Petaluma river yak fishing?

So me being a Petaluma native and fishing this area since I was a child. I have been fishing down that mud hole since I was a kid, from shore or boat. This has been my first season on a kayak down there. I caught a handful of decent bass this year down there flicking lures during the summer. Had a good time, even got my buddy Chris out with me and convinced him to get a kayak. I want to hear from those guys that have fished it, what is some of your favorite tactics? As the water cools and darkens, Lures are not the great option as before. Tomorrow Chris and I will be doing a long drift, soaking mud suckers and full chovies. Taking advantage of a big morning incoming tide. hoping for some tight lines. Always looking for more local guys who are working the river, I know they are far and few

Good luck! I've always done best with live bullheads.

When the sturgeon start to show launch at BP go up to the first or second set of the high lines and anchor on the east side in 15-17 ft. Grass, mud shrimp. Ghost if you have them.  The biggest striker we ever caught was 31 lbs. on a live mud sucker. That was 1984 though.  there are still big bass though. You know that. I'm in Petaluma also. Work at lees body shop on the blvd.

I have caught some big sturgeon in the river, I got my spot for that!! Between my father and I we have almost always had a boat that we have taken down there. Always been a troller for the bass, went from hair raisers, to storm baits and this year nailed them on bass assassins. tomorrow will be drifting from papas on Lakeville to Petaluma marina. tides going up like 5 feet in 5.5 hours. got a lot of sloughs to hit.

When the sturgeon start to show launch at BP go up to the first or second set of the high lines and anchor on the east side in 15-17 ft. Grass, mud shrimp. Ghost if you have them.  The biggest striker we ever caught was 31 lbs. on a live mud sucker. That was 1984 though.  there are still big bass though. You know that. I'm in Petaluma also. Work at lees body shop on the blvd.

Sounds like it is a good area to get to know better. I am planning on checking things out during the next few months. I hope to find some spots for sturgeon and Stripers that are within paddling distance in San Pablo Bay and the river itself.

we fished a good morning, got on the boat and noticed the tip of my paddle had broke off, that wasn't fun. but we managed to drift from papa taverna to Petaluma marina, drifted mud suckers and full chovies, with no love. we had a good time needless to say, took the tide all the way in, took about 4 hours with a lot of tinkering around. there is some good spots a short paddle from papas to fish and next time I might paddle out to a stationary position to soak some mud suckers. did talk to a guy with a 30inch on his boat

I'm curious how does the launching at Papas work, is it free, or for pay, is it a business still?  I've been by there countless times without ever stopping.

I'm curious how does the launching at Papas work, is it free, or for pay, is it a business still?  I've been by there countless times without ever stopping.

the launch is still open but the restaurant is closed, I would never suggest launching big boats from there, but any kayak would work, the launch is steep and cuts off fast. There is a drop box for $2 launch fees. there was a few trailers from duck hunters there. there is some good sloughs real close paddle from the launch there. just down stream is black john slough which can hold a lot of fish.

what we did was, I dropped my buddy off with both kayaks and gear next to the launch, I then drove to Petaluma marina where I left my blazer and had my wife drive me back to papas which is less than 5 miles in her car. do you kayak fish the river much dale?

do you kayak fish the river much dale?

My yaking/fishing is in sad shape. I haven't had the yak out of the garage since Nov. 2013,  Life just got too busy so I threw in the towel and took fishing off my list for 2014.  Hope to fix that this year but I'm still deep into a kitchen remodel (from the dirt up) and refurbishing of my entire house, and have ailing parents, seems like there's always something.  Even retiring in August hasn't helped and truth be told I'm pretty much a fair weather fisherman, 

I like dunking bait, I seem to have the patience to even enjoy sturgeon fishing.

I've never fished the river but hope to someday and your info is very much appreciated.

Hey Clamps, I grew up in petaluma and like you I used to fish the river as a kid every chance I got. Must caught a million schoolies in those long summers many years ago!! I do alot of kayak fishing and have fished out of BP a few times but want to do the Papa T area. If you are open for mon/ tues I am off on those days. the striper in my pic is from the Bahia area near Black Point!

you and I have different days off, I got weekends off. maybe we can find time to fish the river together. I have fished from papas to payran in my kayak this season. I took the klammath out a lot more though. I wish that mira monte was still an option to drop a kayak in, you can get way in there
I been considering taking a few bullheads to this slough near papas that in years past has been a good time, there is a clam bed right there.
how big of a striper you holding there?

If I can get a sunday off soon I will let you know. The Striper in the pic was about 13lbs not that big but really pulled hard on med light tackle and 8lb test! super fun!!!

yeah man im down for a meet up and fish. im still getting reports here and there of some good size fish still in the river. would like to go out and focus on some mud sucker fishing