Fishing Stampede Reservoir in Nevada County, California

• Overview

  Stampede Reservoir lies within the bounds of Nevada County, California. The surface lies 5,958 feet up. This is big water, about 5.0 sq miles, and in a wind it behaves like a small sea. The perimeter is close to 21 miles, and wind can be flat in one arm and rough in the next. It is the biggest water on our Nevada County list. The closest town, Verdi, is 8.3 miles away. The nearest city of size is Reno, 17 miles away. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Stampede Reservoir

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Records held for Nevada County cover brook trout, rainbow trout, tahoe sucker, brown trout and bluegill. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The shape of Stampede Reservoir rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 62°F, while January sits near 28°F. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Plan around that when you fish Stampede Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. A launch point is recorded some half a mile off. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. For a change of water, Boca Reservoir is 5.4 miles distant. Check the position on Stampede Reservoir before loading the car.