Comins Lake was built in 1953 from the realignment of Highway 93, which created the dam for this impoundment. The Department of Wildlife acquired the reservoir as part of the 3-C Ranch purchase in 1999, which is situated on the Steptoe Valley Wildlife Management Area. The reservoir has been chemically treated twice to remove northern pike, first in 1989 and most recently in the summer of 2015. In both instances, northern pike decimated the reservoir’s trout and bass populations through predation. Predictably, once pike exhaust their food supply, they turn cannibalistic. This results in a population crash and development of stunted-sized pike. Since its most recent renovation, Comins Lake has been restocked with trout and largemouth bass. Largemouth bass are self-sustaining and generally need on further stocking, while trout are stocked annually in the spring and fall.
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- Region
- Eastern
- County
- White Pine
- Type of water
- Lake or Reservoir
Fishing Report
Fishing has been slow since ice off for trout. The lake is a brackish color from leaching of tannins from the surrounding vegetation as well as from siltation coming in from Steptoe Creek. Despite slow catch rates anglers can expect to catch 14-to-18-inch Rainbow Trout and the occasional Brown Trout and possibly a Tiger Trout. Largemouth Bass in the 10-to-12-inch range will be caught, however, with cold water temperatures they are not quite active yet. The spawn is in full swing for Northern Pike and anglers are encouraged to target Northern Pike while they are fishing. Please note that NDOW has placed radio tags in several Northern Pike. These pike will have an orange floy tag near their dorsal fin and a small antenna (~ 7 inches long) coming from their stomach. Please return these fish to the water for research purposes.
Comins Lake Angler Guide Information
05-24-2023Stocking Updates
| Stocked | Species | Inches | Date Stocked | Year to Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5006 | Rainbow Trout | 9.6 | 05-08-2023 | 5006 |
| 3532 | Rainbow Trout | 8.8 | 05-16-2023 | 8538 |
Pertinent Information
Comins Lake is fed by Steptoe and Cave creeks from the east and occasionally by Willow Creek from the south. At capacity, the lake covers 410 surface acres, has a maximum depth of 14 feet, and an average depth of about 8 feet. Rainbow trout, brown trout, and largemouth bass currently inhabit the reservoir. Due to the tremendous amount of feed, fish grow very rapidly and reach healthy sizes. Fishing for trout is usually best in the spring and fall while bass fishing is most productive during the warmer summer months. Bait anglers find Power Bait, salmon eggs, or night crawlers fished off the bottom with minimal weight is best for trout. Small spinners and spoons are also popular with casters, but a fly behind a bubble can produce excellent results. Fly-fishing is popular for trout and anglers have the best success using wooly buggers and damsels in the spring as well as nymphs and midges under a strike indicator the rest of the year. Remember to use a heavy leader. For those willing to brave the elements, weighted jigs (green or yellow) seem to work best for ice fishing. There is a primitive boat launch along the west side of the reservoir along with restrooms. Overnight camping and fires are not allowed.