Las Vegas: Striped Bass Fishing On Lake Mead

Trophy striped bass are to be had in Lake Mead. Expert guides are available to explore the Lake for the monster striped bass. Guides are recommended for that trophy because they know areas and have fished the lake for a long time. However if you are from out of town just a little bit of web browsing can get you some fish to take home.

Lake Mead was constructed in 1935 and is the largest man made lake stretching close to 100 miles in length right outside Las Vegas, Nevada proper. The Lake lies 30 minutes from the strip and is a major striped bass fishery and was produced when Hoover Dam was built. Lake Mead has over 150,000 surface acres of surface and can reach depths of up to 465 feet.

In 1954 the lake introduced shad, a bait fish that striped bass eats on the east coast. After that the striped bass flourished. Reproduction of striped bass was documented in 1974. Since then the striped bass never looked back and they are the reigning game fish on the lake reaching lengths up to 70 inches and living up to 30 years.

Striped bass can be taken from the lake all year long. The out of town fisherman can launch boats on the southern side of the lake at Lake Mead Marina and Las Vegas Boat Harbor, two coves on the southern end of the lake. On the North end of the lake Echo bay remains the only Marina available. There are two put ins where the Colorado river enters the lake Temple Bar Marina, South cove Launch. All of the places mentioned are above Hoover Dam.

To catch striped bass you do not need a boat. You just need knowledge of when the bass are hang around the perimeter of the lake. The striped bass in general go to deep water in the summer to avoid the heated waters of the shallow water. During the spring time the large adults head for the shore for the warmth of the coves. Striped bass are predatory school fish and in Lake Mead they follow the shad which is a bait fish. During the winter catches of striped bass are less but they can be caught in deeper water. Shad and Anchovy are the two main baits used with shad having the advantage. Squid even has been used with success in the lake. Young stripers tend to hang out around the tires surrounding the marinas and squid and anchovy works well with them.

In the spring time go fish on a pier if you do not have a boat. Several of the marinas have fishing piers in the lake and they are great for catching the striper in the spring and during the fall. During this time you can catch shad from the piers and they make great live bait. Fisherman on the pier catch so much shad that often times they will let you use some if you give them a drink or just be nice. Good luck with the fishing. One last thing, the Department of Fish and Game of Nevada are very strict with the license. If you fish without one they will catch you and the fine is close to $300.00.