Falling water has pushed some bigger fish out towards deep water and the majority of nests are now empty. Try throwing buzzers, frogs, and spooks in low light targeting the deep side of tulles or over ditches. Watch for a good spinnerbait and crank bite in the afternoon when the wind picks up. Look for 45 degree angle banks.

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The spawn is pretty much over at Alpine but a lot of females are lingering around the nesting areas and can be caught by slowly working a weightless fluke or trick worm on the outer edges of the nest area. The males will still be in the spawning coves guarding the fry and can be caught on baits that threaten the fry like frogs and bluegills. At some point both the males and females will turn on the fry and eat them. When this happens you can’t beat the combination of small dropshot worms, 3” swimbaits, and 4 bladed spinnerbaits. Watch for a top water bite on spooks and poppers at dawn and dusk.

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Stripers are showing up in the usual places like behind home depot, off Loch Lomond break water, Corte Madera Creek near the railroad trestle, Richardson Bay, Blackie's Pasture, the Brick Yard, the Rock Quarry, Bel Marin Keyes, the rip rap from Pt. San Quentin, and the rod and Gun Club.

More places are out there but after last season’s poor fishing a lot of guys are being pretty tight lipped. Best baits for the areas from Corte Madera Creek to Bel Marin Lagoon are 4” Storm and Flashfoil swimbaits in Chartreuse Shiner, Natural Shad, Pearl, and Blue Shad, 1//2 oz. Hair Raisers in Chartreuse and White, ½ oz. and ¾ oz. Rattle Traps in Chrome with a Black Back, Chrome with a Blue Back, Electric Shad, Gold, Bleeding Shad, Shiner Chartreuse, and Fire Tiger.

As for all the areas from South of Corte Madera the same Hair Raisers and 4” swimbaits will work but instead of Rattle Traps throw m5” Crystal Minnows in Moon Flash, Blue Mackerel , Green Mackerel, and Gold or throw X-Raps in Ghost Shad or Blue Shad. Jointed 5” Rebel Minnows in Chrome with a Blue Back or Chrome with a Black Back will also work well.

Why the different plugs? . . . From Corte Madera to Sausalito the predominant forage fish is the Jack Smelt. The Jack Smelt are long and skinny like an anchovy. From Corte Madera to el Marin Keyes the predominant forage fish is the Shiner Perch which have a deep, flat profile like a Bluegill. Rat Traps have a Perch profile and Crystal Minnows have a Smelt profile. Easy.