Havasu fishing report

LAKE HAVASU

Lake Level 448.74, water temperature 78- to 82-degrees.

Striper fishing is most successful right now using live baits such as squid, anchovies and mackerel. There are some boils being sighted mostly from the main basin South to Whipple Bay, but the reduction in shad population this year has affected the striper action as well. The best action now for quality catches have come on Ratl Traps and Pointer 100 and 128s, trolled or cast in these same areas.

Snagging season started Oct.1, and will end March 31, 2009. ‘Tis the season for snagging shad again, but with the growing numbers of quagga muscles the shad population has been impacted from former years. These muscles are filter feeders. They feed on the phytoplankton which is the main food source for the zooplankton which the shad feed on.

The Largemouth bass continue to hold tight to artificial habitats and weed beds. Use soft plastics Bass Assassins, Flukes or senkos across the top of the weeds and let them slip off and sink slowly off the edges of the mats. The largemouth like to hold tight to the tulle lines and the fall bite up river is beginning to produce quality bass from the main channel tulle lines. Target tulles in 3-6 foot of water that have structure nearby. The fish will hold to the little dark pocket indentations and also out in the main current below a rock or submerged fallen tree. Brown melon with purple Gitzits and brown or green proline Jigs are working well with this type of technique.

This report was provided by Debbie Blanchard of Anglers Pro Shop, Lake Havasu City.

LAKE POWELL

Lake level 3,627, water temperature 77- 79-degrees.

Darn old full moon really put the fish down early week. Fish are fat after chowing-down all summer on a surplus supply of shad. There is plenty of forage. Living is easy. All this adds up to tough fishing for sportsmen when fish get a blast of full moon-itis. But the moon is now in the last quarter.

Striper boils are now defined as three fish splashing within 50 yards of each other. They can be caught if the surface lure is presented on time before the splash ring goes away. Splashing fish may be either bass or stripers. They are all lazily eating shad on the surface. The surface action may last for two bites but fish are up and gone in a flash.

The best way to catch them is to drop spoons in the vicinity of the splash rings. The best depth for spooning is 40-feet. When a school is graphed on bottom, drop the lure until it touches and then jig in short strokes. If the school is suspended, drop the lure below the school and then speed reel through the fish. Pause when above the fish and drop the lure back through the fish zone. This technique will catch more stripers than any other right now.
The only really good time of day right now is evening. As the moon darkens, mornings will get progressively better. The twilight periods are far superior to any other time of day for fishing success.

Water temperature is cooling and the moon is getting darker.

Fishing will be back to normal with a good fishing success rate as the moon gets dark at month end.

This report was provided by Wayne Gustaveson, Utah Division of Wildlife

LEES FERRY

Fishing is good! Fly selection is simple too. San Juan worms, in red and wine or burgundy and natural along with zebra midges, brassies and of course the famous dry and dropper. The back eddies are loaded with trout sipping midges. Just about any riffle with a drop off is producing fish. And if you like to drift, a sink tip line and a wooly bugger is sure to pick up a few fish for you. You might even want to drift the longer deeper runs with a worm and a midge trailer. I am kind-of at a loss for words every one I talk with is just as pleased as they can be. My guess is that it will remain this way for a while, 4- to 6-weeks at least.

Walk in: I will leave this report as is until I hear something new: The walk-in section is fishing very well these days. The boulder field is producing fish. The big rock area is producing fish as well, and even down at the confluence area. These fish are focused on San Juan worms for the most part. But they will take midges and dries too. It’s all in the presentation.

This report was provided by Ted Welling of Lees Ferry Anglers.

LAKE MEAD

Water levels have held steady, the elevation is currently at around 1,105 feet above msl. Nighttime striper fishing has been really good again. Anglers using artificial lights were catching as many 13- to 18-inch stripers as they wanted to clean. Catfishing under lights was also very productive using anchovies. Artificial lights won’t be as effective this week with the full moon.

Launching conditions at South Cove have remained nearly the same for the last two months. The new concrete ramp the National Park Service just completed is one lane with buoys marking the edges. Use caution not to go off the sides of the metal extensions at either side. National Park Service is working to keep the ramp open.

LAKE MOHAVE

The fishing for small stripers has been pretty good. Try using cut anchovies at night. The lake level has remained pretty steady and is running at 641 feet above msl. The stripers seen in the fall were fat and full of shad, with schools of shad being chased by striped bass. No sign of shad this year so far. If you can find schools of shad, try trolling a small crankbait.

Striper pretty consistent between Katherine’s and Davis. Hit a school at daybreak; three just over 7-pounds, four between 3- and 5-pounds in two hours. Fishing was dead after that. Been getting one or two a day between sunset and dark.

WILLOW BEACH

Trout are stocked every Friday. Fishing was a bit spotty for those fishing from the shoreline with about half the anglers having success. Most of the success has been coming from or around the new pier. Try using green Power Worms, or salmon eggs. Anglers report the fishing being best before 7:30 a.m. The striper fishing has been picking up. Reports of stipers 5-plus-pounds are common.

TOPOCK MARSH

Water level is up, but still be careful while launching. The fishing has been pretty slow. A few bass are being caught, but overall slow.
Game and Fish biologists surveyed the Marsh and largemouth bass population was observed to be very healthy, as well as channel catfish. Crappie were also present, but in smaller numbers.

You can access the marsh by boat at North Dike, Catfish Paradise, and Five-Mile Landing.

PARKER STRIP

Fishing is expected to be good to excellent for smallmouth bass, with fish over two pounds in size common. The best smallmouth bass fishing can be found in the upper half of the Parker Strip, while largemouth bass are more numerous in the lower half, in very respectable numbers. In addition, redear sunfish should also be good to excellent in the pound-plus sizes. Our surveys last fall turned up good numbers of redear sunfish in the two-pound range.