California Sportsman Magazine

Hip Click: OutdoorNewsService.com a valuable hunt/fish resource

Joel Shangle — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:31:56 +0000

There’s no doubt that the Internet can be a valuable tool when you’re researching which fishery to invest your time in. Here’s one of my personal favorite online resources for the California outdoorsman: www.outdoornewsservice.som

This site needs to be on your favorites list for two reasons: 1). There’s more honest-to-God REPORTING done here than in the Los Angeles Times; 2). The site operator, Jim Matthews, is a helluva writer, and it’s easy to glean the important, useful information on the site … because it’s ALL important and useful.

Matthews is well known to Southern California anglers and magazine/newspaper readers: he’s been on patrol for fishing and hunting news for longer than almost anybody else in the Golden State’s outdoor-writing roster (since 1978, to be precise).

OutdoorNewsService.com offers, quite simply, the most complete fishing report you’ll see on many fisheries in the southern part of the state. Matthews updates this site religiously: if it’s on the page, it’s recent. A new partnership with FishHound.com expanded Matthews’ reach even more, making the “Fishing Report” link on this page THE best bet for dozens upon dozens of lakes.

Matthews boosts that page with “Matthew’s Picks of the Week” and “Freshwater Hot Spots”, done weekly, sometimes more frequently.

Also on OutdoorNewsService.com: Matthews is well known as a hunting newshound, so it should be no surprise to see periodic chukar and waterfowl reports under the “News” tab. You’ll also find a reloading page, a link to seminars and promotions, “Bean’s Blog” (written by longtime Inland Empire scribe Ric Bean), photo gallery, and links to Matthews’ printed newsletters (Western Birds, California Bucks and California Hog Hunter).

Shangle says: Easily one of the best fish/hunt reporters in the business, Matthews is a no-BS source of good info. This site is definitely a must-surf for both anglers and hunters.

Pros/Joes: Two choices for giant February bass

Joel Shangle — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:18:03 +0000

Southern California big-bass beast Joe Everett with a monster. (Photo courtesy Joe Everett)

If you’re reading this in the middle of a Northern California snowstorm, you may have a hard time wrapping your mind around this: February is the second-best month of the year to catch some of the world’s biggest bass.

I would not lie.

Taking a quick peek at the list of Top 25 biggest bass in history, you’ll probably be a little surprised to notice that four of those 25 gargantuan largemouth – No. 9, a 20.86 from Lake Castaic, No. 15, a 19.5 from Miramar, and a pair of 19.188s at No. 20 and 21) – were caught in February. That record-setting giant-fish productivity is bested only by March, which produced eight of the Top 25.

And I’ll go one better: All 12 of those fish were caught in California.

That’s right, Joes, it’s time to beef up on the tackle and head out in search of your biggest fish of the year. That’s right, in February. Here are the places some of our favorite pros pick as the best places to find the bass of a lifetime this month:

Joe Everett, Phenix pro-staffer: “If (we) get the right water temperatures in February – say, just a little over 60 – then I would say Mission Viejo but I might be a little biased about that. If not, than any one of those San Diego lakes where guys like (Mike) Long have proven the biggest fish are. It has to have the depth and the genes, and it has to have trout as a food source. They have to have the food source to grow. But any stained-water, pre-spawn lake with trout is going to produce the biggest fish. If you can fish those conditions, you have a good chance of sticking a donkey. A world record is going to come in February and March, period. It’s a numbers game: If you take any of the big factors out of play – place to live, genetics, feed – a record fish won’t happen. But if it’s on the spawn, I have all my eggs in one basket: Mission (Viejo).”

Gary Dobyns, Dobyns Rods: “Clear Lake, easy. It’s off the hook right now: if you’re fishing a tournament, you’d better have a bag that’s bigger than a 5-pound average – 28 pounds doesn’t even get you a check. Best I’ve heard of was a 12-pounder, and there’s been a bunch of 10s.”

The cure for February fish/hunt blues: Showtime!

Joel Shangle — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:12:03 +0000

There’s something especially invigorating about “show season,” as we in the outdoors industry call it. I’m referring to the array of sportsmen’s/boat/outdoors shows that litter the calendar this time of year, when convention halls and expo centers from Del Mar to NorCal are taken over by armies of hunters, anglers, outfitters, boat manufacturers, tackle dealers and various other hook-and-bullet related businesses.

: Lots to do and see at various sportsmen’s shows throughout the Golden State this season. (Courtesy Fred Hall Shows)

This is the one time of year that you can walk around one corner and see Gary Dobyns chatting with Mike Long, turn down the next aisle and trip across Dennis Braid in animated discussion with Steve Carson, and accidentally spill Scott Haugen’s coffee bumping into him two aisles over as he’s confabbing with Buzz Ramsey.

Go check out the Outdoor Lineup in the February issue of California Sportsman, and hit the websites of the various shows listed there. The seminar listings alone are like an outdoors all-star team, let alone the booths and displays on the various show floors.

It’s impossible not to be inspired to greatness when Joe Everett looks you in the eye and says “This is the year, bro. World record largemouth. BOOM!”, and Carson literally vibrates with glee discussing his upcoming long-range tuna trips.

February is a weird month for many Golden State anglers, and especially her hunters. Duck season is done, turkey season is still a full two months away, and not everybody is geared up for coyotes. Show season is a perfect elixir for cabin fever, and, in my mind, an excellent starting point to the new season (be it fishing or hunting).

Shows are “gear geek” heaven – you’ll find the latest and greatest and sexiest and sportiest rods, reels, guns, etc. – but they’re even more valuable for all of you wily information gatherers. Mark my words: you will never witness the unique gathering of so much hunting and fishing knowledge in one place exactly like it ever again. Even if you go to, say, Fred Hall in Del Mar next year, the names/exhibitors will be slightly different.

Go to the shows, dear reader. Rub elbows with Dennis Braid and Mike Long. Ask Steve Carson a tuna question or three. Corner Scott Haugen for a discussion about blacktails. Once you’ve done it, you’ll be recharged and ready for the rest of 2012. See you in the show hall.

Mike Long’s advice for deep-freeze largemouth

Joel Shangle — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:30:43 +0000

There’s something especially eye-catching about a 10-plus-pound largemouth bass when the guy holding it is bundled up for a trip on the Polar Express. Largemouth are creatures of warm water, after all.

Or are they?

Not so much in December and January, when even the low-elevation lakes in the warmest parts of the Golden State are significantly cooler than what most anglers consider “largemouth friendly.” Not that it matters to Mike Long. If you’re fortunate enough to be Facebook friends with Long, the vaunted San Diego-based hawg hunter, you’ll be treated to images that include two seemingly incongruous elements this month: big largemouth, and snow. That’s because his pursuit of the biggest fish in the state doesn’t grind to a halt when it gets frigid out.

Here are some notes straight from Long’s voluminous mental database about how, when and where to find largemouth in the dead of winter:

Depth perception: As surface temperatures plummet in January, largemouth will naturally slough down into deeper water and hover around individual pieces of structure.

“(January) is our coldest time (in San Diego), and that’s when (fish) are down in the rocks,” Long says. “Their bodies were telling them to feed (in November), but they’ll head downhill. They’ll suspend off points, in deeper water, and it can be pretty hard to catch those fish.”

It’s all about stability: While largemouth are certainly more sluggish in cool/cold water, they will bite, and they’re most likely to be slightly more active when the weather and pressure have been stable. You might be surprised, though, that largemouth in higher elevations – Lake Cuyamaca, for example – will respond more quickly than their lowland cousins.

“The stability factor in the mountains is different than in the lowland lakes,” Long agrees. “It might take two to three days of stable weather down low, but up there it’s maybe a day. They’re a Florida-strain fish, but those up in the high elevation are better adapted to conditions changing quicker. It doesn’t take them as long to get dialed back in.”

And speaking of dialing in …: The winter bite is a quick one, and it doesn’t behoove you to spend a lot of time focusing on any one point or hump.

“Pick two or three spots, fish them with a swimbait, a jig and a Senko, and don’t give them too much time at any one spot,” Long says. “If they’re there during that window, they’ll bite. If they’re there, you’ll know it pretty quick – they’ll bite. There’s going to be a window, maybe just an hour or two, but if you’re on fish during that window, you can get them to bite.”

Cows continue to graze in San Diego long range fishery

Joel Shangle — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:14:11 +0000

Latest report from San Diego long-range reporter Bill Roecker:

The American Angler office posting for January 1 said: “Report from the bridge tonight was 20 fish and nine of those were cows, from John Haskin’s 273-pounder cows were caught by Chris S., Bob H., David P., Chris R., John W., Wes C., and Zeke on down to Bill Randall’s 202-pounder. The guys decided to hang out until the morning because they may have the opportunity of a lifetime right where they sit, not to mention the beautiful flat, calm weather. Morale is high, everyone on the boat has a big fish and is looking forward to tomorrow morning.”

One of several large tuna reported New Years Day on the Intrepid. (Photo courtesy Intrepid Sportfishing)

New Year’s Day on the Intrepid
“Another great day of fishing,” reported Intrepid January 1. “Our morning started bright and early with fish being hooked right at daylight and then continuing on, a steady pick with a flurry here and there, but few dry spells during the first day of 2012. We offered up a friendly wager to get the New Year rolling. The first cow of the New Year would be worth a $300.00 dollar credit towards a future trip.

Several fish were hooked that seemed to push the 200-pound mark and the race was on. Jeffrey Tedmori seemed to have it in the bag, a steady tail beat showed signs of a cow tuna, but he was not alone. Nick Rekrut, Shauna Barton, Bob Ehret and Brady Daniels all had nice fish hanging. In the end it was Brady Daniels with a 207-pounder that would take the honors. At the end of the day we ended up with 24 tuna, with five over 200, two in the 190s, three in the 180s, 10 between 130 and 170 and a few smaller ones went in to our RSW, just great fishing. Our top fish of the day went to Okuma rep David Choate with a 281. I think that makes 42 total cows for this well-seasoned long ranger. We still have half a day tomorrow, but what a great way to start the New Year!”

Royal Star Update
“Happy New Year!” said the posting from the boat’s office January 1. “It comes with good news from the fishing front as the boys on Royal Star are steadily scratching at quality tuna down below. It has been consistent albeit picky fishing for the bigger fish with the best of it coming their way today. Five good deuces, the best of which came in at 272, and another 18 good ones were the sum total for the effort.

“Another five over the coveted mark have been part of the total score from the prior couple of days.

“Now to address the notable void of reporting over the past six days: we are upgrading our equipment on board to send data more efficiently, new software was installed to accomplish the first stage of the changeover – it didn’t work, and still doesn’t. From here forward reports will at least be updated from a home terminal as the on-board information is relayed via sat phone. Via Capt. Brian Sims the weather is primo and the big fish are biting. They have a couple more shots before heading up the line tomorrow.”
-Bill Roecker
www.fishingvideos.com

Of the steelhead addiction

Joel Shangle — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:57:25 +0000

: Carl Johnson of Brookings, Ore., holds a 15-pound Smith River steelhead he caught and released on New Year’s Eve while fishing with guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. The steelhead hit an orange Spin N Glo fished with roe cured in Pautzke’s BorxOFire fished with size 1 Lazer Sharp hooks. (Andy Martin photo)

Confession time: I was a little late to the winter steelhead game. Growing up in the high desert, I didn’t even see a metalhead until I was 19 years old. That fish, though, just happened to be MY fish – my first – caught on a spoon on the Smith River. I didn’t really understand the significance of that fish at the time, and I really didn’t have a clue what I was doing, besides hucking a spoon, but I sure as heck understood what that fish did to me.

It made my hands shake and my heart race, and the second I got my hands around that little 9-pound chrome hen, I bellowed like a bull ape. I’m sure that anglers up and down the Smith River Canyon believed they had heard the mating call of Bigfoot.

I had the tremendous good fortune of working as the sports editor at the Curry Coastal Pilot shortly thereafter, meaning that the Smith was almost at my back door. I met and worked with Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing, started paying attention to water gauges and reading up on steelhead techniques, and caught more fish.

And that’s when I really got the sickness. I slinked and skulked around that river – and its sister to the north, the Chetco – like a hyena, unknown and unnoticed by the local guides who made their living on the Smith. They don’t even know it (unless they’re reading this now), but I knew who Greg Squires and Mick Thomas were long, long before I got into this game of fish writing.

It’s been a long ride on a downhill slope since then, and I’ve burned more time (yes, and money) on steelhead in the past 20-plus years than I care to admit. And I’m not slowing down anytime soon. I haven’t been back to the Smith nearly enough in the past couple of decades, but, Squires, damn him, has virtually guaranteed that I’ll be spending time travelling North Bank Road and skulking around the Hiouchi Café again.

If you’re a steelheader – even if you won’t fish the Smith at all this season – do yourself a favor and pick up the January edition of California Sportsman, where you’ll see a feature written by Squires. I’ve seen a bazillion stories on the Smith (and written a couple dozen myself), but Squires’ piece on reading/reacting to changing water conditions on the river is easily one of the best ever written.

Digest that story slowly and thoroughly, because there are more nuggets of useful information in those 1,600 words than in 10 other stories twice that length.

Call for reader photos: I know you’re out there. And I want your photos. North Coast steelheaders, I’m putting together a “Gallery of Steel” page for the February issue, and I’d like to include you. E-mail your steelhead hero shots to jshangle@media-inc.com for consideration.

Over $250,000, A Record, Up For Grabs In Isabella Fishing Derby

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:34:15 +0000

(KERN RIVER VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE)

The total prize money up for grabs has been set for the 23rd Annual Isabella Lake Fishing Derby presented by the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce. The number of “major” sponsors this year is finalized at ten, with each to sponsor a $10,000 tagged trout. These major sponsors are: Berkley; Shakespeare; Budweiser; Isabella Supermarket and Mt. Mesa Market; Automobile Club of Southern California; California Land Management; Sierra Gateway Markets; French Gulch & North Fork Marinas; Renewable Resources Group; and Central Valley Sportsmen & RV Show. In addition, the Kern River Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring a trout worth $20,000!

Adding even more to the excitement, if the $20,000 Chamber of Commerce fish is caught while the lucky angler is wearing an “official” Isabella Lake Fishing Derby “Limited Edition” T-shirt or Hoodie, the prize will be doubled to $40,000.00!!

The Longest Trout Contest is back again this year, winning entrants will receive $1,000 for the longest trout caught, $500 for the second longest, $250 for the third longest and $200 for the fourth longest trout caught during the three day event. The trout does not have to be tagged, however the winner must be a registered entrant in the event.

For the second year there will also be a chance to win a fantastic fishing boat. This year’s boat is a Lowe Fishing Machine 175 with a Mercury 90hp motor, additional upgrades include a trolling motor and a heavy duty deluxe trailer. This entire package is worth close to $30,000. The boat is currently on display at Galey’s Marine Supply in Bakersfield, CA and will be on display at Derby Headquarters during the Derby event and ticket prices are $20 for one and $100 for six.

Applications for the Derby are now available at the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce office, several local merchants in the Kern River Valley, as well as in Bakersfield. Visit the the derby website at http://www.isabellafishingderby.com to enter the event and get additional information. Enter early and become eligible for the $500 early bird prize, sponsored by the Cedar City Utah Chamber of Commerce. To qualify for the early entry drawing, they must receive your entry to the Derby before 6:00 pm on March 1, 2012.

The 2012 Derby will be held on March 31, April 1, 2, 2012, which is perfectly scheduled for the weekend before Easter. Don’t miss this fun, and exciting weekend geared for the entire family! Mark your calendars now, plan to be part of the excitement.

Lake Isabella derby announces $250,000 prize pool

Joel Shangle — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:21:30 +0000

The total prize money up for grabs has been set for the 23rd Annual Isabella Lake Fishing Derby presented by the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce. The number of “major” sponsors this year has been set at 10, with each to sponsor a $10,000 tagged trout. These major sponsors are: Berkley, Shakespeare, Budweiser, Automobile Club of Southern California, Isabella Supermarket and Mt. Mesa Market, California Land Management, Sierra Gateway Markets, French Gulch & North Fork Marinas, Renewable Resources Group and the Central Valley Sportsmen & RV Show.

In addition, the Kern River Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring a trout worth $20,000. If the $20,000 Chamber of Commerce fish is caught while the lucky angler is wearing an official Isabella Lake Fishing Derby T-shirt or hoodie, the prize will be doubled to $40,000.

The Longest Trout Contest is back again this year: winning entrants will receive $1,000 for the longest trout caught, $500 for the second longest, $250 for the third longest and $200 for the fourth longest trout caught during the three-day event. The trout does not have to be tagged, but the winner must be a registered entrant in the event.

For the second year there is also a chance to win a boat. This year’s boat is a Lowe Fishing Machine 175 with a Mercury 90hp motor; additional upgrades include a trolling motor and a heavy-duty deluxe trailer. This entire package is worth close to $30,000. The boat is currently on display at Galey’s Marine Supply in Bakersfield and will be on display at Derby Headquarters during the derby event. Tickets are $20 for one and $100 for six

Applications for the derby are now available at the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce office, several local merchants in the Kern River Valley, as well as in Bakersfield. Visit the the derby website www.isabellafishingderby.com to enter the event and get additional information. Enter early and become eligible for the $500 early bird prize, sponsored by the Cedar City Utah Chamber of Commerce. To qualify for the early entry drawing, entries must be received before 6 p.mm on March 1.

The 2012 Derby will be held on March 31 though April 2, the weekend before Easter.

Oregon Wolf, OR-7, Crosses Into Siskiyou County

Joel Shangle — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:11:08 +0000

(CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME PRESS RELEASE)

The gray wolf that was wandering in southern Oregon has crossed the California border. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) this animal is a 2 ½ year old male formerly from a pack in northeast Oregon. Since the animal has been collared with a Global Positioning System (GPS) device that periodically transmits its location, biologists have been able to document its travels since it was collared in February 2011. Based on the GPS data, he is now more than 300 miles from where his journey began.

His journey, in total, has been more than twice that far with many changes in direction. Several times he has reversed direction and returned to previous locations. Today, the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) learned that this wolf, designated OR7, crossed the state line into northern Siskiyou County yesterday. Tracking data puts his most recent location as a few miles south of the Oregon border. It is not possible to predict his next movements which could include a return to Oregon.

DFG continues to collaborate with ODFW and expects to receive daily location data. This information is transmitted daily when atmospheric conditions permit. DFG will be sharing only general location information as this wolf, while in California, is protected as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act.

“Whether one is for it or against it, the entry of this lone wolf into California is an historic event and result of much work by the wildlife agencies in the West,” said DFG Director Charlton H. Bonham. “If the gray wolf does establish a population in California, there will be much more work to do here.”

Any wild gray wolf that returns to California is protected as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

DFG has been following the recovery and migration of gray wolves in western states with the expectation that at some point they will likely reach California. The last confirmed wild gray wolf in California was killed in Lassen County in 1924. The available historic information on wolves in California suggests that while they were widely distributed, they were not abundant. DFG has been compiling historic records, life history information, reviewing studies on wolf populations in other western states, enhancing communication with other agencies and training biologists on field techniques specific to wolves. This effort is to ensure that DFG has all necessary information available when needed, it is not a wolf management plan and DFG does not intend to reintroduce wolves into California.

There are more than 1,600 wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains following a federal reintroduction effort which occurred in the mid-1990s. In 1999 a single wolf crossed into Oregon from Idaho, after nearly a 60-year absence in that state. There are now at least 24 wolves in Oregon in four reproducing packs. It has taken an additional 12 years for the first wolf to now reach the California border. This particular animal is exhibiting normal dispersal behavior for a young male and there is no way to predict whether he will stay in California, return to Oregon, or travel east into Nevada. Eventually, DFG expects that other wolves will reach California. Whether this will lead to the establishment of packs or simply transient individual animals is unknown.

Gray wolf recovery in other western states has been controversial, particularly regarding impacts on prey populations, livestock depredation and human safety. There have been instances where gray wolf predation has contributed to declines in deer and elk populations, however, in most cases, predation has had little effect. Some gray wolves have killed livestock – mostly cattle and sheep – while others rely entirely on wild prey. In other western states the impact of depredation on livestock has been small, less than predation by coyotes and mountain lions, although the effect on an individual livestock producer can be important, particularly when sheep are killed.

Concerns about human safety are largely based on folklore and are unsubstantiated in North America. In recent years there was one human mortality in Canada caused either by wolves or bears and one confirmed human mortality in Alaska by wolves. Based on experience from states where substantial wolf populations now exist, wolves pose little risk to humans. However, DFG recommends that people never approach a wolf, or otherwise tamper with or feed a wolf. More about how to avoid human-wildlife interactions can be found on DFG’s website at www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild/.

In the near future DFG expects to add information to its website (www.dfg.ca.gov) to provide extensive information on wolves to the public.

Thanksgiving week’s perfect storm: Smith River

Joel Shangle — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:30:24 +0000

Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing with a bright Smith River Chinook. (Andy Martin photo)

SMITHRIVER – Brace yourselves, Del Norte County salmon and steelhead anglers: You’re about to enter the perfect storm.

No, no, no George Clooney, Marky Mark or East Coast longliners around (2000 movie reference there). This storm involves the biggest fall Chinook in the region, and the start of the 2011-12 steelhead fishery.

The Smith has been pumping out big kings since October, when California Sportsman North Coast correspondent Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing started posting reports and photos of 30- and 40-pounders caught on Mag Lip and FlatFish plugs wrapped with Fire Power-boosted sardine. That fishery is traditionally fully ablaze in November, and there’s no reason to believe this year will be any different.

“November is the peak, but even into the first three weeks into December, (salmon) is good – Rowdy Creek Hatchery Chinook return late,” Martin says. “The great thing about the Smith is that it fishes when the water is low and when it’s high: you can troll plugs in tidewater and in the estuary both.”

Martin has had great success with M2, T50 and the new Hawg Nose FlatFish in slower water, and the Mag Lip in faster runs (in chrome/chartreuse and other shades of green).

And how you have the realistic shot at a double-double: Chinook and early winter steelhead.

“Thanksgiving weekend you’ll see some steelhead caught and it just builds from there,” Martin says. “The last couple of years, that fishery has been better in December than in January, so it can be an early fishery.”
-CS