Fishing at Zunino Reservoir, Elko County, Nevada

• Overview

  Within Elko County, Nevada, you have Zunino Reservoir. The water sits 5,581 feet up. It runs to roughly 115 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The form is near circular, and the shelter is limited when it blows. It ranks high for size among our Elko County listings. The nearest place of any size is Spring Creek, 19 miles away. Further out sit Elko (26 miles) and Carlin (29 miles). It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Zunino Reservoir

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. County-wide records name brook trout, rainbow trout and tahoe sucker. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Work Zunino Reservoir in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 70°F, the coldest about 25°F. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Expect Zunino Reservoir to follow that timing. Sudden cold puts fish down faster than sustained cold does.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Mapped as intermittent, it fills after rain and shrinks between. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Sleeman Pond, 6.5 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Treat access at Zunino Reservoir as something to verify.