Striper fishing remains good near schools of shad


by Arizona Game & Fish Department
1-24-2024
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At Lake Havasu (mid-December report courtesy of John Galbraith of Bass Tackle Master via Arizona State Parks), striper fishing remains good near schools of shad off the California side of the main basin from Havasu Landing Casino south to the chalk cliffs. Trolling, casting, or jigging tailspinners, blade baits and spoons near shad schools during early morning and late afternoon hours has been the most productive tactic for numbers of fish. Live shad, however, are producing quality sized stripers from 2 to 4 pounds. Use a 4-foot throw net (the largest legal size) or a snag hook to catch shad to use as live bait. Smallmouth bass are biting good on shad-colored jerkbaits like the Staysee 90 or white/shad pattern Rat-L-Traps. Unless you can locate them down deep in their winter schools with sonar, fishing for redear sunfish has been slow. Begin your search in 25 to 40 feet of water off main lake point