Advice

[Telbone]

Hey guys,

I just got my 12ft aluminum boat rigged up for fishing lake mead. I've had it on the side of my house for quite a few years as I like to fish my float tube, but now that my 6yr old is going with me I need to use the boat. Anyhow I bought and built one of those small harbor freight trailers and I put it on there. I also use a small 5hp motor and a small electric motor on it.

I am off for the next few days and since the weather looks pretty good I was going to head out early with my boy and see what we can do. I also rarely use bait as I fly fish alot, but this is changing as I bring my boy with me as well. I will bring one fly rod and try the articulated leach that the whizzle mentioned earlier to me, but I mostly want to try'n get into some striper, any size for my boy.

Now that the background is done, here is specific advice I need . I want to fish the 33 hole but the closest launch ramp is pretty far traveling distance for my 5hp, so I was hoping I could launch at government wash. I know the launch ramp is closed but I was hoping a small boat like mine might be doable. I have a 4wd as well so I was hoping I could do a rough launch there... I can even carry the boat in a bind as I used it out of the back of my truck for the last 10 years before I got rid of the truck. If not I'll prob launch at the old Boulder ranch and putt up there.

Secondly, how do I go about locating shad to cast net them up. I've never done this before though I know how to use a cast net pretty well from my boyhood.

Finally any advice on bait rigs would be appreciated.. and any tips such as time of day etc would also be appreciated.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and good day.

Mark
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[TheWhizzle]

I wouldn't really suggest launching anywhere other than boulder harbor for the ride to 33 hole. Its only about 6 miles or so from the harbor, and if I can paddle out there, your boat should be fine. Just leave the harbor and turn left, follow the wall of dle island, make a left past the point, and look for sand island. I thnk its 1.5 to 2 miles past the point.

For shad netting, baysport is the king, but all you need to do is go to the back coves deep in the vegas wash really early in the morning and start tossing at anything that might be bait (or blind throw for an hour). Stick to shallow water near the shore. You should manage something.

For rigging, a simple 1 oz barrel style sliding sinker on the line, followed by a swivel- tie up a 10 or 12 lb leader about a foot or so long and tie up a size 1 to 1/0 live bait hook. Hook the shad through the back just behind the dorsal fin and leave the hook point exposed. Dont hook it too deep or you will kill it- too shallow and the hook might tear out.

Make sure to bring a bag of chovies in case you cant find the shad.

Shad-imitating crankbaits and topwater plugs will work well, as will a white clouser minnow for the fly-fisherman in you.
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[BigE]

[cool]Hey Telbone, I was out at 33 hole this afternoon. There were stripers boiling on the shad for about 2 hours(I got there at 1:30pm).I took my tube out and tried to chase down the boils haha. Never got close. The only shad I saw were the small 1" models. I know that BaySport has been able to net the larger ones. When I left(4:15pm) the shad were still boiling but deeper in vegas wash. I did see one boater get a couple on a bucktail jig. When I use the flyrod I use a white and gray marabou fly with dumbell eyes on a floating line. It works great on the surface and subsurface feeders. You also may want to check out gov't wash from the 33 hole parking area. I saw guys launching jetskis from some of the points. You can see all the points from the parking lot with binoculars. Just a thought. Good luck and hope the little guy hooks up.
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[stripercraze]

Hello,

You can Launch at crawdad cove. When you enter the park at lake mead entrance take your first left after the booth. About 8 miles up is the turn for crawdad cove. After you launch travel straight out to sand island and turn right to get to the wash. Also crawdad and the cove next to it on the left Boxcar could very well have shad and fish in the early morning hours. Need to be on the water around 4:30 or as soon as you can see to navigate. Be careful there are a lot of reefs out there now! Hope you have good luck[cool]

stripercraze
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[BaySport]

I want to fish the 33 hole but the closest launch ramp is pretty far traveling distance for my 5hp, so I was hoping I could launch at government wash

My son launches his inflatable with a15hp, from a harbor freight trailer, at Gov't Wash. Just look for the PWC crowd. They drop their jets in off the gravel. With a 4WD you should have no problem. Hole 33 is just around the corner.
BaySport
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