Column: Second Annual Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Fishing Derby

Are you a fisherman or fisher woman?

Are you a trout fisherman or fisher woman?

Are you a trout fisherman or fisher woman who is interested in fishing at this time of the year?

Are you a trout fisherman or fisher woman who is interested in fishing at this time of the year at Pyramid Lake?

Are you a trout fisherman or fisher womanwho is interested in fishing at this time of the year at Pyramid Lake for a large Lahontan cutthroat trout?

Are you a trout fisherman or fisher woman who is interested in fishing at this time of the year at Pyramid Lake for a large Lahontan cutthroat trout and winning $1,500?

Well, if you answered "yes" to all of those questions, here is some information that is right up your alley:

-- When and Where:

The Second Annual Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Derby, which will be held at Pyramid Lake on Dec. 9.

-- Prizes:

The derby offers the following eight different prizes for the eight heaviest weights caught during the derby:

First Place (Total weight of one or two legal keepers): $1,500 plus a jacket.

Second: $800 plus a jacket.

Third: $500 plus a jacket.

Fourth: $400.

Fifth: $300.

Sixth: $200.

Seventh: $100.

Eighth: $50.

There will also be other prizes for "Surprise-Weigh Matches."

In addition, the first 100 contestants who weigh in a legal Adipose-clipped cutthroat will receive a special cap.

-- Registration Fee:

The derby registration fee is $40 per person which includes a derby T-shirt and a breakfast sandwich.

-- Pre-Registration:

Pre-Registration mail-ins must be postmarked by a deadline of Dec. 1, 2000. Mail your entries to: Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, P.O. Box 256, Nixon Nevada 89424.

-- Early Registration Locations:

Pyramid Lake Fisheries at Pyramid Lake: Weekdays only (8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.).

Pyramid Lake Marina Store at Sutcliffe: Daily (6 a.m.-6 p.m.).

Pyramid Lake Store on the Pyramid Lake Highway: (6 a.m.-6 p.m.).

Nixon Store in Nixon: Weekdays: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Weekends: 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

Mark, Fore & Strike in Reno: Dec. 1 only (9 a.m.-6 p.m.).

I-80 Smoke Shop: (6 a.m.-10 p.m.).

-- Late Registration:

Pyramid Lake Marina Store at Sutcliffe on only Dec. 9, only 5-7 a.m.

There will be a $10 late fee.

-- Special Fishing Restrictions for Lahontan cutthroat trout at Pyramid Lake:

A keeper is defined as a Lahontan cutthroat trout 16-19 inches in length or over 24 inches.

That length is measured from the tip of the trout's nose to the extreme tip of the fish's tail, with the lobes of the caudal fin spread naturally.

The Pyramid Lake limit is two trout 16-19 inches or one trout 16-19 inches and one over 24 inches in length. All other trout must be released unharmed.

You must have a Pyramid Lake fishing permit to fish and a boating permit to use your boat. A daily fishing or boating permit is $6 and an annual permit is $32.

Note: You do not need a Nevada fishing license or a Nevada Trout Stamp to fish at Pyramid Lake.

-- Some of this year's Derby rules (there are more):

All fish are to be taken by artificial lure only.

All participants must check in at the Pyramid Lake Marina Store from 5 a.m. through 9 a.m.

Any person accompanying a tournament participant either on a boat on on shore must also be a registered participants in the derby.

Absolutely no tournament fishing before the official start flare which will be launched at 7 a.m. by the tribal patrol to signify the official start of the derby.

Official weigh-ins will be held at the Pyramid Lake Marina, beginning at 12 noon and ending promptly at 5 p.m.

Award presentations will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Pyramid Lake Marina Store.

Only Lahontan cutthroat trout caught in Pyramid are eligible for weigh-in.

In case of a mechanical breakdown of a boat, fish can not be transferred from one boat to another.

Tournament will not be canceled or rescheduled due to weather conditions.

No refunds will be allowed.

Fishing guides or charters are not allowed in the tournament.

Any person conducting himself or herself in a disorderly or intoxicated manner or violating Pyramid Lake regulations may be expelled from the tournament and denied re-entry to future tournaments.

-- Current Fishing Success:

As of last week, here is what was working and where it was working:

Fly Fishermen: At Warrior Point or the Nets. Using black or black/red tail Woolly Bugger or Woolly Worm flies.

Spincasters: Along the entire west shoreline. Chartreuse/black dot, orange/black dot TOR-P-DO lures.

Trollers: At Pelican Point, Windlass Bay, Spider Point or Warrior Point. Using various colored Flatfish, Kwikfish, Rapala or Apex lures.

Jig Fishing: At Windlass Bay or Monument Rocks. Using 1/2 ounce black or purple Maribou jigs.

-- Finally:

This derby will be your last opportunity to win some big money to buy those Christmas presents on your gift list.

Heck, for only a $40 investment, someone is going to take home $1,500. It could be you.

If it is, that $1,500 will buy some nice Christmas presents for everyone on that gift list, including Little Donnie Q.

Give it a try!

Good luck to you!

For derby information, call the Pyramid Lake Marina Store at (775) 476-1156 or the Pyramid Lake Fisheries Office at (775) 476-0489 or the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe at (775) 574-1000, Ext. 204.

For Pyramid Lake fishing information, call Lex Moser of Pyramid-Tahoe Fishing Charters at 852-FISH or the Pyramid Lake Fisheries Office - Beverly Harry at (775) 476-0489 or Brian Niewinski (775) 476-0500 or Nancy Vucunich at (775) 476-0489 or the Pyramid Lake Store (George or Carla Molino) at (775) 476-0555 or the Gilly Sporting Goods Store in Sparks at 358-6113.

-- Bet Your Favorite Pigeon

Bet your favorite pigeon that he can't tell you about the heaviest fish Don Q caught at Pyramid Lake.

If he says, "It was a 12-pounder. He caught it near the mouth of the Truckee River while standing in the water in his chest waders. He was casting 6-pound test line with a red/white, No. 2 TOR-P-DO lure many years ago," he could have been the guy standing in his waders in the water next to me.