It’s a fishing day

Pyramid Lake fishing conditions · Nevada

Now until 5 pmCutthroat trout

The bite peaks at 82.

Log a trip here
Right now: 82 for cutthroat trout, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Cutthroat trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 821 pm
  2. 82
  3. 82
  4. 824 pm
  5. 68
  6. 68
  7. 687 pm
  8. 68
  9. 68
  10. 6810 pm
  11. 68
  12. 68Sun
  13. 681 am
  14. 68
  15. 68
  16. 684 am
  17. 68
  18. 68
  19. 687 am
  20. 68
  21. 68
  22. 6810 am
  23. 68
  24. 68
  25. 681 pm
  26. 68
  27. 68
  28. 584 pm
  29. 58
  30. 58
  31. 687 pm
  32. 68
  33. 68
  34. 6810 pm
  35. 68
  36. 68Mon
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Cutthroat trout range 39–62°

Wind
5 mph

From the east

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:49 pm

Sky
Mostly Sunny

No rain expected

Air
54°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe regulations for these waters.

Cutthroat Trout

Cutthroat trout

Oncorhynchus clarkii

82Worth the tripNow until 5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Cutthroat trout bite in 39–62° water, best near 54°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 1–25 ft down.

Keep

17" minimum · 2 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Pyramid Lake is managed by the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe — a tribal permit (not a Nevada license) is required, and only barbless hooks are allowed. Lahontan cutthroat trophy slot: keepers must be 17–20" or over 24"; everything under 17" and the protected 20–24" slot must be released. Daily limit 2 fish, no more than one over 24". Trout season October 1–June 30; bait is not allowed. Sacramento perch: 10 a day, all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Sep–Jun. More on cutthroat trout

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.24 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:49 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:35 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:20 pm–4:20 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:00 pm–12:00 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:50 am–6:50 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Nevada Dept. of Wildlife has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

A 125,000-acre desert terminal lake on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation north of Reno — the premier fishery for the giant Lahontan cutthroat trout, a strain that routinely tops 10 lb and historically exceeded 40. Anglers fish from shoreline ladders and drop-offs through the cool months for trophy cutthroat and Sacramento perch.

Tribal water: a Pyramid Lake Paiute permit is required (not a Nevada license); barbless hooks only. Trophy slot — keepers 17–20" or over 24". Season Oct 1–Jun 30.

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Lake Tahoe (Nevada)66 mi · NevadaBest now until 5 pm
72Worth the trip
Feather River (Oroville)115 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pm
70Worth the trip
Folsom Lake121 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pm
86Go
Sacramento River (Red Bluff)139 mi · CaliforniaBest today 3 pm–5 pm
84Worth the trip
Shasta Lake159 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pm
76Worth the trip
California Delta (Sacramento–San Joaquin)169 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pm
70Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Pyramid Lake?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Pyramid Lake you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Pyramid Lake?

Pyramid Lake is listed on this site for 1 commonly-targeted species: Cutthroat Trout. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Pyramid Lake?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Pyramid Lake against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Pyramid Lake have?

Pyramid Lake has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location. Tribal water: a Pyramid Lake Paiute permit is required (not a Nevada license); barbless hooks only. Trophy slot — keepers 17–20" or over 24". Season Oct 1–Jun 30.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Pyramid Lake?

state agency regulations apply at Pyramid Lake. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Pyramid Lake tidal water?

No. Pyramid Lake is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.