Hobart Reservoir openedfor fishing on May 1

By Don Quilici

LOCATION: Hobart Reservoir, which is a small high-mountain lake located in the Sierra Nevada between Carson City and Lake Tahoe, opened to fishing for the 2004 fishing season on May 1 and will remain open through Sept. 30.

HOW TO GET THERE: Normally, you can drive on the VERY ROUGH, four-wheel drive, dirt road in Ash Canyon, on the west side of Carson City, to a chain across the road. That chain marks the boundary of the Nevada State Parks System vehicle-prohibited area.

From the chain, it's about a one-mile, downhill hike to the small reservoir.

However, be advised, that it's a one-mile, UPHILL hike on the return trip to your vehicle.

WHERE TO FISH: Best from a float tube or a small, inflatable raft.

HOW TO FISH: Best results are in the very early morning hours or the very late afternoon hours.

WHAT YOU'LL CATCH: Eastern brook, cutthroat, rainbow or bowcutt trout. A bowcutt is a hybrid crossbreed between a male rainbow trout and a female cutthroat trout. The largest trout entered in the Nevada Trophy Fish Record Book for Hobart Reservoir is a 2-pound, 2-ounce cutthroat, although it is acknowledged that much larger trout have been taken from there.

SPECIAL REGULATIONS: The fishing hours are one hour before sunrise to two hours after sunset. The limit is five trout, only one of which may be longer than 14 inches. Restricted to only artificial flies or lures, with a single barbless hook.

SPECIAL NOTE NO. 1: You must possess a valid Nevada fishing license and a Nevada Trout Stamp.

SPECIAL NOTE NO. 2: No overnight camping is permitted.

FOR INFORMATION: Call the Fisheries Division of the Nevada Department of Wildlife at 688-1500 during regular business hours.