Fishing conditions around Napa are starting to shift as winter patterns slowly give way to early spring activity. This week’s report covers striper action in the Napa River, trout trolling at Lake Berryessa, bait recommendations, and updates from Sweeney’s including the upcoming Napa Fishing Club.

Heritage Suites at Sweeney's is becoming the home of something bigger than a club. Napa Fishing Club is launching to connect adults, mentor youth, support conservation, and create a stronger, more unified fishing community in Napa - and we’re inviting you to be part of it.

Sweeney’s Sports is launching the Napa Fishing Club - a new community hub for local anglers to share knowledge, host events, and connect with each other.

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.

If you’ve ever stood at the bait freezer wondering why one pack of anchovies costs almost twice as much as the other, you’re not alone.

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?”

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.

Score killer deals, get the right gear, while supporting your local business. 

As you can see, they did pretty well using white Keitech swimbait with white 1/2 ounce jig-head. Congrats Luis! Nice catch

What do you do when one of your rod guides loses its insert? Most people set the rod aside in hopes that they will have time to track down and glue the missing insert eventually. The rod ends up sitting and collecting dust.

It’s officially striper season — time to grab your gear and hit the riverbank! Whether you’re setting up along the Napa River or your favorite local fishing hole, this is the perfect season to relax by the water and chase some powerful stripers.

Whether you’re heading out to the Napa River, making a run up to Berryessa, or just cruising downtown, this new drop from Salty Crew is made for life on and off the water.

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..

Striper season is here — don’t miss your chance to kick it off with fellow anglers!

At this year’s trade show, I stopped by the Okuma booth to get hands-on with their latest rods and reels. Okuma is known for balancing affordability, reliability, and performance—and this lineup is no exception.

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.