Pyramid Lake Trip Report
- This topic has 14 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated Feb 15, 2011 at 2:25 am by
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Last week I took a trip with a few friends out to eastern California to do some skiing and boozing.
Extreme Skiing:
Extreme Boozing:
While we were there, we went out with a guide friend of ours we met a few years ago.
Destination: Pyramid Lake, Nevada
We asked out guide “so what’s the lake like”? He responded “it’s like fishing on the moon”.
Pyramid Lake is a very unique place. First, it is a inland lake in a drainage basin that never reaches the ocean. It is 1/6th as salty as the ocean and very alkaline. It is on Native American land so you have to get a permit from them. And it has plenty of big Lahontan Cutthroat Trout.
The terrain of the lake is shallows with steep drop offs. A good way to fish it is to wade out carrying a step-ladder and stand on top of it when the water gets too deep.
Fishing is done with either an indicator nymph rig or stripping back streamers on heavy sinking line.
Some days are slow, some are epic.
The scenery is amazing.
So are the fish.
The drive home can suck, but it’s worth it.
very nice! looks like a good time was had by all, except for that one fish who is screaming ” put me back, dam it! ” LOL!
pt
Looks quite unique. Nice fish. I would love to try it, especially if I ever decide to go for the cutt/slam. Is it practical to fish out of a drift boat there?
It is in the middle of nowhere, but I suppose it would be possible to catch some rainbows and browns in the Truckee River between Tahoe and Reno which feeds into the lake.
As for a drift boat, it is not recommended. First problem is you have to pay an additional fee and you must always stay a minimum 250 feet from shore, which pushes you past the drop-off point where most of the fish run.
The other problem is the lake is 9 miles wide, and winds and waves can whip up to crazy levels in a manner of a few minutes. There are stories of guys getting blown across the lake and boats swamping.
Looks like yall had fun. How did the rod do? I had a battery issue and could not make it out in the boat last weekend.
Looks like yall had fun. How did the rod do? I had a battery issue and could not make it out in the boat last weekend.
The rod worked out great, it was a cannon with the 300-gr line.
However, all the fish were keyed into nymphs we were fishing on 6-wts so I didn’t get any slime on the new big rod.
Ladder recommendations?
Kelly.
I’m no expert, but here is what I picked up on.
-Ladder are fold-able, and about 5 feet tall. You set them up in about belly to chest deep water so you can get out of the cold water and make casting easier.
-An all plastic ladder might float away if you stepped off of it. I would avoid this.
-Ladders with separate four legs (as opposed to connected by horizontal bar at the feet) are easier to jam into the lake bottom.Thanks. Any particular brand, or just one that meets those basic specs?
Kelly.
Not sure of the brand but I believe they are a well-stocked item in local outdoor shops.
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