QUAGGA REMINDER: With the ice melting on northern waters, anglers are preparing their boats for the trip north and the Nevada Department of Wildlife 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

With more than 300 people participating in the annual fishing derby last weekend this water was a very busy place. No one caught the $50,000 fish.

Fishing success was hit-and-miss. Some anglers caught fish and others were skunked. Park Supervisor Pete Gill said worms and PowerBait were taking fish. Kastmasters and other hardware have also taken fish.

ECHO CANYON

RESERVOIR

Fishing action has been slow to fair. For stocked rainbows try worms or PowerBait.

LAKE MEAD

Anglers have been catching stripers in the one- to three-pound class while fishing cut bait between Gypsum Wash and Government Wash in the Vegas Bay arm.

Trolling has also been productive. Striper fishing in the Boulder Beach area has been slow but catfish are biting on stink baits.

LAKE MOHAVE

Fishing for both shore and boat anglers has improved dramatically.

Still fishing with prepared bait and trolling with anchovies have been productive for striped bass near the coves north of Cottonwood Cove.

The stripers are in the one- to three-pound range and catfish in the two- to four-pound class. Largemouth bass are taking both top-water and shallow-diving lures when cast toward the shoreline.

A five-pound fish was weighed in during a tournament held during the weekend.

Rainbow trout have been taking PowerBait, flies and spinners during the morning hours at Willow Beach though the action hasn't been real fast.

LAUGHLIN

Anglers are still catching trout from the bridge down along casino row. Striped bass in the 12- to 14-inch range and catfish are taking baits as well.

WAYNE E. KIRCH WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

Windy conditions have kept anglers at bay recently. Overall spring fishing has been very good with action for 14- to 16-inch rainbows.

Some anglers have reeled in fish in the 20-inch range. Bass fishing should begin to heat up in the next few weeks.

URBAN PONDS

Despite the warm weather some trout are still being caught on PowerBait, salmon eggs or worms. Small mayfly patterns may also work in the late afternoons. Enjoy it while you can.

Catfish and bluegill can also be caught in local park ponds. For bluegill use very small hooks. Catfish tend to hug the bottom.

Night crawlers, chicken livers and commercial stink baits can be productive.

The next catfish plant should be sometime in mid-May if the schedule holds.