I’m heading up to Lexington the weekend of the June 7th and I can’t wait to hit the rivers for some spawning striper topwater action. I fished the congaree(near the gervais st bridge on the w. cola side) early morning on Mother’s day,but had no luck and didn’t really see any action.
Has anyone been fishing the rivers lately? I am hoping to kayak the saluda probably starting at Metts and getting out around the Gervais st bridge, if anyone wants to join.
Fish are there but are hit or miss.
Have you ever done a trip from metts to Gervais? Thats a haul with a couple nasty rapids. It takes me almost 5-6hrs to go from above metts to gardendale. Granted thats stopping and paddling back up a couple times if I hook up on a fish or 2.
I floated from behind the zoo to gervais on Monday and that took about 4-5hrs. Again stopping in productive areas and then hitting the broad for smallmouth at the end of the float.
Just saying that is a REALLY long float.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
Definitely an all day float, and that’s without stopping much. You’d be better off taking out above the zoo and parking on Candi Lane.
I have not, and I did not realize it was that long of a float. My usual plan of attack is to fish from the shore around the zoo, which may be what I end up doing. Thats why I made this post. You guys are always very insightful.
Also starting in june remember that its ONLY catch and release in the river.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
Never had much luck with lures only live bait. What’s a good lure on the river? anyone ever throw any flies?
Agent, fluke type baits work well.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
Thanks striperskiff. I’m dying to catch one on the fly!
There were 2 guys down there in one of those huge guide style rafts. Both were throwing feathers. Didnt see them catch anything but they werr out of sight pretty quick since we were going opposite directions.
I ppuled herring on planer boards this morning. This was a first for me out of the yak but it all worked out pretty good.
Caught 7 but all were really small. Buddy of mine caught 2 nice ones on cutbait. Water was a little dirty fir the saluda standards. Still green with some clear spots but nothing like it is when its clean.
X2 on the flukes. Put a sturdy look on them. I was using a 3/0 but after seeing the difference in wire size from a 3/0 to a 4/0 a 4 is way better suited for down there. I can almost bend a 3/0 with my hands cant eevn come close with a 4/0.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
Agent, Red and white and green and white Clousers are excellent flies for stripers, especially early in the season when they first arrive in Columbia around the bridges.
Also, white zara spook early in the morning. Bring lots of clousers, they tear them up pretty good.