Photo by Doug Nielson.

Years later, I learned that Nevada's northeastern corner is actually home to some of the Southwest's best trout fishing. In fact, this sparsely populated corner of the world has three waters that might very well be considered a trout-fishing Triple Crown.

Had my dad only known about Wildhorse Reservoir, South Fork Reservoir and the Ruby Marshes, then we might never have made it to our usual vacation destination.

Well, South Fork hadn't yet been built. But if it had, we might have been at least a couple of days late.

Each of these high-desert waters has a well-earned reputation among anglers as a place to reel in some big trout. If you're looking for pan-sized fish, make sure to bring a big pan.

Bass fishermen will find plenty of action to keep them happy, too.

WILDHORSE RESERVOIR
My first introduction to Wildhorse came when I was working as a game warden for the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

I was assigned to patrol the Nevada-Idaho state line and keep an eye out for some of the good folks from the Gem State who sometimes had a little trouble remembering where Idaho ends and Nevada begins.

Ordinarily, this wouldn't be an issue. But during the states' respective deer seasons, it seems to be a real problem.

While in the neighborhood, I took the opportunity to inspect the licenses of several fishermen. All of them had stringers of plump rainbows. Many of their fish were easily 16 inches or more, with good girth.

Dennis Dunn, a former resident of Colorado, has lived on the shores of Wildhorse Reservoir for the past nine years.

"Wildhorse is probably the top trout fishing destination in the Western United States. It beats 'em all," he said.

That's a pretty bold statement, especially from someone who lived in Colorado. But that's why Dunn retired here and runs his Wildhorse Ranch & Resort.

I asked him what sets Wildhorse apart from other trout fisheries.

Dunn cited the fast growth rates of the fish that are in the reservoir and the size of those available to anglers.

"A 10-inch fish will grow an inch in a month," he said, speaking of planter rainbows.

Fast growth is a trait common to many of Nevada's trout waters. Some impoundments boast a growth rate for planter rainbows that tops 2 inches per month!

Chris Crookshanks, a fisheries biologist for NDOW, once explained that these almost unbelievable growth rates are directly tied to the amazing amount of aquatic insects to be found in many of Nevada's most productive still-water trout fisheries.

At Wildhorse, fish reaching 3 to 5 pounds are not uncommon. According to NDOW records, the lake has given up a 12-pound, 9-ounce brown trout; a 4-pound, 2-ounce cutthroat; an 8-pound rainbow; and a 10-pound, 4-ounce bowcutt.

Dunn said that for the third year in a row, water is expected to go over the spillway. That means the reservoir will be full and should top 3,000 surface acres.

Boaters tend to do well with Flatfish in colors ranging from dark green to black, or with lures that mimic perch. These can be worked from a boat or from the shoreline, said Dunn.