Fishing report: Expect action this weekend at the lakes

Friday, May 28, 2004 | 8:47 a.m.

NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE

Anglers who will be heading to Lake Mead for Memorial Day weekend should find big crowds and good fishing as the action for striped bass has been holding steady in the Overton Arm and is improving in the Boulder Basin.

Sporadic striper boils have been seen over the past two weeks in the Boulder Basin. Boils occur when stripers push their favorite forage fish, threadfin shad, to the lake's surface where they engage in feeding frenzies. This feeding and splashing gives the appearance that the surface of the water is boiling.

Boaters who were fishing in the Overton Arm had good luck over the weekend, according to NDOW creel census clerk Walt deMattos. He checked one boat that had five anglers who caught 125 stripers, most of which were around a pound.

Stripers are being caught with Sassy Shad lures or fishing with cut anchovies. Catfish are being pulled from deep water in the Overton Arm by boaters who are fishing with anchovies.

The better areas for stripers in the Overton Arm have been St. Thomas, Fish Island, Ann Margaret Cove and Stewart's Point. Anglers who have been fishing in the Boulder Basin have had recent success at the 33 Hole and Special Events Beach.

One boater reported to NDOW that he caught and released several largemouth bass over the weekend while fishing near St. Thomas. Crank baits and black artificial worms are catching the bass.

Over the weekend NDOW creel census clerks checked 50 stripers, most of which were caught around the narrows above Cottonwood.

Dan Maes, NDOW installation specialist, said anglers have been enjoying success this week and he expects the action to continue for both rainbow trout and largemouth bass.

Schroeder Reservoir is located in Beaver Dam State Park approximately 29 miles east of Caliente.