EPISODE · Jun 13, 2026 · 4 MIN
Colorado River Below Hoover Dam: Dawn Trout and Striper Bite with Desert Heat
from Colorado River Las Vegas Fishing Report Today · host Inception Point AI
Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River, Las Vegas area fishing report. We’re working that stretch below Hoover Dam down toward Willow Beach and Cottonwood Cove. No true tides here, but flows from Hoover Dam act like a tide change: expect generation releases to bump currents late morning through afternoon, with lighter, clearer water at first light. When flows are low and clear, fish get a little spooky but feed tight to current seams and rock edges. When flows ramp up, they slide deeper and let the food come to them. Weather around the river today is classic desert: clear skies, light winds early, building breeze by midday, and hot by late morning. Overnight temps in the 70s climbing into the upper 90s and low 100s. Plan serious fishing for dawn and the last two hours of light. Local sunrise is right around 5:20 a.m., sunset close to 8 p.m., giving a long window, but the bite is best at the edges of the day. Water is cold and clear coming out of the dam, sitting in the low 50s to low 60s depending how far downriver you are. That’s prime for rainbow trout up top and smallmouth bass, striped bass, and the odd largemouth and catfish as you head downstream. Recent reports from local tackle shops and marina chatter say rainbows have been steady below the dam and near Willow Beach. Stockers in the 10–14 inch range with a few chunky holdovers pushing 18–20 inches. Striped bass are hit‑or‑miss but consistent enough at first light: schoolies from 1–3 pounds with occasional 5–8 pound fish. Smallmouth action has been good along rocky shorelines and points, lots of 8–12 inch fish with a few 2–3 pound bruisers for folks working slow and tight to structure. Night guys soaking bait are picking up channel cats in the 2–5 pound range in the slower, deeper holes. Fish activity today should start strong right at grey light. Trout will be up in the upper river and along current breaks, then slide deeper as the sun gets on the water. Stripers will chase shad and trout near the surface early, then move deeper into channels and ledges once it brightens. Smallmouth will chew all day if you get down to them and fish slow, especially when boat traffic and sun push them tight to rocks and ledges. On lures, think natural and subtle in that clear water. For trout, small inline spinners in silver or gold, 1/8 ounce or less, are money. Tiny Kastmasters and spoons in silver, gold, or trout patterns also produce. For stripers, throw 3–5 inch soft plastic swimbaits in shad or trout colors, white flukes, or small paddle tails on 1/4–1/2 ounce heads. Early and late, try small topwaters and walking baits; if they’re pushing bait, they’ll blow them up. For smallmouth, go with 3–4 inch green pumpkin or brown tubes, Ned rigs, and drop‑shot worms in natural colors. A small craw‑style plastic dragged along the rocks is a local staple. If you’re a bait angler, PowerBait or salmon eggs on light leaders for rainbows will keep rods bending. Nightcrawlers always play, especially for trout, bass, and cats. For stripers and cats, cut anchovy or sardine on a sliding sinker rig in deeper holes is the go‑to. Keep leaders light and hooks sharp; the water is clear and these fish see a lot of pressure. A couple of hot spots to key on: Willow Beach area: That whole stretch below the marina is a cold‑water ribbon full of trout, with stripers shadowing them. Work the cliff faces, current eddies, and any shade lines. Early morning here can be lights‑out if you get your bait or swimbait down the ledges. Cottonwood Cove and nearby coves: Great for mixed bag action. Rocky points and drop‑offs hold smallmouth, while deeper channels and humps can have stripers roaming through. Fish the shadows early, then slide deeper as the sun climbs. Work smart, hydrate, and respect that desert heat and cold water combo. Thanks for tuning in to this report, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an update. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
What this episode covers
Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River, Las Vegas area fishing report. We’re working that stretch below Hoover Dam down toward Willow Beach and Cottonwood Cove. No true tides here, but flows from Hoover Dam act like a tide change: expect generation releases to bump currents late morning through afternoon, with lighter, clearer water at first light. When flows are low and clear, fish get a little spooky but feed tight to current seams and rock edges. When flows ramp up, they slide deeper and let the food come to them. Weather around the river today is classic desert: clear skies, light winds early, building breeze by midday, and hot by late morning. Overnight temps in the 70s climbing into the upper 90s and low 100s. Plan serious fishing for dawn and the last two hours of light. Local sunrise is right around 5:20 a.m., sunset close to 8 p.m., giving a long window, but the bite is best at the edges of the day. Water is cold and clear coming out of the dam, sitting in the low 50s to low 60s depending how far downriver you are. That’s prime for rainbow trout up top and smallmouth bass, striped bass, and the odd largemouth and catfish as you head downstream. Recent reports from local tackle shops and marina chatter say rainbows have been steady below the dam and near Willow Beach. Stockers in the 10–14 inch range with a few chunky holdovers pushing 18–20 inches. Striped bass are hit‑or‑miss but consistent enough at first light: schoolies from 1–3 pounds with occasional 5–8 pound fish. Smallmouth action has been good along rocky shorelines and points, lots of 8–12 inch fish with a few 2–3 pound bruisers for folks working slow and tight to structure. Night guys soaking bait are picking up channel cats in the 2–5 pound range in the slower, deeper holes. Fish activity today should start strong right at grey light. Trout will be up in the upper river and along current breaks, then slide deeper as the sun gets on the water. Stripers will chase shad and trout near the surface early, then move deeper into channels and ledges once it brightens. Smallmouth will chew all day if you get down to them and fish slow, especially when boat traffic and sun push them tight to rocks and ledges. On lures, think natural and subtle in that clear water. For trout, small inline spinners in silver or gold, 1/8 ounce or less, are money. Tiny Kastmasters and spoons in silver, gold, or trout patterns also produce. For stripers, throw 3–5 inch soft plastic swimbaits in shad or trout colors, white flukes, or small paddle tails on 1/4–1/2 ounce heads. Early and late, try small topwaters and walking baits; if they’re pushing bait, they’ll blow them up. For smallmouth, go with 3–4 inch green pumpkin or brown tubes, Ned rigs, and drop‑shot worms in natural colors. A small craw‑style plastic dragged along the rocks is a local staple. If you’re a bait angler, PowerBait or salmon eggs on light leaders for rainbows will keep rods bending. Nightcrawlers always play, especially for trout, bass, and cats. For stripers and cats, cut anchovy or sardine on a sliding sinker rig in deeper holes is the go‑to. Keep leaders light and hooks sharp; the water is clear and these fish see a lot of pressure. A couple of hot spots to key on: Willow Beach area: That whole stretch below the marina is a cold‑water ribbon full of trout, with stripers shadowing them. Work the cliff faces, current eddies, and any shade lines. Early morning here can be lights‑out if you get your bait or swimbait down the ledges. Cottonwood Cove and nearby coves: Great for mixed bag action. Rocky points and drop‑offs hold smallmouth, while deeper channels and humps can have stripers roaming through. Fish the shadows early, then slide deeper as the sun climbs. Work smart, hydrate, and respect that desert heat and cold water combo. Thanks for tuning in to this report, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an update. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
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Colorado River Below Hoover Dam: Dawn Trout and Striper Bite with Desert Heat
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