A Scary Shop Accident, Big Catches, and Fresh Bait Updates

alexosen
Sep 17
5 min read

Hello friends,

In this edition, we'll be covering:

Turning a Scary Shop Accident Into a Creative Display
Napa River Striper Fly Fishing Report
Lake Berryessa Large Mouth Bass Report
Live Bait Update
Give Your Gear a Second Cast
Catch of the Month Contest

I Crashed Through Our Glass Display… Now We Need New Display Ideas

Yesterday I literally crashed through one of our glass display cases at Sweeney’s Sports — and landed on a knife rack. 😳

I walked away shaken but fine… and now we’re asking: do we just replace the glass, or turn this into something wild and new (like a suspended lure display with our striper mount diving in)?

Lesson: Setbacks can be the spark for creativity. Sometimes the broken pieces are where the best ideas start.

Reply your ideas in the comments! Would you go back to glass, or go wild with a suspended lure and fish display?

Tight lines,

Alex @ Sweeney’s Sports

Napa River Fly Fishing Report

By Capt. Maury Hatch

I fished the Napa River area yesterday, targeting Striped Bass using fly rods with my friend Mike M on his new 18' Kofler Jet Sled. It is a great boat to fish in this area due to the low draft enabling us to fish really shallow areas as well as deeper water. We had perfect calm weather and a decent tide for targeting these fish. I prefer to fish this region when the tidal swing is 4' or less.

Unlike bait or trolling techniques, fly fishing requires clearer conditions so the fish can SEE the fly and I am always looking for the clearest conditions. Today was a 5.5' swing which isn't ideal for fly fishing, but we both had the day off so we went anyway. We launched at first light and fished the river first and found a few small fish holding tight near the rocks. We then made a move out to the open water and found some fish in the shallow areas. We were not finding the stripers schooled up so we bounced around and fished all my high percentage areas on the incoming tide.

We made 6 stops and found fish every time, but not in great numbers. The water clarity was poor everywhere we tried. We ended the day with 23 fish landed, and had multiple "long line releases" and missed grabs. It was a decent, but not great day on the Napa. We were off the water by noon and had a good time.

As far as Tackle used:

We were using 7 & 8 weight Sage R8 Salt and Sage Igniter rods, Galvan reels with RIO OBS I/5/7 & I/3/5 lines. The fish liked a pink/white or chartreuse/white fly at first light around the rocks and then wanted a black/orange (Goby pattern) in the shallows. Later in the day we had good results with a purple/chartreuse pattern in the deeper, turbid water.

As far as sunglasses go, we were using Costa silver sunrise lenses at first light and then switched to gold mirror when the sun came up.

Maury @ Costa

Lake Berryessa Bass Report (from Axel at Sweeney’s Sports)

Our very own Axel checked in from Lake Berryessa with a solid largemouth bass weighing 6 lbs 2 oz. He landed the fish in classic summer conditions — 95°F air temps and plenty of bright sun overhead. Even with the heat, the bite turned on right around noon, proving that midday can still produce when you know where to look.

Axel was fishing a Missile Baits D Stroyer creature bait on a Texas rig, weedless setup. That rig let him work confidently through Berryessa’s heavy summer cover without constant snags. Big largemouth will often tuck into that structure to stay cool, and a well-placed Texas rig can draw them out when other presentations come up short.

If you’re heading out to Berryessa in these hot, late-summer conditions, don’t be afraid to fish later in the day and lean on creature baits that push water and trigger reaction strikes. Target shaded edges, submerged brush, and weed lines — spots where a bass can sit tight and ambush a meal.

Federal Duck Stamps In Stock

Grab yours while they last. Call ahead after Friday, we were only able to grab one pack this time.

Live Bait Update

In-Stock

Medium Minnows
XL Minnows
Grass Shrimp

Give Your Gear a Second Cast

Got old rods, reels, or tackle sitting around collecting dust? It's time to give your gear a second cast — and get rewarded in the process.

At Sweeney’s Sports in Napa, we’re now offering cash or store credit when you bring in your quality used fishing equipment as part of our growing Used Gear Buy Back Program. Whether you’re upgrading your setup, cleaning out the garage, or just want to trade unused gear for something fresh, we make it easy.

Why Trade In?

Get Cash or Store Credit — your choice. Store credit gets you the best value, but we’re happy to pay cash for eligible gear.
Support Local Anglers — your used gear gets a new life in the hands of someone who’ll actually use it.
Help the Planet — reduce waste and keep great equipment in circulation instead of the landfill.
Make Room for What’s Next — clear out old gear and get ready for your next big catch.

What We’re Looking For

We’re buying rods, reels, tackle, fly gear, and select accessories that are in good working condition. Think quality over quantity — if it’s something you’d still fish with, chances are someone else would too.

How It Works

Bring your gear to the shop – anytime we’re open.
We’ll inspect it within a few days and give you a no-pressure offer.
You choose cash or store credit

It’s quick, it’s easy, and it helps build a stronger fishing community.

Bonus: Trade-In Fridays

Want the best deals? Swing by on Trade-In Fridays — our new drop-in days where you can bring gear, hang out with fellow anglers, and score exclusive trade-in bonus.

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.