Sweeney’s Weekly Fishing Report & Shop News – 19th March Update
- alexosen
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
By Alex, “Mr. Sweeney’s”
Warmer weather has officially arrived, but if you’ve been out on the water, you already know - fish behavior hasn’t fully caught up just yet. This week’s update covers steady fishing conditions, fresh inventory hitting the shop, and a few exciting developments worth keeping on your radar.
What’s New in the Shop
Let’s start with one of the biggest wins this week: live bait availability.
We now have a reliable supply of live ghost shrimp, and they’re looking great—active, healthy, and ready for action. If you’re targeting stripers or sturgeon, this is one of the best baits you can get your hands on right now. Current price is $15.99 per dozen.
Minnows are also rolling in. Extra-large sizes are available now, with medium minnows
arriving shortly. Crappie anglers should be especially excited as we move further into the season.
On the gear side, we’ve received a partial Shimano restock, including:
Scimitar rods (a customer favorite for value and performance)
Compre rods
Nasci reels
Curado reels
More inventory is expected in the coming weeks, so this is just the beginning.
We’re also introducing a new supplier, Poulsen Cascade Tackle out of Oregon, bringing in highly regarded gear for salmon, kokanee, and trout fishing. One setup that stands out is a trolling system designed to reach depth without needing a downrigger or lead core—something we’re excited to test and share more about soon.
Additionally, we’re teaming up with Catch America to stock gear recommended by guides like Big Nate. Expect to see popular items like Trix worms, Trigger spoons, and Optimizer Jr. hitting the shelves soon.
Fishing Conditions
Lake Berryessa
Despite the recent warm weather, the bite at Berryessa remains consistent with previous weeks.
Fish are still concentrated in the top 25 feet of the water column, and that’s where you’ll want to focus your efforts. Deeper fish are present but not actively feeding, making them much harder to target effectively.
Two main trolling approaches are producing:
Slower speeds around 2.0 mph using flashers/dodgers paired with kokanee rigs
Faster trolling (2.4–2.6 mph) with direct tied spoons like Speedy Shiners or Optimizers
If you stay in that upper zone and dial in your speed, you should be able to stay on fish.
Napa River
The Napa River continues to fish on the slower side due to cooler water temperatures.
Right now:
Bait is outperforming lures, especially for stripers
Sturgeon fishing remains strong, with ghost shrimp and roe leading the way
Lure activity for stripers is starting to show, but reports are still limited
If your goal is consistent action, bait is still the most reliable option.
Looking Ahead: Salmon Season
There’s growing anticipation around salmon season, and while final regulations are still pending, the outlook is promising.
The current proposal suggests a quota-based season (approximately 104,000 fish). Once that number is reached, the season will close.
What this means for anglers:
Early season timing will be critical
May and June are expected to offer the best opportunity before quotas are met
We’ll continue to monitor updates closely and help you prepare as details become official.
Napa Fishing Club Progress
The Napa Fishing Club is moving forward and gaining momentum.
An advisory board meeting is scheduled for Friday evening, where we’ll finalize the structure, programming, and next steps. The goal is to build more than just a club—it’s about creating a local fishing community centered around:
Shared trips and experiences
Education and mentorship
Youth involvement
Long-term support of the sport
Once plans are finalized, we’ll begin opening up memberships and announcing upcoming activities.
Wrapping It Up
While we’re still in that transition period between winter and full spring patterns, fishing remains steady—and in some cases, very productive if you stick to what’s working.
Live bait is a major advantage right now, gear is arriving daily, and there’s plenty to be excited about as we head deeper into the season.
As always, thank you for your support. Stop by the shop if you need gear, bait, or just want to talk fishing.
We’ll see you out there—and back here next week.
🎣 Tight lines.
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! 🏅.
If you’d like to participate, it’s simple:
Share a photo of your catch to your Instagram stories
Tag @sweeneys_sports
Each entry gives you a chance to be featured and win a $30 gift card.
A big thank you to everyone who submitted this month - we truly appreciate your participation and can’t wait to see what you reel in next. Keep the photos coming! 🎣
See you on the water. Catch Happy.
🎣 Got a question or photo of your best catch? Tag us @CatchHappy - we love seeing and sharing your success stories.
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