Late Fall Fishing on Lake Mead - Stripers, Bass, and Trout Bites Strong Despite Low Levels

Artificial Lure here with your Lake Mead fishing report for Saturday, November 15, 2025. Early risers were greeted by a cold desert dawn, with sunrise coming at 6:17 AM and sunset expected around 4:41 PM. Temperatures started brisk in the 40s and should warm up to the high 60s by afternoon—clear skies and light winds make for ideal casting, though expect a bit of chill on the water this morning. With the lake continuing its seasonal cooling, fish have been cruising noticeably closer to shore according to Nevada Fish Reports. Lake Mead’s levels remain historically low, but that hasn’t stopped the action. Reliable reports from local anglers and recent YouTube updates confirm that striper and largemouth bass bites are still holding strong, with more activity noted during dawn and dusk. Stripers have been schooling out near Hemenway Harbor and the mouth of Boulder Basin, with several boats reporting limits caught using live anchovies and artificial shad swimbaits. Largemouth are targeting rocky points and submerged brush near Echo Bay, responding best to slow-rolled spinnerbaits and Carolina-rigged soft plastics. Bassmaster lore still rings true—crankbaits and Carolina rigs are Lake Mead standbys, especially now while bass are off their summer haunts and pushing shallow, as reminisced by local legend Byron Velvick in his accounts of successful 1990s tournaments. The lake “flipped” last week, dispersing fish throughout the water column and making bank fishing a real option. Willow Beach is seeing continued consistent patterns, with trout getting stocked and a few chunky rainbows caught on yellow and orange PowerBait, especially around the cooler inlets. Nevada Fish Reports mentions the fish are especially active following these weather systems, so don’t be afraid to switch up presentations until you dial in what’s working. For those targeting catfish, cut baits and chicken liver are producing in the coves after sundown. September’s threadfin shad hatch was excellent, and predator fish are locked in on baitfish imitations. If you’re running crankbaits, stick with shad patterns. Paddle-tail plastics in white or chartreuse have been drawing the most strikes, especially in stained water near Government Wash. Recent catch reports say stripers are averaging 1-3 pounds with the occasional double-digit hanging out deeper, while largemouth are mostly hitting that 1-2 pound range—some bigger girls have been coming out early and late along rocky ledges. If you’re heading out, my top spots today are: - **Hemenway Harbor**: Consistent striper boils at first light. - **Echo Bay**: Largemouth and smallmouth mixed among the rocky points and submerged brush. - **Willow Beach**: Stocked rainbow trout, especially rewarding for families and newbies. - **Government Wash**: Good mixed-bag potential, especially for shore anglers. Bait shops around the lake are stocked with live anchovies, and tackle shops report crankbaits and soft plastics moving off the shelves. D This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.