– 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 have been hovering around 150cfs and fishing has been excellent this summer. Trout have been stocked several times around broken dam and should continue to see supplemental stocking until flows really drop and temperatures climb. For now, fishing should remain very good above Carson for trout and below Carson for bass. Bait fisherman drifting salmon eggs, trout power worms, and crawlers should produce fish until flows plummet. Spin fishing with small spinners has been good in any water deep enough that you can stay off the bottom. Fly fisherman using tight line nymph methods has been productive in the pocket water and deep seems.
07-09-2025
Stocking Updates
| Stocked | Species | Inches | Date Stocked | Year to Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3855 | Rainbow Trout | 9.9 | 05-24-2024 | 3855 |
| 2063 | Rainbow Trout | 9.7 | 03-20-2023 | 2063 |
| 2033 | Brown Trout | 9.5 | 03-15-2023 | 2033 |
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.