Looking for advice on how to catch larger stripers on Livingston....assumimg it is possible to do so.

Specifically, would really like to hear techniques that work for you on other Texas lakes that maybe could be adapted to Livingston....techniques for larger stripers.

If you're not familiar with Livingston, it has a lot of small stripers(less than 18 inches) but very few really nice ones are caught. Almost no one fishes for them. They are present however...but probably not in great numbers.

My game plan for a short "campaign" in the next couple of weeks to try to catch one is 1) freeline live BG about 20 feet under balloons right at first light while drifting across the deeper areas of the lake 2) anchor up around some deep water humps and drop shot live bait rigs...again at first light 3) troll DT22's with bucktail teasers until mid-morning 4) give up and go back to slabbing for whites and schedule a trip to Texoma.

Not interested in quantity (already catch lots of small ones now with whites) but I'm after maybe just one or more good fish. Appreciate any inputs. Thanks.

Dont be afraid to fish all day

Look for shallow water ledges (25-35ft.) that are near deep water, possibly by the damn. I have never used balloons and you probably do not need to. The big fish will be laying on the bottom. Look for one large hook on your graph and fish there. Try on anchor in the wind and drift in no wind. Then get an old rod and slap the water real hard 1-2 times and no more. 1 lb gizzard shad is not too big.

I fished Livingston one time last year around this time of year. There was a boat show out on the spillway side of the Island and it was a pretty calm day. The boat show was trolling in a consentrated area sucking up small whites. I pulled by them watching my graph to the far side of the island when the slight breezes were creating a small current. I found a large concentration of fish just off the secondary ledge out form the Island and tore the Stripers/Hybrids up with soft plastics until the boat show took notice and moved right on top of me... of course the fish scattered and I had 3 decent fish in the cooler and left them to their potlicking ways. I am sure you can find simular concentrations of fish on other ledges in the main lake. If I lived closer I would fish that lake often it has great schools and I think you are right in that it is an under utilized fishery.

Really appreciate the replys...and wish I had seen them before going out this morning.


Tried the balloon technique since we had a nice gentle drifting wind this morning. Set the freeline baits at the thermocline at about 18 feet. Had two takes that popped the balloons loose but the fish got off....probably too much slack in the line. Gave up at about 10:00 am and went to catch some whites....according to advice above I should stay with it longer.

Next time will find a shelf and carolina rig some live bait on it. Common sense says they are out there somewhere....and comments like those from NRGNXS confirm it.

Again, thanks for the replys and love to hear more. Its very helpful and ... I need help!

wHAT STYLE HOOK AND WHERE ARE YOU HOOKING BAITFISH?

Circle hook through the mouth.

ARE YOU LETTING THE FISH THAT DO GRAB THE BAIT RUN WITH IT FOR AT LEAST A FEW SECONDS BEFOERE REELING DOWN TIGHT?

When useing ballons.. sometimes when the fish pulls hard enough to release the balloon. That will create a sudden slack in the line. People will sometimes start setting the hook to soon. Dont panic and just ease into the fish.

Oh yeah, there are always big fish down by the dam

Yes, I'm familiar w/using circles....but the balloons in combo with the circles are kind of tricky for me. I expected the fish to hook itself but the two fish hits popped the balloons loose and just like mentioned above introduced slack in the line. Both times the fish got off at that point taking the live bait with them. Caught me by surprise both times. Oh well, its a learning experience.

It was funny to watch a potlicker spot one of the loose ballons and proceed to troll around it and then pick it up....lol.