Southern Nevada Fish Reports

The black bass bite is picking up. Some anglers are catching fish that weigh between three- and six-pounds using glide baits and topwater lures. Stripers as large as three pounds are biting on anchovies at the south end of the reservoir. At Willow Beach largemouth bass are hitting soft plastics and jigs in olive and watermelon colors. Anglers also are enjoying the rainbow trout bite

Rainbow trout plants are scheduled again this week, but are dependent on road conditions in northern Nevada. Stocked rainbows have been taking a variety of baits and small lures, such as rainbow-colored PowerBait, night crawlers, mealworms and mini marshmallows combined with a salmon egg. Spinning lures and spoons, such as Rooster Tails, Mepp’s, Super Dupers and Kastmasters have been catching fish.

Stripers are biting on minnow jigs and shad colored jerkbaits in about 40 feet of water at Government Wash. Anglers have reported catching 4- to 5-pound stripers at Hemenway Harbor using anchovies. Catfish have also been biting on anchovies fished along shelves. Action for black bass and sunfish has been slow. However, a couple anglers reported catching largemouth bass on minnow jigs and sinking fly

Ice on the reservoir is 8-10 inches thick. Always verify ice conditions before venturing out too far. Stormy weather is expected this weekend. For up-to-date ice conditions contact Spring Valley State Park at 775-962-5102.

Ice around the shoreline remains thin and some areas in the center of the reservoir remain open. Available ice is too thin to walk on. For current ice conditions contact the park at 775-962-5103.

Light fishing to report over the past week. Those who are fishing are catching rainbow trout from the shoreline below Big Bend State Recreation Area. Anglers are using sunset PowerBait and silver spinners. Stripers will be found just behind the trout, so look for areas where the current switches direction or shadows in the water.

Various coves north and south of Cottonwood Cove have been producing striped bass around the 5-pound mark. Stripers are hitting on anchovies while trolling and on swimbaits in trout or shad patterns. The Willow Beach Fish Hatchery plants rainbow trout each Friday, and the fishing has been good. The fish are hitting baits in yellow and red colorations.  

The Nevada Department of Wildlife planted trout this week at the urban ponds in the Las Vegas area. Ponds in Mesquite and Beatty were also on the agenda. Stocked rainbows have been taking a variety of baits and lures, including rainbow PowerBait, night crawlers, and spinners. Mepp’s and Rooster Tails are generally a good option. Some of the trout have even been hitting jointed swimbaits

Live shad continue to be the most productive bait for striped bass. Anglers are reportedly netting the shad in the Vegas Wash area. Stripers are being found in coves and along steep canyon walls in 50 to 70 feet of water.  Action for largemouth and smallmouth bass is slow. There have been a few fish caught out of Callville Bay using watermelon colored soft baits.

Temperatures remained low enough for ice to start forming across the reservoir. The ice should be thick enough for ice fishing, but always check before you go. For up-to-date ice conditions contact the park at 775-962-5102.

Though the overnight temperatures are dropping well below freezing, the center of the lake ranges from open water to thin ice depending on the time of day. The shoreline is covered with thin ice. For up-to-date ice conditions contact the park at 775-962-5103.

Striped bass fishing is slow below Davis Dam but is expected to pick up this time of year within Casino Row. Anglers using anchovies are bringing in catfish below Casino Row. Anglers are enjoying another rainbow trout stocking and are having the most success with spinners. Trout are dispersed from the dam to Big Bend State Recreation Area

Striper action has slowed on much of the lake, but anglers have reported seeing large schools in the 2 to 5-pound range. Anglers are still catching catfish and largemouth bass in the coves using anchovies. At Willow Beach, boaters and shore anglers are catching 2 to 5-pound trout on spinners and rainbow PowerBait.

Last week NDOW was able to squeeze in one more stocking before the holidays for all the urban ponds in the Vegas Valley and Boulder City areas.  Trout are hitting yellow variations of spinners and PowerBait. Night crawlers are also bringing in a random channel cat or trout.

Anglers have reported the best striper fishing at dawn or dusk. Striper are biting on live shad and anchovies in the coves. From Boulder Harbor to the Hemenway fishing pier, anglers have been catching up to 10 stripers at 2 to 3 pounds using imitation shad crank baits and anchovies.