Illipah Reservoir was created in 1953 when Illipah Creek was impounded for irrigation storage. In an agreement with the landowner that guaranteed a minimum pool, the Department of Wildlife paid for the construction of a new dam and the reservoir was enlarged in 1981. Although the reservoir is located almost entirely on private land, adjacent land is managed for recreation by BLM under a cooperative agreement with the Department of Wildlife. The public can access and fish the entire reservoir.
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- Region
- Eastern
- County
- White Pine
- Type of water
- Lake or Reservoir
Fishing Report
Illipah Reservoir is 100% open water and ~80% of capacity. Angling should be decent, however the water is murky with recent snowpack runoff. Rainbow trout averaging 9 inches were stocked 05/11/23. Anglers can expect to catch 8-to-10-inch rainbow trout using a variety of night crawlers, PowerBait, and spinners.
05-24-2023Stocking Updates
| Stocked | Species | Inches | Date Stocked | Year to Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2511 | Rainbow Trout | 9.6 | 05-11-2023 | 2511 |
| 5520 | Rainbow Trout | 8.6 | 05-31-2023 | 8031 |
Pertinent Information
At capacity, Illipah Reservoir covers 70 surface acres and has a maximum depth of 50 feet. Rainbow trout and a self-sustaining population of brown trout reside in the reservoir. Good fishing can be found year around from shore and float tubes, but peak success occurs in spring and fall. Winter ice fishing (December through February) can also be good. Power Bait, nightcrawlers, and salmon eggs along with the usual selection of spinners and lures (Mepps, Panther Martins, and Dardevles) do well for trout. Fly-fishing with prince nymphs, wooly buggers, sheep creek specials, and pheasant tails on a sinking line is popular. The BLM maintains the campgrounds with picnic tables, fire pits, windscreens, restrooms, and trash barrels. An undeveloped boat launch exists.