Perseverance pays off for fishing duo

On their honeymoon 48 years ago, Paul and Gloria Washam drove from Las Vegas to Bridgeport. Their first night as a married couple was shocking. Why? When Paul was in the shower, he grabbed the water pipe, only to be "thrown flat on my rear," because the electricity shorted. In spite of that misadventure, the Washams embarked upon their long journey involving mountains and waterways of the eastern Sierra.

They returned many times to Bridgeport, Walker and Markleeville. Paul held a high position in the Bay area with Kaiser Hospitals, but in 1984, when he spotted an ad in the San Francisco Chronicle seeking an editor for the now defunct Alpine Enterprise in Markleeville, he accepted the position at a considerably lower salary.

"That was the best move we ever made for our family," Paul said.

Their two sons, Paul K. and Adam, grew up loving the streams and mountains, too. The whole family is fond of the East Fork of the Carson River, where Walt and Virginia Boitano, then-owners of the East Fork Resort, now known as the Carson River Resort, first encouraged their love of fishing.

"I appreciate the scenic views and the good air here in Alpine County," Gloria said. "I can go for a hike right out my back door, and in 10 minutes, I can be at East Fork, my favorite fishing place. I love walking the stream."

"We walk right in the water, trailing our stringer of trout behind us, so as to keep the fish fresh," Paul said.

Their love of fishing has culminated in their publishing "Fishing the California Alps," an annual guide to angling for all Eastern Sierra residents and visitors from Lone Pine to the Oregon state line to read and bookmark information.

The 2007 edition of their fishing guide marks their 14th publication. At present, Fishing the California Alps is a successful family project, but by Paul's own admission, "For the first three years, we just managed to break even."

Their first edition, a four-page supplement about fishing in Alpine County for the Alpine Enterprise, has slowly evolved into a 64-page stand-alone publication, covering not only our county but also Carson Valley, Walker, Topaz, Coleville, Bridgeport, Mammoth Lakes, June Lake Loop, Crowley Lake, Bishop, Big Pine, Independence, Lone Pine, Sierra and Plumas counties.

Even though we don't fish, we appreciate the pull-out centerfold camping section, reading tall and short fishing tales by "Don Q" Don Quilici, Outdoor Editor for the Nevada Appeal, "Wahoo" Paul Washam and by other "fishy" writers. Area chambers of commerce explore historical lore, with ads creating a veritable guide for not just fishing, but also for lodging, dining and special events throughout the season.

We're also looking forward to finding out who will be awarded the third annual "Alpie" trophy, given to an "individual who consistently performs voluntary service to the cause of sport fishing and its environs," when Fishing in the California Alps hits eastern Sierra establishments on May 1.

"We owe our success to our customers, who have become our friends, along with the support given to us by our writers, the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, state and local fish and game boards, and local chambers of commerce," Paul and Gloria Washam said.

-- Would you like to know what could be tacked to the drawing board for Alpine County? Possibilities include future development at the airport, sheriff and court facilities, Turtle Rock Park improvements, Markleeville underground project, sidewalks, river park area and a CDF firefighting conservation camp. Tonight, a public outreach meeting will be sponsored by the Alpine County Public Works Department at Turtle Rock Park Community Center, from 5 to 7 p.m. I predict that a big crowd will turn out for this important meeting.

-- When we residents of the eastern slope of Alpine County, dial 911 we always count on the positive reactions of emergency responders, deputies and dispatchers. A community dinner will be held on June 23, to honor these dependable responders, taking place at Turtle Rock Park from 4 until 8 p.m., with the popular Alpine Trio entertaining.

The dinner will include barbecued meat, assorted side dishes and desserts, along with beer, wine and sodas. One ticket will be $10. and three tickets will be $25. Those being honored and their families will be admitted free. Also, children under 12 will be admitted free.

Raffle tickets will be sold at the door, and if you would like to donate something to the raffle, please contact me at 694-2253, or Karen Robinson at 694-2307.

All proceeds after expenses will be distributed among the volunteer groups; Markleeville and Woodfords Fire Departments, EMTs and Search and Rescue.

Volunteers are needed to sell tickets, help set up tables, help with clean-up and contact people about bringing side dishes and desserts.

For more information about the dinner, or how you can assist, please contact one of the organizers; Joyce Devore at 694-1710, Nancy Thornburg at 694-2102, or see Nani Ellis in the Alpine County Administration Building.

-- Gina Gigli is a Markleeville resident. Reach her at ginagigli@villagigli.com.