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Willow Creek Reservoir, Elko County, Nevada

Willow Creek Reservoir is a remote warm water reservoir in the northwest Elko County.  It is on the dirt road between Tuscarora and Midas.  The lake is said to contain large mouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, cutthroat trout and white catfish.  As is the case of many interesting places in northeastern Nevada, not much is written on this reservoir.  Its history is a mystery to me.  I've been told that Charlotte and Jay Kump might know a bit about this subject, but have not had a chance to ask them yet.  More will be added here 'as time goes by'.


July 16, 2002 up-date:  I spoke with Mr. Marv Churchfield yesterday.  He said the Willow Creek dam way constructed in 1931.  It was conceived of by Stanley Ellison.  It was a WPA project for flood control and irrigation.

 

USGS Topographic Map of Willow Creek Reservoir

USGS Topographic Map of Willow Creek Reservoir Area

 

USGS Aerial Photograph of Willow Creek Reservoir

 

Click on photos to see original high clarity digital photographs

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Willow Creek Reservoir.  Cows are grazing near the reservoir inlet.

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Dam - low water level - been dry here

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Back side of dam

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Spillway area - very low lake level

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'Dam' good kids

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Willow Creek downstream (west) of dam.

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You certainly don't have to bring your own rock to sit on here (looking east across reservoir).

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NEVADA FISH BY WATERS

FISH STOCKING UPDATE updated 8/22/01

 

WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR in Elko County:
  • Season is open year around, any hour of the day or night.
  • Limit is 5 trout and 15 warmwater game fish of which not more than 10 may be black bass. Minimum size for black bass is 11 inches.

 

 

Willow Creek Reservoir

Willow Creek Reservoir is located 15 miles east of Midas on dirt road. Known primarily for white crappie at eight to 12 inches and some largemouth bass. The best time to fish is May and June, and fishing is fair in July. Fall fishing for crappie becomes very difficult but can produce fish in the deeper water. Boat fishing is best, but shore fishing deeper, drop off areas is productive. Trout fishing is very slow, but persistence may hook a nice native Lahontan cutthroat trout. Channel catfish are showing up commonly in the three to eight pound range.

 

 

 

Man drowns while trying to swim to boat

Friday, June 05, 1998

 MIDAS -- A fisherman who was trying to swim to a boat drowned at Willow Creek Reservoir about 75 miles northwest of Elko.
      The Elko County Sheriff's Department on Wednesday recovered the body of Scott Harding, 35, Crescent Valley.
      Harding apparently drowned Tuesday while trying to swim to the drifting boat, Sheriff Neil Harris said. He said extremely cold water probably played a role in the death.
      Harding apparently went to the reservoir to fish but couldn't get a motor boat to start. After he left the boat, the wind picked up and blew it, along with a companion in the boat, out away from the dock.
      The woman in the boat was unable to paddle back to the dock with just one oar, so Harding took off his clothes and dove in toward the boat.

 

 

 

 

Additional Information:  Northeastern Nevada Museum

 


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Recent Photos by Dan Turner