Outdoors with Don Q: Pick up a copy of Fishing the California Alps

It’s that time of the year for a widely-distributed and widely-read annual publication, Fishing The California Alps. Do yourself a favor and pick one up.

The outdoor newspaper is your personal guide to the fishing, camping, sightseeing and vacationing world in our general area and it has 56 pages of detailed, in-depth information provided by lots of experts in their specific areas of knowledge and experience.

Be sure to use this 2011 edition as your handy and ready-to-use guide on what, when, where and how to enjoy the Great Outdoors. And, be sure to use it over and over again. It will become your personal reference for outdoor activities in this part of the world.

On a personal note, I’ve had the personal pleasure of being the front-page writer for “Fishing The California Alps” for many years, and I wouldn’t trade that experience for all the money in the world. Heck, where else can you rub elbows with so many great folks who want to share their knowledge about their particular area of expertise?

Be sure to take the time to pick up an extra copy (or 2-3) of this publication to share with your relatives, neighbors, co-workers and friends. I guarantee they will enjoy it too, and best of all, the price is right.

If you’re wondering about how large of an area “Fishing The California Alps” covers, consider this information:
The material in this year’s publication covers a huge geographical portion of Eastern California and Western Nevada, all along the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

That area in California extends from Lone Pine way down in Inyo County on the south end, all the way to the Oregon state line on the north end. On the west side it covers Alpine and El Dorado Counties.

On the east side, it extends into Douglas and Mineral Counties in Nevada. That is one big chunk of country. So, now that I have your attention, what does this newspaper contain? Well, the answer is simple: “This paper is jam-packed with great articles written by very knowledgeable individuals, each an expert in his/her field.”

For example, you will discover the following in this year’s issue:
01. The feature story is “The 2011 California Fishing Season” with all kinds of information on all kinds of streams, creeks, rivers, lakes and reservoirs.

02. “Campfires Past and Present” by Paul “Wogg” Washam, who writes an annual article in this newspaper, similar in content and style to those written in the past by his dad who died several years ago.

03. “Kokanee Basics,” (all you need to know about the Kokanee which is a Sockeye Salmon) written by Captain Brian Roccucci of Big Daddy’s Guide Service that offers trophy trout fishing trips at Lake Almanor, Lake Davis, Bucks Lake and Eagle Lake in Northern California.

04. “California Fish and Game News” by the Calif. Dept. of Fish and Game provides information on lifetime, free and reduced fee fishing licenses, an article on returning yearling bears to the wild, plus much more.

05. “Fly Fishing Lassen Park and Adjoining Areas” by Tom Maumoynier of the Lake Almanor Fly Fishing Company in Chester.

06. “Welcome To Sierra County” with a photo by Darby Hayes.

07. “Ice Fishing The Tahoe Area” by Victor Babbitt of Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters at South Lake Tahoe.

08. “She Did It To Me, Once Again, At Lake Tahoe” which carefully details how my wife Elaine outfished me, one more time, for a large-sized Mackinaw (Lake) Trout at Lake Tahoe.

09. “Two People Per Square Mile…And You,” assorted information and a directory of telephone numbers by the Alpine Chamber of Commerce, including the Alpine County Visitor’s Center located in Markleeville.

10. “Fishing and Soaking In The Markleeville Area” by Marjorie Young.

11. An article by the South Tahoe Public Utilities District (STPUD) on its relationship with Alpine County.

12. “A Few Spots To Visit Along Highway 88” by Adam Washam.

13. “One Permit, Three Lakes.”

14. A comprehensive listing of campground information for Markleeville/Woodfords – Hope Valley/Blue Lakes/Caples Lake/Kirkwood – Bear Valley/Lake Alpine – Topaz – Bishop – Big Pine – Independence – Long Pine – Rock Creek Canyon – Eagle Lake and Northeast Lassen – Susanville and Southwest Lassen – Mammoth Lakes – Lee Vining/June Lake – Bridgeport – Walker – Sierra County – Plumas County – Lake Almanor – Shasta County – Trinity County.

15. The listing of emergency telephone numbers for Alpine County, Douglas County, Inyo County, Lassen County, Mono County, Plumas County, Sierra County and the U.S. Forest Service also includes California Road Conditions and Nevada Road Conditions.

16. “New Automated Fishing License System (ALDS) For 2011” by Carolyn Webb, which was written about the new DFG automated system.

17. “Fishing In The Land Of Alpine Waters” a reprint of a previous story written many years ago by Paul Washam.

18. “The Action Begins In Northern Mono County” by Tim Fesko.

19. “Eastern Sierra Grand Slam” by Carolyn Webb, the owner/operator of the Virginia Lakes Resort.
The Grand Slam consists of Brook, Brown, Golden and Rainbow Trout. Note: I have caught all of those plus Cutthroat and Kamloop Trout.

20. “A Special Camping And Fishing Location” by Don Quilici.

21. “Father’s Day Weekend Independence Fishing Derby to be held on Saturday, June 18 in Independence.

In conclusion:
This year’s “Fishing The California Alps” is better than ever before. Take the time to read it and you will pleasantly discover what I mean. You can pick up your copy of “Fishing The California Alps” at any of the following locations in this general area:

Carson City:
— U.S. Forest Service – Carson Ranger District
— Fandango Casino
— Curry Street Smoke Shop
— Frontier Smoke Shop – Hwy 395/Winnie Lane

Douglas County:
— Carson Valley Market and Gas Station at the Carson Valley Inn
— The Anglers Edge
— Washoe Tribe Smoke Shop
— Eastern Sierra Feed
— Topaz Landing and Marina
— Topaz Lodge Casino
— Topaz Lodge General Store and Gas Station

Alpine County, Calif:
— Alpine County Chamber of Commerce
— Carson River Resort
— Sorensen’s Resort
— Caples Lake Resort
— Kirkwood Inn

Plumas County:
— Wiggin’s Trading Post at Chilcoot
— J & J’s Grizzly Store at Davis Lake.
— Eastern Plumas Chamber of Commerce

Finally:
“Fishing The California Alps” is published on an annual basis by the Washam Family of Woodfords, California.
I know that they would be delighted, if you were to take a moment and call them at (530) 694-2966 and tell them, “Thank you for another great edition of Fishing The California Alps and keep up the good work.”

Bet Your Favorite Pigeon
Bet your favorite pigeon that he can’t tell you who delivers copies of “Fishing The California Alps to Wiggin’s Trading Post, which is located at a tiny dot on the map known as Chilcoot, California.
If he grins and says, Heck, that’s easy. Don drops off bundles of that publication on his way to the Quilici cabin near Davis Lake,” he has been along for the ride in Don’s little red pickup in past years.