Topaz Lake, which is located on the Nevada-California Stateline, along U.S. 395, opened for the 2006 fishing season, one hour before sunrise on Sunday, Jan. 1.
That first day and Monday were both was on the quiet side (fishing-wise) due to bad weather conditions.
Lucille Fields of the Topaz Marina reported the Marina had all of its boats rented on Sunday, but they did not allow them to go out on the lake in the afternoon, due to the high and blustery winds and white-capped waves.
Monday, it snowed all day, and there was an accumulation of 4-5 inches of very icy snow on Tuesday morning.
There were a number of fishermen braving the adverse weather with some noteworthy results.
Shore fishermen were using mostly Power Bait or nightcrawlers, while the boaters were trolling with either silver colored flasher blades and worms or different colored Rapala lures.
Ken Kirk of Topaz Ranch Estates caught a tagged rainbow worth $500. The trout was caught from the north shore on Power Bait and a worm. His fish weighed 4 pounds, 13.75 ounces and measured 18 inches.
Kirk is a Marine from Texas, who is stationed at the Pickle Meadows Marine Base.
The largest fish (not a tagged fish) turned in on Opening Day was a 6-pound, 4-ounce (22 inches) rainbow caught by Laurie Fox of Topaz Ranch Estates. There was also a 6-pound, 2-ounce rainbow caught that same day.
Dave Richter of Placerville, Calif. won first place in the Topaz Lake Marina Derby. He caught a 2-pound, 7.15 ounce rainbow from a boat.
For information, call Chuck Fields at the Topaz Lake Marina at (775) 266-3550.