Fishing in Southern Nevada

[jellyworm]

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[font "Times New Roman"]It’s been a while since I have posted any comments on the Forum, so here goes. I moved here from northern Nevada a couple of years ago for health reasons. There I was able to enjoy fishing at several good spots like South Fork and Wildhorse with minimal effort. I had always hoped that when I retired, I would be able to enjoy fishing close-by to where I lived. I have found that fishing at Lake Mead or Mohave requires considerable effort especially since I don’t have a boat. Fishing in general here seems to be a major production.[/font][font "Times New Roman"]
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[font "Times New Roman"]I am disappointed in the fishing at the city ponds where I try to take my grandson from time to time. We have fished from Floyd Lamb to Boulder City with very little success unless we happen to get there soon after a stocking, which is very unpredictable. I find it very un-sportsman-like for adults to take over their limit of fish from these ponds for their own use, instead of leaving them for the kids to catch. I would prefer these ponds to be “catch and release” to allow the kids to enjoy catching some fish![/font][font "Times New Roman"]
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[font "Times New Roman"]I enjoy reading the “Forum” even when I don’t get out myself as it keeps my mind active with good memories, and I like to read about other peoples’ success. Lately however, the posts have not been very positive and the overall fishing condition seems to be poor. It amazes me for the size of Lake Mead, that the fishing is not better than it is. The fluctuating water level is definitely a problem especially during the spawn, however, I have fished in many lakes that are not as big as Lake Mead and yet I have had good success. Tournament fishing seems to be quite active --- both for bass and stripers --- and they must be having some success or they wouldn’t keep going. I recognize when Wolfs4evr and others are not even getting out and posting positive results, especially this time of year, then something is definitely wrong.[/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"]I guess I don’t really have any solutions --- just some thoughts from a guy who retired here who like to fish! Thanks[/font]
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[wolfs4evr]

I haven't been to the local ponds too much at all since getting a boat 2.5+ years ago. When we did we never took anything home. Always catch and release. This time of the year catching much of anything in the ponds is a chore. We only went in the winter months and sometimes would catch as many as several dozen planter Rainbows in a couple hour period. Either by fly, lure or a power bait of some sort. One year we did really good when the Bluegills were spawning. 50-100 of them in a couple hours. My daughters kept me seriously busy landing, re-baiting and casting for them back then. Haven't been out to try for them in years though. One of those perfect timing things. The local ponds certainly are "combat" fishing scenerios though. Never cared for that at all!

Downside to the south... There isn't a whole lot one can do w/o a boat. We tried for years to fish Mead from shore and totally gave up on it. The river is semi useless w/o a boat. The few trout factories within a couple hours drive to the north of Vegas can provide some results but again a boat makes a world of a difference. Utah wise... Sand Hollow can be alright from shore until summer hits and the hundreds of kids take up the shore lines swimming and jumping from the cliffs. Boating can be a challenge in the summer months due to the skiiers (busy boat ramp plus I have to launch/do everything myself since Madi can't operate either legally on her own). Kolob can be alright from shore but only in the earlier months since the Boy Scouts totally take over that lake the majority of the summer. Minnersville and Panguitch one can catch trouts from shore but again a boat makes a world of a difference...

Boat = much better fishing experience. Downside... Boats cost plenty of $$ to own/operate plus the additional cost of fuel to tow plus the $$ for a vehicle capable of towing. If money grew on trees I would be "somewhere" every weekend fishing. But since it doesn't I have to manage the fun. Thus this time of the year after some fun chasing the spawners in April I sit... Bored to death weekend in and out. But saving some $$ for trips to Utah, cooler temps, great camping and some serious fun fly fishing. There is a ton of places I would TOTALLY love to try but $$ rules and gas getting there takes a toll on ones "allowance".

Why I haven't been posting. School is almost out so been saving for some trips north to cooler weather and a change of scenery.

Speaking of water levels... Mead/the river system isn't the only place hurting. Several lakes in Utah might go dry this year. Kolob is somewhere around 30-35% full. At 9200-9700 feet or so there isn't much property higher than it for snow to sit, melt and fill it. It is hurting all over and fishing is really affected IMO by that fact alone this year.

Vegas is really a bummer of a spot to live if one really enjoys the outdoors (I grew up in Montana so hard to compare that to anything when it comes to outdoor activities, lakes, etc, etc. lol) Very very very difficult spot/area to fish if one doesn't have some fairly decent $$ available to them (which I don't...)
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[wolfs4evr]

I wouldn't mind a trip to Eagle one of these days. Haven't been there since we got the boat. I read just before the ice set in that 10K + Brown Trouts were released into it. My absolute 100% favorite variant to catch. I also have never caught a Tiger trout. The highest on both of our lists to catch some day and I know there is some in Eagle. But again tough call to make that drive considering the distance/$$ for truck gas for a small lake and "small" fish. Fun to do but that alone keeps dumping that idea down the list... I just need a $$ tree and you'd see all kinds of posts from me []
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[wolfs4evr]

There is also some pretty good fishing at Wayne E Kirch Wildlife area. We did good from shore there the one time we made the drive (30-40 Rainbows landed). I dread the thought of making that long azz drive down those beat up dirt roads towing the boat. What a dirt mess that would be (last time there I couldn't even see out the rear window of the SUV I was driving since so much dirt covered it). Plus all of them have some form of boat restrictions. From electric only to 5mph only to .... Would be fun but need a "different" boat for that place than what we got generally speaking.
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[wolfs4evr]

I'd love to park the boat and go hit some mountain rivers/streams somewhere and fly fish (much easier on the allowance gas wise) but... Madison is Blonde. That fact alone when discussed with waders, river current, flying insects and rocks under foot shouldn't be made in the same paragraph. lol (Been there tried that in Montana... Not a good outcome for her. lol) Thus the reason why float tubes are not mentioned in the same paragraph with her either! The youngest is starting to spark a interest and ask questions about fishing (she's about at the age Madi started fishing)... Blonde x2 compared to Madi. This will certainly test my skills semi soon in the future. Starting all over with another... All of those years spent on Madi I have to do all over again possibly if the other expresses a desire to go... (Madi can use Baitcasters, fly rods, etc, etc... That took some time!)
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[jellyworm]

Thanks for the input. I've actually been to Sunnyside once when we live in Elko --- met my son there from Vegas when he had a small boat. It was late summer, I think Labor Day weekend and we did fair on bass and trout. What time of year do you find good up there?
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[wolfs4evr]

For the life of me I don't remember when we went (time of the year). It was still pretty darn chilly that I remember. Mostly due to the 20-30mph winds in the AM. So guessing early part of the year. It was nice in the afternoon though. The Rainbows were spawning. I caught a couple on the flyrod in the shallower waters and once I realized they were spawning I left those alone and just stuck to catching the smaller fish that weren't of the age yet. Of course the downside to no winds there is the bugs... Wind can be your friend sometimes. That was the only time we made that drive. Same with Eagle. Only once. But at least that gave me enough to know if I go again what to expect at either spot.
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[frankv702]

We go up to eagle valley every year religiously for memorial Day weekend. We catch plenty of tiger and rainbow trout but never seen a Brown trout or a bass but in the bar they have plenty of pics of sizeable fish being caught there. Over the weekend we'll usually catch literally a few hundred trout or so. Catch and release them all. We're heading back out there in a week or so again and I really want to catch a bass.

We went up to Sunnyside the year before last in October and although we only caught about 15 fish each, they were huge your
Trout. Very fun to catch!
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[wolfs4evr]

Took me a minute to find the article I saw last year but finally did. This is what would get me back up to Eagle again.

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[font "verdana"][size 2][b]November 01, 2013

Brown trout were
planted at Eagle Valley Reservoir last week
Location: Eagle Valley
Reservoir
by Nevada Department of Wildlife

NDOW planted brown
trout last week and anglers are having good success using PowerBait in various
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[font "Verdana"]Nevada Department of Wildlife
[url "http://www.ndow.org/fish/report/index.shtm#bilk"]Nevada Department of Wildlife[/url]
Carson City, NV
(800) 576-1020 [/font]
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[reellittlephish]

Jellyworm,

I don't know what a "major production" is for you. If I am prepared, it is about 90 minutes from when I decide to get on the water till I am launching. I'm 34 miles from Callville launch.

I tried the ponds and for me they are a waste of time and money. When I first started fishing here in 1994 I got skunked a lot and then skunked some more. I came from Southern California where the bite is really tough yet with some work I became pretty consistent, but Mead pretty much handed me my hat for a long time.

The harsh truth is you need a boat to fish Mead and Mohave. Wolfs4ever and I have nice bass boats (I planned for that before retiring in 2010), but I fished Mead a number of years out of a 12 ft. fiberglass Sears boat with a 15 hp outboard and a homemade mounted 35lb. thrust trolling motor. I sold that rig in 2004 for about $600. You could tow it with most any vehicle. I car topped it. But I was younger then.

You can find a used smaller open boat around $2000 by the time you get a decent mill on it or used bass boat priced at maybe $5000 to $7000. You likely won't find that good deal in Vegas but if you are willing to go to AZ or CA you can. That would give you more flexibility to go out on slightly breezy days and also keep you more stable when the skiers and water fleas are out. You want a reliable rig fishing Mead or Mohave. This is no place to have engine trouble.

Being a senior, your Lake Mead entry fees are discounted and camping at Mead and Mohave is $5/night Going out for multiple days and camping out is one way to stretch your fuel budget. Another way to save is buy the AZ nonresident fishing license. That allows you to fish any water on the Colorado River drainage and all of Arizona. You can get your AZ license start date set on the day you pick. I don't trout fish any more but AZ has some trout fishing in the mountains. AZ fish and Game maintains a decent online site.

If you are bass fishing, then sure Mead and Mohave can be very tough. Be patient and begin to learn some spots. The features you see above water are not always continued under the surface so until you drive over the terrain in a boat you don't know the structure. Eventually you will have a list of places that consistently hold fish. A Sonar/GPS with waypoint capability will get you started. One thing to always consider and something that a couple US Open champions have reiterated is the bass at Mead ...if they are present.. often bite on the first or second presentation. They just relocate a lot following the food. At Mohave it can be different but it seems the whole reservoir bite turns on and off at the same time. Just saying. We joke about how Mead has a 5:00 PM bite...it happens a lot.

First there were quagga mussels and that took some adaption. Then the smallmouth population began to grow. In my mind the introduction of Gizzard Shad a few years back has and is altering the lake ecology. Places that used to consistently hold fish don't have bass as often right now. Factor in the falling water levels - I was here fishing quite a bit in 2010 during the last low water period - and it seems the lake is "new" each time you go out. With this kind of draw-down the river channel has current and the fish orient accordingly. Used to be the wind would "stack" the plankton which located the threadfins and you could almost "call" your spots. Not so much now.

Before Gizzard shad, typically right now the bass would be keyed in on bluegills and blue/green would get bit. They would be holding from the edge out to 20 ft near 45° chunk rock, steep walls and deeper flats. With dropping water and gizzard shad present I don't know. It was mentioned on this forum that the shad were, right now, back in coves

A little searching in this forum will give you several places to productively fish from shore. If you haven't already, get together a drop shot rig and go try it. Fishing uphill is my tactic of choice this time of the season. From shore for bass I'd carry 3 set ups. Standard worm rig which doubles for jigs, surface bait rod which could throw small crankbaits and a dropshot rod. You might also check out a float and fly rig on You Tube. To deal with the heat, I bought a long-sleeve "bonefish" shirt and a wide brim hat from Bass Pro Shop. Kind of pricey but once I committed I found the shirt and hat make a huge difference in what temps I can tolerate.
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[jellyworm]

Thanks to everyone who has responded to my post on "Fishing in Southern Nevada". I have definitely learned a lot from each of you, and have enjoyed seeing the enthusiasm from the Forum members on a sport that we a love so much! I will continue to save my money as well for a few good trips that I can take my grandson --- perhaps to some of the places that you have suggested![fishin]
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[Erawk]

It can be tough indeed although I do feel we have a few exceptional fishing opportunities relatively close. Certainly, we don't have nearly the amount of options that other regions do. Having lived here my entire life, that is probably the main reason I'd prefer to spend my later years elsewhere. Pacific Northwest is on top of the list. The fishing opportunities may not be endless, but the weather sure is temperate! [] Haha.

I haven't made it out lately. Mostly due to time and money. As a matter of fact this is the least fishing I've done in quite some time. I need to rectify that. Fish on friends.
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[Dan79]

Another option that you might look at and I dont see mentioned much here at all is Nesbitt lake.

Its only about 1.5 hour away and although yout wont catch any monsters, you will catch bass! Alot of them. Last time I went, (now keep in mind I move to Texas in 09) but last time my bud and I went in 09 we caught over 100 bass in half day ranging from 10-14 inches.

Also some really niec blue gill in there. Or there were... This is old intel.

Kirch is the way to go for me, we had great luck there catching both bass and trout of good size.

So. Nevada is tough place to retire if your into fishing, but there are options!

PS the fishing in Texas is great!!!! Not bragging guys, just saying ha ha
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