In the Pahandle, Stripes are caught from lakes Woodruff and Talquin and from bays, especially Pensacola, Choctawhatchee and West Bays. The most famous West Florida spot is the swift water below the Woodruff Dam on the Apalachicola at Chattahoochee. A similar but smaller fishery exists at the Tolquin Dam on SR 20 west of Tallahassee. In the rivers below the dams, as in the Northeast Florida rivers, anglers generally search for their stripers where deep, running water abuts shallow points, eddies, bars and runoffs. Heavy-bodied with long head and underslung jaw.
Color is usually dark green to dark gray above, silvery on the sides and belly.
There are 7 or 8 longitudinal stripes that are generally regular and unbroken. Can reach 50 pounds or more, but most run 5-20. Below the dams, heavy spinning tackle and light to medium ocean outfits or surf outfits are preferred. Baitfish, mostly small Shad, are usually scooped up on the spot with long-handled nets. Artificial lures are productive below the dams at times, and are the first choices in bays and lakes where many Stripers are sight-fished when they school on top.