how to catch striped bass

I believe they even make eel flies which you can use to target river stripers. Will you be fishing on a boat? The temperature may also affect the location of the fish within the water. The most action-packed time of day for striped bass is nighttime during the summer. Thank you. It is during this time alewives and gizzard shad will rise up to the surface in pairs nightly to spawn. Will Salmon Bite at Night? Alewives especially will circle in pairs at the surface and striped bass will key in on this circling behavior. It depends on where you live. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. You can certainly catch striped bass and hybrid stripers on the fly. Just my opinion, but I think Raystown Lake (PA), Lake Lanier (GA), and the Delaware River are the best 3 options. You may also find these spawn sites much tougher to find on well-lit nights since those tell-tale explosions won’t be occurring at the surface. This coincides with the annual alewife and shad spawns. In these entirely freshwater environments, stripers spend their year in the main body of the lake but go up into streams and inlets to spawn. ", "Heading to coastal Maine, first time trying for striped bass. State of Massachusetts One dark nights, they’ll be right at the surface aggressively striking food. Use planar boards to carry your bait out wide from the boat. This can be very hard to recreate on your own. Where to start the search. To create this article, 28 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Spawning alewives and gizzard shad will draw striped bass to the surface in a frenzy. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. That said, you can catch striped bass very well during the day in late fall, winter, and early spring when the water is cold. If the current is strong, you may need to reel faster to compensate. Live bait such as herring, menhaden, mackerel, eels, squid, clams, anchovies, bloodworms, shad, nightcrawlers and sandworms all make great bait for striped bass fishing. More How To. Use circle hooks to avoid gut hooking bass. Are there any good places to fish for striped bass near Knoxville, Tennessee? You can still get bites but you’ll have to be a lot more patient later in the season. The type of rod you use will depend on type of fishing you intend to do. Last Updated: September 30, 2020 But for sheer action and intensity, nothing beats the summertime night fishing associated with the spawn of their primary food sources. Guides are available year round. Striped bass are very light shy so they’ll prefer the complete darkness of a new moon over the well-lit evenings associated with full moons. ", "I'm very interested in learning how to fish for striped bass. Get the right type of trolling gear. Eels fished on the surface catch big stripers. Gear. Consider adding a stinger hook to the tube to help prevent short strikes and lost bass. Make sure you reel that bait in very slowly and keep that wake small. On brighter nights, they’ll still be hunting but they’ll be down a little deeper. Striped bass exceeding 50 pounds are observed every year by TWRA biologists collecting striped bass brood fish from this tailwater to be spawned at their hatcheries. It may feel very slow, but be patient—catching a large striped bass is worth it! I'm going to South Jersey in mid-September to surf fish for stripers. Are there any striped bass in American rivers? Don't submerge the eels in water, as they will deplete the oxygen levels and eventually drown. That said, casting at 45-degree angles from shore can yield amazing results for hybrid stripers and freshwater striped bass alike. Use a burlap sack or even a cotton sock to hold the eel, as this will give you a better grip. How to Catch Trophy Striped Bass. Look for rocky outcroppings or creek mouths with a lot of current. Watch your depth and fishfinder closely. In addition, they are more likely to bite when the temperature of the water has recently fluctuated. Every day you go fishing will be the best and a new, "I don't have a boat so l am at a great disadvantage. Despite this, I caught a 60-pounder on a worm with a fish, "I learned times to fish for the types of fish. References These will almost always occur on defined points over fairly deep water. Fish striped bass by locating schools of alewives, gizzard shad, and American eels and run your bait right through the middle of those bait schools. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Springtime, you can find stripers up in inlets and tributaries. Striped bass prefer defined points with steep drops in water depth. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Trustworthy Source These fish can reach massive size and are pound-for-pound one of the strongest fighting freshwater fish you can catch. This means keeping your artificial light to a bare minimum. Striped Bass fishing is incredibly popular, but if you want to learn how to catch striped bass, there are certain techniques you need to master. Learn more... Striped bass are a perciform fish native to the Atlantic coast of North America, from Florida to Nova Scotia. Hybrid striped bass also known as “wipers” are hybrids of striped bass and white bass. Depending on the body of water you are fishing your gear may vary a bit. Interestingly enough, stripers do very well living an entirely freshwater existence. One of the most popular and easiest methods is to fish live eels with a medium-light or medium-action rod. Stripers are taken by casting, drifting, and trolling, and respond to a variety of live, dead and artificial baits on a range of tackle. It's easy to miss these marks so be sure to keep a keen eye on the sonar. Hold the eel around its neck in order to hook it. Striped bass sleeker, larger, and have continuous black stripes on their sides. They are a migratory fish that move between freshwater and saltwater. Can we use artificial bait? This is when the evening spawn is at its peak and the striped bass are most dialed in. You can set the hook as soon as the line goes taut and reel the fish in immediately, or you can allow the fish to run for 5 to 10 seconds (keeping the line slack) before setting the hook. ", "This is a great idea. Hook them through the lips for the best action. Therefore it is recommended that you read the owner's manual thoroughly before using. I've always had the best luck with mackerel, it stays on a long time and stinks like crazy. Latest. You can probably do well fishing freshwater stripers year-round at night but there’s no better or more exhilarating time of the year for night fishing than during May and June. Many striped bass fishermen though say the hottest action hours are from 11-2. Use clams in the East River and bunker in the Bay. the stripers. In big water like St. Lawrence and Delaware Rivers, American eels are a favorite food source. Discover the best time of day to catch bass, trout, catfish, panfish, walleye, carp, and many more depending on the season, moon phases, and weather. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. I’ve read reports from anglers who turned on a boat light for a second to untangle his line and all the explosions at the surface stopped, only to start up again minutes later 100 yards away. Striped bass sleeker, larger, and have continuous black stripes on their sides. This site is owned and operated by Eric Matechak. This was very informative, one of the best. ", Unlock this expert answer by supporting wikiHow, https://www.mass.gov/service-details/learn-about-striped-bass, https://www.boats.com/how-to/how-to-use-a-fishfinder-advanced-tips-techniques/, http://www.striperspace.com/live_bait.html, http://www.stripers247.com/Fishing-Rod-Selection.php, http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fish/Resources/Striped_Bass/Fishing_Tips.asp, http://www.striped-bass.com/striper-fishing/index.php/articles/14/74-fishing-live-eels, https://reelgame.com/bass-fishing-at-night/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. They are anadromous fish similar to salmon in that they spend much of their lives at sea but spawn in freshwater rivers and streams. ", "This is helpful in baiting strippers and learning a lot more about the fish. To tell them apart, look at their shape and coloration. Striped Bass Strike When Your Lure Swings Across The Current. For tips on fishing with live eels, read on! This method is like that but crazier. While their maximum weight exceeds 80 pounds, most catches run 20 pounds or less; a 50-pounder is a trophy, benchmark enough for a lifetime angler to claim bragging rights. Doing this will enable your bait to remain at various depths a little long thus giving you a better chance of determining how far from shore the stripers are patrolling. Having a firm understanding of how to operate your fish-finder will aid you in locating a productive area in which striped bass have gathered. If your state allows, you can rig tip-ups with live bait to include gizzard shad, threadfin shad, and alewives. ", "The entire article was very informative, but I really liked that it noted the correct speed to troll. But you can still catch some stripers in rivers if you pick the right spot. Stripers can be caught using topwater poppers, swimbaits, jigs, metal spoons, … To tell them apart, look at their shape and coloration. Thanks for the help! You’ll likely be fishing in water you can cast a bait almost all the way clear across. To view the complete guide on the how to catch freshwater striped bass… At night during May and June, listen for the sound of explosive feeding action associated with nighttime spawning of alewives and gizzard shad. Focus on using spoons, plugs, and even soft plastics. Locate schools of bait and you’ll likely find some stripers following nearby. Work the White Water. Therefore it is recommended that you read the owner's manual thoroughly before using. Using a very simple rig with no weight at all to catch bigger fish. If you agree that a tube and worm rig imitates a large sandworm wriggling through the water, then it makes sense that a tube would be a good choice for when bass are in lockjaw mode. I will cover 3 that are proven effective in most waterways. Gizzard shad will also spawn on points but they’ll be in shallower water closer to shore. Fish these bait near raised humps in the summer or even dead jigging through the ice in the winter. Big fish can pool into small water now. This is a 50,000 acre lake that covers 3 counties in SE KY. Gizzard shad are excellent striper baits. link to Will Salmon Bite at Night? If you love catching striped bass, then you’re going to love this podcast! % of people told us that this article helped them. The fishing equipment used for this is cable wire, curly tail trailers, mono, spreader rig, minnow plugs, twister tail, bucktail jigs, baitfish, and so on. You want to reel the bait in very slowly through the commotion and produce the tiniest of wakes on the front of the bait. Don’t use flashlights, headlamps, and boat lights to illuminate an area. Tom Migdalski. What bait do I use? This is the best single time of the year to fish for freshwater striped bass. (Moon Phases, Seasons, Baits), link to Ice Fishing Holes: Diameter, Distance, Patterns, Target Fish, complete guide to catching bass during the summer and in warm weather. To catch striped bass, equip your boat with a fish-finder and try to go out on the water at dawn or dusk, when striped bass are the most active. Each night during May and June in many reservoirs, these baitfish come up to the surface to spawn in pairs. You can probably find linesides in all kinds of different places right now, … Locate a large school of shad or alewives on your screen. Hybrid stripers are stockier in shape (similar to a largemouth bass) and have stripes or lines on their sides that are broken vice continuous. When trolled slowly, the colored tube imitates a large sandworm or a swimming eel—two of the striped bass's favorite delicacies. Having a firm understanding of how to operate your fish-finder will aid you in locating a productive area in which striped bass have gathered. Jig dead shad, spoons, and jigs here. I would like to get a bigger one soon. Use a fish-finder. Not only will you spot big stripers as you drive along but it can also prevent you from running a ground on the shallow hump if you aren’t careful. Now the deepest channels are where the warmest water in a lake is and that’s where the great schools of bait will congregate. Never fish with old or spoiled bait—the stripers will ignore it and you'll end up hooking a sand shark or skate instead. When cruising at a higher speeds, striped bass will appear as small orange blotches on most sonar screens. You’ll be able to hear them clear across the lake on really calm nights. I especial like the stuff on striped bass fishing and how to use lures, worms. Locate the schools and you’ll locate the predators. The prime window to be on the water is from 10pm-4am. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. To start, select the best time of day to head out. Try to slowly weave the tube forward and back on opposite 45 degree angles—this helps the movement of the bait to appear more natural. When fishing from a pier, shore, rocks etc., what is better: high or low tide? By Chris Woodward May 17, 2020. If you find an area holding bass but cannot elicit a strike, then try the same area once the sun goes down. ", "Read many articles on striper fishing. Siren 3 Pro. This mimics the natural swimming speed of an eel in the water, making the bait seem more realistic. Official website for the State of Massachusetts Most of your bites will occur on the reel up so be prepared for an explosion of action as you reel. The fresh bait helps to give the tube an inviting scent, which will encourage the striped bass to come closer and investigate. Repeat this process until you get a strike. By using our site, you agree to our. Striped bass are native to the eastern seaboard and the St. Lawrence seaway. For striped bass… These are striped bass swimming through the bait. Don’t let the excitement and emotions of the action dictate how you fish. I will explain how to catch striped bass later in great detail but remember these two rules. Live eels can be fished many different ways. In New England states, May through October is a good time. The St. Lawrence River is also a big destination. Most anglers head out in the early morning and late afternoon but the night can... Ice Fishing Holes: Diameter, Distance, Patterns, Target Fish. In this video, I describe the easiest way that I know of to locate and catch Striped Bass in lakes and rivers. Use a heavy fishing rod with a light spinning outfit and 10 to 20 pound fishing line, and go for live bait such as herring, eels, bloodworms, or sandworms for the best results. Striped bass are easier to catch at the beginning of the alewife spawn as they aren’t so dialed in on this circling behavior yet. These big ones are too … If fishing in the south or on a river, go deeper by trolling or jigging. It's too bad I live far from the coast. You’re going to need an electronic fishfinder here. By Gary Caputi. Big stripers follow the schools of bait all year long. I am an avid angler and outdoorsman. You can move closer to these hot spots but if you really want confirmation of where you need to fish, just listen for the explosions of bass striking these mating pairs on the surface. You can fish stripers in the summer but the easiest way to locate and catch them is at night. The type of reel you use is arguably more important than the rod -- a saltwater spinning reel is a good option, as long as it's sturdy enough to pull in a 20 to 25 pounds (9.1 to 11.3 kg) fish. I also learned the types of bait to use and the areas best to fish. You may need to add up to 1/2 ounce of weight in the form of a rubber core sinker if the tide and wind is particularly strong. In situations like these, covering miles of water is often the only solution. Game Fish. You’ll find them patrolling medium-to-deep water along the edge of channels and bends. Funny enough, alewives will often try to spawn with your lure. However, if you’re using circle hooks, you should reel the line in at a constant rate in order to hook the fish. Already caught 6 or 8 legal fish of 18 to 20 inches. This article has been viewed 676,784 times. If you're unfamiliar with the body of water you'll be fishing, consult with a local bait and tackle shop to find out what type of bait they recommend. ", "The article was very helpful. Striped bass can be caught from shore using a wide array of different fishing equipment, tackle, lures, and bait. How to Catch Striped Bass. Some baits are heavy enough on their own. The answers to these questions will determine the correct weight, size and flexibility for your rod. You can catch striped bass and hybrid stripers all fall long but I’ve learned the best time to fish for fall fish is in November along deep channels. In areas devoid of structure, such as a flat muddy bay or long sandy barrier beach, finding bass can prove more challenging. Then open your spool and return the bait back down to beneath the school. This means you retrieving a bait slowly in a straight line will draw aggressive strikes. Please subscribe for more videos! This keeps the eels moist and cool. Whether you’re in a boat or fishing from shore, to successfully catch striper in NJ, there are certain tips you should know for the most effective outing. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 676,784 times. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. unlocking this expert answer. Start reeling at a very slow rate of 3 to 5 seconds per revolution—you want the eel to do most of the work for you. (Moon Phases, Seasons, Baits). Today, I’ve got Capt. Approved. Fish early-to-mid spring in the tributaries, shallow bays, and creeks feeding into a lake.

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