Artesia Lake Fishing Guide, Lyon County, Nevada

• Overview

  Within Lyon County, Nevada, you have Artesia Lake. The setting is dry rangeland. The water covers around 1,455 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. Start from Smith, 9.5 miles down the road. Beyond it, Smith Valley at 11 miles and Yerington at 11 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Artesia Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Lyon County cover white catfish, yellow perch and brook trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Artesia Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 73°F in July and bottoms out near 33°F in January. The year gives four workable seasons without severe ends. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. That is the shape of the year on Artesia Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. This one is mapped as intermittent, so a wasted trip is a real risk in a dry year. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Fort Churchill Cooling Ponds is 17 miles distant. Confirm before you fish Artesia Lake.