Striped Bass fishing
Morone saxatilis. Bluish-black to dark gray or olive-green back with silvery sides and a white belly.
Striped Bass fishing uses a swimbait or a freshly netted shad on 8 to 14 lb line, at dawn and at dusk. Striped bass eggs are semi-buoyant and need a moving, unobstructed river to stay suspended while they incubate, so few reservoir populations reproduce on their own and artificial stocking supports most fisheries.
Published by Fishypedia · Sources last checked September 19, 2026
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
- Active times
- Dawn and Dusk
- Line
- 8–14 lb
- Hook sizes
- –
- Stocked in
- 4 states
Identification
- Bluish-black to dark gray or olive-green back with silvery sides and a white belly.
- Seven to nine unbroken horizontal stripes along each side, the trait that gives the species its name.
- Two clearly separated dorsal fins and a forked tail; the mouth is oblique with a longer lower jaw.
- Reservoir fish can reach 40 pounds or more, far heavier than the white bass and wiper they resemble.
Sources: wildlife.utah.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , mdc.mo.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , wildlifedepartment.com, accessed September 19, 2026
Top lures
Cast on the windblown side of points, rip-rap and coves in the low-light hours of morning and evening.
Worked over channel drop-offs, ledges and off-shore humps where schools hold.
Cast with a curly-tail grub around points, rip-rap and coves.
Sources: wildlifedepartment.com, accessed September 19, 2026
Top baits
A 2 to 4 inch shad on a bait-holder hook, on a 12-inch leader below a barrel swivel and an egg weight, let down to depth under the boat.
Fathead minnows in the same 2 to 4 inch range, fished the same way or under a slip float from the bank over main-lake flats and ledges.
Sources: wildlifedepartment.com, accessed September 19, 2026
Line & tackle
- Line
- 8–14 lb
- Rod power
- Medium to medium-heavy spinning, spincasting or baitcasting rod for casting and trolling big baits
Sources: wildlifedepartment.com, accessed September 19, 2026
Stocked behavior
Striped bass eggs are semi-buoyant and need a moving, unobstructed river to stay suspended while they incubate, so few reservoir populations reproduce on their own and artificial stocking supports most fisheries. In Kansas there is no natural reproduction at all. The fish that result cruise open water in large, continuously moving schools keyed on shad, and do not frequent shorelines.
Common mistakes
- Fishing tight to cover; striped bass are found cruising in large schools in open waters.
- Going too light; Oklahoma's recommended setup is a medium to medium-heavy rod with 8- to 14-pound test line.
- Ignoring fish boiling on the surface; if they begin to boil on top, switch to topwater lures such as poppers, buzzbaits, walk-the-dog lures and propeller baits.
Where it's stocked
33 locations shown. Tap a pin for details. · Open this area in Google Maps
Florida
New Mexico
Texas
State records
| State | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 58.25 lbs | Roger Foster Somerset, KY | Lake Cumberland | 1985 |
| Utah | 48 lbs. 11 oz. | Travis T. Jenson | Lake Powell | 1991 |
| Virginia | 53 lbs. 7 oz. | James B. Davis | Leesville Reservoir | 2000 |
| Wisconsin | 1 lb. 9.3 oz. | – | Fox River, Kenosha County | 1996 |
Common questions
What lures work for Striped Bass?
Swimbait, a soft plastic in white, silver, and chartreuse: Cast on the windblown side of points, rip-rap and coves in the low-light hours of morning and evening. Spoon or slab, a spoon in silver, gold, and chartreuse. Lipped crankbait, a crankbait in silver, white, and chartreuse: Worked over channel drop-offs, ledges and off-shore humps where schools hold. Marabou jig, a jig in white and chartreuse: Cast with a curly-tail grub around points, rip-rap and coves.
What bait works for Striped Bass?
Freshly netted shad: A 2 to 4 inch shad on a bait-holder hook, on a 12-inch leader below a barrel swivel and an egg weight, let down to depth under the boat. Live minnow: Fathead minnows in the same 2 to 4 inch range, fished the same way or under a slip float from the bank over main-lake flats and ledges.
How big do Striped Bass get?
The Kentucky record is 58.25 lbs from Lake Cumberland in 1985. The Utah record is 48 lbs. 11 oz. from Lake Powell in 1991. The Virginia record is 53 lbs. 7 oz. from Leesville Reservoir in 2000. 1 more state records are on this page.