Newbie trip, round 2

w4lleye

w4lleye

Member
Good afternoon, Wayneswords.

A couple years ago, I made a post on here about a trip my dad and I made to Lake Powell as first time visitors. We had a blast.

To make a long story short - I enjoy traveling the world for fishing adventures. Over the past half dozen years, I've made 4-5 trips over to Europe to chase big zander, big pike, and giant perch. Through these travels, I've made lifelong friends in the various places along the way. Recently, one of my friends from the Netherlands sent me a text asking if I would be willing to show him some cool and unique fishing in the USA. He's an avid angler over there who's never even visited the states before. Lake Powell was the first place that came to mind. I cannot imagine a better place to take an outdoorsman from another country, especially on their first ever trip to America. The landscape of southern Utah combined with the beauty of Lake Powell and the quality of fishing makes this a no brainer.

My question for the group: We're looking to make a week long trip and do it boat camping style. I won't lie, I'm very unfamiliar with Lake Powell as far as accesses and camping. Our trip will be mid October of this year. I will pick my friend up from the airport in Salt Lake with my boat in tow and we'll drive down from there. I'm certainly not looking for exact fishing spots, really just general areas with good (safe, sheltered) boat camping access, and good October multi species potential (stripers, bass, crappies, etc) I'm willing to travel anywhere from the Arizona side all the way to the north end if needed. The only catch is I'm bringing my 16' Lund aluminum boat because I'm not beaching the fiberglass boat. I've read about the wind storms on Powell so caution will be exercised.

If anyone would be willing to share advice either here or through a message, it would be sincerely appreciated. Again, I don't want your fishing spots, but rather an area to access and camp close to good fall fishing areas.

Thank you!
Andy
 
What’s your range on the 16’ Lund? Bring the fiberglass man. Fall can be just as good of fishing as any other time and some even prefer it. The back of any major canyon can provide good protection but really even open bays can have a safe enough spot to pull your boat up. You just don’t want your boat immediately expose to long wave build up from any direction.

In a smaller boat like that I’d stay closer to Bullfrog and not go much farther away from there camping wise than about the first major canyon on either end, Moqui north or Lake south. The last place you want to be at Powell in a storm is in the hot weighed down with camping gear.

Any area on the lake can be great for fishing. I’m sure more will chime in.
 
I had a 16’ Lund with a counsel, full windshield and 60 HP that I took all the way to the end of Escalante as well as up as far north as the lake went 15 years ago. If you know the boat and keep an eye on the weather you will be fine.

October is my favorite time of year to visit. Weather is the best of anytime, comfortable temps both air and water. Very little “W” and not a lot of boat traffic comparatively speaking. And the fishing can be great.

When I’m retired I’d love to spend the first half of October at Powell fishing and the 2nd half chasing birds. But that is another story.

The one major unknown this year is access. Especially out of Bullfrog. Our ramp will be high and dry by then. Fingers crossed NPS has their poop in a group and gets us that low water access.
 
Goodhope Bay, Rincon or Escalante all would be good options. Make a trip this summer or even better in September to scout it out. Experience with your boat and location will be more valuable for preparation than any information you could get online. It would also be a great excuse to explore/fish Lake Powell.
If your boat has enough range I would take him to Rainbow Bridge, Gregory Arch(Escalante), Cathedral in the Desert(Escalante) and Reflection Canyon. Plenty of great fishing between bouy markers 49 to 79 and great scenery as well.
 
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