Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States, servicing the water needs of around 25 million Americans. The lake is surrounded by serene desert landscapes and towering mountains, perfect for hiking, camping, horseback riding, and more! A handful of boat launches, docks, and marinas service Lake Mead, giving visitors access to its nearly 250 square miles of navigable water.
To fish on Lake Mead, anglers need a Nevada or Arizona license. A Nevada license can be acquired on the Nevada Department of Wildlife’s website. Anglers can fish around the clock but must adhere to posted signs, such as those protecting hatchery areas, and respect private property.
Unfortunately, Lake Mead’s water levels are severely reduced due to a longstanding drought that has affected the river for over a decade. Coupled with the increasing demand for the reservoir’s water, the groups interested in this resource face the possibility of losing it forever. In addition, receding water threatens local wildlife that rely on the habitat provided by Lake Mead. Invasive species like the quagga mussel also endanger the quality of the lake.
Lake Mead Fish Species
1) Green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus)
Lepomis cyanellus is a small, green sunfish with an iridescent blue-speckled pattern and an ear spot just above its pectoral fin. They also have yellow to white edging along their pelvic and anal fins. An average green sunfish is around 7.9 inches (20 cm) in length. Although they rarely grow large enough to make a decent catch, they are considered delicious panfish.
To catch a green sunfish, an angler should try to fish in areas with abundant aquatic vegetation and refugia in the form of sunken wooden debris. One source suggests placing live bait such as a worm or crickets on a bobber rig.
Green sunfish are nest spawners, a trait that is characteristic of sunfish. The green sunfish diet mainly consists of aquatic invertebrates, although they sometimes predate upon smaller fish. When introduced, green sunfish compete with other invertivores and have been responsible for several local extirpations of native species.
2) Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Lake Mead is considered one of the best locations to fish for largemouth bass. Due to their large size, aggressive temperament, and high-quality table fare, the largemouth bass is one of the United States’ most famous and commercially important sportfish. While the smallmouth bass maxes out at around 27 inches (69 cm), the largemouth bass can reach sizes up to 38 inches (97 cm). As a result, they are often stocked throughout the United States in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs for angling. Like the smallmouth bass, this species constructs large nests and the males will protect the nest after spawning in the spring.
They can tolerate a wide range of habitat types, from swamps to rivers, and eat any suitably sized fish, crustaceans, or amphibians. Largemouth bass are even known to be cannibalistic! Their flexibility in habitat and diet make them excellent competitors in any body of water; however, they require warm water, more than 50° Fahrenheit (10°C), to reproduce successfully.
Largemouth bass tend to occupy nearshore areas during the spawning season and when feeding. During most other seasons, anglers will require a boat to find largemouth bass hiding in deeper waters. The best time of the year to fish for largemouth bass is between May and September. Anglers can use a variety of baits and lures to catch one. Large live baits, such as minnows and earthworms, are best. An angler is limited to 6 black basses per day at Lake Mead; which are fish in the genus Micropterus.
3) Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
The famous bluegill is a well-known panfish sought after by novice and experienced anglers. Their appearance is most similar to the green sunfish (L. cyanellus). Bluegill, and most other sunfish, possess a black spot on the edge of their operculum, the bony flap that covers their gills. While the green sunfish has a light halo around its black spot, a bluegill lacks such a halo. Additionally, the body of a bluegill is generally rounder than a green sunfish’s. Both species hybridize with each other and additional sunfish species, making identification somewhat challenging for hybrid individuals.
One exciting aspect of bluegill biology is their mating system which consists of two types of male behavior: parasitism and parental care. A male’s reproductive strategy seems to correlate with his age of sexual maturity. For example, parasite males (i.e. male bluegill who sneak into a mated pair’s nest to fertilize eggs) typically mature at two years of age, whereas males who partake in nest building and parental care mature at around seven years of age. This phenomenon is intriguing, although very little research has been conducted on it since the 80s. According to the Nevada Department of Wildlife, when fishing for bluegill, it is recommended that anglers target areas along canyon walls for large specimens. Small live bait items such as minnows, insects, and crayfish snag bluegill.
4) Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu)
Commonly caught in the United States’ lakes and rivers, Lake Mead included, the smallmouth bass is almost ubiquitous throughout the country. Credit for its wide range is due to intentional introductions as sportfish stock. They are native to only a few water bodies east of Montana. Smallmouth bass are solidly greenish-gray and have striking red eyes. Their mouths do not extend past the farthest edge of their eyes, whereas the mouths of largemouth bass do.
Anglers can expect to catch smallmouth bass along rocky beaches and gravel beds. They are voracious predators and will consume most types of bait. This species will construct nests during the springtime spawning season to protect their eggs. Male smallmouth bass will defend the eggs until they hatch and can often easily be seen during this period. Some sources recommend targeting these protective males or using them as a clue that there are other smallmouth bass in the area.
Non-native smallmouth bass are responsible for reducing populations of native fish species via competition or predation. As with many other non-native species, they also hybridize with native relatives.
5) Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)
Like many other popular sportfish, the black crappie has been introduced throughout the United States to stock sportfish fisheries. Black crappies are sunfish with a dark, mottled appearance. An angler may harvest up to 25 crappies from Lake Mead each day.
Black crappies are typically small, with an average length of 10.8 inches (27.4 cm). Crappies are crepuscular hunters, meaning they feed during the morning and evening, so anglers should search for them during these times. They are also schooling fish, so more are sure to be present where one is found.
6) European carp (Cyprinus carpio)
The European carp is one of the most disastrous fish introduced to the United States. This species is omnivorous, consuming both plants and small invertebrates. In search of food, it digs up gravel beds, uprooting native plants and converting otherwise clear streams into murky messes that are unsuitable habitats for many native turbidity-intolerant species. Habitat conversion disrupts local ecosystems by destroying habitats and eliminating food sources for native species. In addition to being an ecological nuisance, the European carp is considered a sportfishing pest.
European carp are tough to eradicate once they become established, which is another reason they are such prolific invaders. Once established, land managers can eradicate populations of European carp via rotenone applications. Rotenone is toxic to fish and can be used to eliminate all fish in a body of water. That water body is then restocked, now free of any nuisance species. However, this process is not ideal.
7) Striped bass (Morone saxatilis)
Lake Mead is well known for its striped bass stock. Colloquially known as the striper, striped bass belong to a group known as the temperate basses (fish in the family Moronidae) which is not related to the black basses (sunfish in the genus Micropterus). One key difference between the two groups is their spawning behaviors. Temperate basses scatter their eggs and observe no parental care behaviors. Meanwhile, male black basses typically construct a nest and defend it until the larvae are old enough to fend for themselves.
The striped bass is silver with dark stripes running down its sides and a slightly forked tail. Most temperate basses also have two separate dorsal fins, one with stiff spines and one with mostly softer rays. It is native to the East Coast and has been introduced as a sportfish throughout the country. They are piscivorous and primarily predate upon small fish.
An angler looking for a striped bass should target them during the fall. One source recommends fishing strategies like trolling, jigging, and targeting feeding groups, commonly called “boils,” close to the surface. There is no limit for striped bass under 20 inches (51 cm), but anglers may only take up to 20 striped bass above 20 inches in length.
8) Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
The channel catfish has a forked tail like the blue catfish but has a round anal fin instead of a straight one. The average length for this species is 10 to 20 inches (25 to 50 cm).
Like the blue catfish, the channel catfish thrives in clear streams but can also tolerate turbid water and can survive in brackish water. Young channel catfish have the typical invertebrate diet seen in other catfish species. The adults consume various prey items. Channel catfish reproduction is temperature-dependent and is initiated when the water temperature reaches at least 75°F (23.9°C). When temperatures are favorable, male channel catfish construct a nesting area for females to lay their eggs. Males protect and care for the eggs until they hatch.
The National Parks Service suggests using live fish and nightcrawlers to catch a tasty channel catfish. However, they will accept a variety of meat-based bait, from squid and shrimp to hotdogs and processed bait. Up to 25 catfish per day may be harvested from Lake Mead per angler.
9) Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Rainbow trout are distributed throughout the United States thanks to their popularity as a sportfish. Another byproduct of their sportfishing popularity is the mixing of once distinct natural populations that are now more homogenized. This species was first intentionally introduced to Lake Mead in the 1960s.
Rainbow trout spawn from December to March and again from August to September in the Lake Mead and Lake Mohave area. Female rainbow trout dig nests, or redds, in gravelly substrate with optimal current and water conditions. The female and male rainbow trout will reproduce in the redd and leave the young to fend for themselves. Multiple spawning attempts will occur in a single spawning event, and a single female will dig multiple redds.
Typical items found in rainbow trout diets include insect larvae and small fish such as the threadfin shad. As a result, standard baits used for this species include worms, insect larvae, and local bait fish. There is a five-trout limit at Lake Mead.
10) Humpback chub (Gila cypha)
Historically common throughout the Grand Canyon, the humpback chub can now be found on the endangered species list. This chub has a unique appearance, a distinctive hump behind its head, and red and white fins. It is illegal to kill or possess humpback chubs.
Population declines are attributed to habitat fragmentation, resulting from dam construction and an invasive species of tapeworm, Schyzocotyle acheilognathi, which infects and kills humpback chubs. Predation by non-native species also contributes to population declines.
Humpback chub feed on arthropods, small fish, and phytoplankton. Spawning occurs from spring to summer when they scatter their eggs above the substrate.
11) Razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus)
The razorback sucker is brown with a light-colored belly and a prominent hump just behind its head. Razorback suckers lack red pigment on their pectoral fins and lobed caudal fin. They can grow to be about 36 inches (91 cm) and are long-lived, known to live for up to 40 years. It is illegal to kill or possess razorback suckers. One recovery strategy that is being implemented by conservation teams is to raise razorback suckers in captivity until they are too large to be eaten by larger predatory fish.
12) Bonytail (Gila elegans)
While similar in appearance to the humpback chub, the critically endangered bonytail or bonytail chub has a thin caudal peduncle (the fish’s tail before the caudal fin begins). They are so rare in the wild that they are considered functionally extinct. This species is adversely affected by predation pressure from introduced species, pollution, and habitat fragmentation. They require contiguous, swift, deep river habitat that is disrupted or destroyed when impoundments are created by damming a river. It is illegal to kill or possess bonytail specimens.
Bonytails are omnivorous, consuming a variety of invertebrates and plant matter. Their ecology and biology are not well understood but they are thought to be spring spawners. They can reach an average length of 14 inches (36 cm). For such small fish, they are surprisingly long-lived, with a maximum lifespan of 50 years.
Bonytails are incredibly rare. Anglers should immediately return any individuals captured at Lake Mead to the water. Additionally, anglers should report the instance to the local parks and wildlife authorities.
13) Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)
The western mosquitofish can be found throughout most of the United States’ waters. It thrives in diverse habitat types and is tolerant to adverse conditions like pollution, low oxygen, and temperature fluctuations. However, they are notoriously aggressive and make fierce competitors in their niche.
That niche includes an omnivorous diet of insects, insect larvae, zooplankton, and algae. They reproduce from April to September, when a male puts on a display for the female. After mating, the embryos develop within the females, and then the females give live birth. They can reproduce multiple times during the breeding season. Western mosquitofish are short-lived, rarely living past 15 months. On average, they are around 2.7 inches (7 cm) in length.
They are used as mosquito control in some areas to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, although their efficacy as biocontrol agents is debated. In some areas of the western United States where they have been intentionally or unintentionally introduced, mosquitofish have contributed to the decline of native species that occupy the same niche, such as the Railroad Valley springfish (Crenichthys nevadae).
14) Texas cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus)
Cichlids are a staple of Central and South American waters, with very few species native to the United States. One such species is the Texas cichlid, also known as the Rio Grande cichlid. Cichlids are challenging to distinguish from sunfish, but one easy characteristic to look for is the number of nostrils. Cichlids have one pair, while sunfish have two. Some individuals are beautiful with dark or cream-colored bodies and blue, iridescent spots. As a result, they are sometimes kept as aquarium pets.
Habitat requirements for Texas cichlids include slow-moving water bodies like creeks, ditches, and lakes with abundant submerged vegetation within which they hide. Their diet includes worms, invertebrates, and plants. The typical length for this species is 4.4 inches (11.2 cm).
Texas cichlids become aggressive toward other fish during the mating season; in captivity, males are even known to kill incompatible females of the same species. Both sexes change color during breeding, and males develop a nuptial hump on their backs. The female lays eggs on a covered surface, allowing the male to fertilize them. Both adults will protect their young by guarding the school of baby fish and allowing the fry to hide in their mouths should danger be present. Often cichlids avoid eating during this period.
15) Banded cichlid (Heros severus)
Another cichlid found in Lake Mead is the banded cichlid. This species was likely introduced to the lake as an abandoned pet fish. Like the Texas cichlid, it can be distinguished from sunfish by the number of nostril pairs, with cichlids having one pair and sunfish having two. This species is pretty, with a dark-colored body and contrasting iridescent blue and orange colors on the margins of their fins. It is no wonder that some people enjoy keeping them in aquaria!
The possible impacts of their introduction to Lake Mead are unknown as of writing this, although one can assume they compete with native fish that occupy similar niches. They share the same reproductive strategy as the Texas cichlid, wherein the adults protect and care for the eggs and young fish until they can fend for themselves. This includes allowing baby fish to hide in the adult’s mouths. Adults can take part in these parenting behaviors for up to six weeks.
16) Livebearers (Poecilia spp.)
This species belongs to a group of live-bearing fish like the western mosquitofish or guppies found in aquarium stores. Several species are present, including the shortfin molly (P. mexicana), the sailfin molly (P. latipinna), and guppies (P. reticulata). Shortfin mollies are non-native to Lake Mead but still occur in shallow rivers and caves, sometimes in large numbers. Sailfin mollies and guppies have a broader habitat preference, although they do not tolerate rapid temperature fluctuations. These fish species are generally small, averaging between 1 and 1.5 inches in length (2.5 to 3.8 cm).
Females select for larger, more colorful males. As a result, male livebearers tend to grow larger than females and sport longer, flowing fins with vibrant color patterns. These traits are inherited by the father young. Females are dull-colored in comparison. Livebearers eat plants and some microorganisms, as well as insect larvae.
17) Speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus)
Speckled dace are extremely common throughout the western United States. This small minnow sports yellow to olive colorations with a light underside and sometimes dark-colored spots. Their fins have a slight rusty hue.
This species is a generalist in diet and habitat, able to adapt to various habitat types. Speckled dace most frequently consume detritus and insect larvae, a diet that has allowed them to become so widespread. As a result, they are an essential food source for many larger animals. While not sought after as a food fish by humans, they can be reliably easy to find and are subsequently used as bait for larger sportfish enticed by live bait.
18) Black bullhead (Ameiurus melas)
Black bullheads are predominantly dark-colored catfish with yellow-olive underbellies. Like the yellow bullhead, the black bullhead has an expansive range stretching from northern Mexico into southern Canada. They have been introduced to other areas throughout North America and place predation pressure on endangered species like the imperiled humpback chub. They can be found in warm, turbid water bodies with soft, muddy substrates, and they prefer slow currents but do not do well in areas with other predatory fishes.
Young black bullheads eat insect larvae and other small invertebrates, whereas adults consume a variety of organisms, including mollusks, plants, and fish. During breeding, females construct nests, but both sexes protect the young.
19) Woundfin (Plagopterus argentissimus)
The woundfin’s range is highly restricted to only a few river systems, and the species is critically endangered and very rare. In addition, very little is known about this species. Alteration to natural stream structure, habitat degradation, and invasive species introductions have resulted in their decline. Two species, the red shiner (Cyprinella lutrensis) and the Asian tapeworm (Bothriocephalus acheilognathi) are the main culprits.
20) Threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense)
Most anglers are familiar with largemouth bass and bluegill, but we often think far less about the fish that feed these amazing sportfish. Threadfin shad are small, silver fish with a black spot behind their gill covers and a long, threadlike projection on their dorsal fin. This projection is common among shad species, and it extends more than halfway toward the threadfin shad’s caudal fin. This species stays relatively small, maxing out at around 9 inches (23 cm).
Threadfin shad is one of several typical silvery herrings that comprise the bottom and middle of fish food chains. Phytoplankton and zooplankton are the preferred food items for threadfin shad. They filter their food from the open water. Often, threadfin shads are introduced to reservoirs and lakes to provide a source of food for large sportfish, as is the case with Lake Mead.
21) Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)
Another common bait fish that is widely distributed throughout the United States by humans is the fathead minnow. This highly prolific species produces hundreds of thousands of young within a single season. Their rapid reproductive rates allow them to quickly take over new habitats and compete with other species that occupy the same niche. Additionally, a high abundance of fathead minnows is associated with decreased amounts of insects which may adversely affect other insectivores in a habitat.
Fathead minnows are legal to purchase from bait shops around Lake Mead and make great bait for species that love small fish.
