Turns out Whitney loves Pyramid Lake as much as we do and had a B-Day coming up so she planned a three day trip in November, camped on the beach, ate and drank way too much, caught some amazing fish and decided that people would love to be here and do this with us. What we did not know is Whitney has some very cool friends like her best friend Nikki McGee who is a guide in Utah.  So they brought friends and dogs and cameramen and we had an amazing time. highlighted by Whitneys Birthday. Yay!

Whitney and her best friend Nikki are hosting a private three day outing for 10 lucky people, (mostly women) to come and enjoy the lake with us.  March 15-17 are the dates we picked. right in the middle of the best part of spring and totaly away from the dreadfull full moon.

The Event – March 15-17

Three days Hosted guided fishing with Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing and Whitney and Nikki.  This is a fully catered hosted outing with all meals and just about all the gear you need. Hot coffee in the mornings and a full breakfast, lunch on the lake with the help of our friends @traegergrills. Yum!!!

We are going to have a big camp set up on the beach and anyone signed up is welcome to join us. If you dont want to camp we have amazing rates at the Nugget Resort $49 week day and $69 weekend.

Accomodations

Price is $750 for three days

Limit 10 people (we have 5 already signed up)

Included – three days guided fishing – breakfast and lunch and snacks – ladders (really they are bass chairs) – fly fishing gear (if needed)

Not included – Tribal permits for fishing (we are camping also) – gratuities to the staff –

Contact Whitney Rushton 801.879.0507

                      Nikki McGee  801.400.2542

 

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Spring is here. Look at the weather going forward and you will see warm, warm, warm. May is a month at the lake that is traditionally very tough. Even with the new techniques we are using it is tough. You have to have the weather. Wind, clouds, rain, whatever. If it is golfing weather, go play golf. Fish the first hour of the day for sure. Then go play golf. Seriously, if you’re going to the lake, nymphing with light tippet as in 6-8 pound test and size 14-16 midges and nymphs. Go to a place where you see some fish cruising. If you get there for the daybreak bite, then strip a Midnight Cowboy Wooly and a White Loco Tadpole slowly on the bottom. A Good Leader with a Dropper tied on a tag with strong tippet is a must.

The spawn and the effects of it are in full swing right now. May is a tough month at Pyramid Lake. At least for most of us. So much is going on at the same time that it just tends to make fishing seem impossible most days. 99% of the female trout in Pyramid Lake do not get to complete the spawn. They carry eggs around until they spew out in some older fish or they dissolve back into their systems eventually. The males are seen chasing them around for a month or more sometimes. During this time, they just don’t eat much. The males get skinny, and the females work off some extra weight. This all happens at the same time as the weather is tripping out. Warmer, longer days and increasing water temperatures after months of constant cold. The minnows are heading for their summer hideouts, and a lot is going on at the same time. As the fish settle back into their old selves around the end of May the bite will turn around fast and all of a sudden it will be on again.

Rivers and Streams

This is a very normal spring so far in the Reno Tahoe area. 100% snowpack followed by warming weather with some mixed in periods of a cold day or two. This will also be a very normal run-off year in the mountains. Popular rivers and streams are going to be affected by higher flows for the next month or more. Some of them will be blown out for a period of time, others just tough to fish and wade. The best advice I can give you for your next fishing adventure is not the exact fly but the best conditions and a water that maybe you are familiar with until the runoff subsides. Check the stream flows before you go and be prepared to fish the edges, use more weight while nymphing and probably there is no reason to start too early. The water in the streams is going to be cold for a while.

Lakes and Reservoirs (Not Named Pyramid)

The local stillwaters could be the answer for the next month, psst… that is where we will be. Warmer water sparks the bugs hatching and the fish feeding and the fun starting. There are so many stillwaters in both California and Nevada that fish well in May, especially Nevada. Some require some planning and a couple of days to fish and others can be done in a day.

Get Outside and Enjoy Yourself…

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Pyramid Lake is one of the most amazing trout fisheries in the world. A huge high desert lake with history dating back to the ice age and astronomic changes over the millions of years of existence. Surrounded by a landscape that resembles fishing on the moon, this lake is simply one of a kind.
Our company has been involved with Pyramid Lake for the last 25 years and have taken thousands of anglers fishing at the lake. Our website is the most informative place to get information on just about anything associated with being there. This article is as much information as we can put together in one place to help you visit the lake in 2024-2025.

Pyramid sits entirely within the boundaries of an Indian reservation. There is no need to purchase a Nevada fishing license. All fees go directly to the Tribe. 2024 rates are:

Fishing – $24 a day
Boating – $26 a day
Camping – _$32 a night

The Fishing season is from October 1st until June 30th with three closed months in the summer.

TRIBAL PERMITS

If you have never been to the lake or just want to learn more aobut how the big fish are caught, then our guide service has 25 years of experience taking anglers fishing at Pyramid Lake. We offer full and half day trips and do quite a few outings during the year.
Walk Wade $650 1 or 2 anglers – shore fishing from October 1st through June 30th We can handle up to 6 anglers with one guide at the lake on our shore trips.
Float Tube and Pontoon Boat $650 a day 1 or 2 anglers – Guided Fishing is offered in the months of October and June. This is quickly becoming the most popular time to fish with our guides. We have some really cool techniques to catch the lake’s largest fish.
Boat Trips – $850 a day 1 or 2 anglers
Guided Trips from a center console Striper boat is offered all season as well. Our Team of Boat guides are the lakes best

BOOK A TRIP

Ladder Rentals – $25-$40 a day
We offer both chair ladders and platform ladders for rent and equipment can be picked up and dropped off right at the lake. Pick up your ladders the night before your first day of fishing if you like and drop off at the end of the final fishing day. Stripping Baskets and Nets are also available.

Camper Rentals
We have two utility trailers decked out to use as campers on the beach. Two full sized bunk beds, lights, heat and a great way to stay on the beach during your fishing trip.

RESERVE HERE

Need flies? We have the best selection of Pyramid flies at the best prices. The flies date back to the early days at the lake and we incorporate new patterns in every year. Our latest additions, the Tui Chui and the Bottom Dweller are early and late season patterns for float tube fishing

ONLINE STORE

2024 October 4-6 October 11-13 (float tube fishing)
Every year we do several public outings to help anglers get better at fishing Pryamid Lake. Our guides spend a couple days on our outings with our guests showing them the ropes. Having fun, catching fish and making memories.

LEARN MORE

The post Everything you need to know – Fishing Pyramid Lake 2024 appeared first on Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing.

Fishing with fast sinking lines and weighted flies is the only way you can catch fish this time of year. The fish are in at least 20 feet of water if not even deeper and this is normal. Jig flies such as the Tui Chui or the Bottom Dweller are what we use most and how we catch most of our big fish. Balanced Minnows and Deep Water Wooly Buggers are also effective with fast sinking lines.

Flies | Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing

Make sure if you are headed out to the lake and fishing from a tube or something similar you have a life jacket, an anchor and a depth finder. Finidng the right depth and staying stationary are the 1st keys to fishing our Jig flies.

We are hosting an outing this weekend to show anglers how we catch so many huge fish in June. June 7-9 we will be at the lake catching fish, eating food and having a blast. Unfortunatley we have had two people cancel. We have space for two people and we are offering a big discount or a 2 for 1 to fill the spots.   If you would like to learn how to fish the new Pyramid Lake, catch some big fish and have a great time this weekend, give me a call, Rob Anderson 775.742.1754

The post Fishing Report June 2024 appeared first on Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing.

The late season bite is just around the corner. Don’t give up on Pyramid just yet. It is just getting started. We have two outings scheduled for June. 7-9 and 26-28. We have been chasing the largest fish in the lake in late season and this June, we will show you what you have been missing. We still have space in both outings.

Link to online store

Here is a link to our Late season fishing video. If you love Pyramid this is a must watch.

https://youtu.be/2bTDb4DL1EY?si=VhNH4JHza_3SaLS3

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Pyramid Lake Shore / Ladder Outing April 15^th-16^th

A fishing trip designed to help anglers of all skill levels learn more about fly fishing Pyramid Lake.

Spend the day with our top guides along the shores of Pyramid Lake. Learn techniques that we have been using for years to catch these amazing huge fish. We will spend two days fishing, learning, laughing, and eating a Barbeque shore lunch served on Traeger Grills, one of our sponsors.

We will have some Demo gear to try out and all ladders included

We hope you all have a great time, learn new information and of course, catch some fish!

Cost: $295 per person

For more information or to sign up, feel free to contact us:

Rob Anderson 775.742.1754

rob@bucketlistflyfishing.com

The post April Public Shore Clinic/Outing 2023 appeared first on Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing.

Looking at the forecast, it appears we have another storm or two on the horizon. The air temperatures are also going to be below normal. What does this all mean? The effective spring season at Pyramid Lake is going to be late. Maybe three to four weeks late. April has a chance to be one of the best we have seen in a few years. The May and June forecast also looks better than usually as well. We should be able to fish the lake effectively right up until the close of the season on June 30.

We have been very fortunate to experience some great days so far. Knowing the lake and how it changes with the weather and the water conditions is very important. Especially during tougher conditions. We are catching fish and we are able to use a few different techniques. The stripping bite has been a great way to start the day and if you like to feel your grabs you can stick with this all day.

Bloody Mary Wooly worms, Martini Olive’s and Midnight Cowboys fished in tandem with a White Ghost Tadpole, or a Chartreuse and White Beetle is going to be as effective as anything. Let your flies and fly line sink right to the bottom and retrieve all the way to your ladder.

Indicator rigs are working really well when there are fish around. Getting the depth correct and knowing which midges to use and what sizes are the most common mistakes. Red Wine Banded midges are working very well as are both Wino patterns and the G.T. midge.

The fishing at Pyramid is only going to get better as we move forward. If you have not made your trip to the lake yet, now is the time to start thinking about it. We have some availability for guide service and Ladder rentals on most days. Our online store is stocked well with all the most popular patterns.

We have a public shore outing on April 15-16 and the timing should be perfect to learn the lake and catch some fish with our guides. For more information on anything we do or any questions about fishing you might have let us know.

www.pyramidlakeflyfishing.com

rob@bucketlistflyfishing.com

775.742.1754

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Evolution of the Lake

Located 30 miles East/North East of Reno Nevada, Pyramid Lake rests within the boundaries of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Indian Reservation. The huge Lahontan Cutthroat Trout that roam its waters attract anglers from all over the world on a yearly basis. The lake has experienced many changes during the course of its natural history and almost as many in fly fishing equipment, techniques and fly patterns.  

Pyramid Lake is a remnant of the once expansive Lake Lahontan that encompassed 83,000 square miles stretching across Northern Nevada, California and Idaho as far back as the Ice Age. Evaporation caused by climate changes eventually reduced Lake Lahontan into the now smaller high desert lakes we know now as Pyramid Lake, Walker Lake, Honey Lake, Winnemucca Lake, The Humboldt Sink and the Carson Sink hundreds of years ago. The latter three are dry now with Honey Lake going through periods of no water. Today the Truckee River Drainage provides Pyramid its main source of water. 

Evolution of the Fish

Pyramid Lake is home to the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, the largest subspecies of Cutthroat Trout. Although the fish have roamed its waters for generations the present day fish have endured many changes through the years. At one time the lake was a commercial fishery supplying fish that fed the mining towns, railroad camps and cities like San Francisco as recently as the mid 1930’s. As farming became more widespread and local towns and cities grew, the need for water increased. Diversion dams were built along the Truckee River to carry water to local farms and communities. These dams along with evaporation lowered the lake level almost 80 feet in 10 years, cutting off the spawning grounds in the Truckee River. By the late 1930’s, Pyramid Lake was devoid of Cutthroat Trout  leaving the Cui Ui (a native sucker) and a large minnow called Tui Chub, which have always spawned successfully in the lake itself as the only fish to live in the lake. 

Finally in the early 1940’s a hatchery program restored the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout to Pyramid Lake. By way of a smaller lake called Summit Lake, the Summit Lake strain of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout were transplanted and have thrived in Pyramid Lake since the restocking. Today three hatcheries, one run by U.S. Fish and Wildlife in Gardnerville Nevada and two on the reservation are responsible for the Cutthroat Trout that are planted back into the lake. Until recently, the Summit Lake Strain of Lahontans were thought to be the original strain of fish that lived in the lake before dying off in the 30’s. 

In the 1980’s another subspecies of Lahontan’s was found in a small mountain range near the Nevada – Utah border called Pilot Peak. The fish were located during a research mission to find other species of trout. They were raised and studied for years until they were deemed to have been the real ancestors of the original Lahontan Cutthroats that grew to 40-50 pounds back in the early 1900’s. The Pilot Peak Strain was reintroduced to Pyramid Lake in 2005-06 and has been thriving there since. DNA tests indicate the Pilot Peak strain are the original Trout from Lake Lahontan and now Pyramid Lake. The Pilot Peak Cutthroat in its short history in the lake are growing to tremendous size, dwarfing it’s relative from Summit Lake. 

In years before Pilot Peak fish were put in the lake anglers could expect to catch lots of fish in the 16-20 inch range with the females topping out at around 4 pounds or 24 inches and some of the males reaching 10-15 pounds and a few larger than that. In the last years before the Pilots were introduced Pyramid was as much a numbers fishery and big fish although out there, were much more uncommon.

The Pilot Peak strain is proving to grow much faster and to greater sizes for sure. The life span is thought to be longer and the fish are maturing later giving them a chance to really put on some weight. These fish are also much more voracious and are really thriving on the Tui Chub minnows and smaller trout. Both males and females are growing to tremendous size in the last few years with fish (upwards of) over 20 pounds up to the high 20 pound range are being caught by anglers every year. The numbers of 10-20 pound fish has really gone up making Pyramid Lake one of the best Stillwater trout fisheries in the World. Both species of Lahontans are currently stocked in the lake and both are important to the fishery. The Summit fish are easier to target and tend to school up better and give anglers the chance to catch more fish and the big Pilot Peak fish give the angler a real chance to hook into the fish of a lifetime.

Evolution of the Gear

As the lake came back into shape in the late 40’s and 50’s sport fisherman became more common to Pyramid. Conventional anglers have been tossing spoons into the depths of Pyramid since the beginning. Fly fishing started becoming more popular at the lake in the mid to late 1960’s. Locals Ike Berry and Roger Iveson were some of the first pioneers of fly fishing Pyramid Lake. Bamboo and fiberglass fly rods were used and early fly lines were homemade by splicing and nail knotting Lead Core trolling lines to the front end of a fly line to create a faster sinking line to get flies to the bottom more effectively. By the late 60’s about 1 in 10 fishermen at Pyramid Lake were equipped with fly fishing gear. Flies were simple Wooly Worm patterns meant to fish along the bottom with a sinking line. The most popular fly was the black Wooly Worm with a very short red Yarn butt. These flies were also tied in white and olive. Early anglers Pyramid Lake would stand out in the cold water in rubber waders lined up much like today but without a ladder and according to some,  much further apart. 

As fishing equipment evolved so did the Pyramid Angler. Milk Crates were the first improvement to the fishing conditions at the lake and were commonly used together with a rope and a milk jug or duck decoy to locate and remove. Anglers could now stand up out of the water another foot or so to help with casting flimsy rods and awkward fly lines. Plastic tubs were attached around the angler’s waist with some type of rope to create a stripping basket as well. 

By the late 70’s and into the 80’s lots of new equipment started to appear at Pyramid Lake. Lead Core lines and eventually shooting heads were being needle nail knotted to mono running lines and made casting much easier as did the first Graphite fly rods and finally, the ladder. Lightweight Aluminum ladders and even some wooden ones started to appear at Pyramid Lake to replace the milk crate. The only problem with early ladders was when an angler got off, the ladder would float to the top so they had to be anchored in some way. Neoprene waders also made wading much more comfortable in the frigid water. Flies remained much the same although some new materials were making their way onto the tying scene like antron and some new synthetic chenille. 

Some of the biggest changes to the fly fishing at Pyramid came in the 1990’s. Breathable waders, Fiberglass ladders, wearable stripping baskets, Integrated shooting heads and maybe the single most effective fly pattern of all at Pyramid Lake, Ike Berry’s Pyramid Lake Beetle. Long time steelhead guru, Jim Teeny designed an easier type of shooting head setup for Steelhead fishing and helped create a new fly line that had the shooting head and the running line be made as one complete line. This line was the first of its kind and had no connections or knots to go through guides on the fly rod. The Teeny series of shooting heads really changed the game at Pyramid around 1992-93 and made casting in windy conditions at Pyramid much easier. These lines pioneered modern day aggressive taper lines both in floating and sinking and helped other fly line companies create some incredible fly lines for the modern day angler. And, the fiberglass ladder was a great new piece of equipment at the lake. Now there was something for anglers to stand on that would stay put in the water, not rust and provide some added height for anglers to help with casting and getting out of the cold winter water. Soon after attachments like rod holders and net holders were fastened on to create more of a station to fish from.  

One day while out fishing at the lake in the late 80’s, Ike Berry came across a large sagebrush bush floating in the water and when he went to move it he noticed a pod of small water beetles clinging to its branches. It soon became evident that these beetles were also part of the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout’s diet. It did not take Ike long to create a fly that is now in every fly box of every angler at Pyramid Lake… The Pyramid Lake Beetle. Early models were tied with Brown or Green foam and anything from dubbing to chenille for the bodies. Fast sinking shooting heads had no problem pulling the foam flies to the bottom and dragging them along just like Wooly Worms.  Most of the early beetles were tied on size 8-12 hooks to most closely imitate the beetles in the lake. Larger sizes were also effective and easier to hook fish. For a while Ike and his fishing buddies like Reno local Bill Ladner kept the Beetle thing pretty quiet. The word started to get out in 1996 and by 1997 other local Pyramid anglers had become privy to the Beetle and it was now in many anglers fly boxes. In 1998 Dave Stanley, owner of the original Reno Fly Shop received permission from Ike to tie and sell the Beetles in the Reno Fly Shop. “The beetles were tied in every color foam they could find” said Ike of the new fly at the Reno Fly Shop. Terry Barron who wrote the first book on fishing Pyramid Lake tied most of the beetles and wooly buggers for the Shop at the time. Tying guru and fly fishing rock star Andy Burk came up with the Wrapping Paper Beetle while working at the Reno Fly Shop in 1998. The Wrapping Paper Beetle was made by gluing an iridescent wrapping paper to the foam to create a sheen. Loco Foam, a 2mm foam that has the wrapping paper sheen built right onto the foam, was next. Loco Foam is still used in commercial Beetles tied by Umpqua Feather Merchants for Pyramid Lake. In 2000 Sash Nakamoto and Richard Dickerson started tying beetles with marabou tails and not long after referred to them as Tadpoles. Ike Berry had experimented with the tails back in the 90’s but it was not until later that these really hit the scene. 

The turn of the century saw even more changes to the gear used at Pyramid Lake. Kitchen ladders became more popular with a larger standing area. The most interesting of all ladders at Pyramid Lake also came onto the scene in the form of the Pyramid Lake Chair. These homemade fishing stands have bass chairs built on them. Some of them have wheels to get them in and out of the water and some even fold to make transportation easier. The Pyramid Lake Chair is often customized for rod holders, fish finders, nets, seat caddy’s and stripping baskets. There are several local Pyramid Lake anglers who have the skills to do the welding needed to put one of these together and they can now be seen all over the lake. 

Another huge change at fishing at Pyramid came in the early 2000’s. Anglers were used to coming to town to fish Pyramid with their 8 weight rods and their Shooting heads. Spearheaded by Reno Fly Shop employees, anglers were now seen Nymphing at Pyramid Lake with a floating line and an indicator. The earliest Nymph specifically tied for the lake was the Maholo Nymph. The Maholo Nymph is tied like a Pheasant Tail but with Holographic tinsel for the body. Employees would go out to the lake and have a 50-70 fish day and then go back to the Fly Shop to see the shop full with anglers purchasing spare spools and floating lines. The Maholo Nymph was the go-to guide fly back in the day and is just as effective today. Guides were fishing all day and then going home and tying flies all night to keep up. Short for time one night and a bunch more flies needed for tomorrow, the creation was modified. “What if I tie it midge style like a Zebra Midge”. And just like that, the Maholo Midge was born. The Maholo Midge is a more popular pattern now with Pyramid Lake anglers because it is really easy to tie and also catches a lot of fish. Nymphing at Pyramid has opened up the lake to fishing for a much wider skill level of angler who might not be able to cast a shooting head set up at the lake. It is one of the most important changes to the fishing that Pyramid has ever had. 

Anglers are using a wide variety of stripping flies at the lake these days but the Wooly Bugger and Wooly Worm are still hard to beat. Anglers are encouraged to bring their saltwater patterns and streamers but it usually turns out that the anglers using the tried and true Wooly Buggers and Beetles are the ones catching the most fish. Chenille has come a long way since the early days with UV flash and Holographic strands built right into the chenille. This has also brought on fancy names for Wooly Buggers like the “Midnight Cowboy” and the “Olive Martini” but in the end, just like the Ike Berry Beetles, they are just nicknames for copies of the original patterns. Fly patterns and ideas tend to make their way around these days much faster due to social media.

The Balanced Leech created by Phil Rowley is the latest piece of the puzzle to modern day Nymphing at Pyramid Lake. The Balanced Leech was designed with Canadian Still Waters in mind and not so much for Pyramid. Not only are Pyramid anglers using the fly in the traditional manner by hanging it under an indicator but in the fall it is also being used on a fast sinking line in deeper water. The Pilot Peak strain has given anglers a new sort of ‘peak’ of the season in October when the Chubs are close to shore in warmer water. This has also made fishing from the lake from a float tube or pontoon boat in early fall really popular and effective when the fish tend to hang out in a little cooler water while keeping an eye on the bait. The Balanced Leech can be fished both horizontally and vertically around schools of Tui Chubs with or without an indicator this time of year. 

Today the fishing at Pyramid Lake is in great shape despite the water shortage in the area. We do need water at some point to have this fishery take us through our lifetime and future generations but for now I do my best not to take it for granted and to enjoy the opportunities the lake is giving me and be humbled with the opportunities I’ve been able to share with others. As I sit in a van on a dirt road in the middle of Patagonia traveling to South America’s version of Pyramid Lake, pondering the end of this story I am hoping I will have similar opportunities to share more experiences like that of Pyramid Lake in the future. I wonder what new inventions will once again change the way we spend our days fly fishing such a unique and amazing place.

 “…and the days that I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations, I have really good days.” — Ray Wylie Hubbard

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