nathanhooper

People these days.

Well hope you get that trany fixed. We need some more reporters from the dam area. Lol. Ok, so maybe that's my selfishness coming out.

Wish I would have seen this earlier. I think I saw your boat today. Hope you can find some tomorrow. Fins is correct. There are a lot of whites out there too. The fish are holding right around the 30' mark. But that can be in as little as 30' and out to 60' FOW. That's the hardest part for me. Unlike some...ahem...I don't have side scan and can't see fish off to either side. That is one tool I find myself wishing I had more and more. I did not see any top water even early in the morning. But saw a lot of fish deep and caught the one fish I did 30' deep at 5:30 in the morning.

It would be interesting to do a study on that. I doubt they do, and I'd like to think AGFC keeps up with it all. They are the ones who stock anyways. It's not a native fish, so it seems reasonable that they watch it closer.

He looked like it! I know he is a sales guy and they are pretty high strung anyways, lol, but he had one of those looks that are exactly what I like to see on peoples faces when fishing/hunting. Just something about it.

No worries. I believe it was formal enough. I really appreciate you giving me a shout because it helps to know the kinds of places that the stripers like to hang out. That place reminds me a lot of two other places I've caught stripers before. So it makes things click inside my head.

Well it was nice to see you on the water Doc. It's funny how such a small area is really a big one. I started the day just about an hour earlier not too far from where I met you at and never saw you pull in. Your boat must have been in stealth mode. Lol. I did see another boat trolling the area you were in first thing this morning, but that goes to show you the difference what slow fishing live bait can do for you. I never saw that boat stop to reel in a fish. I caught one right off the bat but fought the wind after that. And when it threatened to rain on us we started working our way back. We played around a point I saw a few fish on, but over there the wind was really kicking. That's when you hollered and I figured it would be nice to meet you regardless of any fish. I did mark fish over there, and had a few bites. One actually took drag off my real but the mysteriously let go. I had that happen a few times this morning. My best guess is those baits I was using were a little big for the hook and when the fish took it the bait protected the hook from setting. I will be adding bigger hooks to my arsenal next time. Lesson learned. Thanks again for inviting me over. The spot is safe, my lips sealed. Lol. Hope it keeps producing. Very weird the guides were not there as I saw them crawling over the place last weekend. Must not have been many clients this weekend? I hope there were no photos taken and no derogatory remarks going to be made from me coming close to your vessel.

If your coming from up that way try Indian Creek or Dam Site. I camped at Lost Bridge South last weekend and it was full Thursday, but for some reason emptied out Friday night. But Doc is right that they may be full because its the last weekend before school starts around these parts. Indian Creek is mainly first come first served is why I suggest it. You might call before you drive to one or the other to ask how many they have available.

I'll be the guinea pig.

Not boring, not at all. There are times when I like to fish just for the fun of it, but more often than not it is primarily so I can have some good eats. I remember the first time I was able to go out, catch a good mess in a short period of time, and actually decided to come home based on having enough fish. Usually self imposed time limits, tiredness, sun, and the wife are what bring me home.

Well that's how I caught mine. The first one was a surprise, the second one I saw the fish and dropped the bait down. Both times I was just crawling and the water was relatively calm. The other times I tried I put the bait out further, but there was more wind. Oh well, I think I am starting to get the picture.

Sounds like a pretty distasting encounter. Hope I don't have one. As to method, were you letting out a lot of line behind the boat or fishing below it? I have tried both of the methods. And I have tried the ones you have told me about before. But it seems like when the lines get too far out they want to get tangled. Of course, I always seem to pick the windiest days to try it. But the two times I have caught them on live bait both times its when I dropped the bait right beneath the boat.

Wait...stop....I wanna go too....

I am happy to see this report. Yes, very nice fish and photo. I wish you luck Doc, I too am taking out a guy who deserves to be put on a good fish. Not sure where I will head too personally, but maybe someone needs to have some fun in a hollow somewhere near LB. So we need more details on the friendly encounter. lol. Would describing the method used to retrieve the specimen above be giving out too much info? Were the sharks near where you drudged that dude up? I know exactly what you mean about the massive feeding frenzy. I have to wonder if its the same school I saw this last weekend. I have never seen or heard such a massive one as that. Very memorable. You guys think it was a white bass blitz or did it seem like bigger fish?

No throwing going on here. I take the easy way out. Place lure in water, push button to let line out, drive on... I have heard a lot about the AC Plug. But, I can tell you that aint gonna happen for sure. Good night man, $25 for a lure!!! I'll trap and eat 4" bream before I drop cash like that. lol. Ok, so I am exaggerating a little. I just want something to drag behind me to make me feel like I am fishing while looking for the arches in the water.

Is it the one with a plastic lip? Did you notice it being speed dependent? I watched a YouTube video of an Asian man using swim baits catching stripers. Very entertaining. He holds the rods versus having them in the holders. You can see the excitement each time he gets hit. But what I find interesting is the size of the bait. I'm just looking for a good bait I can drag behind me while I'm looking around. Figured the closer to lifelike I get the better. But not sure if they can handle the speed. I get down around 3 mph normally, and can get lower with a troll plate but rather not use it because of steering. Of course, I'm sure even if the bait could handle it doesn't mean I should troll fast with it. Thanks for your input.

Just curious what people's opinion of them are for stripers. I know, like I need to add another thing to my list of things to try, but I am curious about them. I remember Fins mentioning them one time as a second choice behind live bait when I talked about going after some stripers. I've seen some different ones here and there. Is there one way or another that they are best used? Speed dependent? I just thought that I might could use them as my searching bait then switch over to live when I find them. I know that the guy I fish with the most almost exclusively uses the 6" bomber lures on downriggers and does quite fine with them on most occasions. I am wondering if they would work kind of the same way, I know they would be the same length at least if I used 6" baits. I can see where the action would be different, but they seem like they would look more like the real thing on the opposite end. I did do a little research and found that there are a lot of good reviews on the tsunami brand ones. In fact, in reading them one guy states that he had great success on beaver lake with them. lol People say they have more of a full body action than just a tail action. Anyways, just thought I would pick your guy's brains. I have only used swim baits once years ago fishing for white bass. But I do not remember having much luck.

I understand. I would be very wary myself I am sure. I have not had that kind of experience myself, but it would be pointless for anyone to try and follow me. So your saying only a few areas on Beaver produce consistently this time of year, or in general around the country? I'm hoping the area's I caught some in this spring will produce again this fall. Heck, they may be there right now but I just have not tried for them. Locked in on another species right now that I can't seem to shake.

Trolling them? Did you see if they dived to the depths they say they do? When I have gotten new lures or line I try out my cranks in some relatively clean bottom to see what they run at.

Only one way to find out. Wish I had thought about having a friend pick one up while he was up at bass pro this weekend. It is a little pricy when you compare them to the flickers, but not too bad for a lure that has potential to dive that deep. It would be an expense to load the 10/4 line on to get that depth. I'd love to see one in action beside the boat.

Let me clarify, he did not come into the very spot I was fishing but the general area. Not intrusive at all.

I know I've told the story before, but I'll have to repeat it. Year before last I decided to get in on the white bass run up Indian creek. Not ever really fishing before for them I was taking a shot in the dark. I had not even got my sonar yet , but heard they were butting good. I tried several times at them. Never being successful. One day I had my two young boys with me. We were fishing a spot I just knew had some fish. All of a sudden a boat comes full boar up to the spot. Puts out a couple rods and starts trolling. Within minutes he was hauling them in the boat. I watched for 30 mins while he consistently brought them in. Finally I couldn't take it any longer and as he passed by us I asked what depth they were. He said they were 25' or so and even told us to follow along behind him. We did, at a distance, but never managed to get one. After he had boated by my guess 25-30 fish, he came over to our boat and gave each of my boys the lure he was using and told me how he does it. I did not get the setup to use those lures till later that year but remembered what he was doing. I tried again this year, but no fish. Thinking that I had missed the run one day here he comes again. I couldn't believe it. Same as last year, puts out and starts catching them right off the bat. After watching him for a bit I started trying to imitate what he was doing. Sure enough, started catching fish. Next year, I know what to do and will have a blast with my boys when the time comes. Say all of that to say this. He took the time to share just a little with me and I was respectful of his fishing. In turn he has now set up a wonderful situation for me to enjoy some good fun in the coming years. He taught me to fish for them, not just kept it all to himself. He will catch fish year after year I'm sure. He did not ruin the spot or technique. A few months ago he called and asked me if I wanted to buy his business from him. Talk about being honored. Of course I couldn't, but him asking let me know that I did something to make him think about me and the boys. I'll never forget the last two years. I'm not going to over fish the area, nor try to take us spot. In fact, if I ever see him pull up I will give him all the room he wants. When it comes to people like that I feel it's only the least I can do to try and give back what they have given me. I don't take help loosely. Takes a lot for me to ask for it. So in conclusion, please guys, share a little with us new guys but know we honor your silence and secrets as well. Don't think that if you help someone that they will always take advantage of you. I'm sure some will, but don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Give us just enough to go out and put the time in perfecting it. But everyone has to start from somewhere. Ok, I'm off my sad soap box.

Ok, so I'm a computer geek. Sue me! Lol

My wife is on me about some blue gills. Same setup as before? What depth?

No worries. I'm just glad you post your success. I'm sure you can go in and edit the post taking out your photo. Or edit the photo yourself. I will if you want. I don't think any one here worth their salt will look down on you for trying to keep your boat out of the photos.