Napa River 9/1

I had a quick evening session on the Napa River the other day. The wind was ripping when I arrived and the tide was running the wrong way, but I had time to fish so I hit it. This was the lower river back in the sloughs.

Throwing 5 inch big hammers to shoreline structure I landed 4 in as many hours of work. I also lost a few and missed a few bites. Overall not a bad trip given the conditions. Largest was almost 24” and smallest at barely legal 18”. They were absolutely choking the big swimbaits too. I think if the conditions (wind/tide) were better I could have caught more.

form the pics you can see the wind and tide moving - nice catches

Thanks for the report and pictures 3$J.

Those look like decent fish. I always troll rather than cast. Maybe I need to change things up.

Nice fish.

South of edgerly isl... still a good day out there.
Amazing what this winter did to the river bed...
North section (freshwater) is SUPER shallow.
Still held schools of striper @spawn.
The beaver dam is backwatering almost 3 feet this year...

South of edgerly isl... still a good day out there.
Amazing what this winter did to the river bed...
North section (freshwater) is SUPER shallow.
Still held schools of striper @spawn.
The beaver dam is backwatering almost 3 feet this year...

After last winter's flow destroyed the beaver dam, it was interesting to be able to explore the stretch above the dam for the first time in a while this spring.  You're absolutely right - it's much shallower up there than it previously was. Alot of the paddleable riffles are now too shallow, despite higher than usual cfs coming down. It was also striking how few fish are in that area now, too. Aside from a few schools of American Shad and a couple of bass, it was pretty desolate. Very, very different than it was five or so years ago.

He has been busy,
29 Aug
I've seen him. He aint big nuff to have cleared out the stocks.

This is paddlable with few portages,
To almost hardman ave.

Beavers have been busy for sure. When I last went up in late June, the dam was only about knee high with a big unfinished section in the middle letting decent flow through. Looks like we stopped about a quarter mile short of your trip.

I'm thinking the last few years of low water conditions have taken their toll on the fish in that stretch.

how is the LMB fishing up that way?

Was good some time ago...
Its shallow as +××÷ right now, the 3" stocks are hittin top water/flies currently.

Thanks for the report, I do not really get up there much but I'll keep it on the backburner for a future trip if I am up in wine country, enjoy, R.

I'm 2 miles from the north launch, give a shout out if you want company...

https://youtu.be/ABh_4LsbiEE?feature=shared

Here's a bit of the new pond scenery to the northern most backwater above the main dam. Today.

https://youtu.be/lvKafYESqPI?feature=shared

Goofing off today, the baby striper stocks are looking good.