By
Water Temp: 55-66 F 
It's easy to predict fishing success this week - just
look out the window and see what the weather is doing. Sun is good. Wind is
bad. Mild March weather has allowed the lake surface to warm to 58 degrees,
which is the temperature threshold that launches spring fishing. When morning
water temperature is 58 the afternoon temperature on a calm day may be as high
as 66 degrees. That makes fish do cartwheels. A cold March wind can quickly
lower the surface temperature back to the mid 50's. That stalls bass fishing.
Phil and
fishing buddy fished with Kevin Campbell at the dam to catch many stripers.
Just before the wind storm on March 27-28, bass had moved on to the bank to
enjoy the hot afternoon sun. They were eager to bite and chase most plastic
offerings that came in range. Lures tossed right at the waters edge were most
likely to be noticed. The best cast landed on the sandy bank. The bait was then
pulled into the water. Bass were very shallow as they tried to stay in the thin
layer of warm surface water. Some bass were even prospecting for a nest site.
Wind cooling is temporary and causes bass to drop back to the depths. They are
still catchable but not nearly as aggressive as when lake temperature is
rising. The present cool spell will give way to warming again on the weekend.
It will be early next week before bass come shallow once more. When they do,
fishing will be great.
Stripers are found most often near the
back of the canyon near deep water. Hungry stripers will come up to shallow
water to eat. The main feeding area in the southern lake is near weed beds and
tumbleweed coves that provide cover for sunfish. Young fat stripers are more
likely to be in the back of the canyon instead of the main channel. Thin adults
are moving toward the channel. Catch rate at Glen Canyon Dam is good on 2 out
of 3 days now. Stripers bite for a while and then seem to move out before
returning a few hours later. The channel from the Intake to Warm Creek is only
fair fishing.
Walleye and crappie are showing up more often. Crappie move into brush on warm
afternoons and can be caught on small plastic grubs. Crappie fishing will be
better in April. Walleye are found near other feeding fish. Stripers and bass
often stir up a school of shad or sunfish during a feeding event which excites
the ambush feeding walleye into activity. Find actively feeding fish to catch a
bonus walleye.
Natalie, Bree
and Ashley with stripers caught at the dam on bait.
Wash your boat before heading from mussel infested water to