August 8, 2007
By Wayne Gustaveson
Lake Elevation: 3606
Water Temp: 81-88 F
Full moon has faded into darker nights and just like clockwork stripers have started boiling again. The hot spot is the Colorado River inflow from Farley to the Horn above Good Hope Bay. Reports of day long boils and catching more stripers than can be imagined are rolling in.

Launching access is still possible at the site of the old Hite marina but this will be the last weekend for launching there due to declining water levels. Some boats have launched successfully at Farleys Canyon but it takes 4WD and courage to make that happen. The best bet for a nice fiberglass boat is to motor up from Halls or Bullfrog and camp near Trachyte. Fishing results will make the trip more than memorable.

Charlie Doss Family

 



In the main body of the lake, small boils are found each morning from Wahweap Bay to Good Hope and on the San Juan. These boils are small and quick. There may not be time to see the boil and get to the school in time to catch a fish. But look for surface action in Navajo Canyon, West Canyon, Rock Creek, San Juan, mouth of Escalante, and Rincon. Boils may be seen from Bullfrog to Good Hope and morning twilight is the best time to look.

Catching is quick on small spoons (Kastmaster and CC Spoons). Full size surface lures work. When fishing near Trachyte it is advisable to remove the front hook so the fish is the only one impaled on the hook. The Lucky Craft Gunfish 115 in clear Ghost color is amazing topwater bait. It "walks the dog" with a spitting action that is hard to resist.

Summer schools of adult stripers are right where they have been for the last two months. Some spots not recently mentioned include, mouth of Last Chance, Oak Canyon and Reflection Canyon - just inside the canyon mouth in the shady alcove. There are literally hundreds of striper spots (probably one in every canyon) just waiting for an anchovy chum shower to get the fish started. Look for shade near a rockslide along the steep wall to locate a willing school of stripers. When the school lights up, they will eat all anchovy baits and many other offerings for the next hour or more. Return the next morning or evening for more action.

Bass fishing is improving. The best technique is drop shot, split shot or Carolina rigged plastic grubs or tubes fished slowly along the bottom at 20-30 feet. Perhaps the best presentation for bass is trolling a deep diver along the 20 foot bottom contour. Bass fishing may be better in the main lake than at the Colorado River inflow where boiling stripers are dominating the forage.

Catfish and bluegill fishing is hot. Both species are easy to catch on bait near camp.