Why We Make Different Sizes of Fishing Weights for Striper Fishing

How to choose the right striper fishing weight for planer boards, gizzard shad, and downlines

If you’ve ever looked at our selection of fishing weights and wondered:

“Why do you make so many different sizes?”

The short answer is simple:

Because one size does not work for every striper fishing situation.

When you’re fishing for stripers, the amount of weight you put in front of your bait can change:

• how deep your bait runs
• how naturally it presents
• how much control you have over your spread
• and ultimately, how many fish you catch

At StriperTackle.com, we use different sizes of striper fishing weights throughout the year depending on:

• bait size
• presentation style
• boat speed
• depth
• and the type of live bait we’re pulling

This guide breaks down why different fishing weight sizes matter and when to use each one.

Quick Answer: Why use different sizes of fishing weights for stripers?

If you want the fast answer:

Use lighter fishing weights when:

• you want a more natural presentation
• you’re pulling smaller baits
• you only need to get your bait down slightly

Use heavier fishing weights when:

• you need to get large bait deeper
• you’re pulling downlines
• you want to stagger rod depth
• you need better control while moving

That’s the simple version.

Now let’s break down how we actually use these weights on the water.

Best Fishing Weight Sizes for Striper Fishing

1) 3/4 oz Fishing Weight

Best for: Planer boards in late spring and early summer

One of the most useful lighter striper tackle setups is a 3/4 ounce fishing weight in front of a live herring when pulling planer boards.

Why it works:

When you’re pulling boards in late spring and early summer, you’re often:

• moving a little faster
• covering water
• trying to keep baits active and natural

In that situation, you usually don’t want a lot of weight.

You just want enough to:

• get the bait down slightly
• improve bait positioning
• keep the presentation natural

When to use a 3/4 oz weight

Use a 3/4 ounce fishing weight when:

• pulling live herring on planer boards
• fishing fish that are suspended but not deep
• you want just a little depth without over-weighting the bait

Why anglers like it:

It gives you just enough drop without killing the bait’s natural movement.

2) 1 oz Fishing Weight

Best for: Gizzard shad that want to stay too high in the water column

If you fish with gizzard shad, you already know one thing:

They love to stay up.

That can be a problem when the fish are set up lower in the water column and your bait won’t stay where it needs to be.

This is where a 1 ounce fishing weight becomes really valuable.

Why it works:

Adding a little bit of weight in front of a gizzard shad helps:

• pull the bait down
• keep it from riding too high
• hold it in the strike zone longer

That matters a lot in striper fishing.

Because the longer your bait stays in the right zone, the better your chances of getting bit.

When to use a 1 oz weight

Use a 1 ounce fishing weight when:

• pulling medium-sized gizzard shad
• your bait wants to stay too close to the surface
• you need a little more depth control without overpowering the bait

Best use case:

This is one of the best fishing weights for live bait striper fishing when you want a controlled but still natural presentation.

3) 1.5 oz Fishing Weight

Best for: Big gizzard shad and back downline rods

When you step up to big gizzard shad — especially in that 12 to 14 inch range — you need more control.

A bigger bait pulls differently, resists more water, and usually needs a little more help staying where you want it.

That’s where the 1.5 ounce fishing weight shines.

When we use it

We commonly use a 1.5 oz weight:

• in front of large gizzard shad
• on downlines
• on back rods when trolling or pulling

Why it matters:

A 1.5 ounce fishing weight gives you a very versatile middle ground:

• more depth than a 1 oz
• not as aggressive as a 2 oz
• great for keeping bigger bait under control

This is one of the most useful fishing weights for striper tackle setups because it gives you flexibility across multiple presentations.

4) 2 oz Fishing Weight

Best for: Front downline rods and deeper presentations

When we’re fishing downlines, I’m usually choosing between:

• 1.5 oz
• 2 oz

And most of the time, I’m rigging them differently on purpose.

How we set them up

A simple and effective setup is:

Front rods = 2 oz

Back rods = 1.5 oz

That small difference helps create depth separation in your spread.

Why that matters:

When you’re moving around a little bit, this setup helps:

• get baits to slightly different depths
• reduce tangles
• improve spread efficiency
• lower the chance of getting hung up

That’s especially important when fishing longer leaders in the summertime.

When to use a 2 oz fishing weight

Use a 2 ounce fishing weight when:

• fishing front downline rods
• you need more depth and control
• you want to stagger your rod depths
• conditions call for a slightly heavier presentation

Best Fishing Weight Setup for Downlines

A simple tip that catches more fish and reduces problems

If you fish downlines for stripers, here’s a simple tip that can help immediately:

Use different size weights on different rods

Recommended setup:

• Front rods: 2 oz weights
• Back rods: 1.5 oz weights

Why this works:

This helps create:

• slightly different bait depths
• better rod separation
• fewer tangles
• less chance of hanging up

It’s a small adjustment, but it makes your striper tackle spread work better.

And in striper fishing, small details often make a big difference.

How to Choose the Right Fishing Weight for Striper Fishing

If you’re trying to decide which size to use, ask yourself these 4 questions:

1) What bait am I pulling?

Smaller bait like herring usually needs less weight.
Larger bait like big gizzard shad often needs more.

2) How deep do I need to fish?

If you only need to get your bait down slightly, go lighter.
If you need more depth or more control, go heavier.

3) Am I pulling planer boards or downlines?

Planer boards usually call for lighter weight.
Downlines often need heavier weight.

4) Do I want to stagger my spread?

If yes, using different weight sizes can help create better rod separation and better bait coverage.

Best Fishing Weights for Stripers: Quick Size Guide

Recommended Striper Fishing Weight Chart

3/4 oz

Best for:

• planer boards
• live herring
• shallow to mid-depth presentations

1 oz

Best for:

• medium gizzard shad
• keeping bait lower in the water column
• subtle added depth

1.5 oz

Best for:

• big gizzard shad
• back downline rods
• versatile all-around use

2 oz

Best for:

• front downline rods
• deeper presentations
• spread separation and control

Why Fishing Weight Size Matters More Than Most Anglers Think

A lot of anglers treat fishing weights like a small detail.

But in reality, the right weight can affect:

• bait action
• bait depth
• rod spread performance
• how natural your setup looks
• and whether your bait stays in front of fish

That’s why we don’t believe in trying to force one size to do everything.

Good striper tackle is about matching your gear to the situation.

That’s exactly why we carry multiple sizes.

Shop Striper Fishing Weights

If you want to build a better live bait setup, having multiple sizes of fishing weights on hand is one of the smartest upgrades you can make.

Whether you’re:

• pulling planer boards
• fishing herring
• running gizzard shad
• or setting up downlines

…the right weight helps your bait fish better.

Shop striper fishing weights at StriperTackle.com

Use the right size, fish a better presentation, and catch more stripers.

FAQ: Fishing Weights for Striper Fishing

What is the best fishing weight for striper fishing?

There isn’t one “best” weight for every situation. The right size depends on:

• bait type
• depth
• presentation
• and whether you’re pulling boards or downlines

What size weight should I use with live herring?

A 3/4 oz fishing weight often works well when pulling live herring on planer boards and trying to keep the bait down slightly.

What size weight should I use with gizzard shad?

A 1 oz weight works well for many gizzard shad setups, while 1.5 oz is often better for very large gizzard shad in the 12–14 inch range.

What weight should I use for downlines?

For downlines, 1.5 oz and 2 oz are both excellent choices. A great setup is:

• 2 oz on front rods
• 1.5 oz on back rods

Why use different size fishing weights?

Different weight sizes help you:

• control bait depth
• improve presentation
• stagger your spread
• reduce tangles
• and fish more effectively in different conditions

And if you want a guide on your next Lake Lanier striper fishing trip, The Striper Experience can help you put using different size weights into practice.