Fly fishing at Pyramid Lake has been fantastic through the middle of March and should only increase in productivity through the end of the month and into April. With the constant barrage of storm systems for much of the winter, water temperatures at Pyramid Lake have remained low. As a result, cruising fish have not been seen in as many numbers as this time last year. Fortunately, fishing has picked up in the last few days and fish have been caught in increasingly shallow water. When fishing rocky beaches, the indicator setup has produced good numbers of fish and even a few large fish in the 15 lb+ range. Chironomid and midge patterns have been very effective in a range of sizes and colors. Balanced Leeches continue to fish in low light conditions either before sunrise or after sunset within the legal fishing time. If the waves grow and make fishing a Holo Midge difficult, a Balanced Leech is a great substitute since it is a bit heavier. Leeches have a bigger profile and tend to work better in the stormier conditions.

While the standard Holo Midges (Albino Wino, 49er, Black/Copper, Brown/Red) have caught plenty of fish, this is the time of year where you can get creative with your midge color combinations. We have multiple new beadhead colors available in the shop such as Metallic Brown, Metallic Red, Metallic Purple, and Chartreuse to spice up your own midge box. Additionally, adding a wing, shuck, or gill to the midge can be effective as well. Adding materials such as Krystal Flash or Glo Brite can help the fly stand out in the water. Swing by the shop and we’d be happy to help you upgrade your midge game.

The strip bite at Pyramid Lake has also hit stride with many Summits and Pilots showing up on shallower beaches. As the trout begin to school up and work the shoals of Pyramid Lake, flies such as the Mopcorn Beetle and the Midnight Cowboy are great choices throughout the day. Stripping flies on a sinking line allows an angler to present the fly across a greater range of depths as compared to indicator fishing. 

This technique is especially effective when fish are roaming flats in 5-10’ of water. Since there is no significant ledge or dropoff on these beaches, the fish aren’t restricted to a specific area. With warmer temperatures approaching, algae and vegetation will begin to grow on the bottom of the lake. When this happens, switch over to two floating flies like the Booby fished in tandem with a Beetle. This helps to keep the flies elevated off the bottom of the lake and reduces snagging on the lake bottom. If the issue persists, try lengthening your leader slightly until your flies stop snagging bottom. 

Flies we Suggest: Pyramid Lake Beetle, Mopcorn Beetle, Pyramid Lake Bugger, Micro Midge, Holo Midge, Balanced Leech, Mini Jig Leech