We could say all kinds of things about taking the bait, getting lured in and pole dancing but the fact is: you put an angler in proximity to Lake Powell and chances are, said angler will be thinking not of red rock scenery and relaxing on a houseboat but yes, fish. You can take away the rod but you’ll have to fight to take away those polarized sunglasses. Our solution? Impress that angler in your midst with accommodating behavior and you’ll make yourself a friend for life, and possibly catch a spot of Striper madness yourself.

Conveniently for all fishermen and women, licenses are easy to come by through the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Non-residents can pick up a 7-day fishing license for about $32; residents will pay about half that. Importantly, to make the most of fishing around Lake Powell you’ll need some sort of watercraft. Boat rentals are available at local marinas (there are four full-service marinas around the lake) but it’s also possible to arrange guided fishing trips, which are a great way to get right to seasonal hot-spots with minimal fuss. What’s on the dinner menu? Striped Bass (no possession limit), which the lake has in abundance, Smallmouth Bass (possession limit currently at 20), Black Crappie and Walleye (limit 10 each), Channel Catfish (25) and Bluegill (50). There are also Largemouth Bass (limit 5), but local anglers like to throw those back to help revive lagging Largemouth numbers. Clearly, if you do well with Stripers alone you might want to think about getting an extra deepfreeze. Throw in a few Smallmouth and some Crappie and you’ll be eating fish (hopefully happily) for months, with fish tales to tell for longer still.