Bass fishing is picking up at Lake Berryessa while river patterns remain consistent. This week’s update covers current conditions, club news, new gear arrivals, and what anglers should focus on heading into spring.

Spring is knocking, but the bite is still playing it cool. From ghost shrimp making a comeback to steady action in Berryessa and Napa River, here’s what anglers are seeing—and how to stay on fish right now.

Mid-March fishing report from Sweeney’s Sports in Napa covering Napa River sturgeon fishing, improving striped bass activity, and Lake Berryessa conditions for trout, kokanee, crappie, and catfish. Plus updates on live bait including ghost shrimp and shop news for local NorCal anglers preparing for spring fishing.

After years of unprecedented salmon fishing closures, new preseason data points to a cautiously optimistic outlook for California’s 2026 season. While a full recovery is still ahead, improving abundance estimates and management signals suggest limited openings may return — offering renewed opportunity for anglers and coastal communities alike.

That spirit is what’s driving us to launch the Napa Fishing Club - a place where local anglers can connect, sharpen their skills, advocate for our fisheries,

February isn’t lights-out striper fishing. It’s grind fishing. You might scratch out one or two. But it’s not wide open. And that’s okay.

When you’re soaking bait for stripers or catfish, the bait isn’t doing any of the work for you - the scent is. 

I’m heading to an upcoming tradeshow with hundreds of outdoor and fishing brands represented - and I want your input before I go.

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 and conversations are back shortly.

Weeks like this help keep the advice grounded and the recommendations real. Regular fishing content, reports, and conversations are back shortly.

Winter fishing has a reputation problem. But every year, there’s a moment when everything lines up - and right now is one of those moments.

He came in after watching a YouTube video on striper fishing the Napa River, carrying what he lovingly described as a “pretty old POS rod,”

We brought along an underwater camera and one of the newest snares we’ve been testing at the shop: the Glider Snare

So today, Axel Tackle and I decided to test how much weight Mr. Sweeney’s Leader could actually withstand in a controlled (but pretty wild) setup.

This 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.

I start with scaling the fish. The skin is perfectly edible, delicious, and full of nutrients. I don't want to waste it.

The combination of the skirt, the split-tail trailer, the color contrast, the deep rattle, and that bill-driven dive gives stripers exactly what they’re looking for.

“In low-light conditions, darker flies with a bigger silhouette stand out best. Once the sun’s up, lighter colors like white over chartreuse produce more bites. If it doesn’t have chartreuse, it’s of no use.”

Fishing from the bank can be both a relaxing and rewarding experience, especially when targeting striped bass.

When you’re fishing from the bank, distance matters.You’re not dropping your bait right off the boat — you’re launching it toward mid-channel.That’s why an 8 to 9-foot rod is the sweet spot.