May 21, 2008

Commentary

Bluegill: A kids’ fish
that no kid ever outgrows

By JIM MATTHEWS
Outdoor News Service

     Sometime in the next month, you need to go fishing for bluegill. Go once by yourself or with other adults and get the tactics that catch a mess of them figured out, and then the next time take a bunch of kids who've never fished before with you. (If you are a youngster reading this column, badger your dad or uncle or neighbor to take you fishing.) It will be a treat for everyone.
     Now, bluegill and its near-cousins, the redear, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, and warmouth don't get the respect they deserve as gamefish -- at least not from the tackle manufacturers, trophy hunters, and bass boat crowd. These smaller members of the sunfish family are more aggressive and pull harder than their larger kin -- the largemouth bass -- but because a two-pound bluegill is a true monster, they are ignored. Big bass eat fish that size for lunch, and egos and chests aren't swollen with bluegill catches.
     Or I should say, mostly they're ignored. Kids, anglers who like to eat fish, and people who want action love bluegill. There aren't too many fish I'd rather catch.
     Because you don't need a $25,000 bass boat or a $200 rod and reel to catch them, they don't make the covers of many magazines. A cane pole with line or push-button spincast rod with a delicate float or bobber, some small hooks, a few split shot, and worms dug from the flower bed are all you really need to catch bluegill. Especially now.
     In making the calls for the fish report the past couple of weeks, we keep hearing the same things over and over: ``The bluegill fishing is pretty good.'' ``Sure lots of bluegill around the docks.'' ``A kid had a stringer of about 50 bluegill yesterday.'' Of course, because we like bluegill fishing and know a lot of our regular fish report readers like them, too, we ask about the panfish.
     Well, it's bluegill time. The fish are flooding into the shallows to do their spawning chores. Almost every urban park lake has a huge, stunted population of bluegill. Every major reservoir from the Colorado River to San Diego to the Central Coast has bluegill galore. Wear Polaroid sun glasses, walk the shoreline, and you can see them. Sometimes they concentrate in certain areas, but if you look diligently or ask marina operators and park staff, you can find them. Then it's easy. Dip a bait or micro jig or fly in front of them and they eat it. Right now. The rod bends deeply. Kids shriek with glee. Heck, I shriek with glee. That whooping and giggling you hear when you go will be me. Or you.
     Here are my three favorite fishing tactics for bluegill and the other members of that family:
     Bobber-Suspended Bait: There is something hypnotic about watching a bobber dance on a lake’s rippled surface. And that gentle bobbing up and down makes the bait suspended beneath it also bob up and down, attracting the attention of the fish. This is the most simple and best tactic to use with kids. You tie a No. 8, 10, or 12 baitholder hook on the line, add a small split shot about 12 inches above the hook, and then double clip one of those round bobbers you buy in bags of six or 18 about three feet above the hook. Clip the line in both the bottom and top hooks so it doesn’t slide up and down the line. Use the smallest bobber you can use and still cast the bait 30 to 60 feet from shore. Most of the action will come when the bait is fairly close to the bottom, which might mean only six or 10 feet from the bank.
     Tiny Jig on Light Line: Good anglers who are accustomed to fishing two to four-pound test on light spinning tackle for trout can easily adapt over to fishing panfish. Use 1/32-ounce or lighter jigs with feather or plastic tails, tip them with bait, and cast them out. You want a slow fall as the jig-bait combo sinks, and then you bounce it back to you over the bottom. Moss makes this kind of fishing more difficult as the season progresses and the water warms up, but in clear water, it is deadly, especially for the bigger fish hanging out of the shallows.
     Pop-and-Drop Fly-fishing: Fly-casting on these warm summer evenings is a great stress reliever. R.G. Fann, my brother-in-law, has been using this method for 20 years, and I kind of like it. You tie a small, panfish popper on your fly leader. I generally use a No. 10 or 12, high-floating popper. Then add an 18 to 24-inch piece of leader. Tie this onto the bend of the popper hook. Add a small No. 10 or 12 hook to the end of this leader and put on a small wax worm or meal worm as bait. The popper acts as a bobber for the bait, but the bluegill also take the popper, and R.G and I have both landed two fish on the same cast.
     The Best Baits: The best baits for bluegill and other panfish are crickets (not good for the little kids because they can dump them and all the bait is hop, hop, hop, gone!), worms (nightcrawlers can be too big for small bluegill, use the small ones or red worms – or dig your own garden worms), meal worms, wax worms, and maggies. I can’t find maggies any more. If you have a bait source, call or e-mail me. I used to get them in all colors, and they were the best bait for panfish. Now, wax worms are my favorite, but crickets can be exceptional below a bobber. If you run out of bait, send the kids out to swat grasshoppers with their hats. They’ll have as much fun catching bait as fishing, and those grasshoppers are great bait, too.

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

MAY 24 NORTH COUNTY FRIENDS OF NRA FUND-RAISER: The North County Friends of the National Rifle Association will have its annual fund-raising dinner and auction beginning 5 p.m., Saturday, May 24 at the American Legion, 321 S. Santa Fe Ave., Vista. Cost is $45 per person. Contact Hayden Perrine at 760-728-1151 or via e-mail at kr6ssy@hypowercommunications.com. For an event flyer go to http://www.friendsofnra.org/eventdocs/California/NorthCountyWeb08.pdf.
MAY 31 INLAND EMPIRE FRIENDS OF NRA FUND-RAISER: The Inland Empire Friends of National Rifle Association will have its annual fund-raiser beginning 6 p.m. Saturday, May 31, in San Bernardino. Contact Kurt Wampole at 909-586-5395 or request an event flyer by e-mail kcw911@roadrunner.com.
MAY 31-JUNE 1 SIERRA MADRE SNAKE AVOIDANCE CLINIC FOR DOGS: The San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Quail Unlimited will be hosting two days of snake avoidance training for dogs at the Sierra Madre Dog Park, 611 Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. The classes are run by Bob Kettle, an expert in this kind of training, and cost is $65 per dog. Appointments are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1. Space is limited so early registration is recommended. All proceeds are used to improve upland bird habitat in Southern California. Contact 866-206-9070 x6715 or e-mail sgvqu@onbox.com.
JUNE 6-8 RAAHAUGE’S SHOOTING SPORTS FAIR: The Raahauge’s Shooting Sports Fair will be held June 6-8 at Mike Raahauge’s Shooting Enterprises, Norco. This is California’s only hands-on gun show where you get to see and shoot firearm products from all of the nation’s manufacturers and importers. Shooting exhibitions and hunting seminars all three days of event. Hours are none to 6 p.m. Friday, June 6; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 7; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 8. Admission is $12 per person, parking $5. For more information, call 951-735-7981. For a $2 coupon go to http://www.outdoornewsservice.com/hogs/SportsFair2008.pdf.
JUNE 7 RANCHO CUCAMONGA HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Bass Pro Shop, Rancho Cucamonga. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. These free classes are held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. the first Saturday of each month at Bass Pro and limited to 40 people. Reservations by calling Bass Pro at 909-922-5500.
JUNE 7-8 BIG BEAR CARP BOWFISHING TOURNAMENT: The Fifth Annual Big Bear Carp Roundup will be held June 7-8 at Big Bear Lake. Sponsored by the Big Bear Municipal Water District, the two-day event has shore and boat categories for bowfishermen working in two-person teams. Entry fee is $40 per person, which includes entry, t-shirt, raffle ticket, mesh fish bag, and lunch at awards ceremony on Sunday. Prizes are $1,000, $500, and $300 for the top teams in each category. Contact Mike Stephenson at 909-866-5796. Entry forms available on line at Municipal’s web site at www.bbmwd.org.
JUNE 7-8 VENTURA GUN SHOW: The McMann’s Roadrunner Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 7, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 8, at Seaside Park, Ventura. Admission is $9. The next Ventura gun shows will be Sept. 6-7 and Nov. 1-2. Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.mcmannsroadrunner.com.
JUNE 12-15 MARINA DEL REY BOAT SHOW: The 33rd Annual Marina del Rey Boat Show will be held June 12-15 at Burton Chace Park, Marina del Rey. Approximately 200 vessels will be displayed in the water on 2,000 feet
of floating dock. Show hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults, children 12 and under free. For show information call 949-757-5959 or
visit the show web site at www.marinadelreyboatshow.com.
JUNE 14 HOG HUNTING SEMINAR: There will be a two-hour wild hog hunting primer at Bass Pro Shop, Rancho Cucamonga beginning 10 a.m., Saturday, June 14. The free seminar will be conducted by Jim Matthews, editor of California Hog Hunter, a newsletter on hunting wild hogs, and Durwood Hollis, hunting book author and public land hog hunting expert. Information and reservations by calling Bass Pro at 909-922-5500.
JUNE 20-22 BLYTHE CATMASTERS FISHING TOURNAMENT: The West Coast Catmasters will have its second annual Blythe Flatmasters Gathering and Tournament June 20-22 at Mayflower Park, Blythe. Entry fee is $25 per angler with $20 going to the big stringer pot and $5 to the big fish pot. More information at www.westcoastcatmasters.com.
JUNE 21 LAKEVIEW HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A free one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Lakeview (near Moreno Valley). Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. This annual class features a mid-day barbecue for the students and parents. Wildlife area tours are run after the barbecue for those not attending the class. Students should call in advance to register and to get a copy of the hunter’s education manual. For information or to register, call the wildlife area at 951-928-0580 or e-mail Scott Sewell at ssewell@dfg.ca.gov.
JUNE 21 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2008 class dates are July 12, Aug. 2, 16, 23, 24, 30, Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 1, Dec. 6. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
JUNE 21-22 VICTORVILLE GUN SHOW: The Victorville Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 21, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 22, at the San Bernardino County Fair Grounds, Victorville. Admission is $9. The next Victorville gun show will be Sept. 27-28. Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.victorvillegunshow.com.
JUNE 21-22 HESPERIA SNAKE AVOIDANCE CLINIC FOR DOGS: The High Desert Chapter of Quail Unlimited will be hosting two days of snake avoidance training for dogs at the Kingston Elementary School, 7473 Kingston Ave., Hesperia. The classes are run by Bob Kettle, an expert in this kind of training, and cost is $55 per dog. Appointments are scheduled from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18. Space is limited so early registration is recommended. All proceeds are used to improve wildlife habitat in the West Mojave. This class was rescheduled May 17-18. Contact John Shaver at 760-956-8160 to sign up or for more information.
JUNE 21-22 BAKERSFIELD GUN SHOW: The Central Coast Gun Shows Bakersfield event will be held Saturday and Sunday, June 21-22 at the Kern County Fairgrounds, Bakersfield. The next Bakersfield gun shows will be August 30-31 and Nov. 22-23. Information at www.centralcoastgunshows.com.
JULY 5 RANCHO CUCAMONGA HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Bass Pro Shop, Rancho Cucamonga. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. These free classes are held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. the first Saturday of each month at Bass Pro and limited to 40 people. Reservations by calling Bass Pro at 909-922-5500.
JULY 12 NORCO HUNTER SAFETY CLASS: A one-day, 10-hour certified hunter safety class will be held at Mike Raahauge's Shooting Enterprises, Norco. Classes are required for all first-time California hunters before a hunting license can be purchased. Cost is $35 per person. The remaining 2008 class dates are Aug. 2, 16, 23, 24, 30, Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 1, Dec. 6. Sign-ups are taken at all Turner's Outdoorsman stores. Contact Raahauge's at 951-735-7981.
AUGUST 9-10 GLENDALE GUN SHOW: The Glendale Gun Show will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10, at the Glendale Civic Auditorium, Glendale. Admission is $9. The next Glendale gun show will be Nov. 15-16. Information, directions, and $1 off coupons available at www.glendalegunshow.com.

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

The following is a list of hunting, shooting, and fishing clubs and organizations in Southern California with contact information and regular meeting dates:
976-TUNA ROD AND REEL CLUB: The 976-Tuna Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at Bass Pro Shops, Rancho Cucamonga. At the December meeting a free trip to Palmas de Cortez in Baja will be given away. Contact Phil Friedman at 310-328-8426.
CALIFORNIA STATE VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The California State Varmint Callers Association meets 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Denny's just north of the 210 freeway at Irwindale Ave., Irwindale. Contact Steven Childs at 626-407-8826 or steve@sdchilds.com. Web site: www.csvca.com.
CANYON OAKS SPORTSMAN’S CLUB: The Canyon Oaks Sportsman’s Club meets the first Tuesday of every month at it’s clubhouse in Lakeview Terrace-Sylmar. The club has regular trap, skeet, smallbore, big bore, handgun, and Cowboy Action shooting events. Contact Gary White at 818-998-7240, Mike Totta at 818-362-2181 or Mike Nickoloff via e-mail at idpamike@yahoo.com.
CERRITOS ROD & GUN CLUB: The Cerritos Rod & Gun Club meets the second Wednesday of each month at Heritage Park in Cerritos. Contact Charles Sharp at 714-317-8290 or fish_90605@yahoo.com.
CLUB FISH: Club Fish, a 20-year-old fishing club, meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse, Santa Ana. The clubhouse is located at the entrance to Riverview Gold Course. Contact Mike Cross at 949-854-5258 or m_r_cross@yahoo.com.
    DEEP CREEK FLY-FISHERS: Deep Creek Fly-Fishers meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League clubhouse in Fairmont Park, in Riverside. Go to www.deepcreekflyfishers.org to download a map to the club house. Contact Brett Browning at 909-793-8912.
HIGH DESERT FLY-FISHERS: The High Desert Fly-Fishers holds its monthly meetings on the second Thursday of each month at The Apple Valley Fire Conference Center, 19235 Yucca Loma, Apple Valley. Contact John Rose at 760-247-5966.
HIGHLAND PARK SPORTSMEN'S CLUB: The Highland Park Sportsmen's Club meets at 8 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month at 2035 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles. Contact Mauro Garcia at 323-254-0763 or incareal@juno.com.
NATIONAL VARMINT HUNTERS: The National Varmint Hunters meets 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Veterans of Foreign Wars club located on Grand Avenue, just west of 17th Street, Santa Ana. Contact Mark Harris at 714-655-6954 or mhitis1@yahoo.com or Terry Mathers at 714-299-9938 or coyote@jps.net.
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (HIGH DESERT CHAPTER): The High Desert Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club, 16699 Stoddard Wells Rd., Victorville. Contact Dave Recce at 760-956-7092 or Dave Halbrook at 760-553-2794.
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER): The Orange County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at The Firing Line, 17921 Jamestown Lane, Huntington Beach. Contact Pat Ryan at 714-373-3688 or Casey Rasmussen at 714-377-5859.
ORANCO BOWMEN: The ORANCO Bowmen meet the second Tuesday of each month at the club range, 17504 Pomona Rincon Rd., Chino (Euclid Avenue one block north of the 71 freeway). The range is open to the public on Sundays 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 909-597-7582. Web site: www.oranco.org.
ORANGE COUNTY BASS CLUB: The Orange County Bass Club meets 7 p.m. the third Monday of each month at the Garden Grove Elk's Lodge. Contact Steve Pendergast at 949-651-8172 or prendergasts@netzero.com.
PLUNGE CREEK COWBOYS: The Plunge Creek Cowboys, a new Cowboy Action Shooting club in the Inland Empire, has shoots the third Saturday of each month at the Inland Fish and Game range on Orange Street in East Highlands. Authentic or replica firearms and garb required. Information: www.plungecreekcowboys.com.
PREDATOR CALLERS OF ORANGE COUNTY: The Predator Callers of Orange County meet 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Denny's restaurant, 7490 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach. Contact Rickey Macy via e-mail at rickmacey@juno.com.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (HIGH DESERT CHAPTER): The High Desert Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Apple Valley Gun Club. Contact Cruz Garcia at 760-949-6334 or fathercruz@verizon.net.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER): The Orange County Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse (located at the entrance to Riverview Golf Course) in Santa Ana. Contact Craig Riedel at 714-282-1194 or criedel@mflex.com.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (RIVERSIDE CHAPTER): The Riverside Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Prado Olympic Shooting Park, 17501 Pomona Rincon Road, Chino (one block west of Euclid, just off the 71 freeway). Contact Ron Gibbons at 909-902-9814 or gibbent@gte.net. Web site: www.quriverside.com.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN DIEGO CHAPTER): The San Diego Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at DFG Headquarters at 4949 Viewridge Rd., San Diego. Contact David Preddy at davidpreddy@cox.net or visit www.sdqu.org.
QUAIL UNLIMITED (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CHAPTER): The San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Quail Unlimited meets 6 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Triple B Clays in El Monte. Contact Tim Bovard at 866-206-9070, ext. 6715 or sgvqu@onebox.com.
REDONDO ROD & GUN CLUB: The Redondo Rod & Gun Club meets 8 p.m. every Thursday of every month at its own clubhouse. The club has promoted hunting, fishing, sport shooting and the outdoors since 1948. The clubhouse is located at 2023 Vanderbilt Lane, Redondo Beach. Contact 310-379-7772.
RIVERSIDE VARMINT CALLERS: The Riverside Varmint Callers meet 7 p.m. the last Saturday of each month at Flo's Country Kitchen, Riverside. Contact Lance Cochrane at 909-919-4309 or Ray Gauthier at 951-785-4986. Web site:www.californiavarmintcallers.com/chapters.html/.
SAN DIEGO SPORTING DOG CLUB: The San Diego Sporting Dog Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the Animal Medical Center, 600 Broadway, El Cajon. Contact Steve Sarmiento at 619-659-9393 or sssarmi@sbcglobal.net.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VARMINT CALLERS ASSOCIATION: The Southern California Varmint Callers Association meets 8 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the Denny's Restaurant at Pioneer Blvd and Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Contact Granville Crow at 310-548-6221 or crowshot1@cox.net or Skip Gildner at 562-900-9020 or mtnhigh5@excite.com.
TEMPLE CITY SPORTSMEN: The Temple City Sportsmen meet the first Thursday of each month at the Temple City Civic Center in Temple City. Contact Jim White at 626-201-7782 or TCSPresident2006@yahoo.com.
TURNER'S OUTDOORSMAN ROD AND REEL CLUB: The Turner's Outdoorsman Rod and Reel Club meets 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at Marie Calendar’s Restaurant, 2300 Foothill, Pasadena. Contact Richard Crowe at 626-960-9610.

[Want your event or club listed here? Send the information to Jim Matthews, Outdoor News Service, P.O. Box 9007, San Bernardino, CA 92427-0007 or e-mail it to odwriter@charter.net. Following the style used above for events and clubs makes our life easier and increases the likelihood of it being included here.]

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