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The water is clear and overnight temperatures are still dropping near freezing. Trout are biting on worms and marshmallows. There have been no reports for crappie or bass.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife stocked the reservoir with 10,000 trout. Shorelines are open but muddy. Bass and crappie fishing will pick up as the afternoons start to warm up. All facilities are open for day trips and camping.
Pre-spawning black bass are starting to show up in coves with shelves. Anglers are catching the fish with plastic worms on dropshots and light-colored swimbaits. In the Overton Arm, anglers are targeting striped bass and crappies. Stripers are taking swimbaits around 40 feet. Tube jigs and minnow spinners are tempting crappies. In the Hemenway area, stripers in the 1- to 2-pound range are eagerly hitting anchovies, Glide Baits, and Rat-L-Traps.
Near Cottonwood Cove, black bass can be found on and around their beds. Both boaters and shore anglers are reporting the most success when using soft plastics in green pumpkin or pearl. Large trout are beginning to hit swimbaits at Willow Beach
Anglers are finding rainbow trout in the shadows of rocks and vegetation off the points of Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area. PowerBait and nightcrawlers fished a couple feet off the bottom are producing bites. Seasonal trout stocking will come to an end in April. Few reports have come in on striped bass along the river. Black bass action continues to improve as the spawn nears.
Angler activity has been limited, but those making the trip have been rewarded with some great fishing days. Over the weekend, one lucky angler reeled in a 4-pound rainbow that measured 23.5 inches. His lure choice remains a secret. Anglers willing to brave chilly morning temperatures will find good trout action. The fish are hungry and will take a variety worms, PowerBait, Woolly Buggers, Rooster Tails, and ‘Lil Jakes. Use caution while visiting the area and be prepared for weather changes.
As daytime temperatures begin to climb, anglers can expect to experience a slowdown in trout activity. Black bass and bluegill, on the other hand, are already becoming more responsive. Nightcrawlers and mealworms are the bait of choice for bluegill anglers while green plastics and poppers will entice the largemouth bass.
UPCOMING FISHING EVENTS
For information about NDOW educational programs and workshops visit https://register-ed.com/programs/nevada/210-angler-education. You can get your fishing license online at www.ndowlicensing.com .
