Good morning from the deck at Wahweap, this is Artificial Lure bringing you today’s fishing report for Lake Powell, Utah—Wednesday, August 20th, 2025.

The sun rose this morning at 6:28 a.m. and sets tonight at 8:08 p.m., painting the red rock canyons with that classic golden hue. We’ve got a solid August forecast: sunny skies, highs near **99°F**, with just a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms. Winds will be from the southwest at 5 to 8 mph, so boaters can expect calm water in most canyons, but keep an eye out for sudden gusts if those storms roll in.

The water level is a big talking point right now. According to the Bureau of Reclamation’s August update, Powell is hovering around **3,538 feet**, nearly its lowest point in three years. Reservoir levels are dropping fast due to poor snowpack and extended drought. You’ll notice wider “bathtub rings” on the cliffs and exposed sediment, which can be tricky for launching boats—best to use main ramps like Stateline or Wahweap these days for safe access.

As for fish activity, faltering inflows haven’t stopped the action. Bass and striper anglers are reporting good numbers—smallmouths are especially active on rocky points in the early hours before the sun gets high. Late summer means the stripers are moving deeper; look for schools suspended in cool water, 60 to 100 feet down off Antelope Island and the dam.

In the past week, folks have been landing healthy mixed bags:
- **Smallmouth bass:** averaging 1–2 pounds, with some up to 3 near rocky structure off Warm Creek and Lone Rock.
- **Striped bass:** solid runs have come on anchovy chunks or locally recommended castable jigs tipped with white curly tails.
- **Catfish:** active on cut bait near mud flats after dusk—some 2–5 pounders reported.
- A few **walleye** came in overnight, mostly shallow, hitting worm harnesses near Bullfrog.

Top lures this week are:
- **Ned rigs** and **drop shot setups** for bass, worked along shaded cliff faces.
- **White shad swimbaits** and **spoons** jigged vertically for stripers—especially with sonar to spot schools.
- For bait, **anchovy chunks** are still king for stripers, while **nightcrawlers** and cut baits get catfish biting. A couple anglers swapped anchovy for hotdogs, but the consensus is hotdogs just aren't doing the trick around here, stick with the classics.

Hot spots today:
- **Wahweap Bay**—early morning for bass on plastic worms, plus steady striper action at depth.
- **Antelope Canyon**—big striper schools and the chance for a catfish after sundown.
- **Bullfrog Area**—good mixed species, especially at dusk, and reliable access even as water drops.

There’s a little more traffic on the lake with the August heat, but fishing remains excellent if you adapt to lower water and keep an eye on the weather. Drop your rig early or after sunset for best results, and don’t be shy with the fish finder—stripers are schooling tight.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s Lake Powell report. Be sure to subscribe for tomorrow’s conditions and insider tips. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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