Napa River Winter Striper & Sturgeon Fishing Report

alexosen
2 days ago
2 min read

Today we are covering:

Napa River Winter Striper & Sturgeon Fishing Report
Catching Striped Bass with Largemouth Bass Gear
Live Bait Update

Napa River Winter Striper & Sturgeon Fishing Report

We’re in one of those classic winter windows on the Napa River - clear weather, cleaner water, and active fish for anglers willing to slow down and fish methodically.

Reports from up and down the river have been encouraging, with stripers consistently showing and sturgeon anglers seeing steady activity. Here’s what’s working right now.

Best Bait to Use for Stripers in Winter

With the river running fairly clean and not heavily stained, natural baits with strong scent are producing best. Anglers are doing well with cured ghost shrimp, anchovies, pile worms, and live minnows. If you can get your hands on live ghost or grass shrimp, those work extremely well too.

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Catching Striped Bass with Largemouth Bass Gear

Striped bass and largemouth bass share many of the same feeding instincts, which means much of the tackle designed for bass can be just as effective for stripers. For anglers who don’t have specialized striper gear - or who simply want to make the most of what’s already in their tackle box - there are several proven bass lures and techniques that translate perfectly to river and bay striper fishing.

1. Paddle-Tail Soft Plastics

Swimbaits with a paddle tail are one of the most versatile options. Sizes around 4.5 to 5 inches are ideal for everyday fishing, while larger profiles can be used when targeting bigger fish. Light-colored patterns work well in clear or brighter conditions, while darker tones often shine when the water is stained or low light reduces visibility.

Rigged on jig heads ranging from about ½ to ¾ ounce, these plastics can be fished close to the bottom where stripers often feed. Effective retrieves include:

Bottom-walking: Let the lure sink, then reel up, allow it to fall again, and repeat.
Hop-and-pause: Cast, give a sharp pull, pause for a few seconds, then pull again.

In colder water, slowing everything down and extending the pauses can make a big difference.

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,

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