Best Lures For Striped Bass At Night

Striped bass is one of the most coveted game fish across the U.S. because of their distinctive black stripes, reputation for putting up some exciting fights, and impressive size. Anglers who know how to target the optimal fishing times can successfully cast their baits and catch huge striped bass. Seasoned anglers keenly follow the migratory and spawning patterns of the stripers in their different habitats. Try diving plugs, stick-baits, and jigs to fool the fish at night. The ideal colors for striped bass at night are black, dark red, and purple. This article reviews the best lures for striped bass at night.

What Color of Lures Are Best for Striped Bass At Night?

These are usually white, black, gray, or bright blue. If all you did was buy lures in these four distinctive colors, you would still be able to fish for a good amount of money, and you would not have to buy any other lures. White baitfish are particularly very attractive at night.

What is the Best time to Fish for Stripers?

Early autumn is like summer because stripers are more active during cooler days. Before dawn and late afternoon are the best times for striped bass fishing. As autumn progresses and the weather gets colder, a lot of shad will be caught in the warmer times of the day. Late afternoon seems to be best for many anglers.

How to Catch Striped Bass at Night

Jigs, stick baits, and diving plugs may prove useful, but remember that dark colors work best at night. Prime bait colors include dark red, purple, and black. When you are casting lures, keep an eye on the lights, as very soon, the bait will be there.

Below is a short video demonstrating how to catch stripers using the correct lures at night.

What Depth does Striped Bass Eat?

Many stripers that fish in many rivers and streams throughout the year hang around in the creeks all the way through the winter and hold for as deep as 15 to 20 feet. Striped bass fishing doesn’t have to stop when winter hits; the fish will still be actively eating even when the weather is freezing.

Top 5 Best Lures for Stripped Bass At Night

Diamond jigs have been used for many years to catch stripers. They are very popular, but their popularity changes every year. They weigh between 2 and 16 ounces. They really help you catch striped bass by creating a deep hole where they can be jiggered uphill, or you can cast them shallower to fish for smaller fish. Besides diamond jigs, here are our top recommendations when targeting stripers at night:

1. S&S John Skinner Striped Bass Fixed Hook Bucktail

A new design for the S&S Skinner V2 Striped Bass Bucktails has been developed for the coming year. What used to be one of the best bucktails for catching a kingfish has gotten even better. A wide variety of bucktails are available, and I chose the S&S brand because they are better than the bucktails we’ve ever tied before. They have dense hair, and hackle feathers make the bucktail look better by creating a hook shank that is more visible to the stripers. S&S makes extremely well-tied bucktails with high-quality hooks that are the proper size and weight.

S&S has been able to improve the fishing ability of the eyelet on the bucktail by completely increasing its size of it, and as a result, it is easier to fish with TA clips. Bucktails are an excellent imitation of many of the things that striped bass feed on. These bucktails are built using a specially designed smiley bill head that is perfect for fishing in the wetlands.

When a bucktail is weighed properly and has good hair, it can swim in the water in difficult conditions. That includes swimming in strong currents and surfing in a windy place. There is no right or wrong way to fish bucktails, but if you can glide a bucktail close to the bottom of a lake or river, slow down, and be patient enough, you’ll catch striped bass. It is very common for new anglers to try fishing with bucktails by casting them too heavily.

You do not want to drag or bump down on the bottom of a swimming lake; you want to stay up off of it. Try using 4- to 6-inch jigs that look like normal bucktails to entice fish to bite them. Using baits with a profile that looks natural to stripers at night can attract big fish. It is as though it is an easy way to get a quick meal for them. These jigs are perfect for fishing on the beach or on a boat. They will hold a lot of fish.

Key Features

  • Hackle feathers and full skirt
  • Purple in color
  • Weighs ½ to 5 ounces
  • Mustad 34184DT Hook
  • Length is 5 inches
  • Bucktail Jig
  • Smiling Bill Head
  • Hand-tied

2. Cotton Cordell Pencil Popper Lure

It is ideal to use cotton Cordell lures to target trophy fish in your traps during the spring feeding frenzy, especially if you love going fishing at night. It has an erratic walk-the-dog action that’s caused by a slightly weighted tail, which helps you cast deeper and longer. Its powerful action also helps you keep your cast accurate. Its concavity allows it to capture and throw plenty of water, which will cause as much disturbance as it can for stripers.

This lure works great for grabbing the attention of big bass and convincing them to bite it. The two treble hooks work magically in translating strikes into easy striped bass catches. It’s available in lengths of 6 or 7 inches and weighs 1 or 2 ounces. Both are great for catching big fish, from huge stripers to muskies. The transparent body realistically reflects light and mimics the look of a baitfish’s scales, and the available colors are pearl/red, chrome blue/black, and chrome black/white.

Key Features

  • Length is 6 inches
  • Weighs 1 oz
  • Made from blend
  • Pearl Red Head in color

3. Savage Gear Panic Pencil Popper

Having a large weight on the back of the lure allows it to produce a loud rattling sound and enables long-distance fishing even in strong winds. The lures move with a deceptively erratic action that entices fish to the surface and causes them to act aggressively. Its stepped hull design lets air flow from its sides to its underside, causing bubbles to appear that help bait fishermen anticipate when fish are coming near.

This helps bait fishermen anticipate when fish are coming near without creating more drag or straining the line. With a design that allows the plug to be held securely by a 4-inch hook and with three different patterns for a smooth retrieve, this plug is built to handle some of the toughest game fish species.

Remember, the best lures for catching striped bass at night are those designed to combine obfuscation and imitation. Using a good pencil-popping lure can cause you to catch fish when the water is calm. The Savage Gear Panic Pencil may even cause a fish to think that it’s nothing more than a piece of wood or plastic. You can use this lure to attract fish to your boat. All you need to do is pump the rod up and wait for a fish to come out.

Key Features

  • White glow in color
  • Length 5 ¾ inches
  • Stepped-Hull Design
  • Thru-wire construction
  • Weighs 1 3/4 oz.
  • Perfect long casts

4. Storm Wildeye Swim Shad

Some of the most realistic baits you can buy are made from ultra-soft, hand-thrown fish bodies that look so lifelike that you might be tempted to bite one yourself. These shad baits are made from strong plastic with internal lead heads and bio-salt tails and feature a crazy 3-D swimming foil finish. They are pre-rigged with superior VMC needle point hooks.

Being slow movers, they’re perfect for baiting the stripers who like to swim in shallow, clear water but are also picky about the lures they will bite. This lure is extremely effective because of its highly unusual swimming action, which mimics the movements of invertebrates that stripers like to eat.

Rig the lure in various ways, depending on the fish and the day’s conditions. It looks so realistic that a striper will want to hold onto it once you start reeling it in. It is available in six sizes, each one suited to a particular type of fish. Choose between a huge rainbow of colors that look like they resemble various kinds of fish, including colors that look like pearls and shad, to bright colors that look like firetiger or blue steel. Some designs are infused with glitter that gives them an incredible shine.

Key Features

  • Weighs 0.01 Pounds
  • Pearl in color
  • Made from Blend
  • Measures 1 x 1 x 1 inches
  • Casting technique

5. SPRO Bucktail Jig

It is unique, unlike any jig, you will find on the market. A jig with a head that is uniquely designed and features eyelets that really entice fish to take action. It has big eyes, a dazzling finish, and is painted white for a nice look. It will draw hungry fish to you. It is unique in that it does not fall down like other bucktails. Instead, it glides along the bottom of the water like a bird.

The Prime Bucktail glides effortlessly through the water, almost like it is floating on the water. When jigging the bait, it floats horizontally on the water and is easily spotted by fish, even at night. Prime Bucktail Jigs are made with super-sharp Gamakatsu hooks. If you snag a Bucktail jig like the one you just picked up, you’re going to believe that SPRO is the company that will shape the fishing industry in the years to come.

It easily casts off the bottom of a lake to attract fish such as smallmouth bass, northern pike, and other saltwater predators. Cast this bucktail jig at schools of fish and work them rapidly to bring them back to the boat. You might end up with big snooker, a dolphin, or a big drum. It’s a powerful jig that you can use to entice big bass and walleyes. You can also use it when trolling for striped bass in reservoirs. Bucktail jig worms are crafted from a soft-coated bucktail wig that moves around the water like a deer on the hunt.

They produce movement and vibrations that the fish easily pick up. The head of a bucktail jig has a unique shape and eyelets that allow the head to glide naturally and effortlessly into the water. If the hook is inserted into the bait, it will stay horizontal instead of hanging vertically, giving the bait a lifelike look. If you want to catch big fish while casting and retrieving from a boat, this is the lure to use. Bulging head shapes and a glistening jig body are some of the realistic features that give this lure a lifelike look.

For best results, pick a color that most closely matches the color of the primary food source for stripers. SPRO Buck Tail jigs come in many sizes, and all are made with extremely sharp hooks. Fishing jigs that are 0.5-ounces or larger are the most effective for stripers.

Key Features

  • Measures 6.2 x 1.7 x 0.5 inches
  • White in color
  • Weighs 0.25 Pounds
  • Casting technique

6. Bomber Saltwater Grade Magnum Long A

This Bomber Magnum Long A fishing lure is like a Long A for anglers. This killer 7-inch saltwater minnow is built to run and wiggle just like its predecessor. However, this design produces a powerful enough impact that forces anglers to do some serious work. When it is fully cranked, it pushes the water at speeds of 2 to 3 feet per second, and it can pound even big stripers.

New Saltwater Grade high-quality hardware is added to take the bomber to the next level of fish-catching power. The extra strong polycarbonate body easily withstands the pressure of a large fish and can be lifted up to the boat. Fishermen who are used to fishing for freshwater stripers will be amazed by the size of this Bomber Saltwater Grade Magnum Long Crawlbait. It is constructed from high-tensile polycarbonate and features a realistic minnow design. It’s designed to target big, fat stripers in salt water, but it also features the true-to-life wiggle of smaller Bomber crankbaits.

Its super strong, ultra-strong body can withstand the force of many heavy-duty predators and is strong enough to lift the fish onto the shore or into a boat. The hook and the hardware are all made for saltwater fishing conditions and won’t rust easily or become weak. It cranks quickly at a depth of 2 to 3 feet and features three different fish-attracting color patterns: mother of pearl, Bonita, and baby striper. These patterns are designed to look just like a real fish scale and are fully decorated with gill plates and pectoral fins. They are also bright and colorful, which makes them stand out among other patterns.

Key Features

  • Weighs 1.87 ounces
  • Bone Orange Belly in color
  • Made from Polycarbonate

Wrap Up

Your success rate when fishing stripers at night depends on the type of lures you use, the habitats you visit, and the angling tackles you employ. Although you’re likely to come across an overwhelming choice of lures for striped bass, you’ll only need a few of the best options and the right fishing gear to succeed in your fishing trips. Unlike daytime, when small plastics, poppers, and jigs work perfectly, the nighttime game requires you to go large by trying big lures and plugs that imitate big bait.

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