Topaz Lake

Topaz Lake straddles the California–Nevada line at about 5,000 feet in Antelope Valley, an off-stream reservoir of about 1,800 acres fed from the West Walker River. It is known for big stocked rainbows and some browns, and either a California or a Nevada license, with Nevada's trout stamp for a Nevada license, is good on the whole lake.

Fall through spring is the season that counts, when the rainbows cruise the shore and take leeches, woolly buggers and chironomids from a boat or float tube; summer warms the water and pushes them deep. The wind off the Sierra can build quickly. Under Nevada's rules the lake is open all year, from one hour before sunrise to two hours after sunset, and the water inside the Topaz Marina jetties is closed.