Shad and Striper Fishing

The Shad make an annual run up our rivers from the ocean in early March through early May. They are hard fighting and fun to catch on flies, shad darts, or spoons. The "poor man's tarpon" is one fish you shouldn't miss each year for the spawn !

Stripers are one of those species that have been highly targeted over the last several years with heavy restrictions to improve the overall population. The efforts have worked phenomenally and the 2 per person per day rule can keep us enjoying them with an easy conscience for years to come. Although ... if you ask me ... I believe the commercial fisheries had more to do with the demise of the striper than the recreational anglers, but nonetheless ... it has worked. Maybe one day soon they will ease the restrictions in the Chesapeake Bay, so you can take home more than 2 fish after 3 hours of driving and $500 later to go out on the bay ! But this page is mainly for freshwater species, and you don't have to go out to the bay to catch stripers. Stripers are anadromous ... which means they can live in both fresh and salt water ... a trait only few fish possess. This means that you can find Chesapeake Bay stripers in every one of the rivers that make up its' tributaries. Of course, there are many large bodies of water in this state of Virginia that hold "landlocked" striper. My focus is more on the rivers. Last month I worked tirelessly, sometimes fishing till past 3am ... to get my trophy striper. My partner got one 32 lbs and 21 lbs, but I only managed a 12 pounder ! Why they call it fishing and not catching ! hahahaha .... With what I learned this year I don't believe I will have a problem getting him next year ... on the river that is. You can get trophies from lakes, but a much taller order. On to the tips .... one of the best striper lures is the roadrunner, but you need bigger and heavier ones than what you use for crappie. I tip them with a pearl sassy shad plastic body. You can cast them, but I prefer to troll to cover water and improve odds ... and save my shoulder and arms from all the casting ! White/Silver/Red ratt-l-traps and crankbaits will work also. Match the hatch ! Low light during dusk and dawn are the best times to throw lures for striper ... and remember ... small baits will work, too ... even flies and shad darts ! So make sure you're tackle is appropriate or you can have happen to you what happened to me ... straightened hooks ! Night time is also a great bite for stripers. Use a bottom rig just like catfishing, with a slide weight and heavy swivel attached to a 18-24" 50lb mono leader with size 8 odd circle hooks. Shad, White Perch and live Eels are all good bait. Use heavy tackle with baitrunner style reels or baitcasting "clickers". You want the fish to really take it and run before engaging drag .... they will spit it if they feel you !!! There are 50 pounders running up the rivers each year to spawn .. next year ONE of them is MINE !!!



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	Shad & Striper Fishing
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Shad and Striper Fishing The Shad make an annual run up our rivers from the ocean in early March through early May. They are hard fighting and fun to catch on flies, shad darts, or spoons. The "poor man's tarpon" is one fish you shouldn't miss each year for the spawn ! Stripers are one of those species that have been highly targeted over the last several years with heavy restrictions to improve the overall population. The efforts have worked phenomenally and the 2 per person per day rule can keep us enjoying them with an easy conscience for years to come. Although ... if you ask me ... I believe the commercial fisheries had more to do with the demise of the striper than the recreational anglers, but nonetheless ... it has worked. Maybe one day soon they will ease the restrictions in the Chesapeake Bay, so you can take home more than 2 fish after 3 hours of driving and $500 later to go out on the bay ! But this page is mainly for freshwater species, and you don't have to go out to the bay to catch stripers. Stripers are anadromous ... which means they can live in both fresh and salt water ... a trait only few fish possess. This means that you can find Chesapeake Bay stripers in every one of the rivers that make up its' tributaries. Of course, there are many large bodies of water in this state of Virginia that hold "landlocked" striper. My focus is more on the rivers. Last month I worked tirelessly, sometimes fishing till past 3am ... to get my trophy striper. My partner got one 32 lbs and 21 lbs, but I only managed a 12 pounder ! Why they call it fishing and not catching ! hahahaha .... With what I learned this year I don't believe I will have a problem getting him next year ... on the river that is. You can get trophies from lakes, but a much taller order. On to the tips .... one of the best striper lures is the roadrunner, but you need bigger and heavier ones than what you use for crappie. I tip them with a pearl sassy shad plastic body. You can cast them, but I prefer to troll to cover water and improve odds ... and save my shoulder and arms from all the casting ! White/Silver/Red ratt-l-traps and crankbaits will work also. Match the hatch ! Low light during dusk and dawn are the best times to throw lures for striper ... and remember ... small baits will work, too ... even flies and shad darts ! So make sure you're tackle is appropriate or you can have happen to you what happened to me ... straightened hooks ! Night time is also a great bite for stripers. Use a bottom rig just like catfishing, with a slide weight and heavy swivel attached to a 18-24" 50lb mono leader with size 8 odd circle hooks. Shad, White Perch and live Eels are all good bait. Use heavy tackle with baitrunner style reels or baitcasting "clickers". You want the fish to really take it and run before engaging drag .... they will spit it if they feel you !!! There are 50 pounders running up the rivers each year to spawn .. next year ONE of them is MINE !!!