Las Vegas area fishing report: Bass biting at Lake Mead

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2001 | 11:38 a.m.

NEVADA DIVISION OF WILDLIFE

Anglers who are fishing from boats in the Boulder Basin have been enjoying excellent fishing for striped bass while shore anglers are having only sporadic success.

Boaters are using a variety of techniques to catch the fish, including jigging and casting top water lures. Some of the more productive areas for stripers have been around Callville Bay, open water near Boulder Beach and the Lake Mead Marina area.

One angler reported to the Nevada Division of Wildlife that he has been catching tilapia in coves near Government Wash by baiting a small hook with floating Powerbait. John Hutchings, NDOW biologist, said tilapia can be located by looking for their circular beds that are easily visible in coves.

Tilapia are an illegally introduced fish and are considered to be very good table fare. There are no daily or possession limits for the fish and NDOW encourages anglers to keep all tilapia that they catch.

Largemouth bass fishing continues to improve as the water temperature drops. The fish are now feeding in order to put on weight before cold weather arrives.

Elsewhere in the region:

Very light fishing activity has been found during the past week in the Cottonwood Cove area. Small stripers are being caught while drifting and trolling baits near Owl's Point and the narrows above Cottonwood.

The action for largemouth bass has been good at all of the lakes. Trout ranging from 14-15 inches have been caught this week at Cold Springs and Haymeadow reservoirs.

Campers have been finding temperatures that range from the low 30s at night to daytime highs in the low to mid 80s.

The Nevada Division of Wildlife is scheduled to stock 9,500 rainbow trout at the lake on Sept. 27. This is the only plant planned for the fall season.

Anglers fishing for other warm water species have been successful using worms. Several largemouth bass ranging in size between 2 and 5 pounds have been caught at Floyd Lamb State Park using spinnerbaits and crankbaits.