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Berryessa Lake and Reports

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Tuesday, July 2nd, 2002

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    Water Temp: ?

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Launched out of Capell at 6:30 AM and fished until about 2:30 and caught only two 1-2 pound range, cought both on black/blue 4" senkos. Fished everything buzzbaits, spinners, cranks, frogs, and every kind of plastic i had with me. Nothin
    City: Lafayette

    Tips: Senkos

Monday, July 1st, 2002

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Launched at 4:45 out of capell. Started out throwing spook and popper. Landed 2 fish out of over 10 strikes. Its time to put all new treble hooks on my topwater baits. Head over to roock slide area. Cast out to point, and while I am looking down at the finder, BOOM. It sounded like a wave crashing against the rocks, a huge fish takes my bait under. I set the hook, and started reeling in the beast. I finally get him within 20 feet of the boat and she takes off straight down as fast as she can, I losen up my drag to let her run, but she was goin too far, so I tried to tighten it just a hair. As soon as I did, SNAP! I never even got to see her, but she felt at least 8 pounds. But, cant have that ruin your day. Went to dragging worms, got nothing. Right before we headed home, we stopped at a favorite island, and I threw out a new jig that was made by a buddy of mine, and on my first cast, land a nice 3 lb bucket. About two casts later, im sight fishing the sunken island and I see a 8-10 bl bruiser swimmin around in about 13 feet of water. Chased her around to no avail. Off the water by noon. An slow, but exciting morning. I'm gonna get my beast some day! Devin
    City: Vacaville

    Tips: Be real patient, just when you think the bit has shut off... BOOM.

Monday, June 24th, 2002

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Very tought day today. Launched at 5 am out of capell. Not much wind, headed out to main lake points. Missed about 6 fish on topwater before we landed one, and then that was it for topwater. Threw flukes and dragged split-shot magic worms in greens and browns with no takers. Was forced to switch to the drop-shot rig early, around 9 a.m. Not a damn thing. Left at 10 a.m. with one fish in the boat. Hard day, but for all these days, there are just as many successful ones. Good luck. Devin
    City: Vacaville

Sunday, June 23rd, 2002

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Launched at Capell at 5:15 a.m. Headed for hazard island for topwater, but the water was a little too rough, only had a couple small hits. Headed to another island, throwing spooks and poppers. Only hooked one fish, took my lure with him when he got up to the boat. Hit rock slide area and all through narrows between capell and markely, split shotting magic worms around 8 a.m. Got 9 fish all very small, only one keeper. Changed to dropshot rig about 10 a.m. And missed a nice one, then landed a 2 lb smallie. That was it for the day. 11 fish, only 2 keepers, biggest going 2 lbs. Caught nothing but smallmouth, when last week I caight nothing but largemouth all day. Berryessa is funny like that. Good luck.
    City: Vacaville

    Tips: GET OUT AS EARLY AS YOU CAN. Get the lights out and head to your spot so you are ready to fish when you can see. If possible, locate fish on main lake points and islands if its not too windy.

Monday, June 17th, 2002

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Much better day today then last week. Launched at 4:45, started throwing spooks and poppers, with a few hits but no fish. Headed out to a favorite spot of mine on the main lake, since the wind died down early (WHEW). Nailed a keep on first cast, then got nailed by a 6lb+ largemouth, but he just wouldt get hooked, and before he could come back and get it, another keeper dink took it. Headed over to small island, split shotting magic worms. Started off throwing morning dawn with only one dink, then switched to new color and landed 4 nice largemouth, (3) 2blers, and (1) 3 lber. Very nice berryessa bass. Off the water at noon, very fun morning and I look forward to next week! Devin
    City: vacaville

    Tips: GET OUT EARLY OR FORGET THE HOT BITE

Friday, June 14th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 78

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Some reports are just more fun to do than others and this will be a FUN one!! I'm not sure I have every guided on a Saturday night in the summer at Berryessa, but thank goodness I did last night! We launched out of Markley Cove at 7 PM and fished some in the narrows but the Spanish Armada was still there - talk about crowded!! So we headed to some areas around Big Island and caught two before dark - one client with a smallie about 1-14 on a witches T magic worm. After dark we fished near Berryessa Marina - dodging boats at night - but still with success. The other client - a guide himself, caught a nice smallie about 2-6 and lost another big one on the next cast, darn! I did get one on a jig, but soon we were all using my favorite night worm at Berryessa, the black 7 inch Power worm. The delta breeze was blowing at a pretty good clip, but we were still able to fish, getting another 2 pound smallie and a good spot, about 1-13. This year, my clients have caught most of the big fish, which pleases me to no end. But last night was to be different. About midnight I threw my Power worm off the side of a point and got nailed in about 5 feet of water. I couldn't believe the power of this fish and soon one of the the guys netted my 7-10! She had a flat belly as they do this time of year, but what a fish. After a few more in the boat by my clients, I again fished off the deeper side of a point, staying out of my clients way. I cast up shallow as I always do in the dark of the moon, moved the worm out to about 5 to 7 feet of water, and nearly got the rod jerked out of my hand!!!! This is about one in the morning. As I am fighting this huge fish, I look around and realize I am NOT at Clear Lake or Amador. This really is Berryessa! Finally, after about 2 to 3 minutes, we get this huge bass in the boat which will NOT quit fighting and even jumps back into the water. We freaked!! He nets it again and I thought we were going to have to lay on it to keep it in the boat. Finally we were able to weigh it - 9 pounds 3 oz, with no flat belly. A real Berryessa toad. Both fish nearly swallowed the worm on the hit. I still don't believe it, but I have photos to prove it!! It is interesting to me that this is my second Berryessa "double" at exactly 16 pounds 13 ounces combined. We wound up with only 11 in the boat because we missed so many. The five biggest weighed 22 1/4 pounds. We only had one dink. What a night! Now I am really looking forward to my guided trip next Sat night - maybe thats when the big ones bite!
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: So, why were these two quality largemouth in 5 feet of water? One could be a fluke, but not two! I am convinced it was the wind that triggered a movement to shallow water after several days of dead calm water during the hear spell. The funny thing was that it wasn't a wide open bite! The key was fishing off the side of a point for more quality fish - in other words - access to deep water. The smaller bass were on the points, at least last night. These fish seemed to want the worm worked a little faster than normal, probably because of the very warm water. And believe me, these fish were hot - great fighters!!

Friday, June 7th, 2002

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Launched at 4:45 am looking forward to a strong topwater bite, since I have had luck the last few trips out with spooks and pop-Rs. This is a pattern that shows up this time of year regularly at berryessa. However, after making the first turn out of capell, I saw the lake like I had never seen her before. 4 foot swells in the main lake, crashing on the rocks like it was the ocean. The wind was howling unbelievably hard. We tried to find cover for 4 hours, to no avail. The only sheltered spots on the lake had fisherman in them, and they were not getting bit either. Very bad day, and I hope she calms down by next week. I don't want another trip like this.
    City: Vacaville

Saturday, June 1st, 2002

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    Water Temp: 68

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I took three fellows to Berryessa Saturday during the 38th cold front of the year. the wind calmed down a bit from 7 to 10 AM but then got very gusty during the rest of the trip. With that problem and all the boating activity, my guys had trouble feeling all the bites and missed several fish, but we still managed to put 15 in the boat with one of the fellows landed a spot a shade over two pounds and a 2 pound largemouth. One of the guys hung a good fish but lost it. Five of our bass were largemouth and three were smallies. We fished the narrows and Wragg Canyon. Because of the cool weather I guess, the fish really didn't move into the mudlines that were forming. They might have after we left. I tried to see if a topwater bite would happen, but only had one boil. We found some fish still in the backs of coves and some on main lake points. The green pumpkin 4" Berkley Pulse Worm was our best bait - the morning dawn Magic worm worked too. Could not get a decent bite on Senkos.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: Since there were so many in the boat, we didn't try crankbaits. Jigs didn't work either, just worms - at least on Saturday. All of our bass were tournament keepers except three. Did find a few fish already relating to ledges - beginning of summer pattern!!

Thursday, May 30th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 74

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Got on the lake too late to exploit any topwater action but we hammered 'em on deep diving shad crankbaits,senkos and drop shotting- all day long! Too much excitement on the way home though;a tire on the trailer came loose and proceeded to break off the studs when it came off.Luckily Kragen was still open and I was able to get the 3/8" Allen wrench to change out the studs(in 90 degree heat!!)Could have been so much worse.I will be talking to the tire shop that just put that tire on a month or two ago!! Anyone out there ever have a problem with trailer wheel lug nuts loosening??
    City: Napa

Monday, May 27th, 2002

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    Water Temp: surface temp 70

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Launched At 5:45 At Markley Cove fished coves and drop offs. Threw poppes, spooks, buzzbaits, spinner baits, and crank baits. A wide assortment of them all. off the water by 9:00 just beat the pleasure boaters and skies.
    City: Vacaville

    Tips: Nothing seemed to work for me

Sunday, May 19th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 64

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: We started at around 9am. Fished the coves just east of Markley Cove. Ryan started off with a spinnerbait, and got no action. As soon as he switched to a blue & chrome rattle-trap he couldn't stop the fish from coming in. It was a frenzy. About 5 fish within 30 minutes. Nothing huge...in the 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 lb range. I sight fished the rocks just about 4 ft. below the surface with a minnow swimbait. The fish seemed a bit finicky. I had to literally hit them right on the head for them to take the lure. I beleive I caught the same fish twice....little bugger. Nothing beats fishing for largemouth.
    City: Dixon

    Tips: Cranks and swimbaits are what seemed to work for us that day. Nothing else did. Be very careful...Mother Nature is beautiful, but she could be a bit nasty. If fishing from the banks, keep an eye out for Poison Oak. The banks are saturated with it. Remember, "If it has leaves of three, than let it be".

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    Water Temp: 63

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: My buddy and I Got to the lake after noon on saturday found fish on the rocks and around docks. Used flukes, Senkos and crappie jigs. By the time the rain hit @ 7 am sunday, we had caught and released about 24 bass, 15 or so crappie, 9 trout and a hand full of nice catfish and bluegill. Excellent fishing.
    City: Albany

    Tips: Wait for the warm weather and buy some polarized lenses, you'll find them.

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    Water Temp: 66

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: This is just a short report to let the readers know that the rain forcast for Monday decided to show up Sunday about 10 minutes after we started to fish (7 AM). It poured the whole time (I believe they are called showers!!). Luckly the clients needed to leave about noon or we might have drown! Since the 11 year old son didn't have a rain suit and dad and I only had part of one, we just fished the Markley Cove area and a little to the north. The young man missed several bites but did manage to catch his first bass - a 14 inch spot - on a morning dawn Magic worm. Dad and I were using Berkley 4" Pulse Worms and caught 7 between us. Dad got a nice 1 1/2 lb smallie and a spawned-out 15 1/2 inch spot, plus 2 others. I did catch a nice 2 pound spot plus 2 others also. All in all, a pretty nice short trip considering the air temp had dropped about 20 degrees in 36 hours.
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: I tried topwater and ripping a little, but no takers. We found most of our bass near the deepest part of submerged brush.

Friday, May 17th, 2002

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Team Bass Tournament on Saturday May 18th. $75.00 entry fee. BBQ after weigh in, free for all entries Trophies up to 3rd place 70% payback plus Prizes Professionally organized No membership required 5 fish, 13" on a flat board No live bait, Catch and Release, Dead fish penalty Check in and sign-ups at 4:30am at North Shore Blast off at 6:00am Weigh in at 3:00pm Any questions call Shawn O'shea at (916)331-8174 or email Heath at heathp@pacbell.net
    City: Folsom

    Tips: This is an awsome tournament to fish in! Camp Far bite is on........

Monday, May 13th, 2002

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Launched out of Markely at 6 am. Fished inside Markley cove split shotting magic worms for about an hour, got one largemouth, 1.5#. moved out to fish main points outside the cove, got 5 more, all small spots. 2 caught on magic worms, one caught ripping rapala huskey jerk. Drove across to the cappell creek arm, to fish the hazard island. Wind started to pick up, but I stuck with it, split shotting magic worms, and managed to pick up 6 smallies off the island. Tried another island further inside cappell to no avail. Pulled the boat out at noon, not a bad day. 12 fish, no size, but still fun! Devin
    City: Vacaville

    Tips: Fish are acting very strange for this time of year. I see hatchlings in the backs of coves, so I know the fish are pretty much spawned out, but I am not reading fish anywhere on the finder. I really hope they have not gone deep yet. If so, its gonna be a LONG SLOW summer at berryessa!

Saturday, May 11th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 65

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Well, started late, about 7pm. Fished off the shore in the Pleasure Cove area. I found a small secluded spot with a little cover. I caught a MONSTER on the second cast!!! This one weighed in at 9.4!!! I used a red lizard rigged Carolina style. Stayed out for about 2 more hours using everything from cranks and spinners, to jigs and pigs. I got no action after the first giant. I had a great time though, nothing beats fighting a huge largemouth! Lets make sure and take care of our great outdoors!!!
    City: Dixon

    Tips: Plastics seem to be the trick. My best advice is to fish VERY slow.

Wednesday, May 8th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 69

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Hit the water at 4pm for 4 hours ,got 5 fish all on Senkos(214)Tried cranks ,blades,lizards with no luck.Most fish were tight to cover.One 2lber banged the senko the second it hit the water.7 lb limit for 4 hours and hardly fireed up the big motor out of Cappell since ttime was short.
    City: Napa

Monday, May 6th, 2002

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    Water Temp: NOT SURE

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Went fishing for 4 days at berryessa with my son...we are amateurs but managed to get about a dozen fish over the period mostly recreational fishing...mostly cranked but fished w/ minnows as well...caught 1 trout, 1 crappie and the rest bass all on cranks...most of the fish seemed to be at about 12-18 ft of water....couple of top water strikes but mostly quiet....very windy a couple of days. didnt' seem many other people catching either or so it seemed....skiers and jet skiers coming out and campgrounds much more crowded on the weekends stirring up the lake. the water is still fairly cold as well.
    City: RESCUE, CALIFORNIA

Friday, May 3rd, 2002

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    Water Temp: 65

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished oak shores on friday from the shore about 11 am. walked down to a cove and saw a lunker sitting in the flats. tried a live nightcrawler , power worm and plastic crawdad - nothing! wacky rigged a 4" purple senko and Wham! the battle was on! pulled him onto the shore and weighed it- an 8 pound , 8 ounce fatty ! I couldnt believe it! This was my dream fish and i didnt have a camera - oh well, catch and release .At least i had my buddy there to witness it ! Who needs a boat when you can catch fat ones right off the shore .The carp are taking over right now , but there are lots of fish in the shallows.
    City: oakland

    Tips: the wacky rigged senko rules

Thursday, May 2nd, 2002

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: PHILS PROPS NOW CARRIES A LARGE SELECTION OF MARKS TAILS 1-800-462-3917 THEY CAN HAVE ANY LURE MATCHED IDENTICALLY EVEN THE LUCKYCRAFTS. SPECIFY THE TYPE LURE AS EACH TYPE OF LURE HAS DIFFERENT LENGTHS. MANY TOURNAMENTS ARE BEING WON ON THIS PRODUCT.
    City: REDWOOD CITY