caunltd:

Nice – I fish those same rivers! In fact, if hadn’t gone to bed late last night, I would have been out on the American this morning!!

I typically fish striper using minnow plugs and topwater now. Before, when I could spend the time rigging and sitting out waiting, I’d fish cut anchovie, cut sardine, live blood worms, live bluegil (where it’s legal), live crawdads, and live shad.

The sardines and anchovie work pretty well in parts of the delta, esspecially near Discovery Park. The Sacramento will yeild striper in MANY depths, and they typically aren’t all that far from the bank. Certain stretches of river, they will be hugging the current break only 10ft from the shoreline. That’s usually areas that are adjacent to deeper stretches of river that are too deep and fast for comfortable striper “lounging.” The sacramento river, for bankies, is definitely a hit n’ miss fishery. The stripers follow the bait schools, and that means they move – constantly. A good thing to look at are the online reports from striper guides on the river and see their natural progression. IE – if you saw a report of striper being caught at randal island, and then two days later there’s a report of striper activity at clarksburg – then you know a pod/school is moving up river and the best bet is to make a stand above that.

I have been in salmon/steelhead mode lately, so I haven’t been targetting striper or watching the reports. However, you can find them quite easily online. Many local guides post reports that are VERY easy to decipher and figure out where they are.

Back to the bait/fishing stuff.
If you have the opportunity, fish with a friend. Have one fish in close, the other fish out a ways. This is BY FAR the most effective way to manage finding distance for schools of fish. Also, if you’re catching schoolies, or getting your bait stolen by little nibblers, MOVE ON. Striper are a schooling fish – and the school with other’s of the same/similar size. IE – schoolies, 3-6lb’ers, 6-10lb’ers, 10-20lb’ers. the exception is that BIG striper, 20+ lbs can survive without the help of the school for protection.

It’s a relatively slow point, as I’ve heard from others that are still targetting them, so I wouldn’t be too sure just yet that you’re not doing the “right” thing. Striper will hit many baits and lures – regardless of the presentation. Just keep trying.

I’d write more – but I’m leaving work right now – and I’ve got a lot to get ready for thanksgiving tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mike G:

sluggo!! its a rubber worm. and if that fails which 7/10 times it doesnt, try a big spoon or even cut up herring.

good luck!
-mike