Opinions, musings, ideas, pearls of wisdom
Pyramid Lake Etiquette
Pyramid Lake Etiquette
Pyramid Lake is a unique trout fishery with its own traditions and rules of etiquette. Some of these "rules" are common sense and are seen in other fisheries; however, some are unique to Pyramid Lake. Should you break these laws of etiquette you will find yourself being nicely educated by one of the veterans of Pyramid Lake. Should you ignore this instruction and continue to violate etiquette, you will attract the ire of fishermen around you and create ill will. Should you fish friendly and respect others, you will find people helpful in sharing new techniques and maybe even a secret fly.
Ladders are used for shore fishing and they rule the day. These ladders are placed in about 3 feet of water and are used as platforms to cast. They also designate a particular location as that individual's spot. Ladders are usually spaced in a line parallel to the bank about 25 feet apart. A ladder's fishing area will extend out into the lake just beyond casting distance. If a person is spin casting, this distance will be further than a person who is fly fishing.
* It is considered a breach of etiquette to squeeze your ladder between two ladders that are already properly spaced. People get up early to get their chosen spot and do not appreciate late-comers squeezing in.
* Placing your ladder farther out than the rest of the line is frowned upon. The entire line will decide to move in or out as conditions dictate. Placing a ladder farther out will generally tend to push the fish farther out. These fish are traveling parallel to the bank and when they see a ladder, person or float tube they will veer to deeper water.
* A float tuber may need to go between two ladders in order to get out into the lake to fish. This is okay if not abused. A float tuber may go out and come back between ladders in order to go out fishing and come back when finished. It is not okay to go back and forth between ladders while fishing their area, even if the ladder fishermen are taking a break on shore. It is also not appreciated when a float tuber stations themselves at the end of line and farther out than the ladder line. This is essentially just like putting your ladder farther out then everyone else's, except you are doing it with a float tube and not a ladder. It still impacts the movement of the fish which will have a negative effect of the fishing success of those fishing near you.
* A float tuber should also not fish a ladders area when the ladder person is on shore taking a break, no more than another person would place their ladder two feet from another ladder just because that person is taking a break.
* A float tuber should fish out beyond the casting range of those on the ladders. One of the worst breaches of etiquette is for a float tuber to troll parallel to the ladders inside their casting range. The ladder person may say "I can cast that far", throw a tennis ball, cast across your line, cast at you or just give you a solemn stare down with a hint of "stink eye". These are all indications that you are in serious violation.
* A float tuber should also refrain from casting into the area within the casting range of a ladder.
* If you put a ladder out into the water then fish from it. Do not drive away or start fishing from your float tube. Short breaks on shore are fine; everyone does this.
* When a trophy fish is hooked, a 10 plus-pounder, that person gets special consideration. Others will bring in their lines so as to not interfere with the lucky person's ability to bring in the fish of a lifetime. Watching a 10 pound trout being successfully landed and released is one of the best aspects of fishing at Pyramid Lake.
This list of dos and don'ts is being published as a reminder to those who fish Pyramid Lake, because our club has a good reputation with the locals and we'd like to keep it that way, so on future fishouts we will be welcome there. If you have any questions, you can call either the head fishmaster, Harry Petrakis, at 419-4245, or the Pyramid Lake fishmaster, Jim Hall, at 331-9067, and we will be glad to answer any questions you may have.
