Freestone · Mixed · Northern California

West Walker River

West Walker River venue image
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A handsome freestone that comes down out of the high crest through the canyon along Highway 395, with some storage plumbing up top that shapes the summer flows.

Species

About as good as it gets

River high but settled. Fish are looking up — bigger flies, confident takes.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Ideal
13°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for brown trout
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure807% weight
  • Insect activity6512% weight
Conditions
Level
1.37 m
Water temp
13.2°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
21°C
Wind
W 15 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1017 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.1 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Western Green DrakeHatch
2
2
Flav (Small Western Green Drake)Hatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • CDFW general trout season; verify CA/NV-line rules by reach
  • Summer flows shaped by upstream storage.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

A handsome freestone that comes down out of the high crest through the canyon along Highway 395, with some storage plumbing up top that shapes the summer flows. It runs through a mix of wild and stocked water, and the rainbows and browns hold in the canyon pockets and the broader runs below. Once the snowmelt drops out it fishes nicely to attractors and a hopper-dropper, and the canyon stretch is the prettier, wilder half of it. Like its neighbors it warms by late summer, so fish it early in the year or early in the day.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • TroutLast Saturday in April → 15 November
Other water nearby · 5