Lake Powell is one of Utah's best fishing waters.

Looking at fishing opportunities in 2008, Wayne Gustaveson, longtime lake biologist for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, said striped bass populations are near the bottom of their "boom and bust" cycle, which means populations will be rebuilding and young stripers will dominate the catch.

Smallmouth bass populations lag a year or two behind the stripers. Gustaveson said the bass caught will be a balanced population of both young and old fish.

"Other fish species are less abundant than the 'big two,' so it's almost impossible to predict subtle changes in how many there will be and how fast you'll catch them," Gustaveson said.

Runoff is the second major factor that will determine what fishing is like this spring. Spring inflow has been modest the past few seasons. But this winter's snowpack is building and more storms are on the way.

Gustaveson said it's possible that water level increases in 2008 could be similar to 2005, when the lake level increased by more than 40 feet. The additional water will spread the shad in the reservoir out.

"Fishing results will be similar to 1999, when shad abundance was small," he says.

Gustaveson said the largest variable can't be estimated.

"That's the effect of storm fronts that cool the water and drastically impact fishing success for a three- to five-day period following the storm," he said. "Remember that warming periods usually provide the best spring fishing, regardless of the phase of the moon."

His predictions for 2008 are:

Fishing for striped bass and walleye will improve in late February. The best early success will be found near where the Colorado and San Juan rivers flow into the reservoir. Fishing across the lake will improve in the backs of canyons rather than in the main channel.

Slow trolling, around 2 miles per hour, is the most effective technique.

March fishing success will be punctuated by spring storms that will make fishing success spotty. Some of the best largemouth bass fishing is found on warm March afternoons in shallow coves that have brush in them. Because shad will be scarce, crayfish will be the prey the fish will seek the most. Fishing bottom-bouncing grubs in rocky structure is the best way to imitate crayfish.

Stripers on a crayfish diet are extremely susceptible to anchovy bait. Anglers will catch more stripers in the main lake if they fish with bait. At the inflow area, trolling and casting produce the most fish.

Smallmouth bass and striped bass fishing will improve in April. Search for both species in the murky colored water in the backs of the canyons.