Jennifer Wiegmann casts, engages her reel, and begins the rhythmic walking-the-dog cadence.  Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, Ka-Boom!  A 25 ½-pound striper explodes on her topwater lure in water only 6 feet of water.  The striper takes off with Jennifer’s topwater lure searching for deep-water statuary to hide in.  Her rod bends, the line strips off the reel but she holds onto the rod.  The striper runs, struggling for his freedom and surfaces with a loud splash trying to escape.  Finally, the striper surrenders and into my waiting hands.

Cautiously, I grab this enormous striper.  The battle to land this enormous striper has ended; we ecstatically high five each other; excitedly exchanging observations about the explosive top water strike.  The sound Jennifer’s huge striper made, when striking the topwater lure will be embedded into her memory forever.  Photo’s of Jennifer and her dad flashing great big smiles holding up the giant striper show their exhilaration; revealing just how exciting shallow water striper fishing can be.

Anglers wanting to catch their own giant striper in shallow water; can use either artificial lures or live bait.  In lures, anglers have a wide selection of baits to choose from.  Popular lures used on Beaver Lake are, Cotton Cordell Pencil Poppers in Chrome/Black or Chrome/Blue, Heddon’ s Super Spooks in Shad patterns, Cotton Cordell Red fins in Rainbow Trout or Chrome/Blue, Creek Chub Super Knuckle-Head or Knuckle-Head Jr. in Shad patterns, or Cotton Cordell Super Spot in Chrome/Blue or Chrome/Black.  All of these baits can be fished in very shallow water, or over large flats, and long points.  The key areas will have shad present.

If you prefer live bait, your options range from Black Salty’s, Shiners or Shad.  Black Salty’s unlike shad can live for months in an aerated live well.  (For more information go to www.blacksalty.com)  Shad can be very fragile and require a shad tank and chemicals to keep alive, along with a cast net to catch them with.

Angler’s pursuing shallow water stripers can use heavy bass rods, and reels; or light inshore fishing gear.  Several manufactures produce special gear just for striper fishing.  Another option for angler’s is planner boards that can be used with live bait.  Planner boards work by being attached to the line and moving a bait away from the boat.  This allows anglers to fish in shallow water without scaring the striper. Some planner boards are made to work on either Starboard or Port side of the boat.

This spring do not sit home watching march madness on TV.  Go to Beaver Lake and experience your own March madness; Top water fishing for giant Stripers!