Stripers are Moving Up

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I'm wondering if anyone would care to critique my preferred way of bait fishing for striper. We typically use 02 size circle hooks with no weight and then cast it out to the desired distance so it pendulums back through the water column at an appropriate depth toward the boat. We prefer cut striper for all the reasons @PBH mentioned. Are we leaving anything on the table with that technique? Seems like the circle hook gets them in the lip which makes it easy to get them off w pliers. Only thing I've wondered is whether a weighted jig hook get the bait down faster and keeps a little more tension on the line, but for some reason I think they like the slow flutter. I also like feeling the light taps with the weightless presentation
 
gznokes said:
I'm wondering if anyone would care to critique my preferred way of bait fishing for striper. We typically use 02 size circle hooks with no weight and then cast it out to the desired distance so it pendulums back through the water column at an appropriate depth toward the boat. We prefer cut striper for all the reasons @PBH mentioned. Are we leaving anything on the table with that technique? Seems like the circle hook gets them in the lip which makes it easy to get them off w pliers. Only thing I've wondered is whether a weighted jig hook get the bait down faster and keeps a little more tension on the line, but for some reason I think they like the slow flutter. I also like feeling the light taps with the weightless presentation
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Sometimes we like the weightless presentation. However, The jig head method is so simple and has filled so many coolers with fat, healthy stripers that it’s typically my go to if I’m going to fish bait for stripers.
 
gznokes said:
I'm wondering if anyone would care to critique my preferred way of bait fishing for striper. We typically use 02 size circle hooks with no weight and then cast it out to the desired distance so it pendulums back through the water column at an appropriate depth toward the boat. We prefer cut striper for all the reasons @PBH mentioned. Are we leaving anything on the table with that technique? Seems like the circle hook gets them in the lip which makes it easy to get them off w pliers. Only thing I've wondered is whether a weighted jig hook get the bait down faster and keeps a little more tension on the line, but for some reason I think they like the slow flutter. I also like feeling the light taps with the weightless presentation
Click to expand...
I think the flutter of a spoon is very enticing to them and it fets the bait down quickly. The one thing I have been doing is dropping the rig straight down. I haven't even considered casting out and letting it pendulum back, that makes so much sense especially when you are drifting off the school. I'm trying that this week. I have only used anchovies so I'm going to be cutting up a striper and trying it. I've used the roe, but that didn't work as good as the anchovies.
 
gznokes said:
I'm wondering if anyone would care to critique my preferred way of bait fishing for striper. We typically use 02 size circle hooks with no weight and then cast it out to the desired distance so it pendulums back through the water column at an appropriate depth toward the boat. We prefer cut striper for all the reasons @PBH mentioned. Are we leaving anything on the table with that technique? Seems like the circle hook gets them in the lip which makes it easy to get them off w pliers. Only thing I've wondered is whether a weighted jig hook get the bait down faster and keeps a little more tension on the line, but for some reason I think they like the slow flutter. I also like feeling the light taps with the weightless presentation
Click to expand...
When things get real slow, I all ways try #2 hook and a piece of Chovy or Shad for the slow fall that your talking about. Or a lighter jig.
 
gznokes said:
I'm wondering if anyone would care to critique my preferred way of bait fishing for striper. We typically use 02 size circle hooks with no weight and then cast it out to the desired distance so it pendulums back through the water column at an appropriate depth toward the boat. We prefer cut striper for all the reasons @PBH mentioned. Are we leaving anything on the table with that technique? Seems like the circle hook gets them in the lip which makes it easy to get them off w pliers. Only thing I've wondered is whether a weighted jig hook get the bait down faster and keeps a little more tension on the line, but for some reason I think they like the slow flutter. I also like feeling the light taps with the weightless presentation
Click to expand...
I like the weightless cast method. Throw out some chum, cast on top of it and the bait sinks the same speed as the chum. If it gets to the 30-40' zone without a bite (rare) then the slow reel up usually seals the deal.
 
My preferred style is using the belly meat and rib cage from the prior trips catch (I keep that frozen until use) to chum with liberally and use the meat with skin left on from a fillet for the bait on my #2 circle hook. Seems to work for me.
If the bite isn't great, I'll use a small splitshot to get it down below the thermocline but if the bite is on, no weight for me. Cheap rod and reel but braided line with a 6 to 10 foot leader of fluorocarbon line.
I don't have a lot of disposable income so I cheat a little on tackle and bait when I can get away with it.
Just the way I do it but I'm far from an expert. Only been going to Powell since July of 2020.
 
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