Catching Stripers with Sea Clams
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When Lures and Plugs Aren't Working, Try Switching to Sea Clams
Catching Stripers with Sea Clams:
Fishing for striped bass is challenging. There are times when the conditions seem right and the birds are working the baitfish, but the stripers will not hit any of the plugs, lures, soft plastics, or even chunks of mackerel thrown their way.
It was during one of these maddening times when a kid at the local bait & tackle suggested trying clams. I've fished for stripers and other gamefish with many other types of bait, usually chunks of frozen mackerel, salted herring (lobster bait), sand worms and the occasional eel, but I hadn't considered clams as bait for catching striped bass.
The story would be better if my first cast with a piece of clam on the hook produced a keeper bass. It didn't. Neither did the second cast. But my luck did change and it wasn't long before I was hooking up with fish.
And though none of the stripers caught that day where very large, I caught a several fish. When the clams were gone, none of the other plugs or lures could raise another hit.
Since then, a good number of large striped bass hit on clam bait when nothing else in the tackle box interested them. Here's a few tips for using clams to catch striped bass.
Photo by the Author
Fishing for striped bass is challenging. There are times when the conditions seem right and the birds are working the baitfish, but the stripers will not hit any of the plugs, lures, soft plastics, or even chunks of mackerel thrown their way.
It was during one of these maddening times when a kid at the local bait & tackle suggested trying clams. I've fished for stripers and other gamefish with many other types of bait, usually chunks of frozen mackerel, salted herring (lobster bait), sand worms and the occasional eel, but I hadn't considered clams as bait for catching striped bass.
The story would be better if my first cast with a piece of clam on the hook produced a keeper bass. It didn't. Neither did the second cast. But my luck did change and it wasn't long before I was hooking up with fish.
And though none of the stripers caught that day where very large, I caught a several fish. When the clams were gone, none of the other plugs or lures could raise another hit.
Since then, a good number of large striped bass hit on clam bait when nothing else in the tackle box interested them. Here's a few tips for using clams to catch striped bass.
Photo by the Author
Catching Striped Bass with Sea Clams
Frozen Clams by the Quart
Bait and tackle stores typically sell clams by the pint and by the quart, frozen in plastic containers. Keep the clams in the containers and frozen until you are ready to use them. Separate a clam from the frozen block as needed; a quick rinse in clean water will thaw it out. Depending on the size of the clams, bait your hook with a whole clam or cut large clams in half.
Add a Little Weight
Clams work very well when drifted in slow to medium current, either from the shore or from a boat. A circle hook baited with a clam is a small and light, and is difficult to cast very far, even with the added weight from a sinker. A simple but effective clam rig consists of a #4 circle hook tied to a leader. Tie a barrel swivel between the other end of the leader and the end of the line to help prevent line twist.
Bait the hook by pushing the point of the hook through the belly of the clam. Turn the hook, and push point back through the tougher muscle. Turn the hook again, and push it back through the muscle to secure it to the hook.
Bait the hook by pushing the point of the hook through the belly of the clam. Turn the hook, and push point back through the tougher muscle. Turn the hook again, and push it back through the muscle to secure it to the hook.
Cast >>> Drift >>> Retrieve
Cast the baited hook upstream and into the current. Ideally, the clam baited hook will drift down through the current and towards the bottom. Typically, an interested bass will attack the bait as it drifts downward towards the bottom. If the current is strong and the baited hook floats near the surface, try adding a small split-shot sinker or two to the leader about 18 inches above the circle hook. Add just enough weight to carry the bait downwards through the current. Too much weight will take clam to the bottom too quickly, where it will be found and eaten by opportunistic crabs.
The baited clam rig leaves a scent trail in the water as it drifts along. Striped bass have an excellent sense of smell, and even large stripers will aggressively attack a relatively small piece of clam as it drifts downward through the current.
The baited clam rig leaves a scent trail in the water as it drifts along. Striped bass have an excellent sense of smell, and even large stripers will aggressively attack a relatively small piece of clam as it drifts downward through the current.
Striped Bass Rigs
Tide Rite 4/0 Striped Bass Baitholder Rig - w/fish finder
Amazon Price: $2.95 (as of 05/30/2012)
Hooks, Line and Swivels
Catching Stripers withClam Bait
Catch & Release Fishing
“Most big stripers are females. Releasing large fish helps to ensure future striper populations.”
How to Catch & Release a Striped Bass
Catch and Release fishing helps to maintain a healthy striped bass fishery. Most trophy sized striped bass - fish measuring 50 inches or longer - are usually females. Known as cows, these large females lay many times more eggs than their smaller sisters and are essential to maintaining healthy populations of striped bass. Safely releasing large cows helps to ensure future generations of these spectacular fish for years to come.
Successful catch and release fishing begins with your fishing tackle. Circle hooks are very effective, and setting the hook properly usually results in catching the corners of the bass's mouth. Circle hooks are swallowed much less frequently than traditional hooks, saving unnecessary internal injury to the fish.
Remove the barbs from the treble hooks of lures and poppers. Treble hooks often cause deep wounds, and imbedded hooks require pliers and extra force to remove. Use a set of pliers to simply flatten the barb, or use a metal file to remove the barb quickly while sharpening the treble hooks. A barb is not necessary to hook and land a high percentage of aggressive striper hits; keep the line taunt and the rod tip high while playing and landing your fish.
Landing the fish quickly will help to keep the bass strong for a safe release. Grab the striped bass firmly by the lower jaw, and use your other hand to support the mid section of large fish while lifting and holding out of the water. Do not hold the fish by the gills.
Use a hook extractor or pliers to remove imbedded hooks. Grab the hook as close to the point as possible, while gently yet firmly twisting and backing out the hook. Pliers or an extractor provides extra leverage without putting additional pressure against the fish.
Return the fish to the water as quickly as possible, but releasing an exhausted and disoriented fish before it has time to recover is lethal. Hold the fish in the water by its tail while supporting the midsection, and within a few minutes, a healthy and uninjured fish will begin to regain its strength. Taking the time to allow a tired fish to recover fully before swimming off on its own will significantly increase its chances to survive and to fight again on another day.
Successful catch and release fishing begins with your fishing tackle. Circle hooks are very effective, and setting the hook properly usually results in catching the corners of the bass's mouth. Circle hooks are swallowed much less frequently than traditional hooks, saving unnecessary internal injury to the fish.
Remove the barbs from the treble hooks of lures and poppers. Treble hooks often cause deep wounds, and imbedded hooks require pliers and extra force to remove. Use a set of pliers to simply flatten the barb, or use a metal file to remove the barb quickly while sharpening the treble hooks. A barb is not necessary to hook and land a high percentage of aggressive striper hits; keep the line taunt and the rod tip high while playing and landing your fish.
Landing the fish quickly will help to keep the bass strong for a safe release. Grab the striped bass firmly by the lower jaw, and use your other hand to support the mid section of large fish while lifting and holding out of the water. Do not hold the fish by the gills.
Use a hook extractor or pliers to remove imbedded hooks. Grab the hook as close to the point as possible, while gently yet firmly twisting and backing out the hook. Pliers or an extractor provides extra leverage without putting additional pressure against the fish.
Return the fish to the water as quickly as possible, but releasing an exhausted and disoriented fish before it has time to recover is lethal. Hold the fish in the water by its tail while supporting the midsection, and within a few minutes, a healthy and uninjured fish will begin to regain its strength. Taking the time to allow a tired fish to recover fully before swimming off on its own will significantly increase its chances to survive and to fight again on another day.
Catch & Release Striped Bass Sticker
Bass Pro Shops Zero Limit - Catch and Release Decal - Striped Bass
Amazon Price: (as of 05/30/2012)
Catch & Fillet T-Shirt
Catch Fillet Sports Dark T-Shirt by CafePress
Amazon Price: $29.50 (as of 05/30/2012)
Catch Release Repeat T-Shirt
How to Tie a Strong Fishing Knot
Use this knot to tie hooks, lures, snap swivels or any other fishing tackle to your fishing line
This simple fishing knot is fast and easy to tie, yet it is exceptionally strong. This knot is so quick and simple to tie - even with cold, wet fingers - there is no excuse for losing a big fish due to a chaffed and weakened line.Run the line through the eye of the lure, pulling through about 36" of line.
Double the line back through the eye, positioning the lure in the middle of the double line section. This forms a loop on the right hand side as shown in the drawing.
With one hand, hold the end of the line together with the main line. Hold the looped end in you other hand.
Tie a basic overhand knot, allowing the lure to hand down in the middle.
As you pull the knot closed, slip the lure through the loop and then pull the knot tight. Cut off the excess line close to the knot.
Check your fishing line often for nicks and abrasions, which weakens even the best fishing line. Cut out and remove sections of line near your hook or lure, and use this simple knot to re-tie your lure and get right back to fishing.
Stripers in the News
- On a Fishing Trip, Casting for Striped Bass, and Reeling in a Tautog
- Each spring, after the local ocean temperature climbs toward the mid-50-degree mark, striped bass typically prowl this hard-pulling rip. They draw us to the same bars in the fading light of each Sunday afternoon, after most people have tied off at the ...
- Fish Finder
- By Peter Ottesen Few striped bass continue to push into the system, but most have spawned out and moved down river to the bays. If you're going to try for striped bass, the Sacramento River is by far the best bet to hook a larger "down streamer.
- Striped Bass Fishing Good Throughout Long Island Sound; Remember To Use Circle ...
- Surface water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) range from the mid 50's to low 60's °F. Check out the following web sites for more detailed water temperatures and marine boating conditions: STRIPED BASS fishing is good throughout LIS.
- 54.7-pound striper boated Monday
- By Al Ristori Striper pro Joe Vezzosi weighed a 54.7-pound striped bass at Grumpy's Tackle in Seaside Park. Rumor has it that the trophy was caught Monday afternoon on a snagged bunker off Lavallette. Capt. Dave DeGennaro said bass are turning on to ...
Books on Fishing for Striped Bass
.
The Ultimate Guide to Striped Bass Fishing: Where to Find Them, How to Catch Them
Amazon Price: $13.03 (as of 05/30/2012)
Saltwater Lures for Stripers
There are thousands of saltwater lures available on the market today from numerous manufacturers, and the choices can be overwhelming for novice and beginner anglers. Flashy lures of every shape, size and color fill the online catalogs and sporting goods shelves, and all claim to catch fish. How do you determine which saltwater lures to buy for your next fishing trip?
While there isn't a single answer to this question, there are several things to consider when buying saltwater lures including the types of fish you are trying to catch, where you are fishing, and if you are casting or trolling. Most weekend anglers can catch fish using only a few basic lures, and then expanding their collection lures as they increase their fishing skills. Here are a few tips to help you select saltwater lures to catch more fish.
Match the lure to the target fish. Knowing the characteristics of the fish you are trying to catch is necessary for selecting an appropriate saltwater lure. For an evening of casting to striped bass, a tackle box should include a top water plug, a diving crank bait and a count down lure. If casting for bluefish, the flash from a metal Kastmaster or metal spoon will entice toothy hits.
Match the lure to the fishing tactics. Most saltwater lures are designed primarily for either casting or trolling, though a few types of lures can be used successfully for both tactics. Casting and retrieving a top water plug creates a commotion at the surface, and is very effective for catching striped bass. Slowly trolling a plastic tube lure is deadly for blues and stripers, but is almost impossible to cast effectively.
Match the lure to the fishing conditions. The weather and water conditions dictate the approach to fishing, and adapting the saltwater lure and presentation to the conditions will increase the chances of catching fish. Casting a surface plug into a head wind is difficult, but is very effective on calmer days or when casting with the wind.
Try using light colored lures in clear water and sky conditions, and darker colored lures for darker water and skies. White and lighter colored lures tend to match the "look" of baitfish in clear water and bright sunshine, while a lure with a black back & bronze sides or painted in a mackerel pattern is often more effective in dark water and lower light conditions.
Take a variety of saltwater lures on every fishing trip. For all of the reasons listed already, carry a small selection of different lure designs, sizes and colors to match the changing conditions, or to change target species of fish. If drifting fish for bottom species, a prepared fisherman can change quickly to a metal casting lure when a school of bluefish breaks the surface. The surfcaster can try top water plugs, then switch to count down or deep running lure to cover the different depths from the same point.
Top water plug - popping and splashing a commotion lure for casting
Jointed swimming lure - surface swimming lure for casting into shallow areas; also effective when trolled very slowly
Silver spoon - perhaps the most versatile lure: cast and flutter retrieve, troll slowly for depth, or tip the hook with clam, worm of soft plastic for deep water jigging
Count down lure - cast, and allow to sink towards the bottom. Then, rip upwards and the float back down again. Fish often strike as the lure starts to fall.
Tubes - killer lure for trolling, especially when tipped with a sand worm
Kastmaster - ready for blues, snag mackerel or bunker
Jigs - heavy lures for bottom fishing, especially when tipped with a sand worm or soft plastic
Deep running plug - not my personal favorite, but effectively dive deeper during the retrieve (I prefer the spoon or count down to get deeper in casting situations)
Throw a lure that you are comfortable with, or want to learn how to use better. In most situations, use the lure that gives you confidence. Learn to fish that lure well, in different conditions, and you will consistently catch more fish.
While there isn't a single answer to this question, there are several things to consider when buying saltwater lures including the types of fish you are trying to catch, where you are fishing, and if you are casting or trolling. Most weekend anglers can catch fish using only a few basic lures, and then expanding their collection lures as they increase their fishing skills. Here are a few tips to help you select saltwater lures to catch more fish.
Match the lure to the target fish. Knowing the characteristics of the fish you are trying to catch is necessary for selecting an appropriate saltwater lure. For an evening of casting to striped bass, a tackle box should include a top water plug, a diving crank bait and a count down lure. If casting for bluefish, the flash from a metal Kastmaster or metal spoon will entice toothy hits.
Match the lure to the fishing tactics. Most saltwater lures are designed primarily for either casting or trolling, though a few types of lures can be used successfully for both tactics. Casting and retrieving a top water plug creates a commotion at the surface, and is very effective for catching striped bass. Slowly trolling a plastic tube lure is deadly for blues and stripers, but is almost impossible to cast effectively.
Match the lure to the fishing conditions. The weather and water conditions dictate the approach to fishing, and adapting the saltwater lure and presentation to the conditions will increase the chances of catching fish. Casting a surface plug into a head wind is difficult, but is very effective on calmer days or when casting with the wind.
Try using light colored lures in clear water and sky conditions, and darker colored lures for darker water and skies. White and lighter colored lures tend to match the "look" of baitfish in clear water and bright sunshine, while a lure with a black back & bronze sides or painted in a mackerel pattern is often more effective in dark water and lower light conditions.
Take a variety of saltwater lures on every fishing trip. For all of the reasons listed already, carry a small selection of different lure designs, sizes and colors to match the changing conditions, or to change target species of fish. If drifting fish for bottom species, a prepared fisherman can change quickly to a metal casting lure when a school of bluefish breaks the surface. The surfcaster can try top water plugs, then switch to count down or deep running lure to cover the different depths from the same point.
Top water plug - popping and splashing a commotion lure for casting
Jointed swimming lure - surface swimming lure for casting into shallow areas; also effective when trolled very slowly
Silver spoon - perhaps the most versatile lure: cast and flutter retrieve, troll slowly for depth, or tip the hook with clam, worm of soft plastic for deep water jigging
Count down lure - cast, and allow to sink towards the bottom. Then, rip upwards and the float back down again. Fish often strike as the lure starts to fall.
Tubes - killer lure for trolling, especially when tipped with a sand worm
Kastmaster - ready for blues, snag mackerel or bunker
Jigs - heavy lures for bottom fishing, especially when tipped with a sand worm or soft plastic
Deep running plug - not my personal favorite, but effectively dive deeper during the retrieve (I prefer the spoon or count down to get deeper in casting situations)
Throw a lure that you are comfortable with, or want to learn how to use better. In most situations, use the lure that gives you confidence. Learn to fish that lure well, in different conditions, and you will consistently catch more fish.
4.5" Hard Minnow - Striped Bass
Amazon Price: (as of 05/30/2012)
Cotton Cordell Pencil Popper Lures (Pearl/Red Head, 6-Inch)
Amazon Price: $4.95 (as of 05/30/2012)
Wildeye Live Series Herring 5" Blue
Amazon Price: $9.52 (as of 05/30/2012)
Saltwater Fishing News
- License-free saltwater, freshwater fishing fun coming
- 1 a license-free saltwater fishing day, which not only falls on a holiday weekend, but is during the popular bay scallop and spiny lobster seasons. Each year, the first Saturday in April and second Saturday in June will be license-free freshwater ...
- On a Fishing Trip, Casting for Striped Bass, and Reeling in a Tautog
- SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI ? One axiom of saltwater fishing in New England is that tautog, those thick and dark-toned fish of inshore reefs and submerged boulder fields, do not strike jigs. They are too busy, the thinking goes, nosing for the lobsters, crabs ...
- Top 5 Rivers in Coastal Georgia to Go Fishing in the Summer
- Anglers have their choice of both freshwater and saltwater fishing spots. Personally, I tend to enjoy fishing in the coastal areas because there are several tidal rivers where you can fish for multiple species of saltwater and freshwater fish.
- Jim Freda's saltwater fishing report
- By JIM FREDA Sea bass fishing on the offshore wrecks has been very good with many 2- and 3-pound bass being caught. Boats are catching 10-20 per man. Pool winners onboard the party boats have been in the 4 1/2-pound range. Bluefish in the 6- to12-pound ...
What is your favorite method of fishing for Stripers?
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Tipi
Feb 9, 2012 @ 11:20 am | delete
- Now how have I missed this gem of yours...sharing fishing secrets is just like you, very good sportsmanship and Striper fishermen will be grateful to learn that when even their favorite tried and true baits are not working, sea clams will do the trick!
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A-Redneck
Nov 30, 2011 @ 8:01 am | delete
- I had never seen a striped bass before or stripers as you call them. Glad they enjoy dining down on your sea clams ;)
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Fun Fishing Stuff
Storage for your Saltwater Lures
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Catch. Release. Repeat
Fishing T-shirt "Catch. Release. Repeat." Short Sleeve by Fishboy (X-Large)
Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 05/30/2012)
Amazon Spotlight Personal Review
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Striper Hunter Decal
STRIPER FISHING DECAL
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