The Best Fishing Spots in Nevada
Nevada offers surprising fishing across desert valleys, alpine lakes and large reservoirs, with top spots including Pyramid Lake, Lake Tahoe, Lake Mead, the Truckee River and numerous state reservoirs. Anglers can target native and trophy Lahontan cutthroat trout at Pyramid Lake and in high mountain lakes, while rainbow trout, brown trout and deep-water lake trout are common in Tahoe and cold, high-elevation waters. Warmwater fisheries in reservoirs and lower rivers produce solid largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and striped bass, along with catfish, kokanee salmon, crappie and panfish. Popular methods range from fly fishing and light tackle for trout to boat fishing and shore fishing for bass and stripers, and some high lakes offer ice fishing in winter, making Nevada a diverse recreational fishing destination.
Top Cities For Fishing
River Fishing
Lake Fishing
Lake Mead
Lake Tahoe
Top Freshwater Fishing Spots
Lake Mohave
Stretching between Hoover Dam and Davis Dam , Lake Mohave is known for hard-fighting striped bass, chunky smallmouth, largemouth bass, and catfish, with clear water, rocky coves, and current breaks offering diverse boat and shore opportunities.
Lake Mead
Sprawling along the Colorado River near Las Vegas , Lake Mead offers year-round action for striped bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and seasonal crappie, with deep-water trolling, night fishing under lights, and shoreline points all producing well.
Lake Tahoe
Nevada’s east shore of Lake Tahoe is famed for trophy mackinaw (lake trout), quality rainbow trout, brown trout, and summer kokanee salmon, with deep-water jigging and trolling off Incline Village and Sand Harbor especially productive.
Pyramid Lake
Home of the legendary Lahontan cutthroat trout, Pyramid Lake’s alkaline waters and famous beaches like Pelican and Warrior reward ladder anglers casting streamers and spoons in spring and fall, while boats work drop-offs and shelves for cruising giants.
Ruby Lake
In the scenic Ruby Valley , Ruby Lake’s marshy channels and spring-fed ponds yield excellent rainbow trout, tiger trout, and largemouth bass, with canoe and small-boat access ideal for working weed edges, cuts, and spring outflows.
West Walker River
Coursing along U.S. 395 near the Nevada–California line, the West Walker River offers pocket-water sport for rainbow trout and brown trout, with summer dry-fly action and spring streamer fishing around boulder gardens and canyon runs.
Carson River
The East and West forks of the Carson River near Carson City and Gardnerville provide scenic access to rainbow trout and brown trout, with pools, undercut banks, and meadow stretches rewarding careful wading and light-tackle presentations.
Comins Lake
Near Ely , Comins Lake is known for fast-growing rainbow trout, feisty tiger trout, and improving largemouth bass fishing, with weedy bays, reed edges, and open pockets producing on spoons, plastics, and suspending baits.
East Walker River
Flowing below Bridgeport Reservoir toward Wabuska , the East Walker River is a classic tailwater known for wary, powerful brown trout and thick rainbow trout, with nymphs, streamers, and precise presentations in riffles, seams, and deep bends.
Lahontan Reservoir
Close to Fallon , Lahontan Reservoir is a multi-species hotspot for white bass, walleye, channel catfish, and wipers, with spring shoreline action on points and inlets and productive trolling and drifting as water levels rise.
Rye Patch Reservoir
Set on the Humboldt River , Rye Patch Reservoir is noted for quality walleye, aggressive white bass, channel catfish, and wipers, with windblown shores, submerged structure, and the river arm producing throughout spring and early summer.
Topaz Lake
Straddling the Nevada–California border along U.S. 395 , Topaz Lake is popular for winter and spring rainbow trout trolling as well as warm-season smallmouth and brown trout action along rocky shorelines and drop-offs.
Truckee River
Flowing from Lake Tahoe through Reno to Pyramid Lake , the Truckee River delivers wild brown trout and stout rainbow trout, with nymphing, streamers, and dry-dropper setups shining in pocket water, riffles, and deep runs.
Walker Lake
Bordering Hawthorne , Walker Lake offers expansive open-water fishing for cutthroat trout and channel catfish, with long casting from beaches and trolling along drop-offs effective when temperatures are mild and baitfish are active.
South Fork Reservoir
Near Elko , South Fork Reservoir supports strong populations of rainbow trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass, and walleye, with weedy flats, rocky points, and the river inlet offering varied seasonal patterns for boaters and shore anglers.
Wild Horse Reservoir
High-desert Wild Horse Reservoir fishes well for rainbow trout, brown trout, tiger trout, yellow perch, and smallmouth bass, with ice-off and fall being prime and accessible shorelines and coves inviting both bait and lure approaches.
Wilson Reservoir
Northeast of Elko , Wilson Reservoir offers solid multi-species fishing for rainbow trout, brown trout, and warmwater species, with productive points, coves, and the inlet area accessible by small craft or from shore.
Angel Lake
Perched above Wells in the East Humboldt Range, Angel Lake provides cool summertime fishing for rainbow trout and occasional brown trout, with easy bank access around the day-use areas and light craft exploring the shoreline.