Experience Walker Lake, Nevada

In all of my efforts to help brand Nevada as a great destination for fishing as well as outdoor adventures, there is one Nevada destination that I have overlooked for some time now and would like to highlight as a must to experience and that is Walker Lake. Walker Lake has been known for sometime now as "An Ecosystem in Crisis" and I just want to let everyone know that this is a must to add to your list of destinations.



In as little as 2 hours from Sparks or Reno you can easily find yourself enjoying all of the prestine beauty and wildlife that Walker Lake has to experience. Walker Lake is located 12 miles north of Hawthorne, 55 miles south of Fallon off U.S. 95 and 50 miles west of Yerington off U.S. 95A. It is a terminal lake (lake with no outlet) that is fed by the Walker River. Walker Lake is a remnant of the ancient Lake Lahontan, an extinct lake with surviving remnants in western Nevada and northeast California. It was formed by heavy precipitation caused by Pleistocene glaciers but largely disappeared 50,000 years ago.

The native Lahontan cutthroat trout still inhabit Walker Lake, but the fishery is now maintained by hatchery stocks. River barriers prevent any natural reproduction. Upstream water demands have decreased lake levels by 130 feet since the turn of the century and the decreased water levels have led to increased levels of dissolved solids (salts) and increased the alkalinity to near lethal limits for all fish life in the lake. An increase in lake elevations or a decrease in dissolved solid levels is needed to secure the future of the lake.



The most valuable way that you could help in the efforts to save Walker Lake is to please visit Walker Lake and see the rapid decrease in water levels for yourself. If you then choose to help in the cause to save Walker Lake, please contact the Walker Lake Working Group’s form or write a letter and mail it to the below address.

Walker Lake Working Group
P.O. Box 867
Hawthorne, NV 89415

More on Walker Lake
Visit Walker Lake Photo Gallery

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Nevada Fishing License Renewal Date: February 28

TIME IS ALMOST UP...
The Nevada Fishing License Year is coming to an end FEBRUARY 28, 2006

Before heading out the door to go fishing, be sure to get yourself a new 2006-2007 Fishing License as well as a new Nevada Trout Stamp. For more information on 2006-2007 Fishing Regulations, please visit the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

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Fish The West Qualifies for an ADDY Award

Fish The West has been chosen as a winner of an ADDY Award from the Advertising Association of Northern Nevada. The Advertising Association will announce the winners at a special presentation entitled "A Day at the Races" on Friday, March 3rd.

We are very excited that a website, devoted to Outdoor Adventures in Nevada, has taken interest with so many individuals and is now competitive enough to draw the attention of an Advertising Association.

Thank you and wish us luck!

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Adventure #1,006: Road Trip to Boise, Idaho

In search of a quick adventure that'll get you off the couch and out in the wide open for the weekend? Try a road trip to Boise, Idaho. It only takes 6 - 6.5 hours from the Reno/Sparks area. Well a little longer if you go the speed limit through Oregon and Jordan Valley: 55 mph.

Start your trip off Friday evening and try to get to Winnemucca before 9pm. Try staying at the Red Lion...they offer shuttle service to anywhere you'd like to go within the Winnemucca limits and be sure not to eat a thing and save room for some fine dining Basque style at The Martin (Railroad & Melarkey Streets, Winnemucca, Nevada, 89445, (775) 623-3197).

Plan to leave early in the morning around 6:30AM and begin heading North on US 95 towards the Oregon border. Look for Antelope throughout the valley as you pass Orovada and Fort McDermitt. We came across a few hundred directly off the side of the road. It was an amazing site.



Once out of Fort McDermitt, you've entered into the lower right corner of Oregon. It's a gorgeous transition to watch the mountains change from high snowy peaks, Crooked Creek Range to the left, to flat platues that look like a minature version of the Grand Canyon. The Owhyee River originates in Nevada and flows through Oregon which is said to be what had caused some of these deep cuts through the platuea's.



If you want to fish for a bit, there is a place to camp and even launch small boats directly on the Owyhee River. A quick side note: The word Owyhee applies to the River as well as the surrounding mountains and is an outdated spelling of the word Hawaii.

As you continue on US 95, you'll pass several small ranches and probably see quite a bit of wildlife directly off the sides of the road. For instance in our short drive we saw: 25+ deer, a couple hundred antelope, free range chickens, chukar, quail, pheasants, coyotes and lots and lots of road kill.

As soon as you see the Welcome to Idaho sign, your not too far from Boise now. You'll continue to drive through the out lying ranch areas for a few miles working your way towards a more congested area called Marsing, Idaho. Once you drive through the small town of Marsing, you'll see the very large and very wide river called The Snake River. There is a small park to the right of the road in Marsing, that is setup for anglers, boaters and people who like to picnic.



Allthough the trip to Boise is short, it allows you to be able to relax and enjoy several different terrains and landscapes, rivers, animals, and finally you meet some really nice people. Oh and one final note...on your way home to Nevada, if you have time, try and stop by Rye Patch Reservoir it hasn't been this full in years. Click here to see more photos.



For more photos of this trip and other trips, Click here.

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Pyramid Lake Fishing Derby: February 11, 12, 18 and 19

CROSBY LODGE
19th ANNUAL PRESIDENT'S DAY FISHING DERBY AT PYRAMID LAKE
The Derby starts Saturday, February 11th and Sunday, February 12th and continues to the following weekend of Saturday, February 18th and ending Sunday, February 19th.

ENTRY FEE - $65.00



BIG CASH PRIZES

• 1st - $4,000.00 Cash
• 2nd - $2,000.00 Cash
• 3rd - $1,000.00 Cash
• 4th - $800.00 Cash
• 5th - $700.00 Cash
• 6th - $600.00 Cash
• 7th - $500.00 Cash
• 8th - $450.00 Cash
• 9th - $400.00 Cash
• 10th - $300.00 Cash
• 11th – Fishing Charter (Cutthroat Charters) plus $100.00 Gift Certificate – Mark, Fore & Strike
• 12th – Fishing Charter (Just Rite Fishing) plus $50.00 Gift Certificate – Reno Fly Shop
• 13th – Coleman Stove plus Fishing Pole Combo and $100.00 Gift Certificate – Sportsman Warehouse
• 14th – Scotty Downrigger plus $50.00 Gift Certificate – The Gilly plus $50.00 Gift Certificate – Sportsman Warehouse
• 15th – Fish Mount (McNulty Taxidermy) plus $100.00 Gift Certificate – Sportsman Warehouse
• 16th – Float Tube plus $50.00 Gift Certificate – Sportsman Warehouse
• 17th – Fishing Pole Combo and Crosby Lodge Jacket plus $50.00 Gift Certificate – Sportsman Warehouse
• 18th – Hodgman Neoprene Waders plus $50.00 Gift Certificate – Sportsman Warehouse
• 19th – Yearly Fishing Permit 2006/2007 – Pyramid Lake Fisheries plus $50.00 Gift Certificate – Sportsman Warehouse
• 20th – Yearly Fishing Permit 2006/2007 – Pyramid Lake Fisheries plus $50.00 Gift Certificate – Sportsman Warehouse

*Prizes are estimated on number of entrants

Sign Up for the Derby Now!

Learn more about the Derby!

Cutthroat Trout

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