Free-lining squaw fish on the american for striper

So i have done this type approach out of a regular boat for striper with a bit of succcess but i wanted to get some insight from a few yak anglers that might frequent the american river (s. Watt/Howe ave area) I would do it as anyone would in the begginning as far as finding a nice spot on the bank to catch the squaw fishing using red worms or little bits of cheese(redworm stays on the hook better) and catching them one by one and tossing thm in a bucket to keep them for later use... we would then cruise an area and graph it on the FF and if we saw something that looked promising we would note how deep they are on the finder then go back above it and hook a squaw on and attach a bit of weight to make it sink to hopefully the appropriate depth ot was sitting at then toss out and dift past it again...

Does this seem like the same way that one might do it out of the yak? or would you just freeline a bait out the back for as long as possible?

what would be another good technique for going for stripers on the American?

You can either drift or sit on anchor above the hole or deep section.

what would be another good technique for going for stripers on the American?

Use a Shad if you want the big ones. 

Swimbaits, topwater, soaking sardines, minnows.... the list goes on the stripers aren't too picky.

They were this weekend!!! Fished from 5pm fri till 10:30 next morning from garcia bend to 2 miles above american for Zilch!!!!

If you have a two fishing pole license. Achor like abdiver said, set one pole with the shad and the other one use it to cast swimbait/lures. I like using bomber lures.

Anchor. Shad, big hook through snout, 7-10 ft leader, baloon for a bobber.

If you have a two fishing pole license. Achor like abdiver said, set one pole with the shad and the other one use it to cast swimbait/lures. I like using bomber lures.

I do have a two pole. but there are certain parts of the american river that you are only allowed to use one pole. I almost got my pole taken by DFG when i had one in with bait and i was bait fshing for squaw... they were pretty strict about that. check your reg books I would hate to see someone lose their gear.

I do have a two pole. but there are certain parts of the american river that you are only allowed to use one pole. I almost got my pole taken by DFG when i had one in with bait and i was bait fshing for squaw... they were pretty strict about that. check your reg books I would hate to see someone lose their gear.

For clairification look in sections-
2.00. FISHING METHODS--GENERAL.
....Anglers in possession of a valid two-rod stamp and anglers under 16 years of age may use up to two rods in inland waters which regulations provide for the taking of fish by angling, except those waters in which only artificial lures or barbless hooks may be used....

and
7.50 (b) Alphabetical List of Waters with Special Fishing Regulations



Basically from the SMUD power line crossing at the southwest boundary of Ancil Hoffman Park downstream to the mouth you're ok in this section with two rods (w/ the two rod stamp).  Above the SMUD power line is the barbless section where you are required to use only one rod.

yup that is what i was referring to. they had said something abou tthat being salmon spawning grounds and they didnt want a salmon to mistake my  rod for a salmon rod for whatever reason they though my bait pole was gonna get a salmon even though i was just jigging it in the cracks of the claybanks for swuaw. but whatever, they were cool and didnt write me a ticket so i lucked out that time....

Thanks for the info.

Anchor. Shad, big hook through snout, 7-10 ft leader, baloon for a bobber.

Just as Tote said, this method will allow you to get the big stripers. Works really well in the evening, try it just after sunset.

yeah i have heard of this working to great success over by the rossmoor area. a guy pulled a few 30 pounders last year with this meathod. he unfortunately kept them. he has been doing some damage against stripers for the last couple of years. every time i see him in the same spot he has new pictures of 20+# stripers. i dont think he is doing the striper population any favors...

Yeah those big mamas deserve a chance to spawn. But the striper population is in no danger of declining compared to previous salmon stocks. They even had legislature last year to increase the bag limit of stripers, so keeping one here and there shouldn't hurt the population here on the AR. But definitely the 20+ ones should be released to spawn and make thousands of lil stripers.