Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Top pro anglers in local tournament

Paula DelGiudice

Wednesday, April 7, 1999 | 10:12 a.m.

Paula DelGiudice's outdoors notebook appears Wednesday. Reach her at PDelGiudice@compuserve.com.

Action got under way today in the $409,450 KMart BASSMASTER Las Vegas Top 150 bass fishing tournament, another event in the $6 million BASSMASTER Tournament Trail. Tournament fishing will continue through Saturday out of Callville Bay Marina.

The top pro anglers in this country as well as some international pros are competing in the tournament. Among those are Roland Martin, who holds the record for the most BASSMASTER tournament wins at 19, defending world champion Denny Brauer and Rick Clunn, the only four-time BASSMASTER Classic world champion. The professional anglers will be paired with amateur anglers throughout the tourney.

Nevada's Byron Velvick of Boulder City is the only pro angler scheduled to fish, though several Nevada amateurs are competing. They include: Lawrence Crim, Harlan Foster Jr., Charles Owen, Edward Prenavo and Marvin Williams of Las Vegas; and Mitch Geyer of Spring Creek and Jessie Reulas of Henderson. Anglers will be trying to catch the five largemouth bass daily limit. The fish must measure at least 12 inches each.

First prize in the pro division is $100,000 in cash and awards.

Daily catches will be weighed at Callville Bay Marina at 3 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday. The public is invited to attend the weigh-ins.

To check on the daily standings, try the BASSMASTER web site at www.bassmaster.com.

* CASTING KIDS: In conjuction with the tournament, a Casting Kids clinic will be held at Calville Bay Marina on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Local bass anglers will teach children the basics of fishing including pitching, flipping and casting. All equipment is furnished, but kids must be accompanied by an adult.

* LOON TOON: On April 17, visitors and local residents alike will gather on the beach at Walker Lake in western Nevada to embark on a flotilla of boats to view hundreds of common loons on their northerly migration to Canada and Alaska.

Boat rides are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Talks on Walker Lake's history, its fragile ecosystem and Native American tales also will be featured. For more information call (775) 945-8243.

* DEADLINE EXTENDED: Though April 1 was the original deadline for entries into the Walker Lake Arts Festival scheduled Oct. 2 in Hawthorne, entries still will be accepted for a short time. The Earth Celebration will feature an exhibition and sale of fine art in many media including music, art, drama, poetry and film.

The emphasis for the art should be Walker Lake, although as long as the work represents the environment of the Nevada desert (its geology, wildlife, fish, recreation, archaeology and history and the culture) it will be accepted. For more information, call Gaye at (775) 972-4144.

* BIG-GAME DEADLINE: Nevada hunters who want to hunt deer or other big game this year have a Monday, April 19, deadline for getting their applications to the Hunt Applications Office in Fallon.

Applications must be received by mail by 5 p.m. on that day to be eligible for the drawings.