If you can only take 5 bass lures to Powell in the spring... (May)

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Nbark4ReAL

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What would they be? What color?

This year will only be our second annual Lake Powell fishing trip. Will launch from Wahweap FWIW.

Last year, most of our success was on 3" tubes for smallies in watermelon/shad colors, but I'm not sure many people would put that in their top 5.
 
1. yamamoto 5" double tail in green pumpkin # 297
2. see above
3. shad shaped worm in green pumkin
4. ned rig in green colors
5. see # 1

I slow fish the yamamoto double tail 90% of the time -- just what I am used to -- it has done very well for me over the years
 
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1. Yamamoto Double Tail Hula Grub on an 1/4oz Owner Stand Up Jig Head, my favorite color is "Cinnamon Red & Blue Flake" but lots of colors work, shad, brown, green...

Yamamoto Double Tail Hula Grubs | Tackle Warehouse

www.tacklewarehouse.com www.tacklewarehouse.com

Owner Ultrahead Stand-Up Heads 5pk | Tackle Warehouse

www.tacklewarehouse.com www.tacklewarehouse.com

2. Zoom Fat Albert Single Tail Grub in Green Pumpkin on a Gamakatsu Round Jig Head in 3/16oz 2/0 hook size.

Zoom Fat Albert Grub 10pk | Tackle Warehouse

www.tacklewarehouse.com www.tacklewarehouse.com

Gamakatsu Round Jig Head 5pk | Tackle Warehouse

www.tacklewarehouse.com www.tacklewarehouse.com

3. Ned Rig, Finese TRD in any color on an Owner Block Head or Gamakatsu Finese Head, 1/8oz sizes. The zman mushroom heads suck although Ive heard they're improving.

Z-Man Finesse TRD 8pk | Tackle Warehouse

www.tacklewarehouse.com www.tacklewarehouse.com

Owner Block Head Jig Head | Tackle Warehouse

www.tacklewarehouse.com www.tacklewarehouse.com

Gamakatsu Finesse Jig Head 4pk | Tackle Warehouse

www.tacklewarehouse.com www.tacklewarehouse.com

4. Whopper Plopper, you need some topwater in May. The whopper plopper is the most versatile one. You can give it the action of a buzz bait, torpedo or popper.

River2Sea Whopper Plopper | Tackle Warehouse

www.tacklewarehouse.com www.tacklewarehouse.com

5. Bomber Model 4a crank in "Creek Craw" and "Foxy Shad."

Bomber Model 4A Crankbaits | Tackle Warehouse

www.tacklewarehouse.com www.tacklewarehouse.com

These are my personal top 5, and number 1 is head and heals over all of them. My dad would probably replace #1 with a drop shot for him and Andrew might replace a couple. My advice would also tell you to keep at it with the tube, especially since it seems like you have experience and confidence with it. Also remember that Powell is more about finding where the fish are, not necessarily what to use, most will bite anything.

And although ideally you'll want multiple rods, all of these could be thrown on a single rod too, a medium fast action spinning rod with 8lb mono if needed for convenience.

Preston
 
Dungee Fishing said:
These are my personal top 5, and number 1 is head and heals over all of them. My dad would probably replace #1 with a drop shot for him and Andrew might replace a couple. My advice would also tell you to keep at it with the tube, especially since it seems like you have experience and confidence with it. Also remember that Powell is more about finding where the fish are, not necessarily what to use, most will bite anything.

And although ideally you'll want multiple rods, all of these could be thrown on a single rod too, a medium fast action spinning rod with 8lb mono if needed for convenience.

Preston
Click to expand...

Thanks for the great length and detailed response. (We really like your videos and are subbed) We tried the hula grub last year a bit and didn't have great luck, but I'm going to give it a more serious effort this year with your recommendation as well as JT's (Kraken).

Side note, inspired by your fly fishing video, I plan to spend a decent amount of our Powell trip fly fishing this year. Mainly planning clousers and near nuff crayfish patterns
 
Nbark4ReAL said:
Thanks for the great length and detailed response. (We really like your videos and are subbed) We tried the hula grub last year a bit and didn't have great luck, but I'm going to give it a more serious effort this year with your recommendation as well as JT's (Kraken).

Side note, inspired by your fly fishing video, I plan to spend a decent amount of our Powell trip fly fishing this year. Mainly planning clousers and near nuff crayfish patterns
Click to expand...

That one (the hula) has always just been my favorite way of fishing. It does have a little more learning curve than some. It works best when you can drag it along the top of a big boulder, some small gravel, or on a ledge, then let it just fall off that ledge. Its a repeating pattern of dragging, reeling in that slack (slowly), feeling the weight then waiting for something to pick it up, then setting the hook (maybe i should do a video on it). Seem to catch a little bit better fish on it. Pure numbers and success wise though, definitely go with the single tail grub or Ned Rig. You said top five and although the hula is my favorite if I could only bring ONE, it would be a grub or ned.

The fly fishing was a blast. We (Peter and I) are still very novice at it but now wont go without a rod.

Also, one thing I've been researching a ton and have almost zero experience in is jigs. This spring im going to try replacing the hula with a jig and trailer for better durability. Durability is the only flaw to my #1 bait. I'm thinking of going with this jig and putting a double tail fat albert trailer on it. Essentially the same bait as the hula just more durable.

Dirty Jigs Luke Clausen Compact Pitchin' Jig | Tackle Warehouse

www.tacklewarehouse.com www.tacklewarehouse.com

Zoom Fat Albert Twin Tail Grub 10pk | Tackle Warehouse

www.tacklewarehouse.com www.tacklewarehouse.com
 
I target stripers first and bass after striper fishing is done for the day. You have been given solid advice on lures to use for bass.

I troll and graph to find striper schools. I use expensive Lucky Craft lures because I really don't like to use a lure that doesn't run straight. I want to spend my time fishing and not tweaking lures.

1. Lucky Craft XD-100 chartreuse shad color (XD-78 is smaller and shallower running when fish are near the surface)

During fall and winter I troll to find fish then drop spoons to catch fish

2. Homemade Slab spoons 1.5.ounce (Similar to a Fle-fly spoon)

In the summer I troll to find and then use top water or crankbaits to catch shallow fish.

3. Ima Skimmer (not the largest 5+ inch, but the 4.5 smaller bait in chartreuse shad color) Excellent in boils

4. Rattle trap type shallow runner. (Lots of lure options in this category) Cast to shallow fish. I have had the best luck with dark colored (black) lures in 2019.

5. Rapala Shad Rap
 
Dungee Fishing said:
That one (the hula) has always just been my favorite way of fishing. It does have a little more learning curve than some. It works best when you can drag it along the top of a big boulder, some small gravel, or on a ledge, then let it just fall off that ledge. Its a repeating pattern of dragging, reeling in that slack (slowly), feeling the weight then waiting for something to pick it up, then setting the hook (maybe i should do a video on it). Seem to catch a little bit better fish on it. Pure numbers and success wise though, definitely go with the single tail grub or Ned Rig. You said top five and although the hula is my favorite if I could only bring ONE, it would be a grub or ned.

The fly fishing was a blast. We (Peter and I) are still very novice at it but now wont go without a rod.

Also, one thing I've been researching a ton and have almost zero experience in is jigs. This spring im going to try replacing the hula with a jig and trailer for better durability. Durability is the only flaw to my #1 bait. I'm thinking of going with this jig and putting a double tail fat albert trailer on it. Essentially the same bait as the hula just more durable.

Dirty Jigs Luke Clausen Compact Pitchin' Jig | Tackle Warehouse

www.tacklewarehouse.com www.tacklewarehouse.com

Zoom Fat Albert Twin Tail Grub 10pk | Tackle Warehouse

www.tacklewarehouse.com www.tacklewarehouse.com
Click to expand...
I like the hula too, but prefer the bass jig, I have 4 different jig molds and find I'm using the football head about 95% of the time on the jig. If you ever see any pork frog for sale anywhere, buy it, it's really hard to find and can make a big difference at times.
 
Great thread ! Apparently I need to expand my horizons when it comes to the tackle box because as I was thinking about this question. I could really only come up with 2, I have alot of other lures and jigs but these 2 are the "go-to" for me.

1. Yamamoto single tail in shad color or pearl (carolina or drop shot)
rs.php


#2 . Good old Kastmaster spoons.

To Dungee's point above , once you find em at Powell that's the hard part. Once located either one of these 2 options have always produced success for me. But I am certainly going to take a few off these lists and try them out.
 
I always just use tube jigs. I really don’t fish for largemouth much, but for smallies. I will actually take a small chunk of striper meat on a hook in about ten feet of water. I will catch a few crawdads and what ever color they are thats my color for the day. Sort of like match the hatch for fly fishermen.
 
I don’t really feel qualified to have input with all the experienced people before me but I think I should throw my two cents in because that’s what this site is about.

1- hookup baits in Shad, I have caught just about every species at Powell on them
2-Ned rigs
3-kastmasters
4-various crank baits, rattle traps, Shad raps, lucky crafts etc.
5-single tail plastics, really just learning the plastics game but having fun at it.
Thanks for starting this thread, I always learn a lot from these guys.
 
Nbark4ReAL said:
Thanks for the great length and detailed response. (We really like your videos and are subbed) We tried the hula grub last year a bit and didn't have great luck, but I'm going to give it a more serious effort this year with your recommendation as well as JT's (Kraken).

Side note, inspired by your fly fishing video, I plan to spend a decent amount of our Powell trip fly fishing this year. Mainly planning clousers and near nuff crayfish patterns
Click to expand...
Add a meat whistle in there.
1578461362385.jpeg
 
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Here's what I would take:

1. Yamamoto Shad Shaped Worm (watermelon/white laminate) fished on a drop shot
2. Yamamoto 4-inch Senko (watermelon/white laminate) fished wacky rigged and weightless
3. Yamamoto 4-inch Kut Tail worm (watermelon)
4. 3 1/2-inch or 4-inch tube (watermelon)
5. Slab spoon 1 1/2 oz. (Wallylure)

I'll also have a rod rigged with a Spit 'N Image topwater in a shad color, however I've found even when there is surface activity for smallmouths the weightless Senko will out fish the top water lure most of the time. Bass just can't resist it if you can get it in front of them. I'd have another rod rigged with a Rapala Rattlin' Rap lipless crank bait in chrome/blue color. Both bass and walleyes will hit it. In fact, it is also generally more effective for shallow water smallmouths than the topwater.

You will note on the soft plastics I've picked some form of watermelon as my first color choice. I'd also recommend having a natural shad color as your second choice. I guarantee with this assortment you can catch fish at Lake Powell not just in May but anytime during the fishing season. :)

Ed Gerdemann
 
Great question and a lot of good advice on what to use ---NOW the question is how you use the baits everyone has listed.---there has been hints on usage in many of the above posts, and I have been following WW for a long time ( 10 years+++) and there is a lot of great information available. example -- Ed Gerdemann is a drop shot expert -- he has posted many many tips on fishing that set up for small mouth. He could write "the book" on drop shoting lake powell small mouth.
I will give you how I fish the double tail grub. ---- For small mouth and large mouth ( and walleye ) -- this method is most effective for small mouth -- I pick up a few large mouth this way, and a few walleye but if I am fishing specifically for those fish, I will change everything--

I use a black round head jig-- natural lead is fine as well -- weight size dependent on wind-- more wind heavier jig head.
I use a casting rod / reel, but use whatever is comfortable for you.
I position the boat approx. 40 yards from rocky shore.
I try to cast where I think bottom is approx. 10 feet deep.
When lure hits water, I continue to pull line off the real to keep slack line on the surface until lure hits bottom. ( I use white braided line with a 10 ft fluorocarbon leader -- the white line allows me to see the line in the water much better than any other color -- easy to tell when it hits bottom)
As soon as it hits bottom, I click the reel in, reel in the slack line and slowly lift up on the rod tip until I can feel the weight --- MANY times this is when you feel the fish, if there is ANY resistance, I set the hook -- if it is a fish, great -- if not, I let the weight settle back to the bottom and do again --
If when I lift the first time, there is no fish, or no resistance, I reel in a LITTLE line and let the lure fall back to the bottom -- let it sit for a few seconds and lift the tip again -- I do this until the lure no longer reaches the bottom -- which is generally right under the boat.
I also do the same in deeper water -- only difference -- you have to pull a lot of line out to get the lure to the bottom. works the same way.

I hardly ever catch fish while the lure is moving from one place to another -- most of the fish I catch eat the lure after it hits bottom-- I feel them when I lift the tip up.

If I am not catching fish this way, I mix things up --- different color, different retrieve, different depth, use Ed's drop shot technique, try top water, go for a swim, drink a beer.....

If I am catching fish, I use the electric trolling motor to move along the shore line -- generally on auto pilot setting #3. After I have worked that piece of shore line ( always rocky bottom areas) I motor to the next likely spot and do all over again.

Fishing the rocks this way, you will get the lure stuck on the rocks--use the trolling motor to get on the other side of the rock and most times it comes right off -- head back out and start again.
You should have no problem catching fish in May.
 
davew said:
I will give you how I fish the double tail grub. ---- For small mouth and large mouth ( and walleye ) -- this method is most effective for small mouth -- I pick up a few large mouth this way, and a few walleye but if I am fishing specifically for those fish, I will change everything--

I use a black round head jig-- natural lead is fine as well -- weight size dependent on wind-- more wind heavier jig head.
I use a casting rod / reel, but use whatever is comfortable for you.
I position the boat approx. 40 yards from rocky shore.
I try to cast where I think bottom is approx. 10 feet deep.
When lure hits water, I continue to pull line off the real to keep slack line on the surface until lure hits bottom. ( I use white braided line with a 10 ft fluorocarbon leader -- the white line allows me to see the line in the water much better than any other color -- easy to tell when it hits bottom)
As soon as it hits bottom, I click the reel in, reel in the slack line and slowly lift up on the rod tip until I can feel the weight --- MANY times this is when you feel the fish, if there is ANY resistance, I set the hook -- if it is a fish, great -- if not, I let the weight settle back to the bottom and do again --
If when I lift the first time, there is no fish, or no resistance, I reel in a LITTLE line and let the lure fall back to the bottom -- let it sit for a few seconds and lift the tip again -- I do this until the lure no longer reaches the bottom -- which is generally right under the boat.
I also do the same in deeper water -- only difference -- you have to pull a lot of line out to get the lure to the bottom. works the same way.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the insight. I'm planning to up my finesse game a lot this year, so this kind of stuff helps. I recently upgraded my spinning setup, so I'm hoping that the increased sensitivity will increase my fish detection.
 
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