Fly fishing at Pyramid Lake continues to improve with each passing week as we reach the end of 2022. Active weather patterns have helped improve fishing conditions and should continue to do so through the first week of the new year. As fish continue to feed in areas adjacent to the shoreline, a variety of flies have fished well depending on the type of beach you are fishing. In sandy areas, flies stripped on sink tips have done very well when the fish are in. While the generality of “dark day, dark fly and bright day, bright fly” works, there are many times when bright flies with white or chartreuse incorporated work well on dark days. Tadpoles in white and chartreuse have been effective on these days when stripped along the bottom with a heavy sinking line. 

The indicator bite has varied day to day at Pyramid Lake. On the cloudy days, fish tend to stay closer to shore- resulting in a better indicator bite. On sunny days, they tend to move out into deeper water making the indicator bite slower. Depending on wave height, effective flies have changed significantly. When waves are large, Balanced Leeches have remained effective. When wave heights decrease, smaller flies tend to work better. Flies such as the Mini Jigged Leech in Diablo or any of the Holo Midge variations have caught fish in these conditions. As we inch towards 2023, the midge bite has improved and will continue to do so until April. Many fish are being caught on midges now, so it is worth making a few fly changes throughout the day to hone in on effective flies for the day.

Due to the recent storms, mudlines have formed in multiple areas along the shore of Pyramid Lake. These mudlines are the result of muddy water entering the lake as runoff from rivers and drainages that feed the lake. When a mudline forms, it limits visibility typically along the shoreline. Lahontan Cutthroat Trout tend to use the mudline as cover and feed along it as they work up or down the edge. Depending on the size of the cloud of mud, it may even corral fish in a specific way. By setting up and presenting your flies along the edge of a mudline, you put the flies in front of more fish. 

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