Mead fishing during Thanksgiving

[Jacksonman]

Hello Nevada BFTers. I will be down in Vegas for Thanksgiving break with in-laws. Whenever I hang out with my brother-in-law, he wants me to take him fishing but I am a Utah trout guy.

So a few questions for you guys. I won't have a boat or my float tubes so where is the best place to go to catch fish (stripers or trout or anything else) from shore within an hour or so of Vegas? I have heard that they plant Mead with trout and that it leads to good striper fishing - when does that begin?

I will be looking to fish either the Saturday before Thanksgiving or the Friday after if there is anyone that is planning to go out and needs some help with gas money.

Any advice to help my brother-in-law catch some fish (as he only fishes when I am around) will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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[stripercraze]

Hello Jacksonman,

I heard that the Friday after Thanksgiving they will plant trout at dle cove. You can cast from shore for trout or stripers. Also the Nevada Striper club may have more up to date info. There web site is [url "http://www.nevadastriperclub.org/"]www.nevadastriperclub.org[/url] .Hope this helps and good luck fishing.

Stripercraze
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[Jacksonman]

Thanks for the reply. That's the type of info I was looking for.
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[Mead_Stripers]

Hey Jacksonman,

I've heard Saddle is the place to be when there's a trout plant. If you don't have any luck with trout lures or top water plugs, I suggest that you bring a bag of frozen anchovies. You can keep it really cold with dry ice but I don't believe it will be necessary. You can use regular ice and keep it over the bag of anchovies. Just make sure the melted ice water doesn't get into the bag of anchovies when you make a hole in it. I say regular ice should suffice because the temps are dropping and a good bag of ice should keep the anchovies firm for at least half the day. The key is to use firm anchovies because once they become too soft, they will fall off during your cast. You probably won't need anchovies given there will be a trout plant but just in case, the bite is slow near the shoreline, the anchovies will greatly increase your odds of landing either a striper or catfish. Remember, you need to fish either really early in the morning or do what I do, and fish through the night. The stripers are very aggressive at night this time of the year. Start fishing around sunset after a good meal, and you should be raking them in till midnight (or 2 a.m.). I use the "lure effect" when fishing with anchovies. This means I tie a no. 2 hook about 12 -16 inches from 2 No. 2 lead weights (ball bearing-like weights) on 6 - 8 lb test. You should be able to cast out about 40 - 50 feet on this rig. Let the cut anchovy sink for a second and then begin reeling at various speeds. If stripers are out there, you will catch them. Try chumming if fishing is slow. Also, try to fish where's a drop. Before you start baitfishing, cast around with a one ounce weight before sunset so you can locate the drops. That's where you want to be casting with the cut anchovy.

Well, best of luck to you. Happy Thanksgiving.

Best regards,

Paul
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[Jacksonman]

Thanks for the advice. Where exactly is dle cove and what is the best way to get there from Henderson? We will likely be fishing one of the evenings of Tues, Wedn, or Thurs night of next week if anyone wants to join. Thanks again - it sounds like it will be worth it to bring some gear down.
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[Mead_Stripers]

I believe there is a way to get there from the Lake Mead Marina but I'm not certain. I've never been in that area but I have seen a number of posts recommending the Saddle Cove/Island area after a trout plant. You may also consider Government Wash. There's good striper fishing there as well, and the best part...you can actually drive up to the water's edge. It's very convenient. Gov't Wash is on the way to Callville Bay.

Best regards,

Paul
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[TheWhizzle]

Coming from Henderson, you will head East on lake mead blvd. Once you pass the toll booth, stay on the road you are on (dont turn left when given the chance), and watch for the signs. Saddle coves turnoff is about a quarter mile after the fish hatchery. Go slow when you see the signs for the hatchery, cause the turn comes up pretty quick. There is a sign for Saddle cove. When you are on the dirt road, stay to the left when it forks. That will take you right to the water.
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[stripercraze]

Also when you get to the water there will be a cove with floating markers. Boats can't enter the cove and there is also a floating out house. This will let you know you are in the right area. Also past the entrance to dle cove if you keep going straight to the las Vegas boat harbor marina there is a public fishing pier and some Very Good points to the right of the pier. But both places I have seen very large fish from the shore in the winter time.

Stripercraze
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[Jacksonman]

Thanks a ton guys! I will likely be out there next week sometime from 4 to 11 pm or so. So what type of bait do you recommend from shore besides cut anchovies? Where is the best place to buy those chovies?
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[stripercraze]

I use sardines,squid or anchovies they all work well. I like sardines they seem to have more oil in them. On east Lake Mead there is a market on the right hand side called Sunset Market. They have everything you will need. There are a few gas stations and one bait shop on Lake Mead east of Boulder on the right hand side of the road. I cut the head and tail off and use them for chum. I use the rest for Bait.


Stripercraze
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[Mead_Stripers]

90% of my fishing trips to Mead start from Temple Bar Marina on the AZ side of Mead. Less boat pressure there and excellent fishing. I buy my bait typically from the marina but I believe you can buy bait in Boulder City at the Vons on the corner where you need to make a left on Highway 93/95 (not sure, it's one of those #s).

I agree with Stripercraze. Use the heads and tails for chum. But I prefer chovies because they fit on the hooks better. Meaning the sardines sometimes get too big...even for a no. 2 hook. There are at least 5-10 sardines in a bag that are too big to be used as bait. You want cut pieces that fit right onto the hook. If the piece is too big, you can't get the hook all the way through both sides. Also, I find the anchovies to stay firmer longer but then again, that may just be due to other factors.

You can't go wrong with anchovies (and I guess sardines because I've used them as well). Especially, given your time (4 to 11), anchovies using my system is guaranteed to work. Use the lure effect from the shore line. I didn't know there was pier out there but heck, that may be an excellent site to fish. That is if there aren't a bunch of people out there. It'll be cold so perhaps not.

Here's my honest advice though. Start with the shorefishing first. It's more fun and private. Go to the pier only if you're not having any luck on shore. Remember, it's key to find those drop-offs from shore while there is daylight. At this time of year (and that time of night, the stripers are at 5-15 feet. Hence you want the anchovy to sink for only a second. Then reel in slowly. Play with the speeds and don't get caught in the weeds. If there are weeds, move!!! The stripers aren't there. The drop-offs, remember! Also, you don't want to fish off the bottom. You may catch some stripers but chances are you'll land more catfish instead. But that's a good sign for you. Because where there is catfish, there typically are stripers. The catfish are merely at the bottom eating the scraps of stripers. Just stay closer to the surface.

Don't get too excited if you keep hearing a lot of big fish splashing about. Chances are...they're carp. The key is to just keep moving along the shoreline until you find the drop-off where the school is congregated. Because once you find that school, it's on. You'll fill up your bucket in no time.

I'll be at Mead next week as well. I'm leaving for Temple Bar this Saturday and staying for 8 days. I'll be on a houseboat most of the time. I'll let you know how I do as well. I used to do a lot of shore fishing before I started renting the houseboats. Which I highly recommend during the winter. Fishing is awesome and the houseboat rentals are cheap given the off season.

Well, best of luck to you! Anchovies lead the way.

Best regards,

Paul
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[Jacksonman]

That response is all I need - I will likely try anchovies from the Saddle Cove area one night and then go to the AZ side the next night. Thanks again for your advice and hopefully I'll be posting a good report in a few weeks.
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[Mead_Stripers]

I'm happy to hear you will be trying out the AZ side of Mead. This means you have to go to Temple Bar. You can either fish off of Heron Point or Monkey Cove near the marina. All other areas require a boat. Heron Point will require a short hike but it should be definitely worth it. You can park your car fairly close to Monkey Cove but the fishing there is unpredictable.

Anyway, if you are definitely going to Temple Bar, I can give you more details and secret spots to fish. Please let me know.

Best regards,

Paul
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[Jacksonman]

If it is that good then I might have to try it. If you want to give some more details, I am all ears.
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[TheWhizzle]

Also, don't underestimate the power of a topwater plug, or a plastic swimbait this time of year. You can scout alot of water with a topwater plug, especially between 4:30 and 6:30pm. That dusk time is perfect for trying to locate scattered fish with a noisy surface retrieve. A Heddon Zara Spook, or Cordell Pencil Popper makes enough commotion to bring in big, aggressive stripers from a distance, and theres nothing as exciting as watching a big striper explode on a surface plug. Plastic swimbaits that resemble shad and rainbow trout can be productive when there is still some light out. switch to darker colors at low light periods. The moon will be getting pretty bright about the time you are out, and a swimbait that is about 6 inches long in all black will still be visible at night. Cast out the swimbait on a leadhead jig, and let it sink to the bottom. Start working it back in with a fairly quick retrieve, keeping it a few feet off the bottom. Sometimes lures will out-fish frozen bait ten-to-one. Give it a try. Just remember to scale up your tackle. Medium to medium heavy rod and reel spooled with 12 to 17lb test line is necessary to throw the big topwater plugs. You could pull up a 15lb'er on your next cast.
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[Mead_Stripers]

I agree that it is pretty exciting to see a striper go right after a topwater plug. I've used a couple topwater poppers and plugs but I've found that it takes at least 3-4 times more casts to catch a striper that way when the bite is really hot. On the other hand, using the cut bait lure method, I'm guaranteed a bite everytime. I believe once the stripers catch the scent of the chovy, they'll follow it in and strike it no matter what. I've had plenty of stripers follow the cut bait all the way to the shoreline. I'm talking several feet away from where I'm standing on the shore. That is if there's a nice drop off right near the shoreline.

I agree a heavy 6" swimbait increases your chance of catching a monster striper. That's everyone's dream especially after a trout plant. However, if that doesn't work around dusk, I find that you have to transfer over to chovies pretty fast otherwise you risk the school moving to other areas. Yeah, they do move around a lot but there have been plenty of times where my friends and I have been able to keep a school of stripers at bay by getting the scent of anchovies in the water at dusk.

Jacksonman, perhaps, since there will be two of you out there, you guys should try out both systems at the same time. That way, you can use swimbaits, poppers, lures, etc. and anchovies at the same time.

Best regards,

Paul
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[reellittlephish]

After you pass the fish hatchery signs, you will see signs for Saddle Cove. Dirt Road turns left towards the water. To south of you is the water pumping plant. You can drive quite close to the water with regular vehicle.

You might also consider fishing below Hoover Dam at Willow Beach. Plants there are on Fridays. A little online research will get you approximate sizes and weights of trout.
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