March 22, 2006
By Wayne Gustaveson
Lake Elevation: 3589
Water Temp: 48-52 F
March is roaring like a lion with the final gasps of winter. Snow, rain and wind have kept water temperatures low and curtailed fish movement.  That has worked well for striped bass fishing but not so well for bass anglers. 

Striped bass are schooling and searching for food in the northern lake from Bullfrog upstream. Trolling the backs of canyons with deep diving lures and plastic swim baits is becoming more effective each day. Fishing is not fast, but catching a fat, healthy striped bass quickly rewards the patient angler.  Stripers have over wintered in excellent condition.  Average size is 3-5 pounds but fish up to 10 pounds will be commonly captured by trollers from Bullfrog upstream to the mud line near White Canyon.

At Wahweap, stripers are still providing catching excitement for all anglers using anchovy bait near the Glen Canyon Dam forebay, Antelope Canyon, main channel and the backs of all canyons from Wahweap to Oak Canyon. The pattern at all locations is the same.  Find fish on the graph or just try a narrow canyon constriction where water depth is 30-40 feet.  Broadcast 4-6 finely cut anchovies around the boat. Then put 1/3 anchovy on a hook or jig head and cast beyond the chummed area.  Let the bait swing back through the chum on taut line.  If striped bass are present they should bite within 3-4 casts.  If not, move on to the next spot and repeat until a school is found.   

It was reported that a 20-pound trophy striper was caught at the dam this week.

About half of the stripers in the southern lake are thin after a hard winter.  They average 4-pounds, are very easy to catch and provide loads of fun for all.  Catch and keep all these fish so new forage produced in May will then be spread only among the healthiest fish.  

Spring warming will jumpstart bass fishing.  Expect water to warm quickly to the mid 50’s with the warm weather beginning today.  Largemouth bass will respond immediately by moving shallow to look for food and shallow nest sites near brush. Expect good largemouth fishing by the end of the week and continuing into April.  Largemouth bass have grown in size and number and will be a welcome surprise to anglers.

Walleye are now spawning but some females will still be feeding near rocky slopes with nearby brush piles where forage fish are hiding. Fish very early and late with live worm harnesses or reaction crankbaits to capture these light-sensitive delicacies.   

Smallmouth, crappie and bluegill and catfish will not become active until water temperatures exceed 55 degrees.  But, that may happen in the murky water in the back of canyons this week.