Going to the Winter Tackle Shows? The 6 Best Lures to Buy for Spring Stripers on Cape Cod

It's fishing tackle winter show season in the North East. There are some great deals on all manner of fishing stuff at these shows, but what should you be buying to stock your tackle bag for the early season? We have assembled a list of the must have essentials you will need when striper season starts back up in a few months.

Spring on Cape Cod means one thing for saltwater anglers: striped bass are back. As water temperatures creep into the upper 40s and low 50s, hold overs and migrating schoolies will begin to flood estuaries, bays, tidal creeks, and protected shorelines across the Cape.

Success in the spring requires adapting your fishing style to the conditions. Cold water, small bait, and often dirty water or low-light conditions mean the right lure choice can make or break a trip. These six lures consistently produce spring stripers from shore, fishing kayak, and power boat across Cape Cod.

1. Soft Plastics with a Jig Head (3–7”)

If you could carry only one lure in early spring, this would be it.

Soft plastics really shine when stripers are feeding on small sand eels, silversides, and juvenile herring common in the early season. Their subtle vibration, thin profile and slow-speed action are perfect for cold water when bass aren’t willing to chase aggressively.

Why they work on the Cape

• Effective in estuaries, salt ponds, and calm bay flats where small, thin profile baitfish predominate.

• Can be fished painfully slow near bottom

• Easy to adjust weight for current and depth

Best colors: White, bone, pearl, light olive. Pro tip: Rig on a light jig head and bounce slowly with long pauses.

Goose Pro Staff Picks: RONZ, BILL HURLEY CAPE COD SAND EEL MINI RAT TAIL

2.Suspending Jerkbaits / Minnow Plugs

Cold-water stripers love an easy meal, and suspending / swimming plugs deliver exactly that.

These lures imitate wounded baitfish and hang in the strike zone, triggering reaction bites when early season striped bass are lethargic. They excel during early mornings, evenings, and overcast days—classic typical spring conditions on Cape Cod.

Why they work on the Cape

• Perfect for tidal rivers and back bays

• Reel & pause retrieves often tempts hesitant, slow metabolism fish

• Great from shore where slow presentations matter

Best colors: Silver/black, ghost white, natural baitfish. Pro tip: Retrieve while twitching rod tip once or twice, then pause for several seconds—most strikes happen on the stop.

Goose Pro Staff Picks: DAIWA SALT PRO MINNOW. RAPALA HUSKY JERK

3. Bucktail Jigs

Bucktails are a Cape Cod staple for a reason: they simply catch fish.

In spring, when stripers hug the bottom and feed conservatively, bucktails shine. Whether tipped with pork rind or a soft plastic trailer, they provide a natural profile that works in nearly every environment.

Why they work on the Cape

• Excellent in current around inlets and bridges

• Ideal for colder water presentations

• Extremely versatile from shore or boat

Best colors: White, chartreuse, yellowPro tip: Match jig weight to current—too heavy kills the action, too light won’t reach bottom.

Goose Pro Staff Picks: UFSHN SNAP JIG BUCKTAIL. SPRO BUCKTAIL JIG

4. Swimmers

When fished slowly, swimmers produce a wide, lazy wobble that spring stripers find irresistible.

These plugs excel at night and during low-light conditions, especially along mud flats, creek mouths, and protected shorelines where early bait collects.

Why they work on the Cape

• Designed for ultra-slow retrieves

• Mimic wounded bait perfectly

• Deadly after dark in shallow water

Best colors: White, bone, blurple Pro tip: Reel just fast enough to feel the plug swimming—too fast ruins the action.

Goose Pro Staff Picks: BERKLEY MAGIC SWIMMER

5. Bill Hurley Soft Plastic Eels

Spring stripers often key in on sand eels, and soft plastic eels are one of the best imitations available.

Their slender profile and subtle movement make them especially effective in clear, calm water when fish are pressured or cautious.

Why they work on the Cape

• Match the dominant early-season forage

• Excel in shallow flats and slow current

• Effective both day and night

• can be cut down to reduce length if baitfish present are small

Best colors: Black, olive, sand eel Pro tip: Fish them low and slow—let the current do most of the work.

Goose Pro Staff Picks: BILL HURLEY CAPE COD SAND EEL/RAT TAIL

6. Topwater Poppers (Yes—even in Spring)

While not always consistent early, topwater poppers can be shockingly effective during warm spring afternoons or calm evenings.

When water temps climb into the low-to-mid 50s and bait is present, stripers will explode on surface lures—especially schoolies in shallow bays.

Why they work on the Cape

• Excellent for visual fishing ... nothing is as heart stopping as an early season striper smashing a popper!

• Draw reaction strikes from active fish

• Unmatched excitement factor

Best colors: White, bone, natural Pro tip: Use subtle pops and long pauses for early season stripers—don’t overwork it.

Goose Pro Staff Picks: TSUNAMI TALKIN POPPER (F) 5"

Keep It Simple, Fish It Slow

Spring striped bass fishing on Cape Cod rewards patience and finesse. Cold water means slower retrieves, smaller profiles, and natural presentations. With these six lures in your tackle box, you’ll be prepared for almost any spring scenario, from muddy estuaries to quiet back bays.

As always, pay attention to water temperature, tide movement, and bait presence—and don’t be afraid to slow down your retrieve even more than you think you should.