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Volume 18 • Issue 4 PUBLISHER James R. Baker EDITOR Andy “is straight up and sometimes blows my mind on how he comes up with stuff that only a handful of us are privvy to” Walgamott THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS Dennis Dauble, Scott Haugen, Jeff Holmes, MD Johnson, Randy King, Chris Marcolin, Sara Potter, Bob Rees, Buzz Ramsey, Troy Rodakowski, Trevor Torppa, Angus Vlasaty, Dave Workman GENERAL MANAGER John Rusnak SALES MANAGER Paul Yarnold ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Janene Mukai DESIGNER Kha Miner PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Emily Baker OFFICE MANAGER/COPY EDITOR 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. ON THE COVER Chad Smith shows off a pair of Cowlitz River hatchery steelhead he nailed while fishing with a friend on an otherwise slow day two winters ago. January marks the transition from early-returning fish to the bulk of the broodstock and wild runs. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)

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CONTENTS

ALSO INSIDE 67

JANUARY MARKS TRANSITION TO BROODSTOCK STEELHEAD It’s that in-between moment on the Oregon Coast as early-returning hatchery winter steelhead begin to taper off and broodstock programs first start to perk up. Bob Rees points to top systems for both runs, and he also offers up some other January options for Beaver State fishermen.

CENTERPIN BASICS FOR WINTER-RUNS If you’ve mastered float fishing for winter-runs with a spinning rod or baitcaster, give it a go with a centerpin for a new challenge! Local guide Trevor Torppa has a quick lesson in getting set up to fish this rod and reel style, several casting techniques, and a good terminal setup.

FORGOTTEN GHOSTS It’s too early for wild fish, they say. Natives only start showing up next month, they claim. Meet Angus Vlasaty, hard at work proving conventional Northwest steelheading wisdom wrong. He shares the story of yet another December dream fish.

VOLUME 18 • ISSUE 4

ICE ADVICE

Eastern Washington’s northern tier is about as close to the Arctic as you’re gonna get in the Northwest, and it’s where the bulk of our region’s ice fishing occurs. Chris Marcolin details the best lakes and top tactics for putting trout, perch and other species on the ice – and we also take a peek at Oregon’s top hardwater options!

100 10 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR EVERY NORTHWEST SPORTSMAN Want to make the most out of 2026’s fishing and hunting opportunities? Set yourself up for success from the start! Troy Rodakowski shares 10 strategic resolutions that will help ensure this year is your best yet. 106 OPERATION BEAT CABIN FEVER From super-productive Roosevelt rainbow trout and coastal razor clams and crabs, to challenging winter hunts, plinking with the kids and booking fishing trips, there’s actually soooooooooooooooooooo much to do this time of year. Jeff Holmes details a smorgasbord’s worth of adventures!

(CHRIS MARCOLIN)

SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Go to nwsportsmanmag.com for details. NORTHWEST SPORTSMAN is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120, Renton, WA 98057. Periodical Postage Paid at Portland, OR and at additional mail offices. (USPS 025-251) POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Northwest Sportsman, 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120, Renton, WA 98057. Annual subscriptions are $39.95 (12 issues). 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 © 2026 Media Index Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A. nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2026

Northwest Sportsman 17

BUZZ RAMSEY

4 Guides And An OG Talk How To Catch Winters

He just might be the original gangster of Northwest steelheaders, and while the tips Buzz shares with us are gospel, he also brings in four guide friends – Bill Meyer, Brad Hanson, Mike Sexton and Chris Hargate – to talk fishing for winter-runs on Forks- and Tillamook-area rivers and the mighty Cowlitz and Umpqua.

(BUZZ RAMSEY)

COLUMNS 83

FOR THE LOVE OF THE TUG Going With The Flow Sara could’ve held her own on the banks of that small Oregon steelhead river, but snagging up too often with her drift gear while casting among bobberdoggers led her to join the crowd – she shares a ground-floor learning experience that paid off.

131 OUTDOORS MD Postseason Vet Hunt Day ‘A Chance To Say Thank You’ While the 2025-26 waterfowl campaign wraps up later this month, not long afterwards Washington and Oregon will hold a special one-day opener for veterans and active-duty military personnel. MD details how this opportunity came about and the experiences of a pair of Columbia Basin guns who’ve happily participated in it. 139 CHEF IN THE WILD The Kids These Days: Unexpected Lessons From The Marsh Not all kids of hook-and-bullet writers are as gung-ho as their parents, and that’s the case for Chef Randy with his oldest, Noah. But the lad surprised him recently, making for a powerful lesson, which Randy shares over a tasty game sausage recipe! 147 ON TARGET Make It A Happy New Year With New Gear, Late Hunts Dave W. previews some of the new firearms, reloading gear and ammo dropping for the 2026 Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in Las Vegas, but he’s also got one eye on the fields and forests – and coyotes and rabbits wish he didn’t! He offers good loads and late-season advice for bagging Wile E. and Bugs Bunny. 155 GUN DOG Wing It For Gun Dog Training Tools Natural training tools offer a change of pace that will help get more out of field sessions with your pup. So counsels Scott in his tutorial on how to make the most out of the wings and carcasses of game birds you may have taken this season. 18 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

DEPARTMENTS 25

THE EDITOR’S NOTE On December’s flooding and its probable “extreme impacts on salmon” spawning grounds

READER PHOTOS A far-flung ling fling, fall kings near and with dear, Seattle squid “kids,” and more!

THE DISHONOR ROLL First upper Klamath River Chinook poached; Grays Harbor County man sentenced for spree cow elk killing; More unlawful thermal equipment use found in Oregon; Jackass Of The Month

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

2026 BOAT & SPORTSMEN’S SHOW CALENDAR Event schedule, venues, show links

THE BIG PIC

A Rustic Cabin In The Blues February 2020’s flood heavily damaged author Dennis Dauble’s rebuilt retreat and beloved fishing grounds on Oregon’s Umatilla River, but all was not lost.

(DENNIS DAUBLE)

20 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

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Before and after images from last summer and last month of a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife boat ramp on the Skagit River at Sedro-Woolley show the power of a scouring flood on gravel. (WDFW)

THE EDITOR’SNOTE

t was November 1990 and what was then a record flood was surging out of Washington’s Cascades. Crossing the Highway 522 bridge over the Snohomish River, I was shocked by how much water was flowing past and the display of so much raw natural power. Up at the US 2 bridge at Index, a surreal brownish … fog hung low over the rushing Skykomish as the rain poured down. It was and wasn’t new to me. I’d done some growing up nearby on the banks of the Sultan River, where I learned floods were to be expected. Only much later would I hear the terms “atmospheric river” and “Pineapple Express,” but Mr. Sofie, my elementary school principal, had the gist of it when he announced over the intercom one morning that “monsoon season” had arrived and to stay the hell off the playfield at recess. Though he didn’t mention us by name, to this day I’m sure he was talking very specifically to me and my friends.

THOSE MEMORIES FLASHED back to mind last month as new record floodwaters swamped the Snohomish basin and Pugetropolis. U.S. Geological Service gauges recorded an eye-melting peak of 114,000 cubic feet per second of water on the Sky at Gold Bar – 38 times the average daily flow, 11 times higher than the highest level I ever fished Reiter – and an incredible 152,000 cfs on the Skagit River at Concrete – about a median December day for the Columbia River at Vancouver. Homes, farms and towns were inundated, and one man drowned. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife hatcheries suffered mostly minor damage, but what happened at a just-repaired agency boat launch on the Skagit foretells what last fall’s salmon redds faced. Photos show how gravel placed alongside the freshly laid concrete ramp was hosed away by the high flows and fast currents. “This record-setting flood event will likely have severe impacts on salmon, particularly eggs laid earlier this fall, many of which will be lost due to scour from floodwaters or buried under heavy sediment,” Chase Gunnell, a WDFW spokesman, told me last month. “As a result, there will be effects to salmon returns in 2027-2029.” Most concerning will be impacts to mainstem-spawning Chinook; fishing seasons for other Puget Sound salmon stocks have been restricted in recent seasons to protect already-low returns of wild kings. And it could also take multiple generations for pink salmon to come back, if an October 2003 flood on the Skagit is any indication. I’M SORRY TO start a new year off on such a down note, but I take hope

in Dennis Dauble’s story in the following pages. Nearly six winters ago, a huge flood whacked his cabin and beloved trout fishing waters in Oregon’s Blue Mountains, but he was able to eventually rebuild, and while the Umatilla River’s habitat was heavily altered, there are still a few trout around. Indeed, fish, streams and anglers are resilient; we all bounce back; untold millenia of geologic history show this is true. But as I write this while the latest December monsoon pounds down on my roof and my backyard fills again with runoff, I think I’ve had it with dark days and heavy rain for a while. –Andy Walgamott nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2026

Northwest Sportsman 25

A Rustic Cabin In The Blues February 2020’s flood heavily damaged an author’s retreat and beloved fishing grounds, but all was not lost.

Editor’s note: The following is excerpted and expanded from A Rustic Cabin: Finding a Sense of Place, by Dennis D. Dauble and published by Keokee Books.

y quest to own a cabin began when retirement was in sight. The goal was to find secluded property near a mountainside stream or lake to build on. Preferably a place on the western slopes of the Blue Mountains. Unfortunately, recreational property had escalated in price. Many affordable locations were subject to flooding, located in the middle of a clearcut, accessible only by a snowmobile or lacked a reliable water source. After chasing dead-end leads for three years, a stroke of luck led us to a 60-year-old log cabin located in the upper Umatilla River canyon. The property nestled inside the Bar-M Ranch, a former stagecoach stop converted into a dude ranch and hot springs resort known as Bingham Springs. A gently sloping gravel road led upstream to two directional

Author Dennis Dauble has long loved the Umatilla River for its fishing and scenery. It’s home to bull trout, a predacious headwater char found in cool inland waters of the Northwest. Readily identifiable for their light spots on a dark background, the federally listed fish are not open for harvest here. (DENNIS DAUBLE) 26 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

Tucked in a fold of the Blue Mountains of Northeast Oregon is Dauble’s cabin and bunkhouse getaway. A springtime view shows his cattle tub spa heating up for an evening soak. (DENNIS DAUBLE)

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2026 Northwest Sportsman

forks where my family had camped and fished every fall for two decades. At a 2,000-foot elevation, the twobedroom cabin was four-seasonaccessible and surrounded by a large swath of national forestland. We were assured of a welcome 10-degree drop in air temperature from our home in sagebrush country during the heat of the summer. Moss-covered shingles, missing chink, a decade of dead leaves and needle duff and an off-kilter screen door should have been a hint. Always the optimist, however, I sensed potential. Walls did not lean to the south. The chink could be easily patched and badly cracked windows replaced. A new front porch and deck would also spruce up the place. The cabin did not front the river, but a football’s punt away was the best fishing and swimming hole in a mile. A nearby encounter with bull trout

occurred when my daughter was 6 years old. The bait of choice was a fat, juicy nightcrawler. I hooked a legal-size rainbow trout in a deep hole where current swirled around exposed alder roots. Then, like any good dad, I handed Diana the rod for a try at landing the trout. She took one crank on the reel before giving me a dirty look and saying, “It’s stuck on the bottom!” I took the rod back and felt the throb of a heavy fish. “Looks like a big Dolly ate your trout!” I yelled. “Let’s see if we can land it.” Wading in behind the bull trout, I tried to herd it to shore, but it coughed up the badly mangled trout and swam back to its protective lair. Five decades have rolled by, yet I remember that thrilling encounter like it was yesterday. Which proves the adventures that stick with you the longest are ones where the big one gets away.

DURING THE FIRST decade of cabin ownership, I focused on tasks captured on an evolving Excel spreadsheet of over

30 action items. It wasn’t all work and no play, though. When the sound of water running over smooth cobble called, I’d grab a fly rod and hike along a shaded path to the river. Rainbow trout were abundant and bull trout lurked in the headwaters. Local harvest regulations specified catch-and-release during our early tenure, but I didn’t mind. Having ready access to a gurgling trout stream had been in my dreams since childhood. Fast forward to the month of February 2020. The Umatilla rose 8 feet in elevation between dinnertime and noon the following day. Floodwater overtopped the banks of the river from its headwaters to its confluence with the Columbia River, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Ironically, one month prior I had wandered over to the river with a friend who asked, “Water ever get over these rocks?” pointing at an alder-shaded embankment with moss-covered boulders. “Not even close in the 15 years we’ve lived here,” I replied.

Upon taking ownership, Dauble invested 15 years of “sweat, muscle and spare cash” modernizing the place, but February 2020’s extraordinary flood left him with a muddy mess. Debris covered the yard and 3 inches of muck was deposited inside the buildings. (DENNIS DAUBLE) 28 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

Post-cleanup, a restored bunkhouse sits ready for grandkids to drop their backpacks and grab a fishing rod. (DENNIS DAUBLE) But the 100-year flood proved me wrong. Fifteen years of sweat, muscle and spare cash had been invested to bring our cabin into the 21st century. My heart and soul had been put into making it a safe haven for my family. From our homehome in Southeast Washington, I could only speculate on the amount of damage incurred in terms of dollars and hours of labor. Did we have the money, time and energy to rebuild? Flood debris filled our cabin’s yard. The front porch had been swept downstream. Sections of the perimeter fence were flattened by the force of moving water. One neighbor’s vintage Airstream trailer was left tipped on its side against our front gate. A deep channel formed

between log posts that held up what was now a crooked carport. The timber bridge that spanned the small spring creek between our cabin and an adjacent lot had been swept away, along with three cords of precious firewood. Forcing the front door of the cabin open, I inhaled the earthy stink of 3 inches of cold, wet mud. Prized possessions lay scattered where receding water had left them. Furniture, walls and drapes were mud-soaked. The lower drawers of kitchen cabinets and bedroom bureaus were swollen shut, contents beyond saving. Room by room I walked, mind racing, head aching. Could we make the cabin livable again? Or would we walk away, as one nearby cabin owner later chose to do?

IN ONE EXTREME flow event, Mother Nature had also erased features familiar to me over a lifetime of fishing. I wondered, How long before streamside willow and alder grow tall enough to shade bare shorelines, cool the river and nourish aquatic life? How many years before the river forms more pools for fish and the creatures they depend on for food? As an aquatic ecologist, I understand how floods benefit streams. High flow enhances movement of nutrients from the terrestrial landscape, creates living space for aquatic insects by removing fine sediment from river cobble and restores function to gravel beds used for spawning. Nonetheless, the trout angler in me feels remorse when I survey favorite stretches of nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2026 Northwest Sportsman

through a keyhole in passing storm clouds, and verdant maple leaves glistened to remind me how much joy the cabin gave. Somewhere up the narrow river canyon, I mused, there will be a rainbow.

OPENING DAY OF Eastern Oregon trout

The 2020 flood straightened the Umatilla’s meanders and created shallow riffles (below right) where pools (above) and pocket water (below left) once existed. (DENNIS DAUBLE)

the upper Umatilla. Dump-truck loads of gravel were left high and dry by floodwater. Wide, shallow riffles have replaced gentle meanders. Shorelines are bare of cooling willow and alder. Deep pools that shelter trout exist only where the river’s course meets immovable bedrock cliffs. A flood of similar magnitude once displaced both rainbow and bull trout from the headwaters of many Blue Mountain streams. Four months later, I wondered, Why all 30 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

this work for a rustic log cabin? Sitting on the rebuilt front porch, I removed muddy boots, swatted at a pesky wasp and wondered if it was worth it. After all, I was ready to enjoy my golden years. Then, pleasant memories came back: tree frogs calling from vernal pools, Steller’s jays scrapping for the last bite of suet, the honey-sweet odor of blooming mock orange, the red glow of the woodstove’s warming fire. As if by magic, the sun broke

season passes while I continue to restore the cabin. For the first time in my life, I do not wet a line for stream trout until late July, when my grandnephew arrives for an afternoon of fishing. After sifting through his box of flies, Blake selects a Renegade. This iconic Western fly pattern can be fished dry or allowed to sink like a drowned insect. The contrast between brown and white hackles makes it visible to the fly caster. A peacock hurl body adds luminescence. Most self-respecting rainbow trout rise to this attractive pattern on the first cast. We high step through a snarl of waisthigh snowberry, sprawling blackberry vines and downed timber. After reaching the river, I point out a promising pool, find a smooth boulder to rest my backside, and coach Blake to focus on short, precise offerings rather than imitate a long-cast contest he might have viewed on YouTube. “Work the edges first,” I say. “Save the best part of the hole for last.” Unable to corral his youthful enthusiasm, Blake crouches low and casts to the heart of the pool. The ever-present smile on his face grows at the moment he hooks a small trout where current swirls under a giant fir log torn loose by the February flood. When he brings the fish splashing to the shallows for release, I explain how salmon and trout can be identified by the size, shape and location of parr marks displayed along their silvery flanks. Blake nods his head politely, perhaps more interested in catching another fish than an introductory lesson in ichthyology. We probe pocket water, riffle-runs, and deep slots where current crests along a riprap bank, switching between a variety of dry flies. Juvenile spring Chinook salmon show a flash of gold when they try to pull a fly down. Tiny steelhead fry from this year’s post-flood spawn scatter in the shallows. Most trout we fool are small, 5 to 7 inches in length, although Blake’s patience is rewarded with an 11-inch rainbow that reveals pink flesh when he kneels to the water’s edge

and removes its guts. “Small trout whose diet is mostly insects or small fish have white flesh. It’s crayfish in your trout’s diet that colored its meat,” I explain in an attempt to impart more piscatorial wisdom.

ON THE HIKE back to my truck, Blake shares that an angler he met on a prior trip bragged about landing a 27-inch-long bull trout. Growing up at a time when it was legal to harvest bull trout, before their numbers were reduced and required protection under the Endangered Species Act, I heard tales of anglers who used “cut bait” to pull big “Dollys” from deep bedrock pools and log jams. A few years back, over a cold lager, a high school friend shared how he used to “drift baby mice down through holes in the Umatilla” in quest of bull trout. That bull trout survived the flood is welcome news. Blake’s comment takes me back to a late-season trip up the North Fork of the Umatilla River. Alder leaves had turned gold and cobwebs ballooned baby spiders

Blake, Dauble’s grandnephew, releases a pansized trout from a floodravaged shoreline. Fall days (left) on the Umatilla can be magical. “I may have fished this same Blue Mountain stream since I was a youngster,” the author says, “but it is a whole new river with miles and miles of water for me to learn all over again.” (DENNIS DAUBLE) across the sky. A cool breeze sent senescent leaves cascading into the river. I was ready to call it a day when a small rainbow trout rose to a well-placed Adams fly. Before I could reel in what would be my breakfast trout, a large dark form burst from the cover of a submerged log, engulfed my catch and put a deep bend in the fly rod. The fish-eating predator, a 20-inch-long bull trout, was eventually steered to the shallows for release with the small rainbow trout held deep in its gullet. Reflecting on that present fine summer day, I notice how Blake lingers at each promising location. I can’t help but think time is too fleeting to dawdle over a second chance at a small trout. I may have 32 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

fished this same Blue Mountain stream since I was a youngster, but it is a whole new river with miles and miles of water for me to learn all over again. NS Editor’s note: Dennis Dauble is author of the award-winning natural history guidebook, Fishes of the Columbia Basin, three short story collections about the fishing experience, and a fishing memoir. This article is an excerpt from his latest book, A Rustic Cabin, which was awarded first place in the Excellence in Craft category by the Northwest Outdoor Writers Association in 2025. All six of Dauble’s books can be purchased from regional bookstores, Keokee.com, Amazon.com or via a link on his website, DennisDaubleBooks.com.

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READER PHOTOS

Rick and Terry Itami’s annual trek from Spokane to the Southern Oregon Coast yielded “fantastic fishing” for Clouser Minnow-biting fall Chinook. They were greeted by a lead-off 25-pound buck that “jumped 3 feet out of the water in spectacular fashion” for Rick, who landed it after 15 minutes’ worth of powerful runs. And while recovering from double rotator cuff surgery may have limited her time on the rod, Terry (above) limited on kings too! The Itamis “hooked well over two dozen fish and landed 17.” (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)

Puget Sound played nice for Frank Urabeck (right) and pals Steve Bagley and Mike Stefanick that day early last month when they headed out for some squid jigging. Not only was the inland sea calm, but the boys from the Save Our Fish Puget Sound Anglers Chapter all got their 10-pound limits of about 55 squid each! Urabeck planned to share some of his haul on Christmas with family. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)

PHOTO CONTEST MONTHLY

Winner!

Ken McNaughton (right) took buddy and longtime Tri-Cities resident Gary out for his first-ever trip on the Columbia last fall, and they enjoyed a “great day at Vernita,” where they ran Spin-N-Glos and eggs for this pair of Chinook. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)

It was a looooooong boat ride, but well worth it for Nathan Craig. He set sail out of Anacortes aboard buddy Mike Hollingbery’s 28-foot Duckworth Offshore for Bella Bella, British Columbia, and they enjoyed – you knew this was coming – some hella good fishing for lingcod, halibut, rockfish and salmon. “Slept six nights on the boat and saw some beautiful country and released a lot of kings! I highly recommend the trip,” Craig reports. Sign us up! (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)

For your shot at winning a knife in our Knife Photo Contest, send your full-resolution, original images with all the pertinent details – who’s in the pic; when and where they were; what they caught their fish on/weapon they used to bag the game; and any other details you’d like to reveal (the more, the merrier!) – to awalgamott@media-inc.com or Northwest Sportsman, 941 Powell Ave SW, Suite 120, Renton, WA 98057. By sending us photos, you affirm you have the right to distribute them for use in our print and Internet publications. nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2026 Northwest Sportsman

READER PHOTOS

Between catching bright kings for the barbecue and battling and releasing darker fish, Jon Crawford and buddy Jerry Han had a blast in the greater Brookings area early last November. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST) Gary Lundquist nailed his trip timing to the Humptulips for B-run coho! “Only caught 17 yesterday,” he texted the editor in mid-November. “Beautiful silvers.” Indeed! (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)

“Still whacking and stacking coho!” So reported Dennis Schwartz just before Halloween. He enjoyed a good October of slamming silvers on the Lower Columbia. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST) 36 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

Bill Stanley hoists a nice B-run steelhead caught in early November while competing in the annual Colton Knights of Columbus Steelhead Derby around the Snake-Clearwater confluence. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST)

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First Upper Klamath Chinook Poached

MIXED BAG

By Andy Walgamott

he good news? With removal of four dams on the Klamath River completed in 2024, thousands of Chinook have wasted little time making their way back into Southern Oregon waters. The not-so-good news? So too have poachers. Or at least two, anyway. Last month, the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division reported what’s believed to be the first criminal case of unlawful take of salmon on the Beaver State side of the basin since the sea-going fish lost access to the area in 1912. Troopers say that in October a witness phoned in a report about a man who’d illegally kept a Chinook out of Spencer Creek, a Klamath tributary 15 miles west of Klamath Falls. It closed to fishing at the end of September to protect spawning salmon. While the man was gone when a trooper arrived, witnesses provided a license plate, and the vehicle was subsequently spotted and stopped on Highway 66 by the officer. Inside the vehicle were two individuals. The passenger allegedly admitted to fishing, claiming “he didn’t think wardens would be working due to the federal

A pair of Chinook and a rod and reel seized from a man who allegedly poached the salmon in the upper Klamath River’s Spencer Creek. (OSP VIA ODFW) government shutdown,” according to OSP. Federal fish and wildlife enforcement officers remained on duty during the shutdown, as of course did state troopers. Two Chinook and a rod and reel were seized from the man, who was criminally cited, while the driver was also warned for aiding in a wildlife violation.

Officials say that around 10,000 adultsized fish were counted this past fall at a sonar station below the former site of Iron Gate Dam, the lowest of the four on the Klamath that were removed. That figure was 30 percent higher than the previous fall, the first that salmon and other species could go past that point.

JACKASS OF THE MONTH

f you’re going to poach a buck and then have it professionally mounted, do you really want to kill a very recognizable one? Heck, yeah! That apparently was the thinking of a California man who killed a deer with a very distinctive and lopsided rack, then took the antlers to his local taxidermist. That’s where state wildlife officers discovered it during a routine inspection and instantly recognized it as a buck known to frequent a residential golf course/ community in the foothills north of Fresno. Attached to the antlers, however, was a tag for a unit 100 miles away along the

crest of the southern Sierra Nevada Range near Mount Whitney. Given that the buck was a wellphotographed town deer, officers were able to compare images of it from just days before its stated harvest date and concluded the muley hadn’t suddenly made a cross-mountain migration. And indeed, when they served a search warrant on the tag holder’s house, officers found photos showing the deer was very much alive behind the guy’s home the same day it was alleged to have been arrowed in that other unit. The man pleaded guilty last September to unlawful take and falsifying his tag, and he was sentenced to three-year loss of his hunting privileges, one year of probation, forfeiture of the buck, 80 hours of

(CDFW)

community service and to pay court fees. And just in case he didn’t learn his lesson and wants to hunt again in the future, he was ordered to recomplete hunter education.

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2026

Northwest Sportsman 39

MIXED BAG

Man Sentenced For Spree Elk Killing

t’s been about 16 years since the term “spree killing of wildlife” came into common usage in the Northwest, and it’s most infamously associated with a Grays Harbor County man whose poaching activities led Washington lawmakers to expand what was considered unlawful hunting in the first degree, a class C felony. “Previously,” I wrote back in 2011, “offenders had to have a previous wildlife misdemeanor within the past five years to get hit with that charge. But now someone who poaches three or more deer, elk, moose, mountain goat, caribou, cougars, black bears or grizzly bears within 24 hours or ‘course of events’ could be charged straight away in the first degree.” Late last year, prosecutors used that law to convict another Grays Harbor man of the spree killing of at least five cow elk in the North River Game Management Unit. While Richard Loren Pratt, 45, of Cosmopolis avoided jail time for the time being, if he violates the mental health sentencing alternative he was sentenced to, he could

be imprisoned for up to nine-plus years. The case against Pratt began in January 2023 with a report from a private timber company of several dead elk on a hillside south of Cosmopolis. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife wardens investigated and collected evidence. The cows had been shot by rifle in a closed unit and no meat was taken from the carcasses. Then, 10 months later, Officer Lanny McOmber came across Pratt near the crime scene. Pratt had cut a pair of gates open to get there and was also in possession of two guns, which as a convicted felon he was barred from having. A field interview and follow-up investigation determined Pratt had killed the elk earlier that year, per WDFW. While the lack of immediate jail time in Pratt’s sentence disappointed WDFW Police Region 6 Captain Dan Chadwick, he credited county prosecutors for reaching a plea deal that included the possibility of incarceration, and he thanked them for working the case. But he saved his strongest praise for McOmber.

“We solved this case thanks to the tenacity of Officer McOmber and the contact he made with Pratt,” said Chadwick. “This is just another example of our officers’ commitment to thorough investigations. In this case the officer spent months working the investigation, putting all the pieces together, which ultimately concluded in a confession.” Pratt pleaded guilty to spree killing of wildlife, unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree (a class B felony) and gross misdemeanor wastage of wildlife. He was also sentenced to community custody for 36 months, $10,000 wildlife penalty and lost his hunting privileges for a decade. Washington legislators were inspired to strengthen poaching penalties in the wake of the sentencing of Cody James Stearns, the Hoquiam man labeled the “poster child” for spree killing of wildlife. Stearns, who passed away in 2021, pled guilty in late 2010 to illegally killing five deer and received five months in jail and had his hunting license suspended for life.

More Unlawful Thermal Device Use Found

llegal hunting with thermal devices continues to be a problem on the northeast side of the Willamette Valley. Oregon fish and wildlife troopers say that while conducting a special two-day emphasis patrol on Weyerhaeuser’s Snow Peak Tree Farm in Marion County during last October’s deer season they came across two different groups of hunters using thermal equipment. One of the people contacted by troopers initially stated he wasn’t using the gear before handing over a “small, inexpensive black monocular,” which he claimed was the only device on him. But troopers report he eventually admitted it was a decoy just in case he was contacted in the field and that he told the officers where he had hidden his actual thermal. What was he thinking? “... (Others) were doing the same and he decided to follow suit,” troopers report. As you may recall from this space in our July 2025 issue, in late 2024, following up on complaints about the use of infrared

40 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

Illegal thermal devices seized in Oregon (top) and Washington. (OSP; WDFW) technology to kill deer and elk, OSP seized 14 thermal devices and arrested 13 individuals while serving search warrants at nine residences in Clackamas County, the county to the north and east of Marion. “Thermal or infrared use is illegal in Oregon, gives an unfair advantage and is not a fair chase,” said Jason Kirchner, an

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife district wildlife biologist, in a press release at the time. “This illegal activity will increase harvest rates, reduce our game populations and hunting opportunities and impact the public image of law-abiding hunters.” In a different kind of case but one still emblematic of the problem, during last October’s deer season in Western Washington, a suspect was found trespassing late at night on private timberlands with a thermal scope, carbine sans serial number and spotlight, all of which were seized. Per the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, it’s unlawful to hunt with night vision equipment, which includes thermal devices, while in possession of a firearm, bow or crossbow. Charges were forwarded to Mason County prosecutors. Back in Oregon and the deceptive tree farm deer hunter, troopers say they seized the man’s decoy device and two thermals and cited him criminally for using thermal imaging equipment for wildlife scouting.

32nd ANNUAL

TRI-CITIES SPORTSMEN SHOW JANUARY 23 - 25, 2026

OTHER ATTRACTIONS: NW Big Game display Hunting seminars Fishing seminars Rock climbing wall Mechanical bull

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JAN. 30- FEB. 1, 2026 LANE COUNTY EVENT CENTER EUGENE, OR FRI 12-7pm • SAT 9am-7pm SUN 9am-3pm

30th annual DOUGLAS COUNTY

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DOUGLAS COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS ROSEBURG, OR FRI 12-7pm • SAT 10am-7pm SUN 10am-3pm

26th annual JACKSON COUNTY

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FEB. 27-MAR. 1, 2026 SHASTA DISTRICT FAIRGROUNDS ANDERSON, CA FRI 12-7pm • SAT 10am-7pm SUN 10am-5pm

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KLAMATH COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS KLAMATH FALLS, OR FRI 12-7pm • SAT 10am-7pm SUN 10am-5pm

art

OUTDOOR

CALENDAR JANUARY

NEW! OR Ocean Endorsement goes into effect and is required to fish the Pacific from a beach, jetty or watercraft or with a spear for select species (i.e., rockfish, lingcod, halibut, surfperch, etc., but not salmon, crabs or clams); NEW! WA Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement goes into effect and is required to fish for salmon and steelhead on the Columbia and its tributaries; 2026 OR and ID fishing and hunting licenses required 1-6 Tentative razor clam digs scheduled on select WA Coast beaches, dependent on marine toxin levels – info: wdfw.wa.gov 7 Last day of OR Zone 2 scaup season 10 First of 10 brant goose hunting days in Pacific County, WA (others: January 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25); Deadline to file WA big game hunting report for special incentive permit eligibility 13-22 ODFW Hunter Safety Conventional Course, Prineville (register by January 12, classes on January 13, 15, 17, 20, 22; $10) – info: vem.myodfw.com 15 Last day of WA forest grouse season; Last day of Eastern WA Hungarian partridge, quail and pheasant seasons 16 OR High Desert and Blue Mountains Zone white and white-fronted goose late-season opener; Last day of ID Duck Areas 2 and 3 duck seasons 17 22nd Annual Ice Fishing Derby, Molson, WA – info: orovillewachamber.com; First of three brant goose hunting days in Clallam and Whatcom Counties, WA (others: January 21, 24) 20 NEW! Deadline to purchase ID nonresident general season deer and elk tags if drawn in December’s first application period 22 ODFW Intro To Hunting In Oregon, Tualatin Cabela’s (register by January 20, $10) – info above 24 4th Annual Bonaparte Lake Ice Fishing Derby, Wauconda, WA – info: bonapartelakeresort.com 31 Deadline to file mandatory hunter reports in WA and OR; OR and WA statewide veterans and active military waterfowl hunting day; WA statewide youth waterfowl hunting day; Last day of OR and ID upland bird seasons; Last day of ID Area 1 duck season; Last day of OR fall turkey season; Last day of Eastern WA chukar season; Last day of trout, salmon and/or steelhead seasons on numerous Western WA river systems 31-Feb. 15 OR Northwest Permit Zone goose late-season dates 31-Feb. 22 OR Mid-Columbia Zone white and white-fronted goose lateseason dates

FEBRUARY

5-15 NEW! 2026 ID nonresident second application period for general deer and

elk tag drawings ODFW Steelhead 101 workshop with Association of Northwest Steelheaders, Sandy River at Glen Otto Park (registration, fee) – info above 7-15 WA Goose Management Area 1 white-goose-only and GMA 2 Inland goose late-season dates (state wildlife areas and federal refuges closed in 2 Inland; open select dates) 10 Deadline to apply for OR spring black bear permits 14-15 OR Free Fishing Weekend 15 Deadline to apply for ID spring black bear permits; Last day of steelhead season in select Puget Sound terminal areas; Last day of steelhead season on Chehalis River and tributaries; Deadline to file WA brant, sea duck and harlequin hunting reports; Last day of OR Zone 1 snipe season 19 ODFW Intro To Hunting In Oregon, Tualatin Cabela’s (register by February 17, $10) – info above 21 WA GMA 4 white goose late-season opener; OR South Coast Zone goose late-season opener 28 Last day of OR bobcat and fox seasons

7-8

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2026

Northwest Sportsman 43

2026 BOAT AND SPORTSMEN’S SHOW

CALENDAR

There’s a whole lot more to the Northwest’s annual sportsmen’s and boat shows, but heads and horns displays always attract a lot of traffic. Show-goers take in the big racks at last year’s Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show in Portland. (ANDY WALGAMOTT)

MARCH

JANUARY 7-11 Portland Boat Show, Expo Center, Portland, OR; pdxboatshow.com 9-11 Steelhead Expo, Hells Canyon Grand Hotel, Lewiston, ID; steelheadexpo.com 14-18 Vancouver International Boat Show, Vancouver Convention Centre West and Granville Island, Vancouver, BC; vancouverboatshow.ca

22-25 Inland Northwest RV Show, Spokane Fair and Expo Center, Spokane, WA; spokanervshow.com

22-25 Tacoma RV Show, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, WA; tacomarvshow.com 23-25 Tri-Cities Sportsmen Show, HAPO Center, Pasco, WA; jlmproductionsllc.com 28-Feb. 1 Washington Sportsmen’s Show, Washington State Fair Events Center, Puyallup, WA; wasportsmensshow.com

30-31 Western Idaho Fly Fishing Expo, Expo Idaho, Boise, ID; flyfishersinternational.org

30-Feb. 1 Lane County Sportsmen’s & Outdoor Recreation Show, Lane Events Center, Eugene, OR; exposureshows.com

30-Feb. 1 Willamette Sportsman Show, Linn County Expo Center, Albany, OR;

NW Hunt Expo, Wingspan Event & Conference Center, Hillsboro, OR; nwhuntexpo.com 5-8 Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show, Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center, Redmond, OR; cosportsmensshow.com 5-8 Idaho Sportsman Show, Expo Idaho, Boise, ID; idahosportsmanshow.com 6-8 BC Sport & Wilderness Show, Tradex, Abbotsford, BC; bcsportsmenshow.ca 13-14 Northwest Fly Fishing Expo, Linn County Fairgrounds, Albany, OR; nwexpo.com 13-15 Klamath County Sportsmen’s & Outdoor Recreation Show, Klamath County Fairgrounds, Klamath Falls, OR; exposureshows.com 19-22 Big Horn Outdoor Adventure Show, Spokane Fair & Expo Center, Spokane, WA; bighornshow.com 27-29 Montana Outdoor Expo, Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds, Helena, MT; montanaoutdoorexpo.com

APRIL

willamettesportsmanshow.com

10-12 Vancouver Island Outdoor Show, Cowichan Exhibition Park, Duncan, BC;

Marina, Seattle, WA; seattleboatshow.com

19 Fly Casting & Tying Fair, Pickering Barn Park, Issaquah, WA; wscffi.org 24-26 Victoria Outdoor Adventure Show, Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre, Victoria,

30-Feb. 7 Seattle Boat Show, Lumen Field Event Center and Bell Harbor

FEBRUARY 6-8

5-7

Douglas County Sportsmen’s & Outdoor Recreation Show, Douglas County Fairgrounds, Roseburg, OR; exposureshows.com 11-15 Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show, Expo Center, Portland, OR; pnwsportsmensshow.com 20-22 Jackson County Sportsmen’s & Outdoor Recreation Show, Jackson County Expo, Medford, OR; exposureshows.com 21-22 Saltwater Sportsfishing Show, Oregon State Fairgrounds, Salem, OR; oceaned.org/saltwater-sportfishing-show

homeshowtime.com/vi-outdoor-show

BC; homeshowtime.com/victoria-outdoor-adventure-show McKenzie River Wooden Boat Festival, Eagle Rock Lodge, Vida, OR; oregonsboat.org

MAY 14-16 Anacortes Boat & Yacht Show, Cap Sante Marina, Anacortes, WA; anacortesboatandyachtshow.com

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2026

Northwest Sportsman 45

Featured OREGON Lodge

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

Deltana Outfitters Alaska PHOTOS BY DELTANA OUTFITTERS

t Deltana Outfitters, big game hunters can experience the hunt of a lifetime with spot-and-stalk adventures for moose as well as grizzly, black and brown bears in some of Alaska’s most remote and pristine areas.

Celebrating four decades in business, Deltana Outfitters was originally founded in 1985 by Ralph Miller with partner Jim Weidner. “I guided for them and the goal was

for me to take over when they retired,” said Bob Summers, now owner of the company. “Ralph passed away suddenly and I came in as a partner with Jim, and three years later Jim retired and I took the business over solely.” Deltana Outfitters offers spring and fall hunts with highly experienced guides. While some of their hunts are on state leases, others are on refuge concessions. All of their tent camps are remote and reached via bush plane, and all camp meals are prepared by the guide and consist of fresh food (steak, chicken, ham, etc.). “We do moose, grizzly and black bear out of our western camp. We glass from low ridges and hills and mainly focus on calling the moose to us and then spot-and-stalk the bears as they are feeding on berries in September,” explained Summers. “Our brown bear hunts are on the Alaska Peninsula and they are alternating years. Odd years, it’s a fall season where we concentrate on streams with fish and travel corridors between streams. Even years are spring hunts and we are looking for male bears looking for sows. There is more walking in the spring because

the bears are on the move.” In addition to bagging trophy big game, Deltana Outfitters customers can look forward to working with dedicated and diligent guides and staff who will do everything in their power to make your hunt an experience of a lifetime. “We say what we mean and mean what we say. We are very upfront and honest. No hidden costs or surprise fees,” said Summers. “We will always give 100 percent for your success. We will always do our part and you just have to do yours and hunt. We will take care of the rest.” For more information, visit deltana.com.

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Featured Washington Lodge

WELCOME TO

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COLUMN

4 Guides And An OG Talk How To Catch Winters

t’s consistent rainfall that swells rivers and encourages winter steelhead to migrate inland on their way to produce the next generation of fish that draws anglers from around the Northwest and beyond to happily reboot their attire for BUZZ warm clothes, rain RAMSEY gear and waders in

an effort to catch one of our region’s most sought-after fish. If you’ve never tried your luck for these unique fish, understand that winter steelhead are regarded as one of the most difficult of fish to catch. Just dealing with the sometimes difficult and ever-changing weather and water conditions – not to mention figuring out where the fish are and what they will or won’t bite (as in what fishing method, bait or artificial color they might

Author Buzz Ramsey, one of the Northwest’s most well-known and well-rounded experts on steelhead, prepares to release an unmarked fish he caught on an Oregon Coast stream. Now is prime time to get after hatchery and wild chromers on Northwest waters west of the Cascades. (BUZZ RAMSEY) like) – can challenge your angling skills. But what makes this sport even more popular is the size and beauty of these fish, how hard they fight to avoid capture and the unique challenge of it all. Combine this with the feeling and sights offered by a wintertime experience that might include boating a flowing, living river and the visual images of the surrounding forest and wildlife, and it all keeps anglers coming back for more. nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2026 Northwest Sportsman

COLUMN transitioning from a dirty brown to a frosty green and then emerald green that fishing is often the best. The above description is why you might have heard experienced anglers quote the following adage: When the rivers are low, and they’ve been that way for awhile, fish the lower river; when rivers are high, fish high in the watershed. Keep in mind that smaller and/or shorter rivers drop and clear faster than the bigger and/or longer ones.

DON’T OVERLOOK TIDEWATER, TIDES In addition, at least in regards to rivers emptying into the Pacific Ocean, Lower Columbia or Puget Sound, ocean tides can be a factor in determining when and where fresh fish will show up. For example, if rivers have been low and clear for 10 days or more, a big ocean tide can push waiting fish into the lower river where you might find them despite crystal clear water conditions. If you are planning a trip well in advance of the season, perhaps with a fishing guide, I’d encourage you to plan your trip on or just after the biggest tide of the month – this, on average, is when steelhead will be the most numerous, especially near the peak season, as big tides can encourage fish to travel. You see, it’s the combination of big tides and a rise and fall of water levels that cause steelhead to migrate, and it’s this pulse of fish you are trying to intercept.

EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULES With bobberdoggin’, an increasingly popular way to catch steelies, floats are fatter than those you would use for fishing a jig or bait under a bobber. While mainly done from a boat, bank anglers can adapt the technique. (BUZZ RAMSEY)

MY ADVICE When rivers are low, say, due to a lack of winter precipitation, returning fish can stack up low in the system, perhaps only occupying the tidal zone itself or the first few holes above tidewater. This scenario is particularly true if rainfall has held off for a few weeks or more. And while this description is true on small- to mediumsized rivers, good numbers of steelhead might flood more than a few miles 56 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

upstream and offer excellent opportunity on large river systems like the Cowlitz and Chehalis in Washington, or Oregon’s coastal rivers such as the Nehalem, Umpqua and Rogue. Large amounts of rain can make rivers rise to the point of being unfishable due to high, turbid water. However, high water, even when near flood stage, can draw fish upstream like a magnet. It’s when the water is dropping after a rise and its color is

There are exceptions to the above description of fish migration, of course, and mostly involve hatchery fish. For example, returning hatchery fish will often hold where they were released as juveniles. This could include the hatchery where they were raised, an acclamation pond where they were held prior to release, or where a fish transport truck liberated them into the river. It’s uncanny how they can somehow remember the area where they were released as smolts two or three years prior. When navigating rivers, steelhead hold in fairly shallow water, that is, water less than 10 feet deep. Water 4 to 8 feet deep, moving about the speed of a person’s brisk walk, is where you will find them most often. They also like to hold in tailouts, the

CALL THE LODGE FOR AVAILABLE DATES

COLUMN downstream third of a hole, pool or drift. Other preferred holding areas include just upstream or downstream from large underwater structures (like a large boulder or root wad), alongside where a steep bank extends into the river and along current edges. You can cull out most fast, steep-water rapids and the deep (sometimes sandfilled) swirling holes as places where steelhead won’t often be found. The exception to that is when water levels drop low enough for the sand to settle out of the deeper holes, and the tailouts become too shallow for fish to feel secure. It’s under these conditions that steelhead may seek deep water in the middle or

upper end of a hole. In addition, when rivers turn clear as gin, you may find fish huddled under choppy surface currents, as doing so can make them feel safe. Areas where many large boulders break the current can provide plenty of holding areas for fish seeking the oxygen and cover these structures provide.

DROP INTO DROPOFFS One of the most productive places for steelhead to hold is downstream from an underwater dropoff. This type of structure may be difficult to read unless the river is low and clear enough to see the deeper green-water slots, which is why some

This winter steelhead of Ramsey’s went for a size 6 Spin-N-Glo drift fished in combination with a pencil weight. (BUZZ RAMSEY) 58 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

anglers will boat or walk their favorite stream under extreme low water in advance of the season. Of course, just one highwater event can change bottom contours. However, these areas can sometimes be identified by feel. For example, if your sinker is bouncing along the bottom and you suddenly lose contact, it could be due to an underwater dropoff. Using enough weight to carry your offering down into these deep-water pockets can pay big dividends.

HIGH-WATER SPOTS When water levels are abnormally high, fish will change from their normal holding areas to ones where the water is slower moving. They may also congregate near small, clear-

COLUMN running creek mouths, which is when a bobber and pink worm suspended under a float might be your ticket to success. You see, when rivers are high and brown, a surprising number of adult fish can move out of the main river and into or at the mouths of these tiny tributaries. And while all of the above is true, success is often a simple matter of making

one well-placed cast into every likely looking spot. If you catch a steelhead from one, it’s likely that another fish will soon take its place. After all, all steelhead prefer the same kinds of water. Finding as many of these fish-holding areas as possible should be the centerpiece of your steelhead strategy. Once learned, the spots you frequent should include places

you catch fish and where you see other anglers catch them.

GUIDE ADVICE The above are general rules. To discover what works for winter steelhead in widely different Northwest rivers, I interviewed four fishing guides for what works this time of year on their waters.

BILL MEYER, WASHINGTON’S OLYMPIC PENINSULA, (206) 697-2055, BILLMEYERFISHING.COM

Alan Kimpton of Seattle and Craig Hultgren of Longview show off a 27-pound winter steelhead they caught and released late last winter while fishing with guide Bill Meyer. (BILL MEYER FISHING) 60 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

Bill Meyer guides in many areas in and around Washington including Buoy 10, the Cowlitz for summer steelhead and the Columbia for summer and fall Chinook. But when it comes to winter steelhead, he stays within 45 minutes of his home in Forks. In case you don’t know, Forks is the hub of winter steelhead fishing on the Olympic Peninsula, as there are many rivers and 18 different drift boat runs within an hour’s drive of town. According to Meyer, the wild steelhead season really kicks off the second week of January, and stays productive through April of each year, especially given decent rainfall and an open-to-fish season. (Editor’s note: Under new rules passed by the Fish and Wildlife Commission in late fall, April is now permanently closed to steelhead fishing on Forks-area rivers.) Since the use of bait is illegal for much of the heart of the wild season, the fishing methods Meyer relies on these days include float fishing and backtrolling plugs. He prefers floats capable of suspending ½ to ¾ ounce of total weight. A steelhead jig and/or plastic worm is what Meyer has had the most success with. Meyer spends much of his fishing days reminding his clients (or at least some of them) to pay attention to what’s happening with their float, set the hook when it disappears underwater, to mend their line often (since it’s important to maintain a drift that matches the speed of the current and doesn’t skate your setup across the water’s surface), and to use two hands when casting, since landing your offering in the right location is important to success. When it comes to plug pulling, it’s important to wait until the rod tip

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COLUMN bottoms out before setting the hook and to make sure your thumb is on the reel spool when yanking. If your desire is to catch a giant steelhead, Forks should be on your radar, as each and every winter this corner of the Northwest produces more big fish than any other. Keep in mind, however, that most of the region offers only catchand-release fishing on wild steelhead and that you cannot totally remove fish intended for release from the water, so it’s important to take along your camera and tape measure.

MIKE SEXTON, WASHINGTON’S COWLITZ, (360) 584-2861; WASHINGTONSALMON STEELHEADFISHING.COM When guiding his clients from his jet boat, Mike Sexton relies on the bobberdoggin’ fishing method for success. He uses 10foot spinning rods in combination with 30-pound-test braid. On the end of his braid he splices a 12- to 18-foot section of 20-pound-test monofilament (called a bumper) that extends to his weight, leader, 16- or 20-millimeter size soft bead and a second offering consisting of a Mad River Hard Bead (similar to a Lil’ Corky drifter). These two offerings are rigged in line with each other. The sinker he uses consists of a 21/4-inch section of 3/16-inch-diameter pencil weight. The leader to his B&R soft bead consists of 36 inches of 12-poundtest fluorocarbon in combination with a size 2 single hook, with another fluorocarbon leader of 10-pound test extending back 24 inches to a size 3 Hard Bead and hook. According to Sexton, the buoyancy of the Hard Bead helps (mostly) keep his soft bead from hanging bottom while bobberdoggin’. From the bank, Sexton says most anglers find success near the Cowlitz Trout Hatchery. Finding the hatchery is easy. Just take exit 68 off I-5 and proceed east on Highway 12 (White Pass Highway) for 8 miles before turning right onto Brim Road. Follow Brim Road south and turn right where it tees at Spencer Road and go another mile before turning left into the hatchery (there is a sign). Follow the road around the river side of the hatchery, where you will find a large parking lot and boat 62 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

Walt Washington of Minnesota and fishing guide Mike Sexton hoist a pair of winter-runs taken from the Cowlitz River two seasons ago. (MIKE’S GUIDE SERVICE) ramp on the west end. Up-to-date river conditions and other current information can be obtained from local retailers: Barrier Dam Campground (360-985-2495), which is near said dam and offers a complete assortment of fishing tackle; and D9 Country Market (360-978-5634), formerly known as Ethel Market and Sports, located on Highway 12 near Tucker Road and before taking the right turn toward the trout hatchery. Both sell licenses, assorted fishing gear and bait. According to Sexton, the season on the Cowlitz runs from mid-January through mid-April.

CHRIS HARGATE, OREGON’S UMPQUA, (541) 430-2822, CHRISHARGATE@YAHOO.COM Chris Hargate is a full-time fishing guide who fishes all over Southern Oregon but

spends most of his time chasing winter steelhead on the Umpqua River system. According to Hargate, the main Umpqua can be quite good when the river is in shape, but difficult to fish when the water is high. During times when the main river is just too high and turbid, he will focus his efforts on its smaller forks, the North or South Umpqua. “The South fork fish seem to return early in the season, so I normally hit it during times when the main river is just too high,” says Hargate. “As the season progresses I’ll fish all over; it just depends on the water conditions and where the fish are showing. On average, the bigger steelhead seem to favor the North Umpqua, particularly late in the season.” And while Hargate likes to back-troll plugs when the water is running clear, as

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COLUMN barrel swivel to the top of his leader, where he also crimps a size 5 split shot just above a swivel. Then Hanson adds an additional 18-inch leader that extends down to a size 4 single hook rigged with a spawn bag. One thing he does that is important for successfully landing fish is to hold his egg sack up the shank of the hook with a Bait Button. This keeps the hook point exposed so that his clients land nine out of 10 steelhead they hook. “It’s important to watch your bobber, and when it goes down, to then reel until you feel the fish before pulling back on your rod tip to set the hook,” Hanson tips. NS

Roseburg’s Cam Lawler donated this 41-inch winter steelhead to the sport-caught live-capture broodstock hatchery program on the South Umpqua. He landed it while fishing with guide Chris Hargate in early 2024. (HARGATE GUIDE SERVICE)

Editor’s note: Buzz Ramsey is regarded as a sportfishing authority (as related to trout, steelhead and salmon), outdoor writer and proficient lure and fishing rod designer. Buzz built a successful 45-year career promoting gear related to Northwest and Great Lakes fisheries during his tenure with Luhr Jensen, Pure Fishing and Yakima Bait. Now retired, he writes for Northwest Sportsman and The Guide’s Forecast.

the bigger fish really seem to go for them, plugging is not always possible during times when there is a lot of boat pressure. “If the water is on the high side, most anglers employ the side drifting method. But as it drops and clears, we generally switch over to bobberdoggin’, since it’s easier to stay in the slots when using bobbers,” he shares.

BRAD HANSON, OREGON’S TILLAMOOK BAY AREA, (541) 410-3892; KINGTIDESFISHING.COM I fished with Brad Hanson a few years ago when we drift boated the Wilson River for winter steelhead and filmed a show with Justin Wolff of Angler West TV – find it on YouTube. I found Hanson to be very good at what he does and appreciated his fishing strategy and friendly demeanor. The fishing method he relies on for success is to suspend a small spawn bag under a clear free-sliding Beau Mac float. Hanson uses a sliding bobber stop to position his bait so it is just tapping bottom. To rig up, he attaches a ½-ounce pencil weight just below his bobber where his main line and 3-foot leader meet. He adds a small 64 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

Guide Brad Hanson poses with client Jasmine Santos as she shows off a nice Wilson River fish, landed in early 2025. Jasmine and her father Bobby Santos have fished with Hanson for over 10 years. (KING TIDES FISHING)

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FISHING

January Marks Transition To Broodstock Fishing Your monthly Oregon fishing outlook provided by The Guide’s Forecast. By Bob Rees

ith early winter steelhead returns now coming to an end, anglers will switch their focus to larger Oregon Coast systems that offer a fairly good chance at quality broodstock steelhead or a number of wild fish systems that should exhibit good returns into early spring. The Necanicum, North Fork Nehalem, Klaskanine and Alsea Rivers, along with Big and Gnat Creeks, should be fading for fresh-run steelhead, but we’ve been surprised on more than one occasion. There will be plenty of steelhead still available, but these fish turn into quick spawners and will enter this phase of their lifecycle by late January. Kelts – spawned-out steelhead that are pretty aggressive on their return back to the salt – make for good sport, but with few exceptions aren’t the best for table fare.

HIGH-QUALITY BROODSTOCK PROGRAMS exist on the Wilson, Nestucca, North Fork Nehalem, Siletz and Alsea systems, with a few stray broodstock steelhead returning to the Trask River as well. While there should be some available for the entire month of January, it seems the bulk of the continued on page 72

Step aside, early winter hatchery brats, it’s time for the broodstock steelie show to take over. Mike Hazen shows off a Wilson River fish from last season. (BOB REES) nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2026

Northwest Sportsman 67

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FISHING Broodstock, continued from page 67

returns happen in February and March these days. These fish can eclipse the top benchmark of 20 pounds, offering sport anglers a steelhead of a lifetime if you were to get so lucky. Besides being an incredible grade of fish, they bite better and distribute better spatially, enabling anglers a chance at these fish into mid-April. Biologists still try and limit broodstock steelhead from straying too far upstream in these systems to limit their interaction with wild fish. Nonetheless, bank anglers should have access to these fish well into the upper watershed. Early-season returnees respond well to small bait offerings, but the bead craze has changed the game for bank and boat anglers. The key to success is to work your offering so that it most closely matches the speed of the current you’re fishing in, maybe even a little faster. The most successful anglers employing the bobberdoggin’ technique typically prefer to have a small half-loop in their on-the-water

line to the bobber so the flow actually drags the offering slightly faster than the current. When a fish bites, use the “reel till you feel” mantra, enabling you to come tight and get out all the slack before ensuring the hook penetrates for maximum holding power. Don’t necessarily set the hook; rather, come up tight and maintain a tight line to land one of these aerobatic works of art. Hardware and plugs work well, too, especially in dropping flows when fish start to slow down on their upstream migration. Both types of lures act as invaders to the steelhead’s territory and, therefore, they strike out of aggression more than anything. Lake anglers, watch the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s weekly recreation report, as steelhead recovered at these hatcheries often find themselves trucked to a nearby lake system for them to live out their remaining days but ideally get harvested by a sport angler.

Along with coastal steelhead systems, fisheries on Lower Columbia tributaries and feeders will wake up this time of year, including the Clackamas River, where these anglers netted a winter-run early last January. (ANDY WALGAMOTT) 72 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

SPEAKING OF LAKES, several thousand trout were slated for stocking up and down the Willamette Valley in late December and early January. Go to myodfw.com/fishing to check your favorite body of water. Meanwhile, saltwater anglers should watch for east winds. While brutally cold, they knock down the ocean swell for bottomfishers and sport crabbers to take advantage of. There can be some incredibly calm ocean days in January, but you have to be prepared for the small windows of opportunity these conditions bring for those in search of the tasty white meat. While South of Falcon commercial crabbers have been working since midDecember, North of Falcon crabbers were delayed a while longer. The commercial fleet takes most of the larger grade of Dungeness, but there should still be a fair number of sportsized legals to take advantage of. NS Editor’s note: For more information, visit TheGuidesForecast.com.

nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2026

Northwest Sportsman 73

If you’ve mastered float fishing for winter-runs with a spinning rod or baitcaster, give a centerpin a go for a challenge. “There is an art to this type of fishing … The gear is often the same on both conventional and centerpinning float setups, but the way you enter the water, set the hook and even fight the fish are two different worlds,” says author Trevor Torppa. (CHROME CITY GUIDE SERVICE) 74 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

FISHING

Centerpin Basics For Steelhead Yes, it looks like fly gear, but think standard float fishing and you’ll see how effective this technique can be.

By Trevor Torppa

enterpin fishing for tributary steelhead requires advance knowledge of what types of water winter-runs will be found in. Steelhead will sit along the edges of the river, up alongside and/or under various wood structures. They will also be in deep holes in the middle of the river. These fish will be in boils that are 20 feet deep. My point is that the biggest thing when hunting steelhead is to fish everything as if there is a fish in it. If you don’t present your offering, they have nothing to latch on to.

ABOUT CENTERPIN FISHING The centerpin reel was invented in the mid-19th century and was very popular in England. It and the centerpin technique were mainly used in river fishing scenarios for brown trout and grayling. Over the years, the technique was introduced to Canadian and Michigan waters, and now to the Pacific Northwest to target salmon and steelhead. A centerpin reel has a 1-to-1 gear ratio. While very similar in style and appearance to a fly fishing reel, the primary difference is that the centerpin’s drag is not adjustable. One side of the reel spins, while the other remains stable, making it an art in itself to use and cast. A centerpin reel is controlled by your ring, index, middle and pinky fingers. You grasp the reel with these four fingers while the same hand is controlling the entire rod. Your right hand controls the left side of the reel – the nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2026

Northwest Sportsman 75

FISHING side that spins – and your left hand (if you are a righty) is the hand that does the reeling. As the line comes out of the reel, your right hand is letting the correct amount of line out based on the amount of tension kept by your fingers. The spool will spin freely unless it is locked. Every centerpin reel has a locking mechanism that will ultimately only be used when the rod is put up, being rerigged, carried, etc. When you turn the lock off, your hand has to be engaged on the reel in order to keep it from spinning freely.

THE WALLIS CAST There are two types of Wallis casts in the art of centerpinning, the traditional and the cross-body Wallis cast. Both of these casts require a great amount of technique, and practicing before using them in the field is crucial to your success while actually fishing. Both traditional and cross-body casts require a pendulum effect with your offering as you are rearing back to cast. This pendulum is created with 3 to 5 feet of line from your float to the tip of your rod. Rocking your presentation back while placing two fingers along the line creates the tension needed to be able to cast. When you get to your launch position, you then pull down on the line with your two fingers to get the reel spinning in coordination with the forward motion of your rod. The only difference between the traditional and the cross-body Wallis cast is that the traditional is swung from your dominant side (rod side), and the cross-body will be swung from the nondominant side, crossing across your body. The first cast that I would try to learn and practice is the cross-body, as it provides more room to move from front to back, creating easier and longer casts.

THE BC CAST In this cast, along with the Wallis style, a heavier weighted offering is always easier for beginners. The BC cast provides very good distance 76 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

Mastering the main centerpin casting styles will go a long way to getting your gear where fish hold. At left, Danny Colville with Colville Outfitters performs an overhand BC swing cast with both hands on the rod. And at right, he demonstrates an overhand Wallis cast, with his left hand holding the line below the reel so as to tug the line as he begins the cast and help more line spool off the reel and allow his lure to reach the target water. (COLVILLE OUTFITTERS)

and accuracy, along with a more conventional feel. As you move back, ease the fingers that you use to hold the spool off of the spool and continue your backward motion before getting to the very back of the swing. On your forward motion, you’ll completely let go of the spool until hitting your desired location. Very similar to most reels, such as a levelwind or spinning reel, the only difference is that you have to allow the line to filter out as you’re bringing your rod back to get that reel spinning ahead of time. Learning visually and practicing is most likely how you will see the most improvement in your casting techniques, whether it be the Wallis cast variations or the BC cast.

THE SETUP The centerpin reel size is very dependent on your hand size and personal preference. The size of the rod is also dependent on your liking, although a more limber, longer rod will help in casting ability. The shorter and stiffer the rod, the harder it is to be able

to whip out into your desired location. When first spooling your centerpin reel, you should use a decent amount of backing to take up space in the reel and save money out of your pocket. Off the backing, you will connect a 30- to 50-pound-test braided line with any connection knot of your choice. The reason we use braid is that it floats, and most fishing we will be doing with a centerpin will be float style with a bobber. Mending your line off the water to create a natural presentation with the river flow is crucial, especially in steelhead fishing. Run your braid through the eyes of your rod and slide the bobber stops along the top section. Underneath that, you will use the small beads that they provide within the package, and then a Corky. The Corky runs on top of your float and helps determine whether your line is tangled or not. If the Corky is not sitting flush on top of the bobber, your line is most likely tangled and you will have to reel in prematurely. Another bead is then slid up the line after your float as a knot protector, then an inline

FISHING weight that matches the size of your bobber (in most cases). The bottom of the inline weight features a swivel, to which you will tie your leader. When fishing a bead on your leader section, I like to run the same size inline weight as the bobber size itself. I do this because the bead weighs nothing and will not drag down too much on your float. My bead leader is usually always 6 to 7 feet of anywhere from 10- to 20-pound fluorocarbon line, with a size 7 split shot right in the middle of the leader. My bead is always pegged three finger widths from the hook. In the Northwest, we will run

anywhere from 8- to 25-millimeter beads (soft and hard). Hook size is dependent on the size of the bead. I often will run size 4 for my size 8- to 10mm beads, size 2 for 12- to 16mm, and size 1 for 20- to 25mm. We can also run a jig or a jig head and a pink worm underneath our float. That is when you want to size down your inline weight to match your bobber size. For the most part, you will have either a 1/8- or ¼-ounce jighead when float fishing.

FIGHTING THE FISH You’ve practiced your casts, got the right setup and now have the

Centerpin fishing yields a drag-free drift for your terminal presentation, whether that be a jig, bead or pink worm, and running your bait at natural speed means it’s more likely to get bit by steelhead working their way up Northwest streams. (CHROME CITY GUIDE SERVICE) 78 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

confidence to hit the water. But you have no practice fighting the fish you’re targeting. If you are an avid steelheader, or have any interest, you know that there is always the possibility of hooking an aboveaverage-sized fish of your dreams anytime you target them. This is the reason I steer most people to first try centerpinning for either coho or chum salmon, as they are more abundant than steelhead in most Northwest waters and are less grieved over if lost. The big reason why centerpinning is so intriguing to us anglers is that you will get a drag-free drift with your float fishing setup. A drag-free drift is ideal because it doesn’t cause any outside disturbance to your bait presentation, therefore increasing your odds of getting a more natural drift. After you cast into the head of a run with your centerpin rod, as your setup goes downstream below you, you can slowly let line out as needed without having too much unnecessary line out. This not only frees up your presentation but it allows you to be quick when setting the hook as your bobber gets pulled down by a fish. Once you set the hook on a centerpin reel, you are the drag. Your fingers are letting out line when the fish wants to run, and you are reeling it in with your nondominant hand when the fish lets you reel. You must let the fish run when it wants to run, or else you will break off that fish of a lifetime. There is an art to this type of fishing, and it is usually of interest to people who have already tried the more conventional ways of float fishing, such as with a spinning reel or a baitcaster. The gear is often the same on both conventional and centerpinning float setups, but the way you enter the water, set the hook and even fight the fish are two different worlds. NS Editor’s note: Trevor Torppa operates Chrome City Guide Service (360-7518748; chromecityguideservicellc.com) in Southwest Washington.

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Going With The Flow

COLUMN

hen you put a fair amount of time and love into something, you will naturally become better at it. You can analyze all the angles and step up with a certain amount of confidence. I like that, especially when bank fishing for winter steelhead in FOR THE LOVE Southwest Oregon. OF THE TUG Yet it also seems By Sara Potter that over the last handful of years I haven’t been able to catch a winter river’s drops like I once did. That forced the river hunter in me to grow, as I had to embrace methods outside what I prefer. Low water means fewer people, and I do very much enjoy the solitude that is found in it. But what about when I do catch the drop?

LISTENING TO RAIN dump from the sky and hearing the river roar and gain strength throughout the night is always a welcome delight for me, especially when the storm eases up a few hours before daylight. The fish are driven in this glorious drop and my drift fisherman’s heart is beyond ready to feel the bounce of the bottom, alongside that undeniable bite of life that I love! I’m so ready to drift fish that I can hardly stand it. With plans to be the first one to the river’s edge I have zero questions about how I will approach this high and dirty yet dropping tiny coastal stream. I readied my baby the night before. My G.Loomis IMX 1104-2C paired with my Curado 200HG

She could have held her own on the banks of the small Southwest Oregon steelhead river, but snagging up a little too often with her drift fishing gear while angling among bobberdoggers led author Sara Potter to join the crowd – a ground-floor learning experience that paid off for her. (SARA POTTER) nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2026 Northwest Sportsman

COLUMN

“Listening to rain dump from the sky and hearing the river roar and gain strength throughout the night is always a welcome delight for me, especially when the storm eases up a few hours before daylight,” writes Potter, a fan of fishing rivers as they first drop back into shape for winter-runs. (SARA POTTER) is a left-handed fisherlady’s dream. I picked myself an old-school yet legit highwater rigging, a 12-pound-test Maxima Ultragreen leader no longer than 24 inches and paired with a size 2 Gamakatsu octopus hook. I want my mainline tight and the bite to be felt directly, and in high, dirty water a shorter leader provides this. On the terminal end I paired a white with pink polka dot Yakima Bait Lil’ Corky with cerise and white yarn in my bait loop. To the larger yet trimmed presentation of yarn I applied some of my favorite ProCure Super Gel all over the top. I absolutely love fishing for steelhead in highly oxygenated winter water on the drop, and on my third cast of the day, taptapping along in my happiest of places, there it was, that undeniable bite of life! I swung hard, wound down and connected with that flash-flash and thrash-thrash we live for. I had myself a fired-up little hen just tugging away and trying to elude me. Oh, how I love it! Son Nate and I made good work of that hen and had our first harvest of the day tagged, bled and bagged before we even saw another soul. 84 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

THE RAIN REJOINED our party around the same time that a few other fishermen did as well. Wine-cork-looking bobbers became abundant and, sadly for me, hanging up occasionally grew annoying. Not only was it an inconvenience for me, but for the grandpas and others on the water as well. I know little about bobberdoggin’, but I do know enough to understand the concept. I know that I can create a bobberdoggin’ setup despite not possessing any of those little sawed-off, wine-cork-looking floats. So I stepped back from the river’s edge, took a gander at my other rod set up with a bead and float, and knew it was time to improvise. I don’t want to be That Girl or That Fisherman who chooses to drift fish despite hanging up and messing with the flow of a crowded bank. The whole idea with bobberdoggin’ is to allow your setup to tick along the bottom yet not be fully committed to it (that in itself makes me, a diehard bottombouncing drift fisherman, like it less). The float serves as a homing device, keeping you in the drift. It makes things a little easier, you stay in the slot a bit longer and

it’s less snaggy, I suppose. I messed with my gear, leaving my bobber stop, float and T-stop on the mainline. I have always used a stop of some sort under my float in hopes that if I do get hung up, my float is spared. Keeping the float about 6 or 7 inches above my Dave’s Tangle Free inline weight, I rigged a leader just slightly longer than my short, dirty-water drift fishing one. I decided to run nontraditional beads, as beads are on the menu for every one of them bobberdoggers, and started with a 14mm BnR Tackle BurrBead in pink sheen. Giving a guess as to how deep I wanted to run it, I adjusted my bobber stop accordingly, then flicked the float on out there and saw I was in fact ticking the bottom. The float ran rather limply along the surface with slight takedowns as it went through the drift. Another flick or two later and sure enough, down she went! My first bobberdoggin’ fish was fully committed without me having felt much indication one was on the line. The hookset was fast – a slight lift and reel down, not a drift fishing

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COLUMN swing by any means. The fight was good, as I absolutely love my float rod setup. My IMX 1262-2S STFR paired with a Stradic C14+ 3000 has a much slower action than my baby, which made for a fun battle with these beautiful, pissed-off fish! Casting precision with this setup is second to none, so it was a welcome addition to the day. I hadn’t planned on fishing it, but I was happy to get to.

I STUCK WITH BnR soft beads, but chose colors that I don’t usually run. Variations of peach, orange, pink and red were getting tossed out there by the masses, so I strayed away from them to see what might happen. The blue goon? I liked the looks of it! It was a pattern I had never run, so why not? I put it on the menu, and with its perfect amount of contrast in the high,

Using an unusually colored, high-contrast soft bead in the rain-dirtied river was a good call, as all the other anglers were using more typically patterned offerings. (SARA POTTER)

“Sometimes the day doesn’t go how you envision it. Matter of fact, sometimes you end up doing things you don’t even technically know how to do!” writes Potter. “How amazing, though, to learn, to grow and to succeed, all because things don’t go exactly how you thought they would.” (SARA POTTER) 86 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

dirty water, it proved to be deadly. That hottest pink of cerise paired 50/50 with a lighter translucent blue with tiny sparkles gave the look of an egg that had been in the river for a minute, especially in that high water. Upping my bead size to 16mm as well helped my presentation when there were so many other beads for fish to choose from. Indeed, it was chosen by a good number of steelhead and even produced the biggest fish of the day, a hatchery hen! I have always believed those hens are mildly cannibalistic. Hooking multiple steelhead in the tailout on that lure, I was proud that I was stepping completely out of my comfort level with not only my rigging but my overall approach. It wasn’t planned by any means, but the fish were on the move and biting, and so it was good for stubborn Sara to give something new a whirl. Sometimes the right thing to do when you are fishing the bank is to go with the flow and possibly even join the crowd. I’m not saying I wouldn’t have loved my river mates that day to have been a handful of old-school grandpas who loved themselves

some drift fishing, but I am saying the method was easy to duplicate. Even without ever having applied bobberdoggin’ into my fishing I was able to make it work with the gear I had on hand. It is good to be open to change and we as salmon and steelhead fishermen should always be down to learn and apply new options into our arsenal.

THIS DAY WAS so grand. I finally caught a roaring river on the drop, truly my forever favorite! Fish were hooked left and right throughout the day and up and down that tiny river. Many were lost and many were landed by us all, but to see those winter fish on the move is special. To see the connection between steelhead and man on such a level is one we all should experience in this life. Sometimes the day doesn’t go how you envision it. Matter of fact, sometimes you end up doing things you don’t even technically know how to do! How amazing, though, to learn, to grow and to succeed, all because things don’t go exactly how you thought they would. My heart is on the river and I couldn’t change it, even if I tried. NS

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FISHING

Forgotten Ghosts In the gray murk of early winter lurk a few overlooked wild steelhead. By Angus Vlasaty

nce upon a time, the Pacific Northwest ran rich and profuse with November and December wild winter steelhead. Habitat loss, dams, climate change and hatchery steelhead bred to return during these months (as they consume nutrients in the ocean) are all causes for these lower returns. As someone who is 23 years old, I never truly got to experience the abundance of the early run. While 10-plus wild steelhead days are still prevalent in March and April, it seems nearly impossible to catch any in the early season. Fishing larger rivers with substantial wild populations such as the Umpqua or Hoh may increase your chances, along with tiny creeks along the Washington and Oregon Coasts like the one I recently fished, following a high-water event.

THESE FISH TEND to be fast travelers and move with purpose. During high water, I have found speed and flow

Angus Vlasaty, @206steelheader, is making a name for himself catching early-phase wild winter-runs. This gorgeous, fresh-from-theocean chromer bit a 6-inch pink worm in the middle of last month, and it follows on a stud of a late December 2024 buck that appeared in our February 2025 issue. (ANGUS VLASATY) nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2026

Northwest Sportsman 89

FISHING are equally as important as finding clearer water. Steelhead won’t back down from entering the river when it is raging, but they exert more energy and will look for any spot to rest. Every steelhead angler knows the effectiveness of fishing beads, but I tend to use 6-inch worms for these specific fish. They are aggressive, mean, fresh and full of energy. As we all know, floating a plastic worm yields a way higher landing percentage than fishing a bead, and I cannot stress this enough: You do not want to lose an early-season wild. Unlike in March and April, it may be your only chance that day. When using worms, I also like to run a heavier fluorocarbon leader in 15-pound or 17-pound test, and on this day I was using 20-pound test due to excess water flow. The heavier your leader, the better the hookset you get as well because thicker line stretches less (fluorocarbon also stretches less than monofilament),

90 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

although with a bead I am never confident the fish will stay pinned.

THIS PARTICULAR STEELHEAD ate a 6-inch pink and white worm, and my hookset filled my body with confidence as I loosened the drag to let it run. Even while considering challenges such as rapids, boulders, trees and the slim bank I was on, I always do my best to keep the line at a perfect pressure. These steelhead will do anything to shake the hook loose, and it is our job as anglers to get these fish in as quickly as possible and set them free with efficiency to mitigate any harm done. This raises the stakes even higher and is different than when I’m fishing for hatchery steelhead, where I have all the time in the world and the ability to drag them up the bank. Back to this steelhead. It was one of my favorites. I knew this hole with its choppy little curtain had some fish in it seeking refuge from the high water.

My float drained and my line peeled. I fought this fish for longer than I want to admit, but sometimes they just don’t give up, which is what I find special about them. My brother finally came upriver after I’d shouted his name a few times when I landed her. We were able to capture this amazing moment before sending her on her way.

I’D LIKE TO think these steelhead will be here my whole life, but I’m not sure. Many creeks and rivers have been closed by the Washington and Oregon Departments of Fish and Wildlife during spawning times, if they’re open at all, and in some places the fish are listed as endangered. Even hatcheries are shutting down due to lack of funding and operational costs. We can only do our best to conserve and take care of nature to preserve and protect these special fish. Thank you, steelhead, and tight lines, steelheaders! NS

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Ice Advice

Where and how to find fishing success as northern Washington lakes harden up.

Fiery skies light up a frigid scene at Northcentral Washington’s Loomis Lake. Most of the state’s hardwater action occurs in Okanogan County, the eastern slopes of the North Cascades and northeastern corner, but with enough cold weather, ice fishing can also take place on northern Columbia Basin lakes. (CHRIS MARCOLIN)

By Chris Marcolin

or many sportsmen, this time of year tends to be a transition between outdoor activities. Hunting seasons are winding down, while frigid temperatures keep the boat under cover. But this coldest part of the year also holds a fishery unlike any other. Ice fishing is an opportunity to take advantage of frozen lakes featuring incredible access for some of the best angling in the region. Where to ice fish, you ask? Each year is different for when a given lake freezes over. Generally in Eastern

94 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

Washington, those higher-elevation waters above 3,000 feet in the mountains begin to cool down first, with smaller waterbodies chilling quicker than larger lakes through the ice-forming process. As we experience long periods of cold temperatures, we begin to broaden those areas of opportunity south into additional fisheries. This would extend into the Columbia Basin lakes, along with areas that may not typically hold safe ice until we get extreme cold weather. Successful ice fishing event sponsors in Northcentral Washington have learned to key in on those lakes that

provide safe ice each and every year and which they can count on for good conditions in mid- to late January. That’s when Sidley Lake will host the 22nd annual Molson Ice Fishing Derby, sponsored by the Oroville Chamber of Commerce and the Molson Grange, and Bonaparte Lake will see its 4th annual ice fishing tournament, sponsored by the Bonaparte Lake Resort. Whether you enjoy bringing home buckets full of perch, a sled full of whitefish or maybe the beauty of catching and releasing trout, ice fishing opens more opportunities to get outdoors. The list of species that

FISHING

Annie Marcolin, daughter-in-law of author Chris Marcolin, beams over a rainbow trout caught on a bright winter day. (CHRIS MARCOLIN)

can be caught through the ice goes on and on. For some folks, bucketlist fish may include burbot or tiger trout, or maybe even a walleye through the ice. Whatever the species is, the Northwest likely has that lake for you.

NOT YOUR GRANDPA’S ICE FISHING For anyone who is hesitant to try ice fishing because it seems overwhelming to plan or travel to a new lake, the challenge to learn is well worth it. Being on a frozen lake catching fish and enjoying the company of

family and friends is something most will prize as a memorable experience. Years ago, I began ice fishing on Banks Lake for whitefish. Our equipment list consisted of a gas lantern, bucket, axe, bait and fishing pole. Fairly simple. Granted, this was during the mid-1980s and electric augers were not available. Nowadays, the concept is still the same except that technology has developed tools and equipment for our convenience and comfort. There is no limit to the amount of equipment available. Indeed, the sport of ice fishing

has developed so much that even overnight ice camping has become common. There are portable, insulated ice huts that can be outfitted with heating systems and battery lighting, with room leftover for sleeping cots and chairs to comfortably stay out all night. Running fish finders or cameras will give advance notice of a fish’s intent to bite. Lunch or midnight snacks can be cooked within the quarters while your buddy dozes off for some sleep. Ice camping also has its advantages over the cost of a motel and helps make the most of longdistance travel to destination lakes. nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2026

Northwest Sportsman 95

FISHING POLE AND LINE SELECTION What gear works best is based on fish size and technique, whether jigging or still fishing. Generally, on most of my trips I use a 38- to 50-inch rod with 8-pound monofilament line on an open-face reel. The shorter rods are great for hut fishing and provide better control of fish near the ice hole. When fishing for burbot I tend to go with 12- to 15-pound-test mono due to the size of these fish, and I use the longer 50-inch graphite rods with more strength. With perch, 6to 8-pound test is fine, along with shorter rods. Ice fishing rods and reels can be inexpensive and are available at most sporting goods stores.

NORTHCENTRAL WASHINGTON SPECIES

Hard ice is the great equalizer, giving the boatless access to prime depths to plumb for big catches of yellow perch like this haul. Tipping jigs or spoons with bait is the way to go. (CHRIS MARCOLIN)

Trout: At Bonaparte, Curlew, Sidley, Patterson and Leader Lakes, focus on fishing areas with structure near shallow waters. Larger trout target small prey near structures. This can be in depths of 4 to 7 feet or even deeper to 25 feet. Try small silver/blue spoons tipped with bait or scented gels or size 10 tungsten micro jigs in bright chartreuse, orange or yellow colors and tipped with baits such as maggots or small chunks of worm. Use treble glo hooks tipped with worm or shrimp and no weight when fishing shallow. Use the dead-stick method (no movement with suspended bait) or give the presentation a slight jigging pattern in the midwater column. Kokanee: At Bonaparte and

OREGON HARDWATER OPTIONS

iamond Lake typically rises to the top of the list when it comes to ice fishing in Oregon, and for good reason, thanks to highwayside access, a year-round lodge, nice-sized rainbows and catch-and-release tiger and brown trout (which are stocked to combat tui chubs), but it’s far from the only destination. Another, er, solid bet in the state’s Cascades is Lake of the Woods, located to the south of Crater Lake and which also features a

96 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

lodge that stays open in winter. A fair ways east of the mountains, ice fishing occurs at Gerber and Chickahominy Reservoirs, while the Baker City list includes Phillips, Thief Valley and Wolf Creek Reservoirs. And in the southeast corner, it usually happens at Beulah, Malheur, Pole Creek and Yellowjacket Reservoirs and Burns Pond. (And for this year’s open-water season, note that the facilities at Yellowjacket north of Burns were upgraded last fall.)

Harder-to-get-to options include Fish Lake on Steens Mountain, Magone Lake south of John Day and Walton Lake east of Prineville. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife does an OK job of tracking ice conditions in its weekly recreation report (myodfw.com), which also contains warning about waters that look like they might support ice fishing but don’t really. Safety is paramount this time of year. –NWS

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FISHING

D D D D Char like this brookie wear some of their prettiest colors of the year in winter. At right, author Marcolin shows off a tiger trout from Bonaparte Lake. In addition, ice fishing is a good way to catch burbot and lake whitefish. (CHRIS MARCOLIN)

Calvin Marcolin shows off his winning fish from the 2022 Molson Ice Fishing Derby at Sidley Lake. Along with contests like this, other ways to learn more about ice fishing include sportsmen’s show seminars and clinics put on by lodges. (CHRIS MARCOLIN) 98 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

Patterson Lakes, focus on staging areas on dropoffs and the deep center of the lakes. That could be 15 to 25 feet deep on dropoff areas or deeper, 15 to 30 feet under the ice, in 100 feet of water. Mornings and evenings can be the best times. Use Sling Blade attractors and silver UV spoons with a short leader to a fly, jig or glo hook. Tip with a chunk of worm, maggots or corn, or use oilbased garlic scents. Use a jigging action with short breaks to give the kokanee a chance to strike your bait. Perch: At Palmer and Curlew Lakes, these fish move seasonally between depths and sections of the lakes. Locate them in 24 to 45 feet of water. Target muddy bottoms on flats. Use micro lures such as tungsten jigs in high-visibility colors. Tip with maggots, worms or perch skin. Move with the school to relocate. Lake whitefish: These fish school in

35 to 65 feet of water at Banks Lake during winter to feed in broken, rocky-bottomed areas. Use small hooks due to their mouth size, and tip them with shrimp meat or maggots. Use the dead-stick method within 3 feet of bottom. Nighttime is when whitefish are most active, but daytime can be a fair bite. Access can be limited at times; normally, I park near Coulee Playland Resort on the north end of Banks for crossing the lake.

LEARN MORE To learn more about ice fishing and techniques, reach out to some of the internet sites focused on the method or attend an ice fishing seminar at a sportsmen’s show near you this winter. Most ice fishermen are more than willing to provide good information and help share the experience. Good luck to you this season! NS

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Fishing new water is never a bad idea, and resolving to do so in 2026 can also be the basis for building self-improvement over the coming 12 months. “The most important thing to keep in mind is where you are now and where you want to be a year from now,” writes author Troy Rodakowski. (TROY RODAKOWSKI) 100 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

FISHING

10 New Year’s Resolutions For Every Northwest Sportsman Make the most of 2026 by setting yourself up for success afield. By Troy Rodakowski

very year it’s the same thing as we look ahead into the New Year. We make promises to lose weight, get in shape, eat healthier, spend more time with family and friends, etc. No matter what, it seems our goals are a lot tougher to achieve than we’d like, even though we try our darndest to see them to fruition. It’s easy to become complacent and forget about what really matters and weed through all the extra that doesn’t benefit us in the long run. Enjoying the outdoors and being a lifelong hunter, I still make sure to keep things as simple as possible while trying to achieve basic goals in pursuit of a happy, well-balanced new season. The most important thing to keep in mind is where you are now and where you want to be a year from now. For some it may only take a few baby steps to achieve your outdoor hunting and fishing goals, while for others it might involve some work. Regardless, I always try to keep in mind what things are most important to me and

what it’s going to take to be successful in the coming year. With that in mind, here are some resolutions to consider as a sportsman for 2026.

1) STAY RELAXED Try to keep life as simple as possible; focus on what’s really important and what means the most to you. Minimize stress. That’s easy for me to say since we all have different lives, but regardless, only you can change the type of stress and how much of it you allow into your life. Just as I recently told a good friend, “Be less like Days of our Lives and more like Little House on the Prairie.”

2) PLAN ACCORDINGLY There’s nothing quite like a good plan for a hunting or fishing trip to work out well. I’m not saying that the best plans don’t fail, but planning ahead will relieve potential stress and other issues, plus more often than not, it will put some meat in the cooler. 3) BE A GIVER No, this doesn’t mean neglect yourself, but be open to helping others when you are able to. nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2026

Northwest Sportsman 101

FISHING Take a kid fishing or hunting. Better yet, take someone who has never been. This is one of the most satisfying things you can do for yourself – I make a point every year to take a few folks and see their unforgettable smiles.

4) TRY NEW THINGS Something new is always exciting and exploring new hunting and fishing areas is not only fun, but it can be very rewarding. Even though we tend to get caught

up in our regular routines, be open to change. Additionally, new tactics or techniques are always refreshing and can open new doors for the future and one’s success.

5) REMAIN POSITIVE Regardless of how bad things can get, try to always look at the bright side. For example, the rising cost of licenses and tags, as well as regulation changes, can be depressing, but it could always be worse – and that is the truth.

6) HONOR TRADITION Keep in mind that our hunting and fishing endeavors come with a great number of traditions that we need to remember to keep alive for future generations. Whether it be a special place, campfire, antique rifle or fishing rod handed down for generations, make sure not to forget the importance of all those things.

7) EXERCISE AND EAT HEALTHY Of course, we all have been there. It’s almost a

Spending time with your loved ones in the field is high on the list for Rodakowski, here with daughter Reese. Passing hunting and fishing traditions along and relating how you honor them and our shared quarry are great goals. (GARY LEWIS) 102 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

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Northwest Sportsman 103

FISHING given during New Year that we start diets, pledge to go to the gym and eat healthier … and then backslide. Still, they’re good ideas, and no matter how committed you are to the cause, little improvements can be better than nothing – plus your doctor and significant other will be happy and, heck, you might even feel better.

8) ORGANIZE, CLEAN AND PREPARE YOUR GEAR There is nothing more frustrating than not having working gear, tackle or clothing. Go through what you have and replace and/or repair what is needed for the coming seasons.

9) VOLUNTEER Donate your time or join a local hunting/fishing organization. You’ll meet like-minded folks and feel good about giving back.

10) CELEBRATE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS Remember to recognize yourself and

This year will be gone before you know it, so make a resolution to make the most of it – and be able to hold yourself to that promise. (TROY RODAKOWSKI)

104 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

your positive strides. There is nothing wrong with a little pat on the back from time to time. Maybe even treat yourself to a new gun, fishing rod or other outdoor gear.

LIFE GOES BY fast and is changing even faster. Modern technology has provided and catapulted us into an entirely new realm in which we experience, enjoy and celebrate the outdoors today. We need to keep in mind that the term “the good old days” was just that, and try to embrace as much of those times as possible moving forward into 2026. Of course, we need to do our best to keep up with the ever-changing world around us and accept that there is no way we are getting away from modern advancements, whether they all make our lives easier or not. Sometimes, the old ways are the best ways and things really don’t need

to be fixed or improved if they aren’t broken and work well. It’s like holding a magazine and turning the pages, smelling the paper, marking a page you want to read later or revisit. I may be old school, but sometimes it’s a lot more refreshing than just scrolling. Most importantly, feel blessed to wake up every day and enjoy what you have, be thankful for the people in your life and look forward to living life to the fullest while you can. We only have so many sunrises and sunsets to enjoy together and the best plan is to enjoy all of them before they melt away. I’m very blessed to wake up each day and thankful to hug my daughter, talk to my father, pet my old bird dog and enjoy my friends. I’m looking forward to a great 2026 and a very healthy and exciting year to come. Happy New Year and as always, happy hunting and fishing! NS

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Operation Beat Cabin Fever From super-productive Roosevelt rainbows and coastal razors to challenging winter hunts, plinking and going to the shows, there’s actually a lot to do this time of year.

My favorite January thing to do is to find a beach on Lake Roosevelt, make a fire, pound in rod holders, and enjoy happy times waiting for a fishing bell to ring and my rod to buckle under the weight of a big rainbow. Great fishing beaches are easy to find, and places like Crescent Bay, Spring Canyon, Hanson Harbor, Lincoln, Hawk Creek, Seven Bays, Fort Spokane, Porcupine Bay and Hunters Campground are some of the best known places on the lake. Roosevelt’s plankton-fed rainbows are the biggest, tastiest and most readily available trout in the Northwest. Plus, these numerous triploids seem to be achieving greater sizes every year, with a 16-inch football-fat fish being a small one these days. At right, Colville’s David Eldred hoists a Roosevelt rainbow much larger than that. (DAVID ELDRED) 106 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

FISHING Story and captions by Jeff Holmes

ike a lot of sportsmen, as well as people in general, I have always gotten the winter blues, as have others close to me. When I was a young kid, my family did not do much outside when the snow flew or when it was bitter cold, not compared to the rest of the year anyway. Still, we found our way into the outdoors on many weekends to keep from going stir-crazy in our home in the Spokane Valley. We’d bird hunt, go for drives, hike, and occasionally fish although without a lot of success because we didn’t adapt our techniques, relying instead on what worked during other seasons. It always felt so good to get out with family, especially fishing or bird hunting, but also to come home because I mostly wore insufficient cotton clothing and frequently got wet in the field. As I reached my teen and young adult years, I began to expand my wintertime outdoor footprint and to invest in some better gear because I felt increasingly compelled to get out of the house and the depression of being winter bound. I ice fished, got much better at wintertime trout fishing, taught myself to steelhead, increased the frequency of my bird hunting, bummed around in the countryside, and experimented with wintertime camping. After a while I realized that spending time in the outdoors in the dead of winter became much more to me than killing time waiting for spring. I started to truly enjoy aspects of winter, even looking forward to it and continually expanding the scope of what I did in the outdoors of the Pacific Northwest. There are more options to fish and hunt and enjoy outdoor landscapes in January in the Northwest than anyone could ever reasonably focus on. Even after trying to participate in a lot of different activities, I have only ever scratched the surface of all the stuff there is to do. Thinking back on just the last 15 years of Januarys, the list of opportunities I’ve engaged in

brings back memories and underscores just how much there is to do: winter walleye in the Columbia, trophy trout fishing in Lake Pend Oreille, winter fly fishing on desert streams, fishing for big trout and burbot in Eastern Washington, coastal steelheading, ice fishing for panfish, sturgeon fishing, jump shooting ducks and geese, hunting over a cheap and effective collection of waterfowl decoys, hunting upland birds and rabbits, drift boating and rafting steelhead rivers, camping

and steelheading in Hells Canyon country, bumming around on ocean beaches collecting seafood, crabbing and squidding off of piers, and fishing for mountain whitefish. This January, don’t lie dormant like so many outdoorsmen do. And if you already seize the day and get outside in the dead of winter, expand the scope of what you do or just get better at what you already love. Take someone else with you into the outdoors while you’re at it,

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FISHING especially kids. Just keep them warm and entertained and don’t torture them with cold and your outdoor obsessions. They will never become hardcore if you expose them to your hardcore and make them never want to go outside again today. The following are some excellent opportunities that are easy to engage in this winter without a major barrier to access. These options don’t require boats or a lot of gear or experience, nor do they require a huge commitment of time or resources. They are accessible to outdoorsmen of all ages and skill levels.

PLUNK ROOSEVELT FOR BIG, TASTY ’BOWS It’s no secret to Northwest Sportsman readers that I am a Lake Roosevelt

By the time January rolls around many of the upland birds available to Northwest hunters have already been flushed and shot at and are wiser to the ways of guys in orange carrying shotguns. Yet there are still plenty of bird hunting opportunities in Washington and Oregon, especially for Hungarian partridge, chukar and quail. And if you own a bird dog, they will be especially grateful if you get them out of the house to do what they were bred to do. (RICH LANDERS)

108 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

enthusiast/fanatic. As long as road conditions allow, and they usually do, January is one of the best months to visit the 151-mile-long reservoir’s lower half. From Grand Coulee Dam to Hunters Campground, Roosevelt is a trout plunker’s paradise. Mile after mile of awesome beaches await you. Fires are allowed, freedom and joy abound on Roosevelt’s shorelines, and the reservoir is chock-full of big trout that bite like crazy in the dead of winter. It’s also no secret how tasty these plankton-fed rainbows are, and grilling them within minutes of landing them is another fun thing to do. Several wellknown access points with beaches where one may reasonably grill a fresh trout include Spring Canyon, Keller, Hanson Harbor, Lincoln, Hawk Creek,

Seven Bays, Fort Spokane, Porcupine Bay and Hunters Campground. One of the great joys of winter is staking out spots on these beaches and settling in to be comfortable and to perhaps grill some meats while listening for ringing bells on rod tips. If you want to dramatically reduce the learning curve and increase chances of success on this simple fishery, order size 18 trebles online, and focus on just two PowerBait scents: corn and salmon eggs, especially corn. The tiny presentation allowed by a size 18 treble triggers bites even when the bite is off. Experiment with beaches and use the two-pole permit to your advantage by trying different points and positions along beaches, and equip each rod with

FISHING a loud bell. Put a 6mm bead on your main line, followed by a ¾- or 1-ounce egg sinker, followed by another 6mm bead, followed by a barrel swivel. Tie on a 30- to 36-inch leader in 6- to 8-pound-test fluorocarbon or monofilament, then the small treble hook. Shape the PowerBait around the hook to completely cover it. If you don’t have size 18 trebles – highly advised – use nothing larger than a size 14, preferably Gamakatsu. Lob your offerings different distances from the beach, and let the fish tell you how far to cast.

EASTSIDE CHUKARS AND HUNS Eastern Oregon

Washington and Eastern offer excellent partridge

hunting, both for chukars and Hungarians, or Huns, and seasons extend well into January. Some of the best hunting I’ve had for both species has been in Eastern Oregon, which outshines Washington with far fewer people, way more public land and birds, and some of the West’s more beautiful, remote and unheralded landscapes. I’ve enjoyed excellent hunting in Wallowa County, especially on the Imnaha River and adjoining lands; in the Heppner area; and in the vast lands of what the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife calls the Southeast Area. They offer cool online resources of all of the state’s game bird hunting zones (myodfw .com/game-bird-hunting/areas). January is a great time to try out a newly acquired holiday firearm or to have fun with trusted pistols, rifles and shotguns. I plan to zero in a couple of revamped .22s with some new shooters at a local range. This time of year can be chilly for young shooters, but dressing warm and keeping shooting sessions short is a wise way to keep their interest and to boost fun levels and instill positive memories. Bundling January shooting seshes with other fun activities like having campfires and s’mores, going out to eat or playing Big Buck Hunter at the local arcade are fun ways to get kids out of the house and break up the monotony of winter. (ANDY WALGAMOTT; TROY RODAKOWSKI)

Despite what I consider the superiority of Oregon for partridge hunting, Washington is also an excellent place to pursue partridges in January. The Grande Ronde and Snake River Breaks are excellent, as are all of the breaks and adjoining shrub-steppe hill country along the Columbia River. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife offers some pretty cool mapping resources to find hunting areas: wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/locations. Although dogs help immensely, one need not have one to have success and a good time. Along with the prospect of downing some tasty birds, partridge hunting often means great exercise in beautiful places people rarely tread. Pheasants are generally pretty wild and best pursued with a good pointing dog in January, but they remain open for harvest in Eastern Washington 110 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

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FISHING If you’ve never called in coyotes, it can be a lot of fun. Tuck yourself into some cover with a good field of view where they can’t smell you as they approach, blow a predator call, and you might be surprised just how many Columbia Basin coyotes can emerge from sparse cover in search of a meal. I’m more into calling to watch them these days, but there is not a damn thing wrong with hunting coyotes, and January is prime time for beautiful pelts. (GANNON CASTLE, USFWS)

through January 19. The Snake River is the best place to pursue late-season birds – or any season – and there is tons of public land available along the river, especially for those with boats. Wintertime boating is fraught with potential dangers but offers excellent harvest opportunities for those who boat into the big bars along the river. These bars, most of which are downstream of Lower Granite Dam, are mapped (nww.usace.army.mil/ LSR-East-Map) and maintained for excellent game bird habitat by the Army Corps of Engineers as mitigation for ruining habitat and hunting and fishing opportunities by constructing the lower four Snake River dams. There are also quail galore on some of these bars, as well as occasional coveys of chukar and Huns and lots of coyotes. 112 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

TARGET SHOOTING Some might argue that the frigid depths of winter is exactly the time to avoid outdoor target shooting, and certainly indoor pistol ranges are viable options in January’s cold. But I disagree fundamentally with the idea that we wait out winter to do fun stuff outside. Maybe instead we spend less time outside when it’s cold, or we wear really good gear, or we have a big, badass fire while we shoot. Organized ranges will generally and rightfully frown on having bonfires at organized shooting facilities, but our public lands are full of established places where folks shoot. So long as we clean up our messes and behave safely, spending a few hours on public lands having a .22 tournament with friends or family, especially kids, is a totally fun thing

to do. Shooting anything you like to shoot – handguns, rifles, shotguns, blackpowder guns or air rifles – is a cool option for spending a winter day on public lands where legal, or on private land when sanctioned to do so. In addition to enjoying my coownership of our public lands this winter, I also belong to a big shooting facility and will absolutely be spending time on the plinking range with my kid this January. You’ll also find us on the pistol range and at the high-powered rifle range as I help her to dial in a deer rifle for next fall’s hunting season, her first. I will bring a heater and keep the shooting sessions short. I will bundle the shoots with stuff I know she will enjoy, like a follow-up trip to the trampoline park, to the arcade to play Jurassic Park and Big Buck Hunter shooting games,

and to the sporting goods store to let her pick out cool targets for the next shooting session we will plan. I want to make shooting a fun routine to instill safety, a sense of enjoyment and the normalcy of the act.

HUNTING COYOTES WITH CALLS Coyotes are everywhere and in all habitat types, and their furs are prime in winter and their bellies hungry, making them susceptible to calls and hunters’ rifles. It’s a myth that they are an ecological scourge and the cause of unpunched deer tags, but they do have impacts and there are plenty of them to justify the yearround season and unlimited bag limit. With essentially war being declared on them from a management perspective, you’d think there’d

be fewer coyotes. Nope. They are smart and resilient. I’ve never seen a population estimate for coyotes in any of the Northwest states, but I suspect the number is in the hundreds of thousands in each. These mostly diminutive canines are everywhere – witness attacks on pets and people this past year in the Seattle and Portland areas – and, like whitetail deer, they actually benefit from the presence of humans. They eat the surplus of rodents that feed on our agricultural footprint, supplement their meaty diets eating our fruits and vegetables and trash, and devour our cats and small dogs. Despite humanity’s efforts to eradicate or at least reduce their populations, they not only endure but flourish. I respect that. There are vast numbers of coyote

calls available at sporting goods stores and on the internet, and most of them work. The extent to which an individual call works likely has more to do with three factors other than exactly what the call sounds like. Calls all pretty much sound like the shrill dying sounds of rabbits, rodents and fawns, and I’m sure some are better than others. I am not an expert. The biggest factors dictating coyote calling success is whether there are coyotes in earshot (duh), whether those coyotes have been called in and shot at before, and whether those coyotes can smell and see you when they approach. Think carefully about where you set up to make sure you are concealed and have the wind in your favor, but also make sure there is fresh sign in the area. Select an area where this is cover nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2026

Northwest Sportsman 113

FISHING where both coyotes and prey would likely hide, and choose an elevated position with a good field of view. Coyote hunting is not hard to do, but to be good at it – as with everything – there are levels to the game. Read about strategies in print and online, and use the slow pace of January as an excuse to practice and dial in. Similarly, while there is no expectation hunters eat coyotes (throwing up in my mouth right now), researching and practicing the skinning and tanning of their prime winter pelts is a cool thing to do and a cool way to use the resource.

GATHERING SEAFOOD AT LONG BEACH The Long Beach Peninsula and its 28 miles of driveable beach is probably the single best place to take a family or a date for a Northwest outdoor vacation getaway in winter. When road conditions permit it for Eastern Washingtonians or Eastern Oregonians, it is well worth a trek over the Cascades or up the Columbia River Gorge. Home to amazing restaurants, shops and attractions, and unrivaled beach access, Long Beach is Washington’s biggest and most popular razor clam beach. I’ve dug at them all, and it’s my favorite. Razor clamming is the easiest, most fun and most inclusive consumptive outdoor activity in the Northwest. If you’ve been, you know what I mean; if you have not, you should fix that. Options don’t stop at razors when it comes to wintertime Long Beach Peninsula seafood gathering, either. There is awesome crabbing at the mouth of the nearby Columbia River and excellent oyster gathering in Willapa Bay on the east side of the peninsula. The mouth of the Columbia River is one of the finest Dungeness crabbing locations in the world and is a very short and pleasant drive from Long Beach. It offers an extremely lucrative seafood gathering opportunity that many razor clammers overlook, and guides with big, safe boats offer trips, like Evan Lafky of Evan Lafky Guide Service (503-349-9173). These trips 114 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

As you read this in January, the Pacific Ocean is likely a mess of big swells, wind waves and cold water. But when the seas settle down and chances arise or seasons open, there’s scarcely more fun to be had than being out on the big pond. Now is a great time to plan and book trips for rockfish and lingcod– there’s a threeling limit in Oregon this year – halibut, salmon and tuna. Along with using this magazine and the internet to plan trips, Northwest sportsmen’s, boat and saltwater shows in January, February and March are great opportunities to meet charter captains and gain information about saltwater fisheries. (JEFF HOLMES)

include cooking your crab and salted commercial ice to pack them in for travel. Buying a seat beats the heck out of dragging a boat and running pots and bait. Crabbers are allowed generous limits of 12 per day, per person, whether you launch on the Oregon side in Astoria or on the Long Beach Peninsula’s southern end at the Port of Ilwaco. I highly recommend one of these Columbia River crabbing trips. Meanwhile, there are also many places in Willapa Bay where the public can gather oysters, and WDFW has a very effective and comprehensive mapping tool and search function to identify public clam, mussel and oyster beaches (wdfw.wa.gov/placesto-go/shellfish-beaches). There are at least three really good

pieces of news when it comes to getting started razor clamming at Long Beach or anywhere these tasty bivalves live on the Washington Coast: 1) WDFW maybe doesn’t do anything better than it manages razor clams, 2) razor clamming is really easy to be successful at and really fun, 3) and winter is prime time for razor clams. Washington’s razors are big and they are numerous. There is no natural bounty in the Evergreen State that is so easy to procure, so delicious and so available to properly licensed people of all ages and fitness and ability levels. Many a seasoned razor clammer has learned how to dig razor clams through a combination of using WDFW’s comprehensive and extremely useful online razor clam information and trial and error on the beach. The

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FISHING spring, summer, and early fall. Booking now with charter operators assures the best dates and locks you into a commitment you will not regret. In my opinion, the best time to book rockfish and lingcod trips is for late April through June. Fish are numerous and in great shape, and the ocean is likely to be agreeable and not too rough, although of course it can blow up any time of year. Halibut and deepwater lingcod seasons are more restrictive but ample, and charter operators are wellversed in seasons and looking to fill boats, making them a great resource. Ocean salmon seasons are not set until April nor locked in until June, but charter operations generally have a good idea about when to book and remain flexible to assure early bookers get spots on boats during prime time, which is roughly likely to be late June through late summer this year, depending on the quotas that will be

department has for years provided the most comprehensive and useful online resources on the internet for everything from understanding regulations to digging techniques to finding clams to cooking them. Pulling 15 of these big, briny, rich-tasting clams out of the sand is not hard, and you can literally just go and do it. They are beyond delicious.

PLANNING OCEAN CHARTER TRIPS Don’t count on ocean fishing in January, unless there is extraordinarily mild weather off the Oregon Coast, typically associated with an east wind, and you have an experienced friend with a boat. Whereas bottomfishing closes in Washington each fall and opens again on March’s second Saturday, Oregon does not officially close it, though the reality is that the ocean is largely closed for business for recreational anglers in winter. January is, however, a great time to plan exciting trips on the Oregon and Washington Coast during

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COLUMN

Postseason Vet Hunt Day ‘A Chance To Say Thank You’ O

ver the past 33 years that I’ve written on a full-time basis, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to be involved in quite a few hunting and fishing events. Outings, if you will. Some of these were organized by industry sponsors; others, I, or in many instances, my wife Julie and I worked together to take OUTDOORS MD an individual or By MD Johnson individuals into the great outdoors. Some were trips focusing on young people. Some spotlighted adults new to hunting or fishing. Others, like the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Wheelin’

Sportsmen Program, had us working with folks who were physically challenged. You have any idea what it takes to get a hunter confined to a wheelchair into and out of a duck swamp? Oh, it can be done. Kids. Nimrods. Folks who need a helping hand. Great trips, all. But without question, the finest outdoor adventures I’ve had the pleasure of being part of involved our military personnel. The men and women who voluntarily have committed their lives to the safety of our great nation. Army. Air Force. Navy. Marines. Coast Guard. National Guard. Guardians all, and it’s been an honor to escort them onto the water and into the field. Which is why,

The sun will have set on the general waterfowl season in the Northwest by then, but on January 31 it will rise again over a unique one-day opportunity for those who serve or have served in the armed forces. “Holding this hunt after the regular duck season has ended gives veterans and active-duty personnel an opportunity to hunt with a reduced amount of pressure from other hunters in the field,” explains Brandon Reishus, a state waterfowl manager in Oregon. (MD JOHNSON) nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2026

Northwest Sportsman 131

some seven years ago, I was delighted – which is not a word I use often, so that should say something right there – to see state fish and wildlife departments around the country, including those right here in the Northwest, institute a special one-day waterfowl hunting opportunity specifically for and to honor our veterans and active-duty military personnel. “This hunt opportunity (outside of the normal waterfowl season frameworks) was created by the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and

Eleven vets gathered for a special hunt at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge several Veterans Days back, just one of several ways service is honored in marshes across the Northwest. (BRENT LAWRENCE, USFWS) 132 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

Recreation Act, signed into law by the president in 2019,” says Brandon Reishus, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s migratory game bird coordinator and an avid waterfowler himself. “As far as I’m aware, most states are offering this hunt opportunity in some form, either one or two days, before or after their regular duck season begins or ends.” “In the Atlantic, Mississippi and Central Flyways, this hunt is an additional hunt opportunity, since their general seasons are less than the hard cap of 107 days

established by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. However, in Oregon and the rest of the Pacific Flyway, we already have 107day regular seasons, so implementation of this hunt (and the youth hunt we hold in September) comes with a concurrent reduction in regular season hunt days, which accounts for the three-day split (closure) in the regular season,” Reishus explains. “Holding this hunt after the regular duck season has ended gives veterans and active-duty personnel an opportunity to hunt with a reduced

COLUMN amount of pressure from other hunters in the field, and at a time when the season has been closed for a period – five days in Oregon – which generally leads to increased hunting success.”

QUICK QUESTION, IF I may. You ever really come to like someone you’ve never met in person but hold almost daily technoconversations with? For me, that’s Mike Callian. A young 40, Callian, who currently heads up the marketing department for the Oregon-based Dave Smith Decoys

company, is what I call an “old soul,” a young man possessing of old ways. Canvas coats. Double barrels. Small, ultra-realistic spreads. Callian still dresses nice, knocks on doors and gets permission to hunt both ducks and geese on private ground the old-school way. An old soul, whom I quite enjoy talking with and yet haven’t met face to face. Not once. Beginning around about 2010, Callian worked as a guide for Bill Saunders’ Big Guns Waterfowl Outfitters, first in South Dakota working snow goose hunts, and eventually moving his home in Idaho to the Tri-Cities as a, pardon the possible cliché, vital cog in the Big Guns wheel. During that time, Callian had a chance to spearhead many a vet-specific hunt. “When I first heard Washington opened this hunt, it hit me right away,” Callian recalls about the late-season opportunity. “Honestly, my first reaction was, ‘Well, it’s about time.’ I couldn’t think of a better way to honor a group that’s given so much. My brother was a marine, and several of my closest friends are veterans. A lot of them are passionate waterfowlers, and they were genuinely grateful to have a day set aside just for them.” “Some of these buddies are bird nerds like me, and they were especially fired up for the chance at a February sprig or greenhead. And if I’m being honest, mixed in with the patriotism, I was a little selfishly excited,” he adds. “One more day in the field with friends, making birds make bad decisions.” “The hunts themselves were a blast. The birds had had a little break from the main season, and they usually acted like it, whiffling into spreads with reckless abandon. We were typically running big snow goose setups, and just about everything that flew by typically wanted in, minus the big, antisocial honkers drifting around the edges. Big Guns put on some phenomenal shoots for the guys,” Callian says. “Every hunter we hosted left with stories and smiles. Spinning funnel clouds of snows, pristine drake pintails and the kind of camaraderie and banter that only happens when veterans and active-duty guys get together. These hunts just felt different. They carried weight. I remember

helping pack birds and gear into trucks afterward, and the handshakes weren’t just handshakes. There was gratitude there. Patriotism. All of it.” “If someone is on the fence about hosting one of these hunts, I can’t stress it enough: Do it. It’s a small gesture on our end, but it’s an incredible way to give back to the people who protect us. It’s a chance to say thank you for the freedom to hunt, to fish, to raise families, and live our lives without fear or oppression. And I can promise you this. The folks you take out will be some of the most grateful, grounded and genuinely good people you’ll ever share a blind with,” Callian summarizes.

BURBANK’S BRIAN MEHLENBACHER served in the US Marine Corps from 1994-98 at Camp Pendleton, California, as a machine gunner. Today, his day-to-day in Walla Walla County as a career farmer is a bit more mundane – my words, not his, and I’m just assuming running a John Deere is much quieter, not to mention safer, than crouching behind an M240 looking for bad guys. That is, until he and Bill Saunders and Saunders’ Big Guns Outfitters get together in a pit blind during the vets hunt. I had Mehlenbacher – busy as are all farmers – on the line for just a few minutes one afternoon, and hit him out of the gate with a question. “Saunders said, and I quote, that you’re one of the best guys he knows.” Why in the world, I asked, would he say that? “Probably for many reasons,” Mehlenbacher replies with a laugh. “Oh, boy. We’ve been side by side for quite a few years. We know each other’s quirks, if that makes sense. When I left for the military, Bill had just come to this area and was guiding for another outfit that was a neighbor. If he’d been here sooner, we’d have crossed paths sooner. Do I enjoy my time with him? I enjoy making fun of him ’cause he can’t shoot.” “The vets hunts? I think it’s a way for the states, plural, to say, ‘Thank you.’ That’s my way of thinking. I haven’t yet been side by side (on a hunt) with any Marine Corps veterans. I’ve been with some US Navy guys, which naturally I had to give a hard time. And a few Army guys,” he adds. nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2026

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Along with vets and active-duty service members, youth waterfowlers can participate on the January 31 hunt day in Washington. Carter Rodway and buddy Jack Thompson did well on 2023’s edition at a hunt club near Olympia. Both of Oregon’s two annual youth waterfowl days occur in September, while Washington reserves one for the late season. (KNIFE PHOTO CONTEST) “Are these hunts a good thing?” Mehlenbacher asks rhetorically. “Oh, yeah. It’s an opportunity. Another opportunity for the guy who likes to go hunting all the time, if he wants to take advantage of it. The first year I did (the hunt), my buddy’s dad, who is like a second dad to me and is a Vietnam vet, we took him out on the public land around here and there was nobody out. Not a soul. The next year, it was absolutely flooded with people. The word’s really spread. There’s a ton of people who take advantage of this anymore.”

WASHINGTON’S VETERANS/ACTIVE MILITARY waterfowl day, which also includes hunters under the age of 16, will be held 134 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

on Saturday, January 31. All traditional season regulations regarding shooting times, ammunition, daily bag limits and other rules continue to be in effect for this special opportunity. Veterans and active military personnel must have on their person one of the following forms of documentation: DD214, Veteran Benefit Card, Retired Active Military ID or Active Duty ID Card. The appropriate authorizations and harvest record cards, e.g., sea duck card or Southwest Washington Canada Goose card, are also required. Oregon’s Veterans/Active Military Waterfowl Hunt will also be held on Saturday, January 31, though the Beaver

State does not include those under 16 in this opportunity. Hunters must possess a valid hunting license, state waterfowl or non-resident game bird validation, HIP validation, Federal Duck Stamp and one of the aforementioned forms of militaryissue paperwork. Until next time, make arrangements to get a vet, active or retired, or a young person into the great outdoors. Take advantage of this incredible vet-focused ’fowling opportunity. Or take a vet steelheading. Or trout fishing. Or take a drive through the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Or dig razor clams. Get them and yourself outside. Them’s the doctor’s orders. NS

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COLUMN

The Kids These Days ... Unexpected Lessons From The Duck Marsh

f there’s one thing that grinds my gears, it’s the “kids these days” chorus. You know the one – “This generation doesn’t want to work,” or “They don’t know how good they have it.” I’ve heard it from old-timers, from folks my age and sometimes, embarrassingly, from myself. But let’s be honest: Every generation has its quirks, its strengths and its blind spots. I remember my own early days on the job, taking verbal CHEF IN abuse, and sometimes THE WILD even a punch or two. I By Randy King once got in a fight on a construction site, and the boss just laughed. Next day, I was back at work, shoulder to shoulder with the same guy, because back then that’s what you did for a paycheck. But here’s the thing: Today’s kids don’t put up with that. And I think that’s wonderful. Who should have to endure abuse just to earn a living? If anything, the kids in this generation know their worth, and they’re not afraid to walk away from what doesn’t serve them. I love them for it. As the elders, we must find what motivates them, not continue the cycle of abuse that was used to motivate us.

A SHIFT IN THE WIND Winter rolls around, and I usually try to coax my oldest son, Noah, out hunting with me. His standard reply is something like, “I like it when I’m out, but I’m a homebody and like my room.” Fair enough. I’ve done my best to respect that – after all, forcing someone into your hobbies is a surefire way to make them hate it. But something changed this

Not all kids of hook-and-bullet writers are as gung-ho to get outdoors as their parents, and that’s been the case for Chef Randy with his oldest, Noah. But the lad, here with a mallard and new pup Draco, surprised him that day last month by wanting to continue hunting ducks. (RANDY KING) nwsportsmanmag.com | JANUARY 2026 Northwest Sportsman

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WHEN DUCKS AND BUCKS MEET

ach year, as I dig through the freezer for the odd bits and overlooked cuts, I’m reminded that sausagemaking is about transformation – turning what’s left into something worth sharing. This recipe is no different: It’s a way to honor the hunt, the time spent together and the food that brings us back to the table.

Duck and venison sausage, with stone ground mustard, cornichons, olives and soft cheese. (RANDY KING)

CAJUN DUCK SAUSAGE 2½ pounds venison, cubed and chilled 2½ pounds duck, cubed and chilled 1½ pounds pork fatback (or beef fat) 3 tablespoons kosher salt 2 teaspoons cracked black pepper 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper 2 teaspoons smoked paprika 1 teaspoon celery seed 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon onion powder ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1 fresh jalapeño, finely chopped 6 to 8 cloves fresh garlic, minced 2 tablespoons nonfat dry milk powder ¼ cup ice water or beer Hog casings The meat: Start with equal parts duck and venison – 2½ pounds each, trimmed and cubed, and then chilled until nearly frozen. As with all wild game, use only the best trim, i.e., shanks, neck or any cut that won’t

One of the most important steps in making sausage is to chill the meat before the grinding process so as to keep the plentiful fat solid rather than smearing. It makes for a much better end product. (RANDY KING) 142 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

make a good roast. The fat: Wild game is lean, so you’ll need to add fat for juiciness. Pork fatback is classic, but duck skin or beef fat works if you’re avoiding pork. Aim for about 1½ pounds – enough to reach that magic 30-percent fat ratio. Keep it cold; nearly frozen fat grinds best. The casing: Hog casings are reliable and forgiving. Soak and rinse them well – nothing ruins a sausage faster than a dry or poorly prepared casing. The seasoning: Salt is king, so use about 1/3 ounce per pound of meat. For Cajun flavor, add cracked black pepper, cayenne, smoked paprika, celery seed, dried thyme, onion powder and crushed red pepper flakes. The jalapeño brings a gentle heat and a bit of brightness that plays well with the duck’s richness.

The grind and bind: Grind the meat with the jalapeño and garlic, using the smallest plate you have. Then add the seasonings, binder and water, mixing forcefully – by hand or with a mixer – until the meat is sticky and holds together. This is the primary bind, giving the sausage its signature snap. The stuff: Feed the mix into your casings, knotting the end and twisting every 6 inches or so. Don’t overfill; you want the links plump but not bursting. Refrigerate overnight. The cook: Sausages with duck and venison need to be cooked to about 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Grill, pan-sear or smoke them gently – high heat will split the casing and let all those hard-earned juices escape. The eat: Skip the bun. Slice the sausage and serve it like a steak, maybe with a side of whatever’s fresh from the garden or the hunt. –RK

COLUMN year, and I credit his dog and his generation. Last weekend, we took Draco – the new pup – out for his first duck hunt. The young gun dog did great, leaping creeks and sniffing out adventure. We managed a single wood duck and a cottontail rabbit. When we finished on the creek, I asked Noah if he wanted to keep hunting. In the past, I knew the answer already: “No, thanks,” Noah would say. “I’ve had my fun, let’s head home.” But this time, and for maybe the first time ever, Noah said yes. I was floored. Was it the dog, the thrill of the hunt, the company? I don’t know. But he said, “Yes, I’d like to hunt more.” So, we headed out to the lake, ready to jump shoot more ducks. About 100 yards from the parking lot, we busted up a group of mallards. A pair swung in close, and Noah made a perfect shot. The duck dropped from the sky. Draco found it in a rose bush and did a full retrieve. It was a perfect thing to watch, a moment that felt like it belonged in a magazine spread, or maybe a family legend.

BONDING OVER BIRDS AND BRAISES

MEETING THEM WHERE THEY ARE

The next morning, as we got ready for work, Noah and I were petting Draco. Noah looked up and asked, “More birds this weekend?” “For sure,” I replied, trying not to get choked up. Bonding over a dog, a hunt, the food and companionship was more than I could ever ask for. It took time. It took me looking at his generation differently. I couldn’t force him to enjoy something; he had to find it on his own. While that might make his generation different than mine – I had to go, and learned to love it – I met him where he was, and we both came out the other side better for it. Noah’s a great cook too. He’s gone from my problem child of food consumption to the in-house culinary expert (at least when I’m not home). So, Noah took point on his duck, marinating it for three days in Japanese barbecue sauce and five-spice powder. The transformation from field to table was something to behold.

This generation isn’t lazy or entitled, they’re just different. They value respect, autonomy and authenticity. They want to find their own way, and when they do, they bring their whole selves to the table, whether it’s a duck hunt, a kitchen experiment or a new job. I’m grateful for the chance to learn from them, share a hunt, a meal and a moment of genuine connection. So next time you hear someone say “the kids these days,”remember: Every generation has its strengths. People have been complaining about the next generation ever since ancient times. (Seriously, look it up, there are articles quoting Socrates, Lincoln and many others griping about their era’s youth.) It’s not that “kids these days” are worse; it’s that they’re different. And as we get older, it’s easy to resist what’s unfamiliar. But sometimes, all it takes is a dog, a duck and a little patience to see the beauty in those differences. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to taste the results – marinated, slow-cooked, and served with a side of gratitude. NS

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Make It A Happy New Year With New Gear, Late Hunts New products for 2026 include the Lock-N-Load Classic Pro reloading press from Hornady, Taurus’s Raging Hunter in .350 Legend, and a trio of American Rimfire models from Ruger and chambered for .22 WMR, .22 Long Rifle and .17 HMR. (HORNADY; TAURUS; RUGER)

very January, the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show opens for four days of exhibits, introductions and firearms industry business, which we’ll all be reading and hearing about over the next several months. However, a few announcements in early December – call them “preseason” debuts – got my juices flowing already. ON TARGET Hornady announced By Dave Workman its new products for 2026, while Taurus introduced the newest incarnation of a bigbore hunting handgun and Ruger came out with three new versions of a popular rimfire bolt-action American Rimfire rifle. Let’s take things one at a time.

HORNADY ANNOUNCED SO many new products, it can easily be said there is something for everyone. We’ll start with metallic cartridge reloading. The company is offering the new Lock-N-Load Classic Pro

reloading press featuring Hornady’s Lock-NLoad die bushing system, a built-on grease zerk for easy lubrication and an integrated Die Caddy. Hornady also announced it will soon debut the 12th edition of its Handbook of Cartridge Reloading with data for more than 400 different cartridges. For handgunners comes the Hornady DGH (Dangerous Game Handgun) bullet line. There are six initial entries for handguns chambered in 9mm, .38/.357, 10mm, .44, .45 and .50 caliber. There’s a new cartridge, the 22 Creedmoor, based on the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge, and it’s a sizzler. There are four choices, according to Hornady: V-Match: Purpose-built for varmint and predator hunters seeking explosive performance and match-grade precision. (No. 83414, 69-grain ELD-VT; muzzle velocity: 3,560 feet per second). More about this in a minute. Precision Hunter: Delivers devastating terminal performance on deer-sized

game. (No. 83412; 80-grain ELD-X; muzzle velocity: 3,285 fps.) Superformance: Monolithic copper alloy bullet for deep penetration and maximum weight retention. (No. 83413; 65-grain CX; muzzle velocity: 3,660 fps.) Match: Engineered for ultimate accuracy and consistency in competition and longrange shooting. (No. 83411; 80-grain ELD Match; muzzle velocity: 3,285 fps.) Also in the ammunition arena is the American Whitetail Tipped ammunition family, featuring either Hornady SST or FTX bullets. The new ammunition is offered in a dozen popular calibers ranging from .243 Winchester to .300 Win. Magnum. The company is also unveiling three new security products for firearms and ammunition storage.

RUGER IS INTRODUCING three new American Rimfire models, chambered respectively for .22 WMR, .22 Long Rifle and .17 HMR. All three boast 16-inch cold hammer-forged nwsportsmanmag.com | JANAURY 2026 Northwest Sportsman

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Coyotes abound across the Northwest, and if you’re looking to put up a prime pelt, now’s the time to get after it. Author Dave Workman has bullet recommendations that will outrun even ol’ Wile E. (DAVE WORKMAN) barrels with a 1/2-28 thread pattern and a factory-installed thread protector. They are set up for use with scopes, as there are no metallic sights. They each measure 35 inches overall length and have a 13.75-inch length of pull, according to Ruger specs. All three weigh 5.3 pounds. The .22 Long Rifle model has 1-in-16-inch rifling with a right-hand twist and six lands and grooves. The .22 Magnum version has a 1-in-14-inch right-hand rifling twist with the same groove pattern, and the .17 HMR model’s barrel is cut with a 1-in-9inch twist, also right-hand. And new from Taurus is the latest incarnation of its Raging Hunter handgun, this time chambered for the formidable .350 Legend cartridge. This is one impressive double-action revolver, with 10.5-inch or 14-inch barrel choices, OAL of 16.5 inches, width of 1.80 inches, fiber optic front sight, adjustable rear sight and six-round cylinder, and it weighs an impressive 79.4 ounces. It is available in either a black or twotone finish and has an integral base for optics mounting. The .350 Legend is a straight-wall cartridge developed in 2019, with a muzzle velocity above 2,000 fps.

OUTDOORS, ’YOTES BECKON across the Northwest. Back in my early days as an outdoor writer, I ran across some folks who actually waited all year for January and early February, because they would hunt rabbits and snowshoe hares, maybe take a last shot at ducks and geese and, above all, pursue coyotes. 148 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

This is where a cartridge like the aforementioned 22 Creedmoor is going to rock. Some of these folks would go afield with AR-15 rifles or a bolt-action Remington, Winchester, Savage, Browning or some other brand in some varmint caliber – those which come to mind include the .220 Swift, .22-250 Rem., .223 Rem., .222 Rem., .243 Win., and maybe .250/3000 Savage or .257 Roberts, all of which are flat-shooting wonders – and plug away at coyotes. In those days, there was a decent market for prime coyote pelts, but I recall chatting with one or two of these guys who cited as one of their main motivations the desire to reduce the yodel dog population in order to reduce predation on fawns, elk calves, ewes, domestic livestock and wild turkeys, even upland bird broods later in the spring, and small game. Eastern Washington and Eastern Oregon both have plenty of ’yotes, and if you don’t mind the cold and are patient, it is just possible to put the hurt on them. Figure you might be saving a fawn with each coyote clobbered. Let’s talk a little about ballistics. The .22-250 Remington can launch a 40-grain bullet at more than 4,000 fps, depending upon the specific load, and a 50-grain pill at up to 3,700 fps. Such a bullet would cross 200 to 300 yards in a heartbeat. Trailing behind is the .223, which is capable of warp-speed ballistics as well, with loads zipping along at more than 3,500 fps (40-grain bullets), and above 3,300 fps using a 50-grainer. A .222 Remington will use the same

bullets, and can turn out ballistics jumping above 3,600 fps at the muzzle, again depending upon the specific load. If one chooses to use factory ammunition, know the rifling twist of your varmint gun and choose your cartridges accordingly. Typical twist rates are 1-in-14 or 1-in-12 inches until you get to the .243 and .257, where the twist rate speeds up to 1-in-10. For someone devoted to predator hunting in the winter, this translates to exciting and challenging marksmanship. If there’s snow on the ground, don some white camo, learn to use various calls and layer up on your clothing. And remember this: If you can hit a coyote at 300 yards, you can hit something considerably larger at that distance during a big game hunting season 10 months from now.

IF DINNER FIXIN’S are more your speed than fur, by now snowshoe hares are bedsheetwhite, while cottontail rabbits will be the same old brown. And with a bag limit of five a day, for those willing to hunt public lands, either out in the Columbia Basin, or anywhere in the national forests, one might find bunnies. Washington’s season runs through March 15, Idaho’s through March 31, while Oregon’s is year-round. I’ve mentioned before there are rabbits in my neighborhood east of Seattle, and while hunting last fall, I spotted a few here and there over the Cascades in Kittitas County. With snow on the ground, one can spot their tracks easily. Hunt around wild blackberry tangles, other heavy brush

COLUMN With many hunting seasons behind us or in their last weeks, sportsmen can turn to snowshoe hares and cottontails to keep their winter larder stocked. (DAVE WORKMAN)

areas, root wads and anyplace providing cover, even old, abandoned structures. One might find bunnies in lowland swampy areas and thick woodlots in Western Washington, while on the Eastside, concentrate on farmland edges, sagebrush country (there’s lots of that in the Columbia Basin) and in brushy regions such as the Dunes around Potholes, or look along any of the wasteways. As noted last month, seasons for ducks and geese continue this month, and brant goose hunting dates are set in Clallam, Whatcom and Pacific Counties. (See the state waterfowl pamphlet and this issue’s Outdoor Calendar for dates.) Grouse hunting continues through January 15, while quail hunting in Eastern Washington runs through January 19, and you can hunt chukar through the end of this month.

SWITCHING BACK INDOORS, in Olympia, the state legislature will be back in session. For gun owners, this is not a good thing, as Democrats are in control, and they’ve already demonstrated animosity for your rights. For those willing to fight for their rights in Olympia, keep your calendars open. Pay attention to a particular Facebook page, the Washington 2026 Legislative Action Group, which has more than 14,000 members and followers. Watch for alerts about gun control bills. The Legislative Hotline number is (800) 562-6000. NS

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COLUMN

Game bird carcasses with all meat removed can be frozen and used in training, or you can skin birds and cable tie the skin to a bumper. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

Wing It For Gun Dog Training Tools W

ith the New Year comes the final month of many bird seasons throughout the Northwest. Whether you’re looking to get a new pup or simply train with your old friend from now until next hunting season, plan ahead. Now is the time to make sure you have the proper training tools in order to successfully train your dog in the GUN DOG long offseason. And By Scott Haugen

some of the most important training tools are bird skins and wings, even turkey tails if you plan on hunting fall turkeys with your gun dog. From chukars to geese, ducks to quail, here are some tips to help optimize these valuable training tools.

THE KEY TO maximizing the performance of any bird parts is keeping them in good condition and properly freezing them. With bird wings, cut them off at the elbow joint. There’s no need to remove the meat or fatty tissues on the wing bones, as these

carry scent. With geese and turkeys, the large wings can be cut at the wrist joint, providing two training tools in one. And with turkey tails, cut them off far enough down the base so all the fatty tissues stay intact. When freezing wings, first wrap them in a wet paper towel. This will ensure they don’t dry out in the freezer. Placing each wing inside a sealable baggie will make getting them out to train with easier than if they’re packed in a wad and frozen together. Single-wrapped and frozen

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COLUMN wings will last longer and are easier to work with. You can also separate them with waxed paper and stack them into a bag to freeze. Come training time, take out what wings you want for that session. It only takes 15 minutes or so for the wings to begin to thaw. They don’t need to be totally thawed in order for a dog to smell them. When done training, wrap each wing in a wet paper towel, or layer with waxed paper, and place them back in the baggie and put in the freezer. Done properly, you’ll get months of training work from these wings. Just remember, wings are training tools, not chew toys.

BIRD SKINS, EVEN carcasses, are also excellent training tools. If skinning a bird, keep all fat and both wings attached. Place a wet paper towel against the skin, then

Natural training tools offer a change of pace that will help get more out of field sessions for your pup, writes author Scott Haugen. (SCOTT HAUGEN) 156 Northwest Sportsman JANUARY 2026 | nwsportsmanmag.com

roll it up and freeze. Thaw it out and cable tie the skin to a training bumper, and you have a great training tool, complete with scent, feathers and flopping wings; these are excellent for pups to work with. Skins take time and patience to prepare. Another option is to remove the breast meat, along with the legs and thighs, then freeze the rest of the carcass, internal organs and all. Simply fold the head under a wing, place the carcass in a sealable baggie and wrap it tightly to get the air out of the bag before freezing. Remove the carcass from the freezer about 30 minutes prior to training. They don’t have to be fully thawed in order for a dog to smell them. In fact, if they’re still slightly frozen, it’s a good way to combat hard-mouth issues, should you be dealing with that. You only need to get a few retrieves with these carcasses, then you can put

them back in the freezer for another time.

BE IT FOR tracking on a drag, blind retrieves, multiple fetches, hand-signal training or other gun dog training lessons, now is the time to save bird skins and wings. By planning ahead, you’ll make more progress in your offseason training and your dog will love the change of pace over simple bumpers. Remember, just like us, dogs get bored doing the same thing in the same places. Changing up your training tools and rotating training locations go a long way in getting the most out of each and every training session. NS Editor’s note: Scott Haugen is a full-time writer. See his puppy training videos and learn more about his many books at scotthaugen.com and follow him on Instagram and Facebook.

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