Recreation
- Details
- Written by: Nadine Strauss
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The 53rd annual Northern California Racing Association awards banquet honoring the top Lakeport Speedway drivers of 2019 was held Saturday night at the Kelseyville Lions Clubhouse.
NCRA Director Curtis Clauson and former race promoter Blair Aiken acted as masters of ceremonies.
NCRA President Bob Strauss opened the program with his words of wisdom, stating that Lakeport Speedway is “magic.”
The 2019 Modified Championship went to Eric Johnson of Kelseyville. During last season Johnson set fast time and was the feature winner on July 27. He also took home two trophy dash wins.
The Taco Bell Bomber championship was claimed by Lauren Snider of Kelseyville. He was the quickest qualifier three times during 2019, had two dash wins and captured the main event on opening night.
Eight-year-old Landyn Snider earned the championship in the Bandolero class. He clocked in the fastest three out of the five events he raced, and finished second in all five.
Codi Winchel of Rohnert Park, the Legends Car champion, was not present at the ceremonies, but his accomplishments were mentioned including three feature wins.
The top five bomber drivers not only received a cup trophy but were presented with a 3 foot by 5 foot banner displaying their race car.
The top five included Snider, Mike Sullivan, Rick Jelton, David Jones and Trevor Abella.
Positions six through 10 were presented with a personalized plaque. They were John McCullough, Evan Smith, Seth Chew, Amber Portlock and Forrest Kuecker.
Similar awards were presented to the top 10 in the modified class. Receiving those awards were Johnson, Michael Snider, Darrin Sulllivan, Chris Salmina, Richard Knight, Jeremy Nowlin, Anthony Esburg, Ian Elliott, Michael Knight and Robert Schmidt.
Special recognition went to all the Lakeport Speedway officials, the Redwood Acres Raceway officials who helped all season long, and he track sponsors – Taco Bell, Anderson Logging, BiCoastal Media, Hillside Powersports and Marine, D & P Pools, Clearlake Redi-Mix, Napa Auto Parts, Perkins Septic Tanks, Steve Taylor Excavation, Snap-on Tools, Wicked Sounds and Lake County Tribal Health.
At the conclusion of the ceremonies, Gary Wielen, treasurer of the Kelseyville Lions Club, presented NCRA business manager Nadine Strauss with a check for $400 towards sponsorship for 2020.
Wielen said his club considered NCRA and the Kelseyville Lions partners, and looks forward to a long and resourceful relationship at Lakeport Speedway.
The 2020 auto racing season at Lakeport Speedway begins on April 25. The schedule can be found on the NCRA-Lakeport Speedway Facebook page.
California Outdoors: Keeping a red-eared slider, hunting on private property, steelhead report cards
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- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Question: I was fishing for stripers in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta near Courtland and inadvertently caught a red-eared slider via hook and line. Could I have kept the turtle? (Anonymous)
Answer: Yes, you could have kept it. As per the California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 5.60, there are three non-native subspecies of turtles that are legal to fish for and keep: red-eared sliders, painted turtles and spiny softshell turtles. You will need a sportfishing license to take any of these, but there is a year-round season and no limit for them. Turtles may be taken by hook and line, as per CCR Title 14, section 2.00 and 5.60(e)(3).
The presence of red-eared sliders in waterways is typically due to careless pet owners who release the turtles into the wild when they don't want them anymore. Now they compete against native turtle species, such as the western pond turtle, which is protected.
So be sure you know your turtles! If you were to inadvertently catch a western pond turtle or any turtle other than red-eared sliders, painted turtles and spiny softshell turtles, you would have to return it to the water immediately.
Hunting on private property
Question: I have recently been granted access to a 21-acre parcel of private property in Corralitos in Santa Cruz County. Can I legally go in there with whatever tags I have for the game I'm after and dispatch legally via archery? Is it allowed per county regulations? (Joshua)
Answer: Sounds like a great opportunity! There are a few legal considerations to keep in mind. First, please note that some local jurisdictions prohibit discharge of a firearm in certain areas. Check local ordinances to be sure you're in compliance with those.
In Corralitos, we'd suggest that you start with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Department, if your hunt site is in the undeveloped area of the city. If the property is within the incorporated area, check with the City of Corralitos Police Department.
Second, assuming it's ok to hunt on this particular piece of private property, you must still abide by all state, federal and local laws. California Fish and Game Code (FGC), section 3004, prohibits hunters from discharging a firearm or bow and arrow or other deadly weapon within 150 yards of a neighbor's dwelling, residence or other building or barn. As you noted in your question, you'll also need all appropriate tags and validations for the game you plan on taking, in addition to a valid hunting license.
Third, FGC, section 2016, requires hunters to obtain written permission from the landowner prior to hunting on private land. You can use this form to obtain written permission. Be sure to have the signed permission with you while hunting.
Fourth, be mindful when hunting near property boundaries. Animals taken via archery often travel farther after being wounded than those shot with a rifle. The law does not permit hunters to enter another person's property to retrieve game. If you shoot an animal that dies on property you don't have access to, call 1-888-334-CalTIP.
Finally, remember that being granted access to private land is a privilege. Being courteous and respectful of the property and its owners can go a long way in ensuring future hunting opportunities for yourself and, indirectly, for the larger hunting community. Happy hunting!
Steelhead report cards
Question: Where do I buy a steelhead report card? (Jim)
Answer: You can get a steelhead report card online through ALDS, or from any license agent or California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) license sales office. Basically anywhere you can buy a fishing license, you can get the report card!
Report cards purchased online will be shipped by mail and are not available for immediate use (allow 15 days for delivery). The period to report is Jan. 1-31 of the following year. Please remember that you are required to report all of your fishing activity and effort of the previous year (Jan. 1 through Dec. 31) – even if you didn't go fishing, didn't keep any steelhead you caught or were not successful in your fishing efforts.
This data is still valuable to our fisheries biologists! The information submitted by anglers helps guide the development of fisheries management and regulatory decisions, and enables biologists to track angling trends over time. More information about steelhead report cards can be found on the CDFW website.
If you have a question for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, email
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Information collected from sport fishing report cards provides CDFW biologists with important data necessary to monitor and manage California's diverse recreational fisheries, including preparing recommendations for sport fishing seasons and limits that allow for sustainable levels of take.
This science-based management helps to ensure healthy populations of fish for future generations.
Anglers are required to return their report cards even if they lost their report card, they did not fish or they did not catch any fish. Cards should be reviewed carefully for accuracy prior to submission.
There are two ways to meet the mandatory angler reporting requirement. Online reporting through the CDFW website is easy, fast and free, and includes instant confirmation that the report has been received and accepted.
Sport fishing report cards may also be returned by mail to the addresses listed below:
North Coast Salmon Report Cards
CDFW - Klamath River Project
5341 Ericson Way
Arcata, CA 95521-9269
Steelhead Report Cards
CDFW - Steelhead Report Card
P.O. Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
Sturgeon Report Cards
CDFW - Sturgeon Report Card
P.O. Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
The Jan. 31, 2020 deadline does not apply to spiny lobster report cards. Spiny lobster report cards are due by Apr. 30, 2020, following the last day of spiny lobster season on March 18.
Please note that license sales agents cannot accept report cards. More information about report cards is available at www.wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/fishing .
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
There is no charge for the walks and parking is free for those attending.
The next walk will be at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8.
There will be a tour of the historic Anderson Ranch House after the February walk. Rain will cancel the walk. If rain cancels the walk, the Ranch House tour will begin at 8:30 a.m.
Guided nature walks at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park will be held in 2020 on the second Saturday of each month, with the exception of December. All walks begin at 8:30 a.m. There will be a tour of the historic Anderson Ranch House after many of these walks.
The nature walk in January was held on New Year’s Day as part of the national First Day Hikes program. The seventh annual First Day Hike at Anderson Marsh attracted more than 130 people and everyone had a chance to enjoy the park on a clear winter day.
For the third consecutive year, the Jan. 1 hike at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park had the largest number of people attending of all of the Jan. 1 hikes in the California State Parks system.
February’s nature walk will be led by park docents Henry Bornstein and Lisa Wilson. The hike will last about two hours. Participants should bring binoculars if they have them, bring water and wear sturdy shoes and a hat. The route taken will depend on the weather and the condition of the trails.
Participants are asked to arrive at the parking lot by 8:15 a.m. so they can have time to explore the wildlife found in the ranch house yard.
According to hike co-leader Henry Bornstein, who is also a certified California Naturalist, “Winter is a great time to visit the park because the trees are bare, allowing a better view of the birds. We will be looking for the year-round resident birds and animals such as the great blue herons and great egrets, as well as white pelicans, hawks, diving ducks and grebes, and other birds which winter over at the park.”
Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is located on Highway 53, between Lower Lake and Clearlake.
For more information about the walks, email
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