I haven’t gone fishing in four weeks. Not because I couldn’t. Just life, business, winter mode. And despite what you’re seeing online, this isn’t some magical “best time of year” bite. The fishing is… okay. You might grind out one or two.

Reports from up and down the river have been encouraging, with stripers consistently showing and sturgeon anglers seeing steady activity. Here’s what’s working right now.

The rains are behind us for now, and we’re looking at a solid stretch of cooler, sunny winter days ahead. As the river begins to clear from its muddy stain, expect stripers to turn on and feed aggressively.

Every week, someone walks into the shop with the same question dressed a little differently:  “What actually works right now?”

Out on Tomales Bay, we decided to do something we don’t usually get to do in real time: watch a crab snare work underwater.

Each crab pot weighs exactly five pounds. We started with one — Axel set the hook hard, dragged it toward him, and the leader barely noticed. Five pounds became fifteen, then twenty-five, then thirty-five.

Test the three most effective striper techniques - trolling, casting, and live bait - and see which one produces the best fish.

I was able to get out and fish for striped bass again this week. I knew that it would be a favorable tide to target these fish on the fly because

Fishing trips don’t get much more memorable than this. On our recent Alaska adventure, we had the chance to fish for..

If you’ve been waiting to see what Daiwa has in store for 2026, you’re in for a treat. I just got back from the trade show floor where I had the chance to get hands-on with Daiwa’s brand-new lineup of reels and rods—and let me tell you, some of this gear is going to turn heads.

Striper fishing on the Napa River is heating up this August! Our very own Axel—who’s quickly becoming a local expert—limited out after work using jerkbaits from 6th Sense and Rapala. His top fish? A beautiful 37-incher caught on outgoing tide between 8–9 PM.

Ken, a longtime angler and President of CA Striped Bass Association just brought in a serious collection of used fishing gear—mooching rods, Shimano reels, Fenwick rods, and more.

Striped bass action is heating up across Northern California as we head into May. With stable weather, rising water temps, and active bait movement...

Chase McWhorter stopped by Sweeneys Wednesday morning to pick up his “Wild ThIng” striper lure before heading out to the Napa River

Striped bass fishing from the bank is a productive and accessible way to target this popular sport fish. With the right setup and techniques

Today and tomorrow only (2/13 and 2/14), visit Sweeney’s Sports and get 50% off bulk line spooling on your reels.

For the bank angler who loves soaking bait, durability and performance are essential. These rods and reels will help them battle big fish

We are very excited to introduce a new brand to the shop, Powell Rods! These bass rods have the sensitivity and quality of a $300 rod for...

Spring is almost here! We're incredibly excited for the upcoming fishing season. This winter brought a lot of weather and rain, making fishi

Spring is here, and what better way to celebrate the outdoors than by teaching your child a lifelong skill? We're excited to announce the 1s