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Beach Popper Tips??

July 23, 2009 By JD 2 Comments

Hi JD, I am new your site and wanted to ask you about the surf fishing for striped bass in or around Santa Cruz/ New Brighton Beach. I noticed on your site you said to uses poppers in the morning and swim baits later in the day. If you think the surf fishing is still good at these locations, can you expand on what the poppers are and how to use them for this area.

–Jim T.

Jim,

I’ll do a complete post on popper fishing later this fall on the site, but for now I’ll run the Cliff’s Notes by ya….

You’ll need a 9+ foot rod (spinning or casting) with 30-pound braided line on it. Grab some poppers like Cordell Pencil Poppers and head for the surf. Cast to holes between the breaks.

With your rod tip held high (to keep the line off the water) twitch the tip with your rod hand and reel with your other. You want the popper to pop and spit. When a fish blows up on it, let him take it down…wait until you feel the whole weight of the fish before you set the hook.

Good luck!

Filed Under: uncategorized Tagged With: santa cruz, striped bass fishing, topwater plugs, topwater popper

A good day on the creek!

May 28, 2009 By JD 1 Comment

bryces-bass
Well, we had a good day on the ol’ Rio Americano Wednesday…I have a couple of shad/striper trips — a half day morning run and then a full day mission until dark after that…and the fishing was about as good as you can get!

We started off throwing swimbaits for stripers and caught a couple dandies…the 20ish pounder above taken by Bryce Roberts of Auburn, CA and then another nice one, caught by Jay Lopes, who was taking the day off from running halibut charters in the Bay…

Even the salty skipper needs to get bit once in a while!

Even the salty skipper needs to get bit once in a while!

But that only tells half of the story…
Click here to read more…

Filed Under: Trophy Room Tagged With: american river, american shad, striped bass, striped bass fishing

Swimbait Rig for Stripers?

December 9, 2008 By JD Leave a Comment

Hey JD,

I love the videos. They’re informative and fun to watch. Anyway, what do you primarily use when fishing swimbaits for stripers? Your tackle setup (reel, rod, line, swimbait)?

Thanks,
Robert

Robert,

For fishing swimbaits I use a GLoomis 7.6-foot GWR 901, which is rated for 10-20 lb. test. Lately, I’ve been running my old Shimano Curado Super Free 201 spooled up with 20-pound braided line and 20-lb. flouro leader. Swimbaits are from Mad River Outfitters: (707) 826-7201.

I’ll also be doing seminars on stripers at the Sacramento International Sportsmen’s Expo this winter, so stop by for more info!

Take care,

JD

Filed Under: uncategorized Tagged With: delta striper fishing, striped bass fishing, swimbait

Mystery Fish On in the Delta!

November 21, 2008 By JD 1 Comment

While throwing swimbaits for stripers on the Delta yesterday, we were paid a visit from something a little unusual…watch as trusty sidekick Reilly hooks and fights a mystery fish! Read the rest of the story to watch the video…
Click here to read more…

Filed Under: Fishing Videos Tagged With: delta striper fishing, king salmon fishing, striped bass fishing

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