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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 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 Berryessa Fishing Report | December 4, 2025
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. Cal Kellogg joined him for this soft plastic test. Shop Nate Kelsch (Big Nate)'s tackle. What is working right now The soft plastic bite is popping at Lake Berryessa in December 2025. Capt. Nate Kelsch and Cal Kellogg trolled Trout Trix Minnows, the new Trix Minnow XL, and Trix Worms, with a couple of Trigger Spoons out too. About 17 to 20 hookups on big Eagle Lake strain rainbows through a foggy morning. What is biting at Lake Berryessa right now?Big rainbow trout, including chunky Eagle Lake strain fish, are piling up on soft plastics. Capt. Nate Kelsch reported 17 to 20 hookups and steady action, with several large fish landed. Nate came out skeptical of the plastics and left smacking them all morning.What lures are working at Lake Berryessa in December?Trolled soft plastics are the story: Trout Trix Minnows in regular and shad or minnow colors, a chartreuse minnow, the new Trix Minnow XL, and a pink Trix Worm. A couple of Trigger Spoons were also in the spread.What depth were the fish holding at Lake Berryessa?Nate ran the soft plastics on downriggers to reach the trout. A specific depth was not specified in this report. The morning started slow behind a solid wall of fog before the plastic bite turned on and the fish stacked up.How is Nate presenting the soft plastics?Slow-troll the soft plastic minnows and worms behind the boat on downriggers. Nate notes the hook loops around the fish's lower jaw so they do not get away. He ran new prototypes alongside older Trix Minnows and worms and caught fish on all of them.What is the outlook for Lake Berryessa?Nate says the soft plastic game has changed things at Berryessa, with big fish and steady action. Cal Kellogg notes soft plastics work worldwide because they look and feel real. The bite was popping loose the day of this report, with the lake producing well.Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Nate Kelsch (Big Nate)): We just put in some Trout Trix Minnow, just a regular size one, and then we put in one of our new ones, slightly larger, different colorations. We also have a couple of Trigger Spoons out. We got about 17 to 20 hookups already. Not just a couple fish. We got big fish. The soft plastic bite is popping loose here at Berryessa.Lake Berryessa December 4, 2025 FAQWhat are the best baits for Lake Berryessa trout in December?Trolled soft plastics: Trout Trix Minnows, the Trix Minnow XL, and Trix Worms, plus a couple of Trigger Spoons.What colors worked at Lake Berryessa?A shad or minnow pattern, a chartreuse minnow, and a pink worm all produced fish in this report.How many fish did they catch at Lake Berryessa?Roughly 17 to 20 hookups on the day, including several big Eagle Lake strain rainbows.What depth were the trout at Lake Berryessa?A specific depth was not specified in this report. The soft plastics were run on downriggers.Do soft plastics catch trout while trolling?Yes. Nate started skeptical and ended up smacking big trout on Trout Trix minnows and worms. Cal Kellogg notes soft plastics look and feel real, so fish grab and hold on.Who guides Lake Berryessa for Catch America?Capt. Nate Kelsch (Big Nate) of Big Nate's Guide Service, out with Cal Kellogg for this trip. Shop the Tackle Trix Minnows 3 inch - Trout Soft Bait - 5 Pack Trix Minnow XL 4 inch - Trout Soft Bait - 5 Pack Trix Worms 3 inch - Trout Soft Bait - 5 Pack Trigger Spoon 2.25 inch - Trout & Landlocked Salmon Shop Big Nate's Tackle Shop Trout Gear
Learn moreLake Berryessa Fishing Report | December 2025
Report by Capt. Nate Kelsch (Big Nate) Nate Kelsch runs Big Nate's Guide Service and is a Catch America pro-staff captain, fishing here alongside Cal Kellogg. Shop Nate Kelsch (Big Nate)'s tackle. What is working right now Lake Berryessa is producing big trout on soft plastics. Capt. Nate Kelsch and Cal Kellogg ran Trout Trix Minnows, the larger Trix Minnow XL, and Trout Trix Worms in shad, chartreuse, purple, and pink, plus a couple of Trigger Spoons. They stuck 17 to 20 hookups including hefty Eagle Lake trout, with the soft plastics hooking fish cleanly in the jaw. What is biting at Lake Berryessa right now?Big rainbow and Eagle Lake trout, piling up on soft plastics. Capt. Nate Kelsch, out with Cal Kellogg, said the soft-plastic bite is popping loose at Berryessa. They had 17 to 20 hookups on the day, including several big fish, after a slow, foggy run out. What lures are working at Lake Berryessa?Soft plastics. They ran regular Trout Trix Minnows, the larger Trix Minnow XL, and Trout Trix Worms, plus a couple of Trigger Spoons. Real shad and minnow looks, a chartreuse, a purple minnow, and a pink worm all produced fish. Why do soft plastics work so well at Berryessa?Like bass on soft plastics, trout grab a bait that looks and feels real and hang on. The Trout Trix Minnows and worms loop around the lower jaw and hook fish so they are not getting away. Nate got fish on every style they tried. How were they fishing at Lake Berryessa?They ran the soft plastics on the troll, including off a downrigger, after a slow run through a solid wall of fog. A mix of the older Trix Minnow and worm styles and newer prototypes all got bit. Exact depths and trolling speed were not specified in this report. What is the outlook for Lake Berryessa?The soft-plastic trout bite is strong at Berryessa and Nate expects it to keep producing big fish. Cal notes these baits work all over the world, and Berryessa is proving it. Run the Trout Trix series to catch more and bigger fish. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Nate Kelsch (Big Nate)): We just put in some Trout Trix Minnow, a regular size one, and one of our new ones, slightly larger. We have a real shad, minnowy-looking one out, and a chartreuse. We also have a couple of Trigger Spoons out. We got big fish, we got about 17 to 20 hookups already. That's a big old Eagle Lake trout on the Trix Minnow. Lake Berryessa December 2025 FAQ What is the best lure at Lake Berryessa right now?Soft plastics, including Trout Trix Minnows, the Trix Minnow XL, and Trout Trix Worms, plus Trigger Spoons. What colors are working at Berryessa?Shad and minnow patterns, chartreuse, a purple minnow, and a pink worm all caught fish. How many fish did they catch?About 17 to 20 hookups, including several big fish. What species were caught at Berryessa?Big rainbow trout and hefty Eagle Lake trout. Why do soft plastics hook trout well?They loop around the lower jaw and hold, and fish grab the realistic bait and hang on. Who guided this Lake Berryessa report?Capt. Nate Kelsch (Big Nate) alongside Cal Kellogg for Catch America. Shop the Tackle Trix Minnows Trix Minnow XL Trix Worms Trigger Spoon Shop Big Nate's Tackle Shop Trout 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
Learn morePyramid Lake Fishing Report | October 2025
Report by Capt. Nate Kelsch (Big Nate) Nate Kelsch runs Big Nate's Guide Service and makes an annual first-week-of-October trip to Pyramid Lake. He is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Nate Kelsch (Big Nate)'s tackle. What is working right now Pyramid Lake was on fire for the October 2025 opener. Capt. Nate Kelsch and crew put 105 Lahontan cutthroat trout in the boat, with 20-plus fish in the teens and some to 23 pounds. They vertical-jigged 1 to 3 ounce P-Line Laser Minnows and Sierra Spoons over fish stacked from 40 to 80 feet. Use the new Big Nate rod for the fight. How is the fishing at Pyramid Lake right now?Lights out. Nate reported 70 to 90 fish a day, and the best day hit 105 Lahontan cutthroat to the boat in five to six hours. Quality was incredible, with 20-plus fish in the teens and up to 23 pounds. Nate called it his best day in 20 years. What depth are the fish holding at Pyramid Lake?The cutthroat were stacked from 40 to 80 feet, with marks littering the graph from 50 down to about 80 feet inside bait balls. Pull up over the top of active fish and drop your jig into that zone to stay on them. What lures work at Pyramid Lake?Nate jigged 1 to 3 ounce P-Line Laser Minnows in Wonderbread and Sierra Spoons, plus triple-style jigs built for vertical presentations. These are competitor jigging spoons and minnows, not Catch America products, but they hammered the stacked cutthroat all day. How do you jig for Pyramid Lake cutthroat?Pull up over the top of the fish, drop the jig to the right zone, and let it flutter down. The fish usually hit on the flutter on the way down, then you lift and let it flutter again. All barbless hooks, no scent, staying right on top of the bait balls. What rod is Nate using at Pyramid Lake?The brand new Big Nate Catch America Kokanee and Trout Trolling Rod. Nate fought fish on it all day and showed off how deep it bends into these heavy cutthroat. It was his favorite rod of the trip. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Nate Kelsch (Big Nate)): We are jigging for these fish. We're using anything from 1 ounce to 3 ounce P-Line Laser Minnows, Sierra spoons. We're pulling up over the top of these fish, dropping, letting it flutter down. Generally, these fish are going to hit on the flutter on the way down. We ended our day with 105 fish to the boat. Pyramid Lake October 2025 FAQ What depth are the cutthroat at Pyramid Lake?Stacked from 40 to 80 feet, with marks from 50 down to about 80 feet inside bait balls. What technique works at Pyramid Lake?Vertical jigging. Pull up over the fish, drop the jig, and let it flutter down. The fish hit on the fall. What color was best at Pyramid Lake?A Wonderbread P-Line Laser Minnow accounted for fish in this report. What is the keeper limit at Pyramid Lake?Two fish per day: two from 17 to 20 inches, or one from 17 to 20 inches and one over 24 inches. Do you use scent at Pyramid Lake?No. Nate fished barbless hooks with no scent, relying on the jigs and vertical presentation. How big do the fish get at Pyramid Lake?Nate landed 20-plus fish in the teens and up to 23 pounds on this trip, calling it his best day in 20 years. Who guides Pyramid Lake for Catch America?Capt. Nate Kelsch (Big Nate) of Big Nate's Guide Service. Shop the Tackle Big Nate's Kokanee & Trout Rod Shop Big Nate's Tackle Shop Trout Gear
Learn moreLake Berryessa Fishing Report | September 22, 2025
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 Lake Berryessa is fishing great in late September 2025 with big king salmon and monster kokanee near 19 to 20 inches. The number-one setup is a Catch America offset dodger with a T-Pex tipped with Chrome Killer corn. Capt. Nate Kelsch caught fish from 50 feet down to 88 feet, chasing marks to finish the day. What is biting at Lake Berryessa right now?Big king salmon and monster kokanee. Capt. Nate Kelsch put clients Jim and Burt on big kings and kokanee he estimated near 19 to 20 inches. The fishing is great, and Nate finished the day by chasing individual marks and boating two fish back to back. What is the best setup for Berryessa right now?By far the number-one performer is a Catch America offset dodger with a T-Pex tipped with Chrome Killer corn. Nate says that recipe has been the top setup not only at Berryessa but across California and the nation. How deep are Berryessa fish holding in September?Nate caught fish from 50 feet down to about 88 feet, his deepest of the day. He chased marks late, dropping the dodger and T-Pex down onto individual fish and hooking them, then turning around to catch another. How do you tip a T-Pex for Berryessa kokanee?Tip the T-Pex with Chrome Killer corn behind the offset dodger. Nate points to his numerous videos for the full recipe. It has been the number-one kokanee and king setup on the lake. What is the outlook for Lake Berryessa?Berryessa remains fantastic. Nate noted that offset dodgers, T-Pexes, spinner hoochies, Trigger Spoon packages, and Chrome Killer scent were coming back in stock. Kokanee and kings should keep producing on the proven dodger and T-Pex program. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Nate Kelsch (Big Nate)): We got big king salmon, monster kokes, just big, big fish. Those kokanee are probably 19s, maybe close to 20s. You already know what they came on, Catch America offset dodgers with T-Pex was by far the number one performing setup, tipped with the Chrome Killer corn. We caught fish today from 50 feet down to, I think, our deepest fish was 88 feet. Lake Berryessa September 22, 2025 FAQ What is biting at Lake Berryessa in late September?Big king salmon and monster kokanee near 19 to 20 inches. What is the top Berryessa setup right now?A Catch America offset dodger with a T-Pex tipped with Chrome Killer corn. How deep are Berryessa fish in September?From 50 feet down to about 88 feet. How big are the Berryessa kokanee?Nate estimated them near 19 to 20 inches. What do you tip the T-Pex with?Chrome Killer corn for the number-one kokanee and king recipe. Is Berryessa still fishing well in fall?Yes. Nate calls it fantastic and expects it to continue. Shop the Tackle Trolling Dodger 6 inch T-Pex Kokanee & Trout Lure Chrome Killer Corn Cure Shop Big Nate's Tackle Shop Kokanee Gear
Learn moreLake Berryessa Fishing Report | September 15, 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 was incredible in mid-September 2025, with big kings and monster kokanee coming from 45 to 110 feet. Nate Kelsch runs his Big Nate's Kokanee & Trout Rod paired with 6-inch offset dodgers, T-Pex lures, and Chrome Killer Corn. Chase marks through the column and put the gear right on the fish. It is the same Berryessa kokanee kit he uses every single trip. What is biting at Lake Berryessa right now?Big king salmon and monster kokanee. Nate Kelsch had returning clients put a hurting on them, with donkey-sized kings and kokes. He calls the bite incredible, so it is game on for the Berryessa kokanee and king program. What depth are the Berryessa fish holding?Everything came from 45 to 110 feet. Nate Kelsch chased marks all morning through that band rather than fishing one depth, so watch your electronics and put the gear on the fish. What lures and colors are working at Lake Berryessa?His Berryessa kokanee kit: 6-inch offset dodgers ahead of T-Pex lures with Chrome Killer Corn on the hooks. Nate Kelsch has preached this setup for months and uses it every single trip. Specific colors were not specified in this report. What rod and reels is Nate Kelsch using?His new Big Nate's Kokanee & Trout Rod, built with custom carbon fiber and Fuji ceramic guides. He pairs it with an Okuma Coldwater Convector or Shimano Tekota reel, which are not carried by Catch America. How is the trout bite at nearby Lake Camanche?It fell off almost completely, dropping to two or three bites for six guys on the long-leader PowerBait program. Warm-water species like crappie, catfish, panfish, and bass are still available there and at Amador and Pardee. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Nate Kelsch): Big kings, monster kokes, guys, monster kokes. Today I really unveiled the brand-new Big Nate's Guide Service and Catch America trout trolling rod. That, mixed with the stuff from my Berryessa Kokanee kit: 6-inch offset dodgers and T-Pexes with the Chrome Killer corn. We caught everything today from 45 feet all the way down to 110. We chased marks all morning long, and the bite's incredible. Lake Berryessa September 15, 2025 FAQ What is biting at Lake Berryessa in mid-September 2025?Big king salmon and monster kokanee, per Nate Kelsch. What depth are the Berryessa fish holding?From 45 to 110 feet, chasing marks. What is the best kokanee setup at Lake Berryessa?A 6-inch offset dodger ahead of a T-Pex with Chrome Killer Corn. What rod does Big Nate use at Berryessa?His new Big Nate's Kokanee & Trout Rod with custom carbon fiber and Fuji ceramic guides. How is the trout bite at Lake Camanche?It fell off almost completely, down to two or three bites for six anglers on PowerBait and long leaders. What is biting at Amador and Pardee?Warm-water species. Use Senkos, rip baits, or topwater, plus live minnows where allowed at Amador, and squid, anchovies, or chicken liver for catfish. Shop the Tackle Big Nate's Kokanee & Trout Rod Trolling Dodger 6 inch T-Pex 1 inch - Kokanee & Trout Lure Chrome Killer Corn Cure by Big Nate Shop Big Nate's Tackle Shop Kokanee Gear
Learn moreLake Berryessa Fishing Report | September 8, 2025
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 rainbows are still biting at Lake Berryessa in early September 2025, holding anywhere from 45 to 92 feet. Capt. Nate Kelsch is slow-trolling a 6-inch gold dodger ahead of a T-Pex tipped with Chrome Killer Corn. Berryessa is the top kokanee lake going, with big fat cokes still in play. What is biting at Lake Berryessa right now?Kokanee are still eating and running big, with king salmon and rainbow trout mixed in. Capt. Nate Kelsch reported nice big fat cokes plus kings and a nice rainbow this week in cool, breezy conditions with a little rain. He calls Berryessa the top dog for kokanee this size.What depth are the fish holding at Lake Berryessa in September?Fish anywhere from 45 feet down to 92 feet, chasing marks through that band. Nate was working the whole column and picking off kokanee, kings, and trout rather than committing to one set depth. Watch your electronics and drop to the marks.What lures and colors are working at Lake Berryessa?The constant is a Catch America 6-inch gold dodger, which took the lead and caught most of the fish, followed by a T-Pex. Tip everything with Chrome Killer Corn, which Nate has been preaching about for months.How is Nate rigging and presenting at Lake Berryessa?Slow-troll a 6-inch gold dodger ahead of a T-Pex, tipped with Chrome Killer Corn. These setups have been working for months and keep producing. Nate says the corn gives you a good chance at just about anything that swims in this lake.What is the outlook for Lake Berryessa?The kokanee bite is not over. Nate has been on fire and expects it to continue, with October and November trip dates filling fast. He also released his signature Kokanee and Trout Rod, limited to 100 units.Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Nate Kelsch (Big Nate)): We were fishing anywhere today from 45 feet and chasing marks all the way down to 92 feet. The tackle is the one thing that remains constant: our Catch America 6-inch gold dodgers, followed with our T-Pex. Tip them with Chrome Killer corn, and you have a good chance of catching just about anything that swims in this lake.Lake Berryessa September 8, 2025 FAQWhat depth are kokanee holding at Lake Berryessa in September?From 45 feet down to 92 feet, chasing marks through the column. Cover that band and drop to the fish you see on your electronics.What is the best kokanee setup for Lake Berryessa?A 6-inch gold dodger ahead of a T-Pex, tipped with Chrome Killer Corn.What species are biting at Lake Berryessa?Kokanee running big, king salmon, and rainbow trout.How are Camanche, Amador, and Pardee fishing?Camanche slowed this past week; best bet is near the river channel. Amador and Pardee have no trout plants yet, so target warm-water species like bass and crappie.What bait tips the lures at Lake Berryessa?Chrome Killer Corn. Nate has been preaching about it for months and says if you are not using it, you are missing out.Who guides Lake Berryessa for Catch America?Capt. Nate Kelsch (Big Nate) of Big Nate's Guide Service. Shop the Tackle Trolling Dodger 6 inch - Kokanee & Trout T-Pex 1 inch - Kokanee & Trout Trolling Lure Chrome Killer Corn Cure by Big Nate Big Nate's Kokanee & Trout Rod Shop Big Nate's Tackle Shop Kokanee Gear
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