A few weeks ago, I visited Fliesandfins.com and saw an article by “BigBear” about Pyramid Lake, NV. I had often heard about the fly fishing for huge Lahontan cutthroat there. As I started reading the article, I realized the lake is only a short drive from Reno, Nevada, and the kicker was that I was going to Reno for work in a week. My mind instantly began plotting and scheming. I shot BigBear an email and did some research by searched web. I changed my flight, rented a car, tied some flies, booked a room at Crosby’s (the lakes one stop lodge, bar, restaurant, fly shop, casino…), and was set for a day and a half of fly fishing. Pyramid Lake has unique and beautiful high desert scenery, an intense fly fishing culture, and an interesting natural history of the lake and its famed Lahontan cutthroat trout. But the most impressive aspect, is that during the colder months of October through April fly anglers casting from shore have a very realistic chance that any cast could be intercepted by a cutthroat trout over 10 lbs. There is no other place in the world where this is true. Over my day and a half of fishing I managed to land 5 Lahontans between 3 and 6 lbs. I also lost 3 other fish any one of which could have been a true hog. Thanks to BigBear and Fliesandfins.com, I had the opportunity to experience this amazing fly fishing venue.
Keith,
Sweet! … yet, another awesome fish and place under your belt! Throughout the years, I have seen you catch some amazing fish .. giant brookies in maine, beautiful atlantic salmon in canada and scotland, huge bulltrout in montana, big stripers on the east coast, hooked up to albies in rhode island, big bright steelhead from lake ontario, steelhead from lake michigan, redfish in florida …. sweet stuff man … you really manage to capitalize on the little windows of opportunity that are presented to you …. love how you saw a fly fishing opportunity that coincided with a work trip to reno .. you moved stuff around and got it done .. sweet.
Thanks Jeremy. In another life I may be a fishing bum and get to fish where I want when I want. But in this life I am a husband, father, and have a job first. So, I have to take what I can get. Give me a call or shoot me an email before you get ready to head out. I have thinkng about our options and have some ideas.
Sweet work man, I have a few “ski bum” buddies out there and i might have to drag myself out there! It almost seems like a small ocean!
Ya man .. same here .. i am like you in the sense that i am always “planning and scheming” and somehow find ways to fit in fly fishing with everything i do .. and everywhere i go .. whether it be for work or whatever … ya gotta be able to see and grab the opportunities .. or .. a whole lotta nothin’ happens … nice work on this one … a “day and a half” is better than nothin’ .. MUCH better.
ps.. ya, can’t wait to come out .. i am thinking big horn and also really thinking about them bull trout .. looking forward to hooking up when i come out … will be fun, no matter what we fish for and where we fish .. although, i am expecting first drifts through some of your honey holes … that will make us “even steven” for you hooking an albie on foot before me! that day in rhode island .. i still can’t get over that .. i was like “you gotta be kidding me” ..
It was just like fishing the salt. I was throwing a 9′ 9wt w/ 350 grain and using a striping basket. For cutthroat…….pretty cool. Give it a shot in March I hear that is best.
I sent you a pm J-bone.
You still remember that day on the wall huh? You know I do, think about it often…mostly in sorrow. I couldn’t believe I hooked that fish either, I guess that is why I broke it off! Someday I will get my revenge, someday!
Keith,
Great fish and glad you made out so well down there. Currently I am fishing through 3.5 feet of ice to pass the time until the icy grip of the land is released.
Look @ you PM.
Chars,
Big Bear