Fish Reports

Anglers using anchovies are reeling in catfish and striped bass all along the river. Most stripers are in the 1- to 3-pound range, but one lucky angler pulled in 10-pound striper from the shoreline at Big Bend. Crankbaits or pumpkin-colored plastics are bringing in smallmouth bass.

Bass in the Cottonwood Basin have been hiding out in coves with vegetation. Black bass are hitting on plastics fished from shore and boat. Further north, striped bass are hitting on anchovies or jerkbaits at Willow Beach. Jointed trout or shad imitations also have been catching the fish. Stocked rainbow trout are taking PowerBait with glitter as well as Rooster Tails.

 Bluegill and green sunfish are the most common catch at the urban ponds. Largemouth bass and catfish also are hitting for persistent anglers. Some nice bass were caught in Tule Springs over the holiday weekend. Catfish are taking hotdogs and stink baits. Sunfish are hitting on mealworms.

Boulder Basin is providing good striper action for anglers using anchovies and white Zara Spooks. The best fishing is taking place at sunrise and sunset. Those also are the best times to avoid the heat. Catfish are hitting on stink baits, anchovies, and hot dog pieces. Black Bass are taking frogs and creature baits at Government Wash.

Seasonal weed growth is starting to show along the edges of the reservoir. Rainbow trout are taking small spinners such as Mepp’s, Rooster Tails, and Panther Martins in a variety of colors during the early morning hours or after sundown. Anglers fishing off the dam and dock are doing well with PowerBait or night crawlers fished below a bobber to keep the bait above the

Crappie action is starting to slow down, but anglers continue to have success for rainbow trout and largemouth bass. Spinners, traditional baits, and Woolly Buggers are catching the fish. As the water begins to clear, weeds will become thicker near the surface and make fishing a little difficult.

 Boaters are catching bass and stocked rainbow trout. The casino area is still a productive spot for rainbows as well as small stripers in the 1-pound class. From the upper Big Bend area down to the Avi, anglers are catching catfish on anchovies or stink baits. Bluegill are hiding in the shadows and taking night crawlers.

Largemouth and smallmouth bass are more active where drop-offs and vegetation come together. Anglers also are catching black bass with plastics at the mouths of coves in Cottonwood Basin. They also are catching fish while trolling their baits in deeper waters. Striped bass are hitting anchovies and swimbaits. Rainbow trout are hitting on dark colored Woolly Buggers and night crawlers south of Willow Beach.

Water levels are good at most of the ponds except for Sunset Lake, which is low for maintenance. Bluegill are taking mealworms, and catfish are taking hotdogs and night crawlers. Due to heat related problems when transporting fish, the Nevada Department of Wildlife will not plant catfish during the month of July.

Stripers are biting all over the Boulder Basin.  Anglers are finding the fish shallow in the mornings and switching to deep diving lures later in the day.  In recent days, anglers have found good fishing in the Overton Arm during afternoon striper boils. Trolling with shad has worked in the Vegas Wash area and outside of the water intakes. 

Below the Davis Dam along the Colorado River we are having a great mix of fish to target. Near Davis Camp Randy Young was fishing for stripers and landed a carp. He was fishing from shore and using anchovies. This is a favorite bait for our area and catches a lot of fish. One thing about anchovies is that you never know what you will