Here are a couple of our favorite tips for catching more striped bass. They're simple, but boy are they effective!

1. Take a Swing

Over the years, I’ve noticed that one of the most important aspects to drawing a strike from a river striper is how your lure swings. These fish are less likely to chase a lure moving straight up or downstream as they are one swinging past in an arc with the current. With that in mind, choose diving plugs and soft plastics that dig and maintain a tight wobble with only the current acting upon them. A lure that needs to be reeled quickly may not look appealing on a tight line swing and therefore might slip right over a striper’s head without the fish moving even an inch to chase.

2. Make Waves

Rather take a shot at river bass with a fly rod? Make sure your patterns move plenty of water. I like herring-imitating streamers with a wide-profile head made from spun bucktail. While the fly swings across the current, slight pops of the fly line are all it takes to make the fly jackknife as the flow pushes against the bulky head. The large heads also create water resistance, sending a pulse of water over the tail, helping the fly “breathe.” Essentially, what you’re doing is giving it life without hard strips, just letting the river move the pattern in an arc, as you would a diving plug.

One other tip: Fish on days when it's overcast instead of sunny. Fish are often less hesitant to come to the surface of the water, making it easier for you to snag as many as you want.

Do you ever fish for striped bass? What are some of your top tips for catching more of them? What HASN'T worked for you? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Article &Photo Source: Field & Stream