Date: 08/19/09
Contact: Ivy Santee
Phone: 702-486-5127 x 3500

LATE SUMMER RAINBOWS

If the dog days of summer are starting to wear a little thin, and if you are looking for an escape, Nevada still has some cool waters where rainbow trout are willing to take your bait or lure and you can cool off a little too.

For a quick day trip consider driving to Willow Beach. Here the Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery stocks approximately 3,000 rainbows into the chilly waters of Lake Mohave every week. This area offers shore fishing as well as boat access. Anglers can also use float tubes but need to be aware of the current in the main river channel. If wading is your option keep in mind that the water is a nippy 56 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit year-round.

Anglers looking for overnight and camping opportunities can find them just 31/2 hours northeast of Las Vegas at Spring Valley State Park. Here visitors will find Eagle Valley Reservoir, a picturesque lake and a favorite of Pioche locals and Las Vegans alike. The Nevada Department of Wildlife regularly stocks rainbow trout in the reservoir along with a few tiger trout. Brown trout and largemouth bass are also found here.

Since this reservoir is located at nearly 6,000 feet in elevation, the average summer temperatures at Eagle Valley stay below 90 degrees. The lake has a launch ramp complete with a boating and fishing dock. There also is plenty of room to fish from the shoreline.

About 100 miles north of Pioche and 15 miles southeast of Ely is Cave Lake State Park. This park is situated at 7,300 feet in elevation so summer temperatures remain comfortably less than 90 degrees. As the park’s name implies, the facility is home to Cave Lake and offers two campgrounds. NDOW stocks the lake with rainbow trout, but there also are significant numbers of both brown and brook trout. In fact, the state record brown trout was taken from this 32-acre lake in 1984. The fish weighed in at more than 27 pounds.

With plenty of shoreline access, a boat and fishing dock, a float tube launch area and a little stream Cave Lake is a quality family destination.

If flush toilets, improved boat launches, and fees aren’t your style, you may find the primitive accommodations at Illipah Reservoir more to your liking. Located about 35 miles west of Ely and south of Highway 50, this desert impoundment offers fishing for both rainbow and brown trout. Camping is provided by the BLM, with shade structures, picnic tables, vault toilets and little else. Bring your own water because running water is not available.

The water level of this reservoir tends to drop toward the end of summer as the primary purpose of the lake is for irrigation. Despite seasonally low water levels the fishing action in the water can be very good, and at times you may find yourself all alone on this underutilized resource. The reservoir offers plenty of shoreline fishing and an undeveloped boat launch ramp. Float tubing and wading are also allowed.

More information on Nevada’s fishable waters can be found online at www.ndow.org. From the drop-down “Fish” menu click on the “WHERE TO FISH” link and discover some great places to escape the heat and get away in Nevada.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.