I've fished the Berryessa tourney for 3 years in a row now and I've never seen a smallie or spot over 3 pounds. I don't think we've even had a largemouth over 4 yet.
What's up with that? Anybody have the scoop on Berryessa?
It seems that lake needs a slot limit or something.

Lake Sonoma has the same problem. But the largemouth population is healthy.

There are decent smallies in Berryessa (I'm not sure how many would go over 3#s). A spot over 3#s is a trophy in almost any lake out here (think Shasta, Oroville, McClure, Naci, etc.) Only Pine Flat seems to kick out bigger spots on a regular basis. As far as largemouth, a guy in a Bass Classics club March tourney (a year or two ago) got a 12# and the same day another fisherman landed a 17# (I've seen the pictures for both fish). So they are in there, but they aren't easy to catch...

the godfather

I had a bigun on (a largemouth, I'm guessing) at Berryessa last year up in Capell Cove, on a crankbait, but she ran me into the trees & got off. I figure she had to be at least 5 lbs., maybe bigger, but I never got her close to the boat.

The largies are out there, for sure; just ask 'Fish Chris' on TrophyBassOnly.com! They seem to be pretty few & far between, however -- at least as far as them being CAUGHT!

As for the smallies, well, I'd bet there are some trophy-sized ones out there, too, but you're right, you never seem to hear much about any being pulled out of this particular lake. Not like I've caught up at Shasta, for instance, where I've yanked a couple out over 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 lbs.

- jeff

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Every day Congress convenes, we lose a little more of our LIBERTY!!!

(-- Mark Levin, radio-show host/KSFO 3-6pm)

I caught a four pound spot last year there on a big deep diving rainbow trout crank bait. Too bad I don't have a scanner or i'd post the photo. I caught it near putah creek.
peace,
C.B.

C.B

This year the smallest smallie I've heard of is 1 1/2lbs and while prefishing I got two 2 1/2 lbs. each. In the past yes, it seemed difficult for bigger smallies but they seem to be doing better. Still looking forward to my first 3lb+ smallie!

Todd

I think Sonoma is gonna get much better in the years to come.
The lake has new and more and more grass beds growing and rumor has it there are gizzard shad in the lake. There are threadfin shad and golden shiners too. And it's got trout. Lots of 'em! It's still a young lake. About 20 years or so I think. It reminds me of the San Diego lakes in the early 80's.

Of course Naci is worse, right?

I only mean about size of the fish being small. "Worse" was a poor choice of words.

Since you're down here now you should chek out the quarry lakes in fremont.Ive got quite a few over 3 lbs and my biggest smalie went5.6!
These little lakes don't look like much but have BIG smallies and some good lm as well.I went saturday morning for a couple hours and got 2 fish over 4 lbs and a couple smaller ones(all largemouth)I also had one spit my jig that looked like it would've gone 10 plus.Hit me up if ya want to try them as they are down the street from my house.
Swampy

So I gotta wonder why the quarry lakes can put out so many big smallies while so many other lakes in CA can't. I mean there must be an extrordinary population of crawdads in there. More per acre than on the larger reservoirs.
It'd be interesting to drop a crawdad trap down there and see how many you get compared to Berryessa or Sonoma. I suppose it could be water temp too. Maybe the temps there are just right for growing them big. And that makes me wonder all the more about Crystal Springs! I'll bet that place has some HUGE smallmouth in it.

I'm gonna have to come down and fish those quarries some day. I've been itchin' to catch a big smallie.