Lake Mead Fishing Report: Striper Blitz, Bass Bonanza, and Catfish Chaos

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake Mead fishing report for Sunday, September 14th, 2025. Sunrise rolled in at 6:25 a.m. and sunset will land just before 6:53 p.m. It was another classic late summer day in the Mojave, with highs brushing 99 degrees under clear skies and a light chop across the water. Winds stayed moderate through the afternoon, keeping those topwater bites honest but making for pleasant drifts in the coves. Remember, Lake Mead isn’t tidal, so local conditions come down to wind and the wild swings in water level we’ve seen these past seasons. Let’s talk water: the lake is sitting at about 31% full, which means those classic structure points and drop-offs might be looking different than in years past. According to the Lake Mead Nevada Daily Fishing Report, the low water’s concentrated the fish, and the bite's been steady for those who know where to look. The **striped bass** bite is still the main draw. Early birds drifting live shad around Hemenway and Boulder Harbor found steady action, with fish running 2 to 4 pounds. Anglers tossing cut anchovies off the points midday picked up nice eaters, but the trophy stripes stayed deep and cautious. A few boats worked the mouths of Government Wash and got into schools chasing shad on the surface just after sunrise—keep a topwater plug or a white fluke ready for those blitzes. Largemouth and smallmouth action picked up in the back of coves and rocky shelves. Plastics and jigs worked slowly along submerged brush produced solid numbers, with a handful of tournament anglers pulling in limits in the 10- to 15-pound range according to chatter from recent local bass events. Drop-shotting green pumpkin worms and working 3-inch swimbaits mimicking threadfin shad were the winning tickets, especially near Temple Bar and around the narrows. **Catfishing** was productive after dark. Stinky baits set up around the backs of coves, especially anywhere there’s a little current, turned up some blue cats pushing double digits. Reports are that night anglers in Las Vegas Bay had their hands full. As for lures, the gold standard this week has been **Berkley Gulp minnows in pearl white**, 3–5” paddle tails from 6th Sense, and classic chrome Rat-L-Traps for those chasing stripes and bass in open water. If you’re working the bottom, throw on a Carolina-rigged craw. Don’t forget cut anchovy or chicken liver for the whiskered ones. Hot spots to note: - Government Wash for striper schools at first light - The concrete slabs near Hemenway for a mixed bag all morning - Temple Bar’s rocky points for steady bass action - Las Vegas Bay coves after sunset for big channel cats Even with water low and the sun blazing, the fish are stacked and hungry if you get your timing and presentation right. Bring plenty of water, be mindful of shifting structure, and keep an eye on the forecast—those wind shifts can turn the bite on or shut it down quick. Thanks for tuning in to today’s Lake Mead report—this is Art This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.