Drifitng in Tailwaters
From a boat, you can drift fish for stripers by baiting your hook with a live shad, herring or other baitfish found in the waters where you are fishing. Let the line out behind the boat 50 to 60 feet, allowing the baitfish to drift along with the current. Baitfish will move instinctively toward eddies and slower moving areas of the tailwater where it is easier to swim and where striper bass are more likely to be lurking in search of a meal.
Jigging for Stripers
You'll need to get your bait on the river bottom when stripers move to deep water during the heat of summer, and jigging is the way to do it. Old timers use a weighted rig to hold the jig to the bottom in turbulent tailwaters by tying a 3-way swivel to the main line. On one of the two remaining swivel eyes, you should attach a foot long length of line with a 1 oz. egg sinker on the other end. On the remaining swivel eye, tie a 2-foot length of line terminating in a 1/4 to 1.2 oz. jig. The jig color should resemble the baitfish in the water.
Drop the rig overboard and let it sink to the bottom. Dance the jig by twitching the rod and letting the jig settle to the bottom once more. Be prepared for a savage strike.
Tossing Artificials to Stripers
Soft plastic lures that resemble silver shad or herring can be rigged through the head with the hook point pressed back into the body of the bait. From a boat or the banks, cast the artificial upstream and allow it to drift with the current, keeping the line tight and your rod pointed at the line as it passes by.
Article Written By James Clark
James Clark began his career in 1985. He has written about electronics, appliance repair and outdoor topics for a variety of publications and websites. He has more than four years of experience in appliance and electrical repairs. Clark holds a bachelor's degree in political science.
