Report and questions

Saltwater Striper Fishing
1

Caught a lot of stripers and hybrids at Hartwell this weekend on planers and free lines. Not many big fish. Fish were everywhere really…back in the back of creeks and out in the main river, perfect conditions I suppose had them excited. Caught some schooling on top as well.

Questions:

  1. We were using 2/0 Eagle Circle hooks. Had good hook-ups most days but wondered if this is the best size and style hook?

  2. Bigger question - now that water is warming bait is really getting sluggish after 5 hours or so. Using 40 gallon LW in my 196 Key West which does not have square corners. Upgraded the pump to around 1100gph alrady and keep it running almost constantly. Also used a cheap DC powere aerator this weekend to add some bubbles.
    Only had 4 dozen herring at a time.

I understand the ice deal but when constantly adding lake water it seems futile. I bought a ProAir system to install which we used on bass boat LW’s for years. Just a more expensive bubble box. Am I going to have to install a separate recirc system in this to make it right? I am concerned the Pro Air alone will not be enough. Only other chaneg I can think of is my spray head is in the top of the well shooting down (which would seem to aerate some?) but livewell drains via standpipe so I wondered if the good water is just going out the standpipe overflow?

Really want to use the LW though as floor space is tough enough without a separate bait tank.

2

what I use , is a self contained aerator that I plug into a 12 v outlet next to the live well… I use the over flow tube as a stopper and only fill the tank to about 3 inches below top of overflow…can’t think of the name of my little unit, but got it at Wally World for about $29 or so… has three suction cups on bottom to secure it to the bottom of tank and an adjustable stand pipe to pump water out into the air … works ok for me and I can keep 3 or 4 dozen baits ok all day… DON’T ADD ICE DIRECTLY TO BAIT TANK… the chlorine will kill the bait… freeze 5-6 liter bottles of water and add them as necessary, but do not open the bottle… just let ice melt and then you have drinking water too… add some bait rock salt and bait saver stuff to keep down foaming… that should do the trick… others have other methods, but mine works for me…

SV2100 Sea Pro w/ 150 Yamaha 2 stroke… " Mangowillie"

3

I bought a keep alive bait tank 14 gal. and it keeps my herring alive all day. I haven’t had it out in really hot weather yet but I haven’t had one herring die on me yet so I guess it works pretty good.

I went down to the sporting goods store and got a new rod and reel for my wife…pretty good trade, don’t ya think?