How warm is Lake Mead on November 6?

About 66°F at the surface on the latest clear reading (on November 6). Shallow coves can run a few degrees warmer on sunny afternoons.

How deep is Lake Mead?

Around 530 ft at its deepest. It covers about 158,000 acres with roughly 759 miles of shoreline at full pool.

Where can I launch a boat on Lake Mead?

Named launch sites include Hemenway Harbor Launch Ramp, Pearce Ferry Take-Out. Check that your ramp is open and reaches the water at that day's level before you tow.

Lake Mead fishing report: largemouth bass and catfish in 66°F water

Lake Mead read 66°F at the surface on the latest clear reading (on November 6). That is right in the comfort zone for largemouth bass and catfish, with largemouth bass the best bet.

The level was 1,039.5 ft, 0.8 ft up on the week, 32 ft below normal for the season.

Where the season stands

Where does November leave a lake like Lake Mead? Late fall at this latitude is a season of short, strong feeding windows. Fish fatten up for winter, and they key on schools of baitfish that keep moving as the water cools. On Lake Mead at 66°F, largemouth bass and catfish fit that pattern best.

What's biting

Expect striped bass on Lake Mead to be a fair bet. This is a comfortable range for stripers and white bass; watch for birds diving on bait. Early-morning topwater, then they go deep.

On the same water, largemouth bass are in a good mood. The 60s are a sweet spot: bass are active, roam widely and will chase moving baits. They chase baitfish into creeks and coves.

Catfish on Lake Mead are in their comfort zone. In the 60s catfish feed more each night and roam channel edges. Evenings and nights are best.

Crappie on Lake Mead are worth a try. In the 60s crappie spread out over brush and docks in the 8 to 15 ft range. Try docks and brush at mid depth.

Surface water temperature on Lake Mead, °F. Each dot is a clear-day reading; cloudy days leave gaps.

Where to start

Our pick to start on Lake Mead is a point drop-off in 20 to 24 ft of water, marked on the map. The bottom falls away fast off this point; fish rest deep and move up the slope to feed. It is a good place for striped bass and largemouth bass; try swimbait or live shad where bait is.

Depth map of Lake Mead: shoreline, depth shading and contour lines, with today's free fishing spot and boat ramps — **Lake Mead lake bed.** Darker blue is deeper water; contour lines every 100 ft. The star marks the free spot named in this report (point drop-off, 20 to 24 ft).

See this spot in 3-D

Water level

The level reads 1,039.5 ft, 0.8 ft higher than a week ago and 1.9 ft up over 28 days. That puts it 32 ft below the usual level for this time of year. Rising water floods new cover along the banks, and fish move in with it.

Water level on Lake Mead, ft, over the last 28 days. Dashed line: normal for this time of year.

About Lake Mead

Lake Mead spreads over about 158,000 acres and roughly 759 miles of shoreline at full pool. At its deepest the lake reaches around 530 ft. Striped bass, largemouth bass and catfish are what most anglers on Lake Mead are after. Knowing which fish are comfortable at that day's temperature narrows a big lake down to a few good spots.

Tactics for that week

Set your depth for 66°F water: The surface is 66°F (on November 6). Start shallow at dawn, then slide deeper and toward shade as the light gets bright.
Tie on the right bait: At this spot, try swimbait or live shad where bait is. Largemouth bass: they chase baitfish into creeks and coves.
Work the edge, not the middle: Cover water with a moving bait first, then slow down with a jig or plastic where you get a bite. Position the boat in deep water and cast up onto the shallow side, so your bait falls down the slope the way fish face.