Lake Mead Fishing Report: Stripers, Bass, and Catfish Biting Strong Despite Low Water Levels
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Lake Mead Fishing Report: Stripers, Bass, and Catfish Biting Strong Despite Low Water Levels
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About this listen
We're coming off a stretch of classic late-summer heat, but don't let triple digit temps fool you—Lake Mead is fishing well. As of September 1, the reservoir sits around 31% full, according to the Bureau of Reclamation. Despite lower water, fishing is strong and the water clarity is decent[U.S. Bureau of Reclamation/Colorado River Basin reports].
Weather-wise, expect sunny skies all day, highs climbing near 110°F. Winds will be light, so boating conditions are good early, but keep a close eye through the afternoon for gusts picking up. Sunrise was at 6:18 AM and sunset is set for 7:08 PM, giving nearly 13 hours of prime daylight for your trip. There’s no tidal shift out here, but water levels do fluctuate a bit with late runoff and dam releases—nothing dramatic for this weekend[Colorado River Basin].
Recent catches report solid action for **striped bass**, with plenty of school-sized fish coming in from 1-3 pounds and some linesiders topping 8 pounds for those targeting deeper water. Catfish are still biting at night and in the early morning—channel cats between 2-6 pounds, and a few larger blues getting reported. **Largemouth bass** have been more active along the weeds and rocky drop-offs, especially at sunrise, while smallmouth still lurk closer to structure. Anglers are reporting decent numbers of panfish—especially bluegill—around marina docks.
For **stripers**, anglers recommend trolling or casting **shad imitations**, Kastmasters, or live anchovies. The last few days, topwater plugs have been drawing boils near Boulder Basin and Kingman Wash right at dawn. Catfish chasers are sticking to cut bait, shrimp, and chicken livers. If you’re chasing bass, throw a chartreuse spinnerbait or soft plastics—especially darker-colored worms and craws—around submerged brush and rocky points. Don’t forget: keep your lures matching what the baitfish here look like, mainly shad or bluegill. Russell Graves' angling advice is spot-on: tune tackle for the local forage and be ready to adjust as fish switch between chasing shad or scavenging bottom[findfarmcredit.com].
Fish activity peaks twice: closest to dawn and then again at dusk. Stripers are boiling most actively around first light, so get out early if you want numbers. By midday, deeper trolling is your friend, with downriggers set between 30-60 feet. Bass and panfish hold tighter to shade and structure as the sun climbs.
Hot spots this week include:
- **Boulder Basin**: Stripers and bass chasing shad early mornings near drop-offs.
- **Kingman Wash**: Good for stripers surface feeds and solid catfish after dark around the rocky banks.
- **Government Wash**: Reliable for bass, especially tossing soft plastics in shoreline pockets.
Watch for diving gulls—they're your natural fish finders, especially when stripers push shad to the surface. Chris Pietrafeso from NDOW reminds us: gulls hovering and diving often mean a fish boil underneath[Las Vegas Review-Journal].
Boat traffic should be light outside the most popular launches, but expect a few kayaks and cracking anglers at dawn. As always, stay hydrated, respect the heat, and keep an eye out for changing weather.
Thanks for tuning in—make sure to subscribe for your latest local fishing tips and news. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
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