Seems like fishing with slabs are pretty popular and effective way to catch striper, hybrids, and sandies. Being new to this what advice or techniques would you suggest? Thanks

use ur electronics, that is the best key

There are many different ways. I like to see where the fish are on my finder then let it freefall down then burn it back up. If they are not biting then i will slow it down and just let it freefall down to the fish then lift my rod up and down letting the slab flutter back down. You can also cast a slab. Use a small swivel or your line will get twisted. Good luck!

Up and down up and down up and down,that sound kinda weird!

Hire a guide. Learn grasshopper...

Amen on hire a guide. They know all the different techniques and will show you the way. Conditions dictate what method is best, wax on wax off grasshopper! Many good guides will offer a learning trip, book it!

I agree! Book a guide and they will show you some great ways to do it first hand. Its the best way to learn.

There is no such thing as too fast. If there is not wind cast out and let it sink and rip it back.

Thats all I got
Good Luck to All,
Brian Prichard

Definately hire a guide, ask lots of questions and pay attention to everything that is done. If you are one of those that likes to learn on their own, with no help, I look forward to your same questions over the next five years

Watch that video JV posted...He gots great tips. You'll learn from watching that. Then put you own into it and practice. Good luck.

There are a number of factors that play into slabbing techniques.
Temperature of the water, how hard the wind is blowing, size of bait the fish are feeding, always staying in contact with the slab, etc..

Like most of these folks said.
Definitely something a guide can help you out with to get you over the learning curve.
Unless you like spending time on the water and living and learning.

Great Video John! Makes me really want to learn to slab Better!

I have watched John's video several times, very good. One of the hardest things to do is get it in the strike zone or through the strike zone when they are suspended in deep water. Takes some practice to get the feel. The first time I was told we were going to do vertical slabbing I thought the guy was crazy, and I was terrible at it. I thought this was the dumbest way to fish I had ever tried. Now I really like it, next to top water this is my favorate way to fish.

Sharpen your hooks on the slab so that when they smack it on the way down, the weight of the slab is enough to drive the hook in past the barb.

I like to cut off one of the hooks on the treble hook. Prevents the triple hooked fish that are hard to unhook.

I am actually fishing for 3 different species at the same time when I use a slab.
1. Let it sink to the bottom, then bounce it a few times in case of a blue catfish.
2. Crank it up a bit and bounce for hybrids.
3. Zip it to the top as fast as you can for white bass.
rinse and repeat

It also helps a lot to be fishing where they are instead of where they aren't. This is where the electronics and guides come into play.