Southern Nevada Fish Reports

The action over the weekend was smoking for the Hunter and Angler Education volunteers who descended upon the park for training. Larry Brinker, (NDOW hunter education instructor) caught and released over 20 bass in a one hour period. Included in his catch was a 4.5-pound largemouth. The crappie action was fast for anglers using small jigs in both pink-and-white and green-and-white colorations.

Striped bass action has been consistent in most pockets along this stretch of the river. Anchovies have been the bait of choice and the fish caught are averaging from one to three pounds. One local angler brought in nine bluegill -- some pushing the one-pound mark – while fishing with night crawlers near Laughlin Bay. With the sunfish starting to nest, action should continue to

Smallmouth bass remain the top fish among those anglers who are catching. Working the rocky shelves with various lures is producing the best results for these fish. The average fish has been coming in at just under three pounds. Striped bass in the area of Willow Beach are still making their presence known and a few lucky anglers are bringing in fish in the double

Catfish were planted in the ponds at Floyd Lamb, Lorenzi, Sunset and Veterans Memorial parks May 14 and averaged 13.5 inches. Please keep in mind that the only live bait allowed in the ponds are night crawlers or mealworms. With the exception of salmon eggs, no part of any fish may be used in these waters.

Reports were light from anglers on the Nevada side but a few heading out of South Cove were pleased with the results of their outing. A total of 79 striped bass were caught with most weighing in at two to three pounds and a few pushing over four. Rat-L-Traps were the lure of choice. Best time to be on the water for stripers is

Crappie, largemouth and trout are all hitting well throughout the lake and taking almost everything thrown at the them. A few anglers were taking bass in the two- to three-pound range while most of the crappie are only hand-size.

Anglers are reporting that some of the quieter backwaters in the area are great holding spots for largemouth bass and sunfish species. Night crawlers and plastic imitations are working well. Striped bass have been hitting on anchovies and those caught are averaging two to three pounds, but it has not been uncommon for an angler to bring in a six-pounder.

Willow Beach has been a productive stretch of water, with one angler reporting that he is consistently catching 15- to 20-pound striped bass between midnight and 3 a.m. Anglers are also reporting more catches of smallmouth bass along this area, many around three pounds that are hitting on the shad imitation lures intended for stripers. Smallmouth bass all through the lake have been providing anglers

– Bluegill action has been good in most of the ponds this past week for anglers using mealworms and night crawlers. The exceptions are those times when storm cells pass through the valley, slowing down the bite considerably. The May channel catfish plant is slated for sometime this week.

Catch rates continue to look up for anglers. Stripers have been found boiling in the Vegas Wash and at the north end of Boulder Basin. Some anglers report that when using live shad as bait it is difficult to not catch fish. Some anglers have found success chumming with a mixture of anchovies and corn; then when stripers come in they cast Rat-L-Traps or other