American River Stripers

86ranger · Post by **86ranger** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:03 am

I have lived in Sacramento for many years now and have not been able to catch a striper from the American River to date. I have tried bait fishing and lures without any luck. I would love to get in on all the action I hear so many people talk about. Any suggestions on places to fish on the river? I have a canoe and kayak if needed. What bait should I throw? What time of year should I try?

Dan McKenzie · Post by **Dan McKenzie** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 1:31 pm

Best advice I can give you is to find a local guide and book a half
day trip. You'll get more information in that time than 20 trips on your own. I've gone out with Bill Lowe out of Sac, I think he is primarily a Fly Guide. I know for sure there are plenty of guides in that area, talk to someone at your local tackle dealer.

Bill kizer · Post by **Bill kizer** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 2:18 pm

Good advice, in addition, though some strippers stay in the river year round the big run is in the spring.
Book a guided trip in the spring, it's a blast and if the conditions are right you'll get fishing elbow from all the reeling you have to do.
Bill

fishwithwill · Post by **fishwithwill** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:03 pm

Those fish are in every hole deep enough for salmon. They especially like wood, abutments and big rip rap roccks, pipes with flowing water. I fish and SCUBA dive in the river and most commonly see them in water that is head high or deeper and water that is still or just barely moving (They like the couch next to the treadmill). They are in there all year and so few fish for them that so little is talked about. Use conventional striper topwater, esp pencil poppers and spooks, swimbaits and rip baits. Oh ya and of course, live bait like shiners, pikeminnow and Pacific crayfish, work best. Fish low light hours and night if legal. Put in your time, talk to everyone, know your fish and you shall be rewarded. Careful the river is fast, cold and snaggy.
Fat sacks,
William Wright

troymaggy · Post by **troymaggy** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 8:25 am

throw pencil poppers in the lowe stretch of the river RIGHT NOW! The night bite has been awsome. The nice thing about fishing now is you can bag both salmon and stripers. Troll gitzits or glowing Kwikfish for salmon. Troll shallow diving rebels or bombers for stripers. Have that popper on deck just in case. My freinds are getting nice fish almost every night. Good luck!

Elmhurst bassman · Post by **Elmhurst bassman** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:10 am

I will go out with you if I can. Maybe we will do better than the salmon experience when we were almost capsized by B.S. we can take my tin can out-safer than that canoe.

86ranger · Post by **86ranger** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 10:46 am

What is considered the lower part of the river? Can you put that in terms of streets of locations? Is there shore access? I have waders, a canoe, and kayak is needed

86ranger · Post by **86ranger** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 10:48 am

What is considered the lower part of the river? Can you put that in terms of streets of locations? Is there shore access? I have waders, a canoe, and kayak is needed

Fly'in V · Post by **Fly'in V** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 12:50 pm

Swing by Fisherman's warehouse and talk to Allan or one of the guys there. They also maps with access's listed.

The Salior Bar area is good for a canoe, Look for deep holes nest to shallow areas and try the Pincel Poppers as sun rise or sunset.

watch the current and be safe.

Fly'in V

troymaggy · Post by **troymaggy** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 3:10 pm

What I consider the lower stretch is below business 80. the stretch of water between the business 80 bridge and the Richards blvd. bridge has been pretty good the last couple of nights. Unfortunately there really isn't much bank access but you could kayak most of that area. my buddies have been also throughing fish traps along the sand bars in that area. The water temp. seems to have dropped recently turning the bite back on.