Seasonal Movements of SML Striped Bass / Artificial Tactics
Nov 14, 2013 15:21:07 GMT -5
jb4sml, 31Airborne, and 3 more like this
Post by SlightlyInsane on Nov 14, 2013 15:21:07 GMT -5
Early spring action starts around late February, as water warming above 45 degrees draws bait and stripers to the shallows. Most fish are found above Markers R22 and B12; prime spots include Indian, Beaverdam and Gills Creeks and Three Quarters Point. Focus on prominent points. At dawn/dusk, cast a 1/4 ounce feather jig or topwater plug in 5-to-10-foot depths; during daytime, locate schools of stripers and camp over them with live shad.
By mid-April some pre-spawn stripers are converging on the major spawning site in Cedar Keys. At dawn/dusk and especially at night, hit shoreline points from Marker R2 to Cedar Keys with bucktail jigs, Rat-L-Traps or other mid/deep running crankbait lures. Spawing usually peaks on the full moon in May.
From late May through July, alewife/shad swarm to the banks at night to spawn, and the stripers follow. Work major points in the lower part of both river-arms (Marker R12 to around to Marker B10). Waking a "Redfin" or "Rapala Vampire" on topwater can be devastating. Stripers can also be caught on "Zoom Super Flukes" fished shallow or mid depth. Surface "breaks" can pop-up anytime/anywhere, but particularily at dawn between Vista Point and the Dam. Move in quietly and cast a bucktail jig, Sassy Shad, Fluke or other topwater crankbaits..
Striped bass spread up both river arms in August and September, to the "S-Curve" sections (Markers R12 to R22 and B-10 to B-22. Key areas include the Islands at B-13 and lower Walton Creek. Baitfish suspend near the top of the thermocline (20 to 30 feet deep) for much of the day, often near standing timber. Locate bait/stripers and troll flutter spoons like Sutton 88's from downriggers. If you prefer casting, go with 1/4 or 3/8 ounce feather jigs or bucktails.
From mid-October to mid-December, large schools of bait and hungry stripers move to the upper parts of the river arms (above MarkersR-36 and B26) and feeder creeks like Beaverdam, Indian and Standiford. At dawn, dusk, and at night, beat the banks with a Redfin, flukes or bucktail jig. In daytime, use live shad in 10 to 25 feet of water.
During the coldest weather of January/February, the stripers drop to 30-50 foot depths on major points, humps, and around submerged timber, especially in the "S-Curves" section and main creeks like Gills, Bull Run, and Craddock. Vertical jig a 3/4 ounce Hopkins "Shorty" spoon or Zoom Super Fluke, or cast/countdown a 3/8 ounce feather jig or bucktail jig.
By mid-April some pre-spawn stripers are converging on the major spawning site in Cedar Keys. At dawn/dusk and especially at night, hit shoreline points from Marker R2 to Cedar Keys with bucktail jigs, Rat-L-Traps or other mid/deep running crankbait lures. Spawing usually peaks on the full moon in May.
From late May through July, alewife/shad swarm to the banks at night to spawn, and the stripers follow. Work major points in the lower part of both river-arms (Marker R12 to around to Marker B10). Waking a "Redfin" or "Rapala Vampire" on topwater can be devastating. Stripers can also be caught on "Zoom Super Flukes" fished shallow or mid depth. Surface "breaks" can pop-up anytime/anywhere, but particularily at dawn between Vista Point and the Dam. Move in quietly and cast a bucktail jig, Sassy Shad, Fluke or other topwater crankbaits..
Striped bass spread up both river arms in August and September, to the "S-Curve" sections (Markers R12 to R22 and B-10 to B-22. Key areas include the Islands at B-13 and lower Walton Creek. Baitfish suspend near the top of the thermocline (20 to 30 feet deep) for much of the day, often near standing timber. Locate bait/stripers and troll flutter spoons like Sutton 88's from downriggers. If you prefer casting, go with 1/4 or 3/8 ounce feather jigs or bucktails.
From mid-October to mid-December, large schools of bait and hungry stripers move to the upper parts of the river arms (above MarkersR-36 and B26) and feeder creeks like Beaverdam, Indian and Standiford. At dawn, dusk, and at night, beat the banks with a Redfin, flukes or bucktail jig. In daytime, use live shad in 10 to 25 feet of water.
During the coldest weather of January/February, the stripers drop to 30-50 foot depths on major points, humps, and around submerged timber, especially in the "S-Curves" section and main creeks like Gills, Bull Run, and Craddock. Vertical jig a 3/4 ounce Hopkins "Shorty" spoon or Zoom Super Fluke, or cast/countdown a 3/8 ounce feather jig or bucktail jig.
