The California Department of Fish and Game announced last week

its popular “Becoming an Outdoors Woman” workshop for Northern

California has been scheduled for September 25-27.

The workshop will be at the Feather River Inn in Plumas County.

The workshop is for those women who are seeking information on

a variety of outdoor topics such as hunting and fishing.

There are 100 spots open in this year’s workshop.

These spots have filled up very fast in the past due to the popularity

of the workshop.

For years hunting and fishing has been passed down from father

to son, and in some cases to their daughter. However, this has

not been the rule.

Most women know little about the sports in which their husbands

or significant others participate.

Many would like to learn more about the sports that men have been

enjoying for years. This workshop is an excellent way for women

to get started properly with some excellent instruction.

Participants will select four classes from 29 offered.

Courses include fly and bait fishing, outdoor/Dutch oven cooking,

map and compass reading, bow hunting, field orienteering, firearms

safety and operation, camping/backpacking, archery, upland game

and waterfowl, and exploring California’s wild lands (includes

wildlife and plant identifications).

The workshop instructors are experienced biologists, hunters,

anglers, outdoor enthusiasts and hunter safety instructors.

Each instructor covers his/her topic very thoroughly.

Anyone finishing this workshop will have a good working knowledge

of the topics that were covered, and should make them adaptable

to the sport or activity that they wish to pursue.

In addition to the information that you share, it is a great opportunity

for ladies to meet other ladies that are pursuing the same interests.

Having a good “fishing buddy” is very important.

Feedback that I have received from these workshops give them really

high marks. Knowing some of the instructors that have been involved,

I can see why they have been successful.

Registration packets for the workshop are available by calling

(916) 657-4333 or you can find them at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/owoman.html. Remember, only 100 spaces are available.

Participants must return their registration form and a check postmarked

no later than August 6.

Up to four registrations may be submitted per envelope.

The winning 100 registration forms will be drawn by lottery on

August 10.

Check-in begins at 10 a.m., Friday, Sept. 25. The workshop ends

at 1 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 27.

There is a $185 fee for the workshop which includes two nights

lodging, seven meals, a wild game feed, and evening programs designed

to provide additional instruction.

Contact the Department of Fish and Game at the above number immediately

if you are interested. The time between the announcement of the

class and the closing of registration is extremely short apparently

due to the popularity of these workshops.

I have noticed many more women fishing on my outings. This is

really great.

There is plenty of space available on our favorite lakes and streams.

Those of you that would like to join the ranks of “fishing fools”

are very welcome.

This outdoor workshop could be the ticket to a whole new world

for you.

hing report

With the warm weather most lake fish have headed for the comfort

of deeper water. As a result anglers fishing early or late in

the day, or those fishing deeper water have been most successful.

Keep this in mind for your fishing outing.

Boca – (35,542 ac. ft.) Boca has been fishing fair to good. Most

anglers fishing from shore near dam are having some success. Most

anglers use nightcrawlers or Powerbait. Boaters are having fair

success on Kokanee. Most are using a combination of flashers and

a wedding ring or Kokanee Bug with a piece of white corn. Those

trolling for trout are using a combination of flashers and a nightcrawler

or minnow imitating lure. Flyfishermen near the inlet should have

fair to good action using a variety of nymphs, streamer, and emergers.

Donner – Fishing has been fair to good Most anglers fishing for

rainbows on the west end and near the launch ramp have had some

success. A few large fish have also been reported. Nightcrawlers

and Powerbait seem to be the main bait. Trollers using minnow

imitating lures have had fair to good success. Kokanee fishing

has also been fair to good. Most are trolling Ted’s Bugs, Kokanee

Bugs or wedding rings with a piece of white corn behind a flasher.

Lake Tahoe – Fishing has been good for mackinaw. Most fish are

in the five to seven pound range. A guide is highly recommended

if you are fishing for mackinaw for the first time. Toplining

and shore fishing is fair. Remember tributaries to Tahoe open

July 1 and will close again on September 30.

Martis Lake – (Martis us restricted to artificial lures with barbless

hooks.

Zero fish may bagged or possessed) Fishing is fair. Most use nymphs

such as the Hares Ear, Pheasant Tail, Damselfly imitations or

the A.P. Small midge patterns have also been good at times. Streamers

that imitate small fish, and woolly buggers are also good choices.

For surface activity, patterns such as the Quiqley Cripple, Martis

Midge, Parachute Adams, and Griffith’s Knat are good choices.

Little Truckee River – Fishing has been fair to good. Most anglers

are using nightcrawlers, Powerbait or salmon eggs at the inlet

of Boca reservoir. Flyfishermen are taking fish on nymphs, emergers

and streamers.

Prosser – (26,937 ac. fs38 ft.) Fishing here has been fair to

good Bank fishermen use nightcrawlers or Powerba it. Most trollers

are pulling a combination of flashers and nightcrawlers or a minnow

imitating lure. Flyfishermen near the inlets have taken a few

fish mostly on nymphs and streamers.

Stampede – (224,881 ac. ft.) Stampede is fair to good Most shore

anglers are taking a few fish. Most use the typical baits, nightcrawlers

or Powerba it. Those throwing lures are also having some success.

Topliners have fair to good success for kokanee salmon. With the

warm weather the fish are being found in deeper water. Most use

a flasher of some sort and a kokanee bug or wedding ring with

a piece of white corn.

Truckee River – The release has been lowered to 245 cubic feet

per second from the dam at Tahoe City. Fishing has been good on

the river. Bait, lures or flies have been successful in the river

between Tahoe City and Truckee. Lots of caddis and yellow stone

activity in the evenings. In the wild trout section below Truckee

flyfishermen are using nymphs such as the caddis larva, prince,

birds nest, hares ear, or pheasant tail with good success. For

dries try a humpy, elk hair caddis, or a parachute adams.

Other Waters – Frenchman fished fair this past week. The latest

reports indicate that the fishing has slowed a bit. Davis lake

has been planted and fishing has been fair. Jackson Meadows is

fishing fair. Milton Reservoir has been fishing fair to good for

flyfishermen. Middle Fork of the Feather River & Portola Area

– The Middle Fork of the Feather River and many of the smaller

streams in the area have been heavily stocked and are fishing

fair to good.