Freshwater FishingLatest Stories Winter playbook for Lake Havasu stripers By WON Staff - December 3, 2024 0 4068 FacebookXPinterestWhatsApp HUMAN-POWERED HAVASU— Justin Butel of Southwest Outfitters with a solid Lake Havasu Striper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FacebookXPinterestWhatsApp Previous articleSlow week for Southern California duck huntersNext articleSalmon sprint into previously barren waters WON Staff Sign in Welcome! Log into your account your username your password Forgot your password? Get help Password recovery Recover your password your email A password will be e-mailed to you.
HUMAN-POWERED HAVASU— Justin Butel of Southwest Outfitters with a solid Lake Havasu Striper.  and get after them. Let’s dive into some of the top baits, techniques, and a few tricks I’ve picked up over the years.</p>
<p><strong>Bait and Tackle: keep it simple</strong></p><div class=)
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, the white Rat-L-Trap still gets the job done. Look for one with a baby rattle-type sound with glass beads, not a single knocker. Trust me on this one, the stripers seem to have a preference, and they’re not shy about it.</p>
<p><strong>Hidden gems and new trends</strong></p>
<p>For trolling, the Mr. Twister Sassy Shad has been a go-to for years. But lately, some anglers have been switching to UV plastic versions. These baits glow when they get deeper, which can make a big difference. Bass Pro Shops has a version that’s been catching a lot of attention (and fish). Keep your trolling speeds between 3 and 5 mph, and remember, locate the bait and you’ll locate the fish.</p>
<p><strong>Finding the Fish</strong></p>
<p>Think of striper fishing as hunting. First, find the shad. A good place to start is watching for diving birds as they’re the ultimate fish finders. If you see birds working the water, there’s a good chance stripers are beneath them taking advantage of the buffet.</p>
<p>Surface boils are another dead giveaway. When stripers start busting the surface, grab a white walking bait like a Zara Spook. Work it with a steady cadence, and you’ll be rewarded. Pro tip: swap the feathered treble hook from the tail to the belly. It shifts the shimmer to the middle of the bait, tricking those fish into striking closer to the hooks. Little tweaks like this can mean the difference between a miss and a catch.</p>
<p><strong>Final thoughts</strong></p>
<p>Striper fishing on Lake Havasu in January and February is as much about the hunt as it is the catch. Whether you’re trolling deep with UV plastics, casting tail spins into the depths, or chasing boils with a walking bait, it’s all about finding what works for you. Keep your hooks sharp, your bait selection tight, and your sense of humor sharper.</p>
<p>If you’ve got questions or just want to swap striper stories, I’m all ears. Until then, tight lines, and I hope to see you out there.</p>
<p><em>Visit Southwest Outfitters at 159 Paseo del Sol (Near 95/Old London Bridge Rd) in<br />
Lake Havasu City, Arizona and online at SWKoutfitters.com.</em></p>
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