Freshwater · Spring runs up reservoir rivers; summer surface schools; fall and winter deep action
Landlocked Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
The coastal striper gone inland — stocked giants that herd shad across big reservoirs from Texoma to Santee-Cooper and Mead, and America's favourite landlocked big fish.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Bold, unbroken black horizontal stripes on a silver body — the same fish as the coastal striper
- Two tooth patches on the tongue (white bass have one)
- Streamlined, deep body built for chasing shad in open water
- Landlocked fish commonly 5-20 lb; reservoir records exceed 50 lb
- Look-alike: white bass are much smaller, with fainter stripes that break below the lateral line
Habits
- The same species as the saltwater striped bass, stocked into big reservoirs where it lives entirely in fresh water
- Roams open water in schools, herding shad to the surface in summer 'boils'
- Runs up reservoir tributaries each spring on a spawning urge it cannot complete in most lakes
- Feeds at night and in low light on points, humps and wind-blown banks
Distribution
Where to find them
- Lake Texoma (Texas/Oklahoma) — the most famous landlocked striper lake on earth
- Santee-Cooper lakes (Marion and Moultrie), South Carolina — where landlocking was discovered
- Lake Mead and Lake Havasu in the desert Southwest
- Virginia's Smith Mountain Lake and Kerr Lake; California's San Luis and New Melones
Where they live
How to catch them
Live shad on down-lines
Rig: Bait tank, down-lines with 1-2 oz weights over humps and channels
Bait/lure: Live threadfin or gizzard shad
Key tip: Mark bait first, then set lines just above the school — stripers feed upward through shad.
Casting to surface boils
Rig: Medium-heavy spinning outfit, topwater or swimbait
Bait/lure: Pencil poppers, soft swimbaits, umbrella rigs
Key tip: Run to working gulls and cast the edges of the boil; the biggest fish cruise the fringe.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: 7' medium-heavy spinning rod
- Line: 17-25 lb mono or 40 lb braid
- Terminal: Down-line rigs, umbrella rigs, swimbaits, 25 lb fluorocarbon leaders
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
7'3" medium-heavy casting rod
≈ US$100-150
One rod for jigs, Texas rigs and frogs — the bass workhorse.
Reel · Budget
7.1:1 baitcasting reel
≈ US$80-120
Fast retrieve for pitching and quickly taking up slack on hooksets.
Line · Budget
15 lb fluorocarbon (200 yd)
≈ US$18-25
Invisible in clear water, sensitive on rock, abrasion resistant.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
Typical size
Common 3-12 lb; trophies 25 lb and up
On the table
Very good — white, firm fillets; trim the red lateral-line meat for the mildest flavour.
Similar species
Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
Plan a trip for Landlocked Striped Bass
Build today's plan