Fishing report, July 17, 2014

■ LAKE MEAD — Reports of striper boils are somewhat varied, but they have been sufficient to create excitement among anglers. The key is being in the right place at the right time. Most of the stripers being caught this past week were less than 2 pounds. Prime time to be on the water is before sunrise. Striped bass are hitting on shad or imitation lures, such as the Sassy Shad. Cheese has been a hot bait for catfish, especially at night in the backs of coves. Black bass have been active as well with anglers having luck just off shorelines in 6 to 10 feet of water or off cliff walls using top-water baits or grubs.

■ LAKE MOHAVE — The action for smallmouth and largemouth bass remains strong, especially in the Cottonwood Cove area. Working the backs of coves in about 10 feet of water has produced good results. Though it has been a while since anyone caught a 20-pound striped bass at Willow Beach, anglers are catching double-digit fish. Anglers hit the water early and are reporting using various trout imitations.

■ LAUGHLIN — Whether fishing by boat or from the shoreline, anglers are having success along this stretch of the river. One angler reeled in a striped bass that weighed in at more than 14 pounds. The fish came from just below the Community Park area and was caught with an anchovy. While the larger fish may be tougher to find during the summer months, they are still there. Catfish and even the occasional rainbow trout have been reeled in recently. Anchovies and nightcrawlers both have been effective baits.

■ URBAN PONDS — Excessive heat and monsoonal rains have kept a lot of folks away from the ponds this past week. Bluegill are biting in all the ponds and taking chunks of nightcrawlers or mealworms. Catfish action has slowed down, but the fish are taking nightcrawlers and processed catfish baits.

■ KIRCH WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA — Anglers are having a difficult time contending with emerging vegetation in the shallow areas of the reservoirs. Fishing on Haymeadow and Cold Springs has been hit or miss for bass, trout and crappie. Those fishing Dacey have had success using dry flies in the evenings.

■ EAGLE VALLEY RESERVOIR — Those who are looking for crayfish have been doing well with traps and even hook and line. Rainbow trout have been taking the usual PowerBait in orange or green, Mepp’s spinners in red with white or gold spoons with a red dot. Most of the trout are stockers between 8 and 12 inches. One family found good action for largemouth bass while trolling a half-ounce Kastmaster.

■ ECHO CANYON RESERVOIR — Action has been good in the mornings and evenings. One lucky angler did well this week on largemouth bass. His catch included thee fish weighing 1.5 pounds each and one that pushed past the 3-pound mark. A chartreuse spinner bait with a little white on it was the ticket. Rainbow trout continue to take PowerBait and small spinners, and though it has slowed some, crappie action remains good for those using jigs and flies.