Upper Coyote Reservoir

Upper Coyote Reservoir is a reservoir in Washoe County, Nevada and covers about 0.7 acres, reaches about 7.1 feet at its deepest point and holds roughly 2.3 acre-feet.

The small size of Upper Coyote Reservoir makes quiet casts and short moves more useful than carrying a pile of tackle. With little deep water in Upper Coyote Reservoir, weeds, wind, and water color can matter more than depth alone.

Fish and Baits

The fish mix here is not confirmed, so check fresh local information before choosing a target or keeping a catch; start with the cover closest to deep water, then return to productive water when light changes.

Begin with one slow bottom presentation and one moving bait, then let bites show whether fish are holding close to cover or roaming open water; cast across the point tip, then slow the bait when a good edge appears.

How to Read the Water

Do not let the deepest number control the whole day; nearby cover, firm bottom, and food usually matter more than the deepest hole by itself; test the clearest edge, then check both sides of the point.

Season by Season

In spring, start with warming banks, creek mouths, and shallow cover; summer usually pushes the better bite toward the outside weed edge or a nearby drop; fall can bring bait back to windblown points, while winter calls for smaller moves and a slower pace; try the first deep shelf after the bank, then keep a worm ready for a slower check.

A Simple Tackle Plan

A medium spinning rod, 8-pound line, a small box of jigs, a few crankbaits, and a simple bottom rig cover most situations; change depth or speed before changing every piece of tackle; try the windblown bank, then use a moving lure to search.

Record the wind, water color, depth where fish bit, and cover after a bite; those four notes are more useful on the next trip than a long list of spots that did not produce; use the same depth on the next similar feature.