That is pretty darn cool. How big is that? It looks like at least an 18 inch keeper!!!. I saw a 18 inch dead striper by the gauging station in the upper section of Putah last summer. Not sure how it got there. Was that you fishing the Yuba on Easter Sunday?

Chris,

That's awesome.  What did you get him on?

I hope Stripers don't get into Lake Solano...that would be disaster for the trout fishery.  Nice fish though.  I have yet to catch one on a fly rod.

Funny story going along with catching that fish. I had been fishing for carp since it is my new found obsession. It was getting really dark and the bass were starting to boil and grab bait fish, one busted right near me so I threw out my carp fly. A size 10 damselfly imitation. Gave it a few big striper-sized strips and it got smoked by the striper.

Got it on the reel after about 10 seconds and it started ripping line off the reel, I thought there is no way this is a bass. Got it in closer and saw a light colored fish, I thought that is a huge squawfish, brought it in closer and saw the stripes.

Before catching this, would have never thought that there were stripers in there. I'm wondering if I should throw on some striper flies and see what I can catch.

As for the fight, they fight so much harder than trout. They are strong fish. The takes are incredible too, often ripping the line right from your hand as you're stripping the fly. If you haven't caught these on the fly, you are missing out. They are tons of fun.

Dude! Nice job!

throwinmetal wrote:

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Interesting though I hope those things don't go up the creek.

I haven't fished the creek since early March, having switched to Stripers in the delta with a baitcaster. I caught 5 big ones so far.

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What are you getting them on?

SCM wrote:

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I hope Stripers don't get into Lake Solano...that would be disaster for the trout fishery. 

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If you didn't read Otter's post above, he said that he saw a dead 18" striper near the gauging station.  That's just above access #1.  I'm not sure how many there are or how they got there, but it sounds like they're in the upper creek as well.

I used to catch tons of small stripers in the Napa River as a kid.  My friend and I would use our ultralight trout rods and anchovies.  That was so much fun on a light set up.  I've thought about going after them with small steramers and a 3 wt. 

Otter wrote:

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I have never seen a live striper in the upper creek. My theory is that some people may be dumping largemouths and stripers in the creek. Although if salmon have passed the lower dam, anything is possible. Other species get flushed down the glory hole from time to time.

-- Edited by Otter at 23:29, 2008-04-01

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I would be real supprised if salmon or any other fish has made it up diversion dam.  I've fished Putah for over 30 years and have never seen a salmon.  I did land a chrome fish durring the high flows back in 85-86? that seemed like a 1/2 pounder but more than likely not.

I seriously doubt any fish has survived the drop down the glory hole.  Picture 8+ feet of water flowing over the top of the glory hole while you are fishing down below.  Flowing downstream are literally thousands of fish from shad sized minnows to 10+lb carp.....each and every one was partially or completely decapitated and.....quite dead.

The odd thing is, when there was that much water flowing in the creek, we still caught a lot of fish though it was with bait.

yvmv

 

LilWhippersnapper wrote:

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throwinmetal wrote:

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Interesting though I hope those things don't go up the creek.

I haven't fished the creek since early March, having switched to Stripers in the delta with a baitcaster. I caught 5 big ones so far.

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What are you getting them on?

 

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 rapalas and fishtraps. one day i will get brave and try my fly gear

I may have to try that spot.  It's pretty close.