Sacramento River Striped bass fishing is very productive year after year. Guided Striped bass fishing trips are best in April and May.
The Sacramento River Striped bass fishing season is coming and all indicators point towards some good Striped bass fishing beginning in late March. The fishing can be really good at the end of March, but to be safe, most of our client trips will be scheduled from April 1st through the end of May. By April 1st, our guides have located the big schools of Striped bass in the Sacramento River and will be catching limits daily.
The Striped bass in the Sacramento River system begin their annual spawning migration from the near coastal regions and California Delta waterways around March of every year. With the turbid spring flows in the Sacramento River system every spring, hundreds of thousands of Striped bass take advantage of these conditions and make their spawning run up river. Turbid, or stained water, is the key to the Striped bass migrations and without these conditions, the Colusa area of the Sacramento River won’t see a large population of spawners coming up and holding in the area.
Striped bass fishing in the California Delta yields some excellent fishing opportunities during low water years in the spring.
During drier years, the Striped bass fishing tends to be better lower in the Sacramento River system and can often be the best in the California Delta. We’ve had some great wet year seasons since 2016, but in 2015, the best Striped bass fishing was found in the California Delta. Fishing in the Delta can be a challenge, primarily because of its geographical mass. The Delta has over one thousand miles of shoreline and fishing conditions can be heavily influenced by tides and high winds. Its not real practical for our guide team to run trips down in the Delta, but during drought years, its certainly an option if thats where we need to go to get our clients on some good Striped bass fishing on the Sacramento-San Joaquin River systems.
Tackle and techniques for spring Striped bass fishing is pretty much the same no matter where we choose to fish. Trolling live minnows for Striped bass is very effective up river, but its also very effective when fishing down in the Delta as well. Now while trolling minnows is our number one technique, fast trolling big deep or shallow diving stick baits is very effective as well.
Limits of Striped bass are pretty much a given during April and May on the Sacramento River.
No matter which technique you choose, Striped bass are very aggressive feeders and when your minnow or diving lure gets attacked, you’ll know it! I think Striped bass are, pound for pound, one of the hardest fighting fish in the west and not too many fishermen will argue that statement. If the point of Striped bass being great fighting fish wasn’t enough, Striped bass are very good on the dinner table as well. These two facts about Striped bass make them a prized sport fish, and believe it or not, one of the most popular fisheries for the northern California guides who fish for them.
Sacramento River Striped bass fishing in April!
Many of our days during the Sacramento River Striped bass season have pretty good weather which makes fishing for them all the more enjoyable. Add some pretty steady action and a fish box full of great tasting Striped bass fillets and you have the elements of a great fishing trip. We generally have two to three boats available daily during Striped bass season and each boat can comfortably handle four to six anglers, depending on which Captain you are booked to fish with. We have great equipment to fish with and provide everything your group will need for a day of fishing for Striped bass.
We’re reserving dates now so if this sounds like a fun trip and you’d like to book a day or two for your party, call Jaynie at our office to get your day of Striped bass fishing all set up. We can accommodate large groups, multi day trips, or even a private trip for you and that special someone in your life. We will be filling dates from April 1st through May and beyond if the good fishing holds.
Tight lines, and we’ll look forward to meeting you at the boat launch the day of your trip!
Capt. Jeff,,
