Hold over Stripers. Who's fishing
 

I can not wait any longer. I think I'm heading out next week if I get some free time in search of holdover stripers. Has anybody been out yet? This will be my first time heading out this early in search of stripers. Anybody have any tips or suggestions on lure choose, color? All and any Imput welcome

Pearl weightless zoom flukes. Drag them across the bottom
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Went to derby friday night. My friend landed 3 stripers. 1 @ 22" 1 @ 26" 1 @ 35". All on a yellow bomber. He also lost 3 fish. I hooked nothing. Was using live pond shiners on a balloon. Had the balloon jump a few times but no hookups :(. Might go back out tonight.

Went back out last night. Tide was low. Fished for half hour then went for pizza. Went back for about 1.5 hrs on the incoming tide. SKUNKED>>>>

obviously not looking for location, but may i ask what state please?:devil2:

Just my opinion but with all the talk about the Striper population being in trouble would it not make more sense to let the holdover rest?

They are stessed enough at this time of year anyway.

Good to see people are out there, and it's not me thinking crazy thoughts about fishing. But one question, what state? Lol
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:agree:

I'm not out targeting them, but in years past Pearl white Cocahoe Minnows was my bait of choice for real early Bass.

I read a book about hold-over stripers by Al Anderson. He did a ton of tagging in the Thames for a major research project. He has a strong science background. It is his contention that catch and release in very cold conditions puts less stress on a fish than the same process in warm water. For what its worth.

BTW he tagged and released 1000s of stripers in the Thames. Pretty interesting book too.

I agree that the winter bass , IMO look to be healthier & have more energy than catching one in July /August / especially in you fishing inside ;;
I can count on one hand the number of bass I,ve seen belly up in the cold months ...I can,t count as high as the number I,vs seen in the [normal] season ;;

If winds lays down / I,ll do a early trip tonight ><><

CT baby

I might try where the pequonnock empties out into the sound in bpt sometime this week. The word is that last february dudes were accidentally snagging stripers there they were so thick.

Drove close to one of the holdover spots today...looked COOOLD!

To get back to the original train of thought for this thread, I find that pearl, white and silver work well for early season stripers. What type of lure is up to you.
By early, I mean March and April.
The key is finding where they might be heading when the sun warms up the water in the shallows.
I have a couple of "go-to" spots that have dark muddy bottoms that warm up rather nicely in late winter/early spring.
I have gotten stripers as early as the first weekend of March right through April. Just like in summer, you also need to know the tides for optimum opportunity.

Tim - are you driving far for those fish, or are they closer to home? Don't want to know exactly where - I already have somewhere nearby planned for next month, though I don't expect to catch anything.

NICE NITE TONIGHT ....... GOOD SIZE FISH ><><<

Nice fish clam man!

Went tonight. Hooked a big one that put up a real good fight. Ended up retrieving only the lip of my x-rap :( . My friend got a nice 32"er which is buried in the snowbank outside til tomorrow for filet :)

I haven't caught anything smaller than a keeper since the beginning of december. I love the housy!!!