Fishing the Duck Valley Reservation, Owyhee, NV

May 14

I highly recommend that those of you who are willing and able to travel for great fishing consider an extended trip to the lakes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Owyhee, Nevada. I recently returned from a day and half stop on a return from Utah and lets just say that my next visit will be sooner and longer.

The Shoshone-Paiute Tribes manage their three high elevation reservoirs for trophy rainbow trout (Billy Shaw (2,830 acres), Mountain View Reservoir (640), and Sheep Creek Reservoir (855)). And boy did they find the formula. Billy Shaw is fly-fishing only with a one fish bag limit of and the others all gear with a 5 fish limit. In speaking with the tribal Game Warden all three have lots of big quality fish.

I last fished Mountain View and Billy Shaw perhaps 20 years ago based upon an article in the former NW Fly Fishing magazine. The fishing was excellent, and the then trophy managed Billy Shaw produced several fish over twenty inches. Mountain View produced a steady stream of 17-inch fish. They were suckers for damsel nymphs, my favorite pattern and style of fishing.

On a return from an extended backpacking trip in Utah (May 2024), I stopped to wet a line and found the fishing positively stunning. After a day and a half of fishing (11 hours total) on Mountain View I brought to hand 30 and jumped or crackered off an equal number. And the fish were positively ginormous and some of the prettiest I have seen. Some were leopard spotted and others with pink blushes. The smaller fish (15 -17 inches!) were accobates and reminded me of Kamloops rainbows. The larger fish even launched themselves and the sight of a 24” aerial rainbow is worth the drive. Forty percent of the fish I brought to hand were over 20 inches with the largest 23 and I jumped off a couple that were larger! I talked to a fellow fisher that taped both 25 and 27” fish in Mountain View! Billy Shaw is reported to have bigger fish but I could find no reason to wander. Why the big fish? These shallow lakes are a veritable food factory. The fish respond well to leeches, pollywogs and balanced leeches, particularly black. Several coughed up black and olive snails perhaps accounting for their decided preferences. There was an excellent midge hatch and I know from past experience that damsel nymphs are a favorite a little later in the season.

These fisheries are a tribal economic development effort (and a very successful one at that). In 2024 the cost for a daily license is $25 dollars a day and an annual license is $180. There is dry camping around all of the lakes and 18 sites at Mountain View with power. Powered sites are coming to Sheep Creek.

So the positives:

1. Big, willing fish that readily take a fly

2. Assessable lakes that can be fished with either boats, pontoons or tubes

3. Pretty country, especially if you like high deserts

4. There is great birding. I was serenaded by cranes, western grebes were in full dance mode and put on quite a show and the scooters were busily trying to drown their potential mates

Negatives:

1. It’s a long, long drive. 8 ½ hours from Portland. Like Montana or Kamloops. Its suitable for a 4-6 day trip, not a weekend unless you live in Boise or Elko.

2. Limited services in the area including motels. Mountain Home, an hour north is the closest lodging and full service groceries.

3. Wind. It can be windy, and you should watch the forecast and prepare accordingly. You are at 5,400 feet and there is nary a tree in sight. Reminded me of fishing Grass Valley, Oregon. However the Owyhee River can be failsafe if the wind is high.

The tribe has a fishing report online and I know that the fly shops in Boise are a resource as it is a popular weekend destination for the area.

I regret not returning sooner to experience this great fishery. I will return soon……… with a bigger net.