Stiper Fishing at Night

Went last night for the first time. I am seeking advice. What are the best lures to use? I used a jointed redfin, a regular redfin and a sliver. Are colors a factor? I heard the shad along the banks around 11:00 but with the wind and upcoming rain, it was difficult to hear much activity at times last night. I only heard one blowup. Do you fish off the bank and cast towards it or do you position your boat close to the bank and throw parallel the bank? Do you use any lights/blacklights,fashlights to see? I lost several lures in the trees with the waterlevel being so high.

I caught one small striper and one walleye about 1:30. I was fishing in Wolfe Creek last night. Any help would be deeply appreciated to this novice.

<< What are the best lures to use? I used a jointed redfin, a regular redfin and a sliver.

Those are the usual ones. Bombers and bucktail jigs are other ones that are commonly used. If I am not hearing stripers blowing up, I'll mostly throw subsurface stuff. Will still throw topwater from time to time anyway cause you just never know.

<<Are colors a factor?

Not usually. Though many like red head/White for slivers.

<< Do you fish off the bank and cast towards it or do you position your boat close to the bank and throw parallel the bank?

Yes. Guess it really depends on what I am hearing. Often I'll position the boat within 10-15 feet of the bank and very slowing move along the bank. Cast parallel to the bank. You need your plug to land within 2 feet of the bank or closer.

<<Do you use any lights/blacklights,fashlights to see?

No lights. I have a small headlamp that I'll use from time to time when I need to retie a knot, land a fish, etc. I like the ones that have the three position light: red, halogine, and spot. Usually use the red cause it affects my night vision less. Spot is for when I am fishing a lure out of a tree.

Andrew

Thanks for the advice. I did not hear much activity last night and moved around to several places. The waves were banging against the banks pretty good at times last night. What subsurface lures to you use the most--bucktail jigs? After losing several lures, I am going to have to go buy some and I wanted advice on which ones to get. Do you think the jointed Redfinns are better than the straight, solid ones? And what size lures do you usually use?

If you are out and there are a lot of waves on the shore, or wind, try to find a sheltered bank. At least it seems that I do better on banks that have little wind and waves. I also prefer bluffs that are close to the main channel.

As for lures, I make all my own. Commercial stuff, I would have a 7 inch red fin, a 5 inch red fin (jointed and straight), a bomber (long A), sliver (5 inch), and bucktail jigs (3/8 and 1/2 oz). Use a twin tail spinner bait trailer or twister tail grub on the jig. I know a number of anglers are moving to the 5 inch red fin cause it is closer to the size of the Alewifes the stripers are feeding on. Some nights, they still prefer the 7 inch. If I was not hearing much topwater activity, I would concentrate on the bomber, sliver, and bucktail. A few casts with one, then grab another rod and throw one of the other baits. Some nights they seem to prefer one lure over the others. Other nights, they'll hit anything you put in front of them.

I don't like it when the water is high either...spend too much time fighting trees for my lures back!

Andrew

The weekend bite at night was slow for us. only managed 1 walleye on friday night fishing from 12 - 3am. just a few shad flipping here and there. fished long bill hollow in the mouth of beaver/otter area.

the next night it rained until about 2-3. we slept in at night and went out and fished from 3-6am. fish were more active. jointed blue red-fin was getting blow ups but no results. red/white sliver caught one 15 lb striper. lots of shad and blowups but no results.

surprisingly in the morning, we pulled shad on boards and the fishing just stunk. we fished the mouth of beaver and did not get as much as a pulldown. very dissappointing.

we have been fishing down there for about 10 yrs now and the fishing in the past 2 yrs has not been worth bragging about.

I agree.We fished friday night and got skunked.Three boats and no stripers and two walleye

We went as well friday night. Had a good bit of stipers busting the surface between 1 -3am, but only caught 2 small ones (3-5lbs). Fished main lake around Jamestown.