Lahontan this week

[karl_l]

I had some time off from work this week and decided to hit up Lahontan. Did two morning trips, and one evening one. The morning trips were by far more productive, with a bunch of small catfish and 9 wiper + 2 small mouth all biting before about 11 AM when fishing died. The evening trip produced two small wiper and a tiny small mouth. Fish came on a silver lipless crankbait, worms sitting on the bottom, and worms suspended about 8' down with a slide bobber.

Question to anyone out there who knows Lahontan: I would like to try to catch some minnows for live bait out there. I am completely new to this since I moved here from Utah last year where live bait is illegal. Does anyone have some pointers as to how/where to get started, or if it is worth my time to try to catch bait fish out of there? Thanks
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[FISHAMANIAC801]

Karl -- Get yourself a castnet from Cabelas or Basspro preferably a 5 or 6ft and hit the inlet and outlet !! Ive spanked the redsided shiners-baby carp-suckers and chub out of both spots.. Theres plenty of info on how to use them on youtube and if your hesitant about them pick up a couple minnow or crawdad traps instead and put dry dog or catfood in pantyhose and wire em down inside them.. Try and place them in the deeper holes of the river or the tailrace of a shallower hole []
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[BillyH]

I grew up in Fallon and always found fishing Lahontan to be hit or miss but there are some big fish in there. I know a lot of people fish near the damn and also on the silver spring side where the river comes in. Live bait is always a good way to fish but i havent known anyone that fishes it enough to help. I caution you not to eat anything out of there though, the mercury content in the water and fish is a little high.

If you want some good LMB and trout action i would recommend going 20 minutes South and hit up Mason Valley just over the hill south of silver springs near the power plant. We were there about a month ago and pulled in about 12-15 3 to 4 lb trout and a couple good sized LMB. Message me and I will give you the scoop on where they hide.
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