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These are my first reports when I had just started my website. They
go from September 25 1998 to December 31 1998. There is no real order
since I was just putting them out whenever I felt like it.
I had some bass reports from 1998 but I inadvertently deleted them.
Sorry about that....Catfish Ed |
Catfish Report-December 31 1998
The slight warming trend has not had any effect on the catfishing as
far as I can find out. I haven't had a chance to go out but according
to Terry Knight they are still catching a few large catfish near
Redbud State Park using jumbo minnows and or cut bait.
I really believe that if we could get some serious catmen to spend a
little time on the lake, they would have decent results. I haven't
seen a single boat fishing out on the lake in the last week. ...Happy
Holidays...Catfish Ed
Catfish Report-December 26 1998
Well I don't really have much of a report this week. The cold weather
has been keeping all but the most dedicated catmen off the water. I
have one report of 2 anglers catching 3 or 4 large cats ( 15 to 18
pounds ) near Red Bud Park in Clearlake City off their dock. The
lucky anglers were using live jumbo minnows to entice the monster
catfish....Happy Holidays...Catfish Ed
Catfish Report-December 18 1998
I tried drifting in my favorite holes off of the Nice-Lucerne area on
Wednesday but to no avail, not even a nibble. I didn't see another
boat on the lake which was a surprise considering the beautiful weather.
When I was getting bass info from Terry Knight, he mentioned that he
ran into a couple of catfishermen in a boat off of Nice that had 2
nice channel cats. They caught them drifting with cut bait in about
20 feet of water. Terry also mentioned that there are still a few
catfish being caught in the Cache Creek area with clams and
shrimp.....Good Luck.....Catfish Ed.
Catfish Report-December 11 1998
There really isn't much to report on catfishing at this end of the
lake this week. I have not been out because of the cold weather. We
need some young hardy souls to go out and brave the elements to find
the fish for us.
According to Terry Knight of the Lake County Record Bee, there are a
few cats being caught in Cache Creek and behind Rattlesnake island.
Terry confirms the fact that there are so few fishermen out that it's
hard to get a report....Good Luck....Catfish Ed
Catfish Report-December 5 1998
The rising lake level did not effect the catfishing as far as I could
find out. The main problem is a lack of catfishermen. Bob Higgins of
Limit Out Bait and Tackle in Clear Lake Oaks (707-998-1006 ) reports
that one angler caught 3 channel cats to 17 pounds off of his dock in
Clear Lake Oaks. The lucky angler was using red worms for bait. I
haven't even tried fishing myself because of the cold weather (
getting old ? ). Well, I hope to have better news next time good
luck....Catfish Ed.
Brief Catfish Update-November 30 1998
Well the rain keeps falling and the lake is starting to rise. The
lake level has risen from a low of 2.70 feet above rumsey to 3.35
feet. This is enough of a rise to affect the catfishing. I hope to
get reports of fair fishing for channels and brown bullheads where
ever there is run-off going into the lake. It takes a few days for
the fish to find the muddy run-off water so we'll have to wait and
see what happens. I'll update again as soon as I hear
anything.....Good Luck.....Catfish Ed
Catfish Report-November 28 1998
Unfortunately the catfishing action has all but ceased to exist. I
have not seen or heard of a single fish being caught since last
Sunday when my friends caught the 3 nice ones drifting off of Holiday
Harbor. My friend Allen Vanderwarke and I tried drifting in the usual
spots off of the Nice-Lucerne area this morning. We had 4 hours of
pleasant weather with perfect wind conditions but no fish.
I'm beginning to wonder if it's over for this year. I have had
moderate success in past years in December so I'm not yet giving up
completely. I will try a few more times and see what happens. I will
also check with the local bait shops to see if they have any info. If
anything surfaces, I'll update again Monday November 30. Good
Luck.....Catfish Ed
My Catfish Report-November 22 1998
The best way to describe the catfishing this week is spotty. I went
out Thursday morning and immediately caught a 15 pound channel cat. I
then drifted aimlessly about for 3 hours with not so much as a
nibble. I went back out Friday morning for about three hours and only
had one small yellow cat to show for my effort. This morning ( Sunday
) I tried several known hotspots in the Nice-Lucerne area to no avail
although I did see lots of bait and fish on the graph. I saw a couple
of friends of mine fishing in my usual hotspot about a mile out from
Holiday Harbor as I was returning home. They did not have any fish at
that time but three hours later they came in with three nice channels
from 10 to 14 pounds. They caught them drifting shrimp in 23 feet of
water. I guess it just wasn't my week.....Good Luck......Catfish Ed.
Catfish Report-November 16 1998
Both the weather and the catfishing improved in the last week. A
friend and I went out Friday for about an hour and a half and caught
a 6 pound and an 11 pound channel catfish and missed several good strikes.
I went out today ( November 16 ) and caught 3 channel cats and 2
brown bullheads (yellow catfish). The channels weighed 9.5, 9.8 and
11 pounds. The brown bullheads weighed about 3 pounds apiece. I had a
lot of action with many missed strikes. As usual, all the fish have
been taken in 17 to 20 feet of water about a mile out from Holiday
Harbor in Nice. I'm still drift fishing with shrimp and using light tackle.
I have been having consistent action in this general area since the
middle of August which leads me to believe that they will hang around
at least until the heavy rains arrive and muddy up the lake.I'll
catch you all next week with another report....GOOD LUCK.....Catfish Ed.
Catfish Report-November 9 1998
The weather was pretty nasty all last week including this weekend.
There was lots of wind and rain. This morning (Nov. 9) was cool and
foggy with little wind so I decided to give it a try. The surface
water temperature was running 52 to 54 degrees. I ran out about one
mile off of Nice (at Holiday Harbor) and started drifting in 18 to 20
feet of water with shrimp. I was pleasantly surprised with a 13 pound
11 ounce and an 11 pound 9 ounce Channel Catfish in less than one
hour( see photo on home page ).. I also caught a nice Brown Bullhead
(Yellow Cat) about 3 pounds. I'll catch you all next week with
another report....GOOD LUCK.....Catfish Ed.
Catfish Report-November 2 1998
Well the channel cats are still hiding out but the white catfish and
brown bullheads are on the prowl. I went out today for about two
hours and caught one 14 pound channel cat, 5 brown bullheads to 3
pounds and 2 white cats to 4 pounds. I was drift fishing in 15 to 20
feet of water and using shrimp. The action took place about one mile
out from Holiday Harbor in Nice.
Catfish Report-October 27 1998
Unfortunately the catfishing has really slowed down. Jim Volz of
"Jim's Fishing Spot Web Page" drove all the way from San
Jose to fish with me last Sunday. We had a nice day on the water but
only caught one very small brown bullhead (yellow cat). I guess Jim
is easily pleased as he wants to come up again soon.
I went out today and caught one real nice channel cat, 16 pounds 10
ounces ( see new photo dated 10/27/98 on home page). I caught her
drifting shrimp in 18 feet straight out from my place about a mile. I
also caught 3 small brown bullheads and one small white cat in the
same area. I hope the big channel cats school up once again before
the winter sets in.
Brief Catfish Update-October 21 1998
I tried the anchovies this morning but they didn't help(see October
20 report below). The same boat was out again and he was catching
fish but I was not. I guess I am in a slump. The weather is still
great and there are a lot of fish out there if I could just figure
them out.
Catfish Report-October 20 1998
Well the weather improved considerably but the fishing is basically
the same. A group of 3 people went out Sunday from here and nailed 7
Channel Cats for 63 pounds. They spent several hours catching the
fish and they were in 25 feet of water drifting with shrimp. I went
out Monday and caught a 7 and a 11 1/2 pounder also with shrimp and
in the 25 foot range. I had a bad day today. I caught one 13 pounder
for a 4 hour effort. I saw 3 people in a small aluminum boat with
about 10 catfish that they caught drifting with anchovies in 20 feet
of water. I tried several areas at several different depths but it
just was not my day. Needless to say, I purchased some anchovies for
tomorrows trip.
Catfish Report-October 14 1998
Unfortunately the weather did not improve as predicted. The
catfishing is about the same as in the October 11 report. I went out
for an hour this morning and caught a 10-1/2 pounder plus a 12
pounder. As usual, I was using shrimp and drifting in the same area.
I am leaving some of the older reports on this page so you can watch
the progression (or lack of it) of the fall bite.
Catfish Report-October 11 1998
The catfishing is still good and getting better. I went out three
times since the October 6 report and got 6 fish weighing: 8lbs 8oz.;
9lbs.;10lbs.;14lbs.; 15lbs. and 16lbs. I took out a friend of mine on
thursday the 9th and he got a 15lber ( see more photos page). They
are still hitting shrimp drift-fishing in 12 to 15 feet of water.
Thursday was extremely windy with 3 to 4 foot waves yet they were
hitting good although hard to hook due to the rock and roll of the
boat. I still believe that the fishing will improve even more as we
are looking at good weather for the next few days. Now is the time to
come up to the lake and have some fun with our excellent trophy
catfish fishery.
Catfish Report-October 6 1998
I've been too busy to go out in my boat for the last few days but I
found time this afternoon. I caught a 17 pound 11 ounce and a 7 pound
10 ounce Channel Cat (see photo on main page). I was using light
tackle as always and had a ball especially with the big one. I missed
several bites as it was so rough that I couldn't tell when they hit
until it was too late. I was using shrimp and caught them in 15 to 18
feet of water. I really believe that the catfishing will get red hot
as soon as we get a few calm days.
Catfish Report-September 29 1998
I have still been averaging two catfish per day from 8 to 15 1/2
pounds fishing in the same basic area. They have been hitting shrimp
in 18 to 20 ft. of water. I tried using shad and silversides but
shrimp seems to be the best. I guess they taste like crawdads to the
catfish. The next month to month and a half should see the best
catfishing of the year. The baitfish will move in shallow and the
catfish will follow. Early November of last year a friend of mine and
I caught over 20 channel cats to 16lbs. in about an hour and a half
in 8ft.of water.
Catfish Report-September 25 1998
The cool weather has had an opposite effect on the channel catfish.
They are moving shallower (15ft.) and feeding more actively. There
are large schools of fish about 1/2 mile from the Nice and Lucerne
shoreline and they are feeding heavily on shad and silverside
baitfish. I went out this morning at about 9:30AM and was back in at
11:30AM with 3 nice fish :8lbs.,12lbs. and 20.12lbs. The 20.12
pounder is the biggest catfish I have ever caught and I was using a
light rod with 6lb. test Fireline. It took me over 25 minutes to land
the huge fish. Too bad I wasn't fishing in the derby when I caught it
as it would have taken first place. I was using shrimp for bait as I
usually do but I suspect that shad or silversides would be an even
better bait. Drift fishing is still the best method with just enough
weight to hold bottom and when you hook up with a fish, get ready for
a sizzling battle!..........Good Luck.......Catfish Ed
Clear Lake Oaks/Glenhaven Catfish Derby Final Results
Source: Terry Knight, Outdoor Columnist for the Lake
County Record Bee/September 20, 1998
There were 216 entries and over 200 catfish weighed in. There is no
tally on how many fish were actually caught but a conservative
estimate would be at least 400 including the smaller fish.
Here are the results with names, weights and prizes:
The final order of finish for the top 21 places were: 1. Dennis
Boyle, Redwood Valley, 20-pound, boat, motor, trailer; 2. Brent
Vierra, Tracy 19.67-pound, $420; 3. Bobby Howard, Marysville,
19.62-pound, $350; 4. Steve Jeffery, Clearlake Park, 18.68-pound,
$280; 5. Robert Contreras, Antioch, 18.63-pound, $210; 6. Dennis
Garcia, San Jose, 17.04-pounds, $175; 7. William Bhader, Forestville,
16.65-pound, $140; 8. Jeff Keeton, Brentwood, 16.59-pound, $105; 9.
Russell Blewett, Concord, 16.41-pound, $70; 10. Rob Martin, San Jose,
16.32-pound, $63; 11. Cory West, Yuba City, 15.98-pound, $56; 12.
Thurman Adams, Lucerne, 15.6-pound, $49; 13. Troy Waid, Cotati,
15.58-pound, $42; 14. Howard Gravesen, Penngrove, 15.52-pound, $35;
15. Ron Shaw, Sutter, 15.38-pound, $35; 16. Paul Bassham, Clearlake,
15.36-pound, $35; 17. Sharon Cook, Lathrop, 15.31-pound, $35; 18.
Cody Bird, Vacaville, 15.07-pound, $28; 19. William Harris, Oakland,
14.54-pound, $28; 20. Steve Jackson, Reno, 14.48-pound, $28; 21. Jim
Manos, Cloverdale, 14.41-pound, $28.
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