Pyramid Lake best November since the 1930's!

[Doug O]

Pyramid Lake Fishing Report for 11/24/16

The numbers of 15 pound plus Lahontan cutthroat trout this November of 2016 at Pyramid Lake Nevada has been the biggest numbers of big fish since their extrapolation in 1939. Several double digit fish have been recorded this month. These monster trout have been caught on a daily basis. Although the numbers of fish per angler hours are a bit low, the numbers of BIG fish are very good. These fish are the reintroduced native species known as the Lahontan Cutthroat (Black Spotted Trout) or as the Tribe called them "Hoopa Agi". They now are referred to as the "Pilot Peak" strain which were discovered in 1978 and reintoduced on 2006. The other strain of cutthroat trout in Pyramid Lake are known as the "Pyramid" strain which were developed by the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and the Federal biologists. The "Pyramid" strain is a combination of Independance Lake, Summit Lake and Walker Lake cutthroat blood. They are often incorrectly called the "Summit" strain which is wrong, the Summit Lake fish are native to Summit Lake, Nevada and are a pure, clean strain in to themselves. Summit lake is a closed system (Endorheic Sysyem).
Retrieving Popcorn Beetles, Midnight Cowboy Buggers and Tui Chub patterns has been very productive. Fishing under indicators with 49ers, Chan's Bomber, CBR midges and Jerry Mc Bride's balanced leeches/minnows in black/red and Tui Chub colors have also been good.
Things are only getting better at Pyramid - A Detination fishery!
Here are just a few of the big fish from this week. Go to our "BLOG" page at www.pyramidlakeguideservice.com/blog/ for great pictures of this week!
Thanks,

www.pyramidlakeguideservice.com

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I guess they will get bigger every year.

What do they think the maximum size might be?

[Doug O]

Hi Bill,
It will probably be up to the Tui Chub populations. If they continue to prosper, the Cutts should continue to grow. Over population of the trout could effect the size growth. Everybody is waiting for the legit 30 Pounda! November has been amazing! The water is cooling with the winter storms, it is now 54 degrees in 6ft.of water which is very good for shoreline angling.
Doug O.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

What is the old recorded largest fish?

Many years ago Lake Tahoe had huge Cutthroats too.

Maybe back then the fish went back and forth between Pyramid to Tahoe.

https://www.fws.gov/lahontannfhc/tahoe_basin.html

[Doug O]

Bill,
There were two different strains of black spotted trout native to Pyramid Lake, which were later call Lahontan Cutthroat after Louis-Armand, Barron de Lahontan a French explorer. They were the "Hoopa- Agi" and the Tommo- Agi which were the Paiute names. The Hoopa-Agi entered the Truckee River to spawn for only about two months. They did not go very far up the Truckee River. They got up to and over 64 pounds. The Tommo-Agi were called "Tommies". They spawned and went as far as they could sometimes all the way to Lake Tahoe. They stayed in the Truckee RV. for up to 8 months and grew to only about ten pounds.
The lumber mills on the Truckee Rv. choked out the Truckee delta at Pyramid with tons of sawdust and with the construction of the Derby Dam in 1905 (Newlands Project) Pyramid lake dropped 82 feet. All of this along with commercial fishing for the Comstock Lode and restaurant menus put an end to the Pyramid Cutthroat Trout.

Doug O.

[Dent Man]

Doug O, I sent you a PM.

Ed

[Doug O]

The largest recorded cutthroat on hook and line was 41 pounds caught by Johnnie Skimmerhorn in 1925 at Pyramid Lake.

[Terry Thomas]

Great information. I enjoyed your report this morning on the Bob Simms radio show.

[JD]

In size perhaps but what about numbers? Seemed like pretty much a normal November with number of fish per hours angling down from past years, or do you have better data, Doug?

Of course this is also just based on personal observations but I've seen the numbers on the plants by the tribe and the Feds, and it certainly seems to indicate that while you may get a bigger fish, you will not get as many as you used to.

[Bob G]

Hi JD -

I just reread Doug's original post, line 3, and he states: " Although the numbers of fish per angler hours are a bit low". So, it appears that you both agree on this same point.

Doug - A great report!

Best, Bob