Fishing report: Good times for bass and cats

Friday, June 11, 2004 | 9:23 a.m.

NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE

Anglers who have been trying their luck during the past week at Lake Mead have found windy weather along with fairly good action for striped bass and channel catfish in both the Boulder Basin and Overton Arm.

Nevada Department of Wildlife creel census clerks said boaters had fairly good success for stripers and catfish over the weekend by fishing near islands that emerged around Echo Bay. Stripers and catfish that weighed 1-2 pounds were also caught at the tires at Echo Bay.

Boaters who have been fishing in the Boulder Basin have had recent success for stripers by fishing from Hemenway Point to Boulder Beach and around Boxcar Cove and the 33 Hole. Trolling, casting Sassy Shad lures and drifting with anchovies and shad are all catching the fish.

One angler reported to NDOW that he saw a number of striper boils last Saturday around Temple Bar. Boils occur when stripers feed on their favorite forage, threadfin shad, on the lake's surface.

Largemouth bass fishing was fairly difficult for the 278 anglers who competed in a Champion Boats bass fishing tournament Saturday at Callville Bay Marina.

They brought 455 fish to the scales with the largest fish weighing 3.29 pounds and the largest stringer of five fish weighing a little more than 12 pounds. The catch included 24 smallmouth bass.

Largemouth bass fishing has been fair in coves around Cottonwood for fish that are 2 pounds or less.

Willow Beach is still very slow for striped bass and rainbow trout. That should change soon as Willow Beach Hatchery is scheduled to begin weekly rainbow trout plants on Friday, July 2. Approximately 1,200 trout will be stocked from shore.

Anglers who have been fishing from the dams have enjoyed good action by fishing with PowerBait and live worms. Weed growth in the water hasn't yet become a problem for shore anglers.

Most of the trout that have been caught in the past week have been around a pound. A few in the 2-pound range have been caught as well.

Anglers who have been fishing at the lake have been successful in landing largemouth bass that average 11 inches. A fly fisherman who was using an olive wooly bugger reported that he had good success for bass. Gitzit lures are taking bass as well.

Anglers who have been fishing for rainbow trout have been successful in catching fish that weigh around a pound. PowerBait continues to be the preferred bait for catching the fish.