The late Roger Teglia convinced the Washoe County Commissioners, along with raising some money on his own, to purchase the land where Virginia Lake now sits. With the help of the Civilian Conservation Corps, Virginia Lake was created in 1937 specifically for fishing. Water enters the lake via Cochran Ditch and exits through a screened, submerged storm drain. From here, water drains into Boynton Slough, then Steamboat Ditch, and eventually the Truckee River. The pond sits within Virginia Lake Park, which is managed by the City of Reno. Fish stocking by the Nevada Department of Wildlife probably started from its inception, but since 1951, rainbow trout have been the primary species stocked.
- Region
- Western
- County
- Washoe
- Type of water
- Lake or Reservoir
Fishing Report
Fishing will slow considerably at Virginia Lake with the winter and ice. Look for stocking to begin again this spring.
11-22-2023Stocking Updates
| Stocked | Species | Inches | Date Stocked | Year to Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 930 | Cuttbow | 9.6 | 10-02-2023 | 930 |
| 1022 | Rainbow Trout | 9.5 | 10-02-2023 | 2017 |
| 995 | Rainbow Trout | 9 | 06-08-2023 | 995 |
| 800 | Channel Catfish | 4.5 | 06-07-2023 | 800 |
Pertinent Information
Virginia Lake is 12 feet deep when full and covers 24.5 surface acres. The game fish stocked routinely in the lake include rainbow trout, brown trout, and bowcutt trout (rainbow x cutthroat hybrid). Channel catfish, largemouth bass, and black crappie also exist, and if you like to fish for carp, this lake has some big ones. The state record carp came from Virginia Lake in 2020. Cormorants congregate at the lake and feed heavily on trout, which must be stocked late in the year to reduce predation. Bait fishing for trout has been best using nightcrawlers or Power Bait, but throwing small spinners or spoons also produces fish. On occasion, large channel catfish have been caught using chicken livers or nightcrawlers.