January 2, 2003 Since the heavy rain let up earlier this week the water is starting to clear in the north end of the lake. If we don't get another gullywasher in the next few days the bass fishing should improve considerably. Bass guide Ross England of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport (707)-262-1233 reports very little bass fishing activity in the north end due to the nasty weather and muddy water but says the fishing should improve in the next day or two because the water is starting to clear. Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707) 998-1006 says fishermen tossing pig-n-jigs or slow rolling white spinner baits are managing 2 to 4 fish for a day's effort. Anglers fishing with live jumbo minnows in the south end of the lake are catching easy limits of 2 to 4 pound bass. Most of the action is in rocky areas or docks in 6 to 12 feet of water. Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed The lake level is still rising slightly and is at 6.15 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. Last year at this time it was at 5.45 feet. Attention serious bass fishermen! For detailed "Clear Lake Bass Fishing Reports" Click Here (ncbf.com)   January 9, 2003 Bass fishing with artificials is still very tough for most anglers and those using live jumbo minnows are still having the most success. Bass guide Ross England of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport (707)-262-1233 said the only report he received was from one angler that caught and released 9 keepers weighing up to 7½ lbs "shakin" black/chartruse Ring Worms and using jumbo minnows. The 7½ was caught with a minnow.  Percy Oved of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707) 998-1006 says lure tossers are having a tough time boating one or two fish for a day's effort but minnow dunkers are still catching easy limits of 1½ to 3 lb'ers. Bass guide Big George Hawley (707) 279-9269 was out with a client on Sunday in the Lakeport and Nice/Lucerne Area and they caught 8 bass with 6 of them weighing between 3 and 5 pounds. They were using live jumbo minnows under a bobber set at between 6 and 8 feet. According to George the water is still stained but clearing and the fish will be biting better in just a few days. Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed The lake level is dropping slightly and is at 5.95 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. Last year at this time it was at 5.87 feet.   January 16, 2003 Fishing with artificials has improved condiderably and those using live jumbo minnows are still getting the most action. Bass guide Ross England of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport (707)-262-1233 said knowledgeable anglers are managing 4 or 5 bass in the 1½ to 3 lb class throwing carolina rigged plastic worms, rip baits and drop shot rigs around tules and rocks in 5 to 10 feet of water. Ross says fishermen using live jumbo minnows are still catching lots of bass ranging from 2 to 4 lbs. Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707) 998-1006 says drop shotting small plastic worms and throwing pig-n-jigs in rocky areas in 8 to 14 feet of water is producing some limits for experienced bass anglers. Most of the fish are fairly small, weighing from just over a pound to just under 3 lbs. Fishermen using live jumbo minnows are catching 10 to 12 fish per outing including a few larger fish up to 8 lbs. Bass Guide Richard Pounds (707) 279-4739 was out with a client last Friday and they caught 12 keepers ranging in weight from 1½ to 4½ lbs using live jumbo minnows. They caught their fish near the County Park in 4 to 8 feet of water. Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed The lake level is rising slowly and is at 6.30 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. Last year at this time it was at 5.81 feet.   January 23, 2003 The bass fishing is rated excellent in the south end of the lake but very slow for most anglers in the north end. Bass guide Ross England of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport (707)-262-1233 reports very slow bass action even with minnows. Ross says there are very few fishermen going out and the few that are giving it a try are catching only one or two fish at best. Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707) 998-1006 says the Clearlake Oaks Arm is producing lots of bass including some big fish. Joe Nichols of Clearlake caught and released 31 bass weighing from 2 to 7 pounds throwing a 4 inch plastic worm from shore between the Oaks Water Co. and the new launch ramp. Several weighed between 4 and 5 lbs and two of them weighed 7 lbs apiece. Bass Guide Richard Pounds (707) 279-4739 had a great trip last Monday. He and his client, Roscoe Dudley, caught and released 16 bass weighing from 2 to 10.6 lbs, including five fish weighing between 5 and 6 lbs while fishing with live jumbo minnows near the County Park outside of tule edges in 4 to 8 feet of water. Roscoe caught the 10.6, click here for photo. Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed The lake level is holding steady at 6.22 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. Last year at this time it was at 5.90 feet.   January 30, 2003 Bass fishing with artificials is improving considerably and fishing with live jumbo minnows is still very good. My wife and I fished with Bass Guide Richard Pounds (707) 279-4739 yesterday morning for about 5 hours and caught and released 19 bass weighing from 1½ to 5 lbs. Most of the fish weighed over 3 lbs with at least 6 weighing over 4 lbs. Naturally, my wife caught the 5 lb'er . We caught all of our fish with live jumbo minnows in 5 to 12 feet of water near tules and brush from the County Park to near the State Park. Bass guide Ross England of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport (707)-262-1233 says the fishing is very good both for minnow fishermen and knowledgeable lure tossers. One angler throwing june bug colored Baby Brush Hogs near tules and brush in the State Park area caught 12 fish including two 5 lb'ers while another angler caught 10 fish  in 3½ hours using minnows, also near the State Park. Cameron Cole of Lakeport caught and released 36 bass using carolina rigs and split shot rigs with 4½ inch Aaron's Magic Robo Worms while fishing from the Boat Works to Goose Neck Point just north of Clearlake.  Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed The lake level is rising very slowly and is at 6.36 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. Last year at this time it was at 6.01 feet.