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FISHING GUIDE · UTAH & ARIZONA
Lake Powell Fishing Guide
Lake Powell is a huge, clear canyon lake known for striped bass and smallmouth bass, with no limit on stripers. Anglers come for summer and fall striper boils, spring bass fishing in endless rocky coves, and walleye, crappie and catfish too. A boat is the best way to reach the fish.
📍 Utah and Arizona border. Nearest towns: Page, Arizona (Wahweap and Antelope Point marinas) and Big Water, Utah; Bullfrog and Halls Crossing marinas are on the Utah side.
Map: spots, ramps and marinas
★ Fishing hot spot · ● Boat ramp · ● Marina · ▭ Protected area (solid red = no fishing, dashed = fishing with rules)
Open the full Southwest & California Lakes map →
Quick facts
- Water storage began on March 13, 1963, behind Glen Canyon Dam; the lake first reached full pool (3,700 feet) on June 22, 1980.
- At full pool the lake is about 186 miles long with about 1,960 miles of shoreline and more than 160,000 surface acres.
- The lake is a flooded canyon with depths of almost 600 feet when full.
- Utah's state record striped bass, 48 lb 11 oz, was caught at Lake Powell in 1991.
- Water is low right now: about 3,524 feet in July 2026, well below full pool, so some ramps (like Hite) are closed.
What you can catch
- striped bass
Most famous fish here; no limit. Surface boils on shad from late June into late fall. - smallmouth bass
More common than largemouth, especially on the upper half of the lake; best in spring on rocky points. - largemouth bass
Spawn in April and May in brushy coves and canyon backs under 15 feet. - walleye
Spawn in February and March near river inlets; no limit in Utah waters. - crappie
Spring spawn in flooded brush at the backs of canyons. - channel catfish
Summer and early fall at night on sandy flats with anchovies or cut bait. - bluegill
Shaded, brushy coves; easy fun for kids in summer.
Month by month
| January | Cold water slows fish down. Jig heavy spoons for stripers schooled 60-100 feet deep. |
|---|---|
| February | Walleye move toward river inlets and rocky flats to spawn. Largemouth start on short flats near deep water. |
| March | Walleye spawn wraps up. Stripers group 30-80 feet deep near inlets and the dam; try spoons and cut anchovy. |
| April | Bass spawn starts. Smallmouth on gravel points and reefs; largemouth on brushy flats under 15 feet. Crappie in canyon brush. |
| May | Best all-around month. Smallmouth and largemouth still shallow; stripers on main lake points and reefs. |
| June | Stripers move deeper (60-90 feet) by day; first surface boils start late in the month. Walleye on main lake points. |
| July | Young stripers boil on shad early and late in the day. Smallmouth on rocky ledges; catfish at night on sandy beaches. |
| August | Watch for boils at dawn and dusk; troll main-channel points when it goes quiet. Midday heat is tough. |
| September | Boils keep going. Bass move shallower following shad; topwater and crankbaits on windy points. |
| October | Great fall fishing. Stripers and smallmouth chase shad; bass in canyon backs and on points. |
| November | Boils fade. Stripers 60-100 feet deep around bait; jig spoons and bucktails. |
| December | Slow bite once water drops below 50 degrees. Deep spoon jigging for stripers is the main option. |
Tips
- Quagga mussels are in the lake: clean, drain and dry your boat and all gear when you leave.
- Lake levels are low and dropping; watch for newly exposed rocks and check which ramps are open before you go.
- Afternoon wind and boat traffic can get rough fast. Fish early, carry plenty of water and watch the weather.
- Chumming with anchovies is allowed in Utah waters and helps hold striper schools under the boat.
- Stripers from the southern lake (mile 43 to the dam) have a mercury eating advisory; check before keeping a lot to eat.
Rules and license
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Arizona Game and Fish Department (National Park Service manages the lake) · Official rules page ↗
- A valid Utah or Arizona fishing or combination license, resident or nonresident, lets you fish the whole lake. No extra stamp is needed (Utah dropped its stamp starting Jan. 1, 2019).
- Follow the rules of the state you are fishing in. Even if licensed in both states, you may keep only one daily limit per day.
- Utah limits: 20 smallmouth bass, 5 largemouth bass, 10 crappie, 25 channel catfish. No limit on striped bass or walleye.
- Utah allows dead striped bass as bait and chumming with legal baits or dead striped bass. Fish may be filleted at any time.
- Arizona's portion also lists 20 smallmouth, 5 largemouth and 10 crappie. Spear fishing for striped bass is legal at Lake Powell under Arizona rules.
Rules change. Always check the official page before you fish.
Boat ramps and marinas
The map above shows 12 boat ramps and 3 marinas from OpenStreetMap. Tap any dot for directions.
- Antelope Point Marina
- Clay Hills Crossing Boat Ramp
- Wahweap Boat Rental
- Wahweap Marina
- Wahweap Marina Main boat launch
Sources
- https://www.nps.gov/glca/planyourvisit/fishing.htm
- https://www.eregulations.com/utah/fishing/rules-for-specific-waters
- https://www.eregulations.com/utah/fishing/licenses-and-permits
- https://www.eregulations.com/arizona/fishing/general-statewide-fishing-regulations
- https://www.eregulations.com/arizona/fishing/special-regulations-and-seasons-by-species
- https://www.usbr.gov/uc/rm/crsp/gc/
- https://www.visitutah.com/things-to-do/fishing/lake-powell
- https://www.visitutah.com/articles/angling-secrets-how-and-where-to-catch-fish
- https://wayneswords.net/threads/july-2026-fishing-report-and-tips.11440/
- https://www.ksl.com/article/33281463/5-biggest-game-fish-caught-in-utah
- https://kutv.com/news/local/arizona-utah-sync-licensing-rules-for-lake-powell-fishing
Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every number on this page comes from the sources listed above.