Southern Nevada Fish Reports

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.

Anglers are using night crawlers and PowerBait, presented a couple of feet below a water bobber. Freezing overnight temperatures are yielding ice along the edges in the morning hours. Most days, the ice melts off by the afternoon. The launch ramp is open, but the fishing pier is still removed. For up-to-date ice conditions, contact Spring Valley State Park at 775-962-5102.

Trout are the anglers’ primary focus, though few anglers have been venturing out to the reservoir. Ice is starting to cover the edges of the reservoir, making it difficult to launch boats along the shore. Spinners, night crawlers, and Woolly Buggers are great for catching trout. Some are still trying their luck with bass and crappie, but no reports either way. For up-to-date ice conditions,

 PowerBait and red or yellow spinners are tempting rainbow trout along the shorelines of Casino Row and designated fishing areas near Big Bend State Recreation Area. Striper anglers are having success with pencil poppers and spoons for fish under 10 pounds. Few anglers have reported black bass hookups.

Willow Beach anglers continue to enjoy rainbow trout action from the fishing pier and nearby shorelines. PowerBait and night crawlers are the most popular choices. Striped bass action is peaking on Lake Mohave. Topwater lures and shad swimbaits are landing double-digit fish out of Katherine Landing and in the Cottonwood Basin. Chatterbaits and crankbaits are tempting largemouth bass. Anglers targeting smallmouth are using green worms

The Nevada Department of Wildlife has begun its seasonal rainbow trout plants. The fish are taking spinners in the mornings and night crawlers throughout the day. There are a few catfish still biting in the ponds. They have been hitting night crawlers and shrimp. Shrimp are a legal bait because they are not considered to be a fish or fish parts.

Topwater action continues for striped bass in the Boulder Basin. Bone-colored pencil poppers and Whopper Ploppers are taking hits. Ned rigs are the go-to setup for black bass throughout the Las Vegas Bay, Callville Bay, and surrounding coves. For a catfish hookup, try frozen anchovies in shallow and grassy coves after dark.