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Berryessa Lake and Reports

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Sunday, April 21st, 2002

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    Water Temp: 58-60

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Camped in Spanish Flat and fished saturday and sunday. This was my first time on the lake so I was just learning. I fished along the west side of Wragg Canyon and saw smallies up in the shallows in the coves. All were dinks. Site fished a couple and picked up a couple around 10 feet deep and lost one at the boat. Went back out in the evening and fished on the west side of big island where I picked up one spot and my partner 2 smallies. Picked up one smallie on east side of small island. Sunday mornin went to Wragg and ran into a lot of company. Found an empty cove and my partner and I caught 2 smallies. Headed up to big island where I boated one large mouth. Headed to the ramp at 11:30 to pack up.
    City: Isleton

    Tips: I really had no clue what I was doing. I was split shoting 4" special FX ROBOWORMS in Aaron's R&B flk and Fuschia Thunder both days. Partner threw 4" witches tea worms and 4" cotton candy lizards on a T-rig. Im really not sure where the fish are. I think the weather has spread them out a little. Im novice, dont ask me, im just lettin you know what I saw. Tight Lines Everyone.

Tuesday, April 16th, 2002

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    Water Temp: unknown

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Just walked the shore about 15 min N of Spanish Flats and netted three 2 pounders in half hour tossing panther spinners. They are there for sure!
    City: St Helena

Saturday, April 13th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 64-69

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: WOW what a great day on the lake!!Launched at Monticello and ripped afew fish almost immediately.Eventually ended up in Putah Creek.Saw lots of fish in the coves but they were wary and uninterested.Found a new pattern for this lake I have never used before---5" Senko in the bluegill color.Threw it weightless on cover near shore or deep and they just hammered it!!We caught fish all day,smallies and largies,ranging from 2-5lbs.Big fun.A little excitement when my partner hooked a 4' water snake and he HATES snakes.I thought he was going to jump off the boat!!
    City: Napa

    Tips: Fish are deep, shallow and in between.They are on beds and staging too do their thing.Lighter brighter colors seemed to work best.Enjoy it while its hot.

Wednesday, April 10th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 58-65

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Bluebird skies all day!Started at 6:30 and had fish on by6:45.Couldn't seem to coax a reaction bite but small lizards(watermelon)& worms(purple worked best for us but so did alot of other colors).Saw fish on the beds on the west shore but caught most of our good fish deeper(12-20).Hardly any dinks today best smallie went 2.25 and largemouth almost 4 lbs.Thanks to all the folks who helped me with info for this great day!!
    City: Napa

    Tips: Conentrate on staging fish they are very aggressive but easily found on points and off of the flats.

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    Water Temp: darn cold

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: the water is pretty darn cold i know i was swimming in it. but it was a great trip i caught 4-5 bass and 1 7-8 lb. cat. all ranging in 2-5 lbs. pretty good size for up there. the trout are also bitting out side of berryessa marina about 20' down. on kokany killers and rainbo runners.
    City: napa

    Tips: The bass are bitting on jiggs and small crank baits i was really ripping them on 4-6 inch worms lizards and crawdads(all rubber) and i caught to 5-6 lbs. on spinner baits. look for under water shelfs and cover. i fished mostly in putah creek along the shore.

Monday, April 8th, 2002

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    Water Temp: app 57

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: lake berryessa is looking alive,salmon,trout , fishing from shore, should be fished under a bobber 4ft to 7ft with a live minnow,if trolling i would use a needle fish same depth or find the bait.crappie appearing under lights at copell cove after dark red and white or yellow and white jigs or live minnows works best.Bass ready willing & able ,see them now on shallow beds preparing to spawn.if you are able to catch a 3lb or larger off the beds release it so it can do it female duties,soak any smelly bait for cats it works., www.fishingconnection.net or 650-583-3333 this is sid saying good fishing till next week.
    City: napa

Saturday, April 6th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 57-61

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: We started in the skier's cove and found a couple on a rip bait, but not size. The fish moved out due to the colder weather. Talked to another boater and he indicate the water temp dropped 3 degrees in the past week. We then ran up to Pope Creek and found a couple of bed fish to 2.5 lbs. We ended the day with 6 keepers.
    City: Rohnert Park

    Tips: Look for smallie bed down to 20' in clear water. When the weather warms, the bite should be wide open. (it's raining today as I write this the 9th)The largemouth should start moving up when the water temp gets into the 60's.

Friday, April 5th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 51-59

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: had two guide trips thurs and fri,and caught a total of 27 fish.. mostly rippin and flippin bedded fish. the cold front moved fish off beds completley and the fishin was tough and cold ! any time we get some consistant warm whether, the lake will go off! fish seem to be suspeneded in 8-10 feet deep and some toads were seen, but spooky!! fish ripbaits... rip rip pause! good luck
    City: danville

    Tips: rip baits.. small jigs on beds

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    Water Temp: ?

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Went fishing friday 11:30-3:00 on foot. Caught three, missed two. One was a Spot 13" came on a sluggo, two smallmouth, 13" and 14" both came on a bill dance 1/4 oz medium running crankbait (Shad colored).
    City: Davis

    Tips: Try crankin near structure in about 6' of water in sheltered coves

Tuesday, April 2nd, 2002

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: ANYONE OUT THERE LOOKING FOR A BASS BOAT. I HAVE A 1986 SKEETER STARFIRE175. FULLY LOADED. HAS NEW MINN KODA 74 LB TROLLING MOTOR. POWER HEAD WAS REPLACED 18 MONTHS AGO. FULL FLIPPING DECK. EAGLE FRONT AND REAR. NEW TIRES AND RIMS. JUST TUNED UP SERVICED LOWER END. EXCELLENT TOURNAMENT BOAT- READY TO GO. ALSO HAS A HOT FOOT. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, JUST E-MAIL ME WITH YOUR PHONE NUMBER AND I WILL ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
    City: SUISUN

Sunday, March 31st, 2002

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    Water Temp: 58-62

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: 7 fish, 5 smallmouth/1 largemouth/1 crappie that thought it wanted to eat a crawdad colored crankbait. Didn't see any bedding fish, water dirty from all the boat traffic. Most of the fish came on 4" purple Senko tight to structure in shallow shaded water.
    City: Fairfield

    Tips: Fish during the week, the water shredders tear this lake up on the weekends.

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    Water Temp: 58-62

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: 7 fish, 5 smallmouth/1 largemouth/1 crappie that thought it wanted to eat a crawdad colored crankbait. Didn't see any bedding fish, water dirty from all the boat traffic. Most of the fish came on 4" purple Senko tight to structure in shallow shaded water.
    City: Fairfield

    Tips: Fish during the week, the water shredders tear this lake up on the weekends.

Saturday, March 30th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 53-59

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: On the 30th of March I guided a father and son (Nick) on Berryessa, started out one the front of Wraggs Canyon and teach'in the technique of Rippin to Nick, Nick fell right into the rythem of Rippin putting two fish in the livewell. Went into Gains Canyon and spent some time in there with only 1 smallmouth comin by rippin. Headed North around 10nish, spent the rest of the day there with founding the fish shallow. Caught fish rippin and with senko's from 3-7ft of water. No fish were caught after 2PM per say. The lake is still unstable, but what the weather look's like, it is promising for a good spawn.
    City: Castro Valley

    Tips: Rippin right know seems to be your best producing technique. Water color can very depending on location that you fish. I'd recommend rippin first and then going deeper with worm's in brown's, split-shottin slow... Shallow fish in less than 4ft throw senko's especially on the east side of the lake. The lake overall still hasn't turn wide open, but can at any given time.

Thursday, March 28th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 51-54

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: The Bass classics of Santa Clara Valley had there March tournament on the 23 and it was a cold rainy day with a very tough bite had by all 24 anglers. The winning weight was 9.85 lbs caught by Izz Byrd on pink worms and spider grubs on the north end. I had two smallmouths in the spanish flat marina area in the morning on brn worms with cht tails. Then I moved north and cranked a nice smallmouth on a rocky shallow bank back in a cove on a wiggle wart crawdad crankbait. Then we headed up into Putah Creek and back in a cove we found warmer water and a nice 17 1/2 inch smallmouth up shallow and ready to burst with eggs. I was glad our club uses the card system and after measureing this fish we released her back to make her nest. We proceeded to throw shad worms dragged in the creek channel and nailed two more keepers. Then I saw shad jumping and caught a bass on the bank chasing down dinner. The club had a tough time and 9 guys blanked but we had 4 limits and some nice bags of 3 and 4 fish.I ended up in third place with a limit 8.80 lbs.
    City: Fremont

    Tips: Spit shotting backs of warmer coves brn worms Cht Tails in morning or dark days, shad colors when the sun comes out. Throw crawdad crankbaits smallmouths love them and this lake should bust loose any day now. There is also alot of locals catching crappie under lights with minnows and mini jigs (red/White)on bobbers.

Monday, March 25th, 2002

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fish the 21st Annual Fairfield/Suisun Bass Reapers Open. On Beryessa April 13, 2002 Entry fee $100 includes $20 Big Fish Pool per team. Entries must be recieved by April 8th (no entries the day of) so hurry. We offer 80% pay back, yes 80% pay back, to 20% of field. Great raffel and fun. For more info go to our main web page http://www.geocities.com/bassreapers, Once on the site click on "The Bass Reapers 21st Annual Open Team Tournament". This will take you to a print entry form for the open tournament and has telephone contacts etc.
    City: Fairfield

    Tips: buy l0ots of raffel tickets. The proceeds go to project to enhance bass fishing on Berryessa (Bass and structure plants.

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    Water Temp: 51-56

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: MY NEPHEW AND I, FISHED WITH GUIDE; RICH THEIL, AND HAD A GOOD FISHING DAY,DESPITE,COLD WATER TEMP. BLUEBIRD SKY AFTER A SERIES OF COLD/WET FRONTS. WE CAUGHT MAINLY SPOTTED BASS, WITH ONE 3+ LARGEMOUTH, OUR FISH CAME FROM 25+ FEET.I WANTED TO LEARN HOW TO "RIP", RICH TAUGHT ME GOOD I HOOKED TWO INCLUDING ONE LARGEMOUTH OVER FOUR LBS, YES I LOST HIM. WE CAUGHT FISH ON JIGS, CAROLINA RIGGED GRUBS, AND WORMS AND RIPBAITS. THE WATER IS THE CLEAREST IV'E SEEN FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. FISH APPEAR TO BE STILL HANGING IN DEEP WATER WAITING FOR SOME CONTINUED WARM WEATHER, TO MOVE UP. TIPS; HIRE A GOOD GUIDE LIKE RICH THEIL, HE ADVERTISES ON THIS SITE, HE IS GOOD. MOST OTHER BASSERS WE TALKED TO WERE HAVING A TOUGH TIME. FISH SLOW, A WEEK OF WARM WEATHER TURN THIS LAKE ON,BIG TIME.
    City: HAYWARD

    Tips: JIGS-FISHED SLOWLY. RIPBAITS W/LONGER PAUSES

Sunday, March 24th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 52-57

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished Clear Lake on the 23rd , the big Skunk and pouring rain all day. Started in the narrows on Berryessa on the morning of the 24th, nothing. I did see quite a few fish but nothing. I decided to go north and spent the rest of the day on the east side of the lake. The water temp was up to 57 here and I slowly put together a pattern for the day. Ended up with 10 bass up to 3.5 lbs, most were smallies in the 2-2.5 lb range, and one bass in a clown suit.Nothing on a jig, a baby brush hog carolina rig and a white spinner bait slow rolled worked for me. With the tourn. at Clear lake and Folsom I hardly saw another boat, all in all a good day especially when compared to the day before at Clear Lake.
    City: Sacramento

    Tips: Slow roll a spinner bait, and lizard type plastics again slowww.This Lake should break open in the next week or two.

Wednesday, March 20th, 2002

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    Water Temp: 57

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Throwing Lucky Craft 128 Chartreuse SHAD With Matching Marks Trailer On Long Points With Rock On Them Produced MY Best Fish Of The Day. Caught Fish Suspended All The Way To The Bottom,None As Good As My Rip Fish. Big Fish 3.78 And A Good Limit To Go With It. Good Fishing John
    City: SAN JOSE

    Tips: Use A Marks Tail (WWW.MARKSTAILS.COM) This Is Important As He Matches Trailer To Lure Identically Specify Ripbait Tail As They Are A Shorter Than Nomal Length Trailer. Rip Rip Pause......Then WAIT Some More......Then Hang On.

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    Water Temp: 49-52

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished the first part of March in various weather conditions and found the bite varied in location of the lake. The winds from the North were the worst in condition's. Fished mostly in the south end of the lake finding the fish on long tapered points with shale type rock. What I found was one fish per point, their where a couple that had produced two. The ones that I or a client had gotten came from 15ft or less. Water clarity this year is clearer than the norm. You had to lay off the point and make a long cast. Most of the time I placed the boat between 25 and 30ft mark. Couldn't buy a bite below 15ft. The weather outlook is the key to this lake turning wide open and it does look good. The storm's that are to arrive this coming week are from the south instead of the North. Has of Sunday March 17th the water was 52 in the afternoon and 53-54 in the back ends of the coves that ran deep. 55 degrees was the warmiest in Skiier's Cove. Sunday, March 17th I guided Mike Buglirrello from Orangevale. It was is lucky day has he boated a 10+ largemouth in Wragg's Canyon. It came on a Bait By Boyce 1/2 Brown football jig in about 14ft of water (point). Most of the days that I had caught fish all (Most) came on Jigs laced with a Snoozer's frog trailer in Roadkill. I couldn't get any Rip fish to go, but other fisherman that I had seen or talked too had caught them in the Mid day period on. Im looking for this pattern to turn wide open. Picture's of Mike's fish will be posted has soon has I can get them. I'll be going back up soon and many times within the next 4 weeks.
    City: Castro Valley

    Tips: In the next couple of weeks until the lake stables out look for long rocky points and move to the next one after 6-10 cast. The fish will hit right away if there up. With the water has clear has it is this year, try throwing a spook at the ends of the coves or on the secondary points has you approach them.

Tuesday, March 19th, 2002

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fish the 21st Annual Fairfield/Suisun Bass Reapers Open. On Beryessa April 13, 2002 Entry fee $100 includes $20 Big Fish Pool per team. 80% pay back, yes 80% pay back to 20% of field. Great raffel and fun. For more info go to our main web page http://www.geocities.com/bassreapers, Once on the site click on "The Bass Reapers 21st Annual Open Team Tournament" . This will take you to a print form for the open tournament.
    City: Fairfield