I would like to know which body of water i would be best off targeting big striper. I live in charleston and would consider going to any place within 4 hrs reasonable. I just want a decent chance of catching a 20lb or bigger fish.
Wait till the end of feb and come to murray. Fish 3 hard days in a row (sun up to sun down) from the last of feb through all of march and it will happen. But you cant fish with the fleet, gotta get off the school fish and do your own thing.
I would almost bet my house that it would happen if you target big fish exclusively for that time period.
Cant wait that long? Go fish below the ft Loudon dam or melton hill dam in TN, but thats more along the 5hr+ ride from chucktown, And if conditions arent right or your not familiar with the area it could be a long boring trip…or hire a guide in that area and it would happen for sure…
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
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Cumberland River in TN in the spring. You will need a guide for sure there.
A few years ago I would have said Lake Russell but it has been absolutely devastated by way too much fishing pressure. Once Hartwell started having so many fish kills a lot of people shifted to Russell and were keeping the fish. There are still big fish in there but it is a shadow of what it was. It makes me sick thinking about it.
quote:
Originally posted by MurrymakerWait till the end of feb and come to murray. Fish 3 hard days in a row (sun up to sun down) from the last of feb through all of march and it will happen. But you cant fish with the fleet, gotta get off the school fish and do your own thing.
I would almost bet my house that it would happen if you target big fish exclusively for that time period.
Cant wait that long? Go fish below the ft Loudon dam or melton hill dam in TN, but thats more along the 5hr+ ride from chucktown, And if conditions arent right or your not familiar with the area it could be a long boring trip…or hire a guide in that area and it would happen for sure…
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
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Sea~N~Stripes Guide Service
What part of the lake would one start looking for these big fish that time of the year?
I’m sure Chip will chime in when he sees this, but any creek or big cove with life between Buffalo and Bear. It’s a different kind of fishing for sure. Very shallow (15 feet or less), you’re not using the graph to find fish as much as you’re reading the water to find fish pulling large bait. Now that I have a good bait tank to keep large baits for days at a time, I hope to give it a try more often that time of year. It becomes more like big game hunting than just going after fish for the box.
James “Captain Fog” Lindler
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You wont get much out of me about locations, other than pretty much what james said. Been burnt a couple times on locations and you tend to remember that…there are community big fish spots in the area james spoke of, but they are on a downward trend because of them being now know community holes and also now that big bait is more readily available…
The most important thing james spoke of is reading the water and even land. I could care less what my graph reads during the time of year i am looking for big fish, BUT if i do mark a BIG fish in a location i will remember that spot and visit it frequently. Once a single fish establishes her point for the late winter/spring pattern she generally wont change to a different one. The low 30s class fish i caught this past march i marked her 3 different trips and all 3 times she was within probably a 30-40’ radius of a certain landmark i was using for reference. She ate on my 4th trip there.
Back to reading the water/land…when scouting an area for big fish i look for bait moving and how its moving and What the bait size is and what is feeding on it. Many times i have set up in an area and not even fish while scouting. Will get there earlier than normal shut everything off and watch. Just as much as watching the water matters, the land creatures will tell you a lot as well. What are the birds doing on land, when are they feeding and what are they feeding on…there are literally structures on land that say “hey this is a spot that COULD hold a big fish” …i wont go into detail about that, but i would say its true for 95% of my big fish locations.
Also when fishing let your bait (if your using big stuff) tell you whats down there. Sometimes i will scout an area pulling 1.5mph or even faster… Cover ground and if anything so much as thinks about looking at your bait, your bait will react. Granted it might be a big ditch pickle or even a cat fish or even a small striper who thinks they can eat a 12" bait, but the bait will react.
Thats about all i am
Well thanks for all the info and i understand the need for secrecy when it comes to fishing. Ive had issues with sharing spots out too. I might try murry because even if i strike out on the big guy it seems there are good pops of smaller fish to catch. I will say that lake russel has got me intrigued. The shot at a true monster fish and less pleasure boaters seems pretty nice. Nothing worse than when you get on the fish and a b hole runs them over. Ive read a couple stories about russel of guys currently chasing the world record there. Apparently there are enough 50lbers there that people believe there are 70lbers. 1 guy said he caught 3 50lb fish and lost a 60 and saw a world record roll, that was over 5 years ago though. I know it probably isnt like it use to be but i read there are still big there but they have gotten harder to catch and are more finicky. Letting live bait do its thing is supposed to be the key. The idea of freelining trout sounds pretty cool as well since they are supposed to find the good water stripers like on there own and are a major food source for the striper.
I heard the drum and chum works on murry. I was told locate fish start druming and chumming and only drop down a jumbo live bait and the big ones will feed after about 2hrs. Any one drum and chum?
A facebook friend of mine has been catching some big un’s on Lake Murray.
I think they are friends with a guide…his website:
https://www.jasonbennettguideservice.com/
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quote:
Originally posted by MurrymakerYou wont get much out of me about locations, other than pretty much what james said. Been burnt a couple times on locations and you tend to remember that…there are community big fish spots in the area james spoke of, but they are on a downward trend because of them being now know community holes and also now that big bait is more readily available…
The most important thing james spoke of is reading the water and even land. I could care less what my graph reads during the time of year i am looking for big fish, BUT if i do mark a BIG fish in a location i will remember that spot and visit it frequently. Once a single fish establishes her point for the late winter/spring pattern she generally wont change to a different one. The low 30s class fish i caught this past march i marked her 3 different trips and all 3 times she was within probably a 30-40’ radius of a certain landmark i was using for reference. She ate on my 4th trip there.
Back to reading the water/land…when scouting an area for big fish i look for bait moving and how its moving and What the bait size is and what is feeding on it. Many times i have set up in an area and not even fish while scouting. Will get there earlier than normal shut everything off and watch. Just as much as watching the water matters, the land creatures will tell you a lot as well. What are the birds doing on land, when are they feeding and what are they feeding on…there are literally structures on land that say “hey this is a spot that COULD hold a big fish” …i wont go into detail about that, but i would say its true for 95% of my big fish locations.
Also when fishing let your bait (if your using big stuff) tell you whats down there. Sometimes i will scout an area pulling 1.5mph or even faster… Cover ground and if anything so much as thinks about looking at your bait, your bait will react.
quote:
Originally posted by bioguyquote:
Originally posted by MurrymakerYou wont get much out of me about locations, other than pretty much what james said. Been burnt a couple times on locations and you tend to remember that…there are community big fish spots in the area james spoke of, but they are on a downward trend because of them being now know community holes and also now that big bait is more readily available…
The most important thing james spoke of is reading the water and even land. I could care less what my graph reads during the time of year i am looking for big fish, BUT if i do mark a BIG fish in a location i will remember that spot and visit it frequently. Once a single fish establishes her point for the late winter/spring pattern she generally wont change to a different one. The low 30s class fish i caught this past march i marked her 3 different trips and all 3 times she was within probably a 30-40’ radius of a certain landmark i was using for reference. She ate on my 4th trip there.
Back to reading the water/land…when scouting an area for big fish i look for bait moving and how its moving and What the bait size is and what is feeding on it. Many times i have set up in an area and not even fish while scouting. Will get there earlier than normal shut everything off and watch. Just as much as watching the water matters, the land creatures will tell you a lot as well. What are the birds doing on land, when are they feeding and what are they feeding on…there are literally structures on land that say “hey this is a spot that COULD hold a big fish” …i wont go into detail about that, but i would say its true for 95% of my big fish locations.
Also when fishing let your bait (if your using big stuff) tell you whats down the
Fished with MM. No doubt an unbelievable striper fisherman and is a “go big or ho home” kinda guy during the aforementioned time period. Obviously it is the absolute best way to get a big striper. I am not into bait, BUT love to pull bait with MM in the Spring.
Law of averages…pull 8-15 live baits 40 yds+ wide swath you’re obviously more efficient than me slinging a fly or big swimbait. Each their own.
Guess thr point of your OP was a trophy. Artificial or live. Totally up to you.
Same with a tarpon…would you rather feed it a crab or a fly?
If I were travelling and had a few days…line up MM and you’ll catch a big fish. He’s good with kids and “gets” it
Until I heard MM speak on this type of fishing at an MSC meeting, I didn’t understand his then new ideas and shift in focus. After examining what he presented and my own experience mostly fishing with garden-variety bait, I get it. Sure. I’ve caught some fish north of 20 on down rods in the Big Pool and some 15-17’s at the forks and above. However, every fish 20+ I’ve caught pulling has been from Buffalo, Crystal, Hollow, Beaverdam, and Bear in shallow water in the time frame described.
As for chumming and drumming, I do it constantly in deep water but hardly ever when pulling water less than 20 feet.
James “Captain Fog” Lindler
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If you plan to fish trout on Russell you have some real logistics to deal with coming from Charleston. The only place that consistently carries trout is Lake Hartwell Outdoor Center so you will have to drive way past Russell get bait well before daylight and drive back down and launch. I’m telling you it’s not worth it. You can literally go weeks between strikes on that lake. My Dad got the big fish bug and fished it religiously for years and years. Now that I have moved back to SC and gotten him back into hitting lakes like Murray where there are good numbers of fish and just fishing artificial he said he will never fish bait on Russell again.
His best friend has probably caught as many big fish out of Russell as anybody and he is still going there but his results have gotten worse and worse each of the last 4 years to the point it has gotten pathetic.
Also be prepared for your vehicle to be broken into repeatedly at most of the ramps. Dad and his buddy have had so much trouble there with coming back to broken windows or just pure vandalism. I wouldn’t get out of the electric chair to fish that lake for stripers and I used to live to fish it just like Dad. Do yourself a favor and fish Murray or Clarks Hill. Put in your time, fish huge baits in the shallows during the late winter warm up till pre spawn and you will get some nice ones.
quote:
Originally posted by bioguyquote:
Originally posted by MurrymakerYou wont get much out of me about locations, other than pretty much what james said. Been burnt a couple times on locations and you tend to remember that…there are community big fish spots in the area james spoke of, but they are on a downward trend because of them being now know community holes and also now that big bait is more readily available…
The most important thing james spoke of is reading the water and even land. I could care less what my graph reads during the time of year i am looking for big fish, BUT if i do mark a BIG fish in a location i will remember that spot and visit it frequently. Once a single fish establishes her point for the late winter/spring pattern she generally wont change to a different one. The low 30s class fish i caught this past march i marked her 3 different trips and all 3 times she was within probably a 30-40’ radius of a certain landmark i was using for reference. She ate on my 4th trip there.
Back to reading the water/land…when scouting an area for big fish i look for bait moving and how its moving and What the bait size is and what is feeding on it. Many times i have set up in an area and not even fish while scouting. Will get there earlier than normal shut everything off and watch. Just as much as watching the water matters, the land creatures will tell you a lot as well. What are the birds doing on land, when are they feeding and what are they feeding on…there are literally structures on land that say “hey this is a spot that COULD hold a big fish” …i wont go into detail about that, but i would say its true for 95% of my big fish locations.
Also when fishing let your bait (if your using big stuff) tell you whats down the
I think Hartwell has the state record on big striper…Murray has produced 20-30lb stripers…caught several in the 15lb class and three in the 20lb range with the largest 28lbs…never start fishing till March and usually stop fishing in late September. We night fish 60% of the time using live bait…Murray has big fish.
The state record is currently 63 pounds. It happened in April of 09 on Russell. Interestingly, it was caught on a blueback according to the DNR account. Sure. Odds go up of catching a trophy with big bait. However, an elephant will eat a single peanut.
James “Captain Fog” Lindler
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Guys, don’t believe some of those accounts of those record fish. There was a cult of guys fishing Russell back then when the fishing for those giants was still unknown but very good. Terry McConnel who has the state record was obviously one of the best of them. All those guys exclusively used gigantic baits: huge gizzards, river herring, trout and even skip jack’s. I never knew any of them to use the smaller herring most use for stripers. That 59 pound Hartwell lake record fish that Terry caught (which was the state record before he broke it with the 63 pounder) was not caught out of Hartwell. It came from Russell but he claimed Hartwell to keep from drawing fishing pressure towards Russell. I’m speculating that when he then caught the 63 pounder he wanted to have the record on both lakes so he did actually claim Russell on that fish. About 5 years ago some guys caught a 57 in Russell and rode it down to Clarks Hill to weigh it claiming it came from down there trying to get the lake record for Clarks Hill. I can’t rember the reason it didn’t qulify as the lake record because I thought the record for Clarks Hill was 55 pounds, but I don’t think they were able to get the record for some reason.
Most of those guys have moved on from Russell now. Some aged out but most have realized the fishery isn’t what it was once word got out. I’m honestly a tiny bit thankful that fishery did colapse. I’m having a lot more fun going back to just fishing for the joy of feeling that thump and tricking fish into eating (I just fish artificial these days) instead of chasing those monsters with those big baits. I took a 30 year break from fishing Murray because it didn’t have any “big” fish and now I feel like an idiot as much fun as I have had in the last year since I have come back.
Well ive done a little bit of looking into striper fishing and i think im gonna start with a late fall trip a little closer to chase schoolies and then drift big baits by the bait schools i can find. I probably wont make a russels trip until i have a little succes with the smaller striper first. At least then if i lose the monster ill know what striper feel like.
From what i read the russels fishery has rebouned with lots of smaller fish and 50lbrs still being caught though rarer than it use to be. I also read that the santee striper fishing has rebounded with lots of smaller fish coming into slot range. But murry definetly seems like the easiest fishery to have some success in.
Any one fish river stripers?
Tiger, you could be correct. I thought about it before going to bed a couple hours after posting and thought perhaps it was a big blueback river herring. Just going by the official account on the DNR. Guys who target big fish exclusively can be cagey with good reason. Still, I maintain that it is possible to catch a fish like that on average to small bait. It’s definitely been done. Bass fishermen have caught 50+ pound stripers on plastic worms and what not all over the country.
40inchreds, if you come up to Murray, put in time, and do some homework, you will likely not be disappointed.
James “Captain Fog” Lindler
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Fog, you are certainly right about the fact that you can catch big fish on tiny baits. Dad has two gotten two fish over 40 pounds on small shiners. We found a load of nice fish on Hartwell one day about 20 years ago that were crushing the shiners free lined on light line. I think we ended up with 5 fish from 18 to 26 pounds plus several smaller 10 to 12 pounders.