Derrick F., Striper Snatcher Guide Service: Despite a wrench in the late-summer fishing pattern with an incredible amount of rainfall and run-off, the fish are still capable of being caught. I've been seeing a consistent amount of shad fry, striper fry and full-size shad gradually rising in the water column in most northern creek arms.


It is important to match these baits they are chasing. I prefer reaction baits like the 1/4 and ??-ounce Rat-L-Trap with a chrome/blue pattern being a neutral choice.


During the day, great-sized striper are capable of falling to a one-ounce spoon in the same color as the reaction baits mentioned. At night, the secret to catching big striper is simple: go somewhere where the small striper will not venture -- for me that is a minimum of 100 feet of water and off main lake points with structure nearby.