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Nevada · Fishing
Spring Creek sits in Elko County in northeastern Nevada, and the fishing around it leans almost entirely toward small lake angling rather than river or stream work.
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Spring Creek sits in Elko County in northeastern Nevada, and the fishing around it leans almost entirely toward small lake angling rather than river or stream work. The five lakes in the area — Favre Lake, Dry Lake, Castle Lake, Island Lake, and Seitz Lake — are the main draw, and each one has its own character in terms of access, depth, and what you're likely to pull out. This is high-desert lake fishing, which means conditions can shift fast: mornings are often calm and productive, afternoons can get windy enough to make casting a chore, and water temperatures swing more dramatically through the season than you'd see at lower elevations. If you're driving up from Elko or coming in from farther out, it's worth treating this as a half-day-minimum trip rather than a quick stop. The lakes are spread out enough that you won't cover all five in one outing without rushing. Most anglers pick one or two and work them properly. Nevada fishing regulations apply throughout, so a valid Nevada fishing license is required before you wet a line at any of these waters.
The area has five fishable lakes: Favre Lake, Dry Lake, Castle Lake, Island Lake, and Seitz Lake. Without current stocking data in hand, the honest answer is to check Nevada Department of Wildlife's stocking reports before your trip, since put-and-take lakes in this region can vary significantly in productivity depending on recent stocking activity and seasonal conditions.
The lakes around Spring Creek are typical of northeastern Nevada high-desert impoundments, which generally support trout, bass, or warm-water panfish depending on elevation and water temperature. Check the Nevada Department of Wildlife's lake-specific pages for confirmed species before you pack your tackle, since not every lake in the area holds the same fish.
Seitz Lake
~2 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NV.
Angel Lake - East Humboldt Wilderness
~57 min drive
Easy
Island Lake
~7 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NV.
Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge - South Marsh
~58 min drive
Easy
Verdi Lake
~8 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NV.
Favre Lake
~10 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NV.
Castle Lake
~10 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NV.
Robinson Lake
~18 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NV.
Soldier Lakes
~18 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NV.
Soldier Basin Trailhead
~19 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NV.
Dry Lake
~26 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NV.
Lake Phyllis
~27 min drive
A worthwhile stop near NV.
A medium-light spinning setup handles most situations at these lakes. Bring a range of lures — small spinners, PowerBait or similar dough baits, and a few jigs — since what works can vary lake to lake and day to day. A small tackle box beats a full kit when you're moving between multiple lakes in one trip.
Early morning is consistently the most productive window at high-desert Nevada lakes. Wind typically picks up by midday and can make casting and boat control difficult, especially on more exposed water like Dry Lake. If you're fishing from shore, an early start also puts you ahead of any afternoon heat in summer months.
A standard Nevada fishing license is required at all five lakes. There are no tribal or private-water permits involved based on the available information, but regulations can change, so confirm current requirements with Nevada Department of Wildlife before your trip. License purchases can be done online through the NDOW website or at local sporting goods retailers in Elko.
