Despite miserable winter weather, and fluctuating river conditions on the upper region of the Sacramento River, near Red Bluff, Ca. The striped bass anglers willing to grind it out all day in the continuously changing winter weather conditions. Were able to put their PB’s (personal best) in the boat by the days end. On most occasions! Winds blowing cold, dry air from the North one day. Followed by a wet bone chilling South wind the following day. Seemed to be somewhat of a common occurrence this past week, here in Northern California. Making fishing conditions for these trophy striped bass less then ideal. Hinging more on the miserable side during the early am hours of the daily trips. Starting off the daily adventure with a 35mph uncovered boat ride, in nearly freezing air temperatures. Really sets the tone for the numb and frozen finger tips that come with the first volley of glide bait casting. It doesn’t take long for first timers to gain a different kind of respect for anglers consistently targeting this winter striper fishery. In ever changing conditions I might add. Most of which are undesirable and unwelcome this time of year. Hot Hands https://hothands.com/ (hand warmers) are a must have for the first daylight hour spent casting. As bad and as miserable as this fishery may sound, and certainly not for everyone, and understandably so. The reward of this fishery’s trophy catches will undoubtedly be worth everything that was endured by the angler during his/her quest for the “big one”. These giant west coast striped bass don’t just give it up per say. Catching your personal best striper here on the upper Sacramento River could and has happened in the first five or ten cast of the fishing trip. However it is much more conceivable that the fish you are after could take more like 500-1000 casts to catch. It would be fair to say a trophy striped bass caught during these winter months, was most certainly earned by the angler. As it should be. In my personal opinion.

Client “Ricky” holds up a great striper he caught on the Sacramento River, prior to its release back into the river. Photo credits to Garrett Kenyon

Most of the reported trophy striper fishing action taking place this past week on the Sacramento River. Was had at the hands of the only two locally owned and operating fishing guide for hire services. Who are targeting this trophy west coast striped bass fishery during the winter months. Fishing guides Robbert Petty northstatesalmon.com and Mike Rasmussen SalmonSacRiver.com both agreed that the fishing was about as unsettled as the weather this past week. The week started out fantastic for Sacramento River fishing guide Robert Petty. Putting his clients on a 45 inch 45 pound donkey striper. While dragging some rubber on the gravel river bottom of the Sacramento Rivers deeper holes. By mid week Petty had produced several trophy class fish over 3O pounds for his clients. A solid 35 pound, as well as a 36 pound trophy striped bass ended up the two biggest for the remainder of the week, for fishing guide Robert Petty. Fishing charter service SalmonSacRiver.com owner and operator Mike Rasmussen, had a much slower start to the past week. Rasmussen contributes gusty North winds to the difficult fishing he endured early in the week. Boat control being deemed the biggest issue for the captain. As the 30+mph sustained winds blew down the Sacramento Valley in consecutive days. High pressure giving way to low barometric pressure in Northern California mid last week caused daytime weather conditions to change for the better. According to striped bass fishing guide Mike Rasmussen. His clients doing their part, putting a trophy striper over 30 pounds in his Beckman https://beckmanfishingnets.com/ net for three consecutive days to end the week. With a handful of smaller schoolie stripers running 8-15 pounds. Helping to mix up the action some. Rasmussen accrediting the cloud cover and barometric pressure change to his luck changing by mid week. “Sneaky Pete” in the blush trout pattern claiming the two biggest PB striped bass for two lucky SalmonSacRiver.com clients.

Client Roque Sablon holds up a hefty striped bass he caught on a custom glide bait. Roque was fishing the Sacramento River near Red Bluff, Ca last week with striped bass fishing guide Robert Petty of NorthStateSalmon!

On the private angling side of things it was a quiet week for the most part. Social media photos were seemingly non existent from the local trophy hunters. Who stay married to catching and posting jaw dropping striper photos. On occasion leading unknowing and eager newcomers to attempt their own first shot at this fishery. The locals making it appear as though anyone with a jet boat, small or large, can join in on the action. PLEASE DON’T BE FOOLED! This is a dangerous misconception that local anglers as well as fishing guides, who by second nature navigate the upper Sacramento River with ease. Unknowingly portraying to striped bass anglers from outside the area, that this river can be safely navigated in its current condition. Extensive knowledge of the Sacramento River’s water levels, flow rates, channels of navigation, and the ability to recognize unidentifiable dangers to the untrained eye, is the only course of safe navigation in this waterway.

Practicing catch and release is a huge part of this fishery. It is urged to release these brood-stock striped bass to ensure productive and successful spawning. As well as to sustain a healthy population of west coast linesides.

Although it was primarily quiet and very little reporting on the private angling side of this trophy fishery. There were two familiar faces to the giant striper game that made reports via social media last week. Anthony Crawford of Got Fish Guide Service https://www.facebook.com/248441385517924/ . Who made a Facebook appearance early in the week. Holding up some big, quality, striped bass caught on a quick trip down the Sacramento River. For those who don’t know, Anthony Crawford is no new face to big west coast striped bass. Or to throwing giant glide baits to catch them. Anthony may be excepting reservations to book a guided trip for this trophy fishery. However at this time I am unsure of his availability. I would urge you to contact him directly for additional information and availability. The other reporting party to social media this past week was Garret Dixon https://www.instagram. You com/p/CKeU1YhrJsu/?igshid=19gpzn3lbnl9b. A household name to this trophy striper fishery on the west coast. The guy knows as much about striped bass behaviors, habits, and hiding places as the striped bass themselves do. Not to mention the influence and overall impact he and his business partner Hank Dubose have had on this fishery as a whole. Leading the way and making it possible for any angler, of any skill level, to be able to have the opportunity to affordably purchase, cast, effectively retrieve, and catch, trophy striped bass of a lifetime. Without spending several hundred dollars on a single custom glide bait. That will likely cost you another couple hundred dollars when you have to buy a new heavy weight stick to chuck the bait with. I can’t say how many striped bass anglers have caught their PB’s on a Sneaky Pete from Gratt Baits https://www.g-rattbaits.com/, but the number would be shocking. Here on the Sacramento River “Sneaky” is king. Many, many dedicated striper anglers personal best striped bass have come at the hands of this smaller profile glide bait. Co-owner Garret Dixon did make it out mid week to throw a prototype of the upcoming “Papa Pete”! A ten inch version of the smaller Sneaky Pete. Fishing with Garrett Dixon was well know accomplished angler and we’ll rounded outdoorsman Kevin Mattson https://instagram.com/kevin__mattson?igshid=1otwp7kgmswb8. Who landed a quality striped bass that went 18 pounds. Along with some beefy 10-12 pounders. Joining Kevin on this hog quest was Matt Peters https://instagram.com/southernswimbait?igshid=4gykure1e9jh. Who also got in on the action as well as a memory to loose sleep over. Having a very close encounter with a 40+ pound monster striped bass. Matt watched this true giant take a swing at his bait. Only to miss by inches at the boat. A fairly common occurrence that never gets easy to experience.

A cold wet winter day produced this quality striper for this guest of SalmonSacRiver fishing charter. Earlier this week.

This trophy striper fishery on the Sacramento River will stay consistent fishing for willing anglers through the month of February. Possibly into early March. All depending on the winter weather conditions. With a considerable amount of precipitation forecasted https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?gage=vwbc1&wfo=sto for Northern California. It is likely we will loose the river to muddy high river flows for a week or two to come. Again, entirely depending on exactly how much precipitation actually falls in the Sacramento Valley and surrounding foothills.

Angler Kevin Mattson and his guest Matt Peters hold up a dandy striped bass they caught on a recent fishing trip on the Sacramento River. Fishing with Gratt Baits Co-owner Garrett Dixon. Who grew up locally, spending the better part of two decades. … — Angler Kevin Mattson and his guest Matt Peters hold up a dandy striped bass they caught on a recent fishing trip on the Sacramento River. Fishing with Gratt Baits Co-owner Garrett Dixon. Who grew up locally, spending the better part of two decades. Targeting and guiding stripers on the Sacramento River.

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.

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