Two-way stripers on Lake Wateree

Live bait, artificial lures

November mornings can be downright cold, but Capt. Jason Wolfe of Wolfe’s Guide Service (803-487-3690) said anglers who bundle up will be rewarded.

“You don’t want to miss the morning bite for stripers this month,” he said. “Just put an extra layer on and get ready.”

He catches stripers with two distinct methods this time of year.

“The most reliable, consistent bite comes on live bait fished straight down after locating fish on your  depthfinder,” he said. “But the most fun way for most folks is with topwater lures, or lures that run just below the surface.”

Be ready

He said anglers need to be prepared for both methods right off the bat.

“When you’re catching them on live bait and a school of stripers starts boiling on the surface, you don’t have time to retie,” he said. “So always have a rod or two on standby with a Zara Spook or similar lure tied on.

He finds the most consistent action from mid-lake to the dam, and said fishing regularly this month helps him know where to start.

“But they move from one day to another, and even within the same day,” he said. “You just need to watch your electronics, but also the surface. Binoculars will help. And watch the birds. When they’re diving, it’s because stripers are actively pushing up bait. That’s when you can really get them on surface lures.”

But take plenty of live shad or herring, which will help you catch fish that aren’t surfacing.

“Live bait is surely the most productive,” he said. ■