Lake Powell Fishing Outlook

Courtesy Wayne Gustaveson

Utah Division of Wildlife

This promises to be a great fall with an incredible number of stripers and smallmouth bass to catch. In the interest of getting as many fish harvested as possible here is what to expect.

Stripers move shallow (30 feet) and look for food early in the day. If they boil they are easily seen and caught on surface lures. If just one or two show on top the whole school is probably nearby and will respond quickly and without fail to the dying flutter of a falling shad (jigging spoon) while they are in early morning search mode.

Every time stripers go shallow in search of food they are susceptible to both surface stick baits and jigging spoon techniques. This could be at two-hour intervals all day long. Stay ready with both type lures ready to cast on a moments notice. Throw surface first and then follow that with the spoon.

During the rest of the day bait fishing is probably best. I say probably because if shad are present in big enough numbers stripers will not eat anchovies. Cut bait will not substitute for the real thing. Anchovy bait is more likely to produce at Wahweap or Bullfrog/Halls than in the upper San Juan or Hite.

Our studies show less shad this year than last meaning that anchovy fishing will be excellent this fall. Numbers of stripers seem higher and physical condition is declining. All these signs point to a huge fall harvest with bait being the most consistent producer.

On your September-October trip be prepared to fish on top with surface lures, on bottom with jigging spoons, or at mid-depth with frozen anchovies. Be flexible, experiment and allow the stripers to respond to the technique that matches their mood at the time.

Expect good fishing at all access areas.

From Hite it is only necessary to go downstream as far as the junction of White, Farleys and Trachyte. From Halls or Bullfrog, good fishing will be found up lake at Moki Canyon and Moki Wall and down lake at the mouth of Halls Creek. Also try main channel walls downstream.

At Wahweap the dam has recently produced good catches as have the canyons in Padre bay.

Smallmouth bass are common on main channel and main canyon steep rocky structure with larger size rocks. Use surface lures for a quick surface bite in the early morning shade and then switch to soft plastic tubes, grubs and Senkos for action that will last all day long.

Remember to keep all stripers caught. Keep a six-fish limit of 10 to12-inch smallmouth bass. These great tasting fish are easy to catch and fun for all ages. In the age of catch-and-release there is a Lake Powell opportunity to catch as many fish as you want and actually help the resource by keeping fish.

More information is available about Lake Powell fishing at www.wayneswords.com. Look for recent fish reports that you can also experience. Then send your fish report in to help others have a similar adventure. For current Lake Powell fishing information try:www.nr.state.ut.us/DWR/LPFISH.htm.