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Show Follow the Threadfin Shad to Locate Wily Striped Bass Striped bass (Morone saxa-tilis) saxa-tilis) are considered by many fishing enthusiasts to be the sport fish of the 1980's. Lake Powell is one of the West's newest lakes to support a growing striped bass population. popula-tion. Advance's in biological research re-search and knowledge permitted per-mitted the introduction of striped bass into many freshwater lakes during the '70's. In 1974, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Re-sources planted the first "stripers" in Lake Powell. The introduction took place after biologists and researchers re-searchers were certain the new species would be compatible com-patible with the reservoir's environment, existing game fish species and that sufficient suffi-cient forage fish were present pre-sent in the lake. During the 1970's, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Resour-ces stocked 815,000 striped bass fingerling (2-3 inches long) in Lake Powell. This quantity was made possible by the success of a special striped bass culture program. pro-gram. Striper fry (14 inch long), obtained mostly from California, were introduced into experimental ponds in Glen Canyon City, Utah, by DWR biologists. The fry's earliest food source, zooplankton, was produced by fertilizing the ponds with alfalfa hay, which produced an abundance of this naturally occuring animal ani-mal life. Fish were held in the ponds for 60 days, collected with nets and stocked in areas near Wahweap and Bullfrog bays. Once stocked, striped bass grew rapidly, reaching lengths of 10 inches the first year, 17 inches the second year, and 22 inches the third year. As the fish gets older it adds more weight but fewer inches in length each year. The lake record striper for 1980 was a six-year-old fish weighing 21 pounds 8 ounces and measuring 35 inches in length. Growth patterns at Lake Powell have been similar to stripers in Lake Mead and Lake Havasu where anglers have caught trophies of 47 and 59 pOunds, respectively In all three locations, thread-fin thread-fin shad and crayfish make up approximately 99 percen of the stripers diet. Fishing Techniques The key to successful striper fishing is finding the fish. Schools of these large trophy fish are typically found in close proximity to schools of threadfin shad-darting shad-darting in and out to feed. Since shad are less mobile than striped bass, it is usually advisable for anglers to locate the shad. The depth of the shad usually indicates where stripers are feeding. Shad can often be found by watching open-water bays, shorelines and coves for concentrations of birds. Mergansers, grebes, gulls and even ravens often gather to feed on the shad. A pair binoculars may be helpful in scounting these areas for birds. Striped bass are strong fighters, usually making several deep runs before tiring. Conventional bass fishing rods and reels are adequate for stripers as long as the drag mechanism is in good working order. Monofilament Mono-filament line of 8-14 pound lesl is suggested. It is recommended that fishermen have at least two rods: one rigged for casting and another for trolling, as both techniques are successful success-ful and necessary, depending depend-ing on conditions. Remember, Remem-ber, however, that Utah law permits the use of only ine rod at a time. In the spring, stripers are generally scattered, suspended susp-ended and hard to catch until the adults congregate in prespawning groups. As spawning nears, males congregate con-gregate on submerged points near main channels awaiting the migration of spawning females. Trolling deep diving plugs is the best method of locating the scattered fish. Jigs and spoons work well once the fish are located. Fishing after dark is often more productive this time of the year. As the water warms, shad inhabit the upper 30 feet of water in open bays. Stripers prefer cooler temperatures and lurk in the depths below the shad and make periodic-feeding periodic-feeding forays into the shallower water. Trolling is Please Turn to Page 7B K source, zooplankton, was Growth patterns at Lake k produced by fertilizing the Powell have been similar to Ft ponds with alfalfa hay, which stripers in Lake Mead and ' where anglers Catching Stripers Continued from Page 6B now the best method for catching stripers. Deep-diving lures fished 20 to 30 feet deep are most effective. Lures can be fished on light monofilament line with no weight added or on a leaded line, depending on your preference. The fall is the time to fish the surface for striped bass. Stripers can be found "boiling" "boil-ing" the surface in open bays, along steep walls, and in the backs of coves where stripers have trapped the shad in shallow water. Once located, approach the surface sur-face activity as quickly and quietly as possible. Cast ' surface lures, jigs or spoons into the feeding school and get ready for action. Stripers feed on the surface from a few seconds to 5 or 10 minutes at a time. After a feeding school sounds, it will generally resurface in the same area. Binoculars can aid in the search for surface activity and in finding birds that follow the feeding striper schools. Trolling is generally not as productive as casting during this time. As the water cools in the winter both shad and stripers seek deeper water where temperatures are more constant. con-stant. Locating fish now often requires the use of a fish locator or knowing where to find deep reefs or ledges. In December, stripers are ' best caught by vertically jigging 14 to 2 ounce jigs or spoons in 50-80 feet ot water. |