Berryessa report Wednesday 7/17

The lake is still 5 feet from full in mid July. Surface temperature is pretty warm at 80° or more. Launched at 6:30 and had two bass and two trout by 9 AM. After two bass and one trout, I switched to Kokanee and thought I had the biggest Kokanee ever, but it turned out to be a 23 inch trout. it felt like a Kokanee. After 2 more hours of trying for Kokes with no bites, I called it a day.

23"! Now that's a salmonoid.


Sure looks nicer than what I'm doing today, thanks for the report Joe!

what a beauty of a trout Joe! 

Also got an 18” smally and saw 2 Bald Eagles   

Nice work, Joe, thanks for the report on the Berry. 

Norm

Thanks for the report and pictures Joe.

Second one looks so small is it about 10"?

And are these Eagle Lake trout, hows the meat and flavor?

Nice work Joe!  23" is a chonk!

Smittle Creek launch again?  Thinking of heading out there tomorrow.

Second one looks so small is it about 10"?

And are these Eagle Lake trout, hows the meat and flavor?

The small one is 13"-14". The big one is the size of a small ocean salmon.
The meat is orange-red and they don't taste as good as salmon or kokanee, but they are pretty good trout.
Most of my salmonids get the soy/brown sugar/ginger/garlic (maybe smoked paprika) treatment. Baked at 375 on foil.  Maybe someday I'll get a smoker.
The smaller ones can vary in fight and flesh color - probably some have been in the lake longer than others.

Smittle Creek launch again?  Thinking of heading out there tomorrow.

Yes. It still works since the water is not down much. It's gonna be hotter tomorrow. I would try to get on the water at 6 and be done by 10:30.
These were at 40' and 60'.
The surface temp is so warm, they wont' keep on a stringer. I brought a kill bag with ice packs.

Wow, thanks for the report Joe! As one of my closest bodies of water, I really need to start fishing at Berryessa! Smittle Creek launch isn't too far and those eagle trout are looking really nice!

Another impressive Berry report, thanks Joe!

I want to try for Kokanee there — that’s the next frontier for me.
Might go Sunday.