"Striperish" weather

[Fish Hound]

Alumacraft190, being from Wichita do you fish Cheney? I grew up in Hutchinson so my Dad and I fished Cheney and Kanopolis mostly. Cheney used to have some pretty good stripers but after that big heat wave fish kill a long time ago I don't know if any are still left and if the Fish and Game stocks them in there anymore. We used to be able to catch some pretty good walleye early in Feb and March off the dam and then again in May drifting night crawlers on the flats. When the cotton trees started putting out cotton in the air it was time to hit the flats. A job transfer brought me to NW Arkansas and Beaver is night and day different from those Kansas flatland lakes. This site has been a huge help for me and the members/posters here will give some excellent advice.

[Dan the fisherman]

On 10/15/2016 at 3:46 PM, Alumacraft190 said:

First time poster, longtime fan of Beaver striper fishing.  Been coming during Spring for years, this November 3-6 will be first time I have tried it this time of year.  I come from Wichita, so my best shot is reading sites like these and hoping to hit it right in sich a short timespan to find fish.  You guys got any tips for that time?  We hit it well in late March around HB area so I figured working in that same area between PC and point 12 most likely.  I have a good bluewater bait tank, is PC and Monte Ne my best bet for thrownetting shad?

Thanks guys for all the posting and good information on this site, it has become a favorite of mine to keep tabs on.

I've gotten them the last 3 years in the island/PC area by Halloween.   The first week of November is when I start to get into them in the mid section of the lake.  

[Alumacraft190]

Guys I can't thank you enough.  Fish Hound- cheney is one of the local lakes I never have spent much time on.  I think its because Ive spent more time playing and fishing on Beaver in my 32 years than most of our kansas mud puddles so Cheney has called to me the least.  There was a very good wiper population with size in cheney but the last couple years has seen it on the decline.  Wilson to the north is probably the best Kansas fishery for striper, but if I'm driving 3 hrs to Wilson for striper I'd rather drive the extra hour and a half to Beaver sadly enough.  As for the walleye, Kansas has a fair amount of lakes with them, with Cheney and El Dorado leading the way for size at 21" length limit imposed when the zebra mussels and White perch became prevalent.  I also spend some time on Marion, where the wiper population was once fantastic but has dwindled especially in size in the last few years.  All told though, I would much prefer be in my boat on Beaver or Norfork than any of the local lakes.  Thanks again guys for humoring me with info.  I have gone ahead and changed my reservation to Beaver Lake Lodge by Prairie Creek, hopefully this keeps me a little closer to where I need to be. 

[LarryC]

Hickory Creek has brood minnows all winter.  They usually get them a little before the stripers show up the first part of November.  Cheapest is War Eagle Minnow Farm south of Huntsville but its a good drive out there.  Either place you need to call to verify they are in stock.

 

 

 

 

[Alumacraft190]

Thanks Larry, good to know.  I'll be staying very close to Hook Line and Sinker so I'll see if I can come up with some Shad when I get there Thursday evening, if not I'll resort to HLS for some brooders and then let-r-rip!  Looking forward to the time on the water.