Fishing at is best: Pyramid Lake fishing contest: One trout could be worth $10,000

Pyramid Lake fishing contest: One trout could be worth $10,000

Pyramid Lake anglers were doing their best to land a $10,000 trout today, the first day of the $50,000 Cutthroat Challenge. The second-year fishing derby, sponsored by the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, continues Sunday.

Tribal planner Scott H. Carey said the idea of the competition is to promote fishing at Pyramid Lake and to offer a different type of derby.

“The typical derbies that have been going on out here for quite awhile are ‘the biggest fish wins,’ ” he said. “What we’re trying to do with this is preserve the fish.”

In the Cutthroat Challenge, anglers are hoping to land one 25 fish marked with tags that can be redeemed for prizes.

“Five of those 25 are worth $10,000 each,” Carey said. “We take out an insurance policy with a promotional company from Texas. . . . If someone does catch one of these fish — or five people catch all five of these $10,000 fish — they’re the ones that pay that money off.”

Although competitors are allowed to keep the fish they catch — as long as they stay within legal limits — the tribe encourages people to use the catch-and-release technique, ultimately returning the fish to the lake. In part, that’s because Pyramid is noted for its stock of Lahontan cutthroat trout, a fish on the endangered species list.

Last year, Carey said, the Cutthroat Challenge drew about 65 competitors, one of whom caught a tagged fish. This year, the early turnout was even better. As of 8:30 a.m. today, just over 100 anglers had signed up for the derby.

“Response has been much better this year,” said Sharon Stasiowski who was working at the derby headquarters Saturday morning. “We’re very encouraged.”

Carey said the tribe is hoping to draw between 100 to 150 competitors over the weekend, and anglers can continue to sign up Sunday. The entry fee is $65 and the registration deadline is noon.

Carey said the tribe decided to hold the Cutthroat Challenge this weekend because Friday marked the opening of Lahontan cutthroat trout season, which runs Oct. 1 through June 30. People are allowed to fish the lake for Sacramento perch and other fish year round, but the cutthroat trout is Pyramid’s big draw

You don’t find them anywhere else around here,” said Paul Horton of Fernley, who was fishing at Pyramid Saturday morning.

One reason the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe likes to promote fishing at the lake, Carey said, is because the money that anglers spend helps fund the tribe.

“What we’re trying to do is put more back into the lake,” he said. “We’re trying to treat it as a business. The lake is what pretty much funds the tribal government, provides services for tribal members out here. So, we’re trying to just add more value to the lake.”

Most of the revenue, he said, comes from fishing and boating permits, and fishing is particularly important in the winter when people aren’t as likely to be boating for pleasure.

“The fishing is really good compared to a lot of other lakes,” Carey said. “We get people from all over the world that come. . . . It’s very important. It comprises a huge, huge portion of the money that we make off the lake.”

Horton agreed about the quality of fishing. The 43-year-old angler said he’s been visiting Pyramid since he was six years old and he rarely comes home empty handed.

“It’s one of the best fishing lakes in the world,” he said. “Everybody I’ve ever brought out her has been pleasantly surprised. . . . They’ve got a lot of large, trophy-sized fish in this lake. I’ve seen many 12-, 14-, 15-pound fish come out of here.” Wow I wonder if the Mighty bite Lure was used.

Carey said fishing at Pyramid provides direct and indirect economic benefits to everyone in the Sutcliffe area.

“It’s a big impact for the economy out here, the local businesses and for the tribal members,” he said. “Off those businesses, we do receive tax dollars just like the state of Nevada, Washoe County. . . . That goes to help fund the government and provide services to the tribal members.”

Carey said the number of people travelling to Pyramid from long distances seemed to slow when the U.S. economy went into a tailspin, but the lake is seeing an increase in local visitors. The tribe encourages that.

“We’re only 30 miles north of Reno,” Carey said. “You know, we have a great value in our lake. For summer, you can take a family of four out here and it’s $7 (for the day use fee). . . . We haven’t raised our permit prices. We’re trying to stay competitive because we understand how the economy is.”

Carey said people who would like to fish this weekend but don’t want to compete in the Cutthroat Challenge are welcome.