Fishing at Mill Creek Reservoir, Elko County, Nevada

• Overview

  Set in Elko County, Mill Creek Reservoir is a Nevada water. Height above sea level is 5,522 feet. A splashy cast here empties the swim; a quiet one owns it. Most waters listed here for Elko County are larger. Jackpot sits 37 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Wells follows at 54 miles, then West Wendover at 61 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Mill Creek Reservoir

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Elko County cover brook trout, rainbow trout and tahoe sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Treat Mill Creek Reservoir as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 23°F in January to roughly 66°F in August. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Ice-out usually falls in early April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Break-up near early April, freeze-up near early December: that is the shape of an average year. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Expect Mill Creek Reservoir to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Records show it does not hold water year-round. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Crittenden Reservoir at 6 miles is the nearest alternative. For Mill Creek Reservoir in particular, ask before you travel.