When is brown trout season in Nevada?

Nevada keeps brown trout open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What is the Nevada bag limit for brown trout?

The Nevada daily bag limit for brown trout is 5 / day combined trout (Trout Stamp required); East Walker River NV-portion 2 / day with 14 in min Quality Management. The possession limit is 10 in possession combined trout. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

Do you need a license to fish for brown trout in Nevada?

Yes. Nevada requires a valid fishing license to fish for brown trout, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Nevada license — compare resident and non-resident Nevada fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for brown trout in Nevada?

Yes. In Nevada, brown trout fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; Live bait permitted on most NDOW waters; restricted on East Walker River NV-portion (artificial-fly-and-lure-only); NDOW Fishing License + Trout Stamp required ages 12+ ($40 res annual / $80 NR annual + $10 res/NR Trout Stamp); Confirm current-year NDOW Fishing Regulations for reservoir-specific exceptions + reciprocal compact rules (CA/NV East Walker + Lake Tahoe + Topaz).

Do specific Nevada waters have different brown trout rules?

Yes. 5 named Nevada waters carry rules that override the statewide brown trout regulation, including East Walker River, Lake Tahoe, Truckee River, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Nevada Brown trout 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Salmo trutta

Last updated May 27, 2026

Nevada brown trout fishery is anchored by the East Walker River (Lyon County NV — below Bridgeport Reservoir CA tailwater downstream to Topaz Lake NV — country's premier eastern Sierra wild brown trout tailwater) + Lake Tahoe (191 sq mi natural lake on CA/NV line — Washoe + Carson + Douglas Counties NV — naturally-reproducing wild brown trout to 8-12 lb routinely on streamers + sculpin patterns) + the Truckee River (Washoe County NV — Lake Tahoe outflow through Reno NV to Pyramid Lake — naturally-reproducing wild brown trout populations). The East Walker River NV-portion (joint CA/NV management — CDFW + NDOW) carries 2 / day with 14 in min Quality Management + artificial-fly-and-lure-only on listed reaches — wild brown trout to 5-10 lb routinely on streamers + sculpin patterns during late-September through November fall-spawning-run. Wild Horse Reservoir (Elko County NV — 2,830-acre East Fork Owyhee River reservoir — 6,300 ft elevation) carries the Northern NV reservoir brown trout fishery alongside stocked rainbow + walleye. The Owyhee River (Elko County NV — drains into Wild Horse Reservoir + ID-portion further downstream) carries wild brown trout populations + connects to the Idaho Owyhee Wild & Scenic system. NDOW stocks brown trout fingerlings + catchables via Mason Valley State Fish Hatchery (Yerington NV) + Spring Creek State Fish Hatchery (Spring Creek NV) — wild self-sustaining populations are protected from hatchery genetic introgression on listed Quality Management reaches. NV state-record brown trout 27 lb 5 oz Cave Lake 1984 (Dennis Mangum — Cave Lake is a small alpine reservoir in the Schell Creek Range east of Ely in White Pine County, one of the larger brown trout state records in the inland West). Open year-round on most waters.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round on most waters; East Walker River + Lake Tahoe + Truckee River wild-brown-trout-fall-spawning-run late-September through November densest fishing window on streamers + sculpin patterns.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 5 / day combined trout (Trout Stamp required); East Walker River NV-portion 2 / day with 14 in min Quality Management
Possession: 10 in possession combined trout

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 14 in min on East Walker River NV-portion Quality Management; no statewide minimum elsewhere
Slot: East Walker River NV-portion 2 / day with 14 in min Quality Management + artificial-fly-and-lure-only on listed reaches
Trophy rule: NV state-record brown trout 27 lb 5 oz Cave Lake 1984 (Dennis Mangum — a small alpine reservoir in the Schell Creek Range east of Ely, White Pine County — one of larger brown trout state records in the inland West); East Walker River NV-portion country's premier eastern Sierra wild brown trout tailwater (wild brown to 5-10 lb routinely on streamers + sculpin patterns during fall-spawning-run); Lake Tahoe naturally-reproducing wild brown to 8-12 lb on streamers

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling permitted
Live bait permitted on most NDOW waters; restricted on East Walker River NV-portion (artificial-fly-and-lure-only)
NDOW Fishing License + Trout Stamp required ages 12+ ($40 res annual / $80 NR annual + $10 res/NR Trout Stamp)
Confirm current-year NDOW Fishing Regulations for reservoir-specific exceptions + reciprocal compact rules (CA/NV East Walker + Lake Tahoe + Topaz)

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Nevada waters:

East Walker River
Trout 2 / day with 14 in min Quality Management (joint CA/NV management); artificial-fly-and-lure-only on listed reaches; wild brown to 5-10 lb routinely on streamers + sculpin patterns during fall-spawning-run
Lake Tahoe
Trout 5 / day combined under CA/NV joint compact; naturally-reproducing wild brown trout to 8-12 lb on streamers + sculpin patterns
Truckee River
Trout 5 / day combined; naturally-reproducing wild brown trout populations alongside remnant Lahontan cutthroat
Wild Horse Reservoir
Trout 5 / day combined; reservoir brown trout fishery alongside stocked rainbow + walleye
Cave Lake
Trout 5 / day combined; NV state-record brown trout 27 lb 5 oz Cave Lake 1984 (Dennis Mangum) — a small alpine reservoir in the Schell Creek Range near Ely, White Pine County; Trout Stamp required

Official source

Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) publishes the authoritative 2026 Nevadafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

Visit official Nevada fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Brown trout closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Nevada Department of Wildlife's emergency-order feed — check it before any Nevada trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is brown trout season in Nevada?: Nevada keeps brown trout open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the Nevada bag limit for brown trout?: The Nevada daily bag limit for brown trout is 5 / day combined trout (Trout Stamp required); East Walker River NV-portion 2 / day with 14 in min Quality Management. The possession limit is 10 in possession combined trout. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size brown trout can you keep in Nevada?: The Nevada size rule for brown trout is 14 in min on East Walker River NV-portion Quality Management; no statewide minimum elsewhere. Slot limit: East Walker River NV-portion 2 / day with 14 in min Quality Management + artificial-fly-and-lure-only on listed reaches. Trophy rule: NV state-record brown trout 27 lb 5 oz Cave Lake 1984 (Dennis Mangum — a small alpine reservoir in the Schell Creek Range east of Ely, White Pine County — one of larger brown trout state records in the inland West); East Walker River NV-portion country's premier eastern Sierra wild brown trout tailwater (wild brown to 5-10 lb routinely on streamers + sculpin patterns during fall-spawning-run); Lake Tahoe naturally-reproducing wild brown to 8-12 lb on streamers.
Do you need a license to fish for brown trout in Nevada?: Yes. Nevada requires a valid fishing license to fish for brown trout, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Nevada license — compare resident and non-resident Nevada fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for brown trout in Nevada?: Yes. In Nevada, brown trout fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; Live bait permitted on most NDOW waters; restricted on East Walker River NV-portion (artificial-fly-and-lure-only); NDOW Fishing License + Trout Stamp required ages 12+ ($40 res annual / $80 NR annual + $10 res/NR Trout Stamp); Confirm current-year NDOW Fishing Regulations for reservoir-specific exceptions + reciprocal compact rules (CA/NV East Walker + Lake Tahoe + Topaz).
Do specific Nevada waters have different brown trout rules?: Yes. 5 named Nevada waters carry rules that override the statewide brown trout regulation, including East Walker River, Lake Tahoe, Truckee River, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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