Question for MexicoNM

[Curious]

How do your walleye lakes hold up in the winter? Do they ice up or can you fish open water all winter? Also, are you guys going back to Cabelas?

[karpbuster]

I fish in New Mexico as well...and the walleye lakes do not freeze up for the most part:
Ute, Conchas, Elephant Butte. Now the trout/walleye lakes like Abiquiu and Clayton - I would say yes they do - at some point, but that may not be until late Jan.

We are usually fishing for stripers all winter...they are a blast (at Elephant Butte). But Mexico fishes every where and was out to Ute not too long ago.

karpbuster

[rspahr]

I can't imagine why anyone would fish for walleye when they could be fishing for stripers down at Elephant Butte. :)

[bountyhunters]

are stripers good table food? never tried them .

[pwrfshn]

Blind folded you could not tell the difference between a properly cleaned striper (4-5 # range) and a walleye.

Our winter stripers here remind me of Erie walleyes. LOL

[pwrfshn]

Curious,

Ute is a spectacular fishery as well as some others in the winter. I don't talk about them much because of the abuse they can suffer during this time of year.

soft water = winter = schooled up fish = no bait = greedy ignorant fishermen = depleting a quality fishery in short order

I know, it isn't my job to whine about it, I've seen too many coolers come out of these lakes in the winter where they would have needed a party barge to match licenses to limit.

OK, I'm off that soap box...

Fishing is spectacular in New Mexico all winter. Quite frankly I prefer the winter bite to the summer...but mainly for stripers.

Walleye fishing can be hit and miss, but there are plenty of lakes. If you happen to come in during a cold front the stripers will still bite...but the walleye won't. Those winter days when the weather is mild (40-60) you will have plenty of action.

Good luck and let me know if you need more detail.

Pack your Fergie spoons and a lunch. ;)

[bsstopshere]

>Blind folded you could not tell the difference between a
>properly cleaned striper (4-5 # range) and a walleye.
>
>


Walleye down there in new mexico's warmer waters taste that bad eh!
>
>

[rspahr]

Stripers are good table food. As good as any fish I have tasted.

I like them for their fight the most. If the drag goes SCREAMING out it is a striper. If you are dragging something behind the board it is a walleye.

[pwrfshn]

I'll do a blind folded side by side...put your money where your mouth is.

;)

[Boatnut]

I enjoy walleye and striper (kentucky)as table fare. Both are excellent, however in my opinion, there is a definite difference between the two. Walleyes are a bit milder, flakier fish while the striper is a more firmer texture. I like walleyes fixed all kinds of ways, deep fried, grilled etc. Stripers , i always grill. excellent when rubbed with a bit of olive oil then sprinkled with some lemon pepper and put on a hot grill.
my 2 cents

[rspahr]

Boatnut:

What is your favorite striper lure?

[pwrfshn]

There are some differnces, but I get defensive when guys start talking about stripers and how they "don't compare" to the ever popular walleye.

I've personally got some rules that make the striper an equal table fare at our house.

No fish over 8#s depending on the time of year. In the winter months I'll be more likely to stretch that a bit...during the peak summer months, I don't really care to eat any size striper.

When you clean a striper and the meat looks like it has already been tenderized, you know you just wasted a fish...I try to avoid that.

The lateral line needs to be "zipped" out just like I do with larger walleye (try not to kill any of these, but it happens) after taking a paper thin swipe down the side to get the red out.

After that, all you have is straps to create a perfect meal.

I've got a buddy that did some recipes for the striper that are out of this world.

There are some pictures of the striper from the Winter Get Together we hosted at Elephant Butte last year...we'll be there again this year and with the late bite, February should promise to be a good catching month.

http://www.walleyecentral.com/Get_Togethers/2005/new_mexico/

[bsstopshere]

Hmmmm, so now I see there is a difference. LOL!

[Boatnut]

Most of the stripers I've caught have been on live shad behind boards.

At night when they are on the banks , u can cast large floating cranks and catch them as well. "Sliver" by Rapala (saltwater bait), cotton cordell large stickbaits and magnum bombers work well.

Large bucktail jigs off downriggers work too.

This is all at lake cumberland in KY>

[ku rocks]

There is nothing like catching a stripper of any size, but theirs nothing like eating a Walleye of any size. Must have a lot different taste buds then me becsue I dont see a comparison in taste and I have had em of all sizes just me but i cant stomach a stripper.

[karpbuster]

I can vouch for the good eating striper. It is true you can take a walleye filet it (fast/easy), prepare it and eat it...best there is. A striper you need to cut out the muscle and red meat (so a bit more preparation). But the striper is very good eating, a beer batter walleye and a beer batter striper...I don't know if I could tell the difference, but I do know I would enjoy them both equally.

The walleye, perch, crappie, bluegill and striper are GOOD eating. Just pass me the platter of fish.

karpbuster

P.S. Last trip to Ute, I had walleye and white bass for dinner (whites are very similar to stripers), my family could not tell the difference.

[rspahr]

Boatnut:

Thanks for the info. I always like to hear what is being used in different parts of the country. Down at Elephant Butte umbrella rigs have become real popular for stripers.

[rspahr]

Boatnut:

Thanks for the info. I always like to hear what is being used in different parts of the country. Down at Elephant Butte umbrella rigs have become real popular for stripers.

[rspahr]

Boatnut:

Can you tell us how you keep your shad alive in the summertime? What kind of tank you use, how do you keep the water clean and cold? How do you keep the shad alive?

[Boatnut]

when i'm fishing at cumberland, i'm usually on my buddy's boat. he has a regular bait tank with filters and the whole 9 yards. he puts jugs of frozen water in as necessary to keep temps cool. He also adds different chemicals as well. When shad aren't available..we often use shiners which keep easier and work pretty well.

[Reels]

Hey, I'll take the challenge. I don't care which one is better, but hey a free lunch! Does a beer come with that?


<{{}}><

[pwrfshn]

Reels i'd be happy to prepare a dinner.

I've done it for other WCers and the invite is always open.

If you make the trip dinner would be part of the hospitality.

The Get Together is in February.

;)

[DEEPERCHEAPER]

Brian
It kind looks like your trying to pick up a little business in your stripper guide business because there is no way a stripper taste as good as a walleye. They taste just like sand bass (white bass) and I don't keep them to eat. Just got back from stripper fishing in Arkansas and if it wasn't for the other guys fishing with me, I would have released them. There a great fish to catch but just my opioion there's nothing better than a walleye to eat. Now you can put a crappie and walleye on the same plate and cann't tell the difference
DEEPERCHEAPER

[dkooser]

I'll now weigh-in on this conversation.

First of all, Brian does not run a stripper business. He does guide for stripers though.

Second, I have eaten stripers he has caught and cleaned and although the meat was in bigger flakes than a typical walleye, it was as good as walleye. Just like my friends that claim antelope is not as good as deer, I believe it is how the meat is preped and cooked. If cleaned and cooked properly, it is difficult to tell the difference and can be just as good.

[pwrfshn]

David said it all.

The last thing I am trying to do is drum up business...but everyone has their opinions. My day job keeps me plenty busy, guiding is a profession I look at as an education opportunity for those who may not have been exposed to certain styles of fishing or one that I can also learn from.

I've said my bit and again I'll have you put your money where your mouth is.

You live close enought to take me up on my offer.

White bass, striper or walleye, I can do a lot with the correct prep...and that has nothing to do with guiding.

[bob oh]

If you think white bass are not decent table fare I've got a feeling you don't know how to prepare them for cooking or how to cook them. And I love crappie but I'll bet you a dollar to a donut I can tell them from walleye, just like I can tell white bass from eyes.

rod bender bob

[rspahr]

<< because there is no way a stripper taste as good as a walleye

:rotflmao::rotflmao::rotflmao::rotflmao::rotflmao: :rotflmao::rotflmao:


:Offtopic:

I am going to assume you meant striper, otherwise that is quite a different conversation.:)

Does anyone know any strippers that we could get to debate this one?

[Hawker]

Hey Mex, just curious about the "average" catch size of your winter time stripers? Do ya'll also have the "hybrid stripers" in your waters you fish as well?
Just getting ready to leave the house now to a powerplant lake here in Oklahoma for a day of striper & hybrid fishing myself when I get off the PC. Top water action has been hot and heavy of late here!!

Have you tried making poor mans shrimp with any of your striper meat?? Great stuff with winter time striper!!
Hawker

[pwrfshn]

They range anywhere from 3 - 30 pounds and they are all striper...we haven't seen any hybrids yet, although the makings for them are there.

My theory is that there is almost no natural reproduction on the striper side so that is the missing part of the equation. The whites seem to be able to reproduce in a coffeee can.

Havevn't done the shrimp...we usually beer battter and fry them or use one of the recipes from my buddy. *****Striper or Yahoo Fish or Fish Tacos If you want I can send them to you...they are also posted on my site.

We should try to hook up sometime...you are always welcome here.

[rspahr]

Hawker:

How do you make the shrimp?

[Hawker]

Guess I need to go check out your site Mex and look at some of your receipes (sp). Actually fished yesterday with a fella that used to fish the waters you ply for the stripers in your neck of the woods. He's a retired striper/hybrid guide (Tony Hughes)and we had a great day at the water yesterday. Nothing to write a book about, but did catch stripers up to 18 #'s and hybrids up to around 9-10 #'s or so. Would luv to make it over/down your way when time will allow and the invitation is extended back to you as well.

rspahr, the poor man's shrimp is pretty easy and you can use striper, hybrid/striper, or white/sand bass to make it.
Filet the fish making sure you get "all" the red meat out. Cut each filet lengthwise into strips approx 1/2 wide, then cut those strips into strips approx 1/12-2 inches long or approx the same size of a medium size shrimp. Fill (3/4 full) a large pot (I use a fish cooking pot& basket) with water and 1/2 cup of salt and bring to a full boil. When water is at full boil, add (large handful) fish strips via basket into the water. When water comes back to full boil cook fish for one minute, remove and immedietly spread out and chill on ice. Cook remainder of your fish the same way and chill on ice. (I use a sink full of ice) Add chilled fish to your favorite shrimp cocktail sauce and bingo, Poor Mans Shrimp! Makes for a great appetizer for a large gathering but also makes for a great stand alone meal or snack for one or a few.
Hawker

[rspahr]

Are there any good striper lakes fairly close to Tulsa?

[Texeye]

Lake Texoma on the Texas and Okl. border is worth the trip.We just returned from a great two day trip there.Tons of striper,hybrid,white bass.

It's about two hours from Okl. City.Not sure how far that is from Tulsa but it is definately a great striper lake.

Limit is 10 per day and only two over 20".

You can buy a license to fish this lake all year for $12.00.

Have a good one.
Texeye

[pwrfshn]

Great recipe Hawker, I'll look forward to meeting you...one way or another.

[rspahr]

Thanks. I will keep that in mind.

[Hawker]

Keystone Lake, just west of Tulsa is a good Striper fishery no thanks to the Corp of Eng. Used to have lots of "big" stripers in it, then had a big fish kill several years ago. They are coming back now in good numbers and the size is getting better and better every year.
Hawker

[rspahr]

Hawker:

Thanks for the info. What was the biggest striper for the year in that lake?

[Hawker]

rspahr:
Largest striper that I know of this past year on Keystone went just over 30# caught on a downline baited with live shad. Quite a few caught in the upper teens and of course even more weighing in the single digits. It's slowly coming back as a good striper fishery. Next best really good striper fishery anywhere close to Tulsa in Oklahoma, is of course Texhoma down on the Oklahoma/Texas line, but have not heard of any really big fish being caught down there recently but lots and lots of 3-10 # fish caught there on a regular basis. Lots of guys head over to Arkansas in the winter months to chase the really big stripers on a couple of lakes over there. I looked at some of the pics in your profile, looks like you have a pretty good fishery for some big stripers right there in NM yourself!

Hawker

[rspahr]

Elephant Butte is a very good striper lake.

I send my kids to Tulsa for summer camp. I thought one of these years I could drag the boat down and do some striper fishing. Thanks for the info.

[walteye]

I know that you are all talking about freshwater stripers-but here on the east coast-the major striper fishing is in the salt( yeah there are a couple of PA lakes/reservoirs and the Delaware and Hudson Rivers)-and I will eat a striper almost any day as compared to a walleye that I will eat every day. I have made striper chowder that is far and above better than any walleye chowder that I have ever made. I believe that the cooking is everything, rather than the fish(at least for most species)-I have eaten sucker along with 'eyes in northern Ontario,Canada- and loved both. At the resort that I stayed at, the owner said that you can fool some of the people some of the time, etc,etc,etc.....
Walteye
Honestly, I like perch the best(fresh and salt).....but let's NOT start.........