Lake Berryessa Fishing Report

Water temps are now locked into the 70s... and it's officially salmon season at Berryessa! Reports are coming in with guides pulling good numbers of Kokanee, kings, rainbows (and even crappie) while trolling the lake... especially around the Big and Small islands. Slow trolling has been key, between 1.2–1.5 mph. Pink Hoochies tipped with garlic or tuna soaked corn has been the hot ticket for salmon. Orange Speedy Shiners are doing well for rainbows as well. The key depth has been in the 25–40 ft range.

Bass action continues to be good. Plenty of big fish spotted cruising the shallows and holding in the backs of coves. Stealth fishing has been key... water is so clear fish are spooking quickly and staying tight-lipped. Make those long casts and stay quiet. Small swimbaits, poppers, and finesse stuff have been working best.

Berryessa water is starting to clear again after the recent stretch of storms, and the king salmon bite should pick up where it left off before the wet weather... guides were pulling quick morning limits earlier this month. Surface temps are still in the low 50s, keeping bass mostly deep on soft plastics. The lower end of the lake is running a few degrees warmer, and with air temps pushing into the mid 60s this week, bigger fish should begin sliding shallow in preparation for prespawn. Crappie anglers continue to limit out over deep structure in 40 to 50 feet.

Water temps have really started to dip this past week, especially up on the north end, where readings are in the mid 50s. The southern end is still holding in the low 60s, and that’s where most of the bass action is coming from. Football jigs, spinnerbaits, and dropshots are reportedly hooking spotted bass off steep drop-offs and major points. Bass are still keyed in on shad schools too, so spoons and other trout gear are picking up fish as well.

The trout bite is just starting to come around as fish begin sliding up the water column. There’s not much happening above 20 feet yet, but fish are hitting in the 20–40 foot zone on speedy shiners and other spoons trolled around 2.6 mph. With clear weather ahead, look for trout action to keep picking up.