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Berryessa Lake and Reports

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Monday, June 11th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 78

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Fished the evening topwater bite, caught 5 fish in about an hour and a half, all on poppers. Fish Big and Little Porteguse to get out of the slight wind. As soon as the water went glassy, the fish went crazy. We will go out again on Thursday, to get the ealry morning topwater bite, which is much better!
    City: Vacaville

    Tips: Get out at dawn, and throw topwater, for a blast!

Saturday, June 9th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 74+

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Had a great time fishing topwater until about 10 a.m. After the sun hit the water we could still get fish in the shade, especially on steep boulder filled banks. Had a novice with me and even he stuck fish really early.If you ever wanted to take a friend that does'nt fish much to have a great time, now is your chance to put him/her on a good topwater bite. But get to the lake at daybreak. White spinnerbaits in the sun worked o.k. later on. Did'nt throw anything slow moving (worms,jigs) as I try to avoid doing so unlees I am forced. It puts me to sleep. Could'nt get a fish to hit a crank or jerk bait.
    City: Pinole

    Tips: Iovino - splash it- silver with purple back. Cast 2 inches from shore or better yet, beat that $20 lure to death and throw it on the bank and drag it in. One pop and the water explodes - YA BABY, that's what I'm talkin about.

Friday, June 8th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 73

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Spent a great day on the water and the fish cooperated too! Must've got on the water too late for the topwater bite(6:15 )Picked up several fish on flukes,brush hogs,and cranks throughout the day.Quality of fish was decent too-most were in1.5 to 3.0lb range and real scrappers.
    City: Napa

    Tips: Start BEFORE first light for topwater.Throw baby brush hogs weightless and HOLD ON.Good bite on the drop-even on rattlin' cranks!

Thursday, June 7th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 74-75

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Met some friends up at the lake, not really planning on doing any fishing. Things got boring, so I snuck out a rod, and threw out a popper at about 8:30 P.M. Landed 4 nice bass in 20 minutes from the shore. I tell you what I had everyone up there begging me to use one of my rods so they could get in on the action. I was more than happy to, as long as I had a rod in my hand. I don't know what it was, but I was the only one catching fish! LOL... Had fun, will head up again on Wednesday.
    City: Vacaville

    Tips: Get out really early for a topwater blast, or late in the evening just before dark. As soon as you see any fish breaking the surface, throw on a topwater. Throw a spook in windy water, but in glass water, throw a small popper, my favorite the mini Pop-R. Good luck!

Sunday, June 3rd, 2001

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    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Launched at 6am, landed 3 bass in the coves off the south side of the narrows on white/black spinner bait. landed 1 more off the big island on a pumkin seed crayfish (plastic).
    City: campbell

Thursday, May 31st, 2001

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    Water Temp: 75

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Good day on the water. Launched at 5 a.m. headed to favorite point, only to land 2 fish on a Yo-Zuri Pop n' Splash. I can't say I was impressed with the lure, and I am not sure it was worth the 8 bucks. Switched over to a mini Pop-R, after heading to our next destination along a shady canyon wall. Landed 9 more fish before 8 a.m., 7 on the Pop-R, and only 2 on magic worms!! The worm bite was very slow today, it may pick up later in the day. We tried, black/ chart tails, red craw, and morning dawn, and nothing was producing well. But the fish were killing topwater. 13 fish total, not bad for three hours before work! Had a blast on topwater too, should have had over 20, but let's just say there were many missed hoooksets:)
    City: Vacavile

    Tips: Tips I would have right now: 1.) Get out EARLY, no later than 6 am. 2.) If you see fish feeding on top of the water, splashing around, cast over to it ASAP, the fish will hit it just about everytime. 3.) When fishing the popper, as soon as the bait hits the water, let it sit for about 10 seconds, especially if your lure is near cover. If you are not hit in 10 seconds, twitch it once and let it sit another 5 seconds. If nothing then, twitch, twich, pause back to the boat. 4.) Cast to structure. The fish that are still shallow, are holding tight to bolders, and trees. Get your lures in there, and get ready.

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2001

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    Water Temp: 75

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Laucned out of Capell today by myself at 5:20 a.m. Headed to the first point I saw to get my line in the water fast. Caught 2 right out of the launch in five minutes. Caught 2 more in the next 20 min. All on magic worms. Threw out the topwater even though the timing was getting late for topwater. Headed to a nice point, and BAM, 4 casts, 4 smallies. Missed about 10 more in the next 15 minutes. Ended up fishing the bagic worms on very rocky walls, and brought in 12 for the day. Left at 11am. Not a bad day.
    City: Vacaville

    Tips: Fish are in transition and are beginning to suspend. Slow your baits down and go down to nearly 30 feet. Also, if you want to have a blast, get out EARLY and get the topwatr bite that lasts until about 7am. Talk about fun! Good luck!

Sunday, May 20th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 75

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Got on the water around 5:20am and found very active smallies on the west side of the lake. Very windy conditions made it difficult to hook up with the fish on topwater. We missed every single topwater fish so we switched to rip baits and flukes. That was the ticket. Later in the day we switched to 4in weenies and brown jigs. Biggest fish was a 5lb large mouth taken near a dock. Worm color didn't seem to matter as the three of us fished 3 different worms and they all worked. Bite was good until 11am and then it was one here and there until we left at 1pm.
    City: Suisun

    Tips: Bite is wide open so throw your favorite bait as you wish...

Wednesday, May 16th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 73

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Awesome day on the water! There was NO WIND, and beautiful skies. The water was up to 20 foot visibillity. Launched out of Markely at 6:15 a.m. Headed for main points throwing flukes and ripping for the shallow bass. No luck for an hour. Not one fish! Switched to the split shot magic worm, and brought in 10 fish fast. Not much size. Headed across the arm at about 9 a.m. to land 5 more, including two 3lb. spots, all on dark red/pink magic worms. Heahed out past the narrows into the main lake, and worked the points and coves. Still no wind! We landed 11 more fish, all on the dark red/ pink magic worms. At the end of the day we had 26 fish, the biggest just over three pounds with two limits of keepers, and a seven fish limit of 14 pounds. With the weather, and the fish, we had an awesome day!
    City: Vacaville

    Tips: The fish are off the beds now. No more bruisers in the shallows. Almost all of the fish are in transition now, so split shot your worms in rocky areas, in 10-20 ft. of water. The bite is real soft, so set the hook when unsure!

Saturday, May 12th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 68

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: I was not too sure about life as I drove to Berryessa Saturday morning, preparing myself mentally to do something that I had never done before - guide 4 adults. When I met them at Markley Cove at 7:30 am, I loved them immediately! There was mom and dad, daughter, and friend. We just fished plastic worms and Senkos, since I wouldn't allow any open hooks. Three of them fished at once, and it worked great. Though they hadn't done much bass fishing, they all caught fish, with dad getting the biggest - a 2-2 spot. I fished a little, and did manage a 2 1/2 lb largemouth. We caught some in Markely Cove, but, as the previous report mentioned, the wind and skiers were the main event in the afternoon. But we used this to our advantage, and fished the mudlines with 6" #11 Magic worms (Witches T) and caught several quality bass out in front of Wragg canyon, on points. Our total for the day was 18 in the boat, but, of course, several were lost. I was targeting big fish areas, and as a result, we only caught 2 dinks, and one between 12 and 13 inches. All the rest were bigger. The morning dawn Magic worm worked well in the morning (that makes sense!) in the clearer water, but the darker colored worm with the chartreuse tail was the trick in the muddy water. I'm sure spinnerbaits would have worked well, too. A great time was had by all, including the guide!!!!
    City: Yuba City

    Tips: Don't be afraid of wind or skiers - they can be your friends (sometimes). Many above average fish are caught in afternoons (April through June) when the water becomes murky, or form a mudline. Darker color worms seem to work best, along with jigs. If you feel you need to fish a smaller worm (4 inch), use a 6" worm and bite some of it off. That will offer a larger profile bait, and maybe larger fish. We wern't doing that Saturday, but I do that many times, especially in clear water.

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    Water Temp: 69-72

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Tried out my new boat on Saturday. Launched at Markley Cove, headed out to main lake points, where we got three dinks - One ripping, two on split-shot worms. No spinner bite. No topwater bite. Wind was killer, and we were forced back into Marklely cove, where we landed 6 fish in an hour. 4 were caught on split-shot worm, 2 on weightless flukes. Bit died around 11 a.m. and continued that way intil about 1 p.m. in Markley, so we decided to go face the wind out on the main lake again. Water was cloudy the rest of the day, with less than 1 ft. visibility at times. Waterskiers and wind were the culprits. Fishing the main lake walls and points in the wind, we managed 9 more fish, 7 on worms, 2 on flukes. Worms were difinately out-producing the flukes, but the fluke fish were all keepers including one pretty 3#er. Would have had a few more fish on flukes, if it weren't for fisherman error:) Called it a day at about 3 o'clock, with 18 fish. Not bad for fishing in a dang near hurricane! Had a blast though!
    City: Vacaville

    Tips: Get out early, and avoid the wind and waterskiers!

Friday, May 11th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 70-77

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Here is an update from the May 6th Fishing Report. Started the day with my clients (Father & Son) at the North end of the lake around 7AM. Went for the shallow fish bite on Senko's, didn't exist. Backed off to deeper water and started split-shottin Ivino's SP-20's in Spade tails. Found the fish to be anywhere from 8 1/2ft down to 14ft. At this time in the mornin know wind was blow'in at all. The key to this situation is to find heavy grass in their comfort zone. Found it on a smerged ledge some 300yd out in 10ft of water with a drop off to 18-20ft. They limited it out (the Father out fished the son, LOL Grin). Tried Brush Hogs and Grubs. Still the worm out fished everything else for this day. At 4:00PM, we went south into Wraggs where I ran into a topwater bite using a Walkin-Stick. they had fun try'in to set the hook on this hot fish. All the fish were related to wood, either stand up's and laydowns didn't matter. Bigger fish came out of IceBox Canyon.

    Tips: Look for Shad concentration's on your LCR's and the position of the birds in the area's that you enjoy fishin. It is a key to the depth of the fish that you are after, especially in the mid-afternoon. Split-shottin still producing quality fish in depths of 8 1/2 to 20ft at the North end of the lake. For you Drop-shottin Guru's, I'd recommend ledges at 15-20ft on the ly side of the points or mounds (Pending on area of the lake your fish'in). I myself, plan on this scenario in the near future once this weather actually stable's out (Grin). In the afternoon's or even'in, the Top Water bite is definitely on. Should the mornin bite on TW turn on, it will take stabality in weather before you get a magnium bite. This should accur within a couple of weeks. Take Care and see you Next Time Rich Thiel At thielr@earthlink.net (510)-317-2009

Sunday, May 6th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 58-64

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: O.k bite on witches t 4". Small fish.The real story is we have lost the lake to water skiers and jet ski's again. The lake was so rough from people towing wakeboarders that it was just miserable to be there. My 4 year old daughter was with me on the front deck of my Ranger 520 and almost got flipped out of the boat a couple of time from big wakes of skiers. There was even people wakeboarding in the no wake section of putah creek. I wish there was a way to escape these people with the nerve to ski in a no wake zone. I can't wait for 25 more years to retirement so I can go on a weekday. Does anybody know of a lake that you can truly escape these bozo's? sorry you had to hear me cry.
    City: Pinole

    Tips: Fish in january

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    Water Temp: 63-68

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Here is an up-date on Lake Berryessa has I see it. For the last couple of months fishin at least once or twice a week I noticed this year Berryessa put out a tremendouse amount of Smallmouth, more so than the past couple of years. The water temperture at this moment is 63 in the mornin to 68 in the afternoon. Water from the glory hole is 6 1/2ft down from going over. How I've been limiting and getting quality Smallmouth is similar to a text book instructional article, ROCK (big) earlier this yr on main lake to most recent in the last month to pea gravel or baseball size rock. The average size smallmouth runs anywhere from 1 3/4lbs to 2 1/4lbs bigger in my opinion than the average spot. Where I catch the quality is at the north end of the lake but out in some cases 200-300 yrds from the bank in 8ft to 14ft mark with access to 30ft, rock pile or just a long ridge that runs parall to the main bank. I limit my baits to 30 primary baits, soft plastic, worms in 4-6inch and ripbaits that suspend for a long time. The spawns have taken place (for sure this full moon) for all species, smallmouth, largemouth and the spot. What I see to come is one heck of a topwater bite probably starting soon around the 14th of this month on thru June until the water hits 75 with consistance.

    Tips: Baits and techniques that work for me and my clients has follows: Rip-baits/ LuckyCraft Flasher in a shad or Clown depending on water Color (clarity is the key here). Worms/ MGM's #123, Ivino's Spade Tail 6inch in his oxblood or his SP-20. For soft plastic's I've been using the Thrasher in white pearl or yellow perch made by Snoozersbaits.com, Rainbow UFO's in a Trout pattern that you can obtain thru Waltons Pond in San Leandro and the Senko made by Gary Yamamoto in a lite green with black specks. Grubs would be 4th choice but they seem to produce dinks and just keepers a good back up bait for a tough to get limit. With the Soft plastic baits Rigging it with either nothing (no weight) to peggin it with 1/8oz bullet sinker. Line size I use 15 or 20lb big game, what this does it makes the bait lay horizontal more. The longer the cast the more horital the bait will lay. Well give a report in a couple of weeks and let all you know in what the topwater is like. Anyone that would like to contact me, either by E-Mail at thielr@earthlink.net or by phone at (510)317-2009. TL Rich Thiel's Guiding Service PS. See everyone up their Friday and Good luck!!!

Saturday, May 5th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 62 am 67 pm

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Me and Ronnie went out of markley cove at 530 am caught alot of dinks all morning in markleys cove . Ronnie schooled me in my own boat and caught some nice fish 3 lbs 2 and a half and lots of dinks . went to the grape vine ronnie did good draging small plastics caught a lot of smallies did some rippin crankin ang spining all worked well going too the delta in the morning . good luck all see ya at the lake Catch and release fish are still bedding
    City: Elmira

Friday, May 4th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 65-maybe more

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Well I went out on a boat my neighbor Pee Wee had bought which I really do not want to get into.We ended up stuck fishing from the bank,but we still had a hell of a day.We were fishing with a 6"magik worm (oxblood) along the weed beds close to shore.We caught alot of small ones but our biggest went for about 4 pounds.Even though we were shore bound, Berryessa is a very beutiful lake to be fishing.I hope to return and be able to do some good boat fishing.Oh,and for all the fisherman on there boats that just flew by us while we were oaring back,THANK YOU.And to the skiers that did have the kindness to stop what they were doing and tow us back,your assistance was greatly appreciated.
    City: sacramento

    Tips: HAVE FUN!!!

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2001

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    Water Temp: 62-67'

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Started out in back of Skires cove friday, got a 7lb and several more on the way out. 1/4 oz darter head grub. Went to narrows, fishing mudlined points, ripping and thowing the grub. Caught several more in the 2 lb range. Sat same deal, but the fish shrunk. Ended up with 11.46 lbs and 22nd place. Sunday, fished ABA, stayed North.Got carolina rigged fish in A.M., moved around quite a bit, hitting honey holes. Grub bite still hot. Found two giants up the creek, but they wouldn't go. Ended up with 8.45 lbs and just out of the $$.
    City: San Leandro

    Tips: The majority of the fish still havn't spawned yet. I would venture to say they are making their beds as I write this.

Thursday, April 26th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 64 - 68

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Wide open - Landed 50+ fish, about 30 of which were 13" or longer. About 80 percent smallies, 10 percent largemouth and 10 percent spots. Caught fish everywhere I stopped (fished east side of main lake to Putah Creek). A couple fish came on a white spinnerbait, but the majority fell for a suspending ripbait (silver and gold) or a 4" Senko (every color I tried worked). The bigger fish, to 3 pounds, came on the Senko.
    City: Pinole

    Tips: Even with the relatively warm water temperatures the smallies are still spawning. There are a lot of empty beds, but there are just as many with fish too. Didn't see any largemouth or spotted bass beds.

Wednesday, April 25th, 2001

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    Water Temp: 69

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: caught mostly spotties and smallies up to 3lbs .fished the narrows .used 5'' senkos and dropshot
    City: clayton

    Tips: dead stick senkos in the weedline .

Saturday, April 21st, 2001

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    Water Temp: 60

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: I fished along the banks near Markley Cove on Saturday from 3:00-6:30pm.This was a good day on the lake after the rain storm on Friday. Many bank anglers getting fish..Got 1 dink early on with bright spinners, then the bite slowed for about an hour...kept moving and trying differents baits. Took 2 more dinks on night crawlers then went to plastics in the early evening and got bit on crawdads and a 4" pumpkinseed worm... Had a good day, no complaints. Warm weather and water coming soon!
    City: Fairfield

    Tips: I'm no bass pro,and I have fun trying every kind of bait I have ... plastics, spinners, jigs and live worms. They all work at Berryessa.