DHaun Striper lure

[DHaun]

The striper lure I have been using is as follows:

I know other lures work too, but with 8 boats out there that day I wanted to be sure CFF members had a good shot, so I decided not post the lure...or the location. The fish have thinned-out quite a bit but this might be useful if you happen across a few big swirls in the water

I was using a Rapala X-Rap, suspending. Fished very slow with occasional twitches near the birds with a semi-loose drag so the hooks would not straighten out (I have since started using larger hooks after losing 2 fish). I threw it out there and left it out for as long as possible, sometimes just only twitching it in once place and not reeling it in when they were feeding around it. They clobbered it! I was using 30lb power pro (8lb diameter) and a 20lb florocarbon shock leader. Note: casting distance really counts with these fish. Thanks for posting reports on CFF and Good Luck!

WalMart has them - its blue like in the picture, size 10, and suspending.
http://www.theshadtaxi.com/graphics/tackle/xrap.jpg

 

[rsimms]

Thanks for sharing David. I for one have benefited, and appreciate, your hard-earned knowledge. For what it's worth however, the only stripers I caught, hooked, or saw caught or hooked were on Sassy Shad-type plastic baits. But as we've discussed, I think the true difference in having confidence is your lure no matter what it is. If you've got confidence, you'll fish it harder, and more effectively and it will work for you.

On another note, I have been curious. What kind of script or methodology are you using to generate the "Fishing Reports List?" Is it simply measuring members screen names that file anything in the "Fishing Reports" category, or are there other parameters?

 

[Bprice]

Thanks for the post David... I've read that the X Rap is a dynamic lure.  now we have proof.  Congrats on your great month of fishing.

 

[bassnbug]

thanks for the report, i will be purchasing several next trip to walmart, i am also looking to buy a rod and reel combo that can handle those monsters,,any advice i prefer spinning but am just learning to use baitcast reels as well.

 

[Fishin Fool]

Thanks for creating this forum David! I haven't had any luck chasing the stripers down but information like the kind you posted is exactly where I need to start. Are you guys just looking for flocks of birds over the water? Does that always happen with stripers? Just curious because I have never actively fished for them before. I have hooked a few by accident but never have targeted them. Thanks again!

 

[DHaun]

rsimms - 1/1/2008 5:02 PM
On another note, I have been curious. What kind of script or methodology are you using to generate the "Fishing Reports List?" Is it simply measuring members screen names that file anything in the "Fishing Reports" category, or are there other parameters?

The script currently queries the database looking for members who have authored (rather than replied to) 3 or more fishing reports over the past 3 months. It then takes all those members and creates a special user group from them, which only has access to this forum. If a member makes a post under fishing reports that is not an actual report it typically gets moved to general discussion or off-topic by me or a moderator and would not be counted in this query.

 

[DHaun]

Fishin Fool - 1/1/2008 5:35 PM

Thanks for creating this forum David! I haven't had any luck chasing the stripers down but information like the kind you posted is exactly where I need to start. Are you guys just looking for flocks of birds over the water? Does that always happen with stripers? Just curious because I have never actively fished for them before. I have hooked a few by accident but never have targeted them. Thanks again!

Yes - I look for birds in a tight formation hovering and feeding on a very small area. This normally indicates a fish is busting shad under them from my brief experience fishing birds on Chickamauga. I learned yesterday that birds randomly diving across a larger area over an acre of bait typically do not indicate the presence of large fish near the surface. They look a certain way packed tight together excited and taking turns diving into a very small area when a fish is busting shad under them.

Swirls are normally visible just under the birds if things go well...and that's when the sight casting for big striper addiction takes hold I am careful not to spook the birds until I see where they are landing in the water to eat stunned shad so I idle in and kill the big motor about 2-3 casts away and troll on in. They normally fly off as soon as I cast but the fish keep swirling long enough for me to get a few casts in.

 

[NRG]

DHaun I keep harpin suspending jerkbaits / crankbaits for cold weather fish, maybe with your success someone will listen emoSmile emoScratch



You can aslo make your own suspending baits out of jerkbaits ( minnow type baits ) by using suspending dots, self adhesive lead dots, or by drilling a hole in your plastic hollow minnow baits like Bill Normans, Bomber, etc add in split shot until you get a neutral buoyancy, and also adds rattle to baits, or you can add more to have them slowly sink. then use fast setting epoxy paste to refill the small hole! make the hole as close to center of bait as possible, and use only enuff epoxy to fill hole to keep bait balanced ( Use tape to test ) until you get the buoyancy you need or want, then seal it up after you get results you want can do test in sink or bath tub ! emoThumbsup

 

[Louie B]

I've caught some huge hybrids @ Carters on the X-Rap jerkbaits David. It's a great bait. I started using it a couple of years ago when Rapala came out w/ it. I've caught tons of spots on it also, I've even caught Walleye on the X-rap.

Thanks for sharing.

LB

 

[hl&s]

And to think I had that exact lure in the boat Saturday and NEVER tied it on !!!emoBang emoBang

Thanks for sharing.emoThanks

 

[Nickajack Angler]

Coach whipped out this puppy today where we thought a spot or two would roll up on it. Then we had large fish swirling behind us... he tossed out a few times, but to no avail. The water was very clear and we spent some time studying the action and technique. Solid info Dave. Thanks for sharing. And yes, the birds were out today, but above the dam, actually above the green bridge and I pulled over to watch them. It's cool to see them startle and jump in spots where fish are boiling. Very cool forum. Though 3 posts may be thin and bring in volume to this special area. Just my .02 cents, but I am fairly new. I hope I bring value. I talk alot and type about 135 wpm, so my posts may be a tad bit longer. I enjoy writing... and fishing. Thanks for the effort and intrepid action to create more value for all of us.

 

[jon the fisherman]

Good info David....I may go buy a few next time I'm out.I have been stuck on the Bomber Long A for bass, but they are getting harder to find.

This new forum is a great idea...kind of eliminates the "lurkers"emoThumbsup

 

[SpurHunter]

THis is a perfect idea David.

  I am behind you 100% on it. </p>

As far as what I caught mine on, Richard already said it. It was a Pearl colored Sassy Shad type bait with a spinner. I looked the other day at a coule stores to try and find the correct name and get a pic, but couldnt find any. I would take a pic now, but I gave the only one I had to Richard that day when he dropped me off to go chase them again. </p>

 

[Guest]

That is the first X-Rap that I had bought, thinking that it was just another gimic lure from Rapala. The only lure that I really like from them are the original Rapala and the DT cranks, but I went ahead and bought one several months ago.

The first time I tied it on, I brought it back to the bank, like I do with the Smithwich jerks that I use, and no more than 6 ft. from the edge of the bank, 2 largemouth came up to hit it. They were fighting one another to get to it.

From that moment on, I was sold. I have yet to purchase anymore, but now that I think about it, I will go to Wally World this weekend and get a couple more.

 

[BackOnTheWater]

Thanks for sharing, David ! You are a rookie's best friend !</p>

Maybe this "secret" forum can help even a

 like me find more fish and allow me to contribute more to the forum !</p>

This is truly THE BEST FISHING FORUM EVER ANYWHERE!</p>