CatfishED.com

     Due to the stormy weather we have had all week, it's hard to find a catfisherman on the lake.

     Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) reports there are still a few nice channel cats being taken at the mouth of Kelsey Creek with nightcrawlers and garden worms. An occasional channel cat is being taken by drifting in the White Rock to Indian Island area with live jumbo minnows.

      Rodman Slough in Nice should be producing good fishing since it's starting to flow pretty good but no one is fishing it. I have driven by several times but found no fishermen. Since we are getting more rain and more is predicted, maybe the bite will start this weekend. If you want to give it a try, I suggest anywhere along Rodman Slough or anywhere you find runoff going into the lake. Make sure you are fishing in at least 6 or 7 feet of water and use garden worms, mini-crawlers or nightcrawlers.

     Good Fishin.......Catfish Ed

February 11 2000

     The catfishing has improved slightly but it is still hard to get a read on it since there are only a few anglers trying for cats.

     Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) reports anglers drifting Luebow Point to Garners using live jumbo minnows are taking a few channel catfish including an 18 and 20 pounder.

Percy Oved of Limit Out Bait and Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707-998-1006) says that one of his bass fishing customers caught 20 and 16 pound channel cats while drifting live minnows near Rattlesnake Island.

     Terry Knight of the Lake County Record Bee reports a pair of anglers catching a few channel cats drifting cut bait near Monitor Point.

     There has been a sprinkling of smaller channels and brown bullheads falling for nightcrawlers and clams off docks in the Nice/Lucerne area mostly at night. I still haven't heard of any action at Rodman Slough but as the rain keeps falling, it should wake up the catfish in the slough.

     Good Fishin.......Catfish Ed

February 18 2000

     The heavy rains and rising lake level has perked up the catfishing considerably.

     Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) reports excellent fishing in the Clearlake area dunking gobs of mini-crawlers or nightcrawlers near creeks or drainage ditches that are flowing into the lake. They are catching lots of brown bullheads in the 2 pound range with a few large channel cats being taken as well.

     Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait and Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707-998-1006) suggests the mouth of Schindler Creek and the mouth of Clearlake Oaks Keys as some of the more productive spots in his area. Crawlers are the way to go for the most action but jumbo minnows are accounting for some of the bigger channel catfish.

     Jeanette Owen of Lakeport Tackle (707-263-8862) reports a lot of bullheads and a few channel catfish being caught in the Lakeport and Kelseyville area by fishing the muddy water flowing into the lake from creeks and drainage ditches.

     We still can't get a report from Rodman Slough in Nice but I am sure it's producing fish since all the creeks and ditches in the area are giving up a few cats. There have been a few nice channel cats to 12 pounds taken with worms and crawlers at the drain pipe just east of Northshore Resort in Nice.

     Good Fishin.......Catfish Ed

February 25 2000

     The catfishing is steadily improving with the muddy water and rising lake level. There are lots of brown bullheads (yellow cats) and a goodly amount of channel cats being caught all around the lake.

     Al Freitas of Don's Bait and Tackle in Clearlake (707-995-9668) reports quite a few channels from 5 to 8 pounds being taken in Cache Creek. Most areas with muddy runoff water in the Clearlake area are producing as well. Gobs of mini crawlers and garden worms are the top baits.

     Bob Higgins of Limit Out Bait and Tackle in Clearlake Oaks (707-998-1006) says the catfish action has taken off in the Clearlake Oaks Keys. The top baits have been extra large and jumbo minnows followed by cut mackerel. There was a 18 pound and 14 pound channel catfish taken and even Bob Higgin's employee, Percy Oved managed a 10 pounder. There are a lot of 1 to 2 pound brown bullheads being caught with garden worms and crawlers in the Keys also.

     Thanks to my friend Greg Cornish of Nice, I finally have some info on Rodman Slough. A couple of anglers got a bunch of brown bullheads (a milk crate full) and a 7 pound channel while fishing in Rodman with garden worms. There are several other reports of fair numbers of bullheads being taken in the slough.

Greg also informed me that the mouth of Kelsey Creek has been kicking out quite a few nice channel cats including a 20 pounder with cut bait.

     There is more rain in the forecast so it should be a good weekend for whiskerfish addicts. Good Fishin.......Catfish Ed