Lake Powell Fish Report - November 21, 2011
Lake Elevation: 3647
Water Temperature 59-62 F
By: Wayne Gustaveson
Endless Summer
Water temperature this morning at the Wahweap Main ramp was 59.9F. That rounds up to 60 degrees for me. The average temperature on this date is 58.6F. What’s the big deal about a few degrees? Shad remain in shallow water when temperature is close to 60 and retreat into deep water when temperature is near 55. Knowing that makes it an easy decision when launching at Hite where fishing is best now. In warm water, head up stream where water is shallow and murky. Fish in the brush for bass and stripers. When water cools into the low 50s then head downstream and fish deeper water for striper schools resting on the bottom.
Great success has been found recently fishing with plastic baits like walleye assassins in salt and pepper color. An offset worm hook can be turned into the plastic, instead of exposed, to allow it to fish weedless in the treetops. The assassin is heavy enough to cast without adding extra weight. Move steadily along the shoreline until a striper is caught and then concentrate on that spot to catch more striped school mates as they feed in the brush on shad and sunfish. When a striper is hooked and brought to the boat, school mates often follow, hoping for a feeding opportunity. As your buddy is reeling in a fish, don’t grab the net. Instead drop a spoon under the boat to catch another striper.
This same pattern works lakewide with some modifications. Fishing is hot for bass and stripers in the tree line surrounding the lake during the last hour of daylight. Again work steadily along the brushy shoreline in water less than 20 feet deep until a striper is caught. Then concentrate on that location casting rattletraps, flat-raps and/or walleye assassins. The lure is not as important as the timing. As the suns sets, fish feed voraciously for the last hour of the day.
During the day trolling along the edge of the brush line in water 15-20 feet deep results in a steady (not fast) catch of stripers along with a few bass. Rattletraps, X-raps, Bomber flat raps, and other medium divers that hit tree tops without snagging result in an average of 2 fish per hour in the main lake. Fishing is much faster at Hite upstream from the ramp.
Crappie can be caught very well now in the San Juan arm and from Good Hope to Hite. Walleye fishing is prime for those slow trolling a night crawler harness behind a bottom bouncer. The trick is to find a brush free bottom near the brush zone where the walleye rig can be used without hanging up. Look mid channel where water depth is 20 to 40. Check the graph to look for a flat bottom without brush for best results.
Enjoy the late season fishing and wonderful warm days when storm fronts are not forecast. Air and water temperatures near 60 make a delightful time for fishing at Lake Powell.
