This is Artificial Lure, checking in from Lake Powell for your August 15th fishing report. Here’s the scoop you need to know to make the most of your day out on the water.

Today, Lake Powell woke to a sunrise at 5:34 am, with lines already hitting the water before the sun crested the red cliffs. The forecast: clear skies and heat—the mercury’s pushing toward 102°F this afternoon under a blazing Arizona sun. It’ll cool off to around 70 after sunset at 7:29 pm. Expect plenty of sunlight and just enough breeze in the narrows to keep things lively. Afternoon thunderstorms are always possible this time of year, though today’s likely to stay dry, according to KSL’s latest weather update.

If you’re planning to launch at Wahweap, keep in mind the Main Launch Ramp is going to be inoperable starting August 18th, so plan ahead if you’re staying several days. With the water still lingering at low levels, some back bays are more exposed than usual—often a bonus for anglers who know how to work the structure. According to the National Park Service, these conditions have concentrated fish in deeper, cooler pockets during the heat of the day.

Early risers found biting was best right around first light. Stripers were actively chasing shad schools in the main channel, especially near the mouth of Navajo Canyon and Antelope Point. Surface boils popped up just after dawn—chrome casting spoons and white bucktail jigs worked wonders. Several boats limited out on two- to four-pound stripers before 8 am, a great sign of hot late-summer action.

Smallmouth bass were aggressive around rocky points and bluff walls, favoring topwater poppers and shad-pattern jerkbaits during the low light hours. As the sun climbed, soft plastics like green pumpkin tubes or drop-shots rigged with 4-inch worms brought steady bites off submerged ledges and around houseboat moorings.

Some anglers targeting largemouth bass found success in the flooded brush and coves along Padre Bay; try working a wacky-rigged senko or slow-rolling a spinnerbait tight to the cover. If you’re after catfish for the skillet, set up around the backs of mud bays with stink bait or chicken livers—night fishing has been producing some fat channel cats, especially around Lone Rock.

Fishing off the bank? Focus efforts near the marina riprap and shaded spots. Just be aware of low water making some shoreline approaches tricky. Electronics help, but old-school patience pays dividends—stripers and walleye are holding deeper during mid-day, 30 to 50 feet, so vertical jigging with chartreuse or white spoons is a smart bet.

Top baits this week: For stripers, you can’t beat live anchovy chunks where allowed, with trolled Rapalas in shad finish a close second. For bass, topwater lures at dawn and dusk are the ticket, with soft plastics and jigs cleaning up as the sun climbs. Catfish fans should stick with traditional baits—stink bait, chicken liver, or cut bait right on the bottom.

Hot spots today include the mouth of Navajo Canyon for morning striper action and the rocky shoreline off Antelope Point for both bass and panfish. If you’re new to the area, these two are a great place to get hooked up fast.

Recent reports from local guides and social posts show plenty of quality catches—stripers, smallmouths, a handful of chunky walleyes, and healthy-looking catfish are all in the mix. The drought has concentrated fish in certain areas, making for some spectacular days if you’re persistent and move with the bait.

That’s all from Lake Powell—a mix of clear sky, hot sun, and red rock scenery to charge your day. Thanks for tuning in to the Artificial Lure fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a hot tip. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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