CatfishED.com

Clear Lake Catfish Report-March 1 1999

Finally the weather improved and so did the catfishing, especially in the north end of the lake. We did have some rain this weekend but it was a warm rain. The air temperature rose to almost 60 degrees.

Ed Ott of Ed's Market in Nice (707-274-8029) had a very encouraging report. There were several nice channel catfish taken at the mouth of Rodman Slough, including a 12 pounder, a 18 pounder and a 22 pounder. Ed says the majority of the fish fell for nightcrawlers. A fair amount of brown bullheads were caught in the slough and at the mouth.

Al Frietas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake says he is seeing more and more catfishermen every day and a lot of them are catching fish. The hotspot is still in or near Cache Creek. Quite a few nice channel cats are being caught along with plenty of brown bullheads. The larger cats are taking minnows and cutbait while the brown bullheads are gobbling worms.....Good Fishing......Catfish Ed.

As of 10:00AM this morning the lake level is at 7.49 feet above Rumsey.

Clear Lake Catfish Report-March 5 1999

Due to the return of colder weather, there are fewer catfishermen going out. The ones that do are having fair results.

Al Frietas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake reports a few channel cats are still being caught in the Cache Creek area with minnows and cut bait. Chip Norman of Clearlake caught 5 pound and 8 pound channel cats at Holiday Trailer Park in the main lake.

Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait and Tackle in the Oaks had 7 pound and 11 pound channels weighed in that were taken with dead shad.

Terry Knight of the Lake County Record Bee reports a lot of brown bullheads falling for garden worms and mini-crawlers in the Nice-Lucerne area where the muddy runoff flows into the lake. One lucky angler caught 15 nice pan sized cats in an unamed spot in Nice.

I normally don't do crappie reports but in case anybody is interested, both Bob Higgins and Al Frietas are getting reports of large crappie (over 2 pounds) being caught in the Clearlake Oaks Keys and in the lagoons off of Cache Creek......Good Fishin...Catfish Ed.

As of 11:00AM this morning the lake level is at 7.33 feet above Rumsey.

Clear Lake Catfish Report-March 8 1999

The catfishing remains fair for those who put in the time and effort. The south end of the lake is a little more productive than the north end right now.

Al Frietas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake reports fair fishing for channel catfish in Cache Creek with live minnows and cut bait. Chip Norman of Holiday Trailer Park has been averaging two channels every evening with minnows. Al received a report of a 25 pound channel cat caught in the Clearlake Oaks Keys with a jumbo live minnow.

The north end of the lake is still producing a few brown bullheads at the mouths of creeks and in Rodman Slough with an occasional big channel cat thrown in. Mini crawlers and cut bait have been the top baits. The water is still too cold for the fishing to really break open. We continue to wait for a few warm days to get things going.....Good Fishing...Catfish Ed

Clear Lake Catfish Report-March 12 1999

The continuing cold water keeps the catfishing on the tough side. Some anglers are doing fairly good while others are drawing a blank.

Bob Higgins of Limit Out Tackle in Clearlake Oaks weighed in a 18 pound 2 ounce channel cat taken in the Keys with an extra large live minnow.

Al Frietas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake reports 2 to 3 channel cats a night being taken at Holiday Trailer Park with jumbo minnows. Cache Creek is still fairly productive for smaller channel cats and a few brown bullheads.

It's very difficult to find a catfisherman on the north end of the lake. A few brown bullheads are being taken near muddy water runoffs but that's about it...Good Luck...Catfish Ed.

Clear Lake Catfish Report-March 15 1999

It was a very slow weekend for catfishermen due to the storm. The north end of the lake was pounded by south winds all weekend which made it next to impossible to make a serious effort.

Al Frietas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake had the only report: A few small channel cats (1 or 2 per person) are being caught around the Clearlake area from shore with nightcrawlers. There are a few serious catmen fishing in Cache Creek with live minnows but they're not talking.

Hopefully the weather will improve this week and I'll have some good news in my Friday fish report......Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed

Clear Lake Catfish Report-March 19 1999

The unstable weather hasn't affected the catfishing as much as the bass fishing. The south end of the lake is still the best bet. This is probably due to the lack of catfishermen in the north end.

Al Frietas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake reports lots of large channel cats, up to ten fish a night, being caught in Pirates Cove off of various docks with cut baits such as mackerel or anchovies. Cache Creek is still producing decent catfishing also.

The only report for the north end is a 19 pound channel cat caught by yours truly. I was fishing at the public beach just west of Holiday Harbor on Wednesday afternoon catching an occasional carp for entertainment when the monster cat hit my doughball. It took me over a half hour to land with the light spinning gear I was using. Boy was that a lot of fun!.....Good Fishing.....Catfish Ed

Clear Lake Catfish Report-March 22 1999

The never ending south wind and rain has taken it's toll on the catfishing, especially in the north end of the lake. The shoreline from Nice and Lucerne all the way around to the Lakeport area has been steadily pounded with 2 to 4 foot waves since last Wednesday evening making catfishing next to impossible in the north end.

Al Frietas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) has encouraging news from the south end. Al says some friends of his are still doing real well (10 or more nice channel cats every evening) fishing off their dock in Pirates Cove with cut bait. Cache Creek is still producing decent fishing when the dam gates are open and there is a decent current flow. Live jumbo minnows and cut bait are the top fish getters in Cache Creek.

I'm getting tired of repeating the same sad story but it has to be said. If we ever get a few days of decent weather there will be a notable improvment in the catfishing. The water temperature has to reach at least 60 degrees for the fish to begin showing up in any numbers in shallow water....Good Fishing...Catfish Ed.

Clear Lake Catfish Report-March 26 1999

There is still a lack of catfishermen in the north end of the lake so I have no report from there. I'm going out tomorrow morning with some friends and try drifting the Nice/Lucerne area in 20 to 35 feet of water. I'll have the results in Monday's report.

Al Frietas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake reports they are still catching quite a few channel cats in the Pirates Cove area with cut bait such as mackerel and anchovies. Cache Creek is still giving up a few nice fish with jumbo minnows and cut bait.

Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait and Tackle in Clearlake Oaks says there are no catfish reported in his area but a lot of large crappie are being caught in the Clearlake Oaks Keys and around Rattlesnake Island with minnows and mini jigs....Good Fishing......Catfish Ed

Clear Lake Catfish Report-March 29 1999

There really isn't anything to report. I went out Saturday with some friends but the wind was too strong for drifting. We anchored in a sheltered area and told fish stories of better days. We didn't get a nibble between us but at least enjoyed a day out on the water.

Al Frietas of Don's Bait and Tackle says he didn't receive any reports of catfish being caught over the weekend. Percy Oved of Limit Out Bait and Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707-998-1006) also received zero reports on catfish.

The weather report is for more rain, wind and cold through at least Wednesday so here we go again. I hate to keep repeating myself but what else can I do? If winter ever ends and the water warms up we will have some decent fishing to report.....Good luck.....Catfish Ed.

As of 10:00AM this morning the lake level is at 7.65 feet above Rumsey.

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