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Fishing Report

Pyramid Lake-January/February '24

Pyramid Lake-January/February '24

Pyramid Lake-January/February '24

  

We have experienced a slow start to the action at Pyramid Lake in 2024, but great fish are being caught by those willing to persevere. Lately the most effective tactic has been running various colors of balanced leeches 8-11 feet under an indicator. As the water begins to warm up come March, the bite should shift over towards midges. Top patterns have been classic balanced leeches in olive, black, purple and white, pine squirrel leeches and moo minnows.  

Between passing storms that make it over the Sierra Nevada, the lake can be dead calm. During glassy conditions, the bobber bite can be tricky, and stripping can be much more effective. Guys have been sticking quality fish stripping smaller beetles and tadpoles as well as leech patterns. Top patterns have been Popcorn Beetles, Foam Boobies and Midnight Cowboys. 

As far as gear goes, we have been doing it all with the LCO Golden Gate rods. Switch rods have truly revolutionized the way Pyramid is fished, and the Golden Gate has performed perfectly. The ideal line setup for indicators for us has been the #6 420gr Rio Elite Switch Chucker with a Light 10ft floating Rio MOW Tip. It perfectly loads the Golden Gate rod. It is easy to hold onto, and even with frozen fingers, it turns over long and heavy bobber rigs like nothing. The Golden Gate is a great option for a stripping rig as well, in our experience the Rio Outbound Shooting Head in ST9S6 has been perfect combined with the Airflo Ridge 2.0 running line. 

 

Big indicator rigs can be challenging to cast. We like to start out with twenty inches of 20 lb Maxima Chameleon with a large loop on one end, large enough to pass a sizable indicator through without too much trouble. Using a blood knot, attach 6 ft of 15 lb Maxima Ultragreen and slide on a Large Size Jaydacator. On the opposite end, attach a Rio Micro Swivel. From the swivel you can attach different lengths of tippet depending on how deep you'd like to fish. For example, add 3 feet to your first fly and then 2 feet to the second fly. As for tippet we recommend, Rio Fluoroflex in 1-2 x. Pyramid fish can be a bit picky and unpredictable, especially the big ones, so it’s best to cover as many bases as you can to up your odds at a hog. It’s a big rig, but Maxima Chameleon is stiff.  A switch rod will make quick work turning over, even in the wind and chop. Consider adding a heavy split shot above the swivel, size SSG is ideal. Adding weight has a few advantages. It gets your flies down quick, but will also make your indicator sit a bit lower in the water. This allows the indicator to become a hair trigger, and will exaggerate the most subtle of takes. Very helpful in calmer conditions. 

Stripping rigs are much simpler, to the end of your shooting head,  attach 6ft of 1x Rio Fluoroflex. Then, with a loop knot, attach your fly of choice. 

Another option is to strip a two fly rig. Attach 4ft of 1x Rio Fluoroflex to your fly line, and create a small dropper loop about 18 inches from the end. Next, attach 6 inches of 2x Rio Fluoroflex to the dropper loop and with a loop knot, attach a weighted fly of your choice. We recommend the Beldars Bugger in black or olive. Finally, attach a buoyant fly of your choice off the other end of the tippet. We recommend a JF Popcorn Beetle or a similar pattern with plenty of movement. 

This time of year, where to fish on the lake can be a bit of a crapshoot. Just about anywhere on the lake can produce. Crowds can suck to fish in, but typically don’t mean there aren’t fish in the area. Find a rock or beach you like and grind it out. Fish are on the move and will make an appearance eventually. If not, roll a fatty, and enjoy the view.

Need help getting out on the water? We have the connects to get you dialed in! Give our friend Autumn Harry a call. As the first female Paiute Guide in the area, she has done a lot for the fishery and community locally. Furthermore, she is incredibly knowledgeable on where the fish are throughout the season, and how to get them to hand. 

https://kooyooepaaguides.com/ 

If you are a member of the Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club or Peninsula Fly Fishers, We highly encourage you to take them up on a fish-out they may be hosting up at the lake! 

 

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Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing Report

Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing Report
Pyramid Fly Co. Reports on 1.15.2020
Things are heating up as we start gaining daylight the Pilot peaks begin sliding into pre spawn. This season we are seeing an awful lot of fish in the 10 pound plus category. And now these fish are pushing into the shallows in bigger groups to feed as the water temperatures continue to drop. As these fish push into the shallows they are going to begin feeding heavily on midges like a whale does plankton.
This time of year you can still catch fish with both methods retrieving and bobber fishing. We like to fish bobbers to allow our flies to stay in that strike zone for much longer periods, thus increasing our chances for grabs. Buggers and beetles in the usual blacks, browns, greens and white still remain the colors of choice. While hanging midges under the bobber reds, blacks, wine and everything in between. On those calm days don't be afraid to give those flies some action. Yes! Move that bobber and set on anything fishy.
Katherine Bunker from Reno, NV put in the extra work on a windy day and stuck this beautiful Pilot Peak Cutthroat that getting his winter tuxedo ready for spawn.
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Eastern Sierra Fly Fishing Report

Jim Stimson reports on 3.29.18

I believe we have turned the corner on winter. The morning temperatures are still crisp but it warms quickly with the sun being so high in the sky. The month of March turned out to be the “Miracle” as promised with a plethora of snow in the high country. The preliminary readings at Mammoth Pass indicate that we are close to normal for the season. This bodes well for...

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Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing Report

John Fochetti reports on 3.22.18

Pyramid Lake

The Lake continues to be inconsistent, one day it’s good the next it’s really slow. It is also being strange, on cloudy windy choppy days with low pressure it won’t fish well, then on high-pressure days with the sun out and no wind the fish are in the mood.


The water temps are still very cold, and I believe the fish want some warmer temps to get them into...

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Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing Report

John Fochetti Reports on 3.1.2018

Fishing is definitely starting to pick up! Good numbers of fish are being caught and big fish are being caught almost daily. Fish seem to be pretty keyed in on chironomids, mostly darker colors. There are still some being caught on balanced leeches. Your best bet is to fish hard, the bite is kind of sporadic so stick it out.

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Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing Report

LCO Reports on 1.4.2017

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdEGWelh6CD/?taken-by=sarah_landstrom

We had two groups of LCO Employees head up to pyramid lake. Access is limited this year but the lake is producing some great fish for those who put in the time. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdQe7cfhHly/?taken-by=sarah_landstrom

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdTrDQtn0R9/?taken-by=benenglestudio

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Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing Report

John Fochetti reports on 4.20.17

image

Fishing has been really good one day and sucked the next. The weather does not seem to be making that much of a difference. One thing I can say for sure is that it’s crazy crowded out there. Most people are fishing just a few spots. My advice would be to try a beach that doesn’t have 100 anglers on it. You will have a better chance of catching that 20 plus pounder...

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Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing

John Fochetti Reports on 2.23.2017 

With most of the west coast fishing opportunities practically non-existent, due to a crazy winter with no end in sight, Pyramid Lake has re-opened and the fishing is amazing. Currently, the beaches between Shot Dog down to the North Nets are open for recreational use. Those of you worried about the weather, remember the nastier the better! This is when your...

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