How to Troll for Striped Bass

Last Updated: September 16, 2021

Trolling remains one of the most productive ways to catch big striped bass for beginner and veteran fishermen alike. There are many different lures and baits that can be successfully trolled for big stripers. Below you'll find information on a few of the most productive methods.

Steps

1
Get the right type of trolling gear. Conventional reels spooled with lead core line, wire and braid work well. Keep in mind that wire can be difficult to use for novices, and that weight will have to be added in order to get most braid offerings down into the strike zone.^{[1]
X
Research source}
2
Make sure your boat can travel slowly. Depending on the trolling method, speeds as slow as 2 mph (3.2 km/h) may be necessary. If your boat does not idle that low, consider dragging buckets or a drift sock to slow your speed down.^{[2]
X
Research source}

Advertisement
3
Get a reliable color sonar unit and GPS system for identifying structure and areas holding striped bass. There's a lot of empty water out there-having good electronics will help you locate the hot spots.^{[3]
X
Research source}
4
Choose your technique. One of the most popular trolling methods is the tube and worm. Other techniques that consistently catch big bass on the troll include bunker spoons, jigs, live eels, rigged dead eels, swimming plugs, umbrella rigs and live mackerel and porgies to name just a few.^{[4]
X
Research source}
5
When trolling, be sure to set your drag tight enough to secure a firm hook set, yet loose enough to prevent breaking off a big fish. Typically a drag pressure of 9-10 pounds is sufficient for the initial strike.^{[5]
X
Research source}

Community Q&A

Question

How far back should my bait be behind the boat when trolling?

Community Answer

It depends on what kind of lure you're using. The deeper you're trolling, the more line you want to let out behind the boat.
Question

How do I set the drag on my reel?

Community Answer

There will be a star-shaped nut-like part where the handle meets the reel. Spin it forward or backward to set drag. Pull on the line to see how much drag you have set.