"COLD WEATHER DOESN’T SLOW THESE LAHONTANS DOWN" 3/30/2023
/Pyramid Lake is the strange anomaly in the trout world; fishing is best during the blistering cold, blustery winter and spring while the rest of the trout world is frozen over. We love it, and definitely aren’t complaining, and this season has been the longest extended winter season we have seen in a very long time. That is a great thing, as we need the water to keep Pyramid full. We don’t focus on the “Drought” word…we are mindful and cognizant of the fact we live on the edge of the Great Basin…a frickin’ desert. We are always in drought, and that’s what makes this fishery all that more remarkable!
The lake is an echo of the past, that last remaining evidence of the Younger-Dryas period from the last ice age. With that comes a long standing resident of that time period….our beloved Lahontan Cutthroat Trout. It’s funny that they call them Trout as they are more Salmon like than anything, but we will oblige and stick with the terminology. With that being said, let’s talk a little bit about what the trout have been up to the past few weeks.
Trout are definitely on the chew, no doubt about that. Water temps are considerably lower than normal for this time of year, but that really hasn’t slowed these fish down. This has allowed the fish to thrive in the shallows amidst their spawning rituals. Can’t say we are seeing mega numbers of fish in the daily (that will come later down the road as temps rise), but we are seeing a rather consistent bite with quality fish. Don’t let this discourage you if you are numbers type of angler, I can say we have had days were we were 30+ fish per angler. On the flip side though, slower days have resulted in the catching of absolute slobs in the 20# slot.
Midges are still the primary food on the trout’s menu, however the strip game has been more beetle focused and towards the belly of the lake. Now, I can sit here and list ever single midge pattern and beetle pattern that works, how deep, what color, and what beach and all that…but it would all be irrelevant by the time you read this. Not meaning that a certain size or color doesn’t retain its efficacy over extended periods of time, but these fish change eating habits on the daily…much like humans. Follow and learn the life cycle of chironomids, and this will help you drill down on what is emerging and where they may be in the current.
Enough said, get yourself and your friends together and give us a call at 877.732.3597 and let’s rope some of the World’s Largest Cutthroat Trout together. LET’S GO!!