Lake Berryessa Fishing Report | March 2026
The report at a glance
Depth
Surface line and about 10 feet down on the lead core; several strikes right on top, fish only a foot or two deep
Presentation
Fast troll small spoons and shad-pattern flies. A silver Trigger Spoon up top with no weight and a shad-pattern Magnum Metal Head fly about 10 feet down on lead core. Target speed started at 2.7, the big fish hit closer to 1.9, productive window 1.8 to 2.2.
Lures and baits
Silver Trigger Spoon (death prism)
Junior Trigger Spoon (standout, fooled the biggest fish)
Grey and chrome shad-pattern Magnum Metal Head trolling fly on a 10-pound leader off the lead core
Water temperature
54 to 56 degrees
Weather
Cool, comfortable air
Advice for this week
Do not assume big bait means big fish. Cal's largest rainbow ate the smallest spoon in the spread. Cover water, watch other boats and the surface, and when you lose a fish, always reel your bait in to make sure it is running clean before you send it back out.
Next week
The shad bite should keep producing quality Berryessa rainbows as long as water temps stay cool. Match the hatch with small chrome spoons and stay on the move to find feeding fish.
Notable catch
Landed several rainbows including one estimated close to 5 pounds, a tank that smoked the drag and turned the kayak.
Lake Berryessa is giving up hard-fighting rainbow trout on a spoon bite in Markley Cove. Cal Kellogg ran a silver Trigger Spoon up top and a shad-pattern Metal Head Fly on lead core about 10 feet deep, trolling 1.8 to 2.2 mph. The Junior Trigger Spoon fooled his biggest fish, close to 5 pounds. Water temp 54 to 56 degrees, prime for release.
What is biting at Lake Berryessa right now?
A rip-roaring rainbow trout bite, with king salmon also around. Capt. Cal Kellogg fished Markley Cove from the kayak and landed several strong rainbows, including a hog close to 5 pounds, one of the hardest-fighting trout he has caught. Fish are feeding on shad.
What depth and speed for Lake Berryessa trout?
Cal ran his lead core about 10 feet deep, two colors back with a 20 foot top shot, roughly 84 feet behind the kayak, plus an unweighted surface spoon. Target trolling speed was 1.8 to 2.2 mph, right around 1.9 when the big fish hit.
What lures and colors are working at Lake Berryessa?
A silver death prism Trigger Spoon on the surface and a shad-pattern Magnum Metal Head Fly in grey and chrome tinsel on the lead core. The Junior Trigger Spoon produced the biggest fish. It was clearly a chrome spoon bite matching the shad.
How is Cal rigging at Lake Berryessa?
Capable tackle: a yellow lead core rod with a 10 pound test leader. Surface line ran the Trigger Spoon with no weight, while the lead core carried the Metal Head Fly down about 10 feet. Cover water, watch the sonar and other boats, then grind on the fish you find.
What is the outlook for Lake Berryessa?
The trout bite has been good for a while and water temperature is optimum at 54 to 56 degrees, cool enough for excellent catch and release. It is a spoon bite right now with fish feeding on shad. Exact fish depth on the graph beyond the presentation was not specified in this report.
Watch the full report
Lake Berryessa March 2026 FAQ
Cal targeted 1.8 to 2.2 mph and was right around 1.9 mph when his biggest fish hit.
He ran the lead core about 10 feet deep, with an unweighted spoon on the surface line.
The Junior Trigger Spoon fooled his hardest-fighting rainbow, a fish close to 5 pounds.
Shad, which is why a silver, chrome, shad-pattern presentation worked.
About 54 to 56 degrees, which Cal called optimum and ideal for releasing fish.
Markley Cove and the arm leading toward the main body of the lake.
