WINTER STRIPERS ARE ON THE PROWL IN SOUTHERN LAKES

by Bill Vanderford

            Nothing can prepare an angler for the explosion of an over 20 pound striped bass striking a topwater lure! It has been compared to dropping a concrete block from over a thousand feet into a quiet swimming pool with no warning!

            Winter is here in most Southern reservoirs and these cooler waters have awakened the voracious feeding instincts of the entire striped bass population. For those who relish the brute power exhibited by one of these big linesided predators on the end of a fishing line, gut wrenching battles are on the horizon!

Unlike largemouth and spotted bass, which are really members of the sunfish family, striped bass and white bass are the only true bass found in our Southern impoundments. The striped bass is largest of these eating machines and can quickly convert useless shad into highly desirable gamefish pounds.

Because of great water quality and a tremendous baitfish supply, the stripers here in my home lake (Lake Lanier, Georgia) seem to grow even faster than at other lakes. In addition to the speedy growth rate, striped bass exhibit a fighting strength and stamina which far exceeds that of black bass. Their only negative quality is the lack of aerial acrobatics when hooked, although stripers often leave the water when attacking a surface plug.

During the cooler months, many anglers fish points using lighter baitcasting outfits with 10 to 12 pound line. These outfits are used to cast plugs like Storm's jointed Thunderstick, Cordell's Redfin, and Bomber's 1600 Series Long-A. The best method is a slow steady retrieve with these lures that leaves a little "V” wake when the surface is calm or a slightly faster retrieve to take the lures 3 to 5 feet deep when the water is choppy.

Though topwater lures are fun to use, jigs of different types are often more productive. Favorites include the 1/2 ounce Blakemore RoadRunner with bucktail hair, a 1/8 ounce leadhead jig dressed with a 3-inch, chartreuse, curlytailed grub, or a 1/4 ounce Swirleybird spinner.

Even with this knowledge, one must often make thousands of casts to be successful in any lake, but the catch of a lifetime may be only one cast away. It is possible to hook numerous stripers in excess of twenty pounds on any trip, and it only takes one of these “silver bullets” to make it a memorable outing.

Live bait is another great method for catching these large linesided bass, but it is certainly not a cure all. Like with trout fishing, fishermen need to “match the hatch.” The size and type of bait are very important, but none of it works if you’re not around the fish. Locating the big linesided predators can be as easy as discovering their food supply. Always look for baitfish first, and stripers will usually be nearby.

After schools of bait have been found, try to ascertain the predominant size, and match as close as possible. As a fishing guide, I use a cast net to catch minnows that are seen near the surface or those that I observe on my sonar unit. This method allows me to have fresh bait of the proper size for the striped bass in any particular area. During colder weather, these can easily be kept alive in any round container with a small battery-powered aerator.

The best way to fish any live bait during the fall season is by using a flat line, which is simply a #1/0 circle hook tied at the end of the line with a minnow hooked up through the lower jaw and out through the nostril. Feed the line out until the minnow is behind the boat 50 to 100 feet and use the electric trolling motor or the wind to keep the boat drifting slowly. Engage the reel with the drag set light enough to allow line to be taken from the spool after a strike and either hold the rod or place it in a rod holder. The depth of the minnow can easily be controlled with this method by the speed of the drift.

Huge stripers are a maximum test for any fisherman regardless of the tackle used, and stories of such battles seem to grow with each telling of the experience. Nevertheless, each encounter with one of these massive saltwater bass will be unforgettable!

Bill Vanderford has won numerous awards for his writing and photography, and has been inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Guide. He can be reached at 770-289-1543, at JFish51@aol.com, or at his web site: www.fishinglanier.com