Carson River fishing

Carson River fishing is stocked with Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout on a river section. Also recorded: Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, and Bullhead. It is stocked about 4.8 times a year since 2022, most often in March and April. Species guides list dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, and Largemouth Bass, dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout, and dusk and night for Channel Catfish.

Carson River
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Last stocked
September 17, 2026
· Rainbow Trout
Plants on record
24
Since 2022
Species stocked
2 (+4 also recorded)
Average size
9 in
Elevation
4,593.9 ft

Fish at Carson River

2 stocked · 4 confirmed present

Rainbow Trout Stocked · 14 plants · last September 17, 2026 Best: dawn, dusk

Last stocked September 17, 2026 · avg 9.1 in · 14 plants

Best: dawn, dusk

Rainbow Trout species guide
Brown Trout Stocked · 10 plants · last April 22, 2026 Best: dawn, day, dusk

Last stocked April 22, 2026 · avg 8.9 in · 10 plants

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Brown Trout species guide

How Carson River is stocked

Source: Nevada Department of Wildlife.

Baily Fishing Pond (4.8 mi) and Wilson Common Pond (10.5 mi) were stocked more recently. Baily Fishing Pond is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Wilson Common Pond is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Fish stocked in 2022

13,981

Fish stocked in 2023

9,123

Fish stocked in 2024

18,017

Fish stocked in 2025

14,268

Fish stocked in 2026

11,113

Stocking history

Source: Nevada Department of Wildlife.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
September 17, 2026Rainbow Trout2,04610 inreport
April 22, 2026Brown Trout3,0149.6 inreport
April 1, 2026Brown Trout3,0179.3 inreport
March 16, 2026Rainbow Trout3,0369 inreport
October 6, 2025Rainbow Trout2,0769 inreport
June 18, 2025Rainbow Trout2,0339.7 inreport
April 1, 2025Rainbow Trout2,0139.2 inreport
April 1, 2025Brown Trout3,0039.6 inreport
March 5, 2025Brown Trout3,0909.1 inreport
March 5, 2025Rainbow Trout2,0538.9 inreport
October 14, 2024Rainbow Trout2,0308.5 inreport
May 24, 2024Rainbow Trout3,8559.9 inreport
May 8, 2024Rainbow Trout2,0259.4 inreport
May 8, 2024Brown Trout3,0109.6 inreport
April 2, 2024Brown Trout3,1139.6 inreport
March 6, 2024Rainbow Trout3,9849.1 inreport
October 24, 2023Rainbow Trout1,0308.5 inreport
August 18, 2023Rainbow Trout1,9767.8 inreport
August 7, 2023Brown Trout2,02110.3 inreport
March 20, 2023Rainbow Trout2,0639.7 inreport
March 15, 2023Brown Trout2,0339.5 inreport
May 27, 2022Brown Trout10,0452.5 inreport
May 26, 2022Brown Trout1,9399.7 inreport
March 23, 2022Rainbow Trout1,9979.2 inreport

Access and facts

Water type
river section

NDOW's trout water runs from Mexican Dam at Carson City down to Dayton. The river is public below the high-water line, but land above Mexican Dam is mostly private. Camp Carson Park near Lloyd's Bridge has a canoe and raft launch and an accessible fishing platform.

Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.

View larger map · Open in Google Maps · Directions

Advisories, closures, regulations and water conditions change. Check the Nevada Department of Wildlife before you go.

About Carson River

Photo of Carson River
Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0

Nearest lakes

Baily Fishing Pond 4.8 mi last stocked October 1, 2026 American Flat Wash 8.1 mi last stocked May 12, 2026 Hobart Reservoir 9.1 mi last stocked July 2, 2025 Washoe Lake 9.2 mi last stocked May 29, 2025 Wilson Common Pond 10.5 mi last stocked October 1, 2026

Common questions

What fish are at Carson River?

Fishing Carson River usually means Rainbow Trout: Rainbow Trout accounts for 14 of 24 plants on record, ahead of Brown Trout. Rainbow Trout was last stocked September 17, 2026, averaging 9.1 in. Brown Trout was last stocked April 22, 2026, averaging 8.9 in. Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, and Bullhead are recorded here outside the stocking reports.

When is Carson River stocked?

Last stocked September 17, 2026. It is stocked about 4.8 times a year since 2022, most often in March and April.

How big are the fish stocked at Carson River?

Stocked fish average 9 in. Rainbow Trout average 9.1 in. Brown Trout average 8.9 in.

How do you get on Carson River?

NDOW's trout water runs from Mexican Dam at Carson City down to Dayton. The river is public below the high-water line, but land above Mexican Dam is mostly private. Camp Carson Park near Lloyd's Bridge has a canoe and raft launch and an accessible fishing platform.

Which lakes near Carson River were stocked more recently?

Baily Fishing Pond (4.8 mi) and Wilson Common Pond (10.5 mi) were stocked more recently. Baily Fishing Pond is also stocked with Rainbow Trout and Wilson Common Pond is also stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Sources (3) +