Starting Striper fishing

[ryallen0929@gmail.com]

Ive been strictly a Large and Small mouth fisherman all my life and I am just know expanding my horizon fishing for Stripers. The Striper tactics is all new to me. I was wondering if there are any similarities in the two. And is there any tips on bait and rods/reels to be using as line. I'll be mainly be fishing from shore but I will also be using a kayak. With my new house I have access to be fishing a river that feeds into the bay. I am from New England and I'm just looking for any tips and tricks to jumpstart my new adventure. Thank you.

[jbsoonerfan]

One of the most effective ways I have caught stripers is on flu flu jigs. A double set-up with a foam bobber in early mornings can be killer. You may have to play around with depth depending on where you are fishing. Much like LMB a lipless or deep diving crankbait work well. Although I haven't had much success, I know a lot of guess can jig a spoon and catch them. Also there are swim baits and sassy shads on heavy jig heads. Good luck, I love catching them.

[Deleted account]

On 7/28/2019 at 12:51 AM, ryallen0929@gmail.com said:

if there are any similarities in the two.

And is there any tips on bait and rods/reels to be using as line. 

There are similarities between any two or more types of fishing. I think a lot of LMB guys don't realize this to their peril, but that is for a different thread.

Specifically to your question, much like LMB, striped bass are some of the easiest fish to catch, in the ocean (or estuary, or river, or wherever they may be found). LMB tackle will work for most inshore striped bass fishing. Tackle need not be complicated, jig heads in 3/4- 2 oz with paddle, curly or straight tails in 5"-9" chartreuse or white, a few plugs (jerkbaits) floating, suspending and sinking, and some jigging spoons like a Hopkins Shorty or a Crippled Herring or the like in 2- 6 oz, along with something to rig up a a teaser above it (like drop shotting with the spoon using a stout straight shank hook) is really all you need. Like all other fishing, success will rely on finding them. Their migration pattern from the ocean to spawning rivers is well documented, and you should familiarize yourself with it. Early spring when water reaches upper 40s to mid 50s is prime time for larger fish. Smaller ones will show up later and mingle with resident fish that haven't yet left for the ocean. Once the water warms in summer look for deeper cooler water that they prefer along breaks or drop offs, and follow the bait, and fish when current is present. Once fall arrives (look for that first nasty noreaster) baitfish and striped bass will begin their migration back to the ocean, and can be the best fishing of the year, specially for chasing baitfish on or near the surface. Look for birds diving, and surface splashes. Your FF and binoculars are your best friends, again, find the fish. No point in fishing for hours hoping for them to be there. Once you find them, vertical jig them if they are on or near the bottom, or cast if on or near the surface. Straight 20lb mono, or 30-40 braid with a 30-40lb mono leader will work for most applications.

The warming water temps are sending more and more striped bass to their northern range, so it should only get better up there for you. 

I need a nap after all this typing.....

 

 

 

[jimmyjoe]

  Talk about a perfect synopsis! ^^^^     The people that I know who fish for stripers (not white bass and not wipers or hybrids) use 6500 Abu and Akios reels, and Shimano tranx reels. Rods are long, about 9-10 feet (all but one guy fish from shore). Don't forget the casting spoons! (I had to get that in there.  ? ) And definitely .... learn to use your drag.

   Man, are you gonna have FUN!    jj

[Darren.]

I use my bass gear for striper fishing down here in VA.

 

Some really nice striper to be had, tho the big girls are

a lot deeper. I stick to the shorelines and such with my

kayak as I don't have scuppers and there's a LOT of 

boat traffic on the York River.

 

So guys down here really love their bucktail jigs -- with

real bucktail. White jigs, white and maybe some chartreuse

in the tie.

 

I work them similar to how I'd work a swimming jig.

 

Good luck up there! Got a great striper fishery in the NE.

[Deleted account]

2 hours ago, Darren. said:

I use my bass gear for striper fishing down here in VA.

 

Some really nice striper to be had, tho the big girls are

a lot deeper. I stick to the shorelines and such with my

kayak as I don't have scuppers and there's a LOT of 

boat traffic on the York River.

 

So guys down here really love their bucktail jigs -- with

real bucktail. White jigs, white and maybe some chartreuse

in the tie.

 

I work them similar to how I'd work a swimming jig.

 

Good luck up there! Got a great striper fishery in the NE.

Never fished in the York, but fished from Little Creek all along the BT up a bit past Plantation and Kipto, (and from the ship on duty days) when I was stationed in Norfolk. Fishing ranged from very good to insane back then.

[Darren.]

1 hour ago, BassWhole! said:

Never fished in the York, but fished from Little Creek all along the BT up a bit past Plantation and Kipto, (and from the ship on duty days) when I was stationed in Norfolk. Fishing ranged from very good to insane back then.

Nice! Yeah, the fishing still is in that range down in this area

 

Got a bud who lives up around Hayes, VA and he took me to do

some shore fishing along the Chesapeake, and it was truly insane.

Striper in the 3-5 pound range all over the creeks up there.

[haggard]

I'm in only my third season of fishing, mostly LM/SM but with easy access to salt water had to try stripers. So like you I was pretty new at it. I'm no great fisherman especially in salt water, but I can catch stripers and I keep the gear to a minimum. Based on that, for schoolie stripers from the yak or shore:

 

Rod: 7'0 MH/F

Reel: I use a Shimano Stradic C5000 (5000 sounds big but physically seems smaller)

Line: 17 lb test mono

Lure: Savage Gear Sandeel 5-inch (I use the mackerel colorway). It's a pointy jig head with soft plastic paddletail body.

 

The above is my go-to, no doubt, will catch striper setup. If I could take only one combo for schoolie striper, from the yak, shore or boat, that would be it.

 

For the reel you have some leeway; that's just what my local shop happened to set me up with and I find it very good for this application. You can certainly find other models/mfrs that will fit.

 

For the rod, your existing LM/SM rod may be just fine, only difference might be things like the guides are more prone to rust compared to a salt water rod. If you wash/scrub down the rod after an outing, it's probably find. If you aren't diligent about maintenance, consider buying a dedicated salt/inshore rod.

 

As for location, conditions, tactics, etc. I'm still trying to figure it out but so far I've found (and read) that fishing the seams, current changes, disruption areas, etc. will be most productive. At low tide, observe areas where there are rock piles, changes in structure, then go back and fish them +/- 2 hours of low or high tide.

 

Good luck; those stripers are a thrill. Feisty fighters.

 

[Hammer 4]

You can also use a fluke on a scrounger head, such as the picasso, they come all different weights.

 

 

[J._Bricker]

Here’s a older video of some top water striper action, enjoy!