Adventure Number 1,011: Knott Creek Reservoir and the Pine Forest

After just getting back from our six day road trip to the most eastern part of Nevada, and having had seen more wildlife and places to visit, we decided to plan for one more excursion to the Pine Forest and specifically to Knott Creek Reservoir.



Now you can get to Knott Creek several different ways, but we always opt for the off-road experience... which if you're leaving Reno/Sparks head north to Gerlach, through the Black Rock Desert, too Soldier Meadows, past Summit Lake, through the Sheldon and right up to the turn-off to Knott Creek, Onion and Blue Lakes. All in all the total drive time took about five hours.

Please be advised that the roads are rough and can be steep at times and only high clearance 4X4 vehicles should be driven into the Reservoir. All large campers, trailers and RV's will not be able to make it in, so if you do plan on visiting, be sure to plan on camping more primitively: tent, sleeping bag, cots...etc.

OK...so we started out with every intention on landing what we've heard referred too as 'Old Moe', the largest Trout living in Knott Creek Reservoir, but soon learned that normal Nevada fly patterns at this Reservoir just don't work as easily as they do in other Nevada Reservoirs. Sure the Department of Wildlife says that Emergers, Wooly Buggers and Leeach Patterns work best, but I'm here to say these fish have everything to pick from for breakfast, lunch, and dinner whether it be the fresh water shrimp, over abundance of mayflies, leeches or whatever else their heart desires.



After hours upon hours of fishing and dozens of once barbed now barb less hooks...All I can say is getting skunked at fishing is better than any day at the office.



Thankfully we met a few fellow fishermen that put our woes to rest by telling us that they too had been to the reservoir every year since back in 1964 and had the experience of being skunked but skunked for the entire five days. Lucky for us, we only experienced one day.

TRIP PHOTOS
Be sure to check out the recent photos of the Knott Creek Reservoir trip or send us some of your fishing adventures or fishing tips for Knott Creek: info@fishthewest.com.

Regulations
Regulations and seasons at the reservoir are as follows: Angling season is open from the second Saturday in June through November 15 and only artificial lures and single barb less hooks can be used. If you are so lucky as to wrangle up one of these large trout, you can only keep one in your possession a day so long that he's over 18 inches in length.

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"You gotta be tough to be old"