Fishing And Swimming At Lake Powell

Boating is not the only way to have fun on Lake Powell waters. Two other very popular water-based activities are fishing and swimming.

Swimming

During the summertime, water temperatures can exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26.7 degrees Celsius). This makes Lake Powell a great place for swimming, since it is open everywhere to all swimmers, except at the marinas and launch areas and within the boundaries of Rainbow Bridge National Monument.

So, where can you swim? There are, of course, many swimming spots accessible by boat. If you don’t have a boat, however, there are five swimming areas reachable by vehicle and either closed to boats or in a wakeless zone:

• The Chains
• Wahweap Swim Beach
• Lone Rock Beach
• Hobie Cat Beach
• Stanton Creek Primitive Camping Area

Park Staff offer swimming and beach safety tips:

• Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone.
  
  
• Never leave a young child unattended near water and do not trust a child’s life to another child; teach children to always ask permission to go near water.
  
  
• Have young children and inexperienced swimmers wear US Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone.
  
  
• Maintain constant supervision. Avoid distractions when supervising children around water.
  
  
• Swim sober.
  
  
• If you swim from a boat, make sure the boat is secure. Never start the engine while swimmers are overboard.
  
  
• Cliff Jumping/Cliff Diving is illegal. It is prohibited for any person to jump or dive off of rock cliffs, ledges, or man-made structures (excluding vessels). The National Park Service does not advocate or promote the activity of cliff jumping or diving regardless of the height from the water surface. For the purpose of this restriction, cliff, ledge, or man-made structure is defined to mean any formation of rock or soil, or structure, or combination thereof having a height of 15’ or more from the surface of the water.

Read even more water safety tips from the National Park Service.

• Protect your skin. Limit the amount of direct sunlight you receive between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm and wear sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 15.
  
  
• Drink plenty of water regularly, even if you’re not thirsty. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them.
  
  
• Protect your eyes, wear sunglasses that will absorb at least 90 percent of UV sunlight.
  
  
• Wear foot protection such as closed toed sandals. The sand can burn your feet and glass, quagga mussel shells, and other sharp objects can cut them.
  
  
• Never swim in waters that have algal scum floating on the water which may indicate that a Harmful Algal Bloom is occurring.
  
  
• Always wash your hands before eating, shower with soap after playing in the water, and never go in the water if you have open sores or cuts.
  
  
• Please be aware that there are no life guards or designated swim beaches at Lake Powell or on the Colorado River. Water Quality conditions can change at your favorite swim areas depending on high visitor use, recent storms, rising lake waters, new algal blooms, and waste from wildlife, livestock, and previous visitors coming in contact with the lake waters.

For more detailed information visit the Lake Powell Recreational Water Advisory Webpage

Fishing

Anglers can test their skills not only along the Colorado River in this national recreation area, but in Lake Powell. After the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam, bluegill, crappie, walleye, catfish, and bass were introduced.

Since Lake Powell straddles the Arizona/Utah border, you will need a valid Utah or Arizona fishing license. You won’t need two separate licenses since a license from either state is valid on all of Lake Powell. You can purchase a fishing license online, by visiting the offices of Utah Department of Wildlife or Arizona Game and Fish Departments, or at many convenience and fishing gear stores.

Arizona portion: All persons 10 years of age and older must have a valid fishing license.
Utah portion: All persons 11 years of age and older must have a valid fishing license.

If you are considering fishing along the Colorado River, you will need an Arizona fishing license for that location.

What kind of bait is permissible for use while fishing on Lake Powell? According to Park Staff:

• You may legally use or possess corn while fishing anywhere in Utah where bait is permitted.
  
  
• Dead shad from Lake Powell may be used as bait in the form of fresh or frozen fish or fish parts, only in Lake Powell. It is illegal to remove dead shad from the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
  
  
• Dead striped bass from Lake Powell may be used as bait or chum only in Lake Powell.
  
  
• Dead, fresh or frozen saltwater species, including sardines and anchovies, may be used as bait in any water where bait is permitted.
  
  
• Dead mountain sucker, white sucker, Utah sucker, redside shiner, speckled dace, mottled sculpin, fathead minnow (all color variants, including rosy red minnows), Utah chub and common carp may be used as bait in any water where bait is permitted.
  
  
• The eggs of any species of fish caught in Utah, except prohibited fish, may be used in any water where bait is permitted. You may not, however, take or use eggs from fish that are being released.
  
  
• You may only use live crayfish for bait if you are on the water where the crayfish were captured. It is unlawful to transport live crayfish away from the water where they were captured. You may use commercially prepared and chemically treated baitfish or their parts as bait in any water where bait is permitted.
  
  

While you are fishing, it is unlawful to:

• Use or possess live baitfish.
• Use or possess tiger salamanders (live or dead).
• Use or possess any bait—including PowerBait or scented jigs—if you are on waters designated artificial fly and lure only.
• Use or possess artificial baits that are commercially imbedded or covered with fish or fish parts.
• Transport any species of fish (live or dead), including baitfish, from that water to use in any other water.

For 2025, the possession limits are:

• Limit 20 smallmouth bass.
• Limit 5 largemouth bass.
• Limit 10 crappie.
• Limit 25 channel catfish.
• No limit on striped bass.
• No limit on walleye.

Possession of the following nongame fish is prohibited. If you catch any of these fish, you must release them immediately:

• Bonytail
• Colorado pikeminnow
• Humpback chub
• Razorback sucker

For more detailed information about fishing in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, including mercury levels in fish as well as limits and regulations for angling along the Colorado River, click on the Fishing header.