Bureau of Reclamation reservoir

Lake Mead

Clark County (shared with AZ), Nevada

Lake Mead is the reservoir behind Hoover Dam, just east of Las Vegas on the Nevada and Arizona line. It is best known for striped bass, with good largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing too.

Air temp in Temple Bar Marina, AZ Loading current temperature…

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Current air temperature at Lake Mead (National Weather Service) ↗

Surface area150,000 acres

Max depth465 ft

Shoreline759 mi

Boat motorsUnlimited horsepower

Species

Fishery rating out of 5.

Striped Bass●●●●●

Stripers bite all year, with May through December the most productive.

Largemouth Bass●●●●○

Fish early morning and evening from May through September.

Smallmouth Bass●●●○○

Rock, gravel and points. Tubes, jerkbaits and drop-shots.

Channel Catfish●●●○○

Fish the bottom from April through September with liver, shrimp or prepared baits.

Crappie●●○○○

Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.

When they bite

Month-by-month activity for each target species.

	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Striped Bass
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Channel Catfish

SlowFairGoodHot

Boat launches

6 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.

Hemenway Harbor Launch RampFee
NPS ramp near Boulder City, NV; ramp extended in 2025; park entrance feeDirections ↗
Callville Bay Launch RampFee
NPS ramp at Callville Bay marina off Northshore Rd; park entrance feeDirections ↗
Echo Bay Launch RampFee
NPS ramp on the Overton Arm; open on one mat lane during 2026 constructionDirections ↗
Temple Bar Launch RampFee
NPS ramp on the Arizona side off US 93; park entrance feeDirections ↗
South Cove Launch RampFee
NPS ramp on the Arizona side near Meadview; park entrance feeDirections ↗
More public accessPublic
See Nevada Wildlife or the lake manager's website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗

Size & creel limits

Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.

Species	Min size	Daily limit
Striped Bass Lake Mead	See Nevada rules book ↗	No limit
Largemouth Bass Black bass; 13 in min only below Davis Dam	See Nevada rules book ↗	6 / day combined
Smallmouth Bass Black bass; 13 in min only below Davis Dam	See Nevada rules book ↗	6 / day combined
Channel Catfish Catfish limit	See Nevada rules book ↗	25 / day
Crappie	See Nevada rules book ↗	15 / day

Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Nevada Department of Wildlife ↗

Verified October 2026. Rules change, so confirm current limits with the Nevada Department of Wildlife before you fish.

Bait & tackle nearby

Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.

Bass Angler Supply ShopNearby
1504 Boulder City Pkwy, Boulder City, NVDirections ↗
Callville Bay Marina StoreNearby
Callville Bay, Lake Mead NRA, NV(855) 918-5253 Directions ↗

Search more bait shops near Lake Mead ↗

Local tips

Live shad is the best striper bait. Store-bought anchovies also work.
Summer heat can reach 115 degrees and the wind can make the lake rough, so start early.
Boulder Beach, Callville Bay and Echo Bay have developed campgrounds and launch access.

Angler reports

Water temp, what's biting, and anything else other anglers should know about Lake Mead.

Loading reports...

View on interactive map

Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.