A new regulation for Washoe County urban ponds reducing the limit of fish caught from five to three has gone unnoticed by many local anglers report Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) game wardens that are running into several unaware fishermen at the local waters. "People need to be made aware of the change," said Mark Warren, Fisheries Division Chief at NDOW. "We have had several reports of people who had no idea that the limit had been reduced to three for the urban ponds in the Western Region. We want to make sure that everyone knows about the change before people start getting cited for being over the limit."

The change to Commission Regulation 09-09 was approved by the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners on Sept. 26, 2009 and went into effect March 1, 2010, the first day of the new fishing season.

"Our local urban ponds receive a lot of fishing pressure," said Kim Tisdale, Western Region supervising fisheries biologist. "It is difficult for our hatchery to stock frequently enough to maintain acceptable catch rates. The reduced harvest limits will allow fish to persist in the ponds for a longer period of time, making them more available to additional anglers,"

Washoe County urban ponds are stocked weekly starting April through July. July through mid-September, stocking slows to once per month until it picks up again to weekly stocking from mid-September through the end of October. Scheduled stocking is always dependent on the weather and may sometimes be delayed.

"We want to make sure that everyone who visits these urban ponds is rewarded with a successful fishing trip, not discouraged because they couldn't catch a fish," said Kim Tisdale, Western Region supervising fisheries biologist. "Also, with the budget constraints the State is under, this reduces the costs to our hatcheries, allowing them to take fewer trips."

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW's wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen's license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. Visit www.ndow.org.