Native Fish-slam
The Native Fish-Slam is intended to excite and inspire fishermen to catch Nevada’s native sport fish. Six native species occur throughout central and northern Nevada including Lahontan, Bonneville and Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, Redband Trout, Bull Trout and Mountain Whitefish. Click here to use our FishNV tool to plan your own Native Fish Slam adventure. By participating in this program, we hope that you will gain an appreciation for Nevada’s native sport fish and help support recovery, preservation, and management efforts by NDOW. Anglers completing this program will receive a certificate and customized hat.
- Fish must be taken legally from Nevada waters. Review current regulations regarding harvest of fish. Fish include: Lahontan, Bonneville and Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, Redband Trout, Bull Trout and Mountain Whitefish.
- A photograph of the fish must be provided.*
- There is no time limit for completing the Native Fish-Slam Program, but an entry form must be submitted within 60 days of the fish being caught (NDOW will maintain records and will track your progress as you complete the slam).
- No weight or length measurements are required to enter.
- A certificate and custom hat will be awarded once all species have been entered.
- An angler may complete additional, consecutive Native Fish-Slams, however, fish for a succeeding slam cannot be caught and entered within one month after the preceding slam is finished and awarded. The same rules apply for entering into subsequent Native Fish-Slams. Only a certificate will be awarded for additional Native Fish-Slams completed.
- Anglers are encouraged to also submit fish into the Nevada Trophy Fish Program if it meets the minimum weight qualification (must complete a Nevada Trophy Fish entry form).
- NDOW has the right to accept/reject/disqualify any entry form submitted. Any decisions made by the NDOW Trophy Fish Committee (Fisheries Chief, Regional Fisheries Supervisor and Staff Sport Fish Coordinator) are final.
- *All photos and stories submitted will be used in NDOW publications, agency website, social media, and will become property of NDOW.
- You can submit entries with photos to:
- NDOWFisheries@NDOW.org
- Fisheries Division
Nevada Department of Wildlife
6980 Sierra Center Parkway, Suite 120
Reno, Nevada 89511
(775) 688-1569
Trophy Fish
Think you caught a big one? If so, it may be large enough to enter into the Trophy Fish Program. For various fish found within the state, there are minimum weight requirements for acquiring a Trophy Fish Certificate (see entry form). Just weigh and measure your fish —if it meets the weight requirement, snap a picture, complete the entry form and then mail it to NDOW. Each pond, lake or stream in the state also has a water record for every species. These do not require a minimum weight, but must to be the heaviest fish caught from that body of water. Catch one of these fish and you could receive a Water Record Certificate. To participate, complete the entry form.
- Fish must be taken legally from Nevada waters.
- The weight of the whole fish is to be taken before freezing.
- The fish’s length is to be measured from tip of nose to tip of tail.
- Measurements must be witnessed by two other persons, at least one of whom is not a relative of the angler entering the contest.
- The angler must provide positive means of identifying the species of fish by including an adequate photograph.*
- Entry must be made within calendar year of date caught to be included in that year’s contest.
- If the fish being entered is a possible Nevada State Record, the fish must be weighed on a scale which has been certified as accurate. The fish must be witnessed by an NDOW employee.
- An entry form must be submitted within 60 days of the fish being caught. To be considered for the Trophy Fish Book, all entries must be submitted by January 31.
- *All photos and stories submitted will be used in NDOW publications, agency website, social media, and will become property of NDOW.
- You can submit entries with photos to:
- NDOWFisheries@NDOW.org
- Fisheries Division
Nevada Department of Wildlife
6980 Sierra Center Parkway, Suite 120
Reno, Nevada 89511
(775) 688-1569
First Fish
Catching your first fish is a big deal. Talk to any fisherman or fisherwoman and no matter how long ago it was, they can almost always tell you the story of the first fish they caught. Whether it was a camping trip with family or out on a boat with grandpa, that memory always holds a very special place. NDOW wants to help commemorate that moment with its First Fish Award. With this new program, NDOW will present the new fisherman or fisherwoman with a personalized “First Fish” certificate and a collectable enamel pin. The thrill of catching their first fish is sure to get them hooked for life.
- Fish must be the first fish the applicant has caught and must also be caught in Nevada.
- Fish must be taken legally from Nevada waters. Review current regulations regarding the harvest of fish.
- A photograph should be provided of the angler posing with the fish at the water where it was caught.*
- An entry form must be submitted within 60 days of a fish being caught.
- No weight or length measurements are required to enter this program.
- Only one certificate per angler will be awarded.
- Anglers are also encouraged to submit fish to the Nevada Trophy Fish Program if it meets the minimum weight qualification (A separate Nevada Trophy Fish entry form must be completed).
- *All photos and stories submitted will be used in NDOW publications, agency website, social media, and will become property of NDOW.
- You can submit entries with photos to:
- NDOWFisheries@NDOW.org
- Fisheries Division
Nevada Department of Wildlife
6980 Sierra Center Parkway, Suite 120
Reno, Nevada 89511
(775) 688-1569
