Colorado River Las Vegas Fishing Report Today

Artificial Lure here with your local Colorado River and Lake Mead fishing report for Saturday, September 27, 2025. Fresh off that first cool snap of fall, we’re waking up to clear skies and a brisk north breeze rolling down the river. Highs will land in the mid-80s today—perfect weather to hit the water before the sun really climbs. Sunrise was at 6:35 AM, with sunset set for 6:35 PM, giving you a full twelve-hour window to chase that bite.

Tidal movement doesn’t have much say here with the river governed by dams, but the cool overnight drop kicked fish activity up a notch. Stripers have been thick at first light—especially chasing shad in the coves and along points around Boulder Basin and Government Wash. According to the Daily Lake Mead Fishing Report, early birds are seeing striper schools busting bait on top, and several local guides have reported stringers of 8 to 20 with a solid handful of 3- to 5-pounders landed on the morning run. The action slows midday, but things pick back up with catfish and smallmouth moving shallower as the sun starts dropping.

Best lures right now: topwater walkers and Zara Spooks at dawn while the water’s like glass. Once the sun’s up, swap to white swimbaits or mid-diving crankbaits—anything with a good shad pattern is working. Soft plastics like drop-shotted shad imitations are bringing in smallmouth off rocky points. If you’re partial to bait, cut anchovy and chicken liver are both producing cats and stripers. For the patient, drifting bait at 20–40 feet just off the bottom is classic for those school-sized fish.

The smallmouth bass bite is steady above Callville Bay—lots of 1- to 2-pounders reported, plus the odd kicker over 3 pounds up in the rocks. Ned rigs and green pumpkin tubes have been the top producers there. Overnight, a group pulled in a nice 14-pound channel cat out of Las Vegas Bay on stink bait, which just goes to show night fishing still pays off as the weather cools.

Hot spots to focus on:

- Boulder Basin: especially the east side points south of Saddle Island for boiling stripers at dawn.

- Government Wash: good numbers of stripers early, then decent cats and bass starting midafternoon into dusk.

- Temple Bar: the river channel edges have fish schooling up on blade baits and spoons as clarity improves.

Lake levels remain low from ongoing conservation efforts, so keep an eye on your depth near every ramp—Echo Bay especially is shallow and can get tricky. Bonus for naturalists: early fall migration has waterfowl moving through, so watch the sky while you’re cruising between points and share the shoreline with the birds.

Kayakers are having a great time in the Black Canyon Narrows, and Emerald Cave is always popular for an afternoon paddle, but anglers are finding their best action close to those sunrise and sunset windows, when water temps dip and the fish come calling.

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Artificial Lure here with your September 26, 2025, morning fishing report for the Colorado River in and around Las Vegas.

Today’s sunrise hit at 6:31 AM, with sunset coming up at 6:37 PM. We’re looking at classic desert autumn—low humidity, clear skies, and temperatures climbing from the mid-60s at dawn up towards 87 degrees by late afternoon. Winds are light out of the north, barely stirring the river’s surface, making for calm conditions all day.

Water levels on the Colorado River below Hoover Dam remain steady. There’s no tidal influence here, but flows have been consistent, which is good news for anglers looking for predictable fishing action. The river clarity is decent, with just a touch of green—it’s ideal for both bait and artificial presentations.

Fish activity this week has ticked upward, with cooling overnight temps getting the striper bite back in gear. Stripers are running strong between Willow Beach and the Big Bend area, averaging 2–5 pounds, though a couple of double-digit bruisers have come in overnight. Local reports also mention largemouth and smallmouth bass along rocky points and submerged brush lines, mostly in the 1-3 pound range. Catfish action has been steady after sunset, with several channel cats up to 8 pounds pulled out at the confluence of the river and Las Vegas Wash.

Recent catches confirm that stripers have been favoring swimbaits and anchovies. Locals are getting numbers early using 4- to 6-inch soft plastic shads in pearl or white. Topwater bite has been spotty, but a few anglers working pencil poppers at first light found quick action just below the dam. For bait, cut anchovies remain the old reliable—thread them on a sliding rig and drift them through current seams.

Bass anglers have been going with chartreuse spinnerbaits or Texas-rigged craws near submerged rocks, especially around Cottonwood Cove and the tailwater below Willow Beach. Jigging with small tubes in pumpkin or watermelon colors has been productive around shaded overhangs during midday.

If you’re after catfish, head to the back eddies near Big Bend or the sandy flats at Laughlin. Stinkbaits and chicken liver fished on the bottom after dark have drawn in several channels and a few bullheads.

For hotspots, Willow Beach Marina is always worth a stop, especially near the fish hatchery discharge. Another productive stretch is the confluence at Las Vegas Wash, where the mixing currents draw in baitfish and hungry stripers. If you’ve got a kayak or small boat, drifting above Big Bend early in the morning or late afternoon is about as good as it gets.

The river’s fishing pressure is light on weekdays, with mostly locals and a couple of traveling anglers. If you want to avoid crowds, launch before sunrise and aim for secondary points away from the main channel.

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Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River Las Vegas fishing report for this Wednesday, September 24th, 2025.

Weather woke up cool at 67°F with light northeast winds, building sunshine through the morning, and a forecast high near 88°F. Humidity’s at 30%. Sunrise was at 6:32 AM and sunset’s at 6:37 PM—expect perfect visibility and a solid window for morning and evening bites. Water temps in this stretch typically hold steady, around 55°F, thanks to the deep release from Hoover Dam, keeping the fish active except during mid-day heat according to local kayak tour guides at Emerald Cave[2].

Tide reports aren’t a factor here since the Colorado is landlocked, but flows are steady between Hoover and Davis Dam, meaning the current’s light—ideal for kayaks and accurate lure presentations[2]. Drought conditions linger, so flows are lower than historical averages, but environmental agreements are keeping enough water moving downstream to sustain good fish populations, as discussed in recent Colorado Water District talks[4][7].

Recent catches from Willow Beach up past the Emerald Cove have been brisk. Anglers are seeing success with striped bass, channel catfish, and rainbow trout—stripers mostly in the early hours and after sunset. Some respectable largemouth and smallmouth bass are also coming from rocky shelves and reed pockets. Last week, reports had stripers biting hard on swimbaits and rainbows taken on PowerBait and nightcrawlers near the cold water outflows.

For lures, this week’s hot picks are:

- **Soft plastic swimbaits**: white or pearl, imitating the shad and smelt the stripers chase.

- **Crankbaits** in shad colors for smallmouth.

- **Spoons**—chrome and blue—have been money for trout and stripers through the deeper pools.

If you’d rather dunk bait, anchovy chunks and cut mackerel are still the preferred offering for bass and cats. PowerBait and garlic-scented dough baits are landing most trout.

Recommended hotspots:

- **Emerald Cove:** Calm, clear, and slightly deeper water tends to hold schools of stripers and trout, especially at sunrise.

- **Willow Beach Marina:** Active for shore fishing; best in the late afternoon for channel cats and evening bass, according to local guides[2].

- **Cranes Nest Wash**: Just downstream, good shoreline structure and less pressure makes it reliable for bass and panfish.

Trout stockings continue at Willow Beach thanks to the state hatchery. Last weekend saw two dozen rainbows landed in one morning during the kayak tours. A few lucky anglers brought in double-digit stripers, some up to 12 pounds—most from trolling or casting off deeper boats near the dam. Catfish action heats up after sunset, so bring a lantern and don’t rush out early.

No major flow changes expected this week, and the current remains slow, so finesse tactics could outperform power presentations. Keep your gear light and your leaders clear for the best chance at those finicky trout and smallies.

That wraps it for today’s Colorado Riv

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Artificial Lure here with your September 21, 2025, Colorado River fishing report straight from the Las Vegas area. It’s been a bluebird day for anglers and river rats alike. Out here, the sun cleared the horizon at 6:28 this morning, and sunset will drop around 6:43 tonight, giving us plenty of golden-hour action. Weather-wise, we got the classic high-desert recipe—afternoon highs peaking around 93°F, with just a whisper of wind coming up canyon, keeping the water slick and prime for both power and finesse casting.

Let’s talk river conditions. The Colorado is running a bit below standard summer flows as Lake Mead releases taper with the shift toward fall—visibility is decent unless there’s recent rain above Davis Dam, which hasn’t been the case this week. Given the upstream flow regulation, tides don’t play much factor here, but those water releases create subtle current changes, so early risers found a little more movement on the water this morning. Locals have been launching kayaks near Willow Beach at dawn and reporting glassy water all the way up into Black Canyon, ideal for both paddle and casting, and those emerald colors are in full display—definitely a “bring your camera” trip according to recent TripAdvisor reviews.

On the fish front, anglers this week put up solid numbers of striped bass near Willow Beach and just below Hoover Dam. Slot-size fish in the 3–6 pound range have been tugging drag, with the occasional double-digit brute spooling the light-tackle folks not ready for a fight. Early mornings and just before dusk have been most productive, as expected with this week’s bright desert sun. Smallmouth bass are scattered along rocky ledges and shelves, especially tight to submerged boulders and drop-offs. The cool nights are pushing them back into shallower water, and plastics worked close to the bottom have been doing damage.

If you’re chasing stripers, go with topwater lures or swimbaits in shad patterns at first light—think classic Zara Spooks, Lucky Craft Pointers, and 5-inch paddle tails. As the sun rises, switch to deeper-running crankbaits or vertical jigging with heavy spoons and soft plastics in silvers and whites. The best bait for big stripers remains fresh-cut anchovy fished on the bottom—always a staple out here and still putting slabs in the net.

Smallmouths are hammering Ned rigs, craw imitations, and 3–4 inch curly-tail grubs rigged on light jig heads. Watermelon red and green pumpkin are the hot colors based on chatter at the Willow Beach marina dock. Spinnerbaits with a white or chartreuse skirt dragged across rocky shoreline ledges have been producing good numbers, especially late in the afternoon as shadows creep across the water. According to fishing reports gathered by local tackle shops, anglers have also been picking up decent channel catfish at night using chicken liver or stink bait set in the deeper slots between rock piles.

Now, for the hotspots: Willow Beach has been the launch point for loads of fish

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Artificial Lure reporting for the Colorado River in Las Vegas, and this Saturday morning is starting off crisp with the sunrise just before 6:32 AM, stretching daylight all the way to around 6:47 PM. Today’s forecast is clear skies, gentle morning breezes, and highs peaking near 85 degrees—a classic late September setup that has anglers itching to hit the water.

Water levels remain steady despite recent worries over drought across the basin. According to Lake Mead Fishing Report Daily, stripers, largemouth bass, and channel catfish are the stars right now, with plenty of action for early risers and evening anglers. The river is delivering good numbers, with several local crews reporting double-digit catches of stripers ranging from 2 to 5 pounds, and catfish biting especially well after dark—some topping 8 pounds in the last two nights. Panfish remain active too, especially bluegill and some crappie pockets in the backwaters.

No significant tidal swing here—this inland stretch is all about current and flow, usually best just after the releases from Hoover Dam, which tend to ramp up flow nearly every morning between 8 and 10 AM. When you see that uptick in current, fish turn on, with striper schools pushing into shallower runs and bass hugging submerged structure near Willow Beach and Eldorado Canyon.

Best bait and lure action right now? For stripers, locals are sticking with classic cut anchovies and chicken liver, though shad-pattern crankbaits and swimbaits fished fast are picking up the most aggressive fish. Early and late, try topwater stickbaits—white and chartreuse are getting the chases. Bass anglers are scoring with soft plastics—drop-shot rigs with green pumpkin worms—especially close to rocky points and in coves. Catfish folks swear by stinkbait and nightcrawlers, fished deep in the slower holes and beneath the Willow Beach marina.

Don’t sleep on live bait if you’re after the biggest cats or those picky largemouths around mid-river structure. Crankbaits and spinnerbaits in the 3/8oz size are still hot for morning bass, especially around submerged wood and rock ledges. If you’re fly fishing, streamers in white or olive have been connecting with both stripers and bass during low-light hours.

Hot spots for the day? Willow Beach continues to be prime, especially below the launch ramp and near the old fish hatchery outflow. Eldorado Canyon, just south, is putting up numbers on stripers and bass, with catfish in the deeper backwaters. For a quieter morning, the bays near Big Bend State Recreation Area are producing solid panfish action with the occasional smallmouth tossed in.

Local guides expect the bite to pick up tonight as temps cool and fish transition to pre-winter feeding patterns. With water a bit stained from upstream wind the last few days, focus on lures that vibrate or flash—think rattletraps, spinnerbaits, and bladed jigs.

Remember, with river flows on the move and fall just around the corner, conditions can change quickly

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Artificial Lure here with your boots-on-the-ground fishing report for the Colorado River near Las Vegas, Friday, September 19, 2025.

First, the weather’s classic early fall—temperatures in the mid-70s rising toward 90 by midafternoon, low humidity, and mostly clear skies. If you’re heading out, expect a gentle southwest breeze, which keeps things comfortable but can make for a bit of chop mid-day, especially around open stretches. No rain on the books, which is welcome for anglers targeting clarity. Sunrise just touched the horizon at 6:30 AM, and you’ll get lines wet until sunset around 6:41 PM. So you’ve got a solid window to make something happen out there.

The key bite windows today are likely to be early, just after dawn, and then again late afternoon as the heat backs off. We may not have tides up here, but water flows are impacted by Lake Mead releases—flows pick up a little after breakfast and again late afternoon, making those transition periods prime for fish activity.

Let’s talk fish: Recent days saw solid action on striped bass down in the Willow Beach stretch and up by Big Bend State Recreation Area. Local guides and regulars report slot fish—2-5 pounds—taking both bait and artificial lures on moving water. There’s been occasional talk of larger linesiders, even a couple above 10 pounds this past week, usually on cut anchovy drifted or trolled plugs. Black bass (mostly largemouth, with some smallmouth mixed in) are hugging rocky points and deeper ledges as the water temp moderates. Shore anglers have landed decent bags tossing whacky rigs or soft plastic craws.

Catfish are still willing—late-night and pre-dawn folks fishing stink bait or chunks of mackerel from coves and slower eddies are reporting steady eating-size channel cats and the odd blue. Panfish—mainly bluegill and redear—are holding in shaded shallow water and under docks, responding to small jigs tipped with worm.

Best baits for this week: For stripers, cut anchovy, sardine, or shad works—especially if you can time your soak around moving water. On the artificial side, white swimbaits, paddle tails, and medium-running crankbaits in natural shad patterns are drawing strikes. For bass, stick with green pumpkin or watermelon soft plastics, Ned rigs, and topwater walking baits at first light or last cast. Catfish will take classic chicken liver or punch bait, and for panfish, nothing beats a piece of worm on a small hook under a slip bobber.

Hot spots you shouldn’t miss:

• Willow Beach Marina—striped bass early, plus trout stocked by the marina if you want to mix it up.

• Big Bend State Rec Area—prime for stripers, cats, and the occasional quality bass.

• Laughlin Lagoon—especially productive for panfish and bass with fewer crowds.

Remember, the flows can change fast, and clarity varies depending on releases. Adapt if things turn cloudy mid-day.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s Colorado River Las Vegas report. If you want more fishing intel, tips, and the latest scoop,

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Artificial Lure here with your Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Colorado River Las Vegas Fishing Report.

Fishers hit the river early today with sunrise around 6:30 AM and can expect sunset close to 6:45 PM. Weather’s been riding that classic late summer-to-fall edge: **mornings cool and clear, with afternoon highs cracking the upper 90s**. The wind’s been up—gusts 25 to 35 mph—making for some choppy water. According to the National Weather Service Las Vegas, expect this wind and slightly cooler temps to persist, so keep your hats strapped and watch your casts.

The river flow’s steady with no major rain, but do note: there’s a Lake Wind Advisory, and the **Red Flag Warning** for fire risk remains in effect with low humidity. No major tidal swings here—being above the Hoover Dam flattens things out. Still, boaters and shore anglers alike are feeling the breeze, and it’s stirring up the food chain.

**Fish activity:** The past few days saw decent action on striped bass, largemouth, and catfish around the Willow Beach and Laughlin stretches. A few respectable smallmouths have shown up near rocky drop-offs north of the big marinas. Early morning and the last light before sunset are the ticket, thanks to surface chop dispersing baitfish and keeping the predators close to shore.

Reports from local guides and tackle shops say **stripers are schooling up and moving fast**, chasing shad along deeper ledges and outflows. Anglers drifting live shad, anchovies, or throwing chrome swimbaits and spoons have seen steady hits—especially when they bounce those baits mid-column.

**Bass anglers**: Ned rigs and tube jigs in watermelon or pumpkinseed are money along riprap and boulder clusters. Try a Strike King Coffee Tube or a small paddle-tail swimbait if the bite slows. Craw-pattern crankbaits ticking the bottom get reaction strikes, especially near submerged structure. Don’t be afraid to finesse it—lighter line, slower retrieve, as the fish get a little more selective in these post-summer flows.

**Big catfish** crews are still working classic setups—stink bait, chicken liver, or shrimp—late evening into the night along deeper pools and back eddies. Fish over 10 pounds aren’t uncommon this week, especially from the Colorado River below Davis Dam.

**Recent catch summary:** The bulk of this week’s hauls are striper in the 3-7 pound range, with some real husky fish breaking 10 lbs for patient night anglers. Largemouths are hitting in that 1-3 pound bracket, numbers good but weights a bit lighter than early summer. Carp are always cruising if you’re chasing something different, and bluegill remain thick in the coves.

**Hot spots:**

- **Willow Beach pier area:** Pre-dawn for stripers and late afternoon for bass.

- **Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area:** Both striper and catfish action off rock points and deeper water near the park’s edge.

- **Davis Dam tailwater:** Consistent numbers, especially for catfish and the occasional trophy striper when the

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Artificial Lure here with your September 14, 2025 Colorado River fishing report for the Las Vegas stretch. If you’re reading this early, sunrise hit Las Vegas at 6:28 AM and we’re looking at a scorcher today—expect highs pushing the upper 90s and minimal cloud cover. The recent stretch of dry weather returns, as Aman reports below-normal rainfall persisting through mid-September, so river flows are a little down and drought signs show around the shallows. Sunset tonight will be 6:56 PM, so get your casts in before then.

Not much tidal action on the Colorado River here, so temperature is your primary factor today. First light and dusk are still your best shots, especially as fish look for relief from the heat. Stripers, largemouth bass, catfish, and sunfish are the main players. Lake Mead Fishing Report notes the bite is active for striped bass and catfish despite dropping water levels, so if you’re chasing numbers, pelagic stripes early and deep channel cats midday are still safe bets. Catfish and bass have been showing up around both Boulder Basin and Willow Beach, with occasional smallmouth mixed in below the dam.

Recent catches: Anglers have been pulling healthy stripers in the 3–6 lb range, with some days putting double digits in the boat. Catfish bites have surged after sundown, with channel cats over 5 lbs regularly landed with stinkbait or cut anchovy. Largemouth bass are holding tight to submerged structure, hitting 2–4 lbs—mostly on soft plastics and jigs pitched deep or around rocky edges. Sunfish are eager near shallow brush piles but run smaller this late in the season.

Your **best lures** right now:

- For stripers, toss chrome or white swimbaits, spoons, and cut bait rigs.

- Bass are hitting Texas-rigged soft plastics, dark jigs, and shad-patterned crankbaits.

- Catfish—chicken liver, stinkbait, or cut anchovy is unbeatable.

- Sunfish still respond to small worms or crickets under a slip bobber.

Top **hot spots** to check out:

- **Willow Beach**: Early morning for stripers chasing shad, plus reliable catfish at dusk near the launch ramp.

- **Boulder Basin (Lake Mead)**: Excellent for schoolie striped bass mid-morning; structure and rocky drop-offs hold bass and panfish.

- The **tailwater below Hoover Dam** hits for trout on cool mornings, especially in shadowed pockets, but always check for recent stocking and water warnings as drought and heavy metals have affected some up-river trout populations, as covered by Coyote Gulch.

Tips from local guides: Focus on deeper holes and shaded structure where water stays cooler. The low flows and heat mean fish activity spikes at dawn and dusk, drops midday. With potential toxic runoff episodes topmost in Colorado news lately, use caution if fishing spots above Willow Beach for anything showing stress—dead fish or odd coloration signal you may want to move downriver.

That’s the scoop for September 14th. Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss out on the latest riv

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Artificial Lure here with your boots-on-the-ground fishing report for the Colorado River near Las Vegas, Saturday, September 13, 2025. Despite September’s warm grip, the river’s alive with action, and anglers locals and visitors alike are cashing in.

Sunrise hit at 6:25AM, with sunset rolling in about 6:52PM. Temps are already climbing at dawn—expect highs to reach the upper 90s by midday. The wind’s predicted to be mild early, picking up a little as the desert heats up, so it should stay fishable through late morning. Skies are mostly sunny with just enough patchy clouds to keep things interesting—perfect for topwater in the morning and working shaded structure as the sun rises.

Let’s talk water activity. According to Nevada Fish Reports, this is the best fishing window of the year, and the fall transition is starting to buzz. Water’s still flowing steady, and clarity is good. Stripers are schooling up, especially around dawn and dusk. Both locals and tournament pros reported big bags from the Lake Mead WON Bass Open last week, including a monster 8-pound largemouth. The big bass was caught shallow on a Power Shot Rig with a 6-inch Roboworm Fuego worm; so finesse plastics in fiery colors and drop shots are dynamite right now.

Smallmouth, largemouth, and stripers are the primary catch. Catfish are biting along deeper holes and quiet coves, with chicken liver and stink bait doing the job overnight.

The best artificial lures this week are shad-imitating crankbaits, swimbaits, and jerkbaits at first light, with anglers switching to soft plastics—think Senkos, Roboworms, and curly tail grubs—as the sun gets higher. Don’t overlook topwater poppers around submerged brush before 8AM, especially in Willow Beach and around the points near South Cove. For live bait, anchovies and nightcrawlers out-produce all else for striper and catfish.

Major hot spots this week:

- **Willow Beach:** Early risers are boating limits of stripers casting out in the cooler water before the sun gets up.

- **South Cove:** Reliable for mixed bags—stripers, cats, and some feisty largemouth action, especially near submerged cover and rocky shelves.

If you’re planning to fish the backwaters and side channels, seek out structure: rocky bluffs, fallen timber, or even manmade debris. The bass are holding deep mid-day, moving shallow at dusk. Stripes are chasing bait along seams and current breaks—look for diving birds!

Water levels have held steady, but as always out here in the desert, be on the lookout for fluctuations. Recent conservation efforts have kept the river healthy for now, but keep an eye on conditions as fall approaches, especially if you’re launching from upriver.

If you’re chasing numbers, bring plenty of hydration and sunscreen—and don’t skip the fluorocarbon leaders. Clear water makes these old river fish spooky mid-day.

That covers your Colorado River Las Vegas fishing report for today. Appreciate y’all tuning in—remember to hit subscribe for the real-time

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Artificial Lure here with your September 12, 2025, Colorado River fishing conditions report around Las Vegas.

Sunrise hit at 6:24 AM today, with sunset set for around 7:02 PM. Weather’s typical for late summer: clear skies at dawn, with highs forecast in the upper 90s and that famous Las Vegas heat pushing the “feels like” temp well over 100 by midday. Winds are light in the early morning, picking up a bit by late afternoon, but nothing to keep you off the water according to the latest from the National Weather Service. There’s no significant rain in the immediate forecast, but don’t forget your hat and plenty of fluids – the desert sun doesn’t play.

The Colorado River’s flows remain on the lower side this year, reflecting the ongoing drought and reduced snowmelt runoff. Coyote Gulch’s September 11th report warns that water levels are below average and could see further drawdowns if current use patterns don’t change. For anglers, this means you’ll notice a few extra gravel bars and some slower water, especially early or late in the day. The lower, clearer water does help with sight fishing but can make fish a little spookier.

Fish activity has been solid this week, especially for those getting out in the cooler dawn hours. Local guides and recent anglers have reported steady action on **rainbow trout** below Hoover Dam and Willow Beach—these stretches have received several recent stockings, so numbers are up. Over at Lake Mohave and the tailwater sections, **striped bass** are making a strong showing, especially in the deeper holes and along current seams at sunrise and sunset. Smallmouth bass are still active on the rocky points and coves; mornings with topwater lures and evenings slow-rolling soft plastics have been the ticket.

Recent catches include limits of rainbows for both bank and boat anglers below Willow Beach, with fish running 1-2 pounds and a few pushing 3 pounds. Kayak anglers just upriver are still picking up a mix of trout and smaller stripers in the current. On Lake Mohave proper, locals have landed several striper limits working deep-diving crankbaits and live shad early in the day. A couple of stories are floating around about 10+ pound stripers caught trolling in the early morning, especially near Cottonwood Cove.

Baitwise, today’s top picks for rainbows are classic salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, and PowerBait in bright colors. Spin fishermen are doing well with gold Kastmasters and Panther Martin spinners. Striped bass continue to hammer live or cut shad, but if you prefer artificials, try white swimbaits, deep-running jerkbaits, or a topwater pencil popper just as the sun breaks the horizon. For smallmouth, green pumpkin or watermelon tubes and ned rigs are working their magic around submerged rocks.

A couple of hot spots to consider today:

- The **Willow Beach area**, especially the first two miles downstream, is producing both trout and stripers for those drifting baits or casting lures parallel to the current seams.

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