Western Nevada Fish Reports

With current annual snowpack at 168%, the Carson drainage is likely to remain high with melt well into June. High water tactics will be the key to success over the next several months. Look for fish in slower moving water and along protected banks. Fly fisherman high sticking small bright streamers and dark nymphs are likely to find the occasional fish. Spin fisherman should find

Topaz is picking up with recent stocking, shore anglers with powerbait and boaters trolling flash rigs are doing the best. Most trout are around 12 inches with a few up to 18 reported. At the April Trout Derby, the top three finishers all landed fish over nine pounds.

We’ll likely see this get a little crowded over the coming months with high water nearly everywhere else. Flows are currently stable around 300cfs. A little high,  but certainly still fishable. This should stay good for several weeks before flows increase for summer releases. Bright streamers and large dark stonefly nymphs have been good with the high water. Spin fisherman covering lots of water are

Fishing has been good at Hinkson. Fly fisherman using small pheasant tails and midge pupa under the indicator, or slowly retrieved behind a floating or intermediate line has worked well. Fish are actively feeding on the surface early and late in the day when the wind is calm. Fishing should remain good through spring and the bass fishing should really turn on in the next

The reservoir is currently ice free. Look for hungry trout and the occasional slow moving bass cruising the shoreline during the warmest part of the day. As spring creeps in, the reservoir will show the usual murky water conditions due run-off but should clear by June.  Fishing from shore will continue to be good until summer vegetation takes hold. Fly fisherman are finding a few

Fishing is fair to slow for walleye, crappie, wiper and catfish. A few walleye are being caught slowly trolling minnow imitations or worm harnesses. Trolling faster with rapala minnow imitations is a good method for walleye as well. For crappie use bright colored jigs in the flooded vegetation. The few that fly fish Chimney Reservoir tend to stick with the chartreuse and yellow Clouser minnows.

Fishing has been slow.  Fishing will just continue to improve with good water conditions and spring temperatures. Spin Fisherman are finding that Rapala minnow imitations are working well. Fly Fisherman are picking up an occasional walleye or bass on chartreuse woolly buggers or clouser minnows.

Walker Lake is currently at 44% of capacity and rising. An increase in the lake level is key to the fishery rebounding. 

The flows are steadily rising this week as we get our first significant bit of warm weather. This has caused the lower river (Boca Conf. downstream) to be running off color adding an additional challenge to fishermen. Don’t be deterred though as the fishing still remains good in the upper stretch around Glenshire and with the opening day of trout season starting tomorrow the 27th

The Truckee River is high but fishing well. Focus on the edges and seams near the sides of channel. These will be most productive using Stoneflies, Worm patterns and attractor nymphs.