Southern Nevada Fish Reports

Anglers are seeing an increase in largemouth and smallmouth bass action at the northern end of the Boulder Basin. Various poppers, crankbaits, and jigs in white and green are working from shore and boat. Topwater activity is slowing down for striped bass, but some fish are now hitting spoons and Glide baits in shad patterns.

The reservoir is covered with thin ice and snow, but depths are unknown. Verify ice thickness before venturing out. Fishing reports are slow, but some anglers have reported catching 11- to 13-inch rainbows using night crawlers and Rooster Tails.

Fishing activity is slow due to thin ice forming on most of the reservoir. Overnight temperatures have been dropping below freezing, but warm afternoons are keeping the ice on the thin side.

Stocked rainbow trout are keeping anglers busy along the Colorado River. The fish are taking grubs, spinners and PowerBait in a variety of colors. Anglers have had the best success at Rotary Park and along Casino Row. Reports of striped bass and a few smallmouth bass have come in from Sunshine Peninsula. Catfish are eating chicken livers, anchovies, or homemade dough baits.

Rooster Tails and worms have been working best for Willow Beach rainbows. Spotted yellow and red spinners fished above the weeds have enticed some trout. Unpredictable weather and low water conditions have kept many boaters off the lake. When the water is calm, diving lures are producing striper catches in the Cottonwood Basin.

Stocked rainbows are providing anglers with good fishing. Overcast mornings and afternoons have been productive. Anglers are using night crawler pieces and PowerBait to catch the fish. Those fishing the main pond at Floyd Lamb are catching bass and bluegill in the late morning. Seasonal catfish plants have ended for the year and should resume late next spring.

Anglers fishing the morning hours along the beaches near Hemenway are catching striped bass with live shad and swimbaits. Most of the fish are schoolies in the 1- to 3-pound range. In the Virgin Basin, anglers are catching stripers when jigging spoons at depths around 50 feet. Catfish action has been good after sunset with the fish taking shad, anchovies, or stink baits.

Sunny afternoons are slowing down the thickening of the ice across the lake. The only anglers braving the freezing temperatures are ice fishing from the dam. If you go fishing for trout, try night crawlers or PowerBait. For up-to-date ice conditions, contact Spring Valley State Park at 775-962-5102.

Not many anglers have been venturing out to Echo. Ice is starting to form but is still very thin. Boats are not a viable option due to ice along the shore. There are a few pockets to fish where birds have broken through the thin ice. For up-to-date ice conditions, contact Echo Canyon State Park at 775-962-5103.

Rainbow trout anglers are choosing PowerBait over spinners. Striper action is being reported near Davis Dam and Big Bend State Recreation Area. Ned rigs with white worms or bone-colored topwater lures are both working well for fish up to 10 pounds.

Anglers are finding striped bass at various depths across Mohave. Some are catching stripers and smallmouth bass by trolling swimbaits at speeds less than 5 m.p.h. Most smallies are being found in the southern part of the Cottonwood Basin and near Katherine Landing. Catfish are taking smelly corn or chicken livers near vegetation after dark.

Rainbow trout are taking spinners and night crawlers. The Nevada Department of Wildlife planted trout at Floyd Lamb, Sunset, Veteran’s Memorial, and Lorenzi Park ponds.

Striper anglers are still reporting success with topwater lures, while others are transitioning to jigging techniques at depths up to 150 feet. Shad and bluegill crankbaits are tempting black bass. Anglers are finding largemouth bass at the northern end of Boulder Basin.