Berryessa Friday..I hate that lake!

This is my first picless report EVER!...why? take a guess! 
not even a top or deep, slow-trolled live-minnow worked...a drophot'd worm was good for 2dink LM.
I HATE fishing lakes where there is NO SHORE STRUCTURE......i NEVER find them "deep" or "off the points" either.......in other words.....I DON"T KNOW HOW TO FISH A LAKE!!......I need a tree, bush, tullie or dock!
WHENdoesROCKFISHopen!?


...after comments like this:
Ditto what Spidey said, I don't know who you are anymore!

Here is a pic of what i was hunting for, but could not locate!!

  Sounds like a typical Silly Valley lake to me. 

Bummer Adam. There is some good structure on the west shore and for bass the docks at the marinas hold some big LMB. I also think Berryessa is not my favorite place but for me it is the PB traffic.

Scott

I fished that lake for a long time for nada, then about 20 years ago I rented a guide and got a limit of smallies on live crawdads and I haven't gone fishless there since.
If you're really interested and determined "Lake Beryessa Fishing" by Jim Freeman is an informative guide. It breaks the lake down by species and area (North Lake, South Lake, Putah Creek area, etc.) It's been out of print for decades - anybody out there remember Jim Freeman?

Bummer,

 Guess I was a little impatient with my Pm...

 I like to troll a small rapala out of Markley ( or anywhere ) and drop shot structure, to wit, there is plenty along the east side towards the dam. still a frustrating lake that tends to be very sensitive to pressure changes... and smaller fish..

I've gotten my best fish by finding deep points and using  " Duh Spoon " in Black/white

 and oh ya, building a army of crawdads for next year....

 Was thinking about you out there that day, I decided to build WAF instead...

  looks like a good move, but Man, I need to get out!!!!!!

You could have at least taken "Montezuma finger" pic of the lake! 

why didn't I think of that?!....cuz I was pissed&moping!:smt013
that's WHY! 

Sorry to hear the bite was weak Adam but I have to confess that I found it kind of disturbing that there wasnt any kind of photo documentation.
Are you ok?  Im not sure I know who you are anymore.
You need a trip to the park.

At least I'm not the only one that doesn't really care for Berryessa...   Actually, I have not fished there, but the couple of times I've been by there, I wondered the same thing about where to fish. Not seeing the structure, it didn't look very fishy. I am thinking the easiest catch there is catfish and carp at night if you are into that. For me, I would have to figure out where to fish (WTF) as I have heard of land locked salmon and bass being caught at Putah Creek... Now, IF I can figure out what part of the lake is Putah Creek, I might just be able to catch something    I have to admit, Clear Lake always seemed like a better proposition and easier to fish with more things to do (other than fishing) than Berryessa. Now, once, I stopped by Conn Dam in that same area around (Lake Henessy) and got a good bite on crawdad I trapped there. Too bad I did not hookup as that would have been my first fish on a dad... Throwing the plastic dad is a no-brainer, but I would like to know how you hook-up with the real thing.  Much respect FH....

This report sucks.   

I used to give people a little bit of a hard time for lacking photos in reports - I haven't done it in eons, because at one point it became common knowledge that Abking would want photos - kind of an urban legend type thing, so I backed off.  Then around a year ago or more I had a new general in my little army of 'port-police - I was no longer giving people a hard time about lacking photos - now Adam and a few others were doing it in my name!  I felt like a proud papa    .

Now I'm just shaking my head and holding back a little tear of sadness.  My little general's grown up and become a picless 'porter.  Oh well, they can't stay young and ideal forever...   

(I love you, Man!   )

Really, man...  Not even a sad face next to one of the two dinks you caught?

That's twice as many as I caught this weekend.

When that lake turns over there are some huge trout there.

Ditto what Spidey said, I don't know who you are anymore!

you guys got me feeling worse than I did then.....I *ADDED an old underwater shot of an AOTY '07 smallie, just so i can sleep tonight!

 

I feel your frustration man...smallies are a finicky species for sure! 

If you really get desperate for some small mouth bass AOTY, Bass Pro Shops has a nice looking one in their tank...I'd be willing to create a diversion and throw some fake convulsions with spasms and phony puke so you could net it (nets are isle 5, fishing department, next to the rods) and snap a quickie photo and C&R...

Have a better week...keep trying.  If you are willing to travel to Lake San Antonio between Dec. 24 and 30, they have some nice smallies that bite this time of year.  PM me if you are interested...