Fly fishing for striped bass Napa River, Napa, California.

Our day began at 7 AM at the Kennedy Park boat launch in Napa, California.

We met with a few friends, had a quick orientation on where and how we might fish, shared ideas, launched the boats, and took off towards the mouth of the Napa River. The weather was lovely that day, with just a slight breeze. We were on the water by 8 AM.

Setting the Scene

We moved about 15 minutes towards the mouth of the Napa River, which spills into San Francisco Bay. We started looking for prime areas to fish for striped bass. There are many creeks and outlets that drain into the Napa River. These spots became our focus. If you see water moving with a slight riffle due to the current created by the tide change, those are the areas where you want to fish.

Fishing Techniques

Cast directly into the moving water. It’s even better if you can spot a seam where the water is moving against still water. This creates a great area where ambush stripers sit and wait to pounce on their prey, like small baitfish.

Our fishing setup consisted of 8 to 9 weight, 9-foot fly rods. I was using a Rio Striper sink tip line on my nine-weight fast sinking tip with integrated line, which worked perfectly. I was able to cast well later on in the day, even into the wind.

The Right Flies

As for the type of flies we were using, I had tied a Clouser myself. I’ll include a few pictures for reference.

All the Clousers I used were chartreuse and white, with a black stripe on the back. I achieved this by adding Peacock Harrell during the tying process.

Line Setup

Regarding our line setup, I mentioned the Rio's fast sinking line. I used a 25-pound, 5-foot mono leader tied to a 50-pound micro swivel. Then, I added 2 feet of 15-pound mono tied to the bottom half of the micro swivel. Using a loop knot, I tied that to my Clouser Minnow. I’ll attach some photos of the flies we used to catch them.

The Best Time to Fish

Schools of striped bass are starting to come into the river from the bay now. It’s a fantastic time to fly fish the Napa River. The excitement of casting into the water, feeling the tug of a fish, and sharing the experience with friends makes for a memorable day.

Conclusion

In summary, our trip to the Napa River was a success. The combination of great weather, effective fishing techniques, and the right gear made for an enjoyable day on the water. If you're looking for a thrilling fishing experience, I highly recommend heading out to the Napa River soon.

Remember, the thrill of fly fishing lies not just in the catch but in the moments shared with friends and the beauty of nature surrounding you. So grab your gear and hit the water!

---wix---