Fishing report: Mid-winter weather plays havoc with anglers’ plans

Friday, Feb. 20, 2004 | 10:20 a.m.

NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE

Anglers are finding typical mid winter fishing as largemouth and striped bass are in deep water and they are showing little interest in taking any bait that is offered to them.

Two anglers who were fishing from shore Monday had no success after spending a considerable amount of time at Hemenway Harbor, Pumphouse Cove and South Saddle Cove. Nearly as slow of action was found over the weekend by 22 competitors who caught only 10 largemouth bass during a fishing tournament that was held at Callville Bay.

There continue to be reports that boaters have been having sporadic success for stripers around Sand Island. Those fish are generally running 1-2 pounds and are being taken with anchovies.

Anglers who have been fishing recently in the Overton Arm have caught small numbers of largemouth bass near St. Thomas with crank baits and black rubber worms. NDOW creel census clerks checked a few crappie that were caught late last week with grubbs behind Fish Island.

LAKE MOHAVE: Trolling lures that imitate trout has been yielding some success for striped bass following the rainbow trout plants at Cottonwood Cove. Several fish weighing 10 pounds or more seem to be caught following each plant.

Mike Burrell, NDOW biologist, said he recently netted stripers weighing from just under a pound to 2 pounds while doing biological sampling near Owl's Point. He said that boaters could have some success for the fish by trolling or drifting with anchovies in that area.

Fishing has been slow for stripers at Willow Beach. Trout continue to be caught following the plants.

The next rainbow trout plants were scheduled for today at Aztec Wash, Cottonwood Cove, Placer Cove and Willow Beach.

WAYNE E. KIRCH WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA: Dana Johnson, installation supervisor, said conditions are now unsafe for ice fishing. If warm weather persists there may be enough open water for fishing within two weeks.

EAGLE VALLEY RESERVOIR: Ice is 14-17 inches thick, but fishing has generally been slow for brown and rainbow trout. Temperatures have ranged from zero to the mid 40s in recent days.

Peter Gill of the Nevada Division of State Parks said an automobile was recently seen on the lake. Even with the thickness of the ice, he said conditions are not safe for vehicles to drive on the ice.

ECHO CANYON RESERVOIR: The ice is thin and is not considered to be safe for ice fishing.

URBAN PONDS: Fishing has been good following the rainbow trout plants. One angler told the Nevada Department of Wildlife that he has been enjoying excellent success by casting flies at Sunset Park. Trout are scheduled to be stocked Friday, Feb. 27 at Floyd Lamb, Lorenzi and Sunset parks in Las Vegas and Veterans Memorial Park in Boulder City.