What's New in the Shop?
First cast:
Spring is almost here! We're incredibly excited for the upcoming fishing season. This winter brought a lot of weather and rain, making fishing challenging, I'll admit it. Forget the lack of bites – I don't remember a single year where I had to reschedule so many trips due to weather.
However, all this rain was an investment in the upcoming season, which promises to be amazing. Just look at what's happening at Berryessa! Trout fishing is on fire, and the Kokanee/King bite isn't far off.
To get your season started right we've put together a comprehensive guide on Greater Bay Area fishing (April-September) for Halibut, Striped Bass, and Trout.
I was on vacation last week, spending spring break with my girls in Cancun. When I returned on Monday, I was shocked! Our fishing tackle wall is decimated! Spoons, hooks, leaders, and bait are flying out of the shop. Don't worry, though, we just placed a huge order to restock and should have the shelves full again later this week.
Alex
Second cast:
Mark your calendars! Our Spring Outdoor Festival is scheduled for Saturday, April 27th. We are super excited to plan and host these events. We'll be fully stocked and fully staffed. Here is why you should plan to stop by:
Gear Swap
Food Truck
Free Classes
Storewide Sale
Prizes and giveaways
Contests and games
More info to come your way shortly. We'll publish an event-dedicated email and blog post in the coming days. RSVPs will receive a special discount.
Third cast:
Hey Parents!
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 1st Annual Kids Learn to Fish Event, co-hosted with the City of Napa, Park Rangers, and the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife!
The event, held on Saturday, May 4th at Oxboe Preserve, is the perfect opportunity for kids ages 7-15 to learn the basics of fishing and have a blast on the Napa River.
Spots are limited (only 15!), so register early! Unfortunately, due to parking restrictions, walk-ins won't be possible.
Here's what your kid can expect:
A fun and educational 5-station fishing clinic covering:
Knot tying
Safety and fishing ethics
How we impact water quality
Casting
Rigging
All the gear they need – rods, reels, tackle, bait, catch & release equipment – plus expert instruction and coaching!
By the end of the day, your child will be:
Confident in their fishing skills
Equipped with a new appreciation for the outdoors
Hooked on a fun and rewarding hobby!
Don't miss out! Register your child today!Â
We look forward to seeing you there!
This year's event is limited to 15 kids only, so if you'd like your kid to participate and learn how to fish, register early. Unfortunately, due to limited parking on Oxboe Preserve, we won't be able to accommodate walk-ins.
Live Bait Inventory Update
Live Pile Worm
Medium Minnows
Large Minnows
XL Minnows
Fishing Reports
Lake Hennessy
Shane and Luke's Report
Luke and I fished Lake Hennessy last Sunday. We arrived around 1:00 PM, planning to fish through the afternoon and into the evening. The sky was partly cloudy with rain forecast for later in the day. The water temperature was around 60 degrees, suggesting some female bass might be pre-spawn transitioning or full-spawn on beds.
The initial focus of our trip was locating these bass in the water column. Were they cruising the shallows or holding deep in cover, waiting to spawn? It turned into a day focused on simple techniques. Luke used a 3/4 oz jig, while I flipped a D-Bomb with a 1 oz bullet weight.
We started by working the shoreline, casting deep into cover, but didn't get any bites. We then switched tactics, throwing a couple of feet off the edge, and that's when we started catching fish. We landed a few bass in the 2-3 pound range while working the shoreline. Once we moved to shallower water and cast near cover, things got exciting.
We caught a series of larger fish: a 5.5-pounder, a 6-pounder (both on the jig), and I landed a respectable 4-pounder flipping right on the edge of some cover. Bed fishing was slow. We spotted a few large females on beds but couldn't entice them to bite.
With the full spawn approaching and the water clearing up, I expect the bass fishing at Lake Hennessy to improve. It's been a while since we've had a successful day at the lake, and we're already looking forward to getting back out there! I'll try to fish there as much as possible in the coming months and keep you all posted on the results.
Napa River
Sturgeon
Check our detailed sturgeon fishing instructional video and blog here.
Use live Grass or Ghost Shrimp, Pile Worms, Salmon roe, or Eel threaded onto a barbless hook, wrapped with magic thread (twine), and terminated with a bait button.
It's important to keep your bait on the bottom with a 4-16 ounce (tide speed-dependent) sinker and, ideally, a weighted leader.
Regardless of the bait used, the key to success is getting out on the water and enjoying the experience. The river currently has a high population of hungry sturgeon, and with the improved weather, conditions are excellent for fishing.
For gear, bait, and the latest fishing information, stop by our shop. Guided trips are also available for booking.
Lake Berryessa
Lake Berryessa Fishing Report -
Seemingly everyone is catching limits of trout trolling spoons fairly fast. 3.2-3.4 MPH, with depths of 9 and 21 feet. The water is warming up and the bite should continue to be strong. There is a lot of pressure on the fish right now, so get out there and try your luck. Trout bite should continue strong through May. We'll then see about the Kokanee.
We are fishing Berryessa tomorrow. A full report and instructional video to follow next week.
Trout fishing is red hot on the lake right now.
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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