10 January 2026
Winter Trout, Stripers, and Smallies on the Colorado River Below Lake Mead
Colorado River Las Vegas Fishing Report Today
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This is Artificial Lure with your Colorado River Las Vegas fishing report.
Out here below Lake Mead, the Colorado is running clear and cold, classic winter conditions. River flow is steady and manageable, and with no real tides to worry about on this inland river, current is driven by releases out of Hoover, not the moon. Best bite is lined up around the morning and late-afternoon current swings.
According to the National Weather Service Las Vegas, we’re sitting on cool desert highs in the low 60s, lows in the 40s, light winds, and high pressure overhead — bluebird winter days. Local sunrise is right around 6:50 a.m., with sunset near 4:50 p.m., giving a tight but productive window, especially that first hour of light and last hour before dark.
Recent reports from Nevada Department of Wildlife and local shops along the river say trout plants have been steady in the Willow Beach stretch with rainbows in the 10–14 inch class and a few bigger holdovers pushing 3–4 pounds. Anglers working the deeper runs are picking up half a dozen fish in a morning when they stay on the move. Below Laughlin, smallmouth and striped bass catches have slowed with the colder water, but there are still schoolie stripers in the 1–3 pound range showing for folks slow-rolling baits in the channel.
Best producers right now:
- For **rainbow trout**: 1/6–1/4 oz Panther Martins or Rooster Tails in gold and black, small Kastmasters in silver/blue, and drifted nightcrawlers or salmon eggs on light fluorocarbon. Fly guys are doing well with small woolly buggers and egg patterns under an indicator.
- For **stripers**: medium swimbaits in shad or trout patterns, 1/2–3/4 oz jigging spoons, and cut anchovy or sardine on a sliding sinker rig. Work slow and deep; the colder that water gets, the more those fish hug bottom.
- For **smallmouth** in the rocky seams: 3–4 inch green pumpkin tubes, Ned rigs, and small craw-pattern crankbaits ticking the rocks.
Couple of local hot spots to circle today:
- **Willow Beach to Arizona Hot Springs**: Stocked trout in the deeper slots, with a real shot at a bonus striper shadowing the planters. Work the shade lines tight to the bank and any obvious current breaks.
- **Below Davis Dam into Laughlin**: Edges of the main channel and rocky points are holding scattered smallies and schoolie stripers. Focus on mid-day when the rocks warm a touch; target 15–25 feet with a slow lift-and-drop presentation.
Overall fish activity is classic winter: not fast and furious, but consistent for patient anglers. Think light line, natural colors, and slower retrieves. Midday can be surprisingly decent when the sun takes the edge off that cold water.
That’s your Colorado River Las Vegas roundup from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report.
This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
Out here below Lake Mead, the Colorado is running clear and cold, classic winter conditions. River flow is steady and manageable, and with no real tides to worry about on this inland river, current is driven by releases out of Hoover, not the moon. Best bite is lined up around the morning and late-afternoon current swings.
According to the National Weather Service Las Vegas, we’re sitting on cool desert highs in the low 60s, lows in the 40s, light winds, and high pressure overhead — bluebird winter days. Local sunrise is right around 6:50 a.m., with sunset near 4:50 p.m., giving a tight but productive window, especially that first hour of light and last hour before dark.
Recent reports from Nevada Department of Wildlife and local shops along the river say trout plants have been steady in the Willow Beach stretch with rainbows in the 10–14 inch class and a few bigger holdovers pushing 3–4 pounds. Anglers working the deeper runs are picking up half a dozen fish in a morning when they stay on the move. Below Laughlin, smallmouth and striped bass catches have slowed with the colder water, but there are still schoolie stripers in the 1–3 pound range showing for folks slow-rolling baits in the channel.
Best producers right now:
- For **rainbow trout**: 1/6–1/4 oz Panther Martins or Rooster Tails in gold and black, small Kastmasters in silver/blue, and drifted nightcrawlers or salmon eggs on light fluorocarbon. Fly guys are doing well with small woolly buggers and egg patterns under an indicator.
- For **stripers**: medium swimbaits in shad or trout patterns, 1/2–3/4 oz jigging spoons, and cut anchovy or sardine on a sliding sinker rig. Work slow and deep; the colder that water gets, the more those fish hug bottom.
- For **smallmouth** in the rocky seams: 3–4 inch green pumpkin tubes, Ned rigs, and small craw-pattern crankbaits ticking the rocks.
Couple of local hot spots to circle today:
- **Willow Beach to Arizona Hot Springs**: Stocked trout in the deeper slots, with a real shot at a bonus striper shadowing the planters. Work the shade lines tight to the bank and any obvious current breaks.
- **Below Davis Dam into Laughlin**: Edges of the main channel and rocky points are holding scattered smallies and schoolie stripers. Focus on mid-day when the rocks warm a touch; target 15–25 feet with a slow lift-and-drop presentation.
Overall fish activity is classic winter: not fast and furious, but consistent for patient anglers. Think light line, natural colors, and slower retrieves. Midday can be surprisingly decent when the sun takes the edge off that cold water.
That’s your Colorado River Las Vegas roundup from Artificial Lure. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a report.
This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI