Get Reel: Top 5 Fishing Spots in the Truckee Meadows
June 09, 2017
Fishing can be great for relaxation, and it’s a great family activity. Here are five suggestions for great local fishing spots, plus a recipe for trout if you wind up catching one!
There are many ways to unwind in the great outdoors in our beautiful region, and fishing can be easily added to that list. The benefits of casting a line are many. According to a study by Harvard Medical School, fishing was compared to yoga for its links to stress relief. The study notes that fishing brings out the relaxation response that slows down breathing, reduces blood pressure and relaxes the muscles.
So, get out there and find some fish. There are many lakes of many styles to practice this ancient art, but here are the five that keep coming up in local conversation, virtual or otherwise. If you want to explore more options, the Nevada Department of Wildlife’s fishing guide can fill you in (and then some!).
One thing to note about two of the areas we’ve chosen, Pyramid Lake and the Truckee River. Winter flooding has led regional officials to make necessary repairs to both areas, and there may be restrictions to access, including roads that lead to some of the fishing areas in both of these large bodies of water. Be sure to check first at the sites below before heading out, and you can also go to the flood advisory page for our region on water.weather.gov to check on flooding advisories throughout the summer as snowmelt continues.
Five Great Regional Fishing Spots
- Boca Reservoir
- Donner Lake
- Paradise Park Ponds
- Pyramid Lake
- Truckee River
Location: Stampede Dam Road, 2 miles north of the Boca exit on Interstate 80
Two types of fish: rainbow trout, kokanee salmon
More details: One of the more reliable year-round spots, Boca Reservoir even hosts ice fishing once (or if) the body of water freezes over. It’s located in the beautiful Tahoe National Forest.
Location: Take the Donner Pass Road exit from Interstate 80, turn onto South Shore Drive
Two types of fish: brown trout, mackinaw trout
More details: A great scenic lake at the edge of Donner Memorial State Park, this fishing spot includes a public pier, while its China Cove on its southeast end is also a good place for mackinaw in the fall.
Location: Take US Highway 395 to the Oddie Boulevard exit, follow it about a mile to the corner of Oddie and Silverada boulevards
Two types of fish: rainbow trout, channel catfish
More details: The Reno-Tahoe area has several urban lakes ripe for fishing, including this longtime spot for anglers. There are two large and two small ponds for a fun experience no matter your skill level. It’s also open year-round.
Location: Interstate 80 to the Fernley exit, then take the Wadsworth/Pyramid Lake ramp to State Highway 447
Two types of fish: cutthroat trout, Sacramento perch
More details: This is one place everyone talks about for fall fishing, as the season, which opens on Oct. 1, is very popular. The lake is run by the government of the Paiute Tribes and has distinctive rules for those who choose to fish here.
Location: Along Highway 89 and Interstate 80, between Tahoe City limits and Reno city limits
Two types of fish: rainbow trout, mountain whitefish
More details: This portion of the Truckee is where most of the fishing takes place, although the Reno-Sparks Recreation and Visitors Bureau notes that “this is not a river to fish to death in one spot. There is plenty of room and one should keep moving until one finds some agreeable fish.”