HOW TO CATCH STRIPED BASS
Bass fishing has always been and would no doubt continue to be an amazing experience for anglers. It does not matter whether it is large-mouthed bass, big bass, small-mouthed bass, or striped bass that is being fished for, the experience is always something to look forward to.
The striped bass is silvery with their back looking olive green and their belly white. They have seven or eight never-ending horizontal stripes on each side of the body and they are usually referred to as stripers or linesider.
Brief History
Striped bass is the biggest of the temperate basses. They are anadromous in nature meaning that they spend their adult lives in the ocean before returning to freshwater tributaries to spawn. The female striped bass can spawn more than once in a season and can lay up to 3,000,000 eggs. However, this does not in any way mean that they spawn every year. Striped bass is also known as multiple spawners because they are capable of spawning several times without dying, unlike salmon that dies after it spawns. The spawning of striped bass usually begins in the spring.
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Being the opportunistic predators they are, striped bass feed on plankton, insects, small fish, and crustaceans all through their diverse stages of development. The absence of eyelids in striped bass causes them to retreat into deeper water whenever the sun comes up. They are native to the Atlantic coast and to the Gulf of Mexico and they range in the Western Atlantic from the St. Lawrence River in Canada to the St. John River in northern Florida.
The size of adult striped bass can range from 16 to 30 in. The highest reported length is 6ft, 6in. while the more popular length is 3ft. 11in.
Important Techniques for catching Striped Bass
To be extremely successful as an angler in your quest for striped bass, there are certain techniques you cannot but master. Without these techniques, your chances of really getting to catch striped bass on your fishing trip are slim. Some of these techniques are trolling, fishing from shore, fly fishing, and night fishing. As good as these techniques are for catching striped bass, the success of each is still dependent on several variables such as the season of striped bass and the size and number of striped bass you will like to catch.
These techniques are:
1.Fly fishing: This is one effective fishing technique for catching striped bass. It is particularly effective during early and late periods of the day, during periods of low light, or when the striped bass are more likely to feed in the upper parts of the water surface. There are times when the successful fishing of striped bass is dependent on whether the angler has the specialized gear or not. Specialized gear like sinking lines and heavier tackles is a great advantage for anglers who use them as it allows them to be able to present their lures at different depths throughout their time at the water. Anglers who resort to the fly fishing technique in their quest for striped bass have been known to use large deceivers that imitate similar baitfish and the result has been rewarding.
2.Trolling: Many anglers claim that trolling is so effective to the extent that they believe it is the number one way to catch striped bass. The effectiveness of trolling for catching striped bass maybe because it gives an angler unrestricted access to large areas of water until one can find a concentration of striped bass. Also, with trolling, an angler can easily choose the depth they would like their lure to get to and can change it as often as
they want without losing full control of the lure's speed. Yet again, with trolling, an angler is not limited to the number of lines he can tow; he is free to tow as many as possible while at the same time, pulling a large number of lures. This is a great way to boost the chances of catching a striped bass as at least one of the multiple lines and lures would most likely hook a striped bass.
3.Fishing from shore: The major advantage of this method in the catching of striped bass is that it allows anglers who are without boats the opportunity to also fish. So, that you as an angler do not have a boat does not in any way mean you cannot catch striped bass. No, it doesn't. All you need is to learn how to catch striped bass from shore. This could mean fishing from bulkheads, bridges, piers, and even surf fishing in areas with beachfront access. As a matter of fact, beach towns in places like New Jersey, New York, or North Carolina are most likely to have plenty of striped basses.
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4.Night Fishing: One of the reasons this method is an effective one for catching striped bass is because most striped bass feed hard after dark. Any angler that decides on using this method of fishing will no doubt require some special gear such as a good headlamp or flashlight. There is also the need for night lights that can be easily lowered into the water as they can attract baitfish which in turn will attract striped bass. Navigational lights are also very important for the angler that will be fishing for bass fish at night just as glow sticks and another waterproof light source so that they can be spotted easily in case of an emergency. Night fishing for bass no doubt requires some extra effort and would deprive you of the night sleep you are used to but
some extra effort and would deprive you of the night sleep you are used to but it just might become your favorite fishing technique for striped bass if only you decide to give it a shot.
Tips for catching a Striped Bass
It is not enough for you to just know the different suitable fishing techniques for striped bass, it is also important for you as an angler to have a knowledge of the things to do and not to do in your quest for striped bass. Below are few tips that will help and guide you whenever you decide to give striped bass fishing a shot:
Use a fish finder: A fish finder is a great instrument for locating fish and it is a great advantage to any angler that has it. More so, in the pursuit of striped bass, it comes in really handy. Striped bass can be extremely unpredictable. They do not have a particular location; they can be found at different locations and at different depths depending on the weather and time of the year. Hence, with your fish finder, you really do not have to worry about where the striped bass is being held as you can easily determine the depth at which the striped bass is, present your bait at that exact depth and catch for yourself a striped bass.
But, don't stop at striped bass! Read further to learn "How to Catch White Bass."