Doucette: Rain, cold weather improve conditions for trout, bass fishing

This week saw some much needed precipitation hit eastern Nevada, with over a half-inch of rain falling in the Elko area. Daytime highs and overnight lows dipped to about 10 degrees below normal for this time of year and the combination of rain and cooler temperatures helped cool surface water temperatures significantly.

Trout are most active when water temperatures range from 56 to 64 degrees and currently surface water temperatures at South Fork are 62 degrees and at Wild Horse they're 60 degrees. This means trout will be more active and have started moving closer to shore in search of food.

The cooler water temperatures, shorter days and windy conditions that came with the cold front all combined to help break up surface algae mats. Much of the remaining surface algae has been blown into the backs of eastern coves due to predominant westerly winds. Suspended algae is still present and will be until ice covers the lakes but will slowly dissipate until that time. Visibility is around 3 feet at this time.

The high mountain lakes received some snow with this recent front and trout at the high mountain lakes are preparing for a long winter under the ice, which comes much sooner there than down below. They are eating anything that looks like food, fattening up for the lean times that come with ice and winter. Anglers report good fishing at Liberty, Favre, Robinson and Overland lakes. If heading up to one of these lakes, go prepared for cooler temperatures and be prepared for quickly changing conditions.

This weekend's forecast calls for perfect fishing conditions with daytime highs in the low to mid-70s, mostly sunny skies and light winds. Obviously, a bit cooler at the higher elevations. So, whether you fish one of our high desert reservoirs or want a more adventurous trip to the high alpine lakes, this should be a great weekend for trout fishing.

Wild Horse

Surface water temperatures have dropped into the very low 60s. Trout fishing before this week's front moved through was good here and should continue to be good now that water temperatures have cooled and the weather is stabilizing. The wind has broken up the surface algae and conditions are much better than a couple of weeks ago, though it has collected in the eastern parts of Penrod and Hendrick's Arms. With predominantly west and northwest winds, the eastern shorelines should provide good fishing. There is still suspended algae in the water with about 2 to 3 feet of visibility.

Trout fishing continues to be good for boaters and has picked up for shore anglers. While mornings continue to be productive for fishing, mid-day to early afternoons fishing should improve for those late risers.

Bobber fishing has been good, especially in the shallower waters closer to shore for bait anglers. Fly rodders are having success with a variety of techniques and presentations. Wooly buggers and leeches stripped on an intermediate or slow sinking line should produce fish. Chironomid patterns and balanced leeches under an indicator are also producing fish.

Bass fishing has slowed, but bass anglers report some larger fish. For bass, anglers should use soft plastic baits in dark or contrasting colors with some sparkle. Crankbaits in perch colors are also working. For trout, small spinners, rooster tails or panther Martins should work for spin fishermen. Small minnow imitations in perch or chub colors may also catch a few trout.

Boaters continue to have good luck trolling flashers tipped with worms or trailing small lures or spinners. They are also catching trout stripping or trolling wooly buggers and leeches from a float tube.

Fishing for perch has been fair to good for numbers, but poor for size, with fish averaging 4 to 6 inches, as the perch population is still recovering from a 2022 die-off.

South Fork Reservoir

The surface water temperature was 62 degrees at the main boat ramp on Tuesday afternoon. The shorter days, rain, colder temperatures and recent heavy winds have broken up the surface algae and the water is looking much better. There is still suspended algae in the water with visibility around 2 to 3 feet. Shore angling for trout has improved and anglers reported good fishing last weekend right before the front moved through.

Bass fishing is slowing a bit, though they are still being caught by those targeting them. For bass, anglers should use soft plastic baits in dark or contrasting colors with some sparkle in shallow waters near the weeds. Crank baits also work. Fish structure for bass. Anglers may keep one black bass 15 inches or longer.

Worms or PowerBait floated off the bottom using a slip sinker or below a bobber in the shallower water has been working for those targeting trout. Fly fishing has been fair to good using chironomid patterns in a variety of colors with red or black/red with a white bead seeming to work best. Balanced leeches in black/red, wine or olive fished below an indicator have also been catching trout. Wooly buggers sized 6 to 10 and leech patterns sized 10 to 14 in the black/red, black/blue, wine and dark red stripped on an intermediate or slow sinking line are also producing fish.

No recent report on catfish or wipers being caught.

Jiggs/Zunino Reservoir

Surface water temperatures have dropped into the low 60s and fishing has improved. Use the same presentations and techniques as at South Fork Reservoir. NDOW is asking anglers to return all bluegill and bass back into the water to help establish those fisheries.

Wilson Reservoir

Fishing for both bass and trout has been good. Surface water temperatures have dropped here and trout fishing has been good, though few anglers have made the trip — mostly hunters who are camping here and fishing between hunting outings. The same techniques and presentations that work at South Fork work here.

Bass fishing is starting to drop off, with the best areas for bass still being along the willows and vegetation near shore using soft plastic jigs and crankbaits. Lake level is down due to normal seasonal irrigation.

Ruby Lake NWR

With cooler water temperatures and shorter days, bass fishing is slowing down. Warmer sunny days may help improve bass fishing this weekend. Anglers are still catching about one keeper for every 15 bass caught and report the occasional larger bass pushing 15 inches. Fewer bass are being caught, so fewer keepers are coming in. The good news is that fall can often produce some of the largest bass of the year, as they put on the feed bag preparing for winter. Minimum keeper size for bass is 10 inches.

Boaters also reported some nice trout being caught in the deeper areas of the south marsh. Bass anglers should use soft plastic baits rigged weedless. Dark colors with some sparkle such as motor oil, guacamole, olive, or blue are good colors to use. Cast right up to the edges of the tules and into pockets and retrieve your presentation in an erratic fashion.

Fishing in the collection ditch has been good for trout averaging 14 to 18 inches, with a few fish over 20 inches. Water clarity is good and water levels continue to be very good. While the grasshoppers have been knocked down a bit, trout are still used to seeing them. Hopper patterns, elk hair caddis and damselfly dries are all catching fish. Other dry flies such as pale morning duns, Adams, Griffith's gnats and ant patterns are working. In deeper parts of the ditch, hopper dropper combinations are the way to go. Fly anglers have had luck stripping wooly buggers, leeches or small streamers in black or olive using short slow strips. Spin fishermen should use 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

There is very little change here. Aquatic vegetation growth is still making shore fishing difficult, so float tubes or small watercraft are the way to go. This will continue until the ice covers the lake. Fishing has been good for 13- to 18-inch trout. Either dark or flashy spinners or small plastic baits fished with varying retrieves should work. Worms or PowerBait fished under a bobber is best for bait anglers. For fly rodders, wooly buggers and leech patterns on a sink tip or intermediate sinking line have been working. The usual assortment of nymph and chironomid patterns are also producing fish. Bass fishing has been good for 10- to 12-inch bass using soft plastic baits and small crankbaits.

Cold Creek Reservoir

Cold Creek Reservoir is at 80% of capacity and water temperatures have cooled into the low 60s. Rainbow trout and tiger Trout are being caught in the 9- to 12-inch range first thing in the morning. Anglers will do well fishing for trout using a variety of spinners, nightcrawlers and PowerBait.

Fly fishers are having luck using damselfly nymphs, midge patterns, leeches or woolly buggers. With good water levels and warmer weather, largemouth bass are cruising the shallows, but are still small, averaging 4 to 8 inches. There is a limited black bass fishery and anglers are encouraged to catch and release these bass to help improve the fishery.

Cave Lake

Cave Lake is lowered to minimum pool and unfishable. Cave Lake is closed to fishing due to shorelines that are very soft and dangerous due to the complete saturation of the soil. Dam construction is close to completion and is expected to be completed in mid-October. Fish stocking will resume once the construction is completed and the lake starts to fill. That will hopefully be next spring.

Join NDOW and State Parks on National Public Lands Day, Sept. 28, to help build and place fish structures on the lake bed along with general cleanup of the area. This is in preparation for the lake's reopening in 2025. To sign up or for more information go to NDOW's Facebook page or contact Julie Gabrielson at or 775-777-2305.

Comins Lake

Surface water temperatures have dipped into the low 60s, and while fishing for trout has been fair to good it is picking up with the cooler temperatures. Rainbow trout ranging from 16 to 22 inches are being caught by anglers in the morning from shore. Nightcrawlers are producing trout for anglers, as well as spinners and small lures. Fly fishermen should use leeches, woolly buggers, scud and midge patterns.

Black bass fishing is is slowing down, but bass are still being caught. Soft plastic lures and crankbaits have been working for bass.

There is a limited bluegill fishery at Comins Lake and anglers are encouraged to release bluegill so their population can become better established.

Anglers pursuing northern pike will do well on hard and soft plastic baits, as well as flashy spoons, bucktail streamers and Clouser minnows. Anglers continue to catch a few northern pike ranging from 18 inches to 30-plus inches.

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.

The lake is around 75% of capacity, which is above average for early fall. Surface water temperatures have dropped into the high 50s to low 60s, depending on time of day and location. Anglers have been catching a mixed bag of rainbow trout and a few brown trout.

Fishing should improve with the cooler temperatures. Anglers should do well using nightcrawlers, PowerBait, and spinners. Fly rodders should be using the usual assortment of wooly buggers, leech and chironomid patterns fished under an indicator. Dry flies in the afternoons and evenings are catching some fish.

Angel Lake

The trout are preparing for winter and fishing is good for 8- to 10-inch trout using worms, green PowerBait and small spinners from the dam and along the back side of the lake. Fly fishermen have had good luck along the back of the lake from float tubes using small dry flies, ants and leech patterns. Small crystal buggers, leech patterns and the usual nymphs under an indicator should work if they aren't hitting dry flies. A dry and dropper rig has been productive.

High mountain lakes

Fishing continues to be good to excellent in the high mountain lakes. There is some snow at the higher elevations and anglers should be prepared for colder temperatures and wet conditions on the trails and around the lakes.

Small spinners and worms are working at the high mountain lakes. While dry flies are still catching fish, now is the time to start switching to subsurface presentations as aquatic insect hatches diminish with the colder temperatures. Small crystal and wooly buggers as well as the usual assortment of nymphs and chironomids under an indicator should all work.

Anglers report good fishing for 8- to 11-inch brook trout at Robinson and 9- to 12-inch cutthroat at Hidden Lake using small black and yellow Mepps and Panther Martin spinners. These colors are very effective at most of the lakes in the Rubies and East Humboldts. Other lakes producing good catches include Liberty, Favre, Griswold and Overland.

The tail water below South Fork is still producing nice trout and, with the recent precipitation, flows have picked up a bit allowing fish to leave the pools and spread out a bit. Fishing at the beaver ponds in Lamoille Canyon is good. Flows in the creek are still a bit low for this time of year and fishing may be limited to pools.

Water conditions below Wild Horse Dam in the East Fork of the Owyhee are ideal and fishing has been good there. Anglers reported great fishing below Wild Horse Dam on Sunday and Monday right before the front moved through.

The flows on the Jarbidge and Bruneau Rivers also improved with the precipitation and cooler temperatures. Fishing should improve in these waters with fall fishing conditions. Anglers venturing into this area should know the Orange Bridge is closed and may be for a while.

As of Sept. 18, the East Fork of the Owyhee was flowing at 52.5 cfs below the dam and 59.5 cfs at Mountain City; the Jarbidge River flowing at a low 5.25 cfs; the Bruneau River at 10.0 cfs; Salmon Falls Creek at 36.5 cfs; Lamoille Creek at 4.29 cfs; the South Fork of the Humboldt at 11.7 cfs; Cleve Creek at 7.29 cfs; Steptoe Creek at 5.12 cfs; and Kingston Creek at 7.87 cfs.

Joe Doucette is a former public information officer for the Nevada Department of Wildlife for eastern Nevada and also owns the Elko Fly Shop.