As always Mike - you're the best! Great Fisherman & Teacher as well. It's extremely rare to find someone that goes out of the way to teach you something!!! Always appreciate you & your Crew! Thanks again. Marc
Great stuff. I appreciate your teaching style in many different areas of the fishing experience whether your talking about throwing a net, reading a graph, when to use a bait........etc. You have a gift at this and you clearly love fishing. I didn't know about lake lanier striper until recently and I saw all your videos on that. I just went down their and fished for a couple days. First time I've been down. Beautiful place. I live in Connecticut and fish the rivers and go out to the cape a lot. Blessings brother
Thanks for this video Mike! I am planning on targeting stripers next week with my big 9-in Magnum. Ben Parker striper spoons! Hopefully I won't need anything smaller but if they're not keyed in on my big spoons I shall downgrade in size
Hey Mike, I always appreciate the valuable information you give out on your videos. I caught some nice ones on the flutter spoon this morning down here on Lake Murray. What speed is your boat usually moving as your drifting. I’m curious because lake Murray doesn’t have current so I have to use the trolling motor to cover ground while I fish if it’s not windy.
Mike, thank you for all your advice. I’m at Raystown Lake for a few days fishing and marking them pretty good, but can’t get them to hit. I spent the night looking over your videos for advice. I always find something useful, thanks!
@@ThoughtIwasFishin I appreciate that!! Try fishing between the fish you mark and nearest point or channel ledge. Try later afternoon to evening may work too. 👍👍
You hit the nail on the head. This is what I have found. Later in the day (after 9 or 10AM) the "hunters" in the pod have already eaten. They cannot eat too many all at once. Thats like you eating 2 big dinners. They need to chill out for a bit. Its time to downsize and change to something else (color, shape, rattles, spinners or something). Smaller is like a bit of dessert for them. Its like guys at a tavern after work. They just hang out with each other. No drama, no competition. When the petite blond with the short, tight red dress walks in, they come alive and start checking things out. Now they want to get there first. Your new bait is 1) smaller, 2) different 3) easy to catch. SO... downsize, slow down, vary retrieve. Then grab the net. At least that often works for me.
Excellent information brother!!! Some sweet gems in this comment for sure! You couldn’t be more right. I tested a theory that even when full, an opportunist feeder will still eat if the presentation is just right. My family just walked in the house and sat in the living room after eating at a buffet. I asked each member of my family (from the kitchen) if they wanted some chips, they all said no like I was nuts. After a few minutes I dumped the chips in a bowl and walked up to each person and pushed the bowl in their face and said “have a chip”. My 375lb Father IMMEDIATELY grabbed a handful. The rest of my family all took at least one chip, some needing more convincing than others. I used to do all kinds of “experiments” on my Father over the years because of his insane appetite 😂. On another similar night I asked him if he wanted a Graham cracker after a big dinner and he declined. I placed the sealed box on the coffee table in front of him and waited. 🤣. After 20 minutes of watching TV, I heard him bust that box open and I broke out laughing because even I kind of forgot about them after watching some TV. I know that fish are way different than humans, but some things are very similar. A full fish CAN be influenced to eat, be it by opportunity or be it by reaction. Like Bill Dance said; “when you’re fishing, the odds say that the fish are NOT feeding, so you better figure it out or you won’t catch anything on 75% of your trips. Hope you liked my novel🤣! Your comment with so much good information got me fired up. Keep it coming brother!
Oh yeah! Another great lesson on something I haven't thought much about! I appreciate your efforts captain, in more ways than one ! Hit!! the record button when we get to the ramp and hang on, it's gonna be great! 🇺🇸👊🙏🙏🙏
Thanks brother!! Not yet, wind has been too strong to jig most days. We have been cutbait fishing more than anything waiting for the weather to stabilize. I have a new Team Old School pattern we worked on for over a year. I’ve been trying to reveal it as well, but haven’t been able to do it. Only jigged spoons twice all Spring and fishing was tough. Hoping for a better second half.
I appreciate your support Old Hippie!! SML has a spot in my heart for sure! Stop into Captains Quarters when you’re up on that side and tell Dewayne that you and I are fishing brothers. He’s an old friend of mine from the NSBA trail. He’s a dang fine Striper fisherman, especially on that lake, in fact he helped me get on fish quick many times there. Thanks to Dewayne we always did well in tournaments. He helped me there and I helped him get into Saltwater Striper fishing on the Chesapeake and the Outer Banks. If you’re ever looking for a tip or two, Dewayne is your Huckleberry 😁😁😁❤️
I appreciate your support Old Hippie!! SML has a spot in my heart for sure! Stop into Captains Quarters when you’re up on that side and tell Dewayne that you and I are fishing brothers. He’s an old friend of mine from the NSBA trail. He’s a dang fine Striper fisherman, especially on that lake, in fact he helped me get on fish quick many times there. Thanks to Dewayne we always did well in tournaments. He helped me there and I helped him get into Saltwater Striper fishing on the Chesapeake and the Outer Banks. If you’re ever looking for a tip or two, Dewayne is your Huckleberry 😁😁😁❤️
I haven’t fished THERE, but I did Wallenpaupak a few times. I know there’s herring there. If there are Gizzard Shad present the spoon will definitely work👍👍 we caught fish on spoons in over 8-10 Striper lakes with Gizzard Shad present. 👍👍👍😁
By the way brother I love your videos You seem very knowledgeable about those fish if you ever get to Raystown lake look us up I would love to see how you tackle this one
Accurate Tern and Tern 2, 300 reels. The rods are my signature slow pitch rods that are designed specifically for this style of fishing 6’6” length. Medium Light power and moderate fast action. You can use any slow pitch rod or a short ugly stick light if you have a tight budget. Rod MUST be soft (through the entire blank if possible), must be short. (6’6” is what I prefer) Ugly Stik will definitely hook more fish than any stiff graphite rod, but you will have no backbone for the fight on these cheaper rods. My signature rods have both the softness AND good backbone for the fight👍👍. Rich Coulson will be happy to make one for you. His email is in all of the descriptions of my videos. 👍👍
Either that or if it no little bait loaded then they will eat big bait too but if there's a crap ton of bait around and it's all small they going mainly be on that small stuff if no big stuff is nearby
I was fixing to say the exact same thing here happened this last tournament they where all chewing peanuts wouldn't touch a big bait and this was a first so that's Def what it's about
As always Mike - you're the best! Great Fisherman & Teacher as well. It's extremely rare to find someone that goes out of the way to teach you something!!! Always appreciate you & your Crew! Thanks again. Marc
Killer video Mike! All hail THE Striper King.
Ha! Thanks brother! I really really appreciate your support Brian!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️
I like seeing the care in releasing the fish.
Thanks brother!! 🙏🙏🙏
Great stuff. I appreciate your teaching style in many different areas of the fishing experience whether your talking about throwing a net, reading a graph, when to use a bait........etc. You have a gift at this and you clearly love fishing. I didn't know about lake lanier striper until recently and I saw all your videos on that. I just went down their and fished for a couple days. First time I've been down. Beautiful place. I live in Connecticut and fish the rivers and go out to the cape a lot. Blessings brother
Thanks for this video Mike! I am planning on targeting stripers next week with my big 9-in Magnum. Ben Parker striper spoons! Hopefully I won't need anything smaller but if they're not keyed in on my big spoons I shall downgrade in size
Hey Mike, I always appreciate the valuable information you give out on your videos. I caught some nice ones on the flutter spoon this morning down here on Lake Murray. What speed is your boat usually moving as your drifting. I’m curious because lake Murray doesn’t have current so I have to use the trolling motor to cover ground while I fish if it’s not windy.
Mike, thank you for all your advice. I’m at Raystown Lake for a few days fishing and marking them pretty good, but can’t get them to hit. I spent the night looking over your videos for advice. I always find something useful, thanks!
@@ThoughtIwasFishin I appreciate that!! Try fishing between the fish you mark and nearest point or channel ledge. Try later afternoon to evening may work too. 👍👍
@@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS Thanks, I’ll try it. !!
Awesome and informative as usual ! Thank you !
Great video Mike, I learn something everytime I watch one !!!
You hit the nail on the head. This is what I have found. Later in the day (after 9 or 10AM) the "hunters" in the pod have already eaten. They cannot eat too many all at once. Thats like you eating 2 big dinners. They need to chill out for a bit. Its time to downsize and change to something else (color, shape, rattles, spinners or something). Smaller is like a bit of dessert for them. Its like guys at a tavern after work. They just hang out with each other. No drama, no competition. When the petite blond with the short, tight red dress walks in, they come alive and start checking things out. Now they want to get there first. Your new bait is 1) smaller, 2) different 3) easy to catch. SO... downsize, slow down, vary retrieve. Then grab the net. At least that often works for me.
Excellent information brother!!! Some sweet gems in this comment for sure! You couldn’t be more right. I tested a theory that even when full, an opportunist feeder will still eat if the presentation is just right. My family just walked in the house and sat in the living room after eating at a buffet. I asked each member of my family (from the kitchen) if they wanted some chips, they all said no like I was nuts. After a few minutes I dumped the chips in a bowl and walked up to each person and pushed the bowl in their face and said “have a chip”. My 375lb Father IMMEDIATELY grabbed a handful. The rest of my family all took at least one chip, some needing more convincing than others. I used to do all kinds of “experiments” on my Father over the years because of his insane appetite 😂. On another similar night I asked him if he wanted a Graham cracker after a big dinner and he declined. I placed the sealed box on the coffee table in front of him and waited. 🤣. After 20 minutes of watching TV, I heard him bust that box open and I broke out laughing because even I kind of forgot about them after watching some TV. I know that fish are way different than humans, but some things are very similar. A full fish CAN be influenced to eat, be it by opportunity or be it by reaction. Like Bill Dance said; “when you’re fishing, the odds say that the fish are NOT feeding, so you better figure it out or you won’t catch anything on 75% of your trips.
Hope you liked my novel🤣! Your comment with so much good information got me fired up. Keep it coming brother!
My brother, the Graham cracker story is amazing.Love it@@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS
@@JonDunnmusician 😝😝.
Beautiful fish! What a fishery you folks have. Take care of it. Great video!
Oh yeah! Another great lesson on something I haven't thought much about! I appreciate your efforts captain, in more ways than one ! Hit!! the record button when we get to the ramp and hang on, it's gonna be great! 🇺🇸👊🙏🙏🙏
YOU KNOW IT!! We are all looking forward to it brother!😁😁😁👍👍👍
Nice video, hope your spring run gets better! Did you get a chance to try out those MTK spoons? If so, how did they work for you?
Thanks brother!! Not yet, wind has been too strong to jig most days. We have been cutbait fishing more than anything waiting for the weather to stabilize. I have a new Team Old School pattern we worked on for over a year. I’ve been trying to reveal it as well, but haven’t been able to do it. Only jigged spoons twice all Spring and fishing was tough. Hoping for a better second half.
Great video, great information way to go Captain 🎣👍💪
Hey bud, do you do charter trips on the chesapeake?
Thanks for the knowledge,can't wait to try that on Smith Mountain Lake ❤
We both be trying it then. Id go rite now if had a way there.
We both be trying it then. Id go rite now if had a way there.
I appreciate your support Old Hippie!! SML has a spot in my heart for sure! Stop into Captains Quarters when you’re up on that side and tell Dewayne that you and I are fishing brothers. He’s an old friend of mine from the NSBA trail. He’s a dang fine Striper fisherman, especially on that lake, in fact he helped me get on fish quick many times there. Thanks to Dewayne we always did well in tournaments. He helped me there and I helped him get into Saltwater Striper fishing on the Chesapeake and the Outer Banks. If you’re ever looking for a tip or two, Dewayne is your Huckleberry 😁😁😁❤️
I appreciate your support Old Hippie!! SML has a spot in my heart for sure! Stop into Captains Quarters when you’re up on that side and tell Dewayne that you and I are fishing brothers. He’s an old friend of mine from the NSBA trail. He’s a dang fine Striper fisherman, especially on that lake, in fact he helped me get on fish quick many times there. Thanks to Dewayne we always did well in tournaments. He helped me there and I helped him get into Saltwater Striper fishing on the Chesapeake and the Outer Banks. If you’re ever looking for a tip or two, Dewayne is your Huckleberry 😁😁😁❤️
If you live within 100mi of the lake & the honeysuckle is blooming ya should know casting the banks at nite should be on fire for lots of fish
Great tip
What brand of rod holders do you have?
Have you ever fished Raystown lake in Pennsylvania and do you think them flutter spoons would work there
I haven’t fished THERE, but I did Wallenpaupak a few times. I know there’s herring there. If there are Gizzard Shad present the spoon will definitely work👍👍 we caught fish on spoons in over 8-10 Striper lakes with Gizzard Shad present. 👍👍👍😁
@@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS thanks brother we do have gizzard shad there and a pile of our alwives also plus smelt or lake is overrun with bait
By the way brother I love your videos You seem very knowledgeable about those fish if you ever get to Raystown lake look us up I would love to see how you tackle this one
What rod and reel setup are you using ? Line etc
Accurate Tern and Tern 2, 300 reels. The rods are my signature slow pitch rods that are designed specifically for this style of fishing 6’6” length. Medium Light power and moderate fast action. You can use any slow pitch rod or a short ugly stick light if you have a tight budget. Rod MUST be soft (through the entire blank if possible), must be short. (6’6” is what I prefer) Ugly Stik will definitely hook more fish than any stiff graphite rod, but you will have no backbone for the fight on these cheaper rods. My signature rods have both the softness AND good backbone for the fight👍👍. Rich Coulson will be happy to make one for you. His email is in all of the descriptions of my videos. 👍👍
I use 50lb reaction braid and 25lb fluorocarbon leader top shot.
Either that or if it no little bait loaded then they will eat big bait too but if there's a crap ton of bait around and it's all small they going mainly be on that small stuff if no big stuff is nearby
I was fixing to say the exact same thing here happened this last tournament they where all chewing peanuts wouldn't touch a big bait and this was a first so that's Def what it's about
MY MAN!! Catch em all brother!
@@MikeSmedleyOLDSCHOOLSTRIPERS I'm trying lol wouldn't cooperate for me they wanted peanuts and all I had was steaks lol 😆 😂
Guys focus so much on lure color, when the fact is size and profile of your lure is so much more important.
Used a flutter spoon at plum gut last year. Got hung up and lost it in first drift. Bye bye $30.
Definitely has to be big bait around or they don't want big bait at all
The politicians in Maryland change the rules on these fish everytime the wind blows I'm over it they can stick their bass right in their A^° !