Fishing in Desert Shores: Bass, Bluegill, Catfish, and More

Fishing in Desert Shores is catch and release on four privately stocked lakes featuring bass, bluegill, channel catfish, black crappie, red ear sunfish, white amur, and several baitfish species, available dawn until dusk to DSCA members and up to four guests per household.

What fish species are stocked in the Desert Shores lakes?

The DSCA stocks the four private lakes annually each spring. The current stock list includes largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, black crappie, red ear sunfish, white amur (grass carp used for vegetation control), goldfish, gambusia, and flathead minnows. Bass, bluegill, and catfish are the most commonly caught sport fish.

All four lakes (Jacqueline, Sarah, Maddison, and Lindsey) share the same stock and the same rules, so anglers can fish any of them with the same setup.

What are the Desert Shores fishing rules and hours?

Fishing inside Desert Shores is catch and release only. Anglers may use one pole per person and must use non barbed hooks to reduce harm during release. Fishing hours run from dawn until dusk daily. Approved bait includes red worms, night crawlers, mealworms, terrestrial insects (crickets and grasshoppers), salmon eggs, marshmallows, and catfish stink bait. Live freshwater fish as bait are prohibited.

Households can bring up to four fishing guests at a time. A Nevada state fishing license is not required as long as the angler is a DSCA member or invited guest with proper credentials. Residents 14 and older need a digital DSCA membership ID to fish legally on the lakes.

What Ryan Rose Tells His Buyers About Fishing Here

As the Las Vegas real estate expert behind Rose Homes LV, Ryan Rose hears the fishing question from almost every buyer with kids. The four guest allowance is one of the most underrated perks in Desert Shores. Grandparents, cousins, and weekend visitors can all fish without buying a state license, which makes the lakes a real social anchor for the community.

Want to fish the lakes before you buy? Get in touch with Ryan Rose for a guided tour that includes stops at the public fishing piers.

Explore More Las Vegas Communities

- Lake Jacqueline: Desert Shores' Largest Lake - Boating in Desert Shores: What's Allowed - Why Paddleboards Are Not Allowed in Desert Shores

Source: DSCA Lake Policies and Fishing Guidelines (PDF)