Basic fishing gear for Lake Powell?

[Sunbeam]

Hi folks,

After tasting some delicious striper (gifted from Secret O' Life) last year on Powell -- and then nearly starving later in the trip when we ran out of food, meanwhile knowing there were those delicious fish in the lake -- I would like to be able to catch (meaning: eat) some of my own fish this year.

I'm sure there is a large variety of potential gear, so my goals:

1) Utility fishing only - just so I can catch some dinner.
2) Most minimal/lightweight/non-bulky gear possible

When I was off cruising/sailing, I started out with a rod and reel. That's what I fished with as a kid, so it seemed logical. In that case it turned out that a simple "yo-yo" and line was better (for fishing, maintaining, and stowing) so I ended up selling the rod/reel along the way. No idea if striper fishing is similar or not. Maybe you always need a rod/reel. I'm sure there are many folks here who know!

As a kid I did really enjoy casting, so that would be one advantage to a rod.

Now I have the Popeil Pocket Fisherman ads running through my head
"As Seen on TV!"

Thanks for any input,
Sunbeam

PS: Any special fishing license advice for Powell? I can always Google, but figured some here might already know the ropes. I especially wonder since it spans two states (I'd be a non-resident in either one).

[potter water]

Go here. There are days and days of reading if you want or just look for the basics. It's all here.

http://www.wayneswords.com/

[Sunbeam]

I should have thought of Wayne's Words. That forum was a godsend last year when we were on the lake when it was "closed" - we were able to get the real scoop from that forum.

That said, I guess I'm being a bit lazy in that since I want specifically basic, C-Dory 22-stowable gear, that I was hoping someone here would have a specific suggestion or two (vs. the overwhelm on a real fishing forum). Plus I already know the gang here

I should have added point #3, which is that it doesn't necessarily have to be cheap. Not because I'm dying to spend big bucks, but just that I don't mind paying more for highly functional, comfortable gear (which the cheapest rarely is). It's just that my purpose is basic food catching, not fishing as an activity in and of itself (yet, LOL).

Thanks,
Sunbeam

[thataway]

For Powell, we use medium weight spinning gear. Two rods about 6' long, break down to 3' length. Spinning reels, with 8 to 12# line. We use a swivel and snap as terminal tackle--"Bait" double tail grubs, tubes jigs and drop shot rigged shad shaped worms. "Gulp" baits which look like small Shad work well. We like the crawdad type of baits--all use lead heads--usually just lead, yellow or white--sometimes black. There are some tubes, with multiple skirts, which have sparkles, and greens/browns which work well.

One could use a 'Zebco reel. We have a Shamino and an antique Mitchell, both have two spools, so we use different size lines. Fluro carbon leaders may work better than just to the line, but we find that just tying the snap/swivel to the terminal line works OK.

Cast off the bank--into some brush, in at least 3 to 10 feet of water. Sometimes we scope out an area with the depth finder of the boat--but catch 90% of fish from the boat.

We have also trolled with some shad type of baits--down about 10 to 12 feet, usually in early AM shadows.

I am sure that others have their favorites. We always seem to eat well--at least catch more fish than I want to clean! (We have simplified cleaning--just gut, and wrap the entire fish in foil. cook on the grill, and eat out of the skin.

[Sunbeam]

Ah ha ha, I guess I am going to have to learn a bit of modern fishing lingo Much of that sounded like a foreign language to me Of course, I haven't fished much since I was a kid on an up-north lake, and the choices then were nightcrawlers (divided into smaller and smaller and smaller pieces as the day turned to evening, if they were biting) or for casting, a daredevil, a Lazy Ike or or maybe a Mister Twister. I did have a Zebco 202 though!

I'm mostly making light above - I do really appreciate your input. I will look for some of the things you mentioned. That striper was GOOD.

[thataway]

You can pick up gear at the WalMart in Page. There will be chinese reels and rods, but most are made there today anyway. The "Bait" is also available at the marina. Be sure and get a Utah license.

[Pat Anderson]

Check this link. It apparently depends on age and residency. For us a one year license would be $85 while a 7 day license would be $40. You can get the license online, pay with a credit card and print out your license. As I recall you have to pick the start date for your 7 day license when you get it. Debating this one.

[Sunbeam]

Thanks for the link, although... somewhat confusing website! I see $75 for a year's fishing license for non-resident, over 18 years of age; and $85 for the same thing but it's a "combination" license (also in the fishing category). But when you click on the link for either of those it doesn't give you more info (as you would think) but just scrolls you to the bottom of the page. There is also a "Lake Powell Reciprocal Permit," but when you click on that.... it scrolls you to the bottom of the page!

Okay, there is a little bit more information here:
http://wildlife.utah.gov/license-permit.html

There it still looks to me like the basic fishing license for a non-resident, 18+, is $75 for a year. They don't mention the $85 "combination" one at all that I see. Maybe the combination adds "setline"?

At any rate, looks like it's $75 annual, and $40 for 7-day.
The "reciprocal Powell" is $8 "Arizona." Maybe that means if you have an Arizona license you can pay $8 to Utah and then fish on Lake Powell. Hmm, wonder how much the AZ license is for non-residents...

Okay, looked at Arizona. Non-resident annual is $55. So that would be $63 if one purchased that and a Utah Powell reciprocal. I might do that, as I'm more likely to fish (additionally) in Arizona than Utah (after the get-together). Arizona has "combination" hunting and fishing licenses available, so maybe that is a typical definition Utah expects folks to know.

http://www.azgfd.gov/eservices/licenses.shtml

[thataway]

We have gotten the one year for each of us. If you are only going to be there a week to 10 days, then the 7 day would make sense. I think on line is the only way up there at Powell.

[rogerbum]

A combination license combine a fishing license with the basic hunting license. I read through the Utah fishing regulations (you should two) and found you can fish two lines if you wish so maybe you want to rod and reels. Since there are generally plenty of crayfish in the lakes in the SW, crayfish imitation lures are often quite good (for striped and small mouth bass). Rebel lures makes a small plastic hard body crayfish imitation lure that you could troll (probably at low idle speed) that I bet will catch fish there. Other crawdad imitation lures will likely work well also but I only have experience with the rebel brand.

[thataway]

Sunbeam--look at Wayne's world and fishing licenses:

[C-Dawg]

[Will-C]

It might be money better spent IMHO to visit a local bait/tackle shop buy a cheaper Shimano reel and a rod rated for 8 to 12 pound test. and get your reel spooled up there with the right line and some recommended lures that they know work. Wally World and K-Mart don't usually have people that can really help you. For me supporting local tackle shops is a better idea than supporting some mega store. If you knew what you wanted you could order or shop at a local Cabela's if there was one around. I would look at an 7' two piece UGLY stick by Shakespeare rated for 8 to 12 pound test and a Shimano 4000 series reel stay on the cheap side. Lead headed jigs in about 1/8 to 1/4 oz. with some plastic curly tailed grubs, maybe a minnow trap with some bread crumbs inside and then you will need some #2 bait holder hooks and maybe a bobber. Hook the minnows thru the lips and let the hook be about 5' below the bobber see if they (the minnows) can meet some new friends. Set the drag. To about a 1/4 of what the line is rated for. Somebody will help you just get the basic outfit. Bob's wife is a great fisher person. Follow her around.
D.D.

[Hunkydory]

On C Dawgs suggestion, as a teenager who had easy access to the ingredients for this type fishing technique I can attest to both its effectiveness & hazards of use.

Jay

[Wandering Sagebrush]