COLUSA – The striped bass tsunami is not only affecting both sides of the California Delta, but striped bass activity remains in full swing with fish spread from Freeport to Colusa. As is the annual rite of passage during the spawning season in the Sacramento River, guides from other locations have relocated to the Colusa-area to skim off the cream before heading back to their home waters. Rob Reimers of Rustic Rob’s Guide Service out of Yuba City fishes the river year-round, and he reported linesides are scattered throughout the river from Knight’s Landing to Colusa with drifting live minnows the top technique. Jeff Goodwin of Jeff Goodwin Guide Service in Redding will head down to the river for salmon, steelhead, rainbow trout, and striped bass season, and he reported that the recent cooler weather has kept the water temperatures in the 50’s, holding stripers in the Tisdale to Colusa section of the Sacramento River.

There will be a big spawn in the coming weeks when water temperature rise to the mid-60’s, but there are still fresh stripers arriving daily!

In the metropolitan Sacramento area, Uncle Larry Barnes at Sacramento Pro Tackle reported linesides from 6 to 20 pounds are taken on pile worms below Highway 80 on the west side of the river along with decent concentrations from Miller Regional Park upriver to Verona. Glidebaits up to 5 inches in shad or trout patterns, trolling, casting, drifting live bait, or soaking cut baits are all working. Bob Sparre of Bob Sparre’s Guide Service has been fishing the lower Sacramento River for stripers and continues to see larger females with fish to 19 pounds caught trolling, and jigging. There are also plenty of smaller fish in the mix.

Nor-Cal Guides & Sportsmen’s Association (NCGASA) two-day striped bass derby at the Colusa State Park was a huge success with all proceeds from the derby dedicated to our scientists who have been working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Fish and Game Commission to develop a Fisheries Management Plan for striped bass.

A Fisheries Management Plan has not been developed for the species, and this is one of the most powerful forces in the sustainability of the species. The plan may include changes in minimum size, a slot-limit, or seasons. 90 participants entered the event with the David Benham winning the prestigious Grand Champion by being closest to the target length.

There were winners on both Saturday and Sunday with a male-only target length at 27 5/8th inches on Saturday with a male-only target length at 20 1/4th inches. All fish over 30 inches are to be released.

• To watch video on NCGASA’s YouTube Channel, click here. 

Saturday’s winners:
Adult Division – 1st – David Benham- 27 1/8th
2nd – Tim Thomas – 26 1/2th
3rd – Braden Schrader – 29 1/2th

Big Fish – Logan Alexander – 30 inches

Sunday’s winners:
Adult Division –
1st – Will Heilker- 20 1/4th 3.99 pounds
2nd – Mike Hendry- 20 1/4th 3.90 pounds
3rd – Dave Conger 20 1/4th 3.78 pounds

Youth Division –
1st – Waylon Leroux 20 1/4th
2nd – Hudson Schrader 20
3rd – Wade Leroux 19 3/8th