Fishing For Striped Bass

Fishing For Striped Bass

Striped bass have silvery sides with seven or eight dark horizontal stripes that are not broken. The stripes extend all the way to the tail. The body is more elongated than that of the White Bass, and there are two patches of the on the tongue, rather than one. The striped bass is also a saltwater native that was inadvertently trapped in a freshwater reservoir in South Carolina years ago. Learning that stripers could flourish in fresh water, biologists began stocking them in other impoundments. Striped bass are more temperature sensitive and fishing is usually best for them in winter, spring and early summer. Drifting live bait, trolling deep-running lures or fishing vertically are the most common fishing methods. Also called rock fish or stripers. Striped bass need long stretches of flowing water to reproduce successfully.

The best striper fishing occurs from fall through spring, when fish are actively feeding. Live shad are very effective. Freshwater Stripers may weigh up to 60 pounds; use heavy tackle with 3- to 4-oz. weights in high flow areas. Live menhaden, golden shiners, croakers or eels are good choices as bait for saltwater stripers. Lures, like rattletraps, that resemble baitfish also produce impressive strikes, including heavy jigs, as well as sinking and floating lures in white, chrome or chartreuse.