Stripers with Dr Phillip, WB, 10-26-06

[drumking]

Dr Phillip and I made another run up to Watts Bar this morning for about 1 hour 45 minutes of Striper fishing. We landed 6 with the smallest one being 9.8 pounds and the largest being 18.2 pounds. I had 3 over 15 pounds and lost 3 more fish and one of them was probably bigger than any that we caught this morning. Had it one about 5-6 minutes and it just pulled loose about 40 yards from the boat. Dr Phillip had the 9.8 and another right at 12.0 pounds. 3/4 oz jigs with plastic trailers did the trick this morning.

We probably would have done better, but there was a young guy in a bass boat running wide open right through the fish. Before he came, we were catching them on every drift. His trip through the fish spooked them and we only managed 2 more fish the rest of the morning. I politely asked him not to run through the fish and he complied. He just didn't know any better.

 

[foodsaver]

man you sure know what you are doing on the stripers!

 

[drumking]

I've had a lot of practice, Foodsaver.emoBigsmile emoGeezer

 

[Gator]

Congratulations again on a fine day of fishing. I love to see those pictures.
Gator

 

[venom295pe]

That some great lookin fish there. congratulations on a good day of fishing.

 

[fisherpal2k]

Good job Drumking! Fine looking pics of the fish. What size line do you use when you fish for them?

 

[Davo]

Man I think your scales are off. That fish looks bigger than 18.2, but then again it could also be why I catch so many 5 pounders that only weigh 2 pounds at the weigh in.

 

[drumking]

Davo - 10/26/2006 9:27 PM

Man I think your scales are off. That fish looks bigger than 18.2, but then again it could also be why I catch so many 5 pounders that only weigh 2 pounds at the weigh in.

In the spring, these fish could easily weigh a lot more. A few days ago, Dr Phillip caught a striper that weighed 21+ pounds, but the fish was 39 1/2 inches long. Usually, when a striper gets to be about 30 inches long, it is 1 pound per inch. The fish hadn't been eating for a long time I guess. Summer stress has these fish skinny at this time of year. They are still strong as an ox though. What fight these critters put up.

Fisherpal, I use Trilene Big game in 20 pound low vis green. Very strong and handles these fish very well. 7.0 med-hvy quantam rods and ambassadeur reels. 5500 C-3s. I pour my own shadhead jigs and powder paint them either chartreuse or hot pink. I then add plastic trailers in pearl color. One little thing that I do is take a yellow magic marker and drawer a stripe down the sides. Sassy shads, flukes etc are my favorites. There are other more traditional striper jigs that catch fish, but I just don' have a desire to try them. If they were any better than what I use, I don't know if I could stand it. LOLemoBigsmile emoGeezer

 

[Tileman]

Nice catch, are photos of same fish?

 

[TennesseeTalker]

PRETTY STRIPER! PRETTY PRETTY PRETTY!!!

GOOD DRUMKING! GOOD GOOD GOOD!!!



You truly are my vision of a fisherman!

TT

 

[Buoy-Master]

Wow...your trips out there are producing bigger fish everytime!! I gotta try for Stripers one day.</p>

Great report! Sweet pics!

</p>

 

[Fishing machine]

That sure is some good looking fish Drumking. emoThumbsup
At the map study, if I remember right, emoScratch you said that you didn't work your bait, you just drifted with it. Is this the way that you caught these? Question, can I take my pontoon boat below the dam ( chick ) and catch stripers this way. If so, when is the best time to go?emoScratch emoScratch And what bait would you use there?

 

[drumking]

Tileman - 10/27/2006 7:49 AM

Nice catch, are photos of same fish?

No, one is 18.2 and the other is 15.7. emoGeezer We released another 15 pounder and brought a 9.8 and 11.7 home for the Dr to eat.

 

[drumking]

Fishing machine - 10/27/2006 9:10 AM

That sure is some good looking fish Drumking. emoThumbsup
At the map study, if I remember right, emoScratch you said that you didn't work your bait, you just drifted with it. Is this the way that you caught these? Question, can I take my pontoon boat below the dam ( chick ) and catch stripers this way. If so, when is the best time to go?emoScratch emoScratch And what bait would you use there?

I can't recall a pontoon boat ever doing what I do up there, but I suppose that you could. Just get into a stream below the turbines and drift back down. Below the Chick would cause me to be a little uneasy because of the short drift before you reach the railroad supports. If you can avoid ramming them on the way back down, then by all means try it sometime. Best times to fish there is at first and last light.

The water is more shallow below the Chick and there isn't nearly as many fish there, but at times they can be caught. Redfins seem to work below Chick pretty well, but I always use jigs. Cast slightly upstream and just let them drift in the current and winding just enough to keep the slack out of the line. Just above the power lines on the east side is where most of my strikes occur there. On the other side, most of the strikes come pretty high up, just below the wingwall down to about the rockpile that you can see most of the time. Be sure not to run your big motor through the fish, especially up there because of the shallow water. Run around the fish, slip back into the stream up high, then drift. Hope this helps you catch more fish.emoGeezer

 

[Fishing machine]

Thanks for your helpemoScratch I may try this before too long

 

[Fat Albert]

When things (you know what) calm down can I go???? please,please, beg,beg...

 

[drumking]

Fat Albert - 10/27/2006 2:10 PM

When things (you know what) calm down can I go???? please,please, beg,beg...

First chance that you get, I'll put you on top of the list.emoGeezer

 

[Guest]

I wanna be next after Fat Albert. I can be rigged and ready in a flash. As long as I'm home that is.

Cheez

 

[jwateacher3]

DK want you catch some crappie that big?emoCool That big one looks bigger that 18 lbs. Sure must have been fun to catch. Keep up the good fishing and thanks for sharing the pictures with us.emoWorthy