Rules
Those who enter the tournament are not exempt from the reservation regulations and must carry permits for all recreational activities. Participants are also subject to the United States Coast Guard water safety regulations. This is a two-day tournament and contestants can enter one fish each day in the weigh-in with a minimum of 24 inches. In the case of a tie, the earliest fish weighed is the winner. The weigh-in location is at Crosby Lodge and prizes go to the top 20 finishers. The annual tournament is usually in the second or third week of April.
Prizes
The prizes are subject to change each year but the top 20 finishers are eligible for a prize. In 2009, the winner took home a 2008 Crestliner fishing boat with a 20-horsepower marine motor and trailer. The remaining 19 finishers shared $10,000 in cash and prizes. Although prizes are different each year, the winner typically receives a generous award and the other finishers receive prizes relative to their standing in the tournament.
Fishing the Lake
Contestants with knowledge of Pyramid Lake and the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout have a major advantage in the competition. April is the false spawn for the trout, and anglers can catch large fish from a boat or by wading on the flats. Boat fisherman are successful when trolling or casting lures along the shelves at the edge of each flat, while wading anglers can cast lures or fly-fish with sinking or floating lines. Wading anglers can have steady action as the trout chase schools of baitfish into the shallow flats. It is also possible to cast into deep water off the rocky points when the flat fishing is slow.
Article Written By Zach Lazzari
Zach Lazzari is an outdoor writing specialist. He has experience in website writing as well as standard newspaper writing. He wrote an outdoor column for the Silver World in Lake City, Colo., and articles for Colorado-mountain-adventure.com. Lazzari is currently completing his bachelor's degree online through Arizona State University and lives in southwest Montana.
