BlueWave Posted February 23, 2011 Posted February 23, 2011 This is the year I am going to really put in the time to catch a striper on a fly rod. Has anyone had any success and want to offer any advice? Time of year, flies, etc. Thanks for helping with the learning curve!!
Members CollegeFish86 Posted February 23, 2011 Members Posted February 23, 2011 If you can find them, now or in the summer would be the time to try them
Zack Hoyt Posted February 23, 2011 Posted February 23, 2011 Full sinking lines and large articulated streamersm I have used a white/grey Zoo cougar and got one or two on the reel. We need to hook up this year and mess around on the lakes. I am getting my 6 and 8 weights setup with new reels and lines for lake fishing. Zack Hoyt OAF Contributor Flies, Lies, and Other Diversions
1969Larson Posted February 24, 2011 Posted February 24, 2011 Make sure you are prepared to shoot some video of the epic fight if you get one on!
BlueWave Posted February 25, 2011 Author Posted February 25, 2011 Full sinking lines and large articulated streamersm I have used a white/grey Zoo cougar and got one or two on the reel. We need to hook up this year and mess around on the lakes. I am getting my 6 and 8 weights setup with new reels and lines for lake fishing. Zack, Sounds like a good idea. I have place at lost bridge and plan to start coming down regularly next month. Have you tried looking for them up shallow at night? I will send you a note when I am coming down. I really want to hit it hard in may after I get back from the caddis hatch in Colorado.
Zack Hoyt Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 I haven't personally hit them at night. It's been on the list, but never made it out last night. I have read alot about guys following the shad just like spin fishing. If you can get them shallow enough, there are one or two old timers who swear by a big mouse pattern, stripped across the top of the water as fast as you can. I am helping a buddy on Beaver with guiding crappie, so I plan on sampling some crappie on the fly rod as well. Who needs stinkin' cold water???? Zack Hoyt OAF Contributor Flies, Lies, and Other Diversions
Members jim laing Posted February 25, 2011 Members Posted February 25, 2011 I'm with you on the warm/ cold water Zack. Just spoke with a guide today that fishes Cedar Lake in S. Il for striper and they primarily troll much of the day... but I'll bet he starts around 8am and works til 4? BlueWave - take it for what its worth, which ain't much... Get out before dawn and look for nervous water, birds, sounds like boat paddles popping the water. With a flyrod, you will need to locate the fish - blind casting is a waste of time. Once you locate these critters busting shad on the surface, you will find more moving shad balls into the shallows where you have surface activity. They work in packs, so once you find them on the surface, you will have options with sinking line also. If you get frustrated with the fly rod, make sure you have your baitcaster ready.
Zack Hoyt Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 Jim we worked over some Kentuckies late last fall up the river arms with the fly rods. It was an absolute hoot. I am hoping to get into the whitebass/hybrid mix this year some more. We wade for them alot at Twin Bridges, but working the deeper water out of a boat will sure make the season last a little longer. I appreciate the info on how to hunt for the silver devils. I have only trolled for them mostly....and got lucky a time or two in the shallower water. BW, I setup my 6wt Clouser with a Rio Outbound sinking line for this year. Its a got a larger front taper back to a smaller "running line". It is killer for turning over those large flies. I used a Rio Outbound floating last year targeting LM in the shallows with poppers. Rio does a Clouser and a new Smallmouth line as well. Both made for easier casting of bulky flies. Zack Hoyt OAF Contributor Flies, Lies, and Other Diversions
Zack Hoyt Posted February 25, 2011 Posted February 25, 2011 Zack, Sounds like a good idea. I have place at lost bridge and plan to start coming down regularly next month. My uncle has a cabin just around the bend from the Sailing Club. I spent many a night in those coves fishing. Zack Hoyt OAF Contributor Flies, Lies, and Other Diversions
Members jim laing Posted February 25, 2011 Members Posted February 25, 2011 Zack, I look forward to the day I can move somewhere between a lake with huge hybrids and a world class trout stream... low taxes would be good too. The most excitement I've ever had outside of the salt is seeing those big lake stripers push shad out of the water in a shallow cove, then looking down at the graph at 4 - 5' fish moving one or more huge shad balls into the shallows. If I lived closer, I would spend my April mornings on the water by 4 am scouting my spots for surface activity. Take your coffee and just sit and wait for the top water action. It helps to have a good set of field glasses and get a couple of #10's for a smoother ride. Once you locate the fish, you probably will have action for a good hour after sunrise. Over here in Illinois we have pre-spawn muskie up to 51" on the move now. Then late March, April & early May on to hybrids. That usually finishes off a good winter of trout fishing for me. I would really like to see some pics of huge lake stripers taken on a fly!
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