Chasing Stripers and Trout on the Colorado River

Artificial Lure reporting in from the banks of the Colorado River, right here where Las Vegas kisses the desert with the promise of running water and wild fish action. Out here, with the desert chill biting early, we’re seeing the classic shift to late-fall patterns—fish are hungry, the crowds are light, and the scenery, as always, is world-class. Weather this Thursday is cool and partly cloudy after those early-week rains that rolled through the region. The storm gave the river a bit of a recharge, but keep in mind over half the basin’s still in severe drought according to The Water Desk. Expect temps in the upper 50s to low 60s by mid-morning, warming up just enough for a comfortable long-sleeve session. Sunrise was at 6:14am, and we’re looking at a sunset around 4:41pm—making those golden hours more important for planning your trip. Breezes are running light, but watch for occasional gusts down the canyon after midday. Tidal swings aren’t a direct factor here since we’re above the tidal reach, but water levels have been steady with some thanks to the Bureau of Reclamation keeping flow consistent as the Lake Mead release schedule holds for water conservation. Watch for slightly muddier water in the current seams and backwaters from recent rain runoff—prime for ambush predators. Fish activity this week is classic November: stripers are pushing shad and young-of-year into the cooler coves near Willow Beach and up around Big Bend. According to local anglers and Lake Mead National Recreation Area officials, striped bass are the main stars—good numbers caught, some up to 10 pounds, with plenty of smaller schoolies providing steady action. Largemouth bass are holding tighter to rocky points and submerged brush. Rainbow trout were stocked again last week by Willow Beach Hatchery, so early risers are still pulling limits with patience and finesse, especially after rainbow plants. Catfish are still biting well at dusk along slower eddies and deep pools, mostly channel cats, with a few chunky blue cats mixed in. Crappie action is quiet, but the occasional slab comes out of the brushy side channels if you’re persistent with a small jig. Most fisherman are reporting two or three solid hookups an hour for bass and stripers; trout limits before 9am are common near Willow Beach. Best baits and lures: for stripers, morning and late afternoon are all about heavy casting spoons, bucktail jigs (white or chartreuse), and swimbaits that mimic shad in low-visibility water. The Berkley Chop Block Glide Bait has been a hit this fall for both stripers and big-mouths—use a moderate retrieve with a pause to trigger more bites. If you’re targeting largemouth, Texas-rigged plastics in dark colors, shaky-head worms, and spinnerbaits slow-rolled along submerged rock are pulling in steady fish. For trout, PowerBait, salmon eggs, and small Rooster Tails in bright colors have been the ticket along slower runs. Catfish still want good old-fashioned nightcrawlers or cut shad This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.