Northwest Sportsman Mag - January 2024

Special Advertising FOCUS

NORTHWEST FLY FISHING

NWSPORTSMANMAG.COM

Good Used Boats, Repair Parts, Quality Service, Knowlegeable Staff

SALES • SERVICE • ENGINES

GETTING YOU THE RIGHT PART THE FIRST TIME

Seastar Solutions Optimus EPS steering

Docking and maneuvering your boat in high winds has never been so easy. Let the Joy Stick do it for you.

GPS position hold and heading hold is included.

Mercury Marine Outboard Promotion Horsepower

Consumer Rebate

9.9 Pro Kicker

$100

15 Pro Kicker

$150

40 & 40 Jet

$200

50

$250

60 & 65 Jet

$400

75 & 80 Jet

$500

90

$600

115 & 115 ProXS

$1,000

150

$1,250

150 ProXS

$1,500

350

$2,000

400

$2,250

Subject to approval by Mercury and dealer.

Subject to terms. See dealer for details.

NO SALES TAX IN OREGON

8hp and 9.9hp, and Joystick in stock.

Call now!

503-255-8487 • CascadeMarineCenter.com 14900 SE STARK ST. • PORTLAND, OR 97233 HOURS: MON-FRI 8AM-6PM • SAT 9AM-3PM

MOTORS MUST BE CAPABLE OF ACCEPTING JOYSTICK APPLICATION. CERTAIN LIMITATIONS APPLY.

Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource

Volume 16 • Issue 4 PUBLISHER James R. Baker

YOUR COMPLETE HUNTING, BOATING, FISHING AND REPAIR DESTINATION SINCE 1948.

EDITOR Andy “I Got A Headache Reading That” Walgamott THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS Dave Anderson, Jerry Han, Scott Haugen, Jeff Holmes, MD Johnson, Randy King, Buzz Ramsey, Dave Workman, Mark Yuasa ON THE MEND Jason Brooks GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Grant Cunningham, Guy Ricciardulli, Zachary Wheeler DESIGNER Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly 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, or to the mailing address below.

ON THE COVER Jeff Benson of Tri-Cities put together this nice stringer of Lake Roosevelt rainbows last winter.

(KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)

WE OFFER A LARGE INVENTORY OF QUALITY BRANDS

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and get daily updates at nwsportsmanmag.com.

MEDIA INDEX PUBLISHING GROUP

1-877-426-0933 14 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

verles.com

941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120 Renton, WA 98057 (206) 382-9220 • (800) 332-1736 Fax (206) 382-9437 media@media-inc.com mediaindexpublishing.com

O

US DOLLAR IS WORTH $1.25 IN CANADA! GET MORE FOR YOUR MONEY!

“BEST KEPT SECRET ON THE WEST COAST OF VANCOUVER ISLAND”

WE HAVE NO FISHING RESTRICTIONS. FULL LIMITS ON KINGS, SILVERS, LINGCOD, HALIBUT & MORE!

SCAN TO SEE OUR VIDEO

“BRING YOUR LARGE COOLERS. YOU WILL NEED THEM WHEN YOU FISH WITH US!”

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL

BOOK BEFORE JAN. 31, 2024 & GET 2023 PRICING!

ALL DATES MAY 1- SEPT. 30 AVAILABLE

4 Nights LODGING, 3 Full Days of GUIDED FISHING + ALL MEALS $2100 US/$2650 CA

We are the only region on the west coast of Canada that has FULL LIMITS for SALMON, HALIBUT & LINGCOD BOOK NOW while dates are still available. info@westviewmarina.com

250-934-7672

BOOK YOUR CANADIAN FISHING/CATCHING ADVENTURE NOW! info@westviewmarina.com | westviewmarina.com

CONTENTS

69 POWER YOUR WAY TO

VOLUME 16 • ISSUE 4

ROOSEVELT LIMITS

Plunking dough bait on specialized setups is a great way to catch chunky rainbows off the Upper Columbia reservoir’s beaches. Jeff Holmes shares some secrets he’s learned.

ALSO INSIDE 53

SOLID ICE ADVICE FOR EASTSIDE WINTER FISHING El Niño might make for tough sledding in some areas of the Northwest this winter, but it’s practically guaranteed that fishable ice will form up and down the Cascade Range, and in the Okanogan Highlands, Spokane area and Eastern Oregon. Mark Yuasa details top lakes and safety tips.

93

WORK TRI-STATE WATERS FOR STEELHEAD The rivers pinwheeling out from Lewiston and Clarkston offer good fishing in winter for A- and B-runs. A longtime fan reveals where to go and what to use.

117 PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT FOR LAST-GASP NORTHWEST DUCKS With January’s waterfowl finale calling for cagey tactics to fool educated Northwest birds, our MD Johnson lines out some of his most unorthodox tricks to try before season wraps up at the end of the month.

(JEFF HOLMES)

SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Go to nwsportsmanmag.com for details.

NORTHWEST SPORTSMAN is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120, Renton, WA 98057. Periodical Postage Paid at Portland, OR and at additional mail offices. (USPS 025-251) POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Northwest Sportsman, 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120, Renton, WA 98057. Annual subscriptions are $39.95 (12 issues), 2-year subscription are $59.95 (24 issues). Send check or money order to Media Index Publishing Group, or call (206) 382-9220 with VISA or M/C. Back issues may be ordered at Media Index Publishing Group offices at the cost of $5 plus shipping. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 2024 Media Index Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A. nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024

Northwest Sportsman 17

127

GUN DOG

Let’s Go On A Snipe Hunt – No, Really!

Take it from somebody who’s been hunting snipe since 1976, no gunnysack is needed to bag a limit of these fast-flying birds of the flooded fields – but good aim and maybe an extra box of shells might help. Scott details what he’s learned over the decades and how it’s become a fun hunt with his gun dogs.

(SCOTT HAUGEN)

COLUMNS 77

BUZZ RAMSEY Understanding Winter Steelhead Even as steelhead are known as the fish of a thousand casts, they are predictable in where they will hold and when they will move upstream. Buzz knows that better than most and shares what to look for as we enter the heart of winter season.

86

CONFESSIONS OF A NEWB Of Breadcrumbs And Steelhead Streams Asking on social media about where to go catch steelhead might not be the best way to introduce yourself to a new angling group, but it may yield some clues for careful feedback readers. Editor Andy interprets what to make of tight-lipped tips.

131 ON TARGET It’s Late, But It’s Not Too Late January – it’s the worst of times and it’s the best of times for Dave W. In the gray doldrums of deep winter there’s reason for hope, he relates: late hunts and that little show down in Vegas, SHOT Something-or-other. He previews some of the new wares being unveiled in the firearms world and what to get after afield this month.

141 BECOMING A HUNTER Start Them Young And Keep The Traditions Alive It hasn’t been easy, but Dave A.’s found it immensely satisfying to introduce his boys to the outdoors, including a December cow elk hunt with their mom. He shares tips and tricks that are making it work for he, wife Kristina and sons Ryland and Barrett.

146 CHEF IN THE WILD My 2024 Harvest And Recipe Resolutions As Chef Randy looks forward to 12 months’ worth of Northwest hunting, fishing and foraging opportunities, he also shares recipes for making “Owyhee bush meat” and other interesting sausages.

18 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

28

(KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)

THE BIG PIC

The Life, Death And Rebirth Of Curlew Lake

Bucket biologists turned a famed Washington rainbow lake on its head and now the state will manage it as a quality perch fishery with much reduced trout releases. Here’s how it all went down.

DEPARTMENTS

22 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

25

THE EDITOR’S NOTE Troubling Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission moves

39

READER PHOTOS Salmon sampler, with a side of clams and more!

40

PHOTO CONTEST WINNER Monthly Coast and Kershaw prize-winning pic

43

THE DISHONOR ROLL 50 days in jail for serial Long Beach salmon snagger; ‘Truly a heinous crime’ – Eastern Oregon bighorn ram killed for its head alone; Jackass of the Month

47

OUTDOOR CALENDAR Upcoming fishing and hunting openers, events, deadlines, more

51

2024 SPORTSMEN’S & BOAT SHOW CALENDAR Event schedule, show links

WWW.SEASPORTBOATS.COM

28’ COMMANDER

BUILT DIFFERENT HANDMADE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST CUSTOM BUILT TO FISH ANY CONDITIONS

26’ KODIAK

24’ EXPLORER

26’ KENAI

FIND YOUR NEAREST PACIFIC NORTHWEST DEALER ALASKA MINING & DIVING Anchorage, AK 907-277-1741

ALBERNI POWER & MARINE Port Alberni, BC 250-724-5722

WWW.SEASPORTBOATS.COM/DEALERS

MASTER MARINE Mt. Vernon, WA 360-336-2176

Y MARINA, INC. Coos Bay, OR 541-888-5501

Y MARINA, INC. Florence, OR 541-590-3313

THEEDITOR’SNOTE

D

ecember 2023 may be recalled someday as one of the major turning points in Washington hunting history. Not for the better.

At their midmonth meetings, the Fish and Wildlife Commission not only went against Department of Fish and Wildlife staffers’ recommendation to deny a petition that aimed to more than reverse recent bear and cougar hunting liberalizations, but ousted biologist-rancher Molly Linville from her vice chair seat and decided to vote on the controversial new Conservation Policy in late January.

It was a veritable tour de force for those bent on unmooring the commission from its traditionally strongest supporters and firmest mandates, and it rocked some of my sources. “In three-plus years watching this happen, this weekend was the biggest loss and will have the most long-term outcomes against opportunity and wildlife too,” said one. “They have tasted the blood of our hunting heritage and liked it,” added another. “The secret alliance has dropped any pretense,” said a third.

“The takeover is complete,” the second also stated.

THERE’S A LOT to unpack and not a lot of space to do it in, but here goes. The petition, brought forth by Washington Wildlife First, Center for Biological Diversity, et al, claimed that the commission’s 2019 and 2020 policy changes around bear and cougar hunting had “significantly” impacted the species’ numbers and had to be dialed back, and then some. WDFW biologists and managers argued otherwise – that the populations were stable overall and had weathered the changes – and said that beginning rulemaking now would “significantly” affect agency workload during the already lagging Game Management Plan update that already will take up new bear and cougar science. In speaking beforehand, WDFW Game Division Manager Anis Aoude told me it might be a tight vote, but in the end it wasn’t even close – 7-2 to the petitioners. It will be critical for hunters to speak during the upcoming rulemaking, and in a respectful way so as to try and limit the potential damage.

The next day saw commission leadership tip out of balance with the 5-4 election of Tim Ragen as the new vice chair. Ragen’s the retired marine mammal director for whom there’s never enough science or data, and he’s as much a predator advocate as Chair Barbara Baker. Ragen replaces Linville, who has been a steadfast supporter of hunting and state management and a wonderfully even-handed arbiter during increasingly divisive times. (Jaded observers wondered how much of the vice chair vote had been decided beforehand so that Baker could make a show of voting for Linville without the risk of foiling Ragen’s bid for the position.)

And now comes the vote on the new Conservation Policy for the commission and WDFW and its director. While a“tribal considerations” paragraph has been added, the latest definition of conservation still utterly fails to recognize consumptive practices and their practitioners.

And if December discussions on the policy are indicative, it’s all but certain that no matter what comments come in as the final draft is circulated publicly through mid-January, Commissioners Lorna Smith and Melanie Rowland will try to add precautionary principles beyond what are already used to set seasons.

Welcome to 2024. Buckle up. –Andy Walgamott

SAILFISH MARLIN YELLOWFIN TUNA WAHOO DORADO ROOSTER FISH Family-Friendly Travel & Vacationing!

30’-40’ Sportfishing Cruisers Los Sueños Marina 10 minutes north of JACO, COSTA RICA

Mark & Merry Coleman US 425-736-8920 CR 506-4001-8430

WWW.CATCHFISHCOSTARICA.COM nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024

Northwest Sportsman 25

The Life, Death And Rebirth Of Curlew Lake Bucket biologists turned a famed Washington rainbow lake on its head and now the state will manage it as a quality perch fishery with much reduced trout releases.

By Andy Walgamott

Y

ellow perch have officially taken over Curlew Lake. OK, so that’s not exactly breaking news and, yes, there still are and likely always will be rainbow trout to catch at the famed Northcentral Washington fishery.

But a dozen years or so after a bucket biologist or two illegally tipped the barred, spinyrayed nonnative species into the lake, perch are now by far the most harvested and popular fish here and the act has effectively overthrown Curlew’s state management strategy.

A recent report by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on a nine-month creel survey it performed at the lake fleshes out how far the filet table has turned. Some 81,147 perch were kept between May 2021 and February 2022, but only 9,448 rainbows were stringered over the same timeframe. While anglers likely also released many undersized trout, the sampling showed that only 5.1 percent of the lake’s large stocking of fingerlings and put-grow-and-take fish were turning up in the creel, a “very low” rate of return.

28 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

The numbers aren’t unexpected but they were still sobering to state managers.

Rainbow fishing represented “a much smaller component of overall effort, catch, and harvest than was expected, based on the popularity of the trout fishery as recently as 2011,” WDFW reported.

And the shift also helps explain why the agency has quit managing Curlew as a “trout emphasis water” (the lake also has bass and tiger musky) and instead will now try to maintain the relatively high-quality perch fishery alongside much more limited rainbow releases.

WDFW staffers have mixed feelings about all that.

On the one hand, you can still sense resentment about what happened on their watch to what once was one of Washington’s marquee trout destinations.

The lake attracted generations of anglers and their families from far and wide to troll, still fish, cast from docks or the bank, or drill holes in the ice for meaty and well-stocked rainbows practically year-round, all while staying at the state park, local resorts, or cabins or second homes, and pumping dollars into the local economy. The trout and

A lone rainbow lays among a pile of perch caught on a January 2023 day at Curlew Lake. The Northcentral Washington water was known far and wide for decades for its trout fishing, but the illegal stocking of perch turned the fishery and its management on its head. (JERRY HAN)

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024

Northwest Sportsman 29

largemouth fisheries were regularly written up in the pages of Washington Fishing & Hunting News, a review of my archives shows (I edited that magazine, as well as the Oregon and Rocky Mountain editions).

“Suffice it to say, it would be nice if selfserving members of the public didn’t take it upon themselves to move fish around to serve their own personal desires and destroy years of hard work in one ignorant act, costing taxpayers unnecessary money and hurting local economies and ruining a trout fishery that many people enjoyed,” states Chris Donley, WDFW Region 1 Fish Program manager in Spokane.

On the other hand, and by sheer utter luck, Curlew has essentially instantly shot into the ranks of the Northwest’s

premier perch fisheries. It doesn’t have the consistent number of jumbos that Idaho’s Lake Cascade does, Donley says, but if you’re looking for lots of 9- to 11-inchers with a few larger ones from time to time, pack up your nightcrawlers, curly tails and tube jigs, Swedish Pimples and fishfinders, and head for the small town of Republic.

To be clear, there’s no going back to The Way Things Once Were.

“Had there been viable management options to maintain the historical trout fishery in Curlew Lake, we would have considered them,” says Bill Baker, WDFW’s district fish biologist for Northeast Washington and who wrote the aforementioned creel survey report with agency warmwater bios Danny Garrett and Kent Mayer. “But with a perennial outlet to the Kettle River and the large size and volume of the lake, it was apparent that management options were limited and that we had to

A family photo from Curlew essentially illustrates the impact the perch have had on trout, which compete poorly for similar forage and don’t grow as big as they used to. State managers, who tried stocking kokanee for several years, are dialing rainbow stocking way back and releasing them at a larger size in hopes of improving survival. (JERRY HAN) 30 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

make the best of the situation.”

BAKER WAS THE one who discovered perch had been dumped into the 861-acre Ferry County lake when, one spring in the early 2010s, a single 5- to 6-inch fish turned up in his gillnet during an annual trout stocking evaluation. Subsequent years showed multiple year classes were growing and by 2019, the number caught during sampling had jumped 500-fold, according to the creel report.

At first, WDFW fought back against the interlopers, deriding the illicit introduction as a “very selfish act.”

“They have the potential,” retired state warmwater manager Bruce Bolding grimly told me about the perch at the time, “to completely destroy one of the best blueribbon trout fisheries in a lake in the state.”

The agency drafted resort owners into an effort that urged anglers to “catch and

32 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

keep as many yellow perch as possible to try to help reduce their impact on the trout fishery,” per a November 2014 email from a spokeswoman to reporters.

That fall, a “Perch Purge” saw kids catch 200, and local derby organizers mulled holding some sort of ice-fishing removal effort that winter.

But since then I’ve heard WDFW soften its tone as Curlew’s perch population and fishery has inexorably taken off, as chronicled in a number of Tyler Hicks’ excellent YouTube videos. State managers have actively pimped the ice fishing and summer action here, and, what’s more, that hold-your-nose-and-roll-with-it-instead tack has generally avoided the pricey pitfalls that have come with battling other illegal perch introductions.

I recall writing a series of articles in these pages over a decade ago about a similar case of bucket biology at Eastern Oregon’s 2,235-acre Phillips Reservoir. The lake went from that region’s “most popular trout fishery,” generating nearly $1.5 million in annual economic activity for Baker County, per the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, into one that saw over 1 million stunted perch gillnetted out of the lake over four springs at a cost of $40,000 to $50,000 before state managers pulled the plug on the effort. Then ODFW took the rare step (for them, anyway) of turning to tiger musky – a toothsome hybrid unable to reproduce but with a hearty appetite nonetheless – to help control the perch, as well as reduced and changed their trout release strategies.

Generations of families have cherished their time at Curlew Lake, which is tucked into a beautiful, remote valley of Ferry County. Angling here generates an estimated $546,335 in annual economic activity. (JERRY HAN)

EAST OF THE mountains, trout are typically released as fry to grow big in the relatively rich waters, saving money on hatchery feed and freeing up space at the facilities for other needs. But young perch not only outcompete the pint-sized rainbows for the same forage, but also the same space in the lake.

And readily able to spawn sans state help, perch soon swamp systems without a natural predator besides anglers to control their numbers. Given Curlew Lake’s size and the fact it drains to the Kettle River, home to wild native redband rainbows, rotenoning the lake like WDFW does with smaller waters to clear them of unwanted

infestations was a no go.

“As predicted, while the perch population rapidly expanded, the trout population (and fishery) suffered,” says Baker about Curlew.

“Trout growth and condition declined, and as a result, so did the desire of anglers to keep the trout they caught. That is also reflected in the creel results.”

He says that even before the survey pointed it out, it had become “increasingly apparent” that rainbow releases had to be decreased, based on the growth rate, body condition and survival of stocked fish.

Prior to the perch expansion, Baker says he would’ve expected 20 to 25 percent of the put-and-grow trout reared in netpens at the lake and 10 to 15 percent of the fingerlings put in in fall to survive and be caught, or 14 to 19 percent of the overall stocking total – basically, three to four times the survey’s observed rate of 5.1 percent.

“So the ‘very low’ return to creel documented in the creel report is relative, but what is clear is that over the last few years, we’ve been stocking a lot of trout into Curlew Lake and the vast majority (95 percent) are not returning to creel,” Baker says. “In its heyday, Curlew Lake produced a lot of limits of beautiful 13- to 15-inch trout, and it wasn’t uncommon to catch some fish in the 17- to 20-inch range. From a trout fishing perspective, it’s a shadow of its former self … Bucket biology has a price, and it’s wise to recognize it.”

WDFW had been stocking from 225,000 to 235,000 fingerlings and put-and-grow trout annually up to 2010, then began reducing that as the perch population took off – from 205,000 to 210,000 in 2013 and 2014 to 185,000 each year through 2021.

Now comes an even deeper cut.

“To be clear, WDFW intends to maintain a trout fishery at Curlew,” Baker reassures, “but we’ll be doing so while managing that fishery in concert with a robust yellow perch population, which is here to stay. In practice, that will mean dialing back the number of trout planted into the lake considerably and relying primarily on those 80,000 trout reared in the cooperative netpens to carry the fishery. The reduction in stocking, which was implemented beginning this fall, should allow for sufficient trout growth to produce quality fish – something worth taking home and putting on the dinner table.”

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024

Northwest Sportsman 33

A good catch of Curlew perch awaits fileting. Reader Jerry Han and family make several trips a year from the Tri-Cities to their shoreside property to fish the lake. (JERRY HAN) (In 2016, WDFW also began stocking kokanee at Curlew, with an initial release of 50,000 fry, which grew to 67,000 a couple years later, then dropped to the low to mid-20,000s for several years, 4,500 in 2022 and none in 2023.)

A side benefit, Baker notes, is that this will allow the agency to reallocate rainbow releases to “other waters to produce the best possible trout fisheries.”

AGAIN, BAKER ACKNOWLEDGES that Curlew’s fame was built on the back of ’bows, but, as he says, there’s “no sense in trying to pound a square peg in a round hole” anymore.

“I have met many anglers over the years who have been coming to Curlew Lake to fish for trout for their entire lives,” he says.

“But the illegal introduction of yellow perch, first discovered in 2011, changed the dynamics of the fish community.”

And – who knows? – those new dynamics may be yielding the next gold rush in these here parts.

34 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

“We have been fortunate that, to date, perch growth rates have been sufficient to maintain high-quality size structure in the population, thus consistently producing large numbers of desirable-sized fish for anglers,” says Baker. “When perch are introduced, that’s not always the case. In fact, in my experience, it’s rarely the case.

So, while it’s not what WDFW would have chosen, there is a lot of silver lining here.”

Time will tell if it’s dross.

WDFW’s nine-month survey estimated that the number of 8-plus-inch yellowbellies in the lake was 154,345 and, based on the number of specially tagged fish reported caught by anglers, 53 percent of the population was harvested. The best months by catch and angler effort were June 2021 and January 2022, when an estimated 12,000 and 14,000 perch were harvested, respectively, but the fish bit in all months.

(November 2021 wasn’t surveyed and had minimal angling activity due to weather and unsafe ice conditions.) Boat fishing effort

peaked in July.

Combining all of Curlew’s fisheries, there was 40,682 hours of total angling effort over the sampling period, 60 percent of which occurred from May through August, 28 percent from December through February and 12 percent in September and October, according to WDFW. In a very rural region known for its achingly beautiful countryside and wide variety of family activities – as my family and I discovered on a weeklong 2019 stay at the lake’s state park and which is cemented in our top 5 Northwest campouts of all time – angling at Curlew is an economic anchor and generates an estimated $546,335 in annual economic activity, the survey reported.

“Curlew Lake is still a great fishery, and a lot of the folks that have fished there for years for trout have now adapted to take advantage of the perch fishing,” says Baker.

“Lots of other anglers who never fished it before have now discovered it. There’s reason to mourn the passing of a great

trout fishery – or maybe it’s more accurate to say that the trout fishery will transition to something that’s still pretty good, but not great. But there’s also reason to celebrate what we have. Curlew Lake is arguably the best perch fishery in the state. There’s a lot of upside here.”

BUT BEFORE ANY asshats get any bright ideas about trying this move on a lake near them, the odds of an illicit release actually improving on state management are vanishingly slim, a Montana biologist’s database of 600-plus introductions shows.

It also is illegal to move live fish between Washington waters, a crime punishable under RCW 77.15.290. And the science of tracking where fish originally came from and when they were moved is growing, thanks to chemical signatures in the fish that act as telltale markers.

While prosecutions may be few and

36 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

far between, bucket biologists not only wreak environmental havoc impacting other fisheries and native organisms, they can create unexpected blowback that affects innocent bystanders’ fisheries.

Following the illicit releases of walleye and northern pike in bass- and panfish-rich Lakes Washington and Sammamish, tribal comanagers have gone in with their gillnets and WDFW is working the ship canal with theirs, albeit to improve salmon smolt survival, but one wonders if it all would have occurred without those catalysts.

I get it; people are always going to thumb their noses at The Powers That Be, but I sense a building willingness across the region to battle back in a bare-knuckled way against the expansion of nonnative species, from smallmouth in Oregon’s Coquille River to northern pike in the Upper Columbia to walleye and lake trout in North Idaho. There’s been very, very early rumblings of a walleye bounty in the Snake, and in the Columbia, recent findings around the pikeminnow program could theoretically have overseers looking for a

new target or targets to reduce salmon and steelhead losses.

Maybe my tinfoil hat’s on a little too tight, but I think my drift comes through.

Ahem, back to the subject at hand.

Another silver lining with Curlew’s new perch-friendly management strategy might be how big its rainbows get with fewer being released.

“It’s been a long internal discussion on best approaches to embrace what we currently have and maintain what we would prefer to have. Reducing trout stocking is likely our best approach,” states Donley, the regional fisheries manager. “In the future, anglers should expect fewer but much larger quality trout. It will never be the same consistent quality trout fishery we saw 10plus years ago, but it should be good, and seasonally – spring and fall – it could be really good. That said, other facets of the fishery like perch and largemouth bass will continue to provide additional opportunity.”

“In this case, we may be able to make at least a faux silk purse out of a sow’s ear,” Donley adds. NS

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024

Northwest Sportsman 37

READER PHOTOS Jarrod Higginbotham and Cody Herman got into some pretty good chum fishing last fall,landing 30 over a couple hours, and this buck just might have been the toothiest! (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)

Makala Clemenson gives the thumbs up to fall razor clamming on the Washington Coast. She and fiancé Brennon Hart dug these at Ocean Shores. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)

Steve O’Neal caught this big fall Chinook trolling in the Columbia Gorge above Bonneville Dam. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)

Southern Oregon fall Chinook love them some bait-wrapped plugs!

Jerry Han enjoyed good fishing and photography on his annual trek to the Chetco. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)

Marvin Holder loves to share pics of the success his fishing partners enjoy on Southwest Washington waters, and for that his own catches deserve a little space in these pages. Here’s his nice coho from September. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST) For your shot at winning great fishing and hunting knives from Coast and Kershaw 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 Sportsman, 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 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. nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024 Northwest Sportsman

39

READER PHOTOS

As buddy Steve Trygstad battles one of his own, Darrel Smith shows off a Washington Coast fall Chinook he caught while fishing a bobber and eggs. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST) Even as South Sound’s coho run slowed down in October, Eric Schager was still out there catching ’em. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)

All-around sportsman/biologist Eric Braaten shows off a nice Banks Lake walleye. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)

PHOTO CONTEST MONTHLY

Winner!

“I don’t know who was more excited or proud, Lucas or Papa.”

So writes Jim Wadkins about his grandson, Lucas Bush, 14, who caught four pinks over two days on the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca last August. This pink bit a 2-inch Buzz Bomb outfitted with a small pink hoochie and 4/0 hook. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST) 40 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

After helping out with a basic steelheading class and a broodstock collection event on the Grande Ronde River near Troy, Oregon, this past fall, Jeff Hernandez went off and caught and released a couple summer-runs himself!

(KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)

MIXED BAG

50 Days For Serial Salmon Snagger

A

Long Beach man was sentenced to 50 days in jail, fined $1,500 and lost his fishing privileges for five years when his history of snagging violations caught up to him last fall.

David Gretzner, 66, received that sentence on November 16 from Pacific County District Court Judge Nancy McAllister after he pled guilty to first- and second-degree unlawful fishing charges.

“Well known” to state game wardens, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Gretzner was previously charged with snagging in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

“When he was caught snagging in August 2023, he was awaiting trial for his 2022 charges and was still on probation for previous snagging violations,” said WDFW Police Sergeant Todd Dielman.

Gretzner was videotaped by wardens that August day attempting to snag Chinook on the Naselle, which at the time was flowing close to its summer low.

“Snagging salmon is a natural resource issue, especially when the fish are targeted during low flows and in warmer water conditions, where they are easy prey and more susceptible to stress,” stated Dielman.

WDFW says snaggers can impact the length of fishing seasons for law-abiding anglers.

Gretzner could not be reached via publicly listed phone, email or social media accounts.

Given the crush of personal and property cases that county court systems must deal with, as well as their sometimes limited resources, fish and wildlife crimes don’t always get the attention they deserve, much to the consternation of hunters, anglers and WDFW officers, so Dielman was sure to thank both Pacific County prosecutors and Judge McAllister for taking on the Gretzner case.

“We hope that it will send a clear message that engaging in illegal fishing activities can land you in jail,” he added.

JACKASS OF THE MONTH

A

s you’ve read before in these pages, mule deer in Central Oregon have been declining for decades and the poaching of does – the reproductive engine of the herd – is a “huge part” of the reason why annual survival is 10 percentage points lower than what is needed just to maintain a stable population.

Enter the betrothed bozos who helped ensure the struggle continues.

According to the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division, in October a La Pine-based trooper received a report of a dead doe near Wickiup Reservoir, as well as the license plate of a vehicle seen in the area. With that information the trooper and a partner went to an address the vehicle was associated with. As they approached the house, the auto in question arrived too.

Inside the vehicle was a couple. As the troopers interviewed the female passenger, they learned that she and her fiancé, who was driving, had allegedly each shot a doe.

“She stated they were buck hunting but had not seen any and they wanted to put some meat in their freezer,” troopers reported.

That’s not how hunting works. All hunting in the Upper Deschutes Unit is by controlled draw and only bucks can be taken; no doe tags are available. Apparently the duo thought they were aiming at the same doe when they took their shots. Both deer were ultimately left to waste; the second was discovered the next day.

After the man also allegedly confessed, troopers issued criminal citations for unlawful take of a doe to the two and wastage charges were referred to the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office. The pair’s rifles were also seized.

By Andy Walgamott

‘Truly A Heinous Crime’

A

spate of wildlife wastage cases in Oregon last fall had a hunting magazine editor and state official hopping mad and reminding the public that cash rewards or preference points for the controlled draw are on tap for tipsters.

The trail of wanton death stretched across the state, from coastal counties to Hells Canyon, the northern tier of the state to Southern Oregon, and included a bighorn ram, multiple bull and cow elk, mule deer, blacktail bucks, and pairs of bear cubs and wolves.

The killing of that ram in the Lookout Mountain Wildlife Management Unit was particularly aggravating. Only its head was taken; the rest of its carcass was left to rot.

No bighorn tags have been available for this unit between the Snake River, I-84 and Highway 86 since 2019.

“I’ve personally viewed and photographed bighorns in the Lookout Mountain Unit, but that’s all, because in 35 years of applying, I’ve never drawn a oncein-a-lifetime bighorn tag, and probably never will,” said Duane Dungannon, editor of Oregon Hunter. “For someone to steal one of these mountain monarchs is truly a heinous crime against all those who dream of a chance to pursue them legally someday, as well as those who just count themselves fortunate to see them.”

Hunters are required to take all edible portions of big game except cougars, though some hunters speak very highly of cougar meat.

According to ODFW, a $2,000 reward from the Oregon Hunters Association or five preference points from the Oregon

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024 Northwest Sportsman

43

MIXED BAG

Someone shot and killed this Lookout Mountain bighorn ram for its head alone last fall. No wild sheep tags have been issued for the far Eastern Oregon unit since 2019. (OSP)

44 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

Department of Fish and Wildlife is on tap for info on the bighorn poaching, and the Oregon Wildlife Coalition is offering a $500 reward too.

Yvonne Shaw, ODFW’s Protect Oregon’s Wildlife Turn In Poachers campaign coordinator, said she became emotionally overwhelmed while attaching photos of all the recently poached animals to an agency press release she wrote early last month.

“Poaching steals natural resources from all Oregonians,” she said. “We can all help protect Oregon’s wildlife by being a good witness and turning in poachers.”

Being a good witness means accurately reporting the location and descriptions of poachers and associated vehicles and their license plates, with photos especially helpful, she said.

Anyone with information on the bighorn case is asked to contact Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division Trooper Dakotah Keys via the Turn In Poachers, or TIP, hotline at 800-452-7888.

The number can also be used to report details on the other wildlife crimes, which included two blacktail bucks near Beavercreek and Harlan; a mule deer buck near Phillips Reservoir; two large bull elk near Scappoose and Pilot Rock; two spike elk southwest of Grand Ronde; three cow elk near Lexington and Logsden; two wolves near Richland and Prospect; and two bear cubs near Halfway.

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024 Northwest Sportsman

45

OUTDOOR

CALENDAR

1

JANUARY

2024 Oregon and Idaho fishing and hunting licenses required; Washington late cougar season opens – quota info: wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/big-game/cougar 6 First of 14 brant goose hunting days in Pacific County (others: January 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27 and 28) 9-15 Tentative razor clam digs scheduled on select Washington Coast beaches, dependent on marine toxin levels – info: wdfw.wa.gov 10 Deadline to file Washington big game report for incentive permit eligibility; Last day to hunt scaup in Oregon Zone 2 15 Last day to hunt Hungarian partridge, quail and pheasant in Eastern Washington 17 Oregon High Desert and Blue Mountains Zone late white and white-fronted goose opener 19 Last day to hunt ducks and geese in Idaho Area 3 20 First of three brant goose hunting days in Clallam and Whatcom Counties (others: January 24 and 27) 22-28 Tentative razor clam digs scheduled on select Washington Coast beaches, dependent on marine toxin levels – info above 28 Last day to hunt ducks in Oregon Zones 1 and 2 and scaup in Zone 1; Last day to hunt Canada geese in Southwest, High Desert and Blue Mountains, and Mid-Columbia Zones 31 Deadline to file mandatory hunter reports in Washington and Oregon; Last day to hunt upland birds in Oregon and Idaho; Last day to hunt ducks and geese in Idaho Area 1; Last day to hunt chukar in Eastern Washington; Last day to fish for trout, salmon and/or steelhead on many Western Washington river systems

FEBRUARY 3

Oregon and Washington statewide veterans and active military waterfowl hunting day; Washington statewide youth waterfowl hunting day; MidColumbia Zone white and white-fronted late goose season opener 6-12 Tentative razor clam digs scheduled on select Washington Coast beaches, dependent on marine toxin levels – info above 10 Oregon Northwest Permit Zone late goose season opener; Deadline to apply for Oregon spring bear permits; Washington Goose Management Area 1 late white goose opener; Washington GMA 2 Coast and Inland zones late goose opener (state wildlife areas, federal refuges closed; select dates) 15 Last day to apply for Idaho spring bear permits; Last day of steelhead fishing in select Puget Sound terminal areas 17 Washington GMA 4 late white goose season opener 17-18 Free Fishing Weekend in Oregon 18 Last day of Oregon Zone 1 snipe hunt 21-25 Tentative razor clam digs scheduled on select Washington Coast beaches, dependent on marine toxin levels – info above 24 Oregon South Coast Zone late goose season opener 28 Last day of bobcat and fox seasons in Oregon; Last scheduled day to fish for steelhead on numerous rivers and creeks on Washington coastal systems

MARCH 1

Lake Billy Chinook’s Metolius Arm opens for fishing; Numerous Eastern Washington lakes open for fishing; Blackmouth opener on Washington Marine Areas 10 and 11 9 Bottomfish, lingcod, rockfish and cabezon season openers on Washington Marine Areas 1-3 and Area 4 west of Bonilla-Tatoosh line 10 Last day of Oregon Northwest Permit and South Coast Zones goose seasons, and High Desert and Blue Mountains Zone white and white-fronted goose seasons 15 Last day of bobcat, fox, raccoon, rabbit and hare seasons in Washington; Leftover Oregon spring black bear tags go on sale at 10 a.m.

20 Washington sea duck, Southwest Canada goose, snow goose and brant harvest reports due 31 Last day 2023-24 Washington fishing, hunting licenses valid; Last scheduled day to fish for steelhead on remaining open Washington coastal systems

Dory Boat Builders in the NW

SOLID BUILT Handmade quality construction, focused on every small detail.

Time tested design with new materials and an enhanced modern design.

FORM & FUNCTION Our boats are built using the latest in technology.

(503) 812-6441 breakerdoryboats.com nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024

Northwest Sportsman 47

33rd Annual Central Washington Sportsmen Show February 23-25, 2024 Yakima Valley SunDome ADMISSION

$15 per adult $10 per child Children under age 6 are FREE! Special admission prices are also available for seniors, police, fire and veterans.

Paid admission is good for all 3 days!

Parking is FREE courtesy of JLM Productions LLC

Contact Information Josh and Jennifer McClanathan JLM Productions LLC 110 E 5th Ave, Ritzville, WA 99169 JLMProductions22@gmail.com 907-521-7264 or 907-521-7261 JLMProductionsLLC.com

O

nce again, the Central Washington Sportsmen Show is set to open the doors at the Yakima Valley SunDome after a successful return one year ago. Josh and Jennifer McClanathan, continue to expand and update this popular show into an all-encompassing outdoors and sportsmen show. The show will feature a new lure demo tank along with other new and exciting changes.

The SunDome will once again feature quality exhibits, displays, and presentations with lots to see and do for the entire family. Everything from hunting and fishing gear and guides, outdoor displays and exhibits, fishing boats, camp trailers, tractors, homesteading supplies and ATVs.

2024 BOAT AND SPORTSMEN’S SHOW

CALENDAR

Tons of watercraft will be on display at the huge Seattle Boat Show later this winter. Held at Lumen Field Event Center and nearby Bell Harbor Marina, the show also features dozens of information-packed fishing, crabbing and boating seminars taught by top names in Northwest angling. (SEATTLE BOAT SHOW)

JANUARY 10-14 Portland Boat Show, Expo Center, Portland; otshows.com 18-21 Tacoma RV Show, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma; otshows.com 19-21 The Great Rockies Sport Show, MetraPark Expo Center, Billings; greatrockiesshow.com

23-25 Jackson County Sportsmen’s & Outdoor Recreation Show, Jackson County Expo, Medford; exposureshows.com

24-25 Saltwater Sportsmen’s Show, Oregon State Fairgrounds, Salem; saltwatersportsmensshow.com

29-March 3 The Idaho Sportsman Show, Expo Idaho, Boise; idahosportsmanshow.com

26-28 Tri-Cities Sportsmen Show, HAPO Center, Pasco; shuylerproductions.com 31-Feb. 4 Vancouver International Boat Show, BC Place and Granville Island,

Vancouver, BC; vancouverboatshow.ca 31-Feb. 4 Washington Sportsmen’s Show, Washington State Fair Events Center, Puyallup; otshows.com

FEBRUARY 2-4

Eugene Boat & Sportsmen’s Show, Lane Events Center, Eugene; exposureshows.com 2-10 Seattle Boat Show, Lumen Field Event Center and Bell Harbor Marina, Seattle; seattleboatshow.com 9-11 Douglas County Sportsmen’s & Outdoor Recreation Show, Douglas County Fairgrounds, Roseburg; exposureshows.com 9-11 Willamette Sportsman Show, Linn County Expo Center, Albany; willamettesportsmanshow.com 14-18 Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show, Expo Center, Portland; otshows.com 17-18 The Fly Fishing Show, Meydenbauer Center, Bellevue; flyfishingshow.com 23-25 Central Washington Sportsmen Show, Yakima Valley Sundome, Yakima; jlmproductionsllc.com

MARCH 1-3 7-10 8-9 8-10 14-17 15-17

BC Sportsmen’s Show, Tradex, Abbotsford, BC; bcsportsmenshow.ca Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show, Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center, Redmond; otshows.com Northwest Fly Tyer & Fly Fishing Expo, Linn County Fairgrounds, Albany; nwexpo.com Victoria Boat and Fishing Show, Pearkes Recreation Centre, Victoria, BC; victoriaboatshow.com Big Horn Outdoor Adventure Show, Spokane Fair & Expo Center, Spokane; bighornshow.com Klamath Falls Sportsmen’s & Outdoor Recreation Show, Klamath County Fairgrounds, Klamath Falls; exposureshows.com

MAY 4

Fly Casting Fair, Ballinger Park, Mountlake Terrace, Washington; flyfishersinternational.org 16-18 Anacortes Boat & Yacht Show, Cap Sante Marina, Anacortes; anacortesboatandyachtshow.com nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024

Northwest Sportsman 51

FISHING

Solid Ice Advice The hardwater season provides a productive platform for fishing winter away in the northern tier of Eastern Washington.

By Mark Yuasa

N

o matter how cold it gets, there’s something about venturing out onto an icecovered lake that melts the heart of many anglers in the wintertime.

Much to the surprise of many, the east side of Washington can be a winter angling haven and is often overlooked for its epic ice fishing opportunities, if you know where to go and follow key safety measures.

While the main fish species to target through the hardwater are rainbow trout and yellow perch, there’s a good chance to catch others like burbot, cutthroat trout, brown trout, crappie, bass, walleye and bluegill.

Now that we’ve covered what types of fish are lurking beneath the ice, let’s review the most important factors when preparing to go ice fishing.

“My first piece of advice is to use common sense,” says Randy Osborne, a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fisheries biologist based in Spokane.

Safety measures top the list, as does making good decisions and having a well-thought-out plan that you share with someone at home before you head to a lake.

There are no guarantees a lake will freeze during a given winter, but usually the first freezing temperatures occur in December,

leading to more favorable conditions

by January and/or February. Often the first areas to see lakes freeze over are in Northeast Washington and high-elevation waters in the northern Cascades and Okanogan.

Osborne advises that before you even step foot on a frozen lake to make sure the ice is a minimum of 4 to 8 inches thick. Ice is very hard to read by simply looking over the lake’s landscape and its thickness can vary from place to place, as it never forms uniformly. If you can’t confirm ice thickness, don’t venture out onto the lake. Avoid areas covered with snow, slush and ice that were thawed and then refroze. Newly formed ice tends to be stronger than old ice.

Test the ice as you carefully head out on a lake and keep an eye out for patches of open water or discolored ice, which could be an indication of varying ice thickness. Also, keep your holes in the ice around 8 or so inches in diameter.

“Larger holes could El Niño might make for tough sledding in some areas of the be dangerous Northwest this winter, but it’s almost guaranteed that fishable for those who ice will form at Washington lakes on the higher eastern slopes come out later of the northern Cascades, up in the Okanogan Highlands and in the northeastern corner of the state. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST) and don’t know the holes nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024 Northwest Sportsman

53

FISHING are there, especially if they skim over with thin ice and get snowed on, making them invisible,” Osborne says.

“Every time I go out on the ice, I wear a life vest. Many sporting goods stores sell ice-gripping devices that can be used to grip the ice outside any holes in case you break through. Any such tools are handy and highly recommended.”

It is wise to never go alone when ice fishing, but once on the lake with other anglers, spread out to avoid placing too much weight on one area of the ice-covered lake. Always create a rescue plan just in case someone should fall through the ice.

Some vital safety tools include an ice pick and steel spikes connected to a strong cord just in case a companion

falls in – the spikes can be driven into the ice to offer stability for them to pull themselves out.

Bring along a floating rope for throwing in case someone has fallen into the water. The length of rope should be long, as ice near the edge of a hole can be fragile and continue to break off.

Other essential gear and tools are a sled to carry your gear; an auger or chainsaw to measure the ice and to make multiple holes as you work your way out to the location you plan to fish; a spud bar to determine the thickness of ice without having to drill multiple holes; ice cleats to prevent slipping on ice; and a 5-gallon bucket with a seat cushion, a low-profile

lightweight chair or a small padded cushion to rest your knees on and to keep them dry.

Have good warm layers of clothing, as it’s easier to take a layer off than to be without enough clothes, and wear a proper pair of waterproof boots to stay nice and warm. Having a spare set of clothes and large bath towel in your vehicle can be a lifesaver just in case you do get wet, as hypothermia can set in much faster than you think.

FISHING GEAR An ice fishing rod and reel is much different than your normal 7- or 8-foot trout rod setup, which would be difficult to use to fish through a small hole in the ice.

Lexi Han and her grandparents beam over a nice catch of yellow perch. They and rainbow trout are perhaps the two most widely species pursued through the ice. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST) 54 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

FISHING

A short one-piece, light to medium-light, fast-action fishing rod measuring 24 to 30 inches and outfitted with a spinning reel is the best choice for ice fishing. There are many fishing lines to use, including some geared toward ice fishing, but monofilament or fluorocarbon in 6- to 12-pound test will do the job. Sensitivity is important because the “bite” can be very subtle, as fish are lethargic in cold water and will lightly nip at your presentation.

Traditional offerings include moldable dough baits, worms, salmon eggs, meal and wax worms or maggots, corn and marshmallows attached to a small egg-style hook and a sliding sinker. A bobber or float is optional but not necessary.

Others prefer to use 1/8-ounce jigs or a small, brightly colored spoon or spinner tipped with a piece of worm or maggot. Bring along a liquid or gel bait attractant to add to your bait or lure/jig.

A portable spiked, spring rod holder – or a fixed, stationary rod holder – is another piece of gear worth having and will often

A

Ice fishing is not just the purview of, er, grumpy old guys – anybody can get in on the act, as long as they’re well bundled and conditions are safe enough. A young Max Valenta tries his luck at Bonaparte Lake in a past season. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST) 56 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

SERVING OLYMPIA, LACEY, TUMWATER, SHELTON, TACOMA, SEATTLE AND BEYOND

QUALITY BOAT SALES AND SERVICE EXCELLENCE FOR OVER 50 YEARS!

SUZUKI REPOWER SALE

CALL FOR PRICING ON YOUR BOAT

Winner of Suzuki’s Top Service Award 7 Years In A Row!

ALL MODELS ON SALE NOW!

SALES & SERVICE LOCATED RIGHT ON THE WATER — 8141 WALNUT ROAD NE • OLYMPIA, WA 98516

360-491-7388 • PUGETMARINA.COM

FISHING detect subtle bites. A rod holder will also allow you to keep your hands in your warm pockets.

Some anglers get high tech and bring along their portable fish finder and/or underwater camera. Other essentials include hand warmers, a pair of waterproof gloves, face covering and warm hat, sunglasses for those rare sunny days, snacks, a hot nonalcoholic drink in a thermos, and a backup charger for your electronics – cold weather tends to drain things like your cell phone a lot faster.

Just like any other fishery, if you

don’t have success in one location, try relocating to a spot 25 to 50 feet away. This could be the difference in finding a school of fish or not.

WHERE TO GO There are many decent ice fishing locations, and some less popular lakes are sometimes even better producers than the more well-known ones. The key is to do a little homework before heading out the door.

The small- to medium-sized lakes in the Okanogan Highlands – an elevated mountainous plateau east

HIGHLANDS DERBY DOUBLE

F

or the past 19 years, Sidley Lake in Okanogan County has been a popular winter destination, thanks to the Northwest Ice Fishing Festival, which this year is January 13. In 2023, nearly 100 anglers turned out and the largest trout weighed in was 6.5 pounds. For more info, go to okanogancountry.com/index.php/octc-events.

Also in the Okanogan Highlands, Bonaparte Lake Resort east of Tonasket is hosting an ice fishing derby on January 27. For details, call (509) 486-2828 or go to Bonaparte Lake Resort on Facebook. –MY

58 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

of the Okanogan River near the Canadian border – tend to freeze over much faster than others to the south and central parts of the state, but there are ice fisheries north of Spokane, in the Columbia Basin and not far outside Leavenworth to consider too.

Sidley Lake (Okanogan County): Located a mile south of the Canadian border near the town of Oroville, this lake covers 109 acres and its high elevation – 3,675 feet – and freezing temperatures usually leaves a lid of ice from 18 to 20 inches thick. Trout are the main species to target.

Bonaparte Lake (Okanogan County): This 151-acre lake sitting at an elevation of 3,556 feet has evolved into a popular ice fishery for rainbow, eastern, brook, tiger and a few lake trout. Kokanee are fair game too.

The lake has a U.S. Forest Service campground and private resort, and the ice usually is thick enough to fish on by early January.

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024 Northwest Sportsman

59

FISHING Patterson Lake (Okanogan County): This 143-acre lake in the Methow Valley near Sun Mountain Lodge can be found 8 miles west of the idyllic town of Winthrop. It has abundant yellow perch in the 9- to 12-inch range, as well as trout and kokanee. Sitting at 2,380 feet above

sea level, it is one of the earlier lakes to freeze over. It has ample shoreline access, which allows anglers to spread out. The best period is January through February. There are cozy lakeside cabin rentals and lodging in Winthrop. Other outdoor activities in the area include cross-

An Eastern Oregon angler shows off a rainbow trout he caught at Poison Creek Reservoir in Grant County’s Silvies Valley. (TARA THISSELL, BLM)

OREGON ICE OPTIONS

W

here ice fishing in Washington is typically concentrated along that state’s northern tier, it’s something of the opposite in Oregon. Some of the Beaver State’s best opportunities sit in the southern Cascades, where the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife also typically puts on an annual ice fishing workshop.

Well known for its open-water fishing, Diamond Lake sparkles in winter for trout.

Just remember that tiger trout – which look like brookies – must be released. Given the lake’s location deep in the Cascades, check with the resort before journeying this way.

Other options in Southern Oregon include Fish and Willow Lakes for rainbows and Lake of the Woods for stunted perch. They’re all between Medford and Klamath Falls, and the latter has a year-round resort. Further east there’s Dog Lake, which holds perch.

In Central and Eastern Oregon, there’s hike-in Walton Lake between Prineville and Mitchell, Pilcher Reservoir between La Grande and Baker City, and Unity and Phillips Reservoirs, among others. –NWS

60 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Note that several units of the state wildlife area in the valley are closed to public access this winter to protect wintering deer.

Curlew Lake (Ferry County): This 870-acre lake sits at an elevation of 2,354 feet and the state park access on it is located 9 miles north of Republic.

The popularity of this remote fishery has increased, with anglers targeting rainbow trout and a yellow perch population that has become very abundant (see The Big Pic, page 28).

Ice as thick as 2 feet isn’t uncommon here in colder months. The southern portion near the state park is shallow and tends to freeze earlier than the north end. There are resorts on the lake and nearby accommodations.

Eloika Lake (Spokane County): This 629-acre lake situated at 1,909 feet can be found 7 miles north of Chattaroy off US 2 and is an ideal choice for yellow perch, largemouth bass, crappie and an occasional brown trout. There is a 9-inch minimum size and 10-fish limit on black crappie.

Catching yellow perch through the ice involves targeting schools of fish in deeper water.

Bead Lake (Pend Oreille County): Perched at an elevation of 2,833 feet, this 718-acre lake is a place where anglers can target burbot and lake trout through the ice. It is located 8 miles north of Newport on national forest ground. WDFW doesn’t stock this year-round lake, but it does contain self-reproducing populations of kokanee, lake trout and burbot.

Call the Forest Service’s Newport Ranger District office (509-447-7300) for more information and access to the lake in the wintertime.

Moses Lake (Grant County): This reservoir located right off Interstate 90 is a three-hour drive from Seattle and hour and a half from Spokane and Tri-Cities. The main catches are yellow perch, trout and an occasional walleye. Ice development on Moses’s 6,815 acres (which sit at an elevation of 1,050 feet) is inconsistent, but when

Fishing for Walleye, Trout, Pike, Pan Fish, Bass, Stripers, Salmon and Whitefish with Bay de Noc Lures

WWW.BAYDENOCLURE.COM Dealer Inquires Welcome!

INLAND BOATS & MOTORS

SERVING YOU SINCE 1975

111 N. Kittitas St. Ellensburg, WA 509-925-1758 • M-F 9-5pm

inlandboatsandmotors.com

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024 Northwest Sportsman

61

FISHING temperatures dip below freezing, the hot spot is Blue Heron Park. The window for ice fishing can be brief.

Banks Lake (Grant/Adams Counties): This 26,888-acre lake sitting at an elevation of 1,574 feet has a tendency to freeze over by January and provide a good ice fishery. It has become popular for its lake whitefish fishery, but also has a mixed bag that includes rainbow trout and walleye.

Fish Lake (Chelan County): Located 16 miles from the small Bavarian community of Leavenworth on US 2, this lake is a popular ice fishing spot for yellow perch and planted trout, which feed on red shiners.

Ice coverage on the 1,850-footelevation, 513-acre lake can be iffy, but during extreme cold there can be multiple layers of ice you’ll need to drill through to hit the water. The best period is January. Access is on the southwest side near Cove Resort.

There’s limited access on the north

62 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

and south shores from the two Forest Service roads.

13 more ice fishing possibilities: Davis (Okanogan County) is 4 miles southeast of Winthrop, and is good for trout. Roses (Chelan County) near Lake Chelan is worth a try for trout and yellow perch.

Hatch (Stevens County) is 5.4 miles southeast of Colville, and consistent for trout and yellow perch. Williams (Stevens County) is 14.5 miles north of Colville, and decent for trout and yellow perch. Fourth of July (Adams County) generates large trout along the lake’s southern end in 15 to 25 feet of water.

Palmer (Okanogan County) near Loomis is decent for yellow perch.

Rat (Okanogan County), located 5 miles north of Brewster, is fair for trout. Potholes Reservoir (Grant County) freezes over some winters and offers yellow perch, walleye, crappie, bluegill and trout, and its

Lind Coulee Arm is a popular spot to ice fish. Leader (Okanogan County) has a diverse fish population that includes yellow perch and trout.

Horseshoe (Spokane County, but not the one associated with the Rustler’s Gulch property) and Upper Twin (Lincoln County) Lakes are used by a few people to fish for yellow perch and a few rainbow trout. Diamond and Sacheen (Pend Oreille County) have a nice mix of yellow perch, crappie (mainly Diamond) and some rainbow trout.

Some lakes have selective-gear rules, specific size limits and/or reduced daily bag limits, so before heading out, check for regulations and other pertinent information on WDFW’s website, wdfw.wa.gov. NS Editor’s note: Mark Yuasa is a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife communications manager and longtime local fishing and outdoor writer.

LIGHTWEIGHT. The lightest 200-hp four stroke on the market LIGHTWEIGHT. The lightest 200-hp four stroke on the market POWERFUL. 2.8L displacement and Variable Camshaft Timing give it the best power-to-weight ratio POWERFUL. of any 200-hp four stroke 2.8L displacement and Variable Camshaft

Timing give it the best power-to-weight ratio of any 200-hp four stroke

COMPACT. COMPACT. Nearly 120 pounds lighter than our Nearly 120 pounds lighter than our four-stroke V6 F200 four-stroke V6 F200

THE F200 IN-LINE FOUR.

FORWARD THINKING. FORWARD THINKING. THE F200 IN-LINE FOUR.

Show the water who’s boss with the F200 In-Line Four. Incredibly light, responsive and fuel efficient, it serves up plenty of muscle to handily propel a variety of boats. On top of that, its 50-amp alternator offers Show the water boss the F200 In-Line Four. Incredibly responsive and fuel efficient, the power to addwho’s a range of with electronics, and its 26-inch mounting light, centers and compatibility with either itmechanical serves up plenty of muscle handily propel a variety of boats.

On top of outboard that, its 50-amp alternator offers or digital controlstogive you the flexibility to easily upgrade your or rigging.

Experience the power Yamaha to add a reliability range of electronics, and its centers legendary and the freedom of26-inch forwardmounting thinking, with the and F200compatibility In-Line Four.with either mechanical or digital controls give you the flexibility to easily upgrade your outboard or rigging. Experience legendary Yamaha reliability and the freedom of forward thinking, with the F200 In-Line Four.

OREGON

WASHINGTON

COOS BAY Y Marina (541) 888-5501 www.ymarinaboats.com

CHINOOK Chinook Marine Repair, Inc. (800) 457-9459 www.chinookmarinerepair.com

EVERETT Everett Bayside Marine (425) 252-3088 www.baysidemarine.com

MOUNT VERNON Tom-n-Jerry’s Boat Center, Inc. (360) 466-9955 www.tomnjerrys.net

EUGENE Maxxum Marine (541) 686-3572 www.maxxummarine.com

EDMONDS Jacobsen’s Marine (206) 789-7474 www.jacobsensmarine.com

MOUNT VERNON Master Marine Boat Center, Inc. (360) 336-2176 www.mastermarine.com

OLYMPIA US Marine Sales & Service (800) 455-0818 www.usmarinesales.com

SHELTON Verle’s Sports Center (877) 426-0933 www.verles.com

MADRAS Madras Marine (541) 475-2476 www.madrasmarine.com

YamahaOutboards.com/F200InLine

Follow Yamaha on Facebook® and Twitter™

REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal

YamahaOutboards.com/F200InLine

Follow Yamaha on Facebook® and Twitter™

intended to be an endorsement.

2013 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.

REMEMBER to always observe all©applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal intended to be an endorsement. © 2013 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024 Northwest Sportsman

63

BEST OF

CHARTERS THE BEST SEATTLE FISHING EXPERIENCE

Join us on the Puget Sound for some salmon or lingcod fishing with light tackle! Fishing in the protected water of the Puget Sound with various fishing charters that are great for all ages and skill levels alike.

BOOK NOW!

SeattleSalmonFishing.com

BEST OF

CHARTERS

Sailing and Powerboat Tours & Cruises on the Willamette River Where Real Fishing Stories Begin Your premiere salmon and halibut fishing lodge, located in the quaint village of Zeballos, B.C.

• Corporate Team-Building • Company Parties • Anniversary • Birthdays • And More!

• Luxurious waterfront accommodation • Locally sourced cuisine served up by our accredited chef • Exceptional value • An easy drive from anywhere in the Pacific Northwest • Float plane service from Lake Washington direct to the lodge

WWW.REELOBSESSION.CA TOLL FREE: 1-888-855-7335 • Rated #1 On Trip Advisor • First Class Lodging And Gourmet Meals

Book today to begin your adventure!

Call 503-893-2283 or visit sailscovare.com

FISHING THE RENOWNED WATERS OF NOOTKA SOUND AND ESPERANZA, VANCOUVER ISLAND’S PREMIER FISHING DESTINATION

BEST OF

CHARTERS

Cook Inlet Fishing and Ninilchik Fishing Charters Located in Ninilchik on the Kenai Peninsula

WE OFFER A COMPLETE ALASKAN FISHING PACKAGE • World-class halibut & salmon fishing • Clean and comfortable lodging • Full-service fish processing and packaging • RV park with full hook-ups TO BOOK YOUR NEXT NINILCHIK FISHING CHARTER CALL REEL’EM INN AT

800-447-7335 cookinletcharters.com

SAILFISH MARLIN YELLOWFIN TUNA WAHOO DORADO ROOSTER FISH Family-Friendly Travel & Vacationing!

30’-40’ Sportfishing Cruisers Los Sueños Marina 10 minutes north of JACO, COSTA RICA

Mark & Merry Coleman US 425-736-8920 CR 506-4001-8430

WWW.CATCHFISHCOSTARICA.COM

BEST OF

CHARTERS Family-owned charter service offering customized 3-5 day guided fishing trips. Fish for salmon, Pacific halibut, lingcod, rockfish, black cod, and demersal shelf rockfish.

INCLUSIVE FISHING PACKAGE • Free fish processing for the first 50 lbs per person • Located in Sitka, Alaska with direct flights to and from Seattle • Airport/Picking and drop off • Rental car included • Premium Lodging • Chef prepared dinners • Continental breakfast • Top notch fishing equipment and bait • Lunch and refreshments aboard vessel • GAF tag halibut

CALL FOR PRICING BOOK NOW!

907-738-0858 perilsky.com MINIMUM OF 4 PEOPLE, MAX OF 6 FOR BOOKING.

Captain RJ Miller as seen on Life Below Zero: Next Generation

FISHING

Power Your Way To Roosevelt ’Bows Plunking dough bait on specialized setups is a great way to catch lots of rainbows off the Upper Columbia reservoir’s beaches, and here’s how one sharpie does it.

Story and captions by Jeff Holmes

F

or the last week here in midDecember I’ve watched Buzz Ramsey’s Facebook feed light up with limits of big fat winter rainbows he’s been catching from the lakes along the Columbia in Klickitat County near his home. Everyday it has been a new limit of phatties, an affirmation of his love for the simplicity of plunking bait for trout. Buzz isn’t the only great angler I know who gets turned on by the lure of this simple fishing many of us enjoyed in our youth. I know a few top sticks who regularly harvest Lake Roosevelt’s big rainbows, as do I. I am surely not a great angler, but I’m OK and have a lot of cool, bigger-game fishing experiences behind me. But I am one of many seasoned anglers with a successful history of varied piscatorial pursuits who have returned to the simplicity of lobbing baits along likely shorelines.

The old axiom about 10 percent of the anglers catching 90 percent of the fish even applies to the world of bank fishing for trout. Moreover, it applies to one of the most effective and least respected derivations of bank fishing: lobbing a ball of dough bait

I landed this limit of cookie-cutter 16to 17-inch fin-clipped Lake Roosevelt triploids in two hours of fishing on Thanksgiving 2023 just downlake from Fort Spokane. As always they smoked up beautifully. (JEFF HOLMES) nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024 Northwest Sportsman

69

FISHING and waiting for a hatchery rainbow to swim along and pig out on it. I am now part of that 10 percent, I think, but plunking PowerBait didn’t start so smoothly for me. My first days of highly sketchy PowerBait prospecting during the early years of Lake Roosevelt’s trout fishery have been replaced by frequent success and proven techniques that are simple but specific. Learn from my mistakes,

and/or your own, and you too may find yourselves with sore arms toting limits of the best rainbows in the Northwest back to your vehicle.

ABOUT 35 YEARS ago as a young teen, I bought my first jar of bright-orange PowerBait from the now-deceased White Elephant sporting goods store in Spokane Valley and made my way to the banks of Lake Roosevelt

Friend and karaoke partner in crime Deni Starnes of Pasco landed this and other beautiful Roosevelt rainbows last winter as we enjoyed a small fire and a collection of beverages and meats. Keeping folks warm is critical, but with some plunking know-how you can help them find success on the lake in the winter. Make sure they get a two-pole permit and that you bring sufficient rodholders and gear for them. (JEFF HOLMES) 70 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

in Hawk Creek Bay. Armed with a crappy 6-foot-6 spinning rod and a crummier spinning reel spooled with cheap 8-pound test, I staked out a shoreline. That crappy rodreel combo was not the problem and would easily land limits of Roosevelt rainbows today. The travesty was the rubber-core weight 8 inches above a snelled, size 6 Eagle Claw hook, around which I’d smushed a huge wad of orange PowerBait. On my first few casts, I flung the bait off of my hook. On my next cast I got it to stay on, but watched minutes later as it let loose from my single hook and floated to the surface. This continued until I gave up and went hiking with my dad, looking for new bird hunting spots in Lincoln County.

The next time I tried plunking for trout with PowerBait a couple years later, I was armed with the intel that treble hooks were where it was at. But no one told me that size 6 trebles are ridiculous for PowerBait, and my results were similar, although at least the bait did mostly stay on those huge trebles.

Later in my teens before I’d make the switch to flyfishing for a good long while, I slightly downsized hooks and finally caught some fish on PowerBait.

I thought the stuff to be completely inferior to the more advanced baits of worms and marshmallows I favored, and soon I would leave bait fishing altogether for years.

When I returned to trout plunking several years ago after decades of flyfishing, lure fishing and bait fishing for more exotic species than hatchery rainbows, I significantly downsized my trebles to size 12, and I immediately caught fish. However, I would fish PowerBait alongside worms and marshmallows and the latter offerings always outfished the orange dough. Once again almost ready to spurn PowerBait, I watched other anglers put on clinics with the stuff and outfish me 3:1 or better. I started asking questions and ran into some kind anglers who took breaks from toting their heavy limits along

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024 Northwest Sportsman

71

FISHING

To rod tip

24 inches 4- to 8-pound fluorocarbon or monofilament leader This incredibly simple rig, tied to any spinning combo, can be extremely effective at Roosevelt. I prefer to use light-action steelhead spinning rods spooled with any braid. My preferred PowerBait is the trashy but effective “Corn” flavor, which is a dull yellow/beige. (JEFF HOLMES)

Part of the joy of PowerBait fishing is its simplicity.

All of the egg sinkers, beads, swivels and hooks I’d need for seasons of plunking are in this tiny box, which I keep firmly closed with the aid of a Reed’s Rod Wrap. I keep it in a little hip pack, along with a few jars of PowerBait, bells to alert strikes, leader material, a pair of scissors and a Leatherman.

(JEFF HOLMES)

Size 10

Size 12

Size 14

Size 18 This crude diagram illustrates my take on the best treble hook sizes for PowerBait fishing at Roosevelt or any lake. Tiny trebles and baits tied to 4- to 8-pound fluorocarbon or monofilament are key to effective bait profiles, reducing the amount of bait expended and improving hookup-and-hold rates.

Rainbows readily grab and swallow tiny baits even when the bite is slow. Should you land a native redband rainbow at Roosevelt — which must be released — simply snip the line in front of the snout and let the hook rust out to avoid killing the fish. I like to fish 8-pound fluorocarbon to avoid breakoffs on big triploids when I drag them onto beaches, since I do not use a net. (JEFF HOLMES) 72 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

Roosevelt beaches to offer insights into their successes.

First, they carried several types of PowerBait and in proven scents and colors they had dialed in through trial and error. Not one to want to break the bank on PowerBait, I took notice of scents and colors so I wasn’t falling prey to the shiny baits that attracted me at the store but that might not attract trout. Along with varieties of baits, I learned that they were using hooks no larger than size 14 trebles, and some of them had acquired size 18 trebles that are hard if not impossible to find in Northwest sporting goods stores.

They also used light fluorocarbon leaders in 4- to 8-pound test and heavy egg sinkers on sliding Carolina rigs. The heavy sinkers, they reported,

helped them to make long casts and anchored their rigs to the lake’s sandy bottom. They all used rodholders and few of them tightened their lines to immediately detect strikes. Instead, they would allow the rainbows to hook themselves or swallow their tiny baits.

Other anglers told me that boats were their secret weapon and that motoring to undisturbed, seldomfished beaches on both the tribal and non-tribal sides of Roosevelt paid dividends. I’ve learned this to be true, but it’s safe to say no one needs to drag a boat to the lake to catch a limit of trout if they dial in their plunking game.

A FEW YEARS ago I started to emulate the more successful anglers’ approaches, pushing aside my biases about how

OREGON CULVER Culver Marine (541) 546-3354 www.culvermarine.com FLORENCE Y Marina (541) 590-3313 www.ymarinaboats.com

WASHINGTON PORTLAND Sportcraft Marina, Inc. (503) 656-6484 www.sportcraftmarina.com

MOUNT VERNON CHINOOK Chinook Marine Repair, Inc. Tom-n-Jerry’s Boat Center, Inc. (800) 457-9459 (360) 466-9955 (360) 777-8361 www.chinookmarinerepair.com www.tomnjerrys.net

TACOMA Tacoma Boat Sales & Service (253) 301-4013 www.tacomaboatsales.com

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024 Northwest Sportsman

73

FISHING Keller, Hanson Harbor, Lincoln, Hawk Creek, Seven Bays, Fort Spokane and Porcupine Bay. Settling in to be comfortable and to perhaps barbeque some meats while listening for ringing bells on rod tips has become one of the great joys of my winters.

Almost any beach along Lake Roosevelt’s 151.6-mile length will yield rainbows, as will rocky shorelines, cliff faces, etc. But the beaches are where it’s at for plunkers.

Seldom will a Roosevelt angler fishing beaches experience a snag.

I’ve lost a few rigs, especially when I fish beaches that adjoin rocky areas. But I will sometimes risk it on certain beaches because I’ve had great success fishing on sand and gravel right next to rock patches.

With so many beaches and so many access points, exploring and dialing in new spots has become attractive to me as my confidence has grown.

As Roosevelt plunkers in the know will tell you, almost any beach along the reservoir can produce excellent results. The same is reportedly true up the Spokane Arm of the reservoir.

TODAY, MORE THAN

Limits at Roosevelt in 2024 will be common and often fast for those who know how to fish its hundreds of miles of beaches. This winter, the beaches have largely been devoid of snow, but there has been plenty of rain and cool to cold temperatures. Dressing for success is critical, as bundled-up reader Jeff Benson will attest. (JEFF HOLMES)

PowerBait fishing didn’t require any finesse or know-how. My preference for boat fishing and my conceit over my own flyfishing and lure-based successes was not helping me to put limits of tasty Roosevelt rainbows on the beach.

I downsized my baits dramatically, ordering size 18 Gamakatsu trebles from Cabela’s and focusing on my two favorite PowerBait scents: Corn and Salmon Eggs. I experimented with beaches, using the two-pole permit to my advantage by trying different points 74 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

and positions along long beaches, equipping each rod with a loud bell so that friends and I could stagger our rods at great distances. I switched to fluorocarbon and experimented with leader lengths, settling on a preference of about 24 inches. I added to my assortment of hammer-in rodholders and got both a cart and an ice fishing sled to drag comfy chairs and firewood to my favorite fishing positions along several beaches I prefer along Roosevelt’s lower arm: Spring Canyon,

three decades after my first fishing foray from its sandy shores, Lake Roosevelt is the Evergreen State’s mecca for plunking PowerBait for trout and also for trolling for trout and the lake’s outsized kokanee. You will never catch any kokanee – trophy or otherwise – plunking PowerBait from shore, but you will spend far less money and endure less risk than those dragging their boats to this giant Columbia River impoundment.

This winter the fishing is as good as we have ever seen for these marvelously red-fleshed, planktoneating triploid rainbows, which taste far better than any I’ve ever eaten.

Following some of the advice in this article will help you to put some on the beach, but if you don’t live near Roosevelt and are unlikely to make a trip, these same PowerBait approaches will work on your home waters, too. NS

THE LEELOCK MAGNUM SKEG Drastically improve performance and steering of bow-mounted electric trolling motors with the LeeLock Magnum Skeg. The use of bow-mounted electric trolling motors for salmon trolling is a game changer. Not only does this skeg improve performance, it makes bow-mounted electric trolling motors much more efficient. Your batteries will run longer on a charge. The LeeLock Magnum Skeg can be a vital part of your trolling motor system!

The skeg is made of anodized 5052 aluminum. The size is 8 3/4 inches high by 10 inches wide and it’s 3/16 inch thick. The anodization keeps the aluminum from corroding in fresh- and saltwater.

The LeeLock Magnum Skeg is available to fit most Minn Kota and MotorGuide (pictured) motors. It comes with clear PVC-coated stainless steel hose clamps. Call 360-380-1864 or write info@ leelock.com if you have any questions about fit.

LEELOCK CRAB CRACKER This new tool from Leelock will allow you to measure your Dungeness crabs to determine which ones are legal to keep. Then use the Crab Cracker to crack them in half, separating the two clusters from the shell and guts.

The Crab Cracker has been designed so that it sits nicely on top of a 5-gallon bucket, perfect for when you clean crabs. The bucket gives you a stable base, which makes it easier to clean – the guts and shell go into the bucket, making cleanup a snap.

Crabs cleaned this way take up half as much space as whole crabs, so you can cook twice as many in your kettle.

The Crab Cracker is a unique tool made from solid aluminum, and comes in handy for cleaning Dungeness crabs.

360-380-1864 www.leelock.com nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024 Northwest Sportsman

75

Rock Harbor Boats 13410 NE 175th Street • Woodinville, WA

SERVICE • SALES • PARTS NEW • USED • CONSIGNMENT Antares 7 Fishing

Monterey M4

Boulton Hook

Antares 8

Boulton Sentinel Pro

— FINANCING AVAILABLE —

PACIFIC NORTHWEST MERCURY REPOWER CENTER

Call or visit our website (425) 481-6934 rockharborboats.com

COLUMN

Understanding Winter Steelhead I

f you are new to the sport of chasing winter steelhead or interested in giving it a try, realize that catching one – especially your first – BUZZ RAMSEY can be difficult. This is based on the sometimes closed-lip behavior of the fish and their here-now/gone-tomorrow migration patterns, compounded by ever-changing water conditions due to rain events or the lack thereof that can cause rivers to be too low or too high to offer you a reasonable chance to actually connect with what’s regarded as the Northwest’s most difficult fish to catch.

TO HELP YOU find success, realize that steelhead migration is inspired by fluctuating water conditions, as it’s the smell of freshwater that causes fish to migrate into and up rivers towards the hatchery or the habitat that produced them. For this reason, steelhead are most numerous when rivers first drop into fishable height and color after a big rain event. This is why successful anglers monitor the level of their favorite river in an effort to determine when the water color is transitioning from dirty brown to a frosty green and then emerald green, as this time period generally offers anglers the greatest chance at success.

The National Weather Service monitors the levels of many rivers and issues forecasts and trends to 10 days out. Just Google the river of your choice via the National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service. If there is no gauge on the river you select, try monitoring a nearby one of the same type (e.g., undammed or dammed). It would be good to begin keeping track of the water level of your tar-

Even as winter steelhead are known as the fish of a thousand casts, they are predictable in where they will hold and when they will move upstream. Aaron Henderson holds a hatchery winter steelhead he caught on Oregon’s Trask River. (BUZZ RAMSEY)

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024

Northwest Sportsman 77

COLUMN

Wild steelhead are a precious resource and those that are to be released should be treated carefully.

It’s possible to not have to net or drag a fish up on shore to be able to let it go. (BUZZ RAMSEY)

Drifting a soft bead and running a float and jig are among modern steelheading’s top tactics. With the latter, target waters moving at a walking pace or where a straight-running current and slack water meet. Fish are also partial to buckets scoured underneath logjams. (BUZZ RAMSEY) 78 Northwest Sportsman

JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

get river, which you can do on your smartphone or computer. Doing this will allow you to compare water color as it relates to height. Keep in mind that your goal here is to hit the river when it first drops into fishable shape. Steelhead run timing varies by river (as do regulations), but fish should be in from now through February and March, and into April on some streams.

Keep in mind that smaller/shorter rivers drop and clear faster than bigger/ longer ones. In addition, at least in regard to rivers emptying into the Pacific Ocean, Lower Columbia or Puget Sound, tides can be a factor in determining when and where fresh fish will show up. For example, if rivers have been low and clear for 10 days or more, a big ocean tide can push waiting fish into the lower end of rivers where you might find them despite crystal clear water conditions.

If you are planning a trip well in advance of the season, perhaps with a fishing guide, I’d encourage you to plan your trip on or just after the biggest tide of the month – this, on average, is when steelhead will be the most numerous, as big

Transform your boat.

T8

UTILITY TOWER

T6

FISH & WAKE TOWER

T7

FISH & WAKE TOWER

BAREWEST HAS EXPANDED OUR CUSTOM PROJECT CAPACITY

WWW.BAREWEST.COM (503) 620-2195 18707 HWY 99E, HUBBARD, OR 97032

Your Complete Hunting, Boating, Fishing and Repair Destination Since 1948.

5

TOP

DEALER

2023

1-877-426-0933 VERLES.COM

AVAILABLE SIZES

Your Complete Hunting, Boating, Fishing and Repair Destination Since 1948.

18'

20'

VISTA LR SERIES

BUY NOW G N I R P S R FO ! !

G N I T A O B

WE OFFER A LARGE INVENTORY OF QUALITY BRANDS

VERLES.COM

1-877-426-0933

COLUMN tides can push a lot of fish into rivers. You see, it’s a combination of big tides and a rise and fall of stream levels that cause steelhead to migrate, and it’s this pulse of fish you are trying to intercept.

Of course, constant rains can keep rivers high and muddy for weeks at a time and when they do finally drop into fishable shape, you will likely discover that the best fishing may be had in the middle to upper stretches. As the saying goes, when the rivers are low, and have been that way for awhile, fish the lower river; when rivers are high, fish high in the watershed.

There are exceptions, of course, and those mostly involve hatchery steelhead.

For example, returning clipped fish will often hold where they were released as smolts. This could include the hatchery where they were raised, an acclimation pond where they were held prior to release or where a fish transport truck liberated them into the river. How they remember where they were planted, I do not know.

What I do know is that hatchery fish will

often hold at or near these release sites.

LIKE MOST SPECIES, returning steelhead prefer the same basic water depth, current speed and bottom structure. Learning how to effectively read water will put more fish in your creel and may disclose which fishing technique might be the most effective.

As an example, suspending a jig under a float produces best when and where the water is slow moving. That is why many anglers rely on this method when the rivers are low or for targeting slow-moving drifts. A jig can also be amazingly effective for fishing current edges – that is, where straight-running current and near-shore slack water meet.

When navigating rivers steelhead hold in fairly shallow water of less than 10 feet deep.

Water that is 4 to 8 feet deep and moving about the speed of a person’s brisk walk is where they spend most of their time. They also like to hold in tailouts – the downstream third of a hole, pool or drift. Other preferred holding areas include just upstream or

downstream from large underwater structures like a large boulder or root wads, immediately downstream from an underwater dropoff, where a steep bank extends into the river, and along current edges.

Although there are exceptions, you can cull out most fast, steep-water rapids and deep (sometimes sand-filled) roily holes as places steelhead won’t often be found. The exceptions to this are when water levels drop low enough for the sand to settle out, the tailouts become too shallow for fish to feel secure or during long periods of low, clear water. It’s under these conditions that steelhead may seek deep water.

Last year’s summer steelhead that returned to streams entering the Upper Columbia and Snake River systems – which some might now call winter steelhead – can spend the cold season holding in deep holes until the warming waters of spring draw them to their final destination.

In addition, when rivers turn to gin, you may find fish huddled under choppy surface currents, as doing so can make them

The only tackle and kite shop in Westport

We specialize in slow pitch jigging and of course kites. westporthookersandblow@gmail.com

westporthookersandblow.com

82 Northwest Sportsman

JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024

Northwest Sportsman 83

COLUMN feel more secure. Areas where many large boulders break the current can provide plenty of holding areas for fish seeking the oxygen and cover these structures provide.

One of the most productive places for steelhead to hold is downstream from an underwater dropoff. This type of structure may be difficult to read unless the river is low and clear enough to see these green-water slots, which is why some anglers will boat or walk their fa-

vorite stream during extreme low water in advance of the season. Of course, one high-water event can move a lot of river rock and wipe the slate clean.

These areas can also sometimes be identified by feel. For example, if your sinker is bouncing along the bottom and you suddenly lose contact, it could be due to an underwater dropoff. Using enough weight to carry your offering down into these deep-water pockets can pay big dividends.

When water levels are abnormally high, fish will change from their normal holding areas to ones where the water is slower moving. They may also congregate near small, clear-running creek mouths, which is when a bobber and pink worm suspended under a float might be the ticket to success. When rivers are high and brown and at or near flood stage, a surprising number of adult fish can move out of the main river and into these tiny tributaries.

KNOWING HOW TO read water is great; knowing where fish hang out is better.

Success is often a simple matter of making one well-placed cast into every likely looking spot you can find. If you catch a steelhead from one, it’s likely that another fish will soon take its place. After all, all steelhead prefer the same kinds of water. Finding as many of these fish-holding areas as possible should be the centerpiece of your steelhead strategy. Once learned, the river you frequent should include stops at places you’ve caught fish and where you’ve seen others doing so.

Speaking of, you can learn a lot from fellow anglers. Don’t be shy; strike up a conversation with fishermen you meet along the river. Ask how things are going, if they’re having any luck, etc. If you are a bank-bound angler, try visiting boat ramps during the latter part of the day, when arriving steelheaders might share information. True, responses will vary, but these questions start conversations that can provide valuable info, even surprises about fish abundance and what they’re biting on.

For many, the most compelling attraction to participate in this winter sport is the fish themselves, which includes their enormous size (compared to most trout), immense beauty and what sometimes seems like their never-ending fighting ability. And let’s not forget the challenge of catching one (or more than one), which many anglers take on with glee. NS

Retired Oregon fish biologist Jim Martin shows off a hatcheryclipped winter steelhead he hooked while floating the Wilson River with past state fish program director Ed Bowles. (BUZZ RAMSEY) 84 Northwest Sportsman

JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

Editor’s note: Buzz Ramsey is regarded as a sportfishing authority, outdoor writer and proficient lure and fishing rod designer. As such, Buzz is now working with fishing rod manufacturer Douglas Outdoors as a member of their ambassador pro staff.

OREGON EUGENE Maxxum Marine (541) 686-3572 www.maxxummarine.com

WASHINGTON PORTLAND Sportcraft Marina (503) 656-6484 sportcraftmarina.com

EVERETT Performance Marine (425) 258-9292 perform-marine.com

MOUNT VERNON Master Marine Boat Center, Inc. (360) 336-2176 mastermarine.com

SHELTON Verle’s Sports Center (877) 426-0933 verles.com

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024

Northwest Sportsman 85

Of Breadcrumbs And Steelhead Streams

Steelheaders are secretive about their spots and streams, especially given recent decades’ declines and intenser competition for fewer fish, but they typically still offer newbies a bit of useful advice for getting started. (ANDY WALGAMOTT) 86 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

COLUMN

E

verybody is a newb at least once. I was last year. More or less.

Over the years I’ve done a bit of CONFESSIONS steelheading in Oregon, OF A NEWB

By Andy Walgamott exploring the coast’s Alsea and Siletz Rivers, as well as Big Elk Creek, but 2023 was the first time I decided to try for winter-runs in the Willamette Valley, near my new home in the Beaver State.

Where to start? Damn good question.

IT’S A CONUNDRUM that many aspiring steelheaders face each season. They see the pics, get excited, grab some gear, turn to social media for advice – and get the door slammed shut. The advice can be to go away, don’t bother, fish already came through, fished out since ’52, shoulda been here yesterday, bozos at Fish & Wildlife managed the run to death, OK maybe there’s a few left but you’re new and it’s very hard to catch ’em.

Indeed, Facebook, etc., can be brutal to those who naïvely or otherwise expect steelheaders to just give up names of their rivers, let alone hot spots on them, without getting in at least a few licks and yucks.

They’re a clubby bunch, steelheaders are, and it can seem like if you don’t know the secret handshake – or at least have proven that you can tell the difference between a nightmare jig and a nightmare bird’s-nest – it’s impossible to break into the sect of steel.

There’s also a wee bit of gatekeeping going on. These really are special fish.They’re one of the Northwest’s most iconic species, more widespread than any other salmonid, with a range stretching from Southern California into the Sierras and throughout western portions of Oregon and Washington and up the Columbia and Snake into the Blues and Central Idaho. Practically capable of climbing mountains, steelhead once swam as far inland as northern Nevada. By comparison, silvers are slackers, pinks posers, chums bums. Steelhead are also absurdly plastic; they have an insane number of different life histories – 35 permutations in Washington’s big Skagit, 18 in a pair of tiny Strait of Juan de Fuca tribs. Indeed, these are no mere fish. Relatively rare to begin with, they’re the region’s ur-gamefish, our

transcendent catch, the most hallowed hookup. (I swear I’ve heard angels sing.)

So you can understand why folks are protective of steelhead and their streams from those looking to shortcut the line, especially when you consider the remnants that are left. If you want to be sad, take a look at the posts of living legend Bill Herzog where he lists all the rivers of yore he used to fish. Opportunities have seriously diminished over the decades, a result of changing and/or reduced hatchery fish releases and declining wild runs, which have also triggered Endangered Species Act listings. Some of the fishery collapse is due to relentless lawsuits by the likes of Wild Fish Conservancy driving production down; some of it is from mankind relentlessly driving a stake through all that steelhead need. There’s just less river to go around these days but it feels like just as many anglers are on the water, and this is a sport that requires a little elbow room.

So asking precisely where to go right out of the gate isn’t always the best move.

BUT NEWBS OFTEN are at least given a breadcrumb or two. There’s plenty of information out there to get started, the sharpies will say, you just gotta dig it up, tiger! What this nebulous info that the Holders of the Knowledge speak of is not always clearly fleshed out, however.

Which is where I can help out a bit.

As a longtime hook-and-bullet reporter, blogger and magazine editor, acquiring guarded information is my specialty. You could say I’ve done a little plundering of PDFs, sifting through DFW sites and inspection of the interwebs for hard-tofind details about fish over the years.

The absolute best info starter pack might be the annual harvest statistics, and the fresher the better. Both the Oregon and Washington Departments of Fish and Wildlife tally up angler catch cards and post reports (myodfw.com; wdfw.wa.gov) that break out how many steelhead are retained by stream each year. Even better is that catches are broken out by month, which provides a good glimpse of whether a fishery is early-timed, like the few Evergreen State streams still using Chambers Creek-stock winter-runs, or nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024 Northwest Sportsman

87

COLUMN more naturally late-timed ones, like many in Oregon that use native broodstock.

String enough target streams together and you can plan an extended exploration.

But don’t just take one year’s data as gospel. High or low water may have impacted return timing, or maybe there was a closure to ensure eggtake goals were met.

Look over multiple seasons to get a better sense of when the run typically begins to show up, its peak, how long it sustains good numbers and when it tails off. You’ll notice that catch stats can vary a lot from year to year, typically a function of how well this surprisingly surface-oriented species does at sea. Their survival can be negatively impacted by marine heatwaves – the socalled Blob – and boosted by plentiful forage conditions, among other factors.

Outside of a handful of Oregon rivers where wild fish can be retained in very limited numbers, both states’ catch reports

speak most strongly about hatchery fish, which concentrate where they’re let loose.

SPEAKING OF HATCHERIES, smolt release figures are also readily available online and in various forms. Washington really simplifies it with a “Winter and summer steelhead smolt stocking” webpage, while Oregon makes you dig a little deeper with its hatchery management plans and fish propagation reports – but GeePerS, can there be some pretty interesting locational details if you acclimate yourself to the data.

Either way, both methods document the streams where steelhead are released annually and how many are let loose. Just know that while the stocking statistics themselves don’t look too shabby, most of these fish will die on their typical 18-month journey to sea and back. And in Washington you should know that just because a river is listed as stocked doesn’t necessarily mean it

is open to fishing. Managers are using local broodstocks to nurse along or try to bring back some runs in the southern end of the Salish Sea. Cross-referencing the releases with the regulations pamphlet will help scratch those streams off your list.

NO DOUBT ABOUT it, the internet has supercharged the dissemination of steelhead fisheries info. Where once it was the purview of tattlers like Fishing & Hunting News and newspapers’ Thursday outdoor reports, then forums, nowadays it’s focused around Facebook groups, some fun and welcoming, others a bit more bruising.

There are also shows like Outdoor GPS and those put on by Fish Hunt Northwest and Addicted Fishing, as well as newsletters such as Bob Rees’s The Guide’s Forecast.

Outside of those angler-generated sources, there are several more avenues to glean intel. Those blabbermouths at ODFW

A trail leads past a popular Puget Sound hatchery hole to more dispersed angling opportunities downstream. (ANDY WALGAMOTT) 88 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

Custom Boat Trailers

Reliable Quality Service & Craftsmanship For Over 50 Years!

• NMMA Certified • All Steel Weld Frame, Fenders & Bunks • 2 YEAR WARRANTY

343 Thain Rd., Lewiston, Idaho www.gateway-materials.com 208-743-0720

COLUMN send out a weekly recreation report that, if somewhat lacking in specific details and not always freshly updated, still tracks the overall fishery once every seven days. While the days of retired fisheries biologist Joe Hymer’s weekly Southwest Washington roundup are long gone – insert sad face emoji here – WDFW still posts a slimmed down version.

Thanks to much more intensive monitoring on the North Coast, there’s improved creel survey data for the Quillayute and Hoh systems, the top steelhead waters on the

Olympic Peninsula. And fisheries biologists elsewhere email out regular reports.

I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT this last tip is the opposite of what most people looking for steelhead spots want – where to go today, not after chewing through War & Pez – but overarching ODFW and WDFW management documents are enlightening.

For instance, Oregon’s coastal multispecies plans. There are also wild fish monitoring reports. It all just takes a little Googling.

There are more levels of state info beyond this – not to mention the dark arts of Google Street View – but we’ll save those for later. Suffice it to say, there really is a plethora of info on tap about where to go steelheading. All a newb has to do is be willing to search, read and watch, double check the regs, and commit to being a Northwest steelheader by getting out there and exploring on their own. These fish aren’t and shouldn’t be gimmes. Worked for me in my new waters late last winter. NS

A FEW RIVERS TO GET STARTED ON

O

K, so I just burned like 1,400 words in the main article on how to break down the Code of Chromertà, but if you need a few more hints on where to go, here’s a 35,000-foot-level glance at wellknown Northwest winter fisheries, with an eye toward putting you on the streams and rivers with the strongest returns.

WASHINGTON Puget Sound A shadow of its former self, but winter-runs are still stocked in the North Forks of the Nooksack and Stillaguamish, as well as Skykomish, Wallace, Snoqualmie and Dungeness Rivers, with terminal areas open into mid-February. If the wild steelhead forecast is large enough, portions of the upper Skagit and lower Sauk will open in late winter and/or early spring.

Olympic Peninsula Along with earlyreturning hatchery fish in the Bogachiel and Calawah, the Quillayute and its Sol Duc and other tribs, as well as the nearby Hoh, host the region’s strongest remaining native stocks and are scheduled to be open for fishing through March. Boat fishing restrictions have been eased in some

A drift boat slides down an Oregon Coast steelhead stream listed above. (ANDY WALGAMOTT) 90 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

areas, but other protective regs remain in place. Fishing with tribal guides occurs on the lower Quinault and Cook Creek as well.

Willapa/Lower Columbia Steelhead are released into the Willapa, Naselle and Elochoman Rivers, while a number of small streams draining out of the Willapa Hills stay open through February for wild fish. All Grays Harbor tribs are closed this season.

I-5 corridor In terms of stocking stats, the Cowlitz leads all comers, but fish are not all just headed back to Blue Creek anymore – state and utility managers are spreading the run out above and below the dams. The Kalama, Lewis, Salmon Creek, Washougal and Rock Creek also see releases and wild returns to most.

OREGON North Coast Tucked well inside the mouth of the Columbia are Big and Gnat Creeks, home to hatchery runs, while on the ocean side of Northwest Oregon the Necanicum and Nehalem host clipped fish. Tillamook Bay’s Wilson and Trask can be very productive, especially the former in the first months of the year, as can the

Nestucca, Siletz and Alsea. Between and off of all these adventurous anglers can find wild fish to be fought.

Central Coast The Siuslaw and its Lake Creek, plus the South Umpqua and Tenmile Creek are all stocked, as are the West and East Forks of the Millicoma and South Fork Coos in the Coos Bay region, and the Coquille and most of its forks.

Again, branching away from stocked rivers and stretches could yield nates.

South Coast You’ll need the RogueSouth Coast Steelhead Validation to fish rivers from the Sixes south, but it can be worth it, given the hatchery releases in the Chetco, Applegate and in the Rogue around Grants Pass and elsewhere.

Willamette The Sandy and Clackamas are the closest and best options for Portland steelheaders bent on catching a clipped fish, and they offer wild winters too, as does the Molalla.

Also see Technically, they’re summerruns wintering over before spawning, but the Snake, Touchet, Tucannon, Clearwater, Grande Ronde and Imnaha all are stocked and have wild fish for inland anglers. –AW

THEY WRITE COUNTRY SONGS ABOUT MORNINGS LIKE THIS.

BUT AT 70 MPH YOU CAN’T HEAR THEM.

It’s a glorious sunrise, viewed in fast forward thanks to the power of your 250 ProXS. Because you need to get there while the fish are still eating breakfast.

Learn more at mercurymarine.com or visit your local dealer, today.

CONNECTICUT Connor’s and O’Brien Marina Pawcatuck, CT connorsandobrien.com Defender Industries Inc. Waterford, CT defender.com O’Hara’s Landing Salisbury, CT oharaslanding.com

Captain Bub’s Marine Inc. Lakeville, MA captainbubsmarine.com

Obsession Boats East Falmouth, MA capecodboatcenter.com

Doug Russell Marine Worcester, MA WorcesterBoating.com

Portside Marine Danvers, MA portsidemarine.us

Everett Bayside Marine

1111 Craftsman Way Essex Marina LLC. Essex, MA Everett, WA 98201 essexmarinallc.com (425) 252-3088 McLellan Brothers Inc. www.baysidemarine.com Everett, MA

NEW HAMPSHIRE Dover Marine Dover, NH dovermarine.com

Master Marine Boat Center, Inc. Winnisquam Marine

Belmont, NH 503 Jacks Lane winnisquammarine.com Mt Vernon, WA 98273 RHODE ISLAND (360) 336-2176 South Attleboro Marine Billington Cove Marina Inc. www.mastermarine.com North Attleboro, MA Wakefield, RI Riverfront Marine Sports Inc. Salisbury, MA riverfrontmarine.com

M A S S AC H U S E T T S

mclellanbrosinc.com

www.sammarine.com

bcoveyc.com

Action Marine & Watersports Inc. Holyoke, MA actionmarineholyoke.com

Merrimac Marine Supply Methuen, MA merrimacmarine.com

Wareham Boat Yard W. Wareham, MA wareham-boatyard-marina.com

Jamestown Distributors Bristol, RI jamestowndistributors.com

Bill’s Outboard Motor Service Hingham, MA billsoutboard.com

Nauset Marine-Orleans Orleans, MA nausetmarine.com

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024 Northwest Sportsman

91

HONDA V-8 POWER!!

ALL BOATS POWERED BY HONDA MOTORS

9316 Portland Ave. E Tacoma, WA, 98445 253-301-4013 www.tacomaboatsales.com Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual.

2021 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. ®

FISHING

When I think of big steelhead in the Northwest, the first place my mind turns is the Lewis and Clark Valley, where Idaho’s Clearwater dumps into the Snake River. Big old steelies like this one will be holed up in good numbers near Orofino this January and susceptible to floats and jigs, plugs, bait divers and side drifting techniques. The Clearwater is big fish central away from the ocean, but this winter I’ll also fish Forks, Washington, with Bob Kratzer of Angler’s Guide Service (anglersguideservice.com) to pursue other monster steelhead closer to the salt. That writeup will be in the next issue. (MITCHELL SPORTFISHING)

Work LC Valley Waters For A’s, B’s

The rivers pinwheeling out from Lewiston and Clarkston in the Tri-State area offer good steelhead fishing options in the depths of winter.

Story and captions by Jeff Holmes

F

or me, the Lewis and Clark Valley and the many steelhead streams that flow nearby – and right through it – have always been my favorite. That was so even before my steelhead obsession started in the late 1990s. A great case can be made for Lewiston and Clarkston being the best outdoor outpost in the Lower 48. With

great hunting and mushroom picking, salmon and steelhead opportunities most of the year, and great trout and warmwater fishing close to town and all around in Washington, Idaho and Oregon, waking up in the LC Valley has always brought me joy and anticipation for what’s to come.

Opportunities abound year-round, but my favorite time of year to wake up in Lewiston or Clarkston is late

fall through winter. In the December issue, I wrote about an epic float trip down a roadless portion of the nearby Grande Ronde River, one that stirred decades of memories and relit the fire for steelheading my beloved home waters. On that trip, I woke up to sparse accommodations and homeless weirdos lurking around my Clackacraft at the Clarkston Motel 6 during a valley-wide gas outage that left me nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024 Northwest Sportsman

93

FISHING with no hot water in my room. When I returned a couple weeks later to fish the Ronde from shore above Boggan’s Oasis (boggans-oasis.com), I upgraded my accommodations to my favorite digs in the valley. I highly recommend Lewiston’s Hells Canyon Grand Hotel, home of a safe, well-lit parking lot where I prefer to park my boat and comfortable beds that challenge my wakeup times. It’s a great homebase near restaurants, sporting goods stores and places to grab a drink.

It was from these digs that I made the roughly one-hour drive to Boggan’s and fished my favorite holes along the 12 miles of Grande Ronde Road between Boggan’s and the Oregon state line, bringing a hatchery and a wild steelhead to the bank, along with a handful of rainbows that ate my jigs and spinners. That

morning and day were sublime, but I might have also enjoyed a great or even greater time closer to town on the Snake or the Clearwater, both of which converge in the LC Valley.

Whether fishing in town or the famed waters of the Snake near Heller Bar or the Clearwater near Orofino, basing a wintertime steelhead trip out of the valley is always a good idea and one of my favorite pastimes. While admittedly only 72 percent of the 10year average, our surprise run of over 111,000 Inland Northwest-bound metalheads over Bonneville has led to consistent fishing this fall and winter at the popular fisheries close to the valley. Guides work all of the waters within an hour of Lewiston and Clarkston, and there are vast selfsupport options for beginners through intermediate private anglers as well.

GRANDE RONDE ABOVE BOGGAN’S While the Grande Ronde is perhaps most famous for its snappy steelhead that eat dry and skated flies and hammer hardware and plugs in the autumn, the vast majority of steelhead landed and retained are in the winter months. January angling on the Ronde can be fantastic provided the stream does not ice up, and this El Niño winter has started out as mild as it gets. The safest, best and most accessible water for January anglers is the 12 miles of river in Washington above Boggan’s. With abundant access, lots of slow, walking-speed runs and holes, and an excellent mix of hatchery fish bound for Oregon’s Wallowa River and Washington’s Cottonwood Creek acclimation ponds, there’s plenty of water for anglers to spread out.

The Grande Ronde should fish very well this January, as long as it doesn’t ice over. The river is a short and beautiful drive from the LC Valley and my favorite lodging, the Hells Canyon Grand Hotel (hellscanyongrandhotel.com). This particular day on the Ronde several winters ago will live on in my heart and memory banks until my body or mind fail me. Good friends, lots of fish and wildlife, and my beautiful and sweet English setter, Bart, made it a special day on my favorite steelhead stream. (JEFF HOLMES) 94 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

UNION GAP

Demo Rides Always Available!

$29,995 1 ONLY!

2023 Lund 1650 Rebel XL

All Cobalt Blue Boat, Complete Vinyl Floor, Mercury 90elpt, Aluminum Prop, Bunk Trailer Lundguard Black, Tilt Steering Upgrade With Seat Slider, Boarding Ladder With Platform - Starboard, Sport Top w/walkway Curtain, 24v Upgrade

$4000 REBATE!

2023 North River 22 Seahawk Fastback

Yamaha 250 HP 4-Stroke Motor Hydraulic steering, Boarding ladder, Bracket for trolling motor, Cleats upgraded to 8”, Walkthrough transom door - starboard side, Bait box, Fish box, welded in floor, hinged door with drain and valve, FULL Fastback aluminum skinned top, Spotter door with DSG window, Rod holder (3) welded to net holder (1), LED light, rear deck, Washdown pump with spigot and hose, Two color full side paint.

Only two remaining. Call or email for current pricing and availability.

$49,995 1 ONLY!

2023 Lund 1875 Impact XS

Includes Mercury 150 Pro XS, Minnkota 36v Ulterra, 3 Bank Charger, Garmin SV93UHD GPS/Finder, Sport Top, and more.

2023 Duckworth 22 Pacific Navigator Hard Top Yamaha 250hp 4-Stroke Motor Yamaha 9.9hp Kicker with Controls at Helm, Two Tone Paint Daytona Blue/Storm Gray, Full Fisherman Interior, Transom Livewell, Full Hardtop with Gullwing Door, Rear Facing LED Lights, Washdown System, Plus More.

2023 Duckworth 18 Advantage XT

Powered by Yamaha 115hp, bow box with livewell, integrated tiller kicker bracket, bow mount pre rig, and more.

2023 Weldcraft 210 Revolution

Yamaha 200hp 4-stroke, Partial Hard Top with Gullwing Door, Washdown, Dual Wipers, Boarding Ladder, Suspension Seats, Rear Bench to Bed Seats, and More.

CONTACT US FOR SPECIAL CLOSEOUT PRICE!

FISHING SNAKE RIVER AT HELLER BAR

A lot of the fishing on the Snake at Heller Bar and on the Clearwater at Orofino occurs in big jet sleds. Here, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s master steelheader and regional fisheries manager Chris Donley lands a nice fish in Hells Canyon while fishing with guide Toby Wyatt (reeltimefishing.com).

This was a cold but glorious day. (JEFF HOLMES)

As winter advances, however, anglers congregate in big numbers at and below Cottonwood Creek, which is about 5 miles above Boggan’s. In January, though, the fish are not yet stacked at the acclimation pond. They exist throughout the 12 miles and often overrun the facility and retreat back to it as temps and flows increase in February and March.

January is a fine time to fish with confidence in any walking-speed water and especially in slow runs and holes, which are in abundance.

Do not overlook soft seams alongside heavier water, however. I have taken many fish away from popular holes and slow runs, including a 34.5-inch hatchery fish. Grande Ronde fish are not nearly as big as Clearwater fish, 96 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

but there is a handful of hatchery fish topping 30 inches and a higher percentage of wild fish topping 30.

Floats and small baited jigs are my preferred approach deep in the winter, but drift fishing is extremely popular here. Ronde fish favor blacks, blacks combined with red and pink, purples, and also fluorescents. Hatchery fish favor smaller baits, and fishing largeprofile jigs results in a disproportionate number of wild fish – not that landing wild fish is a bad thing.

January hatchery fish are still very worthy at least of smoking, although table fare declines throughout the winter, especially in February, March and April. Reach out to Boggan’s Oasis (509-256-3372) if you’re looking for a guide.

Heller Bar is always a good choice for anglers in January. Even during the low steelhead years we’ve faced over the past decade, Heller Bar has consistently remained open for retention fishing. Fishing has been strong this year with an uptick in overall numbers.

One can certainly fish the edges of the big, free-flowing Snake River at the bar and do quite well, but this is very popular water for guides and private boat owners. Most boats here are jet sleds, but prop boats can also fish carefully above and below the Heller Bar access, which sits just below where the Grande Ronde dumps into the Snake. Approximately 22 miles above the town of Asotin, Heller Bar kicks out lots of hatchery fish just above and below the launch, which is the furthest-upstream launch for those running jet boats into the teeth of Hells Canyon’s big rapids. That said, I’ve fished the water around the bar in a 14-foot boat with a small outboard and in a 16-foot Clackacraft with a Minn Kota, though I really wouldn’t advise it. If you bring your own boat here, you should be a very savvy boater with experience in heavy current.

Most boats side drift this big water with yarnies, beads, baits of eggs, and Corky and shrimp combos, but plugging and bait and diver angling is also popular. Few sand shrimp are ever available this far upstream, so coon shrimp rule the day. I’ve done well from shore fishing floats and jigs and recommend small jigs similar to those recommended for the Grande Ronde.

Hiring a guide here is a wise idea for dialing in the fishing and observing safety, and I would recommend Hells Canyon Sport Fishing (208-791-0344) or Reel Time Fishing (208-790-2128).

CLEARWATER RIVER NEAR OROFINO The Clearwater is home to consistently the largest steelhead in the Northwest, despite decades of selecting out giant genetics through excessive gillnetting.

FISHING

This beautiful little A-run hen ate a coon shrimp buoyed by a tiny purple Spin-N-Glow behind a Hot ’N Tot repurposed as a bait diver.

It was one of several fish landed in my boat at Heller Bar on a lovely winter day during the pandemic. Most Heller Bar anglers side drift, but plugs and bait divers and even bobber dogging do well here too.

(JEFF HOLMES)

Many B-run fish topping 20 pounds are still caught every year, with some still occasionally pushing the mid-20s. The Clearwater has more modestly sized A-run fish too, but the wintertime catch is dominated by 12- to 14-pound B-runs. 2023 was a banner year for Clearwater Bs, but 2024 was supposed to be a bust; however, somebody forgot to tell the fish. Higher than expected numbers crossed Lower Granite Dam and have entered the Clearwater, with most of those fish now kegged up in deep holes just below and above the town of Orofino near the Dworshak National Fish Hatchery.

Like many fisheries, the Clearwater near Orofino is best fished with a guide to learn the water, but a guide is not necessarily required because the river parallels Highway 12, and access is robust. If fishing from shore, seek deep slots from 8 to 15 feet in depth and drift fish with standard offerings, or fish floats and shrimp-baited jigs on slip bobbers. Guides and private boat anglers here prefer bait divers 98 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

trailed by coon shrimp buoyed by Corkies and Spin-N-Glos, plugs like Mag Lip 3.5s and ¼- and ½-ounce Hot Lips, and side drifting gear with yarnies, beads, eggs, and Corkies and shrimp. Like other streams in Hells Canyon Country, Clearwater fish like dark metallic purples, blacks, blues, and reds.

Nowhere in the Northwest are the odds greater of landing double-digitsized steelhead than the Clearwater in the winter. If you’re looking for a guide, reach out to Travis Wendt of Reel Time Fishing (208-790-4113).

FISHING IN AND AROUND ‘THE CONFLUENCE’ For those seeking angling opportunities in town, or when the Clearwater and Grande Ronde ice up and you need an alternative, the slow-moving, impounded waters of the Snake and lower Clearwater are solid alternatives that harbor fish all winter. Don’t expect fishing to be as fast as it is on the Ronde, at Heller Bar, or further up the Clearwater near Orofino, but A- and

B-run steelhead alike can be caught here in January.

Fishing floats and baited jigs around bridges, docks and pumphouses, as well as the deep shoreline water yields fish, as does slow trolling plugs even in the dead of winter. Hot Lips, Mag Warts and Mag Lip 3.5s are excellent choices. Fishing in town during January can be slow, but it’s comforting to know there are always fish here, including big B-runs that have not yet moved into the Clearwater or up to the Salmon, where a small number return, some of which linger in town during the dead of winter and make the run to Central Idaho later in the winter.

The Washington bank downstream of the confluence of the Clearwater and Snake is a good place to fish floats and baited jigs and to troll plugs. Further downstream from here on the Snake, the waters off Steptoe Canyon and Nisqually John Landing are known for kicking out B-runs during the dead of winter, but do not expect fast fishing. NS

BAREWEST IS NOW OFFERING CUSTOM BUILT MINI JET BOATS.

BAREWEST BUILDS CUSTOM MINI JET BOATS USING JETSTREAM & SITKA ENGINEERING HULLS WE CAN WELD A BASIC HULL OR DELIVER A COMPLETE CUSTOM MINI JET BOAT - WHATEVER YOU CAN DREAM, WE CAN BUILD!

CONTACT US FOR OPTIONS & PRICING 503-620-2195 • www.barewestminijetboats.com/mini-jet-boats

FULL SERVICE BOAT & MOTOR REPAIR

• MAINTENANCE • QUALITY SERVICE • COMPETITIVE PRICING

We services all varieties of motors, engines & drive types with particular expertise in early model I/O’s.

vulcanmarineservice.com

503-635-3626 Only 18 Minutes from Lake Oswego.

18707 OR-99E, Suite B Hubbard, Oregon 97032

Special Advertising FocUS

Northwest Fly Fishing YELLOWFIN CUSTOM FLY RODS Handcrafted in Colorado

UNIQUE TO YOU Whether you fish the small streams of the Rocky Mountains or the coastal waters of the Pacific Northwest, there’s a custom fly rod for you.

With a variety of blank options, seats, guides, wraps and grips, we’ll work with you through every process of the build to create something that is unique to you.

PROFESSIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP From the novice fly fisher to the expert, we will work with you on size and weight and get you on the water with the perfect piece of equipment.

Quality does not always have to break the bank and we pride ourselves on creating products that not only look great on the water but fish great as well.

Each fly rod is created to order and each is its own unique build. Crafting such a unique experience is what we pride ourselves on.

yellowfinrods.com

WHO WE ARE Jonathan Hill moved to Colorado in 2003. Two weeks after arriving, Jon casted his first fly rod and hasn’t looked back. There’s a fine line between obsession and passion and having a little bit of both is what drives him and most fly fishers.

Soon after catching the trout bug, Jon found his second passion in backpacking to high alpine lakes in the Colorado Rockies. Fly tying also became a hobby as well as moonlighting as a freelance writer with articles in The Drake, American Angler and Southwest Flyfishing magazines.

In 2015 Jon wanted to up his game and started down the rabbit hole of custom fly rod building.

Jon resides in Littleton, CO with his wife Karen and son Brennon.

www.yellowfinrods.com

Special Advertising FocUS

Northwest Fly Fishing

Montana is a flyfishing paradise, even in winter. Dolly the Bernese mountain dog looks over the Clark Fork River, where nymphs and streamers are the way to go this time of year. (LAZY BEAR OUTFITTERS)

Montana’s Fishing Seasons: Guidance From A Big Sky Native

BY GEORGE “GP” MONTA

A

s the head guide for Lazy Bear Outfitters, immersed in the heart of Montana’s flyfishing mecca, the Bitterroot Valley and greater Missoula area, I’ve had the privilege of studying the stunning seasons and rapidly changing conditions that make the state’s angling so great. In this article, I’ll delve into the nuances of Montana’s different seasons and hatches to offer insights into the best times and locations to fish.

From the iconic freestone Bitterroot and Blackfoot Rivers to the expansive Clark Fork and Missouri Rivers, each waterway holds its unique allure. Our resident

rainbow, cutthroat, brown and bull trout in these rivers will keep even the most experienced anglers guessing – an endless pursuit of perfecting the craft that every angler dreams about.

I’ll also shed light on the benefits of booking a guide, a gateway not only to mastering the art of flyfishing, but also to unlocking the full potential of Montana’s diverse offerings.

SPRING (MARCH UNTIL MAY): AWAKENING THE RIVERS As winter relinquishes its grasp on Montana, spring ushers in a season of renewal for nature, trout and anglers. The thawing rivers bring a surge of life, and the trout respond

with heightened activity. The snowmelt will bring enough water but not too much to cause “spring runoff,” which occurs in May to early June on these rivers. This is why local Montana anglers come out in this period to get it while the gettin’ is good!

Best rivers to fish: Bitterroot: Spring on the Bitterroot is marked by hatches of Skwala stoneflies, bringing hungry trout to the surface. This season is particularly favorable for dry fly enthusiasts.

Blackfoot: The Blackfoot showcases excellent fishing opportunities as aquatic insects become abundant. Expect rainbow and cutthroat trout to be actively feeding.

You can hone your tight-line Euronwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024 Northwest Sportsman

101

Special Advertising FocUS

Northwest Fly Fishing nymphing technique, the best way to get newly hungry trout to bite.

Clark Fork: Early spring on the Clark Fork is prime time for targeting rainbow trout.

Nymphing and streamer techniques can be especially productive.

Guide’s tip: As the rivers awaken, flexibility is key. Be prepared to adjust your techniques based on changing hatches and water conditions.

SPRING (MAY TO EARLY JUNE): SPRING RUNOFF, TIME FOR TAILWATERS! There is a short window when the Bitterroot, Blackfoot and Clark Fork surge with water, turn brown and the fishing becomes nearly impossible (minus some expert spots and secret canals, of course!). This is when whitewater enthusiasts head out and fly anglers look elsewhere. But luckily for us, Montana has countless options, none better than venturing to the famous Missouri River, where anglers can enjoy hungry large trout and clear water. Since the Missouri is fed by a dam (hence the term tailwater), the river is not affected by spring runoff.

Guide’s tip: Book a weekday trip to avoid the crowds on the river, and bring your nymphing rod and your dry rod to catch the hatch!

SUMMER (JUNE THROUGH SEPTEMBER): PEAK-SEASON BLISS Summer in Montana is the epitome of flyfishing paradise. With warmer temperatures and prolonged daylight, the rivers come alive with a flurry of insect activity and voracious trout.

Best rivers to fish:

A Lazy Bear Outfitters client shows off a Skwala-chomping Bitterroot River rainbow. (LAZY BEAR OUTFITTERS) 102 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

Along with introduced brown and rainbow trout, Montana offers two native species of cutthroat – Yellowstone and westslope. (LAZY BEAR OUTFITTERS) Bitterroot: Summer on the Bitterroot offers a diverse range of fishing opportunities, including dry fly action during large stonefly hatches and prolific mayfly hatches.

Blackfoot: The Blackfoot shines in summer with consistent dry fly fishing.

Anticipate ’hoppers, caddis and mayflies enticing cutthroat and rainbow trout.

Clark Fork: Summer on the Clark Fork provides excellent dry fly fishing, with prolific caddis hatches attracting brown and rainbow trout.

Missouri: Known for its consistent water flows, the Missouri is a summer haven.

Target rainbow and brown trout during the famed Trico and pale morning dun hatches.

Guide’s tip: Embrace the versatility of summer fishing. Carry an assortment of dry flies, nymphs and streamers to adapt to changing conditions throughout the day.

FALL (OCTOBER TO MID-NOVEMBER): STREAMER SEASON As Montana transitions to fall, the

landscape transforms into a golden tapestry, mirroring the vibrancy of the trout preparing for winter. Fall offers a unique blend of tranquility and prolific fishing.

While some days can be cold, we often get warmer days as well. The main fly of fall is your streamer – use it to search for predatory prespawn brown trout.

Best rivers to fish: Bitterroot: Fall on the Bitterroot witnesses the spectacle of the mahogany dun hatch, enticing large trout to the surface. Streamer fishing also becomes effective for big browns.

Blackfoot: The Blackfoot is a haven for dry fly enthusiasts who like small technical dries. Blue-winged olive imitations tossed to sipping rainbows is the ticket. Otherwise, throw a streamer to attract larger aggressive cutthroat and rainbow trout.

Clark Fork: Fall on the Clark Fork offers an opportunity to target large brown trout with streamers. Nymphing can also be productive as trout prepare for winter.

Don’t sleep on the blue-winged olive hatch,

nwsportsmanmag.com | NOVEMBER 2023 Northwest Sportsman

103

Special Advertising FocUS

Northwest Fly Fishing

Head guide George “GP” Monta holds a happy flyrodder’s Bitterroot rainbow. (LAZY BEAR OUTFITTERS)

WHY TO GO GUIDED

N

o matter the season, Montana’s rivers offer a wealth of experiences for fly anglers. While the information provided in the main article serves as a valuable starting point, there’s no substitute for the expertise of a seasoned guide.

Why book a guide?

Local insights: Guides possess intimate knowledge of their home waters, enabling them to guide you to the most productive fishing spots, tailored to the season.

Skill development: Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced angler, guides offer personalized instruction to enhance your skills and adapt to changing conditions.

Equipment and gear: Guides provide high-quality gear and flies, eliminating the need for anglers to invest in their own equipment.

Conservation stewardship: Guides emphasize responsible angling practices, ensuring the sustainability of Montana’s fisheries and preserving the natural beauty of our rivers.

Maximizing opportunities: A guide’s familiarity with seasonal patterns and river dynamics enhances your chances of success, even during challenging conditions.

As the head guide at Lazy Bear Outfitters, it’s my passion to share the wonders of Montana’s flyfishing with fellow enthusiasts. Whether you’re a first-time angler seeking an introduction to this captivating sport or a seasoned flyfisher looking to hone your skills, booking a guide is your key to unlocking the full potential of Montana’s diverse waters. –GPM

104 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

targeted by pods of fly-sipping 18- to 20inch rainbows!

Guide’s tip: Dress in layers during fall outings, as temperatures can vary significantly from dawn to dusk.

Be prepared for chilly mornings and comfortable afternoons. Even the occasional snow can catch you. For dry fly fishing, be prepared for things to get technical, so bring your 5x or 6x tippet.

WINTER: SERENITY ON THE RIVERBANKS While winter in Montana may deter some anglers, those who brave the chill are rewarded with serene landscapes and the chance to experience a different side of flyfishing.

Best rivers to fish: Bitterroot: Winter on the Bitterroot can yield success with nymphing techniques in slower, deeper pools. Focus on midge patterns and small streamers.

Special Advertising FocUS

Northwest Fly Fishing Blackfoot: Target slower, deeper pools on the Blackfoot with midge and small nymph patterns. Winter can bring solitude and opportunities for larger trout in the right depths.

Clark Fork: Winter on the Clark Fork requires patience, but the rewards can be substantial. Focus on deep, slow runs with nymphs and streamers.

Guide’s tip: Dress warmly and be prepared for shorter fishing windows. Focus on midday outings, when temperatures are more favorable and trout may be more active.

That said, while the quiet and calm of winter fishing may be nice, most of us will be out skiing Montana’s powder!

Pack your streamers for fall browns – they’re hungry! (LAZY BEAR OUTFITTERS)

WINTER STEELHEAD JANUARYMARCH SEPTEMBERNOVEMBER

YAKIMA SMALLMOUTH BASS

Bogachiel, Sol Duc, Calawah, Hoh, and Quillayute Rivers

MAY-JUNE

KLICKITAT STEELHEAD YAKIMA TROUT

SEPTEMBERNOVEMBER

YEAR ROUND

DESTINATION TRAVEL MONTANA: JUNE-OCTOBER

Trout fishing on the Stillwater, Boulder, Yellowstone, Bighorn, Shoshone, and East and West Rosebud.

ESPIRITU SANTO BAY: MARCH-JULY

Bonefish, Tarpon, Permit, Barracuda, Cubera Snapper.

BOOK YOUR TRIP TODAY! 253.370.2494 topflyguides@gmail.com

topflyguides.com

IN CLOSING, MONTANA’S rivers beckon anglers year-round with a symphony of changing seasons, each offering its unique charm. Whether you’re drawn to the vibrant hatches of spring, the peak abundance of summer, the golden hues of fall or serene winter solitude, there’s a season for every angler here.

Special Advertising FocUS

Northwest Fly Fishing

“We look at Sweetgrass Rods as our opportunity to contribute to the fine tradition of bamboo fly rod building as well as to share our beliefs in what can be accomplished if we all work together for a common good.”

GLENN BRACKETT FOUNDER / MASTER CRAFTSMAN

CUSTOM & STOCK RODS (406) 782-5552 Sweetgrassrods@gmail.com sweetgrassrods.com

HIGH PLAINS RODS FINE HANDCRAFTED BAMBOO FLY RODS

HIGH PLAINS RODS Randy Schneider, owner of High Plains Rods, lives in Colorado Springs. He has fished all over the United States, but as a Colorado native, his first love is the lakes and streams in his own backyard. Randy served his country for 24 years as a musician and instrument repairman in the United States Air Force. His years of fly fishing and experience with repairing instruments have led him to his passion... creating custom bamboo fly rods.

highplainsrods.com

“I can remember a time when I was young, seeing a man fishing with a bamboo fly rod in a beautiful stream at dusk. His line seemed to hover magically in the warm summer air. This image remained indelibly etched in my minds eye and it came to me that this was not merely fishing, it was art. What a better way to bring art to life than through the beauty of a fine, handcrafted, bamboo fly rod.” – Randy Schneider

Randy Schneider highplainsrods@aol.com

(719) 331-9017 highplainsrods.com

OREGON

EUGENE Maxxum Marine (541) 686-3572 1700 State Highway 99 N www.maxxummarine.com

BEDLINERS | ACCESSORIES PROTECTIVE COATINGS

WHEN PROTECTION MATTERS MOST, LINE-X IT.

108 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

Washington Line-X Plus 3508 C St NE Auburn, WA 98002 (253) 735-1220 www.linexofauburn.com

DESTINATION ALASKA

Remote, Comfortable & Affordable

Our remote Alaskan fishing lodge is situated on the upper stretches of the beautiful Egegik River. You’ll watch some of Alaska’s most stunning sunrises, complete with a distant, active volcano. We are a fishing camp specializing in coho fishing, brown bear viewing, and flyout fishing adventures to even more remote destinations in the Last Frontier.

Coho Fishing The Egegik River

The Egegik River is touted by many experienced anglers as the best silver salmon stream in all of Alaska. Becharof Lodge On The Egegik River was the first fishing lodge to become established on the breathtaking Egegik River, and is less than a 5 minute boat ride from some of the best fishing holes on the entire river.

Now Booking for 2024 Coho Fishing Trips Included in your fishing trip: • 5 days fishing/5 nights stay in camp • Experienced, fully guided fishing.

• Comfortable cabins furnished with beds, cozy comforters & bedding.

• Home cooked meals, snacks, and nonalcoholic beverages.

• Transportation from the lodge to prime fishing holes on the Egegik River.

• Freezing and vacuum sealing of your fish, up to 50 lbs., per angler.

$4,850

per person

Includes round trip charter from King Salmon. Call for more details.

Book Your Trip Today!

Mark Korpi: 503-741-1333 or 503 298 9686 George Joy: 360-562-7701 Email: becharoffishing@gmail.com

becharoflodgefishing.com

.

DESTINATION ALASKA

DESTINATION ALASKA

112 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

DESTINATION ALASKA

DESTINATION ALASKA

Viking Travel is a full-service travel agency that has been around for 42 years. We are here to help you with your Alaskan Adventure.

Alaska is big and can be confusing to navigate, so let us alleviate the stress that comes along with planning your fishing, hunting or sightseeing trip to Alaska!

800-327-2571 • AlaskaFerry.com

CUMBERLAND’S NORTHWEST TRAPPERS SUPPLY Hide Tan Formula has been used successfully by thousands of hunters and trappers across the U.S. and Canada. No more waiting several months for tanning. Now, you can tan your own hides and furs at home in less than a week, at a fraction of the normal cost.

Our Hide Formula tans deer hides either hair-on for a rug or mount, or hair-off for buckskin leather. Tans all fur skins – muskrat, mink, beaver, fox, coyote, raccoon, squirrel, rabbit, etc. It also applies to bear, elk, moose, cowhide, sheep and even snakeskin. Hide Tan Formula is premixed and ready to use and produces a soft, supple Indian-style tan in five to seven days.

One 8-ounce bottle will tan one deer hide in two medium-sized fur skins. Bear, elk, moose and caribou require three to six bottles.

Complete instructions are included. You’ll be amazed how easy it is!

Tanned hides and furs are great to decorate your home or camp and also to sell for extra income. Tanned hides and furs are in demand by black powder enthusiasts, American Indian traders, fly tyers, country trading posts and many crafters. Our products are proudly produced and bottled in the U.S. for over 20 years.

Available at Cumberland’s Northwest Trappers Supply in Owatonna, Minnesota.

Call (507) 451-7607 or email trapper@nwtrappers.com. nwtrappers.com

114 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

THE PREMIER SPORTING GOODS STORE DESTINATION ALASKAON PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND FOR ALL YOUR FISHING, HUNTING, AND CAMPING NEEDS! KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF WILL LET YOU KNOW WHERE, WHEN AND HOW!

HUNTING

Play Your Cards Right For Last-gasp Ducks January’s waterfowl finale calls for cagey tactics to fool educated Northwest birds.

By MD Johnson

S

o here’s the question: How do you fool January ducks, birds that by the mere fact they’re alive at this point in the season proves they’ve had run-ins with a decoy spread or two hundred? How do you convince these webbed-foot warriors that your arrangement of man-made plastic ducks are, indeed, the real thing and without question deserve a much closer look, say, within 30 yards of that unassuming clump of reed canary grass with the … is that a black dog? … sitting by it?

Truth is, sometimes you don’t.

Sometimes during the final month of the season, even live ducks don’t do the trick. Birds circle and circle … and circle … all the while you’re thinking the eight greenwing teal and the lonely mama mallard puddling around in your spread will seal the deal. You don’t call. You don’t move.

You don’t jerk the jerk cord. And … you don’t shoot. You know why? ’Cause those mixed mallards and sprig landed 250 yards over yonder next to three (!!!) coots.

Sure, late-season ducks can be tough, but they’re not always impossible, if you play what I’ll call the decoy trump cards. Yeah, some of them might seem a bit unorthodox, but what do you really have to lose by trying something – and I apologize in advance for the cliché

Author MD Johnson encourages duck hunters to try unorthodox tactics as the 2023-24 season comes to a close this month. (MD JOHNSON) nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024 Northwest Sportsman

117

HUNTING

Along with using a smaller spread and ditching spinning-wheel decoys, Johnson strongly advises running a jerk cord to at least two faux ’fowl so as to get a ripple going on the water, which can attract birds from long distances. (MD JOHNSON)

– outside the box? This month, and as we’re winding down to the ohso-depressing period of time known as the offseason, allow me to throw some ideas out there that just might help deal you in with a dandy hand of those trump cards.

DITCH THE SPINNER OK, so maybe waterfowlers in the upper lefthand corner of the Pacific Flyway, i.e. Washington and Oregon, 118 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

don’t have a choice as to whether or not to throw out one or 100 electronic spinning-wing decoys – they’re out! – and Californians are limited to using SWDs for only part of the duck season; however, there are several different muscle-powered types available, including gadgets made by such names as Lucky Duck, Knotty Duck and Decoy Dancer, that provide a no-battery option for those for whom electronics aren’t allowed.

My suggestion now? Get rid of them, especially if you’re hunting over water.

True, and despite my dislike for what I call “tub toys,” SWDs attract ducks in dry fields like nobody’s business; over water, though, it’s often a tough sell during the final days of the season.

My call is to get rid of them completely and rely on some of these other trump cards. Besides, no pull-string on an SWD means you have one hand free to eat Pop Tarts.

Also Available: Hunts in Saskatchewan, Canada!

• Mallard Corn Pond Hunting — Total of 75 acres of flooded corn ponds for the 23-24 season in addition to our many other flooded ponds • Freeze Up No Problem! Aerators & Springs in Most Ponds We normally average 6 ducks per person during a season E. Washington Tri-Cities • 509-967-2303 • pacific-wings.net Check Us Out On

See our videos on YouTube @PacificWingsHunting and Jay Goble

HUNTING TWO WORDS: JERK CORD There’s a reason why you’re always seeing ducks when you’re out mucking around in the decoys. Ripples.

Plain and simple, it’s the ripples on the water. These ever-expanding concentric circles are visible at a great distance. Ducks see them, they see the decoys, but they don’t realize it’s you out there fiddling and not just another old broken-off tree. So they come closer, thinking they’ve found some buddies, see you decoy in hand and leave. Sound familiar?

That’s why a jerk cord is just so

deadly; it’s the circles. But I don’t buy into these jerk rigs that you can hang any more than two, maybe three, decoys from. You don’t need ’em, and the more decoys you clip to the mainline, the more you’re asking to walk away with tangles, snarls, unwanted knots and a whole lot of post-hunt knife work.

I keep my jerk cord simple. I start with Rig ‘Em Right’s basic jerk rig, eliminate two of the four snaps, clip a pair of water-keel greenwing teal, build my small decoy spread around those two decoys and, voilà!, I have all

the motion I need. Why, you ask, two water-keel greenwings? Well, they’re light. They’re small. They’re easy to carry. They move plenty of water.

And, for me, it works.

GO REAL, REAL SMALL As you can see in the photos included with this layout, I’m a huge fan – huge! – of small spreads, both for ducks and geese. Sure, I realize there are exceptions and I make those exceptions, e.g. open-water divers, small subspecies of Canadas and spring snows being but three. However, when

Sometimes ducks don’t want to have anything to do with decoys or fellow waterfowl. When that’s the case, try using reverse psychology and set your spread up well away from your actual blind. It might work to bring birds into your veritable lap. (MD JOHNSON) 120 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024 Northwest Sportsman

121

HUNTING

Benchmade’s new Flyway knife is drawing rave reviews from Northwest Sportsman’s staff waterfowlers. Last month, Scott Haugen recommended it as a Christmas gift, and here MD Johnson says the knife and its 2.7-inchlong blade is perfect for breasting out ducks and upland birds. (MD JOHNSON)

BENCHMADE’S FLYWAY WATERFOWL/UPLAND KNIFE

I

won’t lie. I have a lot of knives, but I have several I’m partial to, including my EDC, a Boker Magnum; my grandfather’s Buck 110 Folding Hunter; a multi-blade Swiss Army knife my brother gave me for Christmas in 1979; and my recent acquisition, a complete set of Dexter Sani-Safe handle knives, which includes a just-look-at-it-and-youcut-yourself-sharp 10-inch Cimeter Steak Knife that makes quick work of a big fat Chinook.

What I’ve never really found, though, is a knife specifically designed for breasting out waterfowl and upland birds. Sure, the old-school Rapala filet knife with the ultra-thin 4-inch blade I have both looks nice and works OK; that is, until I have to cut something with any substance, and then she falters a bit. So that’s why I was excited when an avid waterfowling acquaintance of mine asked if I’d seen the Flyway by Benchmade. I had not; however, curious, I looked into this so-called bird knife.

FOR THOSE UNFAMILIAR, Benchmade is headquartered in Oregon City and their Flyway sports a 2.7-inch fixed blade, an overall length of 6.96 inches and an undeniably diminutive weight of just 2.1 ounces. My model has an olive-drab handle – blaze orange is another option – and a tough-as-nails Boltaron, or extruded fire-retardant PVC/Acrylic alloy, sheath. The blade, described as being constructed of “super premium CPM-S90V” steel, features a series of notches, aka jimping, on the spine meant to ensure a sure grip and/or precise control of the knife during use. The Flyway is a full-tang knife, meaning the metal of the blade continues completely through the handle, culminating in a 3/16-inch lanyard hole in the butt.

So, how does the Flyway perform? I gave her a test drive on several species of ’fowl ranging in size from snipe to big western Canadas, and overall I’m pleased. Her blade works best on smaller birds and ducks, with big old mallards at the top of that list. If I were king, I’d reposition the jimping further toward the handle so as to make the notches more “reachable” and user-friendly; still, they work as intended, allowing for the aforementioned precise control and sure grip. Too, and again if I were in charge, I’d texture the handle just a bit, as it gets just a little bit slippery when wet. Big Canadas? They’re a little tougher due to 1) their size, or specifically the thickness of their breast filets, and 2) the shorter length of the Flyway’s blade. Not unmanageable nor impossible, mind you; just a few extra cuts here and there.

I’m relatively sure the “perfect knife” doesn’t exist. I have a handful that come close; still, I’d make some minor changes to each and every one of them so as to make them closer to perfect in my eyes. That said, the Flyway is a darn nice knife if upland birds or waterfowl are on the cleaning table and that ol’ cast-iron skillet is warming up on the stove. –MDJ 122 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

the situation permits, I’ll set six to 18 ducks or from two to 18 full-body Canadas. Yes, you heard me right; two full-body Canada decoys, but that’s a story for another time, I reckon.

The hooker with small spreads is actually two elements. One, you need to do your homework and be where the birds want to be. Not close, but exactly on the “X.” Why? You’re not going to ordinarily run traffic with six decoys; it’s just not very effective.

And true, you might not work 1,000 mallard ducks by setting up a spread on a puddle the size of your living room, but 1) all you need is seven, and 2) if those seven work, they’re likely going to be right in your face. The shooting is all up to you.

And the second consideration is realism; that is, you might get away with so-so decoys if you’re running 100, but when you’re sitting behind six, they need to look as good as they possibly can. Fully flocked duck decoys look incredible; so, too, do flockedhead mallards. There’s just something about them that looks right. Keep ’em clean. Toss any that don’t ride correctly on the water. Pull that coontail or reed canary grass off of them, for Pete’s sake. They need to look real. Natural.

DO SOMETHING ‘DIFFERENT’ Something different might be the trick for fooling these fickle last-minute ’fowl. Do I believe ducks get used to seeing Brand X or Brand Y when it comes to decoys, and therefore avoid them? I’m not sure I’d go that far, but what the hell. It can’t hurt. For instance, Rig ‘Em Right (rigemright .com) is introducing in August 2024 their first-ever duck decoys, a fourspecies offering that includes mallards, blacks, pintails and greenwing teal, as well as an interesting old-school allblack filler decoy called the Blackout.

The ducks haven’t seen them yet, and it’s been decades, if ever, that a hunter’s thrown an all-black spread.

It’s certainly different, and maybe worth a look.

One more “something different” technique I use, especially during

SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA

WATERFOWL & BIG GAME HUNTING IN SASKATCHEWAN

Known as the ‘Land of Living Skies’ for producing some of the countries most breat1w1h taking sunsets, stormy horizons and northern lights, its sky is also home to one of the largest duck populations on the continent.

• DUCK • SANDHILL CRANE • SNOW GOOSE • CANADA GOOSE • SPECKLEBELLY GOOSE • SPRING BEAR • WHITETAIL DEER

BOOK YOUR HUNT TODAY!

306-380-6204 • noflyzone.info@gmail.com

nfzwaterfowl.com

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024 Northwest Sportsman

123

HUNTING the latter part of the season, is a multispecies rig, or “carnival spread,” as a friend of mine called it back in Iowa.

Here in Washington, my dozen decoys, if I’m running a dozen, will include mallards, pintails, wigeon, gadwall, one drake shoveler and, on occasion, a single snow goose for visibility. Mix ’em up and throw ’em out randomly, with a lot of space between each one.

YEAH, I KNOW, BUT COOTS Coot spreads are a little trendy right now for the YouTube crowd, I reckon, but I can’t disagree with their effectiveness. Certainly, nothing works all the time, and the term “all-

coot spread” is a little misleading – more on that in a minute – but to be honest, I’ve had these rigs work more often than not, and it’s definitely something worth trying when things get tough.

The key, at least for me, to the success of an all-mudhen spread is motion. Lots and lots and lots of motion. Coots, you will have noticed while in the marsh, are always on the move; grubbing here, grubbing there, swimming around aimlessly over yonder. Always moving. So my goal with an all-coot rig is to duplicate that constant motion. And I do that by being a hypocrite. Wait, what?

You remember the earlier jerk rig with the two water-keel greenwings?

Well, for the coot rig I’ll take the same jerk cord but add four or five swivels, bringing the total number of coots on the string to roughly eight. Yeah, I’ll have forearms like Popeye the Sailor Man at the end of the day, but eight coots skipping across the surface sure makes for a tsunami of water movement. As the pièce de résistance, I throw three mallards – two drakes and a hen – off to one side about 10 yards from the epicenter of the coot chaos. It looks natural, and the ripples lend realism to the mallards.

BLOCKS AS BLOCKERS On a final note – and despite it going against conventional thinking – setting your decoys in a spot you wish the birds to avoid is often the way to go. Late in the season, it’s not unusual to see birds ignore even live ducks, lighting some distance away. Perhaps it’s a breeding/territorial situation, particularly with mallards, a species known to start forming pair bonds as early as September. Come January, it’s not uncommon to see a majority of mallards in drake/hen pairs; thus, maybe these pairs or small groups are avoiding all ducks, live or faux alike, due to relationship insecurities?

I don’t know; I don’t dabble in waterfowl psychology, but I do know I see a lot of real ducks avoid real ducks as the season ticks down. So what’s it hurt to leave the water in front of you empty and put that plastic 50, 60, 70 yards away where you don’t want to ducks to land? Easy enough to adjust and move ’em back where they traditionally belong if it backfires, eh?

Johnson’s grandson Tristan McClellan smiles over a pair of drake mallards.

Late-season ducks are difficult, but they’re not impossible to bag if you use the author’s tips and tricks. (MD JOHNSON) 124 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

TO REPEAT: NOTHING in the duck hunter’s world works all the time.

Truth is, I’m all giggly if something works part of the time. After 50 years of chasing ducks, I don’t mind getting beat; however, the thought of a lightly seasoned, bone-in mallard breast done for five minutes per side in the air fryer … well, there’s that. NS

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024 Northwest Sportsman

125

126 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

COLUMN

Let’s Go On A Snipe Hunt – No, Really!

I

recall shooting my first snipe back in the 6th grade. I told some friends about it but no one believed me. They thought GUN DOGGIN’ 101 snipe hunting was

By Scott Haugen a myth, as did many people back in 1976.

Shortly after that, my dad – who was the head basketball coach at the local high school – had his team over for dinner one night. Afterwards we went on a snipe hunt.

Every person was given a burlap sack and a flashlight, then we went into the filbert orchard across from our house and were told to catch snipe. “You’ll see their eyes shining in the light,” Dad told them. “Then they’ll freeze and just sneak up and toss the gunny sack over them. The first person back with a bird wins.”

I had a flashlight and bag too, but when everyone took off running, I turned off my light, stood there until their lights faded in the distance and went back inside the house to watch a basketball game by the warm fire.

Over the course of the next three hours the players returned one by one. Of course no one had a snipe. Some figured out the gag sooner than others.

Truth is, these long-billed, brown bombing, shotgun-shell-evading, fastflying acrobats of the marsh could be the most challenging bird to hit out there. Get under them when they’re working fields where you can pass shoot, and they’re fairly simple to drop. But jump them with a dog and you might have to bring a couple extra boxes of shells to secure a single-digit limit.

EARLIER THIS SEASON I set a goal of taking my two pudelpointers, Echo and Kona, on a snipe hunt and getting a limit of eight birds.

I scouted and finally found a series of wet

No gunnysack required! Scott Haugen and his 10-year-old dog Echo show off a limit of Wilson’s snipe.

Haugen ranks jump shooting snipe on aglands and slightly flooded fields as one of wingshooting’s hardest challenges. The birds can be found in fields with sparse cover and no more than an inch or two of water, where they forage for food around the edges. (SCOTT HAUGEN) fields the birds were using. I got permission to hunt there the next day. When I arrived shortly after daylight, the wind was blowing 20 miles an hour, with gusts over 30 at times. I saw less than a dozen snipe in two hours and shot at two, getting one.

Five days later I was back. The day was calm, skies gray and my dogs were ready to run. Snipe carry very little scent, so it was a struggle at first. I kept my dogs tight, not letting them range more than 20 yards. Even though snipe might land nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024

Northwest Sportsman 127

COLUMN

Snipe are tiny birds and leave little scent, making them a challenge for both hunters and dogs. Here, Kona, the author’s 7-year-old pudelpointer, brings in a gem he was proud of finding. While Washington’s and most of Central and Eastern Oregon’s snipe seasons wrap up on January 28, Western and Northcentral Oregon’s hunt runs through February 18. (SCOTT HAUGEN) in flocks of 20 or more birds, they often spread out when feeding. Snipe have a nervous nature and always seem to be on the move. This makes it hard for the dogs to pinpoint a bird’s position.

At first my dogs’ points were mere pauses. I knew they could smell the snipe; they just couldn’t nail them down like they can upland birds. Kona, my 65-pound male, stands tall and catches their scent in the wind. Echo hunts with her nose to the ground, detecting scent very well, and she can smell where the snipe had been.

It took about an hour before Echo, Kona and I had a system. It wasn’t perfect but we were killing birds and they were loving the fact they got to do something new, something different. It was great for their minds and body, and they thrived on the directions I offered, eager to please every step of the way.

For me, the highlight was seeing how well the dogs marked birds. When snipe flush, they zigzag and can be very hard to see when flying low to the ground against 128 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

dark brown cover. More snipe got away without me getting a shot off than I was able to somehow get my bead near while simultaneously pulling the trigger.

didn’t immediately find it, they’d look to me for direction. No beeping was necessary. It was one of the most rewarding hunting/ training days we’ve shared.

IT TOOK NEARLY three hours and over 5

WE WENT ON more snipe hunts in November, then high water and colder temperatures pushed the birds south. A few hung around but there weren’t near the numbers, so hunting them was fruitless except for an occasional flyby.

But as often happens in January, snipe – along with waterfowl in the Pacific Northwest – start their migration north, toward the nesting grounds. This means a resurgence in bird numbers, and with wet fields prominent this time of year, you can bet Echo, Kona and I will be covering ground, hoping to make more snipe memories. NS

miles of walking, but we managed a limit of snipe, our first together. The dogs loved marking and retrieving them. Because snipe are so tiny and the brush they fall in is often over a dog’s head, it was hard for both Echo and Kona to get an exact mark on where birds hit. They got the lines and that’s what was important.

I’d let the dogs run, follow their hunch, then beep them one time with the electronic collar to get their attention. When they paused and looked at me I’d direct them to the bird via hand signals. I did this one dog at a time, usually with whichever one was closest to the downed snipe. The other dog held and watched, awaiting its turn.

Both dogs grew to love this. Very quickly they both got to where they’d sprint to the downed birds, and if they

Editor’s note: Scott Haugen is a full-time writer. See his puppy training videos and learn more about his many books at scotthaugen.com and follow him on Instagram and Facebook.

CUMBERLAND’S NORTHWEST TRAPPERS SUPPLY Hide Tan Formula has been used successfully by thousands of hunters and trappers across the U.S. and Canada. No more waiting several months for tanning. Now, you can tan your own hides and furs at home in less than a week, at a fraction of the normal cost.

Our Hide Formula tans deer hides either hair-on for a rug or mount, or hair-off for buckskin leather. Tans all fur skins – muskrat, mink, beaver, fox, coyote, raccoon, squirrel, rabbit, etc. It also applies to bear, elk, moose, cowhide, sheep and even snakeskin. Hide Tan Formula is premixed and ready to use and produces a soft, supple Indian-style tan in five to seven days.

One 8-ounce bottle will tan one deer hide in two medium-sized fur skins. Bear, elk, moose and caribou require three to six bottles.

Complete instructions are included. You’ll be amazed how easy it is!

Tanned hides and furs are great to decorate your home or camp and also to sell for extra income. Tanned hides and furs are in demand by black powder enthusiasts, American Indian traders, fly tyers, country trading posts and many crafters. Our products are proudly produced and bottled in the U.S. for over 20 years.

Available at Cumberland’s Northwest Trappers Supply in Owatonna, Minnesota.

Call (507) 451-7607 or email trapper@nwtrappers.com. nwtrappers.com

Cumberland’s Northwest Trappers Supply, Inc. Cumberland’s Northwest Trappers Supply is your one-stop trapping supply headquarters, featuring one of the largest inventories in the U.S. We are factory direct distributors on all brands of traps and equipment which allows us to offer competitive prices. Give us a try.

Our fast, friendly service will keep you coming back.

Over 50 Years Of Service To The Trap & Fur Industry

Request A Catalog Or Place An Order

By Phone, Mail Or On Our Website If you get in the area, visit our store!

We are the new home of “Trappers Hide Tanning Formula” in the bright orange bottle.

Retail & dealer inquiries are welcome.

P.O. Box 408, Owatonna, Minnesota 55060 • (507) 451-7607 trapper@nwtrappers.com • www.nwtrappers.com nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024

Northwest Sportsman 129

130 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

COLUMN

It’s Late, But It’s Not Too Late J

anuary just sucks; the holidays are over, Northwest skies are consistently gray and depressing, temperatures are often ON TARGET bone-chilling cold and

By Dave Workman if it isn’t raining, it’s getting ready to rain, or even snow.

It can be pretty grim – unless, that is, you’re a devoted hunter of waterfowl, small game and/or predators, or you’re just a “gun person” eager to find out what’s new in guns and gear premiering officially at the annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade, or SHOT, Show coming January 23-26 in Las Vegas.

And, if you’re a Second Amendment activist, the Democrat-controlled Washington Legislature is meeting in Olympia, while Oregon’s legislative session begins February 5. This year’s sessions will keep gun rights advocates busy on both sides of the Columbia River. The gun (so-called “assault weapons”) and magazine bans pushed by Governor Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson (who wants to be the next governor) in Washington are being challenged in federal court. In Oregon, watch Democrats scramble to get around the court ruling from November declaring Measure 114 unconstitutional, while the state appeals that ruling.

Remember that as of January 1, Inslee’s 10-day waiting period has kicked in for the purchase of all firearms. You must also provide proof of having taken a firearms safety course within the past five years.

My pals at Sporting Systems in Vancouver also put out a reminder that there’s a nonrefundable $18 fee for the background check, which will be performed by the Washington State Patrol, but that the House

For devoted hunters, January can still shine – 9 1/2-year-old Carson already has this season. The grandson of Brad Bortner, retired chief of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Migratory Bird Division, downed this nice drake bluebill on the Lower Columbia on his second shot of the day earlier this past fall. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024

Northwest Sportsman 131

COLUMN

If you hike the backcountry this winter, take along a .22-caliber pistol for cottontails or snowshoe hares. (DAVE WORKMAN) House Bill 1143/Initiative 1639-mandated training class is still free on their website, and to expect legal challenges to the new law. Sporting Systems advises following “Washington 2024 Legislative Action Group - Save your civil rights” and “Washington Civil Rights Association” on Facebook for state legislature updates.

ON THE HUNTING front, waterfowl season continues in Washington on both sides of the mountains. Check pages 27-28 in the regulations pamphlet for goose season dates west and east, and pages 20-21 for ducks (the finale is January 28 except for the special veterans, active-duty military and youth day February 3). This is the time of year for hardy hunters willing to brave the cold to put waterfowl in the cooler.

Depending upon the weather patterns, traditional coastal and Southwest hunting spots can still be productive, as well as the Columbia Basin and Tri-Cities/lower Snake River. If you’re lucky, somebody gave you 132 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

some new insulated hunting camo, maybe a box or two of steel shot, and some new warm gloves for Christmas.

Grouse and rabbit hunting continues this month (as this column noted in December), with the fool hen season wrapping up January 15, while rabbit season continues through March 15.

One might still be able to find forest grouse along lowland logging roads, but venturing into the higher elevations for blue grouse might be an effort confined to riding a snowmobile! If you’re one of the real energetic winter hikers who snowshoe into high-country spots, take a .22 rifle or pistol along.

I will note that snowshoe hares started changing color to white back in November.

I spotted a big one, but couldn’t get a shot off at it, on the north slope of South Cle Elum Ridge on the road to Peoh Point, and where there is one, you can rest assured there are more. Cottontails can be found around blackberry tangles, and other

brushy areas out in the Basin; anywhere there is suitable cover. Rabbit hunting is where the .22 Long Rifle and .22 Magnum really strut their stuff. There are folks who prefer the .32 H&R Magnum or .327 Federal for this game as well, though some people might consider that overkill.

HERE’S A THOUGHT: Where there are rabbits, you just might bump into a coyote, and doing in a songdog this time of year could almost be considered a public service, because a predator conked out now will not be around later to prey on fawns and calves, or wintering deer and elk. This time of year, coyote pelts are prime, and there are folks who wait the whole year to dress up in white camo to kill them.

For those who argue that “nobody hunts with an assault rifle,” this is where their ignorance about firearms and hunting stands out like an obnoxious drunk in church. Devoted predator hunters frequently use AR-15-type rifles

COLUMN Savage’s Klym 110 is offered in 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .308 Winchester, 7mm PRC, .300 Win. Magnum and .300 WSM. (SAVAGE)

to bust coyotes. I’ve had the delight to fire a variety of such semiautos and found many of them to be remarkably accurate out to several hundred yards.

With a variety of bullet weights available in .223 Remington – the most common chambering – coyote hunters can get a lot of bang for the buck.

Other top calibers for coyotes include the .204 Ruger, .22-250 Remington, .222 Remington, .24 Nosler, .243 Winchester and even the .257 Roberts with an 80- or 100-grain bullet. Thanks to the warpspeed velocities of these calibers, coyotes never hear the shot that gets ’em.

And that brings me around to bobcats.

They’re also predators, and the season

134 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

continues to March 15 in Washington. There is a requirement to contact a Department of Fish and Wildlife office for pelt sealing and submit a harvest report by April 20. A .22 or .32 can easily stop a bobcat, to say nothing of the above rifle calibers.

Pheasant and chukar hunting wrap up this month on the Eastside, running through January 15 and 31, respectively.

Likewise, the season for California quail, bobwhite and gray partridge concludes at midmonth. See page 34 of the regulations pamphlet for full details.

SWITCHING THINGS UP, SHOT Show is quite possibly the world’s biggest annual firearms trade show, open only to firearms industry

members, a horde of gun writers and special guests. The public can’t attend, but not to worry, you’ll be learning about new guns and gear from a variety of sources, including our sister publication, American Shooting Journal, at booth #41262.

Handguns, rifles, shotguns and ammunition, plus accessories, knives, clothing and more will be on display for the four-day run.

Last month, Savage announced the new Klym rifle series, and my guess is they’ll get plenty of attention in Las Vegas. According to Savage publicity, the Klym is designed “for the highest treks and most remote backcountry hunts.” The rifle series features exclusive partnerships with Proof Research

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024

Northwest Sportsman 135

COLUMN and Fine Ballistic Tools.

Savage says this rifle “features an exclusive carbon fiber wrapped, steel cut and 5/8 x 24 threaded barrel from Proof Research.” The FBT custom carbon fiber stock also reduces weight, which remote-country hunters will appreciate.

They’re designed around the proven Savage 110 and Impulse platforms.

The 110 Klym options include a useradjustable 1.5- to 4-pound AccuTrigger, tang safety, blueprinted action, drilled and tapped receiver (8-40) and a one-

piece Picatinny scope rail.

The Klym 110 and Impulse rifles are offered in the following calibers: 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .308 Winchester, 7mm PRC, .300 Win. Magnum and .300 WSM. I mentioned semiauto rifles earlier.

Sightron has introduced the new S-Tac 1-6x24 AR1 LPVO riflescope for modern sporting rifles chambered in .223/5.56mm.

At the core of the design are 13 “meticulously crafted Japanese optical glass lenses,” according to a company news release. They feature Sightron’s exclusive

The 75th Anniversary edition of the Ruger 10/22 rimfire carbine features a traditionally stained and checkered hardwood stock. It is one of four special offerings marking the occasion. (RUGER)

4 RUGER 75TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE MODELS

MC-333 multi-coating technology featuring three layers of camera-grade multi-coatings applied to both sides for a combined six layers on each lens.

The S-Tac AR1 reticle is purpose-built for modern sporting rifles chambered in .223 and 5.56mm, the company says.

The illuminated halo helps with fast target acquisition at close range, while the illuminated center dot ensures accurate midrange target placement. The nonilluminated, easy-to-see drop bars indicate holdovers between 300 and 600 yards, with additional indicators for 5 and 10 mph crosswinds, Sightron says.

And, if you’re somebody who spends January at the loading bench, the 2024 edition of Hodgdon’s Annual Manual is now available. This is a superb guide for handloaders, and my bench has copies dating back at least 10 years.

I

n celebration of its 75th anniversary, Sturm, Ruger announced commemorative firearms from each of the company’s manufacturing facilities: a Mark IV Standard model, a pair of 10/22 Sporter models, and an LCP Max. All four are shipping now and will be available throughout 2024, the company said in a release.

While each of these models is tastefully embellished with 75th Anniversary markings, pricing for each remains competitive and in keeping with Ruger’s tradition of providing high-value firearms at modest prices, Ruger said.

“Ruger has come a long way in 75 years,” said CEO Chris Killoy. “From humble beginnings in the Red Barn in Connecticut to three powerhouse manufacturing operations in Arizona, New Hampshire and North Carolina – and with more support facilities throughout the United States – Ruger has made its name by providing topquality firearms that represent a great value to the shooting public. On behalf of our almost 2,000 dedicated associates, I thank our customers for making our first 75 years such a success!”

From Prescott, Arizona, comes a Standard model of the iconic Mark Series pistol.

Featuring a fully adjustable rear sight, an undercut Patridge front sight, and a heavy, tapered barrel, this attractive pistol balances well in the hand and retains the classic styling of the iconic Standard Pistol that launched the company in 1949. Additional details include a 75th Anniversary logo engraving on both the receiver and the bolt, and handsome, fully checkered grip panels.

The Newport, New Hampshire, facility offers two 75th Anniversary models of the timeless 10/22 rimfire carbine. Each model features a stainless steel barrel, silverfinished receiver, polished bolt engraved with the 75th Anniversary logo, a matchsanded butt pad, and front and rear sling swivels. Model 31275 has a traditionally stained and checkered hardwood stock, while model 41275 has an unstained hardwood stock adorned with striking, dark checkering.

Mayodan, North Carolina – home to Ruger’s newest plant – offers a unique LCP Max. While still amazingly compact, it is a double-stack, 10-round version of the enormously successful LCP. The anniversary model features a stainless steel slide adorned with an engraved logo and a silver-anodized aluminum trigger, as well as a highly visible tritium front sight, square-ledge, dovetailed rear sight and a reversible magazine release.

136 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

Rather stay indoors? The 2024 edition of Hodgdon’s Annual Manual offers data and load recommendations galore for those who roll their own bullets and shotshells. (HODGDON) This year’s edition includes data for the new Ramshot Grand magnum rifle powder, Remington 360 Buckhammer, Winchester 400 Legend, and updated data for more than 70 rifle and handgun cartridges, and more than 1,000 load recommendations for 12-gauge shotshells. You will find data for Hodgdon, IMR, Winchester, Ramshot and Accurate propellants. NS

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024

Northwest Sportsman 137

138 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

140 Northwest Sportsman

JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

COLUMN

Start Them Young And Keep The Traditions Alive I

nvolving youth in the outdoors is important for many different reasons, but ultimately it is a way to pass on BECOMING traditions and teach a A HUNTER way of life that for many

By Dave Anderson of us is our sole passion and what we look forward to year after year.

I chose to wait until I was in my mid-30s to have children. I spent a lot of time in my early 20s and early 30s hunting, fishing and hiking without having much responsibility tying me down. I was able to have some amazing experiences along the way, and I have no regrets about waiting to have kids.

Fast forward to my mid-30s, when my wife Kristina and I made the decision to start a family. We understood we would be in for a rude awakening when it came to having free time together, as well as not having to worry about anyone else but ourselves. However, we 100 percent knew and always wanted to have our children with us during most of our outdoor experiences.

FROM AN EARLY age, our boys Ryland and Barrett have accompanied us to the mountains and even onto the ocean. Starting out, we carried both boys in backpacks, but after they started to walk on their own, they slowly progressed to hiking and have since become little hiking animals.

My way of thinking has always been that they will never know what “hard” is if they think what we do is normal. We knew that for us to still enjoy all the things about the outdoors together we had to include our boys, no matter how young they were.

Taking young children to the mountains

Ryland and Barrett Anderson did their part on a cow elk hunt last month with their mother, Kristina. It made for an outstanding family adventure and an early immersion into their parents’ proud tradition of hunting. (DAVE ANDERSON)

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024

Northwest Sportsman 141

COLUMN

Even as it’s seemed daunting, Dave Anderson has found it immensely satisfying to introduce his boys to the outdoors, taking them hiking, fishing and hunting across Washington and North Idaho. (DAVE ANDERSON) has its own set of challenges. There are days when they complain a lot and it can turn into not quite the experience we were hoping for. But there are also a lot of days that are full of special memories that will last a lifetime. My number one piece of advice: Take a lot of snacks! I do not know what it is about snacks, but kids – especially boys – seem to be food-motivated. Snacks can make or break a day. We always pack lunch, fruit snacks, applesauce, protein bars, cheese, crackers and lots of water.

Whether you are in the mountains on a hike or fishing, let the kids explore. Depending on age, they are full of curiosity and trying to learn this lifestyle you are introducing them to. Selecting hikes that allow us to get in and out within a reasonable amount of time plus some is one thing we try to watch.

142 Northwest Sportsman

JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

If you try to hurry kids along and walk at your pace, it usually turns into not that fun of an experience. Our boys kick over rocks and pick up about 100 different sticks to use as rifles, fishing poles or to hit every stump or tree along the way. When we first started hiking once the boys could so without being carried, I pushed them to move quicker, but as I have learned and grown as a parent, I’ve realized I need to just let them be kids and have fun. Patience is key.

WHAT THE BOYS love the most is having their own binoculars to take along on all our adventures. We have been teaching them since day one about hunting. Hunting is a big part of our lives, and it is especially important to us to show them what hunting is about. I have been careful not to push it on

them, but they have shown a lot of interest in wanting to learn and participate.

We practice glassing for animals. Living now in North Idaho we run across a lot of animals, including elk, deer, bears, moose, mountain goats and bighorn sheep, so when the boys spot an animal, it is awesome to see the excitement in their eyes and hear it in the tone of their voice. At 5 and 4 years old, Ryland and Barrett understand why we hunt and the fact that we are harvesting animals for meat. They realize the importance of harvesting animals to provide healthy protein to share with our family and friends.

For the first few years of their lives, we were lucky enough to have family watch the boys so that Kristina and I could hunt together. But since moving to Idaho, that’s become a lot harder, requiring far more coordination that most of the time does not quite work out.

Last year Kristina drew a cow elk tag for a November 15-December 15 hunt. For us to pull it off, we knew we would have to include the boys. We kept an eye on the weather and decided that the first week of December would be the time to do it.

We were able to secure a side-by-side for the hunt so the boys could stay warm inside of a nice heated cab. We were able to drive around until we located some elk, at which point it was Kristina’s time to shine and make stalks while I stayed behind with the boys. After a few different stalks, Kristina was able to notch her tag and harvest a big, healthy cow elk with myself and our boys by her side. The joy and excitement we all shared together is a memory our family will never forget.

After she harvested her elk, the boys hiked along with Kristina and I to the elk to give high fives, hugs and congratulations, as well as break down the animal to pack out. While I broke the elk down and loaded game bags, the boys played in the sagebrush. They also had lots of questions and it felt like second nature having them along. The boys made two trips back and forth with Kristina and I to pack the elk out.

It filled my heart with joy that we were able to pull off something that I thought was going to be a very tough feat. At first I wondered if it would be too much for them, but after we completed it all, I found

COLUMN

Before the Andersons know it, Ryland and Barrett will be old enough to go on their own hunts, should they so choose, and provide even more memories for the family, not to mention bring home lots of healthy, lean organic venison. (DAVE ANDERSON) it to be extremely rewarding and a tremendous learning opportunity for them.

I’VE HEARD A lot of people say that they can’t do something with their children because it will take away opportunities. In fact, I’m pretty sure I have probably said it myself at one point or another, but if you don’t try, you will never know what it is like to see and feel that excitement on their face when you do in fact see an animal, let alone harvest it.

What if they are too loud and make noise? Well, I can tell you they will do that.

But you will still have one hell of a lot bet144 Northwest Sportsman

JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

ter chance of harvesting an animal in the woods with them than you will sitting on the couch thinking how nice it would be to be out there. Sure, there are challenges and you may get frustrated, but if we want to have any chance of keeping our traditions alive, we must include our children.

I cannot sit and tell you that I know everything about being a great dad or the best teacher, but I do know one thing: Being outdoors with my family, whether it is hiking, hunting or fishing, is extremely important to me. I wish that I would have had these opportunities when I was little.

My hope is that one day when I am older

my boys will want to have me along with them to share different outdoor adventures and experiences with them. I only have four more years before my first-born will be able to hunt big game in Idaho. I am hoping the more time Ryland has outdoors immersed in our way of life, the better prepared he will be when it comes to the day he can start hunting for himself for the first time.

In the end, if you have kids, don’t be afraid to take them with you. I find it to be one of the most rewarding experiences as a parent.

Pack snacks and patience and take lots of pics. The memories will last a lifetime. NS

The Perfect Solution For Wiping And Packing Out When Enjoying Nature.

Say goodbye to awkward squatting and fumbling with TP and hello to a hassle-free bathroom break in the great outdoors. These nitrile gloves come with an attached cotton pad, providing a convenient and hygienic way to wipe.

Potty Gloves ensure a clean and comfortable experience.

ORDER AT POTTYGLOVES.COM nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024

Northwest Sportsman 145

My 2024 Harvest A Recipe Resolution

146 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

COLUMN

t And ons

I

n 2023 I had a few goals. I wanted to hunt and fish specific places. I wanted to learn to cook new items. I CHEF IN THE WILD wanted to travel.

By Randy King I did something new with those goals. I wrote them down and posted them in my office. Motivation experts say that being able to visually see a goal makes it more likely that you will achieve it. Seeing what you desire makes you work harder for it. I guess that is why they call it a “vision statement.” Anyway, I would put a little check by each goal when I accomplished it. And it felt good to put checks on things.

My list included items like: Bear hunt a new area. Check.

Fly fish a new lake. Check.

Cook more Greek food. Check.

Hunt in Germany. No check. (This was way harder and more expensive than I thought it would be.)

But the list was key. It was just a nice visual reminder of what I hoped to do over the year. So as this new year gets going, I thought sharing a list of the game and the foods I want to pursue – I might even dare call these resolutions – would be fun.

The Northwest is full of opportunity. To quote the Disney movie Up, “Adventure is out there.” The public land, game access, seafood and foraging where we live are just unparalleled. While this is my challenge, hopefully it’s an inspiration to make your own wild food list too.

My hunting/fishing/foraging goals, as well as the recipes I hope to publish for 2024, include:

JANUARY: DUCKS/GEESE

Randy King and his sons are looking forward to 2024’s plentiful Northwest hunting, fishing and foraging opportunities. (RANDY KING)

Since my dog passed last year, I have had little desire to hunt the greenheads that fly over my house each night. But they are too delicious to ignore forever. So, I set a goal of dogless duck hunting out of my kayak. The idea of drifting down the river into tules and smacking a few greenheads sounds epic.

I will also learn how to cook a Thai duck dish called ped toon nam ma-kham, which translates to stewed duck with tamarind sauce.

FEBRUARY: STEELHEAD Steelhead are just a car ride away and I don’t fish them nearly enough. The major tributaries that have keepable hatchery steelhead are not always fun to fish. But if you get lucky, catch a few and get them on the barbecue, all the better.

As for recipes, I want to look into Argentinian cuisine for their version of fish stew. Chupín de pescado is something I think a cold February day might call for.

MARCH: SPRING VEGGIES When the cold peels off and the greens start popping, I need to make a point of capitalizing. Usually, I will pick some dandelions and some watercress and call it good. But that is just the tip. I backed off on my spring foraging in 2023 with no real reason why, but this year I resolve to pick more wild greens.

Then I can process them into things like dandelion pesto or a nettle puree. Both add a ton of flavor and can hang out in the freezer for good long while.

APRIL: ROAD TRIP THUNDER CHICKENS Over the river, across the pond and to the hill in the spring! I want to shoot a thunder chicken in the face. It has been three years since I have put one in my freezer. Thus, the lack of recipes on them lately. That said, I feel like this year, with a little focus and some mountaineering skills, I can make that goal a reality.

The recipe with turkey I would like to do next is for carnitas. I think a good taco is well past overdue.

MAY: BEARS WITH BUDDIES I got a text a few weeks back from a friend in a conservation group I work with who wants to bear hunt in Idaho. My reply was, “Love the idea; use the StairMaster as much as you can between now and then. 1,500 feet, ¾ of a mile.” I love that spring brings out my trekking poles and my backpack. It’s glorious.

Speaking of backpacking, I want to investigate my dehydrator. I feel like I can make a better version of backpacking food and I think I am going to investigate some gochujang ramen with dehydrated meat.

Please, er, bear with me. nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024 Northwest Sportsman

147

COLUMN Wild game sausages cook over an open fire. Sausage is a great use for trim and you can combine multiple species in the mix. Just be sure that if bear or white-meated birds are included to cook to a higher temperature than sausages made with venison and redmeated fowl. (RANDY KING)

ON MAKING ‘OWYHEE BUSH MEAT’ AND OTHER SAUSAGES

E

ach year I delve into the bottom of my freezer. I find the odd bits, the castaways, the oh-crap-I-forgotabout-thats. Then I transform them into something greater – sausage. They range from the common bratwurst to a Moroccan spiced merguez with ample chorizo, from breakfast varieties to Italian sausages. The goal is to transform overlooked meat into a special occasion, to more fully utilize the life taken for our food.

Making sausage at home is not a complicated affair, but it does require a little bit of an investment. Mixing bowls, a grinder, a stuffer, a scale, a good sharp knife and a little bit of time are the major necessities. If you lack for any of these things, especially time, do not attempt to make the sausages.

By no means is this article an exhaustive “how to” guide for making sausages. It is confined to fresh sausages – i.e., not smoked or cured. If you are going to attempt smoked or cured sausage types (and they are awesome), consult a trusted book or website first.

As with most things, sausages are a

148 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

process. Below I lay out the constituent pieces of the sausage-making puzzle.

THE MEAT: Sausages, especially mine, tend to be a mixture of things. The last batch I made had a multitude of animals in it – antelope, caribou, bear, jackrabbit, elk, deer and wild boar. I use so many different animals in my sausage in order to fully utilize the few pounds of trim off of each critter. This saves me a lot of time and I can accomplish more sausage making at one time. This mixed-meat sausage is often lovingly called “Owyhee bush meat.”

As always, the care of all meat is vital.

Follow the GIGO principle with sausage – garbage in, garbage out. Basically, if you try to stuff crap into a casing, it will taste like crap. I use the edible trim – sometimes the shanks, the neck meat and the odd cuts that don’t make good roasts or steaks.

But never do I add the sinew, connective tissue or other trash. If I don’t want to eat it, I do not want it in my sausage.

THE FAT: Fat is vital to making a good

sausage. Why? Fat is what keeps a sausage juicy and enjoyable. Wild game is naturally very lean; making sausage with wild game requires a person to supplement with pork or beef fat. The reason is that wild animals (except maybe a fall bear) don’t have any substantial amounts of intramuscular fat.

The best sausages are about 30 percent fat by weight. I don’t care how fat a mule deer you harvest is, it will never reach that ratio. Since fat is lacking in the wild kingdom it is imperative to add it back in during the cooking process. (This is why so much wild game is wrapped in bacon and cooked, by the way.)

The fat on wild animals is totally edible, if not prevalent. Some say it has a stronger flavor than the meat itself, often blaming the fat for the “gamey-ness” in the meat.

However, off flavors in meat are more often caused by external factors – temperature abuse, how long the animal took to die, the rut and/or external contaminants.

I often use internal fat for sausage, like the fat around a deer’s kidneys, because it melts better in sausage. Internal fat will

COLUMN have a bit more subtle flavor and will more readily melt than external fat.

Note: External fat on an animal is used for winter insulation, while internal fat is used as fuel, thus the lower melting point of the latter.

Without fat sausage is just not sausage.

In a given year I will use three types of fat in my sausages.

My preferred – and least common – choice is fall bear fat. When done correctly bear fat is white gold. That said, I shoot inland bears, not the crustacean- and rottensalmon-eating bears of the coast. Taste the fat before you use it. (Remember, bear must be cooked to well done in order to be eaten.)

Next is pork fat. I buy this for next to nothing from my local grocery store. Any place with a decent butcher shop will sell you pork trim. They like doing it; you will make a good butcher’s day by chatting him or her up about this sort of thing.

The other fat for me is from Kobe beef. I get this from a friend at Snake River Farms, Chef Alan Turner, and I have never been let

150 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

down. Kobe and whitetail sausages are just about the best darn thing on the planet, in my mind. Regular old beef fat can work, but just make sure the quality is high. No need to ruin a bunch of wild game meat by adding the fat from an old dairy cow to it.

With the fat, it is OK to have it be nearly frozen when you start.

THE CASING: Many options exist for the sausage casing – lamb, hog, cow, as well as synthetic and plastic options. Only one casing is really needed – hog. It is the most reliably good casing and will work for most occasions. Read the instructions and follow them. Nothing is worse than trying to stuff a casing that is not fully hydrated or rinsed – this one I know from experience.

THE TEMPERATURE: Simply, the meat needs to be as cold as possible. Nearly freezing is the best possible option. I like to thaw my meat until I can just cut it with a sharp knife, then I grind it. Be quick and if you have to stop, keep the meat in the refrigerator.

THE SEASONING: By far the most important seasoning ingredient in the sausagemaking process is salt. Use a ratio for the salt when making sausages – figure 1/3 ounce of salt per pound of meat. After that ratio the rest is up to you or the recipe you are working with. Some recipes recommend adding the seasoning before grinding, others afterwards. I typically split the difference and add the salt before the grind and the rest of the seasonings – herbs, garlic, wine, etc. – after the grind. This way I can make different flavors of sausage without having to clean my grinder.

(For an especially mood-killing technique, use a blender and puree an onion in red wine and add it to the meat after it is ground. Tastes great, but your breath will cause brain damage.)

THE GRIND: Grinding the meat is what starts the sausage process and is what can lead to an increase in temperature. If possible, grind the meat into a stainless steel bowl that is sitting on top of ice.

COLUMN This will keep the whole pile of meat as cold as possible. I also freeze my grinder attachments.

Speaking of grinders, if you are going to buy one, make sure it is of high quality.

Nothing is more frustrating than a grinder that cannot keep up, clogs, overheats or is just a cheap POS in the first place. I suffered through this for a few seasons and finally broke down and bought a $300 meat grinder. I have never made a better investment for wild game meat.

I typically use the smallest diameter possible on my ground meat. This smaller grind gives the meat a smoother texture and will “take care” of most of the random hunks of sinew and tendon.

THE BIND: As tacos tell us, ground meat is inherently crumbly. Crumbly is not a desired texture with sausages. The way to avoid this texture issue is by forcefully mixing the ground meat together. This forceful mixing is called the “primary bind” and can be done by hand or in a mixer with a paddle

152 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

attachment. The mixing and mashing of the ground meat activates the protein myosin, making the meat sticky. That stickiness is what gives you the good sausage texture.

Remember to keep the meat cold! If the meat warms up too much in the primary bind stage, the fat can melt, causing it to lose its structure. This can also cause a drying out of the sausages.

THE STUFF: This is more art than science.

Take the rinsed casing and get it onto the extruder tube (either on the grinder or on the sausage stuffer). Just an FYI: This will be an awkward moment in life. I like to get multiple casings onto the extruder at one time. This lets me make more sausage and not have to constantly add more casing to the extruder.

Leave a portion of the casing off the end of the tube; tie this in a knot, then poke a small hole on the machine side of the knot. This will allow built-up air in the device to escape and the casing will not have an air pocket.

Next, allow the meat to extrude into the casing. You want the casing to be full but not as tight as it will get. This will take a little trial and error to figure out. Sausage that is not full enough will be limp and lack that crisp bite. Sausage that is overstuffed will burst open when cooked, letting out all the tasty juices. Getting the perfect stuff is actually a little easier if you have less, as you can always twist the links and make them tighter.

Next, let the meat extrude into the casing, twisting the casing every 6 inches or so to mark each link’s location. Tie off the end of the casing. Repeat until you have all your meat in a tube.

THE COOK: Everyone cooks sausages differently. Some boil, then grill; some brown, then bake; some braise in beer. Whatever the method, just remember that direct high heat can cause the casing to split. Remember, a temperature is more important than a time.

Sausages made with venison or red-meated birds (goose, duck) need to be cooked to about 150 degrees. Sausages with bear, boar

COLUMN

One of Chef Randy’s 2024 goals is to harvest wild bunnies and come up with a good sausage recipe for them so that he and his family and friends can cook them over a sagebrush fire in the wild. (RANDY KING) or white-meated birds (turkey, etc.) need to be cooked to 160 degrees. Remember that bear meat causes 90 percent of the trichinosis cases in the country, simply because it is not cooked enough.

½ teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 squirt Sriracha ¼ cup ice water Optional: ¼ cup maple syrup

THE EAT: Ditch the bun. Get the knife and

Combine diced venison with salt and chill for one hour. Using the smallest grate on the grinder, grind the fatback and venison into a chilled steel bowl. Add the remaining seasonings and incorporate them with your hands or a mixer. Place the mix back into the refrigerator.

I then split the meat into three bags and freeze them.

When you want to eat breakfast sausage, thaw the meat and form it into 2-ounce balls (about 1/8 cup). Smash the balls into patties over medium-low heat in a nonstick pan.

Sauté until brown and cooked through.

(Remember to cook bear completely.)

fork and eat sausage like a steak.

BREAKFAST SAUSAGE Some sausages, namely breakfast, need no casing. This is a great way to start down the sausage-making road. The equipment needs are less and the pressure is off. I use this recipe, or a maple version of it, at home for biscuits and gravy all the time.

(Recipe inspiration from Alton Brown.)

2 pounds venison or other wild animal, diced 1 pound fatback, diced 1 heavy tablespoon kosher salt 1½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves 1 tablespoon light brown sugar 154 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

TEXAS-STYLE JALAPEÑO AND GARLIC SAUSAGES 2 pounds venison or other wild animal, diced 1 pound fatback, diced

1 heavy tablespoon kosher salt 2 each jalapeño 1½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons cumin 2 tablespoons paprika 2 tablespoons crushed garlic 1 tablespoon chicken base ½ cup ice water 2 hog casings Soak casings according to directions on package. Place grinder attachments and stuffing machine into the freezer.

Combine diced venison with salt and chill for an hour. Using the smallest grate on the grinder, grind the fatback and venison into a chilled steel bowl. Add the remaining seasonings and water. With your hands (gloves!) or a mixer, incorporate the seasonings. Remember to mix until it is sticky, but not warm. You are trying to make the primary bind but not smear the fat. Place the mix back into the refrigerator.

Next, add the sausage mix to the stuffer.

Follow the directions laid out above in the “The Stuff” section and proceed to stuff your

HUNTING IN B.C. WOLF

BLACK BEAR MOOSE TAIN GOAT Contact Us To N U O M L YNX Start Your Hunting Adventure 250-644-0081 • telkwariveroutfitters@gmail.com • telkwariveroutfitters.com nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2024 Northwest Sportsman

155

COLUMN sausages. Freeze or cook them at this point.

Cook sausages on the grill for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until the internal temp reaches 150 degrees – 160 if bear, whitemeated birds or wild hog is involved.

1 tablespoon minced garlic 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes, optional ½ tablespoon chicken base ½ cup ice water 2 hog casings

BRATWURST

Soak casings according to directions on package. Place grinder attachments and stuffing machine into the freezer.

Combine diced venison with salt and chill for an hour. Using the smallest grate on the grinder, grind the fatback and venison into a chilled steel bowl. Add the remaining seasonings and water.

With your hands (gloves!) or a mixer incorporate the seasonings. Next, add the sausage mix to the stuffer. Follow the directions in the “The Stuff” section and proceed to stuff your sausages.

Freeze or cook, using the same time and temperature guidelines as above.

Some might say that wild game has too much flavor for a typical bratwurst recipe. I disagree! These are killer and taste like the old country.

2 pounds venison or other wild animal, diced 1 pound fatback, diced 1 heavy tablespoon kosher salt 2 teaspoons ground black pepper 1 teaspoon dried marjoram ½ teaspoon caraway seed ½ teaspoon grated nutmeg ½ teaspoon ground allspice ¼ teaspoon ground ginger

JUNE: SALMON FISHING I am thinking Alaska kings in June. Anybody wanna join? More realistically, it will be salmon somewhere along the West Coast.

Not sure where yet. Maybe a summer Chinook on the Lower Columbia, maybe a spring king near Riggins. Who knows. But what I do know is that salmon can still be had, and I would like to make sure and take the opportunity while they are still around.

I have always enjoyed gravlox, but I have only ever made it at a commercial facility. I might give the salt-cured and bagel-loving preparation a try!

JULY: HIGH MOUNTAIN LAKES When the snow comes off the peaks and the lakes open up, I want to catch a grayling in Idaho. We stock them, but access and opportunity can be tough. My goal is to follow my buddy Justin around the lakes of Central Idaho and catch one on the fly.

Then I want to eat it in coconut milk and curry. I make a similar recipe on the Alaskan tundra, and I want to relive that.

AUGUST: BACKCOUNTRY SCOUTING I really should spend more time in the woods in August. But it is just so darn hot … I complain, but if I dream of getting on an elk or a big buck but am unwilling to do 156 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com

the work, then my dreams will only rely on luck. And that is not OK. Recipe wise, I think I will be perfecting my outdoor barbecue skills and delivering a recipe on how to make a kick-a** wild game hamburger. Many have tried; many have failed. I will not fail.

SEPTEMBER: ELK In 2023 I elk hunted exactly one day. One. True, we put on some miles and got sore feet, but this year I want to prioritize elk and family time. My brother takes two weeks off to chase bulls. I need to make this my priority as well.

Foodwise, I want to investigate Finland’s poronkäristys – think Philly steak meat with lingonberries and potatoes. My son is dating a Finnish gal, so I might as well understand the cuisine of my potential daughter-in-law.

Elk is a good substitute for reindeer.

OCTOBER: BOYS, GUNS AND FREEZERS 2023 was a tough big game year at my house. Normally, I shoot several deer in a year, between Texas and Idaho. My kids each get a doe, most seasons. Sometimes we get lucky with an elk. This past year, one deer between four hunters in my house.

Oof … We’ll be going easy on the deer meat till next fall.

MOROCCAN MERGUEZ This recipe is better than mine, so I use it.

It is from Hank Shaw, wild food guru and author of Hunt, Gather, Cook.

4 pounds fatty venison 1 pound pork fatback 34 grams kosher salt 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1 tablespoon sweet paprika 2 teaspoons black pepper 2 teaspoons ground cumin 2 teaspoons ground coriander seed ¼ cup harissa ¼ cup red wine vinegar ¼ cup water Sheep casings For Shaw’s detailed instructions on making these sausages, go to honest-food.net/ merguez-sausage-recipe-venison. –RK

Meanwhile, I will double down with the boys. I need to prioritize big game meat with them. Plus, I want to eat some Italian venison stew, served over polenta. I figure that will be motivation enough.

NOVEMBER: BACKCOUNTRY FLIGHTS AND BIG BUCKS I have a plan; if it works, I will be really happy. Each year I try and have an adventure hunt, a go-somewhere-newand-different-and-challenging trip. In 2024 I think the Frank Church is my goal. A drop camp at an airstrip and a wilderness hunt for a big buck. I want to feel my legs burn.

And then I want to make some Tunisian venison stew, like Hank Shaw makes. I want a deer old enough to be chewy.

DECEMBER: RABBITS AND FAMILY We are rabbit folk. One of my sons and I are considering getting jackrabbit tattoos and I often quote Watership Down at home (“But first they must catch you”). Sagebrush is in my blood. I want to get out and find some new spots to make memories and eat meals cooked over sagebrush fires.

And I think finding a nice rabbit and hare sausage recipe sounds like a good goal. Then I want to cook those sausages around a fire with family and friends. NS

Choose quality Alaskan-made gear when planning your next adventure.

GUN SCABBARD waterproof gun bag

ATTENTION NORTHWEST SPORTSMAN READERS

Mention this ad for a FREE carry strap with purchase of the gun scabbard.

Shop nomaralaska.com to see all the gear we make for outdoor adventures.

Homer, Alaska • 800-478-8364 • nomaralaska.com

OREGON MEDFORD CRATER CHAINSAW 1321 North Riverside (541) 772-7538 www.craterchainsaw.net

158 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2024 | nwsportsmanmag.com