By Dave Hurley
SUTCLIFFE – It’s only a few weeks away before one of the most-anticipated openers of the year occurs, the October 1 Lahontan cutthroat trout opener at Pyramid Lake in northwest Nevada. Boaters work their schedule around this opener since 100-fish days are possible in early October when the fish are out in deep water, and boaters have the upper hand.
Cory Kellar of Tackle Tech is a Pyramid regular, and he plans on hitting the lake on the opener for four consecutive days, saying, “ I like to start on the troll to cover water since I we are looking for bait balls big enough with feeding fish. When we find the bait, it’s stop and set the anchor Spot Lock and switch over to jigging, clearing the downrigger, leaving one mid-ship downrigger for the Seaqulizer for safe return of bloated fish. Y gear is a new Velocity 5-foot spiral wrapped jigging rod, a line counter Abu Max Toro with 40-pound braid with a 20-pound Seagur top shot attached to a 2-oz. jig. We are ready!”
There are specific rules for Pyramid as the lake is administered by the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, and the tribe has been responsible for the resurrection of the fishery to a world-class destination for boat and shore anglers seeking Lahontan cutthroat trout over 20 pounds.
Anglers will need a Tribal Fishing and/or Boating Permit as a state of Nevada fishing license is not required. Permits can be purchased online at pyramidlake.us/permits or from the Ranger Station at 2500 Lakeview Drive in Sutcliffe. There is a slot-limit with keepers ranging from 17 to 20 inches or over 24 inches. Anglers make keep two of the smaller slot or one small slot and one large slot. All other fish must be returned to the water unharmed. To make sure fish are released unharmed, only barbless hooks are allow with two singles, two double, and two treble hooks allowed per lure. Bait is not allowed, and you are unable to fillet fish on the Reservation as Rangers will need to verify the proper size.
There are also specific regulations for fishing locations as there is a 1000-foot closed radius around the mouth of the Marble Bluff Fish Way and the Sutcliffe Fishery spawning channel, 1000-foot from the shoreline at Needles from Wizard Cove to Fox Bay, the Truckee River and Truckee River Delta, and boats must stay 250 feet from shore anglers. No fishing is allowed off docks. Fishing hours are one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset.
The weather on the lake is extremely variable, and the wind can come up at any moment. Boaters are highly recommended to have a marine band radio on board as the Ranger Station monitors Channel 16.
