Reports From The Water

Pyramid Lake Fishing Report | October 2025

Report by Capt. Nate Kelsch (Big Nate) Nate Kelsch runs Big Nate's Guide Service and makes an annual first-week-of-October trip to Pyramid Lake. He is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Nate Kelsch (Big Nate)'s tackle. What is working right now Pyramid Lake was on fire for the October 2025 opener. Capt. Nate Kelsch and crew put 105 Lahontan cutthroat trout in the boat, with 20-plus fish in the teens and some to 23 pounds. They vertical-jigged 1 to 3 ounce P-Line Laser Minnows and Sierra Spoons over fish stacked from 40 to 80 feet. Use the new Big Nate rod for the fight. How is the fishing at Pyramid Lake right now?Lights out. Nate reported 70 to 90 fish a day, and the best day hit 105 Lahontan cutthroat to the boat in five to six hours. Quality was incredible, with 20-plus fish in the teens and up to 23 pounds. Nate called it his best day in 20 years. What depth are the fish holding at Pyramid Lake?The cutthroat were stacked from 40 to 80 feet, with marks littering the graph from 50 down to about 80 feet inside bait balls. Pull up over the top of active fish and drop your jig into that zone to stay on them. What lures work at Pyramid Lake?Nate jigged 1 to 3 ounce P-Line Laser Minnows in Wonderbread and Sierra Spoons, plus triple-style jigs built for vertical presentations. These are competitor jigging spoons and minnows, not Catch America products, but they hammered the stacked cutthroat all day. How do you jig for Pyramid Lake cutthroat?Pull up over the top of the fish, drop the jig to the right zone, and let it flutter down. The fish usually hit on the flutter on the way down, then you lift and let it flutter again. All barbless hooks, no scent, staying right on top of the bait balls. What rod is Nate using at Pyramid Lake?The brand new Big Nate Catch America Kokanee and Trout Trolling Rod. Nate fought fish on it all day and showed off how deep it bends into these heavy cutthroat. It was his favorite rod of the trip. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Nate Kelsch (Big Nate)): We are jigging for these fish. We're using anything from 1 ounce to 3 ounce P-Line Laser Minnows, Sierra spoons. We're pulling up over the top of these fish, dropping, letting it flutter down. Generally, these fish are going to hit on the flutter on the way down. We ended our day with 105 fish to the boat. Pyramid Lake October 2025 FAQ What depth are the cutthroat at Pyramid Lake?Stacked from 40 to 80 feet, with marks from 50 down to about 80 feet inside bait balls. What technique works at Pyramid Lake?Vertical jigging. Pull up over the fish, drop the jig, and let it flutter down. The fish hit on the fall. What color was best at Pyramid Lake?A Wonderbread P-Line Laser Minnow accounted for fish in this report. What is the keeper limit at Pyramid Lake?Two fish per day: two from 17 to 20 inches, or one from 17 to 20 inches and one over 24 inches. Do you use scent at Pyramid Lake?No. Nate fished barbless hooks with no scent, relying on the jigs and vertical presentation. How big do the fish get at Pyramid Lake?Nate landed 20-plus fish in the teens and up to 23 pounds on this trip, calling it his best day in 20 years. Who guides Pyramid Lake for Catch America?Capt. Nate Kelsch (Big Nate) of Big Nate's Guide Service. Shop the Tackle Big Nate's Kokanee & Trout Rod Shop Big Nate's Tackle Shop Trout Gear