Category: Striped Bass

Hello, my name is Darren.

 At one point in my life I had the same question that you are trying to find the answer for now. Rest assured I will do my best to explain to you what I have learned in my years of Striper fishing. I have had success catching striped bass and at first it can be confusing because you may hear different things from different people. There is good reason for this. Not all Striper are the same. Maybe you didn’t know this but it’s true. I will explain in this article how you can figure out what type and what size hook you should use wherever you are fishing.

Before we get started, though there are a few things that you have to take into consideration. The first thing being are you fishing in the ocean or in Inlet close to the ocean? This makes a big difference because some stripers actually come into fresh water from the sea and depending on their age and what they have been eating they can be very large.

So you have to consider the fact that you might hook into a cow and then question whether you want her to snap your line or not. I assume you do not want that to happen so you are going to have to prepare for that. Then you have to balance that with the idea that even though you are fishing off the shore or in inlet of the ocean, most of the fish that you were after may not be huge.

So you don’t want to go to big with the hook if you want to ensure that you are going to catch fish. In this article we will explain what type of hook you should use mostly based off of the weight of the fish you think you will be catching.

FREE Printable tackle box checklist HERE

If you are fishing for smaller stripers in the 18 inch range, using a 1 ounce sliding wait, the swivel, 8 pound leader, and about a one or two ought hook is the way to go. You can use this hook for live bait such as shad or bluegill, or you can use it for frozen bait such as sardines or anchovies. This is the type of set up that is used on Lake Mead in Nevada and lake Powell in utah. Of course everything varies but for the most part this is the type of set up you will see in the south west. Lake pleasant in Arizona would use this type of set up as well. It’s not because it’s in the south west it’s because of the size of fish so if you are fishing for 18 to 20 inch fish this could be the set up for you. When I fish for stripers at lake mead Nevada, I usually use a 2/ bait hook with 12lb test, a 1 oz slider weight and a snap swivel between the hook leader and my 12lb fishing line. This seems to do the trick every time for me at this lake. I have used the same set up for many years. That leg gets very hot in the summertime and you don’t really want to be out in the sun in the day it will just eat you up so most people who fish there in the summer go at night and use the same set up that I just mentioned with frozen anchovies. We knock him dead all night long with a few catfish in between being caught as well. Some of the best striped bass hooks can be found here.

Let’s say you are going for bigger fish such as 20 to 30 inches, using something like air four ought hook would probably be more desirable because if you hook into a big fish you are going to need that extra strength and the bigger hook to bring her in. If you go into small of a hook you could have a problem with the fish bending the hook and getting off. 4/ hook is a safe bet for fish in that size. Where these fish you may be using current bait, or larger live bait like mackerel or something like that. Small bunker could be used as well.

On larger striper you are definitely going to want to use a very strong and larger hook. You will most likely catch fewer fish but they will be much larger if you use whole live bait like bunker fish or eel or something. You need to be prepared to catch 35 to 40 inch striper so you are going to want a much heavier leader a bigger weight and your hook size is going to be seven ought to 10 ought. Make sure you don’t confuse this with number seven to number 10 it’s a whole different sizing structure are used for trout and other small game fish. Seven ought  is written like this on the package 7/ and not #7. Hey suggestion would be to watch a few YouTube videos on the lake or river or ocean that you are fishing and see how they are doing it. If they are catching fish then that is a good idea for you to set up your rig similar to what they are doing. If you are off one size it probably won’t matter that much but the set ups can be hugely different depending on how your fishing and what date you’re using and what size fish you were after and that all depends on where you are. 

Now we are going to Talk about sacred cows. If you are going for anything larger than 40 inches you’re going to really need to make sure that you have your set up well thought out. To be honest I recommend having someone with you to show you how to do it because you don’t want to lose one of these monsters. Anyway, if you’re going to go off on your own I would use something around nine or 10 ought hook for these bad boys.

Striper fishing with circle hooks- until now we have been talking about bait hooks. Circle hooks or a similar type of hook used for catching striper with live bait. Supposedly they are supposed to look in the corner of the lip more easily and help you to have less fish that get away. Some fishermen swear by them and in some areas it is even require that you use them because they are apparently less dangerous for the fish.

Best hooks for striper fishing So what are the best hooks for striper fishing? Although some Lewers that we use have trouble hooks on them for the most part we are staying away from trouble hooks because they killed far too many fish. We prefer to fish with circle hooks or bait hooks. Some people might call them worm hooks.

What hooks for striped bass- i’d say overwhelmingly bait hooks with the double bar on the back of the shank and with a Barb at the tip are definitely the most common.

Hey FISHMONGER – make sure to check out my FISHING RESOURCES page.

Conclusion: I have tried to give you the strangest answer I could when it comes to hooks for striped bass. As you can tell by the article it just depends. It depends on what size fish you are after and what type of bait you are going to be using. Suffice it to say that if you are going for smaller fish you will need a smaller bait hook. I would use something in the number 1  to 2ought size. If you’re anticipating catching fish that are larger like around 30 inch then you may want to consider using a size 7, 8, 9, or 10 ought hook. Anything bigger than that and you want to stick with 9, 10, 11, or even 12 ought hooks. 

I hope this helps you to be able to plan for a good fishing trip. I hope you have fun and I hope you catch a lot of fish. With this information hopefully you will do better and be able to land a real cow of a striped bass.

You can check out a post I wrote about how to rig for striper fishing here.

I’m not saying you are a dummy. In fact if you are fishing for stripers we have a lot in common and I think we would get along just great! A beginner striper fisherman is wise to pick up a few tips, however, before heading out onto the water. I would love to pass on a few tips I’ve learned and also give you advice I have gleaned from other anglers in the subject. So take a sip and let’s dig in.

Here are some striper tips for beginners.

• Use live bait if you can
• Make sure to use the right hook
• Proper line is a must
• Use a 6-8 foot heavy rod
• Use Lures that resemble baitfish
• Have a scale and measuring tape
• If using weight use a sliding swivel clip
• Try speeding up your retrieve when using lures
• Fish evening into the night

What striped bass tips do most beginners need? They need to size their gear for the size fish they expect will be present where they are fishing and they need to present a bait that the striped bass will be happy to consume. Fishing in the evening and night can bring better success as well.

Live Bait- You’ll have much better luck catching stripers with live bait. Depending on where you are fishing you can even get your bait for free. Some spots have bunker fish that you can snag and then use as bait and this is the way a lot of anglers do it in the northeast. In the wesh in landlocked lakes, shad are plentiful and can be caught with a cast net. Simply hooking them through the nose and softly casting them in an area where there are striped bass will get your line pounded. Lake Mead in Nevada/Arizona border is a great place in the west for stripers.

FREE Printable tackle box checklist HERE

Eels- many fishermen in the east use eels and swear by them. Use these and you won’t go wrong.

River Herring are a great bait but you need to check the current laws in your area before using them. There have been protective laws passed in  recent years.

Atlantic Herring Alewife- Also Herring check local laws but if you can use them, the Stripers along the east coast love them.

Live Bunker we covered this one above- The striped bass Love live bunker.

Mullet – along the eastern coast these are used for Striper fishing regularly and are a good bait.

Shad- This is another bait that we mentioned above. Good bait to use for stripers where they occur naturally.

Bluegill or perch This is an option to use as striper bait where they occur naturally .

Using a throw Net This is a good skill to learn if you need to catch shad or other bait fish for catching striper. This takes a little practice but for the serious fisherman this is the way to go.

Snagging- There are special hooks available for this and there is also a learning curve but if you can perfect this technique you will be better off.

What size hook for striper? If you are fishing for the big girls you might want to stick wit a 5/0 to 8/0 hook. This size is good when using live or cut bait for bigger striped bass.

 For freshwater and smaller stripers a size number #2  or #4 will do the trick. 
You can check out a post I wrote about what hook to use for striper fishing here.

What fishing string to use for striper Monofilament is a good choice as it is less visible in the water. For bigger striper you may want a 20-30 lb test or in some of the landlocked lakes 12-20 lb test could work best.

Use a heavy rod. Striped Bass can hit pretty hard on topwater and when trolling. Even when bait fishing a heavier rod may be better than a rod that’s too light. You don’t want that cow to get away.

What are the best lures to use for striped bass? Well that is a matter of opinion and could change depending on what the Stripers are eating naturally at the time. For instance if they want shad, you might try Storm Wild Eye Swim Shad or if they are eating trout, maybe a lure resembling a trout would be best. Check out my resources page for further examples.

Don’t forget the measuring gear a tape measure and scale is a great Idea. For fishing there are measuring boards that are best to use because they have a 90 degree portion that is beant up on the end and it allows you to put the nose of your fish directly on it and correctly measure your fish. That way you can add a few inches and know exactly how far out of proportion you are exaggerating. 

Hey FISHMONGER – make sure to check out my FISHING RESOURCES page.

As far as weighing your fish, there are analog scales and digital scales but fish don’t like to hold still so using the ALLIANCE SPORTS GROU Quarrow Fish Lip Grip 50-lb. Is a good tool because it holds the fish by the lip and weighs them as they dangle from the grip. 

Sliding swivel clips. Many anglers fishing for small or huge striper swear by using these. P-Line Sliding Swivels are the type we are talking about here. Dont forget to add a bead between the swivel and the knot on the line that ties to the swivel being used for your leader and hook. It’s used instead of an egg sinker.

47 and 49 pound striped bass caught aboard @driftinndreamin Montauk NY

Don’t give em time to think- Maybe reel in gradually faster if you are casting with little luck. Giving them less time to think about it just may help.

Best striper fishing time- most fishermen will agree low light hours rule.

I think this holds true for many species of fish. As long as I have been fishing I have always had the best luck in the morning and in the evening no matter where i’m fishing. It just is the best time.

If you need to know the Striper regulations in Tennessee CHECK OUT this article I wrote.

So I think we have covered a lot of the first things you should know when starting to learn striper fishing. If you plan on going Striped Bass fishing in or around San Francisco, you should take a look at my article here that describes some good spots to fish there. HERE

If you are wanting to know about using live bait for fishing Stripers check out THIS article I wrote.

Last one, If you happen to be fishing in Las Vegas at Lake Mead you should read MY ARTICLE about that.

Fishing season is here! This is a guide for all things fishing, in Tennessee. So, get those boats serviced and ready, your tackle boxes full and let’s go catch some fish.

License & Permits

Adults need a fishing license or permit to fish, in every state. We are going to cover the Tennessee requirements to obtain a permit, even if you live out of state. We want your experience to be a memorable one.

1. Fishing (and hunting) licenses go on sale on February 18th every year. They are valid until the very last day of February of the following year. You can obtain a license at most sporting goods stores, hardware stores, county clerks office, and boat dock.
2. You must have a valid Tennessee driver’s license to obtain a resident fishing license.

a. if you do not drive or do not have a valid license, you have to have two of the following: voter registration card from Tennessee, current rental/mortgage contract, vehicle registration or title or and I-94.

b. you must also have a social security card to acquire a license.

c. anyone under the age of 13 does not need a fishing license.

Cost of a Fishing License:

Resident

1. Annual is $34.00
2. Jr. Permit (13-15 years old) $10. It must be purchased before the child’s 16th birthday.
3. One day fishing $6.50
4. Annual Trout (required in addition to other licenses) $22.00
5. One day, all species $11.50

Non Resident

1. Annual, no trout $50.00
2. Jr. (13-15 years old) $11.00
3. 3 days, no trout $20.50
4. 3 days, all species $40.50
5. Annual, all species $99.00

There are special permits for residents and non-resident and disabled citizens. Please refer to www.tn.gov for the regulations and prices.

FREE Printable tackle box checklist HERE

If you were born in Tennessee but you know longer reside here, you can purchase a Native Tennessean annual license. The cost of this license will be the same as an annual, resident license.

Misplacing or losing your license will cost $8.00 to replace. You can go into any license agent and they can print out a duplicate copy of your license.

One of the most popular fish, nationwide, is the striped bass. Every state has its own rules and regulations for how many fish you can catch (and keep) each day. In Tennessee, there are regulations for each area (lake).

Striped bass is only found in Tennessee, where they have been stocked. This is why each area has its regulations when catching these fish. The best bait to use on the striped in Tennessee; thread fin shad, gizzard shad, and other herring. With Tennessee regulations, under NO circumstances, can you use Asian carp for bait.

There is no maximum number of poles that you anglers can have in the water at a time, but there is a 3 hook limit per pole, rod or handmade line. Treble, double and single hooks each count as 1 hook.

Size & Limits

Cherokee Lake: A Tennessee reservoir formed by the Holston River located behind the Cherokee Dam. The length of the Cherokee Lake is approximately 400 miles with 28,780 acres of surface area.

The regulations are pretty simple; striped or hybrid striped bass, you are allowed to catch and keep 2 per day and they have to be a minimum of 15 inches long.

Norris Lake: located in Norris Highlands. Extending 73 miles to the Clinch River and 56 miles to the Powell River. The maximum length of Norris Lake is 206 miles with a width of 1.2 miles. The depth if 75-210 feet.

Striped Bass: The regulations are as follows; (See Guide)

1. April 1st -October 31st – 2 per day, at a 15-inch minimum
2. Nov. 1st – March 31st – 1 per day, with a minimum length of 36 inches

Watts Bar: this area is located between Chattanooga and Knoxville. Stretching 72 miles. The maximum depth of Watts Bar is 108 feet.

Striped or Hybrid Striped

1. April 1st – October 31st – 2 per day
2. November 1st – March 31st – 2 per day, ONLY 1 can be a striped bass
3. April 1st – October 31st – 15 inches is the minimum length for catch and keep
4. November 1st – March 31st – legal minimum length is 36 inches.

Melton Hill: located just south of Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This is also known as Melton Hill Dam which opened May 1, 1963. The height is 103 feet and the length is 1,020 feet.

Striped or Hybrid Bass;

1. 2 per day in combination, which includes the Clinch River area
2. Striped bass; 32-42 inch PLR, but ONLY one fish may be over 42 inches
3. Hybrid striped bass; 15 inches is the minimum regulation limit.

To get a proper measurement of your fish, to ensure you are keeping one of minimum length; lay your fish on a flat ruler (close to the mouth) and squeeze the lobes of the tail. This will give you the maximum length, but the mouth may not be altered at all.

Make sure when you purchase your fishing license to request the fishing guide. This will give you regulations on catch and keep, vivid pictures of each fish that you can find in Tennessee along with the descriptions of each and where they can be located for your fishing enjoyment. We hope that you enjoy your stay in Tennessee and that you have an amazing time fishing on our lakes and in our rivers. If you have any questions about any of the rules and regulations, please contact the Tennessee Game and Fish Department.

Hey FISHMONGER – make sure to check out my FISHING RESOURCES page.

This will give you regulations on catch and keep, vivid pictures of each fish that you can find in Tennessee along with the descriptions of each and where they can be located for your fishing enjoyment. We hope that you enjoy your stay in Tennessee and that you have an amazing time fishing on our lakes and in our rivers. If you have any questions about any of the rules and regulations, please contact the Tennessee Game and Fish Department.

More Helps

If you need to know more about what a striped bass looks like you can click here. This Key will show you what they look like.

What is the Tennessee record striped bass? Click here to find out.

This PDF tells you where to find the stripers in which lakes and tributaries.

Here are some of the southwest US best Striped Bass Fisheries.

So you’re wanting to know where to fish for striped bass in San Francisco? Yep you can catch stripers there.

In fact “Frisco” happens to be a great Striper fishing destination.
“San Fran” As it is known, has many places inland and on the bay where people have been known to take in lots of those Striped Bass.

You can find good fishing in San Francisco in these places.

1. Sacramento River
2. Montezuma Slough
3. Middle Grounds
4. Decker Island
5. San Joaquin River
6. Stockton
7. Whiskey Slough
8. San Francisco Bay
9. Berkeley Fishing Pier
10. Ashby Avenue
11. Pacifica Pier
12. Near Candlestick Park

Whichever place you pick you will find that live bait is a wonderful choice for Striper specifically if you use minnows or shad. These are the stripers natural food. They follow the schools around the bay and in the inlets and pick them off like candy. If you offer them one when they are biting they can’t resist. Some people have gone as far as to use a product called fire die to give the shed I distinctive bright color. of course like anything else to some people this is laughable but to others they swear by it.

FREE Printable tackle box checklist HERE

A little factoid you may not have known is that the California delta is not naturally the home of striped bass. They were brought as fingerlings from the East Coast a whole bunch of years ago and they just took off from there. Now they are a wonderful sport fish for us to catch. By the way do you know anything about striper fishing on the East Coast?

Keep in mind as you are out there that you have regulations to follow. So you know the regulations are a two fish limit per person. So you might wanna let those small ones go. By the way you also have to have at least 18 inch fish to keep them. So again let those small ones ago. Let me add one more piece of golden advice, If you catch a fish over 15 pounds it’s more than likely a female and she can lay millions of eggs so after you get that picture and weigh her,(post your Striper pics in comments) you might want to consider letting her go as well so that when you come out for your next fishing trip there will be many more fish for you to catch. https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/fishing/inland/striped-bass  here is the link to The California division of wildlife in case you have any other questions regarding regulations.

now, where should we go? 

Sacramento River is a super spot to try your luck 

Sacramento 

A lot of anglers have good luck trolling about 3 to 4 mph using Rattletrap type lures. The good thing about trolling is if you don’t know exactly where the schools of Striper are, you can troll until you find them. 

I have taken the liberty of looking up a place where you can go for any kind of bait or anything else that you may need for your trip. These are the bait shops in Sacramento California. Just click the link below if you want to know where to go.

Sacramento River Bait Shops

Montezuma Slough – In fall you can catch striper near the pumps especially when they are running.  This is because the bait fish congregate bringing in the striper. Pike minnows or split tails are good bait too.. Stripers love them. So if you get a chance to catch some split tail before you go striper fishing, you will not regret it because you will be in for the big ones. The big stripers will be attracted to you like a magnet.

Mud suckers can be caught October through January. Split tails can be used as bait year-round.

Middlegrounds- between Montezuma and Pittsburgh Real good fall and winter fishing for Stryper Live shad or frozen shad can be used as bait. Middle ground is a good spot because it is where two rivers come together and it’s a great place where the fish like to Congregate. If this is your starting point for fishing and you can start trolling from here and if you are not getting any fish you can move up the river or down the river. One helpful piece of information is that these fish like to be at around 60° water temperature so you could check and make a determination which way to go depending on the temperature of the water being higher or lower.

Sacramento River near Decker Island trolling in spring Using minnows or shad. Here, you troll downstream just a little faster than the river is flowing. This is the starting point for many people around Decker Island seems to be a popular place to go if you have a boat. If you have a fishfinder it would be wise to use it. If you don’t have a fishfinder watch out for Birds because they usually follow the bait fish and you may find big pods of stripers there.

San Joaquin River near Stockton is popular during spring and fall. Just like the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River is a good place as well to catch Striped bass. 

Whiskey Slough Is another place that was mentioned by name by some fisherman where they go. They had good luck there and recommend it as a great spot for fishing striped bass.

San Francisco Bay is a great place to fish from the shore in the summer and fall. Just follow the bait fish and so if there are big fish in the area where you are on the shore, you should have very good luck catching stripers in the surf. You may want to try longer surfcasting rods and you may need to use heavier weights in order to keep your bait out there but this is a great recommendation for someone to go if you do not have a boat.

Berkeley Fishing Pier, this is a great place to go. You’ll enjoy it there because of the easy access and amenities that are there like rod holders. You should prepare for wind however. You should also know that you will require a very long handled net in order to reach the water from the pier. If you hook into a big one there’s no way you will get it up without a great big long handled net.

Don’t let this hold you back though it is a good place to go you will probably be catching other types of fish besides Stryper as well such as halibut or cod rock cod.

the shoreline near Ashby Avenue in Berkeley. Ashby Avenue fishing and other urban areas are also great places to go drop a line. I’ve seen a lot of people use rubber minnows either silver or gold color and they seem to do the trick. Again don’t be surprised if you catch halibut or rockcod along with your striped bass as they are plentiful in these areas.

the area in south San Francisco Bay around Candlestick Park.

This area is a great place for striper fishing but also has an abundance of halibut and rock fish or rock cod. Top water Lures or rubber shad/minnows with or without waited jig heads are a good choice to use for bait. You will find some grasses in these areas that you may have to deal with. I saw someone use a drop shot at the end of the line with the bait above the drop shot in order to avoid getting moss on your hook while you are fishing.

San Mateo – summer

Pacifica Pier is a popular fishing location along the San Mateo County coast. It’s a great place to fish as well and you will enjoy yourself there. 

Eventually you might like to try fishing striper in several of these places to see which of all of them is your favorite and where you have the best luck fishing.

Bonus fishing spots

Liberty Island 

Sherman Island

Flooded ponds or fields 3-4 feet deep for the big Bass. 

For the big ones if you are a Luer fishing you could try a strike king mega dog 

savage gear shine glider

Or use a large walking bait like a catch rafter

When food fish are near shore surf fishing is hot. Follow the baitfish and you will do well. 

I have one request. If you have a particular spot that I have not mentioned then please leave a detailed post in the comments. If it’s a good one I may add it for the benefit of all and I’ll give you a plug while I’m at it. This way we can help each other.

 If you are looking for a guide with experience in the area which is one of the best ways to catch striped bass here is to learn from a pro, you could try 

Intimidator sportfishing

Captain Mike Gravert

916-806-3030

Bob Sparre

(916) 826-3600

California delta fishing charters

925-584-4283

If you are a guide anywhere for Stripers please leave a comment and spam your business below. We don’t mind. I may even want to write a feature article about you. Don’t be shy just state your guide service name , where you are out of and what type of fish someone would be fishing for if they contacted you. Also leave contact info if you wish.

Hey FISHMONGER – make sure to check out my FISHING RESOURCES page.

We’re not quite done yet. If you want to cook. That first catch. Pull out some tinfoil, and lay that fish on there. After that get some of your favorite seasoning spice and put a healthy dab on that fish both sides. And then throw yourself some cilantro, lemongrass, I don’t Forget to add some green onion and lemon or lime juice. Wrap it up and cook it on an open flame. After it is cooked open it up add some pepper and some more lemon or lime. You got yourself a gourmet meal. How do that a couple of times and invite some good friends over. My number is… LOL. Have a good time talk about the one that got away. Don’t forget to add 2 to 3 pounds to that one and reminisce about the fun times you had in the fun times you had in the past with good friends and family. That’s what it’s all about. The good times. Now, let the good times roll.

I don’t mean to get political on you but every now and then we need to get involved. You’re right to fish for stripers in the California delta may be under attack. If you believe this is so you should take a look into the matter. In case you are interested in protecting our right to sport fish in the California delta area for stripers, you could check out this link.

Striper-Petition

It’s summer time. Everyone is getting their boats ready to hit the water. Their out buying new fishing poles, lures, bait and extra supplies so they can spend the day at the lake. Fishing is a huge ‘sport’ or past time in the summer. Grandpas and dads teaching their kids. Showing them tricks on how to catch. Taking pictures and videos of their very first catch, they excited yet scared looks on their faces as the fish flops around on the hook.

The top 5 baitcasting reel brands are; Penn, Daiwa, Piscifun, CastKing, Pflueger.

But what kind of fish do most fisherman like to catch? For some, it doesn’t matter. They just want to spend time with their families or with their buddies after a hard work week.

I Have a secret…

I catch and throw back. It isn’t about the kind or how many, it is about the relaxation and the memories. But if you are going after a certain type of fish; the striped bass, this article will give you a ton of good information from history on the fish, to live bait, to reels to lures used to catch these very popular fish. It even includes ways that these fiesty fish can be cooked, once you get them home. 

One of the most sought after fish for anglers is the striped bass, also known as the striper. These fish are primarily found along the coast of North America and are considered the state fish of South Carolina, Maryland and Rhode Island.

A mature striper can weigh between 20 and 40 pounds and they can live up to an estimated 30 years. The maxium weight is 80+ pounds, but the average is 5-20 lbs and 20-35 inches long. Females are normally larger than the male striper. So if you catch anything over 15 pounds, it is probably a female.

There are 2 main ways to accomplish striped bass sport fishing:

1. Trolling: using live bait or lures and manuvering them through the water. Whether on a boat or standing on the shore. This makes the lures look alive to those hungry fish.

2. Surf Casting: standing on shorline or wading in the water, using top water lures. A top water lure is mainly a lure that floats on the top of the water and is made to move atop the surface to attract fish.

FREE Printable tackle box checklist HERE

Some of the best live fish bait used in catching striped bass:

1. Bunker

2. Clams

3. Eels

4. Sandworms

5. Shad

6. Bluegills

Of course, there are many other live bait that you can use when you are fishing for striper. These are just some of the top choices of anglers. Trial and error on what works best in the area that you are fishing and of course the time of day, weather conditions and some other factors will determine what works best for you. 

The peak feeding for striped bass is 1/2 an hour before sunrise and right at dusk and they prefer 55-68 degree water temperature. They can not function in less that 44 degree water, so therefore they tend to go where the water is a little warmer but not too warm.

The best time to catch striper is at night, especially during the warmer months, because of their preferred water temperature. Also in the deeper, darker water is where they like to ‘hide out’. Striped bass can tolerate both saltwater and fresh water; and they live in the ocean, but spawn in fresh river water. They prefer to ambush their prey when they are stirred up and disoriented.

There are many types of reels and poles that can be used to catch these type of fish. It always comes down to preference, brand, weight and how smooth the pole casts and reels in. Everyone has a favorite brand, but maybe this will give you enough information on a brand  you haven’t tried, and if you are in the market for a new reel, you will try something new. We are going to review the top 5 reels used to catch striped bass and then touch on some of the top lures that you can use to to seal the deal with these sneaky creatures. 

The first reel on the list is the Penn Pursuit II & III:

a. premium fish fighting power

b. affordable

c. 4.5 star rating

d. graphite body and rotor

e. ergonomic handle

This reel is available in five sizes ranging from 3000-8000. Perfect for the serious fisherman on a budget. This reliable reel allows for the angler to prevail over the hard pulling fish. The gear ratio, depending on the size, is 5.3:1 to 6.2:1. Max drag is 13-25 lbs and weight of the reel is 12.3 ounces to 32.1 ounce. This reel is light weight but durable and holds its own next to the more expensive reels as being durable and a fan favorite. Many reviews praising this reel; how well it works, and the smoothness. Great reel for the money.

Number 2 on the list is the Daiwa BG Spinning Reel:

a. solid screw in handle

b. waterproof drag system

c. manual retern bail

The is reel is very versitile and is considered the next generation of Daiwas. It’s leaner and meaner, ranging from ultralight freshwater to heavy salt water models. It boasts a 4500 size and larger 7 bearing system along with 6BB +1RB anti reverse system. The line capacity (lb/yards); 6/210 to 10/140 and for the braided it ranges from 15/190 to 30/120. Reviews state this is a smooth casting, strong pole that is definitely worth the money. Owners love the versatility and the many models to choose from. You can find the perfect size for your favorite fishing area.

For the 3rd reel we are going to look at the Piscifun Torrent:

a. 18 lb carbon fiber drag

b. Japanese Hami cut 3604 gears

c. low profile, 7.1:1 gear ratio

d. double wind shafts

This reel give you a 0-10 power magnetic brake, 4 1/3 inch handle, shielded bearings, oversized knob, and aluminum spool. But of course, those are just a few of the incredible features of this particular reel. The Torrent casts farther and smoother than many of the more expensive reels. Extremely powerful, durable and unique yet very affordable. With a braid capacity of 30 lb/120 yd and a mono capacity of 10 lb/120 yd the reel weight is 8 oz.. Some of the reviews for this reel state that it performs beautifully, very nice drag, solid reel, definitely worth the money and is perfect for a beginning fisherman that are starting out on a budget. Pair it with the right pole and you will outfish your friends. 

Number 4 on our list: KastKing Spartacus

a. 17.5 lb carbon fiber drag

b. 6.3:1 gear ratio

c. 11 + 1 shielded ball bearings

d. rubber corck handle knobs

e. left or right handed options

This reel is powerful, smooth, and allows no mercy for the stripers. In this price range, this is the most powerful and smoothest compared to other brands. Some of the other unique features of this reel are instant stop anti reverse, aluminum spool, corrosion resistant, and hours of fish fighting fun. The weight of this reel is 7.2 ounces for the EVA handle and 8.1 ounces for the rubber cork handle. Top of the line reviews on this one as well. Great reel for the money, smooth, nice drag and light weight. Many people love the cork handles as they offer a little more comfort when you grip tight for those fighters. 

The 5th and final reel on the list: Pflueger President

a. 7 bearing system

b. graphite body and rotor

c. sealed drag system

d. braid ready spool

The are a variety of sizes to choose from with these reel, but the gear ratio of 5.2:1 is the same for each and every model. Reviews on this model are mixed.  For the people who gave it 5 stars, they are very adament about it being a great reel for the price and that they love the product. Some of the other reviews stated that they had issues with the gearing grinding or with the braided line getting tangled. But even with the mixed reviews, this reel rated a 4.5 stars and is definitely worth the try. 

But now that you have your reel, and presumably your pole, you are going to need some bait to catch the striped bass. We mentioned earlier the live bait that are the best for snagging this particular fish. Now lets take a look at a few of the best lures to attract the striper. We will not go into too many specifics on the lures, just some of the basic features of each one that we have on our list.

1. Top Water Lure: Heddon Zara Spook Lure

a. made in 1939

b. draws fish from 20 ft away

c. hard plastic

d. 4.5 inches long

e. 1/2 ounce in weight.

2. Top Saltwater Lure: Daiwa Salt Pro Minnow

a. heavy duty saltwater hooks

b. 6 inches in length

c. weighs 1 1/9 ounces

d. 3d eyes

3. Best Popper: Cotton Cordell Pencil Popper

a. targets trophy stripers

b. weighted tail, cast farther out

c. 2 sizes (6 or 7 inch)

d. weight, depending on length, 1 or 2 ounces

4. Best Soft Plastic: Lunker City Slug-Go

a. best when in shallow, clear water

b. comes in 7 sizes

c. rainbow of colors to choose from

d. erratic darting action

e. slender profile

5. Best Swimbait: Sebile Magic Swimmer

a. you can use when you cast or troll

b. use in fresh or saltwater

c. reinforced body

d. high pull strength

e. 6.5 inces and 1 1/2 ounces

So, we have went over some background on the striped bass, we have covered some of the best baitcasting reels to use and we also took a peek at some of the lures that are best to use, while also covering some of the most popular live bait used. So, no matter what your preference on bait, what brand of reel you love the most and where your favorite fishing spot is; we have covered all the most important things you need to know about catching striped bass.

 The final thing, the cherry on the top of this article is the best ways to cook the striper that you take home.

Of course, if you look on the internet (or even ask your grandma) you can probably come up with some great recipes, suggestions and opinions on how to cook these tough catching, fun time having fish. Striper bass have white meat with medium texture and a mild flavor.

Hey FISHMONGER – make sure to check out my FISHING RESOURCES page.

Pan-seared striper you only want to sear on 3-4 minutes a side, reducing heat when you flip over the filet.

Grilled– cook only 5 minutes per side, making sure to let your grill/coals heat for 15 minutes before putting them on the grill

You can steam your striped bass with sauteed vegetables, for a healthier alternative

If you choose to broil your striper, make sure you cook it for 5 minutes per 1/2 inch of thickness

There are many many ways to deep fry your striped bass, depending on the ingredients you use. Make sure the oil is 375 degrees and that you cook each fillet for about 4 minutes on each side.

Yes, there are hundreds of recipes on the internet, but this gives you the basics on how long to cook on each side. You are free to season them however you wish, bake them or grill them in or out of aluminum foil; with or without vegetables. Enjoy what you possibly just spent hours and hours trying to wrangle, clean and fillet.

Now, pack up that boat; tackle box, pole, bait, drinks, life jackets and family or buddies and go have an amazing day at the lake – even if you don’t have a boat. Make some memories and let us know how are suggestions worked for you. 

In this article, we will talk about a short fishing story that I, Darren, and my family had in the summer of 2019. It was this family fishing trip that got me thinking about whether stripers can smell, and boy can they!

The short answer is yes they can smell. More than 1000 times better than a human can. Striped Bass have 2 sets of nostrils and can smell better than a human can but they do it differently. They dont have lungs like we do, instead they have gills. When tiny traces of chemicals enter their nostrils it registers different things in the fishes frontal brain. Here they decode things like a mating partner, a dangerous preditor, or food, and it sets off instinctual actions. Thats why having bait that smells attractive to them can help anglers to catch more stripers.

It was summertime. It was getting hot and we wanted to leave town. Luckily for us we had a family reunion planned. We had a schedule to keep and we were determined to keep it. When we left town we all breathed a sigh of relief and we were all happy that it was time for us to go out and enjoy ourselves for a few days. 

FREE Printable tackle box checklist HERE

Scheduled around the time that we were going to the family reunion were planned two fishing trips. One the day before and one the day after. Neither one of them were  planeed very well because I did not know the area and I could not find a good place to go without driving too far, but we found a creek up in the mountains there where the family reunion was and I took the kids up and we had a good time but we caught no fish. We did get a good picture of a snake on the way out though. 

The next day was the family reunion and all went well. The following day was the second fishing trip. I racked my brain to try to figure out where I could take these kids in the middle of the day on the way home and have a good chance of catching trout mid day. Anyone who is a trout fisherman knows that morning and evening are the best times to catch fish so I had my challenge set out for me. 

That night I thought and thought. The next day when I was asked “dad where are we going“ I had to make a decision. My decisions revolved around a place where we had lived before. We could go to Baker lake or we could go to Pine Valley reservoir. We had had much luck at Baker Lake in the past but there were times we got skunked as well and those times mostly were during the middle part of the day. Pine Valley was a little less familiar to us but I think what made me decide to go there was that it was higher up in the mountains and would maybe be cooler at least. 

So the decision was made to fish at Pine Valley reservoir. You may be thinking what does this have to do with Striper? i’m getting there… Patience. Anyway, when we arrived at Pine Valley reservoir the kids took off to find the best spot while my wife and I lagged behind.

 The lake was very busy. There wasn’t hardly a place to finish along the shady side being the south side of the lake. That’s where I wanted to be but it looked like we were out of luck because, like I said, there was hardly nowhere to go. My three boys wandered back-and-forth on that side of the lake to try to find a place to nose in but my wife and I decided to stay on the dam, in the grass, and try to dunk a line there. 

My kids finally did find a place on the south side of the lake and they all baited up and cast their line in the water as well. After some time nobody had caught a fish. In fact I had noticed that there wasn’t anybody on the lake who caught a fish. After a little while one of my sons came over to bring me some bait because they had it all. I had been using a grasshopper found on the way in. 

When he gave me the bait he also brought me some fish attractant that we had purchased. I wasn’t sure if this stuff was a scam or if it worked at all but I decided to give it a try since my son had brought it for me to use. He put some on his line as well and we both cast out. It wasn’t too much longer before he caught a nice pan size rainbow trout. He was able to retrieve the trebble hook and release the fish unharmed.

 He quickly baited it up and recast his line. While we were sitting there my line got bitten and I caught a pan size trout as well. I was not able to get my hook out, he swallowed it. I had no choice but to keep him. After I tied on a new hook and cast out again my son got another bite and was able to bring in another trout. He was also able to release that one.

 Again he baited up and cast out. My youngest son came over after seeing us catching fish and he decided to bait up and use the sent as well and he casted out. Because he had not claimed his spot until third, he was forced to move over a little bit and he did not like the spot where he had to fish. He wanted to come closer to where I was but I told him no you cast out where you are.

 I have seen fish rolling there and I know you will catch one, I told him. He cast is line out and within a minute he also reeled in a pan size trout. We decided to keep his while we were taking care of that one my other son caught another one. This one had already been cought before and It had a hook and line in his mouth besides the one that he bit on that was my sons. Wow  this fish was hungry. Anyway that was kind of our day and we went home with three fish to cook and released two.

So what was the story all about? It got me to thinking about the ability of fish to smell underwater. I am convinced that the fish attractant made all of the difference. Nobody else on the lake was catching fish and they were all using the same bait we were. 

I know there were fish in other parts of the lake because I could see them rolling. My sons had a conversation with a man who had been fishing at that Lake for over 40 years with his grandfather. He left with no fish. I had fished that lake before and gotten skunked as well but I did not have the attractant. 

Again, I think it was the attractant that made all the difference. I’ve used attractant before and never been convinced like this. So I decided to do a little studying about stripers and their ability to smell underwater. What I found out is that stripers unlike other fish have two nostrils on each side of the head. One nostril on each side allows water to enter while the other one filters water out. They are able to not only smell the food but these two nostrils are connected to the taste glands and a striper smells and tastes at the same time.

Hey FISHMONGER – make sure to check out my FISHING RESOURCES page.

 So when you are fishing with bunker that has a slimy outer coating that is releasing a smell into the water, the striped bass with their ability to smell more than 1000 times better than a human, is able to pick this up very quickly. 

It is said that their sense of smell is much more a factor in their eating than their sense of sight. So when you throw out a lure with no smell on it, it makes me wonder if you are cheating yourself out of the possibility of catching some of those stripers that might otherwise smell your bait. 

With a lure, it seems that they are only going by their vision and their ability to sense vibrations in the water. 

I’m curious if anyone has any data that they would like to share. My thought that I would like to find out is, has anyone ever sprayed scent on their jig before using it to fish Striper? Do you think it worked? 

Please let me know in the comments below. I would be interested in seeing and hearing some of the stories if anyone has tried this and if you think it made a difference. 

If so, maybe I should invent the spray on cent for lures specifically designed for stripers. We can call it bunker smell… LOL 

You can check out a post I wrote for fishing for striped bass as a beginner here.

It’s an exciting question and makes you wonder…can I beat it?

So, How big is the world record striped bass? Greg Myerson has held that record since 2011 when he caught his 81 lb 14 oz striped bass near Southwest Reef in Long Island Sound while drift fishing a live eel. Myerson said, “That fish changed my life”.

One of the factors that make fishing an exciting sport is the wide variety of fish available. In most cases one can never tell what species of fish they are going to end up with which makes the activity more adventurous. The fact that you could end up on the world record listing is an added advantage when it comes to fishing. This is why different people have held the record for different types of fish, including striped bass.

Here is a Facebook Group about big Striped Bass you might like.

FREE Printable tackle box checklist HERE

Previous striped bass world records

The first world record striped bass was caught in the 1980s and since then the title has changed hands multiple times. It weighed approximately 78 pounds and was believed to have been around 36 years old making it one of the oldest fish caught. Since then the world record striped bass have had alternate weights but none have gone above the 90 pound mark; at least not officially.

In 1981, the biggest striped bass was hauled in, but unfortunately, it never made it to the official world record records. A group of fishermen based in North Carolina caught a 125 pound bass but they were fishing for commercial purposes and therefore using nets. Because of this, their catch never made it to the official record of the biggest striped bass ever caught.

 There have been similar events over the years with one of them happening in 1995. This was when a 92 pound striped bass was caught in Maryland. A research being done by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources led to the netting of the fish but it never made it to the official records.

In 2005, an angler from Texas almost made history with his striped bass during a regional championship competition for striped bass. He caught a bass that was believed to weigh between 60 to 90 pounds. It was not weighed properly since the angler who was fishing on his friend’s boat didn’t want to cause him any inconvenience. Instead they used the 50 pound weighing scale which wasn’t a match for the bass as it ended up being broken into two. The weight estimate was a result of the length and width of the fish which were 53.5 inches and 34.25 inches respectively.

Several claims have been made over the years about bigger striper catches but none of them have been verified making it harder to authenticate. It is therefore common to hear about most people wonder how big is the world record striped bass.

Current striped bass world record

For over 20 years only one person held the official world record striped bass fish title. This is why when Greg Myerson, from Connecticut, caught his “monster” bass the excitement was over the top. This happened in August 2011 and the fish was caught close to Outer Southwest Reef. Using a St. Croix and Quantum rod and reel combination respectively, the angler managed to steer the fish closer to his boat once he realized just how big it was. This move allowed him to net the fish into the boat easily before taking it to be weighed.

Here is the link to the International Gamefish Association for the largest striped bass.

Despite the obvious size of the fish, Mr. Myerson, the angler, continued to enjoy his fishing trip and only had the fish weighed the following day. It was only then that he discovered that the fish weighed 81.88 pounds and was 54 inches long. Following the news, the International Game Fish Association tracked down Mr. Myerson making him the new official world record striped bass record holder.

Catching a striped bass

HERE is an article I wrote about surf fishing for striped bass.

Both the rumors and the proven records show that one can never predict when they are going to catch a record breaking striped bass. This fish species that thrives in salt waters and fresh, can be caught in any part of the world and sometimes unintentionally. However, for those aiming to hold the world record, you can try to increase your chances by using bigger baits and lures.

 Choosing the right type of bait such as live eels can also increase your chances, just like knowing the right place to fish. It is believed that striped bass migrate depending on the season which increases the chances of catching one in specific places. For instance, it is believed that they move to the coastal regions in late spring and summer.

World record freshwater striped bass

What is the world record freshwater striped bass? That All Tackle Class record belongs to James R. Bramlett who caught a (31.55 kg) 69 lbs 9 oz striped bass February 28, 2013 on the Black Warrior River in Alabama.

While breaking the world record can be thrilling and is one of the greatest achievements, people are encouraged to release their striped bass into the water after taking pictures. This is meant to ensure the continuation of their species. It’s a practice that many anglers have adopted and why not? When we do our best to conserve, we make it better for those coming after us and for ourselves in the future. Most striped bass over 40 lbs are females and a female over fifty lbs can lay up to 4,200,000 eggs. Its enough to make you think twice about taking her out of the population.

What if you do catch a huge striped bass? Well, one thing to keep in mind is that these fish run in schools, so if a huge bass gets pulled from the water, might there be another hawg lurking under the water still, and might she be even bigger? Should you run for the scales or keep on fishing?

Hey FISHMONGER – make sure to check out my FISHING RESOURCES page.

Poles, bait,line, hooks,and many other factors come into play while striper fishing and it all has to be just right if you really want to catch the big ones. If you do however pull in a grand daddy may I suggest that you take it to a third party and have it weighed officially? You don’t want to be one of those statistics that never actually makes it into the record books. If you do make it into the books it could “change your life” .

Here are more facts about Atlantic Striped Bass by NOAA

If you are interested in reading more about striped bass in lakes here is an article Iwrote about Lake Mead striped bass.

The conclusion, yes you should use whole fish as bait for stripers. Striped Bass are predators and are already looking for what is abundant in their surroundings. -Sort of.

What do you mean by sort of Darren? Well I guess it depends. What size fish are you using for bait? What species of the fish are you using? Or should you even use fish?

I don’t mean to muddy the waters but there are a lot of good ways to catch striped bass. I will say however that striped bass tend to be on the prowl and hunting all the time. Most fish in general will eat other fish if they are small enough. Stripers are hunters and they will eat other species of fish whole. In fact it’s natural for them.

That’s not to say that there might not be other ways to fish for striper.
In this article, we will touch on using whole fish and other ways as well.

Many fishermen that fish for striped bass like to use small Bait fish like shiners, Shad, bunkers, and other small fish. Bluegill are a staple for freshwater strippers too.
And then you have the salt water striper that eats eel, herring, clams, muscles, lobster, and many other sea creatures and fish.

FREE Printable tackle box checklist HERE

Bunker chunks as cut bait

YouTube fisherman Mike Smedley has used Bunker chunks as cut bait. He uses a 9/0 gamagatu hook and 30 pound test line for his leader and his line. He catches many striped bass using this cut bait and suggests that you start with small cuts like 1/3 of the fish until you find out the size of fish you’re into.

Once you find out what the size of the fish are that are biting, and that you can catch larger fish in that area you can start using half size chunks of cut bait. If you still notice the ability to catch even larger fish you can work your way up to using full size hole fish In the 6 inch range as bait.

There are certain ways to hook the cut bait, I noticed that Mike said hooking through the white part of the bait near the tail underside was a good place to hook for the tail section of bunker. When you get to the center section he prefers to hook through the heart and then through the white part of the bait. And when hooking the head of the fish through the lips or through the nose works but through the lips from the top down works best because it keeps the mouth shut instead of opening up like a parachute in the current.

Use Clam Bellies as Striper Bait

Captain Mark from YouTube channel Kid Cochiese Outdoors used Clam bellies and a 6/0 baitholder hook , 30 lb on 30 lb monofilament line with a swivel and no weight or a sliding swivel with a barrel just above the swivel. He suggests using a Seigler SG reel 7’6 shimano teramar Rod , Heavy, or something similar in his area of New York. One of his little secrets is the bait holder hook. It has two backwards facing barbs on the shank of the hook to help hold the bait on the hook. If you live in the north east and plan on fishing for striper around New York, you really should check out his channel. He is hilarious and has many guest fishermen on board with him.

Use Live Shad As Bait For Striped Bass

Adrian from Sin City outdoors in Las Vegas prefers to use live shad caught right at the lake before fishing. He hooks them sideways through the nose and prefers to use 3 to 6 inch shad. Of course he teaches us how to use many other methods like swim baits. He does a lot of fishing at Lake Mead Nevada and Willow Beach resort Arizona. He is a young man who started a YouTube channel several years ago with his father and family and they have grown very nicely over the years.

In one of his videos he explains exactly how to set up your rod and reel. He uses 30 pound test and 30 pound leader line on all of his rods.

They do a lot of hunting as well as fishing for different species of fish and in different places. You should check him out if you I have a chance to do so. I really love the family bonding humor that they exude.

Use Frozen Anchovies

I personally have fished for striper from the shore at Lake Mead and from the shores of Willow Beach on the Colorado River and I have had success using anchovies. I prefer to use the whole anchovy when fishing for stripers.

I also took a peek at Elias Vaisbergs EliasVFishing on YouTube. He is a kayak fisherman out of North Carolina and has his own swim bait called the Elias Shad. He demonstrated how he hooks his bunker fish to keep them alive longer through the nose and up behind the eye poking out the top. He claims that this helps keep the fish alive longer in case you don’t have very much bait.

Hey FISHMONGER – make sure to check out my FISHING RESOURCES page.

Use Live Bunker as Bait

One of his videos showed him fishing in a kayak off the East Coast using live bunker that he snagged and then used as bait for striped bass. Of course with the magic of video you can do a lot of editing. He trolled around in his kayak with that bunker for quite a while, he said, before he hooked into a very nice striped bass.

I have to say it was a thrill to watch him fight that fish from a kayak. That takes a special kind of skill to not fall in and you really don’t have a lot of room to maneuver and put things down while you pull the fish out of the water. He managed to do a good job though and landed a super nice fat broad striped bass.

This makes me think whether I should give fishing out of a kayak a chance. I do have a truck, and it sounds like a lot of fun but I’m kind of a big guy and I don’t know if I can balance in it OK.

Use Lures As Striper Bait

If you should decide to use a lure instead of live bait or cut bait this one is a good choice for striped bass, The Magic Swimmer targets fish at all depths and on the surface.

The beauty of this bait is that on any given day the bass might be at different depths in the water either at the surface or in the middle or down low in the cooler water. With this one bait, you can explore all the depths and try to find out where the striped bass are hanging out.

If it’s working for you, you can leave it on and continue to use it or you can switch for another lure that fishes the depth where the fish are.

If you really want to wake the fish up you need a tsunami. Try this lure, it is the Tsunami Talkin’ Popper. It makes a lot of surface noise and gets their attention. This lure is designed to be used on the surface and has a rattle inside that makes noise and irritates the fish. Those stripers will be attacking like mad.

Some people swear by the long A bomber fishing lure. This bait acts like a fleeting minnow underwater and is irresistible to striped bass and other game fish. Just remember twitch twitch pause reel, twitch twitch pause reel.

If you’re looking for a rubber lure that has a fine reputation for catching striped bass, the Storm Wildeye Swim Shad Swim Baits are a good choice. They come in a wide variety of species and colors and also they come in smaller and larger sizes depending on the type of fish that you expect to encounter.

They work especially well when the fish are boiling at the surface trying to catch the small pray at the surface. Just cast one into the middle of a boil and its fish on.

Summary

-We have discussed many types of lures here. Firstly, we answer the question “should I use a whole fish as bait for striper fishing?” The answer… Yes as long as it’s not too big for the fish that you are trying to catch.

We took the advice of several captains and professionals in the striper fishing realm and obtained some advice from them about what rigs to use and what baits they use and how they use them.

We also discussed alternative types of baits and lures toward the end of this post, specifically the ones that are great for striper fishing.

I hope you have gained something from reading and that you are able to put that into practice when you go striper fishing yourself. I hope you have a good time and catch a lunker. 

1. Get live shad either at the bait shop or by using a cast net from a boat or the shore.

2. Tie on a Gamakatsu Weighted Superline Extra Wide Gap Hook size 2/0

3. Use a pretty hefty size of monofilament fishing line like 12 pound up to 20 pound test depending on the size of fish you are planning on catching.

4. The hook is weighted so all you need to do is hook your shad through the nose and easily cast it out where the fish are. 

Let’s take a closer look and I’ll explain more in depth about how you can be successful catching stripers in Lake Mead.

• Using live bait – Get Live Bait Here
• Using dead bait – Frozen Bait and worms Here
• Using lures – Use This one! Ask anyone who fishes Mead IT WORKS!

Live Bait and frozen bait around Las Vegas HERE

According to Adrian of Sin City Outdoors who has a YouTube channel about the subject and all other subjects outdoors, you can use shad at Lake Mead while boat fishing.  You can use a fishfinder or if you don’t have one a lot of anglers use the old method of watching for the birds. 

FREE Printable tackle box checklist HERE

Stripers like to eat schooling fish (shad) and the small school fish rise to the surface to get away from the stripers. When they do this, the birds like to come down and get the small school fish on the surface. While these fish are on the surface like that it is called a boil. You can literally see the white water from the fish jumping and usually, that area is surrounded by seagulls and other birds trying to get their share of fish as well. 

If you have a boat and you can get around or you can follow the birds and usually stay on the schools of fish all of the time. 

If you are looking for a good Lure for Lake Mead Stripers Here’s a good one on Amazon.

Another method is to follow your fish finder for fish that are subsurface and down on the bottom. The fish could be at different levels of water at different times of the year because of the temperatures of the water, so a fish finder is a handy gadget to have at Lake Mead. HELIX 5 Fish Finder

While fishing for striped bass at Lake Mead in Nevada/ Arizona the first thing you have to decide is what type of bait you are going to use. You can use Lures of many types or live bait or dead bait.

Hey FISHMONGER – make sure to check out my FISHING RESOURCES page.

If you choose to use live bait, you can catch shad right at the lake and those can be used for Striper. You will need a 4 foot or smaller cast net to stay legal. Here is the one I use.

You will have to bring with you a cast net and it would not hurt to take some time to practice a little bit outside on the grass or at  the park. There are shad all along the shores of the lake specifically around good hiding places so you should not have too much trouble finding them and catching a few to use for bait. 

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Once you catch them you need to keep them in a live well or a bucket of water with some kind of aeration.

I should mention here that you are going to want to take lots of cool refreshing drinks with you because it can get very hot at the lake. 

When you are catching your shad, you want to make sure you get them about 3 to 6 inches long. There are different kinds of shad in Lake Mead and some of them get very large. If you caught a 3 pound shad you would have a hard time catching a striper that could eat it, so keep them at a decent size.

I recently wrote an article about if you should use whole fish as bait for striped bass! Find it here.

I have been a trout fisherman all of my life so I am used to having a line with a barrel weight or snap on weight and a swivel and leader. You can do this but it’s not really necessary and sometimes it’s even better to just use a weighted hook. 

Once you have your weighted hook tied to your 12 pound test, you want to attach your shad to the hook through the nose from the top down. You can just drop it into the water or lightly cast it into the boil. This set up should get you a fish very quickly if you are in the right spot. 

The striped bass are in such a feeding frenzy they do not take a lot of time to study the bait you throw in. If it looks like a shad they are going to take it. This brings me to our second option, fishing with a Lure.

Lure fishing is kind of nice because you only have to tie on the bait one time and as long as you tie well you can reuse it over and over again to catch several fish. This eliminates the need to catch shad and can give you more time for fishing. 

Ok, like I said, when the stripers are boiling, they do not take a lot of time to study what they are eating. If It looks like a shad they are going to strike. That being said the best type of lures to use are rubber lures that look like shad or some other small type of fish like bluegill or perch. 

Silver is a good color because it shines underwater like a shad would. A good example of a lure that you could use would be the 

Storm WildEye Swim Shad 03 Fishing Lures. These wiggle like A real fish in the water and are a great choice for catching striper. that are boiling at Lake Mead and other places. You could also throw in some color and go with the Proberos Soft Shad Swimbaits Silicone Fishing Lures Rigged Lead Head Jigs Soft Lure Bass Swim Bait Rig Tackle for Saltwater and Freshwater

That is not your only option however, top water baits such as the SteelShad – Bass Lures – Topwater Popper Bass Fishing – Long Casting Topwater Lure might be the option for you.

Heddon Zara Spook Lure is one of the most popular top water lures. 

The Sebile Magic SwimmerTM

Is another choice for you if you like swim bait. 

So you see that lure fishing for stripers is a very popular choice because it keeps you in the water longer and with comparable results to using live bait.

Using deadbait or store-bought bait is probably the least popular choice but some people don’t have a choice because they do not have a boat. If you are going to be shore fishing, you can still catch a striper. I have done it many times and I will tell you the best way that I have found to do it. Much of the time when you are fishing for striper will be in the spring and summer of the year. That does not mean that you can’t fish other times of year it’s just that those seem to be the most popular times to fish.

Lake Mead can be ruthless when it comes to the heat so most people that fish off of the shore choose to fish as the sun goes down and into the evening and the night. 

The temperatures will be lower and you will not have the sun beating down on you. You can use a weighted hook or just a large worm hook for this. 

Stop at the store on your way and grab a couple bags of frozen anchovies. In my experience if you hook on a full anchovy and cast it from the shore as far out as you can. You will have a very good chance of catching a striper. If you break the anchovy in half and cast it out you have a better chance of catching a catfish which is not the end of the world but this post is about stripers. 

Don’t forget to bring a comfortable chair and you will do good to prepare by having some way to know when you are getting a bite. It will be dark and hard to see the tip of your rod so picking up one of these would be a good idea. Zerone 10 Pcs Fishing Alarm Light LED Twin Bells Fishing Tackle Night Fishing Accessory

Of course any noise maker or light will work and if you don’t have one you can always hold the rod in your hand and you will definitely know if you get a bite. Bring some snacks listen to some nice music in your headphones or on low volume drink a cool beverage in a comfortable chair and with someone you enjoy being with and you will have a great time even if you don’t catch any fish. I wish you the best of luck and if you follow these instructions you should have a great chance of taking home some striped bass to cook for dinner. By the way fish tacos are delicious.

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As you can see preparation is key for catching large stripers at Lake Mead Nevada. It Doesn’t take much but the more you are prepared the better chance you will have in the more you will enjoy yourself.

One last thing, if you are looking for a good place to fish at Lake Mead off of the shore, let me suggest government wash, which is at the north west end of the lake. I have had good luck there. Other people have said Boulder Beach is a good place as well.

One last option that I could give you is to not go after stripers at all. There are many other species of fish in Lake Mead. There are trout that are stocked at government wash and other places so that is an option. Also there are many people who fish for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappy, catfish, and other species that are there like bluegill and perch, sunfish, tilapia, etc. some of these other species might give you a better chance if you are down on your luck with the stripers so don’t give up. Stay tuned for my next article about these species at Lake Mead and how to catch them.

 I can’t overstate the fact of how hot it gets at Lake Mead so be prepared for that or you will be cutting your fishing trip short. Don’t forget the sunblock or you will be sorry. 

By the way if you are going out and you need a fishing buddy, get a hold of me, especially if you have a boat.

More info about Lake Mead