Fishing Trip – Cottonwood Cove, Nevada on Lake Mohave
March 15 through March 23, 2002
Prologue
This was a trip planned and executed with my brother Bob. He lives in Lake Havasu City, Arizona much of the year and then he and his wife Pat travel in their Motor home the rest of the time. He also owns a “Bass Tracker” pontoon boat. So – I flew in to Las Vegas and he picked me up there. We drove 71 miles south to Cottonwood Cove and lived in the Motor home and fished from his boat for the week.
Lake Mohave is a piece of the Colorado River system. It’s northern end is at the base of the Hoover Dam and it’s southern end is 62 miles downstream at the Davis Dam. Cottonwood Cove is 22 miles north of Davis Dam.
Cottonwood Cove is a complete facility. It has a Motel, Store, Café and a full service Marina – all open from morning to night. It has a RV area that has complete hook-ups and services. The staff was very friendly and helpful. We had every meal in the Café and enjoyed the food and the service.
This is our second trip to this spot. We were here in early 2001 and had a good week - even though we didn't catch any fish. So - we came back a second time. We come here in search of a large, 40 pounds+, fresh-water striped bass. They are caught here in that class on a fairly regular basis and there is anecdotal evidence of much larger fish.
The striped bass (Morone saxatilis) was originally called Roccus saxatilis, scientists corrected the genus designation in the late 1960s, but striper fishermen still refer the Striper as "Roccus."
If you'd like to read about our first trip, click here to be transported back to February, 2001.
My Journal
Monday - April 15th - The trip to Cottonwood Cove
The limo was in the driveway and ready to go at 4 AM EDT. The trip began. He dropped me at Orlando Airport in plenty of time to catch my first flight - Orlando to Dallas. Things were running a little late in Dallas. We left there 45 minutes late. Therefore, we arrived in Las Vegas a little late. I caught a cab to meet Bob in the Wal-Mart parking lot on East Tropicana. He was there and waiting.
The next part of the trip began. We headed out to go south on 95. The wind increased, got worse, and before long it was really bad. When we got to the Rte. 95 South exit, there was a long, long line. It took us about 45 minutes to get to the head of the line - only to find out Rte. 95 was closed due to the high winds. We had to go back towards Las Vegas and take I-515 to I-215 to I-15 to 164 to get to Searchlight. We turned around and started the new route. Lots of dust & wind. Somewhere going south on I-15, the motor home’s awning blew down. The wind had broken a front support and it was thrashing around,
threatening to beat it's way into the motor home. We had to stop, and out into the wind and dust we went. We both got on the roof and finally decided to cut it off. The wind was blowing up to 70 MPH gusts we found out later. The aluminum cover was a real problem thrashing around. It whacked me on the head above my left eye leaving a 4" gash. Boy did it bleed. I was holding a hankie over the gash, trying to help Bob and stay on the roof. We both got beat up pretty bad. Finally got it cut off and dragged off the road. What a relief. The bleeding had stopped by then and we discussed what to do. We decided we were in the middle of the desert and it was best to charge on. So off we went again. Further on down the road were 2 smashed cars and a double trailer 18-wheeler on its side. They had much more trouble than we did.
Well, we finally got to Searchlight. Bob had left the boat and trailer here in an empty lot while he drove up to Las Vegas. Now the lot was full of 18-wheelers. Route 95 North was closed Northbound right at the lot. What a mess. Somehow, Bob maneuvered the motor home, backwards, through the 18-wheelers and got close enough to the trailer that we could turn it and hook it up. Off to Cottonwood Cove. We finally got there just before 6 PM PDT, 17 hours and a pint of blood after I left Leesburg. We launched the boat and parked it in it’s assigned slip #54, parked the trailer in the parking lot, and settled the motor home into space #10. Soon it was time for dinner. We wandered down to The Cove Café and had our first meal. We got settled in and to bed early.
Tuesday - April 16th - First day
Up before 7. We are both achy here and there from yesterday’s experience. A look at my head wound shows it looks a lot worse than it is. It could have used a couple of stitches, but I wasn't sure Bob's hand was steady enough. A couple of coffees in the motor home and then to we went to "The Cafe" for breakfast. We met some of the "new" people and said hello to some of the people from last year. We had a big breakfast and headed off to get my license and ice for the boat.
We loaded up the boat and were out of the Marina by 10. Nice weather, a bit of a breeze, sunny. Trolled and chatted. We didn't even have a hit. Got too windy by 1:30 so we came in and spent the afternoon around the MH. To the Cafe for dinner (pork chops). TV & bed by 9.
Wednesday - April 17th - A Shore Day
Up by 7. I still had some aches and pains this morning, but they diminished quickly. It was very windy again. A coffee in the motor home and then breakfast at the Cafe. We decided to stay in port for a while to see what the wind would do.
Took a walk around the State Park area and generally hung around. It was sunny and warm, but really windy. We voted to turn the A/C on around 2 and watched some TV for a while – we even have cable TV this year.
Didn't even take the boat out. Supposed to be better tomorrow. We had a great dinner at The Café. Baby back ribs. Watched TV and to bed.
Thursday - April 18th - A Fishing Day
The mornings have been cool, mid 50's. Up by 7. The wind is finally calm. There are even some glassy spots visible on the lake. Breakfast in the Cafe and then we loaded the boat and headed right out.
We pulled up near our neighbors boat (along with 4 others) on the Nevada side at Mile 23. They were getting lots of small stripers on the bottom in 80 feet of water. Too deep for us to anchor, so we used the trolling motor to stay positioned and fished chunks of anchovies. It took us awhile to get
catching, but we ended up catching about a dozen small, 12", stripers. Too small to even give an enjoyable fight.
The wind was still down so we trolled until 1:30. We both got a touch of red skin. Back to Cottonwood Cove. Walked around, visited with our neighbors, napped, watched TV, then to the Cafe for a steak dinner. Watched Survivors. Then to bed.
Friday - April 19th - A Mixed Day
After breakfast we headed for the boat and another day of pursuing the elusive Roccus. But, after getting down to the docks we changed our mind. The wind was up on the lake and the bay was full of white caps. We spent the morning hanging around the boat ramp watching the comings and goings of the other boaters. Some changed their minds and didn't go out, others coming in early because of the wind. Talked to some folks who came down from Hoover dam in kayaks. They left Monday, day of the wind storm, and got here today. Sun burnt, one kid had sun poisoning. Five days to go 40 miles!!
Saw four new nice runabout boats being delivered for their rental fleet. After taking the shrink wrap off them, installing a prop on the end boat and started to prep them, they realized they couldn't get the top ones off with their fork lift they had. They contemplated that for a long time and the last we heard they were calling in a crane.
Around 1, we decided to go out, the winds had calmed a bit. No white caps for a change. When we got aboard, we discovered the grackles had found and opened a bag of chips hidden in the back corner of the boat. They ate them all and then redeposited them all over the boat (if you know what I mean).
The weather and water was very comfortable. We trolled, sunned and watched the increase in boat traffic. Back in at 5.
Had fish & chips at the cafe, then it clouded over, cooled and got breezy. TV and early bed.
Saturday - April 20 - A Busy Day
There is a Bass tournament going on today. I could hear the boats leaving the ramp starting at 6:15.We got up around 7 to a beautiful morning. Had breakfast at The Cafe and then out at 9. Sunny and calm, just occasional gentle southerly breezes.
The parking lot was full, lots more boats, but once out on the lake we hardly saw a boat. Trolled for big ones.
About 10, a great blue heron landed on the boat's top. Unbelievable! We kept trolling and he stayed right there for 3 hours. We tried giving him an anchovy, but he didn't touch it. Cheezits? No he didn't like that either. Then a pair of mooching mallards landed along side and paddled rapidly to keep up with us. They liked the Cheezits. But the blue heron didn't like them and he flew off. After the mallards left, lo and behold, here comes the heron back. After a bit the mallards returned, the heron flew off the top and we eventually lost him. Quite an experience.
We later found out the great blue heron is well known among the regular fishermen. He mooches small stripers around the dock and his name is Harry.
No fish - again. We cruised an hour to get back to the slip and "home." We visited with neighbors and fellow fishermen for a bit, watched a bass tournament weigh-in, then at 5 we went and had dinner. TV and to bed. Another excellent day.
Sunday - April 21 - Heading North
Up by 7. Another beautiful morning. After a big breakfast in the cafe, we ran up river to mile marker 44, about 23 miles at 12 MPH. Good scenery, lots of waterfowl, but no big horn sheep or burros.
Trolled back for 2 hours. No hits, just enjoying the scenery. Then ran back in. The wind was generally calm.
We both have lots of tanned and red skin, but the scabs are coming off our wounds from the wind disaster. Back in by 3 PM. Visited with some fishing type neighbors.
We went to dinner in The Café. Said good-bye to the evening Café staff (l-r, Bill, Bob, Lisa, Emi, and Me).
Back to the motor home, a few hours of TV, and to bed.
Monday - April 22nd - Last Day
Up by 7. We had our last breakfast at "The Cafe." Said good-bye to the morning crew and then headed out. Loaded the boat and ran 9 miles down-river to mile marker 12/13. Trolled around until 11, no hits, then back in.
Readied the MH for travel, picked up the boat trailer, loaded the boat, and then north to Railroad Pass Restaurant & Casino where we planned to spend the night. Bob picked this place, close to Las Vegas airport, to make it easier to get me there by 7 AM to catch my early flight. It was a great place - truck stop, casino, restaurant. We watched people gamble for a while and then had a great dinner – shrimp cocktail, chili soup and entrees. Outstanding.
Bob had parked way down the end of the parking lot where we'll drop the boat while Bob takes me to the airport tomorrow. The generator is running, A/C on and several Las Vegas TV stations. Life is good.
Tuesday - April 23 - Travel Home
Up and at’em at 6. Had a cuppa and headed for the airport. We got there in plenty of time and I continued my trek home. My first flight to Dallas was on time and no problem – though full. I had to take the train to get from Gate A9 to C21 – but that was uneventful. Next flight to Orlando was a full MD80. It was smooth and we arrived 20 minutes early
I got off the plane and headed for the curbside of the terminal. The Limo driver had picked up on the early arrival at and was at the curb soon after I got there. In the house at 8:15 PM.
The end of a great trip….
You are visitor #
