May 4, 2001 Wind, wind and more wind is what we have been experiencing for most of the past week. Those fishing in sheltered areas or in between blows are doing pretty good on cats from 7 to 14 pounds and an occasional 18 or 20 pounder. Al Freitas of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) reports most of the action in the shelter of Cache Creek with most boats returning with up to 10 nice cats in the 7 to 14 pound range using live jumbo minnows. A friend of mine by the name of Catmanw from San Jose CA braved the wind last weekend in the Clearlake area and ended up catching and releasing 6 cats from 2 to 19 pounds with mackerel while drift fishing on the break at Bass Alley. The few catfishermen trying the north end of the lake are getting a few cats in the 5 to 10 pound range with nightcrawlers and crawdads fished under a bobber in 5 to 7 feet of water around tules and submerged trees in the Nice/Lucerne area and Rodman Slough. Ed Ott of Ed's Market in Nice (707-274-8029) says they are still catching some big crappie along the Nice shoreline and in Rodman Slough with minnows and crappie jigs. Just a reminder that the annual Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Family Catfish Derby will be held May 18th, 19th and 20th with a total of $8000 in cash and prizes. For more info call 1-800 CL-DERBY (From 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. P.S.T.)   May 11, 2001 The extremely warm weather that we've had the past week has really improved the catfishing. The south end is giving up a lot of big cats and the few anglers trying the north end are catching quite a few as well. Al Freitas of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) says the fishing is "awesome". The fish are running from 8 to 20 pounds with a large percentage of them being from 15 to over 20 pounds. The top method is anchoring at White Rock, Monitor Island and Cache Creek at night. The best baits are frozen minnows, nightcrawlers and mackerel in that order. Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707-998-1006) says they haven't had much activity in the main lake but are still catching a few in the Keys in the 8 to 10 pound class with nightcrawlers plus a whopping 28 pounder that was caught and released with a crawler. Bob adds that the crappie are still hitting live minnows and crappie jigs in the Keys and along the Glenhaven shoreline. Ed Ott of Ed's Market in Nice (707-274-8029) reports a few cats being taken in Rodman Slough and along the Nice/Lucerne shoreline running around 5 to 10 pounds with nightcrawlers and clams. Boaters are catching quite a few nice cats fishing shrimp under a slip bobber set at around 4 or 5 feet along the tule lines in Nice, Lucerne and near Rodman Slough. Ed says the crappie are still grabbing minnows and jigs along the Nice shoreline and in the slough. Just a reminder that the annual Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Family Catfish Derby is less than a week away. It will be held May 18th, 19th and 20th with a total of $8000 in cash and prizes. For more info call 1-800 CL-DERBY (From 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. P.S.T.)   May 17, 2001 Since the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Family Catfish Derby starts tomorrow I'm putting this report out a day early. The catfishing in the south end of the lake has really turned on just in time for the derby. Most anglers are getting plenty of action but there haven't been too many big fish. Al Freitas of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) reports the average all night trip is producing upwards of 8 to10 cats per angler with most fish running from 8 to 14 pounds. The top baits have been dead minnows, live crawdads and mackerel in that order. All the popular spots in the Clearlake area are producing including White Rock, Monitor Island, Frazier Point and Cache Creek from the mouth all the way to the dam. Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait and Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707-998-1006) says they are catching quite a few cats weighing from 10 to 15 pounds at the mouth of the Keys and at Rattlesnake Island with dead minnows, mackerel and fresh clams. The north end of the lake isn't giving up a lot of fish but they are catching a few bigger ones. Ed Ott of Ed's Market in Nice (707-274-8029) weighed in an 18 pounder earlier this week that was taken on nightcrawlers. Most of the fish are falling for live crawdads, shrimp or nightcrawlers fished under a bobber in around 5 feet of water near tules and or brush. I want to wish everyone who is fishing the Derby this weekend the best of luck. They are predicting great weather and the cats are biting so everybody go out and enjoy yourselves.   May 25, 2001 The catfishing in the south end of the lake is excellent as evidenced by the results of the Catfish Derby. Al Freitas of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake 707-995-9668 says the bite is still very good at the mouth of Cache Creek, Bass Alley, White Rock and most similar areas in the Clearlake arm. Most fish are running 10 to 15 pounds with quite a few pushing 20 pounds and they are falling for dead minnows, mackerel and live crawfish. Both anchoring and drift fishing are producing. Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks 707-998-1006 reports excellent catfishing around Rattlesnake Island and most other rocky areas in the Oaks arm. Most fish are being taken on live and or dead jumbo minnows, live crawdads and cut bait. There are a lot of large cats in the 20 pound class being caught along with the usual 10 to 14 pounders. The north end of the lake is giving up some nice fish for the few catfish anglers that are trying it. The best action can be had fishing shrimp, crawdads or nightcrawlers under a bobber in 4 to 8 feet of water around tules or sunken brush. There are still a few nice crappie being caught in Rodman Slough with live minnows fished under a bobber in brushy areas.   May 31, 2001 The catfishing is settling into it's late spring/early summer pattern with most of the fish starting to spawn around rocky areas and submerged tires. Al Freitas of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake 707-995-9668 says the catfishing is great, in fact some bass fishermen using live jumbo minnows are catching more catfish than bass. Night fishermen anchoring in Cache Creek are averaging 5 or 6 fish running from 6 to 15 pounds using live minnows and crawdads. Drift fishing at Shag Rock, Frazer Point and Horseshoe Bend is producing at least 5 or 6 fish per trip with minnows and crawdads. If you're fishing the north end of the lake use crawdads, shrimp or nightcrawlers under a bobber in 4 to 6 feet of water around submerged tires and rocks especially in the Nice/Lucerne area. The water has been clear enough to see the spawning cats so you can actually cast to individual fish and watch them take the bait.   Back to 2001 Catfish Reports