Trolling surgical tubes catches stripers, yet surprisingly the tactic seems to receive little press and practically no fanfare.

Surgical tube lures are long, thin, plastic (latex) tubes. They’re usually red, sometimes orange. Normally, tube lures are nearly straight. However, tube lures made specifically for striper fishing in the lower Susquehanna River have a couple of curls or corkscrews in them; the curls cause the lure to spin as it is pulled through the water. This can create line twist, but the spinning action also triggers strikes.

Most trollers use baitcasting or small conventional reels spooled with 14- or 17-pound test monofilament or braided line. Tubes are trolled on a three-way swivel rig. A swivel is tied to the end of the line. Attached to the other end of the swivel is a long 40- to 50-inch piece of 40-pound test fluorocarbon leader. The end of the leader is tied to the three-way swivel. A good way to help prevent line twist is to tie another swivel into the leader six to 14 inches ahead of the three-way swivel.

A 12-inch piece of mono with a loop tied at the end is tied to the bottom eye of the three-way swivel. The loop is used to hold a 2- to 3-ounce sinker. A 16- to 30-inch piece of 40-pound mono or fluorocarbon leader is tied to the other eye of the swivel; the end of this leader is tied to the tube lure.

The single hook at the end of the tube is tipped with bait. For years the standard bait was a bloodworm. But their soaring price has prompted anglers to find suitable, less expensive replacements. A night crawler can be threaded onto the hook, as can any one of several Berkley Gulp! baits, including the Gulp! Bloodworm, 4-inch Gulp! Minnow, and 6-inch Sandworm.

Andy Orr at AMO Tackle recommends a trolling speed of about 1 to 2 miles an hour. Get the boat headed in the direction to be trolled, lower a surgical tube rig over the side and watch it as it comes through the water next to the boat. It should move with a consistent, controlled spin. If not, either slow down or speed up until the proper action is achieved. Then give line and allow the sinker to pull the rig down and behind the moving boat.

Orr stresses the importance of trolling the tide line that usually forms on the lower Susquehanna between Port Deposit on the eastern side and the Lapidum boat ramp on the western shore. Because of a change in water color, or even debris on the surface, the tide line is usually visible on the water.

According to Orr, the tide line is a prime striper feeding location. The tide line will move depending on the stage of the tide, wind speed and direction, and other factors, yet it can usually be found between Port Deposit and Lapidum. Troll cross-current along and near the tide line, keeping boat speed in the one to two mile an hour range.

An easy-to-reach public boat ramp on the lower river is right off Route 222 in Port Deposit, Maryland. It’s not a large ramp, and parking can get a bit crowded, yet it’s a short and direct run from the ramp to the prime fishing grounds on the lower Susquehanna. It’s $5 for Maryland residents and $10 for out-of-staters.

For information on purchasing Andy Orr’s (AMO Tackle) surgical tubes and other hand-tied striper, perch and flounder rigs, call (717) 823-3120.