Anglers are still catching and releasing good numbers of black bass at Lake Berryessa, although the bite has tapered off with the chilly weather. Don Paganelli of Paganelli’s Bass Fishing Experience reported the top action on spoons and drop shot rights.
“We caught three fish on spoons and the other dozen fish on drop shot rigs in 25 to 30 feet of water on my last trip to Berryessa,” said Paganeli. “We drop shotted with Robo Worms in Aaron’s Magic with a a chartreuse tail and Morning Dawn with a chartreuse tail off points. We spooned with 1-3/4oz Blade Runner spoons in Morning Dawn.”
“This cold snap will have most lakes turned over and the shad will start to ball up and move deeper. I have been working the main body looking for fish along sharp drops next to points,” he tipped.
Their two biggest fish were smallmouths to 2-1/2 pounds. In addition, they also bagged largemouth and spotted bass.
“We didn’t see any surface activity to indicate the trout and salmon are feeding on shad,” he added.
For rainbow trout and king salmon, shore anglers should fish minnows and nightcrawlers under bobbers in the lake’s coves.
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