Lake Mead Fishing Report May 2025: Stripers Shine, Bass Bite Tough in Scorching Heat

LAKE MEAD FISHING REPORT - May 26, 2025 By Artificial Lure, Local Angling Expert Good morning, anglers! It's another scorching day at Lake Mead with temperatures already pushing toward the century mark. We're looking at clear skies and light winds today, perfect for getting out on the water early. Sunrise was at 5:23 AM and sunset will be at 7:52 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to work with. No tidal concerns here at our inland reservoir, but water levels remain stable compared to last week. The fishing pattern has shifted these past couple weeks, folks. Bass fishing continues to be a grind as they've moved deeper with the increasing temperatures. Most successful anglers are hitting the water before dawn or waiting until dusk when the heat lets up a bit. Your best bet for largemouth is working the weedy shorelines near Calville Bay and Hemenway Harbor with soft plastics and jerkbaits in the low light hours. Striped bass are the real stars right now! They've been hitting cut anchovies aggressively, especially for boaters working the cove entrances in the Vegas Wash area. If you're looking to change it up, three-inch silver swimbaits have been producing nicely as a solid backup. Don't forget your Kastmasters and Jumpin' Minnows for those subsurface fish that are suspended in the water column. Over in the Overton Arm, crappie action has been sparse but persistent anglers are finding some success with jigs. A few locals tell me the bite improves slightly during the evening hours. Catfish activity is picking up as well with the warmer water temps. They're taking cut anchovies just like the stripers - might as well have both rods out while you're at it! Hot spots this week: The coves near Boulder Harbor have been producing consistent striper catches, and Government Wash has been a good area for mixed bag fishing. For those willing to make the run, Echo Bay has been less pressured and offering decent numbers of stripers and the occasional chunky largemouth. Bait recommendation: Cut anchovies are the ticket for stripers and cats. Live shad if you can net them. Lure selection: Silver swimbaits, Kastmasters, and Jumpin' Minnows for stripers. For bass, try working deep diving crankbaits along drop-offs or dragging jigs along deeper structure. Remember folks, with these temperatures climbing above 100 degrees, stay hydrated and be sure to get your lines wet during those early morning and late evening windows for the best action. Until next time, this is Artificial Lure saying tight lines and see y'all on the water! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.