Colorado River Las Vegas Fishing Report Today

This is Artificial Lure with your Colorado River, Las Vegas fishing report.

We’re looking at a classic desert morning on the lower Colorado: clear skies, light winds early, and building heat by late morning. Expect calm conditions at first light, a light breeze mid‑morning, and it getting downright toasty by early afternoon. Pack extra water, a buff, and sunscreen; the river glare gets you faster than you think.

Sunrise over the Laughlin–Colorado River stretch comes early, with first light just before most folks are rolling out, and sunset landing in the early evening. That gives you solid low‑light windows at both ends of the day. Around here those dawn and dusk periods are prime time for striped bass and smallmouth to slide out of the deep and push bait toward the edges.

The river isn’t tidal this far inland, so instead of chasing highs and lows, you’re watching **current releases** from Davis Dam. When they’re pushing more water, you’ll see sharper current seams and fish stacking on the edges and behind boulders and structure. On lighter flows, fish spread out and get a little pickier. Listen for generation schedules from the dam operators or check local boards and marina chatter; when you hear “they’re pulling water,” that usually means a better bite.

Recent reports from local anglers and shop talk along the Laughlin and Bullhead City stretch say **stripers** have been the main headliner, with schoolie fish in the 1–3 pound range common and an occasional 5–8 pounder mixed in. The shore guys working at first light have been picking off a handful apiece when the schools push shad to the bank. Boaters drifting mid‑river holes and current seams are putting more numbers in the net, especially when they stay mobile and follow birds or surface boils.

**Smallmouth bass** have been steady along the chunk rock banks and riprap, especially where you get a little shade and broken current. Expect a mix of 10–14 inch fish with a few nicer bronzebacks if you’re patient and cover water. Sunfish and the odd channel cat are still in the mix for anyone soaking bait off the slower shoreline pockets.

For **lures**, keep it simple and match the bait:

- For stripers, throw 3–5 inch paddletail swimbaits in shad or ghost colors on 3/8–1/2 oz heads, small white or chartreuse bucktail jigs, and slender jerkbaits or walking topwaters during low light. Chrome, bone, and translucent patterns get bit.

- For smallmouth, think bottom contact and profile: 3 inch tubes in green pumpkin, small craw imitations, Ned rigs, and compact crankbaits that tick the rocks. A little chartreuse on the tail never hurts in this clear water.

If you’re bait fishing, **anchovies** are still the old‑school staple for stripers here. Cut anchovy chunks or whole baits on a sliding sinker rig in the deeper runs will get attention, especially when the current steps up. Nightcrawlers or pieces of shrimp will pick up cats and panfish along the softer banks.

A couple of **hot spots** to keep in mind:

- The **casino stretch through Laughlin into Bullhead City**: work the current breaks, bridge pilings, and riprap edges at first and last light. It gets pressure, but it also reloads with bait and gamefish all the time.

- The deeper **runs just below Davis Dam**: when flows are up, this section stacks stripers and smallmouth. Focus on eddies, ledges, and any obvious breaks where the fast water meets soft water.

Hit it early, pay attention to the dam flow, and keep your eyes on the birds and surface activity. When the desert goes quiet and you suddenly hear shad flickering on top, that’s your cue to fire a cast.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River Las Vegas fishing report.

We’re working that stretch from Willow Beach down toward Cottonwood Cove and the Laughlin area. The river’s running clear and cold out of Hoover, with typical desert summer heat building fast by late morning. According to the National Weather Service out of Las Vegas, expect highs pushing into the upper 90s to low 100s with light south winds and clear skies. Sunrise is right around 5:25 a.m., sunset about 8 p.m., so you’ve got a long light window, but the best bite is still that first and last couple hours of the day.

No tides here since we’re on the river, but flows below the dam can bump up with power demand. Mornings usually see a little calmer water; by afternoon the release can pick up, giving that stronger push and a deeper, cooler main channel. When you see that current rolling and the surface temp dropping a touch, that’s when the striped bass wake up.

Local anglers along the Colorado near Laughlin and Davis Dam have been reporting steady striper action, with a lot of schoolies in the 1–3 pound range and occasional fish running 5–8 pounds. A few lucky folks have stuck double-digit fish this past week, mostly in the deeper, moving water where the shad are stacking. Rainbow trout are still being picked off near Willow Beach, especially around stocking days, with most trout running 10–14 inches and a handful pushing 18–20 inches for the patient crowd.

For lures, this is prime **reaction bite** water. Small to mid-size swimbaits and paddletails in shad or silvery patterns are producing well on stripers. Think 3–5 inch soft plastics on 1/4 to 1/2 ounce jig heads, slow-rolled just off the current seam. Crankbaits that dive 8–12 feet in chrome/blue or ghost shad are also putting fish in the net when the sun gets up and the fish slide a bit deeper.

If you’re more of a bait angler, cut anchovy is still king on the Colorado down by Laughlin. Rig it on a simple Carolina rig with enough weight to hold bottom in the current, and let it soak along drop-offs and channel edges. Nightcrawlers are picking up trout and the occasional smallmouth, especially in the softer pockets and eddies behind rocks. For trout near Willow Beach, small in-line spinners in gold or silver, plus little marabou jigs under a clear bubble, are hard to beat.

Hot-spot wise, I’d aim at two zones:

1. The **Davis Dam to Laughlin** stretch: Focus on current breaks, the deeper runs, and the outside bends. Early morning, toss swimbaits and topwater walking baits along the riprap and points. As the sun climbs, slide deeper with heavier jigs and crankbaits, or soak anchovy on the bottom.

2. The **Willow Beach area**: Work just below the marina and any obvious current seams where cooler water pushes in. Cast small spoons and spinners for trout, then upsized swimbaits or glide baits if you’re hunting that one big striper that cruises the trout lanes.

Fish activity is classic desert pattern right now: active at first light, slowing through the midday heat, then picking up again in the last hour of sun and into twilight. Midday can still produce if you drop deeper and slow down, but plan your best effort around dawn and dusk.

Hydrate, wear sun protection, keep an eye on those flows, and always net what you plan to keep quick and clean so the rest can swim off strong.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River Las Vegas fishing report, coming to you from the stretch below Hoover Dam down toward Willow Beach and Cottonwood Cove.

First thing: this isn’t tidal water, so no saltwater tide swings here. What matters on this river is **dam release and flow**. When they’re pushing more water out of Hoover Dam, current picks up, water cools a touch, and predator fish like striped bass and big rainbows switch on. When flows are low and slow, expect a tougher bite and spookier fish.

Weather along the river corridor today is seasonably hot and dry, with afternoon highs well into the 90s and creeping toward triple digits, light winds early, building breeze in the afternoon. Skies mostly clear. That means a solid **low‑light bite** and a sluggish midday window. Plan to fish early and late, and respect the heat: sun protection, plenty of water, and don’t push it in those canyon stretches.

Sunrise is just after 5 a.m. local, with sunset a little after 8 p.m., giving you a long day but a relatively short “prime time” — roughly first three hours after sunrise and last two before dark. Midday, you’re better off going deep or going home for a nap.

Fish activity has been classic early‑summer river pattern. Up around Willow Beach, the stocking trucks have kept **rainbow trout** moving, and those fresh planters are drawing in bigger **striped bass**. Anglers this past week have reported good numbers of 10–14 inch trout on light gear, plus the occasional surprise striper in the 5–10 pound class shadowing the schools. Down toward Cottonwood Cove and the wider, slower pools, it’s more of a **striper and catfish** game, with a few panfish and smallmouth mixed in around rocky points and marina structure.

For **numbers of trout**, small inline spinners, 1/8‑ounce Kastmasters, and tiny spoons in silver, gold, or rainbow patterns are still hard to beat. Light fluorocarbon, 4–6 lb, and a slow, steady retrieve in that greenish‑blue water does the trick. Drifted nightcrawlers or PowerBait off the bottom will keep beginners and kids busy.

For **striped bass**, focus on low light or current changes. Up‑river, larger swimbaits and trout‑pattern glidebaits are still king if you’re hunting a trophy that’s been chasing stockers. Otherwise, downsized soft plastics on 3/8‑ to 1/2‑ounce jigheads, white or shad colors, will put keepers in the boat. Anchovies and sardines on a sliding sinker rig remain the standard bait approach, especially in the broader, slower stretches toward Laughlin.

**Best bait** right now:

- For trout: nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, and PowerBait in chartreuse or rainbow.

- For stripers: frozen anchovy, sardine chunks, or live shad if you can find them.

- For catfish: chicken liver, stink bait, and cut shad after dark along deeper outside bends.

A couple of **local hot spots** to circle on your map:

First, **Willow Beach area** below Hoover Dam. Cool, clear water, regular trout stockings, and plenty of deep ledges. Work the shade lines along the canyon walls. Toss spinners and spoons for trout, then slow roll big swimbaits or run live or cut bait deeper for stripers holding off the breaks.

Second, **Cottonwood Cove and the nearby coves and points**. Target early‑morning boils or subtle surface dimples with topwaters and small walking baits for stripers and bass. As the sun gets up, switch to deeper presentations: jigging spoons and drop‑shot worms off rocky structure where the depth falls quickly from 10 to 30 feet. After dark, slide in with heavier gear and bait rigs for channel cats cruising the flats and edges.

One more local tip: keep an eye on boat traffic and dam release schedules when you can get them. A bump in flow can flip the switch even in the middle of the day, especially for stripers that use that current to pin bait against points and eddies. When you see the water level rising and the current speeding up, pick up your heavier jigs and reaction baits and get to work.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River fishing report for the stretch south of Las Vegas, from Hoover Dam down through Willow Beach and on toward Cottonwood Cove and Laughlin.

We’re on a stable early‑summer pattern. Overnight temps dipped into the low 70s, climbing toward the high 90s to low 100s by mid‑afternoon with clear skies and light winds around 5–10 mph out of the south. Sunrise hit a little after 5 a.m., and sunset will be around 8 p.m., giving you a long, bright window but the best bite is still packed into the low‑light hours.

No real tides here, but the “tide” on this river is dam‑driven. Power releases out of Hoover usually pick up late morning and again in the afternoon. When the water starts moving, the fish wake up. Watch those current seams and eddies; if you see the river rise a few inches and pick up speed, that’s your go‑time.

Fish activity’s been solid. Recent reports from local anglers and marina chatter say rainbow trout are still showing nicely around Willow Beach, with most fish running 12–16 inches and a few bigger holdovers in the mix. Striped bass have been steady but scattered, with schoolie fish in the 1–4 pound range and an occasional 8–12 pounder taken by folks putting in the time. You’ll also see some smallmouth and largemouth working the rocky pockets and coves closer to Cottonwood Cove and downstream.

For trout up by Willow Beach, the go‑to has been drifted nightcrawlers and PowerBait in chartreuse or rainbow off the bottom on light line. Folks throwing small silver spoons, inline spinners, and tiny jointed minnow plugs are getting bit too, especially on 4–6 pound fluorocarbon in that clear water.

Striper anglers are doing best before sunup and the last hour of light. Toss medium white or pearl swimbaits, 1–2 ounce bucktail jigs with a bit of trailer, or classic white and chrome topwaters if you see them busting shad. Slow trolling deep‑diving minnow plugs along the channel edges is still putting fish in the boat when the surface action dies.

Bass guys should work the shade. Finesse plastics on light jigheads, green pumpkin tubes, and small craw‑style baits along chunk rock and ledges are producing, especially when the dam release starts pushing current along the bank. A subtle 3–4 inch swimbait or a small jerkbait can turn lookers into biters.

Couple of hot spots to circle:

Willow Beach: Trout concentrated near the marina and along that first mile or two downstream. Work the cooler water early, keep your presentation natural, and don’t be afraid to go small and light.

Cottonwood Cove / Telephone Cove area: Good for mixed bag. Work main‑lake points, rocky bluffs, and any shade pockets for smallmouth and the occasional hungry striper cruising by. Early and late, work those edges; midday, slow down and get deeper.

Water’s clear, boat traffic’s building as the day goes on, so stealth matters. Light line, long casts, and natural colors will out‑fish big, loud gear once the sun’s high.

That’s the rundown from your local river rat, Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River Las Vegas fishing report.

Out here below Hoover Dam, the river’s running clear and cold like usual, with steady releases keeping a decent current. Being an inland river, there’s no real tide swing, but water levels will bump up and down with dam operations. Mornings usually see a softer flow; by afternoon the push gets stronger, so plan your wading and boat positioning around that.

Weather today along the river corridor is classic desert: cool early, warming fast. Expect morning temps in the 70s climbing into the 90s and low 100s by mid‑day, with dry air and plenty of sun. Winds tend to be light at first, building to a gusty breeze in the afternoon, especially in the open stretches near Willow Beach and Cottonwood Cove. Skies are mostly clear, so sun protection is as critical as your tackle box.

Sunrise on this stretch comes early, with first light spilling over the canyon walls not long after. True sun doesn’t hit some of those steep banks for a bit, so you get a nice shadow line to work. Sunset drops behind the ridge in the evening, giving you a short but productive low‑light window; that last hour before dark is prime for stripers pushing bait.

Fish activity has been solid. Anglers have been reporting good numbers of **striped bass**, plus some **rainbow trout** from the regular stocking downstream of Hoover Dam. The closer you are to the dam and Willow Beach, the more trout you’ll see; move farther down and the stripers and the odd largemouth show up more. Striper catches have been a mix of schoolies in the 1–3 pound range, with a few 5–8 pound fish showing up for folks working deeper ledges and current seams. Trout limits haven’t been unusual for those drifting bait or small spoons in the cooler runs.

Best bite windows are just before and after first light and again toward dusk, especially when the wind lays down a bit. Mid‑day can still produce if you go deeper and hug structure, but the clear water makes stealth important.

On the lure side, this is where I earn my name. For stripers, pack **white or pearl flukes**, small **paddletail swimbaits** in shad colors, and **1/2‑ to 3/4‑ounce jigging spoons** in chrome or silver. Casting them along current breaks, eddies, and drop‑offs has been the ticket. Small **jerkbaits** and **crankbaits** that mimic threadfin shad will also get crushed when schools push bait to the surface.

For trout, think finesse: **Rooster Tails**, small **Panther Martin‑style spinners**, **1/8‑ounce Kastmasters**, and **little marabou jigs** under a float. Light line, natural drift, and working those shaded runs will stack the odds your way.

Best baits: for stripers, **cut anchovy**, **sardines**, or **chicken liver** fished on a sliding sinker rig, especially if you’re soaking them from shore near deeper holes. For trout, **nightcrawlers**, **PowerBait**, and **salmon eggs** drifted just off bottom keep putting fish in the net.

A couple of hot spots to circle:

- **Below Hoover Dam to Willow Beach**: Cold, clear water with strong trout stocks and a steady striper presence. Work the seams, rock walls, and any soft pockets out of the main push.

- **Arizona side pull‑offs and coves downstream of Willow Beach**: Great for shore anglers tossing anchovies for stripers, especially in the evening when baitfish move shallow.

If you’re launching a boat, keep an eye on the changing flows and watch those canyon winds; they can turn a calm drift into a rodeo in a hurry.

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Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River Las Vegas fishing report.

We’re working the river stretch below Hoover Dam and around Laughlin, where the flows matter more than tides. The big factor today is **release schedule**: when the dam bumps discharge, expect a stronger current, cooler water, and a noticeable boost in striped bass activity. When flows are low and the river runs clear and slower, the bite gets more finesse-oriented and shifts closer to cover.

Weather along this stretch is classic desert river: hot, dry, and bright. Plan on a quick warm-up after dawn, light winds early building into a modest afternoon breeze, and clear skies most of the day. Sunrise is right around the mid‑5 a.m. hour local, with sunset landing a bit after 8 p.m. That gives you a long low‑light window at both ends where fish are far more willing to roam and feed shallow.

Fish activity has centered on **striped bass, smallmouth bass, and some catfish**. Local chatter from regulars on the Nevada side reports schoolie stripers in the 1–4 lb range being picked up steadily on moving water, with an occasional 8–10 lb fish for folks putting in the time after dark. Smallmouth are hanging on rock edges, current seams, and any chunk rock or riprap—good numbers but you’ll work through a lot of 10–14 inchers to find a kicker. Channel cats are showing up in the deeper bends on cut bait late evening.

For lures, keep it simple but tuned to water clarity. On stripers, think **shad-imitating swimbaits**, 3–5 inch in white or pearl, and small **walking topwaters** at first light. When the sun gets up, downsized **paddle-tail swimbaits** on 1/4–3/8 oz heads and **silver spoons** jigged in the current are putting fish in the net. Smallmouth are chewing **green pumpkin or watermelon soft plastics**—Ned rigs, tubes, and 3 inch grubs—worked slowly along the rocks. If the water has a bit of stain, a **chartreuse-tipped** bait can make a difference.

Best bait right now: for stripers, **anchovies and sardines** on Carolina rigs or sliding sinker setups, drifted through current seams or soaked near drop‑offs. Night anglers are also doing well with **cut shad** where they can get it. For cats, it’s hard to beat **stink bait, chicken liver, or cut mackerel** pinned on a sturdy circle hook, set up in deeper holes out of the main push of current.

A couple of hot spots to keep in mind:

- **Below Hoover Dam down toward Willow Beach**: colder, clearer water, good for both stripers and smallmouth. Work eddies behind boulders and any shade lines, especially when flows ramp up. Swimbaits and spoons shine here, with plastics along the rocks for bronzebacks.

- **Laughlin/Bullhead City stretch**: the community parks, current breaks near bridges, and deeper outside bends have been productive. Bank anglers soaking anchovies at those access points are picking off schoolie stripers and a few cats, while boaters casting parallel to the shoreline structure are finding better-size bass.

Timing is key: fish from pre‑dawn into the early morning, then again in the last two hours of light into dark. Midday can still produce if you target deeper water, shade, and current seams with slower presentations.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Colorado River, Laughlin–Las Vegas stretch fishing report.

First off, no tides to worry about out here in the desert – flows on this section of the Colorado are controlled by releases from Davis Dam upstream of Laughlin. When they’re generating power, current picks up and the bite often turns on; when flows are low, expect clearer, slower water and spookier fish.

Weather along the river today is seasonably hot and dry. Overnight lows are hanging in the low 70s, ramping quickly into the upper 90s and flirting with triple digits by mid‑afternoon. Skies are mostly clear, humidity is low, and winds are light in the morning with a typical afternoon breeze in the 10–15 mph range. Sunrise is around 5:20 a.m., with sunset close to 8:00 p.m., so you’ve got a long light window, but the best comfort and action will be early and late.

With the bright sun and gin‑clear cold water coming out of Davis Dam, fish have been most active at first light and the last couple hours before dark. Midday, they slide deeper or into shade and get selective.

Reports from local anglers along the casino row in Laughlin and down through Bullhead City say the **striped bass** bite has been steady. Schoolie stripers in the 1–4 pound range are common, with an occasional 8–10 pound fish showing up near deeper runs and current seams. Shore guys are doing well at dawn tossing small swimbaits and topwater walking baits; boaters are slow‑trolling deep‑diving plugs or vertical‑jigging spoons when they mark fish.

**Rainbow trout** stocked below Davis Dam continue to provide action, especially in the cooler mornings. Anglers drifting from the dam downstream are picking up limits of pan‑sized bows, mostly 10–14 inches, on light gear. There’ve also been a few nicer holdovers pushing 16–18 inches caught in the deeper pockets and along rock ledges.

You’ll also find some **smallmouth bass** and **largemouth** around rocky points, submerged brush, and marinas. Numbers aren’t as high as the stripers and trout, but patient anglers are getting a handful of bass in the 1–3 pound class, especially in areas with current breaks and shade.

Best **lures** right now:

- For stripers: 3–4 inch soft swimbaits in shad or pearl, silver spoons, and mid‑size jerkbaits with a natural baitfish pattern. When they’re boiling at the surface, throw small pencil poppers or walking baits.

- For trout: small inline spinners in gold or silver, tiny crankbaits, and 1/16–1/8 oz marabou or tube jigs in white or olive on light line.

- For bass: green pumpkin or watermelon plastic worms and craws on a light jighead, plus small crankbaits that tick the rocks.

Best **bait**:

- Stripers: cut anchovy is still king out here. Rig it on a Carolina rig or simple sliding sinker setup and let it soak in the current. Some locals also like sardines or chicken liver when flows are slower.

- Trout: nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, and small pieces of PowerBait on light leaders.

- Catfish, if you’re soaking after dark: shrimp, chicken liver, or stinkbait in slower eddies.

A couple of local **hot spots** to focus on:

- The stretch immediately below **Davis Dam** down through the first mile or two, where cooler water and current concentrate trout and stripers.

- The **Laughlin casino row and riverwalk area** on the Nevada side, especially near current seams, docks, and deeper runs – good shore access and consistent striper action at dawn and dusk.

- If you’re willing to run a bit farther, the **community parks around Bullhead City** on the Arizona side provide solid bank access and reliable trout and striper catches.

Plan your trip around low‑light periods, watch for dam‑release changes, and bring plenty of water and sun protection. Work fast‑moving lures early, then slow down and go deeper as the sun climbs.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River Las Vegas report, centered around the Willow Beach to Cottonwood Cove stretch and the backs of Lake Mohave coves.

We’re sitting under a stable early-summer pattern: clear to mostly clear skies, light to moderate south winds in the afternoon, and daytime highs pushing into the upper 90s to low 100s with cooler pockets down in the canyon. According to the National Weather Service, expect typical desert heat: calm mornings, breezier afternoons, and cooling again after dark. Sunrise is right around 5:25 a.m., with sunset near 8:00 p.m., giving you a long low-light window to work with.

There’s no true tide on this section of the river, but flows will pulse a bit with releases from Hoover Dam. Watch the river level: generation bumps usually mean a little more current and often a better bite on stripers and trout. When you see that push, focus on current breaks, seams, and eddies.

Recent action has been solid. Local reports from Willow Beach and the coves above Cottonwood have striper limits coming in for boat and kayak anglers, with a mix of 1–4 pound schoolies and the occasional double-digit fish. Trout plants below Willow Beach continue on a regular schedule, and folks are still picking off rainbows in the 10–14 inch class, with a few bigger holdovers in the mix. Smallmouth and largemouth have been active along rocky points and submerged brush in Lake Mohave’s upper end, mostly 1–2 pounders with a few nicer bronzebacks for those working slow and deep.

Fish activity is best at first light and the last hour before dark. Midday, that bright desert sun pushes bass and stripers deeper or tight to shade; the trout slide into deeper slots and oxygen-rich current. Nighttime plug tossers are still doing damage on larger stripers along steep walls.

Best baits and lures right now:

For stripers:

- Live or dead shad, anchovies, and sardines on a simple Carolina rig or dropper loop.

- Hard baits: 4–6 inch glide baits, jointed swimbaits, and classic wake baits in trout, shad, and bone patterns at dawn and dusk.

- Soft baits: white or pearl flukes and paddle tails on 3/8–1/2 ounce heads, slow-rolled through current seams.

For trout:

- PowerBait in chartreuse, orange, or rainbow off the bottom on light line.

- Small gold or silver spoons and spinners, plus 1/16–1/8 ounce marabou or tube jigs in white and olive.

- Fly anglers should run small woolly buggers, leech patterns, and midges under an indicator in the softer edges.

For smallmouth and largemouth:

- Finesse plastics: green pumpkin and watermelon ned rigs, tubes, and drop-shot worms on rocky flats and points.

- Cranks and jerkbaits in shad and craw colors when there’s a breeze.

- After dark, black spinnerbaits and buzzbaits over shallow rock and along the edges of weedbeds.

A couple of hot spots to keep on your radar:

First, Willow Beach downstream to the first few big bends. Work the edges where deep green water meets rock, especially when flows bump. Troll or cast big trout-pattern swimbaits for a shot at a larger striper, and drift bait or toss small hardware for rainbows along the seams.

Second, the coves and points around Cottonwood Cove and up toward the narrows of Lake Mohave. Early, run topwater or shallow cranks along rocky points for smallmouth; as the sun gets up, slide deeper with finesse rigs. Stripers will roam the breaks off the old river channel—watch your graph for bait balls and arcs, then drop jigs or slow-troll soft plastics through them.

If you’re bank fishing, target shaded rock walls, marinas, and any inflow or cooler trickles you can find. Keep an eye on boat traffic; early and late will not only fish better but be a lot more peaceful.

That’s your Colorado River Las Vegas-area rundown from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Colorado River Las Vegas fishing report.

Out here below Hoover Dam and down through Willow Beach and Cottonwood Cove, conditions are looking fishable but not lights‑out. We don’t deal with ocean tides on this stretch of the Colorado, but water level and current are driven by dam releases. Mornings usually see gentler flows, then things ramp up late morning into afternoon when power demand kicks in. Always keep an eye on changing current and don’t anchor where rising water can trap you.

Weather along the river corridor today is classic desert: cool at first light, warming fast into the 90s and likely flirting with triple digits by midafternoon. Skies are mostly clear, with just enough breeze in the afternoon to put a chop on open pockets. Sunrise is right around five‑thirty local, with sunset near eight‑thirty, so you’ve got a long low‑light window to work with.

Trout action below Hoover Dam and around Willow Beach has been decent early and late. Stocker rainbows plus some nicer holdovers have been coming on small spoons, in‑line spinners, and jerkbaits worked slow in the seams and softer pockets. The most consistent colors have been silver, gold, and trout patterns. Folks drifting bait are doing well on nightcrawlers and salmon eggs, especially just off the bottom with light line.

Striper activity has been spotty but worth chasing if you’re out at dark‑thirty. Night and first light are your best shots at those bigger fish cruising the edges. Anglers running the channel edges and coves with white or shad‑pattern swimbaits, topwater walking baits, and medium‑diving crankbaits have picked off a few solid linesides. Cut anchovies and sardines are still the go‑to bait for soaking on bottom when the sun gets up; just be patient and move if you don’t get bit in twenty minutes.

Largemouth and smallmouth bass in the quieter backwaters and rocky pockets have been nipping finesse gear. Think drop‑shot worms, Ned rigs, and small jigs in natural colors worked slow along chunk rock and brush. Live shiners or nightcrawlers will also produce if artificials aren’t getting it done. With the clear water, lighter line and a subtle presentation make a big difference.

If you’re chasing numbers of trout, Willow Beach is a prime hotspot, especially within a mile or so of the marina and up toward the stockings. Work the current breaks, eddies behind rocks, and shaded banks. For mixed‑bag action with a shot at stripers and bass, Cottonwood Cove and the nearby coves along the Nevada side are fishing pretty well at dawn and dusk; fan‑cast those points with swimbaits and topwater, then switch to finesse plastics once the sun gets high.

Best overall lures right now: small Kastmaster‑style spoons, Rooster Tail or Panther Martin spinners, 3–5 inch paddletail swimbaits in shad or white, and 4–5 inch finesse worms on a drop‑shot. Best bait: nightcrawlers, salmon eggs for trout, and cut anchovy or sardine for stripers.

Hydrate, wear that sun protection, and keep an eye on changing flows from the dam. That river will humble you if you don’t respect it.

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Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River, Las Vegas area fishing report.

We’re working that stretch below Hoover Dam down toward Willow Beach and Cottonwood Cove. No true tides here, but flows from Hoover Dam act like a tide change: expect generation releases to bump currents late morning through afternoon, with lighter, clearer water at first light. When flows are low and clear, fish get a little spooky but feed tight to current seams and rock edges. When flows ramp up, they slide deeper and let the food come to them.

Weather around the river today is classic desert: clear skies, light winds early, building breeze by midday, and hot by late morning. Overnight temps in the 70s climbing into the upper 90s and low 100s. Plan serious fishing for dawn and the last two hours of light. Local sunrise is right around 5:20 a.m., sunset close to 8 p.m., giving a long window, but the bite is best at the edges of the day.

Water is cold and clear coming out of the dam, sitting in the low 50s to low 60s depending how far downriver you are. That’s prime for rainbow trout up top and smallmouth bass, striped bass, and the odd largemouth and catfish as you head downstream.

Recent reports from local tackle shops and marina chatter say rainbows have been steady below the dam and near Willow Beach. Stockers in the 10–14 inch range with a few chunky holdovers pushing 18–20 inches. Striped bass are hit‑or‑miss but consistent enough at first light: schoolies from 1–3 pounds with occasional 5–8 pound fish. Smallmouth action has been good along rocky shorelines and points, lots of 8–12 inch fish with a few 2–3 pound bruisers for folks working slow and tight to structure. Night guys soaking bait are picking up channel cats in the 2–5 pound range in the slower, deeper holes.

Fish activity today should start strong right at grey light. Trout will be up in the upper river and along current breaks, then slide deeper as the sun gets on the water. Stripers will chase shad and trout near the surface early, then move deeper into channels and ledges once it brightens. Smallmouth will chew all day if you get down to them and fish slow, especially when boat traffic and sun push them tight to rocks and ledges.

On lures, think natural and subtle in that clear water. For trout, small inline spinners in silver or gold, 1/8 ounce or less, are money. Tiny Kastmasters and spoons in silver, gold, or trout patterns also produce. For stripers, throw 3–5 inch soft plastic swimbaits in shad or trout colors, white flukes, or small paddle tails on 1/4–1/2 ounce heads. Early and late, try small topwaters and walking baits; if they’re pushing bait, they’ll blow them up. For smallmouth, go with 3–4 inch green pumpkin or brown tubes, Ned rigs, and drop‑shot worms in natural colors. A small craw‑style plastic dragged along the rocks is a local staple.

If you’re a bait angler, PowerBait or salmon eggs on light leaders for rainbows will keep rods bending. Nightcrawlers always play, especially for trout, bass, and cats. For stripers and cats, cut anchovy or sardine on a sliding sinker rig in deeper holes is the go‑to. Keep leaders light and hooks sharp; the water is clear and these fish see a lot of pressure.

A couple of hot spots to key on:

Willow Beach area: That whole stretch below the marina is a cold‑water ribbon full of trout, with stripers shadowing them. Work the cliff faces, current eddies, and any shade lines. Early morning here can be lights‑out if you get your bait or swimbait down the ledges.

Cottonwood Cove and nearby coves: Great for mixed bag action. Rocky points and drop‑offs hold smallmouth, while deeper channels and humps can have stripers roaming through. Fish the shadows early, then slide deeper as the sun climbs.

Work smart, hydrate, and respect that desert heat and cold water combo.

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