Colorado River Striper Bite Heats Up: Dawn and Dusk Tactics for Laughlin to Bullhead City

This is Artificial Lure with your Colorado River, Laughlin–Las Vegas stretch fishing report. First off, no tides to worry about out here in the desert – flows on this section of the Colorado are controlled by releases from Davis Dam upstream of Laughlin. When they’re generating power, current picks up and the bite often turns on; when flows are low, expect clearer, slower water and spookier fish. Weather along the river today is seasonably hot and dry. Overnight lows are hanging in the low 70s, ramping quickly into the upper 90s and flirting with triple digits by mid‑afternoon. Skies are mostly clear, humidity is low, and winds are light in the morning with a typical afternoon breeze in the 10–15 mph range. Sunrise is around 5:20 a.m., with sunset close to 8:00 p.m., so you’ve got a long light window, but the best comfort and action will be early and late. With the bright sun and gin‑clear cold water coming out of Davis Dam, fish have been most active at first light and the last couple hours before dark. Midday, they slide deeper or into shade and get selective. Reports from local anglers along the casino row in Laughlin and down through Bullhead City say the **striped bass** bite has been steady. Schoolie stripers in the 1–4 pound range are common, with an occasional 8–10 pound fish showing up near deeper runs and current seams. Shore guys are doing well at dawn tossing small swimbaits and topwater walking baits; boaters are slow‑trolling deep‑diving plugs or vertical‑jigging spoons when they mark fish. **Rainbow trout** stocked below Davis Dam continue to provide action, especially in the cooler mornings. Anglers drifting from the dam downstream are picking up limits of pan‑sized bows, mostly 10–14 inches, on light gear. There’ve also been a few nicer holdovers pushing 16–18 inches caught in the deeper pockets and along rock ledges. You’ll also find some **smallmouth bass** and **largemouth** around rocky points, submerged brush, and marinas. Numbers aren’t as high as the stripers and trout, but patient anglers are getting a handful of bass in the 1–3 pound class, especially in areas with current breaks and shade. Best **lures** right now: - For stripers: 3–4 inch soft swimbaits in shad or pearl, silver spoons, and mid‑size jerkbaits with a natural baitfish pattern. When they’re boiling at the surface, throw small pencil poppers or walking baits. - For trout: small inline spinners in gold or silver, tiny crankbaits, and 1/16–1/8 oz marabou or tube jigs in white or olive on light line. - For bass: green pumpkin or watermelon plastic worms and craws on a light jighead, plus small crankbaits that tick the rocks. Best **bait**: - Stripers: cut anchovy is still king out here. Rig it on a Carolina rig or simple sliding sinker setup and let it soak in the current. Some locals also like sardines or chicken liver when flows are slower. - Trout: nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, and small pieces of PowerBait on light leaders. - Catfish, if you’re soaking after dark: shrimp, chicken liver, or stinkbait in slower eddies. A couple of local **hot spots** to focus on: - The stretch immediately below **Davis Dam** down through the first mile or two, where cooler water and current concentrate trout and stripers. - The **Laughlin casino row and riverwalk area** on the Nevada side, especially near current seams, docks, and deeper runs – good shore access and consistent striper action at dawn and dusk. - If you’re willing to run a bit farther, the **community parks around Bullhead City** on the Arizona side provide solid bank access and reliable trout and striper catches. Plan your trip around low‑light periods, watch for dam‑release changes, and bring plenty of water and sun protection. Work fast‑moving lures early, then slow down and go deeper as the sun climbs. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for more local fishing intel with Artificial Lure. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn