CatfishED.com

September 5, 2002

     The bass action hasn't changed much since last week's report. Most fishermen are catching lots of 10 to 11 inchers plus 4 or 5 keepers for a day's effort.

     Bass guide Sandy Hager of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport 707-262-1233 says the locals are catching 4 or 5 keepers per trip weighing from 3 to 6 pounds plus a lot of scrappy 10 to 11 inch fish. The best method has been drop shotting near Tule Point in 8 to 10 feet of water.

     Ken Morrison of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake 707-995-9668 says they have been catching some big bass (3 to 6 pounds) night fishing with live jumbo minnows near Rattlesnake Island and Dollar Island. Some fishermen are reporting fair action with plastic frogs at night. Bass guide Bob Thein 707-994-4886 has been averaging 5 to 8 keepers plus 30 to 40 undersize fish per trip while drop shotting in the mid-lake area.

     Bass guide Richard Pounds 707-279-4739 and his clients have been catching quite a few bass weighing from 2 to 7.6 pounds plus many undersize fish in the 10 to 11½ inch class. Plastic frogs are accounting for most of the bigger fish and the rest are falling for spinner baits, Senkos and drop-shot rigs. Mid lake and south to Rattlesnake Island as well as the State Park have been the best areas.

Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed

     The lake level is dropping and is 1.95 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. Last year at this time it was 1.51 feet.

September 12, 2002

     The bass fishing is still rated good. Although drop-shotting is still the top method, a lot of fish are falling for deep running crank baits, buzz baits and topwater popping plugs.

     Bass guide Sandy Hager of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport (707)-262-1233 says the bass fishing is very good. Drop-shotting is still the top method but deep running crank baits and spinner baits are accounting for some decent catches as well. On one trip this week Sandy's client had four 3 pounders and a 7 pounder plus a lot of dinks while drop-shotting in the south end of the lake.

     Ken Morrison of Don's Bait & Tackle in Clearlake says the bass fishing is very good. One fisherman caught a 27 pound limit including one that weighed 11 pounds 2 ounces while fishing with nightcrawlers under a bobber at the southeast end of Rattlesnake Island. Anglers using lures are catching 3 or 4 keepers per trip plus many dinks (undersize fish) throwing drop-shot rigs, buzz baits and popping lures around rocks and docks in 8 to 10 feet of water.

Bass guide Richard Pounds (707)-279-4739 says he's been averaging 5 keepers per person plus many undersize fish in the 10 to 11 inch range. Most of the keepers are running 1½ to 4 pounds. The best action has been in the Lakeport Area around rocks and docks in 4 to 10 feet of water. Drop-shotting has been the top method but they are also catching quite a few fish with spinner baits and buzz baits.

     Bass guide Bob Thein (707)-994-4886 had a good trip recently, they had 7 keepers up to 6 pounds plus many dinks. Most of the keepers fell for white buzzbaits.

Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed

The lake level is dropping and is 1.68 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. Last year at this time it was 1.40 feet.

September 19, 2002

     The bass fishing is holding its own with most anglers catching 5 to seven keepers per trip plus a lot of scrappy undersize fish.

     Bass guide Sandy Hager of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport (707)-262-1233 reports the locals are catching their fish on spinner baits, buzzbaits, Senkos, drop shot rigs and a few larger fish on plastic frogs. Ripping jerkbaits in shallow water in the north end of the lake is also producing some good fish. Most of the keepers are running from 2 to 4½ pounds and most fishermen are catching 5 or 6 keepers plus 20 or 30 undersize fish per trip.

     Bass guide Richard Pounds (707)-279-4739 says the Nice/Lucerne Area has been very productive for him and his clients. He's been averaging 5 to 7 keepers per trip plus lots of undersize fish in the 10 to 11½ inch class. Most of the bass have been running from 2 to 3 pounds with a few larger ones to 6½ pounds. Throwing spinner baits to the edges of weed beds and drop shotting under docks have been the top methods but they have had some success on larger fish with plastic frogs thrown over weed patches.

Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed

     The lake level is 1.50 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. Last year at this time it was 1.33 feet.

September 26, 2002

     According to the local bass fishermen, the fishing has slowed down to a crawl. There are a lot of tournament anglers pre-fishing for this weekend's W.O.N.bass tournament but of course they aren't talking.

     Bass guide Sandy Hager of Tackle It Sport Shop in Lakeport (707)-262-1233 reports very slow action. She had a guide trip yesterday and they didn't catch a single keeper but she believes there will be an improvement in the action with the predicted cooler temperatures this weekend.

     There have been a lot of good size bass taken near Shag Rock with live crawdads in 5 to 25 feet of water. They have been ranging in size from 12 inches to over 7 pounds and most anglers are catching 7 or 8 keepers per trip.

Good Fishin.....Catfish Ed

     The lake level is 1.38 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. Last year at this time it was 1.21 feet.