South Fork Reservoir Fishing Report

South Fork Reservoir - Elko, NV (Elko County)


by Nevada Department of Wildlife
8-12-2022
Website

Very little change here as surface water temperatures are in the high 70’s and fishing for bass has been good while trout fishing has been slow as they move to deeper water. The south end of the lake is very weedy and there is a lot of algae.  Fishing has been fair for 15-to 20-inch trout for spin, bait and fly rodders from boats or float tubes but slow to fair for shore anglers. The bests time to fish from shore is between sunup and 8:00 am when the water closer to shore is cooler but anglers should still try to find shorelines where the water drops off quickly.   The north end of the lake by the dam is best for this. However, shore anglers also report catching trout at first light along Jet Ski Beach from shore most mornings with worms suspended three to four feet below a bobber. Wiper fishing has been fair to good.  The key is covering a lot of water until you find a school of them.  Fly fishermen report that fishing has been slow to fair for trout using a fast sink line with buggers or leeches.  Damsels are out, but with the warmer surface temperatures, dry damsels are probably not the best except early in the day.  Damsel nymphs are a better bet fished along the weed beds.  Black or red snow cones with a white bead and contrasting red or black wire ribbing, fished under an indicator have also been working. Fish them 12 to 18 feet below a strike slip indicator. With the above average temperatures and lack of snowpack this year, the thermocline is a few feet deeper than normal and will be down between 20 and 23 feet deep so fly fishermen will have a hard time getting down to that depth.    Black, olive or purple wooly buggers and leech patterns are other patterns to try. Another technique is to use a fast-sinking line from a boat or float tube and fishing without casting or an indicator, letting the presentation sink straight down in the water column. Balanced leeches along with the usual assortment of nymphs and chironomid patterns work well this way.   Spin fishermen should be using gold-colored spinners or lures for trout.   Bass are taking dark soft plastic baits with sparkles in dark colors such as blue, motor oil, purple and dark green. Crankbaits are also working for bass as are poppers in low light still water conditions. Anglers also report catching wipers trolling the same soft plastic baits.  The limit is one black bass and one white bass hybrid with a minimum size of 15 inches.