Fishing report: Finally good news for shore anglers: Striped bass success

Friday, Dec. 3, 2004 | 9:16 a.m.

line NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE

A large number of shad were seen at Horsepower Cove this week and anglers are netting the small fish for use as bait. On Monday shore anglers were having fair success for stripers with most weighing around 1 1/2 pounds.

Boaters have been doing well for stripers off Special Events Beach by drifting anchovies and casting Sassy Shad lures.

The beach is open to shore fishing daily from dawn to dusk. A pair of boaters told NDOW creel census clerks that they caught stripers that weighed 4-5 pounds while down rigging late last week at 35-40 feet from Stewart's Point to Callville Bay.

"With the water temperature below 70 degrees, now is a good time to look for big stripers in shallow water," said Jon Sjoberg, NDOW supervising fisheries biologist. "Fish in the back of coves early in the morning and look for signs of trout popping."

Sjoberg also said that anglers who are willing to work could be rewarded for their efforts with both stocked rainbow trout and stripers. The next trout plants were to take place today at Hemenway, Horsepower, Pumphouse and North Saddle coves.

There was a report of a 28-pound striped bass being caught the day after Thanksgiving near Cottonwood Cove with an AC Plug. A return of more stable weather should again produce fair action for stripers that weigh around a pound in the narrows above Cottonwood Cove.

NDOW was scheduled to stock rainbow trout today at Placer Cove, Cottonwood Cove and Willow Beach.

The stockers were taken with PowerBait. Pete Gill from Nevada State Parks expects access to fishing to become more limited until the ice forms and it becomes solid enough for ice fishing.

No anglers were noted fishing Haymeadow Reservoir. High temperatures averaged in the mid-40s and the nighttime temperatures were in the low 20s. All reservoirs are currently ice-free.

The next plant will take place on Friday, Dec. 10 at Floyd Lamb State Park, Lorenzi Park and Sunset Park in Las Vegas and Veterans Memorial Park in Boulder City.