Lake Berryessa Fishing Report by Mark Lassagne

April 2018 on Lake Berryessa

If catching 30, 40, even 50 fish a day is your idea of fun, then Berryessa (aka Berry)

is right for you … right now.

Conveniently located, Berry is a little over an hour from either the Bay Area or

Sacramento.

LAUNCH CLOSE

You can launch near the dam at Markley Cove, in the narrows at Pleasure Cove, in the

main lake at Spanish Flats, up north near the incoming creek at Putah Creek, or down south

at Cappell Cove near the lower west end of the lake. Ramp fees are about $16, unless you go

to Cappell Cove which is free.

THE SPAWN

Currently the fish are in all three phases of spawning and can be caught with a

plethora of techniques.

Spawning bass can be found in the coves, on flats, and around shallow areas behind

the islands – pretty much all over the lake. All three species are up right now. However, I

prefer catching smallmouth simply because it’s fun and easy.

Often, if there’s not much wind, you can see dark circles in about five feet of water

where the smallies make their beds. Cast a drop shot rig ahead of the circle and drag it back

onto the bed – once there shake it a bit – hopefully catching the fish. If not, move on to the

next one. It can be relatively simple to locate a lot of beds this time of year; you’re not

looking for fish, only the beds. If you pull up on a bed and can see a fish, most likely that fish

has already seen you, making it much more difficult to catch.

Additionally, search shallow flat areas or the extreme ends of coves and pockets for

largemouth. You might just run across a giant 8- to 12-pound bass.

Remember to let these fish go as soon as possible so they can go about their

business of making babies. If immediately released in the vicinity, most bedding bass will

return right away to their beds, seemingly unfazed by the entire ordeal.

PRE- AND POST-SPAWN

Pre- and post-spawn bass can be found in the same areas, which are often just

beyond the spawning areas. Visualize where the fish are going and picture a route from the

main lake to the shallows and all the stopping points along the way.

You almost can’t go wrong fishing points, but all points are not equal. Points leading

into a spawning area are better than just a point. Moreover, points in spawning areas such

as a creek channel can be good. You will need to try different points to see what’s best for

that day. Islands, submerged islands, points on islands, flats with a drop off, laydowns or off

shore rock piles can all be good this time of year.