Lake Berryessa
A deep Bureau of Reclamation reservoir on Putah Creek in eastern Napa County, 23 miles long behind Monticello Dam. It holds both cold-water trout and salmon and warm-water bass, catfish and crappie.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Spotted Bass
Rocky points and banks. Swimbaits and finesse plastics in 15 ft or less in spring.
Largemouth Bass
Coves and brushy flats. Swimbaits and stick baits in natural colors.
Rainbow Trout
Shallow in winter and spring; troll deeper as summer water warms toward 75 degrees.
Kokanee
Troll small dodgers and hoochies in open water in late spring and summer.
Channel Catfish
Shallow coves on warm evenings with cut bait or chicken liver.
Crappie
Submerged brush and docks. Minnows or small jigs.
Boat launches
6 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Markley Cove ResortMarinaConcession on Hwy 128 near the dam with launch ramp and gas dockDirections ↗
- Pleasure Cove MarinaMarinaConcession marina with camping and launchingDirections ↗
- Steele Canyon Recreation AreaFeeConcession area with camping and boat launchingDirections ↗
- Spanish Flat Recreation AreaFeeConcession area with camping and boat launchingDirections ↗
- Putah Canyon Recreation AreaFeeConcession area with camping and boat launchingDirections ↗
- Capell CovePublicReclamation launch. Temporarily closed to launching except by special event permitDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Lake Berryessa are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: California Department of Fish and Wildlife ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.
Search more bait shops near Lake Berryessa ↗Local tips
- All boats must go through Reclamation's golden mussel seal program; plan for inspection and a 30-day quarantine unless you get approved hot-water decontamination.
- Summer surface water can reach about 75 degrees, so trout and kokanee go deep; fish early or troll with downriggers.
- Stay clear of the Monticello Dam spillway area near the dam.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
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Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.