Lower Sacramento River Striper Report – Capt. Hogan Brown of 530 Outfitters
The river is settling into full summer mode as we hit the first full moon of the summer season. There are good numbers of 16–25-inch fish holding in most of the typical spots, and we’re starting to see increasing numbers of double-digit fish moving around. As the shad run begins to thin, these bigger fish become much more active and feed consistently throughout the day.
As salmon begin to enter the river and we approach the salmon opener in mid-July, the larger stripers will be pushed out of the deeper runs and onto the banks, giving fly anglers better access to them throughout the day. We’re catching fish on heavy sinking shooting heads during the middle of the day and switching to intermediate shooting heads during low-light periods in the morning and evening.
Fishing should continue to improve through July and August as more salmon move into the system and the shad migration winds down. If you’re looking for your best shot at a trophy striper on the fly, the next couple of months are shaping up to be some of the best of the season.
