Verticle Jigging striped bass

[TODDMANCHU]

I am new to verticle jigging for striped bass. I am in awe of how some guys have it down so that they will out fish others 5-1. In watching it seems to have alot to do with the rod/reel line set up. If your rod does not have the right flex, the lure doesnt jump just right. Its pretty frustrating. Any favorite set ups or tips anyone wants to share?

[Dave Sikorski]

Where are you chasing Stripers?

In the Chesapeake we do a lot of Light Tackle Jigging aka "LTJ"

I use lead jig heads in the 1/2- 1.5 oz size in the Maryland portion of the CB and sometimes more if the current requires it. The key is staying in touch with your jig and the bottom. It's all about the feel. Bass assasins, BKD's and various other plastics work well. I like white, lavender, chartreuse and sometimes darker colors.

Stripers feed on the drop in most cases and it's important that you feel that bite and take advantage of it by getting the hook set.

Stingsilvers, crippled Alewifes, Hopkins shorty's and various other spoons also work well for vertical jigging. Again, I match the weight to the current and depth conditions and strive to always feel what my jig is doing.

I use 30lb powerpro w/ a 20 or 30lb flourocarbon leader. The leader isn't for being stealthy, it helps with abrasion resistance. If you have bluefish or spanish or other toothy critters around add some 50lb for the last few inches and swap your leader out when it gets worn out.

Tackle...

I like my Tackle Cove spinning rods. Great price point, and they are made by a good friend that makes some great custom rods....Billy O'brien @ Shore Tackle and Custom Rods.

http://www.tacklecove.com/

I think I have a pair of the 6' spinners, That's my picture w/ the striper in the 6' rod section! I have 2500 Okuma something or others on them. I also have shimano stradics in the 4000 size on some other rods that frequently come along and play.

http://www.tacklecoveshop.com/c-277-...ckle-rods.aspx

I also have a 10-20lb St. Croix Mojo baitcasting rod that I picked up this year and is quickly becoming a favorite for the up and down stuff. It has a Shimano calcutta Left hand. 200 size reel.

As far as the actual fishing techniques....

I do a few different things until I figure out the pattern they're in. Stripers are gonna hang around most of the day and ambush their prey. That means hanging on structure of some sort and waiting for bait to drift by. They're more active on certain areas and types of structure during certain tides. Time on the water and keeping a good log will help you learn what they do and when they do it. Don't expect them to be too darn consistent, but don't forget when something works.

In the Chesapeake their depth will vary with water conditions and seasons but any time you have a depth change that puts deep water up against shallow water you're gonna have a striper lurking nearby.

Learn how to read your depth finder for bottom type as well as what the different species look like on your meter.

Also learn how to gauge your drift. Get upwind/tide of where you marked the fish or expect them to be and turn your motor off and drift. Stripers can be pretty tolerant of noise, but don't make a habit of making a bunch of it.

When I've located fish I like to get a jig in their face and jig the heck out of it to try and entice a strike. Some days they will jump right on it and others they're looking for a slower helpless action. There are a lot of times when I will deadstick a bass assasin out the back of the boat and just let it drag on the bottom. You'd be surprised how often you hook up without actually jigging, or right when you change the motion just a little.

Getting on the bottom and jigging while staying in contact with the jig and the bottom will work, but sometimes you have to move up through the water column to get the bite. Remember at what depth you got that bite and do the same thing next time. If you're not over the fish and you're in relatively shallow water, cast out and let your jig drop and then work it back.

The bottom line is you need to try all sorts of techniques til you find one that works. Stop worrying about the other fishermen and worry about the fish.

Good luck, hope this helped a little.

-D