Napa River/Berryessa Fishing Reports and Winter Hours

alexosen
2 hours ago
4 min read

Today we are covering:

Winter Store Hours - Effective Monday, January 12th
Napa River and Lake Berryessa Fishing Reports
December Catch Of the Month Winner
Live Bait Update

❄️Winter Hours Are in Effect

Just a friendly reminder for our Sweeney’s regulars - winter hours officially begin this coming Monday.

From now through March 21st, Sweeney’s Sports will be closed on Mondays. We’ve also updated our weekly hours, so please plan your visits accordingly:

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Sunday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

We’ll be back to regular hours after March 21st. Until then, we’re here the rest of the week to help you get dialed in for winter and early-spring fishing.

Tight lines,

Mr. Sweeney

🎣 Current Fishing Reports

Napa River

The rains are behind us for now, and we’re looking at a solid stretch of cooler, sunny winter days ahead. As the river begins to clear from its muddy stain, expect stripers to turn on and feed aggressively.

Bank fishing remains strong, especially using:

Anchovies
Live bait
Pile worms

If you’ve been waiting for a good window to get the boat back on the water, this is it. Trolling will be productive with Wild Things and Golden Boys, covering water while the fish spread back out.

A good customer sent us these images. Trolling the river with Cantaloper Wild Thing

For anglers casting lures, we’re seeing success with:

Swimbaits like River2Sea Rig Walkers and Keitech Fat Swing Impact
Jerkbaits such as the Duo Realis Jerkbait 130SP
Crankbaits, especially the Lucky Craft LV-500 lipless
Topwater has also been producing - the Heddon Feather-Dressed Spook has been getting good bites.

We’ve put together a short video that breaks down the cast-and-retrieve technique we’ve found works best right now based on real river conditions - definitely worth a watch if you’re dialing things in.

Lake Berryessa

The trout bite has been strong, with fish holding in the top 5–40 feet of the water column.

For trolling:

Run Speedy Shiners or T-Spoons
Ideal speed: 2.2–2.8 mph
Direct-tie to the main line - no flasher needed at these speeds
Longer backsets (50+ feet)

If you’re fishing from shore, live XL minnows have been producing well for both trout and catfish. Anglers targeting cats can also lean into liver or other stinky baits, which have been consistent.

We’ve got a perfect winter fishing window lining up right now. Stop by the shop to resupply, talk strategy, and get the latest on what’s working day-to-day - conditions are changing, and that’s when good fishing usually happens.

🎣 SecondCast: New Reel Collection Walked in the Shop

We just got a fresh batch of mint-condition reels through the shop’s SecondCast program, and they won’t last long! Each reel has been fully inspected, tested, cleaned, and prepped before earning its place on our rack - so whether you’re headed to the Napa River, Berryessa, the Delta, or even Alaska, these are reels you can trust.

Here’s a quick video walkthrough of what just landed and some tips on how we set them up:

Avet SX 5.3 RH – $200 Near new condition, with box, spooled with 40 lb braid

Siegler SG – $250 Made in the USA, lifetime guarantee, high-capacity lever drag

Siegler SGN - $250 (Narrow) – Compact, lightweight, powerful drag

Okuma Metaloid 5S - $140 Excellent condition, fully spooled with 500 yards of braid and ready to fish

Stop by to check out the selection in person — these reels are some of the best used gear we’ve brought through all year.

Have Used Gear? Give It a SecondCast.

If you’ve got reels, rods, or other fishing gear sitting at home that aren’t getting fished, bring them in. Our SecondCast program is how quality gear gets a second life - and how anglers turn unused equipment into cash or store credit.

We’re always looking for clean, well-maintained reels. If your gear checks out, we’ll make you an offer. No listings, no shipping, no waiting - just a straight forward, in-shop evaluation by people who actually fish this stuff.

SecondCast keeps good gear on the water, helps other anglers upgrade affordably, and puts value back in your pocket.

🎉 Congrats to our December Catch of the Month winner!

Awesome catch and well deserved @no_animals_no_life_napavalley!

Thanks for being part of the Sweeney’s community and for sharing such an epic moment with us.

December was one of our most competitive and exciting months yet, with 8 total entries, 200+ views per story, and around 50 votes per entry.

Want to be next? To enter, simply tag @sweeneys_sports in your catch photos or stories on Instagram.

Each month, one winner receives a $30 Sweeney’s Sports gift card and a feature on our social channels. January entries are now open - get out there and show us your catch! 🎣

🪱 Live Bait Update

We’re stocked up on fresh live bait and ready for the current river and lake conditions.

Currently Available:

Live Minnows
- Medium
- XL
- Jumbo
Pile Worms

Minnows have been producing well for Napa River stripers and Lake Berryessa trout and catfish, while pile worms continue to be a go-to option for bank fishing after the recent rains.

Availability can change quickly, so if you’re planning a trip, swing by early or give us a call to make sure we’ve got exactly what you need.

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.