Went to Whitney yesterday(Sunday) to try and catch some stripers. We launched at the State Park and went to the island straight across from the boat ramp toward the dam. Found lots of fish. At one point they were hitting the top all around us, and at a couple of times the graph was dark with fish. But...
I am still so poor at this, we only caught 1 keeper striper, my first one. We ended up with only 3 white bass too. It's kind of discouraging when you know they are all around, but you can't come up with any. I would have liked to net some shad, but I couldn't find them. I could use some help in that area. (hint, hint)
Anyway, the weather was great and it was a great day to be on the water.

I ran into this problem on whitney many of times. So I started talking to people around the lake I saw. I was told numorus of times to go to Lake Aquilla. Roughly about 20 mins from whitney to catch shad. This is what I have started doing.

pm sent

Thanks Texcwby. I have seen Acquilla on the map, but never been there.

pm sent...rick

Ya, I that's something pretty common for whitney. Everyone goes and catches their bait at aquilla because that lake is apparently just overrun with shad. I'm glad to finally hear a good report from there. Went their about 3 weeks ago and nobody was catchin nothin. I hope to make it out their this weekend. What baits were you using when they surfaced? Top water I think would have dynamite for that. Congrats on the first!

We got the whites on bomber slabs (white/silver). I was jigging a silver spoon off the bottom to get the striper. Really, with all the action around us, I was pretty disappointed with our ability to pull them in. I tried a silver/black top water, but it didn't get even a sniff.

Try using chartruse and white, or white, or just chartruse, we tend to have pretty good luck on those three colors and tou can cast and reel those through the schools when they surface also.
Good luck and you might want to check the spelling on the chartruse before finding them in the store

Hide, don't feel to bad. I was out there Sunday around the island. (think I was about the first boat on the lake) and I saw action all around for about 20-30 minutes and I threw every topwater I had but nothing could have just been carp. Didn't see any of the regular guides unless they launch up north. I thought that was telling

We were down by the dam moring on Sunday and we saw tons of fish hitting surface as well, but no takers there either.

We moved onto to live bait......and BAM.....it was on!!

Opening weekend......the guides might have been hunting!

I would try burning a big in line spinner like a mepps just under the surface when they are busting on top. Sounds like you were maybe fishing under them.

I agree with Novato ... burning a big white in-line spinner through the school will get you bit. A chrome Rattle Trap will get you hooked up, too. If the baitfish are small, you might have to throw a 1/4 oz. Hang on to your rod, though ... when they grab a fast lure, they could jerk it out of your hand! I've had several big hybrids rip the tail hooks out of Rattle Traps on the strike before.
Tom

You know, back when I used to fish.... I used an inline spinner all the time to catch sandies. I should have remembered that. Thanks for the reminder.

I reckon, if I can read chartreuse, chartruse, shartrews here, then I'll be able to find it in the store. ;-)

If I was a betting man I would get some bait and find 30-40 feet of water. Kinda like these Trashguy (my son) and I caught at Whitney Sunday.........

http://picasaweb.google.com/leewitte/Whitney11092009#5402357849068277762