Beaver Lake is known for its striped bass fishing. There are numerous guides available and it is not uncommon to get your limit with a guide. Many stripers will be over 10 pounds and there are fish caught in the 20 to 30 pound range all the time.
Huge Striped Bass are Caught on Beaver Lake
Striped bass above 40 pounds are caught here with 50 pounders being possible as well. These fish grow fast in Beaver Lake and the stocking program is very good on the lake, so there are plenty of new fish added to the system to keep it an excellent fishery. There is plenty of bait in the lake to support annual stockings of striped bass and because of this, Beaver Lake has consistently been one of the better big striped bass destinations in the country.
Find the Schools of Shad
Striped bass will roam the lake while feeding on schools of shad. This pattern works all season long. Find the shad and you’ll most likely find some striped bass.
Fish the Main Lake
Striped bass like to roam the open waters and it is no different on Beaver Lake. From spring through fall, you will find schools of striped bass off the points, in the mouths of the creeks and just about anywhere else the shad will go. During the spring and fall months, you may find some nice fish in the creek arms around the lake, however, the main lake usually provides the better striped bass fishing in the summer and fall months. These fish roam a lot and get targeted by groups of boaters a lot, so plan on using your electronics to find fish out on the main lake. Watching for birds circling overhead is another good way to find schools of shad. With the clear water, birds can see down quite a bit and they will often feed on these schools of shad as striped bass scare them up towards the lake’s surface.
Use Live Bait
Live bait is the easiest way for most anglers to consistently catch striped bass on Beaver Lake. Large minnows work great if you can keep them lively. Many of the locals will cast net shad from the lake to use as bait. If you can do that, the live shad work great for bait.
Troll Around Schools of Shad
Trolling is how many anglers will target striped bass on Beaver Lake. It is a super effective way to cover water and when the striped bass are deep, trolling with the right equipment will help you present your lures at the right depth to a lot more fish than if you were casting.
Fish Topwater Lures During Lowlight Conditions
At times, the topwater bite can be very good on the lake. You may run into a school of stripers feeding on the surface in the middle of the day, however, the topwater bite is usually much better during low light conditions in the morning and evening.
Learn More About Striped Bass
Our largemouth bass section is huge with information on the best live baits, lures, where to catch them and how to catch them. Visit our striped bass page to learn more.
