BY MIKE STEVENS
LAS VEGAS— With the WON BASS Lake Mead Open (Sept. 10-12) on deck but still a couple months out, Western Outdoor News connected with WON BASS pro, Cody Steckel of Las Vegas. Steckel guides on Mead and Lake Mohave, so he had a lot of good insight in this Q&A session that applies to first timers and competitive anglers as well, and some of his intel might come as a surprise.
WON: What would be a quick overview of the bass fishery at Lake Mead for someone who knows little or nothing about it?
CS: It has the clearest water you’ll ever see, but there’s also dirty water, so if you like that, there are plenty of places to find it. There’s both largemouth and smallmouth bass, and they are pretty much in the same territories, and the fishing actually got a lot better since COVID because there was less pressure on the spawn. There was COVID in 2020 and the lowest water year in 2021 and most of the ramps were shut down due to low water, so they got two great spawn years and it’s made a huge difference. We are now seeing those 5- and 6-year old fish that are in the 5-pound range, and in the last 8 to 10 tournaments on Mead, winning weights had to be at least 17, 18 pounds per day when normally it was 11 pounds a day to win.
WON: What do you expect the fishing makeup of the lake to be in early September when the Lake Mead Open is held?
CS: Junk fishing 101. There will be topwater fish and jig fish out on points, and there will be fish up shallow down to 20 feet deep. Last year for the Lake Mead Open my two biggest fish came on topwater, and the next two days the fish were down deep in 15 to 20 feet of water due to the pressure.
WON: What other effects on the bass fishery did the big water level changes over the last 5 years or so have?
CS: We’re supposed to have our lowest water this year. I think it’s supposed to go down another 5 to 10 feet before WON BASS, and they’re doing a lot of work at the marinas to get the launch ramps up to speed.
WON: As a guide, what’s the top tactic for a client looking to put up numbers? The guy who just wants to get bit all day.
CS: The number one bait is a jig because we have so many crawfish, and it’s the easiest way to fish because any way you throw it, it’s going to get bit. The jig has been 90 percent of what I throw on Lake Mead every single time I go out there. It’s my favorite bait, and it’s hard to get it out of my hand.
WON: What about for someone who wants to target big bass?
CS: For your big fish it’s going to be either a topwater, chatterbait or a glidebait. Silver or white to mimic shad and stripers, because our bass will eat stripers. During the US OPEN, I caught a smallmouth on a 6-inch topwater and the fish threw up an 8-inch striper, and it was my second biggest fish on that day in that tournament.
WON: What’s a tactic that is effective at Lake Mead but it’s often overlooked?
CS: A lot of people overlook a Ned rig because it’s not the funnest thing to fish and it doesn’t look like it will catch anything big, but it will catch them and will catch big ones. It is NOT just for small fish.
WON: In the WON BASS Lake Mead Open in September, what do you think the makeup will be as far as what reaches the weigh-in stage, smallmouth vs. largemouth?
CS: I think in September it will be more even, but I think the winner will have mostly largemouth. But you will have some nice-class smallmouth that time a year.
WON: In a tourney situation, how often does having a game plan and sticking to it pay off as opposed to adjusting on the fly? I guess the question really is, how much can you plan on or is it best to just see what the deal is first?
CS: For Mead, you have to adjust. Yes, you’re going to have a game plan in your head. I always have my first three spots, but if you get a late boat draw, you’ve got to pick another spot on the fly. You have to be willing to totally scrap the plan and do something new. Mead changes daily with our water, and you can never have a set plan for a full 3-day tournament. Last year, each day was totally different, sguio I had to come up with something different bait wise or change locations. On the first day I did what I wanted to do, then on the second day I changed baits in the same spot, and on the third day I changed locations.
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Cody Steckel guides for bass or stripers on Lake Mead and Mohave, and he’s well equipped for family-style outings on a comfortable pontoon boat if needed. For more information, visit SteckelFishing.com or call Cody at (702) 206-9151.
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