Winter Fishing on the Lower Colorado River - Stripers, Bass, and Catfish Abound

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in from the lower Colorado River around Laughlin and the Vegas reach. We don’t worry about tides out here – this stretch is all **dam‑controlled flow** from Davis Dam. Releases have been steady, so expect fairly clear, cold water with a noticeable current mid‑day when power demand bumps up. According to the Bureau of Reclamation, Lake Mohave and Davis releases have been in the normal winter range, so no crazy surges expected. Weatherwise, the National Weather Service out of Las Vegas is calling for **cool, dry desert winter conditions**: morning lows in the upper 40s, afternoons in the low 60s, light north winds, bluebird skies. That high pressure makes for slick, clear water and finicky bass. Sunrise is right around **6:45 a.m.** with sunset near **4:30 p.m.**, so your prime windows are first light to about 9 a.m. and that 2 p.m. to dark slide. Recent talk at the ramps and from local guides on Lake Mohave and the river below Davis has been **solid striped bass** action with a side of **largemouth, smallmouth, and channel cats**. Most reports mention schoolie stripers from **1–4 pounds**, with a few fish pushing the **8–10‑pound** class coming off deeper breaks and current seams. Smallmouth have been running **10–14 inches**, with the odd 3‑pounder for folks grinding rocks and ledges. Cat guys soaking bait at night are picking up a **handful of eaters per outing**, mostly 1–3 pounds. Fish activity is typical winter desert pattern: they’re **not chasing far**, but if you put something in their face, they’ll eat. Stripers are holding 20–40 feet down off channel edges and flats near deeper water. Bass are glued to chunk rock, bluff walls, and man‑made structure, especially where the sun warms the bank a degree or two. Best producers right now: - **Lures** - For stripers: 1/2–1 oz **white or pearl swimbaits**, soft paddletails on 3/8–1/2 oz heads, and silver **spoons** yo‑yoed through marks on the graph. - For largemouth/smallmouth: **green pumpkin or brown football jigs**, 3–4" finesse worms on drop‑shots, and small **shad‑pattern jerkbaits** worked slow with long pauses. - **Bait** - Stripers: **cut anchovy or sardine** on a sliding sinker rig, or live shad if you can net them. - Cats: **nightcrawlers, chicken liver, and cut shad** on the bottom in slower holes and behind current breaks. Couple of **local hot spots** to circle: 1. **Below Davis Dam / Pyramid Canyon area** – Classic winter striper water. Work the current seams and deeper slots with swimbaits early, then switch to cut bait once the sun’s high. 2. **Cottonwood Cove and Telephone Cove on Lake Mohave** – Great for mixed‑bag action. Drag jigs and drop‑shots along rocky points for smallies, then slide off the breaks and spoon or bait fish for schoolie stripers. If you’re fishing from shore, target the eddies and soft pockets behind points and marina walls. Boat anglers: watch your electronics – most of the better striper bites are coming o This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.