QUAGGA REMINDER: NDOW is asking boaters to take
the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of quagga mussels
from the Colorado River system to other waters. Thoroughly clean,
drain and dry your boat, trailer and towing vessel before traveling
to another water.
EAGLE VALLEY RESERVOIR
Anglers continue to find good action for stocked rainbow and tiger trout. Largemouth bass also have been taking baits, primarily along the weed beds. For trout good bait options include prepared baits such as PowerBait, a variety of lures or small spinners and flies.
ECHO CANYON RESERVOIR
Anglers heading north for the holiday weekend should find good action for crappie and largemouth bass. Crappie have been biting on jigs fished below a bobber. Trout have been hitting PowerBait, night crawlers, flies and spinners.
LAKE MEAD
Anglers are finding good action for smallmouth and largemouth bass in most areas. The fish are hitting on crankbaits and plastics. The Temple Bar is area is providing good action for striped bass as well as the largemouth and smallmouth variety. The stripers are on the small side but the numbers are big. Bluegill and sunfish are showing up as well.
LAKE MOHAVE
The striper bite has picked back up at Willow Beach. According to Kristen, who works at the marina store, the best action is taking place from between mile markers 45 and 53. Anglers have weighed in fish from eight to 25 pounds. Lures such as the AC Plug, Spro and LA Slider are generally productive, but anglers also have caught fish with anchovies. Trout anglers can find good action following the weekly fish plants. Largemouth and smallmouth bass have kept anglers busy from Cottonwood Cove south toward Katherine Landing. Plastics and jigs are taking the fish.
|
 |
|
| Here are some of the successful
anglers from Lake Mohave. From left to right: Bruce Silet
with a 42-inch, 41.46 pound striper, Gavin holds up the fish
he pulled in at Willow Beach. |
LAUGHLIN
Anglers are finding improved fishing for striped bass as well as catfish. Deep holes are holding rainbow trout.
PAHRANAGAT WILDLIFE REFUGE
Anglers are finding some success at the upper marsh for panfish and catfish. Mealworms or night crawlers below a bobber will catch fish.
WAYNE E. KIRCH WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
AREA
It’s that time of year when trout action begins to wane and largemouth bass fishing takes over. Anglers are still catching trout but the action has slowed. Bass fishing is steadily improving. Seasonal weed growth remains minimal.
URBAN PONDS
Anglers have found good action for catfish stocked by the Nevada Department of Wildlife. Effective baits include night crawlers, stink baits, hot dog slices, and chicken liver. Bluegill also have provided good fishing in recent days. One lucky angler caught several fish while fishing on the bottom with flies at Floyd Lamb Park. Largemouth bass are active as well. The limit is three fish.
Northeastern Nevada
ANGEL LAKE
The road to Angel Lake is closed for the winter.
CAVE LAKE
Cave is ice free and fishing should be good for a couple of weeks and then tail off until the water warms up into the 40’s. Cave Lake is almost always good for 8 to 11 inch fish using small spinners, natural baits, PowerBait or small wooly buggers. On warm afternoons small dries such as Griffith’s gnats, small elk hair caddis, PMD’s and red quills may be effective if there is a hatch going on. Also, small emerger patterns can also be deadly this time of year.
COMINS LAKE
Comins has about 10 inches of ice, though on warm afternoons the edges are soft. Fishing is poor here due to the introduction and now overpopulation of pike.
ILLIPAH
This lake is ice free and fishing is just fair. Expect it to pick up in a couple of weeks. The road to the lake is in pretty good shape, but the road around the lake is in still in fairly bad shape and muddy conditions, driving all the way to the lake isn’t recommended. Take care. No report on fishing, though the usual natural baits, PowerBait, spinners and large natural colored flies should all work. Black wooly buggers traditionally have done well here in the spring.
JAKE'S / BOIES RESERVOIR
Fishing from shore using spinners has been good for 15 to 18 inch fish. Besides the spinners, the usual natural baits, PowerBaits and streamers work best this time of year. Shore anglers should also hit this water before water temps warm up and the weed growth comes in making shore fishing difficult. With this year’s dry winter and warm spring temps, the weed growth may come in earlier than normal.
JIGGS / ZUNINO RESERVOIR
Unfortunately, Jiggs has dried up.
MOUNTAIN STREAMS
Stream flows are actually subsiding due to the low melt and fishing has been picking up. This week’s moisture may increase flows for a couple of days, but then they should subside again. Spring is a great time for tailwaters since the water coming out of the reservoirs is often a constant temperature. Try fishing below South Fork or Wild Horse Reservoirs. Both of these waters probably have spawning rainbows and when wading streams that hold spawning rainbows, please don’t walk through any redds. They are easily identified as discolored spots in the gravel where the fish have swept the area with their tails in preparation for the eggs. On warmer afternoons, where the sun hits the water a few mayfly and caddis hatches have been occurring. Small crystal buggers, nymphs, emergers and egg patterns should work.
HIGH ALPINE LAKES
Thick ice on the water and snow make for poor and often dangerous conditions. Fishing is done for the year at the higher elevations and this report for the high mountain lakes will not change until next summer. Travel to the high mountain lakes is not recommended.
RUBY LAKE NWR
Very little change here as the collection ditch and the ponds are all open. It has been WINDY here and fishing has been a bit slow. Gold ribbed hares ears and copper Johns are still producing some fish in the oxbow and the pond behind the hatchery and at the Brown Dike, though not many fish, and they aren’t as big as earlier in the year. Anglers will probably have better luck north near Bressman Cabin or the fingers. Small midge patterns also continue to produce a few fish and on occasional afternoons there is a small mayfly and/or caddis hatch. Small presentations appear to still be working here with black/red midge patterns in sizes 18 to 20 under an indicator or in tandem with a heavier nymph to get them down in the water column. Occasionally the fish are feeding in the surface film, so ditch the heavier nymph and use a floating line with an emerger pattern. Remember the collection ditch is artificial lures only and wading is not allowed.
SOUTH FORK RESERVOIR
The water is now approximately 50 degrees and has cleared up beautifully with seven to ten feet of visibility. Most of the fish are being caught in approximately 10 foot of water fairly close to shorelines and they are being caught all around the lake and anglers were catching limits of fish last week in the 15 to 18 inch size with a few over 20 inches. The cove at the main boat ramp was producing limits of 16 to 22 inch fish using a black leech pattern for several anglers there. Anglers floating worms were catching nice sized fish by Coyote Cove and along Jet Ski Beach from shore. Tomera Cove and the shorelines near the east side campground were also producing fish. Anglers were also catching limits of fish last week in the 15 to 18 inch size with a few over 20 inches. Fly rodders have been having good luck with larger wooly buggers, black seal buggers, leech patterns and streamers in about 10 feet of water along the south east shore from float tubes. As the water warms up, gold ribbed hares ears would be a great nymph to try in these same areas. Don’t forget chironomids below an indicator. While fishing for trout in this part of the lake, anglers also report picking up a few smallmouth, largemouth and even some wipers late in the afternoon in less than three feet of water where it is warming up. Fishing below the dam where the spillway meets the outflow has been good. The river above the reservoir is a special regulation water with single barbless hooks on artificial lures only. Fishing here this spring has been just fair and it is slowing down with the end of the spawn. Make sure to read the new regulations before you head out. When wading the river below and above the reservoir, please don’t walk through the riffles. Spawning trout are putting their redds (nests) in these areas. Any place that looks like it has had the algae cleaned off of it is probably a redd and should be avoided. If you are launching a boat, use the main boat ramp on the east side of the lake as the new ramp at Jet Ski Beach has a drop-off at the end of the concrete that you can get your trailer hung up on
WILDHORSE RESERVOIR
As of Wednesday, this lake was 80% ice free and with all the windy weather is probably ice free now. Fishing is generally good right after ice out for a few days to a week and then drops off until the water temps start to climb into the mid to high 40’s. This weekend may be a good weekend to get out to Wild Horse. You will definitely not have near the company that you will at South Fork. Large presentations such as wooly buggers, leech patterns, streamers, spinners, crankbaits, and nightcrawlers in shallow water should work. This reservoir is at 80% capacity and after this week we are probably looking at early to mid May when water temps start to hit 50 degrees before fishing gets good.
WILLOW CREEK RESERVOIR
No recent report on ice conditions here. Since Willow Creek Reseroir is a warm water fishery, not many anglers ice fish this lake as angler success is poor in the winter.
WILSON RESERVOIR
The lake is open with some and the water temperature is hitting the mid 40’s. The lake started to spill this week and while flows are a bit high below the spillway they are fishable. The surge of water over the spillway is lower than average and expect just fair fishing in this area. The road to the turnoff to the lake isn’t too bad, but the road to the lake is very wet and muddy. Spring fishing can be very good here using natural baits, spinners and large natural colored flies like wooly buggers and leech patterns.
Northwestern Nevada
CARSON RIVER – Updated April 2, 2012
Current flow is 846 cfs. 3,502 rainbow stocked on the 4/25/12. Fishing is now challenging due to the high flows. Fly anglers have been using prince nymphs, Pheasant Tails and Olive Micro Mayflies. Spin fisherman, use Blue Fox silver, and black Panther Martins.
BAILY FISHING POND IN CARSON CITY - Updated May 1, 2012
Stocking occurred 4/19/12 1000 rainbows. Fishing has been good.
HOBART RESERVOIR - Opened on May 1.
LAHONTAN RESERVOIR – Updated May 1, 2012
Lahontan wipers and walleye starting to turn on at the Churchill beaches.
LAKE TAHOE – Updated May 1, 2012
2012 continues to produce great Mackinaw fishing and great weather. The time to fish is now. Limits have been easy and the fish are running of 4 to 8 pounds with some breaking into the double digits. Best method is still minnow dodger set up in 150 to 200 ft. Fishing has been good in Sand Harbor area and Cave Rock. Weather has been changing quick, take caution.
MASON VALLEY WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA – May 1, 2012
Fort Churchill Cooling Ponds: Open February 11th, 2012
Hinkson Slough: Season Open February 11th, 2012. Fishing is excellent. The bass have been showing up in good numbers and size. A new water record bass at Hinkson Slough has been caught two weeks ago . Get your bass gear ready this spring for the largemouth fishing at Hinkson and North pond things should be going off. Top water baits and spinner baits have been effective for bass. The trout have been feeding regularly in the evening almost every day on the surface. Large pre emerging midge patters have had the best results. Anglers have been using sheep creeks and midge patterns and parachute adams. Rainbows are averaging in 12-13 inch range some in 18 inch range. Water is clear and vegetation is not up.
Attention Anglers Tagged Fish
The Nevada Department of Wildlife is conducting a growth and catch rate study and has tagged 4,000 fish that were planted during 2010 and 2011 into Hinkson!
If you catch one of these tagged fish please report the tag number and fish size to the phone number on the tag, or fill out a drop box form in the box below.
A certificate of appreciation which includes fish species, strain, age, size at stocking, and date of stocking will be sent back to the successful angler if a name and address are included.
Additional info…
Red tag= BelAir strain from Colorado,
Yellow tag= Tahoe strain from Marlette Lake
Blue tag= Eagle Lake strain from California,
White tag= Cutbow from Marlette Lake (rainbow X cutthroat)
Look closely next to the dorsal fin of each fish you catch, sometimes tags are hard to see and some anglers are not noticing them.
TIP- A pencil and paper (like the ones in the drop box next to this sign) in your fly vest will help.
North Pond: no reports Open February 11th, 2012
MARLETTE LAKE: - Season closed, reopens July 15, 2012
PINE FOREST COMPLEX
Blue Lakes: Season closed November 15, 2011
Knott Creek: Season closed November 15, 2011
Onion: Season closed November 15, 2011
RYE PATCH – Updated April 2, 2012
Rye Patch –Fishing has been very slow.
SPOONER LAKE – Updated February 15, 2012
Fishing has been slow. Ice has formed.
TOPAZ LAKE - Updated May 1, 2012
Opened January 1, 2012. Recently stocked rainbows as of 4/26/2012. The Fishing continues to be good with mild weather and no personal watercraft or recreational boaters to compete with. Topaz smallmouth are biting along the Northern shore . Bank anglers have been doing well for trout with power bait in an array of colors and even night crawlers have been producing action. For boat angler the best method is still trolling either needle fish or Repala’s in 5’ to 10’ feet of water.
TRUCKEE RIVER – Updated May 1, 2012
The Truckee's current flow in Reno is 837 cfs. Fishing is beginning to slow down with the runoff. For the upcoming months ahead the river will be a challenge. Skwala Stones are showing up in good numbers so break out that golden stone for some searching in high water. The Baetis hatch continues to show up in the evening or in overcast days, try blue wing olive or dunn. Spin fishermen are still having luck with eggs, PowerBait, gold Kastmasters, black and yellow Panther Martin, and jointed Rapalas.
WALKER LAKE - No new updates
No Lahontan cutthroat have been reported or seen at Walker Lakes since 2009. Mineral County Road Dept. has done some work on the State Parks Launch. Launching is improved but you still need four wheel drive.
EAST WALKER RIVER - Updated April 2, 2012
East Walker Flow is at 128 cfs. Fishing has been good. Anglers reported excellent fishing when the flows where consistent. Nymphing with small Bead Head nymphs in Baetis, Caddis and Midge patterns has been working well. Streamers are very effective at this flow when swinging them through the pool drops.
WASHOE COUNTY URBAN PONDS 
All of our urban ponds have been receiving regular stocking. Limit is now 3 fish at our urban ponds.
The picture at right is the new water record for Sparks Marina, a 3.5 pound spotted bass by Dante Ray in June 2010.
Check out the latest stocking report.
- Sparks Marina - Trout fishing from the shore has been very good. Try using powerbait off the bottom or nighcrawlers below a bobber. Fish are suspended from 7-12 feet.
- Paradise Pond
- Virginia Lake
- Idlewild Ponds
- Rancho San Rafael Pond
- Wilson Commons
- Marilyn's Pond
WASHOE LAKE
Washoe Lake dried up in 2004 and, although it is presently full and has been restocked, the fish population, consisting mostly of channel catfish and white bass, is small. Fishing is expected to be poor.
