Rip Fishing for Stripers
By
Bob Salerno
Avid striper fishermen understand the fish’s preference for hanging out in rips. It’s a fact that not only do rips attract striped bass, but they also hold some of the biggest fish. To understand why stripers are attracted to rips it helps to know how these fish havens are formed. Rips occur wherever current flows over an area where the depth changes rapidly. For example, rips can be created by shoals, ledges, reefs, rock piles and even wrecks. Basically anything that disrupts the contour of the surrounding bottom can lead to rip formation. On the surface, a rip is identified by a distinct line of choppy water known as a rip line. The force of all the water flowing over the reef or shoal pushes against the surface creating the line of chop.
So why do rips attract and hold stripers and other fish such as bluefish, false albacore and summer flounder? It’s because rips provide a place where fish can obtain food without extending much energy. The flow of water over the obstruction creates a pocket of calm or dead water on the down current side of the structure. Stripers like to hold in this pocket conserving energy while waiting for baitfish and other food morsels to be swept past by the current. The current acts as a food conveyor belt. When the fish see food they will dart into the current and grab it, then return to their lie.
Stripers prefer to hold in the dead water pocket close to the obstruction especially when the current is running strong and during the midday hours. This presents a difficult situation for light tackle fishermen and fly anglers. Fishermen trolling with wire lines or deep drifting baits have an advantage. There are times when fish will feed on or close to the surface allowing fly fishermen to get in on the action. The best time to fish a rip is at first light, dusk and overcast days. Occasionally, especially in the fall, fish will surface feed for hours.
Current has the greatest effect on the feeding habits of stripers. When the current is really chugging along, such as the middle three hours of a tide or during times of spring and a full moon, stripers will tend to stay in the calm water and not feed. At slack tide, bait will often disperse and stripers tend not to want to extend the effort to chase it down. Knowing these facts, it makes sense to plan fishing trips around the first two hours of either tide and during the quarter and half moon phases.
Fishing a rip from a boat is at least a two angler operation. One must constantly man the helm while the others fishes. The best way to fish a rip is to set up above the rip line. The helmsman should swing the bow upcurrent and stem the tide under power, holding the boat stationary above the rip. Anglers should cast their flies or lures perpendicular to the current. The trick is to let the lure swing back into the feeding zone. Retrieving is not necessary, but a twitch now and then may draw a strike. If fish are feeding but strikes aren’t immediate, try casting further up-current allowing the lure to sink deeper. Also try different size flies or lures to match the specific bait that the stripers may be keyed on.
Anglers new to rip fishing should consider fishing with a seasoned angler to gain awareness of both the fishing technique and the seamanship skill required. The presence of birds is a good indicator of feeding activity along a rip. If no birds are around, work the rip in several locations until fish are found. Pay attention to curves or indentations in the rip line which often are areas of weaker or concentrated flow which draw pockets of bait.
Rips can get crowded when the fishing is good. Anglers need to use common sense and some fishing etiquette. Avoid running through the rip under power. The only time it is really necessary to slide through the rip is when fighting a fish that cannot be controlled from the up-current side. Rips can be very productive for taking stripers and other gamefish not only with conventional tackle, but by fly fishing as well. The more time an angler fishes a rip the more knowledge he will accrue concerning both the habits of the fish and the rips characteristics.
By
Bob Salerno
Avid striper fishermen understand the fish’s preference for hanging out in rips. It’s a fact that not only do rips attract striped bass, but they also hold some of the biggest fish. To understand why stripers are attracted to rips it helps to know how these fish havens are formed. Rips occur wherever current flows over an area where the depth changes rapidly. For example, rips can be created by shoals, ledges, reefs, rock piles and even wrecks. Basically anything that disrupts the contour of the surrounding bottom can lead to rip formation. On the surface, a rip is identified by a distinct line of choppy water known as a rip line. The force of all the water flowing over the reef or shoal pushes against the surface creating the line of chop.
So why do rips attract and hold stripers and other fish such as bluefish, false albacore and summer flounder? It’s because rips provide a place where fish can obtain food without extending much energy. The flow of water over the obstruction creates a pocket of calm or dead water on the down current side of the structure. Stripers like to hold in this pocket conserving energy while waiting for baitfish and other food morsels to be swept past by the current. The current acts as a food conveyor belt. When the fish see food they will dart into the current and grab it, then return to their lie.
Stripers prefer to hold in the dead water pocket close to the obstruction especially when the current is running strong and during the midday hours. This presents a difficult situation for light tackle fishermen and fly anglers. Fishermen trolling with wire lines or deep drifting baits have an advantage. There are times when fish will feed on or close to the surface allowing fly fishermen to get in on the action. The best time to fish a rip is at first light, dusk and overcast days. Occasionally, especially in the fall, fish will surface feed for hours.
Current has the greatest effect on the feeding habits of stripers. When the current is really chugging along, such as the middle three hours of a tide or during times of spring and a full moon, stripers will tend to stay in the calm water and not feed. At slack tide, bait will often disperse and stripers tend not to want to extend the effort to chase it down. Knowing these facts, it makes sense to plan fishing trips around the first two hours of either tide and during the quarter and half moon phases.
Fishing a rip from a boat is at least a two angler operation. One must constantly man the helm while the others fishes. The best way to fish a rip is to set up above the rip line. The helmsman should swing the bow upcurrent and stem the tide under power, holding the boat stationary above the rip. Anglers should cast their flies or lures perpendicular to the current. The trick is to let the lure swing back into the feeding zone. Retrieving is not necessary, but a twitch now and then may draw a strike. If fish are feeding but strikes aren’t immediate, try casting further up-current allowing the lure to sink deeper. Also try different size flies or lures to match the specific bait that the stripers may be keyed on.
Anglers new to rip fishing should consider fishing with a seasoned angler to gain awareness of both the fishing technique and the seamanship skill required. The presence of birds is a good indicator of feeding activity along a rip. If no birds are around, work the rip in several locations until fish are found. Pay attention to curves or indentations in the rip line which often are areas of weaker or concentrated flow which draw pockets of bait.
Rips can get crowded when the fishing is good. Anglers need to use common sense and some fishing etiquette. Avoid running through the rip under power. The only time it is really necessary to slide through the rip is when fighting a fish that cannot be controlled from the up-current side. Rips can be very productive for taking stripers and other gamefish not only with conventional tackle, but by fly fishing as well. The more time an angler fishes a rip the more knowledge he will accrue concerning both the habits of the fish and the rips characteristics.