Lake Mohave Mid April 2025 Smallmouth Bass Fishing

The desert morning greeted us with that peculiar stillness that only those who've spent time in the Southwest truly understand. As I sipped my coffee on the porch of our modest desert retreat in the foothills above Lake Mohave, I watched the sun crawl above the horizon and paint the silhouette of Spirit Mountain red. Paulette was already bustling about, packing our cooler with the day's provisions—her special beans and smoked sausage mixture that had sustained us through countless fishing adventures, alongside some fruit cocktail for dessert.
I've always found Smallmouth fascinating creatures. Unlike their green cousins, the Largemouth Bass, Smallies prefer cooler, clearer water with rocky structure. Lake Mohave, with its clear Colorado River water and abundance of rocky coves, provides ideal habitat. The lake's clarity, often exceeding 30 feet of visibility, makes it both a paradise and a challenge for anglers.
"Post-spawn Smallmouth can be finicky," I continued for the camera, "They're recovering from the energy-intensive spawning period and often move to slightly deeper water near their spawning grounds. Look for points, drop-offs, and submerged humps near spawning flats."
After about a 15-mile run up the lake, we cut the engine and drifted into a promising cove on the Nevada side. Spirit Mountain loomed in the distance, its ancient presence a reminder of our temporal place in this timeless landscape. The Mojave people consider this mountain sacred, calling it Avikwame—the place where creation began. There's something humbling about fishing in the shadow of creation stories.

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