Where to Fish in Las Vegas: 14 Best Spots Revealed
Las Vegas has more to offer than Casinos and Night clubs. If you are the outdoorsy type, the fishing doesn’t get much better than around Las Vegas. The cool desert air on the lakebed and the smell of a freshly cooked trout are some of the natural treasures that Las Vegas has to offer.
So, Where are some of the best spots to fish in Las Vegas?
- Lake Mead
- Lake Mohave
- Boulder City Urban pond
- Sunset Park Pond
- Lorenzi Park Pond
- Floyd Lamb Park Pond
- Mesquite Urban Pond
- Pahranagat Lake
- Nesbit Lake
- Echo Canyon Reservoir
- Eagle Valley Reservoir
- Wayne E Kirch Wildlife Area (4 Spots here alone)!
- Colorado River
- Trail Canyon Reservoir
Before I moved to the area, I would have had no idea there were this many places to go fishing in and around Las Vegas! Here I’ve revealed the 14 Best Spots to fish in sunny Las Vegas. Some places are nicer than others, and planning your fishing trip is crucial to your enjoyment. There are a few things you should know before fishing in Nevada.
What You Need to Know Before Fishing In Nevada
First, you are going to need to plan your trip ahead of time. There are a lot of tourist activities that take place on some of the lakes, and it can get crowded with people doing all sorts of different things. You can, of course, find boat tours on the more popular bodies of water, but if you like a bit more adventure, you can find some pretty good remote spots as well.
Safety first, you never want to trust the lake water for drinking, as you have no idea what’s in the water, always filter your water before drinking it. I would never drink any lake water myself, but a few years ago, I went on a fishing trip with a buddy who thought it was perfectly fine to drink lake water. Within a couple of hours, he was sick as a dog!
The Sawyer SP128 Mini Outdoor Water Filter on Amazon will do the trick for not much money.
Finally, watch out for the currents. Some of the lake currents can be tricky. The larger lakes can have a calm surface but a wild current underneath, so always be careful when entering any body of water.
Nevada Fishing License and Cost
To fish in Las Vegas, you will need a Nevada State Fishing License. Licenses can be purchased online or at a Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) office here. Permits are available for both residents and non-residents on a daily or annual basis.
Cost of Nevada Fishing License:
| 18ys & up | Resident | Non-Resident |
| Annual | $40 | $80 |
| 1-Day | $9 | $18 |
| Consecutive Day | $3 | $7 |
For those between the ages of 12 & 17, the annual license price is $15, regardless of residency. For non-residents who intend to only fish on lakes with interstate boundaries (near Las Vegas, these would be Lake Mead, the Colorado River or Lake Mohave), you can purchase an annual Interstate Boundary license for $30.
In and Around Las Vegas Fishing Map
#1 – Lake Mead Fishing
Lake Mead is the biggest reservoir in the United States, spanning a total of 234 Square Miles. There are a lot of fish to be captured in this lake. Lake Mead has been known to have some large striped bass weighing over 40lbs in some cases (source).
Part of the lake is in Nevada, and the other part is in Arizona, you will need to have the appropriate fishing license for the area in which you are fishing. You can get a fishing license from one of the local bait and tackle shops or at the park’s concessions stations.
The lake is open 24 hours a day, year-round, and you are allowed to fish from watercraft, from the piers, and from shore. You can bring the kids, and in Nevada, if they are under 12 years old, they do not need a fishing license.
Some of the different types of fish that you can capture in Lake Mead are Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Channell Cat Fish, Bluegill, and Black Crappie. The park personnel are very strict about what to do with the fish remains. There are fish cleaning stations throughout the park, and the park asks that you only clean fish at these locations.
#2 – Lake Mohave Fishing (Striped Bass)
Located south of Las Vegas, between the black mountains and the El Dorado Mountains, Lake Mohave is a great fishing spot year-round. The water temperature is fairly cool year-round, making it the perfect spot for catching some Striped Mouth Bass.
Lake Mohave contains many types of fish:
- Striped Bass
- Large Mouth Bass
- Small Mouth Bass
- Channel Catfish
- Sunfish
- Threadfin Shad
- Bluegill
- Green Sunfish
- Crayfish
- Carp
- Red Shiner
This is a fun place to fish, but be careful of the currents here. High winds can cause some pretty big waves at certain times of the year. Lake Mohave is about 2 hours south of Las Vegas, but definitely worth the drive. Get can get the latest fish report for Lake Mohave here.
See the Best State and National Parks near Las Vegas in our article here.
#3 – Fishing at Boulder City Urban Pond
This lake is only about 3 surface acres and just about 15 feet deep. It was a man-made lake in Las Vegas to give some weekend fishermen a good spot to fish at. There is no overnight parking or camping, and you can only shore fishing is allowed. This park is a non-fee entry park, and there are day-use facilities available.
The Boulder City pond is stocked fresh twice a year with some good trout and catfish waiting to be caught. You are not allowed to use a boat or any float tubes, but some shore fishing is fun for an afternoon in Las Vegas.
Located in the middle of Boulder City, near the Veterans Memorial Dr, off of Hwy 93, Boulder Park is easy to access from the highway.
There is still plenty to do inside the park, including a splash park and horseshoe pits. You can even throw an event at veteran’s memorial park, just fill out the application beforehand.
#4 – Sunset Park Pond Fishing
Located at the heart of Sunset Park in southeast Las Vegas, near the airport, Sunset Park Pond has provided fishing opportunities for nearly 20 years. This pond has a depth of only 12 feet, with 14 surface acres in total.
The entire shoreline can be used for fishing, and at certain times of the year, there may be boat shows, which can limit access to the southwest shoreline. The main fish species that are found here are similar to those in Lake Mead.
You can find:
- Channel Catfish
- Rainbow Trout
- Redear Sunfish
- Black Crappie
- Largemouth Bass
- Bluegill Sunfish
Fishing here, you’ll want to carry some nightcrawlers, power bait, small spinners salmon eggs, and flies. Overnight camping is also not allowed at this fishing spot. There are day areas in this park as well that contain some picnic tables, restrooms, and BBQs. Sunset Park Pond is re-stocked monthly with the exception of July.
#5 – Lorenzi Park Pond Fishing
Located in Lorenzi Park in Northwest Las Vegas, this fishing pond is regulated by the City of Las Vegas. This is a small area to fish but is still worth mentioning. It is an urban fishery, about 3 acres and only 10 feet deep.
There are no floating or boats allowed on the water surface. This is an angler-only spot. The Lorenzi Park Pond is home to Rainbow Trout and Channel Catfish year-round. The City of Las Vegas also stocks Blue Gill and Largemouth Bass on occasion in the Lorenzi Park Pond.
This was the historic Twin Lakes that helped found the city of Las Vegas and was renovated in the 1970s to be a deeper single-surface pond. The park added picnic areas and improved the landscaping in 2013.
If you plan on fishing here, you may want to bring small spinners, Power Bait, salmon eggs, and a few flies to catch some good fish here.
#6 – Fishing at Floyd Lamb Park (aka Tule Springs Pond)
Located within the Floyd Lamb Park in Las Vegas, also known as Tule Springs Pond, is the last of four ponds originally formed by natural springs. The Tule Springs Pond has four areas that were made to be fisheries in the basin.
However, only the uppermost pond is stocked with fish, and occasionally some of the natural fish will make their way over to the middle two ponds. This Pond Basin is approximately 5 acres with a maximum depth of 15 feet.
There is thick vegetation on the West side of the upper pond shoreline. However, the rest of the shoreline on the upper pond is easily accessible.
You can usually find some good quality Largemouth Bass in this lake from time to time, and it is stocked seasonally.
The park has an entrance fee of $6 per vehicle.
#7 – Mesquite Urban Pond
This urban pond is located in the town of Mesquite, Nevada, and has approximately 2 surface acres and a depth of 12 feet. Water quality is generally considered good year-round but does have some occasional algae blooms that last for short periods.
There are no developed camping grounds at the lake, but there are several RV campgrounds nearby. This basin is usually stocked in April and October. You’ll find both Catfish and Trout in this pond.
No boats are allowed on the waterways of Mesquite Urban Pond or any other floatation devices. It is only about 1 hour north of Las Vegas. In the Hafen Lane Park, about three-quarters of a mile east of State Route 170.
The water here is pretty crystal clear and makes for some great fishing, the park is open from sun up to sundown and falls under the Nevada Fishing Regulations.
#8 – Pahranagat Lake Fishing
This lake contains Carp and Bullhead as the predominant fish species lurking underneath its surface. The lake was drained in 1996 as a result of an overpopulation of Carp, which unfortunately didn’t cure the entire problem.
Carp remain to be an issue, as they were recently discovered in the upper portion of the lake. Carp is not the only species found in the Pahranagat Lake, however. You can also find Bullhead and the occasional Largemouth bass. The lake is stocked seasonally as well.
There are a few campsites on the eastern shoreline, but no potable water and only a few fire rings for grills.
Some of the best fishing baits used here are:
- Crankbaits
- Spinnerbaits
- Nightcrawlers
You can take boats and float tubes out on the water here, but only if they are not gas-powered. You cannot take a boat into the marsh, including floating devices and electric motors. You can use an electric motorboat in the upper lake region.
Route 66: Seligman to Kingman to Las Vegas – If you like road trips, you’ll love this article here!
#9 – Nesbitt Lake Fishing
Being about 200 surface acres, Nesbitt Lake has an abundance of fish and is stocked regularly.
You can find the following fish in Nesbitt lake:
- Black Bullhead
- Largemouth Bass
- White Crappie
- Bluegill
- Fathead Minnows
There is boating allowed on the lake, but only at speeds that leave a flat wake and not to exceed 5 Nautical Miles per hour. You can catch some pretty large fish here, but you also want to manage your bait and tackle here to do well. This is an early spring spot, having a prime season between February and June.
If you are shore fishing, most people use Jigs, Spinnerbaits, Rubber Worms, and Top Lures to catch Bullheads. Fish here in the Nesbitt Lake measure anywhere from 8-12 Inches. There is also no camping or fires allowed at this property.
Nesbitt Lake is about 2 hours away from Las Vegas, off of State Route 318 on the south end of the Pittman Wildlife Management Area. The access point is located on a dirt road that the State of Nevada asks you close after entering the park. Also, you may want to keep your eyes open for UFO’s as the lake is very close to Area 51! You can see the article I wrote about Area 51 here.
#10 – Echo Canyon Reservoir Fishing
Echo Canyon was constructed in 1969, about 10 miles south of Eagle Valley Reservoir, close to Las Vegas. You can take a boat out on these waters and get some good fish. You just can’t go any faster than 5 Nautical miles per hour and leave anything but a flat wake.
The 70 surface acres have a depth of only 27 feet, but there is a nice variety of fish stocked in this reservoir. Not only do you have your regulars, like Black Bullhead and Rainbow Trout, but this reservoir is also home to White Crappie and Brown trout.
This reservoir usually has smaller fish in it because of the unstable water conditions. Most fishermen use power bait here for the trout, although you can use some lures and flies if you want to.
The Echo Canyon State Park does have some picnic and campsite areas with tables and grills, as well as potable water. The water levels here can change quite a bit seasonally, so if you are planning on taking a boat out from here, you will want to check the water levels to see if they are high enough to use the boat ramp. If not, you may launch your boat from shore.
#11 – Eagle Valley Reservoir Fishing
About 10 miles upstream from Echo Canyon li