How to catch striped bass by applying the 15 min. rule.
I utilize the fifteen min. rule frequently when striped bass are shoaling, or disseminated throughout a size-able expanse of water. When fish are disseminated over a significant area, the fifteen min. rule has demonstrated itself as an useful application for building a productive trolling pattern.
Once I have marked even just one single striped bass I will immediately put lines in the water. I'll start trolling in a particular direction, virtually always parallel to the beach. This way I troll along the depth that I marked that 1st striped bass. Essentially I'm placing a bet that the one striped bass I marked on the sonar, is but one of hundreds of striped bass cruising around the area.
I'll next begin to troll and if after 15 minutes I haven't enticed a bite, captured a fish, or seen any more bass on the fish finder, I continue my search parallel to the beachfront along the same depth contour until I commence noticing striped bass once again.
If I do hook a striped bass in the course of the first 15 minutes, tempt a hit, or mark more striped bass on the fish finder, then my fifteen minute clock is reset. During the past, a regular scenario I have experienced is locating a stretch of ocean, as much as a mile in length, which has held striped bass along the whole stretch. The region to the east, west, north and south of this stretch of water oftentimes contain no life at all. Being able to maximize your time in the area holding a lot of life is the key to consistently catching monstrous striped bass.
The fifteen minute rule can help me to differentiate the prosperous stretch of ocean in the following manner.
Let's say that throughout the previous half hour I've trolled a relatively straight course east through a 1/2 mile expanse of water catching striped bass the entire time. It's now been fifteen minutes since I have landed a striped bass, enticed a bite, and marked anything at all on my fish finder-indicating that I have come to the last part of the productive stretch of water.
The next step will be to reel the lines in, and cruise westward, back to where I started marking, and reeling in striped bass. I would keep a close eye on my sonar while driving, noticing any bass marks that may arise.
If I mark striped bass on my westerly journey to where I originally began observing striped bass then excellent, the striped bass are still hanging along the exact same stretch of water. This is the best situation, especially for folks just learning how to catch striped bass.
Surely there will be those instances when I fail to locate striped bass during the journey westward. And after driving up to a mile west of the initial spot where I first commenced observing striped bass, I will still fail to mark any life on the fish finder. In situations like this I would preclude that the schools of bass have transitioned either shallower or deeper. I would then move into shallower or deeper water and commence a new search pattern.
Beyond a doubt, the ability to uncover striped bass with regularity is the very first stage to learning how to catch striped bass.
I utilize the fifteen min. rule frequently when striped bass are shoaling, or disseminated throughout a size-able expanse of water. When fish are disseminated over a significant area, the fifteen min. rule has demonstrated itself as an useful application for building a productive trolling pattern.
Once I have marked even just one single striped bass I will immediately put lines in the water. I'll start trolling in a particular direction, virtually always parallel to the beach. This way I troll along the depth that I marked that 1st striped bass. Essentially I'm placing a bet that the one striped bass I marked on the sonar, is but one of hundreds of striped bass cruising around the area.
I'll next begin to troll and if after 15 minutes I haven't enticed a bite, captured a fish, or seen any more bass on the fish finder, I continue my search parallel to the beachfront along the same depth contour until I commence noticing striped bass once again.
If I do hook a striped bass in the course of the first 15 minutes, tempt a hit, or mark more striped bass on the fish finder, then my fifteen minute clock is reset. During the past, a regular scenario I have experienced is locating a stretch of ocean, as much as a mile in length, which has held striped bass along the whole stretch. The region to the east, west, north and south of this stretch of water oftentimes contain no life at all. Being able to maximize your time in the area holding a lot of life is the key to consistently catching monstrous striped bass.
The fifteen minute rule can help me to differentiate the prosperous stretch of ocean in the following manner.
Let's say that throughout the previous half hour I've trolled a relatively straight course east through a 1/2 mile expanse of water catching striped bass the entire time. It's now been fifteen minutes since I have landed a striped bass, enticed a bite, and marked anything at all on my fish finder-indicating that I have come to the last part of the productive stretch of water.
The next step will be to reel the lines in, and cruise westward, back to where I started marking, and reeling in striped bass. I would keep a close eye on my sonar while driving, noticing any bass marks that may arise.
If I mark striped bass on my westerly journey to where I originally began observing striped bass then excellent, the striped bass are still hanging along the exact same stretch of water. This is the best situation, especially for folks just learning how to catch striped bass.
Surely there will be those instances when I fail to locate striped bass during the journey westward. And after driving up to a mile west of the initial spot where I first commenced observing striped bass, I will still fail to mark any life on the fish finder. In situations like this I would preclude that the schools of bass have transitioned either shallower or deeper. I would then move into shallower or deeper water and commence a new search pattern.
Beyond a doubt, the ability to uncover striped bass with regularity is the very first stage to learning how to catch striped bass.
About the Author:
Captain Ryan Collins is a charter and commercial striped bass fisherman from Cape Cod, MA. His fishing blog, myfishingcapecod.com teaches novice and veteran fishermen the top techniques for big striped bass. Check out his blog for more secret tips, just click here today.