Fishing in Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Lake Mead National Recreation Area spreads across the Mojave Desert on the Nevada-Arizona border, holding two major reservoirs — Lake Mead and Lake Mohave — formed by Hoover and Davis Dams on the Colorado River.

Together they cover more than 290 square miles of water surface, ranging from wide open main-lake basins to narrow canyon arms, rocky coves, and submerged terrain that holds fish year-round.

Lake Mead is the larger of the two and carries the bigger reputation, built largely on striped bass. Fish over 40 pounds have come out of here, and the striper fishery draws anglers from well outside the region.

Seasonal depth matters: in winter, bass and crappie tend to hold at 25 to 40 feet; spring pushes stripers and largemouth into shallower coves; summer heat drives stripers deep while catfish and bass work mid-depth structure; fall brings stripers back up into the 10- to 20-foot range.

Largemouth, smallmouth, channel catfish, bluegill, black crappie, and green sunfish round out the warm-water mix. Las Vegas Bay and Temple Bar are among the named areas worth knowing. Lake Mohave, the southern reservoir, has its own character.

Willow Beach, on the Arizona side, is where the park regularly stocks rainbow trout — releases typically happen on Fridays. Fishing piers sit at both Willow Beach and Katherine Landing.

Fish cleaning stations are spread across both lakes at Hemenway Harbor, Callville Bay, Echo Bay, Temple Bar, Willow Beach, Cottonwood Cove, and Katherine Landing. Fishing is permitted 24 hours a day, from shore, pier, or boat.

Because the park straddles two states, you need a valid Nevada or Arizona fishing license depending on which water you're on — both Lake Mead and Lake Mohave require one. Licenses are available at park marinas.

Two protected species, the razorback sucker and bonytail chub, live in the Colorado River system and may turn up in the lakes; both must be released immediately and reported to NPS Resource Management.

The desert setting means access and conditions shift with lake level — worth checking before you load the truck. The water doesn't close, but the ramps sometimes do.