This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Lake Powell Fish Report March 18, 2015 from Wayne Gustaveson of Waynes Words Lake Elevation: 3591.85 Water Temperature 55-60 F By: Wayne Gustaveson Spring is here! Water temperature has warmed enough to wake up bass and energize the fishery. Water temperature in the morning is in the mid 50s but in the afternoon the 60 degree barrier is overcome. That has positive ramifications for all Lake Powell fish.
Largemouth bass are the first to spawn. The warm 60 degree threshold has largemouth building nests. Males select rocky structure at the base of a bush or near a tumbleweed pile. They use their tail to sweep moss and sand from the rocky structure. If the warm pattern holds they will soon select a mate and lay eggs on the rocks for the male to guard. If a cold front comes through the nest is temporarily abandoned until the water warms again and the egg-laying process is repeated. Once the nest site is selected the male bass will be in close proximity for the next month. Find that nest site in the lakes clear water and fishing for bass is a whole lot easier. If the male is released to return to his nest he can be caught a number of times during the spawning season.
Smallmouth bass have been almost dormant over the winter. They react to 60 degree water by waking up and feeding more often. They do not spawn until water temperature climbs consistently above 62-64 degrees. It will take another two weeks before smallmouth begin the nesting ritual. The main difference with smallmouth spawning is the lack of brush near the smallmouth nest. Smallmouth need rocks for substrate but hide the nest near a ledge or rocky structure. Nests found on a shallow ridge in open water without brush will normally be made by smallmouth. Nests within a brush pile will likely be tended by largemouth and crappie males. To catch fish find shallow rocky habitat with deep water nearby. Fish near the nests to catch the smaller males. But the bigger female fish will be just off the deep water edge in 10-15 feet of water. Best baits now are Yamamoto senkos and shad-shaped worms fish weightless or on a dropshot rig. Stripers have moved shallow to "sun themselves" not really! Stripers are all about eating. They go where the forage fish are. Small fish are in the shallows feeling the warmth and stripers have followed. Instead of fishing deep water looking for schools, move to the 10-15 foot bottom depth and cast shad or sunfish imitating lures. There is not much brush in the water for forage fish to hide in so they have gone to Plan B. Forage fish use murky water and rocks as a defense against predator fish. Water with color absorbs more heat than clear water and is therefore warmer. Warm water fish really like warm water in the spring time. The take home message here is that predator fish will be in warmest water available where bottom depth is 10-20 feet. For example, when southern lake boaters go through the Castle Rock Cut they will leave clear water in Wahweap and enter murky water in Warm Creek. Look closely at that water color and then duplicate it at new fishing spots. Find matching water color to locate a new fishing spot to try at a new location. Fishing is really good right now if a few rules are followed. Head to the backs of murky water canyons where water temperature is warmer to find the best fishing results possible in late March.