Stripers Schooling, Cats Biting After Dark at Lake Mead - Fishing Report 9/20

Artificial Lure with your Saturday, September 20th, Lake Mead fishing report: Just past dawn, and it’s a glassy-calm start out here. The sun rose at 6:30 AM with a temp holding steady in the upper 70s. Highs look to push 96 this afternoon, and with that desert sun burning by midday, expect a touch of wind building from the south by early afternoon—classic fall transition weather at Lake Mead, light on rain, heavy on sunshine. We’re bone-dry and there’s no tidal swing to worry about, so all eyes are on weather and water levels. Striped bass are still running strong even with the lake a bit low this season, according to the Lake Mead Daily Fishing Report podcast. Schools of hungry linesides are pushing baitfish to the surface from first light till about 9:30 AM, then going deep midday. Most stripers caught are in the 2- to 4-pound class, with plenty of limits landed by persistent folks tossing topwater spooks or trolling swimbaits in the main basin and Boulder Basin. Best bite’s been early near the Hemenway Wall and the Boulder Harbor drop-offs—can’t go wrong working those edges. Black bass are transitioning, too. Largemouth and smallmouth have been holding close to rocky points and submerged structure off Government Wash and Callville Bay. Success’s been best with soft plastics—watermelon or green pumpkin drop-shot worms—and medium diving crankbaits bounced off submerged brush. The topwater popper bite lingers just after first light, but once that sun breaks over the ridge, it’s finesse all the way. Some smallies are cracking 2.5 pounds—a solid evening show if you work the shade lines. Channel catfish activity is up in the evenings and at night, especially in the shallows near Echo Bay, using good ol’ stinkbait, chicken liver, or cut anchovy. Talk on the docks is folks have been pulling in channels from 3 to 6 pounds if they soak their baits after dark. For the kids and casuals, bluegill are still schooling up in the marinas—nightcrawlers and small pieces of shrimp under a bobber will keep rods bent. Bait of the day? It’s hard to beat cut anchovy or sardine for stripers. Live shad are the gold standard if you can net ‘em, but artificials are producing, too: silver Kastmasters, white swimbaits, and bone surface walkers are the hottest picks. For largemouth, stick with soft jerkbaits and green pumpkin finesse worms. Catfish folks, don’t leave the dock without a tub of stinkbait. Top spots right now: Hemenway Harbor early for boils and schooling stripers, and Government Wash for steady bass action along the rocky shelves. If you’re after catfish or some peace and quiet, try Echo Bay after sunset—the whisker fish are feisty and plenty. Remember, Lake Mead is seeing a lot of pressure, so handle your catch responsibly, and pack out everything you bring in. Thanks for tuning in to the Lake Mead fishing report with Artificial Lure. Don’t forget to subscribe for daily updates. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.