March 7, 2002 I know this is getting boring but the catfishing remains slow. We need to get enough rain to start some muddy water runoff into the lake or enough warm weather to raise the water temperatures to the low 60's. The present water temps are running from the low to mid 50's. Brad Farrin of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake 707-995-9668 says he's heard of an occasional channel catfish being taken from Cache Creek with nightcrawlers and a few off private docks with mackerel but they are few and far between. There's not much going on in the north end of the lake as no one's catfishing. Clear Lake visitor Jesse Cornish from Minnesota nailed a 15 lb channel cat in a cove near Rocky Point while fishing for bass with jumbo minnows.   March 14, 2002  The cold and windy weather that we have been experiencing for most of this past week has kept would be catfish anglers off the water. Clear Lake is such a big lake that I'm sure there were a few catfish caught off some of the private docks in the more sheltered areas around the lake but I didn't hear about any of them. Since I don't have an actual catfish report this week I'll fill this space with some general information about catfishing at this time of year: As soon as the weather warms up and stays warm for at least 3 or 4 days in succession, the channel catfish should start to move into shallower water around tules and docks to feed on crawdads and whatever other forage they can find. The best way to target them is using a slip bobber with the bobber-stop set to suspend the bait about one foot above the bottom. Use just enough weight to make the bobber float vertically and about half submerged and bait with shrimp, live crawdads or big lively nightcrawlers and fish around tules and or docks in 5 to 10 feet of water. When the bobber dissappears, set the hook and hold on. Good luck.......Catfish Ed   March 21, 2002 The catfish are still a bit hard to locate but there have been a few showing up here and there. I believe that part of the problem is the water temperature is still in the low 50's. As soon as it rises to a consistent 55° or more, the fishing should improve quite a bit. Brad Stevens of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport 707-262-1233 reports one catfish angler caught and released 10 channel cats weighing from 10 to 24 pounds in an undisclosed area near the State Park. The total weight of his catch was 140 pounds for an amazing 14 pound average. He was fishing at night in about 10 to 15 feet of water with frozen shad. The only other report comes from Brad Farrin of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake 707-995-9668 who reports a few decent sized catfish coming from Cache Creek using nightcrawlers as bait. I haven't heard of any action in the Nice/Lucerne Area lately but hopefully it will start up soon.   March 28, 2002 We're finally getting some spring-like weather but it'll take a few more days of it before the water warms up enough to really get the catfish feeding. The water temperatures are just reaching the high 50's. Brad Stevens of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport 707-262-1233 reports a 24 pound channel cat being caught by a bass fisherman with a plastic worm in Rodman Slough. Brad says they're catching an occasional big channel cat in the Lakeport Lagoons with nightcrawlers. Cary of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake 707-995-9668 says that although he's selling quite a bit of catfish bait, his customers aren't reporting any catches. Rodman Slough is starting to give up a few nice cats using clams and nightcrawlers but plan on spending a lot of time for one or two fish. Crappie I don't normally do a crappie report but Ed Ott of Ed's Market in Nice 707-274-8029 reports two anglers caught 40 crappie in Rodman Slough with medium sized live minnows and red & white crappie jigs. There have been several other reports of good crappie catches in the slough this week.