Smallmouth Extraveganza in West Canyon

[CHRIS MCBETH]

Easter Sunday from 1-3pm our family caught about 25 very healthy smallmouth bass in West Canyon.

All of us used 5”dual tail Yamamoto hula grubs in pumpkin green on 1/4 jig heads.

Technique was important.

Cast, let it sink.

Then reel, jig jig, reel...
jig, reel reel reel, stop
jig, stop, reel reel, etc.

on almost every cast you’d catch one, and if you’re careful you can catch and release the same fish several times. There’s one very aggressive smallie in this area that was about 16” and 3 or 4 pounds.

We released all our catches and didn’t want to stress them out.

What a blast!

 

[lakepowellnut]

That’s a nice fish! How is access to the canyon with the low water? We’ll be up there with a group in a few weeks. Can’t wait!

 

[CHRIS MCBETH]

That’s a nice fish! How is access to the canyon with the low water? We’ll be up there with a group in a few weeks. Can’t wait!

On the south end of the lake, I suspect water level affects you a little less. We traversed Navajo, part of Padre Bay, and all of West Canyon front to back (several times!) and accessibility was fine.

You DO need to watch carefully if you're anywhere within a few hundred yards of shoreline because there are lurking whales all over the place.

That said, wearing polarized glasses we never had an issue "seeing" the green water that indicates shallow rocks.

I'd say it's the same as always. Drive with caution, drive with constant surveillance of your forward path and around you for other boats overtaking you, etc.

Diligence is all it takes.

West Canyon was spectacular, and the low water actually presents several very nice, very large beaches that are comprised of super nice sedimentary sand... so in a way it was better than high water.

The Smallies were "on fire"... and I'm betting it will only get better from here on out.

Have fun!!!!!!

 

[CHRIS MCBETH]

 

[CHRIS MCBETH]

This will give you an idea of what West looks like right now.

For the record, we traversed the entire canyon front to back to verify there were no other boaters or kayakers in the canyon before commencing the high-speed runs through the canyons.

My bro was at the mouth of West with a radio to warn us if anyone else came in.

Fortunately we never saw a single other boat, let alone human the entire afternoon.

We had the lake north of Padre ALL to ourselves.

And amazingly, the run back to Antelope even through the channel and the Maytag was practically glass.

And that Antelope Point Valet... seriously the best $20 ever spent (just call on the radio 10 min out and they have your truck/trailer waiting at the bottom of their private ramp to pick you up).

 

[lakepowellnut]

This will give you an idea of what West looks like right now.

For the record, we traversed the entire canyon front to back to verify there were no other boaters or kayakers in the canyon before commencing the high-speed runs through the canyons.

My bro was at the mouth of West with a radio to warn us if anyone else came in.

Fortunately we never saw a single other boat, let alone human the entire afternoon.

We had the lake north of Padre ALL to ourselves.

And amazingly, the run back to Antelope even through the channel and the Maytag was practically glass.

And that Antelope Point Valet... seriously the best $20 ever spent (just call on the radio 10 min out and they have your truck/trailer waiting at the bottom of their private ramp to pick you up).

Nice! Thanks for the video!

 

[RatherBeFishing1]

Gotta love Lake Powell. Thanks for the video

 

[Dworwood]

Nice post, thanks for the report and pic’s Chris. Looks like you had a great trip. I will be back down the 18th with the Grand kids, hope we can do as well.

 

[CHRIS MCBETH]

Nice post, thanks for the report and pic’s Chris. Looks like you had a great trip. I will be back down the 18th with the Grand kids, hope we can do as well.

I’m sure you will have success!

Find this rock bed marked on the gps map and I guarantee it.

It must have been a spawning bed. Nearly every time we cast, we caught. And several times I caught the same aggressive fish.