Good morning from Lake Mead, Nevada! Artificial Lure reporting on the water conditions and fishing action for Wednesday, August 13, 2025.

We started off with a calm, clear sunrise at 5:58 AM and the weather today looks textbook summer: temps climbing into the upper 90s by midday, with light southerly breezes picking up after noon. The heat is sticking around, so bring plenty of water and sun protection. Expect sunset around 7:38 PM.

Water levels remain low—Lake Mead's measured at 1054.40 feet above sea level yesterday afternoon, which is about 174 feet below the historical full pool, according to Lakes Online. With these low levels, shoreline structure is changing quickly, but anglers have reported surprisingly active fish with the steady pattern of this week’s weather.

There’s no tidal influence here in the desert, but moon phase does play a role. Today, we’re coming off a waxing crescent, with steady nighttime temps in the 80s that keep the fish moving early and late.

Fish activity has been solid, especially for those beating the heat at first and last light. Largemouth bass have been the headline catcher again this week. In Todd Kline’s latest Lake Mead breakdown, anglers reported good catches on spinnerbaits and crankbaits fished near drop-offs and submerged brush—hot spots include Government Wash and Boulder Basin. According to outdooractionplan.com, spinnerbaits and crankbaits are the go-to in these warm conditions, with shad-colored or chartreuse patterns turning more strikes.

Striped bass action has picked up near the Vegas Wash outflow and Echo Bay, where anchovy chunks and cut bait have done real work. Anglers are boating anything from school-size stripers to fish running five pounds, with a few double-digit brutes reported on trolled deep diving plugs mid-lake.

Smallmouth bass are still hanging tight around rocky points and ledges, hitting soft plastics like craws and tubes in natural colors. If you’re new to Mead, drop-shot rigs with green pumpkin or smoke grubs produce reliable numbers around the Temple Bar area.

Catfish are moving a bit deeper with the heat but night anglers working chicken liver or stink bait along steep drop-offs in the Hemenway Harbor area have landed channel cats up to 8 pounds in the last couple nights.

Best bait and lures this week:
- Spinnerbaits and crankbaits in shad or chartreuse for largemouth
- Cut anchovy and deep-diving plugs for stripers
- Soft plastic tubes and craws for smallies

Hot spots to consider:
- Government Wash: early AM for bass and stripers
- Boulder Basin drop-offs: steady bites most of the day, especially with structure exposure due to low water
- Echo Bay: striper action heating up in deep water
- Temple Bar: smallmouth and decent-sized largemouth right near those rocky points

No matter where you launch, pay close attention to those ever-changing shorelines—Lake Mead's low levels mean new hazards and new fishing structure daily.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s Lake Mead fishing report. Be sure to subscribe for daily updates, tips, and local fishing news.

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