Southern Nevada Fish Reports

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. 

The road to the reservoir opened this week after undergoing repairs for recent flood damage. The reservoir is ice free, but the water is murky due to high runoff. As a result, fishing has been slow.

The water is high but low enough that the road is now open. Melting snow has made the water murky and fishing slow. Angler activity has been slow due to limited shoreline access.  

The striper bite is picking up along this stretch of the river. Anglers are reeling in fish averaging from 2 to 5 pounds by fishing anchovies off the bottom.  Anglers are catching limits of rainbow trout below Davis Dam. The fish are taking PowerBait and night crawlers.  

Reports have been light from the main body of the lake. Smallmouth and largemouth bass are preparing for the spawn and can be found in coves and along shelves near drop offs in Cottonwood Basin. Anglers fishing out of Willow Beach are catching rainbow trout and striped bass. The trout are hitting sunset-colored PowerBait and Rooster Tails. Stripers are taking swimbaits and anchovies.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife planted rainbow trout at Floyd Lamb Park and Cold Creek the week of March 12. Fishing is slow at Lorenzi, Sunset, and Veteran’s Memorial Parks. Night crawlers and mealworms are the bait of choice for anglers pursuing trout in our urban ponds. As water temperatures continue to warm, anglers should see less trout activity and more from species like bluegill

Crappie and black bass are biting in the Overton Arm. Both smallmouth and largemouth bass species are in prespawn mode. Anglers are finding success throwing crankbaits near drop-offs in coves and casting Rat-L-Traps into the shallows. Stripers are active and chasing swimbaits or anchovies in the Government Wash area.