Hobart Reservoir to open for 2012 fishing season

Hobart Reservoir, a small, high-mountain reservoir, located at an elevation of 7,600 feet in the mountains between Carson City and Lake Tahoe, will open for the 2012 fishing season on May 1.
Because of its high elevation and location, this reservoir is normally covered with ice, and surrounded by deep snow drifts, when it opens on May 01.
However, this year is entirely different, ice and snow-wise. It will remain open to fishing through September 30.

Hobart Reservoir is owned by the State of Nevada, and used as an important water source for Carson City. Its dam was completed in the late 1800’s, and rebuilt in the 1950’s after it was washed out.
The reservoir has a surface size of about 10 acres, a maximum depth of about 15 feet and contains good populations of brook trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and cutthroat hybrid cross-breeds.
Hobart Reservoir is closed to vehicle access.
It is part of the Nevada State Park System at Lake Tahoe, so you will have to hike, bike or ride a horse to get there.
To reach Hobart, take the dirt road in Ash Canyon (on the west side of Carson City) to a chain across the road near the summit of the mountain. That chain marks the boundary of the Nevada State Park vehicle-prohibited area. From the chain, it is about a one-mile hike, downhill, to the reservoir.
However, remember that it will be about a one-mile hike, UPHILL, back to where your vehicle is parked. You’ve been forewarned.
Hobart is best when fished from a float tube or small, inflatable raft in the very early morning hours or the very late afternoon/early evening.
Its fishing hours are one hour before sunrise to two hours after sunset.
The limit is five trout, only one of which may be longer than 14 inches.
Fishing is restricted to artificial flies or lures with a single barbless hook.
You must possess a Nevada fishing license and a Nevada Trout Stamp.
Hobart Campground is a five site primitive facility with picnic tables, grills, and a vault toilet. If camping overnight, store your food in bear-proof containers to avoid having an unexpected visitor during the night.
Also, if camping overnight, you would be wise to take extra warm clothing and good quality sleeping bags due to the high altitude.
Anglers would be advised to wait until after the latter part of May or early June to fish there, and they would also be well advised to keep an eye out for an occasional black bear, while hiking in that area.
Be sure to take your digital camera and be prepared to get some outstanding photos of Carson City from way up on the mountain side, plus photos of the very scenic location where Hobart Reservoir is situated.
With some luck, you could also get photographs of some of that area’s wildlife including Black Bears, Coyotes, Mule Deer, Mountain Lions, Chipmunks, Squirrels, Blue Grouse, Hawks, etc.
And, if you are a serious hiker, you could hike up the steep, dirt road to the west that leads to nearby Marlette Lake. However, don’t plan to keep any of the fish from that lake, as it is a catch and release fishery.
For information, call the Nevada Department of Wildlife Headquarters in Reno at 688-1500 during regular business hours.