Keeping it reel: Some of the best fishing spots near Vegas

Looking at the Mojave Desert and the Great Basin, one may not think of Nevada as a hot spot for fishing.

Sure, the desert doesn’t have Minnesota’s 11,842 lakes, but it does have a surprising amount of lakes, streams, rivers and other waterways full of trout, bass and more, with dozens of fishable species.

In Nevada, all you need is a pole and a license. If you’re a local, annual fishing licenses can be purchased for $41 for those 18 and older, and $9 for a one-day permit. Youth licenses can be purchased for $15, according to the Nevada Department of Wildlife. You can avoid daily fees on Saturday, June 13, this year’s Free Fishing Day.

Here are some quick do’s and don’ts for fishing in our area:

Do

■ Find Nevada’s fishing locations on a handy map at fish.wildlife.nv.com/map.

■ Read up on the 2026 statewide regulations on daily limits, size limits, species and more.

■ Ensure your license is up to date.

■ If you’re boating (motorized or not, including watercraft like kayaks) to fish along the Colorado River system, make sure to display an AIS decal, unless the boat is registered in Arizona.

■ Check the regulations and conditions for specific fishing spots in advance. While the sites below list the general stocking months, check NDOW’s calendar for the latest reports.

■ Wherever there are fish, there’s other wildlife around, so make sure to clean up any leftover fishing line and other waste. Leave wild spaces better than you found them, and pack out what you pack in.

Don’t

■ Take more than 10 trout or 15 warm-water game fish (no more than 10 may be black bass) in Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln and Nye counties.

■ Release any plants, fish or animals into a body of water unless they came from there.

■ Drink and boat. Boating while under the influence (BUI) is a serious crime.

Lake Mead, Lake Mohave

In Southern Nevada’s lakes along the Colorado River, you can fish for a variety of species, including up to five trout, six black bass, 25 catfish and 15 crappie. As of 2026, there’s no limit on striped bass or other game fish. Make sure you immediately release bonytail (found below Davis Dam, see below) or razorback suckers (in all river system waters), both endangered native species that can look like common carp.

This is your best bet to snag the biggest fish: On March 15, 2001, Allan S. Cole (inventor of the A.C. Plug lure) caught the biggest fish on record in Nevada from Lake Mohave, a striped bass weighing 63 pounds at 49 inches long, 6.9 pounds off the world record for that species.

On the Nevada side of Lake Mohave (Cottonwood Cove) and the Arizona side (Willow Beach and Katherine’s Landing), find ADA-accessible boat docks, cleaning stations, restrooms, a marina and a restaurant. The Arizona side also has ADA-accessible fishing piers.

Colorado River below Davis Dam

Same river, but there’s a limit on striped bass here. Catch up to five trout, six black bass (13 inch minimum length) and 25 catfish in the river below Davis Dam, with no limit on other game fish.

If you’re at Fisherman’s Access park in Laughlin, make sure you don’t camp or park vehicles in any unauthorized areas.

Spring Valley State Park and Echo Canyon State Park

At each of these state parks, about three hours from Las Vegas, bag up to five trout, 15 warm-water game fish (of which not more than 10 may be black bass). In Spring Valley, fish in Eagle Valley Reservoir for rainbow trout averaging 10 inches and tiger trout averaging 11 inches. The best fishing is between April and June and September through October. At Echo Canyon Reservoir, not far away, you can find smaller white crappie and largemouth bass, as well as rainbow trout stocked in February, March and October.

Kirch Wildlife Management Area

In Dacey Reservoir (lower portions), catch up to five trout, 15 warm-water game fish (not more than 10 black bass), with no limit on bullheads. From April 1 through June 30, fishers can only catch five black bass. The waterway is stocked with rainbow trout in October.

Only artificial lures are allowed here, as well as vessels without motors. The wildlife area also has a flat wake restriction in effect, meaning vessels (without motors from Feb. 15 through Aug. 15) can’t exceed 5 nautical miles per hour.

Cold Creek Pond

This pond (the lowermost of the three) at the northern end of the Spring Mountains, northwest of Las Vegas near Indian Springs, has a limit of three game fish. It’s stocked by NDOW with rainbow trout in March, April and November.

Community ponds

In the Las Vegas Valley, fish at Veterans Memorial Park in Boulder City, Sunset Park by the airport, Lorenzi Park in the central valley, or Floyd Lamb Park (Tule Pond) in the northwest, with a limit of three game fish. Ponds are stocked with rainbow trout in January, February, March, November and December, and channel catfish in spring through early fall.

Contact Kristen Di Chiara at kdichiara@reviewjournal.com.