The cold weather that has settled on Nevada means that now is the time to enjoy the state’s second fishing season. It’s that time of year when ice blankets the state’s lakes to create what veteran anglers call “hard water” fishing.

According to Joe Doucette, information officer for the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), some of the state’s better ice fishing can be found in the northeast part of the state. Here, anglers will enjoy excellent fishing through the ice for scrappy trout.

One note of caution is that anglers should be extremely cautious when walking on ice because warm weather and water currents can quickly make conditions unsafe. As a general rule, if ice is less than two inches thick, stay off. Even so, when the weather warms, ice that is several inches think may be slushy and unsafe. And never attempt to drive an automobile on a frozen lake, regardless of the thickness of the ice.

Doucette said one of the better ice fishing spots in the state is Comins Lake, located seven miles south of Ely along U.S. 93. The lake is now frozen and anglers are catching rainbow trout, including some that weigh three pounds or more. Jigs tipped with live worms and weighted wooly bugger flies work well for catching the fish. Temperatures are now extremely cold, so dress warmly when heading to the lake.

Cave Lake, nestled in the picturesque Schell Creek Range southeast of Ely along State Route 486 is another location that is worth a visit, if for nothing else than the spectacular winter scenery. During the winter months, the ice may reach a thickness of 24 inches; so ice-fishing enthusiasts may need a little effort to auger a hole in the ice. PowerBait, worms and jigs all catch fish in the lake.

“Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge is one of the best-kept fishing secrets in the Great Basin,” said Doucette. Located slightly more than an hour’s drive south of Elko in Ruby Valley, the area has good fishing for trophy trout. Because the area is fed by springs, ice conditions can be unsafe, so anglers usually fish the area close to the boat ramps. Try using 1/32-ounce jigs, as well as such common trout baits as corn, worms and PowerBait.

Anglers are catching trout and yellow perch through the ice at Wildhorse Reservoir in northern Elko County near the Idaho state line. Even though the water level is very low due to drought, fishing has been fairly good at the lake. It is located north of the town of Elko along State Route 225. It is not uncommon for anglers to fill their ice chests with perch by jigging with mealworms or small earthworms.

Anglers can find good ice fishing at Eagle Valley Reservoir in Spring Valley State Park east of Pioche. Small jigs that are tipped with live worms work well for stocked rainbow trout. The lake is about 175 miles north of Las Vegas and can be reached via State Route 322.

Doucette said that anglers should carefully read the state’s fishing regulations brochure for specific information about ice fishing regulations, such as the rule that stipulates that holes that are cut in the ice cannot be larger than 10 inches in diameter.

The brochures may be obtained free at most sporting goods stores, NDOW offices and are online at www.ndow.org.