And it has begun! Right on time, and without further ado… the striped bass have arrived. In some what of a grand fashion. As they moved into the upper Sacramento River. Reports from private anglers and fishing guides like Ryan Tripp who made the drive to Verona, Ca last weekend. Couldn’t have been more accurate. Reporting the striper action was “all you want” style fishing at the confluence of the Feather River in Verona. When I asked Tripp which river the massive school of stripers was headed up. He replied “the Sac”! Tedeso Chavez from Sacramento, Ca reported very similar information from the recreational angling community. Ted fished the Verona, Ca area on Monday April 1, 2024. Releasing a dozen keeper sized stripers and securing his limit, Chavez also implied the stripers were marching up the Sacramento River side of the confluence with the Feather River. Both of these reports seemed to be right on time as the Sacramento River surrounding Colusa, Ca loaded up with quality keeper size striped bass by Wednesday April 3, 2024. These stripers didn’t waist anytime while moving up the Sacramento River.

Widespread action was underway by the fleet of fishing charter services and fishing guides who fished both North and South of the Colusa area on Wednesday. Water conditions being less then ideal didn’t stop the schoolie linesides from gobbling up every live minnows they could find swimming on the river bottom. A short swimbait bite also took place in the early morning hours prior to sunrise, and again in the evening. Small “boils” (stripers feeding on the rivers surface) erupted North of Colusa in some of the stripers favorite spots. Quickly being shut down by jet boats racing back to the boat ramp before darkness fell on the river bottom. This reported by Ryan Tripp of ryantrippsguideservice.com. Who spends a tremendous amount of time on the water. Expect more of the same action to take place moving forward in the coming days. As more and more striped bass move up river into the spawning grounds preparing for the annual spring spawn.

Striped bass fishing certainly hasn’t reached its peak by any means. There will be much more to come. For now at least there are some targets to fish for. Nice ones too! With about half of the catch being between six and ten pounds. Very respectable grade of striped bass.

Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout. The Best Sacramento River Salmon Fishing Guide and Striped Bass Fishing Guide on the Sacramento River.