Illipah Reservoir

Located 40 miles west of Ely on US 50 in Whitepine County, Illipah Reservoir is a popular fishing and camping spot. The reservoir has a maximum depth of 50 feet and covers 70 acres. It has an undeveloped boat launch, as well as a pinion pine and juniper forest on the opposite side of the reservoir from the camping area.

Fishing

Fishing at the Illipah Reservoir is good year round, anytime of the day or night, but is best in the spring and fall. The reservoir is stocked twice yearly with rainbow trout. It also has a self-sustaining brown trout population. Rainbow trout average between 9.1 and 15.1 inches and brown trout average 15.5 inches. The daily limit to catch is five trout or five trout in possession. A boat is not necessary, but if you use a boat, keep it to less than five nautical miles per hour and leave a flat wake. Both types of trout are usually caught with natural bait or PowerBait. For fly fisherman, wooly buggers, zug bugs, prince nymphs and hare’s ears work well.

Camping

There are two camping areas at Illipah Reservoir, the North Loop set in a protected gully, and the South loop located on top of a bluff overlooking the reservoir. While the South loop campground offers the best views, the North loop is less exposed from the winds which are sometimes quite strong. There is no shade in either camping area. The BLM maintains the campsites and reservoir and each camp site has a picnic table, fire pit and wind screen. Vault toilets, sani huts and trash barrels are also easily accessible.

Illipah Reservoir is a great destination for fisherman. To get to the campground, turn at the highway sign for the reservoir off of Highway 50, continue 0.1 mile and turn left at the junction. The campground is 1.3 miles ahead.