Striper Float Rigs for Blue Marsh

[650scoot]

I was in Gordon's last week and noticed that Ken has Float Rigs for Stripers that can be used at Blue Marsh. These rigs are not quite as good as the ones that I make but, will work. Obtaining or making the Float Rigs is the easy part. The hard part is obtaining a "cast net permit" and learning how to use it because you must use Alewives from the lake to be successful. Cast net permits are "lake specific"---can only be used in the lake for which the permit is issued--this is a "bummer" since I have a permit for Raystown Lake and can't use the net in Blue Marsh. Permits cost $10 and a cast net will put you back around $30 or so but, will last quite a long time. If you go to this trouble you will take stripers from Blue Marsh on a regular basis and they are decent size as well.
Will

[Eli]

Hi Will,
Where on the lake do you find the Alewives? I've read Stripers at BM but have not had success catching them.

[650scoot]

Eli,
I have yet to fish Alewives with the float rig at Blue Marsh since my cast net permit is only good for Raystown Lake. I have been very successful with the using the same method at Raystown Lake and am sure it will work at Blue Marsh as well. I have fished Blue Marsh many times using downriggers pulling striper lures and so far caught only bass and one Muskie. As to finding/netting the Alewives I can only assume it would be the same as at Raystown. There we find a lighted dock area after midnight and throw the net in the lighted water area. Alewives travel in schools and a lot of throws come up empty and then suddenly you come up with a net full. The lighted dock area at State Road should be a prime spot. If early morning after midnight is a problem for you and you can only try to find them during daylight, I have a hunch that the small cove opposite the swimming beach would be a good place to try otherwise, throw the net anywhere along the shoreline during the daytime. You will need an aerated tank to keep them alive. A live well tank will work but a round container is best because Alewives are constantly swimming and if they get trapped into a corner it will stress them out. I use the aerated 5 gal.bucket that is available at most good sporting goods stores. After I get a cast net permit for Blue Marsh I will try the lake again and then I can give you the information you need. Meantime there is someone using this method at Blue Marsh and has a thread on the forum if you can find it---I think it was in answer to one of my threads. He has been successful using Alewives and might tell you how/where he is netting them.
Will