Looking to see how things are looking on Lake Murray?
I’d look myself, but the boat is down for (much needed) repairs …
Anybody working the Lake lately since the warm up?
Trying to get an idea on how quickly I need to finish the boat repairs …
If you ask my Wife - yesterday wouldn’t be soon enough … she’s climbing my assss to get the lines wet … I guess I could have worse reasons to be nagged about … LOL
I tried the lower lake Wednesday night. Beautiful night out, but no keepers. Searched/Fished Ballentine, Jakes and ended up at the towers. This was the first time this year I’ve been able to pull herring into my lights at night though. I think most fish are still mid lake.
It’s killin me. Dying to get out there, but can’t seem to work it out. Toted the boat to work 2x this week and wound up having to work late both times. I may give it a try in the morning if I don’t work too late tonight.
Rick, if so, I’ll give you guys a call if you want to go for a few hours in the morning.
Rookie question here:
I fish the Santee river and the area around Pack’s/ Low Falls, where it’s cut bait on the bottom. Very similar to Catfishing, except for the actual prey.
Are you guys on the lower lake actually trolling Herring? I would imagine these are dead/rigged? And after dark?
Sounds very cool- I’d love to hear a little more about the approach.
The difference in cutbait fishing for catfish and striper is that when a catfish starts nibbling the bait you rod twitches and when a striper takes the bait your rod bends all at once until something gives so check your drag often.
Trolled herring are live and only pulled about 1 mph.
I’d rather fish than eat.
A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
Like Taz said, live herring pulled at .5mph. I fish at night just because I have young kids and nights are the easiest time to get out. I use a hydraglow light to attract bait and fish to the boat.
Fished the last 2 days on Murray. Upper lake Friday with 25 stripers, 7 gar, 4 crappie, and 2 perch. Excellent day on the water. Fished the MSC Tx today and started out in Buffalo Creek. All shorts so we moved up the lake. Ended up with 5 nice keepers. Fantastic weather and two great days on the water. Looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow though.
I fished Bear Creek Sat and got about 10 without getting a keeper. Ran into Murraymaker out there he had keepers. Talked to a couple of friends Sat night who were out there and they had keepers. I musta been the only one on the lake that couldn’t catch a keeper.
Weatherwise, that had to be one of the prettiest fishing days on the lake I can remember.
Fished lower lake Sat 5/7 pm, slow troll live herring. 3 keepers one being 6#, all fish on planer boards, lost a flatline rod in the h2o thankfully the fish came off and rod floated so it all worked out[:0]
striperskiff,
It’s those little bitty hooks you’re using.
I have always wondered what people are using for Striper fishing. So gonna hijack this thread and ask the? . What are u all using for hooks. I use a 2/0 eagle claw bait holder j hook with the double barbed shank.
I use #2 Owner circle hooks. Small hook, but very strong and they work as advertised…still may gut hook a fish every now and then, but no where near as much as with a j hook.
I wasn’t missing/losing fish the other day. I just should have moved out of the area when I was catching nothing but shorts. Actually, I heard how small the baits were so far this year, so I even went to a #4 hook that day. So Taz, I was actually using even smaller hooks than when you came out.
So are you using the #2 on big herring too, or just the little ones they have been selling lately. I use the Eagle Claw Kahle hooks, #4 for small bait, #2 for medium and #1 for the big bait. I have some trouble with the hook turning back into the baits so I am thinking of switching.
OK, now I know what hooks to use. How about another pro tip? What is the best/proper way to hook a live herring for down rods, slow trolling & free lining? I’ve got Monday & Tuesday off and am going to hit the lake.
Thanks.
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
OK, now I know what hooks to use. How about another pro tip? What is the best/proper way to hook a live herring for down rods, slow trolling & free lining? I’ve got Monday & Tuesday off and am going to hit the lake.
Thanks.
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
Through the top of the nose just before the eyes … but NOT through the lips, because this “drowns” the bait (keeps them from breathing)…
I know that sometimes people will also hook through the back just behind the dorsal fin to put scent into the water and make the bait swim crippled like … but you can’t troll a back hooked bait … LOL
OK, now I know what hooks to use. How about another pro tip? What is the best/proper way to hook a live herring for down rods, slow trolling & free lining? I’ve got Monday & Tuesday off and am going to hit the lake.
Thanks.
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
