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Fishing Reports for Local Area - Location |
    
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 3:47 pm: | |
Subject: Lake Powell
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
October 3, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3626 Water Temperature: 69-72 F
Surface water temperature has now dropped to the 60's as a result of some wild and windy
weather. The temperature is great for fall fishing but the storm fronts have left bass and stripers
sulking lethargically on the bottom. Fishing has been slow since the storms and will remain so
until the weather moderates.
New light was shed on the mystery of the missing stripers in the lower lake. A huge striper boil
occurred on September 28th at the mouth of Gunsight Canyon. Ten to 15 boats surrounded the
boil and all caught at least one fish or more. Active stripers were then spooned up off the bottom
for an hour after the surface action stopped. Smallmouth bass were caught feeding with stripers,
especially just after the surface boil stopped. Stripers quit hitting at 9AM on Saturday and have
not been seen since.
Stripers caught from the boil were fat and stuffed with shad. Their condition indicated they had
been eating very well for some time. Fat stripers are hard to catch. Stripers have been few in
number in the lower lake and those that are left apparently have their choice of when and what to
eat. They feed only on shad schools which are more abundant than usual. Anglers only get their
chance when they are close enough to observe a quick striper feeding frenzy. The best time to
look is just as the sun is peeking over the horizon each morning.
Active stripers schools should be the target this week. Of course, the surface boil is easy to see
and marks the spot where stripers can be caught for the next two hours. But, if no boil is seen
use the graph to look for striper and shad schools. Shad show up as a round ball in the upper 40
feet while stripers are blotchy traces usually found 5 feet above bottom in 50-80 feet of water.
Spoons are the best way to be sure stripers are down there. The school often hits the spoon 2-3
times and then quits or leaves the area. At that point chum the area and fish anchovies for a
steady bite the rest of the day.
It is also possible to find shad on the surface. Return trips to Gunsight produced no stripers but
shad were found each day in the backs of very shallow coves. They go shallow hoping stripers
will not follow. The ploy has worked all summer but now temperatures are such that all stripers
can follow into the very shallowest cove. Look for striper boils lakewide in the very backs of
canyons and coves. These former shad strongholds will now turn into box canyons. Birds will
find the action immediately and be there to show you where to start looking.
Smallmouth fishing has slowed down with the weather but will heat up again. Bass fishing gets
better with distance traveled up lake. Hite and the San Juan is still good fishing with main
channel and Escalante being only fair.
Shad are very common in the lower lake with big schools in Warm Creek, Gunsight, Padre, Last
Chance. Stripers will eventually find them resulting in some good fall and winter fishing. |
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 18, 2002 - 5:30 pm: | |
Subject: Lake Powell
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
September 19, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3627 Water Temperature: 74-77 F
After covering Rincon and San Juan last week we headed uplake to electrofish and take
the pulse of those fisheries. On Monday we left Wahweap with the first stop at the inflow of the
Escalante River. Lots of shad there but we found fishing slow for bass and stripers. Next stop
Good Hope Bay. That’s a lot of lake to cover in a day. The survey showed good numbers of
smallmouth bass with lots of green sunfish for forage.
Despite working most of the night, morning’s first light found me searching for stripers.
On the run to the back of Ticaboo I noticed a great blue heron patiently waiting for fish. There
was no surface action in the back so I retraced my path. Near the mouth I saw the heron fly
across to the near shore. Then a flock of mergansers began half flying, half scooting along the
surface heading for the same rock the heron had perched on. That was enough for me. I idled the
boat in and cast to the heron’s rock. A striper immediately took the Jumpin’ Minnow. Two more
casts and two more fish. As soon as the surface lure quit working I dropped the spoon to the
bottom and picked up 6 more stripers all fat, healthy 2-3 pounders. When the morning sun hit
the water I quit fishing. Always get out early for the quick morning striper boil.
Stripers can be found mid day as well. While motoring around “The Horn” between 4-
Mile and Good Hope I noticed a dozen ravens congregated near a flat slickrock point. Moving in
closer I found the point dropped off into a cliff face. The first cast directly to the point was
ignored. The second cast to the left side produced a giant swirl and then a striper that snagged the
lure on the third pass. The boat drifted onto the shallow point, grounded and held, allowing me to
cast to deep water right off the stern without moving the boat. Each cast would get hit by a
striper as the surface lure crossed deep water then neared the ledge. The hooked fish would be
accompanied by the entire striper school as they tried to take the lure from his mouth. Each cast
was the same- twenty times in a row. The stripers would hit right at the cliff edge then all would
follow the hooked fish to the boat. What a sight! When their buddy disappeared into the boat
they dropped back over the edge into deep water waiting for another shad to swim by. My lure
seemed to be the only “shad” in the vicinity. Watch for Birds in striper country. They eat shad
fleeing from stripers and will hang around after the boil is done hoping for one more fish.
At Bullfrog the next morning was windy, with rain. Not the right conditions to find a
striper boil. But we went anyway as this was our only morning at this location. We tried the tire
breakwater at fist light. No luck. Then Crappie Cove. No fish. Then we cruised to the
Haystacks near Stanton Creek and saw 3 splashes in calm water near shore in the big cove to the
left of the rock structure. Each time we cast surface lures into the cove stripers would hit. The
wind carried us back out and we had to reposition the boat to return to casting range. Stripers hit
for an hour between 6-7 AM. As soon as the stripers quit smallmouth moved in to get any
leftover shad. We caught smallmouth to 2 pounds after the boil.
Stripers are boiling early each day in the mid to upper lake. Bass fishing is steady
everywhere. Bigger bass are feeding with stripers on top. The lower lake is not as good but
slowly improving. |
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 12, 2002 - 2:07 pm: | |
Subject: Lake Powell
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
September 5, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3627 Water Temperature: 74 - 70 F
We started the work week sampling midlake at the Rincon. We camped in one of the rocky
coves on the east shoreline halfway between Rincon and Long Canyon. After tying up the boat my
first move is to climb to high ground and scan the lake surface for stripers. It is easy to see them
come up to feed even from a long distance when looking down on the water. Most times I don’t
see anything and climb down the mountain to go fish for bass. But, sometimes I see some splashes
and then the chase is on.
Five successive splashes in the next cove sent us scurrying for rods and top water baits. The
stripers had sounded by the time we got the fishing gear in the boat and made it around the
corner. But blind casting surface lures where they had been brought them right back up. The
stripers were feeding in small, widely scattered groups along the shore and even way out in the
middle of the bay. The overcast sky probably helped and let them feed for a longer than normal
time. We found boils starting at 3 pm and continuing until dark. It was possible to get close
enough to catch one or two from each small boil. After chasing splashes for two hours we had a
dozen stripers. These 3-pound fish were the fattest stripers seen in years.
Smallmouth fishing at the Rincon was just as good as always. Long miles of rocky shoreline
harbor thousands of bass. Single tail grubs worked like magic morning and evening and were
steady during the day. Small bass were ever present but bigger bass were caught on top with the
boiling stripers and on the bottom with shad type spoons in coves where stripers were seen
boiling.
Next we traveled to the Piute/Neskahi area on the San Juan. We choose one of many pleasant
coves, parked the boat and climbed the hill. This time no stripers were seen. Bass fishing was the
same with the expected awesome results during the day and then it got better in the evening. Two
anglers caught 15 bass in 45 minutes. The standard single tail grubs in various colors worked just
fine. After dinner we caught 8 catfish off the back of the boat in less than an hour.
We then worked most of the night electro-shocking fish to see how well this year’s young fish
had survived to this point. We measured and counted them to see how well they have grown and
to estimate population strength for the next year. We found lots of smallmouth and sunfish at both
Rincon and San Juan. There were many more threadfin shad encountered in the San Juan than at
Rincon or Wahweap. Shad were numerous in the backs of shallow murky coves where they like
to spend the night. These were some of the largest (6 inch) threadfin shad encountered on the
trip. My guess is the smaller shad have already been converted to bass and striper fish flesh but the
bigger adults are safe from bass predation from all but the largest adults.
We did see a small boil right at camp while eating breakfast the next morning but it was just
out of casting range and didn’t last long enough to catch any fish. They looked like the fat 3
pounders again as they threw water high in the air with the splashes backlit by the sun. What a
sight! We could have spooned the bottom in mid cove to find the hungry fish but we had to move
on to the next location. We will sample more areas and report our findings in the next few weeks.
Striper boils are randomly occurring from Hite to Reflection Canyon. Seeing a boil is not
guaranteed but when one is encountered the event is special and unforgettable. Stripers are fat
and strong! |
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 04, 2002 - 3:48 pm: | |
Subject: Lake Powell
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
September 5, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3627 Water Temperature: 76-80 F
Last week’s report of poor fishing was proven wrong in a few places. Bullfrog Bay was the place
to be for striper fishing. Stripers were boiling from first light to mid morning and then again in the
evening. The action was in mid bay and quite visible from Bullfrog Marina to Halls Creek and
into the main channel. While the boils are not very long lasting a few stripers can be caught from
each one and they pop up quite often and are very entertaining to chase. When boils quiet down
there are more stripers to catch by trolling down riggers or leaded line at 45 feet in the general
area where boils were seen. Use a Little Mac, Shad Rap or Wally Diver behind the down rigger
cannon ball.
Hite was next best with only a few stripers boiling here and there. There was some decent bait
fishing for stripers right at main channel buoy #132. Visit the bouy early and late for fast action
on anchovies during twilight periods. Battleship Rock and further back in White Canyon was
good for bait fishing and produced a decent bite with shallow running lures cast to cruising
stripers.
Smallmouth bass fishing at Hite ranges from good to excellent. Top water lures, spinner baits and
crank baits were taking smallmouth and largemouth bass and sunfish in good numbers. The quick
reaction baits were out performing soft plastic grubs which indicates bass were chasing bait fish
up in the water column. These aggressive fish eaters can be caught in a hurry on top and just
under the surface on shallow running crankbaits.
There was a school of stripers in Reflection Canyon that boiled early and late and then ate
anchovies during the day. The San Juan was slow last week with very few striper boils and only
average bass catching. Guess I better define average! In the San Juan average bass fishing is
better than good bass fishing downlake.
The lower lake was only fair for smallmouth and stripers were nonexistent.
I expect fishing to be quite similar this week. That means Bullfrog and Hite will be the preferred
fish catching destinations. The water is cooling, though, and that will jump start bass fishing in
the lower lake and San Juan.
The absence of striped bass in the lower lake remains a mystery. Fish for smallmouth bass if
heading out of Wahweap and if you do happen to encounter stripers be sure to lets us know so we
can spread the word. |
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 5:30 pm: | |
Subject: Lake Powell
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
August 29, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3628 Water Temperature: 77-82 F
Water surface temperatures finally dropped out of the 80's. This is the first sign of cooling and its
long overdue as far as Lake Powell fish are concerned. Since the end of June the lake’s surface
has had an 80 degree lid covering an ever deepening layer of warm water. Warm water is lighter
and floats on top of cold water. This process is called stratification. The long, hot summer has
made the uniform warm water layer almost 60 feet thick. If bottom depth is less than 60 feet
temperature is 77 F from top to bottom. The temperature drops quickly after that until it reaches
the coldest range which is 46 degrees. That’s the temperature of water released through the dam
from the bottom of the lake
Some fish don’t like the thick warm layer. Adult stripers simply can’t live in water that warm.
Swimming in the warm layer will kill big stripers after a short time. School-size 2-3 pound stripers
tolerate the warmth but they need to dive to deeper water periodically to cool off. Little stripers
and small bass like the warmth just fine and they have the run of the shallows this time of year.
Shad use the warm layer for protection from the bigger predators. They never get deeper than 35
feet in the summer making it difficult on large predators who must swim through at least 25 feet
of hot water to find food. Shad compound the problem by moving well back in the canyon where
lateral distance to cool water may be a half mile. Once isolated in this manner prey fish are
separated from predators. When the journey gets too arduous the predators finally quit making
the trip and just wait for cooling.
That is the fish mind set anglers are facing heading into the Labor Day weekend. Many fish have
quit making the trip and are in deep cool water where metabolic rate is slower and waiting is more
comfortable. Striper fishing is tough from Hite to Wahweap. Bait needs to be 45 to 60 feet deep
to entice stripers. Adult smallmouth are less effected by warm water. They can move up and
down at will but they are choosing to stay at 30-40 feet now. Stripers and larger bass are not
very willing to participate in your holiday weekend fishing trip.
What can you catch? The overabundant population of 7-10 inch smallmouth is still shallow and
still catchable on soft plastic grubs. Catfish really like warm shallow water and they are constantly
prowling looking for food. They can be caught ant time. Bigger stripers can be taking on
anchovies and spoons at 60-90 foot depths mid way back in major canyons that have shad in the
shallow back end. When graphing today I found shad in most canyons in the lower lake, including
Navajo, Warm Creek, Gunsight, Padre, Kane Creek and Kane Wash.
My only bright spot happened very early this morning. I saw fish jumping in Gunsight Bay as
long as the water was shaded from the morning sun by Gunsight Butte. Surface lures cast to the
scattered fish produced some nice 13 inch smallmouth bass. This can be duplicated in the evening
just before or at dark. Larger bass come shallow to feed on shad at twilight. For best results go
early and stay late. Expect fishing to get better when water temperature drops in to the low 70's. |
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 21, 2002 - 3:20 pm: | |
Subject: Lake Powell
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
August 22, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3629 Water Temperature: 79-82 F
Fishing is always great at Lake Powell but catching may get better after the Labor Day weekend
when water surface temperature begins to cool and the recreational boating crowd lessens. The
striper boils at Hite and Bullfrog have diminished as the night sky gets brighter. Smallmouth
fishing is still steady. The ever present bronzebacks will provide some action on even the
toughest fishing day. Catfish are still the best bet for catching a few fish on Lake Powell.
With fishing a bit off there is still some important fishing news to be reported. While sampling
fish in the upper San Juan 6 young gizzard shad were collected. A single adult gizzard shad was
captured in the same location during June 2000. No more were found until the young shad were
seined last week near Nokai Canyon. We suspect that gizzard shad are now reproducing in Lake
Powell.
Gizzard shad are known to compete with other young fish for food. They grow much quicker
than threadfin and attain a much larger size. Their presence could negatively impact survival of
young fish in Lake Powell and other Colorado River reservoirs and tributaries where they will
eventually spread. But gizzard shad are more prolific than threadfin which means there will be
more free swimming larval fish available for all larger fish to eat in early summer.
Considering only Lake Powell, the potential colonization of the lake by gizzard shad probably has
more pros than cons. Striped bass and smallmouth are currently more abundant than their food
supply. If bass and striper survival is lessened by competition for food that may have a positive
effect. The fish that do survive may have more shad to eat and grow bigger and stronger.
Adult gizzard shad will grow too large for bass to eat each Fall. Some may even out grow the
predatory range of all but the largest striped bass. But the hungry, overabundant striped bass
population will prevent gizzard shad from stockpiling unused energy in excessive old adult shad.
The long term outlook is that threadfin shad will remain the major forage fish but their population
will be supplemented by large adult gizzard shad which will produce a continual supply of shad.
The net result will be more stable sport fisheries in size and physical condition. Now the only
question that remains is how long it will take gizzard shad to completely colonize Lake Powell. It
may be as soon as 2 years or it may take longer than 20.
We don’t know for sure but it is quite certain that gizzard shad came downstream from Morgan
Lake which is a power plant cooling reservoir on the San Juan River near Ship Rock NM..
Gizzard shad were accidentally stocked there in 1998 with a load of largemouth bass from the
federal fish hatchery at Inks Dam TX where gizzard shad are commonly found in the river water
used to service the hatchery. After the discovery of gizzard shad in Morgan Lake another
hatchery truck was found to contain 5 species of unwanted fish, including gizzard shad, with the
bass intended for Morgan lake. |
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 07, 2002 - 5:15 pm: | |
Subject: Lake Powell
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
August 8, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3632 Water Temperature: 79-85 F
It’s a sad day in the history of the fish report. I have lost track of the stripers in the lower lake.
They have eluded me for the second week in a row. There may have been some uplake
movement of stripers as they search for more abundant shad forage. My journey from Wahweap
includes stops in Navajo Canyon, Gunsight, Padre, Last Chance, and Rock Creek. Stripers are
gone for all I know. In actuality they are probably right where they have been all year. They may
start to bite any day now. If you find them please let me know so I can pass out the word and we
can all start catching stripers once more.
Uplake is a different matter. As predicted two weeks ago striper boils have started at Bullfrog.
Early morning striper surface action has been reported in the main channel from Buoy 95A to
Buoy 99. Much of the area is bounded by steep canyon walls. Stripers are trapping shad right
against the wall so the feeding activity is often only one fish length from the wall but may be
hundreds of yards long. The “skinny boil” may look more like a boat wake smacking the wall
than feeding fish so look carefully at every splash. Feeding starts at first light and continues until
about 9 am or until boat traffic puts the fish down. It may be difficult to get a surface lure to stay
in the narrow feeding zone. Sassy shad and spoons that hit the wall and fall straight down may be
needed to get the best catch rate.
Boils continue at Hite. But good news travels faster than the wind. Much fishing pressure has
made fishing boils very competitive. It is difficult to fish a boil by yourself since the feeding area
is quite small. Boils range from Hite to Two Mile Canyon. Morning and evening are best but fish
will feed all day long. Probably the best striper catching will be done by those fishing on the
bottom with spoons where the boil was last seen.
The best surface fishing striper spot is the upper San Juan. It is so hard to get there with no road
access that anglers are few and those that are there have the boils to themselves. It is not
necessary to go all the way to Zahn Bay. In fact, boils are less common above Spencers Camp.
Good catches have been reported from Piute/Neskahi and along the Great Bend. Boils are
common but spoons catch as many fish as surface lures. Full size Zara Spooks, or Super Spook
Jr.’s work great while fish are on top but just as soon as they dive drop a Wally Lure Shad
Minnow, Hopkins Shorty or Kastmaster to the bottom to catch spooked but hungry stripers.
Spoons resemble injured shad falling out of the school and fit the striped bass prey search image
perfectly.
Smallmouth bass fishing remains good. I caught one fish per spot today which is average. Select
the breaking edge of reefs, and the terminal ends of rocky points for best success. I move quickly
from reefs to points instead of fishing an entire mile long rock slide. I think that results in more
fish at the end of the day. With water still warm the deeper, slower presentations like drop shot
grubs, and heavy jigs fished at 25-35 feet may be the best approach. I like to use surface lures for
the first two hours of daylight and find that hard to beat. |
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 31, 2002 - 4:50 pm: | |
Subject: Lake turnover??
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
August 1, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3634 Water Temperature: 80-85 F
The very best fishing this week will be found in the evening on shallow sandy beach areas where
catfish prowl searching for food. Fish any sandy place a boat can be beached for best success.
Cats are caught quickly with soft stinky baits like chicken liver, anchovies, and table scraps. The
plain old night crawler is a hard bait to beat. Some visit the grocery store and purchase out of
date shrimp or imitation crab meat for a real catfish treat. Use a carolina or drop shot rig with a
light weight or just put a piece of bait on a #4 hook with no weight and cast into shallow water
(5-15 feet). This is one time that shore anglers can do better than boat anglers. Set up the lawn
chair and enjoy the warm evening. Shore fishing is good in marina areas and near boat ramps and
docks. A bonus striper may be attracted to some anchovy chum and it won’t hurt the cat catching
either.
Stripers in the main lake, which is anywhere other than Hite and the upper San Juan, are feeding
in small groups or individually. Shad numbers are small and a large striper school just hinders
feeding when only a shad or two can be found. Striper schools have broken down with individual
stripers chasing slow swimming larval shad. As shad grow larger and faster, stripers will have to
school up to effectively catch the elusive little bait fish. The bigger stripers will not even chase
scarse larval shad because the food reward does not offset the energy spent in the chase. Catch
scattered stripers by trolling at 4-5 mph to cover as much water as possible. Near Bullfrog, try
trolling the wall opposite Moki canyon in the evening or at any location where ghost boils are
seen.
Look for schooled stripers to be holding at 30-60 feet in the backs of canyons where the main
channel bottom depth is 60 feet. These fish can still be effectively caught on bait with lots of
chumming required to get them started. Look for schooled stripers in West Canyon, Last Chance,
Dry Rock Creek, Mountain Sheep, and Reflection canyons. Don’t fish in the backs of canyons
where depth is less than 30 feet. The 83 degree water is just too warm for fish. They need deeper
water to cool them off periodically
A trip to Hite or the upper San Juan will result in at least one good boil and will be worth the
effort. Catching striped bass is almost a sure thing in the San Juan upstream from Spencers Camp
and from Trachyte to Hite. Stripers are really quiet every where else on the lake.
Smallmouth fishing is getting better. There is little bass fishing pressure and the ever present
shallow reefs are providing good fishing to the first angler to fish them each day. Drop shot grubs,
senkos, tubes and lead head jigs are paying off very well. Early morning is good for topwater
response from bass and stripers. Mid morning from 9-11 AM may be the best time of day to fish
for bass. |
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 12:21 pm: | |
Subject: Lake Powell
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
July 18, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3635 Water Temperature: 79-85 F
With full moon, a recent storm front with high winds and dropping barometric pressure, then
throw in a holiday weekend and Lake Powell is facing some of the most difficult and challenging
fishing conditions of the year. Just be patient and enjoy some excellent boating, playing and
expect fishing to improve each day as the moon darkens.
If you are going fishing anyway there will be fish to catch. Get out early! The air temperature is
cool. The morning shadows make many fishing spots much better than they are with bright sun
shining on them. Early fish are more active and the chances of catching one are greatly increased.
The first fishing option is to scan the surface for striper boils. Boils are more likely in the upper
lake near Hite but they have been seen in all lake areas. In the lower lake the boils are quick and
small. We call them “ghost boils” because by the time you get in casting range the fish are gone.
Ghosts have been seen at the south breakwater of Wahweap Marina, Antelope Point, Navajo
Canyon, Castle Rock and the main channel between Warm Creek and Padre.
There are more shad near Bullfrog now than anytime during the past 5 years. Expect boils there
within the next two weeks. Trachyte Canyon near Hite and the San Juan above Spencers Camp
are the best spots to be for consistent striper fishing this week. Boils are subtle and scattered due
to the moon effect, but stripers will still rise to surface baits randomly cast to points and coves.
Working a surface with a Super Spook Jr, or mid depth with a Rattletrap or bouncing the bottom
with a jigging spoon will put many stripers in the boat by the end of a trip.
There probably isn’t a day when smallmouth can’t be caught. They are on every reef and along
every shoreline in Lake Powell. In tough conditions the catch may be small or it could reach 20-
30 or more. The most effective technique is to throw a soft plastic grub to the terminal end of a
fast breaking rock point. Start near shore in shallow water and bounce the grub on the rocks
down the point until it passes 30-40 feet. Swim the grub back to the boat and then cast to a new
area and repeat the process. Most bass are small and the pickup may be subtle. Any change in
tension or pressure on the line calls for a quick flick of the wrist to set the hook on a feisty bass.
Bass fishing is better uplake where forage conditions are better. Expect to catch more bass per
trip at Hite and the upper San Juan than at Bullfrog/Halls and Wahweap.
The summer peak is the best time to fish for catfish. They prowl along sandy beaches which are
very abundant at these low lake levels. Use a soft, smelly bait like chicken liver or anchovy.
Place the bait on a dropper with a weight on the bottom (drop shot) or just fish it weightless on a
#4 bait hook. You may want to chum the area with anchovies to draw in nocturnal stripers to
your lighted campsite. Fishing after dark is delightful with cooler temperatures and a bright moon
which allows better visibility than on many other nights. |
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - 6:06 pm: | |
Subject: Lake Powell
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
July 18, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3637 Water Temperature: 77-85 F
Lake Powell is dropping like a stone with not much water coming in and a whole lot going
out to meet summer power demands. The uplake passage from Wahweap past Castle Rock is
getting narrow and has been designated as a wakeless speed zone. The passage will remain open
for perhaps the rest of the summer. But take the time to slow down in the congested area and do
not pull riders on water toys (as I saw happen today) with so many boats cruising in the same
area at the same time.
I tired all the same bass spots that were so slow last week and was pleased to find that the
smallmouth were back on feed. Last week I caught only one bass per spot. This time it was 3-5
fish per spot and some times more. The habitat to look for is a long tapered point in a bay that is
mostly slick rock cliffs; or a submerged reef surrounded by deep water. The critical element is
shade. Look for a rock terrace with an overhanging lip. Bass will be in the shade created by the
rock above and respond quickly to a bait invading their line of sight.
I kept a dozen smallmouth and examined stomachs. Small crayfish were well represented.
Looks like a new hatch of crayfish has the bass in the mode for feeding. I filleted the bass and had
them for supper. It doesn’t get any better than baked smallmouth bass fillets. The limit is 20 so
keep the 9-11 inch fish that are so common and easy to catch.
I didn’t see any striper boils in the lower lake. We have heard reports of small boils near
Castle Rock, and in the main channel, and in Navajo Canyon. These boils were at mid day or in
the evening. None of my anchovy spots were productive this morning.
The place to be for striper action right now is Hite. Striper boils this past week were
intense and duration was incredible. The action centers around the confluence of White, Farleys
and Trachyte canyons. Boils start at first light and continue on and off throughout the day. There
are huge numbers of shad in this short section of narrow main channel. Stripers are as thick as the
shad and the action is intense. It is uncertain how long this incredible surface action will last so
make a trip as soon as possible. Boils often simmer down with full moon and then return as the
moon darkens. Plan your striper boil trip accordingly.
Some rules of etiquette may be appropriate. Never drive through a boil that someone else
is fishing. Stop short and cast to the closest edge of the surfacing school. Boat noise of any kind
will send the feeding fish down or in a direction opposite from the offending boat.
Some tricks that will maximize your catch from each boil. As the boat slides to a stop cast
out the side instead of in front of the boat. The boat’s forward momentum will not allow you to
reel fast enough to make the lure work. When a fish is caught don’t net it and risk getting the
hook caught in the net. Swing the fish into the boat and drop it on the floor. Pick up another rod
and cast to the boil again before unhooking the first fish. After 3- 4 fish pile up or the boil quits
then unhook the fish in the boat. Boil fishing is crazy and should be experience by everyone at
least once. It is the most exciting fishing that happens in freshwater. |
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 6:17 pm: | |
Subject: Lake turnover??
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
July 11, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3639 Water Temperature: 78-85 F
We have found the heat of summer and its hovering over Lake Powell. Surface temperature is at
its peak. Bass don’t really care. They still move up and down to feed and hide. They are as deep
as 40 feet and as shallow as they can get depending on their mood and time of day. There is much
more activity at night. It is pleasant for anglers to be about their business in the cooler evening
hours and fish seem to respond to the quieter times when most recreationists have called it a day.
Fishing early and late is certainly best. I recommend avoiding mid day fishing. The direct sun is
brutal even with ample layers of sun screen, a big hat, and lots of liquid. But morning is delightful
and a quiet time to fish.
Bass fishing has slowed in the lower and mid portions of Lake Powell. Last week we caught 3
fish per spot. This week it was only one. But come to think of it. One fish per spot is really
okay. Try to place the soft plastic bait directly in the very best looking shade pocket. Let it rest
for a minute, then gingerly pick it up and start a swimming retrieve. Often a slight pressure
indicates a hitch hiking fish that has chomped onto the tail but is not hooked. Jerking this fish just
dislodges the bait. Try dropping the rod tip, taking up the slack and then setting the hook when
these short biters are encountered. A swimming bait that suddenly dives often convinces the
swimming fish to grab a little more lure. The repositioning of the bait in the fishes mouth is often
enough to allow the hook to do its job. Bass fishing is still excellent near Hite and in the upper
San Juan.
The afternoon breeze draws smallmouth out of the deep shade pockets to the top of the reef.
When the wind blows at 20 mph or less head for submerged reefs to get some of the best fishing
of the day. Swim grubs, spinnerbaits or crank baits across the reefs for fast action.
The big news is striper boils, but they too are better at Hite than Bullfrog or Wahweap. The main
channel between 4-Mile Canyon and Hite is the hot spot. Boils are better early and late but they
have happened at many times during the day. Expect boils to continue for the next 6 weeks in the
upper lake and to get progressively better in the lower and mid lake each week. This week look in
the backs of canyons, morning and evening where shad may be found feeding.
Where shad are scarce anchovies are still working. Target terminal ends of prominent points in
the main channel. At Wahweap stripers have shown up at the fishing dock and at the gravel pile
which is on the north side of the boat rental marina. Shore fishing at Wahweap with easy access
is possible once more and large numbers of stripers can be caught from boat or shore in daylight
or evening hours on the man-made gravel point. The natural points in Wahweap Bay and Navajo
Canyon are steadily producing about 3 stripers per hour of fishing to those patiently fishing
anchovies at 20-40 feet. |
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 - 1:05 pm: | |
Subject: light reading on ANS
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
July 4, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3640 Water Temperature: 77-85 F
Have a safe and exciting holiday weekend. With all the boating, swimming and wake boarding
make some time for an early morning fishing excursion. There is no better time to enjoy Lake
Powell than at dawn when the colors come alive and change minute to minute for the first hour of
the day. Bass and stripers consistently feed in the subdued light each morning and this may be
the very best hour for catching fish.
Striped bass are starting to boil and will be found chasing shad on the surface from 4 to 9 AM.
Cruise to the back of the canyon watching for individual splashes or full blown surface boils.
Once sighted cruise within casting range, turn the boat parallel to the direction of feeding activity
and cast a surface lure like a Zara Spook or Super Spook Jr. just beyond the splashing fish. Then
reel it quickly back across the ripples where the fish were last seen. Bouncing the rod tip makes
the lure return in a side-to-side manner which is the desired effect. If you have trouble making
your lure “walk-the-dog” then just tie on a rattle trap and rip it back through the school with a
straight quick retrieve. The ‘trap catches more fish but the topwater lures offers a visual effect
that is unforgettable.
After boils cease, fish anchovies while hopping from one prominent point to the next. Chum the
point and fish weightless anchovies for 15-20 minutes. If stripers don’t start biting within that
time move to the next point and try it again. When the school is contacted stripers can be caught
in big numbers in a short time. Look for boils in Navajo, Last Chance, upper San Juan, Bullfrog,
Halls, and all the canyons from Good Hope to Hite. The boiling action is repeated at sunset as
well as sunrise.
Smallmouth bass fishing has slowed in the lower and middle portion of the lake but is still
excellent in the San Juan and near Hite. Bass catch per spot is only half what it was last week
That means on each rocky shoal expect to catch 2 or 3 bass before moving to the next spot with
sharp breaking rocks that offer shade and crevices for bass to hide and ambush prey. Moving from
spot to spot will still provide 20-30 bass at the end of each trip.
Catfish are at their peak. They favor sandy spots that allow boats to beach. At dusk toss a chicken
liver bait onto the sandy beach right behind the boat. Night fishing for stripers is a good
technique, as well, but the boat must be anchored in water that is deeper than 40 feet. Use a
floating crappie light or lantern to attract bait fish then fish 10 feet above the bottom under the
light.
Sunfish are found in big boulder habitat on prominent points and along rock piles protruding from
the steep cliff wall. Use live worms and small hooks for these abundant and colorful pan fish. |
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 5:54 pm: | |
Subject: Lake Powell
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
June 27, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3641 Water Temperature: 75-83 F
The pesky full moon is shining bright each night. I expected to find fishing for bass and stripers to
be less successful due to the bright moonlight but I was pleasantly surprised to find both bass and
stripers doing the same things in the same places.
Smallmouth are the best bet. They are along the main channel from Wahweap to Hite and willing
to eat plastic jigs and grubs all day long. We found smallmouth on the edge of each rocky reef
fished. The bigger fish were definitely caught earlier in the day. Water depth fished was only 5-
15 feet. As the sun climbed higher in the sky the average size of bass caught declined. There
were many schools of 8 inch bass seen in the shallows and these fish can be caught on an eighth
ounce jig head and 2 inch curly tail. The bigger smallmouth (up to 14 inches) were taken on 4
and 5 inch single tail grubs, tubes, senkos. It really didn’t seem to matter which type plastic bait
or shade of green, smoke, or pumpkin that was used. An agreeable fish would hit almost any
color when the bait was placed in its path. I did find less success with chartreuse and white but
still caught fish on both colors.
Despite constantly declining lake levels largemouth bass carried off a good late spawn. This past
week schools of black fry have been sighted near the surface guarded by a largemouth male. This
is late for spawning and fry spawned in May will perhaps have a better chance of survival. The
lack of brush in the water makes survival more difficult for largemouth fry which hide in brush,
which is noticeable absent. Smallmouth fry will fare much better since they seek the protection of
rocks when danger threatens.
Striped bass are on the move but still generally found in the main channel. The presence of larval
shad in the murky water in the backs of canyons will attract the smallest stripers to those
locations. Schools of 8-12 inch stripers will team up to feed on the slow-swimming shad. The
first boils of the season will soon be seen as the small stripers line up shoulder to shoulder and
mow the shad crop from the surface. Larger fish will join the action next month and boil intensity
will increase.
For now the bigger stripers are cruising the channel looking for crayfish on isolated rock piles
jutting out from the cliff wall. Fishing rocky main channel points with a good dose of chum and
anchovy bait is the best system for striper catching success. Chum one point and move to the next
if no stripers are caught in a short time. It is likely that stripers will be found on every third to
fifth point fished.
Walleye are still showing up with one or two being caught on each smallmouth fishing trip. Green
sunfish are an additional bonus. Catfishing is getting better each week. Remember to keep all the
stripers caught and a 20-fish limit of 9-11 inch smallmouth bass. Your harvest will help Lake
Powell fisheries remain healthy. Eating fish is good, healthy meal for you too. |
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 19, 2002 - 12:52 pm: | |
Subject: Lake Powell
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
June 6, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3642 Water Temperature: 73-78 F
Surface water temperature has reached the normal summer minimum range of 73 degrees. That
means fish are slipping into summer patterns and will now be very predictable each day as they
develop a routine that will hold up until temperature starts to drop in the fall. The general summer
pattern is feeding at first light til mid morning with a slack period at mid day and then more
feeding in the evening. During full moon periods there will be more night feeding and less during
the day. Dark moon periods are better for catching fish during day light.
Smallmouth bass fishing is excellent from first light to mid morning. Fish topwater baits during
low light periods and then dredge along the bottom with plastic tubes, grubs and worms. A
technique, new to some, that has worked well this week is the drop shot system where the weight
is placed at the end of the line and the plastic bait is looped two feet above the sinker. The
suspended grub mimics a minnow holding horizontally above the bottom. Naturally curious bass
see the different presentation and swarm to take a closer look. When fishing slows down toward
mid day using a different look may extend the catching period.
The summer smallmouth location is the deep side of rocky points usually in the deep main channel
or main canyon. Broken rocks which hide crayfish are the most productive substrate to target.
Shad are hatching out so bass will be chasing fish up in the water column early in the morning
and bass may be suspended at that time.
Striped bass have begun their random nomadic migration in search of food. Moderate size schools
are found in almost every canyon on the lake. They search shallow water early mornings looking
for spawning shad. Later in the day they move deeper to rest with periodic journeys into shallow
rocky areas to look for crayfish. A good strategy is to cast surface lures and shallow running
crank baits toward shore near the back of the canyon early in the morning. Then later in the day
try chumming rocky main channel points and shade lines along the steep cliff wall. Fish 1/3
anchovy with a small weight or no weight at all. Try each point for 15-20 minutes. If no action
then move to the next point. It won’t take too many points before a school is found. Watch the
descending chum for fish movement. Stripers will often come very shallow and can be seen
taking the bait.
During the hot months it is very enjoyable and productive to use a light and fish at night. Once
the sun sets relaxing with a baited hook is a great way to spend a few cool hours. A lantern
works but a submerged light is better. Find anchorage along a steep wall or better yet anchor the
boat fore and aft in 50-60 feet of water where stripers are likely to be. The light will attract bait
fish and plankton which will be seen zipping around the light. Most stripers will be caught on
bait about 10 feet above the bottom. Watching the graph will be very educational as stripers and
many other species will be picked up by the transducer. Move the bait up and down to match
depth where fish are seen The catch at night has potential to exceed that during the day.
Walleye are still showing up. Catfish are hot at dusk and after dark |
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 12, 2002 - 6:35 pm: | |
Subject: Lake Powell
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
June 6, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3643 Water Temperature: 69-75 F
You may ask how the fish report is generated. It is actually about as scientific as the art of fishing
can be defined. Each Wednesday morning I go to the same stretch of shore line and use the same
lure and see how many bass I can catch in 30 minutes. Then I go to the same main channel
striped bass spot and try for 30 minutes. After fishing the standardized spots I experiment with
lures, presentations and techniques that were successful to see if they can be duplicated in other
locations. If they can, a pattern has been identified and that information can be passed along in
this report with some reasonable assurance that it can used by other anglers to catch fish.
This morning the first shallow reef produced only one little bass. The next spot was better as
grubs were cast from the main channel toward shallow coves at the edge. Bass were on the deep
water break from 5-15 feet instead of on top of the reef. Experimenting further along the main
channel targeting the same “outside structure” was terrific. Two anglers caught 29 smallmouth
from 6 to 14 inches in 2 hours. All bass during the first hour were taken on a watermelon pepper
(color 194) Yamamoto 4 inch single tail grub. Then a smoked silver sparkle grub was used and
found to be equally effective. Two bonus walleye and some green sunfish were captured while
fishing for bass.
The striper spot was next. We pulled into a rock island point jutting into the main channel
between the mouth of Navajo and the Power Plant Intake. On one side of the point there is
shallow water which tapers gradually to 25 feet. On the other side the steep cliff face falls 200
feet to the Colorado River bed. The transition point is perfect for stripers to lurk in deep water
and then zip over the lip to probe under rocks for crayfish. A deep water escape route is close at
hand. There is abundant plankton in the main channel water column for the smaller schooling
stripers to eat if no crayfish are found.
I tie to the rocky point and then chum 6 finely cut anchovies on the deep water side. Then I put
an anchovy tail on a circle hook (Yamamoto No. 4 Gamakatsu split shot). The weightless bait is
cast out with the chum and the descent of both is studied. Some day’s nothing happens meaning
the stripers are not there or unwilling to bite. Other days stripers rise to the bait immediately and
can be seen flashing around the free floating chum and often can be see inhaling everything - even
the hook. Today was one of those often hoped for but seldom realized events. Stripers
immediately hit the free-falling baits and continued to hit as fast as they could be reeled in, taken
off and put in the cooler. Then the rods were quickly rebaited and cast out once more. During
the next 30 minutes 18 stripers were caught and many more were hooked but lost. Five bonus
catfish were caught in the process. Remember to chum a little each time a fish is caught.
Even though summer has arrived with warm temperatures and increased lake activity the fishing is
still excellent. Today’s results were superior to many days in March and April. Great fishing
experienced in May was similar to conditions found today. Do not put away the fishing tackle yet.
There are still plenty of smallmouth and stripers to catch. Walleye and catfish are hitting much
better now than they did in May. This is really fun. |
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 05, 2002 - 6:48 pm: | |
Subject: Lake Powell
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
June 6, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3644 Water Temperature: 68-75 F
Lake Powell is a visual delight. The lack of runoff has kept the water crystal clear. During high
runoff the lake is normally murky as rising water mixes sand and clay into the lake. This year it is
possible to see the bottom at 20 to 30 feet in most places along the main channel. The visual
display adds to the fishing experience. Schools of tiny smallmouth bass have just hatched out and
they are seen in active schools darting along the surface near shore. Carp are beginning to spawn
and will be seen splashing in the shallows. Catfish are probing shallow rocks looking for crayfish
and they can often be seen whiskering-sweeping along the bottom. Sunfish are in jumbles of big
rocks and will come out and look and then sometimes bite right below the boat. Walleye are
showing up in increasing numbers in the lower lake and maintaining a high catch rate in the upper
lake. Use live worms if serious about catching some of these tasty fish.
Smallmouth are just as visible as sunfish and maybe more curious. A plastic grub dropped to the
bottom will often be followed and consumed. Watch the bait and set the hook as a bass grabs the
bait and runs. Bass are still lurking around the steep drop-off at the edge of a flat or terrace. Cast
to shad pockets on the sharp edge of a reef. Bottom depth may not be more than 3-5 feet but it
helps to have a sharp enough drop to make shade. Perfect habitat is marked by a combination of
bright yellow shallow water with a dark blue or black edge where the reef falls into deep water.
Cast to the spot where the colors join. Bigger bass will be more wary. A long cast to the shade
pocket may get a bigger strike than a short cast to a visible fish under the boat. Plastic grubs,
tubes, and senkos are working very well in the right habitat.
Striper schools are feeding on crayfish along the edge of the main channel where a rocky reef
borders deep water. Individuals or small schools may be seen cruising along the deep water edge
or over a shallow flat. Stripers are dark on the back and can be confused with other fish. But a
number of quick moving fish will most likely be stripers while slower dark fish shapes may be
carp, bass or walleye. Polarized sun glasses are a necessity for sight-fishing.
When a striper school is seen throw anchovy chum into deep water right next to the shallow flat.
Follow that with a weightless anchovy on light line with a circle hook (size 5). The slow sink rate
of the bait is just the ticket for shallow stripers who will often be seen darting around the bait and
the chum just as it disappears from sight. Sometimes a single flash is the only indication. If you
see this sign good things are about to happen. After the flash, quietly anchor, tie up or use the
electric motor to hold position. Noise from the boat spooks shallow fish and will reduce catch
considerably. The shallow school will be more likely to move after a few minutes and it may be
necessary to find a number of schools throughout he day. Chum a few pieces of bait continually
to keep stripers near you. Try main channel edges from the dam to upper Navajo and the Narrows
leading to Padre Bay.
Mid lake stripers were recently caught at the mouth of Lake Canyon directly across the bay (west)
from Bullfrog marina. Near Hite check out White Canyon near Battle Ship Rock for stripers in big
numbers on bait. The reefs west of Castle Butte in Good Hope bay are good as well. |
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 29, 2002 - 5:35 pm: | |
Subject: Lake Powell
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
May 30, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3644 Water Temperature: 66-72 F
It feels like summer. Water is warming. Days are getting longer and brighter with lots of
sunshine. There is a full moon at night. All of these signs tell fish to change what they have been
doing and get ready for summer. The transition period is sometimes tough on fishermen who
temporarily lose contact with fish. And sometimes fish just stay where they are and take the day
off.
Bass fishing has slowed down. A week ago we were catching 4-5 fish on every decent
fishy- looking spot. Now we are only getting 1 or 2 at the same locations. Fishing is still good but
catching is slower. When bass act this way some of the countermeasures include: downsizing the
bait to a lighter jig head and shorter plastic bait. Or put on a bigger grub and more weight and fish
much deeper (30 feet) and slower. Another option is to use the split shot (carolina rig) technique
where the plastic bait is impaled on a small circle hook trailing 18 inches behind the split shot or
pegged weight. The free floating grub is a slower presentation and matches the fish mood better
than the fast falling grub on a jig head.
Locations with shad like the upper San Juan are not effected as much by the changing
season and moon phase. But the main lake with clear water calls for slightly different
presentations and tactics than the week before. Smallmouth are still found on each rocky ledge
although sometimes they are only seen and not hooked.
Striped bass are changing patterns as well. Fish holding in large schools in the main
channel for weeks are now scattering into smaller groups and foraging on plankton and crayfish.
Traditional spots like the dam, intake and points in Navajo still produce a 10-20 stripers for
patient anglers but the action is much slower than that found in early May.
Look for striper schools on small isolated broken rock piles or points near the main
channel or main canyon walls. Shaded rocks jutting out from a sheer cliff are prime locations for
a group of striper to forage for crayfish. Stripers are still visible and can really be seen in the clear
water foraging along shallow flats at the canyon’s edge.
A good strategy is to cut up some chum and place it on ice in a sandwich baggie. Fish the
rocks and points for bass until stripers are seen. Then throw the chum and replace the plastic
grub with a piece of anchovy. This is where the slit shot rig is ideal since it is the perfect rigging
technique for both plastic grubs and anchovies.
Use polarized sunglasses to view structure and identify fish passing under the boat.
Channel catfish are being seen just about as often as stripers. React to the presence of each
species of fish seen by changing lures or presentations. I use a combination of fishing rods with
different lures attached to allow me to react instantly to a new fish swimming by. Of course
smallmouth seen under the boat can often be caught by dropping a jig right in front of the curious
fish. Channel catfish are flighty during the day in clear water. Just mark the spot and return at
dusk to catch a large sack of catfish. Bluegills are fun on small hooks and live worms and may
save the trip if prepared to catch them. |
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 22, 2002 - 6:28 pm: | |
Subject: Lake Powell
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
May 24, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3644 Water Temperature: 60-70 F
The fish and lake are recovering nicely from the big wind and ugly cold front that blew by.
Water temps that dropped into the 50's are now back to the low 60's and fish appreciate that.
They are swimming back to shallow water where they are easier to catch.
Smallmouth bass fishing has been downgraded from fantastic to just real good. Areas
more distant from access areas are often better than structure close to marinas where fishing
pressure is more intense. That fishing pressure has reduced numbers and perhaps allowed fish to
grow bigger (but also smarter) near marinas.
Bass remain on the breaking edge of reefs and around steep rocky shore lines. Bass have
moved onto flats and some are still nesting in really shallow water. When casting on a flat, target
rocks with shade pockets instead of mundane open water without any structure. Precisely
targeting each cast to drop as close as possible to specific structure will increase your catch. Bass
are more likely to bite as the lure falls on the initial entry into the water. They often chase the lure
back to the boat on a fast retrieve but the ones that are caught will hit on the first drop. If a bite is
missed just open the bale and drop the lure to the bottom to get another crack at the same fish.
Soft plastics baits (tubes, grubs, senkos, worms) are working best but crankbaits and
surface lures are almost as good. Keep moving and targeting habitat similar to the spot where the
last fish was caught. That’s called pattern fishing and it really pays huge dividends. I suspect that
early morning fishing will be better than mid day with shad now spawning at first light and with
cloudless, long days driving the fish deeper when the sun is high.
Stripers are still hitting in previously reported downlake locations especially from the dam
to upper Navajo. Don’t forget to look in shallow coves along the channel to find visible schools
of stripers sunning themselves and eating plankton. The Bullfrog area has shown definite
improvement with stripers hitting very well at the mouth of Halls Creek, midway back in Bullfrog
Bay and on the walls near Bouy 102. Stripers in the San Juan are stacked in huge schools in the
extreme upper end of the canyon near Donkey Island just downstream from Copper canyon. Just
troll a shad imitating crankbait where main channel depth is 25 feet to catch as many fat stripers as
you can reel in.
Fishing for all species is excellent at Hite. The mudline is near 2-Mile Canyon but less
than normal runoff has reduced driftwood and allowed more visibility so fishing is good in both
clear and muddy water. Access is excellent and launching possible from the dirt ramp. Look for
fast action for stripers, walleye and smallmouth in the area from Hite to Good Hope. Fishing
pressure has been heaviest in White Canyon and North Wash so you may want to fish other
canyons.
Catfish are getting really active in shallow muddy water near inflowing water in the backs
of canyons. One typical hotspot is located in the back of Navajo Canyon. Travel to the upper end
until water gets muddy and a green algae bloom is seen floating on the surface. Find the only 50
yard long sand spit suitable for camping. Fish chicken liver or other soft, smelly bait at dusk for
fast action. |
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 15, 2002 - 6:23 pm: | |
Subject: Lake Powell
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
May 16, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3644 Water Temperature: 60-68 F
There is no discernable spring run off into Lake Powell which continues a very slow decline. The
fall in lake level is not fast enough to disrupt spawning bass or dry out nests. In most year’s the
spring flood covers the shore line so fast that bass seem to get lost in the process. That’s not the
case this year. Bass are right where they have been since they started to spawn. That makes them
easy to find. The short term drought effect is that fishing remains excellent for smallmouth and
stripers. Walleye fishing is good with bluegill and catfish coming on strong.
Nightly low water temperatures are finally at 60 degrees which has caused a whole generation of
small bass and stripers to move shallow and actively pursue food. The bigger fish are still hitting
but catch rates have doubled when all the little ones are counted up at the end of the day.
Bass fishing is at the spring peak. On the San Juan smallmouth fishing is somewhere between
awesome and fantastic. Midlake is great to excellent. Downlake is good near Wahweap and better
upstream from Last Chance. The very best bass catching habitat type is stair-step terraces with
big steep steps, broken blocky rock and lots of shady pockets. Check outside reefs, outside
points, sharp breaks on the edge of flats and big (2-3 foot) blocky rocks. Long flats, slick rock
domes, and the backs of canyons and coves are not as good but bass can be caught virtually
anywhere. Stay on the “outside” away from the back of a cove for best results.
Soft plastic single and double tail grubs, tubes, soft and hard plastic jerk baits and crank baits are
all working well in the correct habitat. Greens, pumpkin, and smoked with black and red flakes
and sparkles are preferred plastic colors but it is difficult to find one that won’t work. Weightless
senkos are working particularly well.
Striped bass have moved SHALLOW in the lower lake. Warmer temperatures and a dense
plankton bloom have main channel stripers near the top and eating microscopic animals. Find
schools by visually scanning shallow water near the narrow main channel from the dam to upper
Navajo Canyon. The best places to start looking are the first corner downstream from the mouth
of Antelope; the coves on the Main channel downstream from the mouth of Navajo Canyon on
the reservation (east) side; The points upstream and downstream for the first set of double islands
in Navajo Canyon. Further uplake the hot spot is the back of Last Chance where the muddy water
and clear water meet.
Stripers in the back of canyons where water is green-stained to brown-muddy can be caught best
on shad imitating crank baits trolled or cast. Main channel plankton feeding stripers can not pass
up a small chunk of anchovy on a small hook without weight swimming gallantly in the midst of
free falling chum. It’s a grand sight to watch the striper school scooping up the free chum and
then the hook. Sight fishing for stripers is a hoot. |
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 09, 2002 - 1:13 pm: | |
Subject: Lake Powell
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
May 9, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3645 Water Temperature: 58-64 F
Lake level continues to fall with outflow more than doubling inflowing water. It is not as cold at
night which allows some of the heat gained during the day to be retained over night. Fish are
really enjoying the warming trend with some of the best catching of the season happening right
now.
Bass fishing is really heating up with smallmouth being taken virtually everywhere on the lake.
Main channel rocks with rough edges and steep, quick drops seem to be the best habitat type.
Bass are eating crayfish and soft plastic grubs may be the best crustacean imitation. But don’t
hesitate to cast crankbaits. Bass seem eager to chase this spring. Both hard and soft baits with
red flake or red flash are working very well. Rapalas, husky jerks, lucky craft, and wally divers,
all seem to draw attention from frisky bass. Remember to keep a 20 fish limit of 9-12 inch bass.
Smallmouth are abundant and keeping the small ones will allow the remaining fish to grow larger.
May is walleye month at Powell. Fish drop offs, deep rocks and the deep center slot in slick rock
canyons first thing in the morning. Walleye are light sensitive and will be most active during low
light periods. If serious about finding a walleye use a piece of live night crawler as added
enticement to a plastic jig. Trollers will find a few by bouncing a “hot-n-tot” or similar lure across
the ends of points or by bumping the trolled lure against the steep canyon wall.
Striped bass may be at the spring peak now. Many fish are found in the main channel and can be
caught on anchovy bait still fished at 30-50 feet. Remember to chum often to maximize your
catch. Different striper schools are in the backs of canyons where water depth is 20-40 feet where
they are eating small insects as they hatch out of the mud on the bottom. Find potential feeding
sites by watching for swallows skimming the surface. Birds are eating the same prey and are
easier to see than fish. Insects are small but stripers will always grab a stray fish or artificial bait
swimming by. Troll for the scattered stripers that are not schooled but feeding individually over a
wide area of hatching bugs. Long thin deep diving lures that get down dive 10 -20 feet like wally
divers, thundersticks, Yo-zuri crystal minnow and are just what the stripers want. Stripers that
chase lures are normally in better shape than those that can only find bait. Remember to keep all
the stripers caught. Powell is blessed with too much survival from stripers and removing some
leaves more prey for those that remain.
These insect feeding stripers may be found in Wahweap Bay near Wiregrass canyon, the shallow
end of Last Chance, and Halls Creek. There may be adult shad in the same locations. The water
color will be stained and bottom depth about 20-30 feet.
Hot spots for school stripers in the channel are the dam, intake, Navajo (points past first island).
But stripers are becoming wary of boat traffic and will move away from large rafts of boats. Try
to find a spot away from the group to do better than average on school fish that shy away from
the main group of boats. Stripers will be anywhere in the main channel in the lower lake right now |
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 01, 2002 - 6:10 pm: | |
Subject: Lake Powell
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
May 2, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3645 Water Temperature: 56-65 F
Spring weather alternates between hot and calm followed by cold and windy. Fish really
respond to hot and then get blow away by windy conditions. The fish activity cycle is really
predictable since it has be replayed 3 times in the past 3 weeks. Winds cool the lake surface
temperature to 56 and fish quit biting. Then as soon as it calms down surface temperature pops
back above 60 and fish start biting all over again.
Bass are spawning. Nests are found in shallow water on a rocky bottom very near a deep
water escape route. The male guards the nest, is very visible and sometimes easy to catch.
Females are in deeper water near by. Bass are aggressive and will chase lures. Now is a good
time to cast crank baits in bright colors along the breaking edge of a reef, terrace or point. A bass
chasing a lure often turns away but the curious fish will often follow a plastic grub dropped to the
bottom near where he was last seen. Have both offerings ready when a bass comes tearing after
the lure. We suggest keeping and eating smallmouth bass between 9 and 12 inches and releasing
those over 12 inches. We hope this practice results in faster growth for smallmouth bass.
Striped bass have been congregated in prespawning schools for the past 3 weeks. They
have been found in the main channel near current of inflowing (tributaries) or outgoing water
(dam and intake). The next warming trend (surface temp exceeding 65 F) will cause ripe fish to
leave the prespawn staging areas and spawn in coves and the backs of canyons. Expect fish to
move often between staging and spawning zones as temperature fluctuates. Spawning occurs at
dusk and into the night. After spawning stripers will be more active in the late afternoon and
lethargic in morning hours.
For now, expect stripers to be 20 to 50 feet deep near the dam, power plant intake and in
Navajo Canyon and readily caught on bait. They also spill onto shallow flats near the main
channel on warm afternoons where they slip over the edge to get warm. Use shallow running
crank baits to sight-fish for these shallow basking fish. Shallow stripers have been seen near the
islands in Padre Bay this week. At midlake look for this main channel striper pattern in Lake
Canyon, Halls Creek and Bullfrog Bay.
Spawning stripers, which are often bigger and healthier than those in the main channel,
will be near the backs of canyons where water is cloudy and a little warmer. They can be caught
trolling (mono or lead line) with long, thin shad imitating lures like Shad Raps, Wally Divers and
Thunderstick Jr. A school located on the graph can be caught on jigging spoons or white jigs by
dropping lures right in the school. Expect to find mature stripers in Dirty Devil and main channel
near Hite and in most canyons downstream to 4-Mile Canyon. Trolling has been productive in the
back of Halls Creek, Last Chance and most recently in Wahweap Bay. Bottom depth is usually
between 20-45 feet in the most productive areas.
Crappie fishing is at its peak but that is a really small blip as their numbers are not large.
Walleye catching is getting much better in the upper lake from Good Hope to Hite and will peak
during mid May. |
Wayne Gustaveson
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2002 - 6:45 pm: | |
Subject: Lake Powell
LAKE POWELL FISH REPORT
April 25, 2002
By Wayne Gustaveson Home Page: www.wayneswords.com
Lake Elevation: 3646 Water Temperature: 56-65 F
It is warming again after winds and cool nights torpedoed the warming process and fishing
conditions reverted to those found 2 weeks ago. The difference is that bass want to spawn now
that day length is longer. Bass fishing has improved while striped bass fishing has stayed the same.
Fishing for both species will improve during the next two weeks.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass have moved shallow to find warmer water and nest sites. Black
fry from the first spawn are just hatching now. Male bass swimming with and guarding young fry
are not as aggressive as those guarding fresh eggs on a nest. Bass that missed the first spawn will
find a nest site this week. Spawning will reach a peak between now and the first week of May.
Then it will gradually taper off. San Juan bass are a week ahead of main channel and downlake
bass.
Lower lake bass want to be in shallow, warm water but still need security. The very best habitat
for catching bass is under an overhanging ledge that offers shade yet is shallow enough to provide
warmer water. Find a visible rock outcropping, point or terraced edge with a sharp break
(rougher the better and undercut if possible) where bass can hide. Depth will only be 5-10 feet
and visibility is such that most fish can be seen taking the lure. A good lure combination is a
shallow running crank bait which triggers a quick rush from the bass. Follow that with a plastic
grub which the curious bass will eat after getting excited by the crank bait. Make sure the grub
goes all the way to the bottom, take up the slack and set the hook.
Stripers remain in the main channel by current. Nothing has changed. Each night surface
temperature falls back into the mid 50's. Then during the day the surface warms to near 65.
Afternoon fishing for stripers is much better than morning fishing. One fishing strategy is to
purchase a two pole stamp. Park in the main ch | |
