CatfishED.com

November 7, 2002

     The bass fishing hasn't changed much since last weeks report. The heavy pressure from all the tournament fishermen is making it a bit tougher to find cooperative fish.

     Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707) 998-1006 says drop shotting and throwing LV500 Lucky Craft lures in the chartruese shad color are the most productive methods. Fishing in 10 to 18 feet of water around rocky areas and 4 to 6 feet near docks seems to be the best pattern. Most of the bass are running from 2 to 4 pounds and fishermen are catching 5 to 6 fish for a day's effort.

     Bass guide Richard Pounds (707)-279-4739 says he and his clients have been boating 7 or 8 keepers per trip plus a few undersize fish. Most of the action has been in mid lake near Soda Bay. The majority of fish are falling for drop shot rigs with a few on ½ ounce Rattletraps. Rich says most of the fish are fairly small weighing from 1½ to 2 pounds.

Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed

     The lake level is 0.80 feet on the Rumsey Gauge.

November 14, 2002

     The bass fishing has improved considerably, both with artificials and live jumbo minnows.

     Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707) 998-1006 says the minnow bite is getting better everyday. Fishing with live jumbo minnows near docks in 4 to 8 feet of water and rocky areas in 10 to 20 feet is producing lots of limits of fish weighing from 3 to 5 pounds apiece.

     Bass guide Richard Pounds (707)-279-4739 has been having a lot of fun while prefishing for future customers. He caught and released 15 keepers weighing up to 6½ pounds on Monday and 10 weighing up to 5 pounds yesterday. On Monday he caught 5 of his fish including the 6½ with a topwater bait called a Lucky Craft Sammy in the aurora black color. The rest of the fish on both days were caught with drop shot rigs and ripping chrome blue/black Rattletraps. All the fish were caught near the County Park.

     Sandy Hager of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport (707) 262-1233 reports that bass guide Dave Majestic (707)-279-0472 was out yesterday and caught and released 23 keepers ranging from 2 to 8 pounds while fishing near Soda Bay. He caught most of his fish with Lucky Craft rip baits.

Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed

     The lake level is 1.09 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. Last year at this time it was 1.01 feet.

November 21, 2002

     Fishermen that are willing to use live jumbo minnows instead of artificials are really nailing the bass.

     Percy Oved of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707) 998-1006 says anglers using minnows are catching 7 or 8 bass per trip with several fish in the 5 to 8 pound class. Crankbaits and Speed Traps are producing a few fish for the lure tossers.

     Bass guide Richard Pounds (707)-279-4739 confirms the hot minnow bite. His clients have been catching at least 12 or 13 keepers per half day trip running from 1½ to 5 pounds using minnows. Richard caught a 7¾ lb'er on a crankbait earlier this week.

     Bass guide Sandy Hager of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport (707) 262-1233 says anglers using jumbo minnows are catching good stringers of bass. There have been a lot of good fish taken off the Library Park Pier in Lakeport including an 8 and 9 lb'er. Corinthian Bay near the County Park has been kicking out lots of limits with jumbo minnows. For the lure fishermen Sandy recommends drop shot rigs and rip baits fished in 3 to 10 feet of water.

     Bass guide Big George Hawley (707) 279-9269 says his customers have been really nailing the bass with jumbo minnows. They have been catching upwards of 30 bass per 4 hour trip and a lot of them have been in the 3 to 5 pound class. George has been fishing the minnows under bobbers in the Nice/Lucerne Area and near Lakeport.

Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed

     The lake level is 1.03 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. Last year at this time it was 1.11 feet.

November 27, 2002

     The bass continue to slam live jumbo minnows with abandon but bass anglers that are sticking to artificial lures are catching their fair share as well.

     Percy Oved of Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707) 998-1006 says minnow fishermen are catching at least 10 or 12 fish per trip ranging from 2 to 6 pounds. Lure fishermen are throwing Dead Ringer worms and Brush Hogs on rockpiles in 6 to 14 feet of water and averaging 5 to 6 bass per outing.

     Sandy Hager of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport (707) 262-1233 says the ripbait bite is very good. Knowledgeable bassers are catching 25 to 30 bass a day ripping Pointer 78's and Staysees over submerged weed beds in the Lucerne Area near Pepperwood Cove. Most of the fish are running from 1½ to 3 pounds with quite a few 5 and 6 lb'ers as well.

     Bass guide Richard Pounds (707)-279-4739 fished the State Park earlier this week and caught 11 keepers weighing from 1½ to 3 pounds using drop shot rigs and Lucky Craft ripbaits.

     Bass guide Big George Hawley (707) 279-9269 has been experiencing red hot bass action with live jumbo minnows and drop shot rigs. His clients have been catching as many as 25 fish each for a day's effort.

     My wife and I tried our luck on Sunday using live jumbo minnows and caught 8 bass ranging from 1½ to 6.9 pounds fishing near Pepperwood cove in 9 feet of water. Our catch included 4 fish from 5 to 6.9 pounds.

Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed

     The lake level is 0.98 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. Last year at this time it was 1.45 feet.