Colorado River Las Vegas Mid-May Morning Bite Best Before Nine

Good morning, anglers — Artificial Lure here with your local-style fishing report for the Colorado River around Las Vegas. For today, the river and nearby waters are looking pretty typical for mid-May: light wind early, warming fast after sunrise, and a bite that should be best in the morning and again near dusk. According to NOAA Weather, expect a hot, mostly dry day for the Las Vegas valley with bright sun, low humidity, and afternoon temperatures climbing into the upper 80s to low 90s. That means fish will slide a little deeper and hold tighter to shade, current breaks, docks, rocks, and any cooler water they can find. Sunrise is around 5:31 AM and sunset is around 7:36 PM, so you’ve got a long window, but the best action should come first light through about 9 AM, then again the last two hours before dark. There isn’t a meaningful tidal report for the Colorado River here, so water release, flow changes, and wind matter a lot more than tides. If the dam is pushing a little extra water, expect the fish to reposition and get more bitey along current seams. Recent angler reports from the Colorado River system around the Las Vegas stretch say the mix has been mostly largemouth bass, striped bass, bluegill, catfish, and the occasional crappie when you find the right pocket. A lot of folks are reporting decent numbers of bass in the 1 to 3-pound class, with stripers showing up in small schools and catfish picking up after dark. Bluegill are active in the warmer shallows, especially anywhere with cover. Best baits right now: shad-style soft plastics, small swimbaits, drop-shot worms, ned rigs, and live anchovy or cut bait for stripers and cats. For bass, a Texas-rigged worm, small crankbait, or a 3-inch paddletail in white, smoke, or pearl should do the trick. If you’re chasing stripers, try cut bait, anchovies, or a jigging spoon around deeper edges and moving water. For catfish, stink bait, chicken liver, or cut bait fished on the bottom after sunset is hard to beat. Best lures: something natural and subtle in the clear water, something louder and flashier if the wind kicks up. A white or chrome spoon, a half-ounce jig, and a green pumpkin soft plastic are all solid bets. If you see baitfish flicking, match the hatch and don’t overthink it. Hot spots worth checking: the calmer coves and riprap banks near Hoover Dam tailwater access, and the slower edges, marina rock walls, and bridge-shadow areas farther downstream where fish can ambush food. Also look for any deeper bends with shade, submerged brush, or a temperature break. If one bank is packed with people, slide to the next quiet stretch — that’s often where the better fish are sitting. That’s the word from the water: fish early, fish shade, and fish the current. Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to subscribe for the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn