Striper fishing heating up on Sacramento River
Anglers chasing striped bass on the Sacramento River usually consider April to be "prime time". Accordingly, a group of anglers headed out with local guide Kevin Brock early this week, on a striper hunting excursion out of Lovey's Landing near Meridian. The action was nothing short of spectacular, with the group boating limits of stripers up to nine pounds by 9:00 AM.

Literally the very first bait in the water at 6:45 AM was engulfed by a nice keeper striper in the area right out in front of Lovey's. A move down below the Meridian Bridge found the fish extremely active, and several multiple hookups occurred.
A few dry holes were found at spots with colorful names like three pipes, the red sea, burning bush, and long bar; before the last flurry of fish was found near Pierces.

Brock's strategy is to "power troll" with live minnows downstream, using 12-pound test monofilament main line, three-foot 10-pound test monofilament leader, and a No. 2 Owner Mosquito Hook. A seven-foot light-action rod is fitted with a Penn International 965 reel to ensure that big fish get landed.
This technique allows a lot of water to be covered in the search for fish. If a concentration or school of stripers is located, Brock will then use the "backbouncing" technique that slowly and precisely drops the bait back to the fish. With either technique, just enough weight is used to allow the bait to lightly bounce off the bottom, usually between one and two ounces depending on depth and current.
"Striper fishing this season has been very consistent so far", observed Brock. "The fish don't take boat pressure well; running over them shuts off the bite. Besides minnows, the stripers here can be caught on black plastic worms and cut baits like anchovies or sardines."

Brock added, "As April warms up, the fish will get closer to spawning. Lots of new fish will move up to replace those that have completed the spawn. The rain we have been getting will push the fish all the way up to Butte City and Chico Straits. We should be able to catch lots of stripers until at least the first week of May." Late in the week, Brock reported that a four-person group headed by Don Hutcheson of Chico had a pair of quadruple hookups, and limited out in short order on stripers to 13 pounds. The fish were also in the vicinity of the Meridian Bridge. "The river is coming up and getting murky because of the rains", said Brock. "For the next couple of days, cut sardines will be the best bet for striper bait."

Lake Oroville Tournament
The "Lake Oroville Open Spring Spectacular" bass tournament will be held on April 24 at the Spillway Launch. Blast off will be at safe light, with late signups going from 3:30 AM to blast off. The slot waiver will apply. A $1000 first-place purse is based on a full field of 100 two-person teams, with an additional payback to 20 places.

Conducted by the Chico Bass Club, the fundraising event is the largest locally-organized tournament of the year on Oroville. Activities supported include the Lake Oroville Florida-strain Bass Project, the Chico and Gridley "Hooked on Fishing" kid's fishing days, fishing line recycling at Paradise Lake and Horseshoe Lake, and other habitat and fishery enhancing projects.
Entry fee of $80 per two-person team includes barbecue dinner and Big Fish Option. For entry registration call 877-0912 or 872-8805.

The Butte County Fish and Game Commission meeting held in Paradise on April 5 also included a report from local DFG fishery biologist Tracy McReynolds regarding the salmon run on the Sacramento River and Butte Creek.

McReynolds reported that this years fall run Chinooks salmon numbers on the Sacramento River are predicted to be better, with some 245,000 fish forecast to return, well above the 122,000 minimum annual return goals. "The numbers are still low, but better", commented McReynolds. The most recent Sacramento River Chinook numbers are 4,500 for the spring run, and 4,483 for the winter run. The Butte Creek spring run numbers are trending down, with approximately 2,500 salmon returning this past season.

State Park Ranger Brian Taylor reported on Lake Oroville. "The coho salmon fishing is red hot for 13 to 16 inchers, and the bass fishing is also dynamite", reported Taylor. "We have a bass tournament scheduled every weekend until July, and all of the launch ramps are currently open. Turkeys are everywhere, but all prospective hunters should stop by the Visitor Center first for a hunting map."

Taylor added, "In 2009 we had 395 crime reports at Lake Oroville, resulting in 172 arrests. These included 71 DUIs, 10 BUI's, and 25 other assorted Boating Incidents. An upcoming ballot initiative will add $18 to California vehicle registration, but will eliminate parking fees at Oroville and all State parks for vehicles registered in California."

Trout stocking clarification
Last week's column contained information from the California Department of Fish and Game's Jim Starr relating to the new trout stocking protocol being followed by the DFG. A point of clarification is necessary regarding allowable legal challenges to the Environmental Impact Report filed by the DFG. Legal challenges and lawsuits could be filed only for the 30 days immediately following the formal filing of the EIR on Jan. 11, 2010. As noted, three challenges were filed within the allowable time period. As of 30 days after that Jan. 11, 2010 filing, no further challenges are allowed by law.