Bass Report-July 30 1999 The fishing is excellent but most of the fish are on the small side averaging about 2 to 3 pounds. Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) reports very good fishing with pig-n-jigs, Brush Hogs and Baby Bass Zipper Worms around rockpiles and docks. Al adds that the topwater bite has been fair in the early morning hours with Zara Spooks, Pop-Rs and Nip-Ni Diddees. Bob Higgins of Limit Out Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707-998-1006) says Brush Hogs and Zipper worms are producing the best action around rockpiles and deepwater docks. Bob rates the topwater bite as spotty, good one day and dead the next. Terry Knight of the Lake County Record Bee says the north end of the lake is producing good catches of bass from 1 to 3 pounds casting Weed Wogs and plastic frogs back in the tules. There is still decent action skipping curly tail grubs and tube baits under floating docks, especially during midday.   Bass Report-July 23 1999 Bass fishing has slowed down during the day in the south end of the lake but it's very good in the early morning. In the north end it's just the opposite, there is a hot surface bite during the heat of the day. Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) reports a hot topwater bite in the early morning hours. Most anglers are getting their fish with Pop-Rs, Zara Spooks and a prop bait called Nip-Ni Diddee. The top spots are weeded flats in 3 to 6 feet of water. The fish are averaging around 3 pounds with quite a few quality fish in the 6 to 7 pound class thrown in. Bob Higgins of Limit Out Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707-998-1006) says the bass fishing is a little on the slow side but his regulars are doing fairly good with Brush Hogs and Dead-Ringer worms in the early morning hours around rockpiles and deep docks. Terry Knight, outdoor columnist for the Lake County Record Bee reports great topwater fishing from Lakeport to the state park in the matted weed beds. The top producers have been plastic frogs in either black or white and Weed-Wogs rigged with a strofoam float. The best time has been from 10:00AM to 3:00PM. The Nice/Lucerne area is still producing good catches of fish up to 6 pounds by skipping plastic grubs and tube baits way up under floating docks in the middle of the day according to Terry.   Bass Report-July 16 1999 The summer bass pattern is still in full swing. The only real change is that there are some better quality fish showing up. Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) reports good catches on both topwaters and plastics. Al rates Pop-Rs and Zara Spooks as the most productive topwater baits and adds that the topwater bite has been lasting all day. Zipper worms and Brush Hogs are his picks for fishing rockpiles in 10 to 12 feet of water. Most of the fish have been running 3 pounds and over. Bob Higgins of Limit Out Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707-998-1006) reports good results fishing rockpiles with Dead Ringers and Brush Hogs. Bob adds that the plastic frog bite has been spotty at best. The north end of the lake is still producing decent catches by skipping grubs and tube baits under docks, especially low floating docks with lots of shade. The topwater bite is fair with plastic frogs and baits such as Pop-Rs, especially in the early mornings.   Bass Report-July 9 1999 These bass reports are starting to get very repetitive. This is due to the fact that the summer pattern has set in. The key words for most bass fishermen are "rocks and docks". Al freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) reports a lot of 2 to 3 pound bass being taken from shallow rockpiles, boat docks and around tules. Most of the fish are falling for Brush Hogs, Dead Ringers and most other popular plastic baits. Bob Higgins of Limit Out Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707-998-1006) has a similar report. He favors Brush Hogs, Zipper Worms and 4 inch grubs fished around rockpiles and boat docks for a lot of 2 to 3 pound fish. Terry Knight of the Lake County Record Bee makes it unanimous as far as the size of most of the bass being caught. Terry suggests skipping grubs or tube baits under floating docks in the north end of the lake for large numbers of bass in the 2 to 3 pound class. He adds that there is still a fair topwater bite in the early morning.   Bass Report-July 2 1999 The bass fishing remains excellent all around the lake. The basic pattern has been topwater fishing early in the morning and plastics on shallow rockpiles or under docks later in the day. Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait in Clearlake Oaks (707-998-1006) reports lots of bass in the 2 to 3 pound class falling for Dead Ringer worms, Brush Hogs and plastic lizards around the outside of tules and shallow rockpiles. He adds that the topwater bite in the Clearlake Oaks Keys has been very good in the early morning hours. Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) has a similar report. Al says most of the popular plastic baits are catching plenty of fish around tules and rockpiles and the topwater bite around matted weedbeds is good in the early morning. Terry Knight of the Lake County Record Bee confirms the topwater bite in the early morning and adds that the north end of the lake is producing a lot of fish by skipping curly tail grubs under floating or crank-up docks later in the day. For trophy sized bass, Terry suggests skipping live crawdads under these docks. .Back to Old Bass Reports