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Berryessa Lake and Reports

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Sunday, May 28th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 67-69

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Meet a Young Couple at 7AM at Markley. The ski crown was just about getting ready to commit their souls to the lake when we lauched an left for the first spot. First spot the young lady hooked a nice spot (Long and slim). Within a short time I watched 10 ski boats come around the corner. Where out of here!!!!..
    Headed straight North and fished above the silver barn in my favorite spot "Northeast Corner" sat out around 100 yrds in 18-23ft and and had them Drop-shot a Robo Prism Shad in the grass clumps. By 4PM they had caught approx 35 fish within a 150yd stretch, deepist probably 27. By the way, the young lady out fished in number and size her other half. "I didn't say that". We left their to watch the ZOO. Wow, total mud out on the banks in the narrows. Took a guy into Berryessa Marina. His Patoon style boats battery died. Had a ton of elderly folks and kids on board. Pulled out quick and hooked and booked home.

    Rich Thiel www.calbassguide.com
    City: Rio Vista

    Tips: Drop-shot and try Topwater in the morning. will be up there again during the week when the Zoo leaves.

Friday, May 26th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 67-71

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: just to confirm some of the previous reports, that this lake is wide open. went friday and found pockets of schooled up aggressive fish. the only thing that kept this from being a triple digit day was the big winds. The early morning started calm then went to strong northlies to calm and and then strong winds from the west...Throw your favorite bait and fish no deeper than 15'. Cover water til you get bit, the fish will tell you the rest...good luck, have fun and be kind to the fish...........
    City: orinda

Thursday, May 25th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 69-71

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished around Capell. Windy on and off all day - made me keep switching between plastics and reactions baits. Found quite a bit of bait on two main lakes points (at one point bait was 1

    Tips: Enjoy the bassing before they go deep

Wednesday, May 24th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 69.9

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Launched at Capell 2 6:30 am. $4 truck in lot.went to a cove on east side saw bait busting.Fish on first cast.Lots of hits could not hook them.Caught a couple on flukes and swim baits.Stayed for a hour at the spot.moved up the east side by farm house caught a couple there on senko's.went up to vineyards slow trolled the flats 10 ft. caught a couple trolling senkos.They bit everything.Went back to the first spot had a lot of followers would not bite.Threw a TD crankbait. Caught a few .Then 10 minutes later wide open crankbait bite.Caught 2 bass on one lure.Caught about 20 bass.
    City: S.F

    Tips: keep moving and trying different things.

Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006

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    Water Temp: 71

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I took a father and his 6 year old son (his first fishing trip) to Berryessa. It was supposed to be a 6 hour trip but turned out to be a 4 hour trip from 10 am to 2 pm. They got lost! Not the best hours since the bass were on an early morning bite I heard. I caught several in Markley Cove waiting for them. Once they arrived, we stayed in the narrows and caught several - all three species - using 4 and 6 inch black grape and morning dawn worms. About noon, I suspected a bite and gave the rod to the child and told him to jerk. He did, and while it wasn't pretty, he put a 2 lb 2 oz smallie in the boat. Hope his photo will be in the "Sniffer"! It was a nice fish but had already spawned. Mission accomplished - nice bass for the young man!
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: As was mentioned before, enjoy the good fishing while the fish are shallow. They will move off the bank soon. Topwater can be good all day in June!

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    Water Temp: 68

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: AWSOME. Wife and I started out at Steele Park and caught fish all day. Everything worked. Spooks poppers rip baits rattle traps wow. Wife was doing her thing with grubs catching 15 nice mix of smallies spots and blacks. Wed I caught 2 channel cats 8 lbs on back to back casts with a grub on 5 lb maxima. This line is the best. I can't believe how strong it is. Caught one huddleston fish over 4lbs in front of fallen tree. Real cool when you can see it come out and eat that trout. Wed we caught at least 50 bass. Thursday was slower and went to narrows. Only caught 25 fish. What an awsome lake. Hope they don't screw it up like they want to. Deer everywhere, Geese with little yellow babies . Everything was so cool. Room didn't have a phone, alarm clock ice machine or coffee maker and only $119.00.
    City: orangevale

    Tips: Fish are guarding there beds. Wide open bite. Don't have to use lucky craft baits. Use all your old stuff. Awsome bite all three days. Lots of 2lbers with an occasional 3 or 4 mixed in. Poppers in the morning or when they break water near you. I had a double on one occasion. 2 on one popper?

Friday, May 19th, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: My cousin and I went out early Friday morning. It was very windy and we were getting blown off of our spots. We fished points and coves on the main lake from 0600 to 1100. We caught a total of 24 fish. We caught spots, smallmouth, and largemouth on jerkbaits, spooks, and dropshotting minnow imitations. Most were keepers in the 1.5 to 2 pound range. Trolling motor quit at 1100 and the wind was getting worse so we called it a day.
    City: Citrus Heights, CA

    Tips: Have a dropshot rig ready for the fish that follow hooked fish to the boat.

Thursday, May 18th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 73-77

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: WINDY DAY, BUT MANAGED TO GET SIX+ LIMITS. MOST OF THE CATCH WAS ON CRANKS WITH ONLY 5 ON THE 'OL TEXAS RIG. I FOUND A COUPLE OF AREAS WERE THE XMAS TREES WERE DEPOSITED. THANKS FOR THE GREAT STRUCTURE!! MOST FISH WERE LMB WITH A FEW FEISTY SMALLIES THROWN IN. NO SPOTS.
    City: WINTERS

    Tips: GET OFF YOUR BUTT AND GO FISHIN'. WATCH YOUR ELECTRONICS AND LOOK FOR STRUCTURE. PRACTICE CATCH AND RELEASE.

Sunday, May 14th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 73.2 74 in

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Subject : Fishing With Sid 5

    | | | Inbox




    This past Mother's Day weekend had everything going for it. Great weather, a full moon and the fish were on the bite. The first person I took out was Russ from Redding. He told me he hadn't fished for quite awhile. He had to get a fishing license and while we were in the store I told him to pick up some senco rootbeer worms 5 inch. I showed him how to set up the worm and hook and he took two practice casts from the dock. We headed out and Russ was practicing his casting along the shoreline as we came to some structure he threw the bait in that direction and low and behold hooked on to a 3 1/2 pound largemouth bass. And so the day went. Later that day my wife and I decided to try some evening fishing. We went to a location near big island and we fished plastic worms. I fished it weightless and my wife fished with brass and glass. We watched the water for awhile and noticed the fish were boiling on the surface chasing the shad. We naturally started casting into the boil and the fish were very aggressive the moment the bait hit the water they went for it. I was using a 5 inch laminated senco (charteuse and green) and my wife was using a 5 inch watermelon with black flakes. Since I love topwater fishing, I changed to a "chugger" and had a great time watching them explode on the surface. As the sun was setting the water surface was alive with fish feeding. It was really an enjoyable evening. We must have landed over fifty fish (released all of them). The following day I gave a "pop r" to the Vittaly family and we headed out in two seperate boats to the same location. I explained to them to look for the boils on the surface and throw into it. To our dismay the water surface was calm with no fish in sight. They started at one end and I went to the shallow end and fished grubs through the grass. By the time their boat got to mine I had caught six small bass. JR, one of their sons, came on my boat and I showed him how to use the chugger he threw it where he saw a boil and sure enough he landed the largest bass he had ever caught. His mom saw a boil and threw the pop r into it and she landed her largest bass in Berryessa. The Vittaly's total was twenty-one fish of which they only kept three. The kids also had a good time catching carp from the dock (see photo). 'til next week.............................good fishing!!!
    www.fishingconnection.net if you have any fishing stories to share please contact me at bestguide@hotmail.com
    City: NAPA CA.

    Tips: When you see a boil throw your bait of choice into the middle,or just pass it,my bait of choice is a chugger or a pop r top water lure I love the surface explosion when the bass comes on the bait,

Friday, May 12th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 69-75

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Went pre-fishing on Friday and WON Bass tourney on Saturday. Found a great topwater bite all day fishing flats in 5-10' water. Spent most of the day using cankbaits and poppers catching fish up to 2 lbs. Unfortunately no larger fish, but had a great time catching more than 60 fish in 2 days.
    City: Rohnert Park

    Tips: Look for the bait along the shoreline and cast to them. Crankbaits in shad patterns produced better than chart or crawdad. There are still a few fish on beds if you can find them. Be sure to cast to the shore and reel back. It's a great time to take the kids fishing.

Monday, May 8th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 66 .7

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: It was another glorious weekend at Lake Berryessa and the bass fishing was goooood!!!! I made arrangements with Jason Fulton the Rep for "Accurate Reels" to take him out for the weekend. His catch for the weekend was 67 bass and 1 trout and 2 crappies. Saturday morning we set out with a game plan to work our way to the wineyards. We started at the Ranch house and worked our way east. All day we caught 1 to 3 pound bass as we worked the shoreline towards the wineyards. At the wineyards we fished shallow water two feet or less working rubber worms through the grass piles. We could have stayed longer but decided to try big island for larger fish. The first spot we went to we couldn't really fish because the wind had picked up. So we went to the inside of big island where it was sheltered and fished grubs through the grass and did fairly well but still in the 1 to 3 pound range. When it got brisk we called it a night. The following morning we headed out to the back of Capell Cove with the intention of fishing it all the way back to Steele Park. What is nice about this cove it that it has alot of bushes and trees which is the structure that bass love. It turned out to be an amazing day. Jason must have hit a bass every twenty feet, he was really on the bite. He caught more bass then I did (which I'm sure he won't let me forget anytime soon) but I still wound up with 54 bass and also the largest one of the two days (3 1/2 pounds). Apparently some females are still bedding from what we could see but we also saw some frys which indicates that some have already spawned. The water temperature late Sunday afternoon was 66.7 degrees and the clarity of the water in some locations were 4 to 5 feet. Book your guided trips early. 'til next week..................good fishing!!!!!! www.fishingconnection.net e-mail me any fishing stories you would like to share to bestguide@hotmail.com or call me at 650-583-3333.
    City: Napa

    Tips: This week they liked it plastic

Sunday, May 7th, 2006

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    Water Temp: ???

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished the from 4:30pm-8pm on Saturday. Launched at Capell. Caught 15, a mix of smallies and largemouth. No spots. Fished main lake points and coves with running water outside of Capell. Later fished rocky points in Pope Creek. Fish to 3 pounds, nothing big.
    Next morning fished rocky points in Capell for some nice spots and smallies. Nothing big, only up to 2.5lbs, which seemed to be the story for the trip. Fished some coves with running water for largemouth to 4 lbs., with most around 1.5-2lbs. Lots of dinks. Ran to Putah creek and fished rocks in the late morning/early afternoon for some smallies, one to 2.5lbs and a some spots. About 20 fish from 7am-1pm. Not fantastic but well worth the trip, had a lot of fun.
    City: Davis

    Tips: Late evening bite was better than the morning bite. Fish were around 5-8 feet. Better fish below down to 15 feet. Used 4 inch blue fleck turtle back worms for most of the fish. No reaction bite to speak of.
    GET IN 5MPH OR QUITE COVES TO AVOID SKI IDIOTS, BRING SOME EAR PLUGS BECAUSE THESE SKI BOATS ARE LOUD AND ANNOYING. HEAT=SKIERS=ANGRY FISHERMEN

Saturday, May 6th, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: started fishing at 7;00am at oak shores using live minnows. caught 2 6'' bass. threw them back. then the very loud humans showed up. tried to move to new location. all to crowded.
    City: day street park

    Tips: weekdays are better

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    Water Temp: na

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Myself and my son Jon had never been on this lake. My wife had won us a trip thru a school fundraiser with a person who fished this lake for the last 20 years. We started trolling out of Markley Cove and quickly caught 1 and lost 1 bass before heading over to Monticello Dam. By the Dam we caught over 10 bass up against the bank and then we went north to several coves on the way to lunch at Steel Cove Resort. Once again we caught several more fish against the bank and in the backs o coves. Some fish were undercover. I would reccomend this lake to everybody.
    City: Sacratomato

    Tips: We used Rapalas and Minnows

Thursday, May 4th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 60-62?

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Ok this report is from last week and even though I don't want to give away my secrets I did want to let people know that I've had great success with the reaction bite in Markley despite what others have said about the reaction bite being dead. I regularly float tube this area (usually every Thurs. but I might change that because my car was broken into Thursday between 9-11am) and love to throw blades. Last Thur. I caught a dozen or so fish on a white spinnerbait all in 2-4' of water in Markley. Any fish I missed I followed up with a 4" watermelon worm w/ a split shot 1.5' up. Did miss two smallies (in the exact same spot) on the blade and caught them on the worm one going maybe 2.5 lbs. So if you like to fish blades then I'd say you'll still do well for a few more weeks. If you want to stay away from the reaction bite then hey all the more fish for me :)
    City: Davis

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2006

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    Water Temp: 60-65

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: AWESOME DAY ON THE WATER. HAD A SHORT DAY, BUT MANAGED TO BAG OVER SIX E-A-S-Y LIMITS ON THE GOOD OLD CRANKS BAITS. MIX OF LMB AND SMALLIES. LARGEST SMALLIE WAS 3.5 OFF A POINT. BEST FIVE WENT 12.5#'S.
    City: WINTERS

    Tips: FISH WHAT YOU HAVE A KNACK FOR. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S CRANKS OR IT'S PLASTICS JUST GO OUT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME. MOST OF MY FISHIES WERE CAUGHT ON POINTS AND BACK OF COVES.

Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished off shore at Smittle Creek on the south bank.
    Saw several pairs of Crappie doing their spawning
    thing..Caught 1 nice sized Crappie on a Crappie Killer..Caught 1 LMB 2 1/2 lbs. 1 SMB and 1 Spotted
    both about 2 lbs. Saw several nice sized bass on
    beds but couldnt get them to hit anything i had..
    Pulled a senko right on the doorstep of a real nice fish but it spooked and didnt come back..
    City: El Cerrito

    Tips: Becareful on the trais. washouts and missing trails.
    Was surprised to see how many trees came down from the rains..

Sunday, April 30th, 2006

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    Water Temp: warming up

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Summer has finally arrived as this past weekend boaters flocked to take advantage of the beautiful weather at Lake Berryessa. Saturday morning I headed out with Orville and John. It was overcast and quite brisk. Our first stop was the ranch house which in the past was usually very successful but alas not this morning. But that gave me a chance to teach Orville and John how to use a senco with brass and glass. Then my plan was to troll towards the wineyards and pick up a few fish along the way but this proved fruitless too. So we headed straight for the fishing grounds. We started in about fifteen feet of water. Orville threw his senco with brass and glass and on the way down on his first cast he hit a small mouth bass which he released. A few minutes go by and he gets another bass that he releases. I changed John's rod to a weightless senco and he wound up with a few nice small mouth bass that he caught in about 2 1/2 feet of water. On the way back to Steele Park the sun came out and the day warmed up considerably. Then I went out with Tim later in the day to one of my favorite coves and limited out with bass (5 bass to 11 1/2 lbs). When we came back to the dock ready to call it a day I met our new neighbours and their 13 year old son Anthony and asked if he liked to fish. He said yes enthusiastically so I asked his parents if he can go out for awhile and they said sure. We went back to my favorite cove again and we only fished weightless sencos in two feet of water and Anthony had five hits right away. The water conditions Saturday was approximately one foot visibility. We picked up some nice bass and one crappie. Sunday morning I trolled from Steele Park to Spanish Flat and limited out with trout and salmon within an hour. They were all between six feet and fifteen feet down. There was heavy boat activity trolling for them. Later in the day my wife and I decided to try the back of the Monticello Ski School to get away from the boat action on the lake and the fishing was not bad. This full moon that is coming up in May will absolutely put all the females to spawn. If you are interested in a guided trip book early.
    'til next week.............................good fishing!!!!! www.fishingconnection.net
    If you have any interesting fishing stories to share let me know at bestguide@hotmail.com
    City: Napa

    Tips: Fish are at pre spawn mode so they want to bulk up i lile plastic for slow retreave or crank baits for faster retreaves ,the fish will let you know how they want there presentation,any questions feel free to contact me 650 583 3333

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    Water Temp: 66

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Launched out of Markley Cove and headed to the east side with my brother in law. It was only his 5th time bass fishing and his first 4 were in the same week. He schooled me on the 1st 4 fish in the boat and I kept breaking lines on hook sets as I did not have my heavy leaders. We were Carolina rigging. After about 20 fish or so we had been on the water for apx. 2 hrs and it was 9:00 am. I read here there were fish holding at the south side of the big island and one big one over 8 lbs. so we headed their. Mind you, we were catching a mixed bag of bass mostly blackies. Immediately we hooked into fish for the next couple of hours up to 4 lbs. I watched at others fish with crank and spinner baits, why people use these on this lake I will never know but they do not yield much.
    After about 20 fish, my brother in law tells me he has a snag as I am releasing a fish. He tells me it is not a snag but a fish. I ask him any size, he says it feels decent as it is coming to the boat. He gets it up to the boat and I freaked out. It was at least 10 lbs. Mind you I have been fishing this lake for 20 years and my biggest was a tad over 8. The fish was at the side of the boat and relized it was hooked and dove straight down, I told him don't horse it as he was. Only problem was, he was using a wire hook my buddy set him up with on our last outing. It looked like we would get the fish but his drag was tight and it straightened the hook.
    I've never seen such a big fish get caught next to me or caught one myself and I guess I am still waiting now.
    City: Sacramento

    Tips: For all of you who like to fish spinners and crank baits. Get over them. This time of year use plastics in salt and pepper.

Friday, April 28th, 2006

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    Water Temp: 65

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished east bank near mouth of Markley Cove. Sunny day, so fish were tight to cover. Caught several LMB and one smallie working submerged timber on a ledge at a depth of 4 to 8 ft. Lost one that bent my snap swivel (my fault). Watermelon senko on darter head was the ticket. Just crawled it and hopped it along. Always got the bite after the lure hit a branch or a rock.
    City: Vacaville

    Tips: Finessing plastics has always worked best for me on this lake.