Fursniper
Well-Known Member
After the NPS (No Permission Service) closed Lake Powell, which has more miles of shoreline than the Pacific coast, the launch ramp at Wahweap Marina was opened temporarily for local boats only (Fri-Sun, 7am-8pm). I was one of the first boats in line. Launched at 7am and arrived in the back of Last Chance about 8:15am. I might have been the first boat to arrive in Last Chance. It felt weird, way cool, and horrible at the same time. Horrible because I personally don't believe the lake should have been closed. All lakes in AZ were allowed to stay open during the covid19 pandemic, but NPS decided to close Lake Powell. I am grateful that the AZ Game and Fish and the Mayor of Page were helpful in getting the launch ramp opened at Wahweap Marina. My understanding is Wahweap launch ramp will continue to be open on weekends for local boats only (Fri-Sun, 7am-8pm) while the NPS closure order is in effect. Hopefully, NPS will open the lake to everyone soon.
Here is how the fishing went. Water temp was 60*F in the morning and warmed to about 63*F in the afternoon. We (2 people in a bass boat) fished from 8:30am to 6:30pm. We caught 8 crappie, kept 4, and threw back 4 that were young of the year.. Caught 3 largemouth, kept 1, and threw back 2. Caught 1 carp on a lure which we killed and recycled. Caught about 22 smallmouth, kept 11, and threw back 11 that were too small to eat. Caught 1 small striper (10 inch) while trolling which we kept. Overall in 10 hours time, we caught 5 different species and 35 fish total. Here is a picture of the 17 fish that we kept. All were fat and built like a football with fins.
The morning bite was good and then we had a lull in the action from about 10:30am to 3pm. Caught a few midday, but the majority were caught early morning and late afternoon. Smallmouth bass were hitting almost every cast after 5pm. They were going crazy when we stopped fishing to return to the marina. The lure that worked the best all day was a 3"grub, smoke color with silver flakes, on an 1/8 ounce jig head, and tied to 8 pound test clear fluorocarbon fishing line. All of the fish were shallow with the deepest at 25-30 feet.
Here is how the fishing went. Water temp was 60*F in the morning and warmed to about 63*F in the afternoon. We (2 people in a bass boat) fished from 8:30am to 6:30pm. We caught 8 crappie, kept 4, and threw back 4 that were young of the year.. Caught 3 largemouth, kept 1, and threw back 2. Caught 1 carp on a lure which we killed and recycled. Caught about 22 smallmouth, kept 11, and threw back 11 that were too small to eat. Caught 1 small striper (10 inch) while trolling which we kept. Overall in 10 hours time, we caught 5 different species and 35 fish total. Here is a picture of the 17 fish that we kept. All were fat and built like a football with fins.
The morning bite was good and then we had a lull in the action from about 10:30am to 3pm. Caught a few midday, but the majority were caught early morning and late afternoon. Smallmouth bass were hitting almost every cast after 5pm. They were going crazy when we stopped fishing to return to the marina. The lure that worked the best all day was a 3"grub, smoke color with silver flakes, on an 1/8 ounce jig head, and tied to 8 pound test clear fluorocarbon fishing line. All of the fish were shallow with the deepest at 25-30 feet.
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