Las Vegas area fishing report: Lake Mead action takes a downturn

Thursday, Dec. 6, 2001 | 9:59 a.m.

NEVADA DIVISION OF WILDLIFE

This has been an odd year at Lake Mead, with very unpredictable fishing. That trend is continuing this week as the fishing took a surprising turn for the worse with anglers having little success.

The only positives took place on Friday, with a boater catching a 25-pound striped bass at Pumphouse Cove and another boater landing a 16-pound striper at Hemenway Harbor. Both fish were caught following rainbow trout plants that day in those locations.

On Monday an angler reported to the Nevada Division of Wildlife that shad had moved out of Hemenway Harbor. This resulted in no stripers being caught in that area.

Some success for stripers has taken place during the past week at Government Wash and Las Vegas Bay. However, the fish have been small and the bite has been inconsistent.

The Overton Arm appears to be equally slow with very few stripers being checked during the past week by NDOW creel census clerks. There continue to be reports of black crappie being caught in brush at night in the Virgin Bowl.

Rainbow trout from Lake Mead Hatchery will be stocked Friday at Horsepower Cove, Hemenway Harbor, South Saddle Cove and B-5 (Pumphouse) Cove. Each site will receive approximately 1,500 fish.

Rainbow trout fishing is good following plants. The only plant scheduled for this week will take place Friday at Willow Beach when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will stock 2,000 rainbow trout.