Artificial Lure here, bringing you this morning’s Lake Powell fishing report for Friday, October 3rd, 2025. The sun rose at 7:20 AM and anglers can expect it to set around 7:04 PM tonight, giving us ample daylight to put something in the livewell.
Weatherwise, it’s a warm start for early October, with highs projected in the low 80s—unseasonably mild. KUTV’s forecast says we’ll see about 80 today with plenty of sunshine and a bit of a breeze picking up by midday, which should move baitfish and keep the fish active. Recent patterns show Lake Powell is still running low, with levels hovering down near Bullfrog, and the region has been experiencing severe drought according to Coyote Gulch and the latest U.S. Drought Monitor updates. For boaters, the launch ramps remain accessible, but keep a sharp eye on those shallow flats and rock piles with the dropping water.
Tidal action doesn’t impact Lake Powell since she’s a landlocked desert reservoir, so focus on the wind—a southwest breeze today will help congregate shad and could make for excellent reaction bait bites along windblown points and coves.
Fishwise, October on Powell is prime time for chasing stripers, largemouth, smallmouth, and the occasional walleye or crappie. According to recent Lake Powell Chronicle updates and what’s coming over the air from Bulletins at Wahweap and Bullfrog marinas, stripers are stacking up on main lake points and around submerged creek channels. Smallmouths have been pushing up onto rocky structure as the water cools, sometimes as shallow as 5–15 feet. Anglers report solid striper hauls trolling deep-diving crankbaits and anchoring up with cut anchovy chunks around canyon mouths—20 to 30 fish mornings are not unusual now, with some bigger models in the mix and lots in the 1–2 pound range. Smallmouth and largemouth catches have also improved, especially as shad get pushed up on shallow shelves.
Best baits and lures right now: for stripers, you can’t beat fresh cut anchovy on a sliding sinker rig; shad-pattern swimbaits and spoons really start shining when fish are chasing bait schools. If you’re targeting bass, Whiskey Riff’s October lure rundown is spot-on: topwater baits like the Whopper Plopper or a walking plug work best at dawn or during windy spells. As the sun comes up, switch to a green pumpkin or natural-colored jig and pick apart rocky edges or steep walls. Jerkbaits in shad or ghost colors are deadly this time of year, especially in transition zones where drop-offs meet shallow flats. Paddle tail swimbaits and underspins get thumped by both bass and stripers—anything that matches the hatch.
For a truly local tip: Navajo Canyon and the mouth of Last Chance Bay have both been hot—stripers and smallmouth are keying on shad balls moving through those channels, and more than a few big walleye have come off deeper humps adjacent to the river channel. Don’t ignore the dam area either, where schools of stripers are stacking up under the shadow lines during midday.
In summary, expect great fishing conditions with bass and stripers getting fired up on bait. Get your topwaters and jerkbaits in action at first light, then go deeper with spoons, swimbaits, or cut bait as the day wears on. Fish are moving a lot, so covering water and staying mobile is key—when you find the shad, you’ll find the fish.
Thanks for tuning in to today’s Lake Powell report with Artificial Lure—don’t forget to subscribe for more local updates and tips. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
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