Napa River 10/3/07

Went out on the Napa River. Launched at Cuttings Wharf and went up river just past Hwy 29 bridge. C&R three undersize stripers trolling shallow & deep diving plugs.

Can't beat a drive to the wine country this time of year. Cuttings Wharf is a nice facility and launching is free! The water clarity was decent and there was little traffic. Went up river just before high tide. Coming back was interesting because I was going against a stiff breeze yet paddling was easy because I was moving with the tide.

When I came in a local PB'er was launching, asked him where he was headed. He said to the sloughs south of there. He said he's been "nailing them", stripers up to 12lbs.

As I was leaving, a guy was driving up with with a yellow Prowler Big Game. By that time there were white caps on the river. I said "You're not going out are are?" Well, he did ... upwind slow but steady. This after he had been on the water off Benicia that morning. I think he has the bug.

When the Napa gets loaded up with stripers its a good place to be.

smokie,
went up to napa/ kennedy park a couple of weeks ago...bunch of shakers but i think the hogs are coming soon..we can hook up with reelknots from vtown and should be easy picking...river is narrow at the park area..good launch too.
allan