Trolling for Striped Bass on the Napa River: A Complete Guide

If you're looking to target Striped Bass on the Napa River, trolling is one of the most effective methods to cover water and find fish. But where do you start? From choosing the right lures to dialing in your rod and reel setup, there are key factors that can make or break your success.

Let’s break it all down—starting at the shop and ending on the water.

Watch full video here.

Essential Gear for Trolling Stripers

Before you hit the river, you'll need the right gear. Here’s a rundown of what works best:

Lures: What Works Best?

Striped Bass behavior changes depending on tide, water clarity, and conditions, so having a variety of lures in your tackle box is essential.

The Italian Stallion – Is one of the color variations of Wild Thing series of custom lures made at Sweeney’s Sports, this deep-diving crankbait reaches 12-14 feet and kicks up silt from the bottom, triggering aggressive strikes. Troll it 70-120 feet behind the boat for the best action.
The Golden Boy – is Spro's Aruku Shad. This rattle trap-style bait emits sound and vibration, often enticing reaction bites.
Color Matters – Some days, fish only hit a bone-colored lure. Other times, they react to red or oversized swimbaits. Rotate lures every 20-30 minutes to dial in what’s working.

Rod and Reel Selection

A good trolling setup requires a sensitive yet strong rod and a reel with a line counter for precision.

Best Rod Choice: Phoenix XG4 (about $200) – A glass rod with a soft tip that helps detect bottom contact and strikes. Or Okuma Guide Select Classic.
Budget Option: Okuma SST-C-862MHA ($100) – A great medium-heavy rod that allows for multiple rod setups.
Reel Choice: Okuma Cold Water Low Profile or Okuma Coldwater Line Counter – A line counter is key for setting up staggered trolling depths (e.g., one rod at 120 feet, another at 80 feet).

Line Setup: Braid + Leader

Using a braided mainline with a mono leader gives you the best of both worlds.

Braid prevents line stretch, giving you better control.
Mono leader makes the lure less visible, which is important for wary, bigger stripers.

Trolling Techniques on the Napa River

Once on the water, here’s how to put your setup into action:

Set Your Speed: 3-5 mph is the sweet spot for trolling.
Distance Your Lines: Set your first lure at 120 feet, the second at 80 feet to prevent tangles.
Watch for the Action: Your deep-diver should be bouncing off the bottom, kicking up debris to attract fish. If it's not, move closer to the bank. Your ideal trolling depth is 6-12 feet.
Hook and Fight: When a fish bites, don’t stop the boat! Keep trolling to trigger multiple hookups. Use your rod’s handle to maintain control.

On the Water: Trolling in Action

We hit the Napa River with the Italian Stallion and a rattle trap, trolling at 4.2 mph in 6-7 feet of water. The key was watching the rod tip—if it was bouncing, we knew the lure was hitting bottom.

And then—boom! Hookup.

With a solid fight, we landed a striped bass over 30 inches. Not a bad start to the day!

Get Geared Up at Sweeney’s Sports

Everything mentioned here—rods, reels, lures, and line—is available at Sweeney’s Sports in Napa, CA. Whether you’re just getting started or refining your trolling game, stop by and we’ll get you set up for success.

Got questions? Come in and chat with our team, attend one of our seminars, or better yet—get out on the water and put these techniques to the test

Catch Happy.