Boating a popular pastime at Lake Mead

L ake Mead is a boater’s paradise, especially when the summer temperatures soar past the century mark for days on end.

Boating is one of the most popular pastimes for Lake Mead visitors, and with 200,000 square miles of waterways, there are plenty of places to explore.

Boulder Basin is in the eastern region of the park and offers the most convenient access from Las Vegas and Boulder City. This is where most of the action is, so you can expect it to get crowded quickly during the summer months.

Callville Bay and Lake Mead marinas are excellent places for boaters to launch into Boulder Basin. Both marinas offer boat rentals, fuel, dining options and general stores stocked with snacks, beverages, bait and other necessities.

Bruce Nelson knows every inch of the lake, and he should. After all, his family has owned the Lake Mead Marina and Las Vegas Boat Harbor since 1957, and he has been boating there all his life.

“Of course the Hoover Dam with the backdrop of the O’Callaghan-Tillman bridge is always a popular place to go, and it’s a spectacular sight from the water,” said Nelson. “One of my favorite places is the Narrows and Wishing Well Cove. The contrast of the sheer canyon walls makes it one of the more special spots on the lake.”

Sandy Beach has the reputation of being the lake’s party beach. This is where the beautiful people go to party aboard their beautiful boats. Expect a lively, sometimes raucous, atmosphere and lots of company on the water.

If you’re itching for a peek at what lies below the water’s surface, you should know that Lake Mead is a haven for freshwater scuba divers of all skill levels. One prime spot for open water dives is just off the shores of the Boulder Islands.

Experienced wreck divers even have a choice — boat or airplane. Drop anchor off the Sentinel Island shoreline and you are right in the middle of what is known as Wreck Alley. Here is where you will find several boat wrecks, including the Southern Cross a 37-foot wood sailboat.

Qualified technical divers can explore the wreckage of a PBY-5a Catalina that crashed into the lake in 1949. The plane now rests in two sections at the bottom of Boulder Basin in an area parallel to Boulder Beach at a depth of more than 150 feet.

The bottom of Lake Mead is also the final resting spot for a World War II bomber that crashed in 1948. The B-29 wreckage is only accessible through guided technical tours conducted by Tech Diving Limited in Arizona.

The Overton arm of Lake Mead slices up through the northernmost region of the park and marks the confluence of the Virgin and Muddy rivers. This serene waterway is often less crowded than Boulder Basin and offers a more relaxed boating experience, especially during the peak season. Echo Bay Marina offers the closest access to this area.

Anglers will be interested in knowing that it’s fishing season year-round at the lake. Captain Greg Hess, owner and operator of Fishing Ventures in Las Vegas, has been guiding on Lake Mead for more than 13 years, and he says the fishing there has never been better.

“There is excellent fishing on the lake anytime,” said Hess, who offers charter fishing excursions aboard his boat, Taste Like Chicken. “The water levels may be low, but the lake is loaded full of fish and they are more concentrated, which makes them easier to catch. All you have to do is anchor down in almost any cove during the early morning or evening hours, drop your bait, and you are guaranteed to see some action.”

Hess advises boaters to head for Overton Arm during the summer months to avoid the crowds.

“I love to launch out of Echo Bay during the summer,” Hess said. “It’s mainly boaters on that side of the lake and you hardly ever see a jet ski, so you can fish.”

Peak season at Lake Mead Recreation Area is from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The park is open 24/7, 365 days a year with the exception of select beaches and other areas, which are designated for daytime use only and are clearly marked.