Columnist Barb Henderson: ‘Summer Adventure’ in Elko a feast of fun for outdoors fans

Barb Henderson

Friday, Aug. 27, 2004 | 9:39 a.m.

Barb Henderson is an outdoors enthusiast, freelance writer and producer/host of outdoors radio television programming. Her column appears Friday in the Sun.

I was hooked -- and thankful -- when the Elko Convention & Visitors Authority was ready to reel me in to be one of their participants in the Summer Adventure Tour Aug. 18-21.

As I'm an outdoors writer who appreciates the open spaces of Nevada, visiting the Elko area was quickly placed on my August calendar.

Staying at the Shilo Inn was a delight.

The ECVA participants were given an opportunity to enjoy fishing, a 4-wheel drive experience, exploring the country on a dirt bike or an all-terrain vehicle, or an opportunity to go mountain biking along spectacular trails.

I was eager to try my luck hooking a fish.

Along with Richard Alves of California, with Fish Sniffer Publication; Don Hughley of Elko; and Ben French, the manager of the Gold Country Inn and Casino in Elko, I fished at South Fork Reservoir one morning and Wilson Reservoir the next morning. We fished early and deep so we could catch and release.

I did have hope, though, of bringing home my five-trout limit.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife stocks both reservoirs, primarily in the spring and fall, with rainbow trout. The average size fish stocked is approximately eight inches.

"Both waters contain bass. South Fork has smallmouth and largemouth bass, while Wilson has largemouth. South Fork also has Wiper Bass (white bass/striper hybrid), channel catfish, brown trout, cutthroat trout and bowcutt trout (cutthroat/rainbow hybrid)," said Joe Doucette, conservation educator with NDOW's Eastern Regional office.

South Fork is seven miles south of Elko on State Route 227, 5 1/2 miles south on State Route 228, and 3 1/2 miles southwest on Lower South Fork Road. It is managed by Nevada Division of State Parks.

Fishing from a boat, I caught a trout in the first half-hour that measured 20 1/2 inches and my largest catch was 23 inches. The average that first morning was in the 20-inch range.

That afternoon, French drove us over to his High Desert Labrador Retriever Kennel to check out some adorable lab puppies that were only nine days old. Then we were off to the Gold Country Inn and Casino for a delicious lunch.

Traveling to Wilson the next morning was an adventure in itself.

After being delayed by roadwork, we came across three cowboys herding cattle down the middle of the road. We continued over Chicken Creek Summit, and our journey took us another five miles along Nevada Highway 226 (Tuscarora Road) to the turnoff for Wilson Reservoir, another 16 miles.

A jackrabbit hopped down the road in front of the truck as though he was leading us to the water's edge.

At Wilson, I relaxed more than I fished. There's something about being outdoors with spectacular scenery while viewing antelope, mule deer, duck, chukar and hearing geese honking that stirs my soul.

Hughley had a special appreciation about living so close to these opportunities. "I don't know what I did to deserve all this," he said.

French had a great outlook about outdoor writers. "I learned a lot about writing as a whole through a sportsman's perspective," he said.

Alves, the California angler, said: "Fishing is pretty much the same wherever you go, relaxing and catching fish."

Traveling back, we dropped into the Jack Creek Lodge and visited with a few of the bow hunters who had drawn an archery tag for that area.

Warm hospitality is always the "cowboy way" up in Elko.

Speaking of hospitality, thank you to Hughley for filleting my five trout. I prepared a delicious barbecue meal the next day with my husband by placing a fish in foil with salt, pepper, seasonings, green onions, sliced lemon and zucchini.

I'm ready to fire up the grill again this weekend.

For information on fishing the waters in Nevada, visit www.ndow.org.

For information on exploring the Elko area, visit www.exploreelko.com.