Fishing

 

 

Hook, Line and Sinker

Fishing is a favorite pastime here at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. With more than 290 square miles of water surface, you can be sure to find a favorite spot to catch the big one. Lake Mead has become famous for its striped bass with an occasional catch weighing in at over 40 pounds. Popular fish include rainbow trout, catfish, sunfish, largemouth bass, striped bass, smallmouth bass and crappie. Rainbow Trout are routinely released near Willow Beach on Fridays. Keep in mind that our park lies within two states and each has their own specific fishing regulations. We have provided information below to help you have a fantastic fishing experience.

 

Common Fishing & Suggested Bait

Types of Fish	Bait	Location
Striped Bass	anchovies, shad, and lures	Overton Arm, Las Vegas Bay, Temple Bar, Willow Beach
Largemouth Bass	night crawlers, minnows, lures	More active at dawn and dusk. Prefer weedy areas and shorelines
Rainbow Trout	cheese and marshmallows	Willow Beach and Black Canyon
Channel Catfish	natural or prepared stink baits	Bottom fishing is best
Bluegill	minnows, worms, insects, crayfish, flies	Fish canyon walls for the "big ones"
Black Crappie	minnows, worms and crickets	Fish canyon walls. They like clear water

 

Fishing Information

Current Fishing Reports

Nevada Department of Wildlife - Weekly Fishing Report

Arizona Game & Fish Department - Weekly Fishing Report

Fish Cleaning Stations

Fish cleaning stations are located at Hemenway Harbor, Callville Bay, Echo Bay, Temple Bar, Willow Beach, Cottonwood Cove and Katherine Landing. Please dispose of fish guts properly. Please do not place them on the ground or feed them to wild animals.

Regulations

Fishing is allowed 24 hours a day from watercraft, shores or on the park's two fishing piers located at Willow Beach and Katherine Landing on Lake Mohave.

You must carry a valid Nevada or Arizona fishing license to fish Lake Mead or Lake Mohave. These can be purchased in nearby towns or at most park marinas. Marina stores also stock fishing supplies and bait.

Wildlife Agencies

Arizona Game & Fish Dept.
5325 N. Stockton Hill Rd.
Kingman, Arizona 86401
928) 692-7700

Nevada Department of Wildlife
3373 Pepper Ln.
Las Vegas, NV 89120
[phone]

Restrictions

Several protected species of fish are found in the Colorado River System. Two of these, the razorback sucker and bonytail chub, may be found in the lakes. If these fish are caught, they should be returned to the water. Please report the catch to the National Park Service Resource Management office at [phone].

Fishing is not allowed within the posted boundaries of hatcheries, areas immediately above and below Hoover Dam or waters within the flat wake buoys around marinas and harbors. There is no fishing from marina piers.

Spear & Bow Fishing

The term underwater spearfishing is defined as fishing by a person swimming or diving and using a mechanical device held in the hand which uses a remember band, spring or pneumatic power to propel a spear to take any type of fish. Bow fishing is defined as fishing or taking of any fish by the means of archery tackle from a boat or from the shore.

Current Regulations

Licenses

In Nevada an annual Fishing License is required for persons 16 or older or a Junior Fishing License for persons 12 to 15. Nevada Special Use Stamp is required for lakes Mead and Mohave. Please see Nevada Department of Wildlife website for how to buy a license.

In Arizona, a valid fishing or combination license is required for resident and nonresident anglers 10 years of age or older. Please see Arizona Game and Fish Department's website for how to buy a license.

Method of Capturing

Nevada

Each person may use only one combination of hook, line and rod at one time. Anglers may have no more than three baited hooks or fly hooks or two lures or plugs used  at any one time or on a single line.  The fishing line must be closely attended. 

Arizona

Anglers may have no more than two hooks, or one artificial lure with more than one hook attached, or two artificial flies or lured, attached to the same line or pole. The fishing line must be closely attended.