Awesome Annual Trip at Powell

Myself, my kids, and my friend took a trip to Lake Powell this season. The drive is 480 miles to Bullfrog Marina from my house. We left at 2:30 AM and was at Bullfrog Marina at 11 AM. When we go, we get a three bedroom modular home. These rooms are very nice, two bathrooms, full kitchen, they even provide a BBQ that you can use. And most important is air conditioning. It can get into the hundreds at Lake Powell.

This season was not a normal season as far as the weather; the day after we got there, we got rained out and was not able to fish. Also on a normal trip to Powell, the temp is in the triple digits. The whole time this year, the temp was in the 70s. Perfect temp and we did not cook on the boat this season like we have on all the previous trips we have taken to Lake Powell.

We were not able to fish the day after we got to Powell; however, the next day, we made up for it by catching way over 100 fish. We did keep 105 fish.

This was an epic day of fishing.

This season is the first season I tried the Ned Rig. It is a unique setup, you use the ZMAN TRD with a NED jig head. The fish love them, especially the bass. I caught a few really nice 17" Large Mouth this trip, these were the biggest bass I have gotten at Lake Powell. The Stripers also love them. If you have never tried the Ned Rig, give it a try. I am sure that you will love them if you fish them the right way.

The ZMAN TRD is a very stretchy plastic, you can stretch the TRD around 20" and they will not break. And they last a long time, you can catch a lot of fish on one TRD.

The way I fish the Ned Rig is very, very slow. Cast out and move your rod tip a little as it sinks to the bottom. Then just pull the Ned really slow across the bottom. Maybe give it a little hop once in a while. When you feel the fish hit, you will need to set the hook hard.

I like to use six pound P-line Fluorocarbon. Fluorocarbon is invisible under water and I feel it gives you an advantage, especially in clear water.

The rod I use is a seven foot medium fast action. In my opinion, it is very important to use a medium fast because you can feel the slightest bite.

Here is the average sized striper at lake Powell. When you find the Stripers, it is on. Everyone in the boat will have a hookup all at the same time. And these Stripers put up a very good fight, really fun to catch.

At Lake Powell, the Stripers are over-populated and they do not have any natural predators. This is why there is no limit on Stripers at Lake Powell. The game and fish encourage fishermen to keep all the Stripers that they catch out of the lake. They rely on fishermen to keep the population somewhat under control.

Stripers eat, on average, 5% of their body weight in other fish per day. And with millions of Stripers in Powell, they are eating most of the bait fish that all the other fish in the lake also rely on to survive.

So if you make a trip to Lake Powell, keep them all.

Stripers are actually pretty good to eat. One recipe that I really like is called the "Poor Mans Lobster:"

• All you do is cut the Striper Fillets into chunks.
• Boil some 7UP soda and put some salt in the 7Up.
• Place the Striper Chunks in the boiling 7Up. Boil 3 to 5min
• Then remove and dip in butter.

It is amazing how much this actually tastes like Lobster.