CatfishED.com

December 5, 2002

     The bass fishing is a carbon copy of last week. They're really nailing them with jumbo minnows but the lure tossing crowd is catching their share.

     Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707) 998-1006 says ripbaits and Norman Crankbaits in color #133 are the top artificials right now. Anglers using live jumbo minnows are catching lots of bass weighing from 1½ to 6 pounds and easy limits are the rule.

     Bass guide Big George Hawley (707) 279-9269 has been rigging jumbo minnows under a bobber for his clients and they've been catching and releasing anywhere from 20 to 30 bass per 4 hour trip ranging from slightly under 12 inches up to a whopping 9.6 pounds with quite a few 5 and 6 pounder's in the mix.

     Sandy Hager of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport (707) 262-1233 says the bass fishing is excellent both with minnows and artificials. Throwing ripbaits and drop shot rigs over submerged weed beds in the north end of the lake has been producing a lot of fish ranging from 1½ to 3 pounds with quite a few going from 5 to 7 pounds as well. Sandy heard of one boat that caught and released 37 bass using jumbo minnows.

Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed

     The lake level is 0.93 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. Last year at this time it was 2.37 feet.

December 12, 2002

     Bass fishing remains excellent all around the lake. Live jumbo minnows are still the top producer but artificials are producing some good catches as well.

     Bass guide Sandy Hager of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport (707) 262-1233 says the bass fishing is fantastic. She had a guide trip on Sunday and her clients caught 28 fish weighing from 4 to 6½ pounds in the Horseshoe Bend Area ripping Staysee SP's. Sandy says the minnow bite is great, especially in the Nice/Lucerne Area near deep water docks such as the Aurora RV park. The Library Park Pier in Lakeport is kicking out a lot of big bass with minnows including some up to 8 pounds.

     Dorothy Higgins of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707) 998-1006 confirms the hot bass fishing with live jumbo minnows. Limits of 3 to 5 pound fish are the rule and most anglers are catching and releasing fish until they run out of minnows. For those bass fishermen sticking to artificials, Dorothy recommends throwing rip baits and crank baits near rocks and docks.

Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed

     The lake level is holding steady at 0.95 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. Last year at this time it was 2.57 feet.

December 19, 2002

     Since we were pounded with heavy rain and wind since last Friday there has been very little bass fishing activity. The north end of the lake is just about unfishable due to all the muddy water runoff but the south end is still fishable.

     Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707) 998-1006 says bass fishermen using live jumbo minnows are still catching a lot of fish. There have been several big bass taken with minnows. One angler fishing in a rocky area of the Redbud Arm of the lake caught and released 8 bass weighing from 6 to 12½ pounds earlier this week and caught two 7lb'ers and a 9 lb'er on Tuesday. Bob recommends fishing in the south end of the lake either in the Redbud or Clearlake Oaks arms since the north end is too muddy for bass fishing.

Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed

     The lake level is still rising slightly and is at 3.40 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. Last year at this time it was at 3.26 feet.

December 26, 2002

     All the rain we've been having has kept the north end of the lake muddy and therefore very tough to fish, therefore most of the action has been in the south end of the lake.

     Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707) 998-1006 says the bass are still falling for live jumbo minnows but they are running a lot smaller than last week. Most fish are weighing from 2 to 3 lbs and are being caught in 6 to 16 feet of water in rocky areas in the Oaks Arm of the lake. Bob says the few anglers using artificials are having a tough time, they are lucky to catch one or two fish for a day's effort.

Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed

     The lake level is still rising slightly and is at 4.60 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. Last year at this time it was at 3.83 feet.