Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Commissioners have full plate

Paula DelGiudice

Thursday, July 22, 1999 | 10:01 a.m.

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

The Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners will meet Saturday in Elko at Great Basin College to establish seasons and bag limits for upland game, waterfowl and furbearers for the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 seasons.

Other items on the Commission's Saturday agenda include the presentation of the 1998 Wayne E. Kirch Nevada Wildlife Conservation Award, the election of Commission officers for the next year, the presentation of the annual Wildlife Officer of the Year award, possible adoption of the Lincoln County Elk Plan and the possible closure of the 1999 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep season in unit 074 of Elko County.

The Commission will also take action on a proposed regulation to prohibit hunting for 96 hours after using aircraft to locate wildlife. A public comment period is also scheduled at the end of Saturday's meeting.

Prior to the Saturday meeting, the Commission will be treated to a two-day tour of the Jarbidge Mountains in northern Elko County. The tour will take the Commission through the Jarbidge Mountains, to both Jarbidge and Mary's River and camping at the Pole Creek Ranger Station.

The public is welcome, but must furnish transportation, food and lodging. The tour is informational in nature and no action will be taken during that time period.

On Sunday, a meeting of the Commission's Access Committee will be held.

For more information about the upcoming meeting, call NDOW at its Region III headquarters in Las Vegas at 486-5127.

* CATFISH HUNTERS: Catfish were stocked late last week at Floyd Lamb State Park, Lorenzi Park and Sunset Park, according to the Nevada Division of Wildlife.

NDOW purchased the fish from a commercial grower in Texas which brought them to Las Vegas. More than 1,000 fish were stocked in each of the park ponds.

Catfish plants are taking place once monthly with the next stocking scheduled for mid-August. Catfish will be stocked until late October or early November. When water temperatures become cool enough for the release of trout, NDOW will return to stocking rainbow trout from its Lake Mead Hatchery twice monthly in the local ponds.

* RED MAN CHANGES: Operation Bass, Inc., has announced a new "user-friendly" tournament format designed to involve anglers of all skill levels.

Events conducted during 2000 will feature a new Boater Division and Co-Angler Division and five qualifying tournaments in each of Red Man's 22 divisions.

To further accommodate the growing number of tournament participants, Operation Bass will conduct four Saturday and one Saturday/Sunday super tournament in each of its 22 divisions. The format for the tournaments is designed to be totally inclusive.

"It's actually two separate tournaments going on simultaneously," said Charlie Hoover, OB president. "We believe that this format will encourage many anglers, who in the past may have considered tournament fishing something just for professionals, to give it a try."

For more information about the tournament format, contact Operation Bass on the Internet at www.operationbass.com.

* BOOK IT: If you're looking for a new spot to enjoy the outdoors, then a handy book being offered free through October is for you. Roundabout Publications has a special promotion going for its book "Bureau of Reclamation Lakes Guide" to help the public discover these recreation areas.

The 117-page softcover book features the activities, amenities and features of 250 Bureau of Reclamation lakes in 17 states west of the Mississippi River. Some of the activities and facilities included are: camping (both developed and primitive), fishing, boating (includes motor boating and sailing), hunting, trails (hiking, equestrian, off-road, etc.), swimming, picnicking, marina/concession services, comfort stations and handicapped facilities. Included also are basic maps and contact information for each lake.

For your free copy of the Bureau of Reclamation Lakes Guide send your name, address and $3 for shipping and handling to Roundabout Publications, Free Lakes Guide, P.O. Box 19235, Lenexa, KS 66285.