June 9, 2009 - Roy Kimura

Roy Kimura  31 lbs. 11 oz. Oak Canyon    Anchovies

36 pound striper caught on anchovies in Navajo Canyon

February 8, 2007 - Sherm Mcdonell (Waynes version)

Sherm was on the couch resting  when Shelley said "we moved here to go fishing, so lets go".  He reluctantly chose the better path and went fishing.  They spent the day exploring  Knowles Canyon. Since it was their first trip to Knowles they just drifted and fished the entire canyon. They used anchovies in deep water and caught a walleye in open water. Near the end of the  canyon with bottom depth about 20 feet, Sherm picked up his chartreuse bass grub on the light 6' Ugly Stick rod with 6 pound test to try the shoreline for bass.

He had caught a few 1-2 pound stripers on the grub in deeper water so it was working quite well.  As the grub descended in the clear water he saw a flash of a nice fish and set the hook. It was a solid hook up and Sherm was sure he had a 10-pounder.  The first run was strong but Sherm was on the trolling motor as the fish passed under the boat and headed for deep water. He told Shelly that he was going to win a hat in the Big Striper Contest with this fish.

The first run stopped in about 40 yards but Sherm couldn't gain much of his 6-pound line back without using the trolling motor to take up the slack. He did get quite a bit of line back before the second run started. The next run was longer but fairly steady so he was able to keep up with the trolling motor. He felt lucky to still  have the fish hooked up. On a warmer day the runs would have been quicker and longer and the first run would have been the last. The striper would have been the proud owner of a green grub. Sherm stationed Shelly on the big motor with instructions to crank up at the next run.  She was ready but the big fish came to the top and rolled over. Then Sherm saw it was no 10-pounder but much bigger.

It was just a matter of time before they got the fish close enough to the boat to put the net under it. It was 3 PM, at the warmest part of the day.  Fishing was best between 1-3 PM. Then the pictures and fun began.  They raced back to Bullfrog to get the official weight-  32.5 pounds 43.75 total length and 26 inch girth. There was a large crowd congregated at the Bullfrog Service Station where the certified scales were surrounded when the fish was officially weighed. The trophy is headed to the taxidermist where it will make a great mount and the stomach contents and other pertinent internal information will be gleaned. Nice Fish Sherm - Keep listening to Shelly!

May 2, 2006 - Michelle and Richard Gonzalez

Semi - Annual Gonzalez Family Lake Powell Fishing Trip – April 28th thru May 5th We arrived at beautiful Lake Powell to start our semi-annual fishing trip on Friday, April 28th, the weather was perfect and the water was pristine.  Our first boat ride out to the fishing spot at Last Chance Bay was 4:45 on Saturday morning where we starting throwing various colors of jerk baits.  The same routine was followed for several days yielding an average of 35 Striped Bass per day with a weight of 1 – 6 lbs.  On the second day of fishing, my husband Richard an avid fisherman, broke his pole and complained about his spare rod the whole next day.  So I finally gave in and traded him poles leaving me with the spare rod (a junk rod that has been around for ages).    On Monday, May 1st during the morning hours, after catching over 20 fish, my husband hooked up with a 1 lb striped bass using a jerk bait.  As he was retrieving the fish, we noticed a huge striper swimming next to him (approx 3 ft long.).  The huge striper tried to engulf the hooked fish for over 3 minutes.  The mouth of the huge striper was completely covering the hooked fish, but we were unable to lure him into biting any other bait that we threw.  He then decided to swim off into deeper water.    The fishing trip gets even more interesting and exciting on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 fishing the east side canyons, south facing shoals in Last Chance Bay.  I was fishing on the old junk rod, with 10 lb Stren LoVis Green fishing line, using a 4” XPS Excalibur Natural Shad jerk bait (which I use every year) when on my eighth cast of the morning at approx 5:30 a.m. I got a strike and set the hook.  At first, I assumed that I had side hooked the fish by the way it was taking line, but then the rod loaded and I knew I had a good fish.  It’s initial run pulled 60 yards of line when my husband told me to move to the front of the boat where we could chase the fish if we needed to.  I slowly began to gain line back when I thought that I had lost the fish, one treble hook (# 6) gave loose, but to our pleasure, we still had the fish hooked up.  Still reeling in slowly we saw a huge tail break the surface of the water. (we thought it may be the same fish we had seen on the previous day). My children awoke at the excitement and my daughter grabbed the video camera.  The fish swam by the port side of the boat were we were finally able to get a good look at it, and my husband noted that it appeared to be a 20 pound Striped Bass.  After a few minutes of steady pull the fish rolled on his side where I was able to get it close enough to the boat for my husband to use the Rapala grippers to grab the fish with.  When he heaved it on board, we all saw the fish’s girth and were shocked at the magnificent specimen that we had caught. We were all amazed that we were able to land the fish with only one treble (partially straightened), hooked to the lower part of his jaw.  We had a preliminary reading on a digit scale that we had on board at 34 ½ lbs. We all assumed it was a female, but in fact it was a male.  Cameras where flashing, video was rolling and we were already sending picture messages to our family members who where still trying to enjoy their morning rest.   Everyone on the boat was still screaming with excitement and amazement when my husband tells my children and I that we should release the fish back into the lake. That he was too beautiful to keep.  He was overruled and the fish made its way back in an ice chest stopping at Antelope point for information on who to contact and advise of the fish.  They informed us that we should take the fish to Bashas for official weight and that folks would be waiting for us there.  The cameras were flashing at Antelope point as they advised us to get it weighed immediately.  On the way back to Wahweap, we held the fish up to every boat that passed by to share the excitement of the catch. Upon arriving at Bashas, we were met by many local town folks who instructed us on where to go to get the fish weighed.  Official weight was 34 ½ lbs, 40 ½ inches long with a girth of 27”.  The biggest fish my family and I have ever caught and to that matter, ever seen in our lifetime.  Every year we talk about catching the 20 lb fish of lifetime, this year we exceeded it.  What a wonderful experience, one that will never be forgotten.  We are looking so forward to returning in September to our favorite place in the world “Beautiful Lake Powell”.  And by the way, during the entire trip of 7 days fishing, we caught 243 Striped Bass and 2 Small Mouth Bass.

May 3, 2006 - Michelle Gonzalez (and Wayne Gustaveson)

The Gonzalez family has been coming to Lake Powell each spring from Riverside CA to fish for stripers.  They get up early in the morning and cast jerk baits in the early dawn shadows along the shade line of Padre Bay, Last Chance and Rock Creek.  Sometimes stripers hit till shortly after dawn and other times the bite lasts past noon. The Bass Pro XPS Minnow jerk bait which is close to the lure used to catch the big fish.  XBPM35: 3-1/2"; 3/8 oz.; dives to 5'. XBPM45: 5"; 7/8 oz.; dives 5'-7'. This year’s trip was no different.  On the first day of vacation, stripers near Cookie Jar in Padre Bay hit jerk baits all morning.  They caught 55 fish weighing 2-6 pounds and called it a day.  Feeling confident on the second day they slept in and arrived at Last Chance after the sun was on the water.  The fish did not bite and that day was not as good.  They choose to only fish artificial lures so the many stripers hanging around the canyon walls waiting for a fresh piece of anchovy meat weresafe.  The third day found the Gonzalez family back to their old successful habits, launching the boat at 4:30 AM and making the run uplake in the dark.  Following their formula for success they again found willing stripers eager to chase the Bass Pro Shops brand of jerk bait called the XPS Excalibur.  It runs about 6 feet deep and is most effective when jerked and paused in a regular cadence during the retrieve. Both shad color and blue back color were working well.  On this morning many stripers were following the bait but not taking the last bite necessary to take the hook. Finally a one-pound fish hit the bait. While playing the little striper another larger fish could be seen following the fish.  It was not the normal 3-5 pound schoolie striper but a monster over 3-feet long  that followed the hooked fish to the boat and then turned away to be seen no more.  Day four found them again jerking baits in the same cove in Last Chance. They were on the opposite end of the cove some 600 yards from where the big fish was seen the previous day.  Catching was better this morning in dawns early light.  At 5:30 AM Michelle got a hit that she thought was a side hooked striper because it felt heavy and moved slowly.  When the fish took a run that stripped off 60 feet of line she realized it was, in fact, a monster.  She played the fish masterfully and thought half way through the battle that she had lost the fish.  Later she learned that the momentary pause and slack line was caused by one hook coming loose.  When the big fish rolled near the boat the $1.99 XPS lure was hanging by only one barb.  But her husband used his hand held fish grippers to lip the fish and get it into the boat. After much hollering they got on their picture cell phones and started rolling family and friends out of bed back home in CA. Michelle has had a permanent grin fixed on her pretty face ever since.         Their secret was to find a successful technique (stop and go jerk bait) and stick with it. They come each spring to the same time and fish in the same locations. The very best time to fish is from 5-7 AM in the morning. That combination finally paid off with a 34.5 pound striper.  It was 40.5 inches long and 27 inches around.

June 16, 2005 - Dan and Mike Porter (Waynes Version)

First let me tell you that some things in yesterdays fish report were correct.  There are some good fish in Rock Creek, however trolling is not necessarily over for the year.  Sorry this first picture is fuzzy but it shows a thunderstick with NO split ring or hook on the back and only a well stretched split ring on the front. This story was one coil of split ring wire away from not being told.

Dan Porter from Salt Lake City and his brother Mike drove to Bullfrog yesterday and launched the boat.  They knew they had to go south and they wanted to troll.  That was as detailed a plan as was developed.  So they started looking for campsites at Escalante  but when it was dark they stopped at Dry Rock and spent the night.

When dawn cracked at 7 AM they got in the boat to troll.   One pass in the middle of Dry Rock Creek resulted in a 6-pound striper for Dan.  That was fun so they turned around for another run.  Dan had 5 colors of leaded line out with a thunderstick as the terminal bait. The next pass took about 5 minutes before the big one hit. It seemed to be a snag but the water was 113 feet deep.  The big trolling rod never did snap back and the fight was on.  Dan will send us the details when he gets home to SLC.  He has pictures taken by his wife during the whole 30-minute event. The big one finally came up and took a run toward the bow of the boat.  They used the motor to get back in control, pull out the slack line,  and put some tension on the fish.  At that point the big striper rolled over.  The net was placed under the fish and when pressure was applied the aluminum handle broke.  Despite this adversity the fish was hoisted in and Dan collapsed with a permanent smile affixed to his face.  Then he noticed one hook gone and the other hanging by one strand of wire.

The fish was taken to Dangling Rope and measured at 42 inches long and 27 around.  The decision was made to get it weighed officially.  So Dan, Mike and wives took the food out of the cooler, put in the fish, and headed for Wahweap.  That is the only place to get an official weight for a big fish on Lake Powell. Wayne met the group at Wahweap and weighed the fish at Bashas' Grocery store.  It was 38.5 pounds. It must have spawned the week before since the rule is that stripers weigh about one pound for each inch of length. It was probably 42 pounds before the spawn and after dinner.  Lake record is 48 pounds so this one was a bit short - but a darn nice fish.

Mike indicated later that he had done some homework before the trip as he held up the printed version of everything that appears on this website. Mike and Dan expressed their good fortune in catching the big fish. But it looks to me like they had a good plan.  They were wise enough to head downstream from Bullfrog where the fishing was better.  So far their total fishing time this trip is 20 minutes.

July 10, 2003 - Maury and Cody Foye - Flagstaff AZ

On Saturday July 5th, my wife and I found what I believe would have been the new state record for striped bass. It must have just died because it was very flexible and had not discolored any. We pulled up to it, near the San Juan area, and took some measurements. I am estimating the weight at 70-80lbs.(it broke my 50lb scale after it went all the way around to the 10lb mark again then twang...snapped spring) It was 62.5 inches long with a 37 inch girth. With the mouth fully extended the steering wheel on my boat could nearly fit inside.  Why I am writing is to find out how common these toads are caught/found; and with these measurements how much it actually weighed. (If there is a formula or something) I have caught lots of large fish in Hawaii and holding this one felt very similar. What might have been the cause of death? (no visible markings or injuries) how old would a 5'2" striper be?

Just thought we would send you a picture of our fish from Lake Powell. John "caught" him last Friday. There was a terrible storm and this fish just floated up! John got in the water and "wrestled" him to shore. Well, not really wrestled him but pulled him in! Guess that may not really impress the big fishermen but the size of this Striper really impressed us! We measured him at four feet long and about 50 lbs. Just shows there are really big fish in Lake Powell! Doesn't matter that the water level is down....it's still an exciting place!

	There are still a few trophy stripers in the Lake. On Saturday a huge striper was found flipping and floating on the surface near main channel buoy 51 which is by Oak Canyon. The fish was scooped up by 11-year-old Taylor Ryan and family from Corona California and delivered to Dangling Rope marina.
	Preliminary measurements on fisherman's scales at Dangling Rope pegged the weight around 47 pounds. When the fish arrived at Wahweap two days later it weighed 44 pounds 5 ounces on certified scales in Page, AZ. That is the official weight that will be assigned to this fish.

The length was 45.75 inches and girth was 29.75 inches. Preliminary aging from scales taken from the fish indicate it to be at least 11 years old which is the oldest fish ever recorded at Lake Powell. Death may be presumed to be from natural causes as many trophy fish end up in the same predicament. They are required to stay in the deep cold water. If they venture into warm water for very long their body cannot metabolize lactic acid which builds up from normal swimming activity. Normally, trophy fish come up above the thermocline to eat a quick meal of carp and then return to the depths to cool off.   Perhaps if they miss the first swipe at a passing carp and have to chase it down the acidosis process kicks in and the fish loses equilibrium. The air bladder expands at shallower depths and it soon pops to the top like a huge cork. Once on top the fish lives for only a few minutes before dying. They are so large that the first passing boater cannot miss the last struggles and fin flips More trophy stripers have been found floating than have been caught by sport anglers. Many were picked up in the early 90's. This is the biggest striper to be found in recent years. This occurrence is significant and indicates that more "big ones" exist. This fish was spawned during the shad peak in 1992. There was another shad peak in 1996. There may be two good year classes of trophy fish from the 90's which will show up occasionally. My guess is that some lucky angler will break the current 48 pound 11 ounce record within the next 5 years.