Frustrated New Member in Nevada

[SmoothJazz98]

Hi all, I have lurked for awhile now and appreciate all the tips. Forgive me if this is merely venting in this post but I do truly need and want advice. 

 

Im in Las Vegas and several times over the last two and a half years of urban pond fishing here I’ve mentally called it quits. I can probably count at least twenty different trips with exactly one catfish to show for it. That was caught by my son on his Spider Man rod.  It made me happy and made him want to always go fish with his dad. But two years? At some point enough is enough. A normal person would’ve quit months ago. 

 

I follow fishing reports and find out what is being reported to work. I have zero friends that fish and I’ve met few in Vegas that even are aware of fishing in the area. 

 

Whats most important is that my six year old son enjoy fishing as much as I did growing up in Georgia. Tonight I’m embarrassed to say he saw his dad snap a rod in frustration after losing bait on a cast for the third time. 

 

So experts, after a looooong losing streak what should I do? What would you do? Especially any members in NV I would love to hear from. 

 

I understand it’s called fishing and not catching, but let’s be honest...it isn’t fun to never see a rod bend.

 

I have very limited time away from a demanding job. When I’m an hour into a session with no bites I of course start thinking about the 5 million projects at home I need to do. 

 

Help me please! Talk me off the ledge!

[Bluebasser86]

Welcome!

 

Are you sure there's bass in the pond you're fishing?

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard!

 

Sounds like you need a vacation to Lake Baccarac.

 

There's a few here on the boards who have been and

have had amazing guided trips.  I'm not one of 

them, sadly. But perhaps one day. 

 

As for your water, I have to agree with @Bluebasser86

regarding whether there are bass there. And what

kind of techniques are you using?

[A-Jay]

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ 

 

I see a solution to your dilemma.

It's a two step process really.

Step 1 ~ Stop fishing that body of water, never to return.

Step 2 ~ Fish someplace else.  

Good Luck

 A-Jay

 

 

 

[Log Catcher]

Hello and welcome to the forum. I would find a new place to fish. Start with the basics by using worms, grubs, and, centipedes. If the fish are there you should at least get some bites on them.

[Ksam1234]

I’ll agree with everyone on finding a new place to fish. Also try a Texas rigged senko, that bait has never failed to at least catch one on every outing. I use black n blue or green pumpkin.  Rig it weightless and let it fall slowly and drag it back by little hops at a time 

[Angry John]

Are you using multi species baits to improve your chances of catching anything that swims.  This may help bolster your confidence and make it fun.  A #1 or #2 meps spinner catches a ton of different species.  Small jerkbaits, and small topwaters.  This will show you what fish are in the body of water and get things moving.  A small 2.8 Keith on a darter head is a personal favorite.  Bass crappie and large gills smash that thing.

[SmoothJazz98]

Thank you everyone for your replies. 

 

I should’ve been clearer that I’ve been fishing these ponds (3 in town) that are stocked with Channel cats and brown trout depending on the time of year. I love bass fishing but without the ~45 minute drive to Lake Mead that’s not an option. 

 

Im going to take this advice and switch up what I’ve been using. I’ll try some night crawlers and grubs (one outing with crawlers in a pond produced nothing). I’ve never fished top water baits or a crank at all in my time here. Maybe something different. 

 

As as I read more from the (few) online comments of people here in town, it becomes clear the urban ponds here get SO much pressure it likely makes them not worth it. 

 

Mead, from all I’ve been told is not an easy place to fish from shore, but without a boat or yak, that’s what I’m going to have to try. 

 

Maybe I will be skunked at Mead (likely, actually) but at least I’m trying some place new. 

 

What was holding me back from trips was the thought of driving ~5 hours round trip up to Utah (for example) to get skunked. I guess I’ll have to just suck it up and be prepared to be disappointed. That would be REALLY hard to swallow though, and I’d likely not want to fish for a long time after that. 

[Aquaftm45]

I am from Las Vegas and I am familiar with the water bodies you are talking about. Unless you want to follow around the NDW stocking report to catch 11 inch Rainbow Trout, or sit in a chair for 12hrs soaking a chicken neck for a slimy catfish, you are better off heading to Southern Utah for a day trip. Sand Hollow Reservior is an excellent location to catch bass for the shore based angler. (your son can also swim in the crystal clear water if he get bored or hot) If you have the option, I would visit during the weekdays when the waterway is not so pressured. Fish anywhere along the southern rip rap and you will catch fish. Heading into spring and summer, Gunlock Reservior is also a great option. They performed a fish kill about 4 years ago, and restocked. It is now loaded with plenty of bass in 1-2lb catagory, they are very active this time of year. Ned Rig with the Zman branded baits will provide plenty of fish and low cost, no muss, no fuss fishing. I have had 20 plus fish days at both of these locations and have never been skunked at Sand Hollow in any month fished in the past 2 years. $75 for an annual pass to all Utah state parks, around $60 for a non resident annual fishing license. Well worth the money. The 1.5 hr drive from Vegas is not the best, but if you want to catch fish consistantly from the bank, you have to get out of Vegas. 

[Arcs&sparks]

2 hours ago, SmoothJazz98 said:

I should’ve been clearer that I’ve been fishing these ponds (3 in town) that are stocked with Channel cats and brown trout depending on the time of year. I love bass fishing but without the ~45 minute drive to Lake Mead that’s not an option.  

So there is no bass?

 

If your trying to catch brown trout, Try 2.5” Berkley gulp minnows on a small jighead.  Cast out, let it fall,  jig and twitch it back toward you.  Set the hook strait up, not to the side.  I’m nowhere near Nevada, but this produces tons of trout for me, and any other species in the water.

 

Also, small spoons and inline spinners if you haven’t tried that. Small worms..

 

definately check the stocking reports,  the ponds may get fished out rather quickly,  and you can’t catch em if they aren’t there. I assume they stock them in the winter?  I doubt they would survive much past spring in the desert heat. 

[MichaelCopeland]

Howdy and welcome to our fishing family! The ponds you've been fishing, is there any cover in them? If so, are you fishing it? If there's cover and you're not fishing it, then I would suggest fishing in or along the edges of it with chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs, soft plastics and hollow body frogs. If there isn't any cover then I would suggest soft plastics and jigs. Fish the soft plastics fan casting an area slowly working them back to you and jigs dragging them along the bottom with short little hops occasionally. Dragging a jig along the bottom will help you get an idea of what's underneath that you can't see. Once you've fan casted the whole pond and still no bites or bass, then I would find somewhere else to fish. Use this advice on any body of water you fish and you should catch some bass. Good luck and never give up! ?

[whitwolf]

Welcome!

[Mike L]

Hello and Welcome 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Glenn]

Welcome Home! We're glad you're here.

[SDoolittle]

Welcome to BR!