Best Fishing Times in Nevada This Week
Near Boulder City, Reno and Elko: today on a 24 hour timeline and the next seven days rated Fair to Best.
Working out the moon and the sun for Boulder City, NV, and reading the forecast.
Fishing somewhere else? Enter any ZIP for your own spot
Photo: “Fall fishing on the Madison River at sunrise”, Jacob W. Frank, Yellowstone National Park (NPS), Public domain
Nevada at a glance
Solunar windows plus the agency calendarWhen fish bite in Nevada
Nevada's fishing year runs from spring and early summer trout at South Fork Reservoir and peak July and August fishing at Lake Tahoe to Lake Mead stripers from May to December and ice fishing at Wildhorse.
Each entry below is from Nevada Department of Wildlife or its published guides, quoted word for word and linked. Line the season up with the week above: a run in its prime and a Great day with a window at first light is the morning to take off.
- Spring to early summer
Trout
At South Fork Reservoir, spring through early summer is the most productive time for trout, and in summer the early morning hours are best.
“Spring through early summer is the most productive time for anglers catching trout; however, fish the early morning hours in summer.”
South Fork Reservoir - Nevada Department of Wildlife, Nevada Department of Wildlife, read October 9, 2026 - July and August
All species
Fishing at Lake Tahoe varies through the year, but July and August are the most productive months.
“Fishing success throughout the year varies, but fishing during July and August are the most productive times.”
Lake Tahoe - Sand Harbor - Nevada Department of Wildlife, Nevada Department of Wildlife, read October 9, 2026 - May to December
Striped bass
Striped bass are caught all year at Lake Mead, with the most productive fishing from May through December.
“Striped bass are caught all year, being most productive from May-December.”
Lake Mead - Nevada Department of Wildlife, Nevada Department of Wildlife, read October 9, 2026 - December to February
Trout
At Wildhorse Reservoir, nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, corn and Power Bait are best for trout from December through February while ice fishing.
“Lures are best for trout from May through June and mid-September through October, and nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, corn, and Power Bait during December through February while ice fishing.”
Wildhorse Reservoir - Nevada Department of Wildlife, Nevada Department of Wildlife, read October 9, 2026
Reading the Nevada timeline
Each day has two major solunar periods of about two hours, centered on the moon overhead and underfoot, and two minor periods of about an hour at moonrise and moonset. A window within an hour of sunrise or sunset is marked in gold. The rating adds the moon phase, the gold windows and a capped nudge from the National Weather Service forecast for each town. Every factor and its points.
Dawn and dusk are the reliable part; the moon windows are the old angler’s rule.
