May 10, 2006
By Wayne Gustaveson
Lake Elevation: 3595
Water Temp: 60-70
F
For
the past 3 years shad have been abundant and shad imitating hard plastic
lures were the most consistent baits. Now shad numbers have declined in the
southern half of the lake and crayfish are the most common food item.
Crayfish are bottom dwellers that scoot from rock to rock. That makes the
old standby plastic grub the best bait once more. Bounce the plastic grub on
the bottom, then lift and drop it to the bottom again. Anything eating
crayfish (all species of game fish) can be caught in this manner. Crayfish
are green and brown in color so plastic in these tones are preferred.
Striped bass are still readily caught on anchovy bait in the main channel from Wahweap to Navajo. Bait fishing action is improving and expanding uplake. Stripers were caught on bait in Navajo, at the mouth of San Juan (Jacks Arch), Escalante, Iceberg, Slick Rock, Buoy 99A and mouth of Hansen Creek. Stripers are numerous and hungry. Take some anchovies fishing with you. Chum anchovies and fish at the mouth of any major canyon where it intersects with the main channel to find resting stripers. Stripers will rise to the chum and be found in one of every three places tried. Average catch is 25 4-pound stripers per day – more in the main channel near the dam. Keep all stripers caught as the population is at a peak in number and must be reduced.
Walleye, stripers and bass have moved into the rocks
along the main channel to feed on crayfish. Long rocky shorelines where
wind and boat wakes consistently stir up muddy water are hotspots for
crawdad chomping. Find a small muddy cove along the rocky shoreline. Toss a
green plastic grub
or
tube into the mud and slowly work it along bottom for some fast action.
Adding a live night crawler as incentive is a very effective method of
catching walleye and other predators in May. Do not hesitate to cast a jerk
bait or surface lure occasionally to get a bonus fish close to the surface.
Find walleye in the rocks along the channel on all sides of Padre Butte in Padre Bay, Gregory Butte, West Canyon to Rock Creek, Oak Canyon, San Juan to Escalante, and Rincon.
Bass are on rocky points in coves and canyons. The very back of each canyon is not as good as the primary and secondary points half way back leading to the canyon terminus. Key on tumbleweed coves for a visual target but fish the cut (migration route) leading to the tumbleweeds to catch the bass.
Crappie and bluegill will still be in the tumbleweeds near the terminal end of the canyon. They are more numerous in the northern half of the lake with San Juan and Escalante being the best spots.
Fishing continues to be awesome. This is as good as it gets at Lake Powell.