About the East Walker River

When you take in consideration the size, quantity of fish, accessibility to the water and the beauty of the surroundings, the East Walker may be one of the best trout waters in California.  It passes through the town of Bridgeport which is located about 85 miles south of Lake Tahoe on Hwy 395 that runs along the east slope of the Sierra. 

It’s formed by the conjunction of Green Creek and Robinson Creek that flow off of the east slope of the Sierra and meet in Bridgeport Valley.  The river flow is also enhanced by numerous springs.  After passing through the valley it flows into Bridgeport Lake. 

At the outlet of the lake it begins flowing through a canyon and is paralleled by Hwy 182 to just past the California/Nevada border.  It’s the section between the lake and the California/Nevada border that offers the fishing that has made the California portion of the East Walker famous. 

After passing into Nevada the gradient decreases and the river meanders through the desert  for several miles until it merges with the West Walker near Yerington, Nevada and eventually flows into Walker Lake.  The first ten miles of the Nevada section can have some excellent fishing particularly in the spring when the waters are warmer than they are upstream in the Bridgeport area.

The first mile of the river between the dam and the Hwy 180 bridge crossing, is known as the miracle mile.  The water characteristics are predominately deep pools (close to the dam) and long runs and flats.  Some of the largest fish come out of the pools and the flats which are most productive for dry fly fishermen in the evenings.  Access is good in this section as there are a few dirt roads that will take you near the water’s edge.  

The water downstream from the Hwy 180 bridge takes on more of a freestone characteristic though the gradient is still relatively gradual.  There you will find both deep runs and areas with protruding rocks that create currents that define holding lies for the fish.  There are turnouts all along this eight mile section where you can park and access the water. 

Being that it is a tailwater, a significant volume of the bugs in the water are derived from Bridgeport Lake meaning that chironomidges (midges) are very plentiful.  The other common aquatic bugs are Golden Stoneflies (May & June), Little Yellow Stones (June & July), Caddis (June through early September), Pale Morning Duns and Pale Evening Duns (late June through July), Blue Wing Olive/baetis (spring and fall). Midges/chironomidges (all year) and Hoppers (July, August & September).

The time of the year can be important when fishing the East Walker.   Though water can get low and warmer later in the summer, fish from the more placid Nevada section of the river often move up into the more freestone and oxygenated California section.  In the winter the fish are more likely to be in the deeper and slower sections.  Flows can be very low in the winter and spring but once agriculture gets going in Nevada, water flows are increased to fit that need.