Fishing on Lake Mead

A resident of Las Vegas, Nevada, Rich Kruithoff worked as a financial advisor for New York Life before founding Charitable Planning Services. When he is not working, Rich Kruithoff enjoys fishing at Lake Mead.

Lake Mead has 290 square miles of water surface, giving fishing enthusiasts plenty of good fishing spots. Anglers can fish or the shoreline or take boats and fish in the open water. Those who prefer the shoreline can fish at Hemenway Fishing Pier, Callville Bay, 33 Hole Overlook, or Echo Bay. Additional fishing spots down the Colorado River include Willow Beach Marina, Katherine Landing Marina, and Cottonwood Cove.

Many fish varieties live in Lake Mead. Striped bass, the best known, grow to as much as 40 pounds. The best time to catch them is in spring. Other fish species in Lake Mead include bluegill, catfish, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, and green sunfish. Fishers can catch bass year-round. The best time to catch bluegill and catfish is in summer.

Before fishing on Lake Mead, anglers must buy a fishing license from either Nevada or Arizona (the lake is in two states). Fishers also have to pay a fee to enter Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Once inside, visitors cannot fish in prohibited areas, such as around Hoover Dam.