folks
Looking for some advice, never fished winter for stripers in VA but have read enough reports lately that I am catching on. When fishing the pallions around bridges, are you looking for hard marks or looking for bait before you drift or anchor near pallions? Or are you looking for bottom channels near the pallions. I didn't know if you will find many marks or not on finder while setting up for drift or anchor. thanks
Chessieman

First and foremost, you want to mark the fish! If you do not show marks for fish, there is no point in drifting or anchoring up in that location.

thanks Getaway,
Didn't know if the big fish would be stacked up or not, is the incoming tide or outcoming tide been better?
chessieman

is their any need to drift any at the high rise in the day time this time of year or is that just a night thing

Buddy
I got a 53lb a 35lb and a 46 inch release all during the day over there and Entrophy got a 35 lb over there on Saturday. I would give it a try right around the pilings.

Mark

Either tide (current) works as long as it is moving pretty good. If you want to try around the pilings, make sure that you use enough weight to get down quickly when you drop your lure/eel down. It takes a pretty heavy weight with a good running tide. Frankly, I would rather get away from the Highrise on the ocean side about a mile and drift live eels at 10 and 20 foot depths. Use a bobber or free line, both with a one oz. egg sinker just above the swivel at the top of your leader.

I will be out there around the Cement Ships late tomorrow morning--doctor's appointment early--give me a call.

if the tide is runnign right you can drift from pilon to pilon with a bump from the motor from time to time. I Drifted about 30-40 pilons friday like that........just bumping the motor to keep off the pilons.

Drifting in 10 - 20 foot of water with a float above the high rise on Saturday during the day - 45 incher, weighed in at 35 lbs. - nice fish just a little slim. Would not drift bait on the bottom during the day unless you like catching Spiny Back Dogfish.

Did try the Gulp fake eel --- tried it on the bottom and it did well on the Spiny Backs. At least I now know it works well on Spinys - will try it on a float next time for Stripers.

thanks guys for the info, hoping to get down here in two weeks or so. Hopefully its not over then.
Chessieman