Elko County Fish Reports

Very little change here as fishing for trout has been fair to good at Zunino. The water level is low, which should have the fish concentrated, though anglers may have to walk through some mud in areas to reach the shoreline.  PowerBait, nightcrawlers, and dark spinners with some red or yellow accents seem to be working.  Brown or olive nymphs as well as red copper

Fishing has been good at the collection ditch.  The water is clear and levels are good.  Small spinners and minnow imitations were producing some fish for spin fishermen, but fly rodders were doing better.  Fly rodders should be using hare’s ears, pheasant tails, prince nymphs, midge patterns, eggs and egg sucking leeches.  On warmer afternoons, there has been some small mayfly and midge hatches so

Very little change at Wildhorse Reservoir.  The dock is in the water for boaters to use at the State Park boat ramp. Fishing has been good with fish averaging 14 to 18 inches with the occasional 20+ inch fish coming in.  Anglers report success all along the state park shoreline, Hendricks arm, Penrod and north to the last cove before the canyon to the dam. 

Due to a damaged outflow structure, the lake has completely drained.  Barrick Gold is working on repairing the outflow valves of the dam with the expectation that we may be able to capture some moisture later in the spring.  

The road to Wilson is very rough, so take it slow.  The lake is spilling, barely, but it is spilling. The surface water temperature is in the mid to high 50’s, clearing up, and fishing for trout has been fair to good.  The same techniques and presentations that work at South Fork should work here.

The lake is ice covered and the road to Angel Lake is closed.  There will be no more fishing reports until late next spring or early summer depending upon winter conditions.  NDOT’s website projects a May 15 date for having the road open as long as the weather cooperates.

Wipers and bass are showing up in the creel as the surface water temperatures move into the low to mid 50’s.  Anglers report catching trout along the northeast side of the lake between the campground and the dam.­ The trout being caught were averaging between 16 and 20 inches with a number of them coming in over 20 inches. The south end of the lake

Fishing has been fair to good at the collection ditch depending upon the day and the experience of the angler. The water is turbid, so for the most part sight fishing is out.  Small spinners and minnow imitations were producing some fish for spin fishermen, but fly rodders were doing better.  Fly rodders should be using hare’s ears, pheasant tails, prince nymphs, midge patterns, eggs

At last report, the ice was receding providing open water for fishing, but the majority of the lake was still ice covered.  Fishing the  open water had been productive for fly fishermen using nymphs, chironomids and stripping buggers.  No report of bait or spin anglers hitting the water, though right after ice out fishing can be good for all types of gear.

Due to a damaged outflow structure, the lake has completely drained.  Barrick Gold is working on repairing the outflow valves of the dam with the expectation that we may be able to capture snowmelt later in the spring.

The road to Wilson is rutted and the lake is approximately 50% of capacity and ice free.  No recent word on angling success.

South Fork is now ice free and fishing has started to pick up. Last weekend several anglers reported good luck both on the west side at Jet Ski Beach and in the main boat ramp cove on the east side of the lake.  The fish being caught were averaging between 16 and 20 inches with a number of them coming in over 20 inches.  Most

With the warm temperatures there is no ice here and fishing has been good depending upon the day and location.  Small spinners and minnow imitations were producing some fish for spin fishermen, but fly rodders were doing better.  Fly rodders should be using hare’s ears, pheasant tails, prince nymphs, midge patterns, eggs and egg sucking leeches. Best places to fish appear to be where the

As of Thursday, January 18, Wildhorse had approximately eight inches of good ice with no snow on top making it very slippery and difficult walking.  Anglers should plan on wearing some traction devices on their boots to keep from falling. With no snow and warm daytime temperatures, the ice is very noisy, booming and cracking, which has probably affected fishing which has been just fair. 

Due to a damaged outflow structure, the lake has completely drained

No recent report, but chances are there is unsafe ice here and the road at last report was 4WD only due to mud.  With the predicted storm moving through expect road conditions to stay the same.  

The lake is ice covered and the road to Angel Lake is closed.  There will be no more fishing reports until late next spring or early summer depending upon winter conditions.

As of Thursday, January 18, the South Fork had more open water than it did ice.  Fishing has been just fair, but those fish being caught ranged from 18 to 22 inches! What little ice there is should be avoided at all costs.  Best fishing appears to be along Jet Ski Beach with shore anglers having some success with PowerBait or worms, while fly rodders