Casting in the Reno Tahoe Wilderness

Small streams offer quality brook trout fishing, urban ponds and some portions of the Truckee River east of town allow you to find surfacing carp on those hot summer days, and a plethora of alpine lakes hold high numbers of bass. Whether you’re an avid angler who likes to go out on multiple trips a week or prefer a casual trip every now and then, Reno Tahoe truly has a wide variety of fishing for everyone to enjoy.

Types of fish you’ll catch: Brown trout, rainbow trout, whitefish, cutthroat, bass (east of town), carp (east of town).

If there’s a river that defines Northern Nevada fishing, it’s the Truckee River. Flowing 120 miles from Lake Tahoe through downtown Reno and into Pyramid Lake, the Truckee offers both convenience and quality. The river’s wild brown and rainbow trout populations are robust, and if you’re lucky enough to hook into a 24-inch trophy brown, be prepared for the fight of your life. With the amount of accessibility between Reno and the state line to east of Reno, you can easily grab coffee at seven a.m. and start casting fifteen minutes later. Some of my favorite spots along the river to grab a quick cup of joe include Hub Coffee Roasters and Walden’s Coffeehouse. In Reno, there are many parks and pull-offs where you can walk a few minutes from where you parked and find a great fishing hole.

The California section of the Truckee River offers some of the best views, and accessing the water is easy all the way up to Lake Tahoe. The vast canyons through Hirschdale all the way to Verdi offer beautiful water and pine-tree-covered mountains that will blow away even the most well-traveled anglers. Wading can be tricky at times, so always be wary of changing currents and deep pools that might not be visible. This section can be less crowded with more challenging wades and hikes. If you’re looking for less foot traffic, this might be your spot.

The Best Seasons to Fish the Truckee River

Fall and Spring are easily known as some of the best times to hit the Truckee River.

Trout prefer cooler water temperatures and become a lot more active when the river gets to around 50-60 degrees. The weather in Reno stays consistently cool during these seasons, and you can be comfortably fishing all day long, even if your plan is to hike for multiple hours. If your goal is to find quality fish, these two seasons are a must for any angler in search of a trophy trout. Perfect water conditions paired with the vibrant spring and fall colors of Reno make it some of the prettiest and most photogenic times of the year to enjoy the river.

Summer days in Reno can be trickier. With intense heat and high water temperatures, the saying “early bird gets the worm” couldn’t be truer. By ten a.m., you’ll start seeing tubers take over, and finding a hole to fish is much more difficult. Getting out right before the sun starts to shine and fishing for a few hours before the water starts to warm up too much has really helped me find more fish and beat the crowds.

Types of fish you’ll catch: Lahontan cutthroat trout, Cui-ui, Sacramento Perch

Pyramid Lake is a world-renowned fishery that anglers from all over have on their bucket list–and for good reason. Home to the Lahontan cutthroat trout, which can grow up to sizes over 20 pounds. The current world record for a Lahontan cutthroat was around 41 pounds in 1925. Many anglers have caught 20-pound fish throughout recent seasons, so it’s only a matter of time till we see them reach that world record size.

The Best Seasons to Fish Pyramid Lake

With a chance to catch the fish of a lifetime, it’s no surprise that the lake’s popularity has definitely increased. Fishing for cutthroat at Pyramid Lake is only open from the first day of October to the last day of June. Your best chances of catching a behemoth from the shore are during the cold winter months. Like most trout, the cutthroat in Pyramid Lake prefer colder water and will start to hang out in shallower depths when water temperatures drop. Bringing a float tube or pontoon as a backup plan for those warmer sunny days can always change your luck when the conditions from the shore don’t seem to be on your side. Many anglers at Pyramid Lake will agree that if you have a bright blue day with no clouds, your chances of finding cutthroat drop significantly.

In the springtime, cutthroats start to spawn, and you’ll notice their colors become a vibrant cherry red that’s almost salmon-like. This can be an amazing time to fish as you’ll see thousands of fish start to cruise right in front of you. These fish can get lockjaw at times during spawn, so getting a windy day in the spring can really stir up the water and give you some consistent catches all day. Fishing in the spring also finally gives you a chance to take off the heavy layers of jackets and not freeze all day long.

Setting an alarm for 3 or 4 a.m. just to get that good spot during the winter is something you eventually get used to (the cold weather and wind blasting into your face, well, that’s another story). The majority of days will consist of grinding out in the tough elements, but when you land a trout over 10 pounds, every dollar and minute spent seems worth it. There’s a reason many locals treasure this unique fishery, and with it being just a 30-minute drive out of Reno, we truly are lucky to have this special place in our backyard.

Types of fish you’ll catch: Mackinaw, kokanee salmon, brown trout, rainbow trout

LakeTahoe isn’t just for paddleboards and beaches — it’s quite the haven for anglers. While this fishery can prove to be a bit more difficult than many places offshore, the scenery and 360° mountain views are hard to beat. Nothing is better than setting a cast and looking across into a giant, ocean-like body of water while beams of sunlight spill over the Sierra. The lake will light up like a scene from a movie you never want to end while the wind carries the scent of pine into the air.

Drop a line in the deep, cobalt-blue waters, and you might hook a giant mackinaw (lake trout), kokanee salmon, or even trophy brown or rainbow trout.

Top Two Ways to Fish at Lake Tahoe

Fishing here can be a combination of shore casting or trolling from a boat.

Usually, trolling from a boat is your best bet to find trophies in Lake Tahoe due to how deep the fish sit. There are many boat charters that offer trips on the lake, and they are very well equipped to get you to the best drop-offs. They also have the right gear to get your hooks down deep and straight into Mackinaw territory.

Because of how deep the fish sit, getting out early in the morning and making trips in the colder weather will yield better chances to hook a trophy fish from shore. The trout come in a lot closer along the shores in colder weather, giving you a much higher chance of piquing the interest of cruising fish. Quality over quantity is something you should expect when fishing at Lake Tahoe.

Recommended Gear

• Downriggers and trolling setups for Mackinaw; spinning or fly setups for shore-based rainbow and brown trout, and kokanee salmon fishing.
• 6-8wt single-handed rods.
• Double-handed rods for reaching far drop-offs and getting flies out on windy days.

• Timing is everything: Early mornings and overcast days almost always produce better bites. In the winter, you should wait until the sun is out and has had a couple of hours to warm up the water.
• Seasonal strategy: Late fall is prime for brown trout, winter and early spring for Pyramid’s giants. Summer days for bass, carp and small stream dry fly fishing.
• Local knowledge: Chat with fly shops in Reno or Lake Tahoe; they’ll give you real-time intel about water conditions and what gear to use.

Reno Tahoe isn’t just a fishing destination; it’s an ever-changing, always-rewarding playground for anglers of all levels. I’ve fished all over the region and know these spots all give you a chance to get out, enjoy the beautiful Sierra Nevada landscape and make memories that will last a lifetime. Some of my fondest moments are landing my first Truckee brown and watching 15-minute fights against monster 20-pound cutthroat in the brackish waters of Pyramid Lake.

If you live here, grab your rod and take advantage of what’s in your backyard. If you’re visiting, don’t be surprised if you leave already planning your next trip back.

The Lake Tahoe fishing photos included in this article are courtesy of Elias Blood. You can follow him on Instagram @tahoe_trout_flyfishing.