Alkali Lake Fishing Guide, Washoe County, Nevada

• Overview

  In Nevada, Alkali Lake falls inside Washoe County. The country round it is mixed woodland from end to end. At roughly 5.9 sq miles it ranks among the larger waters in the region. With about 17 miles of shoreline, local advice saves a lot of walking. Size puts it in the front rank of our Washoe County list. Some 39 miles away sits Alturas, the nearest settlement. The nearest city of size is Reno, 150 miles away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Alkali Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Species logged across Washoe County include tahoe sucker, great basin cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and brown bullhead. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Alkali Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August near 65°F and January near 28°F on the long-run figures. Spring and autumn are the strongest, but nothing is truly closed. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. It sets the rhythm of the year at Alkali Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Mapped as intermittent, it fills after rain and shrinks between. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. New Year Lake at 6.9 miles is the sensible second choice. For Alkali Lake in particular, ask before you travel.