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Fishing Willow Creek Reservoir: what the data says
579-acre reservoir near Elko County. The lake tops out around 17 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Largemouth Bass fishing at Willow Creek Reservoir
In spring, largemouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 5 to 17 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 17 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 5 to 17 ft | dawn & dusk | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 5 to 17 ft | midday | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Crappie fishing at Willow Creek Reservoir
Start shallow in spring: crappie sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 5 to 17 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 17 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 5 to 17 ft | dawn & dusk | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 17 ft | dawn | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 5 to 17 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Channel Catfish fishing at Willow Creek Reservoir
In spring, channel catfish run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. They move out to 5 to 17 ft in summer and finish the year down in 5 to 17 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for channel catfish in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 5 to 17 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 5 to 17 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 5 to 17 ft | midday |
Cutthroat Trout fishing at Willow Creek Reservoir
In spring, cutthroat trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 5 to 17 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 17 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A trolled spoon (small) or a inline spinner covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 5 to 17 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 3 to 17 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 4 to 17 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 14 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 8 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 8 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 8 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
Common questions
How deep is Willow Creek Reservoir?
Willow Creek Reservoir is about 17 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Willow Creek Reservoir?
Anglers target largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, cutthroat trout on Willow Creek Reservoir.
Where is the best fishing spot on Willow Creek Reservoir?
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Willow Creek Reservoir?
For largemouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Wilson Sink Reservoir · Dry Creek Reservoir · Chimney Reservoir · Wild Horse Reservoir · South Fork Reservoir · Lamoille Lake
See how Willow Creek Reservoir stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Nevada · best crappie lakes in Nevada · best channel catfish lakes in Nevada · best cutthroat trout lakes in Nevada
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