|
Post by ralpher on Jul 16, 2015 21:39:06 GMT -5
I have to tell you, this is one hell of a great forum for 1 lake. I have read through years of posts trying to plan my visit and learn techniques. I just reserved a lake house near R12 that has a dock with lights and deep water. I would like to see if I can get Stripers off the dock either day or night with artificials or bait but I will rent a boat if I have to. I really don't want to run up and down the lake too far so i am hoping to stay relatively close to the marina. I prefer to get a guide one day and shore fish or get a boat the next day. When I looked up the Shad Taxi I noticed they pick up clients way up past the bridge so I am wondering if the R12 area was wise or if I should look to stay up the roanoke arm more.
Is R12 area a decent location for shore action either day or night? Would I be better off staying closer to or north of the bridge?
Can anyone recommend a marina for a fishing boat rental that won't be too far from the fish around Labor Day? Is a trolling motor a necessity? Could I drift around in a runabout or pontoon with baits out or will there be too much boat traffic Labor Day weekend?
Thanks all. Tight lines...
|
|
BentRod
Global Moderator
Posts: 2,252
|
Post by BentRod on Jul 17, 2015 5:08:47 GMT -5
You'll be sitting pretty around that area in September. There generally are good schools below the s curves in September.
Give Todd a call and generally if you're near where he's going to be fishing, he can swing by a house/dock and pick you up as long as it's not too far out of his way.
|
|
|
Post by mwardncsu on Jul 17, 2015 11:06:32 GMT -5
If you decide to rent a boat........ it is hard, if not impossible to find a rental boat setup for striper fishing....
Captain's Quarters has a Tracker aluminum fishing boat - can't recall if it has any electronics on it or not..... no rod holders though for striper fishing. Parrot's Cove used to have a small center console that they rented a few years back - might check with them - no useful electronics or rod-holders either......
If you rent, a pontoon may be your best bet if you have a portable fish-finder and can rig a way to mount the transducer, and the get a number of clamp on rod-holders.
|
|
|
Post by sewelljx on Jul 17, 2015 16:13:23 GMT -5
Ralpher, We do an annual trip in June where we rent a houseboat and the fishing boats from Parrot Cove. Do not go with the smaller fishing boat as it will not get on plane with the very worn 40hp they have on it(unless they have fixed or replaced it). The electronics they have on them are old and basically only good for gauging your depth. There are no rod holders but, I mount a bunch of 1" rail mount driftmasters and we have caught fish each year we have used them. We may be going with a different outfit next year as we felt like the customer service and the maintenance of the boats has fallen off over the years. We don't expect much out of a rental but we had more issues last year than I'd care for. They do always make it right when it's time to settle the bill but, I'd rather pay a little more for something that works as it should. Plus it's a 30 min ride from the bridge down to R12 in the larger fishing boat with the 50hp. Not that I ever mind as it is a beautiful lake! If you find a better option for a fishing boat rental please let me know. Mike is right about a pontoon being your best bet. I think one of the marinas down where you are staying (parkway maybe)rents a fishing pontoon that will have more room for people and bait tank if you plan on bait fishing. Don't think it has rod holders mounted on it but, does have a trolling motor.
|
|
|
Post by ralpher on Jul 18, 2015 11:47:50 GMT -5
Thanks everybody it is much appreciated. I am very much looking forward to fishing this lake. I got my first taste of stripers on the bay last year and I am pretty hooked. I am already (prematurely) looking at real estate at SML for future visits.
I definitely plan to get a guide but since it is just my GF and I and she isn't into fishing, I may just keep it simple and shore fish the rest of the weekend instead of messing around with a boat. I waffle on that decision daily though.
Again, thank you for the information.
|
|
R22
New Member
Posts: 339
|
Post by R22 on Jul 18, 2015 15:27:51 GMT -5
I know there are lots of good guides on the lake. My advice, spend the $250 and call Captain Travis at Cats-n-stripers. It is well worth your money and it is all the better that you would be by yourself. If you choose to rent a boat on another day, I promise you it will even make that trip more fun and more productive. Travis will not only take you fishing, he is willing to share his knowledge. Money well spent
|
|
jmr04
New Member
Posts: 320
|
Post by jmr04 on Jul 18, 2015 20:50:22 GMT -5
Capt. Todd is amazing. I've fished the Carolinas, Keys, Mexico etc. and he is by far the best guide I've ever fished with. If your looking for a good day of fishing that's the way to go.
If your looking to learn how to fish during your vacation that's a tough one.
Unless you have a 23' boat with 14 rods, 6 reels with depth counters, premier electronics, a 40 gallon bait tank, know where to find bait, and can throw a net like YAM your next day is gonna suck.
Captain Dale Wilson fishes out of a bass boat with artificial. Granted it's a nice boat, but for the newbie it translates. If you have a rod, a fluke and decent electronics you have a shot. I've fished with him a few times and learned a lot. Still can't find a school to jig like he does but catch a few here and there.
Just my thoughts. Good luck.
|
|
|
Post by slowtrollin5 on Jul 19, 2015 10:03:44 GMT -5
Your best bet is definitely booking Capt Todd or one of the other charters already stated. You will learn so much and they will put you right on the fish. 4 years ago was my first trip to the lake. I spent the whole week searching with my boys until figured it out somewhat on the last day and later in evening found some breakers with my wife and son and it was a blast quickly catching our limit. The next year we booked captain Todd on theshadtaxi and he put us on some fish. I have worked the lake hard in only the 3 weeks we have vacationed here and learned so much but wish we had chartered someone sooner. Good luck. You will love this lake.
|
|
|
Post by ralpher on Jul 22, 2015 19:07:22 GMT -5
I am definitely going to book a day with the pros. Thank you for the recommendations.
I don't have the Striper equipment (bait net, tank, electronics, etc.) to effectively baitfish from a boat. I would likely be putting out about 2 or 3 lines of jumbo minnows and possibly jig or maybe troll some artificials. I really don't mind tossing stuff off the docks day or night. Either way I don't have much expectation when I am on my own except to enjoy the time on the water.
Next year though I will be prepared.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2015 20:52:03 GMT -5
Go with Todd or Travis. Then go back the next day with your rental boat exactly where your guide took you. Heck...even a canoe with a trolling motor would work. Rig 2 poles with a 3 foot leader and some weight and hook them jumbos right through their nostrils. Keep em behind your boat moving at around 1 mph.
This maximizes your chance of getting you one on your own with little gear and no boat.
I really like the jig or artificial idea above, but that is yet another artform that requires much time on the water.
Most importantly, prepare a never ending line of BS to feed your GF. Mix in a nice dinner, a manicure and a professional massage. And bring that passion for fishing home and share it with her anyway you can.
This maximizes your chance of keeping your girlfriend around for this trip.
|
|
|
Post by craddockcreek on Jul 24, 2015 0:42:05 GMT -5
I noticed this weekend that one of the pontoons that Parkway Marina rents is set up to fish. Has rod holders, a trolling motor and a fish finder of some sort.
|
|
coddy
New Member
Posts: 43
|
Post by coddy on Aug 13, 2015 10:02:52 GMT -5
I have been going out with Kathy and Spike at least once or twice a year and had great success and they are always willing to give advice on where and how to fish. I normally rent a boat from www.smlboatrentals.com/ they have a couple of nice Hurricanes that have basic fish finders installed and a couple of rod holders. the other rental place for good fishing boats is www.hfhboats.com/ they have Pontoons with trolling motors and fish finders. I will be down at the lake that weekend staying at my outlaws at Bernard's
|
|
|
Post by ralpher on Aug 14, 2015 14:05:58 GMT -5
I booked a trip with Travis, thanks for all of the boat and guide intel.
I think I can sell my GF on renting a pontoon or deckboat because at least she can lay out and it sounds like I can score some of the critical bait components like trolling motor, fish finder, and rod holders so all I'd need is a cast net (DOH!), to learn how to throw it (DOH!!), and a bait tank (DOH!!!). I was up in NY and the local bait store sold alewives, but I thought I read somewhere on here that you can't buy alewives or shad. I am not ready to dump any significant money on a cast net or bait tank so it seems like I am pretty much relegated to buying jumbo minnows for light/down lines or pulling U-rigs without a retriever (which I assume will likely be a disaster for a newbie).
As long as Travis can turn us on to a couple of fish it will be a successful weekend.
|
|
R22
New Member
Posts: 339
|
Post by R22 on Aug 14, 2015 14:20:07 GMT -5
I booked a trip with Travis, thanks for all of the boat and guide intel. I think I can sell my GF on renting a pontoon or deckboat because at least she can lay out and it sounds like I can score some of the critical bait components like trolling motor, fish finder, and rod holders so all I'd need is a cast net (DOH!), to learn how to throw it (DOH!!), and a bait tank (DOH!!!). I was up in NY and the local bait store sold alewives, but I thought I read somewhere on here that you can't buy alewives or shad. I am not ready to dump any significant money on a cast net or bait tank so it seems like I am pretty much relegated to buying jumbo minnows for light/down lines or pulling U-rigs without a retriever (which I assume will likely be a disaster for a newbie). As long as Travis can turn us on to a couple of fish it will be a successful weekend. You will love Travis. Depending on the day you expect to be out on your own, post a message of your need, where you plan to be fishing and if you know what your rental looks like, someone on the board will likely share some bait. This is a very generous group. Good Luck!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2015 16:02:06 GMT -5
You will love Travis. Depending on the day you expect to be out on your own, post a message of your need, where you plan to be fishing and if you know what your rental looks like, someone on the board will likely share some bait. This is a very generous group. Good Luck! Don't know if I would post on the open board the location, as it will be where the guide took you and will be flooded with boats the next day....if Travis has a charter the next day, probably wouldn't appreciate being crowded out....... but by all means, let us know if you need bait.... if someone is close to ya.... they will share......
|
|