Because of problems with the dam and head gate, the once popular fishery of Willow Creek Reservoir has been barren of fish for the last five years.

But with the dam and head gate now in good working order, the Nevada Department of Wildlife, along with partners Barrick Goldstrike and Nevada Bighorns Unlimited Midas Chapter have started the rebuilding process of this fishery.

With money donated by Barrick Goldstrike and Midas, the department has stocked catchable sized catfish in Willow Creek Reservoir. In addition, the department has been transplanting bass and white crappie from other Nevada waters into this water.

"It's an expensive process," says Chris Drake, "Without the $3,000 that Barrick and $5,000 that Midas donated, it would be a much slower and more difficult process."

As it is, Drake says that it will be four to five years before anglers will be catching the progeny of the crappie and bass that are being transplanted this year. The catfish, however, will be stocked in sizes ranging from three to four inches all the way up to 15- or 16-inch keeper fish and anglers will be able to enjoy that part of the fishery immediately.

"The first batch of bass consisted of Alabama spotted bass fingerling, which came from the Sparks Marina," said Drake. "The white crappie were transplanted from Chimney Creek Reservoir which is only about 45 miles from Willow Creek Reservoir. The catfish were purchased from a commercial grower in northern California."

Other department fish capture, transplant and stocking procedures are planned for the fall of 2008 and again in the spring of 2009 to further augment the existing fish populations in Willow Creek Reservoir.

Drake is also asking that any of the adult bass or crappie that anglers may catch over the next couple of years be returned to the water so that they may spawn and help rebuild the fish population in the reservoir.

"It takes at least four or five years to rebuild a warm water fishery to decent carry over levels of adult fish, and sometimes longer if normal climatic conditions are interrupted (drought)," says Drake. "If the larger fish are removed by anglers, there may be gaps in production years or in a worst case scenario, they may not have spawned at all and we have to start over."

With a lot of help from Barrick and Midas, and a little help from anglers, Willow Creek Reservoir should once again be a popular destination for Nevada anglers.