GUIDED FISHING TRIPS
SACRAMENTO RIVER STRIPED BASS FISHING GUIDE

Cast Your Worries Away with a Guided Fishing Trip on the Sacramento River! Trophy stripers up to 75 lbs, April through early June. See our Pricing & FAQ for more information.

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Man holding striped bass caught on the Sacramento river with professional fishing guide
Three men holding striped bass caught with Kirk Portocarrero fishing guide in California

FISHING GUIDE
SACRAMENTO RIVER STRIPED BASS

The Sacramento River, in addition to killer salmon fishing, has some of the best striped bass fishing in Northern California. Whether you’re an experienced angler or brand new to the sport, if you’re looking for some excitement on the water, look no further than a guided striped bass fishing trip with the original Sac River Fishing Guide, Kirk Portacarrero. The average size male striped bass run 5 to 10lbs, while females range 15 to 45lbs. Some of the bigger ones can even reach up to 75lbs!

The striped bass is a saltwater species that swims upstream from the Pacific Ocean to the Sacramento River to spawn. Our little slice of river is the striped bass fisherman’s paradise! Kirk knows where to find the best of these abundant fish and how to get them on the line. Many times it’s not until after a 20-30 minute fight that these monster striped bass are landed and in the boat, making a Sacramento River striper fishing trip an excitement-filled adventure!

TIME OF YEAR: Professionally guided striped bass fishing trips are available from Apr 1st - June 1st.

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A woman smiles while holding a large fish she reeled in on a guided fishing trip at Shasta Lake, California, the calm blue water and tree-lined shores shining behind her.
A father and son proudly hold up two large striped bass they caught together on a guided trip along the Sacramento River near Redding.
Four men stand on a boat on the Klamath River holding freshly caught striped bass from their guided fishing trip, the sun glinting off the water with vegetation and gear visible on the far bank.
A young girl beams while holding a large striped fish on a boat during a guided fishing adventure at Lake Siskiyou, green pines and water in the background.
A boy in a boat grips a huge striped fish caught on a guided river trip on the Rogue River in Southern Oregon, framed by trees and a bright blue sky.
A man in a gray hoodie smiles while holding a large striped fish with a red and black fish gripper on a guided boat trip at Lake Shasta, water and trees reflecting behind him.
A man in a camouflage jacket, blue life vest, wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and jeans holds a massive striped bass on a fishing boat during a guided excursion on the Sacramento River, green banks in the background.
A man lifts a large striped fish on a boat during a guided fishing trip on the Klamath River, trees and clear blue sky framing the scene.
A man in an outdoor jacket and cap holds up a large striped fish on a guided boat trip at Lake Almanor, with water and trees stretching behind him.
Three people stand on a boat near the grassy bank of the Rogue River holding striped bass they caught on a guided fishing trip.
Four men on a boat smile as they display striped bass from their guided outing on Trinity Lake, water and pine-covered hills behind them.
Six men stand on a boat holding large striped bass they caught during a guided trip at Lake Shasta, with trees and a blue sky in the background.
A woman holds a large fish she landed on a guided fishing trip, standing on a boat on the Sacramento River with water and trees stretching behind her.
A person holds a large striped bass on a boat during a guided adventure at Upper Klamath Lake, the wide body of water and trees behind them.
A man smiles and lifts a large striped bass fish on a guided fishing boat at Lake Siskiyou, surrounded by water and tall pines.
A man and a boy on a boat proudly hold large striped fish they caught on a guided river trip near Grants Pass, Oregon, with trees along the bank.
Two boys hold large fish they reeled in during a guided fishing trip on the Sacramento River, standing near a boat with trees in the background.
Five men stand and one kneels on a dock at Lake Shasta holding striped bass from their guided outing, a small covered shelter and water at their side.
A man with a beard wearing sunglasses, a white shirt, and a camouflage cap grips a large striped fish with a red and black fish gripper on a guided boat trip along the Rogue River, trees and blue sky overhead.
Four men on a boat proudly hold striped bass they caught during a guided day on the Sacramento River, sunshine glinting off the water and trees in the background.
A man holds a large striped bass on a boat in a calm stretch of the Klamath River on a guided fishing trip, green trees and a blue sky above.
A man lifts a large striped bass he caught on a guided fishing adventure at Lake Almanor, water shimmering under a cloudy sky in the background.

Where and How We Fish for Stripers

Striped bass move through different stretches of the Sacramento River as the run progresses, and timing your trip to where the fish are holding that week makes a real difference. Early in the season, stripers tend to stage in deeper holes before pushing upriver; as the run peaks, they spread out and the bite can turn on fast in spots that were quiet just days before. We adjust presentation throughout the season — what gets bit in early April is often different from what works by late May.

What to Expect on a Striper Trip

Striped bass fight hard, and it's not unusual to spend 20 to 30 minutes fighting a big female before she's in the net. If you've fished for salmon or trout but never targeted stripers, expect a different kind of fight — these fish pull harder and longer, and landing a 30+ lb striper is a different experience than most freshwater fishing in the area. Many anglers say it's the toughest fight they've had on the Sacramento River, and it's a big reason stripers have such a loyal following among local fishermen.