investigation of the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. One thing could lead to another.
What the legislature’s Democrat majority has done to gun rights over the past few years deserves to be investigated.
GOOD NEWS
And finally, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson did something smart and which deserves recognition. Before Jay Inslee left office, he decided to nominate a new face to the Fish and Wildlife Commission in place of Douglas County’s Molly Linville.
Ferguson subsequently rescinded that Inslee nomination, as well as another reappointment, and put Linville back on the commission for another six-year term. She has been a consistent voice for sound wildlife management and Evergreen State hunters can be glad she won’t be replaced by someone who may not have the interests of hunters at heart.
Linville is a rancher, with a spread in lower Moses Coulee – a landscape straight out of a John Ford Western. I’ve hunted the coulee in the past in different spots, and way up on top, on public land. Some miles north of her ranch, up along the Douglas Creek drainage, I plugged a nice mule deer buck a few years ago on the season opener, and my brother conked an even nicer one a couple of years later on the second weekend, hunting in the same general area. NS
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Use Offseason To Stay (Or Get Back) In Shape
Becoming a better hunter doesn’t just happen in fall – it’s a year-round pursuit that in late spring and early summer should include hiking to keep those legs in shape and boost overall physical fitness. Finding a shed moose antler while doing so, like author Dave Anderson did last month, will only improve the experience. (DAVE ANDERSON)
BECOMING A BETTER HUNTER
By Dave Anderson
We are already into the month of June and hunting season 2025 will be here before you know it. In fact, some hunts are only a couple months away – fall black bear in Washington, controlled pronghorn seasons in Oregon and general bow deer and elk in Idaho all begin in August. As you reflect on past hunting seasons, were you successful or unsuccessful? Are you new to hunting or do you have years of experience? Even if you are a seasoned veteran, there are so many things that you can do now to ensure that you are successful year in and year out.
Successful hunts often require stamina and strength, so I am a huge advocate of using the offseason to get in shape and improve your physical fitness level. Being able to go further, pack more and enjoy the mountains without being out of breath can easily make or break a hunting season.
IT’S VERY IMPORTANT to prepare your body for the upcoming season to not only prevent injury, but also increase your
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success and enjoyment of the hunt. I will admit that with my job and busy travel schedule it is somewhat difficult to stay on track with both my fitness and diet regimen. I just turned 44 last month and have found it more and more difficult each year to keep the weight off compared to a decade or two ago. Last year, I made the commitment to lose weight and hold myself accountable in order to get myself in the best physical shape possible with the time that I have.
Improving our physical fitness and stamina does not just come from working out. Diet is also key to helping shed pounds. I have always loved the saying “You cannot outrun a fork.” It doesn’t matter how much exercise you get, if you eat like crap, you will still not shed weight. I can assure you of that.
At the most basic level, it’s all about calories in and calories out. This doesn’t just include food. Anything we consume, including drinks, also counts towards those calories in. Alcohol and sugary drinks should be eliminated from your diet to achieve better success, in my opinion. The older we get, these drinks and other foods affect us all differently. I made a commitment to cut alcohol from my life completely earlier this year, and I have never felt better.
SETTING FITNESS GOALS can keep you motivated and on track as the season approaches. My goal this year is to strength-train my legs two to three times per week. If you have access to a gym, this is pretty easy. Make sure you are incorporating squats, dead lifts, leg presses, leg extensions, leg curls and calf raises to target all those large and small muscles of the legs.
You should also incorporate exercises that strengthen your core. Core and leg strength are crucial for hiking and carrying gear. The internet is a great place to find different exercise programs that target different muscle groups, so if you only have access to limited equipment at your house, try searching online for a fitness program that best suits your situation. Kettlebell workouts are also an easy and great tool to target legs in combination with a jump box. Add running, hiking or cycling into your routine to help build endurance.
If your plan includes going to the gym, there is nothing wrong with hiring a personal trainer to help you get started. About a year ago, a friend of mine decided to commit to being more active and improve his fitness level. He started out using the MtnTough fitness program and went from 240 pounds down to 205 pounds. To this day, he is still using their
different programs and absolutely loves it. He looks like a totally different person than he did back in 2024. It is also great to see his 11-year-old son following in his footsteps and starting to run and lift with him. If I didn’t have access to a gym, this would be something that I would be using. No matter what you do, you owe it to yourself to be in the best shape possible when you step foot on those trails and in the mountains.
HUNTING IS PHYSICALLY demanding and requires endurance, strength, balance and agility. For these reasons, maintaining adequate fitness is a big deal to me. I don’t want to be out of breath if I need to beat feet and close the distance to a big game animal that I am hunting. I primarily spot and stalk hunt or tiptoe through timber, but depending on your hunting style, you may be walking long distances over rugged terrain while carrying equipment or climbing steep hills.
I carry a fair amount of weight on my back, including items to break down an animal and pack it out, plus plenty of water as well as food and emergency supplies. Most hunts, I usually carry about 20 to 30 pounds of weight on my back, including my rifle, binoculars and range finder. I want to make sure I am physically fit to be able
Can’t get to the woods? Whether it’s workout equipment at your house, the local gym or the hotel your job takes you to, there are plenty of ways to build and maintain the stamina and strength needed for hunting season. (DAVE ANDERSON)
Anderson and wife Kristina make a point of using their big backyard to stay in shape and develop a mindset in their sons Ryland (right) and Barrett that while life isn’t always easy, good things come to those who put in the hard work. (DAVE ANDERSON)
to perform swift movements if needed and maintain balance over uneven terrain. Most of the country I find myself in is deep and rugged. I am constantly crawling over logs, rocks and sidehilling steep terrain. When hunting rugged and remote country away from roads, packing out an animal becomes that much more difficult as well, so staying physically fit is that much more important. There is such a thing as becoming physically unable to complete the task of packing out an elk or even a deer. It is our job to be ethical and not let something spoil on the mountain.
ANOTHER THING
I’M a huge advocate of is involving our families in the offseason. My life completely changed when I had children. Before I had my boys, I was either fishing for myself or running charters off the coast of Washington almost every single weekend. My wife and I are now committed to spending every moment we can on the weekends with our boys.
I am extremely proud of Kristina, Ryland and Barrett. They’re all tough, and the boys can hike and go further than most teenagers nowadays. We are so lucky to live in a state like Idaho where
there is so much public land. We already have almost a half dozen cameras out in the mountains this year. By spending so much time hiking, camping and checking cameras in the offseason, it keeps our legs strong and ready for the upcoming fall. Don’t get me wrong, we still found plenty of places to hike and keep our legs strong when we lived in Washington as well. Oregon is full of similar opportunities. Incorporating family into the outdoors is a priority for me. It is so rewarding to see how tough my boys are. They have been putting in miles since they were able to walk. It hasn’t always been easy and there have been plenty of times that they have been tired, worn out and got cranky on the trail. But to me it is an opportunity to show them that they can do hard things and that things in life do not come easy. Even if I have to take more breaks, it will always be worth it to me to have my family out on the mountain enjoying the trails with me.
I feel as though it is our job as parents to show our children that we can do hard things, life isn’t easy and no matter what, we do not quit anything that we put our mind to. We also limit screen time and our boys do not have tablets so that we can prioritize being outside and staying busy away from television and devices. We were lucky this year and stumbled upon some moose sheds while adventuring in the mountains. If we had just sat at home for the weekend, we wouldn’t have been so fortunate.
PREPARING PHYSICALLY FOR fall’s hunts during the offseason is an essential task for any hunter. By understanding the demands of a hunt, committing to a fitness routine and maintaining proper nutrition, you will enhance your performance and enjoyment when the season arrives. In addition, as your fitness improves, you will be better equipped to tackle the challenges of any hunt.
So, no matter what, find some way to get yourself in better shape to enjoy the season and include your family in the outdoor way of life. Lace up your hiking boots, hit the gym and get ready to become a healthier, stronger, more prepared and better hunter this fall! NS
