Now’s the Time for Fishing at Walker Lake

Winter is traditionally a good time for fishing at Walker Lake in Mineral County and this winter is no exception as anglers are reeling in cutthroat trout that weigh from 1½ to 2½ pounds, according to the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW).

“It’s worth a trip to come to Hawthorne,” said Roy Leach, NDOW supervising habitat biologist. “At this time of the year, the fish move to the shoreline and the shore fishermen do better than the boaters.”

He said that the game fish are coming close to shore where they find two of their favorite foods, tui chubs and midges. Tui chubs are small fish while midges are insect larvae that hatch in the lake.

At this time of year, anglers put on their waders and head to the lake’s shoreline where they cast torpedo lures to the feeding trout. Fly fishermen have luck with streamers and wooly buggers.

“Fishing in the afternoons can be very pleasant when the temperatures are 55 to 60 degrees,” said Leach.

Besides the pleasant weather, anglers enjoy reeling in the scrappy fish. In fact, a number of anglers have reported to NDOW that they have taken limits of five cutthroat.

Fishing is typically good through late April or early May. After that time, the game fish take to the cooler confines of deep water and fishing becomes difficult for the shore anglers.

Walker Lake is located north of Hawthorne approximately 320 miles northwest of Las Vegas and 120 miles southeast of Reno.

Information about fishing in Nevada can be obtained at all NDOW offices and online at www.ndow.org.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for the protection, restoration and management of fish and wildlife resources, and the promotion of boating safety on Nevada’s waters. Wildlife offices are located in Las Vegas, Henderson, Winnemucca, Fallon, Elko, and Reno. For more information, contact the agency web site at www.ndow.org.

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