over the past few years i've started seeing more stripers show up in the river. one year following the shad run i caught and released around 30+ in one deep pool over about a weeklong period (all schoolies 12-20") and a several larger stripers (maybe 22")  last year. i've heard of stripers being caught in the lower river and a historical russian river population, but nobody seems to target them specifically anymore. the fish i caught were all a couple miles south of healdsburg though, not the lower river. so i guess this is kind of directed towards Sean, but does the russian still have a self sustaining population of stripers or are these more likely wayward fish from lake mendocino?

been on the board for awhile, but finally got my own yak, a tarpon 160. i live in santa rosa and am hoping to find someone willing to show me some basic stuff, either mellow salt (bodega harbor? tomales?) or freshwater out on mendo or lake sonoma. im a total newbie to kayak fishing (but not fishing in general), so any help is appreciated. im hoping to get enough experience before rockfish season closes and maybe bag a ling or two at Salt Point.  thanks guys

perry