Eastern Region Regulations

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The Eastern Region includes the four counties of northeastern Nevada: Elko, Eureka, Lander and White Pine. Popular fishing waters include Wildhorse, Wilson, Willow Creek, Jakes Creek, Illipah and South Fork reservoirs, Groves Lake, Bassett Lake, Cave Lake, Ruby Lake, other high mountain lakes and several streams located throughout the area. The Eastern Region NDOW Office is located at 60 Youth Center Road, Elko, NV 89801, (775) 777-2300.

Important Note: Within the Eastern Region the general fishing seasons, hours, limits, and regulations apply to all waters EXCEPT those listed under “Eastern Region Special Regulations”. If the water in which you intend to fish is not listed under the Eastern Region’s Special Regulations, then the General Regulations shall apply.

All game fish must be dead before being transported away from the body of water where caught.

Eastern Region General Regulations

Open year around, any hour of the day or night.

Eastern Region Limits

Except as noted under “Special Regulations,” the limits are as follows:

Streams and Rivers

Elko County: The limit is 10 trout, 10 mountain whitefish, and 15 warmwater game fish of which not more than 10 may be black bass. No limit on northern pike or yellow perch (unlimited possession). No bull trout are allowed in possession.

Eureka, Lander and White Pine Counties: The limit is 10 trout and 15 warmwater game fish of which not more than 10 may be black bass. No limit on northern pike or yellow perch (unlimited possession).

Lakes and Reservoirs

Elko, Eureka, Lander and White Pine Counties: The limit is 5 trout, and 15 warmwater game fish of which not more than 10 may be black bass. No limit on northern pike or yellow perch (unlimited possession).

Artificial Lure Waters

See General Statewide Regulations.

Bait Regulations

While fishing in this region, the capture, possession, or use of fish as bait, whether dead or alive or the parts thereof, including commercially prepared and preserved baitfish is prohibited other than preserved salmon eggs. Aquatic bait may be used only in the water from which it is taken. See Fishing with Bait Fish for more regulations on the use of bait fish.

Attention Trout Anglers – Identify Your Catch in the Jarbidge

When fishing in the Jarbidge River drainage area it is essential to be able to differentiate between rainbow trout and the threatened bull trout. The most common trout you will find is rainbow trout.

The possession of bull trout is prohibited! All captured bull trout must be immediately released unharmed. Knowing how to identify your catch is important.

Bull trout have light colored spots scattered over a dark (olive-green color) background. The fins have no black spotting. Rainbow trout have a light colored background with a pink to red colored stripe across the side of the body. In addition, there is black spotting over the body, tail fin and dorsal fin.

Health Advisory

The Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health has issued health advisories that recommend limited consumption of fish species due to elevated mercury levels in their flesh.

In the Eastern Region, there is a “no consumption” advisory for largemouth bass and northern pike in Comins Lake. For more information visit ndow.org.

All Regulations are applicable to CR 21-15, Amendment #1.

Eastern Region Special Regulations
Area	Season and hours	Limit
Elko County
Angel Lake and inlet and outer streams	Year round; any hour of the day or night	5 trout
Bruneau River and tributary streams	Year round; any hour of the day or night	10 trout and 10 mountain whitefish
Dry Creek Reservoir	Year round; any hour of the day or night	5 trout and 15 warmwater game fish of which no more than 10 may be black bass.
Jarbidge River, West Fork and East Fork and its tributary streams	Year round; any hour of the day or night	5 trout and 10 mountain whitefish, except the possession of bull trout is prohibited.
	Special Regulations: All captured bull trout must be released immediately. Please report the capture of bull trout to NDOW Eastern Region Office.
Marys River and tributary streams	Year round; any hour of the day or night	5 trout
Ruby Mountains and East Humboldt Range High Lakes (except for Angel Lake)	Year round; any hour of the day or night	10 trout
Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge	Year round in all areas except as posted. Refuge is open 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset.	From Jan 1 - June 14: limit is 3 trout and 5 black bass. From June 15 - Dec 31:* limit is 3 trout and 10 black bass. Minimum size for black bass is 10 inches total length.
	Special Regulations: The areas of the Collection Ditch that are open to fishing may be fished with artificial lures only. Chumming is prohibited. It is unlawful to clean or fillet fish within the boundaries of the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The possession or use of live or dead bait fish (including crayfish and amphibians) is prohibited anywhere on the refuge. For boating regulations contact the Refuge Manager. The Gallagher Hatchery rearing, brood and spring ponds, and Cave Creek on the west side of the County Road are closed to fishing. See Boating Regulations for boating regulations.
South Fork Reservoir and the South Fork of the Humboldt River from the Lucky Nugget Subdivision causeway downstream to its confluence with the Humboldt River	Year round; any hour of the day or night. Exception: March 1 - June 30, catch and release fishing only for black bass.	5 trout, 1 black bass, 1 white bass hybrid (wiper) and 5 channel catfish. *Minimum size for black bass and white bass hybrids is 15 inches total length.
For Reese River regulations please see the Southern Region regulations for Nye County on Southern Region Regulations.
South Fork of the Humboldt River from the Lucky Nugget Subdivision causeway upstream to Lee	Year round; any hour of the day or night	1 trout
	Special Regulations: Only artificial lures with single barbless hooks may be used.
Wildhorse Reservoir and all inlet and outlet streams including Penrod Creek up to the bridge below the Gold Creek Ranger Station	Year round; any hour of the day or night. Exception: March 1 - June 30, catch and release fishing only for black bass.	5 trout, 1 black bass, 1 white bass hybrid (wiper) and 5 channel catfish. Minimum size for black bass and white bass hybrids is 15 inches total length. No limit on yellow perch (unlimited possession).
Willow Creek Reservoir	Year round; any hour of the day or night	5 trout and 15 warmwater game fish of which no more than 10 may be black bass and 5 may be channel catfish. Minimum size for black bass is 10 inches total length.
Wilson Sink Reservoir and its outlet and inlet stream up to State Route 11	Year round; any hour of the day or night	5 trout and 10 mountain whitefish and 10 black bass. Minimum size for black bass is 10 inches total length.
ELKO COUNTY CLOSED WATERS: In Ruby Valley, fishing is prohibited in Gallagher Hatchery rearing, brood and spring ponds; in Cave Creek west of the county road; and on Franklin Lake Wildlife Management Area.
Eureka County
Tonkin Springs Reservoir	Year round; any hour of the day or night	5 trout
	Special Regulations: Artificial lures only. Stream above reservoir is closed to fishing.
EUREKA COUNTY CLOSED WATERS: Tonkin Springs Creek (Denay Creek) from origin to its confluence with Tonkin Springs Reservoir.
Lander County
Groves Lake, Kingston Creek, and Big Creek	Year round; any hour of the day or night	5 trout
	Special Regulations: Only boats without motors and boats with electric motors are permitted.
Smith Creek Reservoir	April 1 - Nov. 15, any hour of the day or night.	1 trout
	Special Regulations: Only artificial lures with single barbless hooks may be used. Please respect “No Trespassing” signs as posted (from the inlet of Smith Creek along the north shore, including the dam) by the private land owner.
Willow Creek Pond and Reservoir including inlet and outlet streams	Year round; 1 hour before sunrise to 2 hours after sunset.	5 trout and 5 black bass. Minimum size for black bass is 10 inches total length. No limit on yellow perch (unlimited possession).
White Pine County
Cave Lake, Steptoe Creek, and Cave Creek	Year round; any hour of the day or night.	5 trout
	Special Regulations: On Cave Lake, boats must be operated at a speed which leaves a flat wake and in no case exceeds 5 nautical miles per hour. Note: Lake access at Cave Lake State Park will be closed in 2023 as the lake will be drained so engineers can work to restore and repair the Cave Creek Dam.
Cold Creek Reservoir	Year round; any hour of the day or night.	5 trout and 5 black bass; Minimum size for black bass is 10 inches total length.
Comins Lake	Year round; any hour of the day or night.	5 trout and 5 black bass. No limit on northern pike (unlimited possession).
	Health Advisory: The Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health has issued a health advisory recommending no consumption of largemouth bass or northern pike from Comins Lake due to elevated mercury levels in their flesh. Note: If caught, please release tagged northern pike. Tags are located near the dorsal fin.
Illipah Reservoir and Creek	Year round; any hour of the day or night.	5 trout
	Special Regulations: On Illipah Reservoir, boats must be operated at a speed which leaves a flat wake and in no case exceeds 5 nautical miles per hour.
Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Elko and White Pine Counties	Year round in all areas except as posted. Refuge is open 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset.	From Jan. 1 through June 14: 3 trout and 5 black bass. From June 15 through Dec. 31: 3 trout and 10 black bass. *Minimum size for black bass is 10 inches total length.
	Special Regulations: Those areas of the Collection Ditch that are open to fishing may be fished with artificial lures only. Chumming is prohibited. It is unlawful to clean or fillet fish within the boundaries of the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The possession or use of live or dead bait fish (including crayfish and amphibians) is prohibited anywhere on the refuge. For boating regulations contact the Refuge Manager. The Gallagher Hatchery rearing, brood and spring ponds, and Cave Creek on the west side of the County Road are closed to fishing. See Boating Regulations.
Snake Mountain High Lakes	Year round; any hour of the day or night.	Catch and Release Only
	Special Regulations: Artificial lures only.
Tailings Creek, Cleve Creek, Silver Creek, and White River	Year round; any hour of the day or night.	5 trout
WHITE PINE COUNTY CLOSED WATERS: Cold Creek Springs (Spring Pond) and creek above Cold Creek Reservoir in the Diamond Range of White Pine County.