Berryessa Mystery

[Rooger]

Fishing Berry on Friday and coming out of Pleasure Cove after a pit stop, we hit an extended, exposed point on the east side of Wragg Cove that we've caught a lot of bass on. No luck this time, but as we drifted out over the middle to retie some new baits to try in our next spot, we saw fish arcs on the meter. Not just a few, but it seemed like we were watching a demo tape for a sales presentation on lowrance fish finders. It went on for ever - there must have been a least a hundred, no lie. I've never seen so many arcs look the way they're "supposed to".

We were in anywhere from 90 - 110' and all of the arcs were 15-25' below the surface so I think we can rule out "surface clutter". We jigged spoons, pulled cranks, swim jigs, swim baits, even the old trusty kastmasters and I can't remember what else, but got nothing. This was in the middle of Wragg - no one else was around so we couldn't learn from what others were doing. As the bottom came up on the west side of the arm, the arcs went away. We motored around to see if we could reconnect, and just like that, they were gone.

What were we seeing? Anyone have any idea? I'm guessing kokanee, but have no idea. It was early in the morning and the coffee was still kicking in, so I can blame it on too many beers. What do you think?

[acm95301]

Probably too shallow for kokanee.....maybe salmon...but big salmon get solitary too....could have been bass, but thats pretty shallow for a large group......what about carp?

[Rooger]

I sure don't know, but we definitely got excited for a little while. Very strange....

As always, I would love to know what it (they) was!!!

[mvanguilder]

See if you can get an aqua cam and then have a look. Trout school up to, to feed on shad or other baitfish. My son caught 2 trout here at McClure and when we opened them up they both had shad colored 6" rubber worms in them. Remember try shallow and Im talking 1-4ft in any mudline. Also bass everywhere are feeding heavy on craws.

[Jay Rowan]

Kok's, Chinook and Trout are all probably running right around that depth right now. On Folsom people have been getting Chinook and Rainbows at about 20 feet the last couple weeks.

[NoCAL]

carp. I've seen some huge schools of carp this time of year.

[Rich hamilton]

saw a similar school of sqawfish in putah creek but that was in a creek. caught them on spoons.

[Jeff Jewell]

Perhaps you drifted over the island top that is near the mouth of Wragg Canyon

[lowerider]

Nessie?

[Rooger]

Nessie? I don't know, maybe it was Catfish Hunter. If I had an aqua view, that would be nice, but unfortunately...

Thanks to all who've responded. Next time out, maybe we'll take a little TNT and blast those suckers just to end said mystery.

Just kidding - I'll use a weighted treble and try snagging like the bad old days. Always looking on the bright side, at least my meter is working!

[swordfish]

I like the way you think pc so common today isn't in my book and I'm thinkin carp but perhaps you found the mother load..

[Garrett Charter]

I saw this once. I was just south of the dam in a small cove maybe 50ft wide, sitting in 60' and my screen went black. I could not figure it out so I dropped the aqua view camera. No S#$^, there was probly 500 bass, top to bottom. 3/4 of them were small 1-2lb spots mixed with a few 3-5lb largemouth, crappie and bluegill. I fished the spot for at least 4 hours without a bite. Went back the next day, not a fish on the spot. Very strange. Just my 2 cents.