Southern Nevada Fish Reports

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.  

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.