For October 3, 2024, if you're planning to hit the Colorado River near Las Vegas, here's what you need to know:

First, the weather is expected to be warm with clear skies, perfect for a day on the water. Sunrise is at about 6:30 AM, and sunset will be around 6:00 PM.

The Colorado River, particularly Lake Mohave and Lake Mead, offers some excellent fishing spots. Yesterday, anglers reported catching a good number of striped bass, with some catches up to 5 pounds in the Cottonwood Basin area of Lake Mohave. Shore fishing for stripers has been a bit inconsistent, but trolling in the morning has been productive. Green sunfish have also been biting well on spinners around Telephone Cove.

For striped bass, your best bet is to use live shad, frozen anchovies, or swimbaits. Trolling or still fishing from 40 to 100 feet deep with bait or lures imitating trout or shad has been effective. For largemouth and smallmouth bass, look for areas with vegetation and rocky reefs, and use rubber worms, night crawlers, spinner baits, or crankbaits.

One hot spot to consider is the Cottonwood Cove area on Lake Mohave. The fish structures added here, such as those at Box, Bass, and Solicitor coves, are known to attract a variety of fish species. Another good spot is the Willow Beach area, where rainbow trout are routinely released near the shore.

Remember to be cautious of the Harmful Algal Bloom warnings at Nelson’s Landing on Lake Mohave and follow all local regulations, including the requirement for a valid Nevada or Arizona fishing license and the Nevada Special Use Stamp for lakes Mead and Mohave.

Enjoy your day on the water