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Lake Berryessa Fishing Report | July 7
2025-07-07

Lake Berryessa Fishing Report | July 7

Napa County
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Lake Berryessa
Kokanee salmon Eagle Lake trout King salmon

Water Conditions

Weather
Weather
Not specified
Water Temp
Water Temp
Not specified
Water Clarity
Water Clarity
Not specified
Water Flow
Water Flow
Not specified

Fishing Overview

Target Species
Kokanee salmon, Eagle Lake trout, King salmon
Depth Range
40 to 75 feet
Presentation
Trolling with gold 6-inch dodgers and T-Pex lures from Catch America kits, slight bend in dodger, short setbacks (20–25 feet)
Best Time
Not specified
Successful Lures
Gold CA trolling dodgers (6 inch) with a slight bend T-Pex lures in various colors: orange, blue, pink, white with orange dots, creamsicle, all with gold backing Chrome Killer-scented or cured white Shoepeg corn (one kernel per hook)
Other Techniques
Using a bobber stop to separate the spoon from hooks for more action Keeping gear in the fish’s face by watching electronics and marking schools

Guide’s Tips & Notes

Advice for This Week
Stay mobile, watch your electronics closely, and keep your gear right in the fish’s face. Stick with short setbacks of 20–25 feet, and don’t overload your hooks—use just one kernel of corn per hook for best results.
Changes We’re Seeing
King salmon are already showing up in good numbers, even though they haven’t been specifically targeted yet.
Predictions for Next Week
Expect fishing for king salmon to heat up even more in the next month. Double-digit kings are anticipated soon at Berryessa, making August and September prime months to book a trip.

Recommended Gear for This Trip

CA Trolling Dodger 6"

Regular price From $11.17 USD
Sale price From $11.17 USD Regular price $13.00 USD

The Catch America 6-inch Stainless Steel Trolling Dodger is the standard-bearer of the kokanee and trout troll, a wide-swinging attractor that pulls fish in from the surrounding water column while imparting action to any trailing lure. Premium stainless steel construction holds its shape and finish through a full season of hard use without the distortion and corrosion that compromise cheaper alloy dodgers over time. The 6-inch size delivers the ideal balance of attractor flash and line drag, making it compatible with everything from medium-action kokanee rods to heavier downrigger setups. Available in 10 proven finish options including Moon Jelly, 24K Gold, Black Diamond, and Green Diamond.

T-Pex - 1 Inch Kokanee & Trout Trolling Lure

Regular price $6.95 USD
Sale price $6.95 USD Regular price

The T-Pex (also searched as TPex or T Pex) is a purpose-built inline trolling lure engineered specifically for the slow-troll speeds that kokanee and rainbow trout demand, the 1.0 to 1.8 mph range where standard spoons lose their action or spin out entirely. Its compact body produces a distinctive wobble-and-flash combination that kokanee find irresistible behind a Moon Jelly, Magnum, or 6-inch dodger, and it runs equally well solo on a double-hook leader for a cleaner, lighter presentation. The premium finish options cover the proven attractor and natural color patterns that produce across California and Western kokanee fisheries from early season through the fall run. With over 3,200 units sold last season, the T-Pex is the single best-selling lure in the Catch America lineup, because it flat-out catches fish.

Chrome Killer™ Scent by Big Nate

Regular price $9.95 USD
Sale price $9.95 USD Regular price

When I'm running chrome spoons and metallic lures for big trout and salmon, Chrome Killer is the fish attractant I trust to close the deal. It's a UV-enhanced oil formula specifically engineered for chrome and reflective finishes, loaded with real baitfish oils, amino acids, and powerful bite stimulants that chemically react with the metallic lure surface to create a multi-sensory attractant combination that triggers strikes even from fish that have already passed on the presentation. I apply it directly to my dodgers, spoons, and flashers before every troll, and I've personally watched it convert follows into strikes and cold spreads into bent rods when no other adjustment was working. If you're running chrome hardware without Chrome Killer, you're leaving fish in the water.