Gooch Lake, Nevada: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Washoe County in Nevada is where Gooch Lake sits. It stands 5,991 feet above sea level. With some 147 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. A shoreline of some 1.9 miles keeps the choices simple. For a base, Lakeview sits 62 miles out. The nearest city of size is Reno, 164 miles away. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Gooch Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in Washoe County include tahoe sucker, great basin cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Anyone new to Gooch Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 29°F to 67°F. Mild ends to the year keep the season long. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Plan any trip to Gooch Lake around it. Early and late in the day beat the middle for most of the year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Big Spring Reservoir is 5.2 miles distant. Ask locally about Gooch Lake if anything is unclear.