The Sportsman’s Report
By Bill Hanson
The B2 gun shop in Cotati will hold a handgun safety course for beginners on Saturday, July 28. The class is from 9:30 a.m. to noon and requires you to bring your own gun and ‘snap caps.’
Be sure to follow all laws in transporting your firearm. The class will be taught by two experienced gun safety instructors, Bob Baker and Gary Cockriell. This is a great way for beginners to understand safe gun handling and get answers to their questions.
The shop is also hosting a beginners reloading class on July 21 from 10 a.m.-noon. The $25 fee for each class is a bargain. For more details go to their web site: www.b2enterprises.biz
A local guy was looking at guns and asking questions of the staff, and we began talking about hunting. Ken Pope wants to shoot wild boar. Although he is a longtime shooter, this will be his first hunt.
Ken said, “Wild boar are a menace and destructive to the wild environment. I don’t mind killing them.” Truer words were never spoken. Ken is booking his first pig hunt with a professional guide service based in Middletown. I spoke to Ernie at D&E Guide service to ask about some details of what they offer. He said hunters are scoring 100 percent right now. They hunt the beautiful Guenoc Ranch near Middletown, 22,000 acres of wild land with developed vineyard and cattle grazing. Hunts are spot and shoot. Visit them at www.dandeguideservice.com for details and pricing.

Mushrooms asleep
Mushrooms are sleeping for the summer. One couple from the San Francisco society spent two weeks in Lassen County and points north and south. No mushrooms even at the snow line.

Fishing update
Fishing in Lake Sonoma is wide open right now. Tom at Pro Sports said the wild steelhead are hitting anything pink. He suggests a long, fast troll, 75 to 100 feet behind the boat at  2 mph.
Rig a Kokanee Series hula skirt about 18 inches behind a Bahama Momma flasher. Use a downrigger with a drop-away weight, which leaves you and one mad fish to duke it out.
Fishing in the Bay has picked up again. Local fisherman Steve Darling is hooking sturgeon with live bait and the occasional stingray. Steve said, “I don’t keep the stingrays but they are sure fun to catch.”