Napa River Striper Report: Trolling and Fly Fishing

alexosen
Sep 25
5 min read

Hello friends,

In this edition, we'll be covering:

Napa River Striper Trolling Report
Napa River Striper Fly Fishing Report
Let's Tie Flies Together, Oct 22nd
Live Bait Update
Give Your Gear a Second Cast
Catch of the Month Contest

Napa River Striper Report – September Update

Striper fishing on the Napa River continues to deliver action as fall approaches. On our latest trip, both tides produced opportunities, with the outgoing tide delivering the strongest bite.

Where We Found Fish

Incoming tide: Fish held in the main channel. Trolling against the current produced more strikes than with it.
Outgoing tide: The bite turned on in the sloughs as bait was flushed through cuts and pools.
Speed: 4.5 MPH water speed seems to work the best. Subtract 1 MPH when going against the tide, add 1 MPH when trolling with the tide.

What’s Working

Our spread of Wild Thing lures lit up the river:

Demon Shad for contrast
Bone Collector for natural presentation
Italian Stallion (local legend and most consistent producer)

Each was scented and run at staggered set-backs, covering water from 70–150 ft. We setup two side rods for 130 ft and 150 ft. We ran the middle rod at 70-75 ft set back.

Gear Spotlight: Okuma Striper Kit

The new Okuma SST Rod paired with the Okuma Coldwater Reel is the perfect trolling setup for Napa River stripers:

Smooth drag and line-counter precision
Two-piece portability
Proven to keep Wild Thing lures in the strike zone

This combo is available at Sweeney’s Sports - our team will be happy to put everything together for you.

Tight lines,

Alex @ Sweeney’s Sports

Napa River Fly Fishing Report

By Capt. Maury Hatch

I was able to get out and fish for striped bass again this week. I knew that it would be a favorable tide to target these fish on the fly because we had a 4.3 foot swing making for clean-ish water on both tides....especially the incoming period.

We launched early and tried a few spots on the river with no grabs. We were treated to a day with almost no wind so we went way out into the bay and hit one of my top spots. We set up in really shallow water (1 to 3 feet) and were fortunate to find a large group of active fish feeding aggressively.

My buddy and I stayed in this area and caught stripers from 1# to 9# pounds for an hour and a half until the tide stopped. What a blast!!! 30 plus fish in one spot! We got really lucky! Once the the tide ebbed......the bite was over and the stripers left the area.

We then fired up the Yamaha and went looking for other areas that are productive but had a really hard time finding a bite. We searched for an hour or so with no grabs. We waited for the incoming, cleaner, tide to get going and moved to one of my regular areas. We found the stripers feeding tight against the rocky areas and really got into them again for another hour and a half.

We burned a ton of gas...... but that is what it takes sometimes to find these fish. All of the 50 plus fish we caught or got grabs from were in really shallow water.

The fish were wanting either a small pattern emulating a Silverside bait fish or a medium fly imitating a Goby.

Using fly rods/flies can be THE best technique for getting stripers in these conditions. I encourage any one who loves catching stripers to get some fly gear, work on your casting and get out there and give it a try.

If you don't have a boat....there are several guides that can put you on these great fish. If you do have your own boat......fill that gas tank up and Hit and Move often until you find them. When you DO...make note on where the tide is and where the fish are eating and try to find a Pattern. This will make you a more successful angler. This is a great time of year! GO GET E'M!

Maury @ Costa

Let’s Tie Flies, Wednesday October 22, Starts at 6pm Featuring Maury Hatch Striper Flies

Capt. Maury Hatch retired Delta / Napa River Striper guide will be sharing and demonstrating his favorite patterns. Join us for a fun evening! Mark the date—materials list coming soon (with a small materials fee)

Live Bait Update

In-Stock

Medium Minnows
XL Minnows
Pile Worms
Grass Shrimp (Likely, call ahead)

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.