Fish Reports

Lots of striped bass are coming out of the north and south ends of the reservoir. Boaters and shore anglers are catching the fish with anchovies. Black bass are active in coves associated with the Cottonwood Basin. The fish can be found in brushy areas of near underwater shelves. Stocked rainbow trout are taking Rooster Tails and worms at Willow Beach.

Striped bass action is good throughout the Boulder Basin. Anglers also are catching catfish in Government Wash and around the Hemenway fishing pier. If you are looking to use live bait, you will find schools of threadfin shad in the Las Vegas Bay area and outside of Echo Bay in the Overton Arm. Anglers are catching black bass in the Overton Arm with drop shot

Murky water conditions are still creating visibility issues for anglers. Spring runoff has filled the reservoir. Trout action has been best at sunrise and sunset. The fish are taking sunset-colored PowerBait and night crawlers. Action for bass and crappie has been picking up throughout the day. They are hitting olive and orange jigs.

Largemouth bass have been hitting crayfish imitations and plastic worms in darker colors. Green tube baits, bright jigs and night crawler pieces have brought in the crappie. Fishing is good throughout the morning hours but slows significantly in the afternoon.

Anglers have been reporting good striped bass and rainbow trout action below the dam. Trout are taking spinners and worms from shore. Most stripers are in the 2-pound range and taking anchovies off the bottom. Double-digit stripers are taking jointed crankbaits. Big Bend State Recreation Area is showing some catfish action with the fish taking nightcrawlers and anchovies. Largemouth bass are hitting spinnerbaits and crankbaits.

Stripers are biting on anchovies at Willow Beach. Anglers are catching the fish from the fishing pier as well from boats. Rainbow trout fishing is slow but keeping anglers busy. Striper fishing also is good above Davis Dam, and waters south of Cottonwood Basin are giving up catfish. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are going after dark-colored crankbaits and plastics north of Cottonwood Cove.

The Overton Arm continues to keep anglers busy with good fishing for black bass and crappie. Bass are taking plastic worms and crayfish near the mouths of coves with vegetation. Anglers fishing with anchovies are catching stringers full of stripers and catfish. Boaters and kayakers are fishing along drop offs for stripers. 

With all of this beautiful weather the river has swelled again over 3,000 CFS. Luckily, it has not been too turbid, and fish are still eating well in the slower water wherever you can find it. We’re starting to see some mayfly hatches, and using seining nets we’re starting to see insect diversity increase. Pale Morning Dun and baetis have been seen in the net,