By Karen Ingraham
March 1, 2005
After almost 6 weeks of fog (and darn near going crazy staring out the big window of the Ranger Station) Mother Nature finally cooperated to roll back the blanket. There was enough excitement with two boats spending the night on the Lake lost in the fog. Thank goodness both parties were found, but it was a cold one, especially for the 2 guys & a dog in a small aluminum boat. Washoe County Search & Rescue had come out that night with all their neat Techno toys and were able to locate the bigger boat around 3:00 a.m., but the smaller one was so close to the western shore right near the Marina that they didn't show up on their screen. They came off the Lake about 9:00 a.m. at Pelican when the fog burned off. Remember guys, cell phones work on a spastic basis out at Pyramid. Do not count on it because on one wave you will be in connection with somebody and the next all you will hear is garble, garble, hiss, click. Since I love you guys, and would much prefer a happy ending, please invest in a Marine Band Radio. You don't have to get a top of the line, you know, the kind that will give you a kiss and a hot stock market tip. All joking aside, the life you could save could be a brother fisherman, yourself or your kids that you bring along to enjoy fishing. Now if there was just some way I could beat that into the heads of the summer crowd without going to jail.
Speaking of safety enhancement, the Pyramid Lake Search & Rescue now have a screaming new S&R boat that is to die for. Sorry, just the latent Valley Girl in me. But you have to see this craft to appreciate it. It is a Northwind, custom built out of Seattle Washington, an all welded aluminum 27 foot jet drive that roars across the Lake with some serious authority. Northwind Marine manufactures boats for various levels of Search & Rescue, from squeaking up a river to the monster waves of a cranky Pacific Ocean for the Coast Guard. In fact, 3 weeks ago when a segment of the S&R crew picked up the boat, the owner of Northwind took them out on the bay of Seattle to show off this baby's stuff. Very impressive, was the report from the guys. Now we know very well how quickly Pyramid Lake can go from placid to a serious temper tantrum in a matter of minutes. This boat is made for the worst case scenario that can be encountered out here. And it has all the whistles and bells needed to bring you back to shore in one piece..
I got the chance to check out this water wonder. She is simply elegant in buffed silver efficiency. There is a rubber apron all around her outer hull, an enclosed cabin along with a spacious cubby up front just in case of medical necessity. I've seen her run across the Lake at 33 mph. It tows a boat like nothing is behind it. The S&R guys have been chomping at the bit waiting for this baby to come home and they have not been disappointed.
Okay, now here is my plug. It has been an uphill climb, but upgrades are happening as far as Pyramid Lake Search & Rescue. But the men and women are volunteers, local people taking time out of their daily lives, giving up days off and holidays, to make sure yours is safe. Pyramid Lake is a year round gig, with fishermen in the winter and the crazy days of summer. They take the time to take classes, at their own expense, to make sure you are going to get top notch help should you run into a jam. We all need to look out for each other. Between Crosby Lodge and the Ranger Station monitoring Channel 16, the volunteers need your help to help you. Any donation you can make, it doesn't have to be some monster amount, just helping out with the cost of gas for the S&R boat would be awesome.
Now here is the kick your butt story for the YEAR!
On February 27, 2005, Tim Bayles was fishing with his oldest son Tim, and Tim's brother Bill at the North Nets.It was a cloudy day with the winds at 15 to 20 mph. Tim had been fishing since 2:00 p.m. , catching and releasing 3 smaller fish. But things got exciting when he hooked the BIG ONE 15 feet from his ladder. The fish immediately burned off 200 feet of line on his 8 weight Reddington Fly Rod. He fought this fish for approximately 15 to 20 minutes while his son Tim Jr. moved the ladders out of the way. Brother Bill netted the cutthroat in the end.
Right away Tim took his prize up to Crosby Lodge to be weighed and measured. This beauty weighed in at 24 pounds 12 ounces and was 33 1/2 inches long. He caught it using one of his own personally tied black wooley buggers. It was the last fish that he caught and it definitely was a terrific way to end the day.
Tim's biggest concern was not just getting his picture taken, but making sure this trophy fish was returned as soon as possible to the lake to continue it's existence. He zoomed down to the Marina docks to release it. At first the fish didn't respond. So Tim got into the water to help urge it on, pushing it so the water would get fully into the gills. He was almost frantic because he wanted so much to see this fine specimen live. Then like an electric shock, the fish took off like its fins were on fire.
The mark of a true sport fisherman was that Tim wanted to see this great fish live. Oh sure, he could have kept it, had it mounted for all to see, yet he made that extra effort to let the fish go forth and prosper. All he has for his efforts is a Polaroid. But allow me to wax poetic. Diehard fishermen, be they at it for 40 years or 4 years, all dream of that ultimate fish that will (1) make them famous or even more important (2) the biggest one they ever caught. But I think what Tim did in that selfless act, was to make sure that the superior DNA that his 24 plus pounder had will go forth and procreate more wonderful fish for everyone else to enjoy. So to you Tim Bayles, many accolades in catching AND releasing this Lahontan Cutthroat Trout. The Grin on your face says it all.
Dirk Fletcher
12Lbs 2.4oz
