River Stripers

The river system in the Sacramento Valley in Northern California has resident stripers living in it year round that can be caught with a fly rod. Fish sizes range wildly from 10” juvenile stripers to monsters over 40 pounds. If you have not caught a striper on fly, they are an absolute blast. We throw streamer flies imitating baitfish on sinking lines and the stripers viciously eat them. During the warmer months we can throw top water flies in the early part of the day and get them to eat on the surface. Their power is incredible and many would argue they are the hardest fighting fish in the state pound for pound. We fish for the striped bass out of my 20’ G3 150/105 jet boat. This allows us to get around quickly, go through shallow water, and it has plenty of space for two anglers fishing while I control the boat.

Our main striper season goes from March through November. December through February when the river is clear is can be lower numbers but shots at big fish.