Colorado River Las Vegas: Spring Striper Bite Heats Up with Clear Water and Prime Early Light Window

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River Las Vegas report. Out here we don’t worry about tides – this stretch of the Colorado’s all reservoir flow, so what matters is **release levels and wind**, not saltwater swings. Flows have been fairly steady with minor daytime bumps tied to power demand according to the Bureau of Reclamation. Weather-wise around the river this morning you’re looking at cool starts in the low 50s, climbing into the low‑to‑mid 70s under mostly clear skies with light afternoon winds. Local forecasts from Las Vegas outlets are calling for a dry, stable pattern and bluebird days, which means **clear water and spooky fish** by late morning. Sunrise is roughly a bit after 6 a.m., sunset just before 6 p.m., so your prime windows are first light to about 10 a.m., then the last two hours of daylight. Fish activity has been classic early‑spring reservoir pattern: - Striped bass are schooling along channel edges and deep points, especially near current seams coming out of coves. - Largemouth and smallmouth are sliding shallow on sun‑soaked chunk rock and flooded brush, staging just off spawning pockets. - Catfish are biting decent after dark on slower flats and inside bends. Recent reports from local tackle shops along Lake Mohave and upper Lake Mead stretches mention **good numbers of schoolie stripers** in the 1–4 lb range with a few 8–10 lb fish mixed in, plus steady action on 1–2 lb smallmouth. Shore anglers have been picking off the stripers on cut anchovy, while boaters are doing better with reaction baits when the wind chops up the surface. If you’re chasing stripers, best bets right now: - **Lures:** 3–4 inch soft jerkbaits on 1/4 oz jigheads, white or shad‑pattern swimbaits, small silver spoons, and chrome topwaters right at first light. - **Bait:** Frozen anchovies and sardines on dropper loops or simple Carolina rigs; chum a little to keep the school under you. For bass, locals are leaning on: - **Lures:** Green pumpkin or watermelon red finesse worms on drop‑shots, 3/8 oz football jigs in brown/purple, and small craw‑pattern crankbaits grinding rock in 8–15 feet. On windier afternoons, a white/chartreuse spinnerbait slow‑rolled along rocky banks has been hot. - **Bait:** For bank anglers, nightcrawlers and small live shiners under a slip float near rocky points will still put fish in the net. Catfish rigs are simple: medium sinker, 1/0–3/0 circle hook, and **stink bait, chicken liver, or cut carp** fished on the bottom after dark. Couple of local hot spots to circle: - **Willow Beach area (downriver)** – Cooler water, clear as glass, with shots at bigger stripers cruising the edges at first light and last light. Slow‑trolled swimbaits or large glide baits along the cliff faces can draw giants; bring fluorocarbon and patience. - **Cottonwood Cove / upper Lake Mohave** – According to marina chatter and recent event promos from Lake Mead Mohave Adventures, that mid‑lake basin has be