NAC503.504. Western Region: Applicable waters; restrictions on bait and lures.

     1. The Western Region consists of all waters within Carson City and Churchill, Douglas, Humboldt, Lyon, Mineral, Storey, Pershing and Washoe Counties.

     2. In the area of the Carson River Basin from Quilici Dam (12 miles below Dayton) above the Lahontan Reservoir downstream to and including Lahontan Reservoir, the Carson River below Lahontan Dam and all of the waters within Lahontan Valley, Churchill County:

     (a) Only Lahontan redside (shiner), speckled dace, Tahoe sucker, mountain sucker, mosquitofish, carp, tui chub, Sacramento blackfish, fathead minnows and Piute sculpin may be used as live bait fish.

     (b) Fish used as live bait may be taken only from the Carson or Truckee River Basin in Carson City or Churchill, Douglas, Lyon, Storey or Washoe county or purchased only from a dealer who is licensed in this State and authorized to sell live bait fish for use in the Carson River Basin.

     3. In the area of the Carson River Basin from the boundary between California and Nevada to Quilici Dam:

     (a) Only Lahontan redside (shiner), speckled dace, Tahoe sucker, mountain sucker and mosquitofish may be used as live bait fish.

     (b) Fish used as live bait may be taken only from the Carson River above Quilici Dam or purchased only from a dealer who is licensed in this State and authorized to sell live bait fish for use in the Carson River Basin.

     4. In the Humboldt River Basin, from Stahl Diversion Dam (near Golconda, Humboldt County) to and including Rye Patch Reservoir, the Pitt-Taylor and Chimney Reservoirs, the Humboldt River below Rye Patch Dam and all waters of the Humboldt River in Lovelock Valley, Pershing and Churchill Counties:

     (a) Only Lahontan redside (shiner), tui chub, speckled dace, Tahoe sucker, mountain sucker, Sacramento blackfish, fathead minnows and carp may be used as live bait fish.

     (b) Fish used as live bait may only be taken from the Humboldt River and its tributaries or be purchased from a dealer who is licensed in this State and authorized to sell live bait fish for use in the Humboldt River Basin.

     5. In the waters of Lake Tahoe and its tributaries located in Carson City and Douglas and Washoe Counties:

     (a) Only Lahontan redside (shiner), tui chub, Tahoe sucker, mountain sucker, Piute sculpin and speckled dace may be used as live bait fish.

     (b) Fish used as live bait may be taken only from, and must be native to, Lake Tahoe and its tributaries.

     6. In the waters of the Main Walker River from the bridge of the Southern Pacific Railroad near Wabuska downstream to and including Weber Reservoir on the Walker River Indian Reservation and the Lower Walker River down to and including Walker Lake:

     (a) Only Lahontan redside (shiner), tui chub, speckled dace, Tahoe sucker, mountain sucker, carp and mosquitofish may be used as live bait fish.

     (b) Fish used as live bait may only be taken from the Walker River Basin in Lyon or Mineral county or be purchased from a dealer who is licensed in this State and authorized to sell live bait fish for use in the Walker River Basin.

     7. The use of fish as bait, whether alive or dead, or parts thereof, is prohibited in the ponds and sloughs of the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area and the Fort Churchill Cooling Ponds.

     8. In the lower Truckee River Basin, which includes the Truckee River and its tributaries from below the I-80 bridge which is upstream from the Crystal Peak Park to, but excluding Pyramid Lake, and including Paradise Ponds, Virginia Lake, Washoe Lake and the Fernley Wildlife Management Area:

     (a) Only Lahontan redside (shiner), speckled dace, Tahoe sucker, mountain sucker, Piute sculpin, mosquitofish, tui chub, fathead minnows and carp may be used as live bait fish.

     (b) Fish used as live bait may only be taken from the Truckee River or its tributaries or be purchased from a dealer who is licensed in this State and authorized to sell live bait fish for use in the Truckee River Basin.

     9. In the upper Truckee River Basin, which includes the Truckee River and diversion ditches and tributaries above the I-80 bridge which is upstream from the Crystal Peak Park to the California state line, only artificial lures with single barbless hooks may be used. Only one single barbless hook may be attached to each hook eye or ring of the lure.

     10. The following provisions apply to all other waters in the Western Region:

     (a) The capture, possession while fishing or the use of fish as bait, whether dead or alive, or parts thereof, other than preserved salmon eggs, is prohibited.

     (b) Only artificial lures with single barbless hooks may be used in Catnip Reservoir, Hobart Reservoir, Knott Creek Reservoir, including inlet and outlet streams, Marlette Lake, including tributaries and outlet streams, and that portion of the East Walker River which is from one-quarter of a mile above the confluence of the East Walker River and Sweetwater Creek downstream to one-half of a mile below the confluence of the East Walker River and Red Wash Creek. Only one single barbless hook may be attached to each hook eye or ring of the lure.

     (c) Only artificial lures may be used in Hinkson Slough on the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Wildlife Comm’rs, eff. 1-1-81; A 12-15-81; 12-1-82; 1-2-86; 12-11-87; 5-9-88; 12-18-89; 12-13-91; 11-18-93; 11-23-94; 11-22-95, eff. 11-25-95; 11-14-97, eff. 3-1-98; R104-01, 12-6-2001; R092-05, 10-31-2005; R056-13, 12-23-2013)