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So I just found out I have some extra time off work this weekend and decided it would be a good time for a spontaneous trip to lake powell. I have never been before and really am not sure where to go or where to fish. I want to camp for a couple days and I will have my 15ft aluminum boat. I would like to find somewhere with easy access and where I won't have to drive too far in the boat in case the water gets too choppy. Any suggestions on where to camp, where to fish, what to use etc would be greatly appreciated!
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go to Bullfrog.
Lake level is low, so the Castle Rock cut is closed -- this means that to get from Wahweap to Warm Creek or Padre you will have to go through the main chanel. This means it's going to be ROUGH.
Even from Antelope point, it will be a rough ride.
I'd avoid all that mess, and head to Bullfrog. You've got lots of options for finding a nice camp site and good fishing up there.
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Bullfrog area has been good, north in channel and shoreline on the west side. Lots of Walleyes
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I just got back a week ago from Powell and I'm ready to go back. Bullfrog has all sorts of structure and fish are plenty. Trolling, chumming, working the shoreline, etc. Morning and evening were the best topwater bite. Don't worry too much, you'll find the fish.
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I'd also recommend Bullfrog.
We have camped in the Bullfrog campgrounds and also primitive camped in the surrounding area. The campgrounds are nice, with good restrooms, etc.. But it is also nice to camp out along the shore. Weather willing, it is nice to be out on the lake.
Either way, here are a few things we found out.
Be sure to have something for shade at your camp this time of year.
Have capability to stow you food so birds, etc.. can't get at it while you are gone.
Have plenty of ice.
Good luck, have a great time!
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Thanks everyone! I think we've decided on bullfrog, has anyone stayed at the stanton creek campground or know the probability of us finding space to camp if we head up Thursday? I've heard it gets pretty packed this time of year.
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Don't forget mussel certification and the launching hassels that go along with that.
Do oyu know about "Waynes Words" it is a website run by a fisheries biologist on Lake Powell, lots of good info there.
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Yeah I just saw that website, lots of good fishing information on there!
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I stayed in Stanton a couple times last year. That place gets real busy and noisy but there are toilets to use so you don't have to bring your own porta potty.
If you want some more seclusion I'd take a tent, a cooler and a potty and run west from the bullfrog marina and find yourself a nice beach! Lots of great fishing spots that direction as well, especially since you won't be putting lots of miles on with your smaller boat.
Last spring we made it down with my 15' aluminum, went to west of the marina and had the best large mouth fishing of my life in 3' of crystal clear water! then my motor blew up [frown]
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You will be fishing mostly mornings and night (the heat) so take some Devil horse's and some spooks for top water grubs at leased two packs of each color per day..
And sink-o's type baits, throw top water at boils and along shore at low light times, and grubs along rocky drop offs..
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That sucks about your motor! So did the little boat do ok? I've heard the water can get pretty nasty there so I was a little nervous about having such a small boat. But I figure as long as I stay somewhat close I should be ok.
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Thanks for the info, I'm gonna have to stock up on some top water stuff before I leave!
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the boat did fine when the water was good! it's a mod v duck boat with a 40 on it so it really doesn't like waves.
The forecast that week was for perfect weather, never got a chance to find out though. My plan was to stay in bullfrog bay and close to the shore. That lake is like no other when a storm comes in. If the forecast is for more than 10mph wind this weekend, I wouldn't even bother to go down.
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The weather forecast I found says 5-6mph? That should be fine I'm assuming.
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yeah, that should be fine.
Now all you have to worry about is 110 degree weather!
Like bassrods said, that kind of heat will shut down fishing during the heat of the day, you'll have a few hours in the morning and a few just before and after sunset.
Drink lots of water and find shade during the day, heat stroke has a funny way of ruining a fishing trip!
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Yeah that's the gameplan. My girlfriend and brother are coming with and they don't fish much so I figured I'll get up early and fish and then we can go do other stuff during the day and then fish again in the evening.
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[quote Jordanporritt]So I just found out I have some extra time off work this weekend and decided it would be a good time for a spontaneous trip to lake powell. I have never been before and really am not sure where to go or where to fish. I want to camp for a couple days and I will have my 15ft aluminum boat. I would like to find somewhere with easy access and where I won't have to drive too far in the boat in case the water gets too choppy. Any suggestions on where to camp, where to fish, what to use etc would be greatly appreciated![/quote]
I just returned on Sunday. Stayed down in Iceberg and fished the Rincon. It was absolute fire! ALL day. In the bay and in the canyons the stripers are slurping and starting to boil. We fished several slurps all day long but mornings they would boil the hardest.
The magic number for smallmouth was 18-25 feet but we did catch some shallow. Largemouth were up shallow and down deep. They key is to fish the shadows during the day.
The fish are very aggressive all day long. Look for secondary coves in the canyons to find spawning panfish.
Hot baits were:
Stripers (super spook, lipless crank in silver and blue, and of course chumming them up is key with Anchovies and a jig head)
Largemouth (senkos, jigs, crankbaits, texas rigged crawfish immitations, etc)
Smallmouth (drop shot gulp minnows (smelt) for non-stop action, chartreuse colored curlytails, etc.)
Bluegill (gulp minnow or nightcrawler on a chartruese jig head or on a dropshot)
Walleye (same as smallmouth, fish 15-30 feet)
Fishing is the best I have seen it. Fish are hungry but most stripers were very skinny.
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Yep! Worked the week before, it will work the week after. You will have an epic trip. I've been holding off local fishing trips/hunting trips so I can go back in the fall.
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[quote fsh4fun05]Yep! Worked the week before, it will work the week after. You will have an epic trip. I've been holding off local fishing trips/hunting trips so I can go back in the fall.[/quote]
I am heading down south in the fall as well, but I will hit the lower lake, Wahweep. Take the fam with me this time and stay in a hotel.
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Awesome, thanks! I think I'm all stocked up on lures and should be good to go! I can't wait to get into some fish!
I can't leave until after I get off work today so we will be arriving later. Does anyone know if I will be able to get into stanton creek campground if I show up later tonight?
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