Sacramento River Fishing Report For Striped Bass, And White Sturgeon. February 5, 2018

      Outstanding weather conditions in the North State and the ending of the general duck season here in Northern California, has sent a hand full of outdoor enthusiasts out onto the Sacramento River. Looking for early signs of sturgeon, showing up in some of the more popular spots along the Sacramento River, from Verona, Ca to the closure point at Butte City, Ca.  Traditionally in low water years such as this year, the majority of white sturgeon will congregate from the holes around Grimes, Ca down river to Knights Landing, Ca. This is where a great deal of the sturgeon fishing will be done on the Sacramento River in the two months to come. Reports of a handful of fish being brought in were reported this week by sturgeon anglers fishing south of Wards Landing. From Meridian, Ca down river to Lupi's Bend just above Grimes, Ca. As another small surge of sturgeon pushed up river from the Delta. On the Sacramento Rivers last water rise. Fishing is only going to get better for sturgeon on the Sacramento River, as it reaches its peak in early March. Sturgeon fishing guides like Mike Rasmussen of SalmonSacRiver.com, have already been taking eager clients out on the river after these prehistoric river monsters. Rasmussen reports landing almost a dozen white sturgeon this week. Mostly oversized females, showing up to pick their spawning spots on the substrate of the Sacramento River. A rare green sturgeon was also reported being caught by the fishing guide this week. All the success this week came while soaking eel, according to Rasmussen. The much warmer night time air temperatures in the Sacramento Valley this week, allowing for overnight trips to begin, is also attributed to putting a few extra fish in the boat this week. Kittle's Outdoor and Sports in Colusa, Ca kittlesoutdoor.com, has been carrying all the usual live and frozen baits, and opening at 5:00am allowing you to arrive  at your launch before sunrise. With another good week of weather forecasted for the North State, you can expect reports to come rolling in this week as more and more anglers take to the river in search of newly arriving sturgeon.

The release of a Sacramento River green sturgeon caught by Mike's Guide Service on February 3, 2018. This species of sturgeon is endangered and are rare to catch on the Sacramento River. This fish was released without being removed from the river an…

The release of a Sacramento River green sturgeon caught by Mike's Guide Service on February 3, 2018. This species of sturgeon is endangered and are rare to catch on the Sacramento River. This fish was released without being removed from the river and swam off unharmed from the incidental catch.

      Striper fishing for the big sow stripers has been much slower this week with the arrival of the full super, and blue moon this week. It is still uncertain weather the big striped bass have progressed up the Sacramento River in search of the last release of juvenile steelhead from Coleman National Fish Hatchery. With the juvenile steelhead being reluctant to migrate down river in the currently low, and very clear water conditions of the Sacramento River. The awaiting striped bass who smell and sense the food source up river may have very well got tired of waiting for their meal ticket, and moved in a mass up river to find them. The full moon may have a lot to do with the bite slowing as well as the juvenile steelhead become very easy to target in the full moons light. Silhouetting the juvenile steelhead on the surface of the river on the main current line, becomes a favorite method of take for the large striped bass. Rasmussen reported catching several large bass this week, to 25 pounds on a night trip for sturgeon when the guide witnessed the large stripers feeding at night. Another 30 pound striper was caught by a guest of Rasmussen's on a night trip while having a 12 inch Matt Lures swim bait out behind the boat with the sturgeon bait. Time will tell this week as another week of sunshine is forecasted for Northern California. The few Sacramento River fishing guides like Billy Driessen and Mike Rasmussen along with the few big striper enthusiast like Paul Young and Greg Comer all taking advantage of the weather and river conditions. Searching for the missing trophy striped bass that were on the chomp so hard for the last two months. 

Cameron Glisan from Red Bluff, Ca squats with fishing guide Mike Rasmussen of Mike's Guide Service, next to a oversized white sturgeon Cameron caught on his guided fishing trip on the Sacramento River. 

Cameron Glisan from Red Bluff, Ca squats with fishing guide Mike Rasmussen of Mike's Guide Service, next to a oversized white sturgeon Cameron caught on his guided fishing trip on the Sacramento River. 

      On a positive note there has been plenty of schoolie sized stripers that have moved into the mix. Scattered from Woodson Bridge in Corning, Ca down river to Grimes, Ca. Nothing like the spring spawn but enough of a population to put a couple taco fish in the fish box on a average outing, The A-Rig is and a single 4" swim bait, either Ki-Tech or Reaction Innovations, have been performing well for the smaller striped bass. Averaging in size from 15" inches to 28" inches in size.  Other baits such as rip baits and spoons are also producing well in the much clearer then usual Sacramento River. The arrival of the schoolie stripers give a person just enough reason to get outdoors and enjoy all Northern California has to offer. 

This pair of Sacramento River striped bass were brought to the boat on February 2, 2018 while fishing the Red Bluff, Ca region of the Sacramento River, here in Northern California. Striped Bass fishing guide Mike Rasmussen used the Alabama Rig to ca…

This pair of Sacramento River striped bass were brought to the boat on February 2, 2018 while fishing the Red Bluff, Ca region of the Sacramento River, here in Northern California. Striped Bass fishing guide Mike Rasmussen used the Alabama Rig to catch these feisty striped bass. 

      For information on booking a striped bass guided fishing trip, or a day or night time sturgeon fishing trip on the Sacramento River you can contact Mike Rasmussen of Mike's Guide Service by cell phone at callto:530-722-8876 or visit him on the web at SalmonSacRiver.com or by email at mailto:salmonsacriver@gmail.com.   

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