February-March 2006

[wayne gustaveson]

March 29, 2006 By Wayne Gustaveson Lake Elevation: 3588 Water Temp: 51-54 F

Weather remains unsettled this week delaying really good fishing until April. Those venturing to the lake are having good success despite the weather. High fish population numbers, particularly for striped bass and smallmouth bass, ensure that fishing will be good during 2006. Anglers continue to line up along the barricade in front of Glen Canyon Dam waiting for the daily school of striped bass to swim by. Anglers with patience are rewarded with a good 2-hour period of steady catching sometime during the day. One day morning fishing is better while the next day afternoon catches are higher. With increased boating pressure the average catch per boat has fallen to about 10 fish. While fishing at the barricade is steadily productive, those that like to search may find a hotspot at various points along the west wall. Search all the way to green Buoy 1 at Anchovy point and the main channel, which is another striper hot spot. Night fishing with anchovies under a green light was productive at the barricade from 7:30 to 9:30 PM. Fish ranged from 20-80 feet in depth.If fishing close to other anglers is not your choice then run uplake and search the backs of canyons for stripers. Troll or cast lipless vibrating or deep diving shad-imitating lures in any canyon from Warm Creek to Oak Canyon. Find stripers holding where bottom depth is 30-45 feet. Troll or cast repeatedly to hungry fish until they quit responding. Striper schools are quite stationary in cold water so fishing anchovies where stripers were caught on lures is quite productive. Expect to find stripers holding between 25 and 40 feet in the back of the canyon in colored water. From Bullfrog upstream, stripers are still being caught trolling deep divers (Norman Deep Little N) and on jigging spoons when a school is seen on the graph. More stripers are caught in the southern lake but individual stripers caught up north are bigger and fatter uplake. Chose your striper fishing location by quantity or quality. If you can’t decide make two trips to north and south Lake Powell and decide for yourself. Bass are patiently waiting for the water to warm above 55 F. Each time those temperatures have been reached this Spring, bass were immediately caught in warm coves. Use a thermometer to detect the temperature gradient from 51 in the main channel to 58 in the coves. Find warm water and fishing gets easy with your choice of lures. Spinnerbaits, plastic grubs, and suspending crank baits all work well for large and smallmouth bass in early Spring. Crappie can be caught in the back of canyons and around brushy coves. Fish will be suspended. Use a tiny plastic grub on light line and troll that at 1 mph with the electric motor for consistent success.

March 22, 2006 By Wayne Gustaveson Lake Elevation: 3589 Water Temp: 48-52 F

March is roaring like a lion with the final gasps of winter. Snow, rain and wind have kept water temperatures low and curtailed fish movement. That has worked well for striped bass fishing but not so well for bass anglers. Striped bass are schooling and searching for food in the northern lake from Bullfrog upstream. Trolling the backs of canyons with deep diving lures and plastic swim baits is becoming more effective each day. Fishing is not fast, but catching a fat, healthy striped bass quickly rewards the patient angler. Stripers have over wintered in excellent condition. Average size is 3-5 pounds but fish up to 10 pounds will be commonly captured by trollers from Bullfrog upstream to the mud line near White Canyon.At Wahweap, stripers are still providing catching excitement for all anglers using anchovy bait near the Glen Canyon Dam forebay, Antelope Canyon, main channel and the backs of all canyons from Wahweap to Oak Canyon. The pattern at all locations is the same. Find fish on the graph or just try a narrow canyon constriction where water depth is 30-40 feet. Broadcast 4-6 finely cut anchovies around the boat. Then put 1/3 anchovy on a hook or jig head and cast beyond the chummed area. Let the bait swing back through the chum on taut line. If striped bass are present they should bite within 3-4 casts. If not, move on to the next spot and repeat until a school is found. It was reported that a 20-pound trophy striper was caught at the dam this week.About half of the stripers in the southern lake are thin after a hard winter. They average 4-pounds, are very easy to catch and provide loads of fun for all. Catch and keep all these fish so new forage produced in May will then be spread only among the healthiest fish. Spring warming will jumpstart bass fishing. Expect water to warm quickly to the mid 50’s with the warm weather beginning today. Largemouth bass will respond immediately by moving shallow to look for food and shallow nest sites near brush. Expect good largemouth fishing by the end of the week and continuing into April. Largemouth bass have grown in size and number and will be a welcome surprise to anglers.Walleye are now spawning but some females will still be feeding near rocky slopes with nearby brush piles where forage fish are hiding. Fish very early and late with live worm harnesses or reaction crankbaits to capture these light-sensitive delicacies. Smallmouth, crappie and bluegill and catfish will not become active until water temperatures exceed 55 degrees. But, that may happen in the murky water in the back of canyons this week.

March 15, 2006 By Wayne Gustaveson Lake Elevation: 3589 Water Temp: 46-52 F

Much needed moisture came to southern Utah and Lake Powell in the form of snow and rain. The cold front dropped the lake temperature back into the 40’s. Fish reacting to last week’s warming are now back to previous winter patterns. That means the same techniques used successfully during February will continue to produce. As stripers follow river-release current, the dam stops their travel and they congregate in the large forebay. At different times each day the school will be near the security barricade protecting the dam. Anglers fishing there catch 10-20 fish per trip. When no fish are caught near the barricade it is wise to search for them on main channel points and rock slides. Run a circuit from the dam to Navajo Canyon for best results. Finding one willing school of 5-pound stripers will make the trip worthwhile. Dawn, dusk and midday seem to be the best times for consistent catching. Mark Gustaveson and Cody Thomas with 5-pound stripers caught on bait near Glen Canyon Dam (3-14-06).Approach each location with the same plan. Cut up 6 anchovies into small pieces. Broadcast chum around the boat and then fish with a 1-2 inch chunk of anchovy on a size 2-4 bait hook or 1/8 to 1/4 ounce jig head with a short stout shank. Chumming and then drifting away is not productive. I like to tie the boat to shore (or anchor when possible), chum and then fish where the chum was placed. Cast the anchovy chunk beyond the chum and then let it swing back toward the boat. When the bait rests directly under the boat slowly reel it in and then cast again. Try deeper swings with each cast. If a school is near the area they should respond within 10 minutes. If not, move on. Fishing from shore at walk-down spots along Lakeshore Drive will be productive using the same plan.From Bullfrog upstream, plan to use the graph to locate striper schools feeding near shad. Vertically jig spoons in the moving schools for a quick reaction bite. Try anchovies on Moki Wall and other main channel spots using the anchovy techniques previously described. Bass, walleye and crappie remain near tumbleweeds, submerged cattails and tamarisk trees. They feed on the small fish hiding in the weeds. Use a lure that can bounce off brush without snagging each time. A spinnerbait or plastic jig with brush guard is ideal. Suspending jerk baits and rattletraps work well when fished just fast enough to tick the brush without settling into the limbs. It takes heavier line than normal to fish brush so gear up with braided line or heavy fluorocarbon to retrieve lures and fish from the brush pockets. The next warming trend will allow walleye to spawn and largemouth bass to move into shallows once more as they search for nest sites and food.

March 8, 2006 By Wayne Gustaveson Lake Elevation: 3589 Water Temp: 50-55 F

Spring warming occurs on calm afternoons with water temperatures peaking at 56 degrees. The slightest breeze mixes the layers and surface water cools to near 50. Predators continually move from deep channels into shallow flats depending on temperature. The typical fish holding location is the submerged creek channel leading to the weedy flat. Look for shallow submerged cattails, tamarisk trees and tumbleweeds. Probe the channel with reaction baits to find bass, walleye and stripers at 10-25 feet depths. The most productive site is the narrowest constriction in the channel. Use a stop and go retrieve while fishing a spinner bait, or suspending diving lure (Bevy Shad, Norman Little N). Small sunfish are holding tight in the weeds on the flat. Crankbaits mimic fleeing sunfish that bass and walleye crave. In the northern lake shad are still common. Weedy flats are important to bass but stripers are more likely to be on constricting points waiting to attack shad as they swim by. Most of the action is in the back of the canyon in colored water even in the upper lake. Again the narrowest constricted area of the canyon is the most likely spot to find a concentration of bass and stripers. Walleye will spawn with the next warming trend. This week may be the best chance to catch walleye until spawning concludes in early April. Walleye are holding right in with bass and stripers but may be targeted specifically by using a night crawler harness attached to a weighted bottom bouncer. Stripers continue to run the canyon walls in the lower lake near the dam. Increased angling pressure tends to shut down feeding striper, but there are still hourly periods when catching is exceptional at the dam. When the bite stops near the barricade line move to nearby points and talus rock piles in the dam forebay to find another cooperative striper school. There are many spots between the dam and Buoy #1 where stripers may be caught at a high rate. I found this week that the first boat to arrive at the west barricade by the dam caught fish at will. Catch rate dropped with the arrival of each boat. During the course of the day catch rate may be highest from 10 AM - 2 PM. Ramp access remains good with all launch ramps open. Antelope ramp has only two launching lanes in operation so use caution there. Check depth before launching each time. The water is crystal clear so a visual inspection will remove any doubt.

March 1, 2006 By Wayne Gustaveson Lake Elevation: 3589 Water Temp: 50-53 F

Water has warmed into the low 50’s, which will get largemouth bass moving lakewide. Stripers and walleye have been active for a few weeks. March should provide excellent early spring fishing along the length of Lake Powell. Striped bass continue to bite bait at Glen Canyon dam. Anglers chumming and fishing anchovies will find meager catches one day followed by huge catches the next day. The whim of the school determines the exact time and location to catch a cooler full of fish each day. It is now common to catch 10-30 fish per boat on a daily trip to the dam. Other bait fishing opportunities await at the NGS Power Plant intake and many spots along the steep main channel walls from Navajo Canyon to the dam. If waiting for a school of fish to come under the boat is not for you then striper schools can be found in the backs of most canyons in the southern lake. Warm Creek, Navajo, Gunsight, Padre, West, Last Chance and Rock Creek all hold schools of very shallow stripers. Look in the terminal end of a canyon or cove for abundant weed growth in the form of cattails or submerged tamarisk. Rooted aquatic weeds enhance the fish holding character of the cove. Throw a pile of tumbleweeds in the mix to provide the perfect habitat for early March fish. These brushy coves, long absent from Powell, are now easily found honey-holes. Examine the habitat in this picture to see the stickups and weed piles to target when fishing in the back of the canyon. The best technique to actually catch fish from the brushy shallows (10 feet and less) is to throw a weedless lure like a spinnerbait into the thick cover. Retrieve just fast enough to move the blade but slow enough to bump the brush. The bump is like the doorbell ringing for resting fish. They quickly investigate the disturbance and follow the lure for a short distance. Pausing the lure seals the deal. A suspending crankbait works perfectly. Rattletraps can be retrieved just fast enough to bump brush with equally good results.Most of the fish caught in the shallows will be stripers. Occasionally, a walleye or bass will whack the bait in the same spot. All feeding game fish are hiding and feeding in the same location. Numerous sunfish and other small fish will be seen hiding in the brush pocket. Use polarized sunglasses to aid in the search for “the right spot”.In the northern lake bass will awake and come shallow to feed and search for nest sites. Stripers are moving more now and can be found by graphing the channel edge. Be prepared to drop a jigging spoon on a moving striper school. Troll deep diving lures in submerged creek channels in the 25-40 foot range to locate striper-holding spots.Fishing down south is easier for prowling stripers but these fish are thin after a long winter. Stripers are healthier up north. Bass and walleye look very good in all portions of the lake.

February 22, 2006 By Wayne Gustaveson Lake Elevation: 3591 Water Temp: 47-50 F

Lake Powell is fishing like two separate lakes. The extreme northern lake is typical for February with challenging fishing for most species. Forage was abundant last fall. Fish are fat and have gone dormant for the winter. Walleye, stripers and bass are caught sporadically on deep diving lures trolled near brushy cover where bottom depth is 25 feet. The southern lake, (defined as Bullfrog south) features more consistent catching. Forage was scarce last fall. Stripers are hungry making them vulnerable to anglers. Bass and walleye have started an early feeding spree. Two patterns are working well.First, stripers are cruising main channel canyon walls from the dam to Navajo Canyon. Best catches have come from the barricade line in front of Glen Canyon Dam. Tie the boat or drift near the west side of the barricade line and cast anchovy pieces on a small jig head toward the wall. Chum often. Stripers usually hit as the bait is sinking. If no fish are caught within an hour try a different location. The power plant intake, Antelope Canyon, and Navajo Canyon are likely locations to find cruising stripers.Second, many species of game fish are feeding in the backs of the canyons from Warm Creek to Halls Creek. Schools hold at 25 feet and make periodic sojourns into the very shallowest water. Canyons with sandy beaches where aquatic weeds and sunken tumbleweeds have emerged with are the best spots. Small sunfish hiding in the weeds are vulnerable to predators as the weeds dry up. Troll or cast suspending crank baits (bevy shad, deep husky jerks) fished with a stop and go retrieve for best results. In very shallow water a rattletrap yo-yoed along the bottom is effective. The weather is warming. The coming weekend is expected to be excellent fishing for prespawn walleye, bass and stripers.

February 15, 2006 By Wayne Gustaveson Lake Elevation: 3592 Water Temp: 47-50 F

Lake Powell is fishing like two separate lakes. The northern lake is typical for February with challenging fishing for most species. Forage was abundant last fall. Fish are fat and have gone dormant for the winter. There is very sparse catching during daylight with stripers providing more action at night under fish-attracting lights. The southern lake accessed from Wahweap or Antelope Point is the place to be. Forage was scarce last fall. Stripers are hungry making them vulnerable to anglers. Two patterns are working well.First, stripers are cruising main channel canyon walls from the dam to Navajo Canyon. Best catches have come from the barricade line in front of Glen Canyon Dam. Tie the boat to the west side of the barricade line and cast anchovy pieces on a small jig head toward the wall. Chum often. Stripers usually hit as the bait is sinking. If no fish are caught within an hour try a different location. The power plant intake, Antelope Canyon, and Navajo Canyon have produce many stripers when fish are located in the channel as they are now. Second, some striper schools and individual fish are still in the backs of the canyons from Warm Creek to Rock Creek. Schools hold at 25 feet and make periodic sojourns into the very shallowest water. Canyons with sandy beaches where aquatic weeds and sunken tumbleweeds are emerging are the best spots. Small sunfish hiding in the weeds are vulnerable to predators as the weeds dry up. Use suspending crank baits fished with a stop and go retrieve for best results. In very shallow water a rattletrap fished along the bottom is effective. Walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass are taking advantage of the displaced bluegill as weeds dry up. Fish the same suspending crankbaits and rattletraps near emerging brush piles and aquatic weeds to catch a variety of predators guarding the cover for a chance to eat a small fish. If planning a lake trip this week, go south for better fishing.

February 8, 2005 By Wayne Gustaveson Lake Elevation: 3593 Water Temp: 47-50 F

Fishing in the main channel of the lower lake is going to be good all spring. Stripers are not finding shad forage in the back of the canyon as they have the past 3 winters. Without shad, they move to the channel following current as water flows through the dam. This fishing is reminiscent of the early years when many learned to fish for stripers using bait. The good old days are here again. Expect bait fishing for stripers to be good for the next 2 months. Glen Canyon dam is the closest and easiest fishing spot to find. The prime spot is along the west wall near barricade buoys 2 through 4. A shallow ledge attracts stripers to the spot while the remaining wall is sheer cliff. The drawback is that only a few boats can cast to the small ledge. If the prime spot is taken, look for other rockslides or terraces along the wall that may attract fish. The NGS power Plant intake creates current and will attract stripers. Sloping rock points in the main channel, Navajo, Antelope canyons, and the mouth of Warm Creek will produce a large number of stripers to bait anglers this spring. If one spot is not working try the others to locate a personal school of stripers. There will be an abundance of fish caught this spring in the southern lake. Use a small leadhead jig or circle hook with a light weight to let the bait settle slowly to 20 to 60 feet. Cut the anchovy into one-inch chunks. Put one on the hook and throw two in the water for chum. Other game species are being caught sporadically but the main action is for stripers drawn to current. Best fishing is in the south with only fair fishing for all species in northern Lake Powell.

January 25, 2006 By Wayne Gustaveson Lake Elevation: 3595 Water Temp: 47-50 F

Fishing in the southern end of Lake Powell is quite good on calm afternoons. Fish feel the slight rays from the sun and come shallow to reminisce about being warm. A good method for locating warm spots and potential fishing areas is to look for carp swimming on top. They will be in the warmest water available and tip the presence of other predators in the same warm zone. Brush and aquatic weeds are common in the backs of canyons with water levels slowly declining. Small sunfish and bass are using the cover to hide from predators that would have them as forage. Prime fishing depth to take advantage of the current interplay between predator and prey is 25 feet in the back of the canyon.When cold, fish do everything quite slowly. Quick moving reaction type lures have no appeal. But, slow down a deep diving suspending crank bait and fish investigate. We were casting Norman Little N suspending baits behind the boat and then letting out more line as the electric motor moved the boat away from the bait. When about 3 casts worth of line lay on the water the bale was closed and the crank bait was slowly retrieved in 10 feet pulls. When the bait stopped it suspended. With each sweep of the rod tip the bait would descend further and then suspend. Pauses could be as long as 5-30 seconds. At maximum depth the lures were bumping bottom at 20 feet. With water depth 15-30 feet we were getting strikes as the lure stated moving again, from stripers, walleye, crappie and largemouth.Fishing water shallower than 15 feet required a still slower presentation. Dropshot plastic shad bait was just the ticket. Stripers, largemouth, walleye and crappie could often be seen before being caught on the dropshot rig. This was more like spring than winter fishing. Stripers are still being caught in 20-60 feet of water on anchovies at the dam and in Navajo Canyon just on the upstream side of the big sand dune. Striper condition has declined for some of the larger stripers as shad have become scarce in the southern lake. Striper fishing is picking up very early in the year due to the lack of forage. Expect to catch stripers well for the rest of the winter and spring in southern Lake Powell. Further north, in mid and upper lake, conditions are completely different. Shad are plentiful, stripers are fat and dormant. Try slow moving hard baits and anchovies in the same 25 foot zones at the canyon end but expect fishing to be wintery slow in the north country. Night fishing for stripers is good in fits and spurts but not at all consistent.

align="center">Lake Powell Spring Forecast - 2006 Threadfin shad, the lake’s main forage fish, abound in unprecedented numbers now as they have for the past three winters. Game fish have enjoyed the picnic, growing in size and numbers. Smallmouth bass larger than 2-pounds are common. Striped bass above 4-pounds are caught on almost every fishing trip. The biggest striped bass caught last year was a 38.5-pound beauty that was trolled up in Rock Creek Canyon. Fishing success in 2006 just has to be great! Shad may have another good production year. If so, game fish will continue to get bigger and fatter. While fat fish are not easy to catch, there are enough fish present to ensure that some big ones will be caught to the delight of all. Striped bass are constantly eating so they can be caught in good numbers from April through November. Bass are easy to catch in April and May during the spawn.If shad fail to produce another bumper crop in 2006, then game fish will be hungry and constantly searching for food. Hungry fish are very easy to catch. Without shad, striped bass will congregate in huge schools in deep water and be vulnerable to anchovy bait. Smallmouth will be cruising the shoreline eating every crayfish and plastic grub in sight. But that’s not all. The low lake has allowed brush to grow on the shoreline. The rising lake will flood new shoreline vegetation providing habitat for largemouth, crappie and bluegill. These fish have been all but absent during the drought. In 2006, expect crappie fishing to be better than it has been in years. Walleye will be caught in abundance during May. This spring, largemouth will be caught in size and numbers not seen this decade.Combine these fishing prospects with Lake Powell’s beauty and majesty to arrive at a vacation destination that must not be missed in 2006.