Outdoors with Don Q: California fishing license and stamp reminder

With the Opening Day of the 2011 California fishing season right around the corner on April 30, if you are planning to fish, you need to be aware that you will need to possess one or more of the following to be legal:
— The 2011 non-resident annual fishing license is $116.90, and it is good through Dec. 31, 2011.
— A one-day resident or non-resident license is $14.04.
— A two-day resident or non-resident license is $21.86.
— A 10-day non-resident license is $43.46.

Second-Rod Stamp:
A Second-Rod Stamp is $13.53.
This Second-Rod stamp allows an angler to fish with two rods or lines in inland waters, except for waters in which only artificial lures or barbless hooks may be used.

I always buy the Second-Rod Stamp, so when trolling from a boat at some lake or reservoir, I can troll with two different lures at two different depths. When I do get a strike, I then know that I can troll at a specific depth with two of the same type and color lures. It’s sneaky but very legal.

Colorado River Stamp: $3.09.
This Colorado River stamp allows an angler to fish from a boat or other floating device on the Colorado River or adjacent waters forming the California-Arizona border.

Abalone Report Card: $20.78.
This card is required for all persons taking abalone from ocean waters north of the center of the mouth of San Francisco Bay, including persons who are not required to have a sport fishing license, such as persons who are under 16 years of age, persons who are fishing from a public pier and persons who are fishing on free fishing days.

Only one Abalone Report Card may be issued per person each license year.

North Coast Salmon Report Card: $5.66.
This card is required for all anglers taking salmon in the Smith River System or Klamath-Trinity River System, including persons who are not required to have a sport fishing license, such as persons who are under 16 years of age, and persons who are fishing on free fishing days.

Steelhead Report Card: $6.48.
This card is required to fish for steelhead in inland waters, including persons who are not required to have a sport fishing license, such as persons who are under 16 years of age, and persons who are fishing on free fishing days.

License agent outlets:
California fishing licenses and stamps are available at a number of local outlets including the following:
Carson City:
— CVS Drug Store
— Wal-Mart – 3200 Market Street
— Wal-Mart – 4209 South Carson Street

Douglas County:
— Angler’s Edge
— Raley’s
— Scolari’s
— Tahoe Sport Fishing at Zephyr Cove
— Topaz General Store at Topaz Lake

Lake Tahoe:
— Village Ace Hardware at Incline Village

Alpine County, California:
— Caples Lake Resort at Caples Lake on S.R. 88 near Kit Carson Pass
— Carson River Resort on the East Carson River near Markleeville
— Rudden’s Markleeville General Store in Markleeville
— Sorensen’s Resort on the north end of Hope Valley
— Woodfords Station at Woodfords on S.R. 88
— Plumas County, California:
— Wiggin’s Trading Post at Chilcoot

Or you can purchase your licenses, stamps and cards online: If you want to do as Elaine and I did, go to www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing.
It’s quick, easy and you are immediately legal to fish in California.

When you have completed all of the questions, you can print a temporary license to use while waiting for the regular license to arrive through the mail.

However, be advised that when I applied for my annual non-resident fishing license and its second rod stamp, I also instantly became $130.43 poorer!

The good news is that I was legally licensed for the year 2011!

Special Note:
The Nevada fishing license period is a totally different type of year.
The current Nevada fishing license period began on March 01, 2011 and it will end on February 29, 2012.

Bet Your Favorite Pigeon
Bet your favorite pigeon that he can’t tell you about an interesting thing about me and a California fishing license.

If he grins and says, “Many years ago, Don was loudly complaining when his California non-resident annual fishing license went up to $35.00,” he could have the person who was with me when I bought that license.