Urban ponds keep anglers hooked through winter

Winter weather and freezing temperatures have settled in over much of Nevada, and that means popular trout fishing destinations to the north of Las Vegas have either iced over or are well on their way. While that is good news for the dedicated ice fisherman, some fair-weather anglers tend to see iced-over waters as a sign that it is time to put their fishing rods away until spring.

Fortunately, you don't have to. There are winter trout fishing opportunities available in the greater Las Vegas area, and you will find them at four local parks — Floyd Lamb Park, Lorenzi Park and Sunset Park in the Las Vegas Valley, and Veterans Memorial Park in Boulder City. Those who don't mind a somewhat scenic drive can find trout at Hafen Park pond in Mesquite and Beatty Pond just south of the Nye County community of the same name.

Though these destinations may seem a little too urban, or perhaps a little too civilized for many seasoned trout anglers, they do offer the chance to feel that familiar tug on the end of your line without donning insulated coveralls or waiting until spring. They also are a terrific fishing option for families with young children, folks new to the fishing sports or those who simply have a difficult time making the trip to more remote locations.

Since they are located within the city, these waters are what the outdoor industry refers to as urban fisheries. Similar waters can be found in most states, though places such as Arizona and Utah refer to them as community fisheries rather than using the urban label. The purpose of community fisheries can be summed up in the tagline used by the Arizona Game & Fish Department to promote their program. "If people can't get to the fish, we'll bring the fish to the people."

My youngest son caught his first limit of trout at Sunset Park. He was only 3 years old, so I had to cast the line for him and remove the hook from the fish, but he experienced all the rest for himself. Luckily the action was fast enough to keep him interested that day, and he has been ever since.

Though the ponds at Floyd Lamb, Lorenzi and Veterans Memorial Parks are popular fisheries, the pond at Sunset Park may be the busiest of them all. It sees an average of nearly 18,000 angler use days each year.

Since the trout released into the urban ponds have a difficult time surviving through a typical Southern Nevada summer, the Nevada Department of Wildlife only plants trout in these waters during the cooler months, generally from early November through March. Actual stocking time frames are dependent on water temperature. During the summer months, the department brings in catfish and all of the ponds include growing bluegill populations.

Stocked rainbows are generally easy to catch, which is why they are a great species for community fisheries, but they can have their challenging moments. Over the years, one of the most common mistakes I see among inexperienced trout anglers is the use of hooks that are too large. Trout tend to avoid most offerings that they can't get their small mouths over. You might get away with a No. 4 hook at someplace such as Lee's Ferry, but I don't recommend using anything larger than a size 12 for trout at the urban ponds.

If you opt to use a commercial product such as PowerBait, you may want to use something in the neighborhood of size 14 or even a 16. Keep in mind that the larger the number the smaller the hook. Since most anglers who use PowerBait, or something similar, tend to use treble hooks, catch-and-release fishing is out of the question. Trebles are designed to catch and then keep a fish from getting away. They are not designed for easy removal.

If you want to catch and release fish, go with worms on a single, barbless hooks. Flies, spinners or spoons are another option. Either way, handle the fish as little as possible. Wet your hands before doing so and never use a towel to hold the fish while you remove the hook. That removes the protective slime from the fish's body.

Since the urban ponds are actually part of local park and recreation offerings, it is important to remember that we anglers comprise only a portion of the visitors at those facilities. These means we are ambassadors of sorts to the nonfishing park user, and therefore need to put our best face forward. We can do that by making sure our trash makes into one of the any receptacles made available for that purpose. Especially discarded fishing line, which can sometimes cause problems for waterfowl.

The limit at the urban ponds is three fish. Holding to that limit gives all anglers the chance to catch something. If you ever find yourself tempted to take a few extra, just think of the young kid who may visit the park after you. Let's give them a chance to feel that line tug and the thrill that comes with it.

Freelance writer Doug Nielsen is a conservation educator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. His "In the Outdoors" column, published Thursday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NDOW. Any opinions he states in his column are his own. He can be reached at intheoutdoorslv@gmail.com.