Getting Started Mid-Summer For Stripers

[Anemec]

Hello. I live in Tulsa and while being an avid out-of-state fly fisherman I have rarely fished in-state for much besides largemouth in a few farm ponds and trout out of the Beavers Bend area and the lower Illinois. But I have been wanting to fish a bit closer to home. So a bit of googling got me here. I have used the river trails for decades and watched people fishing but not tried it out myself. But after reading through some of the posts here it seems the fishery can be quite good (as long as the dam is not broken upriver).

So my questions are these - since it is mid-summer, is the striper fishing mostly in the early and late hours when the sun is not yet hitting the water? Do they mostly hang in deep water at this time of year, or are they feeding on the surface? Is the habitat generally from the PSO plant and that big wave up to the low water dam? Or, will they hang in the brush and current between the PSO plant and 44 our even further south? It seems like clousers and deceivers are the name of the game normally, is that true in the middle of summer as well?and what sizes generally?

And finally, should I just head down to the Lower Illinois River instead, now that the water is going down and fish from the gravel pit to the Arkansas and wait for fall and better water here on the homefront?

Cheers.

[OKFlyFisher44]

We have caught them all over the area below Zink. I know guys that catch them way below I-44 bridge too. The river is full of them. Catching them at the right time when they are feeding is the tricky part. Late evening is normally the best but I caught my big fish last year in the middle of the day while they were chasing shad on the surface. Just gotta get out there and hope you are hitting it right.

Best thing about below Zink is you never know what you might hook, lots of different species that are fun on the fly rod.

There are no stripers in the Lower Illinois anymore...whoever told you that they were there was lying

[Anemec]

We have caught them all over the area below Zink. I know guys that catch them way below I-44 bridge too. The river is full of them. Catching them at the right time when they are feeding is the tricky part. Late evening is normally the best but I caught my big fish last year in the middle of the day while they were chasing shad on the surface. Just gotta get out there and hope you are hitting it right.

Best thing about below Zink is you never know what you might hook, lots of different species that are fun on the fly rod.

There are no stripers in the Lower Illinois anymore...whoever told you that they were there was lying

Thanks Chance. How big is your big fish? Reason I ask is I was going to use my 7wt which I use for Silvers, Steelhead and Bones. But if there are some big bruisers in there I might use my 8wt or even haul out my 9wt instead. This time of year what size of clousers or deceivers are you using? 2, 1, 2/0, 4/0? I guess I can look for myself. But I would love to tie a few in the right size before heading down there.

[OKFlyFisher44]

We estimated by measurements that my fish was around 20lbs. I caught it on a 7 wt but it literally kicked my butt. I went out and bought an 8 wt the following week. There are some TOADS in the Arkansas. U will be glad u had an 8 or 9 wt if u hook into a big striper. All of the bigger fish we caught last year, they all went into the backing.

As far as fly sizes, I would take a variety. I have caught them on 2/0 deceivers and #4 clousers.

[Anemec]

We estimated by measurements that my fish was around 20lbs. I caught it on a 7 wt but it literally kicked my butt. I went out and bought an 8 wt the following week. There are some TOADS in the Arkansas. U will be glad u had an 8 or 9 wt if u hook into a big striper. All of the bigger fish we caught last year, they all went into the backing.

As far as fly sizes, I would take a variety. I have caught them on 2/0 deceivers and #4 clousers.

Wow. That is a HOG. Sounds like my 8wt will see some use soon. Maybe this weekend. Thanks for all the info. Maybe I'll see you down there.

[OKFlyFisher44]

http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=22842

There is a link to the report from last summer with some pictures.