I have never been striper fishing, but I am really interested in giving it a ‘go’. Can anyone provide me with some insight regarding the necessary tackle? I think I have everything, but not sure what might be undersized or oversized. I plan to use my saltwater gear of which I have tackle for reds and trout as well as nearshore for cobia, grouper, and bottom fishing. I know that I may/do need planer boards, which I don’t have, so the next question is where to buy gear near the lake.
You can give Richard at Lake World a try. They’re on the Lexington side of the dam. I would reccomend hiring a guide for your first trip. It’s amazing what you can pick up by paying attention.
I’d seriously consider taking up Steelytom’s offer. One can learn so much from actually seeing a good striper fisherman in action especially as there are so many ways that one can approach trying to catch them. We’ve been fishing Murray three years, usually the NE portion of the lake two or three times a week weather permitting, and while I just consider us “advanced beginners”, we still have a lot of fun and often do all right.
Your saltwater tackle is probably just fine. I think most prefer the Abu Garcia 6500 type reels and we usually use 12-14 test line while I think most others use a little heavier. Striperskiff has converted me to size 2 circle hooks while the Captain prefers the bigger 4/0 or 5/0 circle hooks on her rods. We typically use live herring as the Captain prefers to “downrod” with 1 to 1 and 1/2 ounce weight right above the bottom in deep cuts adjacent to points (or on humps in deep water), but you also have the option of “freelining”, using lures, topwaters, bucktails, jigging spoons, downriggers, and umbrella rigs, some of which does require different tackle and setup.
Lake World, and this forum, is a very good place to get your information. Another good option is to join (or at least attend a few meetings) at the Midland Stripers’s Club. They meet at the Flight Deck in Lexington at 7 o’clock on the 2nd Tuesday of the month.
Thank you to all for the information. I will get in touch with Lake World, and Pattianne, I believe I will get in touch with Steelytom to see what we can work out.
With the tackle that you mentioned, I think that I am in pretty good shape. I am sure that I will need a few things, particularly the lures and downriggers, so going out with someone experienced will surely help set me up for success.
Thank you again.
I made the same deal with a crappie fishing trip with Coolbreeze. But he never did live up to his end of the deal. But he did bring cookies, so all is well.
Try trolling 1 1/2 inch spro bucktails with lead core line in the summer months as well. Alabama rigs with 3/8 oz bucktails or swimbaits work excellent as well at murray and clarks hill. Richard does sell the lead core.
Try trolling 1 1/2 inch spro bucktails with lead core line in the summer months as well. Alabama rigs with 3/8 oz bucktails or swimbaits work excellent as well at murray and clarks hill. Richard does sell the lead core.
What you trolling for with that lead core ?? Crappie?
No Striper. That is the only way I fish anymore. Last 2 years have been great. I only use live bait a few times a year because its always suck a pain in the butt to keep alive.
I forgot to mention. Richard also sell snake worms that I use as trailers on my bucktails. These are a must in my opinion. Pearl white and lemon lime are the best.
that is not all the way true. i have offered him several trips but he has to get a kitchen pass from baseball or soccer or fingerpainting or some other excuse. maybe just grow a set a tell them “i’ll be back when i get back so look for me when you see me coming”. that should pretty well do it and then you can fish with me whenever you want.
you would also probably need to bring a blanket to sleep in my workshop. ha ha
You can also, sometimes, catch stripers on jigging spoons. A friend and I accidently caught 3 today while fishing for white perch above the elbow area… Two of the stripers were over 23" long. None of the fish we caught were deeper than 25’. If you are interested, almost every fish today hit the 1/2 ounce white/silver reflector Berry spoons. Lake world has them in stock. We generally use baitcasting rods spooled with atleast 12lbs. test, mostly because we know we’ll be hooking some big stripers, bass and catfish along with the perch. If you fish the spoons, find baitfish pods very near the bottom and make bottom contact while working the spoons. You can sometimes catch suspended fish, but the ones nearer the bottom seem to be far easier to catch with the spoons. Also, I replace the standard hooks on the spoons with larger red trebles before I fish with them.
