Wildhorse Reservoir was constructed in 1937 and reconstructed in 1970. Its primary purpose is for irrigation storage and, therefore, has large seasonal drawdowns. Most of the surrounding land is administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, but is leased to the Duck Valley Indian Reservation. Additionally, Wildhorse State Recreation Area and some private property surround the reservoir
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- Region
- Eastern
- County
- Elko
- Type of water
- Lake or Reservoir
Fishing Report
Wildhorse is ice free. Shoreline anglers are having moderate success with trout up to 20 inches. Try flashy spinners or bait a couple of feet under a bobber. For fly anglers, try indicator fishing with small nymphs or stripping streamers in the shallows.
The new Nevada State Record for yellow perch was caught on 12/13/23. The fish weighed in at 1lb 9oz and measured 14.125 inches. Even with a catch this big, perch fishing will remain slow and fish will be small due to the die off last year.
Wildhorse Reservoir Angler Guide Information
04-18-2024Stocking Updates
| Stocked | Species | Inches | Date Stocked | Year to Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2520 | Rainbow Trout | 10.6 | 11-01-2023 | 67629 |
| 8928 | Rainbow Trout | 8.0 | 10-25-2023 | 65109 |
| 9702 | Rainbow Trout | 7.7 | 10-23-2023 | 56181 |
| 5808 | Rainbow Trout | 8 | 10-18-2023 | 46479 |
| 2514 | Rainbow Trout | 8.4 | 10-18-2023 | 40671 |
| 9452 | Rainbow Trout | 7.7 | 10-16-2023 | 38157 |
| 1717 | Brown Trout | 10.7 | 10-11-2023 | 7097 |
| 5380 | Brown Trout | 10.7 | 10-10-2023 | 5380 |
| 2527 | Tiger Trout | 9.8 | 07-14-2023 | 7801 |
| 5274 | Tiger Trout | 9.5 | 06-29-2023 | 5274 |
| 3930 | Rainbow Trout | 8.6 | 06-14-2023 | 28705 |
| 7434 | Rainbow Trout | 8.5 | 06-13-2023 | 24775 |
| 4301 | Rainbow Trout | 10 | 06-09-2023 | 17341 |
| 675 | Wiper | 10 | 06-07-2023 | 675 |
| 16000 | Channel Catfish | 4 | 06-07-2023 | 16000 |
| 6520 | Rainbow Trout | 9.2 | 05-24-2023 | 6520 |
| 6520 | Rainbow Trout | 9.2 | 05-24-2023 | 13040 |
Pertinent Information
At maximum capacity, the reservoir covers 2,830 acres, has a maximum depth of 70 feet, and an average depth of 40 feet. It has a coldwater, put-grow-take trout fishery and a self-sustaining warmwater fishery. Coldwater game species include rainbow, brown, bowcutt (rainbow x cutthroat hybrid), and tiger trout (brown x brook trout hybrid). Warmwater game species consists of smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, channel catfish, wipers (white bass x striper hybrid), and yellow perch. Harvest lengths of larger than 16 inches usually occur for rainbow trout and 19 inches for bowcutt trout. Wipers generally range from 14 to 25 inches, channel catfish from 14 to 28 inches, and black bass from 8 to 17 inches. Lures are best for trout from May through June and mid-September through October, and nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, corn, and Power Bait during December through February while ice fishing. Fly-fishing is popular in early spring and late fall. Shore and still fishing from a boat are successful; however, trolling is more productive in summer. Spring and early summer are best for bass using crankbaits and rubber worms, and for catfish using stink baits and liver. Use small jigs and worms for yellow perch. Wild Horse State Recreation Area has day use, camping, and a boat ramp and BLM has a day use and campground area near the north end of the reservoir. Wild Horse Resort has a motel, RV hookup, restaurant, bar, and a convenience store. Duck Valley Indian Reservation provides campsites and a boat launch.