Well this makes about the sixth trip to Murray for Striper still haven’t caught any see them on the sonar but they will not bite
There are little things to get them to eat. And sometimes they just wont eat. We had a good evening last yesterday. ALOT of chumming and drumming. Here are a couple pix of yesterday where they were not really active and swimming on the bottom. Then I eventually got them worked up and feeding up off the bottom.
Here they are somewhat active but really just coming up and looking is all they were doing.
Here you can see chum falling and fish are now very active and spread from the bottom to 40’ eating the chum. It appears there are less fish but they are very active here in this pic and spread out even more.
Basically if you find them and they won’t eat, you have to find out what will make them eat. This is definitely not a put your bait in the water and wait for a bite type of fishing. I am extremely active while on fish. I am moving lines up and down, up and down, chumming, drumming. Sometimes it turns into a job, but most times you will be rewarded (but not all times)
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
140 Suzuki
What is Drumming? I seriously need to go striper fishing with someone that I can gain some knowledge of finding and staying on the fish.
…
Mike Martinez
2016 Sea Hunt 25 Gamefish twin Yamaha 150’s
You can actually save a lot of money by going ahead and booking a guide trip with someone. Go out one time and learn all the basics to get you catching some fish everytime you go.
quote:
Originally posted by FLORIDA_BOY2What is Drumming? I seriously need to go striper fishing with someone that I can gain some knowledge of finding and staying on the fish.
…
Mike Martinez2016 Sea Hunt 25 Gamefish twin Yamaha 150’s
Drumming is when you thump the deck of your boat. I’ve seen guys use baseball bats, paddles, or something to make some noise. I use the butt end of my bait net.
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
The screen shots show the exact same scenario I experienced on Tuesday when I went to Murray alone. It took me over an hour to get my 5, and I had to deploy a second rod. The fish were 4-8 pounds. They would not bite off the bottom; so I came up to 50-60 and tail hooked the baits to get them going with a lot of chumming and drumming. Sometimes you gotta show them something different.
On Friday, I took a friend to Clarks Hill. The fishing is very similar to Murray right now. However, we fished 7 hours and caught around 30. We had several 22-24 inch hybrids and 26-28 inch stripers but no whoppers. Still, it was a good day.
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
You can also try “power reeling”.
Drop the bait (or spoon if you prefer artificials)to the bottom then reel it up as fast as you can. Many times that will elicit a reaction bite from the stiper. Even if it doesn’t it will keep you busy when the fishing is slow.
Finally caught one after drumming it must work because i saw noticeable difference on the sonar
First thing I would do is, turn off the fish symbols. Anything that floats by in the path of your sonar beam will show up as a fish. I made the same mistake when I got my first sonar. I thought there were fish everywhere!
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
I will try that i did not know that !
quote:
Originally posted by Happy BobFirst thing I would do is, turn off the fish symbols. Anything that floats by in the path of your sonar beam will show up as a fish. I made the same mistake when I got my first sonar. I thought there were fish everywhere!
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
quote:Did you leave the depth on for the fish or turn that off too? The finder we use has depth and fish symbol. The fish symbol is off.
Originally posted by Happy BobFirst thing I would do is, turn off the fish symbols. Anything that floats by in the path of your sonar beam will show up as a fish. I made the same mistake when I got my first sonar. I thought there were fish everywhere!
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
You gonna talk or FISH!
Since we have often encountered the same thing of finding the fish when downrodding but not being able to get them to take a bait, next time I’m going to try, at least a couple times, a tip pointed out in JM Sawyer’s handbook on Reservoir Stripers that we got at MSC. When you’re on top of the fish, just pull up the line by hand and rebait with a fresh bait and drop it back over the side. Supposedly, when the sinker bottoms out at the end of the line, the new bait trashes around violently which often triggers a strike.
I’ve got nothing to lose. I’ll try it a couple times and see what happens.
I know some guys that will live chum and dump out some live bait to get them going, but mostly when the fish are not so deep. I’ve always wondered if the same thing may work if you could release some down off the bottom when you are marking lots of fish down there that won’t cooperate.
I haven’t tried it yet, but been toying with the idea of dropping some down in a crab trap and then letting it hit bottom and open up when marking a bunch of fish near the bottom that wont bite. Would just need a cheap one like this:
I would add some weight to the bottom and add some mesh with smaller holes. It would be cost prohibitive to do it much unless catching your own bait, but for those days when they just won’t turn on it could be a last resort, especially if you are leaving soon and have left over bait.
Even though you may have your lines sitting down there that they won’t hit, I wouldn’t think they could stand it as a dozen or so are released right in their face darting all over the place trying to get away.
I may give this a try this week just to see.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
DF90 Suzuki
That might be a winner Tim! Let us know how it turns out.
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
It works 
let’s just say I have tried it. Both in fresh and saltwater. Look up a chum king device. It’s what I use.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
140 Suzuki
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quote:
Originally posted by Tryin_2_FISHMOREquote:Did you leave the depth on for the fish or turn that off too? The finder we use has depth and fish symbol. The fish symbol is off.
Originally posted by Happy BobFirst thing I would do is, turn off the fish symbols. Anything that floats by in the path of your sonar beam will show up as a fish. I made the same mistake when I got my first sonar. I thought there were fish everywhere!
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
You gonna talk or FISH!
Look at the screenshots above by Murraymaker. That’s what your screen should look like when fish are there.
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069