Fishing report — May 5, 1999

Wednesday, May 5, 1999 | 11:23 a.m.

LAKE MEAD: The key to finding striped bass is to first locate areas where crayfish are hiding. That's because stripers now appear to be feeding exclusively on the small crustaceans.

Areas of the lake that are strewn with rocks, such as along rock slides, are where crayfish are typically found. So anglers have been enjoying success in these areas.

Drift fishing with cut anchovies and squid near rocks has been the best method for catching stripers. Chumming helps to attract the game fish.

Largemouth bass are still in coves, but recent storms have disrupted the fishing success.

LAKE MOHAVE: When the wind isn't blowing, boaters are having good luck catching small stripers by drifting bait. Fish ranging from 11 to 13 inches are being caught in the narrows above Cottonwood Cove and at Cottonwood East on the Arizona side of the lake.

Boaters who braved weekend storms had no success catching largemouth bass. A few channel catfish have been caught by anglers who were fishing for stripers.

Willow Beach is scheduled to be stocked with 1,950 rainbow trout on Thursday.

WAYNE E. KIRCH WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA: Anglers who participated in a weekend fishing tournament found good fishing, but shivered through cold evening temperatures.

The 45 contestants caught and released about three rainbow trouts per hour. Big fish of the day was 22 inches and weighed nearly 4 1/2 pounds.

EAGLE VALLEY RESERVOIR: Recent rainbow trout plants by the Nevada Division of Wildlife have produced good fishing. The lake is scheduled to be stocked three more times before Memorial Day.

ECHO CANYON RESERVOIR: Fishing is good for stocked rainbow trout. The water temperature is cold, which is making for poor fishing for largemouth bass and crappie.