Southern Nevada Fish Reports

Action is good for bass and crappie. The trout bite has slowed somewhat, but the fish are still hitting fairly well in the mornings. Aquatic vegetation has not been as thick as it has been in recent years. This is due to application of weed treatments. Afternoon thunderstorms have been a problem, and park rangers recommend that anglers and boaters avoid the water during storms.

The action has been slowing down around the reservoir. Aquatic vegetation is thickening up around the shoreline, making the center of the lake the best fishing spot for all fish species. Monsoonal rains are helping by improving water levels in the reservoir, but fishing during storm activity is unsafe.

 Rainbow Trout are hitting spinners or PowerBait from Davis Dam south through Casino Row. Reports from around Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area say anglers are catching stripers, catfish, and smallmouth bass. Plastics and spinnerbaits are catching the black bass. Striped bass are most active around sunrise and sunset and taking anchovies. 

Striper fishing has been good, but boaters are finding the best fishing. The fish generally in the 2- to 4-pound range though some have weighed in at 6 or 7 pounds. Shore fishing has been slow during the heat of the day, so early mornings are recommended. Black bass are holding further out in the coves along shelves and in submerged vegetation.  

Bluegill, green sunfish and yearling bass can be seen at most of the ponds and will take corn, night crawlers or mealworms readily. Use small hooks such as a number 10 or 12 single hook and crimp the barb down. If there is any wind, fish from the bottom up toward the surface using sliding sinkers. Use bobbers only when the wind is calm.  

Like the weather, fishing has been somewhat unpredictable. With constantly high temperatures, fish are moving out from shore during the daytime and coming closer in at night. Early risers are seeing striper boils in and around coves. Striped bass are biting on anchovies and threadfin shad, while black bass are hitting poppers and plastics. Catfish are biting on almost anything, but mostly at night. Stink

Monsoonal rains kept most people off the water over the weekend, but those who did try their luck found good fishing for rainbow trout early in the morning. The fish were taking PowerBait, night crawlers with a bit of marshmallow and small, gold spinning lures. Crappie hit the lures as well.  

 Warm water fish are providing the best fishing. Anchovies are catching striped bass all along the river. Both shore and boat anglers are catching the fish. Live or plastic worms fished along shelves are bringing in smallmouth bass. Rainbow trout are still biting below Davis Dam and around Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area.  

Smallmouth Bass and stripers are biting near Nevada Telephone Cove, and Bluegill are taking worms in the vicinity of Placer Cove.  Look for black bass in coves near Cottonwood Cove.  At Willow Beach, Striped Bass are hitting anchovies or artificial lures. Large swimbaits in trout patterns are bringing in the bigger stripers.  

Small bluegill and bass can be seen rising on some of the ponds. They are taking flies, small lures and mealworms. Heavy rains have caused murky water conditions, and that has also kept many anglers at home. The best action can be found in the morning before the temperature reaches triple digits.  

Anglers are finding good fishing for striped bass in the Boulder Basin. The fish are taking anchovies. With high daytime temperatures, the best action can be found in the early morning or evening hours. Catfish are eating almost anything fished off the bottom in coves. Shore fishing for bluegill has been very good around Government Wash.

Fishing remains good throughout the reservoir. Most anglers are catching fish with garlic-flavored PowerBait or night crawlers. Bass action has been particularly good with several anglers catching and releasing as many as 100 fish per day. Several bass have weighed more than 2 pounds.  

Action has slowed in recent days as seasonal growth of aquatic vegetation continues along the shoreline. The southeastern shore has been a hotspot for bass and crappie. The fish are taking brightly colored lures and jigs, but the best fishing is found early in the morning and after sundown.

Anglers hoping to avoid the heat are finding good fishing in the early morning and evening. Striped bass, catfish, and rainbow trout are all biting. Night crawlers are catching trout below Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area while anchovies are catching stripers and catfish.  

Black bass and stripers are biting south of Cottonwood Cove. The fish are holding in the brush along the shore. Anglers fishing from the shoreline are finding the best action for stripers and catfish during the early morning hours and in the evening. Boaters are catching stripers by fishing anchovies off the bottom during the day.  

Sunfish have been hitting mealworms at Floyd Lamb Park. Catfish and bass also are taking baits. While no reports were received from the other urban ponds, bluegill, bass and catfish should be hitting in the early morning and after sunset. Due to high temperatures, catfish will not be planted during July but stocking activity should resume in August.

The Overton Arm is fishing well for both shore anglers and boaters. This is a great place for fishing from small boats and paddlecraft, such as kayaks. Anglers are catching bass, catfish and striped bass. Swimbaits and anchovies are working best near the dam and in the Government Wash area.