Desert Creek lies within the West Walker River drainage in Lyon County. It originates from the Sweetwater Mountains in California at greater than 9,000 feet in elevation. Flow is controlled from Lobdell Lake (CA) and the water from Desert Creek is diverted at the lower end for irrigation use in Smith Valley.
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- Region
- Western
- County
- Lyon
- Type of water
- Creek or Stream
Stocking Updates
| Stocked | Species | Inches | Date Stocked | Year to Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2045 | Tiger Trout | 9.4 | 05-16-2022 | 2045 |
| 501 | Rainbow Trout | 9.8 | 06-09-2022 | 501 |
| 981 | Brown Trout | 9.1 | 06-09-2022 | 981 |
| 511 | Rainbow Trout | 8.8 | 06-06-2022 | 1012 |
| 719 | Rainbow Trout | 10.3 | 10-05-2022 | 1731 |
| 750 | Rainbow Trout | 9.4 | 10-05-2022 | 2581 |
Pertinent Information
Desert Creek is small (about 9 feet wide and 2 to 3 feet deep), sits at an elevation from 5,800 to 7,800 ft in Nevada, is mostly located within the Toiyabe National Forest, and has about 10 fishable miles. It is generally frozen in winter and snow levels make much of it inaccessible. Beginning in March most years, anglers can catch rainbow, brown, and brook trout by using nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, Power Bait, or flies. There is a Forest Service campground (no charge) with restrooms and tables at the lower end and primitive camping is very popular along much of the creek. Indian petroglyphs between 1,000 and 4,000 years old can be found within a 1/2 mile downstream of the USFS campground. There is high recreational diversity in Desert Creek including birding, biking, hiking, and camping as well as fishing and hunting.