May 26, 2021
Lake Elevation 3559
Water Temperature 63-66 F
On a positive note, inflowing water is increasing and now is almost equal to outflow. Lake level continues to decline slightly every day. On the negative side, the end of the Wahweap launch ramp is now visible. Back a 20-foot boat into the lake and the trailer drops over the small ledge just in time to propel the boat off the trailer. Hopefully, metal mats to help launch boats will be in place soon.
On my weekly fishing trip, we started early while targeting walleye in Wahweap Bay. Lucky Craft XD100 Pointers ticked bottom at about 10 feet. We trolled at 3.5 mph in 10-20 feet of water. We started near Castle Rock and jumped from rocky point to point all the way to Lone Rock. I was pleased to catch 3 walleye, 5 smallmouth bass, and 2 stripers. Be careful and alert while trolling as extremely shallow water can appear anywhere in the shallow bay. As an added bonus while trolling near the north side of Castle Rock we saw 5 mountain sheep watching us from the top of the ridge. It was an enjoyable morning.
Walleye are at their spring peak now. As the water warms and forage increases, walleye will start feeding only at night. Take advantage of their willingness to feed during the day. There are many options. Use bottom bouncers with a night crawler on a worm harness. Or, use a tube jig with a night crawler poked into the tube. Or, you can troll over humps and ledges with deep diving lures that run 10-15 feet deep (Lucky Craft, Yozuri, Flicker Shad and similar crankbaits). Try it and you might get hooked on walleye fishing.
Schooling stripers are still eating bait and hanging out at the same locations reported during the last 2 months. The general location is on a steep cliff wall (the Dam, Buoy 3, Antelope Canyon, Navajo Canyon, East wall of Padre Bay, Buoy 25, Last Chance, Rock Creek. Moki Wall, Good Hope Bay and a hundred other spots. Try these spots by chumming a handful of anchovies along the wall, then cast out your bait 50 feet, close the bail, and let it fall until the line ends up directly under the boat. Then cast out again. You may have to try 2-3 different spots to locate a school. Then it is game on and you can catch one fish after another for a long time.
Bass are hiding in rocky habitat, near shore. Look for broken rocks instead of a steep canyon wall. Ned rigs, tube baits, double and single tailed grubs are working well. Work the lure along the bottom at different rates of speed until you find the presentation that is enticing to bass. With the bright super moon the best time is at first light in the morning. When the morning bite slows down switch over to bait fishing for stripers or shallow trolling for walleye. Bass will respond well again in the afternoon.
Lake Elevation 3559
Water Temperature 63-66 F
On a positive note, inflowing water is increasing and now is almost equal to outflow. Lake level continues to decline slightly every day. On the negative side, the end of the Wahweap launch ramp is now visible. Back a 20-foot boat into the lake and the trailer drops over the small ledge just in time to propel the boat off the trailer. Hopefully, metal mats to help launch boats will be in place soon.
On my weekly fishing trip, we started early while targeting walleye in Wahweap Bay. Lucky Craft XD100 Pointers ticked bottom at about 10 feet. We trolled at 3.5 mph in 10-20 feet of water. We started near Castle Rock and jumped from rocky point to point all the way to Lone Rock. I was pleased to catch 3 walleye, 5 smallmouth bass, and 2 stripers. Be careful and alert while trolling as extremely shallow water can appear anywhere in the shallow bay. As an added bonus while trolling near the north side of Castle Rock we saw 5 mountain sheep watching us from the top of the ridge. It was an enjoyable morning.
Walleye are at their spring peak now. As the water warms and forage increases, walleye will start feeding only at night. Take advantage of their willingness to feed during the day. There are many options. Use bottom bouncers with a night crawler on a worm harness. Or, use a tube jig with a night crawler poked into the tube. Or, you can troll over humps and ledges with deep diving lures that run 10-15 feet deep (Lucky Craft, Yozuri, Flicker Shad and similar crankbaits). Try it and you might get hooked on walleye fishing.
Schooling stripers are still eating bait and hanging out at the same locations reported during the last 2 months. The general location is on a steep cliff wall (the Dam, Buoy 3, Antelope Canyon, Navajo Canyon, East wall of Padre Bay, Buoy 25, Last Chance, Rock Creek. Moki Wall, Good Hope Bay and a hundred other spots. Try these spots by chumming a handful of anchovies along the wall, then cast out your bait 50 feet, close the bail, and let it fall until the line ends up directly under the boat. Then cast out again. You may have to try 2-3 different spots to locate a school. Then it is game on and you can catch one fish after another for a long time.
Bass are hiding in rocky habitat, near shore. Look for broken rocks instead of a steep canyon wall. Ned rigs, tube baits, double and single tailed grubs are working well. Work the lure along the bottom at different rates of speed until you find the presentation that is enticing to bass. With the bright super moon the best time is at first light in the morning. When the morning bite slows down switch over to bait fishing for stripers or shallow trolling for walleye. Bass will respond well again in the afternoon.