Has anyone fished Raystown lake for Striped bass?

[2dogs]

I used to fish the Striper Tournament circuit at Raystown back in the day. Sad to say I didn't do very well. What I do know is the night time is the right time. I took live eels and didn't get a sniff. It's still a great place to fish. I haven't been there in a loooong time. The trout for live bait is true but I think it's illegal to use a gamefish as bait.

[Fish On!]

I used to fish the Striper Tournament circuit at Raystown back in the day. Sad to say I didn't do very well. What I do know is the night time is the right time. I took live eels and didn't get a sniff. It's still a great place to fish. I haven't been there in a loooong time. The trout for live bait is true but I think it's illegal to use a gamefish as bait.

It's not illegal to use gamefish as bait in PA as long as they are in season and of legal size.

[eegs2k]

it's a different game than stripers at the shore. a real PITA if you ask me. you need to net your own bait (alewife or shad). you can buy trout but the others work better. summer is hard too. lake is packed with pleasure boaters and PWCs. also it's full of trees. if you dont know the lake it can be an expensive day of lost rigs.

[Uncle Connie]

At Raystown lake right now. Fish at night. Shad and alewives cast netted in lake is way to go but you need a cast net permit to catch them and a bait tank to hold them in...PIta if u dont know the ropes. Trout, can be used as bait but only work in much cooler water temps. Best bet is plugs at night around points rap alas cotton Cordell redfins reeled slow on top making a Vee wake. Can also jig or troll in the 110 plus feet for lake trout In morning before boat traffic which are a little easier to catch. Overall, its a beautiful lake but very tough to fish. Can troll buck tails at false dawn very slowly and get lucky as well. Look for the thermal cline as stated previously and get the baits at that depth.

Good luck!

[Slugo]

In all honesty, I don't know why chumming with clams wouldn't work if you can find the fish. I have caught lots of Hybrids on clams at Blue Marsh Lake! The genitics in a striper do not change just because they are in fresh water . Clams are some how bred into thier brain as a food source! You also have nothing to loose by trying and possibly everything to gain!! Tight Lines Everyone !!!

[blkbear]

I have a place 1/2 hr fromthe lake and they have both Stripers and wipers
This time of year its mostly trolling the thermocline.
The biggest I caught from the lake was 33lbs and it was in July.
Its a tough lake to fish but there are some nice fish there,

[bottom knocker]

downriggers and 12" rainbows.. (I hear they sell them live in the bait stores).

Mike

[Dirtyworm]

I was fishing at Blue Marsh Lake for catfish a couple years ago and caught 2 nice stripers with chicken livers. Have tried since and just got cats, but anything might work, depending what mood they are in. The first one I thought was just a fluke, but an hour later I got another. You just never know. Clams might work, or chicken soaked in bunker oil. Blue Marsh is kind of murky, so I guess they are feeding by scent. If you don't wanna fool with trout. bluegills might work.

[Harry53]

Raystown is an early morning lake. The boating traffic makes it tough to fish for stripers during the daytime. I'm lucky enough to have both good friends and family who own homes close to the lake so I've had a lot of chances to fish there. In 12 years of camping at 7 Points I've managed 4 stripers over 20lbs. All were caught as dawn was breaking slow trolling live bait around points in 22 to 25 ft of water.

Now finding quiet coves and casting surface lures and buzz baits can raise some very nice Large mouths and an occasional Muskie. It's an amazing place, wildlife abounds, I've seen black bear, deer, chucks, beaver and several pairs of eagles. From mid lake to the damn you can lean over and count the rocks on the bottom in 35' of water.