About Bill McBurney

Captain Bill is an award-winning fishing guide in Arizona. He has been providing quality experiences for both novice and proficient anglers for more than 25 years. He is US Coast Guard and AZ Game & Fish licensed, and holds a CUA Permit with Glen Canyon National Park Service. Bill is a former host of a TV series featuring world renowned anglers and fishing techniques.

Lake Powell Fishing Report June 1, 2020

Lake Powell Elevation:  3605.05 Water Temp:  78.8   Smallmouth are the dominate species right now on Yamat tubes in perssimmon, chartreuse and light crawfish colors 1/8 oz and 1/4 oz Yamamoto jig weights.  Water is rising fast now and the fish are not always tight to the shoreline, so fish further out from the rocky points to target the full body of water to submerged structures. Stripers – Some small males will be caught while targeting smallmouth on points but bait fishing is slow with Read More +

Lake Powell News May 13, 2020

  Ambassador Guides Lake Powell Striper Fishing is returning to full time Fishing 7 days a week beginning May 15, 2020.  We are excited to have our customers back and enjoy a “safe” angling day with us. See you on Lake Powell                                                                      Capt. Bill

Lake Powell Fishing Update 5-12-2020

    What’s Up with the Stripers?????   Answer? No one really knows. A probable theory might be they have ben gluttening on bigger gizzard shad all last year and through the winter as well and stripers have a tendency to set out a few months and live their their “fat” build up from gorging. If a hunger moment happens, there is an abundance of shad nearby to put them back to full satisfaction mode. We can find them, mark their depths and chum them Read More +

Lake Powell Spring Fishing April 2020

Dear Anglers, We are close to spawn time on the big pond which has the fishing moving toward their nesting and free spawn positions.  Smallies are not real aggressive in the zone yet so fish in that 15029 ft. window.  Look for optimum water temps of 60+ in the coming days.   Stripers are all over the place but not holding position as they still have bait fish to hunt.  It should be fair this year for the bait fisherman and there is some fish moving Read More +

Lake Powell Update 3-23-2020

Lake Powell update:   Lake Powell is open with the cut even open at 20′. It is wide open space out on Lake Powell and a great way to to be out in the “fresh air” . Many people are calling to see if we are open and yes we are. We do not have large groups on our boats. Maximum 5 including Captain (we normally can do 7 but taking great precaution). Hand sanitizer of course and boat is cleaned after any trip thoroughly. Read More +

Lake Powell Fishing Report 3-13-2020 by Capt. Bill

So What’s the Good News Fishing Report” First off, Bookings are up and room rates are down!  Short stay and closer to home trips are in order.  Less traffic on Lake Powell for that “fashion pristine” Lake Powell experience.  The big bonus is fish are in the most prime condition not seen in decades.  Our equipment is up and running so don’t let cabin fever get you as there are fish to catch on beautiful Lake Powell.   Capt Bill

Lake Powell Fishing Report February 15, 2020

  High points – Low points to Pre-Spring Fishing on Powell   It’s all about the water temps, the moon phase, your approach and then the secret “luck of the draw”. For us locals and guides that finally get to fish “without customers” is the warming of a few consecutive nights and days by as little as a few degrees.  It doesn’t matter if your bait drop shotting, anchovies at a 100′, trolling, jigging or even fly fishing the shallows where stripers will run in Read More +

Lake Powell Fishing Report January 20, 2020 by Capt. Bill

Got out on the Pond (Lake Powell) yesterday to check out the boat and fly-fish and some trolling to test the bite and current water temps (47 degrees).  Caught my first ever Gizzard Shad on a Stripped Clauser Minnow Fly as I was graphing schools of fish in 23’ of water in the back of Warm Creek.  I snagged this one and they are a good fighter like their body design would indicate.  I would put them on par with a Trigger fish.  I was Read More +

Lake Powell Fishing Report January 11, 2020 by Capt. Bill

In a month or two it’s early season for Bass & Stripers – Color is important and I have learned to go with a reddish or deep orange on cranks and grubs.  Mr. Crawdaddy like to be burry up in the winter in our red sand and clay and this is a color change of red and orange and light browns are best! Winter shad Bass & Stripers schools either still shallow or down to a 100′ deep. The shallow schools are in 3-25′ of Read More +

Lake Powell Fishing Report November 9, 2019 by Capt. Bill

Lake Powell Elevation:  3612.53 Water Temperature: 57 in the morning with a high of 62 in the afternoon Bait fishing will remain slow till Spring and Lake Powell is now a “challenge” for us all!.  We currently are having our best opportunities “fly fishing” streamers on the fast sinking lines  (15′ minimum tips) in the deeper waters and a medium slow sink rate is best for shallows.   Like redfish, the wind and sky dictate the opportunity and its the hunt that keeps the thrill going Read More +