Havasuhunter Report post Posted May 23, 2015 Fished the Havasu Striper derby last weekend. Crazy weather had me worried, but we did pretty well. Ended up in 10th place out of 130 teams. I was on some really good fish a few weeks back, but couldn't find them for the tourney. We had just under 70lbs for the two days, for a 3.5lb average. Some of the 8-10lbers I had been catching would have really helped. Our biggest tourney fish was about 5.5lbs. Biggest thing we were proud of was catching all our fish on artificial lures. Most boats anchor up and fish bait. That's effective, but I just can't do it. Same reason I could never sit in a tree stand all day, got to be moving. Brian 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Explorer Report post Posted May 23, 2015 Congatulations!! Stripers are above all my favorite fish to go after. Great fighters and great tasting also! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Havasuhunter Report post Posted May 29, 2015 Here's a few pics. The size of the smallmouth we catch on accident is almost more impressive than the stripers. Also added one of my nephew helping me prefish one day. Those fish were a bit much for him, but he battled a few. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Str8Shot Report post Posted May 29, 2015 nice Bronze Backs too ... Congrats on your catch and final weight ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
murfys69law Report post Posted May 29, 2015 Great looking fish!!! Congrats. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
murfys69law Report post Posted May 30, 2015 That's a toad of a striper!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Havasuhunter Report post Posted May 30, 2015 Here's one I got on the Cumberland in TN. I'd love to fish those beasts in the Atlantic. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Havasuhunter Report post Posted May 30, 2015 No guides, I was the guide sometimes though. I fished all over middle TN, lived there for a few years. I was in a striper club and fished tournaments. I'm good friends with a lot of guys out there still, both guides and non guides. Used to catch a lot of big fish on the Cumberland, lots of 8-12lb hybrids on J Percy Priest, etc. On the Cumberland we'd use s variety of lures and bait, but when hunting for the big boys we'd use 14-20" long skipjack herring for bait fished on a 10/0 hook and 30-40lb line. It was amazing how even a 10lber would attack a large skipjack. We caught the skipjack on white grubs or the fly rod, that was a lot of fun in itself. One of my best days on the Cumberland, I caught 2 6lb smallmouth, a 6 lb Largemourh, a 15 lb striper and about 50 smaller models of several species, we didn't bother chasing the Giants that day, just 10lb rods and small swimbaits. TN has some just amazing fishing. We did a lot of Kayak fishing too. My buddy got drug down the Caney Fork river by s 50lber. Oneshot, I can only imagine how exciting that was getting drug out to sea by a big striper in the salt. That is still a dream of mine to get into one of those Atlantic Ocean striper runs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hoghntr Report post Posted June 1, 2015 Here's one I got on the Cumberland in TN. I'd love to fish those beasts in the Atlantic. Umm sir may I be your new best friend????? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Presmyk Report post Posted June 6, 2015 The week of school after that this was the biggest one yet lol just below Davis dam I could only imagine how a big one would fight. Going to mead next weekend with dad and 2 my brothers with Don for some stripper action 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Havasuhunter Report post Posted June 6, 2015 20150520_193551.jpg The week of school after that this was the biggest one yet lol just below Davis dam I could only imagine how a big one would fight. Going to mead next weekend with dad and 2 my brothers with Don for some stripper action Those stripers in the current fight hard too. Good luck on Mead. Mead is loaded with small stripers. Caught some really nice smallmouth there a few weeks back too. I have a friend that is staying at Mead in his 5th wheel for a few months. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
