– The main Carson River begins near the town of Genoa where the east and west forks merge and it ends at the Carson Sink beyond Fallon. Pioneers (mid- to late 1800’s) originally fished for native trout, however, Comstock mining activities, channelization, water diversions, introduction of other fishes, and overharvesting caused the demise of cutthroat trout and limited the range of mountain whitefish.
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- Region
- Western
- County
- Lyon
- Type of water
- River
Fishing Report
The Carson is in excellent shape and fishing well. Flows have come down to very fishable levels and the fish are healthy on the river. Small spinners seem to be the best bet for the carry-over planters around broken dam. Fly fisherman are finding a few larger trout on small streamers and larger nymphs. Hopper fishing should turn on with the warmer temperatures. Look for stocking to increase on the upper portions of the river over the next few weeks. Bass fishing on the lower river will continue to get better as we move further into summer.
07-01-2024
Stocking Updates
| Stocked | Species | Inches | Date Stocked | Year to Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3855 | Rainbow Trout | 9.9 | 05-24-2024 | 5918 |
| 2063 | Rainbow Trout | 9.7 | 03-20-2023 | 2063 |
| 2033 | Brown Trout | 9.5 | 03-15-2023 | 2033 |
Pertinent Information
The Carson River fishery primarily begins at Mexican Dam (adjacent to Carson City) and ends in Dayton. Some fishing does occur in the river upstream of Ft. Churchill, but it depends on the flow and water conditions. The river is considered navigable, making it accessible to the public below the average high water line. However, land upstream of Mexican Dam is mostly private and it is difficult to find public access to the river. Entrance to the river, however, occurs frequently from Carson City to Dayton with Fort Churchill State Park being about the lower end of easily accessible public land. A put and take trout fishery occurs in these areas along with large- and smallmouth bass. Channel catfish and bullheads are caught more in the lower reaches near Ft. Churchill. A canoe/raft launch site along with a handicap access-fishing platform can be found at Camp Carson Park near Lloyd’s Bridge (Carson City). There is an additional boat launch/takeout at Morgan Mill Park near the BLM office.