Stripers Dominate Lake Mead Catch, Shoreline Fishing Thrives as Water Levels Remain Low

Lake Mead locals were up before dawn, and with sunrise at 6:40 a.m. today, anglers found that first hour to be prime time for striper boils just offshore. Skies are clear and calm, with temps ramping up from the upper 70s at sunrise to the low 90s by late afternoon, so most fishing happened before lunch, unless you’re the hardy sort that hangs out for the evening cool down—sunset comes at 6:28 p.m. Water levels remain seriously low, as Arizona Fish Reports points out, so launching a boat is challenging. If you’re trailering, Hemenway Harbor’s ramp extension project means extra patience pays off. Shoreline fishing is the way to go for many, especially given that striper activity has been ramping up hard within 100 feet of the bank in the mornings according to recent reports. Striped bass dominated the catch sheets this past week. Most anglers bagged between 5 and 12 keepers per trip, with the occasional double-digit haul if they found a boil. The median size has been in the 2 to 5 pound range, with a couple of 8 pound bruisers photographed near Boulder Beach. Jointed swimbaits in rainbow trout patterns are a local’s top pick, particularly at Willow Beach, but cut anchovies consistently draw strikes near South Cove and Government Wash. Krystal shad and chartreuse jerkbaits also scored well at midday when the sun got high and fish sank into deeper water. Largemouth bass have been patchy, with most caught tight to rock cover and submerged brush. Soft plastics like Yamamoto Senkos, wacky rigged, drew bites in early morning, and Z-Man chatterbaits produced where baitfish hugged the shallows. Catfish remain steady, mostly channel cats, and late-night anglers are doing best with stink bait and chicken livers off the rocky points west of Las Vegas Bay. For bait, anchovies win hands-down if you can’t get live shad. If you’re lure fishing, white and chartreuse minnow imitations and mid-sized swim/glide baits by Sixth Sense are earning nods from regulars. Today’s best hot spots: - **Government Wash**: Striper boils near sunrise, easy shore access, lots of bites early. - **Boulder Beach**: Larger stripers and consistent catfish action in the evening. - **South Cove**: Active striper schools and an occasional largemouth off submerged wood. With low water and more shoreline exposed, explore new ground and mind the mudflats. Zebra mussel warnings are out—inspect your gear before and after you fish to help keep Mead open and clean. Thanks for tuning in to the local Lake Mead fishing report. Subscribe for more daily insights, and drop your catch data in the comments. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.