Cast a Line into the Trout-Laden Waters of Topaz Lake this Winter

TOPAZ LAKE, Nev. (February 2023) – At 5,000 feet elevation and located just 15 minutes south of the communities of Minden and Gardnerville in Carson Valley, Nevada, Topaz Lake’s glimmering waters bring a cold-weather winter fishing experience for eager anglers after those trophy-worthy catches.

While Topaz Lake once held an annual fishing derby from January to April, the lake is now reliably stocked and open to shore and boat fishing all year long with the most trophy-sized bounties reeled in during the winter months beginning in early January. Offering water activities annually, along with endless trail systems for every-season including snowshoeing or hiking, off roading adventuring, dozens of campsites with full hookups, wildlife viewing and lodging amenities only found at Topaz Lake Lodge Resort & Casino, Topaz Lake puts visitors front and center of the action and jaw-dropping vistas of the Eastern Sierra Nevada.

Straddling the Nevada-California state line and panning a vast 2,410 acres, at 3.5 miles long and 1.5 miles wide, Topaz Lake was first dammed in 1922 to store irrigation water to support Smith and Carson Valley’s vast agricultural operations year-round. A visit to Topaz Lake is particularly invigorating during winter when most other high alpine Eastern Sierra lakes are frozen over.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) stocks Topaz Lake with several different species of trout, including rainbow trout and tiger trout, though many other types of fish naturally thrive beneath the surface, including bowcutt trout, brown trout, bullhead catfish, and Lahontan cutthroat trout. Best yet, the lake has become a small and largemouth bass destination for fishermen throughout the region. Most fish pulled from the lake average around 12 inches in length, but during its peak winter season, don’t be surprised to reel in 18-inch fish. Anglers can cast from shore with power bait, though most fishermen relish greater successes from boat fishing with the most sizable catch lingering at the top 20 feet of 92-foot depths.

Topaz Lake Recreation Area offers a year-round boat launch with two docks, campgrounds and RV spaces with full hookups, plus a marina with free fish cleaning stations and fishing licenses available for purchase. Topaz Lake honors both California and Nevada fishing licenses. To purchase a Nevada fishing license in advance of a visit, click here. For a full Topaz Lake fishing report, click here.

Topaz Lake fishing licenses can also be purchased from Topaz Lodge, located on the lake’s western edge. Stay in one of 120 beautifully appointed rooms offering unblemished lake views with easy access to restaurants, entertainment and gaming amenities.

For those adventurers preferring to stay off the water, the area boasts recreational opportunities for off-road vehicles, horseback, mountain biking and more. Pro-tip: the trails of Switchback Mountain to the west offer great views of the lake and surrounding areas.

For more information on Topaz Lake or Carson Valley, Nevada, including where to stay or what to do, visit online at VisitCarsonValley.org or call 775-782-8145.

About Carson Valley:
Nestled at the base of the Sierra, Carson Valley begs visitors to not just drive through it, but to it. Located 45 miles south of Reno-Tahoe International Airport and 12 miles east of South Lake Tahoe, the region’s natural beauty is legendary: wide-open farms, ranches, bands of wild horses and birds of prey dot the landscape. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts follow all points of the compass with more than 50+ miles of hiking, mountain biking or walking trails along with world class road biking. The valley’s museums, arts, antiquing, Basque dining, historic watering holes and more add to the destination’s authentic culture. The region includes the communities of Minden, Gardnerville, Topaz Lake and Genoa, Nevada’s first settlement dating back to 1851. Explore the land of everyday legends at VisitCarsonValley.org.

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