Beautiful Lake Powell Super Bass Fishing in Page Arizona

Updated August 2023

In the heart of Page, Arizona, lies a paradise for anglers and nature enthusiasts alike–the stunning Lake Powell. This is our next destination on our Grand Circle Tour. Tomorrow, we’re all set for an exciting bass fishing expedition on Lake Powell. Embracing much of Lake Powell’s expanse, the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area stands as the ultimate hub for an array of recreational pursuits. Our anticipation is mounting, for Lake Powell Bass Fishing in Page, Arizona, has long held a coveted spot on our must-do list. Whenever the opportunity arises during our cross-country adventures, we indulge our penchant for fishing.

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Navigating the Journey: Getting to Lake Powell

Due to a road collapse, we have to detour from the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park by heading back to Kanab; using US-89 north to Lake Powell, Page Arizona. We backtracked through Kanab, taking US-89-East to Page. The drive time from the North Rim to Lake Powell using this route approximately 4 hours. Continuing on US-89 will take you directly into the town of Page.

Route: North Rim of Grand Canyon to Lake Powell (Page, Arizona)

1. From the North Rim: Leave the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and head south on AZ-67.
2. Jacob Lake: You’ll pass through the small community of Jacob Lake, where you can stop for a break or a bite to eat.
3. US-89: Continue south on AZ-67 until you reach US-89. Turn left (east) onto US-89.
4. Cameron: You’ll drive through the Cameron Trading Post area. This is another potential stop for shopping and exploring Native American art and crafts.
5. Page, Arizona: Continue on US-89 until you reach the town of Page, which is near Lake Powell.
6. Lake Powell: Follow signs to Lake Powell. You’ll find various access points, marinas, and recreational areas along the lake’s shoreline.

The driving distance from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to Page, Arizona, is approximately 150-160 miles. The drive generally takes around 3.5 to 4.5 hours, depending on road conditions, speed, and stops.

NOTE: Be sure and adjust your time if you are just entering Arizona as they are on Mountain Standard Time.

Exploring the Marvels: A Trip to the Carl Hayden Visitor’s Center on Lake Powell’s Shores

Carl Hayden’s Visitors Center should be your first stop in Page, It offers a wealth of information about the Glen Canyon Dam and the surrounding area, including lake Powell and its recreational opportunities.. Air Conditioning is also a plus if you or someone you’re traveling with needs to take a break from the Arizona heat.

The Visitor’s Center is quite large and has a nice shaded lawn area to enjoy a picnic lunch. The interpretive displays tell the story of the creation of Lake Powell and the construction of the dam. One exhibit has a large 3-D map of and information about the Colorado River Basin Water Management System.

There are three movies about the dam, each free. We saw “Standing Tall” – which describes in detail how the dam was constructed and “Desert Oasis”– describes the life around the Glen Canyon area. There also are restrooms and a bookstore that provides guidebooks and information on the history of Glen Canyon and Lake Powell. The gift shop is huge with everything Southwest that you could ever imagine. The center they perch it above the dam; a glassed-in horseshoe walkway with exceptional panoramic views of Lake Powell, the Colorado River, and the dam itself. 

One of the most interesting displays was the dinosaur prints. These footprints were imprinted in the sediment of what was once a coastal environment, now part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Accompanying the dinosaur tracks was an informative display providing context and explanations about the tracks. It also told us about the dinosaurs that made them, and the geological processes that preserved them over time.

Crossing History and Beauty: Walking the Glen Canyon Bridge

Be sure to walk across the Glen Canyon Bridge to view and photograph the dam from a fresh perspective. The idea of constructing a bridge across Glen Canyon was born out of the necessity to provide a crucial transportation link between the northern and southern regions of Arizona. We walked out onto the bridge that stretched between the red Navajo sandstone walls and stopped in the middle, staring down into what I could only describe “hair-raising”. The bridge’s graceful arch design not only allowed for spanning the vast gap but also minimized the impact on the surrounding environment. There are multiple openings in the fenced bridge that one can take photos without the fence interfering. The story of the Glen Canyon Bridge’s construction is one of grit, vision, and the unwavering pursuit of progress.

Magnificent Glen Canyon Dam: A Journey to Lake Powell’s Architectural Wonder

The Glen Canyon Natural History Association conducts 45-minutes-extensive tours of the dam was built from 1956 to 1964 and dedicated in 1966. My husband and I were so impressed with the center we scheduled a tour of the dam. This captivating tour took us deep into the realm of one of the world’s most remarkable feats of construction–the Glen Canyon Dam. The cost was $5 a person and takes about an hour to complete.

Unlocking Glen Canyon: Embarking on the Ultimate Dam Tour

The dam is federally owned, so you will have to go through a metal detector and no bags or purses are allowed on tour. Glen Canyon Dam is a concrete arch dam on the Colorado River in northern Arizona. A guide explains the rules and takes you into an elevator where you go down 11 floors. Our guide, then along the top of the dam where you can view used turbines and you can look down at a manicured lawn that looks like a small golf course. A 2nd elevator takes you 528 feet deep into the interior of the dam. The temperature drops to about 50 degrees, a pleasant change from the desert heat.

Next, you go through the dam and into the power generation building where there is a visitor viewing gallery to see the turbines. Our Native American tour guide was very well versed in all aspects of the history and operation of the dam since they raised him in the area. His running commentary covered just about every fact you could imagine, from construction, spillways, cavitation of the spillways, the discharge outlets, lake level, turbines, hydroelectric power, and the bridge. Throughout the tour, he often shared fascinating historical anecdotes that provide insights into the dam’s environmental impact on the region.

They built the dam from 1957 to 1966 to provide hydroelectricity and flow regulation from the upper Colorado River Basin to the lower Colorado basin states. The power plant at the toe of the dam comprises four 118,750-kilowatt and four 136,562-kilowatt generators driven by eight turbines. The total nameplate generating capacity for the power plant is 1,021,248 kilowatts. Eight penstocks through the dam convey water to the turbines. Each penstock reduces in size from 15 to 14 feet in diameter. I highly recommend the tour. It was fantastic!

Geologic Marvel: Unveiling the Wonders of Horseshoe Bend

On the Colorado River, on an entrenched meander, just below the Glen Canyon Dam, close to the town of Page. Horseshoe Bend is the intimate Grand Canyon experience (although technically in Glen Canyon). The trailhead to this 3/4 mile hike is located just a few miles outside of Page. It overlooks one of the most spectacular views on the Colorado River, 4 miles south of the Glen Canyon Dam, and 7-miles north of mile zero of the Grand Canyon.

There is an information board on the top of the hill warning visitors of the danger of staying/sitting on the edge of the sandstone cliff. A quality trekking stick would be advisable on this trail. Although this is a short walk, less than a mile in 107-degree heat, it was exhausting. The sand trail conserves and radiates the heat, which makes the ground level even hotter than the actual temperature outside-the soft sand makes it difficult to walk. Water – bring lots! They don’t have a place to buy water on the short trail and in the Arizona sun on a hot day, you will need water!

There are no guardrails you can stand right on the edge of the canyon wall. Please do not take risks when taking photos. We saw lots of people taking risks to get that perfect selfie. If you have a fear of heights like I do, it can be daunting. The views, however, are breathtaking.

NOTE: Since our visit, there is now a $10 dollar parking fee, and they have paved the trail.

Page: Gateway to Adventure – Exploring the Town on the Edge of Lake Powell

It is a small town on the southern shores of magnificent Lake Powell. Page sits atop of a mesa overlooking the lake at the center of the world-renowned Grand Circle. We stayed one night at the Super 8 Motel. Our check-in went well. The beds are comfortable; the bathroom is also spacious and everything is clean. The room was an end unit near the stairway with some noise. Our room had a mini-fridge. The AC worked well; the shower was clean, with lots of hot water. Internet was slow.

We didn’t use the hotel for much more than a place to sleep since we had to be at the boat ramp for our guided fishing at 5 am, so no, we did not partake of the free breakfast. We planned to meet our Fishing Guide-Tom Pryor, at Stix Bait & Tackle. Introducing ourselves to Tom, we got directions for the morning fishing outing and purchased our fishing licenses. We only need a Utah fishing license to fish in Lake Powell. We had a quick dinner tonight at a local restaurant that Tom recommended, however; it is now closed. Page has a wide variety of restaurants to choose from to satisfy everyone’s hunger.

Lake Powell Bass Fishing with Best of the West Guide Service

We chose Best of the West Fishing Guide service for our day of guided fishing on Lake Powell; we were not disappointed. Our guide, Tom Pryor, was outstanding. Tom is a Coast Guard Licensed Captain with 30 years of experience at Lake Powell. Tom also fished the Bassmaster™ as a professional for a few years. We met Tom at 5 am at the Stateline Launch Ramp, as the sun was just rising over the horizon. The boat ramp was a tremendous surprise, with a 150-foot elevation drop and a very steep 0.25-mile walk to the boat. This is because of the huge fluctuations in lake levels.

The total capacity for Lake Powell is 27 million acre-feet, and the active capacity is 20,876,000 acre-feet. At normal water surface elevation, the reservoir has a length of 186 miles and a surface area of 161,390 acres. However, the water was down by approximately 150 feet, as shown by the white sandstone watermarks (normal water level).

We left the marina just as the sun was rising. Flat calm on Lake Powell, no wind, not even a ripple. Most of the 45-minute ride to Warm Creek is slow because of the low water levels and the many no-wake zones. We pass the Antelope Marine where Tom tells us his company rents houseboats that can accommodate enormous groups for weeks on end. The houseboats are popular on the lake and come with every luxury you can imagine, including water slides and grills. The lake is peaceful this early in the morning, with very little boat traffic.

Casting Dreams: Super Bass Fishing Adventures on the Beautiful Shores of Lake Powell

We started our bass fishing adventure in the Warm Creek area using poppers and swim-baits. Interestingly enough, the fish here will boil on the surface-rippling across in small schools. The water is very clear. You can see 20-feet below the lake surface. The composition is mostly rock boulders, but the fish will use tumbleweeds for cover and also the few submerged trees and brushes.

Today, the water is down 102 feet because of drought over the last 3 yrs. We caught mostly smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, and striped bass. Striped bass are very plentiful and they encourage anglers to take as many as they can catch. I also caught a large catfish.

Later we saw search and rescue, looking for casualties of a boating accident that had happened the previous morning. Tom explained that boaters that rent don’t always know where the shoals lie and unfortunately, many can parish. We later learned this was the case with this missing family. A reminder to be careful when running a boat on an unfamiliar body of water.

Lake Powell Bass Fishing and the Enchanting Antelope Canyon Adventure in Page, Arizona

Tom provided a small lunch provided by his wife and lots of water to drink. On the return trip, the water in the canyon was really rough. The wake of the many boats bounces from canyon wall to canyon wall as it bounces back and forth with nowhere to go. Much like a bathtub.

We were running late, however, Tom took us on a run at Antelope Canyon. The ride was spectacular; the walls were vertical on either side and closing in the further up the canyon we went. Tom kept the Ranger boat on plane as we ran up the Canyon. Luckily, we never saw another boat.

This was one of the best highlights of our trip. As we continued through the main lake channel, the water was a bit better, not as much chop. Tom did not return immediately to the marina. Instead, he took us up a smaller canyon near the marina, where we had a few more smallmouths before ending our day. I highly recommend Best of the West Guide Service if you plan to hire a guide for bass fishing on Lake Powell near Page, Arizona.

Exploring Nature’s Wonders: Fascinating Facts about Flora and Fauna

Interesting Facts: Great Basin Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus bicinctores) – grow to about 11 in. (28 cm) long, with enormous feet, that allows them to run only upon their hind legs – they are voracious predators, feeding on insects, lizards, small rodents, and berries, and leaves. They were very abundant around the hotel grounds. I always find the local wildlife to be fascinating.

The Geology Behind Lake Powell’s Mesmerizing Landscape

For geology enthusiasts like us, Lake Powell is a playground of exploration. Each layer in Lake Powell’s geology represents a chapter in Earth’s history, like a tapestry woven with layers of time. On the Colorado Plateau, the Navajo Sandstone dominates much of the geology. Navajo sandstone forms the canyon walls at the dam site and throughout most of the reservoir basin. The sandstone is remarkably uniform and homogeneous over wide areas, and they can get nearly identical samples from areas separated by many miles. The Navajo sandstone is buff to reddish, medium to fine-grained, and moderately hard to soft. It is massive, with pronounced cross-bedding and commonly indistinct horizontal bedding. The sandstone is moderately porous and highly absorptive, owing to the high capillarity created by the small size of inter-grain pore spaces.

Final Thoughts: Beautiful Lake Powell Super Bass Fishing in Page Arizona

The memories of those thrilling moments when fish danced on the end of your line remain with us as we bid farewell to the shimmering waters and breathtaking landscapes of Lake Powell. There’s nothing like Lake Powell’s super bass paradise for satisfying a yearning for nature, with its enduring allure. Know that if you yearn for the magic of the lake, it will be waiting.

There are stories to be told in every ripple, every shadow, and every gust of wind that reveal ancient deserts, powerful rivers, and the dynamic forces that have shaped this mesmerizing landscape. In addition to being a vacation spot, Lake Powell is also a living testament to our planet’s creative genius. Our next destination on our Grand Circle adventure is Monument Valley with a stay at the View Hotel.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Lake Powell? What did you think? Share your experience in the comments below.