Southern Nevada Fish Reports

Rainbow trout have been cooperative and biting well on Rapala fish imitations or nightcrawlers. Largemouth bass are also showing up in creels, though most have been the smaller size classes.

High winds gusting to speeds of 68 miles an hour have kept many anglers away. Fishing for stocked rainbow trout at Willow Beach has been good. Smallmouth bass continue to provide anglers a good day on the water.

Anglers have been deterred by windy weather conditions this past week. For those venturing out, fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass has been good. Anglers have found success with crankbaits or plastic worms. The Nevada Striper Club had their monthly tournament last weekend and members found the area between Gypsum and Government Wash to be a prime spot. Cut anchovies and 1/16-ounce jig

Fishing has been very good and anglers are finding success for trout while fishing from the dock and along the shore. Anglers are using PowerBait and night crawlers. Most of the trout taken are in the 12- to 15-inch range.

Action has been good for trout. Night crawlers, PowerBait and small spinners have all enticed fish measuring as large as 15 inches. Catch and release fishing is a great way to extend your day of fishing, but be sure to use single barbless hooks and minimize the time the fish is out of the water to help ensure its survival.

Largemouth and smallmouth bass are still providing anglers with the best action. Most are tipping the scales at about three to four pounds, though the occasional fish pushes the eight-pound mark. Work the shallows using lighter colored crankbaits, jigs or plastic worms until you find what may work best for that day.

Anglers will now have a little elbow room at the Sunset Park pond. Improvements in the pond area have been completed. Spring is a great time to get out and try your luck for the variety of fish available in the local ponds. PowerBait and small spinners have proven successful for the rainbow trout and small jigs and various rigged plastics will catch bass, while

Inclement weather patterns have brought out the striped bass bite. Anglers have had success using Rapala's Shad Rap and A.C. Plugs. Shore anglers working along the points near deeper water in the Government Wash area have found both good fishing and increased fishing activity. Most of the fish anglers are catching are in the 2- to 4-pound range. The action can be fast

Fishing has continued to pickup over the past week with most anglers catching rainbows in the 12- to 15-inch range using a variety of small spinners and lures such as a Mepp's or Kastmaster. Some anglers have done well using red, white and blue PowerBait??. The campground is open and water has been turned on.

One pair of anglers caught and released more than 40 trout in just a couple of hours with small Mepp's spinners. The fish averaged 11 to 13 inches long. The campground is open.

With the fish in spawning mode working baits near rocks or stumps in the shallows should yield some hits. In a strange twist, one lucky angler fishing near Willow Beach hauled in a 28-pound striper while using PowerBait near mile marker 52. Another large striper weighing in at 26 pounds was taken at mile marker 49 on a Rooster Tail. Just proves that

Anglers are reportedly catching Stripers as large as 20 pounds with many coming in the 8- to 12-pound range. Gizzard shad and various plugs are catching the fish. Most of the activity has been found throughout the lower basin, especially in the area from Saddle Island to the back of Las Vegas Wash.

The reservoir is ice free and full of water, but few anglers have been fishing during the past week. Largemouth bass and crappie spawning should be starting up shortly.

Striper fishing has improved in the Willow Beach area. AC Plugs have been taking fish near mile marker 50, some as large as 18 pounds. At Cottonwood Cove anglers have found success for striped bass as large as seven pounds.

Fishing has been light following the recent storm activity. The Government Wash has produced striped bass for anglers trolling in 30 to 40 feet of water. To entice the bite of the largemouth and smallmouth bass, try using crank baits and swimbaits fished on the bottom near nests.

Good weather and no wind made for a great largemouth bass tournament Saturday. The top angler brought in a five-fish limit that totaled more than 18 pounds and included a 6.5-pound fish. Productive baits include plastics, live worms and various reaction baits.

The big fish are out and biting again. A large striper just over 20 pounds was brought into the Laker Plaza bait and tackle shop along with about a dozen in the six- to nine-pound range. Anglers have been using anchovies or trolling with large lures to entice the larger fish. As the weather warms the bass will be go into pre-spawn

A third of the lake is open water. The remainder is covered with six to nine inches of ice. Anglers have found fair fishing for trout while using small jigs, night crawlers and PowerBait. Use extreme caution on or near the ice.