Here is another tactic I have added to my list of rigs that I use. We call it bottom bouncing. In essence the idea is that you put a big enough weight on the line to have the weight bounce on the bottom and it puts the lure just above the floor of the bay. You put the lure directly above a striper that is resting close to the bottom.
I think you can use most any lure but we use what I call a Road Runner. On to this I add a 5 inch swim shad.
It works when other times during the day things don’t. There are times when you are waiting on the tide or current to change and you are just burning gas. I have found during those times you increase your chances of success by adding this to the mix. I don’t run these when umbrellas and tandems are killing it but when nothing else seems to be working.
I hope you can notice that for this lure the hook is up which helps it not pick up any trash if by chance in a turn it also hits the bottom.
As you are trolling you will see the rod leisurely go down then back up say on a rhythm of a Lawrence Welk “and a one and a two” or a bit slower. If the rod tip is not moving you are not on the bottom.
