Columnist Paula Del Giudice: Free Fishing Days help sport

Wednesday, June 4, 1997 | 10:33 a.m.

I'LL BET YOU were as surprised as I was Monday when you went to your mailbox and found a deer tag inside.

If you didn't see a thick envelope from the Hunt Application Office, maybe what you will find will be a refund check in a thinner envelope. I was thrilled to receive a deer tag for the first time in two years -- Area 11, late season. I wasn't too surprised that husband Mike had one too, since we applied as a party. November is going to be a busy month. ...

I want to thank those who wrote after reading my column on my golden retriever, Dolly. Especially Ginger Jablonowski. I appreciate your words of comfort. ...

This is a busy week: It's National Fishing Week and many states are hosting "Free Fishing Day" Saturday. Saturday also is National Trails Day.

National Fishing Week is a good time to focus on the social and economic benefits of sport fishing. According to the latest nationwide economic statistics, anglers spend more than $24 billion on sport fishing goods and services. Anglers also provide $2.1 billion in federal income tax and $1.3 billion in state sales and income taxes.

In Nevada, it is estimated that anglers spend $64 million on their sport. They provide for more than 1,500 jobs.

Free Fishing Days, held in conjunction with National Fishing Week, are a good way to entice old anglers back to the sport and encourage new anglers to take it up. ...

Utah's streams and rivers still have high runoffs, so the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is recommending anglers fish lakes and reservoirs this weekend instead.

Duck Creek and Aspen Mirror lakes are open to fishing. Duck Creek Pond has been stocked with catchable rainbows and fishing has been fair. Aspen Mirror also has been stocked.

Upper and Lower Enterprise reservoirs are accessible. Recent netting shows good populations of fat 12-14-inch rainbows.

Fishing has been fair to good at Koosharem Reservoir. Kolob Reservoir is accessible from the Zion side and has been stocked with catchable-sized rainbows.

Navajo Lake is free from ice, is accessible, and has been stocked. Panguitch Lake fishing has been fair to good. The Cedar Breaks road is open. Paragonah (Red Creek) Reservoir is accessible and full. Fishing for rainbows in the 10-14-inch range has been good.

Arizona's Free Fishing Day will also be held on Saturday. Free Fishing Day in Nevada will not be celebrated until Saturday, June 14. On that day, anglers are allowed to fish without possessing a fishing license or fishing stamps. ...

National Trails Days was created to forward the goal of bringing trails to within 15 minutes of every American, taking them from their back doors to the backcountry. Make sure if you're hiking to take at least a minimum of survival gear. A flashlight helped one hiker this past week signal for help.

Notes

* NDOW MEETINGS: The Nevada Division of Wildlife is holding a series of public meetings this month to gather input on a comprehensive strategic plan that has been in development since the fall of 1995. The plan, when implemented, will guide agency budgeting and work programs through the year 2003. Interested persons and organizations are encouraged to attend the meetings that will begin at 7 p.m. today at NDOW's Region III Headquarters, 4747 W. Vegas Drive. Written comments also are being accepted and must be submitted by June 10 to NDOW, Phase II Planning Team, P.O. Box 10678, Reno, NV 89520.

* DENNIS MILLER'S WEEKLY UPDATE: Las Vegas' Dennis Miller is the Nevada leader in the 1997 TNN Outdoor Big Bass World Championship. Miller's bass was taken from Floyd Lamb Park April 11. The fish measured 19.5 inches and sported a girth of 17.5 inches. If this fish continues to lead through Aug. 15, Miller will qualify for the BBWC Finals, to be held Oct. 11-12 at Big Cedar Lodge on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo. Call 1-800-348-2642 to obtain a contest entry form.

* BIG CATCH: Boulder City anglers Ray Thurston and Tom Klinger were among the anglers fishing the WON Bass tourney May 17-18 who witnessed some of the best two-day totals ever taken on Lake Mead. It took over 10 pounds to win the tourney and angler Bruce Hyland of Chandler, Ariz., did just that. Thurston's total was 27.71 pounds for sixth place and Klinger's total was 24.47 pounds for 19 place.