Fall Fishing in Lake Powell

Cooler temperatures have moved in on Lake Powell, which is means good fall fishing has arrived. And, said Wayne Gustaveson, project leader at the lake for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, fishing will be at its very best "for the next two weeks."

He reported that schools of striped bass have been holding in deeper water, waiting for surface temperatures to cool. And, as he said, they have cooled.

"Perhaps the best way to find these active schools is to troll deep-diving lures where bottom depth is 25 to 45 feet. Continuing to troll is fine, or drop a spoon in the active school to collect large numbers of schooling stripers," he said.

Some of the best locations mimic those found in the spring. In fact, using tactics that were successful in spring 2009 and 2010 will work well right now. Rock Creek has had more good reports than any other spot in the southern lake.

"Night fishing for stripers will peak during October. The lighted marina areas and buoy field will be the hot spots, but any school located during the daytime will respond to lights and chumming after dark," he said.

Bass fishing is now peaking as well. Look for big numbers of small bass and a smattering of two-pound bass to be caught each day on rocky points close to the main channel and main canyon. Bass have not moved all the way to the back of canyons and coves yet. Again, use the same baits and tactics that were good in the spring to catch active bass.

Fall Fishing in Lake Powell

Cooler temperatures have moved in on Lake Powell, which is means good fall fishing has arrived. And, said Wayne Gustaveson, project leader at the lake for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, fishing will be at its very best "for the next two weeks."

He reported that schools of striped bass have been holding in deeper water, waiting for surface temperatures to cool. And, as he said, they have cooled.

"Perhaps the best way to find these active schools is to troll deep-diving lures where bottom depth is 25 to 45 feet. Continuing to troll is fine, or drop a spoon in the active school to collect large numbers of schooling stripers," he said.

Some of the best locations mimic those found in the spring. In fact, using tactics that were successful in spring 2009 and 2010 will work well right now. Rock Creek has had more good reports than any other spot in the southern lake.

"Night fishing for stripers will peak during October. The lighted marina areas and buoy field will be the hot spots, but any school located during the daytime will respond to lights and chumming after dark," he said.

Bass fishing is now peaking as well. Look for big numbers of small bass and a smattering of two-pound bass to be caught each day on rocky points close to the main channel and main canyon. Bass have not moved all the way to the back of canyons and coves yet. Again, use the same baits and tactics that were good in the spring to catch active bass.

—Ray Grass