Topaz Lake fishing season to open Saturday, Jan. 1

By Don Quilici

Topaz Lake, which is located on the Nevada-California Stateline, along U.S. 395, will open for the 2005 fishing season, one hour before sunrise on Jan. 1. That season will remain open through Sept. 30.

Weather permitting, if you would like to participate in that opener, here is some information that might be helpful to you:

To reach Topaz Lake: Take U.S. 395 south from the Carson City area for about 40 miles.

Once you're there, fish from shore, a float tube (kind of cold at this time of the year!) or a boat.

From shore: Your best locations to catch fish will be along the north end or along the highway side of the lake.

If you are a bait fisherman, try Power Bait or nightcrawlers, fished on the bottom.

If you spincast, try lures such as Daredevils, TOR-P-DO's, Kastmasters, Mepps, Super Dupers.

From a float tube: Spincast with the lures listed above or fly fish with small flies such as Hares' Ears, Prince Nymph or Stone Flies. Be sure to dress warm!

From a boat: Try trolling along the shoreline on the far side of the lake or near the rocky point by the Douglas County Campground.

Slowly troll with silver flasher blades plus nightcrawlers or with small lures such as a black/gold or black/silver, No. 5 Count-Down Rapala.

If you're a lazy-type boater, you might want to anchor your boat and fish on the bottom on the south end of the lake, near the mouth of the West Walker River. Try Power Bait or nightcrawlers.

At Topaz Lake: You'll have the chance to catch some German brown trout and mostly rainbow trout, up to about 5 pounds.

Typically, the average fish will be a rainbow, up to about 1-1.5 pounds.

Special Note No 1: The lake limit is five trout, 10 mountain whitefish and 15 warmwater game fish, of which not more than five may be black bass. The area within the jetties of the Topaz Marina is closed to fishing.

For information, call Chuck or Linda Fields of the Topaz Lake Marina at (775) 266-3550 or the Topaz Lodge at (775) 266-3338.