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Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource
Volume 14 • Issue 6 PUBLISHER James R. Baker
Your Complete Hunting, Boating, Fishing and Repair Destination Since 1948.
ALUMAWELD
EDITOR Andy “Credit To Your Industry” Walgamott THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS Dave Anderson, Randall Bonner, Jason Brooks, Scott Haugen, Jeff Holmes, Sara Ichtertz, MD Johnson, Randy King, Buzz Ramsey, Dave Workman, Mark Yuasa EDITORIAL FIELD SUPPORT Jason Brooks GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, 1wKelley Miller, Mike Smith DESIGNER Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly Baker OFFICE MANAGER Katie Aumann INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGER Lois Sanborn WEBMASTER/DIGITAL STRATEGIST Jon Hines DIGITAL ASSISTANT Jon Ekse ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@nwsportsmanmag.com
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CORRESPONDENCE Email letters, articles/queries, photos, etc., to awalgamott@media-inc.com, or to the mailing address below. ON THE COVER Buzz Ramsey holds a spring Chinook he caught plunking off the shore of the Columbia below Bonneville Dam last season. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
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Northwest Sportsman 15
CONTENTS
ALSO INSIDE
VOLUME 14 • ISSUE 6
115
CATCH MORE EARLY SPRING TROUT
No need to wait for April’s big trout releases when there are fish available this month, both hungry holdovers and recently stocked rainbows. Jason Brooks shares what to pack in the tackle box and where to set up at your lake of choice. (JASON BROOKS)
56
HIGH HOPES FOR BOTTOMFISH It’s too early to say if the Northwest Coast will see last April’s weatherblessed “off the hook” bottomfishing, but in checking with Oregon and Washington rockfish and lingcod managers, MD Johnson learned that salty anglers could be “in for a pretty good season.”
65
GETAWAYS: KICK OFF OCEAN ACTION WITH WESTPORT ROCKFISH, LINGS Mid-March’s bottomfish opener is just the first of a parade of angling hits off Washington’s South Coast. Jeff Holmes previews how the season goes down out of Westport through summer salmon and fall tuna, as well as local lodging and dining options, plus two tropical fishing getaways serviced by Washington skippers.
73
MORE TO SEKIU THAN CHINOOK True, the winter blackmouth fishery in the western Strait of Juan de Fuca is the prime draw this time of year, and Mark Yuasa details how to fish it, but he also has some advice about nearby bottomfish ops that shouldn’t be overlooked.
79
SPRINGERS FROM SHORE Trolling is the most popular tactic for the Columbia’s earliest Chinook, but plunking rings in its share, as Buzz Ramsey rediscovered below Bonneville Dam last season. Get your your sand stake, Spin-N-Glos and tuna balls ready for a bankside tutorial!
105 CABIN FEVER BEATERS: COLUMBIA BASIN TROUT, WALLEYE As spring sneaks into the 509, its many rainbow lakes and the plentiful walleye in the Columbia make for great kickoffs to the fishing season. 147 DECOY TACTICS THAT TEMPT TOMS With turkey season just around the corner, Corvallis-based gobbler gunner Randall Bonner shares how to deploy fake hens and jakes to increase your odds of bagging a tom.
SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Go to nwsportsmanmag.com for details. NORTHWEST SPORTSMAN is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 103, Renton, WA 98057. Periodical Postage Paid at Seattle, WA 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 $29.95 (12 issues), 2-year subscription are $49.95 (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 © 2022 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.
16 Northwest Sportsman
MARCH 2022 | nwsportsmanmag.com
VISIT MOSES LAKE Your Home Base For Adventure CHECK OUT THE MOSES LAKE TOURISM VIDEO SERIES ON nwsportsmanmag.com OR SEE THEM ON YouTube The most recent videos are /watch?v=m0j6fxwWNSg /watch?v=kqGuu_94ILU VISIT www.cityofml.com FOR UPCOMING EVENTS For a list of hotel/motels, restaurants, and other attractions, visit www.tourmoseslake.com.
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91 BUZZ RAMSEY
Refresher: Back-Trolling Plugs For Steelhead
You could say Buzz knows a thing or two about back-trolling plugs for steelhead – cough, cough, record 30-pounder, cough, cough. But given all of today’s new methods, odds are most fellow boaters are using other tactics. Yet where big bucks might turn up their noses at just another egg imitation, not so much when a plug invades their space!
(FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
COLUMNS 99
FOR THE LOVE OF THE TUG Embracing Wild And Free “Take pride in the ways you handle something you claim to care about. If you can’t, then maybe you should rethink what it is you are doing.” So states Sara in a column that touches not only on her favorite species, steelhead, but also human nature.
125 CHEF IN THE WILD How I Learned To Love Stockers Again (And Make ’Em Tastier) One summer in his late teens Chef Randy all but subsisted on hatchery trout and, well, it took awhile before he warmed back up to the culinary possibilities the bland meat offers as a plank for all kinds of tasty concoctions – including jalapeño, ham and spinach-stuffed rainbow! 139 NORTHWEST PURSUITS Scout Now For April’s Gobbler Spring turkey season will be here before you know it – in fact, Washington’s new weeklong youth hunt begins April 1 – making right now a good time to get out there and scout for birds. For Jason, that process actually began last November while deer hunting in North Idaho, but in case you haven’t started yet he’s got advice to help you find your bird in the weeks ahead of next month’s seasons. 155 ON TARGET More New-for-’22 Products Following up on his coverage last issue of new firearms, ammunition and reloading equipment, Dave W. details just-released binoculars from Meopta, cellular trail cams from Bushnell, shotguns from Benelli and Franchi – better hold one of those 26-inch-barrelled Instinct L O/Us at the factory for him! – a new full-size 9mm from Stoeger and more. 161 BECOMING A HUNTER Navigating Hunting Seasons, Rules And Weapon Choices Some facets of becoming a hunter are not as straightforward as others, like making sense of increasingly complex regulations – what was my lawyer’s speed dial number again?!?! – weapon choices and special permit applications, but Dave A. is here to help newbies navigate into the field in his new column. 169 GUN DOG The Last Hunt Over more than five years of writing gun dog training columns for these pages, Scott has touched on just about every topic, except for one – the hardest of all: preparing for the end of “a genuinely powerful relationship.” It’s a little bit about helping pups go on that last hunt, and a lot about comforting their masters for the inevitable. 18 Northwest Sportsman
MARCH 2022 | nwsportsmanmag.com
33
(OSP)
THE DISHONOR ROLL
Tips needed to solve ‘thrill kill’ of 4 Southeast Oregon pronghorn does DEPARTMENTS
20 Northwest Sportsman
MARCH 2022 | nwsportsmanmag.com
25
THE EDITOR’S NOTE Optimistic pessimism and our fish
27
READER PHOTOS Three species of salmon, a cast-andblast doubleup, and one toothy predator!
31
PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS Coast, Fishing monthly prizes
33
MORE DISHONOR ROLL WDFW Police drone takes flight over West End steelhead rivers; Jackass of the Month
45
OUTDOOR CALENDAR Upcoming openers, events, deadlines, more
46
BOAT & SPORTSMEN’S SHOW Event calendar, links
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THEEDITOR’SNOTE
T
he steep struggle and long odds of recovering wild salmon and steelhead in the greater Pacific Northwest were on my mind in late winter. A January video by Robert Lackey, an Oregon State University professor in the institution’s Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, laid it out in particularly stark – and striking – terms. He essentially argued that, given longterm declines driven by 200 years of altering absolutely everything as matters of accepted public policies, an expected tripling of the region’s population by 2100 and the low odds that we residents can – or even want to – collectively change in major ways that benefit fish and habitat, we salmon advocates might as well make due with the new fish species moving in, as well as rename one of them, American shad – which needed just 130 years to become the most populous sea-going fish in the Columbia – as “American salmon” and “declare victory.” That solution by Lackey was issued with tongue in cheek – it’s an utter nonstarter for most of us too – but his top 10 reasons for the decline and rationale for why it’s so difficult to reverse them amount to a very sober echo of his past clear-eyed work on the future of our fish. He isn’t some whacko. As his video made the rounds among serious Northwest sportfishing leader circles, I vetted him with a source who told me they consider him to be “excellent, if you like deep thinking/ objective realist public policy and science perspectives.”
I’M AN OPTIMIST, you know that. I’ve never met a habitat project I wouldn’t support, fish passage I couldn’t get behind, predator control that shouldn’t be done. And I know ocean conditions are cyclical on a generational timeframe, that the hundreds of millions of dollars we’ve spent and will continue to spend on onshore river, wetland, riparian and estuary restoration will come to fruition (at least, someday), and that by nature these fish are resilient as hell. But Professor Lackey’s 27-minute video (you can watch it at media.oregonstate.edu/media/t/1_xcus7y97) tracking the primary causes why wild Chinook, coho, sockeye, steelhead and other stocks have collapsed since 1800 is also that cold-water-to-the-face shock we all need from time to time. “For those involved in salmon policy issues, for sure avoid the pull of pessimism. And equally, dodge the allure of delusional reality. Rather, acknowledge honest, accurate, perhaps unwelcome scientific and policy reality,” Lackey concluded. I FIDDLE-FARTED WITH this note for three weeks (it was supposed to be this issue’s The Big Pic, but, mea culpa, my words failed me), trying to frame Lackey’s points through the lens of a home remodeling project Amy and I are working on to try and put some sort of hopeful spin on the future of Northwest salmon and steelhead and our fisheries. It’s in our nature as anglers and fish managers to be optimists. In the end I feel awful for being so pessimistic, like I’m letting you down, but I’m increasingly doubtful that we’ll ever restore the runs to any durable, lasting degree because of how we’ve messed things up so monumentally. And even as I still feel obligated to fix it – and will continue to champion grand and good plans – it’s left me somewhat rudderless, that’s for sure. I don’t know how this squares with the Endangered Species Act, but we need to start by being more realistic: Crank the hatcheries, end the lawsuit-industrial complex, focus our money and effort on basins where wild fish still stand an actual chance. –Andy Walgamott nwsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2022
Northwest Sportsman 25
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READER PHOTOS Marvin Holder took advantage of the first good late summer rain to head out for coho jacks. “No real secret, just drifting eggs and the jacks love the eggs,” he states. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
Sabrina Schoenberger might have been a bit undergunned for northern pike that mid-May day on Lake Roosevelt, but she got the better of this 12.49-pounder while sight fishing with a 6-foot-6 Shimano spinning rod. (FISHING
Bill Stanley hoists a nice big triploid he caught trolling at Rufus Woods on an Apex last summer.
PHOTO CONTEST)
(FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
Paul Mortimore and daughter Renee (left) made out like bandits during an otherwise slower fall Chinook season on the Hanford Reach. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
For your shot at winning great fishing and hunting products from Northwest Sportsman and Coast, respectively, 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 | MARCH 2022
Northwest Sportsman 27
READER PHOTOS
This late Puget Sound coho fell for Eric Schager, who was tossing a spinner with Hyper-Vis tape off the beach on Halloween. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
When he’s not helping Northwest sportsmen bag more fish and game, our writer MD Johnson is teaching the youngins how it’s done. Here he is with granddaughter Camila, 7, and her first-ever fish, this Iowa sunfish. “By the time we left, Camila was casting and catching her own fish! Perfect weather. This is what it’s all about,” he reported. Indeed! (JULIA JOHNSON) 28 Northwest Sportsman
MARCH 2022 | nwsportsmanmag.com
Rufus Woods Lake served up a nice cast-and-blast for Gary Lundquist last September, pairs of honkers that flew a little too low over the boat while he and his son were fishing for ’bows. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
A pink jig under a float did the trick on this Nooksack River pink salmon for Scott Fletcher. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
After a successful turkey season, Brandon Jewett was able to cross catching a springer off his bucket list after this one bit at Drano Lake. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
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Northwest Sportsman 29
PHOTO
CONTEST
WINNERS!
Sabrina Schoenberger is the winner of our monthly Fishing Photo Contest, thanks to this shot of her big Lake Roosevelt northern pike from last May. It wins her gear from various tackle manufacturers!
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Matt Little is our monthly Coast Hunting Photo Contest winner, thanks to this shot of daughter Sabrina and her first duck, taken during a youth day at McNary NWR. It wins him a knife and light from Coast!
For your shot at winning a Coast knife and light, as well as fishing products from various manufacturers, send your photos and pertinent (who, what, when, where) details 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 our print or Internet publications.
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Northwest Sportsman 31
MIXED BAG
Tips Needed To Solve ‘Thrill Kill’ Of 4 Pronghorns
O
regon wildlife troopers were asking for public help to solve the apparent “thrill kill” of four pronghorns in mid-January east of Malheur Lake. The antelope were part of a herd of 30 that had gathered on a farmer’s field off Highway 78 south of Crane for more than a week. But during the night of Sunday, January 16 someone targeted the animals, leading to the death of two does that were
An image from Oregon wildlife troopers shows a tire track in snow in a field where four Harney County pronghorn does were targeted in a mid-January “thrill kill.” In April 2020 and two hours to the west, a man purposefully drove through a herd, killing six. The animals can be hard on alfalfa crops, but this winter’s act was condemned as “atrocious.” (OSP)
JACKASS OF THE MONTH
T
here are right ways to hunt elk, and then there’s the route that two bozos in a Suburban took – crosscountry in pursuit of a herd of 100-plus animals that they then blasted a couple boxes’ worth of ammo into, ultimately killing seven and leaving five to waste. The case was detailed in the December 2021 edition of the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division’s monthly newsletter and occurred in the wide-open, sagebrush-stippled Juniper Unit southwest of Burns, during an antlerless elk season with a limited number of controlled tags. According to troopers, a witness alerted them to the incident after observing the
subsequently partially eaten by predators and leaving another pair so severely injured that a responding fish and wildlife trooper immediately put them down. The incident occured near Milepost 33 in the vicinity of Rodeo Lane. State news releases did not specify how the animals died, but a photo from the scene showed the imprint of a tire track on a skiff of snow and what appears to be the path of a vehicle leading from there across a field. “I don’t understand anyone’s motivation for doing something like this,” said Phillip Milburn of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. “Poaching happens often enough to be population-limiting in our herds. An area only needs a few bucks, but the number of does determines how the herd will – or won’t – expand.” He was echoed by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Administrator Bernadette Graham-Hudson, who called it “an atrocious act, especially leaving two to die. The disrespect for Oregon’s wildlife greatly upsets me.” At least $1,000 or seven ODFW preference points are on offer. Anyone with info is asked to contact OSP Fish and Wildlife Senior Trooper Dean Trent (800-452-7888; *OSP (677); TIP@state.or.us). SUV chase the elk and then its occupants “shoot 30-40 times into the herd.” A pair of cow elk went down, but the fusilade also hit several other elk. The witness told troopers the duo didn’t attempt to recover any of the wounded wapiti. When troopers arrived at the scene, they found five elk, including a small spike, dead on the landscape, in the vicinity of the remains of the two harvested cow elk. “Further investigation” yielded two suspects and their Suburban, which was spotted on US 20 west of Burns and brought to a stop. According to troopers, the male and female occupants of the vehicle agreed to go back to the site of the massacre and detail what had transpired. Which is where they received a welldeserved lecture. “Troopers discussed in summary the recklessness of shooting so many times into a large herd of elk and the unlawful
KUDOS
A new drone gifted to Washington game wardens by steelhead advocates took to the air this winter as officers used it and a far-seeing camera to make sure anglers on the Olympic Peninsula’s West End were following no-fishing-from-a-boat regs. The patrols took place on the Calawah, Dickey, Hoh and Sol Duc Rivers outside Forks following reports from last season that some fishermen hadn’t been heeding the boat rule meant to reduce the overall catch of wild winter-runs and keep the waters open. While the operation drew a mixed reaction on social media, WDFW Police reported that “no violator vessels were observed during the multiple days of flights.” (WDFW)
method of hunting with the use of a motor vehicle,” OSP’s newsletter states. An overflight of the area turned up no more dead elk, but the male driver was hit with five counts of wastage, four counts of exceeding the bag limit, one count of unlawful take of a bull, as well as single counts of hunting from a vehicle, harassing wildlife and damaging habitat. The female was charged with aiding and abetting. Three rifles were also seized.
Two of seven elk that died as a result of “3040” shots fired into a Southcentral Oregon herd during a December 2021 antlerless hunt. (OSP) nwsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2022
Northwest Sportsman 33
SPORTSMEN’S SHOW SPOTLIGHT
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44 Northwest Sportsman
MARCH 2022 | nwsportsmanmag.com
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CALENDAR* MARCH
1
Metolius Arm of Lake Billy Chinook opens for fishing; Numerous Eastern Washington lakes open for fishing; Blackmouth opener on Washington Marine Area 5; Deadline to apply for ODFW April 9-10 and April 15-May 31 C2 Ranch Youth Turkey Hunt drawings (free) – info: myodfw.com/workshops-and-events 1-4 Tentative razor clam dig dates on select Washington beaches – info: wdfw.wa.gov 4 North of Falcon 2022 Columbia River, Puget Sound and Washington Coast systems salmon forecast release – info: wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon 8-14 Pacific Fishery Management Council salmon meetings – info: pcouncil.org 10 Last day of Oregon Northwest Permit and South Coast Canada, and High Desert and Blue Mountains Zone white and white-fronted goose seasons 12 Bottomfish, lingcod, rockfish and cabezon seasons open in Washington Marine Areas 1-3 and Area 4 west of Bonilla-Tatoosh line 15 Last day of bobcat, fox, raccoon, rabbit and hare seasons in Washington 15, 16, 22, 24, 30 North of Falcon salmon meetings for Washington’s Columbia, South Coast and Puget Sound waters – info: see above 16-22 Tentative razor clam dig dates on select Washington beaches – info: see above 18 Scheduled decision by Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission on shortened 2022 spring black bear special permit hunt and related rule changes 19 Last day to provide written public comment on Washington 2022-23 hunting season proposals – info: wdfw.wa.gov/about/regulations/development 20 Washington sea duck, Southwest Canada goose, snow goose and brant harvest reports due 31 Last day 2021-22 Washington fishing, hunting licenses valid
APRIL 1
New Washington fishing, hunting licenses required; Opening day for special permit bear hunts in select Idaho and Oregon units 1-6 Tentative razor clam dig dates on select Washington beaches – info: see above 1-7 NEW – Washington youth turkey hunting week 1, 5, 6 North of Falcon salmon season meetings for Columbia, Willapa Bay, Grays Harbor waters, respectively – info: see above 2 ODFW Youth Turkey Hunting Clinics ($, registration), White River and Denman Wildlife Areas – info: see above 6-13 PFMC salmon season meetings – info: see above 7 Tentative Washington Marine Areas 6-10 halibut opener (Thursday-Saturday fishing through May 21) – info: wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut 8-14 Idaho youth turkey hunting week 9-10 Oregon youth turkey hunting weekend 15 General spring turkey season opener in Idaho, Oregon and Washington; Opening day of special permit bear hunts in more Idaho and Oregon units 16-21 Tentative razor clam dig dates on select Washington beaches – info: see above 22 Fishing or bait opener on select Oregon waters 23 Opening day of lowland lake fishing season in Washington; Start of Washington 2022 Trout Derby 29-30 Tentative razor clam dig dates on select Washington beaches – info: see above 30 Camp Lakeview Kid’s Fishing Derby, Tanwax Lake – info: wdfw.wa.gov/ fishing/contests/youth
MAY 1
Northern pikeminnow reward fishery begins on Columbia and Snake Rivers – info: pikeminnow.org continued on next page
* With Covid-19 restrictions in flux, always confirm public events before attending. nwsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2022
Northwest Sportsman 45
SPORTSMEN’S SHOW SPOTLIGHT
2022 BOAT AND SPORTSMEN’S SHOW
CALENDAR
*
MARCH 3-6 The Idaho Sportsman Show, Expo Idaho, Boise; idahosportsmanshow.com 4-6 BC Sportsmen’s Show, Fraser Valley Trade and Exhibition Centre, Abbotsford; bcboatandsportsmenshow.ca Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show, Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center, Redmond; otshows.com 17-20 Big Horn Outdoor Adventure Show, Spokane Fair and Expo Center, Spokane; bighornshow.com 18-20 Victoria Boat and Fishing Show, Pearkes Recreation Centre at Tillicum Mall, Victoria; victoriaboatshow.com
10-13
MAY 19-22
Anacortes Boat & Yacht Show, Cap Sante Marina, Anacortes; anacortesboatandyachtshow.com
CANCELLED FOR 2022/POSTPONED UNTIL 2023 Central Washington Sportsmen Show, Northwest Fly Tyer & Fly Fishing Expo, The Wenatchee Valley Sportsmen Show, Vancouver International Boat Show FUTURE TO BE DETERMINED Saltwater Sportsmen’s Show * With Covid-19 restrictions in flux, always confirm public events before attending.
46 Northwest Sportsman
MARCH 2022 | nwsportsmanmag.com
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High Hopes F
It’s too early to say if the Northwest Coast will see last April’s weather-blessed “off the hook” bottomfishing, but two things are for sure in 2022: Plenty of boats will head out of harbors from Westport to Astoria, and from Garibaldi to Gold Beach and beyond, and many big lingcod – like this 33-pounder Andy Anderson caught in very shallow waters – and lots of black rockfish will be brought back to port. (BRIAN MCLACHLAN) 56 Northwest Sportsman
MARCH 2022 | nwsportsmanmag.com
FISHING
s For Bottomfish ‘I think anglers are in for a pretty good season’ – coastal manager on 2022’s fishery.
By MD Johnson
A
llow me, first rattle out of the box, to make a confession. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve been this giggly. I’m talking 13-year-old-waiting-for-theopening-day-of-duck-season giggly. Or 40-something-and-the-Iowaturkey-season-opener giggly. Yes, sir. Either one or both. Plenty giggly. Of what, you’re wondering, do I speak this time? Well, March 12, of course, otherwise known as Washington’s coastal bottomfish opener. Oregonians, you don’t know the feeling, seeing as y’all enjoy a year-round season for rockfish and lingcod. But us Evergreen Staters, it’s just a little bit different, what with the mid-October closure and those long seemingly endless days until the
second Saturday in March. But, and as I write this, those of us above the Columbia River have less than a month to wait. All of us, though, whether we’re north or south of the Big River, are getting ready; ready for the opener. Ready for the weather to straighten up. Ready for that new rod, reel and box filled with new baits. And, almost without exception, ready to know what we anglers might expect when we hit the water this spring and drop that first 6-inch grub down amongst the rocks. Fortunately for those of us with the bottomfish itch, there are folks who enjoy an inside track in terms of what we anglers might see. Heather Hall serves as the Intergovernmental Ocean Policy Manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, where she focuses
her efforts “primarily on the West Coast fisheries” managed mostly through the Pacific Fishery Management Council for groundfish. Under a second hat, Hall manages Washington’s halibut fisheries, while a third sees her holding a policy role with the Coastal Dungeness Crab Fishery. “So,” she said, “I cover a nice variety of fisheries for the state.” On the opposite side of the Columbia, Hall’s Oregon counterpart and colleague, Lynn Mattes, similarly has her hands full. “I’m the project leader for recreational groundfish and halibut with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife,” she began. “That means I handle the management of the recreational halibut fishery, along with the recreational groundfish fishery.” Before we get started looking at the 2022 season, let’s circle back to
nwsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2022
Northwest Sportsman 57
FISHING
Using the slow-pitch jigging method he outlined in last March’s issue, Jerry Han (right) and Jon Crawford enjoyed a really good bottomfishing trip to Brookings. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
READY FOR THE JETTY
A
long with some turkey material – yes! It’s time again! – next month, I’m going to take a look at our opener on the Columbia River’s North Jetty. I’ve already received delivery of two new rod/reel combinations – Shakespeare Ugly Stik Salmon/Steelhead 8-footers and Pflueger President 40s – and my wife Julie’s been itching to have a go with her Christmas present, an Okuma SST 8-foot-6 MediumHeavy matched to an Ambassadeur 5500. I’m also planning to test drive a pair of Virtual Fishing Rods from Abu Garcia (abugarcia.com). They’re pretty high-tech for me – note: they connect to an app on your smartphone via Bluetooth, recording each catch and collecting information regarding location, date, time, conditions, species, what you had for lunch, and on and on. The rods themselves are incredibly sensitive; however, I fear a big sea bass or nasty 30-pound lingcod might prove quite the match for a 7-foot medium-weight spinning rod. We’ll see, won’t we? I did invest in some new soft baits to try this season, thank you very much, YouTube. The WildEye Swim Shad from Storm Lures is allegedly the bomb when it comes to sea bass, so we’ll see how that one works. Look for a full report in the April issue. –MDJ 58 Northwest Sportsman
MARCH 2022 | nwsportsmanmag.com
a conversation I had with Mattes at this time last year, and talk about bottomfish in general; specifically, what constitutes a bottomfish? Are all bottomfish rockfish? What exactly are groundfish? And where do lingcod fall on this aquatic family tree, if indeed there is any relationship whatsoever? “Rockfish are a subset of bottomfish, and the terms bottomfish and groundfish get used interchangeably,” Mattes explained. “It’s sort of a catch-all category for things that aren’t salmon and aren’t tuna and aren’t halibut. Everything else gets lumped into this category called groundfish or bottomfish.” Mattes went on to say that of the approximately 100 species of groundfish found off the Oregon and Washington coasts, about 60 of them are rockfish that, generally speaking, are found near or on rocks and exhibit a bass-like shape, hence black rockfish are often called black sea bass, or simply sea bass. Lingcod, Mattes’ tutorial continued, are a bottomfish, but not kin to rockfish. “They’re an entirely different family,” she pointed out. Interestingly – at least to me – a lingcod is neither a ling (an eel-like fish found in the Gulf of Mexico) nor a cod, like a burbot. Indeed, you learn interesting things talking to fish managers. Speaking of ...
Northwest Sportsman Monitoring and season setting. How do fisheries get the information they need to make decisions about a resource like bottomfish? Heather Hall Through the (Pacific Fishery Management Council), the (Northwest Fisheries) Science Center, and stock assessment teams on the West Coast, assessments for groundfish species, including lingcod, are done, and then we (WDFW) use those assessments, which establish harvest levels for us, to manage the resource to those harvest levels. We have samplers in place – those are the folks who interview anglers when they return
FISHING Some 287,000 black rockfish were landed in Oregon in 2019, followed by 50,000 lings. The overall bottomfish fishery contributed $17 million to coastal economies, with Newport, where this panorama snippet was taken, accounting for nearly a quarter of angler effort. (ANDY WALGAMOTT)
can (safely) harvest and not further increase the stock has also decreased greatly. To stay within the amount we can impact without harming the overall population, starting this year, the state of Oregon has gone to no retention of quillback rockfish for both the recreational and commercial fisheries.
G P
NWS Both Washington and Oregon
from fishing – and we’re combining (that information) with estimates of (fishing) effort to get our catch data.
NWS Overall, what’s the status of the bottomfish population off the Oregon Coast? Lynn Mattes For most species, we’re in really good shape. The lingcod population is really healthy. Most of our rockfish populations are really healthy. Yelloweye rockfish, which has been our main overfished species since 2004, is rebuilding a little bit. When I first started this job in 2008, that population was expected to rebuild by 2084; now, it’s projected 60 Northwest Sportsman
MARCH 2022 | nwsportsmanmag.com
to rebuild in something like 2029. All the efforts and all the sacrifices that recreational and commercial anglers have made by avoiding yelloweye for the past 20 years has had a (positive) impact. We still have to be careful with yelloweye, though. Author’s note: Mattes continued, this time with a different member of the rockfish family. LM We got a new assessment on quillback rockfish in 2021, and the assessment showed that quillback, while a healthy stock … the total biomass, the scale of the fish that are out there, has decreased quite a bit … to the point that the amount we
saw some positive regulatory changes in 2021 pertaining to bottomfish, particularly in where anglers may or may not fish based on “fathom lines,” or water depths. Did these changes have an effect on harvest and/or angling pressure? HH We saw, I think, exactly what we expected to see. People were really excited to access some of these deep-water lingcod areas off our (Washington) coast. And when they were out there fishing for these deep-water lingcod, they found more canary rockfish. There were two little areas off Westport that we opened for the first time since 2011, and a lot of people fished in those areas with good success. So, we did see a higher catch of canary rockfish, but harvest stayed within our prescribed levels. These opportunities were especially important to anglers, given an albacore season that wasn’t that great, and a Washington salmon season that closed a bit earlier. LM With yelloweye stocks getting better, we’ve been allowed some more (bycatch mortality) impacts. We weren’t able to allow any retention yet, but with those additional mortality impacts, we have been able to open up an additional month of “all-depth” fishing. Last year, June, July and August were restricted to inside of the 40-fathom line; this year, it’s only going to be July and August. So, the all-depth fishery runs through June and starts up again in September. We’ve been taking a precautionary approach, as we’ve been getting a few more yelloweye to work with, on reopening the bottomfish fishery to all-depths. Just three or four years ago,
D
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FISHING it was April through September that was limited to (inside) 40 fathoms, and now it’s just July and August.
NWS What did bottomfish anglers think about the fishery in 2021? Satisfied? Grumpy as only disgruntled anglers can be? Any changes people need to be aware of for ’22? HH I would say they were satisfied. And as far as regulatory changes (in Washington waters) for 2022, it should look much the same as 2021. LM For the most part … yeah, people were happy. In Oregon, our goal is to keep our bottomfish fishery open yearround, and we were able to do that. We did have to take some inseason action to reduce our impacts to quillbacks, along with copper and China rockfish. We were going to hit the quotas for those. April last year was just off the hook. The weather was awesome. We had July/August fishing effort in April because it was so nice.
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So we saw that huge burst of effort and catches in April, and to make sure we could stay open year-round, we did back off the (daily) bag limit by one fish. We had increased it to six daily on January 1, but with that explosion of effort in April, we thought it best if we went back down to five to ensure the fishery being open the entire year. From what I heard, a lot of anglers were happy with their experiences in 2021.
NWS Crystal ball time! What are the predictions for the 2022 bottomfish season? A repeat? A downer? More midseason changes? Good? Bad? Ugly? HH I expect this season to be very similar to last year. Hopefully, it will be good and provide a good start to the season. We’re starting to recover from 2020 and the pandemic situation. Things are starting to look more “back to normal,” so I’m hoping it’s going to be a good bottomfish season here.
LM It’s so weather-dependent, as I know you know. I think there’s going to be great opportunities. If effort is like the last several years, we should be able to keep the season open yearround. We’ll be keeping a close eye on copper and China rockfish, which we do have a one-fish sub-bag limit. Author’s note: That means, for those unfamiliar, that only one fish of your fivefish daily bag limit may be either a copper or China rockfish. End of May or early June, and we may have to go to nonretention of those species. But I expect most everything else to run through the end of the year. A lot will depend on some other opportunities. We’re hearing that the coho season this year could be really good again, and that does take some pressure off the rockfish. Also, tuna opportunities in the summer. That can draw a lot of anglers away from bottomfish. But I think anglers are in for a pretty good season. NS
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Greetings From
WESTPORT
Activity in Westport’s harbor, home to a still-sizable charter fleet and base for many private boaters, will start to pick up this month with the second-Saturday-in-March bottomfish opener for black rockfish and lingcod . Also known as sea bass, black rocks inhabit all levels of the water column at times and are much faster breeders than some of their ultra-slow-growing reef-bound cousins like yelloweye rockfish. They’re also wonderful table fare, especially when bled as soon as they come aboard. (WASHINGTON DNR)
Rockfish, Lings Lead Off Salmon Capital’s Season
Mid-March’s bottomfish opener is just the first of a parade of angling hits out of Westport and Washington’s South Coast. By Jeff Holmes
W
estport is the biggest, easiest-to-access fishing port in Washington. On March 11, the day before bottomfish season opens, a stream of dedicated early rockfish and lingcod anglers from around the state will head
west to this salty little town on the tip of the southern jaws of Grays Harbor. Private boat owners and charter operators alike will be readying their crafts and watching weather and planning departures. The reward that awaits them up north on the grounds is the prospect of the season’s firmest, snowiest
fillets and the largest concentration of unpressured and snappy rockfish and lingcod of the season. Most of the rockfish will be blacks, but a good mix of canary, yellowtail, quillback and more will show, depending on the trip and location. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has done a good job nwsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2022
Northwest Sportsman 65
Greetings From
WESTPORT
managing rockfish, and we enjoy a very productive and sustainable rockfish and lingcod fishery off the Washington Coast. Sportfishing remains excellent to good from March through midOctober, when bottomfishing closes, but without a doubt, early is best for the best fillets, which are less prone to parasites during early season as compared to the summer months. March and April are great times to load up on fillets for ceviche, tacos, fish sandwiches, fish patties, Cajun fried fish, British battered fish, cornmeal fried fish, beer battered fish, grilled fish…
Indeed, if you haven’t tried rockfish and lingcod, they are very good. And it is very easy to book a charter seat for a great time and a couple bags of fillets to take home.
WHILE WESTPORT FIRST comes alive for rockfish and lingcod, and that time is upon us, the options change throughout the summer into the fall. Mark Coleman of All Rivers and Saltwater Charters (allriversguideservice.com) is one of many awesome captains in the harbor. He owns express-style Defiance pilot-house tuna boats in 29- and 42-foot models, powered by Honda outboards, and they get to the grounds fast and are outfitted with the most advanced Raymarine technology. I really enjoy the sporty ARSC experience – including fishing
with Okuma’s best light tackle – and have spent plenty of time on these six-pack boats. I asked Coleman to talk about the seasons to come in Westport over the next six to seven months. “Starting March 12, the opener, our boats will be running lingcod and rockfish charters and will focus specifically on that until early May,” says Coleman. “The fishing should be excellent, and anglers can enjoy lower rates and shorter runs to the grounds during the early season. As spring progresses, we get more options. May and June are all about going deep and loading up on deepwater halibut and larger-grade lingcod. Between directed halibut dates and expanded bottomfishing opportunities into deeper waters, the action and harvest can be
COSTA RICA FISHING: ‘LIKE EVERYTHING YOU’VE HEARD’
S
Big yellowfin tuna like this one and vast numbers of sailfish, wahoo, mahi mahi and more are why Mark and Merry Coleman opened Pelagic Pursuits Costa Rica. Prices for a world-class sportfishing getaway seem awfully affordable right now for Northwesterners with an itch to fight fish that swim at highway speeds and whose jumps are measured in feet leapt out of the water. (ALLRIVERSGUIDESERVICE.COM) 66 Northwest Sportsman
MARCH 2022 | nwsportsmanmag.com
everal years ago, Mark and Merry Coleman grew the All Rivers and Saltwater Sportfishing footprint by creating a new vacation fishing destination in Costa Rica. Pelagic Pursuits Costa Rica (catchfishcostarica.com) was born and is now a staple vacation destination for many of their Pacific Northwest clients. A pretty cool customer, Mark gets noticeably excited when he talks about the fishing in Costa Rica. “Among the best in the world, fishing in Costa Rica is like everything you’ve heard,” says Mark Coleman. “We offer the best blue-water fishing and adventure vacations available on the Central Pacific Coast. Departing from our location in the beautiful Los Sueños Resort and Marina near Jaco, Costa Rica, we are right in the middle of some of the hottest marlin and sailfish action in the world. Mahi mahi, yellowfin tuna and wahoo are also common catches on our charters. The inshore fishing is nothing to pass on either, with excellent fishing for roosterfish, cubera snapper, jacks, grouper and more.” “We have a wide variety of sportfishing options to suit any angling style and budget,
combined with a variety of comfortable accommodations, stunning locations, amazing wildlife viewing, outstanding service, and great value for your money,” says Coleman. “The area is well protected from the prevailing northerly winds and enjoys pretty close to ideal weather, although you can expect some warm rain showers any time from May through November, especially in the afternoons. Our guests are seldom disappointed with a short run to blue water on flat seas and an abundance of fish.” I passed up an opportunity to fish with the Colemans years ago when they first opened up shop in Costa Rica, and this fall after deer season I will be righting that wrong by making the trip. I never thought I could afford expensive tropical fishing destinations, but a Costa Rica trip is less money than a trip to Alaska – and with significantly more monkeys and fewer grizzlies. There are jaguars, but listen to Mark and Merry, who can offer a guaranteed jaguar-free experience. That’s not on the website, but they can make it happen. –JH
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Northwest Sportsman 67
Greetings From
WESTPORT
outstanding.” Halibut trips are almost always a total slam dunk due to the tight management and limited opportunities and also typically include lingcod fishing. Meanwhile deepwater lingcod trips produce larger specimens for sure and also usually mean fishing for yellowtail rockfish, a midwater species that is especially delicious. Coleman and the many other Westport operators have these fisheries dialed in, and participating is as easy as booking a trip for us landlubbers. WDFW’s tentative halibut dates for Marine Area 2 call for Thursday and Sunday fishing May 5-22, as well as May 26, with mid- and late June backup days available, given available quota.
“AS BOTTOMFISHING TYPICALLY slows down by late June or early July, we shift gears into salmon and albacore tuna fishing,” says Coleman. “Some
years the tuna beat the salmon to our coast, and in other years we rely on salmon to bridge the gap between bottomfishing and the arrival of tuna in good numbers. No matter what the year, our team is always prospecting early for those first signs of tuna and once they arrive, we dedicate most if not all of our assets to running our express-style one-day charters until mid- to late October.” Coleman’s outfit specializes in tuna fishing, and they are often the first sport boat to bring an albacore back to the docks. He’s so serious about albacore that he also operates a commercial boat out of Westport, as well as a destination blue-water fishing experience in Costa Rica (see sidebar). But Coleman is not the only ace tuna skipper in the harbor at Westport, and there are tons of options to choose from. Other great charter boats out of Westport, among many, include Kevin Vasereno’s Gold Rush (booked directly at 360-591-9044), Dave McGowen’s charter boat Ms Magoo (booked directly at 360-648-3017), and Rhett Weber on charter boat Slammer (booked through Deep Sea
Charters at 360-268-9300). Another express-style operation, Angler’s Edge Sportfishing (360-536-1344), is a very solid option, and that boat is captained by Coleman’s brother, Mitch. If you’re new to ocean fishing, check in with your captain in advance about what you’ll need, but generally the short list is full rain gear, sunglasses, camera and a small bag with food and drink, along with a tip for your deckhand (20 percent). If you’re new to Westport lodging, read reviews, and plan in advance! There are many great options, but I have also checked in late, last-minute, and have had to stay in a room where I put my rain gear on before I went to sleep. That place is now out of business and is an exception to the fine lodging available. I recommend Mariner’s Cove Inn (360-268-6000) and Pacific Motel and RV (360-2689325) for clean and comfortable stays. Also, if they are available to book, I highly recommend staying right on the water in the harbor at Westport Marina Cottages (360-2687680). You’ll pay a little for it, but there is plenty of good food available
Westport is home to an excellent fleet of charter fishing boats, and many work together on the water to ensure clients are getting on fish. Here, several express-style boats work a reef for early-season lingcod. The bait of choice for skipper Mark Coleman’s boats and many others is a live flounder dropped into the dangerous dens of these denizens of the deep. (ALLRIVERSGUIDESERVICE.COM)
68 Northwest Sportsman
MARCH 2022 | nwsportsmanmag.com
Greetings From
WESTPORT
To many, including author Jeff Holmes, the tastiest fish off the Northwest Coast is the lingcod. The pictured specimens are perfect eating size, but lings topping 40 pounds are caught every year out of Westport – last year’s charter fleet derby winner went 39.75 pounds. They decline in table fare at about 20 pounds, but reeling in and releasing (or killing if you want) these big females is still very fun. A 30-pound lingcod and its mouthful of terrifying teeth more closely resembles a monster than a fish. (ALLRIVERSGUIDESERVICE.COM)
in Westport. There is also a Subway. If you’re looking for an adventure, a break from the long winter, and a mess of primo rockfish and lingcod fillets, an early-season trip out of Westport is inexpensive, fun and easy to accomplish. If you can’t make it this spring, plan ahead and book ahead for halibut, salmon or albacore now. Once the fishing gets good, the seats get hard to find. NS 70 Northwest Sportsman
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ENJOY FLATOUT-GOOD FISHING IN FLORIDA
C
aptain Ivan Reyes of Flatout Fishing Florida (flatoutfishing.net, 509-3028534) started backing his dad’s truck down the ramp on crowded Drano Lake mornings almost as soon as he could see over the dashboard. Now all grown up and in his second season of guiding in Tampa Bay, Reyes’ Flatout Fishing Florida has it dialed in and represents an awesome value for Northwest anglers looking for exotic fishing for a wide variety of tasty and trophy species in all four seasons. Ivan is the son of Captain Jerry Reyes of Pasco, and is an extremely accomplished angler who is super fun to fish with. With cheap flights and lodging right now, a trip to Tampa is affordable and lucrative. “Spring fishing is outstanding in Tampa Bay,” says Reyes. “Species like snook, redfish, speckled trout, black drum, jack crevalle and cobia come out of backwater creeks into open water and grass flats with warming temps. They settle around structure like bridges or mangroves, and the fishing is easy and often nonstop throughout spring. King mackerel, also known as ‘kingfish,’ run the Gulf Coast of Tampa Bay during spring, along with their relative, the Spanish mackerel. They follow bait along the beaches and provide a pretty spectacular spring fishery as well.” “Summer fishing is the wildest, and with water temperatures above 90 degrees, fish like snook redfish, trout and mackerel snap at everything,” says Reyes. “Meanwhile, tarpon make their migratory run into and around the Tampa Bay area through the months of June through August. They range from 80 to sometimes over 200 pounds! Redfish also have a strong run during the month of July as they flood into mangrove grass flats and under residential docks. There is a big chance during the summer to catch some bucket-list fish.” “Fall is also a really fun time to fish here. It’s not always as amazing as summer, but it is slightly more enjoyable with lowering temperatures and a really big push of mackerel, bluefish, jack crevalle and cobia. Snook, redfish and speckled trout also bite great during these months. In the wintertime, lots of fish pour into backwater creeks and also into deeper water for warmth. Species like grouper, cobia, triple tail, silver trout, snapper and the amazing tasting sheepshead are all part of this amazing winter fishery. Mainly we use live shrimp as our go-to bait in winter – all while catching amazing fish with flip-flops and sweaters all day!” Reyes specializes in fishing live bait year-round, including using very large baitfish for very large fish, but he also fishes a range of different lures on the lightest capable tackle he can put in clients’ hands. That’s no different than his dad’s philosophy, and you can soon catch both of these kind, fun captains on the Texas Gulf Coast as they look to expand their operation even further in the next couple years. –JH
Wenatchee fishing guide Brad Wagner (fishwenatchee.com) and his daughters, Brooke and Liz, had a great time reeling in tasty fish after fish with guide Ivan Reyes in Tampa Bay. (BRAD WAGNER)
nwsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2022
Northwest Sportsman 71
May is the best month of the season for Halibut, and Winter Chinook (Kings), and you can’t beat Zeballos.
2022 SPECIALS NOW BOOKING FOR MAY Dates Available for May: 1st-4th, 4th-7th, 7th-10th, 10th-13th, 13th-17th, 17th-20th, 20th-23rd, 23rd-26th, 26th-29th, 29th-31st.
SALMON
The most successful Salmon Hatchery on the Pacific Coast is just 30 miles from Zeballos. For the past several years, over 50,000 Chinook Salmon have returned each fall to the Conuma Creek spawning grounds where the hatchery is located. Most of these migrating Salmon start to come through our waters starting in May. We have non-spawning Chinook Salmon in our waters year-round—Winter Chinook (Kings, or Springs). In May you'll be catching on average 12 to 18 pound Salmon—absolutely the best table fare.
HALIBUT
We are located very close to an amazing halibut fishery that seems never ending. We can't remember a trip where we didn't hook into many of these amazing eating fish. Come with us, and we'll show you how to bring up white gold. Be prepared with coolers!
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Up to 4 people per boat, expect full limits Three Great Locations: Zeballos, Tahsis & Tofino - 28' offshore boat up to 12 hours of fully guided fishing - Full private enclosed head on board - Breakfast, coffee, sodas, water, lunch, and lots of snacks included - All fishing gear provided - Rain gear provided - Cleaning of your catch - Bring a large cooler packed with ice to transport your catch home
$455.00 USD + 5% tax /per person Book Your Day Trippers Trip at zeballostopguides.com/day-trips. Complete and submit the form. TRIP LIMITS for Day Tripper Package: 4 Salmon of which 2 can be Kings and two can be Silvers, 1 Halibut up to 70 pounds, 3 Lingcod and 4 Rockcod. We have purchased Halibut Quota from the Commercial Halibut Fleet and if you wish to take extra Halibut, the cost will be about $5 per pound.
HALIBUT EXPRESS
Drive-In 3 Nights / 4 Days Package Join us for our 11th annual Halibut Express starting May 1st, 2022! - 20 hours of guided fishing - 3 nights accommodation at the Cedars Inn - All meals including wine with the dinner meals - Cleaning and filleting of your catch - All fishing tackle provided (You are welcome to bring your favorite rod and reel)
Party of 2 fishing 2 per boat: $1725 + tax USD Per Person Party of 3 fishing 3 per boat: $1395 + tax USD Per Person Party of 4 fishing 4 per boat: $1100 + tax USD Per Person TRIP LIMITS for 3N/4D Halibut Express Package: 8 Salmon of which 4 can be Chinook (Kings), 2 Halibut, 6 Lingcod, and 8 Rockcod. We have have purchased Halibut Quota from the Commercial Halibut Fleet and if you wish to take extra Halibut, the cost will be about $5 per pound.
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zeballostopguides.com/halibut-special Call 250-337-2158 Email: doug.zeballostopguides2022@gmail.com
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FISHING
Sekiu and Washington’s Marine Area 5 are known for putting out a bigger grade of saltwater Chinook during the late winter/early spring fishery, with a few into the upper teens. Joey Pyburn shows off one he caught with The Outdoor Line radio show cohost Tom Nelson last March. (TOM NELSON)
More To Sekiu Than Chinook True, the Straits’ winter salmon fishery is the prime draw this time of year, and here we detail how to fish it, but don’t overlook nearby bottomfish ops. By Mark Yuasa
O
nce regarded as a major rest area along the salmon highway, Sekiu in the western Strait of Juan de Fuca has now turned into a much more diverse fishing area. While the focus this time of year is
primarily on prized winter Chinook, also known as blackmouth, there are other abundant fish stocks like black rockfish, lingcod and halibut that’ll come into play during late winter and spring. “I’m excited about what’s in store for winter Chinook. We had a good
season last year and are hopeful to repeat it again this year,” says Brandon Mason, owner of Mason’s Olson Resort (olsons-resort.com) at Sekiu. “The nice thing about Sekiu is we’ve got enough fisheries happening to keep3 folks busy from when it opens on March 1 clear into summertime.” nwsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2022
Northwest Sportsman 73
FISHING
In addition to salmon, bottomfish can help bulk up the haul in the western Strait of Juan de Fuca. There are year-round rockfish as well as lingcod to be had beginning March 12 this year in the inside waters of Area 4 to the west. Both species as well as halibut also become available in Sekiu starting in May. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
FIRST AND FOREMOST, let’s focus our attention on expectations for winter Chinook around Sekiu, which is open from March 1-April 30. The daily limit is two hatchery-marked
Chinook with a minimum size limit of 22 inches. Sekiu remains a diamond in the rough since the majority of saltwater salmon fisheries are dictated by catch quotas and/or guidelines. In other words, Sekiu has a set season from start to finish without any worry of shutting down before you plan to go. Ano ther p o s itive no te is Seki u has a r ep utatio n fo r producing lar ger- s ized fis h in l ate w inter and ear ly s p r ing, ran ging fr o m 5 to 1 3 p o und s wi th a few hitting 1 5 to 2 0 pl u s p o und s . There is a good mix of different age-class Chinook, but it’s not uncommon to find bigger 3- and 4-year-old fish. In late winter/spring these fish are known to move from Puget Sound to the western Strait of Juan de Fuca. At around this time period they begin to sexually mature and eventually migrate back to natal waters later in summer and fall. One reason for a Chinook’s fast weight gain is a tenacity to feed heavily on abundant schools of 4-inch-long sandlance (candlefish) and large, 4- to 7-inch herring residing in the Strait. Better yet, you might even encounter a larger spring Chinook migrating back to their final spawning destination. During the 2021 winter fishery in Marine Area 5, which these
waters are officially known as by state fishery managers, some anglers claimed to have caught more of these larger-class fish.
trucks are driving along the narrow road,” advises Brandon Mason, a local resort owner. “There are clearly marked signs and lights directing vehicles to the alternate route.” When planning a bottomfishing trip to waters off Neah Bay and La Push, with the Makah Reservation still closed due to Covid issues, the closest facilities are located at Sekiu. This means booking your moorage and accommodations well in advance is vital to avoid any last-minute hang-ups. Anglers can purchase a British Columbia fishing license to chase salmon and other fish across the border, which is a
short boat ride away. “We sell Canadian licenses and can help anglers with rules and places to catch fish in BC waters,” Mason says. “It is not difficult to get over and back (about 15 nautical miles to Sooke) and gives you another option to find fish.” There are two fishing resorts at Sekiu offering amenities, moorage, fuel and accommodations with an awesome view of the Strait. In addition to Olson’s, located on the very western edge of town, there is Van Riper’s Resort on the right-hand side of the main road heading into town. –MY
ACCESS TO THE salmon fishing grounds – from Low Point at the mouth of the Lyre River on the eastern boundary heading west to the Sekiu River mouth – is relatively easy. One of the more productive spots, referred to as the “Caves,” is located a couple hundred yards around the corner of the breakwater from the resort docks. The Caves are best fished on an outgoing tide. Plan to start off the breakwater’s eastern edge in 90 to 180 feet of water (my favorite depth is the 100- to 125-foot contour line). The depth often depends on where the baitfish schools are residing, and once you’re dialed in, start making your way in a westerly direction toward Eagle Bay just off the Hoko River mouth near Kydaka Point. The fish tend to hang along the sandy bottom, so keep your presentation bouncing right off the deck. The key to success is locating baitfish, so if you don’t find any feed lurking off the Caves, then head east to the green buoy off Slip Point, Mussolini Rock, the Coal Mine and Slide areas, or further east to Cod Fish Bay and Pillar Point.
IF YOU GO
G
etting to Sekiu takes about four-plus hours, not including ferry boat ride, from the greater Seattle/Tacoma area. For those planning to trailer a boat or drive to Sekiu, be aware that two major landslides this past winter on Highway 112 near Clallam Bay and Jim Creek severely damaged the roadway. Work on reopening the highway isn’t expected to be completed until sometime in late April. “The bypass road will only take you an extra 10 to 15 minutes to get to Sekiu, but travelers should use caution and expect possible delays, especially when logging
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The majority of anglers will troll with downriggers since you can stay near or bounce off the bottom and cover a lot of ground using a rotating flasher with a whole or cut-plug herring, plugs, spoons, Needlefish or a variety of plastic squids. Others like to drift or motor mooch with herring or use jigs like a Point Wilson Dart, Crippled Herring, Dungeness Stinger or Buzz Bomb.
LINGCOD, BLACK ROCKFISH and other bottomfish are good fishing alternatives to fill the freezer, especially when the salmon fishing action slows down. To the west of Sekiu, Neah Bay (Marine Area 4 west of the BonillaTatoosh Line) and La Push (Marine Area 3) are open March 12-October 15 for lings and bottomfish, while that part of Area 4 east of Bonilla-Tatoosh to the Sekiu River mouth is open yearround for rockfish and cabezon, and from March 12-October 15 for lingcod. The western Strait also opens for halibut from May 5-21 on Thursdays and Saturdays; May 27, 28 and 29; and June 2-25 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; and June 30. On Washington’s North Coast, Neah Bay and La Push (Areas 3 and 4) are scheduled to be open for halibut from May 5-21 and June 2-25 on Thursdays and Saturdays; plus May 27 and 29 and June 30. Note that each area could close sooner if the catch quota is achieved before any of the end dates. Anglers should consult the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife regulation pamphlet or website (wdfw.wa.gov) for catch limits and restrictions for rockfish (including yelloweye) and other fish species. Anglers should also carefully read up on personal-use fishing regulations including possession limits when fishing in waters south of the Washington border. NS Editor’s note: This story was written by Mark Yuasa, who is a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Communications Consultant, and is a longtime local fishing and outdoor writer. 76 Northwest Sportsman
MARCH 2022 | nwsportsmanmag.com
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FISHING
Springers From Shore Trolling is the most popular way to catch the Columbia’s earliest Chinook, but plunking rings in its share. By Buzz Ramsey
O
ne bucket list goal I realized last spring was to catch a spring Chinook while fishing from the bank of the Columbia River, like I did during my teen years. You see, all of my early trips for salmon (other than one ocean fishing adventure) were from shore. In fact, plunking the Columbia was how I caught my very first spring Chinook, summer Chinook and summer steelhead – all while still fishing a Spin-N-Glo from various locations along the shore of the Lower Columbia. What kept me from fulfilling this goal prior to last season was always chasing springers from my boat. Being mostly retired last year, I took a break from boat fishing and drove down to Bonneville Dam to check out bank fishing action and bring myself up to speed on the latest tricks and tips, which I’m sharing in this article. And while everyone I saw while scouting the bank was plunking a Spin-N-Glo (just like I first did 55 years ago), there are some important differences in how most anglers rig up these days. The first thing I noticed was
Plunking rods line the Washington side of the Columbia River below Bonneville Dam during 2021’s spring Chinook run. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
nwsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2022
Northwest Sportsman 79
FISHING Author Buzz Ramsey caught his very first Columbia springer while plunking a Spin-N-Glo off Hayden Island, not far from where the I-5 Bridge crosses the big river, back in mid-April 1966. “I remember my mother dropping me off to fish. When she returned in the afternoon I’d landed my first spring Chinook and lost a second,” he recalls. Joining him for a celebratory photo was neighbor Cal Hanson (left) and Buzz’s younger brother John Ramsey. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
that every bank angler I saw had their Spin-N-Glo rigged in combination with a hoochie squid. In addition, all were rigging two size 4/0 single hooks in tandem, about an inch apart, below their Spin-N-Glo. Interestingly they were adding scent via a sardine or tuna ball positioned between their hooks and hoochie squid. I was told by a friend that it was important to have the bait ball sized such that the hoochie squid tentacles drape over the bait sack and therefore flutter in the current. Threaded onto their leader above this was a plastic bead, or perhaps a Corky and bead, and a size 2 Spin-N-Glo. Following this example, my rigging included a single siwash hook crimped to a swivel, hoochie squid, bead and Spin-N-Glo. The reason I went with a siwash hook rather than two singles was due to the Columbia River’s barbless hook rule, as I’ve found that the long point of the siwash hook is less likely to fall out during the battle. I rolled a 1-inch square of tuna belly around the swivel and added some canned tuna for good measure, securing my scent ball by first wrapping spawn netting 80 Northwest Sportsman
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around it and holding it in place via multiple wraps of stretchy thread.
NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE weight dropper lines I saw varied in length from 6 to 12 inches. Leader lengths were in the 30- to 36-inch range. Most anglers I saw last season were employing sinkers from 8 to 12 ounces; however, given higher water levels it might be wise to have a few 16-ounce sinkers handy. To keep your sinker from rolling along the rock bottom and strong current found near Bonneville Dam might call for some innovation. What most anglers do to keep their sinkers in place and not rolling downriver is to drive nails into them. Some crafty anglers pour their own lead sinkers using molds modified so they can add three or four sections of wires down the middle and which they bend outward in order to keep their sinkers stationary. So that their wired sinkers will fit into their tackle bags, most keep the wires straight and bend them outward as needed. Based on a friend’s recommendation, what I did instead was to use a tapered punch to drive two holes in my sinkers
and then hammer nails in, which I soldered in place with a hand torch. The soldering step may not have been necessary, as I talked with anglers that used nails with no soldering, but my nails also held firm. If you fish from one of the many sandy beaches found lower down in the Columbia, you may only need a selection of pyramid-style sinkers in the 3- to 8-ounce range, with no nails needed.
A SAND SPIKE capable of holding your bar rod nearly vertical is important. The holders used these days are unique, as most consist of a 24- to 30inch steel forming stake (available at building supply stores) combined with a separate slip-over rod holder tube slotted for easy rod removal. The tube is held onto the stake by a tightening bolt located at the bottom of the tube. My homemade version consisted of a 36-inch forming stake with a 2-inch-diameter aluminum tube strapped on it, and held in place with zip ties followed by three hose clamps. I covered the sharp edges of the hose clamps with tape. It’s a good idea to have a bell you can attach to your rod so you don’t miss the rod shaking when salmon strike. I didn’t have a bell – I couldn’t find the one I used back in 1966 – which is why I might have missed the first salmon to hit my outfit. I guess I thought the shaking might have been my sinker not holding. The long-handled rods used when plunking the Columbia are called bar rods and are of a stout action. Every rod I saw was in the 11- to 12-foot range. All but one of the over 70 rods I viewed during my scouting trip were equipped with baitcasting reels filled with monofilament (no one was using super braid). Of the anglers I visited with, all were using 25-poundtest mainline in combination with a 40-pound-test monofilament leader. ONE THING I quickly realized was how important having a highspeed baitcasting reel can be, at
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FISHING
Bonneville plunkers primarily use Spin-N-Glos, hoochies and tuna balls wrapped in mesh; here is what the setups look like before (above) and after (above left) adding the bait. The green material on the winged drift bobber is moss that got snagged on the setup. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
Some innovative anglers create their own sinkers using molds modified so they can add three or four wires down the middle, which they then bend outward to prevent their sinker from rolling along the bottom. In their tackle boxes the wires are kept straight. (BUZZ RAMSEY) 82 Northwest Sportsman
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least when fishing areas with rocky bottoms and riprap shore structure. It’s all about being able to retrieve fast enough to keep your sinker from possibly hanging bottom. This proved difficult with the 4.4-to-1retrieve-speed reel I used on my first trip. Realizing that hanging up my weight was a possibility, I did employ 15-pound-test mono for the dropper line extending to my sinker, which I hoped would break before my mainline if I did hang bottom. Since that first trip, I switched to baitcasting reels having a 5- or 6-to1 retrieve speed – faster is better. Although I did not see a dominant reel being used by others during my trip, I called Fisherman’s Marine and Outdoor to find out what might be a favorite. Robert at the Oregon City store (503-557-3313) told me that the Shimano Torium 20, Avet MXL and
FISHING The rodholder at right is the style the author observed most used by Bonneville bank anglers, while the one at left is the one he fashioned from a ground stake and 2-inchdiameter aluminum tubing held together with hose clamps, zip ties and tape. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
Penn Fathom 15 are popular among the bank fishing crowd. To facilitate long casts, all of the above baitcasting reels are open face, meaning they do not have a levelwind line-guide feature. I’ll admit, it took me a few tries to make a decent cast. In fact, not having the screw-in casting control set hard enough, I ended up getting a backlash on my first try. (Although I didn’t take a picture of the mess, I described it to friends as a professional override.) After some reel adjustments, I managed to pitch my outfit out far enough to get beyond where I figured the riprap met the bottom of the river. This is important, as having your sinker rest on the riprap rubble can result in a hangup. In addition, you want your outfit to rest just beyond where the riprap meets the natural river bottom, as fish will often hold there and use this break as a lane of travel – just like warm-blooded animals will follow a fence line. 84 Northwest Sportsman
MARCH 2022 | nwsportsmanmag.com
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FISHING NOT HAVING A bell meant I had to keep close
Ramsey caught this Columbia springer while plunking a size 2 SpinN-Glo in combination with a hoochie squid, tuna ball and 5/0 single siwash hook just below the dam. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
TOP NORTHWEST FISHING GUIDES
tabs on my rod. There was one time when my rod shook a little, which might have been a fish, but in the moment I thought the current might have dislodged my sinker. It wasn’t long after that that my rod shook enough for me to think it might actually be a fish, which is when I pulled back hard and started reeling. The fish didn’t resist too much at first, but as it got closer it made a couple impressive runs before tiring enough for me and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife game warden that showed up to land my fin-clipped salmon. It was only after the fish was secure that he checked my license and hook for no barb, and took my picture, all after I’d punched my salmon tag. As of this writing it’s impossible to know how long this year’s spring salmon season will last on the Lower Columbia. However, given that the upriver run is predicted to be 50,000 more than last season, I’m thinking the west-of-Bonneville season might last until mid-April. NS
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1
COLUMN
Refresher: Back-Trolling Plugs For Steelhead B
ack-trolling plugs from a boat is a fishing method that late-season steelhead, especially bigboy males, respond BUZZ RAMSEY to by violently striking what they consider to be invaders to their territory. For example, two of the three largest steelhead I’ve caught, including a 30-pound 5-ounce monster, fell for a plug back-trolling into their space. And while you might catch a big steelhead at any time during the winter season, the biggest of the year are often caught during the March and early April timeframe. Not surprisingly, male steelhead react to plugs more aggressively than females – think bull elk during the rut – in regards to their territorial behavior. For these reasons and more, fishing plugs might represent your best chance at catching a giant. Here is another reason to give plugs a try: Given the popularity of winter steelhead fishing, it’s seldom that your favorite river will be void of other boaters trying their luck. But with the broad use of fishing methods like bobber doggin’ and side drifting, it’s a good bet that most or perhaps all other boaters are using drifted baits instead of back-trolling plugs. By back-trolling plugs you might convince fish, especially a big male, to give your intrusive plug a shot rather than turning their nose up at yet another lookalike egg imitation drifting along in the current. It’s more than a few times that
Brent Wilson holds a 20-pound “beast” of a wild winter steelhead he caught on a Southwest Washington river while back-trolling a Mag Lip 3.5 out of a buddy’s boat. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST) nwsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2022
Northwest Sportsman 91
COLUMN
Some of author Buzz Ramsey’s favorite plugs and plug colors for winter steelhead are shown here, a lineup that includes size 30 Hot Shot, K-11 Kwikfish and 3.0/3.5 Mag Lip. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
I’ve found fish willing to hit plugs after ignoring what others have previously shown them.
IN CASE YOU’RE not familiar with the method of back-trolling plugs or need a refresher, here’s how to do it, along with a few tips that might up your odds of success. By rowing or with the aid of a trolling motor, hold your boat steady in the river current upstream from an area likely to hold fish. It’s then that you free-spool your diving plug out in the current behind your boat 40 to 50 feet before engaging your reel. It’s the current passing your boat that will cause your plugs to dive. Since steelhead hit plugs with a vengeance, you will want to hang on to your rod tightly – we’ll get to why I prefer anglers to hold their rods than put them in a holder in a bit. With your plugs wiggling and diving near bottom, you then need to slowly allow your craft to slip downstream. If you are new to back-trolling, keep in mind that backing downriver too fast might not produce as well as slowly dropping 92 Northwest Sportsman
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them downstream. Given experience, you may learn to cover some areas a little faster than others, but when reaching spots where you have caught fish, or seen them caught by others, it’s important to stop the boat. Holding your boat steady in these areas allows your plugs to wiggle and dive, which can produce explosive strikes. And although the average plug distance from your boat should be 40 to 50 feet, you might try a shorter distance – say, 30 feet – when back-trolling short runs where there is just not room to get a drift boat stopped and plugs out the full distance before reaching the end of the hole. Likewise, to facilitate a deeper dive or when fish might be spooked due to clear water and/or heavy fishing pressure, a 60- to 90-foot letout might provide you with an advantage – something jet boaters do on crowded rivers.
SOME CONSIDER PULLING plugs a mindless fishing method, but believe me when I say that doing this effectively is harder than you might think, at least for the boat operator, and will absolutely make you a
better oarsman or trolling motor operator. After all, with a drift boat that includes all your gear and friends, your job will be to maneuver a 1,200-pound boat in a way that positions a ¼-ounce plug, or multiple plugs, where you want it. What friends and I often do is take turns rowing, where it’s your turn to row after landing a fish. Keep in mind, this fishing method works best when river levels are medium to low in height; meaning the color of the river should range from steelhead green (3 to 4 feet of visibility) to gin clear. An important element when backtrolling plugs for steelhead is to run all your lures the same distance from your boat, which, as the theory goes, will intimidate territorial fish to strike. Keep in mind, however, that if the water is clear as gin, smaller plugs might produce better than big ones, as large plugs can exhibit too much intimidation. Providing that the line guide on your baitcasting reel travels back and forth when in free spool, you can determine distance out by counting the number of
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Linecounter reels can be a big help when back-trolling plugs, telling you exactly how far out your lure is. You can also make an educated guess by counting passes of your line guide and multiplying by how many feet of line each pass lets out. (BUZZ RAMSEY) Many back-trollers use rodholders, but you won’t find them on the front of Ramsey’s drift boat for winter steelhead. He has anglers he’s fishing with hold their rod while “bracing the midsection against the drift boat gunnel,” which he says “goes a long way in ensuring the hook points get initially started … This forces my friends to catch more fish.” (CHASE GUNNELL)
passes of the levelwind line guide across the face of your reel. For example, an Abu Garcia 5500 reel will pay out 7 feet of line with each pass of the line guide, so seven single passes of the line guide will be the right amount of letout for most situations. While you can count line guide passes to determine distance, the easiest and most accurate way of gauging distance is to use reels equipped with linecounters. And while there are a number of excellent linecounter reels available on the market, what I’ve recently employed are the all-new low-profile, digital linecounter reels offered by Abu Garcia. This new reel is called a Max DLC and comes in two sizes. What’s appealing to me is that this reel is slim enough to use for casting or trolling. In addition, the counter screen is sealed so it will not fog and the counter includes a light.
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COLUMN many fish don’t get hooked, given how ferociously steelhead strike plugs. There are several things you can do to up your hook-to-land ratio. First, it’s important to wait until the rod tip bottoms out before setting the hook and to have your thumb firmly planted on the reel spool when doing so. It’s only after the hookset that you take your thumb off the reel spool and let the drag work. You don’t want to set with a quick snap, but rather pull the hooks into the fish with a strong yet firm upward motion. While it’s not mandatory, many guides and anglers who focus on this fishing method employ magnum taper rods, that is, rods having a heavy butt section that will yield strong hooksets combined with a light enough tip so you can clearly see the plug work. You should also realize that a rod having a light tip will allow the plug to wiggle and vibrate more violently than a rod having a stiff tip. Another factor worth thinking about is rod angle and how far you let the rod
Bob Rees shows off a winter steelhead taken from Oregon’s Wilson River that fell for a plug. (BUZZ RAMSEY)
tip dip before coming up tight when fish strike. Limiting how far the rod can bend by bracing the midsection against the drift boat gunnel goes a long way in ensuring the hook points get initially started, and the reason I don’t have rodholders mounted in the front of my drift boat. This forces my friends to catch more fish. What I do is have my passenger friends hold their rods with the reels positioned in their lap with their thumb on the reel spool. Holding the rods steady and braced against the gunnel makes it a lot easier for the person rowing to see the rod tip and know the plugs are working properly. Sure, I sometimes pull hard on the oars to help set the hook and you should too. Doing these things can make a big difference in improving your hookto-land ratio and might help you catch that big-boy steelhead. NS Editor’s note: Buzz Ramsey is regarded as a sport fishing authority, outdoor writer and proficient lure and fishing rod designer.
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Author Sara Ichtertz prepares to gently release a wild buck. (SARA ICHTERTZ)
Embracing Wild And Free W
FOR THE LOVE OF THE TUG By Sara Ichtertz
ild: (of animal or plant) living or growing in the natural environment; not domesticated or cultivated.” “Free: not under the
control or in the power of another; able to act or be done as one wishes.” Things in life that are both wild and free are so very special. They are rare. They are beautiful. They are truly captivating and – being exactly who they are – they often find themselves in vulnerable situations. They are so very needed,
though, in this cookie-cutter, wooly world we find ourselves in. To be both wild and free, one does not stop to question things. Their purpose and quest are so strong, they will never waver from it. Even though they possess great strength, they are quite fragile and the care you give them, both good and bad, directly affects
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COLUMN needing or wanting to waver in who they are or what they mean to you.
WE CAN’T REHANDLE these creatures, just
A mountain stream pours through a mossy, snowy gorge. (SARA ICHTERTZ) their journey of life. All of us in life have come across such a creature in one form or another. Am I speaking of wild winter steelhead? Am I speaking of human nature and the relationships in our lives? Honestly, both, and the only reason I can figure that I relate humans and steelhead to one another is because they are whom I care about most. I know cause and effect matter greatly when it comes to both. How we treat our 100 Northwest Sportsman
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creatures says everything about us and very little about them. When life presents you with something so special, may you realize the impact you will have on them. Take pride in the ways you handle something you claim to care about. If you can’t, then maybe you should rethink what it is you are doing. Having their best interest right alongside your own allows for total growth. In both giving and taking, you are bound to flourish without ever
as you can’t take back some things in your own life. The way you treat them now will be forever with them. Much strength can be gained for all if we realize the true importance of them and the relationship you seek. In not taking their gifts for granted, nor trying to alter who they are, your life will be enriched simply by having them in it. You presented them with what they wanted; you will never land one of them if they didn’t directly choose you. That is one of the beautiful things about such a connection. Remember that. In their greatest moments of vulnerability you have a choice. You can literally absorb that wild and free connection, letting them empower you, ultimately bringing out the very best in you as you grow. You will experience true beauty amongst real pain but you will not be hurt. You will grow personally in a glorious way. They want you to grow. They want you to learn. They want you to smile as you learn to thrive. Why wouldn’t humans want that when we are as complex as we are? Why try to dominate and force them, disregarding the true growth that was placed before you? But when someone does this, they are ultimately hurting the creature they so badly wish to possess, as well as hurting themselves even if they could never admit it. If victory is simply to possess more so than to embrace, then they are selling their adventure of life short. If only we could see that true victory comes when we are able to submerge ourselves into others’ worlds and let them connect with us more so than us taking them out of their own world. Forcing them to interact with us in ways they know nothing of hurts them; remember, they are both wild and free, so chances are they might knock you on your ass or even hurt themselves as they try to elude you and that horrible place you put them in. It might not have hurt you much, but the damage and fear they swam off with could forever change them. Why not submerge yourself into their world, allow them to feel safe, and take in the glory as you connect, as you grow? If you are
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COLUMN unwilling to grow with them as you learn, you will never grasp onto the true magic that awaits you. Sad thing is, you believe you have a firm grasp on them and think that you have won, but you have not.
IF YOU FEEL that you are deserving of
“Why not submerge yourself into their world, allow them to feel safe, and take in the glory as you connect, as you grow?” writes Ichtertz, here cradling another native winter-run. (SARA ICHTERTZ)
something that is wild and free, may your actions be a direct reflection of that worth. We are human, we cannot ever be perfect, and so sometimes all it might take is to set that fear aside and learn something new, changing your perspective. If you can change the way you see things, then possibly that is all you need. We cannot undo the past but we can very much learn from it. We can improve. We can be the change and impact the future in a positive way. We can learn that words aren’t even truly needed if our actions speak our truth. There are few things left on Earth that are both wild and free; may we embrace them with great care, knowing we may never get the chance to truly connect with them again. My heart is on the river and I couldn’t change it, even if I tried. NS
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FISHING
After a long, often fogbound Columbia Basin winter, March represents a great chance to sample a range of fisheries across the region, including the big rainbow trout of remote Coffeepot Lake, which are partial to flashy flies and trolled lures. (RICH LANDERS)
Cabin Fever Beaters: Basin Trout, Walleye As spring sneaks into the 509, its many rainbow lakes and the plentiful walleye in the Columbia make for great fishing season kickoffs. By Jeff Holmes
H
ere in the Columbia Basin in mid-February, at least in my yard near the banks of the Columbia River, spring has reared its head. Grass is greening. Daffodils and crocuses are blooming. Waters are warming, and fishing is heating up on the Columbia River for walleye and in lakes across the region for
rainbow trout. Eastern Washington fishing opportunities will widen further as waters warm in March and into spring. But for anyone looking right now to get away for a few days of lucrative fishing amidst a warming and greening landscape, March is prime time for walleye in the Tri-Cities area and for rainbow trout in many of the region’s lakes. The general opening of fishing
season won’t occur until the fourth Saturday in April, as always, but there’s no reason to wait if you have cabin fever. Lake Roosevelt, Coffeepot Lake, Fourth of July Lake, Rock Lake and the lakes along the Tucannon River in the W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area are some of the excellent March trout fishing opportunities available east of the Cascades. Anglers with and without boats have lots of opportunities for nwsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2022
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Two bell ringers in a row this February on a Lake Roosevelt beach resulted in these beautiful trout for Kennewick’s Molly von der Mehden and her daughter, Mila. Flat calm sunny conditions and the need to cast slightly further to reach the dropoff were limiting factors, but we still landed five fish and kept four. Those four translated to 6 full pounds of boneless trimmed fillets. The fifth was almost 2 feet long and was a wild redband rainbow with an intact adipose and a beautiful spawning stripe. Bring rubber boots or a net to avoid dragging these wild beauties up into the sand and mud, as they must be released on nearly all of the reservoir. Fishing from beaches and boats will be excellent all of March and throughout the spring until summer temperatures send them deeper. (JEFF HOLMES)
March trout getaways. Meanwhile, the big, storied waters of the Columbia will offer some similarly excellent walleye fishing this March for those more interested in the firm, white meat of these tasty invasives. Head to Tri-Cities for a walleye weekend and either hire a guide like Tyler Miller, or bring your own boat and follow the advice he offers about March walleye action in and around Tri-Cities.
AS WE REPORTED in January, rainbow trout fishing on Lake Roosevelt is ridiculous this year, and friends and I have been leaving the boat at home and hitting the beaches. On the next trip in early March, we’ll bring the boat to hit new beaches and find even better fishing. But good fishing can be had doing things as simple as plunking Power Bait and worms and marshmallows 106 Northwest Sportsman
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within feet of boat launches. As dam operators continue to drop water in anticipation of accommodating melting snow loads in the US and Canada, more beaches will be exposed, concentrating the fish along shorelines even more. Almost any beach can produce really well, but using something like the Navionics app on your phone is really smart in order to assure you are fishing on a good dropoff where fish feel safe and where they cruise and feed. This approach of knowing where you are lobbing your bait is smarter than blindly casting out onto a shallow flat that may only hold fish under cover of dark or protection of wave action. Roosevelt trout and kokanee all feed shallow in winter and early spring – like the top 10 feet of the water column – but they like to feel safe and in close proximity to escape when they are near the shoreline. Find 10- to 20-foot-
deep water and nearby escape, and you have likely found a place that rainbow trout cruise by with regularity. Any standard trout plunking rig and any standard bait will work. Just realize there are a lot of fish 20 inches and larger this year and plan accordingly. And by that I don’t mean upsizing gear; instead, ready your smokers and grills. From the Spokane Arm to Spring Canyon, boaters and bank fishers have done extremely well so far in 2022, and the fishing is certain to get much better for limits of fish averaging at least 18 inches. As a function of the larger size at which they are now stocked, Roosevelt rainbows are slightly larger than ever before, and they are fat and stacked with the best rainbow trout flesh in the Northwest. Persisting almost exclusively on daphnia, an openwater crustacean, these fish are meat torpedos with slab fillets. A limit of five rainbows yields 7 to 8 pounds of boneless, trimmed fillets that you could trick even experienced anglers into believing are our little Columbia River sockeye at first glance. Fort Spokane, Seven Bays, Lincoln, Keller Ferry and Spring Canyon all offer excellent access to beaches, and Seven Bays and Spring Canyon remain viable I quickly turned those two bell ringers into highquality consumable products to put back in the hands of the girls who caught them. Helping anglers to enjoy their catch and feel ownership is a great way to encourage them as lifelong anglers. Get out there this March and get your crew seasoned up and ready for all of the amazing trout opportunities in our state this spring and into summer. (JEFF HOLMES)
FISHING effective way to target panfish and to encounter incidental bass and trout in the process. Coffeepot’s largemouth population is large and composed of lots of healthy fish between 1 and 5 pounds, with some much larger. It typically turns on in April, although don’t rule out March. I have used pumpkinseed and motor oil Senkos and white and chartreuse spinnerbaits to good effect at Coffeepot.
For Tri-Cities and other Southcentral and Southeast Washington anglers, the easiest and most lucrative early trout fishing opportunities exist in several small lakes in the Wooten Wildlife Area along the Tucannon River. These popular lakes get plenty of attention but receive extremely heavy stockings of catchable-sized, triploid and broodstock rainbows. The drive from Dayton up Patit Road to Hartsock Grade Road and over to the Tucannon is one of my favorite springtime drives. Keep your eyes open for winter-range wildlife and sometimes the predators that hunt them. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
boat launches later in spring when the pool is drawn down significantly.
COFFEEPOT IS THE biggest and best in a productive chain of lakes along tiny Lake Creek in the Channeled Scablands north of Odessa and Harrington in Lincoln County. The lake is packed full of big specimens of several fish species, including largemouth bass, yellow perch and crappie. Even the pumpkinseed sunfish grow to large sizes in this fertile, coffee-pot-shaped lake with a Bureau of Land Management-owned launch and rustic campground. But on the March 1 opener and throughout March and April, the lake’s very fat rainbows will be on display. Coffeepot is a selective fishery, meaning no bait and single barbless hooks are required. Most people who fish the lake fly fish with chironomids, leeches and a variety of streamers and stillwater patterns. Probably nothing outfishes trolled Crystal Flash Woolly Buggers in drab brown and drab olive during the month of March, and 108 Northwest Sportsman
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dragging them at .6 to 1.4 miles an hour on Rio Deep 7 or other similar fast full-sinking flylines is highly effective and simple. Fly fishing is great, but thankfully the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife does not constrain anglers to fly gear. March hardware anglers mostly troll spoons, spinners and other popular single-hooked lures for the lake’s deep-bodied rainbows, which average 14 to 20 inches with a handful pushing 2 feet. Coffeepot ’bows are primed for battle in March – expect lots of jumps. While much less acrobatic than the rainbows, the lake has a high density of big perch that receive little pressure because perch fishermen like to fish with bait. If you can forego the bait and instead use small curltail and other small jigs in crayfish colors, perch fishing can be excellent, and the lake also holds nice-sized crappies. Use your electronics to look for schools in 20 to 40 feet of water. Once you find them, you should be on them. Dropshotting would be another highly
OTHER PRIME OPTIONS include Fourth of July Lake, open for the duration of March prior to its closure, and home to some very large rainbows, with some reaching 24 inches. The lake is easy to access 4 miles south of Sprague, and is home to a public access where float tubes, cartoppers and pontoons can be deployed. The entirety of the lake is public, and shore fishing opportunities abound. I recommend walking to the far end of the lake for the best fishing and a little spring exercise. Power Bait and other standard baits work well here, and fly fishing is also popular and a good way to keep fishing by catching and releasing well beyond the five-fish limit. The Tucannon Lakes in the W.T. Wooten Wildlife Area offer a tremendous amount of trout opportunity in Southeastern and Southcentral Washington. Popular with Tri-Cities anglers as well as those from around the region, these several small impoundments along the Tucannon River are generously stocked with rainbows. Lots of free camping exists throughout the wildlife area, and there is a KOA at the small area/town of Marengo, which is also home to The Last Chance Resort and Store. Fishing from floating crafts is restricted, but most of the lakes feature lots of bank access and even room for backcasting a fly rod. Rock Lake is Washington’s biggest, deepest natural lake east of the Cascade Mountains, and it is Whitman County’s only lake. It is also one of the most underrated and underfished trout lakes in the state. The lake is home to lots of chunky rainbows in
FISHING
Andy and Elias Thome Of Kennewick went out in the afternoon with Tyler Miller to load up on eaters, followed by a night session where they landed a 14.3-pound female! March will be banging for both eaters and big females as they stage to spawn. Whether bringing your own boat or hiring a guide, Tri-Cities is an ideal base of operations for a March walleye trip on Mid-Columbia waters. (FISHMILLERTIME.COM)
TIME FOR A TUTORIAL: MILLER ON BOTTOM WALKER-WORM HARNESS TROLLING “
T
he full setup I run for pulling worm harnesses is an Okuma 7-foot-10 SST magnum taper casting rod in medium-fast action. The reel is an Okuma Coldwater linecounter reel spooled with 20-pound braid. From there I run a bottom walker fixed to my mainline, heavier for deeper water. From the bottom walker, I use a 40-inch worm harness leader. You can tie your own or purchase them at most sporting goods. Mack’s Lure has an awesome variety that will all catch fish. Mack’s Smile Blade and bead colors I like to
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stick with year-round are black, white, gold, chartreuse and blue. “Once you have this setup on your rod, all you’ll need are live worms and you’ll be set. Thread one end of the worm onto your top hook of your worm harnesses and you’re ready to fish. “The technique for fishing a bottom walker is pretty simple as well. The idea is to drop your walker to the bottom and troll it downstream just slightly faster than the current so that your blade spins. The key is keeping the bottom walker barely ticking across the bottom as you troll, and
finding the right amount of weight to use for your bottom walker can vary from spot to spot. “You’ll know you have the right size bottom bouncer when you can troll ticking bottom with a 45-degree line angle. This will allow the bottom walker to work properly. Adjust your troll speed and weight to get that 45-degree angle. The most used weight on my boat is 2 ounces when targeting 30 to 50 feet of water. It doesn’t take too long to be able to distinguish between bites and the bottom walker ticking bottom, but it can take some practice.” –Tyler Miller
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FISHING
Chris and Hannah Thompson of West Richland loaded up on eaters last March with guide Tyler Miller. That same age-class of fish is still extremely plentiful and significantly larger this spring. Fishing has been excellent in 2022 near Burbank, but especially between Umatilla and Boardman. (FISHMILLERTIME.COM)
the teens, with some reaching lengths beyond 20 inches. Along with robust stocking of rainbows by WDFW, there is also a strong population of holdover brown trout, some of which are as big as big steelhead. Having a stable craft is a major advantage at Rock, which is windy, long and deep. There is some viable shore access at the WDFW launch, but to fish Rock Lake and know its beauty and excellence at all, one must have a boat. The lake is also home to bass and panfish, but it warms very slowly. Bass here do not spawn until June. Trout is the name of the game at Rock in March and April.
SWITCHING TO WALLEYE, Tyler Miller of his namesake MillerTime Fishing (fishmillertime.com) is one of the best guides for the species in the southern Columbia Basin. It’s safe to say he’s on the water more than most guides, 112 Northwest Sportsman
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and at all hours of the day and night. Experienced for his age, Miller is known for his character and passion for fishing. When he’s not serving the public or heroically saving his family from burning to death in a house fire, Miller is on the fish. I asked him to offer some advice for prospective travelers to Tri-Cities seeking March walleye. His same advice here about water in the Tri-Cities can be applied to other walleye hotspots this March, such as the famed stretch between Buoys 64 and 36, roughly Irrigon to Crow Butte. That stretch is fishing even better but is a further haul from Tri-Cities, which is still the best place to stay when fishing any of these waters. If you come here this spring, applying Miller’s advice can definitely reduce the learning curve, and it can help anywhere these toothy fish swim in the Columbia. “March is typically a very rewarding
month for walleye fishermen right in Tri-Cities,” says Miller. “With weather and water warming up, walleye begin to move into spawning mode, which can make them easier to target. If you’re coming to Tri-Cities chasing walleye in March, you’ll want to target the mouth of the Snake River. The stretch of water from the mouth of the Snake to Casey’s Pond downriver about 5 miles holds a good number of walleye in March, including some huge specimens.” “For seasoned walleye anglers, especially people who fish this stretch, you should always plan to bring multiple fishing techniques with you,” says Miller. “Some days you have to cover all the bases to land on fish. The main three techniques we use to target walleye are pulling plugs like Bandits and Reef Runners upstream; trolling bottom walkers and worm harnesses downstream; as well as vertically snapping jigs and blade baits.” “However, when headed out to target spawning and postspawn walleye in March, the most productive way to locate and catch them is trolling bottom walkers and worm harnesses downstream,” says Miller. “This will allow you to cover ground and find where the fish are at. Start off targeting 30 to 40 feet of water on the dropoffs of islands, or soft shallow water adjacent to the mainstem flow. Troll your bottom walker and worm harness just faster than the current. An electric trolling motor is vital in walleye fishing. If you don’t have one already, I’d highly suggest looking into it before your visit. Once trolling, cover different parts of the water column as well, as these fish are always moving this time of year. If you catch a fish, mark where you caught it. There’s likely others with it. If you start catching fish in certain areas, you can also try vertically jigging blade baits and jigs to entice a bite. Don’t be afraid to fish deeper water as well because we’ve caught them as deep as 65 feet in March some years.” For more bottom walker and worm harness tips, see the sidebar on page 110. NS
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FISHING
No need to wait for April’s big trout releases when there are fish available this month – hungry holdovers and recently stocked rainbows. (JASON BROOKS)
Catch More Early Spring Trout Brave the season’s still-cool temperatures to kickstart your fishing season. By Jason Brooks
M
arch is one of those months that can be tricky for trout anglers. Things start out cold and it is still technically winter, but we can see spring coming. While it is hard to wait until April for the primary trout season to begin, March can produce some very good fishing.
Finding early spring trout all comes down to water conditions. Water temperature is key for this month’s opportunities for rainbows, cutthroat and browns. For those living in colder parts of the region, the month often begins with ice still on the lakes. This is the time to get the gear ready but not to venture out on the ice. With daytime temperatures
above freezing but plummeting back down to below the freezing mark at night, this often creates rotten ice. This is when the water on the ice refreezes in any crack, which then creates more cracks and thaws during the day. It weakens the ice even if it is several inches thick. It is kind of like when you get a crack in the car windshield and it rains, then freezes nwsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2022
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STATS CHECK, STAT!
A
(JASON BROOKS)
at night and you wake up to a larger crack across the glass. With ice on a lake, what might seem like a small crack might be a spiderweb of cracks and any extra weight could cause it to open. What is even worse is trying to climb back out of the hole, only to have the ice keep breaking. Simply put, ice fishing in the Northwest is not a March activity. Wait until there is open water to fish the lake. When a lake starts to open up, water temperatures will be inverted. Normally they are warmer near the surface and colder the deeper you go, but in springtime it is often just the opposite. Ice and cold air – especially overnight, which can make early morning fishing tough – keeps the water at the surface cold. The warmer water will be near the bottom of shallow lakes or it could be suspended or a layer in the middle of the water column. You often hear the term “the lake has turned over” in the springtime and this is when the air temperatures finally warm up enough to heat the top layer of the 116 Northwest Sportsman
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water near the surface, as well as heat the bottom of the lake from sunlight penetrating and warming up the mud. The cold water sinks, and the warm water rises, “turning over” the lake. This often occurs in late March and into April, depending on the weather and lake conditions. Until the lake turns over, fishing can be very frustrating. If you have a sonar unit that can determine the thermocline, which is where there is a significant water temperature difference, you will likely find the trout. If you plan on anchoring to fish, you can drop a thermometer on a line either using a linecounter reel or a rope that has markings on it for length. Drop it down and wait a minute or two and then quickly pull it up to see what the water temperature was for that depth. There are some thermometers on the market that record the temperatures at various depths so you can simply drop it down to get a reading through the water column. Another good option is a digital version that allows
fter checking the regulations to make sure the lake you’re interested in fishing is open, your next step should be to check out the stocking stats. State managers make this easy by posting their plans and recent releases online. For Oregon waters, go to myodfw.com/ fishing/species/trout/stocking-schedule for the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s plans, which are broken out by region and sortable by date. For Idaho, check out idfg.idaho.gov/ fish/stocking. And for Washington, head over to wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/reports/stocking, where you can drill down for recent releases or download the 2022 statewide stocking plan. –NWS
you to drop it down and it sends the temperature and depth to a reading unit that you hold in your hand. Fly anglers use thermometers all the time on rivers and lakes, as it can help tell them what kind of hatch may be going on. All trout anglers should learn how to use a thermometer and how water temperature affects the fish. Since trout prefer cold and cool water, the springtime can be some really good fishing.
BACK TO THE fly anglers and their knowledge of the food base. If you find the bottom of the lake, especially in muddy flats, is warming up throughout the day, then expect the bite to come on. This is because a lot of aquatic insects will emerge from the mud and be in their larval stage, and that in turn attracts predators. When a trout gets hungry and there is food to be had, this is where they will be. Downsize your offerings and even try some natural baits such as mealworms, waxworms and blood worms. Or break out your chironomid
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FISHING fly patterns, which mimic a lot of the larvae that are floating along at the mercy of the lake, and fish those, albeit with a very slow retrieve. You don’t have to be a fly angler to fish flies. A simple sliding bobber setup will work and you can add some weight to it for casting and balance. When it comes to float or bobber fishing, balancing the bobber means that any additional “pull” or bite will cause it to go under the surface. This is quite common in the salmon and steelhead angling world, where jigs and/or bait under a float are used. Sliding floats or slip bobbers are often rated by weight, which is the amount of weight they can suspend. By using a small slip float such as a ¼-ounce Beau Mac Torpedo float, you can add a ¼-ounce weight and then a leader with a chironomid pattern and cast it out to target feeding trout that are targeting emergers. Another way to increase your catch rate with this setup is with the aid of a surgeon’s knot, which is used to connect two lines. Cut your leader in half and then use the surgeon’s knot to combine the two halves but use the tag end from the top line and tie on another chironomid. This way you have two flies out instead of just one. I learned this trick while fishing Central Washington’s Lake Lenore for Lahontan cutthroat back in the mid1990s. While most anglers were fly fishing with a strike indicator, which is basically a mini-bobber, and using one chironomid, when I broke off my tippet, instead of retying a new one I decided to just lengthen the broken one with a section of monofilament with the surgeon’s knot. It was then that I realized I could attach another fly and my hookup ratio went up.
AS MARCH WANES, water temperatures will rise. It will see fly patterns of choice transition from those imitating bugs emerging from the mud to faux subadult insects such as Woolly Buggers, Hare’s Ear nymphs, stoneflies and Carey Specials. These 118 Northwest Sportsman
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Some lakes east of the Cascades might still have ice on them, but it’s generally best to stay off of what remains of winter’s frozen shelf, given early spring’s rising temperatures. Better bet is to fish open areas from shore, which also tend to be warmer, kickstarting the forage base, or go out in a boat. (JASON BROOKS)
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FISHING
Wise anglers know not to limit themselves to just bait, spinners, spoons and plugs because fly patterns can be just as effective on early season trout. Included in this sample are four chironomids, which imitate midge larvae that emerge from lake bottoms this time of year. Woolly Buggers and Mack’s Lure Smile Blade Flies are also good. (JASON BROOKS)
are wet flies, ones to be fished underwater, which means they can be trolled at low speeds as well. Break out the kokanee rods, a few split shot and the flies. If you really do not like the idea of trying to “match the hatch,” then use small spinners such as a 1/6-ounce Rooster Tail by Yakima Bait Company or a Promise Keeper by Mack’s Lure. Another great lure by Mack’s is the Smile Blade Fly. This is a lure that is the best of both worlds, as it is a Woolly Bugger-looking fly but with a small Mylar blade on the front just behind the eye of the hook. Trout really like this lure and it is a fantastic way to fish in the spring or just about anytime, as I have caught trout on this lure in all water conditions and during all times of the year. The key in springtime is to troll really slow, from .5 up to 1 mile per hour. Small lures such as a Mag Lip 2.0 or Super Duper are good options. The Mag Lip dives as it is pulled through the water, so you don’t need to add any additional weight, and if you stop the boat, the plugs float 120 Northwest Sportsman
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back up to the surface, making them a great lure to use where you can run two poles. While fighting a fish, kick the boat into neutral and you won’t have to worry about your other rod sinking and hanging up. Look at a map of the lake bottom for large flats that are shallow. The flats will warm up and if there is a dropoff or edge nearby, try along here until you find the fish, as again water temperature is the key to finding trout.
FOR BAIT ANGLERS, early spring can be an exciting time, but scent will be key to increasing the bite. This is because trout are actively feeding as the water starts to warm up and by using a strong scent you will draw more fish to your location. Garlic is popular for this reason and so is anise. Pro-Cure makes a Trophy Trout scent in their Super Gel and it is made from tui chub, a very oily and strongscented baitfish. Most bait anglers don’t think of chub when it comes to trout prey, but they are found in North America and common in certain places in Washington,
Oregon, Idaho and California. Other scents to try include nightcrawler and crawfish, both of which are common food sources for trout, especially in the springtime. Another great scent by Pro-Cure is Rainbow Trout, formulated for these popular game fish, as well as Trout and Kokanee Magic Super-Gel. Sitting on anchor can produce for the early season angler, but be sure to find those places where the fish will be. This means being willing to move around a bit. When I was young, we would row out to a spot, drop the anchor – which was a coffee can filled with cement and an eye bolt – and wait. Some days the fishing was good, while others it was not. But soon we found that certain spots in the lake held more fish. There was a sandy flat on the east end of Chelan’s Roses Lake, our favorite early springtime lake when I was growing up, as it had a December 1-March 31 winter season back then. This sandy flat was there because of a spring that pushed the sand up, and since the spring introduced fresh and clean water
FISHING Author Jason Brooks shows off what it’s all about, a chance to catch rainbows before the crowds descend on the lakes later this spring. (JASON BROOKS)
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flowing from the mountainside and warmed by the springtime sunshine, the trout would congregate here. At the time we didn’t think about water temperature or the sandy bottom reflecting the sun, we just knew this was a “good spot.” Other places were off points, which extend underwater and would often act as heat collection areas, as well as provide cover for food such as crawfish. We just knew that this was, again, a “good spot” and would anchor near them and fish. With today’s sonar technologies, along with most lakes having been mapped and easily downloadable to your phone, the modern angler has a big advantage over those of yesterday. Look at the regulations, check the weather and take a thermometer to a springtime lake this March and catch some trout. Keep in mind that afternoons might look good but winds often kick up, so be sure to be ready to get off the water, and remember to never go out on the ice in March. NS
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COLUMN
In Praise Of Stockers (And How To Make ’Em Tastier) I
spent a fair bit of time one summer working for a company based on Vashon Island in Puget CHEF IN Sound. Technically, I THE WILD was working for my By Randy King best friend’s father as a flooring installer, but honestly, I was doing it for the money and the fishing. You see, for some oddball reason the company had landed a contract to install floors at fish hatcheries and processing plants across the Northwest. My job that summer was to drive a wheelbarrow full of concrete from one section to another, sleep in a hotel and then fish. It was great. The fishing was not sporting. You see, we were “allowed” to fish the outlet canal of the processing plants and hatcheries. Basically, we caught the escaped trout. These fish were about as smart as a box of hammers. My buddy Aaron and I would eventually target the largest of the school, releasing the smaller fish. We would drive to the next town or back to the Seattle area with coolers full of trout on ice. (Mind you, this was basically a private fishing pond, we were teenagers, these were not wild fish and this was 25 years ago.) We had so many fish we resorted to giving away pounds of smoked trout to the neighbors. We ate trout stew, fried trout, baked trout, trout with mustard, trout with crab, trout with bacon. We ate trout every way a 16-year-old could think of. Even back then we knew the rules: You kill it, you eat it. I grew sick of trout for a while. It took me several years of counseling and medication to eat trout again. I ended up pushing through my fear and landing
Cameron King, the author’s oldest son, tries his luck on a stocked stream near Boise. (RANDY KING)
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COLUMN STUFFED STOCKER Nonstick pan spray 1 tablespoon butter 2 cloves garlic, minced ¼ cup diced onion ½ seeded jalapeño, diced ½ cup diced ham ¼ cup cream cheese 1½ cups packed fresh spinach ½ cup breadcrumbs (I use the “Italian” ones) ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese Salt and pepper 1 lemon, for squeezing 4 trout – 10 to 12 inches long, gutted
Jalapeño, ham and spinachstuffed trout. (RANDY KING)
THE BASICS OF STUFFING A FISH
L
et’s not sugarcoat it – fresh-fromthe-hatchery trout can be a little bland. They are the chicken of the river, the lake, the puddle – as well as a nice blank pallet to build flavors upon. When deciding what to stuff a fish with, you need to consider the basic elements of flavor. Eloquently summed up in the title of her book Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, chef Samin Nosrat helps a cook understand the layers that are needed for a good dish. These concepts can be applied to almost everything – from venison to the stocker trout. Almost universally, fish needs salt, which makes the flavors pop out. Most fish need pepper as well. Beyond that, think about acid, usually in the form of citrus for trout. Vinegar can be used too in moderation. And trout really need fat; they are small and not a fatty fish, like their ocean-roaming
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salmon cousins. This issue’s recipe uses cream cheese and ham. Lastly, they need heat in some sort of way. I use jalapeños. If you follow those basics, you can get all sorts of concoctions. Think crab, mayo, lemon zest and red chili flakes, and then baked. Think about breadcrumbs, butter, onions and a little Frank’s RedHot, then wrapped in foil and barbecued. Think lime, ginger, sesame oil and Sriracha, wrapped in leaves and then steamed. The variations are endless because the fish is such a blank slate. One other key thing worth mentioning with trout is that they are easy to dry out. When making a stuffing, consider adding another item that is high in moisture content. Onion, spinach, ginger, crab, etc., have that, as well as a lot of flavor. They can really help keep the fish moist all the way through the cooking process.
Have one oven rack in the middle of the oven and one on the lowest setting. Turn on the broiler to 500 degrees. Get a cookie sheet and line it with tinfoil, then spray the foil with a nonstick spray. Place the trout on the cookie sheet. While the oven is heating, grab an 8-inch sauté pan and melt the butter on medium heat. When clear and starting to brown, add the garlic, onion and jalapeño to the pan and cook for three minutes. The onions should be just turning translucent. Next add the ham to the pan and stir. Cook for one minute. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the cream cheese and spinach to the hot onion/garlic/jalapeño mix. Stir until the spinach is lightly wilted and the cream cheese is incorporated. Add the breadcrumbs and the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Using about a quarter of a cup of mix at a time, stuff the body cavities of the trout. Pack as much mix as you can in each fish. If you have any mix remaining, place it on the tinfoil as a “base” for the fish to sit on. Spray the “upside” of the fish (the side not touching the tinfoil) lightly with pan spray. Broil the fish for six minutes on the middle rack in the oven (time may vary depending on the size and temperature of your oven), and then, when the skin of the fish begins browning under the broiler heat, move the fish down to the lower rack for another three minutes. Remove from the oven, squeeze a little lemon juice on the fish and enjoy! For more wild game recipes, see chefrandyking.com. –RK
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COLUMN Big catches of hatchery trout, like these Nathan Holder landed on a southern Puget Sound lake, present a great opportunity for home chefs, as the generally bland meat of recently released rainbows is pretty amenable to different flavor combinations. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)
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in a good place. A place of acceptance. But I will never lie about the flavor of stocker pond trout. They are bland, even muddy, most times. They are small and bone-filled. But what they lack in culinary capacity, they make up for in ease of access. I am currently less than a half a mile from a hatcherystocked stream in my hometown of Nampa, near Boise.
THE NORTHWEST IS smattered with these hatcheries and we can thank them for good public-water trout fishing. A quick visit to the Idaho Fish and Game website (idfg.idaho.gov) will tell you just how many trout were stocked and in what areas. Quinn’s Pond gets 300 in April; Wilson Creek gets 250 every other month. The sole reason for these fish is recreation. They are put in the waterways to be caught and eaten by anglers. That’s how a big little city like Boise can have a bag limit inside city limits. Stocker trout make memories. Memories like standing at the bridge above a diversion dam casting a Rapala lure and watching a 3-pound “stocker” hammer my line. The struggle and laughs of two teenage boys trying to figure out how to land this monster of a fish. The memories of a father taking the kids fishing on a busy weekend right next to a Panda Express because they only had an hour of time to get out that week. Sure, stocker trout are not king salmon, but damn, do I still love them. NS
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PAID ADVERTORIAL
Oh Canada! Come Hunt Alberta I think we can all agree that it’s been a crazy couple of years. By the looks of it, everyone is eager to get back to doing the things they love. Hunters, if you’re looking to book that next big trip, an unmatched assortment of nonresident opportunities, along with a host of friendly and professional outfitters and guides, await you in Alberta. Unique in its geography and biodiversity, our midwest province is home to 10 different big game species and tremendous bird hunting as well. Whether you’re a bow or gun hunter looking for an antlered harvest, a predator hunter, or just looking to fill your freezer, consider making Alberta your next destination. Accessible and affordable, if you live in the Pacific Northwest, Alberta is only a short trip north across the border. With three international airports, visiting hunters commonly fly into Edmonton (YEG), Calgary (YYC), or Fort McMurray (YMM). Each of these locations welcomes flights from coastal hubs like Portland and Seattle. Should you choose to drive instead, you’ll be rewarded with a great road trip and incredible scenery along the way. No lottery or draw is required for visiting hunters using the services of a licensed outfitter – so permits are guaranteed.
ANTELOPE
A carefully managed big game species, Alberta is home to some of the biggest pronghorn antelope in North America. Over the years, many Alberta pronghorn antelope have ranked high in the Boone and Crockett and Pope and Young records. Our outfitters employ a range of hunt strategies, including spot-and-stalk, decoying, and waiting at water holes. On any given hunt, you will see a multitude of game and enjoy some
• • • •
of the finest prairie grassland scenery on the continent. With normally mild weather, Alberta’s relatively short antelope season occurs in September and October.
BLACK BEAR
Abundant in Alberta, black bears can be hunted during both the spring and fall seasons. Spring seasons vary with most hunts taking place in May, and the first half of June in some areas. Fall hunts are again variable with limited areas open in late August, and most hunts occurring in September and October. Emerging from their dens in April, their thick coats are usually in prime condition. Fall black bear hunting can be a great single- or multi-species add-on. Alberta’s professional outfitters provide a range of world-class baited and spot-and-stalk hunting opportunities.
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You may get lucky and encounter a color-phase black bear with cinnamon, chocolate or blond pelage. Many areas have a two-bear policy, which means you can fill both tags with a single license. This is a great trip for an experienced or novice hunter. Bow hunters will be especially interested to know that many Alberta black bear hunts have 100 percent opportunity, making it a perfect hunt if you’re still new with your bow. As you research Alberta’s outfitters, be sure to inquire about the success rates – you’ll no doubt be impressed.
COUGAR
A cougar hunt in Alberta begins with the search for a track. Fresh snowfall can make for prime conditions. Once the guide sorts out the track activity, they release the hounds. The chase is on, and it eventually ends with a treed cougar.
Alberta is one of two Canadian provinces where a nonresident alien can hunt a mountain lion. Populations are strong and a number of giant cats are entered into both the Boone and Crockett and Pope and Young record books each year. Cougar hunts occur December through March.
COYOTE
There is no harvest limit on coyotes, and Alberta’s populations are high. Coyotes can be hunted on private land year-round, and many rural landowners are pleased to welcome hunters to help control numbers. On public lands, coyotes can be hunted October through February. These hunts often take place when most other seasons are closed for the year. In early to mid-winter, these predators have gorgeous pelts. Coyotes are evasive and your outfitter may employ a variety of calls and decoys to help draw them into range. Many hunters visit Alberta for the world-class coyote hunting alone; if you’ll be hunting another species, be sure to ask your outfitter if you can add on a coyote permit as well.
ELK
Spectacular terrain and scenery await the visiting elk hunter. Alberta’s outfitters operate on a range of both public and private lands. With a growing population of the Rocky Mountain elk subspecies, during the rut from late August through mid-October, bulls fight for dominance and are responsive to calling, putting hunters in a great position to fill their tag. The screaming bugle of a majestic bull and the chirping of a herd of cows is something every hunter simply must experience. If you’re headed out to the mountains, you might enjoy a longer hunt with backpack and horseback, but many shorterduration hunts in the prairies are also very desirable.
MOOSE
Alberta is also home to a thriving population of moose. The Boone and Crockett Club has three separate classes of moose, including Alaska-Yukon moose, Canada moose and Wyoming (or Shiras) moose. Alberta’s moose fall into the
Canada moose subset. However, Safari Club International (SCI) also classifies the moose found in the southwest corner of Alberta as Shiras. The terrain, hunting method and size will depend on where in Alberta you hunt. Some outfitters offer fly-in only, while others will use ATVs and trucks. Moose are widely distributed throughout Alberta’s boreal forest, foothills and parkland zones. This variation means there are moose hunting opportunities for hunters who crave the wilderness, and for those who would prefer a more accessible prairie experience. Hunting during the late September and early October rut can be especially exciting. Nothing compares to having a giant bull come in grunting, swaying back and forth, and displaying his dominance. Similarly, November late season hunts also provide many outstanding opportunities to take a bull.
MULE DEER
Mule deer thrive, and are high in number, throughout the province. Perhaps best known for its open grassland and coulee habitats, Alberta’s professional outfitters consistently put record book contenders in front of their hunters each and every year. In this terrain, hunters enjoy spot-and-stalk hunting that’s suitable for both experienced and novice hunters alike. Some also offer tree stand hunting opportunities as well. Early season archery hunts begin as early as late August in some zones, and run through September and October, offering amazing opportunities. Later in the season, rifle hunters can also enjoy rut hunts.
SHEEP
Alberta is home to the world-renowned Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, one of the four Grand Slam sheep species available in Canada. Most of Alberta’s licensed sheep outfitters are well established and many maintain high success rates. Outfitters will offer horseback and/or backpack hunts. Keep in mind, though, you’ll need to be physically fit for this hunt. You can be guaranteed that the scenery and adventure will be unforgettable.
WATERFOWL
Positioned ideally under the Central Flyway, Alberta is the destination of choice for a growing number of waterfowlers. Simply put, Alberta’s duck and goose hunting is world-class. With decoys set up in rural landscapes, visiting hunters typically shoot from layout or willow blinds and enjoy our province’s generous harvest limits. On any given day, you may shoot Canada geese, specklebelly geese, snow geese, Ross’s geese, pintails, mallards and more, including species that may be of interest to collectors. The basic limit adds up to 66 birds, plus there are other species on top of that as well. Snow geese are a special opportunity, and you can shoot up to 50 in a day. Some Alberta Professional Outfitters Society (APOS) members also offer upland game bird hunting, so be sure to ask, as this can be a great addition to a trip.
WHITETAIL
Abundant throughout the province, Alberta offers some of the finest whitetail hunting in the world. Well known as a whitetail mecca, hunters travel to our province for the very real chance to take a Boone and Crockett- or Pope and Young-class buck, with 150-plus a very achievable score for most hunters. Thousands of opportunities are available to non-residents each year, and the hunting is totally fence-free. Variable habitat throughout Alberta makes hunting giant whitetails in our province a really enjoyable experience. From the grassland and river bottom habitats to the famous parkland areas, foothills, boreal forest and even mountains, big-bodied and heavy-racked whitetails are found just about everywhere in Alberta.
WOLF
Alberta’s wolf populations are high. An elusive predator, they can be challenging to hunt – but with a little patience, visiting hunters may get an opportunity to take one or more of these apex predators. Ranging in color from light gray to black, Alberta’s wolves typically weigh anywhere from 70 to 120 pounds. On occasion, larger specimens are taken as well. Our professional outfitters normally offer these hunts November through February. While most have their hunters sit near baits, some offer calling hunts as well. Interested in Alberta, but not sure where to start? The Alberta Professional Outfitters Society (APOS) has two tools available on our website at apos.ab.ca. Using our interactive map under Find an Outfitter, you can narrow down your search by specifying your needs and preferences. Alternatively, you can submit a hunt inquiry through FollowTheLead, which will automatically circulate your customized inquiry to members who offer that species.
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WHY HUNT ALBERTA?
A
n astounding 1,708 animals from Alberta have qualified for the Boone and Crockett Club’s (B&C) Record Book. The fact that 749 of these entries are animals taken since 2000 is a testament to the quality of wildlife available in our province. Alberta boasts an incredible variety of big game and bird game hunting opportunities. At 255,541 square miles, Alberta is the fourth largest province in Canada, containing six major eco-regions: Canadian Shield, parkland, rocky mountains, foothills, grassland and boreal forest. The combination of Alberta’s expansive size and the diversity results in many top-notch hunting experiences. You can hunt in Alberta in the spring, fall and winter. Fall days are normally warm and sunny with cooler nights and, at higher altitudes, you may see some frost on the ground in the morning. Come November, many parts of the province will have snow, and below freezing temperatures become the norm, getting progressively colder later in the month.
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apos.ab.ca Northwest Sportsman 133
WOLF • ANTELOPE • BLACK BEAR • COUGAR • COYOTE • ELK • MOOSE • MULE DEER • SHEEP • nwsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2022
WHITETAIL • WOLF • ANTELOPE • BLACK BEAR • COUGAR • COYOTE • ELK • MOOSE • MULE DEER • SHEEP • WATERFOWL • WHITETAIL •
WATERFOWL • WHITETAIL • WOLF • ANTELOPE • BLACK BEAR • COUGAR • COYOTE • ELK • MOOSE • MULE DEER • SHEEP • WATERFOWL •
ANTELOPE • BLACK BEAR • COUGAR • COYOTE • ELK • MOOSE • MULE DEER • SHEEP • WATERFOWL •
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Waterfowl Hunts
BLACK BEAR
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stonehorseoutfitters.com Northern Alberta nwsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2022
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HUNT
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Scout Now For April Gobblers F
or the turkey hunter, it is never too soon to start getting ready for the season. From practicing calls to NW PURSUITS patterning shotguns By Jason Brooks to finding birds, it seems turkey hunting could be a yearround activity. In some places it almost is, with fall season starting around the time deer season opens and going well into late winter. In fact, it was last November when my son Ryan and I began scouting for this spring’s hunt.
WE WERE DEER hunting in Idaho, where fall turkey season was open with a very liberal either-sex six-bird limit. Tags are just $5 for designated special units (all in the upper Panhandle) and available over the counter, but we didn’t hunt birds on this trip for two primary reasons. The first was that we were concentrating on deer, but turkeys were definitely on our minds, which was the second reason why we chose not to hunt them: They are so much fun to call in and listen to. In the fall, the main way to hunt them is intercepting or ambushing birds. Very little calling is involved and it’s akin to ground hunting an overgrown grouse with fantastic eyesight and that hangs out in a big flock. We did, however, keep an eye out for turkeys and where they concentrated, mostly by looking for roost trees and learning new areas that would hold birds. Finding an old nest that crows had gotten to and pecked the eggs let us know where hens might be come April. As we drove past a field full of deer, we noticed that a hay farmer who kept a
Spring turkey season will be here before you know it – in fact, Washington’s new weeklong youth hunt begins on April 1 – making right now a good time to get out there and scout for birds. (JASON BROOKS) nwsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2022
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COLUMN few cows was standing on his front porch. Even with our out-of-state plates we figured it was worth a try, so we stopped to chat with him. He was a nice guy who politely turned down our request to hunt the deer, but as I turned to walk away I briefly mentioned turkeys. It was then that the farmer stopped us and said, “You can kill all those damn birds you want!” I asked him about next spring, as again we really didn’t care to shoot birds on this trip, and he reassured us that if we returned in April, we could hunt the birds in his alfalfa fields. He explained how the turkeys poop all over his hay bales and tear them apart, making them useless for his cows, as well as scratch up his hay fields. Who would have thought we could get access to a prime turkey spot for April way back in
Along with using coyote and other calls during predawn hours to get turkeys to reveal their roost location, tracks in leftover snow banks and the flocks’ poop can tell you which way birds are traveling and help determine where to set up during next month’s seasons. (JASON BROOKS)
November, but that’s why now is the time to start scouting for your gobbler.
Where some Northwest game species are struggling or holding steady, turkey populations are doing pretty well – too well in some areas, where landowners experience crop and other depredations. Checking with farmers or local biologists for access can boost your odds of spring (or fall) success. (JASON BROOKS) 140 Northwest Sportsman
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FOR HUNTERS LOOKING to find access on private lands, seek out local game biologists to learn which landowners are complaining about turkeys. In winter, the birds flock together in large groups, some even up to 100 birds or more. This means they can do a lot of damage and you would be surprised at which landowners will give access. A parcel of land as small as 5 acres or less can yield a good turkey hunt. Hobby farms and those with livestock are likely to give access and getting permission for turkey hunting is not as hard as it is with other species. If you don’t want to knock on doors and prefer to hunt public lands, then scouting now is just as important as it is for those looking for a private parcel. Understanding that weather conditions will change between early and even late March and the general Northwest opener of April 15, you can figure out where you need to be on that first day. Turkeys won’t shy away from snow but they prefer fresh grass shoots. Last year we were hunting an area that had snow patches and a lot of runoff. The south-facing slopes were bright green with grass shoots and mushrooms were starting to pop out from under the duff. Bugs came out during midday and though
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All three Northwest states offer youth hunting opportunities, which the author’s son Ryan Brooks took advantage of with this fine agland interface gobbler. (JASON BROOKS) 142 Northwest Sportsman
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the morning was cold, the daytime was warm. It is springtime, so you need to keep some of this in mind. When scouting in the early season, look at south-facing slopes, especially ones that have some trees and cover. Turkeys like cover and towering trees, so if you locate ponderosa pines, know that you should come back when the season opens. Logging roads, especially ones that are gated off or decommissioned, are prime. Not only can you easily walk them, but they make for suitable places to intercept birds and call them in. Hike these roads out before the season opens and learn the terrain. A road that is near the top of a ridge that has larger or old-growth trees will be a prime area. A bend in the road offers a wonderful place to sneak in and set up decoys without being seen. On opening day this past season we started down a logging road that ended at a section line of state forest land. Coming down a slope that fed into a draw with a creek and unharvested timber, we gave out a yelp and had an immediate reply from two gobblers. Young birds, known as jakes, couldn’t resist the yelp locator and we hustled down to the end of the road and a wide spot put in there to accommodate a timber harvest years ago. It was also a perfect place to set out the decoys and do some calling. With each purr, yelp and cluck, we got a response from the two jakes. Soon we could see the bobbing white and blue heads peeking through the brush at 45 yards. The birds didn’t like the jake decoy I had set out with three hens and they shied away, never to be seen by us again. But we learned the area and if we had done some preseason scouting, we would have known that the other end of the turnaround had an access road that led into the draw the turkeys had come from, a natural ambush point that would have been a much better place to set up and intercept the birds. Early-season scouting isn’t all about finding birds – though if you do, it is a bonus. It’s more of a chance to learn the land and know where to set up decoys when it comes time to hunt. Find roosting trees that the birds use year to year, and often rotate when feeding along and
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finding green grass to eat. Tracks will also give away locations, as will the birds’ poop. Droplets of poop are left by hens, while males leave J- shaped poops.
WHEN MARCH COMES to an end, it will just about be time to hunt. New this year, Washington’s youth season is now a week long instead of just a weekend. It opens April 1 and runs through April 7, followed by Idaho’s April 8-14 youth turkey hunting week. Oregon’s youth weekend is April 9-10. The predawn hours are prime for locating birds, as they become vocal while still in the roosting trees. This is where a coyote howl, owl hoot or a crow call can really help. Turkeys are prey and for some reason respond with shock gobbles and clucks when threatened. In the early morning hours try a predator sound, but do not overuse it. A crow is more of a menace until the hens start to lay eggs, so it is a safer call to use. Owl hoots are natural and common but will scare birds, so don’t use them too much, and the same goes with the coyote howl. The idea is to locate birds, which means just find out if some are in the area. Once you get a response, don’t use the call again. Instead try a gobble or yelps. Spring scouting is just that, a chance to get out and scout. Don’t set up decoys and call in the birds, as you will only educate them, and in some states harassing wildlife is a crime. Most importantly, stop scouting once the youth season starts. My sons are now too old for Washington’s youth seasons, but Ryan can still hunt Idaho’s, which allows kids up to 17 years old to hunt. Each year that Ryan and I took to Washington’s turkey woods for the youth season, we had adults out “playing” with the birds, ruining a setup or two where we were actively working a bird. This is rude, and really defeats the purpose of youth seasons. There are plenty of turkeys and there is plenty of time during the regular season to call birds. When scouting, use your time to look for turkeys, places to set up, and feeding and roosting areas. Also use it to find access, either private or new public lands. Knock on a few doors and you might just find a new place to hunt, but waiting until the season starts might result in a hard no if they already have other people hunting their lands. Just another reason to start scouting now. NS
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HUNTING Author Randall Bonner with a Western Oregon gobbler he was “pretty proud of bringing in. It saw the decoys but got skeptical and turned away. I had the decoys placed so the birds would have to pass in front of me to get close to them, and I was able to close the distance with my shot as they got paranoid and began to backtrack.” (RANDALL BONNER)
Decoy Tactics That Tempt Toms With spring turkey season just around the corner in the Northwest, here’s how one hunter deploys fake hens and jakes to increase his odds of bagging gobblers. By Randall Bonner
T
he sound of a flock working towards your spread is the sort of adrenaline rush that makes
your own heartbeat the only thing that can drown out the thundering calls of a gobbler talking turkey and strutting his stuff. That “hurry up and wait” anxiety over being in the right place at
the right time, constantly questioning your decisions and patience, is what makes the mental game of cat and mouse with these critters such a fun challenge. While a good call can easily nwsportsmanmag.com | MARCH 2022
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Bonner’s theory with this decoy setup was to draw turkeys out of a hazelnut orchard to a meadow in front of the treeline he was blinded up in. “I intentionally set the jake to appear like it was following the hen and herding it away from where the rest of the flock would be to agitate aggressive toms to retrieve the hen,” he says. (RANDALL BONNER)
bring a tom within earshot or sight, the addition of decoys can help bring birds within range of a shotgun or bow tremendously, especially during the spring when targeting toms full of testosterone. Sometimes any decoy is better than none, especially if you’re trying to pull a group of birds from a distance into your area. If you’ve done a little research online, you’ve probably seen some pretty aggressive birds come in hot and attack decoys, or “scoot-n-shoot” hunts where hunters lay behind a fan of feathers and move close enough to birds to reach out and grab them. While these videos are great entertainment, I’d advise lowering your expectations a bit on bird behavior, and be a little more realistic. The same should go for your decoy selection as well. The more realistic your decoy is, the better chance you have at fooling a gobbler, especially if the bird you’re hunting is educated on decoys, which is fairly common if you’re targeting the same flocks year 148 Northwest Sportsman
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after year. Chasing pressured birds will test your patience and make you a better hunter. Perhaps the best thing to know about the use of decoys is when not to use them.
OREGON ALLOWS A maximum purchase of three turkey tags during the spring season. If your mission is to chase a limit, don’t show all your cards on opening day. If all you want to do is get a bird under your belt, it’s still wise to minimize your use of decoys early on until you’ve spent enough time in the field to pattern a flock’s behavior. Taking notes through a little preseason scouting removes a lot of the guesswork as well. Finding a roost is easy, but understanding where the birds land, what paths they take during the day to graze on a variety of forage, and how they interact with each other will set you up for success. Much like hunting waterfowl, there’s often a moment of confusion with educated birds, where you have to make a split-second decision on
whether or not to pull the trigger, and the placement of your decoys should have some intelligent design that buys you some time to hit the bang button while your target is in range. Turkeys generally move in a haphazard circle as they forage and loaf during the course of the day, often leaving the roost in the opposite direction that they return to it from. Depending on the timing of your hunt and your location, placing the decoys in a position that manipulates their approach to take place within range of a shot is more effective than tossing a decoy directly out in front of you in hopes it will draw their attention from any direction. Decoys are also a tool that draws a turkey’s attention towards the decoy and distracts them from the subtle movements of adjusting your leg that fell asleep, swatting a spider off your nose, or lifting your gun to make your shot. Along with camouflaging your face and hands or sitting in a blind, consider decoys a form of concealment.
HUNTING FISHING IN THE MORNING, setting up in the dark and remaining concealed from roosting birds can be a challenge. If the contours of the terrain or cover create better blind spots from birds, wait until they’re on the ground before you step out and place decoys. For the sake of visibility, face decoys at a 90-degree angle to the projected path of the flock. The colors of the decoy’s head will draw the attention of an aggressive tom, but the bottom half of the bird doesn’t necessarily have to be that visible. Turkeys generally feel comfortable in grass tall enough they can see above, but feel like the rest of their body is concealed. Placing your decoy in a similar environment not only seems more believable to them, but inspires their curiosity. Much like a hunter who hasn’t had his morning coffee, gobblers are pretty crabby first thing in the morning and often pick fights with each other A lone jake wandering through a small clearing illustrates two decoying elements. Even as its body otherwise blends into grass and other low-growing plants (bottom), its head still stands out “like a sore thumb,” says Bonner, adding, “If trying to draw birds into a treeline, placing decoys where their body is hidden but their head is visible often works better on wary birds than leaving decoys out in the open.” Where the same young male turkey appears in the open (top), it displays “a subdued ‘strut,’ with its chest puffed out but fan down. This is how a jake decoy should look: as if it were assertive, but not exactly intimidating.” (RANDALL BONNER)
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HUNTING right after touching the ground as a show of daily dominance during their mating season. A subdued jake decoy is deadly to a gobbler waking up with ruffled feathers. The mere existence of another male turkey in their territory first thing in the morning is enough to get them stirred up and coming in hot.
DURING MIDDAY, AFTER turkeys have been wandering and feeding for
awhile, they’re no longer hangry and are a little more settled down. Removing the stand from a hen decoy and simply placing it on the ground out in the open imitates a lonely loafer that’s an easy courtship free of competition to a bearded bachelor bird. Some subdued yelps and purrs might help call attention to the decoy, but should be minimized. Most birds are looking for food rather than
fights, and will avoid or simply ignore a jake decoy during their lunch hour. Later in the day, a jake and hen decoy pair is a great way to create a little jealousy among gobblers that may have been pushed out by dominant toms, or are simply wellfed bachelors willing to bully another bird to claim dibs on a hen. Consider placement of the pair in the direction of birds returning to the roost, as if the jake has picked up the hen at last call and is on his way home to score.
REGARDLESS OF TIME of day, use the
This gobbler’s need to show dominance towards a jake decoy was its undoing for Bonner, who adds that the use of faux turkeys should be carefully considered lest you also educate a flock of birds about them and make them even more wary than they already naturally are. (RANDALL BONNER) 152 Northwest Sportsman
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decoys to your advantage and manipulate the approach of an aggressive tom to create an element of surprise at short range. Setting up on a fence line or brushpile that creates a field of view that allows the turkeys to see the decoys but not you is ideal. The addition of calling in the spring is deadly effective, but keep in mind that every time you hear a gobble, that bird is probably stopping, while a bird on the move is typically silent. A stubborn gobbler skeptical of decoys will strut and drum before it gobbles, so put your listening ears on and be patient when it gets quiet or you think the bird has changed direction when it’s not in your field of view. Take your decoys with you in a bag so that you can hide them in the bushes and develop your intuition on whether to put them out or hide them away. And if you’re hunting a large flock with a lot of birds, keep in mind that the gobblers you don’t kill will also be getting an education if you pull the trigger while they’re all in front of the decoys. While you might not be able to pick and choose the scenarios, setting up decoys on the whole group is going to make it a little harder to pull off once the surviving gobblers have seen it. Taking into account the timing, location, scenarios and stages of the season before putting your chips on the table will give you the best shot at a winning hand, and hopefully the jackpot. NS
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New hunting products Northwest sportsmen will be interested to learn about include Meopta’s MeoPro HD Plus 10x42 binoculars, Wildgame Innovations’ Terra Cell wireless trail cam and Benelli’s 828U Limited Edition. (PHOTOS BY MANUFACTURERS)
More New-for’22 Products L
ast month we barely scratched the surface talking about some of the new guns and gear for 2022, and ON TARGET this month we’ve got By Dave Workman more information. First, a reminder: Don’t forget to buy your 2022 hunting license, which in Washington is good starting April 1. In the meantime, you can still go out on your current license
and put the hurt on coyotes. This is also a good time to start scouting for wild turkeys because the spring season will be upon us shortly. You’ll find turkeys over on the north side of Bethel Ridge, up on South Cle Elum Ridge, over around Liberty in Kittitas County, and up through Stevens County, and that’s just for starters. I like to keep an eye open for turkeys whenever I’m cruising around in March and early April, looking for a songdog to plug,
and that requires a good pair of binoculars. By no small coincidence, Meopta has introduced the MeoPro HD Plus binocular in 8x56 HD and 10x42 HD. According to Meopta, the MeoPro HD Plus is a “completely redesigned Gen 2 version,” and both models offer a wide field of view with edge-to-edge clarity. They feature a rubber armor exterior, which is pretty much standard among today’s binocular models, a redesigned focus wheel, and lightweight magnesium
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body. Other features hunters have come to expect on quality binoculars are twistup eyecups, and they’re nitrogen purged, shockproof and fully sealed for fogproof and waterproof performance. Lenses feature MeoShield antiabrasion coatings and MeoDrop hydrophobic lens coating to repel rain. The diopter adjustment is located under the right eyepiece. They’ll also come in handy if you want to extend your hunting for coyotes, and before too long, you might see ground squirrels and other varmints showing up before spring grass growth gets in the way.
A fan of double-barreled shotguns, author Dave Workman – here with a Franchi Instinct L over-and-under with 28-inch barrel – may not be able to resist a new 26-inch version (top) for his blue grouse hunting adventures, while the company’s new Instinct Sideplate (middle) is “a real looker” too. (DAVE WORKMAN, FRANCHI) 156 Northwest Sportsman
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ONE THING I learned years ago is that some successful wild turkey hunters prep for the season by placing trail cameras in areas they expect to hunt. Bushnell introduced the CelluCORE 20 Solar cellular trail camera back in January, and you just might want to check this out. This model boasts a rechargeable lithiumion battery and an integrated solar panel will extend battery life; up to 70 images can be captured in a day with four to six hours of direct sunlight. According to Bushnell, the camera has high-output IR LEDs for better night range and battery life. The CelluCORE 20 Solar has a 0.2-second trigger speed and 1080-pixel, 30-frames-per-second video with audio. The video may be transmitted directly from the camera to the Bushnell Trail Camera’s app.
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Stoeger’s new full-size STR-9F semiauto has a 4.68-inch barrel and a polymer frame featuring aggressive stippling for a firm hold, plus an accessory rail. (STOEGER)
Instinct Sideplate has an AA-grade satinfinish walnut stock and Schnabel-style forearm with handsome checkering and a Prince of Wales-style grip. The 28-inch vent rib barrels are finished in deep blue and the receiver is color-case hardened with gold inlays depicting American gamebirds. The trigger is also gold-plated. The Sideplate comes with C, IC, M, IM and F extended black chokes. This one has an MSRP of $2,229.
LAST MONTH WE talked about a compact The 828U LE has a single trigger and there’s a good recoil pad on the butt. The trigger group is removable for cleaning.
The MSRP on this model is $179.99. Another option is the Wildgame Innovations Terra Cell wireless trail cam and it offers a low-price data plan for a reported $12 a month. This new camera model is loaded with features, including buck scoring, a hunt predictor, species recognition, mapping tools, photo scoring and more. It has 20-megapixel and a 16:9-format-image capability and it comes in a textured polycarbonate housing.
I’VE ALWAYS PREFERRED double-barrel shotguns over pumps or semiautos, and this year there are some dandies from the folks at Benelli and Franchi. First, let’s take a look at the new Benelli 828U Limited Edition model, which will certainly bring some drools from the double-gun crowd. The rotten thing is that Benelli produced only 200 of these guns – all in 12-gauge – so scramble! The 828U LE has a nickel-plated steel frame with game scene engravings on both sides. The stock and forearm are crafted from AA-grade walnut with a satin finish and handsome checkering. Barrels are 28 inches and there’s a vent rib on top. Barrels feature the Benelli Surface Treatment, or B.E.S.T., gloss finish to prevent corrosion and rust. 158 Northwest Sportsman
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NOW COMES WHAT I personally consider a bit of a heartbreaker, as well as a temptation I may not be able to resist. About eight years ago, I succumbed to such temptation when I bought a Franchi Instinct L over-and-under shotgun with 28-inch barrels, interchangeable choke tubes and a handsome color-case receiver. This year, Franchi tells me there’s a 26inch model available, and it’s making me crazy! Those shorter tubes would make it perfect for tramping through the grouse woods, and a bit lighter for traipsing across the canyons for chukar and quail, not to mention the occasional ringneck I encounter quite by accident! Like my gun, which has proven itself a grouse-killer extraordinaire, the 26-inch model features automatic ejectors, an Agrade walnut Prince of Wales-style stock with nice checkering and a satin oil finish, a good vent rib with a fiber optic front sight and a vented divider between the upper and lower barrels. It’s got a horizontal barrel selector switch, and the gun comes with full, modified and improved cylinder choke tubes. The Instinct L comes in 20-gauge with 3-inch chambers. The MSRP on this smoothbore is $1,449. Franchi, you’re killin’ me! As if this wasn’t enough, Franchi has also added the Instinct Sideplate, the company’s first sideplate-style O/U, and it’s a real looker. Available in both 12and 20-gauge with 3-inch chambers, the
Stoeger 9mm pistol, and this time around we’ve got the details on Stoeger’s full-size STR-9F handgun. This semiauto has an overall length of 7.95 inches and a 4.68inch barrel. The pistol has a tough black polymer frame with aggressive stippling for a firm hold even in wet weather, and an integrated accessory rail. Stoeger designed this pistol with ambidextrous thumb-index recesses and magazine release positioning. There are cocking serrations fore and aft on the slide, and the STR-9F comes with a 17-round double-stack magazine, or a 10-rounder for states with magazine limits. The pistol has a tactile loaded-chamber indicator on top of the slide and three-dot sights. The MSRP is $329. None of these guns premiered at the January SHOT Show, incidentally. But this column learned from Winchester that the company has added three caliber choices to the USA Ready ammunition line. New this year are loads in 10mm, 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC. In 10mm, there is an FMJ load for practice and competition, and a USA Ready Defense load for personal defense. The latter round features a Hex-Vent hollowpoint bullet designed for positive expansion. The 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC rounds are offered with a 140-grain open-tip projectile for long-range shooting. And for all of you podcast fans, Hornady recently announced their new endeavor, The Hornady Podcast. Hosted by Seth Swerczek, Hornady communications manager, this podcast is available on the following platforms: Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, YouTube, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts and Vimeo. NS
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Navigating Hunting Seasons, Rules And Weapon Choices H
unting regs have grown increasingly difficult to interpret each year. You may even come across BECOMING people who joke that A HUNTER By Dave Anderson you need a lawyer to interpret today’s rules pamphlet – which is not far from the truth! This is especially true for someone who is just starting to get into big game hunting. In this article, I hope to outline the different hunting options and seasons the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Unfortunately, big game licenses are not a one-size-fits-all package. In most of the states within the region, you will be required to pick which weapon you want to hunt with. The options you must choose from include: archery, muzzleloader or modern firearm (rifle). In addition, for Washington elk, you also have to choose between an Eastern or a Western tag. In Washington, you can also participate in a lottery for a chance at a multiseason permit. In other words, you can pay extra money for a chance to have more opportunity.
ONCE YOU DETERMINE which weapon you want to hunt, you can choose to apply for special permits. You don’t have to, of course, if you want to just hunt a general open season, but these special hunt permits also allow you to apply for other big game animals in addition to deer and elk. These include moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats or antelope. These permits are geared to giving you better
Some facets of becoming a hunter are not as straightforward as others, like making sense of increasingly complex regulations – meant to eke out as much opportunity as possible, but sometimes all but requiring a lawyer to decipher – but author Dave Anderson aims to help new sportsmen successfully navigate their way to and through the woods in this column. (DAVE ANDERSON)
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COLUMN hunting opportunities, trophy potential or antlerless options. Each state has different names for this application process. For Washington, they are called special hunt permits and raffles. In Idaho and Oregon, they are called controlled hunts. The three states have totally different programs when it comes to how these programs and special draws are operated. Washington runs off a points program where each year you do not draw you get a point. The more points you have, the better the odds you have at drawing a special hunt. Oregon’s is similar, with the exception that three-quarters of controlled tags are allocated toward those with preference points, and the remaining quarter to everyone who puts in. Idaho is a true lottery; there are no points. Everyone is given the same chance with a lottery system. However, the number of big game tags available will vary between residents and nonresidents. For Idaho controlled hunts with 10 or fewer tags, no more than one nonresident tag will be issued. If there are more than 10 tags available, only 10 percent can be awarded to out-of-staters. Idaho puts their residents first when it comes to these controlled hunts, which is one of the major reasons my family and I relocated to the Gem State. Montana is similar to Idaho; however, they also have a bonus points program. This program gives you additional drawing chances but can only be used for first-choice drawings. Every year that you are unsuccessful in the drawing, and you participate in the bonus points system, you will be awarded a point. If you are interested in pursuing out-of-state hunts, I highly recommend visiting each state’s fish and game website to research the different options available. These sites will have a section on licensing and the basics around the drawings and controlled hunts/special permits.
IN THE REST of this article, I will break down the different seasons based on weapon choice and my favorite big game animal to hunt – elk! I personally love to hunt any of the weapon choices and throughout 162 Northwest Sportsman
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Many hunters are in it for the meat, outdoor experience and camaraderie of camp, but if trophy animals are what you’re after, you’ll probably want to become familiar with putting in for special permits, which up your odds of at least encountering bigger bucks and bulls. (DAVE ANDERSON) the years of living in Washington, I hunted and took game using all of the available options. The first thing to consider is the time of year you wish to hunt. Each discipline has different months or discrete time periods to hunt. In addition, if you are lucky and draw a special permit, these will also have specific months and days attached to these hunts. If you want to hunt bugling elk during the rut, this will be the month of September and in most cases, you will have to hunt with a bow. There are some wilderness area hunts where you can hunt the rut with a rifle. However, this is not as common, as these hunts are very remote and take a lot of effort to get back to where they take place. They are not easy-access areas.
IF I HAD to choose, hunting archery is probably my favorite way to harvest
a big game animal. It is quiet and you do not have to worry so much about hunting pressure like you do during the rifle season. That said, in the last 10 years, I have seen archery hunting pressure increase, with much larger participation than in years past. This is in part to archery equipment being more reliable and easier to use with better effective range. In addition, the influence that YouTube and social media has had on our society, especially the hunting community, has directly impacted the increase in hunting participation. With the increase in archery hunting videos on YouTube, people can see that putting together an extended day trip with a backpack is not that far out of reach. Just remember that these hunts are far from easy. You will pay in blood, sweat and tears to accomplish this type of hunt. It is very physically demanding. I always
COLUMN The great thing about hunting the Northwest is that there are so many options in terms of weapon choices and seasons, which begin as early as late August and stretch into December and even January, in the cases of special permits. Anderson has pursued big game with a rifle, muzzloader and bow, but counts late-season archery elk as among his favorite hunts. (DAVE ANDERSON)
ask the question, What will you do when you have a 700-pound bull elk down on the ground? You have a 60- to 70-pound pack that you hiked in with and you need to get the bull out and processed in a reasonable amount of time to prevent spoilage. Archery hunts typically occur when temperatures are still warm to hot and the last thing you want to happen after all your hard work harvesting an elk with your bow is for the meat to spoil. Will you be able to get it out beforehand? This is always something you want to consider when choosing these hunts. There are also late-season archery hunts that you can participate in as well. For years, I hunted the late bow season in Eastern Washington and enjoyed high success for cow elk. I stopped participating in this hunt when the regulations changed over to spike only. For me, I preferred the late season, as I did not have to worry about spoilage as much 164 Northwest Sportsman
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since the temperatures were often below freezing and more often than not there was snow on the ground.
THE NEXT WEAPON/SEASON choice to consider is muzzleloader. Muzzleloader season lands between archery and rifle hunts, generally in the beginning of October. There is a late season at the end of October into the beginning of November, as well from roughly Thanksgiving into December. For elk, you can still have a chance to hunt while they are rutting. Each state will have different rules when it comes to muzzleloaders regarding whether you can use 209 ignition primers or a scope. Be sure to check your regs or consult your local sporting goods store to figure what you need to be legal. However, remember you are 100 percent responsible for what you have and do, not what someone told you, as they could be wrong or misinformed.
Bottom line, be sure you know what is legal and what is not! Muzzleloader is another season that will usually have less pressure than rifle season, and I think there are also fewer black powder hunters than there are archers. Outside temperatures will also be lower than during the early bow hunt. Again, I personally prefer lower temperatures for hunting, and I could go down a whole rabbit trail of why, but I will spare you all the boring details.
THE LAST, BUT not least, weapon choice/ season is modern firearm. Generally speaking, most people who first get into hunting start with rifle season before venturing into the other disciplines. Nowadays, rifles are much more advanced and capable of performing than the person behind the trigger. Seasons vary from state to state. In some states – Idaho, for example – deer season overlaps with elk season, offering more opportunities for folks out in the field. There are pluses and minuses to hunting with a rifle. If you are hunting a general season tag, you are most likely going to encounter a sea of fellow hunters in the field, and in Washington they will all be wearing orange (recommended but not required in Idaho and Oregon, though big game hunters 17 and under in the latter state must wear it), sometimes making for a big pumpkin patch on the mountainside. Indeed, you’re not likely to have a draw to yourself unless you decide to hike off the beaten path. Sometimes it does not take much to get away from people. I have done an incredibly good job of not seeing other people for days; it just requires more effort and time. The advantages of a rifle are the distance from which you can harvest an animal, as well as wind being not as big of a deal. You can often go undetected by the big game animal you are hunting since your effective range is further with a rifle compared to a muzzleloader or bow. With the right combination of rifle, scope, and ammunition, you can harvest a deer or elk at 300 yards or more. But if you choose to try to shoot at something further, please be familiar with your rifle and be proficient with your shooting capabilities. There is a
COLUMN General rifle season is still the most well-attended hunt in the Northwest, even if it’s shorter and generally held outside the rut. Modern firearms offer the advantage of being able to down an animal from a greater distance, but it comes with a responsibility to make a one-shot kill so the animal doesn’t suffer. (DAVE ANDERSON)
lot that can go wrong when shooting long distances. The last thing you want to do is wound an animal and chase it for days or kill it and not find it. Overall, hunting with a rifle can be fun, especially when you are able to get away from all the crowds.
LASTLY, I WANT to emphasize that whatever weapon you choose to use, you need to practice, practice and practice some more! You are out there attempting to take the life of an animal. Deer, elk and other big game critters are tough and their only job in life is to survive and reproduce. You want to be able to quickly take that life and not have them suffer. As a guide, I have chased my fair share of wounded game – it is not fun! Do your due diligence – you not only owe it to yourself but the animal’s life to do the best job you can do. Do not be that person who picks up their weapon a week or even a month before the season, throws a few downrange and calls it good. Always remember, Proper preparation prevents poor performance! NS
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COLUMN
Mally’s last hunt. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
The Last Hunt A
s I write these words, there are two days left in duck season. I was going to invite friends along, but I just GUN DOGGIN’ 101 want to hunt alone By Scott Haugen with my two dogs, Echo and Kona. Selfish? Maybe, but I don’t think so. A dog lover understands why.
TWO WEEKS AGO I got a message from a
stranger in my area, asking if I knew of any easy-to-navigate private land where they could take their nearly 14-year-old black Lab on her last hunt. I didn’t reply right away, but I immediately knew my answer. That night I got three hours of sleep, as it was all I could think about: a dog’s last hunt. The next morning I replied, and said I had a place for them to hunt. I had no idea who the person was, as their social handle didn’t have a name. I didn’t background check them, as I
probably should have, or ask any questions about their personal life, hunting experience, or what they wanted out of the hunt. Three days later we set a time to meet the following morning. The last note from them said, “Oh, by the way, my name is such and such, and my husband’s name is so and so.” I already knew their dog’s name – that’s all that really mattered. We met early the next morning, walked to the blind, tidied up the decoys and made sure the situation was good for
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COLUMN their aging Lab. Then the couple walked back to the truck to get their dog. I didn’t follow them, but went in another direction to hunt with my dog. Kona and I had a great morning, but I couldn’t stop thinking about my guests and their dog.
Our dogs risk everything to appease their innate drive, and please us, something we strive to reward until the very end. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
A FEW HOURS later I put Kona in the truck and went to check on them. They had ducks and were happy, but solemn. I wanted to chat but respected their precious time. I petted their dog, watched her hunting instincts override her aging body, and looked into her eyes, with little conversation. The dog was lying outside the blind, in some mud and rocks; she didn’t care that it was cold and uncomfortable, for this spot was easier for her to spot birds from than the dog blind I’d constructed. Her eyes
grew big and her tail wagged when she saw ducks, or thought she saw ducks. One of my favorite things when duck hunting with dogs is watching their eyes and body language as they spot ducks. They spot way more than we do, and get more excited and tense with anticipation. They also scold us when we miss. The aged dog had a retrieve while I was there and I was honored to see it. She moved slow and steady, but with purpose. Her long slow-wagging tail quickened as she approached the wigeon in chest-deep water. Water didn’t fly from her tail in tiny droplets, as I’m sure it once did. The old girl ended up having a good day, and her eyes and body language confirmed it. She was in her happy place. Her owners were so appreciative, but quiet, and rightly so.
WHEN IT COMES time for my dogs’ last hunt,
We never forget those extra special retrieves. Here, the author’s dog, Kona, a pudelpointer, brings in a prized Eurasian wigeon following an impressive mark and water retrieve. (SCOTT HAUGEN) 170 Northwest Sportsman
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I want to be with them, just me. I want no one else around to think about or have to talk to because every precious second with them is valuable and passes all too swiftly. Pause. Tears are now slipping down my face as I write these words, because I dread the last hunts with my dogs, even though it’s years away. Then, suddenly, Kona is at my side, looking up at me with his big dark eyes, resting his heavy head on my leg and wagging his tail. I bend down to
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kiss his big juicy nose and he licks my face. He never licks my face. He’s not a licker. He licked every tear, even as they flowed faster, now. He awoke from a sleep in the other room to come console me, something dogs do, something we can’t explain, that sixth sense. But it’s these moments that are so special and build an even deeper bond, which makes parting with them even more painful. A few weeks ago I was hunting in Texas. A 19-year-old young man had one of the best performing Labs I’d ever seen. “When he dies I won’t get another dog,” he shared, as he took a goose from the dog’s mouth. He’d trained the dog himself, didn’t think he’d ever develop a bond as strong as this with any other dog, and just plain dreaded the end, though the dog was only 2 years old. I understood exactly what he meant. No matter how much we prepare for the end, it’s never going to ease the pain. We don’t know if it’s going to be sudden or drawn out, if it’s going to entail a final drive to the vet or if it will happen in their sleep. All we can do is make the most of every moment we have with our hunting companions and make their lives as enjoyable and rewarding as possible, for we all know a good hunting dog consistently risks their life to not only do what they’re programmed to do, but to please us, and such a genuinely powerful relationship is deeply painful when it comes to an end. NS 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.
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