Fishing Alkali Lake in Mineral County, Nevada

• Overview

  Look for Alkali Lake in Mineral County, Nevada. It lies 7,031 feet above sea level. At about 77 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Nearest place of any size is Hawthorne, 19 miles away. Mammoth Lakes is 45 miles and Smith Valley 47 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Alkali Lake

  This is salt or soda water, not a conventional fishery: do not expect the usual freshwater species here. Expect a pan of salt and mud most years; water arrives rarely and leaves fast. Check the nearby waters on this page for the realistic fishing options in the area. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. At Alkali Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 62°F, with January the cold end at about 27°F. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. That shapes the year on Alkali Lake. Autumn feeding runs harder as the light drops away.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. This one is mapped as intermittent, so a wasted trip is a real risk in a dry year. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Black Beauty Reservoir, 19 miles out. Confirm before you fish Alkali Lake.