Hello, my name is Sean. I've been checking fishing reports here for the past couple of months in preparation for my first trip to Lake Powell. The anticipation is killing me. My wife and I will be heading down for a three day trip June 22-24 and we'll be launching out of Bullfrog, but that's about all I know so far. I was hoping some kind Lake Powell veterans might be able to give me a little info on where to go. We'd love to get into some walleye, striper and smallmouth, and anything else would be a bonus. I understand there is some murky water due to run off in the northern part of the lake now, which is where we've considered heading. I was wondering how much that will effect fishing up toward Good Hope Bay in late June and if there might be a better area of the lake to target. We'll also be camping on the shore and would appreciate any input on good spots. I'll post a report with photos after we get back. If I'm going to ask for all this advice I know I've got to be willing to give too. Thanks.
First Trip to Powell
- Thread starter sadamson
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Chet Garling
Well-Known Member
the June dates will most likely be forcing you further south than Good Hope, but the runoff may slow down enough before then but that being said there are plenty of spots around the Bullfrog area and north in canyons will be your best chance for clearer waters if you do decide to head north
TR.
Escalante-Class Member
At 31 mph with an occasional pit stop about 1:45 to where I usually camp. That speed is the ultimate for mileage for me and it is worth going slower to save the fuel. As we get closer and my plans solidify, I would be glad to meet up with you and give you the lay of the land when you get there.
TR
TR
If you are new to the lake, I'd try the Rincon, Longs/Browns, the mouth of the Escalante, Ribbon or Cottonwood. I LOVE the San Juan, but it is a commitment in time and gas. We figure the houseboat does 8-8.5 mph, and allow 8 hours to get from Halls to the SJ.
CHRIS MCBETH
Well-Known Member
I think the striped bass are all over the place. We just went to the lake our first time ever. Launched from Antelope Point, drove up to Rainbow (which was worth the hike and heat), then afterward headed south to the second major easterly canyon called "Cathedral". We went back up in there as far as we could, and just tied our boats together and fished inside the slot. We were inside a slot-canyon with walls no more than 30 feet apart, and depth around 80-90 feet. The girls and the kids all put on their PFD's and swam another half mile up to the end and hiked around, and while they were gone in just under 90 minutes we caught four good sized stripers. Had we been fishing in earnest, I'm quite certain we could have caught 20+ in 2 hours because the mass of them would boil up in that canyon and pass up and down past us every so often. It was amazing. At one point if I'd had a net I seriously could have caught 3 or 4 of them at a time and they were all 14-16" minimum.
birdsnest
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
Now that you've got your feet wet you"ll be hooked.
CHRIS MCBETH
Well-Known Member
Thanks Meatwagon (great name LOL).
Being new to this whole thing, I don't want to ask a question that's been answered 400 times over... but if you were looking to buy a Marine class GPS (Waterproof, bright screen, downloadable maps of Lake Powell and others, etc.) which one would you choose? I'm less concerned about fish finding than I am about navigating Lake Powell from end to end, and always knowing my way back home or to the nearest gas station (Bullfrog, Dangling Rope, Antelope, Wahweap, etc.) and then mapping where we go, and being able to save those locations to return to them, share with others, etc.
Any suggestions?
I've been looking at the Hummingbird Helix 5 but I can't tell if it allows downloads of the navigable maps, etc.
Meatwagon
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
The helix 5 with gps accepts a mapping chip that shows in great detail the lake contours and stores navigation routes and gps coordinates and also adjustable to the current lake level. I used the lake master chip this spring and couldn't be happier. I would highly recommend it for the price it's a great buy.
Meatwagon
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
Here is an example of the map and depth finder screen, you can highlight the shallow water (red zone )and if you zoom in on the picture you can see a blue line which is the route I took back and forth over those points as well as much more useful info such as latitude and longitude, which you can store with a click of a button (way point )for future reference or to share with others. I am still learning my system but it is easy to use and a great help in navigation as well as fishing.
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