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July News and Fall Forecast including Float Tube Outing
Pyramid is closed until October 1st. There have been more fires in the lake basin and the South West side of the lake is still dealing with a fairly large fire. The road between Nixon and Sutcliff has been closed a few times as well. If you are traveling out to the lake for some recreation or boating be aware of the fire conditions.
Fall Fishing Forecast
We have had a very hot summer. The surface Temperature of the Lake is right around 70 degrees and does not change much until you get into deeper water. This is one of the reasons the lake is closed in the summer. This summer being on the very warm side of summer water temperatures.
The good news is that the fall fishing should be really good. We have developed some really effective techniques to catch these fish in early October and we will once again be holding our October Float Tube Outing on October 5th-6th. It is a public outing and we are currently taking sign-ups. Click on the link below to not only see more information on the Outing but to also see our new website for the first time.
Fishing Report June 25th 2018
With only 4 days left in the season, the report is going to be short. The lake water temperatures are climbing fast now with summer setting in and most of the fish are in deeper cooler water. If you are looking to get in one last trip, fish areas that have access to deeper water or even better use your tube or pontoon boat. Most of the reports are that you need to be in at least 20 feet of water to find the fish. Balanced Minnows, Wooly’s and Leaches fished with a fast sinking line in 20-30 feet of water is a great way to start. The early mornings and evenings have been the best for sure.
Fishing Report May 1st 2017
Well May is here and it feels more like Mid-April. The water temperatures are 5-7 degrees colder than normal and the weather has been colder than normal most of the last month. Add the Truckee River flowing into the lake at over 5000 CFS and you have the makings for an extended season. The lake is rising over an inch a day right now and this pattern could go on for at least another month or so. Lake levels are heading for what they were over 10 years ago. This is great news for the long term fishing at the lake and the health of all of the fish that live there. Lake levels have come up over 4 feet so far and could double that before the run-off is over this summer.
The water is not as clear now due to the flows on the Truckee and the amount of silt that was dumped into the lake this winter from the fire last summer and the floods in January. You can see a defined mud line that has crept north to almost the North Nets now and is covering the entire south end of the lake. It has not affected the fishing much and especially not on the Northern end where the water is still only a bit off-colored. Any windy day has created a really muddy shallow water situation from the silt and with the water starting to warm now and an algae bloom on warmer days is not helping.
The fishing has been better than normal for late April-early May due to the water being cooler. There are still a lot of fish cruising the shallows partly due to the water temperatures and also the off colored water. The abrupt shut off that can happen this time of year due to the post spawn has been diluted a little and fish are still in all stages of the spring spawn season. Some are spawned out and some are not even ready yet. Use this to your advantage and get out to the lake and fish. We do not see the fishing this good this late into the spring very often. Fish are being caught on all normal techniques any time of the day. The weather is playing a big role as it usually does this time of year and the best time to fish is on windy or cloudy days and first and last light.
It really sucks that no more of the lake is opened and we are not able to access some of the major spring time beaches. This is making fishing a little more crowded but the crowds are dying daily. It is starting to feel like a late season at a ski resort where the only people there are the pass holders.
Pyramid Lake Clinic April 22nd 2017
2017 Pyramid Lake One Day Clinic with optional 2nd day guided fishing
This clinic is a re-scheduled event. Our regular clinic in February that is in association with our Pyramid Lake Celebration in February was canceled due to lake closure during the floods. The clinic will be a one day event covering everything you need to know to become a better Pyramid Lake angler from rigging, tying knots, fly selection, techniques, where and when to fish and much more. This outing will be a shore based event including wade fishing and ladders. Hot lunch is provided as well. We look forward to sharing our knowledge of the lake with our participants.
Day two is an optional 2nd day of fishing with our guides at the lake. We realize anglers come from out of town and may want to spend the entire weekend on the water and we do as well. On day two we will continue to work with our guests and give them a 2nd day on the water to practice their skills and catch more fish. We always encourage our clients to spend two days or more with us on the water at Pyramid to give us a better opportunity to put them in the right places in the right conditions. Come join us at our signature local water and have some fun.
April 22nd is the first day and is $125 per angler.
April 23rd is the optional 2nd day and is $100 an angler.
Lunch included both days. Tribal permits and gratuities not included.
Contact Rob Anderson 775.742.1754 rob@bucketlistflyfishing.com
Fishing Report March 5th 2017
Pyramid Lake
Spring season and the spawn rolls on into April. There have been 3 successful spawns at the hatchery on the lake so far. Even with all of the water and the lake coming up everything seems to be right on time. Water temperatures are approaching 50 degrees and the weather has been pretty normal as of late. Each week seems to have some warm days and some minor weather and a windy day or two. The Truckee River is coming into the lake at an average of around 4000 CFS over the past few weeks and this has helped the lake to come up over three feet this season. It seems to be coming up inches a day right now. Don’t be surprised to see the lake come up another few feet before the season is over.
There are still plenty of beaches closed due to the floods in January and it seems as though we may not see to many more openings this fishing season. The road to Monument has a 10 foot deep and 25 foot wide crevice down the middle of it just north of the Ranch properties and plenty of water still coming out of the mountains through it into the lake. We don’t have much to report on Dago and Howards but with the Truckee running so hard they are probably muddy anyway. The South Nets is a mystery. We were told that the Tribe has the O.K. to allow access even though there is damage to the beach there as well. It is going to be tight and crowded for the next month so if you come to the lake accept the crowds and the lack of access right now.
As far as the fishing goes, it has been a mixed bag. As the water continues to rise in the lake look for conditions to change frequently. Stripping the normal patterns like Midnight Cowboy Wooly Buggers and Martini Olives in tandem with a Bright colored Beetle or Tadpole like chartreuse and white or all white is hard to beat. For Indicator rigs the Albino Wino and the Copper Wino have been the top producing fly for us for the umpteenth year in a row with over thirty 10 pound plus fish caught on these flies in March alone. https://www.pyramidlakeflyfishing.com/product-category/flies/ Fish these flies on the bottom with a Red or Black Maholo Nymph on the top. Early mornings and late evenings are the best time of day, especially during light winds and clear skies. As the water warms up in the mornings it seems to help with a mid-day bite as well. Keep checking your depth on Indicator set ups even on your favorite beaches. You will be surprised how fast the water is changing and rising in the lake. It is going to be tougher to find big fish in the coming month as more and smaller fish show up in the shallows as the spawn continues.
Not to mention the road access is still limited due to snow on the road. Your guess is as good as ours because we have plenty of other places to fish when it is this high. On the same note the flows could stay high like this for a while. Plenty of run off and a dam project on the way at Stampede Reservoir could keep the flows over 500 CFS for a month or more.
As of March 4th 446 heading south is open. This has also allowed more beaches to open up. Tamaracks Beach heading south to Popcorn is now open to fishing. There are still three areas that are closed. Everything to the North of Shot Dog beach including Warrior Point and Monument as well as the South Nets heading south to Washout beach. Also Dago and Howards beaches remain closed. There are some severe gouges in the roads and beaches in these areas due to flooding and we may not see these open this spring.
The lake has slowed down some since the re-opener. There have even been some really tough days. The water is only 44 degrees which is only a degree or two from the normal wintertime low. High Pressure over the past few days has made it tough going. The other important thing to know is the lake has come at least two feet since the beginning of winter and it has made it impossible to wade out to the normal spots near the shelves on almost all of the lake’s more shallow beaches. This spring is going to be way different than in most years when we do not have this huge influx of water in February and March. We had this situation back in 2005 when the lake came up fast in March. There are two possible scenarios that can change the situation on our more shallow beaches. Either we can have a big wind event out of the East or North and the shelves could get reset or we will have to wait until the lake comes up another foot or two with more run-off to bring the fish into the more shallow water. The beaches with a steeper drop off on the South end of the lake are more fishable and the drop offs are easier to get to. Stormy days are going to be important to good fishing this spring as well as low light situations in the early mornings and evenings for sure. Check your depth on your indicator rigs at any of the beaches because they have all changed. Float Tubing and Pontoon Boats are going to play a key role in our spring this year, especially as the water warms up in April. We will try to keep the report up to date as often as possible as situations change at the lake.
March 30th Fishing Report
Pyramid Lake
Spring season and the spawn rolls on into April. There have been 3 successful spawns at the hatchery on the lake so far. Even with all of the water and the lake coming up everything seems to be right on time. Water temperatures are approaching 50 degrees and the weather has been pretty normal as of late. Each week seems to have some warm days and some minor weather and a windy day or two. The Truckee River is coming into the lake at an average of around 4000 CFS over the past few weeks and this has helped the lake to come up over three feet this season. It seems to be coming up inches a day right now. Don’t be surprised to see the lake come up another few feet before the season is over.
There are still plenty of beaches closed due to the floods in January and it seems as though we may not see to many more openings this fishing season. The road to Monument has a 10 foot deep and 25 foot wide crevice down the middle of it just north of the Ranch properties and plenty of water still coming out of the mountains through it into the lake. We don’t have much to report on Dago and Howards but with the Truckee running so hard they are probably muddy anyway. The South Nets is a mystery. We were told that the Tribe has the O.K. to allow access even though there is damage to the beach there as well. It is going to be tight and crowded for the next month so if you come to the lake accept the crowds and the lack of access right now.
As far as the fishing goes, it has been a mixed bag. As the water continues to rise in the lake look for conditions to change frequently. Stripping the normal patterns like Midnight Cowboy Wooly Buggers and Martini Olives in tandem with a Bright colored Beetle or Tadpole like chartreuse and white or all white is hard to beat. For Indicator rigs the Albino Wino and the Copper Wino have been the top producing fly for us for the umpteenth year in a row with over thirty 10 pound plus fish caught on these flies in March alone. https://www.pyramidlakeflyfishing.com/product-category/flies/ Fish these flies on the bottom with a Red or Black Maholo Nymph on the top. Early mornings and late evenings are the best time of day, especially during light winds and clear skies. As the water warms up in the mornings it seems to help with a mid-day bite as well. Keep checking your depth on Indicator set ups even on your favorite beaches. You will be surprised how fast the water is changing and rising in the lake. It is going to be tougher to find big fish in the coming month as more and smaller fish show up in the shallows as the spawn continues.
Our April 22nd clinic will be awesome and teach anglers how we catch so many fish at the lake. Space is limited and we only have 4 spots available. http://renoflyfishingoutfitters.com/education/
Truckee River
As stated above the Truckee is running hard and fast, especially on the Nevada side of the river. The best fishing is up stream in the upper stretches of California down to about Boca Bridge. After that it is hard to get in the water and can be dangerous. Fishing the edges or in any slower water is the way to go. Fish are hiding from the heavy currents right now. Nymph Rigs should have plenty of split shot and streamers can be fished with a sink tip. There is not much in the way of dries. The flows will probably stay really high for the next month and even more depending on the pace of the run off. Flows are: Town of Truckee 1160 CFS, Boca Bridge 3030 CFS, Farad 3560 CFS, Reno 3500 and Vista 3580.
Little Truckee River
Flows are 774 CFS. Humming! The river is out of the banks and running hard. Not to mention the road access is still limited due to snow on the road. Your guess is as good as ours because we have plenty of other places to fish when it is this high. On the same note the flows could stay high like this for a while. Plenty of run off and a dam project on the way at Stampede Reservoir could keep the flows over 500 CFS for a month or more.
East Walker River
Ditto! 856 CFS. Look for the flows to stay really high for most of the spring.
Davis and Frenchman’s
The water is coming over the spillway and the lakes are full. Should be a good spring once the weather warms up. It has been many years since either of these two fisheries have had this much water. Plenty of coves and places to fish this year. Both have limited access still and are mostly iced over.
South Fork Reservoir
South Fork is fishing great from both shore and from boats and float tubes. The water is still really cold but fish are getting active. There has been a really good midge hatch late mornings and the fish are hungry. Albino Wino’s fished under an indicator is hard to beat right now for Rainbows, Cutthroats, Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass. South Fork has become one of our spring go to spots and we are currently running guide trips and outings in the month of May. South Fork is located near Elko Nevada and is probably the best public trout fishery in Nevada. See our Education page for more info.
Pyramid Lake is really the only local fishery worth talking about this week. Other area lakes are still frozen and the rivers are all blown out due to high water, rain and flooding. We have a huge snowpack in the Sierra’s and stormy weather just keeps coming. All of our area lakes are reservoirs are either full or going to be soon. This means that the rivers could remain too high to fish for a month or two.
Pyramid re-opened on February 18th after over a month of being closed due to rain, mudslides and road damage to both paved and beach access roads. The lake is only open between Shot Dog Beach and the North Nets. This means that popular beaches to the North including Monument and Warrior Point remain closed as well as the entire lake from and including the South Nets all the way to Dago Bay.
Pyramid Lake has come up around 2 feet since the fall and it looks like it could rise another 5-7 feet by the end of run off season. There are not too many years most of us can remember when the lake came up this much. 1997 and 2005 are the only other two in recent history. This is going to change the spring fishing season a lot. It has already made an impact on most of the sandy beaches that are open. It is either difficult or impossible to wade out to be able to fish to the shelves. This is a common occurrence on big water years and it will take a big wind event from the East to sort of re-set the ledges and redefine the drop offs. On windy days the fish will move in on top of the deeper ledges but on calm days it is going to be tough. It can change any day with the amount of storms and windy days we are having.
The fishing was fantastic all weekend and many anglers caught fish over 10 pounds. Long casts with Indicator rigs and Maholo Nymphs and Balanced Leeches were as good as anything. Stripping Midnight Cowboys and Martini Olive’s also caught a ton of fish with a fast sinking shooting head.
Fishing Report December 6th 2016
We have spent the better part of the last month at Pyramid. We have seen the good the bad and the ugly! This is one of the best times of year to catch a fish of a lifetime at Pyramid for sure. There are plenty of big fish pics being circulated all over the internet coming from Pyramid Lake. That being said the fishing is tough for numbers and you have to put your time in. The water is cooling down rapidly now with the cold overnight and daytime temperatures in the area and with the cold forecast this pattern is not going to change. All this means for now is everything is pretty normal for this time of year. Fish are spread out. The minnows are in deep water and the fish we are catching are the occasional cruiser or school of smaller fish. Stripping Wooly Worms, Beetles and Tadpoles has been the most effective but anglers putting in their time with Balanced Leeches and Maholo Nymphs are also doing o.k. On nicer days with less wind and sunny skies it is important to fish first and last light. Cloudy, windy days are the best and fish can be caught more frequently during the day. For stripping flies try Olive Martinis, Bloody Marys and Midnight Cowboys for Wooly Worms. White Ghost or Northern Lights Tadpoles are also catching fish as well. Under the Indicator it is hard to beat either a Black Maholo Nymph or an Olive Martini Balanced Leech right now. You can fish both at the same time with the Maholo nymph fished on top.
Fishing Report November 29th 2016
Pyramid is fishing pretty much right on par for Late November – Early December. The fish are really spread out, tough to catch but there are some good days in the mix and plenty of big fish being caught. Two weeks ago the water was 57 degrees from the surface to down around 80 feet. This constant temperature this time of year is one of reasons why the fish are spread out. Recent storms have cooled the water to about 50 – 52 degrees. The normal pattern for this time of year is first light and last light on calm sunny days and throughout the day if there is any wind and or clouds and storms. Fish are eating flies fished under an indicator like Pyramid Lake Balanced Leeches and Maholo Nymphs but most anglers opt for shooting heads this time of year. Fish are still chasing fast moving lures and flies and a faster retrieve is still important. Fly selection is all over the map. It is more about getting your fly in front of some fish than the exact pattern. To narrow it down a bit try Olive Martini Wooly Worms and Tadpoles and Beetles in White or White and Chartreuse. Don’t over think it this time of year. Get your flies in the water and put in your time and the odds will go up. This is a great time of year to catch a big fish just not a great time to catch a lot of fish. Those days do exist but you can’t count on it. The next couple of weeks should continue to produce some real picture takers at the lake. Dress warm, layer up and keep your flies in the water.
Fishing Report October 10th 2016
The lake continues to fish really well. The surface water temperature is around 61 degrees which is down 6-8 degrees from last year. This has really spread the fish out and anglers are catching fish all over the lake. Boaters and shore anglers are doing well. The bait balls are also spread out all over the lake. If you find bait you usually find fish so it is not quite as easy as just going to a spot that fished well last week. The bait and the fish are constantly on the move.
Shore anglers are doing well fishing beaches with deeper drop-offs using a variety of techniques and flies. The key is to get to an area where the grass in not a problem or has died back already. In some cases it could simply mean moving 50 yards over on the same beach. Root Beer Wooly Buggers have been really good as well as Midnight Cowboy or Olive Martini colors. White Ghost Tadpoles are also working well and can help with the grass problem a bit. There are not as many fish being caught under the indicator because most of the fish are keying in on fast moving Tui Chubs. The really nice weather we had last week kept the chop off the water and also played a part in the tougher Indicator bite.
Anglers fishing from Tubes and Pontoon Boats are also doing well in 20-30 feet of water. Fast stripping Pyramid Lake Balanced Minnows in every color has been effective. Deep Water Wooly Buggers are also catching fish. The speed of the retrieve is very important right now. More fish are being caught on a very fast erratic retrieve. Make sure you have a really fast sinking line and start your flies out on the bottom. There are plenty of fish also following the flies all the way to the boat so do not get in a hurry to make another cast. Look for the fishing to stay like it is now for a few weeks at least until the water starts to cool off more.
Fishing Report October 4th 2016
Well the opener was one for the books. Lots of anglers, plenty of fish and the towing companies at the lake had a field day. The weather on the opening weekend was anything but expected. The wind blew from directions it was not supposed to and it kept plenty of anglers from getting on the water in floating devices. The shore fishing was better for sure than in the previous couple of years due to a lower surface water temperature at 63 degrees.
Anglers fishing from ladders and from shore on some of the deeper beaches caught fish using indicators and nymphs as well as stripping Beetles, Tadpoles and Wooly Buggers. Some of the beaches still have a lot of weed growth and shooting head set ups are hard to use. There are however some beaches that are already free of weed growth and totally fishable. White Ghost Tadpoles, Martini Olive Wooly Worms and Tui Chub Patterns are all working well for shooting head set ups. Anglers who ventured out into the lake from float tubes and pontoon boats had some mixed reports but there were plenty of fish caught in deeper 25-40 feet of water. Pyramid Lake Balanced Minnows fished with fast sinking lines are working very well. Make sure you have plenty of weight on your minnows and leaches and a fast sinking line. The trout are chasing minnows all over the lake and a fast retrieve is important. Deep water Indicator Nymphing with Pyramid Lake Balanced Leeches also is worth a try on days with some chop. The fishing is really good and could stay like this for a while.
Fishing Report June 7th 2016
With only 3 weeks left in the season, Pyramid is starting to wind down. There are plenty of fish still being caught and still worth doing for sure but the signs of summer are starting to show. Weeds are starting to grow on the bottom in the shallows making it harder to fish a shooting head and the summer crowd of boaters and Jet Skiers are out in force. The water temperatures are climbing fast and will soon push what fish are left in the shallows out to deeper water for the summer. If you are planning to get another day in at the lake before in closes on June 30th then we recommend you either fish the first or last light bite for sure. Mornings seem to be the best when fish are feeding in low light and then sometime mid-morning you can find Callabaetis hatching. This pattern has made indicator fishing pretty productive almost every day regardless of the weather. Deeper beaches are the way to go in most cases but there are still some fish being caught at the south Nets on good North wind days as well. Black Maholo Nymphs are an awesome choice for either a top or bottom fly right now along with Balanced Leeches and Maholo Midges. Beetles are working better than Wooly Buggers for stripping flies mainly due to the fact that they stay out of the weeds a little better close to the bottom.
Fishing Report May 17th 2016
A lot of us have forgotten about Pyramid now that we are in the 2nd half of May. Beaches are empty and the most popular spots on the lake only have a few anglers fishing them. This is one of the most underrated times of the season to fish Pyramid. The fish have come off the spawn and started to spread out around the lake and are feeding again. It is not so important to fish the wind or the stormy days if you know where to look for fish. The Pilot Peak strain is creeping into more shallow water and making themselves available to fly anglers on many beaches. Fish are being caught both Stripping Wooly’s and Beetles and hanging Nymphs and Midges under an indicator. Some of the beaches this time of year just hold fish and they can be caught on bad weather days but also on calm sunny days. You should fish the early morning bite for sure but fish can be found most of the day on deeper beaches away from the hatchery. There are a lot of younger fish being caught right now but there are some larger fish around for sure. If you love to fish Pyramid don’t give up now there are no crowds, the water is warm and the days much more tolerable. Look for this pattern to hang on until the water warms up to the low to mid 60’s when most of the fish will go for deeper water.
A fish from May 17th 2014
Fishing Report May 3rd 2016
May is here and the spring spawn is really winding down. The Hatchery is closed until next spring and fish around the Nets area are thinning out. The water is still in the mid to high 50’s and there are some fish around to catch. There is usually a slow period around the full moon in April co-inciting with the spawn and then the fishing picks back up in May sometime on some of the other beaches around the lake. There is a Callabaetis hatch starting to happen and should go on for a few weeks. There are also plenty of Midges around as well. The south end of the lake is clearing up and loaded with Cui-Ui right now. The area around the hatchery is pretty slow unless you are there on a windy day with some mud lines and rollers coming in. The North end of the lake usually fishes better this time of year but it has been slow as well. There are some 2-3 year old Pilot Peak Cutty’s around Monument and Warrior. We have some more weather coming in this week so we should see some more good days coming up but there are more slow ones for sure. On good days fish are still being caught with shooting heads and Indicator rigs. White Ghost Tadpoles and Olive Martini Wooly’s are a great combo for shooting heads and don’t be afraid to tie on two foam flies if you start getting into moss and goo on the bottom. For Indicator rigs a black or red Maholo nymph and an Albino Wino dropper is going to be hard to beat. Fish the weather and check the wind forecast on our website before you go.
Fishing Report April 27 2016
The fishing at the lake has gotten really tough. Even on the good weather days where there is wind and cloud cover and what seems like perfect conditions it has been tough. We just went through the full moon cycle and it was right in the middle of the peak of the spawn and is probably the biggest reason for the slow fishing. We should still see an improvement looking forward as the moon gets smaller and the spawn comes to an end but for now a two or three fish day is very common. On the bright side there is a Callabaetis hatch starting that really helps the Nymphing under an indicator this time of year. Usually late morning to early afternoon on some of the more shallow beaches. It is still important to fish the weather and the wind and to move if nothing is going on. The water temperatures are still around 55 to 56 degrees and the lake is in great shape. This is a great time of year to branch out and try some new spots. For stripping flies the White Ghost Loco Tadpole has been awesome as has the Midnight Cowboy Wooly Bugger and the Martini Olive Wooly Worm. Nymphing is usually better this time of year especially with the Callabaetis hatch starting and plenty of midges out there. This has been the year of the Maholo Midge in the Copper Wino color for sure. With the Callabaetis hatch Maholo nymphs will also be an important fly moving forward.
![12983949_915372411908894_3084292263839295839_o[1]](https://www.pyramidlakeflyfishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/12983949_915372411908894_3084292263839295839_o1.jpg)
Fishing Report April 19th 2016
The spawn is in full swing. This is when there are a ton of fish in shallow water and cruisers can be seen on several beaches around the hatchery. The Summit strain can be very picky this time of year and the fishing day to day can be completely different. The beaches around the hatchery only fish well this time of year when there is a lot of wind, chop and current. There are fish there every day but they do not eat when there is high pressure and little wind. This is a pattern that experienced Pyramid anglers are familiar with and there is not much you can do about it. If you are coming from out of town and have no choice on dates or weather then fish deeper beaches on nice days to increase your chances. Fishing Midges under an indicator is also the way to go on calm days. The Copper Wino and the Albino Wino on a size 12 hook is without a doubt the way to go when these conditions arise but any smaller fly is a must. Stripping flies are still worth a try in the early mornings and late evenings as well. If you are lucky enough to be at the lake during some windy weather then you can open up the arsenal and do more things. On these days Stripping flies with fast shooting heads will also work really well. White Ghost Loco Tadpoles seem to be the fly in the morning and Olive Martini Wooly Worms are better in the afternoon so this makes for an unbeatable two fly combo. If you are fishing beaches away from the hatchery then fly selection is not quite as important and if there is any off colored water then Maholo Nymphs in black and Red are hard to beat. These conditions are going to prevail for the next couple of weeks at least. The Fisheries department are spawning fish every Tuesday through the month of April and doing a very good job of keeping more fish in the lake. More in this in the next fishing report next week.
Fishing Report April 4th 2016
Pyramid is in great shape and fishing really well. This is the time of year most anglers look forward to. There are lots of Summit Lake strain fish in shallow water looking to spawn. It has been pretty hard to catch the Pilot Peak strain around the hatchery right now and the bigger fish are being caught in other places around the lake. The weather like always plays a huge role day to day at the lake. Cloudy windy days are the best for sure. High pressure sunny no wind days are pretty tough. The lake is as crowded as it has been in years. This is going to be the case for the next month for sure. If you don’t like to fish on crowded beaches then try the extreme North or South end of the lake at spots like Howard’s Bay, Nine Mile or Warrior Point. There are plenty of fish cruising the drop offs and you will see experienced anglers backing up their ladders and staying further away from the fish. This really helps on calmer days when fish tend to get spooky and lock jaw. Fish are being caught several different ways but over the past week stripping Wooly buggers and Tadpoles have been doing the best. Nymphing has been a little slow but as the water warms we should start to see more bugs and nymphs and midges will be the way to go. White Ghost Tadpoles, Olive martini’s, Bloody Mary’s are all good choices for stripping flies and Maholo Midges like the Albino Wino or Copper Wino are doing well under an indicator.
Fishing Report February 9th 2016
Pyramid has been fishing really well for the first part of February. The water is at its wintertime low of 42 degrees but it has not hurt the fishing lately. There have been some 20 fish days out there and also some big fish caught. There are some early schools of Summit Lake strain Cutty’s cruising the shallows already. Seems a little strange since we are having our first real winter in a while. Weather is still playing a part and we are due for a really warm calm week so we’ll see if anything changes. The water should come up a degree or two by the end of the week but the lake is supposed to be really calm. The first light bite is worth doing and especially this week with high sun and calm weather. Fish are eating just about everything. Wooly’s Beetles, Balanced Leeches, Nymphs and even Midges already. For stripping a Martini Olive Wooly Bugger with a White Ghost Tadpole trailer is hard to beat. For Nymphing for be sure to have a Maholo Nymph on top in Red or Red with a white bead. The bottom fly can be an Albino Wino, another Maholo Nymph or a size 8 balanced Leech in Root beer or White. The depths have changed at some of the beaches so make sure you have your flies set correctly.
Fishing Report January 12th 2016
The lake continues to produce some really nice fish. As winter rolls on and storm systems continue to roll through, the fishing follows suit. We have not had this kind of a start to the January fishing in a few years. Weather helps Pyramid and the fishing all season long and it is being proven once again. The best days to fish at Pyramid Lake are days with some wind and come cloud cover. The storms systems that keep moving through the area are giving us the type of days needed to catch fish even with the water in the low 40’s and air temperatures in the 20’s and 30’s. The last couple of winters brought nothing more than blue bird sunny days and slow fishing. This year is different.
This is not the time of year to expect to catch a lot of fish. Colder water in the shallows pushes most of the fish into deep water. What we are seeing are smaller groups of fish or even single fish moving in and out of fishable water and then back out into the depths. A typical day at the lake is in the 1 to 6 fish day with some zero’s and some double digit days mixed in. If you can pick your fishing days try to go on a cloudy and or windy day. This should help the fishing and make time of day not as important. If you are at the lake on a calm sunny day then try to be there for either first light or last light.
Other than that it is really about just putting in your time. Fish are being caught on all types of flies right now and it is really more about the fly and the fish finding each other. White Ghost Tadpoles fished with a Midnight Cowboy or a Bloody Mary Wooly Bugger are tough to beat for shooting heads. Red Maholo Nymphs size 12 with either a gold or white bead or Pyramid Lake Balanced Leeches in Root beer or Olive size 8 for Indicator Nymphing. Location has not been that important except for trying to get the wind in your face. Reports of big fish are coming from all over the lake so it is a great time to explore and try some new spots. This type of pattern should remain for the next month or so if we continue to get more storms.
Fishing Report January 7th 2016
Happy New Year Everyone! We hope everyone has a great year both on and off the water!
Pyramid has been fishing pretty good overall. It seems to have picked up in the last couple of weeks. There are still plenty of tough days out there but the number of fish caught has gone up some and there are more fish eating Nymphs for sure. Kind of weird for it to actually pick up in the beginning of January but we will take it. The water is right around the normal winter time lows at 43 degrees. The water should stay in this range for a month or two now. There are more fish being caught in the middle of the day now as well. The best days to fish are still going to be ones with a little wind or some clouds but you can get some grabs just about any day right now. The fish are still spread out all over and this is a good time of year to explore and fish some new water.
Dragging Olive Martini Wooly Worms, Bloody Marys, Loco White Ghost Tadpoles and Chartreuse and White Beetles are as good as anything on the shooting head set up. Red, Black or Wine Maholo nymphs are starting to catch a good number of fish under the indicator. Balance Leeches in Root Beer or Olive are also doing well. Don’t forget about the February 19th Pyramid Lake Celebration at the Nugget Resort in Reno. For more information go to: https://www.pyramidlakeflyfishing.com/education/pyramid-lake-celebration/
Fishing Report November 10th 2015
What a difference a week makes. The colder weather has finally arrived with the first good snowfall on the valley floor in a long time. The water temperatures at the lake were already starting to drop a bunch and it looks like that will continue. The fishing at Pyramid has really started to improve over the past 10 days or so and some really big fish have been caught as well. The pattern is right in line with what happened last fall. Great fishing from deeper in the lake in October followed by a slow period at the end of the month into the first part of November. Then sometime in mid-November thru mid-December the fishing was outstanding. Then the water and air temperatures forced most of the fish out in deeper water and the fishing slowed again thru about the beginning of February. So basically now is the time to go to Pyramid before winter sets in. Every day is not going to be great but this is one of the best times of the year to target big fish.
The water temperatures have fallen into the mid 50’s and will continue to drop steadily over the next month or so and get down to the low 40’s which is the normal low water temperatures for the lake in the winter. The water is still warm enough that the fish are really active, have a lot of energy and are chasing flies using very fast retrieves right on the bottom. It is not nearly as important to be out in the lake anymore as fish are cruising many beaches with moderate to deep drop offs. This is a great time of year to practice your shooting head skills and catch some fish in the meantime. Dark colored Tadpoles like Northern Lights or Loco Olive have been working well. Vince Young of Bakersfield caught and released a 17 pound Pilot Peak Cutthroat while fishing with Guide Chris Evison this week using a size 4 Green Tadpole. They also caught many other fish as well with the same fly. Superfast strips were the key. Maholo nymphs have also been working well for those who prefer to indicator fish. Red, Black and Wine are all worth a try in size 12. Look for the bite to remain good until the water starts to get into the mid 40’s in a month or so.
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Fishing Report October 27th 2015
Pyramid has really slowed down over the past few weeks. The warm weather continues to keep water temperatures in the low to mid 60’s on the surface. Most of the Tui Chubs have moved away from the West side of the lake and it seems as though the fish have gone with them. Good reports have been hard to come by lately but there have still been some fish caught in 10-25 feet of water around some of the deeper beaches. Size 4 Pyramid Lake Balanced Minnows fished on a very fast sinking line without an indicator has been the way to go this fall for sure. Smaller size 8 Balanced Leeches have also been working under an indicator on the drop offs. Midnight Cowboy colors have been hard to beat but white, Root Beer and Olive Martini have also been effective. Cooler weather is approaching over the next week and will help bring down the water temperatures. Once the water cools the fishing should pick back up for a while until winter sets in.
Fishing Report October 13th 2015
Pyramid continues to fish pretty good all things considered. It is a little tough from shore or a ladder due to the warmer than normal water temperatures for this time of year coming in at 65-68 degrees. There are some fish cruising in close enough to catch but they do not stay long and it is a long time between bites. There are still plenty of Tui Chub Minnows in the shallows and it tends to draw in some fish from time to time. The Midnight Cowboy size 8 Balanced Leech fished under an indicator has been our top fly while ladder fishing most of the season. The grass is starting to die off and it is getting easier to strip Buggers and Beetles along the bottom. The dying grass can still get stacked up on the bottom and be a problem.
This has been a tremendous October fishing from Float Tubes and Pontoon Boats. The Bait Balls of Tui Chubs are out in force along the West side of the lake and it is keeping fish active and feeding. Most of the action seems to be in 20-30 feet of water where the water is 4 or 5 degrees cooler. Deep water indicator rigs have not been too effective due to the fish seemingly wanting the fly to be moving fast. You are better off with a fast sinking shooting head with a sinking running line. This will allow you to get down to the level of the fish. Deep Water Wooly Buggers in Midnight Cowboy and Root Beer have been working well. We have also been fishing Pyramid Lake Balanced Minnows in size 4 using this set up. These flies have a ton of weight and a beefy hook. They ride perfectly in the water when the fly starts to ascend through the water column. The fly will jig up and down really well during pauses in your retrieve. We have had fish follow the fly right to the boat and grab it as it is coming out of the water.
The water is going to start to cool and this pattern is going to change over the coming weeks. We will start to see the bait ease back into the depths of the lake and the fish will start to cruise the shelves sometime soon as we see cooling weather.
Fishing Report October 6th 2015
Pyramid Lake opened on October 1st with a bang. There have been some really big fish caught already and plenty of them. Boaters and anglers fishing from the water in Pontoons and Float Tubes have been doing the best. The surface water temperature is still between 66 and 68 degrees and it is keeping most of the fish in 20 plus feet of water. There are some fish being caught from shore and ladders but it has been far less productive. If you are fishing from shore target the beaches that have deeper drop offs and try to find some bait balls (Tui Chubs) as they can be close to shore in these areas.
Pyramid Lake Balanced Leeches in size 4 and 8 have been the top fly for sure. These flies were designed to fish under an indicator but some anglers have been fishing them on a shooting head as well in deep water. Deep Water Wooly Buggers are also working well from Tubes in 20-30 feet of water. There is still some grass on many of the beaches and it has made it difficult to drag Wooly’s and Beetles on the bottom from shore. Two Beetles are worth a try if you are getting grass on your retrieves. Nymphing with a size 8 Midnight Cowboy Balanced Leech has been really effective from both shore and in tubes with a deep water indicator leader.
Warm weather is supposed to stick around for the next week and the conditions could remain the same for the next week or two. Colder weather and water is on its way however so keep an eye on the reports to see when more fish start to roam the shelves.
Fishing Report September 8th 2015
Pyramid opens October 1st. There are already plenty of Tui Chubs schooling up around some of the deeper drop off beaches. The water is in the high 60’s on the surface and has a shot at staying in that range for the next 10 days at least. Hopefully we can get some cooler weather before the end of the month to help. Once the lake opens fish areas that offer access to deeper water for shore fisherman. Block House, Sand Hole and all along the South West Shoreline has this type of access. Some anglers will look to spend some time in their tubes or pontoon boats as well. If you are one of those anglers use some common sense and don’t fish alone and watch the weather. Banded Balanced Leeches and Maholo Nymphs fished in deep water under an indicator is going to be a good way to go. Try water in the 10-25 feet range. Deep Water Wooly Buggers fished on a fast sinking line is also going to catch some fish in the same depth range. A lot of the more shallow beaches will most likely have grass issues for shooting head anglers. Jigging techniques will help to keep your flies or lures out of the grass.
We have some really cool new products on our online store
Bug Bands – Add great contrast to your Nymphs and Midges and weight to your Balanced Leeches
Tungsten Beads – Great Prices, all the best colors and sizes for Pyramid.
Banded Midges – New Midges using Bug Bands – These flies work great
Balanced Leeches and Minnows – All the best colors for Pyramid including Midnight Cowboy
Maholo Nymphs and Midges – New colors including the White Bead Maholo and some with Bug Bands
Hey folks the fishing report page is acting up and for some reason all of our fishing reports have been deleted for the past season. We will fix it shortly.
7-1-14
Pyramid is closed for trout fishing until October 1st 2014.
We had our best year ever and we hope you did as well. We are already working on our guide schedule for the coming season. We do more guide trips each year than any of the other guides have done in their history of guiding at Pyramid. We also have not gotten skunked with clients in three years (over 200 trips)
Hear is part of a fishing report from one of our competitors from last February (their last fishing report of the season)
“Pyramid can be tough most of the time but when you “strike it rich” it is well worth the time and effort. Lots of skunks and some absolute trophies! The fish are still up and down and in and out of the shoreline beaches. Pick your favorite spot and fish! You never know!”
6-24-14
With under a week to go in the season, things have come to a screeching halt. The water has gotten really warm and most of the fish have headed for deep water for the summer. Shore fishing with either a fly rod or spinning gear is really slow. Boaters still have a chance to catch some fish in deeper water but the problem is that bringing them out of 50 degree water into 70 plus degree water on the surface is very dangerous for the fish. It is time to put the ladders and the down riggers away and give the lake a rest until the fall opener on October 1st.
6-17-14
The fishing season ends at Pyramid on June 30th. The water is really getting warm and the fish have really moved out into deeper water for the summer. There are still a few fish being caught but mostly by float tubers who are fishing in deeper water. There are also a few fish being caught from shore in areas with access to deeper water as well. Try to get yourself in 15-30 feet of water and get your flies near or on the bottom. Really fast sinking Shooting Heads are a must if fishing Wooly Buggers, Beetles or Minnow Patterns. Let your line sink for at least 30-40 seconds before starting your retrieve. Nymphs and Midges are really working well for anglers who can get them into deep water. Umpqua Feather Merchants Deep Water Lake Leader is the way to go for fishing in water over 10 feet deep with an indicator. This system allows you to hang your flies under an indicator in up to 20 feet of water. Mark Fore and Strike and Scheels in Reno have these set ups as well as Fly Fishing Specialties in Sacramento. Maholo Nymphs and Midges are a couple of great flies to try as well. Note: Keep an eye on the weather and be careful when float tubing at Pyramid. The wind can come up quick and make float tubing un-safe.
6-3-14
June and we are still catching fish at Pyramid. The Tui Chubs have shown up in the shallows around the lake and there are some really big fish chasing them. Warm or even hot weather is on the way and the great fishing we have had over the past month could end anytime. This is the time of year when we really start to use our floating devices and try to get out in a little deeper water. The water temps. are in the high 50’s and will be in the 60’s before long. This usually drives the bait and the fish into a little deeper water. There has been a tremendous Callabaetis hatch by mid-morning each day and there are also some fish really keying in on those as well. With so many other places to fish right now in the area, Pyramid has no pressure. Nymphing from a float tube or pontoon boat is a great way to go right now. Maholo Nymph’s and Midges fished with Umpqua’s Deep Water Indicator Leader is the way to go for indicator fishing in 10 plus feet of water at Pyramid or any other lake. Mark Fore and Strike in Reno and Fly Fishing Specialties in Sacramento has these leaders in stock among others currently. Stripping Minnow patterns on the bottom with a fast sinking shooting head has also been very effective of late. Some of the larger fish are really keying in on Minnows right now.
5-27-14
This has been one of the best late seasons at Pyramid in a long time. The water temperature is hanging in there for late May and that has really helped a ton. The water temps. are still in the upper 50’s to low 60’s in the shallows. There are some windy days ahead of us which help keep the temperatures down this time of year. We could get another few weeks of good fishing if this keeps up. A few days in the 90’s and no wind could also turn it around quickly. 20-30 fish days are not uncommon for anglers moving around and finding the right wind conditions and pods of fish. There is a strong Callabaetis hatch mid-day and that is also helping the fishing. Nymphing has been the most effective way to go for sure. Maholo Nymphs in Red, Black or Wine are a good bet to imitate the Callabaetis right now. Two fly rigs with the bottom fly fished close to the bottom and the upper fly about 2-3 feet up is a great way to go. There are plenty of places to get Maholo Nymphs if you are headed to Pyramid including Mark Fore and Strike in Reno, Keines Fly Shop in Sacramento and Scheels in Reno. The best places to fish this time of year are ones with less boat and Jet Ski traffic. Try going to the North or the South end of the lake to stay away from summer traffic.
5-7-14
The fishing continues to hang on at Pyramid. The water temperatures are around 56 degrees in the shallows and there are still plenty of fish cruising the shelves. Some larger Pilot Peak strain Cutthroats are starting to show up again and there have been some really big ones caught in the last week. This is the same pattern we saw last May. As the Summit Lake strain fish lose their urge to spawn and start heading for deeper water, the Pilot Peak strain seem to take their place in the shallows. Beaches with deeper drop-offs should start to produce more and more in the coming weeks and shallow areas will start to slow down. Weather is the number one factor on a good day at the lake for sure. It is becoming more and more important to fish on days when there is some wind. Nicer blue bird no wind days continue to get tougher and tougher. There is still some time to get out and catch some fish at Pyramid and this is a great time to get a really big one. Red and Wine Maholo nymphs are really starting to produce again for floating lines. There is some growth starting to happen on the bottom and foam Beetles and Tadpoles are a good choice for shooting heads.
4-16-14
The spawning season is in full swing at the lake. The hatchery is full of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout and the Fisheries folks at the lake are working hard to make sure there are plenty of fish to put back into the lake for next season and beyond. When you see the efforts that are put in by members of the tribe and U.S fish and wildlife to ensure the future of Pyramid Lake you start to understand why it is important to treat these fish with the utmost respect.
Fishing has been really good over the past couple of weeks with a few tough days thrown in there as well. Weather plays a bigger and bigger role out at Pyramid as the spring goes on. Sunny Blue Bird days with no wind can create some tough conditions. The fish are cruising in really shallow water and can get spooked by ladders and fishermen, especially on crowded beaches. It can become really important to be aware of the situation and if fish are in really tight to the drop-offs back up 5 to 10 feet. This pattern has been the case at some of the more popular fishing spots like the nets and Pelican. If you are in an area where he fish are tight and there are fishermen too far out in the lake then it can be best to look for a spot on the beach with less anglers. This is a great time of year to take off the indicator and fish nymphs on a long leader and a Hover line. Albino Wino’s continue to be hard to beat for midges and Red and Wine colored Maholo Nymphs are still the way to go for nymph style flies. For shooting heads, Olive Martini’s and tan or chartreuse Beetles are working well.
4-8-14
The lake has gone through some major changes in the last week. The water temperatures have gone from 44 degrees to 50 degrees in 6 days. There is some really off colored water on both the North end and the South end of the lake due to this. It appears that the lake wants to turn over soon. High pressure has dowsed the wind and made the fishing really tough over the last two days. It is really a good time right now to fish the first and last light until we get some more weather. The hatchery is packed with fish and the spawn is on. Fishing should be really good over the next month weather permitting.
4-1-14
April is here and we are in the middle of the peak season at Pyramid Lake. Unsettled weather over the past few days has really helped the fishing. There have been a few days with some good onshore winds and some overcast that have resulted in some really good days. The fish are really spread out and there is not just one spot to find them. Fish the wind and try to pick a spot with the wind in your face. You can both move a lot to find fish or stay in one place and wait it out. The fish are really getting in good spawning shape and they are ready to do their thing. The water is still really cold for the first of April at around 44 degrees. It is supposed to get warm starting next week and the water temperatures should start to climb. Shooting head set ups are working well in the early mornings with Olive Martini’s, Midnight Cowboys and Pink and White Wollyworms. Nymphing either under an indicator or with a Hover line has also been picking up a lot of fish. Red Maholo Nymphs and Albino Wino Midges are hard to beat. Go to the beaches page at pyramidlakeflyfishing.com to get an idea of how deep to fish your flies under the indicator if you have not been out in a while or are unfamiliar with the lake. Mark Fore and Strike in Reno has a good stock of Pyramid Flies.
3-25-14
This is the time of year that angler come from all over the West and even the Country to fish for Giant Lahontan Cutthroat Trout. March and April brings a little warmer weather and the migration of these fish into shallow water looking for a stream to splash their eggs into for a new generation of fish to begin their lives of the World’s largest Cutthroat Trout. The spawning channel at Pyramid Lake is the perfect place for this phenomenon to take place. Fish are geared up to run the artificial stream right now in search of the perfect place to lay their eggs. The Hatchery water is on but most of the fish are not quite ready to spawn. There are many beaches that fish are cruising the shallows and plenty of fish are being caught by shore fisherman. There have been some slow days and some really good days. Most of it is weather based. Stormy weather patterns over the next week or so should really help the fishing at Pyramid. We should be in a good fishing pattern for the next few weeks. Nymphing will be working well for the remainder of the season. Red, Wine and Black Maholo Nymphs continue to be a great choice for flies. The Albino Wino Midge is also a must have. Mark Fore and Strike, Keine’s Fly Shop, Orvis of Reno and California Fly Shop are all places to purchase these flies. Shooting Heads are also working well. Olive Martini’s and Bloody Marys have been tough to beat.
3-18-14
It is that time of year again at Pyramid Lake. In the middle of March each year thousands of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout make their way into shallow water around the lakes shoreline in search of moving water. It is spawning season. Not only do the trout start their migration but so do anglers from all over the country. The next 6 weeks at Pyramid will undoubtedly the best and busiest place to fish in the area. We have a few trout of over 20 pounds that have been caught and lots of fish in the 10-20 pound range already this season. The numbers of fish caught is starting to go up as well. There have been a few 20-30 fish days and plenty of 10-20 fish days. You still have to look out for the occasional blue bird sunny no wind day here and there that makes the fishing tough. Nymphing rigs and shooting head set-ups are both working well. It is best to have both rigs set up and be ready to switch at any time. Fish are spread out all over the lake and can be caught from Popcorn Beach on the South end of the lake to Monument Rock on the North end. For the Nymphing rig Red or Wine colored Maholo Nymphs, Copper Tops and Albino Wino’s are working well for sure. Midnight Cowboy’s, Olive Martini’s and Popcorn Beetles are tough to beat fished on the bottom. Mark Fore and Strike and Orvis both have these flies locally in Reno. There is a new section on the beaches page, www.pyramidlakeflyfishing.com/fishing/beaches/ that helps out with depth to fish your flies under an indicator on most of the beaches at the lake. Contact Rob Anderson 775.742.1754
3-5-14
The lake continues to fish well. Summit Lake strain Lahontan’s are starting to move in to some of the popular beaches looking for moving water for their annual spawn. The water temperature is starting to climb out of its winter lows and the fish can sense the beginning of spring conditions at the lake. If this year is anything like last the shift is on to a few more fish being caught and without a doubt more Summit Lake Strain fish over the next month. The beauty of having two strains of Lahontan’s in the lake now is that they are showing up at different times of the year. The Pilot Peak Strain is a great addition to making our fishing season better at Pyramid and last much longer. The Summit Lake strain is more likely to school up and run the shallows in the spring months when we see an increase in angler days in March and April and when it seems to become more difficult to catch some of the larger Pilot Peak Cutty’s. Another year of fishing for this new amazing fish will undoubtedly reveal more about what they are all about. The best times to fish still remain to be days with chop on the water. 10-20 fish days are happening already and you just have to be there on the right day with the right weather at the right time. Nymphing continues to produce the most fish. Red and Wine colored Maholo Nymphs fished either under an indicator or stripped slowly with a hover line is hard to beat along with the Albino Wino. For the shooting Head set-up Olive Martini’s and Bloody Mary Wooly Buggers are working well.
2-25-14
The lake continues to pump out some big fish. There have been some tough days and some good days and that should continue right through the middle of May. The water is starting to warm a little with the warmer weather we have had. It is still around 44-45 degrees unless you are fishing in the shallows where it can reach 47 degrees. The beaches that offer access to deeper water have still been fishing the best but the fish are really spread out and can be caught all over the lake. Follow the wind on calmer days. There are already some female Summit Lake fish with eggs and the spawn is just around the corner. Red Maholo Nymphs and Albino Midges have been working well for the indicator rigs and Midnight Cowboys and Popcorn Beetles for the shooting head set ups. Locally in town Mark Fore and Strike has a great assortment of these flies at great prices. Go to pyramidlakeflyfishing.com for more info.
2-12-14
Pyramid continues to spit out some big fish. There are plenty of slow days out there about twice a week the fishing is pretty good. That is normal this time of year with the water temperatures around 43 degrees and the weather changing daily. This past weekend saw some 70 mile an hour wind events on Friday and Saturday and the fishing was really tough. Sunday the wind calmed down and the fishing was way better. There are not too many secrets this time of year. The beaches with some access to deeper water are normally doing a little better. On calm days fish the windy part of the lake. There is the 2nd weekend of a tournament this weekend so the normal hot spots should be crowded. There are plenty of places on the lake that are completely empty of anglers. Nymphing, Jigging and stripping Wooly’s and leaches are all worth a shot. If you are coming from out of town plan a couple of days on the lake to have a better chance at getting the weather right. Red Maholo Nymphs have been really good as are Albino Wino’s and Copper Top’s. For Shooting Heads try Olive Martini’s and Bloody Marys. Any day you get out to Pyramid you could catch the fish of a lifetime.
2-4-14
January at Pyramid was about as good as could be expected. The water is cold at its normal wintertime lows of 42-43 degrees but there have been some really big fish hanging around and feeding all winter. The numbers of fish are down which can be expected this time of year but when or if you catch a fish it has the potential to be huge. There have been lots of fish caught between 10 and 20 pounds over the past month. The beaches with access to deeper water continue to be the hot spots. Places like Blockhouse, Sand hole and other areas on the South end of the lake have been pretty good. It looks like we are in for some weather over the next couple of weeks and that should help the fishing out as well. The best days have been when we get some wind and some chop on the water. There have been some really good early mornings and late evenings but it is really cold out there so dress warm.
Nymphing in 9-20 feet of water with Red, Wine or Black Maholo Nymphs has been working well. Stripping Wooly buggers and Beetles in deeper water with a fast sinking shooting head is also the way to go. Olive Martini’s, Bloody Mary’s, and Loco Beetles and Tadpoles are great choices.
1-21-14
Fishing has really slowed down at the lake. This is pretty common for this time of year. The water is very cold at 41-43 degrees. There has not been much wind at the lake lately and the thermoclines are building up and sending fish into deeper warmer water. There are still some big fish being caught over the past week including a fish over 20 pounds and one in the 15 pound range. Both fish were caught from float tubes in 20-30 feet of water. Shore fishing has been pretty slow all over the lake except for first thing in the morning and after the sun gets off the water in the evening. The lake really needs some weather to churn up the water and mix some of the cold and warmer water again. Maholo nymphs and midges are still working for Nymphing and Bloody Marys, Olive Martini’s and Loco Beetles and Tadpoles with fast sinking lines. The fishing should continue to be about how it is for the next couple of weeks unless we get a storm or two.
12-2-13
Wow! What a fall at Pyramid. This has been the best fall fishing out at the lake in recent history. The new strain of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout continue to grow and offer anglers the chance to catch a fish of a lifetime. Several fish over 20 pounds and a couple in the 25 pound class have been caught over the past month or so. Lots of fish in the 10-20 pound range have also been caught. There are several beaches that continue to produce fish but the fish are really spread out. Spots with access to deep water have been the best places so far. www.pyramidlakeflyfishing.com/fishing/beaches lays out the variety of spots to try at the lake and the ones that have access to deep water. All sorts of techniques have been working. Shooting head set-ups with Midnight Cowboys, Bloody Mary’s and Olive Martinis have been working well. Dropper flies like white Wooly Buggers and Chartreuse Loco Beetles are also worth a try. Nymphing has also been catching fish. An estimated 24 pound fish was caught last week on a size 12 Black Maholo Nymph. Albino Wino Midges are also doing well.
There is a bunch of really cold weather headed our way and the water temperatures are bound to plummet. This could change the fishing conditions and drive fish into deeper water sometime soon. It should remain pretty good for a while however if you can handle the cold. Fish have been biting seemingly any time of day so as the cold weather sets in it might be a good idea to get a little later start.
10-8-13
Opening Day at Pyramid was as good as it has been for several years now. There were some really good reports of anglers catching 10-15 fish. The good fishing has continued for most of the first week. It is really important to find schools of bait near shore this time of year to have the best chances. Minnow patterns fished with a fast sinking shooting head that sinks 6-8 inches a second on beaches that offer chances to get your flies into 15-25 feet of water are your best areas to try. There are not too many spots around the lake that shore fishermen can do this but those types of beaches were awesome on the opener. The beaches page does a great job of explaining which areas offer access to deeper water around the lake. The fishing should only get better as the water cools and fish creep into the shallows over the next month. Midnight Cowboys, Olive Martini’s, Bullet Head Streamers and just about any minnow imitation in size 2-6 is worth a try.
The best story of opening day goes to Lauren Dunn of Truckee who caught and released the new Junior Female World Record Lahontan Cutthroat Trout. This is a category for anglers under the age of 17. The fish was Lauren’s first fish of the day and weighed slightly over 9 pounds. Congratulations to Lauren! Go to https://www.pyramidlakeflyfishing.com/2013/10/03/new-world-record-lahontan/ to see the story.
9-3-2013
Opens to Trout Fishing October 1st. This is going to be an interesting and hopefully another great year at Pyramid. We now have two sustainable strains of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout in the Lake. The Summit Lake strain which has been the main strain in the lake for the last 20 years or more and the Pilot Peak Strain which was introduced back into the lake in 2006-2007. Both strains of fish play an important role in the fishing at Pyramid Lake. We are still learning a lot about the Pilot Peak strain and some of what we think we know is based on only a few years of experience catching these fish. There is much more recent history with the Summit Lake strain.
In years past most of the Summit Lake Cutthroats are still in deeper water on opening day. It has a lot to do with water temperatures. The boaters usually do very well in October catching these fish in 20-40 feet of water or more. Trolling is a great way to fish this time of year. Shore fishermen usually try to fish near fast drop-offs where deeper water can be accessed. Looking for Tui Chubs and Perch Fry are also important to finding fish. As the fall wears on and water temperatures drop more and more fish can be caught from shore in more like 8-15 feet of water. The fish can be really spread out and moving around is important to finding fish. This should be very close to how the fishing goes for the Summit Lake strain of Lahontan Cutthroats again this fall.
It is going to be interesting and fun to experience another year with the new Pilot Peak strain which is believed to be as close to the original strain of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout that used to roam the lake 100 years ago. These fish do not act like the Summit Lake strain. They are more aggressive, tend to grow faster and may even live longer. They also seem to hang out in different water. Last spring after most of the Summit Lake fish were out in deep water and the hatchery was shut down a large school of Pilot Peak fish showed up in shallow water and there were a few weeks of excellent fishing in May and June because of it. These fish seem to spend a lot more time chasing Tui Chubs and smaller Trout and will move in and out with the schools of bait. There are usually more Tui Chubs near shore in the fall so there may be some really big fish close enough for shore fishermen to catch as early as Opening day. We still have a lot to learn about these fish and what the future holds for the largest Cutthroats on the Planet.
6-1
What a great day on the lake. Started out with a couple begginer clients in the morning and we caught some nice fish. We went through a slow spell around lunch and then it was on again. 10 Pilot Peak fish to hand up to 5 pounds in about 2 hours. Fish were deep. We were fishing the new deep line breakaway indicator rig in 12 feet of water. Developed by Rob Anderson. Awesome set up. Anyway then we get a last fish of the day story.
a couple of fish over 8 pounds today with this monster fish. Maybe 12-14 pounds. Lots of Pilot Peak fish being caught right now.
5-22
Pyramid can be tricky for shore anglers this time of year. The fish have moved on from the spawn and warmer water moves most of them back into 30-50 feet of water. However cooler weather has stalled the warming of the water and the fishing has picked up. The fish seem to have moved to the North end of the lake and places like Monument and Warrior have been best. First light has been the time to be there for sure. It looks like the wind is going to blow for a few days and this should help the fishing. There is no one fishing Pyramid from shore right now. You can have just about anywhere to yourself. The boaters are really doing well. Korey Farnsworth has been hammering fish from a boat the last few weeks.
5-8
Water temperatures have jumped into the high 50’s over the past week. The Pyramid Lake fisheries reading at Sutcliff on May 5th was 56 degrees. The water is still in great shape for May and there are still some really nice fish being caught. There was a 14 pound Pilot Peak fish caught at Warrior Point on May 3rd. There was an 11 Pound Pilot Peak fish caught around Popcorn on the same day and a 10 pound fish caught at Dago Bay as well. Although numbers are a little on the low side there are still some big fish cruising the shallows. The next couple of weeks should be pretty good at Pyramid. There have been a ton of Chronomids or Midges hatching as well as a few Callabaetis as well. Nymphing rigs continue to produce with red or black Maholo’s. This is also a great time of year to fish Olive colored flies right on the bottom to imitate Dragon Fly nymphs and sand beetles.
4-30
The full moon is behind us now and the water temperatures are still in the low 50’s. The month of May could really be a good at Pyramid. We have had some really good reports even through the full moon cycle. It looks like we are going to have some really warm days in the coming week and the water could warm up fast. It is perfect right now though and if you are thinking of going to Pyramid now is the time. Weather will start to play an even bigger part as the water gets warmer. Wind and chop on the water will become more and more important. Early mornings and late evenings when the sun is off the water will also be a factor. There are more and more midges hatching at the lake now and there are even some Callabaetis showing up. Fishing with nymphs and midges under an indicator or simply stripping them in without an indicator with a long leader and a floating line is hard to beat right now. Black Wooly Worms like the Midnight Cowboy and the bloody Mary have been really good fished with a shooting head as well. Fish the wind and move often. Fish really tend to school up this time of year.
4-23
The lake has been pretty tough for the last week or so. This is very normal due to the moon phase. Pyramid has always been a little tough around the full moon. The water temperatures are creeping up into the low to mid 50’s and the next few weeks should be really good overall. As we get passed the full moon the fishing should keep getting better until the water gets to about 60 degrees. The spawning channel is full of fish and there are some huge Summit Lake and Pilot Peak fish in there. This should be a really good year for the hatchery. Fish are spread out all over the lake and it is really important to follow the wind and conditions out there right now. As we get more and more nice days, early morning and late evening should also be good times to fish. Maholo nymphs and Midges are still catching lots of fish either under an indicator or fished on a long leader with a floating line and retrieved really slow. Midnight Cowboy’s and Bloody Mary’s are great flies to use with a shooting head.
Keines fly shop has the only remaining Maholo nymphs in stock for this season. They are getting low. If you need to restock give them a call soon. As far as I know evryone esle is out.
4-16
Now is the time to go to Pyramid if you have been waiting for the magical report. We have had a North wind for most of the last 9 days and it has kept the lake from getting warmer for sure. April has looked much more like winter than March. This time of year is the time to be there but you can’t assume everyday will be great. Weather plays a big role. There are plenty of fish close to shore so get out there and fish. Nymphing with Red Maholo Nymphs has still been awesome with a floating line either with or without an indicator. Loco Popcorn Beetles with a Midnight Cowboy is a great way to go for fishing on the bottom. Conditions look great for fishing over the next month.
4-10
The fishing over the past week has been up and down. It is just about what we excpected for this spring. We had a couple of brutal days of wind and snow on Sunday and Monday. Normally the wind is a good thing but it blew so hard it created some really muddy areas and it was hard to get into the water. A few anglers who stuck it out on monday did pretty well in the afternoon. The water dipped back into the mid 40’s on Monday but it is climbing fast again. Shallow areas like the South Nets is around 50-54 degrees depending on who’s thermometer you look at. The hatchery is full and the first spawn of the season happened yesterday. The next few weeks should have some really good days and some slower days mixed in.
4-2
With the Full Moon behind us now the fishing has already started picking up. The water temperatures are slowing climbing into the upper 40’s in the last couple of days. There are way more fish in shallow water now and good reports have come from all over the lake. Schools of fish have been seen cruising the shelf at places like Windless Bay, Pelican and the Nets. The water at the hatchery is scheduled to be turned on any day now. Most of the females being caught still look a little “green” or not quite ready to spawn yet. As the water warms up into the 50’s over the next couple of weeks they should be ready.
Weather is still going to play a part in the day to day action at the lake. It is important to fish the mornings and evenings on those sunny Blue-bird days. For shooting head set-ups, Olive Martini’s and Midnight Cowboys have been working well on the back and Lime Green Tadpoles have been hard to beat as a dropper. It is a great idea to fish a bright fly on the front of your rig so you can see the fly as it gets close to you on your retrieve. Don’t get in a hurry to re-cast. Fish have been following all the way to the ladder. For nymphs and midges, Red Maholo Nymphs are still hard to beat as either a top or bottom fly. The males are really keying in on red this season. Maholo Midges are a good way to go for the bottom fly. Good Maholo Midges to try are Copper Tops, J.W.’s and for Maholo Stretch Midges try the P.M.S. or the Albino Wino.
3-28
The afternoons have been the only real bite again. We caught almost all our fish between 2:00 and 4:30 today. The fish seemed to move in and then just dissapear after 4:30 ish. The Moon is reaking havoc. We did the dawn patrol again today and it was beautiful at Dago Bay for sunrise but the fish were not there. Reports were basically the same for other anglers as well.
3-26-3-27
Full Moon syndrome at the lake the last couple of days. The morning bite has been tough overall for sure. The afternoons have been way better. The fish seem to be eating Wooly’s and Beetles better the last few days than midges and nymphs. We have some stormy weather coming in tomorrow and hopefully that will get the fish going again. The water is still off at the hatchery and the water is still on the cold side. I got to spend some time with U.S. fish and Wildlife at Marble Bluff dam. It looks like we are getting another 140,000 Pilot Peak fish this year. The future looks bright for the Mid.
March 20th
The approach of spring has the Cutthroats thinking spawn at Pyramid. The weather however is a little behind. The water is still pretty cold for the middle of March. The Pelicans have just started to appear on their yearly trip to the lake as well. Fish are being caught all over the lake and are very spread out right now. As of 3-18 the water at the hatchery was not on yet. The weather usually plays the biggest role in the fishing this time of year. Cloudy, windy days are the best and if you can get some chop on the surface it is a plus. Early mornings and late evenings when the sun is off the water can also be a factor. There are some really nice Red male fish starting to show up in the shallows. Pick a spot and give it an hour and see what the wind is doing. Fishing the beaches with a little chop or some rollers is best. Red Maholo nymphs fished under an indicator has been the most consistent bite so far. Mark For and Strike, Scheels in Reno have them and Keine’s in Sacramento also. Casey Ryan of Dallas caught an 11# 14 ounce Male on Sunday using this fly.
March 12th
The fishing at Pyramid has been just about as I expected it for Early March. We have has some really cold weather in the Reno area and that has kept the lake water temps. down in the low to mid 40’s. There have been some fish around for sure. It is very hard to predict however. The best days have been when there is some chop on the water or at least some cloud cover. Today the bite was slow until the wind picked up around 11:00 am and then it seemed to turn on for a while.
Warmer weather over the next week is going to really increase the water temperatures and it should bring more fish into the shallows. There have been some big fish caught over the past week. Jay Clark of Portola caught a 16 Pound Summit Cutthroat on Friday while fishing Midges and there were several more fish over 10 pounds caught as well. Maholo Midges and Nymphs in Red and Black have been working well. There are several Fly Shops like Keine’s in Sacramento and Mark Fore and Strike in Reno that have these flies in stock.
March 1st
I Spent the entire morning on the South end of the lake. It was a sunny blue bird day but the wind was blowing out of the North and making the chop on the water perfect. 12 fish to hand by 11:00 am and missed a few more. One female Pilot Peak fish that was around 7 pounds. The bite was on for sure. It seemed as though I got a grab every 10 minutes or so. Most fish were caught retrieving a Midnight Cowboy and a few came on the Loco Popcorn Beetle. Late in the morning I switched to the Indicator rig as the wind came up and started getting grabs right away. Good day to be at the lake for sure. The Albino Wino was the hot fly but then again it was the fly I had on the bottom the whole time. I can’t wait to go back out in two days. It seems as though I found a bunch of fish and I hope they stay put until I get back.
As far as the overall report. The water is still in the low 40’s. There are fish around and most of the beaches are reporting 2-5 fish days with some scattered better days in between. The water has come down about 18 inches from last year and just about all of the popular spots have great access to the drop-offs and ledges. It should be a much better year than last year. some of the beaches still have weeds and muck issues on the bottom for sure but there are also a bunch of really clean spots where you can drag your flies in with no issue. The water is not on at the Nets yet and the fish are spread out all over the lake.
February 4th 2013
A long cold spell in the Reno area has the lake water temperatures down to around 41 degrees. This is usually about the coldest the lake gets in the winter. It is supposed to be a little warmer over the next week or so with sunny skies. The fishing at Pyramid is pretty average for this time of year. Cold water in December-January tends to move most of the fish into deeper water in search of a little warmer conditions. There are however a few fish being caught from shore anglers. This year continues to produce some large fish. There was an 18 pounder caught last week and Reno local Adam Heuer caught and released an 11 pound fish on Saturday. The fish are really spread out and the reports are coming from all over the lake. It is pretty much a given that you are not going to catch more than a few fish a day right now but the chance to catch a fish of a lifetime keeps anglers coming. February is a great month to catch big fish at Pyramid. There are less little fish in shallow and the larger fish make a pass through shallow water from time to time. There are fewer fishermen and more chances when the fish come by. A bunch of different flies are also catching fish. Bloody Mary’s, Midnight Cowboys, Olive Martini’s are always good and White Wooly Worms and Popcorn Beetles are great options for droppers.
Note: Use 12-15 pound tippet on your shooting head set-ups. If you do get the chance to hook into one of these monsters don’t take a chance with light tippet. Go to pyramidlakeflyfishing.com for more info
Adam with an awesome 11 pounder last weekend