Liberty Stripers

[Charkbait]

Looking to troll Liberty for stripers from the yak. I do very well in the bay and have all the foul weather gear I need. How is the action in the winter and what lures will be the most productive? I have a FF, I'm very inexperienced in the world of freshwater stripers and don't know where they hold in the water column of a resevoir and what they will be feeding on etc.

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

If you don't want to give your secrets to the world just drop me a PM and I'll keep them to myself, thanks in advance.

Ben

[KRiley]

Ben You will need to get a boat permit from the City of Baltimore which is good for Liberty and Prettyboy Reserviors. The current permit expires at the end of 2006 and the reserviors are closed for boating until the 2007 permit goes into affect in March. It is either March 1st or 15 when permit is valid. You will also need to sign an affidavant stating that you will only use the boat in either Liberty or Prettyboy. Do a search for the City of Baltimore website and you will see rules, permit application and regulations for boating in the reserviors. You can also use Loch Raven but an additional permit may be needed. I here that people catch a lot of the stripers on chicken livers.
big kev

[Charkbait]

Thanks, I was aware of the permit and affadavit but not of the March restriction.

Any information on trolling tactics would also be great. I'm particularly interested in the bottom composition if anyone has information of links.

[Capt.Nick]

I have a Liberty Lake chart by "Bass Chumps" of Timonium.I'm sure Reisterstown Tackle shop sells them.If not,The fishin Shop will be at the Timonium Fairground's show Jan.11-14 and they had some.From my experience,Liberty Lake Stripers are harder to catch than the Bay Stripers.I sat on top of a school of them all day once waiting for them to bite.We caught 3 at dusk a few Walleyes & Smallies.Trolling usually catches the bigger ones ,but it ain't easy.It can be a long,hard days work.

[KRiley]

Charkbait I agree with Capt. Nick that Liberty Stripers are more difficult to catch than the bay. I caught a bunch of small ones one day in November and a few days later I did not get a bite although the fish were there. I need to get one of the charts Nick mentions as well as one for Prettyboy. I plan to get 2007 Liberty/Prettyboy permit for my Jon boat if you want to go out in boat. Piney Run lake also has stripers but I think this is also closed to boating during the winter. You may want to try peachbottom or Brunner Island warm water discharge on the Susquahanna. I would like to try in the kayak but I do not have all the cold weather suits that is needed.
big kev

[rhahn427]

Used to fish stripers on Liberty ......... we would slow troll live large shiners and crappie ...... it was usually a tough bite. We would also use planer boards. The water there is fairly clear and deep with little structure in most of it but it does have some nice humps and dropoffs. Caught most of mine within a half mile either side of Plummers pt but they have been caught all over. In the Spring the big ones spawn above Nicodemos bridge.

[Capt.Nick]

I agree that Live bait fishing would be the way to go for trolling in a kayak.I've caught a few there in 40ft.of water up near the surface like that.

[Charkbait]

thanks for the great ideas guys

[john pearce]

I fished Liberty for a few years before turning to the bay. The Liberty Stripers are tough to catch, I never got any bubbas but plenty of 24" - 32"ers with a few run offs and straightened hooks to keep me interested. Most trolled live bait, shinners, sunfish, crappie, w.perch and even Rainbow Trout when available after being stocked in the reservoir. Some are caught by accident on crankbaits. Some trolled lg. rebels and Stretches. Chix livers had caught me stripers, rainbows and carp. Best thing was usually up in the Canyon( above Nicodemus bridge ) or right around Liberty Rd. Bridge. Some of us jigged up a few using a Cicada ( sm. blade bait ) I always wanted to try some umbrellas and parachutes like we use in the bay but never got to try it. Best bet in my eyes would be live bait and cover all the water you can.