A long round-trip hike for catch/release fishing

Marlette Lake, which is located between Carson City and Lake Tahoe, will open its 2007 fishing season on July 15 and remain open through Sept. 30.

Fishing hours: One hour before sunrise to two hours after sunset.

Regulations: The limit is zero (0) fish. Catch and release only. Only artificial flies and lures with single barbless hooks may be used.

These regulations include the lake, tributaries and outlet stream in Carson City and Washoe Counties.

Marlette covers 381 surface acres to a maximum depth of 45 feet. The lake is presently used as a brood lake for rainbow and Lahontan cutthroat trout. In addition to those trout and Tahoe rainbow trout, there are also speckled dace and suckers in the lake.

Marlette Lake is a hike of about 5 miles on a dirt road from the Spooner Lake State Park. Vehicles are not permitted on the road. Overnight camping is not allowed at the lake itself. A certified camping area can be found approximately 2 miles from the lake on the road back to Spooner Lake.

Biologist Forecast for 2007: Marlette Lake was opened to fishing for the first time in history on July 15 of 2006. Last summer, fishing was excellent from just before dawn until 9 am, but slowed considerably after that, picking up again in the evening. In the fall, fishing was good throughout the day. Rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout averaged about 13 inches in length, but a few fish to 20 inches were captured.

For information, call the Nevada Department of Wildlife at 688-1500 during regular business hours.