Dallas: I used to use different-sized baits, but not much anymore. In winter, schools of stripers feed on tiny shad, about the size of crappie minnows, and a lot of guys use these for bait. But you know what? Skipjack are in there feeding on those small shad, too. The biggest stripers key on those big baits, regardless of season. Giant stripers are always characterized as eating machines, but in reality they're highly selective about what they eat. The biggest stripers target the biggest forage, and may not feed for long periods until it's available.
Wirth: Anybody who's ever tried to keep skipjack in a conventional bait tank or shad tank knows they go belly-up in a heartbeat. How do you keep 'em alive and frisky?
Dallas: First, you need a large volume of water. The built-in baitwell of my 22-foot Triton bay boat has a 50-gallon capacity. Next, you need plenty of oxygen, way more than a standard aerator pump can produce. Under my boat's front deck, there's an oxygen tank with a regulator, which I use to inject oxygen directly into the baitwell. A powerful pump on the tank's bottom spins the water in a circular fashion, to disperse the oxygen evenly throughout the water column. Finally, the water needs to be cold, preferably around 50°F, which means you have to add ice to your bait tank in warm weather.
McClintock: In my 20-foot SeaArk boat, I carry a 50-gallon Super Bait Tank II from Livewell Systems (864-295-4206). A remote oxygen tank with a regulator routes oxygen into an air stone on the bottom of the tank. The tank's aerator pump has a diffuser on the bottom; this helps remove carbon dioxide from the water. When you pump in oxygen from a remote tank, there's a buildup of CO2 in the water, and if you don't have a diffuser, the bait goes into shock. My bait handling setup cost me $1200. That's a lot of money, but I need it to keep skipjack alive. I like the coldest water I can get for my tank, but I'm cautious about adding ice in hot weather -- it can shock your bait.
Wirth: How do you treat your baitwell water?
McClintock: I use rock salt, and an ammonia-removing chemical. I fill the tank in the morning and pump it out when I'm done fishing. On real hot days, I pump out half the water every few hours and add fresh river water.
Dallas: I add four pounds of non-iodized granulated salt per 50 gallons of water. I also use a commercial livewell formula like Shad Saver, which removes any chlorine from ice. I change the tank's water every two or three hours. To tempt a giant striper, your bait must be lively, not just alive. Even well-maintained skipjack won't stay lively more than half a day, especially in hot weather. Around noon, I usually pull my striper lines and go catch some fresh bait.
TACKLE AND RIGGING RIGHT
Wirth: Most novice river-striper anglers are under-gunned in the tackle department. Big stripers make amazingly powerful runs. Add swift current and submerged snags into the mix, and it's obvious you need some serious gear to deal with these fish. Describe the rods, reels and lines you're using to fish big livebaits.
