Lahontan Reservoir is situated in west central Nevada, approximately 50 miles
southeast of the
Reno/Sparks area. It is part of the Newland’s Irrigation Project that
stores water from
the Carson River and Truckee River.
The quality of the fishing depends on water levels, which depend on
snow pack in the
nearby Sierra Range. Continuing battles over water allocations in the
Truckee River
have jeopardized the future of Lahontan Reservoir, with the promise of
less water being
available in the future.
At maximum storage, Lahontan Reservoir has a maximum depth of 85 feet in the lower basin near the dam. There are
approximately
10,600 surface acres and nearly 65 miles of shoreline to fish. The length
of the reservoir
is slightly more than 17 miles with a maximum width of 2.5 miles. The
reservoir
contains sandy beaches and rock outcroppings, flooded woody debris, a flooded
river channel and
various islands made out of rock and sand. Water quality is considered
good, with the
exception of the constant turbidity and dense algae blooms of late summer.
The
reservoir 's primary game
fish species include wipers (white bass x striper hybrid), white bass,
walleye, channel
catfish, bullhead, largemouth bass, spotted bass, and crappie. The best
fishing occurs
from April through July and October. Angler use for the five year period
(1998-2002)
averaged
2.26 fish per
angler day. Trophy Book entries include a 7-pound, 12-ounce largemouth
bass, a 2-pound,
15-ounce smallmouth bass, a 4-pound white bass (State Record), a
31-pound, 1-ounce
channel catfish (State Record), a 2-pound, 8-ounce white crappie, a
9-ounce yellow
perch, a 15-pound, 4-ounce walleye (State Record) and an 18-pound,
8-ounce wiper
(State Record). Walleye are captured in the spring with normal walleye
gear: jigs, worms
trolled in a worm harness behind flashers, and live minnows. Wipers
are captured with
plugs and live minnows. White bass are caught on spinners (Mepps) and using live
minnows. Channel catfish are caught with dead minnows, worms, prawns,
liver and worms
fished off the bottom.
Camping: Lahontan is a Nevada State Park. Fees
are charged to
enter the park.
Camping, toilets, showers, picnic tables, and boat launching
facilities are available. The town of Silver Springs is only a few miles
fromthe reservoir
with gasoline and groceries available.
Regulations
-Season is open year around, any hour of the day or night, except for the
spillway pool,
which is closed to fishing. The limit is 5 trout, 15 warmwater game fish,
of which not
more than 5 may be walleye and 5 may be largemouth bass. (please note Lahontan
is currently under a no fish consume advisory)
Directions:
Site is located 45 miles east of Carson City on Nevada 50.
Access by paved and improved dirt roads.
