…lights out striper fishing for Northern California anglers. With the spring striped bass run bearing down on us, you can be rest assured that this striper season will be a productive and plentiful one. Very similar to the last two striper seasons. California reservoirs, Lake Shasta, and Lake Oroville, are nearly full, and releasing a much higher volume of water than on normal years. For those unknowing the higher river flows bring the large mass of migrating striped bass much farther up the Sacramento and Feather Rivers. A general rule of thumb is “the higher the river water, the farther up the rivers the stripers will migrate”. During a very high water year (similar to this year) stripers may migrate up the Sacramento River as far as Chico, Ca. On the Feather River as far up river as Gridley, Ca. It is likely this may end up being the scenario this season if river conditions stay as they are.

The past two seasons on the Sacramento and Feather Rivers have had outstanding striper fishing. Due to the excessive water runoff from the past two wet winners. This season is shaping up to be no different. Anglers can expect much of the same action this season. The high river levels allow anglers to choose from a variety of methods when targeting striped bass. Using live minnows when targeting striped bass is a fail proof and time tested technique that is hard to beat. However, when river flows remain high into the season, anglers can also expect great success, using other techniques such as trolling, casting swim baits, casting the black worm and using the highly productive new technique of jigging tube baits. A technique I personally tested last season with astounding results. Needless to say expectations remain high as we approach the 2025 spring striper season in Northern California.

The spring striped bass returning to spawn on the Sacramento and Feather River are very predictable as to their run timing. Showing up like clockwork following the full moon in March. Colusa California is ground zero for the spring striped bass run on the Sacramento river. While Yuba City is the ground zero location for the spring striped bass on the feather river. The widely popular striper season will typically last through May. Peaking out toward the end of April and the beginning of May. As I previously mentioned a wide variety of artificial and live bait can be used. Kittles Outdoor and Sport in Colusa, Ca has all your tackle needs when targeting striped bass on the Sacramento River. Kittles supplies anglers with all the top performing artificial baits as well as an endless supply of live and cut baits. The staff at Kittles is beaming with knowledge and always willing to answer questions and give solid suggestion to arriving anglers. Much of the same quality treatment can be expected by anglers who are fishing the Feather River. Here you will want to stop in at Johnson’s Bait and Tackle in Yuba City, California. Also located very close to the most popular boat launches on the Feather River. Johnsons Bait And Tackle is open early and has everything you need. Again, a friendly staff with a plethora of knowledge, who are willing and ready to help you with any questions or needs you may have. This tackle store also supplies anglers with live and cut bait as well as an entire store stuffed with artificial lures. Make sure to stop in and support your local tackle stores when striper season rolls around.

It is never too early to book a striper fishing trip with a professional guide to ensure some high pace, highly productive, striped bass fishing action. Local fishing guides who target the spring striped bass run are constantly on the water and in tune with the whereabouts and feeding patterns of the schools of striped bass. Ensuring a highly productive fishing trip for you and your guest. There are plenty of local fishing guides to choose from. Each having their own strategies and tried techniques in catching striped bass. We here at SalmonSacRiver Are currently taking reservations for this 2025 season. Options for anglers include day time fishing trips, nighttime fishing trips, artificial lure fishing trips, fly fishing trips, and more. We can accommodate any size group and provide all tackle needed for these fishing trips. We are a full service fishing charter business who has fished the spring striped bass run in Northern California for over twenty years. To book a reservation with us for the upcoming season simply give us a call at 530-722-8876. Or visit our website SalmonSacRiver.com and fill out a submission form, we will contact you as soon as we can. We are looking forward to another, very productive and prosperous season. I hope to see you all out there. Tight Lines!

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.