The lack of rainfall in Northern California this winter, has lead to another good trophy striped bass season on the Sacramento River. Very little rainfall equals, many days of fishing. The Sacramento River historically has somewhere around a fifty percent chance of being blown out at this time of year. Many years the winter months are spent staring at a dirty, debris littered Sacramento River. Swollen from strong pacific storms that typically slam the Northern California coast this time of year. Leaving only maybe a handful of days to fish for the trophy class striped bass that are “holding over” in the river prior to he spring spawn. However that was then and this is now. The past decade has been exceptionally dry for the early part of winter. December, January and even February have been drought stricken for the better part of this last decade. Bad for Sacramento River salmon. Great for Sacramento River striped bass. This winter of 2020 has been no exception. Little rain! Big Stripers!

The striped bass fishing on the Sacramento River has been widespread. The same can safely be said about the catching. Striped bass fishing charters and recreational anglers have shared a very productive season thus far. Very few days of down time have been had, due to poor river conditions. The lack of rain has allowed the Sacramento River to remain low and clear for the majority of the winter season. Up to this point anyhow. With all the hype these days behind the trophy striped bass fishery the Sacramento River hosts. The attendance of anglers present at local boat ramps every day, was nothing less then impressive. These ideal conditions made for some amazing opportunities. Opportunities for anglers of all skill levels to potentially catch that striped bass of a lifetime. On any given cast. On a seventy mile stretch of the Sacramento River. Many anglers experiencing their “personal best”(PB) striped bass. Dozens of striped bass in the thirty pound class and a handful of slobs weighing in the fourty pound class. Hit the digital scales of anglers who were more likely then not, still shaking from the experience. The largest known striped bass to my recollection this season. Would have to be the 49 pound monster striper caught by hard core striped bass enthusiasts Nate Barbour. Who has brought a plethora of trophy class striped bass to be viewed on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. “NorCal Nate” has made a undeniable name for himself and his favorite glide bait! “Sneaky Pete”! Nate has featured Sneaky Pete hanging, dangling, and sticking out of the lips of 500 pounds of striped bass so far this season. Well that might be a slight exaggeration. I’d have to actually do the math. But I think the point is made that the Nate and Sneaky Pete duo, has been a pretty solid combination so far in 2020.

The fishability of GRatt produced glide bait Sneaky Pete, has changed the winter striped bass fishing game as we knew it. A fishery that only a select handful of anglers took advantage of. The select few anglers that had access to custom, hand made glide baits. By the pioneers of bait making. A decade prior to the bait making phenomenon that now drives it’s own industry. These few og striped bass die hards took lessons and “hand me down” custom glide baits from their bass fishing connections. Who used these colossal artificial baits for giant largemouth bass on the West Coast. Not easy to get your hands on and almost unaffordable custom glide baits, kept the majority of anglers out of the loop or unwilling to embark on such a unknown and expensive adventure. As time passed and commercial glide baits as well as dozens of private bait makers ventured into the market of “wake baits” or subsurface “swimbaits” (glide baits). They became more available and prices came down. Making it more affordable to own, throw, and cast off these expensive lures. The kind of lures that could potentially cause divorces if the sticker price were to ever be honestly revealed. The timing and need for a affordable, good swimming, good looking glide bait was upon us. Gratt Baits had the perfect solution for the glide bait craze that has taken off in the striped bass fishery in Northern California. The answer! “Sneaky Pete”! Sneaky Pete has been steeling the show this 2020 season. Period! Even more impressive from a fishing guides perspective. Sneaky Pete has given every person casting one the opportunity at catching giant striped bass. Trophies that were only dreamt about before now. Dozens of striped bass fishermen and women have accomplished beating or setting a PB(personal best) striped bass on behalf of Sneaky Pete! Which has quickly become a house hold name to striped bass anglers abroad.

The striped bass fishing has slowed but not stopped completely this past week. As anglers had to face poor water quality conditions in two consecutive back to back river rises. Steming from recent rainfall events in Northern California over the past week. Recent fishing charter reports from the Sacramento River are still very positive when they are able to get back on the water. As the Sacramento River begins to clear up following a rain storm. The larger trophy class fish have been scarcest for the last week or so. With no whoppers to brag about or show off pictures of. Conditions are currently getting better by the day for the upper Sacramento River. Anglers should be right back in the action by the middle of next week. With no real rain storms in the near future. Trophy striped bass fishing should resume right where it left off. On Fire!!

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.