Columnist Paula Del Giudice: 'Wildcat' Morris remembered

PAULA DEL GIUDICEhas been an outdoors freelance writer, author and photographer for 13 years. Her column appears Wednesdays.

JUDGING FROM newspaper articles and those who showed up to pay their last respects to Bill "Wildcat" Morris, everyone in Las Vegas, Reno and most of the rest of the state knew and admired him. I was no exception.

I came to know Bill as the father of my dear friend, Dawn, and not for his accomplishments as a hotel owner, attorney, UNR and UNLV football booster extraordinare, University regent, or one of his many, many other accomplishments.

The quiet moments that he spent with his grandchildren and children or peacefully holding hands with his wife, Vivienne, don't often garner kudos in the newspapers. But I suspect it was those moments that Bill treasured the most. And it will be those moments his family will miss the most.

My kids called him "Tickle Man." He always had a smile for them and knew just exactly which rib between the armpit and the waist, when poked gently, would produce the biggest jump and bouts of squeals and giggles.

He was "Wildcat" to most. But to us, he'll always be "Tickle Man." We'll sure miss you, Tickle Man.

Fishing back at marshes

Elko County has long been a favorite getaway for Las Vegas outdoors people -- especially anglers. Although the 10-year drought has caused the demise of several very good fisheries, including the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Ruby Marshes), there's good news: If you haven't had the chance to fish there this season, the bass fishing is back.

According to NDOW fisheries biologist Mike Green, the Marshes are producing better fishing now than they have in the past 30 years.

It used to be that nearly every cast would produce a nice bass. I remember catching more than 40 bass on a fly rod in just over two hours during one fishing trip in the early '80s.

One didn't need to be a fly caster to catch them, either. You could cast any bass lure you wanted -- a topwater lure, a spinnerbait, a plug, you name it -- and it would catch fish.

Anglers say the fish still are just a bit on the small size. But they're not complaining.

If you haven't made plans to fish the Marshes this summer, you might want to plan a trip next summer. It should be just about perfect by then.

If you like to catch trout in the 3- to 6-pound range, you'll want to plan a spring trip to the Marshes. Last spring, anglers had a great time catching hefty trout.

Another fishing spot near Elko that is producing good catches is Wildhorse Reservoir. I talked with a couple of local anglers who fished there a couple of weeks ago and they had a great time catching yellow perch. The perch were introduced by NDOW and are now self-sustaining.

Anglers are using a small twister tail grub or a jig to catch the perch. Though some anglers don't like to catch them because they need to be filleted, the fillets are so tasty you'll be in for a treat.

In addition, the local anglers I spoke with had young girls along who were very excited at being able to catch a full limit of 15 fish.

Youth deer tags remain

Nearly 3,000 youth deer tags and a small number of adult tags remain following the second big game drawing, according to the NDOW.

Hunters who applied for tags in the state's second drawing should have received their results by last Friday.

The Hunt Application Office in Fallon will begin accepting applications for the remaining tags July 24. A drawing for tags will be conducted July 29. Following that drawing applications will be processed daily.

Applications will be accepted for remaining tags through the end of November. This will allow youngsters who turn 12 between now and early November to apply for the remaining youth tags. Hunters must be at least 12 years old at the time they apply for tags.

Information on remaining tags and applications is available at NDOW's Las Vegas office, 4747 West Vegas Drive.

archive