Earlier this year, we discussed stream fishing for trout in the colder winter waters. Now, let’s talk about spring fishing for trout in streams. With the forecast for above-average temperatures and decent snowpack, our small streams are much higher than they are during the summer season. That does not mean that you can’t fish them, you just have to know how to fish the high water.
Doucette
These heavy flows will move fish a bit, but for the most part they will stay in the same stretch of the stream but move into protected areas and stay until flows recede. They will hold near the bottom of the deeper pools and runs where the flow is slowed by the bottom of the river as well as in slack water and eddies found along the edges of the stream.
They will also hold behind structure such as logs and large rocks. This makes it easier to find the fish, but with the heavy flows and the turbid water, getting your presentation to them is another issue. This means heavy flies and sinking lines for fly fishermen and extra weights for bait and spin fishermen.
The final obstacle is how turbid the water is with the high flows. That means the fish will probably not be able to see the presentation unless it is almost right on top of them. Since they are holding tight and not moving much, anglers will need to move more looking for the fish.
Since the holding areas have been identified, the angler needs to move from holding area to holding area and fish each holding area thoroughly. Steelhead fishermen do what is called the steelhead two step. They swing their fly or lure through a run or hole, take two steps downstream and do it again. This allows them to cover the whole run or pool. When fishing the heavy spring flows, this type of fishing should allow you to get your presentation in front of fish at some point.
Wild Horse
As of Sunday, the lake was approximately 90% covered in unsafe ice. Both Hendricks and Penrod arms have open water for shore fishing. The very south end of the lake also has quite a bit of open water near Wildhorse Estates. The ice is also receding from shore, providing shore fishing opportunities in a variety of places.
The few anglers who have fished here report fair to good fishing depending upon location and day. This is a time of year where anglers may hit that magic window where the ice is close enough to shore to reach with a cast and fish are prowling the ice edges looking for food after a long winter. Fish will use the ice as cover from predators while looking for food in the open water.
For spin anglers fish small spinners or lures right along the edges. If you can find a point of land that sticks out where you can cast almost parallel to the ice edge and fish it with a small spinner or lure that can be effective. Use a short jerky retrieve that isn’t too fast. The water is still cold and fish are still moving slowly. Bait anglers can use a small piece of worm or PowerBait suspended a few feet under a bobber close to the ice edge.
For fly rodders, hanging a chironimid pattern, balanced leech or small nymph such as a pheasant tail nymph or hares ear under an indicator along the edge can produce fish. Like mentioned above, fly fishermen fishing off a point where they can cast almost parallel to the ice can strip small buggers and leeches effectively as well. With the above average temperatures and a forecast calling for 10 to 15 mph winds, expect the ice to start receding quickly. There is a possibility of precipitation on Saturday, so Friday or Sunday might be the best times to hit Wild Horse.
South Fork Reservoir
Very little change here, as anglers continue to report good fishing with surface water temperatures in the low- to mid-40s and rising.
Anglers have had the best luck fishing near the dam stripping streamers, spinners or small lures. Worms and PowerBait fished under a bobber should produce some fish.
Spin fishermen throwing gear continue to have some luck with gold and red colored lures and spinners.
Fly rodders have had the best luck with pheasant tail nymphs, chironomids (midge pupa and larva), and balanced leeches. Other patterns to use include egg patterns, red copper John’s, wooly buggers and leech patterns.
Chironomids are getting active with the warmer weather and fly anglers should start to focus on those presentations. Zebra midges in black or red, chironocones, snow cones, Yankee buzzers, and chromies are all good Chironomid patterns for South Fork.
There may be some fish running into the river upstream of the reservoir but no recent report from anglers. The tailwater below the reservoir continues to produce nice trout for both spin and fly fishermen though it is seeing a fair amount of pressure. The usual assortment of small flies, spinners and minnow imitations should work. Bait anglers can suspend a small piece of worm under a bobber and let it drift with the current. Be sure to fish the pools first. No black bass may be kept until after July 1.
Jiggs/Zunino Reservoir
Shorelines are drying out and anglers continue report good fishing for trout and slow fishing for bluegill and bass. The same presentations and techniques as those used at South Fork should work here. Anglers are being asked to return any bluegill and bass to the reservoir to help rebuild those fisheries.
Wilson Reservoir
No recent report. The road should be drying out. Wilson conditions are often similar to South Fork, with roughly the same elevation and exposure, so fishing should be fair to good for trout and slow for bass. This reservoir can be fished with similar presentations and techniques as at South Fork Reservoir.
Ruby Lake NWR
Harrison pass is open but still muddy and snowy near the top. With the warmer weather it may soon start to dry out.
There is very little change in fishing conditions here. Fishing in the collection ditch continues to be good for trout averaging 15 to 20 inches with an occasional trout over 20 inches. Water clarity and levels continue to be good. Look for deeper parts of the collection ditch to fish as well as fish areas close to the blade gates that control flow from the ditch to the marsh.
Trout have been hitting dry flies with the warmer weather. Elk hair caddis with a PT dropper were working with half the fish taken on each fly respectively. Other dries to try include Griffith’s gnats, BWO’s, Adams, ants, and beetles. Fly anglers have also had some luck stripping wooly buggers, leeches, egg sucking leeches or small streamers (think zonkers or slumpbusters) in black, white or olive using short slow strips. Other patterns to fish include eggs, chironomids, gold ribbed hares ears, and copper Johns.
Spin fishermen should be using spinners, Kastmasters, panther Martins and other small lures. It is artificial presentations only in the collection ditch, which includes the pond behind the hatchery all the way to Brown Dike. Wading is not allowed the entire length of the collection ditch.
Jakes Creek/Boies Reservoir
Jakes Creek Reservoir is ice free and anglers report some trout being caught, with a few approaching 18 inches. Spring fishing before vegetation starts to clog the shorelines can be good here. The road is in fairly good shape for this time of year.
Cold Creek Reservoir
Water levels are recovering since the drawdown last fall. Anglers can expect decent shoreline fishing around the reservoir. The reservoir was not stocked this fall due to the drawdown. Normal stocking efforts should resume this spring when conditions allow.
Cave Lake
No change here. For the first time in almost six years, Cave Lake is full and spilling! However, with recent storms, shorelines are muddy and access may be an issue until things dry out. There were hatchery trout stocked in Cave Creek last summer that may provide some angler action in the lake until NDOW can get it stocked when conditions allow.
Anglers may catch trout on nightcrawlers, PowerBait, spinners (Mepps and Panther Martins), and a variety of nymphs and small streamer flies. Spring stocking will begin as soon as water conditions allow. The boat launch and dock area is closed to public access while Nevada Division of State Parks and NDOW staff work to replace floats on the dock.
Float tubes, kayaks and canoes can be launched at the eastern end of the lake.
Comins Lake
The dock is in the water and the launch is ready for the 2025 open-water season. Large trout have been seen shoaling off the shoreline along the north lake. The rainbow trout being caught are between 16 and 20 inches, and weighing several pounds.
Trout are being caught on PowerBait, spinners, nightcrawlers, and the usual assortment of spring nymphs and small streamers. Anglers have also been getting into brown trout and tiger trout that were stocked late last year.
Comins Lake received 10,043 rainbow trout last fall averaging 8.9 inches. Approximately, 8,400 brown trout averaging 10.4 inches were stocked into Comins Lake.
Northern pike are beginning to spawn in the south lake. Anglers should target shallow water areas in the south lake when pursuing pike this spring. There is a limited bluegill fishery at Comins Lake, and anglers are encouraged to release bluegill to better establish their population.
Please note that NDOW has placed radio tags in several northern pike. These pike will have an orange Floy tag near their dorsal fin and a small antenna (~ 7 inches long) coming from their stomach. Please return these fish to the water for research purposes. Please do not return pike without the tags back to the lake.
Illipah
Illipah Reservoir is ice free and at capacity. The road in is drying out and access should be good. Recent angler contacts revealed rainbow trout in the 11- to 13-inch range being caught, with an occasional brown trout.
Catch rates are good with anglers catching several trout per hour. The usual PowerBait, worms or spinners should work for spin fishermen. Fly rodders should try egg patterns, dark wooly buggers, balanced leeches, egg sucking leeches, chironomids and the usual assortment of small spring nymphs.
A total of 9,012 rainbow trout averaging 9.3 inches were stocked last fall and carryover fishing should be good. Spring stocking generally starts in late April when the roads can handle the heavy fish truck.
Angel Lake
The road to Angel Lake is closed for the winter. There will be no fishing reports until late May when the road re-opens.
High mountain lakes
Ice has covered the high mountain lakes. Anglers can expect winter conditions in the high country and only experienced back country travelers should visit them. There will be no more reports on these waters until late spring or early summer depending upon snow conditions.
Streams
With the lower elevation snows burned off, flows are starting to recede a bit, but are still mostly close to or slightly above normal for this time of year.
The tailwater below South Fork continues to produce nice trout with decent flows but it has been getting a fair amount of pressure over the past few weeks, especially on Saturdays. Shorelines are drying out making access easier.
Flows below Wild Horse Dam in the East Fork of the Owyhee River are very low for the first mile and there is still some snow along with mud on the shorelines.
Access to the Bruneau and Jarbidge rivers is still through Idaho.
As of April 9, there was no water coming out of the dam below Wild Horse but it was flowing above average at 274 cfs near Mountain City; the Jarbidge at 51.9 cfs; the Bruneau was at 249 cfs; Salmon Falls Creek at 189 cfs; Lamoille Creek at 15.0 cfs; the South Fork of the Humboldt at 70 cfs; Cleve Creek at 6.82 cfs;, and Steptoe Creek at 3.62 cfs.
