• Napa River

And the beat goes on ... there is still a good striper bite here — both bank and troll/cast. Fly guys are in the hunt, too. Cut bait will work from the bank. But, if you can find some live bait (mud suckers or bull heads), your success rate with skyrocket.

The smart folks are catching their own bait in the river. I’m not quite sure how that happens; they don’t want the word to get out too broadly. You might ask your favorite bait & tackle store for a clue.

Sturgeon are still on the chew in the south river and the bays off of it.

Best spot has been at Port Sonoma and the inlets along that shore. Toss a “cocktail” of ghost and grass shrimp — or filleted herring.

Tor Kenward and John Skupny landed a 74-pounder at the mouth of the Petaluma River recently.

• Guenoc Ranch

This 25,000-acre spread nearby in Butt Canyon, not far from Middletown, is being upgraded and made into a world class sportsman’s destination.

You can hunt pigs and birds, bow hunt in a special section, and fish for big bass that may have never seen a lure. They have 21 lakes so you can have a new adventure every time you go.

We’re going to pound some bass there Thursday. The outfitter told me that he had a client on Sunday who boated and released 75 bass with a top catch of 7 pounds. Call Ernie Sanders at D & E Guide Services (696-8579) for details and a booking.

• Clear Lake

The world’s best 250 bass pros will be at Lakeport on Clear Lake this weekend. They will compete in ESPN’s Bassmaster Elite Tournament.

This three-day event is just before the April full moon, which always kicks off the best in spring big bass fishing. We’re going up for a couple of days next week to see if we can fool a few, too.

Meanwhile, don’t pass up the rest of the fish there. Bob Rider at the Lakeshore Bait & Tackle in Clearlake (994-FISH) gave me his litmus test for the start of the crappie bite along the shore.

He watches the action on the piers at Redbud Park. When it heats up, the bite is on around the lake. Get some live minnows, Aberdeen hooks, small split shot and bobbers from Bob and you are good to go.

This warm weather is giving the catfish bite a boost, too. Bob suggests that you bring a smorgasbord of baits — it’s tough to narrow it down this early in the season. Load up on frozen sardines, mackerel, and anchovies. Take along some shrimp, clams and chicken livers.

Bring a few minnows (Bob’s favorite) and night crawlers. I’m told the secret sauce is a combo of garlic marshmallow and a night crawler. Let your bait drag slowly along the bottom. Cats to 20 pounds were caught last week.

• Lake Berryessa

Chad Hole at Sweeney’s Sports called in to say that the bass bite at Berryessa continues to be wide open. Both large mouth and small mouth bass are ready to eat. Find them in the shallows and on humps with jigs and drop shots.

Lure fishermen will want to get out their favorite Lucky Craft arsenal. With the surface temperature already at 58 degrees, and the April full moon coming up, the bite will stay good.

A few years ago, Jim Munk took me bassing on Berryessa for my April birthday. While we all caught fish, I smoked them with 37 bass — my personal best here.

• San Pablo Dam Reservoir

This is an easy report to make. Just look at the Whopper Board:

• Big trout was 8.5 pounds; caught off of the handicap accessible dock.

• Big Bass was an incredible 15.4 pounds. Kyle Evans caught it with an orange plastic worm.

• Big Bass II weighed in at 8.5 pounds by Ron Little.

• Big Catfish was 10.75 pounds.

• Crappie Bite? You bet — Eric Musser landed eight in the 2-pound range in just 40 minutes.