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Berryessa Lake and Reports

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Friday, October 15th, 2010

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    Water Temp: 70

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished rocky points (worms) and submerged humps (topwater) early with no results. Fished shallows around Big Island with no results. Fished West of Goat Island and got bit on topwater and landed a spot on reaction bait. Fished creak channel at vineyard and landed one LM on jig. Very thin!? Mid-afternoon and wanted more fish in the boat so I fished rock walls for spots and landed seven more. Small
    City: Sacramento

    Tips: Take your kids or grandchildren, they will love it!

Saturday, October 9th, 2010

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    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Out with my boys to see is the fall bite had started yet. Yes it has not all the way yet but it has started. Went with topwater first and still nothing going at the same time my 6 year old is dragging a brush hog and ties into a pig the fish headed for deep water but came off half way back in. I decided it was time to slow down with some worms within a few casts I have a nice SM around 3 lbs. on the next cast I get another the same size. Then my other son ties into a 3.5 lb LM. After that it was a slow pick but the quality was there cought one more LM 4 lbs and a 2 on a spinnerbait the only keeper reaction fish of the day. The SM were very active and all the fish were very healthy and fat. Only 8 keepers allot of shorts best 5 around 14lbs.
    City: Vacaville

    Tips: The bait seened to be more broke up than last time. This has the fish scattered but they still do not want to chase a reaction bait yet. They are moving shallow all the fish in the 20 ft range rather than 35 like last time. Now you just have to cover water to get the fish, from the way it went today the fall bite will happen soon.

Sunday, October 3rd, 2010

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    Water Temp: 70

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished from 8a to 4p. Saw the baitfish getting busted off Putah and creek just south at bridge. Caught a few (most largemouth, best 2lbs off mouth of Putah; rattletraps near ledges) and one nice smallmouth dropshotting along rockier points just south of there).
    City: San Rafael

Friday, September 24th, 2010

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    Water Temp: ?

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Got started late but still found some nice fish willing to hit a 1-3/4oz.morning dawn spoon in 35 to 45ft. After they wouldn't hit the spoon, I drop shot a 4" Basstrix Smelt flashtrix in the same depth a caught a few more. 4 smallmouth and 8 spots. most were bettween 2lb. and 3-1/2lb.
    I checked several areas were I usually spoon fish this time of year and they are close but not yet on a crazy spoon bite. There are small shad all over the surface but the big shad are still deep.
    Talked to another fisherman that said he had caught a few nice fish on white spinnerbaits in 8 to 10ft. on rocky points.
    City: Sacramento

    Tips: Look for deep creek channel breaks and flats that break off in 35 to 40ft. Places where they can push the bait up against and good ambush areas.

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    Water Temp: 73-75

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Mike Sperbeck and I decided to check the night bite out last night. We started about 5 pm, fishing the main body. We caught a lot of bass - most of them being dinks. One smallie was 1 1/2 lbs. I had a spot that I wanted us to fish just before dark - hoping for the eternal "big" bite! How often does that actually happen - seldom! However, last night it happened!!!! Mike was fishing his usual small Beaver on 6 lb test. Why he fishes that light line before dark I'll never know! Each to his own!! Well, just before dark, something over 6 lbs bit, and the fight - and wait - was on! Seemed like she made it to the bottom of the lake and then came the slow process of working the fish up. How's the 6 lb test holding up? Just fine - so far! Mike is really doing a great job! Finally we see a toad and she is in the salmon net on the second try. I love it when you have to use both hands to bring a bass aboard! She was a beauty at 8 lbs 13 oz! Quick photo that will appear soon on the photo page and back in the water she went. We actually had to needle her since she went so deep. After dark, as the moon was rising, the bite was pretty good for mostly largemouth to 2 1/2 lbs. Our best 5 - about 16 1/2 lbs. As the moon got higher the bite died and we left about 11 pm.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: Again, spooning was not so good. Hard to find good concentrations of bait. Drop-shotting a Basstrix Flashtrix minnow seems to work better. Robo worms were working for smaller bass. An evening topwater bite has not worked at all for me yet. Surface is dead in the evening. Do NOT worry about the baitfish supply at Berryessa!!! With an absolutely flat surface in the narrows yesterday afternoon - very small shad were visable on the surface as far as the eye could see. Only little bass chasing them. Fishing should improve when the water temp drops to below 70 degrees.

Tuesday, September 14th, 2010

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    Water Temp: 76

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: One bite on a 6inch sxe shad robo! Fished around capell cove from 6 to 9 pm. My daughter had a huge hit on a hollow belly swim bait right at the 5mph floats didn't hook it tho! My daughter wanted to go fishing for her 5th birthday that is the best to be able to go fishing with your kids and have a great time teaching them all you know!
    City: 707

    Tips: Wait til all the ski boats go home or get there early!

Saturday, September 11th, 2010

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    Water Temp: 74-78

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I took myself to Berryessa yesterday for the late morning and afternoon bite - if there was one! I also did a lot of looking around to check out off-shore structure at the current lake level. Always be cautious when boating at high speed on the west side of the lake. Some of those long bars come out a long way!! The bite was horrible during the mid-day hours - hardly any shadows available during the day. A few small ones were biting. But not all was lost! At 3:30 in the afternoon, while drop-shotting a Basstrix flashtrix 4" "smelt" minnow, I hooked a fish that really gave me a tussle! She turned out to be a beautiful 4 lb Largemouth with some actual girth! What a surprise!! Also with that bait I landed a nice 16 inch+ spot. The Basstrix bait out-did itself when it lured a 7 lb fish to the hook - whiskers and all! That smelt minnow will attract anything! By about 4:30 pm the breeze completely died and what little bite there was died too. I left about 6 pm.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: Bait balls with bass around them were hard to find. I thought the bait was widely scattered too. Still a bit early for the bass to round them up. The worm bite did not happen for me! Most action was about 30 to 50 feet.

Sunday, August 29th, 2010

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    Water Temp: 80+

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Out with my son first time on the lake since June. Started in the lower end throwing top water nothing going. Moved to the main body picked up 4LM in a ditch nothing too big around 1 1/2LB. all came on a brush hog missed several others had to realy feed them the bait. Moved north and found some SM holding on rock walls picked up 6 most under sized one did go 2LBS. Checked out some weed lines and finaly picked up a topwater fish going 4 plus on a spook. Over all not bad for this time of year only fished from 7-12.
    City: Vacaville

    Tips: All the fish were on balls of bait so find the bait find the fish. Most of the bait is holding in the 30-40ft range in the ditches and creeks.

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

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    Water Temp: 78-80

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: On the water by 8:30am fished until 3pm. Hot. We fished points and some coves. Saw a lot of 4-5 inches. Saw a few fish on scanner but could not get them to bite. We use Texas, Carolina, swim baits, rattle traps you name it we used it, but no bites.
    City: Sacramento

    Tips: Stay off the water when the temperature is above 100 degrees.

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

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    Water Temp: 77

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Got on the water about 7am out of markley. Headed for the sm Island. South wind blowing, but on the lee-ward side a 2.5 lbs lg mouth hooked himself while I was reeling in a white plastic worm.
    Sorry to say that was it! Have fished the lake 4 times since getting a new merc motor. Got skunked the first 3 trips, but what fun scooting around with that brand new motor!
    City: Esparto, ca

    Tips: Haven't a clue? Plan to continue fishing berry
    at least once a week. Hopefully, in time I'll
    figure it out and start catching some fish!

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

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    Water Temp: warm

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Caught the "trifecta" of bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass) from the bank on Monday. First fish came on a spook around 5:40am in Markley Cove. Many hours later and no success around Oak Shores, I finally caught my other 3 bass under the Putah Creek bridge. Only one was caught in the sun. I got many more bites and landed two fish in the shade of the bridge. All my afternoon fish were caught on crawdad imitating plastics drug slowly along the bottom.
    City: Folsom

    Tips: Find the shade, especially with deep water or cooler current nearby and you will find more active fish. That's all I could figure out.

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

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    Water Temp: 71.6 - 77.4

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished before first light until noon. Started with top water on rocky points and spinners around wood. there was a bit of wind until around 8am. Caught a few bass,then swithed to cranks a little deeper back in coves on steep rocky banks for a few more bass. I did try on of my favorite spots with no bites at all(skiers Cove)Usally a hot spot.
    City: Napa

    Tips: We were the only bass fisherman I saw all morning. Keep fishin

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

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    Water Temp: 78-82

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: I guided a father and 2 teenagers yesterday early evening until 1 am. For the first time in a long time, I was disappointed with the bite - though they all caught a fish or two before dark - mostly largemouth and only one dink smallie. The size of the bass was good. After dark, the bite was horrible with only 2 bass being caught. The guys were fishing pretty good too - it wasn't their fault. Usually in 80 degree water the bite will start an hour after dark. Not so late night. The night was very quiet - no bird sounds, fish working, - AND - not a boat after dark around Big Island and north. Amazing!! I guess the 4th of July weekend must have done in the bass!!!
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: We mostly drop-shotted Robo worms before dark, but dad got the most bites split-shotting his Robos. After dark we used my favorite Berry night bait, the 7 inch black Power Worm - normally red-hot after dark. Brush hogs didn't work either. Most of the fish were suspended in the top 30 feet of water, but many were sitting on the bottom - maybe carp and catfish. I wanted to try topwater and cranks, but no-can-do with 4 in the boat. We did see some bait balls also on the meter.

Friday, July 9th, 2010

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    Water Temp: 77

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Launched from Markley Cove at 6:30 AM, hit a few points with topwater followed by drop shot before leaving the Narrows. Nothing. Ran up to Big Island and landed two nice largemouth and a beautiful small mouth in about 20 minutes with drop shot around 9AM. Ran up to Putah Creek and hit rocky walls and points. Nothing. Ran back to the Narrows and pulled in a nice spot. Ended the day at 2PM with a total of 4 fish in the boat. Only saw three other boats fishing for bass. Dozens of Kokanee trollers.
    City: Sacramento

Friday, June 25th, 2010

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    Water Temp: 71-77

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Made my first cast @ 6:20a and a few casts later, boated a decent lmb on a vixen. 2nd stop in Skiers cove resulted in 5 more keeps on tw and shakey heads. The graph showed alot of active fish, but not active enough as I couldn't get them to bite. By 9a the graph was blank and the bites also disappeared. Made more than a few stops going into the narrows (working the rt side) for more of the same, nada.
    After experiencing no bites for 2-3 hours, I switched to the opposite side and was able to pattern small keepers on hula grubs. Ended up satisfied with about 12 fish in the narrows and started to head back to Capell's.
    On the main body, the wind was up and stopped at a windy point and pulled out a spinner bait rod. On the first cast, I got nailed by a freight train in shallow water. This fish gave me all I could handle on 10# test and when I finally boated it, she was smaller than her fight. But the 3# spot made me happy. Of course that extended my day as I made 3 more stops and 50 more casts with nada a bite, but it was good day for me. Off the water at 4p.
    City: emeryville

    Tips: Before 9a the fish were shallow. (less than 10') The fish I caught in the narrows were 8-20'. I have had luck with Shakey head (brown worm) and hula grubs with 1/4oz. Color #301. In the narrows, it's better to fish where there is a ripple on the water. Hope that helps.

Monday, June 21st, 2010

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    Water Temp: 75

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Got on the water late,5:45am. Threw G-splash 85 Ghost minnow all day getting 3 fish, 1 spot 2.5#, 2 LMB 3#& 4#. Deep Lil N got 3 1ea. smallie,spot,LMB. 1 on spinnerbait LMB (white&gold)3.5#. All in all it was ok to land all 3 fish that bit the popper. We were all over the lake on the westside and north.

    Tips: Keep throwing it 'til your arm falls off. Lost a few on a senko at the trees in the north end. Oh, and where is the water at?ts down 1.5-2' from 2wks ago.

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    Water Temp: 70-74

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished this morning from 0630 until 1100. Top water in the early AM with fish playing with my sammy but not hooking up. Wormed fish the rest of the morning for 6 spots. All taken in about 10 feet of water. Yellow dog, over and out..
    City: Penngrove

Friday, June 18th, 2010

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    Water Temp: 71-74

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: My last couple of trips up here, have been not as successful as usual for this time of the year, so my buddy, hOOver felt sorry for me and took me to fish his hot spots. His last 2 trips he caught 20 and 35 fish respectfully. Nothing over 2, but that's fine with me. We launched up at Putah Creek and fish the Creek for most of the day. We hit all of his "hot" spots and didn't do well. It was weird, as we saw only 1 bass boat and didn't boat many more fish than that.
    We fished from 8 - 3 and boated 6 fish and had less than 10 bites. Our few fish came shallow and scattered and all on plastics. We threw jerks, blades and topwater with zero bites. Usually this time of the year, it's usually easy, but this day was anything but that. We marked fish in the 15-20' range, but couldn't get bite fishing deep. Went over to the east side and there were also no boats there, but there were dead carp floating around.
    Nice day to fish with a friend and to have a few cold ones, but the fish didn't want to play. If anyone is having better luck with this off year, I'd appreciate your comments....
    City: orinda

    Tips: Probably my next trip there will be to try the narrows and fish the rocky points. Good company, a good lunch and a few cold ones still make it a good day.

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    Water Temp: 75-79

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: We fished the Narrows from 4 pm until 8 pm. What a disappointment. We only caught a hand full on 4" shad worms (dropshot & shaky head). At least the fish were bigger than average. We caught our fish about 15-20 feet deep. We had a nice breeze and stained water on a lot of the points. We cranked and jerkbaits on and off while the sun was up and for 1 hour when sun was down. We did not get one bite. We should have fished the morning, but because I worked swings, it is tough getting up. I think the fish are going deeper and the fish are in transition. The lake is turning over....and to top it all off - too many wake boards/jetskier even though it was Thurs...
    City: Elk Grove

    Tips: None. I quitting until the fall...

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

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    Water Temp: 70 - 74

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Thursday, 6/10/10. The strong wind in the morning forced my fishing buddy, his grandson, and me to fish a protected cove near the narrows. On the way there coming out of Capell Cove, one wave did get my buddy wet. By midmorning we only had a few fish. By then, the wind had calmed down so we moved first to Putah Creek and then to the Big Island. I wanted by buddy

    Tips: Fish on and around points. Take a young person fishing and watch them get excited when they catch a fish.