Colorado River Las Vegas Fishing Report - Cool Season Pattern Emerging

This is Artificial Lure with your Colorado River Las Vegas fishing report. We’re sliding into the cool-season pattern on the lower Colorado. Overnight temps along the river have been in the low 40s, afternoons topping out in the low 60s under mostly clear skies with light north to northeast winds, according to the National Weather Service out of Las Vegas. Sunrise is right around 6:45 a.m., sunset near 4:30 p.m., so you’ve got a tight prime-time window from first light to about 10 a.m., then again the last hour of daylight. No real “tide” here, but flows are pulsing a bit with releases through the system as Lake Mead sits roughly around one‑third full per recent Bureau of Reclamation updates. That means mid‑day current changes can flip the bite on and off, especially in tighter bends and along riprap banks. Recent catches coming out of the Colorado below Hoover and through the Laughlin stretch have been steady, not fast. Local reports and shop chatter point to: - **Striped bass**: Mostly schoolies from 12–18 inches with the odd fish in the 3–5 pound class. Numbers are modest but consistent if you stay mobile. - **Largemouth and smallmouth bass**: Light pressure, light bite. Think a handful of fish per boat on a half day if you grind. - **Channel cats**: Best overall action for folks soaking bait in the deeper holes and eddies. - **Trout**: Below the dam where stocking has been ongoing, anglers picking off a few limits early with light tackle. Water temps are running cool, so fish are sluggish and tight to structure. Mid‑column stripers are shadowing shad schools near drop‑offs; black bass are glued to chunk rock, wood, and marina structure in 10–25 feet. Best producers right now: - For **stripers**: • 1/2‑ to 3/4‑ounce silver or white jigging spoons. • Pearl or shad‑pattern soft‑plastic swimbaits on 3/8‑ to 1/2‑ounce heads. • Small walking topwaters or flukes at first light if the surface is slick. - For **largemouth/smallmouth**: • Green pumpkin or watermelon **Ned rigs** and 3" tubes on light heads. • Brown or olive football jigs with a craw trailer sloooowly dragged on bottom. • Drop‑shot with small shad or robo‑style worms for the finesse crowd. - For **catfish**: • Cut anchovy, chicken liver, or stink baits on sliding sinker rigs, set just off the main current in 15–30 feet. - For **stocked trout**: • Small inline spinners in gold or silver. • Salmon eggs or PowerBait on 4–6 lb test, drifted slowly. A couple of local hot spots to put on your list: - **Below Hoover Dam / Willow Beach area**: Cold, clear water, good for trout and the occasional quality striper when you find bait pinned against the cliffs. Early launch and light line are key. - **Laughlin/Bullhead City stretch**: Work the current seams, bridge pilings, and marinas for mixed bag action—stripers, bass, and cats. Watch for birds picking on shad; when they bunch up, get a spoon under them. Fish activity today will be best right at fi This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.