During the dog days of summer in southern Nevada many area residents avoid outdoor activities. Fishing is no exception.

But for fishers in the know, late summer offers some of the best fishing of the year on Lake Mead. When daytime temperatures soar over 100 degrees, savvy anglers try fishing at night to beat the heat.

Lake Mead is home to many species of fish, but perhaps none are more sought after than the striped bass.

During summer months, threadfin shad, the main food source for stripers, are found in abundance in many coves. As water temperatures rise, the shad gather in large schools and the stripers happily feed upon the small fish.

This feeding can be seen as "boils" on the surface of the lake as the bass slap the shad with their bodies and then feed upon the stunned fish. Much of this feeding takes place at night, making the cooler hours after dark an optimal time to fish. The trick to finding stripers is observation.

Striped bass by nature don't stay in any one area, but cruise around the lake searching for shad. Find the shad and you've found stripers. Look for gulls, other fish-eating birds or even groups of other anglers to indicate large concentrations of the baitfish.

When fishing a promising area, use lures that imitate the small silver fish. Sassy Shad, Kastmasters, and Rattletraps all often work well.

Striper aren't the only fish for night owls. Catfish are another popular fish for night fishing, as these creatures are most active during night hours as they search for food. Catfish are seldom caught on lures, with baits such as chicken gizzards, hotdogs, and anchovies, all good baits for catching fish.

There are a few safety tips to keep in mind when driving around Lake Mead at night. Not all the access roads end at the shoreline and many are hazardous close to the water due to soft sand, gravel, and mud.

For information on open access roads contact the National Park Service at 1-702-293-8907. Rattlesnakes and other wildlife are more active during night hours and caution should be taken when walking along the shoreline.