Lake Mead National Recreation Area - Fishing at Lake Mead National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)

Invasive Mussel Found at Lake Mead

Live quagga mussels (a nuisance invasive species closely related to, and commonly referred to as zebra mussels) were discovered in Lake Mead on January 6, 2007 at the Las Vegas Boat Harbor marina. In order to not spread the mussel to Lake Mohave and other bodies of water, please follow the suggestions below.

Effective ways boaters (including personal watercraft, canoe, and kayak users) and fisherman can ensure that their boats, vehicles, trailers and other equipment do not become the means of infecting other waters:

Drain the water from your motor, live well, and bilge on land before leaving the immediate area of the lake.
Flush the motor and bilges with hot, soapy water or a 5% solution of household bleach.
Completely inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see.
Wash the hull, equipment, bilge and any other exposed surface with hot, soapy water or use a 5% solution of household bleach.
Clean and wash your trailer, truck or any other equipment that comes in contact with lake water. Mussels can live in small pockets anywhere water collects.
Air-dry the boat and other equipment for at least five days before launching in any other waterway.
Do not reuse bait once it has been exposed to infested waters.

Additional information can be found at the www.protectyourwaters.net and www.100thMeridian.org.

Fishing Information

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).

Fishing at Lake Mead

A trout stamp is required in addition to any other use stamps if you intend to catch 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

A person may fish with a second combination of hook, line and rod, if he/she has in their possession a "Second Rod Stamp" in addition to a fishing license.
No more than three baited hooks or fly hooks or two lures or plugs may be used attached to a single line.
The fishing rod must be closely attended when the line is in the water.

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.

Fishing Boat on Lake Mead

ETIQUETTE

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

HOURS AND SEASON

Both lakes 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.

For More Information:

Fishing at Lake Mead National Recreation Area

For further information on Arizona regulations contact:

Arizona Game & Fish Dept.
5325 N. Stockton Hill Rd.
Kingman, Arizona 86401
(928) 692-7700

For Nevada regulations contact:

Nevada Division of Wildlife
4747 Vegas Drive
Las Vegas, Nevada 89108
(702) 486-5127

Current Fishing Reports:

Nevada Division of Wildlife - Weekly Fishing Report
Arizona Game & Fish Department - Weekly Fishing Report