Suggested Tackle--No Sissy Stuff!!

[Bill Butts]

After fishing extensively for all 3 of the Striper family members for many years, I'm convinced you need more than one outfit to be properly prepared. I carry three; a six weight, a seven weight and an eight weight. Right now, all 3 are Sage XP's in 9 and 9.5 foot 4-piece models. However, if I was forced to carry only a single outfit it would be a seven weight, and that is what I fish most often. The following tackle suggestions might help someone considering an outfit(s):

6 Weight Outfit……for smaller streams (eg…..Beaver, Sac, and Pomme De Terre Rivers and War Eagle Creek) with primarily White Bass of 1 to 3#. I suggest a 9 ft. fast taper, but I have fished a lot with 8.5' rods on the smaller streams especially if they are lined with low-hanging trees. The fly reel should balance the rod properly and contain 75-100 yards of 20# backing. In this line weight I find a weight forward 15' - type 3 sink-tip fly line the best all around choice. In most smaller streams, you won't need a faster sinking rate than this.

7 Weight Outfit……for medium size rivers (eg……James, Upper White above Beaver Lake and Spring River in OK) with White Bass and Hybrids up to 10#. I suggest a 9 to 9.5' fast taper, and nothing any shorter. The choice of fly reels becomes more critical as you consider tackle for Hybrids. Your choice should have a quality, fully adjustable drag system and contain at least 100-150 yards of 20# backing. To be reasonably well prepared, your reel should have a weight forward 15'-type 3 sink tip line and an extra reel spool with a 15'-type 5 sink tip line.

I've used and still carry some other lines, too, like a floating or intermediate sink line (ideal if you fish for surface feeding fish), a full-sink type-3 line, and some 25 to 30' sinking tip lines that are measured in grains, from 175 to 300 grains. Each certainly is great in specific (though very infrequent) situations that occur while fishing. The 15' sink tips are easy to cast with larger and heavier flies, and even roll cast especially well.

8 Weight Outfit……for medium and large size rivers (eg…..many tailwaters with heavy currents) for large Hybrids and Stripers over 10#. Nine to 10 foot fast taper rods are ideal, and quality reels with quality drag systems and 150 to 250 yards of 20# backing are essential for these larger, very powerful fish.

The same general guidelines outlined for 7 weights, above, apply to this size rod, too. Some of the fly line manufacturers offer a "quad-tip" line with 4 interchangeable 15' sink tips, from floating or intermediate-sink to medium, fast and extra-fast sink rates. This is a good way to equip yourself with multiple sink rate lines without incurring the cost of multiple extra spools.

Leaders/Tippets for Sink-tip lines……I almost always use a two-piece leader with sinking lines, a level butt section and a tippet. This is not rocket science and it is not critical casting presentation like trout fishing. Depending on the line weight and water clarity I suggest using a 4' leader with an 18" (length after all knots are tied) butt section of 20-25# mono by attaching it to the fly line tip with a needle-nail knot and tying a perfection loop (about 1.5" long) in the opposite end. To that, attach a 30" tippet section (after the knot is completed) of 6# up to 12# mono or fluorocarbon using a double surgeon's loop (again, about 1.5" long) and join the two loops together.

Flies………the most popular and productive fly patterns are the Clouser Deep Minnows or similar variations of baitfish imitating patterns. Small jig patterns are effective and popular with many fly fishers, but I rarely use them for these species due to the lack of hook quality and strength. You must have a good strong and sharp hook in any fly you cast for these fish. In the Ozark region, the vast majority of forage for all 3 Striper Family species is either threadfin or gizzard shad. Shad are basically white with some gray (almost black) on their backs.

The two most productive colors I've found over the past 3 decades is chartreuse over white and gray over white. There are lots of other productive colors, but generally I use a brighter colored pattern in murky water and more neutral colored patterns in clear to slightly off-colored water. The other good colors include olive, orange, red, blue, black, purple and tan. I usually combine one or more of them with white, as described above, but for very murky water or night fishing a more fully tied solid color is best for visibility. With the exception of night fishing, it is good to have lots of flash material in your striper patterns, too.

[Guest flyfishBDS]

Gday Butts, great post, good information in there for anyone wanting a crack at these fish.

But since we all like different tackle I'll throw in a few different ideas.

I pretty much stick to a standard 6wt for whites hybrids in the local rivers and even Beaver. and an 8wt if I need something heavier. Though I have a XP7wt in my rod rack at the store that I LOVE casting would be a great stick to own. Heavier Xps are seriously under estimated

Personally I prefer full sink lines over sink tips, I have a nice cheap Cortland 200gr so if I do get nailed by a big striper I'm not going to cry over a $60 line into the trees. Mostly if Im river wading I'll carry one six, but boat based I'll add a floater 6wt as well

I note you like fast action rods, very much a personal choice, but for some people they can find a med-fast rod is easier to hand with really heavy or wind resistant flies and sinking lines.

I spent several days on the Upper White pitching a 7'6" St Croix Premier 6wt, which was a bunch of fun. Not much good for mending but for throwing clousers and the 200gr its pretty sweet and for an $80 rod a great deal

Largemouth or striper type fishing I'll usually 2 8wt rods, a very fast TFO X with a full sink, (reminds me I need to swap the clear intermediate for a heavier line) and my old medium action Penn, (kind of an old favorite) with a floater for really wind resistant flies, bugs etc.

A 10wt would be nice for when you are tossing really big flies (like some of the 8" rainbow trout patterns I have" )

Flies: Hard to go past the chart/white clouser, but tan/white, gray/white and olive/white have also been good. Ive also used some all silver clousers and had a great day on a tfire tiger jiggy pattern last year.

I also use a rabbit streamer pattern of mine quite a bit _ The Dame _ named after my wife who hooked into a striper on the flies first outing and her first casts on an 8wt.

Three guides lazing on the bank drinking beer and my wife is the only one fishing _ hooks what had to be a decent striper _ we watch in shock as she gets brought to her knees _ forgot to let it run. None of us even got our mouths open lol OOps

It also works pretty well as a largemouth and smallie pattern and for trout in the tailwaters. Reminds me I need to tie some fire tiger versions for the spring.

If your down this way Butts drop in, like to pick your brain on striper fishing some more.

Cheers

[Bill Butts]

Steve,

Enjoyed your post and comments.

The suggestions I posted regarding sizes and types of tackle (not brands) are really intended for those who are considering tackle for these fish but don't have a lot of experience or knowledge.

The huge array of available tackle gets confusing for people trying to learn what's best for their specific needs. It's so important for us to ask lots of questions to address an individual's needs and only make the final decision (when possible) after having them actually cast the rod. Even then, it's still hard for them to know how a rod will cast once they get a sinking line and heavy fly rigged up. Obviously, they must develop some faith and confidence in the help they get from a tackle dealer.

I have some full-sink lines and they are very good specialty lines (not for everyday use) for rivers. However, for a beginning to intermediate flyfisher I firmly believe some type of sink-tip line is more advisable. With sink-tip lines today available from 10 to 30' tips/heads I think many of them will perform as good or better than a full-sink for river fishing where most anglers are wading. The issue of having line sinking around your feet is a factor most guys don't need until they develop considerably more skill and confidence onstream.

Regarding fast taper vs. medium fast rods. For most of my trout and smallmouth fishing, I have always preferred medium, full-flexing rods. They are certainly more enjoyable and forgiving to cast and fish.

However, after years of trying to use these type rods while fishing with sink-tip and full-sink lines with larger and heavier flies I became frustrated that I couldn't get the distance and accuracy I desired. I gradually moved to faster and faster rods. There are lots of them out there and I wouldn't give you a nickel for one to trout fish with. But, they solved all my previous disappointments while using the necessary lines and flies.

Another approach I like to take with very fast rods, sometimes, is to over-line them one size. Lefty told me years ago that when it comes to casting large and/or bulky flies on fast taper rods he simply goes to a straight weight forward one size larger. The topic of using multiple line weights on a single rod is a discussion for another day.

I will look forward to meeting you sometime this spring at your shop. We make several trips when conditions get right on the upper White. What a special fishery! I've always wanted to time a trip properly when there are some Hybrids below Beaver, too. Todd told me last fall the AR Fisheries boys shocked up some of them and gave them to fishermen along the river, to keep them from dining on their more-highly-prized trout. (also a discussion for a later date)

Thanks for your contributions to the Forum.

[Guest flyfishBDS]

On tackle so many personal choices

Perhaps we both forgot to recomend a stripping basket As much as I hate wearing one theyre have been days when they would be handy.

I'll tell you the story on those hybrids when you get here _ suffice to say they didn't move many.!