Lake Mead Fishing Report - Hot Temps, Deeper Bass, Active Stripers & Crappie in the Overton Arm

Good morning anglers this is Artificial Lure with your Lake Mead fishing report for Saturday May 17th 2025. We are heading into another hot May weekend out here at Lake Mead with temperatures climbing above the century mark by midday. Sunrise was just after 540 am and sunset is set for a little after 740 pm so you have a solid window of prime fishing early and late. There is no tidal influence on Lake Mead since it is a freshwater reservoir. The bass bite has proven challenging this week as the largemouth and smallmouth are pushing into deeper, cooler water. Early mornings along weedy shorelines near Calville Bay and Hemenway Harbor have given some anglers success, especially with soft plastics rigged weedless or drop shot rigs fished along the edge of the cover. Try darker Senkos or finesse worms just at first light for your best chances. Striped bass remain active and are connecting well with live shad and cut anchovies. Boaters are finding striper schools at the cove entrances around the Vegas Wash and Boulder Basin. If you do not have bait, a three inch silver swimbait is a solid artificial backup. Kastmasters and Jumpin Minnows are also picking up stripers when they are cruising just below the surface. Some crappie have started to show themselves, especially up in the Overton Arm. Crappie jigs with a white or chartreuse curly tail fished near submerged brush will give you a shot at a few slabs. Catfish action is steady after dark or in the deep holes using cut anchovies or chicken liver. Most of the cats coming out now are in the one to four pound range. With this early heat, the best bite is definitely during the first two hours after sunrise and the last hour before sunset, when the sun is low and the water is coolest. For today your hotspots are the cove entrances near Vegas Wash for stripers and the rocky and weedy shorelines near Calville Bay and Hemenway Harbor for bass. If you are after crappie, make the run up to Overton Arm and look for submerged brush. Remember to stay hydrated, wear plenty of sun protection, and keep an eye on the weather as these hot days can sneak up on you. Fish early or fish late for your best chance at a productive Lake Mead outing. Tight lines and good luck out there. Based on reports from May 9th and 11th 2025[1][3]. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.