Lake Powell, coined after the civil war veteran Major John Wesley Powell, was formed in 1966 following the completion of the Glen Canyon Dam. This massive project led to the formation of one of the largest reservoirs in the United States which took over a decade to fill completely. The reservoir provides water for the Midwest during drought.
Severe drought has recently revealed areas of the canyon that have not been seen since the dam was built in the 1960s. As a result, visitors can hike in amazing valleys and caverns for the first time in several decades. The droughts, however, can result in summer fish kills and encourage the spread of non-native species. In addition, a lack of water in the reservoir may present a crisis in the future for residents of Utah and Arizona who rely on this reservoir for life-sustaining water.
Since Lake Powell sits along the border of Utah and Arizona, the National Park Service requires a fishing license for at least one state to fish at the lake. Anglers must adhere to the fishing regulations of the state where they are fishing, not the state on their fishing license. There are strict rules around bait fishing at Lake Powell as of September 2022. Bait fishing is only allowed in designated areas. It is illegal to use live bait except for crayfish captured in the same water an angler is fishing.
Lake Powell Fish Species
1) Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: globe” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”30″]Native to parts of North America[/su_icon_text]
Commonly caught in the United States lakes and rivers, the large smallmouth bass is almost ubiquitous throughout the country. Credit for its wide range is due to intentional introductions as sportfish stock. They are native to only a few water bodies east of Montana; Lake Powell lies to the south. Smallmouth bass are solidly greenish-gray and have striking red eyes. Their mouths do not extend past the farthest edge of their eyes, whereas the mouths of largemouth bass do.
Anglers can expect to catch smallmouth bass along rocky beaches and gravel beds. They are voracious predators and will consume most types of bait. This species will construct nests during the springtime spawning season to protect their eggs. Male smallmouth bass will defend the eggs until they hatch and can often easily be seen during this period. Some sources recommend targeting these protective males or using them as a clue that there are other smallmouth bass in the area.
Non-native smallmouth bass are responsible for reducing populations of native fish species via competition or predation. As with many other non-native species, they also hybridize with native relatives. Lake Powell has a daily bag limit of 20 smallmouth bass.
2) Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: globe” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”30″]Native to parts of North America[/su_icon_text]
Due to its large size, aggressive temperament, and high-quality table fare, the largemouth bass is one of the United State’s most famous and commercially important sportfish. While the smallmouth bass maxes out at around 27 inches (69 cm), the largemouth bass can reach sizes up to 38 inches (97 cm). As a result, they are often stocked throughout the United States in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs for angling. Like the smallmouth bass, this species constructs large nests, and the males will protect the nest after spawning in the spring.
They can tolerate a wide range of habitat types, from swamps to rivers, and eat any suitably sized fish, crustaceans, or amphibians. Largemouth bass are even known to be cannibalistic. Their flexibility in habitat and diet make them excellent competitors in any body of water; however, they require warm water, more than 50 °F (10 °C), to reproduce successfully.
Largemouth bass tend to occupy nearshore areas during the spawning season and when feeding. During most other seasons, anglers will require a boat to find largemouth bass hiding in deeper waters. Anglers can use a variety of baits and lures to catch one. Lake Powell has a daily bag limit of 5 largemouth bass.
3) Striped bass (Morone saxatilis)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: globe” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”30″]Native to the east coast of the United States, introduced throughout the country[/su_icon_text]
One non-native bass introduced to Lake Powell is the striped bass, colloquially known as the striper. Striped bass belong to a group known as the temperate basses (fish in the family Moronidae), which are not related to the black basses, which include sunfish in the genus Micropterus. One key difference between the two groups is their spawning behaviors. Temperate basses scatter their eggs and observe no parental care behaviors. Meanwhile, male black basses typically construct a nest and defend it until the larvae leave it.
The striped bass is silver with dark stripes running down its sides and a slightly forked tail. Most temperate basses also have two separate dorsal fins, one with stiff spines and one with mostly softer rays. It is native to the east coast and has been introduced as a sportfish throughout the country. They are piscivorous and primarily predate upon small fish.
An angler looking for a striped bass should target them during the fall. One source recommends fishing strategies like trolling, jigging, and targeting feeding groups, commonly called “boils,” close to the surface. There is no limit on striped bass at Lake Powell.
4) Walleye (Sander vitreus)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: globe” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”30″]Native to the United States & Canada[/su_icon_text]
The walleye, not to be confused with the walleye pollock, is an extremely important commercial and sport fish. Thanks to their large eyes, they are well adapted to their nocturnal lifestyle and visual hunting strategy. They also possess an arsenal of sharp teeth, facilitating their carnivorous diet. Walleyes are primarily piscivorous but are known to eat invertebrates, amphibians, and even small mammals.
This delicious fish is highly sought after by sport fishers. Fishing for walleyes is like fishing for bass species; anglers can catch them with various fishing tactics. Sources suggest using live bait such as minnows, earthworms, and leeches. There is no limit on walleye at Lake Powell.
5) Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: globe” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”30″]Native to parts of North America[/su_icon_text]
The channel catfish has a forked tail like the blue catfish but has a round anal fin as opposed to a straight one. The average length for this species is 10 to 20 inches (25 to 51 cm). Like the blue catfish, the channel catfish thrives in clear streams but can tolerate turbid water. They also can survive in brackish water. Young channel catfish have the typical invertebrate diet seen in other catfish species. The adults consume various prey items. Channel catfish reproduction is temperature-dependent and is initiated when the water temperature reaches at least 75 °F (23.9 °C). When temperatures are favorable, male channel catfish construct a nesting area for females to lay their eggs. Males protect and care for the eggs until they hatch.
The National Parks Service suggests using live fish and nightcrawlers to catch a tasty channel catfish. However, they will accept a variety of meat-based bait, from squid and shrimp to hotdogs and processed baits. Individuals may harvest up to 25 channel catfish from Lake Powell per person per day.
6) Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: globe” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”30″]Native to parts of North America, not native to Lake Powell[/su_icon_text]
Like many other popular sportfish, the black crappie has been introduced throughout the United States to stock sportfish fisheries. Black crappies are sunfish with a dark, mottled appearance. Lake Powell is considered one of the best places to fish for crappies. Black crappies are typically small, with an average length of 10.8 inches (27.4 cm). However, in 2009, an angler caught a black crappie over 18 inches long and weighed more than 3 pounds at Lake Powell!
Crappies are crepuscular hunters, meaning they feed during the morning and evening, so anglers should search for them during these times. They are also schooling fish, so more are sure to be present where one is found.
7) Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: globe” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”30″]Native to parts of North America[/su_icon_text]
The bluegill is another stunning sunfish with a greyish brown colored body and fins tipped with blue and orange. Unlike other piscivorous sunfish, the bluegill does not accumulate as many toxic metals and is, therefore, safer to eat. Like the pumpkinseed, they are primarily insectivorous but will also consume snails, worms, and small fish.
Spawning occurs in warm water between May and July. As is characteristic of sunfish, the male will guard the nest until the eggs hatch. Male bluegill tend to be particularly aggressive during the breeding season. While they are not dangerous, they will try to attack swimmers if they come too close to the nest.
8) Northern pike (Esox lucius)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: globe” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”30″]Native to North America[/su_icon_text]
The northern pike is a problematic species introduced throughout the United States because it is an extremely popular sportfish. It is an aggressive piscivore and an ambush predator that hides amongst dense vegetation waiting to ambush prey. It is such a voracious predator that it is known to extirpate smaller fish species from isolated lakes and rivers, causing severe problems for conservation. Additionally, the northern pike hybridizes with a native Esox species known as the muskellunge. Female hybrids are fertile and can interbreed with muskellunge populations, gradually replacing the native species with hybrids.
This species is common in lakes and reservoirs and migrates to streams to spawn. Eggs are broadcast over weed beds between March and May. During the breeding season, it is best to target northern pike in streams and shorelines. Otherwise, they are commonly found near areas with dense, submerged vegetation. They are incredibly aggressive, so care should be taken when handling them. The northern pike hosts a suite of parasites, some of which can infect humans, so you must thoroughly cook them before eating. Limiting the consumption of northern pike is also recommended because they are highly predatory and therefore bioaccumulate toxins.
9) Common carp (Cyprinus carpio)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: globe” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”30″]Native to Eurasia[/su_icon_text]
The European carp is one of the most disastrous fish introduced to the United States. This species is omnivorous, consuming both plants and small invertebrates. In search of food, it digs up gravel beds. It uproots native plants, converting otherwise clear streams into murky messes that are unsuitable habitats for many native species. Habitat conversion disrupts local ecosystems by destroying habitats and eliminating food sources for native species. In addition to being an ecological nuisance, the European carp is considered a sportfishing pest.
European carp are tough to eradicate once they become established, which is another reason they are such prolific invaders. Once established, land managers can eradicate populations of European carp via rotenone applications. Rotenone is toxic to fish and can be used to eliminate all fish in a body of water. That water body is then restocked, now free of any nuisance species. However, this process is not ideal.
10) Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: globe” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”30″]Native to parts of North America[/su_icon_text]
As the name suggests, the rainbow trout is a beautiful and popular game fish that often boasts a striking red and silver coloration. It is usually stocked in lakes and rivers in the United States. It is a predator of macroinvertebrates and smaller fish. This species is non-native to Lake Powell, but they are a popular target for fly fishers and can be successfully fished from the shore.
Rainbow trout reach sexual maturity at 2 – 3 years of age and can grow to be staggeringly large, over 40 inches (102 cm)! In their native range, adults are anadromous and migrate from rivers to the ocean. They return to their natal streams to spawn from April to July. Many populations successfully reproduce in streams that do not have access to the ocean.
11) Green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: globe” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”30″]Native to parts of the United States, introduced to the east and west coasts[/su_icon_text]
Lepomis cyanellus is a small, green sunfish with an iridescent blue speckled pattern and an ear spot just above its pectoral fin. They also have yellow to white edging along their pelvic and anal fins. An average green sunfish will be around 7.9 inches (20 cm). Although they rarely grow large enough to make a decent catch, they are considered delicious panfish.
To catch a green sunfish, an angler should try to fish in areas with abundant aquatic vegetation and refugia in the form of sunken wooden debris. One source suggests placing live bait such as worms or crickets on a bobber rig.
They are nest spawners, a trait that is characteristic of sunfish. The green sunfish diet mainly consists of aquatic invertebrates, although they sometimes predate upon smaller fish. When introduced, green sunfish compete with other invertivores and have been responsible for several local extirpations of native species.
12) Shad (Dorosoma spp.)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: globe” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”30″]Native to parts of North America[/su_icon_text]
Two species of shad may be found at Lake Powell: the larger American gizzard shad (D. cepedianum) and the smaller threadfin shad (D. petenense). The average length for the former species is 13 inches (33 cm), and the latter has an average length of 4 inches (10 cm). Overall length is one way to identify a shad if you have a mature individual, but a more reliable method is checking the jaws. In threadfin shad, the lower jaw extends further than the upper jaw,whereas the jaws of the American gizzard shad do not.
Shad are important prey species for larger predatory fish. American gizzard shads are more tolerant to cold water and are distributed throughout eastern North America. In contrast, threadfin shad are native to just the southern United States and do not share this cold-water tolerance. As juveniles, shad diets consist of zooplankton and filtered organic material. Both species are almost exclusively herbivorous. They do not exhibit any special parental care.
Shad may be used as bait in Lake Powell; however, anglers may not remove dead or living shad from the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
13) Longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: globe” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”30″]Native to North America[/su_icon_text]
A visitor to Lake Powell might notice small fish darting around submerged vegetation along the shoreline. While these communities of tiny fish include several species, particularly juveniles of larger species, one of those is bound to be a species of riffle dace in the genus Rhinichthys. One common species found in Utah is the longnose dace.
This small species of dace can usually be found rooting around in the substrate for feed. Their average length reaches approximately 3.7 inches (9.4 cm). It does well in clear or turbid streams and lakes with gravel or rocky bottoms. They occur in most North American waters and are essential forage fish for many larger predatory fish, especially the smallmouth bass. Longnose dace predate upon small insects in riffle habitats.
14) Red shiner (Cyprinella lutrensis)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: globe” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”30″]Native to parts of the United States, introduced to Lake Powell[/su_icon_text]
Ubiquitous throughout much of the United States, the red shiner is highly tolerant of changes in water quality, particularly turbidity, and can be found in most rivers and streams. Due to their tolerant nature, they effectively invade novel ecosystems and sometimes compete with native fish species.
The red shiner is a small, silvery-blue fish with red fins. On average, a typical red shiner will be about 2 inches (5 cm) long. They primarily feed on insects and algae and are prey items for many larger fish species. Interestingly, because sunfish predate heavily upon small fish, in this case red shiner juveniles, the presence of sunfish, be they native or non-native, may reduce the overall threat of invasive red shiners in novel ecosystems.
15) Razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: globe” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”30″]Native to Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and California; possibly extirpated from parts of Mexico[/su_icon_text]
Razorback suckers are brown with a light-colored belly and a prominent hump just behind their head. They can grow to be about 36 inches (91 cm) long and are long-lived, with some living for up to 40 years.
Dam construction and introductions of sport fish have adversely impacted populations of native fish that require contiguous riverine habitats and have not evolved with voracious predators in their ecosystems. It is illegal to kill or possess razorback suckers. One recovery strategy that is being implemented by conservation teams is to raise razorback suckers in captivity until they are too large to be eaten by larger predatory fish.
16) Humpback chub (Gila cypha)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: globe” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”30″]Native to the Colorado River from Montana to California[/su_icon_text]
Historically common throughout the Grand Canyon, the humpback chub can now be found on the endangered species list. This chub has a unique appearance with a distinctive hump behind its head and red and white fins. It can occasionally be found where the Colorado River feeds into Lake Powell and should be returned to the water immediately if caught. It is illegal to kill or possess humpback chubs.
Population declines are attributed to habitat fragmentation, resulting from dam construction and an invasive species of tapeworm, Schyzocotyle acheilognathi, which infects and kills humpback chubs. Predation by non-native species also contributes to population declines. Humpback chubs feed on arthropods, small fish, and phytoplankton. Spawning occurs from spring to summer, when they scatter their eggs above the substrate.
17) Bonytail chub (Gila elegans)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: globe” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”30″]Native to Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and California[/su_icon_text]
Another species that is an uncommon sight in Lake Powell is the critically endangered bonytail or bonytail chub. While similar in appearance to the humpback chub, the bonytail has a thin caudal peduncle (the fish’s tail before the caudal fin begins). They are so rare in the wild that they are considered functionally extinct. This species is adversely affected by predation pressure from introduced species, pollution, and habitat fragmentation. They require contiguous, swift, deep river habitat, which is unfortunately disrupted or destroyed when impoundments are created by damming a river. It is illegal to kill or possess bonytails.
Bonytails are omnivorous, consuming a variety of invertebrates and plant matter. Their ecology and biology are not well understood but they are thought to be spring spawners. They can reach an average length of 14 inches (36 cm). For such a small fish, they are surprisingly long-lived, with a maximum lifespan of 50 years.
Bonytails are incredibly rare. Anglers should immediately return any individuals captured at Lake Powell to the water. Additionally, anglers should report the instance to the local parks and wildlife authorities.
18) Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: globe” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”30″]Native to Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, California, and Mexico[/su_icon_text]
Although they are locally extinct throughout their southern range, the Colorado pikeminnow is still present in Lake Powell and waterbodies north of it along the Colorado River. They are not as rare as the endangered species on this list, but they are considered vulnerable by the IUCN. The Colorado pikeminnow is locally known as the squawfish. They have a blunt nose like other endangered minnows, such as the bonytail and humpback chub, but they do not possess the distinct hump found in the other two species.
On average, Colorado pikeminnows grow to around 20 inches (51 cm) and their maximum length can be up to 6 feet (2 m) which is pretty significant for a “minnow.” Juveniles consume aquatic invertebrates and shift to a piscivorous diet as they age.
Conservation efforts focus on protecting and restoring habitat, reducing predation pressure, and monitoring existing populations. It is illegal to kill or possess Colorado pikeminnows.
19) Flannelmouth sucker (Catostomus latipinnis)
[su_icon_text icon=”icon: globe” icon_color=”#04629B” icon_size=”30″]Native to the United States[/su_icon_text]
While similar to the Colorado pikeminnow, the flannelmouth sucker’s mouth resembles that of a common pleco. It is positioned downward to allow for bottom feeding. In contrast, the Colorado pikeminnow has a mouth that resembles other predatory fish. Flannelmouth suckers also have a reddish tint to their fins that the Colorado pikeminnow lacks. Flannelmouth suckers are not endangered.
They can be found in warmer Colorado River sections and sometimes in lakes and impoundments, too. They grow to be about 13.7 inches (35 cm) long. The downward positioning of their mouths facilitates their diet of benthic invertebrates, detritus, and plant material. They spawn in groups, leaving their eggs scattered on the surface of gravelly substrates.
The United States Department of Agriculture suggests that while the flannelmouth sucker populations in the Colorado River are not imperiled like that of the Colorado pikeminnow or the two chub species mentioned above, they are still adversely impacted by habitat fragmentation, predator pressure, and competition.
