Striper Swirl & Slurp Feeding - Why floating poppers are NFG sometimes...

[Roccus7]

The fish have entered their yearly "Swirl & Slurp" feeding period. That means they'll violently swirl around their intended dinner, and then sit back to slurp it in while under water. This is a reason I STOP my retrieve when a striper swirls at it without hitting or making contact. When they're in this mode, as you stop the retrieve you need to be ready for the hit, but ONLY IF you are using a NON-FLOATING topwater lure. If you're using floating topwaters, you're SOoL, they won't touch it. They expect their dinner to float down to them so they can slurp it up. If it doesn't they wise to your tricks.

Today was a case in point. I got myself into a feeding pod of fish and tossed my X-Rap, a floating Rapala "Spook-like" lure at them. Multiple fish swirled at it with no hits on 2 consecutive casts. Thought "F this!" and grabbed a rod armed with an old school, Creek Chub Striper Strike sinking popper and tossed it out into the feeding frenzy. After the second pop there was a violent swirl. I immediately stopped my retrieve and BAM!!!, fish on. The 27" fish took some time to get in, but on the next cast I still managed to pull a 24" one out of the blitz before it died, another Swirl, Stop, BAM!! Event.

Added another 24 and a 28" Swirl and Slurp Feeding fish on the Creek Chub before packing it in for the morning. Couldn't find a fish which would have been #100 for the season, year to date, but there's always tomorrow...

 

[Chevy1]

Sounds like a good trip to me ??

 

[longcast]

The fish have entered their yearly "Swirl & Slurp" feeding period. That means they'll violently swirl around their intended dinner, and then sit back to slurp it in while under water. This is a reason I STOP my retrieve when a striper swirls at it without hitting or making contact. When they're in this mode, as you stop the retrieve you need to be ready for the hit, but ONLY IF you are using a NON-FLOATING topwater lure. If you're using floating topwaters, you're SOoL, they won't touch it. They expect their dinner to float down to them so they can slurp it up. If it doesn't they wise to your tricks.

Today was a case in point. I got myself into a feeding pod of fish and tossed my X-Rap, a floating Rapala "Spook-like" lure at them. Multiple fish swirled at it with no hits on 2 consecutive casts. Thought "F this!" and grabbed a rod armed with an old school, Creek Chub Striper Strike sinking popper and tossed it out into the feeding frenzy. After the second pop there was a violent swirl. I immediately stopped my retrieve and BAM!!!, fish on. The 27" fish took some time to get in, but on the next cast I still managed to pull a 24" one out of the blitz before it died, another Swirl, Stop, BAM!! Event.

Added another 24 and a 28" Swirl and Slurp Feeding fish on the Creek Chub before packing it in for the morning. Couldn't find a fish which would have been #100 for the season, year to date, but there's always tomorrow...

Awesome how you break down the bite each session.

 

[longcast]

I wonder if you used, for example, a Super Strike needlefish (sinking) and kept the tip high and skipped it along the top of the water and once a boil occurs, same thing, let it sink and see if it will grab. Probably one of the ultimate "do nothing lures" on the fall and retrieve for that matter.

 

[Roccus7]

Super Strike needlefish (sinking)

If it sinks, it's certainly a good choice, but I've never tried one. I keep a $10 per plug cap on my purchasing unless the plug hooks the fish and fillets it, so I probably won't.

When Lurenet.com had a sale on my Striper Strikes a few years ago I bought 12 dozen @ $3.50 a pop. I'm set for at least a couple of years...