Date: 02/18/10
Contact: Doug Nielsen
Phone: (702) 486-5127 x 3500

PEAK SEASON FOR TROUT AT URBAN PONDS

For many trout anglers wintertime serves as little more than a long layover between the fall and spring trout fishing season, unless you enjoy fishing through the ice. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Every year, November through much of March, the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) stocks rainbow trout in ponds located at Las Vegas area parks. These park ponds are referred to as “the urban ponds.”

The urban ponds are located at Sunset Park, Lorenzi Park, Floyd Lamb City Park, and Boulder City’s Veteran’s Memorial Park. Periodically, NDOW also plants trout at Hafen Park in Mesquite.

Sunset Park is located just south of McCarran Airport at Sunset and Eastern. Lorenzi Park lies just west of the Rancho Drive and Washington Ave. intersection. Floyd Lamb Park, in the northwest part of town near Highway 95 and Durango, is always a good place to go due to the natural habitat around the pond. If you live in or near Boulder City, Veteran’s Memorial Park in the southern part of town has a great pond for any techniques including fly fishing.

Currently NDOW stocks these ponds on a weekly basis and will through the latter part of March depending on water temperature.

Anglers 12 years of age or older must have a valid Nevada fishing license and a trout stamp to fish for rainbow trout at the urban ponds. A trout stamp is not required, however, on a short term fishing license. There is a three fish limit, regardless of species, at all of these ponds. Be aware that the current fishing license year ends Feb. 28, but licenses for the 2010-11 license year are already available online and at local sporting goods outlets.

During the colder months fishing tends to be best late in the morning throughout the afternoon. Many anglers use PowerBait, worms or lures to catch fish, but with the increasing popularity of fly fishing, anglers are using these ponds to refine their skills with the reward of catching a trout. For others simply being outside with a rod in your hands is satisfying enough, especially without having to wait for the ice to melt on waterways up north.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.