MARCH MADNESS - FOR ANGLER'S...STARTS THIS WEEKEND!!
Forget about basketball ...the "madness" we are referring to has to do with springtime fishing in one of the most prolific and fertile lakes in northern California, as this weekend will see 150 of the best amateur-level anglers in the west, converge on Lake Berryessa - "the jewel of the Napa Valley", for BIG CASH and claims to the 1st-ever FPT Top-75 Western Tour crown!
Pleasure Cove Marina will be ground zero for this inaugural Tour, and as of press time, all cabins and most campsites are fully booked.
The number one question in most participants mind however is: will this weeks "warming trend" cause a significant pre-spawn migration and create the early spring "slug-fest" this event has been know to produce over the past 20-plus years?
Last year's Berryessa event, held at this same time of year, produced these monsters!
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Honestly, this ones way too close to call, but you can best believe that SOMEONE will tap into a pattern that will earn them a GUARANTEED $5,000 1st place cash prize, and the very first FPT Top-75 Western Tour trophy! Stay Tuned...this is gonna be a good one! |
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Berryessa Breakdown - For "First Timers"
The FPT is - and will always be, a place where anglers have an opportunity to enhance their bass fishing IQ's. To this end, we asked one of Lake Berryessa's top guides - Don Paganelli of "Paganelli's Outdoor Experience", to shed light on some of the lakes most productive areas, to help those unfamiliar with the lake find success on the water. Don wrote: "Lake Berryessa has 2 main areas, The Narrows and the Main Body. The Narrows fishes like a canyon lake with small coves that stretch out on ether side. Spotted Bass and Smallmouth love these steeper areas this time of year as they are the first to spawn. As you move back into some of the coves like Portuguese and Little Portuguese to shallower water, you will find Largemouth moving up to find spawning locations. The Main Body of this lake offers many types of structure from rocky points to flooded willows, sharp drop offs and large flats. The East side of the upper end of the lake often called the Vineyard area is very flat with flooded willows and and small submerged humps creating great spawning habitat this time of year and where most of the bigger Largemouth seem to show up. Don't forget the 2 creeks that pour into the lake, Pope Creek and Putah Creek. These can can offer some great smallmouth and Largemouth fishing with Putah Creek being the longest and having a lot of old standing timber. In the middle of the Main Body you have Big Island. Many go behind and fish the shallow water for Largemouth and is restricted to electric trolling motors only. The lake is at full pool for the most part just inches from going over the spillway(Glory Hole). My choice in tackle: St Croix Legend Finesse/spinning rods, and SevIIn reels. Good luck Guys! If you are trying to learn northern California waters, or preparing for events - in any circuit, you can book a day with Don via his guide service: by clicking on the link below:
Paganelli's Bass Fishing Experience
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