It has been scorcher hot out there for the last few weeks.  Temps have been getting into the triple digits. Early morning and late evenings are the only way to go.  During the mid-day convection oven I prefer to make like a lizard and hide in the shade.  Fishing for Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass has been very slow.  The surface temps of Lake Powell are bathtub like and the fish are very hard to find.  We have been having limited success with the Largemouth in the backs of shallow, brushy coves.  We have been throwing spinner baits and top water plugs (Zara Pupps to be exact) around submerged Tamirisk trees.  The action has been slow but the few bites we have gotten have produced some quality green fish.  On the Smallmouth front we have been catching good numbers of really dinky fish.  The 1/2 pound smallies are running in schools of up to 20 fish and boiling off of the slick rock points. You could catch them all day but catching fifty 1/4 to 1/2 pound fish is like kissing your sister. I haven't seen a quality Bronzeback boated in three weeks.   

Clients of This Side of That Guide Service have been catching quality Smallmouth, Largemouth, and Striped bass on every trip.  Lake Powell has stopped rising and things are starting to stabilize.  There are more bait fish in the lake than I've ever seen and all species of sport fish are agressively feeding.  Early morning and late evening we have been having some success with top water baits in the glassy water,  then changing tactics mid-day, to trolling shallow diving crank baits/Rattle Traps over submerged brush. Also we have been doing well with the Largemouth casting weightless Sencos into the backs of brushy coves. Last Wed. Jerry Dire got a VERY rare opportunity to catch this healthy Rainbow Trout (pictured in the middle).   Steve Trow on the left, caught this Smallmouth with a drop-shot rigg.  Cody Grimm on the right, recently landed this 2.5 lb chunk Largemouth using a Root Beer Senco. Lake Powell fishing is really good right now and it is only getting better.

Let's go Fishing,

Ky

Hello,

This is my first of many entries that I will submit into the Lake Powell Fishing Report blog throughout the fishing season.  It is Feb. 8th and I am sitting out a rainy cold front that has broken a week long spell of 50 degree weather.  I have not fished since I started coaching wrestling in late Nov. Our season ends on the 21st of this month and I look forward to dusting of the tackle and getting back on the water. 

Lake Powell is tough fishing this time of year.  Water temps are in the 40's and Large/Smallmouths are very inactive. Striped Bass and Walleye can be caught by trolling deep diving crank baits but even that is very hit and miss.  Once the water begins to warm in March the fishing for all species picks up considerably. Threadfin Shad and Gizzard shad (the primary bait fish on Powell) enjoyed perfect conditions last year in the submerged brush and exploded in numbers. Game fish numbers and size responded in kind.  I caught some of my biggest bass ever and hauled in record numbers last fall and I predict that this fishing season will be the best we have had in decades.  So book your trip early and ensure that you get in on the fantastic spring that we are going to have.   

I look forward to fishing with you,

Ky