Freelance writer Doug Nielsen is a conservation educator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. His “In the Outdoors” column, published Thursday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NDOW. Any opinions he states in his column are his own.
intheoutdoorslv@gmail.com
Downtown Henderson is home to one of those small businesses that are reminiscent of days gone by, days when customer service was a real part of doing business and not merely an advertising slogan. It is one of those places where people know your name, everyone is treated like a friend, and some folks drop by just to visit. Perhaps you have been there, too.
When we launched Roger’s boat, the sun had yet to clear the mountains on the Gold Butte side of Lake Mead’s Overton Arm, but it was already warm. One thing was certain, it was going to get only hotter as the sun continued to rise.
Despite the severe heat that enveloped the Las Vegas area Saturday, hundreds of anglers made their way to the valley’s urban ponds to take advantage of Nevada’s Free Fishing Day. And why not? That is the one day each year when anyone can fish in the Silver State without having to first procure a fishing license.
If you miss your first shot at a monster buck or a large bull elk, having a second chance to make that shot is a good thing. Likewise, if you were unsuccessful in Nevada’s big-game tag draw, a second chance can be good thing, especially for those willing to try something or someplace new.
Preliminary results of Nevada’s 2013 big game tag draw have been available online since Friday, and final results will be available in another couple of weeks. Unfortunately, while some of my friends are celebrating the draw results with tags for critters such as bighorn sheep, deer, elk or antelope, things in the Nielsen household are little more subdued.
Trusting completely in a weather forecast can be an iffy proposition. Anyone who has spent considerable time outdoors knows weather conditions can and do change unexpectedly and rapidly, so failing to double-check the weather forecast before leaving on an outdoor adventure is a foolish misstep at best. Failing to plan for the possibilities is another.
You know the years are going by when you look at your youngest son and realize for the first time that he can no longer be referred to as “The Wild Man.” Such is now the case with my youngest son, Hyrum, almost 17, whose outdoor adventures — and sometimes misadventures — have often become the subject matter for this column during his growing up years.
Most outdoorsmen and women spend their time, and often their money, trying to outthink or outmaneuver their game of choice. Recognizing this tendency, the outdoor industry spends its time and money trying to outthink and outmaneuver outdoorsmen and women. The results of their efforts can be seen in stores, catalogs and wherever we stash our outdoor gear.
Larry Brinker has been fishing for Lake Mead’s largemouth bass most of his life, but unlike those anglers who tend to hold their hard-earned knowledge close to their vests, Brinker is one of those rare souls who doesn’t mind opening his tackle box of learning for the next guy.
While many of us have personalized license plates on our vehicles that tell the world what we would like to do, Larry Brinker’s license plate tells the world what he actually does, which is catch bass. You might even say his truck is just “4bassin.”
Do you ever find yourself saying something your dad always said, something you swore in your youth you never would say? Yeah, me too.
Few things are more frustrating to an angler than putting in a long day on the water only to come home with a limited catch or no catch at all. To guard against such an eventuality, we load up with sundry lures and bait offerings so we have several options to choose from if our go-to baits fail to yield a bite.
One early summer evening, my friend Ron and I decided to shoot our muzzleloading rifles in the remnants of an old gravel pit located in the desert near my home. At the time, such activity was still legal in that area, and we wanted to take advantage of the somewhat cooler temperatures that come with the setting sun. What we didn’t count on was running into someone else who wanted to take advantage of the cooler temperatures as well.
Changes are on tap for Cottonwood Cove and Katherine Landing, two of the three developed areas at Lake Mohave. Then again, they might not be, and the decision as to whether changes will take place could depend on your opinion along with those of all the other recreationists who are willing to share their thoughts about what happens at these popular destinations.
Spring officially has arrived, and that means it is time to blow the dust off your camping gear and head outside. Daytime temperatures are nice, and, depending on how far north you travel or how high in altitude you climb, the nights still are cool enough to enjoy the warmth of a glowing campfire and the taste of toasted marshmallows.
