Fished in Clouds Creek Sunday out of a kayak for 6 hours. We were actually targeting panfish so we were using 1/16 oz curly tailed jigs and ultralight rods. We were casting most of the time, but also trolling when we were paddling from place to place. Well to my surprise, when trolling we caught a bunch of tiny Striper: close to a dozen 5"-8" Striper. Smallest Stripers I’ve ever laid eyes on. Extremely healthy and powerful little fellas. Normally small Stripers make me sad, but yesterday I was so happy to see this. I’m not sure if these were stockers released close by or if it was little guys heading back to familiar waters, but it has me really excited for our Lake Murray fishery.
Anyone know what size the fish are that they stock or where they stock them? Any thoughts on why we caught so many in one day when we have never caught them before?
I think they are about 2". Those fish you caught were probably surviving fingerlings that were released this past spring. I understand they grow to about 5"-6" really quickly. Pretty cool.
Usually birds of a feather ■■■■■ together. Meaning same size fish “usually” school together. I have got into these guys before. Alot of times you have to literally pick up and move to get away from them. The stocked fish are around 1-2" long. (Fingerlings) I have seen them release 2 different spots dreher island and the dam. They may release other spots as well but have seen them do it there.
Either way these are like u said stocked fish from this past stocking or tthis past yrs spawn (the tiny bit that is happening in murray).
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
Thanks for the replies guys.
I thought they might be a little big for recent stock but I wasn’t sure. That is neat that those little fish may have traveled the whole lake if they were stocked downlake.
I was enjoying catching them, other than I didn’t want to impression them with the sting of a hook in their mouths. I don’t want them to be gun shy when they get bigger! Of course, they probably wouldn’t associate the baits I’ll be using when I’m actually trying to catch them with being caught. Some herring and shiners are bigger than they are! I will say for a 8" fish it fought about like a 1 lb bass or a big Bluegill.
