Lake Mead Fishing Information

lake mead FISHING REPORTS AND TIPS

CLICK HERE for the Lake Mead National Park fishing report.

The following information was published by the National Park Service as of May 2008 and the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Lake Mead shares borders with Arizona and Nevada.
Please be aware of all fishing laws in both states.

To fish within the states of Nevada or Arizona, you must carry with you a valid fishing license. If your license is for Arizona, and you plan to fish from a boat or other craft on Lakes Mead and Mohave, or on the shoreline of Nevada, then you must have a "use stamp" from Nevada (and vice-versa).
A trout stamp is required in addition to any other use stamps if you intend to catch and keep trout. You may purchase licenses from the concessioner at the marinas or at local bait and tackle shops.

Largemouth bass, striped bass, channel catfish, crappie, and bluegill are found in both Lakes Mead and Mohave. Rainbow trout can be found in Lake Mohave. Fishermen go for the big trout at Willow Beach, while Cottonwood Cove and Katherine offer great bass and trout fishing.

Lake Mead has become famous for its striped bass with an occasional catch weighing in at over 40 pounds. Fishing for striped and largemouth bass is good throughout Lake Mead with crappie, blue gill, green sunfish, and catfish being more prevalent in the upper Overton Arm of the lake.

NEVADA

Each person may use only one combination of hook, line and rod at one time.

No more than three baited hooks or fly hooks or two lures or plugs may be used at any one time or on a single line.

The fishing line must be closely attended.

ARIZONA

A person may fish with two poles with the purchase of a stamp.

Each line may not contain more than two hooks or two lures or two artificial flies.

POSSESSION LIMITS

Please refer to the State Fishing Regulations for possession limits.

ETIQUETTE

Please clean your catch at the fish cleaning stations located at most of the marinas.

HOURS AND SEASON

Both lakes, Mead and Mohave, are open to 24-hour fishing year round.

JUVENILE FISHING

No license is required on Lakes Mead or Mohave for persons under the age of 14 in Nevada and Arizona.

Several protected species of fish are found in the Colorado River System. Two of these, the razorback sucker and bonytail chub, may be found in the lakes. If these fish are caught, they should be returned to the water. Please report the catch to the National Park Service Resource Management office at (702) 293-8950
Closed Waters

There is no fishing within the posted boundaries of state or federal hatcheries.

There is no fishing within those areas immediately above and below Hoover Dam.

There is no fishing within areas designated as harbors.

REGULATIONS
POSSESSION LIMITS
Trout - 5
Black bass - 6
Catfish - 25
Crappie - 15
Striped Bass - 20
Other game fish - no limit
For picture identification click Fish ID.

SEASON
Lake Mead is open year round 24-hours a day, except areas as posted.

BAIT
At Lakes Mead and Mohave, use of golden shiner, fathead minnow, mosquito fish, red shiner, threadfin shad, carp and goldfish is allowed as live bait. Other forms of unprotected aquatic and animal life such as waterdogs, grasshoppers, earthworms, and crayfish may also be used.

ETIQUETTE
Please clean your catch at the fish cleaning stations located at most of the marinas.

KIDS FISHING
No license is required on Lake Mead for persons under the age of 14 in Nevada and Arizona.

PROTECTED FISH

Several protected species of fish are found in the Colorado River System. Two of these, the razorback sucker and bonytail chub may be found in the lake. If these fish are caught they should be returned to the water. The National Park Service Resource Management asks that you please report any "catch and return" of these two species to them immediately, Ph# (702) 293-8950