Nice Stripers Moving Up the Bay

I picked up my boat on Friday, 3/8/13, to put it on the water and run it, making sure everything was working properly before I head up to guide on the Susquehanna Flats next month.

On the following day, the winds were light and the seas were calm.  My trailer was stilled hooked up to my truck so Doug Schopman, Bill Tucker, and I headed out to do some winter time striped bass fishing.  We all used light spinning tackle with the reels filled with 20# test PowerPro fiber line.

Our first stop was in 20 to 26 feet of water.  There were plenty of terns and seagulls close by, making the structure easy to identify.  The pumps were running, keeping plenty of baitfish around to bring in the stripers.  Bill was the first one to hook a striper in the mid 20" class on a 2 ounce chartreuse and white freestyle jig.  The jig had to be cast out and returned while jigging the bottom.  One more striper was caught there, about the same size, before me moved on.

Doug Schopman
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We headed south and fished the next structure with Bombers Wind-Cheaters, in silver and blue, along with Yo-Zuri Floating and Suspended Crystal Minnows, model DBR and HT, and Yum Money Minnows in pearl on 1/2 ounce jighead.  The floating and suspended stickbaits were productive fished in waters from 12' to 4' deep.

We headed back north to fish before going to the ramp. This was the best move of the day.  Doug landed 5 nice stripers to 28",  and Bill Tucker landed a large striper on a Wind-Cheater.  There is a story of how Bill hooks and lands big stripers and I would like to share it with you.

STORY: 'The Tucker Seat'

Bill Tucker
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The 37" striper Bill caught today was the 2nd big striper he has ever caught.  It wasn't as large as his 1st one that was 49 1/4", a record catch on my boat.  He enjoys sitting down on the cushioned seat in front of my center consol.  From there he casts, works the lure, hooks then fights big stripers until landed them without getting out of the seat. Most anglers feel more comfortable when they stand up and fish, but according to Bill, "Sitting down just suites me fine when I fish".  That front seat is now called as 'The Tucker Seat', where you can sit down and catch fish.

The Catch

OPEN DATES for the Susquehanna Flats (2 Days Left)

Each year I dock my boat at Havre de Grace Yacht Basin, located in Tydings Memorial Park at the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay.  This is a unique location where fly or light tackle anglers have an opportunity to catch that 'once in a lifetime striper' in skinny water throughout April into early May each year.  If you enjoy catching stripers on topwater, the last 2 weeks of April to May the 3rd is the time to be popping the top.  I hope your schedule will allow you to enjoy a day fishing 'on the flats'.