GREEN SUNFISH.
Slimmer in girth, and less colorful than its cousin the bluegill, the sunfish has similar habits and is usually found in the realms of bluegill and black crappie, or in shallows along any sandy shore . Because adults seldom grow to lengths greater than nine inches they are often mistaken for young bluegills . The sunfish's back is olive green; sides and belly of brassy hue. The greenie has pronounced lips and needle-like spiny-rays in its fins. It can thrive in murky water. Lake Powell's sunfish are valuable as insect eaters and as forage for larger predator fish. Children particularly enjoy still-fishing for sunfish with baits of worms, flies or tiny jigs. Bag limit: none
CARP.  Most western lakes contain the
lowly car, often seen in schools roiling the surface.
Lake Powell is no exception. The goldish-yellow fish
is an omnivorous minnow whose homely, drooping mouth is
flanked on each side by two short barbels. Large,
rounded scales cover its hump-backed body. Carp can
dislodge vegetation, interfere with the spawning of
game fish, and appropriate food. Bony and unappetizing
, but edible, the carp is considered by anglers to be
trash fish whose elimination would enhance Powell's
aquatic environment.
SMALLMOUTH BASS.  The Rocky nature of Lake Powell's underwater terrain is considered ideal
for this breed. A small population was planted here in 1982. It has
thrived and is reproducing well. The time will undoubtedly come when
smallmouths will replace their largemouth brothers as the prime gamefish in
Powell's waters. Similar in appearance and habits, except for the size of
their jaws, smallmouths ar slow to grow. Smallmouths spawn in relatively
shallow water but will seek deeper, rock-strewn regions as they mature.
Shad and crayfish are important to their diet but surface insects are
constantly sought, thus they are especially prone to rise to surface lures.
Individuals can weigh as much as ten pounds. The meat is delicious.
THREADFIN SHAD.  This tiny, sardine-like herring is the diet mainstay of all major species
of game fish in Lake Powell. Shad were planted in 1968 and 1969 in
anticipation of food requirements for later introductions of voracious
fresh-water striped bass. The shad were extremely numerous here until 1982
when the breed's spawn was disappointing. Vast schools are seldom seen as
they once were. Some shad inhabit warmwater elevations of mid-channel
regions where they are seldom obvious to anglers. Others, always seeking
water that is not very cold, will inhabit shallower covers and canyons.
A rare display of excited shad masses anywhere can lure game fish bent on
gorging upon them. Casting fish-like plugs, artificial worms or soilver
spoons into the midst of such a melee may cause the feeders to stike at
imposing lures. Powell's shad average less than two inches in length.
Their spawning begins in spring as lake water warms to approximately 70
degrees, near Hite Marina, initially, then throughout the lake. They swim
in large schools, endless migrations allowing them to feed on ever-present
plankton.
LARGEMOUTH BASS.  Especially hardy, active and numerous, Powell's big-bellied largemouths prefer clean, cool, relatively deep habitats where underwater structure provides maximum protection. They sek depths of from 20 to 60 feet but will rise to shallows when feeding or spawning. Lake evening, night and early morning are prime feeding periods. Spawning usually occurs in April, May and June. Nests are likely to be in sand or gravel, close to brushy shores, in 10 to 30 inches of water. Local largemouths are the northern variety They exist throughout the fishery and can be caught during any month. The cooler seasons are most productive, but bass seek prey in warm weather, too, remaining at deeper levels. Anything that moves is quarry . Threadfin shad and small bluegills provide the bass diet. Waterdogs and worms work best as "live" bait. Favorite underwater lures are rubber and plastic worms, spinners and spoons, wobbly sinking plugs, and those resembling small fish. Most-favored surface plugs are dancers and wobblers. Largemouths average two to five pounds, but at least one lunker of more than ten pounds has been taken. The meat is delicious. Bag limit: 6 fish
BLUEGILL. | 
This tasty panfish is abundant in Lake Powell, inhabiting roiled, weedy shallows where it can feed in daylight on insects and aquatic vegetation. The species is the most colorful of the lake's fish, with blue-green backs, orange sides, and "metallic" blue tips on its gills. Often called "bream" bluegills can grow to weigh well over a pound. They will respond to anglers' flies, jigs, grubs, worms or small waterdogs, fighting valiantly when hooked. Smaller bluegills provide much forage for larger fish. Local anglers believe that "where there are bluegills there are bass." Bag limit: no limit.
WALLEYE. 
Milky-white eyes and a white patch on the lower tail distinguish this round-bodied, brassy-colored fish from others in Lake Powell. Years ago "escapee" walleyes from reservoirs elsewhere fostered a large population that now seems most concentrated in Padre Bay and Red Canyon. But anglers pull many from "brass holes" throughout the fishery. Inudated shelves along shaded cliffs appeal to light-sensitive walleyes. Craw-jibs, crayfish or lures resembling crayfish should be cast or trolled along such walls at reasonable depths. Sharp teeth in the fish's upper jaw and mouth suggest use of wire leaders. Mediocre fighters, walleyes are wary attackers. They spawn in March in shallow water. Feeding occurs in late evening, darkness and very early morning. Most Powell walleye average three to five pounds in weight, but eight-pounders have been landed. Their solid, non-fishy flesh is delicious. Bag limit: Ten fish CHANNEL CATFISH.  Numerous in Lake Powell, "cats" keep mostly to shallows in stream-bearing canyons where roiles water and tangled brush provide ideal habitat. Channel catfish had been introduced into the Colorado River many years prior to the formation of its man-made lakes . Nocturnal feeders, they forage for all manner of aquatic life. Warm weather still fishing with stink baits, fowl entrails, doughballs, worms or waterdogs produces thelargest strings for anglers. Adult cats can grow to significant size; individuals of more than 20 pounds have been hooked here. The flat head of the species contains eight black wisker-like barbels. The tail is deeply forked. A blue-green back atop a scaleless white body is sometimes dotted irregularly with dark spots. A cousin, the yellow bullhead, is found here, too. Its coloring is "brassier," it bears no spots, its barbels are whitish. Catfish meat is eagerly sought by many who find it "sweet." Bag limit: 25 fish STRIPED BASS.  In the mid-1970's 200,000 two- and three inch striper fingerlings were planted in Wahweap and Bullfrog Bays. Four years later striped bass weighing seven pounds were hooked. Now, big stripers thrive everywhere in the lake, feeding voraciously on anything, gorging when schools of threadfin shad appear. The striper's back is black, its sides silver; black horizontal stripes extend from head to tail. Adults can achieve weights of more than 50 pounds. Stripers feed mostly at night, often thrashing the surface in schools while gorging. Anglers seek to distract tham by plopping popping plugs in the melee. When hooked the striped bass is a supreme fighter, seldom surfacing, but charging back and forth around and beneath a boat. Daylight finds stripers in relatively deep water where spoons, spinners, plugs, and artificial worms are the rule. The spawning ability of Powell's anadromous stripers remains a moot, continually studied question. Threadfin shad comprise 95% of the stripers' diet; crayfish 4.5%. Fish biologists have determined that the lake's trout, crappie and largemouth bass populations are not being preyed upon by the striped bass. Bag limit: none BLACK CRAPPIE. 
Sometimes called "calico bass" this handsome, flat-bodied fish has a black finy back, silvery sides and large black spots. Lake Powell's crappie are plentiful and responsive, especially throughout the spring months. Schools often mass in quiet, shallow, brush-filled waters, usually at the ends of canyons. There, and elsewhere, they may react to submerged or topwater lures trolled or cast. Strictly carnivorous, crappie have legendary appetites. A shiny bare hook may be eagerly devoured if animated. But bright jigs, dollflies, salmon eggs and small waterdogs are best still fish baits. Sardine-like lures produce the most crappie when trolled along sheer rock walls. Powell's crappie spawn in March, April, May and June. The fish are most voracious then, striking at any moving object. Their flesh is perhaps the tastiest of all local fish. Individuals grow to such large size that one or two, pan-fried, can provide a fine meal. Crappie of more than three pounds have been taken here. Bag limit: 20 fish |