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Hennessy Lake and Reports

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Monday, January 5th, 2009

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Has anyone been fishing...is the launch ramp still in the water? any info onwater temp, clarity, etc would be greatly appreciated.
    City: napa

Sunday, October 26th, 2008

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    Water Temp: 62

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Well here I go again. Nothing, not a even a bite!!!

    I got out before sunrise so I thought there might be a top bite, but ending again without anything. Even tried trolling with a deep diving crank bait, nothing.

    Great day to be on the water but again can't figure out this lake. I guess it's time to start watching football and let the rain fill this lake back up.

    The lake is low and very stained and the fish seem to be sitting around 25 -30 feet. I've made notes on the structure that is present while the lake is low, so when it back up I'll know all the nice areas to hit.

    Thanks to all that have emailed me some tips, keep them coming.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: Good luck, wait until a few more rains.

    Email me if you have any luck with this lake and when it starts producing.

Sunday, September 14th, 2008

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    Water Temp: 72+

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I've tried this lake out 2 times now and nothing!!! Seems very promising because I can see a lot of fish up against the tules but I never get a bite. I've gotten out very early and the top water bite sucks, I've tried swimbaits, nothing and pluging a jig for them deep, nothing. I chart fish but they are just mouth locked. I've positioned around the drop offs and nothing, not even a bite. The lake is getting low and most likely the ramp will be closed shortly. Love the lake but not the bite. Maybe when the temp drops things will improve if we can still get on this lake. Best part is that when the lake fills back up (hope for big rain this winter) then I'll know all the structure around the lake. Has anyone ever caught a fish outta here???
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: Wish I could help. I've fished all the way up the lake arm and nothing. Anyone who knows this lake that can help it would be appreciated. Note: the gate to the ramp is open an hour before sunrise. Hope for rain!!!!

Monday, December 31st, 2007

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    Water Temp: na

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Lake is very low. Ramp is out of water and gate is locked. Need rain!
    City: Middletown

    Tips: Try orange powerbait from shore for trout.

Monday, November 5th, 2007

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    Water Temp: Mid 60's

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Well for the third time in the last week I have caught nothing under 3 lbs for Bass. Tops this week was 5lb 5oz. They mostly came on crawdad patterns drug slowly across the bottom through weedlines in about 10' of water. A senko type stick bait will get them as well. A few have com on 5" white tubes and Blue and black tubes
    City: St. Helena

    Tips: The water is gettin cooler as fall turnover is in effect so I recommend slowing your presentaion down as these fish become more lethargic.

Tuesday, May 8th, 2007

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    Water Temp: ?

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished from shore in cove near boat ramp. Many large fish locked on beds...still mostly males, but some large females. Caught 4 bass...two 4lbs, one 5 lbs, and one 7 lbs. Fish caught on pumpkin jigs and giant 7" tube in bluegill color. Saw 2 females cruising the shore that were easily over 12 lbs.
    City: Antioch

    Tips: Fish banks with decent slopes around rocks for most bedded fish. Didn't see any on the flats.

Tuesday, March 20th, 2007

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: went out and its been the same for about the last month all fish over 5 lbs, but ive been going at it with a lavender shad crank, and a storm swimbait, im am tossing a lot of large swimbaits and they seem to do the trick. i got 6 fish averaging 5to8lbs, on the boat dock side in the rocks. On the backside ive got them in about 6 to 10 feet of water. look for the fish in the shallows they seem to be getting a tan on the backside. If anyone is looking for someone to go out with i need a boater I am on the shore for now!! i know berryessa, hennessy and delta, for stripers I get em good in the napa river and have some secret areas. thanks good fishing!!
    City: st helena/vacaville

    Tips: remember to spot, dont scare em in the shallows there some biggies in them. I know everyone at this lake likes the soft plastics and spinners, get on the cranks and you'll see some great fish.

Saturday, July 22nd, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Got on the water about 6:00am. headed to this big underwater point north of the spillway. Caught 4 small (1-1.5lbs)largemouths and had one that looked about 6 pounds but she got off. Northwestern bank seems to be holding lots of Largemouth from 1'-25'. They are very finicky though.
    City: St. Helena

    Tips: Dropshotting a grn/blk flake Wave Tiki Stik produced the most bites followed by a 1/2oz Strike King Brown/Black w/red fleck Jig with a 2 3/4" Yum Chunk on the trailer hook. I have also had success with a 1/4oz Berkeley Blade dancer rainbow trout color and in the mornings(hit or miss) Heddons Super spook Jr.

Saturday, March 5th, 2005

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    Water Temp: 59

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Got on the water @ 8:30 and headed to the Dam area. Worked along west side w/wht spinner baits and brown jigs. Had 8 fish to 5.4 lbs. Fishing was slow but bass were good quality.
    City: Vacaville

Monday, January 10th, 2005

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    Water Temp: 50

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Got on the water at about 11:00am and moved along the road side or south side of the lake. My brother caught two and lost two all on a white spinnerbait with white blades. I threw everything I had and caught nothing. His best fish was a smallmouth about 2.5lbs.
    City: Vallejo

Sunday, July 25th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 79 degrees

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: First I would like to say this is a great fishery for several reasons 1) no water sports allowed 2) no motors over ten horsepower 3) no tournaments 4) quality fish. This is a great place to bring your children and teach them how to appreciate nature. My friend Terry and I went out yesterday and today. We caught seven fish yesterday all small. Today was a different day we got on the lake at five thirty this morning on my first cast with a senko I caught a four pounder my friend Terry soon after that caught two on a buzzbait one being a four pounder. We then went to drop shotting off points Terry picked up a four pound smallmouth on a six inch robo worm. We picked up five more drop shotting between two and three pounds. We were off the lake by noon. Another successful day on my favorite pond!! CATCH & RELEASE!!!
    City: SONOMA

    Tips: You need to use light line drop shotting (six pound test) set your drag accordingly. Buzz baits and senkos early.

Sunday, June 13th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 70-74

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished from 5:30-noon. Only got 2 fish- one on a brown/black pig and jig from a cove full of tules on the north end. The other fish was an 18" smallmouth that was 2 lbs. 12 ounces. I've caught a few bigger ones from this lake but none of them fought as hard as this bass. It pulled like a train and made 4 runs and 3 spectacular jumps. I had 10 lb. big game line and was begining to wonder if it would be strong enough to hold. When i lipped it it bit down hard twice on the back of my thumb. Got it on a 5" watermelon/red flake lizard texas rigged along a steep bank on the west side of the lake- near a small patch of tules.
    City: napa

    Tips: Get out and go! It's a great time of year to go- even a slow 2 fish day is a lot of fun!

Tuesday, February 24th, 2004

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    Water Temp: 50

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Visited Hennessy earlier in the week ater the heaviest o the rains and ound it so chocolate-colored that I just turned around and went home. Came back Tuesday, and the color had turned somewhat greenish so I decided to throw a little rom shore.Started out at 2:45 pm at one o my lucky spots with no success. Tried another area that looks good on the road up to Chiles Valley, but again, no luck. I was thinking o heading home, but stopped at another spot that has been good to me. Tied on a black jig that I had recently repainted with a purple kalen's grub with lakes in it. I decided to add a worm rattle or a little extra noise. Got a real light bump on the irst throw toward the edge o some dried up tules. Threw back to the same spot and the bait just got hammered. Brought it to shore and the largemouth measured 19.5 inches, 6.2#.Switched to my other rod, rigged with the brightest colored spinnerbait in my bag. About 20 minutes later, stuck a 3.5 on this rig. This was caught on the other side o the same stand o tules.For the rest o the time I was there, I just kind o switched back and orth between the two rods and caught one more largemouth that hit while quickly reeling in to throw another cast. This one hit the jig setup but was only 12 inches.Fished about two hours total and headed home.
    City: Napa

    Tips: Read Larry Hemphill's article on ishing chocolate water. I put a worm rattle in the grub or noise, and replaced the gold willow lea blade with a chartreuse Colorado on the spinnerbait. Thanks to his suggestions, I think the little adjustments I made to the baits, and throwing to heavy weeds were the dierence between a little and no success.

Saturday, September 27th, 2003

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    Water Temp: cooling down

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Went out w/a couple o relatives.we managed to catch about 8 bass rom the bank. My uncle landed two largemouth that were 5 pounds each. He also picked up two more that were about 1-2 pounds a piece. He caught a couple brush guppies also. My only keeper was a 2 lb. smallmouth my other ish was a dink. All o the nice ish were caught on 4inch plastics in various colors. Some good ish are also being caught on topwaters in the morning an evening and when it is overcast. The water is deinately cooling o and the pods o shad are roaming the surace water again. On Friday night 9/26 may cousin caughta nice ish on a topwter as did my uncle. I was skunked Friday. Oh well the ishing is deinately picking up.
    City: Napa

    Tips: 4 inch plastics and topwaters are a good bet.

Monday, July 28th, 2003

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    Water Temp: warm

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished rom 9pm to midnight with only one taker; a 2.5 lb. largemouth who ell or a topwater. Tried jigs but nothin. Walked the bank and watched the shooting stars on a gorgeous windless night.
    City: Napa

    Tips: Topwaters were the only thing that worked or me.

Friday, June 20th, 2003

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    Water Temp: warmer than col

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I caught a huge 6 inch trout on a powerbate
    City: rohnert park

    Tips: try the powerbait

Saturday, March 22nd, 2003

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: (reply to the report below) Hmm.. well i guess ill be the one to tell you that i you did actually catch a 12 pound smallmouth, it would be a world record, do you know the dierence between largemouth and smallmouth? Smallmouths over ten pounds are almost unheard o.
    City: Petaluma

Thursday, March 20th, 2003

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Hello bass ishing people. On 3/12/03, I caught a 12 lb. smallmouth on a Berkeley pumpkinseed 4" worm. This was around 8 am in the morning. One hour ater I arrived at the lake. I had just gone up to the lake the day beore (The weather was nice and warm)where I saw some trout being caught and some bluegill or redear being caught as well. But this day, the weather had cooled down slightly. I started out plugging with the 4" worm slowly in the same area where I saw these ish being caught. I kept telling mysel that something (small bass) should have hit it by now but I knew something was wrong. No wonder the big bass were in (spawning)and perhaps this is why I didn't get any bites right away (They were on patrol - eeding). When this big bass hit I knew he was huge. I had a ight on my hands. He jumped three times. It took me about 5-7 minutes to bring him in. I had just added 10 lb. test line Tuesday night. The last time I caught a big bass at Lake Hennessey (10 lb. smallmouth bass) was back in 1993. I was very blessed to have caught this bass. I caught this ish about 40-50 yards let side o the boat launch on the bank. I didn't have a boat. Lots o underwater grass and structure. Don't be ooled. Take care and have un. Robert (Woody)
    City: Vallejo

Sunday, October 20th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 65

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: through everything including the kitchen sink at those green bastards , inally caught a 2 pounder on a watermelon brush hog it was hard work today
    City: santa rosa

    Tips: go to clearlake and catch lots o ish

Saturday, June 29th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 76-79

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I took my girlriend's ather out to Hennessy yesterday. He lives in Eureka and is a lielong ly isherman--very accomplished. He also will deign to use conventional stu, i that's what's working on a given day. Neither o us had ever been to Hennessy. I had driven by it a number o times and thought it might hold promise. And what promise it held! It promised to skunk us both, ishin' as hard as our little hearts could or 6+ hours. It promised to add yet another page o humility in my already humility-laden ishing log. It promised to give up nothing, not even the SIGHT o a bass (except or schools o ry, i that counts, but I think those schools were planted rom elsewhere by evildoers, cuz it's obvious this lake has no bass). Granted, we did go in the heat o the day. AND--I did manage to catch a monster crawdad on a pig and jig. He just wouldn't let go. Should have stuck him with a hook and used him or a while, just to establish the total absence o ish in this lake. We had un, though. Really.
    City: Santa Rosa

    Tips: Watch Bill Dance. Do not try this on your own. It will lead to your ruin.