Fall is the Best of Seasons for Fishing in Nevada

The brown trout are moving to shallow water as they prepare to spawn. Rainbow trout are becoming active as they attempt to put on weight in advance of winter. Best of all, the year’s best weather has arrived.

These, along with a lack of crowds, are what make autumn the best of seasons for fishing in Nevada, according to Mark Warren, Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) staff biologist and avid fisherman.

“Fall is, in my opinion, absolutely the best time to fish for trout in Nevada. The weather is so nice. It’s cool. There are no people around,” Warren said.

He points out that from now through late November the brown trout will be vulnerable as they come out of the deep holes where they live most of the year and look for places to spawn. This makes them vulnerable to anglers as the fish are found in water that is eight to 14 inches deep.

“They need moving water to spawn. Key in on moving water to find the fish,” Warren said.

Anglers who fish in the northwest part of the state will find brown trout in the Carson, Truckee and Walker rivers. They also are found in Topaz Lake.

To the northeast, the fish are found on the south fork of the Humboldt River, east and south forks of the Owyhee River and the main portion as well as the north and south forks of Salmon Falls River. Anglers in that end of the state will find them as well in South Fork, Wildhorse and Wilson reservoirs.

Anglers in the southern end of the state have fewer options, but the fish are found in Eagle Valley Reservoir in Lincoln County.

One of the methods Warren likes to use when fishing for brown trout is casting a Rapalla lure and retrieving it quickly. A similarly fast retrieve is used when casting a streamer while fly-fishing. Yet another productive method is to bait a hook with the tail of a crayfish.

“Just about all of the waters that have brown trout have rainbow trout as well. Rainbow trout are now active as they try to put on weight before winter arrives, so the fishing can be very good for them as well,” said Warren.

Information about fishing in Nevada and waters that have brown and rainbow trout can be found at www.ndow.org.