Get Ready for Striper Season: Napa Fishing Club Meeting & New Pond Stars Finds
Today we are covering:
Napa Fishing Club Meeting August 21: Get Ready for Striper Season
Around the Shop: New Gear & Pond Stars Finds
Catch Of The Month Contest - Win a $30 gift card!
Live Bait Update
Napa Fishing Club Meeting August 21: Get Ready for Striper Season
Join us on Friday, August 21, for another Napa Fishing Club meeting at Sweeney’s Sports, featuring Brandon Abernathy of RodDown Guide Service.
Brandon will take us through his approach to trolling and drifting for striped bass on the Napa and Sacramento rivers. He’ll cover how he finds productive water, chooses his setups, presents baits and lures, and makes adjustments as tides, current, and river conditions change.
Whether you’re already chasing stripers from a boat or want to learn how to get started, this presentation is a great opportunity to pick up practical advice from an experienced Northern California guide. Brandon targets everything from stripers and salmon to sturgeon, trout, kokanee, and landlocked king salmon, bringing plenty of time on the water and local knowledge to the conversation.
With the Napa River striper season beginning to build, it’s the perfect time to sharpen your techniques, ask questions, and get ready for the fishing ahead.
Friday, August 21
Meeting: 6:00–8:30 p.m.
Presentation: 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Location: Sweeney’s Sports, 835 Lincoln Avenue, Napa
Attendance is free for current Napa Fishing Club members. Not a member yet? Learn more and join the Napa Fishing Club here.
Come talk fishing, meet other local anglers, and get ready for striper season. 🎣
Around the Shop: New Gear & Pond Stars Finds
A 30-Year-Old Inflatable Is Going Back on the Water
You never know what will come in at Pond Stars. This time, it was a roughly 30-year-old inflatable fishing float tube. Before putting it up for sale, Mr. Sweeney inflated it, checked the valves and bladder, and plans to test it on the water to make sure it still holds air and performs as it should. If everything checks out, this vintage float tube may soon be ready for another fishing adventure—fins included.
His Penn Squall II Was Collecting Dust—So We Made a Deal
Anthony brought in a Penn Squall II that had been sitting unused after he switched to spinning gear. After inspecting the reel and confirming it was in good shape, we offered $70 in store credit or $45 cash. Anthony chose the store credit, turning gear he no longer used into value toward his next setup.
A Fair Deal on an Okuma Combo?
Chris brought in an Okuma Cerros rod and Avenger AV 4000 reel that had been sitting in his garage. After evaluating the rod and reel separately, the numbers came out slightly below his $60 target—but because the combo was in excellent condition, we agreed on $60 in store credit. Another solid Pond Stars trade-in ready for its next angler.
Can You Help Us Identify These Mystery Lures?
Every once in a while, a collection brings in something we haven’t seen before. This tackle box arrived with six unusual lures in different colors and sizes, and we’re still figuring out exactly what they are, how they’re meant to be fished, and what the complete set might be worth. Sometimes Pond Stars turns into a community treasure hunt.
A Vintage Reel from West Germany
A unique vintage Quick Jr. No. 240 reel came through the shop in its original box, marked West Berlin and likely dating from before the fall of the Berlin Wall. After looking into its value, we made a $25 cash deal. Whether it eventually sells or stays in the display case, it’s a fascinating piece of fishing history. This one sold the same day.
Al’s Collection Keeps Getting More Interesting
Part three of Al’s collection brought another unexpected mix into the shop from a practically new boat step ladder to sturgeon tackle, shark hooks, saltwater lures, weights, and unopened gear. Some pieces will be sold individually, while others may become affordable tackle kits. With collections like this, you really never know what’s coming out of the next box.
Want to see our inventory collection of the latest used gear?
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! 🏅.
If you’d like to participate, it’s simple:
Share a photo of your catch to your Instagram stories
Tag @sweeneys_sports
Each entry gives you a chance to be featured and win a $30 gift card.
A big thank you to everyone who submitted this month - we truly appreciate your participation and can’t wait to see what you reel in next. Keep the photos coming! 🎣
Live Bait Update
Available this week:
Pile worms
Medium Minnows
Large Minnows
And if you're not sure what to run—stop by the shop and let’s talk strategy.
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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