Northwest Sportsman Mag - May 2020

FISHING • HUNTING • NEWS

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Sportsman Northwest

Your LOCAL Hunting & Fishing Resource

Volume 12 • Issue 8 PUBLISHER James R. Baker

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

ALUMAWELD STRYKER

EDITOR Andy Walgamott THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS Dave Anderson, Randall Bonner, Jason Brooks, Dennis Dauble, Scott Haugen, MD Johnson, Randy King, Buzz Ramsey, Troy Rodakowski, Mike Wright, Dave Workman, Mark Yuasa EDITORIAL FIELD SUPPORT Jason Brooks GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mamie Griffin, Mike Smith DESIGNER Lesley-Anne Slisko-Cooper PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Kelly Baker OFFICE MANAGER Katie Aumann INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGER Lois Sanborn

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WEBMASTER/DIGITAL STRATEGIST Jon Hines ADVERTISING INQUIRIES ads@nwsportsmanmag.com CORRESPONDENCE Email letters, articles/queries, photos, etc., to awalgamott@media-inc.com, or to the mailing address below.

ON THE COVER Contributor Mark Yuasa of the Northwest Marine Trade Association and Northwest Fishing Derby Series shows off a Puget Sound hatchery Chinook.

(MARK YUASA)

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS Last issue’s page 96 photo showing a hand holding an Omak Lake Lahontan cutthroat trout should have been attributed to Mike Quinn instead of Fishing Photo Contest.

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MAY 2020 | nwsportsmanmag.com

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MEDIA INDEX PUBLISHING GROUP P.O. Box 24365 • Seattle, WA 98124-0365 14240 Interurban Ave. S., Suite 190 Tukwila, WA 98168 (206) 382-9220 • (800) 332-1736 • Fax (206) 382-9437 media@media-inc.com mediaindexpublishing.com

CONTENTS

VOLUME 12 • ISSUE 8

ALSO INSIDE

57 MUSSEL

IN ON NEARSHORE BOUNTY The Oregon Coast’s rocky areas teem with tasty greenling and surfperch, and Dennis Dauble knows some of the best ways to pry their mouths open.

51

TOP BOTTOMFISH SETUPS Ocean angler Dave Anderson details his favorite rigs and tactics for scoring deepwater halibut and lingcod, and nearshore rockfish.

67

COUNT ON THESE CRAPPIE RIGS Crappie are a favorite of Midwest born and bred contributor MD Johnson, who shares a plethora of tips for catching these tasty panfish, plus an update on Southwest Washington’s popular Silver Lake.

85

DIAMOND IS A TROUT ANGLER’S BEST FRIEND Northeast Washington’s Diamond Lake looks nothing like its namesake jewel, but it shines very brightly for rainbows and brown trout in spring, our Mike Wright reports, and its ace in the hole just might be the bass and spinyray fishing as waters warm.

97

GREEN LIGHTS FOR GREEN PETER KOKES After hopping aboard a local guide’s boat with the Outdoor GPS crew to tape a live show, Corvallis-based Randall Bonner came away with some solid intel on how to fish Green Peter Reservoir in Oregon’s Cascades for its plentiful kokanee.

105 OREGON SPRINGER SURPRISE? Reduced downstream fishing pressure and less sea lion predation may make for better spring Chinook fishing in tribs above Willamette Falls, Randall Bonner theorizes.

(DENNIS DAUBLE)

121 LATE CAN BE GREAT FOR BEARS The back end of the spring hunt bumps up against black bears’ most active period this time of year, the breeding season. Troy Rodakowski shares tips and tricks for notching your tag with a bruin this month.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Go to nwsportsmanmag.com for details.

NORTHWEST SPORTSMAN is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 14240 Interurban Avenue South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Periodical Postage Paid at Seattle, WA and at additional mail offices. (USPS 025-251) POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Northwest Sportsman, 14240 Interurban Ave South, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. 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 © 2020 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.

14 Northwest Sportsman

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91

(BUZZ RAMSEY)

BUZZ RAMSEY

Top Trout Trolling Tricks Our staff troutologist follows up on his Rainbow Fishing 101 class last issue with a 301-level lesson on all things trolling. Speed, spoons, lake trolls, zigs, plugs, zags, lines, letout and more – Buzz has you covered!

COLUMNS 79

CHEF IN THE WILD Riverbank Therapy Let loose during April’s COVID-19 quarantine onto an Idaho stream near home “to be a child, free to roam the river bottoms ... dig in the mud ... pee on the rocks,” Jordan King also didn’t hesitate to “bash a fish for supper.” So reports his pa, Chef Randy, who serves up said fish in a recipe for smallmouth on the “half shell” – cooking with the skin on – with a pictorial side dish on how to fillet bass.

109 NORTHWEST PURSUITS Get Out When You Can! What do you write about when everything in your state is closed by coronavirus?

Jason looks at the bright side and all the things there will be to do when it’s time to take to the woods and waters again – and in the meanwhile, he says there’s some gardening to be done. Indeed, what better way to become even more self-sufficient than pairing home-grown veggies with your wild harvest?

115 ON TARGET Getting Back In The Saddle Even with everything on pause and his local rifle range shutdown, Dave knows there are ways to beat the boredom of stay-at-home orders. Grab hold of your reloading manual and get to dreaming as our resident firearms expert talks rolling your own, prairie dog, coyote and turkey hunting, heaps praise on those doing good in these rough times, and shares some new shotgun loads.

131 GUN DOG Time To Pull An Inside Job Being cooped up at home in spring is the most boring thing ever, but it’s not all bad news. You can constructively use your time by training your budding gun dog. Scott shares some simple drills you can use inside the house to improve your pup’s restraint, push back and fetching skills – not to mention enjoy some good bonding time with your four-legged hunting partner.

16 Northwest Sportsman

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25

(ANDY WALGAMOTT)

THE BIG PIC:

2020 Chinook, Coho Fishing Preview DEPARTMENTS

18 Northwest Sportsman

MAY 2020 | nwsportsmanmag.com

23

THE EDITOR’S NOTE The fishing soliloquy of a 10-year-old

41

PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD Walleye, Dungeness and late Canadas!

43

PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS Coast, Fishing monthly prizes

45

THE DISHONOR ROLL 38 months for OlyPen poacher; Kudos; Jackass of the Month

47

DERBY WATCH 16.69-pounder wins Everett Blackmouth Derby; Recent results; Upcoming events

49

OUTDOOR CALENDAR Upcoming openers, events, deadlines, rescheduled shows

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THEEDITOR’SNOTE SAILFISH MARLIN

Anglers spread out on part of the Edmonds Fishing Pier, north of Seattle, last summer. (ANDY WALGAMOTT)

YELLOWFIN TUNA

I

t was near the end of the second week of working from home – and the third of no school for the boys – when our youngest son voiced an unexpected soliloquy for unprecedented times.

Kiran was over on the couch, working on a makeshift elementary assignment that happened to focus on fish, when he turned to me and began speaking in a slow, quiet, almost poetic way.

“I want to go fishing again.

I want to go to Curlew.

I want to catch those tiny fish.

What were they called, Daddy?” [“Yellow perch, son.”]

“I was good at it.

I caught nine.

And you only caught three.

I want to go fishing again, Daddy.”

He was recalling our weeklong campout last August at the Northeast Washington destination fishery, where I am proud to say he indeed outfished me. (He’s a dang good San Juans crabber, too.)

Coming the day after Governor Inslee’s“Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order led the Department of Fish and Wildlife to close angling for what began as two weeks and then eventually stretched to at least six and included hunting, Kiran’s words were stridently echoed by thousands of Washingtonians who want to go fishing and hunting again, an outcry that reinforced the massive essential importance of our favorite recreational activities to our way of life, which I drew hope from and pray all stay involved after this emergency is over.

Also giving me hope: the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s measured response to keeping things open as best they could in these nightmare times. I’m not faulting WDFW, as I understand that it wasn’t their choice, given the governor’s order.

But between the Beaver State and the Gem State, at least there was some fishing and hunting to be done as spring and essentially the kickoff of the sporting year arrived in the Northwest.

And as I write these words in mid-April, there are encouraging signs that WDFW is beginning to take the first steps towards a concrete outline for getting things going again.

“The emphasis is on: flexibility in the order; access restored; and coordination with local jurisdictions,” fishery manager Kelly Cunningham told me. “The last thing we want to do is have to close something because a local health officer was blindsided.”

That really is key: That we’re able to thread the needle between protecting the health of the public at large with smartly reopening fishing and hunting where it makes the most sense and doesn’t lead to crowding. I hope that as you read these words in May a plan for Washington is in place and we can take advantage of some of this issue’s stories. And I hope Oregon and Idaho sportsmen have been able to continue to lead the way.

Because I want to go fishing again too, Kiran. -Andy Walgamott

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Northwest Sportsman 23

2020 Chinook, Coho Preview

PICTURE

Massive disappointment at North of Falcon after loss of most Puget Sound winter blackmouth fisheries; a few summer salmon opportunities to look forward to.

By Mark Yuasa

W

e can lament the fact that 24 months of salmon fishing time in all Washington marine catch areas vanished from the 2020-21 calendar (the vast majority will occur in the wintertime) compared to last season.

It’s also clear to many the annual North of Falcon salmon season setting process – which ended on April 10 as the most restricted in Washington’s sport fishing history – needs to be repaired as the blame list of what’s led up to year-after-year closures seems insurmountable.

But for the moment there’s really no use in crying over spilled milk of what’s left to the upcoming salmon season, and rest assured there are going to be some worthwhile opportunities to consider, especially in summer and early fall.

“We value the winter fisheries but I think at the end of the day we wanted to try to preserve as much of the robust summer opportunities as we could,” explained Mark Baltzell, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Puget Sound recreational salmon manager. “We knew these were tough choices and I don’t want to say we feel good about making

those kinds of decisions.”

THE GAINS INCLUDE a boost in summer hatchery Chinook quotas and an earlier start date in two Puget Sound areas, and some additional time on the water for Chinook or coho in some marine waterways.

Most notable is the northern Puget Sound (Marine Area 9) summer hatcherymarked king fishery, which opens July 16 to Aug. 15 (the season started on July 25 in 2019 and was only open on certain days during the week) with a catch quota of 6,529. The area remains open from Aug.

Washington salmon fishing is set to kick off in late spring and while it will be far from an ideal season, given painful cuts to popular fisheries due to low returns and catch balancing, there will be opportunities to get after Chinook and coho in inside waters and on the coast. (ANDY WALGAMOTT) nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2020

Northwest Sportsman 25

PICTURE 16 to Sept. 30 for a fishery directed at hatchery coho.

Look for good hatchery king fishing at Midchannel Bank, Possession Bar, the west side of Whidbey Island, Double Bluff off the southwest side of the aforementioned island, Point No Point, Pilot Point and near the Edmonds Marina.

In central Puget Sound, Area 10, the highly popular resident coho-only season opens June 1 to July 15. This has been a consistent fishery for coho averaging 2 to 5 pounds at places like Jefferson Head to Kingston, West Point south of Shilshole Bay and north of Meadow Point to the Edmonds oil dock.

Hatchery-marked Chinook in Area 10 become fair game from July 16 to Aug. 31 with a catch quota of 4,149. Fishing then stays open Sept. 1 to Nov. 15 for coho, and anglers can add chum beginning on Sept.

16, although the bulk of that run won’t appear in catches until late October. There is also a small window of Chinook fishing opportunity in inner-Elliott Bay from Aug. 2 to noon on Aug. 5.

In the San Juan Islands (Area 7), a hatchery king fishery opens July 1-31 with a quota of 1,541 fish, and it may reopen in August if the quota isn’t achieved. The downside is the July season in 2019 had a catch of more than 2,000 kings, so that

Expect a “rather robust” hatchery Chinook season off Tacoma and elsewhere in Marine Area 11, where James Yuasa – uncle to author Mark Yuasa – nailed this nice hatchery Chinook last August. (MARK YUASA)

Blackmouth anglers, derby organizers and local ports and fundraisers will feel the effect of next winter’s near closure of all resident Chinook fisheries, though some waters off Seattle and Sekiu will remain open. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST) 26 Northwest Sportsman

MAY 2020 | nwsportsmanmag.com

extension into August might not come to fruition this year. The coho-only directed season in Area 7 is Aug. 1 to Sept. 30.

South-central Puget Sound (Area 11) in the Tacoma/Vashon Island area should see a rather robust summer hatchery king fishery from July 1 to Sept. 30 with a quota of 4,182. There will also be a season Oct. 1-31 directed at coho.

Southern Puget Sound (Area 13) is open year-round for salmon, and there can be a decent early summer hatchery Chinook fishery off Fox Island from Gibson Point to Toy Point; Fox Island Fishing Pier to Fox Point; and Hale Passage. Other choices are Point Fosdick south of the Narrows Bridges and just outside of the Narrows Marina near Day Island and Titlow Beach.

PICTURE IN THE STRAIT of Juan de Fuca at Sekiu (Area 5), fishing for hatchery kings is open July 1 to Aug. 15 with a catch guideline of 3,974, and then remains open for hatchery coho from Aug. 16 to Sept. 30.

The eastern Strait (Area 6) from Freshwater Bay east to the Port Angeles area will be open for hatchery Chinook from July 1 to Aug. 15 (release all Chinook east of Ediz Hook) with a catch guideline of 4,768. A hatchery coho-only directed season will be open Aug. 16 to Sept. 30.

Hood Canal south of Ayock Point (Area 12) opens July 1 to Sept. 30 for hatchery Chinook. The entire canal opens Oct. 1 to Nov. 30 for coho, and chum may be retained starting Oct. 16.

There will also be a variety of bubble and terminal fisheries in many areas, as well as piers open year-round for shorebound anglers.

The Tulalip Bubble Fishery (Area 8-2) is open for Chinook from June 1 to Sept.

2 (fishing allowed Fridays to noon on

Mondays only) and Sept. 7-30 (fishing allowed on weekends only).

ON THE COAST, the total catch quota for sport fisheries is 26,500 hatchery-marked coho (159,600 in 2019) and 26,360 Chinook (26,250 in 2019).

“Chinook fisheries are likely to be similar to last year (but) coho forecasts are very low and if accurate, fishing could be challenging this season,” said Wendy Beeghley, the WDFW coastal salmon manager.

At Neah Bay (Area 4), the sport quota is 2,760 hatchery-marked coho and 5,600 Chinook. A Chinook-only fishery is open from June 20-28, and then salmon fishing is open daily from June 29 to Sept. 30, or until the subarea catch guideline is met.

At La Push (Area 3), the sport quota is 690 hatchery-marked coho and 1,300 Chinook. A Chinook-only fishery is open from June 20-28, and then salmon fishing is open daily from June 29 to Sept. 30, or until the subarea catch guideline is met.

At Westport (Area 2), the sport quota is 9,800 hatchery-marked coho and 12,460 Chinook. A Chinook-only fishery is open

OREGON COAST OPTIONS

W

hile Oregon ocean fisheries north of Cape Falcon fall under the same rules as Washington’s Marine Area 1 and won’t open until late June, those south of the point between Cannon Beach and Garibaldi operate under different management.

The waters from Falcon to Humbug Mountain, near Port Orford, are open now for Chinook retention through October, and midsummer will see a hatchery coho fishery with a quota of 22,000. That’s well down from 2019’s cutoff of 90,000 silvers and also below the actual estimated catch of 55,610 last year.

The quota for September’s any-coho fishery is also down, 3,000 versus 9,000 last year.

The coast from Humbug south to the Oregon-California border opens in late June, with fishing running through early August.

Last season, Newport-based anglers brought back the most salmon, 20,629 coho and 1,451 Chinook, but Depoe Bay fishermen had a higher catch per unit effort of .94 per trip to Newport’s .84, and the Pacific City dory fleet was close behind at .83 salmon per trip. –NWS

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MAY 2020 | nwsportsmanmag.com

This summer’s coho quotas are much smaller for Oregon Coast anglers, but Chinook are open now through October. Katie Woodman landed her first king ever while fishing out of Garibaldi in 2018.

(FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

WASHINGTON RIVER SALMON SEASONS

D

etails were still coming in at press time on Washington’s river salmon seasons, but some info was out.

For starters, last year’s first-in-decades lower Skagit spring Chinook fishery is again a go, albeit with a May 16 opener versus May 1 due to the coronavirus closure.

What’s more, there’s a new springer season on part of another North Sound river, the North Fork Nooksack, with a daily limit of two hatchery kings from June 1-30.

There hasn’t been a Chinook fishery on the trib back to at least 1954. On the flip side, spring king fishing on the tiny Cascade will be limited to Thursday-Sunday to reduce conflict with a planned tribal fishery.

The Snohomish system is closed for coho, though the Wallace will open Sept. 16. for hatchery fish. The Skykomish will again open the first Saturday before Memorial Day for hatchery summer kings and steelhead.

The Samish will close Sept. 16 to Oct. 31 to collect Chinook broodstock to benefit orcas. The Puyallup, Carbon and Nisqually will all see hatchery king and coho fisheries.

As for the Skokomish, subject of a border dispute with a local tribe, state managers say, “Conversations are continuing about a potential fishery. If any fishery is agreed to, WDFW will make an announcement.”

There won’t be a Skagit sockeye fishery, but a Baker Lake season is in the List Of Agreed Fisheries if enough return to the trap – the forecast is a decade-low 13,242.

However, this summer will see sockeye retention on the Columbia, thanks to a predicted return of 244,000.

As for fall fisheries on the big river, the waters from Buoy 10 up to Puget Island will be open Aug. 16-27 for Chinook and hatchery coho, but only for clipped coho starting on the 28th. While Puget to Warrior Rock and Bonneville Dam to Tri-Cities will be open daily starting Aug. 1, the river between Warrior and the dam will only be open Friday-Sunday from Aug. 7 through Sept. 6 due to impacts on lower river tules that got gobbled up in other fisheries.

Managers also warned steelheading on the Columbia and Snake would be limited given a low return and “additional” closures on parts of coolwater tribs. –NWS

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MAY 2020 | nwsportsmanmag.com

from June 20-28, and then the area is open Sundays to Thursdays only from June 29 through Sept. 30 for salmon fishing, or until the subarea guideline is met.

And in the waters from Oregon’s Cape Falcon north to the tip of Washington’s Leadbetter Point (Astoria, Warrenton, Ilwaco, Area 1) the sport quota is 13,250 hatchery-marked coho and 7,000 Chinook.

A Chinook-only fishery is open from June 20-28, and then the waters are open daily for salmon fishing from June 29 to Sept. 30, or until the subarea catch guideline is met.

The Buoy 10 fishery at the Columbia River mouth has been shortened this summer and a small window of opportunity will occur Aug. 16-27 for Chinook and hatchery coho and starting Aug. 28 for hatchery coho only.

winter salmon closures include the eastern Strait (Area 6) from March 1 to April 15; San Juan Islands (7) and northern Puget Sound (9) from Oct. 1 to April 30; the east side of Whidbey Island (8-1 and 8-2) from May 1 to April 30; Hood Canal (12) from Dec. 1 to April 30; and south-central Puget Sound (11) from Jan. 1 to April 30.

WDFW blamed the restrictions on low returns of Stillaguamish and mid-Hood Canal kings that “created even greater restraints” on fisheries. It also cancelled a number of winter blackmouth derbies in the islands, eastern strait and elsewhere.

But there are a few chunks of water unaffected by winter closures, including the western Strait at Sekiu (5), which will be open March 1 to April 30; central Puget Sound (10), open Jan. 1 to March 31; and southern Puget Sound (13), open year-round.

A comprehensive list of statewide freshwater salmon fisheries can also be viewed on the WDFW website at wdfw .wa.gov/fishing. NS Editor’s note: All the planned salmon season openings above are based on the COVID-19 “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order being lifted. WDFW will announce that decision once the governor gives the green light of approval, which at press time was expected to happen around May 4.

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Northwest Sportsman 31

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READER PHOTOS

Daughter-mom duo Heather and Elise Passmore enjoyed a “very successful” day of crabbing last November. They scored these Dungies inside the mouth of the Columbia River while out with Elise’s hubby Michael. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

A late-season outing in a Lower Columbia pasture yielded near limits for Jastin Stebbins and sons Ben (left) and Ryan. They were hunting with Northwest Sportsman contributor MD Johnson, who reported, “It was the boys’ first geese and first limits, and Dad’s first crack at a band/collar. Four of us ended one shy of a four-man limit.

The boys did a great job.” (COAST HUNTING PHOTO CONTEST) The Han brothers of Tri-Cities made lemonade – not to mention walleye fillets! – out of the lemon that was the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. Corbin and Austin teamed up to get this one in the net and over the rail while fishing the Mid-Columbia. “Slow fishing but we got walleye on bottom bouncers and bladebaits,” reported their dad Jerry of the sunny mid-March day’s action. (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, 14240 Interurban Ave S, Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for use in our print and Internet publications.

nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2020

Northwest Sportsman 41

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WINNERS!

Jason Resser is the winner of our monthly Fishing Photo Contest, thanks to this shot of his father holding his son Zayn’s 6-pound rainbow trout. It wins him gear from various tackle manufacturers!

Mike Bolt is our monthly Coast Hunting Photo Contest winner, thanks to this pic of he and daughter Grace and her first turkey, taken last spring. 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, 14240 Interurban Ave S., Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for our print or Internet publications. nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2020

Northwest Sportsman 43

MIXED BAG

38 Months For OlyPen Poacher

A

northern Olympic Peninsula “In this case, we were able to follow up man was sentenced to 38 on a public report of a poached black bear, months in jail for wildlife and we found that (Wyatt J.) Beck and violations and other crimes, Hutt allegedly unlawfully killed as well as fined $10,000, a three black bears,” said lead resolution that should send a investigator Bryan Davidson. strong anti-poaching message Together the duo was there and further afield. initially charged with 44 wildlife Jason Bradley Hutt, 29, of and criminal violations in two Sequim admitted he “should counties. They face charges in have thought a little bit more Jefferson County on the elk. before I was doing what I was Hutt is no stranger to doing” and in a sharp change game wardens and county of tone from a prior appearance prosecutors. Last decade he was before a Clallam County Jason Bradley Hutt. convicted of breaking hunting Superior Court judge (see the (COURTESY IMAGE) as well as fishing laws.

April issue), he said he was “here to deal “This isn’t a case of a guy who makes an with it,” the Peninsula Daily News reported. honest mistake,” Clallam County Deputy Just days before his scheduled March Attorney Matthew Roberson told the 30 trial, Hutt entered an Alford plea – newspaper. “He knows the rules … He just essentially that it was likely he would be doesn’t care about the rules.” convicted – to seven felonies, one gross Roberson noted 10 letters submitted misdemeanor, and two misdemeanors to the court that called for jail for Hutt, the related to the poaching of three bears, two paper reported. blacktails, a harlequin duck and river otter, “It communicates deterrence for the along with jumping bail and possession general population,” Roberson is quoted as of meth, according to the Washington saying about the resolution. “Those who Department of Fish and Wildlife. would want to engage in crimes like Mr. Hutt Agency officers credited the will now know, at least in Clallam County, community’s support for helping solve you can be sent to prison for poaching.” the case, which began in early summer WDFW Sgt. Kit Rosenberger told the 2018 with the bears as well as two elk, one paper Hutt collected buck and bull heads. of which was shot next to a Hood Canal He said it was the first case like this he school, with more poaching again in 2019. knew of with the poacher going to jail.

JACKASS OF THE MONTH

T

h e r e ’ s disparaging the fishing regulations, and then there’s a Brookings guy’s complete and utter disdain for them.

Oregon troopers say they served search warrants on the man after he’d allegedly been keeping “numerous” wild steelhead in Curry County, as well as fishing without a valid license or combined angling tag. During the warrant service they seized electronic devices as well as fishing gear.

After their investigation, they cited the man with 14 counts of fishing without a license, eight counts of no combined angling tag, five counts of failing to validate the tag, six counts of unlawfully retaining wild steelhead, four counts of exceeding the annual limit on wild steelhead (in January the bag was dropped from five to three a year), four counts of unlawfully keeping lingcod, two counts of angling in closed waters, two counts of illegally retaining rainbow trout, and – why the heck not when you’re on a roll – one count of exceeding the daily limit on wild Chinook. Jack. Ass.

KUDOS

The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division’s newest Sergeant First Class, Greg Plummer (right), practiced good social distancing as he accepted a new badge from Sgt. Todd Hoodenpyl last month. Plummer is the lead fish and wildlife trooper in game-rich Tillamook and Lincoln Counties, on Oregon’s North and Central Coasts. OSP called his promotion “well deserved.” (OSP)

nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2020

Northwest Sportsman 45

16.69-lbr. Wins Everett Derby Members of Team Outdoor Line, named after a Seattle-based Saturday morning fishing and hunting radio show, distance themselves and their Chinook from each other as they hold up their day one catch at late March’s Everett Blackmouth Derby. (MARK YUASA)

M

ike Virdell’s 16.69-pound Chinook might have been the last fishing derby winner until social distancing requirements and/ or angler restrictions are lifted in the Northwest due to COVID-19.

He caught his $3,000 first-place fish during the March 21-22 2020 Everett Blackmouth Derby, completed without an awards ceremony and with Virdell and other top finishers getting their checks mailed to them.

Placing second was Chris Sherwood who edged Michael May by oneone hundredth of a pound with a 12.52-pounder, good for $1,500. May still scored $500 and a salmon dinner.

“A special thanks to Bayside Marine for allowing us to use their facilities for weighin,” said organizers at the Everett Steelhead & Salmon Club. “These are unusual times and circumstances that we are in and we appreciate everyone for hanging in there with us to have this derby and make it as successful as it turned out to be.”

It was part of the Northwest Fishing Derby Series, which saw several March and April events in Washington and Oregon cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

NORTHWEST FISHING DERBY SERIES EVENTS*  May 23: Lake Stevens Kokanee Derby – CANCELLED

 June 20-21: Father’s Day Big Bass Classic, Oregon

 July 10-12: Bellingham Salmon Derby  July 10-12: Slam’n Salmon Ocean Derby, Brookings

 July 29- Aug 2: The Big One Salmon Derby, Lake Couer d’Alene  July 31-Aug 2: Brewster Salmon Derby  July 31-Aug 2: South King County Puget Sound Anglers Salmon Derby  Aug. 8: Gig Harbor Puget Sound Anglers Salmon Derby  Aug. 22-23: Vancouver, BC, Chinook Classic  Sept. 12: Edmonds Coho Derby  Sept. 26-27: Everett Coho Derby  Nov. 7-8: Bayside Marine Blackmouth Derby, Everett * Confirm events before attending.

Some derbies are being cancelled due to COVID-19 and social distancing requirements. For more information and updates, please go to nwfishingderbyseries.com.

By Andy Walgamott

MORE UPCOMING EVENTS*  May 16: Brownlee Crappie Shoot Out Kayak Fishing Tournament, Brownlee Reservoir; basecampbaker.com  May 16: Northwest Big Bass Tournament, Potholes Reservoir; northwestbass.com  May 16-17: Silver Lake Resort (Cowlitz Co.) Classic; facebook.com/pg/ silverlakeresortWA  May 17-20: Pikeminnow Fishing Derby 2020, Wanapum Pool; quincyvalley.org  May 23-24: Huntington Catfish Derby, Brownlee Reservoir/Snake River; visithuntingtonor.org  May 30: 28th Annual Spring Fishing Classic, Willamette River; nsiafishing.org  May 30-31: Rod Meseberg Spring Walleye Classic, Potholes Reservoir; mardonresort.com  June 6: Annual Richland Brownlee Fishing Tournament, Brownlee Reservoir; basecampbaker.com  June 7: Jack & Jill Open, Owyhee Reservoir; snakeriverbassmasters.org  June 13: Lake Terrell (Whatcom Co.) Individual Open; pondjumperz.com  June 19-21: East Wenatchee Rotary Pikeminnow Derby, Lake Entiat (Rocky Reach Pool); ewrotary.org  June 20: 2020 Columbia River Walleye Anglers Association/Griggs 1-day Charity Tournament; acetricities .com/tournaments  June 26-28: Washington Governor’s Cup Walleye Tournament, Lake Roosevelt; lakerooseveltwalleyeclub.com * Confirm events before attending. Some derbies are cancelling due to COVID-19 and social distancing requirements.

nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2020

Northwest Sportsman 47

O

C

OUTDOOR

CALENDAR* MAY 1

Proposed Southern Oregon Subarea halibut opener – info: dfw.state.or.us/ MRP/finfish/halibut/management.asp 5 Potential easing of Washington COVID-19 fishing, hunting, land closures – info: wdfw.wa.gov/about/covid-19-updates 8 Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting – info: dfw.state.or.us/ agency/commission/ 9 WDFW Kids Fishing Event, Lake Albert (Whidbey Island) – info: wdfw .wa.gov/fishing/contests/youth 11 Tentative rescheduled start of Northern Pikeminnow Sport-reward Fishery Season on Columbia and Snake Rivers – info: pikeminnow.org 14-16 Proposed Oregon Central Coast all-depth halibut fishing weekend 15 Oregon fall controlled big game permit purchase application deadline 16 Lower Skagit River spring Chinook opener; WDFW Kids Fishing Events (registration), American Lake, Gissburg Ponds – info: see above 21-23 Proposed Oregon Central Coast all-depth halibut fishing weekend 22 Usual Washington big game special permit application deadline 23 Fishing opens on select Washington streams; Skykomish River hatchery summer Chinook, steelhead opener 25 Last day to hunt turkeys in Idaho 28-30 Proposed Oregon Central Coast all-depth halibut fishing weekend 31 Last day of Oregon, Washington spring turkey season, as well as some Washington and all Oregon spring bear hunts

JUNE 1 6

North Fork Nooksack, Skagit, Cascade Rivers spring Chinook opener Fishing Kids event at Gene Coulon Park, Lake Washington, Renton – info:castforkids.org/event/lakewashingtonfk; WDFW Kids Fishing Events, Seattle, Sumas, Yakima – info: see above 6-7 Free Fishing Weekend in Oregon, Washington 11-13 Proposed Oregon Central Coast all-depth halibut weekend; Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting – info: wdfw.wa.gov 12 Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting 13 Free Fishing Day in Idaho; Fishing Kids event, Poulsbo – info: castforkids.org/event/islandlakefk/ 15 Last day of spring bear hunt in remaining Washington units 18-20 Proposed Oregon Central Coast all-depth halibut fishing weekend 20-28 Northwest ocean waters north of Cape Falcon, Oregon, open for Chinook retention (daily limit one) 29 Chinook and hatchery coho summer opener on Northwest ocean waters north of Cape Falcon (daily limit two but bag varies by marine area; Washington Marine Area 2 open Sunday-Thursday only)

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Northwest Sportsman 49

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MAY 2020 | nwsportsmanmag.com

FISHING Halibut may be the meatiest bottomfish to catch off the Washington Coast, on average, but there are also tasty lingcod and rockfish to be had while fishing a mix of pipe jigs, bait and shrimp fly setups. (DAVE ANDERSON)

Top Bottomfish Setups Ocean angler shares some of his best rigs for scoring limits of halibut, lingcod and rockfish.

By Dave Anderson

H

alibut season is the kickoff to my ocean season on the coastal waters of Washington.

This is a chance for all of us to fill our freezers with delicious bottomfish.

In all the years that I have been fishing off the coast, very little has changed in my presentation and setup. Year after year, we continue to fill punch cards with limits of halibut, lingcod and sea bass for my family and friends to eat all year long.

The essential items to be successful at bottomfishing in the ocean include electric reels, pipe jigs, tuna cord, spreaders (for bait) and shrimp flies.

Pipe jigs can be used for both halibut and lingcod; bait is added only when targeting halibut.

My pipe jigs are made from ¾-inch copper pipe with a 12/0 Mustad treble hook, a 6/0 heavy-duty Rosco barrel swivel and a heavy-duty split ring. I prefer to build my pipe jigs tough enough so that I can grab hold of the pipe and bring a fish over the side of the boat. I don’t want to have 2½-pound jigs flailing all over the deck with an angry lingcod or halibut.

When targeting halibut, I will put a small piece of salmon on one of the treble hooks. For lingcod, it is crucial that you keep the pipe jig moving and jigging constantly. My pipe jigs

for deep water are a bit heavier, but they are also easier to keep your line straight when you are jigging.

MY PREFERRED METHOD to fish for halibut is with a tuna cord slider. This consists of a piece of tuna cord about 3 feet long with a swivel on one end and snap swivel on the other end.

There is also a swivel in the middle.

On the slider portion, I will have a lighter-weight duolock snap so that if my lead gets hung up on the bottom, all I will lose is my lead.

The purpose behind the tuna cord slider is that once the halibut bites, you can feed some line for it to inhale the bait without feeling any nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2020

Northwest Sportsman 51

FISHING tension from your line. I will attach a 250-pound leader with a Gamakatsu 12/0 Big River hook to the very end of my tuna cord slider.

Sometimes I will also run a large white Berkley grub, but most of the time I’ll use just a piece of salmon or tuna belly. You can use Magic Thread to attach your bait, but the past few years I started using automotive zip ties to attach the bait to the hook after receiving this tip from another fishing buddy. This works very well and is much easier to deal with cutting off than Magic Thread was for me.

THIS SETUP WON’T guarantee success but will be successful if executed correctly with the help of your captain. And one of the biggest keys to your success and presentation will be your captain.

Positioning your boat so that the stern is backing up into the swell and keeping the boat in reverse is key to making sure your line is straight up and down. You want to constantly watch your lines to make sure they are ever so slightly at an angle or straight up and down and adjust the boat as needed.

With each rise of the swell, your bait will come off the bottom and with each fall of the swell, your lead and bait should touch bottom.

I will leave my rod and reel in the

Electric reels might be an anathema to anglers who enjoy going toe to toe with the great beasts of the sea, but they’ve made fishing more enjoyable for author Dave Anderson, who says they’re helpful for high-grading to bigger fish. (DAVE ANDERSON)

rod holder and just watch and wait for a bite. Once I see a bite, I will then judge whether I want to feed it a little line to force-feed it before I set the hook. The person running the boat will have a huge impact on the overall success.

I MENTIONED ELECTRIC reels as an essential although not required item. However, ever since we have switched over to electric reels, halibut and lingcod fishing in the deep water has become much more enjoyable for all of us. These reels allow you to find a larger grade of fish you are happy with by being able to fish more and catch and release a lot easier than if you were using a conventional reel.

The first time you ever use one you will ask yourself why it took so long for you to make the switch. I prefer the Daiwa Tanacom 750. Electric reels are a Anderson has detailed his copper pipe jigs for deepwater bottomfish in these pages in the past (see the February issue for a picture), but he says his preferred method for halibut is this setup. It involves 3 feet of tuna cord with barrel swivels at either end and one sliding freely and connected to a weight by a relatively light duolock snap. Attached to one of the other swivels is a 250-pound leader with a Gamakatsu 12/0 Big River hook, which Anderson baits with either a piece of salmon or tuna belly or large white Berkley grub. (DAVE ANDERSON)

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Northwest Sportsman 53

FISHING

Targeting rocky underwater structure with double shrimp fly rigs on relatively light gear is one way to load the boat with black rockfish, also known as sea bass.

(DAVE ANDERSON)

game-changer and I would encourage everyone to have a set for deepwater halibut and lingcod. The investment is well worth it!

THE OTHER RECREATIONAL bottomfish we target is sea bass, or rockfish. This will make any grown man giggle like a school kid.

My preferred setup for sea bass consists of a lightweight rod and reel, double shrimp fly rig with a 4- or 6-ounce cannonball sinker on the bottom for weight.

As with halibut and lingcod, the captain will play a huge role in your overall success. Sea bass are targeted near the shore, where you will have to locate rocky underwater structure.

For the most part, you will carefully 54 Northwest Sportsman

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hug the inside of rocky structures while using your electronics to hunt for suspended rockfish.

You will have to constantly pay attention to your chart and sonar, as structure and depths change frequently.

Good electronics are necessary to be successful with bottomfishing.

I will not give instructions to deploy gear unless my Raymarine sonar is completely painted with streaks of rockfish. I don’t want to waste my time on a single mark or two. I personally find it way more fun for all involved to have everyone reeling in doubles and limiting the boat in just a few drifts – and sometimes one if you can find a big enough school.

THESE ARE A few of the things that have

worked for me on the coast over the years. I hope you can find success and fill some punch cards this upcoming season by utilizing some of these tips and preferred setups. Washington’s coastal waters have some of the most beautiful scenery, sunrises and sunsets in the Northwest.

I feel very lucky that I have been able to spend a lot of time on the coast and am able to share with others what I have learned. I’m excited to get back out to the coast for the upcoming season to start filling the freezer with delicious halibut, lingcod and sea bass. I hope you are too! NS Editor’s note: Before you go, check wdfw .wa.gov for updates on the fishing closure due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

FISHING

Mussel In On Nearshore Bounty The Oregon Coast’s rocky areas teem with surfperch, greenling.

By Dennis Dauble

T

he morning brought a minus 0.2-foot low tide, while gentle breezes rustled tall beach grass outside the front window.

A dozen large mussels, harvested from barnacle-crusted rocks the night before, nestled in the pocket of my rain jacket. My goal for the day was to catch a stringer of surfperch – and maybe a kelp greenling. I’d cast into rolling surf until wave splash chased me off the rocks, and then test my luck over the last two hours of flood tide, where a local river met the sea.

THE FISH Several species of surfperch – or “seaperch” – are found along the Oregon Coast, including pile, white, walleye, silver, calico, striped and redtail. Of this important group of nearshore fishes, the latter two are more favored by anglers.

Tagging studies show that redtail surfperch, so called because of the reddish blush to their fins, migrate long distances up and down the coast.

Schools may enter a protected bay or shoreline trough to feed one day and be gone the next.

Among the spring bounty to be had on the Oregon Coast is surfperch. Author Dennis Dauble proudly hoists a pair of subadult or “junior” redtails, a rare double. (DENNIS DAUBLE)

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Northwest Sportsman 57

FISHING

Another nearshore species that can be caught from the rocks or beach is kelp greenling.

Here, a male and female exhibit strong sexual dimorphism, or distinct difference in appearance. Dauble rates these fish to be extremely tasty. (DENNIS DAUBLE)

More than once I have returned to the same location and at the same tidal stage where I caught a stringerfull the day before and been skunked.

In other words: Have a backup plan if you don’t get a bite in an hour or so.

The more colorful striped surfperch also move in and out with the tide, but tend to be more solitary. I most often catch them in nearshore tidal pools and along shallow rocky outcrops.

Surfperch have relatively small mouths and attack your bait with a quick “rat tat tat,” followed by a sharp grab. They rarely hook themselves.

You must maintain a tight line, remain alert and set the hook like you mean it. Admittedly, doing so is a challenge when strong wind billows your line.

Surfperch are livebearers – what 58 Northwest Sportsman

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scientists call viviparous – meaning their fertilized eggs develop in a pouch and young are released when fully developed.

Both redtail and striped surfperch mature at 3 years of age, when they are approximately 10 inches long.

Spawning occurs in late summer.

Imagine hooking a giant bluegill in converging currents and you have an idea of how sporting a tussle with a 3-pound surfperch can be.

Another favorite subtidal fish of mine is the kelp greenling. Kelp greenling have relatively large mouths with powerful jaws. They don’t mess around when it comes to grabbing your bait. Once hooked, they will attempt to swim to the safety of rocks and kelp.

Mature male kelp greenling are dark gray in color with brilliant sky blue spots. Females are dull brown and freckled with reddish brown spots. Males show a high degree of site fidelity and become territorial around spawning time. I have found individuals inhabit the same “hole in the rock” year after year.

The meat of kelp greenling is bluegreen in color and firm in texture, much like that of lingcod. The color vanishes when cooked. I’ve pulled greenling up to 4 pounds from a hiding place among rocks and kelp. Their succulent fillets are rarely shared.

READING THE WATER Most locations along the Oregon Coast where rocks jut out into the

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Northwest Sportsman 59

FISHING ocean and you can cast without taking wave splash provide opportunity for surfperch. Also find them in locations where there’s access to a jetty or a sandy spit.

In larger rivers, surfperch move long distances into the estuary and can be caught from jetties and sandy spits.

My favorite casting areas are where rivers and small streams meet the sea.

Redtail surfperch often move into these mixing zones with the incoming tide. Nearshore troughs along sandy beaches are also favored by redtail surfperch. As a general rule, striped seaperch prefer rock edges and tidal pools. Kelp greenling are most often found where kelp beds, jetties and rocky reefs provide cover at low tide.

Surf fishing is like searching for trout in a turbulent stream, except the ocean is ever-changing. Currents race back and forth, swirls and backeddies in constant motion. I study divergent flow for clues where fish reside and ponder how I might deliver an offering to their strike zone. Changing the size and type of sinker and positioning to control the position of your bait relative to potential snags is one key to success.

BEST BAITS Hidden deep within journals of Pacific Northwest history are mentions of crow meat as “the most unique bait.”

As one early angler described, “This flesh combines redness and a rank smell with its proverbial toughness – all-important desiderata …”

Two centuries later, I gathered California mussels from the rocks for the same reason: attractive scent, bright color and durability. Because some Oregon beaches are protected marine sanctuaries, I consulted maps included in the latest Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations before venturing out to harvest.

It takes practice to extract the bright orange meat hidden inside the blue-black shell of a California mussel.

Insert a stiff-blade knife into the flat side of the bivalve shell, sever the 60 Northwest Sportsman

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Gearing up is easy: A mussel for bait, a range of weights for casting and spare hooks should get you started. These striped surfperch fell for meat from the bivalve. (DENNIS DAUBLE)

tenacious adductor muscle, open the shell and use the tip of your knife to separate the tough mantle tissue from the outer rim. Heart and striated white muscle can also be used. Mussels can, er, clam up and go without oxygen for up to a day, so don’t expect them to open up on their own unless dead, which detracts from their value as bait.

A sand shrimp, wrapped tight to your hook with Magic Thread, will attract the bite of hungry surfperch.

Sand worms, nightcrawlers, clam

necks and uncooked shrimp are also used. I have not had good luck with scented soft baits, but others report success on days when large schools compete for their offering.

Small mussels provide a tasty meal high in Vitamin A when combined with a savory broth of white wine, olive oil and garlic, and tossed over a bowl of linguine. However, my druthers generally lean toward a plate of fresh fish, lightly breaded and fried hot and crisp.

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FISHING THE GEAR My favorite casting outfit is a mediumweight 8-foot-6 Whuppin’ Stick fiberglass rod and spinning reel spooled with 15-pound-test monofilament.

Line strength should be strong enough to not shred on rough-surfaced rocks, but not so strong that you can’t break off and start over after a hang up.

I rig a terminal weight and tie a pair of No. 4 bait hooks affixed with loop-to-loop knots approximately 12 and 24 inches, respectively, up the line. For light tackle fun, cast with a lightweight spinning rod and a slinky.

A No. 3 silver Vibrax spinner will sometimes yield an aggressive strike when schools of surfperch enter the estuary to spawn.

More weight provides longer casting distance and more stability in strong current. I use old spark plugs when the risk of getting hung up on rocks is high and a 2- to 3-ounce lead pyramid sinker over sandy bottoms when I want my bait to stay in one place. No matter what type or size of weight tossed to crashing surf, be prepared to donate several rigs over the course of a day.

watchful eye on the surf. Move to a higher location if a wave crests at your feet. A favorite casting location of mine is less than 50 yards from a bronze plaque inscribed with the names of two beachcombers who perished after a “sneaker” wave carried them off.

I am also reminded of a relatively calm spring day when an angler friend got washed off a nearby rock by a giant wave. Luckily, he fell backwards into a crevasse and we retrieved him with minor injury.

THE REST OF THE STORY A recent trip to Oregon’s Central Coast led to a much needed “fish fix.” My first – and much anticipated – low tide adventure put two striped surfperch on a stringer. A second outing, further up the coast, led to three large redtail surfperch in the 2-pound range. On day three I cast where a river met the sea at flood tide and caught seven medium-sized redtails while the wind howled 20 mph from the northeast.

The afternoon ended with a rare

STAY SAFE I walk the shoreline at low tide, taking note of locations where waves gouge out deep troughs, locations of rocks, size of kelp beds and other bottom features. Returning at high tide, I look for where I might safely cast. I never venture onto the rocks without first consulting a tide table. The direction and magnitude of wind, in addition to phase of the moon, affects wave height and the high tide mark.

I favor sturdy shoes with a felt sole to prevent slipping. Rain pants and a jacket help protect from wind, rain and splashing surf. Sunglasses and sunscreen are essential on blue-sky days. Chest waders protect from the elements when casting from a sandy beach but are not recommended when casting from rocks. Like the old nursery rhyme, “Jack be nimble.”

Last but not least: Always keep a 62 Northwest Sportsman

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Oregon’s daily limit of 72 mussels suggests the population isn’t in danger of extinction any time soon. They make good bait and are fine steamed as well, but be aware that they can’t be gathered in certain marine protected areas. (DENNIS DAUBLE)

FISHING double, after which I gave up my rock to another angler.

Unfortunately, all my favorite kelp greenling holes had filled with a fresh load of sand. However, my harvest of surfperch yielded enough white-meat fillets for a Saturday night fish fry and several more to be enjoyed later. NS Editor’s note: Dennis Dauble is the author of four books about fish and fishing. For more stories, see DennisDaubleBooks.com.

Three anglers jockey for position on a rock high above the surf moments before a giant wave washed one off. (EMILY CHOI)

Kelp greenling often stay put in deep holes between rocks that are only accessible at low tide. Surfperch fishing is best on an incoming tide. A current tidebook or phone app are key reference materials for these fisheries. (DENNIS DAUBLE)

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Northwest Sportsman 65

66 Northwest Sportsman

MAY 2020 | nwsportsmanmag.com

FISHING

Count On These Crappie Rigs Follow these tips to crush tasty panfish at Northwest lakes and reservoirs.

By M.D. Johnson

M

y father, who was perhaps the world’s greatest crappie fisherman, had but two go-to rigs during our spring outings.

One, and maybe the most obvious, us being from the Midwest and all, was also the simplest. It consisted of a 3-inch minnow, aka crappie minnow, impaled lightly – key word: lightly – under the dorsal fin on a No. 4 snelled Eagle Claw hook and dangled under a round red ’n white pushbutton bobber about the size of a ping pong ball. Not a pencil bobber. Not a sensitive balsa wood bobber.

Oh, no, didn’t want to break with tradition.

There was a Water Gremlin splitshot too, if I remember correctly.

The second rig was just as elemental: an 1/8-ounce chartreuse marabou jig tipped with a minnow, this one hooked through the lips.

Sometimes, the jig was tight lined; other times, there would be a pair of jigs; always chartreuse; hung on a thin wire spreader; and this floated under a slightly larger bobber. Still round. Still red ’n white push-button, but just a shade bigger.

Both of these rigs were fished with either a metal rod and Zebco 33 Classic combo, or an old solid fiberglass rod, maker unknown, and a Pflueger levelwind reel spooled with what I

While not a native species, crappie have also been in the Northwest for over 100 years and are a favorite among some anglers. Ken McNaughton caught this 15-incher at Spokane’s Newman Lake on an 1/8-ounce jig tipped with a Berkley Power Grub.

(FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

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Northwest Sportsman 67

FISHING called salt ’n pepper braided line. It had a tensile strength somewhere in the 1,000-pound range.

What my Old Man did was fill the cooler with crappie. It obviously had nothing to do with finesse, but rather had everything to do with getting the bait to the fish quickly, and the fish into the boat just as quickly. There were no nets. No soft hand on the stick. You stuck the barb of that No. 4 Eagle Claw into a submerged willow tree, and you yarded rig and tree both up to where you could get yourself free, rebaited, and back to fishing. Immediately.

But enough already with the nostalgia. And let’s bring this story out of the Midwest, where live bait (minnows) is legal tender for crappie, and into the Pacific Northwest where they’re not, leaving anglers with what exactly? Well, some of the most effective crappie catchers on the planet, that’s what.

IT’S REALLY NO secret that jigs are the goto crappie weapon, and not only here but, truthfully, everywhere crappie are found. There are several reasons why anglers of all skill levels, professional tournament anglers included, prefer jigs over live minnows. One, they work. Two, you’re doing more fishing with jigs as opposed to baiting. And rebaiting. And rebaiting.

It’s the same reason I prefer throwing hardware, i.e. spinners and spoons, off the North Jetty for silvers over fishing an anchovy under a float.

Not that I don’t absolutely love fishing a bobber ’n bait for coho – I do! – only with a Flying C or Syclops spoon, I’m doing more fishing and less fiddling around with mooching rigs, hooks, coolers, small fish. You get the picture.

So, jigs. Is catching crappie on jigs as easy as tying on Jig X and tossing it out? It can be, but not necessarily. First are the jigs themselves. Interestingly enough, a Google search for “crappie jigs” yielded 1.49 million – that’s right, million – results.

That’s a lot of information, photographs and possibilities to sift 70 Northwest Sportsman

MAY 2020 | nwsportsmanmag.com

“It’s really no secret that jigs are the go-to crappie weapon; not only here but, truthfully, everywhere crappie are found,” writes author MD Johnson, a speck hound from way back. (JULIA JOHNSON)

through. Where to begin? Again, know first that a crappie’s favorite thing to eat includes fish smaller than themselves – aka the aforementioned minnows.

Crayfish, aquatic insects, mayflies; they’ll all get eaten too, but No. 1 on the crappie’s hit parade are minnows.

Thus, any jig that imitates a minnow, or any artificial presentation that looks the part of a minnow, has potential.

THEN THERE ARE weight and color to

consider. A crappie isn’t a huge fish, with a 12- to 14-inch specimen being a dandy in anyone’s book. As such, baits typically aren’t huge. Yes, you’ve read stories about a monster crappie being caught on a 4-inch crankbait by a guy fishing for smallmouth, but if I’m given a choice between big crappie baits and little crappie baits, I’ll take little every time.

How little? My crappie box contains a wide variety of jigs. Wide.

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Northwest Sportsman 71

FISHING OK, so I made that last one up, but you get my drift.

FINALLY, WHAT TYPE of jig to use?

With minnows being a favorite crappie menu item, it makes a lot of sense to use plastic baits that imitate small fish.

(JULIA JOHNSON)

Some, a few actually, will be 1/8 ounce; the vast majority, however, will be 1/16 or 1/32 ounce.

Why so light? Two reasons. One, crappie can be incredibly finicky about what they do or don’t bite.

And I mean incredibly finicky. Like a big-fat-steelhead-in-low-water-that’sseen-too-many-pink-jigs-finicky. And secondly, most of the time you’ll be crappie fishing in shallow water – say, anywhere from 2 to 8 feet. Sometimes deeper, but not often. Thus, you don’t need a half-pound jig to fool a 1-pound fish living in 3 feet of water, now do ya?

And color. Color, it seems, is very important to success or lack thereof when it comes to crappie. Or so I’m told.

Back in the day, chartreuse was the color of choice. Occasionally, yellow.

And maybe white, but not very often.

It was, when it came to jigs, chartreuse or nothing. Today, it’s different, though. Most of the crappie guys I’ve interviewed over the past several years, including Wally Marshall, aka Mister Crappie, will tell you that color 72 Northwest Sportsman

MAY 2020 | nwsportsmanmag.com

can make or break a trip.

Sure, they’ll always (as do I) have the basics in their bag – chartreuse, white, yellow and black – but they’ll (we’ll) also pack solids and splits, including blue, blue/white, pink, pink/white, red, red/white, silvers, greens, orange, orange/white, and an array of hues with flecks and interesting names like motor oil, pumpkinseed, tequila sunrise, watermelon, pink bubblegum, and Salvador Dali’s meltdown.

A decent alternative to minnowlike plastics on a small jighead would be baits that imitate crawdads, aquatic insects and mayflies. (JULIA JOHNSON)

Marabou? Twister tail? Tube? Me: I carry a little bit of everything, primarily because 1) Jigs are small, 2) Jigs are light, and 3) I’m a gear guy.

That said: I will have a selection of marabou jigs in 1/8 to 1/32 ounce. By the way: Marabou “breathes” underwater; that is, it moves and flows extremely well, which is great for sight-feeders like crappie. But I like twister tail grubs too, such as Mister Twister’s 2-inch Meeny Curly Tails or the 2-inch TriAlive Hot Curly Tails. And the same with tubes, although, to be honest, I prefer the tubes over the tails as the tubes, well, they just seem to catch more fish. For me, Berkley’s prerigged Atomic Teaser tubes in either 1/16 or 1/32 ounce get the nod here; chartreuse, pearl/orange or a fantastic color they call pink lady always in the bag.

NOW, HOW TO fish ’em. The nice thing about jigs, aside from the fact they’re fish-catching machines, is their versatility. You can cast-and-retrieve.

You can cast-and-hop. You can drift a dead stick and let the boat and/or waves provide the action. You can rig them singly or in tandem, one above the other, or, as my Old Man did, on a lightweight spreader, e.g. Stopper Lures’ Scott Spreaders.

Myself, I’m partial to working a jig under a small bobber, with an emphasis on the word “small.” I like a light bobber for this, something I can still see but doesn’t offer much in the way of resistance, a variable that can be quite important when the fish decide to get in that aforementioned finicky mood.

Slip bobbers do offer a quick change-of-depth option, and I’ll often go with a 1/8- or 1/16-ounce Mick Thill Crappie Cork, a great float that allows me to fish it as a slip bobber or a fixedposition bobber – depending upon the situation – which often translates into a water depth situation.

FISHING

SILVER LAKE UPDATE WITH WDFW’S STACIE KELSEY

The sun rises over Silver Lake, in Southwest Washington’s Cowlitz County, a top destination for crappie, though also one that requires anglers to weed through an overpopulation of too-small panfish. There are also yellow perch and largemouth to be had here. Local angler Skylar Masters snapped this shot of the lake last year. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

F

or everything Silver Lake and crappie, among other warmwater fish, Northwest Sportsman goes to Stacie Kelsey, a state fisheries biologist based out of Ridgefield.

Kelsey has helped us analyze the 1,424-acre lake’s crappie population before, and what anglers might expect to see and, hopefully, catch whenever they cast into Silver’s shallow waters.

This year, in a nutshell, looks like a good one, albeit off to a roller coaster start.

“With the weird weather we’ve been having and the up-and-down temperatures, the bite’s been on and then off and then on, so the fish are kind of fussy right now,” Kelsey said in midMarch. “Some people are doing really well, and some people aren’t.”

“The fish seem to be moving back and forth between the (Silver Cove Resort) canals and Streeter’s, so you need to get back in there and work through those canals. With the water temperature coming up and hopefully starting to get around normal, I’d expect the fishing should pick up,” she said.

Last spring when I spoke with Kelsey, she told me that while Silver Lake holds an excellent population of crappie – “about half and half black to white crappie” – many fish are below the WDFW-mandated 9-inch minimum size restriction. Many, well below that.

“Actually,” she said, “I think it’s getting better. I’m getting more reports that

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(anglers) aren’t having to go through so many of the 5- and 6-inch fish in order to find one of the catchable size. And there have been some nice big ones caught in the past couple weeks. I don’t know ‘why’ yet, but I’m going to be headed out this summer to do some electroshocking surveys and try to figure out what that population as a whole looks like. But it seems to be better than this time last year.”

Now, mind you, I grew up with big crappie – 13-, 14- and 15-inch fish. In fact, my Slovak grandfather, my Dzedo, had a 19½-inch black crappie on the wall of his home, a bruiser of a speck caught out of Berlin Reservoir, one of our favorite Corps of Engineers impoundments near my hometown.

That said, I asked Kelsey what she means when she says “better fish” in Silver Lake. Are there 13-, 14- and 15inch crappie there?

“Yes,” she said. “There absolutely are.

The average size is still the 5-, 6- and 7-inch range because we definitely have an overpopulation in there, but there are a lot of people who are catching 9-inchers and there are definitely people catching bigger ones than that.”

“You have to hunt for them,” she laughed, “and they make it a fun challenge, but they’re there.”

Another species of interest in Lake, and one in abundance, is yellow perch.

How, I asked, is that population doing?

“The yellow perch seem to be getting a little bit bigger, especially over on what I call the cemetery side of the highway, the big open area just east of the WDFW boat ramp,” Kelsey said. “A lot of people fish for perch over there.

And it’s been looking like over the past year, the perch have (been getting bigger) – maybe not so much in length but in girth. Weight-wise.”

And why do I find that so interesting? Well, unlike crappie that carry a 9-inch minimum size restriction and 10-fish daily limit in Silver, there are no restrictions on perch. Catch as many as you wanna clean, I reckon. Within reason; no sense in being a hawg.

And a final question this month for Kelsey, one to dispel the rumors I’d heard about the agency perhaps lifting the minimum size and daily bag restrictions on crappie in Silver Lake.

“That’s what I have to do this summer when I go in,” said Kelsey. “We need to survey as many crappie as we can get our hands on, and figure out age-to-length data. I need to figure out whether the population is stunted. Is it just in certain areas of the lake where we’re seeing this? A lot of questions, but that (lifting the limits/size restriction) would definitely be on the table.” MDJ Editor’s note: Before you go, check wdfw .wa.gov for updates on the fishing closure due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

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Northwest Sportsman 75

FISHING But let’s take it a step further. How do you fish these dang things? As I alluded to above, the easiest way by far, and maybe the most effective method, is to rig a jig, be it marabou, twister or tube, under a light bobber, and start a process of cast/slow retrieve … cast/slow retrieve … and repeat.

Cover water until you find fish. Twitch the bobber; let it sit. Twitch. Wait. Twitch. Retrieve. Experiment with different water depths until you find fish. (Note: And all kidding aside, water depth is crucial to crappie success.

Crappie, as mentioned earlier, are sight-feeders. Their eyes sit high on their frame and they suspend in the water column, meaning they’ll rise to a bait but almost never descend, so you have to get above ’em.)

Now, where was I? Ah, yeah. Play with different colors until you find fish. Tip the jig with a single Berkley PowerBait Crappie Nibble, and then, if that doesn’t work well, try a different color Crappie Nibble, which can, should you be so inclined, be secreted discretely inside a tube jig. It’s not like when I was a kid and your crappie choices were minnows, minnows and minnows, with the occasional chartreuse marabou jig thrown in for good measure. Today, consistency and crappie is all about experimentation. And patience. Let’s not forget patience. NS

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MAY 2020 | nwsportsmanmag.com

No doubt that chartreuse is a top bait color for crappie, but white, yellow and black also work well, along with mixed shades and flecked lures. (JULIA JOHNSON)

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COLUMN Let loose during April’s COVID-19 quarantine onto an Idaho stream near his home “to be a child, free to roam the river bottoms ... dig in the mud ... pee on the rocks,” Jordan King also didn’t hesitate to “bash a fish for supper.” (RANDY KING)

Riverbank Therapy I

t was the look of shock in my youngest son’s eyes that had me concerned. Jordan CHEF IN THE WILD seemed to be

By Randy King struggling with a fish more than I thought he should. We hadn’t caught much that day, so maybe it was just surprise. Then I heard the drag on the pole – that telltale “zzzzz” sound of a fish making a good run. I reeled in quickly and made my way over to the boy. Jordan was going to land this one, and I was going to help.

When I got there, I loosened the drag even more – at 9 years old, he does not finesse fish to shore. It is more of a bruteforce reel. I didn’t know if the old line on this backpacking pole would hold out, but

soon I was just watching him fish. The top knot I’d tied to keep his long hair out of the mud swayed side to side. A grimace of struggle and determination played across his face. His muddy hands turned white at the knuckles.

The fish dashed and danced. It pulled line and came in close enough to be seen, but darted off quickly. But eventually, the 16-inch smallmouth bass was on the river’s rocky shore. Jordan and I looked at each other in awe. He had won a true fight.

I could tell his heart was racing and his breath was coming quick. Before I could really react, the boy brought up a rock and bashed the fish’s head in.

“Welp,” I thought, “we are keeping that one, I guess.”

Then Jordan looked at me in a feral sort

of way – a child of the wild. That was why we were here. To set him free to be a child, free to roam the river bottoms. Free to dig in the mud, free to pee on the rocks, free to bash a fish for supper.

At that point, Idaho was under lockdown due to COVID-19. All the things this child loves – his school, his friends, going to the movies, eating out – were on hold. But not the wild; not the outdoors.

River bottoms in spring remind me of classic literature – Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer adventures. I was fortunate enough to grow up near a creek bottom that I could hunt, fish and crawdad trap whenever I wanted to. It was, in retrospect, idyllic. If I can give that freedom to my child in trade for a few ticks, some dirty clothes and a nice bass for supper, I surely will. Every time. NS

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Northwest Sportsman 79

COLUMN

Half shell smallmouth garnished with mint, grilled orange and olive oil. (RANDY KING)

SMALLIE ON THE ‘HALF SHELL’

S

ometimes an oldie is a goodie. This is definitely the case with half shell cooking. What is half shell cooking, you might ask? Well, let me explain.

Some fish have scales that provide protective armor but are not good eats. So you need to remove the scales by either scraping the fish skin clean off of them or removing the skin entirely with a fillet knife.

Or you can cook the meat scale side down and be lazy. Shockingly, this professional chef chooses the lazy route.

When you cook on the half shell, you are cooking the meat with that protective scale layer. This can often mean juicier and more tender fish fillets. It also means that you have an indirect heat method, so you won’t get the nice char like you otherwise would. To get around that, I char half an orange when I cook the bass. This, when squeezed over the top of the fish, gives the

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meat a nice grilled flavor even though the flesh never actually touched the grill.

1 bass per person (two fillets per person for a 12-inch fish) 1 clove garlic per person, minced Salt and pepper Olive oil ½ orange per person Mint leaves, about 1 tablespoon per person Heat grill to medium high. Season the grates with olive oil on a rag or canned nonstick spray. Wash the half shell fillets.

They might have a scale or ten on them from the cutting process (see next page).

No need to cook those on the flesh.

Rub the top (not the skin with the scales) of each fillet with garlic and a small dash of olive oil. Season the fish with salt and pepper. Place the fillet, scale side

down, onto the grill. Place an orange that you have cut in half onto the hottest part of the grill, cut side down.

Close the lid and walk away for about four minutes. Check on the fish – if the thickest part of the fillet has begun to turn white and looks flaky, the fish is done.

Cooking time will differ based on fish size. Little bass will cook a lot quicker than thicker bass. Four minutes should cook most small- to medium-sized bass fillets.

Remove the orange and the fillets from the grill to a serving plate, but don’t stack the fillets on top of one another – this will just get burnt scales on top of white fish meat. No good.

Garnish with mint, olive oil and then squeeze the caramelized orange juice onto each fillet. Enjoy!

For more wild game recipes, see chefrandyking.com. –RK

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Northwest Sportsman 81

COLUMN

HOW TO FILLET A BASS FOR HALF SHELL COOKING

1) Starting at the top of the fish’s head, plunge your fillet knife in until you hit rib bones, then slice down along the top of the ribs. You should hear a “clicking” noise as your knife blade hits the tips of the ribs. (RANDY KING)

3) Flip the fillet back on top of itself and cut along the ribs. Also lift up the pectoral fin and make a slice in toward the gills of the fish, being careful not to cut the head off – filleting a bass is harder when you’re not able to hang onto the head. (RANDY KING)

2) When you get past the last rib, about in line with the anus, realign your knife to point into the fish. Plunge the knife toward the anus, along the spine, and then pull the blade toward the tail, along the spine. Very small sawblade motions will help. (RANDY KING)

4) Remove fillet and then cut off the pelvic fin and any fat along the belly meat. The fat is where heavy metals and other contaminants accumulate in carnivorous fish. (RANDY KING) 82 Northwest Sportsman

MAY 2020 | nwsportsmanmag.com

5) Ready-to-cook bass fillet – this method leaves the skin intact to help in the half shell cooking process. (RANDY KING)

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Northwest Sportsman 83

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MAY 2020 | nwsportsmanmag.com

FISHING

It’s a tale of two fisheries at the Spokane area’s Diamond Lake. Its northeastern half features sculpted bays and the deepest depths, and are best for trout, while its southwestern half is shallower, weedy and the home to numerous spinyray species. (WASHINGTON DOE, BOTH)

Diamond Is A Trout Angler’s Best Friend Pend Oreille County lake shines for stocker rainbows, browns in spring, but also worthwhile for bass, spinyrays.

By Mike Wright

E

ach spring, a rush of “prospectors” descends on Eastern Washington in search of silvery aquatic treasures. The neopreneclad, rod-wielding adventurers have been patiently waiting roughly a year for this golden time; for avid anglers, it’s nearly akin to a national holiday.

Although there are a number of lakes in Eastern Washington that open March 1, and some that are

even open year-round, the weather in early March can be somewhat less than comfortable. The colder weather can also have a very negative effect on the trout. Since fish are cold-blooded, they are generally less active and not nearly as hungry as they are later on in the season. Fortunately, by the end of April and first part of May, air and water temperatures have increased to the point that the aforementioned prospectors are far more likely “to strike it rich.” As the water warms, there is

a distinct increase in insect hatches that appear on area lakes. In addition, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife can be counted on to generously stock the lakes, oftentimes with some surplus broodstock as an additional incentive to partake in the watery festivities.

AMONG THE MOST

popular and productive of the higher lakes in Eastern Washington is Diamond, off U.S. 2, approximately 8 miles nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2020

Northwest Sportsman 85

FISHING

The lake’s state ramp is located just off busy Highway 2 between Spokane and Newport. With little in the way of bank access, most fishing is done by boat. (WDFW)

southwest of Newport. The Pend Oreille County lake sits at an elevation of 2,343 feet and covers an area of 753 acres in a broad valley pockmarked by a number of other smaller lakes.

Diamond’s northeastern section is characterized by a shoreline that rapidly descends to depths of 45 to 50 feet of water. The western part of the lake is very different, with a much more gradual gradient into deeper water, along with a far greater amount of submerged vegetation.

In this section, the water covers a meadowlike terrain and it contains the lake’s greatest population of bass and spinyrays. The extreme western section is very prone to flooding, covering a number of snags and obstacles. An angler fishing this area needs to be very careful during high water, or not mind spending a considerable amount of money on replacement gear.

Much of the southern shoreline and a rather large portion of the north side is privately owned, which makes fishing from shore problematic. There is a public boat launch approximately two-thirds of the way up the lake, off South Shore Diamond Lake Road. This is where the majority of the shore fishing 86 Northwest Sportsman

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takes place. There is a boat dock and launching area further up the north side, but it is far from an ideal spot for bank fishing. By necessity, the vast majority of fishing on the north side of the lake is done by boat.

OVER THE YEARS, Diamond Lake’s trout release program has gone through a number of changes. From the early 1940s through the early ’60s, the lake was primarily stocked with rainbow trout. However, from the mid-’60s through the late ’80s, it was the home of a thriving westslope cutthroat population, although augmented with some rainbows.

“When the lake was rotenone treated in 1959 to remove undesirable fish species, the lake rehabilitation made it possible to manage the fishery with plants of cutthroat fry,” says Bill Baker, the state fisheries biologist.

Three additional lake rehabilitations were completed, until, in the ’90s, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife began managing Diamond as a mixed species fishery, with a trout emphasis (primarily larger put-growand-take fish, or PGT as they are sometimes called by WDFW staffers).

Since some members of the public voiced objection to periodic lake rehabs

and since cutthroat do not compete well with other fish species, it was decided to discontinue planting cutts.

Even though the species has gone the way of the dinosaur and political civility, cutthroat have been more than adequately replaced by triploid rainbows beginning in the early 2000s, and rapidly growing PGT browns, first stocked in 2000.

In an attempt to improve the fishery, a cooperative netpen agreement between WDFW, which provides feed and fish, and the Friends of Diamond Lake (friendsofdiamondlake.net), which provides the labor, is in place to release an additional 15,000 rainbows into the lake. In order to add a little more excitement to the already very generous stocking programs, an additional 200 surplus broodstock rainbows are annually added to the lake’s trout population.

As one might expect, all these improvements to the fishery have made the lake one of the most popular fishing destinations in all of Eastern Washington. WDFW deserves a deal of credit in creating an outstanding fishery

Garrett Jones of nearby Chattaroy shows off a nice limit of rainbows to 4 pounds he caught with friend Kevin Jones several years ago. Diamond is wellstocked, and the months of May and June just might offer the best all-around all-species fishing, with trout, bass, crappie, perch and other species all on the chew. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST)

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Northwest Sportsman 87

FISHING When the trout bite slows as the weather warms across the region, switching over to yellow perch can be a productive bet. (BILL BAKER)

that meets the desires of bait fishermen, hardware enthusiasts and fly anglers.

LURE FISHING FROM a boat is probably the most widely used strategy for working Diamond Lake. This is especially true for the deeper middle portion and the dropoffs along both sides. The middle section drops to a depth of 45 to 50 feet and covers a large part of the northwestern half of the lake. A fish finder would be a very valuable tool when fishing this section, since the fish are often found near the bottom.

Slow trolling with weighted line is a productive strategy that has proven effective for anglers, while trolling faster with an unweighted line is effective around the dropoffs and in shallower water. Rapalas, Dick Nite spoons, Needlefish and Wedding Rings accompanied with a worm for an added enticement would all be good bets.

Worms and PowerBait are by far the most popular and productive baits used on the lake.

For fly fishermen, the bays and shallower areas on the northern side of the lake provide some excellent 88 Northwest Sportsman

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fishing using an intermediate sink tip or, occasionally, a floating line.

The deep middle section can also be good fly fishing, but it usually takes a fast sink line to be successful. There is some dry fly action, but Diamond is not generally known for it.

Since the lake contains many of the same insect populations as a majority of the lower elevation lakes, the same fly patterns should prove useful here.

Woolly Buggers in brown, black or olive are effective, as are green Kauffman mini-leeches, damsel imitations and Carey Specials, Sheep Creeks and SixPacks. Small nymphs such as Pheasant Tails, Hare’s Ears and Princes, as well as San Juan Worms and chironomids can also be productive.

When a hatch does occur on Diamond, dry fly patterns such as Parachute Adams, Purple Haze’s, Griffith’s Gnats, Renegades and spruce moth imitations, generally in sizes No. 16 and 14, will draw the attention of trout.

IN ADDITION TO trout, there are also some very nice-sized largemouth

available to Diamond anglers. How they ended up in the lake is a bit of a mystery, though, since according to Baker, the biologist, no records have been found that indicate bass were planted in the lake.

“However, a number of lowland lakes were stocked with warmwater fish, including bass, dating back to the early 1900s,” he states.

He wouldn’t rule out the possibility that the “bucket brigade” may have played a role in the propagation of bass and other spinyrays in Diamond, and states that “illegal introduction of warmwater and nuisance species is an issue in trout-managed waters throughout Washington.’’

However they made it into the lake, there is a fairly sizable population of bass that thrive in the weedy shallows. It is probably best to go in search of a trophy largemouth around the bottom end of the lake.

They can usually be found around the edges of weedbeds and snags.

There are also black crappie, yellow perch, pumpkinseeds and other panfish, as well as brown bullheads, according to WDFW.

BUT DIAMOND LAKE has a reputation of being one of the most heavily stocked trout fisheries in Eastern Washington.

“We typically stock around 20,000 to 25,000 PGT-size triploid rainbows in April, along with 25,000 to 30,000 triploid rainbow fry and 12,000 to 15,000 PGT brown trout,” says Baker.

This is in addition to the 15,000 from the aforementioned cooperative netpen fish and the approximately 200 broodstockers.

While very few of the old gold and silver prospectors ever prospered from their efforts, thanks to WDFW and the Friends of Diamond Lake, there is an excellent chance that modern day “trout prospectors” will experience a great deal of success and satisfaction in their endeavors at this lake. NS Editor’s note: Before you go, check wdfw .wa.gov for updates on the fishing closure due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

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nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2020

Northwest Sportsman 89

COLUMN

Buzz’s Top Trolling Tricks W

hether y o u m o v e your boat along with a pair of oars or via motor, what makes trolling BUZZ effective is the RAMSEY amount of water you can quickly cover, which pretty much guarantees that the lures trailing behind your boat will pass by more hungry fish.

Determining the correct trolling speed depends on what lures you employ, combined with the pace trout might respond to best. For example, you might troll a small FlatFish somewhere between ½ and 1 mph, since this plug was designed to produce frantic action when pulled slowly.

Trolling FlatFish at the speeds where they perform best can be especially effective when water temps are cool, fish are less aggressive or when the forage they seek matches the size and color of this high-action lure. For spinners, spoons and plugs – like a Mag Lip – the right speed is usually in the range of 1 to 1½ mph, with 2 mph considered fast on most waters.

Another tactic that might work for you is to speed troll, which means trolling at 2 to 3 mph. Lures that will handle faster speeds, like spoons (a Thomas Buoyant Minnow is a good one) and speed-tolerant plugs like a Mag Lip, are normally used when speed trolling. Keep in mind that speed trolling might work best when warmer waters make coldwater fish more willing to chase down a fast-moving lure.

While speed is important, so is trolling in an erratic pattern. Fish that are initially attracted to your gear may lose

Covering as much water as possible via trolling is the best way to put your lures in front of as many fish as possible, but dialing in the right speed that the fish want and your tackle works at is key. (BUZZ RAMSEY)

Covering as much water as possible via trolling is the best way to put your lures in front of as many fish as possible, but dialing in the right speed that the fish want and your tackle works at is key. (BUZZ RAMSEY)

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Northwest Sportsman 91

COLUMN produce best.

Lures or bait will produce results when trolled alone or in combination with a lake troll. For example, a worm threaded on a hook (like a size No. 6 Eagle Claw style 182) can produce results when pulled behind your boat. Thin-bladed spoons like a Triple Teaser are designed specifically for trolling.

Tiny vibrating plugs like a FlatFish or Mag Lip also work.

WHEN FORWARD TROLLING, try positioning

Along with famed spinners like Rooster Tails and new plugs like the Mag Lip, both from Yakima Bait, spoons are a great option for trolling. The flashes of a lake troll attached in front of your terminal gear imitates feeding trout, drawing fish toward your lures. (BUZZ RAMSEY) interest if your lure doesn’t run away or swim erratically when approached. You can duplicate this getaway reaction by zigzagging or changing the speed of your craft by dropping your trolling motor in and out of gear. Imparting this evasive prey reaction into lures can trigger predator fish into striking.

TROUT ARE NATURALLY curious and interested in quickly investigating an easy meal before other fish beat them to it. When fish are feeding, the movement of their silver bodies as they chow down (a feeding frenzy) reveals a feeding opportunity to other fish; it’s like ringing a dinner bell!

An example of this is to watch the response of other nearby birds when one is the first to find a meal. The reflection of lake troll blades duplicates this feeding activity and will quickly attract hungry trout.

Lake trolls come in different sizes and finishes. Some of the more popular names for large trolls include Cowbell and Ford Fender. Generally speaking, blades that are nickel-plated are more productive during sunny conditions, while brass or 92 Northwest Sportsman

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brass-nickel (50/50) blade combinations produce best when the sun is low or skies are overcast. Trolls having small, easy-pulling willow leaf-style blades are popular too, especially on small lakes or when waters are clear as glass.

Using a large troll adds weight to your outfit that can interfere with the enjoyment of the fish fight, especially when it’s a small specimen. For this reason, small, ultralight trolls or fishing without a troll are popular. However, trolls will often attract hungry trout when all else fails. You don’t need to rig a troll on every line to be effective. One option is to rig one or two rods with trolls to “call” fish into your gear and run your other lines “clean” with just a spoon, spinner or plug attached.

The distance your lure or bait is rigged behind your troll can be a deciding factor in your success. Leader lengths ranging from 18 to 36 inches are considered standard.

However, trout that might be initially attracted to the flash and vibration of your lake troll might be shy about getting too close. This is especially true when water conditions are clear, a time when leaders ranging from 3 to 6 feet in length might

your lines at different distances behind your boat. Although the most productive distance might vary depending on water clarity and how boat-shy fish might be, a good place to start is to run your lines from 40 to 80 feet out. Staggering the distance of each line means that fish will see multiple setups during a single trolling pass, increasing your odds of getting a bite.

Providing you are fishing with family members or have a two-rod endorsement on your license, you might try running one line trailing behind all others by 40 or more feet. Fish that didn’t bite the first several lures pass by might feel left out as things settle down and be more than willing to pounce when a trailing lure comes along.

I’ve seen this trailing-lure strategy produce more times than I can count, sometimes producing half our total catch!

The vibrating/fish-calling action of a spinner – like a Rooster Tail – works when forward trolled, but their action can twist your fishing line. Therefore, it’s important to rig a ball bearing or other quality swivel 20 or so inches from your spinner or halfway down your leader when rigged behind a sinker or lake troll.

WHEN WATERS ARE clear as gin, or if you’re concerned about educated fish seeing your line, you should consider the use of fluorocarbon leader material. Leader material, when made from fluoro like those offered by Berkley, is much less visible in water than even clear monofilament.

That’s because, unlike mono, they refract light passing through them to almost the same degree as water and therefore become nearly invisible. Using fluoro might mean you can step up the 1-poundtest category over the mono leader you

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Northwest Sportsman 93

COLUMN Terry Otto, outdoor reporter for The Columbian, shows off a nice stringer of spring rainbows caught on a Columbia Gorge lake with Buzz Ramsey. (BUZZ RAMSEY)

might have otherwise used.

And while any rod-and-reel outfit will work while spinning or baitcasting, many avid trollers employ light-action casting rods with levelwind/baitcasting-style reels.

Although not a necessity, a nice addition is having a baitcasting reel with a built-in line counter.

Another thing to keep in mind when trolling is the depth you position your gear. For example, trout might be found near the surface when the light is low – like early or late in the day and when overcast – but go deep when the sun is bright.

Therefore, positioning your lines deeper during the middle of the day might keep the bite going. Water temperature can also affect where fish might be found, as they will likely go deeper as the surface becomes too warm from summer’s heat. NS Editor’s note: The author is a brand manager and part of the management team at Yakima Bait. Like Buzz on Facebook.

94 Northwest Sportsman

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Northwest Sportsman 95

96 Northwest Sportsman

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FISHING

Green Lights For Green Peter Kokes How to catch plentiful landlocked sockeye at the Western Oregon reservoir.

By Randall Bonner

F

“

rom a guide standpoint, is an overpopulated kokanee fishery really a bad thing?”

That was the question Owin Hays posed to guide Damon Struble of Nomad’s Fishing Adventures while live on Outdoor GPS as we trolled for the landlocked sockeye salmon on Green Peter Lake. With 7-year-old Michael McIntyre on board reeling in a fish on live television that would surely make him the coolest kid in his class, it’s difficult to speak negatively of the overpopulated fishery.

“He’s 7; he doesn’t care how big the fish are,” said Struble.

THE AVERAGE SIZE of Green Peter kokanee is roughly between 6 to 8 inches, but it’s not uncommon for them to be even smaller. One thing is for sure, though: As long as Michael was happy, so was his guide, his grandpa Mike and, of course, Dave Calhoun, who was doing a live video of all the action for the show.

Green Peter probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think of kokanee. The reservoir east of Corvallis on the Middle Santiam River doesn’t have the beastly 15-plus-inch fish that you’re more likely to find in Detroit Lake, on the North Santiam. The biodiversity and bycatch is nothing like Odell Lake and its Mackinaw. Even though there’s a small, naturalized population of

With an assist from his grandfather Mike, 7-yearold Michael McIntyre reels in one of many kokanee he caught last May at Green Peter Lake. The diminutive salmon are plentiful at the reservoir. which also features rare landlocked spring Chinook, stocked rainbow trout and bass. (RANDALL PETERS)

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Northwest Sportsman 97

FISHING

During his late spring outing with the Outdoor GPS crew, author Randall Bonner observed a variety of dodgers, hoochies and different scented corn kernels getting bit by kokanee, but a black and white Simon with a red dot on one side, along with smaller squids, seemed to work best. (RANDALL PETERS)

Chinook, they’re nothing like the commonly caught landlocked kings of Washington’s Lake Chelan.

While the fishery may not have the quality of other kokanee waters in the Northwest, it definitely has the quantity. The kind of quantity that makes it fairly easy for a novice to get their limits before noon early in the season, when the fish are up top. As summer progresses, there’s a few necessary adjustments, but there are bountiful opportunities for every kind of angler.

OUR TRIP TOOK place in late May, on Memorial Day Weekend. The Thistle Creek boat ramp was a little crowded, so we launched just up the north side’s Quartzville Road at the Whitcomb Creek ramp. In spite of it being a long holiday weekend, boat traffic overall was still fairly low.

With 3,720 acres of water to roam 98 Northwest Sportsman

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and lots of coves and hideaways, the pleasure boaters weren’t as much of an issue at nearly full pool.

The Whitcomb Campground was full, but Sunnyside Campground almost always has spaces available and RV hookups. [Editor’s note: At press time, Linn County had closed camping at the two parks.] There are a few shorelines that are great for primitive camping by boat, and even a few floating restrooms if you really gotta go but can’t make it to the ramp.

Above the lake is Quartzville Creek, which has plenty of camping areas, helps spread out the crowds a bit and provides some of the best trout fishing in the lake near the mouth of the creek.

Quartzville Creek contributes a lot to the character and identity of Green Peter Lake. The area became host to the first known population

of adfluvial Chinook in the state of Oregon. Likely stemming from the release of juvenile hatchery spring Chinook into the lake, this population has only fairly recently developed in the past decade or so. While it’s fairly uncommon to find one of these fish, it’s still exciting with every bite to know they’re in there.

Trout stocking takes place in both the creek and the lake throughout the summer, so even when the kokanee begin to migrate to deeper, cooler waters when the weather heats up and the lake recedes, there’s still plenty of fish to target at varying depths. By July, downriggers are almost a necessity.

Earlier in the summer, the lake often hosts several bass tournaments.

The rocky shorelines and stumps are popular areas for largemouth and smallmouth. The warmwater fishery provides a wider range of fishing

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Northwest Sportsman 99

FISHING Young Michael shows off one of his kokes. While on the smaller side, the generous 25-fish limit, plus five trout, makes up for that. (RANDALL PETERS)

opportunities to change things up now and then, when the day doesn’t go as planned for coldwater species.

WHEN THE KOKANEE are at a depth that’s within reach, you will catch them.

They were hitting every color and every flavor on board Struble’s boat that day, but I got a little nosey about what he put on his corn.

“I’m not secretive about it. There’s enough fish out here for everybody, and the more that get removed, the less competition there is for food, creating a better grade of fish in the long term,” he told me.

Struble does like to use at least two different scents, one on each side of the boat in little ramekins so that everyone has their own little personal bait station. On the port side, the corn was marinating in a little tuna, a 100 Northwest Sportsman

MAY 2020 | nwsportsmanmag.com

lot of Pro-Cure Bait Scents Garlic Plus and a generous sprinkle of Lawry’s garlic salt.

Seeing the little bits of parsley from the garlic salt floating around in the container almost tempted me to put a little dab of it on my pork chops I had brought for lunch.

On the starboard side of the boat, the corn was soaked in tuna oil with powdered krill. Most of the time, it didn’t seem to matter. But like most details in fishing, when it did matter, it mattered a lot. We rolled through several schools where the krill was getting bit more often than the garlic, and vice versa. Either way, it doesn’t hurt to put a little variety on the buffet.

Struble likes a trolling speed of 1.3 mph. At the time, we were running 8- to 10-ounce lead cannonballs at about 60 feet. This is about the

cutoff for Struble’s program before transitioning to downriggers. The Lamiglas Classic Glass rods seemed to handle the extra weight fairly well.

Struble reminded us that with the scope of the lines, 60 feet of line being out was more like being 30 feet down. Later in the summer, the fish are more likely to be at around 60 feet of depth, but having a downrigger minimizes the scope of the line and gets the gear in the zone. Most of the fish we were seeing were at about 30 to 40 feet deep. Even if you’re above a school, the more aggressive fish will rise for a bite.

As for the gear, we were using Hawken’s Simon Dodgers, but the black and white with red dot on one side and chrome on the other seemed to draw the most strikes. Smaller hoochie presentations outfished the

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Northwest Sportsman 101

larger ones.

Struble’s hook setups were pretty unique and interesting. The smallerbodied hoochies had size 4 octopus circle hooks, and the fish that bit didn’t seem to come loose nearly as often.

As easy as it is to lose kokanee after hooking up, we still managed to land a good 80 percent of the fish that bit. For the larger-bodied hoochies, Struble likes using a Tru-Turn hook on the top and a size 4 octopus hook or a treble hook below it. The long shank of the Tru-Turn hook puts the point well towards the back of the skirt without using beads to space the hooks out.

Having a trailing hook is pretty crucial, as it tends to hook the fish in the body after they bite the top hook and start thrashing about, which helps tremendously with the landing ratio.

THE ABUNDANCE OF fish, the variety of fisheries and the scenic views to be had at Green Peter Lake make it a hidden gem among Oregon kokanee fisheries. It may not have world-class trophy kokes, but it’s a great place to take kids like young Michael for some action that will get them hooked on fishing. If anything, they’ll get bored of reeling in fish here.

After a few minutes of playing Angry Birds during a lunch break, we pointed him towards the screen of the fish finder. As we’d pass over a school, pointing out all the little dots on the screen, we’d have a little countdown to takedown, and he was engaged with the action again.

“Kind of like a video game,” I said.

We dropped Dave the cameraman (and who is now at Fishin the NW) off at the dock and asked Michael if he wanted to go home early with 95 fish for the boat, or go back out and chase our limits. He was eager to get back out on the water and into the fish, and I’m sure he’ll be ready to come back out and chase limits again. NS Editor’s note: Before going, check on access, fishing or other restrictions at linnparks .com, myodfw.com and elsewhere.

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Northwest Sportsman 103

FISHING

Springer Surprise?

Louis Russo of South Carolina fights his first ever salmon, a North Santiam River spring Chinook, last May while guide Matt Halseth prepares to net it. (RANDALL BONNER)

Reduced downstream pressure due to coronavirus distancing/closures and less sea lion predation could make for better Chinook fishing in Willamette tribs.

By Randall Bonner

F

or anglers in the Northwest who just want to see some light at the end of the tunnel of this social distancing experiment, there are a lot of unknowns that have the potential to be good, bad and ugly.

“Unprecedented” seems to be the one word that applies to everything since the coronavirus pandemic resulted in a tidal wave of lost outdoor recreation opportunities. The state of Washington closed to all fishing. Oregon closed all fishing and hunting opportunities to nonresidents. State parks, city parks and county parks all closed en masse, leaving very few points of access for boaters, bottlenecking anglers into overcrowded bank fishing areas, like a school of spring Chinook in a cool, deep pocket of water below a waterfall in July.

If and when things begin to get

back to normal, we’ll already be taking part of an unprecedented experiment in recreational fishing in the Northwest. With restaurants being shut down and the economy in the toilet, commercial operations are struggling to find buyers. And given Oregon and Washington comanaging a shutdown of Columbia River fisheries, along with guide pressure becoming almost nonexistent due to clients cancelling their travel plans, there’s the potential for a lot of springers to pass go, providing a veritable stimulus package to fisheries that are often neglected.

With the removal of virtually all fishing pressure downstream, we may never have another chance to see just what kind of impact the lower river fisheries actually have on upriver returns. For the Willamette Valley, this means that there’s the potential for some once-in-a-lifetime fishing

opportunities in the Willamette’s major tributaries. Even the Clackamas, which has seen historically depressing returns in recent years, has the potential to see a rebound in spring Chinook numbers. The Santiam and McKenzie could potentially have more biters to target, rather than fishing for the measly leftovers of weeks of six-pack vacuum-cleaner guide sleds combing the Multnomah Channel daily.

On top of all that, sea lion management has proven effective, with returns of winter steelhead over Willamette Falls as of mid-April already higher than the past three years and likely to end up as the most back to 2012. The state was granted permission to euthanize California sea lions in November 2019. Since then, 33 have been removed from the river, all last year. As of early last month, only two sea lions had been documented at the falls. No nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2020

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FISHING

A glob of eggs and a shrimp-scented Thirsty Bead behind a diver accounted for this North Santiam springer last season. (RANDALL BONNER)

predation was observed, and the pair left as quickly as they came. With the Columbia being closed, biologists can get a more accurate picture of the impact from predators without anglers being as much of a variable.

Along with the potential for many more unmolested bitey springers making their way over the falls, summer steelhead have the potential to follow suit. Keep in mind that this season’s winter steelhead are mostly the progeny of 2017’s fish, which contributed to the lowest return in the history of record-keeping.

Summer-run numbers that year were also 18 times below the historical average. Low water levels created a buffet for sea lions that year, so who knows how many fish made it to the falls, but not over them. Regardless, that’s less of an issue now.

Last year’s spring Chinook numbers were a little less than 19,000 at the falls, with May seeing the highest passage though the run

does have a long tail. Looking back to 2016 and 2017, those numbers were roughly 34,000 and 30,000 fish. The potential for returning 3- to 4-year age-class fish already looks somewhat more hopeful than last year, but the opportunity to target fish that haven’t seen a herring, Super Bait, 3.5-inch blade or sea lion as they’ve swam up hundreds of miles of water just seems like it couldn’t hurt to try.

Best bet in the tribs is to target typical salmon holes with eggs and/or sand shrimp behind a diver or under a float, back-trolling bait-wrapped plugs or even drift fishing or casting spinners.

There’s no doubt this experiment will create some very interesting data that could be useful in managing our fisheries for years to come. With so much lost opportunity this spring, hopefully a lot of that data will come in the way of creel checks, and successful days for many anglers who are simply desperate for some good news. NS

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COLUMN Morel mushrooms push up out of the forest floor. Northwest governors’ orders for residents to stay at or close to home reduced options for harvesting spring’s various bounties. (JASON BROOKS)

Get Out When You Can! W

ith deadline looming to write my monthly Northwest Pursuits column, I find myself in the middle of NW PURSUITS a quagmire of closures

By Jason Brooks and restrictions. So instead of the typical “go here, do this” informative piece, it might be best to highlight opportunities that we can take advantage of whenever the time comes.

From fishing and hunting to gathering and experiencing, the outdoors are where we want to be. And if for some reason that means enjoying them from our own homes, maybe there is a way we can put some sportsman’s knowledge to use in other areas of the outdoors or backyards.

HIKING AND EVEN backpack camping are often looked at as “nonconsumer”

activities, but if you think about it we as outdoorsmen do these very activities as part of our normal course of action to hunt and fish. Maybe it is time to think of this as a major activity and incorporate scouting to learn new areas, find game and get in shape for the upcoming fall seasons?

Start with short hikes that lead to new areas. Last spring, while out looking for morel mushrooms, my son and I hiked along what we thought was the trail to a far ridge leading to high alpine meadows. The unit would be open for elk hunting come September, so we did double-duty on this trip. Turns out the trail we followed up the ridge veered away from the main path and dwindled to a single elk track. If it wasn’t for that day out looking for mushrooms, we would have never realized that the main trail was rerouted a few years ago after a washout and my old map was no longer accurate.

After deciding on a new trail to head

out on, be sure to check conditions for the area. Make sure it is open for public access and whether you need any passes to park at the trailhead or for overnight camping.

One of the alpine lakes we enjoy fishing at is inside a national park. The regulations allow for fishing and even encourage it, but the lake lies within designated backcountry and a permit is needed to spend the night. The boundary of the park is less than a mile from the lake, so we hike back to the white markers that distinguish where park land begins. Pitching a tent in the national forest instead, we can spend a weekend in solitude and be able to venture to the lake to catch a few fish for dinner.

BACK TO MOREL mushrooms. With the recent alpine wildfires in the Northwest and snowpack that often stays until July, it has been a few good summers of mushroom gathering. This year should be nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2020

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COLUMN

If the COVID-19 outbreak is a reminder of anything, it is how smart it is to be able to be self-sufficient, whether that be through success in hunting, fishing and gathering, or farming in your own yard, like the editor also enjoys. (ANDY WALGAMOTT, ALL)

just as good.

Follow the snow line up the hills and look to shady spots. North-facing slopes and along shadowed edges of fallen trees are where you are likely to find these tasty morsels. It is also a good way to get outside.

One thing this spring has taught me is to not be so reliant on the grocery store.

Morels store well when dehydrated and can be reconstituted easily. Be sure to check the local forest regulations and don’t take more than you are allowed.

Speaking of grocery produce, planting a garden might not seem like a topic that belongs in a hunting and fishing magazine, but if you think about it, we Northwest sportsmen like to procure our own food.

So why not grow some?

Think ahead to what will keep well so that when deer and elk season does open up, you have some good veggies in stock. Tomatoes grow easily in pots or in the garden and they can store very well.

You can also dehydrate them, much like sundried tomatoes we buy in the store.

Garlic is another plant that keeps well after harvest. Braid the stems and let them dry, and keep them in a dark and dry place, 110 Northwest Sportsman

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such as the cupboard, for months of use.

Herbs are almost a must when it comes to gardening in the Pacific Northwest.

There are a few wild herbs you can look for as well, but be sure to use a guidebook and confirm your findings. For the home gardener, just about any herb will dry and keep. I like to grow my own dill to use fresh when barbecuing salmon or trout and then use the dry dill, which seems to intensify the flavor, in tartar sauce and baking sauces. Rosemary is a favorite when it comes to cooking an elk steak. Either mix it in with butter to make “steak butter” or lay a sprig of it on the steak while you cook it. This herb keeps very well when dried.

When it comes to collecting mushrooms or wild herbs or growing your own garden, the idea is to keep your mind on the end goal, which is hunting and fishing seasons.

There is a sense of accomplishment when you grill a deer steak and team it up with a vegetable medley from your own garden, seasoned from the herbs you grew and some mushrooms you collected – an entire meal that is a result of your own work. It is interesting how the coronavirus pandemic reminded us that we can be more self-

sufficient, or at least should be.

CANNING IS ANOTHER activity that is good to learn in this time of storing food for later use.

A few years ago I went on a fishing trip that yielded more salmon than I cared to vacuum pack or had freezer space for, so I headed to the farm supply store and picked up a pressure canner. Reading the directions multiple times and finally just going for it, I canned enough salmon to last a year or two. That is the best part of canning: What you can lasts a long time. It also stores easily and frees up freezer space.

Recipes for canned fish and game are easy to make since the meat is already cooked. Maybe it is time to clean out the freezer and can up a few pints of fish or wild game? Come fall, while out hunting you can pull out a jar of canned salmon and have a trailside snack.

Dehydration is one of the easiest ways to preserve our bounties. Not only can you dry mushrooms, herbs, fruits and vegetables, you can also make great jerky on the dehydrator. The devices are easy to use and can free up storage space as well.

When you dehydrate a food the

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COLUMN Few things taste better than pairing the meat from animals you’ve harvested with vegetables you’ve grown yourself. (JASON BROOKS)

water weight is reduced and it shrinks.

Last fall I dehydrated nearly 20 pounds of chanterelle mushrooms; they all condensed down to a lunch-size brown paper bag that I keep in my pantry. Just remember that when you dehydrate a food, it also condenses it, meaning the flavor as well. Making a mushroom gravy

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one evening I put way too many of those chanterelles in and it turned out too stout.

Jerky is one of the best ways to use some of those older packages of ground deer or elk sitting in the freezer. Spices add to the flavor and salts preserve the meat, but it won’t last as long as what you buy at the store. This is because store-bought jerky is

heavily laced with nitrates and MSG. This brings up another point: You can make snacks and food that are a lot healthier than if you just bought the end product at the store. For backcountry hunters and anglers, many online recipes use home-dried ingredients. One of them is a homemade and dehydrated spaghetti sauce. Use those dried fruits with some nuts and chocolate chips to make a personally tailored trail mix too.

WHEN WE FINALLY get outside to fish and hunt, you will have new skill sets, or maybe just perfected some old ones. It will bring a new meaning to self-sustaining, and we have all learned that it is better to head to our freezer or pantry and get our own healthy food than to have to endure a run to the grocery store while wearing a face mask.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us a lot, but for the Northwest sportsman, it is also a reminder that there are more benefits to our outdoor lifestyle than just a mental break or enjoyment. It also feeds us and keeps us healthy and safe. NS

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COLUMN

Getting Back In The Saddle W

hen last we checked, Washington’s spring turkey season was postponed amidst the panic, but for those ON TARGET who survived the

By Dave Workman surreal “stay home, stay healthy” experience, and assuming the hunt has reopened, you still have until at least May 31 to put a longbeard in the bag.

As of this writing, spring bear hunting was on hold as well due to the pandemic, for which the Evergreen State was an early hot spot. My gun range near Snoqualmie also closed down — an exasperating experience because this is the time of year when not only myself but other devoted hunters break out their rifles for a range session or two just to verify zero, try new loads, maybe mount and zero a new scope; something to improve our chances of notching a tag in the fall.

I RECENTLY GOT a hold of Hodgdon’s 2020 edition of the Annual Manual, a magazine format reloading guide with thousands of recommended loads for nearly all popular calibers – with one glaring omission about which I’ve needled my pals Bob and Chris Hodgdon for some years.

There is no data for the .300 Savage, which is disappointing. My first buck fell to a Model 99 lever-action Savage that used to belong to my grandfather.

With a 165-grain boattail bullet, that rifle is dead-bang accurate even with iron sights, and in the years since I topped it with a scope and began using carefullymeasured powder charges of IMR 4895 or H4895 and Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets, it

Late can be great – just ask Larry Wolf. He bagged these two public-land gobblers on the final day of Oregon’s and Washington’s 2016 turkey seasons, taking the first in early afternoon near Dufur, then crossing north over the Columbia to bag the second around 5 p.m. “Neither bird gobbled, but came to my calling,” he reported. (COAST HUNTING PHOTO CONTEST) nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2020

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COLUMN

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Winchester AA Diamond Grade shotshells are among new offerings for shotgunners. (WINCHESTER)

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has never let me down.

After all, the Annual Manual contains data for the .250-3000 Savage, a cartridge with as many old-age wrinkles as its .30-caliber sibling, and one that earned a reputation decades ago as a decent sheep round with the right load.

Once, a few years ago, some nimrod authored a piece in one of the outdoor periodicals declaring the .300 Savage to have been among some cartridges that were dead (and maybe should never have been born). I may just pull the Model 99 out of retirement this fall and head over to Idaho to see if I can’t conk a buck, provided I can get a tag.

Meanwhile, and for the immediate future, there could be some decent gobbler gunning in some places I’ve frequented over the years. South Cle Elum Ridge is one spot with potential, and I’ve encountered turkeys in the shadow of Bethel Ridge in the offseason enough times to convince me they don’t travel far.

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I’ve got a pal who spends all winter reloading .223 Remington ammunition for an annual trek (or two) east to Montana or the Dakotas to clobber prairie dogs, sometimes at very long range. There are dog towns all over the eastern Montana landscape, and if one checks with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (fwp.mt.gov), you might just find some areas where access is possible and the little rodents are abundant.

I’ve got another friend who discovered varmint shooting a couple of years back, choosing a bolt-action rifle chambered for the .22-250 Remington instead of the .223 to devastate the dogs. As I wrote in this space a couple of years back, the .22250 Remington is quite possibly the best varmint cartridge on the map. Its ballistics are simply terrific, and with the right bullet and propellant combination, you’re going to be launching projectiles that leave the muzzle in excess of 4,000 feet per second.

If you’d rather stick closer to home,

the same calibers are deadly on coyotes, and now is the time of year to be popping every yodel dog you see because they’re preying on fawns and elk calves, lambs and newborn livestock.

At the end of this month, when I make an annual sojourn to the Elmer Keith Invitational Long Range Memorial Handgun Shoot, I’ll be taking along my .257 Roberts, about which I wrote recently, and making a detour out into the scabrock country southwest of Spokane or the sage country overlooking the Columbia River northwest of Vantage.

AT THE HEIGHT of the coronavirus pandemic a few weeks ago, some wellknown companies stepped up to the plate to do their part in fighting the disease.

Brownell’s – the mail order outfit that has been my source of gun parts and shooting accessories over the years – joined in a cooperative effort with Folding@Home by lending “excess computing power to help

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combat” the virus.

This may not have been widely reported, but Brownell’s deserves an “attaboy” for trying to help.

In a prepared statement, Curt Graff, the company’s IT director, explained, “We are committed to helping protect our country by virtue of our personal protection and sustainability products, but we see this as a way to support the international community in a time of significant need.”

The company donated “at least 1,300 hours” of computer time to the project.

Remington Arms also jumped in, offering a massive amount of unused manufacturing space at its Ilion, New York, plant for the production of equipment necessary for fighting the virus. Keep that in mind the next time you need to buy a box of ammunition.

Then there is the story about Marcus Lemonis, CEO and chairman at Camping World Holdings. He sold off 500,000 shares of his personal stock in the company and donated the proceeds to help support employees who were affected by layoffs, store closures and related issues.

AS WE ALL get back outside, hopefully with the worst behind us, a lot of people will be in the mood to do a round or two of clays, and just in time for that scenario, Winchester introduced AA Diamond Grade shotshells.

According to Winchester literature, the AA Diamond Grade shell features harder pellets and more round pellets in “consistent, dense, hard-hitting patterns that will crush clay targets.”

Winchester says each pellet is copperplated and precision-sorted and features 8-percent antimony, a higher percentage than ordinary lead target shot. They have a 1,350 fps muzzle velocity.

And that’s not all. Federal is offering two higher-velocity Top Gun loads, with a reported muzzle velocity of 1,300 fps.

Featuring a 1-ounce charge in a 2¾-inch, 12-gauge shell with either No. 7.5 or 8 shot, Top Gun loads are designed specifically for shooting clays with harder pellets and a unique wad column that produces consistent patterns. NS

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HUNTING

Black bears have good sharp claws for digging grubs and tearing logs apart, among other things. (TROY RODAKOWSKI)

Get After Yogi In The Late Season The back end of the spring bear hunt bumps up against the bruins’ most active time, the breeding season; here’s how to hunt it.

By Troy Rodakowski

E

ven as these are unprecedented times we are all living through, if you drew an Oregon spring bear permit and have not made it out yet, now is the time.

Historically speaking, black bear populations have been on the rise throughout much of Oregon. Since the 1930s, when it was thought that approximately 9,000 bruins inhabited the state, populations have grown to well over 25,000.

Bears began moving in early to mid-March this year due to the very warm weather, as well as the early spring growth of shrubs, broadleaf plants and grasses. The unfortunate thing is that access to much of the land that constitutes their habitat, both nwsportsmanmag.com | MAY 2020

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HUNTING

BY NOW, BEARS have been actively

These places are where they travel, search for food and smell for other bears. Setting up with a spotting scope and waiting is one of a hunter’s best bets during the late season. With the longer days and great growing conditions, bears should be very active come May. As long as it does not get too hot and dry, they should be out taking advantage of the abundant greenup.

feeding for several weeks as spring’s increasing warmth kick-starts foliage growth, so locating prime spots and sunny slopes in clearcuts are most important. Also, finding water and marshy areas that haven’t dried and have fresh skunk cabbage and grass will be important. With the dry early spring, bears will seek out these locations for fresh forage.

Ridge lines and thick reprod with small openings are also great places to watch and glass for bear movement.

SOME OF THE most important things for consistent success on bruins are: 1) Scent control: Hunters tend to overlook cover scents and scent eliminators during bear season. One of the biggest defenses a bear has is its ability to smell and detect food or danger.

2) Patience: Hunters pursuing just about any game tend to call it quits too early. Find a comfortable location and wait a fair amount of time. This is

private and public, has been impacted to one degree or another by rapidly changing COVID-19 restrictions.

Needless to say, it behooves hunters to check ahead with local managers before going. Hopefully, access becomes easier as we near season’s end and the breeding time for the bears arrives.

Westside bear country is usually steep and thick with a few open hillsides. Over east, it’s big with deep, often brushy canyons. Both terrains present opportunities for glassing. (TROY RODAKOWSKI)

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crucial, especially during prime hours of movement.

3) Mix it up: If you have been glassing for a couple days without success, go for a hike, set up and do some distress calling. Check out new areas and explore a bit.

4) Go where few have: Late in the season, look to locations away from roads or well-used trails. Bears will be drawn to these isolated zones.

5) Remain optimistic: For me it seems that oftentimes I see bears when I least expect it. They are quiet and shy, for the most part. Try to also keep that in mind while pursuing them in the late going.

WITH GOOD WARM weather likely on tap for May, the breeding season may kick in a bit early. Boars will be searching for sows and become very territorial, chasing other bears off.

Small trails and roads are where these

HUNTING mature males will set up shop and be searching for a whiff of a mature female to breed. Setting up where you can see large expanses of gated road systems or trails is a great idea.

It seems that evening hunts are better late in the season, most likely because bears will be up and moving most of the evening and throughout the night. During the warmth of the day, bears will many times find a nice sunny hillside and take an afternoon nap in the sun. Afternoon hunts are great, as many of us have heard or experienced a black stump come alive after thoroughly inspecting it for a couple hours.

IN OREGON IN 2019, 24,985 hunters harvested 1,753 bears, which is a 7 percent success rate, up from the average of 5 percent. These stats include fall harvest as well. In the spring, hunters harvested 474 bears in the open draw units, which shows most of the bruin harvest takes place during the later general season, when bears are harvested by hunters who are in the field after deer, elk and other critters and happen across one.

But in my opinion, May is the best month to be out after these eating machines. Also, I like to take this time to scout for deer and elk and look for shed antlers – and I have managed to find a few good ones over the years.

If you have never been bear hunting before, I highly recommend going with someone who has experience. One technique that has shown some really good success is using distress calls. Hungry bears regularly respond to fawn- and calfin-distress calls, as well as rabbitin-distress calls. As a hunter you have to make sure you are ready to shoot quickly since most of these encounters happen very fast.

I like to sit in an elevated location where I am able to see almost 360 degrees. Run three- to five-minute calling sequences, then wait a few minutes before repeating.

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Packing a bear out is a lot of work and usually starts with skinning.

(TROY RODAKOWSKI)

NO RESERVATIONS ON NEW GOB OP

I

n a new world where outdoor recreation opportunities have been taken away in an unprecedented fashion, there’s a glimmer of hope for turkey hunters in Oregon this spring, particularly in the Willamette Valley. A new landowner partnership program links access to prime turkey habitat on private property with hunters who book reservations on the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s website, myodfw.com.

When ODFW advertised its new turkey hunt by reservation program on a Facebook live feed last month, I admit I rushed to the site like a panic shopper running after the last roll of toilet paper. In less than half an hour, the closest area to my home had reservations filled out for the first 23 days of season, and I was lucky to get a spot in May. If you missed out in April, keep checking the ODFW website for new private land hunting opportunities for turkey. Part of the discussion around this new program is the possibility of including the fall season as well. In order for that to happen, participants have to maintain good relationships with the property owners by picking up after themselves and showing how grateful we all are for a chance at a bird. –Randall Bonner

HUNTING IF YOU WERE one of the nearly 8,000 hunters lucky enough to draw a tag, the Beaver State offers some of the best bear hunting in the country, with various climates and hunting options available to hunters. Spot and stalk the open country of Northeast Oregon’s Snake River divide, Eagle Cap Wilderness and Blue Mountains, or head into the brushy Cascades and Coast Range and glass clearcuts.

Again, before you go, check on what is and isn’t open during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of this writing, federal and state lands were, though campgrounds and other developed facilities like trailheads weren’t.

Also, remember that checking your bear with a biologist is delayed.

However, all other info needs to be updated in the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s tagging system.

Contact the agency if you have any questions; for more, see dfw.state .or.us/resources/hunting/big game. NS

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COLUMN

An Inside Job

W

ith the mandated confinement the world has faced, being indoors has been challenging for us, our children, and even our dogs.

Hunting dogs are active animals that desire to be outdoors more than indoors.

A dog’s drive to run, explore and engage innate senses makes GUN DOGGIN’ 101

By Scott Haugen it tough for us to deal with sometimes.

But being indoors can actually be a great time to instill some valuable training.

In our two prior columns, we looked at offseason training tips. This month, we’re

going to look at things you can do inside your house to tune up your dog and optimize its obedience and performance levels.

ONE OF THE best things you can do right now is simply spend time with your dog.

When spending an entire day indoors with your canine companion, you’ll likely be surprised with how much your dog pays attention to your every move.

They’ll move when you move, look at your eyes to see what your next action will be, and twist and turn their head when you talk to them in order to decipher what it is you’re saying.

All of this exaggerated action is a result of their desire to please you; they do this by trying to read your mind or, at

least, anticipate what move you’ll make before you make it.

Eye contact is one of the best training tools there is, and it’s important to be consistent in your looks. Your dog will sense when you’re happy, tired, upset or stressed.

Take note of the looks you give your dog or family members when the dog is in sight. You’ll see how committed your dog is to pleasing you. This is important because eye contact is a great way to engage your dog and efficiently communicate with them.

If you’ve not paid close attention to it, you’ll be shocked with how much you can communicate with your dog, without saying a word.

The same goes for reading your

The baseball drill is a simple way to teach discipline, restraint and clear communication, and can easily be done indoors. With the pup sitting on the “pitcher’s mound,” and food placed on first, second and third bases, issue a hand signal and verbal command in the direction you want the pup to go. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

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COLUMN dog’s actions. Dogs can’t talk, though many owners swear they try. Spend day after day with your dog and you’ll soon read its disposition through its eyes, ear position and movement, tail action, even spine alignment and head angle.

These are just some ways your dog communicates with you, and it’s in your best interest to learn to understand what they’re saying.

IN TERMS OF training a dog, you don’t

need much room to teach sit, stay, come, discipline and even hand signal movements. It can all be done in a living room. Using food or treats to get a dog to sit, stay and move in specific directions can be very effective. Above all else, it teaches them restraint, which is key to optimizing any dog’s behavior.

Have your dog sit in the middle of the room. Next, place a couple kibbles of food to the right of it – at what we’ll call first base if we were on a baseball field.

Being aware of your pup’s behaviors, looks and body positions, and knowing how to clearly communicate with your dog based on these signs, will make you a better trainer and your dog happier and very disciplined. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

Give an open hand signal to the right – along with a voice command – and the dog will get the food. Command it to sit when it’s done, then place food to the left of it and release it to get the food.

Once it’s done, have the dog return to the middle – or the pitcher’s mound in this example – and sit. Then put food behind it – on second base.

With an outstretched hand overhead, give a firm “back” command. Getting dogs to push back can be challenging, and teaching them this move indoors with small portions of food in a small area can be very effective.

ONCE THE DOGS are on to this game, you’ll be impressed with how quickly they respond to your directions. Soon you’ll have the dog sitting on the pitcher’s mound – with food on all three bases – waiting for your commands.

Short, consistent orders are critical. If I want my dog to go back, I simply order, “Back!” I don’t say, “OK; go back now.”

Same with “sit” and “come.” If I want a dog to deliver something to hand, I simply say, “Hand” and not, “Bring it here to me.”

Concise orders make it easy for a dog to understand what you want.

If you have a hallway, this can be a great training area. Shut all the doors and pick up anything from the floor. Create an area free of distraction, then get to training.

Here you can teach dogs to fetch, sit, come, lie down, push back, retrieve shed antlers and much more. The only limit is your imagination.

While being inside with your dog, don’t overlook the opportunity to clean their ears, clip their nails, brush them, even give them a massage, all of which will strengthen your bond.

Spending time with your gun dog will result in building solid bonds that will last a lifetime, and equate to optimal field performance you’ll be proud of. NS Editor’s note: To watch Scott Haugen’s series of puppy training videos, visit scotthaugen .com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.

132 Northwest Sportsman

MAY 2020 | nwsportsmanmag.com

By Sportsmen for Sportsmen

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