Name:	DVan1901 -	Reply
Subject:	My Striper Report
Date:	9/25/2015 7:35:06 PM

This is a fishing report for those who, like me, like details and are just trying to learn something. Two words of caution though. First, I still don't really know what I'm doing so take this all with a grain of salt. Second, you may have to Google some of the rigging I used as it is not "native" to this area.

Today's philosophy: cover as much ground as possible to see what the graph showed us and try to learn something

Method: Trolling artifical baits at about 2MPH

Tackle: Tolling J-Plugs with Dipsy Divers (with snubbers) at depths of 15'-25'

What we did: We started trolling at the Union boat ramp and headed west and then trolled North towards Midway Island and just past Midway Island.

How did we do? Well, between the two of us, we limited out with the biggest being 11.6 and the smallest at 6.5. We caught our first fish on the West side of Midway Island, towards the North end of the island. We caught him in about 60' of water on the Diver that was at about 15' deep. When he bit, there was nothing showing on the graph, but he nailed it and took off.  We had a triple hook just North of Midway Island, by the church up on the hill; again, in about 75' of water on our Divers that were at 15' and 25'. This time, the graph showed two bait balls, but no real fish of any size feeding on them, but we hooked 3, all about the same time.

So, that's my "detailed" report. As an aside, we also caught a 6.5 lb catfish, on the same setup, in about 60' of water; very strange!

Hope this helps someone...

Name:	donnie1 -	Reply
Subject:	My Striper Report
Date:	9/26/2015 9:44:44 AM

DVAN thanks for the excellent fising report. Looked up the J plug and divers, very similiar to some of the things we use offshore. Just brought up some items from the Coast to try. Brought some spoons, planers, Manns Stretch lures, jigs and  weights. Plus some of the smaller saltwater rods .

Have been catching some spots deep near our place on Little Kopwaliga, have been seeing some stacked fish but didn't think they were stripers and have not caught any yet. Soon  as we get the deer plots done will be trying some of the saltwater tackle.

Good Fishing...

Name:	Billy -	Reply
Subject:	My Striper Report
Date:	12/8/2015 3:39:47 PM

DVan1901, just recently saw and read your 9/25/15 post and appreciate it very much.  I especially appreciated the detail and your willingness to share locations and methods.  

I recently retired (June 1) after spending 41 years in higher education and have been trying to learn how to locate and catch striped bass. I have found them to be extremely illusive.  September was tough, but October and November were impossible--not a single fish during this period. The problem, mostly, has been that I just can't find them.  But, I'm rambling.

Anyway, I'm going to order a sipsy or two, and, perhaps, a J-plug.  Can you recommend a vendor?  And, color sipsy?

Also, I have been thinking that if a few of us who enjoy striped bass and are trying to learn their patterns would help each other, it would make it easier.  We could follow the example of your 9/25/15 post--share our sightings of fish and successful methods. 

Thanks again.

Name:	DVan1901 -	Reply
Subject:	My Striper Report
Date:	12/9/2015 9:28:48 AM

Thanks Billy, I'm just anothe knucklehead out there trying snag one or two, even if by accident :)  I went out in November and saw a TON of bait at 30-40' but never hooked into any stripes this time. One day, we caught 9 spots, and two on the same j-plug at the same time! We caught those deep in Blue Creek.

As for the Dipsy divers, what you want to look at is the size. I have 2 minis, which I think are zeros (00) and 2 of the next size up, which I believe are 1s (01). They run about 15' and 25' (depending on many factors).

As for the J-plugs, you can get them just about anywhere online, Bass Pro, Cabela's, Amazon. We have caught the most off of the silver and silver and red.

The biggest problem with this setup is the lake changes depth SO fast so you really have to pay attention; we get snagged alot, but have yet to lose a rig. Because of that, I've switched to using downriggers, but that can be prohibitively expensive for many.