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Stripers, Smallies, and Cats - Colorado River Fishing Update for Las Vegas
Published 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Description
Alright, listen up, folks. If you’re thinking about hitting the Colorado River near Las Vegas today, you’re in for a solid bite if you play it right. Water’s been steady, and the fish are feeding.
Sunrise is around 6:50 this morning, and sunset’s at 4:45, so you’ve got a good window, especially if you’re chasing stripers and smallies early or late. The high tide’s predicted to fall below 6 feet by this afternoon, which means the shoreline’s a bit safer and more accessible if you’re wading or fishing from the bank. Low tide’s in the morning, so plan your bank spots accordingly—don’t get caught out when the water starts to rise.
Weather’s mild for December—highs in the upper 50s to low 60s, light winds out of the west, and mostly clear skies. That kind of stable weather keeps the fish comfortable and active, especially in the deeper runs and near structure.
Down around Hoover Dam and Emerald Cave, the striper bite has been strong. Guides and local anglers report consistent catches of stripers in the 18- to 28-inch range, with a few pushing 30. Smallmouth bass are still active too, mostly in the 12- to 16-inch class, holding tight to rock piles and drop-offs. Catfish are scattered but willing—channel cats in the 2- to 5-pound range are showing up on cut bait and stink baits, especially after dark.
Trout are still being caught in the tailwaters below Hoover Dam, thanks to the cooler water releases. Rainbows in the 14- to 18-inch range are hitting small spinners, spoons, and nymph rigs. If you’re fly fishing, try olive woolly buggers, zebra midges, and small streamers near the deeper runs.
For lures, stick with what works this time of year. For stripers, big swimbaits, deep-diving crankbaits, and umbrella rigs are producing, especially in the early morning and late afternoon. Smallmouth love brown and green flippin’ tubes, small crankbaits, and Ned rigs near rocks and current breaks. If you’re throwing topwater, early morning poppers and walking baits can still draw explosive strikes.
Bait-wise, live shad and threadfin shad are dynamite for stripers and smallies. For catfish, fresh cut shad, chicken liver, and stink baits are your best bet, especially fished near the bottom in deeper holes or along the dam tailrace.
Two hot spots to check: First, the tailwaters below Hoover Dam—deep runs, current seams, and structure hold stripers and smallmouth all day. Second, the stretch around Emerald Cave and the Colorado River access points near Willow Beach. That area’s producing stripers on swimbaits and smallies on finesse gear, and it’s easy to access by boat or from shore.
Thanks for tuning in, and tight lines out there. Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next update.
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.
Sunrise is around 6:50 this morning, and sunset’s at 4:45, so you’ve got a good window, especially if you’re chasing stripers and smallies early or late. The high tide’s predicted to fall below 6 feet by this afternoon, which means the shoreline’s a bit safer and more accessible if you’re wading or fishing from the bank. Low tide’s in the morning, so plan your bank spots accordingly—don’t get caught out when the water starts to rise.
Weather’s mild for December—highs in the upper 50s to low 60s, light winds out of the west, and mostly clear skies. That kind of stable weather keeps the fish comfortable and active, especially in the deeper runs and near structure.
Down around Hoover Dam and Emerald Cave, the striper bite has been strong. Guides and local anglers report consistent catches of stripers in the 18- to 28-inch range, with a few pushing 30. Smallmouth bass are still active too, mostly in the 12- to 16-inch class, holding tight to rock piles and drop-offs. Catfish are scattered but willing—channel cats in the 2- to 5-pound range are showing up on cut bait and stink baits, especially after dark.
Trout are still being caught in the tailwaters below Hoover Dam, thanks to the cooler water releases. Rainbows in the 14- to 18-inch range are hitting small spinners, spoons, and nymph rigs. If you’re fly fishing, try olive woolly buggers, zebra midges, and small streamers near the deeper runs.
For lures, stick with what works this time of year. For stripers, big swimbaits, deep-diving crankbaits, and umbrella rigs are producing, especially in the early morning and late afternoon. Smallmouth love brown and green flippin’ tubes, small crankbaits, and Ned rigs near rocks and current breaks. If you’re throwing topwater, early morning poppers and walking baits can still draw explosive strikes.
Bait-wise, live shad and threadfin shad are dynamite for stripers and smallies. For catfish, fresh cut shad, chicken liver, and stink baits are your best bet, especially fished near the bottom in deeper holes or along the dam tailrace.
Two hot spots to check: First, the tailwaters below Hoover Dam—deep runs, current seams, and structure hold stripers and smallmouth all day. Second, the stretch around Emerald Cave and the Colorado River access points near Willow Beach. That area’s producing stripers on swimbaits and smallies on finesse gear, and it’s easy to access by boat or from shore.
Thanks for tuning in, and tight lines out there. Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next update.
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.