March 8, 2006
By Wayne Gustaveson
Lake Elevation: 3589
Water Temp: 50-55 F
Spring warming occurs on calm afternoons with water temperatures peaking at 56 degrees.  The slightest breeze mixes the layers and surface water cools to near 50.  Predators continually move from deep channels into shallow flats depending on temperature. 

The typical fish holding location is the submerged creek channel leading to the weedy flat.  Look for shallow submerged cattails, tamarisk trees and tumbleweeds.  Probe the channel with reaction baits to find bass, walleye and stripers at 10-25 feet depths.  The most productive site is the narrowest constriction in the channel.

 

Use a stop and go retrieve while fishing a spinner bait, or suspending diving lure (Bevy Shad, Norman Little N).  Small sunfish are holding tight in the weeds on the flat. Crankbaits mimic fleeing sunfish that bass and walleye crave.

 

In the northern lake shad are still common.  Weedy flats are important to bass but stripers are more likely to be on constricting points waiting to attack shad as they swim by.  Most of the action is in the back of the canyon in colored water even in the upper lake.  Again the narrowest constricted area of the canyon is the most likely spot to find a concentration of bass and stripers. 

 

Walleye will spawn with the next warming trend.  This week may be the best chance to catch walleye until spawning concludes in early April. Walleye are holding right in with bass and stripers but may be targeted specifically by using a night crawler harness attached to a weighted bottom bouncer. 

Stripers continue to run the canyon walls in the lower lake near the dam. Increased angling pressure tends to shut down feeding striper, but there are still hourly periods when catching is exceptional at the dam.  When the bite stops near the barricade line move to nearby points and talus rock piles in the dam forebay to find another cooperative striper school. There are many spots between the dam and Buoy #1 where stripers may be caught at a high rate. 

I found this week that the first boat to arrive at the west barricade by the dam caught fish at will.  Catch rate dropped with the arrival of each boat.  During the course of the day catch rate may be highest from 10 AM - 2 PM. 

Ramp access remains good with all launch ramps open.  Antelope ramp has only two launching lanes in operation so use caution there.  Check depth before launching each time. The water is crystal clear so a visual inspection will remove any doubt.