Carson City, Nevada – The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) has issued its fishing report for April 10, 2026, offering anglers a comprehensive update on fishing conditions across the state as spring unfolds. With warming waters spurring trout activity and ongoing stocking efforts, opportunities abound despite an impending cold snap.
In the Eastern Region, recent warm spring weather has invigorated trout fishing, though a forecasted temperature drop and precipitation may temporarily slow the action. Spring remains a peak period, as fish respond to rising water temperatures and emerging insect hatches. Shoreline anglers are finding success by targeting the shallower, warmer edges of lakes and reservoirs, where trout prowl for food. Effective tactics include presentations mimicking local hatches: fly fishers report good results with midges, snow cones, chironomid patterns, woolly buggers, and balanced leeches. Bait anglers fare well with worms or PowerBait suspended just off the bottom in 6 to 8 feet of water, particularly near muddy margins.
Spring stocking is underway and will persist in the coming weeks. Anglers are encouraged to consult NDOW’s stocking report calendar for the latest updates. Specific hotspots like Illipah Reservoir show promising water levels ahead of imminent spring stockings, as captured in recent surveys on April 8.
Moving to the Western Region, conditions mimic fall fishing with declining river flows on the Carson, Truckee, and East Walker Rivers. Cooler nights have lowered temperatures, making early mornings and evenings optimal until a hard freeze potentially enhances midday bites. Success hinges on finesse: light lines and leaders paired with small flies and lures excel in low, clear waters where wary fish hold.
Reservoirs such as Wall Canyon and Squaw Creek are cooling, activating both warmwater and coldwater species near the surface. Trout fishing is expected to intensify as winter nears, while high-elevation lakes are firing up ahead of possible access issues from precipitation. Fall stocking has commenced at urban ponds; check the calendar for schedules.
The Southern Region presents diverse prospects amid variable weather. At Lake Mead, striped bass provide consistent action primarily at dawn and dusk. In the Hemenway area, anchovies draw limits of four fish averaging 2 to 4 pounds. Government Wash yields results in 50 feet of water using shad-colored jigs and swimbaits bounced off the bottom. Smallmouth bass pursue minnow and flatworm plastics in shallow coves, with the black bass bite poised to strengthen over warmer weekends.
On Lake Mohave near Willow Beach, rainbow trout measuring 12 to 16 inches are active. Striped bass remain sluggish close to shore but succumb to trout- and watermelon-colored soft baits in deeper zones targeted by kayakers and boaters. Comparable striper sizes come from Telephone Cove fished off the bottom, while Cottonwood Basin bass respond to olive and watermelon soft plastics and jigs.
Laughlin’s river stretches see heightened activity with warming trends. Shore and dock fishers land both striped bass and rainbow trout. Stripers favor anchovies and light swimbaits, highlighted by an 11-pound specimen south of Casino Row. Trout hit yellow and olive jigs, spinners, and nightcrawlers.
Las Vegas community ponds recently received rainbow trout stockings, eager for worms, bright Rooster Tails, and rainbow PowerBait. Catfish and bass have slowed post-rains and snow, with reminders of three-fish daily limits and prohibitions on fish parts as bait.
Kirch Wildlife Management Area remains open-water with thin morning shoreline ice; trout take small jigs and Mouse Tails, though ice fishing is unavailable. Eagle Valley Reservoir offers dock and dam access despite icy edges, producing on marshmallows, PowerBait, nightcrawlers, Perdigons, and Woolly Buggers. Echo Canyon Reservoir, low but viable near the dam, sees overnight ice melt by afternoon; fly patterns like Snow Cones and Hare’s Ears work, alongside nightcrawlers and glitter PowerBait for 12-inch rainbows—mind muddy access.
NDOW urges anglers to explore its fishing report database for additional hotspots across all regions. Free fishing classes led by department instructors welcome all skill levels; register at the Angler Education site and secure licenses via ndowlicensing.com.
This report underscores Nevada’s robust fisheries management, blending natural cycles with strategic stocking to sustain recreational opportunities. One notable statistic: multiple recent stockings featured rainbow trout averaging 9 inches, bolstering populations at sites like South Fork Reservoir and Jakes Creek. A prime example is Ruby Lake NWR, where late-March stockings of rainbows and tiger trout have sparked fair-to-good catches in the collection ditch and South Lakes.
For more information, visit Nevada Department of Wildlife.