Spring

By the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission has set the 2011 sport halibut seasons for the Oregon Coast.

Oregon halibut anglers will enjoy slightly more fishing opportunity in 2011 thanks to a 12 percent increase in the harvest quota set by the International Pacific Halibut Commission, according to Gway Rogers-Kirchner, ODFW marine fishery manager.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – The Capitol had a new vibe this morning: less gray hair, more noise.
In what some say was the largest student protest ever held at the Legislature, more than 1,000 students thronged the cold, snow-swept capitol grounds to protest Gov. Brian Sandoval’s $162 million proposed cuts to higher education.

(This article is from AroundCarson.com/)
Not this morning, obviously. We are in the grips of winter again, snow as far as we can see. Happy first day of Spring!

Some of the upcoming Mt. Rose events have been re-scheduled due to impending weather. Here is the revised calendar:

March 20: Bobo's Demo Day
Try out next year's ski and snowboard gear! This Demo Day will be held at the Winters Creek Lodge. It's open to the public but people are highly encouraged to pre-register at Bobo's Mogul Mouse in Reno. www.bobos.com

April 2: Ho-Downhill Ski Race & Cookout
Live country music, ski race, chili cookout and more held at the Winters Creek Lodge.

April 9: Spring Pond Skim Party

The latest storm to hit South Lake Tahoe helped boost Heavenly Mountain Resort's year-to-date snow totals well past the 400-inch mark, or more than 30 feet, roughly enough snow to cover the famous Babe the Blue Ox statue in Klamath, Calif.

This is the third-best snow season in Heavenly’s history and forecasters are predicting as much as six more feet before this round of storms clears.

By the Nevada Department of Wildlife
Sometime in mid-March the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) will release the last load of rainbow trout for the agency’s annual stocking season at Lake Mead and Lake Mohave.

But unlike years past, the release of these final truckloads of fish will mark more than the end of a trout stocking season.

They will mark the end of an era, the end of NDOW trout stocking efforts along the Lower Colorado River.

The 2011 season for the Virginia & Truckee Railroad is rolling down the track to opening weekend, May 27 through May 29 in Carson City, according to Convention and Visitors Bureau officials.

Before the official opening weekend, the railroad is offering a sneak peek into the historic route with a special event on Mother’s Day, Sun., May 8.

The Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation will host the Kinder Kup Race Series finals at Lake Tahoe's Heavenly Mountain Resort on Sunday, March 20, 2011 from 8a m to 2 pm.

Open to all skiers and snowboarders age six and under (as of Dec. 31, 2010), the Kinder Kup series at Lake Tahoe is designed to introduce young athletes to competition in a friendly environment. No previous race experience necessary. Entry is $20 and includes a World Cup only competitor lift ticket.

Here is the Northern Nevada, Northern California and Southern Oregon fishing report for the week of March 16-23.

ANGEL LAKE, ELKO COUNTY, NEV:
The Nevada Department of Wildlife www.ndow.org reported: The road is closed.

BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF:
Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (866) 694-2930 www.woodfordsstation.com reported: The road is closed for the winter.

CAPLES LAKE, CALIF:

In the spring of 2010, McCall Realty promised $20,000 in donations to be shared across five non-profit agencies benefitting the youth of South Shore. Included among the organizations is the South Lake Tahoe Women’s Center, dedicated to improving the emotional, social, and economic condition of women and families in our community through prevention, intervention and treatment programs and services that address domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and basic needs.

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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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.

Here is the Northern Nevada, Northern California and Southern Oregon Fishing Report For the week of March 9-16:

By the Nevada Department of Wildlife
While it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to catch a fish, it obviously helps to be one to catch a 39-year old state record for the largest rainbow trout ever caught in Nevada.

Elko angler Mike Mott, who really has worked as a rocket scientist, caught the 16-pound, 8-ounce behemoth on Feb.10 at Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). It measured 30 1/2 inches long and its girth, according to Mott, is about 20 inches.

The Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation will host the Shredtacular Rail Jam event at the American Legion in South Lake Tahoe on Friday, March 11 from 4:30 to 10 p.m.

Open to skiers and snowboarders of all ages, the Shredtacular will be held on a feature built by Rob Giustina of On Course Events. Entry is $20 and includes a goodie bag and a raffle ticket for a chance to win tons of prizes.

Please join Food for Thought at the Governor's Mansion for our annual spring fundraiser. A western theme will carry the event this year, with fabulous BBQ, live and silent auctions, raffles, and a chance to help feed homeless and in-need children in Carson City and the area.
Contact Food for Thought at (775) 883-1011 for tickets and more information.

Mile High Jazz Band presents Spring Fancy: Jazz & Poetry at Comma Coffee, 312 S. Carson Street in Carson City. The show runs from 8 to 10 p.m. Call (775) 884-4154
Click here for more information.

Winter finally paid a visit to Carson City. After six weeks of Spring time throughout January and February, Mother nature finally decided to wake up and dump some snow on us. And it was a good size dumping too, at least 6 inches, more in some parts of town. We went to Lake Tahoe and I sunk in fresh powder up to my thigh! But it’s good to finally get some snow, even though we were getting a taste of Spring and got used to it. We’re having a few sunny days now, so all the ice can melt off the roads, but by Thursday we’re supposed to be back under the grip of another storm system. I wonder how long winter will last this year? For more photos go to aroundcarson.com.

Checking in with Sierra-at-Tahoe, bottomless is the word of the day. The resort reports a mountain of new snow, as La Niña has lived up to her name graciously delivering the biggest storm of 2011.

The resort reports up to 8 feet of snow and counting, so make sure you wear you pole straps or you might not find them till the spring.

You'll feel confident when you huck those tricks you weren't brave enough to throw on hard pack. Today is the day with the resort filled with pillow soft landings.

Here's the latest from 1960 Olympics host resort, Squaw Valley. I'm sure much of the same can be said for other resorts. My Carson Cirty patio got about two feet of snow over the last couple of days. Maybe I'll get my x-c skis out and try the rose garden run!

— Sam Bauman

Here is the Fishing Report for the week of Feb. 16-23:

ALMANOR LAKE, CALIF:
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (530) 365-7500 www.shastacascade.com reported:
Current water surface temperatures are at 35.5 degrees with water clarity at 7.5 feet. It has been sunny all week as forecasted. With the afternoon highs moving into mid to low 50s, and more sunshine is on the way, with the next possibility of some rain near mid week.

By GrandViewOutdoors.com
The battle to rid Alexander Creek of salmon-munching northern pike may escalate into a war next summer. More pike will be targeted by state biologists after the Alaska Department of Fish and Game was awarded $635,000 from the Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund for a four-year program to kill pike.

That supplements $127,000 in state money devoted to the project.

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.

By Nevada Department of Wildlife
Hunters hoping to draw a wild turkey tag for Nevada's 2011 spring hunting season shouldn't wait much longer.

The deadline for submitting tag applications is 5 p.m. February 15, and they must be delivered through a postal service.

In order to apply, hunters must have a license valid March 1, 2010 through Feb. 28, 2011. But they can purchase a 2011-12 hunting license online as part of the application process.

The California Department of Fish and Game has successfully returned two California black bear yearlings to the remote wilderness near Truckee. Both female cubs were orphaned last summer.

One cub was illegally dumped last June on the front porch of Ann Bryant, executive director of the BEAR League. Weighing only 12 pounds, the cub was emaciated and starving.

Here is the greater Northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe, Cascade and Northern California fishing report through Feb. 16, 2011.

BLUE LAKES AREA, CALIF:
Dave Kirby of the Woodfords Station (866) 694-2930 www.woodfordsstation.com reported: The road is closed for the winter.

CAPLES LAKE, CALIF:
John Voss of the Caples Lake Resort (209) 258-8888

Funnyman Kevin Nealon, a “Saturday Night Live” legend and celebrated actor of “Weeds” is set to hit MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa at Stateline, Lake Tahoe on Saturday, Feb. 26, for a special one-night stand.

Dayton Intermediate School’s newly developing school garden will boast two large sculptures by internationally known sculptor Mischell Riley.

Riley, who is well known for work such as the 3-story high bronze lion at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, has donated two of her pieces to enhance the school’s garden landscape.

RENO — Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said she is “taking the pulse” of Reno this week as she considers a bid for Republican Sen. John Ensign’s seat in the 2012 election.
She told Sam Shad and Ray Hagar on Nevada NewsMakers today that she is raising campaign money, but she said the money is for her re-election bid in Congress. For now.

Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation will kick-off the 11th Annual Kinder Kup Race Series at Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe on Sunday, Jan. 23 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Open to all skiers and snowboarders age six and under, the Kinder Kup series is designed to introduce young athletes to competition in a friendly environment. No previous race experience necessary. Entry is $20 and includes a World Cup only competitor lift ticket.

Looks like Spring is trying to make an early appearance this year. Of course I’m not fooled. We’ll get cold and snowy again, probably before the month is out. But the weather this weekend has kind of been a taste of what we’ll be in store for in a few months. It sure did the job of cleaning up the last of the remaining snow quickly. We’ve had huge snow patches all over town that have been in place since our last big snowstorm, weeks ago. Now they’re all gone, in a matter of just a couple of days.