boating

The Nevada Department of Wildlife will hold its annual volunteer sagebrush seed collection on Saturday, Nov. 22 starting at 9 a.m. Even though 2014 was not a big fire year, Northern Nevada has lost millions of acres of wildlife habitat to wildfires in the last few years and seed is still needed for ongoing range rehabilitation efforts.

“When demand is high for seed, the price for a pound of pure live sagebrush seed can be over $50,” said Steve Foree, NDOW habitat biologist. According to Foree, NDOW either has to buy seed or pick it themselves.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of Nov. 5-11, 2014.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and California. The last day of fishing season for most waterways in California is Nov. 15, 2014.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of Oct. 22, 2014.

State wildlife officials want to find out who is responsible for illegally shooting six elk and leaving their carcasses to rot in two separate incidents in Lincoln County. Game wardens with the Nevada Department of Wildlife are seeking the public’s help to solve the illegal killing of four adult and two elk calves.

Low pressure will move through northern California and northwest Nevada Monday, producing gusty winds and hazardous boating conditions for Lake Tahoe and Pyramid, according to the National Weather Service in Reno. A Lake Wind Advisory is in effect.

In addition to the winds, the best chance for rain and high elevation snow is north of Interstate 80 from Monday afternoon to early Tuesday morning. Rainfall amounts up to 0.50 inch are possible in Lassen and Plumas counties, with less than 0.10 inch elsewhere.

A Red Flag Warning has been issued for Carson City and across Western Nevada as strong winds are expected Tuesday afternoon and evening ahead of a cold front, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.

Wind gusts in the valleys are expected to be 45-55 mph with gusts to 65 mph in wind prone areas while the Sierra ridges could gust to 100 mph.

UPDATE: A brief warmup Monday will be followed by windy conditions Tuesday prompting a Fire Weather Watch, according to the National Weather Service.

I’ve had the Fat Bike bug ever since we tested the Salsa Mukluks in Sand Canyon last year. I finally broke down and added a Surly Pugsley to my collection, a fat bike with low pressure, 4″ wide tires. I spent about a week riding my usual trails, but then decided it was time to get the bike out in a place that the bike was really designed for. With its beaches and dunes, I thought Washoe Lake State Park might be fun to try after a weekend of rain.

Beginning Oct. 1, boat inspections at Lake Tahoe will move to select launch ramps and winter hours will begin. Tahoe RCD inspectors will be stationed at the Cave Rock boat launch from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week, weather permitting.

No inspector will be stationed at Lake Forest boat launch from Sept. 8 through Jan. 2, 2015 due to a rehabilitation project. Inspections will be available at Lake Forest once the project is complete. Please call the hotline for availability of alternative inspection options.

This is a reminder that Pyramid Lake, which is located about 30-35 miles north of Reno-Sparks, will open on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014 to fishing for Lahontan cutthroat trout. That large, desert lake (roughly the same surface size as Lake Tahoe) has a three-month trout closure, each year, from July 1 to Sept. 30.
Here are all kinds of interesting information about that lake:

The Nevada Department of Wildlife is sponsoring an introduction to fly fishing clinic Friday, Oct. 10, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. This clinic is designed for entry level fly anglers and is free to all participants. The class will cover basic gear, knot tying, and casting. We will not be on the water. The class is limited to the first 20 persons who sign up.

WHAT: Class is geared for entry level fly anglers. We will cover equipment, knot tying, and demonstrate techniques for fly fishing moving water and still water.

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 10, 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife on Monday named Brian Wakeling as Game Division Administrator. The position oversees the division responsible for management, protection, research and monitoring of wildlife classified as game mammals, upland and migratory game birds and furbearing mammals.

Wakeling has over 25 years of experience in increasingly responsible roles with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. In his most recent position there, Brian served as a Wildlife Management Branch Supervisor for Arizona, similar to the function he is now fulfilling for Nevada.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife has seven openings for entry level game wardens, most of which are in rural Nevada duty stations. This is the largest recruitment of game wardens in NDOW’s history.

“The agency has experienced several retirements and some turnover in the last few years,” said Tyler Turnipseed, Chief Game Warden at NDOW.

Forget all of the fluff, let’s just cut to the good news: This year’s Nevada Chukar Hunting Forecast, an annual report put out by the Nevada Department of Wildlife that takes habitat conditions and statewide survey results to estimate chukar populations, was recently released and predicts good chukar hunting for much of Nevada.

"We were hoping the spring and summer rains we had would provide good conditions for chick survival and they did," said Chris Healy, public information officer for NDOW.

The state’s Board of Wildlife Commissioners is currently seeking nominations for the 2014 Wayne E. Kirch Nevada Wildlife Conservation Award.

The award is given annually to recipients who have demonstrated significant results towards conservation, management or enhancement of wildlife. An individual, non-profit organization, outdoor sports club, or business can be nominated for the award.

For nearly five years Jiggs Reservoir, approximately 30 miles south of Elko, has been a reservoir in name only with no water to speak of. However, the Nevada Department of Wildlife in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, Elko County, Barrick, Newmont and private landowners is now in the process of improving this once popular reservoir and dam so that it will once again hold water.

Tyler Turnipseed was named chief game warden for the Nevada Department of Wildlife Monday. He is only the fifth Chief Game Warden in NDOW’s history, a position that oversees all game wardens in Nevada.

Game wardens enforce wildlife and boating safety laws across the state, in rural areas and on Nevada’s waterways. Turnipseed is relocating to Reno from Winnemucca where he spent 10 years as the sole game warden for that growing community.

Have your voice heard at this public meeting regarding you, your family and future generations access and use of the Open Spaces purchased with public dollars or transferred by BLM to the people of Carson City.

Monday, August 18 the Carson City Open Space Advisory Committee will be holding an Open House and Open Space Meeting at the Community Center to address the future of the Carson River corridor properties and approve the rules and regulations for proposed management plan for use and access of the Open Space properties.

Monday, August 18 the Carson City Open Space Advisory Committee will be holding an Open House and Open Space Meeting at the Community Center to address the future of the Carson River corridor properties and approve the rules and regulations for proposed management plan for use and access of the Open Space properties.

Well-appointed and luxurious living at Lake Tahoe is the overarching theme of Sierra Sotheby’s International Lifestyle Tour set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, August 16, 2014. Open to the public, this year’s tour showcases exquisite architecture and beautiful landscapes that will inspire and awe.

Tahoe Resource Conservation District watercraft inspectors stopped a boat with quagga mussels and an unidentified snail species hiding in the anchor locker, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency announced Thursday.

The boat, coming from Lake Mead, a known quagga-infested water body, was inspected Wednesday at the Spooner Summit inspection station on Highway 50 in Nevada.

Independence Day is upon us and many of you will take to the roads to visit our local lakes, rivers and parks. Should you find yourself celebrating the holiday with adult beverages, remember to designate a driver or take a taxi cab home.

If you are boating, stay sober while on the water. Operating a watercraft on a crowded lake takes skill and reflexes to avoid crashes or injury to swimmers. Enjoying this time with friends and family can be fun however they are expecting you, their Captain, to get them back to dry land safely.

Here is the fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, northern California and the Sierra for the July 4 holiday weekend. Saturday, July 5 is free fishing day in California, which means anyone can fish without a license.

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval has declared July BEAR Logic Month. BEAR stands for Bear Education, Aversion and Research, and BEAR Logic Month is an opportunity to help educate the public about living in bear country.

Boaters taking to Nevada waters this weekend should take note: operating a boat under the influence is the same as driving under the influence. Nevada Department of Wildlife wardens and law enforcement will be looking for boaters operating under the influence this weekend in waters across the state as part of a nationally coordinated enforcement effort dubbed “Operation Dry Water.”

A Red Flag Warning has been issued from noon to 8 p.m. Monday for much of western Nevada, according to the National Weather Service. Low pressure over the Pacific northwest will bring gusty winds and dry conditions to Carson City, Douglas, Lyon and Storey counties Monday.

Winds will gust to 30 to 40 mph. These winds along with low humidity will create critical fire weather conditions for parts of western Nevada, mainly south of I-80.

Invasive aquatic species watercraft inspection and decontamination stations have opened at Lahontan Reservoir and other waterways in time for Memorial Day weekend, according to the Nevada Division of State Parks.

The last of the Lake Tahoe area inspection stations, on State Route 267 at Northstar Drive south of Truckee in California, opened Thursday.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife along with local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and several private businesses in Nevada are joining boating safety advocates across the U.S. and Canada to promote safe and responsible boating during National Safe Boating Week, May 17-23 and through the entire summer.

Headed up to Lake Tahoe for some spring boating? Most roadside stations for inspections and decontaminations of motorized boats and watercraft will begin Thursday, kicking off the 2014 boating season.

A station at Highway 267 south of Truckee will open May 22. Because of budget constraints, the station at Homewood is closed.