Lake Berryessa Pope Creek Launch Info & San Luis Reservoir Report 5/8

Hey ya'll

Gonna hit up Lake Berryessa in the wee hours of the morning launching from the Pope creek day use area and fishing all around for some bass.

[Edited]

Ended up skipping this trip due to wind and launch issues. Report on San Luis Reservoir striper action included instead.

Good luck out there! Post up a report of how you do. Have you ever launched there before? It’s quite the hike from that parking lot during low water years.

Thanks to the famous Youtubers who blew up that spot and killed the salmon fishery there, the easy path from the parking lot to the water had been blocked by two large boulders. You won’t be able to walk your kayak over them, but you could unpack and hand carry it over the boulders or take the steep hill narrow path. It’s easier to launch from the boat launch a mile further.


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Thanks to the famous Youtubers who blew up that spot and killed the salmon fishery there, the easy path from the parking lot to the water had been blocked by two large boulders. You won’t be able to walk your kayak over them, but you could unpack and hand carry it over the boulders or take the steep hill narrow path. It’s easier to launch from the boat launch a mile further.


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But its important to recognize they got bunch of virtual BJs from strangers on the web.  I'm still not sure why its so difficult to make a decent kayak fishing video without blowing up every spot they fish, just mind blowing.     

Hey ya'll

Gonna hit up Lake Berryessa in the wee hours of the morning launching from the Pope creek day use area and fishing all around for some bass.

If anyone wants to join hmu! I'll be in the sand dune 2019 Outback.

Good luck out there, report back! I was just thinking I need to make a trip up for some bass... Sweeny's in Napa just did a video the other day about bass lures in May to think about using. Wish I could make it out this weekend, I'll have to catch you on the next time out!

Thanks to the famous Youtubers who blew up that spot and killed the salmon fishery there, the easy path from the parking lot to the water had been blocked by two large boulders. You won’t be able to walk your kayak over them, but you could unpack and hand carry it over the boulders or take the steep hill narrow path. It’s easier to launch from the boat launch a mile further.


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Thanks for the heads up. I planned to walk it down from the little turn off right before the lot (attached). I like to get on the water early which I assume means before they open the gates (google says 7:30 am).

Will report back regardless of outcome...

Thanks to the famous Youtubers who blew up that spot and killed the salmon fishery there, the easy path from the parking lot to the water had been blocked by two large boulders. You won’t be able to walk your kayak over them, but you could unpack and hand carry it over the boulders or take the steep hill narrow path. It’s easier to launch from the boat launch a mile further.


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Thanks for the heads up. I planned to walk it down from the little turn off right before the lot (attached). I like to get on the water early which I assume means before they open the gates (google says 7:30 am).

Will report back regardless of outcome...

You won’t make it. That’s more of a cliff than a hill. Also that’s more of just a parking lot than a day use. Not sure I’ve ever seen the gate closed there. Personally I would launch at the campground just north of there. Gates don’t close. Put your money in the iron ranger. Or if targeting bass go out of capell cove which opens at 4am or something like that.

Thanks to the famous Youtubers who blew up that spot and killed the salmon fishery there, the easy path from the parking lot to the water had been blocked by two large boulders. You won’t be able to walk your kayak over them, but you could unpack and hand carry it over the boulders or take the steep hill narrow path. It’s easier to launch from the boat launch a mile further.


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Thanks for the heads up. I planned to walk it down from the little turn off right before the lot (attached). I like to get on the water early which I assume means before they open the gates (google says 7:30 am).

Will report back regardless of outcome...

You won’t make it. That’s more of a cliff than a hill. Also that’s more of just a parking lot than a day use. Not sure I’ve ever seen the gate closed there. Personally I would launch at the campground just north of there. Gates don’t close. Put your money in the iron ranger. Or if targeting bass go out of capell cove which opens at 4am or something like that.

+1. I launched out of there when it was drizzling and it was so sketchy I almost rolled down that cliff. I think it’s $15 to launch out of Putah.

Forecast for the 8th.

Forecast for the 8th.

dang, wind picking up early and not letting go

Forecast for the 8th.

Time to whip out the spinnerbaits 

Might end up cancelling...that's pretty brutal. What site do you use for these forecasts?

That's from the fish weather app. Choose the forecast map and touch the spot you want a forecast for and the forecast for a week is produced. It has other features if you pay for the pro version.

NOAA does a similar forecast. You can choose any spot and bookmark it. This is for Berryessa also.

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?w0=t&w1=td&w2=hi&w3=sfcwind&w3u=1&w4=sky&w5=pop&w6=rh&w7=rain&w8=thunder&w11u=1&w12u=1&AheadHour=45&Submit=Submit&FcstType=digital&textField1=38.5594&textField2=-122.213&site=all&unit=0&dd=&bw=

It's been fairly breezy all week. I am on the other side of the range (Winters/Davis area) and we've had a good northerly breeze most of the week, although today it shifted to a Southerly breeze. There are a few spots you can launch that keep you off the main lake (and a better chance of finding a less windy cove) so I would opt for that.

I have fished Berryessa in the 14-20 mph range - but I never fished it long in that condition  ...

I'm thinking (depending on wind direction) you might find less wind on the Pleasure Cove or Steele Canyon areas (both are pay launches, and offer protective bluffs), perhaps either Pope or Putah arms - if they are not acting as funnels.

I backed out of Berryessa because of wind.

was planning on Clearlake, but that is windy as well.  maybe windier!!  dang it.