What type of rod for striper fishing

Consider variables like line capacity, the size of fish you will be catching, and other factors. Often, a novice can start with a conventional rod, but it will be more difficult to master the technique.

Simple is always best when it comes to getting started with your new striper rods. Not sure where you should start? Here are our picks for the best all-round striper rods on the market today.

UglyStik is a line of fishing rods made by Shakespeare, and boy — do these rods deliver! The GX2 is no exception. This rod has a medium-heavy weight and is perfect for going after fish with hard mouths — like stripers!

Made with strong fiberglass, this rod can break down into two pieces for maximum convenience. You will be able to take this striper rod with you wherever you happen to go.

Like most good striper rods, this one is highly effective. However, it is unique because it can also be used to catch bait. As a result, it is designed to be used with Sabiki instead of with standard hooks and lines. You can use just a few small hooks and still reel in some impressive hauls. Made out of durable glass fiber and carbon material, this rod has guides made out of stainless steel and ceramic.

It also has strong reel seats made out of plastic and nylon. A two-piece rod, this option is a superb choice if you frequently find yourself needed to pack up and hike into a remote fishing area. Despite its portability, this rod is unreliably durable.

This is an excellent spring rod for casting small to medium sized jigs, plugs and softbaits. I use a medium heavy powered rod as much as I do a medium, but I tend to do so later in the spring for me, where on Cape Cod bigger bait moves in with bigger fish and larger softbaits, plugs and jigs are called for.

I would pair this rod with a or class reel with 40lb braid and a 20lb or 30lb fluoro leader. This is the rod for the biggest soft baits, jigs and plugs. The fish never even slowed down. It took every inch of my line no matter how hard I tightened down the drag and when I heard the faint "ping," I couldn't tell if it was the last inch of line snapping from the spool of my reel or my heart being popped like a balloon inside my chest.

It was the line, and that's why I'm still here to tell you that the tackle you bring when you chase striped bass, whether it's on the flats of Cape Cod, from the beaches of New Jersey, off the coast of rocky Maine or in Delaware Bay, will make the difference between a beautiful grip-n'-grin shot to frame on your wall or a sad beer-soaked story to tell like my tale above. Point being: bring the right gear and you'll be more successful. Here are my recommendations for each striper situation. This striper was caught in a Cape Cod saltwater pond.

While the situation above took place on Cape Cod, there are several places where you can find yourself pursuing stripers in skinny water on foot. One of the most enjoyable parts about catching stripers this way is that it allows you to scale down your gear and use light tackle to go after these fish. The mistake I made, and that I'd urge you not to repeat, is scaling too far down. I was using a 6'6", medium spinning rod in that instance, which wasn't up to the task.

For flats fishing on foot, I'd recommend a 7, or 7. Rod: G. Loomis makes a Greenwater rod series designed especially for these situations. I prefer the 7. Reel: It's hard to beat a Shimano Stradic and the series works perfectly in this situation. I've soaked these things in more salt than you'll find in a french-fry factory and as long as you rinse them after each use, they stay smooth.

Boats look great parked in your driveway. And they can be an interesting conversation point at the bar or a great means of meeting new friends. But the best thing about boats is that they move. When you're pursuing stripers from a boat in shallow water, you can afford to get away with slightly lighter gear because you can chase the fish if necessary — something I wished I could have done in my story above.

A medium-action, 7-foot rod is a good choice, and it should have a fast tip. It should be capable of casting lures of various sizes, e. Some may prefer fast action tips for jigging, but if you are going to use braided line with little stretch, a soft tip may be better. Most prefer conventional rods and reels for these types of fishing. If you are going to troll, select a heavy action rod. If you are going to be using wire or lead core line, or trolling heavy lures like bunker spoons or multiple lure umbrella rigs, you might move up to an extra-heavy action rod.

If you are going to use braided line with any of these rods, make sure the top tip guide is hard and durable. Silicon Carbide tips are best. Braided line can cut grooves in soft guides. You can also fly fish for striped bass from a boat.