Colorado River Fishing Report: Stripers, Bass, and Trout Abound Despite Drought

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things rods, reels, and river runs here around the Colorado River in Las Vegas. It's Monday mornin', December 15th, 2025, and we're lookin' at a crisp winter day with highs in the low 50s, partly cloudy skies, light winds from the northwest at 5-10 mph—perfect for bundlin' up and hittin' the water without freezin' your bait off. Sunrise was at 6:45 AM, sunset around 4:30 PM, givin' ya a solid 9.5 hours of daylight to chase bites. No tides down here in the desert river, but Lake Mead's sittin' steady at about 1,060 feet elevation, 33% full per USBR reports, with the whole basin still gripped by drought—79% parched even after that wild October rain. Fish activity's been steady but picky this time of year—striped bass are schoolin' up near the surface in the mornings, crashin' shad, while largemouth and smallmouth bass hug the rocky points and drop-offs. Recent catches from local forums and angler chatter show stripers up to 20 pounds boated last week below Hoover Dam, channel catfish haulin' in 5-10 pounders on nights, and decent numbers of rainbow trout stocked upstream near the dam—folks limitin' out with 2-4 fish per trip. Quantities are solid: 20-30 stripers per outing reported, fewer bass but quality sizes 3-7 pounds. For lures, go with **swimbaits** like 4-inch Keitech Swing Impact in shad colors for stripers—they're tearin' it up trolled at 2.5 mph. **Jerkbaits** such as Lucky Craft Pointer in chrome for bass in 10-20 feet. Topwater poppers at dawn if you see boils. Live bait? Threadfin shad or anchovies on a Carolina rig for cats and stripers, or nightcrawlers/PowerBait for those stocked 'bows. Hot spots right now: Black Canyon below Hoover Dam—drop a line off the bank or kayak for stripers and trout. And Las Bay near Las Vegas Bay—wind-protected coves hold bass tight to structure. Water levels low, so watch your props and respect the drought—fish smart, leave no trace. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more reports! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.