Outdoors with Don Q: Today is Nevada’s Free Fishing Day

Here’s a reminder of something special that occurs today in the Outdoor world: Today, Saturday, June 13 is Nevada’s Free Fishing Day for the year 2015. On this day, you can fish anywhere you want, and you will not need to have a Nevada fishing license or a Nevada Trout Stamp.

Today is also Nevada State Parks Day. Today folks can enjoy free admission to all 23 Nevada state parks.

As for fishing today, you will need to abide by whatever the rules and regulations are for whatever water(s) you will fish on this special day. So, have fun, but don’t do anything dumb or it could be an expensive experience, if you’re caught by the “Friendly Old Game Warden.”

And, here is a special tip: If you would like to fish on June 13, be advised that the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) will have planted many rainbow trout in our Western Nevada waters.

Here is some NDOW information (updated as of June 04) on a number of fishing destinations you might want to try:
Carson River:
Very low water conditions. Very few places to fish.

Hobart Reservoir:
Opened on May 1 and has been fishing well for those making the short hike in to the lake. Artificial flies and lures (single barbless hooks) are required.

Bilk Creek, Humboldt County:
Bilk Creek is about 80 percent full and should fish well throughout June and early July for both bass and trout. Lots of trout have been stocked because other waters are too low to receive their usual allocations.

Chimney Creek Reservoir, Humboldt County:
No new reports, but it’s usually slow this time of year.

Lahontan Reservoir:
Very few people fishing at Lahontan which means fishing is probably not good yet, but could pick up near the dam as the water gets lower in the next couple weeks.

Lake Tahoe:
Lake Tahoe is the place to be if you are fishing from a boat in northern Nevada. It may be one of the few places you still can launch a boat and catch a fish. Anglers have been reporting good success catching Mackinaw in the 3-5 pound range. Anglers are concentrating in the 150 – 300 feet with white dodgers and minnows. Kwikfish and broken back lures have also been working.

Pine Forest Complex, Humboldt County:
Opens the Second Saturday in June — June 13, 2015. Access to the Pine Forest best with a 4-wheel drive.
Roads in to the Pine Forest are in decent shape in advance of the opener.

Onion Valley Reservoir, Humboldt County:
Onion is about 40 percent of capacity for the opener. It has been stocked with about 1,500 trout and will have fish and water until about mid-summer. Irrigation demands will quickly drain the lake and fishing should be done by the middle of July.

Blue Lakes, Humboldt County:
Blue Lakes is located only a couple of miles above Onion Valley Reservoir but is only accessible by a hiking trail.
It offers opportunity for both bait and fly anglers. It about 50 percent full and should provide good angling throughout the summer.
It is stocked each fall with fingerling trout dropped from a helicopter. Fishing has been and remains good for both bait and fly anglers.
Four species of trout can be caught in Blue Lakes: brook, tiger, rainbows and cutbows. Fish from 10 to 18 inches are being caught.

Knott Creek Reservoir, Humboldt County:
Knott Creek is about 50 percent full for the opener.
Tiger trout and rainbows have been stocked and there are large holdover fish. Knott Creek is an artificial flies and lures fishing destination. Check the regulations for all of the rules.
Fish early because hot weather can cause significant weed buildup in the reservoir. Fish early before the sun hits the water and late when the sun is going down. It will have water all year because NDOW owns a minimum pool for the reservoir.

Rye Patch Reservoir, Pershing County:
Rye Patch is fair-slow for catfish, wipers and walleye.

Spooner Lake:
Has been stocked and is fishing well.

Topaz Lake:
Small mouth (and some largemouth) fishing has been decent.

Truckee River:
Flows in the Truckee are less than 200 CFS and that means more rocks than deep pools to fish in.
Fish when the water is cool if you’re going to practice catch-and-release. Flows will get even lower as spring turns in to summer.

East Walker River:
The East Walker River is very low (22 CFS) and very clear.
Adequate water flows throughout the year are going to be a big problem for this popular fishery.
Fish in the spring because there is no guarantee that the river will fishable past late spring or early summer.
Check the regulations for rules governing fishing on the East Walker.
In addition to the NDOW reports, here is some additional info:

The Main Carson River, east of Carson City:
Your best bet for catching planters will be to fish downstream from any of the river bridges from where those trout will have been planted.

The East Carson River just south of Gardnerville:
A good spot to fish for planter rainbows is that section of the river just downstream from the old broken dam. That dam is on your right-hand side as you begin to drive uphill on U.S. 395, just past the federal fish hatchery.

Hobart Reservoir which is between Carson City and Lake Tahoe:
It has special fishing regulations. Hobart is reached by a steep, dirt road in Ash Canyon and a one-mile hike downhill to the reservoir.
Remember that it will be a one mile uphill hike when you return to your parked vehicle.
Sparks Marina along I-80 in Sparks:
This is another one of those urban waters stocked by NDOW, which attracts lots of youngsters and old timers.
The limit is five game fish of which not more than two can be black bass.

Truckee River:
The limit is two trout and 10 mountain whitefish and 15 warmwater game fish of which not more than five can be black bass. There are special regulations from Crystal Springs Park in Verdi to the California state line.

Finally:
Be advised that the State of California DOES NOT have a Free Fishing Day on the same date as Nevada.
California has not one, but two Free Fishing Days.
In 2015, they will be on July 04 and Sept. 05.

Bet Your Favorite Pigeon
Bet your favorite pigeon that he can’t tell you where I will be on June 13.
If he grins and says, “Don will not be fishing in Nevada on that day. He says anywhere you go will be crowded with fishermen and he plans to stay home and goof off in the shade. Then on Sunday, he can go fish someplace where it will be peaceful and quiet,” he could be one of my regular fishing partners.

— Don Quilici is the Outdoor editor of Carson Now. Don's wife, Elaine, is the Outdoor photographer. They live in Carson City and can be reached at donquilici@hotmail.com.