11-13-2007, 07:06 AM
90% of my fishing trips to Mead start from Temple Bar Marina on the AZ side of Mead. Less boat pressure there and excellent fishing. I buy my bait typically from the marina but I believe you can buy bait in Boulder City at the Vons on the corner where you need to make a left on Highway 93/95 (not sure, it's one of those #s).
I agree with Stripercraze. Use the heads and tails for chum. But I prefer chovies because they fit on the hooks better. Meaning the sardines sometimes get too big...even for a no. 2 hook. There are at least 5-10 sardines in a bag that are too big to be used as bait. You want cut pieces that fit right onto the hook. If the piece is too big, you can't get the hook all the way through both sides. Also, I find the anchovies to stay firmer longer but then again, that may just be due to other factors.
You can't go wrong with anchovies (and I guess sardines because I've used them as well). Especially, given your time (4 to 11), anchovies using my system is guaranteed to work. Use the lure effect from the shore line. I didn't know there was pier out there but heck, that may be an excellent site to fish. That is if there aren't a bunch of people out there. It'll be cold so perhaps not.
Here's my honest advice though. Start with the shorefishing first. It's more fun and private. Go to the pier only if you're not having any luck on shore. Remember, it's key to find those drop-offs from shore while there is daylight. At this time of year (and that time of night, the stripers are at 5-15 feet. Hence you want the anchovy to sink for only a second. Then reel in slowly. Play with the speeds and don't get caught in the weeds. If there are weeds, move!!! The stripers aren't there. The drop-offs, remember! Also, you don't want to fish off the bottom. You may catch some stripers but chances are you'll land more catfish instead. But that's a good sign for you. Because where there is catfish, there typically are stripers. The catfish are merely at the bottom eating the scraps of stripers. Just stay closer to the surface.
Don't get too excited if you keep hearing a lot of big fish splashing about. Chances are...they're carp. The key is to just keep moving along the shoreline until you find the drop-off where the school is congregated. Because once you find that school, it's on. You'll fill up your bucket in no time.
I'll be at Mead next week as well. I'm leaving for Temple Bar this Saturday and staying for 8 days. I'll be on a houseboat most of the time. I'll let you know how I do as well. I used to do a lot of shore fishing before I started renting the houseboats. Which I highly recommend during the winter. Fishing is awesome and the houseboat rentals are cheap given the off season.
Well, best of luck to you! Anchovies lead the way.
Best regards,
Paul
[signature]
I agree with Stripercraze. Use the heads and tails for chum. But I prefer chovies because they fit on the hooks better. Meaning the sardines sometimes get too big...even for a no. 2 hook. There are at least 5-10 sardines in a bag that are too big to be used as bait. You want cut pieces that fit right onto the hook. If the piece is too big, you can't get the hook all the way through both sides. Also, I find the anchovies to stay firmer longer but then again, that may just be due to other factors.
You can't go wrong with anchovies (and I guess sardines because I've used them as well). Especially, given your time (4 to 11), anchovies using my system is guaranteed to work. Use the lure effect from the shore line. I didn't know there was pier out there but heck, that may be an excellent site to fish. That is if there aren't a bunch of people out there. It'll be cold so perhaps not.
Here's my honest advice though. Start with the shorefishing first. It's more fun and private. Go to the pier only if you're not having any luck on shore. Remember, it's key to find those drop-offs from shore while there is daylight. At this time of year (and that time of night, the stripers are at 5-15 feet. Hence you want the anchovy to sink for only a second. Then reel in slowly. Play with the speeds and don't get caught in the weeds. If there are weeds, move!!! The stripers aren't there. The drop-offs, remember! Also, you don't want to fish off the bottom. You may catch some stripers but chances are you'll land more catfish instead. But that's a good sign for you. Because where there is catfish, there typically are stripers. The catfish are merely at the bottom eating the scraps of stripers. Just stay closer to the surface.
Don't get too excited if you keep hearing a lot of big fish splashing about. Chances are...they're carp. The key is to just keep moving along the shoreline until you find the drop-off where the school is congregated. Because once you find that school, it's on. You'll fill up your bucket in no time.
I'll be at Mead next week as well. I'm leaving for Temple Bar this Saturday and staying for 8 days. I'll be on a houseboat most of the time. I'll let you know how I do as well. I used to do a lot of shore fishing before I started renting the houseboats. Which I highly recommend during the winter. Fishing is awesome and the houseboat rentals are cheap given the off season.
Well, best of luck to you! Anchovies lead the way.
Best regards,
Paul
[signature]