Several of the striper anglers that I�ve communicated with over the years reference a ladder ranking the striped bass catch by size. The ranking generally starts at the �over 20 club� and for an angler to gain �membership� in this mythical club, you must legally catch a striped bass weighing over 20 pounds. Similarly, there is the over 30 club, the over 40 club, and etc.


I just returned from the magical Lake Ouachita where I secured a membership card in the over 30 club, moving on up the ladder from the over 20 club. The great fish was hooked on a live shad presented at about 50 feet. The technique used was to drop the live shad to just below the striper mark on the sonar and very slowly raise it to just above the striper mark�all the while using the sonar as the reference and totally focusing on the rod/line for any increased resistance. Sometimes big stripers hit like a freight train but other times it is less violent and if you aren�t prepared, the fish will be lost.


This fish hit with only a slight pull at first�.nothing that would indicate the ultimate size of the fish. There is no doubt that had the rod been sitting in the rod holder, the hook would have never been set and the fish lost before it was even hooked�.just another missed hit.

When the hook was set, all hell broke loose, as you might imagine. The mighty striper tangled every line we had out, circled the entire boat, and used every trick to avoid the landing net. My fishing partners skillfully took care of the other lines and expertly netted the fish�.so many things can go wrong, as all of you who have fished for big striped bass know, and it�s very difficult for everything to go right. Everyone in the boat must help the angler�or at least not do anything to jeopardize the catch.


When the mighty striper came up to the surface from the 50 foot depths, it was totally spent and we realized then just how special this fish was. A quick measurement on the deck showed it was a full 42+ inches. Later we weighed it on reliable scales and it came in at 31 pounds. The age of the fish was estimated at 14 years old�so it was born just before my teenage grandson was born. Its weight was just slightly above average for that length�and in the spring would probably weigh 35 or 36 pounds.


Ouachita is a very special place where one can have a reasonable chance at a striper that is well over a decade old. The conditions there are very favorable for a long and healthy life for the striped bass.

Each year, I catch hundreds of stripers that can only live a max of 5 or so years on Lake Livingston�but when looking for big stripers, I�ve found that Ouachita and the surrounding watershed arguably provides the best shot at big striped bass anywhere.

1) The first photo shows the typical Ouachita striper. 2) The second photo shows the 42 plus inches, 31 pounds striper 3) yes it really was that big


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When we went this past winter we "only" got into the 16-18lbs. That thing is a monster, looks like it fed on trout!! Did you go fish with Ron in his Blazer Bay? Looks like him on that last picture.

Wow!!! Excellent fish.

WTG nice fish. Probably was eating trout this winter. They stock them every year once the water gets below 60*. That lake is unreal. Hamilton has some monsters too...

What A Fish! Gongrats

What a beast man. Congrats on a fish of a lifetime

Yes that was Ron Hawley and his new boat...my first time out since he got that new rig. It is sweet.

Mid-summer isn't the best time for big stripers there...but I had the chance to go and I'm very glad I took it. I doubt I will ever again experience a take in freshwater like that one. Thanks for your comments.

Wow, you been targeting big striper for a while. Congrats on the 30 lb club achievement. You deserve if

nicely done!

Way to go meadowlark!! A big fish like that is always a thrill.

That's a whopper. makes my 18 lb persona; best I caught today look like bait.

Welcome to the club!

Now that's a big one