I’ll let you in on the secret of a highly sought-after life of an outdoor writer… I’m kind of lazy. I don’t write like I should, and I rarely stick to any form of schedule. I know I should, I know my writing would get better if I did.  However, inspiration, motivation, and deadlines rarely occur in the same moment. That’s why it is nice to spend time with hard working people in our industry. It helps to get you in gear.

Now as a charter member of the cranky old guy’s club I often complain about the state of today’s youth, millennials, gen Z, and numerous other things. So let me be the first to say I met the hardest working fisherman I have ever known the other day. Now we’ve been friends on social media for a while. I’ve followed him and his work with Capt. Mack closely. But until the striper seminar a couple of weeks ago Ryan O’Neal of Pulling Tail Charters and I had never met in person. We quickly went from hey I know you to let’s fish next week. That was all it took. 

So, my son (whom Ryan specifically invited along) and I met up with Ryan and his rescue dog, Ryder, at Charleston Park on Lake Lanier last week to fish aboard his XPLOR Boatworks X24 Andros, which I kidded him was the real reason I wanted to come. Let me tell you this. XPLOR makes a SWEET BOAT! It’s got super clean lines and rides like a Tennessee Walking Horse. They are made over in Columbia, SC in the shadow of Williams Brice by a guy named Frankie Marion. You can see more pics by checking out my Facebook profile (Southern Born Gentleman) or Xplorboatworks.com. 

However beautiful the boat is you got to catch fish. Ryan does that and we did in the first 5 mins of the trip with Beau immediately hooking up on his first spotted bass. We were trolling lead core lines and Capt. Mack’s striper jigs. This is not an easy or cheap tactic to learn. Lead Core is basically braided line filled with lead. It’s stiff, it’s heavy, and it’s color coded which shows how much you have so you can figure how deep you are getting with the baits. Over a couple of trips, I pulled mini-Macks, striper jigs, and even Ben Parker magnum spoons. All caught fish. 

What I gathered over a couple of trips is this. Lead core is heavy and hard to deal with. So high speed reels make a huge difference. Seriously, seek out something with a high gear ratio. Ryan uses Avet reels that he also uses for sail fish, so they pick up line at a quick pace and with little effort. Next is your rod. Every guide I know who uses this technique says you need a good medium heavy slow to moderate action rod. Capt. Mack mustard sticks are good and so are StripeX Obsession rods. The most common lines I have seen are Tuf Line and Suffix lead core. 

Finally boat speed. This may sound funny but I believe every guide has their own magic speed. It’s typically the slowest they can make their boats go so it is dependent on technology and boat. However, somewhere between 2.5 mph and 3 mph seems to get the most attention. Ryan slows his 250 Yamaha SHO down by tossing a Yeti bucket into the water and dragging it! Pay attention to your speed and the amount of line you have out. That determines your depth. 

This is a tactic that can be fished and produce all year. When it comes to Oconee, start gearing up now and you will be ready for the November striper bite and can follow them on into the winter.