– 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
Flows are excellent at the moment. Plenty of hoppers line the shore and trout are eager to eat them. We’ve finally slipped into summer flows now that it’s fall. Bass fishing has been good this summer on the river between Carson and Dayton with the increase in water. Spin fisherman using small spinners in deeper runs and in the remaining pools.
09-02-2023
Stocking Updates
| Stocked | Species | Inches | Date Stocked | Year to Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2033 | Brown Trout | 9.5 | 03-15-2023 | 2033 |
| 2063 | Rainbow Trout | 9.7 | 03-20-2023 | 2063 |
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.