Southern Nevada Fish Reports

Water levels are very low, but that hasn't stopped a few die-hard anglers who are still catching trout at this Lincoln County water. Fishing for bass and crappie has all but shut down.

Poor to fair is the description of fishing activity near Cottonwood Cove. Between dropping lake levels and windy conditions, fish have been hard to find. Some anglers have found success by trolling anchovies in 30 to 45 feet of water. Artificial lures have not been producing. Most success is coming the early mornings and late afternoon. Anglers have seen improved trout fishing at Willow Beach.

Nighttime fishing has been productive for anglers looking to catch striped bass. The Vegas wash area is still producing fish but things also have picked up along the beaches, at Hemenway and just outside the tires at Lake Mead Marina. Fishing with shad in the early morning has been catching fish, though striper fishermen also have been taking fish with lures and cut bait.

The water is very low and not to inviting, but anglers are still catching some fish. Night crawlers, PowerBait or mini marshmallows are generally a good choice.

Fishing has been described as fair to poor this past week. Those who are catching fish are finding success in 15 to 60 feet of water and at or near the bottom. The most productive times of day are still the early morning and late evening hours. Windy conditions have made the water murky and fishing with artificial baits very difficult. Trout fishing at Willow

A member of the Striper Club reeled in a striper that weighed nearly 10 pounds during a tournament last week. Anglers are finding lots of shad in the Boulder Beach area and have been catching some fish though the action has been slow. Lure patterns that resemble the small, silvery baitfish are generally productive. The Las Vegas Wash area is still producing lots of small

Traditional trout baits should goad a few rainbows into biting. Fish will become more active as temperatures begin to drop.

Boaters and shore anglers continue to find fair to good fishing out of Cottonwood Cove. Stripers moving into the area seem to have pushed bluegill out. One angler reportedly found success with a diving lure that resembles a three-inch bluegill. Most stripers being caught are small, ranging from seven to 14 inches in length though there are some reports of larger fish being taken as

Action for striped bass has picked up along the beaches near Special Events Beach. Shore anglers have been catching the fish on lures mimicking shad that are using the area. Live shad and anchovies may also produce bites. The Las Vegas wash area continues to yield small stripers to anglers jigging baits or casting top-water hardware. Nevada Department of Wildlife creel clerks have seen few

n recent weeks low water and high temperatures, coupled with weed growth, have resulted in slow fishing. Action should pick up as daytime temperatures begin to drop. Meanwhile persistent anglers could find some success.

PowerBait in colors from orange to rainbow and Zeke's Sierra Gold have been taking rainbow trout at Willow Beach last week. Anglers have had some success with a variety of hardware as well, including Jake's Lures, Super Dupers, Panther Martins and other spinners. Shore fishermen and boaters alike were successful. Striper anglers were successful using lures that resembled small rainbow trout in the three- to

Anglers looking to reel in a mess of stripers will find success for school-size fish in the Vegas Bay arm from Gypsum Wash to Boxcar Cove. Kingman Wash has also been producing fish. Fishing along the beaches and near Hemenway continues to be slow.

Low water and heavy weed growth have put the breaks on fishing at this Lincoln County reservoir. Fish will be holding in shaded, deep water where they can escape the heat.

Trout fishing has picked up at Willow Beach, and rainbow PowerBait has been the ticket. While much of the action has come from stocked rainbows, there have been some reports of several trout topping the two-pound mark. Successful anglers are catching most of their fish in the early morning hours. Trout-look lures have been taking striped bass in the same general area. One striper measured

The Vegas Bay Arm is still giving up catfish to anglers using cut bait. Striped bass are taking lures fished in the same general area though topwater action has slowed during the past week. Fishing along the Boulder Beach should continue to improve as the shad activity increases. For anglers who don't mind traveling, Stewart's Point has been producing stripers and the coves south of

Anglers working the weed beds in front of the dam have been taking largemouth bass, trout and even a few crappie. PowerBait and mini marshmallows have been effective on trout. For bass try plastics or spinner baits and cast to the weeds.

Recent thunderstorms have resulted in washed out roads and debris covered parking areas, but some anglers have made their way to Willow Beach. Check conditions before making the drive. The trout bite has been sporadic with shore anglers finding some success with a variety of baits from plastic worms to spinners to PowerBait. Most fish are typical of the 12- to 13-inch planter variety, but

Topwater action is heating up. Anglers have been taking fish in the areas near Sand Island, Government Wash and Boxcar Cove. Most are smaller fish in the one- to two-pound class. Shad have moved in along the Boulder Beach area and this should improve fishing opportunities for shore fishermen. Catfish have been taking bait near Vegas Wash, and anglers have been catching some largemouth bass