Outdoors with Don Q: Have your California fishing license for opening day

With Saturday's opening day of fishing on California waters, you'll need to possess the proper 2012 license to be legal. You can purchase the license and any applicable stamp(s) at a number of South Lake Tahoe area outlets or on the Web. If you plan to fish this weekend, go here for the latest fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams around Northern California and the Sierra. Here's some info on license requirements:

Annual Licenses:
The 2012 non-resident annual fishing license is $120.14, and it is good through December 31, 2012.

Yipes! $120.14 for a California Non-Resident annual fishing license!
Daily Licenses:
A one-day resident or non-resident license is $14.30.
A two-day resident or non-resident license is $22.42.
A ten-day non-resident license is $44.85.
Second-Rod Stamp: $13.78. This Second-Rod stamp allows an angler to fish with two rods or lines in inland waters, except for waters in which only artificial lures or barbless hooks may be used.
Colorado River Stamp: $3.09. This Colorado River stamp allows an angler to fish from a boat or other floating device on the Colorado River or adjacent waters forming the California-Arizona border.
Abalone Report Card: $21.34. This card is required for all persons taking abalone from ocean waters north of the center of the mouth of San Francisco Bay, including persons who are not required to have a sport fishing license, such as persons who are under 16 years of age, persons who are fishing from a public pier and persons who are fishing on free fishing days.
Only one Abalone Report Card may be issued per person each license year.
North Coast Salmon Report Card: $5.97. This card is required for all anglers taking salmon in the Smith River System or Klamath-Trinity River System, including persons who are not required to have a sport fishing license, such as persons who are under 16 years of age, and persons who are fishing on free fishing days.
Steelhead Report Card: $6.74. This card is required to fish for steelhead in inland waters, including persons who are not required to have a sport fishing license, such as persons who are under 16 years of age, and persons who are fishing on free fishing days.

License agent outlets:
California fishing licenses and stamps are available at a number of local outlets such as Safeway, CVS, Rite Aid, and Raley's. To get a license and have the added bonus of learning where the hot spots are around Lake Tahoe, try the Tahoe Trading Post Hardware at the Village Center in South Lake Tahoe across from Starbucks, open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. or The Sportsman, 2556 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Talk to Jeff, he knows a lot about the local fish scene.

Or you can purchase your licenses, stamps and cards online:
If you want to do as Elaine and I did, go to www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing.
It’s quick, easy and you are immediately legal to fish in California.
When you have completed all of the questions, you can print a temporary license to use while waiting for the regular license to arrive through the mail.
However, be advised that when I applied for my annual non-resident fishing license and its second rod stamp, I also instantly became $130.43 poorer!
The good news is that I was legally licensed for the entire year of 2012!

Bet Your Favorite Pigeon
Bet your favorite pigeon that he can’t tell you about an interesting thing about me and a California Non-Resident annual fishing license.
If he grins and says, “Many years ago, Don was loudly complaining when his California Non-Resident annual fishing license went up to $35.00,” he could have the person who was with me when I bought that license.

— Don Quilici is the Outdoor editor for South Tahoe Now and www.CarsonNow.org. He can be reached at donquilici@hotmail.com