Summertime Stripers
by Ken Sturdivant
Southern Fishing Schools Inc.
Summer stripers can be very exciting and they
are surprisingly easy to find on big lakes. The striper grow at the
rate of more than 3 pounds a year. After they reach 4 years old, they
head up
the rivers on an attempt to spawn. This spawning run takes a heavy
toll on the fish and they come back down lake very hungry. After the
spawning
run stripers come back down lake and they are ready to eat almost anything
in sight.
There is one other factor the striper fishermen needs know
to catch these stripers. These fish very sensitive to light.
Early
each day
or at night will be the best times to catch these fish actively
feeding. Once the stripers are back in the main lake there are great
opportunities
to catch not only a trophy fish, but numbers as well. The shad
populations are the food source. Find the bait and the stripers will
be close
by. Long points and deep humps on the main lake are the best places
to look
for
summer stripers. Since the main forage is shad, these small bait
fish spawn on large rocks on bridges and around the dam areas. Studies
have
revealed
that stripers eat shad almost exclusively and these little fish
spawn on these rocks. But there is the question of light penetration
and
the best
times to catch feeding stripers right now is right at daylight
and dusk.
These fish feed on the surface in the early morning hours taking
advantage
of the low light conditions. But after the sun strikes the water,
stripers head to the deep main lake standing timber. Both live and
artificial baits can catch stripers. The best live bait is always the
shad that
can be netted
in the coves in the lake. But shiners, bream and bass minnows as
well
as cut bait can also draw a strike from a hungry striper.
Using a heavy
two
ounce weight on a down line with a 3 foot leader makes fishing
live bait very effective. Be sure to keep the bait above the schools
of
bait for
the stripers. With any top water action casting artificial lures
for stripers can also be productive. Almost any shad colored top water
lure,
buck tail
jigs and even regular bass casting lures will get the attention
of these stripers. shad and chrome colors in the baits work well. Larger
baits as
long a 7 inch Red Fins take these fish when they are feeding. Be
sure to cast rig into the action to insure a hookup. Just get to the
lake
at or
even before the sun comes up for the best action on top water lures.
Once the action on top dies off, head to the mouth of the major creeks
and find
the shad schools. Catching 5 to 10 fish up to 15 pounds in these
schools is not uncommon.
