Fear and Trout in Las Vegas
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I’m now back from my first trip to Las Vegas. The time differential damn near killed me. Understand that I’m a relatively conservative guy, and as an engineer I’ve always felt that gambling is a tax on people who were really bad at math. So I wasn’t looking forward all that much to Vegas. Searching for something to do, I decided to try to figure out if there was trouble I could get into with a fly rod.
I give you Sunset Park:
Sunset Park is just south-east of the airport, about 10 minutes from the hotel I stayed at (Luxor). Among the standard park amenities is a stocked pond. Stocked with catfish and bass in the summer, trout in the winter. Apparently, the trout stocking had recently begun. I got there about 7 AM on Tuesday morning, and there were about a half dozen other fishermen there.
Not seeing much in the way of rises, I tied on the olive wooly bugger (which I still had not yet caught a fish on) and began to cast out and slowly strip back. Within 15 minutes – success!
That was one of three fish that came to hand, and one of four I saw caught total. After releasing the trout, I stood there thinking about how surreal it was to be standing in a desert, fishing for fish that should not be there in a lake that should not be there. I figured it was as genuine as anything else in Las Vegas – certainly as genuine as the breasts on the casino waitresses.
I started walking around the pond, and came to the only thing that could cap off fake fishing in a fake city – a Fake Easter Island statue in the middle of the pond.
Oh yeah. That made my trip. 🙂
As it was, I did end up having a bit of fun in Paris getting fleeced at a blackjack table.
Abe,
Great report- I usually wind up in Vegas a couple of times a year for work, and it’s about my least favorite place in the world- the first time I went out there a few years ago, I put a dollar in the first slot I saw in the hotel lobby, won $10, and haven’t gambled since.
That was one of three fish that came to hand, and one of four I saw caught total. After releasing the trout, I stood there thinking about how surreal it was to be standing in a desert, fishing for fish that should not be there in a lake that should not be there. I figured it was as genuine as anything else in Las Vegas – certainly as genuine as the breasts on the casino waitresses.
I started walking around the pond, and came to the only thing that could cap off fake fishing in a fake city – a Fake Easter Island statue in the middle of the pond.
Interesting report — at least the fish in the picture look real — thanks for sharing — must admit I never thought of fly fishing in Las Vegas before — then I’m not one to “roll the dice” (I tend to fish at better known spots) — so you’ve proven again that fly fishing can be enjoyed anywhere under very “different” circumstances — also that fly fishing keeps it “real”
the next time you are out there ask someone about lake las vegas. It is a pretty nice communtiy around a very nice lake. I can’t remember if they allow fishing but it sure was a nice piece of water and I thought I saw some small boats on the edge.
Thanks for sharing.Abe,
I don’t know if you make it to Vegas often, never been myself. I was told at Lee’s Ferry on the Colorado that they get alot of people of Vegas fishing there. I think it is a couple of hours away.
Hows the striper fishing coming along?
Best,
JohnJohn-
Lee’s Ferry is one of the places I’d like to fish before I die, but it wasn’t to be on this trip.
Interesting report. Trout on a fly in Vegas – who would have guessed? Matt I was in Vegas a couple of years ago for a week on business. After that it was officially my least favorite place too.
Greg
Abe –
How far along are you in the 50 fish quest? Look me up when you get to Kansas, and I’ll do my best to get you a big fat carp!
Here’s a father and son doing it all in one summer, looking for trophy fish in each state. http://fish5050.com/index.html
A friend is guiding them for wipers and walleye when they get here.
I’m off to a pretty slow start.
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