My fishing buddy and I have been coming up on fish schooling on the surface recently but can never catch them no matter what we throw at them. We thought maybe they are bass and not Stripers. Does anyone else have this frustration?
We’ve had this issue as well. We have had luck throwing smaller lures at them like smaller bucktails. We let it sink a little bit then start to reel in so you can get below the smaller ones.
You also might try a Super Spook Jr., or a relatively new bait called the swimming fluke on a weighted hook. A small crankbait like the Red Eye shad in sexy shad color can catch them at times. Be sure to try varying the speed of your retrieves. Last Sunday I had to fish the Jr. very slowly or they wouldn’t look at it. Sunday my biggest striper was around 5 lbs. They seem to bite better early in the morning or late in the evening. Midday can be a real challenge unless you have some clouds and wind. Some schools have some pretty big largies mixed in with the stripers.
Pull live herring or shad around schooling fish. Works every time. . Ha…
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
Flies:smiley:
Ankona Cayenne
60 hp E-Tec
“There is something about hunting those fish that will stick with me and my future fishing plans like a bad case of striper herpes”
-SCOF
What happened to the days when you could throw a spark plug out and catch them?
They are eating small threadfin shad, you have to match what they are eating. Downsize your bait. When they are feeding on schools of herring they will hit the bigger stuff.
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
Try using an Alabama rig with small hooks rigged with white shimmy shads!
Agent, the Sparkplug used to be one of my favorite lures. Back in the late 80’s to early 90’s, I would wear out the fish behind Riverbanks Zoo using that topwater. Do they still make it?
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
A small fluke or a small swim bait might work. 2.5 or 3 inches
…Sundance b22 …
140 Johnson
TEAM LAID BACK
I forgot to mention… be quiet in your approach to the fish. Stay a LONG CAST away from them. It usually is best to only run your trolling motor around them. If you want to catch a bunch out of a particular school, avoid using your gasoline motor as much as possible. In my experiences over the years, if you don’t have a trolling motor your results in schooling fish will not be great. Continuously starting a big motor or putting it in and out of gear to stay near a school usually doesn’t result in a lot of bites.
Large mouth schools in general don’t seem to spook as easily as stripers. You can usually have better luck being a little closer to them. Good luck.
quote:Everyone on here that chases schooling fish needs to read this post. There is nothing more frustrating than to be working a school and have someone come flying up into the middle with their gas motor and put the whole school down. But, unfortunately, it happens a lot.
Originally posted by SpoonmasterI forgot to mention… be quiet in your approach to the fish. Stay a LONG CAST away from them. It usually is best to only run your trolling motor around them. If you want to catch a bunch out of a particular school, avoid using your gasoline motor as much as possible. In my experiences over the years, if you don’t have a trolling motor your results in schooling fish will not be great. Continuously starting a big motor or putting it in and out of gear to stay near a school usually doesn’t result in a lot of bites.
Large mouth schools in general don’t seem to spook as easily as stripers. You can usually have better luck being a little closer to them. Good luck.
Ranger Bay 2000
Yamaha F150
Molon Labe!
Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. - Anatole France (paraphrased)
RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013
It’ll only get worse when the gulls come back!
quote:
Originally posted by Bowhunterquote:Everyone on here that chases schooling fish needs to read this post. There is nothing more frustrating than to be working a school and have someone come flying up into the middle with their gas motor and put the whole school down. But, unfortunately, it happens a lot.
Originally posted by SpoonmasterI forgot to mention… be quiet in your approach to the fish. Stay a LONG CAST away from them. It usually is best to only run your trolling motor around them. If you want to catch a bunch out of a particular school, avoid using your gasoline motor as much as possible. In my experiences over the years, if you don’t have a trolling motor your results in schooling fish will not be great. Continuously starting a big motor or putting it in and out of gear to stay near a school usually doesn’t result in a lot of bites.
Large mouth schools in general don’t seem to spook as easily as stripers. You can usually have better luck being a little closer to them. Good luck.
Ranger Bay 2000
Yamaha F150Molon Labe!
Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. - Anatole France (paraphrased)
RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013
The people who do that AREN’T members of this forum or the MSC … 
it’s my Wife’s fault we HAVE to fish now!!!
2005 Sea Pro 2100cc / Yamaha 150hp 4-Stroke
quote:
Originally posted by Rick KIt’ll only get worse when the gulls come back!
Crackers … carry a box of crackers on the boat with you … When the gulls come back and are in the area you’re fishing … scoot over to another area that you DON’T want to fish … and crush up the crackers and throw them into the water … then go back to fishing …
Gulls will key in on the free “food” and wallah … all the inconsiderates will be fishing for … crackers 
it’s my Wife’s fault we HAVE to fish now!!!
2005 Sea Pro 2100cc / Yamaha 150hp 4-Stroke
Ha Ha 
… not sure who put 'em out ,but I pulled rigs and paddled my a__ off for about 30 min. to fish those stupid crackers one time !
Man , that was a tough lesson learned 
I gotta use my radio more . What channel do most use ?
Channel 72. But popcorn works greater than crackers, it floats longer!
quote:
Originally posted by Bowhunterquote:Everyone on here that chases schooling fish needs to read this post. There is nothing more frustrating than to be working a school and have someone come flying up into the middle with their gas motor and put the whole school down. But, unfortunately, it happens a lot.
Originally posted by SpoonmasterI forgot to mention… be quiet in your approach to the fish. Stay a LONG CAST away from them. It usually is best to only run your trolling motor around them. If you want to catch a bunch out of a particular school, avoid using your gasoline motor as much as possible. In my experiences over the years, if you don’t have a trolling motor your results in schooling fish will not be great. Continuously starting a big motor or putting it in and out of gear to stay near a school usually doesn’t result in a lot of bites.
Large mouth schools in general don’t seem to spook as easily as stripers. You can usually have better luck being a little closer to them. Good luck.
Ranger Bay 2000
Yamaha F150Molon Labe!
Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. - Anatole France (paraphrased)
RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013
Yep, happened to me this evening. One small boat came in, can’t fuss to much about him because he didn’t have a trolling motor. Then here comes this big noisy center console right up to what was left of the school. After that I never got another bite. Oh well, neither of those boats caught a fish from that school. Looks like they’d learn something sometime and try a new approach. Pun intended.
Spoon, I’ll try to give you a call tomorrow. It’s gotten late and I just remembered your phone message. I try not to call anyone after 9.
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
That’s OK Fog, Some of old folks go to bed with the chickens, I’m just not usually one of them. Right now the side effects have me up several times most nights.
I’d like to be able to let one of my friends take a ride in your boat. He’s looking at center consoles and I thought of how well your “Fogmobile” is constructed. I can’t do it this weekend due to another treatment, but maybe some weekend later on I’ll take him fishing in the toonboat and if you’re in the area you can let him see how well your boat rides and handles.
The perch were hungry this evening. Only had one good Berry spoon with me at the time. Had 14 pretty good ones in about 30 minutes. They were mostly hitting it on the fall. Between 25’ and 30’ deep. Very close to home.