hybrid stripers cold water

[Geezer]

greetings and merry Christmas from Athens, Ohio.

I often fish for hybrid stripers in the Ohio river. I have a couple questions maybe someone could provide some guidance.

I have a favorite spot which is a backwater about couple hundred yards long about 150 yards from the bank to the main current line right along the main channel ( depth about 30').I catch fish mostly between 12 and 24 '.In the colder season this spot holds Hybrid stripers, white bass, gar out the ying yang, drum and a few sugers.

Generally i catch the fish with 1/4 and 3/8 oz hair jigs, I try blade baits, jigging Raps but mostly the hair jigs produce the best. This last trip, Dec 26, the bite was reaaaly light , mostly it just felt heavy when I started a retrieve, I snagged a few on the gill covers and it sure felt like sometimes I could feel the line or jig hit a fish but no take. I ended up catching about 18 hybrids and 4 drum. The water temp was 41F and I could see my bait about 3' down ( it seems best fishing with about 1' vis.)

I guess what I would like to read about is other peoples experience fishing for hydrids, stripers or white bass in colder temperatures. Anybody try a drop shot for hybrids?

[MuskyAddict]

Hi Dan,

I share your pain when it comes to fishing cold water. I am done fishing open water in MN but I found that the bite only lasted 15-20 minutes when I was fishing water temps in the low 40’s. Trolling only worked for pike. Casting was the only way to get the fish to react.

I think Mr. Perry would remind you that depth and speed determines 80% of our fishing success and failure. Another hint in what you shared is that the water color was becoming clearer. Thus, more light penetration and likely deeper fish.

There is a Spoonplugger with a YouTube channel called Dennis Pritchard Outdoors. Dennis trolls Spoonplugs for white, stripped and hybrids. While casting a school he usually uses blade baits or flutter spoons. I’m sure there are several in this forum who can help you dial in the bite on the Ohio but it probably is worth reaching out to Dennis on his channel for his thoughts.

Good luck,
Ken

[John Bales]

For many years, we have fished a deep clear lake here in Indiana for white bass starting around Thanksgiving and good till ice up. Best spots were deep structure situations from 50 to 65 feet deep. Vertical jigging with jigging spoons, blade baits, heavy hair jigs, drop shots, or number 9 jigging rapala all worked. Fish caught from those depths all die so once a limit was caught, you had to quit or fish for another species. Just like any situation, every day is different on depth and speeds so you always have to check that part out. Very easy to catch when they decide to bite and not so great when you go all day and they never seem to get active. That's the way it is. Not a hard fish to catch for most of the time and a lot of fun when you get them going. Its all depth and speed all the time. In heavy current, a heavy weight with a dropper off the main line with a floating rapala works really well in the deeper holes below a dam. Weights in our situation were 3/4 to an ounce. Speeds were slow at times but when they were active, a hard rip and a pause at the end of the drop would get a hit every time. Sounds like you already know what your doing. John A bit more........ Buck told us that we must become a good troller and caster. It takes both. A little common sense goes a long way in letting you know what to do in a fishing situation. The only way to judge yourself is the catch at the end of the day. A few years on the water and good spoonplugging knowledge can give you the satisfaction your looking for in time. It is well worth the time and effort.