Finally! Caught Our First Stripers!

[Feathers and Fins]

Stripers this winter are spread out bad.. there is so much bait this season. I havent seen sign one of a die-off of shad which is going to really open up some spring fishing. Im betting top-water off points and in pockets come March is going to be insanity.

Im about to switch over to walleye in the White River behind the dam for about the next 4 weeks UNLESS the weather does a instant warm up then ill be back to stripers. A little bird texted me a picture this morning of some walleye he caught in TR about 2 miles from Holiday Island this tells me they are starting to stage on the flasts and should start the move up... Plus this is when ive caught some monster stripers in the white.

[Bass Ivy]

F&F I hope I can get my Lowrance unit to work like you are describing yours working. If you can see my lines with your side scan that is awesome. Man I cant wait to get mine up and runnin. Do they still catch a few stripers out of the white? I know back in 1990 is when a bunch of stripers got in there. I havent really heard about any being caught out of there is several years. But it could have happened and I just didnt hear about it.

I seen a tv show on PBS one night and there were some people trolling for walleye around Holiday Island and they were tearing them up. It looked like it would be pretty fun. Walleye is some of the finest eating too. Im planning on sticking on the stripers for awhile. I will be bass fishing too. When the water warms up to about 55 degrees I will start catfishing too. Im going to start going to Grand Lake and Drifting for cats also.

Im just about to try out your balloon fishing technique. I would like to hook something to the close pin with a snap swivel or something so when the clothes pin lets loose the balloon and the clothes pin will stay with your line, but slide freely up and down the line like my planer boards do after the fish hits them. the way I run my set up it would be very hard for me to turn around and pick up the balloon. Just and Idea might help in my situation.

[Bass Ivy]

I have not seen any stressed shad either. I like catching them big blues when the shad start dying. I dont think we are going to have that this year.

[Feathers and Fins]

Yes you can actually rig it up that way I do it on occassion when running multiple lines... Take a barrel swivel and put it on the line before the weight or hook. Tie another small piece of line to the other end of the swivel and tie a snap swivel to it. clip the snap on the balloon and then clip the clothes pin to the line. When the striper hits it the balloon will pop free but still slide on the line.

Yes there are still a few stripers in the white below the dam I get a few a year when trying for walleye, I keep a pencil popper loaded and ready and a 8'' swim bait and cast them toward shore in likely looking spots while im looking for walleye. These isnt alot of them and i will probably catch flack for this but I release them all.. They are in there eating trout and the average weight is 30lbs plus. Its not what i call a viable fishery but one that is there and when you hook up its a true trophy. I know ive caught the same fish 8 times, it has a clipped dorsal fin and a nasty scar on its side. Last time we played she was easily 40lbs.

As to seeing your lines its more the eco its giving off in the water then actually seeing the line. Took me a lot of time learning how to read the side scan and you get alot of clutter near other boats running there units. But after awhile you will learn what your seeing. Striper marks are unforgettable as are catfish... Dont expect to see them on side scan though, what your looking for with the cats is not the marks but more the holes in the bluffs they hide in.

[Bass Ivy]

I will try the clothes pin on my balloon lines. Im also going to change out the line and the hooks on those rods. Those are the same rods Ive been using all this time and still have not caught a fish on them. After using smaller line and smaller hooks and actually catching fish on those lines and still nothing on the old lines it seems obvious to me. Ive found out over the years that alot of times just a small change to your fishing rig will make a huge difference. I think Ive been on the stripers the whole time, but just didnt have the complete setup. I appreciate the tips I really do. F&F

[fishofexcellence]

Seems like this fish are staying in praire creek pretty good this year. Got a few in Goose creek too and when they move out they are liking the deeper waters around the islands. Balls of bait everywhere. Stripers not wanting to go up past 12 bridge much this year and probally won't until we get some warm rains in the later part of March. Chestnut if you can aford it you need to invest in a minkota auto pilot, co pilot I've been using one now for over 10 years and really like them. I have the i-pod now but think the auto pilot is easier. With it on your wrist you can fight and net a fish all by yourself. We were also out last week near Beavertown on the tailwaters and found some male walleye off the bottom in 22 foot of water mixed in with kentucky bass, even got a 20 inch smallmouth. All on slicks and creek shiners.. Have heard reports of a few big females being caught all the way up to houseman. Good luck guys and remember to take a kid fishing. looks like we have a good year ahead., heard they are droping Beaver 20 feet, hopefully they won;t open the flood gates again this year. Really messed up the spring spawns last year. Heres a pic of one of the walleye and smallmouth, and a pic of our last outing on Beaver