A Journey to Lake Powell

As we did the final prepping for our journey to Lakemade a joking response to my companion as I stuck
Powell, the weather was one of the things we hada twig in the ground and said that "our flag was up
been keeping an eye on. Cold fronts pushing throughand we have claimed this site". Being a Thursday we
the northern part of Colorado were what interesteddidn't have much to worry about someone else
us most. The Denver broadcasters were saying thatgetting there and setting up before we were able to
it would stay north of the I-70 corridor so weget back to the boat, get it launched and head back
thought we were in the clear. The rain we hadto the site we had claimed.
overnight and into the morning had moved on and itWith the campsite set up and the boat ready for
turned out to be a pretty nice afternoon. We loadedfishing we grabbed a quick bite to eat and headed
up the rest of the coolers into the trailer and did theout on the water. The wind had picked up some and
double check to see if we were forgetting anything.made the water a bit choppy, but not to bad. Being
It was now a little before 6pm, one more stop forlate in the day by the time we got set up and on
fuel and a fresh drink for the road and were on ourthe water we decided to keep close to camp and
way. As we reached the west side of Denver thenot go to the finger canyons we were told there
wind was picking up and the clouds in the mountainswere reports of fish being caught. We pulled over
were not what the broadcasters had said wouldalong Moki Wall and put out trolling rigs. We passed a
happen. As we reached Idaho Springs we were in afew other fishermen and asked how the fishing was
heavy snowfall and traffic was reacting to theand that we were just getting there and wanted to
changing weather. The snow stayed with us andknow the secrets to getting the big ones. The
made travel slow all through the mountains till wereports from them were not good, seems the cold
reached Glenwood Springs then it turned to rain.fronts had also passed through here too and the
Grand Junction was the next stop as we neededfishing had really been slow now. As we made our
more fuel and though we would stop for the night toway into Moki Canyon the wind was really beginning
get some sleep before traveling the next 200 or soto pick up, and not wanting to get caught out on the
miles to Bull Frog Marina. We pulled into a Walmartbig water in high winds, we decided to head back for
parking lot and went to set up the beds in thecamp. Upon arriving back at camp after a very rough
camper and noticed we had forgotten the sleepingride across the lake, we discovered that the wind
bags in the basement of the house. Good thinghad its way with our campsite too. The awning we
Walmart stays open all night. We went in and foundput up was down and tables and chairs were not
some cheap sleeping bags for $15 apiece, used theirwhere we had placed them before leaving. We
facilities and made our way to the truck.managed to get a dinner made and eat after
The next morning we awakened to an absolutelysecuring things down better.
beautiful day, sun shining, slight breeze and hardly anyThe wind continued thru the night and into the next
traffic to deal with. We grabbed a bite to eat andmorning making it another late day start for the
headed out on the road again. As we drive the lastfishing. While waiting we had talked with some of the
miles of I-70 out of Colorado the scenery begins toneighboring camps and found that Hansen Creek had
change immensely as the trees are fewer and thebeen pretty good for a couple that had been there
desert scenery begins to envelope all things in everyThursday before the wind came in. They had caught
direction. Growing up in northeastern Colorado andmany small bass but still no reports of Stripers being
being around trees and green fields, the desertcaught. We were able to get the boat out around
landscape is not a place I find much beauty in. As we3pm that day and headed directly for Hansen Creek.
reach Green River, Utah we know we are gettingAfter getting there and letting out our lines it wasn't
closer to reaching our destination. Now the mindbut 20 minutes till my partner had the first fish. It
begins to start thinking of all the things needed to doturned out to be a bass as we thought it would be,
when we do get to the camping area, so that weand not big enough to keep but it was a fish. We
can get the boat in the water and be able to catchcaught several more bass and one stripers that night
some fish. The last 50-80 miles have got to be thebefore going back to camp. The next day we were
worst for any journey. By now the mind and bodyable to get an early start on the lake but didn't catch
are so anxious to get out and do something you cananything till late in the day, but it paid off nicer than
hardly sit still, and the road just seems to be gettingthe day before as we caught several Walleye all
longer instead of shorter. As we encroach upon thekeep-able sizes. As we were now ending our short
next hill and see the park pay booth we both give acouple days of our trip, that night we picked up the
big sigh, "were there". We pay for our entrance intothings we could to ready for our departure the next
the park and talk to the attendants gettingafternoon. We started out really early the next
information about the lake and the fishing report, wemorning in hopes that the walleye would still be
are entranced by the beauty of the young gal thathitting. That was not the case as we were skunked
was in training. Now I think to myself, the desertand had to go home with what we had caught in the
does have something beautiful to offer the eye.previous days. All in all we had a very good trip, we
We dropped the boat off at a large parking lot byhad a safe drive to and from and came home with
the gate and set out for Stanton Creek campingabout 15lbs of fish fillets. I enjoyed my first visit to
area to look for a place to set camp and have theLake Powell and will probably be planning to go again,
boat on shore near us. We found a great place and Ionly the next time with a few more days to stay.