Nevada’s Desert Hides 710 Square Miles of World-Class Fishing

Quick Take

• One Nevada fishing spot holds a species found nowhere else on Earth, and most anglers have never heard of it. Discover the Cui-ui fishery →
• One of these spots requires no Nevada fishing license, though you'll still need a permit that most people don't know exists. See the Tribal permit details →
• The desert state's most underrated trophy fishery enforces rules that ban most boats and most hooks, and those strict restrictions are exactly why it produces giants. Explore the trophy trout rules →
• One spot on this list doubles as a family campground with an amenity so unexpected it almost doesn't belong near a fishing hole. See the family amenities →

You may think of Nevada as mostly desert, but the state is covered by over 710 square miles of water. Nevada has many lakes, reservoirs, and rivers that are fish-friendly. If you’re hoping for trophy fish, as long as you know where to look, you may find the fish that will give you bragging rights for years. However, where should you wet a line first? Check out some of the best fishing spots in Nevada.

1. Knott Creek Reservoir

Situated in the remote Pine Forest Mountains in northwestern Nevada, Knott Creek Reservoir has over 200 surface acres and a maximum depth of 24 feet. Knott Creek has a reputation as a trophy trout fishery. The reservoir is stocked with rainbow trout, brook trout, and tiger trout. This is a great spot if you want to fly fish from the shore or use a float tube. Motorized boats are prohibited unless they are electric, and only artificial lures with a single, barbless hook are permitted. Primitive camping is available near the shoreline, and the dark skies in this remote location are perfect for stargazing.

2. Lake Mead and Lake Mohave

With over 290 square miles of surface area, it’s no surprise that the Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a popular fishing spot. Lake Mead is known for its striped bass, with some catches weighing over 40 pounds. Target fish also include rainbow trout, largemouth bass, catfish, sunfish, smallmouth bass, and crappie. The lake is regularly stocked with rainbow trout near Willow Beach. Lake Mead and Lake Mohave are connected by a 67-mile stretch of the Colorado River. The Hoover Dam marks the line where water flows from Lake Mead into the upper end of Lake Mohave. You can catch striped bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and rainbow trout in Lake Mohave’s clear, shallow waters.

3. Eagle Valley Reservoir

If you’re looking for a family-friendly fishing spot with tons of amenities, look no further than Eagle Valley Reservoir in Spring Valley State Park. There are fire pits, pristine bathrooms, campsites, showers, shade ramadas, and even a library. You’ll be able to sit on the shoreline or fish off the dock. Anglers can fish year-round for rainbow, brown, and tiger trout, as well as largemouth bass and black crappie. Ice fishing is also popular when the winters are cold enough.

4. Lake Tahoe

The Nevada side of Lake Tahoe is a great place to fish for lake trout (Mackinaw), rainbow trout, brown trout, cutthroat trout, and kokanee salmon. The U.S. Forest Service recommends fishing from a boat in deep water or shore fishing where the shoreline drops off quickly. Popular spots from the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe include Zephyr Cove, which is a great place for launching a boat, and Cave Rock and Sand Harbor State Park, which both offer shoreline access. Rainbow trout are also stocked from both locations.

5. Pyramid Lake

Pyramid Lake spans 125,000 acres, which makes it one of the largest natural lakes in the state. The lake is a world-class trout fishery known for producing the world’s largest Lahontan cutthroat trout. It’s the only spot in the entire world where you can find the elusive Cui-ui fish. Anglers can also fish for the Tahoe sucker fish, Tui chub, and Sacramento perch. You won’t need a Nevada fishing license, but you will need a Tribal fishing and/or boating permit. You can visit the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe’s website for current regulations and to purchase a permit.

6. Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge

The Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge includes 9,000 acres of spring-fed marshes, channels, ponds, and other wetlands. Nestled in Ruby Valley in northeastern Nevada, the waters divide into the North and East Marsh Units and Dikes, which are generally restricted to shoreline or dike fishing only, and the South Marsh/Ruby Lake, which is an open water area with boat ramps. There are also small ponds along the west side of the refuge open for bank fishing year-round. Target fish in the refuge include largemouth bass, as well as rainbow, tiger, brown, brook, and cutthroat trout.

7. Truckee River

The Nevada stretch of the Truckee River is known for its world-class wild trout waters. As it runs through Reno and into the desert, anglers can fish for rainbow, cutthroat, and brown trout, as well as mountain whitefish and largemouth bass (in lower sections). Fly fishing and spin fishing are both popular techniques in the Truckee River. Areas near Idlewild Park in Reno, as well as Verdi and Mogul west of Reno and Sparks east of Reno, offer easy access to the river.