Lake Berryessa is a shad lake, so match the baitfish and fish the top 20 feet when the trout are active. Cal Kellogg's day in day out winner is a Trigger Spoon in silver and purple or cop car, run clean and fast at 2.7 to 3 mph. When the bite is tough or glassy, slow to a 6 inch dodger and a shad tube tipped with anchovy at 1.5 to 2 mph. Watch the birds. When you find the bait, you find the fish.
What is the best lure for Lake Berryessa trout?
A Trigger Spoon. Silver and purple and cop car dominated Cal's best day there, run clean on a shad lake. Fill out the spread with Junior Trigger Spoons and metal head flies in shatty patterns.
How fast should I troll at Berryessa?
Start fast and aggressive. Run Speed Spoons at 2.7 to 3 mph, especially with a little chop and surface below 65 degrees. If that does not draw strikes, drop to trigger spoons at 2.4 to 2.7, then junior trigger spoons at 1.8 to 2 mph.
How deep are Berryessa trout?
When they are active, the top 20 feet, and Cal caught fish at 17 feet on his best day. In warm mid 70s water the fish drop to 50 to 70 feet, holding just below the bait. Use sonar to find the bait balls and set your gear to them.
What do I do when the Berryessa bite is tough?
Slow way down. Run a 6 inch dodger about two and a half dodger lengths to a shad tube or minnow tube tipped with a piece of anchovy, at 1.5 to 2 mph. The dodger rings the dinner bell and the tube closes the deal.
How do I locate fish at Lake Berryessa?
Watch the birds and find the bait. Cal caught fish in coves and out in open water wherever birds and bait were working. Berryessa is a big lake, so let the surface activity and your sonar put you on the schools.
What colors work at Lake Berryessa?
Silver and purple, cop car, chrome, copper death prism, and blue. Blue is a strong color at Berryessa for all the species there. Keep everything in a shad, baitfish look.
Do I need to start fishing early at Berryessa?
No. Cal knows from experience that the best fishing often happens between 10 am and 3 pm. If you want an early start that is fine, but you do not have to be on the water at first light to score.
Are there big trout in Lake Berryessa?
Yes. These are Eagle Lake strain rainbows that fight like steelhead. Cal landed fish to about five pounds and Big Nate's guide clients land beasts. They have bright red meat and eat great.
Watch the technique
Trolling lake berryessa for rainbow trout FAQ
Yes, a first rate rainbow trout lake with a good number of kings too. The Eagle Lake strain rainbows are hard fighting and good eating.
Threadfin shad. The kings and rainbows make a living eating shad, so match a shad profile in silver, chrome, and blue.
Often 10 am to 3 pm. You do not have to launch at dawn to catch fish there.
Slow down to a 6 inch dodger and a shad tube tipped with anchovy at 1.5 to 2 mph. Tune the dodger action beside the boat before you send it down.
The hump just outside the Narrows, the deep water along the rockslide inside the Narrows, and the cove in front of the dam. They kick out big fish more than big numbers.
When the surface is in the mid 70s, fish 50 to 70 feet, right below the bait. In the cooler shoulder seasons work the top 20 feet.
Yes. They are built for high speed trolling. Run whites and blues that look like a shad and mix them into your fast spread.
Cal runs leadcore for the top of the column, with a line on top, one at 5 feet, and one at 10 feet, then adds depth as needed.
