River Stripes

[Peter E.]

My buddies and I got into striper fishing this summer on the Alabama river. We got hooked. We chased these fish in kayaks and even though I had chased them in bass boats several times with friends, it had nothing on kayak fishing.

Now we fished these fish on the back side of an island in the river, in jetties that would become covered by the water as the dams loosed the water through the turbines. We had the best luck on big poppers and Zara spooks. This seemed to work great but mostly when the fish were blitzing on shad. I had thought about trying an eel approach, due to the fact that I had so much about it in salt water. I have seen eel caught in the river so well why not.

I had also heard of using large jigs around the dams, but anyway I am most definately open to any and all tips. Thanks,

Peter

[Peter E.]

What tactics do you use?

[RoLo]

My striped bass experience has been in saltwater, so I won't taint your poll by voting.

In saltwater we used a wide array of natural and artificial lures. My favorite natural bait for schoolies (net fish) was a "sandworm",

but for big loner cows (gaff fish) it was a 8 to 12 "menhaden" or "herring".

      As for artificial lures my favorite for schoolies (bass to ~20 lbs) was trolling an "umbrella rig",

but for old loner cows (gaff fish) it was trolling a "rigged eel" or "big white bunker spoon" (Tony Acetta)http://www.striper.net/images/lures/pet_spoon_white_small.jpg

When casting (more fun than trolling) we used rebels and pencil poppers on top (twilight or birds working), diamond jigs when deep,

but the best all-around artificial was a big white bucktail jig dressed with a fish-belly strip (alternatively pork rind).

I'd imagine that a striper is a striper, so for landlocked striped bass you might incorporate those same lure concepts adjusted for mean size.

Roger