Striped bass in the spring run through Northern California's rivers put on a show that keeps locals coming back year after year. These fish move out of the Delta and up the Sacramento and Feather systems around April, feeding aggressively as they head toward the spawning grounds near Colusa. They fight with everything they've got, making long runs and using the current like pros, which makes for some memorable battles in the boat.

The water there has its own character, murky in spots from the tides but clearing as you get upriver, surrounded by tule patches and levees that create all kinds of ambush points. Captain Rob Stoddard puts in the time to find where they're holding, running his jet boat to the productive areas and making sure everything from tackle to fish care is covered.

If your schedule's open, April 11th just became available due to a cancellation at Stoddard Guide Service. It's right in the sweet spot for the migration, so it might be worth checking with Rob to see if it fits your plans.