ICE OFF -- Kansas Striper Association

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Date Posted: 06:20:24 02/22/04 Sun
Author: Jack Hoskinson
Subject:

ICE OFF

Feb 23, 2004 Ice off fishing. After having some of the best ice we have had for several years combined with the slowest ice fishing I have seen in along time I for one am ready to put the boat in and catch some STRIPERS! The time between ice off and the 50 degree water temp. can be a very testing time but a great time to catch trophy stripers and lots of schoolies too. Of course spring in Kansas can be tough to fish with constant fronts moving thru and the winds that keep the kite flyers happy. But if you pick your days the fishing is awesome. Last year right after ice off I caught several hundred stripers during a 4 week time frame with the majority of those caught during 5 days when the fishing was the hottest. Of course living on the lake has it's advantages but here is how I pick my days. I mostly fish prior to an incoming front, preferably after a few sunny days to warm up the shallow water and give the bait and fish a chance to move into these areas, creeks, coves, rivers. I run the lake with an eye on my temperature gauge looking for that warmer water. Most of the time these stripers will be shallow, I have seen them so shallow that I almost overlooked them thinking they were carp with there backs out of the water, but on a second look I saw stripes and boy did I have fun. 10 feet or less is usually the case, also fishing this shallow requires patience and no noise that will spook them. Since the fish are so shallow this is one time you can't depend on your depth finder to find fish as the stripers will simply move out from under your boat before you get a chance to read them. However the bait fish aren't quit as spooky and there presence is usually a good sign that the stripers are nearby. I for one am a hardcore bait fisherman but after ice off the bait can be hard to come by but I have great success throwing bucktail into the above mentioned areas again be patient and try different retrieve speeds until you find what the fish want. I bet in the next few days the wader fisherman will be out in force and don't be surprise if they are catching more than you are as wader fishing for striper early in the year produces some excellent catches. With cold water temps. and everyone in a hurry to get on the water don't overlook your boat as this is no time to be broke down. Make sure your batteries are fully charged, your fuel is in good condition, all safety equipment is up to speed, check those trailer bearings too. 2004 should be one of the best striper years in along time, I am ready are you? Madd Jack

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Replies:

Waiting -- Paul, Sniper, 19:54:21 02/24/04 Tue
- Waiting -- Jack Hoskinson, 08:54:02 02/26/04 Thu
  - Thanks -- Paul, 10:28:35 02/26/04 Thu