LAKE POWELL – By Wayne Gustaveson. Lake elevation: 3,590. Water temp: 52-62 F.

Stripers show up at dam.
Those anglers that have been diligently paying their dues fishing in the main channel for striped bass were rewarded in a big way this week. While catches have been steady recently the numbers caught have been modest. That changed on Thursday when stripers were caught by the cooler full reminiscent of 2006. Fish caught were smaller but healthier than seen the two previous years.

What does this mean?

It appears that more fish made their way into the channel than had previously been there. Or they could have been there all the time and were stimulated by increasing water temperature. For whatever reason, it seems that the likelihood of catching a good number of fish at the dam has now increased.

There will still be time periods or whole days when fishing is slow. It is always good to have a backup plan if all the prime spots at the dam are occupied or fishing is not good when you arrive.

There are other locations that harbor striper schools. The closest location is the canyon wall on the west side near the barricade line. It is not necessary to tie to the barricades to catch fish just follow the wall north for a few hundred yards to the end of the underwater ledge that holds the striper schools in place. Check buoy No. 1 at the mouth of Wahweap Bay, or Antelope and Navajo Canyons, NGS Power Plant intake to Buoy 9 on the south canyon wall. Schools are often there if not found at the first spot tried.

For those seeking other species the prospects are still the same with cool water in the morning and warming by afternoon. There is an early morning largemouth bass bite in the backs of the canyons where water depth is between 10-20 feet and in coves of the channel at the same depth. Look for murky water for best results. Often coves have sandy bottoms with “old brush” like long submerged tumbleweeds or old trees on the bottom. This sparse cover is enough. A little ridge of rocks in the sand may be all the cover needed. The best bait for me this week was a bulky dark green plastic grub like the Yamamoto hula grub. Use a slow dragging retrieve while maintaining bottom contact.

Smallmouth bass are caught much better in the afternoon during the warmest part of the day. Use the same techniques but target the rocky structure near the shallow coves. Each day more walleye and crappie are caught while using plastic to catch bass.
The fishing opportunities here are varied but what ever your personal preference the chances of success are increasing each week.

LEES FERRY – New regulation: Dogs are prohibited on the Colorado River downstream from the dam to the boundary of Grand Canyon NP except when used in support of hunting activities in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.

Report by: Ted Welling of Lees Ferry Anglers:

Today’s Fly Fishing: The fishing once again was good today. I hear reports of some midge hatches popping here and there. And with this the wading should become more productive. With every report I receive I hear how pretty and healthy these Lees Ferry trout are looking. A pretty steady diet of eggs and worms will do that! And now with the midges coming around these fish will start to move into the shallows, and wading in these areas will start to get better and better. The midge patterns we have been using are the laser, the flash midge, the ever popular zebra midge.
Walk in: Had a few reports today, and I am told it was a little tough. I guess it is a little of where you fish and how you fish, and of course, when to fish. Mid-day does not fair too well down here. It fishes best early in the morning as the water is on the rise. Then again in the evening after the sun goes behind the cliffs. The fish are on the move so I really can’t tell you exactly where to fish. The areas most reported are at the confluence, just above it and the lower boulder field. Worms and egg patterns are the most popular in this area. Midge hatches have been reported in the last few days.
Spin Fishing: Spin fishing is still great! Stop in and pick up some egg patterns and ask us about the recommended rig and best areas to fish. We do have maps available in the fly shop as well.

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; National Park Service has completed the extension to the concrete ramp. The lake elevation has gone down a little at around 1,114 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/.

Angler report:

Where:
LAKE MEAD
When:
03/29/08
Caught:
STRIPED BASS
Technique:
TROLLING RAPALA HUSKYJERKS 10 TO 30 FEET
Comments:
I took the whole family out 3-22-08 and we caught 10, they had a blast bring in 1- to 3-pound stripers. The weather was great and the lake is up. We went back the next weekend and caught over 20. Most were caught before noon and before the wind came up. Surface water temperature was 60 to 61 and the striper were not schooled up. If you’ve been waiting to hear if they have started biting, stop waiting and get on the water. It’s only going to get better. And dads, don’t forget to take that son or daughter with you. Make a memory.
Name:
Jeff McNiven

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. Most of the largemouth are in 20-25 ft of water, but some are starting to move into shallow water.

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. On March 28-29th brush bundles pallets and PVC structures were installed in carp 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 up, but still be careful while launching. The bass and catfish are biting. Try night crawlers or anchovies for catfish.

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 –Fishing has been good below Davis Dam immediately following the trout stockings. Trout were stocked on March 24-25th. 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/.