Hey MFCC! 
Cooper Mark here, intern for My Fishing Cape Cod and member of the Sandwich High School Fishing club. The spring migration is on the horizon and today I'm excited to share with you a post about my spring schoolie setups.
In addition, if you have some favorite springtime schoolie lures, and some favorite go-to fishing rods and reels, then I'd love to hear about them in the comment section! So please definitely let me know.
Everyone loves catching the big stripers from the beach or the boat when summer hits, but landing the first schoolie striper of spring sparks a tradition that carries me through the year. In mid-April, before the fresh fish migrate in, the holdovers wake up and are ready to eat. Fresh fish or not, the first schoolie hits the hardest (in your mind anyway).
While it may seem simple, getting rigged up for those first fish can be more complex than it sounds. In this article, we'll explore my spring setup and offer some options for those new to the sport or looking to refresh their gear.
My Spring Schoolie Setup
My Dark Matter and Shimano setup, which is my go-to spring setup for stripers.
My first rod off the rack has changed greatly from year to year, with new rods and reels catching my eye over the winter and my tactics shifting as well. This year, it's once again a whole new combo: a Shimano Nasci 5000 XG reel. Despite the 5000 size, this reel remains very light and compact, yet still has more than enough power to land a large fish.
For the rod, I'm fishing a Dark Matter Psychedelic 7' medium heavy fast... in purple. This rod is outstanding compared to others I've fished in the past. Despite its slightly heavy ½-1¼ oz. rating, this rod is more than light enough, but with plenty of backbone when needed. The action is a true fast that throws walking baits, jigs, and very light paddletails alike.
On my reel, I spool blue 15lb PowerPro SuperSlick braid. With my leaders, I keep it very simple with 15-25lb monofilament and 50lb Tactical Anglers clips.
Lures for Spring Schoolies
Dark Matter Feeder Minnow (left) 3" NLBN Paddletails (Right)
I keep lures very simple in the spring. 75% of my spring fishing is done with a walking bait or soft plastic. The 5" SP Minnows and 4" Mag Darters are all well and good, but nothing gets me more bites for me than a paddletail.
I prefer using the 4" Crush City Mayor or a 3" white NLBN paddletail on ⅜ oz jig heads. That said, Zoom Flukes and 5" Sluggos have also performed well in the past.
For walking baits, I reach for the Dark Matter Feeder minnow every time, in chrome or bone color. Coming pre-stocked with single hooks, these lures cast a mile and are very easy to walk compared to some others on the market.
Go-To Spinning Reels
Shimano Nasci 5000XG
In 2025, it's difficult to find a reel that won't get the job done, at least for a few months. Most on the market will last several seasons. The reels I've used extensively are the Shimano Nasci and the Penn Battle. Both are in the $100-$150 range, depending on size and whether you choose the Battle DX or not.
The Nasci is a lightweight reel that serves in my arsenal like a slot receiver: smaller and lighter, but with plenty of power when needed. I fish a 5000 because Shimano's 4000 and 5000 reels only differ in spool depth and a rubberized power knob coming stock on the 5000.
The Battle is much more of a fullback: bigger and heavier in the same size class as a Shimano, with more power to show for it. I fish a Battle 3 DX 3000, which is better suited to a rod in the 7'6" range to balance out the extra weight. With the new Battle 4, the same principles apply.
For line, 15-20lb braid and 15-30lb monofilament leader will serve well on any reel you choose for schoolie fishing.
Rods for the Spring
Dark Matter Psychedelic 7' Medium Heavy
Similar to reels, almost any rod will do the trick, from a bass rod to a surf rod. Even a trout rod would work in a pinch. But here are a few standout options: Tsunami Carbon Shield, Dark Matter Psychedelic, Bull Bay Banshee, and Dark Matter SPS. I've used the Tsunami and the Psychedelic myself, but based on reputation and in-shop feel, the other options would be more than capable.
All you need in a schoolie rod is a 7'-7'6" medium-heavy fast action that can throw up to about an ounce. This will balance well with a 3000-5000 size reel and throw any light soft plastic or topwater perfectly.
What Are Your Favorites?
As the seasons turn and the Cape awakens, the pursuit of those first spring schoolies represents more than just fishing—it embodies the renewal that defines Cape Cod spring fishing. That initial tug after a long winter carries the same magic for veterans and newcomers alike.
The beauty of early spring striper fishing lies not in the size of the catch but in the promise it holds—each schoolie is a harbinger of warmer days and bigger fish to come. While gear preferences may evolve and tactics might shift with experience, the core elements remain constant: lightweight tackle, simple presentations, and the willingness to brave the lingering chill of late April and early May mornings.
So, as you rig your reel with fresh braid and clip on that first paddletail of the season, remember that you're participating in a timeless Cape Cod tradition—one measured not by pounds and inches, but by the anticipation and joy that only the year's long-awaited first striper can bring.
What are your go-to lures for those first schoolies of spring?
Drop a comment below sharing your favorite early-season gear, whether it's that trusty soft plastic that never fails or the perfect lightweight rod that makes those early schoolie outings more enjoyable. We'd love to hear what's working for you along the Cape's shores as we all celebrate the return of striper season together.
Tight lines! 
I do a lot of estuary and bay fishing (Falmouth) in the spring and normally tie on a jointed red-fin ahead of a dropper fly. Weed is sometimes a concern and the plug swims close to the surface and the fly offers a choice. I have caught hundreds of double headers over the years. If you tie this rig I prefer forming a dropper loop in the leader itself about 18″ahead of the lure because the loop will be more perpendicular to the leader to minimize tangling. Make sure the hook eyes on the flies are large enough to accommodate the leader material you are using. Or you can just tie the fly with a single 6″ length of leader to the same barrel swivel as the lure leader. This is particularly satisfying way to fish if you tie your own flies and you might even catch a shad!
Thanks David. I have heard about that for the fall run with small bait, but this is a new and interesting concept!
I bought a G.Loomis 9’ steelhead “ noodle” rod a few years back for a trip to the Pacific Northwest and repurposed it years subsequently for Spring Cape Cod schoolie fishing. It’s rated 1/4 -3/4 oz and casts lightweight jig heads with Slugos & Fin-S 40 yards. I fish super skinny water knee deep on flats during incoming tides and I like these super lightweight presentations because they make minimal disturbance entering the water and rarely spook fish. Rarely do I move other than to rotate while fan casting. If you position y properly and stand super still long enough you’ll see waves of schoolies coming by you a rods length away. Even if you catch nothing it’s an amazing spectacle to watch. Never gets old.
That’s all you need for sure! Just something that suits you well. I fish more sod banks and harbors in the spring so my fishing calls for some different tactics. You got it all figured out!
Does anyone use those 3 inch LBN paddle tales for funny fish?
I had good luck on Snook with them
My favorite school lure is a chartreuse and white Clouser
I caught a bunch of bonito on them last fall. But honestly, they were so thick off Newport last fall, you could catch them on anything. Might not be a true measure.
Playing football wrecks my fishing time in the fall so I can’t really speak on that. I’m sure they would do well!
Great read! Got me pumped to get the gear out and start hitting the estuaries! My go to spring setup for fishing from the muddy banks is a 7’6″ Daiwa AIRD Coastal med power paired with a Shimano Spheros C3000HG and 10lb Power Pro classic dark green. It really whips a Jumping Minnow T-10 (size 3-1/2″) in bone or chrome with the tiny freshwater trebles swapped out for a single white bucktail teaser hook in the tail position, baby sluggos with weighted Owner twist lock hooks, Lunker City Shaker paddle tails 3.25-3.75″ in white or Arkansas Shiner on 1/4 to 3/8oz jig heads, and last but not least Ron Z 1/4oz jig heads with the smaller sand eel bodies in chartreuse or pink.
Another fav setup with a bit more backbone is my St Croix Triumph 8’6″ Steelhead rod in heavy power for 1/2 to 2oz lures with a Shimano Spheros 5000HG loaded with 17lb Berkley Fireline. Great for 1/2oz-3/4oz Hogy heavy metals with a bucktail teaser hook, 1/2-1oz jig heads with 4-5″ white or chartreuse paddle tails, full size jumping minnows, and hard plastic swimmers like the short SP minnows or Al Gag’s 5″ mambo minnow in school bus, chicken scratch or olive.
All these lures have caught my first striper of the season over the years but most importantly I enjoy fishing with them and am more likely to stay out for a few more casts in the spring cold because I’m confident with them and excited for that first bite of the year!
Thanks Carle! That sounds great for spring fish. I haven’t used the jumping minnow too much, I tend to lean to the Dark Matters, but I might have to give them a shot this year!
Hi Coop, cool to MFCC has an intern program! You get to be a part of something special!
For my spring set up, I’m going between a 7 ft med heavy st Croix rod that I used to use for fresh water bass. And I have that paired with a vs100.
I also use a 8 ft 2 dark matter rod by John skinner. It’s awesome. I have a ‘gosa 6k on that.
Unless it’s a canal set up, I’m always using 30lb braid and either 30 or 40 lb flour leader.
I don’t have to switch ever during the year, leader or line, and I use 75lb TA clips. I have never found that my line or clip etc are too big for the schoolies.
For lures, sp minnows can sure work. But a favorite lure is the yo zuri sitter walk in bone. That lure has caught me stripers up to 38″ in spring and when many other top waters seem to big, loud, or splashy.. maybe too heavy, this little gem slays ’em!
This is an awesome place to work! I like to fish 15lb on my 1(ish) oz rods just because they are typically for targeting smaller fish. But all my other rods I always fish 20+, especially with how thin braid is now, it doesn’t make a huge difference.
I’ve used the bone colored Rebel Jumpin’ Minnow to find the first schoolies of the year and never been disappointed. It casts like a bullet and has excellent walk the dog movement with the bb knocking inside. I remove the inferior treble hooks and replaces with stronger single inline hooks. Looks a lot like that Dark Matter Feeder Minnow. Great article. Tight lines!!
The dark matter ones are awesome! Cast a mile and walk super easily. The BKK singles are very high quality on them. Highly recommend if you are looking!
I used a ton of those 3” NLBN last year during the fall run and they were killer. I actually paid retail for them – not something I do often.
I’m just trying them this spring, no fish but definitely great quality!
Nice article Coop! Thank you!
Well for me personally so far this year I’ve caught stripers on the original weightless white Hogy soft plastic. I’ve seen saying it’s a 6 inch lure but I actually now think it’s 7 inches.
For reel I’ve been going really light with a Shimano Nasci 2500 and a Banshee 7’4″ 10-17# medium heavy extra fast. Basically are largemouth bass setup.
Sounds like a perfect setup!