In Case You Were Wondering

The world record striped bass was caught September 21, 1982 and was 78 lbs 8 oz...Oklahoma Record 47 lb 8 oz on the Illinois River 1996.

Want to know how to marry your striper?... Learn how to "Tie The Knot"

Since I've been using the Palomar Knot, I have rarely had line break, even with a big fish.  "The" easiest yet strongest knot I've ever tied.  It can even be done in the dark just by feel.  Nice when you're out from 10 pm-12 am as stripers are very nocturnal.  Watch the video here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmXigW2xRCg

The Gear

I have a Shimano Stradic 6000 but would like to get a Stradic 8000fi.  A great reel is essential for bigger stripers.  Drag is everything when trying to land big fish in a pretty stiff river current.

The line I like to use is Cajun Fire Line.  I use 17 lb test.

As far as hooks go, I like to use a 5/0 size Mustad hook.  That seems to be about the right size.

The Pesky Spoonbill

Swimming side by side the prized striped bass is the pesky spoonbill.  This fish eats small algae plant life and therefore only gets caught by snagging.  Most common when using bucktail jigs.  After about the 3rd one, believe me, you don't snag them on purpose.  They can take you for a ride for sure, however, you would rather use your energy on a 20+ pound striper.

Lazy Afternoon on the Kayak

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlxGWgHfPH4&playnext=1&list=PL95D9B20B53DDDDF4

What They Like

Hands down, live shad, when you can get them throwing your cast net on location is the best thing to present to a hungry striper.  Ones that are in the 4-inch range are perfect, however, a 6-inch one may yield the biggest pigs in the pond.

Another that works well in early April before the live bait moves in would be a 1-2 oz bucktail jig.  White, white with red head, chartruse and white/blue all seem to work well.

In July, when the river is down and the water is warm, a friend of mine, Ben goes for the Zara Spook topwater lure.  Can't beat the explosion on top of the water when a 15-20 lb fish decides to attack.

Big Flathead

Not a striper, but about a 35 pound flathead catfish that my son Luke caught April 2010 on about a 6" live shad.

Hybrid Striped Bass

Hybrid on the line!  Caught 2 big hybrids, 11 pound and 12 pound 2 oz in April of last year.  Lighter in color than the striped bass and the tell tale broken pattern on the lateral lines is how you tell the difference.

Sucessful candidate being loaded in transport tank on truck.  Females are stripped of their eggs and manually fertilized with milt from a male sandbass.  That is how a hybrid bass is produced.  They are a sterile fish and cannot reproduce in the wild, so every year this process is repeated during the striper spawn which occurs about the 3rd week of April.

Tube being inserted in female to retrieve eggs to be looked at under microscope.  Other striper who "passed" the spawn test being given a hormone injection to relieve the stress of the shocking to capture and the handling on the bank.

Collected fish on the bank in portable tanks for weighing and checking eggs under microscope.  Fish has to be within 12-16 hrs of spawing to be a candidate.

Wildlife Department shocking the waters at Tulsa's low water dam to collect female stripers for the hybrid program.

For Jim B, who may have missed his calling as a striper guide.

The spawn of 2010 was on at the low water dam.  Mid to upper 20's on the big fish of the spring.  Looking forward to breaking into the 30's with Jim in April 2011.