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Nevada · Fishing
McGill sits in White Pine County at the edge of the Egan Range, and the fishing options nearby are modest in number but worth knowing about if you're already in the area or passing through on a longer Nevada road trip.
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McGill sits in White Pine County at the edge of the Egan Range, and the fishing options nearby are modest in number but worth knowing about if you're already in the area or passing through on a longer Nevada road trip. The two main water types here split cleanly between moving water and still water. Bird Creek Campground and Timber Creek Campground both offer river fishing on small mountain streams, the kind of water where you're working short stretches with light tackle rather than making long casts. Duck Creek Dam and Duck Creek Reservoir give you the lake-fishing alternative, where you can set up on the bank or launch a small craft and cover more water at a slower pace. None of these are destination fisheries that people fly in for, but they're legitimate spots that see real fish and real anglers, particularly on summer weekends when the campgrounds fill up. If you're camping at Bird Creek or Timber Creek, the fishing is essentially right outside your tent. If you're day-tripping from Ely, Duck Creek Reservoir is the more practical stop. Crowds are light compared to better-known Nevada waters, which is part of the appeal.
You have two river-fishing spots at Bird Creek Campground and Timber Creek Campground, and two still-water options at Duck Creek Dam and Duck Creek Reservoir. The river sites are small mountain stream environments suited to light spinning or fly gear, while the reservoir and dam offer more typical bank or small-boat lake fishing.
Yes, a valid Nevada fishing license is required for anyone 12 and older fishing any of these locations. Pick one up through the Nevada Department of Wildlife website or at a licensed retailer in Ely before you head out, since there are no vendors in McGill itself.
Bird Creek Campground
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NV.
Timber Creek Campground
~7 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NV.
Duck Creek Dam
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NV.
Duck Creek Reservoir
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NV.
Dust Bowl Lake
~25 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NV.
Comins Lake
~37 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NV.
Shoshone Ponds
~1h 5m drive
A worthwhile stop near NV.
Baker Lake
~1h 7m drive
A worthwhile stop near NV.
Illipah Creek Reservoir
~1h 7m drive
A worthwhile stop near NV.
Late spring through early fall is the most productive window, once ice-off has passed and water temperatures stabilize. Early mornings and evenings in summer tend to be more active than midday, when surface temperatures rise and fish move deeper.
Both locations are campgrounds, so you can drive to the campground itself and access the water on foot from your site or the day-use area. The streams are small, so you won't need to hike far to find fishable water once you're parked.
Yes, the campground-based river spots at Bird Creek and Timber Creek are low-pressure environments with easy bank access, which makes them reasonable choices for beginners or kids learning to fish. Duck Creek Reservoir also offers straightforward bank fishing without technical demands.
