Bass
Cold, wet
and blustery weather has greeted anglers this last week. On the few days that
were “fishable”, anglers reported catching many bass (up to 40 or so).
Most of these were juvenile bass. As one angler put it, “I had to catch and
release 40 of those to catch five nice ones.” Minnows are the top choice
for winter bass anglers. Drop shotting a finesse worm or deep crankbaiting have
been effective. I’ve also heard mention of slow moving jigs and Carolina
rigged worms being effective. Top locations include those that have some
structure in or near deeper water.
Crappie
The crappie fishermen have been reporting a hit & miss bite that is on one
moment and off the next. I’m hearing about Holiday Harbor, Shag Rock,
Kono Tayee, & Konocti Harbor Resort as the key areas to fish. Reports
are that the crappie are mixed with large – or giwompin as my kids would say
– schools of bluegill. For best results targeting crappie, fish the
bottom five feet of water at each location that holds the bluegill. Tiny
Shad lures remain the top lure in Crystal Shad, Albino Shad, & Chartreuse
Silver Glitter. To target bluegill at these locations, try wax worms on an
Aberdeen hook or on a mini-jig.
Catfish
Let’s talk catfish for a moment. While I don’t have a report for you –
just not many folks catfishing right now – I do have some catfish related news
for you. I’m pleased to announce the dates for the 2007 Clearlake Oaks –
Glenhaven Annual Catfish Derby. The Derby is billed as “The biggest catfish
tournament west of the Mississippi” and often sees up to 500 anglers
participating. The event will be held on Clear Lake over the three day period of
May 18th through the 20th. The entry fee for adults is $40 in advance of
the event. The Grand Prize is a boat, motor & trailer package. First place
is $600 with the last paid prize at 20th place of $40. In the last few
years it has taken a catfish weighing in at over 20 pounds to place in the
money. This Derby is more fun than you can possibly imagine! Look to
future reports for some fun facts, tips, and coverage of the event. Entry forms
are available here in the shop.
Last thing that I want to mention is that now is a great time to take advantage
of faster turn around times for rod & reel work. With fewer anglers on the
water, I’ve got more time to spend in the workshop. Does your rod have a
broken guide or guides, missing tip – I can have your rod back in your hands
in just one day. Need your reels serviced? Repaired? Just two to three days on
average gets you back in top form. Bring your equipment by the shop for a
free estimate or log on to www.994Fish.com
for more information on the services we offer. Questions? Just give me a
shout on the phone at 707.994.FISH.
We wish you a safe and pleasant New Year holiday and all of the best for 2007.
Happy fishing!
-Bob
Rider, Owner
Lakeshore
Bait & Tackle
14913-D
Lakeshore Drive
Clearlake,
CA 95422
707.994.FISH
707.994.4961
fax
December
21, 2006
Crappie
Cold and
rain. That’s the forecast for the next few days. Good deal! (Okay,
so maybe not such a good deal for seeing sales ring up in the store…) But, a
good deal from two other standpoints. First, better quality crappie tend
to come when the weather is less than desirable. Second, less fishing pressure
means better access to your favorite holes. So here’s the skinny. Panfish
Assassin’s Tiny Shad is killer. For colors, use the Crystal Shad, Albino Shad,
Chartreuse Silver Glitter, or Gold Pepper Shiner. Be prepared to switch up
colors day to day or throughout the day as conditions change. The water temp in
Clear Lake is running about 42 – 44 degrees. Currently, the crappie are smack
on the bottom at most of the hot spot locations and they are holding vast
schools of bluegill. You’ll need to get your lure or bait down to the
bottom to target the crappie.
Bass
Bass are actively biting on minnows. Most folks targeting
big bass are using jumbo minnows. Others that are less concerned with lunker
sized fish and simply want to have fun catching bass are using the more cost
effective extra large size minnows. In our store, jumbos are retailing for
$11/dozen and extra large for $8.50/dozen. Some folks enjoy working artificial
baits (lures) for bass. These folks are using jigs, worms, crank baits, and more
to try and entice a bite. When using artificials this time of year, slow your
presentation down and move your boat slower as you thoroughly work through an
area. Be patient. A fast moving bait in the winter time will often be
overlooked by the more lethargic bass.
Catfish
Catfish anglers this week have reported few fish actually
caught while they’ve marked many fish holding to the bottom in the deepest
water they could find. Jumbo minnows still seem to be the bait of choice while
mackerel and shrimp are common also. I would target the deeper water areas
around Henderson Point, Shag Rock, Weekend Island, Honeymoon Cove and Konocti
Bay.
Hidden Valley Trout
Residents and guests of Hidden Valley Lake are having a
great time fishing for trout in their namesake lake. Nightcrawlers, power bait,
Wedding Rings, Needlefish, & Kastmaster lures have all been successful there
this week. Both trollers and shore anglers have been doing well all over the
lake. For trollers keep it to the top ten feet of water as the trout are feeding
on top.
Merry Christmas from the Rider family – Bob, Brianna, Bobby, Jason, & Jack
-Bob
Rider, Owner
Lakeshore
Bait & Tackle
14913-D
Lakeshore Drive
Clearlake,
CA 95422
707.994.FISH
707.994.4961
fax
December
14, 2006
Crappie
Winter fishing on Clear Lake can be described with one
word: CRAPPIE. Yep, that’s what it’s all about this time of year. With the
cold and rain upon us the crappie bite is in full swing at several well known
locations around the lake. Shag Rock, Kono Tayee, & Konocti Harbor Resort
are tops on the list. Another location, known locally as The Four Poles and
located in Clearlake Park at the south end of the lake, has lots of potential
too. Anglers there are finding the crappie more elusive and mixed among scores
of bluegill. But they’re big. Then there’s the good folks at Indian Beach
Resort in Glenhaven. I talked to Ken (one of the owners) and he explained that
folks are coming in with some really nice fish off their docks. He said, “It’s
not like it was in February where they’re catching a fish on every cast, but
they’re catching some nice crappie.” That makes sense to me… It is
December, not February. Come that time, I’ll be writing this story a bit
differently. Until then… Enjoy the quality bite and just watch it get better
as the winter wears on.
Bass
The bass report is simple… Use minnows. Seriously,
winter bassin’ is at its best when you’re presenting live bait. Fish it
where you want, how you want, but the minnow will out do everything else you tie
on your line. For the die hard “minnows are cheating” angler, rip baits
& lipless crank baits are still being talked about some. Drop shotting &
jig fishing, too. Target areas where bass can quickly access a food source. Try
fishing areas where shallow water stands next to deeper water or areas with good
structure that the bass can relate to. And don’t forget to slow down. It might
take twice as many casts to get a bass to strike than you would normally make.
Be patient and methodical.
Bluegill
If you’re looking for bluegill, check any of the key
areas that are holding crappie. Many shoreline docks, all around the lake, are
stacked thick with big tasty bluegill. Use wax or meal worms on an Aberdeen
hook, add a BB size split shot and you’re fishin’ for bluegill.
Catfish
As for the catfish… One report this week has good
numbers of catfish to about ten pounds being caught along the shoreline between
Pirates Cove and Honeymoon Cove. My map is showing that as 30+ feet of water. I’ve
been hearing about this area for a while now and the reports have been
consistent. I’ll be venturing out that way on my next catfish outing and I’ll
be bringing JUMBO minnows and shrimp. Maybe some mackerel, too.
Hidden Valley Trout
Anglers are having lots of fun trolling up trout over in
the privately stocked Hidden Valley Lake. Wedding Rings & Nightcrawlers are
what I’ve been told this week. You’ll need lead-core line or downriggers to
present your lures in the 8 to 12 foot depth range. Power Bait type dough baits
and nightcrawlers have been working for the shoreline anglers.
Reel Maintenance
And now a few words on maintaining your equipment. Most
reel manufacturers and reel mechanics (like myself) recommend a thorough
cleaning once each year for equipment that sees average use. Avid fisherman and
tournament guys that are using their gear daily or weekly should consider more
frequent services. I bring this up now because the winter is traditionally the
time of year most folks store their stuff to wait for sunny spring weather. And,
even if you're fishing, you may be targeting different species this time of
year. It all adds up to this... Now is a great time to have your equipment
serviced! Call, visit us online, or come by for our low shop rates.
-Bob
Rider, Owner
Lakeshore
Bait & Tackle
14913-D
Lakeshore Drive
Clearlake,
CA 95422
707.994.FISH
707.994.4961
fax
December
7, 2006
Bass
The
bass are biting well on jumbo and extra-large minnows fished under a slip float
(ask me how) or by fly-lining them a couple of feet behind a small lead weight.
Rip baits and lipless crankbaits are still at the top of the list for artificial
baits. Shad patterns are the most popular colors. Drop shotters are also having
some success. Ledges and drop-offs have been the key to success for most
anglers, regardless of bait or lure choice.
Crappie
Crappie
anglers are having a blast fishing such hot spots as
Konocti
Harbor
, Shag Rock, and Kono Tayee. The Four Poles location has been producing, but
with a bit of irregularity to it. It is important to point out that there are
key attributes that tie all of the locations together – depth. There are
other areas on the lake where deeper water sits close to the shoreline. If you’re
looking to find a crappie hole with a bit less boat traffic than those listed
above, then keep this in mind when you’re on the hunt. We’re still
hearing a lot about pearl white and chartreuse colors as being the best bets in
artificials. Minnows are almost always a hit, too. Wherever you’re fishing,
and whatever you’re using, try bouncing bottom and pay close attention to your
line. The bite is reportedly quite soft.
In
product news, I’ve picked up a limited selection of a lure called a Paddle Fry
made by Gitzit. One of my regular customers from the Bay Area turned me on
to them. This little gem is essentially a swim bait to be used for catching big
crappie. The Paddle Fry comes with one body rigged on a very realistic fish head
jig with two spare bodies in the package. If you haven’t seen it yet, come on
by and take a look at it. Better yet, pick some up and give ‘em a try…
Bluegill
I
can always tell when any particular bite is good when fishermen angling for
another species complain about catching the particular fish in question. In this
case, we’ve got crappie anglers complaining about catching scores of
bluegill. The Four Poles, and other locations around the lake, are
infested with big tasty bluegill. Mini jigs or worms (of just about any
variety) will do the trick.
Catfish
There’s
still not much happening on the catfish front… I have few reports to share
with you. So let’s do this… If you’re fishing for cats and you hook
up – call or write me with a report. I would really appreciate it.
-Bob
Rider, Owner
Lakeshore
Bait & Tackle
14913-D
Lakeshore Drive
Clearlake,
CA 95422
707.994.FISH
707.994.4961
fax
November
30, 2006
Wow has it been cold! Too bad it keeps the fishermen away, because the
fish seem to like it. Reports have been favorable from both the bass and crappie
anglers. Here’s what I’ve heard in the bait shop…
Bass
Bass guys are catching fish at all depths. The larger fish are coming from 15
– 25 feet but at a slower rate than their shallow swimming counterparts.
Shallow caught fish have been coming in at two and a half pounds and less with a
stray five pounder thrown in the mix. Best bait? Minnows. Best
artificial? Shad patterned lipless crankbaits.
Crappie
Crappie anglers are having a ball fishing for big crappie at Shag Rock and Kono
Tayee. The fishing at The Four Poles and Konocti Harbor Resort has been steadily
improving as the weather cools. Tony at Indian Beach Resort in Glenhaven reports
that the fishing is improving in his neck of the woods as well with quality
crappie being caught on and off throughout the week. I’m hearing the most
about jigs (of various shapes & sizes) in all white. Minnows, of course, are
a popular bait as well.
Catfish
Few reports have come in from the catfishermen. I’ve had a handful of bass
anglers report catching catfish from eight to fifteen pounds while drifting
minnows at twenty feet.
Trout
Trout anglers fishing the privately stocked Hidden Valley Lake are having a
great time trolling up plump trout to nearly six pounds! Nightcrawlers and
Needlefish trolled on a fluorocarbon leader behind lead core line at the ten
foot depth have been most successful.
-Bob
Rider, Owner
Lakeshore
Bait & Tackle
14913-D
Lakeshore Drive
Clearlake,
CA 95422
707.994.FISH
707.994.4961
fax
November
24, 2006
Bass
Cooler temperatures and some soggy weather have greeted anglers this
week. Bassers are fishing hard to produce a few nice fish. Jumbo minnows
are the bait of choice for a steady bite. Tie on a Number 2 Baitholder hook, add
a piece of split shot a couple feet up the line, and hook a minnow through the
lips for a presentation that will work at a variety of depths. I recommend
fishing deeper water (20+ feet), so you’ll want to use a large spit shot for
getting your minnow down deep. For artificial baits, deep running cranks
and large dark-colored worms are the top producers. The key right now – fish
deep and fish slowly.
Catfish
Catfish
anglers are catching some nice catfish in a similar manner – fishing a jumbo
minnow in deeper waters. Reports are indicating that the best catfish bite is
during the middle of the day. Target deep water with structure for your best
bite. Minnows, mackerel & shrimp remain the top three catfish baits.
Crappie
The
big story this week is the crappie. We’re getting regular reports of limits of
plump crappie being caught at Shag Rock, Kono Tayee and occasionally The Four
Poles. Shoreline locations around the lake are only producing occasional
crappie. The top colors reported are white or chartreuse. Live medium
minnows are, of course, a top producer and favorite among crappie anglers.
Trout
Trout
fisherman are enjoying a good bite on nightcrawlers and Power Bait at
Hidden
Valley
Lake
. In a private stocking program, the lake was planted with trout from one pound
to five pounds in size for the first time in thirty years. The lake is open to
fishing for
Hidden
Valley
Lake
residents and their guests.
-Bob
Rider, Owner
Lakeshore
Bait & Tackle
14913-D
Lakeshore Drive
Clearlake,
CA 95422
707.994.FISH
707.994.4961
fax
November
16, 2006
Bass
Despite the lousy weather, anglers
are back in the swing catching fish. After a few weeks of poor fishing the bass
bite is improving. Bass anglers are jigging or yo-yo fishing a lipless crank
bait in 20 to 30 feet of water. Popular lures are the Lucky Craft LV-500
in MS American Shad color or Bill Lewis Lures’ Rat-L-Trap in silver/blue
back. Yo-Zuri has a nice entry in this market as well. This is also
an excellent time of year to be trolling for bass using a deep running crank
bait. Bass Alley & Wheeler Point are both excellent spots to try trolling at
low speeds while your lure bounces bottom. It might sound funny, but you won’t
be laughing at the fish you’ll catch with this method!
Crappie
The crappie fishing is going strong at Shag Rock. Anglers are catching fish
there from about a pound to three plus pounds using mini-jigs in chartreuse or
white. Tube jigs, grubs, and Tiny Shad are all popular lures. Of course,
it is hard to beat a live medium minnow for solid crappie bite action.
Catfish
And while we’re talking about chartreuse mini-jigs, we should mention Ron
Henry of Clearlake Oaks and his 30 pound 11 ounce catfish that he caught on
Sunday, November 12th. Ron was fishing for crappie at Shag Rock with a mini-jig
on six pound test line. He was even using his trusty old Mitchell 300 reel. The
catfish took him for quite a ride, but Ron landed the monster fish and brought
it to Lakeshore Bait & Tackle to be weighed and photographed. Hands down,
this is the biggest cat I’ve seen come out of Clear Lake. The big fish was
only a few pounds shy of the lake record 33 ¼ pound catfish caught by the late
Lyle Dyslin of Kelseyville in Soda Bay on Nov. 23, 1995.
Click on the image for a photo of
Ron Henry's catfish.
Now that we’re talking catfish, I should mention a few things… I’m hearing
of a pretty good deep water bite for cats on jumbo minnows. Anglers are
reporting catching nice catfish all around Konocti Bay, Shag Rock, Lucerne,
Henderson Point, and Monitor Point. This doesn’t seem to be the wide open bite
we had a couple of months ago, but rather an average bite on quality fish. Bank
fishermen have been having a difficult time producing much.
Trout
For our trout fisherman, Upper Blue Lakes was stocked with trout last week.
Reports from there haven’t been great, but folks are catching some small
trout. Power Bait, nightcrawlers, or a Kastmaster lure will do the trick. The
community of Hidden Valley Lake has planted trout this week for the first time
in thirty years. The lake is closed to fishing until Nov 18th to allow the
freshly planted trout to get established in the lake. This private stocking of
Hidden Valley Lake included trout from fingerlings to a few pounds each in size.
Hidden Valley residents and their guests should experience some nice trout
action. Lastly, most of our area creeks have closed (November 15th was the last
day) to fishing for the season.
Catfest November 18th
In event news, we’re hosting our monthly CatFest this Saturday, November 18th
at 5:00 pm. This event is free and is open to the public. Bring your boat, bring
your buddies, and show up for a great time fishing as a group for catfish. We’ll
be hosting raffles at 5:30 and 6:00 pm for CatFest participants. (Each $10
purchase in the store earns a raffle ticket.) We’ll be giving away hats and
shirts, tackle, and more. Winner’s choice. Shortly after the 6 pm raffle, we’ll
all head over to Redbud Park and launch for an evening of fun fishing for
catfish. Come and join the fun. Call us at 707.994.FISH <3474> for more
information.
Lake County Hunting
For the hunters among us, pheasant
and turkey seasons have opened. The fall turkey season is open until November
26th. Pheasant runs until December 24th. We carry a full line of ammunition for
hunters and shooters as well as hunting licenses and stamps.
-Bob
Rider, Owner
Lakeshore
Bait & Tackle
14913-D
Lakeshore Drive
Clearlake,
CA 95422
707.994.FISH
707.994.4961
fax
November
10, 2006
Bass
Fall fishing continues to be slow
– with just one exception. We’ll talk more about that in a moment. Most
reports this week were concerning the high winds and blustery conditions. Bass
anglers echoed reports from last week that stated lipless crank baits and live
minnows are the two top producing presentations going.
Catfish
The catfishermen are reporting some luck on minnows and mackerel, but they’re
catching smaller fish. With a full moon and a weather system moving
through this week, we’re left guessing at what might be in store for the
weekend. Now, as I write this on Thursday evening, I realize that today
was absolutely gorgeous. Prime conditions for the fisherman’s comfort. Will
the fish catch on? We’ll know in a day or two…
Crappie
Now, a treat for the crappie fisherman. The crappie bite is reportedly quite
good at Shag Rock and Kono Tayee. Some decent reports came out of the Four Poles
area, also. Tiny Shad by Bass Assassin Lures (Panfish Assassins) and live medium
minnows are the top baits. Cast through the area your fishing and allow your
presentation to sink. Work it slowly back and wait for a “tick” or “thump”
to signal a strike.
Upper Blue Lake Trout
Good news came this week for our local trout fishermen, too. Fish and Game (DFG)
planted Upper Blue Lake with catchable trout this week. Come this weekend, the
trout fishing should be pretty good. Fall is a wonderful time to soak some power
bait on a floating bait rig or nightcrawlers from shore. For nightcrawlers, use
a worm blower to inject the worm with air. Add a piece of split shot to your
line a couple of feet up from the worm and you’ve got a tried and true method
of catching trout. Trollers often use a threaded nightcrawler or a Needlefish
lure top-lined behind the boat.
Catfest November 18th
Lastly, we’re just a little over a week away from our CatFest event. We’ll
be hosting our monthly group catfishing event on Saturday November 18th at 5:00
pm at our shop in Clearlake. This event is free and is solely for the enjoyment
of catfishing with other folks. We’ll be holding two raffles – one at 5:30
pm and another at 6:00 pm for CatFest participants. Come and hang out, get your
bait, tailgate your dinner, and hook up with other catfish anglers. We’ll hit
the ramps at Redbud Park shortly after 6. Hope you can make it!
-Bob
Rider, Owner
Lakeshore
Bait & Tackle
14913-D
Lakeshore Drive
Clearlake,
CA 95422
707.994.FISH
707.994.4961
fax
November
2, 2006
Bass
For fall bassin’, there are two
constants. First, BIG bass tournaments dominate the lake this time of
year. Clear Lake plays host to hundreds of boats each weekend as most of
the major tournament trails wrap up their 2006 seasons with championship
events. The second thing that’s certain? Well, for most of us the
autumn months mean tougher fishing all around. While a few top-level
anglers are producing big bags to win big bucks in tournaments, the rest of us
are struggling to put a few nice fish in the boat for a day’s efforts.
What I’m hearing here in the B&T is that lipless crank baits (specifically
Lucky Craft’s LV-500 series lures) are the first choice for anglers fishing
deep structure. Norman DD series crank baits are also popular for banging
bottom with. For plastics – a drop shot with a finesse worm or a worm
rig fished slowly on the bottom can produce. Frankly, I feel that this is
the time of year for most anglers to fish their confidence baits. Now,
this all changes when we switch into the live bait category. Anglers using
live jumbo minnows to tempt bass into biting are doing much better. Tie on
a bait holder hook, add a split shot a couple feet up from the hook, and hook a
minnow behind the dorsal fin or through the lips – that’s all there is to
it. Give that minnow plenty of line and be ready for a hook set when your
minnow gets inhaled. Now that’s fun!
Catfish
And speaking of jumbo minnows as bait, the catfish love ‘em too. While
the catfish aren’t being caught with the regularity that we saw just a few
weeks ago, they’re still being caught. We hosted a catfishing event last
weekend. Of the five fish caught among the three boats I fished with, four were
caught on jumbo minnows. The other one (mine) was caught on mackerel. Some
other nice cats came in on Wednesday and they were all caught on jumbo
minnows. Clearly, this is the right time to be fishing them for cats and
bass. Try the deeper waters along the shoreline north of Monitor Point as
well as the area around Austin Park. A few smaller cats have been reported
coming out of Jago Bay as well.
Crappie
And now… (Insert drum roll) The crappie action is heating up. We’ve
been waiting on the edge of our seats. November is the month that the
crappie bite has kicked in the last couple of years. We’ve been talking
about it for a couple of months now. November, November, November. Well,
November is here and so are the crappie! Shag Rock and Kono Tayee are
reportedly “infested” with crappie as reported by some very reliable sources
fishing those locations. For the live bait fishermen, live medium minnows are
going to do the trick. For anglers hoping to fool the fishes with artificial
offerings, the Tiny Shad by Bass Assassin Lures (aka: Panfish Assassins) work
well. You’ll have to work through different colors to see what the flavor of
the day is. Albino Shad, Crystal Shad, Gold Pepper Shad, and Chartreuse Silver
Glitter have all been effective recently. Soon enough we’ll have a few more
reports in and we’ll nail down colors a little tighter…
I just have to say this… Hot Digity Dog - I love crappie fishing! Okay, I feel
better now. I’ll now return you to your regularly scheduled fishing report.
Catfest November 18th
Sorry. I’m back now. Last thing for you for this week is an announcement. We’re
planning our next group catfish event – called CatFest – for Saturday,
November 18th. The format is the same as our last event, with only a few
changes (including the name). We'll meet up here at Lakeshore Bait & Tackle
at 5:00 PM and hang out here until a little after 6:00. Spend some time BS'n
among the group of anglers, bring your tailgate food, and pick up your bait.
We'll do raffles at 5:30 and 6:00 for CatFest participants. (Each $10 spent in
the store earns a raffle ticket.) We've got some nice hats & visors by
Maxima, t-shirts from Pepsi, a S/S Thermos from Rapala, and some other goodies.
Winner's choice! Plan on hitting the launch ramps at Redbud Park after the
second raffle. Fish only as long as you want to. Plan on cold weather... It has
been in the 30's at night around these parts. I'll have my VHF on Channel 71
while I'm on the water. We'll also run on FRS Channel 11.
Hope to see you there…
-Bob
Rider, Owner
Lakeshore
Bait & Tackle
14913-D
Lakeshore Drive
Clearlake,
CA 95422
707.994.FISH
707.994.4961
fax
October
27, 2006
Bass
General consensus says that bassin’
is tough right now. Most anglers are reporting throwing their tackle boxes
at the fish to see if anything comes of it. Some reports of success have
come in from anglers using lipless crankbaits in shad patterns. The best bass
reports have been from those using jumbo minnows. Wheeler Point was
mentioned more than once as a good spot to drift minnows.
Crappie
The crappie bite is showing signs of improvement with some good specimens being
caught at the Four Poles area this week. The bite is still on and off, but
an observant angler can place the crappie feeding on shad near the docks.
(Thanks for the tip Franz.) I, for one, am waiting on the edge of my seat
for the crappie bite to take off this year. As November nears, I am
getting more and more excited about the prospects of nailing some big ol’
specks on my ultralight tackle.
Catfish
While the number of people fishing for catfish has diminished from just a short
time ago, the folks that are still doing it are reporting moderate
success. The fish seem to be smaller, too. From the reports we’ve had,
and personal experience over the last couple of weeks, the best bite on cats is
during the middle of the day for both boaters and shore anglers. Here’s
my first hand experience:
I’ve spent five days on the water, over the last two plus weeks, fishing from
6:00 pm to 10 or 11:00 pm. The first thirty minutes or so yields a couple
of quick fish landed. The remaining hours of fishing were fruitless.
(Or fishless… as it were.) The water goes from a nice rippled breeze
blown surface to dead still and flat. The areas that usually hold catfish
(as observed on the fish finder) become either barren or filled with fish (shad,
presumably) from the top down. Either way, these areas yield no
catfish. All of these areas have a common trait. The areas are 15 to 30
feet deep. If the cats aren’t there, they’ve gone somewhere else. So,
my current theory holds that the fish have moved to the flats during these hours
of extreme calm on the lake. Proof? We’ll see Saturday night
during the Catfish Flotilla ‘cause that’s where I’m heading! I’m going
to look for six feet or less of water, with a big clump of tules, and hunker
down for some easy still fishing.
And that brings us to my next topic – our first ever Catfish Flotilla
event. We’re hosting a Catfish Flotilla this Saturday (October 28th)
starting at 5:00 pm. The Flotilla is a free event designed solely for the
enjoyment of catfishing as a group. We’re meeting up here at Lakeshore Bait
& Tackle between 5:00 and 6:00 pm. Shortly after 6:00 we’ll head
down to Redbud Park to launch. Then… We’ll FISH! Bring your cameras
and bring your scales. We’ll post our Fish Tales here on CatfishEd.com!
Additionally, as a bonus to our Flotilla participants, we’ll be holding two
raffles before we head out to the lake. Our first raffle is at 5:30 with the
second at 6:00. Each $10 spent in the store earns a raffle ticket.
We’ve got some great t-shirts, Maxima hats, tackle, and more. So come on down,
meet up and hang out with some great folks that share your interest in catching
whiskerfish, and maybe win some cool stuff too.
I hope to see you Saturday for our Catfish Flotilla!
-Bob
Rider, Owner
Lakeshore
Bait & Tackle
14913-D
Lakeshore Drive
Clearlake,
CA 95422
707.994.FISH
707.994.4961
fax
October 19, 2006
Fall transition has meant slower fishing for most, but the quality of the
fish has remained consistent. Fluctuating temperatures & a few cold
fronts have kept anglers guessing. Word here in the bait shop from our
regulars has it that the fishing can be rather good one day and completely off
the next. There are some key elements that are consistent from report to
report.
Bass
First, as we’ve come into fall, the bass prefer live jumbo or extra-large
minnows over artificial lures. Those folks fishing artificials are using the
drop shot technique with finesse worms or shad patterned Rapala DT10’s and
similar crank baits.
Catfish
Second, the catfish are still being caught in good numbers on mackerel,
anchovies, and live minnows. Key locations have been the deep waters north
of Monitor Island, Wheeler Point, Cache Creek, and Bass Alley/Luebow Point.
Shore anglers are enjoying a good daytime bite off the point at Austin Park in
Clearlake. Water around Indian Island & into the mouth of Cache Creek is
only a few feet deep and there are many hazards to navigation (trees,
mostly). When navigating this area, be sure to do it during the daylight
hours or with a powerful light while at idle to avoid damaging your boat.
Crappie & Bluegill
The crappie have yet to show in any significant numbers. Some anglers are
catching crappie, albeit intermittently, around the docks and “Four Poles”
in Clearlake Park. Bluegill anglers are still catching these succulent
fish in good numbers all around the lake. Wax worms are the preferred bait for
bluegill.
Indian Valley & Blue Lakes Trout
Reports of good trout fishing are coming out of Blue Lakes and Indian Valley
Reservoir. Try power bait on a floating bait rig or nightcrawlers when
fishing from shore. Boaters are hooking up on crawlers and Needlefish in
brighter color patterns.
Now for event news…
Lakeshore Bait & Tackle is hosting a “Catfish Flotilla” event on October
28th at 5 pm. The event is free, is not a contest, and is purely for the
enjoyment of fun fishing for catfish as a group. Bring your boat, bring
your gear, bring your friends, and bring some warm clothes because we’re
fishing into the night! We’ll be meeting here at the bait shop on
Lakeshore Drive (across from Napa Auto Parts) at 5:00 pm. We’ll be launching
out of Redbud Park sometime around 6:00 pm. Our event will be on VHF
Channel 69 and FRS Channel 11 for communications on the water. Please call
994-FISH <3474> or come by to add your name to the growing list of anglers
participating in our Flotilla. This may become a monthly event so look for
it to repeat towards the middle to end of November.
-Bob
Rider, Owner
Lakeshore
Bait & Tackle
14913-D
Lakeshore Drive
Clearlake,
CA 95422
707.994.FISH
707.994.4961
fax
October
12, 2006
Changing conditions on the lake
have caused the bass, catfish, crappie, and in some cases the bluegill action to
slow down. Changing conditions (warm one day, rather cool the next) also mean
that the bite can change on a day to day basis. Overall, anglers are reporting
spending more time, fishing harder, and catching fewer fish.
Bass
Top bait for bass, hands down, is
the jumbo or extra large minnow. Minnow fishing for bass is fun and fairly
easy to do (the live bait does most of the work for you). A minnow is
rigged on a number 2 bait holder hook with a weight (usually a split shot)
placed on the line two to three feet above. This rig is then cast to the
edges of tules, docks, rocky areas, and boat ramps. Allow the baitfish to
swim where it wants. When the end of your rod begins to quiver, the minnow
is panicking and is likely about to be consumed. If you’re fishing
artificial baits, look for the cleanest water you can find. Recent winds have
moved the stained areas around. Look for all of the water to be clearing
in the next few weeks. Top artificial baits include craw colored crank
baits, finesse worms on a drop shot rig, or finesse worms fished on a small jig
head.
Catfish
Catfishing has slowed but some
nice cats are still being caught. Mackerel, anchovies, and jumbo minnows
are doing the job. Shoreline anglers are looking for deeper water. Boaters are
drifting commonly fished areas such as Bass Alley, Luebow Point, Wheeler Point,
and Henderson Point. Dale “Mack (erel) Daddy” Patton won this last week’s
Catfish Pool with a nice 18 pound 6 ounce cat. Dale’s a shore angler and
nailed this nice fish in the area of Clearlake Park.
Crappie
Crappie anglers are still working areas such as Luebow Point & The Four
Poles with some intermittent success. Crappie minnows and Tiny Shad (made
by Bass Assassin Lures) are the top baits. The crappie have been reported
both on the bottom and stacked throughout the water column. Vary your
presentation and location until you get into some action.
Trout
The trout bite is reported to be pretty good up at Blue Lakes since the last
trout plant a couple of weeks ago. This is a fun time of year to enjoy
fishing for trout in local waters besides Clear Lake. Try a nightcrawler under a
split shot on a slip float rig or a floating bait rig with Power Bait.
-Bob
Rider, Owner
Lakeshore
Bait & Tackle
14913-D
Lakeshore Drive
Clearlake,
CA 95422
707.994.FISH
707.994.4961
fax
October
5, 2006
Catfish
The catfish are crazed! Put down your bassin’ gear and try your hand at
catching some of these big catfish that are coming out of Clear Lake these days.
Anglers all around the lake are reporting catches on mackerel, sardines,
anchovies, livers, nightcrawlers, shrimp, and just about anything else you can
cook up. Shore anglers and boaters alike have been having good success.
This weeks Lakeshore Bait & Tackle Catfish Pool leader is Dale Patton with
an 18 pound 6 ounce cat. Dale took his fish on mackerel off the shoreline here
in the City of Clearlake. Dale’s 18+ pounder was the largest of an impressive
stringer of catfish taken for food. Catfish Pool you say? Yep, we’ve got a
pool that runs from Monday when the door opens to Sunday when we close. Five
dollars buys you into the pool before fishing. You can fish all week on the
single entry and weigh in as many fish as you like. The angler with the single
biggest fish for the week takes the pot. We weigh the fish here at the store, on
our scale, and take a picture of you and your catch. Come on by, take a look at
our lunker board, and join the pool. Visit us online at www.994Fish.com
for pictures, pool updates, and store info.
Bass
The bass bite is typical of this time of year. Cold weather can signal a slow
down, but live bait anglers are having reasonably good success with jumbo or
extra-large minnows. Drop shotters & artificial worm fisherman have been
having decent results out along Windflower Point, Honeymoon Cove, Pirates Cove,
Paradise Cove, and other shoreline locations near mid-lake. The key: Be
persistent. Fish hard. And, fish your confidence baits.
Crappie
The crappie bite has been inconsistent. Like the bass fishing, persistence is
the name of the game. Schools of crappie are moving in and out of areas commonly
fished for them. Four Poles, Redbud Park, Luebow Point, & Anderson Island
have all produced crappie at some point in the past few days. Keep fishing the
common areas and wait for the crappie bite to turn on soundly as the clarity of
the lake returns and the weather cools.
-Bob
Rider, Owner
Lakeshore
Bait & Tackle
14913-D
Lakeshore Drive
Clearlake,
CA 95422
707.994.FISH
707.994.4961
fax
September
28, 2006
Bass
Yesterday’s report? Tough bite on bass.
Today’s report? Things are looking up. Several reports today indicate
that the bass bite may well be rebounding from the seasonal changes taking place
as we race headlong into October. The folks having success are sticking with
proven techniques and baits such as the Margarita Mutilator or Salt River Craw
worms on a drop shot rig. Other successful presentations involve Zoom’s Speed
Worm on a Texas Rig or Spinner Baits. Fish the cleanest water you can find. (The
south end of the Redbud Arm still looks like leftover Folgers coffee.) The best
bite going as I write this is in the afternoon hours. Windflower Point, Pirates
Cove, and Konocti Bay are looking decent and producing quality bass.
Catfish
The catfishermen are still knocking the catfish hard. Today I weighed a five
fish stringer for over 78 pounds caught by one of our resident experts on
catfishing Clear Lake – Catfish Ben. Way to go. Ben was using cut
bait while fishing all around Indian Island and Cache Creek. Sandy
Moscardini won last weeks catfish pool with a 15 pound 2 ounce cat. Bigger fish
were caught, but Sandy’s was the biggest entry in our pool. While this week’s
pool is still open, we’re already taking entries for next week. (Pool runs
from Monday through Sunday.) Don’t miss out… The catfish are taking just
about anything – mackerel, anchovies, livers, & live minnows. Shore
fishermen and boaters are having success at nearly every location around the
lake.
Crappie & Bluegill
The crappie bite is simple – if you find the school (or it finds you) you’ll
catch plenty of ‘em. Shore anglers at Redbud Park this week reported
catching up to 24 crappie for two anglers in a few hours time. The key is,
fish the spots you know hold crappie, and hope that the schooling fish hit your
area while you do. The Bass Assassin “Tiny Shad” in Albino Shad color is
still a favorite offering. Wax worms are in favor for the live bait fisherman.
For bluegill, most of the action has been centered around Kono Tayee.
-Bob
Rider, Owner
Lakeshore
Bait & Tackle
14913-D
Lakeshore Drive
Clearlake,
CA 95422
707.994.FISH
707.994.4961
fax
September 21, 2006
Bass
Howdy Anglers! Transition time is among us and the bass bite has gotten
tough. A few anglers have reported some nice catches in three feet or less
of water on top water lures during the morning hours. Popper type lures,
Zara Spooks, and the Tiny Torpedo have all been effective. Most anglers
are checking in with less than ten fish to report for a day’s efforts.
The only folks reporting a strong bite are those fishing with live bait. Jumbo
minnows are producing when fished in shallow areas or drifted through schooling
bass.
Catfish
The catfishing report is starting to sound like a broken
record&ldots; Anglers down here on the south end are experiencing a
good bite on mackerel, chicken livers, and live jumbo minnows. Some of the
big fish weighed in this week were Sandy Moscardini’s 15 pound 2 ounce cat
taken on a jumbo minnow, Ol’ Man Troy’s 14 pound 2 ounce cat taken on shad,
and Dale Patterson’s 17 pound 10 ounce cat taken on mackerel. Both Sandy’s
fish and Troy’s fish are entries in this week’s catfish pool. So far,
Sandy's got the fish to beat at 15 pounds 2 ounces. All three fish were
released alive! All three fish were taken from shoreline locations from the very
south end of Clearlake right on out to Clearlake Park. Anglers all around the
lake are reporting similar results such as Ed Nassarre's (Catfish Ed) 19 pound
12 ounce cat caught & released off his seawall yesterday in Lucerne on
shrimp.
A last minute addition:
Just weighed a 21 pound 15 ounce cat – caught at the Galaxy MH Park on Old 53
by Tracy Olson. He was not entered in the pool so Sandy's fish is still
leading.
Crappie
The crappie bite is, well, in flux. We’re still getting a few reports of
some nice specks being taken at and around the Four Poles location in Clearlake
Park as well as from Luebow Point. Most anglers are complaining that the water
clarity is pretty bad right now. A few more weeks of our fall winds should
blow it out good. Hopefully we’ll see some action heating up as October
& November draw near. Stay tuned!
-Bob
Rider, Owner
Lakeshore
Bait & Tackle
14913-D
Lakeshore Drive
Clearlake,
CA 95422
707.994.FISH
707.994.4961
fax
September
14, 2006
It
is hard to find a whole lot of words for “ditto”. Conditions from last
week have prevailed this week as well. Here’s a summary.
Bass
Bass
anglers are moving from area to area to maintain a somewhat steady bite.
The bass bite has been hit and miss now for about two weeks. To
illustrate, on Monday some guys were doing great at Wheeler Point. Twenty fish
in about two hours. On Wednesday, they only caught one fish there before moving
on to new water. Folks are averaging ten to fifteen fish per day for five or six
hours of work. They’re using Zoom Speed Worms in green pumpkin or
watermelon/red flake. Drop shotters are using the Margarita Mutilator or Salt
River Craw finesse worms. The live bait fishermen are catching fish on jumbo
minnows fished under a slip float. But again, keep moving for best
results.
Shore
anglers at Redbud Park were treated to a pretty darn good bass bite over the
weekend. The honey-hole seems to be the rock pile by the marker buoy off
the end of the guest dock. Action at Redbud has also been up one day and down
the next&ldots; So I guess I’m saying that anything is worth a try.
You might do well. Or, you might just spend your time fishing instead of
catching. Not an altogether bad proposition.
Crappie
& Bluegill
For
the crappie, anglers have been moving between the Four Poles location (and
associated nearby docks) and Luebow Point. Medium minnows and Bass Assassin’s
Tiny Shad in Albino color have been the favorite baits. Action at Konocti Harbor
Resort has been limited mostly to big scrappy bluegill.
Catfish
Whiskerfish
are still biting in many areas around the lake. The mouth of Cache Creek
and around Indian Island, Bass Alley, Wheeler Point, Lakeport Lagoons, and
Rattlesnake Island are all areas where we’ve had reports from this past
week. Anchovies, shrimp, or live minnows are doing the deed.
Kokanee
Salmon
Indian
Valley and Lake Berryessa are seeing kokanee salmon coming in from depths of 50
to 70 feet. Pink or green Koke-A-Nuts, Hoochies, or Apex lures are best
trolled behind a 4/0 Sep’s dodger in either watermelon or pink butt
colors. The kokes are starting to darken up in color. We can expect only a
few more weeks of good fishing this season for the kokes.
And
now, a shameless plug for the shop. Our Federal & CCI brands of ammunition
have arrived in the store. We’re currently stocking many calibers of rifle,
handgun, and rimfire ammunition. We’ll be adding shotgun shells here in the
next week or so. If you have a particular load that you would like to see
in the store, please drop me a line at Bob@994Fish.com and let me know. We also
have access to a wide variety of shooting sports equipment and
accessories. Come on by and check out some of our catalogs!
-Bob
Rider, Owner
Lakeshore
Bait & Tackle
14913-D
Lakeshore Drive
Clearlake,
CA 95422
707.994.FISH
707.994.4961
fax