Trolling can be an effective way to catch a wide range of species, including striped bass. Tolling deep-diving crankbaits is an ideal method to get a strike from a famished striped bass, but those plugs must be configured correctly and sometimes adjusted to run deep and straight — otherwise known as tuning.
While some stripers feed on the surface, they usually hang around in the four-foot section closest to the bottom. Pilings, oysters, rocks and other submerged obstructions intercept diving plugs on each pass, causing havoc to the hooks, lip and line-tie eye, the latter will often get slightly bent, changing the way the bait runs. If baits don’t get close to the bottom, anglers can expect few strikes.
Before each trip, fishermen should inspect baits. Are the hooks in good condition and will plugs track straight through the water column. If plugs are running to the side or to the top when pulling swiftly through the water, they need to be tuned.
Crankbaits are tuned by adjusting the position of the lure’s line-tie eye. Most of the time, the imperfection of the line-tie eye is easily visible by quick inspection, but the lure can be pulled through the water to see which way the eye needs to be adjusted. The eye should be completely straight or parallel with the shape of the lure. If bent to the right, the lure will run to the right — and vice-versa. Anglers can take a set of needle-nose pliers and gently bend it until it is straight.
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