Lake Mead Fishing Report: Stripers Shine, Bass Sluggish, Crappie Peak in Overton Arm

Artificial Lure here with your Lake Mead fishing report for Wednesday, May 21, 2025. We’re moving into late May and Lake Mead waters are warming up nicely. Sunrise hit at about 5:26 AM this morning and sunset will be around 7:42 PM. Weather is sitting comfy in the high 70s to mid 80s with light winds, making for ideal boating and casting conditions. No tides to report since we’re on freshwater, but water levels are stable and clarity is fair throughout the main lake and coves. Fish activity is buzzing. Stripers are the stars right now, especially in the early morning and just before sunset. Anchovies fished from shore at Boxcar Cove and just outside Hemenway Harbor are producing plenty of bites. Reports from the last few days show anglers pulling in good numbers, mostly in the 2-to-4-pound range, with bigger stripers occasionally showing up around dusk. Don’t be shy about using chunk baits or tossing out cut anchovies for some solid action. Drifting with live shad near deeper channels is also a good bet if you can get them. Bass fishing is a little tougher. Largemouth and smallmouth are sluggish, mostly holding to deeper structure and shaded spots to avoid the warming surface temps. Those putting in the grind are getting bites on drop-shot rigs with creature baits, and deep-diving crankbaits worked along rocky edges and submerged brush. Be patient, and focus on early and late windows around Government Wash and Boulder Basin. The bass bite should improve as temps stabilize. Crappie are hitting their peak in the Overton Arm, responding well to chartreuse jigs and tubes. Try vertical jigging around submerged brush piles or drop-offs. Catfish are becoming more active along muddy bottoms and are taking stink baits and nightcrawlers, especially in the evenings. A couple of hot spots this week: Boxcar Cove for striper action, especially from shore with anchovies. Overton Arm for crappie, working with bright jig heads around structure. If you’re heading out for evening action, sunset seems to trigger more feeding all around, especially for stripers and catfish. Make sure to have extra bait and maybe some glow lures for the last light. Get your gear ready and good luck on the water—Lake Mead is delivering some steady spring action for anyone willing to chase the bite. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.