Wayne Gustaveson And Russ Bassdozer On Lake Powell

BIG SMALL -- Russ Bassdozer, Page Ariz., with one of the many trophy-size smallmouth bass caught this spring at Lake Powell. Stripers are boiling in open water, but bass fishing along the shoreline remains good. Just fish deeper, about 25 feet, as bass have left the shallows in search of cooler water.

At Powell
Bullfrog Is Boiling!
By Wayne Gustaveson

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.

Stripers

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.

Walleyes

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 that provides shade for these ambush feeders. Muddy coves along the main channel are great walleye-producing spots.

Largemouth Bass

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

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 singl-tail plastic grub rigged Carolina style or fishing a drop-shot rigged plastic bait directly under the boat at 25 feet seems to the best method for successfully taking bass right now.

Catfish

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.

At press time, lake elevation: 3,638 and water temperature: 79-84 F

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