How to Choose Flies for Pyramid Lake, Nevada

Picking the right flies to tie on is a crucial decision that will cause you to be successful, or lead to your failure to catch fish. Here are some tips that will help you in your pursuit of 20lb Lahontan Cutthroat at Pyramid Lake.

Pyramid Lake Midge Fly Fishing

For much of the winter season at Pyramid Lake using a Chironomid or "midge" fly pattern is the most effective way to catch trophy class Lahontans. This is a little strange, when you think about using such a tiny bug to convince a trout over 20lbs to feed. Since we can’t ask them, here are a couple thoughts on why they might eat midge fly patterns so well. 

The Nutrient Theory

This is my personal favorite theory for why Lahontans like midges so much. When I was guiding in Alaska, I witnessed Brown Bears doing some comical things. One that stuck with me was their foraging habits. An 800lb bear could be right next to a stream completely full of salmon, a literal All-you-can-eat buffet, and the bear would be digging around in the tundra, expertly scooping the tiny blueberries into its mouth. I am sure that the caloric expenditure of foraging those tiny berries was greater than what they gained. I asked a seasoned pilot about the behavior, and he explained to me that the bears need the micronutrients, fiber, and antioxidants in the berries. They have all the energy they need from the salmon, but their bodies require things that the salmon just don’t provide. 

I think Lahontans eating midges is a similar phenomenon. I don’t have any research or data to back it up, but it makes sense. The fish in Pyramid spend their entire existence chasing Tui Chubs around, and they crave something a little different. So when a fish eats your midge- it doesn’t mean that the fish are necessarily “keyed in” on midges- it might mean that they are sick of eating chubs, and they need the nutrients that midges provide. 

Midge Sizes

The Midge fishing is a fascinating and dominant part of winter fly fishing at Pyramid Lake. Chironomids are fairly abundant, and there’s no doubt that the fish eat them. Interestingly, the flies that are typically most effective for catching fish barely even resemble the natural Chironomid Pupae and Larvae present in the lake. The actual insects that hatch from the lake are really small. To imitate them with a fly, you would need to use a size 16-20 hook. Some anglers will go to these extremes, and occasionally, small midge patterns can be relatively productive, at least for getting strikes.

Here’s the problem- tiny midge hooks lack the strength and gap to effectively latch onto the large, hard mouths of Lahontan Cutthroat that frequently top 20lbs. It is all too common for anglers who are experienced at other fisheries to come to the lake with midges they use on local tailwaters, only to hook a giant trout for a few brief seconds, experience a few headshakes, and then dump the fish. Broken or bent hook. This is the worst type of angling failure. Simply put- if you come to Pyramid and trust normal, light wire midge hooks you use at home, you’re planning to dump the biggest fish of your trip.

Fortunately, the huge Lahontan Trout of Pyramid Lake are willing to eat midges much larger than the natural insects. For me, the sweet spot seems to be my size 10 Lahontan Midge Hook. These large midge patterns provide some key advantages- They sink faster and stay deep with a large tungsten bead, and trout can see them from farther away and take notice. This hook is absolutely deadly when it comes to converting strikes from double digit trout. Because of its shape and large gap, it readily sticks in their mouth. Its heavy wire is almost impossible to bend out while fighting a fish, unless you put way too much pressure on them. Because it's so effective at converting strikes from the biggest fish in the lake, I personally choose to use the size 10 flies most of the time- even when downsizing can be an effective way to increase the amount of strikes I get. So when is it worth downsizing? Generally speaking, as winter turns to spring, the trout get more picky and seem to lock in on smaller offerings. During stormy periods, low light, and whenever fish are actively taking bobbers down- I fish the size 10. When its calm, sunny, late season, or fishing is painfully slow- you should consider downsizing to a more imitative fly size. It's very possible to land a giant Lahontan on a small hook- it just isn't as likely as it is on the size 10 Lahontan Midge Hook. Another important thing to note- when most anglers discuss midge size at Pyramid, the most commonly used hook is the Daiichi 1760. My size 10 Lahontan midges are equivalent in length to a size 14 bug tied on the Daiichi 1760, but my hooks are so much more effective than the Daiichi. The Daiichi works, but I watch anglers fishing all around me dump a huge percentage of big fish they hook on them, when the Lahontan midge hook rarely pulls free of big fish.  If you learn one thing from this blog- let it be this: Use a hook that works well for the fish you want to catch.

Midge Color Selection

Trying to pick the right midge to tie on at Pyramid can be really frustrating. Over the last 10 years of fishing the lake, I have caught and seen fish caught on just about every color of midge you can imagine. After an immense amount of trial and error, some robust trends have emerged that seem to hold up across different seasons, water levels, and locations throughout the lake. Please understand that these are by no means hard, fast rules, and that I know other highly skilled anglers at the lake who have a totally different take on some of these ideas- but this is my framework for deciding which colors to use, when. Each of my standard patterns has a special purpose and a long history of success on the lake. There are a growing number of new fly tyers selling flies for Pyramid Lake, but few of them have ever had much actual success fishing the lake. In fact, many of them will be reading this article, trying to pick up tips on what flies to sell. Keep this in mind as you shop for flies to use at Pyramid Lake. Do you want to use flies that have been extensively designed and tested on the water, or do you want to take a chance on a hunch?

Sunrise and Sunset

Whenever you can see pink clouds, or the opposite side of the lake is illuminated by sunlight but you’re in the shade on the west shoreline, Copper beads seem to do a fantastic job at pulling fish in and getting eaten. Although just about any fly will work in these conditions because they represent peak feeding times, the Copper Wino and Redneck really stand out. I think the copper bead and wire provide more contrast in the type of flat light that barely penetrates the water column- so the fish notice them more easily at a time when they’re already excited to feed. Its a winning combination. The Redneck is the higher contrast of the two- I like fishing the Redneck over the Copper Wino when I am setting my depth to 10’ or deeper.

Bright Sun Overhead

This is probably the most common situation throughout most winters at Pyramid, and it deserves some serious thought. If you plan a trip to the lake well in advance, you’ll probably end up fishing in sunny conditions for at least part of your time. I like lower contrast flies in bright sun. The Glassy Midge and Hot Chocolate are two of my top picks. The black nickel bead on the Glassy Midge seems to disappear in bright light so the bead does not detract from the presentation of the fly. There's something about the red-brown glow that the Hot Chocolate takes on in bright sunlight that fish find irresistible. These two bugs have a fairly cohesive color profile and they get eaten relatively well in conditions that can be challenging. Additionally, if all else fails, try a Peliwhopper. The color combination and rich hues of the Peliwhopper are frequently exactly what the fish are looking for in any conditions. 

Overcast

Overcast conditions are great because the fish seem less spooky. Commonly, after a long period of sunshine, a cloud will pass overhead and bobbers start dropping. I think our flies just look more appealing to fish in darker lighting. Usually, the Peliwhopper is the standout. I have had cloudy days where the Copper Wino was best, or the Hot Chocolate- but if you aren’t sure what fly to use- tie on a Peliwhopper and forget about it.

Waves

The size and direction of waves plays an enormous role in fishing success at Pyramid. When it comes to fly selection in larger waves- just make sure you are using a fly with enough weight, and add weight to the leader. This is the reason I use relatively large beads on all of my flies. In big waves, I feel that the size 10 is almost always best. Because waves increase the surface area of the water and decrease the consistency and amount of light hitting your fly, the higher contrast copper bead flies (Redneck and Copper Wino) can be great choices, but the Peliwhopper and Hot Chocolate are still hard to beat. If you are trying to decide whether to fish copper or brown beads- drop your fly in front of you about two feet deep. If copper looks bright and flashy, you should consider fishing brown. 

Balanced Leech Fly Fishing at Pyramid Lake

We call our flies “balanced leeches” because many stillwater fisheries contain leeches and trout absolutely love to eat them. Pyramid Lake, however, doesn’t have a substantial leech population and its doubtful that many of the trout in the lake have ever eaten a real one. Balanced Leeches are a really good imitation of chub fry, if you take a close look. 1.5”-2.5” long chubs are the most vulnerable fish in the lake. Those little fish are extremely numerous, and poor swimmers. Whenever one is separated from the school, a trout can easily pick it off. So my take on why our balanced leeches work so well is that they represent an offer to the fish that is too good to be true- a size and profile the fish has eaten thousands of times, and it's just subtly wiggling in the water column, right there in front of them. Why not eat it? 

Leech Color Selection

Overall, I have spent less time fishing leeches at Pyramid than I have spent fishing midges. Unfortunately, Leech color selection seems to be driven more by random, localized preferences of fish than midge color selection. That being said, here are some trends that I have noticed- 

Fall

In the fall (October to December) at Pyramid, Trout are just migrating back to the shoreline after spending 6 months in deep water chasing Tui Chub bait balls. Chub fry are still very active, and the water temperature is 50-60 degrees. I've noticed that lighter colored leeches work especially well at this time. Some of my favorites for imitating chubs are the Damsel and Gray. My new pattern, the Deep Fake, is a great choice at this time as well, especially in the lighter colors. While these light colors are a pretty solid bet any time in the early season, I will usually pair them with a very dark, high contrast fly, and adjust my fly selection based on fish preferences. Other notable mentions for fall fishing are Black/Chartreuse, Peacock, and Canadian Brown. 

Winter/Spring

Once we round the corner into January, the Leech bite can become sporadic and confusing. In general, winter fish seem to take leeches as more of an attractor pattern- they can sometimes produce fish on days where midges just don’t. They tend to fish especially well right next to rocks and structure, where Lahontans presumably have more of an ambush reflex upon seeing something with a baitfish profile. Additionally, color preferences shift toward darker and warmer colors. I still use the Gray and Damsel leeches at times, but usually only on brighter, calm days. Black, Midnight Cowboy, Canadian Brown, Burgundy Brown are great choices. When it comes to leech fishing, I think it's really important to have confidence in the color that looks best to you. I have individual customers that swear by almost every one of my color patterns during winter at Pyramid. Rather than changing colors of leeches constantly, pick a couple leeches you like that look good on the specific day and lighting, and stick with them for a few hours. If it doesn’t work, it might just not be a leech day. 

Retrieving Flies at Pyramid Lake

When it comes to stripping or retrieving flies on a full sinking/shooting head line, my experience has taught me that the movement and presentation are much more important than the physical appearance of the fly. When retrieving a fly along the sandy bottom of the lake, it's an attempt to trigger an automatic response in the predatory cutthroat. Their instincts tell them that small objects that try to flee, albeit weakly, are what they should chase and eat. This means that you can catch fish at Pyramid stripping virtually any fly along the bottom. So why use a foam beetle, or more specifically, a Cyclops Beetle? The way Cyclops Beetles with a sturdy upper lip (which is supported by the eye glued securely on top of the foam) move when retrieved keeps them just off the bottom- so it is avoiding a lot of the small rocks and snags that cause lost flies and dull hooks that miss strikes. When you do a hard strip and pause- the Cyclops pops up and the tail flutters in an enticing kick. Lahontans find it hard to resist. There are select areas on the lake where you can get away with stripping wooly buggers, and other streamers- but you will lose a lot of flies at many of the most productive locations for big fish. Even in those locations, its been extremely rare to find that any other retrieved fly outfishes a Cyclops in a meaningful way. They move really well, they cast far easily, resist fouling, and have a ridiculously sharp and strong hook that will last for dozens of toothy fish. What it boils down to- The Cyclops Beetle is a fly designed for practical reasons. It does everything I need it to without having anything get in the way. I typically fish two of them in tandem. A white one in front, and a black one trailing 6-9’ behind. If you don’t separate them by at least 6 FEET, you’re better off just fishing one fly. Lahontans love to chase the front fly. If you trail a second fly three feet behind, you will frequently spook or snag the fish when the rear fly bumps into them right before they are about to strike. 

Thanks for reading! To purchase any the flies discussed in this post and more, visit my Pyramid Lake Flies page by clicking here.