If you're a local angler interested in both trout fishing and competing in trout fishing derbies, the last several weeks have been right up your alley.
On Nov. 10, I provided you with all the information that you needed for the huge Custom Boat and Marine Operation Game Thief fishing derby held at Pyramid Lake last Sunday.
In that contest, which was restricted to the first 500 entries, you had the chance to win an $8,300 boating package if you were lucky enough to catch the largest Lahontan cutthroat trout.
That first-place winner was a troller who caught an 11-pound, 5-ounce cutthroat with a Flatfish-type lure. He was trolling 100 feet deep by the Pyramid.
Then on Nov. 17, I also provided you with all the information that you will need to compete in the Walker Lake fishing derby set for this Saturday. That one-day contest is sponsored by the Mineral County Chamber of Commerce. If you're the person with the heaviest stringer of fish, you will go home $1,500 richer. That money will buy a lot of new lures!
Finally, if you're still interested in being in a trout fishing competition, there is yet one more derby scheduled for this general area.
Are you interested?
Well, if you are, here's what you need to know as a contestant:
-- It's the first Pyramid Lake Fisheries Lahontan cutthroat trout tournament.
-- It is scheduled for Dec. 11.
-- it will be held at Pyramid Lake.
-- The total combined weight of two legal "keepers" will determine the winners in this derby.
First place will win $1,350 in cash.
Second place wins $750.
Third takes home $450.
Fourth gets $300.
Fifth receives $150.
-- In addition, the heaviest keeper of the contest will win $250.
The second heaviest wins $150.
Third place is richer by $100.
-- 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.
-- As a bonus for the contestants, every legal Adipose fin-clipped cutthroat will win a special tournament cap.
-- The registration fee is $35, which includes a T-shirt.
-- You can register at the following locations:
Mark, Fore & Strike in Reno on only Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 (1-6 p.m.).
Pyramid Lake Fisheries at Pyramid Lake (weekdays) (8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.).
Creel Station on S.R. 445 (weekends) (10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.).
Pyramid Lake Marina (6 a.m.-6 p.m.).
Pyramid Lake Store (6 a.m. - 6 p.m.).
-- No personal checks. Cash or money orders only.
-- The deadline for all registrations is Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. (no exceptions).
-- All entrants MUST check in at the Pyramid Lake Marina Store on Dec. 11, between 5 and 6:30 a.m.).
-- The tournament begins at 6:45 a.m.
-- You must have a Pyramid Lake fishing permit to fish and a boating permit to use your boat. You do not need a Nevada fishing license. A daily permit is $6, an annual permit is $32.
-- Any person accompanying a contestant, either on a boat or shore fishing, must be entered in the derby.
-- Official weigh-ins will be held at the Sutcliffe Marina Store. Weigh ins will begin at 3 p.m. and end at 5 pm.
-- Award presentation will be made at 7 p.m. at the Lake Bar and Grill at 9716 Pyramid Lake Highway in Spanish Springs.
-- The tournament will not be canceled or re-scheduled due to adverse weather conditions. There will no refunds.
-- Fishing guides or charter boats are not permitted.
-- If I now have your attention and you would like to enter that derby, here's what is happening at Pyramid Lake:
According to Patrick Williams of the Pyramid Lake Fisheries Resource Dept.," Overall, more bigger fish are being caught now that the lake's water temperature is dropping.
Shore fishermen are doing best at the "North Nets," where fly fishermen are scoring with black/red tail Woolly Bugger or Woolly Worm flies.
Trollers are doing well by trolling 50-100 feet deep with frog-colored Flatfish lures or with gray-colored Apex lures.
Spincasters are having the best luck with green-colored lures, such as a Chartreuse/black dot Tor-P-Do. "
-- Finally, this derby will be your last opportunity to win some nice cash to buy all of those Christmas presents on your gift list.
Heck, for only a $35 investment, someone is going to take home $1,350.
That big winner could be you.
If it is, that $1,350 will buy some very impressive Christmas presents.
Give it a try!
For derby information, call Beverly Harry or Brian Niewinski at the Pyramid Lake Fisheries at (775) 476-0426.
For Pyramid Lake fishing information, call The Gilly Sporting Goods Store in Sparks at 358-611 during business hours.
-- Bet Your favorite Pigeon
Bet your favorite pigeon that he can't tell you the size of the largest cutthroat caught at Pyramid Lake since the season opener back on Oct. 1
If he says, "It was a 11-pound, 13-ounce cutthroat caught by a 12-year old boy from Idaho. The boy was fishing with his father on Cutthroat Charters owned and operated by George Molino," he might have been on that boat.