Fishing report: Lake’s water dropping, but fishing on the rise

Friday, June 4, 2004 | 9:12 a.m.

NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE

Fishing continues to improve throughout Lake Mead and there are signs that 2004 is shaping up to be the third consecutive year of good fishing for striped bass and channel catfish, despite the dropping water level.

In recent days boaters have had success for striped bass by fishing with Sassy Shad lures off Hemenway Point. The fish have been averaging from one to four pounds.

Other areas in the Boulder Basin where boaters have had recent success for stripers are Boxcar Cove, the 33 Hole, Boulder Beach and outside the tires at Lake Mead Marina. Anglers fishing in the Overton Arm have been taking stripers from St. Thomas, Fish Island and Stewart's Point.

Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) biologists say that this year's spawn of threadfin shad is under way and it appears that spawning success will at least be average. Shad are the primary source of forage for stripers and other game fish, so a good shad spawn is important to the overall health of the sport fishery.

Jim Heinrich, NDOW biologist, said that good shad spawns in 2002 and 2003 resulted in good fishing and healthy stripers. He believes that the good fishing will continue through 2004.

Anglers continue to use PowerBait and live worms for the rainbows. Lures, such as small spinners, will catch rainbow as well as brown trout.