CatfishED.com

August 2, 2001

     The bass fishing is rated very slow during the daylight hours and fair to good at night. The topwater bite is practically non-existent.

     Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks says most daytime anglers are very lucky to boat 2 fish for a day's effort but it's a different story for night fishermen. Bob reports most night fishermen are catching upwards of 5 fish each and one pair of anglers managed 15 fish up to 9 pounds. The top baits are pig-n-jigs and Brush Hogs fished in rocky areas from 8 to 20 feet deep.

     Al Freitas of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake beat the daytime odds yesterday by catching and releasing 7 bass from 3 to 4 pounds with Baby Bass Zipper Worms fished around rocks and breaks in 8 to 12 feet of water during the day. One of Al's hotspots was Bass Alley.

     Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed

     The lake level is dropping and is at 2.67 feet on the rumsey gauge, 7.56 is considered "full pool".

August 9, 2001

     The bass fishing has improved quite a bit since last week.

     Al Freitas of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake reports most anglers are catching 5 or 6 fish per outing. Throwing Senkos and Baby Bass Zipper worms along the shoreline in 3 to 5 feet of water is producing good results as is throwing Pop-R's and buzz baits in the early morning. Most of the fish are 3 to 4 pounders with a few hogs going 6 to 10 pounds.

     Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks says they are taking a few nice fish tossing plastic frogs over heavily matted weed beds during the early morning hours. Senkos and pig-n-jigs are accounting for good catches of fish running 3 to 5 pounds around rocky areas in 4 to 15 feet of water during the day as well as at night.

     Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed

     The lake level is dropping and is at 2.48 feet on the rumsey gauge, 7.56 is considered "full pool".

August 16, 2001

     The south end of the lake is producing fair numbers of bass but the north end is rated very tough.

     Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks says the bass fishing is tough except in the Clearlake arm where they're catching 4 or 5 fish averaging 2 to 3 pounds per person tossing Senkos and crankbaits in 6 to 10 feet of water. Bob adds that they are taking a few on plastic frogs early morning and late evening.

     Al Freitas of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake reports most anglers are catching limits of 3 to 5 pound fish throwing Senkos and Baby Bass Zipper Worms in rocks and breaks in 6 to 15 feet of water. Bass guide Dave Majestic caught and released 11 fish from 3 to 5 pounds with plastic frogs in the north end of the lake earlier this week.

     Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed

     The lake level is dropping and is at 2.21 feet on the rumsey gauge, 7.56 is considered "full pool".

August 23, 2001

     The bass fishing is fairly good for this time of year in spite of the heavy weed growth in some areas.

     Percy Oved of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks says most bassers are catching at least 3 or 4 fish running 2 to 4 pounds per outing tossing Senkos and Dead Ringers at the edge of weed lines or working crankbaits over rocky areas in 8 to 20 feet of water. There are a few fish being taken in the early morning and late evening with topwaters. One lucky angler caught a 10 pound 5 ounce bass with a live jumbo minnow at Rattlesnake Island.

     Brad Farrin, new owner of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake has a similar report to Percy's on the bass fishing. He recommends throwing Senkos and Zipper Worms around rocky points in 10 to 12 feet of water. Most anglers are catching 4 or 5 fish running 2 to 4 pounds. Brad adds that the north end of the lake is producing some decent catches with buzzbaits in the early morning and late evening as well as fair catches of 2 to 3 pounders during the day with live jumbo minnows.

     Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed

     The lake level is dropping and is at 1.90 feet on the rumsey gauge, 7.56 is considered "full pool".

August 30, 2001

     We're still in the "summer doldrums" of bass fishing although some persistent anglers are experiencing a few good days.

     Brad Farrin of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake says it's running hot and cold. A couple of bassers went out one day and caught 12 nice fish but the next day they worked hard all day for only 2 fish. They are starting to catch a few decent fish on plastic frogs worked over weed mats but most of the action is coming with crankbaits and Senkos fished in rocky areas in 5 to 10 feet of water.

     Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks 707-998-1006 rates the bass fishing as slow. They are catching a few on frogs tossed over weed mats in the early afternoon and with crankbaits fished over rock reefs in 6 to 15 feet of water but most fishermen are lucky to boat 3 fish a day.

     In the north end of the lake they're catching a few with 4½ inch Castaic Minnows worked at the outside edge of tule lines and docks while some anglers are catching a few with frogs over weed mats.

     Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed

     The lake level is dropping and is at 1.70 feet on the rumsey gauge, 7.56 is considered "full pool".