Lake Mojave striper fishing - NOT

[George4741]

The striper fishing is supposed to be good in Lake Mojave (Ariz/Nev), so a friend and I went out yesterday and spent the night on the lake.  We launched at Willow Beach and set up camp about 30 miles downstream near Cottonwood Cove.  An excited store clerk said 3-6 lb stripers are biting everywhere, from boat, shore, water, and land.  We chuckled about the "land", since we've never caught any fish on land (I know what she meant, but we're having fun here).

Another thing, I forgot a camera and a fishing pole, so I borrowed my friend's Shakespeare spinner combo.  I also forgot coffee cups, so no coffee in the morning.  The Colorado River and Lake Mojave look much like HOLE IN THE WATER'S photos of Lake Powell, so you can visualize the scenery.  

Anyway, we caught four cats and no stripers.  We didn't measure them but they appeared to exceed 18 inches, not bad.  They were all hooked in the lip and we let them go to fight another day.

Strange thing about that area, I've been fishing Lakes Mojave and Mead for almost 30 years and I've caught very few stripers.  And those I've caught were always on the small side.  I have the darndest bad luck with stripers.  But then, it's about the journey, not the destination.  Quality time with an old military buddy, eating steak cooked over a campfire, having a few drinks, and talking about the good old days.  Life doesn't get much better than that.  Oh yeah, and fishing, too.

George  

[Cone]

George, too bad about the pics. I'm one to complain, I never bring a camera either. I'm glad you got out. I enjoy going whether I catch anything or not. But I really enjoy catching em! It beats cutting the grass anytime.  Bob

[HOLEINTHEWATER]

HAVE NOT BEEN THERE IN AROUND 10 YEARS. STOPPED OFF IN THE CASINO AND TOOK $600 FROM THE BLACK JACK TABLE. WENT FISHING THAT NIGHT, AND CAUGHT A FEW SMALL STRIPERS AND SOME CATS.  ONE THING YOU HAVE TO USE THERE AND ANY CLEAR WATER LAKE IS FLORO CARBON LINE AND BE LUCKY. AT LEAST IT IS COOLING OFF.

[Keta]

Too bad about the striper not catching but at least you weren't stuck in town.

AT LEAST IT IS COOLING OFF.

Yup, it was 18° here yesterday morning, it broke the previous record by several degrees.

[George4741]

ONE THING YOU HAVE TO USE THERE AND ANY CLEAR WATER LAKE IS FLORO CARBON LINE AND BE LUCKY.

I've never given that any thought for fresh water.  I always use mono, but I'll try the floro on my next trout fishing expedition.  Thanks for the tip.

Yup, it was 18° here yesterday morning, it broke the previous record by several degrees.

Climate change.

[Keta]

I was unusually cold for October.

[Ron Jones]

I have switched to braid with floro for all freshwater fishing smaller than salmon, unless I'm fly fishing and then I use floro tippet if not also leader exclusivly. THis has increased my strikes by a significant percentage.

Ron

[redsetta]

Though I only fish the big North Island trout catchments (ie Rotorua and Taupo), it's pretty much exclusively fluoro tippet here in NZ.

[HOLEINTHEWATER]

I HAVE TRIED MANY BRANDS OF FLOROCARBON LINE OVER THE YEARS. ONE THING IS THEY ARE NOT AS DURABLE AS MONO OR BRAID.  I FISH IN TREES AND ROCKS AND DO HUNDREDS OF CASTS A DAY. I'M GOING BACK TO P-LINE SEEMS TO WORK THE BEST FOR ME. MOST OF MY FLORO REELS HAVE 8 LB. TO 12 LB. LINE. I USE 15 LB. STREN LOW VIS MONO ON MY TOP WATER AND SOME CRANK BAITS. I DO USE BRAID ON MY TROLLING RIG AND MY CAT FISH POLE. WHAT BRAND FLOROCARBON LINE DO YOU GUYS LIKE?

[Keta]

We fish for trout in water from 6" visibility to christal clear spring fed rivers, fish look like they are suspended in air when diving in the spring fed steams (Wood River, Spring Creek and a few others).  I use fluro in the clear streams and anywhere I need more abrasion resistance, mono everywhere else.