Fishing

an angler casts his line into the lake from a fishing boat
 

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.

 

Fishing Locations

Location & Directions

Located on Lake Mead near Boulder Beach to the north of Hemenway Launch Ramp. Enter the park at the Boulder Beach Entrance Station and take your first right. Travel one mile and turn left after the restrooms. Take your first right down the dirt road. Parking is available along the shoreline.

Due to low water conditions, only shoreline fishing is allowed in areas outside the designated harbor bouys and away from designated swimming areas.

Directions to Location

Accessibility Information

Parking is accessible. Fishing is only allowed along shoreline. Some locations allow for parking near shoreline, however, conditions may be soft or rocky and not accessible for wheelchairs. 

Location & Directions

Located on Lake Mohave north of the Willow Beach Marina.

Take U.S. 93 to the Willow Beach Entrance Station. Follow the road past the marina. The pier is located just before the fish hatchery. The hatchery releases trout in the Willow Beach area every Friday.

Directions to Location

Accessibility Information

This location is accessible.

Location & Directions

Located on Lake Mohave south of the Katherine Landing Marina.

Take AZ-68 to Davis Dam Road. Turn left. Take your first right onto Katherine Supr Road. Continue down the road past the marina and launch ramp. The fishing pier is on the right.

Directions to Location

Accessibility Information

This location is accessible.

 

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

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.

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.

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
(702) 486-5127

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 (702) 293-8950.

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.

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

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.

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. 

 

Last updated: October 18, 2023

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

601 Nevada Way
Boulder City, NV 89005

Phone:

702 293-8990
Call 911 For All Emergencies (24 hours). Call 988 for Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24 Hours). Call 702-293-8990 for Visitor and Recreation Information (Visitor Center open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 7 days a week, excluding Christmas Day and New Year's Day). Call 702-293-8906 for Park Business and Administration (Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday - Friday, excluding Christmas Day and New Year's Day).

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