Pyramid Lake will open for Lahontan cutthroat trout fishing on Oct. 1

Pyramid Lake will open for the 2005-2006 Lahontan cutthroat fishing season on Saturday, Oct. 1. That season will remain open through June 30.

Here is some information:

HOW TO GET THERE:

Take U.S. 395 north from Carson City to the I-80 'Spaghetti Bowl" Interchange in Reno.

From there, take I-80 east toward Sparks. Get off I-80 at the Pyramid Way Exit in Sparks.

Then, take a combination of Pyramid Way and the Pyramid Lake Highway north for about 30 miles to the lake.

You can fish anywhere from shore, with chest waders, from a float tube or trolling or stillfishing from a canoe or boat.

Where to fish:

1. From shore: At this time of the year, you might want to try Monument Rocks, Warrior Point, Spider Point or Pelican Point, all on the northwest side of the lake.

2. With chest waders: At any of the above locations, plus at Windless Bay or "The Nets," located just south of Sutcliffe.

Note: "The Nets" is where you can watch or join large numbers of fly fishermen, who are casting, while seated on aluminum ladders in the water.

3. From a float tube: The same locations as with chest waders.

4. From a boat: Troll the area in front of Pelican Point, the area south from Pelican Point or the area north from Pelican Point.

Note: If and only if your boat is large enough, travel across the lake to troll at places such as "Hell's Kitchen," Anderson Bay, the Pyramid, Anahoe Island, etc.

But, be prepared to return to the boat launch, immediately, if the wind begins to blow.

Pyramid Lake is extremely dangerous and life-threatening for boaters when the wind is blowing.

HOW TO FISH:

You must fish with artificial flies or lures only. No bait of any kind.

If you fly fish, use large, black or brown-colored Woolly Bugger or Woolly Worm flies.

If you jig, use large, black or purple-colored Maribou jigs.

If you spincast, try using rainbow, Firet-Tiger, green/black dot, yellow/black dot or red/white striped No. 2 TOR-P-DO lures.

If you troll, use the same TOR-P-DO lures as above, but in a size No. 3, or troll with large Apex, Flatfish or Kwikfish lures.

WHAT YOU'LL CATCH:

Lahontan cutthroat trout, which can run up to about 15-20 pounds (if you're really super lucky!).

SPECIAL REGULATIONS:

There is a two-trout limit.

Cutthroat trout that are under 16 inches in length or between 19 and 24 inches in length must be release unharmed (these are known as "Shakers").

You can keep two trout which are 16-19 inches in length or you can keep one trout 16-19 inches plus one trout over 24 inches (These are known as "Keepers").

Pyramid FISHING permit:

You will be fishing on the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation, and you will need to have a special Pyramid Lake fishing permit.

The cost is $7 for a one-day permit for fishing or boating or $50 for an annual 2005-2006 permit for either fishing or boating.

Note: You do not need a Nevada fishing license or Trout Stamp.

FOR INFORMATION:

You can call either Crosby's Lodge at Sutcliffe at (775) 476-0400 or the Pyramid Lake Store at (775) 4766-0555 or the Gilly Sporting Goods Store in Sparks at 358-6113 or the Pyramid Lake Tribal Office at (775) 574-1000.

Finally:

In early November of last year, Elaine and I joined Dick Biggs of Carson City and Dick "Father Murphy" Murphy and Steve Mizzen, both of Sun Valley, plus Archie Steele of Dunkeld in Perthshire, Scotland for an unforgettable day of cutthroat fishing.

Elaine caught the first fish of the day, exactly 4 1/2 minutes after leaving the dock.

For the day, we collectively caught and released more than 60 fish (up to 24 inches) in less than six hours. More than 60!

It didn't matter where we fished, how deep we fished or what color or design lure that was being used, we caught fish!

The fishing action was red-hot and literally non-stop.

Beginning Oct. 1, 2005, will you be able to match that type of red-hot fishing?

Good Luck to you!

• Bet Your Favorite Pigeon

Bet your favorite pigeon he can't tell you my favorite method of fishing at Pyramid Lake.

If he says, "Don loves to stand in the water in his chest waders and spincast with a red/white No. 2 TOR-P-DO lure," he is probably one of my fishing partners.