Oak Shores and Smittle Creek Day Use Area

Reclamation manages and maintains a contiguous 3 mile stretch of shoreline for public day use activities, encompassing Oak Shores Day Use Park, Smittle Creek Trail, and Smittle Creek Day Use Park. Recreational opportunities include picnicking, swimming, non-motorized boating, hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing and boat mooring for day use (bring your own anchor or stake), among others. Both Day Use Parks offer beautiful views of Lake Berryessa and a wonderful place to enjoy the lake. Summer weekends are busy, so come early to find good parking. Oak Shores and Smittle Creek are patrolled year round by Park Rangers who are available for visitor information and safety.

Entrance is free for both Day Use Parks and all dispersed areas around Lake Berryessa.

Park Hours of Operation:  7:00 a.m. – dusk year around.
(Closing time varies seasonally; see entrance sign for designated closing time).

Facilities available in Oak Shores include picnic tables, charcoal grills, two hand boat launches, ADA accessible restrooms, two designated swim beaches with no boat access, and shade shelters available on a reservation basis (see below). The Entrance Station and Water Education and Information Station are open on summer weekends to find information on recreational opportunities, water safety, conservation, or talk with a Ranger.

Facilities available in Smittle Creek are slightly more challenging to access and are spread out among rolling hills and along Smittle Creek Trail. They include picnic tables, charcoal grills, trails, and ADA accessible restrooms (trails may not be fully accessible to reach the restrooms).

You may bring your own propane or gas grill, but must use park grills for charcoal fires. No wood fires are permitted on Reclamation lands. Please bring cans or plastic and leave glass containers at home. No trailers are permitted inside Oak Shores or Smittle Creek Day Use Parks, so plan accordingly.

Trout and salmon

Trout and salmon, traditionally regarded as cold water fish, are inhabitants of the deep, open waters of Lake Berryessa, and can often reach “trophy” sizes of more than 10 pounds (the average size is 2-4 pounds). These fish are best caught by trolling – dragging a spinner or minnow on a line behind a slow moving boat in open water – a method made easier with the help of a downrigger or fish finder. During the spring, trout and salmon swim at depths around 15-20 feet. In the summer they are generally found below 40 feet.

Another method used to catch trout or salmon is to drift a minnow, nightcrawler, or salmon eggs in open water using a bobber. Shore fishing has proven less successful for these fish, but it is possible during the spring when the water temperatures are still cool. Fly fishing is possible in Upper Putah Creek and is very popular below the dam in Lower Putah Creek. Time, patience, and experience are all necessary to catch these fish. Rainbow trout are the most common trout species; however brown trout and brook trout also exist. Landlocked steelhead are native to the region, and spawn in Upper Putah Creek during the Bass season.

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass

Because of the technique and skill required to catch Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass, and the thrill of hooking a large one, many anglers consider bass to be the ultimate game fish of Lake Berryessa. The largemouth (15 - 20 inches) is slightly larger than the smallmouth (12-18 inches), and both fish spawn in the spring, when they can be found feeding in shallow areas for most of the day.

To fish for bass, it is important to know some basic information about their feeding habits. In the summer, bass generally spend their days and nights resting in deeper water, but they move to shallow warm water to feed in the morning and evening. These areas usually have vegetation or other structures that attract minnows, flies, or other small creatures which bass feed on. In addition, these shallow areas tend to be close to the deep waters where bass rest - therefore, many anglers fish for them along points or steep ridges, and the shallow vegetated areas along the edge. Fishermen often say that rocky points, floating vegetation, docks, or coves filled with trees are prime bass habitats.

Another tricky part about bass fishing is finding the right bait. Every angler seems to have their own belief about the best bass lure. The most popular seem to be floating plugs, spinnerbaits, rattling lures, plastic worms or a simple live worm or minnow. Spinners, buzz baits, jerkbaits, and deep diving crankbaits are equally effective. Whichever bait you use, fishing for bass is sure to be an exciting experience.

Crappie & Panfish

For Crappie use minnows in 10 to 20 feet of water near docks and in coves over brush. Also, try white or yellow jig. Bluegill can be found in the backs of shallow coves all over the lake with meal worms or mini nightcrawlers 5 to 10 feet under a bobber.

Because of Lake Berryessa's size the recreational boaters make use of most of the lake, however anglers still have ample room to enjoy the day making Lake Berryessa a very popular location with up to 1.5 million visiting tourists each year. Anglers enjoy fishing for cold and warm water species, which are rainbow trout, brown trout, bass, salmon, catfish, crappie, bluegill and Sunfish. The lake has most everything an angler needs including good fishing, resorts, rv parks, cabin rentals and campgrounds.

With completely varying terrain from steep, rocky shorelines to low grade sloping meadows, Lake Berryessa is the bass anglers dream. Anglers who like to fish structure can work creek channels, underwater islands, extending points and submerged timber. Those who prefer the visual stimulation of brushy shoreline cover can find plenty of their favorite bass habitat.

While trout fishing is great in the shallows during the cooler months, anglers have to switch to deep water angling in the late spring and summer months. Downriggers are the favorite style of fishing by experienced Berryessa anglers. The best trolling lanes are from the dam to the narrows in Markley and Skiers coves. The lake may be fished year round.

From I-80 (San Francisco) – Take I-80 northbound to Fairfield; exit Suisun Valley Road (which eventually turns into Wooden Valley Road) and go west/north; turn right on Highway 121 toward Lake Berryessa; to reach the Reclamation Headquarters, Visitor Center, Capell Cove Boat Launch, and two Day Use Parks, turn left at Moskowite Corners on Highway 128; turn right on Knoxville Road, and follow the signs.

From I-80 (Sacramento) – Take I-80 southbound to Davis; exit Highway 113; take Highway 113 to Covell Road/Highway 128 (toward Winters); drive through Winters and pass Monticello Dam; to reach the Reclamation Headquarters, Visitor Center, Capell Cove Boat Launch, and two Day Use Parks, turn right at Moskowite Corners on Highway 128; turn right on Knoxville Road, and follow the signs.

From I-5 (Sacramento or Redding) – Turn off of I-5 onto Highway 113 west in Woodland (toward Winters); turn right on Covell Road/Highway 128 in Davis (toward Winters); drive through Winters and pass Monticello Dam; to reach the Reclamation Headquarters, Visitor Center, Capell Cove Boat Launch, and two Day Use Parks, turn right at Moskowite Corners on Highway 128; turn right on Knoxville Road, and follow the signs.

From Napa – Take Highway 121 northeast toward Lake Berryessa; to reach the Reclamation Headquarters, Visitor Center, Capell Cove Boat Launch, and two Day Use Parks, turn left at Moskowite Corners on Highway 128; turn right on Knoxville Road, and follow the signs.

From St. Helena – Take Highway 128 toward Lake Berryessa; to reach the Reclamation Headquarters, Visitor Center, Capell Cove Boat Launch, and two Day Use Parks, turn left on Knoxville Road, and follow the signs.

Fish from this lake should be eaten in moderation. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) suggests that women of childbearing age and children under 17 should not consume fish from Lake Berryessa. However, men and older women can safely eat the following amounts of fish per month.

Maximum Meals Per Month
Largemouth bass over 15” 2
Largemouth bass under 15” 4
Smallmouth bass all sizes 2
White catfish all sizes 4