Napa River Fishing
Napa County and Solano County, CDFW Bay Delta Region.
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A look at the Napa River
Anglers find the Napa River, a river, in Napa County and Solano County, part of the CDFW Bay Delta Region. The stream line on the CDFW layer measures about 57 miles.
The Fishing Guide lists catfish and striped bass. Flow data: 2 USGS gauges. Boaters and paddlers have 4 launches on it.
For the catfish herePiscifun Chaos XS round baitcaster36% OFFSale $57.99 What CDFW says about the Napa River
“The Napa River enters San Pablo Bay from the Napa Valley, northeast of San Franciso.”
Quoted from the CDFW Fishing Guide (source). Checked October 2026.
| CDFW entry | County | Reach | Elevation (ft) | Boat ramp | Backcountry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Napa River | Napa | yes | no |
Flow on the Napa River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Napa R Nr St Helena Ca | 1 cfs, 1.30 ft gage height | Nov 13 8:15 am |
| Napa R Nr Napa Ca | 0 cfs, 2.11 ft gage height | Nov 13 8:15 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 8:32 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Launches on the Napa River
- Boat launch, Napa Riverboat launch, Napa County
- Kennedy Park2 lanes, 25 trailer spaces, restrooms, Napa County
- Cuttings Wharf2 lanes, 40 trailer spaces, restrooms, Napa County
- Napa Sea Ranch3 lanes, 500 trailer spaces, restrooms, Napa County
Launches from DBW, USFS and OpenStreetMap; midpoint from the CDFW streams layer.
The Napa River regulations
The table below is the rule set on the Napa River.
| Species | Daily bag | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trout | 5 a day | none | Last Saturday in April through November 15 |
| Black bass | 5 a day | none | All year |
| Striped bass | 2 a day | 18 in minimum | All year except closures in special regulations |
| Sunfish and crappie | 25 a day | none | All year, except closures under district or special regulations |
| Coho salmon | none (release) | none | see rule |
For district rules, the Napa River is in the North Central District.
CDFW 2026 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations. All California limits.
Outside Napa River
Neighbor lakes to Napa River
- Lake Hennessey6 miles
- Lake Berryessa14 miles
- Santa Rosa Creek Reservoir17 miles
- Ralphine Lake18 miles
Shops a short drive from Napa River
- Big 5 Sporting Goods #122sporting goods store, Napa, 7 miles
- Worm Endings Unlimitedbait and tackle shop, Napa, 8 miles
- Sweeney's Sportssporting goods store, Napa, 10 miles
- Big 5 Sporting Goods #526sporting goods store, Sonoma, 10 miles
- Leland Flyfishing Outfittersfly shop, Sonoma, 15 miles
Closest communities to Napa River
- Napa8 miles
- Petaluma19 miles
- Santa Rosa20 miles
- Fairfield20 miles
Other streams near the Napa River
- Putah Creek16 miles
- Santa Rosa Creek18 miles
- Petaluma River19 miles
- Mark West Creek22 miles
Which counties Napa River touches
Piscifun reels for this water
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The Napa River, answered
Where does the Napa River run?
Napa County and Solano County.
Are there trout in the Napa River?
CDFW notes catfish and striped bass.
When is trout season on the Napa River?
Streams open the last Saturday in April and close November 15 by default.
Does a USGS station measure the Napa River?
Readings from 2 USGS gauges are posted above.
Can I launch a boat on the Napa River?
4 launches, such as Kennedy Park.
When was the Napa River last planted?
None on file.
Is the Napa River a wild trout water?
Nothing beyond the defaults.
Do I need a report card on the Napa River?
$64.54 resident, and a steelhead report card if you target them.
Where is bait sold near the Napa River?
The nearest listing is Big 5 Sporting Goods #122, 7 miles off.