Summer stripers can be very exciting and they are surprisingly easy to find on big lakes. The striper grow at the rate of more than 3 pounds a year. After they reach 4 years old, they head up the rivers on an attempt to spawn. This spawning run takes a heavy toll on the fish and they come back down lake very hungry. After the spawning run stripers come back down lake and they are ready to eat almost anything in sight. There is one other factor the striper fishermen needs know to catch these stripers. These fish very sensitive to light. Early each day or at night will be the best times to catch these fish actively feeding.

Once the stripers are back in the main lake there are great opportunities to catch not only a trophy fish, but numbers as well. The shad populations are the food source. Find the bait and the stripers will be close by. Long points and deep humps on the main lake are the best places to look for summer stripers. Since the main forage is shad, these small bait fish spawn on large rocks on bridges and around the dam areas. Studies have revealed that stripers eat shad almost exclusively and these little fish spawn on these rocks. But there is the question of light penetration and the best times to catch feeding stripers right now is right at daylight and dusk. These fish feed on the surface in the early morning hours taking advantage of the low light conditions. But after the sun strikes the water, stripers head to the deep main lake standing timber.

Both live and artificial baits can catch stripers. The best live bait is always the shad that can be netted in the coves in the lake. But shiners, bream and bass minnows as well as cut bait can also draw a strike from a hungry striper. Using a heavy two ounce weight on a down line with a 3 foot leader makes fishing live bait very effective. Be sure to keep the bait above the schools of bait for the stripers. With any top water action casting artificial lures for stripers can also be productive. Almost any shad colored top water lure, buck tail jigs and even regular bass casting lures will get the attention of these stripers. shad and chrome colors in the baits work well. Larger baits as long a 7 inch Red Fins take these fish when they are feeding. Be sure to cast rig into the action to insure a hookup. Just get to the lake at or even before the sun comes up for the best action on top water lures. Once the action on top dies off, head to the mouth of the major creeks and find the shad schools. Catching 5 to 10 fish up to 15 pounds in these schools is not uncommon.