Stripers For Dummies

[jdavis]

Would anyone like to volunteer some information on when, where, and how to flyfish for stripers or hybrids? I have fished clousers for white bass on the James and Beaver Creek but would like to get into something bigger.

I have a 7wt rod with a decent reel spooled with floating line. Can I make this outfit work?. I don't know that I have the funds to invest in much more than gas and flies for this effort.

[Bill Butts]

jdavis~

Your interest in catching "something bigger" is a natural progression for White Bass fishermen in our region. There are opportunities for some Hybrid Stripers and possibly Stripers in 3 fisheries that are easily reached from where you live.

The North Fork of the White up and downriver from the Highway 160/Tecumseh bridge and the Upper White River up and downriver from the Hwy. 45/Goshen bridge east of Fayetteville both receive runs of all 3 Temperate Bass species (Striped, Hybrid Striped and White Bass) in the spring. And, the Spring River up and downriver from the Hwy. 10 bridge near Miami OK gets Whites and Hybrids each spring.

In a normal year, the respective runs would develop in this order: Spring River, White River and NFOW.

The Spring River would usually begin producing pretty well by this date, but it has been very high (3700 cfs today) and muddy for weeks. That isn't good for the moment, but once the flow recedes to 1000-1500 cfs and clears somewhat you can bet there will lots of fish and fishermen there.

I don't know if I've ever fished a river with the tremendous numbers of White Bass available in this fishery. The majority of the Hybrids in that fishery will be 3 years old this spring. Last year they were 14-16" so this year you better be prepared for a thrill if you stick one. Most Hybrids are caught near and after the tail end of the Whites spawning run.

Your 7 weight rod will be ideal for this fishing, but I am concerned about you just having a floating line. For those 3 fisheries I spend 90% of my time fishing a 12-15' type 3 sink-tip line. If you cannot afford to buy even an inexpensive sink-tip, have your local fly shop help you rig a fasting sinking leader of 10-12' with loops. Then, use only a total of 4 feet of leader.

The same Clousers (2-3" long) that you catch White Bass with in your local waters will work. Be sure you have several that are 3-4" for the larger fish, too. I would not suggest using jigs even though they catch fish, because a nice Hybrid or Striper will put a lot more pressure on your fly and those jig hooks are just not dependably strong.

Lastly, be sure you have the right Fishing License for the waters you choose to fish, and if you plan to keep fish the limits are different in each state.

Hope this is helpful.

Bill

[taxidermist]

As the weather gets colder the stripers start hitting topwaters more. The areas of Norfork lake at Quarry Marina launch up lake for the next two miles are pretty good I am told. A large cove on the left going up lake holds many good fish and a lot of smaller fish. Of course its colder weather and you must fish from a boat.

Check major feeding periods on the solunar calender for best fishing.