How to Catch Striped Bass in High-Flow Rivers During the Spring Run

During the spring run, striped bass are not setting up permanent holding areas like they do in summer.

They are migrating upstream, often covering long distances in a short amount of time.

This movement happens in waves.

• Some days a group of fish passes through and the river feels alive.
• Other days the river feels empty, even though nothing looks different.

The run did not end.

The fish simply moved.

Because of this, spring fishing rewards anglers who understand movement, not spot loyalty.

Timing and positioning matter more than casting volume.

If you are looking for when the spring run starts or how long it lasts, see the

2026 East Coast Spring Fishing Run — Striped Bass, Catfish & Shad guide.

This page focuses on how to catch striped bass once the run is already happening.

During migration, striped bass operate on a strict energy budget.

Their goal is to reach spawning areas while burning as little energy as possible.

Because of this, spring stripers:

• Do not chase bait
  
• Do not roam to hunt
  
• Do not feed aggressively
  

Instead, they feed only when food passes close to them during a rest period.

Why striped bass stop feeding in high current

Strong current keeps striped bass in travel mode.

In fast water:

• Holding position costs too much energy
  
• Feeding becomes inefficient
  
• Fish continue moving upstream
  

Feeding resumes only when striped bass encounter:

• Reduced current
  
• Slack water next to the main flow
  
• Areas where they can rest without drifting backward
  

This is why anglers often see fish on sonar but get no bites.

The fish are present — they just aren’t ready to eat yet.

Understanding this explains why spring fishing feels unpredictable and why presentation matters more than bait choice.

Striped bass use rivers in two ways during the spring run:

• Fast water for travel
  
• Slow water for resting and brief feeding
  

The edge between these two zones is called a current seam.

Do striped bass sit in current or slack water?

They use both — but not at the same time.

Striped bass travel through strong current, then slide into slack water to rest.

They position themselves so they can feel food pass by without fighting the flow.

What is a current seam?

A current seam is the visible line where:

• Fast water meets slower water
  
• Smooth flow meets calm pockets
  
• Migration lanes meet resting zones
  

Striped bass hold just inside the slower water, facing upstream.

From this position, they can:

• Conserve energy
  
• Detect vibration and scent
  
• Move a short distance to intercept food
  

Common spring holding areas

During the spring run, striped bass briefly stop in:

• Inside bends of the river
  
• Eddies behind rocks or debris
  
• Downstream of bridge pilings
  
• Along channel edges
  
• Behind points where current breaks
  

These areas form temporary holding pockets.

Fish rest here briefly, then continue upstream when conditions allow.

This explains why a spot can be productive one day and empty the next.

The structure did not change — the fish passed through it.

Why this matters

Spring stripers are caught when:

• Bait passes naturally through the seam
  
• Presentation enters the holding pocket
  
• The fish does not need to chase
  

Tools like the [FATKAT Rig] help keep your bait in prime holding pockets.

Success comes from understanding where fish pause, not where they travel.

Many anglers approach spring river fishing using the same tactics they rely on in bays, lakes, and summer conditions.

Fast-retrieved swimbaits work well there — but spring rivers during the migration are a different game.

Why swimbaits struggle during the spring run

Swimbaits are designed to:

• Trigger reaction strikes
  
• Be retrieved at controlled speeds
  
• Imitate strong, healthy baitfish
  

During the spring migration, striped bass are not looking for healthy prey to chase.

They are conserving energy while moving upstream.

In high current:

• A fast retrieve looks unnatural
  
• The bait moves against the river’s flow
  
• The fish must turn and accelerate to strike
  

Most migrating stripers simply let it pass.

Spring stripers feed with the current, not against it

In rivers, food moves downstream at river speed.

Striped bass are wired to expect prey to arrive this way.

That’s why drifting presentations work:

• The bait moves naturally with the current
  
• Vibration stays consistent
  
• Scent flows directly into the fish’s path
  

A drifting bait doesn’t ask the fish to chase — it asks the fish to decide.

The mistake anglers don’t realize they’re making

Most anglers aren’t “fishing wrong.”

They’re fishing the right bait at the wrong time and place.

Swimbaits shine:

• In bays
  
• In lakes
  
• During summer and fall feeding patterns
  

Spring river fishing is different:

• Fish are migrating
  
• Water is cold
  
• Current is strong
  
• Energy conservation rules behavior
  

When anglers slow down and let the river work, hookup rates jump fast.

The takeaway

If your bait moves faster than the current, it’s out of sync.

If it moves with the current, it looks alive — and vulnerable.

In spring rivers, natural drift beats speed every time.