Q-Tip: One fishing week left

Next Wednesday is the date when the State of California closes most of its streams, creeks and rivers to fishing for the year 2000.

All of those streams, creeks and rivers will not re-open to fishing until the last Saturday in April.

That is more than five months from now. So, this week's "Q-Tip" is to take advantage of your last opportunity to fish many of those moving waters.

For the next week, you can still fish at nearby, popular streams, creeks and rivers such as:

-- Hope Valley area: West Carson River, Forestdale Creek and Red Creek.

-- Markleeville area: East Carson River, Markleeville Creek, Silver Creek and Wolf Creek.

-- Truckee area: Truckee River and Little Truckee River.

Be advised that all of the applicable fishing waters in Inyo and Mono Counties have already closed for the year. Those Inyo and Mono waters closed on Oct. 31.

And remember that Heenan Lake in Alpine County closed to fishing on Oct. 29.

So, don't plan to fish any of them. If you do, it could prove to be very embarrassing and expensive, if the "friendly old game warden" should spot you.

However, once those moving waters close on Nov. 15, there are still opportunities to catch some of those elusive California trout.

So, cheer up! Many of California's lakes and reservoirs will remain open. They include:

-- Ebbetts Pass area: Kinney Reservoir, Upper Kinney Lake and Lower Kinney Lake (If you can get to them due to the snow depths!).

-- Hope Valley area: Upper Blue Lake, Lower Blue Lake, Upper Lost Lake, Lower Lost Lake, Twin Lake, Meadow Lake, Tamarack Lake, Upper Sunset Lake, Lower Sunset Lake, Wet Meadows Lake and Summit Lake (If you can get to them due to the snow depths!).

-- Kit Carson Pass area: Red Lake, Caples Lake, Silver Lake and Winnemucca Lake.

-- Portola area: Frenchman's Reservoir and Davis Lake.

-- Quincy area: Bucks Lake.

-- Truckee area: Boca Reservoir and Stampede Reservoir.

-- Lake Tahoe area: Donner Lake and Lake Tahoe.

So, with all that said, you now have an interesting mix of good news and bad news.

The good news is that you can continue to fish during the winter months at many of California's lakes and reservoirs.

The bad news is that once you get to your destination, you will probably have to cut a hole in the ice at all of those locations, with the exception of Lake Tahoe.

So, if you're not into fishing through the ice or fishing at Lake Tahoe, you only have seven days left for this season.

If you do go in the next seven days, just be sure to dress warm! You'll need it.

If you don't go in the next seven days, prepare to wait until the last Saturday in April to once again try your hand at fishing moving waters in the State of California.