EAST PEAK LAKE TROUT FISHING
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NEARLY ALPINE COUNTY TROUT FISHING
Catch-and-Release Flyfishing at East Peak Lake, Nevada
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EAST PEAK LAKE (ACROSS THE NEVADA BORDER FROM ALPINE COUNTY)
OK, East Peak Lake is NOT in Alpine County, in fact it's not even in California! But as the crow flys, it's only 3/4 mile from the Alpine County/California border, and it's a hoot to fly fish! At 8,600 ft. elevation, East Peak is within the Heavenly Ski Resort permit lands. The lake is actually a dammed reservoir, originally built back in the 1870s as a water source for log flumes down to the Carson River sawmills. The dam was rebuilt and the lake deepened in the late 1980s, to serve as water storage for Heavenly's winter snowmaking system. Heavenly manages East Peak as a Trophy Trout Fly Fishing Catch-and-Release water, stocking it with big fiesty Rainbows from 2 lbs to 8 lbs! You drive to the lake via gated dirt roads, then fish from Bellyboats or from the guide's inflatable raft. When I fished in close to the dead lodgepole pines, I began to envision Bass fishing, fly casting over submerged logs next to trees and limbs. The Rainbows would whack my fly and head straight for the deadfalls to break me off. Pretty soon I was using 3X tippet and horsing them out of that shoreline brush. Great fun! When a hatch occurs, the fish spread out across the lake, and can be taken on much smaller tippets and flies. Although it's expensive to fish East Peak Lake, it's a blast, and a great place to take someone whom you want to get hooked on fly fishing!
You may click on either of these pictures to see larger, high-quality versions
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- East Peak is not open to the Public: You must contact Victor Babbitt at Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters to arrange a fishing trip here. He has the exclusive rights to guiding at East Peak Lake, and limits the number of anglers.
- Victor's Phone: (530) 541-8208 FAX: (530) 541-8270
- Click on either for Victor's e-mail or Victor's Website.
- Fly Fishing Only! Open June 1st through October 31st.
- Cost for guided fishing ranges from $250 per day (1 fisherman per guide) to $150 (3 per guide) including lunch. Half-day trips are available too!
- For Trout Fishing Junkies, a limited number of Season Passes are available.
- You need a Nevada fishing license (one-day non-resident license is $12).
- At 8,600 ft., you need SPF 30 sunscreen and a hat!
- Fisher-Babe (above) not included!
Photos courtesy of Tahoe Flyfishing Outfitters. . . .last
Updated 4/18/00
Created by Dennis
Morgan (Click on my name to send me email)
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OK, East Peak Lake is NOT in Alpine County, in fact it's not even in California! But as the crow flys, it's only 3/4 mile from the Alpine County/California border, and it's a hoot to fly fish! At 8,600 ft. elevation, East Peak is within the Heavenly Ski Resort permit lands. The lake is actually a dammed reservoir, originally built back in the 1870s as a water source for log flumes down to the Carson River sawmills. The dam was rebuilt and the lake deepened in the late 1980s, to serve as water storage for Heavenly's winter snowmaking system. Heavenly manages East Peak as a Trophy Trout Fly Fishing Catch-and-Release water, stocking it with big fiesty Rainbows from 2 lbs to 8 lbs! You drive to the lake via gated dirt roads, then fish from Bellyboats or from the guide's inflatable raft. When I fished in close to the dead lodgepole pines, I began to envision Bass fishing, fly casting over submerged logs next to trees and limbs. The Rainbows would whack my fly and head straight for the deadfalls to break me off. Pretty soon I was using 3X tippet and horsing them out of that shoreline brush. Great fun! When a hatch occurs, the fish spread out across the lake, and can be taken on much smaller tippets and flies. Although it's expensive to fish East Peak Lake, it's a blast, and a great place to take someone whom you want to get hooked on fly fishing!
