The Fort Churchill Cooling Ponds and the open fishable waters (Hinkson Sough, Bass Pond, Crappie Pond and North Pond) on the Mason Valley Wildlife management Area will open to 2000 fishing on Saturday.
- Fort Churchill Cooling Ponds:
To reach the ponds, drive east on U.S. 50 to Silver Springs. Then take Alt. U.S. 95 south toward Yerington. One mile past Wabuska, take Sierra Way, a paved road on your left. Drive east to the cooling ponds, which are owned by Sierra Pacific Power Co.
You can only fish from the shoreline. Fishing is prohibited from the center dike and posted areas. Wading or the use of boats or other floating devices is prohibited.
You'll catch: Largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie and bluegills.
The cooling ponds will remain open to fishing through Sept. 30.
The limit is 15 game fish, of which not more than two may be black bass. Minimum size for black bass is 14 inches.
- Hinkson Slough, Bass Pond, Crappie Pond and North Pond:
To reach those waters, take the first dirt road on your right, before reaching the Fort Churchill Cooling Ponds parking area. Drive south on that dirt road to the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area Headquarters Building. At the headquarters, there will be a large information board, with a map directing you to the other waters.
The limit is five trout and 15 warmwater game fish of which not more than two may be black bass. Minimum size for the black bass is 14 inches.
Hinkson Slough: Minimum size for trout is 16 inches.
North Pond has a boat ramp.
Those open fishable waters will remain open to fishing through Sept. 30.
All other waters on the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area are closed.
For information, call the Nevada Division of Wildlife at 688-1500 in Reno or the NDOW Region No. 1 Office in Fallon at (702) 423-3171.
