Las Vegas area fishing report

Thursday, June 28, 2001 | 10:48 a.m.

Updated June 28, 2001

LAKE MEAD: Anglers are all smiles as the action for striped bass dramatically improved during the past week with the fish being caught on lures as they feed on the lake's surface.

Striper boils are being seen throughout the Boulder Basin and anglers are catching the fish by casting stick baits and other surface lures to the feeding fish. Boils occur when stripers force threadfin shad to the lake's surface where they aggressively feed on the small bait fish.

Doug Nielsen, Nevada Division of Wildlife game warden, said the best way for boaters to catch fish from boils is to stop outside of a boil and to cast lures to its edge. Running over a boil will cause the fish to stop feeding and will frustrate other boaters who may be fishing in the area.

"Racing other boats to boils is dangerous because it can result in an accident," Nielsen said. "Approach boils cautiously and be always courteous to other boaters."

Fishing continues to be fair in the Overton Arm with stripers being taken from Fish Island and the Muddy River above Overton Beach Marina. One shore angler reported to NDOW over the weekend that he had poor luck while fishing below Echo Bay's campground.

LAKE MOHAVE: Rainbow trout fishing continues to be fair to good following plants at Willow Beach. The next plant is scheduled for today. Mike Burrell, NDOW biologist, said small striped bass are being caught at night at Nellis Wash. Another area that continues to be productive is the narrows above Cottonwood Cove.

Largemouth bass fishing has been slow while channel catfish are being caught at night in coves.

WAYNE E. KIRCH WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA: Trout fishing has entered the summer doldrums as anglers are putting in quite a bit of time to catch two or three rainbows. Water temperatures at Cold Springs and Haymeadow reservoirs are in the low 70s.

Largemouth bass are being caught just before sunset at Adams-McGill Reservoir, but mosquitoes have been a problem at that time.

EAGLE VALLEY RESERVOIR: Aquatic vegetation in the lake is making for difficult fishing from shore. Boaters are able to avoid the weeds and most are having fair to good success for rainbow trout.

ECHO CANYON RESERVOIR: The water level continues to drop because of drought conditions and a persistent leak in the lake. It is now nearly 15 feet below the outflow pipe.

Fishing has been fair for stocked rainbow trout as well as largemouth bass and crappie.

LAS VEGAS URBAN PONDS: Channel catfish were stocked into Sunset Park Pond, Lorenzi Park Pond and Floyd Lamb State Park last Thursday.

Anglers at Floyd Lamb State Park and Lorenzi Park have been successfull for bluegill using night crawlers or mealworms and largemouth bass using spinnerbaits, crankbaits or worms.