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Colorado River Fishing Report: Stripers, Bass, and Catfish Thrive in Late September
Published 7 months, 1 week ago
Description
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. Always check for emergency releases or weather hazards, especially if there’s a threat of sudden storms blowing out of Mohave County.
Thanks for tuning in to today’s Colorado River fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss a lure tip or hot bite. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.
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. Always check for emergency releases or weather hazards, especially if there’s a threat of sudden storms blowing out of Mohave County.
Thanks for tuning in to today’s Colorado River fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss a lure tip or hot bite. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.