Best Water Temperatures for Striped Bass (Complete Guide)

Temperature as well as many other factors determine the striped bass’s behavior and as with any species of fish that leads the complicated life of inland spawning, there is a lot to say about this fish.

The best water temperature range for striped bass throughout much of the year is 58-68° F whereas they will still bite in water temps ranging from 40-55° F. Warmer water above 70° F will make striped bass more sluggish and less likely to bite.

With striped bass as well as most other species being less active at colder temperatures it can be assumed that they will be less active at deeper temperatures, where cold water can be found. It can also be determined that the striped bass, who shy from sunlight, will run deeper during sunlit days and become more dormant, thus making the striped bass a great fish to catch at dawn and dusk. The depths and their behaviors can be determined as follows.

• 55° F and lower: Striped bass are typically less active and are less frequently caught. Stripers are rarely caught in water below 44° F. You can find striped bass anywhere from 10 to 20 feet of water at this temperature.
• 55-58° F: Stripers begin to “wake up” and will be more active. You can find them in 10 or more feet of water.
• 58-68° F: This is the range of temperature that striped bass love and you can typically find them at 6 to 10 feet.

Seasonal Variations for Striped Bass

Striped bass change their habitat and behavior based on seasons which can be utilized by you, the angler, to achieve success on the water. Consider these changes and have a look at what the common fishing trends are locally for the season you are fishing.

While this information covers the entire spectrum of striped bass, magnifying the local area might reveal some unique parameters that we are not mentioning. This is why despite the general consensus of a species to fish and the locale of the fishing, you should always get it first hand from the locals that fish them every day. Here are the considerations you must take when fishing different seasons for striped bass.

Spring

Spring striped bass are a fun fish to pursue and the best way to do this is to consider their food source. Many baitfish and other sources of nutrients will be searching out warmer water as the local biome leaves winter and steps into spring.

Water temperature may be colder still depending on the location and elevation but following the chart above we can see what activity level the bass may have. Try to look for areas that are shallow in the morning but fish progressively deeper as the sun shines brighter.

Spring offers a great chance to see them in spawn. Warmer temperatures of entering spring will increase the striped bass’s drive to spawn and once a temperature of 65-68° F is achieved.

Coastal striped bass will begin their migration inland to rivers, lagoons, and other freshwater accessible and begin spawning. Landlocked striped bass and their hybrid relatives will begin their spawn as well but likely sooner as their water bodies will heat to an ideal temperature much sooner.

To see my complete breakdown of the best water temperatures for fishing (all species both freshwater and saltwater), please check out this helpful article.

Summer

Summer can be a great time to catch striped bass in the early or late hours and even midday hours if fishing deeper. Early summer may see the tail end of spawning which can be capitalized on, but typically it’s business as usual at this point and striped bass can be caught in their regular fashion.

Summer sees the temperatures that are ideal for striped bass. Those temperatures usually hang out around 68° F and offer optimal trolling in coastal waters, lakes, and rivers. Keeping in mind that striped bass will run deeper when there is abundant sunlight.

Summer for striped bass, as well as most fish, will see them at their most active for feeding as there are ample resources to eat. Look for schools of feeder fish and other areas that a good meal is present.

In lakes where landlocked striped bass are present, bait is generally a simple and great option following the same depth standards we have discussed. Striped bass at this time of year are also at their most active and that means a great fight, bringing extra joy to catching them.

If you want to learn what are the best fighting fish to catch to include saltwater and freshwater, please check out this helpful article I wrote.

Fall

During the fall we start to see a drop in activity as the water temperature drops. Despite this drop, the temperature in most areas remains above the 55° F mark and fishing continues with strength.

Fall fishing offers a great chance to see a drastic change in environment and behavior for the striped bass, particularly in lakes and reservoirs. A water exchange occurs between the top layer of the lake and the bottom layer where the two temperatures meet and meld.

This is the beginning stage to the water body becoming cold as winter sets in. Typically, very little ice forms during the fall months on rivers and landlocked waters. COnsider the colder temperatures and the fact that shallow waters may be more fruitful than in warmer months.

Consider fishing shallow near and around cover or sand bars. Local anglers fishing the coast will make short runs through cover such as rocks and other obstacles. In the fall, there may be more cloudy days to fish leaving less light and more shallow action.

Winter

Winter months bring some extreme temperatures and fishing conditions. Inland fishing will reveal lakes and ponds frozen over, and rivers flowing with ice in some areas. Even though it appears inhospitable, there is great striper fishing during this time of year.

Try to fish deep with bait through the ice and coastal areas can see good results with bait that matches schools you will see on the water. Typically, bait for striped bass consists of herring, menhaden, mackerel, squid, and eels to name a few.

Winter temperatures are where we may see a temperature below 55° F and striped bass becoming very dormant. Coldwater below 44° F may not yield hardly any stripers. Temperatures of this kind can be found inland mostly as there is less water to cool than off of the east coast.

Winter can be a good time to utilize a guide or charter for the local area you want to fish. When the temperature drops and the water begins a drastic change, the help of a local expert may be a good alternative to going it alone in the coastal waters.

Check out this link here to view my complete bass fishing gear recommendation list, including rods, reels, baits, gear, etc. I have field tested a lot of bass gear and these are my recommendations.

For a complete guide to freshwater striped bass fishing, check out this helpful article I wrote. I also wrote a great article on the best time of day to catch striped bass.

Does Water Temperature Affect Feeding?

In terms of feeding and the temperature at which a striper will do so, the answer is not simple. Warm water does not have the oxygen that deeper, colder water does. This means that any surface feeding will be more prevalent during the winter months when water surface temperatures are at their lowest.

Striped bass, in general, can be found feeding at a depth of 15 to 20 feet of water. This range is ideal as it is near the surface but deep enough to keep them in oxygen-rich cold water.

Though you may assume that winter months and colder temperatures bring with them slow feeding, this cannot be further from the truth. Stripers continue to eat and thrive year-round and can be caught through the winter.

Though you may hope to see a striper jump out of the water after your bait or lure, you may be surprised to find that the striped bass, particularly when seeking deep water to beat the sun and heat, will bottom feed and take advantage of lobsters and other slow bottom-dwelling species.

Water Temperature & Spawning

The striper spawn occurs from April to June every year but can be observed slightly later than June, this may be due to climate change as this is common for species of fish all over the world. Stripers run inland to spawn during these times and can be fished with different considerations.

During the regular season, stripers have their routine, but during spawn, they have different behavior. Many fish during spawn can be seen acting very differently, chasing each other around and this means the fishing changes to a certain degree.

Spawning fish are usually more ravenous and easier to tantalize with bait and lures. Fish these unique events to yield great results. Fly fishermen will find amazing results during this time and will benefit from fishing shallow lagoons and inlets throughout the coast.

As with many different species that come inland to spawn, you can time your trip right and get on the fish as they enter the bays and inlets. This is a good strategy in a boat as you can find a bay to troll back and forth, similar to fishing for salmon.

5 Tips & Other Tactics to Use

1. Bait & Lure Size

Striped bass will be chasing baitfish in warmer water. In colder water, they may often feed at or near the bottom. Always make sure that you assess the prey that the stripers are chasing. COnsider their shape and size and texture. Always try your best to match the natural bait that the fish want for best results.

A strong hook but with minimal visibility. Obnoxious hooks can be a tell as to whether it is a lure or prey. Most plugs come with very sturdy hooks but you may want to inspect them and upgrade them if needed.

Change your bait and tackle often if it is not working. Do not burn up the day by sticking to a lure that doesn’t seem to work. Fishing during peak season for stripers should be an intense experience and if the lure is not working, ditch it for another.

2. The Fishing Reel

Believe it or not, water temperature can dictate how strong a striped bass fights. In colder water, stripers will be a bit more sluggish but warmer water can cause some real tackle-busting action. The fishing reel itself should be sturdy and able to hold a good amount of line. If you take a guided trip on the east coast, you will find that the reels are going to be baitcasting reels and they may have a depth gauge attached.

These reels are perfect for complete control over features such as drag and tension of the reel. Some reels have many features that can help such as a magnetic brake system for casting from shore.

Because of the saltwater application, your cast reel should be made of a material that is resistant to corrosion and can be easily cleaned. Saltwater can be very harmful to a reel if not properly taken care of.

3. Outrigger vs. Plug

Water temperature absolutely dictates water depth stripers will suspend at and which method of fishing works best. An outrigger offers the ability to use a custom setup for trolling slowly, however it takes more work to use than a simple plug. Setups for Stripers can be a complicated thing and the locals get pretty creative about them.

To make these setups sink to the desired depth, outriggers and separate weights are essential and make the job easier. Most outfitters and guides will have their boat completely set up in this fashion but if you are going on your own, you may not be set up this way.

Many anglers opt for a simple plug with a strong angled lip to get the lure to its desired depth. Many plugs will indicate what depth they operate best at on their packaging. Some dive extremely deep.

4. Umbrella Rigs

When trolling in freshwater or saltwater, an umbrella rig is an extremely unique way to fish and it works well for good medium depth fishing when water temperatures are cooler. This technique works during fall the best. Utilizing up to 5 jigs that are either plastics or marabou in nature, this setup creates a tantalizing lure that is extremely effective.

Checking regulations in the local area that you are fishing in is important anytime you start adding hooks and lines to any setup, some locations may not allow this setup. Local shops likely carry the supplies necessary to create an umbrella rig and if not, online options are available.

5. Bait Simplicity

The best bait in freshwater applications is usually live, that is what the locals will say. But cut bait is known to work just the same, depending on the location and feeding patterns at that given time.

For certain, you will likely not have to worry too much about live vs. cut bait during spawn due to the stripers energy during that time. Do not get starry eyes at the expensive stuff when picking the bait, the simple stuff will do fine.

Striped Bass & Why We Love Them

Striped bass are one of the most unique species of fish inhabiting our country. The ability to successfully thrive in two completely different environments is astounding. It is so astounding in fact that we chose this species to become a hybrid and be introduced and managed elsewhere. Water temperature can really influence how much success you’ll have.

Striped bass offer fishing year-round, and that keeps the charters and guides working year-round. Supporting these guys is important, they keep our love of the sport alive and bring life to small, local destinations.

Stripers allow us to fish inland and at sea. This is an offering that only a few other species can give and that sets the striper on a whole different pedestal of game fish. They really are a great fish to pursue, even if a little complicated to do.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Boston, please check out this helpful article. For a breakdown of the best times to catch bass, check out this guide. Click here to learn the best water temperature for white bass fishing. Here is a complete breakdown of the best weather to catch striped bass.