Trout

Saltwater Striper Fishing
1

I heard or read somewhere about using live trout as bait for stripers.
Has anyone here ever tried it in Lake Murray? I thought that I might go to the Saluda below the dam, catch a few trout, put them in the livewell with some ice filled zip lock bags and head for the lake. Any input is appreciated.
Thanks, Bob

Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069

2

I’ve done it a few times. Had a couple blow ups but never hooked up. Sure is fun watching the chase though. I’ve heard you are not allowed to, but as far as I can read you are. You just have to catch the trout legally with a line and hook. They new law says you are not allowed to intentionally release bait in a different body of water than where it was caught. Do the research on the law yourself, but that’s how I interpret it.

3

Thanks steelytom,
I’ll definitly do some more research before I attempt it. Maybe a call to DNR. Then I’ll try and see if I can even catch a trout first. Lately, my luck sucks.:dizzy_face:

Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069

4

I fished Lake Norman near Charlotte a few times several years ago. The tackle shops around there sold live rainbow trout for stripers. We would buy a dozen or two at $1 a piece. Sometimes they would have orange ones which were $2 a piece! Stripers LOVED the trout and they are very hardy baits.

It ain’t no mystery…this beer’s history!

5

The ones you buy are nice bait sized. The couple times I’ve tried the trout were 12 to 14 inches.

6

used them on russell a couple of times – they will stay alive all day long slow trolling until they get smacked --buddy of mine will take em home to eat if we leave with any still alive --most were bigger than the ones we normally catch on the chattooga river–does murray have a native population of trout? some claim clarks hill does but i have never heard of one being caught

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7

Have caught quite a few throwing for herring under lights under Russle dam years ago.Did not relise till I reached in the tank for a herring and came out with a trout about 8", checked and found more!
In the early 80’s we would leave Laurens at 2 AM and drive to Russle dam and catch bait and the drive to Murry and fish and be home with a limett of good fish and be ready to attend church. Thank God for George now!

8

Bob, I’m afraid that your window of opportunity has pretty much closed. It was OK to catch them below the dam and bring them to the lake prior to the new rules. Still OK until July 1st, but the water temp is so warm in the lake I don’t think that they would do well.

9

Thanks Jim. I didn’t think about the lake being warmer. Just wanting to try something different.

Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069