Outdoors
/
Operation Game Thief: 1-800.992-3030
Operation Cal- Tip: 1-800,952,5400
pamap van carom, Thursday, Octot 2, 1997 27
t
i
Storms a danger for boaters
by (7,. Douglas NiMsen
Powerful thunderstorms that pounded southern Nevada
recently are sober reminders of the sudden, and often
violent, changes that characterize the state's summer weather
patterns, and should serve as a strong warning to area
boaters, according to the Nevada Division of Wildlife
(NDOW).
"Many people, especially those who are new to the
Southwest, don't realize just how fast these desert storms
can come up. These
storms usually bring
with them high winds
followed by rough wa-
ter.and often catch un-
wary boaters by sur-
prise," said Fred
Messmann, NDOW
boating law administra-
tor. "For the unprepared,
this can be disastrous."
According to the Na-
tional Weather Service,
Nevada's weather can go
from blue sky to thun-
derstorm within an hour.
The winds that accom-
pany these storms can
be powerful enough to
create problems miles
away from the actual
storm itself.
At least one of
Nevada's 1996 boating
fatalities came as a di-
rect result of these quick-
building winds. The victim's boat swamped and sank while
he swam for the shore. He never made it, and according to
Messmann, was not wearing a life jacket.
David Pfiffner, supervising boning officer for NDOW,
said, "Boaters -- and anyone else who recreates outdoors--
should make a habit of listening to the weather forecast
before leaving home, and again at various times while in the
outdoors. It's very important to stay abreast of any changes,
no matter how slight."
Boaters should also be willing to adjust their plans when
weather conditions warrant it, added Pfiffner, even if it
means postponing an activity or even an entire trip.
Pfiffner also advocates filing a trip plan before heading
to the lake. This, he explained, "simply means telling a
responsible adult where one is going, with whom one is
going and when one expects to leave and return." If this
process is followed, anyone who becomes lost or stranded
is generally found within 24 hours after their expected
return time. Without a trip plan there are no promises.
"People who frequent the Lake Mead National Recre-
ation Area should carry a marine band radio or a cellular
telephone. The National Park Service monitors the two-way
radios 24-hours a day on channels 16 and 22A. The popular
citizens ban radio, or CB, is not very effective on the lake,"
said Pfiffner.
Weather forecasting is not an exact science. Besides
scanning weather reports, boaters and other outdoor enthu-
siasts should periodically inspect the horizon for sig of
imminent weather changes. These changes generally come
from the west, and the list of indicators includes wind shifts,
thunderheads building up in the distance, increasingly
choppy waters, swelling waves and a drop in barometric
pressure.
In addition to high winds, summer storms can also pro-
duce heavy rains that may result in flash flooding. The
power of these floods was demonstrated recently when a
powerful thunderstorm pounded the Boulder City and
Henderson communities in Clark County. Those who under-
estimate flash floods can quickly become another statistic,
according to NDOW.
Flash floods can wash large amounts of debris into
Nevada's waterways where an unsuspecting boater might hit
it. "Following a rain storm," Pfiffner said, "it is imperative
that boaters keep a watchful eye out for floating logs and
other debris that can really damage a boat or cause severe
personal injury. Extreme caution should be used in areas
where washes and streams enter a main body of water."
Also creating a serious safety hazard for boaters is light-
ning, which generally strikes the highest point in a given
area. On a body of water, boats become the high points. "If
lightning appears immanent, boaters should lower all anten-
nas and other metal objects to avoid attracting a strike,"
advised Messmann.
If boaters find themselves caught in a storm, they should
not attempt to race back to the harbor or dock. Rather, they
should head for the nearest protected cove and stay there. If
possible, boaters should tie up to shore with the bow facing
into the wind. This, he explained, will lessen the chances of
their boat being swamped.
"Of course, the first thing a boater should do when caught
by a storm, if they aren't wearing it already, is to put on their
life jacket. Then, if the boater can't make it into a protected
cove, they should face their vessel into the wind and .take
oncoming waves at about a 45-degree angle. The boat must
be moving fast enough to get up and over the waves but not
so fast that it plows into the next wave nor so slow that the
boat pitches end for end," Messmann explained.
Boaters beading to lakes Mead and Mohave can get up-
to-date weather information by calling the National Weather
Service at 736-3854. Current wind conditions can be ob-
tained by calling Wind Talker at the following numbers:
Echo Bay, 394-4440; Callville Bay, 293-6391; Hemenway
Harbor. 294-2400: and Cottonwood Cove. 297-1265. This
service is provided by the Clark County Boating Facilities
Committee.
Fishing Report
by Geoff SckMider
Nevada Divisiom of Wildfifi
LAKE MEAD- Striped bass fishing has been unprectable
during the past week with some anglers reporting good success
while others have had no luck.
Shore anglers have reported they have had good success at
Boxcar Cove and Crawdad Cove. Stripers are also being caught
in coves north of Boxcar.
Largemouth bass fishing continues to be fair for boaters who
are fishing along sheer cliffs. Some bass arc also being found in
coves and are rising to take top water lures.
LAKE MOHAVE- Several large striped bass were caught
from shore late last week by anglers who were casting large
surface lures. One fisherman reported catching stripers that weighed
seven and 11 pounds.
Small stripers continue to be caught from the north power lines
h.
to Aztec Wash. Trolling deep with whole anchovies has been
catclung fish that weigh from one to two pounds.
Cottonwood East in the South Basin has also been producing
small stripers for trollers.
WAYNE E. KIRCH WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
- Fishing has been fair for rainbow trout but slow for largemouth
bass. The better action fortrout has been taking place at Haymeadow
Reservoir.
A large group of banters is expected to be on the management
area Saturday, October 4, for the opening of duck hunting season.
EAGLE VALLEY RESERVOIR- Even though water con-
ditions have improved since the recent flood, trout fishing contin-
ues to be poor.
This week NDOW biologists are using an electro fishing boat
to survey the lake's fish population. This will how
much fish loss occurred as a result of the flood. "
ECHO CANYON RFERVOIR. Rainbow trout and large-
mouth bass fishing are fair. Very few crappie have been seen in the
catch during the past week.
SCHROEDER RESERVOIR - Rainbow trout fishing re-
mains slow in the lake, but good in the stream below the dam.
J
