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Hobart Reservoir is a small man-made lake nestled in the Spooner Backcountry above Carson City, Nevada. The lake is 10 surface acres in size and has a maximum depth of 15 feet and located at an altitude of 7,642 feet.
The reservoir was created in 1877 by the Virginia & Gold Hill Water Company to provide water to the then booming mining towns of Virginia City and Gold Hill in Storey County, Nevada. The reservoir dams Franktown Creek. Water from Marlette Lake can be transferred to Hobart Lake via a tunnel. The water system was purchased by the State of Nevada in 1963 and has since been operated by the Nevada Public Works Division. In 1995, the earthen dam was rebuilt. The water system is now known as the Marlette Lake Water System. The system currently supplies raw water to Carson City and Storey County.
The reservoir takes its name from Hobart Creek, a tributary of Franktown Creek which, in turn, was named after H.S. Hobart. The confluence of Hobart Creek and Franktown Creek is just above the reservoir.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife has developed the lake into an excellent sport fishery. The reservoir has a self-sustaining population of brook trout. Their population is kept in check by regular stocking of tiger trout, a brown trout x brook trout sterile hybrid. The lake is also regularly stocked with rainbow trout.
Notice
The dam is expected to undergo major renovations in 2026 to address "significant risk" of failure issues. This will require closure of the fishery and nearby trails. The reservoir to be drained. It will take many years for NDOW to rebuild the fishery. So fish it soon!
Fly Fishing Technics
Hobart Reservoir can be fished from the bank, while wading, or afloat. As is common with alpiine lakes, fishing afloat is the most productive. I've had many 50+ days (even half days) while fish afloat. Wading can be fairly productive as well. Bank fishing is the least productive but is still quite good.
Dry fly fishing can be quite productive, especially in the mornings and evenings. The dry fly bite will typically wane during the middle of the day. Streamer and bobber fishing will then be the ticket. A "hopper-dropper" setup can be quite productive.
Shore Tactics
Shore fishing is generally limited to the dam and surrounding areas. However, recent undergrown clearing efforts have expanded this to portions of the east shore. Try dry flies along the shore's edge, keeping low and casting parallel to shore, working up and down the shore line. If the sun is up high, try streamers deep from the dam. Use a relatively fast sinking line to get your streamer down. Or, sit down and bobber fish.
Jan fishing a streamer from the dam
Wading Tactics
The best wading area is the east shore as it fairly shallow. For dry fly fishing, work the shoreline. That is, wade out 20 feet or so and then turn around. Toss your fly to the shore, working your way up and down the shoreline. If you see rises, toss to them. Work shaded areas and wind lines as well. For streamer and bobber fishing, you can just wade out enough to make casting easy.
Floating Tactics
For dry flies, I recommend generally casting to shore's edge and rising fish. But work the weed beds, especially gaps between beds and/or the shore. Also, work any visable submerged structures, like various submerged boulders near the dam. Focus on areas where there's nobody fishing from the shore or whilst wading.
For streamers, I recommend fishing an appropriate sinking line or sink tip to get your streamer down to a suitable depth. Excepting in the most shallow areas of the lake, I try to get my streamer 3' to 5' down, so a slow sinking line will do. The really big fish are typically 10-12' down by the dam, so here you might resort to a full sink line.
For nymphing, I recommend fishing 30-40 feet out from the shore with two flies 12"-18" apart under a bobber. I suggest starting with bottom fly at about 5' deep. And then adjust up and/or down to get in the zone. Generally, an occasional twitch of the line will trigger a take.
Nick casting while afloat on Hobart Reservoir
Jeff coming back in after a morning fishing from his paddleboard
The spillway creek is fun to fish as well... when it has water
Equipment Selection
Rod, Reel, Line, Leader, Tippet
If you plan on mostly dry fly fishing afloat or while wading, I recommend a 3wt rod with floating line with 9' 5X tapered monofilament trout leader. From shore, I recommend going with 5wt setup with a 4X leader. The 5wt will extend your casting distance and the 4X will help you pull fish through the weeds or your fly out of a bush.
If you plan to mostly wet fly fishing, I recommend using a 5wt. For streamer fishing, I recommend either using a sinking line or a sink tip or sinking leader. Use only 1' to 2' of 3X or 4X tippet to connect your streamer to your sinking line, tip or leader. More tippet will significantly reduce the amount of sinking achieved. If fish are eating near the surface you can get away with a floating line as long as your fly is weighted. For bobber fishing, a floating line with a 4X 7.5 to 9' trout leader will do just fine.
Miscellaneous Fishing Gear
A spool of tippet, a pair of scissor/pliers, a small box of flies, and a small net is sufficient.
For Shore Fishing
For shore fishing, you can truly go down light.
For Wading
Generally those wade fishing wear breathable chest waders.
Equipment for Fishing Afloat
I recommend a reasonably lightweight float tube with backpack harness, breathable chest waters, rubber sole boots that you can hike in, over-the-boot fins, and your PFD. But to each his own. I have friends that choose to use inflatable paddle boards or kayaks.
Sue and Kurt on trail with their float tubes
Fly Selection
Pretty much anything you throw will work. I usually just show up with my Eastern Sierra Fly Box but here are a few of my favorites for this fishery.
Dries
#14-16 Stimulators in different colors
#16-18 Black Ants
#14-18 Elk Hair/Deer Caddis in different colors
#14-18 CDC mayfly adults and emergers
#16-22 (or even smaller) midge and trico patterns
Steamers
Wooly Buggers / Worms
Leech patterns
Oatman's Brookie
Sheep Creek Specials
Soft hackles
All relatively small.
Nymphs
Pheasant Tail
Hare's Ear
Copper Johns
Rickard's A.P. Emerger
Rickard's Callibaetis Nymph
Zebra and other midge patterns
Damselfly patterns
Balanced leaches
All #14 or smaller.
Hatch Chart
Fishing Regulations
On Hobart Reservoir and tributaries, as well as on Franktown Creek downstream to Red House, are subject to special regulations. In particular, only artificial lures may be used. Bait, including artificial bait, cannot be used. While 5 trout may be taken, only two may be tiger trout. Fishing times are from1 hour before sunrise to 2 hours after sunset. The fishing season starts on 1 May and runs through 31 October.
Even when one chooses to harvest a fish, it is typical to release some of the many fish you'l be catching. I encouraged everyone to fish with single barbless hooks and only keep those fish which, if released, are likely to die.
Hike-in campsite at Hobart
Camping at the Lake
A small improved walk-in only campground can be found on the north side of the lake by outlet stream. There you will find multiple tent sites, each with a picnic table, a fire ring, and a bear box. There is no garbage service at the lake. Pack it out!
Pit toilets are available in the campground.
Dispersed camping is not allowed anywhere within the park boundaries, including the Ash Canyon Road－ Hobart Reservoir trailhead parking area. However, dispersed camping is allowed within the adjacent Humboldt－Toiyabe National Forest.
Fire Restrictions
The Spooner Backcountry typically has fire restrictions in place through out the year and, once summer starts, are elevated. It is best to simply never start a fire... or even create a spark.
Access
From the Ash Canyon Road
Hobart Reservoir can be accessed using the Ash Canyon Road － Hobart Reservoir trail. To reach the trailhead, drive up Ash Canyon Road from Carson City. This road will turn to dirt as it enters open space managed by Carson Parks and Open Space. The road climbs up through the open space and into the Humboldt－Toiyabe National Forest. The road offers great views of Carson City and beyond.
After 4.5 miles of dirt, you'll reach the marked trailhead parking area just before the gate blocking private vehicle access. From the parking area, you have two choices: the moderately steep "cut-off" trail down to Franktown Creek Road or walk down the remainder of Ash Canyon Road to Franktown Creek Road. The former is a 3/4 of a mile hike to the lake, the latter is 1 mile walk. If carrying a float tube, the road is a better choice. In either case, once you hit Franktown road, turn left (west) to reach the lake. On the way out, don't miss your turn otherwise you'll end up in Lakeview.
Ash Canyon Road up to the trailhead is steep and slow going. While AWD vehicles can make it, high-clearance 4x4 vehicles are recommended. Use of low range gearing is recommended on the return trip to avoid overheating your brakes. The road is steep! Please note that the vehicle traveling downhill should give way to those traveling uphill. In heavy winter years, the road may not be passible until June and will be gated a mile or so up the hill. Also note that trailers are not allowed on this road.
The Carson City's Ash Canyon Open Space is a popular recreation area with plenty of hikers, runners, and bicyclists. Share the road!
Ash Canyon Road
From the Lakeview Trailhead
This trail is currently closed!
The reservoir can also be accessed on foot, bike, or horse using Franktown Creek Road from the Lakeview area of Carson City. The trailhead is located at the western end of Hobart Road at the edge of the Humboldt－Toiyabe National Forest. Limited parking is available. Please note that some parking is reserved for horse trailers. From the trailhead, the lake is nearly 5 miles up the hill. It is moderately steep and offers great views of the Washoe Valley.
Access by other trails
These trails are currently closed!
Hobart Reservoir is a popular spot for those on multiple-day hikes through the Spooner Backcountry. The Lake can be accessed, in addition to the above trails, by using trails from Red House and Marlette Lake.
This article was authored by Kurt Zeilenga. Suggestions on how to improve this article may be sent to info@ztrout.org.
Additional Reading
Backcountry Fly Fishing Essentials by Kurt Zeilenga
Eastern Sierra Fly Box by Kurt Zeilenga
Marlette Lake Water System, American Society of Civil Engineers
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