Indian creek again

[Quillback]

The stripers were at it again early this morning, got on the water at around 0545, first cast caught this dude.

 

After that it got slow for a bit, but a few started coming up to eat and I caught a couple of bigger ones in the 10-15 lb. range, I'm estimating on the weights, couple pounds either way is possible, catch and release, I'm not going to hang them from a scale.

And sometimes I just get lucky, after the initial bite died off, I think it was around 0730, I motored a few miles to a steep drop off that sometimes holds walleye and spotted bass.  I figured the stripers were done on top, so time to try for some other species.  Got to the spot, maybe made 3 casts with the Keitech and had a striper blow up on the deep side of the boat no more than about 30 feet away.  Picked up the top water tossed it after him, had a blowup that missed, then a spotted bass that went about 2 lbs. grabbed the lure.  Kind of surprised me to see that fish out there with the big boys.  

Had a few more blowups, got the top water on them again and a dang heron flew off the bank and went after my top water, just was able to get it away from the bird, reeled it back in and waved my arms and yelled at that worthless bird and was able to spook it away.  In spite of all that I fortunately did not spook the stripers, a couple of them came up and I was able to stick one.  That was the last one of the morning.  I chalked that one up to pure luck, go to another spot where you don't expect to see a striper and they show up.

Did a little bit of bass fishing, caught a few 12" smallies and a couple of spots on the c-rig.  

 

 

 

 

[WoundedOne]

Nice catch Jeff

[Johnsfolly]

Healthy Stripers buddy! Congrats again! Can't wait to see tomorrow's catch!

[Quillback]

1 hour ago, Johnsfolly said:

Healthy Stripers buddy! Congrats again! Can't wait to see tomorrow's catch!

Going to take a break tomorrow, might go over to one of the community lakes and do a little bass fishing.

[Sore Thumbs]

Are the fish schooling around points or in the middle?

[chi0082]

Nice report. This weekend Indian creek will be choked full of boats with your reports of stripers on topwater.  😓

[Quillback]

5 hours ago, Sore Thumbs said:

Are the fish schooling around points or in the middle?

They do seem to be around points, usually out deep off the bank a ways, when they are top you  can see and hear them from quite a ways off.

[Quillback]

1 hour ago, chi0082 said:

Nice report. This weekend Indian creek will be choked full of boats with your reports of stripers on topwater.  😓

It's far from being a secret.  

[bferg]

17 hours ago, Quillback said:

 

And sometimes I just get lucky, after the initial bite died off, I think it was around 0730, I motored a few miles to a steep drop off that sometimes holds walleye and spotted bass.  I figured the stripers were done on top, so time to try for some other species.  Got to the spot, maybe made 3 casts with the Keitech and had a striper blow up on the deep side of the boat no more than about 30 feet away.  Picked up the top water tossed it after him, had a blowup that missed, then a spotted bass that went about 2 lbs. grabbed the lure.  Kind of surprised me to see that fish out there with the big boys.  

I don't know if this is true or not but a buddy of mine swears the largest bass (both LM and Spots) in beaver run with the stripers.  As a side note: my largest bass on Beaver (and PB) was almost 7 lbs- in the back of Prairie Creek in the middle of a school to Stripers.  

[Notropis]

"Had a few more blowups, got the top water on them again and a dang heron flew off the bank and went after my top water, just was able to get it away from the bird, reeled it back in and waved my arms and yelled at that worthless bird and was able to spook it away."

It's a good thing you didn't have to mess with that heron, they're extremely dangerous to handle, strong quick neck with a five inch dagger (bill) at the end.  One of the few animals that wildlife rehabilitators don't want to deal with.  All you could have done is cut the line and let it go with your lure.