Southern Nevada Fish Reports

Anglers are reporting increased largemouth and smallmouth bass activity. While these black bass species may not be as fully active as they are later in spring, anglers are pleased with the catch rates. Morning is the best time to try your luck for these fish with dark plastics or small jigs working well. With the colder temperatures feeding activity is still minimal. Don't get discouraged

Anglers hitting the local ponds have had sporadic success this past week. Lorenzi pond has had the best catch rates with fishermen taking rainbows with Berkley Power Eggs. Some people were doing well at Floyd Lamb with small spinners over the weekend. NDOW planted fish in the ponds at Lorenzi Park, Sunset Park, Boulder City and Beatty early on Tuesday.

Anglers have had good success netting shad for bait from the Vegas Wash area. While the shad are smaller than a couple weeks ago, this size has been consistently bringing in striped bass averaging three pounds. With rains in the forecast, expect turbid waters from runoff and possible debris in the water.

The ice measures about four to six inches thick inches thick near the center of the reservoir but remains thin along the edges. Ice fishermen are pulling rainbow trout through holes drilled along the fishing dock. The fish are in the 11- to 13-inch range and taking night crawlers or PowerBait.

The fishing report is minimal this week, with the most notable catch being a couple carp caught in the area of Sunshine Bay. There is a possibility of winds gusting 15 to 25 miles per hour through the weekend.

One lucky angler reportedly caught and released multiple stripers over 20 pounds while trolling with swimbaits north of Willow Beach Marina. Coves north and south of Cottonwood Cove have been producing striped bass around the ten-pound mark. Crankbaits and anchovies have both worked well.

NDOW continues to plant local ponds with rainbow trout periodically. The fish will take night crawlers, PowerBait or similar products, and small spinners or flies.

Anglers are reporting good shad activity in the Vegas Wash area. Live shad continue to be the most productive bait, though some anglers have caught fish with jigging spoons. Stripers have been found in coves and along steep canyon walls in 50 to 80 feet of water. Also look for them along drop offs. Action for largemouth and smallmouth bass is slowly picking up with

The center of the reservoir has about six inches of ice, according to Ranger Ben Johnson. But the ice thins considerably along the shore line. Those that were ice fishing this past week accessed the ice from the fishing dock and were rewarded with 12- to 13-inch rainbows. The fish were caught on night crawlers.

Thin ice conditions continue to make the lake unsafe for ice fishing. Contact the park staff for current ice conditions, 775-962-5103.

Anglers have been left blaming weather and water releases for slow fishing. Despite this, persistence has paid off for many. One local angler reeled in a five-pound catfish using anchovies while fishing from shoreline in the Community Park area. Another caught a four-pound striper while working a Storm swimbait from the shoreline near Rotary Park. The Sunshine Peninsula has been productive for lingering rainbow

Some participants in recent bass tournaments report that the action has improved for largemouth and smallmouth bass as well as the quality of fish being caught. Working grass beds in the coves with plastics in varying colors has worked well. Striped bass have been found in deeper water, and anglers are using Carolina rigs to catch the fish.

NDOW planted rainbow trout in the local ponds on Tuesday and have done so almost weekly for the past few weeks. PowerBait and night crawlers have been working well for taking these fish.

Reports from Lake Mead have been quite varied this past week. Some anglers haven't had so much as a bite while others are bringing in striped bass on a consistent basis. Live shad have been the ticket for stripers, but also are working for the occasional tilapia and catfish. The areas around 33 Hole, Sand Island and Boxcar Cove have all been producing fish. With