Cave Lake - Ely, NV

Cave Lake, within Cave Lake State Park near Ely, Nevada, constitutes a significant high-desert coldwater fishery. This 32-acre impoundment sustains robust populations of stocked Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and naturally reproducing German Brown Trout (Salmo trutta). Its elevation ensures favorable thermal regimes for salmonids, making it a prominent year-round angling destination, particularly renowned for ice fishing during winter.

Angling methodologies are comprehensive and efficacious for both species. Conventional bait presentations utilizing PowerBait or natural baits, and spin casting with diminutive artificial lures (spinners, spoons), are highly productive from shore or boat. Fly fishing is extensively employed, with nymphing (e.g., midge, mayfly, scud imitations) beneath an indicator, and slow retrieval of streamer patterns (e.g., Woolly Buggers), proving consistently effective. Optimal fishing periods are perennially available. Spring and autumn offer prime open-water conditions; summer activity often concentrates in deeper sections. Winter provides exceptional ice fishing opportunities. Access is excellent, facilitated by paved roads, boat ramps (5 mph speed limit for motorboats), and extensive shoreline access within a well-developed state park. Anglers are unequivocally mandated to consult current Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) regulations concerning specific bag limits and any area-specific provisions, crucial for the sustained management of this exceptional Eastern Nevada fishery.