Outdoors

By the Nevada Department of Wildlife
Sometimes you never know what a kid will remember from a fishing trip.
Fifth grader Kepa Bengochea loves going fly fishing with her grandfather Steve Swecker. On one fishing trip she remembers fishing next to a huge tree. Throughout the day, she would sit and lean against the tree.
So when her fifth grade class at French Ford Middle School in Winnemucca began drawing their entries for this year’s Free Fishing Day Poster Contest, she incorporated that tree into her drawing.

OK Gang, it’s almost time to have fun in the High Sierras once again. In just 10 days on April 30, the 2011 fishing season will open for applicable lakes, reservoirs, streams, creeks and rivers in the State of California, plus all of the applicable waters in Inyo and Mono Counties. That season will then remain open until Tuesday, Nov. 15.

If you’re new to the area, here’s some information that can be useful if you would like to try your hand at fishing on that Opening Day or Weekend:

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By the California Department of Fish and Game
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) recommends that people not handle any young wild animals they see in the outdoors.

The improper handling of young wildlife is a problem in California and across the nation, most commonly in the spring, when many species are caring for their offspring.
People frequently encounter young wild animals they think need assistance or have been orphaned. However, in most cases neither assumption is true and the animals should be left alone.

By Don Quilici
Mark your calendars for April 24-26 for the highly-popular John Riordan Invitational Fishing Derby. John is the Assistant General Manager for the Carson Station Hotel and Casino in Carson City, and this will be the 14th version of his annual, fun-filled, fishing event at Topaz Lake.
His derby is traditionally co-headquartered at the Topaz Lake Marina and the Topaz Lake Lodge at Topaz Lake, which lies along the Nevada-California state line about 40 miles south of Carson City.

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This week’s feature is about a long time friend, Gene St. Denis, Captain of Blue Ribbon Charters at South Lake Tahoe, Calif. He offers daily fishing trips for Mackinaw, rainbow and brown trout on his sport fishing boat, “The PT-109,” at Lake Tahoe.

Mackinaw trout in the double digit class (10 pounds or more) in weight are not that uncommon on those charter trips. In fact, in the last two years, each time Elaine and I have fished with “Gino” she has caught a double digit “Mack” in weight.

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Click here for this week's fishing report and here for more outdoor stories.

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Two years ago, her Mack weighed 20-pounds, 9-ounces (37.5 inches long) and it was the biggest fresh water fish that she has ever caught.
Last year, her fish checked in at just over 10 pounds.

If you like to fish in the State of Nevada, you might be interested in entering the 2011 Ormsby Sportsmen’s Association (OSA) fishing contest.

This annual contest is inexpensive, you can have fun fishing during the year and you might even win some nice cash, just before Christmas.

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Click here for this week's fishing report and here for other outdoor-related stories.

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If you’re interested, here is all kinds of information on that contest:

Here is the Northern Nevada outdoor sports calendar for the month of April:

If you're one of many thousands of big game hunters (54,000-plus last year) interested in drawing a 2011 hunting tag for Pronghorn Antelope, Mule Deer, California Bighorn Sheep, Desert (Nelson) Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, Rocky Mountain Elk and Rocky Mountain Goat in the State of Nevada, be advised that you can now submit your application(s) to hunt one or more of the big game species listed above.

The 2011 application period began Friday, March 18 at 8 a.m.
The final deadline for RECEIVING your application(s) will be 5 p.m. on Monday, April 18. Remember that key work: Receiving.

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Go here for more outdoor stories and here for this week's fishing report.
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The drawing results will be made available to the public on June 13. If you would like to apply, you can do so by one of two methods:

Courtesy of GrandViewOutdoors.com
The bill to allow a small group of enthusiasts to hunt with spears has been stopped in the House.

The measure targeted at a subgroup of hunters who hunt like prehistoric man for sport was tabled in the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks committee Friday.
The bill, which had already passed through the Senate, drew a large amount of public interest because of its unusual topic.

If you are a trout fisherman and are fairly new to our area, you may not be aware that some of our best Lahontan Cutthroat Trout fishing is at Pyramid Lake in the month of March.

Pyramid Lake (which is roughly the same surface size as Lake Tahoe) is about 30 miles north of Reno-Sparks, and it contains Lahontan Cutthroat Trout that routinely run into “Double Digits” in weight.

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Go here for this week's full fishing report and here for more outdoor stories.

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The lake is the terminus of the Truckee River which begins at Lake Tahoe.
Pyramid Lake is approximately 15 miles long, 11 miles wide and measures 350 feet deep at its deepest point.

The week of Feb. 21, Sal and Catali Quilici of Dayton, together with Elaine, her mom (Mary) and I traveled by two vehicles from Carson City all the way south to La Quinta, California (about 500 miles).

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Click here for More Outdoor News and this Week's Fishing Report
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It was a stark contrast between two totally different worlds. In Carson City, we had been experiencing winter weather conditions, seemingly forever, which is typical for this time of the year: furnace running off and on, all day and all night; heavy frost on the car windows in the mornings, ominous-looking gray clouds filling the skies; cold, biting winds; snow-covered landscapes; trees without leaves; dead-looking flower gardens; having to wear winter jackets and gloves; all kinds of neighbors and friends with sniffles, coughs and colds.

Saturday evening, March 5, will be the date of my all-time favorite fundraiser: The highly-popular and fun-filled, Carson Valley Chukar Club fundraiser, which will be held as usual at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.
More importantly, this year’s version will be its 25th.

Wow! 25 years! Congrats for all you have done for Nevada’s wildlife!

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For more of Don Quilici's Outdoors, click here.
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Seven fun-loving people from this area spent last Saturday and Sunday, February 12-13, traveling on the Amtrak passenger train between Reno and Sacramento, Calif.

--See Don Q's Outdoor report

Those seven were: Mary Bottoms, Bob “Slick” and Lynda McCulloch, Elaine and I, all of Carson City; and Sal and Catali Quilici of Dayton.

A midnight candy room with collections of sweet and salty treats for late-night creative sessions. A handcrafted ice bar buffet atop the mountain accessible only by snowshoe or ski followed by overnight camping in a snow cave. A chef escorting guests to the local organic grocer to assure specific dietary needs are met. What’s that, gluten free? No problem. Kosher? Got it nailed.
 

For the Northern Nevada and Sierra sports and outdoors men and women out there, here is the Outdoor Calendar for February:

Feb. 12 – Opening day of the 2011 fishing season at the Fort Churchill Cooling Ponds near Yerington.
This season closes on Sept. 30.
Call the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) in Reno at 688-1500 or go to www.ndow.org"

Feb. 12 – Opening day of the 2011 fishing season at Hinkson Slough on the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area near Yerington.
This season closes on Sept. 30.

Story by Grand View Outdoors.com

Federal wildlife officials said Tuesday they have counted a total of 50 endangered Mexican wolves on the Arizona-New Mexico border, up from 42 wolves a year earlier.

The Fish and Wildlife Service's southwest regional director, Benjamin Tuggle, said the figure from last month's annual survey includes 29 wolves in Arizona and 21 in New Mexico.

Researchers determined there are two pairs of breeding wolves.

Story by Grand View Outdoors.com
North Dakota wildlife officials say an annual midwinter survey has found only about 7,300 Canada geese wintering on the Missouri River.

That's down dramatically from 25,400 in last year's survey.

But the state Game and Fish Department says this year's count might be underestimated because of poor lighting conditions the morning of the survey and the tight flocking behavior of roosting geese.

This Saturday, Feb. 12, is the opening day of the 2011 fishing seasons for the following waters in Lyon County:

— The Fort Churchill Cooling Ponds, near Wabuska.
— Applicable open waters (Bass Pond, Beaver Slough, Crappie Pond, Hinkson Slough, North Pond and the Walker River), all on the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area (MVWMA), near Yerington.

All of the waters listed above will close on Sept. 30. If you are interested in fishing at any of those waters on Opening Day, here is some miscellaneous information:

Fort Churchill Cooling Ponds:

We are honored to welcome outdoor writer and editor Don Quilici to the pages of Carson Now.

Quilici's stories and photos will be featured every Wednesday on our new Outdoors Page.

Don Q is famous around these parts to anyone who hunts or fishes. He was the outdoor editor for the Nevada Appeal for 22 years, and his weekly columns delighted readers regardless of their abilities with a gun or rod.

"True Grit" is a 2010 remake to the 1969 film which starred John Wayne, written and directed by the Jeff and Ethan Coen. It is the second adaptation of Charles Portis' 1968 novel of the same name. The film stars Jeff Bridges as U.S. Marshal Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn and Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross with Texas Rager Matt Damon and bad guy Josh Brolin.

With all of the "Black Friday" shopping madness now safely behind us, Carsonsports.com Outdoor Editor Don Quilici has some Christmas gift ideas, chocolate included, for outdoor enthusiasts. Click here to read up on the Q's list.

A book signing by former Nevada Appeal and Tahoe Daily Tribune sports reporter Jeremy Evans will be on Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. at Borders Books in Carson City. Evans is the author of the new book "In Search of Powder: A Story of America's Disappearing Ski Bum."

The following obituary was submitted by Jeff Cowen, community liaison for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency on the passing of spokesman Dennis Oliver:

DENNIS J. OLIVER
May 20, 1963 - November 3, 2010

For the 19th consecutive year, the Carson City Shade Tree Council will host its annual Fall Tree Care Seminar on November 3, 2010. The Seminar will be held in the Sierra Room at the Community Center from 8:30 am until 4 pm and is open to all tree care professionals and tree lovers in the community. The Community Center is located at 851 East William Street in Carson City.

The Seminar will be broadcast on Carson City’s public access television stations.

LAKE TAHOE — The “South Shore Summer Series” launches the season with a weekend of live music, culinary delights, sternwheeler race, concerts and competitions stretching across the shore from Camp Richardson Resort on the west to Zephyr Cove on the east. Recognized for its combination of scenic beauty and outdoor recreation with value-added vacations, entertainment and dining options, Lake Tahoe dives into summer as the recently designated No. 2 Destination and No. 8 place in the U.S.

Though Northern Nevada is not out of the woods for large earthquakes, there is a potential for seismically-charged shakers for the region, says Cal Orey, a Lake Tahoe earthquake intuitive, who predict

Outdoors