Rio Vista/Delta Trollers Battle Stripers
RIO VISTA – The striper bite in the Delta has been “excellent,” according to legendary striper trolling expert Mark Wilson. Mark tells me that on his most recent trip, he and his friends caught 21 keepers and 6 shakers up to 12 pounds releasing all but their limits.
Mark further told me all of his fish were caught trolling the West Bank below Rio Vista. He continued to say that he trolled both down and up-river from channel marker 19 to channel marker 11. He caught fish trolling both directions on the outgoing and incoming tides using deep diving lures.
Mark said that any deep diving Yozuri or P-Line lures in chartreuse color or a red head and silver body were the most productive. Mark did note that the wind and grass hampered them all day, but if you reel up and clean the grass off your lines often, you’ll catch fish.
The salmon bite above the Rio Vista Bridge is sparce with only an occasional fish being caught. Mark did add that as the water temperature drops, the salmon bite should improve.
If you’re interested in fishing a derby, I’m pleased to announce that the “Rio Vista Bass Derby” is right around the corner, and has been retooled to add salmon and to return to a targeted length for striped bass. Each adult angler may enter only one striped bass in the money category. The “Rio Vista Bass Derby and Festival” will be held on Friday, October 2nd, Saturday, October 3rd, and Sunday, October 4th this year.
The adult angler who enters a striped bass closest to the announced “targeted length” will win first place and so on for 3 cash prizes. There will also be a 2nd chance striped bass raffle. Each striped bass entry must be within the announced slot for the 2nd chance raffle to be eligible to win a raffle prize.
Each adult angler may enter one striped bass each day of the 3-day derby for the raffle. Once a fish is entered the angler will receive an entry ticket into the raffle drawing. In addition to striped bass, salmon will be reintroduced to the derby. Each adult angler may enter only one salmon in this category. The adult angler who enters a salmon of the greatest weight will win first place and so on for 3 cash prizes. The children’s derby will remain as in previous years.
The winners in all of these categories will be announced on Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 4 PM in front of Rio Vista City Hall. All participants must be present to win. The Rio Vista Chamber of Commerce may be able to offer additional prizes in the adult striped bass and salmon money categories in the derby.
Additional prizes will depend on the number of donations received from sponsors and supporters. For more information go to www.bassfestival.com.
The sturgeon season closed on June 30, 2026 and will reopen on October 1, 2026. A sturgeon report will resume once the season reopens.
If you would like more information about the California Striped Bass Association (CSBA), go to our website (www.striper-csba.org). You will be able to access all the information related to the 4 CSBA Chapters. New members only pay $25, that includes a one-time $5 initiation fee.
After the first year of membership the annual dues are only $20. Your membership helps to strengthen our mission to protect striped bass and our fisheries. Some Chapters will give you a free gift just for joining.
The Isleton-Delta Chapter gives all new members two free Isleton Chapter decals and a Chapter hat as a thank you for joining our Chapter. Membership forms are available for each Chapter on the website. Just click on your Chapter of choice and go to the membership page, fill out the application, print it and send your application and payment to the address listed on the application.
The Isleton Chapter accepts credit cards online on the website for new memberships, membership renewals as well as our chapter’s events. The website also has Chapters’ newsletters, photos, interesting articles, and useful links that will help you plan your next fishing trip.
- Ken Baccetti, President of the California Striped Bass Association (CSBA), Isleton-Delta Chapter.
