Lake Berryessa Fishing and Pawn Stars
- alexosen
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
Today we are covering:
Lake Berryessa Fishing Report
Learn to Fish Day – May 30th at Napa Sea Ranch
Napa Fishing Club Meeting – May 8th
Trade-In Fridays (4–6 PM): Let’s Make a Deal
What’s New in the Shop: SeaThread Sun Shirts
Live Bait Update
Catch Of The Month Contest - Win a $30 gift card!
We got out on Lake Berryessa this week targeting trout and kokanee and spent the day running a series of experiments with new trolling setups.
Our goal was to test options for anglers who don’t have downriggers—or only have two but want to run four rods. Traditionally, many anglers rely on lead core line to get their presentation down to the 15–25 foot range, which is where fish are holding right now. Instead, we tested a sliding sinker clip setup using varying ball weights, and Chamberlaine downrigger stacker to achieve depth.
We also experimented with a more natural presentation by threading a worm onto a longer shank hook and trailing it behind a flasher to see how fish would react compared to the plastics we typically run.
In addition, we ran spoons directly tied to the line. The standout performer was the T-Bone Tackle Teaspoon lure in a green frog pattern, which was especially effective in the morning.
We ended the day with 13 fish landed and at least 6–7 more missed—overall, a strong day on the water.
Conditions:
• Water temperature: ~61°F
• Active fish zone: 2 to 40 feet
• Most productive depths: 15 ft and 27 ft
• Trolling speed: 1.6–2.0 mph (1.8–2.0 mph was the sweet spot)
The worm setup proved itself, producing four fish. The rest were primarily caught on the T-Bone spoon and green kokanee hoochie setups.
Color mattered. On this cloudy day, deeper greens and purples performed best. We recommend running green tones through the morning (until about 11–12), then transitioning to purples, blues, or even gold/silver depending on sun conditions.
As always—test, adjust, and dial it in based on the day.
Learn to Fish Day – May 30th at Napa Sea Ranch
We’re incredibly excited to host our upcoming Learn to Fish Day on May 30th at Napa Sea Ranch!
This is a hands-on event designed for beginners and families looking to get into fishing.
Event Details:
• Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Location: Napa Sea Ranch
• Registration: Free (limited to 40 participants—register early!)
What’s Included:
• Full instruction
• Free bait
• Optional rod & reel rentals on-site
Attendees can bring their own setups (we’ll help you rig them), or rent everything needed right on the spot.
We’ll be running three learning stations:
1. Striper bank fishing rigging setup station
2. Baiting and technique station
3. Casting instruction and practice
After completing the stations, participants will head down to the river bank to cast their lines and try their luck catching a striper.
Important Notes:
• Napa Sea Ranch access fee: $5 for adults
• Kids fish free (no charge from Napa Sea Ranch)
This event is proudly sponsored by Napa Fishing Club and Sweeney’s Sports.
We can’t wait to get more people out fishing—especially first-timers.
Napa Fishing Club Meeting – May 8th
Join us for our next Napa Fishing Club meeting on Friday, May 8th from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM.
We’re excited to reconnect, talk fishing, and learn new techniques together.
Schedule:
• 6:00–7:00 PM: Social hour
• 7:00–7:45 PM: Johnny ("Johnny Caught Another One” on YouTube)
- Shark & bat ray fishing from the bank
- Setups, line selection, rigging
- Baiting techniques
- Landing techniques
- Favorite fishing spots
• 7:45–8:30 PM: Robbie George (The Bend Fly Fishing Guide Company)
- Bank fishing for largemouth bass
- Techniques and practical tips to help you catch more fish
Admission:
• Free for Napa Fishing Club members
• Non-members can join the club on the spot
- Under 21: Free
- Adults: $50/year membership required We’re building something special here—come be part of it.
Trade-In Fridays (4–6 PM): Let’s Make a Deal
You may have seen our recent videos going viral—we’re approaching a million views across platforms, especially on clips where we help young anglers trade in their gear for upgrades.
One comment even called this “The next Pawn Stars”… and it got nearly 500 likes. So we figured—let’s lean into it.
Introducing Trade-In Fridays from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Bring in your used fishing gear and:
• Trade it in
• Sell it
• Or see what it’s worth
If you’re open to being on camera, we’ll film the full process:
• Gear evaluation
• Negotiation
• Deal (or no deal) It’s fun, real, and helps support the shop and our mission to invest in kids and the future of fishing.
Come hang out, make a deal, and be part of the story.
What’s New in the Shop: SeaThread Sun Shirts
We’ve got something new in the shop—and it’s a good one.
We just brought in sun shirts from SeaThread, a company that collects plastic waste from oceans around the world and turns it into high-quality apparel.
These shirts feature our new Wild Things design with the Sweeney’s logo front and center.
They’re lightweight, comfortable, and perfect for long days on the water.
Price: $39.99
Come check them out in-store and support a product that’s doing some good out there.
Live Bait Update - Fully Stocked This Week
If you're heading out soon, we’re fully stocked with bait right now.
Available this week:
Ghost shrimp
Pile worms
XL minnows
Medium Minnows
With favorable tides coming up, this is a great time to get out on the water.
And if you're not sure what to run—stop by the shop and let’s talk strategy.
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! 🎣
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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