When is walleye season in Nevada?

Nevada keeps walleye 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 size walleye can you keep in Nevada?

The Nevada size rule for walleye is No statewide minimum on listed Quality Management reservoirs. Trophy rule: NV state-record walleye 15 lb 4 oz Lahontan Reservoir 1998 (Billy Foster); Wild Horse Reservoir Northern NV's premier walleye fishery + recurring NDOW Walleye Tournament venue (3-6 lb fish routinely with 10+ lb fish landed annually); NDOW-distinctive aggressive 10 / day bag (one of country's highest walleye bag limits alongside Utah's 10 / day + New Mexico's 10 / day Rocky Mountain Quality Management — contrasts with traditional walleye-managing states ND + SD + MN + WI ship 5-6 / day with 14-15 in min trophy protection).

Do you need a license to fish for walleye in Nevada?

Yes. Nevada requires a valid fishing license to fish for walleye, 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 walleye in Nevada?

Yes. In Nevada, walleye fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; Spearfishing permitted on listed waters during ice-fishing season at Wild Horse + South Fork high-elevation reservoirs; NDOW Fishing License required ages 12+ ($40 res annual / $80 NR annual); Trout Stamp not required for walleye; Confirm current-year NDOW Fishing Regulations for reservoir-specific exceptions.

Do specific Nevada waters have different walleye rules?

Yes. 4 named Nevada waters carry rules that override the statewide walleye regulation, including Wild Horse Reservoir, Rye Patch Reservoir, Lahontan Reservoir, and 1 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Nevada Walleye 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Sander vitreus

Last updated May 27, 2026

Nevada walleye fishery is anchored by Wild Horse Reservoir (2,830-acre East Fork Owyhee River reservoir — Elko County NV — 6,300 ft elevation — Wild Horse State Recreation Area — Northern NV's most popular walleye destination) and the Northern NV reservoir chain — Rye Patch Reservoir (11,000-acre Humboldt River reservoir — Pershing County NV — Rye Patch State Recreation Area — Northern NV walleye + wiper + crappie tier) + Lahontan Reservoir (12,000-acre Carson River reservoir — Lyon + Churchill Counties NV — Lahontan State Recreation Area — NV state-record walleye 15 lb 4 oz Lahontan Reservoir 1998 (Billy Foster) — northern NV bass + walleye + wiper tier) + South Fork Reservoir (1,650-acre South Fork Humboldt River reservoir — Elko County NV — South Fork State Recreation Area — mixed trout + smallmouth + walleye tier). NDOW Quality Management on Wild Horse + Rye Patch + Lahontan + South Fork carries 10 / day no statewide minimum — NDOW-distinctive aggressive 10 / day bag (one of country's highest walleye bag limits alongside Utah's 10 / day + New Mexico's 10 / day Rocky Mountain Quality Management) contrasts with traditional walleye-managing states ND + SD + MN + WI ship 5-6 / day standard with 14-15 in min trophy protection. NDOW manages walleye as a stocked + naturally-reproducing introduced species (not a native to Nevada) — the aggressive harvest bag is intended to maintain a productive recreational fishery without protecting trophy size structure (contrasts with the trophy-management approach of Lake Sakakawea ND + Lake Oahe SD where 14-15 in minimums protect 8-10 lb trophy fish). Wild Horse Reservoir spring spawning run April – June produces 3-6 lb fish routinely with 10+ lb fish landed annually + recurring NDOW Walleye Tournament venue. NDOW stocks walleye fry + fingerlings via Mason Valley State Fish Hatchery (Yerington NV) + Spring Creek State Fish Hatchery (Spring Creek NV) — Wild Horse + Rye Patch + Lahontan + South Fork populations are self-sustaining with supplemental NDOW stocking. Open year-round statewide.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide; April – June pre-spawn through post-spawn densest fishing window on Wild Horse + Rye Patch + Lahontan + South Fork Reservoirs.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 10 / day no statewide minimum on listed NDOW Quality Management reservoirs (Wild Horse + Rye Patch + Lahontan + South Fork — NDOW-distinctive aggressive 10 / day bag — one of country's highest walleye bag limits alongside Utah's 10 / day + New Mexico's 10 / day Rocky Mountain Quality Management)
Possession: 20 in possession combined walleye + sauger

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No statewide minimum on listed Quality Management reservoirs
Trophy rule: NV state-record walleye 15 lb 4 oz Lahontan Reservoir 1998 (Billy Foster); Wild Horse Reservoir Northern NV's premier walleye fishery + recurring NDOW Walleye Tournament venue (3-6 lb fish routinely with 10+ lb fish landed annually); NDOW-distinctive aggressive 10 / day bag (one of country's highest walleye bag limits alongside Utah's 10 / day + New Mexico's 10 / day Rocky Mountain Quality Management — contrasts with traditional walleye-managing states ND + SD + MN + WI ship 5-6 / day with 14-15 in min trophy protection)

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling permitted
Spearfishing permitted on listed waters during ice-fishing season at Wild Horse + South Fork high-elevation reservoirs
NDOW Fishing License required ages 12+ ($40 res annual / $80 NR annual); Trout Stamp not required for walleye
Confirm current-year NDOW Fishing Regulations for reservoir-specific exceptions

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Nevada waters:

Wild Horse Reservoir
10 / day no statewide minimum NDOW Quality Management; Northern NV's premier walleye fishery + recurring NDOW Walleye Tournament venue (3-6 lb fish routinely)
Rye Patch Reservoir
10 / day no statewide minimum NDOW Quality Management; Northern NV walleye + wiper + crappie tier
Lahontan Reservoir
10 / day no statewide minimum NDOW Quality Management; NV state-record walleye 15 lb 4 oz Lahontan Reservoir 1998 (Billy Foster); northern NV bass + walleye + wiper tier
South Fork Reservoir
10 / day no statewide minimum NDOW Quality Management; mixed trout + smallmouth + walleye tier

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

Walleye 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 walleye season in Nevada?: Nevada keeps walleye 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 walleye?: The Nevada daily bag limit for walleye is 10 / day no statewide minimum on listed NDOW Quality Management reservoirs (Wild Horse + Rye Patch + Lahontan + South Fork — NDOW-distinctive aggressive 10 / day bag — one of country's highest walleye bag limits alongside Utah's 10 / day + New Mexico's 10 / day Rocky Mountain Quality Management). The possession limit is 20 in possession combined walleye + sauger. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size walleye can you keep in Nevada?: The Nevada size rule for walleye is No statewide minimum on listed Quality Management reservoirs. Trophy rule: NV state-record walleye 15 lb 4 oz Lahontan Reservoir 1998 (Billy Foster); Wild Horse Reservoir Northern NV's premier walleye fishery + recurring NDOW Walleye Tournament venue (3-6 lb fish routinely with 10+ lb fish landed annually); NDOW-distinctive aggressive 10 / day bag (one of country's highest walleye bag limits alongside Utah's 10 / day + New Mexico's 10 / day Rocky Mountain Quality Management — contrasts with traditional walleye-managing states ND + SD + MN + WI ship 5-6 / day with 14-15 in min trophy protection).
Do you need a license to fish for walleye in Nevada?: Yes. Nevada requires a valid fishing license to fish for walleye, 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 walleye in Nevada?: Yes. In Nevada, walleye fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; Spearfishing permitted on listed waters during ice-fishing season at Wild Horse + South Fork high-elevation reservoirs; NDOW Fishing License required ages 12+ ($40 res annual / $80 NR annual); Trout Stamp not required for walleye; Confirm current-year NDOW Fishing Regulations for reservoir-specific exceptions.
Do specific Nevada waters have different walleye rules?: Yes. 4 named Nevada waters carry rules that override the statewide walleye regulation, including Wild Horse Reservoir, Rye Patch Reservoir, Lahontan Reservoir, and 1 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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