Southern Nevada Fish Reports

According to the ranger at Spring Valley State Park, fishing has been good over the past week and the ice still remains safe to walk on for now. Early run-off has filled the lake to capacity. Rainbows in the 12- to 14-inch range are taking mealworms and night crawlers combined with a bit of mini-marshmallow. Browns in the 12- to 14-inch range also

Due to the start of run-off, the water levels are rising in the lake. Due to the rising water level, warming temperatures and windy conditions, the ice has become very unsafe.

The warm weather has made fishing good from both shore and boat. Planter rainbows have been moving down stream with striped bass right behind them. Be careful in the marshy areas as lower water levels are creating muddy shorelines. Bait options are night crawlers for the trout and anchovies for the stripers. Both have been catching fish.

Fishing reports are slow for Mohave. Top-water lures are the top bait with anchovies being a typical second option. Good top-water lures for Mohave are A.C. Plugs in a rainbow trout pattern or the black and gold colorations. Action should improve as water temperatures increase.

The annual City Councilman Ricky Barlow Fishing Derby for kids will be held on Saturday, March 5 at Lorenzi Park. Check in with start at 8 a.m. For more information or to register a large group call 702-229-5443

Striper fishing continues to be slow in Vegas Wash and the areas surrounding it. Shad are in deep water making them difficult to catch. Fishermen have been using artificial baits with little success. The most successful fishermen were using jigs or jigging spoons at depths of 80-130 feet in the Boulder Beach area and near the mouth of Vegas Wash. Black bass fishing has been slow as well, but

Temperatures have been soaring into the 40’s during the days this past week, but ice still remains between 12 and 20 inches over most of the reservoir. Fishing has been good for most anglers using night crawlers or mealworms.

With almost no fishing pressure this past week, reports from this Lincoln County reservoir are minimal. Ice conditions remain good and rainbow trout are on the menu. Begin fishing with your bait suspended just below the ice. Then slowly begin dropping your bait at five to 10-minute intervals until you catch a fish. That will help you find the depth where the fish are holding.

Anglers are finding some success at the upper marsh for panfish and catfish. Mealworms or night crawlers below a bobber will catch fish.

Trout fishing has been exciting below Davis Dam. PowerBait and spinners have been catching stocked rainbows as well as a few carry over fish. If one bait doesn’t work try something different. Justin Smith weighed in a 26.5-pound, 41-inch striper at Rusty’s Riviera Marina. He caught the fish while casting a Glide Swimmer from the shoreline near Rotary Park.

Due to an equipment failure in its water delivery system, and the subsequent loss of its rainbow trout stocks, the Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery has suspended its recreational fish stocking program, which included weekly fish plants at Willow Beach. The hatchery did save and release approximately 11,000 trout in mid-December. Though their numbers will diminish over time, these and holdover fish from previous plants

Largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing has picked up. The coves with more aquatic plants are hiding some decent bass towards the central to south end of the lake. On the north end, striper fishing has been slow. A.C. Plugs brought in three striped bass ranging from 10 to 12 pounds out of Willow Beach. Early risers are catching these fish before 6 a.m.

Anglers are reporting that fishing is slow and live bait difficult to get. The best action for striped bass has been at depths of about 150 feet. When the live bait isn’t working try anchovies or jigging spoon. The weather should remain good with calm winds and temperatures near 70 degrees. Perhaps that will lead to some good fishing.

Ice and snow came in abundance over the weekend. The ice remains between 10 and 24 inches thick across most of the reservoir. Those few brave souls who have ventured out on the ice have found good fishing with night crawlers or PowerBait.

This is still one of the most underutilized waters with few anglers being seen on the reservoir. Ice conditions are good following the storm system that passed through over the weekend.