Learn About Pyramid Lake

Just 35 minutes from Reno, Nevada lies the historical landmark of Pyramid Lake which is the home of world’s largest Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, amazing American White Pelicans, incredible tufa stones, and the Paiute Tribe. This is also where the infamous Truckee River ends its journey and empties into the alkali-rich lake. The lake holds astonishing amounts of massive Pilot Peak and Pyramid "Summit" strain Lahontan Cutthroat Trout. Many of these fish weigh in over the 10 pound mark and it is not uncommon to see a fish over 20 pounds landed if the conditions are right.

Pyramid lake is a remnant of Lake Lahontan, which used to cover a large portion of Nevada. The Paiute Tribe have lived off of Pyramid Lake and the near half a million acres of surrounding land for centuries. Members of the tribe speak pridefully on the history of the lake and they have tales of fish weighing in over 80 pounds! However, only a few photos have been documented to show the size of the fish that historically grew in this special lake. Pyramid Fly Co. is very appreciative of the Paiute Tribe for sharing this amazing fishery with the public.

Fish Species Found In Pyramid Lake:

"Pilot Peak" Lahontan Cutthroat Trout:

The Pilot Peak strain of cutthroat trout is the biggest that exists in the world today. Most fisherman never encounter a trout the size of these Pilot Peak. They grow at such a rapid pace and many of these fish can exceed over 20 pounds! This strain of cutthroat trout has an extra row of teeth that will make them the top predators of the lake. Most of these fish have had their adipose fins clipped at the hatchery, therefore it is very easy to distinguish them amongst the Pyramid “Summit” strain of cutthroat. Their colors can range from a variety of hues and patterns. Some fish are very colorful with reds and olives hues while other fish can be bright chrome. Bottom line, when a big pilot peak takes your fly, you better be prepared to see your backing and hold on tight!

"Pyramid Strain" or "Summit" Lahontan Cutthroat Trout:

As all cutthroat in the lake are hatchery raised, these “Summits” are produced by the tribe whereas the "Pilot's" are produced by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. These fish seem to show up in numbers while fishing and they can be, on average, a little smaller than the "Pilot's." By no means does that mean they don't come in big shapes and sizes. The Pyramid Strain fish will always have an adipose fin.

Ancient Cui-ui:

Cui-ui are large sucker fish that are native to Pyramid Lake and once lived in numbers in the lake until the construction of Derby Dam in the early 1900’s. These fish are naturally freshwater spawners but they can no longer pass through to spawn in the river. The construction of the dam lead to less water moving in to Pyramid Lake and eventually the water became to high in alkaline for the Cui-ui eggs. They have a long cylinder-like body with a flat head and they can weigh in at over 5lbs. This is an endangered fish, so please use precaution and handle carefully when caught.

Tui Chub:

Tui Chub are the “main entree” on the menu for most of the trout in the lake. These are the cutthroat’s number one food source. These dark olive, brownish fish cruise the shallows during the warmer months. In the colder seasons, they hunker down into the depths. These fish usually aren’t too aggressive until they reach their adulthood. Their aggressiveness seems to be a reason for the slow decline of the numbers of Sacramento Perch in the lake.

Sacramento Perch:

Not introduced into the lake until the late 1870’s, the Sacramento Perch is a rare sight these days for most anglers across California and Nevada, unless you fish the handful of locations that they still exist. As these fish are members of the sunfish family, they share many similarities with bluegill and crappie. Pyramid Lake currently holds Nevada’s state record for the Sacramento Perch which weight in at 4lbs 9ozs. These fish are best fished late in the spring after the water has began to warm up significantly.