(03-16-2020, 11:50 PM)liketrolling Wrote: going to Wahweap, just bot a map started watching you tube
and like you said got on wayne's Words the guys going with me don't know a lot
the other 4 boats going go every year.but I want to learn more than what they nknow befor I get there
we are going after stripers mostly the guys I taking want to fish for them but hop we can try for the others
on youtube some troll and on waynes some were trolling last week but it looks like most use Anchovies.
and thanks for your help
I dont know what is going on with this new site why it came out so you can not see it.
Anchovies -- here's the deal with bait fishing for stripers: bait (anchovies, cut bait including striper, etc.) works really good when the stripers are starving. In the past, low forage numbers force schools of stripers to main channel where they congrengate into huge schools. Boats look for these schools in familiar places like the dam, power intake, buoy 21, etc. Multiple boats will pack in with each other and start fishing and chumming. Striper schools show up and all boats enjoy catching a lot of fish -- but they are starving fish with emaciated bodies. Sure, it can be fun -- especially to those who don't know the difference between a healthy striper and a starving-to-death striper. There are better ways (in my mind) to catch stripers. And Powell is a great place for exploring -- don't limit yourself to only fishing at the dam and the power intake! Go explore!
As can be read on Wayne's Words -- this year is going to be different. High numbers of forage + good water levels mean that stripers are not moving to the main channel in search of shad. They are staying in the backs of the canyons enjoying a smorgasboard of food. This is why Wayne is telling people to troll.
Here is my recommendation for your trip:
A. troll to locate schools of stripers. Head to the backs of the canyons: Rock Creek \ Navajo. Again -- head straight to the back of the canyons. Don't screw around trolling in 80 - 100 feet of water. Get back to 20', then start trolling. Watch for water color changes -- you don't really want to be fishing in clear water. The back of Navajo and Rock Creek will change to a brown tint - shad will use this staind water as "cover", and stripers will be searching for shad in this same staind water. The colored water also warms quicker. Troll diving plugs (12 - 18') in 20 feet of water. If you can find a ledge that drops from 20 --> 60+, watch it closely for a school of fish.
B. When you hook a striper trolling, check your graph to see if there are more marks. Remember, these are schooling fish. Where you find one, there should be more. Other anglers should grab their rods and starting casting while the hooked up angler fights his fish. Keep an eye on the bottom -- if you are seeing a school on the graph, start dropping spoons to them.
C. Pay attention to where you hook a fish while trolling. Go back and forth over that spot -- again, these are schooling fish. Where you find one, there should be more.
D. If it warms up, don't be affraid to break out the "bass" gear and start casting to structure for both green and black bass.
E. Last-ditch effort: if all else fails, look for other boats congregated together fishin the main canyon along steep walls. These are the bait fishermen. Don't be bashful -- just pull on up and join the group. You don't have to use anchovies (they are messy, smelly, and scales will be in your boat forever....). It is legal to use striper for both bait and chum at Powell. Hopefully you'll have a couple stripers by now. Filet one, then cut the filets into strips to use as bait. The fresh skin will stay on your hook / jig head. cut the rest of the carcas up for chum.
March can be a tricky month, but it can also be very rewarding. Last year we had a beautiful day in Warm Creek bay. After struggling to find enough stripers in Navajo to keep the kids entertained, we switched tactics and headed for Warm Creek. My wife and kids were catching small mouth by themselves. Nice smallies too! The weather was beautiful!