Creel census data for a 14-year period (1970-1983) from Lake Powell show a high quality fishery for this 25.1-ha lake. Fishing pressure averaged 203.8 hours/ha/year, and the total fish harvest averaged 191.8 kg/ha/year. Average annual harvests of the major game species were: 62.4 kg/ha, bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus); 11.6 kg/ha, redear sunfish, (L. microlophus); 11.9 kg/ha, black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus); 10.5 kg/ha, largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides); and 4.8 kg/ha, chain pickerel (Esox niger). Average weights of the creeled pan fishes were well above normal. Catch rates were exceptionally high and averaged 2.1 fish/ hour and 0.56 kg/hour. Catch rates were directly correlated with relative abundance of pan fishes in the total creel. Individual species harvest and total fish harvest were not strongly correlated with fishing pressure. It is speculated that high turbidity during some years adversely affected fishing pressure, catch rates, and harvest.
