July 18, 2007
By Wayne Gustaveson
Lake Elevation: 3609
Water Temp: 81-85
F
Dark
moon and afternoon monsoon winds have turned up the heat causing the lake to
"boil" in the early mornings. From dawn to 8 AM look for surface
disturbances as stripers chase shad to the top and against the canyon walls.
Shad are still small following a late hatch of threadfin, so stripers are
not making a lot of commotion as they feed on tiny shad near the surface.
Scan carefully to see 5-20 stripers churning the surface in a room-sized
area. The good news is that enough bigger shad are mixed in so stripers will
hit a full-sized Super Spook or other big topwater bait. Cast the big bait
long and far to the quickly moving school before it gets out of range. A top
water bait pulled through the surface feeding school will get hit repeatedly
by the 14-20 inch schooling stripers. Follow the diving school to the bottom
with a spoon to prolong catching while waiting for stripers to resurface.
Full sized 'Jumpin Minnow'
I am changing over to braided line with the top water reaction bait tied
directly to the braided line. Boiling fish are not fussy and will hit
surface lures while on the surface despite the visible line. Braided line is
very strong so fish and lures are not lost to breakage in the intensity of a
boil. Fish not caught up in a boil will avoid lures on visible line. Have
two rods ready with different line to be able to use both techniques when
necessary.
The very best place to be is at Hite where it is still possible to launch a
fishing boat on the primitive "ramp". Wood and debris is less of a factor
now with the lake declining. Motor downstream at planing speed in the early
morning while scanning for fish. Stop near the boil without running through
or disturbing the feeding fish. Boils are quick. Probably only two fish can
be caught from each. But many boils are happening so on a good calm morning
30 fish can readily be taken from 15 different stops. Sometimes it is
possible to keep up with retreating schools with a trolling motor, but a
school across the bay is best approached with a quick burst from the big
motor.
About 2-3 hours after daylight, boils cease and fish head to the bottom.
Near Hite trolling will work on resting stripers. In the main lake its time
to dig out the anchovy bait and fish from 40-60 feet in the general area
where fish were seen boiling in the morning. Chumming with finely cut
anchovies is a great way to get the school started. Keep the boat over the
chum for best results. If no stripers hit bait after 15 minutes try a
different location.
Bass feed with the stripers on top in the morning. Then the go down to 20-25
feet to beat the heat. Fishing plastic bait dropped straight down to the 20
foot contour along the edge of reefs and points is still very effective for
bass.
Lake Powell has many mouths to feed and forage is at a premium. Fishing is
quite good for hungry fish even in the 80 degree water of midsummer.
This fishery is truly amazing.
'Slurping boil'