I use Pencil Poppers all the time in the American river. I retrieve it fast and erratic through the ripples. The more splash the better. I've caught a lot of Stripers on them in the American. One night my buddy and I landed 13 stripers between 10 and 27lbs. You might also wan't to try a Strper Strike, this is a sinking bait so you have to work it real fast to keep it on top. Lately this has been my best choice for the Stripers