Franks Tract Stripers 01-08-07...

We had fished on 12-31-06 out of Big Break for nada, I was pretty sure it was time to move deeper into the delta anyway and Franks seem like the next best starting place. I've only been out there once before a couple of years ago. I had intended this trip to be more exploratory in fashion; it being a nice calm winter day it sounded like the perfect time to explore. 

We got a late start and due to a lack of 2007 fishing licenses around and stopping for live minnows, we arrived at Beacon Harbor around 11:00am. I choose Beacon as a lot of the float tube and kick boat guys out here use it because it gets less pressure from the power boats (it is farther down the road and a little tighter conditions). Here is a link: www.beacon-harbor.com. I was told they usually only charge 5.00 to launch a pontoon or kick boat but it was such a nice day he didn't charge us a thing. When I asked how the stripers were doing I was told that a large sea lion had been around for 2-3 days and the bite was gone, not even live minnows were getting a bite.

Oh well I figure we are here to explore anyway so we paddled out to where False river breaks into Franks on the west side. I had looked at this area in the past as it seems to have all the conditions I am looking for structure wise here in the delta. I found a nice hard bottom in 10-15 ft of water and we started drifting live minnows. As I am saying, "Keep a look out for that sea lion, if we see him we'll pack up and move as far as we can." Sarah's rod loads up. We were drifting side by side with our paddles over each other laps to stay together and this fish starts running for the tulies - it turns both of our kayaks together about 180 degrees, so I know this is a striper. After a brief fight up comes a nice 30" striper.

It is starting to get late so we move closer back towards Beacon Harbor and the FF starts showing fish stacked up beneath me. Now this is the first time I've ever used the FF this way but I yell over to Sarah there are a ton of fish reading on the FF here lets stop and see. Well after we each catch a couple more sub legal stripers the sun is going down so we head in. All fish caught on circle hooks with live minnows, I am using a sliding weight rig and Sarah is using a 3-way swivel setup, both with one ounce weights. I think she is out fishing me with that setup BTW. 

On the way in the guy we spoke with at the harbor asks us how we did and when we told him 5-6 fish to 30" between us and he realized we are talking stripers, he was quite surprised.

A working theory: I think perhaps that even though the sea lion had the fish in a spooked mood, the kayaks make us so stealthy that there isn't really anything else scaring the fish especially if the sea lion isn't nearby ( never saw him BTW). Where a PB would still have engine noise, excessive wave slap, etc. putting the fish off. Another example of this where we were drifting originally was right at the river. After 3-5 PB's flew by the bite seemed to turn off. Additionally it would be hard for a PB to drift fish the way we do in a kayak, if nothing else there would be the motor running on and off to keep you in the right area. Also I think the water has less effect on the kayaks than a PB so in a drift the bait looks more natural and the kayak doesn't get pushed around as much as a boat does. You wouldn't find a PB being turned in slow circles by the conflicting eddies of water flowing out right next to water flow in. The stripers live here though so they have seen bait turn those circles trying to get out of heavy current.

Jeff's striper tip: Structure isn't just the stuff underwater or the stuff next to the water. Structure can be the water itself.      What is interesting is that twice in different areas of the delta I have found on a map or chart places that looked like they had the water structure I am looking for and both times we have paddled out there and first time visit caught fish. A second interesting thing to note (altough I am not sure why yet) both of these places have had clam beds.

I write too much sorry. 

Jeff

Thanks for the port freediverca, I think about that area every weekend and need to hit it!!   Stripers to 30" is a good dam day in my books!!
Way to hit that target!!  and keep them ports comin'

Nice report i fished franks earlier in the season and only came out with a dink and two black bass ( i was fly fishing clowsers) seems maybe I will have to make a trip out there again some time soon   thanks again for the report
Matt

cool, i have caught stripers there in january before, but it has been a long time.  the bull sea lions they get up there are enormous, big dome head and bloodshot eyes, they are scary.