Guides Challenged On Sac River Spring Stripers Scouting Trip

The following appears in the May issue of California Sportsman:

By Mark Fong

One of the few certainties of spring is that it is certain that the weather will be uncertain. This spring is a perfect example.

After many weeks of unseasonably warm temperatures, Northern California was impacted by
a series of late-season cold fronts that brought snow, rain and thunderstorms. And nothing impacts striped bass fishing in the Sacramento and Feather Rivers more than water temperatures, water flows and water clarity.

On a recent scouting trip to the Sacramento River with Brett Brady of Bare Bones Guide Service, I experienced this first hand.

A FORTUITIOUS INVITE

Late one Saturday afternoon, Brady reached out and asked me if I would like to join him and fellow guide Wes Hoskins of Grey Light Guide Service the next morning, as they were making a quick scouting trip to the river in preparation for client trips that they had scheduled for the following week.

After a week of relatively stable weather, a cold front had arrived and dumped a bunch of rain up and down the Sacramento Valley. With the forecast calling for more rain and high winds, I was prepared to get wet.

When I arrived at the Tisdale boat ramp, Brady was already in the process of launching his 22-foot Rogue jet boat. I quickly grabbed my gear from my truck and met Brady and Hoskins at the ramp. The sky was overcast, but thankfully it was not raining. The river level was high and the water was somewhat off-colored.

BASS ON THE MOVE

Before we get to the fishing, it’s important to set the scene on the Sac River. Over the previous week or so, river levels had been falling as water releases from upstream were reduced. When this happened, the large group of striped bass that anglers were catching upriver in the Colusa area made a hurried retreat back downriver. As this was happening, releases from upstream were increased to generate a pulse flow to push a large release of salmon smolts downriver towards the ocean.

The increased water flows subsequently lured the stripers back upriver. Add in the runoff from the recent rain storms, and what you have is a rising river with decreased clarity, lots of debris and – more importantly – striped bass that are moving and scattered throughout the system. Brady and Hoskins routinely face challenges like this every season in their quest to put fish in the boat for their clients.

SWIMBAIT SWAGGER

After leaving the ramp, Brady headed upriver towards Grimes. Brady likes to fish swimbaits, and our first stop of the morning was a large sandy flat with a group of deadheads protruding just above the surface of the water.

The anticipation of the first fish of the morning always creates a high level of intensity. On my first cast towards the flat, it took just a few cranks of the reel before I felt a fish smack my swimbait, but it did not connect. I kept a steady wind, and halfway back to the boat another fish ate my bait. It took one quick run

and then it was just gone. All went quiet for me after that, but Brady was busy in the back of the boat catching and releasing several nice fish in the 5-pound range.

Just before we were about to move to another spot, I finally hooked up with my first fish of the morning. After several strong runs, I had the striper at the side of the boat where I reached over and released the fish to fight another day.

‘FEEDING FRENZY’

Now back underway, Brady again headed upriver. As we approached another sandbar, Brady and Hoskins spied a flurry of surface action near the upper end. A group of stripers had pinned some of the recently released salmon smolts against the sandbar and were in the middle of a feeding frenzy.

This time it was Hoskins who was the first to connect. Over the next half hour or so the fish were on a steady bite. Unfortunately, all the boat traffic and added fishing pressure soon put the fish down.

GOING LIVE, GOING HOME

With the swimbait bite over, Brady decided to fish a few areas with live minnows before heading back to the ramp. The stripers were scattered and pretty finicky. We had a few grabs where the fish would bite but then were gone, as they simply failed to hold onto the bait.

As the morning progressed, water clarity continued to deteriorate and the river began to fill with debris. It was time to call it a day after a little bit of productive fun.

Now spring striper season is ready to take off. Give it a shot this month in the Delta. CS

Editor’s note: Brett Brady is a multi-species guide specializing in striped bass, trout, kokanee and landlocked salmon. To book a trip with Brett or to learn more, visit his website at fishbarebones.com, follow him onFacebook at Bare Bones Guide Service or contact him directly at (530) 263-4451.