Three new state records set by Nevada anglers

According to a press release by the Nevada Department of Wildlife, after several years of drought, two consecutive years of rain hit the state and the improved water conditions paid off for Nevada's anglers as they caught three fish in 2005 that will officially go into the books as new state records.

" Nevada is presently in a wet cycle and this translates into more water, better habitat and larger fish," said Mark Warren, Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) staff biologist.

The largest of the three new state records is a 34-pound, 10-ounce carp that was caught on May 5 on the lower Truckee River by Justin Edland of Reno. The 37 1Ú2 inch fish eclipsed the previous state record, set 29 years ago at Lake Mohave, by more than 5 pounds.

On Sept. 17, Winnemucca angler Jose Mendoza pulled a 17-pound, 4-ounce white catfish from the Humboldt River. The fish is being mounted and will be displayed at Bass Pro Shops in Las Vegas.

The third state record is a 24-pound, 12-ounce cutthroat trout that was caught by Tim Bayless of Susanville, Calif. on Feb. 27 at Pyramid Lake. It took a black Woolly Bugger fly at the North Nets.

Besides the three state records, Nevada's anglers hauled in ten fish that have been listed as new individual waters records. A few of the more impressive of these catches include a 4-pound, 4-ounce Smallmouth bass caught at Lake Mead; a 27-pound, 1-ounce channel catfish from South Fork Humboldt River and a 13-pound, 10-ounce brown trout from Lake Tahoe.

Another outstanding catch that, surprisingly, was not a record for the water, was a 9-pound, 11-ounce largemouth bass that came from Haymeadow Reservoir at Kirch Wildlife Management Area in Nye County. Warren said that the reservoir has been producing hefty bass for the past few years.

State record and trophy fish caught by Nevada's anglers are recognized annually by the Trophy Fish Program sponsored by the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

Information and official entry forms for the program are available in the state's fishing brochures and online at www.ndow.org.