Fishing Lake Mead's Bounty: Stripers, Bass, and Catfish Await

As of October 17, 2024, Lake Mead is offering some exciting fishing opportunities despite the lingering warm weather. Here’s what you need to know for a successful day on the water.

### Weather and Tidal Report
The weather at Lake Mead is expected to be hot, with temperatures soaring up to 95°F during the day and dipping to around 70°F at night. Since Lake Mead is a freshwater lake, there are no tides to consider, but be prepared for gentle breezes and potential wind pick-up in the afternoon.

### Sunrise and Sunset
Sunrise is at around 6:40 AM, and sunset will be at approximately 6:00 PM. These cooler hours of dawn and dusk are prime times for fishing.

### Fish Activity
Striped bass are highly active during these cooler hours, particularly around dawn and dusk. They are feeding voraciously on shad at the surface, creating "boils" that are easy to spot. Black bass are slower to bite but can be caught using topwater poppers and Chatterbaits, especially along weedy shorelines near Calville Bay and Hemenway Harbor. Channel catfish are hitting on a variety of stinkbaits and anchovies, particularly right at sunset.

### Recent Catches
Yesterday, anglers reported catching a mixed bag of stripers, with some weighing up to 5 pounds, using anchovies and swimbaits in the Cottonwood Basin. Black bass were caught in Las Vegas Bay using topwater poppers and Chatterbaits. Channel catfish were frequent catches at Hemenway, using anchovies and corn.

### Best Lures and Bait
For striped bass, shad swimbaits and live shad are proving highly effective. Black bass are responding well to topwater poppers and Chatterbaits. Channel catfish are best caught using beef, chicken liver, shrimp, or prepared baits on the bottom.

### Hot Spots
- **Las Vegas Bay**: This area has been good for black bass using topwater poppers and Chatterbaits.
- **Hemenway**: A promising spot for channel catfish and carp, where anchovies and corn have been successful.
- **Overton Arm**: Known for good top-water action for striped bass, especially during the cooler hours of the day.
- **Cottonwood Basin**: Trolling has been productive here for striped bass, with catches up to 5 pounds using anchovies and swimbaits.

Remember to stay hydrated and be prepared for the wind. With the right lures and bait, and by targeting these hot spots, you should have a rewarding day on Lake Mead.