What is good to catch Striper Bass ?

  Since the RF season is almost over, I'm getting ready to roll in the rivers. Would anybody like to share knowledge how to target SB?   Please!!!!

~ramon~

Kroc spoons, hairaisers, kastmasters, rat-l-traps, x-raps, and live bait (minnows) for starters.

Z

I have also heard that leaches work real good in rivers. Or at least the Sac or Feather.

My 2 cents.

  Thanks Guys!

I Will try some of your recommendations.

~ramon~

Bullheads, mudsuckers, grass/ghostshrimp, anchovies, pile worms......

Best places to find them ?  Deep or shallow water ?  Under trees ?  Fast or slow current ? Or just anywhere?

Where are you fishing?

Where are you fishing?

San Joaquin River, by Modesto,  I have fished this place before but never from a kayak, this time I want to take the avantage of getting where I allways wanted to go. This place has a lots of Catfish and I have seen people getting Stripers, Carp and some LMB too.  But I'm going for the Stripers, I just want to get know where to look for them and how to get them bad boys   Any advice ?????  Por favor ?

~ramon~

Can a person be rigged for Largemouth Bass......and just by that fact have an absolutely equal chance to catch any stripers if they are there?

Judd

Can a person be rigged for Largemouth Bass......and just by that fact have an absolutely equal chance to catch any stripers if they are there?

Judd

Judd,

Definitely, I hear of black bass guys getting into stripers all the time. A fairly recent story making the rounds out here on the delta is a guy who caught over 30 stripers one day using a plastic frog. Didn't intend to they just kept slamming the frog so he just kept throwing it. Stripers will attack almost all the same artificals. I'm still playing with artificals but for stripers I'd just move them a little faster than normal and stop them more often.

Kayakito,

The first thing I look for is fast moving water right next to slow moving water - stripers are fast powerful fish and don't have a problem turning on the power to shoot into the faster currents to catch food that is stuck in the current. Next I like sand bars or clam beds. That is all for live/dead bait fishing btw, most of my fish have come in 7 - 15' of water although the occasional fish in 4 1/2' is not uncommon. Deeper water next to a tulie bank is also a good place to start. The key things I look for is structure and current and structure can be to me at least the water itself. If I see whirlpool like action I will check that out before other things. Also in the delta the tide plays a pretty key role; about two hours before and after are good times to shoot for and I think the outgoing being the faster tide is more productive.

Most important in my mind what ever tide you end up fishing is not to try to think like the striper. The striper is fast and powerful and isn't afraid of anything but the sea lions. Try to think of what is happening to the bait and the bits of food getting stirred up by the water and try to find the best location to take advantage of that. If the stripers are around and you find the best or most likely place, structure and bait then you should get into them easy. Some spots will produce over and over again when all the right things are going on, other times your in them and ten minutes later it is a wasteland.

Stripers are a ton of fun but always be prepared gear wise, you will get into schoolies a lot but that 40lb monster is out there and she will destroy your gear or swim off with your rod if you aren't ready for her. I've read something like 7-10 stories this year of "...I set the hook and wham my rod shot right out of my hands and gone..."
 
Good Luck and watch out for duck hunters, there is a lot of water out there and they don't get a very big hunting window anymore so give them plenty of room to enjoy also.

Jeff

Ramon - you should join us at Lake Mendocino this weekend!!!  Mucho pescado amigo 

Judd,

Definitely, I hear of black bass guys getting into stripers all the time. A fairly recent story making the rounds out here on the delta is a guy who caught over 30 stripers one day using a plastic frog. Didn't intend to they just kept slamming the frog so he just kept throwing it. Stripers will attack almost all the same artificals. I'm still playing with artificals but for stripers I'd just move them a little faster than normal and stop them more often.

Kayakito,

The first thing I look for is fast moving water right next to slow moving water - stripers are fast powerful fish and don't have a problem turning on the power to shoot into the faster currents to catch food that is stuck in the current. Next I like sand bars or clam beds. That is all for live/dead bait fishing btw, most of my fish have come in 7 - 15' of water although the occasional fish in 4 1/2' is not uncommon. Deeper water next to a tulie bank is also a good place to start. The key things I look for is structure and current and structure can be to me at least the water itself. If I see whirlpool like action I will check that out before other things. Also in the delta the tide plays a pretty key role; about two hours before and after are good times to shoot for and I think the outgoing being the faster tide is more productive.

Most important in my mind what ever tide you end up fishing is not to try to think like the striper. The striper is fast and powerful and isn't afraid of anything but the sea lions. Try to think of what is happening to the bait and the bits of food getting stirred up by the water and try to find the best location to take advantage of that. If the stripers are around and you find the best or most likely place, structure and bait then you should get into them easy. Some spots will produce over and over again when all the right things are going on, other times your in them and ten minutes later it is a wasteland.

Stripers are a ton of fun but always be prepared gear wise, you will get into schoolies a lot but that 40lb monster is out there and she will destroy your gear or swim off with your rod if you aren't ready for her. I've read something like 7-10 stories this year of "...I set the hook and wham my rod shot right out of my hands and gone..."
 
Good Luck and watch out for duck hunters, there is a lot of water out there and they don't get a very big hunting window anymore so give them plenty of room to enjoy also.

Jeff

Quite informative and very articulate.  Enjoyed immensely.

Michael