Striper Fishing

Posted by RiverBum on March 26th, 2021

Catching a striped bass is widely considered to be a major achievement by most anglers. And while luck certainly plays a part in catching one, your timing and your choice of equipment also plays a big role.

Striped bass is not the easiest fish to catch. While they are considered unpredictable, anglers may improve their chances of catching a striper by paying attention to the time of the day, the weather, and the tide. The typical recommendation is to fish about 2-3 hours before high tide to about 2-3 hours outgoing tide. Some anglers also recommend around dusk or dawn, on a cool day, during peak or slack tide.

It pays to plan ahead before heading Northeast or to the Mid-Atlantic, North Carolina, and other places where you are likely to find them.   Striped bass is migratory fish. The seasonal weather affect how they feed and travel. Stripers prefer cooler waters. Checking the current water temperatures may help anglers decide whether they should pack up and try again on another day.

Typically, stripers enjoy waters between 55 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. If the water is cooler, they may travel to a warmer spot and spend more time near the surface. When the water is warm, stripers are often found in deeper waters.

Springtime is the best time

Small males and juveniles begin leaving their winter spots to go into estuaries and open bays in the early days of spring. During this time, pay attention to the tide and water temperature. You might spot them in outgoing tides as warm water washes out from the back bays. Wait until the tide is half out and the sun has heated the cold water. Be sure you have appropriate striper saltwater flies, such as a clouser or a deceiver, to attract them.

Catching stripers in the Summer

They’ll take up residence on the outer islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, and also patrol the rock-lined coast of Rhode Island and the beaches of Cape Cod. Some won’t stop until they reach the Canadian border or beyond.   Summer fly fishing for stripers can be tough.   As water temperatures rise, they go deep.   It’s not uncommon to see them school up at 60 feet.

Fishing in the Fall

As fall arrives, they reverse course, with the larger fish wintering offshore off Virginia and North Carolina, the smaller fish in estuaries. Each spring the spawning migration begins anew.   Fall fishing can be excellent as they feed closer to the surface with the cooler waters.

Fly Quality

Fly Fishing for Stripers is not for the faint of heart.   These are big, powerful, hard fighting fish.   Make sure you get top quality flies.   All our flies are tied on Daiichi and Gamakatsu hooks.   Insist on quality, insist on RiverBum premium flies.

About the Company:

This article is written by RickyMartin, Pro Staff at RiverBum. RiverBum offers premium quality flies and gear at highly competitive prices.  A family owned US business, RiverBum promotes the sport of fly fishing to all folks from every walk of life.