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The year of 2011 was anything but quiet for the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG).
Pesky bears, a roaming gray wolf, significant poaching arrests, tsunami relief work and dramatic wildlife rescues were among the stories that captured the public’s attention.
DFG also welcomed new Director Charlton H. Bonham, who was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown in August.

Here is the fishing report through Jan. 17 for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California, the Sierra and Southern Oregon.

Due to a project to complete a new north-south water transmission line on the east side of Carson City, Fairview Drive will be closed on Tuesday, January 10, and Wednesday, January 11, between E. Fifth Street and Butti Way. Detours will be marked.

There will be work at the following locations as a result of the Freeway Landscaping Project. No closures are expected, but traffic control will be in effect.

• North Carson Street, in the vicinity of the freeway overpass.
• Arrowhead Drive between N. Carson Street and Garnet Way.

Last year was the winter that never stopped, as we were still getting snowed on down here in the valley in late spring.

But this year is the winter that never started. No snow at all in December. Look up at the hills, and you might mistake it for September.

Here is the fishing report for the week of Jan. 4-11. The report covers rivers, streams and lakes in Nevada, Northern California and Southern Oregon.

An Incline Village couple have been identified in the fatal pedestrian accident on Friday night at a crosswalk on State Route 28 in Incline Village, North Lake Tahoe. The Nevada Highway Patrol reports Robert C. Mathis and Linda Mathis, both 46 and husband and wife, died from injuries sustained in the accident.

UPDATED 11:30AM: A 21-year-old Walnut Creek, Calif. man was struck and killed by a California Highway Patrol vehicle early Sunday morning, New Year's Day, on Highway 50 near Stateline at Lake Tahoe, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.
The accident happened between Lake Village and Elks Point Road and was reported around 12:40 a.m. Sunday morning, said NHP Troopers Mike Edgell and Chuck Allen. The pedestrian, whose identity has not been released pending notification of family, died at the scene of the accident.

Two pedestrians were killed Friday night when they were struck by a pickup, shortly before 8 p.m. in Incline Village on the north shore of Lake Tahoe, the Nevada Highway Patrol reports. The driver of the pickup, Christopher Torii Smith, 25, of Grass Valley, was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence causing death. Names of the deceased have not been released.

Here is the fishing report for the week of Dec. 28, 2011 through Jan. 3, 2012. The report covers rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California, the Sierra and southern Oregon.

This is a reminder that Topaz Lake, which is located along U.S. 395 at the Nevada-California state line, will open its 2012 fishing season, one half hour before sunrise, on Sunday, Jan. 1.


How to get there: 

Take U.S. 395 south from Carson City for about 40 miles. 
Where to fish from shore: 
Along the beach at the north end.
On the far shore, past the Douglas County campground. 
On the California side, along U.S. 395.


Where to fish from a boat: 


Monday afternoon, shortly after 3:00 pm, troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol were dispatched to a head-on collision on US 95 in Esmeralda County, approximately 10 miles north of Tonopah. The details of the crash investigated so far indicate that a black 2002 Ford F-350 Super Duty crew cab pickup was traveling southbound on the two-lane highway driven by its sole occupant, a 55-year-old Harvey A. Gee from Manning, North Dakota.

On Monday afternoon, shortly after 3:00 pm, troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol were dispatched to a head-on collision on US 95 in Esmeralda County, approximately 10 miles north of Tonopah. The details of the crash so far indicate that a black 2002 Ford F-350 Super Duty crew cab pickup was traveling southbound on the two-lane highway driven by its sole occupant, a 55-year-old man from Manning, North Dakota.

A Nevada man pled guilty of felony poaching on Tuesday, stemming from a case discovered January 7 of this year, when a mule deer was illegally shot and left to rot near Fallon.
Chad R. Blumhagen, 27, of Fallon pled guilty to unlawful killing of a big game animal during a closed season and without a tag.
He was sentenced in Churchill County District Court to a suspended jail sentence of 12-32 months and was given five years probation.
Blumhagen was also prohibited from hunting or fishing for the duration of his probation and cannot be associated with anyone hunting or fishing.

Here is this week's fishing report for the week of Dec. 21 through Dec. 27. This report covers rivers, streams and lakes in Nevada, Northern California, the Sierra and Southern Oregon.

This is my annual pre-Christmas reminder that Topaz Lake, located along U.S. 395 at the Nevada-California state line, will open its 2012 fishing season, one half hour before sunrise, on January 1.
If the weather is decent, if you don't have a massive hang-over, if you like to fish and if you don't have anything else planned, this could be a fun way to start the New Year.

Here is the fishing report for the week of December 14-21. This report covers rivers, streams and lakes in Northern California, Nevada and Southern Oregon.

Dungeness crab is back on the menu for holiday feasts as commercial crabbing opens Dec. 15 along most of the Oregon coast.
Fishery managers made the decision today to open the ocean to crabbing along the Oregon coast from the Columbia River to just north of Gold Beach (42°26'00" N. Lat.). The ocean commercial Dungeness crab season in Oregon normally opens Dec. 1, but was delayed this year because crab did not meet minimum pre-season quality testing.
The testing measures the percentage of meat in the crab, by weight.

Reading the newspaper this morning is like deja vu. First, there is the story about Carson City being recognized as a top ranked digital city, which we published last month. Then there is the report about the Gardnerville man who was shot by a Douglas County Sheriff's deputy next to his own grave site, an apparent act of "suicide by cop." There's also the story about the fundraiser at J's Bistro to benefit the Dayton Food Pantry that we had yesterday. It reminds me of that line from the movie "All The President's Men" where they talked about a new feature for the paper, yesterday's weather forecast, "for those who got drunk and slept all day."

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In politics, Judge Todd Russell finalized the state's redistricting case, refusing to add language allowing current office holders from using the words “incumbent” or “re-elect” in their campaigns if their districts had changed. None of the parties in the case objected to the new political boundaries, which closes this chapter of political wrangling.

Secretary of State Ross Miller filed a suit to force conservative advocacy group Citizen Outreach to register with the state and file contribution and expense reports. Miller cited that the group ran ads targeting Assembly Speaker John Oceguera during the 2010 election, which means the group must comply with laws governing political activities.

Although Citizen Outreach has not responded to the suit, its president Chuck Muth has a column today attacking Assembly Minority Leader Pete Goicoechea for not being conservative enough. Goicoechea, a Republican from Eureka, announced that he will run for state senate.

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In other news from behind the wall, Lisa Hoeppner will represent Carson City in the upcoming Mrs. Nevada-America Pageant in Las Vegas, Local's BBQ has closed its doors, and there is a club for table tennis fans in town.

Have a great Friday!

Sierra Le Bone, a boutique for dogs and cats as well as their owners, will celebrate their grand opening Friday and Saturday at their new location at 880 South Stewart Street, across from the fire station.

The business moved in October from their previous location in the Raley's Center, and co-owner Jan McMinn said they are very happy in their new place. Even though their old store was just a few yards off busy South Carson Street, they had trouble converting that traffic to customers as other businesses in the same building began closing their doors.

A project to complete a new north-south water transmission line on the east side of Carson City will result in activity on Fairview Drive south of Fifth Street. There will be lane closures with flagger controlled traffic. Delays are expected.

There will be work at the following locations as a result of the Freeway Landscaping Project. No closures are expected.

• North Carson Street, in the vicinity of the freeway overpass.
• Arrowhead Drive between North Carson Street and Garnet Way.
• Northgate Lane between Jumbo Court and Dyer Court.

Downtown Carson City celebrated the start of the holiday season with the annual Silver and Snowflakes Festival of Lights.

Streets were closed off as throngs of people gathered in front of the state capitol to watch as the lights for the two giant Christmas trees were turned on.

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived on the back of an antique fire truck, with Mayor Bob Crowell riding shotgun. After the state's trees were turned on, the crowd headed over to the First Presbyterian Church where the city's Christmas tree was turned on.

Here is this week's fishing report from Nov. 30 through Dec. 6, 2011. This report covers rivers, streams and lakes in Nevada, the Sierra, Northern California and Southern Oregon.

BISHOP AREA, CALIF:
The fishing season for the Bishop area is closed.
 
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR, CALIF:
The fishing season for Bridgeport Reservoir is closed.

CARSON RIVER, CALIF:
East Carson River:
The fishing season for the East Carson River is closed upstream from Hangman’s Bridge.
West Carson River:
The fishing season for the West Carson River is closed.

CHETCO RIVER, ORE:
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (800-720-ODWF) (www.dfw.state.or.us.com) reports:

Butti Way between Fairview Drive and Airport Road and Airport Road between Butti Way and Desatoya Drive will continued to be closed through Tuesday, November 22. These roads are expected to reopen on Wednesday, November 23. Those wishing to access the Public Works building may do so via Fairview Drive to westbound Butti Way. Those wishing to access the Parks and Recreation Department offices or the Jump Around Carson (JAC) transit office may do so via the south gate to the Public Works Corporate Yard off of Butti Way, south of Airport Road.

Here is this week's fishing report, through Nov. 23, for Nevada, the Sierra, Northern California and Southern Oregon:

The California Department of Fish and Game will close the commercial fishery for market squid, Loligo (Doryteuthis) opalescens, on Friday, Nov. 18 at noon.
Based on landings information and projections,DFG has determined that the season’s harvest limit of 118,000 short tons of market squid will be reached by that date.
The squid fishing season runs from April through the following March of each year, meaning the fishery will remain closed through March 31, 2012.

Three Australians suspected of poaching were arrested last week on multiple charges and later booked into the Elmore County jail.
Eleven charges have been filed against the three men, with a combined bond set at $165,000.
Anton Kepeller, 58, Darren Tubb, 43, and Samuel Henley, 18, all from Tasmania, Australia, were contacted and later arrested by Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers on Thursday, November 3, near Atlanta.

DK's Sierra Mountain Comics sells single-issue comic books, collectibles, trade paperbacks, tabletop gaming supplies, Magic: The Gathering cards and more. It also hosts tournaments and launch parties.
Address: 1801 U.S. Highway 50, Suite J;
Phone: 841-4263;
Online: Facebook.com/DKsSierraMountainComics
Hours: 1-5 p.m. Tuesday; noon-7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 1 p.m.-midnight Friday; 1-6 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday.

Storey County brothel owner Lance Gilman said Friday that he expects his Wild Horse Canyon Ranch brothel will be shuttered Tuesday by county officials for a violation of county ordinances that bar silent partners in brothel ownership.

Gilman, also the exclusive broker for the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center in Storey County, admits to the violation but said his Mustang Ranch brothel and Wild Horse Saloon will be unaffected and will remain open.

Here is this week's fishing report through Nov. 16 for lakes, rivers and streams in Nevada, Northern California, the Sierra and southern Oregon.