July 7 2000 The stiff breezes and cooler temperatures have slowed down the bass fishing considerably. Persistent anglers willing to put in the time are still doing fairly well with plastic worms. Percy Oved of Limit Out Bait and Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707-998-1006) says that most of the action in his area is at the outside of tule lines and under docks. The top producer is still the 5 inch Senko Worm in watermelon/black. Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake confirms the slower fishing. He went out yesterday and managed 5 fish from 3 to 4 pounds with Senkos but he says he really had to work for them. He suggests trying breaks in around 12 feet of water with Brush Hogs and Baby Bass Zipper Worms since the fish are starting to move out to those areas. The north end is still giving up a few fish on topwaters very early in the morning in some of the more sheltered areas. Plastic worms and Brush Hogs tossed under docks are still accounting for a few fish for those who are willing to put in the time. Good Fishin.......Catfish Ed The lake level continues to drop as it will all summer and is at 4.92 feet on the Rumsey gauge.   July 14 2000 The bass fishing is really tough for most anglers. The topwater bite has completely died and other methods are producing only 2 or 3 fish per outing. The only encouraging report comes from Jeannette Owen at Lakeport Tackle (707-263-8862). She reports a tournament fisherman that is prefishing for the West Coast Bass Tournament this weekend caught 7 nice fish yesterday morning using Senko worms in the south end of the lake. Unfortunately because he is in the competition he could not devulge the location. He said that he had tried many different lures and methods but the only thing that worked was the Senkos. Bob Higgins of Limit Out Tackle in the Oaks says the fishing is very slow, there are a few fish being taken at Rattlesnake Island with Brush Hogs and Zipper worms. Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake also reports very tough fishing. Persistent anglers throwing Senkos, Brush Hogs and Zipper worms are managing 3 or 4 fish for a days effort. Al suggests fishing a little deeper water around rocks, docks and breaks with plastics. Good Fishin.......Catfish Ed Attention serious bass fishermen! For detailed "Clear Lake Bass Fishing Reports" Click Here (ncbf.com) The lake level is down to 4.64 feet on the Rumsey gauge.   July 21 2000 Although the bass fishing is still on the tough side, experienced anglers that put in the time are catching some decent fish. Local bass guide Big George Hawley went out yesterday morning and caught 5 fish from 2 to 4 pounds before 10:00AM. He caught one on a Zara Spook and 4 on a 7 inch brown/red flake curly tail plastic worm fishing the Nice/Lucerne shoreline. He recommends fishing early morning and late evening. Percy Oved of Limit Out Bait and Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707-998-1006) reports the local pros have been getting anywhere from 8 to 12 fish per outing using Senkos and Dead Ringers around Rattlesnake Island. He adds that they are starting to get a few on crankbaits as well. Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake says the topwater bite is starting to come back. He suggests throwing Chug-Bugs, Zara Spooks and Pop-Rs along the sides of weedbeds. He adds that the frog bite is non existent because the fish are not under the weed mats but rather along the sides of them. Good Fishin.......Catfish Ed Attention serious bass fishermen! For detailed "Clear Lake Bass Fishing Reports" Click Here (ncbf.com) The lake level is down to 4.34 feet on the Rumsey gauge.   July 28 2000 Some bass anglers are catching a few while a lot of others are doing poorly and attributing it to the "summer doldrums". R. C. Stephens of Limit Out Bait and Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707-998-1006) says the locals are having good luck throwing Dead Ringer and Senko worms along the outside of the weed lines. They are getting quite a few in the early morning with topwater baits such as Chug-Bugs and Pop-Rs also on the outside edges of the weed beds. Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake went out on Tuesday with a friend and they managed 9 bass from 3 to 4 pounds to quote Al verbatum: "by throwing almost everything in their tackle boxes". Some of the successful lures were: Senkos, Zipper worms, Brush Hogs and Chug-Bugs. They took 3 of their fish on the Chug-Bug and believe it or not they came in the afternoon. They concentrated on the mid-lake area and fished the outside edges of weed beds. Local bass guide Big George Hawley had a 6 hour trip on Tuesday that produced 9 bass from 2 to 4 pounds. He was fishing the north end of the lake around points and hard bottom areas throwing 3 and 4 inch plastic baits. He had a 3 hour outing yesterday that produced 6 fish from 1 1/2 to 3 pounds with the same basic pattern.   Good Fishin.......Catfish Ed Attention serious bass fishermen! For detailed "Clear Lake Bass Fishing Reports" Click Here (ncbf.com) The lake level is down to 3.99 feet on the Rumsey gauge.   Back to Year 2000 Bass Reports