I have a lake that I fish religiously for crappie and bluegill, recently I have been picking up a couple stripers 2 to 3 lbs. while drifting minnows for crappie. I'am very shocked, because I have fished this lake every chance I have got for the last 6 years, and have never caught one or heard of the fish in the lake. So I did some asking around and a little research, and some real nice 30lb. fish have been caught in the last couple weeks. My question is, how do I fish for them? I have not really every targeted the fish, and don't know where to start. The lake has alot of deep open water, and alot of mid range cover. Should I drift some large shiners, or troll crankbaits? Any help to get me in the right direction.

a tactic that works down in S.C. is to freeline with live shad drifting or slow trolling . downrods at different depths work well. i pull planer boards with live bait a lot. i prefer (and this is only my preference) to use a small # 4 circle hook and small 1-3 in. bait. Good Luck on catchin a biggun.

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Hope they bite..Still fun if they don't

If you can get on them when they are rising, a Storm swim bait is a killer. # in. shad . dropshot a shad in front of them will work. trolling is a killer. OH ! They dont like to get into the boat. Get a holt !

Planer boards pulling a live bait (herring or large shiners if herring aint available), freelines, and down lines work here. These are slow trolled barely keeping the boat moving. Good places to look are main river channels (over submerged timber if available, mouths of major creeks, and tailrace of dams. Good luck with thopse stripers.

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A Proud Supporter!

Could not find any large shiners, and did not have time to go after bait, but wanted to give them a try any way while the bite is going on here. Trolled the main lake 25' to 40' with medium to deep diving crankbaits. Never got a bite. Saw another boat trolling around, and it looked like he was pulling balloons behind him????? I think the next time out I will try to drift some large live bait.

Well,if you fish at night at all use submersible lights and frozen anchovies.Works here.I like fishing for other things and right before dark they will school the shad up into little coves and you can get them there.It's a looking and watching game until you figure them out.