Southern Nevada Fish Reports

Anglers are catching striped bass in the 2- to 4-pound range near Hemenway and Boulder Harbor. Fish are biting primarily on anchovies, but some anglers have reported success using PowerBait floating eggs and imitation shad swimbaits. Black bass action has been slow, but with warmer temperatures in the forecast anglers may find the fish biting in shallow coves.

Anglers have been venturing onto the ice. The reservoir is covered by about is 8 to10 inches of ice. Anglers are finding success using night crawlers and PowerBait. NDOW is encouraging anglers to check weather conditions prior to making the trip and to always go prepared for weather changes. Contact Spring Valley State Park at 775-962-5102 for current ice conditions.

There is some open water on the southside of the reservoir, but it is mostly covered in thin ice. Contact Echo Canyon State Park at 775-962-5103 for current ice conditions.

The north end of Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area has been good for stripers and trout hiding in deep coves. The striper bite is beginning to pick up along Casino Row. One angler reportedly reeled in a 14-pound striper using a topwater lure. Shore anglers are catching stocked rainbow trout all along the Colorado River. The fish are biting on night crawlers,

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.