Warm Water Temperatures Bring Changes to Lake Powell

• Category: Fishing Reports

By Wayne Gustaveson
Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Lake Elevation: 3,637 msl

Water Temperature 82-87 F

PAGE, Ariz. — Lake elevation has stabilized and water temperature is at its peak for the summer. It was 84 degrees this morning at sunrise. These factors allow sport fish to settle into a pattern without responding to water level changes. Occasional monsoon cloud bursts are taken in stride without lasting impact.

The water is warmer than most fish prefer sending most deeper during the heat of the day. Young shad take advantage of this and hang out at the surface hoping for separation from lake predators. Striped bass hang out at cooler depth strata but “look up” for a chance at an easy meal from the tiny bait fish. Stripers rise quickly and as a group surround shad, eat quickly and then go back to cooler water. Sometimes the whole process takes a few seconds. At other times a bigger shad school makes it worth working up a sweat to eat more fish and the boil may continue for a few minutes.

Catching fish focused entirely on eating three-quarter inch long larval shad is challenging, especially when the predators have to dive quickly for personal comfort. Here are some tricks to even the playing field a bit until shad have time to grow large enough to be bigger targets.

When a boil is observed try to determine direction of travel so the boat can be in position to cast when fish resurface. The most vulnerable time for slurping stripers is the first time they break surface in attack. Almost any lure cast to a fish as it breaks surface will be eaten.

More likely the boat will be in casting range when the school is headed for deep water. Follow the diving fish with a small diving lure like a Lucky Craft pointer or rattletrap. The most versatile lure is one that will descend quickly to the fish holding depth. Spoons and swim baits can be fished on top, at mid depth and in the deeper cool zone. Vary speed of retrieve until it is apparent that fish want it fast or slow. That speed preference seems to change throughout the day.

Catching slurpers is challenging. This activity is found lake wide and seeing slurps morning and evening is assured. Boiling fish are found more often uplake when cooler water is closer to the surface because of the recent heavy runoff. Best boils and highest catches are coming from Good Hope bay to Hite.

Don’t forget bass with all the surface striper chasing going on. Casting a plastic grub in smoke or watermelon color at fist light in the morning is almost a sure thing. Again the northern lake is best.

Ten-inch smallmouth are ever present over the length of the lake. Little bass and sunfish provide great sport for kids learning how to fish. Take some time out from water sports to teach a youngster the joy of fishing. He or she will be forever grateful. Small hooks and live worms are all that is needed. The same goes for catfish. Fish cats in the evening at supper time and bass in the early morning or under the shade of the houseboat. Can it be that easy? Try it and see.

Lake Powell Fishing 7-18-10

• Category: Fishing Reports

Lake Level 3637.99

Water Temp: 80-85

Been  fishing  quite a bit and stripers are best found this month by cruising to locate schools that are constantly moving. This being what I call the 10 year cycle for larger fish in the slurping stage that normally would be the 1-2 lb. schoolies as the nights begin to cool in August.  You will be able to spot feeding fish a 1/2 mile away in the mornings.  Right now fishing can be excellent on the fly and spin tackle and it will only get better.  Had 4 boat trip yesterday with our boat catching the “largest striper’ 5 lbs.  Excited for August and Fall especially. 

Fountain Ready to Go

Lake Powell is Boiling! Great news for Anglers 7-06-10

• Category: Fishing Reports

By: Wayne Gustaveson                         July 7, 2010
Lake Elevation: 3638                           Water Temperature 79-84 F
 
Bullfrog Is Boiling!
 
The main channel upstream from Bullfrog has erupted with significant sustained striper boils.  That is the place to be right now.  Cruise the main channel from Bullfrog to Good Hope Bay early in the morning or in the evening to find cooperative striped bass chasing shad on the surface.  Slurping boils are still seen every day in the main channel near Wahweap but fishing near Bullfrog and upstream is much more rewarding.
 
Boils are seen more often in the main channel than in the backs of canyons.  Shad migrate into the channel in search of plankton where they are found by stripers that have recently completed spawning in main channel areas.  Later as shad grow larger they will leave the channels and bays to seek shelter in brush ringed coves. For now, search the channels and bays morning and evening to find hungry striped bass.
 
The next step in boil progression will be at Hite. The water is now clearing rapidly as runoff has subsided to normal summer flow patterns. With increased visibility shad will migrate into the channels as they have done down lake and stripers will find them. There are more shad in the productive inflow areas. Expect boils to be bigger and stronger each day in the Hite area.  That will be the place to be from mid July to the end of the month. 
 
Walleye fishing remains strong from Bullfrog to Hite. Record numbers of walleye were found in northern lake sampling last year. Those fish are hungry and willing to hit live worms, plastic baits and trolled crankbaits. Morning, evening and night are the best times to fish for these light sensitive fish.  They can be caught mid day and afternoon in areas where wind or wave action has created a mudline which provides shade for these ambush feeders.   Muddy coves along the main channel are great walleye producing spots.
 
Bass continue to hit plastic baits, live worms, and spinnerbaits. Largemouth will be right inside dense brushy shelter. Weedless rigged baits that can be worked through and retrieved from brush are the most effective. Four-pound largemouth are still being caught each week.
 
Smallmouth bass are on rock structure and seemed to be found more often in the backs of canyons and coves than in open bays. Trailing a single tail plastic grub rigged Carolina style or fishing drop-shot rigged plastic baits directly under the boat at 25 feet seems to the best method for successfully taking bass right now.
 
Catfishing is awesome on sandy beaches near camp in the evenings and just after dark.
 
It’s the dog days of summer but Lake Powell fish don’t care. They are still being caught in good numbers and in exciting fashion. .