Lake Powell is waking up with glassy water and a blanket of heat this August morning. Sunrise hit at 6:34 a.m., casting the first gold over Wahweap and Antelope Point, while sunset will drop in tonight around 8:11 p.m. Today’s forecast calls for clear skies and a high pushing 95°F before afternoon gusts ebb in, with humidity low and the promise of sunburn running strong as usual. According to NOAA, there haven’t been significant storms for weeks. The water level is holding, but the Bureau of Reclamation reports the lake may be dipping toward critical elevation by month’s end—so stay tuned if you’re planning a houseboat trip.

Tides don’t factor here, but wind and heat have made a real difference in fish activity. Those mornings just before dawn are magic. Striped bass are running strong in the open water around the dam and into the main channel. Anglers have reported schools busting shad on the surface—so bring your topwater lures. Just yesterday, a group pulled in over thirty stripers in under two hours on anchovy chunks, with most between 2–4 pounds. More reports from the Wahweap launch say the bite picks up best around deep drop-offs, especially early morning and again after dusk when the water cools.

Smallmouth bass are thick along rocky shorelines and points, especially in Navajo Canyon and Lone Rock. Folks are picking up good numbers right against the rocks using chartreuse curly tail jigs and shad-colored crankbaits. Ned rigs and drop shots with green pumpkin plastics have been the stand-by for those wanting a steady strike.

Catfish are still lurking in shallows and coves at night—chicken liver or stink bait will do the trick. The average channel cat is running a solid 3–5 pounds, with the occasional monster reported near Stanton Creek. Be patient, fish quiet, and let the scent drift.

Walleye remain spotty but catchable, mostly deeper than 20 feet. The best action has come drifting bottom bouncers tipped with nightcrawler harnesses. A local guide mentioned Cedar Canyon as this week’s sleeper hit—a couple of boats landed five keepers there in under three hours using gold blade spinners.

Recent catches logged by visitors include:
- Over 300 striped bass (mainly 2–4 pounds) around the dam and deeper canyons
- Smallmouth bass limits filled in less than two hours at Lone Rock and Navajo Canyon
- Catfish up to 10 pounds in shallow coves at dusk
- Walleye scattered and mostly nocturnal—best on deep structure

With surface temps hovering around 76–78°F, the shad are active, and the predator bite is hot. For stripers: toss KastMasters, Rat-L-Traps, and soft plastic jerkbaits—silver/blue is the top pick. Best bait remains cut anchovy and shad. For smallmouth and largemouth bass, try Yamamoto Senkos, white spinnerbaits, and tube jigs. Catfish are classic: use liver or stink. If you’re after walleye, gold or chartreuse crawler harnesses are the ticket.

Hot spots today:
- The stretch near the dam for striper boils at dawn
- Navajo Canyon for chunky smallmouth bass
- The back coves around Antelope Point for catfish after sundown

Water clarity is fair to good, with moderate algae. Boaters: keep an eye out for submerged debris, as lake levels are shifting slowly.

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