Hello friends,
In this edition, we'll be covering:
What's new in the shop?
Napa River fishing report
Fly fishing report
What's new in the shop?
Knife of the Week - Spyderco Bow River
Introducing the Bow River by Spyderco. This compact, all-purpose design features a full-flat-ground, trailing-point blade crafted from 8Cr13MoV stainless steel. The blade is paired with a contoured, ergonomic handle made with layered black and gray G-10.
2025 Dot’s Tide Tables
Yes, everything is moving to an app these days, but what if your precious device is out of juice or out of service? Come grab a 2025 Dot’s Tide Table booklet and be prepared for all your fishing adventures this season!
Rapala Rap-V Blade Bait
We added some new hard body baits to our arsenal! The Rap-V Blade is the perfect balance of metal, plastic and Rapala® expertise. This extremely versatile bait produces instant vibration on the lift or retrieve. The Rap-V can be worked in variable depths with a wide range of techniques; cast out, make contact with bottom, lift & let fall in a yo-yo style retrieve. For vertical presentation, drop to bottom and twitch for a jigging action. Two line tie positions; front line tie for a slower fall swimming action, rear line tie for a faster fall, head down action. The Rap-V Blade delivers the right action and attitude and is a perfect choice for any species of gamefish.
Huge Fly Order
We recently received a huge fly order! Flies such as Circus Peanut Black streamer, Dolly Lama Olive/Black , Stay Hungry Cheartruse/white, Swim Coach Olive Pine Squirrel Leech Olive and more! Come on down and check out our new lines of Streamers, Nymphs and Dry Flies!
This week in Fishing
Napa River Stripers Are On the Bite!
It looks like the striper fishing is finally picking up in the Napa River! Today, we headed out with friends and brought in 14 fish, with five over 19 inches and the largest measuring a solid 24 inches.
Starting our morning at 7 a.m., we targeted an outgoing tide. With temperatures dipping to around 40 degrees, I adjusted our trolling speed to 3.5–4 mph, and it paid off. On chilly mornings, slowing down even more can be effective. Keep in mind the tide when adjusting speed: subtract 1 mph when going against it and add 1 mph when going with it.
Our setup began with two rattle traps and two Wild Thing deep divers. The first fish, a 17-inch juvenile, hit on our Italian Stallion Wild Thing. Shortly after, another fish took the Captain America Wild Thing lure. Seeing this success, we switched all lines to deep divers, ultimately boating 14 fish over a few hours.
Outgoing Tide Strategy
For an outgoing tide, troll deep divers (like Wild Things) from the mouths of the sloughs into the slough. Stick closer to the bank with an ideal depth of 6–9 feet. These deep divers will dig into the silty bottom, creating noise that attracts the fish. While the rod will be lively, set it in the holder with a loose drag and a clicker. The rod tip’s motion signals fish activity, but the sound of the drag will be your true indicator of a bite.
Incoming Tide Strategy
For an incoming tide, troll in and out of the slough mouths and along the bank in the main channel. In the cold mornings, keep your speed down, then increase to 4.5 mph in the afternoon. Stripers often respond to specific colors, so test different lures until you find one they’re keyed into. Once you do, switch all lures to that color for a shot at doubles or even triples.
Remember: Stripers Don’t Stay Still
Stripers in the Napa River are constantly on the move. If you find success in one spot, troll through it a couple of times, but if the bites stop, reel up and try another location.
A Common Mistake to Avoid
Don’t get stuck trolling in one direction, speed, or with the same lures for too long. Striper fishing is active and requires constant adjustments. Change your speed, lures, depths, and locations until you find a successful rhythm. Once the bites stop, it’s time to move on.
Gear we used today:
Striper Trolling Kit (Rod/Reel/Line)
Italian Stallion Wild Thing Lure
Fly Fishing Report
By Pete Rodrigues
Putah Creek Fishing Report
11-7-24 Flow ratcheting up and down this week down to 65 cfs, up to 175 and currently 130 cfs today. Wadable access is good. Target deeper runs and slots. The trout season for Putah is April - November. Protect spawning fish.
**Recommended Flies:**
- **Blue-Winged Olives (BWO):**
- Hogan’s S&Ms
- FB Pheasant Tails
- Quilldigon
- May It Be
- Micro May
- Juju Baetis
- Sizes: #18-20
- **Midges:**
- WD-40
- Zebra Midge
- Jujubee Midge
- Sizes: #20-22 in various colors
- **Others:**
- Bird’s Nest (Sizes: #16-18)
- San Juan Worms
- Squirmy Worms
New Umpqua Fly Shipment
Blane Chocklett
Game Changer
Charlie Craven
Swim Coach
Baby Gonga
Double Gonga
Dirty Hippy
Landon Mayer
Mini Leeches
Devin Olsen
Quildigon
Lance Egan
Rainbow Warrior
Poacher
Silver Bullet Baetis
Kelly Galloup
Circus Peanut
John Barr
Meat Whistle
Slump Buster
And many, many more. These patterns won’t last :-)
I'm determined to bring you patterns that you'll love and that will consistently catch fish.
Redington Ace Reels
Come in and check out this new reel from Redington, fully machined, rigid thick frame for increased durability. New lattice spool design to reduce weight yet increase strength. Great value and with Redington great customer service and warranty.
P.S. We’re excited to announce the launch of ShopSweeneys.com! Now you can explore our top gear, tackle, and more—handpicked for your next fishing adventure—all online. Whether you’re gearing up for the Napa River or beyond, we’ve got everything you need to make each trip a success. Check it out!
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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