March 2, 2001 The continued colder than normal water temperatures have really taken their toll on the bass fishing. There is still some snow melt running into the lake from the storms we had the last couple of weekends. The water temperature on Wednesday ranged from the low 40's to around 48 degrees but has cooled down some since then due to cooler air temperatures. Anglers using artificials are lucky to catch one fish for a day's effort and even those using live jumbo minnows are having a hard time catching a limit of five fish. The north end of the lake is muddy in most areas which makes it even tougher to get the fish to bite. The majority of the bass that are being caught are in the south end where the water is fairly clear. Fishing breaks and rocky areas in 10 to 15 feet has been the most successful pattern. Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed The lake level has risen to 3.90 feet on the rumsey gauge. Attention serious bass fishermen! For detailed "Clear Lake Bass Fishing Reports" Click Here (ncbf.com)   March 9, 2001 The rising water and slightly warmer temperatures have gotten the bass back on the bite. Al Freitas of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake reports most bassers are catching 3 to 4 fish per outing running from 3 to 5 pounds with the top baits being spinner baits, crankbaits and Dead Ringer plastic worms in that order. Rocky areas in 3 to 9 feet of water are producing most of the fish. Anglers using live minnows are catching 5 to 10 bass per trip rigging with bobbers and fishing in 3 to 5 feet of water. The north end of the lake is giving up some nice fish, especially in the newly flooded tules and brush. Throwing spinner baits and crankbaits in tules and brush just about anywhere in the north end is producing 4 or 5 fish per angler with most of the fish running 3½ to 5 pounds. There are quite a few nice bass being taken by shorebound bassers at the mouths of harbors and near tule lines in the Nice/Lucerne area with spinnerbaits and jigs. Justin Leonard of Upper Lake caught a 12 pound bass while fishing for catfish with nightcrawlers off his mother's dock in Nice, that's the biggest bass I've heard of in quite a while. Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed The lake level has risen to 4.89 feet on the rumsey gauge, 7.56 is considered "full pool".   March 16, 2001 Bass fishing is fair in the north end of the lake but slow in the south end. Al Freitas of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake says the south end is fairly muddy which is making the fishing pretty tough. Anglers using live jumbo minnows are catching 6 to10 fish per day. Lure tossers are having a tough time catching 3 or 4 fish a day. Terry Knight of the Lake County Record Bee says bassers are catching anywhere from only 2 or 3 to 6 or more fish for their effort in the north end. The top baits have been jig-n-pigs and spinner baits pitched into flooded tules and brush in 2 to 4 feet of water. One of the more productive areas has been around the State Park and the County Park. Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed The lake level has risen to 5.05 feet on the rumsey gauge, 7.56 is considered "full pool".   March 23, 2001 The warmer water (mid 50's to low 60's ) is causing more bass to move into the flooded tules and brush to begin the spawning process. Plastic worms and spinner baits are accounting for most of the fish. Al Freitas of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake reports good action with plastic worms, especially Senkos. One fisherman caught 13 bass from 2½ to 5 pounds throwing Senkos inside the tules in 3 to 5 feet of water. Most anglers throwing plastics are catching 7 or 8 fish per outing. Live minnow anglers are catching 10 to 15 bass per day fishing the outside of the tules but most are smaller fish of 2 to 3 pounds. In the north end, especially in the Nice/Lucerne area spinner baits thrown into flooded tules and brush as well as plastic worms and jigs are producing the best results. Knowledgeable bassers are scratching out 3 or 4 fish for a day's effort. Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed The lake level is still rising slightly and is up to 5.15 feet on the rumsey gauge, 7.56 is considered "full pool". Attention serious bass fishermen! For detailed "Clear Lake Bass Fishing Reports" Click Here (ncbf.com)   March 30, 2001 The bass fishing hasn't broken wide open yet but most anglers are catching a few fish for their efforts. Al Freitas of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake says most of the locals are catching 3 or 4 fish per trip running 2 to 3 pounds with Senkos and Lucky Craft Pointer Minnows thrown inside the tules in 3 to 5 feet of water in the south end of the lake. Terry Knight, Outdoor Columnist for the Lake County Record Bee, reports most bassers are catching 4 or 5 fish per day in the north end of the lake tossing plastic worms inside the tules. Terry went out Thursday and caught 5 bass for a total weight of over 23 pounds. I talked to a gentleman that was fishing off my seawall in his boat Thursday evening and he reported catching 10 fish from 3 to 4 pounds fishing tules and docks with plastic worms. Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed The lake level is still rising ever so slightly and is up to 5.21 feet on the rumsey gauge, 7.56 is considered "full pool". Attention serious bass fishermen! For detailed "Clear Lake Bass Fishing Reports" Click Here (ncbf.com) Back to 2001 Bass Reports