My Kerr lake striper story... it was fourth of July weekend and we were camped at Nutbush campground. We had our crowded boat like all the other folks that weekend at the lake. We fished really early until the lake was covered in water ski boats. Around noon, we tried some skiing too. I was on the skis and noticed a big striper making circles on the surface and I motioned with my arm over my head for the boat to circle. They did and when I got close to the fish, I let go of the tow rope. I kicked out of the skis and swam over to the big striper and grabbed it in the mouth and gills. I held it under the water until the boat came to pick me up. I said, "here!" and lifted it out and handed it to my buddy! He laughed and said, George, you just can't stop fishing can you? we went back to camp and I cleaned that striper and the folks who had the campsite near us sent one of their kids over with another good sized striper. The little boy said here y'all, daddy said you didnt have enough for everyone so he wants you to have this one too. I smile every time I remember that weekend. On the way home a couple days later, we stopped at a little store to get a soda and my buddy parked in a big puddle under my door, saying I figured you wanted to try your luck pulling a fish out of that puddle.... : )
@ It reminds me of a similar situation when I was 15. We used to camp on a crystal clear lake in NJ called Round Valley. We were bathing in the lake around chest high water. After rinsing soap from my head I looked down and saw a huge Smallmouth sitting right between my feet. I could see that his eyes were both white and blind. I didn’t want to move so I called for my brother to get me the landing net. My dad laughed and smirked with “yeah, sure” look on his face as I sunk the net and pulled a 4lb Smallmouth 😂😂. It must have felt that my legs were trees or cover or something. I released it and it went right back between my feet 🤣🤣. I actually have that all on video too!! It was 1987. I need to post that old stuff soon.
Very, informative video Mike. I have been fishing lately at Lake Whitney and it's been a struggle. The only striper I have found the birds gave them away. Short of that it's been tough. With this information I feel like I should have been running up in the river portion of the lake. I also like running points on one side and then moving a mile or other side. Seeing new water different temps etc. I experienced that Monday on our local lake Waco. Fish weren't where they normally are this time of year. Moved down the lake and they were piled up. Thanks for all you do and share. You're a top notch guy. Have a Merry Christmas!
The fish in my local lake act almost the same way. We have found that in the winter time they will chase the bait into the coves. You have got to find the right cove or it will be a bust. Fish have tails so you have got to look for them. Great advice!
Thanks Danny!! Great stuff! It’s really interesting how they migrate up and down the lake like they would in the ocean. Bigger fish especially feel the urge to migrate. Thanks brother!!🙏🙏🙏
Stripers can also be in narrow passage ways. Last year, I used a 1/16 oz white crappie jig with a white grub worm with procure trophy bass and a fly snap. Sadly when striper hit in the passage way by the dock it broke the fly snap. 🙄 after losing a striper that was 24 plus inches and a 4 lb or bigger smallie I ditched the fly snap. I put a 1/8 oz white crappie jig with a white grub worm with procure trophy bass. I still ended up catching 3plus lb smallies. This year has been tough for me. I moved spots lost a nice smallie on a 7 inch leader size 1 baitholder hook with a zero z too. Then a bobber 11 inches above where the leader tied to main line with procure trophy bass. The Smallie pulled bobber down, line was tight I lifted rod to set the hook the smallie came off. I checked hook the hook was brand new tied to the 7 inch leader the hook was dull. 🙄 off to buying better baitholder hooks. I hope these needle point owner baitholder hooks are better.
@@joegrande4848 that’s a great point brother! I know of a few great spots to catch Stripers from land because they are in intense bottlenecks. Any current at all and it’s ON!! I think you’ll love the Owner MUTU. Mustad demon needle points too. 👍👍. Let me know how they work for you 👍👍
Mike, thanks for the refresher. I agree about the summertime stripers; it seems to be the only season I can consistently find them. I look on sidescan regularly for shallow water fish fish on points and channel breaks, but I rarely find them there. I much more consistently find them suspended directly over deep channels, but as you mentioned, these fish are reluctant to bite, and my success rate is pretty poor. Often they will be nestled in among deep trees, which causes lost lures and rarely is the cost rewarded with a bite. Maybe it's just that they are so much more obvious on traditional sonar than on sidescan, but I think I'm still missing a piece of the puzzle in my searching.
If I was smart I would save this to my watch later list so I could refer back to it at different times of the year- I just saved it! I’m getting smarter😂😂😂 thanks for sharing videos Mike! I hope you know what it does to help fellow anglers! Especially me! Here’s a boom my friend 👊
Hey Mike. I run a nonprofit called Guiding Eyes Outdoors that takes blind people, veterans and first responders hunting and fishing. Here lately we’ve been having trouble finding consistent bait and stripers. I have a day trip this weekend and am hoping to show these guys a good time. We’re planning to fish the upper part of the lake. I’m open to and would appreciate some suggestions if you can. You’re welcome to contact me privately. We will be having to more trips this year on may 31-june 2 and July 12-14. On those trips we will be camping at the lower end of the lake.
😊Great content again, Mike...I'm near Gaston, Kerr, SML.ive been out with guides and caught striper but, never when i take my own boat out...If you're ever in the area, I'd like to witness all that know how...but, I just made a sizeable investment; The Minn Kota Riptide Terrova...gotta learn planers n stuff....anyway, I'm learning alot from your vids, just gotta put it all together.....
Thanks brother!! Water clarity can be a huge factor. I’m very familiar with Kerr. I know that mudline that creeps down through Clarksville. We took 3rd place and won biggest fish with over 100 teams fishing in an NSBA tournament. It was fall so fish were up above Clarksville. Day 2 there was a mudline just below the bridge. It had a sharp edge up against the clean water. We fished down lines w the biggest Gizzard Shad we could find. We surfed down the lake right on that edge and had great success. Of course it’s very different in winter and spring when we fish in 5 ft of muddy water way back in the creeks. The secret is to use the biggest bait you can catch. Get them up on the bank in 2-3ft of water. If there is wind, fish the bank that’s getting hit with waves. It churns the mud up and Gizzard Shad love it. The biggest bait has a large profile and is easier to locate. Add 3-4 glass beads above the swivel and shake the rod as you approach points and slow the trolling motor way down until you are off the point. The beads help the Stripers locate your bait when you shake them up. That’s what I do in the mud.
I fish Jordan lake some for stripes . They do make a fails run in the fall. Jordan lake does not have a huge amount of strippers , due to the water temperature getting so hot in the summer😊
Mike I live in a place we're the striped bass are stocke we don't get alot of 30lb fish the spoons you use will those work for smaller striper say 20inch fish or smaller
Absolutely. I have caught plenty of 15” fish on the 8” spoons. It’s important to use the size that closely matches the forage and not the Striper size. If you’re targeting Stripers that are feeding on 5-6” Shad or Herring I would go with the 6” flutter spoons. If you are targeting fish deeper than 40ft go with the 8”. I would definitely experiment with both sizes and a few colors. 👍👍👍
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
Fantastic video!
My Kerr lake striper story... it was fourth of July weekend and we were camped at Nutbush campground. We had our crowded boat like all the other folks that weekend at the lake. We fished really early until the lake was covered in water ski boats. Around noon, we tried some skiing too. I was on the skis and noticed a big striper making circles on the surface and I motioned with my arm over my head for the boat to circle. They did and when I got close to the fish, I let go of the tow rope. I kicked out of the skis and swam over to the big striper and grabbed it in the mouth and gills. I held it under the water until the boat came to pick me up. I said, "here!" and lifted it out and handed it to my buddy! He laughed and said, George, you just can't stop fishing can you? we went back to camp and I cleaned that striper and the folks who had the campsite near us sent one of their kids over with another good sized striper. The little boy said here y'all, daddy said you didnt have enough for everyone so he wants you to have this one too. I smile every time I remember that weekend. On the way home a couple days later, we stopped at a little store to get a soda and my buddy parked in a big puddle under my door, saying I figured you wanted to try your luck pulling a fish out of that puddle.... : )
@@trimbaker1893 I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT STORY! Well done brother!😁😁😁😁👍👍👍
@@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS Thanks, good stories should be told...
@@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS the striper had a propeller gash in its head. ( didnt seem to affect the flavor one bit!) : )
Definitely!!!
@ It reminds me of a similar situation when I was 15. We used to camp on a crystal clear lake in NJ called Round Valley. We were bathing in the lake around chest high water. After rinsing soap from my head I looked down and saw a huge Smallmouth sitting right between my feet. I could see that his eyes were both white and blind. I didn’t want to move so I called for my brother to get me the landing net. My dad laughed and smirked with “yeah, sure” look on his face as I sunk the net and pulled a 4lb Smallmouth 😂😂. It must have felt that my legs were trees or cover or something. I released it and it went right back between my feet 🤣🤣. I actually have that all on video too!! It was 1987. I need to post that old stuff soon.
Lake Martin Alabama has monsters too!!!
Very, informative video Mike. I have been fishing lately at Lake Whitney and it's been a struggle. The only striper I have found the birds gave them away. Short of that it's been tough. With this information I feel like I should have been running up in the river portion of the lake. I also like running points on one side and then moving a mile or other side. Seeing new water different temps etc. I experienced that Monday on our local lake Waco. Fish weren't where they normally are this time of year. Moved down the lake and they were piled up. Thanks for all you do and share. You're a top notch guy. Have a Merry Christmas!
Thank you brother!! I really appreciate that. 🙏🙏🙏😁
You da MAN! Thanks.
Good info. Thanks
Thanks Rodney!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏😁
Great and informative video. I learn more and more from you. Thank you 👍👍😊
I really appreciated that Kirk!!!🙏🙏😁
The fish in my local lake act almost the same way. We have found that in the winter time they will chase the bait into the coves. You have got to find the right cove or it will be a bust. Fish have tails so you have got to look for them. Great advice!
Thanks Danny!! Great stuff! It’s really interesting how they migrate up and down the lake like they would in the ocean. Bigger fish especially feel the urge to migrate. Thanks brother!!🙏🙏🙏
Most my life spent in NJ fishing the shore… learn the lake has been interesting & your videos help!
Great video as always bud. I get excited every time I get a notification
MY MAN!! Thanks brah!! Hopefully we can squeeze in a few lake trips before April. 👍👍👍
@@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERSdont tease me please me!!!! :)
Stripers can also be in narrow passage ways. Last year, I used a 1/16 oz white crappie jig with a white grub worm with procure trophy bass and a fly snap. Sadly when striper hit in the passage way by the dock it broke the fly snap. 🙄 after losing a striper that was 24 plus inches and a 4 lb or bigger smallie I ditched the fly snap. I put a 1/8 oz white crappie jig with a white grub worm with procure trophy bass. I still ended up catching 3plus lb smallies. This year has been tough for me. I moved spots lost a nice smallie on a 7 inch leader size 1 baitholder hook with a zero z too. Then a bobber 11 inches above where the leader tied to main line with procure trophy bass. The Smallie pulled bobber down, line was tight I lifted rod to set the hook the smallie came off. I checked hook the hook was brand new tied to the 7 inch leader the hook was dull. 🙄 off to buying better baitholder hooks. I hope these needle point owner baitholder hooks are better.
@@joegrande4848 that’s a great point brother! I know of a few great spots to catch Stripers from land because they are in intense bottlenecks. Any current at all and it’s ON!! I think you’ll love the Owner MUTU. Mustad demon needle points too. 👍👍. Let me know how they work for you 👍👍
Mike, thanks for the refresher. I agree about the summertime stripers; it seems to be the only season I can consistently find them. I look on sidescan regularly for shallow water fish fish on points and channel breaks, but I rarely find them there. I much more consistently find them suspended directly over deep channels, but as you mentioned, these fish are reluctant to bite, and my success rate is pretty poor. Often they will be nestled in among deep trees, which causes lost lures and rarely is the cost rewarded with a bite. Maybe it's just that they are so much more obvious on traditional sonar than on sidescan, but I think I'm still missing a piece of the puzzle in my searching.
I think I’ve watched this four or five times and every time I pick up something new.
Mike, If you ever get the chance fish Lewis Smith Lake in Bama. The lake is DEEP (250’) & has monster Stripers. Massive schools during the summer.
Hell yeah man! Ive heard some great things about that lake. Definitely need to fish there. How’s the bite in summer/early fall?
@@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS Summer & fall on LSL are the best for Striper.
Lake Martin Alabama too has giants!!!
Thanks for the advice. I live in SC and plan on going to Lake Russell this weekend and I’m going to try what you suggested.
Hartwell regular here. How was Russell?
Great advice Mike! We don't have lakes here in PEI, Canada but our rivers would be the equivalent to your lake education! Thanks a bunch dude!
That’s great brother!! I’d love to see pics of the river and your catch. 🙏👍👍👍👍😁
If I was smart I would save this to my watch later list so I could refer back to it at different times of the year- I just saved it! I’m getting smarter😂😂😂 thanks for sharing videos Mike! I hope you know what it does to help fellow anglers! Especially me!
Here’s a boom my friend 👊
I appreciate that my brother!! Hopefully Lincoln will be catching Stripers with his pops on the east coast in a few months 😜
yes sir@@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS
I was wondering , many in the lake and unable to find em
Go SHALLOW young man!!! 😁. On points Way Back in the creeks. Start in skinny water in back and pull forward out towards main lake 👍👍
Hey Mike. I run a nonprofit called Guiding Eyes Outdoors that takes blind people, veterans and first responders hunting and fishing. Here lately we’ve been having trouble finding consistent bait and stripers. I have a day trip this weekend and am hoping to show these guys a good time. We’re planning to fish the upper part of the lake. I’m open to and would appreciate some suggestions if you can. You’re welcome to contact me privately. We will be having to more trips this year on may 31-june 2 and July 12-14. On those trips we will be camping at the lower end of the lake.
Shoot me an email. I think I can help. Sounds like a great cause brother! Mikesmedley9@gmail.com
@@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS email sent. Thank you
well done professor
😊Great content again, Mike...I'm near Gaston, Kerr, SML.ive been out with guides and caught striper but, never when i take my own boat out...If you're ever in the area, I'd like to witness all that know how...but, I just made a sizeable investment; The Minn Kota Riptide Terrova...gotta learn planers n stuff....anyway, I'm learning alot from your vids, just gotta put it all together.....
Thanks Mike! How do you feel water color affects striper fishing? Kerr has been really muddy lately. I appreciate the content, as always!
Thanks brother!! Water clarity can be a huge factor. I’m very familiar with Kerr. I know that mudline that creeps down through Clarksville. We took 3rd place and won biggest fish with over 100 teams fishing in an NSBA tournament. It was fall so fish were up above Clarksville. Day 2 there was a mudline just below the bridge. It had a sharp edge up against the clean water. We fished down lines w the biggest Gizzard Shad we could find. We surfed down the lake right on that edge and had great success. Of course it’s very different in winter and spring when we fish in 5 ft of muddy water way back in the creeks. The secret is to use the biggest bait you can catch. Get them up on the bank in 2-3ft of water. If there is wind, fish the bank that’s getting hit with waves. It churns the mud up and Gizzard Shad love it. The biggest bait has a large profile and is easier to locate. Add 3-4 glass beads above the swivel and shake the rod as you approach points and slow the trolling motor way down until you are off the point. The beads help the Stripers locate your bait when you shake them up. That’s what I do in the mud.
I fish Jordan lake some for stripes . They do make a fails run in the fall. Jordan lake does not have a huge amount of strippers , due to the water temperature getting so hot in the summer😊
Mike I live in a place we're the striped bass are stocke we don't get alot of 30lb fish the spoons you use will those work for smaller striper say 20inch fish or smaller
Absolutely. I have caught plenty of 15” fish on the 8” spoons. It’s important to use the size that closely matches the forage and not the Striper size. If you’re targeting Stripers that are feeding on 5-6” Shad or Herring I would go with the 6” flutter spoons. If you are targeting fish deeper than 40ft go with the 8”. I would definitely experiment with both sizes and a few colors. 👍👍👍
Chum they will come