NDOW Western Fishing Report

Photo Credit: Courtesy of NDOW

by Nevada Department of Wildlife
8-3-2020
Website

BILK CREEK RESERVOIR
Bass fishing has been good to great. Fishing has been excellent slowed in the middle of the afternoon but early and late remains good. Trout fishing has been slow with the exception of early mornings. Surface flies and lures have been very effective for bass around cover before sunrise and after sunset. Small spinners and worms off the bottom are good options as well for the bass and occasional trout. Trout fishing will pick up again as night time temperatures drop.

BLUE LAKES
A few good reports back from Blue. Sporadic midge, damsels, and mayfly hatches have fish on the surface early and late in the day. Snail and damsel patterns have provided anglers with steady catch rates when retrieved or trolled slowly behind a sinking line. Terrestrial dry flies including ants and beetles work well when fish are seen on the surface.  
 
CARSON RIVER
Flows on the Carson are about 125cfs and fishing has been good but crowded in the usual haunts. River flows are prime for this time of year. Spin fisherman using spinners and spoons for trout in deeper pools have caught some good fish recently. Fly fisherman moving small streamers through deeper water have caught some really healthy fish recently. Larger stonefly nymphs paired with small pheasant tails under the indicator have also been productive. Hopper fishing has been good for most of the summer. Bass fishing on the lower river between Carson and Dayton has been good and should remain that way until cool weather arrives.
 
EAST WALKER RIVER

The East Walker River flows are currently at 250cfs and a little high with water demands downstream. Flows will start to come when night time lows start to fall and fishing will just improve. Please keep in mind that many of the easy to access areas have been busy so you may need to walk a little to find some open water away from others. Sporadic caddis hatches in the evenings provide dry fly fisherman with a short window of surface activity in slower runs. Other than caddis, hopper fishing has been good. Look for deeper water around shaded cover for eager hopper eating trout. Fly fisherman have reported a few fish on larger streamers.  Remember that higher flows can make wading a challenge. Spin fisherman using rapalas may entice the occasional larger fish in the deeper pools or runs
 
HOBART RESERVOIR
Terrestrial fishing is excellent around shoreline vegetation early and late in the day. Parachute ants, beetles, and damsel adults are all excellent fly patterns at the moment. Fish have also been aggressive enough to hunt down slowly retrieved small nymphs all day in open water. Midge and dragons are the most prolific insects at the moment. Fish have been seen on the surface feeding pretty actively when the wind is down.
 
KNOTT CREEK RESERVOIR
There is currently an algae bloom at Knott Creek Reservoir. NDOW will be monitoring the bloom over the coming weeks. Expect this to extend through August. Check back for updates. 
 
LAHONTAN RESERVOIR
White bass can be found along most of the sandy beaches throughout the day but the evenings remain best. Walleye and smallmouth bass have shown up near rocky shoreline and deep structure along the shore. Structure and ledges are key when looking for the larger fish. Spin fisherman are doing very well with small spoons, bright kastmasters, and spinners. Worms just off the bottom have been the bait of choice for the bass and catfish. Fly fisherman are finding success with sinking lines and small chartreuse or white clouser minnows.
 
LAKE TAHOE
Reports of small macs trolling in deep water. Any cooler temperatures will help bring fish up over the next six weeks. Shore anglers are using small spinners for planted trout and larger spoons for larger rainbows and browns around boulders or other structure.  The Cave Rock area was stocked with nearly 4k rainbow trout recently.  
 
MASON VALLEY WMA
Fishing has been fair at Hinkson for bass. Bass can be found early and late in the day right next to shoreline vegetation and other structure. In addition to the bass, a few trout are still being caught really early and late in the day. Poppers and mice patterns on the surface can be good near the shore and along the tulles. Spin fisherman bouncing small jigs along the bottom have been picking up an occasional bass during the middle of the day.. 
 
MARLETTE LAKE
Fishing has been excellent with very little fishing traffic. The best mid-summer tactic seems to be big flies for big fish. Retrieving larger streamers near deep water from shore, or trolling them behind a float tube with a sinking line has been excellent. A few fish have been seen on the surface early in the day. Damsels and midge will continue to be the most productive flies next to the larger streamers and leech patterns
 
ONION VALLEY RESERVOIR
Fishing has been great. Spin fishing has been best with a small kastmaster, rooster tails, or powerbait off the bottom. Fly fisherman in float tubes are doing well with sheep creek specials and midge larva under an indicator or fishing small streamers slowly trolled behind a float tube. Some larger fish to 20” have been reported recently, this is also the place for double hook ups.  
 
RYE PATCH
Fishing has been good for smallmouth and white bass using rooster tails, rubber worms, and bright colored jigs. Fishing will just continue to improve with good water conditions and the fall temperatures. Fly Fisherman are picking up an occasional walleye or bass on chartreuse woolly buggers or clouser minnows near the dam.
 
SPOONER LAKE
Spooner has been fair from shore and good from float tubes or kayaks. The vegetation hasn’t taken complete control of the shoreline, leaving very little shoreline fishing access. Fly fisherman using callibaetis mayfly emergers late in the day are finding fish on the surface. Slowly retrieved woolly buggers and small leech patterns have worked during the afternoons both from shore and from boats. Powerbait and salmon eggs have also been fishing well under a bobber around and in the weed channels. 

SQUAW RESERVOIR
Fishing at Squaw Reservoir can be productive through the summer months near the dam for trout or at the inlet for bass.  Now is the best time of year for largemouth bass at the reservoir. Early and late in the day poppers can be effective along and in the shoreline tulles near the inlet. Spinnerbaits and floating rapalas can also work well along the shoreline for large bass. Fly fishing with sinking lines near the dam out of boats has been fair to good this spring and summer for trout. 

TOPAZ LAKE
Topaz has been fishing well, shore anglers with powerbait and boaters trolling flash rigs are doing the best. Crawlers off the bottom have also been productive early and late in the day. Finding the deeper water has been key. Fishing for trout should remain good and productive through fall.
 
TRUCKEE RIVER
The Truckee is healthy and fishing very well. Flows have bounced around a bit over the last month but seem to have stabilized now at roughly 350cfs in Reno. Afternoon high air temperatures have water temperatures climbing quickly, this makes early and late fishing critical. Sporadic caddis hatches have been reported in the evenings from downtown to the state line. For those dry fly fisherman, it’s hopper time on the Truckee. A few larger fish have also shown up recently on small nymphs using high stick techniques. Caddis pupa, pheasant tails, and zebra midge are fishing well right now. Spin fisherman using small spinners or salmon eggs have done well near the major parks including; Crystal Peak,  Mayberry, and Rock park. LCT and rainbow stocking will continue in the river as temperatures allow. New regulations are in place for the lower river below the Mustang Bridge. Be sure to update yourself before heading out.  
 
URBAN PONDS
The urban ponds in the western region have received at least two rounds of stocked trout this year. 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 again receive trout plantings into summer and fall when temperatures allow. Marilyn’s pond and the Sparks Marina will likely fish best through early fall in the higher temperatures. As access and options lesson with the summer heat, please be patient with everyone out fishing right now. It’s also a good idea to have a safe backup location just in case your preferred urban fishery is busy.
 
WALKER LAKE
Walker Lake is currently near 50% of capacity and rising. An increase in the lake level is key to the fishery rebounding.

WALL CANYON RESERVOIR
Wall Canyon has been fishing great for both smallmouth bass and carryover rainbow trout. Look for trout early and late in the day around deeper water. Bass are holding fairly shallow late in the day making poppers along the shoreline a fun option in the evenings. Fly fisherman using larger streamers along the main inlet channel and in open water have been finding both trout and bass all day. Dark flies are always a good choice for all of Nevada’s turbid reservoirs.

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, 2018, and 2019 seasons. Expect slow fishing with some areas being more productive than others. Fishing has been productive for in little Washoe for small bass. Small bright jigs or small spinner seem to be best bet. Carp can also be a good option in little washoe for anglers when the wind is down





More Reports

Nevada Department of Wildlife Reports
for Monday, August 3rd, 2020
Bilk Creek Reservoir: Bass Fishing Has Been Great
Blue Lakes: A Few Good Reports Coming From Blue Lakes
Carson River: River Flows Are Prime For This Time of Year
East Walker River (NV): East Walker River Fishing Report
Hobart Reservoir: Terrestrial Fishing is Excellent
Knott Creek Reservoir: Currently An Algae Bloom
Lahontan Reservoir: Evenings Remain Best For Fishing
Lake Tahoe: Lake Tahoe Fishing Report
Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area: Fishing For Bass in Hinkson Has Been Fair
Marlette Lake: Fishing Has Been Excellent
Onion Valley Reservoir: Fishing Has Been Great
Rye Patch Reservoir: Rye Patch Reservoir Fishing Report
Spooner Lake: Fishing Has Been Fair From Shore
Squaw Creek Reservoir: Now is The Best Time of Year For Largemouth
Topaz Lake: Topaz Has Been Fishing Well
Truckee River: Truckee is Healthy and Fishing Very Well
Walker Lake: 50 Percent Capacity
Wall Canyon Reservoir: Fishing Great For Bass & Trout Right Now
Washoe Lake: Washoe Lake Fishing Report

Nevada Department of Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, July 29th, 2020
: NDOW Southern Fishing Report
Echo Canyon Reservoir: Best Luck For Bass and Crappies Just Offshore
Eagle Valley Reservoir: Steady Action for Bass, Crappie and Trout
Kirch Wildlife Management Area: Anglers are Having Moderate Success for Bass
Las Vegas Urban Ponds: Las Vegas Urban Ponds Fishing Report
Colorado River - Laughlin: Striped Bass Action is Picking Up
Lake Mohave: Lake Mohave Fishing Report
Colorado River - Willow Beach: Striper Action Has Been Best in The Early Morning
Lake Mead: Large Striper Boils Are Keeping Anglers Entertained