Take Highway (515, 93, 95) east out of Las Vegas for 24 miles to the town of Boulder. Lake Mead is just north and east of the town. Follow the signs. A paved road runs along the west side of the lake. Lake Mead has a maximum depth of 465 feet and covers 150,000 surface acres over its 110-mile length. Game fish include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, black bullhead catfish, bluegill sunfish, green sunfish, black crappie, striped bass, rainbow trout and walleye. Peak catch rates are usually June and July and again in October and November. The most productive months to harvest largemouth bass are June, July and October; to harvest bluegill are May and June; to harvest black crappie January, November and April; to harvest channel catfish June, July and October; to harvest rainbow trout are December, January, February, and March; and to harvest stripers are July, October and November, although stripers are captured year around. Fish can be harvested any time of the day or night if the angler is well equipped, knowledgeable and versatile. Camping via boat is allowed lake wide, while shore camping is becoming restricted. Established mobile type campgrounds are becoming the commonplace around the lake. Drive-to type campgrounds are found at every launch ramp except South Cove, Hemenway and Government Wash. Amenities include showers, water, tables and grills. Areas with full hookups include the Trailer Village, Echo Bay Marina and Overton Marina. Floating restrooms can be foundaround the lake. Seven were installed in 2001. Things to Consider - Summer temperatures at times reach 110°F, so carry water and leave a note as to your destination and expected time of return. The lake can, at times, get very rough, so listen to the weather forecast before boating for any distance, especially in a small craft. Season is open year around, any hour of the day or night, except in areas as posted. Limit is 5 trout, 6 black bass, 25 catfish and 15 crappie. New regulations as of this year: No limit on striped bass less than 20 inches total length. Daily and possession limit on striped bass 20 inches total length or longer is 20 fish. No limit restriction on other game fish.
During the cold months of November through March, striped bass can be taken during the day with bait (threadfin shad captured with cast net) and at night with top water plugs such as the AC plug fished with a slow retrieve. Additionally, bait can be fished under a clear bubble with or without a slip sinker. Largemouth bass can be patterned in both shallow and deep water with artificial lures fished early morning or evenings. Black crappie can be taken in the Overton Arm at night with live bait such as shiners and/or jigs. Fish against rock walls and in brushy areas. Trout can be taken in the immediate vicinity of their stocking with conventional gear such as worms, Power Bait or lures. Channel catfish occasionally hit spinners, but are usually captured while fishing on the bottom utilizing fresh fish parts, liver, prawns or prepared catfish bait fished on a sliding sinker with a treble hook. Shad are the best bait for stripers, but are, at times, hard to find. Prepared bait and anchovies are good replacements as well as lures such as Sassy Shad and KastMasters. Numerous top water gear works during fish “boils”. Stripers are fished in two ways: at depth (up to 120 feet) with prepared bait or spoons and hunting boils (surface activity generated by stripers actively feeding on shad), then fishing the boil with top water plugs. Chumming is allowed on Lake Mead with anything except game fish parts. One of the favorite chums is anchovies and corn. Fish over the chum for at least an hour then move to a different spot. At times, anchoring along a steep drop off and chumming on a set pattern will do the trick. Striped bass on the hunt move in schools and will clean up an area quickly, then move on. Fishing at night is a slow relaxing way to spend an evening. Bait up, chum up, “bell” up and have a seat. You could catch anything from a catfish to a striper to a leatherneck turtle. Striped bass up to 43 pounds have been taken utilizing this method, however, the normal size is 2 to 3 pounds and these make excellent table fare. While fishing in the back of coves during the spring and summer, look for weedbeds. Holes in the beds and a clean bottom often indicate nesting Tilapia. Try fishing with corn, peas, prepared meats such as hot dogs and/or sour mash or corn meal. Tilapia can weigh as much as 5 pounds and are excellent to eat.
Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States. It is located on the Colorado River about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, in the states of Nevada and Arizona. Formed by water impounded by Hoover Dam, it extends 110 mi (180 km) behind the dam, holding approximately 28.5 million acre feet (35 km³) of water. The water held in Lake Mead is released to communities in Southern California[1] and Nevada, via aqueducts.