Southern Nevada Fish Reports

The Nevada Department of Wildlife recently planted both tiger and rainbow trout. Anglers are catching both species from boats and the shoreline. Bait anglers are using worms with marshmallows while fly-fishers are catching fish with brown and olive Woolly Buggers. Spin-fishers found success using Mepp’s lures, with red, white, or yellow spots.

The reservoir is full. Fishing for rainbow trout is picking up with the fish taking worms and a variety of PowerBait colors. Fly-fishermen have been doing well with Woolly Buggers in brown, black or olive colors.

Rainbow trout are still hitting baits below Davis Dam and south through Casino Row, though seasonal trout plants have ended. The fish are taking Rooster Tails, PowerBait and worms. Black bass are biting on plastics and jerkbaits, and catfish are hitting anchovies and chicken livers below Big Bend State Recreation Area.  

 Lake Mohave is starting to produce some good stripers. The best action is taking place out of Willow Beach and above Davis Dam. Anchovies and jointed rainbow swimbaits are catching the fish. Anglers are bringing in rainbow trout below Willow Beach on PowerBait, worms, and Rooster Tails. Black bass are showing signs of spawning in brush-lined coves. Smallies are taking plastics and jigs in coves

Channel catfish action has been good at Floyd lamb and Sunset parks. With arrival of summerlike temperatures, trout fishing is coming to an end. That said determined anglers may catch trout with marshmallows and worms in the morning hours. The Nevada Department of Wildlife will resume its seasonal trout plants in the fall.

Bass action is good. The fish are hitting plastic baits in green and watermelon colors. Drop shot presentations are the key. Striped bass are taking anchovies fished from shore in Government Wash. Anglers are also catching the line sides while trolling shad and trout pattern swimbaits near Hemenway Harbor. Crappie fishing is very good in the Overton Arm. Anglers are using drop shot rigs and

The roads are officially reopened. Runoff from melting snows has made the water murky and the fishing tough, but things should turn around as the water begins to settle out. The Nevada Department of Wildlife planted both rainbow and tiger trout during the past two weeks.

With the water level still high, murky water conditions remain the rule. As a result of that and limited shoreline access, fishing activity has been limited. Bass and trout fishing both will improve as the runoff slows and the water settles out.

Striper action is picking up below Davis Dam. The fish are averaging 2 to 5 pounds. Anglers fishing from shore are having success with anchovies fished off the bottom. The south end of Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area is providing good fishing. The national fish hatchery planted an extra load of rainbow trout below Davis Dam last week. Anglers have been catching

Anglers are catching smallmouth bass in the 2- to 3-pound range in Cottonwood Basin. Smallies in the 5-pound class are growing increasingly common at tournament weigh-ins. The fish are hitting on green and watermelon colored plastics. Anglers fishing out of Willow Beach are finding good action for stocked rainbow trout and striped bass. Rainbows are taking yellow and orange PowerBait. Stripers are hitting trout imitation

Trout action will pick up again as we move into April, but it won’t last long. Warming temperatures will eventually put the seasonal brakes on trout action. Some trout will hold over by seeking out shady areas and deep water. Black bass and bluegill are becoming more responsive. Night crawlers and mealworms are the baits of choice for bluegill, while green plastics and poppers will

 Fishing is picking up in the Overton Arm. Anglers are finding the best action for smallmouth and largemouth bass near cove edges and rocky points. Crankbaits and drop shot rigs are fooling the fish. Stripers are actively chasing swimbaits and hitting anchovies fished from the shoreline in the Government Wash area.