Useful and Fascinating Details On Tidal River Stripers
February 5th, 2012 by Elinor HeilemanAs springtime arrives within the northeast, the landscape begins to come alive. Trees blossom, flowers bloom plus the striped bass return to tidal river systems by the hordes. Warming water temps draw them in for some reasons depending on the river method. In some rivers they return to spawn. In others, they’re basically there to gorge themselves on the buffet of herring, shad and other river species which are so abundant at this time of year.
On the Connecticut River exactly where I fish, alewife and blue back herring begin a spawning migration into the river in late April. Hot on their tails are striped bass ranging from 18 inches to more than 50 inches in size. In the course of low light hours the stripers chase the herring into shallow waters where it is harder for the smaller herring to elude the stripers. It’s not uncommon to witness feeding frenzies on the surface with herring flipping every which way out of the water attempting to flee from the stripers.
Years ago, the herring populations were abundant which allowed anglers to catch them and use them for live bait but moratoriums across the region forced anglers to resort to artificial lures. Most any lure matching the size and movement of a herring will catch fish. Common options are Bomber Long A’s, Lunker City Slug-O’s, Sebile Magic Swimmer’s and Yum Houdini Shads. Top water lures like the Gibbs Pencil Popper, Heddon Magnum Spook and also the Rapala X-Walk are also regulars this time of the year.
Although herring are not allowed for live bait you will find a lot of other species which can also be employed that the stripers will readily eat. Suckers, dace, and eels all make superb bait and they’re all native to the river. Yellow perch and sunfish will also catch massive stripers. They are going to basically eat any fish species that can fit into their mouths!
The stripers will follow the herring up the river and its tributaries as far as they can go, often acquiring themselves in water only a foot or two deep. Once the herring finish their spawning routine they begin to drop back out of the river technique back into the ocean. As the presence of herring inside the river program begins to diminish plus the water temperature continues to climb, the stripers also begin to migrate back to the cooler ocean waters.
River systems all across the northeast from Maine to New Jersey knowledge this similar phenomenon each and every spring. It begins in the southern reaches initially after which slowly moves its way north as the waters warm. For those who haven’t gotten in on this game however, make your move and warm up your springtime season with some quite large fish in some quite shallow water. Superior fishing!