Fished LR today from 11:30-4:30. Got fish of 21, 22.5, and 3 25 inchers plus 1 short. Bite was slow but at least I got a limit to cook up. Didn’t get out early. I don’t do 20 degrees unless I have to. H2o was 49-51 degrees and stained to muddy. 8-13 feet of water is where I got bit. I did not get any bites on the banks. A very average outing, but I’ll take it.
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
I went out last night, really just wanted to try out the new trolling motor. Night fishing has been terrible, but still better than not going. I ended up with a 24.5" keeper and a short. Missed about 5 good hits, they were hitting hard and dropping right away. Probably could have caught more but about 9:00 the wind kicked up and it started raining a little. Hit the spot lock in a 25mph gusty wind while I pulled in all my lines and it held me in place. Definitely like the cruise control too. Spot lock will be real nice when they are schooling up in deep water this summer.
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
I got out around 10:00 Saturday. Went straight to the spot, 17’ to 25’, where I had been catching them after work this week, planning to catch a big mess of perch. Nobody was home!! Then I tried several other shallow spots with nobody home.
Caught my first perch at 32’ and missed a few others. Started moving around trying deeper spots. Again this Saturday the perch were moving around like crazy. I could mark them and was lucky to catch 1 or 2 at a spot before they disappeared. I managed to catch 12 that were big enough to keep and throw back a bunch, including some not much larger than the spoons. Most bites were 37’ to 39’ deep. I didn’t think they would have moved that much deeper in just a few days. I spent way too much time looking shallower. Lesson learned. I should have moved up river to where we caught them last Saturday. Also missed a bunch of hard hits, which makes me wonder if the perch were not seeing the baits and just swatting at them.
I only hooked one really, really big fish. It took off like a rocket and took most of my line off of my baitcaster with it. When the line finally broke I could see the flutes in the spool. The trolling motor couldn’t help me gain any line back. Striper, gar or big flathead? I only wish I could have seen it.
I tried multiple colors and brands of spoons and caught all but one fish on the white/silver reflector Berry spoons. That seemed to be the only color they would bite for me, and even then it was a pretty slow day.
I went out about 8:30-9:00. It was COLD. First time fishing for stripers, no luck at all. I am glad to hear that it was off somewhat. I put in at the State Park, lots of bass boats… and headed up river and looked for birds. The F
F was showing what I thought might be stripers, large returns in the bait schools, but could not generate any interest. I was using herring, free lined and weighted (using a carolina rig). Tried some bucktails. Tried drifting and trolling. Depth seemed around 40’ with the fish in the 25-30’ range.
Was there anything els I should have been doing?
Fished little river from 11-5. Had a few nice keepers and a few smalls. Lots of hits short striking. Outside planers were hot a couple freelines were hit. Bucktails and spoons were good under birds but not like herring. Biggest went 9lbs and 4oz. Sure beat not going though!
Wellcraft V20, 175 Yamaha
Formula 25 SC Express, Mercruiser 260
Ps fished bigmans to Barstow in 15-23ft for those wonderin
Wellcraft V20, 175 Yamaha
Formula 25 SC Express, Mercruiser 260
quote:
Originally posted by jczc2414I went out about 8:30-9:00. It was COLD. First time fishing for stripers, no luck at all. I am glad to hear that it was off somewhat. I put in at the State Park, lots of bass boats… and headed up river and looked for birds. The F
F was showing what I thought might be stripers, large returns in the bait schools, but could not generate any interest. I was using herring, free lined and weighted (using a carolina rig). Tried some bucktails. Tried drifting and trolling. Depth seemed around 40’ with the fish in the 25-30’ range.
Was there anything els I should have been doing?
It’s hard to say. We could write a long book on all the variables that effect why we do or do not catch fish. Only experience will help you put it all together. Even after 25 years of fishing stripers, I am quite capable of going out and getting skunked. Best things to do are to keep at, research, pick the brains of good anglers, and even go with a guide or respected weekend warrior every chance you get.
Consensus seems to be that fishing yesterday was slow. Yes. I got my limit but had to scratch and claw for every hookup in areas I have total confidence. That comes with experience. Also, checking my solunar table app, there were no well-defined periods during normal fishing hours. Some days you know are going to be tough.
We just have to be tenacious in our efforts.
Tight lines!
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer