Striper Smackdown: We Test Trolling vs Casting vs Live Bait (King Tides, Napa River Adventure)

Napa River Fishing Reports & Tips

Striper fishing always delivers a mix of challenge, excitement, and unpredictability - but on a King Tide, everything gets amplified. The tides run harder, the water rises and falls deeper, bait moves differently, and stripers position in places they normally wouldn’t.

So on this rare King Tide morning, we launched with a simple goal:

👉 Test the three most effective striper techniques - trolling, casting, and live bait - and see which one produces the best fish.

What followed was a fast-paced, multi-method adventure with plenty of bites, a few surprises, and several lessons you can use on your next trip.

🎥 Watch the video: 

What Makes a King Tide So Special?

King Tides occur only two to three times a year when the sun, moon, and earth align in a way that creates extreme tidal swings. On the Napa River, that means:

• Higher incoming tides (10–12 ft instead of the usual 5–6 ft)

• Faster current

• Longer slack periods

• Lower low tides

• Constantly shifting structure and water movement

  
  

For anglers, this means one thing: You must adapt. The techniques that work during a normal tide might not work during a King Tide - and that’s exactly what we set out to explore.

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Catch Of The Month Contest - November Winner

November's winner! ​

Congratulations for our Catch of the Month contest winner.​

@moonlit_ma - Melinda Wade.​

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! 🌊