September 5, 2007
By Wayne Gustaveson
Lake Elevation: 3603
Water Temp: 80-83
F
Summer
is over. Lake Powell is quiet. Air and water temperature will now begin
cooling to a more comfortable temperature for fish and anglers. September is
the peak month for bass and striper feeding. Forage is at the season high in
abundance and size. With the passing of Labor Day all is in order for
serious fishing to begin.The high profile action will be "on top" with bass and stripers feeding each morning and evening on shad schools. The extent of boiling action remains to be seen. Many shad were consumed in the late August blitz of surface feeding. Some shad escaped to swim another day but the predator pursuit is relentless. Look each morning and evening and investigate each double splash. Single splashes may be carp of gizzard shad. Double splashes mean stripers and bass chasing shad.
Wayne with results of 10 minutes of
boiling stripers
Look for a resurgence of surface action near Trachyte and White Canyon.
Striper abundance is greatest in this location. Lake level decline will
displace shad and allow a new round of feeding. Striper abundance at most
other locations is still strong with many yearling stripers actively feeding
on top and deeper in the water column.
The best strategy will be to use spoons as the weapon of choice for these
conditions. Stripers want to feed but shad may not be numerous enough to
allow a boil. Hungry stripers then sulk just at the cool water break (35
feet) of the shallower feeding area while scanning above for any trace of
shad. Shad presence alerts the school into instant action. The slip-sliding
action of a falling silver or blue spoon mimics the descent of an injured
shad. One striper eating that spoon gets the rest of the school started just
as if the shad school had been encountered.
When graphing watch for a tight rectangular smudge of fish with an irregular
shape at 30-50 feet. Often the resting striper school signature will appear
as 2-3 smudges instead of individual fish arcs. The arcs appear as the
school comes off the bottom to chase spoons back to the boat.
Typical
striper "smudges" on graph. Bottom most smudge
is most typical striper signature display.
Bass chase shad when available but they also root around the rocks looking
for crayfish. The developing bass pattern is associated with rooted aquatic
weeds that offer a safe haven to small sunfish. Sunfish are the 'go-to'
target when shad are scarce. Find a tall grass bed and bass will be close
by. All shades of green are found in the grass and sunfish. Try dark green
or watermelon colors for quick bass action.
Choose your fishing target. September is the time to satisfy all those fish
cravings for all Lake Powell anglers.