LAKE POWELL – By Wayne Gustaveson (pictured below). Stripers are still slurping in little shad with a vengeance. It is likely that slurping stripers will be seen in every clear water canyon and channel this week. Catching them may be more difficult than locating them.

Stripers feed lazily when little shad are abundant and slow moving. A group of 10 or more stripers pop to the surface and gorge on tiny shad. An approaching boat causes the feeding school to turn in a different direction or to sound only to resurface a safe distance away. Shad are abundant and wide spread so stripers can feed in any direction. The trick is to get close enough to cast into slurping stripers without putting the fish down.

Small spoons may be the most effective presentation but don’t be afraid to try a surface lure. The key to both techniques is to work the lures gently. Shad are not swimming much so a fast moving, erratic presentation is not normal to their feeding image. Reel the topwater lure at a slow to medium speed with only limited sideways jerks. Do the same with spoons. Work it just fast enough to keep it in the feeding zone. The real secret is to make long casts with small lures. That takes a good rod and reel with quality matching line. Present the lure just beyond the leading fish or just past the entire school. Splashing into the middle of the slurping fish seldom allows success. It will be much better when shad grow a bit larger and the margin for boating and casting error will increase by one order of magnitude.

Slurps are now common from dawn until 10 a.m. After that fishing is tough until late afternoon. During the heat of the day is a good time to play in the water. Fish early and late for maximum success. Bait fishing is much better in the afternoon when stripers have completed the morning shad hunt and are in deep water planning their next assault.

Bass fishing is still tough and will remain so until the lake starts to drop. Bass love the fresh green habitat now abundant in so many different lake locations. It will take lake stabilization and or decline until bass are able to be caught in a stable summer pattern. Right now they are feeding early in the morning near the stripers slurps but from the comfort of their newly discovered green brush habitat. This may be the most difficult warm water time to catch bass. That will soon change as the lake stabilizes.

Walleye are the bonus fish now and can be caught early and late on the fast falling points that lead into the main channel. Fish shady pockets in the morning and under mudlines on breezy afternoons all along the main channel edge for feisty walleye.

Catfish are hot every evening near your camp. Try scraps from dinner right behind the boat for quick success. My favorite catfish recipe is blackened fillets with Cajun spices. Mmmmm

LEES FERRY – Report by: Ted Welling, Lees Ferry Anglers: CICADAS ARE POPPING, YEAH: Fishing is on fire!!!!!

Fish are all over the surface sipping midges in the back eddies. They are also at the edge of the river looking and waiting for that un-lucky cicada to drop in the current.

We have had some very warm and sunny weather and the midge hatches are thick and are covering the water and the trout are taking advantage of this. You can find these fish under almost any scum line gorging themselves. Just cast a small dry fly with a tiny dropper and let it gently drift into the crowd and bingo: FISH ON!

If you are fishing the cicada a plopping presentation will do the trick count to five, and re-cast if you don’t have a take.

This is some of the most exciting fishing one can experience here at the Ferry. If you have had the chance to fish the cicada hatch, well then you know what I am talking about. If you have not been here for this event, it is a must! To hire a guide call us at the shop 1-800-962-9755 you will not be disappointed. Hope to see you soon!!!    T

Walk in: This area is fishing well. Fish are taking dries and droppers alike. The scud, the San Juan and little midge patterns. The cicadas are buzzing like crazy all over the river, kind-of drives you crazy but, the fishing is great. I expect it to remain this way for the next couple of months. At least………. Hope you can make it up!
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. The marabou jigs are also working.  We do have maps available in the fly shop as well.

LAKE MEAD – Lake Mead water levels continue to drop as the elevation is currently at around 1,105 feet above msl.  Water temperatures are running between 67 and 72 depending where you are on the lake.  Backs of coves are warming up nicely and largemouth bass are in shallow.  Nighttime Striper fishing has been really good again.  Anglers using artificial lights were catching as many 13 to 18-inch stripers as they wanted to clean.

Catfishing under lights was also very productive using anchovies.  Artificial lights tend to be most productive if fished with a new moon.

July 2, 2008 was the new moon so trolling crankbaits during the day may have droped off a little, but the night bite should be great.

Launching conditions at South Cove have continued to deteriorate with the dropping water.  The new concrete ramp the National Park Service just completed is one lane with buoys marking the edges.  Use caution not to go off the sides of the metal extensions at either side. According to the Bureau of Reclamation, water levels are projected to be at its lowest levels later this month before rebounding slightly by October.

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 fishing for small striper’s has been pretty good.  The lake is running high at 643 feet above msl. The stripers seen in the fall were fat and full of shad, with schools of shad being chased by striped bass.  If you can find schools of shad, throw a small crankbait.

Biologists from both Arizona Game and Fish Department and Nevada Division of Wildlife have continued to install fish habitat in both Carp Cove and Box Cove.  The largemouth,  bluegill, and catfish are really utilizing the new structures.  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.  Look for the striper fishing to really be picking up.  As the water in the basin of Lake Mohave warms, the bigger fish move into the colder water in the Willow beach area.

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 –No new reports - Water level is up, but still be careful while launching.  The catfish are biting on night crawlers and anchovies.  Bass bite is still not bad.  Crappies have shut down.  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 –The striper bite is picking up.  Trout were last stocked on March 24-25.  This was the last trout stocking until next winter.

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/.