Friday, Dec. 10, 2004 | 9:40 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.
As I reflect back on this year, I quickly recall some exciting and adventuresome times hunting, fishing and enjoying the shooting sports.
Turning back the pages of the 2004 chapter of my memorable digest, I'd like to share just a few memories and friendships made this year, which will be forever treasured.
Such as the spring fishing trip along the spectacular stretch of the Snake River within the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, where I fished for sturgeon in the waters where Oregon, Idaho and Washington meet, with Tim Johnson, owner/guide of FishHawk Guides and his son Sean.
Reeling in my first sturgeon was so exciting. It was about 130 yards out from our boat when it took my bait; my fishing line was rigged up with a 12-ounce slider weight, 3 feet of leader, 80-pound power pro test line and a 9 ought hook with a delicious anchovy.
Each time I gained line, reeling in that 6-foot sturgeon, the drag would sing. In fact, there was a time when I thought the fish just might spool the reel during the 30 minutes it took to catch and release it.
For information on FishHawk Guides go to www.fishhawkguides.com or call (888) 548-8896.
Next, there was a fantastic summer fishing trip with two Northern Nevada fishing buddies, Don Hughley and Ben French, manager of the Gold Country Inn and Casino in Elko, at South Fork Reservoir and Wilson Reservoir.
South Fork is seven miles south of Elko and managed by Nevada Division of State Parks. Fishing from a boat my largest catch was 23 inches.
The following morning my travels took us over Chicken Creek Summit, about five miles away along Nevada Highway 226 (Tuscarora Road) to the turnoff for Wilson Reservoir, then another 16 miles.
At Wilson, I relaxed more than I fished, appreciating spectacular scenery, viewing antelope, mule deer, duck and chukar and listening to the distinctive honking sound made by geese on their flight above us.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife stocks both reservoirs, primarily in the spring and fall, with rainbow trout. For information on fishing these two reservoirs see ndow.org
Among other fond memories, there was a fall expedition near Jiggs, a wonderful pheasant hunt in the fields at the Willow Creek Hunting and Fishing Club.
Willow Creek is about 27 miles southwest of Elko, off state route 228, on the 2500-acre Reed Ranch, property that has been ranched by the Reed family since 1939. The fields mainly consist of meadow and rangeland interspersed with creek bottoms and wetlands.
As an invited guest of Jake Reed, Ben French and I enjoyed an afternoon pheasant hunt in the fields with Ben's favorite hunting companion, Teal -- an 8-year old female yellow Labrador retriever.
Ben and his beautiful dog have been hunting upland game birds and waterfowl since Teal was 6 months old. There are bird hunters throughout the Elko area who own some of Teal's pups from the High Desert Kennel.
About 20 years ago Jake's father, Robert, ran the hunting club until he shut it down to devote time to his ranching chores.
Jake and his dad started the hunting club up again in 2003.
For information on Willow Creek Hunting and Fishing Club, e-mail [email protected], or call (775) 744-4332.
It's time to close the 2004 digest as I begin to set my sights on future hunting and fishing adventures for my 2005 journal -- plans that will include my first ice-fishing experience in January.
archive
