Striped Bass season here in Northern California is in full swing! Both major river systems here in the Northern Sacramento Valley are loaded with linesides that are here for the taking. The Feather River continued to fish well over the weekend despite the high flows that continue to tear the river banks and surrounding area's agriculture apart. With the weather finally giving in to more sunny spring time like conditions here in Northern California, it brought with it heavy boat traffic, as recreational anglers came out with the warming weather and reports of stripers being caught right in downtown Yuba City, Ca. Disregarding the Feather River's flow rate and just getting out fishing seemed to put many striped bass under the knife as most all boater had success catching the hard fighting striped bass. Mike Rasmussen of SalmonSacRiver.com reported showing up to the Feather River Saturday morning at around 10:30 am to finish his boat limit for the striped bass derby being held at Steelhead Lodge back on the Sacramento River. "I just wanted a change of pace." Reported Rasmussen as he explained he had fished the Sacramento River alone for the most part before being run out this weekend by the weekend crowds that descended on the hole he and one or two other guides had been fishing for weeks. The Sacramento River striped bass fishing guide reported on April 23, 2017 after doing two trips with boat limits for both trips Sunday and a easy afternoon fishing the Feather River for the derby, Rasmussen seemed to think this run will go for quite sometime and reported fish were easy to come by if you found a productive pockets where stripers could duck the heavy flows of the main river current. The Feather River continues to be very productive for the river guides who have been working the Yuba City, Ca boat launch. Limits have come easy when the right water on the river is targeted. Rasmussen reported Sunday April 23, 2017 having his boat limit of 10 striped bass in the fish box in less then a hours efforts on the river. Only to return for his afternoon trip with a very similar outcome. Six bass to several pounds completed his day and again only taking less then a hour.

This photo was taken by Mike Rasmussen of SalmonSacRiver.com on April 23, 2017 after returning  from his first guided striped bass fishing trip of the day on the Feather River in Yuba City, Ca. — This photo was taken by Mike Rasmussen of SalmonSacRiver.com on April 23, 2017 after returning from his first guided striped bass fishing trip of the day on the Feather River in Yuba City, Ca.

The Sacramento River in Colusa, Ca also saw its fair share of angling enthusiast who took to the river over the weekend looking to score some striped bass of their own and enjoying the warm and sunny conditions over the weekend. Steelhead Lodge hosted the first annual striped bass derby by the NorCal Guides Ass. on Saturday, turning the place into a mad house with most all of the North States river guides, clients and other anglers that participated sticking around the popular boat launch and bar for the sunny Saturday on the Sacramento River. Northern California striped bass fishing guide Mike Rasmussen reported that on Saturday April 22, 2017 he had a wide open troll bite go off at his favorite fishing spot up river from Colusa, Ca. Fishing with Rasmussen were five contestants in the NorCal Striper Derby who all hooked quality striped bass while trolling broken back Rebels and Yo-Zuri deep divers for the first two hours of the competition, landing five stripers to 23.5 inches and loosing just as many before the flotilla arrived just as the sun came up. Rasmussen reported the Sacramento River continues to struggle with the seasonally high water flows being released from Keswick Damn in Shasta Co, Ca trying to keep Lake Shasta in good hydrological standing as the spring run off continues to pour into a currently full lake. "There are plenty of striped bass in the Sacramento River system right now, there are just not a lot of places to target them." Rasmussen explained. The fishermen, river guides included, that are willing to go experiment and look around and step outside the box are doing very well on the Sacramento River currently despite the swollen and dirty river. Striped bass are being caught on all the popular baits and lures when located and targeted by anglers. The key to success this season on the Sacramento River this season has seemed to be just being out on the river and taking advantage of the opportunities that the high river flows produce.

Criss Olson from Anderson, Ca took this photo Saturday morning on the 22nd of April as Rasmussen and his crew embark on their trolling game plan for the NorCal Guides Ass. striped bass derby at Steelhead Lodge.

Limits have come in everyday for the last couple weeks as striped bass fishing guide Mike Rasmussen of SalmonSacRiver.com continues to just "stay on the bite" as he describes it. Fishing is excellent and now is the time to get out on one of Northern California's river systems and get rewarded with the satisfaction of catching striped bass in much different river conditions then in normal year. The striped bass season here in Northern California is far from over and the buzz from the local striped bass fishing guides is that of a long season. Lasting until June most veteran river guides are saying. So get out and take advantage of the opportunity to try something new. I think you will find great satisfaction as a striped bass angler having to face such different river conditions then in previous years. You must start by just getting out there and giving it a go. Good Luck!!!

A day spent with the kids on the river can be one of the most rewarding days of fishing you could possibly have.  All smiles here as these youngsters found plenty of action on the Feather River while fishing with Mike Rasmussen of SalmonSacRive… — A day spent with the kids on the river can be one of the most rewarding days of fishing you could possibly have. All smiles here as these youngsters found plenty of action on the Feather River while fishing with Mike Rasmussen of SalmonSacRiver.c0m

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