June trip

[sah]

Hi all, I'm from southcentral Kansas and have been lurking for a few weeks. The wife and I are thinking about coming to Beaver in the mid-June time frame. I was wondering what I should expect the striper bite to be like then. You guys have got my fever up with all the pictures you've been posting. I've only fished Beaver once and that was almost 19 years ago. Went with a guide and it was the worst trip I've ever being on and I'll leave it at that. I have a 19' Lund and mainly walleye fish with a litter wiper an smallie here and there. I haven't decided if we're bring our boat or hiring a guide. I would like to find some big striper if possible that time of year but the wife will be happy with any type of action. Does anyone have any advice? Thanks.

[nathanhooper]

If I remember right, it was right around the first of June last year that I caught a few of my biggest stripers to date, including the one in my picture there. They were caught on another guys boat trolling some long bomber lures. We were fishing up around Rocky Branch.

I am no expert in it though, so I cannot tell you much. But I do know, from personal experience, that May and June are the two top months I love to fish and catch most of my fish in them. Nice thing about Beaver now is that you are likely to hook up with a walleye while trolling for stripers, or vise versa. Both happened to me last year.

I would bring your boat. If nothing else, you can feel good about driving around the lake. Unless you have the cash to blow, and like to ride in other peoples boats. Keep an eye on here and when your fixing to come down you'll have all the current data to make as good a chance on the stripers as the professionals chasing them.

[crkoester]

If the surface water stays cool you could still have a chance to catch a few on topwater right at dawn. That bite usually starts sometime in late April and continues until the water gets too hot. They school up in the same spots every day - most are pretty obvious, long flat points and humps. You could easily pick out some good spots on the map. You need reasonably clear water. Start at Prairie Creek and work your way downstream down to pick a few. Big Spooks or pencil poppers, or waking Redfins or Bombers if it's slick enough. You'll also catch spots, largemouth, smallmouth and occasionally hybrids or whites as well.

Chris

[Feathers and Fins]

Simple bring your own boat....Buy brooder minnows... Launch at Rocky Branch state park.... put them out behind the boat from 10 to 20ft slow troll them at .3 to .5mph and head toward Point 5. You will probably catch walleye and stripers... Stay in water under 30ft deep for the multi-species potential. Also don't overlook the crappie opportunities that time of year.

[sah]

Thanks for the replies guys. Sounds like I'm going to bring my own boat, was leaning that way all long. I'm used to dragging spinners with bottom bouncers or crankbaits on the bottom. This is going to be a new experience for me. Thanks again for sharing with an out of stater. I'm sure I'll have more questions for you all.

[sah]

I guess we're going to hire a guide this trip. Had some mechanical issues with my truck and don't trust it to pull my boat that far. We're planning on coming down on June the 18th and fishing on the 19th. I'm hoping to get my wife into some action (don't really care what species) and I'm hoping to learn a little about the lake that I can use on return trips with my boat. Anyone have any advice on guides for a husband and wife team? Thanks.