Colorado River Fishing Report: Stripers, Rainbows, and More on the Line

Good morning from the banks of the Colorado River near Las Vegas—this is Artificial Lure with your September 5, 2025 fishing report. We’re kicking off today with clear skies and a light breeze floating in—temperatures are starting in the mid-70s this morning and climbing into the upper 90s by late afternoon, classic early September conditions in Southern Nevada. The area has seen a persistent dry spell, so river flows are a bit lower than previous years. According to the National Weather Service, sunrise hit at 6:18am, and you can expect sunset at 7:04pm, giving you plenty of daylight to chase some fish. Fish activity has been picking up as overnight temps begin to drop. This morning, anglers on the river near Willow Beach and down towards Big Bend have reported solid action right at first light and again in the few hours leading up to dusk. On the catch front: Willow Beach guides and locals are seeing steady numbers of striped bass, with several fish in the 2–4-pound range being caught and the occasional double-digit bruiser mixed in, especially early in the morning when the water’s coolest. Rainbow trout plants at Willow Beach continue to produce for shore and boat anglers alike—many are landing rainbows in the 1–2-pound class, with a few bigger holdovers for those willing to hike farther from the main parking. Reports upstream closer to the Hoover Dam show smallmouth bass are still hitting in the rocky coves and pockets, especially around submerged structure. Channel catfish are cruising after dark near sandy flats around Laughlin, with anglers pulling in cats from 2 up to 10 pounds overnight using cut bait. Best lures and baits for today—striped bass are smashing soft plastic swimbaits in shad colors and topwater plugs during low light; if you’re trolling, try a rainbow trout pattern crankbait. For rainbows, drift PowerBait in salmon peach or chartreuse, or cast small gold spoons and Panther Martin spinners near current seams. Smallmouth are showing a preference for soft plastic craws in watermelon or green pumpkin on a drop-shot rig. Catfish are still best pursued with classic stink baits or fresh chicken liver after dusk. A couple of hot spots: Willow Beach continues to be a go-to for both trout and stripers. If you’re willing to kayak or hike a bit north of the marina, you’ll hit less pressured water—use floating jerkbaits for stripers along the steep drop-offs. Downriver, check out the shoreline below Davis Dam near Casino Row in Laughlin; catfish and bass stack up around incoming storm drains and rocky breakwaters. The emerald pools and shady banks up in the Black Canyon stretch provide prime cover for both bass and bigger trout waiting to ambush. One more tip—be mindful that water levels and clarity can change quickly with power releases from the dam. If fishing mid-day, look for shaded coves and deeper runs where fish will seek refuge from the sun. Finally, a note for those who are new or want to brush up on the basics: the Nev This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.