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Guide ReportsJeff GoodwinNorthern California salmon, trout, and kokanee reports.
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Lake Berryessa Fishing Report | July 2026
Report by Capt. Nate Kelsch (Big Nate) Nate Kelsch runs Big Nate's Guide Service on Lake Berryessa and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Nate Kelsch (Big Nate)'s tackle. What is working right now Kokanee, kings, and big trout are stacked at Lake Berryessa in July 2026, holding anywhere from 35 to 90 feet. The top setup is a T-Pex, X-Pex, or Uncle Larry's glow spinner tipped with Chrome Killer Corn, run behind a 6-inch offset dodger. Best dodger colors are gold, black, moon jelly, pink, purple, and blue. What is biting at Lake Berryessa right now?Kokanee are the main event and running big, with king salmon, rainbow trout, and the odd spotted bass mixed in. Capt. Nate Kelsch reported limits of monster kokanee plus big kings on his July 2026 Berryessa trips, with fish scattered through the water column rather than pinned to one zone. What depth are the fish holding at Lake Berryessa in July?Fish are spread from 35 feet down to 80 to 85 feet, and sometimes as deep as 90 feet. Kokanee, kings, and trout are all over that band right now, so cover the column and watch your electronics rather than committing to a single depth. What lures and colors are working at Lake Berryessa?The top producers are the T-Pex, the brand-new X-Pex, and Uncle Larry's glow spinners. Nate runs them behind 6-inch offset dodgers in gold, black, moon jelly, pink, purple, and blue, tipped with Chrome Killer Corn. The Big Nate Bait floating hard bait is also in his July lineup. How is Nate rigging and presenting?Slow-troll a dodger-and-lure setup: a 6-inch offset dodger ahead of a T-Pex, X-Pex, or Uncle Larry's spinner, with Chrome Killer Corn on the hooks. Match the dodger color to the day from Nate's rotation of gold, black, moon jelly, pink, purple, and blue. Trolling speed was not specified in this report. Guide's outlook for Lake BerryessaNate expects the bite to keep improving, with the fish getting bigger and bigger. His calendar is nearly full with only a few early-September dates left. Water temperature and clarity were not specified in this report. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Nate Kelsch (Big Nate)): Kokanee limits, kings, big trout, monster kokanee, and the limits just keep coming. Big fish, catch them anywhere from 35 feet all the way down to 80, 85 feet, sometimes even 90 feet. Still, the top-producing lures are the T-Pexes, the Uncle Larry's spinners, and our brand new X-Pex. Use the Chrome Killer Corn behind the 6-inch offset dodgers: gold, black, moon jelly, pink, purple, blue, all working great. Lake Berryessa July 2026 FAQ What depth are kokanee holding at Lake Berryessa in July?Kokanee, kings, and trout are holding from 35 feet down to 80 to 85 feet, and sometimes as deep as 90 feet, spread through the column. What are the best lures for Lake Berryessa kokanee right now?The T-Pex, the new X-Pex, and Uncle Larry's glow spinners are the top producers, run behind a 6-inch offset dodger with Chrome Killer Corn. What dodger colors are working at Lake Berryessa?Gold, black, moon jelly, pink, purple, and blue 6-inch offset dodgers are all producing, per Capt. Nate Kelsch. What species are biting at Lake Berryessa in July 2026?Kokanee running big, king salmon, and rainbow trout, with the occasional spotted bass. What trolling speed does Nate recommend for Berryessa kokanee?A specific trolling speed was not stated in this report. Nate is running a standard slow-troll dodger-and-lure presentation. Who guides Lake Berryessa for Catch America?Capt. Nate Kelsch (Big Nate) of Big Nate's Guide Service. Shop the Tackle T-Pex Kokanee & Trout Lure X-Pex Kokanee & Trout Lure Uncle Larry's UV Glow Spinners Trolling Dodger 6 inch Big Nate Bait Floating Hard Bait Chrome Killer Corn Cure Shop Big Nate's Tackle Shop Kokanee Gear
Learn moreShaver Lake Fishing Report | July 2026
Report by Paul Brown Paul Brown of Fishin with Paul Guide Service guides Shaver Lake for kokanee and trout. What is working right now Kokanee at Shaver Lake are moving deeper in July as the surface warms to 74 degrees. Guide Paul Brown is running downriggers at 35 to 55 feet, with most action around 42 feet. The top setup is a T-Pex in orange-gold behind a 6-inch gold dodger, then blue and purple. A 5.5-pound German brown ate a Hawken Simon Hot Tail in glow. What is biting at Shaver Lake right now?Kokanee, with a shot at a big brown. Guide Paul Brown pulled six to seven kokanee on a tough, slow July day and hooked a 5.5-pound German brown. The kokanee are still scattered but starting to school up as the month goes on. What depth are the Shaver Lake kokanee holding?With the surface at about 74 degrees and the lake dropping, the kokanee have moved deeper. Paul sets his downriggers at 35 to 55 feet, and most of the action has come around 42 feet. Patience has been the key on this lake. What lures and colors work at Shaver Lake in July?The most success came on a T-Pex in orange-gold behind a 6-inch gold dodger, followed by a T-Pex in blue and purple with a gold dodger. The 5.5-pound German brown ate a Hawken Simon Hot Tail in the glow color. How is Paul presenting at Shaver Lake?Slow-troll for kokanee off the downriggers at 35 to 55 feet, dialing in around 42. He runs a T-Pex behind a 6-inch gold dodger, swapping colors when the bite is slow. Patience and covering the depth band matter on tough days. What is the outlook for Shaver Lake?Improving. Paul expects the kokanee to school up more as July goes on, which should make for more consistent action. The bite has been up and down, good one day and slower the next, so stay patient. Watch the full report From the report (Paul Brown): The conditions on the water are currently about 74 degrees surface temperature. Rising temperatures, the kokanee have started moving a little deeper. So we've been setting our downrigger at 35 to 55 feet. Most of our action has been happening around 42 feet. We've had the most success with Catch America's T-PEX in orange-gold with a 6-inch gold dodger. We caught the German brown on a Hawk and Simons Hot Tails from Catch America, and that was in the glow. Shaver Lake July 2026 FAQ What depth are kokanee holding at Shaver Lake in July?Downriggers set 35 to 55 feet, with most action around 42 feet. What is the water temperature at Shaver Lake?About 74 degrees on the surface, with the lake dropping. What lure works best for Shaver Lake kokanee?A T-Pex in orange-gold behind a 6-inch gold dodger, then blue and purple. What caught the big brown at Shaver Lake?A 5.5-pound German brown ate a Hawken Simon Hot Tail in glow. How was the Shaver Lake bite in mid-July?Slow and tough on report day, with six to seven kokanee and one big brown boated. Who guides Shaver Lake for kokanee?Paul Brown of Fishin with Paul Guide Service. Shop the Tackle T-Pex Kokanee & Trout Lure Trolling Dodger 6" Hawken Simon Hot Tails Shop Kokanee Gear
Learn moreDon Pedro Reservoir Fishing Report | June 2026
Report by Capt. Monte Smith Monte Smith runs Gold Country Sport Fishing on Don Pedro Reservoir and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Monte Smith's tackle. What is working right now Don Pedro has gotten tough in June after Memorial Day, with kokanee scattered and no schooled-up concentrations. Capt. Monte Smith is still catching, with fish biting 43 to 65 feet and coming up shallow to feed. He is running T-Pex lures and dodgers with Kokanee Slammer scent. A recent 2.14-pound, 17.5-inch kokanee was a standout. What is biting at Don Pedro Reservoir right now?Kokanee, but the bite has gotten tough since right after Memorial Day. Capt. Monte Smith is still catching kokanee, though the fish are extremely scattered and he has not boated a king in four trips. He is hunting for schooled-up concentrations that have not formed yet. What depth are the Don Pedro kokanee holding?Fish are biting from 43 to 65 feet, but they come up shallow to feed. Monte caught one at 43 feet at midday and another kokanee at 36 feet on rolled shad the week before, when fish were feeding on the surface. Active feeders move up. What lures work at Don Pedro in June?Monte runs Catch America gear, the T-Pex lures and dodgers, and always puts Kokanee Slammer scent on the dodgers and mixes it with his corn. He runs a ton of gear and washes lures often, which is the key to putting scattered fish in the boat. How is Monte presenting at Don Pedro?Slow-troll off the downriggers, covering 43 to 65 feet and marking fish on LiveScope. He scents dodgers with Kokanee Slammer and rotates through gear, washing a lot of it on tough days to find what the scattered fish want. What is the outlook for Don Pedro Reservoir?Monte is not giving up. The lake sits about 5 feet from full and incoming hot weather should school these fish up. He expects the bite to come back as the season progresses. It is still early, so keep trying and cover water. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Monte Smith): Don Pedro's gotten tough. We're still catching kokanee. The fish are extremely scattered. We haven't caught any king salmon in the past four trips. These fish are biting 43 ft to 65, but I have noticed these fish when they do feed, they come up shallow. We caught one yesterday at 43 ft at midday. We actually caught a kokanee at 36 ft on a shad. We're always putting the Kokanee Slammer scent on. Don Pedro Reservoir June 2026 FAQ What depth are kokanee holding at Don Pedro in June?From 43 to 65 feet, though they come up shallow, even to 36 to 43 feet, to feed. Why is the Don Pedro bite tough in June?Right after Memorial Day the fish scattered and picked up and moved, with no big schooled-up concentrations yet. What lures work at Don Pedro in June?T-Pex lures and dodgers scented with Kokanee Slammer. How big are the Don Pedro kokanee?Monte boated a beautiful 2.14-pound, 17.5-inch kokanee the week before this report. What is the key on tough Don Pedro days?Running a lot of gear and washing lures often to find what the scattered fish will bite. Who guides Don Pedro for Catch America?Capt. Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing. Shop the Tackle T-Pex Kokanee & Trout Lure Kokanee Slammer Scent by Monte Smith Shop Capt. Monte Smith's Tackle Shop Kokanee Gear
Learn moreCoeur d'Alene Fishing Report | May 19, 2026
Report by Steve Hoskov Steve Hoskov fished Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho for this Catch America kokanee report. What is working right now Kokanee are biting immediately on Lake Coeur d'Alene in May, hitting within a minute of setting lines. Steve Hoskov trolled about 1.5 mph and fished around 25 feet with a T-Pex behind a small dodger, tipped with corn and Trophy Kokanee Scent by Austin Moser. When the bite paused, a short-leadered Uncle Larry's Hoochie brought them back. What is biting at Lake Coeur d'Alene right now?Kokanee, and the action was immediate. Steve Hoskov had a fish on within 30 seconds of deploying a rod, then steady action for the first hour. Even fishing midday after a 1:00 pm launch, beautiful silvers made it into the boat. What depth are the Coeur d'Alene kokanee holding?Steve marked and caught fish right around 25 feet. He let out about 100 feet of line with a 2-ounce snap weight to reach that depth, and stresses fishing just above the kokanee since they rise to eat rather than chase down. What lures and setup worked on Coeur d'Alene kokanee?A T-Pex in a bluish color behind a small Catch America dodger, tipped with corn and Trophy Kokanee Scent by Austin Moser. When the bite slowed, Steve switched to an Uncle Larry's Hoochie on a shorter, stiffer leader for more whip and action. How does Steve rig for Coeur d'Alene kokanee?He slides the T-Pex bobber stop to dial in a wobbling action, tips the hooks with scented corn, and runs a 2-ounce snap weight about 40 feet back to reach 25 feet with 100 feet of line out. A shorter leader on the hoochie added action and drew bites. What is the takeaway from this Coeur d'Alene trip?Kokanee fishing rewards finesse. Keep steady pressure, do not horse them, and expect them to spit the hook boatside. Prime hours are sunrise and evening, so an early start should produce even better than this midday bite. Water temperature was not specified in this report. Watch the full report From the report (Steve Hoskov): I'll be starting off with none other than the Catch America's T-Pex, with a Catch America dodger. We're going to be tipping this with a little bit of corn. We'll be trolling about 1.5 miles an hour. This is Trophy Kokanee Scent by Austin Moser. We're marking fish at about 25 feet. So that means I need to let out about 100 feet of line. You're better off being right above the fish than right below them. Lake Coeur d'Alene May 19, 2026 FAQ What depth are kokanee holding at Lake Coeur d'Alene in May?Right around 25 feet. Steve let out about 100 feet of line to reach them. What trolling speed for Coeur d'Alene kokanee?About 1.5 miles per hour, a slow-troll kokanee presentation. What lure works for Coeur d'Alene kokanee?A T-Pex behind a small dodger, tipped with corn and Trophy Kokanee Scent. What scent did Steve use on the corn?Trophy Kokanee Scent by Austin Moser, mixed into the shoepeg corn. How do you keep from losing kokanee boatside?Keep steady pressure without horsing them and do not reel too fast, since they spit the hook right by the boat. Who fished this Coeur d'Alene report?Steve Hoskov, fishing with Catch America gear on Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Shop the Tackle T-Pex Kokanee & Trout Lure Trophy Kokanee Scent by Austin Moser Uncle Larry's Hoochies Shop Kokanee Gear
Learn moreShasta Lake Fishing Report | May 2026
Report by Capt. Jeff Goodwin Jeff Goodwin runs Jeff Goodwin Guide Service and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Jeff Goodwin's tackle. What is working right now Shasta Lake's late-spring season has kicked off, with king salmon and kokanee leading the way. Kings are down deep on flasher and bait combos with anchovies and herring, while kokanee sit around 35 to 40 feet in the Sacramento and McCloud arms. The lake is about 15 feet from full. On the Sacramento River, wild rainbows are coming on bobber dogging and side-drifting beads. What is biting at Shasta Lake right now?King salmon and kokanee are leading, with rainbows and browns in the mix. Capt. Jeff Goodwin says the late-spring, early-summer season has kicked off with good water conditions, and this year is producing some good-size kings that are easy to target in certain areas. What depth are the Shasta kings and kokanee holding?The kings are down deep in specific areas of the lake. Kokanee are sitting right around 35 to 40 feet in the upper Sacramento arm and McCloud arm, where they are easy to mark and access. The lake is about 15 feet from full. What is working for Shasta Lake salmon?The kings are keying on flasher combos and bait combos, anchovies, herring, and similar baits. Jeff concentrates on this early salmon bite from May into June and sometimes July. Give the flasher and bait setups a try down deep. What is working on the Sacramento River?It is a catch-and-release fishery, and this is the time of year for good numbers of wild rainbow trout. Jeff does best bobber dogging or side-drifting bead presentations. Those two techniques have been most productive on the river. What is the outlook for Shasta Lake?Steady and strong. Jeff expects the king bite to continue through June, with the trout bite really picking up next month. Good water conditions and good-size kings set up a solid late-spring into summer. No specific Catch America product was named in this report. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Jeff Goodwin): Currently we're catching Kokanee and King Salmon. There's some rainbows in the mix, and browns in the mix. Right now it's hard to beat the King fishing. A lot of these fish are going to be down deep. They're really keying in on flasher combos, and bait combos, anchovies, herring. Kokanee right now, hey, it's hard to beat the upper sections of the Sacramento arm and the McCloud arm. Fish are sitting right around 35, 40 feet. Shasta Lake May 2026 FAQ What is biting at Shasta Lake in May 2026?King salmon and kokanee, with rainbows and browns mixed in. What depth are Shasta kokanee holding?Right around 35 to 40 feet in the Sacramento and McCloud arms. What are Shasta kings biting on?Flasher combos and bait combos with anchovies and herring, fished down deep. How full is Shasta Lake?About 15 feet from full, which Jeff says is about as full as it will get this year. What works on the Sacramento River wild rainbows?Bobber dogging and side-drifting bead presentations, on a catch-and-release fishery. Who guides Shasta Lake for Catch America?Capt. Jeff Goodwin of Jeff Goodwin Guide Service. Shop the Tackle Shop Capt. Jeff Goodwin's Tackle Shop Kokanee Gear
Learn moreDon Pedro Lake Fishing Report | May 2026
Report by Capt. Monte Smith Monte Smith runs Gold Country Sport Fishing on Don Pedro Reservoir and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Monte Smith's tackle. What is working right now Kokanee are on the bite at Don Pedro in May, with kings, rainbows, and the odd brown coming on the same trip. Fish are running 40 to 65 feet, with the sweet spot around 50 to 55, under a 70-degree surface. Capt. Monte Smith is scoring on T-Pex lures and Simon Hot Tails, plus Uncle Larry's spinners and micro hoochies. Some days limits, plus bookend 4-pound kings. What is biting at Don Pedro Reservoir right now?Kokanee are really on the bite, with king salmon, rainbow trout, and the occasional brown trout all coming on the same trip. Capt. Monte Smith reports some days of kokanee limits, kings helping fill the salmon limit, and plenty of rainbows in the mix through a strong May. What depth are the Don Pedro fish holding?Fish are generally caught from 40 to 65 feet, with the sweet spot around 50 to 55 feet. Surface water is up to 70 degrees. Some fish sit on structure. Monte ran downrigger weights right on the bottom in a shallow area and pulled a triple. What lures work at Don Pedro in May?Monte runs T-Pex lures and Simon Hot Tails, along with Uncle Larry's spinners and smaller-profile micro hoochies. One Saturday he scored on big Pro-Troll Kokanee Killers. A mix of profiles is producing right now. How is Monte presenting at Don Pedro?Slow-troll for kokanee off the downriggers, covering 40 to 65 feet. He runs weights near the bottom over structure in shallower areas, which produced a triple. The bite sometimes does not turn on until noon, so fish through the day. What is the outlook for Don Pedro Reservoir?Excellent. The water is still rising with about 10 feet to go before full, the weather is warming, and Monte calls it a great time to be out. Watch for heavy grass and large submerged logs. Boat with caution and give others room at the ramp. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Monte Smith): The kokanee are really on the bite. We're catching kokanee, king salmon, rainbow trout, and the occasional brown trout, all on the same trip. The fish are generally being caught around 40 to 65 feet. The sweet spot is about the 50-55 range. We're still using the Simon Hot Tails, we're using T-Pex lures, Uncle Larry's Spinners. We had a triple the other day. One was a 2-pound kokanee. We had two king salmon, exactly 4 pounds each. Don Pedro Reservoir May 2026 FAQ What depth are kokanee holding at Don Pedro in May?From 40 to 65 feet, with the sweet spot around 50 to 55 feet. What species are biting at Don Pedro Reservoir?Kokanee, king salmon, rainbow trout, and the occasional brown trout, often on the same trip. What lures work for Don Pedro kokanee?T-Pex lures, Simon Hot Tails, Uncle Larry's spinners, and micro hoochies. What is the water temperature at Don Pedro in May 2026?Surface water is up to about 70 degrees. How big are the Don Pedro kings and kokanee?Monte landed two king salmon at exactly 4 pounds each and a 2-pound kokanee on one trip, plus a 3-pound rainbow. Who guides Don Pedro for Catch America?Capt. Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing. Shop the Tackle T-Pex Kokanee & Trout Lure Hawken Simon Hot Tails Shop Capt. Monte Smith's Tackle Shop Kokanee Gear
Learn moreLake Berryessa Fishing Report | May 2026
Report by Capt. Nate Kelsch (Big Nate) Nate Kelsch runs Big Nate's Guide Service on Lake Berryessa and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Nate Kelsch (Big Nate)'s tackle. What is working right now The bite is on at Lake Berryessa in May 2026. Capt. Big Nate Kelsch is smashing limits of big kokanee, plus lake trout and nice king salmon, from the surface down to marks at 60 feet. Run T-Pexes and Uncle Larry's spinners behind 6-inch offset dodgers, tipped with Chrome Killer corn. Watch your electronics and drop on the fish. What is biting at Lake Berryessa in May?The bite is on. Capt. Big Nate Kelsch is getting limits of big kokanee every day, plus big lake trout and some real nice king salmon. Berryessa has the trophies again this year. Everything is coming on his Catch America kokanee tackle, and the fish are only getting bigger. What depth are Berryessa fish holding in May?Fish are spread from right up on the surface down to marks at 60 feet. Big Nate says the key is to keep your eyes on the electronics, watch where the fish show on the graph, and be ready to drop your gear on them to trigger a reaction. What lures are working at Lake Berryessa now?The top producers are T-Pexes and Uncle Larry's spinners, run behind 6-inch offset dodgers. Big Nate has also picked up a few on Hawken Hot Tails when he runs them, but it is tough to take the T-Pexes and Uncle Larry's off the line. Tip everything with Chrome Killer corn. How does Big Nate rig for Berryessa kokanee?Slow-troll a 6-inch offset dodger ahead of a T-Pex or Uncle Larry's spinner, tipped with Chrome Killer corn. Everything in his Catch America kokanee kit is in play. Match your depth to the marks on the graph and drop on the fish. Exact trolling speed was not specified in this report. What is the guide's outlook for Lake Berryessa?Big Nate says fishing is great and the fish are getting bigger, calling Berryessa a trophy fishery again this year. He expects the strong kokanee, king, and lake trout bite to keep rolling through the spring. Water temperature and clarity were not specified in this report. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Nate Kelsch (Big Nate)): The bite is on, baby. We've been smashing big kokanee. We're getting limits of kokanee every day, big ol' lake trout, and some real nice king salmon. We're looking at 6-inch offset dodgers, T-Pexes, Uncle Larry's spinners. Tip it with Chrome Killer corn. We're catching fish still all the way up on the surface down to chasing marks at 60 feet. Lake Berryessa May 2026 FAQ What depth are Berryessa kokanee in May?From the surface down to marks at 60 feet, so watch your electronics and fish the graph. What is the best kokanee lure at Berryessa now?T-Pexes and Uncle Larry's spinners behind 6-inch offset dodgers. What corn does Big Nate use?Chrome Killer corn, tipped on his T-Pexes and spinners. What species are biting at Lake Berryessa in May 2026?Big kokanee, king salmon, and lake trout. What trolling speed does Big Nate recommend at Berryessa?A specific trolling speed was not specified in this report. Who guides Lake Berryessa for Catch America?Capt. Nate Kelsch, known as Big Nate, of Big Nate's Guide Service. Shop the Tackle T-Pex Kokanee & Trout Lure Trolling Dodger 6 inch Hawken Simon Hot Tails Chrome Killer Corn Cure Shop Big Nate's Tackle Shop Kokanee Gear
Learn moreLake Roosevelt Fishing Report | February 2026
Report by Capt. Austin Moser Austin Moser guides big-trout and kokanee trips across Washington waters including Rufus Woods and Lake Roosevelt for Catch America. Shop Austin Moser's tackle. What is working right now Winter fishing with Capt. Austin Moser split two Washington waters in February 2026. Rufus Woods gave up giant triploid and wild redband rainbows up to 10 pounds on jigs tipped with a trimmed Trix Minnow. On Lake Roosevelt, troll T-Pexes in gold and orange and Hawken Hot Tails behind planer boards for kokanee and triploids, sweetened with pink corn and Trophy Kokanee scent. What is biting on Rufus Woods in winter?Big triploid rainbows and wild redband rainbows are the prize on Rufus Woods. In brutal 17-degree, snowy conditions, the crew jigged up a 10-pound redband, a landlocked steelhead native to the water. Austin adds a trimmed Trix Minnow to his jig for extra attraction, since the fish bite it hard. What lures work for Lake Roosevelt kokanee and trout?Troll T-Pexes from Catch America, especially the gold and orange color, which got bit repeatedly. Hawken Hot Tails rigged with a fly or beads also produced. Roosevelt is known for big kokanee, with triploid rainbows as steady by-catch. Adjust the T-Pex bead spacing to tune the action. How do you sweeten baits on Lake Roosevelt?Austin runs pink-dyed corn tipped with a Gulp maggot so the bait stays put, then adds his Trophy Kokanee scent, which he developed and Catch America produces. The scent draws kokanee, trout, and even sockeye. The maggot holds the fragile corn in place so you always have bait working. How is Austin rigging planer boards on Lake Roosevelt?He runs planer boards off a tower system with 150 feet of line per side, covering 300 feet of water per pass. Lures go out 130 feet behind the board, clipped on, spaced 20 to 30 feet apart to cut tangles. Line counter reels keep everything dialed in. How tough are the winter conditions up there?Very tough. The crew fished two days in 17-degree cold with non-stop snow and freezing lines, plus wind that dictated how they fished. Austin notes some Februarys are prime, with several fish over 20 pounds landed in past years, but it varies year to year. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Austin Moser): This lake is known for really big kokanee, and we're really hoping to get one today. So, we're going to run these T-Pexes from Catch America. We've been getting a lot of bites on this T-Pex, and that is the gold and orange color. We also got a new scent on the market called Trophy Kokanee, which I developed. Lake Roosevelt February 2026 FAQ What was the biggest fish on Rufus Woods?A 10-pound wild redband rainbow, a native landlocked steelhead, caught on a jig. What T-Pex color worked on Lake Roosevelt?Gold and orange, which got bit repeatedly while trolling. How does Austin add scent for kokanee?Pink-dyed corn with a Gulp maggot to hold it, plus his Trophy Kokanee scent from Catch America. How far behind the planer board does Austin run lures?About 130 feet behind the board, spaced 20 to 30 feet apart to reduce tangles. Is Lake Roosevelt good for kokanee?Yes, it is known for really big kokanee, with triploid rainbows as steady by-catch. Is February prime time on these Washington waters?It varies. Some Februarys are excellent with fish over 20 pounds, but conditions change year to year. What did Austin tip his jig with on Rufus Woods?A trimmed Trix Minnow from Catch America, cut down so fish still reach the hook. Shop the Tackle T-Pex Kokanee & Trout Lure Hawken Simon Hot Tails Trix Minnows 5 Pack Trophy Kokanee UV Scent Shop Austin Moser's Tackle Shop Kokanee Gear
Learn moreLake Berryessa Fishing Report | October 6, 2025
Report by Capt. Nate Kelsch Nate Kelsch, known as Big Nate, runs Big Nate's Guide Service on Lake Berryessa and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Nate Kelsch's tackle. What is working right now Lake Berryessa is on fire for big kokanee and king salmon in early October 2025. Nate Kelsch landed three limits by 10:30 with T-Pex lures behind 6-inch offset dodgers, his Chrome Killer Corn, and the new Big Nate's Kokanee & Trout Rod. Everything came from 50 to 87 feet chasing marks. These are some of the biggest kokanee in the state right now. What is biting at Lake Berryessa right now?Big kokanee and king salmon, and the bite is not slowing down. Nate Kelsch got three limits by 10:30 in the morning, with one, two, and three-year fish of excellent quality, including some of the biggest kokanee in the state and a big king. What depth are the Berryessa kokanee holding?Everything Nate Kelsch caught came from between 50 and 87 feet, chasing marks. Watch your electronics and put the gear right on the fish rather than fishing one set depth. What lures and colors are working at Lake Berryessa?Run a T-Pex behind a 6-inch offset dodgers with Chrome Killer Corn on the hooks. Nate Kelsch has used this same program for months and it keeps wrecking the fish. Specific colors were not specified in this report. What rod is Nate Kelsch using at Berryessa?The new Big Nate's Kokanee & Trout Rod, a trout, kokanee, and king salmon trolling rod. He pairs it with the T-Pex, offset dodger, and Chrome Killer Corn setup and says everything worked flawlessly. What else is working at Lake Berryessa?Beyond the kokanee program, Trigger Spoons and Junior Trigger Spoons are producing right now, and Nate Kelsch has kits built around them. Trolling speed was not specified in this report. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Nate Kelsch): Big kokanee, big king salmon. Just really excellent quality on the fish. The T-Pex is wrecking all the fish for us, right behind the offset dodgers, my Chrome Killer corn, and the brand new Big Nate's trout, kokanee, king salmon trolling rod. We went out today, we got three limits by 10:30 this morning. Everything we caught today was between 50 and 87 feet, chasing marks. Lake Berryessa October 6, 2025 FAQ How good is the Lake Berryessa kokanee bite in October 2025?Excellent. Nate Kelsch got three limits by 10:30 in the morning with some of the biggest kokanee in the state. What depth are the Berryessa fish at?Between 50 and 87 feet, chasing marks. What is the top lure at Lake Berryessa right now?The T-Pex behind an offset dodger with Chrome Killer Corn. What rod does Big Nate recommend for Berryessa?His new Big Nate's Kokanee & Trout Rod, a trout, kokanee, and king salmon trolling rod. Are king salmon biting at Lake Berryessa?Yes, big kings are in the mix along with the kokanee, all on the same setup. What is working besides the kokanee gear?Trigger Spoons and Junior Trigger Spoons are producing, and Nate Kelsch has kits built around them. Shop the Tackle T-Pex 1 inch - Kokanee & Trout Lure Trolling Dodger 6 inch Chrome Killer Corn Cure by Big Nate Big Nate's Kokanee & Trout Rod Trigger Spoon 2.25 inch Junior Trigger Spoon 1.25 inch Shop Big Nate's Tackle Shop Kokanee Gear
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