Top-water fishing for stripers is just starting to kick off. I am seeing many schools of small fish on top now, so, it is just a matter of a few days that the better keepers will be on the surface also. Various baits will work, but, the bait needs to have a hair or translucent tail on the rear treble hook. The fish are feeding on threadfin shad fry, not mature shad. The dressed treble hook replicates the fry. When the dressing comes off the rear hook as it has a tendency to do after catching several fish, I immediately give my clients a new bait. My favorite baits include the salt-water series chug bug, the cordell pencil popper, and any wind cheater/near nuthin type sinking top water bait.
Of course, when the fish go down they can be caught vertical spooning and on down riggers. By the way, we have pulled several 14 lb. class fish on live shad during the past week.
