Lake Powell - Bigger & Better

2006 Forecast

Several positive factors promise to make the upcoming season at Lake Powell one of the best ever. The lake’s level is good now and there has been abundant snowfall in the drainages that feed into the reservoir, so boating conditions will be excellent. Fishing should be spectacular, thanks to an improving food source for the lake’s game fish.

Start making arrangements now if you want to take a houseboat vacation on the big lake this summer. Houseboats will book faster than normal as people become aware of the great conditions at the lake. See www.utah.com/lakepowell for houseboat rentals.

Last year’s tremendous inflows raised the lake’s level by about 50 feet, eliminating most of the problems caused during the previous years of drought. The lake level normally drops during the winter and early spring, but it has not dropped much this year. It looks like inflows will be above normal again this season and so the water level will continue to rise. Launch ramps will be in excellent shape and canyons that have not been boatable for some time will again be flooded by lake water.

Striped bass, smallmouth, largemouth, walleye and other sportfish are plentiful and fat–and getting fatter every day. This summer will bring excellent fishing–perhaps the best ever at Lake Powell. The lake normally provides good fishing; now it may evolve into one of the best waters in the US for the species named above, thanks to the accidentally introduction of a new forage fish.

The sportfish in Lake Powell are fierce predators and in years past fishing has been cyclic. The sportfish populations would grow until the predators overrun their prey, then populations of all species would decline until the forage fish have a chance to recover. But a few years ago gizzard shad were accidentally introduced into the San Juan River and they have made their way downstream into Lake Powell. Gizzard shad are prolific reproducers and the adults grow large enough that predators do not annihilate them. The gizzard shad have taken some of the pressure off the lake’s main forage fish, the threadfin shad. As a result, there is plenty of forage in the lake and the sport fish are growing fat.

At Willard, fishing is often best in the spring and early summer, before newly hatched gizzard shad grow big enough to provide much of a meal. After the shad become bite-sized, fishing slows a bit. That may also prove to be the case at Powell. The most consistent fishing will probably be in April, May and June. In late August and all of September, when stripers are boiling on the surface, we will also see great action.

Wayne Gustaveson, Lake Powell project leader for the Division of Wildlife Resources, has been gushing about fishing prospects at the big lake. Here is his spring fishing forecast:

"Threadfin shad, the lake’s main forage fish, abound in unprecedented numbers now as they have for the past three winters. Game fish have enjoyed the picnic, growing in size and numbers. Smallmouth bass larger than 2-pounds are common. Striped bass above 4-pounds are caught on almost every fishing trip. The biggest striped bass caught last year was a 38.5-pound beauty that was trolled up in Rock Creek Canyon.

"Fishing success in 2006 just has to be great!

"Shad may have another good production year. If so, game fish will continue to get bigger and fatter. While fat fish are not easy to catch, there are enough fish present to ensure that some big ones will be caught to the delight of all. Striped bass are constantly eating so they can be caught in good numbers from April through November. Bass are easy to catch in April and May during the spawn.

"If shad fail to produce another bumper crop in 2006, then game fish will be hungry and constantly searching for food. Hungry fish are very easy to catch. Without shad, striped bass will congregate in huge schools in deep water and be vulnerable to anchovy bait. Smallmouth will be cruising the shoreline eating every crayfish and plastic grub in sight.

"But that’s not all. The low lake has allowed brush to grow on the shoreline. The rising lake will flood new shoreline vegetation providing habitat for largemouth, crappie and bluegill. These fish have been all but absent during the drought. In 2006, expect crappie fishing to be better than it has been in years. Walleye will be caught in abundance during May. This spring, largemouth will be caught in size and numbers not seen this decade.

"Combine these fishing prospects with Lake Powell’s beauty and majesty to arrive at a vacation destination that must not be missed in 2006."

Yes, it’s time to start planning a trip to Powell.