Fishing Report: Not much biting in front of air conditioner

Friday, July 11, 2003 | 9:56 a.m.

NEVADA DIVISION OF WILDLIFE

Even the die-hard anglers appear to be seeking the comfort of their air conditioners and have been avoiding Lake Mead in recent days, said Jon Sjoberg, supervising fisheries biologist for the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW).

Anglers who have been on the water have seen striped bass slurping the surface in the Boulder Basin for threadfin shad, a small bait fish that spawn from spring through mid summer.

Boaters are catching the stripers by drifting with anchovies and casting small lures to the fish. Most of the stripers being caught range from 12 to 16 inches.

NDOW creel census clerks saw very light fishing activity in the Overton Arm over the Independence Day weekend. Boaters have caught stripers recently at the Meat Hole, while shore fishing has been fair at Stewart's Point.

Largemouth bass fishing is fair to good at St. Thomas and behind Fish Island, both located in the Overton Arm.

NDOW game wardens are cautioning boaters and shore anglers that the high temperatures can quickly cause dehydration and heat stroke. Visitors to the lake should drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol and fish only in the early morning and evening hours when temperatures are cooler.

The fish are being caught with anchovies and range from 10 to 15 inches. Very few catfish have been seen by NDOW game wardens during the past week.

Striped bass fishing is typically good below Davis Dam during the months of July and August. However, very few anglers have been seen in that area this month.

Trout are being caught at Cold Springs and Haymeadow reservoirs with most of the activity taking place at Haymeadow.

Fair action for largemouth bass is being found as well, although windy weather has made for difficult fishing conditions in recent days.

Temperatures on the Nye County area have been ranging from the mid 90s during the days to the low 50s in the evenings.

Campgrounds have been full on the weekends, but there have been plenty of sites available midweek.

Afternoon temperatures have been in the 90s, while nights have been in the high 40s.