Cumberland Stripers

[Cobra190]

As far as I know April is when my buddy down there is going to start watching the water temp. Not real sure when I would head down to hook up with him. This would be my first attempt at actually targeting stripers and don't want to look as if I don't have a clue at what i'm doing. Heck, I do that enough when I'm bass fishin. How about colors? Any secret colors to hide in the bottom of the boat? We'll be in my boat, so I know all the good hiding places.

[apb]

Early April, I would be looking at the clay banks. Sliver (jointed plug by Rapala), bomber (long A), bucktails, or deep running cranks. I don't get too carried away with colors. Most of my plugs are white with red head. If you are real into colors, pick a few of your favorites. Most nights stripers don't really care. Bucktails (3/8 or 1/2 oz) white or blue over white with a split tailed spinner bait trailer in pearl. If the water is stained, I might try a chartreuse trailer.

Andrew

[elnutsmalljaws]

Mark is dead on in the baits and Andrew is dead on in the colors. I fish with chrome and black and shad colors pretty much but also have red/white and blue/white as well. Don't just thumb them all into the boat because you just might have a toothy-tasty Walleye on the end of your line during this time as well. You just call me on your way back thru Lex and I will meet you and take those Eye's off your hands. Somebody get the cornmeal, Tony Chateree, hush puppies and cole slaw.

[raw thumb]

Very good advice. We are planning a trip also. This my favorite time to fish for them!!

[greenriverman1]

Tell me if I am wrong but I am with mhall on the night bite being too early. Do they not turn on more in the later part of May?

I fish Barren at night under the lights and I love the fast action when they start biteing.

DA

[HURRICANEBOB]

I fish Barren at night under the lights
DA

Help me a little, you mean under lights on your boat, or like lights around a dock? I'm trying to learn to fish Barren better and appreciate the help.

[mhall]

Tell me if I am wrong but I am with mhall on the night bite being too early. Do they not turn on more in the later part of May?

I fish Barren at night under the lights and I love the fast action when they start biteing.

DA

May is usually good from start to finish and very consistent. It can even last into June a bit as it did last year especially on the walleye. If I was a betting man I would bet the first three weeks of May to always be the strongest weeks with the last week the bite tailing off a bit. If you go early expect the bite to be early in the night or right at or after dark. As it progresses into May the bite will become later and later, I hate that as it's hard for me to stay up all night and function the next day but hey you gotta do what you gotta do to catch'em. I'm no expert but I'm getting better every year, I had a real real real good teacher.

[RICHYD4U]

I've heard stories of people killing them hybrids at Barren under the lights. What time of year do they start? Any info would be appreciated. I'm really trying to take advantage of Barren this year since I live so close, I just have no clue about the place yet. Thanks in advance.

-Rich

Tell me if I am wrong but I am with mhall on the night bite being too early. Do they not turn on more in the later part of May?

I fish Barren at night under the lights and I love the fast action when they start biteing.

DA

[HURRICANEBOB]

This would be my first attempt at actually targeting stripers and don't want to look as if I don't have a clue at what i'm doing.

Along with all the great lure advice, remember the importance of:
a. Noise control: I go so far as to kick my shoes off and fish in my socks to keep the thud of heavy foot fall from spooking feeding fish so close to the surface. Trolling motor as little as possible, and if so, use it on low speed. I even the fish finder, the shad flipping and pops of surfacing Stripers tell me when I'm in the right spot. And, I even kill the live well aerator. If I got live bait, they either go over the side in a bait net cage, or I run the aerator about once every 30-40 minutes when I back of the bank to take a break.
b. Light control: Dark is best, remember safety when other boats approach and get at least a stern light lit. Don't shine a flash light straight at the bank or at the water surface. Shine it up at a 45 degree angle in the area you want to light. Your eyes will get used to it.
c. Boat position. When working the banks, I try to get the boat as little as 3-4 feet off the bank. Be careful the boat, nor motor lower unit doesn't bang the shore. I parallel the shore. Stay back, cast far to feeding fish. When coming to a point in front, again, stay back and try to throw well out passed the point. I find most blow ups happen as the lure apporaches the point.
d. Casting: Me and a buddy stand on the bow side by side. Cast long and as far as possible, parallel to the bank. When I'm on the bank side, I go with top water Spooks, Redfins, or shallow running Long A's, and but on outside side of boat I fish either a crank, or a jig in the deeper water. Outside guy can also use surface lures depending how far out fish are hitting at the surface. When I cast and lure hits the water, I let it sit there till most ripples calm down. Take up the slack, and then give the lure 2-3 quick hard twitches to create a surface commotion, then start the slower retreive. Play with retreive speed. Sometimes they just don't seem to hit a bait moving to fast or too slow. If they are short striking, blowing up but missing, go a little faster. Sometimes they want the lure dead on to 12 inches from the bank, sometimes as much as 5-6 feet out or even more. Just depends on how shallow th water is near the bank, and where the break is to deeper water the Striper wants as his ambush and attack route to the shad. Seems to me most Stripers want to sneak in on the bottom, look up, pick the right time, and surface to hit.

Last thing that works for me. When I throw out a Redfin, and they swat at it and keep missing, and if they keep missing with a faster retreive, I go to the Zora spook. With the Spook, I go 3-4 fast walk the dog twitches, a 2-3 second pause, then 3-4 slower, long twitches, a pause, then back to the faster pace. All in the same long retreive. I find this seems to drive them nuts. They see it take off, pause, then go slow, and it gives the short sighted ones that short strike the opportunity to find a speed they can actually catch it.

Good luck hope it helps!

[RICHYD4U]

hurricanebob-
Sounds like you know your s... when it comes to night striper fishing! I've never attempted this before, but after reading your last post, you've peaked my interest! Do the stripers spread out during this time of year, or are they still schooled from winter? Are you fishing for them in the same creeks that you fished for them during the winter months? This sounds like a blast, and I would love to try it! Thanks for any info in advance.

-Rich

[apb]

May, on the bluffs at the mouths of the creeks or main lake. Fish them has Bob suggests above. March, clay banks back in the creeks and stay off the bank. Subsurface stuff: bucktail, sliver, deep cranks. April is transition period. They'll be making the run out of the creeks to the main lake. They'll start out early April on the clay banks and be on the bluffs by May. You can certainly get into some good fish in April, just a little harder to target (not as predictable). At the beginning of April, same techiques as March. By the end of April, same techiques as May.

Andrew

[RICHYD4U]

Andrew-
Thanks for the tips. I'm hoping to give it a try this spring. Ever since I caught my first striper this winter, I've been hooked on how to catch more. This sounds like it would be a good chance to hook-up with one again. Thanks.

May, on the bluffs at the mouths of the creeks or main lake. Fish them has Bob suggests above. March, clay banks back in the creeks and stay off the bank. Subsurface stuff: bucktail, sliver, deep cranks. April is transition period. They'll be making the run out of the creeks to the main lake. They'll start out early April on the clay banks and be on the bluffs by May. You can certainly get into some good fish in April, just a little harder to target (not as predictable). At the beginning of April, same techiques as March. By the end of April, same techiques as May.

Andrew