NDOW Western Fishing Report

Photo Credit: Courtesy of NDOW

by Nevada Department of Wildlife
8-2-2021
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BILK CREEK RESERVOIR
Fishing has been tough at Bilk with exceptionally warm water. Look for bass fishing to improve closer to fall when temperatures drop some.


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. Leech 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 E. Carson are under 100 and the main fork is likely at a trickle below Carson now and for the remainder of summer. Burn areas should be avoided if at all possible. The river is in rough shape between fires and warm low water. Bass fishing on the lower river between Carson and Dayton has been fair but should slow with no water. Spin fisherman using spinners and spoons for bass in deeper standing pools have caught fish.

CHIMNEY RESERVOIR

Fishing has been fair for walleye, crappie, channel catfish and the occasional wiper.

EAST WALKER RIVER
Fishing has been slow. Heat over the coming weeks will likely stress the fishery. River flows are already low for this time of year and fishing is expected to slow as it really heats up. 
 
HOBART RESERVOIR

A great place to escape the heat. Strong Callibaetis hatches in the late morning have made for some fun afternoons. Terrestrial fishing is also 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. Mayfly, damsels, 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. Trout average 10 inches in Hobart  but there has been a couple fish over 20 inches reported from the lake in the last two years.


KNOTT CREEK RESERVOIR
Slow fishing reports from Knott so far this season. The lake will rebound quickly with adequate water and mild weather.  
 
LAHONTAN RESERVOIR
White bass can be found along most of the sandy beaches throughout the day but the early mornings and late evenings continue to be best. Walleye and smallmouth bass have shown up near rocky shoreline and deep structure along the shore. Ledges are key when looking for the larger white bass. Largemouth bass fishing has been good around some of the newly exposed structure. Spin fisherman are doing very well with small spoons, bright kastmasters, and spinners. Worms and dough on the bottom have been the bait of choice for the catfish. Large plugs have been fun for some of the largemouth when the times right. Fly fisherman are finding success with sinking lines and small chartreuse or white clouser minnows. Boat launches are closed due to low water.
 
LAKE TAHOE
The heat has fishing fair to slow on Tahoe. Cooler temperatures will help bring fish up. Shore anglers are using small spinners for planted trout and larger spoons for larger rainbows and browns around boulders or other structure.   . 
 
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. Surface flies and plugs 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

The trailhead parking area and visitors center at Spooner is currently under construction limiting access from the Spooner trailhead. This means fishing has been excellent with very little 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 excellent all summer. Reports of multiple fish an hour continue to come in. Spin fishing has been best with a small rooster tails, or powerbait off the bottom. Fly fisherman in float tubes are doing well with conehead buggers and small weighted leech patterns slowly trolled behind a float tube.
 
RYE PATCH
Fishing has been good for smallmouth and white bass using rooster tails, rubber worms, and bright colored jigs. Look for smallmouth and walleye around rocky structure and deeper drop offs. Fly Fisherman are picking up an occasional walleye or bass on chartreuse woolly buggers or clouser minnows fishing rocky points. Carp fishing has been good and can be found in most of the shallow bays.
 
SPOONER LAKE
The trailhead parking area and visitors center at Spooner is currently under construction limiting access from the Spooner.

SQUAW RESERVOIR
Fishing at Squaw Reservoir has been productive this summer months near the dam for trout or 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 slowing with lower water and extreme heat. Flows have settled over the last month and are roughly 250cfs in Reno. Afternoon high temperatures have water temperatures climbing quickly, this makes early and late fishing critical and catch and release fishing very hard to do effectively. Sporadic caddis hatches have been reported in the evenings from downtown upstream 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. If temperatures stay well above average the Truckee is in for a rough late summer.
 
URBAN PONDS
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 trying to get out.  
 
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 smallmouth bass and a few 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. Crayfish colored plugs and jigs are great options for spin anglers. 

WASHOE LAKE
The drought is greatly effecting Washoe Lake and its fishing. No reports recently from Washoe and Little Washoe is nearly dry.







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