Napa River is a River located in Solano County, CA. Starting in Calistoga, CA the Napa River flows 58 miles through Boyes Hot Springs, CA before ending in Crockett, CA. Find maps, fishing guides, weather and recreation information at Guidesly.

About Napa River, CA

Napa River is a 55-mile stream that takes up almost the entirety of Napa County in the state of California. It drains the Napa Valley along the mountains that are north of San Francisco Bay. Its watershed borders approximately 426 miles that are then drained on a 55-mile journey from Mt. St. Helena at the north to San Pablo Bay at the south through the Napa-Sonoma Marsh. With that said, it is also one of the largest rivers in the Central Coast Range. It has 47 tributaries, including the Dry, Conn, and Soda creeks, that run through a farmed and half urbanized valley. It also has Howell Mountain, Atlas Peak, and Mt. George to its east, and the Macayama Mountains to its west. The stream runs through a variety of landscapes, including vineyards, urban areas, grasslands, open pasture, industrial zones, forested mountain slopes, and marshes. Lake Hennessey, Lake Milliken, and Bell Canyon Reservoir are all included in the Napa River watershed. 

There have been reports of bacterial contamination in the stream, so it is not advisable to swim down here, especially within the area of urban properties. There have also been reports of run-offs caused by pollution, causing the oxygen available produced by algae bloom to decrease. Some sediment deposits have also caused harmful effects to the residing anadromous fish species in the area. However, it has been said that the upper, cleaner portions of the watershed are still safe to swim in. Popular activities done here are kayaking, paddleboarding, motorboating, wildlife watching, boating, hiking, strolling, and fishing.  

All About Fishing in Napa River, CA

Napa River is home to a remarkable diversity of wildlife and supports more than 30 native fish species, including those that are already considered rare and threatened in the environment. The majority of the stream and its tributaries have gradually become the preferred habitat of predatory fish species throughout the years. Fishing out here would give you generous opportunities for catching striped bass, white sturgeon, steelhead trout, Pacific lamprey, river lamprey, tule perch, Sacramento splittail, and hardhead. The stream also has excellent populations of chinook salmon due to the salmon monitoring program that typically begins late October to January. You may also find great opportunities for catching summer flounder, coho salmon, common stingray, leopard shark, white bass, green sunfish, redear sunfish, and largemouth bass. Bluegill and black bass species can be found in the upper portions of the river, while splittail, yellowfin goby, and silverside can be found in the lower river. 

Popular fishing techniques used here are fly-fishing and baitcasting. Both native and non-native species usually dwell on the estuaries and the valley floor of the stream. Steelhead trout, Pacific lamprey, river lamprey, chinook salmon, and white sturgeon species can be easily found in these estuaries, while the hardhead, tule perch, bluegill, and sunfish species usually dwell most on the valley floor.

Fishing Seasonality

The best times to fish in Napa River would be around 4 AM to 6 AM, and 9 PM to 12 AM. You may also try fishing at 11 AM. The most productive months of the fish species here are during fall, from September to November. Larger concentrations of the species build up during these months, making them excellent times to fish here. Striped bass are best targeted during November. Steelhead trout, on the other hand, spawn in winter and spring, between January and March. Chinook salmon, spawn during fall and would be best fished during late September and early October. 

Fishing Seasonality

The best times to fish in Napa River would be around 4 AM to 6 AM, and 9 PM to 12 AM. You may also try fishing at 11 AM. The most productive months of the fish species here are during fall, from September to November. Larger concentrations of the species build up during these months, making them excellent times to fish here. Striped bass are best targeted during November. Steelhead trout, on the other hand, spawn in winter and spring, between January and March. Chinook salmon, spawn during fall and would be best fished during late September and early October. 

All About Fishing in Napa River, CA

Napa River is home to a remarkable diversity of wildlife and supports more than 30 native fish species, including those that are already considered rare and threatened in the environment. The majority of the stream and its tributaries have gradually become the preferred habitat of predatory fish species throughout the years. Fishing out here would give you generous opportunities for catching striped bass, white sturgeon, steelhead trout, Pacific lamprey, river lamprey, tule perch, Sacramento splittail, and hardhead. The stream also has excellent populations of chinook salmon due to the salmon monitoring program that typically begins late October to January. You may also find great opportunities for catching summer flounder, coho salmon, common stingray, leopard shark, white bass, green sunfish, redear sunfish, and largemouth bass. Bluegill and black bass species can be found in the upper portions of the river, while splittail, yellowfin goby, and silverside can be found in the lower river. 

Popular fishing techniques used here are fly-fishing and baitcasting. Both native and non-native species usually dwell on the estuaries and the valley floor of the stream. Steelhead trout, Pacific lamprey, river lamprey, chinook salmon, and white sturgeon species can be easily found in these estuaries, while the hardhead, tule perch, bluegill, and sunfish species usually dwell most on the valley floor.