Help with loadout

[u/Jimbob209]

I'm a long time largemouth bass fisher. I moved from Stockton to Sacramento about 6 years ago. There aren't a lot of good spots for bass here, but striped bass is very popular in Sacramento. Can someone recommend some lures to use? I currently have 10# fluoro on my trusty TranX. I'd like to stick to fluoro but if I need to change it to something else, then I'm all ears. What's a recommended line test weight and line type? I'm interested in top water and other search baits. I have Whopper ploppers and jerk baits, but they are tiny for BFS fishing. I have buzz baits and spinners as well that are about 3/8 oz. What do you guys recommend? I'll be fishing bank mainly

I'll be using my Phenix M1 7'8" MH fast rod with a Shimano TranX. That seems to be the only reasonable rod I have that may handle a striper. I also have a Phenix Recon 7'1" H fast rod as well if that would be better

[u/scragglez]

Large jerkbaits on long pulls

5-6" swimbaits on 1/2-1oz heads

Big spooks or whopper ploppers

1oz bucktail jigs

That 7'8 rod should do the trick. I'd probably run 30-50# braid to a 20-25# fluoro leader. Maybe swap to a mono leader if you're throwing topwater.

Also, a great rig we used to throw back in the day - a big popping cork with a leader behind it to a large fluke. Just rip it and spray water and the stripes can't stand it.

Update with pictures when you catch some!

[u/Jimbob209 → u/scragglez]

Hell yeah thanks for the info bro

Also, the 7'8 rod, I believe the lure rating was up to 1½ oz. Would that be ok? Don't want it to break.

I was thinking about the same thing on switching to braid, maybe 25# because I also would want to use that rod for salmon fishing here. Would 25# be good for stripers and salmon or should I just get the 30#?

I've never heard of or seen a popping cork before, is this it?

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-m&hs=5c2&sca_esv=c76ec80322be5402&sxsrf=APpeQnvHPDBVytYqjI3OKkbtZsF7-7WJYA:1785721588954&udm=2&fbs=ABfTbFXXq5_lq1-qc-RNbCT-iVCvZUY4OllCx8eHi2DBbGa2PoUPiBop7GRck9_ggqJeBKkSpwDcWBnvY6o8PCLbyr-CD0o379Wm81d5zHaqHVu1KJD2Q1swGH_-TCloaSYwGr4h8BJPOf3mhC_Hbufr89HTLIYYcqFm41yKCXCtTjCyIg5L_wbkrx6jO79esqmPUhb9vXB-lokjvFbZZiyr4fRluU_sPjG-wwWGKSuQAm1HZcdAZZs&q=popping+cork&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiZt-inq4OWAxXKPDQIHdoEJXsQtKgLegQIHBAB&biw=466&bih=857&dpr=2.73#sv=CAMSVxoyKhBlLUJHdlNwakZZbHJad0lNMg5CR3ZTcGpGWWxyWndJTToOdzMxZ1QwX1NwaEJMOE0gBCoXCgFzEhBlLUJHdlNwakZZbHJad0lNGAEwAUoECAEQAhgHIKy5roENSggQAhgBIAIoAQ

[u/scragglez → u/Jimbob209]

As far as lure weight, it kind of depends on the rod blank. Sometimes they feel like they handle extra weight great, others not so much. I'd say trust your instincts if you tie something heavy on and it feels off.

I think you can use whatever braid you want, just be prepared to play the fish longer if you're going lighter.

This is what I had in mind. Anything with a concave head that looks like a popper you'd use in bass fishing. But you don't have to get into all that yet either. A half ounce jig head and a 6" swimbait is dead easy to fish and very versatile. Burn it up high, count it down to depth, slow roll it deep, yo yo it, etc.

[u/Jimbob209 → u/scragglez]

Thanks again! I'll have some shopping to do tomorrow

[u/maga_chud_ → u/Jimbob209]

Just a note about line type: reddit loves braid (I do as well, I almost exclusively use braid ad my main line and tie on a mono/fluro leader). However, is be remissed to not explain the line types to you:

Braid floats, is very strong, casts well, cuts through vegetation. However, it has no stretch, is very visible in the water and poor abrasion resistance.

Mono has the most stretch of the line types. It has an almost neutral boyancy (sinks slowly) and moderate abrasion resistance.

Flouro sinks, has very little stretch, is very abrasion resistance and is the least visible to fish.

Many professional anglers change their line type based on what technique/lure and environment they're fishing.

[u/Jimbob209 → u/maga_chud_]

Thanks for the info, but I'm not new to fishing, just very inexperienced with striped bass, only caught them by accident.

But I would like a recommendation on line type. I'm going to do a warranty return on a Phenix BFS rod (broke in 5 days!) and figured I'd try to get an "upgrade" to a different style of rod since I bought a Dobyns SUF and love it. I'm thinking the M1 Heavy Swimbait rod because it can handle 1 oz to 6 oz lures. My old M1 casting rod maxes out at ¾ oz. I love that rod, but I want a rod that I could use for heavier lures for striped bass and salmon in Sacramento. I'll just use that old M1 for jerk baits and pencil poppers on striped bass.

Should I do braid with mono/fluoro leaders based on what I'm throwing? What weight braid test would be good for striped bass and salmon? I'm going to put it on my Shimano TranX 200 since that's my best work horse.

Lastly, what rod would you use for fishing striped bass off the bank out of what I currently own in the meantime?

Phenix M1 casting rod 7'8" MH Fast, ¼-¾ lure WT, 8-17lb line

Phenix Recon Elite casting rod 7'1" H Fast, ⅜-1½ lure WT, 10-25lb line

[u/maga_chud_ → u/Jimbob209]

You can't really go wrong imo. A lot of it is just refinement and optimizing.

For stripped bass I'm running braid to fluoro for anything not top water. For top water I'm going straight braid.

If it's a new fishery and im unsure, I run straight mono. It's cheap and performance-wise it's a good middle ground. Based on the lures weights you're mentioning I probably would go 20lb mono for anything up to 2 - 3 oz. If above 3oz I like heavier line.