Eastern Nevada Fishing Report

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. 

At last report there was unsafe ice with some open water at the inlet where you can fish. No word on ice conditions so assume it is unsafe.  The usual PowerBait or worms as well as small spinners, panther Martins or rooster tails should all work.     

At last report Cold Creek was 100% open water, though it may have some skim ice on it now.  Expect fishing to be fair to good for trout though there is no recent report of anglers fishing here.    

Unsafe ice with open water in the north lake and the extreme south end of the lake that is fishable.  However, the ice has come back to cover more of the lake, but it is still unsafe.  Anglers report catching limits in the open water using worms, though PowerBait should also work.  Fly fishermen should be using wooly buggers, prince nymphs, damsel fly nymphs, hares ears and pheasant tail nymphs. 

Illipah is approximately 50% open water, primarily along the dam side.  The rest of the lake is covered in unsafe ice.  Expect fishing to be fair to good along the ice edges using the usual PowerBait or worms. If you are throwing hardware, small bright spinners, rooster tails and small minnow imitations can be productive here.   

No recent report, but there should be some open water. 

Zunino Reservoir has open water for fishing, but no recent word on fishing success.  Expect it to be fair to good using the usual PowerBait or worms.  

Streambanks are very slick with ice and snow.  Fishing has been slow in most streams.  Fish are lethargic due to the colder temps and presentations must be slowed down. Travel to both Jarbidge and the Bruneau is now through Idaho. 

Most of the lakes are iced up and due to snow pack, travel is not recommended.  There will be no further fishing reports on the high mountain lakes until next spring or early summer depending upon the winter. 

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 and egg sucking leeches.  The fish are moving, so if you don’t have much luck in one area, pack up and hit another. Harrison Pass was closed by last week’s storm and with snow coming in this weekend, anglers should plan on taking Secret Pass to the Refuge.     

The thin ice that was covering the lake is quickly melting away.  Any ice that is left is extremely unsafe. Fishing continues to be just fair, but those fish being caught are ranging from 15 to 22 inches with the occasional 25 inch fish being reported. Most anglers are having some success with PowerBait or worms, while fly rodders should be using chironomids, hares ears, prince nymphs and buggers.  Sherbet PowerBait fished using a slip sinker off of the bottom about 25-30 feet from shore seemed to work the best.   

Wildhorse is in limbo as it is covered with unsafe ice and little to no open water for shore fishing.  With the warmer temperatures forecast, some water may start to open up.  Call ahead for water conditions before heading up to the lake.  

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 with the forecast snow travel will probably be difficult and should be considered 4WD.  At last report, the lake was ice free, but it may have some skim ice like the other lakes. The water level is approximately 50% of capacity with lite flow at the inlet to the lake.  No report on what anglers are using and no recent report on fishing success. Streambanks are very slick with ice and snow. Many of the streams are ice covered and USGS is showing no flows in them due to the ice. Most are very turbid.  Fishing has been slow in most streams.  Fish are lethargic due to the colder temps and presentations must be slowed down.