B-n-T Berryessa Tourney Report

I've been waiting for the pix to be posted on the B-n-T site, but will post the report in the meantime...

Friday 3/23 – Prefish
Started in the back of Capell Cove and worked out to the launch.  Could only scrounge up 1 non-keeper on a Senko.  My guess is there was not enough deep-water access back there…or I'm a lousy fisherman!

Saturday 3/23 – Tourney Day 1
Since I had a dismal prefish, I didn’t know where to start.  I pedaled over to Capell and started working out towards the main lake with a crankbait.  Couldn’t get anything going, so I switched to a dropshot to work some points.  Flipped it up into shallow water and the line started moving off.  Set on a barely keeper smallie -- #1 in the well!  Started going down the bank fishing a lot shallower than I had the day before and had a few more small fish in the well by 9AM.  Bite tailed off, so I decided to change locations and found a long sloping point that I worked over pretty good with a Carolina-rigged lizard – culled out all my smaller fish, but only upgraded by ounces.  The wind picked up so I picked up the blade (bassmaster slang for a spinnerbait) ‘cuz I wanted to see if the shallow fish would hit this under the right conditions.  They did.  Weighed in around 7-1/2#’s, probably left me in about 7th place for the day (I’m guessing?)  Went to bed praying for wind and overcast to throw the sight-fishers off their game…

Sunday 3/24 – Tourney Day 2
God was good to me today -- darkness faded to reveal prayers answered!  Overcast and blustery, perfect for bladin’!  Went down the bank hitting every tree, rockpile, and point.  Had a decent limit and culling by 7:30.  Must have caught 3 limits on the blade.  Sun came out and the bite slowed down.  Went back to the trusty C-rig and started hitting the points.  Saved my best point for last and picked up a 2# smallie.  Weighed in almost 8-1/2#’s, total of 15.9#’s or something like that, good for 2nd place.  My best (most fun) day of fishing in a long time – those fish were just slamming the blade and almost every one of them jumped a couple of times during the fight! 

Way to Go Gordon!!! Nice haul there!! Congrats!!!
 

Nice job!!!   Way to think that one out..... Want to give out yor magic colors on your " Blade "?....Danglin

As far as I'm concerned, you only need 1 color for spinnerbaits...chartreuse/white (wait, that's 2 colors?)     As far as blades, I like to mix one silver & one gold (usually the 1st, smaller blade).  Unless, of course, you're fishing at night, and then you only need 1 color -- black/red (shoot, that's 2 colors too!) 

Ya, i'm with ya on that, this time a year and late fall a red "Blade" can do too,  I

've got to get up there, Good Job again!!!!

Where is a good place to camp up there, perferably right on the water. I've tried pleasure cove, so so.............Danglin

Way to go Gordon!

Congrats on the TWO SPOT Gordon!! and thanks for the Blade details too.
I need to apply that wind / spinnerbait pattern the next time i start to get blown-off the water.

Hey Danglin,
It's been well over a decade now, but I used to camp at Putha Creek campground. It's right on the water. Great smallmouthin around the bridge area, and there are some small islands out there that used to be pretty good. Up the creek is good also.

And way to go Gordy!!! Once the fish are on the blades it can be a blast for sure. Fast and furious...

I've only stayed at a few places up there:

Spanish Flat - Waterfront campsites, but expensive
Steele Park - No tent camping (must be self-contained)
Wragg Canyon - Waterfront camping, more reasonable than Spanish Flat(?)

I haven't stayed at Oak Shores(?), I think there is a public campground there. 

Sweet report. I have hit those same spots many times. Love it up there.
Jason