LAKE POWELL – Report Courtesy Wayne Gustaveson, Utah Division of Wildlife. Lake elevation: 3,629. Water temp: 78-80 F.

The biggest change this week is a drop in surface water temperature. After more than a month of water warmer than 80 degrees, the lake has finally dipped down to 78 F in the morning. Nights are cooler and days shorter. While there will still be some warm days, water temperature will decline steadily from now on. Fall fishing excellence is just ahead.

The Labor Day storms left us uncertain as to changes in fish location and behavior. Few reports were given. It is assumed that fish just went deep and will now resume the patterns established last week.

Over the length of the lake, big strong striper boils happen once in a while. More often there are scattered feeding events marked by a few fish surfacing at random wide spread locations. Some times all is quiet, particularly during the mid day period.

Best fishing strategy for this week is to search for that big boil. If found, the rewards are tremendous with numerous strong, fat 2-3 pound stripers that can be caught as long as the fish feed on top – which may be over an hour. These huge boils occur during the first two hours of daylight and the last two hours of light at night.

Last week they were found in Padre Bay, Rock Creek, Oak Canyon, Jacks Arch Cove (San Juan mouth), Red Canyon, and Trachyte. At least every third day these boils light up to the delight of all those lucky enough to be close by.

More often (daily) scattered fish are seen morning and evening marking the location of feeding schools. A few of these can be caught with surface lures thrown right into the splash ring. The better approach is to graph the 30-60 foot bottom contour where the single splashes are seen. Find the big school on the bottom for the best fishing experience. These can be readily caught on spoons. Surfacing fish mark the location of feeding events and deep running schools. The feeding action is going on at depth so mimicking a dying shad with a spoon falling to the bottom is the most productive technique to try. This will be the most rewarding technique to pursue while waiting for the big boil to appear.

Bass fishing continues to improve particularly around feeding stripers. Stripers are easy to see and bass are close to the feeding commotion. Try cranking rattle traps and other shallow runners in the structure nearest to the surface commotion. Both large and smallmouth bass are there feeding on fleeing shad. Largemouth are more likely to be in brush structure while smallmouth will be around rocky points and ledges. The most productive plastic bass lure reported last week was the standard watermelon colored green tube jig.

Catfish are still feeding near camp and sunfish are in the brush.

The cooling weather will spark increased fish activity and also be kinder to anglers who may not like the heat.

LEES FERRY – From Lees Ferry Anglers, Sunday Sept. 7, by: Ted Welling

Today’s Fly Fishing: With the low flows we are back in and wading. Just about every bar and riffle is producing fish. I was out on Thursday and caught fish every place we stopped. We caught fish on dry flies in the scum lines, and did very well in the riffles nymphing. San Juan worms and flash midges were the flies of choice. All in all, it was a very pleasant day to fish this river. The weather was nice and the fish were eager to eat. It was also nice to stop and wade for a change. The flows will remain at 12,000 cfs through October. You might want to take advantage of this.

Walk in: We have had only a few reports from this area in the past few days. Other than that, the last report was from the Aug. 19. As of Sept. 1, flows are at a constant 12,000 cfs, which should allow better access and wade-ability for those of you choosing to fish this part of this river. Flies of choice are San Juan worms, zebra midges, Rs2’s and wd-40, brassies and most any other midge larva.

Spin Fishing: Glo bugs bounced on bottom and jigs were the effective today. Stop by and check out the rig for bottom bouncing, it’s a kick.

LAKE MEAD – Lake Mead water levels have held steady, the elevation is currently at around 1,105 feet above msl.  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.  Launching conditions at South Cove have remained nearly the same for the last two months.  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.  National Park Service is working to keep the ramp open.

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 stripers has been pretty good.  Try using cut anchovies at night.  If you have submersible lights try using them around the new moon.  The lake level has remained pretty steady and is running at 641 feet above msl. The stripers seen in the fall were fat and full of shad, with schools of shad being chased by striped bass.  No sign of shad this year so far.  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.

Where:Lake Mohave
When:09/05/08
Caught:Nothing
Technique:Shad
Comments:Just a note, the last few time I have been to Lake Mohave I have seen large schools of small fish, 4 to 6 inches in length. I assume these are young shad. This is the first year I have seen schools like this. Fish numbers well over 100 and a couple of times in the hundreds.
Name:cliff collipriest

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.  Fishing was a bit spotty for those fishing from the shoreline with about half the angler’s having success.    Most of the success has been coming from or around the new pier.  Try using green Power Worms, or salmon eggs.  Anglers report the fishing being best before 07:30.    The striper fishing has been picking up.  Reports of Stripers 5 lbs and up are becoming more common.

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 fishing has been pretty slow.  A few bass are being caught, but overall slow.

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 has picked up a little.  One angler reported catching a 40” striper.  Trout were last stocked on March 24-25.  Trout stocking will resume around the end of October.
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/.