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March 6, 2003
Well folks, I have not been able to get any catfish reports again
this week. I even phoned several RV parks and motels on the lake but
no one has heard of anyone targeting catfish lately. I think the hot
bass fishing is causing even the most dedicated catfishermen to
target bass instead.
I should try a little catfishing myself but I just don't have the
time right now. I'm still seeing a few vehicles parked along Rodman
Slough but I have no idea how they're doing or if they are targeting
catfish. Like I said in last week's report, if I were going to give
it a try I would fish Rodman Slough using nightcrawlers and minnows.
The best time would likely be from dusk to around midnight.
Hopefully the nicer weather we've been having will bring out a few
serious catfish anglers and they will get into some good action very soon.
March 13, 2003
The action is still very slow with the exception of a few pan sized
catfish being taken in various spots.
Ross
England of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport (707)-262-1233
reports a few 2 to 4 lb catfish being caught off the docks at Edgewater
Resort (707)-279-0208 with
nightcrawlers and cut baits.
Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707)
998-1006 says they're catching a few small cats in the
Clearlake Oaks Keys with nightcrawlers but it's still a waiting game.
Rodman Slough is still kicking out a few catfish but it's a very long
wait between bites. Some anglers are catching a couple of cats for a
day's or night's effort while others are blanking.
For those of you interested in crappie, they're catching quite a few
at Rocky Point and Rodman Slough with live minnows and red &
white crappie jigs.
March 20, 2003
The catfishing is still in a deep slump but the recent rains have
improved it a little. Muddy water runoff from the rains is causing
the cats to go on the bite in some areas.
Vic Fung of Clearlake Oaks has been catching a few brown bullheads in
the 2 lb class off his dock in the Keys using shad as bait and has
lost a couple of really large cats that broke his 30 lb test line.
There have been a few nice size channel catfish and some nice
stringers of brown bullheads being caught in Rodman Slough. The top
baits have been mini crawlers and gobs of garden worms. The slough
has muddied up from the recent rains which has caused the cats to
start feeding.
Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707)
998-1006 says they are catching an occasional 8 to 10 lb
catfish around Rattlesnake Island with jumbo minnows and mackerel.
There are quite a few small cats in the 1 to 2 lb range being caught
in the Clearlake Oaks Keys with minnows and mini crawlers. Bob adds
that the crappie fishing in the Keys has broken wide open. Some
anglers are limiting out on crappie going from ½ to 1½ lbs.
Medium size live minnows and red & white crappie jigs are
accounting for most of the action.
March 27, 2003
The catfish action is improving in the south end of the lake but it's
still slow in the north end.
Ken Brown from Fair Oaks had a fairly successful trip last weekend.
He caught 3 cats weighing 7, 10 and 11 lbs while fishing at
Henderson Point on Friday evening. On Saturday afternoon he caught a
18.2 lb'er and a 19.5 lb'er at Anderson Island. He hooked three other
big cats that broke off near the boat. All cats were caught on frozen
shad and were released back into the lake to be caught again. The
fact that Ken managed to catch some good fish illustrates what I've
been saying all along, the catfish are cooperating in the south end
of the lake if people want to target them.
There has been very little catfishing activity in the north end of
the lake. They're still catching an occasional fish at the mouth of
Rodman Slough with nightcrawlers and mackerel. My wife caught an 8
pound channel cat off the Library Park Pier with a maple flavored
doughball on Monday. |