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

[Dungee]

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.

Biggest bump I've ever noticed for sensitivity is finally going to braided line and a leader. There is a small learning curve to avoid loops etc but once you go to braid you'll wonder how you ever went without. Braid will give a $40 rod the sensitivity of a $400 rod.

 

[wayne gustaveson]

Great thread on lures and now how to fish them. Spoons in the winter are very effective. Stripers are usually holding near a school of shad. In most years schools are found at an average depth of 40-70 feet. (This year they have been deeper). When fish traces appear on the graph, drop spoons all the way to the bottom. I use a level wind reel with 12-pound test fluorocarbon line, which allows me to count the number of levels and equate that to the depth of the spoon. (Fluorocarbon works better than braid on a level wind reel.) If the school is on the bottom then jig up about 18 inches and then drop back to the bottom. The strike is usually detected as the spoon is jigged up.

A hooked striper causes the school to come see what that fish is eating. As the fish is reeled up to the boat, the school will sometimes follow all the way to the surface. Unhook the fish as quickly as possible and give the spoon back to the curious followers to catch more fish. Watch the graph and place the spoon where fish show up on the graph. They usually go back down to the bottom to regroup.

If fish are there but ignoring the spoon then speed reel up to attract attention and drop back to the bottom. If you can get one fish to hit then other school mates will respond quickly to the spoon. This is the best way to catch a bunch of fish in a short time.

 

[Alan Wade]

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.

Dupont 80% with a 1/2 oz lead sinker cut fuse depending on depth, throw as far as possible

 

[treetop]

Dupont 80% with a 1/2 oz lead sinker cut fuse depending on depth, throw as far as possible

Ahh the old’ DuPont spinner!
A long time favorite

 

[Sasquatch]

1. Yamamoto Green Pumpkin Hula Grub with a 1/2 ounce Football head
2.Yamamoto Green Pumpkin Hula Grub with a 1/2 ounce Football head
3.Yamamoto Green Pumpkin Hula Grub with a 1/2 ounce Football head
4.Yamamoto Green Pumpkin Hula Grub with a 1/2 ounce Football head
5.Vixen, Pop-R or Hopkins Spoon if my arms are tired

 

[Ryan]

I’m still wrapping my head around why you only have 5 baits. It seems like every trip I bring almost 5 tackle boxes (even if I only use 5 baits that trip). Even bought a bigger boat to help accommodate it. True story.

 

[linnell]

My "when the going gets tough, bait" would be a crappie jig, it'll catch any species anywhere. Somebody had to throw a curve ball at this post

 

[Squirrel]

When I need to get a fish on my line I use a 2" rainbow rapala. Never fails me. Sq

 

[coachk]

Gray/silver fleck (they look black) Yamamoto grub, Hula Popper, Headon spook top water, Yamamoto Hula grub, homemade (Austin's concoction) striper fly.

 

[Ringer]

In May we usually catch 50 to 100 bass a day for two of us. I use one bait. Texas rigged punkinseed 7" Powerworm with a 1/4oz. purple bullet weight. It's how I like to fish and will catch fish anywhere.

 

[Edward Gerdemann]

In May we usually catch 50 to 100 bass a day for two of us. I use one bait. Texas rigged punkinseed 7" Powerworm with a 1/4oz. purple bullet weight. It's how I like to fish and will catch fish anywhere.

A Texas rigged plastic worm will catch bass anywhere. Just because it's an old technique doesn't mean it still won't work. In fact, it still works very well. I might try some Texas rigging this year particularly if the bite is slow. The most important thing in fishing Lake Powell or anywhere else for that matter is to get the bait in front of the fish. Once that's accomplished there are many different lures/techniques that will work.

After location/presentation, the most important factor in bass fishing is confidence. If you are confident that what you're doing will catch fish then you probably will.

Ed Gerdemann

 

[Chris H]

We always try several new baits then end up going back to 1) 1/8 - 1/4 oz jig with chartreuse or dark orange singe tail grub 2) small silver shad rap 3) crayfish colored fat rap 4) Hula grub 1/4 oz 5) zara spook. Have to say we are usually trying to catch more walleye than bass but always have a hard time doing that. I'm with Ed that using what you know is more important than what that is. Of course this thread will cost me since I will still go out and buy more to play with. Lots of great ideas!

 

[coachk]

Biggest bump I've ever noticed for sensitivity is finally going to braided line and a leader. There is a small learning curve to avoid loops etc but once you go to braid you'll wonder how you ever went without. Braid will give a $40 rod the sensitivity of a $400 rod.

I love the powerpro 8 or 10lb with Pline as my leader. lb depends on what for and how I am fishing. You can cast a mile.

 

[Nbark4ReAL]

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).

A video on it would be awesome! This year I'll be trying it with a lot more confidence than last, but having a visual demonstration of it certainly would help!

 

[birdsnest]

4" chartreuse Yamamoto double tail grub. 4" chartruese single tail grub. Not working? Then the same in rootbeer. Am trying 4" big trd in coppertreus and molting craw this spring.