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Recreation
- Details
- Written by: Editor
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is offering a draw for an apprentice deer hunt on the San Antonio Valley Ecological Reserve.
Two hunters holding valid Junior Hunting Licenses will be chosen through a lottery and allowed to hunt for two days on the weekend of Sept. 22 and 23.
To qualify for a Junior Hunting License for the 2012-13 season, applicants must have purchased this year’s license prior to turning 16.
The draw is being held in cooperation with the California Deer Association (CDA).
Applications will be accepted until Aug. 31, and successful applicants will be notified by Sept. 10.
For information on how to apply and more details about the hunt, visit http://www.dfg.ca.gov/delta/hunts/SanAntonio/ .
The hunts are open to current valid Junior Hunting License holders only.
Participants must attend a mandatory orientation scheduled on the first day of the hunt and be in possession of a Junior Hunting License and zone A tag deer hunting tag.
An adult chaperone 18 years or older must accompany each hunter but may not hunt.
Applicants are advised that this hunt is within the designated Condor Range and therefore ammunition must be certified “lead free.”
Located in eastern Santa Clara County, the pristine 3,000-acre San Antonio Valley Ecological Reserve is home to deer, tule elk, wild pigs and a host of other wildlife species.
The area is only open for scheduled events such as this one, and all hunting will be on foot from designated access points.
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- Written by: Editor
HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The HVL Men's Niners Golf Club held a medal play (sweeps) competition on Thursday, July 26.
The results were:
- First Flight: Dennis Bero came in first at net 31, Bill Brewster was second at 32 and Al Burrows was third at 34.
- Second Flight: Tim Greer and Mike Higman tied for first with 33. Bill Stricklan was third with 34.
- Third Flight: Bill Ferris posted the lowest net score of the day, 28. Brian Rudy and Brian Panizzera tied for second, 31.
Closest to the par three pins were Bob Chesnut and Jim Stratton.
Chip-ins were scored by Ron Clark, Rick Conrad and Tim Greer.
Fifty-one men participated in this event.
- Details
- Written by: Greg Cornish
Here’s what’s happening around the lake this week.
Ted Elliott, E Ticket Tackle, Lakeport; 707-262-1233
Catfish have been the species that have gotten the most attention form people visiting our shop.
With the weed and algae problems plaguing the Lakeport area most bass fisherman are staying in. The ones that have been going out have been struggling for the most part.
Successful fisherman are starting out before dawn while the algae is still on the bottom and using a variety of techniques.
One day we hear that frogs are working and the next there is no frog fish being caught.
Buzz baits and chatter baits appear to be the choice for top-water right now if you can find clear water.
The afternoon bite is still the standard senko, drop shot and jigs with the addition of punching using something like Reaction Innovation Sweet Beavers and a 1 to 1 1/2 ounce tungsten weight pegged to braided line.
There has been a murmurer of a crank bait bite and swim bait bite down toward Buckingham Peninsula and Weekend Island area approximately 20 to 22 feet down fish slow bounced off the bottom.
Additionally the nighttime fishing has been fair according to fisherman that have been stopping by the shop. Top baits have been jigs and chatter baits.
Now back to what's getting the most attention from anglers right now and that is the catfish bite.
At least five catfish have been caught this past week weighing more than 15 pounds, with the largest being a 25-pound plus fish being caught off the new pier in Lucerne.
The bait of choice appears to be mackerel, chicken livers, crayfish, night crawlers and commercial prepared baits like Berkley's Powerbait in liver flavor.
Catfish have been reported to be caught on variety of techniques as spinner baits, crank baits and drop shots while fishing for bass.
Hopefully this bite will continue through August as the Lakeport Yacht Club’s second annual Catfish Derby & Fund Raiser is being held Aug. 24-26. This is a 70 percent payback with 30 percent going to the Lakeport Yacht Club.
Based on 100 or more entries the grand prize is $1,500, second prize is $1,000, third prize is $500, fourth prize is $300 and fifth prize is $200, with the entry fee being $50 for adults and $15 for children under 16.
The kids’ prize money will be divided as follows: first will receive 50 percent; second, 30 percent; third, 20 percent. Entry form may be picked up at most area tackle shops or from the Lakeport Yacht Club, Fifth Street Boat Ramp, Lakeport, CA 95453.
Fisherman over 16 must have a valid California fishing license and all boats and trailer must have current Quagga/Zebra Mussel sticker. Don't forget those life jackets.
For any questions on the catfish derby call Mike at 707-279-1974, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dave Brabec, Clearlake Outdoors, Clearlake; 707-262-5852
I talked to Dave this Thursday and he mentioned the trout were still biting well in the Russian River and that he'd caught a limit there one day and had a delicious trout breakfast.
- Details
- Written by: Carrie Wilson
Question: A few years ago I got a bright (?) idea to minimize the possibility that bears might raid my food supply when I go camping in national forests. In addition to storing food in ice chests in my van with a tarp over them to disguise their presence, I sprinkled 10 or so mothballs in the van, thinking the mothball odor would be strong enough to block food odors that leaked from the coolers. Is this effective, or just a waste of time and mothballs? (Hal M.)
Answer: Mothballs have been tried before with limited success. They may even be counterproductive. According to Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Bear, Mountain Lion and Wild Pig Program Coordinator Marc Kenyon, mothballs are generally made out of a neurotoxic chemical (1,4-dichlorobenzene (PDB)), which if ingested can cause serious health issues for humans and wildlife. Due to bears' highly developed sense of smell, they find the pungent odor of mothballs unique, which actually piques their interest. Placing mothballs in or around your camp (or vehicle) may attract bears to your location, thus increasing the chance of bears raiding your food cache.
There are better and safer options for protecting our bears and your food. You can use food storage lockers if they are available at your campsite to store food and trash, or use bear-resistant food storage canisters if you are backpacking. If no other options exist, store food and trash securely out of sight in your vehicle.
Remember, waking up in the morning and not having breakfast because a bear ate all your food is a good way to ruin an otherwise enjoyable camping trip. Proper storage of food and trash can help prevent a negative bear encounter from happening.
Spear fishing along a jetty without a license?
Question: I know that fishing from a public pier or most seaward public jetty/seawall doesn't require a state fishing license. Does this also apply if a diver is spearfishing or collecting shellfish along such a jetty? (Jonathan)
Answer: No, the person must physically be on the pier to legally fish without a license. Once the person is off of the pier or most seaward protective boundary (jetty) placed to form a harbor, a fishing license is required. When diving from shore, he or she must be within 500 yards of their license (FGC, section 1054.2).
Steelhead card reporting rules
Question: What are the rules pertaining to marking a steelhead card? If a fisherman is fishing on the Middle Fork Smith River at one location and moves to another location on the same fork of the river, is the fisherman required to remark his report card? If the answer is yes, then should boats also mark their cards with multiple entries?
Every fisherman I know on the Smith River does not make new entries when changing locations on the same fork of the river. Please help clear up this question.
Answer: No, the angler would not have to fill out his card again when moving within a single location code. The location code for the Middle Fork Smith River is 2c. An angler can move any where within 2c during a single day without having to fill another row on the Report Card.
However, according to DFG Steelhead Report and Restoration Card Program Coordinator Farhat Bajjaliya, if an angler moves between different location codes within a single watershed during a single day, then that angler will have to fill out an additional row.
A good example of this is the Mad River. It is plausible that an angler can move between location codes on the Mad River within a single day (codes 8a, 8b and 8c). Every time an angler enters a new location code boundary, a new row for that location code must be filled out.
Hunting with slings (not slingshots)
Question: I was wondering about the laws in California regarding hunting small game (such as squirrels and pigeons) with a sling. Not a slingshot, but a sling. (Mike H.)
Answer: Only methods authorized for the taking of small game or game/non-game birds can be used. Slings are not an authorized method of take under the regulations (CCR Title 14, sections 311 and 475).
Carrie Wilson is a marine biologist with the California Department of Fish and Game. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week. Contact her at