Independence lake is a true sierra jewel, but what really distinguishes it is its unique Lahontan cutthroat trout fishery. The history of the Lahontan cutthroats goes back about twelve thousand years, to when a huge body of water, Lake Lahontan, covered much of northwestern Nevada and parts of California and Oregon. A subspecies of cutthroat trout, now known as the Lahontan cutthroat, evolved to survive in the slightly alkaline conditions that developed as the warming climate turned Lake Lahontan into just a handful of smaller lakes, including modern-day Pyramid, Walker, and Summit Lakes in Nevada. Because Lahontan cutthroat trout require flowing water for spawning, populations of Lahontans also inhabited the upper drainages of the prehistoric Lake Lahontan watershed, including the Truckee River and Lake Tahoe. The damming, pollution, and dewatering of these spawning waters, as well as overharvesting and the introduction of competing species, such as brook trout and brown trout, very nearly exterminated the Lahontans.
Today, Lahontan cutthroat trout exist in Pyramid Lake only because they are stocked there, and the Lahontan cutthroat is now listed as a threatened species. Independence Lake, high in California’s Truckee River drainage, is one of only two remaining lakes in the world that have native populations of self-sustaining, spawning Lahontans. The opportunity to catch one of these wild fish would be a fine reason to visit Independence Lake. But the scenic nature of the lake and its surrounding forest, now carefully managed by The Nature Conservancy as the Independence Lake Preserve, is an added attraction. While there, you may hook a native mountain whitefish or small kokanee salmon, too. Catching a brook trout or a giant brown trout is also a possibility, but they are slowly being removed to give the native Lahontan cutthroats a chance to repopulate the lake.
The coloration of Lahontans is quite variable, even within a given body of water, and sometimes a Lahontan cutthroat is mistaken for a rainbow trout. But there are no rainbows in Independence Lake. Lahontans are distinguished from rainbows by the rounded black spots all over both sides of their bodies, including their heads, abdomens, and tails. In addition, the red-orange “slash marks” that give the cutthroat species its name are usually visible under the throat. The Lahontan cutthroat trout strain in Independence Lake is smaller and arguably more feisty than today’s stocked Pyramid Lake Lahontan cutthroats. Be prepared for smashing streamer grabs and 8-to-20-inch-plus fish when the bite is on.
About the Lake
Independence Lake sits at an elevation of 6,952 feet and is located about a 30-minute drive northwest of Truckee. It is 2.4 miles long and half a mile wide, with nearly 6 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 145 feet. On the rare days when the wind is not disturbing the surface, the bottom is visible down to about 25 feet. It is not an exaggeration to describe Independence as a very scenic place. The lake is a natural body of water, originally two lakes separated by wetlands that formed one larger lake when a small dam was built in 1939. Firs and pine trees ring the lake, complemented by a backdrop of frequently snow-capped mountain peaks, featuring 9,144 foot-high Mount Lola to the west.
