Virginia Stripers

Posted: January 19th, 2009

Taping one of our new Bill Dance Saltwater shows recently took us up the east coast to Virginia Beach, Virginia.  I knew when we arrived that 30-degree night and began checking into the Best Western there that we were at the right place for some exciting Striper fishing the next day.

Fishermen from Baltimore, New York, Washington, Philadelphia and Atlanta were all there for the same reason.  The buzz word was “the bite is on!”  I was so pumped up I bet I didn’t sleep a total of three hours.  Well, all the talk was right on.  We met our buddy Mike Standing who owns Waterman’s Sportfishing Guide Service at 7 the next morning.  By noon we had caught and released 25 stripers—a 45 pounder, two 30s, a 38, and several in the 20 to 30 pound class.  This show will air on the Outdoor Channel beginning Friday night, March 20th at 10:30 Eastern time, 9:30 Central.

Wow! What a trip!

Hey, we were just gettin’ started.  The next day, we did about the same, only the fish ran bigger.  I caught my biggest - a 47 pounder!  We also videoed this for another show which also included a couple of 45 pounders and several over 35 pounds.

You know, I can write about this trip, tell you about it, show you pictures of it, and video it, but for you to really appreciate it, you’ve gotta actually live it.  And guess what!  You can!  All you gotta do is call our ole friend Mike at 757-288-9051 or check out his website at www.watermansportfishing.com.  It’s an experience you’ll never forget, I promise.

Bill
I have watched you for ever and really enjoy your show,but I got to ask ya . What do you do when you get a fish and it swallows the bait to the point of no return

Bill,
I have yet to know how to rig and fish with a tube bait.
Can you give me some info on how to do it.

What are the best lures to use this time of the year?I haven’t caught a nice bass since november.

Bill,people tell me all the time not to fish in the winter.But i do anyway,and i dont catch fish.What is your advice on how to catch bass during the winter.

bill can you tell me what kind of bait is better for suspend stripers asuspend lucky crift live pointer or a suspend crank bait for fast moving water?

Bill i’m having A bit of truble finding the large mouth bass on lake sinclair the water temp is 52 to 58 the water is stand what kind of baits would you try?

have you ever heard of any one like me that when in tournment condition slides into a one bait day then off the water relizes i had better choices?

Bill,
I am 17 and have been watching your show for two years and I live in Virginia Beach and can not believe I did not get the chance to meet you. I live a mile or two from the marina that you used! The striper are still biting and it is the 23 of Jan. Hope you come back soon.

me and my dad go fishing in SPIRT CREEK all the time and today was a special day because my dad caught a 2 pound perch. i caught a big brim !! we love your show we watch it all the time ,
tyler

Thank you Bill ! I have got most my best fishing tip’s from your videos ! Bill were do you film most of videos ? That the place i would love to fish with you ! See-Ya Mastercaster

Bill, here is one for you.
I fished yesterday on Hartwell lake and we found latge schools of bait and a mixture of game fish,blacks, hybrids, strippers,cats etc. The wind was blowing 15-30 miles/hour and the fish were stationed on main lake points.The catchable fish were holding between 55 and 45 feet.
Ny question is. how do you control the boat in that situation? we were using 3/4 oz. jigging spoons and before they could drop to the fishes level we were off the fish and I’m sure the spoon was not in the fish holding area. My trolling motor was on HI4 and we were going backwards pretty fast. We only made headway between gusts. Very frustrating to say the least!!

BILL,I watch your show it is very informational.I’ve have used a couple of your techinques,they seem to work.Although,I would like to get to know how to fish my lake more productively.I’m really not into fishing big bodys of water.I would like some tips on fishing LAKE ERIE.Keep up the good advise on your show.

Bill I love to fish for catfish but all I see on tv is bass or cropy fishing and others tipes of big game fish it seams that all the anglers think there is out there and no one thinks cats are big game fish why is that I have two littel buddys that I like to take with me and this last sumer we had 10 fish on and that wade in at 225lb out side the of salt walter can any one bring in fish of tha sise with just 10 fish or less cats fight just as hard as anny bas or game fish out ther but you hardly hear of it on tv so if you can we would like to see more of you with cat sencerly mike

I want to know about the boat you used on Versa
1-25-09 show

Bill:
Are any shows in the works featuring white bass in the near future?

Bill,

Striper fishing has always been a great interest of mine. Being born and raised in Florida, striper fishing has never really been an option. On a recent trip to the Northern states I took advantage on the striper infested waters. Although my adventures where not as successful as yours, I did enjoy a successful day of striper fishing!
Fish on Mr. Dance!

It was great meeting a living legend like yourself this weekend in SC. You are a true ambassador for anglers worldwide. Keep up the great work and we’ll keep wantin’ to go “fishin with Bill Dance today!”

Hi my friend,
I dont know if you remember I had my picture taken my son and you at bass pro shop one time and I still have it hanging on the wall,that had to be in 1992,Well I want to ask you a question I am fishing a tournament on truman lake in the last part of April I was wandering
if you had some pointers on baits and what and where the fish my be at that time of the year.Your my hero my friend.looking forward to hearing from you.

Mike Williams

Bill,

I happened on your web site today and I can’t tell you how glad I was to see you holding one giant striper (rock).

As I read the caption I can safely and proudly say that you Bill, and I fished the same migratory run of stripers. On January 10, 2009 near the end of the day I happened on those fish just off of the Delaware shores.

Since I discovered them so late in the day I only had an hour and half, I didn’t find the really big boys, but we had multiple double headers and caught many 20 to 30 pound class fish. It would have been great to follow that migration down the coast.

Regards,
Jim

Hello Again Bill,
I just wanted say THANK YOU! Your friend Milo John F. hooked you up with me during a difficult time in my life and your care package and phone call was so up-lifting to me, you will never know. As Milo John told you I am one of your biggest fans and wouldnt be the fisherman I am today without your teachings.
God Bless and tight lines.
Kevin Whitten

Have you ever went to Van Buren County Tennessee

Bill, I watched your show aired on Jan 31,08 and you were using a Yum green pumpkin creature bait and a football head back hook. I have looked a the Yum baits and can’t find which one you used. Please advise. I fish a clear water (spring fed)lake and usually use watermelon zoom brush hogs, but would like to try what you used. Thanks Kyle

Bill,
I have been watching your show for as long as I can remeber and used the same baits and techniques you have but haven’t had the same results. What do you think might be the problem, me or my fishing location?

Todd Barnes

I was wondering if you ever fish on Dale Hollow Lake? Our boat is docked at Sunset Boat Dock and we fish nearby. We only catch small fish so do you have any pointers on catching big fish? We always start out fishing with night crawlers.

P.S. My mom is a big fan of yours also.

Bill, I just finished watching the episode, “Urban Tarpon”. Thank you for showing how it really is; hook ups are difficult and landing one is a special thing. Too many shows make fishing appear to be a 100% done deal. They need to show more of the misses, pulled hooks, break offs, etc. After all, that’s a big, big part of fishing reality.

Nice fish!

Hello bill me and my dad have been watching your show for quite a long time we’ve seen you reel in some big bass but nothing like this.That is one of the biggest fish i have seen you pull in. But i’ve seen you and Phil King a couple of times. We would like to know what bait you use for striper fishing?
Regards,
Quentin Knotts