Southern Nevada Fish Reports

Anglers are catching striped bass and rainbow trout throughout the Willow Beach area. The federal fish hatchery is stocking the trout near the Willow Beach Fishing Pier at the end of each week. The rainbows tend to school up after being released. Trout tend to take Rooster Tails and night crawlers right after sunrise. Striped bass, some in the double digits, are chasing jointed swimbaits

Stocked rainbow trout are taking a variety of brightly colored PowerBaits or night crawlers. On warm afternoons night crawlers are also catching the occasional catfish.  Rainbow trout have been stocked in all fishable ponds in the last few weeks.

The bass bite was tougher for most of the past week as the fish moved deeper. Stripers are hitting live shad and cut anchovies the most, but three-inch silver swimbaits are a solid backup option. Kastmasters and Jumpin’ Minnows also can be productive for subsurface fish. Anglers are seeing some crappie action with jigs in the Overton Arm.

Some areas of the reservoirs have open water, making it possible to fish for trout from shore. However, nighttime temperatures are still dropping below freezing, leading to skim ice along the shoreline. Any ice is too thin for ice fishing. There have been no reports of bass or crappie biting.

Spring Valley State Park has announced that the ice has begun to break apart and is not safe to fish on. There is some open water, but any fishing should be done from the shoreline. You can use a bobber with small jigs and mouse tails for bait.

The water level has been dropped to facilitate repairs on the dam and will be low until further notice. The shoreline is soft and muddy in many places. Fishing opportunities are very limited.

Rainbow trout have been the primary catch below Casino Row. Anglers fishing from boats and the shoreline are catching rainbows using PowerBait, night crawlers and spinners. The striper bite has been inconsistent though there is always the chance of catching a double-digit fish that is looking for a plump trout.

 Most striper catches are being reported from the north and south ends of the reservoir. Boaters have been successful using deep diving jerkbaits in shad and minnow patterns. Black bass action remains slow, likely due to the cooler mornings. Kayakers are catching rainbow trout with soft plastic worms in pearl and olive colors north and south of the Willow Beach marina. A few anglers have

Night crawlers and mealworms are catching stocked rainbow trout. The Nevada Department of Wildlife recently stocked trout in each of the community fishing ponds, Beatty and Hafen Park Ponds included. Anglers have reported catching a few catfish with night crawlers on warm afternoons. Although temperatures are beginning to warm up, the bluegill bite remains sluggish.

Striped bass are biting on anchovies and shad outside the Hemenway Marina and along the north coves of Boulder Basin. Anglers are finding the best action toward the end of the day along drop offs. In the Overton Arm, anglers are catching black bass and crappie with flatworms and jigs at the edges of coves.

On Lake Mohave, small craft warnings have kept most anglers and boaters on shore, waiting for a break in the weather. The waves can get quite high and could swamp a boat if you're not careful. As a reminder, it's always a good practice to let someone know your plans and expected return time before heading out on the water—this applies even on calm days.