Sunday 4/17- Sacramento River @ Colusa Stripers

Sunday 4/17- I’ve spent a lot of time on the Sacramento River here in the Redding area, but planned to work further south and explore some new waters and species this year.  The reports of red-hot striper fishing in the Colusa area got me fired up to give it a shot.  Armed with some intel from Clayman, I was joined by Tim (Fisheducator) and my buddy Don.  We located the drop-in location about 7 miles upstream of Colusa, roped the boats down the levee, geared up and gave it hell.  And gave it tackle.  Lots, and lots, of tackle!  I’ve never had so many snags in a day of fishing, that whole stretch is a minefield of submerged trees. 

We drifted along throwing swimbaits/black worms/jjigs/minnows, and just weren’t marking any fish or having any luck.  Talked to all the bankies and other boats, a few shakers here and there but overall it was a ghost town.  I finally marked a few fish in a nice eddy, dropped a minnow on their head and pulled in a pair of shakers…nothing to brag about, but my first stripers and the skunk-savers for the day!  We reached the State Park, shuttled the vehicles, and hauled the yaks/gear up the levee and got on the road.

Overall it was a fun day, I wish we could've slayed them but paying dues is all part of the process.  I'll be back. 

tight lines,
beenfishin

I just heard from a guide that they released a shitload of smolts in the river, the stripers may have followed them down the river.

You guys gave it a good effort.  The put-in and take-outs aren't exactly easy, but I like that stretch of river.

Stripers are goofy, especially when compared to migrating salmon and steelhead.  I just never expect an up-migrating fish to simply turn around and head back downstream chasing bait.  Whereas I view salmonids as on a stoic mission of "we must keep going up, up, up" and occasionally biting at something that annoys them along the way, I see stripers as "Alright guys, let's swim up and spawn and--oh wow look at all that food!!  Let's eat!!  What was I doing up here again?"

Goofy fish  .

Sounds like a fun drift! crazy about the "minefields".

Good try! Looks like a fun day anyway. Yeah they might have came down a little following the feed. Been seeing lots of them busting smolts on top here in sac


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I guess there is an 8-mile long section of river around Verona that is absolutely plugged with fish right now.  Figures.  : )

Thanks for posting !!!