Pyramid Lake's Lahontan cutthroat can be large. Although a typical day's catch will range from 14 to 18 inches, fish from 3 to 7 pounds are common. Pyramid regulars do not raise their eyebrows for fish under 8 pounds.

The lake is also extremely windy. With that in mind, the basic Pyramid Lake fly rod is an 81/2- to 10-foot, 7- or 8-weight with the backbone to throw long casts using heavy lines and to fight big fish. Some anglers use Spey rods, and any steelhead or heavy trout outfit should do.

Because of the wind, bring an 8- or 7-weight rod with enogh backbone to throw long casts with heavy lines. Even medium sized Lahontans can run for long distances so having a good reel with a solid drag is also recomended.

Although even the largest Lahontan cutthroat are doggedly stubborn in their fight and rarely run for long distances, reels with a solid drag and a good supply of backing are indispensable. Shooting heads and running line complete the ensemble, although a floating line on an extra spool can be useful. This gear should be rinsed thoroughly after use to avoid damage from Pyramid's thick, alkaline water.

Size #4-#8 Egg-sucking Leeches, Articulated Leeches, Woolly Buggers--anything buggy, sinuous, fast-sinking, and large--are the most commonly used flies. Clouser Minnows and even flies stolen from striper and bluefish fly boxes can be effective imitations of the lake's forage fish. Many anglers use a #10 foam beetle as a dropper behind their streamer. The Pyramid Lake store on Route 445 just inside the Paiute reservation boundary always has a selection of brightly colored flies, and the man who knows what works ties at a table just inside the door. I catch more fish at Pyramid on black marabou streamers than I do with all the other flies in my box.

I don't recommend using anything less than 3X tippet. I often simply use 5 to 10 feet of 0X (15-pound) tippet material as my leader, bearing in mind that these trout are rarely leader-shy and that casting big flies into the wind on a long leader can lead to diabolical tangles.

Pyramid Lake's west shore (near state Route 446 and 445) provides excellent angling opportunities and popular spots are often thronged by anglers. The east shore is more difficult to reach and is usually the best side of the lake to find both fish and solitude.

Pyramid is open from the first of October through the end of June. The months at the beginning and the end of this season can be balmy, but the middle block--from November through March--is often characterized by brutal winds, numbing temperatures above and below the beleaguered angler's waterline, and storms that turn the lake a forbidding dark green and send waves crashing into those fishermen who stay perched on their ladders. But there are fish to be caught even in the most unlikely conditions.

Layers are the key to staying comfortable and on the water: Heavyweight polypropelene underwear, fleece jackets (and possibly pants), and water-resistant wind shells combined with neoprene waders are essential (breathable waders can work if they are combined with sufficient insulating layers). Gloves and a wool hat are also indispensable. Sunscreen and polarized glasses complete the gear list.