2025 Napa River Striper Season Has Arrived
- alexosen
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Hello friends,
In this edition, we'll be covering:
Striper Season is Here
What's New in the Shop
Mr. Sweeney's Experience Episode 1
Sweeney’s Second Cast™
Live Bait Update
Striper Season is Here
Striper are migrating back up from their annual spawn in the Sacramento River and will begin flooding into Napa River and the surrounding sloughs. Hungry fish will be actively feeding—and it’s your chance to land your next trophy. With the season kicking off in late July and running through November, now is the time to check your gear and sharpen your technique.
Shore (Bank) Fishing Techniques
Best Spots
According to Catch Happy’s guide, top bank fishing locations include Kennedy Park, Cuttings Wharf, Trancas Crossing Park, Riverside Drive, the Napa River Trail, and downtown Napa behind Oxbow Market
Bait & Gear Tips
Effective shore baits include anchovies, pile worms, blood worms, ghost shrimp, live grass shrimp, split tails, and bullheads
Step-by-Step Guides from Catch Happy’s Channel:
“Striped Bass Fishing from the Bank – EASY Tips for Beginners” offers beginner-friendly gear, rig setup, and site selection strategies.
“Bank Fishing for Striper on Napa River, Downtown Napa” walks you through gear use at popular downtown access spots
Boat (Trolling) Fishing Techniques
Trolling Setup & Strategy
Use deep-diver lures such as Wild Thing or Spro “Golden Boy,” trolled 100–140 ft behind the boat.
Keep boat speed between 3.5 – 4.5 mph; adjust with tides: subtract ~1–1.5 mph against tide, add ~1–1.5 mph with tide.
Favor slough-mouth launches and banks: trolling into/out of sloughs or along channel edges at depths of 6–9 ft yields great strike potential.
Tactical Advice
On outgoing tides: keep lures tight to the bank, allow deeper divers to stir bottom silt for traction.
On incoming tides: troll in and out of slough mouths and experiment with lure colors—once a hit color is found, switch all lines for doubles/triples
Stay mobile—stripers move fast. If bites slow, relocate and adjust speed, lure type, or rigging .
Brush up on trolling technique:
What's New in the Shop
🦟 Say Goodbye to Mosquitoes—For Real
This isn’t a gimmick. The Thermacell Mosquito Repeller is hands-down the best mosquito protection you can get—and we’ve got it stocked now at Sweeney’s Sports. It creates an invisible 15-foot barrier that actually works: no sprays, no smoke, no noise, no smell. Just real results. I use one at the lake house, on the boat, at home, and on every camping trip. Once you fire it up, you’ll forget it’s even on—until you realize that you and your loves ones are the only ones not getting bit. Come grab one before they disappear (again). Your skin will thank you.
Mr. Sweeney's Experience
Back from Break, Full Speed Ahead
After a 17-day family vacation across Europe, I’m back—recharged, refocused, and ready to pour everything into this series and our mission at Sweeney’s. These moments away reminded me why we’re building this: to create something meaningful, sustainable, and shareable—not just for our Napa community, but for small business dreamers nationwide.
You've seen the intro last week, so here comes Episode 1:"Whose Glasses Are These… and How I Manage My Day"In this one, we pull back the curtain on what it actually looks like to run a small tackle shop while building a brand, a community, and a business worth fighting for.
Sweeney’s Second Cast™
🎣 Trade Your Gear at Sweeney’s! We are now accepting trade-ins daily!
Welcome to Sweeney’s Second Cast™ — our dedicated day for used gear trade-ins and store credit.
Here’s how it works:
🔁 Bring in your rods, reels, or tackle.
💳 Get store credit.
⏳ Valuations may take a few days — instant trades available only if staff time allows.
Whether you're upgrading or clearing space, we're here to help your gear find a second life.
🗓️ Daily!
📍 Sweeney’s Sports, Napa
🕙 10am–6pm — No appointment needed
All gear must be clean and in working condition. Questions? Just ask!
Live Bait Update May 29th, 2025
In-Stock
Medium Minnows
Pile Worms
Catch Of The Month Contest
Win a $30 gift card!
Show us your most impressive fishing moment by tagging @sweeneys_sports in your Instagram post or story. The grand prize? A $30 gift card and a feature on our social networks! 🏅.
📸 Cast your entry by sharing your photo and get ready to be a part of our winner's circle .
Let's make waves together! 🌊
P.S. We’re excited to announce the launch of ShopSweeneys.com!
Why shop on https://www.shopsweeneys.com/? Besides supporting your local shop,
Competitive Pricing and Vast Inventory
Ships Fast from our Warehouse in Sacramento
Buy Online, Return to the Store
Free Shipping for Orders Over $50 (some restrictions apply)
As always,
We truly appreciate every time you walk through our doors. Thank you for choosing to spend your hard-earned dollars with us. It's a privilege to be of service.
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