Southern Nevada Fish Reports

 Aquatic vegetation continues to make shore fishing a challenge.  The best action has been found in the open water toward the center of the reservoir.  Trout are taking PowerBait in rainbow or green with glitter, while bass are taking soft plastic worms and jigs.  The crappie bite has been slow.

Despite monsoonal storms, the water level remains low and aquatic vegetation continues to be a problem for shore anglers.  Boaters are finding good fishing for rainbow trout and largemouth bass. Trout are taking PowerBait in rainbow or green with sparkles, and bass are hitting on soft plastics in green or brown.  

Catfish are biting on anchovies and chicken liver near the Avi.  Look for the catfish on the bottom in the marshy areas and just above them for stripers.  The line sides also are biting right below the dam and through Casino Row.  Use plastics along the edges of shelves for largemouth bass.  

Anglers have found good action fishing for stocked rainbow trout, stripers and black bass.  Trout are hitting worms and PowerBait below Willow Beach where water temperatures remain cold year round.  The fish are staying near the bottom.  Black bass are hanging in the shadows of water vegetation and rocky drop-offs.  Stripers are cruising up and down the river but out from shore. Anchovies will bring

Sunfish action continues to be good in most of the ponds with the fish taking mealworms and chunks of night crawlers on small hooks. The best action is during the morning hours before the daytime temperatures hit triple digits.  The next catfish plant is scheduled for the week of August 20, but is dependent on water temperatures.  

Stripers and catfish as large as 3 pounds are taking anchovies fished off the bottom.  Continuing high temperatures are keeping them down low.  Black bass are hitting plastic worms in the Overton Arm. Anglers are doing best in the early mornings and at sunset.  

The Catfish bite here along the Colorado River is starting to give up a few and No I didn’t catch this one I am holding a 12.5 pound cat at 30 and 1/2 inches and it was Lynn Hall of bullhead City that landed this fish using anchovies.  I was caught a little off guard on this shot.  It was brought in for Gary Regan

Submerged vegetation is presenting shore anglers with some challenges. Anglers in boats have had a little more success. Bass are taking darker soft plastic worms, but crawdad imitations are working best. Rainbow trout are hitting rainbow colored PowerBait or green with glitter.

Weeds are getting thicker along the shoreline and the water is getting low. Boaters are finding good fishing for rainbow trout and bass. The trout are taking rainbow PowerBait, as well as the green glitter variety. Bass are hitting soft plastics in green, brown or black with glitter.  

Striped bass are cruising the river below Davis Dam and hitting on anchovies or large crankbaits. Anglers are catching a few stripers in the 3- to 5-pound range, but most fish are averaging 1 to 2 pounds. One lucky angler reeled in a catfish weighing 13 pounds below Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area. The angler was fishing with anchovies from his boat

 The Nevada Department of Wildlife will hold a free Family Fishing Clinic at Floyd Lamb Park Saturday, Aug. 18 starting at 9 a.m. The clinic is open to people of all ages and will also serve as the monthly meeting for the Southern Nevada Family Fishing Club. Anglers 12 years of age and older will need a valid Nevada fishing license. For more information and

Good action for smallmouth bass has been reported over the past week. Fishing for largemouth bass has been a little tougher. Smallies are hanging off rocky shelves with largemouth a little deeper in submerged brush. Crawdad imitations and drop-shot rigs are catching the fish. Stripers have been a little spotty with anglers having success over night with anchovies. Rainbow trout and stripers are still biting

Bluegill are providing good action at Floyd Lamb, Lorenzi and Veterans Memorial parks. Lorenzi also is giving up green sunfish. These fish are small so they will be easier to catch with small hooks and small worms. Mealworms are catching bluegill and catfish. Light colored poppers are bringing in bass.  

Anglers are finding the best fishing in the morning hours before the storms come up from the south. Striper boils are giving anglers fast action with top-water baits. When coming to a boil cast from the outside to avoid spooking the fish.  Silver and yellow Crankbait and jigs have worked well. Zara Spooks, Jumpin’ Minnows, pencil poppers and shad imitations also will catch the fish.

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.