Pyramid Lake presents some unique challenges. The Lahontan cutthroat trout here grow large, and they can be selective. Getting your leader and tippet dialed in can make a noticeable difference in your catch rate.
The Pyramid Lake Challenge
Several factors make leader and tippet selection challenging at Pyramid Lake:
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Clear water – The size we need to use at the lake can often be seen by the fish
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Strong fish – Large fish pull hard. While not known for their endurance the LCT can make one or two solid runs into our backing. Good to choose something that you are confident will hold up when you have to lean into the fight.
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Sharp stuff - The tufa, rock and sand can be abrasive on knots and rubbing up against when getting the fish close.
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Wind – When it blows it blows. Leader material stiffness impacts how the rig will turnover at the end of your cast. Can go softer with stripping setups but a stiff but section on floating and sinking line configurations will help turn over large Pyramid Lake fly combinations.
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Varied techniques – Indicator fishing, stripping, and swinging all have different requirements for length, material and strength.
Leader Length
Sinking Fly Line: stripping fly rig on a sinking line it is best to go with a short leader. We suggest about 30-40 inches to your first fly and 24-30 inches to your second. Our thought here is It is best to have your flies at or near the bottom when retrieving and it is best if you let the sinking fly line do its work. Additionally, it is quite pleasant to have all of the energy and line speed you have generated be transferred to turnover at the end of your cast. A nice straight cast = Fast uniform sink. We recommend the RFS Pyramid Lake Stripping Leader.
For indicator fishing from shore or a ladder, 9 feet is often the best place to start. You want to suspend your flies under your indicator vertically and often you will be in the 6-12 feet of depth. Here a stiffer butt section (16 to 20 pound leader material) will help a lot. It will help transfer energy to get your flies to rollover and straighten out at the of your cast but also to have adequate diameter to keep you indicator from slipping. We recommend the RFS Indicator Leader OR the RFS Jaydactor Leader to achieve this.
Tippet Size
Here's where anglers get into trouble—either going too light and losing fish, or too heavy and not getting a bite.
The practical range for most Pyramid situations is 1X to 3X fluorocarbon.
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0X (15-16lb) – Best used as butt section to aid in turnover and securing the indicator where you want it.
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1X (10-12 lb) – Use when stripping big streamers or fishing heavy chop where stealth matters less. Provides extra insurance against break-offs.
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2X (8-10 lb) – The all-around choice for most Pyramid fishing. Strong enough to land big fish with proper technique, subtle enough for clear water.
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3X (6-8 lb) – Best for selective fish, calmer conditions, and smaller flies. Requires patience and a smooth drag, but sometimes it's what gets the bite.
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Going lighter than 3X at Pyramid is risky. These fish have the size and power to break you off quickly.
Our favorite fluorocarbon tippet material for Pyramid Lake is the Cortland Top Secret Tippet if you are looking for a similar product in strength but a bit stiffer try the Cortland XTR Leader Material.
Fluorocarbon vs. Nylon
Fluorocarbon is the better choice at Pyramid for a few reasons:
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Low visibility underwater – Helpful in clear water
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Sinks – Helps get your flies down and keeps a more direct connection
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Softer (flexible) - Fluorocarbon tends to be a bit softer than nylon due to material specs. Fluorocarbon often is stronger in similar diameters vs Nylon so it is possible to downsize and still maintain adequate breakage strength.
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Abrasion resistance – Fluorocarbon is a harder material than nylon and can withstand the sharp tufa, rock and abrasion of pulling your flies over the edge of the dropoff
Nylon works, especially at the terminal end of an indicator leader but is best saved for other waters. At Pyramid, fluoro is worth the investment. A nylon material we prefer is the Cortland Nylon Tippet.
Rigging Tips
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Check your tippet often – Wind knots and abrasion happen quickly. Re-tie frequently.
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Match your tippet to your fly size – A big #4 buggers turn over poorly on 3X; a small midge struggles on 1X.
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Use a tippet ring – Lets you replace the tippet without chewing through your leader.
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Carry multiple sizes – Conditions change throughout the day. Be ready to adjust.
A Final Word
The fish at Pyramid Lake have earned their reputation as being big and strong. Use quality fluorocarbon when needed, size your tippet appropriately for conditions, and check your knots often.
Control what you can and be the most prepared to get the job done when that bite happens!
Need help dialing in your Pyramid Lake setup? Stop by Reno Fly Shop or book a guided trip—we'll get you rigged right.
