LAKE POWELL – By Wayne Gustaveson. Lake elevation has been stable for a month. Walleye are just beginning to spawn. The males are ripe and off feed but the females are still eating and gearing up for spawning. Target clean rock structure to find spawning walleye aggregations. There are more walleye in the northern lake. Try in the Hite area (dirt ramp only) or Hall’s Crossing.

The water is cold, making smallmouth fishing slow, with largemouth and striper fishing only fair. Fish don’t like a quick drop in lake level so the flood event further compounds fishing success. But after the lake drops this week and the temperature and day length increase, fishing will be ON at Lake Powell.

Muddy water from early snow melt has slowed fishing to a standstill from Hite to Trachyte. Muddy water reaches all the way down the San Juan to Neskahi Canyon.

Here is what to expect in the near future: Largemouth bass are the first fish to respond in the spring. They will seek warmer water which is often provided by vertical cliffs with southern sun exposure. The rock picks up solar heat and transmits that into water of calm coves. Check for temperature spikes and fish around brush in the warmest water found. Bass like spinner baits that can probe the brush without sticking. When the reaction bite stops, pull out the plastic grubs and drag them slowly along the bottom at 15-25 feet.

Smallmouth bass need a bit more warming before taking off. They increase activity about 10 days after largemouth start. Smallmouth are more numerous and will be found in a wider range of habitats. Again the 15-25 foot bottom contour will be the favored depth. Smallmouth will be on rock points and ledges without regard to the occurrence of brush. Brush only becomes important when it harbors the food source. If shad are present over the submerged creek channel then fishing location will be the rocky drop-off at the canyon edge. If bluegills hiding in brush are the forage target then bass will be around brush. It will be two more weeks minimum, before smallmouth fishing picks up.

Striped bass are scattered in the backs of the canyons. Fat two-pounders are present in good numbers but temperatures do not favor activity. A school may be located but the fish are flighty and hard to corner. Slow trolling may offer the best strategy to cover ground in search of stripers.

Other species are still huddled up looking for something warm. My advice is to wait one week and then come give it a try.

Powell Outlook: In trying to predict future fishing results, I have looked in the past for events that are similar to conditions that will be in place in 2008.

Striped bass populations are near the bottom of the population “boom-and-bust” cycle and will be rebuilding. Young stripers will dominate the catch.

Smallmouth bass lag a year or two behind stripers in population swings. Bass will be represented by a balanced population equally represented by young and old fish. Other species are less abundant than the big two so it is almost impossible to predict subtle changes in their abundance and catchability. Fish populations in 2008 most closely resemble conditions found in 1999.

The second major factor is spring runoff. Spring inflow has been modest the past few seasons. Snow pack is currently building with more storms on the way. An optimistic viewpoint suggests that a large spring flood is expected. With fingers crossed then, water level increases in 2008 will be compared to 2005 when the lake level increased more than 40 feet. Fishing results will be more similar to 1999 when shad abundance was small.

The largest variable cannot be estimated. That is the effect of storm fronts that cool the water and drastically impact fishing success for a 3-5 day period following the storm. Those events will happen but are not factored in because of their unpredictability. Typically, warming periods provide the best spring fishing, regardless of moon phase.

With that introduction this is my best guess on fishing prospects for 2008.

Fishing success for striped bass and walleye will improve in late February. The best early success will be found near the inflows of the Colorado and San Juan Rivers. Fishing will improve lake-wide in the backs of canyons rather than the main channel. Slow trolling (2 mph) will be the most effective technique.

March fishing success will be punctuated by spring storms making fishing success spotty. Some of the best largemouth bass fishing is found on warm March afternoons in shallow coves with brush. Shad scarcity will make crayfish the most sought after prey item. Crayfish are best imitated by bottom bouncing grubs fished in rocky structure. Stripers on a crayfish diet are extremely susceptible to anchovy bait. In the main lake bait fishing for stripers will catch more fish, but at the inflow area trolling and casting will be better.

Smallmouth bass and striped bass fishing will improve in April. Search for both species in the murky colored water in the backs of the canyons. Clear water is colder and not as productive until water warms above 60 degrees.

Best spring fishing will occur in late April when water is warming but runoff has not significantly increased lake elevation. Expect bass to spawn the third week of April. Bass will be visibly building nests on the shallow shoreline.

Striped bass will be in the same canyon locations with bass, just further out in deeper water off the edge of spawning flats. In those special years when bass spawning precedes lake elevation rise, fishing success is beyond belief. An early snow melt will negate this event.

Expect the lake to be rising rapidly by the Fourth week of April. Runoff will muddy the water all the way to Bullfrog by mid to late May. When northern waters are stained, fishing for most species is better south from Bullfrog to Padre Bay.

May is the very best month to catch walleye when they are forced to feed during the day as warming water increases their metabolism. Walleye numbers are highest north of Bullfrog and walleye like murky water.

Striped bass will be caught half way between the back of the canyon and the main channel. Lack of abundant shad in the canyon moves stripers toward detectable current of the main channel in April and May. Striper fishing success by numbers will certainly be less, maybe much less, than seen in the record breaking harvest years of 2005 to 2007. Finding moving striper schools will be challenging but once located the school will be cooperative. Striper health and condition will be dramatically improved, making up for fewer fish caught.

LEES FERRY – Report courtesy Lees Ferry Anglers, Ted Welling: We had a lot of guides out on the water today and every one of them reported a stellar day. Some of these clients are just beginning the sport, and they also had a great time out there. All caught fish, now some had a bit of trouble keeping them hooked and or getting them to net. But hey, that counts in my book. Fish are happy and eager to eat. Flies used were large scuds, and large San Juan worms. Midges were doing well today although I believe the trout are still in the scud and worm mood after the large flow. Now who would know for sure how long this feeding frenzy will last. But, if I were you, I would call in sick at work with the “ferry flu” and get your tail up to fish. Now you see I won’t have to do that…Well, because I get to live here!!!

Check out: www.kutv.com/content/outdoors/default.aspx
I will not change this walk-in report, as it seems to be accurate!

Walk in: There was only one report for this section and it was from yesterday, 3-08-08 a gentleman came in the shop this morning and told us he was down in this section in the afternoon and did well. He reported using egg patterns in pink. He also reported catching 10 or 11 fish. This area is fishing well too. However the best reports are from the big rock area, NOT the boulder field. Right at the confluence has NOT been turning up many fish either. T

Spin Fishing: Nothing new to report for our friends that like to use spin gear. If that is your preference, would you please get up here and give me something to report. If I can’t hear it, I can’t report it!!! T-Bone

The Arizona Game and Fish Department has detected whirling disease in a small percentage of Lees Ferry trout that were collected for a random sampling. For those of you who are not familiar with whirling disease; this disease only affects fingerling trout and limits their survival. Adult trout can harbor the disease but in all respects appear healthy and normal.

The arrival of whirling disease at Lees Ferry isn’t good news nor is it necessarily terrible news. Whirling disease has infected many of the Western states fabled trout streams with greater and lesser affects depending on the watershed. The Madison comes to mind as one river that was severely impacted while the San Juan suffered no noticeable impact from whirling disease. Lees Ferry has more in common with the San Juan than the Madison…both Lees Ferry and the San Juan are tail-water rivers with clear, cold water which is a consistent temperature year-around.

Consistent cold water temperatures are believed by most experts on the disease to keep the spread and severity of the disease in check. I’ll be sure to keep you informed as more data becomes available. In the mean time when you do come to Lees Ferry be sure to clean your wading gear thoroughly before you leave to prevent the spread of whirling disease. For more information visit: http://www.whirling-disease.org

LAKE MEAD – According to fishing guides out of Las Vegas, the striper and largemouth bass bites are both picking up, especially on non-windy days. Catfish are still biting at night. The ramp is open at South Cove, but it is a gravel ramp. Be careful when launching here. The lake elevation has come up a little at around 1,117 feet above msl. State and federal biologists sampled fish populations in Lake Mead during October and found gizzard shad for the first time. This is not a surprise since they have been found in Powell since 2000.

Important notice: With the recent discovery of invasive quagga mussels in Mead, Mohave and Havasu, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please drain and dry your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see.

For more information, go to the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s web pages at azgfd.gov or visit http://100thmeridian.org/.

LAKE MOHAVE – The striper bite is picking up a little. The stripers seen in the fall were fat and full of shad, with schools of shad being chased by striped bass. If the shad are making a comeback, we may see more mid-size stripers in the basin. If you can find schools of shad, throw a small crankbait. I’ve also received reports of largemouth being caught in 25 to 35 feet of water on drop-shots.

Biologists from both Arizona Game and Fish Department and Nevada Division of Wildlife installed fish habitat in Carp cove on Dec. 12-13. A total of 84 wood pallets and 16 4X4-foot PVC structures were put into Lake Mohave in an attempt to increase angler success. On January 29-30 an additional 54 wood pallets and 16 4X4-foot PVC structures were put into Lake Mohave at Box cove. Additional habitat will be added at several locations over the next two years. These structures are fish magnets.

There is a wheelchair accessible fishing pier just south of the main launch ramp at Katherine’s Landing. If you fish Mohave and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

Important notice: With the recent discovery of invasive quagga mussels in Mead, Mohave and Havasu, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please drain and dry your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see.

For more information, go to the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s web pages at azgfd.gov or visit http://100thmeridian.org/.

WILLOW BEACH - Trout are stocked every Friday. The fishing for trout has been good from shore immediately following the stocking. Try using a Jake, Panther Martin, or other spinner’s or spoons. If that doesn’t work you can always use Power Bait.

Important notice: With the recent discovery of invasive quagga mussels in Mead, Mohave and Havasu, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please drain and dry your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see. If you fish Willow beach and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.
For more information, go to the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s web pages at azgfd.gov or visit http://100thmeridian.org/.

TOPOCK MARSH –Water level is coming up, but still be careful while launching. The bass and catfish are in the channel. While the bite has been slow, there is no shortage of fish in the channel. Look for the bite to really pick up as the water warms.

Game and Fish biologists surveyed the Marsh starting on the week of Jan. 15. The largemouth bass population was observed to be very healthy, as well as channel catfish. Crappie were also present, but in smaller numbers.

You can access the marsh by boat at North Dike, Catfish Paradise, and Five-Mile Landing. All three also provide plenty of area for shoreline fishing too. For more information on the marsh, contact the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge at (760) 326-3853 or go to http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/arizona/havasu/index.html.

Important notice: With the recent discovery of invasive quagga mussels in Mead, Mohave and Havasu, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please drain and dry your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see.

For more information, go to the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s web pages at azgfd.gov or visit http://100thmeridian.org/.

COLORADO RIVER BELOW DAVIS DAM – Trout stocking resumed in October. Fishing has been good below Davis Dam immediately following the trout stockings. Fish and Wildlife Service stocks once a month in this area. A few days following the stocking look for trout to be across the river from the Riverside.
The fish are stocked in two locations; Davis Camp and near The Riverside. I am getting some reports of the largemouth bite picking up.

Striper fishing has picked up in the needles area. Water levels on the river fluctuate, so be careful. You can check the Bureau of Reclamation Web site for flow predictions http://www.usbr.gov/lc/riverops.html before you go. If you fish the river below Davis Dam and are having luck, please e-mail me at mchmiel@azgfd.gov so I can share your successes with others.

Important notice: With the recent discovery of invasive quagga mussels in Mead, Mohave and Havasu, proper cleaning of all watercraft is critical to help prevent the spread of these invaders. Please drain and dry your livewell and bilge on land. Drain all the water you can from your engine. Also, inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see.

For more information, go to the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s web pages at azgfd.gov or visit http://100thmeridian.org/.