Well, we only had one trip last week and it was a short one due to a dinner date they had. We went to Beaver Lake to try for a big striper at sunset. We did have one big one on, but he ran with us. In fact, he ran faster than the boat, faster then the guy could reel up the slack line, and the hook came out.
So we got no winner pic this week, but this one is part of what it’s about on Beaver. This pic is of a local guy from Eagle Rock. Jeff Fletcher broke the State and Line Class record with this 64 lb. 8 oz. Beaver Lake striped bass caught April 28, 2000, which is still holding as the record in the AG&FC book.
The thing is, it wasn’t caught in the waters it was stocked in. This fish went for a ride over the dam and was caught near Houseman on 12-lb. line.
Jeff had never been striper bass fishing, in fact they were fishing for white bass with 4-lb. line when he saw this fish. He had one pole with 12-lb. line in the boat, so he tied on a clown-colored rogue that resembled the trout he believe it was feeding on. It worked and has been in the books for 16 years now. Bass Pro paid him $5000 and gave him a replica for it.
I know 16 years later there has to be bigger one by now.
Well, the water temp is slowly dropping but still about 81°, which is keeping the stripers on Beaver down between 30 and 40 ft., but the bait is wanting to move up, so we have seen more surface activity right at sunset and sunrise when the water becomes smooth. Big shad are still the best baits, with spoons and top water baits bringing in a few from the dam to Point 5.
Here at Holiday Island most the crappie, bass and walleye are being caught trolling crankbaits that get down to about 12 ft. Flicker shad and wiggle warts are both good baits. When you get on fish, go back and work a spoon, shiner, small shad or worm on top of them.
Well, I will go for now. The summer holidays are now over and water is cooling, so if you like to fish there will be fewer pleasure boats on the water and more fish moving toward the shoreline and surface.
Robert Johnson, fishofexcellence.com, (479) 253-2258