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Rating depth structure for largemouth bass.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
157,900-acre reservoir near Boulder City. The lake tops out around 526 ft. The depth chart comes from U.S. Geological Survey bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Lake Mead's chart carries 464.9 miles of bank, with 44 islands in the mix. With a shoreline index of 11.6, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. Roughly 0% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. Call it 40.8 mi long by 29.9 mi wide at the broadest reach. Clark County claims this one. Its nearest charted neighbour, Colorado River (Willow Beach), is 23 mi to the southwest.
Spring puts striped bass in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 25 to 60 ft, wintering in 20 to 50 ft. Summer striped bass concentrate at Offshore hump, a prime-rated offshore hump around 43 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A topwater walker at low light or a paddletail on a light jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | 3-5 inch baitfish swimbait, Suspending minnow plug |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (43 ft) | Topwater walker at low light, Paddletail on a light jig |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (43 ft) | Baitfish swimbait, Metal jig |
| Winter | 20 to 50 ft | midday | open water | Slow paddletail, Bucktail near bottom |
Early season largemouth bass use the shallows, holding in 2 to 10 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 20 ft, then a winter hold in 15 to 35 ft. Put Marina / dock area first on the milk run — a dock line near 4 ft that grades prime for spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Marina / dock area (4 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | open water | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Spring smallmouth bass on Lake Mead hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 45 ft. The chart's best answer is Offshore hump — offshore hump, 43 ft, prime for winter. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Offshore hump (43 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Early season channel catfish use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Expect a summer slide to 8 to 25 ft, then a winter hold in 20 to 40 ft. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | open water | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | open water |
Spring crappie on Lake Mead hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 25 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 35 ft. The chart's best answer is Marina / dock area — dock line, 4 ft, prime for spring. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled).
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Marina / dock area (4 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 10 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 20 ft | dawn | Marina / dock area (4 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | open water | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Spring bluegill on Lake Mead hold shallow, usually 1 to 6 ft. They move out to 4 to 15 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 25 ft. Put Marina / dock area first on the milk run — a dock line near 4 ft that grades prime for spring. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. The summer box starts with a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Marina / dock area (4 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Marina / dock area (4 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Marina / dock area (4 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday | open water | Tiny spoon |
Lake Mead carries 35 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 504 ft down.
Access data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — community-mapped launches. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Nevada waters are set by the Nevada Department of Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Lake Mead specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Nevada fishing regulations →
Lake Mead is about 526 ft (160 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from U.S. Geological Survey bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target striped bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill on Lake Mead.
Offshore hump is the top-rated area: an offshore hump in about 43 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For striped bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Lake Mead is regulated by the Nevada Department of Wildlife. Check the official Nevada regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Colorado River (Willow Beach) 23 mi, AZ · Lake Mohave 43 mi, AZ/NV · Virgin River 56 mi, AZ · Gunlock Reservoir 82 mi, UT · Colorado River (below Davis Dam) 87 mi, AZ · Sand Hollow Reservoir 87 mi, UT · Quail Creek Reservoir 90 mi, UT · Baker Reservoir 93 mi, UT · Enterprise Reservoirs 96 mi, UT · Lake Havasu 102 mi, AZ/CA · Newcastle Reservoir 112 mi, UT · Kolob Reservoir 116 mi, UT
See how Lake Mead stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Nevada · best smallmouth bass lakes in Nevada · best crappie lakes in Nevada · best channel catfish lakes in Nevada
Browse all Nevada fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: U.S. Geological Survey. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.