By Jerry Crook

Springtime is prime time for stripe fishing, be it saltwater, hybrid or white bass, there is no better time than the spring spawning run. Depending on the severity of the winter, the spawning ritual can take place as early as the end of February, but in Alabama it usually begins to heat up around the full moon of March.

The best times usually occur between the new moon and the full moon's of March and April and can last through the full moon of May. Usually the bigger fish have made their runs and the smaller fish take their place during May. There are two locations to look for the stripe and that is in the tailrace area below dams or in the backs of tributaries as far as you can go in your boat. After that you can wade or bank fish and catch them.

First we will talk about fishing the tailrace areas. This time of year you can most effectively catch them two ways, using a jig or catching them on live bait. If you are fishing the Tennessee or Coosa River dams they are most effective when they are pulling water through the dams generating electricity. These dams provide a generating schedule that you can access by telephone. On the Coosa River you can call the Alabama Power Citizens Action Line locally at 205-257-1077 or 1-800-Lakes-1l and inquire about the dam you are interested in. On the Tennessee River you can call TVA Lake Information at 1-865-632-2264 and they will tell you when they are pulling water.

The method of tailrace fishing that doesn't require live bait is simply a 3/8- to 1/2-ounce jig with a plastic sassy shad type body. The fish can be right under the dam or as far back as 100 yards. Carefully run your boat up to the edge of the discharge or boils and cast your jig allowing it to just tick the bottom. You will need to compensate for the speed of your drift by taking up slack from time to time. I recommend you use pearl or chartreuse for your minnow body color.

The rule of thumb is pearl in clear and chartreuse in stained or muddy water. At times, these fish will hit the jig at a steady retrieve with little or no action. When the fish are really stacked up this is a great way to get your arm pulled off. Make sure your minnow body is on straight and running true or they will not hit it. You will need quite a few bodies on a good day. Also change minnow bodies after a few fish because they will get tom up easily. If you want to catch bigger fish there is no better bait than a large threadfin shad. These can be caught in the river by either dipping with a shad knocker or throwing a cast net. The best place to throw your net is eddy pools along the rip rap. After you get some bait in your live well, it's time to go catch stripe. If the fish are in the boils I would rig up a 3-way swivel with 1 ounce bottom sinker on about a six inch line and a leader of about 30 inches. Hook size will depend on shad size. You can use either spinning or bait casting with 17-20-lb. test. I recommend Eagle Claw pattern 84 hooks up to #2. Hook your shad from bottom lip up making sure both lips are impaled. Run your boat up to the boils and cast, Be sure to let your weight hit bottom. Then adjust your line by reeling in until you make contact with the bottom and hop it along.

When the big boy hits you'll know it. These fish are capable of long runs and if they go sideways in the current I recommend chasing them down with your boat. Both the current and the stripes gill plate are capable of breaking your line. These two methods should get you started below the dams.

My personal best striper came from below Wilson Dam on the Tennessee River, it weighed 47 lbs. If the fast water below a dam is not your cup of tea, and it's not for everybody, then start at the mouth of your favorite creek. Look for fish on your electronics while casting a jig or minnow imitating crank bait. These fish will migrate all the way to the shoals in the very back of the creek.

These fish usually are not as large as those found below the dams but they are still great fun. When the fish get too shallow for your boat you might want to wade fish for them. In the spring, the spawning period for stripe is a lot like the deer rut. The big ones are there to be caught so put away your large mouth lures and tie on a jig, you won't be disappointed.

If you would like more information on stripe fishing or would like to book a trip call Jerry Crook of Tailrace Guide Service at 205-608-0933, cellular phone 205-243-6198 and learn how to catch them.