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Tag: Nevada

  • Fishing Willow Beach – Catch Fish Near Las Vegas

    Fishing Willow Beach – Catch Fish Near Las Vegas

    Can You Fish at Willow Beach?

    Willow Beach is a long-time classic fishing destination. It’s a part of Lake Mohave on the Colorado River. The black rock canyons are just below Hoover dam and are part of Lake Mead National Park. Its Cold waters are on the north of Lake Mohave.

    I’m going to share stuff here that you won’t find anywhere else.

    Back in the day, they used to catch huge
    rainbow trout out of that little beach. I remember when I was a kid they had a café in by where the
    store is. Other Species we caught were Carp, Catfish, and Bass.

    Inside the café, we used to go there to eat breakfast in the mornings before we went
    fishing or we would go fishing early and come to the café after a couple of hours of fishing.
    Inside the café.

    The walls were lined with hundreds of pictures of anglers with their catch. These
    were all rainbow trout at the time and you had to have a trout over 5 pounds to get on the wall.


    There were also taxidermy trout on the walls along with other wildlife that you can find in the
    area. If I remember right there was a bighorn ram mount at the front entrance.

    Later on, as I grew up in the 80s and 90s the decor changed a little bit. The trout pictures were still on the wall
    but the trophy at the front of the store was in a case and it changed to a striped bass.

    Around this time striped bass got out of Lake Mead into the river system. They had a heyday eating up
    trout.

    Because of that, they grew to enormous sizes. I can’t remember exactly but I seem to
    recall a striped bass in the display case that was over 60 pounds if I remember right.

    This place is the iconic big fish travel destination. There have been people coming here for decades to
    catch big fish whether they be trout or striped bass.

    Willow Beach, Arizona is a popular destination for fishing enthusiasts living in Las Vegas, Nevada. One of the main reasons for its convenience is its proximity to the city. Located just an hour and a half drive away, it is a relatively short drive for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the Las Vegas strip and enjoy some peaceful time on the water. Additionally, the drive to Willow Beach takes you through beautiful desert landscapes, making for a scenic journey.

    Another reason for its convenience is the variety of fish species that can be found in the area. Willow Beach sits at the base of Hoover Dam, where the cool water released from the dam creates an ideal habitat for a wide range of fish species. Anglers can expect to catch rainbow trout, striped bass, catfish, and even the elusive razorback sucker.

    The fishing itself is also convenient at Willow Beach. There are several boat ramps, fishing piers, and shore fishing spots available, providing ample opportunities for anglers to cast their lines. The park also offers several amenities, including restrooms, picnic areas, and campgrounds, which are perfect for those who want to make a weekend out of their fishing trip.

    Willow Beach also offers a great option for those who want to fish without the need of a boat, as the fishing pier is open all year round. This is a great option for families, and the park is also well known for its educational programs that teach kids about the importance of conservation and the different species of fish found in the area.

    Willow Beach, Arizona, envelops you in a tranquil oasis of serenity, where the gentle lapping of the Colorado River against the shore creates a soothing symphony of nature.

    Finally, for those who are new to fishing, the park staff and local fishing guides are always willing to offer tips and advice to help make your fishing experience a success. With all these factors combined, Willow Beach offers a convenient and enjoyable fishing experience for those living in Las Vegas.

    I took a 100 person survey on facebook if people like bass fishing best or trout fishing best. Here’s the results.

    poll

    Can You Swim at willow beach?

    There is no swimming allowed at the marina but if you go outside the buoys you can swim. You should be warned that the water is ice cold year around though.


    Do I need an Arizona fishing license to fish at Willow Beach?


    There is a lot of confusion unless you already know about whether you need a license to fish at
    Willow Beach or not.

    First of all yes you do need a license to fish at Willow Beach. However, if
    you have a Nevada license that will work as well.

    It doesn’t matter if you are on a boat or on
    the shore as long as you have a Nevada or an Arizona license you are good to go.

    Do I need a stamp for Arizona or Nevada at Willow Beach?

    The answer is
    no. Some time ago they did away with the stamps. Now when you buy the license it is included
    with the license if you get it in Nevada or Arizona does not matter.

    Do I need a trout stamp at Willow Beach?

    Again the answer is no. Back in the day you
    used to have to buy a trout stamp but nowadays that is included with the license as well no
    matter which state you come from Arizona or Nevada.

    [ninja_tables id=”80473″]

    Do I need a stamp for a second pole at Willow Beach?

    Once again the answer to that is no. It is
    included with the license and you can have up to two poles but a maximum number of three hooks
    between the two poles.

    So I usually fish one pole with one hook in the other pole with two
    hooks.
    At the end of this article, I will give you a willow beach fishing Report for 2021


    Can I catch striped bass at Willow Beach?

    The answer is absolutely yes you can.

    What are the
    recommendations for catching striped bass?

    Well you can do it similar to the way you do it in
    Lake Mead- bait fishing with anchovies that are frozen.

    Cut them in thirds and put them
    on a standard worm hook. Use about 1 ounce of weight and toss them out there about as far as
    you can get them.

    If you are on a boat you can do the same thing or you can go upstream a ways and float down slowly with an anchovy on the hook slightly above the bottom.

    Another
    recommended way to catch striped bass is using baits that mimic baitfish. Either a lure that
    mimics a shad or one that mimics a trout or even bluegill.

    These are terrific to use because
    the bass and the striped bass love to eat these smaller fish, especially trout.

    In case you did not know trout are stocked at Willow Beach every Friday. When this happens it’s like buffet time for
    the striped bass. This would be a good time to throw out a swim bait that looks like a trout.

    last but not least you can use live bait which you can get from my buddy mike wigglerarmy.com

    Can I catch trout at Willow Beach?

    Again the answer to this is an astounding yes.

    How do you catch trout at Willow Beach? I would suggest the old standby Berkeley power bait and fish
    somewhere around the picnic area by the store or the fishing pier over by the hatchery.


    Probably the best place to catch trout. Anywhere in between that is able to be official legally is
    good as well. If you have a boat or kayak you can go up or downstream and fish The coves. The
    trout like to hang out in there as well and you can catch some real big trout at Willow Beach.


    Both of my sons have caught 5-pound trout there. In case you were wondering yes this was
    recently it was 2020.

    My son Lorin at Willow Beach – This Rainbow Trout was caught on a Berkley Mousetail

    I know the best do you eat the trout but the hatchery also put out some
    very large ones for the anglers to catch. You can also use lures like spinners for trout and even
    jerk baits that are semi-small.

    Another popular soft bait or mouse tails made by Berkley. Also,
    regular old nightcrawlers are a great option. You can get them from my friend mike
    wigglerarmy.com


    Marshmallows are a good bait for trout as well. Some people use the garlic-flavored ones made
    specifically for fishing but the little colorful marshmallows that you put in your hot cocoa do a
    nice job too. (the garlic flavored ones give me bad breath)

    Lastly, a super very good option is wax worms or mealworms that you can get at
    the store at Willow Beach. Keep in mind Arizona time is different than Nevada time most of the
    year and the store closes fairly early.

    My Son Jerren. His Beautiful Rainbow trout was Caught on a nightcrawler available in LasVegas Here


    What are some Willow Beach fishing tips?

    The first tip I would give you is to try to fish in the off
    hours to beat the crowds.

    A lot of people go down to Willow Beach If you try to go during a holiday weekend you are
    going to fight for elbow room. I would say if you go in the morning during the week that would be
    a terrific time.

    Ethan Enns fishing on the pier at Willow Beach during an off time when there are not too many crowds

    It doesn’t matter if you are going just to kayak or if you are fishing, the middle of
    the week is a good time.

    Late in the evening is also a good time. Only the most diehard
    fisherman are out there after about 10 PM so getting a spot is not so hard except maybe on the
    weekends. They do have a very nice fishing pier at Willow Beach and it’s quite large but in the
    late summer, there’s a lot of grass around the pier so it’s kind of difficult to fish.

    If you are going to fish the pier in the late summer you are going to want some sort of gear that you can cast out
    very far. This will get you out past the grass and give you a better chance of getting a striper.


    Mouse tails and wax worms seem to do the best on trout if you can see them. Plop one of these
    baits in front of them and you can usually get their attention with it especially the wax worms
    and regular worms.

    The best piece of advice I can give you if you want to catch trout is to go
    there on Friday morning. Prepare for heavy traffic along the shore because a lot of people know
    that the department of wildlife stocks Willow Beach at the ramp on Friday mornings at about eight.

    Watch out for the no fishing signs. You need to stay in the designated fishing areas which are a
    little ways away from the docs. If you are fishing for striped bass this is a good time too.
    Because the stripers come in to eat the trout. Putting something out there that looks like a trout
    is a good bet during this time.

    A Colorado River Rainbow Trout caught off the fishing pier at Willow Beach south of Hoover Dam. Caught on Berkley Power Bait. Orange


    Willow Beach trout stocking schedule 2021

    All I can tell you is that they stock Willow Beach at about 8:00 AM every Friday morning. There
    are occasions when that schedule is changed for example during Covid lockdowns they did not
    stock for quite a long time.

    There may be other reasons why they don’t stock for example if it is
    a holiday. Other than that they are pretty regular about it.

    Willow Beach Fishing Guides

    There are fishing guides that will take you fishing at Willow Beach. The one I recommend is
    Travis Pitt Bass Experience.

    Tell him Darren from FishinMoney sent you.

    Willow Beach Fishing Report 2021

    It’s willow beach. itseveryones favorite place to go get skunked. However if you follow the tips I give in this article you can also hit one out of the park. Oh and if you land-a big one, make sure to stop at the Willow Beach General Store and put your name on the board! and Tell em FishinMoney sent Ya!

    That’s my boy at the bottom Hey Who else shows you this stuff? That’s Right FishinMoney got your 6.
  • PB Trout caught at Lake Mead Recreation Area -Willow Beach

    PB Trout caught at Lake Mead Recreation Area -Willow Beach

    Our goal was to get out to Willow beach before the Ranger got there because if we did that, we wouldn’t have to pay to get in so we got to the National Park.

    So we got there and I think it must have been about 6:30 or 6:45. Before the Ranger gets there, so we got there about 6:30, and then what Lorin? we have two trolling motors and two batteries and we’re, probably gonna need both we decided that come back and get the other battery later in the morning.

    Get live Striper and bass bait HERE

    Our boat we took, it’s, just a pelican. It’s, a fishing boat, but it’s. A pelican brand Scorpio.

    Yes, so we just pulled it out of the water drain, the water out of it. We found a little spot to it drain the water out, you know, get everything going. We discovered that there was some trout in the water in the shallow area.

    It looked to me like lorin was really interested in staying there and fishing for those trout, and I was more interested in trolling. So you just have to know Lauren, but he that he enjoys getting off by himself.

    So when I asked him if he’d mind if I go troll around a little bit, I’ll, come back again you that, and so was I and we did that till about eleven o’clock or something when we, I think it was. I think it was like 11 or 11:30 because I, what’s, going on here right about noon, and so I dropped Loren off at the bank and then there’s, a historic site right there too.

    It’s on the other side of the 53 marker four hours, so it’s about 12:30 Nevada time. Excuse me: it’s, 11:30 Nevada time 12:30 Here in Arizona, and been fishing, I’ve been trolling. Most of the morning, my son Lorin, and I dropped him off at one of the beaches.

    He wanted to see if he can get some trout over there. So I just been here trolling by myself and got my little electric motor here and let me switch you around got my little electric motor here and my two poles out.

    One with a big bait was a little bait and we’re gonna see what we can do here. Haven’t had any bites at all. Today it’s been a beautiful day, though quite nice fun, fun. Little outing, I’m gonna head back there.

    Where Lauryn is, I’ve been gone for about a half an hour, gonna head back and pass by him and see how he’s, doing make sure he’s. He’s all good. Hopefully, I can hook on to a striper today, cuz I’m hungry.

    I’m hungry, better, be a big striper cuz I’m pretty hungry. I just saw some fish down there anyway. I gotta watch out for these rocks over here. There’s, some bushes and rocks sticking up out of the water eggs.

    To make sure I’m not running into him. I need to get me a little mirror from my visor. So I can see behind me when I’m trolling, either that or get a seat, but the way this boat works when there’s, only one person in it, it’s best to stay right here in the middle.

    On the middle seat. cant really show it to you, but try to stay here on the middle seat it balances out better. That way anyway, I’m out for now just thought. I’d. Give you a little hello, see Mike it was hours, but I think it was hours invested because I killed the battery pretty much.

    She was pretty much dead by the time you got back and then I thought I was gonna. Have I’m? Getting back to where Lauren was because I had gone downstream, a little bit got downstream a little bit, and I was concerned that I might not be able to get back up to him because of my battery, so after through a couple of hours of trolling, he came back, Saw that actually caught one of those trout that was definitely playing mind games on me.

    [ninja_tables id=”80473″]

    I discovered that in the certain area that the trout were swimming around, that’s was like a breeding ground for trout, and I found all the and anyway they are. They were messing with me for two hours. I was getting worried that I wasn’t going to get anything finally got my shot where that area swam out – and I was little hiding spots – Oh overall, a pretty good fishing experience.

    I caught my personal best rainbow trout. Yes, I think it’s, at least about three. I think so. Yeah, it’s, a pretty big, pretty big pig. I’m very proud of myself. I was struggling there for at least one of us just had such a great time fishing.

    I had a great time fishing with the puffs here we can edit that part out guess so. Lauren cut his personal best and I got today to get a bite, but I sure had a lot of yeah. You get out on a boat and you’re away from people and this out there in the world solitude.

    You know solitude out there and it’s, so beautiful really nice day it was cold. It was cold most of the day, the middle of the, especially if he were in the Sun but other than the cold, which I mean it’s winter, so would even putting expect, but we had a really good time.

    I’m so glad we did it. We spent the whole day it’s. Sun is going down, go, get somebody [ Music ]! That’s, our trip, unless [ Music ] the boat worked out great. It was the first time we had it out. The only thing I learned is up and half carry an extra battery around with me because when that battery goes, it goes pretty you guys should know is that, after that battery went out, I had to paddle us all the way back to locally.

    Luckily it was downstream, but the water wasn’t moving very fast at all so more hours, probably just trying to try to float Loren paddled us back. It’s, a little bit of a struggle, but a good time.

    So next time I’ll have a second battery that way, which kind of debating whether we should take that second battery. But now I know two is one, and one is now his motive anyway. I guess we’ll sign out thanks for listening.

    We enjoyed our video and forget to Like and subscribe go check out my website, fish money, calm, fishing, money.com,

    Source : Youtube

  • Hottest Striped Bass Fishing Spots in Southwest United States

    Hottest Striped Bass Fishing Spots in Southwest United States

    striped bass schooling

    FREE Printable tackle box checklist HERE

    So, you’re an avid fisherman and you are planning your vacation in the Southwest region of the United States. You are searching for the best places to catch fish, mainly the striped bass. Here we have compiled some of the best places in the Southwest where you can catch these feisty, fun, unpredictable fish. Of course, when you choose your destination please make sure you have the proper fishing license for that area and know what the limits are when catching/keeping the striped bass. You can choose a fishing guide, to take you out on a boat or you can choose to take your own boat or just fish from the shore.

    Top Spot Goes to Lake Texoma Striped Bass Fishing

    The top spot on our list goes to Lake Texoma on the Oklahoma/Texas border. Known as the striper capital of the world, Lake Texoma is a 93,000-acre reservoir with 1,250 miles of shoreline. There is an abundance of striper for those avid anglers to stay busy all day.

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    Lake Texoma has a sustaining natural population of the striped bass. July-September is the optimum time to visit and go fishing for striped bass. It is best to hire a fishing guide if you are going to go to Lake Texoma, but it is definitely NOT a requirement. If you want to do cooler/winter weather fishing, then schedule your trip between January and March. But know, it will be a much different experience. With the cooler temperatures, you have to present the bait SLOW. You also have to reel a lot slower than you would otherwise. To fish on Lake Texoma you can purchase a special fishing license for $8 that allows you to fish in Oklahoma or Texas but it is specific to Texoma ONLY. The limit is 10 fish per person, and only 2 can be over 20 inches in length. The top 5 spots on Lake Texoma to catch striped bass are:

    1. Striper Alley

    2. East or West Burns Run

    3. Platter Flatts

    4. Washita Flats

    5. Alberta Wall

    Second Spot Goes To Lake Pleasant Arizona Striped Bass Fishing

    Next, on our list, we are moving to Arizona. We have Lake Pleasant, Lake Mead, and Lake Havasu.

    Plenty of choices for a beautiful family vacation and tons of fun fishing experiences.

    Lake Pleasant: a 10-acre lake 45 minutes northwest of Phoenix. It is a desert lake that is clean, clear and generally produces an abundance of bass. It is one of the tournament anglers’ top choices for catching the striped bass. Here at lake pleasant, stripers can be caught as deep as 100 feet. Be sure to keep an eye out for a ‘school’ of striped bass feeding on shad, approximately 20 feet deep. The best bait to use to catch the striped bass is spoons or shad-imitating lures. Lake Pleasant offers a marina, boat rentals, cabins, a restaurant and much more.

    Next Striper Fishing Spot Lake Mead Nevada/Arizona

    Lake Mead: this is a man-made lake on the Colorado River with the best and most exciting fishing between the months of July and August. The average striper here is 5-10 pounds, with plenty of 20-30 pound ones available too. Watch for enormous schools on the surface. Overton Arm of Mead is the most productive fishing and has one of the best catch rates. Lake Mead borders Arizona and Nevada so make sure you check the fishing rules and regulations for both states. You will generally find striped bass near points of land and open coves in the early morning and late afternoon. There is a 20 fish limit per day.

    Lake Havasu Striped Bass Fishing

    Lake Havasu: bordering Arizona and California it is 25 miles long and has 19,300 surface acres. Striped bass can be found in shallow to medium depths between 65-69 degrees. The key to success is to cover LOTS of water, as they can swim up to 15 miles a day in search of food. Anglers prefer night fishing because the striped bass is more active. Here at Lake Havasu, October and November are the prime fishing months if you are in search of the striped bass. You will find huge schools on a feeding frenzy, preparing for the colder temperatures that are on the way.

    Southern California striper Photo courtesy of @socalskifflife

    Lake Mojave Striped Bass Fishing

    From Arizona, we are going to move to the beautiful country of Nevada. Offering plenty of nightlife and other sites to see that are family-friendly and can produce great memories for you and your loved one. But if you are an avid angler that wants to spend your vacation on the lake, instead of in a casino, then we have the perfect spot for you.

    Hey FISHMONGER – make sure to check out my FISHING RESOURCES page.

    Lake Mohave: this lake covers over 30,000 surface acres and is a 64-mile long reservoir with a maximum depth of 120 feet for all of your fishing adventures and enjoyment. The widest section is 4 miles wide and is called Cottonwood Basin. The optimum times to fish for striped bass on Lake Mohave is going to be April- November. The recommended time is early morning or later in the evening using frozen anchovies, live shad or lures. In the cooler months, you will find the striper bass hanging out in the coves or off the points near Davis Dam. In the warmer months on Lake Mohave they striped bass will be abundant around the upper lake where there is a current from the Hoover Dam.

    Elephant Butte Striper Fishing in New Mexico

    Our final destination for catching the striped bass is going to take us to the Land of Enchantment. We are headed to New Mexico. While you are there, if you can, they have an amazing hot air balloon festival in Albuquerque. For you fishing enthusiasts please take a look at the information that we have for you.

    Elephant Butte: 35 miles of beautiful water with 36,000 acres of surface this is a great place to catch the striped bass, especially in the areas of Caballo Lake and the Rio Grande. Striped bass is fun to catch but can be unpredictable and tricky. Fishing guides recommend using soft plastic swim shad. These are the most realistic and the striped bass seem to bite on them the most. It is advised that if you are going to be going out on a boat, to use a very good fish finder to make sure you have the correct depth and can spot the most fish. Striper likes to say deep. Keep a close eye out for seagulls and fish feeding on the surface. This is a great indication that there are striped bass close by. When you are fishing in clean water at Elephant Butte an increase in speed will trigger more bites than reeling in slowly.

    With all of this information on striped bass and the best hot spots, now your only decision is going to be which one to choose. Where to take the family and possibly catch the biggest striped bass. Make sure to double-check all rules and regulations no matter where you choose to go on your fishing adventures and most importantly, have an amazing adventure!