Lake Mead Fishing Report: Stripers, Bass, and Catfish Bites to Beat the Drawdown

Lake Mead woke to a chilly November morning today. Locals headed out after a sunrise at 6:23 am, and with sunset at 4:39 pm, there’s only a modest window for productive fishing. The weather’s been on the cool side—mid-50s early, warming to low 70s by afternoon—clear skies, with just a slight breeze rustling the coves. No tide swings here, just the slow drawdown that’s been the story all fall as the Bureau of Reclamation pulls water downstream. Lake activity has picked up since last week. According to local chatter near Lake Mead Marina, striped bass remain the headline catch, with anglers picking up decent numbers on cut anchovies and shad imitations. The big schools aren’t as deep or scattered as mid-summer, and most fish are in the three- to five-pound range. One boat reported landing over a dozen stripers yesterday before 11 am, but most action was done by noon. The major bite times today fall around early morning—dawn to 9 am—so folks getting out before sunrise are seeing the best returns. Some late fall catfish are coming to the net too, mainly on chicken liver and stinkbait after sunset. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are still in the mix. Catches aren’t as consistent as the stripers, but if you slow down your presentation and target rocky points or submerged brush, you’ll find a few hungry fish. Best recent bass catches came from Boulder Basin and Las Vegas Bay, with a handful of two- to three-pounders taken on soft plastic jerkbaits and Ned rigs in shad colors. Reports from FishingReminder recommend working the edges of marinas or finding deeper water off the points for more consistent bites. Most successful baits this week are those that mimic local forage—think shad- and silver-pattern swimbaits or soft jerk minnows (like a Zoom Super Fluke in green or white). Anchovies are still king for stripers, but anglers working artificials are scoring with suspending jerkbaits as water temps cool. For bass, it’s hard to beat a pearl-colored soft jerkbait or a simple shad-colored Ned rig; go light and let the lure flutter naturally. Catfish are hitting on stinkbait at night and chicken liver near the bottom in the coves. Hot spots to try today: - **Las Vegas Bay:** Solid action for largemouth and stripers early, especially if you fish close to the drop-offs before the sun gets high. - **Boulder Beach:** Consistent for smaller stripers, and occasional catfish once the sun dips. Try casting right off the old launch ramp for a shot at mixed bags. - **Lake Mead Marina:** Sheltered water draws in bait and bigger predators. Fish the outer docks with a jighead and shad swimbait. Remember, Lake Mead is still busy with boat patrols and increased rangers on the water, so double-check limits and pay attention to regulations. The drawdown’s exposed new structure, so use your electronics to locate those unexpected rocky edges and submerged brush piles. Get out early, fish slow, and take advantage of these crisp, still mornings. Thanks for tuning in—this This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.