FishableWaters

Species

Striped Bass

On record in 13 waters across 2 states

Striped bass are anadromous fish that made the jump into landlocked reservoirs decades ago and thrived, giving inland anglers a shot at a species that otherwise belongs to the coast. Whether you're fishing tidal rivers on the East Coast or a reservoir in the middle of the country, stripers hunt in packs and hit baitfish schools hard enough to send bait scattering across the surface.

Striped Bass are on record in 13 waters across 2 states, most heavily in Florida and Indiana. FishableWaters tracks every striped bass stocking from state agency reports — use the state links and most-stocked list below to find waters near you.

Striped Bass
Duane Raver / USFWS

By state

Most-stocked waters

How to catch them

Finding baitfish is finding stripers — watch for diving birds and surface activity, and cast into breaking schools when you find them. In reservoirs, trolling or vertical jigging deep structure where baitfish schools hold produces when surface activity isn't happening.

Live shad or herring fished on a downline is hard to beat where legal. Topwater plugs, large swimbaits, and bucktail jigs all work when stripers are actively feeding on or near the surface.

Know your fish

Silvery body with seven or eight dark horizontal stripes running the length of the flank, a streamlined shape built for speed, and a two-part dorsal fin. Landlocked stripers look identical to their coastal relatives — the difference is entirely about habitat, not appearance.

Spring and fall are the strongest windows in most reservoirs, as water temperatures put baitfish and stripers in predictable, accessible locations. Coastal striper runs follow migration patterns tied to spawning, with spring and fall runs concentrating fish in bays and river mouths.

Freshest striped bass stockings

Jul 17, 2026Watts Bar LakeTN5,194
Jul 16, 2026Watts Bar LakeTN7,994
Jul 16, 2026Watts Bar LakeTN56,437
Jul 16, 2026Chickamauga LakeTN63,826
Jul 15, 2026Watts Bar LakeTN9,432
Jul 14, 2026J Percy Priest ReservoirTN54,685
Jul 13, 2026Norris LakeTN7,833
Jul 13, 2026Watts Bar LakeTN19,594
Jul 13, 2026Watts Bar LakeTN20,979
Jul 10, 2026Norris LakeTN22,341
Jul 9, 2026Norris LakeTN28,911
Jul 8, 2026Norris LakeTN16,070
Jun 30, 2026Cordell Hull ReservoirTN33,324
Jun 30, 2026Cheatham LakeTN42,806
Jun 24, 2026Norris LakeTN28,072

Striped Bass — FAQ

Where can I catch striped bass?+

Striped Bass are stocked across 2 states, led by Florida and Indiana. Pick a state below to see every water stocked with striped bass.

What's the best bait for striped bass?+

Live shad or herring fished on a downline is hard to beat where legal. Topwater plugs, large swimbaits, and bucktail jigs all work when stripers are actively feeding on or near the surface.

When is the best time to catch striped bass?+

Spring and fall are the strongest windows in most reservoirs, as water temperatures put baitfish and stripers in predictable, accessible locations. Coastal striper runs follow migration patterns tied to spawning, with spring and fall runs concentrating fish in bays and river mouths.

How many waters are stocked with striped bass?+

13 waters across 2 states hold striped bass on record, updated daily from agency stocking reports.