FishwithJD

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Sun starting to set on California Delta’s fish??

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It may be beautiful above water, but things aren't so rosy under the Delta's surface.

A new report regarding the health of the fisheries in the California Delta has just been released and…big surprise…things don’t seem to be looking all that great.

The Delta is a complex system that houses gamefish like Chinook salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, striped bass, largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, American shad, catfish and panfish…along with important forage species such as delta smelt, threadfin shad, splittail and many others. The problems that plague it are just as multifaceted: Water diversions are a huge killer, as is pollution and habitat loss.

You can read all about the decline and what biologists found in recent trawl studies HERE

Grilled Soy & Sesame Striper

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Spring is striper time out here on the West Coast (out East too!) and, in addition to being a really sporty fish to chase around with rod and reel, they’re damn tasty.

Striper flesh is firm and white — it’s a really a user-friendly fish that takes well to many cooking styles. While rolling striper chunks into beer batter and dropping them into a boiling cauldron of cholesterol is a my favorite way to cook it up, a much more artery-friendly approach is to grill it Asian style.

Scott “The Sporting Chef” Leysath, co-host of the popular cable show HuntFishCook shows us how…
Click here to read more…

Anti-striper bill gutted before hearing!

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I got an email Monday night with some good news! It was sent from Dave Hurley over at USA Fishing who had received the news that Assembly Bill 2336, the “anti-striper” legislation has been gutted and amended prior to Tuesday’s hearing at the Capitol. Apparently, Assembly Member Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield) has once again underestimated the angler opposition to this bill and, just like last year when she introduced a similar one, ended up backing off at the final hour.

This is awesome, though we can’t rest yet — this battle isn’t over as there’s a lawsuit pending that would declare open season on striped bass. That’s coming around this summer. In the meantime, here’s the letter passed on to me by Dave, from John Beuttler, Conservation Director of the
California Sportfishing Protection Alliance: Click here to read more…

Time to fight the anti-striper bill!

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Make a stand April 13 to save our stripers!

They’re at it again! The water mongers down south are trying completely turn California into a fishless desert. This time around, the target is striped bass. Another Assembly bill (AB 2336) has been introduced into the California legislature that would de-list stripers as sportfish, opening them up to anarchy-style fishing in which there would be no bag or size limits.

It’s basically a striper eradication plan by the water users in Fresno…they’re claiming that striped bass are the reason the salmon collapse has occurred…which, of course, is just to divert attention from the fact that the massive water exports are really one of the main causes. And if this passes, guess what’s next? Other non-native species like largemouth, smallmouth & spotted bass, crappie, catfish, bluegill, etc.

Here’s where you can help! There will be a hearing at the State Capitol Tuesday, April 13 in Room 437 at 9AM and we’re encouraging everybody who fishes for stripers to come out and show your support. Click here to read more…

Popper Fishing Tips?

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JD,

I would also appreciate a little lesson in popper fishing for stripers. What should the action look like? Does it sit on top of the water or underneath? I’m an ultra novice who wants to learn. Thanks!

–Frank.

The action depends on the style of surface lure you’re using. “Walk-the-Dog” type lures like Zara Spooks should have a zig-zagging motion. Poppers, on the other hand, have more of a…see if you follow me on this one…straight chug…chug…chug action to them. Yes, true surface baits stay on the top, though wake baits are very popular too and the fish right under the surface film.

When you get bit…here’s really the tough part….don’t set too quickly. Let the wight of the fish pull the rod tip down before you hit ’em.