Gance Creek
Independence Mountains, Elko County, Nevada

Gance Creek is located on the eastern slope of the spectacular Independence Mountain Range near a place called Saval Ranch. Preliminary reports indicated that there would be fish in the creek. After circumventing the private property at the mouth of the canyon and being sure we were not trespassing, we found a little campground with the creek running through. After a disappointing encounter with trash from the last group of campers to use the campground, we began trying for the Lahontans in the stream. We found that the fish were very small but very hungry and eager to take the bait.

Jim tried his assortment of flies in the larger beaver ponds but found that the water was frustratingly small for managing his tackle. Ryan and I walked downstream with our hooks and worms and fished the "rapids" (it's a pretty small stream) and caught a few panfryers. Lahontan Cutthroat populations are threatened in most areas of the Great Basin, and absent from many waters. Exceptions include Gance Creek and handful of other mountain streams in northern Nevada, as well as Pyramid Lake near Reno.

These are some of the most beautifully marked cutthroats we have ever seen. Too bad they weren't bigger.

This a view from the highway a considerable ways north of the Saval Ranch turnoff to Gance Creek.

 

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