Southern Nevada Fish Reports

While colder temperatures in the early mornings has discouraged some anglers, those willing to brave it have reported better fishing along with the added bonus of less competition on the water. Vegas Wash has been a popular spot with anglers bringing in both more and bigger fish that in the recent past. Stripers are taking lures, Sassy Shad, and jigs. The fish are hitting everywhere

Trout action has really picked up this week with rainbows up to 14 inches taking almost everything thrown at them, from baits to lures. Cold overnight temperatures are providing icy conditions along the shoreline and skim ice is forming over the upper end of the reservoir. This thin ice has been melting off by early afternoon. NDOW strongly urges anglers to use extreme caution

Action has been good for the few anglers who have tried their luck. Rainbow trout are willingly feeding, which means they are not being too picky.

High winds at the beginning of the week kept many anglers off the water. Going into the weekend, anglers can try their luck for striped bass. The fish are becoming more active as the weather cools. Anchovies have been the prime bait with Glide Swimmer lures working well also. Catfish continue to hit anchovies, often intended for striped bass, with anglers bringing in many

Anglers at Willow Beach have reported moderate success. Those who were able to get their lines deeper, usually by way of a boat, caught larger fish. Out of Cottonwood Cove, anglers are catching striped bass in the coves in about 40 feet of water. Anchovies have worked well in this area.

Rainbow were planted in each of the urban ponds early this week. PowerBait, Power Eggs, and small spinners should work well. Another choice is using a mini-marshmallow combined with a salmon egg.

The water level has risen two feet since last week to its current level of 1,084 feet. Remember, with that two-foot elevation change there is likely significant changes to the shoreline you may have come to know. Be aware of submerged land and other possible obstacles. Shad balls are deeper than they have been in recent weeks. Over the weekend bait and stripers were at

Fly fishermen did well this past weekend using small Woolly Buggers and nymph patterns for rainbows, while other angers were bringing in post spawning browns at the upper end of the lake using silver and gold Super-Dupers. Despite nighttime temperatures below freezing the lake is still ice free. The campground remains open though winterization of the park facilities has already been completed.

Trout action has been good this past week for anglers using lures and baits. Small spinning lures in gold or silver have been working well and bait fishermen are finding success using night crawlers with mini-marshmallow or rainbow PowerBait.

Catfish account for most of the fish caught over the past week with anchovies out performing other baits. Anglers are landing the fish consistently from Davis Dam down to the Avi Casino. Stocked rainbow trout have moved into hiding areas. The Sunshine Peninsula is a good bet as well as the docks above the casino area. Spinners, such as Rooster Tails or Panther Martins, are

Smallmouth and largemouth bass are still showing in the coves with anglers bringing fish in on plastics and night crawlers. Action for stripers has been fair with anchovies or top-water baits early in the day. Willow Beach has had light fishing pressure recently, but there have been fish in the 12- to 20-pound range caught recently on swimbaits in trout patterns.

Fishing action really picked up this past weekend following the first rainbow trout plant of the season in the urban ponds. Several anglers found good action with small spinning lures, such as a Panther Martin gold bladed lure with a black body and chartreuse spots. Rainbow sparkle PowerBait worked great for those bait fishing. Anglers practicing catch-and-release fishing are encouraged to use only single barbless

Anglers able to net gizzard shad have reported moderate success for striped bass. Anglers focusing their netting efforts on more turbid water have caught more bait than those netting elsewhere. The areas near Crawdad Cove or along Boulder Beach have been producing fish with most being in the one- to two-pound range. Trolling has been effective along Boulder Beach. Catfish are hitting on