Stripers On The White River

[Flyfsh]

I am getting reports almost weekly of people seeing a couple schools of stripers & hybrids below Beaver Dam.

Comon down and get these monsters. :-) The water is bathtub clear and the fish can see you 50yds away (maybe not quite) .

Jim

[1969Larson]

I've seen these bruisers cruising through there. The only problem is they are always in the single barbless hook area.

[Flyfsh]

The laws changed this year. There is no single barbless rule anymore. The "special regulation" area where they have been you can use ANY artificial bait as long as the hooks are barbless.

Either fish in the dark or when they are generating.

Jim

[Feathers and Fins]

Area Specific Regulations

• Beaver Tailwater | White River from 100 yards below Beaver Dam to boundary signs at Houseman Access.
  • A trout permit is required.
  • Anglers may use no more than one fishing rod or pole and must attend it at all times.
  • Daily limit of five trout.
  • All trout from 13 to 16 inches in length must be released immediately and may not be in possession in this area.
  • Only one fish exceeding 16 inches long may be kept.
  • Bait fishing allowed with a single hooking point.
  • No other devices may be used to catch fish other than as specified for the paddlefish-snagging season.
• Beaver Tailwater Special Regulation Area | Approximately 0.5 miles below Beaver Dam to approximately 100 yards upstream of Parker Bend Access as indicated by signs.
  • Artificial lures only area/no bait zone.
  • Only artificial lures or flies shall be used.
  • All hooking points must be barbless.
  • Natural or scented baits are not allowed.
  • Chumming is not allowed.

Yup they are there but getting them is the trick, with the new regs in place I suggest using large 12'' to 16'' trout imitation swim baits.

[1969Larson]

Have you tried bending the barbs down on those huge swimbaits? You have to file them off! I may try a night float from the dam to Parker Bottoms. I bet a striper in the river in the dark in a canoe would be a blast.

[Feathers and Fins]

Yes. I buy new hooks and simply file the barbs off then install them.

Those are LARGE stripers in the area but as I have said in the past its a lot of casting and trips to get one. When you do tie in to one though its a bulldog fight.

[Bird Watcher]

^{lol, y'all better hurry up. I just talked to the Regional Director and he says it's on the biologists "to do" list to go get those fish and take them back up above.}

[Flyfsh]

I only know of 2 first hand that have been caught this year. 1 hybred and 1 striper. One at night the other during generation. The water is bathtub clear and it is a relatively small river. They are spooky, usually when you see them they are seeing you too and moving away.

I think F&F sugestion about the LARGE rainbow colored baits would be a great way to start.

Jim

[1969Larson]

I have a rainbow trout colored Redfin that may do the trick. Those things will draw a striper from a long ways away... And you can cast them quite a ways.

I wonder how the biologists would capture them. Net? Electrofishing? I can't see those being very easy in that water. I'll try to help them out. The current state record came out of there didn't it?

[Feathers and Fins]

I've caught 6 this year all striper all 20 to 30 pnds all released ( hate me all you want for that ) but its nice to hook up one of those beast and they are FAT. I don't know how the Biologist will get them out like Flyfsh says they are super spooky and very hard to get. Best method I have found is running a planer board to the opposite bank and the bait 200 feet behind it and move very slowly drifting just a little faster than the current so the bait has action.

When one does go after it the water will turn in to a washing machine and if he misses the bait stop the boat they will come back for it sitting there. This is one time you never want to set the hook until line is screaming off the reel. If you target them plan on many days of no fish for that one BIG BITE.