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Last Updated on March 11, 2025 by Paul Clayton
Table of Contents
What’s the Optimal Trolling Speed for Stripers?
Does trolling speed for stripers matter? Yes, it does.
Key Takeaways
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- Optimal Trolling Speed: The best trolling speed for stripers typically falls between 2.0 and 3.0 mph, depending on their activity level. Slower speeds (1.5–2.5 mph) are ideal for less active fish, while more active fish respond well to slightly faster speeds (2.5–3.5 mph).
- Striper Behavior & Location: Stripers are open-water fish often found near underwater islands, river channel edges, drop-offs, and other structures where food is abundant. Adjusting trolling depth is crucial for success.
- Effective Baits & Lures: Top choices include eels, diamond jigs, parachute jigs, mackerel, and various artificial lures, such as surface swimmers and jigging spoons.
- Trolling Techniques:
- Troll with the current to maintain lure depth.
- Use a kicker motor for precise speed control.
- Take frequent turns and adjust lure action to attract fish.
- Experiment with depth by running rods at different levels.
- Use a thin braid line for faster lure drops and a short rod to minimize wind resistance.
- Patience is Key: Trolling covers large water areas, requiring persistence and attention to small details to succeed.
In striper fishing, one question looms large and unanswered – What is the Optimal Trolling Speed for Stripers? This query has long haunted the dreams of avid anglers while their minds dance with visions of glistening stripers just beyond their grasp.
As they navigate the murky depths, their boats cutting through the water at varying speeds, they ponder this enigma. This article is a clarion call to all striper enthusiasts who yearn for that perfect catch. Prepare to delve deep into the thrilling chase for the optimal trolling speed, where science meets instinct and every second counts.
Proper trolling speed can either make or destroy your wonderful fishing trip. Improper trolling results in twisted lines, washed-out lures, and numerous headaches. Similarly, trolling speed is essential for fishermen because they rely on it for their trolling success.
Is Striper Trolling Easy?
There are many ways to catch a freshwater striper, such as fly fishing, using 
lures, and bait. However, one of the best tactics is trolling.
Let me tell you, striper trolling has a bad reputation because it requires massive gear, and many people consider it a “low-skilled” technique. However, I beg to differ. Why?
Striper gear is extremely heavy because it has to go deep, mostly beyond 20 feet. However, if you put in a little effort and opt for heavier gear, you can troll for stripers at any water level.
Moreover, trolling does not require expensive equipment. However, you will need the best depth finder for striper trolling. Buy yourself a good one, and thank me later for this tip.
Striper: An Open-water Fish
You will indeed find stripers in open waters. This fish is found in underwater islands, points, saddles, mussel beds, river channel edges, saddles, shorelines, drop-offs, and the water close to the dam.
These places are ideal for targeting stripers. They usually hang out in these areas because they like to stay close to areas with ample food supply.
Moreover, this trolling tactic may take your lure 15 to 40 feet deep into the water, where many stripers dwell and hang around most of the year.
What is the Maximum Trolling Speed for the Striper?
Suppose your boat is launched, you’ve double-checked the tides and the weather, and you are ready to fish. Now, head toward where you think you can catch a Striper.
Several trollers use the main motor for trolling. It is better to start with a default speed of 2.5 mph.
Moreover, it is better to stay between three to four knots or 1.5 to 2.5 mph maximum. The slower the speed, the more you can get your lure at a deeper spot.
Since Striper is a slow fish and usually resides in cold water, it wants its bait to be slow so that it does not have to exert much energy in catching and eating it.
According to the Fishaholics, the ideal speed for less active fish is about 2.0 to 2.5 mph. When the fish does not bite or the bite is tough, it is better to go below 2.0 mph.
However, if striped basses are active, you can opt for a higher speed between 2.5 and 3.5 mph. They want their prey to move fast since they are actively chasing their bait.
Furthermore, it is ideal to test different speeds throughout the day as they can change in an hour. Experienced fishermen reported catching most of the stripers in the 2.0 to 3.0 mph range.
Best Lures and Baits to Catch a Striper
I have listed some fantastic lures and baits that you can use to win a trophy striper.
Eel
These eels are readily available, easy to store, and kept alive without much effort. Do you know the best thing about using an eel as bait? Stripers cannot resist them, and this bait works better at night.
A Diamond Jig
If you want to buy a basic lure, get yourself diamond jigs. These shiny lures mimic various prey, such as squid, butterfish, and herring. This type of lure is remarkable because it can hold striped bass in deep water with strong currents.
A Parachute Jig
A parachute jig does not look like a baitfish but performs remarkably underwater. To catch the striper, you must jig your parachute. It means that this soft body has to create vertical and jerky motion.
When parachute jigs dart through the water, they resemble squid or a large baitfish, trapping the striper.
Mackerel
It is an amazing bait for catching big stripers. However, to capture your target, rig mackerel on a 3-inch, 30-pound fluorocarbon leader.
Other Best Lures
Here are the best lures: 
- Surface swimmer
- Sebile magic swimmer
- Strategic angler cruiser
- Rapala skitter walk
- Jigging spoons
- Thin-minnow plugs
- Tsunami talkin’ popper
- Whopper stopper hellbender
- Ron-Z
- Slug-go
Tactics for Trolling
Here are some tactics you can follow to enjoy your fishing trip to the fullest:
Troll Along With the Currents
Want to know the secret that will keep your lure at the depth you desire? The most straightforward strategy is to troll along with the currents.
In contrast, if you consider trolling in high tide, it will give rise to a water ski effect. Therefore, this method is ineffective in catching a striper because the ski effect will raise your lure and not go as deep as you want.
Use a Kicker Motor
A Kicker motor is one of the perfect alternatives to achieve a slower speed.
This alternative increases the life of your boat’s main engine as you are not using it to troll. Another advantage is that it saves your boat’s fuel.
To mount your kicker motor, you must purchase a mounting plate to place it at the stern or the back of your boat.
The installation is straightforward; you only need four bolts to mount a kicker motor.
Keep Your Trolling Speed Slow
The slower you take your boat, the deeper the lures will drop. However, different speeds are mentioned above that you can use in different situations.
Take Frequent Turns
While you troll, make sure to give your boat a lot of turns. You will occasionally fish around a wide water area by changing your position.
Create Action
Change the position of your fishing rig occasionally to create an action. You can tip the fishing pole to the sides or slightly upwards or allow your fishing line to slack for one or two seconds.
These changes in action are all a fish needs to hook up, and they can sometimes follow your rig, too.
No matter how strange it looks, I recommend that everyone apply this action-changing tactic while trolling, as it can easily entice a stripper.
Adjust Depth
During your trolling journey, try to reach different depths. A striper can be 
swimming anywhere. Moreover, if you own multiple rods, place one rod at a shallow depth and another at a much deeper depth.
Furthermore, follow a lazy-S pattern or slight curve to give your lure better flexibility. It’ll also help you cover more water.
You can start trolling whichever rod gets the bite first. Stripers are usually found at different depths throughout the day, so it is better to try new rods.
A Thin Braid Results in Fast Drops
If your rod’s braid has a thick diameter, i.e., 50 to 65 lbs, it will become too heavy. Thus, the spool will drop slowly.
In contrast, several fishermen claimed that the 40-pound braid works perfectly because it comes off ten times faster than the spool. Hence, it allows you to drop more quickly.
Use A Short Rod
If you have a short rod, the hook of your fishing line will be lower. Moreover, if the angle is lower, your fishing line will be less exposed to the wind drag.
Therefore, dropping the lure will require less time after taking your boat out of gear.
Have Patience
Trolling is a technique for covering a large surface area of water. To achieve trolling success, you must put in much time and focus on the minute details.
Catching a fish while maintaining a slow trolling speed will not be a smooth beginning, and you will feel like quitting it. But, once you put in more effort and get the hang of it, you will become more consistent. Trust me!
Final Thoughts
As the sun begins to set on our discourse about the Optimal Trolling Speed for Stripers, we are left with a resounding conclusion reverberating through the waves of striper fishing lore. This is not a topic to be taken lightly, for it is the very rhythm of the sea that dictates the dance between the angler and their quarry.
Who does not like to catch a fish? Trolling is one of the best techniques, and 
when combined with the right trolling speed, you can catch stripers more frequently.
The optimal trolling speed for stripers requires precision and patience. The boat’s pace can make or break the angler’s success.
The striper fishing community has long accepted that the speed of 2-3 knots (2-3 mph) is the magic number. This speed, neither too languid nor too rapid, is a siren’s song for stripers, luring them in with its steady hum. However, this is not an exact science but an art form, where every angler must find their unique tempo, considering the wind, current, and water temperature.
Let it be known: to master striper fishing, one must first master this delicate dance of speed. This understanding and respect for the optimal trolling speed for stripers separates the amateurs from the seasoned anglers. So here we stand at the precipice of knowledge, casting our lines into the deep abyss of striper-fishing wisdom, hoping to reel in success.
The sea may be vast, but we are prepared to navigate its depths, armed with this knowledge. Our journey into the heart of striper fishing may have concluded, but remember – every end is a new beginning.
I know it is not easy to wake up at dawn, usually in the cold days of January and February. However, you must sacrifice your comfort if you want a batch of stripers.
Planning to keep striped bass instead of releasing it? Bleed it, and then place it on the ice. Moreover, the meat of a three- to five-pound fish is more firm and delicious compared to the larger ones.
Apply these tactics to make the most of your trolling trip. Keep your trolling speed low to catch stripers for your delicious lunch or dinner.
Now, give it a try by using the right speed and get these stripers!
