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5,562-acre lake near Washoe County. The lake tops out around 12 ft. Depth here is modeled from the true shoreline and max depth rather than surveyed; use it to plan, not to navigate. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
The drawn water covers 5,403 acres wrapped in 16.9 miles of bank. With a 1.6 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. There is no deep basin to speak of — the entire surface is under ~15 ft, prime weed water end to end. The basin spans about 6.2 mi end to end and 2.5 mi across at its widest. It sits in Washoe County. If the bite dies, Hobart Reservoir is 7 mi to the southwest.
Come spring, look for channel catfish tight to the bank in 3 to 12 ft. Through summer count on 4 to 12 ft; the winter hold is 4 to 12 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Franktown Creek inflow: an inflow / creek mouth around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Franktown Creek inflow (4 ft) | |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Old creek channel (6 ft) | |
| Fall | 4 to 12 ft | dusk | Old creek channel (6 ft) | |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Deep basin (10 ft) |
Spring puts white bass in skinny water — 2 to 12 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 4 to 12 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 12 ft. Spring white bass concentrate at Franktown Creek inflow, a prime-rated inflow / creek mouth around 4 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A slab spoon or a small topwater (schooling fish) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Franktown Creek inflow (4 ft) | Curly-tail jig (white), Small lipless crank |
| Summer | 4 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Slab spoon, Small topwater (schooling fish) |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Jigging spoon, Blade bait |
| Winter | 4 to 12 ft | midday | Deep basin (10 ft) | Jigging spoon (deep), Blade bait |
Structure-wise the chart holds 13 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 10 ft.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Nevada waters are set by the Nevada Department of Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Washoe Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Nevada fishing regulations →
Washoe Lake is about 12 ft (4 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target channel catfish, white bass on Washoe Lake.
Franktown Creek inflow is the top-rated area: an inflow / creek mouth in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in spring. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
For channel catfish, the summer bite is best in after dark and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Washoe Lake is regulated by the Nevada Department of Wildlife. Check the official Nevada regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Hobart Reservoir 7 mi · Marlette Lake 9 mi · Spooner Lake 13 mi · Virginia Lake 16 mi · Truckee River (Nevada) 17 mi · Sparks Marina 18 mi · Lake Tahoe 19 mi, CA/NV · Rubicon Reservoir 30 mi, CA · Buck Island Lake 31 mi, CA · White Rock Lake 33 mi, CA · Lake Aloha 34 mi, CA · Cascade Lakes, Upper 34 mi, CA
See how Washoe Lake stacks up: best channel catfish lakes in Nevada
More water nearby: Washoe County fishing maps (10 charts). Browse all Nevada fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.