I got a 17ft Carolina skiff over the summer and am wanting to start trying to catch some stripers on Murray. I just got an older minn kota autopilot for it. I have a few 6500s and some more like them to use. I also have a large variety of egg weights and circle hooks from size to 4/0. My main questions are what other gear would I need and what to use as far as bait and tackle(line size, hook and weight size, etc.)? Thanks in advance!
17 Carolina Skiff
60 Johnson
This time of year, it is a good idea to have a few rods rigged with the Lake Murray idiot rig which is a double rig consisting of a 3/8-1/2 oz bucktail and an ice fly. It is rigged with a sliding crane swivel on the main line that is stopped by another swivel. 24-30 inch leader for the bucktail on the sliding swivel and 36-48 inches for the ice fly. When the birds are on the schools, this is usually the best rig to throw. If you want to live bait fish, you will want side planers to provide a decent spread.
I’m surprised you didn’t get more help here. First thing you need to do is get some kind of bait tank. You can use a cooler with an aerator to get you started, but eventually you will want to get a good bait tank(Super Bait tanks or similar). People have success with shiners in the winter but I have not, I use herring and shad. Shad are easier to keep.
Most people are using planer boards this time of year since most fish are shallow, but you can still get them without planers. You will want to rig some freelines and downrods. Freelines are a swivel with about a 2-3 foot leader between the swivel and the hook. Run them about 20 to 30’ back, less in shallow water. You can also run a transom rod, see Murraymakers video (I think it’s on the Lake Murray page on facebook) My preferred hook is a 1/0 gamagatsu octopus hook, I will go to a size 2 with small bait. Rig up some Carolina rigs with 1.5 to 2 oz egg sinkers and the same hook for your down rods. You will want to run 2 freelines off of the back of the boat, you can add small split shots if you want to get them down a little. on the side rod holders you can run your downlines. Put the deepest ones in the back. Watch your fish finder to see where the fish are and fish right above them. Stripers will usually come up for your bait.
Fish this time of year are mostly from the elbow up into both rivers, but can be found anywhere. Clouds creek is popular this time of year, pull around the creek channel and the river channel. Troll anywhere from .4 to 1 mph (my opinion) You can speed up and slow down to see what works. Another spot that you might want to try is out around the mouth of the Rocky Creek out from #3, around spinners or up at the mouth of Hawleek.
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
I use 20# mainline 20# leader on my 6500’s and 30# mainline 20# leader on my 7000’s and avets.
I run a 3-4’ leader but anything 2’ or longer works. Have seen people running 6-8’ leaders and in my opinion is just not needed. I use seagaur red label for regular/party fishing. Its fairly cheap and can get it at wally world.
I use a bigger hook than most but anytime i am not using a downrod i use gamakatsu octopus hooks as well. Not octopus circles just reg octopus. Avg herring get a 2/0 or 3/0. Shad get a 4/0 unless its hand size or bigger. Downrods i use owner mutu circles in size 1/0.
Def wanna invest in a good bait tank as soon as possible. Look up G&M bait tanks on facebook. Or give them a call 8646309075. Tell them chip sent ya 
There is very little to no wait time on a tank unlike other manufacturers. And their tanks are super high quality and they stand behind their work 100%.
Need to get you some planers as well. You can put planers in places were you can’t put freelines.
Electronics are not a huge necessity right now but they will be soon. Right now most fish are super shallow so you cant mark them anyway but you can mark bait and thats key this time of year.
Go out on a tx day in the winter. Theres one this weekend. No one will really be in secret spots. Just ride around and look where people are pulling boards and how they are doing it. Then duplicate this method/area on almost anywhere on the lake and it will produce fish.
Good luck out there. Give us some reports. If you by chance are on facebook look up “Lake Murray Fishing Reports” and like the page. alot of good info shared on there as well as reports.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
Thanks for all the tips. I usually put my boat in at a friends lake house in hawleek creek so that will be good it seems for this time of year.
17 Carolina Skiff
60 Johnson
quote:
Originally posted by steelytomI’m surprised you didn’t get more help here. First thing you need to do is get some kind of bait tank. You can use a cooler with an aerator to get you started, but eventually you will want to get a good bait tank(Super Bait tanks or similar). People have success with shiners in the winter but I have not, I use herring and shad. Shad are easier to keep.
Most people are using planer boards this time of year since most fish are shallow, but you can still get them without planers. You will want to rig some freelines and downrods. Freelines are a swivel with about a 2-3 foot leader between the swivel and the hook. Run them about 20 to 30’ back, less in shallow water. You can also run a transom rod, see Murraymakers video (I think it’s on the Lake Murray page on facebook) </font id=“red”> My preferred hook is a 1/0 gamagatsu octopus hook, I will go to a size 2 with small bait. Rig up some Carolina rigs with 1.5 to 2 oz egg sinkers and the same hook for your down rods. You will want to run 2 freelines off of the back of the boat, you can add small split shots if you want to get them down a little. on the side rod holders you can run your downlines. Put the deepest ones in the back. Watch your fish finder to see where the fish are and fish right above them. Stripers will usually come up for your bait.
Fish this time of year are mostly from the elbow up into both rivers, but can be found anywhere. Clouds creek is popular this time of year, pull around the creek channel and the river channel. Troll anywhere from .4 to 1 mph (my opinion) You can speed up and slow down to see what works. Another spot that you might want to try is out around the mouth of the Rocky Creek out from #3, around spinners or up at the mouth of Hawleek.
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
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Bob just go on your wifes account. Up on top there is a magnifying glass u click to search. Type in lake murray fishing reports. Page should pop up. Click it. Then you can browse yhrough the page. Also there is a button on the page that says “posts to page” there are more reports in that section of the page.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
Thanks Chip.
I’m off from the 23rd of Dec. thru Jan 5th so I hope to get out on at least one of those days off. If I can get the ol’ lady’s permission, I might try Christmas day.(if I can find some bait somewhere) How long do you think shad would make it in my bait tank?
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
2 or 3 days easily. Prob longer. If need be i can bring some to my house and you can swing by and get some if u want. Just let me know.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
You might also consider joining Midlands Striper Club or some other club. I’m not a member, mainly because I mostly fish for white perch and largemouth. I know a few of their members, good folks, and previously referred several folks to their club when I worked at a sporting goods store. They have a web page that might be useful to you as well. Check it out.
Spoon,
Happy Bob has been a member before, he just dropped out, I think because of his work schedule. He does great Aluminum welding.
Rick K
Rick,
My reply was meant for Upstate. I think any beginning striper fisherman in the area would benefit from joining Midlands. Your monthly programs, from what I’ve read on this board, seem to be very well planned and informative.
Yeah, I was a member for about a year or so until the economy took a dive, I had to close my shop, and go out and get a real job. Unfortunately, it’s a night job, so I couldn’t go to MSC meetings anymore. I miss going to them. A lot of good information to be had, along with a great bunch of people.
Thanks for the welding compliment Rick.
And thanks Chip, I’ll let you know a day or two ahead of time if I’m able to go.
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
I’ll Second Bob’s welding expertise …
I have a Happy Bob Special riding on the back of my boat …
Holds 5 rods and is easily adjustable/removable …
I keep meaning to take better pictures of it and post them …
I’ll try to do that tomorrow … 
Upstateyakker:
I apologize for not getting to this sooner … been a bit busy as of late …
All the gear setups are a matter of personal preference - but here’s my setup for what it’s worth …
I use Okuma Trolling combos … (1) because they have line counters and I’m too ADHD to count line pulls and (2) because they are cheap (right at $50 for a 7’-6" rod & Magda Pro 20DX) so if I pull a Chip and lose one to the river or to the bottom of the lake I’m not crying over $150 worth of gear …
I have four Magda Pro 20DX 7’-0" combos; four Magda Pro 20DX 7’-6" combos; two Magda Pro 30DX 8’-6" combos; and a MSC Special (Abu Garcia 6500/Striper Stick) that I won at one of the meetings … I also carry two Okuma Bait Runner spinning reels that I use for my freelines and transom lines …
I was using 20# Stren Hi_Vis mono as my main line but I am switching over to 20# Ande Hi-Vis Green because Ande is less prone to fading … it’s a bit more expensive, but I can get a 1 pound roll of it on eBay for $59 which is more than enough to line every single one of my combos …
I use 17# Vicious Fluorocarbon for leader … I use a slightly lower strength leader because in the event of a snag I want the leader to break and not my main line … breaking your main line results in losing your weight, planer board, float, etc …
I always put a bead on my mainline (to stop the weight/planer board/float) and then tie on a 70# American Fishing Wire Mighty Mini Snap Swivel …
I then tie a loop on one end of my leader and the hook on the other end … For hooks I use either Owner or Gamakatsu circle hooks … I have hook sizes ranging from 1 to 5/0 … usually the basic go to hook is either a 1 or a 1/0 … I’ll use larger hooks
Instead of a line counter, or counting line pulls, here’s a trick that Jim Gibbs (dernflatlander) taught me. Get your reel so the line guide is all the way over to one side, mark or tape the line at the tip of your rod, pull out line until the guide goes all the way across. Then measure the line you pulled out. On my reels, it’s about 9 1/2 ft., so when I let out line, I just count the times the line guide goes from one side to the other. 4 times = 40 ft., 10 times = approx. 100 ft. According to my sonar, it’s pretty accurate. And it sure beats the heck out of pulling out line by hand.
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069