First Float

[fishinwrench]

21 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Stripers and hybrids are impossible to pattern.  They’re either eating or they’re not.  Most often, NOT!

The fact that when you catch one it poops all over the place indicates that they eat CONSTANTLY, but catching them consistently in the middle of the day, for me, is practically impossible. 

There's a 2-3 hour window every day where I can usually put on a clinic here on my home pond.    I've tried to make it work on Pomme/Truman and elsewhere.....and failed miserably.  

 

As for location patterns....spring influence is HUGE, and it doesn't have to be much.   The tiniest little trickle is all it truly takes.  

[bfishn]

4 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

The fact that when you catch one it poops all over the place indicates that they eat CONSTANTLY, but catching them consistently in the middle of the day, for me, is practically impossible. 

There's a 2-3 hour window every day where I can usually put on a clinic here on my home pond.    I've tried to make it work on Pomme/Truman and elsewhere.....and failed miserably.  

From my experience, crepuscular is the important word, and Wikipedia nails that one as good as any;

 

"In zoology, a crepuscular animal is one that is active primarily during the twilight period,^[1] being matutinal, vespertine/vespertinal, or both. This is distinguished from diurnal and nocturnal behavior, where an animal is active during the hours of daylight and of darkness, respectively. Some crepuscular animals may also be active by moonlight or during an overcast day. Matutinal animals are active only before sunrise, and vespertine only after sunset."

"A number of factors impact the time of day an animal is active. Predators hunt when their prey is available, and prey try to avoid the times when their principal predators are at large. The temperature may be too high at midday or too low at night.^[2] Some creatures may adjust their activities depending on local competition."

IOW, low light; foggy, overcast, dawn, dusk, stormy, moonlit. If you can combine that with an approaching/passing  cold front you better have your nitro handy if you have a weak ticker.

[MObassin95]

35 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Running up to the first few sets of shoals during a rise (maybe as far as Patrick) is common behavior, but running up that far is only common during an attempted spawn. Especially in masse.

Or so I would expect. 🤔

Don’t they spawn in the spring? 

[Gavin]

The stripers there are year round residents. I see them every trip, but only hook one occasionally. The problem is getting to them when they want to bite. Your not gonna get many shots at those fish w/o private access to the spots were the always hold. There are several spots.

[BilletHead]

2 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Stripers and hybrids are impossible to pattern.  They’re either eating or they’re not.  Most often, NOT!

             Tailrace generation pattern on a river during summer = hybrids no problem. Just have to be at the right place at dawn or dusk. Like @fishinwrench said I feel they are always eating. The bottom of my boat can get very messy with poop. 

[Mitch f]

60 degree water twice a year is the time to plan if you wanna put the odds in your favor!

Proven on the lower Meramec 

[fishinwrench]

6 hours ago, Gavin said:

The stripers there are year round residents

If that is true then the rainbow population honestly doesn't stand a chance.  

When I lived on Lake Lanier the preferred bait for Stripers was a 10" Rainbow trout fished under a balloon. They are successfully spawning in the Chattahoochee, but they aren't year-round residents of the river.

[fishinwrench]

7 hours ago, MObassin95 said:

Don’t they spawn in the spring? 

Yes, and they need a river long enough for the eggs to stay in the flow for 3-4 days.   Bryant probably isn't long enough, but the NFOW should be.  

[MObassin95]

18 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

If that is true then the rainbow population honestly doesn't stand a chance.  

When I lived on Lake Lanier the preferred bait for Stripers was a 10" Rainbow trout fished under a balloon.

Wonder if the MDC should start culling some of the stripers out. Or maybe start stocking rainbows. 

[MObassin95]

4 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Yes, and they need a river long enough for the eggs to stay in the flow for 3-4 days.   Bryant probably isn't long enough, but the NFOW should be.  

Interesting. I’ve been wanting to fish Bryant Creek for a while now. Hopefully no stripers there. Heard it’s a good smallmouth stream.