Lake Mead Friday am.

[BaySport]

Friday 11/23/07- Hit the water at 5:45am. It was dark and cold! Wind out of the north, water choppy. Made it to what's left of Las Vegas Wash at about sunrise. Looking to net a few shad.

Pulled into the last cove, on the Lake Shore Road side, to find it circled with about six guys tossing nets from the shore. One guy was in his under drawers and barefooted, crotch deep in cold Lake Mead Wash water, chuckin his net. What dedication! His buds were laughing and yelling at him the entire time. Could'nt tell you exactly what they were saying because I don't understand whatever asian dialec they were speaking, however, it was probably something like " Hey moron if you need to throw the net an extra three feet farther, get a longer rope!". Anyway, everyone ended up with shad in their buckets.

These guys know how to travel, each one of them had a wooden pole with a bucket tied to each end with a short length of rope. When they caught enough shad, all there gear was packed up, poles were shouldered, and off they went along the shore to find likely fishing spot. The one guy even put his pants back on. These guys must have hiked several miles total that day.

Anyway, after filling my livewell with shad, headed for Sand Island to fish in deep water. Wind pushed the boat around despite my efforts to control it with the eletric motor. Forced to use a median heavy pole with a 4 oz. sinker in order to fish 110-125 feet deep, instead of the usual light tackle with a 1 oz. sinker. Despite the windy conditions, action was steady, boating 11 fish, before noon, all in the three pound range.

BTW, had the good fortune to meet Striperhunter and his friend on the water today, his last Lake Mead fishing trip before relocating to Az. How did you end up doing?

Great day on the water! Sorry no camera today.
BaySport
[signature]

[evandostert]

Bay sport was that you driving back around 2 today. I went out as you were coming in. I went to the wash area and got nothing. I don't think many others did as well. Time for me to get a fish finder. Still trying to figure out a few issues with my truck. Sounds like you killed em compared to others.
[signature]

[Striperhunter]

Thanks for the shad. I had a hell of a time trying to catch my own. It was slow fishing after you left we only caught two about two pounds each. I froze the rest of the shad for lake pleasant. Not a bad trip we ended up with about 10 striper no boils. We mostly caught them while trolling then with sardines. Sorry no pictures.


Striperhunter
[signature]

[Mead_Stripers]

Hey BaySport,

Thanks for the report. That guy is crazy. The water was pretty damn cold last week...although at times, it did feel warmer than the air temp.

My fishing was pretty good. I didn't fish as much as I usually do. I was just taking in the beautiful weather and scenery most of the time. We rented one of the new fishing boats out of Temple Bar. It has a little 60 hp motor. Not bad. Seats four. We did a lot of trolling during the morning and later afternoon hours. Using various rattle traps and trout lures. We caught several stripers and small mouth bass. Nothing to write home about. At night, we fished with chovies from the stern of the houseboat. Fishing was slow in a few spots. One near an island on Mushroom Cove and Gateway Cove. Other spots were great.

We usually stopped fishing after catching around 40-50 so we could get them filleted and put into the freezer. That way, we had more time to chill near the bonfire. Last night, we were killing them. Our chum found a huge school of stripers. We could have gone forever but I knew filleting them would take a long time so we stopped after a couple hours. Enjoyed some ribeyes and the beautiful full moon view which lit up the Temple real nicely.

My girlfriend has my camera but I'll make sure to get the pics up on the board.

Best regards,

Paul
[signature]

[BaySport]

WOW! Sounds like you all know how to enjoy yourselfs on Lake Mead. Glad you had a successful trip. When's the next one?
BaySport
[signature]

[Mead_Stripers]

Yeah, man I tell you. Once you take out one of those houseboats, it's hard to not get one after that. You're basically situated for 24 hour fishing...not that I would recommend that to anyone.

Unfortunately for me, I probably won't be able to get out there again until Memorial Day Weekend. There's a slim chance I can go out there during Christmas time but I highly doubt it. Looks like I'll have to wait till May. Then again, if I don't gather enough people for the trip, I may have to wait till October or November of next year. You, on the other hand, will be out there this weekend...and the following weekend, if not sooner. One of these days, you have to try out the Temple Basin. The fishing is excellent (sorry, no live shad there that I have seen) but don't worry...anchovies do the trick. And the scenery can't be beat. Well, technically, I've never fished nor cruised through the Virgin Basin so I guess I have to put a disclaimer in there. I have, however, fished and taken houseboats out of the Boulder Basin and Overton Arm, and I would take Temple Basin over the other two any day of the week, except Friday nights because I may be tempted to party it up at Vegas...and Temple Bar is just too far from Vegas.

Best regards,

Paul
[signature]

[BaySport]

I've only been to Temple Bar once. It was a several years ago when I bought the boat. My wife and I buzzed out there early in the spring. We rented a slip for the boat and a motel room for us. Stayed for two nights and really enjoyed ourself. I've always wanted to go back.

I am only 22 miles from Lake Mead Marina. It takes about 35 minutes from my driveway to boat in the water, 10-15 minutes to the fishing grounds. One hour after I leave home I can be yelling "fish on". The problem is that it is so convenient to fish close to home that I never go anywhere else. What a horrible problem to have! []
BaySport
[signature]

[Mead_Stripers]

I figured as much. Although it may be nice to check out new scenery and fishing spots once in a while. If you ever hit up Temple Bar again, let me know and I'll give you the 411 on the great fishing spots. The views in the Temple Basin are absolutely spectacular right now.

I wish I had your problem of being so close to Mead! Then again, there are benefits to being right next to the ocean for some yellowtail and your favorite...halibut. Personally, I'd rather be closer to Mead.

Best regards,

Paul
[signature]