Western Nevada Fishing Report

Photo Credit: Courtesy of NDOW

by Nevada Department of Wildlife
5-3-2019
Website

BILK CREEK RESERVOIR
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 trout on zug bugs and prince nymphs in deeper water. Small spinners have been effective for the trout as well. The Bass fishing should really start to turn on with warmer temps.
 
BLUE LAKES
Closed for the Season
 
CARSON RIVER
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 success with bright rapalas and dark spinners in deep slow moving water. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on flows this time of year, early spring rainstorms and exceptionally warm days can really bump flows quickly to dangerously high levels.
 
CHIMNEY RESERVOIR
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. Note that all tiger muskie must be released and report the tag # to NDOW. Additional Tiger Muskie fingerlings will be introduced during the 2019 season.
 
EAST WALKER RIVER
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 reporting good sizes on rapala style lures.
 
HOBART RESERVOIR
The season opened May 1, but the lake remains under ice and snow. Carson City Parks noted that they evaluated Ash Canyon Road for re-opening, but unfortunately the upper portion is still snowed in. We’ll be monitoring snow levels and potential for road repair and we’ll let you know as soon as we plan on re-opening it. 
 
KNOTT CREEK RESERVOIR
Closed for the Season   
 
LAHONTAN RESERVOIR
Fishing has been slow. It should be an incredible year with the current snowpack and previous seasons catch rates. Fishing will pick up closer to April with warmer temperatures.
 
LAKE TAHOE
Anglers are reporting excellent fishing for Lake Trout in the 80-250 foot range on days when the water is calm. Toplining for large rainbow and brown trout has also been productive in shallower water (less than 50 feet in depth).  Targeting the shallow bays seems to be the most productive for rainbows and browns.  The Cave Rock boat ramp is open and clear. Shore fishing has been fair to good on the east shore using powerbait or worms off the bottom.
 
MASON VALLEY WMA
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 few weeks.
 
MARLETTE LAKE
Closed to fishing at this time.  Open July 15 through Sept. 30.
 
ONION VALLEY RESERVOIR
Closed for the Season
 
RYE PATCH
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.
 
SPOONER LAKE
Spooner Lake remains mostly covered in ice. When ice-off finally does occur, fishing should be very good.

SQUAW RESERVOIR
Fishing at Squaw Reservoir can be productive through the winter months especially on the northwest portion of the reservoir where warm springs keep water temperatures up.  As spring progresses expect Bass fishing to heat up.  May to mid June is typically the best time of year for largemouth bass at the reservoir.  Fishing for rainbow and brown trout in the deeper portions of the reservoir in the winter can also be productive.

TOPAZ LAKE
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.
 
TRUCKEE RIVER
Spring flows have topped 3000 cfs making access tough. Clarity should be best in the mornings before snowmelt increases with afternoon temperatures. Those brave enough to fish it are reporting a few fish in the 12-16 “ range on streamers and larger nymphs. Dead drifting along the banks has been the key to success. Very few fish will be in open water with the extreme flows. Anglers should expect increasing flows and a peak near the end of May making all fishing tough until we see a drop in flows.
 
URBAN PONDS
The urban ponds in the western region have received at least one round of stocked trout so far. Marilyn’s pond is the only exception due to snow limiting access. The Sparks Marina will offer the best chance to catch an array of species while waters like Virginia Lake and Paradise Park Ponds may still hold a number of channel catfish and some carryover rainbow trout. The urban ponds will continue to receive additional plantings into summer. 
 
WALKER LAKE
Walker Lake is currently at 44% of capacity and rising. An increase in the lake level is key to the fishery rebounding. 

WALL CANYON RESERVOIR
Wall Canyon Reservoir is currently difficult to access due to the amount of precipitation received in the region.  The access is road is extremely muddy and four wheel drive is necessary.  As things dry out in the spring expect excellent fishing for carryover rainbow and brown trout as well as smallmouth bass.

WASHOE LAKE
Stocking of several thousand channel catfish and white crappie along with half a million juvenile white bass has occurred in both Little Washoe Lake and Washoe Lake during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Expect slow fishing with some areas being more productive than others. Fishing should be productive in little Washoe this spring.
 





More Reports

Nevada Department of Wildlife Reports
for Friday, May 3rd, 2019

Little Washoe Lake: Little Washoe Fishing Should Be Good
Wall Canyon Reservoir: Wall Canyon Reservoir Update
Walker Lake: 44 Percent Full
Truckee River: Extreme Flows
Topaz Lake: Topaz Lake Fishing Report
Rye Patch Reservoir: Fishing Has Been Slow
Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area: Fishing Has Been Good
Lake Tahoe: Excellent Fishing for Lake Trout
East Walker River (NV): East Walker River Fishing Report
Chimney Dam Reservoir: Fishing Has Been Fair
Carson River: Carson River Fishing Report
Bilk Creek Reservoir: Fishing From Shore Has Been Good

Nevada Department of Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, May 1st, 2019

: NDOW Southern Fishing Report Early May
Echo Canyon Reservoir: Crappie Bite is Underway
Eagle Valley Reservoir: Crappie Are Starting to Bite
Kirch Wildlife Management Area: Kirch Wildlife Management Area Fishing Report
Las Vegas Urban Ponds: Las Vegas Urban Ponds Fishing Report
Colorado River - Laughlin: Laughlin Fishing Report
Lake Mohave: Striped Bass Are Biting At Night
Lake Mead: Heat is Back For The Weekend