CatfishED.com

August 4 2000

     The bass fishing is still a far cry from what it could be for this time of year. Most of the experienced anglers and especially the professional guides are doing fairly well while the rest are having a tough time getting bit.

     Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait and Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707-998-1006) reports some of his regulars are averaging 3 to 5 fish an evening around Rattlesnake Island throwing Dead Ringers, Senkos and Zipper worms. Bob also reports a 12 pound 4 ounce hawg was taken at the north end of Rattlesnake with a Castaic Trout by a gentleman that goes by the name of "Fish Kris".

     Al Freitas of Don's Bait in Clearlake went fishing Monday with professional guide Sandy Haegar and they caught 15 bass from 3 to 5 pounds using Senkos, Brush Hogs, live jumbo minnows and a couple on a chug-bug topwater bait. They caught their fish around rocks except the topwater fish which were taken at the edges of weed lines.

     Professional guide Big George Hawley of Kelseyville (707-279-9269) went out on Wednesday and caught 6 fish from 2 to 6 pounds fishing hard bottoms and points in the north end of the lake with 4 inch plastic baits.

     Good Fishin.......Catfish Ed

     The lake level is down to 3.72 feet on the Rumsey gauge.

August 11 2000

     The bass fishing is improving steadily with a variety of methods being successful.

     Dorothy Higgins of Limit Out Bait and Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707-998-1006) reports fair action with Dead Ringer worms and Brush Hogs fished around rocks, tossing spinner baits at the edges of tule lines and buzzbaits at the edges of weed mats and tules.

     Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle is still suggesting trying a lot of different baits and methods. He says most anglers are getting between 5 and 10 fish per outing running around 3 pounds with a few to 5 or 6 using Senkos and Brush Hogs as well as crankbaits in rocks and spinner baits, buzzbaits and frogs at the weed mat edges. For those who want lots of action, live jumbo minnows are the way to go.

     Jeanette Owen of Lakeport Tackle (707-263-8862) says they are doing fairly well with Senkos and Brush Hogs fishing around and under docks and with spinner baits around docks, tules and weed beds.

     Professional bass guide George Hawley (707- 279-9269) suggests throwing Senkos and Brush Hogs around rockpiles in 4 to 8 feet of water especially in early morning and late evening. He adds that they have been getting a few on plastic frogs up to 8 pounds also early and late.

     A 13.97 pounder was caught with a Hula Jig at the Northern California Bass Fishers annual Nut Case Rally at Clearlake last weekend.

     Good Fishin.......Catfish Ed

     The lake level is down to 3.36 feet on the Rumsey gauge

August 18 2000

     The topwater bite is finally picking up according to most reports and plastics, crankbaits and blades are still producing a few fish during the day. Most of the fish are 2 to 3 pounders with a few 4s and 5s showing up once in a while.

     Percy Oved of Limit Out Bait and Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707-998-1006) says the frog bite is picking up and buzzbaits are producing as well. The trick is to work the edges of weed mats and try to find isolated mats rather than huge weed beds. He adds that most bassers are taking a few fish with plastics, blades and crankbaits around rocks and docks.

     Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake reports improving topwater action with frogs, buzzbaits and chug-bugs. He also recommends trying plastic baits such as Senkos and Brush Hogs around deep rocky areas and for a lot of action and some larger fish use live jumbo minnows in these areas.

     In the north end of the lake topwater baits are the way to go especially in the early morning and late evening. Skipping grubs under shaded docks especially floating docks in the heat of the day is producing some decent catches as well.

     Good Fishin.......Catfish Ed

     The lake level is down to 3.03 feet on the Rumsey gauge.

August 25 2000

     The topwater bite is very good for some anglers while others are having a tough time of it. Plastics are the top producers during the heat of the day.

     The best topwater report comes from professional bass guide Richard Pounds of Kelseyville (707-279-4739), he fished the south end of the lake on Wednesday and caught 11 bass ranging from a little under 3 pounds to 7 pounds. He caught 8 on buzzbaits and 3 on frogs.

     Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake says he and a couple of friends tried topwaters on Tuesday and didn't even get a blowup. They caught 9 bass on Brush Hogs in watermelon seed and pumpkin colors running around 2 to 4 pounds. He received reports from 2 different guides that the frog bite has been quite good around the State Park in the afternoon and evening starting around 3:00PM.

     Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait and Tackle in the Oaks reports they are doing well with topwaters in the early mornings around the edge of weed beds and with Brush Hogs and Dead Ringer worms in the deeper rockpiles (8 to10 feet) later in the day.

     The lake level is down to 2.61 feet on the Rumsey gauge.

     Good Fishin.......Catfish Ed