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20,700-acre reservoir near Napa. Napa County's big blue. Spotted bass on rock, kokanee and trout suspended deep, largemouth in the coves. The lake tops out around 275 ft. The contours come from a model of the real basin shape and its known max depth. Read them as probabilities, not soundings, and keep them out of navigation decisions. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.
Drawn out, this is 18,915 acres of water rimmed by 154.7 miles of bank — 17 islands included. An index of 8 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. About 34% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft on the modeled chart — that's the weed-and-bait zone. Tip to tip the water measures near 20.6 mi with a 6-mi widest point. The water lies in Napa County. The nearest mapped water is Napa River, 26 mi to the south.
Spring puts largemouth bass in skinny water — 2 to 10 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 20 ft, wintering in 15 to 35 ft. Spring largemouth bass concentrate at Shallow bay flat, a prime-rated weed flat around 6 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow flat (10 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Shoreline point (6 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Offshore hump (13 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 45 ft. Rock reef is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for spring smallmouth bass. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (6 ft) | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (13 ft) | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Rock reef (9 ft) | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Offshore hump (13 ft) | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Come spring, look for spotted bass tight to the bank in 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 15 to 40 ft in summer and finish the year down in 25 to 50 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shoreline point: a point around 6 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A drop shot over brush or an underspin + fluke (schoolers) is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoreline point (6 ft) | Ned rig on gravel points, Shaky head |
| Summer | 15 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (13 ft) | Drop shot over brush, Underspin + fluke (schoolers) |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Offshore hump (13 ft) | Walking topwater, Underspin |
| Winter | 25 to 50 ft | midday | open water | Damiki/hover rig, Jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: kokanee in 10 to 30 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 30 to 70 ft before dropping to 20 to 80 ft for winter. The spot to know is Trout Creek inflow, an inflow / creek mouth in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for kokanee in fall. Plan around early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (13 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn | open water | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | Trout Creek inflow (8 ft) | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Offshore hump (13 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 8 to 30 ft; cold water stacks them in 8 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Trout Creek inflow, an inflow / creek mouth in the 8 ft range, prime in spring. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. Throw a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Trout Creek inflow (8 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Trout Creek inflow (8 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (9 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Trout Creek inflow (8 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Spring puts channel catfish in skinny water — 3 to 12 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 25 ft, wintering in 20 to 40 ft. Spring channel catfish concentrate at Trout Creek inflow, a prime-rated inflow / creek mouth around 8 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Trout Creek inflow (8 ft) | |
| Summer | 8 to 25 ft | night & dusk | Trout Creek inflow (8 ft) | |
| Fall | 10 to 30 ft | dusk | open water | |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | open water |
Lake Berryessa also holds crappie (10 to 25 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
The chart marks 16 structure features on Lake Berryessa; the deepest is Deep basin at about 234 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for California waters are set by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Lake Berryessa specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official California fishing regulations →
Lake Berryessa is about 275 ft (84 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, kokanee, rainbow trout, channel catfish, crappie on Lake Berryessa.
Shallow bay flat is the top-rated area: a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For largemouth bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Lake Berryessa is regulated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Check the official California regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Napa River 26 mi · Petaluma River 34 mi · San Pablo Bay 39 mi · Suisun Bay 39 mi · Clear Lake 41 mi · Tomales Bay 47 mi · Bodega Bay 47 mi · American River (Lower) 48 mi · Big Break 50 mi · Richardson Bay 51 mi · Franks Tract 52 mi · Bolinas Bay 53 mi
See how Lake Berryessa stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in California · best smallmouth bass lakes in California · best crappie lakes in California · best channel catfish lakes in California
Browse all California fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.