Outdoors with Don Q: It’s that time of the year again for a special fishing guide

It’s that time of the year again for a widely-distributed and widely-read, outdoor publication known as “Fishing The California Alps.”

That annual newspaper is your personal guide to the fishing, camping, sightseeing and vacationing world in this part of the west, and it has many pages of detailed, in-depth information provided by experts in their specific areas of knowledge and experience.

If you are a newcomer to our area or if you’ve never read this publication in the past, be advised this year’s edition is bigger and better than ever before. Be sure to use this 2014 edition as your quick and ready guide on what, when, where and how to do something in the Great Outdoors.

More importantly, use it over and over again. It will be your personal Bible for all kinds of activities in this special part of the world.

On a personal note, for many years I’ve had the pleasure of being the featured, front-page writer for “Fishing The California Alps,” 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 two or three of this publication to share with your relatives, neighbors, co-workers and friends. I guarantee they will enjoy it too.

If you’re wondering about how large of an area “Fishing The California Alps” covers in the west, consider this impressive information:

The material in this year’s publication covers a huge geographical portion of Eastern California and Western Nevada on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
That area in California extends from Inyo and Mono Counties on the south end to Sierra, Plumas, Lassen and Modoc Counties on the north end to Alpine and El Dorado Counties on the west side. And, it also includes the western side of 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, the following information is found in just the first 14 pages of a total of 56 pages in this year's edition:

01. The feature, front page story "Let's Go Fishing in 2014" includes information on many different fishable locations such as:
Blue Lakes, Upper and Lower; Bridgeport Reservoir; the Carson River, East and West; Convict Lake and Convict Creek; the June Lake Loop; the Mammoth Lakes Basin; Shasta Lake; Twin Lakes, Upper and Lower; and the Walker River, East, West and Little, to name just some of those waters.
02. Information on California 2014 fishing licenses and stamps.
03. California Free Fishing Days on July 05 and September 06.
04. " Campfires Past and Present" by Paul "Wogg" Washam.
05 "Lewiston Lake 2014" by Pine Cove Marina.
06. "Trek Through Northern California and Beyond" by Adam Washam.
07. "2013 The Year of Ice and Big Browns at Lake Almanor" by Capt. Bryan Roccucci of Big Daddy's Guide Service.
08. Welcome to Sierra County by the Sierra County Chamber of Commerce.
09. "Having Fun at Lake Almanor" by yours truly.
10. "Still Water Fly Fishing in the Tahoe Area 2014" by Victor Babbitt.

In this year's publication, you will also find:
01. A directory of telephone numbers by the Alpine County Chamber of Commerce, including the Alpine County Visitor’s Center in Markleeville.
02. A detailed listing of campground information for Markleeville/Woodfords; Hope Valley/Blue Lakes/Caples Lake/Kirkwood; Bear Valley/Lake Alpine; Topaz; Bishop; Big Pine; Independence; Lone Pine; Rock Creek Canyon; Eagle Lake and Northeast Lassen; Susanville and Southwest Lassen; Mammoth Lakes Area; Lee Vining/June Lake; Bridgeport Area; Walker Area; Sierra County Area; Plumas County Area; Lake Almanor Area; Sierra County Area, Plumas County Area; Lake Almanor Area; Shasta County Area and Trinity County Area.
03. A listing of RV parks with full or partial hookups in this area.
04. The listing of emergency telephone numbers for Alpine County, Douglas County, Inyo County, Lassen County, Mono County, Plumas County, Shasta County, Sierra County, Trinity County, plus California Road Conditions and Nevada Road Conditions.

Other 2014 articles include:
01. "Northern Mono County and the West Walker River" by Tim Fesko.
02. "Welcome to the Eastern Sierra" by Jeffrey Wenger.
03. "Taking Care of Your Fishing Gear - Cleaning Your Rods and Reels" by Carolyn Webb.
04. "Why Does The Moon Have Phases" courtesy of Star Date Magazine.
05. "Fishing in the Back Country" by Bruce Ivey.

Where to get a copy of this year's publication:
The 2014 version of “Fishing The California Alps” is bigger and better than ever before. Take the time to read it and you will pleasantly discover what I mean about bigger and better.

You can pick up a copy of “Fishing The California Alps” at any of the following locations in:
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, California:
Woodfords Station
Alpine County Chamber of Commerce
Carson River Resort
Sorensen’s Resort
Caples Lake Resort
Kirkwood Inn

Plumas County:
Wiggin’s Trading Post at Chilcoot
Grizzly Store at Davis Lake

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 to keep up the good work.

— Don Quilici is the Outdoor editor for Carson Now. He can be reached at donquilici@hotmail.com