How to Use A Lunker Punker For Striper Bass
People from all over ask me how I catch the Big Stripers here on the California Delta in the fall and winter. I tell them with the Blackdog Lunker Punker hands down. Below, Im going to try and explain in what I do in using electronics and the varying methods in working the Lunker Punker.
First, I look for main flats near deep channels (15-25ft). The flats have to be with quick access to and from. Second, I try an meter them in 8ft or less, best results are 6ft. If I meter them say in 8ft, but their suspended in 6-7ft I seldom try for them because of water clarity. But if I meter them suspended in 3-4ft of water, then the GAME BEGINS.
What to look for in Mother natures backyard? I look for birds, Terns, Gray or white herons and seagulls in that order. The birds will hint to you the approximate area the stripers are feeding in. Again in order, the TERN is your first choice, they will be either sitting over them or diving for the leftovers. GRAY or WHITE Herons will be usually on the flat the stripers are chasing the bait. The SEAGULLs usually come during or after the feeding frenzy is over.
Once you find an area and its active the GAME BEGIN’s and it can be explosive and heart stopping. Set your mine that you are going to throw the Lunker Punker ALL DAY.
Starting in Mid September Im looking at water temps (usually 58-60 degree) and the reports from the fisherman out in San Pablo Bay. This will tell me approximate time the schoolies will be moving thru. By October the big ones are moving and thats when I really start to go after them. November, December and January is big fish months.
How I use the Lunker Punker, I use three different colors, in this order> Delta Shiner, White, and Black. In use, starting when the water is 60 degrees I use tight fast retrieve where it glides side to side, occasionally pausing to see if the fish are following it. A lot of times the fish will hit it on the retrieve if not they will hit it on the pause. If they hit it on the pause, that will tell you too slow down your retrieve. This will also happen, the smaller fish 3-5lbs will miss it more ofter than hit it on the first try. When this occurs, kill it and they will come back for it. Sometimes up to 5 times. Any thing bigger than that will connect the first time or second.
As the water declines in temperture, the bigger fish will start to move in usually in mid October and thus use a medium retrieve but still tight with more pauses during the cast. Let the fish dictate to you in how they want it. This is when it starts to happen with the bigger bruisers. Don’t be surprised if you see them submarining it LOL.
In November, December and January with the water at 48-50 degrees, foggy and wet. The stripers will won’t it in another pattern, and this is where you have to make the changes in presentation. Make your cast and pause for a few seconds, then make your retrieve in a glide pattern where it will go to one side at least 2ft, pause a split second and give it a quick jerk with the rod tip to obtain the swish bubble action of the bait, its also called creating a wake. By doing this, it gets their attention in a quick and explosive reaction from them. They Kill it, so be ready. The downside to this, being the water temperture is less than 50 degree’s is the fact that your only going to get a one time shot at them if they miss. They seem not too come back for it being the water temperture is so low. What I do normally is give the area a 30-45 minute break and go thru again. I go in pump up an ready for action on every cast.
Hope this helps you in your approach to using the Blackdog Lunker Punker after the explosive actions of the California Delta’s Striper Bass.
Richard Thiel
Professional Guide Equipment, best results with a 9” Lunker Punker is a “Heavy” rod action. The 6”, I use a “Medium Heavy” with a Shimano Cardiff 300A loaded with 65# Braid. I don’t recommend Mono because of the long cast that you make and thus, you will have stretch in the line.
